Friendship Day Books

When a George and Martha book came up in recommendations while I was shopping for birthday presents for my niece, I remembered reading and loving one when I was a kid (I'm 33). Look-inside helped me figure out that this was the one I had enjoyed so much.

I loved this sweet book. It reminded me of myself and my own family. It made me and my children laugh out loud! Enjoy!

I can remember my mom reading me this book over 25 years ago..... I memeorized it before I could even read! When I did learn to read it I never put it down. I now have the opportunity to read my original book to my 7 month old son. I still love reading it and having it read to me. As a child this book taught me valuable lessons and characters I would never forget. my favorite line at the end is ," So I see , said George". A book that has stayed in my mind mind for over 25 years thats an inspirational book. It doesnt have to many pages for youngsters and it is easy to read for children learning how. I gave this book 5 stars because If i could keep this book since I was tiny then it must be something special..... a book like this reminds me of my childhood that's why its so important to read to children... loving lasting memories of their parent sharing time with them to read . A WONDERFUL PURCHASE for any family!

This book, subtitled, "Five Stories About Two Best Friends," follows George and Martha, two hippopotami, through stories called "The Tightrope," "The Diary," "The Icky Story," "The Big Scare," and "The Amusement Park." The stories follow a day in the life of George and Martha and remind us how powerful friendship is and that being a good friend takes effort. Specifically, George and Martha learn the importance of unconditional support, respect for privacy, and consideration of others' feelings and also discover that practical jokes have consequences. While each story can be read separately, the final stories blend together with a surprise ending. Each story is told in five pages or less and the text is very easy for beginning readers, with common words, short sentences, fewer than ten lines per page, and large serif type. More advanced readers will continue to remain challenged by some longer words. Although the stories are brief and the language simple, Marshall uses the rhythm and phrasing of the text to create a strong emotional response and sophisticated humor. With understated narration punctuated by short (often terse) snippets of dialog, the stories are meant to be read slowly and savored, with pauses for giggles and snickering. The overall effect is dramatic, with suspenseful moments at the end of most pages. Each page of text is accompanied by an illustration and each story, as well as the book as a whole, is introduced by an illustrated, hand-lettered title page. The illustrations are cartoonish black-line drawings filled in with pink, yellow, green, and orange, with George and Martha in appropriately weighty masses of gray. The texture of the brush strokes and pencil lines is visible, emphasizing the hand-craftedness of the drawings. Both children and adults will enjoy the sly tone and touching themes of the stories.

This book is a good book for young readers. It is an easy reader with a good amount of text. This book will show children that material objects aren't as fun and loving as a good friend who cares about you. This book will change the way you think about how important your friends and family are.

This book is about a rabbit who got a new rug. His rug was the most beutiful rug that he had seen before. So rabbit decided to call up all of his friends to come over to see his new rug. But when they got there he wouldn't let anyone step on it so they had to stand against the wall. Everyone got tired of standing so they all left. So then for days rabbit would just stay at home and clean his rug. Soon rabbit realized that a rug isn't a friend and found out that he wasn't having any fun at all. So he decided to have a party with all of his friends.

Rabbit's New Rug by Judy Delton has lots of bright colors, and makes the book more appealing to children. With some words that the children might not know, it will make a great learning tool if parents read along with their children. Rabbit, an inhabitant of a forest, has just gotten a flower rug for his house. Rabbit is proud of his new rug, and invites his friends Fox and Owl to come and take a look at it. When they come over, Rabbit does not want his friends to step on his rug, or enjoy his gifts his friends had brought him in celebration. Later, another friend, Raccoon, comes and joins them and he loves Rabbit's new rug. The friends do not have that much fun admiring it, and so they leave. In a week, after Rabbit becomes bored and lonely, he invites his friends to a party on his new rug. Then they have the time of their lives. Morale of the story: Value friendship over nice things.

A cute story, bright pictures, and a great morale at the end, Rabbit's New Rug is a fabulous addition to a child's books.

I really do love this book and my childern loved it, it was one of their favorite books a naptime. It has brite colors, has a good moral ending and is very well illustrated. It was used so much the binding is coming off.
I am looking to buy 3 more books so that i can give them to my grandchildern.
This is GREAT book.

This book is a good book for young readers. It is an easy reader with a good amount of text. This book will show children that material objects aren't as fun and loving as a good friend who cares about you. This book will change the way you think about how important your friends and family are.

This book is about a rabbit who got a new rug. His rug was the most beutiful rug that he had seen before. So rabbit decided to call up all of his friends to come over to see his new rug. But when they got there he wouldn't let anyone step on it so they had to stand against the wall. Everyone got tired of standing so they all left. So then for days rabbit would just stay at home and clean his rug. Soon rabbit realized that a rug isn't a friend and found out that he wasn't having any fun at all. So he decided to have a party with all of his friends.

Once a cowboy, Buck's now a magazine editor living in Los Angeles. He's married to Jan, a woman with two children and settled into the life of a grownup, though he remembers his carefree cowboy youth with pleasure, especially early in the morning when he's waking up. At that point, he dreams he's on a horse thundering over the range. In fact Slim Randles' SUN DOG DAYS opens with Buck's dream. Each time he wakes up, Buck shrugs off the vision and heads for the office, where he thinks he's happy. Then things go haywire. A freelancer misses a deadline and Buck must must write the article to fill the space, though he knows little about the subject he needs to cover. If it weren't for Jan and the kids, he'd "take this job and shove it," he decides. Suddenly, the phone rings. When he answers, his old partner, Smokey's voice invites him to go for a beer. Twenty-four hours and many beers later, Buck finds himself fired, tossed out of the house by his wife, and off to illegally round up some horses with Smokey. The choice leads to Buck making some critical decisions about the life he wants to lead.

In SUN DOG DAYS, Slim Randles paints a vivid picture of the range, and the processes by which cowboys do their jobs. He also offrers a good look at the psyches of these tough men. But Randles also does something more. SUN DOG DAYS is the story of a man going through a mid-life crisis and coming to terms with who he is. In the process, the man learns something important about making and accepting choices and their consequences. This universal theme makes SUN DOG DAYS accessible to everybody, not just cowboys. In fact for the non-cowboy, SUN DOG DAYS tells its story in a refreshing way. For cowboys or cowboy wannabes, it catches the spirit of why they want to be cowboys. With warmth and humor Slim Randles presents fleshed out characters that are very human. His style is simple and direct, but never simplistic. SUN DOG DAYS is both a fun and gently thought provoking read.

A true masterpiece by a true cowboy! Ever since I met slim, i've been impressed by his work. This piece is prehaps his best yet! Worth reading twice!

Sun Dog Days might appear as just a story about two over-the-hill cowboys, but it's much more than that. It's everyone's story. It's about what we fear as we crest the mountain that separates us from our youth. It doesn't matter whether we wrangle mustangs, wear a fireman's turnout, or climb a corporate ladder, there's still a part of us that wants one more feel of the reins of that thing that satisfied us most when we were in our prime. Sun Dog Days combines the thrill and the rhythm of one last great ride with the pathos of two ol' pards watching the sun set on what once was and will never be again. Buck and Smokey did what most of us only dream of doing, and in writing the story, Slim Randles' pen and easy-flowing dialogue proves there are still a few who can ride the crest for a long time. This may well be his best work. Wayne Winterton, author of "Whistler's Gold."

One of the most beautifully written books of our time. The first chapter will have you riveted to your chair with your eyes misting up. After the first three lines, I could see and hearthe horses; I could feel the melancoly mood. I could see Buck's eyes with a distant, almost vacant stare fixed upon his face. I was blown away. Several times during the book I had to stop and digest what I had just read. When I was finished, my eyes were stinging with tears and I felt like the old west was really still alive--at least in the eyes of real cowboys. I am still in awe of the beauty of this story. I can't recommend it highly enough. If there were 10 stars, I would rate it 10. CONGRATULATIONS TO SLIM RANDLES. I sure hope he keeps on telling his stories.

Thoroughly enjoyed this lovely travelogue of devoted husband and caregiver Ted during his brief respite from taking care of his beloved wife Corky who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Ted travels cross country to visit daughters on each coast and along the way documents his trip with lovely photographs and commentary. Throughout his journey, Corky is with him in spirit.

This delightful book briefly tells the story of a man who is taking a cross country trip as a respite from the full time care of his wife who has had MS for over forty years. In just a few pages of text, Ted manages to give the reader a sense of the daily struggles and joys of the caregiver and the love he continues to have for his wife, Corky. The photography is fantastic! The narrative that goes along with the photos is light and entertaining. I really enjoyed it!

If you learn nothing else from this book, it is that caregiving can take any shape or form, depending on the persons and circumstances. There are no limits as to when, where or how long. But do it, for the wellbeing of both.

The other thing I learned was that to live in a place of incredible beauty like Sedona, AZ is one thing; to experience Ted and Corky's caregiving relationship is like icing on the cake or snow on the mountaintop.

You have never experienced anything like it, and never will again. That includes the book itself - the pictures, the story, the fulness and joy of caregiving.

David H. Graham
Minister, friend and astonished observer

What an inspiring journey for caregivers! This book presents a beautifully photographed trip, taken by a caring man, as a brief respite from his 24/7 job as caregiver for his lovely wife, Corky.

It serves as an inspiration for any and all caregivers; it places the situation of a caregiver into a sensitive and loving perspective.

The message I took from the book is that being a caregiver does not mean giving up a life - instead, it means expanding two lives.

I thought this book was totaly excelent. This book was mostly about Miko acting different and hanging out with a very popular boy named Cleve who hangs out with the Ones. The CSGs see Miko acting this way and get worried and decide to throw a party for Miko to make her feel better. Miko decides to totaly change her image and asks Rockett to help her but Rockett isn't so sure this is a good idea. I thought the ending of this book was excellent, I recomend this book to everyone. But make sure the read the 3 books before this one so you kind of know whats going on with the people at Whistling Pines Junior High.To find out what's wrong with Miko read this totally phat book.

I really liked this Rockett book! I found it to be more detailed and longer then the others and it was more entertaining. The storyline was captivating and it was great to see a character go through a major change. THe final climax was sorta unexpected, but so was the whole story! Find out why Cleve and Miko start hanging out and also find out why Rockett is spending so much time with Nakili and Dana, and actually getting along with Dana! This is a great book in the Rockett Series and i loved it!

This book tells about friendship and trust between friends. Rockett, a grade 8 studeny, wants to cheer up her friend Miko by throwing a surprise party for her, but things start to go very wrong. I like this book because it portrays the problems that pre-teens go through and how they try to solve them.

"On February the 14th, 1985, the winds whistle over an open pasture where the waters of Gros Islet Marina flow deep into the land. At the water's edge, a fishing vessel, manned by six youths, is quietly set afloat into the Marina. The captain and co-captain are no more than 20 years old, while the rest of the crew range in age from thirteen to nineteen."
Thus starts an epic voyage that will end in tragedy with only one survivor. This is a really wonderful story about a real life event. It follows in the tradition of great "cast-adrift" stories, but the navigators in question are all from the small fishing village of Gros Islet in St. Lucia. Some are young fishermen, three are school kids, kicked out of school for the day because of rowdy behavior. It is a tragic story, but one with light and optimistic moments, and by concentrating at the end on the survivor (whose troubles are far from over when he staggers ashore and collapses in Columbia), it is book that will affect you emotionally, but leave you on a high note. I have read quite a few "adrift" accounts, and none have left me with such a feel for the humanity and simple kindness of the characters as this.
The first part of this book paints a picture of Gros Islets as experienced by the author as a child. Some of the main preoccupations are school, church, and sports, especially cricket. During this section we meet and watch the main characters growing up.
This is a tragic tale of young men pushed into a situation for which they were totally unequipped in both knowledge and gear. What is even sadder is even today many fishermen loose their lives this way in the Caribbean every year (I heard about 4 boats that were lost from one island alone last year, one with six people on board). It has always amazes me that fishermen will go far offshore with a single outboard, no radio, no flares, and sometimes a cell phone (but often without bothering to make sure it is fully charged).
Given that fishermen may well end up at sea with little water, a broken outboard and no other means of propulsion, our Caribbean education and fishing traditions completely fail to provide them with the knowledge they need to survive, even though the methods have been known since 1952 when Bombard set off on a 62-day voyage across the Atlantic without food or water. He lived off what the sea provided, along with the rainwater he caught, just to show mariners that they could survive indefinitely at sea.
These young men had at most half a gallon of water with them, when that ran out they started drinking saltwater. Drinking saltwater alone, is a sure recipe for disaster causing dehydration and ultimately, sickness, hallucinations, madness and death. The behavior of the youths in this voyage who went crazy, attacked their mates and swam away from the boat, is the same as in other similar sea stories where salt water was drunk.
This young group also had the means to survive; they caught fish and dried them in the sun as a food source. They needed instead to eat the fish whole and raw, and to squeeze the blood and juices out of them and drink it. Such juices are not very salty and can provide the much needed fluids. It is sad that such simple knowledge is not part of our maritime culture.
Religion plays a role in this story, even the boat's name is "IN GOD WE TRUST", and Therold himself regards the emergence of Kennedy Phillip (the survivor) as a miracle. I find this attitude interesting in light of Therolds early attitude towards the church.
"Father "H" may not know this but those marble steps are from the contributions of many who have since died in extreme poverty, after donating all their land and money to the Church. In fact, I have sometimes wished that someone would tell him about the sacrifices that were made, and about the many lives that were affected, instead of feeding him the gossip about the private lives of fellow parishioners. Maybe they can begin by telling him the story of Mr. Styles, and how his mother had left her only son to languish as a pauper, after giving her property and all her money to the efforts of constructing the church".
Therold himself, who had received communion, was thrown out of the Catholic Church, because his mother left the Catholics to join the Seventh Day Adventists, and this angered the priest who was apparently intent on passing the sins he perceived in the mother onto the son. At some points Therold sees with clarity that the role of the church, and that of the English colonial administration were often far from benign. Yet at the same time the Catholic tradition was such a dominant force in his youth it colors all his perceptions:
"Among "the wise (meaning communicants) is a very old woman who stands with a pink and purple mushware (head-band) over her head. She is barefoot and seems to walk in a state of absolute absorbtion. By this time I am not the only one who is distracted; so are George, Kennedy, Ronnie, and countless other children who know her quite well. In fact the whole church knows about her and what we know is not pretty at all. Today in the house of the Lord, and in broad daylight, the proxy of the devil is at work."
Therold and his friends think that is that this is an evil women working obeah with religious sacraments, a charge that could easily be based on nothing more than that she is very strange, possibly the result of a psychiatric problem. We have burnt witches for less.
Ultimately Therold comes to terms with the Catholic Church and sees the newer priests as being more in touch and community minded. If he has given thought to, and struggled with, such issues as: the subservient role of women in the church, and how they face the same kind of lack of opportunities as did black people in the earlier colonial times, or to the effect the ban on contraception has on the fight against aids, he does not mention it here.
Was Therold right in considering Kennedy's survival a miracle? If God wanted a miracle, why not save all - a little change in the currents or winds would have done it. Giving God the credit for anything good and never the blame for anything bad lacks logic. It is a bit like having a tailor in town, and every time he sews a wonderful suit that fits perfectly, praise the tailor. Every-time he produces an ill-fitting or badly sewn garment; blame the thread or the sewing machine.
Therold's book is a great tribute to Kennedy and his crew, and by extension to all the other Caribbean fishermen who have been lost at sea, whose life and death struggles have gone unregistered except by a small story in the local paper. Walcott's Omerous is a tribute to St. Lucia fishermen at the poetic and mythical level, this book does it in a down-to-earth simple story.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (1/06)

Glory Days and Tragedy is the true account of 6 young men who become lost at sea during a routine fishing trip. However, it is much more than that. It is a story of lifelong friendships, loyalty, and of the will to survive. And, it is ultimately the story of how to rebuild your life after tragedy has hit.

Mr. Prudent begins this tale by bringing the reader into his childhood in the St. Lucian town of Gros Islet. It is there that we get to know the author and his friends, and are treated to a small taste of island life. This book is so detailed and clearly written that it is easy to picture the town as you are reading the book. You become immersed in the lives of Mr. Prudent and his friends, which makes it all that much more heartbreaking to read about the tragedy that follows.

The second half of the book focuses on a routine fishing trip taken by 6 young men from the island. It tells the story not only of what happens on the boat, but also the story of what happens to those left behind. You are with the people of the town as they learn the young men are missing, as they attempt a rescue, and as they slowly come to grips with the reality of what must have happened. At the same time, you are with the men on the boat, suffering fear, illness, starvation, thirst, and hope. It is impossible not to mourn the loss of each of the young men as they succumb to the circumstances. It is also impossible not to celebrate when hope no longer seems false and rescue seems imminent.

In the end, this book runs the reader through a gamut of emotions, leaving you optimistic about the chances of the survivors, and the island, to go on with their lives in the wake of such tragedy.

Detailed and engaging. Therold Prudent subtly reveals man's search for meaning and the culture which helps create that meaning. One sees that the drama of youthful dreams begins the path to our destiny. A good source for literary analysis for the classroom.

This book has just been made into a movie called "The First of May" starring Julie (East of Eden) Harris as Carlotta, introducing Dan Byrd as Cory, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Mickey Rooney, with a cameo by Joe DiMaggio. It wrapped in Lake Helen, Florida in mid December '97 and will be distributed in 1998.

This book was one of the best, most delightful, insightfully written and charmingly told story. Heard it's going to be made into a movie with Julie Harris starring as the lead and Charles Nelson Reilly and Joe DiMaggio in supporting roles!

This book has just been made into a movie called "The First of May" starring Julie (East of Eden) Harris as Carlotta, introducing Dan Byrd as Dan, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Mickey Rooney, with a cameo by Joe DiMaggio. It wrapped in Lake Helen, Florida in mid December '97 and will be distributed in 1998.

This is not a book I would have chosen for myself. However, I just finished reading it for my bookclub and I must admit.....I couldn't put it down. I had borrowed it from my local library and I have just purchased it.....if you need to remember innocence and what it was like to be a child and carefree.....this is a must read.

An absolutely refreshing and captivating read that mere words cannot describe.

I can but echo the words of the gentleman who wrote the first review for this book. As a 41 year old business owner living and working in downtown Toronto, I rarely get moved by fairy tales. Kingfisher Days, is much more than that.

I too listened with great interest to the CBC's captivating production where the author warmly and intelligently read this wonderful book. I have attended a number of Soulpepper productions (the theatre company that she and her husband started), it is a soul expanding experience to see one of their plays.

The best part of being Canadian? Small things. Like the CBC's 'sometimes' greatness in bringing books like this to an audience starved for art that touches your soul. Like the Soulpepper theatre company, who does the same much more consistently. And like Susan Coyne, who if she had been raised somewhere else in the world, may never have written this wonderful book.

When I was young and we were new in this country, I sometimes wished that my parents and I would have emigrated to New York or Paris or some other 'exciting' place instead of Toronto. Reading Kingfisher Days, I am glad they did not.

I haven't read the book yet, but I've been listening to it being read by Susan Coyne herself on the CBC. Normally I have no time for fairy stories, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc., which I suppose makes me a grumpy old man, but I was totally entranced by the CBC production. Don't you love people who review a book without reading it! I would normally never do that but I couldn't resist. The reading on the air was more than wonderful, enough so that even though I am a rock hard cynic and a scientist I was totally captivated.

Engagingly written by Susan Bartlett for preschool and kindergarten children ages 3 to 6, "Opening Day" is a 32-page picturebook which is beautifully illustrated in full color oil paintings by Luanne Wrenn. It's the story of a young boy named Sam whose best friend Eric loves to hunt. Eric and his Dad have invited Sam to hunt with them on the opening day of deer season. But Sam's mother is a vegetarian while his own father just wants to buy meat for the family table at their local grocery store. Sam is faced with the possibility of losing out on his friendship with Eric or possibly disappointing his family. A compellingly and skillfully presented story about friendship, "Opening Day" is enhanced with age appropriate information about deer habits and habitat, as well as tracking and hunting. A truly elegant story, "Opening Day" is as entertaining as it is thoughtful and a very strongly recommended addition to family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picturebook collections.

I'm a tofu eater, not a hunter, so I was curious about this children's book. What I found was a really marvelous book that clearly presents two different perspectives--those of the hunter and non-hunter--in an unbiased way. Actually what remained with me most was the sense of nature and the animals encountered in the snowy woods.

For a child interested in hunting or in the question of hunting this is an excellent book.

For me though one of the strongest points in OPENING DAY is the concept that people with different views can nevertheless be good friends.

As the father of a 9 year old who insists on being read to, and enjoys illustrated books above others, I liked this book and so did my son, Zach. I also fit into the almost-vegetarian category of the main character Sam's parents, and the truth is, i find hunters and hunting a bit scary, so i was really happy to share a book with Zach that made being in the woods and friendship the focus of a hunting book. Also, it helped me reflect on what my prejudice might be, like thinking there is something wrong about hunting. But in the end , my favorite part was the message that we all make mistakes, like Sam does, and that is ok, we can just keep trying.

I thought the ilustrations were a bit clumsy at first, but now i have read it a couple of times, i am noting how well they work with the text, and i am starting to like them alot.

The School Library Journal review is so right-on in its review of this book of four warm and beautiful stories. Donkey and his friends are sweet and lovable, funny and delightful. Move over, Frog and Toad, Pinwheel and friends have arrived!

I'm so grateful to have a new book that my son adores, that I actually look forward to reading! These stories don't get old.

Amazon's description is very accurate, these 4 short stories are indeed a modern Frog and Toad, with much more colorful illustrations. The font is large and the wording is simple. The suspense in "Waving" had my 4 and 7 yr olds on the edge of their seats. Every first and second grade classroom should have a copy of Pinwheel Days; hopefully the author will start a series.