Childrens Days Books

Originally picked this up at the library. The illustrations are soft and tender and whimsical at the same time. The rhythm of the text when read aloud is joyful and soothing. The book is divided into three sections, which I find unnecessary and a little choppy in flow, but a great book for bedtime or quiet time nonetheless.

I find the language annoying but the pictures are charming and keep my interest for the thousands of times I have read this. My almost-2-year-old daughter loves it so much that I'm buying it because I can no longer keep checking it out from the library. Even though I know it by heart, she still needs to know that the actual book is there.

What a wonderful story to read aloud. It is very lyrical, with a sing-song quality and clever, fun rhymes. There is one section about getting up, one section on mealtime, and another on bedtime. All are wonderful, and are available separately as three boardbooks. My boys are now 3 and 5, and this is still a favorite in our home.

Those are the words I hear over and over, seemingly endless times. My 19 month old daughter got this book when she was 9 months old and has loved it ever since. She can repeat all the words and so can I. I can even "read" it to her without looking at the book while I drive the car, I've read it so many times. Amazingly enough, however, I do not dread reading it, as I do with some of the other favorites. The language is fun and creative, and the pictures are sweet and imaginative. Instant classic!

This is by far the best baby book EVER. My kids love the rhymes. I read it over and over again. This should go in every baby gift like Goodnight Moon so often does.

This book is full of adorable, retro valentines. Love the 1940-ish color scheme. I helped my daughter punch them out and was surprised that it contained more valentines than I had realized because its a thin book. If you plan on giving them to people, the drawback is that you have to cut-out and glue your own envelopes for them as envelopes are included but not assembled. However overall these are higher quality than today's kid Valentines so I think it's a good value for a cute, good-quality product.

Everyone who has seen these has commented on how cute they are. I think they bring back fond memories of valentines gone by.

I used these to go on the tables for my wedding reception back last year in February. All the guests loved them and since we were an older couple, our friends that were our age, remembered them.....just like we did.
It gave a really nice touch to the tables & guests were encouraged to take them home as an additional keepsake.

These valentines are made with heavier paper suitable for their "punch-out" format. I plan to use them as little add-ons in correspondence to my adult friends until they are gone. Then I plan to order another of these valentine books to enjoy during the next valentine holiday. They are a pleasant return to what was fun about grade school. A joyful visit to the child's heart in us all.

I found these online last year and purchased them for my daughter to give to her 3 year old preschool class. I loved that they were not the character/product types like the ones you find in the stores. Those are pretty ugly- these are actually quite beautiful. They are old fashioned and sweet. The fact that they are punch-out and sometimes need a bit of easy assembling make them fun to "make". The price can't be beat for the number of valentines you get!

I own the complete day to remember series.
And to me personaly Wednesday's Child is the best.
Honestly I have read it about 7 times and I still find it exciting. Well maybe the reason is because i know a guy just like the one described in this book (Kace)and he's so cute.
But beside that, this book has everything history, romance, crimes. I mean u name it its there. Out of all the books i've read This one is my favorite. I recommend it.Buy it.
Monday's child is my 2nd favorite if u dont have it buy them.

I think this book is great. It begins with Sharlotte Ashford, a nineteen year old debutante, who is on the verge of becoming engaged to another wealthy man. Then a man from her past resurfaces, and try as she may, she cannot shake him from her thoughts. She undergoes a transformation from high society, wealth, and lavishness to becoming a "western" girl and a true Godly woman. I would MOST definitely recommend this book!

I think this book is great. It begins with Sharlotte Ashford, a nineteen year old debutante, who is on the verge of becoming engaged to another wealthy man. Then a man from her past resurfaces, and try as she may, she cannot shake him from her thoughts. She undergoes a transformation from high society, wealth, and lavishness to becoming a "western" girl and a true Godly woman. I would MOST definitely recommend this book!

I cannot tell you how much I absolutely loved this book! Not only this book, but this SERIES is incredible. Chaikin does an outstanding job with character/plot development. In this book you see Sharlotte grow from an uppity spoiled rich girl to a girl with a heart. Normally, I do not care for American history based novels, but this was incredible. I do not have the words to say how good it was, other than READ THIS BOOK/SERIES!

In my opinion, "Wednesday's Child" is the best book in the series. Unlike the first two, which are set in Europe during WWII, this book takes place in America at the time of the Great Depression. Sharlotte, who is a Wednesday's Child, is introduced to the reader as a spoiled, flirting nineteen year old who is aware of her beauty, stable financial situation and social level, and her likely upcoming engagement to a wealthy, promising man. If you're hoping for some quick action, you won't be disappointed. A murder, a dashing rival from Sharlotte's past, and the stock market crash set the pace for an exciting book. Linda Chaikin also does a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life for the reader, as well as coming through with the Christian context expected. I found the characters easy to understand and relate to. The plot was very well developed, with an abundance of excitement and adventure. I was intrigued for the duration of the book!

Like another reviewer, I agree that "Gone with the Wind" and "the wild west" scenarios are reflected in "Wednesday's Child". This book is sure to delight many readers; thrilling and mysterious, romantic, historic- these all make an awesome book. It's definitely worth the 400+ page read!!

This is a perfect book for Gramps to read to visiting grandkids (I did get permission from the parents). It not only entertains children but is enjoyable for adult readers as well. Plus it allows for lots of discussion about invented, imaginary monsters like trolls and ogres. A further plus is that the book if chuck-full of new words that 6 year olds will want to understand. If you are looking forward to reading to a visiting 6+ year old and are looking for something that would be fun, Awful Ogre and Monday's Troll, both by Jack Prelutsky, simply cannot be beat.

Jack Prelutsky, author of more than 30 artistic creations, takes the reader on a journey through the daily rituals of an ogre's pleasantly gross life. Prelutsky describes all of the ogre's activities from sunrise, when his pet rattlesnake wakes him, until late into the night, when he has a nightmare about a beautifully tranquil place. Using fabulous double-page spreads, Zelinsky illustrates how the ogre enjoys a violent storm, tends to his garden of carnivorous roses and overblown mold and takes supper at a local restaurant where his titanic appetite is satisfied with triple helpings of everything (including the silverware, plates and tablecloth). The 18 rhythmic and witty verses are brought to life with remarkable detail using watercolor and pen and ink. This combination of gruesome humor, along with the realistic snapshots of the ogre's life, will provide many hours of entertainment and enjoyment to all those who are ready to experience the adventure. Everyone will fall in love with this oversized and grotesque, but playful, ogre as they scour each marvelous and explosive work of art! (Ages 6 and older)

This book is the best book I've ever read! I love the colorful illustrations. I can't believe how good this book was. I don't read picture books most of the time but this one is unusually outstanding! The pictures are amazingly superb! I would give this book 10 stars, if I could.

Fans of Prelutsky and fans of Zelinsky, rejoice! This devoutly-to-be-wished combination comes off just as well as you might imagine. It really does present a day in the life of a one-eyed ogre in poems and pictures. And by all means, read it out loud! It's so much more fun that way. My favorite -- "When elves and gnomes encounter me, / They often shriek, `Grotesque!' / I bow with magnanimity / And murmur, `Statuesque!' " And the pictures! There are a lot of things going on in the four-color pictures. And kids will have fun finding them all! Some of the language is hilariously gross and disgusting -- and not for the squeamish! Prelutsky obviously has always loved the sound of words -- and big ones, at that. And as always, he doesn't write DOWN to kids. There is a glorious perfection in his rhythms. Kids will love to grimace and wince along with the gory subject matter. This book is so much fun!

What a terrific, fun, lively book! As much fun for me and my husband to read as it is for our son to have it read to him. Even though he is still small, he loves the rhyming cadence of it and the pictures. A nice change from Dr. Seuss - I just love Awful Ogre! Especially when he dances...or courts a grrrrl...or goes out to dinner...

This book would be a terrific addition to any childs library.

My 2 year old is crazy about Bing Bunny and the adorable Flop! The stories are so appropriate and appeal directly to the toddler mind; calling to attention all the things that toddlers' notice. The crisis concerning the loss of Flop in Bing Bed Time is especially important: one cannot go to bed without Flop! (or in our case, Dee). We plan to purchase all the books. Great quality and excellent illustrations!

I wish Bing were as popular in America as Barney is. These books are a hoot and my son just can't get enough of them. I checked all 8 out from the library and had to end up buying them.

Bing is a bunny who interacts with his stuffed animal Flop. The books show Bing learning colors, foods, potty training, etc., all in the course of a day.

Adults will enjoy the '60s vibe of the cars, houses and furniture in the books.

Maybe an animated Bing show in America will make these books as popular as they deserve to be.

my son loves reading the Bing and Flop books. His favorite is the night time book. teaching him our bedtime routine is so much easier. the colors and shapes are simple and easy to understand.

My daughter Kylie, now 2 1/2...LOVES! LOVES! LOVES! the Bing series! She now "reads" the stories to us since she has memorized them all!

The Bing Bunny books appeal to both my 4-year-old and my 1-year-old. They're simple in format and style but manage to ably relay the oh-so-important-for-kids message that it's okay to make mistakes. "Paint Day" is held together by the repeated refrain of, "Don't spill the water, Bing!" Of course, he does eventually spill that water, but it's okay - it's a Bing thing. In "Bing Gets Dressed", Bing labors to get himself all dressed and then wets his pants. It's a sweet and accepting message for little kids who do make mistakes and need to hear that these things happen. We all love Bing - one read and you just can't help it.

I liked this book a lot. I think that it was very funny and the book taught you a good lesson. I think Haley was a good charcter to use in this situation becuase she isn't shown much. It would be hard to see Charlotte Johansson doing this.

This book was preaty good. I thought Hally's lies were funny the way they where so ridiculous. No one could really believe them. Once she admitted why she had been lying you felt bad.

The Story Of This book happens in Halley Broddock's house. When Claudia baby-sits for Haley, Haley starts lying about her homework. Can Claudia make Haley stop making lyings about her homework?

I think that this novel is one of the greatest pieces of literature of our time. Claudia's exposé of "the little liar" is symbolically exposing modern man's deluded preconceptions of ethics and delves deeply into attempting to define what "truth" really is.

It all starts when Claudia baby-sit's Haley Braddock, one of the B.S.C.'s client's. Haley starts lying about her homework. Cann claudia fix the homework problem? Read this book to find out!

No story. Just counting. Very few words. I was hoping it was more like the original book with an actual story.

My toddler has been reading this book for 2 years and now we need a new copy for his little sister (the first being quite worn out by now). He loves to count the objects on each page, especially the 4 trucks. The bear and other characters are charmingly illustrated and fun for young children.

Cute little book of just 12 pages, with colorful illustrations by Lisa McCue. Board book pages are always great for the not-yet-reading set to the beginner-reader, who will do unspeakable things to books - and board books can handle it!

Corduroy counts his way through his day, from 1 bear to 10 bubbles. Little kids will quickly learn to count along, because the text is simple and the story is laid out in illustrations they can relate to easily. The text mentions 6 cupcakes, and there they are - to be counted! And, of course, one of the bonuses of Corduroy is that there are other books he stars in, and your kids will want those, too. Hooked on reading before they know what's happening!

This book is a fun way to teach young children how to count. The pictures are very cute and colorful to hold ones interest. And the large print is a lot easier to read. The board cover is a very good idea also since children are often messy.

The colors and pictures of Corduroy are beautiful in this book. My daughter loves it! Other than Dr. Seuss books, this is one that she really loves and always wants to read.

Title: The Day I Killed James

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Rating: 5/5

Good:
From the cover, to the first page, all the way to the end, this book completely captivated me. The idea was fresh and new and it brings forth an interesting idea of how much blame to put on yourself when something happens to someone close to you. The main character is deep and emotional, and while she tries to push people away she really wants someone to push through the wall she's built. I love Theresa, she's a character I can relate to very easily, and she's also likable in her own way.

Bad:
I'm having a difficult time coming up with something bad about this book... It was truly amazing and wonderful, the type of book I could read again and never get tired of.

Everyone carries around some sort of guilt or regret. Most don't carry the burden that Theresa does.

James is her next-door neighbor. He's attractive, but a bit too bizarre for Theresa. And he's in love with her. He left for two years for the military and wrote her every week. She thinks she sent him maybe two letters in return.

Theresa is in love with her boyfriend, Randy. They've been dating for nine months now. However, he's just told her that he wants to take another girl, Rachel, to their friend Frieda's end-of-school party. There have been on-again and off-again periods with Randy before, but this is a first. Theresa lets him go, and in retaliation, she asks James if he'd like to go to a party with her. She is up front with him that it's purely for show, but James is thrilled to have the chance for even a pretend date with Theresa.

While James is off getting Theresa something cold to drink, Randy comes crawling back to Theresa, realizing he made a mistake. Theresa tries to think of James, but before she knows it, she and Randy are in a heavy makeout session. It's only after she hears James' motorcycle pull away that she starts to worry what he may think.

But that's not the worst of it. James doesn't come home, and Theresa goes to the cops. Not long after telling the cops he's missing, they come knocking on her door to tell her that his motorcycle has gone over the side of a cliff.

No one is to blame, but Theresa believes it's all her fault because of what James saw. Not able to handle the guilt or the remorse, she leaves home to reinvent herself.

Living in a beat-up trailer, a young neighbor girl starts hanging around. Before Theresa realizes it, life is changing again, and the thought-provoking actions of an eleven-year-old slowly brings Theresa back to the living.

What a powerful story. Theresa is determined to keep James' memory alive out of guilt. But Ms. Hyde weaves the story beautifully and the reader gets to see the slow healing process that Theresa, and also Cathy, her young neighbor, go through. You will surely laugh and cry with the story, but will come out much better for it on the other side. Just like Theresa did.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

What an exceptional book! I've read all of Catherine's work, including her Y/A novels and have to admit I have enjoyed them ALL thoroughly. "The Day I Killed James" is no exception. The book is beautifully written, has a strong female protagonist, and a voice that draws you in IMMEDIATELY. What an exciting journey of self-discovery! I was hooked from the first line. The novel is set on the California Central Coast and the descriptions of Hearst Castle and the little coastal town of San Simeon are breathtaking. If you like down to earth characters that take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotion, then this book is for you, and especially for anyone who loves good literature. If there were more than five stars available, I'd give 'em.

Theresa tells James that their party date is a one-time thing. She's only using him to make her maybe-ex-boyfriend jealous. It works, but Theresa breaks James' heart in the process, and he drives his motorcycle of a cliff, dying of suicide. Theresa's entire world collapses, and she blames herself for James' death. She severs ties with her old life, and tries to reinvent herself, all in an attempt to atone for what she did to James. Slowly though, through meeting a girl very similar to herself, Theresa begins to realize that she can't keep running away forever.

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde writes a beautiful story about learning to live with what you've done. The story was incredibly sad, because Theresa kept blaming herself for killing James, even though it wasn't entirely her fault, and even though Theresa's only eighteen-years-old, this ages and matures her. Theresa's character and journey to self-forgiveness is very realistic, and I was so relieved with the hopeful ending. The Day I Killed James is truly a heartfelt, well-written, and unforgettable story, and one I will not likely forget.

The Day I Killed James is probably my favorite of Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels so far, and I most definitely recommend it. The topic of death is never an easy one to write about, and I rank this novel high among others of this topic, including Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin.

[...]

I would almost go so far as to recommend any of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books before I have read them. There is always "the moral to the story is" in each of her books that really touch me. Although this is a book for teenagers and young adults as are several of her books, I find it doesn't make any difference, it is still suitable for all ages.
I have experienced all the emotions attributed to Annie in the story as I lost an adult son to suicide four years ago. I know guilt, it was my best friend for the first two years. I now know about depression but didn't recognize it soon enough. And forgiveness figures into all of her stories.
I definitely think teenagers should read this book, it will give them insight and understanding if they ever have to deal with losing a classmate or friend to suicide. It will surely make them more conscience of what they say or do that could have a lasting effect on others. In the whole scheme of things, we are responsible for others and their wellbeing. "The Day I Kill James" will explain it very well and I believe if it is Hyde's first book you read, you will seek out all her books quickly.

When John and Philippa first see their father after returning from an adventure in Nepal and India, they are shocked to find him changed into a very old man. Mr. Gaunt had been a normal human until his wife Layla --- one of the most powerful djinns in the world --- put him under a Methuselah spell. She hopes this will keep her children by his side and prevent the djinn twins from following her to Babylon, where she is going to assume the position of "Blue Djinn of Babylon."

Unbeknownst to Layla, however, John and Philippa temporarily had been replaced by imitations so they could pursue other adventures. To reverse the aging process, they must get help and are faced with some very serious decisions: How will they be able to leave their father under such circumstances? And how can they get their mother back home and prevent her from becoming the Blue Djinn of Babylon?

Djinns cannot be discouraged easily. And before you know it, after a few setbacks --- such as a terrible accident in which their beloved housekeeper ends up unconscious in the hospital --- help arrives on a whirlwind, in the person of the strange magical djinn Marion Morrison. Nurse Marion wears cowboy boots and has "two beady gray eyes that she was able to control so that she could look in two different directions at the same time."

In a complicated and wild story, the twins embark on yet another adventure as they try to find the true Blue Djinn of Babylon (Faustina, who has lost her body somewhere in England) and help her brother Dybbuk (who is on the brink of joining forces with the dark side after he discovers that his father is none other than Iblis, the most evil djinn in the world). Their Uncle John, the butler Mr. Groanin and the kindly old djinn Mr. Rakshasas join them. Using their abilities to go in and out of bodies, make transformations and other magical djinn skills, they find themselves in a series of mysterious mishaps involving disappearing people, ancient Chinese terracotta warriors who are being controlled by evil forces, haunted museums, robberies and even some unexpected help from none other than Marco Polo!

Readers will be surprised to see what happens to John and Philippa's mother, how the abilities of a little nun help them, and how an erupting volcano changes everything. The twins have their work cut out for them in yet another exciting tale from P. B. Kerr's bestselling Children of the Lamp series.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts

Middle school into high school readers and many an advanced elementary grade level reader will relish CHILDREN OF THE LAMP's 4th book DAY OF THE DJINN WARRIORS, which has the twins on a journey to save their mother from her destiny as the Blue Djinn of Babylon, and their father from a dangerous curse. A worldwide journey leads to discovery of an evil force which has awakened a new breed of warrior to the world in this find blend of mystery and fantasy.

I absolutely love P.B. Kerr's series about these children! This is another book in a refreshing series. I have recommended it to both students and adults!

The kids were happy that it arrived in only 6 days so they could continue reading the series.

The fourth novel in the Children of the Lamp series features the terracotta warriors, thousands of six foot tall clay statues buried with the Chinese Emperor of Qin, somewhere back in 210 BC. These statues were for protection as well as to ensure that the Emperor had a full army at his disposal in the afterlife. As the story goes, someone is reanimating these ancient warriors, and possessing them with evil spirits.

Meanwhile, on the good Djinn side, Djinn twins John and Phillipa Gaunt, their Uncle Nimrod and the crew head off to find Faustina Sachertorte (who is in the Djinn equivalent of suspended animation) in the hopes of reviving her to take the place of the twins' mother as the hard-hearted and extremely logical Blue Djinn of Babylon. This requires careful planning, because their father is under a Methusaleh binding that makes him age rapidly once the twins aren't at home, which of course they aren't.

Back on the other side, Faustina's brother Dybbuk is acting up, misusing his powers in exchange for fifteen minutes of fame as the next (and much improved) David Copperfield. Unfortunately his antics are noticed by his father, Iblis, the leader of the Ifrit (a.k.a. the really bad Djinn) and before he realizes it, Dybbuk is being used to set up a really big scam that could change the balance of good and evil.

Better than book three, Cobra King Of Kathmandu (Children Of The Lamp), this one takes the reader to exotic locations with exotic food, contains a lot of surprises, and features two very famous gentlemen from the past. The action-packed adventure comes to a dramatic pause at the end, which is clearly not the end of the story, but the way forward to the next book. Fans of the series won't be disappointed with this one.

Rated: 4.5 stars


Children Of The Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure (Children Of The Lamp)

Blue Djinn of Babylon (Children of the Lamp (Paperback))



Amanda Richards, April 23, 2008

Very informative. Really needed the sample forms.

I ran a daycare myself for several years and thought I had everything I needed to be a great daycare provider. After reading this book,I realized I had a lot more to learn. Cyndi Beauchemin covers absolutely everything from soup to nuts. After searching for good daycare information, I don't need to look any further.Anyone who cares a great deal for children, and wants to provide the best for them ,needs this book. From Child Abuse Hotlines to Daycare Forms, it's all here. You will use this daily to provide the best daycare you can AND YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

This workbook is an outstanding resource for anyone thinking of starting a Home Day Care! It would also be a valuable book to have if you are already doing Home Day Care. The book asks dozens of questions you may not have even thought of needing to be answered. It contains sample forms, contracts and schedules. It will answer so many questions and help you avoid so many pitfalls that I can't imagine starting or running a Home Day Care without this workbook. I highly recommend it! Cyndi knows of what she speaks and it shows.

This book has every piece of paper you could imagine would be necessary for running a day care.

As an author myself ("I Killed A Bunch of Folks"--a fine book but a slightly different genre) I can appreciate the amazing attention to detail Ms. Beauchemin has put into her work. She's thought through it all, and has really made my wife look like a professional in her day care business.

This book is absolutely excellent!
I think if you were to choose a reference to start your business, this is the one to choose. It has every aspect of childcare that you could hope to have to start your business.
Take a look at the info you get in this book for yourself. I don't think you will regret it.