This republished classic of LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE with its original tri-color illustrations  in green, yellow, and red still keep young listeners attention!

There are four Lyle stories in this one book: The House on East 88th Street, Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,  Lyle and the Birthday Party,  Lyle Walks the Dogs, and Count with Lyle! Counting Activity.

First, how Lyle came with the brownstone ‘House on East 88th Street’ in New York City when the Primm family moved-in.

Second, Lyle’s presence at East 88th St. upsets one neighbor, Mr. Grump and his cat, who vow to have something done about the crocodile…have him moved to a zoo… then after Lyle’s return to East 88th St. he rescues  Mr. Grump and his cat from their smoke-filled house.

Third, Lyle discovers that helping others is the best medicine when feeling blue or green with jealousy.

Fourth, a counting story. Lyle has taken a job as a dog walker. Each day, for 10 days, he gets one more dog to walk simultaneously. Readers will enjoy counting the with with each page turn.

A jewelry store was robbed at night, the next day Milo finds  a diamond necklace in his desk at school. Jazz gives Milo 24 hours to solve the mystery before they turn in the necklace. First, they ask around school to see if any of the girls have lost a necklace. Then, they decide to see if the necklace has real diamonds or not. Then, the latest issue of ” Dash Marlowe-Secrets of a Super Sleuth” arrives in the daily mail entitled ‘ Work Backwards’. Milo keeps jumping to conclusions while Jazz keeps bringing him back down to earth and getting him to focus on facts.

Includes 5 logic puzzles after the story to keep reader’s minds sharp.

The factual, informative style of “Inside the Industry:Entertainment” by Marcia Lusted is a useful resource to determine the practicality of a career in entertainment.  Many of the kinds of employment  available  in this industry are behind the scenes and are as creative and dynamic as the “star” roles.  By investigating  the  requirements of each job, the talents needed for that job are discussed. This industry is attractive to creative, expressive, musical types of individuals, as well as engineers, electricians, computer geeks and technicians.   Questions about how to get a job, which jobs are most in demand or what  are  the  educational  requirements are addressed.    Careers from music teacher, screen writer, film director, orchestra conductor or television actor are analyzed. This book could be very helpful in guiding  a student from the dreams of a career in the creative world of entertainment to the practical reality of actually working in that field.

When Betty Bunny’s mother said she and her siblings could have one toy at the toy store, Betty Bunny begins to fill the whole cart.  When she insists on wanting all of the toys, Mother buys one for her brother and sister but none for her.  Betty Bunny pitches a full blown tantrum thinking it will help her get her way.  To help her learn the value of money, Mom and Dad give her cash to spend any way she chooses.  Comments from her brother and sister are humorous and typical of older siblings.  Stephane Jorisch’s colorful watercolor and pencil/ink illustrations are comical and expressive.  Michael Kaplan captures the family dynamics most have experienced while shopping with children.  Readers will recognize the money lesson, but Betty Bunny clearly refuses to acknowledge it!

A fall ended Luciano Anastasini’s circus career as a high wire performer but not his desire to continue working with the circus.  He adopted and worked with abandoned dogs to create new circus acts.  Patience and careful observation showed him the strengths and abilities of each dog.  This photo-essay tells of the original five dogs and how their “undesirable” behaviors were incorporated into performances.  Luciano’s troupe grew to ten, which are now hired by many circuses to entertain people of all ages.  Luciano and his “hopeless” dogs are a great example of second chances and what can be accomplished with love and caring.

In this series, the reader is invited to play a role.  In this case, a cabin boy explains life on board a pirate ship in 1730.  The narrator “directs” the action and provides additional facts.  The artwork is a combination of acrylic and digital.  The crew, lingo, food, weapons, and customary behaviors fill each page.  The text tells of life long ago without romanticizing that of a pirate.  Extra text boxes in the form of planks supply even more information.  Other topics in the series show life as a settler in Colonial America, a pioneer on the Oregon Trail, an explorer on a Viking ship, and a cabin attendant on the Titanic.  Glossary, index, and books to read are in the back with a Facthound internet site.  Suggested books are written at a higher reader level than this book, but readers will probably enjoy information from each.  A publisher website for kids has projects, games, quizzes, and contests – fun, but not necessarily related to this series.