( T ) Books

"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

Patricia Thomas

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

stand back i'm gonna sneeze-- 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

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

fun rhymes 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

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!

LOVE this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

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.

Older children in the 9 - 11 group choose the book for reading to the little kids 5 out of 5 stars.
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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

Editorial Review:

The last time the elephant sneezed, he blew monkeys out of the trees, stripes off the zebra, and spots off the leopard. This rollicking new edition of the favorite nonsense verse again shows the panic that follows the elephant's dreaded announcement.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Signet Classics)

Mark Twain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Nietzsche's choice 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 13 people found this review helpful.

In a letter to his friend Franz Overbeck dated 14, November, 1879, Nietzsche says, "If you do not know the latest book by Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, it would be a pleasure for me to make you a little present of it."

Both novels define the picturesque masterpiece and are the twin highpoints in American prose.

Editorial Review:

Few books capture both the simplicity and complexities of American life quite like these enduring "boyhood" classics by Mark Twain.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Take a lighthearted, nostalgic trip to a simpler time, seen through the eyes of a special boy named Tom Sawyer. It is a summertime world of hooky and adventure, pranks and punishment, villains and young love.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
He has no mother, his father is a drunkard, and he sleeps in a barrel. He's Huck Finn-liar, sometime thief, and rebel against respectability. But when Huck meets a runaway slave named Jim, his life changes forever. And on a raft floating down the Mississippi, the boy nobody wanted matures into a young man of courage and conviction.

Now includes a new introduction.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Caldecott Honor Book)

Simms Taback

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 70 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

What a HOOT!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I remember this poem in song form from my childhood. I hadn't thought of it in years, until my grandson told me his teacher had read it to him in his pre-k class. I was delighted to find this book on Amazon.com. I was thrilled to see it's large size, bright colors, crazy pictures, the old lady's stomach expanding to accomodate each new animal. I wasn't bothered (as a child) by the phrase "perhaps she'll die," but I imagine my grandson will enjoy some of the "asides" that rhyme with "die." This book will be a gift to my grandson for his fourth birthday in a few days. I am looking forward to reading it to him! Or should I say, singing it to him!!

Love it! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great book. Have always wanted it and I really enjoy reading it with my son who likes it too!

Love this book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Loved this book as a kid - so had to buy it for my baby.

Editorial Review:

Inventive die-cut artwork offers young readers of all ages a rollicking, eye-popping version of the well-loved poem about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, a cat, a dog, and worse."

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin Modern Classics) (Puffin Modern Classics)

Mildred D. Taylor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 461 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In all Mildred D. Taylor's unforgettable novels she recounts "not only the joy of growing up in a large and supportive family, but my own feelings of being faced with segregation and bigotry." Her Newbery Medal-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry tells the story of one African American family, fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty, and betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan, growing up protected by her loving family, has never had reason to suspect that any white person could consider her inferior or wish her harm. But during the course of one devastating year when her community begins to be ripped apart by angry night riders threatening African Americans, she and her three brothers come to understand why the land they own means so much to their Papa. "Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You ain't never had to live on nobody's place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, you'll never have to. That's important. You may not understand that now but one day you will. Then you'll see."

Twenty-five years after it was first published, this special anniversary edition of the classic strikes as deep and powerful a note as ever. Taylor's vivid portrayal of ugly racism and the poignancy of Cassie's bewilderment and gradual toughening against social injustice and the men and women who perpetuate it, will remain with readers forever. Two award-winning sequels, Let the Circle Be Unbroken and The Road to Memphis, and a long-awaited prequel, The Land, continue the profoundly moving tale of the Logan family. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

A Child's Garden of Verses

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Step Back in Time 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

To wander through your childhood, as I recently did, I highly recommend Robert Louis Stevenson's, "A Child's Garden of Verses". The illustrations combined with the poetry reminded me of my first introduction to poetry. That early experience instilled a life long love of poetry in myself which I passed along to my children. My son has become "the family poet" so I purchased this volume for him for Christmas. Poetry conveys in a few eloquent words the emotions that no other form of writing can. We would be much poorer humans without this medium.

Editorial Review:

Here is a delightful look at childhood, written by master poet and storyteller Robert Louis Stevenson. In this collection of sixty-six poems, Stevenson recalls the joys of his childhood, from sailing boats down a river, to waiting for the lamplighter, to sailing off to foreign lands in his imagination. Tasha Tudor's watercolor paintings evoke a simpler time in the past, and celebrate two of the things she loves most -- children and nature. Her talents are the perfect match for these inspiring poems, making this a handsome gift edition that will be cherished by families for generations.

Corgiville Christmas

Tasha Tudor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Delightful Book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a delight, fun to read as an adult and fun to read to children as well. Emmie's Birthday Party

Corgi's 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book for anyone who loves Corgi's. Pictures are cute, and it is a good read.

Endearing story with the BEST pictures! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I truly felt that Tasha had painted her heart out in this lovely Christmas story which was a memorial to her beloved corgi Owen. When you look at these pictures - which are painted later in her life, and are a reflection of her evolving style - you can feel the love she had for Owen. I thought they were so endearing - almost magical......as if they were from a dream. This is one of my very favorite books from Tasha, and I am so glad that she published it.

Editorial Review:

In this third story set in imaginary Corgiville, home to corgis, cats, rabbits and some eccentric families, Christmas is coming. Mr. and Mrs. Bigbee Brown warm themselves by the wood stove as they drink their tea. Mr. Chicahominy, his two wives, and mother-in-law live in a house overlooking the pond. During the season he puts his haberdashery on wheels, peddling by wagon all about town. Families make special wreaths for the animals, and age Dundee cake for months. Finally, on December 25, the parlor door opens to reveal a magnificent Christmas tree with lighted candles and shining ornaments.

Mary Poppins

P. L. Travers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Magical. 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

The entire Mary Poppins book series by the wonderful P.L. Travers is fantastic. I'm so glad to see they have finally arrived in hardcover with the original covers. No, this is not the sugary Disney movie--but this, the original story, will take your breath away with its magic and wonder. Give it a try. I think if you take these stories for what they are you will appreciate the wit and the adventure.

Editorial Review:

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.

It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins. Who else but Mary Poppins can slide up banisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial? A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life!

Mary Poppins: Three Enchanting Classics: Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Comes Back, and Mary Poppins Opens the Door

P. L. Travers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Remember the days 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.

when you used to find a nice quiet spot, away from all disturbances
and jump headfirst into the adventures of the Banks children and Mary Poppins? I do. These stories are among the best children's literature ever written. They are right up there with the Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland and all those British classics. Take my advice. Grab the entire series. Find a nice quiet spot. And go and visit Cherry Tree Lane.

Editorial Review:

Who can slide up banisters, banish naughtiness with a swift "Spit-spot," and turn a make-believe sidewalk drawing into a lovely day in the park? Mary Poppins, of course! From the moment the beloved nanny arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life for the Banks family is full of excitement. With the smash-hit London musical adaptation of Mary Poppins coming to Broadway in November 2006, this is the time for everyone's favorite nanny to find a place in the hearts of the next generation of fans--and the ideal moment for this boxed set, featuring three adventures in paperback: Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Comes Back, and Mary Poppins Opens the Door.

All-of-a-kind Family

Sydney Taylor, Helen John

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 90 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy. The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. (Ages 9 to 12)

A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Tasha Tudor at her best 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is my favorite of all her books, bar none! It tells of their unique family celebrations throughout the year. Written and illustrated by Tasha, children of all ages will wish to join right in!

Beautiful, delightful book! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a treasure of a book... both for the eyes and the ears. Tasha Tudor's detailed paintings infuse life into her words, and draw the reader into the delightful ways to relish each month.

Tasha Tudor is the Best, God Rest Her Soul 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Art of Tasha Tudor
This illustrator has writen over 90 books with her illustration in each. Her flavor of writing is such that it make you want to live her life style. I have all the books she has done and am missing those out of pring, sigh! But to those who do not know of her, please treat yourself and your children to her wonderful books.

Editorial Review:

There were homemade valentines and Easter eggs, Fourth of July picnics and family birthdays. Thanksgiving brought visits from relatives -- so many, the children had to sleep in the barn! And finally there was Christmas, the best of all "times to keep," with handmade presents, an Advent calendar, and a "beautiful tree in a shine of candles."

Month by month, Tasha Tudor's delicate illustrations bring to life the holidays of an earlier time. A warm-hearted celebration of family and tradition, this treasury of "times to keep" will be cherished and enjoyed all year long.