Children Books

I enjoyed reading this book and used it in a training session for teachers this August.

I am a retired teacher who has experienced many a case of "First Day Jitters." I purchased this book for a young friend who had just gotten her first job teaching kindergarten a week before school started. I was familiar with the story and thought she would enjoy it on her first day in a brand new school. I delivered the book to the school office two days before the start of school. Since she was busy getting the new classroom in order, my friend didn't read the book until the first day of school with her new class. She read it aloud, not knowing the ending. Both she and the children were surprised and excited to find out that the main character was the new teacher.
This book is well written and covers all the anxieties of starting school, even if you're the teacher. It shows children that they aren't the only ones with apprehensions. It is a great book for all elementary grades and especially for teachers facing a new class.
First Day Jitters

The kids were so surprised by the ending and it helped them understand that their first day of school feelings were normal - even the teacher has them! :)

I read this book to my middle school students at the start of every year. They just love it! They giggle and laugh about my use of a picture book, then they really get into it. It's a wonderful icebreaker!

Cute as can be! This is about Sarah's first day at a new school. However, it was a hilarious twist that reminds teachers and students alike that they are all in the same boat.

Having listened to the first two books on audio and loved them, I continued with the third book "curse of the warmbloods" On CD. I love it when a childrens series continues to grow, in both content , character maturity and overall plot wise. I have read books before that seem to go nowhere with ever installment and I quickly tire of those.

This book, is my favorite out of the three so far. The first one "Gregor the Overlander" correctly laid out the mythos and introduced the characters in a nonconfusing way (there are so many and types!) It made you want to read more. The second book "Prophecy of the Bane" continued where the first left off but wasnt as exciting or compelling. This third book launches Gregor back into the underland for another adventure and its all about true realities, growth, family and way darker than the first two, much like Prisoner of Azkaban is to the Harry Potter series.

Gregors family isnt just chilling in the overland allowing him to sew his wild oats underground, they are struggling with mental illness (because his father was tortured by the rats) Money issues (his mom has to be the sole breadwinner) His sister is scared to death of losing her family wouldnt you be if three of them just dissappeared underground and came back talking of giant rats, squids, roaches, and bats? The underlanders of course eventually need Gregor, but his Mother puts her foot down and says NO! Not even to help them out with a Plague that is killing them and Gregor is the "one" to find the cure according to another prophecy.

What takes place after that is truly scary, and exciting and heartwarming. More characters are introduced, and we lose more along the way. I rushed out and got the fourth Audio CD's as soon as I could!

I am a K-5 school librarian and am always looking for good books to recommend to my students. This series is truly excellent!

This second book of the "Underland Chronicles" continues the journey of Gregor and his baby sister Boots. Meeting new characters and encountering more tests for all involved. The author weaves a wonderful tale and my son absolutely adores all the characters. I also enjoy reading this series to him, we both become very caught up within the stories and with all the characters...it's hard to put down!

For the third time, Gregor and his little sister Boots descend to the Underland to fulfill an ancient prophecy. In this story the Curse of the Warm-bloods is a terrible plague that threatens every mammal in the Underland. On their journey to find cure, the heroes encounter Luxa, her bat Aurora and Hamnet, Luxa`s long-lost uncle. Although I enjoyed it, the story jumps around far too often and also fails to answer questions from previous books. As one and two were okay but not great and this one is only so-so I don't think I'll read any others.

I've read the last two Gregors and when I finished them i couldn't wait until the third. Collins is a genius. The last two have been about the usual stuff you read in these kind of books today but this took it to a whole new level. Theres plenty of violence for those of you who don't like sissy books and plenty of action that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book. This in my opinion and out of all the books I've read this could be the book of the year.

This is the first of the Harry series, of which we have three. All of those books are consistently good quality, rather similar (Harry gets into trouble, there are misunderstandings, everybody gets along fine in the end). This one is very appealing and our boy asked for it many many times, until finally (after a few dozen readings over a period of many months, ages 1-2) he got a little bored with it. Highly recommended, one of our favorites.

We came across the Harry books at our library and my daughter (2) loved them so much that I purchased them for her. They are so much fun to read.

I loved this book as a child and now my 2 year old loves it too. This book tells the story of Harry, who hates baths. He hates them so much that he buries his brush and (temporarily) runs away from home. He plays and gets so dirty that his family thinks he is a different dog entirely. The story is sweet and simple enough for my 2 year old to enjoy, but not so simple that it's boring or babyish.

This book was my Daughter's favorite when she was a toddler, I must have read it a thousand times! She just had a Daughter of her own and I thought she might like it to read to her little girl.
Ben

I absolutely adored this book when I was little, so of course I was pleased when one of my first graders picked it up at the school library and beged me to read it for our class read-aloud this afternoon. Since we have recently discussed thinking about characters' emotions as we read, this was a perfect exercise--the text never actually says just what the cute little dog Harry is feeling during his adventure of getting dirty. And if you think about it, his tale is quite poignant. Anway, comprehension lessons aside, my kids were glued to the story and we had a great discussion afterwards. The writing is brisk and fun and subtle, leaving plenty to the readers' assumptions. The black and white pictures are adorable, detailed, and full of expression. Really, not many people write like this anymore.

This book is so incredibly beautiful!! My 10 year old loves it. She looks at it while watching the new tinker bell movie and compares the character descriptions with those in the book. She is so happy with it.

I Collect Disney Books! I was Totally disappointed when not only this book but other items in my order were damaged. The artwork in the this book is beautiful. It's to bad Amazon had to ship yet another damaged item to me. The cover was torn and bent. Pages were folded. Not only was the book damaged someone's return slip was in the book. Thanks Amazon!!!! If you are buying this book for a collection, go to the store to make sure it's not damaged.

I'm in my late twenties and I love this book! I am a huge Tinkerbell fan and this book gives a glimpse into her make-believe world. The picures are gorgeous!

Purchased this for my daughter as a 5th birthday gift. She loves the disney fairy books, and this book gives detail to everything. The size of each fairy and her hobbies. The size of the home tree and all of the rooms. It goes on and on about the fairies (by name) and contains beautiful illustrations! Perfect gift for a little girl.

This beautifully-illustrated book is a must-have for fans of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends from Pixie Hollow, the magical realm where they all dwell in happiness and prosperity.

I got this book to read to my preschooler and though the text itself is a bit too advanced and dense for her age group, I sort of condensed it for her enjoyment and of course, the gorgeous illustrations enhanced our appreciation of the book.

This well-compiled book basically answers questions one may have about Pixie Hollow and its inhabitants - how does one identify a Never Fairy, how do fairies come to exist?, where exactly do fairies make their home [the home tree], and so on.

There is quite a bit of coverage on the various inhabitants of Pixie Hollow, especially the Queen of the realm, the beautiful Queen Clarion, and of course, the different categories of fairies, such as Prilla, the mainland-visiting Fairy, Tinker Bell the tinker fairy, etc. It also explains the importance of Mother Dove, and why she is so venerated by the fairies.

The illustrations play an important role in this book, as they provide a visual way of appreciating the various delights offered in Pixie Hollow, be it the beautiful fairies, the special rooms [ Tearoom, Lobby, Library], the clothing worn by the fairies and so on.

All in all, I'd highly recommend this book for those who are fans of Tinker Bell and Pixie Hollow and also for those who appreciate fairies in general. It's a fun and interesting read that will have you clamoring for more!

Join Captain Declan Ross and his faithful crew as they sail the high seas. You will meet mysterious monks, murdering pirates, and a lad with no memory. But beware of the evil villain Bartholomew Thorne who seeks to find and destroy Captain Ross. As good and evil clash, which will prevail? This book will exceed your highest expectations to those who love adventure. To find out more, buy the book and read it!

The "Isle of swords" is one big rollercoaster from the abrupt beginning to the dramatic close. At First I had a hard ride just to get the people right. There were some gory parts, so younger children wouldn't like it. On the whole though, I think most people will really enjoy the book. I can't wait for more.

(This is Courtney)

This book is an adventure story about pirates. A good man forced into piracy named Declan Ross has a chance to get rich when an order of monks offer to show him the way to a hidden treasure. Unfortunately, Bartholomew Thorne, a cruel man, is after the treasure too, and wants to destroy Ross. An exciting chain of events follows leading up to an intriguing surprise in the plot.

Isle of Swords is an action-packed tale with plot twists around every corner. The characters are very vivid and you often find yourself forgetting that they are fictional. I normally do not like books of this genre, but Isle of Swords pulled me right in. I finished it in a day. I would recommend this book to everyone seventh grade and older because some of the violent images had me grossed out and are probably too much for younger kids. Overall, an excellent book! Don't forget to read the sequel, Isle of Fire (Pirate Adventures)

This book is amazing, no doubt about it. But what makes it so?

1. Captivating beginning. It has a beginning that will make you wonder and want to read more.
2. A book with movement. This book will carry you away with action and adventure. It has a plot that moves, not one that feels like it stops every chapter and just drags on and on...
3. It's a clean read. Are you worried about a book every time you turn the page, whether or not it will be OK? Worry no longer! If this was a movie, I would give a PG rating because of the intensity. But there is no reason to worry about language or any inappropriate scenes.
4. Great characters. These are characters you'll begin to know and love. At the end, I really wished I could meet them!
5. Its a classic. Seriously, it is. Its on my top 10 list.
6. It has an ending that will make you want to read the sequel. Have you ever read a book where the ending is kind of lame? Well... THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF BOOK! Make sure you have the sequel ready to read when you finish this book. You'll be dying to know what happens.

Please don't ignore this book! You'd really miss out on a great book. And for the people out there who have read this book already, they would agree completely with me.

Who is he? Where did he come from? Captain Declan Ross finds a young man nearly beaten to death on the beach clutching a bag containing a green jewel. Does he dare take him on board the William Wallace or is he a crew member of the infamous pirate Bartholomew Thorne, the Captain's enemy?

Within the pages of The Isle of Swords, Wayne Thomas Batson creates a tale of intrigue, danger and adventure. Though the character of the Captain's daughter, Anne, is a little hard to believe, this story is one where the reader can feel the creaking of the ship, taste the salt of the sea spray and hear the wind whistling in the sails. This book will entice readers of all ages who love a good pirate story!

Reading this book has become a tradition at my home. My 14 and 20 year old sons still love hearing this book read to them at Christmas time. I still read from the same book that I have had since I was a child. It is the 1963 original edition. We Love This Book! Very endearing.

This book is also a family tradition. My mom got this book for my sister and I in the early 70s when we were just toddlers and we read it together every year to this day, even if we have to do a three-way phone call with Mom to read our parts if we can't get home for the holiday. Thank goodness it is back in print. Like I said, don't even hesitate to buy this - it is a fantastic book. We still want to read it even at the ages of 39 and 37!

Like many others, I had this book as a child. I loved the story then and I still love it today. Reading it was one of my best childhood memories. I know my original copy was at my dad's (the house where I grew up), but after his move a few years ago, it hasn't been seen. I think it's still packed up and I'm bound and determined to find it. I'm thrilled to find it here because I wanted to get it for my step-son. I know he's going to love the story as much as I did.

I have loved this story since I was a kid. Captain Kangaroo would read it every Christmas season. It was the first "pay it forward" idea, and it's really about the Christmas spirit. I have been passing this story on to all my Cousin's and family's newer editions, when they reach the right age. Lovely story, lovely illustrations, and a wonderful Christmas present too. Enjoyable for every age.

After having 3 children, I've read lots and lots of children's books, some over and over. This is by far, the best and my personal favorite. It is written as a poem, and has a funny surprise ending! You and your kids will love it.

Got this for my grandaughter, it is fun and she and her friends all use this to make fashions, future designers!!!!

I gave this as a gift to a 9yr old girl interested in fashion design. When I got it in the mail, it was smaller and less impressive than I expected. She seemed to like it, but I thought it was quite complicated and the pieces were tiny. I guess for only $12, it was an ok value.

I bought this as a christmas gift for my daughter, only because it was recommended by amazon. I had never heard of these books before. My daughter loves to draw and design outfits - this book is perfect. She plays with it more than any other toy, including nintendo DS and wii!!

I gave this as a Christmas present to a 13 year old friend and she was just delighted with it and thanked me about twenty times!

My 10 year old absolutely loved this gift. She has spent countless hours creating outfits and is so serious about it that she has begun a portfolio of her work. It is so fun to watch her "at work". I can easily purchase more scrapbook paper to keep her going once she has used all the supplies the book came with. This is the perfect gift for the child that loves to make & create!

"Silly Sally" is one of those especially-for-fun books that are really great to read to pre-schoolers! The love and bonding between adult and child and child and book that happens when reading and talking about good books is magic! And, the word play is an invaluable pre-reading skill that will enhance learning to read. Have fun with this story--no one needs to know you are "teaching." Older children also love the rhythm and rhyme and enjoy this story.

Great little book. Both my husband and I love reading this to our daughter who seems to really like it. Very quick, but entertaining. We have it memorized.

My daughter, Chloe, loves this book, and so do I. We have fun reading it together. She brings it up all the time. She will be hanging upside down off of the couch and she will say "Silly Chloe went to town, walking backwards upside down!" Silly Sally gets an A+ in my book!

My 5 year old loves this book. She has it memorized and "reads" it to us over and over again. It's very cute, building on the page before. The illustrations are great and silly and there is a definite resolution. A must read for all.

Great book as it plays on the the silly humor that we all share. Simple story line with colorful illustrations that my 3 year old could relate to. I sent this book to my daugher's daycare and her teacher commented how the other children loved the story too. That really made my day. Its a great book to make kids laugh.

Following right where they left off, Wonder is flying through her training once she gets the right handling. I think alot of horse people out there can relate with ashleigh about the frustration of watching someone push a horse to far but we can also relate with her never giving up. Good read, reccomend for any horse lover.

"Townsend Prince and Mercy Man are running nose and nose, straining to catch her. What a finish! Can the filly do it? Can this courageous little filly hold them off? They're coming down to the wire..."

In book three Ashleigh, Wonder, and Charlie are headed for the biggest race of their lives. The Kentucky Derby. This book is one of my favorites because of the way that it is written. We learn so much about Brad Townsend, and I can't help but glare when I think about him. Campbell does an amazing job creating a "villain" that has depth and character. You really grow to hate Brad! We also get glimpses of characters that will play a major role in the future of Thoroughbred, like Mike Reese.

Probably the best asset of this book is the race scenes. Each race that is written seems to come alive to me as I read. I can picture Wonder and Jilly struggling down the stretch in the Blue Grass trying valiantly to hang on to the lead under the onslaught of Townsend Prince and Silverghost. The climax of this book is the Kentucky Derby where Wonder is pitted against the greatest colts in the country and her own half brother Prince (who is Brad's colt). This race is one of my most favorite in the whole series. I was on the edge on my seat as I read. I couldn't seem to turn the pages fast enough! Every time I read this book I get excited all over again.

Wonder's First Race is one of the finest books in the series. When I think of how great this series is, I'm terribly saddened at the fact that Harper Collins is planning to end the series after #72. Unfortunately the faithful readers will not get the chance to experience another race as gripping as Wonder's Derby if the books will no longer be printed...Please reconsider Harper! If you want to HELP SAVE THE THOROUGHBRED SERIES, go to www.whitebrookfarm.com to find out more. Please help keep the spirit of Ashleigh and Wonder alive! PLEASE SAVE THOROUGHBRED!!

In this book Wonder is injured by Brad Townsend during an icy workout.Her Derby chances go downhill when she is injured. Ashleigh meets Mike Reese and he asks her on a date.Wonder and Prince make it to the Derby. Wonder makes it to the wire first with Jilly Gordon up. Unfortunately this most remarkable series is coming to an end at #72 Legacy's Gift.Please go to www.whitebrookfarm.com to find out how you can help to try to save this beloved series.

Wonder's First Race is one of my favorite TB books. I'm 20 and I still get a kick out of reading them.
This is where things start to get exciting. We see Wonder race for the first time, Ashliegh start to show an interest in boys and much much more!
Please, please don't end this series! The new books are not as good as this one was, but I still read them.

This was the first Thoroughbred book I ever read and still holds a special place in my heart. This is a truly well-written book that I have enjoyed upon many re-readings. Unfortunately, Harper Collins has decided to end the series abruptly after #72. With such a dedicated following and online fan base with members from all over the world, this is a classic and beloved series that has inspired many people and provided horse fans with vicarious thrills and adventure. Ashleigh saved Wonder, now it's up to you to help save Thoroughbred. [...].

Thunder Cave
By Roland Smith, Hyperion, 1995, 250 pp., $5.95, ISBN 0-7868-1159-5
Having your mom dies in a car accident is never easy. Especially when your parents are divorced, and your dad is going to go on an archeological expedition to Honduras and plans to dump you with your cousins in Nebraska. It doesn't help either when your real dad is a field biologist working in the Kenyan bush for an organization that was shut down three weeks ago but refuses to come back in because of the elephants that he is working with. Jacob Lansa is no exception.
When his mom is killed in a car accident, everything is falling out of place. Jacob is not overly fond of his cousins or Nebraska. And so a plan is born. Disguised by a trip to see his grandfather, Taw, a Hopi Indian at who lives at a nursing home, Jacob takes off on a flight to Kenya with nothing but his bike, some food, and enough supplies to last until he reaches his fathers camp. He only knows the general location of his father's camp. What he doesn't know will matter much more. He doesn't know there is a drought going on in Kenya... He doesn't know that in the bush, survival is more important than getting where he's going... and he doesn't know that there are poachers killing hundreds of elephants for nothing more than their ivory.
Arriving in Nairobi, Jacob takes off on his bike into the bush, where he will encounter many perils, become familiar with dehydration, be captured by poachers, and meet a new and unlikely friend. This new friend, a Masai named Supeet, will save his life more than once, and is determined to save Kenya by bringing the long rains. He is the only one left who can bring them. So together, they set out to find the Thunder Cave with nothing more than the instructions of a dying man to guide them.
But when Jacob is captured by the poachers, and his dad is forced to turn himself in because of Jacob's recklessness, all of the puzzle pieces are falling out of place. Their only hope is the long rains, the only thing that can end this terrible scourge on the elephants. But will Supeet be able to bring the long rains to the parched land of Kenya?
Throughout this book, I found myself magically being put in the place of the characters of this book, and felt myself experiencing everything they experienced. I was no longer an innocent bystander... I was living this thrilling story.
National Outdoor Book Award, and Book of the Year Award winning author, Roland Smith, has woven an exciting tale that teaches a surprising lesson about family values, shows just what a terrible scourge poaching is, and keeps readers flipping pages madly until they're through.
The sequels to Thunder Cave are Jaguar, and The Last Lobo. I would recommend any of these books to anyone who likes a good adventure and epic survival story. This is an amazing tale crafted by an exceptional author.
By Noel Hilst, 6th grade, Odyssey Multiage Program

Although I'm in high school, I recently reread the book and found it refreshing. It's not very sophisticated, but it is a nice read. Also, Jacob's reactions to events in his life were quite... intriguing, to say the least.

What would you do if your mom died, and your Dad did not even know about it? Then your step Dad was going to send you away to your closest relatives really far away. Thunder Cave is the first book in a three book series, about a young teenager who was in a similar situation. The boy had a lot of courage, love and friendship that was beautifully written by Ronald Smith.
Thunder Cave is an emotional book about a boy named Jacob Lansa who is14 years old and from New York. His parents are separated and he lives with his Mom and her husband, Sam. His Dad is in Kenya helping the elephants survive the major drought. After his mother dies from a car accident Jacob has nowhere else to go because Sam is leaving. Sam tries to send Jacob to Nebraska to his closest relatives. But Jacob decided he wanted to be with his Dad. His Dad couldn't be reached, so he went on a courageous journey to Kenya on his own. He went through tough times. He got mugged, he runs low on money and he almost dies. But all of a sudden a remarkable friend came along and helped him. His friend was like rope that he held on to forever. Together they encountered elephant poachers who wanted to kill them. They also had to perform a rain dance to make it rain because of the drought.
Thunder Cave is one of the best books I have ever read. I liked it because no matter what happened to Jake he never gave up. I would recommend it to anybody who likes action and adventure books because it takes Jacob on an adventure that he and you will never forget.

this is a great book! this storey took place in kenya africa. a boy named jacoob lansa is looking for his father dr. robert lansa a feild biologist trying to save the african elephants. when jacoob nearly dies an african native man named supeet finds jacoob and helps jacoob find his dad! great book!!!

I met the author, Roland Smith, when he visited my elementary school years ago, and he made such an impact on me that I have never forgotten him or this book. I have re-read it at least half a dozen times, and the imagery and fantastic plot and message make this one of my all-time favorite books from my childhood. The great thing is that he really knows his stuff- he's worked with animals for years and traveled around the world, so his stories have an authentic feel rather than I'm-pretending-to-know-what-I'm-talking-about-but-really-don't. I would easily recommend this to any kid interested in a well written adventure and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.