Form-4 Books

I have a daughter born in and adopted from China and when I saw this book on her pre-school library wish list I knew that I had to get it as her gift to her class. This book is a wonderful way to introduce children of all ethnicities to a culture that may not be their own. Our daughter's teachers have loved this book and it has become a favorite amongst all the classes.

This book is an example of typical Grace Lin illustrations. The idea behind the story is great. I love the idea of mixing Chinese culture with basic western skills- in this case, shape recognition. My main complaint is the fact that only 3 shapes are covered in this book! Round (circle), square and rectangle. That's it. I was expecting triangles and maybe stars or something. AT LEAST TRIANGLES!!! Still, a good purchase. The book promotes cultural awareness, and is worth a look.

3 of our children age between 2 and 7 loved this book! The colours and illustrations are great, the rhyming works well.The 2 year old loves the pictures, the 3 year old loves finding the shapes, and the unusual items named such as 'Chops, radish cakes, inking stones' which follow its Chinese theme are fascinating for our 7 year old, and we have had some great discussions. There is a childrens glossary at the back which explains the more unusual items, he loves this also. All the characters portrayed are Chinese.
Much better than the usual shapes finding books!

A book both boys and girls will find enjoyable, as stated by parents I have surveyed. Round as a Mooncake presents shaped items children come across when living in or near an Asian community, or if they have Asian friends. This book does an excellent job introducing words and terms to children from a time-rich culture (i.e., mooncake, name chop, lucky money). The illustrations capture one's attention. The colors of the images presented are rich and vibrant. There are enough well known objects children recognize to be comfortable with if not familiar with some of the new terms (i.e., pizza, window, cell phones. The glossary is an added bonus, introducing resources for children.

My daughter is from China, so combining the Chinese cultural lessons with learning about shapes was "double the fun"! She loves the illustrations and the story and enjoys looking for more shapes in the pictures by herself. This has become one of her favorites, along w/all the other books that have been written and/or illustrated by Grace Lin. It's a fun teaching tool for learning about shapes... I was a little surprised, however, that they did circles, squares and rectangles, but no triangles... Overall though, it's a great book!

This is an amazing collection of tales with female protagonists. I grew up on this book and I've loved it ever since I heard the first story. I finally bought my sisters and their daughters a copy since my sisters also grew up on it. We lost the family copy, probably when I was in grade school, most likely to a teacher who saw the value of such a book. Its got tales from various cultures, and various themes. Its not always just the love of a man that she's fighting for, which rocks. I love this book!

I remembered this collection of world tales from my own youth and was pleased that it was just as vibrant and fun as I remembered. Although the tales center around female protagonists, children and adults of any gender can enjoy the action, wit, and surprising tales featured here.

My 8 yo daughter has been getting a little sarcastic as of late. I turned to stories to try to remedy the situation. Tatterhood has opened up her world with strong, often humorous, female role models. I am so glad I bought the book! My 6 yo son and my husband and I enjoy it as well.

This is one of the best collections of fairy tales featuring strong and enterprising hereoines. It includes stories from may different cultures, but all feature clever, resourceful women who overcome adversity. some of the stories were already familiar to me, but many I'd never read before. If you thought all fairy tale heroines were ninnies like Cinderella and snow White, you need to read this excellent book and discover women like Kate Crackernuts, Clever Manka, Sea Girl, and the Three Strong Women.

My mother purchased this book for me as a very young girl, along with other collections of short-stories, and I remember being enchanted with it. The legends are fascinating, although I don't think the fact that they were all about young women and girls ever crossed my mind (an observation that leads me to believe this book would be good for boys, as well).

I recently re-read the stories, and was delighted. I remember being confused as a girl, since the places, people, and customs are mostly foreign, and so I wouldn't recommend these books to any one younger then six. And even then, with the lack of pictures, it's great for adults to read to kids (no matter what age, within reason). Worth the money.

This is an adorable book, however, it is lacking in the quantity of dachshunds. The few that are included are fantastic, high quality and the "other" drawings are good, too....But I wanted a wiener book!

I love the Far Side...and this has many of my favorites!

5 stars all the way

This is the best Far Side Book ever, IMO. It's a must for any fans of the weiner dog, and for those looking for a good laugh in general. Plus, it's got my seven-year-old interested in reading. He wants to know what's going on in the cartoons, so he has to read the captions (but sometimes the humor is lost on him!). Classic Larson, and lots of fun.

Imagine, if you will, a book containing a selection of Far Side illustrations. Further imagine that the center portion of this book contains eight full color images of wiener dogs as various artists, such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, could have imagined them. If you can imagine a book such as this, you will have entered the wiener dog zone.

Gary Larson has always been one of the most imaginative cartoonists of any era. This collection contains more than 180 Gary Larson illustrations that, as with all Gary Larson collections, run from subtle puns to bizarre perspectives. How about Wharf Cows scampering the ropes that tie ships to docks? Or perhaps a scene from Giraffes IV, where they are out for more than acacia leaves?

If there is a drawback to this collection, it is that the two volume set "The Complete Far Side 1080 - 1994" is a more cost effective way to buy all of Gary Larson's cartoons. Unfortunately for me, I already have six or eight or perhaps more Gary Larson collections already. Maybe I'll just keep on buying them. I know I keep reading them. Enjoy!

Gary Larsen was born with a talent. Yes, drawing is his talent, but coupled with that is his inherent ability to entertain, to amuse, to delight. In short, Gary Larsen is an entertaining artist. Look no further than "Weiner Dog Art."

The first 48 pages contain Larsen's standard (quirky and bizarre by others) cartoon art. For example, the boss is shaking hands with a client and says, "OK, Johnson--we've got a deal. We'll let your people and my people work out the details." Standing around each man is a little circle of little people with their little briefcases, just waiting for an assignment. (I wish this were possible.)

However, the focus of this book is the Wiener Dog Art located in the middle of the book (centerfolds)? The first is "Cave Art" and features the Wooly Dachshund on the wall of a cave in Southern France. "The B_____ of Paradise" is created after the Rubens School and features four mighty hefty Dachshunds lolling in the fresh air.

A favorite is "Wiener Dog with Head Turned" by Pablo Picasso(?). The artist has disassembled the parts of the dog's head and reassembled them to present the look he seeks. Another favorite is "The Persistence of Wiener Dogs" by Salvador Dali(?), although the painting is signed Labrador Dali. You will recognize the painting by its draping dogs over bare tree limbs.

A final example is "The Whine" by Edvard Munch(?). You know the painting: a dachshund stands on a bridge with his paws to his head, screaming. Colors swirl around him. All sorts of meanings are attached to this painting.

The rest of the book contains more delightful Larsen cartoons as humor. This book is filled with humor, laughs, and hours of entertainment. Highly recommended.

I first fell in love with Gary Larson comics, then he stopped. I then fell SO in love with Calvin and Hobbes and they went away (I was devastated). About 3 or 4 years ago a local business paid to have Mutts comic printed in the local paper here just for the month of December (thought it was a great, inventive advertising gimmick) and I fell in love at first sight....with Mutts comics.
I'm very picky about the comics I like, they have to have a certain special something and Mutts comics have filled my comic void. Thank you Patrick McDonnell.

Patrick McDonnell manages to capture the essence of dogs and cats in a wonderfully endearing and often hysterically funny way. The best cartoonist to come along since Charles Schulz and Peanuts, I look forward to enjoying his art and humor for many years to come. If you are a cat or dog lover, oh heck, if you are a human being you will just love his SCHTUFF!!

I love Mutts. It's one of those rare comic strips that can one day be cutsy, and the next day be profound. Of all the comic strips to appear in the last few years, Mutts is easily my favorite. We're no longer getting new Peanuts strips, but at least (may Schultz rest in peace), but at least we still have Mutts for a long time to come.

As the pet parent of 3 cats and someone who can't resist any dog that crosses my path, I thought my heart was a little softer than most when it came to the Mutts. I was wrong! Almost every one who picks up the copy of Yesh! that I have on my coffee table is charmed! The very endearing Mooch and Earl have put smiles on quite a few faces.

I love Mutts. It's one of those rare comic strips that can one day be cutsy, and the next day be profound. Of all the comic strips to appear in the last few years, Mutts is easily my favorite. We're no longer getting new Peanuts strips, but at least (may Schultz rest in peace), but at least we still have Mutts for a long time to come.

Absolutely too funny! A must have for even those who may not consider the late Gary Larson their favorite cartoonist.

Gary Larson is a twisted, demented personality and we are all better for it. His cartoons are some of the most absurd, yet hilarious concentrations of humor that have ever existed and this collection is no exception. Nothing is too sacred or too bizarre to escape the drawing and writing tools of this master. If you have a macabre sense of humor or can tolerate one, then you will love this book.

Far Side really doesn't need a review. It's hilarious and anyone who has ever read it will agree with me. It's a classic! My favorite one from this book is the fear that no matter where you are, a duck a watching you. Too funny!

Gary Larson has created the funniest cartoons in the history of mankind. Unlike other comics you do not need to read them in a series as each individual cartoon tells its own hilarious story in a stand alone fashion. Therefore you do not need to have read the previous volumes to enjoy this edition to its fullest.

Fourth in the series of Far Side collections, the 1994 originally released Gallery 4's cartoons come from the smaller books Wildlife Preserves, Wiener Dog Art and Unnatural Selections. This volume is forwarded by Robin Williams who gives a four paragraph opinion on Larson and his work. Far Side Gallery 4 also have a unique cover where the lenses of the woman's glasses have been cut out, meaning when you open the cover, still viewing the exact same drawing, the glasses are on their own on the next page. This however does mean Gallery 4 has the most fragile cover of all the galleries.

A mixture of four comics to a page and full page comics make up this volume, most are black and white but with the occasional coloured pages every now and then. Classic Far Sides in this volume include aliens with the moon landing astronauts in a jar about to shake the jar to see if they'll fight, the hospital for mothers whose children stepped on sidewalk cracks, the famous Mr Ed verse Francis the talking mule debates, punk accountants and many more hilarious cartoons such a chicken reading a sign on the other side of the road saying Why Do You Need a Reason?

This like all Larson's work is a must own!

This book is a real HOOT!

I guess the thing that makes Larson's cartoons so different is that his mind is just a little further off in space than where most of ours dwell.
Reading a whole book of these cartoons is a very different thing from looking at individual cartoons over an extended period.After 10-15 pages your mind tends to get climatized to this thought process and his cartoons almost start to feel like the normal ,rather than perverse, way to look at things.
We all need this exercise in mind-stretching and it is great to do it with humor.
I strongly recommend it to anyone who is not already a fan of Larso;myself for instance,at least until now.
If there are a few cartoons in the book that you did not "get";it simply means your mind is not totally warped yet.Just keep at it,you'll make it!
Enjoy !

I didn't have very much instruction in Latin prior to buying this book. I learned how to read it out loud, and I got a basic grasp on the grammar. After only that, I can still read and understand this little book. The folks I have been working with have found that after a few readings, they know what is being said. This is how we learn our first language, and this is how people learn to think in other languages.

I'd recommend this book to beginners who are looking to begin "the Natural way."

Treat yourself to this charming little jeu d'esprit. It will do wonders for lifting your sagging Latin spirits when struggling with some of the heavy-duty stuff.

I'm so lucky that my high school Latin teacher, in the early 80s, had us read this alongside Virgil, Horace, Ovid, etc. I had never read "Winnie The Pooh" before! -- and read it only after reading both "Winnie Ille Pu" then, much later, "The Tao of Pooh." You don't need to be as weird or backward as I am, though, to love this. The book is terrific. To all Latin teachers: bring this to class, please. It's wonderful. The students in my class loved it, finding it all very familiar to them as we reached each part. It wasn't easy to translate--I don't know how the newer ones compare ("Harry Potter" in Latin, etc.)--but in 3rd or 4th year high school Latin, it was at our level and a lot of fun. The students who knew Winnie the Pooh found translating it easier than I did, as in: "Oh, this is the part when...", thus were able to extrapolate through its accessibility. For them it was a break from difficult or unfamilar Latin writing, rendering it Useful through familiarity with its English version. For me, I got to know Pooh through Latin, and I've loved Pooh and the gang ever since.

Most people who only know a little Latin should hopefully be able to understand Winnie Ille Pu. The ending has a 'notes' section where unusual phrases such as 'scire velim' are listed under their respective chapters for easy reference.

There is something a bit more elegant about the Latin of Winnie Ille Pu compared to Fabulae Mirabiles, but that is caused by the differing genres of the writings. However, Fabulae Mirabliles would be my choice for the Latin beginner.

I sing of a boy and a bear...
Perhaps Vergil would have opted for Pu (Pooh) rather than Aeneid had he the choice, and begun his tome not in the journey from Troy, but rather the journey around the forest.

I have this sitting next to books of equally interesting exercise, such as a translation of modern poetry into Old English. Likewise, Henry Beard's translations of various ordinary statements and phrases in Latin (and cat behaviours in to French) also sit next to this honoured tome.

When I returned from Britain and began to think in theological-training terms, I had to re-acquaint myself with Latin; for an exam I had to memorise one biblical passage, one passage from the Aeneid, and one passage of my choice. I chose Winnie Ille Pu, and, as it had not been excluded from the list, I was permitted this indulgence (I believe that the exam list now has a section of excluded works, including this one, more's the pity).

Do not be frightened off by the fact that this is a book in Latin. It is very accessible, and quite fun to read with the English version of Winnie-the-Pooh at its side. The Latin version has kept many of the original illustrations as well as the page layout forms, for example:

In English:
And then he got up, and said: 'And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it.' So he began to climb the tree.

He
climbed
and he
climbed
and he
climbed,
and as he
climbed
he
sang
a little
song
to himself.
It went

like this:

Isn't it funny
How a bear likes honey
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
I wonder why he does?

In Latin:

Et nisus est
et
nisus est
et
nisus est
et
nisus est
et nitens carmen sic coepit canere:

Cur ursus clamat?
Cur adeo mel amat?
Burr, burr, burr
Quid est causae cur?

Statements sound much more grand in Latin: 'Ior mi,' dixit sollemniter, 'egomet, Winnie ille Pu, caudam tuam reperiam.' which means, 'Eeyore,' he said solemnly, 'I, Winnie-the-Pooh, will find your tail for you.'

This is a delightful romp through a language study. I have recommended this to friends who want an introduction to Latin, together with the Lingua Latina series, which uses a natural language method for instruction.

Alexander Lenard, the translator, obviously did a great labour of love here, and I agree with the Chicago Tribune's statement that this book 'does more to attract interest in Latin than Cicero, Caesar, and Virgil combined.' One wonders if the Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet will be translated into Latin to make them seem 'more philosophical; or indeed, will Winnie ille Pu be likewise translated into Sanskrit and other such languages? It is not uncommon that the entertaining use of language does more for language enrichment and interest than any academic or official push of the tongue. It is no mistake that the Welsh language effort incorporated cartoons from the beginning -- it is natural for people to respond to fun and lively things, and this kind of treatment can be rather tricky, in that the average reader might not be so consciously aware that education is going on...

Winnie-the-Pooh in Akkadian? Hmmm, I feel a Ph.D. dissertation topic coming on...

This work is no small endeavour, but rather a thorough and engaging translation of the entire Pooh story. From the start, when we are introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh, through to the adventures in the Tight Place (in angustias incurrit), when Piglet meets a heffalump (heffalumpum), meeting Kanga and Roo (Canga and Ru), the expedition to the North Pole (Palum Septentrionalem), and finally saying goodbye, the entire story and text is here. One can (as I do) set the Dell Yearling 60th Anniversary Version of Winnie-the-Pooh side-by-side with Winnie-ille-Pu and follow line by line the engaging story, which translates well into this one-time universal language. And why ever not? Surely if there is a story nearly universal appeal, it would be of dear Winnie.

As A.A. Milne was a graduate of the Westminster School (which is housed down the block from my old Parliamentary offices) and of Cambridge, he might consider the translation of his classic work into the classical language a signal honour, and one wonders if, given the fact that Milne studied classical languages himself, if he ever translated any pieces, however small, into those languages that every English schoolboy learns to hate and love.

The story leaves off with Christophorus Robinus heading off to bath (and presumably, bed) ...

Of course, being a person of small importance myself, I identify much more with Porcellus (Piglet) than Pu. I know the struggles against the clerical/hierarchical/academic heffalumpum, and as Pooh has given me a new language of consideration for such conditions, Pu has given me a bilingual command of that language.

Long live the Porcelli amicus!

I bought this book to complete my order for the free shipping. It has cute stories. It is nice to have a selection of one pagers to four pagers to choose from depending on your child's mood. I gave it four out of five stars because I am reading it to a 9mo. old and it could use a little better formatting. If you want something for a child that needs to look at something, there is never enough picture for the story length.

These stories are a great length for my 4 year olds bedtime routine. I used to get bogged down in extra long stories, but now I can zip through our routine and he's satisfied. The stories are great. There was some repetition in the tiger stories, but beyond that I have no complaints.

This is one of our new favorite books! My 5 and 3 year old boys absolutely love it! It's enjoyable to read as a parent, too! Highly recommend it!

These are great international stories with good values. The shipping took forever (3 months?) but it was worth the wait for a unique book.

This is a family favorite. My children pick it up often, even if no one is reading to them and look through the pages. I like that some of the stories are old classics, but many are tales I've never read before. The variety is terrific.

After my second child's birth I was really stressed out with the jealousy of my older child, my husband's long work hours, and my post-partum depression. Beth's words of wisdom helped alleviate my guilt, especially when I felt like I was anything but an ideal mother. Her humor raised a smile and she tackled some topics that, unfortunately, mothers don't always talk about because we're afraid to admit that we don't love every aspect of motherhood (which, btw, is very natural).
Beth also encouraged me to take time out for myself and when with my children, to truly enjoy them. I still carry this book around with me....

As a new mother, I absolutely adored this book. The author shared all of the thoughts and feelings of the new mother, which were the same as I was having about my new role in such a beautiful and heartfelt way, which helped me feel less isolated.

This is now one of my favorite things to give to mothers-to-be at baby showers!

I have 4 children...and I read parts of this book after each one. The "New" in the title didn't only mean first time mom to me...I enjoyed the book over and over.

This book was wonderful when I was a first time mother of twins. It helped me keep it all in perspective. When I was most frazzled, it made me realize that whether their stages brought good or bad, babyhood is precious and temporary.

I received this wonderful book as a gift. I often only had the time and energy to read just one page before bed. It always comforted me. I always give this book to new moms.

I knew my 8-year-old audience liked this book when she asked me to continue reading after the second episode . . . I knew we had a real gem when, after we read it from cover to cover, she flipped to her favorite parts and read them again.

What's more, I can't say I've ever enjoyed a comic more. The story of Amelia's dad backing out of plans for her party had me weeping; the Christmas story of Amelia learning to be (heroically) generous stirred even my jaded Christmas-hating heart; and Aunt Tanner's rock song quotes had me singing Elvis Costello and Dylan --and gave me the perfect excuse to educate the next generation on REAL music. But I digress.

The kids are sharp-tongued (well, except for Pajamaman --he doesn't talk) and vibrant, the adults are flawed humans, the stories are moving, and the cartooning is as charming as the best of Peanuts. What more could you ask for? The book will provide you and the kids hours of treasured memories.

For some time now, I've been telling anyone that would listen that Jimmy Gownley's Amelia Rules! is the best comic book for young readers to have been published in YEARS. Now, Gownley has begun reprinting the run in the handy digest format that the kids seem to dig these days.

The Whole World's Crazy reprints the first several issues in the tale of Amelia McBride, a girl who has to leave the excitement of New York City when her parents get divorced and she and her mother move to a small town to live with her aunt. The stories in this book deal with many of Amelia's firsts: her first day at a new school, her first Halloween and Christmas in her new town, and the first trip with her father after the divorce. In the comic as a whole, and in this volume in particular, Gownley frequently touches upon rather serious topics (divorce, for example) that young children have to deal with without really understanding. However, Gownley handles these subjects in a way that will help his young readers learn to handle their problems, with a blend of humor and wisdom that kids need. He's never frightening, never patronizing, and always entertaining. Amelia and her friends are wonderful characters, characters that kids can find themselves in, helping to open the door for them to embrace the story even further.

If I ever have kids -- especially daughters -- these are some of the first comics I'll get for them.

Amelia Louise McBride, a 9 year old facing divorce, moving, and the weirdest school of all time. With Wicked Witch Bloom, Mad Dog Barkley, No Neck Norris, and Old Man Biggers as teachers, "So then Noah says, "Sorry Zeke you gotta dog paddle." :-) Owen, fan of the Feds, Mary Violet, with the Mall God and Searing Hand of the Devil, Earth Dog the poet, as well as the "nerds," Reggie Grabinsky, holder of best sneeze-barfer and best superhero wanna be, Rhonda Bleenie, annoyed by sister goodie Reenie, and silent Pajamaman, who attracts s with softee chicken backpacks and being a Latchky kid. Living with her mom and Aunt Tanner, the with the straight A student motto. Facing ups like Santa, and downs like Softee Dad, this is a six star book!

When my 7-year old son is fighting with my 9-year old daughter for his turn to read AMELIA RULES!, you know these books are going to be a hit. The artwork is beautiful, the dialogue full of great humor and pathos, the stories engaging. But what appeals most to the kids, I think, is the characters themselves. Amelia is out-and-out fascinating--a perfect combination of pre-teen girl and tomboy--and her friends are as lively and entertaining as any you'll find in American literature.

In fact, this IS literature, and if you're the kind of parent who thinks comics are no better for kids than TV, AMELIA RULES! will prove you completely and utterly wrong. Get these books. Your kids won't be able to put them down--and neither will you.

I was reading this last night and was laughing my head off. It's brilliant and funny. My 4th grade daughter likes it a lot too, though she doesn't get all the jokes. Get this for your kid or get it for yourself - just get it!

This third installment of "Garfield" features the introduction of Nermal, the introduction of Jon's family ("Eat! Eat! Eat!"), Garfield's National Fat Week, and the more "truthful" side of Irma. Lyman also appears, but he becomes less prevalent as the days go by. A certain must-read for all Garfield fans.

Is Jim Davis trying to pull a George Lucas on us? All of these re-released full-color books are missing the final page of the original release books.

This re-release Third Book (Bigger Than Life) is missing the "Garfield Up Close And Personal" special page that was the final page of the original release.

It would be a shame to have the special comic lost to time. Luckily I have all the originals.

Normally I should give a 1-Star rating to show my displeasure with the missing content of this release. However, I simply can't bring myself to give a poor rating to a Garfield book.

Gotta love Garfield the cat. He says things that a lot of us don't have the guts to say. He is lazy, loves to sleep although I think eating outweighs his love for sleep even more, doesn't enjoy getting physical exams, and enjoys abusing the family dog. As hysterically funny as the first two Garfield books are, I really think that "Bigger Than Life" takes Garfield to a whole new level of laziness and gluttony. The animation is a lot better as well. Here the reader is introduced to the world's cutest (and annoying) kitten Nermal. Originally Nermal belonged to Jon's parents however over the years, Jim Davis just had Nermal drop in unexpectedly. The early drawings of Nermal was just as crude as the early Garfield drawings were. One of the greatest moments in this book was when Garfield sneezed and Jon's breakfast ended up on his face. The other greatest moment that I still love is when Jon leaves the house to go jogging, and Garfield finds a loose thread. Garfield pulls it until...well, Jon returns home unepxectedly in his birthday suit. An absolutely priceless moment for me. I also thought when Garfield caught a code was hilarious.
Whenever I feel down, I know I can always count on Garfield making me laugh with his antics.

Garfield is great! I love his books, I want my mom and dad to get the newspaper every day just so I can get more Garfield! In his third book Jim Davis' illustrations are at their best. Also I am just bummed that the Garfield books are finally on color. Odie is my favorite character.

Although his first two books are good, this book is better and I would consider this to be Garfield's best book of the pre-'82 era. I like the part when Garfield scratches on Jon's chair and Nermal got blamed for it, that was hilarious, if you're a Garfield fan then you can't go wrong getting this book and be sure not to let your cat do what Garfield does otherwise there will be a lot hell to pay.