My seven year old and (especially) my five year old daughters love the books in this series. The stories are true to life and teach valuable lessons without being too preachy. The illustrations are beautiful and show the feelings of the characters through very realistic expressions and environmental details. In addition, I think it is beneficial for my daughters (who are not African American like Jamaica, the main character) to see that children who do not look exactly like them can have very similar experiences and feelings.

This is an excellent book for children of all ages. Fantastic if you are looking for a multicultural book for your child or classroom. I have in fact found several sites on the internet ( one of the sites is that of the publisher Tillbury House)which give address and phone numbers for hundreds of lessonplans for teachers. A book that no elementary classroom should be without. There is actually a sequel call "Talking Walls:The Stories Continue" which I have not gotton my hands on yet.

Children can easily relate to Jamaica's feelings and may learn that sometimes people seem to be mean when really their feelings are just hurt.

It was just right for my six-year-old to read it to herself -- and she carried it around with her until she had finished it!

This book is a good one to read to pre-schoolers and kindergarteners to help explore the feelings they have when they either meet someone like Russell or, at times, actually find themselves acting like Russell. Hey, we all do it now and then.

Jamaica finds herself having to share her markers with Russell, who is neither well-behaved nor particularly adept at being prepared for class - he never has his supplies with him, and Jamaica pays the price by having to share her markers. She pays a heavier price when the picture she draws gets scribbled on by the dreadful Russell.

When she tells her father of the day's events, he acknowledges her hurt feelings at havbing her work ruined, and then springs a surprise on her - Russell is moving away, do you suppose his feelings are a little mixed up right now?

Jamaica remains angry over the incident, to the extent that she won't join the class in making "Goodbye" cards to Russell; seeing how Russell behaves in the school yard at recess, one can find it difficult to blame her.

The end of the story finds Jamaica empathizing, finally, with Russell. This is truly the moment of self-awareness and the moment when most children become cognizant of their own actions on others; by placing herself in Russell's shoes, just for a fleeting moment, Jamaica understands, or more importantly TRIES to understand, what has made Russell act this way recently.

Again, sharing this book with the younger children opens up a museum of opportunities to see if we can learn from each other. Pat yourself on the back if you purchase this book.

Jamaica feels sad that her older brother and friends won't let her join in their play. When she turns to play of her own, a younger child wants to join her. At first Jamaica refuses, then she remembers that she doesn't like to be excluded and includes the younger child. My 5-year-old enjoys this story, with its appealing pictures and accessible language. The author shows respect for the reader by not explicitly pointing out the similariity between the two situations, leaving it to the reader to discover the Golden Rule in practice.

A story that makes you feel the struggle of a little girl when she finds a stuffed toy and doesn't want to take it to the lost and found. Jamaica finds a hat and a stuffed dog at the playground. She returns the hat to the lost and found easily, but retains the dog bkz she likes it. After she gets home she starts feeling the tugs of guilt that maybe the dog belonged to another child who is missing it. The point of realization is quite poignant - she doesn't feel well or want to do anything bkz she is really thinking over what she should do with her conscience. It is a good lesson that returning items that don't belong is a good idea bkz in the end she meets the child who lost the dog and is able to reunite her with her beloved toy. While the art work is a bit fuzzy it is a wonderful, multi-cultural story with a great morale for children who are often wondering what to do with special things they find on the playground: to return or not return - that is the question.

Jouanah is a Hmong folktale which encompasses many of the elements of the oft told Cinderella, however, it also has unique variations which reflect the Hmong culture. In this tale, Jouanah's mother plays a crucial role as well as the evil stepmother and her daughter. It leaves the reader with the warm feeling of good triumphing over evil. The illustrations capture the style of the Blue Hmong Clan and the terrain of Southeast Asia in a dreamlike way.

This book will help you teach your child how babies are welcomed into a variety of families and cultures. The illustrations perfectly capture the mood of the text. Recommended for adoptive families and others who wish to increase their child's multicultural awareness. Great new baby gift, too!

I would not recommend this book to other kids. The plot wasstupid and the haunting was lame.

I really enjoy this book. It started not good intill the part when the mom, Ms. Harrison bought a cabin up in the mountains for summer vacation. The reason the mom bought the cabin was because is son Barry and her daughter Robin was telling their mother that everybody else at school was going away for summer vacation why don't we go some where. The story got excited chapter four beacause the chapter says it. After chapter four the story got very exciting and scary as well. I will recoment this book to other people and for children that could read. I know most of the people that read this book will enjoy it as much as I did. Remember that this book starts pretty good but the end of the book is the real story. You will know what I mean at the end of the story. I hope you read this review so you could look up this book. Remember in this a mystery is only a page away!!!!!