I enjoy this fun bit of silly and wacky. The setting is a fancy dinner party with everyone's noses in the air. There is an Opera singer and an oboe plI enjoy this fun bit of silly and wacky. The setting is a fancy dinner party with everyone's noses in the air. There is an Opera singer and an oboe player. Our main character is Elbert and he looks bored to death. He overhears a word, it's never said, and it's personified like a dust mote.
There is also a wizard in this story who is fun. Al these accidents happen so that Elbert is hurt and screams out his new word and gets in trouble.
The story is clever and delightful. Good ol' Audrey....more
I think the world of Jan Brett and her work, but this is one of my least favorite she has done. I'm sure some people love it, but it felt incomplete tI think the world of Jan Brett and her work, but this is one of my least favorite she has done. I'm sure some people love it, but it felt incomplete to me and odd.
The setting is prehistoric times. I have read the Earth's Children Series by Jean Auel and that is set in the same time and I feel my mind has a good picture for that time period. The subject is about how man got the first best friend.
So, a young boy is a day away from his family on his own. Back then, kids didn't run off by themselves. Some large animal would get you like it almost does in this book, but this dog wanting the boys rhino bones warns him each time. I just had a problem with the boy being on his own. He would have been with friends or a parent.
The artwork is still lovely and Jan Brett special. Her edges and windows on the side give plenty of information extra for the reader like usual. The dog is very cute and the boy is as well, but something about this story simply didn't work for me. I can't say why. Why would a wooly mamoth charge a boy on a rock? I guess they are agressive, who knows. Anyway, it's a kids story and it doesn't have to be real, but the story doest feel like it has the same intense vision as her other books do.
I would also bet that a dog raised as a puppy in a clan would be a better way to be the first dog than this, but anyway.
Babushka is an old lady who lives by herself in Russia. She paints eggs and at Easter time, she wins the contest because her eggs are the best. One snBabushka is an old lady who lives by herself in Russia. She paints eggs and at Easter time, she wins the contest because her eggs are the best. One snowy night she is out walking and a goose falls from the sky hurt. She takes it in and helps it heal. One day the goose breaks all her eggs and she will not go to the festival, but then a miracle happens and the goose begins to lay colored eggs. Babushka drains the eggs and takes them to the festival where she wins again with the eggs.
It's an interesting story. This is a Reading Rainbow book and those are usually excellent books and this is no exception. The artwork is intricate with the eggs and colors. The famous Moscow building (I forget the name) is also pictured in this story. The eggs are pretty, but the rest of the artwork isn't all that great.
I didn't know this was an Easter story, but it's a good book to read for Easter. It's about miracles. ...more
This is basically the Walt Disney Cartoon in book format. It's a great story. My nephew just got Disney plus a few months ago and he loves to watch a This is basically the Walt Disney Cartoon in book format. It's a great story. My nephew just got Disney plus a few months ago and he loves to watch a few of these short cartoons before bed. He loves the silly symphonies. So, before that, these little short cartoons were really available to watch when you wanted. It was that if you wanted to experience the story, you read these golden books and Walt Disney put out a ton of these. It reminded you of the cartoon story you love.
I think these things are great. It's a good story and it was wonderful people had access to it. It's also from 1988, the copyright on this edition, I know the cartoon is decades older and I need books from those 80's years right now.
The good thing is our library is now open for curb side pick-up again, so I will have some different types of books again. I'm excited. ...more
Today, I learned that Indian Paintbrush is a wildflower on the hills in Wyoming. This is a legend/myth on how those flowers came to be there (and I doToday, I learned that Indian Paintbrush is a wildflower on the hills in Wyoming. This is a legend/myth on how those flowers came to be there (and I do love a story or folktale about that.)
There was an Indian who wanted to be a warrior like everyone else, but he had the gift of an artist. During his manhood ritual he was giving the task of painting the warriors hunt and the villages stories so they would always be remembered. So, he stayed true to his task. He was also told he would paint the colors of the sky and this would be his most important work. He found the canvas and spent years looking for the right colors After a dream, he does find the colors he needs to paint the sky.
The artwork is beautiful. It's much better than Tomie usually does for his people. This is also part of a series called Legends about the legend of how some things come to be this is the 3rd book I have read in that series. I want to find the rest.
The story moved along, but there were good details. It's a great book. Nephew thought it was pretty okay. He said it wasn't too boring, were his actual words. He liked the sky. He gave it 3 stars. He told me it's not Star Wars or Harry Potter though....more
I LOVE this story. It's a girl protagonist and she is sassy and brave and amazing. I wish I had read this as a child and seen how brave girls can be. I LOVE this story. It's a girl protagonist and she is sassy and brave and amazing. I wish I had read this as a child and seen how brave girls can be. There wasn't a whole lot of that back then. To bad I didn't read this.
A girl is going to sleep and she hears a monster in the attic above her. Her parents say it's mice, but she's too smart, so she gets a lasso and heads up to the attic to drag to her parents room for them to see. She is bad ass. I love her.
The monster is big and scary looking, but you can also see that it's afraid of the girl. I love that. It's frightened of her. What a great little piece of the story. I love Mercer!
I think all kinds will enjoy this and I want to read it to the kids....more
They do a great job taking the movie Dumbo that Disney did and adapting that to a little book. The artwork is right from the movie. It’s a sweet storyThey do a great job taking the movie Dumbo that Disney did and adapting that to a little book. The artwork is right from the movie. It’s a sweet story about taking your differences and making them work for you, if you can only accept them.
Any Disney fan out there will enjoy these books as it really reminds you of the movie. I love the scene with the crows. They are some of the best. The kids have never been Dumbo fans. We did see the movie remake they did and it was good, maybe even better, but it’s not not a beloved story for them. ...more
This is a little non-fiction book on ants that they used on Reading Rainbow. I have to say that the facts and information is really good and it's inteThis is a little non-fiction book on ants that they used on Reading Rainbow. I have to say that the facts and information is really good and it's interesting to see how the ants live. They did a great job writing the story and making it interesting. The artwork does let you see inside the hill and it does it's job, but the artwork is horrible. I feel its still a good book, but I wish the artwork was better. It would just help make it better.
The nephew has had an ant farm one Christmas. He thought this book a little slow, but he remember the ant farm and he thought that was fun. He said he learned what they were doing now.
I want to know, how they keep the water out of the mound when it rains. The main tunnel goes all the way to the bottom. They most block up the hole somehow. ...more
This is another little book from 1988 on Open Library. It feels like one of those books that they might give you with a happy meal in the 80's. It wasThis is another little book from 1988 on Open Library. It feels like one of those books that they might give you with a happy meal in the 80's. It was Burger King or Wendy's that would give you a book at certain times with your kid meal.
It's about a girl having a sleepover to see the sunrise. There are about 5 animals in the book: rabbit, duck, cat, pig and dog. It's a chaotic night for rabbit, the girl whose house is host, but she does get to see the sunrise.
The book is all about the cute animals. This is a series called Marvel Monkey tales, I never heard of. It must not have caught on. I see why this is forgotten, but a beginner my enjoy it. ...more
I was looking for something on Open Library published in 1988 and there isn's a lot, but there is this. hmmm.
It doesn't work. The idea is to use this I was looking for something on Open Library published in 1988 and there isn's a lot, but there is this. hmmm.
It doesn't work. The idea is to use this Alice in Wonderland idea to explore the 23rd psalm (I love this poem, it's beautiful and lovely). The problem is Alice goes and turns all the ideas she is studying upside down. So, instead of doing that, it is just a girl talking about the verse on the nose. She doesn't turn it upside down, so why use the Alice in Wonderland idea. It makes no sense.
The artwork is appropriate for the 23rd psalm and it's the best green farms around. I get wanting to explore a verse, but find a better way to do it that makes sense. I know Alice is beloved, but it's because everything is non-sensical, so don't use that to be sincere. Just my thoughts....more
A story within a story. We see a boy in a library and he is reading a book about a goat sailing a boat and that is the story. Goat's boat sinks and shA story within a story. We see a boy in a library and he is reading a book about a goat sailing a boat and that is the story. Goat's boat sinks and she gets wet and then sick. Friends then bring her rhymes and get-well-gifts.
I wasn't much impressed with the art. I mean, it was fine and got the job done. It's not horrible, but it didn't stand out. I appreciate that the story starts in a library, but I didn't think there was a whole lot to the story and I didn't connect with Goat.
That opening scene with Duck in his red and blue stripped swimsuit and Skunk in a sombrero is so cute. I’m dying. You can tell it’s Jan Brett’s art stThat opening scene with Duck in his red and blue stripped swimsuit and Skunk in a sombrero is so cute. I’m dying. You can tell it’s Jan Brett’s art style from the first page. Hen in that dress is so darlin�. The sidewinder in the tree is spooking me. The other animals are cute.
It’s duck’s birthday and his friends are giving him all these things that go in water or a pool. This is set in the desert and there isn’t much water. There are a lot of people at this party. Then they have to wait around for the last guest. It’s Tortoise and he has the blow up pool. Duck gets to spend the day with his friends.
Eve has some great rhymes in this beginning book for kids. The tone is so party and happy. I love it. The animals are so cute overload. This book doesn’t need to be forgotten, it’s too cute.
The Nephew did read this with me and he enjoyed the animals. We had to pick out who we thought was the cutest. Niece now has a thing for snakes, so if she had read this, I’m sure she would have picked the sidewinder, but both Nephew and I thought he was creepy. (Seriously, we were out walking at a park this week and Niece spotted a black snake that scurried away. She squealed, it’s so cute, I wish I had petted it. Good lord. I know black snakes are good, but petting a wild snake, really girl?) The Nephew gave this story 4 stars and wanted to go swim in his back yard quarantine pool. It’s 3 feet and it’s enough to get you wet. ...more
This is the first story in the Arthur universe from D. W.'s perspective I read. It was cute. It's a great beach story for this year's non-existent sumThis is the first story in the Arthur universe from D. W.'s perspective I read. It was cute. It's a great beach story for this year's non-existent summer season. Covid is going to be difficult in summer. There's not even movies to go too.
The family has gone to the beach for the day and D. W. doesn't want to be there. She doesn't want to go in the water and she is complaining ever minute to go home. I've heard that before and the kid like that can really spoil the day. Arthur gets her in the water and of course she loves it and doesn't want to go home.
Thank goodness for Openlibrary where I was able to get this book. I picked it for being published in 1988. That year needs some help so I'm looking for 1988 books.
I finally got around to reading this classic story. A beginning story, simple and sweet about the love a parent and child have for each other.
This wiI finally got around to reading this classic story. A beginning story, simple and sweet about the love a parent and child have for each other.
This will give you warm fuzzies all over. The artwork is cute and the simple story and characters are perfect to deliver this message.
The nephew was like, cute bunnies, boring story. Nothing happens. He is a man of action. They spend the book telling each other how much they love each other. He would have loved it a few years ago, but now he is too old for such things. He gave it 2 stars, so he didn’t totally hate it....more
This is an earlier story by William. Bob is a dinosaur that a family finds while traveling the world. He looks like a brontosaurus, but the book doesnThis is an earlier story by William. Bob is a dinosaur that a family finds while traveling the world. He looks like a brontosaurus, but the book doesn’t specify. One of the best pictures is the family is in the water and the parents are sunning on the back of Bob while the kids are swimming in the water and diving off the head of Bob. They make their own island. It’s most amusing.
The family is very well to do and they are always doing things that can make certain people jealous, like the mayor’s wife. They remind me of Hollywood money type of people. It’s a completely silly story. William is so good at whimsical and bringing outrageous ideas to the page. This is one of his earlier stories. I thought it was fun. No attempt is made to explain how they found the dinosaur. They simply did.
The nephew thought this was a great story. He loved the monster as pet story. He liked how much attention the family gets by having him. He gave this book 5 stars. He thought it was wonderful. ...more
This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. I have many lines memorized from the movie. This is my first time reading the original play. MosThis has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. I have many lines memorized from the movie. This is my first time reading the original play. Most of the lines in the movie come right out of the pages of the play, but the ending is very different. The ending takes place at the hair salon like every other scene and the woman talk about everything that happened to M’Lynn instead of us being at the hospital or funeral. I think seeing the characters as it happens in the movie is more powerful, but I still teared up at the end, even the way it was done here. That movie gets me every time.
I usually distance myself from my southern roots, but this is one of those things in life that make me feel some pride at my southern roots. These are some amazing ladies. The movie shows more of life outside the salon, but in this play it all takes place in this space for women. It becomes like the scared space woman collect and share their lives with one another. Life happens outside, but this is the safe space they support each other.
There are interesting things about religion that happen in here. I know they are in the movies, but you get the feel of the difference between the Presbyterians and more Fundamental religion that takes over the south.
This is such excellent story telling. I love the author’s note at the beginning: “the women in this play are witty, intelligent, and above all, real characters. They in no way, shape or form are meant to be portrayed as cartoons or caricatures� The movie obeyed this note to a T and I think that is why it is still such a classic. We need a steel Magnolia’s reunion, if you ask me. Some of them are getting very old, but I think they are all still with us as of now.
Anyway, this is one of my favorite stories about life. It’s brilliant writing and I’m glad I read the play. ...more
This is the last story from the little Critter Collection. Critter starts something and forgets to finish something. He gets out the milk and forgets This is the last story from the little Critter Collection. Critter starts something and forgets to finish something. He gets out the milk and forgets to shut the refrigerator door etc. Guess who is also like that in this house. Well, yes, I am very forgetful and I have locked myself out of the house with my purse and keys still inside several time, so I am guilty too, but mine is more student brain. The nephew is great about doing half a project. He gets so focused on something everything else just disappears. It’s probably a sign of genius or something. He does say, I just forgot, a lot around here.
The niece hardly ever forgets. Her memory is amazing. So, she didn’t care for this story. She gave this 2 stars. The nephew understood Critter and he gave him 4 stars. ...more
This is a cute story from an ants perspective. The ants go looking for food in a human’s house and 2 ants decide to explore for the adventure of theirThis is a cute story from an ants perspective. The ants go looking for food in a human’s house and 2 ants decide to explore for the adventure of their lives.
The kids loved this book. They loved seeing and thinking about their home and world through the lens of an ant. It was a great exercise for them. The nephew giggled and giggled when the ant in the coffee was almost drank. He kept saying what things really were. They loved it. That new perspective worked well for them as a surprise element.
The niece gave this 4 stars and the nephew gave this 5 stars. ...more
This is bad. It looks like one of those very cheap cartoons. It is a faithful retelling of the story, but done poorly. I don’t understand how this wonThis is bad. It looks like one of those very cheap cartoons. It is a faithful retelling of the story, but done poorly. I don’t understand how this won the honor, honestly. It screams cheap. It’s a classic and there should be something about it to make it shine and there isn’t. This is another Caldecott Honor that I really don’t like and I don’t think it fits the list. It diminishes the list.
The one thing I will say that I enjoyed about this, is that each room in the bears house was piled with books. Books surrounded papa’s chair and they were around each bed and books were piled all over Little Bears bed. I could get behind that. That is the only thing keep me from giving this 1 star.
The niece didn’t really like this either. She asked what was wrong with Goldilocks. She gave this 1 star. The nephew liked the bears and he gave this 2 stars. ...more
Mirandy is a spritely tale of a girl with big dreams of winning the cake walk dance. In my growing up, a cake walk was walking in a circle and whoeverMirandy is a spritely tale of a girl with big dreams of winning the cake walk dance. In my growing up, a cake walk was walking in a circle and whoever stopped on the special spot got the cake. In the African American tradition, it was a dance. You strutted around in a dance. That sounds like more fun to me. You got points for being creative and having flair with your steps.
Mirandy wants to dance with brother Wind. She heard if you can catch the wind, you can have it do your bidding and Mirandy knew she was a good dancer, she just needed an excellent partner and who better than the wind. She tries all kinds of things to catch the wind. Her friend Ezel just laughs at her. He wants to dance with her. Well, the ending is worth reading the story for. It’s a fun conclusion.
The colors are bright and there is humor in this book. It’s a neat story, certainly.
The nephew liked the way the wind looked. He wanted to know if the wind was really a person. I told him he was personified for the story, but as far as I know, the wind is not a person. He thought the story was interesting and he gave this 3 stars. The niece also enjoyed the anticipation of the dance in this. She liked Mirandy's yellow dress at the end, but not the see-through scarves tied to her wrist. The dancing was fun. She gave this 4 stars....more