I have often looked for a book that will help my children and I and their friends adjust to a friend moving away. Being in the Navy for five years and living in the transient world that we do we've had to say goodbye so many times to our friends. It is always so hard. Ira Says Goodbye touched my kids and me. It covered all the emotions everyone feels when a special neighbor and friend has to leave (or we do). My three and four year olds and I really enjoy reading Ira Says Goodbye. It is very sweet and I am ordering two more for far-away friends.

Bernard Waber is probably better known for the "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" series, and the sweet "Ira Sleeps Over," picture books which every young child should own. But "A Lion Named Shirley Williamson" is also worth a look. A telephone miscommunication causes the zoo to believe that its new lion is named Shirley Williamson. The special attention that Shirley receives as a result of her unusual moniker makes the other lions jealous. When Shirley is renamed "Bongo" and her favorite zookeeper fired, she escapes. I won't spoil the cute twist at the end, but let's just say all's well that ends well. The book has sprightly, simple drawings that perfectly suit the slightly offbeat story, and there's plenty of dry wit to keep parents amused, too.

Anyone who has ever had a birthday party as a child will be swept back to the excitement, the fears and the adventure of their first parties through the eyes of Lyle the Crocodile. Endearing and touching, any child (or adult) will lose themselves in this book. I write from memory-my mother read the Lyle books to me when I was four years old and they have stayed alive for me ever since. My sisters and myself are now buying them for our families.

This is our first (and favorite) Lyle book. It is a cute story, enjoyable for the whole family. Of course, it has a happy ending, and Lyle is the hero. Although it is rather long, my 2 1/2 year old has memorized it, and knows if I miss a word. I highly recommend it. We can't wait to get started with the other Lyle books, and hope that they are as good.

As a child I adored this book and the characters -- I found them so easy to identify with as they would try to work on character flaws such as losing mittens and slouching. The final story gives an important & powerful message in such a simple format that I have never forgotten it. In fact, I have recounted the story to many of my adult friends when they have been down about the trials of life. So now I'm sending it to my friends with kids. I'm certain they will like it as well.

This is a wonderful book for children ages 2+. A sly mouse hides under the nose of one hotel staff member after another, then bests the "upscale exterminators" Hyde & Snyde.

My 4 year old loves finding the "hidden" mouse again and again, making this a top-ten bedtime story that never seems to get old.

Cute illustrations.

My 3-year-old loves this book. Your child can find the mouse in the lovely drawings of the various areas of the hotel. And the story is wonderful: when a mouse shows up at a snooty hotel, the staff "solves" the problem by hiring a consulting firm that can't find the mouse and gets everyone to chant "there's no mouse here." Even the mouse joins in. (Kind of like real life in the business consulting world, but more fun!) We enjoy reading this book, too, because you can "play" the various characters with dramatic flare.

This is a book that I have loved since I had it as a child. Icontinue to give it as agifts and every child I know loves it. Eachstory has a kind lesson and funny happenings that kids love!

When I was a Kid I used to love the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile books, especially this book, Lovable Lyle. I also used to have the tape with Gwen Verdon reading this one and two other Lyle Stories. This is easily one of the best Lyle books.

In this book, almost everybody loved Lyle the Crocodile until one day Clover Sue Hipple (a new friend to young Joshua Primm) started putting hate mail under Lyle's door. Nobody knew who was doing this, until one day Mrs. Primm caught the note writer and found out why she was angry with Lyle. She invited Clover's mother to meet Lyle, only to end the visit with the crocodile falling on both Mrs Hipple and Mrs Primm. Mrs Hipple threatened to have Lyle arrested. But at the beach the next week, Lyle saved Clover's life, and won over both Clover and her mother. This is such a wonderful book, and I will always remember it because it got me in trouble once when I was in the fifth grade for sending a hate letter to my little sister's friend after she hit me.

If you have children, then buy this book at once.

Robert Metz olddilsey@yahoo.com

"Courage" is just o.k. Neither I nor my son found the pictures that compelling. And we both seemed to think the book was longer than it needed to be. Nice premise, but - somehow - lacking.

As Bernard Waber tells us on the first few pages of this sweet and engaging little book... "There are many kinds of courage. Awesome kinds. And everyday kinds. Still, courage is courage-whatever kind..." You don't have to have a dangerous job, like a firefighter or policeman to be courageous, and you don't have to climb Mt Everest, or fly into outer space, or explore the depths of the ocean. We all show how brave we are in special ways, every day. Courage is taking off the training wheels and finally learning to ride your bike, going to bed without a nightlight, and being the first to make up after an argument. Courage is getting a new haircut, never telling a secret entrusted to only you, and walking right up to the new kid and introducing yourself. You're courageous if you taste the new vegetable first before you make a disgusting face, or if you read the whole mystery without turning to the last page to see who did it. And sometimes it takes courage to start all over again, or hold on to your dream.....Mr Waber's simple, clever text is enhanced by his playful and humorous artwork, and youngsters are sure to see both the truth and a little of themselves on each page. Perfect for kids 4-8, Courage is a heartwarming and utterly charming book, sometimes poignant, often uplifting, but always stated in a positive way, that should get little ones thinking and open interesting discussions. "Courage is what we give to each other."

My seven year old son received this book upon entering his third different school in three years. This book has been a valuable asset in teaching him to believe in himself and try something new. It addresses the little things that as adults we tend to forget were tramatic to children. I have given this book as gifts and have had very positive feedback. My son's school used this book as a basis for second graders to create thier own "books" about what courage is to them. I recommend it highly for confident children and those that could use a little additional reinforcment. A great "you did it!" gift.

This children's book is written from the perspective of an urban cat who wears dinner jackets and sips from goblets. He pays his taxes, gives at the office and donates blood. So why can't he have what he really longs for? "I ask for so little... just a little mouse," he says, gazing over the city's riverview. "I think I deserve a mouse." The cat begins to question his belief in the existence of Mice. He longs for the good-old-days of abundant rodenthood, even addressing this socio-economic issue in a letter to the President. He goes to see a shrink who appears to have the same obsession. He remodels his home in a futile attempt to lure the little furry guys. Finally, a possible solution arises from within an item in the Times. This clever book by the author of the Lyle Crocodile books is a pleasant read for both kids and parents, but much of its message and humor is subtle and might be missed by children. It seems to address the longings and psychological quirks of adults and be geared more to their understanding and entertainment. But my 3-year-old likes the story, especially the refrain of "Mice! Mice! Mice!"

The Mouse that Snored is a funny picture book by Bernard Waber. You may remember Waber from Lyle, Lyle Crocodile or Nobody's Perfick.

Written in rhyming verse, a bit of the text goes like this:

The quiet man's quiet wife

padded about in slippers.

She never made the faintest sound

not even while zipping zippers.

The quiet of this couple's life (they live in a country house, with a cat and a bird; the bird is named Will and likes to say 'Hush! Be still!") is broken by the arrival of a city mouse who falls asleep in their pantry, and awakens the house with a snoring that trembles the light fixtures and bangs the shutters.

The pictures are very much the same as Waber's general sloppy style, but are humorous and kids will get a kick out of them. The text is easy to follow but sometimes uses words that most kids won't know (tureen, for example).

There are sometimes 5 or 6 panels on a page, like a comic strip. This makes the book inconvenient or perhaps impossible for storytime situations. Kids have to be close up to see The Mouse That Roared. I couldn't see myself reading this book to a group of 4 or more children; they would have a hard time seeing the illustrations.

Children age 4 and 5 love this book, but my two year old son finds the book hard to follow. I think the cluttered sloppy illustration style is the reason. The text is basically simple, and rhyming,with a few difficult words.

This isn't a classic like Lyle, but it's a decent picture book, and funny in places...