Birthdays Books

This is a very charming counting book in rhyme form. Wiggy Pig is having a birthday party, and one by one his animal friends arrive to celebrate with him. On each page spread you can count the animals, and if you're more perceptive, see how many other objects you can count as well. For example, on the page for number seven, there are seven animals, seven balloons, seven trees, seven clouds, seven posts, etc. My daughter also likes the fact that each page spread has a hidden rubber duck to look for. The book counts up to number twenty-one. Fun text and illustrations. Highly recommended!

Absolutely brilliant! I was looking for something to win my 3 young boy's attention and I found it! A fun, short, easy to follow story with amazing characters that bring the story alive. Not only did my boys love these new exciting characters, who are unlike any other we have seen. They learned how to count with money the fun way! The Sterling's has been read many times over by our whole family and friends. Now my boys, family and friends are looking forward to collecting more sequels.

This book and the authors many others are so perfect for toddlers. Simple words and pictures help explain the meaning and customs of many holidays and traditions, making it a nice way for toddlers to understand. The board book style allows for little fingers to request multiple readings. And we all know how repetition helps them learn. They make great gifts, too.

What a terrific collection of birthday party celebrations!
Games, food, crafts, activities and storytelling combine to make these birthday parties the best ever! Included are parties for kids ages 3-11. This is a must have for any parent, teacher or librarian!

I would like to hear the songs they played if any recordings exist. If they do, please contact me.....

GOOD FOR BEGINNER, OR LEVEL I, WAY TOO EASY FOR LEVEL II.

I HAVE THROUGHLY ENJOYED ALL OF THE CHILDREN"S BOOKS OF WILLIAM WEGMAN. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN, I PROBABLY ENJOY LOOKING AT THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS MUCH AS ANY CHILD. I HAVE OWNED WEIMARANERS FOR 35 YEARS, SO I KNOW WHAT A UNIQUE BREED THEY CAN BE. IN THE SURPRISE PARTY, WEGMAN AGAIN HAS AN INTERESTING STORY FOR CHILDREN; ALONG WITH HIS WIMSICAL PICTURES OF HIS WEIMARANER FRIENDS. I WOULD RECOMEND THIS FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.

Before beginning, let me make it clear that I am reviewing The Surprise Party by Annabelle Prager and illustrated by Tomie de Paola, which is a Step 2 Book designed to be read by children in grades 1-3. There are several books by this name that are quite different from one another in their stories and in their intended audiences.

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. The Surprise Party was one of her picks.

Nicky, like many children (and adults), is really looking forward to his birthday party. But, alas! He doesn't have enough money to put on a party for himself. He persuades his friend Albert to enlist their friends to give Nicky a surprise party instead, so Nicky can have all of the presents and fun without the expense. The story develops humorously from there into many rewarding plot complications that revolve around the theme of trying to have your cake and eating it too.

For a simple story, the book contains much to interest you and your child. I have noticed over the years that people have vastly different thoughts about whether they enjoying having and giving surprise parties. You will help you child develop a sense of what her or his feelings are on these subjects, as well as beginning to realize that others often feel differently. This has a broader lesson, as well as helping your child avoid upsetting others in the future with the best of intentions concerning surprise parties.

I would particularly like to praise the illustrations in this book. They show lots of interesting children interacting in positive, friendly ways. Everyone is beautiful in his or her own way.

Annabelle Prager has a witty sense of humor, and the book benefits from many little jokes that she includes.

Although some children will be able to read this by themselves in first grade, I think it is probably better aimed at a second grader. Children younger than first grade will enjoy having it read to them.

After you have finished enjoying the story, I suggest that you discuss with your child when surprises are good things (like parties for people who like them) and when they are not so good (like losing something and not telling anyone it is lost until the item is desperately needed). As a result, you can help your child develop a better appreciation for good communications as a way to make life more wonderful for all.

Surprise someone! . . . nicely.

That's Holly Hobbie, encouraging her friends to tough it in the rain to deliver party invitations. After all, her dog Doodles is having a lot of fun, so she knows if they stick with it, they'll get the job done.

"Surprise Party!" is the book adaptation of the first-ever direct-to-DVD "Holly Hobbie" special. Holly and her friends are putting together a big birthday party for Holly's Aunt Jessie. They've managed to put together a convincing cover story and now must all work together to get things ready on time. It takes dedication, teamwork and a spirit of fun.

Being a paperback book adaptation of a TV special, obviously there's a lot that this out. Still, this book captures the spirit of the special and can be enjoyed whether you've seen it or not. It comes with 65 holographic stickers to decorate the book, or whatever you or your kids like.

The viewpoint in "Sweet Sixteen" alternates among three best friends: Carrie Cates, the dreamer; Mary Beth "M.B." Tamarack, the worrywart; and Zane Mazerski, the wild one. During the summer, all three girls go to Carrie's father's cabin in Watson River, California, to celebrate Carrie's 16th birthday. Two of the girls (Carrie and Zane) have summer crushes on two guys that can't stand each other, while M.B. is left in the shadows for most of the time, which accounts for a lot of their arguments. By the end of the book, though, they reassess their friendships with each other (Zane and M.B., in particular), and for Carrie, her relationship with her dad, which isn't as strong as she had imagined it to be. Overall: "Sweet Sixteen" is a good summer romance read for teens.