I have a 1960 edition of Oliver and love to read it with my kids. Oliver the elephant has a simple and friendly conversation with everyone he meets throughout his day. This is one polite elephant. Mr. Hoff's unique use of colors and the light-hearted story will amuse you and make you want to search out more of his books. I have to admit that's why I logged on to Amazon today--and was flabbergasted to find 127 titles pop-up when I did a search on "Syd Hoff". Looks like I've got some work to do!

Sammy the Seal lives in a zoo in the city. One day, as Mr Johnson was feeding the seal, he asked Sammy waht was the matter; as Sammy was looking very sad indeed. He told Mr Johnson that he wanted to get out of the zoo, and have a look around the city. He looked at everything, but soon it was too hot for him, and he ended up taking a swim in a man's bath tub. He then found a liune of children waiting to go to school. Sammy learned to read and write, and he was very good at vollyball. After school was out, Sammy went home to the zoo. He was glad to be home--it was supper time.

This was the first book my mother read to me, i memorized it because i asked her to read it to me every night. That's how i learned to read by the time I was 3.5 years old or so, which got me ahead in classes. Now, ending my junior year in high school, i pop out the book when i get stressed out and read it to myself...even though i know the words without opening the book. Buy it! you'll love it!

I couldn't believe I still had the original Sammy The Seal book I had when I was a child! (This just proves how much I cherished it!) I am so delighted that I can pass it on to my 6 year old son as he learns to read. I highly recommend this book and others by Syd Hoff.

When I was about eight years old, I had the pleasure of meeting Syd Hoff at my elementary school. He autographed my copy of "Danny and the Dinosaur" and I was so very happy! About fourteen years later, I still remember this book fondly. As I shop for a gift for an expecting friend, I feel confidant purchasing this book and knowing it will be loved by both mother and child.

I absolutely adored this book as a child and am so thrilled tobe able to purchase it for my 3 year old son. I am sure that it willbecome a bedtime favorite of his just as it was mine so many years ago! I have never forgotten the name of this book and have looked forward to reading it to my children for as long as I can remember.

I am a 28 year old mother of one. I remember reading Danny and the Dinosour when I was a child. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this book so much, that as a child, I memorized it, word for word, and then I would recite it back, without missing a word. I can't wait for my daughter to read this book, and I plan on purchasing it for her now, even though she is only 8 months old.

Cheerful and charming illustrations pair with a simple story about a missing reindeer to create this amusing and touching picture book. The cadence of the text works well with the humorous dialogue, and the ending has a warm and fuzzy feeling. The topical references to the City of Brotherly Love don't limit the audience, although the book may have special appeal for Philadelphia natives. Very young children may not get the humor, but will still enjoy the story and illustrations. Pair with "Olive, the Other Reindeer" by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh for a quirky reindeer storytime for the older preschool set.

My five-year-old daughter is captivated, and she should be: the pictures are hilarious (eight reindeer standing matter-of-factly with carrots in their mouths), and the gentle absurdity (Prancer is ambling through Philadelphia when the police get a call) sparkles. No irony or edginess or overt cleverness, just a simple wonderful world unto itself.

Have you every wanted a real life carousel horse? Chester wants to be one instead of being free and wild. The other horses thinks he's off his rocker. This book is similiar to ROBERT THE ROSE HORSE and THUNDERHOOF. God boy book. As always, lovely pictures.Ironic ending.

A excellant childrens book! Duncan the duck lives on a farm untill his owners discover Duncans talent, dancing! Duncan begins to dance for audiences, TV camara's and more. He even win's the golden duck award. This book has colorful pictues and big print. I recomend this book for kindergarden level.

This is a story about a kid and his name is Bill. He opens his arithmetic book then he finds a funny looking number paper. His best friend Ken helped him look for his homework. Ken had an idea so he told Bill, "Let's do everything that we did yesterday so we can find your homework." I like this book because I did not know what was going to happen.

My daughter brought this book home from the library and has been reading it to her little sister who responds with uproarious laughter (they are 6 and 3). The forward at the beginning of the book says that the authors of some of the poems were children. What better encouragement could a young writer have? Some of these poems I remember from my childhood as jumprope rhymes. Altogether an enjoyable first reader.

This is the first book I ever remember reading and it's cute messages have stuck with me all these years. Stanley wasn't like the other cavemen, he liked flowers, didn't like sleeping in cold damp caves and so he did something about it! It's a sweet little story about the merits of being your own person and following through with your ideas and forgiving those people who take a while to come around.

I did not care for the book at all. I rated it a 1 because it wouuld not accept the number 0. I was offended by the book because it gave reference to an African American child as a monkey, by another African American child. I failed to find the humor when one child played a trip on the other by giving the mean valentine to the teacher. Overall, the book did not deliver a positive message or resolution to the problems.

I remember Valentine's Day well in second grade. I wanted everyone to give me a great valentine, and I didn't want to have to give anyone else one. If I had to give everyone else one, I didn't see the point.

Each year my ideas changed about this day, and I came to cherish the hand-made valentines that classmates made because they could not afford the store-bought kind. I also grew to appreciate a sincere wish more than a valentine, and still do. This book reminded me of all those lessons I have learned since second grade.

A lot of children (especially boys) become grumpy about Valentine's Day. The teacher and parents feel strongly about the occasion, and set up the rules. I remember how hard it was for me to make hand-made valentines when that was the art assignment in fifth grade. What frustration!

Albert in this story feels the same frustration. He cannot follow the instructions to make the valentines. He cannot remember to take a note home to his parents.

Amy Lou wants to help him. He doesn't want help. He wants to be left alone (unless it is his idea to ask for help). When Amy Lou tries to help him, that distracts him and makes it harder to succeed. He also doesn't like people to notice he's having trouble.

Albert insults Amy Lou hoping to get some psychological space, and tells her he won't give her a valentine. He is annoyed about everything. Because the teacher makes him put a valentine in for Amy Lou, he makes a valentine saying "Don't be my valentine" with an insulting picture of a moose.

When the valentines are distributed though, Amy Lou gets a nice one from him and the teacher gets the unpleasant one. What happened?

The story resolves the mystery and develops the basis for a more cooperative relationship among the children.

There are many lessons in here about male-female stereotypes, different attitudes towards helping and receiving help, and good ideas for how to work with others. As such, the wise parent will build on this book like a moral fable. The mystery itself will intrigue your youngster to make the other messages more interesting.

Although aimed for grades 1-3, I think most children will find that this is about a second grade book.

I graded the book down because of some potential for the book to subtly encourage racial stereotypes. The two key figures are both black, and they seem to be the most disruptive children in the classroom. It would have been better for avoiding unspoken messages about black people if both had not been black in a mostly white-faced classroom. Also, there is a reference to Albert by a white classmate that could be viewed as racially derogative in nature. I don't like to see books exhibiting that kind of behavior. Maybe I'm too sensitive to these issues, but I think the story didn't need these complications in order to work in exploring effective cooperation.

I suggest that you use this book as an opportunity to ask your child to think about when she or he likes to have help, and when it is appropriate to offer help to another. With a little background at home, these conflicts can be avoided at school and later on in life.

Take the time and thought to help people in ways that they would like to have your assistance . . . and help your children learn to do that, as well!

A realistic school story centered around Vaneltine's Day. Sam doesn't want Amy Lou's constant help and decides to send a mean Valentine card. There is a mix-up and the teacher ends up with it. Shows some true emotions. Doesn't resolve it at the end in a sitcom ending. This is a humorous book with good color illustrations. Recommended for K through the 4th grade, as well as the teachers and parents. p.s. don't ask us why we spelled it "vaneltine's".....