Basic Concepts Books - Page 4

Charley Harper ABCs (Chunky Version)

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: AMMO Books Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $5.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Delightful board book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book is a great sampling of Charley Harper's work and a great ABC board book for kids.

There is something interesting or cute in nearly every picture. Harper's unmistakable style makes the alphabet enjoyable.

Beautiful for children and adults! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book is BEAUTIFUL! What a fantastic way to learn the alphabet and be inspired at the same time. Harper's artwork is gorgeous, inspired and whimsical.

A wonderful sampling of Charley Harper's work 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Charley Harper called his style "minimal realism", an attempt to capture the essence of his subjects with the least elements:

"When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don't see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting; in a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe."

This lovely little collection of ABCs is a great sampling for kids and for adults -- both are sure to enjoy the life Harper can bring to the page with such sophisticated simplicity.

At a much higher price point, Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life is an exhaustive review of his life and his work. Todd Oldham put that book together, and has put an summary of Harper's work, a short interview and a view of Harper's studio on YouTube: search "TODD OLDHAM'S HANDMADE MODERN - CHARLEY HARPER ESSAY" on YouTube. At a lower price point, Art Of Charley Harper 2009 Wall Calendar is nonetheless a lovely, representative collection.

There are a couple of other links in the first Comment to this review, including an interesting interview courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This quote, from Beguiled by the Wild: The Art of Charley Harper, is a good example of his love of word play:

"Crows are black birds and blackbirds are also, but a crow in the snow is so much the more so. If you're pro-crow you proclaim his intellect, his resourcefulness, and the visual poetry of his somber silhouette on the calligraphy of the cornfield. But if it's your cornfield, you have good caws to compose creative crowfanities when he arrives. Think of it as sharecropping: he gets the grasshoppers, you get the corn, and the few ears missed in the harvest are held in, well--escrow."

Harper's work is about as far from the realism of John James Audubon as it is possible to imagine, but both artists capture reality in their very different ways.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Editorial Review:

The incredible illustrations from modern artist Charley Harper come to vivid life in this beautiful alphabet board book. Full color.

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $1.34

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Another excellent book by Eric Carle 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is among my daughter's favorites. She is nearly two years old and has already dog-eared and torn some pages, she literally has enjoyed the book to pieces. This has turned out to be a perfect book for her because she absolutely loves the moon. Seattle winter's don't offer many opportunities for even glimpses of the moon. It's also about a girl and her papa which is something nice for my husband to share with her. Don't expect this book to physically withstand the curious hands of infants. It's not tough like a board book!

Teeny tiny book, cute message 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is really small!
Cute, but if you are getting it for a toddler they may need some supervision to make sure the pages don't get torn.
Also a bit expensive for what you are getting..

Editorial Review:

This story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward. Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn't easy to climb all the way to the moon, but he finally succeeds--only to find that the moon is too big to carry home! The way the problem is resolved is a joyful surprise. Illustrated.

The Important Book

Margaret Wise Brown

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperTrophy Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $2.32

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Simply Wonderful 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

A simple book about what is important about things such as grass, rain, a spoon etc. It is a super writing prompt to have children write about what is important about themselves.

Makes us think 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We read this book every once in a while, and we think of something new each time.

It's not that we necessarily agree that the only important thing about an apple is its roundness, nor that the only important thing about the sky is its color, it's that we use these statements as a way to jumpstart conversations.

We read, then we ask - do you think that? If yes, then why? If no, then why not, what *is* the most important thing? Why do you think she thinks this is important? When something doesn't match her description, is it no longer the sky, no longer an apple, no longer a shoe? Why or why not?

Any book can ultimately be used to start a conversation, but we happen to find that this book is particularly good for it - even after several readings.

Editorial Review:

The important thing about The Important Book -- is that you let your child tell you what is important about the sun and the moon and the wind and the rain and a bug and a bee and a chair and a table and a pencil and a bear and a rainbow and a cat (if he wants to). For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book goes on long after it is closed.What is most important about many familiar things -- like rain and wind, apples and daisies -- is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. 'A perfect book . . . the text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee.' -- K.

Brown Bear & Friends Board Book Gift Set

Bill Martin, Eric Carle

Amazon Price: $16.29 List Price: $23.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $5.51

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wonders for a two year old! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you have a two year old at your house these books are a wonderful addition to your library. Our grandson was entranced by these books, which I enjoyed reading to him. He continues to ask for the "bear" book over and over and will actually sit in my lap for an entire reading. He has also learned more about colors and animals through these little books that he can hold while I read.

LOVE THESE BOOKS!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

my 2.5 year old can't get enough of these books!!! i love reading them to her...they are quick and colorful! and what a great price for 3 of them!

Excellent little set, especially for the price! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See' book was recommended to me by both my 4 year old daughter's speech therapist and her teacher. In town just this book alone was priced at 7.95. I found the set here on Amazon.com and the price was just too good to pass up! All three of these books are great for helping teach proper sentence structure and pronoun usage with I and you. Brown Bear features colors, Polar Bear works on animal sounds and 'what do you hear?', and Panda Bear is 'what do you see' again with more specific animal names like a green sea turtle and a spider monkey. The art is timeless and the repetitive sentence structure enables your toddler or preschooler to read with you, making them fun as well as educational. While I initially bought this to help with some of my daughter's PDD challenges, since then these books have also been read to my 2 year old and she loves them too! I definitely recommend picking up this set!

Editorial Review:

With more than 6.5 million copies sold in board book alone, Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle’s classic Bear books have been a hit with young children for many generations. Now, for the first time, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear,What Do You Hear?; and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? are available together in a boxed board book gift set—perfect for every baby’s first library.

Are You My Mother?

P. D. Eastman

By: Random House Children's Books Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $9.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 101 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Two boys' review: It is just a bedtime book, not a social message 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The years haven't been kind to this book. The illustrations are somewhat dated and, judging by the other reviews here on Amazon, there's an angry contingent of parents with abandonment issues who would rather you skip this book for a guide to raise Indigo Children.

I'm just here to review a bedtime book for my two sons.

More than with most books, I really have to act as I read this book to keep their attention. I'm the cow with a nasally Blue Blood voice, I'm the dog with a droopy drawl, and I'm the snort...SNORT!

My boys like this book and we read it regularly at bedtime. Their bookshelf holds roughly 80-100 books and P.D. Eastman occupies two titles in our collection -- A Fish Out of Water and Are You My Mother?

Editorial Review:

When Baby Bird hatches from his egg, his mother is off looking for food. What’s a bird to do? Go find his mother, of course! So begins Baby Bird’s hilarious, and at times very touching, hunt for his mother.

Children will love this deluxe cloth edition of P. D. Eastman’s all-time favorite. Soft and snuggly pages, complete with an adorable plush baby bird, let children interact with each wonderful character our little hero meets as he asks again and again, “Are you my mother?”

The Mitten Board Book Edition

Jan Brett

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Putnam Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 183 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great book, one of Brett's classics 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a retelling of a classic folktale about a boy who loses his mitten. As he plays, all sorts of animals squeeze in, until finally they burst out.

One of Brett's strengths is in the detail she crams into every page. For example, in this book the sidebar of every left-hand page shows how the boy, Nicki, accidentally dislodges the next animal to go visit his mitten, and on the right-hand page the sidebar shows that animal running towards the mitten.

Unfortunately, I'm not certain that the level of detail Brett goes into is particularly well-suited for board books. The text is simple enough for a very young child to sit through and understand, but all the same, you might be better off waiting until they're old enough for a real copy of this book. (Especially if a previous commenter is correct and this version is abridged from the original!)

Editorial Review:

When Nicki loses the mitten that his grandmother had knitted for him, the woodland animals find it and crawl inside, each one larger than the last, but as the mitten stretches and grows, grandmother's knitting holds fast, until a tiny mouse proves to be too much.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (Bright & Early Books(R))

Al Perkins

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $0.59

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Perfect beginning book for babies 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was given to us as a gift when our daughter was born. Even as a baby, she loved the rhyme and meter of the verses. It is such a cute book and we have great memories because of it.

Consistently a favorite with my two nieces (5 and 2.5) 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is wonderful for little-little children learning to speak, and also for children learning to read.

It's a basic early reader, stringing together rhyming phrases with cute illustrations. And it works. Definitely pick this one up.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was in GREAT condition! It arrived quickly and I am very happy with my order.

Great book, easy read 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of my sons favorite books and the board last a long time and allow the little guys to help turn pages. The book doesn't not have a lot of words so it is a great bedtime story as well.

Children and now Grandchildren love this book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great 'beat', we have worn out several copies over the years. All the kids love it.

Editorial Review:

Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers.  

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites (Bright & Early Board Books(TM))

Dr. Seuss

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $4.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House - Model: 121E Amazon Marketplace: 170 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Grandchild far away???? 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My granddaughter is only 20 months old and lives in Australia. I live in Philadelphia. I have actually seen her in person only 3 times since she was born. We "meet" on line about once a week with webcams ready. Although she speaks well, she's not quite ready for a full discussion. But, when she came to visit at 16 months, she really knew me instantly!

I had the idea that we could "read" together, so I ordered several Dr. Seuss books - 2 of each - from Amazon.com. She gets to choose the book, and I have my copy near at hand. We can not only read, but I can also point out the various pictures.

Last week, when reading "Hands Hands Fingers Thumb," I decided to bring out an African drum I have in the house. My daughter brought out one she had at her house, and my granddaughter and I played the drums together. "One thumb, one thumb, drumming on the drum. Dum ditty dum ditty dum dum dum." We were both laughing hard and had a great time. It was the first time I felt we were able to play together. Thanks, Amazon!

Editorial Review:

A toe-tapper babies will love--the classic Seussian book about opposites:

"Wet foot, dry foot. Low foot, high foot..."

Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever (Giant Little Golden Book)

Amazon Price: $10.87 List Price: $15.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House - Model: 0307155102 Amazon Marketplace: 87 new & used starting at $1.75

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 61 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Best Kids Books 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I can't forget this book, because of it had several great factors. It covered almost every place a kid may see, with it's name to know what the object is. Each page shows kids different work spaces, lands, city life, even inside a home, room by room.
This would be an excellent book for preschoolers, and even younger as well. Children and their parents may create their own stories with the detailed scenes.

It really IS the BEST word book ever! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I LOVE this book! I had it when I was a child. My favorite word in it is on the kitchen page "Batter Spoon"!!!

Great book if you don't mind having to read it all the time! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My 17month daughter loves this book! I was into Richard Scarry books growing up and really wanted my baby to like it. Initially I was afraid the illustrations would be too busy for her, but that is clearly not the case. This book is one of three books (the others are big book of animals and book of words) she brings to me just about every thirty minutes, which is driving me a little crazy but I'll just have to deal with it. She really gets into the scenes especially scenes of the circus, zoo, farm, grocery, home, beach, ships, trains, etc. and has built up quite the vocabulary. She's saying the names of the animals and their sounds, bodyparts, the landscape such as tree, sun, moon, cloud, flower and can point to most anything in the pages. The scenes of the airport, trucks and "when you grow up" aren't engaging her yet but I'm sure later when she gets it more.

Richard Scarry books are a beloved classic, they are and will be on the bookshelf in our home (until the grandkids). ;)

Editorial Review:

Kenny and Kathy Bear and their Busytown friends introduce new and familiar names for objects grouped by subject, theme, and setting, in the city and on the farm, at the dentist and at the grocer's, in the kitchen and at the circus and all the places they frequent.

There's a Wocket in My Pocket! (Dr. Seuss's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes)

Dr.; Geisel, Theodor Seuss Seuss

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $4.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 99 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It's such a cute book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love Dr. Seuss's books! This is such a cute one! My 11-mo old loves it!

Not as good as his others 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book because I own several other Dr. Suess board books, including Mr. Brown can Moo, Hop on Pop, the Foot Book and The Shape of Me. I like all of these books, because they contain simple rhymes, colorful pictures and are great for helping a baby learn language.

I was a bit disappointed with There's a Wocket, because most of the words are made up. I don't mind a few made up words, but all the characters in this book are made up (there's a nooth grush on my toothbrush?)

I would recommend waiting until your child is old enough to no longer need board books, and purchase the full version. I'm sure older children who are already talking would love the silly made up creatures & rhymes.

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

My son loves this book. We actually keep it in our diaper bag and pull it out whenever we are waiting somewhere.

Editorial Review:

There's a Wocket in My Pocket is filled with bizarre creatures and rhymes: the nupboard in the cupboard, ghairs beneath the stairs, and the bofa on the sofa!