I work in an elementary School, and let me tell you, I hear some whoppers sometimes. Most of the fibbing the children do is just in fun, or is it? Just as this book indicates and just as the illustrator, illustrates, a big fat enormous lie begings small with a little fibbing then the lie grows to something that, if a child is not made aware, can be turned into a life long trait. How many adults do you know that lie to you on a daily basis.

A Big Fat Enormous Lie, will give you a fun way to talk to your child about the consequences of lying.

You want to hear a lie a former friend told me? He said he could see a deer two miles away, and eventhough he couldn't see the antlers, he could smell whether it was a buck or doe. Talk about your whoppers.

Tell your children while they're young that lying is a dead end street. Tell them that honesty will bring them happiness and peace of mind, and that's no lie.

My son LOVES this book, When I read it to him he could'nt stop laughing and the best thing is he never forgot it. For any child to memorize a certain book is GREAT!

I am an elementary school teacher and this is one of my favorite stories. A must have for every library. Not only is it entertaining, but it has an important message for children. The kids love this book!

I still have my original paperback copy of "I'm Terrific," that I bought in the first or second grade through scholastic. I am now 29 years old and I still love reading this book when I visit my father's house. I would highly recommend this book for children and it's not a bad read for adults either!:)

I can't believe I found this book! It was one of my favorites as a little girl back in the 70's, and now I'm buying a new copy for my kids! I'll never forget asking every night at bedtime to hear the story about Jason Everett Bear and his gold stars. It's a keeper!

Since I am the first to review this book on line, I am assuming that it is the same as the original "I'm Terrific" first copyrighted in 1977. My daughter, in her first grade class, read the most books that year and her teacher gave her this wonderful book as a reward. That was in 1984. She is now twenty-one and she and I have read the book together many times; the last being about one month ago. The "star" of the book, Jason Everett Bear is quite self absorbed in the beginning but in the end he learns a valuable lesson about sharing and friendship and how to just be "yourself". Our favorite children's book ever! The illustrations are "terrific" also.

When Mitchell announces that he is moving "two weeks away" from the home he's lived in for sixty years, his best buddy (and next door neighbor) Margo doesn't sit quietly by and let him slip away. The tale that ensues speaks volumes about the love of friendship and surprising solutions. If you find yourself reading the same stories over and over, you'll want to make sure this one is among the possibilities.

Mitchell is moving is one of the best books I have ever read. Mitchell has lived next door to his friend for so long so he finally decides to move away, "three days away" to be exact. Margo, his friend, is not to happy about it so she tries to keep him from going. I recomend this book to all ages!

Mitchell the dinosaur is tired of living in the same old place and decides to move "three days away". His best friend Margo isn't happy about that at all. She thinks of some very ingenious ways to try and keep Mitchell as her neighbor. The story stays cute and readable--no matter how many times I've read it over the years.

Hollywood Hound is the best book in the whole world. It's about a dog named Duz Shed that becomes a movie star by winning a contest. His owner, Fred Shed, entered him in the contest. Then Duz is captured by Veronica Fudge who has a big mean cat and Duz didn't like her. Fred didn't know that Veronica kidnapped Duz and had to find clues about what happened. The end is very exciting, and I had a hard time putting it away when[my teacher] said our Silent Reading time was over.

Hollywood Hound is the best book in the world. It's about a dog named Duz that becomes a movie star by winning a contest. He got kidnapped by Victoria Crume. I can't wait for the third book to come out.

Nate the Great is a detective and a guy known for being able to find lost things or solve mysteries. However, in NATE THE GREAT AND THE BIG SNIFF, Nate experiences his most personal mystery of all when Sludge, his dog, detective partner, and best friend, ends up lost in Weinman Brothers, Nate's favorite store. Since no dogs are allowed in the store, Nate has to leave Sludge outside. Nate goes inside to buy a gift for Sludge and has to stand in a really long line. Worried about his doggy partner, Nate goes back to the entrance to check on Sludge and finds that Sludge is gone!

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

NATE THE GREAT AND THE BIG SNIFF is written as a chapter book, something the last few books in the series have changed to. The change is welcome because the chapters provide brief bits that can be read while on the go, and they all end up with cliffhanger endings that make the young reader want to pick the book up again or the young listener want to sit down and hear more. As always, the author presents a very real mystery with very real possible solutions before ultimately solving Nate's latest case. The usual cast of Annie and Fang and Rosamond show up in the story, and Claude puts in an appearance to round out the neighborhood. The way that all of the group bands together to help Nate find Sludge is really great and heart-warming. Over the years, Nate has been bothered by these people, or presented hard mysteries by them, and it's good to see that they help him out when he needs it, and that they actually care about Sludge. When the case is finally solved, Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat reveal that Sludge is every bit the detective that Nate is. The full color illustrations by Martha Weston are detailed and expressive. This is a truly great book for young readers and parents who love to read aloud to pre-readers.

Young readers will enjoy the whole Nate the Great series because the tales are told in a familiar fashion and involve a solid cast of characters that return book after book. These books are also some of the best to choose for read-alouds to pre-readers or for the last story before bedtime because they can be read in just a few moments. The Nate the Great mysteries are fun and addictive for both parent and child.

Nate is a great detective and depends on his dog to help him solve cases. But Sludge is lost inside a department store, and this time Nat's on his own in solving the case of a missing best friend. Can Nate think like a dog to solve the case?

I really liked the book because it talks about some kids that play baseball togheter and when the second base was stollen they decided to look for it. Nate the Great worked hard to find it. He found it behind the bookcase in Oliver's house. I also liked the name he gave his dog: Sludge. I think he is a great detective because he was able to solve the case.

I love the "Nate the Great" books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. They keep my daughter's interest and she loves the characters and Nate always having his pancakes. She tries to read the books herself and I love any book that challenges her to do that. I hope to see more books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. I feel she's a talented author and should be applauded for her children's works.

I really like mystery and suspense. Its a very good story. I
really like the detective tips! Nate the Great helps me be a
better detective!

This Nate the Great issue was terriffic. My boys were entertained and excited to participate with Nate and the gang. They hung on every word and eagerly answered the questions. My boys were so proud to be declared detectives. Now they want the rest of the series. I highly reccommend it!!

Nate the Great, the youngest detective to ever deliver tough guy lines, is summoned to his newest case by his next door neighbor, Oliver. Oliver is something of a pest because he follows people. It doesn't matter who they are or where they're going, if they catch Oliver's eye he will follow them. He's followed Nate the Great around on a lot of the cases Nate has been given to find things his friends have lost. Oliver's problem sets Nate on his first night case as a detective. Someone is stealing from Oliver's garbage can and dumping the rest all over the place. Reluctantly, Nate the Great takes the case and is followed by Oliver. Along the way, Nate finds out what Rosamond's four cats will eat. It is a very long list, and not at all what Nate needs to know. Researching the case also leads Nate to the local library to study nocturnal animals. However, the real culprit who is stealing Oliver's garbage is a major surprise!

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

As usual, Majorie Weinman Sharmat writes a sharp and smartly told tale. Nate the Great is one of the best fictional heroes to ever come about for young readers and pre-readers. Reading one of the Nate the Great books to a pre-reader is a fantastic privilege. The first-person, clipped dialogue is pure pleasure for the reader willing to do "voices." Annie and her dog Fang were absent from this adventure and long-time readers will miss them, but Oliver and Rosamond are there, as well as the usual stumbling blocks Nate encounters. And pancakes-lots and lots of pancakes. The author's clues are there, though, and many alert readers will figure out the solution to the garbage-snatching mystery one step ahead of Nate, which is the best place to figure those things out. Marc Simont's artwork is simple and elegant as always, adding to the enjoyment.

Young readers will enjoy the whole Nate the Great series because the tales are told in a familiar fashion and involve a solid cast of characters that return book after book. These books are also some of the best to choose for read-alouds to pre-readers or for the last story before bedtime because they can be read in just a few moments. The Nate the Great mysteries are fun and addictive for both parent and child.

Nate the Great is a cool detective who solves lots of mysteries. In this story he is trying to find out who is dumping Oliver's trash. We liked it when Nate the Great went undercover to solve the case. The best part was when Nate runs into a "Stinky Surprise"! We think this is a great book for all second graders.

NATE THE GREAT is the first book in a wonderful series that introduces young readers to the world of mysteries, clues, and pancakes that is Nate the Great. Shortly after a big breakfast of pancakes, Nate is contacted by his friend Annie. She has a mystery for him. The picture, painted in yellow, she did of her dog Fang is missing. She wants Nate to find the picture for her. Nate leaves a note for his mother and is in hot pursuit of the clues that will let him know where the missing picture is. During the course of his investigation, Nate meets Rosamond and her four cats-Super Hex, Big Hex, Little Hex, and Plain Hex, and Annie's little brother Harry. One of them holds the secret of where the missing picture is.

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress. Nate the Great was named after the author's father.

As in every Nate the Great book she writes, Marjorie Sharmat plays fairly with young readers (ages 4-8) regarding the mystery and the clues. Her prose is tight, clean, and concise. Reading aloud to younger readers is an absolute hoot, and if the reader can manage the tough-guy private eye voice of a Mickey Spillane novel, the effect on young readers is even more mesmerizing. The illustrations by Marc Simont-the long-time artist of the Nate the Great series-complements the story very well, lending humor, clues, and vibrant color for young eyes. NATE THE GREAT is the perfect place to join the series because this book sets up all of Nate's world, from the frantic call by friends that have lost something, to the note Nate always leaves his mom on the refrigerator explaining his whereabouts, to the regulars that make up Nate's world.

The entire Nate the Great series is recommended to younger readers and parents who love reading to their children that might have tired of (or memorized!) all of the rhyming Dr. Seuss books. This series makes a great transition to leap from to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys later.

I've just come back to order the rest of the series on Amazon (We have Nate the Great, Crunchy Christmas and Fishy Prize). Nate the Great stories have great characters, plots and turns that work well for the 6-10 age group. The illustrations are hilarious and we scan them into posters and hang them in my son's room. Although my son reads them for humor, they are the quintessential bedtime stories. However, parents must read the text with a "Joe Friday" (Dragnet) deadpan voice. Younger parents should rent Dragnet TV show videos in order to practice before reading them at bedtime. These books are guaranteed to put your child in stitches. Amazon and the publisher should put them in a single volume or offer as a set.

Meet Nate the Great, the neighborhood detective. He's just finishing up breakfast (pancakes, of course) when Annie calls. She's lost the picture of her dog Fang that she just painted and wants help finding it. So Nate goes over and helps her hunt down the leads. But can he solve the mystery?

I remember this book well from my childhood, and it's still good for a few grins today. Nate has some great one-liners, especially when read with a Joe Friday monotone. The plot is very creative if a bit obvious at the end to adults. The pictures only add to the pleasure.

This is the strongest book from the series. Children will ask for it over and over; I know I did. Parents will enjoy the humor and characters as well. Buy it today for read aloud pleasure.

As a teacher looking for some quirky rewrites of traditional fairy tales, I was thrilled to have stumbled across Vande Velde's collection. Every story is twisted, some in silly ways, and some in darker ways, but no matter what the twist, the book is great for read-alouds or for reading alone. The "commercials" dispersed throughout the text contribute to the overall flow of the text. Children and adults alike will find this entertaining. The stories are also a great catalyst for students' revisions of fairy tales, and demonstrate the value and the pleasure of retelling old favorites from unexpected perspectives.

Vivian Vande Velde neatly skewers some traditional fairy tales in this collection of stories; most are moderately good-- entertaining, but not terribly deep. This anthology would have joined the ranks of the mediocre if not for one absolutely clever and wonderful retelling of Rumpelstiltskin called "Straw into Gold." This one story makes the whole book worth getting. The others are good, but "Straw into Gold" outshines them by far.

There are many fairy tale retellings; those of Robin McKinley (Beauty, Rose Daughter), Donna Jo Napoli (Spinners, Zel, The Magic Circle) Mercedes Lackey (The Fire Rose, The Firebird) and Patricia Wrede (Snow White and Rose Red) are particularly worth checking out.

This was a wonderful book! I especially liked STRAW INTO GOLD. It was really good with a bit of a surprise ending. It had just enough magic, not too much like other fairy tales.