This has been my 18-month-old son's favorite book for 8 months straight, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The illustrations are drenched with rich color, plus the story is interesting and fun for a toddler (and doesn't drive a parent crazy over the thousands of repeat readings). My son goes wild with excitement when he sees bees, ladybugs and butterflies outside, recognizing them from his book. Another advantage-- the pages are very thick and durable, perfect for a toddler's zealous page-turning. This is a can't-miss buy, for your own child or for a gift.

This has been my daughter's favorite book since she was 9 months old. She is 20 months old now and she still pulls it out of the book bin every night. The pictures aare simple, colorful and cute. The story is short and sweet. We also found finger puppets of flowers, bees, ladybugs and butterflies to use with the book. I also buy this book for all of my friends. This is definately one of the best book for children 9 months to age 3.

This has been a favorite of my daughter's since she was tiny. The pages are saturated with color, and it was an easy book for her to memorize (important in early stages of reading). She "reads" it to me still. We have a butterfly garden too, so she can understand this book and relate it to real life. My only complaint (for all the other science buffs out there) is that they refer to the caterpillar's chrysalis as a cocoon and while most people wouldn't notice, being a butterfly fanatic I wanted to write the publisher! (technically, moths make cocoons and butterflies have chrysalids) I know, it's silly, and no reason to avoid this book- it's my number one gift for toddlers now.

With the loss of Colonial Homes magazine, Christmas ideas with a American colonial theme are becoming rare. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation along with Libby Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald have created not only a historical account of early American celebrations, but a beautifully designed and photographed book. Decorating starts outside with simple wreaths and pine roping to more elaborate fruited creations. Inside the greenery continues along with ideas on table decorations,the Christmas feast and best way to spoil Christmas guests. Chapters cover candles to Christmas trees along with colonial revival and twenty first century interpretations. This book will be a welcome inspiration for anyone looking for Christmas ideas and traditions.

Informative (and occasionally surprising!) text accompanied by exquisite photographs of the holiday decorating style known as Colonial Williamsburg.

The text is coordinated effectively with the photographs to which it refers, making this a helpful guide for those interested in recreating or adapting the patterns for their own decorations. Lists of fruits and greenery that are or are not historically valid as well as diagrams for constructing bases for fan-style and pyramid decorations are both practical and helpful. For those preferring merely to look rather than do, it's still a lovely holiday visit to Williamsburg.

With its lively, readable text and beautiful photography, Williamsburg Christmas is a must have book for anyone who enjoys Colonial history and Williamsburg. It makes you want to make that visit to Williamsburg during the Christmas holidays.

This is a fun, rhyming book that kids love. I've read it to my 5 year old every day for a month now. He just can't get enough!!

I just read this book to my son's 1st grade class - they were captivated - and there was much audience participation! They loved the story and my son said that for the rest of the day everyone in the class wanted to read it over and over again! This is a fabulous book and a must read for you and your children!

As a children's librarian, I am constantly perusing the shelves for books to order. I read this book only once and immediately put it on my MUST ORDER list. The pictures are spectacular, the rhyming begs to be read aloud,and the "let's get along" theme is attractive and exactly what we need to teach our children.

Luigi, the barnyard bantam rooster, is bored with plain old "Cock-a-doodle-do." He has aspirations of arias. His favorite is "La donna è mobile" from *Rigoletto.* He loves singing it: "Cock-a-la- DOOdle-lay! Cock-a-la-DOOdle-low!" and he may have his shot at becoming a contender, if the Opera's jealous tenor doesn't carry through with his threat to carve him into cacciatore!

This is fun book for all, richly enhanced by the author's vibrant illustrations.

Colorful, funny something for everyone; but if you're an adult who enjoys opera, you'll get extra delight in reading this book to a little one. If you not an opera buff you'll still enjoy the story and art work!

As a school librarian and storyteller, I have had a ball with this story. For storytelling I changed it to first person and added a little accent and had the kids laughing. Even my teachers enjoyed this one. This one is as much fun to tell a Auch's Peeping Beauty.

This is a book that everyone ages 9-99 will enjoy. Its exploration of what happens when a couple of kids get ahold of a TV that plays tommorow's news is hillarious. Its a book that can be read over and over again and not lose its appeal. This is deffinitely a book that will stay on your shelf for the whole family to read. A winner!

I agree w/ the review below--this book is better than Freaky Friday. I've never forgotten how I wanted my own TV set that broadcast tomorrow's news today. This story has such charm, magic, and realism in it. Every child should read this book.

This is the sequel to "Freaky Friday" and I liked it just as much, if not more. Annabel is one of the best young-adult heroines I've read about--smart, funny and very human. I suggest this book to everyone!

BY LIZZIE is an exciting novel.Lizzie is a nine year old in the middle of her family. She has an annoying older brother named Norman, and a younger copycat sister named Ellie. The story starts on January 1, the day after Lizzie's ninth birthday. Lizzie is looking for her dog Winston's leash,and ends up finding her mom's old typewriter. She decides to record and write down the year before she turns ten.Lizzie writes a story for each month. My favorite month is March, when Lizzie calls swimming lessons "water torture", because she's the oldest in the beginner class by far, and she can't swim! Mary Eccles uses many details in her writing. I highly recommend this book for eager readers.

By Lizzie is a great story with characters that young readers will identify with, laugh with, and care about through the end of this book and beyond. I am already looking forward to reading more stories "By Lizzie" and Mary Eccles. Young readers (and adults!) will enjoy this glimpse into Lizzie's year -- from the trials of family life to laughing through her escapades... mice in cereal boxes, secret codes, Brownie the puppy, getting even with her big brother and more. Lizzie and her story are both winners!

I enjoyed the way this book is structured: a 9-year-old girl is frustrated with aspects of her life, and desides to chronicle each month as she waits to turn 10. Each chapter is an account of a difficulty she faces at school or at home. The problems are ones all children would recognize--annoying siblings, worries about a new teacher, for example. The chapters are written with good humor and not a trace of condescension.

Creek Mary's Blood informs the reader about the good and bad of the Cherokee life. The reader becomes part of Mary's family and feels their pain.This is a book I will read over and over.I recommend this book if you have any interest in Native American history. I wish it was recommened reading for high school students.

This novel concerns Mary Musgrove who was the Creek wife of John Musgrove, an Indian Trader who had a trading post near the Savannah River when Oglethorpe brought the first settlers to Georgia in 1731. After Mary's husband was killed, she was eventually forced to abandon her home and people. The novel sets out the problems she encountered and follows her children (Mary's Blood) on the trail of tears westward and ends up with some of her decendants involved in the battle of Little Big Horn. This novel transports the reader into the person of Mary Musgrove and allows us to feel the pains endured by the natives of this country during a period of disgraceful acts committed by some of our forefathers in the name of patriotism.

I read this book for the first time in high school. I have read it a couple times since then. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in the Native-Americans, their beliefs and customs. In this novel, Dee Brown, captures all their feelings from betral of the white man for unmercifully taking their homelands and the fear of being wiped out like the buffalo to the pride in their people and their faith in spirits who guided them through those devastating years. The story pulls you in and you become one of the Native-Americans, experiencing every joy and pain.

Mary Roberts Rinehart was the American Agatha Christie. Both were great mystery writers. While Christie was justifibly famous for her ingeneous plots, in my opinion Rinehart was the better writer. Furthermore, Rinehart had an uncanny ability to creat and sustain throughout each of her books an atmosphere not merely of suspence but of foreboding. Although reading a Rinehart novel is great fun, it is also rather scary. Her classic story The Door is no exception. If you like well-written mystery novels that make you want to keep the door locked while you read them, read The Door -- and all of Mary Roberts Rinehart's other classics.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE READ THIS BOOK! MARY ROBERTS RINEHART WEAVES A STORY LIKE NO OTHER AUTHOR I HAVE READ. THE SET UP, THE CLUES, THE VICTIMS, THE MURDERER AND THE FINALE! ALL FANTASTIC! I CANT WAIT TO READ THE YELLOW ROOM!

i had picked this book in 1983 or thereabouts from a sale, when i started to read it i just had to finish it to see who the person was committing the murders but to my utter horror some creep had torn off the last page and i never knew who it was. i have searched for this book at various stores but have not located it until today. ofcourse i have to order it from amazon !

I. Q. is the pet rat of Mrs. Furber's class. But he longs to be much more. Along with the children, he is learning to count and spell. He has learned his colors, participated in the Thanksgiving play (a small role) and crafted Valentines. But the school year is soon ending and still I.Q. has not been named Student of the Week. What can he do to get Mrs. Furber's attention?

I.Q. wiggles his way into readers' hearts, and the book's illustrations delightfully document the goings-on of a classroom throughout the seasons.

This book was a joy to read! My second grader loved the story as it goes through the whole year with events relating to what she has learned in school this year. I.Q. is adorable as he wants to become a student not just the class pet. I.Q. learns about the alphabet, colors, numbers and holidays along with students. But more than anything, I.Q. wants to be picked for STUDENT OF THE WEEK. When will it be his turn? This book is a great read and it will surely be a favorite with your children as it is with mine.

Every first grade class will enjoy this joyful trip through the school year. This fits month by month with the first grade curriculum. I.Q. will be a welcome pet and student that children can relate to. This book is a joy to read and share.

This is a wonderful book. It is fun to read, and it also takes you gently but firmly into a place you probably thought you wanted to avoid. The magic is that, despite your fears, you will be glad you had a chance to go there (through this book), and the visit will live on in your life. I sent a copy to a family member who is a nurse working with desperately ill children. She told me she found a lot of her experiences reflected in these stories. Life. The ability to connect deeply with individuals, whether they are old or young, and bring their stories to life in words is a very great gift indeed.

Mary Margaret is one of the best persons I know. She writes beautifully, her prose reads like poetry. She's a chaplain, a soccer player, a little girl, a grown woman. She's funny and warm, and that comes through in her book. I could not recommend this book more highly, for anyone interested in the human condition, or in spirituality in general.

Besides being amazed at the rare balance of humor and wisdom being expressed by my offspring, I can distance myself to see professionally this book is a rare creation that will be cherished by the family members and those who endeavor to interpret Alzheimer's Disease. My husband is an Alzheimer's patient in a nursing home. Having heard Mary Margaret present some of these stories and talk about relating to persons with memory loss, I am able to better relate not only to her step-father but the other members of the community as I visit. Other librarians tell me the book is well received by family member who need inspiration with the hard facts of this disease.