The Island Light is a fabulous book for children and their adults. The story is simple and very moving. The characters are appealing, real and fully revealed. The illustrations are out of this world. Have a hanky ready. Be prepared to be uplifted.

This book, which my 14 year old son still enjoys as much as he did at age two, reaches deep deep down into the place inside all of us where we most want to be with our parents: safe, warm, cozy, together. It never fails to choke me up; it never fails to comfort my children. The other books in the 3 book series evoke the same feelings, too.

All three books in the Bunny Planet series are classics. We discovered them when my son just turned two and a year later he still requests them often, even though he has them memorized.

My son was a very shy little boy, and how we laughed at the adventures of Charles. Whenever my son was feeling timid I would whisper" You're like a sandwich without the cheese--not to mention the meat and the mustard..........." which is a quote from the father in the story. It always brought a smile. This book has a great lesson for people of ALL ages: acceptance! Shy children are fantastic too!

This book is a perfect example of why Rosemary Wells is my favorite children's author and one of the few brave enough to write with a unique voice. In this tale, Edward tries play school, doesn't fit in at all, doesn't enjoy himself, and is just not ready. His parents and teachers agree he should stop going until he's ready. In almost any other telling of a similar tale, the moral would be that somehow Edward was "brave" and found a way to like school, and kept going. Wells is brave enough to say that some kids really just aren't ready, and that in today's achievement at all costs oriented society, it's okay! Any child would be lucky to have parents like Edward's, who create a home environment that is cozy and loving. Don't get this book if you are a parent that has signed your child up for the top preschool at birth and have your 2 year old's Ivy League education all planned! But if you believe in letting kids be kids, even if they are shy kids, then this is a book for you!

My whole family loved this very special and heartwarming version of A Fisherman and His Wife. The illustrations are a joy to look at again and again. They are filled with color, humor, spendid detail, and are literally spilling out of the pages. We especially Love the rainbow lobsters and, of course, the cats, as the main characters. A book full of energy, wisedom and integrity-one of my all time favorite picture books!

A well written book. It reminds you what is important in life. The drawings are vivid and full of life. I especially liked the drawings of the brown tiger striped cat, Ragnar. He reminds me of my own cat. Excellent reading for childen of all ages.

How could you not love this book; some of the greatest songs written for american theatre illustrated by one of the great artists of children's books. If you have a small son or daughter, buy this book! ESPECIALLY if they:

1: Love musicals (like my son)
2: Love Rosemary Wells (like my son)

Well, I was able to judge this book by its cover: I love Rodgers & Hammerstein songs (you don't even have to be a great singer to pull them off!), and I love Rosemary Wells' witty illustrations. The marriage of songs and pictures is magical. Only the verse of each song is in the illustrated section of the book, but that won't stop you from singing the whole song if you (and your child) feel like it! A songbook with complete lyrics is included, so get into that rocking chair with or without your favorite kid, and belt 'em out!

If you love darling little fluff-muffin dogs, it doesn't get any better than this! The cute purse-like container has McDuff's sweet face on it. Inside are three of the best McDuff books, plus stickers. Any kid would LOVE this. I bought one for myself, it was so darn cute and reminded me so much of my own precious terrier. This is the present I'm going to give every small child from now on. The illustrations of McDuff are absolutely on the mark: This illustrator REALLY knows what terriers are like--their poignant, wistful looks; the way they hold their bodies; and a million other endearing characteristics. Also, children are sure to be stimulated by these wonderfully simple but thought-provoking and unsentimental little stories about, for example, how McDuff gets jealous over a new baby, and how McDuff gets lost but finds his way home. All of the McDuff books are absolutely top-notch. They will warm your heart!

In the first three books of this charming series, McDuff finds his new "forever" home with a happy young couple, explores the neighborhood and deals with the homecoming of a new baby into the family. Warm, innocent and beautifully illustrated, the McDuff books capture the impish and loyal character of Westies-- and a simpler era that is a welcome antidote to our recent times. Buy them, by all means-- for adults or children of any age!

I got this in the mail today and think it's really cute. I think my daughter will really like it as I bought it for her 2nd birthday and she is really into books now. It has a lot of colorful illistrations and little rhymes that are short enough for little ones to learn quickly.

We were first given Pussycat, Pussycat and its companion, Wee Willie Winkie, as a baby shower present. From the moment our son first laid eyes on the books, he adored them. The illustrations, which feature kitties, bunnies, and other creatures, are colorful and enticing, and of course you can't go wrong with Mother Goose as the author! The text invites adult readers to sing songs, create special hand motions to accompany the nursery rhymes, and all parents and caretakers will love watching their children's faces light up with anticipation as they realize what rhyme comes next. I recommend this and all other Opie/Wells books in the series.

My 3 year old son loves this book (and so do I)! Each chapter is its own story; read in its entirety, the book is a wonderful tale of kindergarten life.

Youngsters will enjoy, identify with and learn from these six apropos and funny stories by award winning author Rosemary Wells. With the same friendly characters found in "Timothy Goes To School" the author tells tales that teach young ones how to share, how to take turns, how to work together, and how to persist in achieving goals.

Teachers are depicted as fair mentors who help, encourage and, yes, are firm when it's necessary.

In "Fritz Tries Again" it is Science Fair time and Fritz is determined to make a toilet paper roll Superconducting Super Collider. His classmates don't think this is possible and opt for more realistic projects such as collecting seashells or different mosses. Does Fritz surprise them all, including himself?

During Bird Week Charles, who is not very big and rather shy, chooses to be a bald eagle. Claude had his heart set on being a bald eagle and tries everything he can think of to trade birds with Charles. First he makes fun of him, and then he offers to give Charles his red truck and yellow airplane. But Charles stands firm although secretly he is afraid he cannot sound very much like a Bald Eagle. Does he overcome his uncertainty?

Not all of the fun takes place in classrooms. There are also other adventures for children ages 3 - 8 to follow as they learn about their friends and themselves.

- Gail Cooke

In large type (maybe 16 pt), with dusty 1930's illustrations, the authors recreate a prairie boy's life during The Great Depression. Reuben, a small second grader, is called shrimp-boats by his classmates, and a scaredy cat by Mary Ellen, until he wins a ride in a barrel rolling, Curtiss Jenny barn storming bi plane. His mother serves chicken a la king to truckers at the Lariat Café. His father teaches dancing, and wears a silk handkerchief, just like the U.S. President. But as the Depression continued, both his parents lose their jobs, and his father must find work with dangerous oil drilling rigs. Reuben expects to start 3rd grade in his comfortable Oklahoma town, but his father loses his job, and must find work anywhere doing anything. When he finds an ad for a wingwalker, the family leaves Oklahoma for a new adventure. While his father works in the circus, more as a wing-dancer than a wing walker, Reuben must make new friends, and some are quite unusual, like the Tattooed Lady. Traveling with the circus, they cross Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. A sweet, quiet, timeless book for summer reading.

This story of a young boy who lives through the Great Depression will give readers a delicious taste of the period. Imagine your father losing his job and becoming a stuntman who walks on the wings of an aeroplane!! Scary! Selznick's unique illustrations complement Wells' vivid writing. I always feel like I'm right there in the story when I look at Selznick's illustrations...Wells' text pulls me in even farther.
Wow!! Read this to a whole class group (2-8) to get a flavor of the Era and to study the craft of writing - Wells stuffs this story with passages that should be highlighted and analyzed as models of how to capture a reader's imagination.

Faisel and Gilda(his camel) live at a oasis- one year instead of having a baby camel Gilda has a horse- to the horror of the group. But Gilda will go nowhere without her baby- through sandstorm and travail she sticks with her baby and then they find another oasis- and Gilda is the funniest looking horse any of the people who live there have ever seen. This book is fun and the drawings, especially of the devoted obstinate Gilda are expressive.

Brilliant series of books about a young bear called Edward. The artwork and story are simply breathtaking. One would just love to give the poor young fellow a big hug the troubles he gets in.