I came across this book at the Dearborn Arab-American Festival, the largest Arab festival in North America. And I'm so glad I did. Vivid illustrations, and an engrossing storyline. Heide reveals a very realistic Cairo street life, unknown to most Western adults, and here very easy for kids to relate to through the eyes of the young child, Ahmed. I smiled as I read and saw different scenes, like the rose-water man, remembering walking through Cairo and seeing those very people. The scenes are gritty- not white-washed; yet also very relationally connected, with people caring for each other and showing true hospitality- kareem- the hallmarks of Cairo life. This child isn't a terrorist; it's a young child; it's real life. When he finally reveals his secret, it's the joy of a child first learning to read, just like any Western or American child. But he's also truly Egyptian- he presents his name in Arabic.

After we read this, I and the children in the library learned to write our names in Arabic, and then we *had* to get some rosewater ice cream, in order to fully immerse ourselves in the book. If you can get ahold of it, I would highly recommend!

An especially beautiful and thought-provoking book. The story transports us to Cairo, Egypt, where we are invited to observe a day in the life of a young Egyptian boy who sells gas canisters to help his family. A must read if you are interested in learning about other cultures, and about the lives of millions of children around the world. The authors capture the culture, a sense of the language (poetic), the spirit of the people, as well as their philosophy of life. We even get some idea of the geography and history of Egypt; and all of this in a children's book. This is truly an wholistic piece of work. The illustrator does a marvelous job of capturing the sights and colors of Cairo. I have been so impressed by this book as to have recommended it to countless students and teachers in the school system where I teach. I have even been moved to write and thank the authors, who graciously responded.

I love this book because it conveys better than any book I've seen the magic of the breakthrough to literacy. The excitement of this working class boy who will now embark upon a whole new world because he has the first tool captures a precious moment in every child's life - and all this is accomplished with a text and illustrations that are bright and alive.

This is by far one of the best, and most beautiful, children's books on the importance of libraries that has yet been published. The text and the illustrations convey what it must have been like in 9th century Baghdad to experience for the first time the importance and value of books. The House of Wisdom should install a love of books in its readers and may even inspire some of them to become librarians.

This collection of poems about time covers many facets of thisabstract subject with energy, humor, thought and fun. The livelylittle sprite-like figure dances her way through the pages and keeps children engaged. This book has inspired kids to write and illustrate their own poetry.

Jay, Cindy, and Dexter are excited about Holloween but stumble onto a spooky mystery around an empty house. Using their wits and bravery are the only way they can solve this mystery. The Spotlight mysteries(apprx.12) are great 9-12 readers.Quick action/read for all. These are out of print but maybe you can find at library or used on internet. Good luck :)Steve

Right. Treehorn's Treasure is the best book EVER I have a cassette of the story and I have listened to it so many times I can recite it exactly as it is said on tape. Tabitha came round my house last night and asked to borrow my pink dress.

All kinds of scariness - some make you silly with relief & some will linger through your life like that scar on your chin when you fell down that day.

Seeing your parents angry, being scolded can be scary! People laughing at you & you don't know why - ah, I've known that one!

A good book to raise the subject of scary things, probably not one to read just before bed, however! Perhaps after a particularly trying day at school. Or just before Halloween! Or when something scary happens in your family's life.

Florence Parry Heide is one of the great children's authors. And teamed with Jules Feiffer, she's even better. This book is heartwarming and funny at once, and full of familiar surprises. For adults, it will bring back childhood memories of scary moments that are now just tender memories. Children will relate to their current childhood fears and will learn something in the process. For all, it's a sharing in the human condition of being a kid and the explorations of a kid's new world.

Aaagh, this is not a new book. I read this when I was 6 years old! It was one of my absolute favorites. I've been keeping an eye out for it for my children. One "scary" thing that I remember most from this book is holding an adult's hand on the escalator, only to realize it is a stranger. That illustration has set in my mind for 30 years. What is especially funny, now, is that little children do that. They will hold my hand or grab my shirt, thinking I am their parent, only to look up at me with terror when they realize I'm the wrong "mommy". Gotta get it for yourself as well as the children.

Very memorable story. i didn't read the book, but i remember watching a cartoon version on TV. why is it memorable? well, firstly, the name Treehorn! it was during half term (vacation) when i saw it, and when i went back to school, a friend came out with a very memorable quote, in North American drawl "Treehorn is shrinking!" and i just burst into hysterics! Cool stuff! i will have to buy this book!

This was one of my favorite books as a child, and nearly 20 years later, it's still high on my list. When I first read it, I was amazed because it was completely different from anything else I had ever been given to read. I think all kids have endured the problem of trying to get adults to listen to them and take them seriously, and Treehorn's somewhat absurd quest to get someone to notice his shrinking is easy to identify with. The book may have no "moral", but so what? Kids need books that enchant and delight them--if you only give them didactic and "proper" tales, reading becomes a boring chore. If you weren't fortunate enough to read this as a child, make up for lost time now.

This is a book I loved as a child, because it was so bizarre and interesting and mysterious! I don't think the book is really meant to have a message---it's meant more just to be a strange and memorable tale! I love all the little details about Treehorn we find out---that he has 56 different favorite TV shows, what his cereal send-away collection consists of, etc! Even my 2 year old was enchanted by the pictures---he called a page with several odd dogs on it "monsters" and said "I like those scary monster dogs!" My 5 year old loved how the bus driver thought Treehorn was Treehorn's younger brother, also called Treehorn! Read it because it's fun and great to look at!

What a cool story! Beasley, a robust hippo, is growing bigger and bigger, and is affraid he is growing too big to be good at anything. Beasley desperately wants to be good at something. He wants to win a blue ribbon that spells out FIRST PRIZE. He tried to win several contests, but failed. His loving Aunt Emerald suggests, "Never give up...you can always find something that you can do well." Then it hits him. Why not have a Bigness Contest. He would surely win that...or would he???

This book is full of many issues that parents/teachers may enjoy discussing with children, like learning to love yourself, being different, etc. A humorous, simple story with a positive message.

The Mystery of the Missing Suitcase is a great book. It is about figuring out a mystery about figuring out who is tring to rob the local bank and to try stoping him. At first,Derek, a member of the Spotlight Club [a mystery solving club]went on a trip and went home. He went home on a train and fell asleep and woke up finding a women with a strange hat on her head. She told him that she has to sit by him because a man on the train is following her and is after her money. Later on went Derek went to go get his suitcase, He picked up a suitcase that he thought was his. When he got home, he opened it and found some disguises and a camera. The Spotlight Club Members began to solve a mystery. At the end, they found out that the man that was trying to take the woman on the bus' money was a employee for the woman's brother. The woman on the bus' brother hired the man to make sure that his sister did not lose her purse.

A delightful, humorous book - meant to be read by adults! While we as adults recognize our past tendencies in each of these delightful, and very mischievous children, it is a reminder for us about how we perpetuate behaviors in children. A MUST READ for parents!

Well, of course there are no lessons to be learned - it's HUMOR! My students laughed so hard, I had to wait for them to stop before I could continue. And of course there really are lessons-because kids really can see a little of themselves in these horrible children. Great discussion starter!

Our entire family has delighted in this humorous look at the world through the eyes of Florence's children. Her witty tales made us literally laugh out loud. Our twin daughters saw a little of themselves in each of her richly drawn characters.Forence's insights are obviously gleaned from the experiences of a parent and a keen observation of the tactics that children employ to move mountains of obstacles to their own will. This little book will always be one of our favorites .