Educational Books

Dan Brown's book is fiction, but there are claims that he makes that have confused some of the basic issues of Christianity. This thoughtful and well produced video curriculum will help to dispel many of the myths and untruths spelled out in the novel. I used this in my church and we found it very useful in opening dialogues with those who have read the book or seen the movie.

Exploring the Da Vinci Code with the dvd is absolutely great for exposing the lies of the book by Dan Brown.

Lee even includes the FAQ and Evidence for the identity of Jesus based on discussions with real historians in this area of history.

I recommend everyone get this and use it to share the truth with followers of Dan Brown of those duped by him.

The Discussing the Da Vinci Code Curriculum Kit by Lee Strobel and Gary Poole contains three items: a DVD, a group discussion guide, and the book Exploring the Da Vinci Code by the same authors. In this review I will cover the DVD and it's discussion guide. The accompanying book will be reviewed independently.

This curriculum was put together with "seekers" in mind. "Since the primary audience for this guide is the not-yet-convinced seekers, the ideal place to use Discussing the Da Vinci Code is within the context of seeker groups." (10) The emphasis is group discussion such that if the proposed schedule is followed participants will spend about 17 minutes watching the DVD and 43 minutes conversing per session.

The DVD and discussion guide are broken down into four sessions in which Lee Strobel visits some of the historical locations utilized in The Da Vinci Code and interviews contemporary scholars. In the first session, the topic of historical analysis is discussed with historian Paul Maier. The second session poses the question "Can we trust the four Gospels?" to New Testament scholar Scot McKnight. Strobel interviews Kathy McReynolds in session three about the role of women in Christianity and Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene. The final session deals with the divinity of Jesus with scholar Mark Strauss.

Considering the proposed "seeker context," the discussion guide is very well done. It provides great questions for discussion while provided many quotes from scholars, Dan Brown, and facts throughout the booklet. In the back of the guide are several appendices that recommend further resources, state the facts, and give arguments for the true identity of Jesus that is affirmed by historic Christianity.

While it's neat to see Lee Strobel "on location," he doesn't really engage the sites he visits, so that seemed somewhat pointless. Strobel is more known for his investigative journalist approach, which he applied well on the DVD. He asks good questions that provoke good responses form the reputable scholars.

The DVD also has some promotional trailers, which could be shown to get people interested in joining the discussion group. The graphics and navigation of the DVD are extremely well done. The DVD together with the group discussion guide make Discussing the Da Vinci Code a thought provoking curriculum that will be useful for seekers and curious Christians alike.

I was really impressed with the material. A bonus that is not indicated on the material package or on the DVD is that it is CLOSED CAPTIONED CC for the hearing impaired. I am Deaf and really liked the fact it IS CC but Zondervan should indicate this on the packaging.

I was very excited about this book - since I love javelinas - but was quite disappointed when I got it. The rhyming suffers at the expense of trying to educate and squeeze too much information where it doesn't fit. The pictures are not bad but I think it is confusing to have such an educational book about the Southwest and then have animals wearing T-shirts or glasses, and holding signs, etc. If this were a fun story where the animals had a human story line it would make sense, but when you're educating kids about javelinas having poor eyesight and show them wearing glasses - it's just confusing. I was also annoyed that the whole premise of the book is supposed to be that javelinas are not pigs, but the supplemental material at the end of the book fails to mention that pigs and javelinas are not remotely related evolutionarily.

I bought this book for each of my grandchildren, and they all adored it. Storad wrote a wonderful story for children of all ages that is enhanced by beautiful illustrations. What a joy to be able to find a book that is both entertaining and educational!

This book teaches children and adults alike about javelinas (and yes, most people think that they are a variety of wild pig - nope, they are "peccaries.") As a resident of Arizona, we actually encounter javelinas from time to time and these encounters are all the more interesting now that we have learned so much from this wonderful book! My children (4 and 6) adore this book and love shouting out the oft repeated refrain: "Don't call me pig!"

In addition to the fun, rhyming text, the book features marvelous and funny illustrations of the javelinas. Both the text and the illustrations describe their physical characteristics and their life in a manner that is appealing even to young children. For adults who want the facts, there are two pages at the end of the book that discuss javelinas in a more narrative manner.

This book should appeal to any child who is curious about wildlife, or the southwestern United States. It would be a great book for teachers too. My kids learned alot, and so did I!

What a joy to read this book to my kids! It was not only fun to read this rhyming story, it was educational, too. The illustrations are fabulous. My two young boys asked lots of questions while we read, which just means they were really interested in this animal called a javelina--not a pig! After reading this book, we also obtained "Lizards for Lunch" by the same author and enjoyed it just as much. Now, as we travel across the desert periodically, my kids will be on the lookout for some of the animals they've seen in these books.

My children recite the catch phrase from this humorous, yet educational look at Javelinas for hours after we read the book. I truly admire Storad's ability to make kids laugh and teach them at the same time.

This book is great for study at university. My professor didn't say anything about it because he didn't know the book, but for the student is very easy to learn all the development stages, so necessary for later in teaching.
Great!!
I hope to find the same structure book for kids in school 6-12 years

This is a book that helps parents learn about how their children learn. I really appreciated how the author included charts, pictures, and subtitles for the topics. It makes a fun read, but it can also be scanned for quick reference. Ever wonder when your child will start to ________, and why? This book probably has the answer. For example, "Hand training activities" is one section with activities to help this area of development. The content of the book is helpful for those of us who have the time to direct our children toward certain activities and games in order to foster development. Also, great for those of us to whom this knowledge is not common sense - lots of great ideas. The author gives background about why things develop they way they do, followed by activites to help development, stages, time frames. It is a practical, helpful book. One point of interest is that the book is structured like a quick reference book, a plus, but it does make it seem over-whelming. Overall, a gem (should be on every parents bookshelf).

The book is one of the best I've run into around the topic of child development. This is NOT a book about children's issues when growing up or what to do if they run a fever (you need to get your copy of the APA's book "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5" for that purpose!). It is a book that covers the different aspects of child development (movement, senses, language, etc.) by time periods, so that you can understand what you child can or cannot do at a point in his/her life, as well as what you -as a caring parent- can do to help stimulate the child with games and activities. Complementing the excellent and well laid out content, the book is packed with lots of color photos (not illustrations) and comes with a very solid binding -in spite of being a paperback edition- which is important considering that it wil have to last you at least five years.

After having searched for a while, we settled on this book, along with Edward De Bono's "Teach Your Child How to Think", to help with the physical and intellectual growth of our little one.

I bought this book when my now 3.3 year old was an infant. I have followed the checklist, completed the activities and now I have what I would call an active, well balanced, extremely smart (dare I say gifted) precocious child that everyone loves and declares is a pistol.

If you are looking for true milestone marks and are truly interested in developing your child then this is the book for you. If you are just into the whole unschooling---"my child will pick this up on their own..." then this is not the book for you. This book is a how to help your child develop and to keep developing. If your child is showing reading readiness then you will know what to do next.

This book is consulted before I buy toys, new curriculum and almost weekly I just review where he is headed. It is easy to use and if we are needing help in a particular area I know this is the book I can turn to because it is divided into easy to understand sections.

This book and "Your Self Confident Baby" , and "You are Your Child's First Teacher" are the parenting books that are still on my shelves. Sadly, those other experts are packed away with the other baby things he has outgrown.

Buy this and know that it is money well spent and that your child will benefit greatly.

I'm sure you dont need me to tell you what the story is about, there are 3 other posts doing that. so.....
I recieved my copy of this book very early on. about month after it was first released. (my claim to fame, Steve Voake is related to me, his dad is the son of my grandmother's brother.. confusing eh?) And found the book a brillient literary work. tho a little disturbing that one of the main characters had the same nickname as me.. I recently read the book again to find anything i had missed and was again amazed by its brilliance. I just need to get my mits on the sequal, the web of fire..

This book is about a child Sam Palmer who goes to a world of giant walking bugs, to fulfill a prophecy he has never even heard of. I think this is a great book. The characters are extremly well developed and hilarious, especially Skipper who I find is one of the best characters I have ever come across.

A wonderful book! imaginative powerful moving. I loved it. Skipper especcially is a brilliant character anyone can relate to. Sam is a young boy in a different world with bugs the size of fighter jets and adventure and danger around every corner. Anyone with an open mind should try it!

Sam Palmer has always been fascinated with insects, but now he's become obsessed. Suddenly insects also appear to be fascinated with Sam. Wherever he goes, a few wasps follow him. One day he finds a horsefly in his room. He gently corrals it in a glass and sets it free, informing it that it isn't very smart. But that fly knows more than Sam could ever imagine.

Meanwhile, an army in the state of Vermia in another world called Aurobon prepares for war against humans on earth. Their weapon: a virus to be spread by mosquitoes. As they refine their technique, word comes that "the Dreamwalker" has been found --- and that she has a son. Odoursin, Vermia's evil emperor, demands the boy be brought to him.

Sam takes a bike ride and notices a peculiar cloud of wasps. He can't resist following them. Pain stabs his neck, and then everything goes black.

He awakens to nighttime in a strange landscape, marshlands lit with blue-green light. Confused and frightened, he walks toward distant city lights. But his travels are disrupted by a horrendous encounter with a slavering pack of creatures like no one has seen on Earth. The crazed beasts are intent on killing him. Sam realizes he will surely die, but then a group of soldiers appears. His relief is short-lived, however, when the soldiers act like he's a criminal, violently hauling him off to prison. What is going on?

Vermia's enemy state is called Vahlzi, and the army is led by Commander Firebrand. Realizing the Dreamwalker's son has been kidnapped by Vermia, Firebrand decides to send a rescuer, Skipper, who is his best pilot despite her young age.

In prison, Sam meets Skipper who gives him hope of escape. Looking through the window of his cell, he sees three moons and realizes he's in a whole new world. When Sam learns the truth behind his plight, he's shocked. He must fight the evil that seeks to destroy Earth's humans. Meanwhile, his damaged body on Earth remains in a coma.

This original book is filled with ideas I found myself discussing repeatedly with family and friends. In the midst of an urgent plot fueled by a dangerous mission, we find humor, a gutsy female role model, friendship, family relationships, questions about the guardianship of Earth and the balance of nature --- plus a subtle, thrilling celebration of life itself. Speaking of celebration, I understand a sequel to THE DREAMWALKER'S CHILD is in the works. Hooray!

PS: Dear Hollywood: What are you waiting for? This book has "movie potential" stamped on it in huge red letters.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

This 'can't-put-down' novel is an easy and profound read. Weaving together the past (e.g. ancient Israel)and contemporary times, with diverse and well-developed characters, this book explores the controversial issue of abortion from different perspectives. Chapter by chapter, it uncovers the heart-ache of abortion, offering hope and forgiveness in the mercy of God, as well as the redemptive purposes of God in adoption. Through it all, we see the effectiveness of prayer as a change agent and the power of unified prayer in a community. I highly recommend this book for those on both sides of the abortion issue. It will challenge you with the very heart of God on many levels.

When reading this book, I identified time and time again with the main character, Eve, her prayers and her inner dialogue and struggles. Sarah Hanks beautifully shares the heart of Jesus in wanting everyone to find life and mercy (from the babies to the abortion doctors), the heart of intercessors who stand and pray for abortion to end, and the struggles that those on the receiving end of abortion deal with.

This book shows the mercy of God through the main story, juxtaposed with the realities of the seige of Jerusalem in the time of Jeremiah, because of the innocent blood-shed in the land. The kindness and justice of God are parallelled. This book left me with the desire to pray for abortion to end, but hopeful that, "Who knows? The Lord may relent from judgement and leave a blessing behind."

This story comes to life...and I mean life. Character development draws you into the intimate world of a few key people through Eve's passion for life of unborn children and passion for children born into the world. Many complex elements of the greatest social and moral issue of our generation unfolds in the lives of the characters. Emotions run high, decisions are life changing, and boldness is called into action. I have read books on prayer, studied about Right to Life, and have been somewhat engaged in expressing my personal views on this topic...but I have never been exposed to the intricate details of what is involved in praying for unborn children, how personal and life changing abortion is for women and men, and how one should be moved to boldness when called into action. My daughter and I "fought" over this book for a couple of weeks until we both finished it. Thank you Sarah for being faithful and writing this book, you did a great job.

This book is an inspiring story with complex and interesting characters. It delves into the issues of abortion in a sensitive and compassionate story that highlights the struggles and complexities of the choices we make. This book caused me to think about the issue of abortion, which is not something talked about much in society today. This is such an important issue and I was glad to read this book, which brought this issue to light in an interesting story. This book will cause Christians and non-Christians alike to contimplate the very important issue of abortion. I highly recommend this book.

Dr. Caffrey's book is a real gem! I heard her give a powerful, insightful speech on parenting and education. This book is a MUST READ for any parent. I now understand things about motivating and encouraging my daughter that I'd never even considered before. We all want our children to succeed, to be self-motivated, to care about their futures and their education. "Drive" helps you parent in a way that turns on your child's inner motivation - no more pushing them. Imagine that! Best of all, although my daughter is in high school already, it's apparently never too late to start. I recommend this book highly to anyone who works with children, has children or even wants to have children. And Barack Obama, if you're reading this, you need to make this woman Secretary of Education.

DRIVE is more than just a parenting book; it is an outstanding resource for teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, or any adult who works with adolescents. Anyone who has ever longed for a How-To manual for motivating young people will shout "Hallelujah!" after reading DRIVE. Good advice, insightful examples, amusing anecdotes, handy quizzes, sound philosophies, and easy to follow applications all in one well organized resource that will clearly show you how to get kids off the sofa and moving toward success in all they do. A gem of a book!

I have experienced Dr. Caffrey's expertise first hand, as my son is a student at her school, Renaissance Academy, Port Richey, Florida. This will be his fourth year at her school, and he and I could not be happier. He is now a teenager, and I was thrilled to read her book. It gives tons of "common sense" advice that lots of parents seem to have forgotten about. The book is full of things that our parents did that have been forgotten by this generation, and techniques and strategies that I had not thought of. It seems children today have everything done for them, and it works for them, because they still get the reward. I have seen first hand Dr. Caffrey's way of thinking, parenting, and teaching, at her school, and IT WORKS! The students at her school are highly driven, motivated, and HAPPY! If you are a parent of any child, you owe it to your child to read this book.

Finally, a resource that gets to the point! Parents will love it- kids will wonder what hit them. In a world of excess and overindulgence, Caffrey shows us how to become parents again. In a world lacking common sense, she demonstrates an abundance of it. It is refreshing to be reminded that we have a responsibility to raise independent young men and women who will feel the need to make contributions to the world because they have a sense of pride, not entitlement!

I am new to the Early Intervention world and there are so many medical diagnosis and medical conditions out there I am very thankful that this book was available to me. It is simple to find what you are looking for and gives you the definition in layman's terms. It also gives definitions for acronyms used in the medical field. I would recommend it to anyone in the Early Intervention field!

Written by Jeanine G. Coleman, M. Ed., The Early Intervention Dictionary: A Multidisciplinary Guide to Terminology is the updated third edition of a straightforward, practical definitive reference for medical professionals and parents alike. Each entry consists of a brief (from one sentence to one full paragraph) definition of a medical or scientific term concerning medical and development issues, features, and abnormalities present in infants and children. The Early Intervention Dictionary is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and covers everything from "abrachia" (congenital absence of arms) to "Zero Reject" (The principle that no child with a disability should be refused a free, appropriate education if other children the same age are being served). Highly recommended as a user-friendly reference.

This book was our trusted guide and friend through the first years of our child's life. We took this book with us to every new medical and therapeutic appointment, and it enabled us to quickly become knowledgable about our son's condition. I give this book as a special gift to welcome new "exceptional" families to our circle.

Highly recommended.

This book is an excellent reference tool. As a student seeking certification in early intervention, I find this book to be extremely helpful. This book will guide you through termonology and provide you with a wealth of information.

This is a great textbook and I saved money by getting it here instead of my college bookstore!

If you are looking for a book that is broken down into plain English, is very readable, and is organized in a logical way...you've found it! For someone taking a basic level economics course, I can't recommend a better book. Everything is explained in language that is easy to read and understand. The text is organized in a logical, flowing manner, to include side notes and other helpful bits of information. Also, this book relates the information it is presenting to "real life", making it easier to visualize how economics affects our daily lives. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

As an econ major and teacher of economics this book was the one I wished I had in Micro and macro. Clear, concise, interesting and well-organized, this book is perfect for the aspiring AP Econ student as well as the Micro/macro intro class.

As an instructor who has used this textbook, it is easy to understand and follow. It is written in plain English. It is logical in its organization. Lots of real world examples. The students enjoy studying a difficult subject using this textbook.

I first came across Thomas Troward through working with Bob Proctor on a coaching program. Although I looked at all the great authors Bob mentioned, Thomas Troward very quickly became my favourite..

These lectures, on what became known as 'New Thought', kind of metaphysical also, are nothing short of profound - if you study them and work them, not just read them.

The principles contained in them are truly the secret to all this modern day talk about the 'Law of Attraction' and 'The Secret Movie' etc..

I came across them a few years ago, and now they form a solid piece of my personal growth - in fact most Sundays I use these as my spiritual lessons[..]

Yes, you need to study them, think about them, and shift your thinking into a more contemporary context - but the principles are timeless, and beautiful..

Thoroughly recommended.

Trying to explain magic in rational terms has rather fallen out of fashion, and sometimes you have to turn to the classics.

Half philosophy, half science, Troward's little volume builds a rational and plausible basis for controlling events in what most people would deem "supernatural" ways. His premise, condensed down to three words, is "faith changes reality" -- it's what comes up in exploring that hypothesis that makes the book interesting. The book is as well-organized and well-presented as you would expect any college textbook to be, although the flowery 100-year-old language might be a turn-off to some.

While "Edinburgh" is of use to people trying to understand (or accept) magic, its greatest value is by far for those who are already exploring the subject. I wish that this book came in clue bat form, so I could hit a number of would-be "mages" over the head with it, and have them absorb it instantly. While one may not necessarily agree with everything Troward says (I found the insistence on a Christian perspective rather extreneous, for example), his ability to build a rich and cohesive system is an inspiration -- and a solid foundation. Ultimately, those who wish to change the world must understand it, and this book can be a great first step on that path. It's one of the must-read books on my bookshelf.

I have been a student of quantum theory as it applies to our ability to create form from thougtht. "The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science" by Thomas Troward were published in 1909. They contain all of the same principles being set forth by today's gurus of quantam theory such as Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. Very interesting book. Also recommend, "Your Invisible Power" by Genevieve Behrend. Ms. Behrend was the only student of Thomas Troward. Her book is a more basic way to apply the same principles.

A classic by one of the pioneers of New Thought; these lectures deal with the questions of spirit and matter, the nature of intelligence, the unity of spirit, and the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. Troward had a knack for conveying profound philosophical matters in a most understandable way and for formulating ancient truths so that a child could understand. He explains the difference between form (matter) and being - that the one is the mode of the relative and the mark of subjection to conditions, while the other is the truth of the absolute and that which controls conditions. Because spirit is infinite, it is everywhere and must be present at every point in space at the same moment. This is a fundamental fact of all being. The relation between spirit and being as idea (from which the elements of time and space are absent) and form (the relative which is dependent on those elements) leads to the fact that pure spirit continually subsists in the absolute and from it all the phenomena of being flow. In proportion to our level of recognition of this fact, our power for producing visible outward results by the action of our thought will grow. The book concludes with the practical application of this knowledge in our lives and affairs. I highly recommend the Edinburgh lectures as well as the Dore Lectures and Troward's masterpiece "The Creative Process in the Individual."

My daughter needed this book for a college class. We were very impressed when it came because it looked like it had never been opened or used. It was a great deal for us.

Book was beneficial for class. Emphasizes on different issues within the schools system.

This is a great book about current education policy that everyone should read.

Current educational significant issues for 2007 are listed within this book including such issues as social experience, standardizing curriculum, producing good citizens, charter schools, bilingual education, school violence, homework, and merit pay. Two major sides are looked at for each issue listed, and one of the issues, redefining of "public school" in question, lists 4 people on the "no" side of the issue and 1 person on the "yes" side. The table of contents does not show that there are 4 different excerpts, but lists it as only "et. al" for three people when it really should be written out for clarity and easier reference.

The bonus issues, changing science curriculum on evolution (known as Intelligent Design (ID) ) and boys' education are extra issues they decided to tack on. They really don't fit into any of the categories from the issues originally listed, and are much more theoretical and directly less significant than the issues originally in the text. The bonus issues are not a necessary read unless you intend on reading everything or something on those particular topics, but it's nice addition for the book.

Considering that this is a 14th edition, there are still way to many places where they forgot to place a space between words and I think a couple of misspellings too.

Besides all the tidbits, the issues are worth reading and understanding, as they capture many nuances that you may or may not have thought of. Even if the points are already obvious to you, it's very arguably a handy well written reference if nothing more than that.