When I was very little, my sister would read this story to me every Christmas. It was our little tradition. As we grew older, I came to read it on my own. I had two Macy's holiday traditions- The Thanksgiving Day Parade and this story about three lovable mice that take up living in a Macy's over Christmas and the mystery of a missing Santa. I have just found a copy of this book and I can't wait until my fiance have children to be able to read it to them every year. It's definitely a story worth handing down!

Marvin the Magnificent, Raymond and Fats are three mice out to enjoy life ... in Macy's department store. When the toy department's Santa gets kidnapped they are on the case in the best manner of old-movie private eyes. But how can three mice track him down and rescue him before Christmas?

Narrated by Marvin himself, this story is absolutely hilarious. Don't be stopped by the mice. It was one of my favourite books growing up and I still recall it with great fondness (and a vague sense of irritation that my children's books got sold a few years back).

There are at least three other books about this mouse trio, and I think a couple of them are still in print. This one, however, is my favourite, and worth looking for in your local library/used book store.

Even though I haven't read this book in about 8 years, I still remember it as my favorite childhood library book and am currently traking down a copy to own. I read this book every Christmas for years and am very familiar with it. The story is magical and uplifting. A true classic.

Even though the story is written as a children's novel, readers of any age will find plenty to love with the three main characters. In the vein of such enjoyable trios as the Three Stooges and Alvin and the Chipmunks, the mice heros (or hoodlums) of this story each flash their personalities in conversation and proceed through the adventurous plotline with their own specific style. The writing is smooth, the moused-sized inventions humorous and the story fluid enough that you might just have to sit down and read it all at once. But don't worry about the time. It is, after all, just a children's book.

If you have a son or daughter, Do the world a favor and read them this book. This is a special book, My mom use to read it to me and it showed me many things about friend ship.

However please have a tissue ready when you read Chp 14.

I still have it and I plan to read it to my kids when god blesses me with them.

This was the first book I read over 20 years ago, and I never forgot it. That is how much I enjoyed it, I would definitly recommend it.

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this tale one Christmas over fifteen years ago, and ever since, my dramatic reading the story one chapter a night until the finale on Christmas Eve has become a cherished family tradition. I admit I have read the other Marvin, Fats & Raymond stories as well, but this one often seems to be the one that keeps us coming back year after year. I hope the story one year take its place next to Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree & The Christmas Box. Don't miss reading this classic.

AND it's not being published! Tell me where I can get it! Please! Have searched my brain for the name of this book and just got lucky. Wonderful book, from what I can remember, since I, too, read it long ago. If the reader from Tampa FL can tell me where to get it, I would be forever grateful!

I read this book as a child twenty years ago and now find myself narrating this wonderful story to my children. It is as exciting to them now as it was to me then. The never ending excitment and suspense captures the imagination of all children as they see themselves living in the dollhouse at Macy's among their favorite toys. No library should be without this book.

This is a beautiful book - one with a story that tugs at your heartstrings, but not in an overtly sentimental way. The illustrations are a perfect complement to the words. The language is simple and the story is not too wordy - great for little ones, preschool-aged and under. I started calling my baby girl "Emma Bean" as a nickname (her name is Emma) because of this book. I showed it to her daycare provider who then made Emma her own Emma Bean based on the book. Both the doll and the book will be treasured keepsakes.

My daughter adores this book. She wants to make a rabbit just like Emma Bean. One read makes it an all time favorite.

Ebenezer and Obadiah are brothers living and working together on their New England farm. Ebenezer plowed the fields and cooked while Obadiah milked the cow and cleaned and all went well until the morning Obadiah took a bite of his oatmeal and muttered "lumps". Ebenezer was so insulted that he picked up the bowl and dumped the oatmeal on Obadiah's head. Both brothers were furious and stopped talking to the other. Ebenezer waited for Obadiah to apologize, but he didn't. Obadiah waited for Ebenezer to say he was sorry, but that never happened. And with that, the feud began and the brothers never spoke to each other again. Soon, Obadiah sawed off his half of the farmhouse and dragged it across the valley to the next hillside. Both brothers' farms prospered. They married and had children and grandchildren and even great-grandchildren who never spoke to each other. They grew very, very old. Then one day their great-grandson's met at the wall that divided their properties..... Jean Van Leeuwen has written a simple, poignant, yet powerful story about how such a little thing as acknowledging a mistake and saying "I'm sorry", can change the course of lives forever. Her expressive text with its gentle message and air of sadness, is beautifully complemented by Brad Sneed's bold, rich watercolor illustrations, full of wonderful farm life detail, that pull you into the story and the brother's lives. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, Sorry is told with great honesty and wisdom and should open the door to some important discussions about pride and forgiveness.

Be sure and read this or you'll be sorry! Fun, folksy illustrations to a story illustrating the power of one small word that can be surprisingly hard to say. Two close brothers have a falling out due to "lumpy" oatmeal. The brothers never speak again and when the brothers marry and have families the feud continues...

My 4-year-old fell in love with this book, and others in the series. Short, repetitive sentences, humorous stories, and appealing animal characters made it a hit; it's also helping her learn to read. Good choice for toddlers as well as preschoolers and early readers.

The Amazing Air Balloon by Jean Van Leeuwen is a remarkable and true story about aviation history set back in 1784 colonial America, when for the first time a hot air balloon was flown with a human passenger, -- who happened to be a thirteen-year-old boy. Evocative oil paintings by Marco Ventura showcase the narration to mark The Amazing Air Balloon as a truly wonderful picture book account of ambition and dreams come true.

This is a terrific book! The other certainly put a lot of time and thought into it. I strongly reccomend this children's book!

This is another endearing Amanda Pig book. There are 5 stories some ranging from a humorous attempt of Amanda and Oliver to give their stuffed toys a bubble bath to a discussion between Amanda and Mother Pig about what will happen when Amanda grows up. The book will apeal to Pre- and Elementary school children and both Non- and begining readers.

The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog has struck some of the people in my office as, well, just *strange*. The idea of a childhood toy taking on a life of it's own struck them as an odd topic for a children's book.

I disagree. Completely.

One of the problems is that adults forget what it's like to be kids where ANYTHING is possible, including an unusually blue toy dog having a mind and curiosities of it's own. While the story is told from the perspective of Blue Dog and not Big Billy (the human child who plays with B.D.), it's soon dawns on the reader that the story IS being told by Big Billy after a fashion.

Children play with toys to stimulate their imagination and, in the case of Billy, to live vicariously through experiences. Billy wants a real dog, so, in his mind, Blue Dog functions as one (including snoozin' with Billy at night). When I read the story, I was immediately transported back in time to my OWN childhood where all my toys took on a secret life of their own (when Toy Story came out, I was first in line to see it!! Childhood fantasy put on the big screen!!) I took care of my toys (like Billy does) because I didn't want them to get hurt or lonely. In my own mind, I sometimes imagined what they would think if they could, and hence they would take on a life of their own. I think that is what the author is trying to do here.

The illustrations add so much to the story that they alone could be the topic of a full-blown essay. Suffice to say that the realistic-yet-stylized illustrations add so much depth to the story line and will deeply draw children in. A HIGHLY recommended book.