In the age of computer games and 3-D animation, the simple imagination of a child to envision himself learning to be a jazz musician is refreshing. Unlike previous reviews, I feel the dramatic black and white drawings set off some of the cultural issues the illustrations portray. Obviously, young Ben does not live an idealized childhood at home. Yet, he finds that his passion for music can only be fulfilled outside of jazz clubs (which usually perform late in the evening and he is too young to enter). The point of the book is how he acts out THIS reality. He is looking "outside of the box" (hence the illustrations of his home life) and finds the attention from the father-figure (the trumpeter) who Ben wants to imitate. The book vividly illustrates the importance of role models in a child's life.

As an international music teacher we need to give all theencouragement we can give to keep the music programs alive in ourschools. Not just in the states but in the world. This short story relates to the young hopeful musican who hopes to be a contributor to the music world - Keep the dream.

This one little picture book is among the most beautiful and powerful books I've ever read. In fact I don't feel as if I've simply read this book; I feel as though I've experienced it. It was fast and dizzy, yet calm and peaceful. I could almost feel myself sitting outside on a warm night, listening to the wail of jazz music floating on the air. With its simple, easy charm this book taps into the hopes of a small boy, and gives the reader hope that the goodness of the human spirit can triumph over its evils. This book has some of the most amazing illustrations that I've seen in a children's book, and it uses them very effectively. So, whether you are a parent looking for a book that will stimulate your child's imagination, a jazz enthusiast, an admirer of fine illustration, or just a person looking for a heart-warming experience, this book is a fabulous selection.

Flossie Finley, the smart and feisty heroine of this book is one of my favorite characters in all of childrenÕs literature. The story is an African American variation on Little Red Riding Hood, but Flossie is no wide-eyed innocent who has to be saved in the end by the big, brave woodcutter. She can save herself, thank you very much. The way she tricks the fox who wants to devour her basket of eggs is delightful. Every little girl (and probably every boy as well) ought to be introduced to this brave and resourceful child.

And Flossie is not the only great thing about this book. Patricia McKissack based it on a story her grandfather told her and she tried to reproduce the way he told it, in "the rich and colorful dialect of the rural south." The language is lovely, musical and poetic Ð a joy to read aloud. And the illustrations are equally gorgeous. The pictures of sun-dappled wood remind me of Impressionist paintings.

Great story, great writing, great pictures, great character Ð this is one of the best childrenÕs books IÕve ever read.

This has become my favorite children's book! I bought it for my "almost" three yr old son and he was captivated by the story and the beautiful pictures. Flossie is so innocently sly! She will not be out-witted by some ol' fox! The idea that this regal creature is being insulted by a mere child is absurd to him, yet he can't get past his own ego to see he is being out-foxed! I adored everything about this book.

As an elementary special education teacher, I loved reading "Flossie and the Fox" to my students. It was every bit as delightful an experience for me as it was for them. Flossie is a very clever little girl, and the manuscript is practically a vocal symphony! The illustrations are as refreshing and fun as the book. Give you and your child a real treat by sitting down together to read the book, and then discuss it!

My daughter is entranced with ballerinas, and since her name is Lillian, someone gave her "Lili On Stage" for Christmas one year. It's perfect for any little girl (or boy, as boys are shown herein as well) who dreams of becoming a dancer.

Rachel Isadora, the author and illustrator, is a former ballerina herself and she graciously lets us into this magical world. Lili and her friends are shown getting ready to go onstage to perform in "The Nutcracker"--we see them stretching, getting into costumes and make-up, waiting with baited breath for their cues, and so on. What I like best about the book is that Isadora shows us the pixie dust and the magic along with all the incredible hard work that goes into not only being a ballerina, but putting on a ballet for the public. The teacher, costume mistress, stage manager, and prima ballerina are all shown doing their disparate jobs. We see that creating this dream of a ballet takes the commitment and cooperation of a great many people.

This book is great! I bought it for my younger sister, and when I read it, I just didn't want to give it up. It depicts backstage life beautifully, and I would recommend this for anyone under 11.

In our instant-gratification culture, ballet provides children a wonderful opportunity to learn about focusing on a long-term goal and taking pride in accomplishing each small step along the way. Rachel Isadora's Lili books ring true because Lili is not a child phenomenon, she's a young dancer who understands the slow disciplines of ballet. In Lili on Stage, she's performing in the Nutcracker. But she isn't the star, she's one of a group of children dancing in the party scene. It's obvious she loves her role, and recognizes what an accomplishment it is to dance in a performance. This book combines beautiful illustrations with a real understanding of the world of ballet. I'd recommend this and the other Lili books to any small dancer. (My dancing daughter is 13 and on pointe, and she still keeps Lili on her bookshelf.)

A little boy had a set of tin soldiers that were made from a melted spoon. One soldier was missing a leg because there was not enough metal left over from the melted spoon.

Tossed aside by the boy, the one-legged soldier sees a paper cut out figure of a ballerina. She is poised on one leg and he feels an instant bond. He has found another one-legged toy and believes this to be love.

The steadfast tin soldier has a series of mishaps. He falls off the window sill into a stream. From there, he is transported to a rat infested sewer. He is swallowed by a fish and through an unlikely stroke of luck, winds up back in the boy's playroom with the other toys and the ballerina.

The ending is what gets to me every single time. A gust of wind lifts the paper ballerina up and she flutters into the fire place, winding up a charred heap of ashes. Devastated, the tin soldier joins her. The remaining metal that was once the tin soldier is a charred piece of heart shaped metal.

I still think this is a very sad story. The photographs really emphasize the feeling this story evokes.

I taught 1st grade for 4 years and all of the teachers in my grade passed this book around at Christmas to read to our class. I cried everytime I read it. It has a wonderful message and my kids in my classroom always loved it! I have now (finally) purchased my own copy of this book to read to my little girl. It is a classic and I know she will love it as much as I do. Every home should have this book to read at Christmastime.

This is a really good book. It has all the characteristic's that made the original a cherished and remembered fairy tale. It is a great gift for any young child, and can be enjoyed by adults too. It maintains the feel of the original tale, but is more like a poem. The art work on each page is beautiful, and the pictures are totally devine. I would recomend buying this for a different and fully enjoyable version of the original.

I look forward to reading this book every year because the children always love it so. It is a sweet, simple, and yet engrossing tale of a little girl who lived many years ago. She was going out West with her family on a wagon train, when she is separated from them with only her horse, Anna, for company. Anna wants to go off with a white stallion and his wild mares, but she is torn between her desire for freedom and her loyalty to the Gretchen. The white stallion ends up saving the girl's life, and she is happily reunited with her family.

The White Stallion is just right for 7-9 year olds who want something longer than a picture book that is still easy to read. They will also like learning a little about wagon trains and the love between a girl and her horse. It is well-written and illustrated, and I happily recommend it.

a wonderful book, when you read it you know it must be true because of it being so unusual. I wonder if anyone out there has any historical information on this horse, because somewhere I read about this amazing horse in history in the Nebraska, Utah early days, he was talked about by the oldtimers, almost mythical, the stories were passed around the territory, by native americans, settlers . thank you

This book brings back so many memories. When I was a girl, my mother bought this book for me. It's about a girl, Rachel, who gets separated from her wagon train on her horse. Her horse wanders into the woods, with the sleeping girl on her back. The girl is very afraid, but a white stallion appears and leads them back. It is really a magical story, intricately illustrated. I highly recommend it for everyone.

Each page contains one verb in the present participle.
Good for a lesson on verb forms.

The text consists of verbs in the present participle.
This makes an easy pattern for students of English as a second language to follow.
Furthermore, it offers welcome help in a difficult area: verbs.

"Bring on That Beat," by Rachel Isadora, is a book that celebrates jazz through poetry and illustrations. The book jacket notes that it takes place in Harlem in the 1930s.

The illustrations are primarily in black-and-white, with a charcoal-like look. Superimposed on these illustrations are playfully surreal multicolored accents. The result is quite striking; the book has a visual style that bursts with fun and energy.

The illustrations capture many marvelous images: children dancing, a band jamming on a rooftop, a brilliantly lit-up city skyline, a trumpeter lit by streetlight. Duke Ellington is celebrated in the book's poetry: "Duke Ellington-- / King o' the sun. / Cool as a cat, / He's where it's at." "Bring On" is an excellent celebration of American culture.

This is just the best book I have ever seen. I mean this! I am a music teacher in Southern California in the public school system and a student's parent showed it to me. I went on line to order a copy and saw this review option and decided that this was such a fantastic book I had to put in the time to tell people. I hope this gets published. I loved this book because it makes you really see music.....jazz. It sings. I could see the sounds. I showed it to my 5th graders and they had a blast and decided to do a project based on it. They are composing music with pictures to accompany it. What a thrill to have someone create such a book! Jazz is the love of my life and this is just GREAT!

My children love this new book by Ms. Isadora. I am a teacher and look for books where Afro-American children and situations are portrayed in a favorable light and with respect. I foound that this book not only does justice to a part of the world I come from, but gives children here in the US a realistic and wholesome look at life in the Islands. We all loved the illustrations and the simple text, which actually got our minds thinking and exploring the meanings behind each picture. I know teachers everywhere will love adding this book to their collection.

My daughter brought Isadora's book home from the library. Our family read it aloud last night and all agreed the author is a wonderful poet and gifted artist..We visited the Caribbean last year and after reading this book, my husband, daughter and I, complimented her beautifully written text and luscious artwork...Isadora captured the islands and its people to perfection.

My twins, aged 5, love this book. I highly recommend it for its warmth and pleasurable illustrations. They love to read this book before going to sleep because it calms and quiets them. There really schould be more books for young children such as this. I will treasure it along with my childhood Winnie the Pooh books. It is a classic!

This is a wonderful book about a youg boy and his best friend (the bear), who do everything together. The rhyming text is just enough to hold the (short) toddler attention span, and the beautiful, colourful ilustrations make for lots of conversation. This book is one that will be repeatedly read until the whole family knows it off by heart! Another great book for this age group is Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, by Cheryl Willis Hudson and Bernette Ford

This is a great book for 1yr olds+ to relate to. My toddler imitates everything the girl does in the book. She loves it. A sure win with the litte ones, and a must have.

The author has captured life from a little person's perspective. My son chooses this book often, and you can see recognition in his expressions on every page. From balls to birds to baths to bottles, a typical day is shown in beautiful illustrations.