Synopses & Reviews
"Once upon a time there was a Little House way out in the country. She was a pretty Little House and she was strong and well built." So begins Virginia Lee Burton's classic The Little House, winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1942. The rosy-pink Little House, on a hill surrounded by apple trees, watches the days go by, from the first apple blossoms in the spring through the winter snows. Always faintly aware of the city's distant lights, she starts to notice the city encroaching on her bucolic existence. First a road appears, which brings horseless carriages and then trucks and steamrollers. Before long, more roads, bigger homes, apartment buildings, stores, and garages surround the Little House. Her family moves out and she finds herself alone in the middle of the city, where the artificial lights are so bright that the Little House can no longer see the sun or the moon. She often dreams of "the field of daisies and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight." Finally a woman recognizes her and whisks the Little House back to the country where she belongs, they will rejoice. For generations, young readers have been delighted by the whimsical, detailed drawings and happy ending.
Review
"This engaging picture book clearly presents a wealth of information." and#8212;Booklist, ALA
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"Burton's rootin'-tootin' comic-book-style Western was and still is completely original, with its varied-colored pages and experimental graphic design. i! Yi! Whoopee!to the publishers for reissuing this progressive and energetic classic--with the villain's name properly and alliteratively restored to boot." Horn Book
"Complete with lightening bolt and clouds of churned-up dust, for its tale of good and evil in the wild West." Publishers Weekly
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"Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both illustration and storytelling . . . His fable builds to an urgent plea for action as it sends a rousing message of hope."and#8212;Publishers Weekly
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"This is fun both in its text and gray crayon drawings. Mike Mulligan remains faithful to his steam shovel Mary Anne, against the threat of the new gas and diesel-engine contraptions, and digs his way to a surprising and happy ending." The New Yorker
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"Beginning with the birth of the Sun and continuing through the Earth's creation, the emergence and evolution of animal life, up to the changing seasons of the present, it's a lyrical and informative journey."--Publishers Weekly
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"The reissue of Maybelle the Cable Car, with original art retrieved from the San Francisco Public Library archives, is a happy occasion." The Five Owls
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"Miss Burton succeeds in giving the reader a sense of his own place in the magnificent flow of time and creation." Horn Book
"Miss Burton succeeds in giving the reader a sense of his own place in the magnificent flow of time and creation." Horn Book Guide
Review
"Bright, vigorous pictures with plenty of action and endless detail portray Katy at work for the Highway Department of the city of Geoppolis." Horn Book
"Bright, vigorous pictures with plenty of action and endless detail portray Katy at work for the Highway Department of the city of Geoppolis." Horn Book Guide
Review
"Told in rhythmic prose, with many sound effects. Illustrated with amusing, vigorous drawings in black and white." Wilson Children's Catalog
Synopsis
The little house first stood in the country, but gradually the city moved closer and closer.
Synopsis
Virginia Lee Burton won the Caldecott Medal in 1943 for her memorable picture book The Little House, a poignant story of a cute country cottage that becomes engulfed by the city that grows up around it. The house has an expressive face of windows and doors, and even the feelings of a person, so sheand#8217;s sad when sheand#8217;s surrounded by the dirty, noisy cityand#8217;s hustle and bustle: and#8220;She missed the field of daisies / and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight.and#8221; Fortunately, thereand#8217;s a happy ending, as the house is taken back to the country where she belongs. A classic!
Synopsis
A beloved classic and an award-winning staple of American children's literature, The Little House is celebrating its 70th birthday with an anniversary edition complete with audio CD and a new introduction!
Synopsis
Over seventy years ago, Virginia Lee Burton built the Little House way out in the country,
and since then generations of readers have been enchanted by the story of this happy
home and her journey from bucolic hill and the pleasures of nature to the bustling
city, and back again.
This special edition features a brand-new introduction by Virginia Lee Burtonandrsquo;s son, noted sculptor Aris
Demetrios; a bonus audio CD of the story; and a foil treatment on the jacket. This
beautiful and timeless picture book is sure to be a favorite among readers for the next
seventy years, and beyond.
Synopsis
Earth takes center stage in this updated version of Virginia Lee Burtonand#8217;s 1962 classic Life Story. Told through five acts, Burtonand#8217;s art and text tell the history of earth from beginning to present day. Readers will gain an in-depth understanding of the planetand#8217;s history and their leading roles in it today. The book has been updated with cutting-edge science, includingand#160;up-to-the-minute information on fossil records and the geologic principles.
Synopsis
Way out west in Cactus County there was a horse named Calico. She wasn't very pretty, but she was smart and could run like greased lightning. Everybody in Cactus County was happy until the peaceful inhabitants' cattle were stolen by a band of outlaws led by Stewy Stinker, a man so mean that he'd hold up Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. In comic-strip format, this action-packed western drama is complete with cattle rustling and kidnapping, a stampede, a holdup, and a thrilling chase. From start to bang-up finish, Calico outruns and outsmarts the double-dyed villains - and, of course, saves the day! This equine hero is sure to win a new generation of fans with this Wild West adventure.
Synopsis
Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs. This paperback edition includes a glitter cover and festive seasonal stickers.and#160;
Synopsis
Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.In 2009, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Virginia Lee Burton's birth.and#160;Asand#160;part of this celebration a glitter-cover edition of Katy and the Big Snow, complete with snowy stickers,and#160;has been created. In this enduring winter favorite from the Caldecott Medal winner Burton, Katy the snowplow finally gets her chance to shine when a blizzard blankets the city and everyone is relying on Katy to help dig out. This new paperback is perfect for gift giving. Children love sharing Katyand#8217;s shining moment of glory and will inevitably admire her and#147;chug, chug, chugand#8221; endurance.
Synopsis
This 25th anniversary edition celebrates two-time Caldecott-winning Chris Van Allsburg's eco-friendly, timeless picture bookand#160;Justand#160;aand#160;Dream: a fantastic journey to the futureand#160;that teaches one boy the importance of being good to his planet in the present. Thisand#160;timely environmentaland#160;storyand#160;includes a bonus digital audio file to download, read by theand#160;author himself.
Synopsis
In this 25th anniversary edition of Just a Dream, travel with youngand#160;Walter on a fantastical adventure as he travelsandmdash;by way of hisand#160;bedandmdash;into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to a more eco-friendly way to live. Chris Van Allsburgand#39;sand#160;pitch-perfect narrative, paired with his full-color pasteland#160;illustrations, renders this picture book a story that has stood the test of time.and#160;This anniversary edition includes bonus downloadable audio, read by Chris Van Allsburg and a stunning new jacket!
Synopsis
A modern classic that no child should miss. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity.
Synopsis
By recounting actual events in San Francisco's effort to keep the city's cable cars running, this classic story illustrates how the voice of the people can be heard in the true spirit of democracy.
Synopsis
A beautifully designed book set up as a play in five acts. The passage of time is shown visually on each page.
Synopsis
In comic-strip format, this action-packed western drama is complete with cattle rustling and kidnapping, a stampede, a holdup, and a thrilling chase. From start to bang-up finish, Calico the Wonder Horse outruns and outsmarts the double-dyed villains -- and, of course, saves the day!
Synopsis
The adventures of a beautiful little locomotive who decided to run away from her humdrum duties.
About the Author
Virginia Lee Burton (1909-1968) was the talented author and illustrator of some of the most enduring books ever written for children. The winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal for THE LITTLE HOUSE, Burton's books include heroes and happy endings, lively illustrations, and a dash of nostalgia. She lived with her two sons, Aristides and Michael, and her husband George Demetrios, the sculptor, in a section of Gloucester, Massachusetts, called Folly Cove. Here she taught a class in design and from it emerged the Folly Cove designers, a group of internationally known professional artisans. She is the author of many classic children's picture books, including MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL and KATY AND THE BIG SNOW.