Short Story Collections Books

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hyperion Book CH Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $6.00

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Dogs -> Fiction
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Pets -> Fiction
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Humorous

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My granddaughter, age 4, LOVES this book! We have all the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. They are all great! Simply said, cute illustrations, kids get it! 5 Stars

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

Who doesn't love the pigeon? He has feelings we can all relate to at times. Mo Willems does not let us down in his latest book. But...we want MORE!!!

Not as good as the other pigeon books 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I mean, they just set such a high standard, really....

The thing is, my nieces don't find the jokes in this one that funny to start. I mean, they get them, but only once I kinda wink at them and highlight that "hey, that was just a joke", and it's not... that worth it. They request the earlier pigeon books much more often.

The ones at the end are easier for them, but by then the book is almost over.

Still a good book, just not as great as the others.

the pigeon wants a puppy 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

my granddaughter enjoyed this book; also she read it to her 2 yr. old sister, which help with her reading skills.

Editorial Review:

The Pigeon really, really, REALLY wants a Puppy. C'mon, he'll take good care of it! He'll play tennis with it, and water it at least once a month! Will you let Pigeon's dream come true?

Dog Heaven

Cynthia Rylant

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Blue Sky Press Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $2.00

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Dogs -> Staff Picks
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 161 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

How do you explain Angel Children? 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book to help my 4.5 year old grieve for our 17 year old lab who died a couple of weeks ago. The illustrations are beautiful and the tone is soothing; but, I found myself at an uncomfortable loss to explain where the angel children came from--my daughter wanted to know if they were there because they had died too. This is was much more than I thought needed to be explained at this point. Our family is spiritual but not religious and haven't had long discussions with our daughter about God, other than to explain the existence of different religions and the need for understanding and tolerance of all beliefs. Had I known that God was going to be such a centerpiece of the story, I probably would not have purchased the book. I think for the right family, it is a wonderful story. Unfortunately, it didn't work for us.

We also read Forever Dog which was recommended by my daughter's school and it was perfect for our needs.

Good for anyone who has lost a friend 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As an adult a bookstore clerk offered me this book when my dog died, it helped me so much I've often given it as a gift to friends who have lost their animals.

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

Amazon Price: $10.87 List Price: $15.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Golden Books Amazon Marketplace: 114 new & used starting at $0.77

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( S ) -> Scarry, Richard

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 59 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Try some of the other Richard Scarry's Books instead 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Parents who grew up with Richard Scarry's books and who are nostalgic about his wonderful characters may be somewhat disappointed with this book. Some stories are taken from the delightful Richard Scarry's busy world (which appears to be now out of print and only available used on amazon for $124). Apart from these, the other stories are in a style which is very different from the Richard Scarry's books which I grew up with.
Until they come out with a reprint of Richard Scarry's Busy world, I would recommend "What do people do all day", or "Funniest storybook ever", where you can find all the familiar characters such as the cat family, lowly worm etc.

Many Diverse Mental Concepts 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was one of my main teaching aids growing up; however, my child will need some time to understand Richard Scarry's concept (along with some of his other books as well) of combining several theories and objects on one page that can confuse a young or developmentally challenged child. Not saying that it's impossible, but would take time. I say let them get interested in colors and basic shapes first, then direct them to the pictures and start introducing them to what they are by definition. Not only are there definitions and body parts and other concepts, but short and concise stories too if you can capture your child's interest long enough to sit still to listen to your reading and place the story with the pictures in a concept that they understand. LLO'C

Editorial Review:

This storybook is a collection of entertaining stories and poems involving celebrated children's book artist Richard Scarry's lovable cast of animal characters. These happy tales and lively illustrations make this treasury of the very best of Scarry's work the best storybook ever.

The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud

Janet Schulman

Amazon Price: $26.40 List Price: $40.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Knopf Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 72 new & used starting at $9.92

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Baby-3 -> Nursery Rhymes -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Classics by Age -> Ages 4-8
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Classics by Age -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 115 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Believe it or not, 44 complete read-aloud classics and future classics--from Goodnight Moon to Stellaluna--are packed in this remarkably svelte, positively historic anthology. Flipping through the 308 pages of The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury is like browsing a photo album of beloved friends and family. The familiar faces of Curious George and Ferdinand the Bull peer earnestly from the pages, and scenes from Madeline and Millions of Cats resonate as if you just experienced them yesterday. Think of the advantages of carrying this book on a vacation instead of a suitcase of single titles! (Your kids can always revisit their dog-eared hardcovers when they get home.)

This impressive collection of concept books, wordless books, picture books, and read-aloud stories was artfully compiled by longtime children's book editor and publisher Janet Schulman. Stories are coded red, blue, and green to designate age groupings from baby/toddler books such as Whose Mouse Are You?, through preschool books such as Where the Wild Things Are, to longer stories for ages 5 and older such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The reason the book isn't bigger than Babar is because many of the illustrations from each story were reduced or removed to fit the anthology's format. (Leo Lionni's Swimmy, for example, takes up 5 pages total, compared to its original 29 pages.) Brief biographical notes that are surprisingly quirky shine a little light on the 62 authors and illustrators, and an index helps, too, for the child who likes one story best. We love the idea of being within easy reach of a Star-Belly Sneetch, a William Steig donkey, and a Sendak monster at all times, and we're sure your little bookworms will, too. (Click to see a sample spread from The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury, compilation copyright © 1998 by Janet Schulman, illustrations © renewed 1997 by William Steig.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson

Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children's Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness (Indigo Dreams)

Lori Lite

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lori Lite Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $7.95

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Short Story Collections
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Self-Help

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

ndigo Ocean Dreams is a 60 minute CD/audio book designed to entertain your child in an ocean setting while introducing them to four relaxation and stress-management techniques. Children follow their sea friends along as they learn to release and manage anger with Angry Octopus, build self-esteem with Affirmation Weaver, implement Yoga breathing with Sea Otter Cove and visualize with Bubble Riding. Designed as the sequel to Indigo Dreams, this CD offers longer stories and expands on the relaxation techniques of breathing, visualizations, muscular relaxation and affirmations. Ideal for older children ages 6-12, or as step two for those already familiar with Indigo Dreams. Engaging characters present these adult level techniques in an easy to follow format that makes it fun for any child to learn. The narration is accompanied by calming sounds of dolphins, sea otters and gentle waves. An additional music sound track is included to further enhance your child's relaxation experience. These proven techniques encourage wellness and provide tools for children who suffer from anxiety, stress, trauma, hyperactivity, anger, sleep issues and lack of confidence.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Jon Scieszka

Amazon Price: $12.23 List Price: $17.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Viking Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 134 new & used starting at $2.02

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths -> Anthologies
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Humorous
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Poetry -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 148 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

the stinky cheese man 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have purchased this book for every child in my family and as gifts for other children it is funny and sarcastic in a nice way and adds spice to fairy tales I love this book

Editorial Review:

If geese had graves, Mother Goose would be rolling in hers. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales retells--and wreaks havoc on--the allegories we all thought we knew by heart. In these irreverent variations on well-known themes, the ugly duckling grows up to be an ugly duck, and the princess who kisses the frog wins only a mouthful of amphibian slime. The Stinky Cheese Man deconstructs not only the tradition of the fairy tale but also the entire notion of a book. Our naughty narrator, Jack, makes a mockery of the title page, the table of contents, and even the endpaper by shuffling, scoffing, and generally paying no mind to structure. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and the Giant at the top of the beanstalk snacks on the Little Red Hen. There are no lessons to be learned or morals to take to heart--just good, sarcastic fun that smart-alecks of all ages will love.

Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words

Ralph Fletcher

Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperTrophy Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $2.57

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Third in a Fantastic Trio by Fletcher 5 out of 5 stars.
52 of 53 people found this review helpful.

Ralph Fletcher has written a trio of fantastic books for young writers. "A Writer's Notebook" is about gathering material; "How Writers Work" is about the process of writing; and "Live Writing" is about craft, or how to write well. Most importantly, these three books are written directly to kids, in a warm and personal rather than "textbook" manner. I don't know of any other author who writes books on writing for kids, and this genre is so needed! Plus all of Fletcher's books are very engaging and well-written.

Fletcher selects what he feels are the most important aspects of craft for this book. My notes on some of them follow:
Characters
· Characters are the most important part of a story.
· The plot should grow out of the characters, and not the other way around.
· Characters must first be born in your mind.
· Build characters from people you know.
· Give physical descriptions of your characters.
· Characters should be complex, containing both good and bad.
· Write letters to and from your characters, asking them questions!
Voice
· Best way to develop it is through your writer's notebook.
· Think of writing as chatting on paper.
· Always have a particular audience in mind.
· Be honest!
· Writing is trying to get readers to see something as you do.
Conflict
· Types of.
· Don't wait long to develop it.
· Don't solve it too quickly.
· Don't end a story too abruptly or predictably.
Time
· Writing time isn't the same as real time.
· Slow down "hot spots."
· Skip over unimportant time quickly.
· Narrow the time frame to key points.
· Flashbacks are usually needed; they represent memories, what makes a character tick.

Editorial Review:

This book is based on the simple idea that every writer has a "tool box." Instead of awls and hammers, a writer's toolbox contains words, imagination, a love of books, a sense of story, and ideas for how to make the writing live and breathe. I wrote this book to give you some practical strategies to throw into your toolbox. I hope you'll try them, because these are ideas that can make you a better writer.

This book is titled Live Writing, and you may be wondering what I mean by that. Most of us have read (and written!) the opposite kind of writing-dull, drab language that sounds about as interesting as a city phone book. By "live writing" I mean the kind of writing that has a current running through it-energy, electricity, juice. When we read "live writing", the words seem to lift off the page and burrow deep inside us.

Brian's Winter

Gary Paulsen

Amazon Price: $6.50 List Price: $6.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Laurel Leaf Amazon Marketplace: 84 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 343 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Cornwall Middle School-sixth grader 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

By Noah

Brian's winter by Gary Paulsen is great, suspenseful, intense, and enjoyable book. It is an awesome book especially if you like adventurous or survival books. In this book Brian endures many animals such as a skunk who he becomes very fond of her and names her Betty he also comes to face with wolves, deer, and the most dangerous one of them all a moose which attacked him during his hunt. Brian uses his knowledge of the wilderness to survive. He also uses his memories too help design bows, arrows, and even arrowheads. He got used too living in the wilderness so he worked on new hunting techniques. He also learned how too make his shelter more secure by packing the walls with mud making it water tight and nearly air tight. This is a great sequel to the book Hatchet. Brian is a great character considering he gives the book a lot of suspense. During the time Brian was in the woods he learned many useful things such as how to carve an animal which is a good thing considering he as improved his hunting skills. The book Brian's winter was a great book I would definitely recommend it to anyone who liked Hatchet or likes adventurous or survival books.

Editorial Review:

In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. Finally, as millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if Brian hadn't been rescued? What if he had been left to face his deadliest enemy--winter?

Gary Paulsen raises the stakes for survival in this riveting and inspiring story as one boy confronts the ultimate test and the ultimate adventure.

Every Living Thing

Cynthia Rylant

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $4.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Aladdin Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $1.85

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For lovers of animals and people!!` 5 out of 5 stars.
30 of 31 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful stories!! Life as it is!! Having read these stories aloud to adults in nursing homes on numerous occassion and found them to satisfy our need to hear good resolves, we can all recommend this good read. "A Bad Road for Cats", one of the favorites, that hits the hard realities of human relationships and good resolves in our dealing with others when things aren't right. Stories of people finding there way through realationships with others and the place that animals play in our lives to make bridges. Read them! You will love them if you love people and animals. Write more of these Cynthia!

Touching stories about people and animals 4 out of 5 stars.
27 of 28 people found this review helpful.

"Every Living Thing," by Cynthia Rylant, is a collection of 12 short stories. Although different characters appear in each tale, the collection as a whole is unified by style and by theme. Each story deals with an encounter or ongoing relationship between a human being and one or more non-human animals. Since the book is only 81 pages long, each tale is quite brief.

This is a gentle, moving book. Rylant has a gift for capturing resonant details. She also writes with great compassion for both her human and non-human characters. Her non-human characters come in many different species: a turtle, dogs, a parrot, squirrels, and more. Her human characters are also diverse: both adults and children, both male and female. I found one of the most memorable characters to be an alcoholic wartime veteran (from "Drying Out").

My overall favorite story in the collection, "A Pet," is about a girl who becomes the owner of a blind old goldfish. I would recommend this book especially to those interested in the short story as a literary form and to those interested in literature about animals. If you like this book, I would also recommend Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's novel "Shiloh."

Editorial Review:

Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life.

Hardy Boys starter set (Hardy Boys)

Franklin W. Dixon

Amazon Price: $17.15 List Price: $25.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Grosset & Dunlap Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $13.97

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives
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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Series -> Mystery & Detective -> Hardy Boys

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

Still good after so many years 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

We purchased the Hardy Boys starter set after my 5th grade son had read the first book. He had to read a mystery book for school. He liked it so much we purchased the others.
He just finished the second book in record reading time. Even though these books were written quite some time ago, they still can appeal to kids today.

Non stop action 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

My 12 year old son loved this series..He was given these as a gift and has read one after the other..The decades old technology, motorcycles, speed boats kept him very interested..The Hardys are a classic that never fails to satisfy..

Hardy Boys starter set 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Books are wonderful. Grandkids are truely enjoying being introduced to these classics. Fast service during the holidays, too.

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

This was a great gift for my teenage nephew. At least I think so, he appreciated it but would have prefered a game but he is now forced to read more.

Editorial Review:

It's 6 books about the legendary Hardy Boys! This boxed set - just right for any kid who hasn't yet discovered these mystery classics - contains: The Tower Treasure, The House on the Cliff, The Secret of the Old Mill, The Missing Chums, Hunting for Hidden Gold, The Shore Road Mystery