Best Stories in Verse

From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. VERDICT A go-to gift for new parents, and a potential bedtime favorite for many children.—Martha Link Yesowitch, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Purchased this book as a "card" for a baby shower gift from a group."
"There are both boys and girls depicted in the book, but it is a boy having the tea party, a boy using the sewing machine, a girl on the tree swing, and a girl as a superhero. This is one of the first children's books I've ever seen that shows the REALITY of little kids....that boys and girls do all sorts of similar things."
"At the same time, there are so many BEAUTIFUL and good influences in the world as well, like this book, and I truly believe that keeping a steady diet of healthy, positive "mind food" going into a youngster's brain can go a long way in equipping them to counteract the junk that creeps in from time to time. This precious book is such a great tool to help them begin... soft illustrations complementing simple words, a book that encourages a youngster to use his/her imagination and think of all of the possibilities in answering the age old question adults pose to them, "So... what do you want to be when you grow up?""
"Clearly, this book was put together with the utmost love and though."
"I loved it & cried the first time I read it & I still have a hard time not getting emotional when reading it to my, now, nearly two year-old."
"It's a favorite in our house and it's also really heart warming :) We've given it as a gift at multiple baby showers and birthdays and it's always cherished."
"Purchased this as the guestbook for my baby shower."
"I gave this to my 18 month old grandson."

One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! First-time author Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site steadily climbed up the New York Times' Bestseller list throughout 2011, reaching #1 on January 29th, 2012. Here she shares the early inspiration that inspired a career in design, and how another artist brought her vision to life. I grew up loving picture books. Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House was my favorite, and I obsessed over the whimsically sweet illustrations of that little pink house happily sitting upon a hill covered in daisies. We had two boys and two good excuses for buying dozens (and dozens) of picture books. obsession with trucks, I wrote Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site in stolen moments during the workday and late at night, after the boys were tucked in. And with the words emerged a vision (dare I say "obsession") for how the book and my trucks would look. I included the concept illustration with my manuscript and sent it, unsolicited, to Chronicle Books. One of the reasons that Chronicle was the first (and ultimately only) publisher on my list was that I LOVE their picture books. The first was from Tom's NYT best-selling book, Duck! Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House Virginia Lee Burton's Mike Mulligan 's steam shovel. Rinker's original vision for Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Illustrator Tom Lichtenheld's Duck! Lichtenheld's first sketch of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When this book was published in 2011, I babysat full time for our oldest grandson while my daughter-in-law was in the work force, he was 3 years old and was HEAVY into Thomas the train. We'd begun a collection of diecast trains for him, along with the Island of Sodor's construction team (called "The Pack"), and each and EVERY day at naptime he would have to say "goodnight" to each and every one of them individually - this darling book does exactly that, saying an individual goodnight to the rough and tough crane, cement mixer, dump truck, bulldozer and excavator, who are all calming down and getting ready to call it a night (with all of the typical bedtime rituals included in the book - taking a bath, getting tucked in, curling/snuggling up, dimming the lights and shutting the door) - it would have been absolutely PERFECT! Whether it's naptime or bedtime, the calming way this book is written coupled with the cute illustrations of the vehicles yawning, shutting their eyes, etc., is bound to be a sure-fire winner for any parent or grandparent tasked with helping a youngster to "Turn off your engines, stop your tracks, relax your wheels, your stacks, and backs."
"If you and your child enjoyed the train book, you'll like this one."
"Our favorite page is where the crane is holding his teddy bear and a star night light is hanging over them."
"I like that it teaches the names of the construction trucks, has rhymes, and the illustrations are very detailed."
"This book will be a great book for little boy so in love with Construction and all vehicles involved in those processes!"
"Warning: Only buy this product if you have a great desire to read it at least 10 times a day!"
"This quickly became one of my 3 year old sons favorite bedtime books."
"Such a cute book, our son loves it - he is currently obsessed with all things that go!"

Young readers will surely identify with little fire engines, tractors, and monster trucks as they ask for one more story while their mommy trucks tuck them in, and their daddy trucks sing a goodnight song. Brianna has followed the success of Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? You can visit Brianna on the Web at briannacaplansayres.com and facebook.com/authorbrianna.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 2 year old grandson loves cars and trucks."
"Adorable book!"
"My 2 3/4 yr old grandsons ask for this one over and over!"
"Cute rhyming story but I wish the trucks weren't so cartoony looking."
"Grandson got this for his birthday."
"Great good night book for 5 yr old who loves all things trucks, etc."
"Plus it's great for bedtime."
"My daughter is two and rips a lot of paper pages so it's nice to have the thick hard pages throughout- perfect for toddlers."
Best Children's Science & Nature

You can discover the answers to these questions and more with The Everything Kids' Easy Science Experiments Book . Using easy-to-find household materials like soda bottles and flashlights, you can build bubbles, create plastic--even make raisins dance! This is the perfect book for a rainy Saturday, a lazy vacation day, or even after school. Tom Robinson teaches high school science and math and has coauthored an online advance placement physics course.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There are so many great experiments in this book!!"
"He loves this book."
"Great gift for grandkids."
"Fun book with good ideas."
"Cute book to get crafty with the kids!"
Best Nursery Rhymes

Be enchanted and delighted by a bedtime story for every day of the year in this beautifully illustrated collection carefully retold for every little ones story time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Every child should have a book with mother goose rhymes and stories."
"We have the others too and they love to try to read the poems."
"I know it says poems and stories."
"Some of these stories are a little weird, but at the price point you can't really complain!"
"Sweet short bedtime stories that kept my daughter entertained every evening."
"Ordered this book for my sister's granddaughter."
"This book is so cute."
"great collection, you couldn't not go wrong with this."
Best Children's Dr. Seuss Poetry

In a starred review, Booklist notes, “Seuss’s message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.’” A perennial favorite and a perfect gift for anyone starting a new phase in their life! Kindergartners, graduate students, newlyweds, newly employeds--all will glean shiny pearls of wisdom about the big, bountiful future. Dr. Seuss, with his inimitable illustrations and exhilarating rhymes, is convinced ("98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed") that success is imminent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A perfect gift for graduation, Oh, The Places You'll Go is an inspirational read with a message that reminds it's reader that today is your day! Today is your day! "TODAY is your day!"
"Bought this for my daughter’s college graduation and on each page wrote scripture that was relevant to the page."
"He loves the story and the classic Seuss rhyming scheme and will one day appreciate the deeper philosophy buried in the margins."
"I tried reading it to my husband - a reminder of the days when we read so many of these books over and over and ."
"I've also seen them used as 'advice books' where guests at graduation parties write little bits of advice for the graduates."
"I had given this book to my granddaughter as a toddler."
"This will be my daughter's 2030 High School graduation present."
"Tomorrow, he will take it to school and have this year's teacher's sign it."
Best Children's Humorous Poetry

If you are a dreamer, come in, If you are a dreamer, A wisher, a liar, A hope-er, a pray-er, A magic bean buyer ... Come in ... for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved these poems and a kid and my 4-year old enjoys them now."
"If you didn't read it as a child, read it now."
"Arrived promptly and in good shape."
"My sister just became a teacher, so I wanted to get her this timeless classic for her bookshelf at school."
"A beautiful book for children and the young at heart of all ages."
"I can just barely remember these poems from when I was little."
"I gave this to my granddaughter for her 9th birthday, along with Every Thing On It."
"Was given as a Christmas present."