I read this book to my class on the 100th day of school every year. It's short, energetic, idea-inspiring, and the kids love the rhyme. It mirrors the way we celebrate the 100th day at our school, so the kids think it's fun to see another class celebrating in a similar way.

This is easy enough for my 6 year old and her best (7 year old) friend really likes it too. A fun read for the 100th day of school.

If you you are wanting a book that would grabb you and make you keep reading, read this book. It is just the most exciting book there is. Trust me on this. Have fun reading!

I'm a teacher for preschoolers, and this is a favorite with my class.

The language is poetic and you almost can't help speaking with a bit of a Texan drawl while reading it aloud.

It is DEFINITELY spooky--how would you react to seeing "just the head of a man" across a misty lake, with a ghost whispering, "I'm the ghost of Sifty-Sifty Sam, I'm on the lake, near the man"?

While it's spooky, it isn't generally so frightening most 4 year olds can't handle reading it, but engaging enough that 9 year old siblings like it too. And while it's spooky, it does not have violence, grossness, or gore, either.

I really like the "surprise" ending with Dan's clever solution on how to deal with this frightening apparition. I won't give it away in case there's any young readers reading this ad, but Dan finds a solution to Sifty Sifty Sam's haunting of the old house that's rather kind, generous, and mutually beneficial--it's a true happy ending.

My daughter age 9 loved this book, we both especially liked that the ghost wanted to be friends, was lonely and hungary. Since we both like to cook it was especially funny it turned out to be a restaurant in the end. I would definatley recommend this one for a nice moral ending to a book.

My six-year-old daughter loves this book! And as a ghost fancier myself, I have to say I loved Jacqueline Roger's eerie, atmospheric illustrations and Medearis's prose. We're looking for more books by this author and illustrator.

Poppa is a fun loving character who is really funny in stories
and has a great family. Some girls think George is cute!

Having heard this story told by the author herself I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. As a teacher it is great for teaching predictions, but as a reader it is an entertaining story that delights everytime. My students love the story and beg to borrow the book to read it for themselves. The illustrations are excellent and add to the story's humor.

A friend shared this book with me when we were in a discussion of Africa's Kente cloth, woven with bright colors in narrow strips and then sewed into wider fabric. Seven Spools... is a delightful tale well told and beautifully illustrated. The moral lesson of cooperation is clearly shown. I have ordered it to be a great addition to my group of African books for children and adults.

A great book to share and explain Kwanzaa values. I am participating in a library program and this tales of selfishness and unity from an African folklore is a wonderful way to explain the principle of Umoja. The illustrations are beautiful with rich and bold color. This is a story I will never forget.

I am an elementary art teacher, and I read this book to my first graders when we were talking about African art. They absolutely loved the story! By the end of the book, they were reciting the repeating phrases with me. Then they wanted me to read the whole story all over again. I seldom get such an ethusiastic response from my students when I read to them. The artwork in the book is very reminiscent of African art and goes along very well with an art project we make when talking about Africa. This book is a wonderful addition to a unit on Africa.

The artwork is rich, detailed, amusing, and simultaneously illustrates different lines of the story--that is, in the background, are shown the line about the characters running up hill and down, while in the foreground the next phase and character of the story is depicted. Also each of the talking items floats in the background space, so you have lots of things to point out and talk about with the little ones--or just go for the story, it's fun. The colors and the dress of the people match what we see in W. Africa. My child enjoyed an animated reading from the age of 18 months. The story is a traditional one as well, which lends to the overall richness. I have a number of children's books depicting W. Africa, and this and Trina Schart Hyman's Fortune Teller are my favorites for their beauty, detail, and their faithfulness to the scene here. To the Sweet Shores of Africa, is another beauty as well---this one is poems with beautiful pictures.

The Adventures of Sugar and Junior is a charming collection of four short stories by Angela Shelf Medearis. These stories tell, in simple but not babyish language, how Santiago Antonio Ramirez (also known as Junior) met Sugar, an African American girl his age, how Sugar got her name, the results of the pair's unsupervised first attempt at baking, their attendance at a scary movie, and the selection of ice cream cones. The uncluttered illustrations by Nancy Poydar complement the script perfectly. This book will be popular for story time and an excellent addition to any private or children's library collection.

I absolutely love this book. I collect cookbooks and have an extensive collection from around the world and this is by far one of my favorites. The author traces her heritage through story and food from Africa through the West Indies, the Carribean and the southern plantations of the U.S. This is a book not too be missed. It is a shame it is no longer in hardcover because I just loaned mine out and never got it back. Anyone who likes good food needs this book!

This is a fantastic book and should be a part of every fourth and fifth grade classroom. The story gives a soul stirring look at life for a minority in the late 1800's in such a way that children can relate to the emotions experienced and actions taken. The story shows how even a child can respond to challenge prejudice and unfair bias in a mature way. It would also be a great introduction to a unit on poetry.

It has a variety of recipes which are very simple to prepare and great tasting. The author also explains the ins and outs of entertaining.The book offers very pratical tips for the reader (i.e. making sure your bathroom is clean before the guests arrive!) This book also gives the history behind our African-American holidays. I found this book to be a delight not only to use but also to read.

I am a native Spanish speaker. I've been reading this book in Spanish to my granddaughter who just turned 1 year old. The pictures, colors and expressions on the faces are terrific. The different cultures and races portrayed playing together and outside are delightful. Although this book is rated for more advanced ages, I found that my granddaughter now pays very close attention, smiles, and copies the faces as I read along. For example, "Hacemos pucheros." This book will be fun for her for some time. I look forward to when it rains and she can actually say, "Jugamos en los charcos que forma la lluvia."