Baby Tamer [Hardcover]

Mark Teague (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

The noisy and clever Eggmont kids, otherwise known as a baby-sitter's worst nightmare, meet their match in Amanda Smeedy, baby tamer. By the author of Pigsty. "

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Clarabelle, Zeke, and Baby Lurleen have a plan?three plans actually?to drive their babysitter bonkers. However, the kids find that they have to pull out all the stops to get a rise out of Amanda Smeedy. Teague's wacky artwork and use of unusual perspective animates the rhyming tale. The text itself has a life of its own, often moving around the page in accordance with what is being said. Readers will be delighted by the antics of these youngsters and Amanda's nonchalance at their outrageous behavior. This fantasy will be a big hit in storytimes and, oddly enough, it will work well as a bedtime story.?Ann Cook, Winter Park Public Library, FL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. Veteran baby-sitter Amanda Smeedy knows when she's being tested on the job. She also knows exactly what to do about it--nothing. When the Eggmont children's first plan to undermine Amanda's authority doesn't get the sitter's goat, the raucous bunch tries more spectacular tricks, ending up with a circus in the living room, complete with elephants, lions, and bears. But with enviable composure, Amanda keeps her cool: "After all the uproar ended, / Amanda asked, `Isn't there more?'/ But the Eggmont kids were too tired to move, / and they collapsed across the floor." Teague's colorful, solid art style (and wonderful use of perspective) makes the fantasy seem almost possible, and the expressive faces of the characters add nicely to the comedy. Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590677128
• ISBN-13: 978-0590677127
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,290,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mark Teague is the best!, June 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Baby Tamer (Hardcover)

We have a number of books by Mark Teague, and this is our favorite. We too checked it out from the library, and liked it so much that we had to buy our own copy. The paintings are very kinetic and the story is charming. I especially liked the kids' Secret Plan #2 to impress the babysittter!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a charming lesson in testing limits, June 21, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Tamer (Hardcover)

We originally checked this book out from the library and decided to add it to our library. The illustrations are wonderful and keep the kids very interested from page to page. The message is very clear and creatively presented about trying to push someones buttons and the results of getting no reaction. Our small children found it easy to follow and remember the story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be reprinted!, October 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Baby Tamer (Hardcover)

I was sorry to see that this was out of print. In fact I just read it tonight to my youngest child. This book has been a favorite of all three of my kids! Mark Teague is terrific. This book is fast paced and easy enough for even the youngest child to understand. The illustrations are pure hillarity! I also recommend "The Secret Shortcut" and "The Lost and Found".