I have a copy of this wonderful book..After reading the comments on others trying to get a copy, I feel very fortunate to still have my battered, but readable copy of Mr. Pudgins to share with the children in my life.. I would be willing to photo copy the pages for anyone wishing to read this story..(That is legal isn't it??)For anyone interested..Please e-mail me. This classic book will give your children a memory they will carry with them into their adulthood. I read this book to my nephew over 20 years ago and when I found the book in an old box I called him to see if he remembered, and of course he did. He is now trying to get me to give him my only copy. This book should be reprinted for circulation, Does anyone know if the author is still with us?

Mr. Pudgins probably saved my life as a child. I read it over and over and virtually lived with Mr. Pudgins and the children. I always wished that I could have a babysitter like Mr. Pudgins, but, of course, it never happened. My favorite memory of the book is the christmas ornament bubbles that he blew with live scenes of all their adventures. Unfortunately, several years ago, when I went to retrieve it from the box it was stored in, it turned out the whole box was missing. I was devistated and have been searching for a copy ever since. I consider it one of the best children's books ever written.

I have been trying to locate this book in bookstores and haven't been successful...Now I know why: it's out of print unfortunately! This was my favorite book as a child, and I would encourage EVERY parent, babysitter, grandparent, uncle, aunt, ect. to locate it and spark a child's imagination with Mr. Pudgins. I am now a college student who will be graduating in two short weeks. As an English major, there are a few books from each stage of my life that stick in my mind. Mr. Pudgins is one of those books. I vividly remember wishing I was one of the children in the book, traveling along with Mr. Pudgins on his wacky adventures, some of which include flying in a bathtub and having a circus with a Dodo bird...you can just imagine how much a child will enjoy reading this book! I hope that perhaps a publisher will read this review and put this great children's book back into print for all to enjoy! Good luck and good reading!

This is a great book to introduce farm animals to the children. There is no humor in it but it will still able to draw the children's attention with its detailed illustrations and beautiful colors. The book allows you and your child to imagine the everyday lives of the animals that live in that Big Red Barn. The ending was done in a way that would make your child feels that he or she needs to go to bed as well. I love reading it to my child as she also loves to hear the story.

These are the things that the little ones, like my 21 month old son, should appreciate in a book.
MWB is widely known for the books "Goodnight moon" and "The Runaway Bunny". I didn't even know about this book until I saw that my husband had picked it up at the bookstore. This book is illustrated by a different artist, Felicia Bond, and her work is sweet and uncomplicated. The story has that same rhythm and beat you follow when reading poetry, but it is also gives a peaceful feeling to it's readers(and the ones being read to).
It's a day in the life of kind of story about animals on a farm, while the children are gone. It is a perfect addition to any child's book shelf and makes for a perfect bedtime story with it's calming effect.
I highly recommend buying this for toddlers! If you already have any of Brown's other books, this one will be a welcome addition.

"Big Red Barn" is my son's, who is a year and a half, new favorite book.
He adored "good night, moon" which has gone amissing in our house. i didn't even know about this book, and my husband picked it up last week at the bookstore.
After reading and looking at "The Runaway Bunny", I was a little weary of Brown's books aside from "Goodnight, Moon", but this book has made me a fan once again. The illustration here is very good. It's simple and easy on the eyes of our little ones.
I love the way her books are written. She has the certain "beat" to the way the story is told. It's like reading a poem.
It is certainly a great last read of the day to help ease baby's eyes to a sleepy state.
My son loves animals, and recently has been to a farm, so this makes his love for this little story all the more enchanting.
This is good for children who love animals, and it helps them get to know those farm animals even more.
It's one of those books you have to read everyday to your child once you start reading it to them. Brown had the right prescription to help put little ones to sleep...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz(night night little one)

For children just starting to read, this is a perfect book to help them on their journey to be excellent readers.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PARENTS OF TODDLERS AND OLDER CHILDREN!

Eileen Famiglietti

Margaret Mahy's book is an unusual take on the juvenile magic-user theme. It takes place in New Zealand, in a single-parent home. Laura Chant lives with her divorced mother, and her toddler brother. Nothing is entirely reliable in Laura's world, certainly not her slightly flaky mother, their extremely flaky car, and especially the surrounding landscape, being transformed from forest and farm into a new subdivision.

Chant, perfectly named, can sense things that others can't. She can sense that her brother's rapid descent into illness is supernatural, and that it is linked to the boy's unfortunate contact with the also perfectly named Carmody Braque. She also can sense that the mysterious prefect at her school, an older boy named Sorensen Carlisle, is a "witch" and that he may hold the only key to healing her brother.

Sorry, as he's called, is one of those magnificent characters, the enigmatic boy who shows all the signs of being a proto-romance hero. But here, he's young, sly, and not above using his advantage over Laura. Mahy writes Laura as a strong character, and watching her handle Sorry is a lot of fun.

This novel is full of brooding atmosphere but with a great contemporary setting. Mahy's protagonist carries her weight, but everyone else is equally nuanced and fascinating. The book calls itself a romance, but I've never read an adult romance filled with such menacing ambiguity.

It has been said that the true test of an author's success is the number of times his/her reader rereads the book written. If that is the case, then Margaret Mahy is a most successful writer. To be able to continue to lure readers, both new and old, to read and reread a book, starting from the first reading at 10, then again when the shelves are cleared and the book rediscovered at 14, and then again at 18, and so on...and for the reader to still be enchanted by the same characters doing the same thing, saying the same lines over and over again...The Changeover really does 'change you over' into Mahy's private world, where nothing matters except for Laura Chant,her quest to save her darling brother Jacko, and of course, not forgetting the peek-a-boo relationship she has with Sorry Carlisle, which makes the relationship all the more sensual, in a non-sexual way. Read it...and read it again.

I first read this book years ago and cannot forget it. The authors portrayal of the supernatural weaving it's way into everyday life is wonderful and seems so realistic. Her characters are amazing too. There is nothing superficial about these people or this book. I will be reading this book over and over, likely for the rest of my life.

Toni Buzzeo takes us on a magical trip back through time to the days when the vigilance and skill of the lighthouse keeper were the only things between a storm tossed ship and catastrophe. But then, there were some storms so fearsome that even the lights were of no help. Auntie Maita's reminiscences of her solitary childhhod on fictional Sanctuary Island are lyrical and moving. She tells the story of one storm and the sea chest that washed up on shore in its aftermath. The connection between the contents of the chest and the event that awaits Auntie Maita and her grand niece eighty years later is one that will leave you in tears as you gently close the cover of the book.

Once in a while, a picture book comes along that is a perfect marriage of story, words and illustration. The Sea Chest is one of those books.
The story is a lovely one, taken from a Maine legend. As I read, I _was_ the narrator, Maita. I felt the loneliness she felt as an only child living in the isolation of a lighthouse. I worried with her through the "fearsome storm," and held my breath with her as her Papa opened the chest that washed up on the shore the next morning. The ending brought a smile to my lips and a tear to my eye.
Author Toni Buzzeo writes with lyrical, vivid language and a sea-like rhythm that begs to be read aloud. Mary GrandPre's illustrations, in a palette that made me think of the bits of sea glass I used to find as a child, capture the rhythm and warmth of Buzzeo's words.
I have recommended this book to every librarian I know, and I eagerly await the arrival of Ms. Buzzeo's next book.

The Sea Chest, written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Mary Grandpre, is about an only child named Maita and her father, a light housekeeper, who one night face a terrible storm. The next morning father and daughter find a sea chest washed up on the beach. Inside the sea chest is an infant girl. The family adopts the child and the story goes on to tell how the two girls become inseparable and grow up together. Towards the end we discover that Maita is an old woman telling the story to her niece as they wait for the niece's adopted sister to arrive. This is haunting and mesmerizing story telling. As always Grandpre's illustrations are radiant and add new levels of intimacy to the story.

Preston McClear, ...

Fire Sea was a wonderful book - I enjoyed it immensely! Dragon Wing (the first Death Gate book) was kind of slow, but if you can get past it, get ready for some great fantasy adventure! Elven Star and Fire Sea will blow you out of the water and leave you begging for more! Fire Sea is an extremely serious book - morbid, bloody, depressing - all of these words describe it well. Fire Sea is also one of the most important books in the Death Gate Cycle because Haplo and Alfred discover that there IS a higher power in the universe. If it wasn't for this important discovery, the war might have been lost. I'll stop there, so I don't give anything away! You should read it

I read this book, and the rest of The Death Gate Cycle when it first came out and I was about 14 years old. (About 10 years ago I think). Back then, I thought it was the best series ever, etc etc. I've written reviews for the previous books in this series, so if you look for them, you'll find them.

Fire Sea, the third book in this seven book series, is fantastic. I literally read it in one 24-hour period because I was so into it. It's been a week since I finished now, but I still remember how fantastic it was.

I won't go into too much plot because other reviewers nicely summarize it. The book reunites Haplo and Alfred, the two main characters in the series. Alfred was not in the second book, and it's good to see him back. They are reluctant companions in a journey to an underground world where everything is dead. The world's source of heat and light is dying, and the once peaceful Sartan have become fragile shells of the once great people they were. Their magic has turned to necromancy, and anybody who dies is brought back to life as a walking zombie.

This book succeeds for three reasons. First are the contrasting relationships in the book. Alfred and Haplo, ancient enemies by birth, need to learn lessons from the other, but don't think they do. Their survival however, depends on it. We see Haplo begin to doubt his Lord's motives, and we see Alfred begin to doubt his people. Jonathan and his wife are the epitome of the young, loving couple. The sheer emotion put into their story is worth your time alone.

Secondly, there's almost no way you can predict what's going to happen. Unlikely characters become major players and do things you'd never expect, and small things mentioned early in the book become extremely important. Lastly, the back-story is finally told! At last, after three books, I was thrilled to be told at last how the Sartan and the Patryns came to be, of their Great War, and what the Chamber of the Damned was used for. Read those chapters carefully: there is stuff in there that I think isn't supposed to make a lot of sense now, but in the final books is absolutely essential.

My only complaint for this book is that some of it, like many of the things in the series, is a little too contrived and is never explained very well. You never really figure our in the beginning how Alfred managed to get onto Haplo's ship. I get the impression the authors just wanted to get to the point and didn't bother explaining that, and a few other things.

The ending to this book is simply amazing. Very few books I've read have the sort of suspense and drama that were in this one. Like The Empire Strikes Back, the good guys don't win and they only manage to escape. The last chapter and the epilogue ends everything perfectly. After reading the last sentence of the book, and finally understanding it's meaning, I was covered in chills.

This could quite possibly end up as the best book in the series. I'll move onto the fourth book, and see if it can compare.

Travelling to Abbarach, the World of Stone, Haplo the Patryn and Alfred the Sartan must join together to survive as they discover both the secrets of a dying world as well as learning to trust each other. Book Three takes a morbid, terrifying look at death and continues the upbeat pace that the first two novels kept. A must read for any reader of the Death Gate Cycle. CAUTION : DUE TO MATURE CONTENT, THIS BOOK NOT SUGGESTED FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 13

'Sick of mankind and its disgusting ways' Anne Bronte once scribbled on the back of her prayer book. Her evident harsh view of life, coupled with her moral strength as a woman, are beautifully interwoven to produce this novel; her masterpiece. Although never enjoying the popularity and success of 'Jane Eyre' and 'Wuthering Heights' - her sisters' books - 'Wildfell Hall' is quite fit to join any bookshelf of classic English literature. The themes include utter despair and the tragic consequences of a young woman's naivety; Helen felt that, although she could see Arthur's faults, she would be able to somehow change him once they were married. In reality, her marital experience was a disaster.

Anne Bronte creates a world in which the drunken, immoral behaviour of men becomes the norm and this may have been startling to contemporary readers - perhaps a reason for the book's panning at the critics. The narrative is built up delicately; first Gilbert; and then the racier, more gripping diary of Helen as she guides us through her married life; before returning again to Gilbert, whose tale by this time has become far more exciting as we know of Helen's past. Helen's realisation of the awful truth and her desperate attempts to escape her husband, are forever imprinted in the mind of the reader as passages of perfect prose.

One of the earliest feminist novels, the underrated Anne Bronte writes in this a classic, and - defying the views of her early (male) critics - a claim to the position of one of England's finest ever female writers.

I read "The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte for my review of personal reading in English last year and I thought it was really gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

It tells the story of a young woman's struggle for independence, against law and a society which defined a married woman as her husband's property. The novel, which uses extracts from her diary and narration from her neighbour, is very interesting and quite realistic.

It seems to me that the most interesting thing about the novel, is the build up of tension Bronte uses to sustain the reader's attention. It is stimulating and creates a little excitement in the book.

Helen Graham moves into Wildfell Hall with her son. She is a single mother and earns her living as a painter. Her neighbour, Gilbert Markham, takes a sudden interest in her and wants to find out everything about her. Although she is quite content being friends with him, she wants nothing more. As soon as he becomes too personal, she reminds him that friendship is the principal of their relationship. As they spend more time together, though, she learns to trust him and reveals the truth about her past. She is living at Wildfell Hall under a false surname, hiding from her husband who is an adulterer. The only other person who knows of this is her landlord, who Gilbert learns late in the novel, is in fact, her brother.

One thing which I found gripping about this story, was the build up of tension Bronte used. She took her time, revealing one thing, building up the tension again, then revealing another. She continued to do this throughout the story, and this is what kept me interested. It is a story, in which two people who love one another, are prevented from being together by society and their own natural reticence. We know romance often has this, but Bronte creates a strong desire in the reader for them to be together. She puts real obstacles in the way of their love for each other, such as the fact that Helen is already married and has a child to her husband. This therefore, causes the reader to understand the story more.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a riveting novel by the "least famous" Bronte sister Anne. The main character is Helen Huntingdon, who also uses the assumed name Helen Graham for part of the book.

Narrated in part by Mr. Markham, the gentleman farmer who falls in love with her, and partly by herself in diary form, the Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a sad portrayal of the miseries Helen Huntingdon endures at the hands of an immature self-centered husband.

The story starts out with Helen, an intriguing beautiful "widow" who comes to live in a deserted moorland mansion called Wildfell Hall with no one but her maid and young son as companions. She excites the gossip of the local townspeople by her refusal to mingle in the town's social life, her strong opinions on the upbringing of her 5 year old son, and by working to support herself as a landscape painter. Mr. Markham, the gentleman farmer, rather than being repelled by her fiercely guarded independence is intrigued by her and determines to learn more about her, falling in love with her in the process. Helen becomes the butt of sinister gossip when it is discovered that she and Mr. Lawrence, her landlord, are not the strangers to each other that they pretend to be in public, and it is rumored that something is going on between them romantically.

It is in response to this falsehood that she turns over her diary to Mr. Markham, who at last learns within its contents her true identity, why she is at Wildfell, and why she can not marry him. He also learns the astonishing identity of Mr. Lawrence. Helen's diary traces her life from a naive girl of 18 to a courageous woman of 26, and the sorrow and trials she endures in her marriage to a wretch of a husband, the womanizing, alcoholic Arthur Huntingdon.

This is one of the best things I've ever read. This series reminded me strongly of Tolkien, in the vast cosmos created by the authors, but more in the detail, the painstaking detail that characterize these books, to the extent that Appendixes, included at the end of every book, explain "why" and "How" the things happened in the book. These characters are emotional and involoving. They are changing, nonstatic figures, making them very human, allowing the reader to relate to their quest. The elements of humor which thread through the series, almost covered by the deep, involving plot, make this story perfect. Any fan of fantasy or science fiction should read, and revel in, this series. I began this series in September and finished it at the end of November. I could not put it down. It is splendid and amazing.

I have read many, many books and still my favorite story of all of them is the Deathgate Cycle. Never have I felt so drawn into a story before. I have read the entire series 3 times now. I very highly recommend these books to anyone, the story told therein is incredibly detailed, epical, and extremely well written, (what you would expect from Wiess and Hickman). The characters are both intriguing and endearing, the magic system is very believable and well thought out, and the whole concept of the Deathgate universe is simply wonderful. Perhaps best of all is the ability of the authors to draw you into the story and enable you to feel and imagine so vividly everything that happens in the story. My one dissapointment is that the authors don't plan on any other books in the universe! I can't say enough about how excellent this series is and beleive me, it is WELL worth the time and price to read all 7 of the books. If you like Wiess and Hickmans previous works, and if you enjoy detailed epics, then you will love these books. My thanks goes out to them for so many hours of such enjoyable reading.

Having experienced Weis & Hickmans Dragonlance books I was quite reluctant to pick up this entirely new series (how could they ever live up to the wonder of Dragonlance?). As such, I was convinced from the start that I wouldn't enjoy them. How could I have been so wrong?

It took about 3 pages of Dragon Wing to convince me that I had made an excellent investment. Reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open and resuming after a few hours of sleep I finished the first book with a hunger for more. And as each was released I found them to each to be wonderful. The characters were so "real" I could empathise with them and in some, small, way live their extraordinary lives - if only briefly.

Having read previous reviews I must say that I did not find the final books to be overly confusing and found Zifnab not only amusing, but an important component in the story - though I agree with him - he is no doubt a god ;)

A wonderful, epic, series and one which will always find a special place on my bookshelves and in my imagination. May Alfred find the peace he has long sought and Haplo the hapiness he deserves. And as for Zifnab, may he never remember that fireball spell.....for all their sakes.

The Dragonlance Chronicles is by far the best fantasy series I have ever read. And that list includes Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, David Eddings' Belgariad, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and R.A. Salvator's Dark Elf Trilogy to name a few. Weis and Hickman craft a masterpiece of a story, with a motley cast of characters the readers will come to know and love almost as much as I have after countless readings of this trilogy. These three books are responsible for launching the Dragonlance Saga, as well as bringing countless new readers into the fantasy fold.

Dragonlance Chronicles is simply stated, one of the finest fantasy trilogies ever written. As an inaugural set of novels for these two fine authors; Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman set the standard in fantasy writing in the late eighties through today. I first read this trilogy in 1987 and was astounded by its complexity of characters and the breadth of the tale; it is truly epic in proportion. I can only imagine the agony readers might've have gone through if they were reading these fine novels, as they were being released over several months. That is certainly not a problem today, as you can purchase this outstanding trilogy in one set.

You will quickly discover that the characters are highly compelling and well detailed. These two authors have woven a wonderful tapestry in these characters; you will find yourself as elated as they are in their collective victories and as heartbroken in their setbacks.

Contained within these pages are Dragonlances core characters that are quite memorable, well after you've finished this fine trilogy and as history as proven, will inspire several Dragonlance novels to follow.

Tanis Half-Elven - Who is the leader of the companions. He is torn between his love for two women.

Sturm Brightblade - Knight of Solamnia. Squire and Knight whose mission in life is to bring honor back to this stoic group of knights.

Goldmoon - Chieftan's Daughter of the Barbarian Plainsmen. Along with Riverwind, her tribal outcast lover and husband, who are both on a quest for truth.

Riverwind - Lover and later husband of Goldmoon, whose sole mission in life is to guard Goldmoon.

Raistlin - Simply stated, the most alluring character of the whole Dragonlance series. He is a Mage of astounding power and brother of Caramon. The reader will quickly find themselves asking as to which side, good or evil, Raistlin is aspiring to.

Caramon - A rather large fighter and he feels that it is his sole mission in life to protect his seemingly ungrateful brother, Raistlin.

Flint Fireforge - He is a Hill Dwarf who is in his later years. He has been friend to Tanis for quite some time and an adventurer with the other prime characters as well. This character plays quite well at times in the comedic role of stodgy old curmudgeon who is also quite protective over the companions.

Tasslehoff Burfoot - Tas, as he's referred to most of the time, is a Kender. Kender are considered to be a nuisance on Krynn, as they are immune to fear and consequently, trouble seems to follow them everywhere. Simply put, Tas is the most lovable character among the group, as his high spirits and his antics carry the story along quite well.

These characters come back together just as the Queen of Darkness is beginning her play to bring evil and darkness down upon the magical world of Krynn. You will find yourself amiably rambling along with these characters in their adventures to bring an end to this threat.

The cover art for these re-released novels is quite exceptional as well. I highly recommend this trilogy to those who've read it before and to any and all newcomers who are interested in a highly suspenseful tale, inhabited by some of the fantasy genres best characters. {ssintrepid}

The Dragonlance Chronicles (recommended to me by a friend) were my first foray into the world (an entire realm in itself) of fantasy literature at the bookstore several years ago. I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but I purchased the books and, being an avid reader, immediately devoured the first book in the trilogy. I must say that I was completely blown away by Ms. Weis and Mr. Hickman.

This world, these stories, and these characters are by far some of the most detailed, realistic and true to life characters- even if you have never met a dwarf. By reading the first few chapters alone, the descriptive powers of these two amazing authors make you feel like you've known the characters, their entire races' histories, and you can almost FEEL the tension in the air when the characters are in danger. A truly amazing read indeed, second only to Tolkien's works but only because Tolkien was more influential and came first.

Think elves are little midgits who make toys? Don't know your dragons from your wyverns? Well this is a great place to start learning about the wonderful world of fantasy literature. You couldn't pick a better, easier to understand, yet complex story that is ultimately about human nature's frailty and it's wavering between good and evil, yet still holding much sway in the universe. Go buy this. Now.

Haddix tells a story that immediately captures the reader's interest. Many of Tish's concerns are "typically" adolescent-- school, job, sexual harassment--as well as one that is not at all typical. Tish's mother has abandoned her and her younger brother Matt. Tish is trying desperately to do the child-rearing that her mother should be doing. When her English teacher assigns a journal, Tish is sure she won't write at all, but once she starts, she finds writing cathartic, especially since Mrs. Dunphrey keeps her word and doesn't actually read anything that the girl tells her not to read. A totally happy ending would be unrealistic, but there is hope that Tish and Matt will have a better life.

A great read that will open your eyes to the hardships of a not so ordinary teenager.

This is a story of how a seventeen year old girl deals with the neglect of her parents. Her dad is in and out of her life and her mother stays very depressed and eventually abandons the family. Tish takes full responsibility of caring for her little brother, Matt. Her life becomes extremely hard to handle, and she finds an emotional outlet through journal writing, a daily assignment required by her English teacher, Mrs. Dunphrey. Mrs. Dunphrey has told the students that she will not read any journal entry marked "Do not read." Tish keeps her journal faithfully, but rarely allows Mrs. Dunphrey to read it. Tish's life becomes filled with growing anxieties and she finally allows Mrs. Dunphrey to read her journal.

This story reflects many problems that teenagers with abusive parents may face. It also lets readers know there are people to turn to when dealing with a situation of this nature. We recommend this book for seventh or eighth graders. Teachers could use this book in their classroom to teach or study issues such as: neglect, abuse, depression, occupations, and family structures. These issues could be integrated when teaching Language Arts, Social Studies, Writing, Health, and Math. This is a good book for teenagers to read. It relays the importance of talking to someone when your problems become too overwhelming.

This is an excellent book for teenagers to read. Not only is it fast reading, but it also deals with family problems and trust. Tish Bonner is a 10th grader who is abandoned by her parents and is left to raise her little brother, Matt. Her english teacher, Mrs. Dunphrey, has everyone in her class write a daily journal. The teacher told the students to write "Do not read this" on the entries they didn't want her to read. On her private "Do not read this" pages, Tish takes a lot of risks and talks about her many problems trying to earn money and raise her brother. When Tish asks Mrs. Dunphrey to read her private journals at the end of the school year, it is Tish's way of reaching out for help, which Mrs. Dunphrey gladly gives her. I liked reading this book because Tish never gave up, even when things were awful. It also helps the reader realize that we can't do everything by ourselves and sometimes we need to depend on others to help us out.

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Harry the Dirty Dog is a timeless classic for children (and their parents). Such a simple story: - a white dog with black spots becomes a black dog with white spots after a day's romp, followed by a temporary identity crisis.

Harry is one of those children's books where the story and the pictures mesh perfectly. The home-life and street scenes that Harry experiences are straight form the wholesome 1950's. Springtime daffodils are everywhere. In fact the green and golden colors are the only two colors that were on the illustrators palette. The pictures by Margaret Bloy Graham are at least half the charm of the book.

The drawings of Harry's family, their house and neighbourhood couldn't be simpler. The magic of this drawing style shines through when you see how she has captured the smiles and gasps on their faces.

All dog lovers know how dogs can smile. After Harry's homecoming, his bath (and hard scrub), and dinner we see Harry with the biggest doggy smile, you have ever seen.

This book will sure to be around and enjoyed by children for another 50 years.

In March I visited Cuba and had the chance to meet with Elian Gonzalez' father and grandparents. I took along some Spanish children's books for them to read with Elian when they were reunited, and at the top of the pile was Harry the Dirty Dog (in Spanish). What better story to help with the healing of this little boy than Harry, who goes away from the family, returns almost unrecognizable, but is still loved, and returns to himself through his family's love and care. A comfort for all children.

I love the Harry the Dirty Dog series! A great story for kids and adults who like to read a good children's book.

Harry is an adorable white dog with black spots (as is repeated throughout all of the Harry books)... and he's always getting dirty. His entire family loves him and he loves them right back. Even when he's dirty, Harry is still family... which makes a great parable for parents explaining to their children that while they may not be happy when their kids mess up, they are still loved nonetheless.

The illustrations of this happy dog frolicking around are absolutely precious. The story is endearing and I have my copy sitting on my coffee table.