Baby Preschool Books

We were having a difficult ime with my grand daughter being willing to use the potty each time. She loves Dora so when I saw this book I bought it for her. The only time she can read it is if she is on the potty and she hasn't had an accident since.

This book is cute - it's Dora so no literary genius but she has her hold on our daughter and we thought readinga bout Dora using the potty would be a good motivator. The only dissapointment is that when we rec'd our book,the potty noise button is broken. It just doesn't seem worth the time or $ to ship it back for a new book. Amazon: if you're reading, please send another :)

This is a nice book, no matter what stage of potty training your child is in. The illustrations of Dora when she is little are cute. Dora explains how when she was little, she wore diapers. Dora notices that big kids and grown-ups went into a room that made a flushing sound. Her mommy explains that bigger kids use the potty. Then her Mami and Papi gives her potty SEAT. (This is interesting because it's the kind that sits on top of the toilet. Most books introduce a potty chair. It may be important to parents who want their kids to learn on the toilet and not a potty chair.) Dora says, "First I had to learn when it was time to go. Sometimes that was hard to do, but other times I made it just in time!" and soon after says, "I practiced a lot, and soon I started using the potty all by myself. Then it was time for my first pair of big-girl underwear". "Now I'm a big girl who goes on big adventures! I wear big-girl underwear; and I use the bathroom just like all the big kids and grown-ups. Soon you'll use the potty like a big kid too. And then you'll be ready for any adventure." The book has a button to press to hear the flushing sound of a toilet. You and your child will enjoy this book!

My daughter (22 months) loves this book and I'm sure it will be a big help when we actually start training.

I, along with many other parents of Dora lovers feel almost obligated to buy anything and everything Dora. It's what drove me to buy this book, and since my daughter is semi-interested in the potty, I thought, "why not?". Yes, the book is cute, it makes sounds (oooh!) and of course my daughter loves it. Please note that there isn't actually a picture of Dora on the potty, just a "before" and "after", which is not very educational. Just don't be fooled into thinking that this book is actually going to aide you in the draining process of potty training. When your child is ready, they're ready, and when they're not, well... they're not, and no book is going to make them ready. Not worth it, in my opinion.

Fun book for your baby if you want her to learn both english and spanish. The pictures are very colorful. My daughter enjoys repeating the different words every time we read it.

I was expecting there to be actual sentences in this book. There is one feeling per page in english and in spanish. It's fine if you just want to learn the words to some feelings, for that it's great. But, I could do that with a spanish dictionary. I wanted to read actual sentences to my daughter. It would better if it had "I feel..." Rather than just the one word. But again, if you just want to teach words of feelings, then it's good for that.

I was looking for a spanish book that talked about something other than just objects. I also like the drawings and that the book is very simple. My 1 year old can really enjoy it.

I use this book in my classes for students ages 4 all the way to 18. It's a great, and SIMPLE way to help them express themselves in Spanish! The older teens crack up as they use the phrases, but it's great because they're communicating in their target language, and the younger students all identify with the bright pictures and sturdy pages. They LOVE using the phrases from Como me siento!

If you want something to listen to and write in- a complete curriculum, try Flip Flop Spanish, which comes with a CD!

Sra. Gose
Author of Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 1 & Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 2

We're trying to teach our daughter Spanish from an early age (she's 8 months), and reading stories to her each night. This book is pretty simplistic with two - four words per page ("sad, con triste") so it's over pretty fast. Perhaps for an older toddler who can interact a bit more and understand the meaning it would be suitable but it's not helpful right now.

I was very happy that this book was in perfect condition as it was stated. I would buy from this seller again. It came before the estimated date and I was thrilled to get it. Thanks!

A very lovely addition to anyones Golden Book collection. This is a timeless book, fit for every new generation!!

We bought this for our first grandson. The book was my favorite childhood book and I had each word memorized. We want our grandson to learn to "stop and smell the roses" in life and this is THE BOOK to suggest that.

But it's not my favorite. The illustrations are lovely and soft. The story, however, is a little lengthy for my taste. I owned it as a child; I own it now. Who doesn't?

This is one of those baby books we all grew up with and still remember.

The precious illustrations and repetitive refrain make it a perennial favorite! This is a great book to share with the children in your circle.

The ideas are so simple, but my son loves the colorful pictures and the end results. They are a treat for him and he looks forward to his "school work."

My 2-1/2 yr old daughter really enjoys her Kumon workbooks. She calls them "homework", and she has several workbooks: mazes, tracing, coloring - they are all great.

I have a preschooler with fine motor delays and he HATES to do anything which requires use of his hands. I was told by his teachers that this will lead to issues in school when he is expected to write and participate in art projects. If he can't write, it will affect his academic future.

Therapy provided only so much help, as he was frustrated with the tasks. But then I learned about Kumon's excellent reputation for learning through their local tutoring center - I purchased all of the workbooks.

Because of my childs delays, this book was actually the most difficult for him. He doesn't understand how to fold paper in an orderly way. What helped was the folding lines he could see on the illustrations. He truly tried to fold it correctly so he could "see the boy cry, and then see him happy". It's a simple concept, but it's meant to develop skills while keeping the child interested.

If it's not fun or interesting to a child, they won't want to do it. Folding paper for a young child helps to develop fine motor skills, that will help them in all areas when they begin to write, button, zip etc.

My child is getting a lot of exposure to fine motor tasks with these workbooks, but is still having fun with them.

My three year old was just not interested in folding paper. I would recommend the Let's Sticker! or Let's Cut Paper! over this one.

my boys love the folding book - it's basic (and i mean BASIC) origami. but since they're not yet 2, they have a while before they can get through the book as the designs become progressively more intricate. very entertaining.

This book captivated my 2.5 month old as soon as he layed eyes on it. He was just kinda looking around when I placed it infront of him and the images immediately captivated his attention. My 2-year old also likes to "flash" the pages for his brother. It helps involve my toddler when I'm focusing on my newborn. There is definitely some neuro pathways forming when "reading" this book!

Evidentally, many babies like the white on black images of this book. However, my daughter always much preferred picture books with bright, primary colors even when she was just a few weeks old. But my main concern with this book is that the first image presented in it is that of a baby bottle. As a breastfeeding mother, I do not appreciate the mainstreaming of bottle imagery, especially in books meant for the very youngest readers.

When our son was born we were searching for ways to stimulate him while he was still a very young newborn. We also wanted to start reading to him as early as possible. This book, and the similar book "Black on White," fit the bill perfectly.

We showed this book to our son when he was 1-2 months old. We "read" it to him by describing and talking about the pictures. It was a great way to interact with him and to add a little variety.

It is key to talk to babies, but as everyone knows it can be difficult to keep finding topics for your one way conversation...especially when you are sleep deprived! This book really helps.

Great way to introduce books to your children. The black and white graphics really captured my daughter's attention. She still loves to flip through this book.

This book is wonderful, as long as you know that it is meant for a newborn. It is unlikely to interest an older baby.

But it is, in my opinion, a must have. This was one of the few things that our son really enjoyed during the first few months of his life.

We would either hold the book up or prop it up next to him and he would just stare at it for the longest time. You could see his eyes scanning the page. One page, of some buttons, was his favorite. His eyes would light up and he would get excited when you turned it to the buttons page.

I would recommend that you buy two of these books - one for the diaper bag and one for home. I bought four contrast books, which was more than necessary.

Of the four, this was his favorite.

This isn't a particularly interactive book. You can name the objects on the page, of course, but the point is that it's interesting to newborns because of their baby vision and the fact that they can see the contrasting figures with ease. When our son was in a fussy mood, I could prop up a book in his play yard and take a ten minute shower. He was highly entertained by these for a couple of months.

He is now one and books are his favorite things. He "reads" to himself several times a day, book after book, flipping through the pages, pointing at things, and babbling to himself. I have no idea if this has anything to do with the fact that he's been exposed to books since he was about a week old. Maybe all babies love books this much, or maybe he would have loved them anyway.

My daughter loves books with pictures of real kids so I thought this would be perfect! It's not bad - but the book focuses on the little girl teaching her teddy bear to use the potty - which is a little complex for my toddler. Still a cute book, just not what I expected, and not super effective.

I bought this book when my daughter was first interested in the potty (about a month ago - she was 20 months). We have read it quite a few times and she likes seeing the real pictures of the little girl using the potty. She has since started using the potty every night before bed and usually in the morning too. This book is nice because it doesn't have cartoon pictures, it is real life stuff and it is full of fun rhymes. I would recommend this book highly.

My daughter always enjoys books made by "DK" because the pictures are real & have vivid colors. I feel she gets a better concept & more encouragement to use the potty when she sees the vivid pictures.
It has great step by step explanations, its simply & the illustrations are colorful enough to keep her engaged. She loves the star stickers with the book also. A nice addition would have been a potty chart to go with it but overall its a great book.

My daughter and I loved this book. I just randomly bought it online, having no idea if we would like it. Then I went to the library to get other books on potty training. I must say this was one of our favorites!! And I got about 12 others from the library. It is well written!

I bought a few potty books for my 2-yr-old daughter to help our potty training along and this is the one she looks at the most. It's very cute and the pictures say way more than mommy ever could!

The cover and the first page cover "no hitting" and the rest is about no pushing, no spitting, no whatever. I'd recommend Hands Are Not For Hitting if you have issues with hitting. This book doesn't really do it.

This book shows little ones how to channel their aggression in a positive way- don't hit, bang on some pots and pans instead.

GREAT BOOK ! MY DAUGHTER IS TWO. SHE BRINGS THIS BOOK TO ME AND TELLS ME, "MOMMY, NO HITTING." WE BOTH LOVE THIS BOOK. SHE ALSO LOVES TO FLIP THE PAGES UP .

This book is not that great. It's short and doesn't address common issues. It says things like "don't squeeze the cat". It's very thin & easily can be torn.

Had the opposite effect on my daughter. I love Karen Katz books, but for some reason, this one misses the mark.

I had high expectations for this book based on other reviews and was disappointed. The "simple rhymes" were a bit awkward to read and not particularly funny. My 3 1/2 year old son (who loves trucks) enjoyed the pictures but quickly lost interest after only a few reads. In my opinion, this book is not in the same league as "Duck in the Truck."

My daughter was a little bit afraid of big trucks, I though this book would help a little bit, and it did. It is a cute story, I don't know that it is worded the best that it could be, but the illustrations are cute and overall it is a good book!

This is one of the Grandson's favorites. By the same author: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo.

While my girls, ages 2 and 3, don't request this book as much as Chugga Chugga Choo Choo, by the same author, they do enjoy reading it.

The lively rhymes in the book tell the story of a dump truck that is stuck in the road, and the passersby who try to help the truck get out of the hole. In the meantime, some sneaky gophers are emptying the load out of the back of the dump truck.

As an elementary education major, I am impressed with the repetitive phrasing that gives my girls a chance to "read" along, and even to "read" the book to each other. Although my girls don't yet have the higher level thinking skills to enable them to see some of the humor that is shown in the pictures (a constant stream of gophers removing bones from the dump truck, the driver's assistant busy at the pay phone calling a tow truck while the driver flags down vehicle after vehicle in a frantic attempt to get his truck out of the pot hole), they enjoy hearing the story.

The illustrations are brightly colored and have many details, allowing my girls to discover something new each time we read the book.

I recommend this book, and I recommend this author.

My almost 3 yr old grandson loves this book. We have read it many times. He knows most of it by heart. Often he will say "Round and round, the wheels they roll. Round and round into a hole!" This is the start of a game with his Pappy. Pappy will then say the beginning of another line from the book such as "No need to panic!" and our grandson will reply back with "Here come a tow truck with a mechanic." Geat fun!

The illustrations are fantastic. The writing is clever. But for a children's picture book, it's just too wordy! Hate to say it, but the rhymes barely fit on a page and cover too much of the illustrations. I love a well-written book, but this is overwritten. I have to abridge it while reading to keep my childrens attention. Still, I would recommend this book for animal loving children and parents.

Stand back,- said the elephant, -I'm going to sneeze!

I hate to alarm you, But I don't wish to harm you.
My friends, I fear, Its clear, Oh, dear,
You'd better stand back, I'm going to sneeze.-

The tale begins with a representation of an massive elephant standing on his rear legs

The opening page sets up the story line. Instantly each of elephant's neighbors begins to tell elephant precisely why they do not want him to sneeze. The reader meets many of the elephant's friends who are most apprehensive to hear that the elephant is needing to sneeze.

The critters begin to converse, confer, talk about and remind the elephant using child friendly rhythm and rhyme, that he just really must NOT sneeze. "The zebra yelled, "Yipes, You'll blow off my stripes, Plus lots and lots, Of the leopard's spots, And all of the snakes will be tied up in knots!"

Oh no. Not again. The elephant is going to sneeze.

Catastrophe is at hand, the jungle is in pandemonium.

The last time he sneezed; it was dreadful, just dreadful. Why elephant blew all the stripes off the zebra, and all the fur from the bear. He turned the crocodile's nose inside out and blew the stings right off the bees. They had to made due with rose thorns and glue. He even blew all the scales from the fish, and the monkeys out of the trees. Featherless birds were forced to walk south and not fly.

An alligator, and a buffalo, bees, and bear, crocodile, fish, giraffe, and hippopotamus, leopard, mouse, parrot, and snakes, and even the zebra are worried. It is going to be mayhem; if the elephant sneezes.

-Oh, please, Not a sneeze,- Said the bear. -Thats not fair. I declare.

The last time he sneezed he blew off all my hair,

And left me so bare I spent the whole winter in long underwear-
Nothing is so sad as a bear that is bare.-

Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! was a much loved favorite of both of my own children when they were young as well as for the K - 1 classes I taught in California.

Sad to say, not too many people have even heard of the book. The premise and rhyme are amusing, words flow in cadenced, and lovely tempo that children adore. Images are a brilliant addition to the account.

For years the first book I read to my students, on the first day of the new school term, is Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!

I read it in part because, I just plain like the book. I read it too because; in spite of my being a small person, I have a sneeze that will rattle the windows in the next classroom.

I read the book, and the children and I talk about the absurdity of the tale, and I assure the kids they need not fear ... when I sneeze I will try not to blow off their stripes.

I get pleasure from reading the book as much as the kids enjoy listening to it being read to them. The book is very repetitious leading to children being drawn right into the fun as they talk nineteen to the dozen along with the reader.

Synonyms like bare and bear, and fun observations like 'Bee's Knees are sprinkled into the text.

Following elephant's pronouncement a tiny gray mouse sets about to save the day. Rising up to full height he demands that the sneezing must stop. And within moments the elephant begins to giggle.

Even before turning the page; you just know there must be a consequence when an begins elephant laugh. And so there is. The unexpected ending always has my first graders animated, giggling and ready to talk.

And, they are mesmerized to learn that elephants really do not care for mice!

Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! is a -read to- book for the 3 - 6 year old set and a -read with help- for 6 -8 -8. The book is written well, holds children's interest and is just plain fun to read. I particularly like the illustrations, they are child friendly, my first grade likes them very much

I have always enjoy the read, happy to recommend for the target audience. Stand Back," Said the Elephant is a must for the 3 to 8 set, the home, classroom, school and public libraries. Older children in the 9 - 11 group choose the book for reading to the little kids.

Molly Martin
Reviewer

I grew up having this book read to me, and now I can share it with my daughter. I just love the illustrations and the story is so funny - my daughter laughs out loud when I read certain parts. I highly recommend this book.

Though it is a little wordy and long for a 2 year olds attention span, the rhymes are funny and entertaining; a key for a mom who reads each book many, MANY times!

A wonderful book to read aloud to kids. It is one of our favorite family books.

This book is perfect for our seven-year-old daughter. I highly recommend it as a resource for any family. It is detailed, but not too graphic. Entertaining, but straight-forward.

I have lent it to many coworkers and friends!

with detail. But it has fascinated my kids from 5-9, yes I've bought the older books as well - the oldest one I think is still a bit much for my 9yo, but she likes the middle one . . . but they all enjoy this one - it seems to hit just the right notes for interesting information without too much yuck factor for them - and the cute illustrations confirm their ideas that some of this is just a little bit weird when you hear it!!

My not-quite-four (but very verbal) daughter got this book for Christmas, and it immediately became one of her favorites. I am pregnant again now, so she is very interested in all the discussion of pregnancy and birth, and it opened up discussions about what her birth was like and what it will be like when I have this baby. The first few times we read it she just listened wide-eyed and didn't talk much, but now we chat while we read it, and she will periodically come up to me and inform me that the food I am eating will go to the baby through the umbilical cord. I recommend this one highly for any preschooler who is curious and likes to understand how things work.

I got this book for my two boys, ages 10 and 5. They were so interested in it. My 10 year old's best friend was there the night when I started reading it to my 5 year old. At first they were giggling at some at the pictures. But pretty soon I had all three of them on the couch with me just soaking up information. They even asked some questions, and said they learned some things they didn't realize. It's very simple, and to the point, without going into great detail. The pictures are cartoons, but very realistic. It's a great book to start out with, because it doesn't get bogged down with details that are too complicated for children this age. I plan on getting the next two books for my older son.

While I recommend this book for pre-puberty kids with their parents guidance, I do not think it is appropriate for 4 years olds as the book portrays. I read it and then reviewed it with my 7 year old daughter because she had been asking alot of questions as I am pregnant with our third child. She still said "yuk" or giggled at some of the drawings, which is fine. But there is no way I would read it to my 4 year old son at this time.