Syd HoffReviews

13 copies

10 copies

Mrs. Brice has 25 mice, and all but one do everything together. While the others are exercising with Mrs. Brice, one little mouse sleeps. While the rest dance around Mrs. Brice as she plays the piano, this one dances on her hand. And when all the mice come across a ferocious cat, it's this small individualist who saves the day.

Although Walpole is the biggest walrus in the herd, he would rather take care of the baby walruses than be a leader - until he realizes how much the whole herd needs him.

Albert finds his way home to the ocean with the help of a lady tourist--and her hat.

When an old lighthouse keeper and his wife leave their seaside home, they find a way for their old friends, the seagulls, to find them.

Albert finds his way home to the ocean with the help of a lady tourist--and her hat.

Harry keeps a horse in his room. A trusty horse only he can see. But then his parents take him to the country to see "real" horses. Horses that are free to run, kick, and nibble. Now Harry must decide: Does his horse need to be free, too?

Julius, an African gorilla, finds a home in an American circus. One day he inadvertently frightens away his audience, and goes in search of them.

A patriotic feline, Captain Cat springs out of bed whenever the bugle sounds and he has more stripes than any of the soldiers. But most of all, this young recruit and his best friend Pete know what it really takes to make the army a home--friendship.

Chester the horse is tired of being wild. Since cowboys don't want tamed wild horses, Chester goes to the city. He pretends he's a carousel horse, a rocking horse, and even a statue. Chester is determined. He'll find the right home once and for all!

Oliver the elephant looks elsewhere for employment after learning that the circus already has enough elephants.

Animal

An interesting collection of cartoons by the famed New Yorker cartoonist and author of childrens' books, done under a pseudonym (A. Redfield) for the CPUSA's Daily Worker. The style is unmistakably Hoff, and it's something of a wonder no one really tumbled on to the connection at the time. The cartoons are, naturally, from a hard-left perspective, or at least most of them are. A significant number could quite easily have been slotted into The New Yorker, then and now, while others toe the party line pretty faithfully. Some cartoons are so eye-rollingly heavy-handed that they fall flat, and collected together, you can see the same joke repeated over and over. A few cartoons are gems, though. There's some valuable context provided by a modern set of notes.

Sammy the seal is bored with life at the zoo, so he leaves to go to the city. There, he finds a school full of kids and new things to do! Sammy sings with the students, becomes the star of the volleyball team, and even learns to read. He can't wait to tell his friends back at the zoo how much fun he's having!

Includes "Stanley", "Oliver", and "Sammy the Seal" in one volume.

Danny loves dinosaurs. When he sees one at the museum, he thinks aloud that it would be nice to play with one. When a dinosaur answers Danny, they have a wonderful adventure together.

He has whiskers and paws, and more stripes than the soldiers have ever seen. But most important, he has a best friend who can make an army barracks feel like home.

A classic from Syd Hoff, the bestselling creator of the Danny and the Dinosaur series, Captain Cat is a Level One I Can Read, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

Why don't dinosaurs go to school? In Danny and the Dinosaur: School Days, the dinosaur gets curious and follows his friend Danny to school! But Danny's buddy is too big to ride the school bus, and school lunch isn't quite right for a dinosaur... So, he decides to do school his own way--dino style--and it turns out to be the best class ever!

Sammy the seal is bored with life at the zoo, so he leaves to go to the city. There, he finds a school full of kids and new things to do! Sammy sings with the students, becomes the star of the volleyball team, and even learns to read. He can't wait to tell his friends back at the zoo how much fun he's having!

Grizzwold the lovable bear is having a tough time finding somewhere to live. He's too big for most places, and too clumsy for others. He's not even any good as a live bearskin rug! Will Grizzwold ever find a home that's just right?

Month of January 2022: Young Reader’s Classics

READING LEVEL: 2.3 AR POINTS: 0.5

A cute children’s I Can Read book written and published in 1958. It is similar to the Dick and Jane I Can Read books, which are the books we learned to read in school. I’m just now reminded of a book my mom bought us girls about Harry the dog written by Gene Zion. I remember specifically reading “Harry the Dirty Dog (1956), which I just now read again free on Archive.org website. I had totally forgotten about that book. Unfortunately, my family didn’t save any of our childhood books.

This is 1 of 4 books saved by the Woolwine family. It was in with my cousin’s (Lancer Woolwine) family photos, which I am currently organizing for their family.

Walpole the walrus has to go and find baby walrus and then comes back to save the crew.

My son reports this is likely a brontosaurus. A fun beginners book.

Ok. Not amazing. Good for what it is, am early reader for early readers