5 comments about Twenty-Four Robbers.

1. If you can find the hardcove of this, buy it for your toddler/crawler. The pictures are great, colorful, full of detail. The expressions on the faces will delight parentes as they read this over and over to their child.
   
   I recommend the hardcover, because both my 1-5 year olds banged this around for nearly 7 years; the softcovers won't hold up to that kind of use. But, if that's all you can find, get it anyway. Both you and your children will love it.



2. This book was a favorite of mine growing up and now my three boys love it. It is great for early readers as well as pre-readers who are learning their alphabet. A thoroughly enjoyable book!



3. So, of course, if you're a teacher you can move on from this book by teaching the jump rope rhyme to the kids. Always good to get them moving, makes things stick in the mind, doesn't it? (Well, it's just fun.)
   
   The illustrations in this book are a little messy, but they're bright and colorful, and the pattern of the story is not to be missed.



4. This is another great Audrey Wood book - have been sharing it with my grand-daughter - not only does she love it, but with the rhyme sounds going on, she's picking it up quickly! Great book!



5. The rhyme and pictures catch the attention of our child. Really fun book to read together (and sing together).

4 comments about RopeSport: The Ultimate Jump Rope Workout.

1. I started a jump rope workout and wanted to take it to the next level. I spotted this book and thought it would be just what I needed. While it is an informative and thorough book about the sport of jump roping, it's difficult to visualize the many jumps they describe without actually seeing someone do them. Soon after receiving the book, I purchased the DVD and found it much easier to learn the jumps. I could clearly see the correct placement of their feet, arms and hands in motion and, at the same time, try to imitate their rhythm. Jumping rope is all about timing. If you don't think you need visual instruction, then this book is fine. If, like me, you prefer a live demonstration, skip the book and buy the DVD instead.



2. I truly believe this type workout is the best for probably 85%+ of people. And this book presents it all perfectly. I was fitness instructor back in the Army. Too bad we didn't add this into our routines. I have severe arthritis; recently a hip replacement; and a groin implant. I'm 58; can't jog anymore. But, this is far superior to jogging. Or even doing windsprints. All things considered, this is really the only type of workout anybody needs. My cholesterol was high; now it's normal. And my blood pressure is textbook perfect. Even better than when I was young. Signed: Meshugena Mike



3. Okay, to be honest I have not read this book. But since they don't sell their crappy rope on Amazon I want to be sure to warn potential buyers here. I bought RopeSport's so-called "Premium" 4-in-1 JumpRope directly from their website on 4/8/2008 for $18.95 + $4.95 shipping. I'm in the Middle East, so it was being shipped to an APO address. I received it on 4/26! I ordered a different jumprope from Amazon and it was here in 6 days. Build quality very poor - so-called ball-bearing swivels in handles are plastic balls with rough edges - one of them would not even turn when I tried to spin the rope, resulting in tangled rope in less than a minute of spinning. I'm now trying to get my money back, but have little hope of succeeding. Inquiries about when it was shipping took 3 days to be answered. They did throw in a free DVD, but I'm returning it, too. Very disappointing purchase - would NOT purchase from ROPESPORT again.



4. I am a 45 year old man, who had open heart surgery two years age. I have totally recoverd from that, but am still looking for ways to fit a good cardio workout into my schedule. I bought this book after hearing that 3 min's of vigerous rope jumping was as good as 30 minutes of jogging (this was from a pamphlet in my cardiologists office).
   
   The things I did not like about this book were:
   1) Repetion of content. It seems like the book is filled with too many unneccessary testimonials in sidebar calllouts of how great jumping rope is.
   2) the constant reminder throughout the book on how cool and beneficial jumping rope is.
   3) One thing you don't know about until you get the book is about how much the auther will suggest that you should jump rope to music, so it's almost like am aerobics class.
   
   I gave it two stars because it was a rather inexpensive book and I did learn some good basic things from it, like:
   1) what the proper length of a jump rope should be
   2) proper arm/wrist use and common twirling mistakes
   
   All in all, I was more turned off to jumping rope after reading this book than inspired, and will just go back to my treadmill, but that may just be what's right for me.

5 comments about Jump Rope Training.

1. Searching for a book to provide me a variety of jump rope routines, this was a purchase well worth it. As one reviewer has pointed out, yes the prefix does detail Buddy's background, but what person doesn't solidify their expertise in a subject? Reading his accomplishments, I was highly impressed. It doesn't 'border on self-aggrandizement and self-promotion'. If anything, it lets me know Buddy isn't blowing smoke. He's the real deal.
   
   From mastering the skills of jumping to increasing your aerobic capacity to specific workouts targeted to your chosen sport or if you just desire to lose weight, this book contains it all. And, as Buddy states on page 9, combining these workouts with a proper diet and rest will produce a noticeable outcome in a very short period of time. Remember, the proper nutrition is part of it. Working out does not give you the entitlement to eat whatever you want, and as much as you want.
   
   This book is an easy read, yet very well detailed and prepared to take your fitness goals beyond their current levels. The only thing missing is the commitment from you. Make this book and its techniques part of you. The end result of a better body, a better conditioned body is worth the purchase and the effort.



2. This book took my jumprope skills to a new level. In a few months, I have progressed from a novice jumper to being able to do cross-overs, double-unders and all sorts of other things (with a cheap $6 plastic speed rope). My speed and endurance have both improved a lot.
   
   Assuming you are interested in jumping rope to begin with, this book can help you. The author does two things right: he arranges the training in a progressive order and phrases the instructions correctly so you can actually relate them to body movements. Buddy Lee also points out potential mistakes, so it's much easier to troubleshoot your weaknesses. The photos are really helpful and informative. In short, if you want to improve your jump rope skills, I'll highly recommend this book.



3. I have never jumped rope prior to buying this Buddy Lee book and the Aero Speed Hyperformance Jump Rope. The jump rope itself is good, would have appreciated a replacement tether for the $40 price tag, but I knew that prior to purchase. The book itself is a little disappointing. I purchased this book to get a more in depth review of techniques of jumping rope and hopefully some tips I won't find anywhere else. I hoped for some details that didn't seem so obvious or could be found online for free.
   The motivation section and Buddy Lee's background also were never things that I factored in for my purchase of this book. So if those are things that interest you do not factor my low rating into your decision.
   As far as techniques are concerned it covers them but is in general not very detailed and not very insightful. Also since this is a book about technique I am mainly disappointed by the lack of illustrations for each method of jumping rope. There are only 2 black and white pictures per technique.
   If I purchased this book (I didn't see the option until now) via download for less than $2 this is worth it. Unfortunately I ordered the hard copy.
   In the end if your buying this book for details on technique and jumping rope I can only recommend to download a copy for $1.79. I cannot recommend the hard copy for this purpose. All the stuff included can be found online for free with a Google search. You can even find videos that show technique better. If you are buying this book to learn about Buddy Lee or you need your jump rope workout spelled out for you, you might find this book a lot more useful than I did.
   
   BTW...I almost want to give this one more star since Buddy Lee totally rocks that headband.



4. I love to jump rope and purchased this book thinking I could learn some cool tricks and really improve my fitness. Instead I found that the book had nothing to teach me that I didn't already know. There are no "cool tricks" or amazing routines in this book, but if you're just getting started in the world of jump roping, this may be the book for you.



5. Love this book!
   
   Two BIG thumbs up!
   
   Pragmatic approach to jump rope training.

3 comments about Over in the Pink House: New Jump-Rope Rhymes.

1. When I opened this book teddy bears, midnight skies, pink parasuls, glasses of milk, butered toast, granndma's sewing, and bottles of homemade jam swarm out and danced around me. And as I read the pages I could hear the sound of children laughing and taking turns jump-roping as they chanted the magical rymes. Any child of any age will smile as these original, tymeless rymes that only Rebeca Dotlitch's collection will give you are told. Great for bedtime- morning time- anytime.
   From "Handsome Harry" to "Pizza Pizza" to "Cookies" This book of witty clever poems complete with touching illistrations will stick with you forever!-Taylor Baldwin



2. This book has some really good illustrations, and I especially like the little flip-book corner of a girl jumping rope on the bottom of the right-hand pages.
   
   The rhymes are clever and sweet - none of the awful stuff kids make up on their own (seriously, the girls on my block ask "Where am I gonna get married at? House, church, toilet bowl!" for their favorite jumprope rhyme!) - and they do have that jump-rope rhythm.
   
   But a lot of them are a little long. YOU know how rhymes go. They're short and easy to remember, or they consist of a lot of "floaters", rhymes that appear in nearly every kid's rhyme you can find. These tend to be a bit long, so we'll see what we see.
   
   I'm also a little irritated that, like many rhymes and poems written to *read* to children, a lot of these are forcibly nostalgic. They include candles and candelabras, but no flashlights, for example. What's the point?



3. My daughter lovest to jump rope and I recall so many rhymes from when I was a kid. Looking at other books and reading some of the words, I realize now, as a parent, I'd rather her sing some more age approrpriate material. We haven't used this book too much yet, but the pictures are pretty and the wording is more appropriate. What's hard is putting together a melody of sorts to go with the rhyme (i.e., Strawberry shortcake cream on top...).

5 comments about Miss Mary Mack and Other Children's Street Rhymes.

1. I bought this book because I have so many memories of playing many of these games when I was a little girl, and I wanted to share that experience with my child.

   I was a little disappointed because many of the words are quite different from how I learned them. But it is probably unreasonable for me to expect anything different.

   If you can get past the fact that these games aren't 100 percent identical to how you played them as a child, you'll find this to be a really helpful guide.




2. I bought this book because I have so many memories of playing many of these games when I was a little girl, and I wanted to share that experience with my child.

   I was a little disappointed because many of the words are quite different from how I learned them. But it is probably unreasonable for me to expect anything different.

   If you can get past the fact that these games aren't 100 percent identical to how you played them as a child, you'll find this to be a really helpful guide.




3. I bought this for my granddaughters. They are also in the Brownies. They have a great time with their friends and Scout sisters for play time. Helps to teach them memory skills . Happy that I purchased it.



4. Disappointing. I knew very few of the rhymes. It's hard to say them right when you don't kow the rhythm.



5. The rest... not so much! The illustrations were really disappointing inside the book. I was going to give this book to my daughter and niece but decided not to after looking through it. It could have been a really cute book.

5 comments about Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes.

1. Maybe I'm too persnickety, but I was so dissappointed by the content of the songs. I'd hoped for some cute childhood rhymes, but instead found a bunch of rubbish, to put it nicely.



2. ANYONE who EVER jumped rope at recess will love this book! It has ALL the oldies we grew up with, plus new chants for the upcoming generation. These types of books are hard to come by, but are a treasure to have on hand when we do.



3. I love the idea for the book, but the author should have been more selective in choosing rhymes that are appropriate for today's children.
   
   I was disappointed to find rhymes such as these included: "Standing at the bar, smoking a cigar. Laughing at the donkey ha-ha-har!" "All in, a bottle of gin. All out, a bottle of stout." and "Johnny gave me apples, Johnny gave me pears, Johnny gave me fifty cents and kissed me on the stairs. I'd rather scrub the dishes, I'd rather scrub the floor, I'd rather kiss the iceman behind the kitchen door." Other rhymes include a "big fat policeman" who grabs the child and makes him pay a dollar, and a yelling teacher with a great big stick. "How many times were you fired?" the child asks the teacher.
   
   There are so many fun and positive jump rope rhymes, it's too bad the author includes these and others that are just not appropriate even if they were popular 50 years ago.



4. We love this book, it has all the ryhmes I grew up with and more! My daughter is having a great time learning them and teaching them to her friends.



5. I actually received the wrong book on this order but was told to keep the book as they were out of the one I had ordered and was promptly refunded my money! What great service and integrity! Thank you. Will shop here again!!

5 comments about Chinese Jump Rope (Klutz).

1. This book was perfect; just what I had in mind. The illustrations were clear and easy to understand and there were many different jump rope games to choose from.
   The two Chinese jump ropes were a great bonus. I loved the whole package.



2. it is a good game even during the winter they can play it indoors. it is a game that just one child can use with the assistance of 2 chairs.



3. My 10 yr old daughter and her friends have had an amazing time with this book learning all the routines with the rope. They absolutely love it and it's so fun to watch what they have learned - it's very impressive to watch!



4. If you played Chinese jumprope as a kid, the book may not teach the basic jump you remember. My kids enjoy looking at the book and learning about other kinds of Chinese jumprope games, but they only do the basic jump I taught them from when I played.
   
   The small rope is a little too short for them, but the extra-large one is nice when the kids want to have two jumpers at the same time. Both ropes seem sturdy enough. I bought a different rope between these two sizes (without a book), that we like better and use more often.



5. My daughter loves this jump rope and it's so easy to throw in a packpack or pocket and bring to school. It's fun to see the little girls play a game I used to play and get a lot of exercise too!

5 comments about The Lady with the Alligator Purse.

1. This is a cute story with great characters and drawings but it's way too short of a story.
   I would not have bought it if I had realized that it's only a couple of pages long.



2. In this fun version of the classic jump rope rhyme, Tiny Tim drinks the bathwater and eats the soap...compelling his panicked mother to call the doctor, nurse, and lady with the alligator purse. Guess which one figures out how to cure him (and not with medicine)?
   
   This soon became a favorite of my 2-year-old daughter, who often requests me to sing it in the car. It's silly, it's simple, and it rhymes, which makes it pretty much a surefire hit for her age group. Although she's still too young to fully grasp all the details (she keeps trying to identify the bunny slippers as "measles") she is starting to understand why a pizza would be a good remedy for Tiny Tim. The illustrations are cute, particularly the alligator purse, and they are active enough to prompt her to talk about the unusual details she sees.
   
   I bought the box set that includes Skip to My Lou and Miss Mary Mack along with a cassette, and highly recommend it. Be advised that as board books, however, they are compact, concise and include only one stanza, so they are more of a fun, quick read.



3. Description of cover was accurate and I was delighted, however when I opened the book several pages were ripped 3/4 the way from bottom to top. I was a little disappointed in this. I will have to repair these and hope the tape does not yellow. I really love this story and was SO excited to get a copy of it. Wish this had been included in the description - it may have caused me to choose a different vendor. Shipping was tremendously fast and I really appreciated this. The torn pages were the only glitch that keeps this from being an A+ transaction.



4. Nadine Bernard Westcott and/or Mary Ann Hoberman have never disappointed me. Their adaptations of familiar children's songs are hilarious. The lyrics are very clever, but the illustrations are probably the best part. My kids love these books!



5. This is one of my favorite books but once again very disappointed with the Kindle version. Very poor job scanning and optimizing pictures. Any beginner photoshop student could have done a better job.

3 comments about Jump Rope Training - 2nd Edition.

1. I was looking to add a little 'extra' to my cardio workouts and I just don't like to run. Jump Rope Training by Buddy Lee makes it super easy, and fun, to get started jumping rope. So far I'm just trying to master the basic techniques (Chapter 3) but I look forward to adding the different jumps to my workouts and improving my overall conditioning. When I first picked up a jump rope I really didn't know what length it should be, what kind of rope is best for me, and how to hold/turn it. I'm now able to jump rope for 2-3 minutes at a time and look forward to getting to the 5 minute mark. Great book for a beginner like me but probably even better for anyone involved in a sport as it adds a new and fun dimension to training!



2. Jumping rope may be a popular activity on the playground, but this child's play has evolved into one of the most efficient ways to improve cardiovascular health. In the new edition of his popular book Jump Rope Training (Human Kinetics, June 2010), Buddy Lee explains how jump rope training offers functional exercise that can increase fitness and sport performance.
   
   Many of the greatest athletes jump rope. The famous late Bruce Lee jumped rope to develop that tremendous quickness for which he was well known.
   
   Jumping rope is an extremely good way to get fit fast. It's a cardio workout that can be done in a short time, preferably in intervals.
   
   If you want to discover the value and the techniques of jumping rope, you'll find this book invaluable.
   
   Now, I must confess that I couldn't jump rope. I can play most any sport very well. I'm fit and love to workout. But I could not jump rope before getting this book. Moving my hands and getting my feet to obey my commands at the same time was too much multi-tasking for me.
   
   So, if you've never jumped rope before, have no fear. You too can do it. And it's a workout!
   
   I love how jumping rope using Buddy's system makes you so quick. He writes, "Quickness is best understood as reaction time. Good reaction time allows you to take advantage of split-second opportunities to act or react in order to make use of a window of opportunity and thus gain an advantage or recover from a disadvantage. My jump rope training system specifically targets quickness of the hands and feet because most athletic movements are executed by hand, foot, or, in many cases, both."
   
   He also teaches you sprint and circuit training programs, which are highly effective training methods.
   
   Buddy's system promises to help you develop . . .
   
   - Increased wrist, ankle, and knee strength
   - Conditioning of your back, shoulders, and chest
   - Increased gripping strength
   - Improved posture
   - Increased proprioceptive in your feet and ankles
   - Increased strength in your calves and quads
   - Improvements in vertical leap, lateral shifting, and start speed
   - Stimulation of your vestibular system, which improves balance
   - Reduced stretch-shortening cycle, which reduces the time it takes the muscles to contract, leading to increases in speed, quickness, power, and improved reaction times
   - Increased burning of fat through recruitment of multiple muscle groups and engagement of multiple energy systems
   - Improved concentration, which reduces your energy expenditure, increases your endurance, and improves your performance.
   
   His system consists of three steps.
   
   1. Base phase. You learn the skill of jumping and develop initial jump rope proficiency.
   
   2. Conditioning phase. Learn the 15 sports training jumps included in level 1, then try the 10 sports training jumps on level 2. Establish basic jump rope capacity.
   
   3. Sports training phrase.
   
   He gives some interesting comparisons to the value of rope jumping to other sports. For example, jumping rope for 10 minutes at 120 RPM produces the same cardio fitness as 2 sets of tennis or jogging 30 minutes at a moderate pace.
   
   Drawings are provided that show what muscles are worked during each phase of a jump. You'll also learn the correct body position and proper grip. And you'll discover the two basic techniques of jumping rope, the bounce step and alternate-foot step.
   
   To give you an idea of what you'll find in the book, take a look at the contents.
   
   Part I: Jump Rope Training Progression
   
   Chapter 1: Introducing the Buddy Lee System
   
   Chapter 2: Get Ready to Jump
   
   Chapter 3: Step 1: Base Phase--Master the Basic Techniques
   
   Chapter 4: Step 2: Conditioning Phase--Develop Jump Skills and Endurance
   
   Chapter 5: Step 3: Sport Training Phase--Add Anaerobic Intensity
   
   Part II: Jump Rope Training Programs
   
   Chapter 6: Build Endurance
   
   Chapter 7: Increase Speed and Quickness
   
   Chapter 8: Gain Strength and Power
   
   Chapter 9: Improve Agility, Coordination, and Balance
   
   Chapter 10: Condition for Specific Sports and Fitness Goals
   
   Part III: Supplemental Uses for Jump Rope Training
   
   Chapter 11: Warm-Up, Cool-Down, and Active Rest
   
   Chapter 12: Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
   
   Chapter 13: Weight Loss for Athletic Goals
   
   Buddy says, "Jumping is a skilled movement that requires proper timing and coordination of the rope swing with each jump. In time, you will discover that as you practice proper rope-jumping form and technique you eventually experience a rope-jumping rhythm that builds your agility, timing, and balance."
   
   He discusses intensity training, which is a superior way to benefit from any workout. You get a great cardio workout in a short time. You'll learn how to test before you begin so you have a baseline. "Setting a baseline teaches you that your ability to maintain proper intensity depends on a combination of conditioning, concentration, and technique. If one of these variables is off, you will fail to reach the baseline," he says.
   
   He also shows you how to find your target heart rate. This is vital in any training program. Of course, there are some people who, for a number of reasons, need to use the perceived exertion scale.
   
   Who is this book for? I'd say that anyone who wants to learn to jump rope and gain the most benefits from it should get this book. However, it's also for those who already know how to jump rope and even experienced athletes. Why? Because it's a complete system with a program that will quickly help you develop quickness and other much-needed abilities --- plus get an exceptional cardio workout in a short time. I can think of no better, faster way to lose weight.
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   - Susanna K. Hutcheson



3. Anyone into fitness training is already well aware of the excellent calorie burn that jumping rope offers. So much so that many of the top workout DVDs now have you do steps as though yuou are holding an invisible jump rope, and some of the Wii fitness games have you hold the controls like a jump rope.
   
   So I have the invisible jump rope moves well mastered. **grin** I decided to kick it up a notch.
   
   But I'll be honest, as someone very into workout DVDs, I had my doubts I could learn some wicked moves from a BOOK. Consider me corrected.
   
   This book is not a skinny one...at over 200 pages it's written so you master the art. The photographs of the moves are laid out in sequence so you see the movement or the rope along with your hands and feet in unison so it is really no different that watching it on tv except that you grasp it without having to rewind!
   
   Aside from the steps shown that make a workout that burns hella calories FUN, I found the first part of the book to be very important...getting the rope the perfect fit for your body, holding the rope, etc. I had had the rope ALL wrong prior and didn't know it. This was step one for me in being able to even begin mastering some fun steps.
   
   For athletes wanting to train in new ways (which I am not, I just like to max my caloric burn and strength building) this is very well written to varied sports helping the reader know how to maximize their desired skills through jump rope training...whether that be speed, coordination, agility, balance, strength, fitness...pick a sport and you'll find the author helping you to maximize what you need most in the best ways here. Simply want a new fitness routine that only costs the price of a rope and will burn calories faster and most anything else you can think of? He lays out routines with differenct steps if you want them...or just play with the rope. Heck, even just jumping up and down will scorch em.
   
   I wear a bodybugg to measure my daily caloric burn and I only mention that so you know my caloric expenditure was based on that, rather than just perceived exertion.
   
   So here's the deal...bottom line...I have NO coordination in spite of my love of staying in shape. None. Nada. Did I master the rope? Quickly. It's fun in all honesty...inner child making me work out? Win/Win. I can highstep, cross my legs while jumping, power side straddle, cross the rope in my arms now. Just learning it, even when I was messing up, burned A plus calories for me and got my blood rushing but I didn't think about it because my mind was on the learning and the "playing". Better yet, it does build strength with the moves shown in the book. I just added ankle weights and wrist weights to try a new challenge now.
   
   Very well written, easy to follow. The pics are in black and white rather than color if that is important to you but it didn't matter to me since it was really about the form rather than anything else which came across easily. I am sharing this book now with a friend who is a personal trainer who focuses on improvement for certain sports because it also helps a trainer know what to focus on for what you particularly want improvement in.

5 comments about A, My Name Is Alice (Picture Puffin Books).

1. I am a Pre-Kindergarten Readiness teacher in my school district for 5 year olds. This book was listed in my Fountas & Pinnell kindergarten phonics text to assist students in learning to read their names in print. I used this story to highlight my students names as we placed them on the word wall in my classroom. I found the text enjoyable and a great learning tool.



2. The format of this book is consistent for each letter of the alphabet. The letter being featured on the page is large and in color. The text length and layout is also consistent page to page. Also, the repeated structure for each letter helps the reader anticipate the same rhythm for each page.
   This is an entertaining book but not one that would be appropriate for a very young child. It would be more appropriate for children that are five years or older. On each page, there is a lot of activity. Not only are there two characters, a place, item being sold, and two animals, the illustrations also convey confusion or chaos. For example, the W page says, "W my name is Winifred and my husband's name is William. We come from Wales and we sell whistles. Winifred is a WOLF. William is a WEASEL." The illustration shows the wolf and weasel blowing whistles as seven other animals fly through the air and cover their ears. There is also a clock shattering and two signs with fine print. With so much commotion on each page, it would be difficult for a child to focus on the intended words that showcase the letter for that page.
   Another reason this book would not be a good choice for a very young child is that Bayer frequently uses animals, names, and places that might be unfamiliar to the child. For instance, "C my name is Clara and my husband's name is Claude. We come from Calcutta and we sell cakes. Clara is a COW. Claude is a CONDOR." On this page, the author could have chosen more well-known names (Catherine or Carl), place (Cleveland or California), and animals (cat or cougar). However, the author does include notes at the back of the book about some of the less familiar creatures.
   All of the reasons that this would not be a good book for a child just learning the alphabet are the reasons as to why it would be extremely fun and entertaining for any child or adult past that developmental stage. The unusual words can provide an instant vocabulary lesson. The illustrations help support the text by clarifying any words that would be unknown to the reader.



3. The book arrived in perfect condition and we were all excited to see this "old friend".



4. I purchased this book for my new granddaughter when I found it on this site. This is the same book that I must have read hundreds of times to my daughter, her mother! It's a fun book, the illustrations wonderful, and made both my daughter and I a bit "misty" to see it again!!



5. We all (or most of us) know this game, whether we played it by bouncing a ball, jumping rope, clapping hands, or even just sitting on the stoop.
   
   The author and illustrator have given this book a decidedly comic touch that I never had when I played this game - here I was, as a kid, like a FOOL searching for something reasonable to sell for "g" - and they have a goose and gorilla selling "giggles", of all things! The whole book tends this way - i has a great picture of the pair trying to sell ice cream to a very doubtful animal in the middle of a snowstorm, the couple for d sells "dust" - and you can see them blowing dust right into another animal's surprised face! It's a riot.
   
   I'm not sure I like the way the individual animals are labeled at the bottom of the page... that text there makes you tempted to read it aloud, and that messes with the flow of the book. I would rather have had the animals listed in the back instead. And I don't like that they just made up a random space critter for an "animal that starts with x" - there are several creatures that have x as their initial, starting with x-ray fish and xeme and ending with xenops and xerus... although, as this was published in 1984, I suppose they weren't able to google it like I did just now! (Tell the truth, I don't like that alphabet books list things-starting-with-the-letter-x, as a general rule. I'd rather they listed things that show x in the way we USUALLY say it, so the x animals would be, like, a fox and a vixen or something.)
   
   However, those details are trivial.