Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds

Book Description

Lyrical prose and warm watercolor illustrations bring a "certain part of the country called Appalachia" alive for young readers. Two award-winning artists, forever touched by their experiences growing up in this unique landscape, have teamed to create a quietly powerful and beautifully crafted portrait of life in a timeless place.

Customer Reviews:

This book made me homesick!.......2007-06-02

I started crying when I read this book. It is so beautiful and true, from the free hounddogs to the shy contemplaters and those of us who left home and can't quite figure out why there is an invisible rope pulling us back.

A calm and lovely view of Appalachia.......2002-04-04

Author Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Barry Moser were both reared in Appalachia, and they are completely in sync on this book. The calm, clear-eyed text and the evocative watercolor paintings balance and enhance each other beautifully.

Rylant doesn't shy away from the harder truths of Appalachian living. About coal mining, she writes, "Many [Appalachians] are coal miners because the mountains in Appalachia are full of coal which people want and if you are brave enough to travel two miles down into solid dark earth to get it, somebody will pay you money for your trouble." On the facing page from this plainspoken truth is a haunting Barry Moser watercolor of a green-clad coal miner, his eyes weary and his skin gritty with coal dust, his lunchpail resting beside him.

The beauties come through, too. Rylant writes, "Morning in these houses in Appalachia is quiet and full of light and the mountains out the window look new, like God just made them that day." Throughout the book is a sense of quiet and purpose and appreciation for a way of life most of us will never know. It's a moving and transfixing read.

Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds.......2001-10-18

Cynthia Rylant has once again captured the true spirit of the Appalachian culture. Her descriptions are right on target. Many of us, who live in this wild and wonderful country, know folks just like those she introduces to us in all of her stories. The significance of this book, for me, is to keep alive the warm, wonderful spirit of this amazing culture she so colorfully shares with readers. I'm giving this book to children and adults as well.

A Different World!.......1999-11-27

This book is wonderful! I read it to my class to help them understand what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains compared to their life in Chicago. My students were spell-bound, held by the wonderful descriptions and beautiful illustrations. They really understood that there are many different cultures within our nation!

M Is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets)

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A Purr-fectly Marvelous Compendium of Kitty Lore

M Is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets)
Helen L. Wilbur
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1585363049

Book Description

From saber-toothed to tabby, cats have had a prominent place in human history, society, and hearts. Now cat lovers of all ages can discover whats lurking behind kittys twitching tail and bewitching eyes in M is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet.

Customer Reviews:

A Purr-fectly Marvelous Compendium of Kitty Lore.......2007-01-19

Clever rhymes and concise text descriptions of the many varieties of cat behavior, eccentricities and general information make this book a joy both for children and adults who love cats. The outstanding artwork complements the text. Most adults will learn additional interesting facts about cats; in fact, some will read it first just for their own enjoyment before sharing it with children. A truly outstanding work for cat lovers of all ages.

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a charming beautiful book
While we sleep, someone else is playing!
Gorgeous New Children's Book
Enjoyable and fun book.
This one is a pleasure to open again and again

While You Were Sleeping
John Butler
Manufacturer: Peachtree Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1561452548

Book Description

While you were sleeping...

one tiger went hunting in the jungle,

two mice made a warm,

cozy nest in the hay,

three bears played chase in the snow...

Take a trip with young Daisy through the animal world in this exquisitely illustrated counting book. When Daisy wakes up, her mother describes how animals all around the world play and swim and fly while she sleeps.

Children will count along with Daisy's mother, from "one tiger hunting in the jungle" to "ten penguins jumping out of the icy sea...to meet one hundred friends." And then they can count for themselves the many animals in Daisy's bedroom.

John Butler's lyrical text and rich, vivid illustrations make this a special book for sharing. Adults and children alike will be enchanted by the luminous beauty of Butler's stunning illustrations as they discover what animals do in the nighttime hours.

Customer Reviews:

a charming beautiful book.......2005-06-17

This is such a beautifully illustrated book- my 16 month old son just loves it. He loves the moon and the stars and the illustrations of the moon, stars, and animals are just beautiful to look at. And along with the beautiful picures, the author also counts from 1-10 with the animals - 1 Tiger goes hunting (don't love hunting but I change that word), 2 mice cozy up together, 3 bears play chase etc. so it is fun to sometimes practice counting with him- even though it is a bit early for that! But, this is a wonderful nighttime story for children. A must have!

While we sleep, someone else is playing!.......2005-04-27

I first got the board book version of this book for my daugther & really fell in love with both the story and the artwork! A few months later I happened to read a review where the person said there was a difference between the Hard cover and Board book version. So... I decided to also purchase the book in Hardcover as well.

Now that I have both side by side, in my eyes here is the difference between the 2 books. The Hardcover starts with a little girl being awoken by her mother in the morning, and while the girl is waking up her mother begins to talk about how all the animals that where awake last night while she was sleeping are now all sleeping, whiles she is now awake. From those 3 pages the books are both the same.... and then the hard back has 5 more pages at the end that the Board book does not.

I know that board books are small for small listeners with short attention spans, so I think the publishers choose to shorten a few pages that really do not matter if they are deleted from the book. The board book still stands alone as just as awesome without those 8 pages some of which are illustrations.

I use the board book at night before bed to show her that the world is big and while she is sleeping others are awake and so forth. The board book begins with the outline of a home against a stary, stary night. While I plan to use the hard cover book when I introduce her to it one morning or afternoon. Both books are illustrated so beautifully and it still to me is such a neat process that while we sleep, someone in the world is playing!

I have also seen this done in the "Family of the Earth" Books as well.

Gorgeous New Children's Book.......2004-10-21

John Butler's WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, captures the essence of what animals do at night while a young child is tucked safely in his/her bed, soundly asleep. Ten different animals are featured throughout the pages of the book, including mice, tigers, penguins, and more. The lyrical prose will have very young children drifting off to sleep before the story is done, while at the same time will keep them dreaming about the lovely illustrations and animals contained throughout the story. A lovely bedtime book for all children, especially those who are under the age of 5.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Enjoyable and fun book........2003-06-17

My daughter received the large paper book for her 1st Christmas and loved it so much that it wore out and had to be discarded. She recently received the card board book for her 3 year birthday but it was a little disapointing because it didn't have the beginning page with Daisy's mother talking to her in bed and doesn't have the last pages with the 10 penguins joining 100 friends and with Daisy's room where you try to find the 10 penguins, which is what my daughter had especially enjoyed.

This one is a pleasure to open again and again.......2002-08-27

This book is a really great bed-time book for even the littlest listeners. But, it also teaches simple concepts such as counting to ten, and the names of animals.

The final two page spread contains a sort of "I Spy" game that includes all of the animals from the previous pages.

Book Description

The fantastic Legend team of Kathy-jo Wargin and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen have another beautiful book to add to the Sleeping Bear and Mackinac Island stories. A Grandmother's love for her grandchildren is magically portrayed in The Legend of the Loon. A perfect addition to your collection, this book remains true to the heartwarming qualities you've come to expect from these legendary storytellers.

Customer Reviews:

Nice book for grandma.......2004-12-31

My mother-in-law loves loons! This book was perfect because it is about grandmas and loons. I would not suggest this book for the baby-preschool level... This is really a book that is written for the 4-12 yr old range. (4-6 if you are reading it to them and 6-12 if they are reading it for themselves.)

Every Grandmothers Book!.......2000-10-04

Great revelation! Grandmothers throughout the world should be such a guardian for their precious children. Warms my heart, and passes on great love from one generation to the next. Outstanding prose and melodic writing, great for young and old.

Charming story.......2000-06-29

I read this story to my grandchildren today, and they loved it! We live on a lake where loons nest, and their call has always captivated us. I don't think I have ever heard a more beautiful tale that this one! My grandchildren are now calling every loon they see "grandmother lom". This story will be read again and again.

beautiful to read and view.......2000-06-12

Mr.VanFranknhuzen was in our area schools in Clinton Township for 5 days this spring and used his wonderful books as lessons for the children to draw. He was so good with the kids the time just flew. One of the things he shared with us was about the "secrets" of the Loon book. He told us how much fun he had painting hidden loons in almost all the paintings and the children as well as the adults had fun trying to find them all. I don't think we succeeded but we're still looking. The magical story in combination with the beautiful paintings are a joy to read and see. We wait anxiously for your next legend. Thank you.

The Legend of the Loon.......2000-06-03

The legend of the Loon by Kathy-Jo Wargin is another one of her great legends. Although it doesn't specifically mention Michigan it certainly could be. The grandmother becomes concerned when her grandchildren go out in a boat and are late coming back. The children are lost and finally find their way back by following the loon. Grandma turned into the loon to show them the way back to safety. Great for older kids, although our younger ones enjoy the story as well.

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Sleeping Beauty
Christine San Jose
Manufacturer: Boyds Mills Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1563976366

H Is for Horse: An Equestrain Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press Sports)

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Attention all horse lovers!

H Is for Horse: An Equestrain Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press Sports)
Mike Ulmer
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1585363340

Book Description

Illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

In the style and format of our alphabet books comes H is for Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet. From basics such as mucking out the stall and how to judge a horse's qualities to historical facts on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mike Ulmer relays the fun and fundamentals of the world of horses. Lush, detailed paintings by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, whose work School Library Journal has described as 'luminous,' capture the beauty and magnificence of these creatures.

Mike Ulmer writes a sports column for the Toronto Sun newspaper. He caught the horse bug while on a family trail ride through the Lake Louise region of Alberta, and is now the proud guardian of Criquet, a three-year-old Paso Fino. This is his first book about horses and his second children's book with Sleeping Bear Press. He has written four bestselling books about hockey and M is for Maple: A Canadian Alphabet. Mike lives with his family near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen immigrated to the U.S. to work as Art Director for the Michigan Natural Resources magazine. He researched and painted Michigan wildlife for every issue. H is for Horse is his sixteenth children's book with Sleeping Bear Press. His most recent titles are Saving Samantha and The Edmund Fitzgerald. Gijsbert and his family (including Black, a Tennessee Walker) live in Bath, Michigan, on a 40-acre farm.

Customer Reviews:

Attention all horse lovers!.......2004-11-14

I'm absolutely in love with Sleeping Bear Press Alphabet books. If it wasn't for the fact I wouldn't make any money working at Borders, I'd buy them all.

H is for Horse is a WONDERFUL book. The illustrations are just beautiful showing the different aspects of horses (the bit, trotting, etc). The little poems that go with each letter of the alphabet are cleverly written too. In each book, also, they have the outside of the page for additional information that covers that letter and the information is good (i.e. on 'B' for bit, the side information talks about where the bit goes, what it's typically made out of, and talks about the bridle that goes with the bit).

The book isn't just a picture book using the alphabet. It's a book that can tickle the fancy of a young horse lover, or even older ones, but it's also good for someone who wants to learn a bit more about horses. This is not like any alphabet book anyone will ever enounter anywhere else, besides with Sleeping Bear Press.

Animals Sleeping (First Facts: Animal Behavior)

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Animals Sleeping (First Facts: Animal Behavior)
Wendy Perkins
Manufacturer: Capstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

S Is for S'mores: A Camping Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets)

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S Is for S'mores: A Camping Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets)
Helen Foster James
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Camping | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1585363022

Book Description

Next to baseball and fireworks on the Fourth of July, nothing else seems as American as the family camping trip. From what to pack, where to go, and what to do when you get there, S is for Smores: A Camping Alphabet takes readers on an A-Z trail exploring this outdoor pastime.

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Pleasure in Learning
A must have for all parents
An intriguing picturebook collection of ten marine mammals and their unique sleeping habits
Best book my mom has written yet!
An adorable book to be enjoyed by young and old alike

Water Beds: Sleeping In The Ocean
Gail Langer Karwoski
Manufacturer: Sylvan Dell Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0976494310
Release Date: 2005-08-20

Product Description

Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean is a soothing bedtime story that answers the question of how marine mammals animals that breathe air manage to sleep in the ocean. Youngsters meet ten marine mammals, including sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, manatees, harbor seals, humpback whales and walruses, and learn about each animals unique sleeping habits. Although the brief portraits are based on up-to-date scientific research, author Gail Langer Karwoski weaves the facts into simple, poetic language. Connie McLennans rich oil paintings capture the oceans habitats and its appealing creatures. The story invites children to drift into peaceful sleep on the gentle waves of imagination. An educa-tional supplement in the back of the book includes teaching trivia about marine mammals, their sleep habits, and how they have adapted to their watery environment, and make-your-own marine mammal craft using various animal adaptations. Ages 2-8

Customer Reviews:

Pleasure in Learning.......2007-09-12

Karwoski, Gail Langer. Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean. Illustrated by Connie McLennan. Mt. Pleasant, SC. Sylvan Dell Publishing. Hardback. 32 pages. $15.95. ISBN 0-9764943-1-0

Little Person sleeps in his warm, dry bed while dreaming about how marine mammals manage to get some rest in the depths of the ocean. Dolphins take turns on guard duty; manatees rise to the surface like bubbles, then sink again; Northern fur seals sleep on the shore, piled on top of each other like puppies.
We as humans spend about a third of our lives sleeping. Scientists think our brains will not work without sleep. What if we could "sleep" with one side of our brain and stay awake on the other side like whales and dolphins? Think how much work we could accomplish.
The elephant seal can sleep in the depths and suspend breathing for as long as two hours. Thick blubber under their skin keeps walruses warm in the icy sea.
Gail Langer Karwoski spent six years gathering material for this book. Typical of a Sylvan Dell picture book, parents and teachers can use this beautifully illustrated story for pleasure or learning. Most of their stories are fictional, but deal with non-fictional themes of science. At the end of each book is a section called For Creative Minds. Up-to-date scientific research gives fun facts about mammals. Students are given patterns and invited to create their own marine mammal.
Connie McLennan is an award-winning freelance artist. Her rich oil paintings are stunning. She positions "Little Person" swimming and sleeping along side the creatures in their deep water habitats. She uses the vivid colors of the best and sweetest dreams.
Hopefully Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean, which won the Mom's Choice Most Outstanding Children's Book Author 2005, will ease the child to sleep on "gentle waves of imagination.

A must have for all parents.......2006-09-25

In her delightfully informative book, author Gail Langer Karkowski delves deep into the world of animals sleep, and shares with her readers an inside look into the mysterious world of the ocean; a world children often wonder about.

Illustrator Connie McLennan compliments the text beautifully with her pictures. Best described as a perfect mix of realism and whimsy, McLennan's illustrations transport readers deep within the realms of the ocean to a place they've only dreamt about.

A must have for all children who dream, wonder, and explore.

An intriguing picturebook collection of ten marine mammals and their unique sleeping habits.......2006-07-13

With illustrations from Connie McLennan, Water Beds: Sleeping In The Ocean by Gail Langer Karwoski is an intriguing picturebook collection of ten marine mammals and their unique sleeping habits. Included are the sleeping habits of the bottlenose dolphin, harbor seals, elephant seals, northern fur seals, walruses, humpback whales, beluga whales, manatees, sea otters, and walruses. Water Beds carries young readers through a charmingly presented survey of the diversity of sleeping methods with a thoroughly "kid friendly" text enhanced with beautiful illustrations throughout. Concluding with "For Creative Minds" (a summary of marine mammal adaptations for an ocean environment) and "Make Your Own Marine Mammal Using Adaptations" (a hands on creative exercise applying what's been learned about marine mammals), Water Beds is a very highly recommended addition for school and community library "Pets & Wildlife" collections for children ages 4 to 8, and an ideal selection for parents as an entertaining and educational bedtime picturebook.

Best book my mom has written yet!.......2006-04-19

This book is beautifully, poetically written, the illustrations are just perfect, so bright and colorful. I know it would have been my favorite book as a little girl, and it is the current book of choice for many of my friend's kids. Sure to inspire any little marine biologist!!!

An adorable book to be enjoyed by young and old alike.......2006-03-15

Winner of Mom's Choice Award for Most Outstanding Author 2005, this adorable book will soon become your child's favorite. Brightly illustrated, the story begins as a means to lull your child to sleep with pleasant memories of how marine mammals sleep. The first page pictures a young boy clad in bright red pajamas, surrounded by his collection of stuffed marine mammals. During sleep the mammals come alive and he swims with the orcas, as they glide side-by-side in their pod. Four minutes of rest then up to breathe. He nestles on shore with a sleeping harbor seal. My personal favorite is the dolphins. Did you know they sleep with one eye open? The pajama clad boy nestles on a soft water plant as he sleeps with the manatees on a sandy waterbed. He wears a life vest to keep afloat to bob up and down with the naturally buoyed walruses. Another favorite of mine is the sea otters. They wrap kelp strands around their tummies to anchor themselves in place. When it is cold they cover their little cheeks with their furry front paws.

Water Beds includes a section of additional information and activities in the back called "For Creative Minds." This section includes information about what makes an animal a mammal, and includes teaching trivia about how marine mammals adapt to their watery habitat. A craft section includes graphics for children to design their own marine mammal, encouraging them to think about how each body part helps the mammal survive.

Highly recommended

Does a Baboon Sleep in a Bed? (Early Experiences)

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Does a Baboon Sleep in a Bed? (Early Experiences)
Dr. Fred Ehrlich
Manufacturer: Blue Apple
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Does a Panda Go to School? (Early Experiences)

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ASIN: 1593541430

Book Description

Who sleeps in a bed? Does a polar bear? Does a beaver? Does a bumblebee? Do you? Bedtime is one of the most important times of the day for young children, and this latest addition to the informative Early Experiences series explains to children why only some animals have beds, but everybody goes to sleep. The perfect bedtime book!

Written by Dr. Fred Ehrlich, a pediatrician and child psychiatrist, the fact-filled, question-and-answer Early Experiences books engage young children through humorous comparisons right at their level of comprehension.

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