Great book for boys AND girls and grown-ups, too!
919415
This book, like the Little House books, gives a true look at what life was like in the past.  I was amazed at what such a seemingly young boy was able to do.  Kids really did grow up a lot faster then.

The story tells about farming, raising cattle, cowboys (real cowboys), making do, being neighborly, dealing with not-so-neighborly people, taking responsibility for your actions, and so much more.

The author tells a story that is believable and satisfying.  This is a great read-to-yourself or read-aloud.  Please note there is some 'cowboy language' but nothing horrible and you can easily substitute other words in their place.
197088
Loved this book. It's great for young readers 12 and up, and even me, an adult. Read it aloud to my 12-year old at one chapter a day and we loved it! It got to the point where we couldn't wait to get up in the morning to find out what would happen next. We started with the free part one ebook, but when I knew I wanted it, I bought the paperback rather than the part two ebook so we could put it on our shelf. We will probably both read this again. Highly recommended.
1956295
An engaging story for the little and not so little! This book is not your typical one-dimensional storybook. My kids, ages 3, 5, and 10, were all able to find something delightful in the book.  Even my husband had good things to say about it!

3 yr. old: I like the mouse and the pictures. (And then he goes through the pages, pointing to all the pictures he likes.)

5 yr. old: The story's funny.  I like how he cleans up all the crumbs! And look, he just keeps going!

10 yr. old: I would recommend the book to my friends because I think it's got a great plot.  Also, the illustration is really interesting - the way the artist drew it, it's like really good sketching, and there's always something funny going on.  The words are good for learning too - they repeat things and teaches even new words. It's a very interesting story about a daring mouse who doesn't give up on his passion!

Husband: It's interesting because it gives readers a new way of thinking about houses, families, and mice. It's creative and fun.

This book has already been read multiple times in my home. Any book that my kids go back to over and over again, I can safely say, is definitely a great book!
2771989
We had a lot of fun reading this story.  The illustrations were fun, and the interaction between the two "boys" was precious.  They accept each others fears and insecurities without teasing, which is a message I want to be able to reinforce.  We've also had some big conversations lately about courage, and how courage means doing the right thing even when you are afraid.  This story reinforces that message well.  And there are some notes at the back that suggest ways of further discussing those concepts with your children.

A definite keeper!  My kids especially loved the British phrases in the conversations between the two 'boys' and are now calling each other "old chap!"

Disclosure: I was provided with this book by Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to be positive, nor was I required to post except on my blog.
621420
Yes, I am thirty something and I admit that this IS one of my favorite books! I keep this in the 'frequently viewed' section of my bookshelf! But then, I happen to consider it a sad shame to ever put away a good childrens' book!

There are funny poems throughout the book, and the pictures are really colorful, hand-drawn and fun to look at. My kids enjoy the book, but I don't think they appreciate it in just the same way I do! Some example of my favorite parts:

There's a two page comparison of the 1st and the 179th days of school.

"Other foods that my tickle your tastebuds" -which features foods with funny names.

I love the poem of the "Bad Hair Day" and the next page has adorable drawings and "Ways to Hide a Bad Haircut."

...and so much more! This is a great book! I recently gave a copy of it to one of my dearest friends who is 60-something and she lOVED it, and keeps hers out too!:)

I think I AM a KID again when I read this book!

If you want a book that you'll enjoy reading as well as the kids then this is a perfect choice!
1650456
Beautifully written and illustrated, and such a fun read!
1476002
Fantastic book for boys or girls! It covers everything from various forms of birth control (including abstinence, condoms, IUDs, the pill) to hormonal body changes, menstruation, relationships, STDs, pregnancy.
It includes so much more, and I'm so glad I read the reviews here before I purchased the book. My son is 12, and he read it. It opened up lots of conversations for us. I'll be passing the book on to my daughter when she is ready, as it's perfectly appropriate for both.
I wish I'd had a book like this when I was a kid.
470027
This is a really great book. Such a good message that kids need to hear these days. This can, of course, be for any age, but especially for tweens and teens. The writing is simple and to the point, and the illustrations are incredible. (and can I point out that the illustrations were done by the author's 11 year old daughter!)
A great message and a great book whether you are religious or not.
4391760
I've read many books on raising boys but this has to be my favorite one! When my husband saw that I was reading "another" book, he asked, "Is it written by a male or a female?" The reason he asked is because often the majority of books in this category are written only by female authors. But I was glad to tell him that the experiences from this book were written from both perspectives. What makes it so great are the ideas presented in it. I felt like everytime I got to a new chapter, I learned something new. I felt like there were clear ideas and many creative that I could easily use. I enjoyed reading it from both perspectives. I highly recommend this to anyone with a son(s). One of my favorite ideas the authors mentioned was organizing a homeschool league of sports. This fall, we felt like we were running crazy into the ground in the various activities. I feel like that idea might keep things simpler, especially if more siblings can play. There were other really great points and ideas as well but I don't want to spoil it. All I can say is that I most definitely will be keeping this one in my library and referring to it often. I also plan to give this out at baby showers.
4820798
What a perfect story for the tween or teen girl of today struggling with the pressure (and, yes, the desire) to fit in and at the same time striving to be true to herself and her values.  The main characters in the book aren't good or bad, but rather the consequences of their lives are the result of decisions that they make, and they're not always black and white ones, either!  Well-written, funny, engaging and thought-provoking.  After reading Glitter Girl, I went out and bought four copies for all the girls in my family!
(By the way, adults won't be able to put it down, either!)
4255645
What a charming book filled with practical advice for children -- and adults. The author really gets inside the mind of young people, offering them life lessons not commonly found. Great read (and reminders) for grown-ups too!!
2839398
I loved this book as a young girl, so I ordered it for myself as an adult to share with my grandchildren. Excellent illustrations. The story is not only fun it gives great advice for dealing with life's challenges. Worth every penny!
991445
This is a fantastic book for any small child (boy or girl), great gift idea.  We have two sons, ages 5 and 8, and they both love this book.  It is an engaging story, and I personally love the illustration style--bold, fun colors.  You will be glad you bought this book!  One of our night-time favorites, reached for again and again.
3933562
This is a great book for both children and adults! I have shown it to many people.
4760036
Awesome book for both boys and girls.  Easy reading, stories from the pros, lessons to be learned, and lots of facts!
2078322
Great fun for grown up children! You'll want to re-read a few times, and then read it to all of your friends!
1613740
*Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a review copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own (and my daughters)

What a fun book! The book starts with a boys vs girls issue that Ellie solves by inventing a giant water balloon launcher, but as the book progresses, Ellie learns that we can't and shouldn't always divide things by gender. One area where Ellie is sure that gender doesn't matter is engineering and it is her biggest passion.

I really liked that there were a wide variety of characters in this book. This book does a great job as an enticement for young girls to consider engineering. She is always thinking outside of the box and problem solving and is good at thinking quickly on her feet. As we continue to encourage more and more kids to embrace STEM, books like this are a wonderful addition to their arsenal.

I also love that gender roles are seen as problematic in this book. The girls had been left out of the soccer game in the beginning of the book, even though Ellie is apparently a better goalie than the Dylan. Kit didn't invite any boys to her birthday party because it was a tea party, but Toby loves tea and the idea of a fancy party. In the end, all of the kids learn that working together gets great results.

This is a great addition for grades 2-5.