N Books

When I was told my Mother had early stage altzheimers I was at sea. I bought three books on the subject and while each had a different "slant" for those who are watching this terrible disease they were very helpful in finding out what was happening and what I could expect. This book, tho but everything into human terms. It is a companion book to "Learning to Speak Altheizmers" . I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn more about what happens to a family member as they go on this journey.

I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if it was available. This story was moving and funny all at once. I just thought it was a little long. It gives you a real inside look at Alzheimer's and you see that even in the midst of their dieses they have a life and are still people. I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Maplewood. This is a great story for anyone who is dealing with or knows someone or has an interest in Alzheimer's.

This book really touched me in many, many ways. From the personal level, the relating to Lauren's job, and in the residents that Lauren took care of. Sometimes I had to put the book down from a few minutes--to a few hours to allow me time to reflect. Thank you Lauren for sharing your experiences with us the reader. I look at Alzheimer's disease in a better, deeper way then before I read this book. :)

"Dancing with Rose" is neither mystery nor animated action story, but for those of us in long term care, it is definitely a page turner. Lauren Kessler's warm approach takes one inside the hearts and minds of the staff, families and the residents of Maplewood. One can only imagine that long after reading this book, Kessler must still be visiting the residents, who became more like family. This book validates why those of who continue to work in long term care are there and will be there every day.

This author took a job as a caregiver in an Alzheimer's facility with the idea of working through her relationship with her mother, who suffered with the disease, and writing a memoir that would help others understand people with the disease and the system caring for them. As a psychologist and daughter of a man with Alzheimer's, I would say she did a wonderful job with both.

If you have elderly parents or are getting older (and who are we kidding, aren't we all?), this is must-read. A touching, heartbreaking look into the world of dementia care facilities and a wake-up call for all of us about our futures as we age.

i have read all of the daughter of the moon books several times
they are all totaly awesome.serena is getting possessed she is not acting like her self.you will not regret readingthese books i've allready gotten friends to read the books and one of my teachers wanted to read it!!!!!!!!!!

i thought this book was amazing ! it was so good but it was also really sad with stanton...i think serena is just so cool and i lyk that she has that dark side which cna keep her with stanton

This book was good. We find out in the end that Serena has a 3rd choice, unlike the other Daughters. You have to read the book becasue I am not telling you what it is. This book is also revloving around Serena and Stanton again. Hopefully thought her next one won't be.

I really like the Daughters of the Moon books and i think that this is one of the best ones. My favorite parts are the interactions between Stanton and Serena because they still love one another inspite of everything. That fact really seems to shine through in this book. That's why i give it 5 stars!

Payasa


Possession was an AWSOME book, like all of the other Daughter of the Moon books! It was about a girl named Serena who can read minds. All of her friends have powers too. She was running away from Jerome, a boy who has a total crush on Serena, but she tottaly hates him, and she bumps into this old lady who gives her some potion stuff. She wakes up hours later and walks home, but a black Lexus follows her. She went to sleep with an awful headache. She wakes up to find herself in the kitchen with words writen in her own blood'"YOU'RE NOT ALONE ANYMORE". Her friend, Catty's, mom invited them to read the future in a coffee cup, and she saw snakes, which means "an enemy has come to visit". Serena gets spaces in time where she can't remember anything. She starts to get really freaked. She finds the old woman and she is able to undo the curse by fighting the followers that the old woman is leading along with Lambart.This is a great book and I highly recomend it for readers that have read the rest of the series because it just gets better with every book. For those who haven't read any other books in the series, I recomend it if you like present day fantasy based in Los Angeles.

Oh, let me please be like Grandfather Twilight when I am old! Another dreamy, mysterious, and magically poetic masterpiece from Barbara Berger. Ever wonder how the moon finds its way up into the sky at night? "Grandfather Twilight" reveals this secret. It is the perfect book to quiet the soul before bedtime. A childhood favorite.

There are a number of books in the childrens' book market that qualify as modern day classics and Berger's "Grandfather Twilight" is definitely among them. From the stunning artwork, to the magnificent prose, to the magical message, this is a winner. Right up there with the best. Together with a soft blanket, the perfect gift for the new arrival.

This beautifully illustrated book describes how Grandfather Twilight turns a pearl into the moon as he turns day to night. Every child I've read it to loves it.

A favorite as my grandchildren visited. Read often before bed. Easy story and beautiful pictures. A must have for every family with young children.

This was my favorite book to read to my daughter when she was little. It was also just MY FAVORITE BOOK to look at. The illustrations are beautiful. The story has few words, so you are also able to use your imagination while looking at the pictures and thinking about the story.

I highly recommend adding this book to your collection - whether or not you have children or grandchlidren.

I'm in my late twenties and I love this book! I am a huge Tinkerbell fan and this book gives a glimpse into her make-believe world. The picures are gorgeous!

Purchased this for my daughter as a 5th birthday gift. She loves the disney fairy books, and this book gives detail to everything. The size of each fairy and her hobbies. The size of the home tree and all of the rooms. It goes on and on about the fairies (by name) and contains beautiful illustrations! Perfect gift for a little girl.

In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow, designed by Elizabeth Ryazantseva and Megan Krempels, is a gorgeous look at Tinker Bell's neighborhood. With text by Monique Peterson and lavish illustrations by The Disney Storybook Artists, the book details the hobbies, homes, and habits of different types of fairies that live in Never Never Land. This is a beautiful addition to any art-appreciative library, home or school, and a must-have for any Tinker Bell fan.

Both of my grandaughters (ages 10 and 7) are heavily into the Disney Fairies world. They loved the book. The illustrations are beautiful.

I love this book. I bought it for the younger kids who use the school library I work in, but my 8th graders won't give it up! They love it. A great book for all ages.

We give children's books as presents for new babies. This is a special book that will be reserved for our daughter at the event (if) of her first child.

Absolutely love all the Kevin Henkes books we have, This is especially cute because we have a boy who loves his blankie. I know a lot of little girls who love Lilly...but I would definitely recommend this and Chester's Way for the boys!

for a child of any age that has a favorite blanket (blankey)
a plot a young child can follow and relate to.

I read Owen. I would recommend this book. The reason I would recommend it is because it was funny and it made me crack me up. In the book Owen, Owen and Fuzzy were playing captain plunger. They looked silly. This helped me convince me that it was a grate book.

This is a review/evaluation of the book as part of an in depth study on children's picture books. I am a third grade teacher and I use this book in my classroom because no kid is ever too old to read a great story like this. I truly think it is a classic!

Evaluation: In addition to the wonderful illustrations, this Caldecott Honor book is also a heart warming story that is very appropriate for young readers. The illustrations and the story are very appealing to children and allows readers to easily identify with the main character and the situation he is in. The illustrations add to the meaning of the text because they emphasis the personality of the characters. They highlight Owen's playfulness and the love that he has for his blanket. They also add to the worries of the adults in the story because their concern shows in the illustrations. The illustrations also extend the text because they are so clear that a student could understand the story without actually reading the text and rely only on the clues from the illustrations. The background settings are also nicely illustrated and accurately detailed because it is easy to compare and contrast when they are in places in their house that is shared by all of the family members and when they are in Owen's room and his play area in the background. Henkes also adds specific details to the setting that compliment the fact that the main characters are mice. This is reflected in the art work they have in their house and the statues they have outside. The illustrations are done with watercolor paints and black pen for the full-color art. This compliments the mood of the book because the illustrations are very colorful and vibrant. Henkes varies the size and number of illustrations on each page to compliment the plot and to reflect the sequence of events that take place. Each illustration is within black outlined boxes that make it easy to follow the progression of the story. The jacket and cover design expresses the theme and spirit of the book without giving away too much detail. The cover design gives some questions as to why a lady may be looking for the small boy and will spark children's curiosity making them want to read the book. The bright yellow and bold title stands out against a bright blue background. This book is very similar to Kevin Henkes other mouse books. All of his characters face some type of childhood problem that teaches them about growing up. His books are easily recognized by children because the title always contains the name of the main character. Readers also become familiar with the characters because they are in several of his books, even if it is only a picture of them with no reference in the story. The illustrations are all very similar in that they are fun and engaging and add to the story. Henkes commonly includes text in the illustrations that may be a character's thoughts or something they are actually saying. The added text is often more humorous than the story itself. Since Henkes is both the author and illustrator of his books, he has the liberty of making his text and illustrations become one and perfectly balance each other. This book is appropriate for the preschool level, but older children will also enjoy it, especially if they had a blanket or other comfort item that they adored in their childhood. Parents will also like the book if they are trying to teach their child the same lesson. This book is a very nice read aloud and should be part of classroom libraries. It should be on a booklist as a must read for students who are about to start kindergarten.

References:
Henkes, K. (1988). Chester's Way. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Henkes, K. (1996). Chrysanthemum. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Henkes, K. (1996). Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Sam Rocks!

I saw Sam speak at Mark Victor Hansen's Mega Speaking Event and I can tell you, she knows how to captivate an audience. Sam has a genuine style that comes across as sincere, professional, and experienced.

If you've never seen her speak, you're missing out. Sam delivers on content, humor, and info that each of us wants. She helps people re-evaluate their thinking in order to connect in a personal way with your audience by re-creating statements for personal branding.

Sam will teach you how to be creative in away that's practical. Pop is not about hype, it's about bringing your message to your people in a way that is unique and powerful at the same time.

I found that POP is for anyone who wants an edge over the competition because it's not about cheesy tactics to woo people, it's more about reaching people with the essence of who you are and transforming it in a punchy way in order to attract people to what you are selling/marketing.

I recommend it because it's valuable for people wanting to cut to the chase and grab the gems.

Need something different, something special to kick your business into overdrive? You'll find it in POP. When Sam Horn says you can stand out in any crowd, believe her! Rather than just talking about it, Sam Horn shows you how to make your own business "pop."

Like a cookbook, POP is filled with recipes to inspire your imagination with fresh ideas and fun exercises. Start anywhere. Keep going until you arrive at your own unique inspiration.

Way out of the ordinary . . . step out of the mundane and become extraordinary! Innovate with Sam Horn! This book can help you get there.

Five Stars and then some!

This is an amazing book! Sam shares with her readers new ways to grab our audience's interest and attention. She really does know how to help people get noticed in a crowd. This book has shown me how to positively inspire others to read my book, LifeChimes: A Collection of Simple TruthsLifeChimes: A Collection of Simple Truths, when they are looking for simple ways to stop zapping their energy. Because of Sam Horn's book, my work as an author and a motivational speaker has been made so much easier. Thanks Sam!

I'm an advertising copywriter. The one thing I have to do every day is to come up with fresh ideas for myself and my clients. I have to keep learning and growing. And I want my messages to stand out from the crowd. I'm pretty good at that. But, after reading this book, I'm better!

If you love words, you'll love this book. You'll learn how to create slogans and elevator pitches and messages of all kinds. You'll learn how to make them powerful and how to make people remember you, your brand, or business or whatever you want them to remember.

You may already be a good writer. But you'll be a better writer, a writer who sells, if you follow the advice in this book.

Above all, your message will make you stand out from the crowd.

The thing is, not much does stand out from the crowd. Most slogans are the same. Most messages are the same or similar. So, if you're different, you'll be more successful.

This is an excellent book. Get a copy now --- unless you're one of my competitors.

An awesome book for jazzing up your writing and speaking. Sam Horn crams so many ideas for creating buzz and imprinting your message and brand in the minds of listeners and readers that I found myself making checklists as I ran through the draft of my last book trying to find places I could use her principles and ideas. It's not all about marketing either. She has great ideas on the use of stories and quotes in your writing, how to create memorable content using lists and alliteration, and plenty of other techniques to make your writing come alive.

It's easy and fun to read as Sam is very clearly one of her own best students. Her writing is tight and wonderfully informative with no filler. The ideas are things nearly anyone that has to communicate (verbally or in writing) can use right away.

I felt a little bit self conscious rating this 5 stars: every other reviewer thus far has given it 5 stars as well. But 5 stars it is! I'd say that's a pretty clear message about the strength of the material.

It's the best marketing lesson you can buy for $15.

I purchased one book and my boys (three at the time) loved it. I purchased another in the series and then finally the last two. We've got a lot of bible story books my kids had no or little interest in. These are so engaging--the writing, the pictures, the selection of stories. These stories inspire them to pretend and re-tell the stories themselves. They are also easy to use as a lesson--the story, acting it out, doing a craft. I only wish there were more in the series!

I bought the first two books of the series over a dozen years ago when my youngest son was little. I was a preschool teacher of four year olds for many years and used these stories. I have also have used them with two-year-olds in Sunday School and the children like them.They get to the essence of the story with simple words and explanations. I love the simple and clear artwork with watercolor drawings. I think the simple story and artwork allows the feeling of the story to come through. I had looked for these books in stores over the years with no luck. Now with a grandson, I was delighted to find them to complete my collection. I can't wait to read the stories to him.

We used this book for our children from the time they were born until they were three years old. They loved it! The illustrations are fantastic and beautiful. Any time I give a baby gift I always include this book. Highly recommended!

When my son was in preschool, this was hands down one of his favorite books, along with Vol. 1. The stories are simply written yet remain true to the spirit of the Word. We highly recommend these books!

PERFECT FOR TODDLERS! This book offers short bible stories in language that is perfect for preschoolers!

This novel merits the overused label of "classic." This is an astoundingly good read, a wonderful romp through familiar as well as not-so-familiar venues of literature.

Silverlock, the protagonist, is a cynical, heartless scamp. Through a mishap, he finds himself in the "Commonwealth" which is a place in which things happen differently than in our world. Robin Hood is alive and well, and fighting the Sheriff of Nottingham. Circe is capturing men with her magical wiles. And so on. Throughout this gorgeous romp, we see our friend Silverlock emerge from his coccoon to become a real man and a decent human being.

This review cannot do justice to what is a gorgeous voyage through the Commonwealth. No one should miss this wonderful novel. Hopefully it will soon be available on the Amazon Kindle so that I may add it to my electronic library, and have it handy at all times.

This book is a fun read if you like A) classic literature and B) fantasy. The references to classic literature throughout this book are what really makes it fun to read. The setting of the book probably inspired the creators of "the Neverending Story." The only thing keeping me from giving this book five stars is the fact that it does get rather boring in the middle due to the seeming pointlessness of the quest they go on. Basically, it's hard for me to understand why the main character (Silver lock) and his sidekick (Golias) try so hard to help someone who seems so completely self-absorbed (Lucius Gil Jones). You'll see what I mean when you read the book.

A book that is a literary puzzle, an adventure of sorts, and full of sneakiness and tongue-in-cheekness. I have read quite a lot, and when I read this, I had trouble trying to work out who was who in quite a lot of cases. I suppose this is a lot of the appeal, though, being like a really, really hard cryptic crossword, at times.

Silverlock is a fun, roller coaster ride through literature. It chronicles the journey--inner and outer--of an American cynic as he travels through the world of literature. Some of the fun is tracking down the literary characters, from Beowulf to Don Quixote to Becky Sharp. Part of me regrets not having been born in the 1950s to relish Silverlock fully; the Internet makes finding the sources of the characters effortless. Hopefully, readers take the next step and read the original sources to expand their understanding and appreciation of literature. In my opinion, the novel posits that literature is an evolving, cumulative organism. Modern (American) literature is built on the foundation of the stories that came before. The novel shows that someone can find meaning in the stories he or she encounters, and sharing those experiences--and possibly using them to invent new stories--is one of the joys of life. Anyone with respect for literature and the history of speculative reading should give Silverlock a try.

I suspect that this is one of those polarizing books: those that love it REALLY love it; others will be, at best, blandly indifferent or outright bored. I hew more closely to the second camp.

The book has notable adherents and in recent years has been hailed as a bit of a neglected gem, but I found it only moderately diverting. It was written in 1949 and so it's a bit dated (and its attitudes toward women are not the most advanced, but then again, the protagonist is by his own admission a cad and a bounder), but that's really not much of a problem.

The novel is your typical Pilgrim's Progress type of thing, and is divided into three parts, which turn out to be Chance, Choice, and Oracle, or as I see it, Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell, based on the decreasing level of quality (and the not-concidental Dantean shenanigans toward the end). It starts out strong, but the charms grow old fast, and the overarching quest in the middle section simply is not very gripping. In the final third, the book becomes unbearably didactic and wearisome, and then, rather suddenly, the words "The End" scroll across the screen.

On a side note, I found myself often contrasting this book to Stephen Donaldson's "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant". Both feature (anti-)heroes thrust into a strange land and both deal, to some degree, with large philosphical concerns. (In fact, Donaldson acknowledges having read this, and having plucked the titles of a couple of his novels from one of the songs within, but purports to find the book sub-par.) The major contrast, of course, is that Covenant believes nothing of what he sees, but Shandon easily rolls with all that he finds, no matter how fantastical, to an extent unbelievable of someone from mid-20th century America.

Filkers and others who enjoy making songs out of poems will like "Silverlock", as will those who excelled in high school English classes and who can pick out some of the myriad allusions. I suspect most others will find this to be much less than advertised.

I would, at any rate, recommend picking up an annotated version to get details on some of the more cryptic appearances of characters from myth, fable, and literature.

This is a little treasure chest of wonderful stories that truly are uplifting. I really did enjoy reading this book!

I read SMALL MIRACLES, some years ago. This seems to be the same book, exactly, although, when I ordered it, I thought it was a sequel. I liked it better the first time around, when the anecdotes sounded more "golly-gee-wiz" than they do the second.

Miracles happen every day. Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal are angels themselves, bringing these fantastic stories to millions of people. Buy and read every single one of their books. Not only are they hard to put down, you won't be able to look at your life with the same eyes ever again!

A really lovely little book that helps even the worst days.

I found this unique book of coincidences to be remarkable. While the authors relate it to Jewish principles, giving a moral or rule at the end of each 'episode,' their statements are applicable to those of all faiths.
There were short, short stories, short stories and those a few pages long. But all showed the positive human spirit that exists in everyone of us if we give ourselves a chance and don't close our minds. Sometimea a bad choice becomes a great move. An ordinary act becomes heroic to those on both sides. And, almost always, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. There are no stories of coincidences that backfired, although one can be sure scores of these exist too. But the purpose is to bring joy, hope,
confidence and more open-mindedness to the readers, with the desire that they will share this with many more. A brilliant person with a promising
future suddenly gets terminal lung cancer. But the person telling it mentions some small act that was done, often out of common courtesy. And in this case, one of the six items the dying person wanted in his casket was a letter of encouragement from the teacher.

This is a book for teachers, educators and all who desire to be educated.
I acquired it for $.50 at a flea market booth, after just noticing the
colorful (but also bland) yellow cover. This is the best $5.00 expenditure
I've ever made. I'll share my copy with others and have ordered another
version. Whether you are in the dumps or feeling great, the stories will
heighten your consciousness and create more appreciation for your present lot. I am fortunate to have found it. Please consider my words. Advice
is worthless. Words from the heart can be meaningful. My heart speaks.

The Soul of Baseball illuminates what life can be. It would help anyone get past their bitterness and see that life is about what I can do today and not what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow.

Poz is one of the best writers in the business. Thanks for writing a really great book about a great baseball man. Buck's is a great American story and the way it's written makes you feel like you're on the road trip with them.

This book got to me, in a very good way.

Buck's stories are funny and poignant, and we as readers definitely learn some history if we pay attention. But even more than that we can learn from Buck O'Neil's outlook on life. He was patient, caring, outspoken in an articulate and positive way (something our politicians should learn how to do), and he had grace. More than anything else reading about Buck O'Neil was a lesson on how to live with grace.

I want to tell you the last words of the book, but I won't.

If you like baseball, people or life you will like this book.

Highly recommended!!

Sometimes a great author writes a 5-star book, and sometimes he must only get out of the way and let 5-star material shine through. "The Soul of Baseball" is one of the latter. This isn't a knock on Joe Posnanski. The decision to tell the story by reporting on a year in O'Neil's life, rather than interpreting O'Neil's history, was a brilliant judgment. The reader benefits from Posnanski's willingness to set his writer's ego aside.

Another good Posnanski decision was reporting O'Neil's occasional querulousness. Rather than seeing O'Neil as a mindless happy face, the reader sees O'Neil as someone who must work to maintain his positive approach. The occasional lapses serve to highlight the effort that O'Neil makes to bring the light into the lives of those around him.

But ultimately, the star of the book is Buck O'Neil. Not because he was a great ballplayer or manager. But because he was a decent, good-hearted human being whose attitude toward life is worthy of emulation.

I give few 5-star rankings, but this book deserves it several times over.

My son, Jeremy, always gives me good books. He doesn't just pick up the latest best-seller, but takes the time to choose something special just for me. He hit a home run with The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski. It's the story of an extended road trip Posnanski took with legendary Negro League player and manager Buck O'Neil. The lessons learned along the way are great ones for sons and fathers to share.

Posnanski, an award-winning sports columnist for the Kansas City Star, chose not to write a biography of the irrepressible O'Neil, even though the story could bear to be told over and over again. Instead, he penned a moving memoir of the year he spent with the then-93-year-old O'Neil as he toured the country promoting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and the memory of those men who played the game in the days before whites and blacks could share the field. The trip takes them everywhere from Nicodemus, Kansas, to New York, New York, and O'Neil has a fascinating story to tell at every stop.

He talks about Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Josh Gibson, names that will always be enshrined in baseball's collective memory. But he also tells the tales of forgotten men like Dan Bankhead, the first black pitcher in the major leagues, who would have been a great hurler if he hadn't been afraid to pitch fastballs inside against white batters.

The key theme of the book is Buck O'Neil's spirit-lifting embrace of the best in every person he met. Despite years of back-breaking struggle, O'Neil never turned bitter, never condemned anyone for their prejudice, never had a bad word to say about the often ugly conditions the black ball players endured. Even when he failed to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Buck O'Neil refused to be angry about it. To make up for the egregious mistake, the Hall awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award after his death.

The lessons Posnanski drew from his experiences with O'Neil are well worth telling and the book he created from them is well worth reading.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo