William Steig's "The Toy Brother" takes us back to medieval England, where brothers Charles and Yorick spend their time in the time-honored way of figuring out ways to annoy each other (some things never change). When one of them gets into their father's magic potions, all heck breaks loose and there are problems a-plenty--compounded by the fact that their parents are away for several days at a family wedding.

The brothers come to an understanding on their own--a nice touch--not with the help of their parents or any other characters. But of course, it's all even better once their parents arrive home.

One of my very favorite things about William Steig's books--aside from, well, everything--is that he treats kids like smart people. That's different from treating them like grown-ups, which he doesn't do--but he uses uncommon words and phrases with great abandon, figuring that what kids don't pick up from context they can jolly well look up in a dictionary. Bully for him! The result is a book that has zing, and the usual terrific Steig illustrations. So much fun, whether or not the child you're reading to has an annoying brother!

William Steig joined here the delightful tone of his earlier children's books to the inventiveness found in his New Yorker cartoons.

Yorick, the older of these two medieval boys, had notions of surpassing his father at alchemy, and hoped someday to turn donkey's dung into gold. Charles on the other hand preferred chasing chickens, poking in anthills and arguing with the family goat.

Naturally, when their parents traveled to a distant wedding, Yorick got into some solution. "Yes goosewit," he told his brother, after transmogrificating himself, "I invented a new potion. But I tasted it and za-zing! I was no bigger than a cockroach."

Charles found his older brother's new size satisfyingly real as peas and beans and built him a new pint-sized house, but when it started to hail, he realized that Yorick would always be in danger. He could easily drown in a bucket of milk, be eaten by a cat, seriously injured by a field mouse or stepped on by a donkey.

Steig mixed unusual words with more unusual ingredients--putting gadzooks and flabbergasted with borage, betony, camphor, sauerkraut and dainty pies. The hysterical result no doubt humored the Bede minikins. It is bound to enchant your own tikes as well, especially if they're prone to fight now and then. Alyssa A. Lappen

How many of us had older siblings that ignored us and thought we were pests? And how many of us had younger siblings that were pests? This is a great story of two brothers in this situation. But in the end find mutual respect for each other. William Steig's fairy tale magic leaves children wanting this story read over and over again.

Its role reversal in this work where two sisters get their exhausted mother into bed, telling her a bedtime story and undressing her. This story is adorable and children will love the girl's take-charge attitude. The colorful illustrations are superb, conveying a realistic and human quality. An amazing amount of detail went into the illustrations. The scenes of the various rooms in the house portray the way in which a house would look with two children and a very tired mommy. Books thrown around, shoes scattered about, clothes hanging out of a dresser drawer etc. This book would be an outstanding bedtime story.

My son loves this book. It ecame a favourite for a while, and is requested from time to time. It's a gentle story about two kids with very ordinary home life - nothing fancy, and 2 parents who are leading busy lives - Dad comes in with a lunch box, wearing overalls, looking tired himself, and lovingly tucks in his daughters after they tenderly tuck in their exhausted mum.

This is a lovely book to share, and with which to encourage the beginning reader.

My daughter, aged 2, just loved this book. It is the only book at the library that she demands again and again. Thus, I am buying it for her. (Overdue library fines are a drag.) This book has real, life-like characters: Mom has an occasional fat roll showing; Daddy works late; Mommy is exhausted. The kids in the book make the unselfish decision to put mom to bed and take care of themselves. This book is also the right word length to read little kids and the pictures are excellent.

Two Sister is a unique volume of poetry where the sisters Sheila Wade and Maureen Brown collaborate to present a compelling memoir in the form of candid, revealing, and inspiring biographical verse that tells of their upbringing, marked by poverty of spirit as well as substance. The sisters deal with emotional issues ranging from personal security to self-esteem to coming out of poverty and rising a prosperity of spirit. Growing Up Too Fast: When I was so very young,/Into adulthood I was flung./To grow up very quickly,/Even though I was often sickly.//My family was dirt poor,/Our house was an eyesore./Our clothes and hair were unclean,/Life in many ways was very mean.//My father had never learned to read,/Yet he was a good man, everyone agreed./He worked so hard at his trade,/We never lived on welfare aid.//Many bills were left unpaid,/Of a better life he always prayed./Until he own life finally did fade,/And at peace at rest he was finally laid.

"Two Sister" is a poignant account of two sisters' journey through the rigors of a childhood spent in poverty. They highlight the gamut of emotions that anyone in their situation would experience: from the embarrassment caused by others' comments or stares to the utter joy found in the simple pleasures of life, like taking a drive with the family. I was moved by the feelings of compassion toward others and gratitude for my own childhood memories that were elicited by reading these simple, yet moving poems.

A mosaic of short poems laden throughout with deep, strong colors and hard-edge shapes of tears. Yet, the entire layout induces with gentle hues and soft graceful movements of laughter. There is no poetic expertise lacking. Dignity, humility and the true meaning of life became the achevements of the authors. Clearly, if any reader remembers "THE GOLDEN RULE", then this book will find its way to the lips and hearts of many parents, teachers and my three sisters. This one gets five rose-cut diamonds from me!

I flipped through some pages at ... bookstore. I had to force myself not to cry in the middle of the crowd. This book gives a truthful insight to the relationship of siblings, loss, and love. Although Will does sound a bit more mature than his tender age of 11, this book is a must read!

Hehe I bought one of 5 signed copies left in the store. The author is a NorthWest native.

...like a reptile!"

Well, maybe not really upon your belly, but it will move you. This book could be a real downer given the subject matter, but it isn't. I laughed and cried my way through my feelings about death with this book. For me it was really good. And I'm in my mid-40s! But the target audience is YA, and just when the material is getting heavy, there is usually some age-appropriate comic relief. Think "Catherine Called Birdy" meets "Into the Light".

Janet Lee Carey has courageously taken on one of the most difficult themes of our culture and crafted a timeless and compelling story, one that will touch and appeal to adults as well as young readers. Filled with compassion, humor and imagination, Wenny Has Wings is one of those rare books that not only uplifts but thoroughly entertains.

A cool new way to learn the story of David ("Darien") from the Old Testament, while also touching the "Other Worlds" lobe that makes things like this, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings books so cool.

Kyle and Anna accidentally stumble into the world of Marus while exploring an old shack in the woods. Each is quickly caught up in the action from different sides, while trying to figure out what in the world happened. They soon discover they're under the protection of the Unseen One, known in our world as God.

I began reading this book, and I honestly couldn't put it down; fortunately, it was on a weekend! It's pretty awesome, because instead of a slingshot, Darien uses a pocket knife. Instead of a sword, Darien uses a pistol and a saber. Marus is in a Western type of time frame for this story, and that is one thing that helps this book to work so well.

I'm already a fan of Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey, and this book contains some elements of the series, but it can function on its own, for sure.

If you like this one (and I can almost promise you will), you'll want to check out the other five titles.

Have you ever wondered how people think of God in another world? In the book Passages; Darein's Rise by Paul McCuster, two yuong children, Kyle and Anna were venturing through an old abandoned huose when they found themselves in a diffrent world. Kyle ends up in a castle and Anna ends up in King Lawrence's closet. Both are surprised, they didn't know where they were. Soon they find out they were in Marus. Marus is on a world that has two moons, one was white and the other was a light orange. Marus is also a country that stroungly beleives in the Unseen One. Thruogh out the story the King goes mad and looses his faith in the Unseen One, which causes him to want to kill his best general. Kyle and Anna were sent by the Unseen One as a protector and a vioce. kyle is the protector and Anna is the vioce. Kyle keeps getting these weird feelings and Anna keeps having these wierd dreams. Eyes of two colors in Marus means you were sent by the Unseen One as a vioce. Will Kyle and Anna ever make it home? Does the King succeed in his plot to kill the general? To find out I invite you to read Passages; Darein's Rise by Paul McCuster.

I thought this book was a great re-telling of the King Saul and David story.I can't wait to read the next one! I think Darien's a great charactor. I'm 11 years old and I loved this book.

Phoebe Stone's hauntingly beautiful ALL THE BLUE MOONS AT THE WALLACE HOTEL stirs the heart and imprints the mind. Award-winning author and illustrator of WHEN THE WIND BEARS GO DANCING, this is Stone's first foray into the land of intermediate to middle school readers and she arrives radiant and appealing. Emotionally, her novel reads as if drawn from deep personal experience. Artistically, the story is vivid with the kind of imagery only an author with a tap root into art itself could manage. The book is a coming-of-age tale cast with luminous characters, hauntingly lovely descriptions and a poignant resolution that is both uplifting and plausible. I especially urge school librarians to purchase ALL THE BLUE MOONS and give book talks that include dialgue segments, interior monologues and scenic descriptions. Sensitive children will be drawn into the world of Fiona Hopper, her iconoclastic family and their responses to a world that first shuns then draws them to its breast. Burgess Needle, Librarian, Safford Magnet Middle School, Tucson Unified School District

I started reading this book one evening and was hard pressed to put it down! This is a great 'stay in when the weather is bad and read' kind of story. And it's not just a children's story either; I am a mature adult with no children of my own. I recommend this book to anyone with a passion to achieve a dream and an obstacle to overcome in accomplishing it!

The story and its characters is simply captivating! It only took a few pages before I found myself attached to the three main characters: Fiona, Wallace, and Kip. Their personalities take on real dimensions very quickly; I felt as if I actually knew them...they were so believably real! They most certainly could be young people any of us may have met in this present day.

Each of the children has an endearing uniqueness: Wallace - a precocious, unconventional, idealistic, and sensitive child - unaware of her desire for value until it is 'given' to her. One is immediately drawn to her character because she is so easy to like, even love...it was as much for her I wanted to read this book as it was for anyone or anything else in the story! Kyp provides all the boldness, daring, eagerness and self-assuredness oft equated with a youthful spirit. With his genuine honesty and acceptance, he is the balm that adds balance to the triangular relationship of these three children. Finally, Fiona's narration of this tale allows us to connect with her observations, her memories, her feelings, her desires, her hopes, her longings. She has been created with vividness and vulnerability! I think every child with an overriding dream in their heart can relate to her character...as can many adults. I know I did!

comes a book this wonderful! This book made me laugh and cry and think. I loved the characters, particularly Wallace. Phoebe Stone uses language so beautifully and weaves a great story with surprising and gratifying twists. I strongly recommend this book to all girls who love ballet, or who have a sister, or who have a best friend...in fact, all girls!

this is one of the best books about the vietnam conflict that i have ever read! the characters are so beliveable that you could reach out and touch them... it is a book that i would recopmen to anyone, boys or girls.

This book is a definate tear jerker, for both guys and girls. The main character, Geraldine, is put in many situations throughout the book. When her brother leaves for Vietnam and his best friend disagrees with his choice, she can't do anything but watch their friendship slowly fade away. Or does it? Many emotions are expressed in this touching story. I recomend this story for all ages.

This book, is one of the very few books that actually caused me to cry. The story is so moving, and Geraldine is a very convincing character. I rate this book really well. I read it years ago at my junior high library, and have been searching for it since. I reccomend this book to anyone.

This is a fun, rhyming book that kids love. I've read it to my 5 year old every day for a month now. He just can't get enough!!

I just read this book to my son's 1st grade class - they were captivated - and there was much audience participation! They loved the story and my son said that for the rest of the day everyone in the class wanted to read it over and over again! This is a fabulous book and a must read for you and your children!

As a children's librarian, I am constantly perusing the shelves for books to order. I read this book only once and immediately put it on my MUST ORDER list. The pictures are spectacular, the rhyming begs to be read aloud,and the "let's get along" theme is attractive and exactly what we need to teach our children.

My son is 2 years old and he LOVES this book. When it is time for bed, he says, "Angel Baby," and reaches for the book. The pictures are vibrant and beautiful, and the smooth flowing words captivate his attention - from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book!

I have a three and a half and two year old and they love this book. My three year old recites the words and my two year old points to all the pictures. The illustrations are great! Very colorful and action-packed. I love reading this book.

Pat Cummings presents a wonderfully humorous story that shares the view of a mother and a sibling towards a baby. This book would be an excellent one to share with an older sibling regarding the way parents see a baby and they see a baby. Thank you Pat for such a caring story.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I'd give it more stars if I could. It is really enjoyable to read! I highly recommed it.

This is a book that I highly recommend! It is a great Christian fiction romance novel. If you buy it you won't be dissapointed.

Debra White Smith is one of my favorite authors! I stumbled across her books in the library and immediately fell in love with the Seven Sisters stories! I have read Best Friends (the pre-series book) as well as books 1-4 of the Seven Sisters series. I highly recommend this author and these books! I don't know how I'm going to wait 4 months for the next book to come out!