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Customer Reviews (62)

Gracie's Favorite Book
My 10-month-old daughter demands her father and I read only Peggy Rathman books to her before bedtime. Since she was 5 months old, she would choose Goodnight, Gorilla from a pile of books offered to her, even if I hid this book on the bottom of the stack. I have decided that, unlike most baby board books, Peggy Rathman stories have a climax to look forward to -- whether it is yelling "BEDTIME" in Ten Minutes 'Til Bedtime or gasping when the zookeeper's wife realizes there are a bunch of zoo animals in her bedroom in Goodnight, Gorilla. The illustrations keep me interested, night after night. The attention to detail is wonderful. I highly recommend her books, and wish she would write more!

Perfect for toddlers!!
My son loves this book! I think it must be because the illustrations are easy on his eyes. The drawings are very childlike and the colors(mostly primary)are perfect. This is the story of a zookeeper who is closing the zoo for the night, and while he says "goodnight" to each critter, the gorilla, who is first, steals his keys and lets all the animals out. They all follow him home, and he never even notices! His pop eyed wife has to take care of them herself. It's the most adorable little book! There isn't much to read. It's more of a feast for the child's eyes right before he sets off to night nights.
The copy I have is a small board book, and it's small enough for my son's little hands to hold and admire all by himself.
I highly recommend buying this for the child at age 21 month and over.

Great for signing!
If you are using sign language with your child, this is a great book! It is more of a picture book, but there are great opportunities to sign gorilla (monkey, banana and key on every page, as well as some good concepts for kids like "light" and "sleep."

Even if you aren't signing, this book is fabulous. There are opportunities to identify animals and colors on every page, as well as finding the mouse and his banana. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Animals - Zoos   3. Children's Baby - Boardbooks   4. Children: Preschool   5. Fiction   6. Juvenile Fiction   7. Zoo animals   8. Zoos   

Sixty years have passed since a curious little chimp in Africa met theman with the big yellow hat and got into the first of many scrapes. Decadeslater, George is as curious--and naughty--as ever. To celebrate the 60thanniversary of Curious George's debut, this special edition is a collection ofseven classic adventures by Margret and H.A. Rey, along with an introduction bycritic Leonard Marcus, a retrospective note by publisher Anita Silvey, a historyof the Reys by Dee Jones, curator of the de Grummond Children's LiteratureCollection, and a photo album. The many generations of fans of the "good littlemonkey who was always very curious" will be fascinated to learn how H.A. andMargret escaped on bicycle from German-occupied Paris, with just their wintercoats and several picture books (including a draft of <I>Curious George</I>, then called<I>Fifi</I>) strapped to the racks. Photos and essays reveal H.A. to have been agentle, humorous man, while Margret, by all accounts, was spirited and brutallydirect, with a keen business mind. The chemistry between them workedbeautifully. Between them, they created one of the most beloved characters inchildren's literature. This handsome volume includes <I>Curious George</I>,<I>Curious George Takes a Job</I>, <I>Curious George Rides a Bike</I>,<I>Curious George Gets a Medal</I>, <I>Curious George Flies a Kite</I>,<I>Curious George Learns the Alphabet</I>, and <I>Curious George Goes to theHospital</I>. (Ages 4 to 8) <I>--Emilie Coulter</I> ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

George stays in your mind forever !
I loved George so much when I was little, even before I could read. My mom bought me one and she ended up buying all the other Georgefs books. Mine were written all Japanese, George's books are everywhere in the world and famous. I am 36 year-old (!) now, I still can remember some of the stories I read and adorable drawings of the books. I think this book even had an influence my "personality development" as a child. Good influences such as: be independent, be curious, be creative, be bold, be unique, be humorous, be even a little rebellious, be lovable. Very good chilren's book.

Memories of old and new
I absolutely loved Curious George when I was a child. It is so thrilling to watch that same excitement in my 3 y.o. daughter. She practically begs me to read her a story from the book every night. During the day, she loves to flip through the book looking for her favorite pictures. It's not often that children enjoy the same things that delighted their parents as children. I am so happy to able to share these stories with her!

Too much monkey
The Curious George stories are cute in small doses but after awhile they become rather repetitive. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   4. Children: Kindergarten   5. Classics   6. Fiction   7. Humorous Stories   8. Juvenile Fiction   9. Monkeys   10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (1)

Childhood Favorite
I added this book to my registry because Curious George is a book I remember loving strongly when I was very young. Curious George is a classic, and I wanted to share that enjoyment with my little one, when she becomes old enough to understand it more.

This set comes in a sturdy box that buttons to close and contains four different Curious George books inside. The books are all board books and each one has the bright and delightful cartoons that I remember inside.

While my baby is still too young to get the gist of the stories, she does enjoy chewing on the book, hehe, and the bright colors keep her attention. This is an awesome gift set, especially for the good price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's Baby - Boardbooks   4. Children: Grades 1-2   5. Humorous Stories   6. Juvenile Fiction   7. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (32)

A truly great kids book!
This is a sweet story of a peddler who sells caps. The illustrations are superb, and the story is fun. The seller carries his supply on his head. (First is own cap, then the...). One day he sits under a tree and when he awakes nearly all the caps are missing! Where did they go? Well, buy this book and read it aloud to your kids and have a great time together.

A true classic
This book is well loved by my son and myself.

I love books that have simple pictures that add to the text rather than distract. I like the simple story line. I particularly like that this book can be used as a stepping stone to other activities (acting like a monkey, balancing hats on your head etc.)

The repetitive nature and sing songy words are wonderful for prereading skills. My son loves to act like a monkey stealing my hat as we read this book.

A true classic.

A Good Story for the Kids
A timeless tale written in 1940 still attracts young children's attention. This is a very humorous, easy to understand book to read aloud. The story is accompanied with brightly colored pictures that actually tell the story. After reading it through children can re-tell the story by just looking at the pictures.
It is a story that children will pass on to their friends. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   3. Children: Kindergarten   4. Classics   5. Fiction   6. Hats   7. Humorous Stories   8. Juvenile Fiction   9. Monkeys   10. Peddlers and peddling   11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (25)

Too much fun for bedtime!
Yes, this book WILL get the kids trying to jump on the bed. It's a lot of fun, and much laughing is heard whenever we read it. There is a lot of detail in the pictures - I love watching the doctor, and Mama gives us a great ending! I picked this up when my younger son was asking for us to play "monkeys on the bed" (the rhyme with hand motions)over & over & over - my fingers were tired. We've been reading ever since! Have I mentioned that the board book format is a great, sturdy idea? Definately a good buy, and highly recommended.

Monkeys are the best!
I have been reading this book to my son since he was 3 months old. The first time we read it he actual laughed out aloud. He is now 10 months and still loves this book. We read it every night before bed and are even painting monkeys on his wall because they are his favorite. Those monkeys are very cute and babies love them.

Five Little Monkeys Jumped on a Bed
This is a very good book this was my favorite book when I was little. It is a really good book for kids, and I don't think that you would be disappointed if you bought it. It is easy to follow along with, and it is even better because it involves monkeys. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks   3. Children's poetry   4. Children: Preschool   5. Concepts - Counting   6. Humorous Stories   7. Nursery rhymes   8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural   2. Apes & Monkeys   3. Culture   4. Nature / Field Guide Books   5. Orangutan   6. Social Science   7. Sociology   8. Nature / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (3)

This is entertainment?!
If you've raised any children in the last 57 years, you've probably already read H. A. Rey's 1947 children's classic "Curious George Takes a Job" and you already know how... questionable some of its content is. For those of you who don't have kids, you should know what's in this book before buying it.

Check out page 17. Curious George has been found literally swimming in a vast vat of pasta. Instead of calling animal control and having him put down and tested for rabies, the cook who catches him in flagrante de pesto, instead puts him to work washing dishes -- with both the monkey's hands and his FEET. I sincerely hope no one actually ate off those dishes afterwards. Where is the heath department when you need them?

Anyway, the cook sends him to work with the Elevator Man, washing windows on the outside of a hi-rise building (without a safety-line!!!). Curious George sneaks into a room, paints it, and dashes down the fire escape. He falls and breaks his leg. We're treated to a picture of a crying monkey with a wobbly leg, bent in four or five places.

In the hospital, on page 36, George has recovered from his broken leg and is left alone for a few minutes. Okay, to keep it brief: he gets into the ether. This violates EVERYTHING I was taught in school about drugs not being fun. And then, on the next page you can tell by Curious George's rapturous grin just how much he enjoyed the experience.

And I haven't even mentioned the use of tobacco on page 41 or the prevelence of extremely high-emissions fossil-fueled vehicles on pages 13 and 14.

Bottom line: this book is POISON. Protect your children from it at all costs.

Vintage Curious George
I was already a "big girl" of thirteen, when this came out, but I still enjoyed it, and remembered certain scenes when I read this to my little boys. They empathize with George as he escapes the zoo to find his dear friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. Witty and captivating illustrations immortalize George`s amusing series of adventures which culminate in a role in the movies. Lots of fun.

Curious George takes a Job By: H.A. Rey
This classic children's book is a delightful tale of a monkey on his quest to find the man in the big yellow hat. Follow Curious George as he tries to escape from the zoo. There is a turn at every corner. Curious George can't seem to avoid mischief. The illustrations seem to say more than the words. This book is for all ages and is enjoyable whether being read to or reading by yourself. I highly recommend all the Curious George books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's 4-8   3. Children: Grades 1-2   4. Fiction   5. Monkeys   6. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (8)

Author interview on WAER Syracuse 88.3 FM 7/29 at 8 p.m.
Dawn Prince-Hughes will be interviewed on "Women's Voices Radio," on WAER Syracuse 88.3 FM on 7/29 at 8 p.m., along with novelist Kates Niles (THE BASKET MAKER) & essayist Nan Levinson (OUTSPOKEN). WAER does not archive its programming but this show is accessible by web-streaming during the broadcast at www.WAER.org.

heartwarming and enlightening
'Songs of the Gorilla Nation' is an autobiography by Dawn Prince Hughes, an interdisciplinary anthropologist who has lived with the hardships of Asperger's Syndrome which is a unique version of autism.

This is a very humane book and should hopefully open up the minds of many to be more empathetic to the plight of those experiencing autism & of diffierent species.

Dawn always knew that she was different, unfortunately for her she never knew why she was different. She reveals her path to self-discovery.

Dawn gives the impression that what are normally instinctive social norms, such as smiling at appropriate times, or knowing when to disagree or agree, are entirely learned behaviors on her behalf. What is obvious for the normal person, she has to intellectually grasp, and learn to correctly apply that knowledge. This fortunately offers her a unique way of looking at the world.

Unlike others when she spends time and studies gorillas, Dawn sees not only the basics such as a silverback and a playful child, she can sense the individualities of each gorilla. She understands why a gorilla behaves a certain manner. She knows if the individual gorilla is being silly, threatening or displaying grief at the sickness of a family member.

With this understanding of Gorillas, Dawn is then capable of applying that knowledge to human behavior, and her own behavior in general. With this application she learns to better handle herself in public and to expand her understanding of the human condition.

Some of the other unique characteristics of this book involve how she views the world. One of the better explanations is that autism provides an overload of the senses. Most people have filters that block out unnecessary information. Our senses are better capable of focusing or disregarding some irrelevant sense, touch, sight, or smell. With autism we get the impression that Dawn cannot prevent all these senses from overloading her brain. Since we dont actively think about all of the filters that we do have it's difficult for most people to understand how she feels.

This book should be mandatory reading for psychologists or anyone teaching. A lot of the problems Dawn encountered as a child could have been avoided if only some simple humanity and understanding had been applied. This is especially true when we read about how one of her teachers treated her.

Hopefully this book will enlighten people on what autism is, and about the fact that apes and animals in general each have their own unique personalities.

A fantastic book
Frankly, I didn't expect to be as touched by this book as I was. For some reason it simply blew me away. Let me start out by saying that I don't have, nor do I know anyone who is autistic or has Asperber Syndrome (I realize that the definitions are sketchy). That said, I still found this book riveting and above all, moving. Another reviewer recommended another book--a work of fiction really--dealing with a child who is autistic/Asperger/DID in some manner and I found that one equally riveting: "Bark of the Dogwood." It too was a great read, though very disturbing--not for the faint-hearted. But "Songs of the Gorilla Nation" just left me breathless. Thank God Dawn Prince-Hughes had the courage she did, not only to live her life, but to tell us about it in this highly unusual read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1964-   2. Apes & Monkeys   3. Autism   4. Biography   5. Biography & Autobiography   6. Biography / Autobiography   7. Biography/Autobiography   8. Gorilla   9. Human-animal relationships   10. Mammalian Physiology   11. Patients   12. Personal Memoirs   13. Prince-Hughes, Dawn,   14. Social Scientists & Psychologists   15. Wildlife   16. Biography & Autobiography / Social Scientists & Psychologists   

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Customer Reviews (37)

My daughter knows how to give a HUG!
I am a mother of 1 year old. My daughter likes the book very much. She hands it to me at least 2 or 3 times after I read several times to her. THere is only one word HUG in the book and I have to make up a story for her. I enjoy doing so. Every time after saying HUG I give her a hug. After trying a few times, she knows how to give me a HUG! The feeling is wonderful! Also, the pictures in the book is beautiful. Must buy!

Perfect for Preschool
Once again, Alborough does a fantastic job with his child-friendly illustrations. This simple one-word picture book invites preschoolers to read ALONE and takes them on a baby monkey's adventure to find his own mother's 'hug.' Sweet, inviting, and most importantly, an independent read for pre-emergent readers, I highly recommend it to teachers and parents of young children.

Sweet, simple story with precious illustrations
Parents wil find this a more interactive book to read w/ their children, because most of the text just says "Hug!" but it's the illustrations of this baby chimp and other African animals that tell the story.

The little ape sees other animals (esp. mommy animals and baby animals) hugging, and wants a hug, too.

There will be a lot of pointing, "look at the hippos! look at the zebras!" and lots of hugs when this story is read. Very sweet, and a great goodnight story to read to your kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks   3. Children: Preschool   4. Chimpanzees   5. Family - General   6. Fiction   7. General   8. Hugging   9. Jungle animals   10. Juvenile Fiction   

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Customer Reviews (40)

Hand Hand Fingers Thumb
I have had the book "Hand Hand Fingers Thumb" since I was about two. I must have read it 500 times. It was a regular bedtime story for me. It is a very easy book to read. The words aren't very big and they are repeated so that the young kids can learn the words easier. The book has very good flow and great pictures. All of the pictures have monkeys in them and you know every kid loves monkeys. The rhymes are very good such as; "Hello Jack. Hello Jake. Shake Hands Shake Hands Shake! Shake! Shake!" There isn't much of a plot to this story but I think it is a very good story anyways.

Memorize It!
We've been reading this book to my 18-month-old daughter since she was just a few months old and she loves it. In fact, reciting it to her when she's crying -- on an airplane for instance -- will make her stop crying immediately and start drumming on her belly with her hands. She was attracted to the rhythm and rhyme from a very early age. It is not necessary to understand what monkeys and drums are in order to enjoy this book ... it is perfect for babies of all ages!

Michelle Gordon
This book was okay for a young child. I would reccommend this book for a child within the age-range of Pre-K to first grade. I was a really tongue tying book. I will teach kids to have good diction and to say words fast without getting all tied up in their words. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks   3. Children: Babies & Toddlers   4. Classics   5. Fiction   6. Hand   7. Humorous Stories   8. Monkeys   9. Stories in rhyme   10. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / General   

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Customer Reviews (2)

I love this book
Good Morning Gorillas is one of my favorite Magic Tree House books. I love it. I love the book because it has lots of words and it's long. I always love long books. My favorite part of the book is when Jack & Annie get a twig from a Mountain Gorilla as their gift.

I love the Magic Treehouse books!
We read this book in our second grade class and really liked it. I am 8 years old and this is the kind of book I want to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - Fantasy   4. Children: Grades 3-4   5. Fiction   6. Gorilla   7. Human-animal communication   8. Juvenile Fiction   9. Magic   10. Readers - Beginner   11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   12. Time travel   13. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / General   

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Customer Reviews (9)

Great book on the hospital-a few exaggerated details
This was one of my favorite books as a youngster. I received it as a hand-me-down from somebody whose kid got it as a gift from the hospital. However, some details in this book are either exaggerated from reality or outdated, for instance today's floor puzzles are usually made of cardboard as opposed to wood so would probably disintegrate into tiny pieces in the stomach without requiring a trip to the hospital. And as far as I've studied, people still have barium(well, it's actually barium sulfate)before an x-ray of the digestive tract. And as far as I know, the x-ray machines have NEVER looked like laser guns. Almost everyone knows they look like cameras or picture frames. But the part when George mistakes the record player for a merry-go-round certainly has an outdated detail because records are not common anymore. I wonder if some of the procedures in this book were based on tonsil removal.
Just don't purposely imitate George's antics.

This book reminded me of my own situation
When I was four, I ended up in the hospital for playing with medicine and when I looked at this book asked, "Mom, was this like what happened to me?" and she answered yes. Eventually I compared my situation to Curious George's and found many differences, for instance I didn't go to the doctor, I didn't stay overnight, and I had an EKG, not an x-ray. This book may be great to read to a child before or after they've been in the hospital!

Some plot holes, but pretty good
I'm not sure who is at fault, George for swallowing the puzzle piece, or his friend in the yellow hat for giving George the puzzle piece (monkeys are curious, especially George, and regard most things as a potential food source...the result could have been called inevitable, although George seems to be smarter than most monkeys in some regards - he has been employed, worked with rocketry and can count to ten), still, though a bit contrived the accident is merely a vehicle to get the story underway, the crux of which is George's visit to the hospital.

I found this story compelling with a strong central character - George's adventures are more about the journey than the destination, and as always, it's great fun tagging along as he encounters the basic trials and tribulations of life, faces them, and overcomes them. I liked his brush with our health care system even better than his foray into corporate America, but the plucky monkey handles himself with aplomb no matter what circumstance he finds himself in.

One wonders a bit why George really did eat the puzzle piece in the first place - if he's smart enough to get work you could presume he knows the difference between a puzzle piece and a viable food source, but this small matter didn't distract from my enjoyment of the piece.

Oh, the kids liked it too - highly recommended for kids of all ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   3. Children: Grades 1-2   4. Fiction   5. Hospitals   6. Monkeys   7. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (3)

teaching my granddaughter Spanish :)
I bought this for my three-year-old granddaughter at Christmas. She loves it and has developed a pretty good accent (as good as mine, anyhow :) She knows what a bolsa is, and a monito and of course a sombrero amarillo. She has it firmly in mind that balloon = globo, so the globe of the world is like a balloon. Red is rojo and blue is azul.

And she hasn't yet taken to smoking a pipe :)

What's especially interesting is that she doesn't require that the story be translated, though she does like to talk about what Jorge is up to on a given page. "WHY did the man put Jorge in a bolsa?"

poor judgement
I had never read this book as I child but since I knew it was a classic I decided to buy it for my daughter. I never realized that Curious George and his owner smoke pipes and make it look appealing. I guess this has to do with the fact that this book is very old. If you dont' mind giving your child the idea that smoking a pipe is acceptable than buy this book for your child. Mine won't be reading it.

Revisit Curious Jorge...in Spanish!
If you like Curious George, you'll enjoy him all over again in Spanish. Jorge is unstoppable- he gets to know the city and finds a happy home at the zoo. The fun is in the trouble that he causes along the way! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   3. Classics   4. Humorous Stories   5. Spanish: Babies & Toddlers   6. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (3)

Curious George breaks out a spatula
Curious George goes to a pancake breakfast (actually, it's more like a county fair). Then, he makes pancakes while the cook is away. He makes them quicker and better than the cook. Then the cook chases him away. As usual, George gets in a little bit of trouble. Then all is well, and everyone praises George.

This book has part of the charm of CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO AN ICE CREAM SHOP, with almost exactly the same plot. There's nothing surprising here-- kids and adults will see Curious George in another formulaic plot. This book was adapted from the Curious George film series, and it is based on characters created by H.A. Rey. It is NOT one of the George books written by H.A. Rey.

Some readers are delighted by Curious George, and the plot doesn't matter. In that case, choose CURIOUS GEORGE MAKES PANCAKES.

If you want a better story, try CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO AN ICE CREAM SHOP, or, better still, one of the H.A. Rey-authored original Curious George stories, such as CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL or CURIOUS GEORGE GETS A MEDAL.

Brings back memories
Everytime I see a Curious George book I remember how much I loved reading them as a kid, I must confess that nothing has changed. This is a funny, entertaining book for both adults reading to children and for children themselves.

George uses all his talents!
This is one of my daughter's favorite CG books and one that Ican deal with reading more often. George uses both his legs and armsto flip pancakes faster than the chef can do it. I liked the positive focus on George's (and kid's) skills. It leaves the reader with a nice sense of accomplishment. END ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   4. Children: Grades 1-2   5. Fiction   6. Fund raising   7. Humorous Stories   8. Juvenile Fiction   9. Monkeys   10. Pancakes, waffles, etc.   11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (17)

Wow
D.J MacHale has hit it big with his Pendragon series. The first book was hard to beat, but the second story in this series, Lost City of Faar was just as good as the first, maybe even better. We meet new characters, a new territory with all it's different quirks. Some unexpected things happen which keeps you wanting to read more! We see Bobby understand more and more about what he is and some mysteries are uncovered.

Highly recommended if you enjoyed the first book, Liked books such as "So you want to be a wizard", "Harry Potter and ..." and The "Dark is Rising".

Pendragon Power!
This book is simply, AWESOME! I really enjoyed The Merchant of Death and I waited a long time for the sequel to come out. The Lost City of Faar is, if this is possible, better than the first one. There is a lot of suspense in this book as Bobby Pendragon and Uncle Press continue their adventures through time and space. In this book, they go to the territory of Cloral (a water world), where they have to find out what Saint Dane's newest evil scheme is. Will they survive? Find out in The Lost City of Faar...

Flooms and Booms! What's next?
Flumes and Booms! What's next? This is the novel Pendragon The Lost City Of Farr. The novel takes place in the wonderful world of Cloral which is completely submerged in water. The Clorian's technology is so advanced that diving suits are made of water that has been turned into a type of plastic. And the cities float right on top of the surface of the water. These amazing cities each have a purpose. One is for farming and another is for government. Once again Bobby Pendragon, a new Traveler, just beginning to accept his destiny, is back to fight the evil Saint Dane. Saint Dane is trying to destroy the lost city of Farr so that he can gain control of Halla because if he destroys one Territory the rest will fall and then he will gain control of everything. Bobby once again has to match wits...is he up to the challenge?
This is by far, one of the best books I've ever read. Pendragon is filled with so much action that you don't want to put it down. MacHale explains things with such detail, like how the magical flumes work, that you're never saying to yourself "I don't get it". The only problem with this book is that the author leaves you with such a cliff hanger that you are actually kind of mad; I know I was. You just wish that magically more pages will appear so you can keep reading. This is a must read for anyone who likes a good fantasy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction   4. Children: Grades 4-6   5. Fantasy fiction   6. Fiction   7. Juvenile Fiction   8. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy   9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   10. Time travel   11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

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Customer Reviews (82)

Monkey Trouble
A boy named Jay Berry Lee, lives with his mom, dad, and his lil sister Daisy.He lives close to his grandma and grandpa.They live in a Cheroket Nation in Oklahoma.His grandpa owns his own store.
Jay was walking outside and all of a sudden,he saw monkeys.His grandpa told him that the monkeys belonged to a circus,and they are really smart.He also said, they are offering a reward,$2 a monkey except they are offering $100 for the smartest monkey.He is the leader and he looks different than the other monkeys.His grandpa gave him some apples and traps so he could catch them.But the big smart ($100) monkey saw the traps and told the other monkeys so they wouldn't be traped.so, he didn't catch any.
Then Jay Berry went back to his grandpa and he gave him a net.Will he catch any monkeys this time?Read the book to see what happens!! THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK!!

Summer of the Monkeys a review by Ali
Have you ever wondered what its like to meet a real live monkey. Well Jay Berry Lee got the chance to in this book, Summer on the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls. For Jay Berry's birthday he got an animal trap. He got this trap from his grandfather so he could go catch the lose circus monkeys and so grandfather could get the reward money.
Also in this book, Jay Berry's little sister, Daisy, tells him that there is an Old Man of the Mountains. She told him that he was technically the leader of the mountains; in other words, he was the supervisor of the mountains. She also said that this Old Man of the Mountains is only visible to the people that believe in him. Daisy says he comes to visit her all the time. Jay Berry is so gullible that he believes there is really an Old Man of the Mountains.
The climax is when Jay Berry finds the monkeys. This was a funny occasion. People have a way of knowing what's going to happen next. That's what I like about this book; knowing something weird is going to happen next. If you really like mystery books, I encourage you to read this book, Summer of the Monkeys.

NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS
Though this is a coming of age story, it is nowhere near the book that WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS was. Jay Berry Lee resides in Oklahoma circa 1900 when he hears a circus train has crashed, losing 29 monkeys. 28 of the monkeys have a $2 bounty on their heads and one chimp has $100 on his.

Jay Berry dreams of catching the monkeys and buying a pony and a gun. Meanwhile, his sister has a crippled leg and his family cannot afford the medical care to fix it. Hmmm, I wonder how this story is going to turn out?

Though entertaining and fanciful, the story looses some credibility when the monkeys get the boy drunk on moonshine. No, really. I wouldn't make that up.

Everyone lives happily ever after. There is nothing to offend anyone in this book. Not even PETA. The monkeys are ethically treated throughout the novel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General   4. Children: Grades 3-4   5. Fiction   6. Juvenile Fiction   7. Monkeys   8. Movie Tie - In   9. Social Situations - General   10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

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Customer Reviews (38)

Gets my vote for best nonfiction of the year
When a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" decides to write about his work for the general public, it's a good idea to pay attention, especially when the author already has a reputation for being as entertaining a storyteller as neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky. This book could not be improved upon. Part travel adventure, part coming of age story of a young scientist, and part life among the baboons, A Primate's Memoir tells what happens as the author travels to Kenya at age 21 to study how the social rank of baboons winds up affecting their physiological stress levels. Sapolsky readily describes himself in primate terms "young transfer male" as he recounts his hilarious, poignant and truly harrowing encounters with the world around him, sharing his candid reactions to some pretty novel events. In the course of this book he does achieve "full adult status" and circumstances grow more serious. You just have to read it yourself as examples could not convey the genuine humanity and originality of his overall experience. How does social status affect one's stress levels? He gives a bit of the answer in this book, but if you want to know more about the science of stress, still told very much in layperson's terms, read The Trouble with Testosterone, (thought provoking and hilarious) or the more fact-filled (if potentially anxiety-arousing), Why Zebra's Don't Get Ulcers. These books could affect how you perceive the world

A Wonderful Read
Dr. Sapolsky mixes deep personal feelings, intimate recountings of his experiences, and hard science to tell the story of his lifelong work studying the baboons of Kenya. The result is illuminating and entertaining at the same time. As reader, you feel like you are getting the "straight skinny," albeit in a form that is always interesting, and often hilariously funny.

There is an apocryphal story going around that Thomas Mann's typist for Joseph and His Brothers said as he finished "So that's what really happened!" (Spolsky, by the way, is not a great fan of Mann -- more smartass hilarity here.) I sort of felt the same way upon finishing this: so that's what really happens with people (Diane Fossey, Laurence of the Hyenas) who go off to Africa to do science. Sapolsky does them all justice. Life is tough, complicated, and rife with compromises, and Sapolsky captures all of this his inimitable style.

This is a great book. Read it!

Laughs all the way plus insights to social behavior
I recently listened to this book on tape.
I receive it from the Handicpped Library in Pittsbuurgh, but use them while I am framing up my art work.
Robert has such insight to both the animals he loved as well as the social similar behavior of the Humans he interracted with while in Africa (and America!)
To listen to his description of the elephants with breasts like VOLKSWAGONS, add in the adventrues of Samwelli's house as the elephants ate it, then to finish off, as all of us who come to

live with & love animals.
We find their social behavior similar to our own no matter what motives we initially seek.
That Robert carries a photo of his favorite Baboon to this day, tells a lot about the love he established with the troop he followed.
I carry a portrait of my favotite, Labrador, Tristan, to this day and also know that regardless of the human-animal boundry, when you start to listen to them, you cannot forget the experience.
It made me laugh & cry , but more importantly as in all great Autobiograhpihes, gave me more insight to the Author as a person.
I LOVED it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa   2. Apes & Monkeys   3. Biography / Autobiography   4. Nature   5. Nature/Ecology   6. Scientists - General   7. Biography & Autobiography / General   

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Customer Reviews (37)

A modern classic that holds up well
I have fond memories of this book. It was first published in 1967 and I read it pretty young; I'd have to reckon it among the more powerful influences of my youth. Controversial or not, there's something profoundly liberating about stepping back and looking at humankind as one species among others.

And actually, it's still a darned good book. As Stephen Gaskin remarks somewhere in _This Season's People_, human beings are so intelligent and conscious that it's a matter of controversy whether we're the lowest of the angels or the highest of the primates. Well, the controversy hasn't dissipated since this book was written, but it's still every bit as important for us to recognize and accept the reality of our animal nature.

For we _do_ have such a nature, no matter what view of evolution and/or creation we buy into. Evolutionary anthropologist Desmond Morris tends to treat us as though we have _only_ such a nature, as though our being an advanced ape is automatically at odds with our also being a fallen angel. That may or may not be true; I have my opinions on the subject, and you probably have yours.

But we don't need to settle that issue in order to find this book immensely valuable. The most solid evidence we have continues to confirm that we have a close genetic kinship with the other primates and that, biologically, we are best treated as primates ourselves. Whatever else may be true of us, this much is about as close as anything in science ever comes to fully established fact.

We can disagree about the precise mechanisms of evolution as much as we like; we can disagree about how much of our nature is really accounted for by this or that theory of evolution; but the one fact we can't get around on _any_ account is that as a matter of biology, we _are_ naked apes. We may be more than animals, but we are not less.

That's what makes Morris's account so valuable. There just isn't a lot of question that our evolutionary history has shaped us to a very great degree, and Morris is awfully good at explaining how and why this is so. There may be details in need of modification -- after all, evolutionary theory hasn't stood still for the past thirty-five years and some of Morris's own theories were far from universal even then -- but the overall structure is sound.

It's no surprise, of course, that this book was so controversial when it was first published; I'm not sure it would be all that much less controversial if it were published for the first time today. But boy, if you want to get a clear sense of what it _means_ for human beings to be primates, this is a great place to acquire it.

And contrary to what your initial intuition may be, it _especially_ belongs on the reading list of folks who think human beings have a spiritual side too. Nobody ever made much spiritual advance by denying the hard facts of his or her biological nature and pretending to be a disembodied spirit.

A Classic
Desmond Morris wrote "The Naked Ape" in the late 1960's, and it is a classic which established the field of evolutionary anthropology. His ideas were revolutionary at the time, and he clearly says so. If there is a fault in the book, it is that he covers too much ground too quickly. I think his purpose at the time, however, was simply to condition the reader to thinking of people as an animal that has been subject to the forces of biological evolution on the Savannah for 98 percent of our evolution. Our species only formed farming communities 10,000 years ago.

Much of Morris's conjecture has been turned into solid research in more recent years. For example, studies have found that males are sexually attracted to females having a waist/hips ratio of 0.7. This is universal among contemporary societies including primitive societies. When shown diagrams of women having different waist/hips ratios, male members of the primitive societies chose the 0.7 ratio and specifically indicated child bearing ability being linked to it. Females universally are attracted to males having a waist/hip ratio of 0.85.

The argument between nurturing versus evolution is likely to continue. This book started the argument. It is certainly a serious argument. Some readers may prefer not to think as humans as being animals. Some readers, particulary those interested in newer cultural trends such as feminism, may find certain of Morris's arguments objectionable. The material is oriented towards understanding how biological evolution of Homo Sapiens has affected their social behavior. It is not directly related to how to get along with your lover or spouse. However, the book was as thought provoking today as when it was written. It is an excellent introduction to the field of evolutionary anthropology.

Good read and some fasinating information!
I bought this book cheap second hand, and I'm surprised what a good purchase it was. This book is a basic beginners sort of guide into the world of anthropology/zoology but it is tailored to the average reader, and contains lots of interesting facts you may not already know about the animal kingdom, especially about the monkeys and apes. This book is bent towards the Darwinist theory of evolution, probably one of the most popular "scientific" theories people are taught today. Yet all this is still not much more than speculation, for there isn't ample concrete evidence to prove that this theory is true. Still, the question is : what if it is true? And if it is, then all these incredible things said in the book (I was very amused when reading the chapter about how and why human beings have nipples, lips, etc.) could be true! As I said - almost unbelievable, funny at times, and so fascinating! The book isn't overly lengthy at all, so its pretty short and sweet, but most of the general public will definitely learn at least one or two things after reading it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal nature   2. Anthropology - General   3. Archaeology / Anthropology   4. Behavior   5. Human behavior   6. Human beings   7. Life Sciences - Biology - General   8. Mammals   9. Primates   10. Science   11. Sociology   12. Science / Biology   

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Customer Reviews (4)

Great book
This is a great book. My 14-month-old son loves it. He loves touching the monkey faces and putting his fingers through the holes. He also loves the tune that we sing with the book and I'm sure he'll only love it more as he grows older and can sing along and jump higher on the bed!

Great book for children!
My son loves this book! He really enjoys the way each page rhymes and loves touching the monkey faces that protrude from the pages. It's nice because it is practically a board book, and he cannot tear the pages. This is a great story to add to your child's collection! Another good book that is similar to this one, is, Ten Little Ladybugs, by Melanie Gerth.

Cute Monkeys
My two daughters, 3 & 17 months, loved this book so much that they took it to daycare with them. The kids there just fell in love with it. The story is so cute, I like that the monkeys are doing a different thing on each page. My 3 year old has memorized it and can read most of it back to me. Other times she tries to act out what the monkeys are doing, on the floor though, and her little sister mimicks her. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys   2. Children's 4-8 - Boardbooks   3. Children: Preschool   4. Concepts - Counting   5. Humorous Stories   6. Juvenile Fiction   

Jane Goodall is the most famous primatologist, possibly the most famous field biologist, of the 20th century. Her chimpanzee research did more to increase human knowledge of the lives of our closest relatives than that of any other scientist. It's in large part due to her example that primatology is the closest thing to a female-dominated science.<p> But in 1986 Goodall gave up fieldwork for a higher, more pressing calling: rescuing chimpanzees from inhumane conditions in captivity and preserving the species from extinction. <I>Jane Goodall: 40 Years at Gombe</I> is a pictorial tribute to her life, her studies of the chimpanzees, and her unflagging efforts to motivate human beings on their behalf.<p> "Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." Goodall began her research by giving the chimpanzees names, by observing them as nonhuman individuals. Her activism is directed toward the human individuals: scientists who use apes in research, Africans who live near wild apes, children in Africa and in the industrialized world who can learn to value other creatures for themselves. Goodall says of this last project that "I think Roots & Shoots is probably the reason I came into the world. Yet I couldn't have done it without all those years with the chimpanzees and an understanding that led to a blurring of the line between 'man' and 'beasts.'" <I>--Mary Ellen Curtin</I> ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent tribute to Goodall's life and work
_____I bought this book for my girlfriend, who is a huge fan of Jane Goodall. But I find myself picking it up and reading through it a lot. This book is an excellent read, for the casual animal lover as well as those with a deep interest in primatology.

_____The book covers much of Jane Goodall's life, including biographical info, historical research milestones, and even those special moments that make Goodall the concerned activist she is. It has well-written text and beautiful, high-quality photos. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Jane Goodall, especially those who do not know much about her and would like a starter reference book.

A Worthy Devotion to an amazing Woman!
At 14, I admire and sulute Ms. Goodall! Her work and devotion to some the most fascinating of animals is absolutely stunning! I think that over her 40 wonderful at Gombe, she has developed a beautiful relationship with these animals, and you can definetely see and feel their love with this book! Everyone who has ever read her dazzling books or has any knowledge or admiration for Jane's hard and unmistakably hard work will enjoy this timeline of a stunning woman's life in Africa! Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apes & Monkeys   2. Behavior   3. Chimpanzees   4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions   5. Gombe Stream Reserve   6. Nature   7. Nature/Ecology   8. Photography   9. Primate Behavior   10. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals   11. Tanzania   12. Goodall, Jane