Amos is a creature of habit - every day he rises at the exact same time and follows the exact same routine as he readies himself for work. 'He would wind his watch and set a pot of water to boil', and soon he is out the door to catch...READ MORE

My middle child, Sophie, has a stuffed friend she got when she was 18 months old – a cute puppy from Hershey Park.  She could barely walk, but somehow toddled over to this particular souvenir, picked him up by the ear and proclaimed his name was Woofy. He has barely...READ MORE

Over the last two weeks I have offered two separate summer reading suggestions – books my kids are reading right now and their favorite books.  This week it’s my turn!  There are a few books I am always trying to convince my kids to read – so far unsuccessfully. I’m...READ MORE

Summer Reading Suggestions   Summer is the perfect opportunity to spend a few hours curled up with a good book (or books, as is the case here in my house, as all of us are usually immersed in two or three books at a time).  And if you’re anything like...READ MORE

When I saw my two older children literally have a tug of war battle over a book, I knew precisely how to settle the argument.  That much desperation could only mean one thing, so I quickly took the book and settled onto the couch, and flipped to Page One.  It...READ MORE

With school out, my kids are once again heading off to camp, which means seeing old buddies and forging new friendships.   Wooby & Peep: A Story of Unlikely Friendship(written by Cynthea Liu and illustrated by Mary Peterson) is a perfect book for this time of year: a fun, silly, important...READ MORE

Let’s face it – as parents we tend to push our kids to succeed.  Nothing wrong with that, except that it seems we expecting more and more from them at a younger and younger age - even in my own family where I try to compliment the effort rather than...READ MORE

There’s something about little boys and trucks – my son knew the difference between a backhoe, front loader and excavator practically before he could talk. We would spend hours just down the street from our house where there was a new home being built, watching the construction, as he offered...READ MORE

I tend to be one of those mothers – the sort who constantly finds lessons in every day happenings. I stop at roadside markers so we can learn about history, and I always have my phone handy just in case we come upon a new idea or concept and I...READ MORE

Every morning, countless of working moms head off to the office – and regardless of where you stand on the stay-at-home versus working mother debate, there is no doubt it’s never easy leaving the kids behind in someone else’s care.  “And I Thought About You” written by Rosanne Kurstedt and...READ MORE

OBLIVION   by Jane Louise Boursaw   Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity    Released in Theaters: April 19, 2013 (2D, IMAX) Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi Runtime: 126 minutes Directed by: Joseph Kosinski Cast: Tom...READ MORE

THE GREAT GATSBY   by Jane Louise Boursaw   Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language.     Released in Theaters: May 10, 2013 (2D, 3D) Genre: Drama, Romance, Based on a Book Runtime: 142 minutes Directed...READ MORE

Both my older children gobbled up the series, ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ by the mysterious Lemony Snicket, which follows the three orphaned Baudelaire children as they are shuttled to live with Count Olaf, a distant uncle, after their parents death in a fire – so when I discovered ‘The...READ MORE

I admit I’m a bit late to the Mr. Men and Little Miss series – sure, I’d seen the faces on t-shirts and vaguely heard about the characters with names like Mr. Fussy and Miss Tiny - but, the truth is, even after receiving a half dozen of these books...READ MORE

I treasure the special bond my children share with their grandparents – although, of course, I always wonder how these people (aka our parents) can be the same ones who engaged such strict rules and held such high expectations and yet now believe that an entire box of Mallomars is...READ MORE

Lately, on library day, my daughter has been bringing home graphic novels.  I knew they were all the rage right now (at least in her class) but other than The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I really wasn’t sure what they were all about and was sort of thinking she was...READ MORE

Book Review:  F in Exams   First, let me say straight off that I don’t generally condone blatant sarcasm, especially when uttered by a young adult.  And secondly, I also don’t really find it appropriate to celebrate bad test scores. Combine a sarcastic young adult with bad test scores, well,...READ MORE

Bestselling author, John Grisham published his first book, Time to Kill, in 1989 – and, currently with more than 25 books and 275 million copies in print, has established himself as a leader in adult legal thrillers. Now, with Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer, Grisham produces an equally riveting and suspenseful...READ MORE

A GOOD READ is our Book Review section and is provided to you as a helpful guide to current and classic books that we think are worthwhile reading for you and your children. We believe in enhancing the child/parent relationship through reading time. Time spent reading aloud with our little...READ MORE

Sofia The First, Written by Cathy Hapka, Illustrated by Grace Lee, 40 Pages, Ages 3-8 A young commoner dreams of becoming a princess – and then one day, after her mother marries the king, her wish comes true!  What young girl hasn't pretended she has been magically transformed into royalty,...READ MORE

My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs and High Fives By Jamie Lee Curtis (Writer) and Laura Cornell (Illustrator) Ages 4-8 Author Jamie Lee Curtis and Illustrator Laura Cornell have done it again! In, "My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs and High Fives", both children and parents will enjoy...READ MORE

I’ll Save You Bobo By Eileen & Marc Rosenthal, Ages 3-6                 A young boy named Willy has a tough time reading his dinosaur book with his favorite stuffed animal monkey named Bobo. But what’s the problem? No one other than his relentless pet cat… Earl. Earl refuses to leave...READ MORE

This Is the Dreidel By Abby Levine, Illustrated By Paige Billin-Fry, Ages 4-7 Main character Max and his family of four celebrate the eight night of Hanukkah! This story revolves around the Jewish holiday, teaching the many well known traditions with the use of witty rhyming and adoring characters. Max...READ MORE

What If? By Else Holmelund Minarik, Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, Ages 3-6 Two cats named Pit and Pat were tossed out of the house. They scuffled in the snow until an idea came to mind… their own Christmas tree! Thoughts and schemes and suggestions were exchanged back and forth...READ MORE

The Night After Christmas, By James Stevenson, Ages 4-8 Christmas time is the time of year filled with good friends, family, food... and of course new toys! But when the new toys make an appearance under the tree, old teddy bear and doll find themselves replaced, and thrown in the...READ MORE

Otto The Book Bear By Katie Cleminson, Ages 3-6 Otto The Book Bear is a small bear with a big secret. When no eyes are on him, Otto comes to life and escapes from his book! He travels long and far exploring the house his book owner resides at, reading...READ MORE

All About Grandmas By Roni Schotter, Ages 4-7 All grandmas are just a little off their rocker in their own special way, but they all seem to have one thing in common… love and wisdom! This story shares the assortment of hobbies, interests, and funny quirks grandmas have all around...READ MORE

Dog Loves Drawing By Louise Yates, Ages 3-5 Dog loved books so much he owned his own bookstore. When he wasn’t reading new stories he was sharing his passion and reading to others. One morning, a package was delivered to his store leading to the start of something new… and...READ MORE

Blue Sky By Audrey Wood, Ages 2-4 Best Selling author and illustrator, Audrey Wood, uses her magnificently vivid drawings and meticulously simple words to portray the many scenes of the sky. There are only two words on each page. For example, rainbow sky, storm sky, wish sky, etc. But with...READ MORE

New York Times #1 Bestseller This is a loving story addressing the topic of separation anxiety when it comes to parents and their precious children.  This change is hard to grasp as a child but this book does the perfect job in helping them overcome it. Chester, a little raccoon...READ MORE

This crafty book includes a variety of TWENTY NINE different ideas for the fall. Boys, girls, parents, friends, this book will keep you entertained (and distracted long enough to clean up their last mess!) Each craft project includes a list of what you will need, numbered steps of what to...READ MORE

This is the story of eight BugaBees—A great bunch of friends with food allergies. Eight best friends face a variety of different food allergies. This amusing book teaches the importance of taking care of yourself and each other. Food allergies are never fun, but with friends by your side, there's...READ MORE

A book about understanding and appreciating each other. People are unique in their own ways and this story does a wonderful job at pointing this out for children. It teaches children to recognize similarities, accept one another's differences, and appreciate each other for who we are. "One of us is...READ MORE

This book is full of dots! And not just ordinary ones. This children's book does a perfect job comparing opposites on each page, portraying adjectives with just simple dots! "Heavy dot, Light dot, Hungry dot, Full dot". Your child will learn a range of opposite relationships with this unique, and...READ MORE

This is a fun, vibrant guide perfect for children to making friends and keeping them. With ten chapters ranging from "Feeling Shy" to "Making up with a Friend", these will surely fulfill their many questions when it comes to friends and foes. The beginning of this wonderful guide starts with...READ MORE

Written by New York Times bestselling author. An easy read that'll get you on your feet! This interactive book teaches children the many ways they can move with its rhyming text and silly illustrations. "Move your body!Have some fun!Watch!We'll show you how it's done." This is just the right book...READ MORE

If this isn't a girly girl book, I don't know what is! From cover to close to the heartwarming message inside, this bright, striped book will surely catch your little one's attention. Molly hoped for a little sister, but when her wish came true, she was taken by surprise. Molly...READ MORE

Spencer is a young man who is flush with toys. Armies of soldiers, convoys of cars, a zoo's worth of animals and a bonanza of weapons are just the front ranks of all the toys that populate his house inside and out. And every single toy is declared his favorite,...READ MORE

Wily Mr. Fox outwits a trio of nasty farmers who want to be rid of him and his family. Roald Dahl's wild way with story is well known from Charlie and the Chocolate factory and others. Mr. Fox offers a gentler, but equally whimsical kind of humour. Readers may also...READ MORE

Have you ever wondered where your needles and thread vanish to? What happened to that last potato you thought was in the cupboard? Or the postage stamps you know you left in the drawer? Perhaps you did use them, or lose them, but perhaps the borrowers took them. Imagine tiny...READ MORE

In this delightful sequel to Benny and Penny in Just Pretend (2008), the mouse siblings have a new neighbor whom they suspect might be a thief, because Benny's pail is missing. When they look over the fence into the backyard, they see strange footprints. Then Benny falls into the yard,...READ MORE

For kids just starting to read, this cheerful title in the Scholastic Reader series is a combination of very simple sentences and bright, clear, colorful illustrations. Alligator Mommy is baking cookies. Alfie loves cookies, but when he tries to grab one, Mommy tells him to "think of a better way...READ MORE

Retold By B.G. HennessyIllustrated By Boris Kulikov Although we teach children not to judge a book by its cover, this hardcover book will not only WOW them on the shelf, but onto the very last page. The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a retold story of the original fable with...READ MORE

How can you buy "Nothing"? Well, that is exactly what Suzie Gump does when she enters Otis's store. She buys nothing and sets-off on a town wide frenzy of buying nothing. Her lavish spending sparks the town's interest and soon everybody is buying and selling nothing until they realize they...READ MORE

One day out of the woods a cat, named Charlie came into Elizabeth and Sara lives. He played with them, slept with them, and ate with them. One night Charlie didn't come home. The girls search for him to no avail; then one day they discovered him at another house....READ MORE

Ralph the mouse ventures out from behind the piney knothole in the wall of his hotel-room home, scrambles up the telephone wire to the end table, and climbs aboard the toy motorcycle left there by a young guest. His thrill ride does not last long. The ringing telephone startles Ralph,...READ MORE

There's no place on Earth a flat kid can't go! Stanley's not the only flat one! When a flat skull is discovered in Africa, Stanley Lambchop decides to travel there with his brother, Arthur, and their father, George. Maybe studying the skull will give them clues to Stanley's flatness. But...READ MORE

Join a rambunctious child as she exuberantly celebrates all the wonderful qualities that make her special -- her nose, her toes, her ears, herself!  This is a fun to read story of a nameless little girl with pigtails who is very happy to be herself. Throughout the story she sings...READ MORE

To her small Eskimo village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When the village is no longer safe for her, Miyax runs away. But she soon finds herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness, without food, without even a compass to guide her....READ MORE

What's more fun than spending Christmas with your family? Well, spending Christmas with your family and Mouse, of course! The creators of the #1 New York Times best-selling If You Give . . . Book‚Ñ¢ series have brought their stories, recipes, songs, games, and activities to this deluxe edition of...READ MORE

"Sometimes we get along and sometimes we don't. But there are still a lot of things we want to do together." Never sentimental, the warm, wry scenarios in this picture book explore sibling relationships from a younger child's viewpoint that speaks about the shared fun and the friction, the rivalry,...READ MORE

With irresistible, rollicking rhyme, beloved picture book author Mary Ann Hoberman shows readers that families, large and small, are all around us. From celery stalks to bottle caps, buttons, and rings, the objects we group together form families, just like the ones we are a part of. And, as we...READ MORE

Four animals‚ "sun-yellow bird, a white terrier, an orange fox and a brown squirrel" îface small disappointments that threaten to ruin their moods. The bird loses a prized tail feather, the dog tangles his leash around the fence, the fox has lost sight of his mother, and a meaty acorn...READ MORE

When someone leaves the kitchen window open, Cat jumps in! So begins the tale of an outdoor cat who finds his way into a tidy house, wreaking havoc at every turn. That is, until he finds his way in once more--this time into someone's heart. Beautiful, bright watercolors from Caldecott-winning...READ MORE

Based on events that took place in rural nineteenth-century Utah, this story should resonate with twenty-first-century children who have grown deeply attached to a doll or stuffed animal. In her picture-book debut, Randall tells of Mary Ann, a little girl whose prize companion is a cloth doll filled with wheat;...READ MORE

Icenoggle lassos a traditional Jewish folktale ("The Button Story"), sets it in the American West, and rigs it up with tongue-tingling cowboy language to create an engaging story. A young cowboy, gifted in making saddles and bridles, receives a sturdy, soft-as-silk piece of leather from a grateful cowpuncher and stitches...READ MORE

I Udderly Love You! is a playful and silly book that expresses the many ways to say "love you" from a cow's perspective. Your baby or toddler will giggle at the adorable pictures and clever use of "moo" such as "I love your every moo-vement, the way you skip about,...READ MORE

Poetry, mystery, and pure fun are at play in this educational book. The Book of Shadow Boxes transcends childhood stages because it can be read simply as a whimsical poem about the ABC's, or it can be used to build vocabulary and identify objects, and lastly each page is loaded...READ MORE

When the babysitter calls out sick; Mom and Dad frog are in a pickle and decide to take their preschool son, Joe out to Lunch. However, like a typical little preschooler he can't sit still in the fancy restaurant and tries his parent's patience. Especially, when he catches the fly...READ MORE

QB of the varsity football team. Passing grades in all his classes. Dating the hottest, "and smartest" girl at school. Summer job paying more than minimum wage. Things in Cody's world seem to be going pretty well. Until, that is, his girlfriend, Clea, is sent off to boarding school across...READ MORE

Grab your baseball cap, cracker jacks, and your glove! This book will make you feel as if you are in the stands at the ballpark. Charismatic illustrations woven throughout verses of the age-old song capture the magic of our national pastime. "Katie Casey was baseball mad. She had the fever...READ MORE

Fall in love with Lulu (Ladybug Girl) as she and Sam (Bumblebee Boy) use their imaginations to find common ground, fun, and most of all adventure! This book was so popular with both girls and boys that Sam now has his own series! Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy delivers a...READ MORE

Quick as a Cricket immediately captivates a child's imagination with beautiful illustrations and a melodic rhyme. Wood uses opposing similes to describe a child's inner self. Each colorful page is dedicated to one of the boy's feelings, "I'm as brave as a tiger, I'm as shy as a shrimp, I'm...READ MORE

The Kid's Book of Chess comes with a full chess set and board. However this is not just any old board. The board contains printed instructions describing how many squares and which direction each piece can move. The accompanied illustrated book teaches chess origins, history and strategy. This is an...READ MORE

Bounce is a book to have fun with! Cronin & Menchin use rhyming splendor and silliness to captivate little ones' attention. "If you bounce into a puddle, it's best to bounce in boots, if you must bounce in the market, it's best not to bounce in fruits!" This book is...READ MORE

DOGS is for every dog lover! The soft detailed illustrations depict many hilarious dog personalities and breeds. Throughout this book, Gravett teaches the concept of opposites, such as "I love hairy dogs and bald dogs. Stripy dogs and spotty dogs." DOGS is a book that young and old will enjoy...READ MORE

Butterfly Butterfly strikes a balance between concept and story as Horacek teaches colors through a beautifully illustrated yet simple plot. Lucy sees a butterfly in the garden but the next day it is gone. While trying to find it, Lucy discovers a many other colorful creatures. Little ones will be...READ MORE

Quiet Bunny's Many Colors is a celebration of springtime. The illustrations are simply gorgeous featuring bright and vivid colors. The amazing detail on each page will stimulate conversation between you and your child. McCue writes a wonderful story that children will wish to read again and again. Quiet Bunny discovers...READ MORE

Meet Me at the Moon is newly published story about the unbreakable bond between mother and child. Beautifully illustrated, Marino depicts elephants, zebras, and giraffes at play in the African plains. Mama elephant has to go away for a while, but she reassures her little elephant of her love by...READ MORE

The latest book from an incredible bibliographical series for 3rd to 6th graders, Who Was Steve Jobs?, gives insight into the greatest visionary of our time. Revealing fascinating personal facts about Steve Jobs and providing a historical perspective of his role in the creation of the home computer industry, this...READ MORE

This is an easy read for children with a very amusing collection of illustrations to view as well. Every page is full of color and decorated with a bold font that jumps out at the reader. The story revolves around a fuzzy caterpillar adventuring in the tall, tall grass discovering...READ MORE

This book is the definition of a "pumpkin story". The young boy, narrator and main character, starts the story by listing the many things he does in preparation for "Pumpkin Day". He points out the transformation of leaves changing color and squirrels storing goodies in their cheeks for the winter,...READ MORE

Hardcover, 40 pages. Ages 4-8 Farmer McPhee tends to his orchard of yellow lemons by the sea. He rhymes and riddles expressing his infatuation with lemons until the day he finds one not so yellow. "Who'd squeeze this red thing in their afternoon tea?Who'd buy a red lemon from...READ MORE

Hardcover, 32 pages. Ages 2-5 Splotch lays a spotted egg! Follow Splotch, a small, red, soon-to-be mother bird, on her unpredictable journey through the jungle. Her vibrant, multi-colored egg escapes from her sight when she bounces from excitement and wobbles the branch. This story is a journey of the...READ MORE

*Hardcover, 32 pages.*Ages 3-8 Vernon, a very friendly, yellow toad comes across Bird on his stroll rummaging around the neighborhood. Bird, a blue bird with big button eyes, never said a peep but Vernon never gave up on him. Vernon introduced Bird to his friends, showed him the river, and...READ MORE

"For the world you may be one person, but for one person-you may be the world" This quote is part of the story's dedication which inspired me to pick up and read the book. I'm Here is a heartwarming story encouraging childhood friendships and standing up for those who do...READ MORE

Hardcover, 32 pages.Ages 2 to 4 The plot of this children's book revolves around the notorious phrase, "Stop copying me!" From a young age, more specifically when they first learn to use their words, children find it oh so entertaining to mimic others... and we all know where it goes...READ MORE

Dear Zoo is a classic board book that infants and toddlers have loved for nearly thirty years. With sturdy flaps to lift open, this book is engaging, surprising, and a treat for all. The story starts with ‚"I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet. They sent me...READ MORE

Author and illustrator, Emma Dodd, brings bugs to a whole new level. I Love Bugs! introduces the reader to a variety of insects using fun, figurative language. Size, color, shape, and sound... you name it! Learn the difference between each insect and discover the boy in the story's favorite bug...READ MORE

As the title confirms, Dog believes he is the best, and boy does he make it known. Dog introduces his friends- Ladybug, Mole, Goose, and Donkey, who he claims to love and adore. Unfortunately, Dog does not treat them as he should. As the story goes on, Dog boasts and...READ MORE

The story begins with the owner of the cat as the narrator. In hopes of its' return, he staggers the streets listing the many desirable attributes his cat possesses. "Prim and proud. Enjoys a crowd. Sits in laps when he's allowed." The owner of the cat waltzes around town spreading...READ MORE

This is a cheery tale of the well known and loved game, monkey see, monkey do. Monkey prances around imitating the special traits of his many friends. Monkey jumps and roars and flaps his arms, but rabbit, lion and bird set him straight. "No, silly monkey,I'm a rabbit.I can jump...READ MORE

A Dog Is A Dog is a clever picture book perfect for young children. With rhyming words and a variety of animals, this story keeps the listeners eager to guess which animal will show up next! "A moose is a moose,whether it's large or it's small.Whether it runs in the...READ MORE

Lucy can't sleep. The title summarizes the entire story. Lucy tries everything under the sun to help her fall asleep but nothings seems to work. She tries counting sheep, she climbs out of bed, she searches for her favorite stuffed animal friends, and even sits out on the front porch. ...READ MORE

Who doesn't like new things? But has Mr. King taken things too far? This story sends an important environmental message to the reader from a cheery group of animals that even the youngest children can relate to. Mr. King's favorite pastime is tossing his old things in the shallow pond...READ MORE

Ollie is a super cute and petite young, brown gosling. For Halloween, Ollie and his four gosling friends dress up and enjoy the night; a night to beware. The precious goslings creep around scaring frogs and mice and gobbling treats anywhere they can get their hands on some. "Hooting like...READ MORE

This is a tale of a fox on the hunt for his favorite recipe. That's right! Toads. But what happens when Mamma Toad ventures to discover her poor baby toadlets on the cutting block? Her imagination runs wild in this suspenseful story that ends with a twist. Although Toads on...READ MORE

Marisol is an artist. So lovely an artist, her drawings and painted masterpieces cover every inch of the refrigerator. Until the day her class was assigned the project of painting a mural for the school library. Marisol couldn't wait to begin and share her art work. As the title reveals,...READ MORE

Do you have trouble convincing your children to eat their vegetables? Then make sure you get your hands on this silly story teaching children what will happen if they don't... "When you eat up your greensYour body makes glueWhich keeps all your partsStill sticking to you." The main character, a...READ MORE