A Children's Classic From The 80's From A Brilliant Author, Martin Baynton
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A Children's Classic From The 80's From A Brilliant Author, Martin Baynton. Such Forward Thinking Earned Him The Television Series That We All Know And Love! What A Wonderful Short Story To Read To Your Children At Night Or To Have Them Learn To Read It to You!
3134829
This book is awesome, a genuine classic. The story is elegantly plotted, with nice rhyming couplets that talk about a dogs mysterious work in the night. A killer ending caps off the entire experience, which is still joyous after multiples reads. One of the funniest kids books ever, with all kinds of clever visual humor, silly sounds and smart gags. This is the rare book that will touch any generation of reader, from bouncing baby to grizzly grandparent.
3844877
I read this book as an adult, so I'm not going to get into whether this is approritate for childen of what age. (I have none, so what do I know?) But coming from the standpoint of an adult, I think this book is a must for your personal library.

The story is that of a vain and shallow china rabbit doll who does not appreciate the love and dedication that his little girl owner, Abilene, has for him. He is lost to her in during a trip across the ocean, and embarks on a journey of discovery, loss and joy. The question is if the vain little rabbit will ever learn what love is.

It was incredible. In fact, I thought it was one of the best things I've ever read, period. I read it aloud to my husband, and both of us were crying by the end. I find myself still thinking of it and being touched by things I remember even a week later. The art throughout the book (harback version)is also gorgeous.

It is a very simple book, it is a "childrens" book after all, but it was also deeply resonating and brilliant. I think this will go on to become a classic to proudly sit alongside books like The Wind in The Willows, Charlotte's Web, and The House at Pooh Corner.
257453
I don't think there's a better writer of children's books out there today than Julia Donaldson.  Her books are perfect for reading aloud to a toddler: just the right length to keep the attention of reader and listener, great rhymes, and clever stories.  This new book is no exception, and is worthy of a spot on your child's bookshelf alongside "The Gruffalo" and "The Snail & The Whale."  This book is the literary equivalent of holding up a mirror while you're looking in a mirror: there are layers of stories within stories.  Little Charlie Cook likes a particular book, the characters in his book like another book, the characters in that book like another book, etc., so that every page (whimsically numbered in a non-consecutive fashion) basically takes you into another book.  The overall effect is like browsing through a whole children's library in a single book: you get a pirate story, an animal story, a knight/dragon story, an alien story, etc.  I won't give away the ending, but suffice it to say it's clever like all of Julia Donaldson's endings.  Bottom line: this book should appeal mightily to all the little budding bookworms out there, and to their big bookworm parents.
4058132
I was first introduced to Russell Hoban when my children were young. His series of children's books featuring a badger as the main character caught their attention quickly. Bedtime for Frances was one of their favorites and we read it often as they were preparing for bed. Mr. Hoban began writing books for children's in the the late 1950s. He was trained as an illustrator and wrote copy for advertising agencies. He also produced paintings for books and magazines. Mr. Hoban preferred writing over illustration and passed the illustrating of his books on to others.

Today, I had the pleasure of reading another of Russell Hoban's books, Charlie the Tramp. This classic was first written in 1966 and has been re-released in a beautiful 50th anniversary hardcover edition. In this delightful little book, Charlie, a beaver, decides he wants to go off into the world to become a tramp. He has decided the life of a tramp is much more desirable than that of a beaver and much easier, too. The story develops as Charlie shares his decision with his parents and his grandfather. In an excerpt from the book, Charlie says, "Tramps don't have to learn how to chop down trees and how to roll logs and how to build dams. Tramps just tramp around and have a good time. Tramps carry sticks with little bundles tied to them. They sleep in a field when the weather is nice, and when it rains they sleep in a barn."

I was pleased to find the presentation of good morals and values in the story line. Charlie learns he has the right to make up his own mind as his parents give him the freedom to do so. Charlie learns, after setting out on his own, that being who he was supposed to be wasn't so bad after all.

This hardcover book is geared toward children ages 3-8 but would appeal to children of all ages. The book is illulstrated by Lillian Hoban, wife of Russell Hoban. The photos in the book are done in black and white. Each drawing has a whimsical nature that children will love.

Charlie the Tramp received the Boys Club of America Junior Book Award in 1968. The author, now deceased, leaves quite a legacy of beautifully written books for young readers. A complete list of Mr. Hoban's books can be found here.

I would like to thank Plough Publishing for giving me an opportunity to review this wonderful children's book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The book was presented for my honest review and I was not encouraged to provide a positive review.

The book can be purchased through Plough Publishing by clicking here. It can also be purchased on Amazon.
660630
Unquestionably, my fave book growing up. This remains one of the most memorable books of my childhood! I recently purchased this and Animalia for my little 3-5 year old cousins (they're advanced readers!), and they absolutely loved it! Kept them quiet for all of Christmas Day hah. I also realized my own collection would be remiss to be missing these books so even though I have no kids, I ended up buying this (and basically an entire Graeme Base collection) as an adult. Hah! This remains the best one, but the others are worthy additions for the artwork alone. The stories are always amusing with complex language (at least, relatively complex for a kid!). Love, love, love Graeme Base.
4537294
Brilliant! Having read hundreds of books to my little ones, this one is my favorite. Timeless, intelligent and humorous, author Graham Best really is THE BEST
4014782
This book is PRECIOUS! As I read, I couldn't help but notice a Classic feel to the story. I couldn't imagine this book wasn't destined for a Classic title. Upon further inspection, I realized this story was first published in 1976, and its been reprinted with new illustrations by Laura J. Bryant. I love reading a book to my children and recognizing the illustrations from previous books. Were big fans of Lauras artwork around here. One of my oldest 2 sons(2 and 5) favorite books is from the Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat series, which Laura also illustrated. Even when not reading it, they continually pick that book up and admire and giggle at the pictures. I anticipate the other books from that series being under the Christmas tree this year!

Little Fox Goes to the End of the World is about a little girl fox that wants to explore the world. She tells her mother about all the adventures and dangers she will meets as she goes to the end of the world. The story is told as a conversation between little fox and mother fox. The dialogue between them is mostly what makes this story so precious. Little foxs imagination just makes me smile. It also beings tears to my eyes at the innocence of a child captured in this books pages.

I HIGHLY recommend this one! Its already one of my favorite childrens books, and it will be one that I hang on to through the years for grandchildren!
2450906
I loved this book when I was a kid, way back in the 90's when they came out!  I had to buy it again for my 10 year old neice who loves it just as much.  The creativity and imagination behind this story makes you feel like you are right there in the action.  These books were a huge part of my growing up and now will be with the next generation.
947928
This review is of the UK edition, specifically the Bloomsbury adult's hardcover editions. I got these as part of my HP collection some time ago, and I love them. They are sturdy, and yes, heavy, and have the original British English text. The covers are more 'mature', i.e. without the childish illustrations found on the other Bloomsbury boxed set meant for children. I would suggest shopping around to get the best price.

The Harry Potter series is a great book for any child and adult who loves stories about fantasy, magic, and magical beings. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and courage, among many others are sure to endear the book to future generations of readers. The character of Harry Potter matures through the series [as do his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger].Harry discovers his true identity, that of a gifted young wizard in the making, and not just a poor unloved orphan, and as the series progresses,harnesses his skills in wizardry to take on the Dark Lord Voldemort. Together with his two new friends, Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger, Harry unearths dark secrets at his school for magic, Hogwarts, and they embark on fascinating, dangerous adventures into a world of magic, good & evil.

For those who 'dumb' down this series, I would like to say that I am a serious reader & book collector, a teacher and mother whose reading interests range from classics of literature [Austen, Bronte, Hardy & Dickens] to contemporary fiction and non-fiction, including of course, children's literature, and the Harry Potter series is truly deserving of its place in the annals of children's lit - any series that enthralls and captures the imagination of young and old alike deserves praise!
596771
My child really enjoyed this tale, just as I did when I was a kid.

In this timeless classic, Dr. Suess uses rhymes and animals to create a story full of mischief, fun and entertainment. Two children and their pet fish are stuck inside on a rainy day, only to have their boredom broken by the antics of a mischievous cat that storms into the house and entertains them and creates a huge mess in the process. In the end though, the cat cleans up after himself, becoming a somewhat good role model despite his previous carelessness.

The before mentioned rhymes are used in this story to represent the text in a grabbing and mind provoking way that my child loves. I hope you give this classic book a try...if you haven't already!

Darien Summers, author of The Mischievous Hare, a children's book.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Mischievous-Hare/dp/1432746022/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Mischievous Hare</a>
432561
It's a little bizarre to me how few people I know seem to've read The Wind In The Willows; it was one of the defining classics of my childhood reading, right up there with&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Winnie-The-Pooh/dp/B002ZODPOW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Winnie The Pooh</a>and the&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Oz/dp/B001EWRMVS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Oz</a>&nbsp;books, but for some reason it seems relatively less well known today. It's a shame, because there's a reason it was one of A.A. Milne's favorite books, and properly considered its as much of a hallmark of English literature -- not just English-language, but British national literature -- as anything else, slotting into the Great Bookshelf somewhere right between&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Hobbit/dp/0261102664/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Hobbit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Watership-Down/dp/0743277708/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Watership Down</a>.

Re-reading this as an adult, it not only keeps but surpasses its childhood charm. The structure alternates pastoral, contemplative chapters with chapters of action -- essentially, Mole chapters and Toad chapters -- and as a child, I typically skipped to the Toad parts just to read the exciting parts. Now that I've grown up a bit I'm much, much more able to appreciate the simply excellent writing in the contemplative chapters. Toad's saga still retains its charm, but the work as a whole definitely should have a lot of appeal to adult readers.

So, anyway, read this book, or read it again, or both. That said, you probably don't want to read the free Kindle edition. The lack of illustration is common to most kindle editions, and is somewhat forgivable since the text was first published unillustrated; I may be less demanding on that front since I found the illustrations from my childhood edition (Tasha Tudor's) popping back into my head constantly as I re-read the text. For me, this book is always going to be illustrated, no matter the edition.

But the real shame is the lack of the various songs. Normally, again, this might not be a crisis in a kid's book -- most songs in most kid's books, even most classic kid's books, are eminently skippable. Problem is, here they aren't; not just because the songs are well-written and funny, but because some of them are central to the story, and one at least -- "Toad's Last Little Song" -- is the emotional denouement of the entire book.

I'd recommend finding another edition, one with the songs and with good illustrations.
4917090
I recently found a copy of The Burgess Bird Book for Children that I'd been given as a little girl.  To make my trip down memory lane complete, I wanted to read The Burgess Animal Book for Children.  And such a wonderful experience to read Mr. Burgess's descriptions of our childhood friends:  Peter Rabbit, Happy Jack the Grey Squirrel, Reddy Fox, Paddy Beaver, Unc' Billy Possum, and very many others whom we wouldn't remember as easily: Shadow the Weasel, Glutton the Wolverine, Tufty the Lynx, Forkhorn the Mule Deer, Bugler the Elk, and more and more!  I was exclaiming aloud as I rediscovered those old friends that Mr. Burgess described in such detail.  This book is as relevant today as when it was first published in 1910.  It's a read aloud book.  Though it would be best to have a hard copy with the illustrations that were included in the original book.  Such a fun read!
1923247
THIS WILL BE A CLASSIC TO COME!
THE MAGIC KRISS KARPET BY K. K. CORNER IS WRITTEN WITH FANTASY, ADVENTURE, AND EXCITEMENT.
ALL FAMILIES CAN RELATE TO BRIAN'S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR HIS PET DOG SR. JEFFERY.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS WILL PUT THIS BOOK ALONG SIDE OF THOSE BOOKS WE REMEMBER FOREVER LIKE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH LOVELY ILLUSTRATIONS THAT ARE EXCELLENT AND AGE APPROPRIATE.
I HAVE AN ORIGINAL SIGNED COPY AND I HAVE PURCHASED NUMEROUS USED COPIES FOR FAMILY MEMBER'S CHILDREN--
I DO NOT BELIEVE IT HAS EVER BEEN REPRINTED-- ORIGINALS FROM 1987 WERE SOLD OUT QUICKLY-- THEY WERE SOLD IN QUALITY GIFT LOCATIONS SUCH AS NORDSTROMS.
THESE 1ST EDITION QUALITY DESIGNED HARDBACK BOOKS HAVE STAYED IN HIGH DEMAND THROUGH THE YEARS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME WITH A DUST JACKET.
2393362
Can I just say, when you read this book it may just take you back to your childhood... or maybe to the childhood of your parents? I know that this book was written by a woman who died in 1952 ( it was recently discovered in an old trunk and published for the first time), but it took me by surprise just how nostalgic it would make me for my childhood and hearing my mother's voice read stories to me as a child. My first read-through of it was to my 6 year old son who loved it and begged to have it read again. The simple song/rhyme "I see the moon" is one that I have sung to my children since infancy and so the book's arrival was eagerly anticipated by us all.

The book takes you on a 'round the globe journey to see many of the cultures of the world and be reminded that the moon shines down on each. The story is reminiscent of Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon in it's tenderness and lullaby-like cadence and it is easy to see how this book will become another classic to the adoring audiences of each of those books as well. I was delighted at the extended length of the book and that it really did touch on so many other cultures without being too deep for young ears.

I recommend this book to any young family who would like to introduce a broader perspective to their children and perhaps reach back to a simpler time when it was easier to see the world as a series of childlike cultural icons on a waffle house map. The innocence and gentleness of this book will be a reassurance to those tired of viewing the world in a defensive manner and who posses a yearning to see all God's children in a common light.
4068214
Amelia Bedelia still has the same appeal she did many years ago - great children's books!
1212656
I loved little critter books growing up and I'm so glad my son enjoys them too. We had a copy of this one, that was my older brothers from 1984! But for the life of me, we can't find it. Anywhere. Since this one is my son's favorite we had to replace it. A classic story, definitely recommend!