My 6 year old son is developmentally disabled. He loves to look at bright pictures and feel different textures. This book is great for both. Although he is six we usually resort to tactile toys intended for infants. How refreshing to find a book that suits his needs and doesn't look babyish! The other books in this series are great as well. Zoo animals, Dogs, and Cats.

The touch and feel books by DK are terrific. The photographs are large and wonderful and the items to feel are an excellent tool for your youngster. These books are fine for very young babies as well as toddlers. Your child will learn the name of each animal as well as the sound the animal makes. The first coherent sound my son made was "Moo". These books are perfectly sized for you and your baby to read. Moreover, your child can even read to him/herself as the board book pages are thick enough for a young child to turn. I recommend all of the DK books. As your child grows, the series grows also. These books also make a wonderful birthday or holiday gift. Highly recommended.

We have 4 books in this great series, and I am really impressed with their quality. They don't have tiny patches of semi-touchable fabric, they have BIG areas of very soft (or rough, or leathery, or whatever) feelable material. The chick in this one is all covered with a really chick-like soft yellow fuzz, the sheep is covered with real feeling woolly material, and so on. Fun for babies and ages on up to adult!

These are the things that the little ones, like my 21 month old son, should appreciate in a book.
MWB is widely known for the books "Goodnight moon" and "The Runaway Bunny". I didn't even know about this book until I saw that my husband had picked it up at the bookstore. This book is illustrated by a different artist, Felicia Bond, and her work is sweet and uncomplicated. The story has that same rhythm and beat you follow when reading poetry, but it is also gives a peaceful feeling to it's readers(and the ones being read to).
It's a day in the life of kind of story about animals on a farm, while the children are gone. It is a perfect addition to any child's book shelf and makes for a perfect bedtime story with it's calming effect.
I highly recommend buying this for toddlers! If you already have any of Brown's other books, this one will be a welcome addition.

"Big Red Barn" is my son's, who is a year and a half, new favorite book.
He adored "good night, moon" which has gone amissing in our house. i didn't even know about this book, and my husband picked it up last week at the bookstore.
After reading and looking at "The Runaway Bunny", I was a little weary of Brown's books aside from "Goodnight, Moon", but this book has made me a fan once again. The illustration here is very good. It's simple and easy on the eyes of our little ones.
I love the way her books are written. She has the certain "beat" to the way the story is told. It's like reading a poem.
It is certainly a great last read of the day to help ease baby's eyes to a sleepy state.
My son loves animals, and recently has been to a farm, so this makes his love for this little story all the more enchanting.
This is good for children who love animals, and it helps them get to know those farm animals even more.
It's one of those books you have to read everyday to your child once you start reading it to them. Brown had the right prescription to help put little ones to sleep...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz(night night little one)

For children just starting to read, this is a perfect book to help them on their journey to be excellent readers.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PARENTS OF TODDLERS AND OLDER CHILDREN!

Eileen Famiglietti

Goodnight Moon gets all the hype, but I like Big Red Barn even better. This is a simple story about all the animals who live on a farm and the things they do during the day. No humans are anywhere to be found in this tale. The illustrations are simple and sweet. My 8 month old daughter just loves this book! It's very soothing for bedtime, especially because at the end of the story, all the animals go to sleep in the barn. Wonderful!

I will reccomend the book "Where rivers change direction" to all my friends. It is easy to read and at the same time extremely powerful. If he comes to your town for a book reading, go see him. Mark Spragg stories come to life when he reads them. I can hardly wait for November to see him at Aunties in Spokane.

This memoir by Mark Spragg is one of the best books I've read in years. And I read a lot of books. His imagery and descriptive lines aren't just written. The words are sculpted into exquisite granite sentences like the mountains that surrounded him as he grew up on a dude ranch in Wyoming in the 1960s. I read the book two weeks ago and can still remember one or two, paraphrased here. He's shoeing a horse with John, one of the hands, and he gets put down a bit by a man he respects, perhaps, more than his father. He writes that he didn't mind being a boy, but didn't like being treated like one. Later, in describing his school, which had about 12 children, he says it was painted the color of an elk's eye. I mean, this is terrific stuff and there are lines like that on every page. The only other writers I've read who do this well are Barbara Kingsolver and Owen Parry. Sure, there may be others, but I've not read them yet. You have to read this book. It will make you laugh, perhaps cry, it will give you goose bumps and it will make you think. It is a gem.

Having never heard of Mark Spragg, I bought this book because it was the winner of the 1999 Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award. I can hardly wait for him to write more! The beauty of this book is how the author relates events of his life, particularly his boyhood, with such matter-of-fact innocence and honesty. I marvel at how candid he is with his thoughts and feelings. Wyoming comes alive because of the vivid pictures he paints with his words. I feel thankful that I found this gem of a book!

This book also has a recommendation by Teresa Jordan, author of Riding the White Horse Home, another of my favorite books.

Ranch Boy is a my own personal time machine back to a Florida that no longer exists. So much of what author Steve Robertson writes about rings with a sincerity of times, if not forgotten, certainly long gone. A touching, personal memoir of mid-century Florida, Ranch Boy brings to life a certain ethos of growing up in Florida before the state was raped by developers,and quick buck bunco artists ( politicians, et all ). An interesting comparison can be made with the wonderful novels by noted Mayport, Florida author William Reynolds and his series of semi-autobiographical books about a certain time in Florida that now resides only in memory.
This is not a story about beaches and palm trees. Rather, it is set in mid state Florida where cowboys roam the prairie paddocks wrangling cattle amid the palm hammocks. Many adventures and moments of self discovery lead the reader down a path of keenly affected poignancy. At least it did for me. But then I lived his life ( though several steps removed ) here in North Florida. Overall, if you are of a certain age, Ranch Boy will will provide you with an unable to put down page turner. Alternately sweet and salty ( not for children under the age of sixteen! ) this first time effort from Mr. Robertson is a wonderful read for those late nights in the bedroom when the lights are burning low, the clock says 2am, and you promise yourself that you'll stop at the end of the chapter. You won't. This is good stuff and well done. Kudos to the author.
One last note: Mr. Robertson apparently did much of he artwork himself. The man is as gifted an artist as he is a writer. The pictures alone are worth the price of admission. Is it possible to obtain prints suitable for framing through Amazon? If not, they should be.

Overall, a comming of age book that makes for enjoyable and easy reading that you won't put down tell it is finished. For me it had its most value as a window into the life of rural central Florida in the late 1950's. This is not the glitzy gold coast or fantasy Orlando but a true look at the backbone of Florida. This is a picture of Post WWII times where hard work and honesty were the true measure of a persons worth. Ideals that made for success and as pointed out in the book Survival.

H. Steven Robertson explores the youth of a boy growing up in Central Florida on a ranch, with livestock, orange groves, and role models that chart his destiny. He learns from the school of hard knocks when it came to roping cattle, playing football, and enduring his perfectionist father. He too learns about love innocently and expresses his thoughts, fanatasies, and desires in words perfectly written from an adolescent male perspective.
The illustrations do justice to the many experiences Robbie faced as he grew up. You will read this book and yearn for more of Robbie Duncan's future.

This was delightful reading. I enjoyed reading about the origins of a wonderful children's author. I found that this read like fiction, holding my interest throughout. I went right from this book to Cleary's follow-up memoir, My Own Two Feet.

Like the other reviewers here, I was addicted to the books of Beverly Cleary when I was child. Mrs. Cleary's books provided me endless hours of enjoyment, and I still remember laughing out loud at the adventures and misadventures of her characters. Eventually, I grew up and Mrs. Cleary's books became just fond remembrances of my childhood.

Remembrances are what they remained until I re-read "Otis Spofford" a couple weeks ago. Despite my age, I still found myself laughing out loud while I read it. It was that experience that led me to read "A Girl from Yamhill." I wanted to find out more about the woman whose mere name on a book ensured to me as a child a wonderful reading experience.

What a terrific autobiography! I read it in one day. I loved the simple, but honest writing style that can also be found in her fictional books. I also recognized many of the experiences of her girlhood that eventually ended up among the adventures of her fictional characters: tin cans and twine, misinterpreting the words to national anthem, the boys chewing garlic, and the green paint for Christmas. However, what struck me as the best part of "A Girl from Yamhill" was how ordinary Beverly Bunn was as a girl. She wasn't poor or rich. She got good grades; but occassionally they slipped. She wasn't in the popular cliques; but she wasn't an outcast. She never got into any major trouble; but she wasn't a saint. Yes, her mother was emotionally detached and controlling; but she wasn't abusive or meanspirited. Teenaged Beverly spends alot of time worrying about her clothes and boys just like any other teenage girl. I was amazed how much I enjoyed reading about the life of an average, ordinary girl. Of course, that girl did have one major talent- she could write, and that talent is what makes "A Girl from Yamhill" such a joy- Beverly Cleary is a fantastic writer. She brings everything so vividly to life, and provides the reader not only insight into her own character, but also gives a glimpse of what life was really like in the Oregon of the 1920's and 30's. A great, great book!

I grew up in the 1970's reading Beverly Cleary cover to cover and voraciously! I LIVED to get another Beverly Cleary book. I am now an 8th grade Reading teacher, and kids still love her books to pieces (sometimes literally). A student of mine who is researching Cleary for her author research project showed me this book. I read it in its entirety in 24 hours. I literally could not put it down. I recognized many episodes in her life that showed up in her books. I was surprised to find out she was an only child. For some reason, I always thought she had an older sister like Beezus! Beverly Cleary is the greatest!

'These Happy Golden Years' is an excellent book. One of the best in the Little House series. Laura is growing up and life for her is getting very interesting.

The book starts off rough for Laura. In order to make money for Mary's schooling, Laura is going away from home for the first time to teach school. She is staying with a family that has a very bitter wife who is not exactly friendly!

When Laura finally returns home she is happy to go back to school, but she is eager to earn more money. So, she helps the town dressmaker on Saturdays.

Mary is coming home for summer and Laura is so excited! The only problem is that she is staying with the dressmaker and her daughter out on their claim. Will Laura be able to go home and see Mary!?

As the book progresses Almonzo Wilder becomes even more a part of Laura's life. It is so sweet to read these two getting closer and more interested. Laura even helps Almonzo break some horses!

This book is interesting and sweet and the ending is wonderful! Pick it up today!

This book tells of 3 years of Laura's life between ages of 15, when she first goes out to teach school - to 18, when she gets married.

We witness Laura's growing up and realization that life is changing all around her. Mary is in college, and is independent enough to want to stay with a friend for the summer instead of coming home. It's obvious that Laura's relationship with her sisters and friends in school are changing - in 'Little Town on the Prairie' her school life for example, and her after school or weekend social activities with her friends are a large part of the book, but now we only hear of a few remote incidents, and we hardly hear anything about the going ons there, for instance we don't really get to know Florence, the new 'big girl'. This is partly due to the increasing role of Almanzo Wilder's part in Laura's life, but I think that is also partly due to the fact Laura isn't attending school full time anymore, but rather teaches school herself for a term or two a year.Except for Ida's small part in Laura's wedding, we don't hear of them any more for the rest of the series.

We also see Laura herself change: part of it is what I just mentioned about the change in what she describes in her social life. Another one would be her very detailed description of her clothes and fashions - even though we do hear about her dresses in previous books, she seems much more occupied with them this time, like any teenage girl... In betwen the lines, we do see that the Ingles family is doing better financially - they are improving their house, and can often afford luxuries such as a sewing machine and an organ for Mary.

I did find a few points I didn't like in this book, compared to the previous books in the series:

1) Instead of giving an account of a relatively short period (a year or 2, like in the previous books), we are now covering 3 years, and we usually get an 'in depth coverage' of a relatively short period, or a few remote incidents, then run through a long period which is skipped. Laura only described her first school with as much details as I was used to in her previous books, but the next 2 schools are hardly mentioned... It isn't as bad as her descriptions in 'The First Four Years', but it's still noticeable.

2) We get a lot more of Almanzo, while we get less of the pioneer life of that era... This is an autobiography of Laura's life, not a history book, I admit, but I think that the historical and cultural element of these books has been a major attraction for readers, especially the older ones.

This book tells about Laura Ingalls Wilder's teenage life. She goes from care free child to grown school teaching adult. The book shows what it was like to be a teenager in the late 1800's. What kind of parties they had, for instance sleigh rides and birthday. Plus, what it was like falling in love and courting!This book is a lot of fun and a wonderful conclusion to the "Little House" books. If you have any time at all I would really recommend reading this delightful book!

While this book is ostensibly for kids, the humor is subtle and the adult reading it aloud will be entertained, too. Clever plot and amusing demand letters written by the disgruntled farm animals keeps everyone's attention. The illustrations are colorful and lively. Everyone in the family -- lawyer mom and dad, and kids ages 6, 4, and 1 -- finds something to enjoy about this silly, yet sophisticated book. A fun read for all!

Click, Clack, Moo recently won the Caldecott award, and is very deserving of that honor. I enthusiastically endorse it for your children aged from 2 through 6. This book will be considered a classic children's tale within five years.

Many great children's books start from the point of view of role reversals. You take objects or animals and make them be like humans. But no one could have developed a funnier idea along those lines than having typing cows who lead a general strike on a farm.

"Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type."

"All day long he hears. Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety clack, moo."

"At first, he couldn't believe his ears."

But it gets worse. One day he receives a typewritten note that says:

"Dear Farmer Brown,

The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets.

Sincerely,

The Cows"

Farmer Brown makes the mistake of treating the cows like cows. He tells them, "No way." They type up a note and put it on the barn door. "Sorry. We're closed. No milk today."

The next day, another note appeared.

"Dear Farmer Brown,

The hens are cold too. They'd like electric blankets.

Sincerely,

The Cows"

The negotiations continue toward a hilarious conclusion.

Each of these letters to Farmer Brown cannot help but inspire gales of uncontrollable laughter among your tykesters. The ending may actually cause laughter-induced pain because it is so hilarious.

The illustrations are particularly appealing. Ms. Lewin has drawn them to be large in features, vivid, bold, and colorful. They make the story more intense by capturing both a sense of movement and the personality of the characters. This is one of the best illustrated stories I have ever seen for preschoolers. That is important, because the illustrations carry a heavy burden as you first read this story to your child. No one has ever seen a typing cow, so the illustrations help fill in the gaps. Naturally, you will see opportunities to handle side issues like "how would a cow type, if a cow could type?"

Interestingly, Ms. Cronin is an attorney who also collects antique typewriters. Anyone who has ever been part of a labor negotiation will quickly recognize the universal truths around which she has structured this delightful story. I suspect that she has been part of one or two.

After you and your child become familiar with the story, I suggest that you think together about what is the right thing to do with regard to animals who do not send you typewritten letters. It is never too early for children to learn about each person's responsibility to live in harmony with our fellow creatures and to properly care for them.

May you always be clear about what you are looking for! Who knows? You may even get it.

I'm 31-years-old and and am proud to say this is currently my most favorite book. It's absolutely hilarious and a delight to read! I laugh out loud every time I read it. The illustrations are quite striking, too. If you haven't taken the time to examine the illustrations closely, you may want to do so. You'll find some little surprises. My sister, a speech language pathologist (and former preschool teacher like myself), reads this book to her students. As I understand it, it's reportedly good for both articulation exercises as well as language development. Best of all, the kids simply love the story. My sister loved the book so much she insisted I read it. I did so, loved it, and consequently held it for "ransom." The majority of my psych colleagues and I even had a midday storytime to share this book with one another. ;) As a former preschool teacher, I can guarantee this book will be a sure-fire attention-getter with kids. As it stands, I consider my library incomplete until I get a copy of this book for my own. I can't wait until Ms. Cronin and Ms. Lewin bless us with another one of their wonderful stories. This book ranks right up there with the Dumb Bunnies in terms of wit and surprise illustrations. Happy reading and laughing!

Laura was a nine year old girl who had dark brown hair and eyes. She lived in the prairie of Minnesota with Ma, Pa, Mary, Carrie and her pet bulldog,Jack. Laura's family worked very hard in their everyday life. Pa would tend the garden,Ma would do the house work,and Mary and Laura would help after they came from school. Sometimes storms struck the prairie and it was devastating. The author,Laura Ingalls Wilder, wanted to let people know about pioneer times. On the Banks of Plum Creek is a very well written book,it made me feel as if I was part of the story.

Laura and her family have moved to a small farm near Walnut Grove in Minnesota. They will have to adapt to Minnesota, the sod house, and a lot more. Laura Ingalls is a seven year old girl who loves to explore the creek, and is daddies little angel. Laura lives with her Ma, Pa , her two sisters Marry and Carrie, and their loyal companion and bulldog Jack. Pa goes out to get lumber and builds a beautiful new house with windows and he farms wheat to earn money. One day Pa said that in a couple weeks the wheat would soon be ready to pick. Then they see this peculiar sparkling cloud that filled the sky. Shortly after countless numbers of grasshoppers cover the field, the creek, and the rest of the farm, including Laura and her family. The grasshoppers consumed every plant including the wheat that Pa worked so hard to grow.
Mary and Laura start to go to school and on their first day they met many friends and some foes. one of their rivals was named Nellie who had a party and invited all the girls from school. Nellie was very rude and very cruel to Mary and Laura. Laura decided to have a party as well, and invited all the girls from school. Laura invites Nellie particulary to get back at her, and boy did she do a clever and a funny prank on Nellie. Then the Ingalls experienced blizzards, storms, and prairie fires which were very devastating. After all the work the family put into the farm and the wheat, their work finally payed off.
This book had lots of surprising, unpredictable, and very exciting events. If I could rate this book on a scale of one through ten, I would give this book a ten. Once I started to read this book I couldn't put it down, because I was so hooked on it. This book is fantastic and is great for every age, and great for every age, and should be enjoyed by everyone. If your looking for a great book that will excite, delight, suprise, and grasp your attention, On the Banks of Plum Creek is just the book your looking for.

A very exciting book
Everything is going great at Plum Creek. Pa makes a new house out of wood and it has glass windows. a will pay for the wood with the money from their first wheat crop. One day a huge cloud covers the praire and grasshoppers fall from it. Laura is very exciting and daring while Mary is more ladylike than Laura is. Pa and Ma are very loving parents. Read this book to find out what happens next. This is a very catching book. Once you turn the page you'll never want to stop reading it. I liked this book because after every chapter you just want to keep going. I also liked thes book because it told what real people had to go through. The characters do amazing things. I would rate this book from one to five a six. The age group for this book I think is 8 and up. I hope you read this book!

My 5 year-old daughter has hundreds of books, but only a select few sit on the "special shelf" in her room, and this is one of them. I bought it for her a couple of years ago, and it has been my favorite ever since. Everything about this book is beautiful.... the illustrations, the story, and the message. I simply cannot read through this book without crying...........the second to the last page does me in every time!! This book is a lovely reminder to enjoy and appreciate the simple things that surround all of us. If you are looking for a special book that your children will love and you will treasure, this is the one.........BUY THIS BOOK! If I had to pick only one of my daughter's books to save forever, this would be it.

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE GIFT BOOK TO GIVE TO A FAMILY WHEN A SECOND CHILD IS BORN. I AM A BUYER FOR A SPECIALTY TOY STORE WITH A LARGE CHILDRENS BOOK DEPARTMENT. I HAVE INSISTED MY ENTIRE STAFF READ THIS BOOK. EVERY TIME A PERSON COMES TO SHOP FOR A BABY GIFT FOR A FAMILY WHO ALREADY HAS OTHER CHILDREN WE SELL THEM THIS BOOK. EVERY PERSON BUYS IT ONCE THEY READ IT. IT IS SO LOVING AND TOUCHING

Adults and children both will identify with this story. It is especially powerful for any 5 - 9 yr. old boy who is adjusting to the idea of having a new baby sister.

His big-brother role is defined in a delightful way which enhances his esteem and belongingness to the basic family. He becomes "protector" and "teacher" for his new sibling just as he has been protected and taught since his own birth.

The beautiful paintings, which must be "read" along with the words, are masterpieces.

I have to admit, when I first saw this book, I saw a big thick book. But then I read it , and now it is my favorite book! I loved how they gave such a description that you felt like you were there. I could realy relate to Ken, and how he stuck to what he did and was nervous about it. I liked how the love of Flicka stayed with Ken even when she was in pain. This is such a good book I recomend it to anyone!!!!

Long relegated to the ranks of children's books, My Friend Flicka is indeed a wonderful story for a thoughtful child. I first read it at the age of 9, and have read it many, many more times throughout my life.

As a 9-year-old, I loved the story of the sensitive boy, Ken, and his filly Flicka, who has questionable bloodlines and does not meet with the approval of Ken's stern rancher father, Rob McLaughlin. Boy and horse must surmount that initial disapproval and all sorts of other challenges as they struggle and grow together.

But on another level entirely, My Friend Flicka is the story of a marriage that is so real, so adult, and so compelling, that any adult can appreciate the story. In a nutshell: Rob McLaughlin, a former captain in the Army (this was written shortly after World War II), is struggling to make a success of his Goose Bar Ranch, where he raises thoroughbreds in the rugged Wyoming countryside. His wife, Nell, is a blueblood from the East whose apparent fragility masks an inner strength that is Rob's lifeline. A delicate-looking beauty, Nell nevertheless can deliver foals at midnight, weather all the storms that ranching throws her way, and still feed a hungry crew of workers three times a day.

Rob and Nell's marriage is strong and passionate. But their one bone of contention is their second son, Ken, a daydreamer who simply does not fit the mold of Rob's ideal son. Older boy Howard is the perfect McLaughlin: athletic, strong, personable, talented, outgoing. Ken is slight, small, quiet, sickly, and above all, a creative dreamer. But when he sets his sights on a horse of which his father strongly disapproves, Nell fiercely backs his choice. And Ken begins to grow as a man--in his own way and in his own speed. And Rob learns some strong lessons about being a man, a father, and a husband.

If you have never read this book, or if it lives on your child's bookshelves, give yourself a treat. It's much more than you think.

This is my favorite book ever! I carry it around with me everywhere! This book will touch your heart and soul, and you'll never forget it! Mary O'Hara's style of writing makes you grow to love Flicka and Ken! Flicka, a wild filly who is thought to be loco because all of her descendants are, is the only filly Ken, a young day dreamer, will have. His father is outraged when Ken will have no other! When they bring Flicka in, she is so afraid, she tries to jump a barbed wire fence that is obviously too high! The McLaughlin's can't afford anything but barbed wire fencing, and Flicka is torn up. Because she is so hurt, Ken can get close to her, and soon becomes her whole world. When hail comes, he threw himself over her head to protect her, and reads to her for hours, sometimes he'll just gaze at her. If you like horses, this book will make you love horses! A must read for ANYBODY who is the least bit interested in horses!