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Best Children's Classics

The Giving Tree
And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns , the new book from Shel Silverstein! “If you’re looking for a children’s book that teaches generosity or unselfishness, most people will point you right to The Giving Tree , Shel Silverstein’s lovely story of a tree that will do anything for the boy it loves—and for good reason.
Reviews
"All that I can honestly say about this book, what some people say is "controversial" is it ; touches on feelings. teaches about selfishness. teaches about selflessness. teaches about caring. teaches about giving. this book really tugs at all the emotions everyone goes through one time or another. It has turned into a discussion book for all my grandkids. The book is a hardback & comes with a cover resembling the cover of the book."
"One of my favorite books with a great lesson for children on giving/taking and appreciation."
"Best childhood book ever - adults should re-read every year as well."
"Shel Silverstein has always been a beloved author of mine and I’m overjoyed to be sharing that with my baby."
"Classic book for all times."
"A true classic!!"
"Great story for my 6 year old who reads voraciously.."
"Just like I remebered!"
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Chronicles of Narnia Box Set
A rack edition of the bestselling title, now featuring cover art from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader live-action film! Experience The Chronicles of Narnia in its entirety in time for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third movie in the motion picture epic. The Magician's Nephew The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe The Horse and His Boy Prince Caspian The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The Silver Chair The Last Battle. The box features stills from the movie, and each book inside has cover art by Cliff Nielson and the original black-and-white interior illustrations by Pauline Baynes.
Reviews
"Also, the book description says "text only", which is strange, because this copy has tons of the original illustrations in full-color (I'll try to post pictures soon)."
"This is a beautiful paperback box set of the Narnia collection, that so many of us grew up with."
"They think, just because it's chronological order, it's the proper order. Lewis preferred them to be in the order he wrote them, so in order to read them in the intended order, you have to skip around the book."
"He begs to have more time before bed every night so we can keep reading."
"Do not bother with any other version of this box set.. this is the one you want."
"Beautiful set, numbered in order that the author preferred that the books be read."
"Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy, a year after leaving Narnia, are on their way back to school when they are suddenly, magically, pulled to what they eventually realize are the ruins of Cair Paravel."
"One of the best series I've ever read."
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck--all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Born in Kansas, he worked as an elementary-school principal in Chicago before moving to New York City, where he worked in publishing developing innovative reading programs for schools. He lived in the east Texas woods, near the town of Commerce, until he passed away in 2004.
Reviews
"I know it seems like a simple book, but there's a lot more depth to be uncovered on repeated readings, as I've had the luxury of experiencing every night (and sometimes multiple times during the day) for the last three months. But as it unfolds, we are... *** SPOILERS BELOW ***. ... taken through a tour of the real and familiar (brown bears, red birds) along with the fantastically surreal (blue horses, purple cats). As the pages turn, we learn that all characters are being watched: from the strong (the bear), to the useful (blue horse), to the outcast (black sheep). As the camera pulls back, we learn that each animal is merely a minor player with myopic vision. With the introduction of this (white) teacher we realize that these characters who seemed to be free, roaming in their natural habitat, are actually prisoners trapped in the hardbound confines of this book. "We see a brown bear, a red bird, a yellow duck, a blue horse, a green frog, a purple cat, a white dog, a black sheep, a goldfish, and a teacher LOOKING AT US. How tight must the children's tyrannical grip be to force an entire population into unified submissive silence? But through the bear's opening omission we learn that even he is too scared of the children to publicly acknowledge their existence. The true revelation to this book's opening question is not that the brown bear sees the red bird. I don't believe the rumors that this book originated as recruitment propaganda by US intelligence agencies to entice young children to join an elite, "all-seeing" organization that has complete control over the rest of the population, including its powerless authority figures. Instead, I like to believe that Martin wrote this book (just one year after regular US troops were deployed to Vietnam) as a subversive allegory daring to ask the question "Who watches the watchers?""
"Great book I used to read to my Kindergarten class......was always an attention getter and the children absolutely loved it!"
"My 2 year old daughter memorized this book."
"Well, my wife can be assured that no one else will have exactly the same books that she has in her classroom..."
"The book is a very quick read which is great for my infant because it keeps his attention."
"Good for teaching colors and animal names."
"I ordered these on Amazon to provide each of them their own copy for Christmas and a spare for me."
"This book is adorable, well written and perfect for little hands."
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Best Children's Christmas Books

Polar Express 30th anniversary edition
1986 Caldecott Medal Winner A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . “Allsburg's mix of meticulousness and mysticism is his own, and his quiet Christmas bell, now run, will not stop ringing.”—Adam Gopnik, author of The King in the Window.
Reviews
"This nice larger book is great for a coffee table as decoration during Christmas and for easy access to read."
"It is filled with music from the movie and combinations that mix the scores together especially with the songs a) The Polar Express sung by Tom Hanks and b) Suite from the Polar Express."
"We were all pleased with this lovely book and the extras, including my own kids---who read the book before the 'grands' read it."
"This is probably a book for the older kids- 7-10, but it's definitely a fun book to read to the little ones for the holidays."
"I bought this book for my 5 year old son this year because I bought tickets for the GSMR train ride."
"The story is so magical, you can really feel the spirt of Christmas in this book."
"First edition."
"This is a beloved children's book."
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Best Children's African Folk Tales

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Reading Rainbow Books)
Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration Caledcott Honor Reading Rainbow Book Boston Globe-Horn Book. When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara.
Reviews
"I recommend this for every child to read, worth every penny."
"I remember reading this story growing up."
"Wonderful book with a great message."
"Saw this on Reading Rainbow years ago."
"The picture of the beautiful young girl will appeal to the female members of this African village."
"It is a wonderful Cinderella story written with a cultural twist."
"My kids, at 3 and 1, are not quite ready for this book."
"This was my favorite book growing up as a child and I purchased it for a friend of mine daughter, it's a great book and the moral of the story is great and relatable at any age."
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Best Nursery Rhymes

365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes (Deluxe Edition) (365 Treasury)
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
"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."
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Best Children's Literature

The Little Blue Box of Bright and Early Board Books by Dr. Seuss (Bright & Early Board Books(TM))
Tucked inside this cute little blue box topped with a plastic handle and secured by a tuck closure are board book editions of the classic Dr. Seuss titles Hop on Pop ; Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Dr. Seuss’s long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , and Bartholomew and the Oobleck , the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates.
Reviews
"I read all the reviews before purchasing and some said they were disappointed with the fact the book was missing pieces of the story."
"Very cute and great toddler travel size."
"A little smaller than I expected so make sure you check dimensions."
"Its so much smaller than expected,,,,fits easily in LO's diaper bag."
"Bright and colorful books."
"Great product, the books are a little small but still great."
"I bought lots of book for my kid and these are her favorite!"
"A lot smaller than it looks in main pic."
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Best Children's Criticism & Collections

Six by Seuss: A Treasury of Dr. Seuss Classics
Dr. Seuss's magic elixir may--or may not--prolong life, but it is a fact that it makes you feel a whole lot better! Dr. Seuss’s long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , and Bartholomew and the Oobleck , the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates.
Reviews
"AND TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET (1937). 2.)."
"It is published by Random House and is valued at $20 by the Barcode on the back."
"Some are not Dr. Seuss' more popular and well-known stories but are nevertheless delightful whether you are familiar with Dr. Seuss or not."
"I love that I made the decision to buy this book and that I bought it from this seller."
"My niece loved it."
"I have purchased this book 3 times now."
"It is big which she likes & she enjoys hearing the stories & the rhyming words."
"I bought up a whole series of Seuss to give to my grand daughter over the next few years."
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Best Children's Literature Collections

Aesop's Fables
In this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop's timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney. Aesop's wisdom spills across the pages as freely as Pinkney's glorious watercolors, alight with the many creatures who people the tales, from fiddling grasshoppers and diligent ants to wily foxes, clever crows, brave mice and grateful lions.
Reviews
"Her older sister told me she loves the stories and is very excited to have it in their bedtime stories line up."
"The book arrived quickly and was in very good condition."
"It's definitely a beautiful and well built book It's sturdy and as a hard cover will last a long time."
"Written a little above our kids level."
"Great telling of these vital tales, which are a cornerstone of our Western culture."
"Forgot what fun this book was!"
"I would give it three stars, but the sizable collection of fables pushes it closer to 3.5 stars."
"Probably totally politically incorrect, would be pulled off the shelves, but it's great."
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Best Children's American Historical Fiction

The Little House (9 Volumes Set)
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family. Meet the Ingalls family—Laura, Ma, Pa, Mary, and baby Carrie, who all live in a cozy log cabin in the big woods of Wisconsin in the 1870s. Though many of their neighbors are wolves and panthers and bears, the woods feel like home, thanks to Ma’s homemade cheese and butter and the joyful sounds of Pa’s fiddle. As Laura Ingalls is growing up in a little house in Kansas, Almanzo Wilder lives on a big farm in New York. When Ma, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and baby Grace join him, they become the first settlers in the town of De Smet. With snow piled as high as the rooftops, it’s impossible for trains to deliver supplies, and the townspeople, including Laura and her family, are starving. Laura spends many hours sewing shirts to help Ma and Pa get enough money to send Mary to a college for the blind. The set includes: Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, Farmer Boy, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. In those same woods, Laura lives with Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Little House on the Prairie Pa Ingalls decides to sell the little log house, and the family sets out for Indian country! Farmer Boy While Laura Ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. On the Banks of Plum Creek Laura's family's first home in Minnesota is made of sod, but Pa builds a clean new house made of sawed lumber beside Plum Creek. But in the evenings, Laura makes time for a new caller, Almanzo Wilder. And every Friday -- no matter what the weather -- Almanzo Wilder arrives to take Laura home to her family for the weekend. The First Four Years Laura and Almanzo Wilder have just been married!
Reviews
"I wouldn't recommend these volumes to those who remember the classic hardcovers with all the quaint drawings from Garth William which are NOT included here."
"We bought this for our granddaughter and look forward to reading them to her as well."
"I bought this copy for my ESL student so that we could read it together."
"I loved the Little House books as a kid and I bought these to read to my kids."
"I volunteer for my local nursing home by reading aloud to the 2 wings of the Alzheimer's care unit."
"Love these books."
"I'm so glad I broke down and bought this set after trying to piece it together one book at a time for a year."
"I bought this set for a Christmas gift for my great niece."
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Best Children's 1800s American Historical Fiction

The Little House (9 Volumes Set)
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family. Meet the Ingalls family—Laura, Ma, Pa, Mary, and baby Carrie, who all live in a cozy log cabin in the big woods of Wisconsin in the 1870s. Though many of their neighbors are wolves and panthers and bears, the woods feel like home, thanks to Ma’s homemade cheese and butter and the joyful sounds of Pa’s fiddle. As Laura Ingalls is growing up in a little house in Kansas, Almanzo Wilder lives on a big farm in New York. When Ma, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and baby Grace join him, they become the first settlers in the town of De Smet. With snow piled as high as the rooftops, it’s impossible for trains to deliver supplies, and the townspeople, including Laura and her family, are starving. Laura spends many hours sewing shirts to help Ma and Pa get enough money to send Mary to a college for the blind. The set includes: Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, Farmer Boy, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. In those same woods, Laura lives with Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Little House on the Prairie Pa Ingalls decides to sell the little log house, and the family sets out for Indian country! Farmer Boy While Laura Ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. On the Banks of Plum Creek Laura's family's first home in Minnesota is made of sod, but Pa builds a clean new house made of sawed lumber beside Plum Creek. But in the evenings, Laura makes time for a new caller, Almanzo Wilder. And every Friday -- no matter what the weather -- Almanzo Wilder arrives to take Laura home to her family for the weekend. The First Four Years Laura and Almanzo Wilder have just been married!
Reviews
"I wouldn't recommend these volumes to those who remember the classic hardcovers with all the quaint drawings from Garth William which are NOT included here."
"We bought this for our granddaughter and look forward to reading them to her as well."
"I bought this copy for my ESL student so that we could read it together."
"I loved the Little House books as a kid and I bought these to read to my kids."
"I volunteer for my local nursing home by reading aloud to the 2 wings of the Alzheimer's care unit."
"Love these books."
"I'm so glad I broke down and bought this set after trying to piece it together one book at a time for a year."
"I bought this set for a Christmas gift for my great niece."
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Best Reference

Wonder
Over 6 million people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller WONDER and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy . More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Entertainment Weekly: "In a wonder of a debut, Palacio has written a crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for." The New York Times: "Rich and memorable...It's Auggie and the rest of the children who are the real heart of 'Wonder,' and Palacio captures the voices of girls and boys, fifth graders and teenagers, with equal skill." The Wall Street Journal : "What makes R.J. Palacio's debut novel so remarkable, and so lovely, is the uncommon generosity with which she tells Auggie's story…The result is a beautiful, funny and sometimes sob-making story of quiet transformation.”. - Patricia Reilly Giff , two-time Newbery honor-winning author of Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Starred Review, Publishers Weekly : “Few first novels pack more of a punch: it's a rare story with the power to open eyes--and hearts--to what it's like to be singled out for a difference you can't control, when all you want is to be just another face in the crowd.” Starred Review, Booklist : “Palacio makes it feel not only effortless but downright graceful, and by the stand-up-and-cheer conclusion, readers will be doing just that, and feeling as if they are part of this troubled but ultimately warm-hearted community.”. Starred Review, School Library Journal : "Palacio has an exceptional knack for writing realistic conversation and describing the thoughts and emotions of the characters...A well-written, thought-provoking book. ".
Reviews
"I'm a 54 year old grandfather who served in the Marine Corps (just for a little context). Palacio...I can't believe how she so accurately and consistently pegs human nature."
"The most emotional moment for me came toward the end of the book when Auggie's father tells him that he loves the way Auggie looks, because that it exactly how my husband and I feel about our son."
"Author R.J. Palacio writes the book in multiple voices -- Auggie's, some of his friends', his sister's -- and the different points of view are mostly very well-realized and show the inner feelings of the different characters."
"Honestly, I get tired by listening too much of this book; other than that it's a all great book."
"This book is a great description of that difficult time from personal points of view."
"excellent book about bullying--shows the view from the bully, the one trying to be the friend, the family and the one being bullied."
"This book is amazing."
"I have told everyone I know that this is a must read."
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Best Poetry Anthologies

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)
A perfect gift for new parents, birthday celebrations, and happy occasions of all kinds, this collection of five beloved Beginner Books by Dr. Seuss— The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and Fox in Socks —will be cherished by young and old alike. Dr. Seuss’s long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , and Bartholomew and the Oobleck , the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates.
Reviews
"She's three, and I was looking forward to reading them to her now, and watching her learn the words, so she could 'pretend' she was reading them along with me, as I did as a child, and ultimately, letting her read them to me. I've just opened a couple of them at random and taken pics to show you the bleed-through of the images and words on the reverse side of the page."
"Picked up for our almost-3 yo."
"You start your kid's collection with these books by Dr. Seuss."
"I read these in a lower light setting given they are bed time stories for my daughter so perhaps that's why I'm not seeing it."
"My daughter absolutely loves these books."
"What would childhood be without One Fish, Two Fish and The Cat in the Hat?"
"I always have fun with these books and reading them to my son is always a great experience."
"Kind of hard to enjoy the story when the illustrations on the back of the page are showing through."
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Best Brown, Margaret Wise

Home for a Bunny
This audio CD features 2 versions of the story.
Reviews
"So begins this lovely book, telling how a small brown bunny goes down the road and down the road one day when the butteflies are swaying on stalks and a flora botanica of the brightly colored small flowers are unfolding in the warm sunlight. The Little Golden Book is a poem, written like a small song by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Garth Williams with the precision and color of the millefleurs tapestries of the Middle Ages."
"I have loved this book for a long time."
"Wonderful bunny book to read for Easter or anytime."
"Another sweet, touching story by Margaret Wise Brown!"
"A very cute book with eye catching illustrations."
"HOME FOR A BUNNY (BR. Granddaughter loves it, the Board Book is easier for her to handle than the Hardcover."
"My all-time favorite childhood book, I was so happy to find it here!"
"The reviewer who said that Golden Books had inexplicably ruined a classic was absolutely right."
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Best Literary Criticism & Theory

The Night Before Christmas
Our modern image of Santa Claus as a bearded, plump, jolly figure can be traced back to Moore’s famous description of St. Nick: "He had a broad face, and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly." PreS Up–Spirin's richly colored and ornate colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations opposite each page of text place this version of the classic poem in a nostalgic, 18th-century European town.
Reviews
"It is the night before Christmas, what other story is appropriate to read to my grandson."
"I didn't read the dimensions, this is a pocket size book."
"Very nice book."
"Perfect gift for infants book collection."
"The illustrations in this book are fantastic."
"Great book and beautiful pictures!"
"I cannot explain the excitement I felt being able to share "the night before Christmas" story with my only grandchild I'd never met in person."
"the book is very small in size."
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