Books with author Anita Lobel Harriet Ziefert

In this story about the relationship between a boy and his father, Edward yearns to be big like his dad and fast like a fire truck. He and his dad go to the park, then walk home, play, and have dinner before Edward has a bath and is tucked into bed. Along the way, the boy demands the chance to engage in grown-up activities, ranging from the doable (pressing the elevator button) to the less doable (outrunning a big red fire truck). Capturing the teasing affection between a young preschool boy and his dad, the simple language shows the humor, energy, and bossiness of the young child, and the father's love for his son shining through. Parents will recognize Edward's many familiar pleas, while kids will appreciate his frustrations and the spirited way that he deals with them.

When Bear's at play, it's always the season for fun. Kids will happily join him all year long, and help him choose what he needs in every type of weather. For a fall game of soccer, will he want the drum, ice cream cone, skateboard, or ball? That's right-the ball. In summer's heat, Bear thinks rowing is the coolest. Should he take his hockey stick, his blocks, or a life jacket on the water? The jacket will keep him floating if he tips when he's boating. Arnold Lobel's cheerful spreads show a joyful Bear in action.

Each word family offers three separate activities. First, kids trace and fill in missing letters in simple rhyming words. Next, they can color in Kido's kid-tastic illustrations. Then, kids can draw their own version of the rhyming objects. For example, the "ug" family includes the words "hug," "bug," "mug," and "rug." Kids fill in the missing letters from the words, then color in a mug and a rug, then draw their own bugs. Youthful brains will be crackling with creativity and learning connections!

No kid wants to pick up a book that promises to "develop important learning skills." Have no fear! Kids will be too busy coloring a face on an ice cream cone, or a face on a baseball mitt, to notice the fiber amid the fun. This First Activity Book combines the immediate pleasure of doodling and coloring with the development of anatomy recognition, perspective, scale, and artistic skills. First Activity Books are ideal for kids who've just learned to draw or write. They offer high-quality construction, large pages, good paper, plenty to keep kids occupied for hours - pack them up and go!