Some very "special" childrens books.

[cchris]

Wondering what to buy your kid for their birthday?
How about a good learning book.

Here are reviews of some childrens books you might want to read first before your kids get a hold of them.







Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Okay, so everyone does it--does everyone have to talk about it? True, kids at a certain stage of development may find the subject riveting--but their parents may well not want to read to them about it. Here we learn that birds do it, bees do it, kids with bended knees do it. We are told about big poop and little poop, animals that poop while moving and animals that poop from a stationary position, why and where people poop--in short, we get the scoop on poop. The pictures, far from Gomi's best work, leave nothing to the imagination either. In case the message hasn't sunk in, the final spread presents a chorus line of creatures, backsides forward, each producing poop. Call it what you will, by euphemism or by expletive, poop by any name seems an unsuitable picture book subject--a view not helped by this artless presentation. Ages 18 mos.-4 yrs.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.








Ages 5^-8. The gang that produced Everyone Poops (1993) turns its attention to scabs. As usual, rather horrific pictures (scribbled cartoons featuring orange faces) and an often inane text ("Maybe a scab is made of something like poop that comes out of a sore") is combined with decent information about what a scab is, what causes it to form, and the function it serves for the body.









The story's narrator begins with his parents' divorce, and continues, "Now there's somebody new at Daddy's house." The new arrival is male; Frank and Daddy are seen pursuing their daily routine (eating, shaving, sleeping--even fighting), and on weekends the three interact easily on their various outings. "Mommy says Frank and Daddy are gay"--this new concept is explained to the child as "just one more kind of love."










This handsome 10-anniversary edition of a minor classic presents the story of Heather, a preschooler with two moms who discovers that some of her friends have very different sorts of families. Juan, for example, has a mommy and a daddy and a big brother named Carlos. Miriam has a mommy and a baby sister. And Joshua has a mommy, a daddy, and a stepdaddy. Their teacher Molly encourages the children to draw pictures of their families, and reassures them that "each family is special" and that "the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."









"I struggled with the problem of how to explain to my young son what ADD is. "Eukee, the Jumpy Jumpy Elephant" provided a simple and entertaining way to tell my child about ADD in a language he could understand. This is a wonderful, beautifully illustrated book that parents will cherish and children will enjoy." Rose Monteir, parent









Shelley the turtle has a very hard time sitting still, even for short periods of time. During a visit to the doctor, Shelley learns that he is hyperactive, and that he can take medicine every day to control his wiggly feeling. With help from his doctor and love from his family, Shelley feels much better about himself.











I read this book this morning at church. A friend had it in her bag for her children. I could not believe it even after reading it. It brought smiles to my face throughout the whole book because it was extremely humorous to me. Having such a subject in book form for the young is a great advantage. Some people shun these subjects and having it in print and pictures is a wonderful idea. Since Terry is the main character AND a female - it shines light to the world that not only is it ok for boys/men to do this in public or have such a problem but females also are just as human. Our family kids each other about "tooting" all the time and my mom, brothers, son, sisters-in-laws, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews will enjoy this book. I'm getting it to read to the whole family. Anyone who is a kid at heart needs to get "Terry Toots" for their home library!










The latest Japanese import in Kane/ Miller's My Body Science/Curious Nell series starts out promisingly, with some of the same frank humor that characterized their initial offering (Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops ). Yagyu is certainly informative--he bolsters his explanations of the nose and its functions with diagrams and crisp line drawings, and his largely orange, red and black palette lends a retro-'60s look. Unfortunately, the book goes more than slightly overboard in its exploration of nasal passages. For example, a gorilla with a runny nose denies the offer of a tissue, saying that he plans to "let it dry then pick it off and eat it." Even the hardiest readers may find themselves opting out of this one. Pass the Kleenex, please. Ages 18 mos.-5 yrs.

[obediah]

Reminds me of a nice joke list from a long while ago. The only ones I can really remember were to Seuss jokes;

My Pocket Rocket Needs a Socket

and the infinitely better:

How the Grinch Stole Columbus Day

[bermuDa]

I prefer "nobody poops but you"

[gov135]

I've always liked:
"Where the Girls Gone Wild Things Are"

and

"Daddy Drinks Because You're Stupid"

[MacGnG]

cute, seem liek they work

[GakFace]

holy crap, that insane... heh

Everyone Poops: So Why Don't YOU!!!

[rival]

Peter Griffin: I'm looking for some toilet training books.
Salesman: We have the popular 'everybody poops", or the less popular 'nobody poops but you'.
Peter Griffin: Well, you see, we're catholic. . .
Salesman: Ah, then you'll want 'you're a naughty, naughty boy, and that's concentrated evil coming out the back of you'.

[floonine]

what's wrong with being hyperactive? why does there need to be a book for it?

[wwcd101]

Try "the Woogie Norple Story". Awesome

Thanks for listening.

I love it. I'm going to run to the bookstore tomorrow

[jojoojeyjojo]

oh dear, the last one, the nose one from Japan frightens me the most oddly enough, the two black circles? reminds me too much of "The Ring"

[Early H]

What about the classic "Men Have a Penis Women Have a Vagina"