I first looked at this book because my nickname is Fluffy. I wanted a cute book with the name in the title, and this one is really great.

It teaches a great lesson about the teasing people can get when their folks label 'em wrong. The illustrations are delightful and Fluffy looks ever-so-slightly as if he's been chewed on. This book has a place of honor reserved for when my copy arrives--right next to my Harold and the Purple Crayon books.

Several years ago I purchased this book for my then 4 year old son. We laughed uproariously at the book and its art. For years we shared the story of Fluffy many many times, then, somehow, it got lost in one of our moves. Periodically we still refer to Fluffy and the message he delivers. My son is now almost 14 and I just reordered this book for his birthday. I know he will be surprised and delighted when he sees it. He too has a name different from most and sometimes when people cannot pronounce it, he patiently tells them the correct pronunciation. I am so glad that I gave him this book and it's wonderful message. IT IS ok to be different..

Whenever I am asked to read in my children's classes, this is the FIRST book I choose. I usually begin by asking the children, "Who has ever been teased about their name?" or "Who has ever felt that sometimes their name just doesn't fit?" Either question gets an enthusiastic response. Then we read "Fluffy". The kids love it, I love it, the teachers love it. It lets kids know that just because their names are different, their feelings can be the same. It also teaches a very strong lesson about how SHARED laughter can forge a friendship between two seemingly opposite creatures. If we can learn to laugh at the little stuff, the big stuff is a little easier to tackle too!

Just goes to show what a little ingenuity and ability to think on your feet can accomplish-even if you are a sloth!! A fun story about playing the game just enough to be left alone to be who you really are...My (almost) 3 year old loves this story, and I love reading it over and over and over and...

Score One for the Sloths, written by Helen Lester and illustrated by Lynn Musinger, is a wonderful story that truly defines the nature of the animals in a way a child can understand and enjoy. The story is about Sleepy Valley Sloth School, a school where sloths do nothing all day except sleep and eat. About halfway through the book, Sparky, the perky sloth, comes to the school. The lazy sloths do not welcome her arrival until they find out that because of their poor academic performance, their school might be shut down.
The entertaining story features wonderful illustrations. The book has relatively easy language, and it is probably aimed at an early elementary school level. Helen Lester does a great job of portraying the typical sloth as well as the atypical sloth. The story conveys a message to children readers about stereotypes: although sloths have a reputation for being lazy, some do not fit that image. The illustrations work wonderfully with the text to tell a story about one sloth that saved the day for the rest.

Lester, Helen. Score One For the Sloths. Illus. Lynn Munsinger.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001

The sloths at school are content to be sleepy sloths, until a new go-getter sloth arrives to drive them all crazy. But the pesty new arrival proves the sloths' salvation when an official decides to shut the school due to its low academic scores. Fun drawings make Score One For The Sloths an exceptional story.

Talk about a twist and turn of events! My first graders loved this book. It teaches children that being first is not always best. I use it now whenever my first graders fight to be first in line. We all yell out, "Don't be a Pinkerton!" and in a gentle humorous way the "pusher of the line" concedes. It is also a great book for a follow up discussion on homophones. When you read this book, you'll know what I'm talking about. You see, Pinkerton wants to be first when he hears someone offering a "sandwich" but it turns out to be a Sand Witch who makes him realize his selfishness. It is an adorable book and voted one of the top five in my classroom!

Pinkerton the Pig always wants to be first. He is "pink, plump, and pushy". Every day he is always first in line in the school trough-a-teria. One day he goes for a hike with his pig scout troop and hears a distant voice asking, "Who would care for a sandwitch"? Of course Pinkerton wants to be first and he meets a real "Sand Witch" who teaches him the value of taking turns and waiting patiently for your turn. This book is written in a humorous but it can be used to teach children a valuable lesson. Concepts that can be taught are, waiting, taking turns, respect for others, and functioning as part of a team. The use of language is unique and creative which helps to capture and hold young readers as does the humorous illustrations. This is a great book to help teach children appropriate behavior. Also, can be read for fun and enjoyment.

Like all of Lester's books, Me First imparts an important lesson for primary aged children without being preachy or condescending. Her clever use of the English language and humor make it just as enjoyable for the reader as the read-ee!

My daughter & I loved this book so much, we even know Tacky's cheer by heart: 1,2,3 left... A,B,C, right... flop down, roll over, Say, what's for supper! this is a beautiful way to show children that being different is okay.

This is a super little story about the one person who stands out in every group. This is great for a classroom and to read to cheerleaders. This aids in the understanding that the "odd" person may be the "WINNER"!! People of all ages can relate to Tacky and his friends!!

Tacky is such an odd bird! My child was drawn to his excentric style of dress, and the rhyming of the cheers. She had this book memorized in no time, and it has always been one of our favorite books to read together. I recommend it highley!

My son and I have read this book numerous times. I never tire of the beatifully detailed pictures and the silly listening errors made by Buddy Bunny. You will love it!

This is a very funny story of a little bunny, who is cabable of hearing things correctly, but rarely does. This is pretty annoying to Buddy's parents, but still Buddy isn't really motivated to listen more carefully until he mixes up some directions and runs into trouble. Luckily dear Buddy gets out of the jam unscathed, and ready to do some fine listening, too.

Really is one of the more fun stories to read.

Helen Lester Thompson's Sewing Tools & Trinkets is a collector's identification and value guide, covering everything from thimbles and needle holders to toys and trinkets. A very specific reference for the collector of sewing items.

This is an excellent source for the collector of antique sewing implements. Full color illustrations of all priced objects make it easy to identify and place a value on pincushions, needlecases, thimbles and more. Not much text but price guides are generally short on text. If a price guide is what you want, I recommend this one.

This enchanting book must be read to every class of learning disabled students, and should be in every elementary classroom as well. Ms. Lester shows, with amusement and the touching words of a small child, that writing can be fun-for anyone! Even if writing is a struggle, it can be enjoyed. This book will make students with problems know it's okay to be different, and that they can still go on to a productive, happy life. That is so important, as so many adults are scarred by the unhappy times they spent in schools, attempting to learn what was for them, almost impossible. I feel almost all students would enjoy this book. Thank you to Mrs. Lester for saying what so many needed to hear.

Hooway for Wodney Wat will have you, and your kids, laughing out loud. Poor Wodney the Wat can't say his R's, and due to the teasing of other "wodents" in his class, spends most of his time hiding in his jacket. Enter Camilla Capybara, the newest, biggest, smartest and definitely meanest rodent at PS 142 Elementary School for Rodents. Rodney becomes a hero when his speech impediment ends up helping him rid himself and his classmates of Camilla's bullying - in a very humorous way. Text and pictures combine for a book your kids will ask for again and again -- and you actually won't mind.

They've done it again! The team who brought us such memorable books as A Porcupine Named Fluffy and Tacky the Penguin are at their absolute best with Hooway for Wodney Wat. Funny text and hysterical illustrations combine to make the perfect read aloud book. I laughed so hard I cried. A must have!

This is one of the most charming books I have read in years. Wodney provides children with a hero (or, as Wodney would say, "hewoah") who overcomes so much just by being himself. It's a great lesson for both children who identify with Wodney or who are more like the other wodents in the book. I intend to share this book with adults and children alike.

The team of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger was our best find. Tacky the Penguin is our favorite with its crazy songs and wonderful cadence. We give this as a gift to everyone. This book is an blessing to the musically challenged, too, as the songs are meant to be sung off-key and silly.

This book had my children giggling from the minute Tacky starts singing! They couldn't stop laughing until it was over, and then they wanted to read it again right away. They continued to sing the songs throughout the day. All 3 of my children LOVE this book. The pictures are a delight as well, and a perfect match for the story. Great book! PS- It also has a wonderful message about acceptance and individuality.

My eleven-month old daughter loves to play with books, but isn't always patient enough to listen to them being read completely without wanting to grab the pages herself, etc. However, she loves to sit and listen to Tacky the Penguin and often brings it to us from her box of books.