Book reviews for "Ziefert,_Harriet" sorted by average review score:
The Wheels on the Bus (Pictureback Readers)
Published in Paperback by Random House (Merchandising) (1990)
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Average review score:
We sing and do actions while we read it!
My toddler loves for me to sing the wheels on the bus while we read this book. The pictures are cute. He especially loves buses anyway. Pages include children... go up and down- people... go in and out- windows... go up and down- doors...open and close- horn... goes toot, toot, toot-wiper...goes swish, swish, swish- driver... goes stop and go. Its a lot of fun.
When I First Came to This Land
Published in Hardcover by Putnam Pub Group Juv (1998)
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List price: $15.99 (that's 30% off!)
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Average review score:
Old american folk-tune, illustrated with charming pictures.
I don't know how this could be considered "re-told" as it says on the cover. These words are not new. They are the lyrics to an old folk song. The illustrations, however, are original, and they illustrate the song in a folk art style that synchronises nicely with the story that the lyrics tell.
Max's Potty
Published in Hardcover by Dk Pub Merchandise (1999)
Amazon base price: $9.95
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NOTE THIS IS A LIFT THE FLAP BOOK!
Was very surprised this was a lift the flap book as there was no indication of that in the title or descriptions / reviews. I am debating returning it. Pictures are very cute but really repeats the same thing page after page. Does an elephant use the potty? No, A bear, No etc. Flaps are separate pages attatched by 1/8 inch seam which my 2 year old could easily rip off if I don't add more tape. Maybe that is why they list it as for 4yr olds... but most of them would not need this book. See The Potty Book for Boys (maybe there is one for girls) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli for a more diverse book. It also has quite durable pages!
Toddler pleasing book on potty training!
Max's Potty is a playful and very entertaining book about potty training. My toddler daughter really enjoyed this book and asked for it "again, again". I think a more appropriate age for this book is 2 to 3 years old rather than 4 to 8 years old as is listed.
What Is Thanksgiving? (Lift-The-Flap Story)
Published in Paperback by HarperFestival (1992)
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What about Squanto?
This was a terrible disappointment. As an expatriate with kids, I was looking forward to enjoying this "What is...?" lift-the-flap book, after enjoying What is Easter and What is Christmas. However, this book concentrates on shopping, cooking, and eating. These days Thankgiving is a secular holiday which Americans of all sorts celebrate, so it is not the religious omission I object too, but the oversimplification and glossing over of historical events about which even the youngest of American preschoolers usually hear. Pilgrims are mentioned on only two pages, one of which states that they invited the Indians for dinner, but does not go on to say WHY the Native Americans were part of the first Thanksgiving feast. If it were not for the help the Pilgrims received from the Native Americans, they might not have survived to celebrate. Since four pages are devoted to cooking, I think they could have spared some room for why there is a Thanksgiving at all.
Perfect First Thanksgiving Book
This is the perfect first Thanksgiving book for babies who are old enough to love mice and pumpkins and lift the flaps but much too young to understand history. It covers being thankful for friends and family and food and features an adorable mouse family. My 21 month old loves this book and can't wait to read it every night.
When the TV Broke
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (1999)
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When the TV Broke
This book contains both a spelling error (gorrila) and an uncapitalized day of the week (sunday). As a book recommended for beginning readers,
this isn't an example of good editing skills. Hopefully a correction will be made in the near future.
this isn't an example of good editing skills. Hopefully a correction will be made in the near future.
The screen went blank....
This is the best children's book that I've read in ages. You don't have to just take my word for it though, it is so good that Fred Rogers also read it on his show.
The story deals with what a little boy does when the family television breaks and has to be taken to the shop. At first he is absolutely lost since he spends his entire life in front of the tv, seven days a week. All he can do is ask his mother, over and over, if it is fixed yet? Slowly, however, he starts to do other things. He starts to read books. Then, he starts to use his imagination and actually create things on his own. By the last page he has actually created an entire world for himself- and hardly notices when the tv is brought back.
After reading this little classic you might just be tempted to break the television for yourself....
No, No, Nicky!
Published in Hardcover by Viking Press (1986)
Amazon base price: $2.95
Average review score:
Simple, but entertaining for little ones
This book is good for the pre-reader. It is basically a picture book with the phrases "No no Nicky" repeated throughout the book, which is good since children like repetition. It is about a cat who gets into all kinds of trouble, for example, in the kitchen he knocks over some pots, etc., etc. My 3 year old loved this book for the longest time, mostly for the pictures I think. Basically it doesn't have a lot of substance but is nonetheless fun.
Someday We'll Have Very Good Manners
Published in Hardcover by Putnam Pub Group Juv (2001)
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List price: $15.99 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $2.70
Collectible price: $13.88
Buy one from zShops for: $3.90
Average review score:
Amusing...
Children will identify with the characters and the situations, but it is up to the adult reader to convey that manners are for children, too. A good parent-child conversation starter.
Where's the Guinea Pig?
Published in Hardcover by Carousel (1987)
Amazon base price: $3.50
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Average review score:
Where's The Guinea Pig?
A cry guinea pig slaves--er, I mean owners--often emit! :) A hard to find book about a hard to find guinea pig. Actually, she's very easy to find if you are anywhere over 6 years old. But since this ia a cardboard picture book aimed for those possibly inder 6 years old, they might be really intreagued for about 10 minutes. A cute book, about 12 pages long, scribbly looking cartoons about a piggie who just wants to stop and smell the flowers. For the guinea pig book collector, an amusing addition--but don't knock yourself out trying to find it
Murphy Meets the Treadmill
Published in Hardcover by Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books (01 September, 2001)
Amazon base price: $10.50
List price: $15.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $7.96
Collectible price: $6.75
Buy one from zShops for: $9.88
List price: $15.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $7.96
Collectible price: $6.75
Buy one from zShops for: $9.88
Average review score:
Sad commentary
Murphy is a fat yellow lab whose human, Cheryl, purchases a treadmill and forces Murphy to use it. He does, loses weight, attracts a female dog, and becomes famous.
While Ziefert's intentions may be good, i.e. to encourage children to exercise and eat right, the less-than-subtle messages conveyed here are disturbing, to say the least. Is it alright to force someone to exercise, or to threaten them with punishment if they don't? Do we want to perpetuate this society's fascination with and reverence of appearance above all else? How many of us were humiliated by forced exercise or dieting as children, and how do we feel about it now? Did it improve our relationship to food or exercise? Were the results ultimately beneficial?
Though this reaction may seem strong, picture books are read and absorbed by impressionable young children, many of whom are already overly body conscious. We don't need to encourage this kind of coercion.
While Ziefert's intentions may be good, i.e. to encourage children to exercise and eat right, the less-than-subtle messages conveyed here are disturbing, to say the least. Is it alright to force someone to exercise, or to threaten them with punishment if they don't? Do we want to perpetuate this society's fascination with and reverence of appearance above all else? How many of us were humiliated by forced exercise or dieting as children, and how do we feel about it now? Did it improve our relationship to food or exercise? Were the results ultimately beneficial?
Though this reaction may seem strong, picture books are read and absorbed by impressionable young children, many of whom are already overly body conscious. We don't need to encourage this kind of coercion.
Dog's eye view of the world
I just had to respond to the reader who panned this book: do you own a dog? This is a VERY funny book! And well done. Murphy, like many dogs and their humans had gotten into the habit of too many calories and too little exercise. To view the storyline as a case of "society's...reverence of appearance above all else" and to equate Cheryl's conduct with "humilia[ion] by forced exercise or dieting" is a major case of the reader projecting HER issues on Murphy! He's a dog: he lives to eat, sleep AND please his alpha dog, Cheryl. And Cheryl, like any good alpha dog (or parent, for that matter) is using positive discipline and proactive behavior to mold her protege into the best--and healthiest--dog he can be.
My kids love this book! And they don't see the negative messages that the CA reader does; they see a funny story about an owner's creative way to help her dog get healthier.
My kids love this book! And they don't see the negative messages that the CA reader does; they see a funny story about an owner's creative way to help her dog get healthier.
The Three Little Pigs
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (1999)
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Average review score:
Not how I remember
This book kept my 3 year old's attention, however, after the wolf blew the houses in he ATE the pigs! My son could not accept that and would get upset when I read that part to him. I remember growing up with this book however the pigs escaped and went to live with the other pigs.
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