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A friend gave me this book to read and I haven't been able to put it down. I have done extensive research on my family geneology and my maternal Great-Grandparents were some of the very first settlers in the Dakota territory. I have documentation that matches the book content so Lauraine Snelling did her research well. I, being raised in Minnesota and my Mother born in Fargo brought back so many memories about the Bjorkland family traveling through Alexandria, MN (where my Mom's aunt lived). These settlers lived through some unbareable times and they had to be very strong to survive it. Don't judge the writer about all the deaths as that actually did happen back in those times. They didn't have the medicines and doctors we have today and they died from the simplest illnesses and injuries. I can't imagine how they survived those winters. I know it got brutally cold (30 and 40 degrees below zero). Can you imagine living in uninsulated dwellings through those temps.

I am very anxious to read more books of these series and will recommend them to anyone.

I purchased this set of books for a family member because I enjoyed them so much myself. Our family has connections to Norwegian pioneers in the Dakotas so they were even more meaningful to us.
Exciting and realistic, the stories show the trials and the courage of the early emigrants as they struggled to establish their homes in a new land. Uplifting to see how their faith in God helped them through their ordeals, and also how important the strength of family and friends were to them.

I enjoyed this series very much. Lauraine Snelling has a very good way of introducing new characters to the main story line that continue to make each book very enjoyable and the people believable.

The way that Bible Scripture and Godly lessons are weaved throughout each book, makes these books not only "good reading" but "good for your soul" books too.

Once I started I just couldn't stop reading. She writes in a way that you can see what she describes, and feel what the character is feeling. I have read all 6 in the series, plus the 3 in the Return to Red River. Can't wait for the following books that are to follow. You won't regret buying this series.

I bought this set of three books, and couldn't do anything but read, until I finished them!! My father imigrated to North Dakota from Sweden in 1905, and the book is so real, it brought back so many childhood memories, even though it is set 20-30 years before. The isolation and the harshness of the freezing temperatures of the winters was so very real, even though we were a family of ten children.But the love and respect that families had for each other made all the hardships worth while, and this love will stay with me forever. My grandchildren have a great heritage, and ask me many questions, as their life in California in the 2000's is so very different. The land my father homesteaded is still in our family, and is now in the 3rd generation. It has increased to over 2000 acres, and still sustains the Nelson family, and the 2 generations who live on the land.We had lots of Indian graves on the land ,and our father taught us to respect, and never disturb them. The Indians were still around when he first arrived from Sweden. What an adventure back in time!!!! Can't wait to get the continuing series!! Thanks, Ms. Snelling!!!

I didn't know this was a book for children. I love Torey Hayden's writings ~ I didn't read it but passed it on to my sister-in-law for her 10 year old granddaughter.

I read this book myself and then read it to a class of 5th graders. I loved it and my students loved it as well! Great story to discuss bullying, friendship and courage.

I snuggled up to "The Very Worst Thing" during a rainy afternoon and couldn't put the book down until I finished it. I was immediately sucked in to David's world and felt everything he felt. I wanted to fight for him as he fought against the bullies and I wanted to help him find the words to say what he felt to Granny and Mab. The characters were so realistic and believable, right down to the sludgy Mrs. Mellor and nice looking, but not-so-attentive Mrs. Hallowell.

I plan on sharing this book with my high school age special education students this fall. I imagine that some of them will feel an instant connection to David and I know they will enjoy "The Very Worst Thing" as much as I did.

As a bookseller, I sort through thousands of books per day, and nothing quite measures up to the work of Torey Hayden. Her latest endeavour into the children's book world is no exception. THE VERY WORST THING is all at once interesting, thrilling, heartwarming, and suspenseful, sure to keep kids thinking long after they put the book down. It is certainly a must-have for any classroom or library, and will make a glowing addition to your personal collection as well!

I read this book to 30 third grade students and they enjoyed it very much. They want a copy for our school library and would like to see Torey write a sequel. My students are interested in knowing what happens next to the main characters. They liked this book because it was "funny and exciting". They could relate to the bullying episodes and empathized with the main characters. It was a good read aloud for my eight and nine year old students.

The book, Victory Quilts, has very good illustrations for each step of the instructions for each of the quilts. Eleanor Burns gives a little history lesson along with her personal experience for the 1940's with each quilt description. Enjoyable to read along with seeing samples of quilts for this period of time.

I love everything she publishes. I learn so much from her. She makes it easy to understand.

I purchased this book for a class I was taking from Eleanor Burns and loved it. The book it's self has wonderful stories from WWII, her parents and Rosie the Riveter. There are so many wonder patriotic quilts, I wish I could make them all. Eleanor Burns gives a great class.

this book gets a big v from me because I was born at the same time and my father was in the navy and he is still around...The quilt blocks and instructions were top notch as usual with Mrs. Burns...love all her books of which I have three.
Thanks,
[...]

This is a wonderful book if you have any interest in the 1940's.

With each quilt block, there is an explanation of some aspect of the history at that time.

It's a storybook/history book, as well as a great quilt book!

If you want to know the truth about the medical system and the enormous number of errors and cover-ups within that system, read this book. Well-researched with many shocking and heart-breaking case studies, the book provides answers as well as showing the problems. Thank goodness someone had the courage to buck the system and break down the Wall of Silence for all of us.

What separates Wall of Silence by Gibson and Singh from other books on this topic is the refreshing and bold truth telling contained within it's human stories of pain, injustice and frustration. Not only did the authors shoulder the risks and courage requisite for listening to and then writing about the human face, consequences and devastation of needless medical error tragedies, but they also ferreted out and exposed the ugly truths, told by medical providers themselves, about how the pervasive greed, secrecy and code of silence in the healthcare industry works to bury medical mistakes through a host of means; including blackballing and burying the careers of the competent and ethical medical providers who dare to tell the truth and who place patients above profits. As a medical provider, I can find no better way to encapsulate the meaning and hope of this treatise than through those words offered by the Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. This book is, as she states, 'A call to arms for families who have had loved ones disabled or die in the pursuit of medical treatment.' And, I can only hope that it could also catalyze a 'Call to Arms' for medical providers who wish to return medicine and healthcare to the patient oriented, compassionate, ethical and hippocratic way of practice.

This is a better book by far than the unfortunately better known INTERNAL BLEEDING. It is certainly more honest. It has the clear advantage of being written by people who know and understand the subject ,and unlike Internal Bleeding, it does not suffer the disadvantage of having been written by physicians who, purposfully or otherwise, seem very intent in obscuring the responsibility for medical mistakes.

The authors of Wall of Silence have written an honest and valuable book deciding (to the public's advantage) to let the chips fall where they may. A MUST READ!!

This book is a well researched, well written must read for all Americans. The authors share their personal story as well as the stories of others who have suffered at the hands of a careless physician. While the stories will break your heart, they may also save your life, or the life of someone you love. While none of us want to believe that those we trust with our bodies and our lives would neglect a sacred trust, the fact is it is happening all too often. This book delivers the message without hype, fear or hysteria. Read it, share it and take it with you.

If even one person dies, that is one too many. But it is not just one, not even 10 or 100 patients who are maimed and dying from health care mistakes. As Gibson and Singh reveal, the numbers are much much higher than that. And anyone of them could be you or your loved ones. Medical errors do not discriminate. Everyone is vulnerable even doctors themselves as patients.

Yes, to error is human but that really doesn't appear to be the problem here. A great deal of the problem appears to be that a percentage of health care providers make multiple errors because no one stops them. According to Grayson and Singh many nurses do not recommend their place of employment to their family and friends.

When people are not held accountable for their actions and the consequences of those actions everyone is endangered. Taking or being forced to take personal responsiblity for your actions and their consequences plays a large part in how many mistakes you make.

I would think it would be every irresponsible health care provider's nightmare to literally have to personally experience everything that they inflict on their patients.

Since health care providers are safe from the magic wishing wand, the next best thing is to guard against such mistakes and be public with the information. It is a matter of ethics. When you are ten and don't want to "rat out" a buddy it is rarely life or death. But health care providers are not ten anymore and it is their ethical obligation to put the safety their patients or potential patients first. Please read this book and tell others about it. All of our lives depend on it.

Having been pushed to my limit of reading "Ferdinand" every other night to my 6 y.o. daughter, I was happy to find this book at Amazon--and so was my daughter. Immediately after the first reading, my daughter claimed this as her new favorite book. This book is longer than "Ferdinand", but still enjoyable to read in one sitting. Near the end of the story, Wee Gillis tries his hand at playing an oversized bagpipe. I don't fully understand why, but my daughter is disappointed with this plot development--yet it remains a favorite for repeated readings.

Loved this book as a child -- especially the artwork -- and I'm so glad to have a nice, clean copy without having to pay a fortune to an antiquarian bookseller! Bravo!

Seriously, I think a lot of this book. The artwork is wonderful; the story is wonderful. We had to buy this copy because we wore out our first one.

Another great book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson. Nice story and great artwork. Recommended if you already own and like Ferdinand.

So glad it's back...this classic book on how different people can get along. Not just for kids.

I only wish that this had been written even 5 years ago. The author definitely knows most teens don't like
books that are too wordy. It is concise with tabs, and does use a heavier grade paper for those with the tendency to toss books. Also, it is colorful and uses a bit of humor. I thought it was very well done by the publisher and authors.

Purchased this to assist a very disorganized boy! It has a lot of helpful hints and guidelines for making your life easier and keeping track of your stuff!

I am messy, theres no denying it. My mom is always on my case about my room or the kitchen or the living room and so on. But as a high school student I have so many more IMPORTANT things to do than to spend my time trying to clean up my house, only to have it get messy again. This book had so many good ideas about how to be organized, not only at home, but at school too! Now my mom doesnt yell at me anymore, and I have more time to focus of my life. This book rocks!

The moment I put this book down, I wished that I had found it befor emy Senior year. "Where's My Stuff?" contains nearly every little bit of study and and organizational wisdom I've picked up throguh my high-school career, and it would have been helpful going into it with all that knowledge condensed in one book, whick I'm quite glad this book does. The practical, step-by-step instriuctions on how to organize class materials were incredibly helpful, and this book does a great job of preparing you to manage your time and your personla space. With its diagrams, charts, and overall utility, I would recommend "Where's My Stuff?" To anyone entering high-school. I'm definitely keeping it for college.

This book has helped me to the extreme. I used to be the kid that turns up in class with the math homework from last week when the teacher is asking for the essay on stonehenge. Which i forgot about becuase my planner gets washed off my hands every time i took a shower. This book outlines easy and practical strategies that allow you to take control of your backpack. Worth every penny.

Please don't shy away from the cover - yes it looks like a bit like a bodice ripper, but this engrossing story is perhaps the perfect way to "run away" - albeit vicariously. Claire leaves behind an unsympathetic fast life of drinking and waking up beside the wrong person (as well as a rather mysterious dark history) to live alone in an isolated cottage in Scotland. To my way of thinking, it was far better to endure some of her hardships vicariously, but the isolation and beauty will rub off on the reader, who hopefully won't have to endure a damp, cold cottage or other deprivations. The author develops the characters in a richly believable manner, and paints the landscape with loving simplicity. As Claire embarks on her journey of discovery, the reader will have some eye-opening moments and perhaps even an epiphany as well.

Since I seem to be reading Raife's novels backwards, I was thrilled to see Clare and Donald of "Belonging" in this earlier work, so that I could savor the beginnings of their romance. And it was fascinating to see Trudy and Una at earlier stages as well; along with "Belonging," this book made me want to pack up my earthly possessions and move to an isolated cottage in the Highlands at once. Like all of Raife's works, this novel is more than a romance. It's a true love letter to Scotland--its terrain, its people, its way of life. I have never been to the Highlands, but I've been in love with (and in) Scotland, and this novel gently conveys a sense of such peace and pleasure as we watch Clare mellow and grow from a spoiled city girl to a strong, loving woman whose eventual happiness is well deserved. I highly recommend this book!

This is the first book I read by this author. She has a very light humourous prose. This is not a typical *romance* novel. The characters are well-developed and by the end of the book you feel like you know them and that you might drive around the little town where this takes place (outside of Fort William in Scotland) and be able to point out key landmarks. Donald and Clare, the main characters, are very human and likeable. Clare makes a journey to find herself and finds love, family, and a sense of inner confidence that she was lacking. This is a very rewarding and satisfying read. Many readers may find their own journeys and struggles mirrored in Clare's.

What a wonderful, wonderful book! I can't believe it is out of print; I bought it two months ago from....ummmm....well, not from Amazon. The (unnamed) store had several copies in stock.

What I liked about it, more than the romance, which is quite sweet but rather commonplace to novels, was the evolving story about Clare finally finding a "home." Made me wish I could move right over there and find a village just like that, where people care about each other and are willing to be honest with one another. So rare nowadays.

Heartwarming story of a woman who takes a step back from her busy work dominated life to find herself.

She moves to the Highlands, into a tiny moist house with no 'mod cons' and through the course of the story, finds herself growing to love the surrounding area, the people and most of all, forgives and frees herself from her past.

A very rewarding read, I'm off to go play with the children!

Wonderful book with gorgeous photographs and thought-inspiring writings. Totally enjoyable book by an amazing doctor.

After receiving the book Zen of Watering Your Gardening by Dr. Matthew M. Cohen as a gift from a dear girlfriend, who is an art teacher and loves to describe what she sees, I began truly to understand why the book was so impressive. As we looked at each page, my girlfriend described her thoughts as to the incredible photography and sensitive prose.

Every page captured brilliant colors and textures of breathtaking garden flowers and foliage from different parts of the world with appropriate sayings well composed and matched to the pages. I am rapidly making a list of people to send this wondrous book as a gift. Thank you Dr. Matthew Cohen for creating the book and thank you dear girlfriend for this gift and your time in helping me see the world through your artful eyes, giving pause to my day and time to reflect - what a gift!

Breathtaking photos --transports me to a quiet , tranquil place; just what it was intended to do! A must for gardeners , and those who admire natural beauty.
MES

Matt Cohen has formulated a book that not only shares the beauty of a healthy garden,but also creates a haven of beauty and relaxation for the soul.As he formulated the book,I was attempting a similar re-creation in a very small space;
Matt's phtography and his aphorisms struck a deep core within me.

Do go purchase this book,if only to nurture your soul.

Art, among its many purposes, mediates for us the divide between memory and the present. In an instant, Mary Cassat puts back in our arms the child now grown. For a brief, sweet moment, Matisse carries us back to the Mediterranean honeymoon cruise and Monet returns us to our grandmother's garden. Picasso shoves into our face the writhing, mangled brutality of war - so that we never forget, try as we might. In these such encounters with art, our fading past is recreated in the mind, restored to us as we rush through the present moment into the inexplicable. Remembering, we travel gladly - or fearfully - forward through time, pulling with us those memories which then shape our unformed future. For some, this way be madness.

The Zen meditative experience, among its many purposes, holds at bay all that would detract us from the vitality of the present moment. Its goal is to immerse us completely in the here and now, to drive past and future from our consciousness and reintroduce our senses to the only moment of our life that is substantively real. We are allowed to settle, to rest, to reshape and reform our tattered selves, to open ourselves to the inexplicable. And eventually we learn to take these wholly present moments as our companions through time, allowing them to sooth the remembered past which distracts and threatens to undo us.

In his book Zen of Watering Your Garden, Dr. Cohen merges both these experiences into a powerful, yet peaceful, gift. With photographs - his own and others - which often rise to the level of art, Cohen lures us into our own memories of two of life's essential encounters with nature: the growing plant and the soothing shower which sustain. He accompanies these photographs with gentle, poignant, and at times breathtaking passages - his own and others -- which pull the reader even deeper into the encounter. This alone is sufficient commendation for the book, which should be in everyone's library.

But Cohen's gift to us is greater than just his book, rich though it is. In his introduction (don't miss it!), Cohen describes the heart of the Zen experience which awaits us in the garden, the experience of transcendence, centeredness, and tranquility. He deftly uses the powers of art and language to capture our imagination, pulling us along the path into the healing garden which can be found in diverse forms wherever we are. He offers us the secret of the garden's healing power, the quiet engagement with the plant not only in its beauty but also in its nurture. In sharing with the plant the water it needs to survive, the same water we must have to survive, we become companions in life's renewing moment. In return, we receive surcease and peace.

Dr. Cohen speaks of what he knows, the risks of deep engagement with a world filled with pain, confusion, and need. In his own medical practice, he learned what many of us have learned, that without a safe place for retreat and renewal, that way be madness. He teaches us that miraculously, this place awaits us just outside our kitchen door, or in the sunroom, or down the street in the park. Go, run, now.

This is a great book with LOTS of useful information and lesson plans. It really helped me to understand the 6 Traits better, and how to go about teaching them to my kids. If your new to 6 traits this is a must have!

This is a terrific resource and one that I have been using all year in my classroom. We have begun using this book as a book study for a Professional Learning Community at our school for those teaching K-3. My Grade One class has never loved writing more and their enthusiasm for writing has been tremendous.

This book will definitely aid in developing your 6 + 1 writing classroom. It is filled with classroom ideas and great picture books to use to enhance each lesson.

This is a fantastic tool for lower elementary teachers. This is how writing should be assessed. This book is a practical tool. It includes practice assessments and lots of student example papers to help you better understand each trait and how to evaluate it. It also includes many wonderful teaching ideas and picture book examples!

We asked. We pleaded. We begged, "Pretty pleeease." Ruth Culham responded to our request with great enthusiasm with 6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for the Primary Grades. And teachers across the globe cheered, "Wahoo!" Finally, a resource book for primary educators who have been searching for child tested ideas that tackle instructional strategies and assessment techniques in one comprehensive book. Thank you, Ruth, for doing a wonderful job of explaining each trait, equipping us with developmentally appropriate focus lessons, and reminding us that teaching writing to young authors is a process in which they need plenty of practice and opportunities, and an extra helping of patience on our part doesn't hurt. This must have book for all teachers - novice and experienced alike - won't be another resource that is shelved after a quick glance. It will be close at hand as it is used throughout the year to help develop the talents of young writers.

I have, and have had, what seems like thousands of disabled critters, so I had very high hopes for this book. Sadly, these hopes were dashed. The book itself is of poor quality--there is no glue holding the cover on, and I may return it. The writing is of inconsistent quality (each story is written by a different author), and some include such adjectives as "deformed," or, worse, "abnormal" and "misfit" (used in place of "disabled" or the like; the pet is "abnormal," not "an abnormal heart rhythm"). I view these as unacceptable, whether applied to humans or critters.

I've waffled back and forth on rating 2 stars or 3 and decided to go with 3, just because of the subject matter.

This book was very uplifiting and had wonderful,heartwarming stories. All of these animals portrayed have so much of a gift and lesson to teach all that even animal with disabilities can lead happy, healthy lives. People should take this to heart and adopt more animals from shelters and rescue groups - that have special needs. The animals are just that much more appreciative and fantastic. I previously owned one that had 1 ear and a condition called Degenerative Myelopathy (causes paralysis of the back legs). He was my soulmate!

This book is filled with heart-warming stories about pets with challenges and the people who love them. The stories were very touching and wrote with such care. I made me think how animals enrich our lives and teach us a few things along the way. My favorite story was "Battle for Live: Kreig".It shows how strong love is betwen pets and their owners.

Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them

Finally a tribute to those inspirational animals who are challenged but are PERFECT in being who they are, however that is.
Great stories. This is a must read. Great stories to read children with challenges as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these wonderfully inspirational stories of pets who are "almost perfect". I read the book in a couple of hours, on a flight back home at Christmastime and several times I found myself trying to hold back tears, that just came rolling down my cheeks anyway! We have two boxers who have special needs, and have always felt privileged to be able to care for them and love them unconditionally. They give it back tenfold. These stories are so heartwarming, inspirational, sad and funny too. It is definitely worth reading. You will never look at "almost perfect" pets in the same way again.