Children's Series Books Books

"In Grandma's Attic" is a beautiful book that our whole family enjoyed, from my 5-year-old homeschooled kindergartener all the way up to my 77-year-old parents.

Author Arleta Richardson, herself in her 80s now, recalls stories that her grandmother shared about her childhood. The grandmother grew up on a farm in Michigan around the turn of the last century, so the stories offer a nice glimpse into the past--almost doubling as a history lesson.

Arleta introduces each story with what was happening when her grandma told it to her, whether grandma was sitting down to sew, telling about something Arleta had pulled out of the attic, or entertaining Arleta as the little girl from diphtheria. Readers can learn about day-to-day life from two different periods of history at once.

What I most appreciate is the quaint honesty of the stories. Grandma even tells stories about the mischief she got into as a child! Arleta manages to show that childhood is still childhood, no matter the time period.

We used this book as a read-aloud during school times and at bedtime. I'd say a child with about a third-grade reading level could read it alone. Each of its 23 chapters is short, with about 5 or so pages each. Each chapter tells a different story.

The book has five nice, black-and-white illustrations. It even feels good in the hand, with a nice linen cardstock cover and standard novel size.

If you enjoy the Little House on the Prairie series, you'll enjoy this book. Some of the stories end with a Christian message, such as how prayer brought grandpa a new pair of shoes. All emphasize values, though not at all in a preachy way.

Like grandma from the book, I also grew up on a farm in Michigan, but I think anyone would love these stories.

We read this as part of the Sonlight Core C (kindergarten) homeschool curriculum. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

"In Grandma's Attic" is one of the best character-building books I have come across. These humorous short stories convey history, family life, and lessons learned in such a delightful way. Reminds me of the "Little House" books, but with a greater spiritual emphasis. So glad we were introduced to this series through "Five in a Row" by Jane Claire Lambert, who recommends it be read in conjunction with "The Rag Coat" by Lauren Mills.

What I liked the most about this book was that this girls grandmother told a lot of stories in this one book. It was REALLY good and I liked all the stories. I learned never to put your tounge on metal when it is winter and never touch guns and lots of other great lessons. I would like all of my friends to read this book. I am sure they would love it just like I loved it.
by: Jordan age 7

We read and reread these books to our sons when they were small. Then they read - and reread - them for themselves. Our family laughed a lot over the adventures and misadventures of Mabel and Sara Jane, two delightfully irrepressible little girls who, with the best of intentions, managed to get into all sorts of trouble. Our boys grew up watching Mabel and Sara Jane grow up. These true stories offer a rare and endearing view of childhood as it ought to be and of godliness cultivated through wisdom and love.

The entire Grandma's Attic Series, and this first book in particular, is one of the most beloved book series of my childhood. I haven't read them in years, but I still can recall most of the stories from each book.

When I was very young, my mother read them to me before I went to sleep. As I got older (6 or 7), I began reading them on my own. The stories were short enough that storytime before bed didn't drag on into the night, and they were also funny and well written. Morals were present in each story (the importance of truthfulness and the value of hardwork being two recurring themes, as I recall), but they weren't preachy or heavy-handed.

I haven't read the books in over a decade, but they left such a lasting impression on me that I have kept a set of the books in my library to read to children who visit. They've been a big hit so far with all the children I've read the stories to.

I originally ordered this for my daughter from the library and she loved it so much we bought it. Most projects are one page to its very simple and step by step. I even learned a few things as a father!

But more importantly its great for working on along with your children together.

My eight year old daughter asked for a chemistry set for her birthday; a real chemistry set; one she could do real experiments with. There are no longer many quality chemistry sets on the market. I guess the safety regulations are too strict; making it unprofitable to sell "real" chemistry sets. I ordered this book. I was concerned I would end up having to mail order supplies, but I made one trip to the grocery store and my daughter was set to work through the book.

The coolest part, to her, was the potential danger inherent with some of the supplies. She worked through six experiments in three days and proudly tells her younger neighborhood girlfriends "Sorry, You can't touch those things. It's too dangerous. It's Chemistry."

The best part for me, the experiments are carefully arranged in a progressive manner so that they start from the simplest and safest activities. She can work through them in order, with supervision, safely building her confidence and skills.

Unlike many books that purport to promote science, but are really just a collection of entertaining activities, this book includes the science concepts behind the wow. So, she really is learning.

Janice VanCleave's Chemistry For Every Kid is a must have book for upper elementary/middle school science teachers. The experiments are easy to set up and the kids LOVE them! Janice has tackled tough Chemistry concepts and come up with simple experiments that the kids ACTUALLY understand! I have used the activities in this book numerous times and couldn't recommend this book highly enough. The way I use the activities in this book, along with the others in the series, is set them up as stations and have the kids rotate through them. You will not be disappointed with this purchase and your kids will love you for it.

No handwriting required and no over-the-head scientific explanations. It is clear, simple, and EASY to pull off the shelf and use. I recommend previewing the list of materials for the week to be sure you have the needed items. Substitutions can effect the experiment. I use this with ages 4-10 and they ALL enjoy the experiments. The experiments are simplistic and easy for young children to grasp the idea yet have enough information to get the parents thought process going! A great introduction to chemistry that takes very little time to prep and do. I even use this book as birthday party entertainment! A favorite with us.

My boys are 6 and 7 and they LOVE doing the Science experiments in this book. The items needed are easy to find, usually common household item, but nothing too fancy. It has really changed how they view "science" and it's fun to see them question what they are learning. You can never get the gears cranking at too young an age and this book opens the door to a interesting introduction into the world of science.

Reviewed by Ian McCurley (age 14) for Reader Views (1/08)

"Keeper of the Kingdom" begins when Matt, a 2010 teenager, is sucked into a video game which takes place in 2,540 AD in the fictional country of Zaul. In Zaul, the humans are called "workers" and are forced to work making Xeleron, an explosive material, in laboratories. The 26 human Commanders share command with the "Keeper" over an army of thousands of androids called Cybergons with purple eyes and deadly Xelerays. The Kingdom of Zaul is at war with its neighboring kingdoms, and the Commanders are forcing the humans to work harder and harder which is leading to their imminent deaths. The objective of the video game is for the player to overthrow the evil Cybergons. Thus, Matt finds himself in a hallway being chased by several Cybergon Protectors. After he escapes them, he is saved by workers Dana, Balder and Norak. Can Matt play the game from inside and free the workers from the oppressive Protectors? Or will he be terminated?

As a gamer, I noticed that the book was written more like a movie than a game and then wondered, if it were a game, how would it be played? Fortunately, H. J. Ralles solved this problem by making the video game seem real. H. J. Ralles' writing style in "Keeper of the Kingdom" is perfect for young gamers (though from reading the book, I'm pretty sure that the game he was playing wouldn't be a very good game). The imaginative characters and the excellent combination of exciting action and unexpected plot twists make for a great read.

"Keeper of the Kingdom" is for kids ages 10 and up who enjoy video games and science fiction. Be sure to read the next in the series, "Keeper of the Realm."

While innocently loading a game into his laptop, Matt is suddenly thrust into the year 2540 and becomes a player in the deadly game of finding the Keeper of the Kingdom of Zaul and destroying him. Confronted by Cybergon Protectors, hulking computers programmed to destroy anything and anyone who resists the Keeper' wishes, Matt manages to escape becoming a pile of ashes as blue balls of light spew from the Xeleray weapons they carry. Matt is rescued by three Workers in the game who take him to their mentor. Within the new friendships of Dana, Balder, Norak, and Dorin, Matt learns of their scheme to join the underground movement of the Liberators to rid Zaul of the scourge of the Keeper who keeps the Workers in subjugation creating the fuel, Zeleron, to fuel his army in his power plan to amass more territory by overcoming the peaceful Thralls. Next in authority under the Keeper are the few human Commanders who took power from their fellow humans when they relied on computers to take over mundane then more responsible jobs. Matt uses his knowledge of computers to aid his new friends and rid Zaul of the Keeper and bring freedom to all the Workers. This science fiction novel abounds in action and technology all fans will relish. Digital decoders, force fields, and accelerated particle decomposers make up just part of the gadgetry. Secret doorways, tunnels, and vents make the journey to find the Keeper precarious. Time itself becomes an adversary. Will Matt be able to find a solution to the game before his laptop batteries run out? And the greatest threat of all: will he be eliminated before he can even find a solution and return home again? The author uses break-neck, action-packed chapters to propel the reader through the novel to a satisfying, yet surprising conclusion, befitting a science fiction tale. Readers of all ages will enjoy, Keeper of the Kingdom, and follow at Matt's heels as they vicariously take an active part in finding the Keeper and saving Zaul. I look forward to reading future novels written by this fine author.

While innocently loading a game into his laptop, Matt is suddenly thrust into the year 2540 and becomes a player in the deadly game of finding the Keeper of the Kingdom of Zaul and destroying him. Confronted by Cybergon Protectors, hulking computers programmed to destroy anything and anyone who resists the Keeper' wishes, Matt manages to escape becoming a pile of ashes as blue balls of light spew from the Xeleray weapons they carry. Matt is rescued by three Workers in the game who take him to their mentor. Within the new friendships of Dana, Balder, Norak, and Dorin, Matt learns of their scheme to join the underground movement of the Liberators to rid Zaul of the scourge of the Keeper who keeps the Workers in subjugation creating the fuel, Zeleron, to fuel his army in his power plan to amass more territory by overcoming the peaceful Thralls. Next in authority under the Keeper are the few human Commanders who took power from their fellow humans when they relied on computers to take over mundane then more responsible jobs. Matt uses his knowledge of computers to aid his new friends and rid Zaul of the Keeper and bring freedom to all the Workers. This science fiction novel abounds in action and technology all fans will relish. Digital decoders, force fields, and accelerated particle decomposers make up just part of the gadgetry. Secret doorways, tunnels, and vents make the journey to find the Keeper precarious. Time itself becomes an adversary. Will Matt be able to find a solution to the game before his laptop batteries run out? And the greatest threat of all: will he be eliminated before he can even find a solution and return home again? The author uses break-neck, action-packed chapters to propel the reader through the novel to a satisfying, yet surprising conclusion, befitting a science fiction tale. Readers of all ages will enjoy, Keeper of the Kingdom, and follow at Matt's heels as they vicariously take an active part in finding the Keeper and saving Zaul. I look forward to reading future novels written by this fine author.

H.J. Ralles is the author Darok 9 has done it again. Just as any good book or video game should, Keeper of the Kingdom starts out with full force action and does not stop until the very end.

It is 2010 and a young boy, named Matt, gets pulled into the video game he is playing on his laptop computer. Now he is trapped in 2540 in a future were humans are ruled by computers and machines.

Can Matt help the Liberators outwit the robotic Cybergon Protectors just by using the information stored in his laptop computer? Once the humans are free will Matt be able to return to his own time?

Keeper of the Kingdom is a true attention grabber which will keep young people and the young at heart glued to the pages. This is the first in a series of Keeper Books by H.J. Ralles and it is a excellent beginning.

I thought this was an excellent book. Matt, a boy living in 2010, mysteriously finds himself a character in his own computer game. The game is based in Zaul in 2540 where humans are slaves controlled by the Cybergons. Matt's only chance of getting home again is to join them in their fight for freedom. The clever plot twists and turns. Any child with a fascination for computer games will be captivated by it. If you like to check what your children are reading you'll enjoy this book too!

Mary-Kate wants to throw a surprise party for Michelle but Ashley is having one for Jennifer the same day. Mary-Kate invites all of her friends and the same wiht AShley but then something bad happens for the both of them and they need help fast.

Mary-Kate and Ashley are in big trouble. Mary-Kate planned a surprise party for her friend which is great, but unfortunately Ashley planned a surprise party for her best friend the same night at their house. They came for the biggest surprise. A great book!

Ashley is throwing a party for her friend, Jennifer Dilber but Mary Kate wanted to throw a party for her best friend, Amanda Bennet. Her friend, Amanda got mad at her for not calling her back when Mary Kate's supposed to. In the ending, they both got a surprise party for their friends and everyone felt happy!

Another pretty cool Two of a Kind novelette.Mary-Kate and Ashley are planning a party each,for the same night.Now the competition is on as to who will recieve the most guests!

Mary-Kate plans a suprise party for her best friend Amanda on the same night Ashley plans a suprise party for her best friend Jennifer. Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley are twin sisters, they have totally different personalities so major arguments arise, not only with each other but with their best friends. I'd have to say this is the best book in the whole series that I've read so far because these kinds of problems are what everyday kids would probably have.

After the first 20 pages, I was making 20-point plays
in games that I would never have seen before this
book. Whole categories of life and death problems
can be reduced to simple questions about the shape of
their potential eyespace. Having this in your favor
is something that every player needs to know.

Some of the problems are fairly tricky at the 10kyu level.

This book introduces different life and death situations and variations of them. Actually the book has 36 groups of different shapes of life and death situations. Every group has the same vital characters which are explained with few words and examples. After that thera are a few problems and pretty good answers to problems. This happens again in every chapter.

This is a book you HAVE TO READ WITH GO-BOARD! You should try to solve problems, that gives you good overview what is important in every shape. I found it educationnal to "play" problems with someome. Both try to kill or save a group. That worked for me and my friend.

This book is good for a player who has already played a few games and notices he/she is loseing groups which he/she thinks should be alive.

I learned to notice new good and bad shapes in my games.

If you are a Go beginner, I recommend studying (as I did) the book of Go problems for 30-25 Kyu before this one.

But after that and Richard Bozulich's book, this is certainly the next book to turn to.

I'm currently studying this book, "Life and Death," and another book in this series by the same author, "Tesuji."

"Life and Death" is a step easier than "Tesuji," although counter-intuitively they are volumes 4 and 3 in the series. Although the techniques used to kill or save groups come from "Tesuji," the positions in "Life and Death" are simpler, more basic and far, far more common. The problems are a bit easier. So I recommend studying this one first.

Having recently read a few books that tried to answer the question, "What is Life?" I was glad to find this one! The answer is simple. Life is two eyes! If you have only one eye, you are dead.

That is why the door group is as dead as a, um, doornail. It only produces one eye.

You can't enjoy a game of go unless you have a pretty good idea if your groups are dead or alive. And this book is good at teaching you to see which shapes can form two eyes and which shapes can not. The chapters and quizzes in this book are excellent training. If you can answer the "status?" questions correctly, you are well on your way towards doing some serious damage to many of your opponent's more dubious formations.

Once you have learned the elements of go and have played some games, what comes next? Well, you need to learn a little about fuseki and joseki. And tesuji (or you won't be able to understand this book). But the first topic you need to learn really well is this one. And that's where this book comes in handy.

Introduction:

Life and death is one of the critical elements in the/a game of go, but what exactly is it? It is simply whether a player's stones are captured or prevented from being captured (though I won't go into a deeper explanation here). It's simple, yet very important. To become a strong player, an important fundamental is to be strong in life and death, and if you ask any go player (amatuer or professional) how, the answer will be "Solve lots of life and death problems."

Solving problems helps strengthen a go player's reading ability, and with repetition, the shapes in the problems will be more familiar to the player when they appear in his games (reading is when a player mentally forsees how the game will continue, thinking about different continuations, and to the find the best result possible for both sides). These fundamental shapes also appear in life and death.

The Book:

Content:

Normally, books about life and death are simply "problem books," which simply contain life and death problems. Life and Death (the book) is a bit different, and is mainly concerned about the fundamental shapes that appear.

The book begins with a small introduction about life and death, and defines some common terms that the reader will need to know. Moving along, each chapter is devoted to a specific shape, or theme. A chapter is begun by introducing the reader to the shape and showing them some of the common continuations that can occur. On the next page, the reader is put to the test, and is given some problems to solve.

Difficulty:

N.B.: The content in this book is aimed at stronger players who are at least in the single digit kyu range (9k up), and will not be suitable for beginners. For beginners, some books I recommend are the Learn to Play Go series by Janice Kim, to learn about the basics of life and death, and for life and death problems, the Graded Go Problems for Beginners series by Kano Yoshinori and 1001 Life and Death Problems by Richard Bozulich.

Summary:

Pros:

* Smooth process: I like how the reader is introduced to the shape and it's continuation, then is given problems to tackle himself.

* It is kind of a quasi-reference book, especially for the corner shapes, but is definitely not a life and death dictionary.

* Size: Though it's not related to the content of the book, it's a small book, which is a handy thing.

Cons:

* Price: My major gripe is the price, which unfortunately is the norm for go books translated into English. But still, $15 for this tiny book...

Conclusion:

Life and Death is an excellent book for the stronger kyu player to learn about the more difficult fundamental shapes that appear in games.

I bought this set on tape for my son's 6th birthday so we could listen to them in the car while travelling. The stories are well-done and made him use his imagination. We enjoyed trying guessing what dinosaurs were being described and he wondered if the kids could see the moon and stars while they were in the castle. Even my 3-year-old had a good time listening. They can't wait to go on another trip to hear more of the stories.

I AM A GRANDMOTHER OF A 7 YR OLD BOY. I WISHED THAT I COULD
DEVELOP A LOVE OF BOOKS IN HIM LIKE I HAVE. THE TREE HOUSE SERIES HAVE DONE JUST THAT. MY GRANDSON AND I TAKE TURNS READING EACH CHAPTER. I AM NOT SURE WHO ENJOYS THE STORIES MORE ME OR HIM. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEEKENDS SO WE CAN READ TOGETHER.

How would you like to ride on a pteranodon? Now you can! You could ride a pteranodon when you read magic tree house dinosaurs before dark. Annie's brother Jack did. Jack and Annie were also chased by a Tea-rex, and Annie tried to make friend with a duckbilled Dinosaur she was trying to talk to the Dinosaur. Jack kept taking notes. Jack and Annie now there is a magical witch or wizard because Jack found something that had an M on it.

Dinosaurs Before Dark

The Knight At Dawn

Mummies In The Morning

Pirates Past Noon

THESE BOOKS ARE THE BOMB BECAUSE I LIKE JACK AND ANNIE. THE ADVENTURES START IN THE TREE HOUSE. THE TREE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH BOOKS. THE BOOKS TAKE THEM ON ADVENTURES.

The Magic Treehouse books are good for kids who have missed out on some reading skills. It is also good for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Jack and Annie, the stars of the book, get into a lot of adventures and it is fun to read them. Mary Pope Osborne reads the books on the tape. She makes it so you really hear Jack and Annie's voices. I think kids will like this tape and grown-ups would like to hear the stories with their children. -- Munroe Woodward, Age 8

Great book for bilingual ed. or children learning English or Spanish. Very elementary level. Clear drawings and nice labeling in English and Spanish.
edconnectionsllc.com

I have purchased several Spanish books on Amazon and as always make many of my purchases based on the reviews of those who have gone before me. My daughter is trying to teach my granddaughter how to speak Spanish and she loved this book. Of course she loved sucking on the corners too but it was colorful, well planned out and joyful.

We bought this book because my son loved "Mi familia y yo" by the same author. This one has a bit more vocab to get hold of, but we are slowly getting to learn the body parts. Love it that both languages are side by side. Another great resource from Gladys Rosa Mendoza.

This is an excellent book with respect to teaching young children Spanish! My granddaughter will be three years old next month (01-15-08) and there is nothing she cannot say in English, so teaching her Spanish is fairly easy. She is familiar with the language since I speak to her. However, she finds it more fun to speak when we use the book. In the back of the book there is a section that teaches the reader how to pronounce the words for the children in the event that the reader is also learning. I am fluent in Spanish, but did not teach my two boys. I am now teaching my two grandchildren; books like this are a perfect way to help children and adults learn.

There are actual complete sentences in this book in both English and Spanish (not true of a lot of board books), which is perfect for this age and level range. This will be a great addition to Flip Flop Spanish workbook (level 2, not released yet) to help review or even introduce body parts.

I use this board book in my Spanish toddler and 4-7 year old classes, and the students love translating from Spanish to English and back again as I cover the other sentence, or if they can't read yet, guessing what Spanish words will be on that page because of the pictures. It's sturdy and well-illustrated. A great teaching resource.

Sra. Gose
Author of Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 1 & Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 2

I had heard before that a person's family of origin had an impact, sometimes a big impact, on how long it took and how difficult it could be to recover from abuse. This book does a great job at explaining why and how this is true. It was written for professionals but wasn't too difficult to read and follow. If this is an idea you hadn't considered before or just wanted more information about it, this book will probably be very helpful. It was for me.

This book is really for professionals; I wouldn't recommend my clients read it. I appreciate the perspective it brings to an often too politicized field. In addition, Dr. Gold does an excellent job of *not* blaming but rather using the available literature and the experience at his clinic to endorse ways to help our clients *move on* from their traumatic situations & contexts into a healthier and happier life.

I think there is an unfortunate tendency among some therapists even today to focus primarily on child sexual abuse (and perhaps to a lesser extent, child physical abuse) as the source of the client's problems. The treatment approach that ensues all too often involves one of two things: focusing exclusively on the damaging effects of the traumas, which in the 80's and early 90's often promoted deterioration rather than increased functioning, or, in reaction to this, avoiding the subject altogether and focusing on the biological basis of mental illness and an often superficial examination of present-day problems.

This book provides another approach. As other reviewers have stated, it emphasizes the essential fact that many child abuse survivors grow up alone. If not physically alone, then emotionally abandoned in many cases. This points out the difficulties of living with insecure attachment, a subject that is getting more attention among therapists these days.

However, Dr. Gold does not stop with a conclusion that adding attachment theory to trauma theory will relieve the client's problems. He also says that many clients are missing essential life skills (and I mean basic skills, such as regulating emotions to avoid suicidal crises and be able to function; paying bills; keeping the house clean; maintaining a healthy weight, and establishing a stable attendance record at a job, among others). These skills are so obvious to many people that some therapists (along with the general public) expect child abuse survivors to know them. However, they all too often don't and are blamed when they can't function well (or even at all) in life. This book shows how to remedy these problems.

Another benefit of this book is the inclusion of experiences of male survivors, who were until recently often neglected in the child abuse literature.

I am using the word "survivor" in this view for lack of a better term, but Dr. Gold points out the limitation of this term; that it does not account for the non-abuse related aspects of the person.

Dr. Gold points out that clients usually don't enter therapy with the goal of talking about child abuse experiences. They want to know why they can't make their lives work. In his approach, some processing of the trauma may be necessary, but it is put in context of the overall life of the person.

This book makes the reader conceptualize child abuse and its sequelae in a totally different way and I strongly recommend it. As another reviewer pointed out, it is well-written and free from the jargon and highly technical language of most professional mental health books. My only caveat is that no one book, including this one, can be viewed as the Bible for explaining an individual's life. In therapy, the individual's experience is more important than any book. But I think the author would agree with this. His approach is highly instructive and compassionate.

I had the pleasure to meet Dr. Gold at a conference in New York City for male survivors of CSA and was blown away by the presentation he gave. I was even more impressed by the brief discussions we had after his presentation. Dr. Gold is a therapist of rare insight, patience, dedication, and intellect (all essential traits in anyone who works with suriviors).

Not Trauma Alone is a standout work in the field of working with clients who have experience prolonged periods of childhood abuse. (And it's a tragically rare book in this area as well).

His work shows the limitations of viewing us through the lens of trauma alone. Though it's easy to grasp onto the horror of the experience of sexual abuse and see that as the lynchpin of the problems that adult survivors face, the truth is that these attacks often happen in a much broader context of a childhood marked by neglect, abandonment, fear, and powerlessness. This experience can often leave a child marked and vulnerable to the manipulations of abusers, but more importantly this kind of upbringing leaves the adult who survives struggling to adapt and feel comfortable living in a complex world.

This book is essential reading for any therapist who has clients who have suffered from significant childhood abuse, and for any survivor who is looking to gain a greater understanding of why they feel the way they do.

Excellent viewpoints from different angles. I read it from a 'victim in recovery' view. I identified with the entire book. It does not cover the more unusual aspect of the victim living in fear of losing his life at the hands of his mother as in my case; but does cover very fully the more usual traumas in the family context of PCB (Prolonged Child Abuse). I read it all through, then started all over again - slowly - with my yellow highlighter. It gave me confirmation and great respect of Steven Gold's immense research and practical experience in this area. One can see 'Dissociation' in action from the social family viewpoint. Definitely a good study/read for those dealing with trauma victims as survivors or those in recovery. This is reality. (We are not alone!)

This book is a very good book for a third or fourth grader. It tells about all of the family and where they are and then it brings them together with various means. this is a great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Watch out below!" Thats the sound of the little boy named Junor Blossom about to jump off the top of the barn. This little boy has a lot of problems with his family, he has a big sister named Maggie. Her problem in the family is she has to take care of the family and run things but, she can't go shopping.(her favorite thing to do is shopping) Junior also has a big brother named Vern, a grandpa named Pap, and a dog named Mud. They have a mother too but, she's out on a rodeo circuit. His granpa and his big brother are in jail for disturbing the peace and their dog Mud has ran away. See...this family has a lot of problems. There's just one question to ask you? Do you think that the Blossoms will solve their problems? Now if you read this book I don't know if you wil like it or not but, to tell you I sure did. This book was put on my favorite book list after I got done reading it. The book is realistic fiction so if you don't like realistic books I wouldn't read this book. The author is Besty Byars. She has wrote a lot of books most of them are mystery and romance but, hey she is a really good writer. So are you going to read this book?

When Pap Blossom goes into town that's when it all started. Breaking into jail, jumping off the roof, missing mom and lost dog are some of the interesting things that happen to the Blossom family. If I could I would give it a hundred stars. I think this book is a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade book. Now you know what it is about so go get the book NOW!!

Go into the world of funny things with Betsy Byars and The NotJust- Anybody Family. It's filled with trouble, mischief, and fun! The trouble begins when Pap goes into town. Somebody falls of the roof, someone goes to jail, someone breaks into jail, and people go to trial. Also, there is a runaway dog. All these funny and exciting things plus a teaspoon of sadness fit into this book. I hope I got your attention! P.S READ THIS BOOK!!!

The Not-Just-Anybody Family is a book my whole classroom enjoyed. It has action, humor, a missing dog, an out-of-town mom, and a grandpa in jail. The children in the book are very real and my students could relate to their feelings and difficulties. The settings change from chapter to chapter and Betsy Byars writes just enough about each situation to keep you wanting more. This book helped my students learn the meaning of "suspense" and almost all of them gave the book a rating of nine or ten on a one to ten scale. I plan on ordering the audio version for some of my students next year.

Stories that help children feel good about themselves are not only enjoyable, but are important as well. One such book is "Pudge Ate a Prophet: A Big Fish Tale." This book is the first book in Kregel's "God Can Use Me" series.

This story stars Pudge, a fish, who happens to be larger than any of his fish friends. Because of his large size, his fish friends did not want to play with him. In fact, most of the time they weren't very nice. One day Pudge meets Jonah, a prophet, and carries out an important mission from God. He delivers Jonah to his destination by carrying him in his large fish belly! From that moment on, Pudge realizes that God made him different for a reason.

MyParenTime.com recommends this book -- it's a "feel good about yourself" story that children of any faith can relate to and enjoy. In addition, the large illustrations are bright and colorful. This story reminds me of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" -- none of his reindeer friends wanted to play with him because he had a nose that glowed. But in the end, Rudolph showed them that he was made different for a reason, and that he was indeed important.

Pudge Ate a Prophet: A Big Fish Tale is a fun retelling of the biblical story of Jonah. "Pudge" the whale, whose real name is Otis, grew up bring big (thus his nickname) and teased by the other kids at Flipper Elementary.

Pudge never understood the reason God had made him so large, until the day God introduced him to a prophet named Jonah and sent him on a special mission.

This 32 page hardcover book, released in February 2004 by Kregel publications, features delightful illustrations by Damon J. Taylor.

Pudge Ate a Prophet is a book that will help young readers and their parents appreciate what makes them special and unique. The book comes with helpful discussion questions and a guide for parents which will help families to "celebrate differences" and know that each of us has a unique purpose in life.

Engaging from the first word! This is a story I've heard and told MANY times, but from a totally different perspective, and I loved that. I curled up with my kids to read this book and they were mesmerized by the amazing artwork and hooked with the story. This is not your typical Bible story and it has an incredible lesson that is taught in in a very kid friendly way. It's a lesson we all need reminded of (no matter how old we are)... that God made us all a certain way for a certain reason and we need to love and accept ourselves and others, just the way we are. The authors were able to sneak in that all important reminder of obedience too! I also appreciated the objectives and discussion questions listed in the back, what a great learning tool to use with kids. I LOVED this book and I can't wait to see what's next in the series!

I have read countless variations of the Jonah story, but this is the first from the Fish's perspective!! Great story to reinforce that God made each of us for a reason, and that God can use each of us to accomplish his plan. Probably my favorite of Mr. Taylor's books due to the unique storyline and excellent illustrations.

I enjoyed this book from the cover to the end. The illustrations were extremely colorful. The prospective of Pudge was one I had never thought of before this book. The fact that everyone is important... even a Big Fish. The good feelings that a child can take away from this story and feel that they are important to God and His work are great. I would recommend this everyday but also as a self esteem booster.