European Books

The Mitten

Jan Brett

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Putnam Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 67 new & used starting at $2.43

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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:

Brett creates a dramatic picture book with the story of Nicki, a young boy who has lost a mitten in the snow and the animals who try to make a home of it. "The illustrations and the book design . . . are exquisite . . . a charming lap book to be poured over again and again."--School Library Journal. Full-color illustrations.

The Legend of Old Befana

Tomie dePaola

Amazon Price: $7.00 List Price: $7.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Voyager Books Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $3.50

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths -> European
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

My Old Befana Book 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

My children in my preschool class was so excited to read about "Old Befana" during our study of Italian Christmas, however, when reading the book it was the quality dissappointed me.
The spine of the book was bound so tight is was hard to open, it cracked, and was hard to hold open during oral reading. If I had time before out school's culture presentation, I believe I would have returned it. In the past I have always received good quality maybe this was good qaulity but bound too tight. Thanks for the opportunity for my review.
Janice Payne

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

I love this book. It is a great story discussing Baby Jesus' birth. Very cute.

Italian Charm 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great book, love DePaola's stuff. The book reads in just 5 or so minutes. I bought it for my daughter so she understands why we celebrate the Ephipany every year. It is a fun Italian tradition and makes the Christmas season last just a little longer!

Editorial Review:

This is a delightful reading of the favorite Italian Christmas story about an eccentric old woman and her never-ending search for the Baby King.

The Gingerbread Man

Catherine Mccafferty

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Brighter Child Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $1.36

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The freshly baked Gingerbread Man escapes from the oven and outruns all those who try to catch him. But will he be able to avoid the clever fox or end up as his tasty snack?

Beautifully illustrated, this classic tale will capture children’s interest and spark their imagination page after page, encouraging a love of reading that is vital to success in school and life!

This title is also available in an English/Spanish bilingual edition!

Children will find hours of entertainment in the pages of these timeless tales! Our Brighter Child® Keepsake Stories are delightfully illustrated classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration that will delight children again and again! Collect all of the titles in this wonderful series today!

Select titles available in an English/Spanish bilingual version!

The Three Bears (Little Golden Book)

Golden Books

Amazon Price: $2.99 List Price: $2.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Golden Books Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $0.12

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

Always A Classic 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is now a new favorite on my 2 year old's list. He loves the story and now has it partially memorized, I think. He has learned the concepts of too hot, too cold, and just right; as well as big, medium, and small. Hopefully he is learning from this classic story not to repeat the fresh behavior of Goldilocks. I think the repetition and sequencing of events in this story are appealing to little minds. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because sometimes the picture on the page preceeds the story and it hinders the flow of ideas.

THE THREE BEARS ARE "JUST RIGHT!" 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is a timeless, enduring children's classic. I have been reading this to my two year old granddaughter, Carolina Skye. Everytime I ask her to bring me a story to read to her, this is the one she chooses. She refers to it as "The Just Right Book!" This is because the baby bear's porridge, bed and chair are not too hot or to hard, but JUST RIGHT! She has been able to transfer this expression to many other situations...if I ask her if she likes something, she'll say, "It's Just Right!" She loves Goldilocks and the baby bear, but somehow thinks that her Grandmother & Grandfather are the MaMa & PaPa bear. Wonder where she got that idea? We only TALK for the characters every time we read it to her! This book truly is "JUST RIGHT!" Susan Boston September 9,08

Editorial Review:

Rob Hefferan’s whimsical artwork breathes new life into this family favorite. All children love to hear each bear say, “Who’s been sitting on my chair?” knowing that Goldilocks is about to be discovered upstairs!

The Gingerbread Boy

Paul Galdone

Amazon Price: $10.88 List Price: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarion Books Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $0.37

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and "at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!" A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone"s broadly humorous color wash drawings. Of the eight editions of this well-known story now in print, this hilarious version is the most delectable."
—School Library Journal, starred

"Galdone has already proven many times over that he is perfectly at home with those traditional nursery tales that are still preschoolers" favorites, and his expressive, unassuming style just right for their very young audience. . . . Children will follow along breathlessly . . . right up to that last snip snap snip when the Gingerbread Boy goes "the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven.""—Kirkus Reviews

Strega Nona

Tomie dePaola

Amazon Price: $17.60 List Price: $17.60 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Topeka Bindery Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $17.60

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best memory I have of reading to my son, years ago... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

All of Tomie dePaolo's books are treasures, and this one is no exception! While in first grade my son Joshua was assigned this book and to make a shoe box diarama. It is the best memory I have about his childhood many years ago, as he is 21 years old now. This was "our" first Tomie dePaolo/Strega Nona book, and after we completed reading it we went to our local library and found all others written by dePaolo.

dePaolo's books are so creative and colorful, matched only by mischievious but innocent, captivating story-telling and magical intrigue that kept my son reading for hours. I would highly recommend Strega Nona and all other Tomie dePaolo books to all parents of pre-school and grade school aged children and grandchildren.

A classic book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a very basic morality story - Big Anthony (who never listens) was told Not To Touch The Pasta Pot, but when he had a chance he went right for it! Alas, he hadn't paid attention and so neglected to properly learn how to turn the pasta pot *off* - with predictable results.

The image of Big Anthony eating his debt to the village is priceless :)

Editorial Review:

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

The Clown of God

Tomie dePaola

Amazon Price: $7.00 List Price: $7.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Voyager Books Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $1.83

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Gift of One's Talents 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I remember this tale from my childhood when it was read to me by a nun. Tomie De Paola has beautifully illustrated this story and retold it by placing the events in medieval Italy. Since this is one of my favorites, I have purchased several copies for my grandchildren, and a gift to other grandparents who like reading to the little ones. Be prepared to feel the emotion of this story, it gets me all the time.

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

I love this book. Five in a Row has a great unit study on it. My children (3 yrs and 6 yrs) love it too. It has juggling to appeal to children and it has a beautiful ending. I have bought it for gifts as well as having my own copy.

Clown of God 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a great read for all ages. A strong life lesson and a touching story that will reach out to those who are interested in a book that teaches something about life.

Editorial Review:

In this retelling of the old French legend, a juggler offers to the Christ Child the only Christmas gift he has. “The full-color pictures with subtle tonal modulations are an integral part of the design of the lumious pages full of movement and vitality. The Italianate aspects of the setting are beautifully realized.”--The Horn Book

The Gingerbread Man (Easy-to-Read Folktales)

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Inc Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $0.01

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

Cant catch me 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This version of the Gingerbread man is pretty close to what I remember as a child. At some points it seems a bit repetitious but I believe that the original was as well. Its a fun story for a snow day, when you are home baking cookies.

Fairyrebel 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 15 people found this review helpful.

It is a really good book for people who like fanyasy. Exspecially fairies.

Run Run as fast as you can:one of my 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

favorite childhood stories. This gets little children very excited and interested in the story. The Gingerbread man also develops basic reading skills.

Good version 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The version of the Gingerbread Man is good for first grade readers. The gingerbread man runs away from the little boy, the old woman and man, the farmers, a bear, a wolf and meets a fox at the end who just eats him up on the path - there is no crossing the river at the end. It's a good book for the price, and great for a beginner reader.

kids will enjoy 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I read this book as A kid, and now my I'm reading it to my grandaughter, and we love it.

Editorial Review:

The gingerbread man outruns everybody, until he meets the quick-witted fox.

The Gingerbread Man

Jim Aylesworth

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Press Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $6.38

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

fairy tales and popular culture 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The story of "The Gingerbread Man" has for centuries enlightened the hearts of its young readers.It has helped to redefine the way that popular cuture work helps to shape an individual's way of interpreting the ideological work that the story portrays.That utopian feel to it; where people want to see the hero win in the end and come up on top.In fact the gingerbread man gets eaten in the end,which goes against that utopian type of fairy tale that the public genre tends to enjoy more.But for some reason this fairy tale has been one that against all odds, has remained popular, and entertaining and plain old FUN.Which is what the everyday reader wants to read, something that is fun and entertaining when it comes to fairy tales.

Hidden message 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 15 people found this review helpful.

"The Gingerbread Man" is a great story for young children. However this story also has many hidden themes that your child might pickup on while reading this tale. "The Gingerbread Man" supports the idea that women are mearly the creaters of life and house keepers, and warns young children of the consequences of being arrongant and disrespecting your maker. Even with these hidden themes any child should enjoy this story.

Editorial Review:

A freshly baked gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a number of pursuers until he meets a clever fox.

Little Red Riding Hood

Candice Ransom

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Brighter Child Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $1.08

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Don't take the wrong path! 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I like this version of Little Red Riding Hood because no one gets killed in the end. This book takes place in the woods. Little Red Riding Hood was walking to her grandma's house and decided to take a different path. When she got to grandma's house, there was the wolf wearing grandma's night gown which had sheep print on it. The wolf locked grandma away in the closet in hopes of saving her for a late night snack. Luckily the wolf didn't eat or hurt anyone, he accidentely fell out of a window, tumbled down a hill and ran away. Afterwards Little Red unlocked the closet door and let grandmother out. They later had a picnic and lived happily ever after.

Editorial Review:

Between the pages of these delightfully illustrated books are the classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration that will delight children again and again. From the hard-working Red Hen to the foolish Gingerbread Man, these tales will capture children's interest and spark their imagination page after page, inspiring a love of reading that is vital to success in school and life. Fresh, captivating illustrations enliven each tale.