My daughter fell in love with this book starting at the age of two. (She is now 3-1/2.) The poems have been selected from a wide variety of authors, and the quality is high. The subjects are ones that children can easily relate to, and the vocabulary and rhythm are engaging. My only criticism is that I would like to see more children of color in the illustrations.

We read this book at least a million times to our toddlers andyet they always wanted to hear it again. Great poetry that is a joyto hear (even for the adults doing the reading)! The illustrationsare equally marvelous.

Poems to Read to the very Young,Illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. Was such a wonderful Discovery when I was a child. A friend of my mom's gave us a copy. We read it so much that all the pages fell out and we lost them. I checked it out of the library and truly thought of never returning it, but just paying the fines and the cost of the book. However, I didn't want to deprive other children of the joy and magic. Please encourage the publisher to print more.

This book would be very helpful for a child Genny's age who'sparents are going through a divorce. She believes there is some wayshe and her brothers can change her parents.

I thought this book was very helpful to life's changes.
Especially, for kids like me. Sometimes it is hard for a kid to accept a change. But it's O.K. written by L.B.

Some consider the war between Germany and the Soviet Union that started in 1941 an inevitable thing. I do not. Both Hitler and Stalin proved to be opportunistic followers of their own interests, and as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact showed, they were both willing to cooperate in operating as if no other nation had a right to exist. What convinced Hitler that his armies could defeat the Soviet Union was the most amazing feat of arms that has occurred in the twentieth century. A small, lightly armed country with almost no border defenses managed to hold off the Soviet military forces for several months. This convinced Hitler and the German leadership that the Soviet military was inept and could easily be defeated.
This is the story of that war, told from the Finnish side. As was the case of so many events in the early part of the war, it started with a powerful nation demanding an increase in security at the expense of a weaker one. The actions of the Finns in standing up to one of the neighborhood bullies defines courage and tenacity. I was moved by the stories of how they fought until they simply had nothing left. It is also extremely significant that nearly all the Finns in the territory "won" by the Soviet Union abandoned their homes rather than stay and live under the grip of Soviet power.
The phrase Finlandization was used derisively during the cold war to refer to any nation that agreed with the Soviet Union. In this book, you realize how much Finland lost in the winter war, but also how much they gained as they stood up to a powerful neighbor and demonstrated how fiercely they value their independence. We can all learn something from that.

Hitler misread the capacity of the Red Army because Finland held out, alone, for 105 days against it in the winter of '39-40. An almost unbelievable tale of national and individual courage; a cautionary parable for small countries trusting the sweet words of the Great Powers.

The text is lovely but needs to be abridged for the attention span of the average preschooler. It starts out fine: "GOD IS GREAT." But when the text waxes poetically about light and stars and ancient mountain tops on the following pages, they lost both my boys. Usually my youngest will at least look at the pictures, but he found the baby doll-faced children, some of them with no pupils to their eyes (at least that is what I think he found scary about their eyes,) off-putting. Perhaps this is better for an older audience (mine were three and five, at the time) -- the message is certainly timeless.

Truth in advertising, what more could you ask for? My Little Book About God is indeed little, and avoids taking any particular dogmatic approach. God is not described as an old man in the sky, nor are any particular religions held to be true to the detriment of others. Simply put, God is presented as great and loving, no more. Comparisons between the child's world and God's make these points explicit. Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Zoraster, Joseph Smith and the like never make so much as a cameo, and on this basis perhaps some will find the book too bland. But after all, it isn't My Little Book About How My Religion Is Right and Yours Isn't And You Are Going To Burn For All Eternity Because You Are An Infidel. Certainly devout atheists will find the book objectionable, but there is even room for secular humanists (God might literally be Love, and not a separate, intelligent presence at all) in in this approach. Hopefully most will find it a message of tolerance and love from which their children will benefit--two qualities that are far too rare in today's troubled times.

This was one of my favorite books as a child so naturally I wanted my daughter to have a copy. To my delight, it has a few new illustrations now [black children are included.]

The wording of MY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ABOUT GOD can be at times too lengthy for a preschooler but it adds to the appeal later in life. My two-year old daughter has never complained though, she is mesmerized by the pictures just as I was at her age! Children love to listen to any story with illustrations this magnificient. Way to go Eloise Wilkin! I finally get to thank you after 30 years!

I highly recommend this book because I remember it fondly and vividly from childhood. I had countless books growing up but this is one of only a handful that I remember and that is also etched into my heart forever. Let's keep the little child in our hearts; this is a great book to help us achieve this feat!

But Jesus said, "LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT FORBID THEM; FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." Matthew 19:14 THE HOLY BIBLE

"Eloise in Moscow," the fourth and final book of the Eloise series, is also the weakest. However, it is still a lot of fun.

I take the book as being a spoof of the cold war spy movies and sterotypes of Soviet Moscow. While Eloise does comment sardonically on certain aspects of life in the USSR, she also speaks Russian and has a great time exploring Moscow's rich cultural life. Hillary Knight's drawings of the Kremlin, Moscow subway and other landmarks are meticulous and respectful.

There is, of course, Eloise's sardonic humor sprinkled throughout the book

I am so glad this book has come back into print. This was the only Eloise book I read as a kid; my mom got it at a discard sale from the public library in the late 70s, where they were getting rid of it because of its (no longer politically correct) cold war sentiments. That being said, I adored the book. As a four year-old, I had no idea of the political implications of the book. All I knew was that I wanted to be just like Eloise, and Moscow seemed like the most glamourous, exciting place I had ever heard of. Eloise's adventures in Moscow are hilarious and engaging; the illustrations are terrific with a wonderful attention to detail. The story and artwork combine to give a really vivid impression of 1950s Moscow, and I have to say even as an adult, I still wish I could visit there. Of course as an adult you get a whole different story from the book, it's an interesting commentary on American views of Russia during the cold war. Also, the guy that shadows Eloise throughout her trip and appears on each page can make a fun "Where's Waldo"-type game for kids reading (or being read to from) this book. One of my absolute favorites from childhood.

My girls and I love the Eloise series, this one included. The age group to understand this book is a bit older than the others, say 11 or 12. All the cold war references led to interesting discussions of the cold war and the failure of Communism.

On the light side this book reads very well out loud. It helps if you have a deep voice to say as the intra tourist guide "IS POSSIBLE TO SEE BOOK REVIEWS HERE." "IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HOLD BOOKS, BOOKS ARE SENT AFTER BOUGHT" (While not a quote from the book, it reads like it.)

The book's view of the world does feel dated. It's like reading a Cowboys vs Indian's book and having to explain that perhaps not all is as it appears. Russia is not what it was, but it's not the west yet.

The quality of the paper and the binding are excellent, it feels like it will last for multiple reading. There is a nice foldout of the Kremlin. Like all the Eloise books, the drawings are inked in one color, this one uses yellow to great effect. The paper jacket is an exact copy of the hard cover underneath which is great as the text on it is wonderful.

If you like the other Eloise books, you'll like this one.

This is a wonderful travelogue for men and women who hope to challenge their way of thinking and approach to life. Most of us would laugh off a bike ride across America with responses such as "why bother, what's the point?" But as you read on, you get clear answers to such questions. The reader feel privileged to be included in the journey -- there's no other way to understand the depths of the author's challenge. It's a motivational book, but a fun, easy one to pedal through!

Similar to Barbara Savage's "Miles from Nowhere", this book documents a husband / wife long distance bike tour. Although the author and her husband "only " do a trans-USA supported tour, the writing is excellent as the author recounts her adventures in making the journey. In the book the author focuses on the hard times and with the people and places encountered along the way. She also relates the techincal and physical challenges faced by the riders in a highly readable and enjoying format. I especially enjoyed the chapter where the author, her husband and a small group of riders make it over a mountian where all other riders were transported by the ride sponsor to avoid the storm. A small victory over a large foe. This book embodies the spirt of a person who, bored with her routine life, tackles a challenging adventure, unsure of her ability and prevails. Although the book is subtitled "A Woman's Journey", the author is successful in producing a story which will appeal to both men and women. If you are thinking of doing a long distance bike tour, read this book first. Then show the same courage that the author and her husband displayed and do it.

One true ruler by which to measure a book is how you feel when you've finished reading it.

When I finished "The First Big Ride" I felt happy. That's always a good sign. I also felt satisfied that the person I just "met" (through her writing) was a real and genuine person. That helps.

This book covers the cross country bicycle ride (for charity) of the author and her husband.

It's written in very readable passages ( not at all journal-entry like ).

We join the author at the beginning of her adventure....in a job that no longer inspires her. From there, the revelation that a cross country bike trip is a possibility.

We're taken along on this journey, from the earliest tentative steps ("We won't be able to do it") to the ride itself. Included are the practice rides around the block, their first "century" and the all important facets of finding a bike that fits you properly.

I get the impression, especially after reading the entire book, that these are generally, and sincerely, good people. They're doing something more here than simply doing a trans-am.

It's a good book to read. You may just be inspired to do something with your own life that you thought might never be possible.

Best Regards, turtlex

A spoiled brat lives in a fancy hotel in New York: that's kind of what this series boils down to for me.

I read to my kids a lot, and this is the one series that I completely don't get: I don't see why it's funny or touching or...anything. Neither do my kids.

Her language can be quite fun and ingenious, but holy cow...I don't understand all the fuss.

This is definitely one of the best treasuries I have ever bought. Eloise is such a fun and adorable character. I don't know who couldn't like her.

This treasury contains Eloise in Moscow, Eloise, Eloise in Paris, and Eloise at Christmastime. Not only that, there's a special scrapbook all about the author Kay Thompson featuring pictures and info about the author of this beloved character.

This is a must have book for the holidays, or anytime. So pick up a copy, and charge it please.

A few years ago, I was waiting with baited breath for all the Eloise books to be reprinted. It just could not happen fast enough for me. Finally, all 4 were out, and I was happy. Then they came out with this book that collects all four books in one volume for the first time, and I bought this too. Why did I buy this? Well, for one thing, the new Hilary Knight cover is rather fabulous. I am all for new Knight artwork whenever it appears, and this cover was obviously not dashed out but carefully drawn, and it shows. This is definitely worth having for the Eloise fan.

The Soviet invasion of Finland remains one of the lesser known segments of World War II. This book, written by Finns, is a solid account, explaining the battles in detail. The Finns are a proud people, and the book is from the Finnish view so I would not call it 100% objective. Plus the book downplayed the Finnish alliance with the Germans, but I gained respect for the tough fortitute of the Finnish winter fighter. Until a comprehesive military history of the war is written this book is the best avaiable.

Clearly, this is history written mostly based on the Finnish experience defending their small country from the onslaught of a giant neighbor, a David and Goliath story. Although in this one, Goliath eventually won, it was at such cost that the Germans took careful notes, and is a contributing factor to their eventual decision to invade the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941.

Here is a good primer about the Winter War, the cause and effect, including a general introduction about Field Marshal Carl Gustav Mannerheim, the Finnish CIC, who strange as it may seem, was never a real nationalist and who barely spoke Finnish (he learned the language when he was well past fifty) but instead spoke the great cultural languages of Europe. The book goes on to relate his able leadership, correctly assessing the other side's weaknesses despite the great disparity of strength between the two nations. The centerpiece of the war was the great Finnish victories at Tolvajarvi and Suomussalmi, where in the latter battle, an understrength Finnish division went on to stop and almost completely annihilate one Soviet division in a pincer counter-offensive and dispatching another division sent out to help. Eventually, Soviet losses were staggering (Khrushchev later admitting one million of them lost their lives in this frozen hell) that in Russia, a general was said to have said that they "have won enough territory to bury their dead."

Although Finland eventually ceded 22,000 sq. miles of territory, it is a history of a plucky nation unwilling to submit to the realities of world politics at that time. However, this is still not a definitive work. For example, the actual amount of reparations to the Soviet Union for both the Winter War and the Continuation War was never mentioned, ("it was enormous") and mentioned only that the Finns paid it off eventually (by 1955, an amazing feat in itself which was never mentioned). The sector battles on other fronts was never as detailed as the principal battlefields. The appendices were very helpful nevertheless, and as mentioned before it is a good primer to the Winter War.

I found the topic of the Russo-Finnish war so intriguing that I bought this book as well as the one by William Trotter (the only ones I could find). This book ("The Winter War") was a true pleasure to read, and exceeded my expectations. I was a little nervous when I bought it, given some of the poor reviews given by a few of the previous readers. My only guess is that they were thinking of a different book, or found the reality of the Soviet Union as an aggressor inconsistent with their worldviews. I should have been tipped off when the one reviewer questioned why the Finns didn't give Stalin what he was asking for! I read the entire book in a single day, and can tell you that it is an extremely exciting story. The book mixes actual accounts from those involved throughout the history, which makes it read like a novel. As far as the one reviewer's comments about the editor not having a good command of the English language, I honestly did not find any such problem. I was an English minor in college, and tend to be fairly sensitive to such problems. Rereading the review in question, I suspect that his real issue was with the portrayal of the Soviet Union as the aggressor.

As far as the other book ("A Frozen Hell"), I sent it back for a refund. That book actually portrays Stalin as the victim!

Americans have the mistaken belief that stories _about_ children are necessarily _for_ children. This was good for Kaye Thompson, though, because the "Eloise" books were most-often bought by adults for children.

But they're hardly kiddy-lit. A sophisticated child might appreciate Eloise (I did), but for the average child, Eloise is little more than a bad role model.

She's spoiled, self-absorbed, bratty -- and gets away with it, because she knows what most children don't realize until they've become parents: the most-important thing you can do as a child is to disrupt the adult world. It doesn't matter that you're punished for it, if you've inflicted pain and confusion on grown-ups.

Eloise is _not_ the child hiding in every adult, but rather the child many adults wish they had been - doing whatever they like, then secretly snickering, because they know their parents aren't going to enact any _meaningful_ retribution. Unlike most children, Eloise isn't sufficiently intimidated by adults to be worried about the consequences of her acts.

I've been an Eloise fan "forever," so I eagerly anticipated "Eloise Takes a Bawth." Alas, it doesn't come close to the "originals." Once you know the hotel is throwing a grand Venetian ball, the title's import becomes all too clear. The book slogs its wholly predictable way to a completely foreseeable ending. Eloise might be full of surprises, but this story isn't.

The preceding books were about _attitude_, not _plot_. "Eloise Takes a Bawth" is almost all plot, and a poor one at that. Is it any wonder that Kaye Thompson suppressed it? It's a shame her family and publisher didn't respect her judgement.

Eloise "completists" will want "Eloise Takes a Bawth" for their collection, but they are warned -- ...

About a little girl(Eloise), who is forced into taking a bath, in order to be clean for the Grand Ball. She spends a lot of time in the bawth, pretending to be a boat racer, a skier, and a surfer. She keeps filling the water up, and ends up flooding the whole bathroom. Her room happend to be just above the Ball room. Everyone at the ball is wondering how water is getting all over the place. They all think that one of the hotel's pipes has sprung a leak. Her father, one of the people who are important at the ball, comes up to her room to get her, and realizes she was causing all the water to be in the ball room. First she is in trouble, but then her father looks at what has happend to the Ball Room. It is a pretty good story with an ironic ending.

I have been read Eloise since I was five years old and she never gets boring. This book is an excellent edition to the continious saga of Eloise. How can you do anything but love this precocious little girl? This is a great book for children, and adults will love it to.

The book THE GOLDEN GOBLET is an great book for kids. It is about an orphan boy named Ranofer. After his mother and father die, Ranofer is forced to live with his half-brother, Gebu. Ranofer labors at the gold smiths shop and comes home every day to find a half-loaf of bread. Ranofer finds out Gebu is stealing gold, and with the help of his two friends, Heqet and the "Ancient," they try to stopped him. The big theme in the story is family. Throughout the whole book, Heqet and Ancient are becoming Ranofer's family. Ranofer learns to trust in them for help and encoraging. I would give this book 3 stars. It's fun, but a little boring in the beginning. Read the book, and you will see what I mean.

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw is about a boy named Ranofer who is forced by his half-brother, Gebu, to work as a lowly porter in a goldsmith's shopin Ancient Egypt. His life's goal is to be an apprentice to Zao, the best goldsmith in ancient Thebes. Ranofer learns about a crime operation Gebu is involved in, and tries to stop him and his accomplice. Along the way Ranofer makes two friends, Heqet and the "Ancient One." They keep his secrets, encourage him and help him in his crusade to prove Gebu of his heinous crimes.
I liked this book because it was very well written. The author did a very good job in bringing the characters to life. She does this by making their feelings apparent. For example, when the chief goldsmith called Ranofer "shari" meaning "small one," this little bit of kindness "brought sudden tears to Ranofers eyes, so vividly did he recall his father's voice using that very endearment."
There are many times in this book where the author describes Ranofer's inward thoughts and speculations. These often include plans to defy Gebu and escape from his evil clutches. Other times he chastises himself for being rude to his friends. The author also describes the pain and suffering when Ranofers half-brother beats him. When Ranofer is apprenticed to Gebu in a stone cutting shop, he earnestly tries to learn this trade by asking Gebu a simple question. Gebu strikes him for no apparent reason other than asking this simple question. For the most part the plot of the book moves a bit slowly, but towards the end it becomes very exciting. I earnestly recommend this book to children 8 years old and up.

The Golden Goblet is a book about a boy named Ranofer who lives with his older brother Gebu who has a secret that will change Ranofer's whole life. Ranofer has an okay life except for Gebu. Ranofer works at Rekh's goldhouse there he meets a boy named Heqet; they become very good friends. Gebu is a stonecutter and makes Ranofer work for him in the stonecutter's shop and that is where Ranofer learns about Gebu's secret. In my opinion, the theme is that your friends are like family and that you should always trust them no matter what happens in your life, just like Ranofer, Heqet and the Ancient. This book is good historical fiction because it is a good source and explanation of what Ancient Egypt was like and how the people were treated in that time period. I like it because it has good action and an extremely good plot line. This is also a good book because it helps you understand what ancient Egyptians had to deal with and felt. I think you should read it because you will also get involved in the life of the characters and ancient Egypt.. If you do read it I know you will enjoy it and want to read it over and over again. Once again you should read The Golden Goblet.