Editorial Review

The five simple chapters in Arnold Lobel's Read more

Reviews (13)

last of the four frog and toad books
this book came out in 1979..the end of the 70's.....the end of frog and toad......this book is truly a classic....the 5 stories take me back to when i was 12 years old......i grew up with frog and toad along with the marshall family on land of the lost...and fonzie and ritchie on happy days.........and luke and c3po and r2d2 of star wars.....this book truly is not dated...it's as fresh today as it was in 1979......the last story.."alone"........i really felt it being 12......... ....

Frog and Toad are an amazing buy
I have a 3 year old daughter that LOVES this series.The art is very "old" -but in a good way.She likes the story "The Shivers" most of all.You can't beat this series for the price, or the lessons learned.

Review by Alaisiah P.S. 39 and Michael P.S. 39
You should read Frog and Toad because they can teach kids a lot of lessons.For example, if you are a kid and you want to learn to be nice to a friend then Days with Frog and Toad is a really good book for you.You'll also learn that sometimes friends aren't nice to each other.So, if you're the kind of reader who wants to learn about relationships then this is a book for you to read.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Frogs & Toads    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Frogs    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Toads    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (28)

another lobel must have
My 2 1/2 yr old daughter loves Lobel books and when I moved "up" from the ones in the Easy Fiction area of the library to the Easy - Reader ones I was very pleased as was she.Very short, simple stories with a very clever and imaginative storyline.Like Mousesoup and Mousetails, the stories are just simply good reading stories that my daughter loves hearing over and over and I dont tire of reading.

A pure and rare jewel
This book is marvelous. All the stories in this book are so charming, innocent and beautiful. I dont believe my own eyes. Now, all the illustrations are also absolutely wonderful. They are incomparables. As I said, I dont believe my own eyes, because in today's book market (dominated by emptiness, futility and commercial [...]), it is like a glass of pure water in the desert. More, it is a miracle! I read it every night to my children, and cannot put it down myself. I am sad on only one point: I cannot give it 6 stars. Please, buy this beautiful little book to your children. It is a wonderful gift they wont forget. One of these few wonderful souvenirs we all love so much to remember from our childhood.

Summer Reading at its best
My son's teacher recommended that he read a lot over the summer to keep up his reading skills.We found this and similar books which are really a delight for him to read...the format as a "chapter book" for young readers allows him some challenge yet we can complete a story in one short sitting.The book's humor keeps him interested and anxious to read the next short story to see what Owl is up to next.I recommend this and any Arnold Lobel books for your young readers.Other favorites are the "Frog and Toad" series, also by A. Lobel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. Owls    5. Readers - Beginner    6. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (11)

A great book
This is a great book for parents to read to their kids!My mom read this book to me and my sisters when we were little and now I'll be reading it to my son.

a finely aged and well worn classic
my dad used to read this book to me when i was a small boy. it was always one of my favorites to hear and i believe my dad's favorite to read. he had a way of reading this story that was so engaging. i still have that very same book tattered and worn having also been read many many times by me to my three boys, now mid to late teens. the story is one im sure many people can relate to. something akin to the grass is always greener on the other side, be careful what you wish for and sometimes its better to leave well enough alone. at least thats what i seem to get out of it. small pig lives on a country farm with the farmer and his wife. small pig is heavy into his mud. the farmer is cool with this but his wife is not. she decieds to clean it up using a monstrous vacuum cleaner. small pig is not with a clean pigpen so he runs away. he happens upon various places with mud that look good at first but turn out to be inhospitable. eventually he finds his way to the big city. noise and filth abound and he finds what he thinks is a wonderful mud pit but turns out to be a cement square for a sidewalk. next thing he knows he's stuck and no matter how hard he tries he cannot get out. slowly people begin to notice his predicament and the crowd eventually swells to mob like proportions. mean while the farmer and his wife are frantically searching for small pig. as the fire department shows up to rescue small pig the farmer and his wife happen by. "whats going on here?" the farmer ask's a bystander. "oh nothing, just a pig stuck in the sidewalk" the man replies. the farmer and his wife make their way thru the crowd. simultaineously small pig is free'd. they speed their way back home to the country where small pig is given all the mud he needs. "he sits down and sinks down into the good soft mud".i will go my whole life remembering this book as my dad read it to me and how i read it to my son's and thats what makes it such a treasured book.

A little masterpiece
_Small Pig_ is as good as the books in Lobel's Frog and Toad saga, which is high praise indeed.It's a story told with Zen-like simplicity and humor.Serene acceptance is the best way to handle life's annoyances, if you can manage it.Asked one time why so many of his characters seem to be neurotic, Lobel said:"They didn't start out that way but, if you talk in short, choppy sentences and repeat words a lot, you begin to sound neurotic quickly."If you have a small child, introduce him or her to the world of reading with this little masterpiece of children's literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Animals - Pigs    3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Pigs    9. Readers - Beginner    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (3)

Always travel by umbrella, its the best way
I gave this book to my five year old niece only after strictly informing her that I would be repossessing it after a few years for my own personal collecion. Big Max is fun to read on a rainy afternoon, no matter your age. Is Big Max the world's greatest detective? He only admits that he tries to be, and that is all you can ask for.

Still a favorite, 25 years later
The King of Pooka Pooka's elephant is missing, and Big Max, the world's greatest detective, is hired to find him.This is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, disguised as a suspenseful mystery.Where did Jumbo go, and why?The journey to the answer is entertaining, andshould appeal to all ages.I read it for the first time more than 25 yearsago, and it is still one of my favorite books after many, many readings.

"Big Max" a treat for beginning readers
Kin Platt's "Big Max" chronicles the adventures of the title character, a Sherlockian detective who approaches a case concerning a missing elephant with unorthodox but always logical acumen.Young readers will delight in solving many of the small mysteries along with Big Max on the way to the resolution of the central enigma.Robert Lopshire's clean illustrations perfectly complement the story, putting a droll face on Max, The King of Pooka Pooka, and Jumbo the Elephant."Big Max" played a major role in my own development as a reader -- I devoured it dozens of times when I was a child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Elephants    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Wolves    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Situations - Friendship    11. Wolves    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Wolves   

Reviews (7)

Grasshopper Review
I would recommend this book to anyone, both young and old.The grasshopper wants to go on a journey and he finds a road.On this road he encounters many insects different from himself.His meetings are funny and make you want to turn the page to see what he might encounter next.It is easy to read for early readers and is a cute and silly story that makes reading fun.

Stories For Children / Allegories for Adults
A grasshopper has six different encounters on his journey through the 57 pages of this book. In the first encounter, "The Club," he meets a group of beetles that enthusiastically rally for "morning," but become rather cross when they discover that the grasshopper loves "afternoon" and "night" too. In the second encounter, "A New House," the grasshopper comes upon a worm that lives in an apple, which suddenly begins to "roll down the road" and smashes "into a hundred pieces." The completely unfazed worm then crawls into "a new house," as if the previous home meant nothing at all. In the third encounter, "The Sweeper," the grasshopper runs into a housefly that is intent on sweeping "until the whole world is clean." In the fourth encounter, "The Voyage," the grasshopper comes in contact with a know-it-all mosquito that insists that the grasshopper use a "little boat" to cross a tiny "puddle" that the grasshopper could easily step over because "it is a rule" and "rules are rules." In the fifth encounter, "Always," the grasshopper, who does "something different every day of his life," meets three butterflies who "do the same thing at the same time each and every day." In the final encounter, "At Evening," the grasshopper comes across two dragonflies "zipping and zooming" around so rapidly that they "do not have time to look at" nature's wonders, as opposed to the grasshopper who is "happy to be walking slowly down the road" taking in everything. A child who has learned to read at age four will be able to handle this at age five and six, but will most likely not comprehend the intended satire and allegory.

Grasshopper on The Road
I thought this book was fine. I like the book. This book is a neat book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Readers - Beginner    6. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (12)

Making Mistakes
This book is about the humor of taking things literally. Amelia Bedelia goes from job to job making mistakes because she does things so literally. Once, she saw a sign on a dress shop that said HELP WANTED. She went in and the store owner asked could she sew and Amelia say yes that she was handy with a needle. The owner showed her some dresses that had been marked and asked Amelia to shorten them. Amelia looked at the dresses and said "I don't need to sew to do this".
Come Back, Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Book 2)
This book helped my seven year old get into reading... I'm very happy with this purchase...

Amelia Bedelia is Job Hunting, Look Out!
When Amelia Bedelia, the housekeeper who literally takes everything literally, brings Mrs. Rogers her cereal with coffee, the woman takes one look at those flakes floating around in her coffee cup and fires Amelia before she gets a chance to fill her creme puffs. Amelia, one who always sees the bright side of life, sets out to find a job. First she goes to work in a beauty shop, but when she's told to pin up a customer's hair and does it with pins from her purse, she is fired. Then she finds work in a dress shop as a seamstress, but she shortens all the dresses with a scissors and is fired. As a file clerk, she stamps on the letters with her feet when told to stamp them and files papers with a fingernail file when told to file them. And when she goes to work for a doctor, well, you'll just have to read this book to your child to find out what mischief she gets into there. Fortunately she makes a terrific cream puff, because when she remembers she forgot to fill them and goes by the Rogers', they hire her back, because those cream puffs are just oh so good.
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Subjects:  1. Business, Careers, Occupations    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Humorous fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Work    9. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (4)

christian leagre
"Twenty times at bat and twenty strike outs" said Bobby. This summed up Bobbys baseball career. Bobby has no hope that he will ever be able to hit a baseball. In this book, it is spring time in bobby's neighborhood. Bobby loves to play baseball. He can run fast, slide and catch the ball. Sadly for Bobby he can not hit the ball. Kids make fun of him and call him names. bobby has a plan to get help.
Your Out of Here!!
I didn't particularly like Here Comes the Strikeout.I thought the reading level was a little higher then what they said it was. It was also a little long and I don't think it could keep a child's interest. Young children are mainly looking at the pictures and this book didn't have good pictures that really illustrated what the book was trying to say. I would recommend with book for first graders maybe, but not kids younger then that. The vocabulary is simple but some of the words in sentences are quite tongue-twisters and I think this will get children discouraged if they can't say them. All together, I really don't like this book for young children.

Baseball and Inspiration
Nobody gets anything right the first time, except those kids you never really liked anyway.So most children will be able to relate to Bobby, and how he struck out a good 21 times in a row ... after getting some goodadvice (and practice) from a friend, baseball has some potential for him.Kids will be inspired to keep trying at anything they've been havingtrouble with in life, especially if they love it deep down and heart, andreally want to succeed.Where there's a will, there's a way.Go Bobby! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Social Issues - Friendship    8. Social Situations - Friendship    9. Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation / Baseball   

Reviews (2)

Mysterious things happen wherever Aunt Eater goes!
Aunt Eater loves mystery books and somehow her life is also a series of mysteries - or rather, mysterious mix-ups.Both my children loved to have this book read to them. When they got older, they were able to read itagain by themselves.Parents will also enjoy the cute, charming adventuresof Aunt Eater (at least this parent did!).The illustrations are very welldone and help add much to the story.

good beginning reader
My six year old son did very well reading this book.There was enough of a challenge without it being overwhelming.He really liked the fact that this book has chapters.Made him feel even better about reading it.It isalso a book he could read all on his own, and a cute story ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Anteaters    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Mystery and detective stories    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Editorial Review

For fans of these famous amphibians, the continuation of Frog and Toad's saga gives a glimpse of what those rascals are up to all year long.They frolic together over four seasons, with a story for each celebration, plus one for Christmas. Glide down the snow-covered hill with Toad, hunt for spring with Frog, and discover just who is hiding under all that melted chocolate ice cream. Beginning readers will love the thrill of reading a chapter book by themselves; the simple language and unique adventures encourage and entertain those just entering the world of words. The endearing duo is depicted in the warmest of browns and softest of greens, reflecting the tender gentleness of their friendship. Children's bookshelves should be filled with all the classics in Arnold Lobel's series, including Read more

Reviews (19)

3rd of the series
this book came out in 1976.....though it was the third book it is preety amazing and has the best cover of the four..........the 5 stories truly enlighten all who read them......get it and read it and enjoy.........goodnight.........

Review by Giovanni P.S. 39
If you are scared of being alone, well, you might pick Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel.Find out if Toad will ever learn how to be alone.
excellent
Frog and ToadAll Year continues in the delightful and thoughtful tradition of Arnold Lobel's books.It has stories for each season and as always they are deceptively simple but actually full of love, truth, good values, and humour.My daughter's, 3 and 5, love them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Frogs & Toads    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Frogs    7. Social Issues - Friendship    8. Toads    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Reviews (14)

good and clever short stories
sometimes the best childrens stories are the ones that dont always have to teach something; although stories with lessons are a wonderful way to teach, the little stories in "mouse tales" are just there; to be read, and to be heard by the child and enjoyed without some lesson attached.they are whimsical and cute.my 2 1/2 yr old daughter loves lobel books and enjoyed having a big kid lobel book to read.

Addictive!
Arnold Lobel is a master story teller! He really knows how to capture a child's attention and tickle his imagination and funny bone. All of the stories in this book are great and should be classics if they are not already. My son (5 years) started this book and could not put it down! He read 5 of the 7 chapters at once and only reluctantly stopped because I told him it was time for bed. He continued with the rest of the 2 chapters in the morning. Any book that can do that gets and deserves 5 stars!

Great Memories
I bought this because it was read to me as a small child. I plan to read it to my children one day.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Mice    5. Readers - Beginner    6. Short stories    7. Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (4)

Laugh till you cry!
This has been my favorite book for as long as I can remember. Every time I read it I laugh till I cry! Now my daughter can read it and we can laugh together. It was out of print for a while, and I am so glad it is available for purchase again!! Great for 4-7 year olds. Clever humor that very little ones won't 'get'.

Definately one to read again and again
This book was my favorite to read to my younger brothers and now its my neice's favorite book.It is definately a book that I recommend to thosewho have older siblings. I will always remember Homer and his struggles andthe immortal.. "Beans", said Homer...

One of the best children's books of all time
This was one of my favorite books growing up.Your child will love it ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Play    8. Readers - Beginner   

Reviews (4)

The cool monster
Title: No More Monsters for Me OK
Minneapolis Simpkin wants a pet.She and her mother fight about it all the time.Then one day she finds one, but it is a monster.But how can she ask her mom for a monster?Minneapolis hides the monster in her basement.When it eats everything in her house, she does not know what to do. Fun book!
My daughter has a fascination for monsters, so I knew that she would adore this book. Now she has a book about a monster that I can read to her at bedtime without worry of bad dreams. It's a very cute story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Pets    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Family - Parents    5. Fiction    6. Monsters    7. Pets    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Editorial Review

Frog and Toad agreed: it was a perfect day for a swim. And Frog was kind enough not to look at Toad in his bathing suit, per Toad's request. But when the swimming was over, a crowd had gathered to see Toad in his funny-looking suit, and neither Frog nor Toad could make them leave. Read more

Reviews (39)

the beginning of a beautiful friendship.....
this book came out in 1970......it truly showed me what a really great childrens book should be.......the five stories are about friendship as it should be in real life but it's not......this will truly enlighten anyone who reads it...adult or child.......

Endearing
This is a very sweet book.Some of the stories seem to not have point at the end, but that's probably because I'm looking at them from an adult female point of view.Other stories are endearing.A sweet, sweet book that teaches what it is to be a good friend.

The simple but true-to-human-life stories and the drawings are a delight.
It's so wonderful to have a book that a very young child can read himself, and then ask the adult, or other reader, with whom he is sitting, for help with difficult words. When I was a kid, 65 years ago, we only read the simplest of books, with no real relationships, because we were expected to read them without help. Frog and Toad have it all over Dick and Jane!
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Frogs & Toads    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Frogs    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Toads    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (2)

Arthur's Prize Readers
Arthur can read and his sister,Violet, can't-or so Arthur says. A great Arthur Book!
I loved this book because I like the idea that Arthur is trying to win a contest and his sisters trying to win a reading prize. I don't think she would learn those long words that fast.A 5 star book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Brothers and sisters    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Reading   

Reviews (3)

Cute story - poor quality
I was looking for a book with this subject for my 4 y.o. and bought this one based on the title and the description.It is not a morality tale although the story is cute and my son, who is just starting to read, liked being able to identify some of the words.The quality is terrible, though.On some pages the text is centered on the page but on others you really have to bend the spine to see the letters which flow from the very center to the very edge of the page.

No Fighting, No Biting!
"Please sit with us, Cousin Joan," little Rosa and Willy ask their older cousin. Blast from the Past
Now that I am 19 and in my second year of college, as an English major I must read alot of books. During my Children's Lit class we had to go overour fondest childhood books. This book was allways my favourite as a childand the only copy I had was begining to disintigrate so I had to get it! Iallways loved the illustrations and the development of a story withing astory. The rivaling brother and sister reminded me so much of my ownsiblings. The thing I was looking forward to the most about reading itagain is the ending. The copy I had as a child had the last few pages tornout, so it will be all new to me! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alligators    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Family - General    6. Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Social Issues - Manners & Etiquette    9. Social Situations - Manners & Etiquette    10. Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (3)

I wouldn't give this to ANYONE!!
I remember when my Dad read this to me when I was 5 I guess, and I got soooo scared by that "Suzie the Cat" story, I had constant nightmares EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!! I still remember it to this day! I was sooo scared I tell u! I didn't like the book after my Dad read it, I couldn't even walk past it! Don't buy this for ANYONE no matter what! I'm serious! Don't buy this! If you want to have a child that cries and screams from nightmares all night, then buy it.

Cool book
Ghosts Great for the child who likes a little scare
When my son read this book it was the first time ever that he read past his required 20 minutes and actually finished the book!He loved the scary tone, but not too scary for a child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Folklore    4. Ghost stories    5. Ghosts    6. Horror & Ghost Stories    7. Juvenile Easy Readers    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Schwartz, Alvin    10. Tales    11. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (13)

Boys love Frances too!
I can't help but notice all the reviews that say Frances is for girls. Boys enjoy this smart and spunky little badger, too! Her quirks and problems, as well as her creative solutions and her wise parents, are universally delightful for all children.

Fabulous story for children
This is an adorable story and Frances comes up with a clever way to solve the problem of being taken advantage of by a friend.The book was written in 1970 so the prices of tea sets and candy have gone up, but it's still fun.And $2.17 is still a whole lot of money to a little girl.

Finest I Can Read Book Ever
Despite its unlikely-looking cover, this is perhaps the finest I Can Read Book ever written. I had no idea it was a treasure when one of the kids grabbed it off the shelf at the local library. Written by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, it hilariously tells the story of a sweet and trusting little racoon who keeps getting the short end of the stick from a certain playmate. Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Badgers    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Classics    6. Fiction    7. Friendship    8. Social Issues - General    9. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (1)

The Case of the Cats Meow by Crosby Bonsall
This book, along with other books by Crosby Bonsall, is a great way to start your children reading their first mystery book.Bonsall creates characters that are both true to life and very friendly.My second graders have taken off with reading using these funny and at time puzzling books.The characters have become their friends.The children eagerly await the next adventures of the Wizard Gang. A must for early readers ready for a challenge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - Mystery    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fiction    7. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    8. Mystery and detective stories    9. Readers - Beginner    10. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Subjects:  1. Bonsall, Crosby    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - Mystery    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Juvenile Easy Readers    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner