X Books

Maybe it's because I just got finished reading Camus' "Stranger", but this book seems a lot like it. It's told from the point of view of Dick and the narrative seems very existential, grounded right in the very moment, with only little concern for the future. Also, there is the 'tough-guy" style of narrative which Camus confessed to using. Very truncated sentences. Very narrowed point of view which results in a sense of isolation. It's ultra-modern because it seems to go beyond issues of ethnicity, right down to the very basic necessities of all human life. The author goes out of the way to point out things like breathable air, and water and food and shelter. It's a very short book and very difficult to put down. Disturbing, fascinating and entertaining at the same time. I don't know why I should say this but it gives me confidence that there are actually other people out there who think. Is the author coming out with anything else soon?

Having been acquainted with the author now for some years, I have the sneaking suspicion that his intention in "Fun With..." was to shock us with the zeal of an emerging agnosticism, to render modern angst through the perspective of an intelligent yet simple character. If anything, Quiray is honest. And this honesty comes through in the inescapable theme of multiculturalism. In a world of western freedoms tempered by puritanical heritage, chaotic diversity is the rule. The final truth: Dick is brown, and Dick can't possibly know what this means. In conversation Quiray has spoken often of dramatic scenarios, `writing styles' and other various artistic devices (musical, visual, gastronomical) which transcend loyalty to friends, family, ethnicity and country. I won't say that he has failed at such a burdensome task. On the contrary, I have spoken to a few mutual friends who have read the book and they candidly reported that they were somewhat repulsed by what they perceived as apparent misanthropy. A jobless, appetite-driven photographer who takes pictures of roadkill? But, I would quickly append that Quiray also does a surprisingly decent job of exposing a slew of complex philosophical, sociological and psychological modern-day dilemmas armed only with one and two-syllable words in simple declarative sentences. And I believe the greatest thing about this book is that, despite ourselves, we come to love this character although we know very little about him. Living his spartan-like, stark existence, Dick is us--without the commercial insulation each of us have erected around ourselves. And despite the lonesome weariness he shoulders in his pursuit of transcendence, it is his desire for intimate spiritual connection with his neighbor which captures our heart and preserves his dignity. Artists live by different rules, and sometimes it is justified. If we're lucky, everybody benefits.

Remembering my reading of Quiray's second novel from a distance of almost a year, I realize that "Fun With Dick and Jana" gives voice to the mutual attraction of two adult friends struggling to express their complex, and intense, affection in a dead-end world where that affection is threatened by boredom and dis-ease about the future. Their lives unravel in a small college town filled with their own barely audible disappointments and too many memories of growing through adolescence into their early 20s. Quiray's main character is a man of confused ambitions, mixed emotions and striking intelligence who works odd jobs to pay constantly truant bills while wandering into various confrontations with other nomadic souls. As these situations unravel, including a car crash, a variety of landlord avoidances, a wedding photography session, numerous thoughts on modern multi-culturalism and brushes with casual sexual contact, "FWDJ" becomes more a character study of early adult struggle than it is a love story, drama, adventure or moral tale, although it contains aspects of each. Instead "FWDJ" circles in the difficulty of maintaining a forward course in life as it is set upon by the striking need to "just grow up" and the simultaneous conflict of not knowing what growing up means. By novel's end, Quiray's lovers, and their ambiguous relationship with their small town, realize a tenuous balance between happiness and sadness that fills them with hope for a future that holds excitment and accomplishment as the carrot sticks prodding adult maturation. "FWDJ" is a story of transition and companionship, and realizing that all futures begin with first steps through who we have been into who we want to become.

Found the characters closely paralleled my own personal experiences. Somewhat of a coming of age story about Dick and friends trials with life, friends, parents, females, morals etc. Anyone who's ever been confused about life will appreciate the book and the message it offers.

When the Legion Quest storyline ended, an alternate universe was created due to the fact that Legion went back in time to kill Magneto but accidently killed Charles Xavier. Since Xavier died, there was no X-Men to stop Apocalypse from taking over America and most of the world. This alternate reality, The Age of Apocalypse, put all the regular X-books on hold for four issues and replaced them with they're AoA versions. Generation Next (Generation X) is a storyline revolving around Magneto (the X-Men's founder and leader in this alternate universe) sending husband and wife Colossus and Shadowcat on a mission to save Colossus' long thought dead sister from a human slave colony. Accompanying them is the AoA version of Generation X; consisting of Chamber, Husk, Skin, Mondo, and Vincent. The gritty art brings the emotional impact of the story out even more than it should, and the emotionally charged tragic ending really makes this TPB of Generation Next excell more than it should. All in all, a great read for older fans of the X-Men or Generation X comics.

Dear Evree Won,

Out of all the AGE OF APOCALYPSE stories this has to been the most emotionaly charged. It shows the hardship of this new world without Charles Xavier and that death is far from taken lightly. My favorite characters in this story are Jonathan "Chamber" Starsmore and Paige "Husk" Guthrie because their personalities are the furthest away from the "real" reality.

The least you could do is smile, PaulQ

This is a pretty good story, set in the Age of Apocalypse - where the evil immortal mutant Apocalypse rules North America. His kingdom only lives by one rule: Survivial of the fittest. Humans are regarded as the lower class and even not all mutants will be survive in this world. This all happened because Professor Charles Xavier never existed. Thus he never got to form the X-Men to appose Apocalypse.

This book is about the Generation X in that altered timeline. Chamber et al are lead by their teacher Colossus and his wife Shadowcat to find his little sister, Illyana Natalyanovna, who appears to be captured by the Sugar Man.

The characters get introduced pretty well in this one. it has great art and excellent narration by Illyana. I don't wanna tell too much - otherwise I'll spoil the story. Which is a pretty good one as a stand alone and is one of the best of the Age of Apocalypse storyline. The ending is sad, but great.

These stories won't mean much if you haven't read this AoA storyline from the start though. If you get this, I recommend you get all the other AoA TPBs too. For a complete reading list of it, see my X-Men: LegionQuest review.

Told in a fast paced well thought out storyline. I felt an actual emotional connection with the group. To see favorite characters changed when faced with a lifetime of death and destruction, is a triumph to the scriptwriters of this idea "Age of Apocolypse." Colossus and Shadowcat are now Peter and Kate husband and wife charged with the training of the Generation Next cast. Their bitterness exudes in every frame as they try to mold the students to be hardened and cynical fighting machines. The plight of the humans and those on the business end of Apocolypses boot seem especially tragic here. The ending still haunts me everytime I read it. If you truly enjoy the alternate reality of Age of Apocolypse this particular story is not to be missed.

Where were you in the 1980's? I was in junior high wearing rainbow stripped leg warmers, watching Flash Dance, and listening to Brian Adams sing.

I graduated from high school in 1987, and I am a Gen X Mom. How about you?

Author Tricia Goyer has put together a wonderful book just for us, Gen X moms. It is funny, meaningful and fun to read.

Maybe you have challenges in your marriage. Or you know someone who does. Or maybe you want to make yoru marriage even stronger than it already is.

So, do you still find yourself humming the love songs of the 80s and 90s?Do you still believe that every marriage should be between soul mates?

But -- do you wonder how you can succeed at love and marriage when the generation you grew up in didn't?Marriage isn't what it used to be-it can be better than ever.

If you are a Gen Xer, your marriage has challenges and potentials that no other generation has known. A Gen Xer herself, Tricia Goyer offers realistic help to achieve the God-honoring marriage you long for.

She includes:·Ways to protect your marriage despite the broken relationships modeled in your youth·Stories, suggestions, and confessions from fellow Gen Xers facing the "What now?" question of real-life marriage·

I had so much fun reading this book, and along with the giggles and chuckles, I learned a lot about how to make my marriage even stornger.

Blessings-
Trish Berg
Book Reviewer, Author
www.TrishBerg.com

Rattled: Surviving Your Baby's First Year Without Losing Your Cool

The Great American Supper Swap - Solving the Busy Woman's Family Dinnertime Dilemma

Tricia Goyer is back to talk the the Gen X'ers on her most important topic yet. She does an excellent job of getting the message across. Her format is sound bite easy to read. A perfect book for the uber-involved who read in snippets while escaping into the bathroom for some peace and quiet, or while waiting for soccer practice to end.

Being on the early, early edge of Generation X, some of what she shared didn't quite hit the mark with me, especially some of the music she quoted. But during the beginning years of my marriage and child raising, I became aware of the soundtrack for the Gen X'ers and the heartbeat of the generation sounds loud and clear throughout the book. Many of the issues that Tricia covered apply to most generations. So don't let a lack of immersion in the 80's/ 90's culture become a reason to avoid reading what Tricia shared, or for ignoring the truth that needs to be considered.

I appreciate Tricia's honesty. In Generation NeXt Parenting I considered Tricia an expert. Good grief, she homeschools and writes books and... well, you get the picture. But Tricia paints some not so flattering self-portraits in Generation NeXt Marriage that should endear her to an entire generation of wives. Thanks for your transparency, Tricia. And thank John for his willingness to allow your marriage to be placed under a microscope.

I am a firm believer in investing your money into your marriage since marriage is the framework you build on the foundation of Christ. What are you building, a ranch, a modular, a mansion or a shack? Don't buy the book if you have no intention of using it to guide your own growth and change. Don't buy it for your spouse, either. After all, you may be the only book your spouse chooses to read, so without your change, the message is lost.

If you are tired of doing the same old and getting the same old results, you might find it very useful to look at how culture and your early years have shaped you.

This is a great read. Especially if you are a GenXer or if you are struggling to understand a GENXer.

Generation NeXt Marriage by Tricia Goyer is a terrific, hip Christian guide to marriage for Generation X. As the first generation of latch-key kids who often came from broken homes, they view marriage in a way completely different than their parents and grandparents. They are less likely to see divorce as an option and more likely to require authenticity and honesty in their relationships. Each chapter begins with a lyric from a 1970s or 80s song, and Goyer uses that to jumpstart her conversation. And that's how her writing reads: like a conversation with a good friend. She uses statistics and studies to make her points, and them backs them up with Scripture. Goyer is very active online and uses anecdotes from her loyal readers about their marriages to add layers and depth to each discussion. Goyer is just as honest as Gen Xrs demand, including a chapter about a former boyfriend. She'll never make you feel guilty; she encourages and uplifts with humor and compassion. She's always a joy to read.

Absolutely fantastic reading. Thank you for the time spent writing this book, it's a must have guide for those working for the good of all those young people out there.

This book is directed primarily at those attempting to organize Catholic youth ministries, but it's a very insightful read for anyone involved in recruiting or organizing youth groups (religious or otherwise) at all. Mr. Hayes draws on his many years of personal experience with younger Catholics to identify a wide variety of interesting Gen X and Millennial profiles. He sheds light on much of the outdated logic or group think which has lead to the declining numbers of younger Catholics who are actively involved in organized church events/activities. He also provides us with many helpful suggestions on how to appeal to both Gen Xers and Millennials. The last chapter of the book gives step by step directions on how to organize and get your message through to today's young adults. The easy to follow directions make you feel as though you're reading one of those "For Dummies" books. Overall, this is an excellent resource for anyone who's looking to recruit and organize younger people of faith. Many older church organizers would be well advised to read this book.

This is a highly readable, informative, balanced book. I'm picky about books on this topic; many of them lump all young adults together into the same category. I appreciate how this book acknowledges the different types of young adults (those who focus on social justice, those who are drawn to the sacraments, etc.) and offers concrete ways to minister to them. It's a wonderful read for those who minister to young adult Catholics, as well as anyone who is curious about how the "younger generations" of Catholics experience their faith.

Another unique feature of this book is the middle section, which offers in-depth profiles of a sampling of young adults. I'm someone who is fascinated by others' experiences of faith, so this section was a real treat. It's also a great way to put a "face" on the ideas discussed throughout the book.

One last reason I enjoyed this book: when I was getting my teaching credential, one of my professors told us to think about past teachers we'd had, and the teaching methods they'd used that had worked for us. She then told us that we needed to learn how to teach in a way that was totally the opposite of that. Her point was that kids learn in a variety of different ways, and that if we fixate only on the methods that worked for us, we won't reach a huge number of our students. This book makes the same point with regards to faith. Everyone engages with their faith in a different way, and if we want to effectively minister to young adults, we need to provide a variety of ways for them to connect with their faith community (sponsoring all-night Adoration, organizing volunteer trips to the soup kitchen, etc.). That's such a crucial message, and this book does a great job of communicating it.

Young adults' search for God
Reviewed by ERIN RYAN, National Catholic Reporter

These days, there seems to be a lot of discussion in church circles about how young people are the future of the church and a lot of consternation about what Catholics can do to bring them in. However, most church ministry programs for young people tend to focus on teenagers or children. Two recent books speak to the young adults in our midst.

In his book for youth ministers, Googling God: The Religious Landscape of People in their 20s and 30s, author Mike Hayes makes it clear that young adults are more than just the church's "future." They are the church now.

Mr. Hayes is the associate director of Paulist Young Adult Ministries and the managing editor and cofounder of the savvy bustedhalo.com Web site for Catholics in their 20s and 30s. His book provides a close look at young adults in two specific generations: those in the often cynical, questioning "Generation X," defined here as people born between 1964 and 1979, and "Millenials," defined as people born after 1980, who are more often concerned with rules and order.

In Part One of Googling God, Mr. Hayes, who says he belongs to Generation X, explores how these two generations have been shaped by events in the world around them. Then, taking a cue from Mary Anne Reese in America and a symposium paper by Fr. Jim Bacik, he offers seven classifications or orientations that can be applied to young adult Catholics: eclipsed, private, ecumenical, evangelical, prophetic, sacramental and communal.

Part Two of Googling God contains interviews with 12 young men and women ages 22 to 39, six in each of the two generations. Most are practicing Catholics, but some have stopped going to church. Some grew up in traditional ethnic Catholic families such as Hispanic or Filipino households; others grew up in ecumenical families that practiced different religious traditions. Many people who cross over the "evangelical" category, say, are looking for emotional experiences in their worship: "God often is so far removed from young adult life that they long for opportunities where they can see, feel, taste and smell the very fervor of religion," says Mr. Hayes, who points out the importance of following up these experiences with solid church teachings and guidance from ministers.

In Part Three of Googling God, Mr. Hayes gives practical advice about methods of doing ministry and resources for further reading. He also stresses the importance of using technology, especially the Internet, and gives tips on how to start your own Web page, which every church should have, he says, in the age of Google search engines and instantaneous answers.

Mr. Hayes also notes that all the young adults he interviewed wish for "a more collaborative dialogue between the church and young adults," and that whether they are from Steubenville or from a Jesuit parish in New York, they tend to think beyond "liberal" or "conservative" categories. And from the interviews, it is clear that while their approaches to life are diverse, each young person has clearly given a lot of thought to the spiritual questions he or she has faced.

"God, for me, is like someone who's already up when you've come downstairs in the morning and you're stumbling to get that cup of coffee and he's already there with his," says 24-year-old Jeff G. "And you sit on the front porch in a rocking chair and the sun is just starting to rise over the horizon and he says, `It's a beautiful sunrise!' And I say, `Yeah.' And that's it."

It's hard to think of a more personal description of the divine than that.

Another book, Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit: A Young Catholic's Search for Meaning, is aimed toward young adults themselves. Author Mark Hart, vice president of the youth ministry LIFETEEN, leads conferences and retreats for teens and adults and is also author of Ask the Bible Geek: Answers to Questions from Catholic Teens.

Mr. Hart stresses on his first page that he is a "postmodern Catholic" and invites young people to delve more deeply into church teachings they may not understand. But while Mr. Hayes advised ministers to listen to young adults first and then explain church teaching within the complexity of their lives, Mr. Hart sees the situation a little differently. "The pews are emptying because the truth of Christ has been forfeited, too often, on altars of conformity, funded by the court of comfort and public opinion," Mr. Hart writes in his introduction. And later he writes: "People who can put a probe on Mars, clone animals and solve the intimacy issues of 80-year-olds want to alleviate all mystery and end all pain. ... The reality is that life is filled with sin and suffering and there are two kinds of people: those who run from it and those who deal with it. Do yourself a favor and learn to deal with it."

Mr. Hart intends to help people deepen their faith and their awareness of God's love for them. He has some lovely things to say about seeing the life of faith as positive fulfillment in God rather than a set of rigid commands, especially in Chapter Five: "Reconciling Your Issues: Thinking Outside the Box." It's a matter of taste, though, whether you find humor in his pun-filled chapter titles like "When the Family Meal Leaves You with Heartburn" (about bad liturgies) or "Time to Exorcise" (after a discussion of vain gym rats) or "Discipleship 101: The One Elective Needed to Pass."

Unfortunately, in spite of what Mr. Hart says about his book being a look at the "modern spiritual journey," his puns and light personal narratives, alternating with a heavy advice-giving style, wind up making the book rather bland. Mr. Hart does throw in references to anime or " `The Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi," but too often they come off as strained attempts to be relevant or funny. There's much general discussion about such topics as how young people want to be good but like to have sex, or how this is a culture of death, or how Mass is dull, or how it's hard to corral the whole family to church on a Sunday morning. But the book would have been more helpful if Mr. Hart had discussed more specific, concrete incidents in his life and how he faced them rather than relying on distillations and themes.

Both authors both clearly have a lot of experience with young people, but by letting the young individuals speak for themselves, Mr. Hayes winds up with the more engaging book.

Erin Ryan is an NCR staff writer. Her e-mail address is eryan@ncronline.org.

National Catholic Reporter, October 5, 2007

Fast read, easy to understand concepts of church leadership being presented, seems to speak mostly to ministers. Probably could have been done in half as many pages.

This book leverages the "Leading Change" model of John Kotter in a highly effective manner within a ministry context. Paul speaks as a real leader with successful experience in coaching, equipping and releasing real leaders in the mission field.

If you have never visited an organic church this is the place to begin! And even if you have visited or belong to an organic church this is the book to help you better understand and implement the effective, yet fluid, approach to ministry that is producing so many fruitful disciples and churches. Dr. Whitesel gives an academic, practical, and applicable introduction to twelve emerging organic congregaions from across the U.S. with examples from England and Canada as well. As a pastor and former youth minister and Christian school teacher, I greatly appreciate the author's insights into philosophic background, worship style, and church growth mechanisms of these multi- and younger generational churches that are effectively reaching the post-modern thinkers. Having just spent a week with thirty other church leaders in the San Franciso area of California studying and experiencing emergent worship and ministry with Dr. Whitesel, I can say this author lives out and teaches with an authentic passion to help all Christian leaders communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way without marginalizing the Biblical message of redemption. Everyone interested in growing the church in a post-modern and often, post-Christian society needs to read this book!

Few in the North American church scene have as much experience with local church turnaround as Paul Borden. What makes Direct Hit so useful is that Borden addresses why turnaround is so often talked about, but so rarely achieved. He gives very clear rules about: the timing of turnaround, the role of pastors and leaders, using outside help, and the necessity of mission. Many congregations do not look to the deep issues behind why their church is the way it is. Not so with Direct Hit. Borden is up-front and passionate about his subject. A previous reviewer has put in this space a review of some other book about "Organic Church", not by Borden. There are a few typographical and syntactical errors here, but a lot fewer than his previous book Hit The Bullseye. The Appendices are worth the purchase price alone. Five stars.

"...I highly recommend this book...in fact, I foresee it finding its way to the bookshelves of many faculty members, albeit with frequent removal for consultation as an educational tool!" (Clinical Chemistry, Vol. 49, No. 7, 2003)

"...this welcome addition to the introductory crystallographic literature should be well received...recommended..." (Choice, Vol. 40, No. 8, April 2003)

"...an excellent introductory text..." (Journal of Proteome Research, Vol. 2, No. 2, March/April 2003)

"...a masterful presentation of the theory and practice of crystallography as applied to large molecules. Any student or professional who wants to deepen his or her understanding of the field should work through this text. The clarity, completeness, and simplicity of [Dr. McPherson's] treatment are impressive." --Andrew J.Howard, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois

"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.

It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!

This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?

But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.

Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.

Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.

Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.

Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.

NM
Retired British Army major.

I started reading this book with some trepidation, thinking I would find a canonization of a soldier and the American war machine. What I found was an insightful and emotional look at the follies of war and the remarkable heroism of those who lay their life on the line so we may live in peace.

Schwarzkopf takes us on a journey covering the globe where america has had military interests, for those looking for an insight into the workings of the military machine are well covered. Those looking for an insight into the man made famous on CNN during the gulf war will find a man who is warm, humourous, intelligent and determined to be the best of the best.

As a young Australian I am proud to say that i class the author as one of the few people I would consider a true hero in a world of would be's if they could be's.

In conclusion do yourself a favour you will not be disappointed in this book or the man behind the legend.

This book should be read by every soldier, in every nation. it is so frank and honest in its account of military life and actions, it could have been written by any of the troops. .As a serving British soldier I have found it a requirement to read this book on a regular basis and absorb some of the ideas to use in my career and every day life. A great loss to the military service.

As a veteran I find that the accuracy, the notes, research and espiecally the historical and political events leading up to the event(Operation Desert Storm) are absolutely amazing. History will decide the outcome but today it is done

X. J. and Dorothy Kennedy have compiled a wonderful poetry resource that anyone who wishes to share poetry with children would find useful. Although the "Afterword for Adults" states that the book is "addressed directly to children from eight to twelve," (157) it is very conducive to teaching various aspects and uses of poetry with examples and commentary from the authors. Originally published in 1982, this edition has been revised and updated with contemporary authors and selections that can get students even more excited about today's poetry.

The contents of the book are organized into categories:
1- What do poems do?
2- What's inside a poem?
3- Special kinds of poetry
4- Do it yourself
Each category then has sub-categories with poems listed by themes. These would be particularly useful for teachers or students looking for a poem that has a certain topic, evokes specific feelings, or is constructed in a specific form (such as haiku or limerick). The book does not simply present poems in an organized fashion, however, but the Kennedys also provide background information, insight, and ideas to ponder inter-mingled with the poetry examples. The narrative text serves as a guide to young readers who might wish to know more about the background of poetry and delve deeper into the meaning, structure, and purpose.

The "Afterword for Adults" section at the end explains why the book was written, how to encourage children to like poetry, suggestions for helping kids write their own poetry, and ideas for those who work with groups of children, such as teachers and librarians. The Kennedys offer many suggestions for not only activities to use that utilize poems, but also how to best prepare yourself and your environment for sharing poetry with children. Other useful tools are: Index of Authors, Index of Titles, Index of First Lines, and Acknowledgements citing the original source for each poem. All in all, there are179 poems included that will spark a child's imagination and help in fostering a love and appreciation for poetry.

This anthology is a terrific mix of styles, subjects, and moods. Most of them I would not necessarily call "children's poetry" in that they are not obviously written by an adult trying to be clever in the way that a child would find clever. Instead, they are genuine expressions of truth, both the day-to-day variety and the larger truths we all understand, even before we're able to articulate our experiences. Robert Frost's "Canis Major," Gwendolyn Brooks' "Narcissa," and "The Eagle," by Tennyson are some of my favorites. There as also some wonderful rhythmic poems that are especially pleasurable for the pulse and the sounds of the words: Eve Merriman's "Windshield Wiper," and "The Pickety Fence" by David McCord are great fun.
This is a must-have anthology for elementary teachers, parents, or anyone who loves the sound and feel of poetry.

As a teacher- I found this book to an incredible assest to have in the clasroom. This is a very exemplary eclectic collection. It contains a wide variety of poem forms, styles, and authors. Usefully organized into category chapters, it easy to find a poem relating to a topic. The book is organized into useful sections that have equally as useful subcategories. These divisions make it easy to use these poems during a unit on poetry. The wide variety of types of poems in the book also is useful to assimilate these poems into the curriculum, either as a transitional piece or within a topic discussion. The students LOVE hearing these poems!

Kennedy informs students about the purposes for poetry by the categories he's formed. The selections are appropriate for elementary school children and is an instructive collection for serious poetry reading for kids 7-13.

Kennedy's collection is accessible, informative and a pleasure to read and mull over.

Great resource for unit on ants to teach ESL for pk-k.

This book is wonderful! I read it all the time.Why I give this book 5 stars is because this book is really fun to read and I think that children might like this book too.The ant talks about how he might eat it when he is jut so small.

Once upon a time, there was a little red ant,she was the only one who was different from her family.she was more shorter than her family members,her red color was more darker than the rest of the family members.One day she was looking for food,for the winter,so she can put her food in her small house.sudenly,she found a big crumb of cake,she was surprise and wonder that she wanted to take home,but there was a problem, she was too little to carry, then she was looking for help with the rest of the animals from that place, but no one help her.But she never give up and she found a alligator,that was trying to eat her,and she scape and she said that she can carry that big crumb of cake,and she did,and she knew that no matter how small she was, you never have to give up.

Nicely written and beautifully illustrated children's fable. Everything you want in a children's book. I'm giving it to my grandaughter!

There aren't many good books out there about infertility and adopting, especially compared to ordinary parenting books, but there are even fewer about parenting after infertility. This book really is required reading. Perhaps its most important contribution is to acknowledge that years of suffering don't just dissolve without effects once you've ``solved'' the problem by having a child. My only regret is that it doesn't go into still more detail -- here's hoping it sparks some imitators. Because it discusses emotional and psychological issues rather than purely medical ones, it is unlikely to go out of date any time soon.

The Long Awaited Stork is the book that I wish I'd found three years ago when my twins were born! Like many other infertility veterans, I thought that my struggles were over when I became pregnant and delivered two healthy baby girls. Indeed, things are great but I still find that infertility is part of my life. I loved it when Ms. Glazer referred to the "cameo appearances" that infertility makes. It's a great description for those waves of feeling that come back when I least expect them. This book is a GREAT gift for anyone who is newly pregnant or for a new adoptive parent.

After years of infertility, and all the unsettling emotions I experienced, I had hoped that getting pregnant would let me be "normal" again. I was amazed that even though I finally made it to the pregnancy world, I still had some of those old infertility feelings surface at the most unexpected times. Reading this book helped me realize I'm experiencing something normal for those of us who have lived the IF experience. I can see this being a reference for me for years to come.

Many infertile couples are so focussed on trying to get pregnant, they often lose sight of the fact that the real challenge - that of bringing up their child - arises only after they achieve their goal and have a baby ! This book is a very helpful guide on parenting for all infertile couples , and discusses issues which most books on infertility ( and most on parenting ) do not touch.