Educational Books

Dazzling Diggers (Amazing Machines)

This was a gift for a four year old who is fascinated with construction machines and road work. He has added it to his bed time book reading collection.

A great book for little boys (and girls) who like big construction machines.

I purchased this book, as well as several others in this line of books, for my two-year-old son. He absolutely adores them and is mesmerized by them. And I can see why. The books are very well-written. The lines rhyme. The illustrations are gorgeous. I have never written a review before but had to come back and recommend this book, as well as the others in this series--tractors, airplanes, etc. They are all fabulous.

our 2 1/2 year old son is realy enjoying the whole "amazing machines" series. i like them too. they are fun, and the rhymes are clever. they even give me more to talk about with my son when we see different trucks that go by. i can "discuss" the truck parts, and the jobs that the trucks do. in my opinion, a very fun series that has helped me spend quality time with my little truck lover.

My twin toddlers love this book. The author has tapped into all their obsessions - diggers, trains, airplanes, fire engines and rockets - in his series. They love the rhymes and the simple text makes it easy for them to join in while you are reading. A real hit with the two year old boy set!

I purchased this book for my curriculum at school for my 4 year olds. But my grandson loves it so much that it hasn't made it to school yet. It is one of his daily favorites that we have to read multiple times. I love the informational components (he now knows what tracks, pistons, jacks, etc. are and what they do). I also love the rhyming component. It is a wonderful story especially if your child loves machines.

This book by Peggy Dias, is an excellent resource for our geographical location. It is chalk full of where to go, how to find, etc. For those struggling with ADD or LD children.

We all want the best for our children and this book helps us get there.

Eileen Barry CHADD Coordinator of CHADD of San Francisco/North Peninsula

Thanks so much for your note and copy of your book, Diamonds In the Rough. It looks wonderful, a great resource. I shall hold onto it, and plan to use it in the future. Thanks again,

Judy Molland Syndicated Education Columnist, United Parenting Publications

Thank you for the opportunity to review "Diamonds in the Rough". I found it to be user friendly. I am sure that parents will find your book to be a valuable resource.

Pamela Ptacek Director, San Mateo SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area)

If you are looking for guidance in locating those agencies and organizations that offer assistance addressing the issues of special needs children and adults, look no further! Diamonds in the Rough gives a clearly stated step-by-step approach leading to solutions for each category of issues associated with special needs infants, children, and adults.

This second edition includes up-dated information on changes and additions to the laws, agencies, and organizations available nation wide that impact parents, professionals, and special needs adults dealing with LD/ADHD/Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Diamond in the Rough is a must have book for any parent who wants to help their child succeed with a learning disability. This book helped me understand the nature of my child's learning disability. It gave information I needed to make sure my daughter's school provided the support she needed. It gave excellent resources such as support groups, and other valuable information. More important, Diamonds in the Rough gave information about what my child could do for herself. These suggestions helped improve my daughter's self esteem, and she learned to enjoy school. My daughter is now in college and a lot of the credit goes to this book. There are a lot of books on the market about learning disabilities, but Diamonds in the Rough is second to none. It is a must have ! ! 5+ stars

Practical and resumed book on banking terms. A lot (I think all of them) of terms, nicely explained. When a few figures are needed, ther author writes them down in the easy way.

To say a thing to improving, I think it lacks from drawings, charts and so forth, trying to make the reading smoother...

I've been in banking for nearly 13 years and have sometimes struggled with much of the terminology used during corporate functions, meetings, or just watching CNBC. Whether a novice or a veteran, it's something that should be in your briefcase, pocket book, or in your desk for quick reference. This is a "NO BS" assessment!

Paid for by me. ;O)

Working in an IT company catering to bankers I bought this book to help understand their lingo. I have to say it hasn't disappointed yet. It is also very up to date the latest IT/banking terms. If you were to read all the definitions in this book you would probably know more than you banker. A great reference. Buy it!

This can almost be considered an inexpensive textbook. It not only defines, but explains the terms in a simple, easy to understand format. Although in dictionary form, it consistently relates the terms to one another so the reader will understand how the concepts interwind. Includes financial and banking terms.

I use this in a training class about bank documentation. It is very helpful and comprehensive. It defines terms in concise and easy to understand words. Even a seasoned banker can learn something from this dictionary.

Thanks for your product - it's too much good!
It's satisfy my better expectatives...


Have a good day...

See all my dinosaur book reviews.

This is an excellent resource for those interested in the weightier matters of dinosaurs. Over 800 pages with over 100 authors, Currie's compilation is still current in 2008.

Set out in encyclopedic fashion, each letter-section has been devoted to a range of topics; not just species of dinosaur. For example, under 'T' the chapters are Taphonomy, Teeth and Jaws, Tendaguru, Tetanurae, Thecodontia, Therizinosauria, Theropoda, Thyreophora, Tooth Marks, Tooth Replacement Patterns, Tooth Serrations in Carnivorous Dinosaurs, Tooth Wear, Trace Fossils, Triassic Period, Troodontidae, Trophic Groups, Trossingen, Two Medicine Formation, Tyrannosauridae.

The chapters on dinosaurs are of the genus, not individual species. This is quite different than most other dinosaur books; which is quite refreshing. After reading mostly about individual dinosaurs in books that have fantastic diagrams or paintings, it is nice to have them compared as a genus in a scientific way without the influence of an artist. For example, the chapter on Tyrannosauridae covers 3 pages with only 2 sketches, one of a Tyrannosaurus skeleton, the other of a labelled skull of a Gorgosaurus. Instead of relying on a bevy of flashy pictures that distract the reader from average writing, the discussion centres on the characteristics of the group as a whole and how they differ from Allosauridae and other therapods in anatomical structure - and what these adaptations mean when constructing a working dinosaur. From the skull to the forearms to feet, the exposition is very thorough. One interesting comparison was made between the length of the neck of Tyrannosaurs, Allosaurs and Ceolophysis as a way to distinguish them.

What impresses me most is the balanced discussion. If there is agreement between experts, this is stated. Also, there is no speculation which leads to something dogmatic - like feathers, but rather, differing viewpoints of scientists working in the field.

I'm very impressed with this book. I have a science degree and the interest to appreciate it. However, it does have a reasonably high level of science - especially technical terms, which renders it unsuitable for under 17/18's who don't have a serious interest in the science of dinosaurs. It also doesn't have many pictures - only 4 lots of colour plates, and even these are not dinosaur art.

It is a great book to have if you want to read serious stuff on dinosaurs.

If so, then this is the book for you! The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is a wonderful, up-to-date book that covers most, if not all, topics concerned with dinosaurs. Well put-together, beautifully illustrated, and written by today's top paleontologists, the Encyclopedia is well worth the price. Although it doesn't get too technical, this book is not for the uninformed. A must have for any serious dino-enthusiast - believe me, it will answer your questions, and lead you to ask more! 5 stars may not be enough for this one! (Plus it's massive enough to knock some sense into the not-so-dino-loving loved one or associate in your life!)

When I first received this book for Christmas, I was shocked! The book was the size and weight of a telephone book! It's packed with skeletal drawings, cladograms, paintings... You name it, it's in the text.

This is a great book, considering how huge it is. Being written in 1998, this book has all the current knowledge. There's more info on the actual era and the technical asspects of dinosaurs than the actual dinosaurs. Despite the price, this book is worth it.

Or about living in Africa, or living in the past, or some sort of troubles (modern or historical). It's so nice to just see a family doing what families *do*. (They even recycle!)

My nieces ask me to read this book to them often. It's a very fast book, suitable both for very young children and for slightly older ones. We love looking at various details - like the fact that "five kinds of beans" includes JELLY beans, or the fact that the baby sits on a lap at dinner. It's just a quick, sweet book.

A very sweet and very simple book. Nice to see a family of color in a book for a change.... so my daughter gets a nice variety. My daughter's teacher requested books for the classroom as her Christmas Gift this year... so that should be a selling point! So sweet that the teacher wanted it! :)

My son actually pick this book out by himself in a bookstore when he was 18 months old. He fell in LOVE with it. We had to read it every morning. We loss it transit and I finally remember to get it from Amazon this summer. At 2 1/2 it is still his favorite book. He loves the counting and the actvities reminds him of when "Granny-Gran" comes to visit. Thank you so much for this book.

A sweet 1-10 counting book that has a nice rhyme scheme and builds its story by counting to ten, not once, but twice. The art designs feature a black extended family, however, this is not central to the story. What is emphasized is the feeling of family warmth and cooperation throughout as everyone pitches in to create the feast for ten. Children can also count the items in each picture that correspond to the poem. Well done.

This book has been around for a long time, but it continues to be a favorite in my classroom. It's one of those simple books that sparks so many different curriculum paths! Counting, number groupings, nutrition, cooperation, family activities, word choices, story writing, and more. It has also initiated collage art projects, quilt making, and paper mache vegetables! FEAST FOR 10 is a goldmine. I see that it's coming out in a board book soon, too. We have both the hardcover and several paperbacks in my class.

Reviewed by Jim Hattabaugh, superintendent, Mansfield School District, Mansfield, Ark.

A catchy title does not always produce a book that catches your attention from front to back. Gene V Glass accomplishes both, grabbing your immediate attention with the title, Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips, and keeping your attention throughout the entire book.

Glass, a Regents' professor at Arizona State University, does an outstanding job of explaining the education reform movement and debunking what is behind this seemingly unending political football that occupies the daily toils and troubles of administrators, students and parents.

Especially enlightening is the way the author debunks the crisis in education based on a global comparison of student test scores. He explains in detail the fallacies and errors in these comparisons as covered by the mainstream news media. Glass also tackles the politically hot issue of accountability and ethnicity.

Readers familiar with the work of Gerald Bracey, a longtime debunker of unfair criticism of the public schools and the educators who work in them, should add Glass to their list of must reading. This especially easy-to-read book is so expertly set forth that the 311 pages of text and data were completed in two sittings. The up-to-date data he uses to illustrate the central points blend perfectly with the author's historical perspective.

"Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips" is one of the most interesting books I've read on U.S. education in a long time- and I've read several dozen over the past few years. Dr. Glass mentions in the book that he got inspiration from Jared Diamond's excellent Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, which looked at the impact of technology in shaping civilizations throughout human history. Dr. Glass makes the argument that the inventions of artificial fertilizers, contraceptives and life-extending medications, industrial robots, and the personal credit card have led to huge changes in American society during the 20th century. As a result of these demographic changes, Dr. Glass argues that the older, whiter voting public has abandoned its support for government-run schools that educate "other peoples' children".

The book is strongest in Part II, the chapters devoted to tracing the impact of technology in changing U.S. demographics. I found this section to be fascinating and very thought-provoking. If it were possible to rate each portion of the book separately, this part deserves 5 stars.

Where I found Dr. Glass' arguments to be flawed, however, was in his treatment of the state of government-run education. He unconvincingly repeats all the tired old liberal claims about the topic. In his view, the crisis in the schools has been "manufactured" for political reasons in order to destroy government-run schools. He devotes much space in the book to diatribes against standardized testing, charter schools, vouchers and tax credits for private schools, homeschooling, cyberschools, open enrollment and other school choice programs, alternative teacher certification programs like Teach for America, and so on.

Even though the book has a copyright date of 2008, Dr. Glass often uses older studies to support his positions while ignoring more recent studies that would undermine them. For example, he uses a small 1998 study to make the claim that homeschoolers are 94% non-Hispanic whites, 1% blacks, and <1% Hispanics. Why did he ignore the much larger 2003 National Center for Educational Statistics survey that found homeschoolers to be 77% non-Hispanic whites, 9% blacks, and 5% Hispanics? The latter numbers are a lot closer to the overall school-age population, which in 2003 was 61% non-Hispanic whites, 15% blacks, and 17% Hispanics. Yes, blacks and Hispanics are somewhat underrepresented among homeschoolers but it's not even remotely as much as Dr. Glass would have his readers believe. Dr. Glass similarly cherry-picks his data on many other "hot button" educational issues.

Dr. Glass also has a highly annoying tendency to make accusations of racism/xenophobia without providing any objective evidence that it truly is at work. He admits as much in his appendix, where he states that his "personal preference is for psychoanalysis to explain many of the most important aspects of human behavior...I see something akin to the 'defense mechanisms' at work in the intellectualizing of motives of both experts and ordinary people around questions of racial and ethnic segregation in public education. No one likes to be accused of being prejudiced, but most of us are." Conjectures like this do not belong in a scholarly work- just stick to the facts, please!

Overall, I recommend "Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips" despite the weaknesses in the author's discussions of the current state of government-run schools and of alternatives to those schools.

Glass's "Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnet Strips" is a must read for anyone interested in public education and its place within American culture. Glass uncovers how technological advances have shaped our way of life and way of thinking--a way of thinking that may explain why education reform efforts continue to flounder. As an educational policy researcher, I constantly grapple with why it is so difficult for policymakers to understand education. Glass adeptly and meticulously describes how the evolution of business practices, technological advances, and cultural fads have intersected and led to a narrow view of public education. His book has clarified for me why so many people have unrealistic expectations from public schooling.

Glass's writing is accessible, authoritative, and interesting. But, that is just the start. The real punch in this book comes from his creativity and innovation in weaving together the ways in which cultural processes have impacted how we see public education.

if you care about public education at all, you must read this book.

I am a teacher in the Texas public schools, and I can tell you from my own experience that what this book says about Texas is absolutely true.

The analyses and projections Glass presents are spot on in my view. That the US will become older and browner is evident from US Census data. But Occam's razor could well be applied to "fertilizers, pills, and magnetic strips." These are metonyms for technologies that have indeed had wide-ranging consequences, but they are very distal determinants of the present status or likely future of US pre-collegiate education.

The sub-title is also problematic. The book deals with the politics and economics of education in the US. Accepting the five projections in Chapter 10 in no way defines the 'fate' of public education in the US. That will be what 'we' make it. Glass' analyses of current belief systems regarding education are scathing. But belief systems can be changed (per George Lakoff's work). And overriding beliefs is Boulding's wisdom: "We make our tools and then they shape us." Combine this with the wisdom of Josiah Royce, emblazoned over the stage at Royce Hall, UCLA, (when I was a student. They remodeled the building and I don't know what's there now): "Education is learning to use the tools humanity (Royce said 'the race' but 'humanity' would be the term used today) has found indispensable" and you have a pretty good two-sentence guide.

Ironically, in the end Glass goes soft-headed, " The only reform [sic] that stands any chance of making our public schools better is the investment on teachers--to aide them in their quest to understand, to learn. Go become more compassionate, caring, and competent persons." (p. 249) That's a fool's errand--well-intentioned, but foolish in the sense that it hasn't had the intended consequences in the past and offers little for the future. If Ray Kurzweil's projections in "Singularity" are even half-right, it's going to be a different future for instruction.

My story of how US schooling got to where it is currently is simpler than Glass' story. As Glass states, prior to the mid-50s the aspiration was to enroll all kids in high school. Prior to that time, schools handled instructional failures by tossing kids out or counseling them out. With "full access," weaknesses started to show.

Historically, all media information regarding schooling was local, focusing on athletics and 'human interest' anecdotes. Even today, only a handful of newspapers cover schooling nationally. That gain is an important consequence of NCLB, but even there the accounts largely swallow whole governmental news releases.

The move that began in 1965 to make schooling a matter of national interest was important. The subsequent history could be titled "Bureaucrats, academics, and publishers." The small number of individuals who constituted the Beltway Consensus bought, and still buy, Jim Coleman's contention (based on shoddy "research") that "families matter more than schooling," "education spending is unrelated to educational achievement," and "school integration across socioeconomic lines (and hence across racial lines) will increase Negro achievement, and they throw serious doubt upon the effectiveness of policies designed to increase non-personal resources in the school." (The self-serving interests Glass exposes are evident.)

By the mid-1980s it was all-too-clear that "school integration" was not getting the job done. "High standards "was the answer, culminating in the "Goals 2000" legislation. Of course 2000 came with none of the goals met. No one recognized that the "standards" were rhetoric masked as "content." The consensus was that "accountability" via standardized achievement tests is the answer. Hence NCLB. (Same self-serving interests.)

What has the academy been doing? Not much. Glass tells that story. What he doesn't explain is why those who understand the flaws in NAEP and all standardized achievement tests have sat with their thumbs in their mouths.

Publishers are culpable in that they provide the tools that define schooling instruction. The publisher line is that they "only respond to market demands." This means they're unaccountable and unregulated. Their 'offerings' are junk, but bureaucrats and academics give them a free ride.

So what to do? Again it's a simple story. Borrow from the corporate world the notion of "business intelligence" and "key performance indicators." Also borrow from the IT sector and several large corporations the notion of structured "certification of capability." This "gets a handle" on schooling and permits real cost-benefit analysis of instructional accomplishments. Further, recognize that schools today provide important societal services (e.g. health screening and nutrition provision) in addition to instruction. Ironically, instruction is the weakest benefit of schooling and the other benefits go unrecognized.

A few final reactions: "Appendix A: Notes on Theory, Research, and Policy" alone is worth the price of the book. If it were read by every student as a freshman, every legislator, and anyone remotely concerned with schooling, the future of education would be a good deal brighter.

The practice of documenting with footnotes on the relevant page as well as references and indexes at the end of the book is welcome and should be standard practice. The use of footnotes is judicious and the occasional accompanying elaboration makes the communication more interactive.

The exposition is a model of 'good writing.' Strunk and White, where ever they are, are no doubt exchanging high-fives. someone followed their advice. I didn't always buy what Glass was saying, but there was never any doubt about the substance of the communication. The communication warrants consideration by anyone in any way concerned with US schooling.

This book details all aspects of the child with down syndrome. I think this is a must have book for parents, and an equally important book for the professional working with a child diagnosed with down syndrome.

I would recommend buying this book since it includes many practical strategies with working with children with low cognitive functioning. We, as teachers, need practical ideas based by "best practice" research that we can implement immediately after reading a book. This is a book by a seasoned special education teacher and I recommend it highly.

This book offers so much help for parents, grandparents, teachers, anyone working with children who have down Syndrome. It gives so much help, ideas, insights... well, the list just goes on.

This is a great book for anyone working with or parenting children with down syndrome (and fascinating for anyone with children). It covers development based on stages rather than ages, so the focus can be on the child and not on a outwardly determined norm for development.

The substantially revised and updated second edition of Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide For Parents And Professionals by pediatric occupational therapist Maryanne Bruni offers a thoroughly "user friendly" study detailing particular tactics and effective strategies for training the motor skills of children with Down Syndrome. Introducing readers to invaluable tips on determining when a child is ready for preprinting and printing activities, strategies for encouraging self-help skills for independent living, research on how children with Down Syndrome learn, expanded suggestions for useful toys, activities, equipment, and grandparent lists, useful information for computer use, and more, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome enables a thorough grasp of greatly helpful and very practical information for a more educated approach to aiding children with Down syndrome. For its concise and essential comprehension of dire information, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome is very strongly recommended for all teachers, parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers and counselors for children with Down Syndrome.

Everything came as promised, unfortunately I found a better deal around here, by about 50 dollars so I just had to bite the bullet and send it back.

The book is in an excellent condition, the package was terrific, well wrapped against rain or snow. Ryan did a great job packing and shipping the item. I received it on the 2nd business day after placing the order. I am very happy with the service.

I used this book for Corporate Finance class. It is concise, not boring (at least for me), explains everything in a clear, straightforward manner. The problems at the end of each chapter are definitely helpful not just for exam preparation, but also for a better understanding of overall subject matter.

It was in great condition but it just took too long for what I pay for the shipping but overall the item was just right brand new great.Needs to improve their shipping only two thumbs up!!

This text book is an excellent resource for understanding Financial Management. It was a required text in my MBA program and the book is easy to go through on your own. There are exercises, or self tests, at the end of each section in the chapters, as well as many types of problems and self test questions at the end of the chapters.

We had a mediocre teacher in my MBA program, so going through the text was imperative. The authors do a great job breaking down concepts and some of the examples at end of chapter sections have the answers.

I comes with a supplemental booklet to further help undertand the "Time Value of Money" which, according to the authors, is a difficult concept.

One big plus for this text is that it shows you how to figure out the problems using formulas, using financial caluclators, and using an Excel spreadsheet.

I highly recommend doing the examples and problems in the book, and ordering the study guide. The study guide has additional examples and problems to work through and is the perfect supplement.

This is one text I am going to keep!

Very nice workbook, great questions, but when I got it I was shocked at how thin it was. I couldn't believe I had paid so much for so little. A lot of the questions I've seen before.

After reading the reviews, I decided to give both this workbook, and the original book on which it is based, a try. At my age I figured I'd better get to know everything I could about communicating with God.

First let me say it both less expensive and highly suggested to buy both books together. Amazon provided this option, and although using the workbook alone is possible, I cannot imagine missing the depth of insight extant in the original book. The workbook alone would be like nice curtains with no windows or rods to hang them on!

The workbook is thoughtfully arranged, and correlates nicely with the book. There are some very thought-provoking questions. While I had considered some of these before, in the context of the book discussion, they challenged my thinking and (in some cases) my theology. I had never considered praying for 'sure things'.

This workbook would make a great group bible study, and I only hope (at my age) that I am now a better woman of prayer.

Prayer is one of those personal things that is either done correctly, by biblical instruction, or incorrectly, by emotion, partial knowledge of Scripture, or by what we reason to be right and proper.

Having read the book on which this workbook is founded, I must say that this author stands 110% behind the Bible teaching on prayer, to the degree that (as others have mentioned) some charismatics might get their feathers a bit ruffled.

This workbook is more inductive than explanatory. The book explained. The workbook applies. Knowledge of the Bible is helpful as there are some deep concepts included. But any serious interest in prayer will be met with reflection, insight, and spiritual truths which every child of God is responsible to learn.

Recommended especially for group study.

I spent nearly a month answering all the questions in this workbook. My, my--talk about thorough--this caused me to examine the subject of praying from every angle.

What I liked:
1. (See above.) I wouldn't have EVER thought of some of these concepts.
2. Follows the book which came out earlier. You can sort of examine prayer without the first book, but it's better if you have it. Amazon usually gives you a deal on both.
3. The theology is very solid. Traditional Baptist, I would say.
4. Doesn't delve into all that Pentecostal 'name it and claim it' stuff. The is strictly solid Bible material. (Thank God for meat and potatos!)
5. The Prayer Journal after each chapter. My workbook is marked up!
6. What it really means to pray in Jesus's name! This is very insightful.

What I didn't like:
1. As someone has said the email messages are worded a little differently (some of them) in the workbook. Same thought though. I really liked 'getting' and 'sending' emails from/to God.
2. That I didn't have (wasn't available) the workbook when I first read the book! Sure would have been helpful.

Good stuff. Deeper insight into prayer than 95% of the stuff available. This is not Kay Arthur stuff. Works great for group Bible study!

I also liked "Dragons, Grasshoppers & Frogs!" too. Best easy reading commentary on Revelation.

Wow! I didn't know how much was 'missing' from the book "God, Help Me Pray" until I saw a copy of the workbook in a store! There is every possible question one could have on prayer contained in this nicely-formatted 8X11 workbook. The one thing I DON'T like is the price. This is an expensive workbook. (My church paid for it.)

This might be too much for individual study (at least for me), but would be wonderful for group study. This is workshop stuff! Now the question: is this workbook really necessary to get the best from the original book?

No. The book itself is the meat and potatoes. This workbook--though really thorough--is the dessert. One thing for sure, once you've read these two book, there won't be any questions you've ever had that remain unanswered.

The Great, Great, Great Chicken War This is a children's book that all ages can enjoy. The young author - David de la Garza - and his parents have created a book that has gorgeous art with a story that all ages can enjoy. Not only can they enjoy the story-poem for its rhythm and sounds, but also for the story it tells. I bought the book for a five-year-old and discovered that his two-year-old brother was fascinated by the creatures and colors - the art work. And after hearing it read aloud, the five-year-old started talking about the story - about war - and the oldest of the three children, a ten-year-old joined in the conversation and for perhaps the first time, didn't talk down to his younger brother. While the book is not religious, a friend of mine who teaches Sunday School plans to use the book for a class discussion on resolving arguments and disagreements. I think the book is a delight--wonderful art and thoughtful story without it being preachy or sounding "educational." The story-poem has some terrific lines that start with "In the Great great great Chicken War, the rooster rode the rhino out the door, Angry and eager to settle a score"....and the accompanying illustration is imaginary and creative while the rooster atop the rhino is recognizable. I expect this book to become a classic. The Great, Great, Great Chicken War

Written by parents struggling to explain the concept of war to their young son, The Great, Great, Great Chicken War is a children's picturebook that presents concepts such as war and fighting in the simplest possible terms. Tackling the idea that sometimes people can be too silly or chicken to talk out their problems and fight instead, The Great, Great, Great Chicken War combines rhyming verse with exaggerated color pictures in a gentle, whimsical style. "In the Great, Great, Great Chicken War, // Rockets filled the sky with a deafening roar, / Criss-crossing a land where peace was no more. // Velociraptors stormed across the isle, / Scorching the land for mile after mile. // And in the deep ocean, where sea creatures sing, / Silent octopus feared what the future would bring." The Great, Great, Great Chicken War is an effective way to open the topic of war with young children, with a subtle message against wars fought for seemingly pointless reasons. A portion of the profits of The Great, Great, Great Chicken War will be donated to charity for child victims of war or disaster.

Great collaboration, great pictures, great poetry. My son has had many questions about war just from over hearing NPR talking about casualties for the day. Although abstract, the thoughts and images expressed in this book helped me explain some hard issues on a kid's level.

So often adults are the teachers and know it all...it is refreshing and grounding to hear and see things from a child's perspective to allow us as adults to stand back, re-group and open are eyes and say, oh yes, that is what it is all about.
david reminds us all that things such as war so often absurd and lacking in reason and sense. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the grown up decision-makers could stand back and realize the shear magnitude in numbers of innocent victims in so many unthinkable ways and the little that is accomplished with so much tragedy.

I introduced this book to a group of fifth grade students, and the discussion that followed was incredible. The pictures and the stories led to a great discussion about trying to make sense of the world and the children's perspective on war and their desire to have peace in the world. Along with using the book as an introduction to a deeper discussion, the words and sentences that make up the story can be used to illustrate descriptive writing, and metaphors to enhance a literacy lesson. I would recommend that this book be placed in all school libraries. We have it here in our library now at an international school, and I have also recommended it to our guidance counseling department for use with students and parents trying to make sense of our world!