As a preschool teacher, I look for books that actively engage young children and are able to pull them in to the story. This book certainly does that. Children quickly pick up the rhythym of the story. They relate to the characters. In our preschool, we have a teddy bear that we send home with the children, along with a copy of the book. The children love to be able to "read" the story to their family. They then "write" a story about the bear's adventure while at their home. This book is a perfect link for this activity. Parents and children alike love this story. Thank you Dorothy Butler for a wonderful story!

My almost-two-year-old really enjoys this book. The pictures are very bright and colorful, the situations familiar. The different "lists" for each scenario are engagingly highlighted, and each list is made up from a master group, stimulating young minds to remember what has been used more than once, and in what situations. The pictures of each activity also can serve as a kind of "where's waldo?" game, where your child can find the brown bear. Very lyrical sound, pleasant to read, which is good, because in my house, its requested more than once.

This book was reviewed in a graduate course in reading that I was taking. My Brown Bear Barney is a predictable print book. Such books are excellent in the very early stages of reading. Children memorize the book as you read it over and over and over again. Repetition the very thing our adult mind questions, children ask for repetition that they need. They learn to "read" you the book even when the book is not there. This stage of memorization is the first stage of reading. The child then moves to recognizing the words. For example, "Is this word 'bear'?" So both kindergarten teachers and parents can use this book. It is good to have a half dozen of these predictable print books at home. (Look up: Sue William "I Went Walking".)

I found this book invaluable because Dorothy Butler, a teacher, mother and now grandmother, sensibly explains why babies are never 'too young' to enjoy the shared experience of books and reading. As a first-time mother who's often short of time, I felt quite lost looking for books which would stimulate both my baby and me! Butler provides synopses of the titles which she has tried and tested on many children and useful booklists according to your child's age. (up to 6) I have bought almost all the recommended titles for my toddler and without exception, he's loved them all. Among her suggestions for babies and toddlers are classics like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" to the "Spot" series and new authors like Molly Bang and Sian Tucker. This book is listed 'hard to find' but it's worth the effort!

Butler's first person account of her developmentally delayed granddaughter's progess, largely due to an immersion in quality literature from her earliest days, will convince you that it's never too early (or too hopeless a cause) for books to expand and enrich the life of a child. Inspiring. Written as Butler's thesis, so the emotion is backed up by research and knowledge.

In Dorothy Butler's delightful picturebook story, My Brown Bear Barney At The Party, Barney's young owner takes him to Harold Hinkel's birthday party. The trouble begins when Harold's little sister thinks Barney is her present! She decorates Barney with the paints that Harold got for his birthday and then drops him into the aquarium! And that's how Barney arrived back home much cleaner than when he left! Wonderfully illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller, My Brown Bear Barney At The Party is a recommended picturebook for youngsters ages 4 and up. Also highly recommended are Dorothy Butler's earlier teddybear Barney picturebooks: My Bear Barney and My Brown Bear Barney In Trouble.

This book covers everything from understanding the characteristics of early-childhood ages to building relationships with the children and their parents to ways of making discipline situations easier. Its section called "The Program" is especially helpful because it lays out helpful hints for each part of your teaching day--from welcoming students to clean-up time. Each "tip" is easy to understand and, most importantly, easy to put in practice. They are each unique and creative and were obviously inspired by teachers themselves.

A girlfriend sent Babies Need Books to me when my son was already six months old - thankfully we had been reading to him since his birth - but Dorothy Butler's facts, anecdotes and recommendations only served to strengthen our commitment to reading as a family. Now 17 months old, our son routinely brings us books, sits in our lap and waits for us to begin reading. Friends and family members have commented on his behaviour and deemed it exceptional for his age - not according to Dorothy! The reviews that indicate the recommended reading lists are out of date are missing the point in my mind. Yes some of the books are not easy to find, but we have found almost all of them, and the concepts contained therein are the meat of the lists in any event. A must have for people hoping to impart a love of reading to their children.

I have to disagree with the reviewer who wrote that this book is "Great on theory; poor research on books", October 26, 1999. Dorothy Butler first became interested in children's literature while teaching English at a secondary school. All the books reviewed in "Babies need books" have been read to her 8 children and then her 17 grandchildren over many many years. Dorothy Butler's selection has nothing to do with theory but years of reading aloud to children. Many of the books reviewed have become classics. Most out of print can be found at a good library. If you love reading to your children this is one book I'd definitely recommend.

This book is a great firestarter for parents of infants. It shows how important the reading process is and it also points out how easy it is for parents to read to their babies. Dorothy Butler does a wonderful job with this topic and proves herself a knowing expert who can impart information to a group that is often overwhelmed with advice -- new parents.