Embark on a gentle, fantastic trip into a magical world that lies between reality and dream. Your child's imagination (and your own) will drift into sleep with images of acrobats, submarines, elephant beds, and so much more!

That this book should be out of print is a complete mystery to me, not enough violence in it, I imagine. As for the used price above, I can just imagine snuggling in bed with my child and an antique book... Books like this are meant to be read again and again, not placed in a gilded cage on a pedestal.

"Not just a white little, tucked in tight little, nighty night little, turn out the light little, Bed."

And this is not just an ordinary book. I came accross it one day and decided to give it a go, having read other Plath works. This book is incredible, te utter childishness of it, every time I think of it, it brings a smile to my face. This book is a must-read.

My son and I read this book for years at bed-time - It was our absolutle favorite. Somehow we have lost the book and I have been searching for another copy for ages. Can the DC reviewer provide me with the name of the British publisher that is going to re-release this book - or any other details that might lead me to a copy? I would be very appreciative!

A recent survey found that the death of a pet is one of the times when children most want to talk to clergy---rivalled only by divorce. This book asks some difficult questions (what is the church? how do we deal with death?) and offers, in return, God's love. Churches which celebrate the Feast of St. Francis could have someone read it out loud after the service and lead a discussion. This lovely story will appeal to all ages.

This book is wonderful for anyone who's ever had and loved a cat. It does deal with death, and is very sad at the end. A great way to help a child deal with the death of a pet.

My Grade three class thoroughly enjoyed the story of Leo. We were doing a unit on cats and Leo's story was one of the highlights. An excellent book.

This is my favourite childhood book, and while searching for a new copy of it several years back (my copy no longer has it's cover) I discovered that it had been reprinted with another name. The new editions are under the title "Double Spell"! I know that this is the case in Canada, and that this title is listed on Amazon.ca, so I'm sure it's on .com as well. Hope I've helped someone else fine the magical novle.

My cousin and I are in our early 30s and have been searching EVERYWHERE for this book. We remember reading it as young teenagers and how much we LOVED IT! I hope to get a copy thru Amazon; if so, I know I'll STILL enjoy it! EXCELLENT mystery!

I had hoped to make this book this month's selection for my book club. I am really upset that it is out of print! This an excellent book. I am 11 years old and found the book really exciting.

I love sharing this book with my daughters because of the beautiful artwork, the portrayal of female strength and the message that inner resolve coupled with practice are the keys to achieving one's goals. We often quote Wu Mei's admonition to the bean curd seller: "No problem can be solved by a drunken monkey!" The reminder to remain calm, make up one's own mind, and engage with the world from a firm sense of self is valuable for people of both sexes and all ages.

I love both the artwork and the story content of this book. It is rare and wonderful to find a book in which two female martial artists are the main characters! This book is a true gift to martial artists enthusiasts everywhere. The story's lessons (soft overcomes hard, calm overcomes strong) come from authentic martial arts teachings at their finest. Brava!

This book is an awesome experience. Adults and children in our martial arts school enjoyed the story of Wu Mei. The illustrations are breath taking. The story is well told and easily read.

I have several of the "If You Grew Up...." titles in my free-reading area of my sixth grade classroom. The George Washington title is one of the most-often chosen titles--probably because they are curious about our first president. This title also gives a good description of what life was like for the gentry class of Virginia in the 1740s-1760s. Students have been able to use the information to write comparison pieces about GW's life and their own. I highly recommend this title and the others in the series for both the literature and social studies classroom. Weak readers have a high interest in the subject matter; strong readers enjoy a quick read.

Although I don't have all the books in this series ("if you..."), the six that I have are so fun and interesting, that I intend to get them all asap. My three children (3-8), my husband and I LOVE them.

Outstanding look backwards in time to discover what it would have been like to grow up with George Washington. The book answers lots of questions; What kind of clothes would you wear?, What about the bathroom?, What did children do to have fun?, What would you learn in school? How did people carry their tabacco around?, Who made the laws for the colony? and many more... Loads of cheery illustrations cover the pages.

This book is an excelent source for moms, teachers and any one who works with kids. The pictures tell an intricate story with out one word! What an excellent way to encourage a child to talk (speech therapy). The way each child interprets the story tells you so much more than words could (psychology). Emily McCully's books are too valuable to be out of print!!

The mouse family enjoys Christmas Eve activities then up to bed! On Christmas Day the presents are opened, joy abounds! Off to Grandma and Pop-Pops and one little guy can't leave his Christmas gift behind. Ut oh, disaster strikes - but Grandma knows just what to do - Pop-Pop and the little guy venture into the attic and a long ago gift is passed down a generation. A story of Christmas joy, love and sharing told in a very special way. Just wonderful!

Fifth Grade magic was a fabulous modern version of a fairy tale. The concept is simple enough: fifth-grade drama enthusiast Gretchen doesn't get an acting part for the school melodrama, and she invokes a fairy, who she is surprised to see appear. But the fairy godmother's magic doesn't turn out the way anyone thought it would, and leads to more problems. At the end, we find out the secret of the fairy godmother, and Gretchen gets what she wants.

This book is written very well, and has lots of little treats for you to find. I feel that this is more literary than Mail-Order Wings; the beginning almost invokes Ramona's distinct voice and strong opinions, and the author completely takes you into Gretchen's little mind. Gretchen's growth throughout the book is done in a very believable and complete way.

One of the fun aspects of this book is the fairy godmother's tool of choice; instead of an old-fashioned magic wand, she uses and Enchantulator, which helps her find out things she can do to help Gretchen, and sends out colored sparks when casting magic. There's also the school play, a melodrama, Polly's Pies in Peril. (Polly Winsum needs to save her pie business from the evil banker Blakheart.) The snippets of this were delightfully over-the-top!

Other reviewers didn't mention Amy, who was the golden-haired newcomer initially chosen for the part of Polly Winsum. (Amy looks the part of a traditional, naive heroine, but has the acting skills of a cardboard cutout.) Throughout most of the book, there's intense rivalry between Amy and Gretchen, at least on Gretchen's part, and most of the enchantments are directed at Amy. But the consequences of the tricky enchantments are done very realistically, and in one of the delightful last scenes, Gretchen actually helps Amy's acting ability. I look forward to seeing Amy's character developed more in More Fifth Grade Magic.

Also, in many books where someone has a special talent, interest, or ability, it's very hard for the author to show us that. (I've yet to read a book that makes me understand how much the protagonist loves dancing, or drawing, or something, and let us visualize very distinctive and precise drawings, or dancing, or whatever.) But in Fifth Grade Magic, we can totally see Gretchen's love of acting, with her trying to get other people to act with her at recess, or memorizing all of the lines in the play, or what she does in the fabulous last scene. This is a very good book.

I disagree with the previous reviewer that the ending doesn't tie things up; everything that needs to be told to end the story is told, and there's one of the happiest endings I've ever seen. There may have been one page or so more, to help us feel more satisfied, but otherwise it was a very good ending.

So what are you waiting for?? Read this book already!

I read this in fifth grade and it really helped me. I remember wishing at that time that I had a fairy godmother. I was going through a lot of turmoil in school myself. It's about a girl named Gretchen who wants the lead role in the play her class is putting on. However, Amy, the new girl, gets the part instead. Gretchen is desperate, and even willing to believe in magic. Then a "fairy godmother" named Errora shows up in her bedroom one night and agrees to help her...which led to a lot of trouble. I won't tell anymore. It is full of a lot of laughs while being a touching story. I didn't particularly care for the ending much, though, I felt like it wasn't really wrapped up.

The "First Snow" depicted by Emily Arnold McCully in this charming wordless picture book is a pretty BIG snowstorm. After digging out their old red truck, a family of mice heads for the skating pond and the sledding hill. Young children will be able to "read" the story for themselves, making up dialogue to go with all the little details McCully has put into her pictures. Certainly they will empathize with the little mouse who is not at all sure about going down that great big hill on a tiny little sled. But no one ever had fun sitting on a sled and not going anywhere. They might actually find this book more fun than going skating or sledding themselves. "First Snow" is a companion to McCully's "Picnic," both of which were inspired by trips the author took with her children when they escaped from New York City to the Berkshires.

First Snow was a delightful story about a mouse family that goes sledding on the first day it snows. One little mouse is frightened but eventually learns how fun it is to sled down a big hill. It is a wordless picture book which allows children to "read" this book a little differently every time. This book is my 3 year old daughters favorite. It's wonderful to see how she translates the pictures into words based upon the expressions on the faces of the mice. She imagines what they are saying and how they are feeling. I thouroughly enjoy "reading" it with her every night to see what different ideas she finds. I beleive it is a great learning tool for preschoolers.

As the mother of a 6-year-old girl, IÕm always on the lookout for picture books with strong, intelligent and interesting female characters. This is one of the best. Mirette wants to learn to walk a tightrope. She falls over and over again, but never gives up trying, and finally becomes an expert. She is a great model of determination for young girls. But sheÕs more than that. The story is also about a once great tightrope walker, the man who first inspired Mirette, who has developed a fear of the wire. Mirette uses her own developing talent to help her teacher overcome his fear. The final illustration of the two of them reaching out to each other across the wire brings tears to my eyes every time. MiretteÕs determination, ambition, and compassion are inspiring. My daughter and I both adore this book.

How many children's books do you know where the girl (rather than a boy or an animal) saves the day by doing something heroic? Relatively few come to my mind. As the parent of two daughters, I was delighted to find this wonderful tale of 19th century entertainment fills that bill.

Ms. McCully had originally set out to write a biography of the famous tightrope walker Blondin, when she decided to write this book instead. The Mirette character is based on her own recollections of being a brave girl.

This book contains unusually high quality illustrations, even for a Caldecott Medal Winner (as the best illustrated children's book of 1993). The style shares a great deal with Toulouse-Lautrec but is more appealing because there is more subtlety and use of soft pastel shades. You will definitely feel like you've stepped through the looking glass into a world of entertainment in 1890's Paris.

The story opens to find Mirette helping her mother keep a boardinghouse for entertainers (traveling players for the theaters and music halls) called Gateau's. "Acrobats, jugglers, actors, and mimes from as far away as Moscow and New York" stayed and ate there. What a wonderful place for a child!

Mirette, unfortunately, had the not so exciting tasks of "washing linens, chopping leeks, paring potatoes, and mopping floors." She was "a good listener, too."

One day, Bellini (a retired high-wire walker) came to stay. "I am here for a rest." Soon, he had set up his wire in the back and was practicing. He refused to teach Mirette when she asked to learn. "Once you start, your feet are never happy again on the ground." She replied, "My feet are already unhappy on the ground." While he was away sometimes she would practice. After weeks of falls and problems, she could go across the whole wire. She showed him.

He responded. "Most give up. But you kept trying. Perhaps you have talent as well."

His key advice: "Never let your eyes stray." "Think only of the wire, and of crossing to the end."

When she says she'll never fall again, he warns her not to boast.

Later an agent from Astley's Hippodrome in London comes to Gateau's and recognizes Bellini. The agent recounts some of his many feats including crossing Niagara Falls on a 1000 foot wire in 10 minutes, and cooking an omelet on a stove of live coals on the way back. He had also toasted the crowd with champagne. Bellini had crossed the Alps on another occasion. Further, he had fired a cannon from the wire over the bullring in Barcelona, and crossed a flaming wire blind-folded in Naples. Ah! Oh exciting!

There's only one problem: He has lost his "nerves of an iceberg."

Encouraged by the agent, Bellini plans a comeback. He walks out on the wire and freezes. What next?

Mirette saves the day by reaching her hands out to him, and meeting him on the wire.

The book's final page shows a poster of Mirette and Bellini saying that they are wire walkers who do "stupendous feats." A little girl looks up at the poster.

As you can see, this is quite a good story, and works in Mirette's heroism in a natural way. The character development is quite good, and the historical context is interesting. Children often wonder what people did for entertainment before television.

As a parent, you may want to make a little addition to the story that, of course, Mirette's mother joined them in traveling around to do the act. Otherwise, this story could be incorrectly construed as encouraging young girls to go traveling around with grown men.

The great lesson in this book is focus. Where would that lesson help your child? Where would it help you?

Use your focus to live your most positive dreams!

"Mirette On The High Wire" by Emily Arnold McCully set in Paris, France tells the story of a young aspiring girl, Mirette, who learns to walk the high wire after meeting a falllen entertainer, by the name of Belini. Mirette soon finds out that Belini however, has been keeping a secret from her, he has become afraid of the wire and has sworn to never walk upon it again. With Mirette's help though, Belini finally conquers his fears and puts on a dazzling show in the night on the streets of Paris, France. The illustrations are enchanting and marvelous showing why this book won The Caldecott Award in 1993.

This book (Black is Brown is Tan) has been a favorite of my daughter since she was one year. There are very few children's books that stress the positive of being a member of a bi-racial family. Black is Brown Is Tan shows the harmony and love between parents, children, and other family members. We love the fact that the extended family (the tan-skinned Uncle, Grandma White and Granny Black) are prominent figures in this book. The book highlights the differences and similarities between the races. It is a great read for all families no matter what their ethnic background. It has become the main staple in my baby shower gift baskets.

I first read this book when the librarian at my elementary school in Worthington, Ohio had the insight to order it! I was the first student to check it out. I was in Fifth Grade at the time. I have to say that at the time, I had a friend that was black (like coffee in the pot) and I am white (with pinks and brown freckles). She lived with an all white family as a foster child. My family had real issues that the two of us were friends. Reading this book helped make things easier for me. 16 years ago, I bought this book for my bi-racial daughter, Samantha. She loved it. Now, all three of my children and many of our neighbors' children have borrowed it, read it, and live it. I can't think of any better way to breach the subject of race and to explain our differences and most importantly, our similarities. Black is Brown is Tan... for 30 years this book has helped me and my family!

"black is brown is tan/is girl is boy/is nose is face/is all the colors/of the race // is dark is light/singing songs/in singing night/kiss big woman hug big man/black is brown is tan // this is the way it is for us this is the way we are" Originally published in 1973, Arnold Adoff's joyous, lyrical, story-poem is as fresh and relevant today, as is was almost thirty years ago. Meet this wonderful extended family, from Momma, a "brown sugar gown/a tasty tan and coffee pumpkin pie/with dark brown eyes and almond ears", and Dad, not white like milk or snow, but "with pinks and tiny tans...brown eyes big yellow ears", and their kids, the color of both races, to golden haired aunts, tan colored uncles, granny white and grandma black "kissing both your cheeks and hugging back..." Mr Adoff's simple, rhythmic text is filled with love and pride as it celebrates his interracial family, and is complemented by award winning illustrator, Emily McCully's warm and cheerful artwork. Together word and art paints an engaging portrait of a strong, happy, loving family. Perfect for youngsters from 3 to 93, Black Is Brown Is Tan is a timeless classic, best read aloud and shared, that honors all families and the things that make them special.