Our copy is now worn from the nightly reading. The Pink House is our son's favorite request at bedtime. The author spins a warm and loving tale of an extended family on a beach vacation. It teaches relationships of family members and the simple wonders of the beach. The hand sketches of the aunts and uncles in their bathing suites are delightful. Because it is so true to ideal beach vacations, I recommend this book to all families with young children. We even tracked down the real house so our kids could have their picture made in front of THE PINK HOUSE.

This book was read to me - and I can't wait to read it to others. The wonderful graphics make it a delight! An excellent book for kids from 3 to 30.

This book inrtrigues all the senses. The story, the lyrical writing, the colors and changing light in the illlustrations bring the sounds of the ocean and the smell of the sand and sun and call us all back to the beach of our childhood.

Illustrations and story synergize to portray loving memory from all of our childhoods. As an elementary teacher, I highly recommend this book to all who are or have ever been children.

Too often, children's books focus on just the mothers or are absent of any adults at all (unless they are bears or elephants) In the book Octopus Hugs, the father is a gentle, caring man who actively plays with his children.

He invents games that are fun and engaging. My children have wanted to play Octopus Hugs, Put-A-Quarter-In and Animal Bridge for weeks. This book is an outstanding story as well as an activity book.

The pictures are very well done. It is without a doubt the most positive African-American father I have EVER seen in a children's book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is well worth your time and money.

This book was so filled with good advice and valuable insights, I'd recommend it to anyone, whether they're having problems with their dog's behavior or not. Dr. Vine has been a veterinarian for decades and it shows. His love, respect, and understanding of dogs is evident; but his understanding of people is even more extraordinary. Be prepared to do some soul-searching, because he pulls no punches when it comes to who needs training, the dogs or us humans. I laughed a great deal while reading this book, not only because of Dr. Vine's humor but how well it's illustrated. (The illustrations alone are priceless.) Also, it's full of first-hand accounts with his patients which I found particularly helpful. If you want a read to enlighten while it entertains, this is the book for you. I applied his advice to my own dog (and to myself) with astonishing results. This is a book that should be read and reread if you care about your pet.

My reaction when I first got this book and read it too myself was that the story was unrealistic in its portrayal of getting the daddy out of his depression. The mamma responds to the daddy's depression by giving him chairs to paint, hoping to make him feel useful and needed. True, painting and other creative endeavors can help people who are depressed. That's the whole point behind art therapy often used in hospital settings. However, the author made it seem as though the daddy's depression went away after he painted the chairs. Painting may have eased the depression, but it can't cure the person.

That said, I still recommend this book because it resonnated well with my children. My five-year-old especially likes this book and has asked me to read it to her several times. Maybe I judge "unrealistic" optimism aimed at children too harshly. Perhaps children who have a parent with depression need such an upbeat and hopeful story to help them cope with the stress and confusion they feel.

Author & illustrator Kate Salley Palmer has created a wonderfully helpful book about a family dealing with a father's depression. With the same colorul illustrations and hand-written type that make her other books such a delight, Palmer tells of the father of a loving, happy family who one day gets very sad and doesn't "know how to stop it." The mother tries to help him feel better by giving him chairs to paint, hoping to make him feel useful and like an important part of the family again. Teaching children that a family member's depression is not their fault and giving them hope that brighter days are ahead, The Little Chairs opens the lines of communication for children to talk about their feelings.

It is Palmer's bright, cheerful illustrations which make this book a joy to read, brightening the sad and difficult topic. Her realistic ending also helps children who are facing very real problems.

Because of its vivid illustrations and few words, this book is perfect for little listeners as well as older children.