Kid's Books and Videos
If you like to play games, check out Azrael & Phoebe's New Fun Game Page where you can play tic-tac-toe, learn the American Presidents in a hangman-like game or test your reflexes in our quick response game!
The Bravest
Cat!: The True Story of Scarlett (All Aboard Reading) by Laura Driscoll,
Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan (Illustrator), Dyanne Di Salvo-Ryan (Illustrator) Reading
level: Ages 4-8 (September 1997)
This is a great story that kids can read themselves about the heroic mother cat
who rescued her kittens from a burning building. The final page offers a photo of the real-life Scarlett.
You can find a detailed photo-documentary of this amazing cat for the whole family at: Cat Books
page
A Bug's Life: The quest For the One Big Thing --
story by Lou Fancher; paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Lancher (ages 4-8;
1998). Cute tale featuring numbers.
Order this "buggy" tale today!
Look for Funk & Wagnalls' Charlie Brown's 'Cyclopedia volume one is Your Amazing Body. This series is humorous and informative for young school aged kids.
The Cheerios
Play Book by Lee Wade I (Reading level: Baby-Preschool; September 1998)
Since the little round pieces of cerial are a common part of most small children's lives, why not use them as part of learning to read? There's a whole series of these books and each has pictures that need to be completed by placing a Cheerio in the holes.
The
Cheerios Counting Book
by Rob Bolster and Frank Mazzola (Illustrators), Barbara
Barbieri McGrath, (Reading level: Ages 4-8 September 1998) While we're learning
to read with those Cheerios, why not learn to count, too? What would be
more natural than counting pieces of food? Colorful pictures and text add
to the delicious fun.
The Emperor's New Clothes : An All-Star Retelling of the
Classic Fairy Tale (with Audio CD) (reading level:Ages 9-12;
for ages 8-108)
Produced for the benefit of the Starbright Foundation for seriously ill
children, celebrities such as Jay Leno (the Moth),Rosie O'donnal as the
throne, Madonna (the Empress), Fran Drescher (the Heralding Horn), Jeff
Goldblum (the Imperial Wizard), Robin Williams (the Court Jester), and
Calvin Klein (the Emperor's Underwear) perform on the audio cd. The famous
Hans Christian Andersen tale is retold in a serious of pun-filled anecdotes
by the various players in the tale. Accompanying the cd is a hilariously illustrated
children's book. Click here for an example of the artwork.
Order
The Emperor's New Clothes today!
Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi (translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchechum) is a must for all families to read prior to the potty-training stage. You can order Everyone Poops Today!
Favorite Medieval Tales, by Mary Pope Osborne and illustrated by Troy Howell (Scholastic
Press, 1998 - ages 9-12) includes the tales of Finn Maccoul, Beowulf,
Swork in the Stone, Island of Lost Children (Kudrun), Song of Roland, Werewolf
(from Marie de France), Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, Robin Hood and
Chaucer's beast fable "Chanticleer and the Fox."
Order Favorite
Medieval Tales to indulge the medievalist in us
all.
Recommended by Allison Enger, The Gardener
by Sarah Stewert and illustrated by David Small won an award. It is a nice
story about a girl who
grows flowers in the city. Nice illustrations.
Order
The Gardener Today!
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (Harper Collins, 1964; all ages) is a familar classic. Its sparse words and illustrations tell of the tree who gives everything to the boy she loves.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson
has been inspiring imaginations (and use of purple crayons) since 1957.
(Harper Collins, ages 4-8) Comments from amazon.com:
"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided
to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that
shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an
oversized purplecrayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of
beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of
fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the
utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits
about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions:
drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he
finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels
the first pangs of hunger."
OrderHarold
and the Purple Crayon today!
How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods by
Saxton Freymann, Joost Elffers (Reading level: Ages 4-8; October 1999)
Adults as well as children will be really amused with the whimsicle play
with fruits and vegetables in this book. The artists help the fruits and
vegatables express their "natural personalities" by adding pea
eyes or occasional carving. You'll be delighted by the vividly photographed
"faces" of cheerful, amused, frustrated, wistful, surprised produce!
The I Spy series by Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo are great books
for kids 4-8 (adults will 
find them fun to do with their kids) are books of
picture riddles. There is an I SPY fantasy book,
holiday books for Christmas and Halloween and others. Crystal's nephews enjoyed
them as does Tony's little cousin, Cole.
Order
I Spy Fantasy a book of Picture Riddles Today!
While you're at it, check out I Spy Gold Challenger! : A Book of Picture Riddles (I Spy) (Ages
4-8)
by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (Photographer)
Order
this new I Spy book today!
Kids Are Punny: Jokes Sent By Kids to
the Rosie O'Donnel Show (April 1997) jokes and artwork by kids for kids.
Profits go to the "For All Kids Foundation".
Also check out the new Kids Are Punny 2
Order Rosie's Kids Are Punny today!
Little Golden book Classics Three Best-Loved Tales: Tootle (by Gertrude Crampton), The Happy Man and His Dump Truck (by Miryam), and Scuffy the Tugboat (by Gertrude Crampton) is a cute picture book featuring the arto of Tibor Gergely.
Look-Alikes: Discover a Land Where Things
Are Not As They Appear (1998) by Joan Steiner, photography by Thomas
Lindley. Similar to I Spy/ without riddles - landscapes made of unusual
objects such as boats made of brushes and CD towers.
Order
Look-Alikes Today!
The following recommended picture book for ages
3-6 comes from librarian Allison Enger:
Rosemary Wells has done a nice job with her Max
and Ruby stories. Max is
the younger brother and Ruby the bossy older sister. They are rabbits.
Bunny Money is the newest one by her and is about The struggles
of Ruby to
buy Max a new pair of pants (he wants a dragon shirt).
Order Bunny Money Today!
The Mightiest Heart by Lynn Cullen, illus. by Laurel Long (ages
4-8) is the legendary tale of Gelert, Prince Llewelyn of Wales' dog whose
loyalty was so fierce that it lives on in legend.
Order
The Mightiest Heart today!
With the Disney Movie out, there will probably be a good bit of interest in
the character of
Fa Mulan. Here are a couple of more traditional alternatives
to the Disney version:
Robert D. San Souci's Fa Mulan: Story of A Woman Warrior
is illustrated beautifully by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng and
contains historical background about the tale. Following the Song of Mulan
(from about the 6th century A.D.), this traditional version differs from Disney's in several
aspects (such as the length of her service and that she leaves with permision
from her parents) but is still recognizable. (recommended for ages 5-9)
(For an even more traditional choice, check out
Jeanne M. Lee's side by side Chinese/English verse version of the
Song of Mulan.)
Order Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior Today!
My Cats Nick & Nora by Isabelle Harper and illustrated by Barry Moser (Blue Sky Press, 1995 - suggested ages 4-8) is a cute book describing how everytime the child narrator's cousin Emmie comes over to visit the first thing they do is go find Nick and Nora. Although well intentioned, the girls' birthday party for one of the cats perhaps displays why Phoebe runs whenever children come over.....and, maybe, why Azrael doesn't.
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (Alfred Knopf, 1996) --when Seuss wrote this book in 1973 he requested that it be illustrated by "a great color artist who will not be dominated by me" - well, he got his wish and this book is thereby separated stylistically from such classics as The Cat in the Hat or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This book about feelings looks different, but is still Seuss at heart. (suggested reading age 9-12)
The Napping House by Audry Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (Harcourt Brace & Co., 1984; suggested reading ages 4-8) is a fun rhythmic tale with lovely illustrations.
The Night the Scary Beasties Popped out of My Head by Daniel and
David Kamish (ages 4-8; 1998) - Dan draws his nightmare and is dismayed
when it comes to life off the page. Dan must catch and erase the nightmare
with his trusty pencil. (book illustrated by the kid himself, with some
help from his dad).
Order
this fun book today!
Old MacDonald Had an Apartment House by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett (Atheneum Books, ages 4-8) is a humorous twist on the familiar song. This Old MacDonald has a farm but it's in a tenement house in the middle of a big city!
Ouch! by Natalie Babbitt and Fred Macellins - adaptation
of Grimms' tale about boy who is born to marry a princess. In spite of all
the efforts of the King to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass, the
boy is aided by the Devil's Grandmother and achieves the princess as his
bride.
Order
Ouch! today!
Willard, Nancy. Pish Posh Said Hieronymus Bosch. illustrated by
the Dillons.
(all ages)
In this whimsical homage to the late-medieval Dutch artist of meticulously
detailed surreal scenes, Nancy Willard posits Bosch's house as crowded with
his own fantastical creatures. These wild creations such as flying fish
and three-legged thistles are driving Bosch's housek eeper to distraction!
This book is for those who enjoy Boschian images, wit and whimsy.
Order
this fun book today!
Allison Enger also recommends Paul Zindels' Rapunzel
this book won the Caldecott prize for its beautiful illustrations.
Reptar to the Rescue! (Rugrats, No 1)
by Stephanie St. Pierre, George Ulrich (Illustrator) (1997, Ages 4-8)
Tommy's day suddenly becomes exciting when WonderWinder, a toy that Tommy's
dad had desig ned, runs amok.
Order
Reptar to the Rescue today!
For more Rugrats fun, check out Merry Christmas, Rugrats : A Lift-The-Flap Book With 54 Flaps (Rugrats)
by Kitty Richards, Barry Glodberg (Illustrator),
Barry Goldberg (Illustrator)
(Ages 4-8)
When Didi announces that the mistletoe is missing, the Rugrats lauch
a full-scale holiday hunt for "mistle TOAD".
Order
this holiday Rugrats adventure today!
Skylark,
the sequel to Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
is recommended by Deanna Morgan, age 9, for grades 4-6. It's an interesting
story that will make you laugh and cry.
Order
Skylark Today!
Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals / Beastly Fables - for ages
49-630 (in dog years) by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (of Stinky cheese man
fame)
Jon Scieszka's simple explanation for this off the wall collection of
fables, is a simple rule of thumb: "If you can't say something nice
about someone, change the guy's name to Donkey or Squid." After all,
isn't that what Aesop did? Among the morals to these off-the-wall fables:
"Everyone knows frogs can't skateboard, but it's kind of sad that they
believe everything they see on TV" and "Elephants never forget,
except sometimes" -- good lessons and quirky fun for all ages.
Order
Squids Will Be Squids today!
Don't forget The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith provides zany fun for reading ages 4-8 (or adults) in these irreverent retellings of well-known themes.
To Everything There Is A Season by Leo and Diane Dillon (ages
4-8; Blue Sky Press) text from the book of Ecclesiastes. interesting and
culturally diverse illustrations.
Order
Leo and Diane Dillon's To Everything There Is A Season today!
Top Cat by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt Brace &
Co, 1998; ages 3-8) inventive picture book with colorful collage graphics
describes how Top Cat's dull life changes when a new striped kitten moves
in. First, Top Cat vents his frustration on the young intruder, but eventually
accepts the inevitable and teaches the kitten the joys of feline mischief.
Order
Lois Ehlert's Top Cat today!
Warner Borthers Reading provides the fun Pop-Up Storybook, Wile E. Coyote's Gravity Lessons
Madeleine L'Engle's 1963 Newbery Medal winning novel, A Wrinkle in Time, is the first of a quartet of novels of great wonder and imagination for ages 9-12 (or older). The series continues with A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet and Many Waters. Each of these empowering books of the triumpgh of good over evil challenges conceptions of time and space. Absolute must reads! Synopsis From the Publisher : It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger. "Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract." A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book. If you haven't read L'Engle's books yet - or would like to revisit them - order today!
While we're on the subject of great juvenile fantasy, we would also highly recommend C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles as well. You can even buy this great collection of novels including the beloved second book, The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe in one volume. Order C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia
.Giant Treasury of Brer Rabbit by Joel Chandler Harris -- Although these tales are not considered very "p.c." anymore, I would still recommend them as reading for all ages. Harris' tales consist of the single largest single collection of Afro-American folktales and to ignore this rich cultural treasury because of the means of its transmission to the Americas would be a shame.
In the forward to The Last Tales of Uncle Remus as told by Julius Lester (illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, Dial Books, 1994), Lester defends the collection and particularly his retention of the narative figure of "uncle Remus, who has been objected to due to his accomodationist politics, but who serves, according to Lester, as an archetypal "good father" figure, who loves tradition (values), represents certainty and loves language:
"Harris made stroy and storyteller one. If he had simply published the tales without the distinctive voice of the narrator, the stories would not have endured. It is Uncle Remus's belief in their veracity that enables us to suspend our rationality and be blessd by the magical art of the story." (xi)
Order The Giant Treasury of Brier Rabbit or The Last Tales of Uncle Remus today!
For more kids' books check out the following links:
picture books everyone should know
Mr. Rogers: the Neighborhood Booklist -- Don't you just love him?!
Here's a new one for you: Circle Time also has a monthly newsletter with tips for parents!
Find and Order Great Children's Books:
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last updated 12/10/99
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