Disney's Little Einsteins: Butterfly Suits (Disney's Little Einsteins)

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Colorful Book About Metamorphosis

Disney's Little Einsteins:Butterfly Suits

Disney's Little Einsteins: Butterfly Suits (Disney's Little Einsteins)

Butterflies

Ridiculous in the extreme

Disney's Little Einsteins: Butterfly Suits (Disney's Little Einsteins)
Marcy Kelman
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Disney's Little Einsteins: Music of the Meadow (Disney's Little Einsteins)

Disney's Little Einsteins: Farmer Annie's Garden (Disney's Little Einstein)

Disney's Little Einstein: Mission: Where's June? (Little Einsteins)

Disney's Little Einsteins: Birthday Machine (Disney's Little Einstein)

Disney's Little Einsteins: Galactic Goodnight (Little Einstein)

ASIN: B000MV8HTS

Book Description

This Little Einsteins adventure begins with a hungry caterpillar!Annie explains to the team that Caterpillar needs to go to the Tree of Many Colors in order to get a brand-new outfit. But when their tiny friend misses his ride to the tree, its up to Leo, Quincy, Annie, and June to make certain he gets there safe and sound. Once they get him there, the team is thrilled to discover that Caterpillars new outfit turns him into a monarch butterfly!Stunning real-life photos accompanied by easy-to-understand text help children experience the magic of this fascinating marvel of nature.

Customer Reviews:

Colorful Book About Metamorphosis.......2007-10-09

Using the Van Gogh painting Wheat Fields in the Cypresses, Butterfly Suits is a hardcover Little Einsteins book about the metamorphosis of a monarch butterfly caterpillar and his journey to get a new "suit". As an added bonus, this book has 17 full-color stickers on the inside back cover!

My son got this book for his birthday a few weeks ago, and read it to his grandparents after he opened all the gifts. They (and he) loved the book!

The text encourages singing, too, as well as visual recognition and counting. The best part, for me, is that it's a science and art lesson combined!

If your child enjoys the Little Einsteins series, this is a great book for kids aged 5 and up. (While the pictures are great for all ages, the text and topic seem geared to older children).

Disney's Little Einsteins:Butterfly Suits.......2007-09-29

My grand-son is delighted to know about the immersion of a butterfly.Each time we read the book to him he seems mesmerized by the story and asks many questions.What an interesting way to explain nature!

Disney's Little Einsteins: Butterfly Suits (Disney's Little Einsteins).......2007-09-04

Okay, I rate this book as okay. ONLY okay. I'm not on the "ridiculous" soapbox, but I am disappointed. I agree that most Little Einstein books are excellent. We also enjoy the shows. Further, it's a cartoon designed to educate AND entertain. Little Einsteins does all of this. BUT, and perhaps it is because I am used to such high standards from Little Einsteins, Butterfly Suits DOES fall short of what I'd expect. Monarch Butterfly caterpillars eat milkweed. ONLY milkweed. (I must admit, I'd not have bought the book if my daughter hadn't removed two of the stickers from the back and applied them to her shirt... Lesson there!) I just thought that monarch butterflies eating milkweed was just like--common knowledge. I like what the book does cover with the metamorphosis, that he rides in a truck is okay. AGAIN, it is fantasy, and this is an element that the kids can differentiate as such, but the fact that the catterpillar is eating a fall elm tree seems misleading. Couldn't he have just gone to the colorful musical milkweed plant instead, with flowers around instead of fall trees? And one more nit-picky thing: if they were taking the caterpillar in Rocket to the tree, why is he not in the Rocket picture? My 3-year-old looked all over the pages for him--and was disappointed. Bottom line, they go to so much trouble to do it right usually, that I was just shocked that they missed the target on this one. Buy a different LE book.

Butterflies.......2007-08-03

This book is a delightful blend of science facts and appealing illustrations.The Little Einsteins' interacting with real photographs of the life stages of butterflies both teach and entertain.

Ridiculous in the extreme.......2007-07-17

This book is ridiculous. The story is about some strange kids helping a caterpillar get to the Musical tree of Many Colors via pickup truck and space ship. Huh? Then the caterpillar turns into a butterfly in the normal fashion. The kids learn about this transformation in a space ship. In an attempt to be educational, a Van Gogh painting appears for no apparent reason. It appears to have been written by a committee. "Hey, I know, we can have a bug and a truck!" "Yeah, and a space ship!" "How about some art? Who's a famous artist?" It makes no sense.

If your child would be interested in learning about metamorphosis, you can find lots of good books that don't confuse the subject by requiring the caterpillar to need human (and alien) assistance to get to the right plant. Plus, the biology of this book is all wrong. The caterpillar shown grows on a milkweed plant in the spring, not a mushroom, as shown. Caterpillars don't eat dried yellow maple leaves as the kids feed the one in the story; they eat milkweed leaves. They don't need to move from the milkweed anywhere, and especially not to a maple tree in fall colors, and definitely not in the bed of a pickup truck driven by another caterpillar or by an alien ship manned by someone named Rocket. The butterfly is not a caterpillar in a brand-new outfit, as one of the characters asserts. The whole thing is just wrong.

Personally, I think it's absurd to take what is a magical story and make it bizarre and unrealistic in an attempt to entertain kids so much that they don't notice they're learning. Why not just tap into the natural desire children have to learn? I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

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The Other Way to Listen
Byrd Baylor
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689810539

Book Description

When you know "the other way to listen," you can hear wildflower seeds burst open, you can hear the rocks murmuring, and the hills singing, and it seems like the most natural thing in the world.

Of course it takes a lot of practice, and you can't be in a hurry...

In fact, most people never hear those things at all, but this book tells you about two people who did -- one who was very good at it and one who took a long time learning.

Book Description

Julie is a happy little girl who lives in Paris, but she wishes she could walk in a country garden. Julie is pleased when her mother decides to take her to visit the most wonderful garden in the world, owned by a great friend of the family. They arrive at their destination, and for this little girl it is like walking in a dreamy world where twisting plants grow as tall as trees. When Julie's dog runs away, she asks the gardener to help find her pet, and soon she and the gardener are friends. But this amiable, bearded old man is a very unusual gardener, for not only does he cultivate his many plants, he also paints beautiful pictures of them. Julie has made a friend of the great impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Based on a true story about the daughter of another fine artist, Berthe Morisot, this charmingly illustrated picture book includes reproductions by author-illustrator Laurance Anholt of a famous waterlilies painting, which Monet completed in his garden at Giverny, a few miles from Paris.

Customer Reviews:

Magical Garden inspired my students.......2006-08-12

Anholt's lovely book about Monet is my favorite of the series about famous artists. He demystifies impressionism and actually inspires children to paint their own "magical gardens"!!

Art Appreceation for children.......2005-11-11

Fine art apprecation was a lost thing among adults let alone children, encouraging an understanding of art at a young age will encorage intrest in art in children and their caregivers alike. Help kids enjoy art and culture while reading a fun story. With this book, (and the others in the series) they introduce kids to the famous artworks of great painters throughout history while encoraging a childs imagination to be creative and tell a story with each picture.

This story is even better because it is based on factual people, even the little girl. She embarks on a journey with her mother to visit a friend..the little girl ends up chasing her runaway dog on the trip and finds herself in a most magnificent garden..only to find out that is the "friend" they were going to visit. This book is wonderful, historical, educational, and fun. It encourages children to think about paintings, and to form images and stories for each one, to think about "what would it be like to be inside that painting".

Great for Toddlers.......2005-08-13

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet is a great way to expose young children to impressionist art. My son loved the story of Julie in Monet's garden. Julie is a young French girl who takes a train with her Mother to visit Monet's garden. As they arrive into the countryside, her dog runs away and is found in Monet's garden. Soon the painter and Julie become friends. The illustrations are bright and colorful. You almost feel as if you are inside one of Monet's paintings. Children will be captivated by the story as well as the beautiful pictures.

Breathtaking journey for children into Monet's paintings.......2004-10-16

I have long been a fan of Linnea in Monet's Garden - so I was very excited to find this new series of books by Laurence Anholt. Anholt's approach to introducing children to these artists - he has covered Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, and DaVinci - is to use their art to create the backgrounds and settings for his characters. This book in particular is my favorite of the series because it is crowned with a fold out of Monet's vivid Waterlilies with a tiny boat floating across it carrying the story's members - Monet and a little girl who happens upon his garden. Before it is over, the little girl plucks one of the lilies from the famous painting as a memoir. My daughter loves this picture - and it is almost surreal to me to see Monet's art coming to life in such a manner. I can hardly wait until she visits the museum and sees the real painting. Watching her make this connection should be very exciting.

Aside from this stunning mixture of Monet's work and Anholt's own lush artwork - carefully drawn to compliment the featured art - the book gives some great educational information about Monet by weaving it into the story - all this without ever starting to sound like a textbook. The story retains its' focus and its' charm without becoming boring. That is an amazing accomplishment in my opinion.

I hope to purchase the entire set for a lovely and educational Christmas gift. These are sure to become beloved classics. Any children's book that learns to entertain both child and parent equally often does.

The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship, Tragedy, and Survival in the Alaskan Wilderness

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Not all that great a bear tale but....
A book to consider.
A Beautiful Book
Beautiful book worth reading.
Elegant writing reveals love of wilderness

The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship, Tragedy, and Survival in the Alaskan Wilderness
Lynn Schooler
Manufacturer: Ecco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0066210852
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

"People step into the [Alaskan] landscape and vanish without a trace," writes wildlife guide Lynn Schooler in this ode to the wild beauty of the Alaskan coast, an unusual friendship, and a mysterious bear with fur the color of "burnished metal." Schooler spent a decade searching for the elusive blue (or glacier) bear with Michio Hoshino, Japan's preeminent wildlife photographer. Hoshino was a gentle genius who would sit still for hours, his face swelling from mosquito bites, for the perfect photograph, and who had the same patience and consideration for a bruised heart like Schooler's. Schooler had lost all ability to trust, scarred first by the scorn of classmates for his twisted body and finally by the brutal murder of the woman he loved. But as a guide--both for wildlife photographers and for readers of this evocative and gracefully composed memoir--Schooler richly reveals the place that sustains him. He makes remarkable connections between whales and the complex workings of old-growth forests, between glaciers dropping 100-foot columns of ice into waiting fjords, and the breathing of the planet. Ultimately, though, it is Hoshino's death by a bear that finally enables Schooler to make peace with humanity and death. A quiet, profound gem. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

With a body twisted by adolescent scoliosis and memories of the brutal death of a woman he loved, Lynn Schooler kept the world at arm's length, drifting through the wilds of Alaska as a commercial fisherman, outdoorsman, and wilderness guide. In 1990 Schooler met Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino and began a profound friendship forged by a love of adventure and cemented by their mutual obsession with finding the elusive glacier bear, an exceedingly rare creature, seldom seen and shrouded in legend. But it was only after Hoshino's tragic death from a bear attack that Schooler succeeded in photographing the animal -- and only then that he Was able to complete his journey and find new meaning in his own life.

Set amid the wild archipelagoes, glittering fjords, and dense primordial forests of Alaska's Glacier Coast, The Blue Bear is an unforgettable book that shines with purity and passion.

Customer Reviews:

Not all that great a bear tale but...........2007-04-02

The theme of this is really the author's life, both past and now as a small boat captain in Alaska's dramatically beautiful south coast. If you are passionate about bear stories this is not that great. Toting the Japanese film crew got old and his own entry into photography was tedious. Taken in total with the cultural history, the sea, forests, wildlife, and glaciers, and the author's own qwest it is worthwhile, but certainly not epic.

A book to consider........2006-11-11

A slightly slow start, but please persevere, as this book has so much to offer. Set in Alaska, with glorious descriptions of this environment provided by Lynn during the search for the elusive blue bear. However, I believe the real story lies in Lynns life experience, his battle for a normal childhood, his relationship with his father, his yearning for true love, the pain of loss, and his almost self imposed exile in this heaven on earth.

A Beautiful Book.......2004-12-10

The Blue Bear is a fantastic read! If you are at all interested in Alaska, nature, wildlife or friendship I am certain you will love this book.

Beautiful book worth reading........2004-05-14

My only regret is that the book wasn't longer. Every page is full of descriptive prose and fascinating narrative. You will feel like you're there with the author, either on the boat, hiking in the wilderness, or examining the joys and sorrows of friendships gained and lost.
What a well-written book!

Elegant writing reveals love of wilderness.......2004-03-11

Elegiac is the perfect word to describe both the cadence and direction of this book: somber, straightforward, yet filled with joy. We come to know both men -- the author and the late Michio Hoshino -- through dialogue and description that is utterly natural, yet weighted with meaning. Pivotal scenes are described so elegantly that you want to read them again and again to extract every nuance of mood. Small vignettes speak volumes, such as the visit of the two men to a village where hundreds of native women and children died by starvation due to a US government relocation program. Or the choice of the author to pilot the boat away from Hobart because he could not bear the sight of the ravaged hillsides.
The author's lightness of touch is captivating especially because it is paired with such a deep knowledge and love of the flora, fauna and weather of the region. Reading Blue Bear, you become effortlessly acquainted with the Alaskan coast, as though it is indeed home, and come to mourn its slow, relentless destruction. I look forward to Lynn Schooler's next book.

Friendship With God: An Uncommon Dialogue

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More than worth the cost
What the world needs now!
I love it I love it I love it!!
Change attitude about GOD forever!
thought provoking

Friendship With God: An Uncommon Dialogue

Manufacturer: Audio Literature
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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Sony WMFX479 Walkman

ASIN: 1574533320

Amazon.com

Neale Donald Walsch grew up fearing God, especially after his mother, a neighborhood mystic, was caught reading cards for a friend. His mother was "trafficking with the devil," according to Walsch's deeply religious aunt, and as a result, "God will send her straight to hell."

That was the start of a relationship born of "fearship," as Walsch calls it. In Friendship with God, Walsh speaks to the struggles he's had learning to see God as a true friend rather than a punishing judge. Like his immensely popular Conversations with God series, Friendship with God is written mostly in dialogue format, modeling how anyone can converse with God. What makes the book especially accessible is Walsh's humble voice that gently addresses most people's confusion and doubts. For example, Walsh talks about feeling squeamish that God knows the shameful secrets of his life. In response, God points out that Walsh has shared his dark secrets with friends and lovers. So why not share these truths with God, who has never judged or punished him, and never will? These types of tender and reassuring conversations give readers the courage to begin their own private dialogues with the divine. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

The first book in a new series by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of Conversations with God.

Neale Donald Walsch has changed the way millions of Americans think about God. His Conversations with God series, book 1, book 2, and book 3, have all been New York Times bestsellers- book 1 for over two years.

The essence of Neale Donald Walsch's message lies at the heart of faith- the sacred place in every person, where he stands alone with his God. Walsch urges each of us to forge our own unique relationship with God, a God who is everywhere and speaks to us in all we do. It is up to us to stop and listen. It is up to us to respond...to begin the conversation. And a conversation is the first step, just as in any relationship, in establishing trust, in building friendship, in creating communion.

In Friendship with God, Neale Donald Walsch shares the next part of his journey, and leads us to deepen and strengthen our own bonds with God. He honors our heart's desire: a closer connection, richer and fuller. A friendship with God.

Customer Reviews:

More than worth the cost.......2007-10-11

I recommend this book. Friendship With God takes some of the basic concepts the author (Walsch) addressed in his original Conversations With God trilogy (books 1-3) and goes more in-depth. He and brings out some new ideas as well. It's well worth reading, but only AFTER you've read Conversations With God books 1,2 & 3.

What the world needs now!.......2007-09-02

So, you don't want to believe the author about it actually being GOD he is talking to?
Well, how do you think the first bible got written? THE SAME WAY.
Pay attention to God's answers, and you will "just know" in your heart that it is God talking.
All religions even atheists would benefit from hearing what God says about religion, the bible and church. It will surprise the hell out of you literally. Open your mind and read it. It has nothing to do with modern day christianity.

I love it I love it I love it!!.......2007-07-23

I had read most of the CWG books, I must say Friendship with God and Home with God are my favorite besides the CWG trilogy. It has many new materials not found in CWG 1,2,or 3. It focuses more on you and God.. how to become friendship with God.. and how to apply this friendship to our everyday life. Neale also talks more about his life stories and more real life examples were presented so that we can better understand God's words. It kept the dialogue format (which i like alot) and Neale raised many difficult questions for God to answer and God answers them with clarity, wisdom, and consistency. After reading this book, i feel so close to God and thank god for his love for each of us all.

Change attitude about GOD forever!.......2007-05-24

This book and others in this series may foeever change you!

thought provoking.......2007-05-08

As with all of the Conversation With God books I think that there is some huge spiritual content in this book. It is well written and easy to read. It has a smooth flow to it. If you read his books with an open mind and just let your instincts tell you if this rings true or not I think that you will be surprised. Read and then listen to the quiet voice inside that is your God center...

Average customer rating:

Even my husband grows quiet when I read it...
Fabulous
My two year old son's favorite book!!!
Good story to read to a child.
The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale
Julia Donaldson
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142405809

Book Description

This is the tale of a tiny snail and a great big whale. The snail may be small, but she has huge dreams of seeing the world. So she hitches a ride on a friendly whale's back to see amazing sights. Icebergs and volcanoes, storms and sharks—the two friends see it all together. And when the whale runs into trouble, the snail proves that even the tiniest creature can help a friend in a very big way. The creators of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom have teamed up again to bring you this whale of a tale.

Customer Reviews:

Even my husband grows quiet when I read it..........2007-08-28

I picked this book up during a trip to Cape May, NJ and it quickly became my family's favorite. The cadence of the writing and the pictures gets my 3 year old's attention, and the underlying message is what gets mine. Even my husband grows quiet when I read it. The description of the fishes' "feathery fins" and sharks' "hideous toothy grins" is just perfect.

A great lesson to be learned, one small act of courage can change anyone's life and can always make a difference.

Fabulous.......2007-03-08

Another great rhyming book from Julia Donaldson. She does a great range of books and they appeal to adults and kids. They are so easy to read and it is a joy to follow the simple yet exciting stories. She is a gifted story teller and the illustrations are just intriguing.

My two year old son's favorite book!!!.......2007-02-07

My two and a half year old son loves this book! The illustraions are wonderful and he follows the story. It's one of the best books we have. Highly recommend!

Good story to read to a child........2007-01-25

A lengthier book to read to a child which has a good rhyme and story. Would prefer type size to be bigger and bolder.

The Snail and the Whale.......2007-01-11

A really beautiful book;the illustrations and the plot make this book work. The rhyme scheme keeps children interested.

Average customer rating:

WELL WRITTEN, WELL ILLUSTRATED AND VERY USEFUL.
Beautiful book!
a good starting point
bringing van gogh to life
Lovely and interest-provoking

Camille and the Sunflowers
Laurence Anholt
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0812064097

Book Description

"Where Camille lived, the sunflowers grew so high they looked like real suns. . .One day a strange man arrived in Camille's town. He had a straw hat and a yellow beard." So begins this fascinating tale of Camille, a little boy who is the son of a small-town postman. Camille meets the man with the yellow beard, and they become friends. This bearded man is a painter named Vincent van Gogh. The story, based on a true-life incident, is beautifully illustrated in full color by the author. This unusual picture storybook will appeal to children who love art-and also to children who simply enjoy a good story.

Customer Reviews:

WELL WRITTEN, WELL ILLUSTRATED AND VERY USEFUL........2007-05-04

This is the type of book that I do wish there were more of. I certainly am not going to go into plot, story-line, etc. here, as other reviewers have done so already and have accomplished it quite well. This story is based on a true encounter with the artist Vincent Van Gogh. This book is a wonderful tool to introduce children to the wonderful artist. It also has some wonderful lesson within it's pages dealing with acceptance and tolerance of those who are just a bit different than ourselves. The author has done a wonderful job with the text and the illustrations fit perfectly and are very well executed. The story is told through the eyes of a small boy. I have read this to quite a number of classes of children and they have all enjoyed it, which, when you think about it, is a pretty good indorsement for any children's book. This is certainly one you will want to add to your child's library.

Beautiful book!.......2007-03-01

I bought this book for my 6-year-old son, albiet with a little hesitation as to whether or not he would be interested in something like this, since his passions seem to be more with Spiderman, Harry Potter, etc. However he absolutely loves this book! He asks me to read it to him almost every night. And tonight after we finished it, he asked me where we could go to see Van Gogh's paintings in real life because "I really want to go and see them!" (Hmmm...this could be a good excuse to take a little vacation to Holland!) I am ordering several more of this book for him to give as birthday gifts to his friends and cousins.

a good starting point.......2006-07-25

This is a very well written and illustrated story about a young boy who encounters Vincent Van Gogh and befriends him. It is based on a true story. While it is well done and my children love the story, I was a little bit disappointed that it included only imitations of Van Gogh's paintings and not actual pictures of them. I felt that even though there is a sad element to this story, the author did an excellent job of making it suitable even for small children, and sparks their interest in learning more about his life and works. We will be using this book this year for our homeschooled kindergartner and preschooler, and I am sure that this will be a great starting point for further learning and discussions. I give this book four stars and highly recommend it.

bringing van gogh to life.......2006-03-11

i used this book to teach an art project to pre-schoolers and it was perfect! they enjoyed the story very much and it made the portraits of Camille's family, which they had already seen in other lessons, come to life and at the end when they see the picture of "14 sunflowers" they became excited about creating their own sunflowers out of fimo clay. A beautiful book and a well written story.

Lovely and interest-provoking.......2004-08-04

This is simply one of the best books I ever got my daughter. When she was about 1-1/2 years old, we took her to a Van Gogh exhibition and she stared, absolutely transfixed, at "Wheat Field with Crows." So when I saw this book, it seemed like she would really enjoy it, and she has. Note that it is not an entirely happy story, true to Van Gogh's life, so it is maybe not for tiny kids. But even recomposed by Anholt, the paintings are still amazingly vivid and interesting, and led us on a web search to find more (http://www.vangoghgallery.com/ is the BEST spot!). If I could only have a few books to read to my daughter for the rest of her childhood, this would be on my list, and hers as well.

Average customer rating:

Enchanting!
My 8 year old loves this book!
A Must-Have for Every Family's Library
Great book
4 1/2* The Remembrance of Trees Past,

Our Tree Named Steve
Alan Zweibel
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142407437
Release Date: 2007-02-15

Book Description

Dear Kids, A long time ago, when you were little, Mom and I took you to where we wanted to build a house. . . . I remember there was one tree, however, that the three of you couldn't stop staring at. . . .

After the family spares him from the builders, Steve the tree quickly works his way into their lives. He holds their underwear when the dryer breaks down, he's there when Adam and Lindsay get their first crushes, and he's the centerpiece at their outdoor family parties. With a surprising lack of anthropomorphizing, this is a uniquely poignant celebration of fatherhood, families, love, and change.

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting!.......2007-09-20

Enchanting, charming, and SWEET! We have an equally wonderful tree in our front yard, which has held a swing, provided shade, as well as a home to a family of squirrels that have been with us for years (much to our dog's amusement). Although we have never thought about naming our tree we have, after reading this heartwarming book, decided to name our tree. Announcing for the first time ever in print, our big old maple tree, MAY!

My 8 year old loves this book!.......2007-05-06

My 8 year old checked this book out at the school library and had to have it. She read it over and over! Good book for any family that may be dealing with the loss of something or someone special.

A Must-Have for Every Family's Library.......2007-05-06

In a perfect world children would never have to experience the pain of loss. But, of course, this is not a perfect world, and just like their adult counterparts, youngsters need help coping when they lose someone they love. Be it that pet hamster who meets with an untimely (and usually slightly suspicious) end, a beloved grandparent who passes away, or the giant tree in the family's backyard that is cut down after providing so many years of comfort to those who hung from its limbs and took shelter under its shade- we all need help getting our children through such rough times. "Our Tree Named Steve" is the perfect book for such times.

Written in the form of a tender letter from a father to his three children this book teaches children about the importance of loving, to their fullest capacity, those who impact their lives; and then, when that most precious person is gone physically, embracing that same love, and, most importantly, feeling empowered by that love- perpetuating it so to speak. This book reminds its readers, both young and not-so young, that once someone has taken up residence in our hearts, they exist there eternally. Perhaps, in a different, less tangible form as the end of the book suggests- but they reside there nonetheless.

An obvious departure from the more adult-oriented comedy writing for which he is most recognized, Alan Zweibel has written a children's book that is entertaining, thought-provoking, and even a bit spiritual in its universal theme. But despite the heavy subject matter, the book is written with a softness and gentility that is soothing to children. It's also quite funny- the line "... and whenever our dryer broke down, he (Steve, the tree) held our underwear with pride" will undoubtedly make every child giggle because `underwear' is always funny! The illustrations that accompany Mr. Zweibel's thoughtful text are both beautiful and comical, and I simply love the colors David Catrow used. They jump off the page.

I highly recommend this book- it is one that should be accessible on the family bookshelf at all times for those days when your child needs some comforting... heck, it'll probably provide some solace to a few grown-ups, too.

Great book.......2007-03-18

My first graders loved this book and they noticed some characters from other book that Catrow illustrated show up in this story. It made them sad at the end.
For adults, it makes you think about childhood memories,

4 1/2* The Remembrance of Trees Past,.......2005-09-29

This sometimes poignant story focuses on the long-term intersections of family life and nature (here, a tree named "Steve"), and mixes humor and pathos appropriate for toddlers to early elementary school age kids. While there are some minor flaws that a good editor might have corrected, the narrative and (especially) the illustrations tell an original story about nature's centrality in our development and our memories.

The story line is in the form of a letter from a father to his three grown-up kids, describing how "a long time ago, when you were little, Mom and I took you to where we wanted to build a house for us to live in." This information would be obvious and sound a little redundant if really written to three grown-up children. Although very talented, Zweibel doesn't completely resolve the difficult problem of writing a children's story through the modus operandi of a letter for grown-ups. Still, Zweibel captures the power and appeal of reminiscence as "Dad" recounts realistic details such as two-year old Sari's calling out "Steve" as a mispronunciation of Steve, and the tree's increasing importance to the entire family:

"He quickly worked his way into your lives as a swing holder, target, third base, hiding place, jump-rope turner... and whenever our dryer broke down, he held our underwear with pride."

The latter phrase once again shows the primacy of the book's audience over the letter's audience--the grown-up children. While this is understandable and even laudable (shouldn't the reader come first?), it makes the letter-writing device seem a bit manipulative. Rather than being profound and transcendental, the tone seems a bit expedient and overly sentimental. This is particularly the case on the two-page spread showing Kirby the dog sniffing the stump where Steve once stood, a victim of disease and a recent storm. Against a monochromatic purple background that practically resembles the burning of Atlanta in "Gone With The Wind," we read in Dad's letter:

"...even in his final moments, when he could have fallen on our house, Sari's swings, Kirby's house, or Mom's garden, Steve performed his last trick and protected all of us to the very end, and friends like this are hard to find."

It's some 20 or so years later, and Sari's swings are still up and Dad talks to his grown-ups kids about Steve's "tricks"? This is a bit much, and seems antithetical to the book's theme of change. Furthermore, time seems to change unevenly in "Steve's" neck of the woods. Years later, the house looks much the same as it did when the family first moved there. The two older children do begin to look like teenagers, but young Sari's picture is ill-defined and static.

Still, Zweibel touches upon important and difficult issues of discovery, change, destruction, and renewal. More impressively, he seems to have struck a chord with his adult audience about the sometimes forgotten importance of memory and personal meaning. (Read the reviews here, in which people often mention a tree or other well-loved and often used natural object from their childhood.) I also liked the conclusion in which Steve's remnants make up a new tree house in a new tree.

Although there are the necessary comical interludes featuring the mugging dog. David Catrow's pencil and watercolor illustrations have the look of memory. In the best pictures, the foggy, muted colors recall a fondly remembered past, and some of the pictures impart a mythic stature to the beloved tree. For adults, "Steve" symbolizes a past to which we cannot fully return; for children, Steve is the embodiment of the joy, the intimacy, and the unpredictability of nature. A book with special poignancy after the recent Gulf Coast floods, its appeal seems to transcend Zweibel and Catrow's material.

Average customer rating:

"Come On, Rain!" A Truly Beautiful Book!
Lyrical picture book
This is more than just another weather story!
Keep on Coming!
Come on rain

Come On, Rain
Karen Hesse
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0590331256

Amazon.com

In this quietly affecting story, award-winning author Karen Hesse and artist Jon J. Muth deftly capture the magnificence of a sudden rainstorm on a swelteringly hot day. Much more than a simple tale of weather, Come On, Rain! also portrays the tenderness of mother-daughter relations, the rhythms of urban society, and the power of nature to transform and reinvigorate all forms of life.

The book's collaborators, more like alchemists, work wonders. Muth's sunbaked watercolors perfectly convey the washed-out, drought-stricken world, while Hesse's gripping narrative--a detailed prose poem written in the voice of the watchful, pigtailed Tessie--conveys undaunted hope and anticipation. Like a long-limbed little bird--all twiggy arms and legs--Tessie moves through the neighborhood, observing her Mamma, her friends, the skies, even the streets:

Up and down the block,
cats pant,
heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway....
I stare out over rooftops,
past chimneys, into the way off distance.
And that's when I see it coming,
clouds rolling in,
gray clouds, bunched and bulging under a purple sky.
A creeper of hope circles round my bones.
"Come on, rain!" I whisper.

As the downpour approaches, Tessie gathers her neighborhood friends for a romp in the raindrops. Their eager anticipation is matched by a rain shower so gigantic, it even makes their mothers run into the street. It's literally the stuff that dreams are made of--my own daughter dreamed of the delicious downpour the night we first read the book. (Click to see a sample spread. Text ©1999 by Karen Hesse. Illustrations ©1999 by Jon J. Muth. Reproduced with permission of Scholastic, Inc.) (Ages 5 and older) --Jean Lenihan

Customer Reviews:

"Come On, Rain!" A Truly Beautiful Book!.......2002-02-17

I found the book "Come On, Rain!" at our local library and immediately picked it up. The first thing you will notice about this beautiful book are the gorgeous ilustrations! The pictures in this book are lovely and the prose is so happy and full of the anticipation everyone feels on a hot summer day while waiting for a cooling rain. You and you children will love this book!

Lyrical picture book.......2001-10-25

This lyrical ode to the coming rain, accompanied by the soothing wash of lush watercolors, make Hesse's Come on, Rain! sure to please young children. In prose that reads like poetry, young Tessie bemoans the heat of summer while waiting with confidence that rain will soon come. Along with her multicultural friends and all their mammas, Tessie dances in gratitude for the refreshing wetness the rain bestows. While the lyrical prose is of such beautiful quality it could stand on its own, the soft watercolor illustrations portray the emotions of the characters in such lovely detail; the two, the prose and illustrations, combine to create a delightful work of art. Even with the vertical lines of rain which one would expect to stop the motion of the story, Muth manages to create a sense of flowing from left to right, page to page, in keeping with the cadence of the text by using achromatic colors for the backgrounds of most pages. Recommended for children ages 4-8. Public librarians may want to share this title in a storytime about rain, along with Bill Martin's Listen to the Rain.

This is more than just another weather story!.......2001-09-04

"Come on, rain!" are the fervent words of Tess, as she looks toward the sky with a great deal of anticipation and hope. It has not rained in 3 weeks. Therefore, everyone in Tess's neighborhood and city was hoping for rain to bring relief from the scorching heat. Well, the best part of this story is that it seems her fervent words finally reached the clouds; for "over rooftops, past chimneys, into the way off distance . . . clouds came rolling in." As soon as Tess realizes that her wish for rain was on the way, she quickly gathers her close friends together (and their mothers too) to run, dance and play in the wonderful rain showers that fall upon the city.

The watercolor illustrations of Jon Muth do an excellent job of enhancing the movement of Ms. Hesse's story. The opening illustrations of bright yellow and gold give readers a sense of how hot and oppressive the heat was for Tess's neighborhood and city. Gradually as the rain clouds moves in, hues of soft grays, brown, and greens are used to depict the moments just before rain falls from the sky. By the time rain actually comes, the illustrations are filled with splashes of pink, violet and blues, which represent the renewal of spirit and feelings of relief for all in the city. You know, this is more than just another weather story! It is a story that shows how rain, a powerful element of nature, has the ability to invigorate all of life!

Keep on Coming!.......2001-06-10

Karen Hesse captures a beautiful moment in this book. She expertly creates a scorching, wilting summer day with vivid images. My mouth was parched just reading it, and then the rain came. You'll love the images created here of the "bare-legged mamas" and girls, both from Hesse's beautiful writing and Muth's spectacular watercolor illustrations.

Come on rain.......2001-05-24

Tessie, watchful and pigtailed, wants it to rain in her neighborhood. It is on a hot sunny day and a little girl named Tessie wants it to rain. She has pigtails. She carries around her umbrella, holds out her hand, and hopes it will rain. She has a wonderful relationship with her mother. This story is by Karen Hesse. Karen Hesse worked real hard with Jon J. Muth. They worked and made a wonderful book. It is very poetic.

The Bat in My Pocket: A Memorable Friendship

Average customer rating:

Eleven years and still memorable!
Heartwarming and Educational Tale
You Don't Know Beans About Bats Until You've Read This Book
Amanda is a Great Ambassador for Bats!
An excellent story of an extraordinary relationship!

The Bat in My Pocket: A Memorable Friendship
Amanda Lollar
Manufacturer: Capra Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

A Hummingbird in My House: The Story of Squeak

ASIN: 0884964094

Customer Reviews:

Eleven years and still memorable!.......2006-12-22

My fourth grade teacher read this book to the entire class eleven years ago. I still remember the title and how much I loved listening about a caring woman and her unexpected friend. There wasn't a single student in the class that didn't enjoy this book. If you're looking for a heartwarming tale of friendship with a very original plot, look no further.

Heartwarming and Educational Tale.......2006-09-06

This is the tale of how Amanda Lollar first rescued a bat found on the sidewalk outside of her furniture business. It's a journey that starts with this first rescue and continues to this very day. Amanda Lollar went on to found an orginazation called Bat World Sanctuary and to become one of the foremost bat rehabilitation experts in the world. Quite an accomplishment, and this tale of how it all started is a great read!

You Don't Know Beans About Bats Until You've Read This Book.......2002-11-26

This little book revealed the true personalities and capabilities of one of the most misunderstood mammals on earth. I used to think bats were cute, like mice with wings, until I read The Bat In My Pocket several years ago. The author helps people understand that bats are gentle, intelligent, long-lived and highly beneficial, by telling the tale of the injured bat she rescued and befriended one summer day. The little bat, Sunshine, captured Amanda Lollar's heart and will do the same to yours.

Amanda is a Great Ambassador for Bats!.......2000-07-05

This book really makes a person realize that bats -- for all the bad publicity and myths around them -- are really wonderful creatures with distinct personalities and a lot to offer. Amanda writes a warm story with great detail about bat behavior and her own personal growth. I like that she doesn't sugarcoat the problems she had and that it is apparent keeping bats (and all wildlife, really) is not only unwise (and probably illegal) for the normal person but a difficult and challenging task. If everyone read this book, there would be a lot better understanding of the important role bats play in the environment and why they should be appreciated rather than feared.

An excellent story of an extraordinary relationship!.......1998-12-02

I have met Amanda and now consider her a friend. After reading her book, it made me realize how wonderful Amanda is, and inspired me to begin learning even more about bats. In this endeavor, I have began working as a wildlife rescuer and am learning the joys and heartaches of the rehabilitation of these wonderful, gentle, benevolent creatures God has gifted us with. I recommend this book to every teacher, parent, wildlife enthusiast, scout leader, youth minister, or anyone else who has the ability to change the stereotypical image that bats have!!!!

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