Product Description
With Susan Wojciechowski's sure-handed touch for capturing the real concerns of a regular kid, this enormously entertaining Beany book will have middle-grade readers laughing with recognition.

In BEANY AND THE MAGIC CRYSTAL, Beany finds a magic wishing crystal — but there's a slight problem. The crystal grants just one wish, and Beany, ever the worrywart, can't decide what to wish for. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a quietly exciting story for girls and boys
This is a wonderfully wholesome book (as is the series).Bernice (Beany), her brother Philip, Mom, Dad, and her best friend are the main characters.I read this book (over the course of a week)at bedtime to my 4 year old and 6 year old boys.They remained interested throughout - often asking for "just a few more pages..."Beany is a well rounded, believable character.She runs into difficulties and struggles with issues that any young grade schooler might.When Beany recieves a crystal, that she believes to be magic, she looks for exactly the right situation to use it.There are many opportunities for her to use the crystal for herself - but in the end Beany discovers a far more important reason to use the "magic" Beany always seems to do the right thing (without making a show of it).This is a humorous and heartwarming story.If you enjoy this one - read "Beany and the Dreaded Wedding" - it is also fantastic for many of the same reasons.

Beany not baenhead and the magic crystal
Great book, beany is out in the store gets lost and alredy had experience with this problem so she goes up to the store clerk and asks for her mommy, the store cleark sends her to Rosie, Rosie tells her she will give her a candy bar if she helps her so she does looking up she sees a box and couriusly asks what's in there she pulls them down and tells her some of the crystals are magic and Beany asks her how do you no if there magic later on her mom comes and Rosie gives her a choise and Beany chooses the crystal read the book to find out what happens...... ... Read more

Product Description
With Susan Wojciechowski's sure-handed touch for capturing the real concerns of a regular kid, this enormously entertaining Beany book will have middle-grade readers laughing with recognition.

BEANY AND THE DREADED WEDDING finds Beany invited to be both flower girl and ring bearer at her cousin's wedding. Now Beany has plenty of new reasons for losing sleep! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful series - highly recommend!
I can't say enough about the "Beany" book series.From the moment my daughter opened her box from Amazon containing 3 of the books in the series - she couldn't put it down.My daughter (7 years old) likes to read - but I usually need to remind her to read daily for at least 20 minutes (especially during summer break).Well, needless to say, I didn't have to remind her once.=)I couldn't believe how much she loved the stories... she would stop reading every so often and give me a short rundown of what was going on and the funny parts.I would look over at her every once in a while and see her smiling and giggling.What a great feeling to not have to nag my kid about grabbing a book and reading!LOL

Beany and the Dreaded Wedding Book Review
Beany and the Dreaded Wedding is about Beany's cousin, Amy, having a wedding with Peter, her boyfriend. Amy wanted Beany to be the flowergirl and the bearer. Beany sort of wanted to go and sort of not, because she was scared of everybody staring at her in the wedding party. She wanted to go because she thought it would be exciting. When the wedding was finished, she was not scared any more. The wedding ended up to be a fine and peaceful wedding. I like this book so much. I would like to recommended it to all of my friends, my family and best of all, all my best teachers, counting all of them. And the part I most liked was when the big fat celebration of the wedding started and ended. If I were Beany, I would not be so scared. I would just be super excited. By the way, I am [...]

A nice normal kid.
Beany is a nice normal kid. She's not as loud as Ramona Quimby but she's just as earnest and concerned about the world around her. If you're asking a young girl to be in your wedding, I highly recommend this as a good primer on the ups and downs of being a flower girl. I especially like the adults in this book, who are warm and caring and make you feel like Beany is going to grow up to be a great person.

You'll love Beany!
Beany is the kid everyone of every age can relate to.She worries about everything!She's timid, curious, and sweet.Reading about the ups and downs of Beany's life, and how she conquers her worries, will give you hope that if Beany can do it, so can you!Beany is the genuine article.You'll love her, I promise!

Beany's the best!
I loved Beany and the Dreaded Wedding!Children will relate to Beany's worries when she is asked to be a flower girl in her cousin's wedding - will the dress be ugly and frilly, will she trip going down the aisle? The author is always sensitive in handling Beany's worries. Beany's "know it all" friend Carol Ann is always close at hand to "help" Beany solve her problems. The contrast between Beany and Carol Ann adds just the right tension which is so common in childhood friendships. Beany is delightful! The book is sprinkled with humor which will appeal to kids and adults alike.Throughout the story, the reader can sense that Beany will work out her concerns and a happy ending is right around the corner.

Children ages 8-10 will love Beany and will be eager to read more of her stories! ... Read more

Product Description
Susan Wojciechowski and Susan Meddaugh weave a laugh-out-loud tale about one boy's ghosts from Halloweens past.

Ever since Ben was a baby, his parents have concocted wild costumes for him on Halloween. He has been a magician's rabbit (complete with a giant top hat), a bunch of grapes, even a slice of Swiss cheese! Ben has hated every one of these costumes. But now that Ben is seven, he decides to take matters into his own hands and construct a costume that makes this the best Halloween of all! Susan Wojciechowski, award-winning author of THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY, and Susan Meddaugh, creator of MARTHA SPEAKS and MARTHA CALLING, have conjured up a very special Halloween treat! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun story
Every year Michael and his little brother Ben have a costume made for them by their mom. They are nice costumes, well made, but no one ever asks Ben what he wants to be for Halloween. His mom and dad decide, and that it. One year, Ben has had enough and announeces he is choosing his own character and making his own costuem. For him it tuns out to be the best Halloween ever.
The costumes are very cute and imaginative, and you could probably recreate may of the good ideas in the book. As a former Cub Scout leader, I always tried to get our boys to go home-made rather than store bought with their costumes.

Do you know your children's wish?
Parents always want to help with their children's Halloween Costumes. But it's not for children.It's just hfor parent's fun. Parents' wishes are differnet from children's wishes. And this book gave measome ideas forHalloween,too. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic Christmas tale in an elegant new vertical trim size, with completely new notes from the author and the illustrator and a CD narrated by James Earl Jones.

Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he is always alone and never smiles. No one knows about the mementos of his lost wife and child that he keeps in an unopened drawer. But one early winter’s day, a widow and her young son approach him with a gentle request that leads to a joyful miracle. The moving, lyrical tale, gloriously illustrated by P.J. Lynch, has been widely hailed as a true Christmas classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Beautiful, touching story about the spirit of Christmas
This is a holiday classic that will be an enriching experience for your entire family. The story is a touching tale about how the carving a nativity set for a widow and her son heals the heart of a gloomy woodcarver. It truly reflects the spirit of Christmas and will put a tear in your eye. Set aside a special time each holiday to read it aloud with your family. It is the most inspiring children's book I have ever read!

The meaning of Christmas is love
My mother introduced me to this beautiful story years ago, and I have re-read it many times.

All of the characters in "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" have experienced pain and loss.A kind, patient widow and her son slowly bring the message of love, renewal, and Christmas to a woodcarver who has become lost in grief.

Not a Santa story-- a story of what Christmas should mean, in our hearts:loving our neighbors as ourselves, and holding onto faith, hope, and charity as the keys to salvation and the path toward peace and joy.

Beautiful, sympathetic, and historically sensitive illustrations bring this story alive.Highly, highly recommended!

"On the 24th Day of Christmas.......May the True Meaning of Christmas Be Your Experience!"
Looking at the 1995 edition of this story, one could say that Susan Wojciechowskicarved this story from memories in her heart.How does a painter choose the right colors to lay small brushstrokes on the canvas?I believe, from a memory in his heart.How does someone sew fabric into a dress using the right texture, carefully chosen trims, and simple stitches to hold the pieces in place?More than likely, this dress is sewn from a memory in her heart. Well, if you are an emotionally balanced person, you will read this thoughtful and tearful story to a child who is learning life's lessons of compassion, kindness, courage, love, and a whole lot more of life's beatitudes.

The story takes place in a small village where the lives of three people come together.There's Jonathan Toomey, the middle aged woodcarver, who is teased and called Mr. Gloomy.And, there's the widow McDowell and her son, Thomas who live in the village.

Years earlier, Mr. Toomey was a happy man full of life, with a wife and baby; at that time, there were no medicines to help them when sickness came, and his wife and baby died within three days of each other.For Mr. Toomey, his life as it was, ended.With a few belongings, he left that town and "traveled till his tears stopped", settling in this village.His face was mostly covered with his long hair and beard, and you hardly noticed his eyes, the "clear blue of an August sky".

As the snow fell and Christmas was soon on its way, the widow McDowell and Thomas stopped at Mr. Toomey's shop to ask him to carve a set of figures for their nativity set, replacing the ones that were lost over the years.Thomas' Mother asks Mr. Toomey if he will take the job, and he accepts.Thomas asks when the figures will be ready, and Mr. Toomey says, "they'll be ready when they are ready".As the days pass, widow McDowell and Thomas stop by Mr. Toomey's shop, asking if he would allow Thomas to watch him as he carves the figures.

At first, Mr. Toomey is unwelcoming, but over time and many visits, where Thomas watches, and his Mom does some knitting, or preparing of food, Mr. Toomey opens up his heart gradually to Thomas' many questions, and to widow McDowell's kindness.The relationship between Thomas and Mr. Toomey begins to develop.The questions keep coming from Thomas, and gradually, Mr. Toomey gently befriends Thomas.

Will Jonathan Toomey have the figures carved by Christmas?If so, how does he carve into the figures such realistic looking details, and how might the carving of these figures heal his painful memories?

This story will touch your heart, and more than likely, you will recall memories in your own heart.I will leave the details of the story....... for you to read.May you blessed to read this story with someone at your side.

Because few stories touched her Christmas heart, Susan Wojciechowski, wrote this story to bring out the real meaning of Christmas.P.J. Lynch, the illustrator, previously illustrated fairy tales, but in this story, he uses watercolors applied with small brushstrokes so vivid that you can see the creases on Mr. Toomey's knuckles, Thomas' softly blown haircut, the widow McDowell's smiling cheeks, as well as the carver's tools, and the curls of wood, which when removed,helped form the figures.

And if you can, try to find the edition with an accompanying Audio CD; it's great to be read to.

Great book
This is a great book but a little long, so make sure your little one has a longer book attention span. :-) Also, this book could arise some questions re: sickness and death due to the story line. Love the book, though!

Wonderdule story...Inspiring message
What a wonderful book!I had heard about it for some time...Friends had said to me "You've got to read it!"And I finally got around to reding this wonderful story.It's a children's book, but I recommend it for adults as well.It's a great story no matter what your age is.

What makes the story great--in myopinion--is that it leaves many things implied rather than explained in detail.It's the kind of story you could read to a young person, and then dicsuss the implications of the story...What is the meaning of the drawer? the chair....?

The character of the boy is very sweet and touching...

This is a classic story about redemption and a perfect story for the holidays.

Also recommended: Christmas Oranges (Christmas Books) Another wonderful children's book for ALL ages...

Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and HealingA book for older readers that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas. ... Read more

Product Description
In Beany's latest adventure, the lovable worrywart gets stuck with a meany for a science-fair partner but discovers the confidence - and the smarts - to hold her own.

It starts out being a good day, as Beany and her best friend, Carol Ann, sit together on the school bus, happily planning a backyard campout. But that's before Beany learns there's a new kid in class, a fun girl with whom Carol Ann is matched up as guide and welcoming committee. And it's definitely before Ms. Babbitt announces there's going to be a science fair - and suddenly everyone's paired with a partner but Beany and Kevin Gates, the notorious class meany. How can timid Beany work with a bully who bosses her around and calls her names (even if he's surprisingly good at science)? Will she ever work up the nerve to tell him her own great idea for clinching their science project? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Beany and the Meany
My grandaughter and I recently read this book together.She is seven and loved the book; both the story and the character of Beany.Beany is a great kid who faces a typical school dilemma with thoughtfulness, patience, courage and a sense of humor.When her best friend "deserts" her, she does not become whiny or grouchy and doesn't complain to her parents.When Beany is forced to do a school project with a classmate who she is not comfortable with, she does her very best to succeed and she does!The ending is a happy surprise.We are looking forward to reading all the Beany stories.

A nice book with many helpful messages for young readers
As the parent of a 7-year-old girl, I recently discovered Beany when my school teacher wife brought one of the books home. Since then I have read several with my daughter, and plan to purchase all books in the series. There are many similar books available to kids in this age group (my daughter calls them "chapter books"), but the Beany series are the best for our family at present. They can be read by good readers ages 7 and up, but are also short enough an adult can read them to a child.

Beany's problems are timeless - reading this title will bring back memories from childhood. The story conveys Beany's experience of being paired up with a difficult kid for a science fair project. Watching her friends Carol Ann and Stacy enjoying their project together, Beany feels understandably left out. My daughter had just experienced a similar problem with kids down the street, and I think reading the book helped put the issue in perspective.

The character Beany has pathos, a quality enhanced by the author's skill as well as by illustrations that seamlessly convey parts of the story. The book also subtly conveys a decent science lesson within an entertaining story line - bravo! Ms. Wojciechowski has an eye for a child's experiences, something I could feel as I talked the book over with my daughter. As a parent, I am grateful to the author for providing such a morally centered and meaningful read for my child.

Beany Means Well
Two big things happen in Beany's classroom on the same day: a new girl named Stacy joins the class, and everyone teams up to do science projects. Beany's best friend, Carol Ann, pairs up with the new girl; Beany gets stuck with Kevin.

Beany knows what she likes: her family, her teacher, her best friend Carol Ann, and her stuffed moose Jingle Bell, campouts, and her big brother, sometimes. She knows what she doesn't like: Kevin. She think he's a bully and he thinks she's a nuisance. When they finally start working on the experiment, Beany learns that Kevin is smarter than she thought he was, and that he really likes science. Beany and the Meany is a simple, cute story about getting along and working together.

This story could have been heavy on jealousy and misjudging new classmates, but it wasn't, and that was nice to see. Instead of ditching her best friend for the new girl, it is made apparent from the beginning that Carol Ann was the "special helper" in the classroom that week, so she was assigned to help Stacy out. The two naturally became fast friends, as kids that age are so likely to do, and they spend a lot of time working on their own project together, but Carol Ann never outright ignores Beany nor vice-versa. Beany feels left out, but she is more sad than she is jealous. Of course, by the book's close, Beany has two new friends in addition to her best friend, and all is well.

A realistic dilemma will attract readers in elementary grades 3-5
Susan Wojciechowski's Beany And The Meany is peppered with black and white drawings by Susanna Natti as it tells of a science project which sticks Beany with the class bully Kevin. How can Beany save her project and work with the meanest boy in school? A realistic dilemma will attract readers in elementary grades 3-5. ... Read more

Product Description
Eighth-grader Patty Dillman makes a New Year's resolution to become friends with the popular and rich Penni Pendleton. ... Read more

Product Description
With Susan Wojciechowski's sure-handed touch for capturing the real concerns of a regular kid, this enormously entertaining Beany book will have middle-grade readers laughing with recognition.

In BEANY GOES TO CAMP, school is out, but Beany does not want to go to Camp Onondaga! A funny, famililar tale of angst -- and unexpected accomplishment -- at summer camp. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Book Review
I read an awesome book!My book is called Beany Goes to Camp by Susan Wojciechowski.It is about a girl named Beany and another girl named Skye.At first they don't know each other, but then they get to know each other and become best friends.

The story begins at Beany's house, when her parents are dragging her out the door to bring her to Camp Onondaga because her friend, Carol Ann, told her parents that she should go.Carol Ann says it's lots of fun.Every kid has to take swimming lessons, but Skye doesn't know how to swim.When camp is almost over, Skye learns how to swim and Beany learns how to dive.

There are many characters.The three main characters names' are Beany, Skye, and Carol Ann.Beany is a nice girl and is kind to Skye.Skye had no friends, so Beany was nice to her.Skye is very shy.She only has a dad as a parent.Carol Ann is Beany's friend, and she wants to win all the contests.

My favorite part of this book is when Skye and Beany both wish they will see each other next summer at Camp Onondaga.

I like this book because it shows how kind someone can be to someone they just met.I don't think Skye could have lasted at camp without a friend like Beany.They really had a lot of things in common.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes kindness and friendship.

Funny, Sensitive and a great read
I recently discovered Susan Wojciechowski's Beany series and I love them!Beany is a believable character, with whom I think many children can identify.Often her worries and troubles remind me of things that bothered me when I was a kid.As a teacher, I plan to use this book (and the other Beany books) with my grade 2 class.It has a great flow, is engaging, and has many lessons on appropriate problem-solving and kind, considerate behavior without that actually being the focus of the story. ... Read more

Product Description
WELCOME TO THE rival towns of Tralee and Tralah, where the annual St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest is under way. Every year, Tralah defeats Tralee. This year, though, little Fiona Riley has a wonderful idea that will help Tralee win the contest for sure. But neither town has counted on a stranger arriving—a funny little man with pointed ears and boots trimmed with bells—who will turn the contest upside down! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great message! Perfect for reading aloud.
Read through the story a couple of times and then really let the story teller in you come out. The children will love it. On top of that there are a couple of morals to the story that are great for a discussion at the end.

A Great Story!!
This book is so wonderful.What a great yet simple story.The ending made me choke back tears.The only other children's book that ever made me cry was the Giving Tree.This book ranks right up there.

A Worthwhile Read!
I love this tale for it offers the perfect opportunity to discuss generosity and service to ones community. In the story the whole community comes together to paint the town Limerick Lime. They also unite to help the traveling stranger with his problem. There's so much selfishness in society today, and every now and then it's nice to be reminded of the things that matter most in life, friendship, love, and community. Well, those things matter most to me anyway...

The illustrator, Tom Curry, has a folksy style that lends itself to Wojciechowski's countrified fable. Reminiscent of Grandma Moses' folk art, Curry's pastoral scenes are charming, and out of the ordinary for children's literature.

Susan Wojciechowski generally known for the Beany series succeeds in writing a noble tale of charity verses greed. She has a pleasing way with words as the text flows along page after page. There's a lilt to her writing, and she's thrown in a bit of the Irish brogue as well. All in all, A Fine St. Patrick's Day is a worthwhile read.

A Fine St. Patrick's Tale
Looking for a book with a fun St. Patrick's Day tale, bright illustrations, a moral and a wee bit `o leprechaun magic? Here it is.

Wojciechowski spins an original folktale of two Irish towns engaged in an annual St. Patrick's Day decorating competition. Preparations are getting heated and judging time draws near when a stranger arrives asking for help. How each town reacts teaches a moral lesson about helping others and working together.

The folk-art illustrations by Tom Curry complement the mood of the story and are fun to look at. I can't wait to read this to my kids.

Dawn Mena
www.bookbuds.net

A Nice St. Patrick's Folk Tale
Every St. Patrick's Day two towns compete to see who could decorate better.Sick of losing every year a young girl in one of the towns comes up with the idea of painting everything in the village green (except the mailboxes - they're government property and fire hydrants - which must be yellow so they can be seen).When a stranger comes asking for help the town must decide whether or not to abandon their painting to help.The illustrations feature bold colors and are well suited for this delightful folk tale. ... Read more

Product Description
Having dreaded starting back to school, eighth grader Patty becomes involved in many activities as she learns the importance of friendship and the thrill of first love. ... Read more

Product Description
Eighth-grader Patty becomes deeply involved in working at a shelter for the homeless, where she gains a new friend who is far more sensitive than the football player to whom she thought she had lost her heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Patty Dillman
Patty Dillman was an OK book. This girl, Patty, really wants to go on the school field trip to the mountains. She has saved up a lot of money from baby-sitting to go. Her school is also doing a project with a homeless shelter. Patty thinks that homeless people are bums and she does not want to go, but her mom makes her go. Since it is the middle of winter the men's hands are cracked. Patty has to decide what to do with her money- should she go on the ski trip or should she buy the homeless me gloves. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of Patty Dillman of Hot Dog Fame presents Beany, a regular youngster with regular-kid worries, twenty-three freckles, and a bossy best friend, in five entertaining stories about Beany's life at home and at school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beanie is a comical character very much like Ramona Quimby.
My daughter and I read this book as part of our nightly reading ritual.I think that I loved the book as much, or maybe even more than she did.We enjoyed reading about Beany's worries and we laughed at how she solved herproblems.This is a must read for any young reader.

Great Book for boys, too!
My son (age 7) and I are currently reading thisbook at bedtime.He loves the book even though the main character is a girl.He identifies with Beany because he, too, is a worrywart.I wouldrecommend this book for both boys and girls. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Susan Wojciechowski, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1475 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (1)

cute book
About what it is like to be a kid growing up
in grade school in a normal
family with normal friends...
Mostly I didn't like it
and thought it was a waste of my time and effort to read it.
But I don't like chick flicks either. ... Read more