Education Books

A very nice book, with remarkable trees, however, from the cover I suppose I wrongly assumed they would be beautiful trees. Quite a lot of the book is spent on African trees of a very strange nature, and to my husband's suprise, very little was done on the banyan tree. I was looking forward to large, ancient trees myself. All in all, it is still a wonderful book, it just wasn't what we were expecting.

Great Book will enough the wonder hopefully they have it in the school systems or county systems

Trees are grouped by various, sensible categories that other books on trees might neglect: Giants: Gods, Goddesses, Grizzlies; Dwarfs: For Fear of Little Men, In Bondage; Methuselahs: The Living and the Dead, Shrines; Dreams: Prisoners, Aliens, Lovers and Dancers, Snakes and Ladders, Ghosts; and Trees in Peril: Do the Loggers always Win? and Ten Green Bottles. Pakenham's text is great fun to read, as can be viewed from those sectional titles, and individual tree titles such as "Tie up my feet, Darling, and I'll live forever" for the Bonsai tree that is the In Bondage section.

I suppose coffee table books really shouldn't be considered exceptional items to read - view, yes; read, not so much. This is an exception. Tolkien's Ents are invoked for a handful of trees, and rightly so; geography students who get a core borer stuck and (somehow) get permission to cut down what had possibly been the oldest tree in the world just to retrieve it are warned against; and, of course, it is mentioned that any fool can climb a gum tree. I've read this about six times this year, high time I count it officially.

beautiful book. Bought it as a gift for my brother.
I already have a copy for myself.

In fall 2006, Lansing's forestry department planted a tiny gingko biloba tree between the sidewalk and the street in front of my house.
It had four and a half branches, all oriented in one plane like the candlesticks in a menorah. You could barely roast a wiener with it.
I scrambled into the house for a book I had bought, by sheer coincidence, the previous day -- Thomas Pakenham's "Remarkable Trees of the World."
Yes! There, sprawling across pages 110 and 111, was a gingko nearly 1,000 years old, still living in Tokyo, measuring 30 feet in girth and 66 feet high.
Pakenham, a British historian with Irish wanderlust and a gentle sense of drama, has traveled the world to photograph and research the history and lore of 60 of the world's most remarkable trees.
This oversize book, just now out in paperback, is so relaxed and un-sensational you picture Pakenham walking from tree to tree, a Haydn string quartet playing in the background, not minding the continents and oceans in between. It's a follow-up to another book that's just as good: "Meetings With Remarkable Trees," in which Packenham confined his wanderings to the British Isles. The response to "Meetings" was so warm that Pakenham packed his bags and expanded his search to global proportions.
Pakenham's style is that of a curious, intelligent pilgrim. He pairs generous full-page or double-page images of his subjects with un-fussy, lightly conversational background information. He clearly respects local lore and legend, but doesn't go overboard with it, nor does he bog the text down in scientific details. The result is almost a set of personality profiles.
The images are spectacular -- given the subject matter, most of them can't help it -- but sensitively chosen and framed, with an eye toward the unique setting, mood and attributes of each tree.
It's a low-key approach, but if this book doesn't awaken your sense of awe, nothing can. That little stick of a gingko in my front yard, for example, belongs to a hyper-ancient species/order/family that predates dinosaurs. Its peculiar lineage (it's related to ferns) is betrayed by unique, fan-shaped leaves that have no central fold.
Of course, trees have their own agenda, and don't care whether they get into a coffee-table book or not (it's tempting to think they'd rather not, insofar as books are made of paper). But it was hard not to think of Pakenham's gargantuan gingko as a thundering encouragement for my little tree's stressed-out, brown-fringed leaves and spindly trunk.
For one thing, Japanese Buddhists believe the gingko, not the Bo tree of India, was the tree under which Buddha found enlightenment.
If lore doesn't thrill, Pakenham serves up history and science. For example, a gingko 800 yards from the epicenter of Hiroshima threw up new sprouts even after the atomic bomb hit.
But enough about gingkos. In this book, the reader will meet a panoply of the world's most amazing creatures: General Sherman, a mega-giant sequoia in California that weights 1,500 tons and is probably the largest living thing on Earth; ancient teapot-shaped African baobabs out of a Dr. Suess illustration; the leaning Italian cypress said to have been planted by St. Francis; wind-lashed cypresses clinging to the rocky California coast; great oaks with hollows where 20 people can sit down to a banquet; bristlecone pines now into their fifth millennium of existence.
Some of these magnificent trees are near roadsides or chained off in parks, all but ignored by passersby. The wonder of this book is that it tunes the mind to the low-frequency, centuries-long chords only these creatures can hear. Looking at trees that have lived the better part of a millennium make you wonder whether there will be a California -- the home of a disproportionate number of these giants -- or a Lansing in 1,000 years.
My bet's on Lansing, which is far less likely to slip into the ocean before my gingko grows up.

Ms. Sargent has produced a work of inspiration. As a 37 year old man taking his first baby steps into the world of higher education, I suffer from not only various fears, but from complete confusion as well. Where do I start? Should I follow the recommendations of well-meaning friends and attend school at night while working full time? What the hell is "matriculation?" Of course, no one book can answer every question you might have about returning to college, but "Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students" comes very close. There is extremely useful information on applying for schools, navigating financial aid offices, and choosing a major. But more importantly (because it means you will actually ENJOY the book), the author strikes a pitch-perfect tone: warmth and humor tempered with enough authority to let you know she's had much experience, and knows whereof she speaks. I HIGHLY recommend this book - buy two copies in case your first one gets lost. The bottom line is that it was Ms. Sargent's book that inspired me enough to...get moving on a long-postponed dream.

How often is it that one book answers all of our questions about any given topic? How often is a reference book a one-stop-shop for all that we're looking for? My typical experience is, more often than not, having to read several different books before I can locate ALL of the information I'm looking for. Finally, an awesome great book that answers every possible question about nontraditional higher education!

I was absolutely thrilled, and amazed too, that "Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students: How to Earn a Top Diploma from America's Great Colleges at Any Age," turned out to be a one-stop-shop reference book that met all of my needs. I attended college, many years ago, but never finished the degree I wanted. Like so many others, life sort of got in the way of my dreams, and I chose work and family and let my education go by the wayside. I had reasons for making the choices I did, but my goal of earning a "Top Degree" has not left me and I needed some professional guidance to help me fulfill my educational dream.

I bought this book about 60 days ago, frustrated with myself for not having completed a degree program in a timely manner. And even though my resume appears to be quite extensive and impressive, the lack of having a completed degree likely prevents me from obtaining the kind of career I'd really enjoy. Many years have passed since I made my first application to a college or university degree program. Can you imagine how anxious I was about even considering applying to one of America's many "Great Colleges"? Would I be accepted? Could I work, raise a family and go to college all at the same time? How could I afford a "Top Degree", even if I my application was accepted?

Miraculously, each and every question and concern I had was answered, accurately and thoroughly, in Carole Fungaroli Sargent's totally comprehensive guide. First, I selected the colleges that offered nontraditional degree programs in my field of interest, Abnormal Psychology, and then narrowed my choices using the helpful guides that are included in her book. In the same amount of time it would have taken to go grocery shopping or take the family to the movies, I was able to complete the entire online applications to the colleges and universities that I was interested in. Additionally, the book guided me to the proper web sites that would allow me to apply for any possible State and Federal financial aid. Without the awesome assistance and direction I received by reading this book, it's very likely that I would have become all-too frustrated with the confusion and paperwork and, once again, would have put my dreams on hold. Instead, I felt confident and decided that I would persevere until I completed my longstanding goal.

I was accepted by 4 of the 5 "Great Colleges" that I applied to and was elated beyond belief! I was convinced they were going to find something, just anything, that would keep me from getting my Diploma. However, I kept focused on the one university program that I was most interested in and followed every suggestion and strategy for acceptance that was outlined in Sargent's book. Within a period of less than one month, I had received a formal welcome and registration package for the Nontraditional Degree Program that I was about to enter into. As explained in the book, I also promptly heard from the Financial Aid Office of the University and was told that I would qualify for a partial Pell Grant, along with 3 options for Federal Student Loans.

I had been accepted by the University and also by the Department of Psychology's Graduate Degree Program. I can still remember how excited I was to hear all of this incredible news and to remind myself that I was finally on the journey I had dreamed of for years. Many of the credits that I received in my past attempts, years earlier, were accepted by the University. I had so many great choices to make now and I was amazed that all of these classes were being offered at local community colleges and the State Universities, but all credits earned would be applied directly to the Nontraditional Degree Program I would complete in less than 18 months.

I've already completed 2 courses, both of which I loved taking. Although they were considered "Fast Track" Courses, and would require a great amount of concentrated studies at a very fast pace, I found myself in absolute rhythm with the demands of the classes and passed both classes with flying colors. My next course will begin in about 2 weeks and I've already received the text books and study guides by Federal Express.

If you could see my face right how, I think you would see someone who is finally showing a spark in his eyes. The guidance I received from this book is changing my life in so many positive ways! Even my fear of being the oldest person in my first class was relieved by a fellow student who was in her 80's! I guess it's never too late to complete your collegiate dreams and to reach "reach for the stars!"

There is no doubt in my mind, that without the help of this wonderful book, I'd still be dragging my feet and finding excuses for not going back to school. I knew that I didn't fit into the "Traditional Student" category and feared that I'd never finish a very important dream-to be the very first person in my entire family to finish a college degree. My suggestion to all, from someone who shares this honest review to help others, is that you reach for your goals and complete your dream of getting a great degree from any of a number of "Top Colleges" throughout America.

Good luck to you! I hope this review has helped in some way. If I've failed in giving you enough information about this book, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to share more with you. Maybe I can inspire you to buy the same book that has already changed my life.

You, too, can earn your degree. And you'll be surprised at how easy it is to complete a "Top Degree" from so many of America's "Top Colleges"-no matter where you live and no matter what your financial resources are. I am doing it and so can you!

Warm Regards to All!

Peter V. Cannice from Scottsdale, Arizona
Contact me at Horsepete@aol.com if I can be of help to you!

Although Fungaroli's book is geared to adults who haven't finished college -- and some who never started -- returning students can benefit at any age and any degree level.
Her information is dead-on accurate. She's frank and realistic about options of attending prestige schools, finishing up those last few credits, ending unsupportive relationships and more.
A friend of mine was just like one of her interviewees: needed a few credits and sold himself short. A quick letter to the registrar and presto -- he got credit for life experience and an extra summer school course!
I'm recommending this book to my clients who ask, "Am I too old for school?" As she would say, the answer is always a firm NO.

At one time, I may have owned the largest collection of college bulletins in the world. In each of the past ten years since my high school graduation, the stack has grown higher and higher. Each contains a glimpse of a world I promised myself I would return to someday; each contains the promise of a brighter future. One day, I read Dr. Sargent's book Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students. Then I threw out all of those bulletins: I needed room on the shelf for my textbooks.

With the sage guidance one would expect of a professor from a prestigious educational institution, and with the empathetic advice one would count on from a friend who has "been there" herself, Dr. Sargent completely addresses the challenges and rewards that await the adult college student. This book is a treasure for any adult who is considering going back to school.

I was glad to find this gem of a book. As a distance ed dropout, I blamed myself for difficulties in sticking with undergrad correspondence courses and grad level online programs. The socialization element of traditional programs, as the author points out, was critical for me to stay interested.

That being said, I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater and discount distance ed "techniques" that would prove themselves useful supplements to traditional college; email correspondence with the prof, asynchronous student chat rooms, videotaped classes, use of virtual science labs, etc.

However, we needed a book like this to counter the distance ed hype, and help readers make intelligent decisions about their learning goals.

This book has it all when it comes to grammar. It teaches the parts of sentences and how to put them together to write a report, what is and isn't good grammar, and how to sound like you're not an illiterate; and, on top of all that, it offers exercises. I showed this to my boss who said she would buy several copies for the office so that staffers didn't make grammar mistakes. The author put this all together in one thin but rewarding book...worth every little penny you pay.

For years I wondered about when to say "good" and "well," or how to avoid double negatives, and a whole slew of other problem areas in grammar. Well, this book made it easy and simple. I highly recommend it. Nice job, Professor Hayes.

Whether you're in elementary or high school, being homeschooled, or run a business, this is the best supplemental text on grammar to have on hand. I learned so much from it in such a short period of time. It focused on all the grammatical problems we have when presenting or writing. I own a Ford dealership and have copies of this book all around the showroom and in each of my sales associates' office for use as a quick reference. I want my staff to sound educated and act with class. Speaking poor grammatically isn't the answer. Buy this book. I don't usually review or recommend books but I'm making an exception in this case.

Troublesome Grammar is one of the most helpful books I have come across to point how errors are unknowingly made in speaking and writing. This author hit right on the problems we all have, such as when to use well or better, which verbs to use for past tense, how to use hyphens and so on. This is worth the few bucks it costs.

I'm from Scotland studying here in the States. I saw a student on campus using this book to do an English report. I asked him to let me look at it, and, wow!, was I every surprised that someone was smart enough to wrap up all the grammar problems we face in one easy to read book. Thanks, Dr. Hayes. You made my work here at college easier. I hope everyone gets as lucky as me and finds this book.

It's one thing to have a great idea, but it's something else to take that idea and truly bring it to life - but that's just what Jennifer Bouani has done in this first book of the Future Business Leaders' Series. Tyler and His Solve-a-matic Machine wildly succeeds on two levels: entertaining its target audience of ages 9 to 12 with an excellent, fun fantasy adventure and offering its young readers a number of very sound lessons in the principles of entrepreneurship. If you're a parent, your child might not remember how to spell entrepreneur after reading this book, but he will be familiar with most of the basic concepts behind the term - and could very well be excited about the prospect of becoming an entrepreneur himself.

Tyler is an orphan who dreams of sailing around the world like his late father did. One night, while slogging his way through a homework assignment, he dreams up the idea of a machine to help him do all of his homework quickly. Then a strange voice leads him downtown to a magical high-rise building, where it reveals itself to be Sote, the Great Spirit of the Entrepreneurs. After hearing about entrepreneurship and its potential rewards, Tyler accepts Sote's challenge: get to the top of the hundred-floor building before sunrise if he really wants to realize his dream of having his very own boat.

Obviously, it's not as simple as just taking the elevator or stairs up to the top floor. The stairways are locked, different elevators in the building take you to different levels, and Tyler must find the keys to several special elevators. Along the way, he will also meet up with certain individuals and groups determined to stop him from succeeding.

Tyler's entrepreneurial quest basically takes him through the process of taking his idea of a Solve-a-matic Machine and turning it into an actual manufacturing business. Bouani came up with some really brilliant ways to illustrate the kinds of obstacles entrepreneurs must deal with in the real world- and that's really the key to the book's success and eminent readability. Even as your child is reading this entertaining fantasy adventure featuring all kinds of exotic locations and animals, he/she is actually learning how to take an idea and turn it into a marketable product by coming up with a design, assembling the necessary tools and resources for production, hiring and managing workers (including dealing with unions), setting prices and production levels, etc.

I have a degree in economics, so I know how boring this subject matter can be. Bouani deserves major kudos for taking such a potentially dry subject as entrepreneurship and communicating its basic principles in such a fun and entertaining way to younger readers. She actually gets kids excited about the prospects of becoming entrepreneurs themselves, and that's an amazing accomplishment. Similar books involving Tyler and his friends are forthcoming in the Future Business Leaders' Series, and I am sure they will build upon the strong foundation this first book has already established.

This is a fantasy adventure story for children between, say, 9 & 12. However, it isn't just a fantasy adventure story. It has the purpose of entertaining while it introduces children to the basic topics of becoming an entrepreurial businessperson. To an adult inured to the typical squishy values of much children's writing, the frankness of the pro-business ideas might seem jarring. However, it is unlikely the kids will have such feelings of strangeness.

Tyler is an lives in an orphanage and all he has of his father is a picture of him. I may have missed it, but I couldn't find any explanation of what happened to his mother. He ends up going through the floors of a very magic tall building and has to solve projects on each floor in order to get to the penthouse by the next morning to win his dream.

The projects do discuss topics that every entrepreneur will have to face, but not in a realistic way. That isn't the purpose of the book. It is a fantasy adventure and wants to start children thinking along certain lines. No one faults the squishy literature for presenting human relations in unrealistic ways. It is just that there is so much of it we have come to accept it.

However, this book seems to cover even union busting. Is that really a topic a nine year old will understand in any way? It might be that in some states the kind of behavior the adventurers engage is illegal in some states! I don't know.

Anyway, it is a fresh kind of story. I am not a person who reads a lot of children's literature so I don't know how the writing fits for its target audience. Even when I was a child, I didn't read children's literature. The language isn't beautiful or particularly enchanting. However, it does get its point across and that is probably more important to its goals.

This is a very inventive and brilliantly written book about a young orphaned boy who invents a machine to do his homework and embarks on an adventure in a fantasy sky-scraper where he meets all the people who he needs to start his own business. It is not only informative but encouraging for youth to know they can suceed in the world of business.

A great introduction for kids.

Seth J. Frantzman

Jennifer Bouani, Tyler and His Solve-a-Matic Machine (Bouje, 2006)

The idea of kids' books teaching libertarian values is one near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, I've never actually found one that gets it entirely right; the author either softpedals the values and mixes in some of the usual left-leaning kids'-book malarkey or overstates the case and ends up writing something more polemic than kids' book. Tyler and His Solve-a-Matic Machine, however, is as close as I've found to a book that manages to keep its balance.

More than anything, it put me in mind of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth in its writing style. Bouani, like Juster before her, creates an entirely believable character and then thrusts him into an entirely unbelievable situation (and for much the same reason). Tyler, our hero, is ten years old. Like most kids, he's not fond of homework, but unlike most kids, he's actually got some ideas in his head about a machine that will help. There are forces who are willing to help him build his machine, but first they must teach him the basics of being an entrepreneur.

First things first: let's get the bad stuff out of the way, and when I say "bad stuff," I mean two minor niggles. First, the font in which the book is typeset is non-standard, and can take a while to get used to, so be prepared. Second, if you're a unionist, prepare to be absolutely outraged. Tyler and his friends' solution to the problem of the striking union members is the kind of thing that got people killed in the seventies. (Needless to say, it's also the correct answer.) Some of the characters are less well-developed than I'd like, but the afterword states that this is the first book in a series; I'm certainly willing to give Bouani the benefit of the doubt that the characters will become more developed as time goes on. Why? Because, despite the fact that this book could have easily gone the way of the lecturing instruction manual (viz. The Girl Who Owned a City), Bouani realizes that, yes, there is a story to be told here, and that the lessons the book wants to impart are better related through the construct of the story. That puts her ahead of 95% (if not more) of those who write books like this already.

My biggest problem with the book was that I wanted more. Yeah, I know, it's the first in a series. This is why I don't normally read series until they're all out, because now I have to hunker down and start the interminable wait for the second book. However, while I'm waiting, I will recommend Tyler and His Solve-a-Matic Machine without hesitation; I've already given my copy to my daughter. ***

Young Tyler Sogno has big dreams - he would like to buy a big boat, and sail all around the world. But, being an orphan, and a bit of a slacker, he knows that his dreams will never come true. However, when a disembodied voice tells him that there is a path to that brighter future, Tyler sits up and take notice. The voice tells him that to make his dreams come true, he must become an entrepreneur! What does Tyler have to do to become an entrepreneur? He (and we) are about to find out!

This book is a wonderful lesson in capitalism, presented in the form of a story. I am tempted to say an allegorical story, but in fact few things are veiled here. This book teaches the young reader all about what it takes to become an entrepreneur, everything from coming up with a product, getting the patents, developing the plant, and hiring employees.

I must admit, I wish I had had this book a couple of years ago. For a high school class, my nephew and some other students were supposed to develop the idea for a business to place on an island. They came up with exporting coconut bikinis and monkey butlers. They understood so little about what running a business meant, and this book would have told them.

Overall, I think that this is a great book, one that should be required reading in all American schools! I give this book my highest recommendation.

Oops, I almost forgot to mention...I love the characters in this book, especially the monkey J.J. Junglehammock, Attorney at Law. He cracked me up!

I purchased this because I was interested in where my daughter was supposed to be. I found that in this age of differentiated instruction, this would help with RTI and making plans for the different levels in my class...

This is a great book for all educators. I highly recommend it. It give great information for all who work with children in what to expect in terms of children's development and implication for learning.

"Yardsticks", by Chip Wood, is a wonderful resourse for anyone working with children aged 4 to 14. It offers insights into the development of various age groups, and the book is conveniently divided by age. So, if you are working with seven-year-olds, you simply go to the section labeled "Sevens" and you can read about their cognitive abilities as well as physical attributes an average child of this age has. I am a pre-service teacher and recieved only a short blurb copy of this book and knew I HAD to have the entire book. It has been a wonderful help in my teaching and I plan on utilizing it for my entire career. Get this book!

It's a great book to learn what children are doing at a certain age and what interests them as a teacher.

This is just one incredible book. It is direct to the point with no flowery words, theories or philosphies. Each chapter is one age. The author creates about a half dozen catagories: physical, communication, etc. and provides bullets under each catagory of what to expect for the age. Each chapter is designed the same. I have found it to be right on the money! This should be a gift for every new parent!

This is a great book!It is written in secret code and is very hard to understand.But it is still an excellent book with a good plot!

This is a great book!It is written in secret code and is very hard to understand.But it is still an excellent book with a good plot!

I read this book 2 years ago, and still I can not forget how good it was and how much it helped me understand there are other people out there going through the same things as I do and worse. I am now 14 years old, and couldn't image going through what Julian went through in this book, AFTER the death of my mother.

Although the book was kinda confusing in the beginning, I caught on. Deciphering each and every messaged coated with numbers and codes until I cracked each and everyone one of them and recorgnized them once I spotted them.

Author James M. Deem is without doubt the most amazing author I've ever read books from. Since this book, I look and look for his books and read them and never I repeat NEVER has he let me down. I think that everyone who reads his material should cherish it, and hold on to his thoughts [ they are amazing ] just as I have done, because he's simply...the best. <3 James!

-Ashley

Julian is an abused child. His mother is dead, his demented stepmother starves him and locks him in his room and makes him do all the chores in the house, and his father lets her. The story is told in diary form of Julian's three notebooks, or "Nbs" as he calls them. The notebooks are written in code so that if his father and stepmother should discover them, they would have difficulty reading. The reader also has difficulty at first, as it takes some detective work to decipher the code.

The thing I liked most about the book is Julian's strength of spirit. With the support of his English teacher and a classmate, he is able to get a job, run away, and make a new life for himself. When I looked at James Deem's website, it says the story is based on the author's own experiences. And you can tell. It's really good, though the code can be a bit annoying.

This book seriously defies the mind. When I picked up this book + read the 1st page I knew that it was going 2 B like no book that I have ever read. I had some knowledge of pager code before hand so it was not as difficult for me as it would B for someone who hadn't. I was intrigued w/ 16 y.o Julian who's life + everything in it couldn't be described as anything but [the underworld]. This book kept me turning page after page determined to find if he gets away 4rm his abusive parents or ever meets this "U" th@ he obsesses himself over.
This book is a puzzle and unraveling it is only half the fun. I recommend this book 2 everyone. I thought it was a great story + if u take the time 2 sit down + read it, I'm sure you will think the same thing 2.

If you like to travel and love history then you will greatly appreciate this excellent resource. This book provides information on the best Living History destinations in the United States from prehistory to the early 1840s. Instead of organizing the locations by particular area of the United States the authors have chosen to organize them by significant historical groupings. Examples of these groupings include a section on America's native peoples, one on religious and secular groups, one on the road to independence, and one on opening the West.

Most destinations have between a half page and a full-page description of the location, its historical significance, and interesting facts about the location or a related history. The book is filled with excellent color photographs that give the reader a solid feel for what to expect. This is one of the most invaluable resources I have ever found for planning a trip focused on American history and the historical significance of various areas of the United States. Americans Living History is very highly recommended.

Say the words "road trip" and "history" and I get excited. Suzanne & Craig Sheumaker have written a wonderful guide book for people who love living history sites and museums. I've been to most of the places described in Virginia and I can say that they got their descriptions absolutely correct.

I especially liked the photos. Most guide books have no pictures or annoy me with dinky little artsy drawings. When I'm in a car looking for something I don't want a drawing.

The Sheumakers seem to really love what they do and their enthusiasm comes though in each chapter. I've always scorned the Jamestown Settlement and prefered to head to the real Jamestown down the road but after reading the Sheumakers section on it I think I'll give it a try.

I particularly enjoyed the way that they split the book up. If you are interested in sites from the Spanish colonization years or the French or of course the English you can find chapters that deal just with that particular period. If you want to understand more about Indian life they have an exceptionally good section of sites dedicated to America's earliest settlers. Be sure to check out the Cherokee villiage in North Carolina. The book also talks about the Catholics, the Jews, Amish, Moravian, Shakers, Quakers and Mormons who came to America and the living history sites they left behind.

If the Revolutionary period is what interests you most they have a chapter on sites to visit. If the sites of the new nation are your thing then they have a chapter for you. This is really a delightful book and is such a good travel companion I'd say that the best thing to do is to buy two copies. One for the coffee table and one to keep in the car. I hope this is the begining of a new series.

What can you expect from America's Living History-The Early Years? Definitely not just another "coffee table" book! The stunning photographs may catch your eye, but you'll want to pick up this book and use it.

Have you ever wanted to visit the historic Jamestown site in Virginia? You can view hundreds of artifacts discovered from the first permanent settlement there.

Do you remember the story about Washington crossing an icy river to attack British forces? Been to the place it happened? Did you know that every year on Christmas Day, hundreds of re-enactors cross the river to commemorate this Revolutionary War triumph?

Know where you can find incredible Native American petroglyphs? Sites in New Mexico and Nevada are mentioned in this book.

Readers will find the answers to innumerable questions about early American life in this book. Whether readers are interested in a day trip close to home or going cross-country, this is a great resource.

From the plains to the coast, Alaska to Hawaii, nearly every state is represented in this guide. With three hundred destinations featured, a history buff or interested traveler couldn't ask for more.

The authors have done a great job with tasteful and applicable photographs. They accent pages filled not just with contact information (although it's there for your reference) but with interesting facts, too. The book is separated into categories, including: America's Native Peoples, European Colonization, Road to Independence, and more. It also features destinations lists by region, to help you plan adventures if you are on a trip.

The authors have obviously done their homework and it shows in this wonderful resource.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended.

We are history buffs at home--both of us grew up in historic areas. Trips to Gettysburg, Independence Hall, The Old North Church and Washington, DC were in our childhood experiences. You could hardly take a daytrip without seeing some of America's oldest treasures. So we as children enjoyed historical sites and we still stop for historical markers as a habit when we are out touring any area.


For people with similar tastes or who have children to educate, this is a wonderful resource. Some of the well-known and lesser known historical sites all over the US that date from the early years are laid out in a travel guide format.


The book is organized by popular sites, subjects like religious movements, colonization, the Western movement, and the Revolutionary War and the times leading up to this watershed event. Each historical site has photographs, address and phone number and a synopsis of what is available for touring. The geographical maps show towns or cities of interest. The only thing missing would be day trip routes in some of the more densely-historical areas (Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, New Jersey.)



But there are also timelines and write-ups of the history of the times (the Shakers, the Mormons, the battles of the Revolution and War of 1812, and the early contact with Native Americans.) So the book is not just a "what to see" but has important background and a good if brief overview of early American history.

After I read this book, I immediately wanted to go see at least a half a dozen sites I had not visited that are not really very far from my, and added a list of places I want to see next time I'm out West.


This is a very pretty book and one that home schoolers would find absolutely a treasure. My parents took us on endless daytrips on weekends and these are some of my fondest memories of childhood. If you have kids and an automobile, I'd put this book on the "must-have" list because you can build some excellent memories and give your kids a fine sense of where we came from as a nation. Big thumbs-up and I eagerly await more in this series.

Suzanne and Craig Sheumaker have created an incredible resource for people looking to vacation in the United States in places where history lives. They profile 300 living history sites in the United States that cover American history from the time when Native Americans had empires and confederations to the 1840's. The Sheumakers provide excellent cross-references to aid people planning a living history vacation. However, this book is more than just a guide for people looking for an excellent place to vacation; this book is also a wonderful history book with factual tidbits sprinkled throughout.

The beginning of this book provides maps of the profiled locations. These maps also divide the sites into categories described later in the book (more on that in a moment). Thus, if your focus is on European colonization and you are interested in traveling to the mid-Atlantic or the South, you will be able to quickly find the sites that are focused on this aspect of history.

The Sheumakers organized this book into six historical categories; America's Native Peoples, European Colonization, Religious & Secular Groups, Road to Independence, Our New Nation, and Opening the West. Each section is color coded to more easily locate them on the previously described maps. Even better, each section has dozens of photographs, typically one per site, along with location information, fee information, and, perhaps best of all, the best available web site for the location. In addition, the Sheumakers sometimes recommend the best time of year to see special events and they typically provide information regarding the historical significance of the site.

I have checked several of the sites recommended by the Sheumakers to see how accurate their information is. Consider Cahokia Mounds, in Illinois, described on page 38 of this book. There are two photographs. One photograph is of the largest mound on the site. The other is a photograph of a walk-through diorama available at the interpretive center. The Sheumakers include several pieces of information about the history of the site and its significance (a small portion of what you can learn at the site). Their information regarding the location of Cahokia Mounds matches the direction provided on the highways east of St. Louis, Missouri. The fee information is also correct (free), though the interpretive center suggests a $1 donation per person. The only flaw I found in the Sheumaker's description of this site is that they neglected to mention the miles of walking trails on the site.

Other sites contain similar accuracy. I looked at Spring Mill Pioneer Village in Indiana, which is a wonderful place to visit (though sometimes it gets very busy). Historic St. Charles, Missouri is yet another wonderful place to visit, if you can avoid the distraction of the gigantic casino that is nearby. Ft. Osage in Sibley, Missouri, has been a popular destination for the nearby residents of Kansas City, Missouri, for decades.

If there is a flaw in this book, it is that space limited the Sheumakers to only 300 destinations. There are many more living history places in the United States. However, the Sheumakers certainly picked many of the very best places from the era before the 1840's. Perhaps if this book is successful, they can write a follow-up book titled "More of America's Living History."

This book is a phenomenal resource for people planning a vacation or seeking a starting point for a history paper. Teachers and other educators may wish to explore one of the living history sites near your school. You may just want to take a day trip to one of these sites. All of them are worth at least a day trip and some of them require days to fully explore.

Traveler's guides seem to be a dime-a-dozen these days. Everyone is competing for shelf space and your attention. The Sheumakers have a unique approach, eschewing typical tourist attractions for those that focus on our (United States) history. It would be a mistake to call these sites tourist attractions, because many of them contain on-going historical research. For example, excavations continue at Cahokia Mounds. Regardless of your need, this beautiful, full-color book is a wonderful as a resource, a coffee-table book, or even just to read - I started it and could not put it down. Whatever your need or goal, if you appreciate the history of the United States and you are seeking an opportunity to immerse yourself further in that history, you need this book.

This review is based on a copy of the book provided to me by the authors.

Enjoy!

I felt it had some very good ideas. It's a short read and to the point.

This is tops in my book. I am purchasing one for each of my child's teachers. Boy did i learn a lot!

I have struggled since Kindergarten to find a book that teachers at my son's school would actually read and this is it. I bought it after printing pages from the internet for his teacher so that she would understand his needs better. He is mainstreamed but has difficulty with authority. She has done wonders in just the first month of school. She is willing to learn and accepted the book without hesitation and has actually shared it with other teachers and duties in the school. The book is well written - very easy read and doesn't take up the precious time of teachers, it is informative and well explained. I highly recommend this book to anyone even supporting staff at schools especially elementary schools.

I was very impressed with the straight forward and direct approach of this book. I read this book in less than an hour and picked up some good tips. Before I found this book, I was trying to search the internet for info to print off for his teacher. I was having a hard time finding a site that described AS, it's symptoms, what to expect, and how to help. This book covers it all, plus has tips of things to add to the IEP. Since no one in our school district has ever dealt with AS before, this book will be a big help. I bought a copy for my son's teacher, and am trying to get the school to buy copies of their own.

I love this book because it's short enough that the teachers will actually read it, and practical enough that they will actually use it. We have given a copy of the book to each of my son's teachers every year - it is a critical part of laying the foundation for good communication for the school year, and for helping the teachers see and understand his behavior in the right context. I would highly recommend this book!

And she wants to "play" with it all the time. While we're driving in the car or at home, my little one loves to go over the game. A definite home run for us!

My kids are just over four, they love this item. I'd say about 80% of the questions are ones they can answer at this age so I would not recommend it for a child who is closer to 5 unless they have some delays. Some of the questions are typical of intelligence tests where they question experience rather than ability. For instance, we live in a warm climate and my kids don't really recognize a lot of winter items.

The exercises and questions on these cards work much better than some of the workbooks I have purchased, even though they are aiming at the exact same goal (like seeing patterns).

I love Brain Quest and so does my daughter! Parents spend the money, it is worth it! Two thumbs up, WAY UP!!!
Caring Mom on the Coast

We have these now for lots of age groups and they continue to be a 'hit' with our kids. It's a nice alternative to a 2nd book or addition to reading with your kids. In our house it's considered "Dad's" thing to do at weekends.

Need something to entertain your child at a drs appts or waiting for dinner to be served while dining out. This is the product for u!!

Dr. Hallowell is an amazing fellow. He strikes the perfect balance between being a knowledgeable psychiatrist and a vulnerable, loving and warm father. Whether you are an educator or a parent, you will learn much, reminiscence and have a chance to be a better person after reading this book. The Childhood Roots gives you good laughs and concrete tips to enjoy children and strengthen the foundation for life. Better yet, it gives you a map and the needed information to know whether you're still on the road or lost in your way. If there is one book to read when becoming a parent and realizing what your job is, this is it.

The warm and compassionate qualities of the author shine through this comprehensive and well-written book. Perhaps somewhat more detailed and extensive than many readers would want, in which case people should skip ahead. But there's plenty of superb content here. You can't help thinking what a wonderful father Hallowell must be as you read his personal stories and anecdotes.

I just had to agree with previous postings that this is the only book you need to read to get the fundamentals of what parenting should be about. It is practical yet roomy enough to fit many different ideals of family and home. I'm now ordering another copy!

Very easy to read, with lots of relevant, usable information. It reminds you what it is like to be a kid and how we should all learn to just simply play again.

I haven't read the book, so I'll use a 5-star review like everyone else just to not slant the outcome. But I wonder what he says about video games. They are a form of play but in my mind don't enforce a human connection. And I've been hearing stories lately (on NPR etc.) about people who can't get their adult kids to be productive members of society because they just want to play video games.