Health Books

This book, from my opinion, is really sad and heartbreaking, i mean, someone torturing and starving dogs to death, not to mention dogs dying, is bound to break anyone's heart. However, the book has its happy parts, which i enjoy.

This book changed my life!
It really made be want to go out and save every little puppy. But I realized it's impossable to change every puppy's life, so I should just try to be the best possable pet owner I can be.

Thank you so much for writing that novel. It was heart breaking and heart healing at the same time.

Eleven-year-old Margaret "Maggie" MacKenzie has grown up around animals. Since the death of her parents when she was a toddler, Maggie has lived with her veterinarian grandmother, Dr. Mac, and helped out around her clinic. It has always just been her and Gran - along with a younger veterinarian named Dr. Gabe - working side by side. But, suddenly, Gran has given three new kids from school - Brenna, David, and Sunita - along with her starstruck cousin, Zoe, the chance to volunteer alongside them. Maggie, however, has been placed on an extremely short leash, and been banished from the clinic until she pulls her grades up. Maggie couldn't be more disappointed. She knows everything about animals, while these new volunteers couldn't tell a lab from a golden retriever. It doesn't hurt that she's amazing with animals - especially dogs - and knows all the tricks to keep them calm, and make them happy. Unfortunately, with her homework so out-of-control, Maggie is forced to obey Gran's rules, and steer clear of the clinic. That becomes quite difficult, however, when various puppies begin making their way into the office, brought in by concerned owners. Each puppy is much too small to be away from their mother, and all are extremely sick. Maggie can't stand to see the puppies so close to death, and knows that there must be something she can do to save each pup. But the fact that she's just a fifth grader makes her feel as if there's nothing she can possibly do. As more and more pups pour in, however, Gran begins to suspect that something fishy is going on. And, with a little investigating, she discovers that each puppy was purchased from a scraggly old man at the Penn Street Farmer's Market. It's obvious that each of the dying puppies are malnourished, and mistreated, and Gran is convinced that the man is running a puppy mill. Maggie can't stand to see anymore pups end up hurt. So, pushing all thoughts of homework and extra-credit reports out of her mind, Maggie begins to devote her time to locating the puppy mill owner. While she's displeased to be forced to work with other volunteers, Maggie knows that one person can't solve a mystery as big as this one alone, and enlists the help of her new co-workers to help her track down Mr. Evil. But as she hits more and more dead-ends, Maggie begins to panic, and becomes convinced that, if she doesn't locate the puppy mill soon, more puppies will die!

Aside from Ben M. Baglio's ANIMAL ARK series, it seems that there are so few book series for middle readers that revolve around kids helping animals. Laurie Halse Anderson, however, changes that, with the release of her VET VOLUNTEERS series. While the lead character of FIGHT FOR LIFE, Maggie, seems slightly spoiled, and self-involved, the reader can certainly see where she may feel displaced by the introduction of new volunteers to the clinic. Her evolution from beginning to end is a large one, and certainly shows how much she grows throughout the course of the book. Maggie's compassion for animals, paired with her resistance to do homework, will certainly appeal to readers - especially those who find themselves on a crash course with bad grades. While Maggie's interactions with the other volunteers, as well as Dr. Gabe and her Gran, are quite enjoyable, and really give the reader the chance to choose a favorite character. I really must commend Anderson for her interest in penning a series for young/middle readers, that teaches the importance, and value of an animals life. With all of the animal abuse cases in the news nowadays, Anderson creates an outlet for animal lovers, that shows that they are not alone in their determination to save their four-legged friends. Her characters are interesting, and the dialogue is perfectly age-appropriate. Even more wonderful is the fact that Anderson includes a wide array of information regarding animal rights, puppy mills, and various animal rights laws that give readers the chance to learn more about the subject discussed. While the subject of puppy mills is fairly heavy, and the content of FIGHT FOR LIFE is oft-times gut-wrenching, it is a subject that needs more attention brought to it, and Anderson does just that within the pages of FIGHT FOR LIFE. A tear-jerking story perfect for animal lovers!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I love this book because I love animals and especialy dogs. If you like or even love animals you should read this book. Right now my teacher is reading it to my class because of my reccomondation. If you get sad about animals dying you might not want to read this book.

This book was so good, I read it twice in 1 month! After I bought it, I didn't want to waste time so I started to read this book, in 3 or 4 days I was totally surprised that I was over already! This book is great for people of all ages and parents, this book may help your child relize the seriousness of a pet. Thats why I rated this a 5 star book. (also because they didn't have any higher ratings.)

I bought this book hoping for some good background information that would allow me to extrapolate my own germ-freak tips - like more information on how, precisely, germs live and spread. I wanted some scientific information, at least a little bit, about how it all works!

I didn't get that, but what I did get was pretty darn good. This book is jam-packed with tips about avoiding germy people, how not to touch nasty things, socially acceptable things to say to avoid doing germy things that people always seem to want to do, and new cleaning and washing tips to help stop the germs.

While I was expecting something more than I got, I am still darn happy with the book and would highly recommend it. It was fun and easy to read and I did get a LOT of new tips out of it. Nobody likes to get sick and this book will help you avoid it.

Allison Janses' "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" could also have been titled " A Consciousness Raiser for the Germ Awareness Challenged." Before I read the book, I didn't realize how little I knew about those little guys who can, and all too often do,cause anything from annoying colds to life threatening illnesses. What I found most enlightening where the sections dealing with the various places that they congregate. The book is very well organized and written in a witty, entertaining style. As a psychologist,I couldn't help but notice that the author is writing from a genuine place of caring and concern for the welfare of others. A change in behavior requires a compelling reason to approach things differently. "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" accomplishes that mission in a wonderful manner.

I love this book. It has great tips and cleaning suggestions even if you're not a germ freak.

If you hate public restrooms, touching elevator buttons or doorknobs, and go through Purell like a house afire, then GERM FREAK'S GUIDE TO OUTWITTING COLDS AND FLU: GUERILLA TACTICS TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY AT HOME, AT WORK AND IN THE WORLD defines you. Humor and practical health-maintaining habits blend in a guide which identifies just where the germs hang out, how they're passed, and how to avoid them.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is a great book to help prevent you and your family from getting sick. When I brought my premature twins home from the hospital I was told it was very important to keep them from getting sick that first year because they were at such a high risk for contracting RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which can be fatal. This book helped keep the germs away. Despite the unpleasant subject, it is a fun read. The author is really funny.
Dr. Jenn Berman
www.DoctorJenn.com
Author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids

If you buy one book on health, make it this one. It drills down to the fundamental causes of all our modern diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and the gamut of neurological afflictions. The book is very well organized so you can zoom in to your item of interest and get specific nutrition and supplement recommendations. But you should read it cover to cover - it's an eye-opening ride, taking you from the political and corporate history behind different health policies and commonly held medical beliefs, zooming all the way down to molecular mechanisms for different toxins. Tightly written, neither dogmatic nor dry, the book is a pleasure to read. Decades from now the medical establishment may consider this information self-evident, and look back on chemo, angioplasty, and statins as they now look back on leeches, but for now, this book is cutting edge. Learn how to use simple nutritional changes and supplements to give your body the tools it needs to fight and win against diseases that have been labeled chronic or incurable. If you are short on time and want just quality actionable information, subscribe to his Blaylock Wellness Reports, and download the collection of PDF's that focus on specific diseases and health issues, distilling the information to about 10 pages for each subject. Even if you never buy a vitamin, the information here will help you navigate the toxic nutritional minefield we live in.

Every person in America should read this book. It is well written by a very knowledgeable person that seems to care. It should be Oprah's book of the month. It you eat, have kids or are concerned about health, then this is the book for you. I do have to warn you, some parts are pretty scary. It was amazing to find out all of the things the government doesn't tell us about our food supply.

this is probably one of the best book I have read on nutrition. what America is eating how are we reaction to what we ingest.

Sink your teeth into this book!!

Its easy for Food Manufacturers to get consumers addicted to their chemical substances now-a-days... for the sole purpose of making profit. It IS the definition of a *corporation* to do just that-- Make Profits (check out dvd documentary "The Corporation" and "Enron, Smartest Guy in the Room"). It doesn't have to be good for you or even safe for you to be approved in our markets today. As long as the effect isn't immediately obvious, their product can linger out among the masses... People get strange chronic illnesses everyday and think that their environment is not the cause. Many think that there are strict regulations and government agencies protecting our food, but there is not. Companies producing chemical toxins have become wealthier than we can imagine.
Be tough! Don't buy the foods with metallic, chemical, toxic substances.

A word on X-RAYS-- Thank you Dr. Blaylock for speaking on the damaging effects of X-Rays. Once we are *radiated* where does the radiation go? Is there no better diagnostic tool like thermograms..? Are we so set in our ways that we cannot do anything else to detect bone breaks, like for example high pitch tuning forks-- which cause certain vibrations felt only on a fractured bone? Marie Currie who discovered x-rays, died of radiation poisoning-- isn't that a clue?

If you seek to educate yourself about how to maintain good health through good nutrition and to avoid all the disinformation heaped upon you by the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies then this is the book to your independence and a brighter, healthier, more alive future. Base upon the experience of a formerly practicing neurosurgeon who got fed up with a distorted medical system, Br. Blaylock clearly and in a no words minced manner, explains why and how we find ourselves in a process that doesn't try to prevent the maladies that afflict us but only wants to prescribe to the symptoms to perpetuate their bottom line financial reports and profits based on our illnesses. An illuminating and infuriating book. A must read...

While not a revelation, the information in the book is well organized and creates a system to follow that is effective. The nutritional parts alone make it worth buying.

This book had that big of an impact on me. I'm only 34 and exercise fairly regularly but my diet was lacking. I've been doing Dr. Mirkin's suggestions for 5 months and I've lost 20 pounds and I'm eating like a pig and enjoying every bite. I'm never hungry and have 9% body fat now and it's not hard to maintain. I also love the blood test coupon in the book. I took it to my doctor and ran them all so I have a bench mark. Best $ I've spent in a long time.

This makes sense to me. It's well written and easy to read and understand.

This is an excellent book. It is clearly written with useful content

Too bad more doctors aren't as intelligent as Gabe Mirkin. Even if you don't agree with all of his philosophy, even just adapting 80% or 50% of what he teaches, will change your life for the better. In just over a month, my mother, who had suffered from a heart attack, has improved dramtically with her blood pressure, etc. This is all thanks to what Mirkin teaches! Her doctor has said..."It's a miracle!"

I had the best experience while reading this book - a purring cat curled up in my lap. I laughed at some of these stories, cried at others (especially the one about Angel). The book also reinforced for me how important it is to have interactive play sessions with your cat each day.

Hiss and Tell is a VERY entertaining book with 16 short stories about 16 different cats and their unusual troubles. Each story is approximately 5-10 pages long and draws you in quickly. I laughed, I cried, I loved this book from the moment I started it!!

There is Freddie, who helps his owner learn his wife is cheating on him. Cassie, who's story tore my heart out. Penelope, the paper shredder. Mambo King, who hates Sundays. Ralphie, who runs head-on into walls. And many more cats that will make you smile as you learn their unique story.

Pam Johnson-Bennett is a feline behaviorist who gets her referrals from veterinarians and makes house calls to her 'patients.' Considered one of the USA's experts on feline behavior, Pam operates her counseling practice in Tennessee. Her job consists of visiting the home, determining the cause of the problem, and setting up a behavior-modification plan for the family. She is the cat expert at ivillage.com and writes a monthly behavior column for Cats magazine. Pam is also the author of Think Like a Cat, Psycho Kitty, and Twisted Whiskers.

Within this book Pam states, "I love what I do for a living and wouldn't trade it for anything. (...) Every time a cat and his owner reach an understanding, it's worth everything to me." This shows you the love that went into the writing of this book and the touch of humor as well.

I highly recommend this book to all cat lovers! (Those who are not cat lovers would enjoy it too!) Ever cat lover's shelf should hold this book!

1smileycat :-)

I am the proud mother of three cats and two kids. Sometimes we all have problems living in sync with each other. This book let me know that there are many cat owners worse off than I am. All of the chapters were hilarious except for one. I wont say which one, but I cried for ten minutes after I read it. Everyone will really enjoy this treasure and it may tell you things about your kitties you never knew. According to the book, there are no such things as bad kitties, just miscommunications between kitties/owners.

My husband got this book for me for Christmas and the next day I sat down and read the whole thing in one sitting. It is very engaging, and it gave me some insight into the zany behavior of my own two cats. Some of the stories were funny, some were sad but all were touching. I would highly reccomend this book for any cat lover.

Excellent book, throughly enjoyed. The stories presented by Johnson-Bennett will make you laugh, even cry, and definately THINK! Reading these stories can give you insight in providing a more enriching homelife for your feline companion, maybe even tell you how your cat can tell you if your spouse cheating. This book is a page turner.

How is everyone doing in conquering this:
~*weight loss battle*~?
It really is a WAR against those excess pounds, isn't it?

After reading HUNGRY by Allen Zadoff, I decided not to call it a 'diet' because it is not suppose to be a reducing diet but a healthy way of eating.

This book gives you some ammunition to WIN that war!
(Although you will always have to be 'on guard' for the rest of your life!)

It was a worthwhile book to read...It had short one or two pages chapters. None of that recipe filler pages.

One of our 'assignments' was to try and figure out WHY
we over-eat and make ourselves over-weight.
There is a reason. He suggested maybe it is an addiction
or a disease we need to treat not just cover up with a 'diet'?

He lost 150 lbs...The way he did it was to analyze his feelings and
then to not eat foods that are trigger foods. He had us make a list
of red, yellow and green foods....red meaning those
that we just can't stop eating once we start (like sweets)
yellow meaning those that sometimes cause over-eating problems, and
green are those that are OK and good for us; never lead
to a binge. (Like a traffic light, red STOP, yellow CAUTION and green GO.

He didn't tell us what to eat because everyone's list would be
different.
Allen reminded me of my nephew that also lost a great deal of weight.

For instance, how when Allen was at a normal weight, after weighing 360 lbs. (And having only one pair of pants that fit that were worn out in the crouch.)
It was difficult to think like a normal weight person. (Like how to react when a pretty girl flirted with him.)

This is the suggestion that I am going to have to do since I am
an evening nibbler. Only eat 3 meals each day...(From the green list.)
"Three delicious, abundant meals made up of foods I can handle."Zadoff.

It sounds so sensible yet I haven't done that in a long long time.
I need to stop this mindless evening snacking...that mouth hungry not
stomach hungry HABIT! It is very very hard to break these bad eating habits!

If you can get the book, I highly recommend it.

Allen's final statement:
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can
start from now and make a brand new ending." Carl Bard

I admire Mr. Zadoff's no-holds-barred look at compulsive overeating. It took a lot courage for him to say some very unflattering things about himself, yet he does so with humor and a gentleness of spirit. Please read this book if food is not just food for you; it might change your life.

there comes a point in your life when you realize that you have to change things. sometimes you just don't understand how or why, but you know it's gotta happen.... this book made so much sense to me because food is something that i really struggled with. i'm not the kind of person who needs the "next big thing" or the latest "fad diet." i needed real advice, and something i could do. this is a book that i could (and plan on) reading over and over again. if you want a quick fix, look elsewhere. but if you want some real advice then look no further! everything about this book is perfect...

Allen Zadoff is a great writer. He's sharp, wise and funny. This little memoir of his journey from fat to "normal" size, is insightful and enjoyable to read. Allen is open and revealing about his life, but only alludes to the solution he found, which seems to be a 12 step program called Overeaters Anonymous. The second half of the book, when he is in recovery from overeating, is sprinkled with 12 step kinds of slogans. He never directly says he joined OA, but lists it as one of his recommended resources in the back of the book. Perhaps he was trying to preserve the anonymity of his participation in the program by not directly talking about it or endorsing it. It seems to me that it would have made the book more revealing had he detailed how he found his way to OA and why it worked for him. Nonetheless, this is a good read. Anyone who has struggled with these issues will be able to relate.

What if your problem with weight had more to do with a deep hunger for meaning in the world rather than for that big slice of chocolate cake staring at you? Could our obesity not really have anything at all to do with calories, but rather attaining the hopes and dreams we don't even know we want yet? Deep questions like these are what Allen Zadoff explores in his book entitled Hungry.

After allowing his weight to get up to 350 pounds in his late 20s, Zadoff thought he knew why he got to be so big. It had to be a whole host of reasons--a slow metabolism, not enough willpower, a big appetite, a desire to be manly and eat that way, big boned, and it made him happy. But in the end, he wasn't happy and traveled down a path that led him to lose over 100 pounds while gaining a whole new perspective on life.

Hungry takes you down this road that Allen Zadoff took to shed the pounds and turn his world upside down. It's an inspiring story of hope for better tomorrow with behavioral methods concerning food that would intrigue a psychologist for weeks! And before you ask, his diet had very little to do with what kind of food he ate. That didn't matter to him (and he doesn't think it should matter to you).

The title says it all. If you have a child with Celiac this will be a great addition to your household.

After our one year old was diagnosed with Celiac Disease this was the first book we were told to buy. It is the most helpful book we own and it will continue to be the most helpful book we own as our little one grows up.
This book is great at helping with the psychological impact of this disease for our daughters young age, and it continues through her teen years.
We are forever grateful for this book. The author captures the feeling of every parent when they are first informed that their child has Celiac.

I STRONGLY recommend that you do not pick up this book unless you are already certain that you or a blood relative has been diagnosed BY A DOCTOR as having celiac disease.

There are a lot of good tips and information in this book for families who have celiac. This is a good resource for those people.

There are also a lot of misleading statements which come together to be the worst book ever for a hypochondriac to come across. While it may be true that it possible to have the disease without having any symptoms, and it may also be true that it is possible to test negative for the disease and still have it, it is also true that it is possible that you may have hypochondria and may have nothing wrong with you at all, or something much less daunting like IBS or a simple wheat allergy. Running to the doctor constantly, convinced that you or your child has developed a new symptom and must have ANOTHER blood test may be fun for some, but believe me that it causes a lot of problems for everyone around you (not least of which the child) when your fears are silly and unfounded. I speak from experience.

Beware.

This book was a life-saver for me. I read it cover to cover five dreadful days into my daughter's diagnosis, and found myself laughing and crying at Danna's wit, wisdom, and caring. Never mind that she goes into great detail on the 'what to do' and 'what not to do', I actually found the chapter on dealing with this emotional rollercoaster I've been on to be the most helpful. It helps to have an author point out that yes your child's life will never be the same, and that it's probably harder on you than it is on them. It helps that she's been there, and isn't just some doctor spouting out their take on it. It helps that she went through all these things and is able to say 'You know what, just deal with it and get on with your life - I did it, and so can you'.
She writes with a lot of humor, making it a fast, easy read.
Besides all this, the information at the back of the book is a treasure -
lists of websites, phone numbers, and organizations that are invaluable to any novice celiac parent.

I was loaned this book from a support group (The Happy Villi in Massachusetts) when my three year old was diagnosed with Celiac's disease. It was FANTASTIC! This support group had hundreds of books and recommended a few for me to borrow, including this one. This was by far the best book for a family with newly diagnosed child(ren) with Celiac's disease. It covers everything from how a child will feel growing up with a disease, what to do with grandparents and familys who don't understand the severity of strict diet adherence to how to navigate the birthday parties and family functions. Also gives tons of perspectives from children's points of views which was great to read.

I eventually had to return this book to the support group but I wound up buying three more (one for my family, one for my daughter's school, and one for my pediatrician).

Very Valuable.

I cannot tell you how rough this year has been. I felt like I was drowning in "have to do" and "I wish I coulds." This book helped me connect my true wishes, secret desires and priorites. I was free to let go of the rest. I was even able to deal with conflicting emotions surrounding a romance. I have had this book for awhile and have used it at different points, but 2008 marked the first time in a long time I was in overload mode. I happened to notice the book "waiting" for me on a side table in my living room. I picked it up and I have felt better since that day.

I bought this organizer on the basis of the other reviews here.

At the time, I was looking for a way of planning and reflecting that enabled me to be more flexible about both what matters to me and more respectful of the range of mood and other influences that are part of life. I've been dipping into the organizer and thinking about how I can integrate Ms Louden's suggestions into my own experiences.

This is not so much a book describing a linear journey as it is a variety of maps for the journeyer to choose from.

And now, it is 2008, I am ready to start! In the meantime, I have purchased two additional copies of the Organiser as gifts.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Whether you are organized or unorganized, this book provides a way to get in touch with your deepest values and goals. This is a great starting place for anyone wishing they had more balance in their life and the author's emphasis on treating yourself with kindness and respect is refreshing and encouraging.

I ask myself, why does a woman need a life organizer? What has happened to create a need for us to seek answers through various devices and advice gurus? We've become so goal-oriented we can't even listen to our own intuition. Simply lying on the earth should give us any answers we need, but we're too busy, too stressed, to do even that. So we turn to today's guidance, often in the form of books, to find out how to come home to ourselves.

One of our helpers is Jennifer Louden, also known as "The Comfort Queen." Louden is the author of several books including the bestselling The Women's Comfort Book and is devoted to nurturing women to express their "true creative power." I love books and look to them for inspiration and, frequently, affirmations of what I already know. This one is a heart-based, spirit-directed approach to listening to ourselves.

The Life Organizer is glossy, full of color and original artwork, and is written in Louden's warm, over-the-back-fence, casual style. She doesn't offer advice, but rather, "a collection of possibilities to inspire you in creating your way of participating with life and with your gifts."

Those possibilities are ways to stop and "tune in to what you really want and what you really know." She notes five main steps that make up the life-organizing process: connect, feel, inquire, allow and apply. Louden cautions readers not to focus on the five steps, but rather on your own life experiences, posing questions to assist you in getting in touch with your life experiences.

Besides the main steps to help you "create your optimum life day by day, moment by moment," Louden offers six "life-planning concepts." All of these suggestions grew out of Louden's busy life experiences and the intuitive planner she created for herself, which she shared with her coaching clients and those who attended her workshops and retreats. The results, and the stories of several of those women, are included.

"Shadow Comforts and Time Monsters" is one of Louden's life-planning concepts and refers to those comforts that masquerade as self-care techniques, but in fact drain your energy. For example, chatting on a message board may be energizing, or it may be a tactic to avoid talking to your partner. Among the women Louden has coached are those "whose lives consisted almost entirely of time monsters, because they were too afraid to do what they really wanted to do." Watching TV, spending a month cooking for the holidays, and spending a week decorating your child's classroom may be among your "time monsters." Some discerning questions are helpful to consider. We so often say we don't have time, but if we look at what we're really doing with our time, a light may go on.

I particularly like the chapter on "Creating Your Life Planner." I'm a fan of journals so that's why I probably enjoyed the various approaches women have taken to crafting their own Life Planners. You may write in Louden's book, but if you need more room, a spiral notebook will work just fine. Then you need to place your life planner where you have easy access to it, by your bed, or alongside your date book. One woman constructed her own card deck using the questions throughout the book. She uses the cards as her own divination system, drawing a question card or two on which to reflect. She has decorated them with her own images so she can stare at those images and see what they spark in her.

Thirteen elegantly designed planning sections that include four weeks worth of theme-based questions also include "Stories Along the Way," true stories of women who have used Life Organizing to improve their lives.

Each week, on a two-page spread, there is space for writing your intention. Three circles provide space for completing these phrases: "let go of", "have to" and "could do." Questions, and some possible answers, give impetus to a creative and intentional week.

Although this book is full of possibilities, at the core is its intent is to bring you back to yourself, eliminating what no longer serves the life that you, in your heart of hearts, desire. It looks very organized, but in fact you can approach it in your own non-organized, non-linear way. Using it as a divinatory tool seems a good idea to me. Just open the book and see what tips and stories appear for you today.

Jennifer Louden is a bestselling author, personal coach, radio show contributor, columnist for "Body & Soul Magazine" and creator of learning events and retreats. Louden is married to cinematographer Christopher Mosio, living in a small house on an island in the Pacific Northwest, along with their daughter, Lillian.

You can share a cup of virtual tea with Jen at www.jenniferlouden.com and www.lifeorganizerbook.com.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by, for, and about women

A perfect tool for taking charge of your life. Not a rule book, not even an advice book. Almost as if she's walked through a year of life and left a trail of bread crumbs, along with helpful guideposts pointing out potential destinations. Nary a stray hint of blame or chastisement to give credence to that irritating inner voice who loves to list for us all our shortcomings and why we don't deserve, haven't earned the life rewards we desire.

I've got a shelf full of other journaling/life path books, but this is the one that I use. It's structured enough to give direction but flexible enough to allow my passionate, artist-inside part of me to take control of the process. I bought a boxful of this book, hand them out like precious gems to all my women friends.

This is an excellent book for the first time yoga user - but there is plenty to keep the seasonsed yoga person engaged as well. There are good pictures of the poses, a great introduction, and nice summary, of the yoga movements and what you need to know to do the program!

I purchased this book on the last day of Radiant Health Yoga Teacher Training. I had heard about it months previously and knew that at some point I would read it. I thought it was very "appropriate " that I came across this book on the last day of training. The reason is that Lilias Folan was the first yoga teacher I was ever exposed to back in the seventies via her PBS television program. So here I am almost 30 years later, my last day of classroom teacher training and I find her book, not in a conventional bookstore but in a gift and candy store. There she was, looking up and smiling at me from the front cover in her purple long sleeved shirt and black pants, arms out stretched lovingly with her palms open. No accident.

This book gently introduces yoga to an aging population (Lilias and I are both a part of that population now) in typical Lilias fashion.

Not only does this book discuss asana (and adaptations) but also much of the book is dedicated to meditation, pranayama, the koshas, as well as a little information regarding the Yamas and the Niyams and the stage of life that people our age (Lilias and me) are in now. It is wonderfully written to this age group.

This is a beautiful book and I will use it both as a reference and an inspiration for many years to come.

Yoga gets better with age, and age gets better with yoga a la Lilias.

Whether you grew up learning triangle pose watching Lilias on TV, or if you are brand new to yoga, "Yoga Gets Better With Age" is for yogis of any age or level of wellness.

Clear, concise and with lots of easy to follow pictures featuring people with real bodies, "Yoga Gets Better with Age" stands out from the pack.

Lilias's book is an excellent resource for understanding yoga but also to better understand your own practice. Lilias shares her knowledge of yoga in a holistic manner, covering all of the major topics necessary to gain a true understanding. She communicates the philosophy and practice through her own experiences so that it is not intimidating and easy to understand for a yogi at any level. It is a truly wonderful book and Lilias's enthusiasm for yoga is felt in every word you will read.

This book added so much to my love of yoga. Lilias has such a beautiful way of teaching and she is such a warm and understanding person. She has given me the gift of "love and light" in this wonderful book.

Reviewed by Cayden (age 3-1/2) and Max (age 20-months) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (4/08)

"The Little Elephant with the Big Earache" begins when all of Eddie the elephant's cousins arrive on Wednesday to help celebrate his birthday. They run down to the river and start building mud castles for the Mud Castle Contest on Saturday. Wednesday evening, however, Eddie wakes up in the middle of the night because his ear is hurting him. His mom gives him some medicine and says that they will see the doctor in the morning. After a visit to the Dr. Hippocrates, the doctor determines that it is an early ear infection and that they are just going to monitor it. By Saturday Eddie feels better just in time to enjoy his party!

Cayden: "His ears hurt!"
Max: "Hurt! Hurt!"

Max: Pointing to the picture of Eddie crying: "Cry!"
Cayden: "He looks sad because he is sick Max."

Cayden: "Why would they sit on the porch in the middle of the night?"

Cayden: "Why doesn't he like to go to the doctor? I like to go to the doctor!"
Max: "Like!"

Cayden: "Why is he wearing his blanket as a cape? Maybe he doesn't want it to fall in the road on the way out to the car."

Cayden: "My favorite part was when the doctor looked in his ears to see what was wrong."

Cayden: "I also liked the pictures of when they were building those mud castles, especially the elephant one!"

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.

Little Eddie the elephant is having a birthday. All of his family have gathered at the lake for an exciting weekend. There will be cake and ice cream and a mud castle contest. Eddie is so excited!

The first night though, poor Eddie can't sleep because his ear hurts. He wakes up his mom, who tries to make him feel better. In the morning, she takes him to see Dr. Hippo. At first, Eddie is nervous, but quickly learns the doctor is kind and funny. Soon Eddie is on the road to recovery and can enjoy the rest of his birthday weekend. He even wins the mud castle contest!

This book is gorgeous! My two-year-old was captivated from front cover to back by the bright illustrations.

Also, the pages are thick enough that he can't rip them out! Even my eight-year-old enjoyed the story. The best part for me was the laminated trifold instruction leaflet in the back of the book. It was filled with all the information every parent needs concerning infections, including when to consult your doctor.

Armchair Interviews says: A book for kids that even helps parents.

Written by pediatrician Charlotte Cowan, The Little Elephant with the Big Earache is a children's picturebook dealing with the subject of ear infections in terms young readers age 2-7 can understand. After young Eddie the elephant spends the day making mud castles with his cousin, he comes down with a terrible earache. His mother looks after him during the night, and Dr. Hippo offers reassurance the next day. Will Eddie get better in time for his birthday party? An accompanying fold-out card "Ear Infections Made Easy: Answers to Common Questions" serves as a useful quick-reference guide for parents concerned about what to do when their children have ear infections. Highly recommended.

My 3-year-old daughter, who is almost never sick, and my 7-year-old son, who has frequent ear infections, both love this story. Although the plot line is simple and straightforward, they seem attracted to its familiarity: Eddie wakes in the middle of the night feeling sick; his mother comforts him; they go to the doctor; he feels better...just like real life, in their view. They also find the pictures extremely engaging. At first glance, the illustrations attract merely with their bright colors and whimsy, but upon further readings, the kids began to notice all the smaller details: the various ages and sizes of the party guests, the giraffes enjoying an outdoor fountain, the placement of the blue ribbon at the end. Almost all kids experience earaches, and almost all parents learn to cope with them; this book provides a soothing reflection of one of childhood's most common events. My kids are looking forward to reading more books by Dr. Cowan.