Full Moon Soup Review

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(More customer reviews)As a second grade teacher, I see a few books read to tatters year after year. This book is among the absolute favorites in my classroom. Although it has no words, it has thousands of stories unfolding over the pages, getting more silly in each scene. I find this book wonderful for reluctant readers, as they feel successful and start seeing books as cool and fun. I'm going to need more copies to keep up with demand. An original and entertaining book.

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Full House: An Invitation to Fractions Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very pleased with Full House: An Invitation to Fractions. My children really enjoyed reading it. It's very useful for children between K-3 grade. It has helped my children understand the basics of fractions.


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"Fresh, whimsical illustrations fairly fl oat off the pages. Rhyming text invites readers. . . . A fun choice for reinforcing the concept of fractions." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALMiss Bloom runs the Strawberry Inn, and she loves visitors. All through the day she welcomes a cast of hilarious characters until all the rooms are taken. It’s a full house! But in the middle of the night, Miss Bloom senses that something is amiss — and sure enough, the guests are all downstairs eating dessert. Readers will be inspired to do the math and discover that one delicious cake divided by five hungry guests and one doting hostess equals a perfect midnight snack at the Strawberry Inn. Piece of cake!

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Greetings from Nowhere (Frances Foster Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Amazing story with so many characters woven together to create a wonderful storyline. Although the characters were different ages all of them taught each other an important life lesson. I read it in one day and couldn't put it down! Tremendous read-suggested for read aloud in an intermediate classroom or even book clubs. It will lead to excellent conversations.

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Aggie isn’t expecting visitors at the Sleepy Time Motel in the Great Smoky Mountains. Since her husband died, she is all alone with her cat, Ugly, and keeping up with the bills and repairs has become next to impossible. The pool is empty, the garden is overgrown, and not a soul has come to stay in nearly three months. When she reluctantly places a For Sale ad in the newspaper, Aggie doesn’t know that Kirby and his mom will need a room when their car breaks down on the way to Kirby’s new reform school. Or that Loretta and her parents will arrive in her dad’s plumbing company van on a trip meant to honor the memory of Loretta’s birth mother. Or that Clyde Dover will answer the For Sale ad in such a hurry and move in with his daughter, Willow, looking for a brand-new life to replace the one that was fractured when Willow’s mom left. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that Aggie and her guests find just the friends they need at the shabby motel in the middle of nowhere.From an author long recognized for her true Southern voice and heartfelt characters, Greetings from Nowhere, with its four intertwining stories, brings Barbara O’Connor’s work to a new level of sophistication.

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The Elevator Family Review

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(More customer reviews)I have taught third and fourth grade for years, and I have read this book each year. Each year they have loved it.
Most of my fellow teachers have not heard of this book, and always want to borrow it.
I'm not sure how I stumbled across it, but I'm glad I did.

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Eloise: The Ultimate Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the book about Eloise that Eloise would buy. As you may remember, Eloise is the six-year-old who lives on the top floor of The Plaze Hotel in New York City with her English Nanny, pug (Weenie), and turtle (Skipperdee). Here are some of the ways that Eloise has been characterized: "Holden Caulfield for kindergarten girls"; "a mini-Auntie Mame -- a protofeminist"; and "independent and saucy."
Contained in this volume are the original Eloise story, the Scrapbook by Marie Brenner (containing the origins of Eloise and the story, and biographies of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight, and how readers responded to the stories as they appeared), and the three sequels (Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow). Each of the four stories contains the deluxe fold-out drawings from the original books, and the Scrapbook has many wonderful photographs and drawings that will delight those who would like to know more background about Eloise and her creators.
With one exception, the material is outstanding. The story, Eloise in Moscow, is very poor in its humor and plot line. But having the story in this collection will allow you to savor those parts of the story that happen to appeal to you.
The reproduction is also superb, except for the frontispieces of the four stories. These should simply have been omitted.
I usually avoid recommending expensive editions, but this one is a good value. It contains all the best material about Eloise, and you may have trouble finding the same versions by buying the books separately. Also, this edition is likely to be a hand-me-down item from one generation to another and another. The cost per reader is probably going to be quite small as a result.
To me, the best of the four stories is still the original. Reading the Scrapbook adds a lot to my enjoyment of that story. Of the sequels, I like Eloise in Paris best. Some people will not like Eloise at Christmastime because Kay Thompson's rhymes are not the best. I can enjoy fractured verse, so I found it appealing instead.
Space does not permit me to review each of these sections in detail here, but you can read my reviews of each story elsewhere on Amazon for the individual books. I gave five star reviews to all but Eloise in Moscow, to which I gave a two star review.
After you have enjoyed this book, I suggest that you grab a partner who also loves Eloise and write a new Eloise story that brings her into the 21st century in a locale and at a time of your choice. Then find a young person to read that story to, and draw some illustrations together. That will add to your enjoyment of this book and of your love of Eloise.
J'aime beaucoup Eloise . . . toujours!

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Fireman Small - Fire Down Below Review

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(More customer reviews)My 3 ½-year-old son loves Fireman Small. He identifies with the fireman's diminutive stature and is entertained by the shenanigans of the silly animals he rescues. We both think Fireman Small Fire Down Below! is the best book ever. The illustrations are deceptively simple. From my son's point-of-view they are easy to understand and lively. I find them witty, complex, and beautifully composed. The singsong rhythm of the text makes it easy for me to read it over and over--as my son demands. Unlike many children's books, this one rewards multiple readings with new surprises. Don't miss the little mouse who turns up in odd places. While this book definitely charms kids, there are also amusing little vignettes that appeal to a grownup sensibility.

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Vampire Trouble (Bailey City Monsters) Review

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(More customer reviews)Madame Hauntly, Mrs. Jeepers mother is going to the Hauntly Manor inn. When Carrey finds out that madame hauntly is a vampire, she puts sign in the neighborhood mean signs.

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Bailey City is full of some pretty weird grown-ups, especially the Hauntly family of the Hauntly Manor Inn. Madame Hauntly cheers the kids on at soccer games, but she also sleeps in the dirt and has long creepy fangs.

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Offbeat Overnights: A Guide to the Most Unusual Places to Stay in California Review

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(More customer reviews)This cinches it: California is just the d**ned coolest state in the nation. Yeah, I know we have our urban crime, poor air quality and bottom-notch public school systems (don't get me started..), but Holy Cannoli, what a place to vacation!
Offbeat Overnights is a short guide to the quirkier spots to rest on your travels through the Golden State. Every non-institutionalized hotel, motel, B&B and Inn is reviewed briefly in this book with one condition: it must have a twist. Some charming, silly or just bizarre aspect of your overnight experience must make it noteworthy in a world gone amok with the generic. Both the famous and "secret" lodgings are covered here. For example, we've all heard of the barbie-pink Madonna Inn at San Luis Obispo with its themed rooms (reason enough to visit right there), but would you have known to stop by:
·The Chimney Sweep Inn in Solvang - themed after the Chronicles of Narnia both inside and out of its six cottages.
·St. Orres lodge in Mendocino with its Russian-inspired copper domes and handcrafted wooden filigree. You can feast at the acclaimed restaurant on locally-caught and -harvested gourmet creations.
·An Elegant Victorian Mansion in Eureka , lovingly restored and entirely run by the owners who love to dress up in period costumes to complete the authentic Victorian atmosphere. Unbelievable attention to historical detail!
·Shadow Mountain Ranch in Julian, which has eight wooded acres and themed cottages such as the Tree House (yes, it is), Enchanted Cottage and Gnome House. I just have to see this one to believe it.
·Coronado House in Coronado, which is for legal purposes a dance lesson package that features a free overnight stay in one of its guest rooms. The owner calls it "Dance and Doze" (D&D) and creates authentic Leganese-American breakfasts and picnic baskets.
The author has personally visited each of these over five hundred establishments and provides a short summary and basic info in the listings. If I had one beef with this guide it would be that there weren't enough pictures, but the descriptions entice nonetheless. There is an undercurrent of enthusiasm for the delightfully uncommon experiences to be had at these offbeat inns run by inventive owners. She does state in the introduction however that no matter how wonderful, any place that wasn't clean, friendly or unusual enough was simply eliminated.
There is ever so much more to be explored, and suddenly I feel that I never really knew my home state. This book was printed eight years ago to date, so much of the info may be outdated by now. No doubt several wacky Californians have added new fab getaways since then. Would an updated reprint be too much to hope for? Meanwhile, there's plenty here to occupy my vacation planning for the next decade.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

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Surf's Up, Geronimo (Geronimo Stilton, No. 20) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this book for a reluctant reader in the third grade. He likes it because certain words are in various typesettings and bold to highlight the action. He now requests other Geronimo Stilton books because he finds them exciting.

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Ah, there's nothing like a relaxing vacation on the beach! I would spread out by the crystal-clear water with a good book. What more could a mouse want? At least, that was the plan. But somehow, my vacations never seem to go according to plan. Instead of a beautiful seaside resort, I found myself in a fleabag hotel that was falling down around my ears! Oh, would I ever be able to relax and enjoy my vacation??

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The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 12) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Penultimate Peril is one of the best in ASoUE. It's the next to last book in the series, and everything is starting to come together.
When we last left Violet, Klaus, and Sunny that had met up with Kit Snicket on Briny Beach, and that's exactly where out story picks up. She takes them to a hotel, where in just a few days, there will be a gathering of volunteers at the last safe place. However, we all know that nothing ends in sunshine & happiness for our favorite unfortunate orphans.
The book is very well paced, and a bit darker than some of the others in the series, but just as silly as well. We see lots of familiar faces, and will have you wanting to reread the entire series over just to see if you missed the slighest bit of a clue. We also meet some new characters, and discover some remarkable secrets. We also run into some new questions, and ponder the true meaning of noble. Right & wrong are not always black & white, especially for the Baudelaires. The Penultimate Peril is a very enjoyable read, and is a must buy for fans of ASoUE.
And make sure you have a mirror when you read.

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Catie Copley Review

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(More customer reviews)We're a Labrador family, so all of my younger grandchildren will get a copy of Catie Copley for Christmas. I loved the book myself!

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Catie Copley has a very special job - she is canine ambassador at a big, beautiful hotel in Boston.She lives with Jim, who also works at the hotel, and spends her days in the lobby sleeping, eating, greeting people, chasing balls, and sleeping some more.People are always coming and going and sometimes they need her special skills - such as a really great sense of smell and a dog's-eye view of the hotel - to help them out.When Tess, a guest at the hotel, loses her favorite bear, Catie knows that her moment of canine glory has come.Not only must she cheer up Tess, but she also has to sneak away to find the bear, lost somewhere in the maze of back rooms, before Tess has to go home. The adventures of Catie Copley are based on the real-life experiences of a small black labrador, originally trained as a guide dog.She had a career change and is now a member of the guest services team at the storied Fairmont Copley Plaza, where she shares her unique brand of hospitality daily.A portion of the proceeds from this book benefits the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.

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Eloise Takes A Bawth Review

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(More customer reviews)There is nothing so refreshing, so enlivening, or inviting, there is nothing so delicious as a bawth. Eloise, that irrepressible and precocious nymph, just about sinks the Plaza Hotel as she splawshes, dives, plays and swims in the tub, tub, tub of her penthouse bawthroom. Drips, drops, leaks, and waterfalls begin to spout all over the building, and the manager, Mr Salomone is beside himself as he watches all his hard work on the Venetian Masked Ball, to be held that very evening in the Grand Ballroom, turn wet, soggy, and almost float away. "ELOISE/thanks to you/the Plaza's through through through/flooded floor to floor/stem to stern/door to door/The Venetain ball's a bust/Come down with me/I want you to see/the mess you've made!" But has Eloise's bawthtub antics really ruined the ball? No, of course not. In her own inimitable way, she's actually saved the day, and the Venetian Masked Ball turns out to be the sensation of the social season..... Written in the early sixties, though never published, Kay Thompson's Eloise Takes A Bawth finally makes its long-awaited debut with the help of playwright Mart Crowley and the stunning and imaginative artwork of her long-time collaborator, Hilary Knight. Ms Thompson's engaging and lyrical text is filled with her trademark energy and wit. But it's Mr Knight's captivating artwork that really steals the show. Each bold and busy pen and ink illustration is rich in subtle color, brilliant, eye-catching detail, and marvelous facial expressions, and youngsters will want to linger and explore every inch of each fun-filled page. Especially noteworthy is a dazzling four page fold-out of the masked ball in all its New York, social scene glory, and a creative and playful look behind the walls, at the Plaza's intricate plumbing system. Perfect for kids from 4 to 94, Eloise Takes A Bawth is a veritable feast for the eyes and ears, and a treasured masterpiece to read and share with friends and family now, and future generations in the years to come. "Now Eloise's forty-year bawth is finally drawn. Soak away."

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Cam Jansen: The Catnapping Mystery #18 Review

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(More customer reviews)This was a birthday present for my goddaughter, and she loved it. She said it was the best present she received.

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The Cam Jansen series is perfect for young readers who are making the transition to chapter books.The first fifteen books in the series have received updated covers, and the series redesign continues with books 16-22, bringing new life to these perennial bestsellers.

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All the Lovely Bad Ones Review

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(More customer reviews)I have two boys. One of them is just about 8. This book is way above his reading level, but the story is wonderful!!
A brief synopsis: two kids - older tweens - go to stay at their grandmother's "haunted" inn. The two kids remind me of Fred and George from Harry Potter; they're just very mischievous. And their mischief wakes the ghosts at the inn.
There are "good" ghosts and "bad" ghosts, and it becomes apparent quickly which is which. There is a good mystery, a great amount of historical ambiance, and a very good personification of evil.
My boys love spooky stories. This one TOTALLY fit the bill. Not gross, not at all, just scary. The plot was so good that it captivated me, the out-loud reader.
I would highly recommend this book to kids in middle school, or, if you don't mind the subject matter, to younger boys. I find stuff like this increases my kids' desire to read as well as their vocab and attention span. But it IS scary, very much so! So, kids who are sensitive should avoid it.
(*)>

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Eloise: UN Libro Para Adultos Precoces Sobre Una Nina Que Vive En El Hotel Plaza (Spanish Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)As we all know, Eloise is six and she lives at the Plaza Hotel with her Nanny who says things three times, her dog Weenie, her turtle Skipperdee and two dolls. When I was a child, I adored this book and wanted to be just like Eloise. She does whatever she wants and gets away with it.
As an adult, I feel so sorry for Eloise because her mother only sends for her when it's sunny and otherwise isn't present. What a poor little girl to grow up so alone!
However, this is a tremendously humorous and beautifully illustrated classic that can always make me grin from ear to ear. I looooovve room service too! Oh, and charge it please. Thank you very much.

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Eloise is a little girl who lives at The Plaza Hotel in New York. She is not yet pretty but she is already a Person. Henry James would want to study her. Queen Victoria would recognize her as an Equal. The New York Jets would want to have her on their side. Lewis Carroll would love her (once he got over the initial shock). She knows everything about The Plaza. She is interested in people when they are not boring. She has Inner Resources. If you take her home with you, you will always be glad you did.--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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CityTripping Los Angeles: Your Guide to Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, Culture, Fitness, Hotels Review

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(More customer reviews)Great book, especially for the young and young at heart. Unlike most other city guides I see this one really appears to be written by insiders who genuinely seem to know what they're talking about. Useful for both visitors to the city as well as people who are already in LA. The book is well structured with separate sections on eating out, nightlife, shopping, culture & arts, lodgings and many more. If you want to know where the current "in" places are and the real inside information on LA then this is the guide for you.

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A to Z Mysteries Boxed Set, Books A to H: The Absent Author, The Bald Bandit, The Canary Caper, The Deadly Dungeon, The Empty Envelope, The Falcon's Feathers, The Goose's Gold, and The Haunted Hotel Review

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(More customer reviews)My 10-yr. old son is not a big reader, but A-Z Mysteries keep him interested. And better yet, he scores 90% or higher on AR tests which means his comprehension is high. This is the best part.

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Includes The Absent Author, The Bald Bandit, The Canary Caper, The Deadly Dungeon, The Empty Envelope, The Falcon's Feathers, The Goose's Gold, and The Haunted Hotel.

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