Child Health Books

If you want to learn how to really treat hyperactivity, the core issues and causes of hyperactivity, then this is the book for you. So many books only address the symptoms, but Drs Cook and O'Dell go for the underlying causes. And the treatments don't involve drugs, either! Kudos for your brave foray into an overworked subject using innovative and workable treatments.

Having tried multiple alternative therapies to treat our daughter's adhd/dyslexia/dyspraxia we were suspect that anything would work. Since our daughter did not crawl properly as a baby, this therapy made sense - go back and have her crawl. The results were impressive - almost a year after starting the therapy she is more organized, pleasant, and compliant. She mostly does her homework independently. She is on target for her grade although her writing and spelling are still weak, they are improving. Her coordination is outstanding now. She used to trip over everything and fall 1X/week on the playground. Now she never falls. School is so much easier for her than it used to be. She is able to stay seated and her writing is less labored. Combining this therapy with the Feingold diet (she still had residual anger issues, plus lots of allergies which led us to believe Feingold might help her), we have a child who is almost neurotypical in every way. This is not a quick fix and takes much dedication, but the results we feel are worth it.

The exercises in this book have definitely changed my life. I can remember better, focus better, and organize better. Although this book is geared toward helping children, I am over 40, and these exercises worked for me. I was diagnosed with ADD just a few years ago. This book is well-written, well organized, and very genuine in voice. I fully recommend this book to anyone who shows signs of this STNR reflex still bothering them. I believe this is a breakthrough in ADD and ADHD treatment.

Dr. Miriam Bender should be applauded for her tireless research in revealing a misunderstood subject/label "ADHD". I have completely read this book and have started using the exercises with my child with positive results so far. The author, Nancy E. O'Dell organizes and addresses the subject very clearly so any layman can completely understand. If you have a child with hyper activity and are sincerely looking to rid your child of medication, it is in my opinion that you should study this book.
I am very pleased with the concept out lined in the book as it gives real solutions to a frustrating behavior condition that many children/adults experience in their daily lives.
Curt de la Cruz
www.selfhelp-motivation.com

After many therapies, medications, and exercises, we have finally found the underlying cause of our son's ADHD. This book clearly explains what some children miss in their early development. Then it shows you detailed exercises that can cure the problem, not just treat the symptoms! Although the exercises require a commitment, we saw results after only one week! At the end of the 8 month program, we had a "normal" child who was able to focus, sit still, and function completely typical for his age without medication! WONDERFUL!

Thank you very much for having this wonderful book that my studens and I have enjoied so much.
Proud to be your customer any time,
Danelys.

This is an amazing book. I am a children's yoga teacher. This book has changed how I teach. The children love the stories. Their attention is totally on the story. Then when you add yoga to it, it gives the children a chance to embrace and act out the story. I would highly recommend this and Sydney's other book to everyone. You don't have to be a yoga teacher to enjoy this. The art of telling stories has been lost and I'm glad Sydney is bringing it. it is a great way to connect with others.
Sandy

Written for teachers, librarians and yoga instructors, author/yoga instructor Sydney Solis details how yoga is beneficial for young children and how incorporating this ancient spiritual practice into storytelling can help to achieve a deeper level of understanding. The book gives excellent concrete examples of how to deal with real situations that might arise with children including how to maintain control of the class and how to set rules. A class curriculum is outlined including folk tales, their theme, country of origin along with corresponding yoga poses for each character or action. A chapter with black and white photographs and detailed explanations of how to do the various poses is also included.

This is one of the few good yoga books to help teach yoga to children of all ages. It has information on what should happen during the yoga class for different ages of children. It includes stories, songs, games, and ideas to get kids motivated. All my yoga students who are children love the stories and games that come from this book. It has encouraged me to be more free during a children's yoga class.

If you teach children's yoga or want to begin yoga with your children at home then this book is the one to buy. I have structured my class using the recommendations that Sydney Solis gives in the book with warmups and centerings, etc... I have also used all the stories in the book and have went on to use other stories and folk tales I personally enjoy incorporating yoga as I tell the story. My yoga students and my own children thoroughly enjoy each class I teach and I appreciate Storytime Yoga in helping me get started.

I work in public health and struggle to find resources that are useful. This is a great book for everyone. There is no magic pill and there is no easy fix - but there are LOTS of ways to make things worse. Until we have changed our social norms, our environment, and the availability and ease to make healthy choices, it's going to be a long, tough road. This book is a great read that describes what it's like to struggle with weight - good for those of us who are lucky and think our 5-8 pound struggle is horrible, as well as those who struggle with real weight challenges and are ready to hear the painful truth of a child's experience. Well done, Abby.

An honest look at America's obsession with weight loss and how it affects the younger generation. The author, a former fat kid and fat camp survivor (though not a parent, as she acknowledges) explores various ways to lose weight from fat camps to nagging to behavior modification and surgery, among others. Sadly, there is no quick fix or even well-planned diet and exercise program that works for all, or even some. Due both to lack of willpower or incentive, and physical factors beyond the dieter's control, often the weight is lost then gained then lost again.

"Teenage Waistland" lets the young subjects speak for themselves. It is a fascinating look at a controversial subject.

Prepare to laugh, cry and cringe --- but also to learn --- as Abby Ellin leads us through the landscape of obese teen life. First, though, a confession: When I volunteered to read this book, I feared that I was facing a hard, long slog through a dry tome packed with scientific studies on how to help an overweight kid drop a few pounds. Instead, I could barely put down this lively read. Ellin keeps a page-turning pace as she skillfully weaves her own story as a heavy, weight-obsessed teenager through the stories of other such adolescents.

Ellin begins with her own family, who courageously support her by not challenging her right to tell the unvarnished truth about the ways in which her home contributed to her weight problems and food fixations. Interestingly, the family's attitudes toward weight resulted in the author's sister becoming anorexic. Even as Ellin grew larger and larger, her sister began dieting by third grade.

Ellin's grandmother was a major influence on her self-image, withholding affections when Ellin gained weight. On visits to Grandma's house in Florida, Grandma weighed Ellin daily. At home, Ellin's mother obsessed over her own weight, restricted her diet and exercised before stepping on the scales each morning. She taped a photo of an obese woman on the refrigerator door. Both grandmother and mother repeatedly drilled into Ellin and her sister the dangers of gaining weight. As a child, Ellin was devastated when her grandmother told her she couldn't come to Florida for a visit at Christmastime unless she lost 15 pounds. The ploy didn't work. Nothing really did, for many long, sad years.

Ellin spent six years at weight-loss camps. She lost weight but also learned more about dysfunctional eating and how to do it (one counselor sneaked Ellin out to buy a cart full of candy and cookies because "Your body's getting used to the diet. You need sugar to give it a jolt."). In describing her fat camp days, she tells us the story of the owners of weight-loss camps, beginning with her visit as an adult with the man who ran the first weight-loss camp Ellin attended. During her visit, she talks with young campers, giving us the first of many insightful conversations with teens seeking to lose weight. What they say about their parents can make a reader weep.

In TEENAGE WAISTLAND, we learn what has helped teenagers lose weight and, (heartbreakingly) more often, what has either not helped them or made them worse. Experts --- from fat camp leaders to directors of weight loss programs to bariatric surgeons, researchers and fat activists (and more) --- represent a variety of attitudes as each discusses the best way to help heavy adolescents. Ellin compassionately presents suggestions to parents on ways to support an obese child, all based on respect.

Although there is not a single solution to such a complicated problem, reading this book is informative and helpful. It is a horrifying and fascinating study in our culture's warped attitude toward food and weight. Even if you don't have a child with weight issues, TEENAGE WAISTLAND is an engrossing read.

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

This book was extremely helpful to me and my family. As the parent of an overweight child, Abby Ellin's insight as a "former fat kid" is a hands-on "what to do/"what not to do" primer for any parents dealing with these sensitive issues. You're never really sure what to do until you're faced with it head on and Ellin's book showed that it's the sensible approach that makes the most sense. Don't panic; don't over react (as is the most instant impulse). Just act sensibly. Well done!

Simply put, Abby Ellin "gets it". She had a childhood relationship with weight, food, and family that stays with her, regardless of what the scale says today. She candidly tells her story, which isn't always a happy one, but it's often hilarious. When it comes to the "fat kid epidemic", the author doesn't claim to have all the answers, but is very willing to explore a variety of solutions. Teenage Waistland is tragic, eye-opening, humorous and true. Once you read the introduction: Fat Kid Blues - you'll be hooked, just like the author is on Hostess cupcakes!

Originally picked this up at the library. The illustrations are soft and tender and whimsical at the same time. The rhythm of the text when read aloud is joyful and soothing. The book is divided into three sections, which I find unnecessary and a little choppy in flow, but a great book for bedtime or quiet time nonetheless.

I find the language annoying but the pictures are charming and keep my interest for the thousands of times I have read this. My almost-2-year-old daughter loves it so much that I'm buying it because I can no longer keep checking it out from the library. Even though I know it by heart, she still needs to know that the actual book is there.

What a wonderful story to read aloud. It is very lyrical, with a sing-song quality and clever, fun rhymes. There is one section about getting up, one section on mealtime, and another on bedtime. All are wonderful, and are available separately as three boardbooks. My boys are now 3 and 5, and this is still a favorite in our home.

Those are the words I hear over and over, seemingly endless times. My 19 month old daughter got this book when she was 9 months old and has loved it ever since. She can repeat all the words and so can I. I can even "read" it to her without looking at the book while I drive the car, I've read it so many times. Amazingly enough, however, I do not dread reading it, as I do with some of the other favorites. The language is fun and creative, and the pictures are sweet and imaginative. Instant classic!

This is by far the best baby book EVER. My kids love the rhymes. I read it over and over again. This should go in every baby gift like Goodnight Moon so often does.

Ditto everyone else's 5 star reviews. A fantastic book for parents and extended family members of the food allergic child. Sicherer write in a clear and concise manner, explaining all one needs to know. My child has food allergies, including Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES), and I've done a lot of research and am active in an online FA support group. This book explains it all, even stuff I didn't already know. His FPIES section is excellent. I keep this book on out for quick access, as I often use it as a reference.

This is a great book! It's a fabulous reference guide to have if you have a child with food allergies. It addresses case studies of children with multiple food allergies and questions that real parents have! It details out different diagnosis processes, treatments and day to day living. If you are raising a child with food allergies - you must read this book.

As a seasoned mom, but a new one to the food allergy world, this book provides a lot of technical info all in one source. If you want to understand why our bodies react to certain foods and how to proceed, this book is for you.

My three-year old son has severe food allergies. This book -- written by a world-renowned pediatric allergist -- is one of the best food allergy books I've come across. It provides all the latest statistics and medical background regarding food allergy, and is easy for the lay public to digest, e.g., those of us without medical degrees. Another great book for parents learning to cope with their child's food allergies is: The Parents Guide to Food Allergies -- Clear and Complete Adivce From the Experts on Raising Your Food-Allergic Child. It's written by a parent -- who was a professional writer before discovering her child had food allergies. It's easy-to-read and covers some of the more emotional aspects of raising a child with this very unique and special need.

We have been managing my child's food allergies for the past 5 years - I have read many, many books on the subject. This one is the absolute best! As much as I understood about food allergies, I still had many questions. This book has helped to clear up most of them. Many of the books on food allergy create a sense of panic, especially when you are new to the situation. The information in this book takes some of the anxiety out of everyday life - our children can have normal, healthy, fun-filled lives!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

You've Got Manners is a delightful, creative book which makes learning manners a fun and interesting "game" for children of all ages. It can be used as a learning tool whether at the dinner table, eating out or traveling, and all family members can participate. I love the author's use of illustrations and vivid primary colors which are instrumental in keeping a child's attention. The author also cleverly incorporated another learning tool, the alphabet. I can unequivocally recommend You've Got Manners for every family's library.

The charming characters, bright colors, and friendly verse make this book a delightful learning experience into the world of manners, for children young and old. I recommend it highly.

This book is an excellent way to introduce children to table manners. It's fun style and examples make learning fun!

I ordered this book for my young granddaughter who, at nearly 3 years of age, is ready to consider simple discussion of table manners. I am generally delighted with the book and believe it is one that can grow with a child, having applications even into adulthood.

I was startled, however, to find lie-lay errors on pp. 7 and 55. I also note numerous other small changes that would greatly improve a future edition. For example, some pages are written in the imperative, some are written in the declarative....some are in the third person, some are in the second person, and at least one (p. 44) slips into the first person plural. In addition, frequent use of unnecessary quotation marks is distracting.

The book fills an important niche in a child's library, but it is limited by the above weaknesses. I do not mean to be critical....I have corrected pp. 7 and 55 in my edition and will enjoy this charmingly illustrated book with my granddaughter. You could do the same.

I though I had done that already. So, once again, the book arrived on time but the sender failed to tell that this was a LIBRARY BOOK. It was full of stickers with library numbers on the cover and inside the book itself. Had I known this, I would not have bought it. It's one thing to buy a "used" book. It's another, to buy a used book with stickers and notations. So, I am not very pleased and I emailed the sender upon receipt.

I have four daughters, and as I read this book I alternated between thinking "That's exactly right based on my experience!" and "Wow, I'm very glad to know that!"

The range and depth of information is impressive, and Dr. Metzl's writing style makes you just keep reading once you start.

This book should be required reading by all sporting parents. I can promise you'll be a better parent for having read it.

When my son slipped during a recent curling match, I was worried that he'd never feel comfortable comepting gain, but Dr. Metzl's excellent book gave my wife and me the information we needed to get our son back in the game. This book is a must-read for parents with kids in sports. It does for sports injuries what chicken soup and chopped liver do for the soul.

This is one of the best health books, and one of the best parenting books, I have ever read. Dr. Metzl's style is both authoritative and engaging. I highly recommend this book.

Dr. Metzl clearly articulates the do's and don'ts of sports medicine and there impact to young athlete's. He has a dry sense of humor that makes the book an enjoyable read. A must have for parents with active, athletic children.

This book delivers- well written + clear + suitable for those not in the mental health/medical fields yet does not oversimplify/dumb down. If you are wondering whether medicine may be needed for your child or client, or if you are concerned with the state of psychiatry + medicine today, this book is a must read.

As a child psychiatrist who works with children, adults and families in much the same way as Dr. Kalikow, and as one who is all too familiar with the "thorny" kinds of issues which can block parents and or their cihldren from benefitting from the therapeutic process and to then go on and experience real healing, I am very grateful to him for this book.

"Your Child in the Balance" is a highly readable and easily digested source of information for parents who are faced with the daunting task of obtaining the best help for their children who struggle with emotional and behavioral problems. In an age where so many practioners in child psychiatry seem to have become almost single mindedly focused on the use of pharmacologic agents to treat, if not "cure", our children, using medicines which often do offer both the potential for relief for so many problems as well as risks, and with a media which often fails to provide an appropriate perspective on the complex issues involved in such forms of treatment, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to know who to turn to and who to trust when a child is troubled and in need of "professional help". Knowing when medicine is appropriate and when not, as well as what other therapeutic modalities a parent can expect from child psychiatrists and other "mental health" providers, are examples of the information one can expect to find in this book. He handles these and a host of other related issues in a clear, thoughtful and sensitive, yet straightfoward, manner.

Dr. Kalikow does an admirable job of presenting timely and relevant issues, filling some of what I consider to be a psychoeducational void with much needed light.

Richard A. Flamberg, M.D.
South Salem, New York

Your Child in the Balance by Kevin Kalikow, a pediatric psychiatrist addresses the dilemma that parents face when deciding whether ir not to use medicine to treat their child's psychiatric disorder. Dr. Kalikow opens by searching for the answers to two questions. Where do we draw the line between function and dysfunction in defining pediatric mental illness? When and how do we decide to treat these illnesses with medications?

The book defines the most common disorders and describes the medications used to treat them. The text is well peppered with detailed case histories. Dr. Kalikow's voice, in this book as in his clinical practice, is clear, coherant and engaging. Most parents will find one or more vignettes which resonate with similarities to their child's behavior and struggles. We see children whose disorders are mild and others whose symptoms are extremely distressing to them and impact significantly and negatively on their families and classmates. In these latter cases, we are shown the impact of pharmacologic treatment.

Many of my pediatric patients have benefitted from Dr. Kalikow's psychiatric care which is remarkable for depth of understanding and respectful perserverance with even the most challenging patients. This book will serve as a guide to other families searching for the right paths for the treatment of their children.

Harriet J. Blumencranz, MD, Goldens Bridge, NY

Dealing with a child's illness in any form is always difficult and emotionally draining, but when it comes to less tangible psychological disorders, the acknowledgment of the condition and the subsequent choice of treatment for our children are among the most difficult of all medical issues a parent must deal with.

The shift from Freudian therapy to pharmacological treatment of children is new to many of us, and I was admittedly a skeptic and needed a lot of information and understanding. Dr. Kalikow's book was by far the best treatment of any such parenting issue I've ever read.

His style of writing - while suffused with an extraordinary amount of well-organized information - is engaging and gentle, and in my case, managed to address almost all of the questions I had on the subject.

By presenting scores of individual case vignettes, along with the arguments both for and against various types of treatments, their effects, potential side-effects, time scales, and long-term considerations, Dr. Kalikow's book provided me with a substantial tool with which to deal with problems "in my own back yard."

There's a lot of hand-holding in his narratives, and in some cases Dr. Kalikow's easy-going manner may seem like he's addressing an audience of adolescents. But when it comes to handling our children, perhaps we can all benefit from being treated in this way, with a touch on the shoulder and the reassurance that the understanding of these disorders in chldren is still new to everyone, and their treatments are even newer.

Bravo and thanks to Dr. Kalikow for providing a very useful and engaging body of information.

A thoughtful and helpful book for a complex subject. Dr. Kalikow addresses the decision making process of the parents, the child and the health care professional when choosing how to address the needs of their child. It is written clearly, with humor, compassion and tenderness. I believe parents will be able to make a more educated decision after reading this book.

This is a very nice addition to anyone's library who's trying to get/is pregnant. Information you won't find anywhere else. Awesome. I only made it 4 stars because I'm a super tough critic.

This book was very helpful in my pregnancy planning journey...a must read for first timers!!

This book is a must have for any soon to be or current parent. While it makes you think about things you may not want to (i.e. wills, life insurance), these are things all parents need to plan for.

I wish I had this book during my pregnancy beside all those other books that just relate to being pregnant. I think everyone who is becoming a parent for the first time should read this book.

This book has provided a wealth of information. It's not a "what to expect" type book about your body and the developing baby, but rather a planner for finances, insurance coverage, disability leave, wills, your rights and much more. It's basically the stuff you know you should be thinking about, but are too excited about the baby and what's going on with your body to stop and plan for the practical stuff. This book breaks down the information into manageable monthly checklists. If you follow her month to month guidance, you will have less to worry about when the baby arrives knowing you have all your ducks in a row.

I read all sorts of books to my brother. Grandma bought this one for him. He loves the colors and the poetry and always brings it to me so that I can read it to him. He's only 19 months old. Casey Hoffman

THIS IS THE BOOK I WAS LOOKING FOR. A EASY AND ENJOYABLE WAY TO INTRODUCE MY CHILDREN TO FOOD AND WHAT FOOD REALLY IS. THE KIDS TOOK IT ALL IN WITH A REAL POSITIVE ATTITUDE. BELIEVE ME THIS HAS MADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS EASY. ALL MY BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S KIDS ARE GOING TO GET THIS. MS. O'DONNELL HAS A RARE GIFT AND I HOPE SHE TURNS OUT MANY MORE SIMILAR BOOKS.

I liked the animals and what they did. my daddy read me the story and it was fun. I specially liked the long dog he looks like my dog he doesn't wear hats

This little book is a delightful Ogden Nash - Aesop romp through our alphabet; the children will love the wonderful illustrations. Well done - just in time for Christmas.

Tom Scott, M.D. Orlando, Florida.

Sallie O'Donnell's delightful book deserves a worldwide audience. Chuckles will echo from continent to continent as adults and children savour the amusing rhymes - then slowly absorb the good advice contained in them. Sallie is a standard-bearer in the fight against the 21st Century's greatest scourge: obesity.

Peter Hinchliffe, Yorkshire, England.