The part I liked the best is the middle of the book because it shows the whole thunderherd. I loved this book because it is very beautiful.

I had the opportunity to listen to Kathi Appelt read this story aloud, and it was wonderful. By hearing the author read it the way she meant for it to be heard, it made this story magical and special. I immediately felt compelled to buy my own copy to share with others. It is a wonderful way of capturing a child's impatience, and captures the wonder of a summer day.

"Kissing Tennessee" is a short, but passionate book written for young adults. It contains the stories of eight different eighth graders that are about to graduate from junior high. But before they graduate, they all attend one last dance, the Stardust Dance, held in the school's cafeteria. Kathi Appelt has quickly become one of my favorite young adult writers because she has, in this book, perfectly captured the volatile emotions of adolescents as they prepare to enter high school; I know that this time in your life can be very confusing and difficult. The story that I could relate to the most was called "Starbears," which is a narrative about a young boy trying to sort out his feelings for other boys. Not many authors are brave enough or accepting enough to broach the subject of homosexuality in young adult literature. Kathi Appelt did, however, and she deserves to be applauded for it. It is my sincere hope that questioning teenagers reading this book will be also be able to relate to stories like "Starbears" so that they, like the students in this book, can finally be the people they really are inside. Such a positive, well-rounded piece of literature definitely deserves to be read by a variety of students as well. I'd recommend "Kissing Tennessee" for all pre-teens and young teens (eighth grade being the ideal age, especially since it's part of the story). I honestly believe that the eight different situations in this book will allow all of this story's readers to connect with one, if not more, of the storylines.

A collection of short stories, both bitter and sweet, that touch the most vulnerable of times - our teen years. As a young adult librarian who works with teen girls from disordered and abusive situations I was thrilled to have this special collection of short stories to share with them. Kissing Tennessee contained stories many of the girls relate to, with situations very similar to their own experiences. "Rachel's Sister" and "The Right Word" are two of the most powerful stories that communicate to readers in similar situations that "you are not alone." Though the book focuses on a junior high dance, I have found it just as appealing to high school readers. I am so thankful that more authors like Appelt who are writing for teens are addressing their real issues, experiences, and concerns. Yes, there are the tender, romantic stories here, too. But Appelt is in tune with the rest of the world that teens live in. It is not all fantasy. There is bitter right along with the sweet. A stellar collection highly recommended.

Kathi Appelt touches on serious teen issues ranging from abuse, and rape, to discovering you're gay. In Dance With Me you really feel the anticipation as the character works up the nerve to ask Lucy White to dance. You really feel as if you are one of eighth graders at the Dogwood Junior High dance. This is easily one of my favorite books. You can read and reread the stories unlike the recycled teen trash that has become much to common. You can hunker down for a moving tale that will bring you to tears, or you can pick a light cheery story if your feeling down.

This book was very cute which is why I gave it such a high rating. This book is a poor example of how to rhyme. There are several lines in this book that are close to rhyming but it isn't quite there in several instances. Good for teaching counting up and backwards from ten.

As a third grade teacher, I found this book useful on the 55th day of school. After reading the book, the children made a pyramid using manipulatives for the bats. We used 1" tiles. This demonstrates a growing pattern using +1 pattern to grow with. This is a nice lead-in to multiplication.

This book has a fun and exciting story line. Children will have fun reading about the 55 bats at the jamboree. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching. Children can have fun counting, adding and subtracting the 55 bats at the Bat Jamboree. Watch out for the Bat Lady!

Apart from being able to create a new story at each reading, Darren (3½-years-old) enjoys playing "Spot-The-Groundnut" on every double-spread. The first person who spots each nut gets a treat - to eat a REAL groundnut! That's where the fun is... Watch out for the last nut!!!!

This is probably one of my top 3 favorite childrens books ever. I could sit and look at the illustrations for hours. It has a fun story using very few words. I have purchased many copies as baby presents and gifts and they are always greeted with delight.

My 2 1/2 year old enjoys reading this book, as do my husband and I. The pictures are full of detail, and each page allows for more than one discussion about the preposition word printed on the page. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words" - we have a great time discussing each picture and talking about what is happening.

This book is great in that it shows a baby nursing at his mother's breast. I was annoyed that the whole premise of the story is for mom and dad to put the baby down in a cradle. They get frustrated that this baby doesn't want to be put down in a cradle. Stop trying to force him to sleep alone, carry him around in a sling and problem solved!
Mama, mama is a much better board book featuring nursing mammals and the relationship between offspring and parents.

This is a super sweet book for breastfeeding families. The story is written poetically and is fun to read. The illustrations are bright and vibrant - very interesting to babies! Both my baby and my preschooler really enjoy reading this lovely book.

This is such a great book for baby! My 11-month old loves it and has loved it ever since we started reading it to him a month or so ago. He's mesmerized by the little "baby blue". All of the Harper Growing Tree Newborn+ books are favorites for our baby. I highly recommend them all! But especially this one, "Mama Mama", "How a Baby Grows", and "Cow Moo Me".

This was a new piece of history that sadly, I was not taught in school. I applaud the ladies and gent who were dedicated to bringing literacy to the masses at all cost. The $28 salary opened doors for the care of their families, it was the love of reading and the people that kept them going back day after day.
Everyone in education or who just loves a good straight forward look at history MUST read this book.

This is the kind of book we all should read, regardless of age. It is well researched, well annotated and well written. I bought it for my wife, a reading specialist, for Easter, and wound up reading it before she got her hands on it. It would be great to have an older version, filled with more info, etc. For now, however, I'll take what I can get!

This is the worst kind of book. A competent writer. A competent illustrator. Horrible, saccharin poetry. Virtuosic, deathly boring pastel illustrations. A story ill-suited for young readers (and their parents). The kind of book that would have made me never want to read another book ever again. Please, no more books like this. Ever.

Surely all of the collective talent that went into creating this book could have been employed more fruitfully. Kids need smarter books. Ones where the author and illustrator are less in love with their own abilities, amd more genuinely interested in what will appeal to, and challenge, young minds.

Here is a book with rich language, written in a syncopated, jazzy style. My 3 year old granddaughter loves it, and so do I. This book is a joy to read. What other book describes someone as looking luminous, or being la di da di da? I've fallen in love, and you will, too.

We discovered Bubba and Beau BEST FRIENDS and it is a great family read. This book offers the same great illustrations but the author strays from her snappy short simple sentances that made the first book so good. She is also trying to find a 'catch phrase' for the books and I think it is "Sister....", which is done twice in this book. Loved the first book - 5 stars! While my son likes this book (but not as much as the first one) we are hoping the third book will go back to short, snappy and more fun.