Reviews (17)

LOVE IT!!
Awsome book, fun, educational and short (but no to short). My two year old loves it and I look forward to reading it all the time to our new baby as she gets older.

Illustrations great, writing sometimes a mouthful
Fun adventure of a little girl with her stuffed animal friends. Each page is dedicated to a different animal. Some of the poems are fun and witty, others can cause your tongue to fumble and stumble when trying to speak in a lyrical manner. Over all my daughter likes it and thus I have to recommend it.

Boisterous, Sweet, and Instantly Engaging
This story of a little girl and her boisterous, friendly, semi-imaginary wild pets was an instant favorite with my 21-month old daughter.The copy is perfect: it rhymes, it goes with the pictures, and there's isn't very much of it, so for once the story proceeds at the right brisk pace for little page turners.And the pictures of the impish girl and the things she does with the animals are very engaging.The rhino drinks tea, the pig has mud fights, and the dragon needs looking after when he has a cold.We both had this one memorized in less than a day.I can tell it will join "Gorilla" "Moon" and our other favorites on the frequently read list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fiction    7. Imagination    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Stuffed animals (Toys)    12. Juvenile Fiction / General    13. LITERATURE - LIT CLASSICS TRD PB   

Editorial Review

Eric Carle's distinctive art holds a place of honor in the world of children's books. (He is the creator of Read more

Reviews (6)

A favorite of my two-year-old twins
I had this book on the top shelf of the kids' (two year old boy and girl) bookcase for safe-keeping until they got a little older and a little better at page-turning.It's far too nice a book, I thought, to be torn and wrinkled by a couple of toddlers who can't even appreciate it.It contains a wonderful variety of poems, and Eric Carle's artwork is stunning.He devotes a two-page spread to most of the animals; the whale at the beginning takes up four pages.
fantastic!!!
This is a fantastic book, full of wonderful poetry and Eric Carle's trademark collage art. This book includes poetry selections that span the cultures, including Native American, aboriginal, and Japanese to name a few. Many of the big names in poetry are here, from Shakespeare to Ogden Nash. I especially liked the reference to creation included with a quote from Genesis and a picture of a whale. My personal favorite poem in the book is "Mother Doesn't Want a Dog," and why "She's making a mistake." This is a great introduction to poetry for children that the whole family loves. Truly a great addition to my homeschool library.

Animal collection
This book contains a collection of animal poems.The sources of the poems are quite varied, from Emily Dickinson, to the Bible, to Japanese haikus.All sorts of animals are featured, from fireflies to hippopotami.There are no scary bits, and the pictures are great.At the end of the book is an index of the animals and a table of contents by first lines to help you find your favorite poems.The book has about 2900 words. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children's poetry    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Collections    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile poetry    9. Poetry    10. Poetry - General    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (1)

How Delightful to Have Derek Anderson illustrate a Thanksgiving Book!
Derek Anderson is one of my favorite book illustrators, and how wonderful it is to see him illustrate this well-loved verse in a Thanksgiving book. I was lucky enough to see the illustrations months ago when Anderson did a signing at the Red Balloon in St. Paul, the Twin Cities leading children's bookstore. Anderson's whimsy brings the perfect touch to this tale. I also love a book about a Gorilla that he both wrote and illustrated, "Gladys Goes to Lunch" -- that's the one I was introduced to at the Red Balloon, where I bought multiple copies for kids on my gift list. A rare talent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Birds    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children's songs    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Children: Preschool    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Thanksgiving    8. Holidays & Festivals - Thanksgiving    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Songs    12. Songs and music    13. Texts    14. Thanksgiving Day    15. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

When ferret Swartt Sixclaw and his arch enemy Sunflash the Maceswear a pledge of death upon each other, a young creature is cruellybanished from the safety of Redwall. As he grows, he seeks revenge onthe people of Redwall and finds himself embroiled in a hostile battlewith far-reaching consequences.Read more

Reviews (171)

Great series
Great series for young and old looking for a mental shut-down for bed book.

Pretty Good.
This is better than all the others but in the first book in it but, it doesn't tell at all about the outcast at all who is that mean creature who works with that weird animal that acted like she knew that death had been in the camp.
Pretty Good.
This is better than the others with that wierd accent even though it has some of that accent and i almost wasn't able to read it cause of that wierd girl who put the chicken bones and other things on her staff.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals - General    4. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    5. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Jacques, Brian    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Editorial Review

With his "secret plans and clever tricks," the Enormous Crocodiledesires to lunch not with but Read more

Reviews (18)

I DEVOURED IT!
A greedy and clever crocodile lives in the stream near a small town.One day he has a craving to eat a small child.He goes to town and disguises himself as a merry-go-round animal, a bench seat and a coconut tree
Crocodiles!
the crocodile lives in the river and goes to town to eat kids. But all he does always backfires because of the anmals. The last disguise was the most surprising part.

Poor Crocky...
I won't spoil it for anyone, but I liked that crocodile, his appetite notwithstanding.He had secret plans and clever tricks!Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Crocodiles    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Humor / General   

Reviews (3)

Great book to add to your collection!
My 2 year old can't get enough of this book.We have continually checked this book out of our library...every night he'd ask us to read it.This book has a great story and vivid illustrations.Can't live with out it!

What a great little book!
Not only will you find yourself Beep Beep Beeping through the jungle safari with the brave little adventurer, but you'll love the rhythm of the Jeep and the surprises along the way!The surprise ending is the BEST!You'll want to purchase the Wild Toob of jungle animals by Safari Ltd. to go with this book! A perfect combination!

A. D. Tarbox, Freelance Reviewer for Midwest Book Review
STARRY SAFARI left me with a smile on my face after I read it. The story is told in rhyme and is a fun read. The illustrations are also fun and go well with the story. I could easily see a three year old sitting for this book and imitating some of the book's animal sounds. This is one of those books where little children will ask to have the story read to them again, and again.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animal sounds    4. Animals - General    5. Bedtime    6. Bedtime & Dreams    7. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    9. Children: Preschool    10. Fiction    11. Imagination & Play    12. Jungle animals    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Preschool Picture Story Books    15. Stories in rhyme    16. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (10)

A wonderful book to instill interest in music for young readers.
A delightful, beautifully illustrated book, wonderful for
Start Their Emotional Intelligence Young for the Sheer Joy of It
As someone who teaches and coaches emotional intelligence, I'm always saddened to find people whose emotional lives are stunted for lack of introduction to the arts.I include great art, symphonies and opera, in my EQ Foundation Course for adults, and in my coach certification training program.Why?Because we know we need it!Classical music is an acquired taste, because in the US we don't grow up with it.I bought this book hoping to include it with my EQ products, and to offer it as a selection for my Club Vivo Per Lei/I Live for Music, and I love it.Buy the book for your little one and then go with them to Barber of Seville; it's humor appeals to all ages, over time.(Spend the money to sit right up front; the immediacy is important!)And put the arts in your budget right after food, clothing and shelter.The arts develops the emotional life in an intelligent way.It can't over-ride IQ, but without it, IQ is rendered ineffective.Ask Turandot, wink wink. He had to teach her that his name was love, and he didn't do it with his intellect, he did it with a kiss.

A slightly diminished orchestra
Nice warm drawings (though a little stilted, as another reviewer has noted.)The "descriptions" of the instruments - how they sound and what they evoke - are OK, I guess.But I have to point out a significant omission: the trombones! Not only are they one of the funnier-looking instruments, but indispensible in the brass section as well. It would be very embarassing to have to explain their absence to an alert child - I'd avoid the book on that account. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Juvenile literature    5. Music - Classical    6. Musical instruments    7. Orchestra    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Music / Classical   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Animals - Farm Animals    3. Animals - General    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Preschool Picture Story Books    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (4)

Great book from birth on!

Bright
This book is bright and filled with gorgeous colorful pictures of animals.My baby loves to chew the corners and they survive very well.

It's okay
This book does have some nice pictures, but I don't like the way some of the animals are named, for example calf instead of cow, kitten instead of cat....I think very young children find it easier to saycat, cow instead of kitten and calf.There were too many of these types of identifiying names.I'd stick with a book that has the basic names and work from there as my child gets older. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (12)

Beautiful butterfly book
I loved the book because of the beautiful color pictures,
Great help in the field
I like this book so much that I gave a copy to my daughter so I could have my own copy back!

Just another winner from the National Audubon Society Book series
This one was for me, well my husband and I and we both love it just like we love the other books in this series. We have also discovered that children who have access to the great outdoors adore these books as well as we have given them as successful gifts. They are great for outdoor family time as well as doing a little discovering on your own. Great descriptions and beautifully detailed pictures make these books tops in my opinion and that of the people whom we have give them to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Butterflies    2. Butterflies & Moths    3. Diptera    4. Identification    5. Insects    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. North America    9. Animals    10. Nature / Butterflies   

Subjects:  1. Animal sounds    2. Animals - Bears    3. Animals - General    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Concepts - General    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Spanish: Kindergarten    9. Stories in rhyme    10. Zoo animals   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - General    3. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Preschool    6. Interactive Adventure    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Movie Tie - In    9. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (3)

Excellent, Engaging, and Enlightening
These stories are wonderful.Full of imagintion, it's been able to draw my very active [...] into the stories.Every story has a moral and it's great for the children to learn them and is a great reminder for adults too (especially when you get caught up in the everyday grind and forget the simple things in life)!!!The moral of each story is stated in the beginning of the tale and reiterated at the end of the story.Great stories, great illustrations, and just TERRIFIC!

Not really classics, but a good collection all the same.
'The Serendipity Collection' includes Zippity Zoom, Ming Ling, Butterwing, Serendipity, Sassafras, Rhubarb and Memily.
love serendipity collection
I have read the Serendipity books to my daughter when she was young, she had almost the entire collection, but being in the military and moving from place to place, we lost a lot of the collection.I found the Serendipity Collection, in hard bound, with 7 wonderful stories in it, purchased it, and now I read it to my grandchildren.Once again Serendipity is being read in my house again.My grandchildren, which are 6 and 5 yrs. old, love the stories.They turn the tv OFF when it is bedtime and grab the book and wait for me to come to read the stories to them.When a child will turn the Disney Channel off, for a story book reading, that alone says a lot about the book.My grandchildren love this book, and yes, I will be buying more and more of this series.The pictures in the book are so fantastic and life like, I really am glad to find this book, and the morals in the book are just what we try to teach our children and grandchildren.This book will be a joy to anyone that loves to read to children and watch their faces as they see the darling pictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Sea monsters    9. Short Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Reviews (2)

Just a Little Critter Collection
A fun collection of some of the best of Mercer Meyer.His books are always a delight.

We love this one!
After almost 8 months, this is still a bedtime favorite.My son and I love it.We especially like searching each page for the little spider, mouse and grasshopper.Thanks, Mr. Mayer, for many wonderful evenings of snuggling and reading! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Growth    9. Helpfulness    10. Humorous Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (3)

Excellent book.
We received I am a mannatee in a cherios cereal box and because both our children liked it so much decided to take a look at other books from John Lithgow. This one is also excellent reading even for the youngest due to the rythim of the story and the very detailed illustrations. Music CD included is an added bonus.

The Best Yet
This is just a terrific children's book and John Lithgow does an amazing rendition of it on the included CD.My children (almost 3 and almost 5) just love it.They laugh and sing along and have the most fun with this book.
We just LOVE Marsupial Sue!
When I learned there was a new "Marsupial Sue" book out I knew I had to get it for my daughter's fourth birthday.The original "Marsupial Sue" is now tattered and taped from many fun-filled readings.After perusing the reviews I was hesitant to order the book because the critics thought it might be confusing for small children.Not so!My kids (2.5 and 4) are asking to read it over and over.They are not confused at all about the characters' costumes and they picked up on the rhyme immediately.We're now laughing about the costumes the animals put together and singing "No No No No No" joyously!Thanks Mr. Lithgow for more great memories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Australia    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Performing Arts - Drama    12. Performing Arts - General    13. Preschool Picture Story Books    14. Theater    15. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (16)

Excellent book
My baby loves this book.He loves feeling the various textures and returns to this book again and again!

Disappointed...
I bought this becasue we all love Violet's House, and I thought this might be similar.Our 1 yr old son LOVES touch and feel books.It does have great pictures and colors, and our son loves the size of the book (nice and big).He likes some of the textures, though most are a bit odd, and don't always feel like what they represent.My biggest gripe is the text.It doesn't talk about the pictures, like in Violet's House where every feely item is described in the text so we can direct his attention to different parts of the page as we read.This just rambles on with a lot of adjectives, and I don't think they mean anything to a child because they're not really in any sort of context that indicates their meaning.So rather than ramble on with a bunch of meaningless words, I tend to sing Old MacDonald as another reviewer suggested.I wanted to like this book, but it is a disappointment.If you don't already have it, I highly recommend Violet's House instead.Hope this helps.

Great book!
My daughter received this as a gift when she was ten months old, and from that first day, this book has been one of her favorite things! She carries it with her everywhere and wants to "read" it with us all the time. The large pictures are a great combination of cartoon and realistic images, the rhyming passages have an easy rhythm to them, and the textures--while perhaps odd at times for the animal/object--are certainly interesting for my child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Concepts - Senses & Sensation    6. Domestic animals    7. Farms    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Preschool Concepts    11. Specimens    12. Textured books    13. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Senses & Sensation   

Reviews (6)

PEEKING ENCOURAGED
Children often hear "No peeking!"A clever book designer encourages them to peek in this story of two mice cousins who temporarily trade residences. Classic tale with beautiful illustrations
This book tells the "grass-is-always-greener" story of the city mouse and the country mouse.One day, the city mouse wakes up and decide he is unhappy with his lot in life.He and his wife pack a picnic lunch and go off for a holiday in the country.There they meet the country mouse, who is enthralled by the smell of city cheese, and the mice decide to do a house swap.However, they each find that they don't have the skills and knowledge necessary for survival in the other's environment.Attacked by cats and besodden in a thunderstorm, they rethink the arrangement and return home.Very young children may find some of the predators a bit scary, but older children should be able to handle the tension and enjoy the humor as well.The book has about 1100 words.

SWITCHING PLACES =)
A good moral book. I agree! It talks about how these mouse familys switch places to see how eachother lives and to see what it is like to live like eachother! A GOOD BOOK! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Brett, Jan    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    8. Lifestyles - Country Life    9. Classic fiction    10. Early learning / early learning concepts    11. English    12. English language early readers    13. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General    14. Spanish   

Reviews (8)

In it's 3rd generation of use !
I was given this book on my 6th birthday (1952) and am still reading it EVERY year. It has been rebound and the front page, that opens into a large pop-up Santa emerging from a chimney, is scotch-taped and fragile from use(I wonder if the new book has this?). The Animals Merry Christmas is lovingly displayed each year amidst my Christmas decor. It has been read much, over many years,to my son and his children and I will be purchasing one this year for my grandniece. It is highly recommend for all children AND the young-at-heart.

A Christmas Classic
I bought this book for my 5-year-old daughter's November birthday based on the reviews posted here. We have been enjoying the stories night after night since then. This is a treasury of stories about different animals celebrating Christmas in very simple and joyous ways. Each tale is charming yet teaches something valuable about giving. The Richard Scarry illustrations are delightful as well.

good memories
My grandparents lived far away while I was growing up.One Christmas my grandma taped herself reading the book for us.I have wonderful memories of listening to that tape and looking at the pictures as we read along.This is a lovely Christmas book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Christmas    7. Classics    8. Fiction    9. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    10. Holidays & Festivals - Christmas    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Short stories    14. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas   

Reviews (7)

A true story of friendship
Farfallina and Marcel is a true story of friendship. It teaches us that even through natural changes in life we can remain friends. This is a favorite story of my 4 year old son who likes to hear it over and over again. The water color pictures are beautiful and add a soft warm feeling to the book. I believe it's message is timeless and we will enjoy reading it to our children for years to come.

A favorite of everyone in our family
This wonderful, gentle story is a perfect end to a busy day. Our two ball-of-energy boys gladly climb into our laps at bedtime for another rereading of "Farfallina and Marcel." It's one of my husband's favorite bedtime stories to read aloud, and it always gives us all a warm, snuggly feeling (very conducive to quickly falling asleep!). This tale of enduring friendship and loyalty is enhanced by Keller's precise, yet accessible prose and the quiet beauty of her watercolor illustrations. Everyone from Papa to our kitties enjoys curling up on the bed together for this one.

A Fabulous Friendship!
I came across this gentle book while shopping for gifts for my daughter's 6th birthday.This is a book about friendship and that is a very important subject to kindergarteners.I felt the author approached the subject in a beautiful and touching way, showing how friendship can endure through the many changes that life will bring.I can't wait to read the book to my daughter.I plan on buying more copies to give to my friends, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Animals - InsectsSpidersetc.    3. Caterpillars    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 1-2    7. Fiction    8. Friendship    9. Growth    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Keller, Holly    12. Nature & the Natural World - General    13. Social Issues - Friendship    14. Social Situations - Friendship    15. Animals    16. Fiction dealing with environmental issues    17. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    18. Natural history & pets    19. Primary / junior schools    20. Self-Help & Practical Interests    21. Zoology & animal sciences   

Reviews (5)

Mis animales
Los animales que aparecen son muy pocos y los más conocidos, como el gato, perro, caballo, etc.Esta demasiado aburrido para niños de 1-2 años.
Great review or word introduction
If you know how to pronounce the Spanish words correctly, this is a great book for toddlers. I've used it with my Toddler Spanish classes, and even my 4-7 year olds as they are learning to form their own opinions and original sentences in Spanish. I love the simplistic, yet BRIGHT pictures and how wonderfully sturdy the slick pages are.
I'm know about goats
I like goats. They are good people, I mean pets. I mean that they are americans, like sheep. I like to refresh my memory about goats, that is why I bought this book. It helped me remember my fun visit with some little boys and girls where I told them about my pet who was a goat. I liked the story, especially the pictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Pets    4. Bilingual    5. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    6. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    7. Concepts - General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Spanish language materials    11. Spanish: Babies & Toddlers    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General