Koncocoo

Best Children's Early Learning Books

What If Everybody Did That? (What If Everybody? Series)
Using humorous illustrations rendered in mixed media, these questions are answered in a child-friendly way and show the consequences of thoughtless behavior. The narrator commits a series of seemingly minor offenses, such as feeding popcorn to the bears in the zoo, throwing an empty soda can out the car window, sneaking a lick of frosting from a wedding cake, and interrupting the librarian during storytime. Madden's experience as a greeting-card illustrator is evident in the variety of expressions shown on the faces of the multicultural cast in the colorful mixed-media drawings.
Reviews
"grand daughter like it."
"I love this book."
"I gave this book to my two small grandsons and it motivated them to clean up the park they enjoy going too."
"I used this book as a lesson about rules and laws to teach a social studies unit."
"Made an impact on my daughter."
"Great book."
"Great for teaching kids about how small things make a different."
"Not only is this book fun, it has a very important social message."
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You Are Not Small
Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all! Weyant, aNew Yorker cartoonist, draws two pudgy bearish creatures with bean-like noses—clearly the same species, but different in scale (and in color, it should be noted, though it never comes up).
Reviews
"What I love about You Are (Not)Small by Anna Kang is that it taps into this touch point of childhood. With delightful illustrations by Christopher Weyant, it deftly and humorously, highlights that size is relative. This is an important lesson for children to learn: comparisons depend on the metric being used. Enjoy this book for its story, sense of humor and colorful illustrations. Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, Adoption & Me: A Multicultural Picture Book"."
"So cute!!!"
"It is a fun book to read with your child!"
"Really cute bedtime read."
"It's definitely a short, quick read so we went back through and looked at the pictures to make it more worthwhile."
"I loved that book it was funny and Hagar ."
"I suppose it validates size differences for the toddler mind, and teaches perspective."
"It was a cute story but ridiculously short, so much potential if it were a actual read with a lot more pages."
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Orangey the Goldfish (Book 1)
Young kids love the Orangey the Goldfish book series!
Reviews
"As a parent and teacher, I have a pretty good idea of how I would read and discuss this book with my children and students, expand on the topic and get the children involved."
"Orangey the Goldfish, Book 1. Colorful children's book about a bright orange goldfish."
"My grandkids love it (all 5 and under)."
"As many tropical fish as I raised in the past I thought I'd grab this children's book for grins."
"Well worth the free download - a quick, cute story about a boy and his new fish."
"This is a cute book."
"I got this book a few weeks ago because it was free and for children, so I thought I'd try it. I'll list the pros & cons below, but at the end of the day, my daughter loves it for some reason and asks me to read it to her every night. Pros: - Clear and Good pictures on every page (Kindle Touch). - Each page only has a few sentences (bubble thoughts...like a comic book)...good for kids' short attention spans. - Just 3 characters in the story."
"I enjoyed this sweet short story about Orangey receiving a new. home and a new best friend, Billy."
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Best Baby & Toddler Basic Concept Books

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (Beginner Books(R))
From the can-opening Zans to the boxing Gox to the winking Yink who drinks pink ink, the silly rhymes and colorful cast of characters create an entertaining approach to reading that will have every child giggling from morning to night: “Today is gone. Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning. (Ages 4 to 8) "[Dr. Seuss] has...instilled a lifelong love of books, learning and reading [in children]" - The Telegraph "Dr. Seuss ignites a child's imagination with his mischievous characters and zany verses" - The Express "The magic of Dr. Seuss, with his hilarious rhymes, belongs on the family bookshelf" - Sunday Times Magazine.
Reviews
"My 3 year old granddaughter loves it."
"We think these books should be numbered so people can know which book should be read first."
"Enter "I Can Draw It Myself, By Me, Myself", and two other interactive Seuss books - such wonderful ways for my older grandchild to entertain himself and stretch his creativity and imagination while I'm focused on the younger! We've collected every Seuss children's book, but there are three books in particular that we ordered two copies of, because they can be personalized by our little guys to make them truly "their own"! This one is just great... each page has colorful Seuss drawings that are incomplete, with his typical whimsical rhymes accompanying them, and your youngster "completes" the drawings him/herself!"
"I grew up reading Dr. Suess so I am overjoyed to be able to read his books to my son."
"Seuss introduces many odd characters through the book and laces their odd situations with even odd-er (if you will) rhymes. In most children’s books, you'll find that many are filled with pictures and silly fonts that are meant to draw a child’s attention to the book. If I had to guess, this may be because the book is aimed more at the parent reading the book to the child. I sing high. and my Ying sings low, and we are not too bad, you know.” ( Seuss23). As a kid I loved hearing this book read to me."
"I read children's books professionally, and I'm appalled at some of the lame rhymes and off rhythm cadences I encounter."
"Since receiving it, it's been read a hundred times and she never gets tired of it."
"Good interaction during the reading and afterwards a few kids asked it if they could find it in the library."
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Best Baby & Toddler Beginner Readers Books

Orangey the Goldfish (Book 1)
Young kids love the Orangey the Goldfish book series!
Reviews
"As a parent and teacher, I have a pretty good idea of how I would read and discuss this book with my children and students, expand on the topic and get the children involved."
"Orangey the Goldfish, Book 1. Colorful children's book about a bright orange goldfish."
"My grandkids love it (all 5 and under)."
"As many tropical fish as I raised in the past I thought I'd grab this children's book for grins."
"Well worth the free download - a quick, cute story about a boy and his new fish."
"This is a cute book."
"I got this book a few weeks ago because it was free and for children, so I thought I'd try it. I'll list the pros & cons below, but at the end of the day, my daughter loves it for some reason and asks me to read it to her every night. Pros: - Clear and Good pictures on every page (Kindle Touch). - Each page only has a few sentences (bubble thoughts...like a comic book)...good for kids' short attention spans. - Just 3 characters in the story."
"I enjoyed this sweet short story about Orangey receiving a new. home and a new best friend, Billy."
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Best Baby & Toddler Poetry Books

Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Classic Seuss)
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! The incomparable Dr. Seuss rejoices in the potential everyone has to fulfill their wildest dreams: "You'll be on your way up! While doting relatives will find this extended greeting card an ideal gift for nursery school graduates, the story will have less appeal for children than Seuss' story books and easy readers. Seuss' characteristic drawings carry and extend the text through mazelike streets, over colorful checkerboard landscapes, into muddy blue "slumps," through heady highs when fame results from success at the game of life, and through dark, lonely confrontations with graveyard-like fears in times of solitude. While the text gives a strong message of self-determination and potential, the small, male "you" pictured seems more of a passive passenger on his journey through life, reacting to things as they come and walking along with his eyes shut on both the first and last pages of the text.
Reviews
"I love these books with the great illustrations and wonderful message to encourage someone graduating high school and going to the next phase of life to "see the places you'll go"."
"This will be apart of my babies graduation gift."
"I had given this book to my granddaughter as a toddler."
"I hope to present the book to my granddaughter in 10 years, when she graduates from high school."
"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."
"Arrived early, and it is delightful."
"We intend to have their teachers at each grade level throughout their school career write something in this book about them and we will present it to them at graduation."
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Best Children's Religion Books

Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
The multiple award-winning Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Tullian Tchividjian, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church -- PCA, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Jago's award-winning cover art is a foretaste of the whimsically insightful and richly colored drawings that await you on every one of the book's 351 pages. Lloyd-Jones does it as well as any biblical commentator....The title and subtitle are even better than the book's delightful illustrations and narrative -- because they provide, in one deft stroke, the interpretive key that unlocks the meaning of the whole Bible. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. -- More to Life Magazine In the interests of full disclosure, let me reveal that I had the privilege of reading the manuscript of this book several years ago as a theological consultant to Zondervan, the publisher. I hope that every family, and even people without young children, would get a copy of this book just to remind them of what the Real Story of the Bible is all about.
Reviews
"I've tried three or four toddler Bibles, but they ranged from the meaningless and banal (Read With Me Bible For Toddlers) to the downright horrifying in their interpretation (The Story For Little Ones). The Jesus Storybook Bible, on the other hand, seeks to show how God's plan of salvation is unfolding through each story, and largely succeeds in doing so. First of all, there are children's Bibles like the Read With Me Bible that are simply bland. Granted, toddlers are not going to pick up on every nuance of a story from the Bible, but the Read With Me Bible often chooses the wrong points to emphasize, entirely leaving out important points of narrative along the way. One story simply lists miracles Jesus did with no context, failing to communicate that Jesus' miracles actually anticipate and begin to realize a new world, a world where God's Kingdom and rule are breaking into the world in a new and exciting way. This simply displays a level of ignorance about the story of Samson that is beyond belief for someone writing (interpreting) a Bible for children! So, for example, the story of the Exodus is told not as the story of God's great magic show, but instead on the great, mighty, and terrifying rescue of God's people from their slavery, pointing forward also to humanity's slavery to sin and coming rescue in Jesus. But again, the strength of this Bible is that it gets the story right, interpreting the main idea correctly and always pointing toward Jesus."
"The Jesus Storybook Bible contains many stories from both the Old and New Testaments that children would be likely to hear at Sunday School or kids' groups that teach Bible lessons. I love that the stories are paraphrased for kids to make the stories simple and easy to understand, not to mention FUN! I'd say the stories take about ten minutes to read, give or take a few if you take some extra time to explain more of the story or the pictures so they would be great for bedtime stories."
"For someone who may be familiar with the full version of the Bible and may be concerned about teaching children biblical accuracy, this book may be found a bit frustrating. While the illustrations are whimsical and a great accompaniment to the text, and the story language is simple and easy to follow, there are an awful lot of unnecessary additions."
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Best Children's Humor Books

Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids
Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids provides children ages 7-10 many hours of fun and laughter. Rob Elliott has been a publishing professional for more than fifteen years and lives in West Michigan, where in his spare time he enjoys laughing out loud with his wife and four children. He lives in Michigan, where in his spare time he enjoys laughing out loud with his wife and four children.
Reviews
"The book looks small and thin in the ad but it's actually 7"x4.5" and 1/4" thick."
"My son loves to pull out the book and read us the jokes, and there’s times the whole family will get into it trying to answer and it makes for a good time with everybody laughing."
"Sure, not all the jokes are super funny to adults, but it's great to see my kids squealing with laughter :) The recipient is very happy, so five stars!"
"My 7 year old loves it, she is motivated to read even the hard words."
"Some of the jokes are REALLY lame, even for kid standards."
"My daughter tries to make her own joles, but she sucks."
"More knock knock jokes than I would have like, but a cute book to add to a classroom library."
"My 10 year old and I had a lot of fun reading these on a road trip."
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Best Children's History Books

The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List
“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief ,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” ( VOYA ). Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2013: For readers ages 11 and up, Leon Leyson’s remarkable memoir, The Boy on the Wooden Box , is the moving account of a happy childhood shattered by the Holocaust. As the youngest member of Schindler’s list, Leyson offers a unique perspective on the man who became his lifelong hero and his first-hand account of day-to-day existence in the factory--which did not alleviate the fear or deprivation--and his personal interaction with Schindler is powerful and special.
Reviews
"My daughter just started to read it."
"I read this book quickly on my Kindle and enjoyed it thoroughly."
"His story ."
"Great book with personal insights to Oscar Schindler."
"I would recommend this book to anyone especially to those who think they have life so tough."
"Amazing story that should never be forgotten."
"A great book, everyone should read."
"Good novel for young adult readers."
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Best Children's Transportation Books

The Polar Express
A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. Amazon Exclusive: A Letter from Chris Van Allsburg Over the past twenty-five years, many people have shared stories with me about the effect that reading The Polar Express has had on their families and on their celebration of Christmas. A dozen years earlier the woman, who had no children of her own, befriended a neighbor, a boy of about seven, named Eddie. She had a collection of picture books, which she read to him, but around the holidays, the only story he ever wanted to hear, over and over, was The Polar Express . One year she offered to give him the book, but Eddie declined because he wanted to hear her read it aloud to him, which she continued to do every year until the boy and his family moved away. Eddie, quietly and a little self-consciously, read The Polar Express . Chris Van Allsburg Recipes and Activities to Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Polar Express (Click on Images for the Recipe or Activity [PDF])Snacks for Santa Candy Cane Sugar Cookies Polar Chocolate Nougat Caramel Squares Christmas Snowball Cookies A Polar Express Word Search A Polar Express Crossword A Polar Express Maze PreSchool-Grade 2-Chris Van Allsburg's Caldecott-winning Christmas classic (HM, 1985) is 15 years old, but it is a timeless story that just keeps getting better. As the Polar Express pulls into town one Christmas Eve, offering a magical, unforgettable trip to the North Pole, a young boy boards the train.
Reviews
"The book. originally purchased for my grandson included a bell."
"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 Sports & Outdoors Books

The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 3)
Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones. The third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney’s presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years. This time, Greg starts off on New Year’s Day (he resolves to “help other people improve,” telling his mother, “I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly”) and ends with summer vacation. As he fends off his father’s attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Greg’s hapless adventures include handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings (“Dear James, You smell”), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and single-handedly wrecking his soccer team’s perfect season. Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Jeff Kinney Question: Given all the jobs that you have--game designer, fatherhood, Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie work, etc.,--do you have a certain time that you set aside to write? Kinney: I never any real desire to appear in the Wimpy Kid films, but one day my wife encouraged me to be an extra in one of the crowd scenes. I eventually reached a voicemail of a reporter who said they worked for Time , and at that point I thought it was just a well-planned practical joke. The third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney's presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years. Kinney's spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force. This time, Greg starts off on New Year's Day (he resolves to "help other people improve," telling his mother, "I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly") and ends with summer vacation. As he fends off his father's attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Greg's hapless adventures include handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings ("Dear James, You smell"), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and single-handedly wrecking his soccer team's perfect season. Kinney allows himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the "racket" children's book authors have going.
Reviews
"On Christmas Eve, he disappeared under the dining room table with his Christmas stash of "Diary of A Wimpy Kid" books and only popped up when demand required it."
"The Diary series was a Christmas gift to my twin great nephews (now age 10)."
"This was a gift for my grandson and he loves it."
"Fast Ship, Great Price."
"One reason I like it so much is because if your a twelve year old, then the main character of this book (Greg Heffly), is also about 12 or 13 and has some of the same elements in his life as a normal 12yr old would."
"Our Grandson loves his Wimpy book series!"
"I think that the book was a nice book and downloaded some of the other books are all of them because I'm not sure.I have always liked your books and I read dog days in my second grade class and it took me a long time but I still loved it and I will read on my kindle in a few days or so.A lot of people read the book dog days in my second grade class and some of them or one of them read it a bunch of times!"
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Best Children's Mystery & Detectives Books

Titan's Curse, The (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.– Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Their adventures range widely across the U.S., taking them to locales that include Washington, D.C., and the deserts of the Southwest and pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea—that the half-mortal offspring of Greek gods live among us, playing out struggles of mythic scale—and Riordan takes it from strength to strength with this exciting installment, adding even more depth to the characters and story arc while retaining its predecessors' nonstop laughs and action.
Reviews
"Being meant for young adults, the writing is pretty easy which makes it a quick read. Most fictional books I have read very rarely incorporate races other than white as the main characters. They are all super important characters and each have a unique personality that many young adults can relate to."
"This book was a lot of fun, while Percy and Annabeth are trying to survive (Spoiler) Tartarus the other demigods are trying to get to the House of Hades to help rescue Percy and Annabeth and stop the Earth Goddess from rising."
"While the second book in the series, *The Sea of Monsters*, helped to change my mind on this, it was still a bit underwhelming. The whole narrative felt like basically an endless series of cliff-hangers with little to no character development and not enough plot. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the first two volumes, but just that they didn't quite (other than some interesting stuff such as likable characters and references to myths) *do* it for me, so to speak. This third book, however, really did make me a major *Percy Jackson* fan, and was absolutely a great read. In a rescue mission to save two fellow demi-gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend Thalia, encounter trouble. Though they save the twin half-bloods, Annabeth goes missing, and to make matters worse, so does a powerful goddess ally, Artemis. Not only did Riordan expand on the mythology of the series, and the connections to Classical Greek myths, but the structure was different. Well, the answer is that they are a) kinda personality-driven, and this interferes with some proactiveness, as they have their own stuff to attend to and their personalities dictate this, and b) related, they are *busy*. For that matter, there is a delicate power balance that too much action on the part of *anyone* will upset."
"We also find out with why Nico is so grumpy and not very talkative with Annabeth anymore like he used to as a preteen. Leo even visited Calypso and we learned what that line in the prophecy about a promise was really Leo promising Calypso to free her from her prison so that one day they could open up a car repair garage/food place. Leo's ADHD hasn't been too bad, Piper can charmspeak things to being actual living things while also learning how to fight, and being in Tartarus both changed Percy and Annabeth while growing them more together."
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Best Children's Computer & Technology Books

Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #11)
His mom thinks video games are turning his brain to mush, so she wants her son to put down the controller and explore his “creative side.”. As if that’s not scary enough, Halloween’s just around the corner and the frights are coming at Greg from every angle. Jeff Kinneyis a #1 "New York Times" bestselling author and six-time Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award winner for Favorite Book.
Reviews
"I always love the smell of a new book but the smooth outside texture of the book adds a good feature to the book. It is a well worded book from the first page to the last page (217 pages overall) each page has a complete word filled page but the pictures adds to the imagination of the child reading this book. He's now 10 and he LOVES this book series so much he looks forward to the new books that come out and every once in a while re-reads the older book series. I can't say enough good things about this book or any other book from the series."
"We just received the book!"
"My teenage son loves the series."
"This was a Christmas gift for my granddaughter and she was thrilled with it."
"just what my grandson wanted, for his Collection - an avid reader!"
"-I would recommend this to my brother because he has a great sense of humor. -No other series I’d rather read more!"
"10 year old granddaughter loved the book."
"Great book for my 8 year old."
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Best Children's Geography & Cultures Books

The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 9)
Gas station bathrooms, crazed seagulls, a fender bender, and a runaway pig—not exactly Greg Heffley’s idea of a good time. Gr 5–8—When Greg's mom, who's obsessed with family time, insists on a road trip, things are bound to get interesting. Will the Heffley family make it home?
Reviews
"Got this for my son on the early purchase program."
"It really surprised me it is one of the best Diary of a Wimpy Kid books I have ever read."
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Best Children's Holidays & Celebrations Books

A Wish to Be A Christmas Tree
This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic. Award-winning wildlife artist Michael Glenn Monroe began his career at a very young age.
Reviews
"I teach this story to my class of "Exceptional Students" every year."
"Sweet story about a Christmas tree that never gets chosen because he is too big."
"My daughter took it to her first grade teacher and her teacher asked to keep it for a few days because she wanted to share it."
"A pine tree is sad that no one takes him home to be their Christmas tree but all of his forest friends show him how loved and important he is to all of them."
"But as most Christmas stories, in the end it has a happy ending and you and your kids will read this book every Christmas Season just as you read Twas The Night Before Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty."
"We gave it to his best friend as a Christmas gift."
"Adorable story of how friends come together to cheer up an old Christmas tree at a Christmas tree farm that never gets selected to go home with a family."
"Beautiful story that my child and I will read all year round!"
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Best Children's Biographies

The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List
“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief ,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” ( VOYA ). Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2013: For readers ages 11 and up, Leon Leyson’s remarkable memoir, The Boy on the Wooden Box , is the moving account of a happy childhood shattered by the Holocaust. As the youngest member of Schindler’s list, Leyson offers a unique perspective on the man who became his lifelong hero and his first-hand account of day-to-day existence in the factory--which did not alleviate the fear or deprivation--and his personal interaction with Schindler is powerful and special.
Reviews
"The book is so well written, with rare insight from a child going through the ordeal."
"Amazing story that should never be forgotten."
"The writer was the youngest of the Jews Schindler helped escape."
"A great book, everyone should read."
"This is a sad story of how so many people have no value of a life."
"Great read."
"So sad what happened and although we have read about it before, from so many stories and movies, this book had a different view."
"The Boy in The Wooden Box was a great book, it was hard to put down."
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Best Children's Growing Up & Facts of Life Books

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
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Best Children's Literature

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
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Best Children's Animal Stories

The Hiccupotamus
And every time he got’emus... he'd fall upon his bottomus!” Calamity ensues when an elephant, a centipede, and a rhinoceros try finding a cure for Hippo’s colossal case of hiccups. "...It's hard to say what's better: the whimsical, rhyming text or the beautiful colored-pencil illustrations....with funny results.
Reviews
"This book is so silly and adorable."
"My kids love it and if you add a bit of acting when reading it, our kids give us cute belly laughs."
"Cute story and the illustrations are great."
"This book is adorable and fun."
"Cute idea for a 3 yr old who lives in a city whose mascot Is the hippo."
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Best Children's Folk Tales & Myths

Artemis Fowl
Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back. The author has let his imagination run riot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in an outrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter has done for wizardry. Instead, what we have here is well-written, sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. However, his feisty mark, Holly, turns out to be a member of the "LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police," so a wisecracking team of satyrs, trolls, dwarfs and fellow fairies set out to rescue her.
Reviews
"It involves clones, high tech gadgets, and takes the young reader on a journey of Fowl after his mind has been erased of memories of faries and the such."
"This book had me smiling the entire time."
"A twelve-year-old genius criminal mastermind takes on the world of Faeries. He develops a ploy to kidnap one of them and hold her for ransom for a fortune in gold. Yes, the main character is only twelve years old, but to say he acts much older would be beyond understatement. Instead, we spend a lot of our time with the faeries and see all the buffoonery that ensues in their culture."
"The 10th and final Artemis Fowl book is coming out this year, and in celebration, Disney/Hyperion is offering NetGalley members access to the previous nine books in two-book special editions. This month, Artemis Fowl is one of the two books, and rather than root through my kids' piles of books to find the first two books in the series, I got access to the first two in e-book format to see why my oldest was so addicted to Eoin Colfer and whether I should talk the boys into reading them."
"I read some future books as a kid before I read this one."
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Best Children's Arts, Music & Photography Books

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production
The playscript for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was originally released as a 'special rehearsal edition' alongside the opening of Jack Thorne's play in London's West End in summer 2016. When Albus hatches a plot to go back in time to save the life of Cedric Diggory—what Albus views as the biggest mistake his father made—time becomes distorted and Harry is left to examine his own life, his relationship with his son, and how love can sometimes be much more complicated than it seems. This is an interesting extension of the "Harry Potter" universe, but readers should go into it knowing that it's its own beast. Rowling didn't write it (much to the fury and vitriol of many fans), and it is in script form, so it loses some of the magic that won over millions of readers back when it all began.
Reviews
"I read the books 2-3 times per year since I was a child. These books are a part of me, I've named my children after characters in these books. I have waited for this book like the rest of you. I get more of a harry potter vibe from the fantastic beasts trailer than this entire book. I think the best way to go into reading this and saving yourself from despair is to read it as a fanfic and not the true works of rowling."
"I keep wondering if there's a therapy group where all the disgruntled fans can congragate and weep together. The entire 7 book series was about friendship, love and loyalty, and Harry knew that; and most importantly, knew that's what made him different from V. You're telling me, he, Ron and Herm didn't continue to live and instil those values in their children? Harry wouldn't have choosen work over time with his family, which after all he'd been through WAS ALL HE EVER WANTED. This new book is the worst kind of trash, the one that destroys the soul of our hero. Also, what they did to calm, measured, quirky, wise Dumbledore, making him a weepy, rude mess, who spoke in cliches, issuing a completely unnecessary "apology" to why Harry was at the Dursleys, when Dumbledore had already apologized profusely for that in HP5 AND severely told off the Dursleys in HP6 for their abusive behavior! And what a weak, floppy mess Harry was during the fight scene?!"
"I want to start this by saying that I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I grew up with Harry, I went to midnight premiers of the books and movies. His character, all jokes no supporting and listening to Harry and Hermione. o In the last book when they are dropping off the children at the Hogwarts express, the kids are genuinely confused as to why everyone is looking at them and Ron makes a joke saying “I’m famous”. It is deduced that the kids do not know the extent of everything their parents went through to save the world. Let’s go back to that epilogue where they all see Draco with his family and a joke gets made about not playing with his son. Which then Hermione corrects and Ron says to beat him on test but not to get too cozy and marry him. She would have loved to mother the Dark Lords child; there would have been no greater honor. And then the gang goes to Malfoy manor there is no baby in sight. Voldemort would have wanted an heir; wouldn’t he have made it a horcrux and offered it more protection? I know she was horrible but I do think Harry would have deep feelings about his mother’s sister passing. Sirius Black escapes and the freaking muggle minister is alerted! But hey, this guy who tortured the Longbottoms into insanity he escapes and it’s cool. It’s sounding more and more as if this witch convinced herself that she is the heir of the dark lord. Cedric a character who was noble and good and died oh so tragically. This character who was loyal and kind and helped Harry turns DARK SIDE?!?! CEDRIC A DEAD EATER HAHAHAHA NOPE NOT FUNNY. Thank you for turning a good character and completely changing him for the worse. Thank goodness you did not include Sirius Black in your play. But wait not, here I got some polyjuice potion here in my back pocket and I just happen to carry my dad and his best friends hairs at all times. Harry duels Delphi (a eighteen year old) and she is stronger?"
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Best Children's Activities, Crafts & Games Books

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike (Unofficial Cookbook)
Treacle Tart--Harry's favorite dessert Molly's Meat Pies--Mrs. Weasley's classic dish Kreacher's French Onion Soup Pumpkin Pasties--a staple on the Hogwarts Express cart. They can make the mince pies that Mrs. Weasley sends Harry every Christmas, and the pumpkin pasties from the Halloween feast scene I loved reading as a kid. As long as you don't mind your kids going down the weird meat-pie, haggis, and Scotch collop–filled path that is the world of British food, this book is sure to be a hit." (Epicurious). "Cooking dishes from popular fantasy books--from Harry Potter to A Game of Thrones to the Twilight vampire tales--has become a pastime for fans seeking to immerse themselves in their favorite fictional worlds. Literary foodies are trading tips on how to cook eel pie and nettle soup, sharing ideas on blogs, YouTube and Twitter, and occasionally scoring cookbook deals. Lucky for all of us muggles, Dinah Buchholz has penned The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook , a guide to recreating all sorts of witchy and wizardy vittles introduced throughout the series." With more than 150 easy-to-make recipes, tips, and techniques, you can indulge in spellbindingly delicious meals drawn straight from the pages of your favorite Potter stories." "After a long winter's day, ever wish you could just cozy up in the Burrow and have Molly Weasley whip you up a little roast chicken with mashed potatoes? "From Cauldron Cakes to Pumpkin Pasties...this magical tome for muggles is filled with awesome facts about each recipe."
Reviews
"It's pretty basic sometimes, it's more European type quisiene so if you don't like haggis, liver, lamb, or other English/Scottish dishes etc then these recipes aren't for you."
"The BEST part was that each recipe has the correlating book and page number of where it appeared!"
"Hardback cover and thick pages that make it look like a spell book."
"Purchased this book as a gift for my wife who is a huge Harry Potter fan."
"Even if it’s not ‘authentic’ JK Rowling I thought it was cute and bought as a present for my friend who bakes and also loves HP."
"This was a hit at my company Christmas party."
"A whimsical cookbook which is a good introduction to (mostly) traditional English cuisine."
"bought two of these for my adult daughters."
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Best Children's Science & Nature

The Everything Kids' Easy Science Experiments Book: Explore the world of science through quick and fun experiments! (Everything® Kids)
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
"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!"
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Best Children's Comics & Graphic Novels

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1)
As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things. Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Jeff Kinney Question: Given all the jobs that you have--game designer, fatherhood, Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie work, etc.,--do you have a certain time that you set aside to write? Kinney: I never any real desire to appear in the Wimpy Kid films, but one day my wife encouraged me to be an extra in one of the crowd scenes. I eventually reached a voicemail of a reporter who said they worked for Time , and at that point I thought it was just a well-planned practical joke. Q: Would you ever consider making Wimpy Kid into a newspaper comic strip or creating another one? Kinney's popular Web comic, which began in 2004, makes its way to print as a laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons," adapted from the series. Middle school student Greg Heffley takes readers through an academic year's worth of drama. Greg's mother forces him to keep a diary ("I know what it says on the cover, but when Mom went out to buy this thing I specifically told her to get one that didn't say 'diary' on it"), and in it he loosely recounts each day's events, interspersed with his comic illustrations. Greg's journal entry reads, "I do feel a little bad, because it looked like it was gonna take a long time to clean up. Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class.
Reviews
"granddaughter loved this book."
"Great book for the students."
"With this book there's not a lot of actual "reading," but he had his nose in a book for awhile!"
"It is very funny how the cheese touch became something to scare you about in Greg's middle school."
"Another addition to my collection."
"I bought these for my 9 year old granddaughter and she loves them!"
"This book seemed too young for me but my little nephews loved it."
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Best Children's Reference & Nonfiction

The Giving Tree
And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns , the new book from Shel Silverstein! In Shel Silverstein's popular tale of few words and simple line drawings, a tree starts out as a leafy playground, shade provider, and apple bearer for a rambunctious little boy. At this point in the story, the double-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cut down to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child that said "M.E. When there's nothing left of her, the boy returns again as an old man, needing a quiet place to sit and rest. (All ages) --Karin Snelson “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."
"Every opportunity the tree would give the boy what he asked for. What a wonderful story."
"The eldest who was born in 2001 had the hard bound copy, and my youngest born in 2011 has both the hard bound and digital version of this book."
"My wife and I were joined in a nearly two year battle with a disease that wanted to take her from me. Without a word, I held and put it in a quiet place to be read again at a special time. On the early morning of January 31st, while I held and kissed her gently, she left the field of battle."
"This book is my all-time favorite book. My family loves this book as well."
"I interpreted the actions of the tree as pure, and didn't even identify with the brutality of the boy. And because the reader through their emotional attachment has an active role in this story we must acknowledge that the tree sacrificed not only for the boy, but to the children who read her story. Also, if the tree came out and chastised the boy, and told us directly what was right and wrong we would have our morality implanted in us, and not developed through our own understanding of the story."
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Best Children's Science Fiction & Mystery

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Children's Action & Adventure Literature

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Find Best Price at Amazon
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