Keller, Laurie Books

The Scrambled States of America

Laurie Keller

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $1.99

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( K ) -> Keller, Laurie

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

One day, Kansas wakes up grumpy. The other 49 states are stretching, yawning, and pouring maple syrup onto each other's pancakes, but irritable Kansas announces to his kindly neighbor Nebraska that life is dull and changes must be made: "All day long we just sit here in the middle of the country. We never GO anywhere. We never DO anything, and we NEVER meet any NEW states!" Nebraska, sick of hearing North Dakota and South Dakota bicker all the time, agrees to help organize a party for all the states. It's a hit! Late into the evening, Idaho and Virginia get up onto the stage and suggest that all the states change places. What a state of affairs. Minnesota, who switches places with Florida, gets a sunburn. Kansas, having traded places with Hawaii, gets lonely and sings some soggy blues so sad that a shark sheds a mournful tear offshore. Nevada and Mississippi fall in love. Despite the initial excitement, the new arrangement just doesn't feel right. The states manage to swim, fly, bike, and hitchhike their way home, and everyone goes to bed in the right place--even Kansas is happy to be home after such an adventure. This wacky, thoroughly engaging tale of mixed-up geography is a good bet for some awards. Perhaps best of all, the large format and riot of detail allow for plenty of amusing asides. Books that claim to "make geography fun" usually have to be taken with a dose of skepticism: so often, the teaching is there and the entertainment isn't. This delightfully quirky and original book shows how it should be done. (Ages 4 and older) --Richard Farr

Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners

Laurie Keller

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $7.95

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Rabbits -> Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Move over Emily Post: Do Unto Otters is a guide to manners that anyone would be delighted to follow. Here beloved children's author Laurie Keller brings the "Golden Rule" to life in the form of Mr. Rabbit and his new neightbors, the Otters, who animate every page with their well-behaved hijinks, showing kids that a simple "please" or "thank you" goes a long way in making friends. And, as a special treat for Amazon.com customers, Laurie Keller created the four delightful new drawings you'll find below illustrating her unique take on etiquette for the office. Enjoy!

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Amazon.com Exclusive: E-mail "Otter-quette" from Laurie Keller

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More to Explore

The Scrambled States of America

Arnie, The Doughnut

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside

Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard

Arnie, the Doughnut

Laurie Keller

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $5.93

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Laurie Keller, creator of the wonderful picture books The Scrambled States of America and Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, cooks up a rather silly story about a doughnut who narrowly escapes his doughnut fate. Arnie is proud to be chocolate-covered, with bright-colored candy sprinkles. His first day on the planet is a big one. He is 1) cut into a ring 2) deep-fried 3) cooled 4) iced 5) sprinkled and 6) named Arnie. What he doesn't realize is that step 7 is being eaten by a human. So, when a customer, Mr. Bing, starts to put him in his mouth, he screams, "What are you doing?" Arnie is further crushed when he calls the bakery to warn the others only to discover that all the other pastries are "aware of this arrangement." Unfortunately, this delightful plot twist is soured by the contrived ones that follow. Mr. Bing decides that in order to get his money's worth from Arnie he can pretend the doughnut is the dog he's always wanted--a doughnut-dog that will roll over, play fetch, etc.: "He went through a short phase of chewing on the furniture and barking at the mailman, but after a crash course in obedience school he graduated first in his class." However half-baked the story turns out to be, the funny asides and captions that Keller sprinkles throughout the book are often brilliant and the busy, crazy paintings are lots of fun, too. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside

Laurie Keller

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Owlet Paperbacks Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $3.79

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( K ) -> Keller, Laurie

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Lauri Keller, the much-applauded creator of the wacky, wonderful The Scrambled States of America, traces one school day in a classroom of teeth in Open Wide: Tooth School Inside. Fortunately, when Dr. Flossman takes attendance, all 32 teeth are present to take the pledge: "And to the gums on which we stand, strong and healthy, with toothbrushes and toothpaste for all." The day proceeds with an anatomy lesson (illustrating dentin, enamel, pulp, etc.), which is interrupted only momentarily when Carl Canine badmouths a little molar (hurting his feelings even though he has a hard enamel shell on the outside). Sally Incisor then shares her report on primary teeth ("Babies don't even need teeth. You never see them eating corn on the cob or anything"), and the Tooth Fairy makes a guest appearance, offering molar-coaster rides and bemoaning the whole "under-the-pillow" idea, which causes her to fear suffocation.

Lunch is a messy affair--complete with food fights--and when it is over, none of the teeth feel like brushing. Of course, an in-depth lesson on tooth decay and cavities ignites a flurry of flossing, gargling, and brushing. As in Scrambled States (which is a must-see if you haven't yet read it), every clever, colorful collage bubbles with activity, hilarious asides between the teeth, and tiny details that you may miss the first time through. Two quizzes conclude the book, posing questions such as "George Washington had teeth made out of rocks and twigs. T or F" and "Tooth decay is caused by a) bacteria and germs, b) slugs and worms, c) bad perms." Kids will never ignore their teeth again--and when they do take a look in the mirror they may see a smiling tooth face peering back, begging for a good brush. (Ages 5 to 9) -- Karin Snelson

Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard

Laurie Keller

Amazon Price: $12.71 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $1.46

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> Picture Books
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Play with your Food 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Why just settle for numbers as things? How about making your own "threes" out of pieces of a nice yummy yellow or red or green bell pepper? Can you make a "six" out of a bread stick and cook it up? What about a couple of "elevens" out of cheese sticks or cheese cracker sticks? If kids could eat up their times tables, maybe it would be more fun to do multiplication! Never give up on the possibilities of "cooking up reading".

Definitely a keeper! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book with the intention of donating it to my brother's elementary school. When we received it in the mail, it immediately caught his attention!

This is a witty book that flies through numbers quickly and the illustrations catch a young readers' attention easily. The best audience for this book would be Pre-K 4 through 1st grade! Children at these ages will be capable of grasping the idea of the book and 1st graders will read through it in stride. For adults who read this book with a child, wit is submerged in the number sentences that remarkably reach the young audience as well.

I definitely encourage people to by this book! The bargain price on Amazon is stupendous for it being a hardcover book! Children will enjoy the quick read and colorful illustrations while adults will enjoy the clever manipulation of words and numbers!

Editorial Review:

If you ever thought that numbers were only for countingthink again!At Grandpa Gazillions Number Yard, numbers have all sorts of uses that can come in handy when in a pinch. For instance, a two can be used as a saxophone, a ten makes a great pogo stick, and a fourteen is a terrific sailboat. So head over to Grandpa Gazillions Number Yard and stock up on numbers, because you never know when you just might need them!In her signature style, Laurie Keller has created a wonderfully inventive counting bookfrom one to twentythat will keep children laughing and learning.

Toys!: Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions

Don Wulffson

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $3.75

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

toys & toys 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Toys Amazing stories Behind Great Invemtions is a fantastic book.It's filled with stoies. One of the stories are about toy soldiers Little boys in Europe during the Middle ages played with wooden knights. Little boys in Greece played with clay soldiers.This book is the greates book I ever read. Don Wulffson made this book great. Laurie Keller made the picters great If you want to know how some of your favorite kinds of toys were made you should get this book.

Editorial Review:

A fresh, intriguing look at the stories behind great toy inventions.

"Originally, Play-Doh only came in white. There's a good reason for this. You see, Play-Doh didn't start out as a toy. It started out as a product for cleaning wallpaper."

Have you ever wondered who invented Lego, Mr. Potato Head, or toy trains? Here are the fascinating stories behind these toy inventions and many others. Learn why the see-saw was popular with the Romans, how the Slinky was used during the Vietnam War, and the reason Raggedy Ann has a red heart on her chest that says "I love you." From dolls and checkers to pinball and the modern video game, there's a wide selection here for boys and girls alike.

With humor and wit, this intriguing book serves up slices of cultural history that will inspire young readers to start thinking up their own toy inventions.

Stinky Thinking: The Big Book of Gross Games and Brain Teasers

Alan Katz

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Aladdin Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $1.95

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General AAS
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Buy this book, your kids will love you 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Alan Katz has got to be one of the funniest, most original children's book writers going. I was fighting with my kids over who got to read it first.

FABULOUSLY FUNNY! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

What a fantastic and fabulously funny book! This is SO EXACTLY where so many kids are in their thinking. What 1st/2nd/3rd grader doesn't laugh out loud at the word fart? Now imagine getting to use those letters to figure out what different words are. Or finding out which two donuts were glazed with snot when a kid sneezed on them? It's just really funny and fun. It's my new favorite book for kids of an age. Actually, the adults I showed it to thought it was pretty hilarious too.

Editorial Review:

Spitballs, Dirty Diapers, & Booger Stains

Do you find that you don't really care how long it takes a train to travel from New York City to Chicago? Now, if the question was how long it takes spit from a sneeze to travel from one city to the other, wouldn't that be a bit more exciting?

Dr. Mortimer Gross thinks so. He has created a special learning program that will exercise those brain cells, but instead of using buttons, apples, or pennies as examples, students get to count, look for, and spell boogers, farts, and freckles.

Here are his best games, puzzles, and problems. They're as challenging as any problem with trains, but way more fun!

Marty Frye, Private Eye (Little Apple Paperback)

Janet Tashjian

List Price: $3.99 By: Scholastic Paperbacks Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Marty Frye Private Eye is really good. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

It is great. I loved all the stories and I wish there were more stories.

Marty Frye Private Eye is really good. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The book is great. I like all the stories. Some parts are funny and some parts are not.

Editorial Review:

Marty Frye is no ordinary sleuth - he's a poet detective! He makes up rhymes while he solves crimes. Join Marty on his quest to solve three mysteries: his classmate's diary has been stolen, a case of dolls is missing from the toy store, and his little sister's flour has been taken.

Fooled You!: Fakes and Hoaxes Through the Years

Elaine Pascoe

Amazon Price: $15.35 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

IF YOU ENJOY A GOOD HOAX... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

...then be sure to pick up the book TURN ME ON, DEAD MAN by Andru J. Reeve. It's the true saga of the story behind the infamous "Paul-Is-Dead" hoax of 1969, when millions believed a persistent rumor that Beatle Paul McCartney was killed in a car crash, his death kept a secret while the Beatles replaced him with a lookalike and planted "clues" to his death on subsequent Beatles albums. It's an amazing story and Reeve explores the who-what-and-whys of the story, explaining how this hoax was perpetrated and who was behind it. One of the most talked-about books of the year -- and it's available right now, right here at Amazon.com !!!

"An Amazing Book! I couldn't put it down!" -- Dr. Heritage Smith, folklorist and urban legends historian

Editorial Review:

Crop circles. Aliens on earth. Fairies caught on film. Giant cats. What do these phenomena have in common? They are all hoaxes. Elaine Pascoe presents well-researched chapters on nearly a dozen infamous hoaxesfrom the 1800s to the presentexploring the stories behind them (how they came to be as well as who instigated them) and pondering why people were so easily fooled. These tantalizing accounts hold tremendous appeal for all ages and are as much about the craftiness of perpetrators as about the gullibility of believers. Would you have been fooled? Youll just have to read Fooled You! to find out.