Childrens Days Books

I bought this for my three-year-old when she was just a baby, and we've both loved it ever since. The deeper meaning is lost on an infant and toddler, but the sweet, playful storyline and pictures are not. This one should be part of every child's book collection.

Our daughter cut her teeth on this book! (-Really, there are tiny teeth marks all along the edges.) So, how could we ever discard such a beloved treasure? Our 'baby' is 5 now, and we STILL love to read this book together at bedtime. She has long memorized the words and can read the book without the book even being present.

Boasting colorful and fun illustrations, the message in this book is: what you give out comes back to you! It begins: 'Blow a kiss and let it go, you never know how love will grow' -the chain reaction of love and kisses get passed along to several animals (a goose, a fish, a fox, a cow and more)and ends up right back where it began, with the girl.

Whenever our daughter catches us saying 'You never know' in our everday conversations, she finishes with 'How love will grow!'

The book is pretty short, so it's good for when you and your little one are too tired to go through 'Green Eggs & Ham.' All you page skippers out there know what I'm talking about!

This book would make a great gift for someone expecting, or for a toddler's birthday. This is a favorite bedtime book in our home!

I have a 4yr old and 2.5yr old and this book is one that endures they still love hearing it over and over even though both of them have parts of it memorized (my 4yr old has memorized the whole book).

My 8 1/2 month old daughter loves this book! I have been reading it to her everyday since she was about 3 months old. Whenever I start the story she gives me big smiles! The words have a nice rhythm and the word choice makes reading this book fun.

My 18 month old just loves this book. As we read along about each animal sharing a kiss we make the noise each animal would make and blow a kiss. We are doing just what the book teachs - Blow A Kiss and Let It Go -- You Never Know How Love Will Grow!

I would recommend this book because it was a funny book!

My favorite character was Mrs. Watson because she wanted to yank out every body's teeth. I t was funny!

My favorite part is when she was trying to yank out all of her student's teeth!

This is my favorite part because it is funny! But it probably hurt the kids.

By: Heather Q

Children will love the silly plot and the gags in every illustration! Most of the story is told in comic-book-like form, with speech bubbles and pictures.

The book is about a young girl who is starting first grade with Mrs. Watson as her teacher. A second grader informs her that Mrs. Watson is actually an alien, with a purple tongue, who needs a never-ending supply of earthling baby teeth to take back to her alien galaxy. Unfortunately for the first grader, she has a loose tooth! She decides to not talk in class in order to hide the fact that her tooth is loose. Can she survive first grade without ever opening her mouth? Read to find out what happens! You'll enjoy it, guaranteed! MAke sure to look at the colorful illustrations!!!!

Today is the first day of first grade. A day when many kids are excited. But not this little girl. This little girl is terrified of her first day of first grade, because a second grader has told her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about her new first grade teacher, Mrs. Watson. Apparently Mrs. Watson is a three-hundred-year-old, purple-tongued alien who adores stealing the teeth of young earthling children, and making jewelry like necklaces and bracelets, and earrings for herself with them. That's why the little girl is so terrified, she has a loose tooth! Now the little girl must keep her mouth closed for the entire year of first grade, or Mrs. Watson will steal her precious baby teeth.

In MRS. WATSON WANTS YOUR TEETH, author Alison McGhee captures the essence of the nervousness that young children hold inside them when embarking on the first day of school, be it kindergarten, first grade, second grade, etc. Her wonderful descriptions of the so-called alien teacher, as well as the gossipy second-grader, are engrossing and will have many young school-goers laughing out loud. While the utterly captivating, and CHARLIE BROWN-esque illustrations by Harry Bliss will have readers flipping the pages until the very end. This is an absolute must-have book, especially for parents of soon-to-be students.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

I can't recall the last time I laughed so hard reading to my son. This is a rare gem with sight gags abound. Well done!

There's an odd complaint that sometimes cycles through the parent circles of this great American country. If a children's picture book is filled with just too many injokes and gags for the parents to get (and not their kids) then that book is immediately given the back-handed compliment of "hip". The "Olivia" books by Ian Falconer are "hip". "Many Moons" by James Thurber is "hip". Do you see the trend? These books tend to be written or illustrated by New Yorker cartoonists/writers. So it only makes sense that such uncalled for disparaging remarks should be attached to my beloved Harry Bliss. In this delightful "Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth" (a delicious addition to his similar school-based story, "A Fine Fine School"), author Alison McGhee and illustrator Bliss tell a tale of realistic childhood fears and the surprising way that one little first grader overcomes them.

"I have a secret", a small girl confides in us, right from the start. "First grade begins today, and I'm in BIG trouble". The trouble comes in the form of "advice" given by a malicious second grader who immediately pounces on our helpless heroine on the bus. The second grader informs us that Mrs. Watson, the first grader's new teacher, is actually an alien from outer space. And this particular alien's preferred meals? Baby teeth. First grader baby teeth at that. According to the second grader, Mrs. Watson has a thick purple tongue and that we should look closely at her "pearl" necklace and earrings. By the time our protagonist reaches school she's in a mild state of panic. However, she's quite certain that if she just doesn't open her mouth, she'll be able to keep her tooth safe and sound from this alien scourge. Trouble is, Mrs. Watson seems really nice. And she keeps asking for kids to sing, or talk, or brag (things our first grader would LOVE to do). It's only towards the end of the day that a surprising occurrence proves both Mrs. Watson's earthly status and gives the second grader a bit of a comeuppance.

It's a cute little story wrapped up in a very fun package. Now I've kinda enjoyed the books Bliss has illustrated up until now. The aforementioned "Fine Fine School" was okay and "Don't Forget To Come Back", peaked the old imagination. But so far, this book is my favorite of the lot. And a lot of this is due to the fact that there ARE jokes that kids won't get in it. Kids will love the visual gags on each and every page (for example, a loud-mouthed boy on a trip suddenly ends up covered in duct tape when he won't calm down) but I love the crazy details. When the first grader timidly stares at the door of her new classroom, a poster with a picture of Shakespeare pointing at the viewer reads, "The Drama Club wants YOU for the Fall production of Marathon Man: A Chilling Tale of Suspense and Toothaches". Similarly, when Mrs. Watson asks the class, "Who's ready to learn a song?", she's holding (and I seriously kid you not here), "London Calling", by J. Strummer. Any picture book that makes a reference, however oblique, to The Clash has won my instantaneous and unwavering love for all time.

So that's that. Kids will love this book because of the words and storyline. Adults will love this book because of the in-jokes (some of which, even THEY won't get). And I love it because it's the perfect melding of two worlds. The childlike and the sophisticated. So pooh-pooh it for being "hip" all you want. It's one of the rare books that will have adults begging their children to read it, "just one more time".

This book is awesome. Eye opening. Must read for the entire nation. They should make this book a "Must Read" for Junior High School aged kids. It would really help open your eyes to the world.

This book makes you take a new look at those individuals that are homeless and how God calls us to serve them.

used this for a team that went to the union rescue mission in los angeles. team members were moved, convicted, transformed.

it's not a deep devotional, but it is biblical.

Great book my students seem to enjoy reading the book.

A mere 30 day journey with this book as a navigational guide and one will find not only conviction but encouragement for one's own "mission field" in life. Through the many personal trials, challenges, and victories of the author will shed new light on just what may define the term "missions or missionaries". This devotional is, just as it says, not your ordinary devotional. It offers reasonable and doable simple acts of kindness that can be carried out each and every day by the least of people to the greatest of people, people just loving and caring for their family, friends, neighbors and strangers.

I loved this book a little more than Tall Tales which I also liked. Do you suspect that Karen Day pitched on a boys little league team?
Daddy Day

What a joy to read a book that is so interesting and fun. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, including baseball players.

In the summer of 1980, Madison becomes the first girl in Southern Michigan to join a boys' baseball team. Though some of the other players are more friendly than others, they don't exactly welcome her with open arms. Once they see her play, she earns both their respect and their jealousy. Townspeople start writing letters to the editor of the local paper, expressing their positive or negative thoughts about having a girl on the team, and Madison doesn't know what to say when reporters interview her. After Madison's old friends pull away from her, she finds new friends on the team - one of whom is her first crush, while another might have a crush on her.

No Cream Puffs is a sweet treat. Even with all of the media coverage, Madison never develops an ego and never thinks she's the bee's knees. She doesn't want to make waves; she just wants to play ball and be treated fairly. I highly recommend this book to middle school athletes of both genders and to parents and coaches.

What exactly is so compelling about No Cram Puffs? I have many answers. Primarily, it the immensely likable main character, Madison. We relish in rooting for Madison as she tries to sort out a mess of conflicting loyalties - baseball vs. popularity; fitting in vs. being true to your own ideas and desires; hardworking, present Mom vs. absent, idealized Dad; friendship vs. romance; and those are just a few. It is also that, a mere seven lines into the first chapter, Day reminds us so uncannily about the confusion of adolescence. She has certainly confirmed, for fans of her earlier offering, Tall Tales, that her unerring ability to convincingly write adolescent narration was no fluke. The story is also compelling in its supporting characters, from her loving but imperfect family, to her relationships with her fellow baseball team members, to the poignantly absent best friend, to a couple of surprising characters who skirt the periphery of her life (I won't spoil their impact by revealing here!) In the end, though, buy the book for the reason I can state in five simple words - it's a walloping good read!

I sat down to read this book and had to finish it in one night because it was so much fun. An engaging, upbeat plot with subtle humor and meanings underneath. As a child psychologist, I appreciate the multidimensional relationship that Madison has with her mom, and her understated, but intense longing for a dad. Madison's relationships are very realistic and psychologically accurate, and they capture your attention in a thought-provoking way. Speaking of attention, this is what Madison is trying to teach herself to do. And this is what I love most about her. She's trying to pay attention to what's really important and not fall for superficiality, whether it is revealed in fame, self-seeking attention, or pseudo-romance. It's very compelling to watch Madison as she tries to make sense of what love is about in all it's ambiguous forms (best friend, a crush, and as a loving daughter). Over the course of the novel, it is also a privilege to observe as Madison changes and grows up. The over-arching theme of being true to yourself and finding out what that really entails is portrayed in a compassionate and enticing way. It is also interesting to witness the dilemmas inherent in what it was like for a girl to become involved in the world of boys' sports in the 70's. You will laugh and cheer for Madison as she tentatively, and then, proudly steps into a new phase of her life.

My kids have really enjoyed using this book to supplement their unit on ancient Eygypt and Old Testament studies. It appeals to my first, third and fifth grade children, and many of the activities are such that they can open up the book and do the projects themselves - start to finish. I also like that it has a page or so of historical information to give some context and/or background to the projects. This is easy and fun for the kids to read on their own, but also great for me to share with them in a group setting. An excellent choice for homeschooling, or for just doing home Bible learning with your kids (like family devotions). Great for Sunday schools too.

We are using this book during our study of Ancient History. It is really wonderful to be able to help our childen understand the Sumerian or Egyptian culture by having our children create a clay tablet with cuneiform writing or by making a wooden "paddle doll" as the Egyptian children may have done. We have eaten meals that the Hebrews may have eaten in the desert, and will be making a bee hive that is based on one they may have used. Our kids love the projects in this book. The projects are easy enough for very young children to do, and most can be done with materials you have around the house, or could be purchased easily and inexpensively. The text is very informative, too, and can be used as a read-aloud with younger children in order to throw a little more light on the culture of the peoples we are studying.

This is a great resource. Although billed as Old Testament Days there are activities in here that would appeal to teachers who are not teaching 'old testament times' but teaching about that period of time. There are crafts for Egypt for example. Very fun and very easy crafts and information.

Nancy I. Sanders has compliled a wonderful book of activities that will greatly enrich any child's Bible education. Sanders briefly explains concepts/stories from the Old Testament (starting with the days of Abraham and ending with the days of Nehemiah)and then gives a simple enrichment activity to help recreate a moment from Biblical times. A few of the fun activities include making a lyre, building a salt-dough map, creating a seal and reinacting a day at a market in Jerusalem. If you want to bring the Old Testament to life for children, this book is a must.

This is a fantastic resource for use with children. This resource helps children learn realities about life during bible times. It also has a wide variety of activities, not just the same activity done different ways. The activities take some time and may be a little messy but they are excellent for involvement and for learning.

I loved this book. I am always looking for good literature with African American children as characters. This one fits the bill. The story was well written and my class enjoyed listening to it.

I found this book to be a rich source for lessons, especially for kindergarten and first grade. Colorful pictures, interesting vocabulary, with a slight urban flair that my students in the Bronx can relate to. A must have for any elementary classroom library (along with her other books and her father's books)!

If you have ever experienced a day in the city as the title suggests, then you can relate to this fine children's book. If you have not experienced such a day, then this is the book for you.

Children will love the artful collages, intermingled with the little girl character, and the prose is enough to keep their young minds stimulated.

"One Hot Summer Day" is the stuff that makes the blistering days tolerable and entertaining.

Nina Crews' photographs combine the beautiful with the mundane to create a story to which all children can relate. We loved the contrast of the urban blacktop with the bright crisp green leaves, the little girl floating/dancing on raindrops, etc. There's always something new to discover in the photos. This is a talented new children's writer. It's evident that such talent is in her blood!

I loved Nina Crews' collage artwork depicting the hotness of summer in the city. The images were incredibly colorful and I wanted to explore all the details in the pictures. The little girl in purple whom the author used as the subject is absolutely adodrable! Her smile just lights you up and you can just imagine all the fun she is having.

Nina lets the reader experience many emotions while reading this book! One cannot help it!

This is a delightful book for pre-schoolers and a first grader could read this with maybe a tad bit of help with some of the words.

This mother thoroughly recommends this book for your pre-schoolers!

I enjoyed this book. very funny, entertaining. lIKED the part about marshmallow......
my kids laughed so hard!

I got this book for my 7 year old daughter thinking she would like it and I was right. She loves it and we read it quite a few times the first day we had it home. She thinks it is so funny and of course we can all relate to having a bad day. I would highly recommend this book for a fun pick me up for just about any age under 12.

This book is great for my 4 year old. Very cute and a very easy quick read. Its especially good for those nights when theres not enough time for a long book :). And nice for when the kids have had a bit of a rough day.

My kids love this book. When they are feeling blue, it always cheers them up!

This book was recommended (along with "Nothing to Do" by Douglas Wood) by a very well-respected educator in New York City. It's so simple yet so poignant. There's a lot in it that my 7-year-old daughter can relate to therefore triggering a lot of meaningful discussions while we're reading it.

Don't let its simplicity fool you. Just because it's an easy read doesn't make it unworthy for slightly older children. It's a very comforting and thought provoking book, thus a good book to own and go back to from time to time.

I was given this book from my sister-in-law and she did not have any idea of the impact it would have on me. I was in the family at one time and had met Dorcus before briefly. I am from Oregon and it was a blessing to be able to go with her to every spot in Oregon that she went and where she lives. She mentions family that I am related to by marriage so could relate to the characters. I expecially enjoyed relating to her telling about the lessons she learned through her family and the feelings that she shared about the frustrations of raising them, both the children and in her marriage. I find her very real, gentle and loving and giving to her family. It is not action packed but tells of our own ordinary days and how important they are. Thank you Dorcus!

Loved it! A peek into a 'normal' family life in America, full of love, laughter and trouble. Smucker portrays her family in a real way, not too perfect, just right. A must read for the winter days when it's too cold to go outside and the couch is calling.

I love reading about the Amish and Mennonite people and this book is a wonderful read. Dorcus Smucker takes each chapter of her book and writes about family, friends, home, etc. Reading this book makes me wish I could live in the country.

Many things we may or may not take for granted--wall-papering with a spouse, a family cross-country trip, teaching a teen-aged son to drive--Dorcas Smucker highlights in her tender, yet straightforward prose.

Though Ordinary Days isn't chronologically organized, I found I liked the categories Smucker uses to group her short tales: Family; Seasons; Relatives; Places; Lessons. The last grouping held my favorites, with the final chapter providing drama and a great resolution.

Never preachy, endearingly humble, Smucker lets her faith shine behind her writing, a skill that's served her well through years of writing a column for my local newspaper. We need more honest, humorous people of faith like Dorcas contributing to media everywhere.

This book reminds you of Little House on the Praire in modern day. It is so homey, so pleasant. The author captures the readers attention immediately and moves you along through her stories with enthusiasm. Well written.

This book is a great book for young children about to start school. As usual, Todd Parr does a wonderful job of talking about feelings and the artwork is colorful and makes children and grownups laugh.

My daughter (who usually hates dogs!) begged for this book after she fell in love with Otto Goes to Bed. Now her little sister loves Otto too!

My son loves all the "Otto" books! This was no exception. The pictures are super - bright and cheery. The story is silly and fun. It was a great way to prepare him for his first day of "real school". I think he was relieved to know it's normal to be a little nervous!

My son absolutely loves these books. They're well illustrated and the perfect reading length for a 2-ish toddler.

We received 'Otto goes to the Beach' as a gift and it quickly became on of our favorites. When my oldest was ready to go to school we bought this book to help with the transition. Like other Parr books the story is playful, the dog loveable, and the message positive. I also love Todd's simple but excellent use of color. Would recommend for kids under 6.

We loved this book! Pink discovers that there are more than just jeweled treasures in the sea. What a great lesson for any child to learn. The illustrations and vibrant use of colors drew my kids into the story! We would highly recommend this book!

This jaunty tale will delight all children who have ever played at being pirates or dreamed of finding treasure. In Pirate Pink's second adventure, she and her "matey" Juan face dangers from the fearsome pirate, Captain Snagg, as they search a shipwreck and the reef beneath it for sunken treasure. Young readers will discover many treasures in this book including Janeen Mason's vibrant illustrations, which depict superbly Jan Day's boisterous story and swashbuckling characters. Teachers will find this book to be an excellent addition to a Pirate theme unit.

Author Jan Day and Illustrator Janeen Mason have done it again with another fun-filled tale about Pirate Pink! Janeen Mason, a specialist in aquatic art, brings the adventure story to life with her action-packed illustrations in brilliant colors. In addition to her beautiful water color illustrations, I learned a lot (just from her drawings) about parrotfish, sea stars, basket sponges, grouper, and queen angelfish. This second collaboration will undoubtedly be another award-winner.

I think that the book Pirate Pink and Treasures of the Reef was an amazing book because,it is very aventurous. I think it is aventurous because, the illustrations really brought the book together! I like how the author used a wide variety of words. I really like how the illustrator used a lot of colors to describe the treasures on the reef. My little brother loves for me to read this book to him over, and over, and over again!

(You cut my review in half! Please re-post this WHOLE review. Thank you. Kristi Holl)
Author Jan Day and Illustrator Janeen Mason have done it again with another fun-filled tale about Pirate Pink! In Treasures of the Reef, Pink's adventures take her (and her friend, Juan) to Turtle Bay. They hunt sunken treasure from the wrecked and deserted ship of the evil Captain Snagg. Pink finds gold coins and jeweled bowls, but also explores the wondrous underwater gifts of the sea--until Captain Snagg and his crew return! Will Pink and Juan outwit the wicked Snagg and escape the ship alive? Janeen Mason, a specialist in aquatic art, brings the adventure story to life with her action-packed illustrations in brilliant colors. In addition to her beautiful water color illustrations, I learned a lot (just from her drawings) about parrotfish, sea stars, basket sponges, grouper, and queen angelfish. This second collaboration will undoubtedly be another award-winner.