Nannies Books

This book is great for first time parents. This is my most referenced parenting books and I have several! I kept checking this out from the library before I finally bought my own copy. You won't regret buying this one.

This book has been incredibly helpful to my husband and I, we purchased it after hearing one of the nannies on a morning weekly radio show in Minneapolis. The nanny gives out advice to parents each week and we always enjoy listening to what she has to say. We have 3 kids under 5 and really value the advice of British nannies, this books encourages a routine and schedule, fresh meals and plenty of sleep for kids (and parents). Since reading the book we have introduced these things and have seen incredible changes, our kids are so much happier, they are now going to bed earlier, helping me out in the kitchen, and our bedtime routine is so much easier. Thank You nannies.

I have read every baby book there is, and this definitely rates in the top 5. It's nothing earth-shattering or totally new, but there are great examples and good real-life ideas to use with your kids. Plus, it's entertaining to read.

My kids are 2, 5 and 7 yrs. I actually bought this book because I saw that it had a chapter on school.

My 5 yr old had a rocky first week at school and I was really worried. I read the school chapter first and the first thing it did was it made me feel better. The book reminded me that starting school is another new experience for my son and he needs time to get used to it, which of course on one level I did know but reading it made me believe it. I started using the "Goodbye Routine" and it definately resulted in less tears than the day before. I kept doing it and things have improved.The school chapter is really helpful and I am now using their homework advice for my 7yr old and Hooray what a difference!

I had just accepted that with 3 kids weekday mornings were always going to be rushed and stressful. This book has helped me to change all that and it was not difficult to do. Now most mornings we actually all sit down to eat breakfast together and I don't have to scream at the kids to turn the TV off.

I am also using the strategies on improving communication with all my kids but especially with my two year old who likes to say no to everything I ask her to do. I didn't realize that I was inviting her to say no by giving her too many choices.

My only complaint is that Nanny Wisdom does not cover Potty Training. I am just about to start that with my 2 year old and I had a hard time with my other kids. I would like to know how the nannies do it. Also, the recipes have been so popular in our house that I wish there were even more of them in the book.

Nanny Wisdom is it is actually fun to read which is an added bonus. The book has little stories about the kids the nannies have looked after and experiences they have had in their different jobs. It makes you understand how experienced and caring these nannies are.

After reading this book I really trust their advice 100%. I always say to my husband now, The Nannies say this or The Nannies say that!!

I loved this book because it covers such a big range of parenting problems and situations and really gives parents great answers. It has helped me more than any other parenting book I own (I did like What to Expect when my kids were newborns and I do like Pocket Parent). I know it will keep on helping me as it has so much in it. I am so glad I stumbled across this book in my parenting travels!

Just finished the final chapter and although my parenting of "lovely's are now with my grandchildren, you can always learn something new. The recipe's and the "how to" approach is consistent and right on! All the advice on how to deal with a child sleeping through the night helped out my daughter immensly. The nannies are great and their knowledge is superb. I highly recommend this book to new mothers, new dads, grammies and granpies - everyone who needs "expertise" on handling all the new situations that come with the title of parent.

The needs assessment helps you prepare the job description and interview questions. The pdf files allows you to print the forms without bothersome tempplates. Getting the tax forms through the abcnanny.bizland.com links was very helpful

The needs assessment really gives you an idea of what to look for and what to ask. The forms are great, and the format of the book with a disk to reproduce forms is terrific. The childcare reference form tells you at a glance what you want to know about your prospective's employment experience and history. We saved time by down loading the forms from both IRS and INS. Also if you are looking for an agency out of your area, the web site has a directory(abcnanny.bizland.com)

Many of us interview candidates for various positions in the workplace on a daily basis and this book shows us we should use the same techniques when hiring a nanny. The forms are helpful throughout the process and are easy to use. The author was more interested in passing on information that would be useful to parents rather than share her experiences as a nanny. Parents need to know just who they are entrusting their children to and can't assume they are leaving their child with a nice person that wouldn't dream of hurting a child. The links to IRS and INS allows you to download all the forms you need, saving phone calls and snail mail time.

The needs assesment and the forms on the companion disk were very helpful in our first search for a nanny. We did not find the consumer information about agencies to be offensive, and in fact felt the author was giving us a choice to hire an agency or do an independent search. We found an agency that met our criteria and the agency found our nanny. We thought the author's experiences as a nanny was the reason the book was written. On the author's web site abcnanny.bizland.com she makes it clear she is not against nanny agencies and is announcing a directory of nanny agencies to be posted on the site in June. The book is a handbook and gets down to business quickly which we appreciate and did not consider a cold approach.

Although this book contains useful information, there is also an underlying sense that the author of this book (1)Truly dislikes nanny agencies (2)Doesn't actually appear to like nannies either. She covers the basics in a very 'cold' fashion virtually never stating the numerous benefits of hiring a nanny. The fact of the matter is that most nannies are terrific people who would never dream of hurting a child. As far as her obvious contempt toward nanny agencies, most parents use nanny agencies because they are so helpful. You do have to be careful when choosing however, it really doesn't matter if they are small (even home-based) or very large and expensive. What matters is how they make you feel when you approach them. What does your 'gut' tell you? Although the author's intentions were good, her book could have been better. It absolutely could have and should have had more feeling.

Got the book to facilitate hiring a Nanny. The book is quite detailed and lays out the legal and other considerations in course of hiring household help. Found the suggested contractual language and clauses to be particularly helpful.
Book also serves as a plug for services provided by the author and associated organizations! I found the prices for services offered higher than what you could find by doing some due dilligence on the internet and shopping around without loosing on reliability.
Contractual clauses are by no means exhaustive; would recommend supplementing by looking at some similar model contracts available on the net on sites that are a source for hiring household help.
There are many options to outsource support services like payroll management that are probably just as reliable and cheaper than those in the book. Asking your accountant or lawyer or any other small business service provider e.g. A dentist would be a good way to shop for such services.

Bernie Kerik. Kimba Wood. You should have read this book. Lays out ALL the information you need to know about hiring a nanny, or even a home health care aide, legally. Keep yourself out of trouble. Buy a copy for your favorite aspiring politician so they stay out of trouble. Everything anyone needs to know about employing household help is covered by Guy Maddalone. Wow.

My wife and I are just entering the nanny market for our two children 11 and 5. I was looking for first hand insights and got Guys book through a friend who has utilized household help for many years. My friend raved about the information in the book. I'm so glad my friend passed it along to us. We had no idea of the complexities and regulations governing household help! "How to Hire & Retain Your Household Help" has really equipped us for a great initial experience as we hire our first nanny!

Raising our four children is a lot of work as anyone with even one child knows. Having a nanny and also someone to help do the cleaning is what keeps us sane. Guy Maddalone's book is an invaluable resource in finding, hiring and then managing household help. It put a lot of structure to the situation and what we needed to do to make sure that the relationship was organized in a professional manner. This is a must read for anyone considering or already have household help.

What I liked most about this book is that it not only covers the full range of domestic help issues, but it also breaks the subject down into easy-to-understand language.

I have employed both domestic help and nannies for years and have searched for information - a handbook really - that would make the hiring and employment process smoother and more professional. This is that handbook. At last!

Guy Maddalone really IS the nation's household help expert and he's done us all a favor by writing this book.

I am proud to lend my support to the kind of intelligent tool my parents insist upon. Does it replace an agency? Not for our families. An agency is not just a place to get a pool of names. When you use an agency you should be purchasing a rare commodity, expertise. The judgement that allows the placement professional to quickly separate the diamond from the cubic zirconia. This expertise, coupled with the sound scientific foundation upon which this test was created and book written, will provide you with the best tools possible to select a superb nanny for your child. Essential for do-it-yourselfers, too. If you can afford it, I urge to employ the most experienced agency you can find that specializes in the type of nanny you need (live-in or out, new or experienced, nanny school certified or college degreed, etc.). Our nannies, for instance, specialize in nurturing the gifted child. Bravo Dr. Pick!

My wife and I are making plans to start a family and one of our major concerns has been child care. We are both marketing professionals and plan to continue our carreers, but the added stress of leaving our child with a stranger has been the source of many long debates with our friends and family. We have heard countless stories, both good and bad, with regard to finding and retaining the right nanny. A couple we know recommended we read "Are you hiring the right nanny" and take the guess work out of who has the right system. They were right! This book makes a difference. It's an easy read, complete, and provides the tools to make informed decisions.

I have seen many books come and go about nannies. Few are written by people with as much experience as Dr. Pick. Following her steps will greatly enhance your chances of having a successful nanny/family relationship and most importantly, happy kids! Peace of mind for you is icing on the cake. I have worked with Dr. Pick and spoken with her numerous times, her test is even available on our web site. Buy the book. You have my personal pledge it will make a difference whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or use an elite international agency like ours! Jackie Williams, President and Founder of I Love My Nanny.com

This is a wonderful book for family! I have graduated from "The English Nanny and Governess School" in Chagrin Falls, OH, and have found that this book is acurate and useful for both parents and nannies. With the bad rap many nannies are taking through media, I'm pleased that this book gives nannies the recognition they deserve. Many work long hours and want to be dedicated to the child and the family. It helps to know what to look for in a nanny so that she may stick around for quite a long time. The child will appreciate his mommy and daddy taking time to read this before hiring anyone to take care of his/her daily needs. You won't regret buying this book!

Finding a nanny was an amazing amount of work. I had no idea where to start. This step by step book gave me the insight I needed to choose the best nanny for my daughter. I am recommending this to all my friends.

Although we did not chose to hire an Au Pair at this time, the advice in this book was invaluable in helping us decide what type of person we wanted coming to our home daily, what questions to ask and what we could and could not expect from in home childcare.

The sample calendar's, task lists, and operating procedure forms were great for getting organized before the big day. We will definately review this book again when we are ready for a true Au Pair.

Au Pairing Up is a terrific resource for anyone even considering the Au Pair option. You will get candid insight into both the pluses and minuses of the Au Pair option; a lot of great information on how to select an Au Pair; and many ideas on how to get the most from your Au Pair. Perhaps most of all you benefit from the author's, Ruth Liebermann's, extensive (20+ year) experience with Au Pairs and her very insightful comments. While the book is extremely extensive and comprehensive I also found it easily accessible--the oversize format, the concise wording and the interesting layout all help. I'd highly recommend this book to people considering getting an Au Pair, approaching the interview stage, or even people who already have an Au Pair and want to maximize the experience.

If you are thinking of hiring an au pair or even if you already have one - you simply must buy this book! This book has been an incredible help to me in creating a comfortable and effective environment for our family and our au pair.

When we hired our au pair we didn't know what we were doing at all. We purchased this book after we already had our au pair. But after getting the book, we realized there was so much incredible information on the process of hiring an au pair (that we had no clue about), that next time we would definitely follow Ms. Liebermann's advice in this area. While we were perhaps lucky with our hire, I can see how following her recommendations would greatly aid in getting the "right" person into your home.

I like things done a certain way for my daughter but I wasn't always sure how to get my points across to our au pair. Again, Ms. Liebermann's book outlined so many great ways to increase the communication levels between us that it has really made it smooth sailing around here. Communication is key - it can be difficult having someone new living in your home - this book makes it possible to have a great and rewarding au pair experience for both your family and your au pair. I knew I wanted some sort of "manual" to help explain things but I didn't know how to go about it - it was great to get this book and have an "operating manual" already done.

Ms. Liebermann's speaks from years of experience in this area, and it shows. Her recommendations are excellent and spot on. I highly recommend this book.

I have given this book to many new mothers, some having second and third babies. It is universally well received. Even for the family that has no intention of hiring an au pair or access to an au pair service, this is an excellent resource. The how-tos and list of questions to ask any child care provider are worth more than the price of this book. The CD works great for today's families. It's quite easy to read and well organized.
Au Pair companies and other provider agencies could use it as a registration incentive/gift. Early Childhood Education at the high school, community college, and university level needs this resource included in the curriculum.
It is wonderful!

Where was this book six months ago when my husband and I were considering getting an au pair?? This book does it all! From the application process to choosing an applicant to preparing for your au pair's arrival to making the relationship successful, this book covers everything you need to make the process as smooth as possible.

If you are just starting to think about what type of childcare best suits your family, read this book. If you already have an au pair and are struggling to make it work, read this book. If you have an au pair and things are going well but you want to make the situation even better, read this book!

It has everything you need and you won't have to start developing forms and a "standard operating procedure" from scratch - like I did!

I enjoyed reading this book. Crawfie (as she is nicknamed by the princesses) uses a chronological framework to look inside the royal family. She shares about their daily routines and relationships within the extened family. It starts around the time Elizabeth is 8 or so and goes through her teen years. It gave me a better understanding of Queen Elizabeth than I had from only seeing Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006). It's not the kind of book you'd read to a child who loves princesses. It is written from one adult to another, but a young teen on up would probably enjoy it.

For fans of the British royal family, this book is a must-read. While it may be a trifle dated and decidedly unsensational, the book holds a unique place in the now vast array of books about the royals because it was the first to break the rules and reveal details of life behind the gilded doors of Buckingham Palace. "Crawfie," who cared for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret for 17 years, was completely cut off by the royal family after the book was published, but the book itself lives on as a kind of time capsule of royal life before the press declared open season on the royal family.

Truly, this book is a national treasure and even the Queen should cherish it (apprently, she does not). After reading it, I have new-found respect for Elizabeth II and her family. No where else would you find such wonderful detail of the lovely lives these little girls led. Its also very revealing to see another side of the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII. I couldn't put it down and was left wanting more!

absolutely fascinating story of Nanny Crawford which brings to life how the Royal Family live. I cannot understand why the Royals thought it was disrespectful to write this and cut Nanny Crawford off for the rest of her life. I wonder what the real reason was?

A lovely portrait of royalty as it used to be, painted in the words of a woman who devoted years of her life to royalty's service. "Crawfie," as a very young Princess Elizabeth nicknamed her new governess, had no idea when she accepted the post that she would be staying for more than a short time. She'd come to help the Duke and Duchess of York begin their little girls' education, after which Miss Crawford fully intended to take up the classroom teaching career of which she had always dreamed. She wasn't planning on growing to love Elizabeth and Margaret as she did. Nor had she any clue that one of her charges would someday sit on England's throne.

The interlude Miss Crawford planned to spend with the Yorks lasted until after Princess Elizabeth's marriage. As a member of their household, she experienced history first hand when the abdication of King Edward VIII - otherwise known as "Uncle David" - forced her employers to give up their private, comfortable, family-centered life. She kept their daughters out of harm's way during the frightening war years that soon followed; and after the war's end, helped the family that by now considered her indispensible in guiding its "little princesses" from adolescence into womanhood.

Charming, but in no way saccharine, this recently re-released book provides invaluable insight into the character of the woman who has reigned for more than half a century as Queen Elizabeth II. Not by any means just for "royal watchers"!

Sail along with Dan and Judi and the Lady in the second book of their life as they charter the best sailboat and motor yacht in the BVI. You can almost smell the briny sea and taste Judi's gourmet meals as page after page unfolds a story of life on the ocean and the people they encounter. After reading Judi's story, I felt a strong bond with her and now know why I admired her so much when chartering. Her books are a pure delight.

The Voyage of The Capricorn Lady is a voyage anyone can take without leaving your living room. From the moment I began reading, I understood that Judi was not only sharing with us a wonderful part of her life, but developing a bittersweet peace within herself as she wrote. She writes simply and beautifully as she takes us on a voyage of success, failure, and success, peppered with the determination and self doubt we all experience. As we come to know Judi and Dan, we can relate to their difficult choices, and we can rejoice in their happiness.

Throughout this journey, we are confident that Dan and Judi's business savvy, and devotion to family and each other will inspire them through their most difficult times.
These books are not only a tribute to a man by his wife, but a true to life experience of living a dream laced with laughter, danger,and above all love...

This is a true story of a man and a woman destined to meet and share a life of adventure, laughter, tragedy and love. From their first lunch together in 1964, to their last embrace in April 2003, Daniel Gilman and Judith Bauer epitomized the term "soul mates".
Book one takes us on their journey from the world of high level real estate, through an abrupt departure on their 40' sail boat Capricorn and finally to the Caribbean. The agony of leaving family and possessions behind is gradually softened by their new lives, new friends and a grand new world.
Through a tapestry of defeats and accomplishments, Judi takes us with her on a cruise through her most cherished years with her "Danny" by her side. We experience their hartache and their hard earned victories. As we sail with them on the Capricorn from island to island to the acquisition of their motor yacht, Capricorn Lady, we eat, swim, dive, and tour their stunningly beautiful yet at times unforgiving part of the world.

Judi's vivid and deeply personal account of their life together leaves the reader with an enticing anticipation for book two. These books are just not for those who shared the experience of a cruise with Dan and Judi. It is for the romantic, the gourmet, and the adventurer in all of us.

In Book 1, we meet Captain Dan and his "Capricorn Lady", Judi. Overcoming unbelievable personal challenges, they continue charting their course on the 71 foot luxury Trumpy Motor yacht. "Capricorn Lady" is a labor of love, and we live each moment with Dan and Judi. Charter guest stories are touching, funny and human nature at its best! Book 2 takes you on many trips around the British Virgins, and you feel like you are also escaping on the "Lady," savouring each adventure with the Gilmans and their guests. Book 2 is an intimate, loving tribute to Captain Dan. Judi has opened her heart and the diary of her life with her beloved husband. Readers will relate to her emotions and cheer her independance. Can hardly wait for Book 3!

The second book in this series is wonderful. It brings back memories of days living in the islands, when the challenges of living were overcome by the joy and energy of Caribbean life. Be sure to have a tissue close at hand when reading this book, as it is not all chuckles, as you read of entertaining charter guests and crew. The book deals with deeper subjects such as family, illness and death, and there is an undercurrent of regret for the things that might have been, but this is overcome by the sheer joy the author, my Mother, felt about her life with her captain. I shared the adventure with "The Capricorn Lady", and loved every minute of it.

I am about the same age as Francesca, so I felt a real connection to her feelings.

I bought this book because the cover caught my eye, I read the synopsis and decided to give it (and the author) a try. The cover is only the beginning of the joy that is contained in this book. The characters are so alive, I felt as if I were among them. The descriptions of food and smells had my mouth watering and made me want to go to the kitchen. This is a story that left a smile on my face long after the last page was turned.

I have never had the chance to read any of Peter Pezzelli's other books but an article about Francesca's Kitchen intrigued me. I rarely read this type of book..I am more into mysteries and suspense. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a warm, enjoyable read. I could relate as my children have recently moved out and I, too, am an empty nester. Most of the story centered around the kitchen with Francesca's love and caring being expressed in her food and caring nature. I could just smell the garlic and tomatoes simmering. I highly recommend.

I too must admit this was not my normal read. I found this engaging and pleasurable. A very confortable human everyday depiction, nothing to make you cringe or shudder for a change. All is not happy happy joy joy, there is conflict, uncertainties, struggle and some resolution. I would certainly read if Mr Pesselli revisited these characters.

A WONDERFUL BOOK, with real characters. Read it in two days commuting. I am Italian, and felt at home for a family Sunday Dinner. The descriptive cooking made me hungry. Francesca and Joey reminded me of so many relationships growing up.
Thank you Peter

Lisa Lieberman's book is a excellent resource for anyone requiring outside assistance in their home. Well-written and well-researched, I am sure it will be a great help to many people.

"A 'Stranger' Among Us" is no less than a fabulous resource. The book's title is accurate, but quite modest: Though written with a focus on finding support persons for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, this book is nonetheless a valuable guide for families of persons with physical challenges, mental health difficulties, dementia, and serious learning/cognitive limitations as well. This book has a place in the library of any professional or agency serving challenged individuals and their families, and I heartily recommend it to family members and prospective support personnel alike. The author's personal experiences, professional training, extensive knowledge, and abundant compassion combine to provide a tool that is at once accessible, accurate, and wise. This book is a "must-have" resource, a generous and courageous gift.

A fantastic addition to my medical library to use for all of my patients who have family members with disabilities. The book provides many answers and practical help for those seeking and employing in-home support. It is written in an easily readable, user-friendly format.

I most appreciate the sample advertisements and the sample contracts provided. It also helps give permission to those who stay at home to consider in-home help.

A "Stranger Among Us" is very well written, with easy to follow examples and even worksheets to greatly assist with the hiring process. I especially appreciated how the author allows us to benefit from her "hands-on" experience in her own household, and also includes input from some of the providers that she has employed. Also the reader benefits from extensive research put into this book regarding boundaries that should be established between you and the "In-Home Provider" .

The information and insite offered in this book is amazing. This book illustrates how to endure the difficult and time-consuming process of hiring the right person for the job who will also 'fit" with your family, how to see if the support is working as well as expected and also includes a chapter "When It's Time To Say Goodbye".

A "Stranger " Among Us is a must for anyone who intends to hire "in-home" help, whether you require special support for disabilities or to hire someone to assist with the everyday tasks of a busy household.

FINALLY, a book that understands the true needs of families and how to help us proactively help ourselves. One of the most difficult dilemas when you have a loved one or child with special needs, whether medical or neurological, is how do you find qualified, caring caretakers? So often as family members we find this task so daunting that we choose not to seek outside help. This book is so reassuring, it gives you the tools to find qualified care, but also the right people for YOUR family.

The thing that strikes me about this book is not only how detailed in strategies it is, but how respectful it is about different kinds of people and their diverse needs. One chapter in particular that stands out is Defining Your Family Culture and Needs. This author recognizes that families have different values, and she discusses how having caretakers who match those values can create harmony, or finding caretakers who are different can enhance a family's life by exposing them to a new way to look at the world. It celebrates the benefits of both and the right to make the choice that is right for your family.

This book has step by step instructions about the various ways to go about hiring caretakers, in and out of home, the strategies you can implement in order to find the best match for your family, there is also a strong emphasis on the role of communication and having mutual respect. She recognizes that a caretaker can become part of your family (which we have certainly found to be true.)I could go on, but it is so incredibly detailed that I couldn't possibly do it justice. This book takes all the guess work out of finding a caretaker, all the things I have wondered and worried about facing when our current caretaker eventually move on to other endeavors. The book makes facing that so much less frightening. I HIGHLY recommend this book not only for parents of children with special needs, such as myself, but as a template for anyone seeking qualified care for their loved ones, whether they have disabilities or not. This book should be on hand in every library and every program that works with families in order to provide an understanding of the need for qualified care and how to how to provide in home supports for those families. I already have two copies and am planning to buy more to make sure our local therapy centers have them in their libraries.

Kristi Sakai parent of 3 with autism, author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

Beyond Peanut Butter & Jelly is a unique cookbook that is a necessity for any caregiver's library. Complete with kids' favorite recipes, crafts, theme party ideas and childcare tips INA has produced an attractive, high quality book. Making meals fun, creating crafty artwork and nurturing nanny tips contribute to this one of a kind cookbook.

If you have children this cookbook is a must have. The book is filled with recipes from nannies, and who knows children better then them. Along with being an excellant cookbook it is also filled with tips and ideas parents and caregivers will find very usefull.

There is a birthday party chapter, a craft chapter and a section for educaters, agencies, and nannies. Even if you're not a cook this is a wonderful resource to have. Need to know how to remove gum from hair or ink from clothing - see page 50.

This wonderful book also helps to support the International Nanny Association (INA). INA is a non-profit educational association for nannies and those who educate, place, employ, and support professional in-home child care providers.

THIS IS AN EXCITING BOOK FOR CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS, THEIR CAREGIVERS AND THE DIRECTORS AND TEACHERS AT CHILDCARE CENTERS OR PRESCHOOLS. THERE ARE MANY KID FRIENDLY RECIPES, CREATIVE CRAFT IDEAS AND SOME VERY ORIGINAL PARTY THEMES. I HAVE GIVEN THIS BOOK TO SEVERAL FRIENDS KNOWING THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH IT.

The recipes are great! My charges and I are having so much fun making the recipes!!! Today we made "Painted Cookies". Very creative!