Nonfiction Books

If you receive this book as a gift you might as well read it but there's no reason to add it to your bedtime reading rotation if you've already stocked some of the more popular Dr. Suess titles, such as:

Green Eggs & Ham
The Cat in the Hat
Horton Hears a Who

This book is mind-numbingly repetitive and not in a lyrical, pleasing way. This concept is much harder to grasp than what you'll find in most Dr. Suess books. Job satisfaction isn't an problem for my 5-year old and 4-year old.

Overall, these issues don't make this book bad, I just don't find it measures up to other Dr. Suess classics.

I love this Dr. Seuss book. It is too easy these days to focus on the negative things in life. I bought this book for my 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter to remind them, in a humorous way, that even though everything in life may not be exactly the way they want it to be, they still have a pretty terrific life.

I purchased this book for my daughter (a 33 year old 1st grade teacher) for her birthday. It was her favorite book as a child. She read it to her classroom and the kids loved it. No one in her class had heard of this book before. Even the school librarian had not heard of it. It is a great book and of course the illustrations were wonderful. I think the best part of the book is the true meaning of the book that no matter how bad you think you have it or how bad things are, there's always someone worse off than you are. It teaches positive thinking for all ages. My grandsons loved the book too so I know it will end up as worn out as the original book I purchased 30 years ago.

lucky me lucky you.. another little-known Seuss pick-me-upper ....
DID I EVER TELL YOU HOW LUCKY YOU ARE ?
i gave away both copies to friends who were down and put for the moment and they bounced back up all cheery... children of all ages can love and relate to his wacky situations ... our favorite this week is Harry Haddow who cannot make a shadow !!! give yourself and other this pleasure...Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (Classic Seuss)
b ackerman

I enjoyed Dr. Seuss growing up and I'm super happy that my kids enjoy him too. Being able to show them some of the books and movies I liked as a kid is awesome and this is a great book to do that with.

Not excellent, good. Unless you have the Paso a Paso 2 textbook, this is going to be positivly worthless because in Paso a Paso, you learn by recognizing pictures and associating words with them. The workbook is similar: it shows you a picture, you write down the word/fill in the blank/understand the phrase/etc. Also, when I read a book, or start working in a workbook, I usually like SOME kind of introduction, like "We hope you like this book" or instuctions on using the book, or EVEN a Table of Contents, but none of that in this book. You open up to the title page, you flip the page, and you're right to work. Otherwise this is a good book to work in.

Loved both Zoom and Re-Zoom. I think the greatest thing about these books are the stories my 5 year old comes up with.

Beautiful pictures that tell a story, either separately of in sequence. The pictures alone make for a great team building game, as participants try to line up in order without speaking.

This is a great activity for church groups and/or school staffs! I've done it at a pastor's retreat and at our school staff development. It was a great activity for both groups!

I was shown this as a perspective game. Tear all the pages out and then shuffle them up. Then have a team put them in an order. Don't tell them there is a specific order but let them figure out how it works. Each person on the team will see a different part and then they will all put it together. Then talk about perspective and how each person's can be different so we need to work together to get the complete picture.

The first book, Zoom, is fun and fascinating when "read' for the first time. Re-zoom may be equally clever, but is basically just more of the same. If someone has seen the first book and gets the gist of the "zooming," then the predictablilty of the next page of Re-zoom takes away from the "wow" experience of the first book. If one were to read only one of these books, I would definitely recommend the first, Zoom.

Robert Sabuda is a genius, no doubt about it. In this book there are dimensional fairies peeking from foliage, brownies hiding in corners, and trolls waiting to create trouble for passers-by. Some figures "magically" transform from one thing to another, just as we might imagine them to do in fairy tales. I give it only four stars because the engineering falls just a little short of the "wow" factor, and the text is somewhat depressing. Nonetheless, this and the Limited Edition version will certainly remain in my collection to be enjoyed for years to come.

I'll admit I've become a little jaded regarding Sabuda's books. How can he possibly top some of the earlier ones? This one doesn't disappoint though.

Despite the sad-looking fairy on the front cover, FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda is lovely to look at and great fun to read. The first installment in the Encyclopedia Mythologica series, it is a colorful and imaginative pop-up book that goes beyond the simple unfolding of paper.

Reinhart and Sabuda's text is simple and straightforward, though far from dull. They explore the myths of fairies and magical creatures from all around the world. Most of us are familiar with the "Fay" of European folktales, and they are just the starting point for the authors, who bring us the Pegasus of ancient Greece, the Chinese baku, the Inuit Kul and the aquatic Mami Wata of South Africa.

Though this is a children's book, there is nothing silly about it. On the first page we learn how the tale of the fairy queen Titania inspired Shakespeare and how in 1695 a French courtier named Charles Perrault became the father of the fairy tale when he began to write stories for children.

From the familiar figures of goblins, hobgoblins, elves and gnomes to the less familiar but equally interesting Middle Eastern karkadan, Brazilian Yemanja and the Serbian cikavac, readers will be enchanted. From mythological (hamadryads and sylphs) to folkloric (brownies and sprites) to infamous hoaxes (P.T. Barnum and the Cottingley cousins), this book packs in tons of information in less than 20 pages.

FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES is treasure-filled with a big pop-up on each page surrounded by more little pop-ups, flaps and even flaps within flaps. Some of the pop-ups move as the pages are turned to give readers a sense of action and transformation, a perfect complement to the book's theme. It feels hefty and has quality paper and gorgeous illustrations, sure to invoke a sense of wonder and amazement in readers of all ages. The construction is complicated but doesn't distract from the stories Reinhart and Sabuda are trying to tell. Instead, the whole of this book seems as magical as the creatures it describes.

While a bit feminine in appearance and perhaps in theme, this is not strictly a little girl's book. In it are fierce and mischievous figures sure to capture the imagination of children (and adults) with all kinds of interests.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MJS3EVVU91O This book lives up to the standard that Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda have set with first rate pop-up engineering. Every page has a central pop-up that is beautiful and interesting. Each page is further embellished with a minimum of two corner pull-outs that are also pop-ups in themselves with history as to the folklore of fairies. From this perspective, it is top notch.

The area where I was a little disappointed was in the history of the fairies themselves. It starts out interesting enough explaining that fairies appear in the legends of every continent. But it tends to focus on the darker aspects of the folklore. I've never researched the history of fairies, but I prefer to think of them as benevolent beings. Most of the stories focused on their pranks and the misfortune they can bring. The final corner pullout talked about the English girls who supposedly played with fairies and set up a camera to catch them on film. It was a well publicized case because it was later exposed as a hoax. They had used cuts out from an old children's catalog. The girls admitted their prank but claimed that one photograph was authentic.

I loved the artwork and pop-ups, but the actual text made me feel creepy sometimes, and in the end, sort of sad. While I will show it to my children, I will use my own words to describe the fairy world. If you're really into pop-up books, this is worth adding to your collection, but if your true interest is the lighter side of fairies, I prefer the pop-up book How to Find Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker.

If you have this book along with the tapes that go with it then it will help you with understanding spanish words during a conversation.

Doris Kearns Goodwin comes up with an unusual perspective in viewing the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln really won the Office of the President with his oration at Cooper Union.
His main opponents were William Seward, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton and Edward Bates.. Lincoln won the election and all of the above served in major cabinet positions during the Civil War. The old saying of keeping your enemies close rings true in this study.
I found the political intrigues to be insightful. However, Doris fails to capture the true essence of Lincoln's political thought. I am grateful that I've learned of Lincoln's political adroitness. However, Doris overplays her hand. Lincoln was more concerned with the state of the union. These team of rivals only served limited purposes in his grand scheme. In all the Rivals were not the Big Bad Wolf that was promoted by Doris!!
The read was insightful but only rates 3 Stars!!!

I have just completed Ms. Goodwin's book. I realize that a huge number of people will not like this review. While no one would denies that Abraham Lincoln was one of the top three presidents in this country's history-perhaps Washington and FDR being the other two-it seems that Goodwin wants to create some type of God out of Lincoln, which he probably was not. Moreover, she makes the south out to be this huge bunch of minsters which they probably was not. Was what the south was doing in sustaining slavery wrong? Yes it was and no one would argue that point. It just takes more of an effort to understand why they were sustaining slavery. There are so many things we encounter today that are just as wrong, but people like to cover them up as Goodwin has done in her biography of Lincoln. I must add, and this should have been pointed out and was not, Lincoln did things as president that would never have been tolerated today, but still he is expected to be worship; and, that is just dangerous.

Very interesting read using source material, in their own words, account. The characters are alive and believeable with the background of the election and civil war. The narrative is engrossing and I got lost in the book. It is a biography of the four people who ran for president in 1860. All four biographies enchance understanding of the times and complement Lincoln's story. The history is fascinating and is paced well and comprehensive.

Doris Kearns Goodwin delivers an extremely well-researched and fascinating book about Lincoln and his leadership style. You don't have to be a history fan to truly enjoy this book as it is beautifully-crafted and highly readable. It is also filled with loads of interesting tales such as how unlikely it was that Lincoln was elected in the first place, and also how he was continually criticized by the press until the very end of his career. It also gives an excellent insight into the causes of the Civil War, personalities of the generals, and how Lincoln interacted with and motivated the troops.
This will be one of the most meaty and detailed books that you'll read, and this can cause it to drag slightly in places as the author invests just as much research into all of the other candidates that ultimately wind up in Lincoln's cabinet. This causes the book to be a bit slow in the beginning as the reader becomes familiar with all of the other characters, but it pays off in the end as it gives crucial background that foreshadows later events. Overall it is a wonderful book that fully showcases Lincoln's genius, and hopefully provides a model that could be followed by anyone in a leadership position.

Saying great things about a great man like Lincoln reminds me of my favorite Christmas song: "And though it's been said many times, many ways...". But this book is a gem. It really shows us what a genius Lincoln was and gives us so much insight on him and his cabinet at the same time. She describes people and personalities until you find yourself in the room with them. Like the great Ken Burns, she is delivering these people to us-- not through a 'this happened and then this happened' manner-- but via "emotional archaeology". The ending-- although I know it well-- still made me choke up with anxiety and sadness; emotions that only a great writer like her can evoke. And while you cover all the great events, I LOVE YOUR DETAILS Mrs Goodwin. For example: Seward oddly noticed that his assassin was a "fine looking man" dressed in "handsome cloth". That sort of minutiae--- to a veteran of textbook history like myself-- is such gold. Doris Kearns Goodwin, I fell in love with you when I first saw you talking about George Washington's ill-fitting teeth, then again as you chronicled your youth as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan... and now, after this work, I find myself falling once again. Like I said, you are a rare treasure.

My Big Truck Book (Priddy Bicknell Big Ideas for Little People)

Great book for little boys who love trucks. Sturdy, good pictures and they learn all different names

My toddler loves this book, but I'm not sure how age-appropriate it is. I hadn't even heard of the names they call some of the trucks. They include just about everything! Great picture book, though!

These books are a great deal for hours of fun! My little guys looks at the pictures over and over and doesn't ever seem to get tired of hearing the names of all the pictures. These books have been great for his vocabulary as he tries to say all the words too!

My 18 month old and his 12 month old cousin both love this book. We are pleased at the number and variety of vehicles inside! The pictures are beautiful and clear and give us a lot to look at and talk about. We also bought My Big Animal Book and love it, too.

From the time my son first learned to talk, he has shown a fierce curiosity about what things are called, especially the things he sees when we are driving around. I was so pleased with Priddy's My Big Animal Book (Priddy Bicknell Big Ideas for Little People) that I picked up My Big Truck Book to help him identify various vehicles as well as to build his growing vocabulary. The book was a tremendous success on both levels.

The book features large, sturdy pages that catalog a variety of farm, construction, rescue, and other vehicles. The photos are large and colorful, and never fail to capture my son's attention. Between this book and My Big Animal Book, my son's vocabulary and understanding of the world around him increased by leaps and bounds. I still remember the first time we drove by a construction site and I heard him shouting "Backhoe! Mini excavator! Dump truck!" The book also allowed us to use his curiosity about vehicles and fascination with the pictures to teach him about the vehicles' functions, colors, and sizes.

My son is two years old now and more interested in storybooks, plus he knows the vehicles in this book front to back. That doesn't keep him from taking this book off the shelf time after time just to enjoy seeing his favorite trucks, tractor, and construction equipment.

I highly recommend this durable, colorful, and inexpensive book to all parents of curious toddlers. As teaching aids go, My Big Truck Book has proven far more effective than many a high-priced electronic gadget or DVD.

I love Laurie Keller's books, especially The Scrambled States of America. She was partially my inspiration when I was writing The Little Man In the Map. The Little Man In the Map: With Clues To Remember All 50 States
Books like these can spark an interest in learning more about this wonderful country and the world.

My alumnae group read this book to 3rd graders at an inner-city school and the kids loved it! We had a map and games to go with it and the program was a big success. I highly recommend this book for teachers.

My daughter told me that my young grandchildren love this book and the humorous way it was written. I found it through the reviews in here and wholeheartedly agree with the good ones and thank everyone for posting them. I haven't gotten to read it myself, as they are in another state...but I can assure you, it is a book to include in your little one's library! :D

This is a fun book and is a good way to get familiar with the States. My son enjoys reading it.

A hilariously told and illustrated story heart about appreciating where you are from and what you have. 'Scambled is a unique take on being in a state of discontent . Each State has its own (harmlessly and comically stereotyped) characteristics-- Wisconsin loves cheese, Texas hollers "YEEEHA!" The illustrations playfully keep your eye moving (the spreads are FULL of tiny side jokes) and the story keeps the pages turning. Lost along the way (and maybe why it's so successful) is that the reader will have learned some geography along the way. What an entertaining, engaging way to present fact and nonfiction to a child! A perfect companion to kids who are starting to learn about our country.

These cards work fine for standard drilling. But I wanted to play War with them as a way of making math facts more fun. It didn't occur to me when I ordered them that the answer to one side being printed on the other would make games difficult to play. Moreover, I found the cards impossible to shuffle because they're so big and flimsy.

Would not recommend this. Cards are not in any order and do not have all 1 through 12 times table cards.

Does NOT contain all combinations of multiplication table. Maight be OK for review, NOT for teaching.

Kids loved this. My 9-year Grandson was having trouble with some of his division tables, and multiplication is the reverse. SO I bought both sets for him, and both he and his 7-year old sister have been enjoying them. It's a fun way to learn and reinformce. Now my Grandson doesn't need them, but he helps his younger sister "play" the game!
These are large, easy to read and see and the kids really like them.

I have been teaching foreign languages for 33 years and this is the dictionary I always ask my students to buy. My students must agree with my high opinion of the dictionary as my was stolen off my desk! I looked at other dictionaries before replacing mine but my choice was pretty clear from the start. Any dictionary that a student will take, must be one heck of a dictionary. I like the multiple choices for each word and how they give them in context. Do your Spanish teacher a favor, buy yourself this dictionary and leave hers on the desk.

I borrowed this dictionary from the local library to help me with my ESOL class (I have mostly Spanish-speakers). True, it doesn't have all the words I need but I really love it: it has so much! I also have decided to buy one for my daughter who's taking Spanish in college because she can't lug her BIG dictionary around with her and because she's not always doing her assignments in her bedroom (hence she's not using a dictionary at all if not in the room). When I majored in French 25 years ago, the dictionary with which I became VERY intimate was about the size of the U. of Chicago Dict., 5th Edition, and I was a wiz at finding what I needed, i.e., the bulk of what I needed was in something this size, and SIZE IS THE POINT here. When we need more words and nuances, use the bigger dictionary with MORE WORDS in it, the one we usually leave at home. But for flexibility AND ACTUAL "USEABILITY", use THIS ONE! As it is right now, Daughter keeps calling home and saying, "How do you say ...?"

the University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary is the very best Spanish-English dictionary available. It includes cultural notes and one can always find the needed word.

The Chicago dictionary and I have been together ever since its third edition, which was the best of its day. The fourth edition set a standard that I have not seen equalled. The fifth edition is a great disappointment, a wastrel son that has squandered the intellectual capital bequeathed him by his forebears.

Gone are all the fine distinctions that make a language not simply intelligible but meaningful. Gone are the phonology and history of the language that gave structure to our understanding. Gone are the regional precisions that, in this day of continent-wide cable TV emanating from Buenos Aires, Caracas, Mexico City, Miami, and Los Angeles, become ever more important.

On the bright side, the fifth edition's typography, while cramped, is easier to read.

But I can recommend the Chicago no longer. The fifth is decidedly for the short-attention-span crowd. If you don't want a dictionary written for elementary students, either get the fourth edition or look to a different publisher.

Remember the rubbish kids used in high school Spanish, taking their "Spanish" from the lady from Yourtown USA, who had never spoken Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country, or even spoken Spanish with a native speaker of Spanish? Remember the jocks taking "Spanish" in college for the distribution requirement, with the vacant looks on their faces, who got passed for football, or because their parents were alumni? Remember the textbook style stuff these people used (meaning bought and never cracked)? If you're nostalgic for that era, here's your "Spanish Dictionary". The U of Chi Spanish dictionary was always a bit brief, and the present crew seems to have thought that it should be even briefer, so here you have a "Brief Spanish Dictionary". It used to identify a lot of regional usages, in fact that was a selling point. Well, people complain about how much regional variation there is in Spanish, how slangy it is. Even Spanish native speakers! So, let's trim it down! Leave it to the New U of Chi Spanish Dictionary to lead the crusade against local idiosyncracy! Don't let those people in Chile or wherever get away with using their own lingo. Snuff it out! Don't list it, don't bother with it. It ain't there, no problem.
If the word ain't in your "Spanish" textbook, it ain't in this "dictionary". Welcome to "Spanish 101", eternally on the 101 level. No sangria, no senyorita, nada. No seas tonto, compa. Compra otro diccionario y aprende el castellano.