Staff Picks Books

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (I Can Read It All by Myself)

Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House - Model: 0394800133 Amazon Marketplace: 332 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 132 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Two boys' review: Suess with simpler rhymes than Fox in Socks 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of our first bedtime books for our sons along with "Hop on Pop" and "The Foot Book". This beginner's book provides simple rhymes that are easy to learn and repeat.

We don't read this book as much anymore. We later graduated to "Fox in Socks." My oldest has returned to this book as an early reader. (I have to mix up the pages because my boys have much of the book memorized).

An Under-rated Classic!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

"Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham" get all the fame and glory, and I actually don't remember ever reading "One Fish Two Fish" as a child. But I've discovered this book now that I have a three year-old of my own, and it has become our favorites. Dr. Seuss is exceptionally skilled at playing with words and rhymes and coming up with hilarious, fun, well-crafted sentences. This book contains some of his best work. The books make learning language great fun. I was amazed last night when my daughter started rattling off the sentences in the book from memory as I read it to her, and she had great fun doing it. A children's book that both children and adults can appreciate and one that inspires in children a love of learning language: what more could a parent want?

And one other editorial comment...now that I've spent much time scouring the library shelves for good books for my child, I have come to have tremendous appreciation for Dr. Seuss's talent and wit. Almost all children's book authors fall far short of the standard Dr. Seuss set decades ago. Give me "One Fish Two Fish" or "The Lorax" over "The Polar Express" any day!

Editorial Review:

Illus. in full color. A "fabulous book of easy words, exciting pictures and inviting rhythm."--Elementary English.  

The Rainbow Fish

Marcus Pfister

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: CHRONICLE BOOKS - Model: CHB1558580093 Amazon Marketplace: 152 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 198 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

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

I purchased this book as part of a shower gift. My daughter loved this book when she was little with all of the brightly colored, shiny fish. I could not find it in any store so I was happy to get it.

Sharing is Caring! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I read this book when I was a kid and i still love it. It's all about how you shouldn't be proud and that sharing is caring (not to be cliche). SOme people think it's about socialism or that everyone should be the same. But it is just showing kids that being full of yourself is an undesirable trait.

Classic 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a classic! I remember having it read to me when I was an elementary school brat, and now it's great to read all over again. It's a great story with a great message and plenty of fun characters plus some gorgeous artwork.

We love it 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is the original Rainbow Fish story which is a simple moral tale designed for very young children. The Rainbow Fish is beautiful, but arrogant and selfish. He has to learn that superficial qualities such as beauty and wealth cannot be valued over friendship and happiness.

It is at best an oversimplification to say this is a book about sharing, and I cannot agree at all with the reviewers who claim it is about being forced to give up one's unique identity in order to fit in with the crowd. To me that is yet another case of people impressing adult attitudes and ideals on to a children's book and I'm sad to see so many people seem to have missed the point, which is not that the Rainbow Fish gives away his shining scales, but that he learns humility. This is a charming and classic children's book from my home continent and I'm proud to have it on my daughter's bookshelf.

Editorial Review:

Rainbow-colored foil stamping glitters on every page of this unique book about a beautiful fish who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions-his shimmering scales.

Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On

Lois Ehlert

Amazon Price: $7.00 List Price: $7.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Voyager Books Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $0.01

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

Pat 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful book! It is one of my 20 month old granddaughter's favorites and we have to read it many times a day. It goes with us in the car and she tries reading it by herself.

A teacher's favorite gift 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I love to give this book, as it always draws compliments from the receiver. Its bright and colorful pages keep the child's interest. Its one of the best counting books for young children 6 months to 3 years. You won't be disappointed!

Colorful, but no classic 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a very colorful book. There are some design flaws, some text is difficult to read and the text is more suitable for a 1-2 year old, the illustrations are well done and my 2yr. old son is entertained.

excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My daughter absolutely loves this book. We read it all the time over and over. She picked it out at the bookstore. I think she loves all the different vibrant colors and shapes. I highly recommend it.

Editorial Review:

Brightly colored fish introduce young children to counting and basic addition in this fun and simple concept book. “A visual treat from start to finish.”--Booklist

Shark (Eyewitness Books)

Miranda Macquitty

List Price: $19.00 By: Knopf Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 65 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

This book is AMAZING! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book is full of great information on Sharks and spectacular photographs! If you are looking for a GREAT Shark book, then THIS is the book for you!! (I would give this book MORE than 5 stars if it were avaible!)

Excellent kids book on sharks 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The graphics and images are compelling, and it's loaded with facts. I used this book to enhance a science exhibit for K-8, and all ages learned interesting things from it. For younger or less confident readers, each 2-page spread has a different topic, so it is easy to read a bit and then put it down until the next time. I thought it would be watered down for the older children, but was pleasantly surprised that it had plenty of depth for the older ones.

Editorial Review:

Full-color photos. Beautiful photography provides a close-up look at these terrifying "lords of the deep"--their anatomy and behavior, and the realities and myths behind their sinister reputation. This densely illustrated book is one of the most informative and technically accurate portrayals of sharks and their relatives."--(starred) Science Books & Films.  

A Swim Through the Sea

Kristin Joy Pratt

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dawn Publications (CA) Amazon Marketplace: 67 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Swim Through the Sea 5 out of 5 stars.
34 of 34 people found this review helpful.

I am truly amazed at the talent of Kristen Joy Pratt. I think that her talent to supply children with useful information in a fun way is pure genius. Not only does this book give valuable information about the sea, it also shows the creatures in humorous settings. This book does a wonderful job describing the animals using word play. Learn about an amiable angelfish or a puffed-up porcupine! This book could be used for many grade levels. Small children could use this as an ABC concept book while older children could use this as an informational book to learn more about sea creatures. I loved the art work in her book. She begins by putting a picture of the continents on the front and back cover. From there it just gets better. She uses wonderful color and detail in her art to show the characters the story is talking about. As a teacher, this book works wonderful with a unit on the sea. This book is very resourceful and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the sea or in wonderful illustrations. Not only will you be amazed that there is something for every letter in the alphabet, but you can read facts about different creatures that live in the world under water!

Editorial Review:

In this illustrated tour of the plants and animals of the undersea kingdom, Kristin Pratt once again introduces children to one of our planet's precious and fragile realms of biodiversity. Each page highlights a selected species with full-color illustration and a paragraph of fascinating facts.

Beneath the Sea in 3-D

List Price: $18.95 By: Chronicle Books Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $0.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fabulous book with stereo 3-D photos! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

BENEATH THE SEA IN 3-D

I highly recommended this book for school children and adults alike.

I was introduced to one of Blum's books by a friend and liked it so much that I sought out and bought all of his 3D books. I find the price so reasonable that I've since bought more to give as gifts.

I enjoy looking at the 3-D photos as much as my seven year old son so I already know several adults as well as children who will be getting this book as a gift.

The technical quality of the photos and printing of the books is very good. A magnifying, stereo viewer is built into a unique bi-fold cover of the book A little research showed that this idea is well over a hundred years old (like stereo photography) but I still find it very innovative because it is so rare and unusual.

The photographer has an inspired eye and top technical skill. The underwater photography is amazing. I think the dimension of the ocean really goes well with 3D photos. The colors and forms of the undersea world show so amazingly well in 3D and Blum went all over the world making these photos.

The writing accompanying each image adds to the photos with just the right amount of scientific and general information to serve both young and old reader. I like this book very much and I hope you find this review helpful. I recommend looking for the other 3-D books by Blum. They are all great!

Editorial Review:

Dive into the world's most exotic waters without even getting wet! This amazing collection of stereoscopic photographs brings to life the spectacular creatures of the deep like never before. A truly foolproof 3-D experience, Beneath the Sea in 3-D is complete with lenses innovatively bound in the hardback cover at precisely the right viewing distance to allow you to go "inside the photograph" and perceive depth and detail far beyond the ability of normal human vision. See eye-to-eye with a luminescent angelfish, go one-on-one with a lively shrimp, and swim surprisingly close to an ethereal jellyfish. Accompanied by descriptive and informative captions, these extraordinary photographs -- sure to amaze and delight readers of all ages -- provide an entertaining glimpse into the incredible range and diversity of life in the sea.

Fish Faces

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $1.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

Facinating Underwater Photographs, Unremarkable Text 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The creator of this book is a marine biologist, and the colorful overlays of his underwater photographs are so interesting, they make the text's general lack of flow (hence, the three star rating) seem less important. Both rare and more familiar fish are showcased, and notes in the back of the book identify them all. Some of the more fierce-looking fish presented are so intense they might be scary to sensitive younger readers, but they were not so for my two-year-old, who really liked puring over all the pages of this book.

photos of fish 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was a of little use to me so I passed it on the the thrift store. A much better book on fish faces is Fishface by David Doubilet published by www.Phaidon.com. Hundreds of spectacular photos
shane

Editorial Review:

A fierce cat shark. A coy parrotfish. Two serene sergeant majors. Who would believe that underwater creatures come in so many different shapes and sizes? Some are beautiful, some are monstrous--all are fascinating. A fun, rhythmic text and sharply detailed full-color photos introduce over 70 of these intriguing creatures.

The Magic Gold Fish; A Russian Folktale

Demi

List Price: $17.95 By: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $7.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A gorgeous edition of a classic tale. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic illustrations for this classic fable about a man who catches a magic fish. The man releases the fish when it speaks to him and asks him to spare its life. In gratitude, the fish grants him a wish, but the man's greedy wife demands more and more.... Children love this magical tale, and adults will appreciate the detailed decorations in this rendition.

Great translation of a great classic 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

One of the very few Pushkin tales for children available in the English - and in surprisingly great translation! Absolutly preserves the beauty & music of the original. Classic fairytale for all. Shame it is out of print!!! I'm ordering third copy already for the gifts and just explain people that I had to buy used as the new is not available...

Editorial Review:

One day, a poor old fisherman catches an unusual, beautiful fish--a talking gold fish. The gold fish begs the old man to release him, which he does, refusing any payment for this act of kindness. The fisherman's greedy old wife, however, thinks differently. Full color.

Fish (Eyewitness Books (Knopf Hardcover))

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

List Price: $19.00 By: Knopf Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 66 new & used starting at $0.27

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

fish book for the TV generation 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book for my son, my 3 y/o fish enthusiast, and the two of us have learned so much. The text, the captions and the marvelous pictures combine to make this a top quality product. My three year old has learned the parts of the fish, how they breathe. He has learned about the seahorse and about his favorite: the flounder (flatfish). The organization of this book allows for kids with short attention spans to still absorbe immense amounts of information. I highly recomend this book for anyone, even if you're not yet interested in fish, yoiu soon will be!

Editorial Review:

"With full-color photographs and careful anatomical drawings, charts, and diagrams, Fish educates even the casual browser. Each two-page section opens with a general text, while captions underneath the numerous pictures generously provide specific facts about every facet of fish life--camouflage, early fishes, oddities, and physiology. Libraries will not want to be without this absorbing entry in the Eyewitness Books series."--Booklist.

The Girl, the Fish, and the Crown

Marilee Heyer

List Price: $14.99 By: Viking Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $0.57

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A beautiful book for older children 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Marilee Heyer does an excellent job of retelling this Spanish folktale of a selfish and indulgent girl's journey into the sea. As a punishment for not showing mercy, the girl becomes a fish. In her wanderings, she eventually is led to a queen who, like her, is trapped in the sea. The girl is given power to transform herself into the form of other animals and is given the quest of reclaiming the queen's crown which was stolen by a giant. After taking on the forms of various animals and running into a prince in the shape of a deer, the girl finds the giant, deals honestly with him, achieves the tasks that he sets before her, and returns to the queen with crown in fin. Of course, the enchantment ends and all of the queen, her court, and the girl are returned to their human form. The prince, the son of the queen, recognizes the eyes of the girl and all live happily ever after. While the story is excellent, Heyer's colorful and exquisite illustrations add a great deal to the overall presentation. Older children will greatly enjoy this wonderful adventure with its solid, good morals.

Editorial Review:

While on a dangerous quest which requires her to take the form of different wild animals, a selfish young girl learns about compassion and generosity.