Childrens Days Books

Abby's having a " HOORAY IT'S SUMMER PARTY " for the whole fifth grade, boys ,the cool girls and everthing. But as soon as she hand out the invitations, she started to worry about what people will think. Will they like the food and drinks? And this question is what Abby worried most: Will they think her bedroom was boring?
Then Abby decided it was a perfect time to give her room a makeover! Until the last minute, will she finish in time for the party?

P.S. Do people actually paint their rooms because they're worry about what people think? I wonder who.

Abbey wants to throw a big party for summer! Then Ms. Bunder asks the class to write a report about their rooms and Abbey realizes how boring her room is. So she turns her room into a Palace of Purple and throws a big party, too!

Abby Hayes is a fifth grade girl. She wants to throw a Hurray its summer party to the whole fifth grade. When she gives the invitations, she wonders if they will think that her room is not cool and then Abby Hayes decides to give her room a makeover. But what if its too late to get a makeover.
I thoght this book was funny.

I think this book is great if you are reading the Abby Hayes
series. It's a great book if your in the 4-6th grades. I really enjoy the Abby Hayes series a lot and read some of them in a day or less. I give this book a great review.

The book Amazing Days Of Abby Hayes the More the Merrier, by Anne Mazer and illustrated by Monica Gesue, is book number 8 from the Abby Hayes series. This story is fiction with hundreds of made-up characters you will love!
In the story, Amazing days of Abby Hayes, Abby is trying to plan a party for the end of the fifth grade year. During the story she struggles along the way to get thing done but at the end... well you can figure that out our self. (I don't want to spoil the surprise.)
I think that the author's writing style is very unquie and diffrent form alot of other stories. She has good word choice and interesting taste in how to do stuff.
I like the way the author, at some points, will write with purple pen. When she does write with it it means that Abby is writing in her journal. I feel when Abby is writing in her journal it is easier to relate to the character. I recommend this book to 3rd-5th grade because I started reading them at 3rd grade and I'm not sure if I will like the series in 6th grade.

This is the fuuniest, most imaginative children's books I've ever read. This was the first Van Allsburg I was introduced to and I was hooked...

This is such a great book!!!! It's adorable and kids and adults of all ages will absolutely LOVE this clever book. I'm a fifth grade teacher and I've never had a kid not like and appreciate the ending.

It looks like a coloring book at the beginning. I can see one of my students picking it up and coloring in it before they realize it isn't for that at all.

Allburg is the best picture book writer out there. He gets a idea like a child would, such as how the cowboys in a picture book feel, and isn't afraid to go full speed ahead and explore it.

There's always layers to his works. An asset for all parents of young children.

A teacher I was working in the classroom with read this book to her 4th grade class. I was hooked! I read this book to children from the 1st grade to the 5th. I cannot read this book out loud without laughing! This is a wonderful book, I love it! Van Allsburg is now one of my favorite authors.

Great book. Most of Hallinan's books are. How Do I Love You is his best.

This book is good. More for 5 year olds and up, I would think. I do have to explain a lot to my 4 and 2 1/2 year old what the words mean. But still, this is a nice book. Loving and fun! Pictures are bright and cheery!

This book is a perfect way to teach children how to be thankful for all the wonderful things God has given us. It shows that we should be thankful for non-material things. It is a precious book for parent and child to read together. It reminded me of a few things I needed to be thankful for!

This book is wonderful. My daughter and I read it every night at bedtime, and I never get tired of it. Now, I am on a mission to collect ALL of PK Hallinan's books. I think they all have a great message, they are well written, have beautiful pictures and are just all around the best kids' books I have encountered. Definitely a must have for all toddler moms-- and moms with young kids!

This is one of my favorite books to read to my son (almost 3 yrs. old). I love how the author reminds us to be thankful for the things that are easy to overlook, like the power of the mind or the look of an autumn day. It's helped everyone in our house to stop and be thankful for even the little things in our lives.

Watson and Elizabeth are getting married and Kristy's cousins are in town. The Babysitters Club has to watch 14 kids while the adults get ready for the wedding. They basically run a day camp for the kids and they get paid for it

the baby sitters have to watch all of kristy's cousins while the grownups are planning kristy's mother's wedding. It was almost like running a day camp, very fun to read and some funny incidents as well that add colour to the plot.

Kristy's Big day is a good book because her mom and watson actually get married. its incredible how well this books was written.

Kristy's mom is finally getting married to Watson! Kristy is still a little reluctant until she gets to be the bridesmaid! Charlie is going to escort Elizabeth down the aisle, Sam is a best man, David Michael is the ring bearer, Karen is the flower girl, and Andrew is too shy and doesn't want to be in the wedding. Elizabeth and Watson's friends and relatives are coming to help out and go to the wedding.Problem is -they're bringing their kids. The BSC decide to watch the fourteen kids.A great adventure lies ahead!

Kristy is going to be a bridesmaid because Kristy's mom and Watson Brewer are getting married! And if that's enough, she and the other BSC members have 14 wedding guest kids to take care off. Only the BSC cloud cope this one!

Little Bit & Big Byte: A Day at the Beach is a colorful children's picturebook with a clever purpose - to familiarize young people to the world of computers and the Internet. Chronicling the adventures of cheerful, anthropomorphic computer parts in Cyberville, Little Bit & Big Byte is a fun read ideal for helping young ones become accustomed to the marvels modern technology. "Assisting Webster is his friend, Kay Board. She has a slender body, a long neck, and a face that looks like a mouse. Big Byte thinks she quite a number and just his type."

On our way to the lake my wife noticed our little girl reading this book. She always reviews her books first so she asked her if she could look at it real quick to fulfill her duty as a parent. Mom had so much fun reading it and looking for the bone that her quick review turned into a complete read, search, and re-read while our child very impatiently begged to have it back. Once at the lake, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about so I read it for myself. Now I see why they both wanted to read it. It is really a fun book to read and even a couple of over-educated adults enjoyed it thoroughly. We're looking forward to the next one but until then we'll keep this one close by. I think it's safe to say all three of us recommend this highly.

Having been an elementary school teacher for over 25 years I have read my share of children's books. This one is one of my favorites. It's just plain fun with great characters and an interactive activity. Getting my youngest students to read was the single most important part of my job before I became a University professor. This children's book is exactly the kind of material more authors should be providing to accomplish that goal. I still love to read children's books for myself and with a new grandchild this one will stand prominent in my library. I hope more of these will be forthcoming from this author.

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker

This adorable children's picture book is the result of the fact that 80% of Kindergarten students use computers and 32% use the Internet. The author wondered why there were no children's picture books that kept up with the Computer Age, so he has issued this first in a planned series that is designed to entertain and endear young readers by using computer-related characters. The book opens by introducing Little Bit Romie, his dad CD, his mom Nettie, his brother Big Byte, his sister Joy (who is thin as a stick), his pointer Click, and his cat Browser, all of whom live in Cyberville.

Big Byte, Joy, and Little Bit go to the beach to be with their friends Webster and Kay Board. They all see a couple of "nefarious bugs" named Vi and Russ who are going surfing. Big Byte and Kay Board want to go with them, but Joy and Little Bit warn that it is too dangerous. When Big Byte and Kay find themselves in danger, what will happen? Will Little Bit, Joy, and Webster be able to do anything to help them? The colorful (computer-generated?) illustrations on each page are a wonderful aid in helping children to visualize what is going on in the story.

Children growing up in the Computer Age should find Little Bit and Big Byte: A Day at the Beach something fun that will appeal to their high-tech interests. It is also educational. In addition to introducing youngsters to the world of cyberspace with computer-related language, there is also the subtle yet clear message about the dangers of "surfing the net" for those who are inexperienced and unprepared. Caution and parental guidance are certainly suggested! Also, readers are invited to interact with the story by finding a hidden bone on each page. I give this book an excellent rating!

Little Bit and Big Byte is a unique children's book and it ranks as the first of its kind I have ever read. Children's books typical center on themes like family togetherness, friendship, helping those in need, being kind to others, etc. This book is different. It is a computer- themed book that follows the members of a family and their pets as they take a trip to the beach. But this is no ordinary children's book family. No, the characters in this family are named for some common words associated with personal computers. The book's goals are to introduce and/or reinforce some of the important facts about technology and computers to children between the ages of four and eight and teach them a lesson about the threat if viruses.

Little Bit and Big Byte is a cute book, but it also an educational book about computers. Not only are the characters named after various computer components, the shapes and the actions of each are also meant to help kids learn about computers. For example, Click, the dog, is a pointer and is shaped like the arrow that appears on a computer screen, used for clicking. The characters go out to surf where they encounter the evils of Vi and Russ. They escape this time, but a lifeguard warns them not to surf again unless they have had plenty of practice because there are many Vi and Russ's out there just waiting to spoil your fun.

Children's books are often known for having colorful illustrations, but in this book, the colorful component is taken to a new level. The book delivers a knockout punch with its precise cartoon- like drawings and multitude of backgrounds objects and patterns. These illustrations are far more complex than those of other children's books and they rank among the best I have ever seen in a children's book. The pages are overloaded with images in some cases, which may overwhelm the senses of younger children. But they will suit the target age group just fine.

The children in this book learn a lesson about the threat from viruses and they learn not to take chances again. The book ends with the kids and their two pets ready to head out on a new adventure. I get the feeling that, based on this ending, this is going to end up being a series of children's books with each new book offering a new adventure into the world of computers. This is one of the many beauties of Little Bit and Big Byte. It strives to teach kids about computers and when you consider all of the knowledge and risks that go into operating computers, this is the type of theme that can be expanded infinitely. The sky is the limit when it comes to the number of adventures in which this family can partake. I expect to see many more books like this in the future.

Overall, Little Bit and Big Byte is an excellent children's book and it is one of the most creative and clever I have read in a long time. Everything from the characters, to the illustrations , to the book's ultimate lesson about the threat of viruses makes this book a winner and I am anxious to see what adventure the author creates with his next edition.

I work at a proctor care agency. This book has been a great tool for helping children who are in Foster Care feel normal again. It's also been great to help the foster parents stop and realize all the different emotions and feelings their foster children are working through.

Maybe Days provided my 8 year old foster child with some comforting words. In language a young child can understand, it gives the "big" picture of the foster care sysytem. It acknowledges the fact that many aspects are unknown for the child as well as for the foster parents. My foster child has asked me to read it over and over again.

This book is just wonderful! It addresses the reasons why children enter foster care in a realistic but age-appropriate manner. It lets kids know that their feelings are normal...and that it is normal have a hard time adjusting. Maybe Days also addresses the uncertaintly that is such a big part of foster care...will the child live with his siblings again?...will he have visits with his parents?...will he go back to live with them?

Reading this book together is a good way to start conversations with children about their feelings and concerns. There is also an excellent guide at the end of the book for Foster Parents and other adults.

Christine Mitchell
author and illustrator of Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond

Wish there were more books like this. Very nice and helpful for children. Good buy!

I work for and adoption agency with children in the foster care system and I LOVE this book. I have not found a better book to explain why to a child why they are in foster care and what is happening around them. This book explains complex topics in a very simple and easy to understand language.

My mom was a victim of incest and it affected every aspect of her life. She didn't reveal the incest until shortly before she died. I never had an opportunity to talk to her about it. This book helped me to see what my mom lived with and is helping me come to terms with what the years of secrecy did to her life, as well as to my own.

Marilyn doesn't just tell you about a problem, she inspires you to do something about it & gives you the tools to be effective. As an elementary school nurse & ped-SANE (pediatric sexual abuse nurse examiner), I read the book hoping to gain insight into the problems of children who have been sexually abused. As a former victim of abuse, I read it hoping to gain insight into the emotional quagmire that was my life. Marilyn's balance of emotions and matter-of-fact-ness in telling her story, catapulted me into the world of purpose & action. Now I have the means to help other children as I could not help myself. I am more successful in my profession & have started a class with the help of the school principal & the district's asst superintendent to teach mandated reporters to be more effective in protecting our children. Thank you, Marilyn, you have multiplied the joy in my life a thousand-fold.

"Miss America by Day" shows that the more we share about our own experiences, the more others with similar experiences can relate. My copy of this book is filled with "Her too!" comments . . . The fear that friends and family would turn their backs on me if I disclosed, my inability to buy a book about incest because the clerk would "know," the physical ailments of unknown cause that slowly dissipated after I began to recall . . . and the importance of partners, children, friends, and therapists in the healing process.

I especially appreciated the way van Derbur interweaves her personal experiences with research by experts such as Drs. Chu, Hermann, Briere, etc. She did her homework.

(...)

It is hard to find books that relate the emotional truth of sexual abuse, not only from the victim's point of view, but from all points of view. I am not a victim of sexual abuse per se but I have seen the eye of a perpetrator - a man exposed himself to me when I was 9. I am, however, very close to a woman who was abused as a child by a family friend. And, I am now processing the knowledge of an assault that happened between 2 families to whom I am close to. It is incredibly difficult to understand this kind of criminal behavior, and I wasn't raised in the greatest family. It is also difficult to understand the effects of sexual abuse. Thanks to Marilyn Van Derbur, I am able to get a better handle on these very complicated issues. And, more importantly, her description of herself almost parallels the description of someone else close to me who I once believed was simply "abused" in her childhood but, after reading this book, now believe that she may also be the victim of incest. It changed my mind about her obvious pain and odd behavior.

So, I do recommend this book to anyone who has come in contact with a victim of sexual abuse. It will make you think and it will help you understand a great deal more about this very difficult topic.

I am contributing this book to our local library. I was surprised it was not already there.

Review of Miss America By Day: Lessons Learned from Ultimate Betrayals and Unconditional Love by Marilyn Van Derbur, Oak Hill Ridge Press, Denver, CO: 2003. ISBN: 0-9728-298-4-9, Autobiography/Abuse

I chose this book because April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month as well as National Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month, and those topics are my work. The topics are thoroughly covered in Van Derbur's voluminous non-fiction story.

Marilyn Van Derbur, a native of Colorado, is one of four daughters of a prominent Denver businessman (he is deceased). Her father was on numerous boards and committees, was honored with buildings named for him, and was president of "all the college fraternities in America." Both parents were active volunteers, donating time and money to culture and civic organizations. Marilyn's mother would often state that she had the "perfect marriage" and Marilyn was told that she was "blessed by being born into a perfect family." Marilyn's life appeared to be perfect, as depicted by the smiles in the pictures she shares throughout the book. Marilyn was crowned Miss America while she was attending the University of Colorado in 1958. When she graduated (with honors) Marilyn was a guest host on Candid Camera and a panelist on To Tell the Truth, as well as in commercials. She also waved to the public while in the Cotton Bowl and Thanksgiving Parades. She chose motivational speaking as her career, and was named the "Outstanding Woman Speaker in America" and was inducted to the "Colorado Woman's Hall of Fame." Indeed, anyone reading her story might experience a twinge of envy for all the fame and fortune that seemed to come to her so easily and effortlessly.

Except...Marilyn suffered from physical symptoms including insomnia, tics, ulcers, and panic attacks. When her body and mind rebelled against the constant travel, she experienced full body paralysis, yet doctors found no organic cause. What else might Marilyn be rebelling against? She had to search her mind and spirit to find the answers.

One of Marilyn's earliest memories is of her mother reading the Bible before bed. Another of Marilyn's earliest memories is of her father entering his daughter's bed after dark. What came next was repressed for decades until Marilyn realized that her father had committed incest from the time she was five until eighteen, an estimated six hundred times. All the while, her mother knew. Marilyn shares her split between the "night child" victim in contrast to the "day child" over-achiever. The physical symptoms she had endured were a manifestation of the connection between child sexual abuse and adult ailments.

Marilyn writes, "I had never prayed. I didn't want a more powerful father and I knew, deep inside, that the Father my mother was praying to when I was a child wasn't protecting me." However, when her story went public via the Denver media and People magazine, she asked of a Higher Power: "I want to help...If you show me the way ...I will do whatever you ask me to do." Thus began the next chapter of Marilyn's life. She writes that it is "my mission to educate judges, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, therapists, and especially parents" about child sexual abuse. Not only does she educate with this book and her speeches, she also helps victims become survivors by sharing her healing journey. Throughout the book, Marilyn also shares with the reader her relationships with her husband and daughter, and the reader relishes in the emotional relief their unconditional love offers Marilyn. Ultimately, Marilyn manages to find peace.

I would recommend this book as an astonishing story and educational tool regarding child abuse and sexual assault.

Review written by Lynn C. Tolson, author of Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story.

My sister and I were so excited when we got this book, and we never forgot about it...We are 33 years old now, and it has kind of become our way of saying something is "fun"....whenever we do a craft or art project, we compare it to this book, "doesn't this remind you of when we played with Richard Scarry's rainy day book?" And its always a little bittersweet, because we no longer have our book. Imagine my delight, to find an old copy of the book, here on amazon! I can't wait for it to come in the mail, and I will surprise my sister!

I have such fond memories of this book, which I used to pore over a child, about 27 years ago now I guess.
I always remember the part about mixing colous and I'm absolutely sure it played a huge part in my early interest in art. I'm now an Art Gallery Director, so who knows where that next Christmas present might take your child?

I bought this book as a child about 25 years ago, and have never forgotten it. The activities and illustrations brought me hours of joy --it never got boring. As a parent, I am saddened to see that this book is now out of print, as I would love to be able to purchase it for my children and their friends. There isn't much out there which encourages wholesome fun and creativity these days -- bringing this book back into print would be a wonderful start.

I agree with the earlier reviewers. This book is the greatest. I have been looking for it for years, and would love to buy if for all my friends children (okay and for myself too.) Please re-release it!!!...

I also had this book as a child, (I got it 1975 for X-mas: I was 5)and never forgot it. It took me almost 10 years to find a copy of it, and now it is one of my most prized possessions. I remember that I was actually challenged by the activities in the book - it was not the typical 'color and connect the dots' activities. Mobiles, 3-D towns, greeting cards, as well as coloring and connect dots. It also teaches how to mix colors. It is divided into the months of the year, so activities coincide with specific holidays, etc. I am now an full-time artist, and I believe that this book had everything to do with what my career is now. THEY SHOULD REPRINT THIS! One of the best children's books ever! Definitely brings out an intelligent creativeness in a child.

"Rainy Day Games" by Andy McGuire proves that children's Christian books can move beyond educational to just be plain ol' fun.

McGuire, who is a fiction editor at a large Christian publishing house, is also a superb illustrator, and this (his first picture book) is a delight for the eyes. McGuire's (mostly) rhyming text is also funny and - in its way - thought-provoking. The first page of the book gives a four sentence summary of the story of Noah and his ark; then the author wonders aloud what it would be like to stay indoors for 40 long days. What, he asked, did all those animals do to pass the time?

Next we meet a young boy, bored on a rainy day. To make the day go faster, he imagines what Noah's animals might have done to amuse themselves on their long journey. He envisions playing hide-and-seek with a chameleon, mice using a zebra's stripes as a maze, a rhino lending his horns for a ring toss (and a not-so-thrilled snake acting as the ring), beavers playing Ping-Pong with their tails, a game of Twister among two giraffes, connect-the-dots with a cheetah's spots, and much more. Then we see the boy trying to imitate one of the games with his dog before settling back with a book until the rain subsides and "God's rainbow paints the sky."

What I Like: There are plenty of funny situations suggested in the book - things that both parents and kids will find amusing. The illustrations are detailed, realistic (or as realistic as an image showing yaks playing jacks can be!), and of high interest to children. As a bonus, the book encourages children to imagine what it might have been like to be stuck on Noah's ark for a long time.

What I Dislike: Although my three year old really likes this book, she's not familiar with many of the games mentioned (including Twister, jacks, Ping-Pong, tic-tac-toe, and tiddlywinks). Therefore, slightly older children will enjoy this book even more. The only trouble is the text is so simple it may be too "young" for some older children.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Kristina Seleshanko
Managing Editor
Christian Children's Book Review
www dot CCBReview at blogspot dot com

Rainy Day Games: Fun with the Animals of Noah's Ark is a unique children's picturebook loosely based on chapters 5-9 of Genesis. When a flood covered the world, the animals on Noah's ark had to entertain themselves through rainy days - how did they do it? Rhyming words and soft, captivating color illustrations in a realistic style enhance this wonderful read-aloud story ideal for parents and children to share during rainy days. "Pretend that Noah's ark floats by, / And watch the games that they would try. // Hide and seek can be a treat. / Chameleons can be tough to beat. // To tease your brain on stormy days, / You have to try a zebra maze."

McGuire explains the games that the animals must have played to pass the time in the ark. For instance, he mentions raccoons using their tails to play double dutch, giraffes playing twister, and tic-tac-turtle.
The tic-tac-turtle was Parish's favorite. They failed to see the humor in "Name That Stink" game. I thought that was hilarious. Isaac liked the snake that rolled up into a hoop to play ring toss.
Each page is a lot of fun. Of course, this is a great way to introduce Noah's Ark to toddlers and pre-schoolers. This is great for children's at-home library, Christian school library, and nursery library. It also would make a great gift.
Early readers will be able to sound out most of the words. Both boys and girls will equally enjoy the humor. We recommend this.

Rainy Day Games by Andy McGuire is a fantastic "read it again" story. The short couplets telling what the animals did to entertain themselves while shut up in Noah's Ark during the long rain are ideal both for reading to a young child and for early readers to enjoy themselves. The illustrations, cleverly drawn by the author, are enchanting and creative--imagine giraffes playing Twister and beavers using their tails as Ping Pong paddles! Highly recommended.

Not only is this an adorable, hilarious read-a-loud that practically guarantees quality time (after time, after time) with a child, this book could also stimulate creative ideas for other fun things a child could do (or imagine they could do) when stuck in-doors.

The book could also lead to deeper, more meaningful discussions with a child.

I found myself surprisingly and delightfully emotional at the end of the book (no worries, no spoiler here) because at its conclusion, it spoke much more than the story line of a little boy's house-bound imagination on a rainy day. My emotional response came out of the fact that there is a promise contained in a visual element at the end. A promise that, despite the storms and less than sunny times of life... well, you'll have to see the book for yourself.

This was a Social Studies book. The book is interesting as it describes a day in the life of a Pilgrim girl using text and photographs from Plymouth Plantation. Anthony D. Fredericks recommended it in Social Studies Through Children's Literature and you can find accompanying questions and activities there. Recommended for grades K-3rd.

My daughter studied colonial history in fourth grade, in Virginia, and I ordered a few books for her on the topic and as soon as the books arrived, she chose this one first and sat down and read the whole thing! She loved it.

....then you will enjoy purchasing this book. This book is a real-life look at a day in the life a of pilgrim girl. It shows great photographs of a little pilgrim girl's clothes and her day to day living conditions. This book will say in pictures what a hundred descriptions cannot convey to a kid. A great teaching book.

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrom Girl is an exceptional teaching tool for the young "history detectives" in your circle. Textbooks are never enough. What better way to understand that the "story" of history happened to real people who looked just like us, had needs and families just like us, but lived a different lifestyle because of the time in which they lived.

Follow this up with a visit to a museum, and the story of our history becomes very real!

This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it.

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the life of a Pilgrim Girl and its partner books about Samuel Eaton a Pilgrim boy and Tapenum"s Day about a Wampanoag Indian boy are excellent. I used all three in teaching about Massachusetts history. The books are well researched. The setting is Plymouth Plantation where reenactors wear authentic clothing and use authentic reproductions of tools, furniture, etc. The books depict children's work, play, families, homes and clothing. The books should be in every school library.