Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons [Library Binding]

Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author), Jane Dyer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Everyone knows cookies taste good, but these cookies also have something good to say. Open this delectable book to any page and you will find out something about life. Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons is a new kind of dictionary, one that defines mysteries such as "fair" and "unfair" and what it really means to "cooperate." The book is by turns clever, honest, inspirational, and whimsical. Go ahead, take a bite!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Cookies provide the vehicle for Rosenthal's (Little Pea) deliciously charming collection of defined and illustrated vocabulary words that serve as gentle guides to etiquette. Dyer's (Time for Bed) scenes of old-fashioned kitchens and balmy outdoor picnics create a feeling of nostalgia, while the cast of multi-ethnic children and their assorted animal friends provides a balancing contemporary feel. Vocabulary words appear, one or two per page, in bold capital letters; definitions follow in lower case, and each term warrants its own illustrations. "Cooperate means, How about you add the chips while I stir?," the book begins. The accompanying full-page watercolor, on the opposite page, features a curly-topped redhead stirring batter, while the bunny and dog at either side add chocolate chips (all three sport white aprons). Words such as Patient, Proud, Modest and Respect are defined in straightforward, cookie-related terms that children of all ages will comprehend. For example, "Trustworthy means, If you ask me to hold your cookie until you come back, when you come back, I will still be holding your cookie." Three vertical panels illustrate a horse entrusting his cookie to an Asian girl, putting on his coat and leaving; the next full-page painting shows the girl still stoically resisting temptation when the horse returns. Dyer's art finely complements the simple yet profound wisdom that flows throughout Rosenthal's inspired text. This story is likely to have a multi-generational appeal. All ages. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 Using the activity of making and eating cookies, the author defines some important concepts for young children, such as respect, trustworthiness, patience, politeness, loyalty, etc. The book begins: COOPERATE means, How about you add the chips while I stir? and continues with one definition per page. For example, FAIR means, You get a bite, I get a bite….; REGRET means, I really wish I didn't eat so many cookies; and CONTENT means sitting on the steps just you, me, and a couple of cookies. Lovely pastel watercolor illustrations show appealing children and anthropomorphic animals interacting with one another and the treats. Although books dealing with this type of subject tend to be didactic and preachy, the utilization of the cookies to explain the concepts is a brilliant idea and works well on a child's level. The text is short and clear, and the book is delightful to look at and browse through. This is a good choice for one-on-one reading or to start an interesting class discussion. Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060580828
• ISBN-13: 978-0060580827
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,635,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a person who likes to make things.

Some things she likes to make:
Children's books.
Grown-up books.
Short films.
Salads.
Connections with the universe.
Something out of nothing.
Wishes.

According to The New York Times, Amy's award-winning children's books "radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting." Her 16 books for children include LITTLE PEA, SPOON, THE WONDER BOOK, COOKIES: BITE-SIZE LIFE LESSONS, AND DUCK!RABBIT!.

As for her adult work, Amazon named ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFE one of the top 10 memoirs of the decade.

A long-time contributor to NPR, she is currently the host and creator of Mission Amy K R.com produced by Chicago Public Radio.

Her short films include 17 Things I Made, ATM Always Trust Magic, The Kindness Thought Bubble, The Money Tree, Chip the Monk and the interactive, ongoing film project The Beckoning of Lovely (a feature-length film is scheduled for hopeful release on 11/11/11).

Amy lives IRL with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly wonderful book, June 12, 2006

By 

Wendy the Mom (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons (Hardcover)

This is such a wonderful book. I was attracted to Jane Dyer's lovely illustrations and fell in love with the story. By using chocolate chip cookies, Rosenthal explains such things as envy, greed, cooperation, kindness, etc in a manner that helps children understand and gives adults a reason to smile. Today is my daughter's 6th birthday. Rather than take in treats that would be forgotten quickly, she gave her kindergarten teacher and class a copy of this book as a present. The teacher (and class) loved it. This book would be a wonderful present for a young child (say kindergarten to first grade) and a welcome addition to any libary. I cannot recommend it enough.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is better than COOKIES?, May 15, 2006

By 

K. P. GILLEN (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons (Library Binding)

My kids get this! Cookies is quickly becoming a favorite book at our house. Some of the words and concepts are difficult for kids to grasp, and admittedly not words that I work into daily conversation with my little ones. But having a book that so beautifully compares words like "modest", "fair", and "generous", with cookies makes sense to little minds. One of my favorite words is "open-minded". A bunny offers green cookies to a little girl and the captions reads, "I've never seen cookies like that before, but, uh, sure, I'll try one." A great lesson for adults too. This book has been a wonderful conversation starter with my children. But they always want to have a cookie after we read it!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and Pleasing Reading, May 8, 2006

By 

Summer (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons (Library Binding)

Sweet ways of teaching the young ones the little lessons in life, ie: patience, respect, etc. Cute b/c the lesson always surrounds cookies. For patience, it's waiting for the cookies to be done. Respect, offer the first cookie to Grandma. Nice illustration too - images looks very "soft".