Alternative Books

Child of the World is a complete resource for parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone who is a friend to a child between the ages of three on up to twelve years old. It offers very practical advice to support the Montessori lessons of practical life activities, sensorial experiences, language, math and geometry, art and music, social studies and the physical and life sciences, from age 3 through age 12 and beyond. It has been referred to as "a Montessori course in one volume."

Susan Stephenson has been teaching in the Montessori field since 1970, has read all of Dr. Montessori's books and pulled out the quotes that are most helpful to parents and teachers. Child of the World is filled with clear guidance using the priciples of Dr. Maria Montessori. She addresses the joys and challenges of supporting children's process of becoming a fully human being with common sense and deep insight into the nature of the human being. You can feel her enjoyment and appreciation for the unique needs and gifts of the developing sensibilities of the child. Here she offers a perspective that encourages us to observe, reflect, and connect with the child, while offering activities which foster independence, life skills, communication, time for personal reflection. All those who desire to preserve the dignity and joy of the young child will admire how Susan conveys great respect for the inner life and spiritual nature of children. She has gathered together gems of wisdom, practical help, and activities, books, and games that expand the world of the child. She has travelled the globe collecting precise, beautiful and often handmade items that invite the child to interact and discover. Child of the World is also a source of delightful and inspiring books and materials.

Child of the World (three to twelve years) and its companion, The Joyful Child (birth to three) offer kind guidance along a sure path for developing the skills and attributes that will assist the child in preparing for life. These are the resources I have depended on to find wonderful additions for my Montessori environment during my 32 years of teaching. It is also the place I rely on for gifts for my grandchildren and resources to have ready when they come for a visit. Child of the World is a great resource for the many years from three to twelve and supports us in the attitudes and applications of good child support. Both of these publications are welcomed into Montessori training centers, schools, and homes worldwide as a clear and concise guide to basic Montessori principles.


A wide array of resources and excellent links such as lectures, children's projects, etc., at the always-current websites of the publisher of Joyful Child and Child of the World:[...]

Cathryn Kasper, AMI/USA consultant

I must say, this is the bargain of the year for making Montessori philosophy understandable to parents. An excellent overview, practical and clear. Also, the materials offered in the catalogue section are much less expensive than those usually found in Montessori schools and so are valuable to parents for their children at home.

This product is an excellent educational resource. The notes on child development ages and stages are very useful; I have used it extensively during the past ten years in homeschooling my own child (and the children of others).It is now the mainstay of my step-daughter's homeschooling curriculum for her three children.
Child of the world is an excellent tool in ensuring your child has a well-rounded education. My current copy lives on the coffee table. Children love to peruse it before birthdays and christmas!

This is a great book with all the basics for a home school. It helps you set up, explains how to go about teaching, offers tons of resources and then there is a catalogue to buy great aids, toys and materials needed. The perfect all-in-one and very [reasonable] for the great stuff it has. I know I bought the expensive guides and now only refer back to this one!!

This book can be ordered directly from the publisher at www.michaelolaf.net and a lot of the text has been placed free at this site. It presents a clear picture of Montessori ideas for both the preschool and elementary school, and can be used for projects at home as well. The "book" is also a catalogue of books, toys, and materials that engage the child in a healthy and fun way while educating.

This is a must have for anyone who is just going in to alternative photography and need an overview o all there is. This gives you instruction, tool, recipes and more to get you started.

The author tells you everything you would reasonably want to know about the wide spectrum of non-traditional photographic methods. But not only does he talk about these alternate processes, he explains in step-by-step detail how to actually DO these techniques yourself. Great content, very well written.

A WELL ILLUSTRATED AND INSPIRING COLLECTION FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN ALTERNATIVE PROCESSING. NICE LAYOUT AND EASY READING.STIRS UP THE CREATIVE SIDE AND APPROPRIATE FOR BEGINNERS AND PROFFESSIONALS ALIKE

I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I also have "The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes" by Christopher James, another good book, but I always go back to "Coming into Focus". This book is laid out in a very accessible manner, each section is written clearly and concisely, and the processes are described so that you understand and can start experimenting almost immediately (once you acquire the necessary materials for the relevant process). Again, this book is a very useful one, and a handy reference to have around.

This is a wonderful book that tells you everything you want to know about alternative printing processes. I used to have "Keepers of Light" but lost it, so I ordered this as a replacement. It contains everything the other book did, plus information on using digital technology. A real resource for any serious photographer who is a purest at heart and wants to keep the old traditions alive.
Suzanne Ludlum-Loose

Anne Harrington's book is a wonderful account of how we humans keep trying to figure ourselves out, and to define, "what it means to be human." It's a fascinating historical account that everyone should read.

Well documented and fair book. The author does a lot to balance both sides of the issue. Having had 6 orthopedic surgeries in the last two years following an accident, I have managed better with meditation than anything the doctors could offer me. This book and I agree that there are other options out there, and no universal perfect fit, but if you are dissatisfied with care you are getting it is your responsibility to quit complaining and explore your options. It is your body and your life, after all.

Anne Harrington has written a comprehensive account of the impact of the healing approaches outside mainstream medicine. Call it mind-body, call it new age, it is an approach that is as old as the Bible with the cures of Jesus. It is not new to our society. Her history traces the mind-body connection stretching from Bibical era to our own, with the bulk of the book focusing on the Age of Enlightenment forward. She has written this definitive history in an unbias and readable fashion .

Whenever a first-class scholar, like this one, writes a careful, data-based book, which is at the same time accessible to the intelligent lay person, we must be grateful.

This volume tells us much of the history, in the United States, of the various mind-over-body schemes: psychoanalysis, Transcendental Meditation, bio-feedback, Christian Science, and others. Nobody interested in modern American history can afford to ignore this story.

But I also found the book profoundly confusing. The author wants to tell us about these movements and how they were received by the public, but she has little interest, it seems, in the truth value behind the claims of these popular movements. Does bio-feedback, for instance, really help in reducing stress ? For that matter, is there such a thing as "stress" in the sense that the proponents of these movements have in mind ? Truth or untruth are things that hold little interest for this author.

Harrington generally tells the story of the beginnings of these movements as a series of successes, and then, for some reason, time and again, "things begin to unravel," as she has to state time and again. With all her sympathies for "mind-over-body," sympathies that dominate her "narratives" (a favorite phrase of hers), it turns out, generally, and in stark contrast to her enthusiasms, that things don't work out after all, and it would seem -- though she never says this -- that it's probably best to be cynical about the whole lot of these movements.

I love this book! Anne Harrington offers an insightful and beautifully written history of human effort at healing. She has identified six narratives, which have deep cultural roots, as well as ties to science. These narratives are sometimes intertwined with scientific endeavors, and sometimes they survive simply as part of the popular culture. Anyone interested in mind-body healing will value The Cure Within.

This book will be a Godsend for anyone wishing to research the development of Goth, remind themselves of great times, or just to discover new bands, all in a sensible linear way.

The book is weighty, and text-heavy, with only a small selection of photos dotted throughout. It is aimed at those who want to devour the information, which I would imagine means anyone sensible who is, or has ever been, into Goth. He begins with a strange examination of the early days, giving special emphasis to Iggy's 'The Idiot and further clouding the pre-punk era by suggesting King Crimson gets a look in, as do the bleak visions of Doctors Of Madness, or the cartoonish drama-punk outfit, Rikki & The Last Days Of Earth. This early section covers from Punk to the early 80's, and Dave is knowledgeable enough not to regard Joy Div, Banshees, Damned, or Cure as Goth bands themselves, but artists who influenced some, and shared Gothic elements with others. He includes Ultravox and Magazine and the names of the main interesting bands of the era flicker past your eyes, but he concentrates on establishing a loose thread that connects the activities of The Banshees (who he eventually loses track of), Joy Division (but not New Order), The Cure, Bauhaus and Birthday Party.

Smaller bands get slotted neatly into the historical flow, which helps to make this book so useful to so many, as we get the UK Decay, Killing Joke and Virgin Prunes, before blending the Birthday Party, Ants and Bauhaus eras, leading up to Futurama, and in the post-Blitz serenity showing how The Cure, Bauhaus, Birthday Party, Sisters, Theatre Of Hate and Bauhaus reputations became established. Section 2 starts neatly be accepting the Gothic term and tag was firmly in place, introducing Southern Death Cult and Gene Loves Jezebel, as well as dragging Nico in for some praise. Then it's the Batcave, with Specimen, Almond Sex Gang, Sex Fiend (largely ignored) and the Sisters.

From that point in, other than Flesh For Lulu, he sticks with the big names. Part 3 brings in the Nephilim, trawls thorough the whole Sisters/Sisterhood/Mission period, and trots grandly on, until signing off with the reunions of the 90's and a frankly disappointing epilogue, and trivial recognition that America had/has some bands too! I would have expected much more about the development of the American scene, which he must know is much more widespread and artistically adventurous than our own (having done an Industrial book through Cleopatra). No matter, because he has pulled together the main period he obviously wanted to cover and does so superbly, creating a highly detailed, easy read full of incident, and the biggest slap on the back for Dave, who never once knowingly reveals any love for this music whatsoever, is how he affords Goth real respect.

"Maybe Gothic Rock did get a little silly, a little cliched, and awfully distorted somewhere down the line. But what do you think happened to Glam, Punk and Rock 'n' Roll itself? They hardly remained pure and pristine, either. But they survived, not simply to continue resonating within the world of modern rock, but to form the physical building blocks of everything that passes for rock music today. Gothic Rock is as vital a part of that construct as any of those others."

I fail to see how anybody could want to ignore this?

(Oh, and he ignores the NME's `Positive Punk' article because he probably knows the journalist never meant the piece to be taken that way, but the sub-editors concocted that themselves.)

This is one of the very few books to deal specifically with the actual sub genre of rock known as gothic rock. Like punk, goth has become a blanket term used to describe any band that remotely approaches a certain aesthetic that was once (sort of) original.

Thompson's book sets the record straighter by focusing mainly on the UK and the post punk scene that was the birthing ground for what would become 'gothic' rock. The author covers the separate 'scenes' that grew up in various parts of the country (London, Leeds, etc) and how they differed and developed. When the initial thrill of punk receded, post punk rose up and developed along different lines, spinning off and inspiring genres like goth and even new wave. Much attention is given to The Cure, Southern Death Cult, The Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Siouxsie, etc. A lot of ground is covered, from Joy Division (described as having a 'gothic' sound) through the wranglings between Andrew Eldritch's Sisterhood and the ex members of the Sisters, toward the Fields of the Nephilim, who tried to fill the gap left by the Sisters. Toward the end, the American scene is covered a bit, focusing on 'Death' rock with bands like Christian Death and .45 Grave, for instance.

The book is well researched, well written and not particularly biased. Thomson's style is smooth and well organized. The chapters deal with specific months and years and move around from the status of one band to another. The author also touches on more recents developments since the 1980s, addressing the various artists and bands that have been characterized as 'goth'. But again, the main focus is on progenitors of the genre rather than latter day pretenders to the throne.

There are also some decent pictures, but overall this is an excellent rock book, full of information for even casual fans of the genre or of the particular bands mentioned above. Well indexed, too. Highly recommended!

Siouxsie, Bauhaus, the ((Southern) Death) Cult, the Cure, the Sisters of Mercy, Specimen... this book is refreshingly free from the 1990s industrial and metal bands dressed in black that somehow got mislabeled goth. And it's also refreshingly free from all the third rate, third wave bands that managed to synthesize the diverse sounds of Siouxsie, the Sisters, et al. into a recognizable genre without writing a single memorable song. Instead, you'll find a solid history of the development of goth (a pigeonhole none of its key bands really fit into anyway) through the punk era and beyond.

I was surprised by a couple of omissions. I expected some kind of reference to the classic NME cover story on the "new positive punk" that brought the likes of the Southern Death Cult to my attention and the attention of many others. This early attempt at characterizing the genre merits some discussion, especially as the term "positive punk" is mentioned once or twice in passing.

Siouxsie and the Banshees got rather short shrift. They're often mentioned and quoted, but I'd like to have seen them get the same degree of attention as Bauhaus, the Sisters, the Cure, and the Cult. If there's a single album that formed my idea of what gothic rock was, before I'd ever heard that term used, it was Juju.

I also expected a bit more on the US death rock scene. It may be harder to find the good stuff amid the abundant dross of American death and goth rock, but that hardly means it doesn't exist.

A couple of suggestions for any future editions: an index and a list of recommended listening.

I really liked this book, mainly because the writer didn't get too personally involved in his material but also because he was able to distinguish between the bands and individuals that were gothic rock and those that influenced gothic rock. Like the Damned's Dave Vanian who became a reluctant goth role model by just being himself.

It is also free from todays goth/industrial rock, focusing on the roots of gothic rock.

"It (the book) is an examination of what transpired when one specific tentacle of the post-punk British rock octopus stopped failing around in the wastes above its head, and burrowed instead into its blackest cave, there to contemplate...whatever."

If you are at all interested in gothic rock then this book is well worth the read.

No, it's not that type of book and if you are searching something like that better go to some other place. It's a serious exploration of the subject, and some chapters were written in language that reminds me a scientific review. I give it 5 stars for the amount of information it contains, but the style as well as the cover of the book could be a lot better. Also, not a word have been written about the Crow thing which for me is a real loss - for example one of the best Cure gothic tracks "Burn" was off the soundtrack for the first Crow movie. Anyway for one that wants a load of info it is a good place to dig.

I mean it,this is brilliant stuff ! Mr. Reginald has done his homework and proves himself a master of all things medieval with this first tale set in Nova Europa. His grasp of history playing itself out in a dark and bloody alternate Middle Ages and his subtle introduction of fantasy elements to the mix, earmark this as a series to follow closely in the months and years ahead. Im hoping that we are treated to maps in future volumes since the various tales are set in different areas of Nova Europa and at different times in history.Speaking with Ariadne Press,the second novel,The Exiled Prince will be arriving soon in Amazon warehouses and the third novel Questiones is due to be released in September.
May this author live to be a hundred !

It was with a degree of trepidation that I set out to read THE DARK-HAIRED MAN. 600 pages! I'm a strong admirer of Robert Reginald's short stories (see my Amazon review) but not a big fantasy fan. And the first few chapters were indeed not so easy. All those funny half-familiar names, for instance. Granted, there is a useful glossary at the back of the book for quick reference, and in any case that half-familiarity is the whole key to Reginald's Nova Europa. Nova Europa is how the world might have developed if the Roman emperor Julian, known to us as "Julian the Apostate", had not been killed in the year 363 in battle with the Persians (or perhaps at the hand of a Christian enemy? According to one tradition, this was the martyr St. Mercurius, who returned briefly from the dead to finish off the wicked pagan emperor). In this alternative vision of history Julian survived, to become "Julian the Great", and the following centuries worked out rather differently. The trick is not original, but Reginald carries it off most elegantly. Once the reader has grasped what the situation is, the novel zooms along in great style. I actually found it difficult to put down, and I read it through to the end in two late evening reading sessions each of which followed a long working day. THE DARK-HAIRED MAN is one of the most exuberant books that I've ever read. There is a wide-range of distinctively-drawn characters, the writing is atmospheric, the "fantasy elements" (the things I normally like least in fiction) are plausible within their frame of reference, and the main source of evil in the story is immediate, psychologically convincing and chillingly spiteful (which is more than can be said for Tolkien's Sauron, for example). So: Hats off to Mr. Reginald for a really fine piece of work! The second novel in the series, THE EXILED PRINCE, has already appeared, and there are apparently further novels on their way. If they can match the quality of this one, we shall be witnessing the creation of a major literary phenomenon.

P.S. The novel is very funny too.

And, here is a book truly for the readers of ... well... of ... "this kind of book". And, just what "kind" of book is it? Well, it's a book on the massive historical scale that includes pretty much all of the genres: mystery, suspense, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, murder, humor ... It's chockablock with a distorted Medieval Europe, and the myriad characters existing therein, that/who could well be assumed to exist in some other dimension. Kings and Queens and Dukes and Witches and Warlocks and Wizards, and Demons, even the Devil, come into play, in this fictionalized account of somewhere, sometime, Middle-Ages' landscapes whereupon power struggles bring into play, on an enormously large stage, all of the delicious vices and virtues, all of the acts of bravery and vengeance, all of the greediness for power and machinations of powerful people, good and bad who die and are born ... of nations that rise and fall ... of metamorphoses, physical and mental, that occur. Magic rings and torques and mirrors come into play. Magic, black and white, along with many momentous magical moments, arise on each and every page, as the brilliance of author Robert Reginald weaves this literary tapestry that, while it may prove too complex for some readers to fathom, on all its myriad literary (and those not in-on-the-inside-jokes) levels, does reward, one and all, in the end, with a finely-wrought solution to one man's search for his identify in a world suddenly gone mad because of vengeance and witchcraft. [Speaking of tapestries, by the way, a series of them play an important part in the latter pages of the volume]. THE DARK-HAIRED MAN is a must read for anyone "into" this kind of book.

In "The Dark-Haired Man, or A Hieromonk's Tale" Rob Reginald has created an intriguing blend of fantasy, history, romance, and mystery. Fascinating characters, from the tragic to the humorous populate in medieval world of Nova Europa. I especially like the strong female characters who use their brains, feminine wiles, magic, and their political connections to change their world. These women operate within the constraints of their roles as queens, princesses, and noblewomen but exhibit every bit as much power as men, without dueling with swords. Several forms of magic work in Nova Europa, sometimes in opposition to each other. Mysteries, from the overarching questions of Afanasy's parentage and the evil one's identity, to the small questions about magical dolls, increase the suspense. Amusing situations, witty dialogue, and sarcastic comments keep the reader laughing just enough to offset the sorrow over the horrific battle scenes and the death's of major characters. Although quite different from most fantasy worlds, Nova Europa is a delightful place to visit and I look forward to Rob Reginald's future fantasy novels.

"...he could hear a sound like rushing steam inside his skull. It was the rush of madness, the incorrigible madness of this place...they had attacked and reduced him to a grisly, spastic, convulsive length of live meat burning in the throes of neurons gone amuck and hauled his shriveled caracus off to some madhouse called the Rubber Room." Quick! Tap the subconscious recesses of your computer-like brain and identify the author. If you pulled up Tom Wolfe, A Man In Full, page 368, you are correct. ##### Just goes to show, I guess, that wordy prose in the hands of a famous writer is still acceptable. (Little wonder that Wolfe writes 700-page books.) Suffice it to say, such over-the-top wordiness submitted to a publisher by an unpublished writer would probably be tossed in the waste basket, quickly, or consigned back to the slush pile. ##### Essentialism venerates humility as its highest virtue. Consequently, when in doubt, it is probably best to adapt the James M. Cain breakout writing fashion dating way back to the 1930s with his The Postman Always Rings Tiwice, Double Indemnity, and Mildred Pierce. Brevity. Simplicity. Faithfully follow Commandment V of the Plot Development Ten Commandments: Thou Shalt Not Hyperbolize. ##### In this regard, The Dictionary of Concise Writing is a precious gem. It is a volume which should be on every book shelf, conveniently accessable as a constant reference by every writer.

"The Dictionary of Concise Writing" is a thorough examination of how to write tight, well-crafted prose. The book begins with a section on "Perfectibility of Words" which defines wordiness and provides various examples of the different types. The following section is "The Imperfectability of People" which discusses the prevalence and acceptance of wordiness in society.

The extensive dictionary actually begins on page 49. Each listed phrase or word combination is followed by suggested substitutions, an example using the "wordy" phrase, and the same example using the correct substitution. If you are wondering if your writing could be more concise or looking for a suggestion for a phrase that just doesn't feel right, or just want to learn better writing skills then this is the book for you. It is the largest and most useful compendium of excessively wordy phrases and practical, workable substitutions that I have had the pleasure of using. A highly recommended purchase for anyone doing any serious writing.

Robert Hartwell Fiscke has produced two powerful, literary weapons to guard against the growing trend of misspellings, tautologies and clichés as well as hackneyed metaphors, inane expressions and bloated or weak writing: The Dimwit's Dictionary: 5000 Overused Words and Phrases and Alternatives to Them (reviewed elsewhere) and The Dictionary of Concise Writing: 10,000 Alternatives to Wordy Phrases.

The key to good writing, according to Fiske who is also the author and publisher of The Vocabula Review (an online journal about the English language), is concise and precise writing ~ and that's just what he offers with these two excellent reference books.

Like Fiske's other guide, The Dictionary of Concise Writing can be used as a reference when needed or read cover to cover. In fact, reading it like a regular book is a good way to grasp the rudiments of good writing.

It comprises two parts: The first offers a wide range of advice on clear and concise writing, including practical suggestions for trimming the fat from sentences and adding more muscle to your work.

The second part is the dictionary, which presents several thousand common, verbose phrases and offers fresh, concise alternatives and real-world examples of useage.

A point made in the foreword by Dr Richard Lederer sums up the objective of the book: "Cutting the fat is probably the quickest and surest way to improve [your writing]."

The author expands on that point in the first chapter:

"Poor grammar, sloppy syntax, abused words, misspelled words and other infelicities of style impede communication and advance only misunderstanding. But there is another, perhaps less well-known, obstacle to effective communication: too many words.

"We often believe that many words are better than few. Perhaps we imagine that the more we say, the more we know or the more others will think we know, or that the more obscure our writing is, the more profound our thoughts are. Seldom, of course, is this so. Wordiness is arguably the biggest obstacle to clear writing and speaking."

As Fiske says, our language has become bloated with phrases such as 'at this juncture' or worse, 'at this moment in the history of my life' which simply translates as 'now'.

The Dictionary of Concise Writing is a must for any writer - amateur or pro - and anyone else wanting to communicate more effectively. But don't just buy it, keep it handy on your desk. If you're like me ~ you'll be reaching for it sooner than you think.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

This is an excellent book, and other comments here are more profound than my own thoughts, so I'll just say that I use this (and it's somewhat companion, The Dimwit's Dictionary) with regularity. Whenever I've written something that I think may be verbose, I hastily consult this to see if I've erred. It's truly an indispensable tool.

In "The Dictionary of Concise Writing", Robert Hartwell Fiske battles the veritable plague of excessive wordiness that threatens to make muddled mush of the English language. Well, maybe that's hyperbole. And maybe it's too wordy. In any case, in this book's first two chapters, "The Perfectibility of Words" and "The Imperfectibility of People", Fiske explains how, and hypothesizes as to why, we cloud our speech and writing with so many unnecessary words. The first chapter gives common examples of objectionably wordy sentences organized by part of speech and type of phrase. The second chapter discusses wordiness in business, legalese, journalese, academicspeak and its repercussions. Those chapters are followed by "The Dictionary of Concise Writing", whose 357 pages constitute the bulk of this book. The Dictionary lists common wordy phrases, alphabetically, and suggests more concise alternatives for each one. Every wordy phrase is illustrated with an example sentence and an improved version, in which the phrase has been replaced by something better. Fiske isn't claiming that these wordy phrases should never be used -although I gather that he might say that of some, but that we should express these ideas succinctly whenever it will do the job. Truthfully, writers probably don't notice when they use too many words, so we may not think to look for an alternative in this book. I find "The Dictionary of Concise Writing" most valuable as a reminder. Fiske's examples stick with me and make me more conscious of wordiness while I'm writing, especially of common redundant and overwrought phrases. There is a short interview with the author at the end of the book. Robert Hartwell Fiske is the editor of The Vocabula Review (www.vocabula.com), where you will find further interesting opinions and observations on the English language.

My friend, a recent widow, received this book from her daughter. She gave me this book when I got divorced. I am giving it to a friend who is going through a divorce. It is a perfect book for anyone whos life is at a crossroads and needs a bit of inspiration and a gentle push to the next level. Can there be anyone more inspiring or uplifting than Mary Engelbreit? The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is perfect. Really, a person should just buy this book by the dozen; it fits so many situations. It would be perfect for someone who has just lost their job too. A perfect pick-me-up. Mary Engelbreit is a genius!

I have been working my way thru the process of divorce and came across this book in a Mary Englebreit store. Since that day, I read it before I go to sleep and when I wake up! It has been an inspiration beyond words. Everyone, yes everyone, experiencing change should have this book!

This book is a must have for anyone going through a change in their life. I graduated from high school this year and I have bought several copies for my friends who have moved away for school. It's is an optimistic look on moving on and I would recomend it to anyone. Also, Mary Englebreit's illistrations are spectacular.

After having a painful conversation with my elderly mother-in-law about the fact that some changes would have to be made if she wanted to continue to live at home, I saw this book. I bought it and then told my sister-in-law (her daughter) about it. She said, "Did you get it for me or John or Michael?" I should have bought a case of them. It applies to everyone at some time.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I searched for something that would give me comfort and hope. "Don't Look Back," became part of my treatment and recovery. I am now 4 years cancer free and continue to share this book with family and friends.

Reviewed by Nicholas Lopez (age 5) and Leslie Granier for Reader Views (1/08)

"Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty!" tells the story of a very special family. Everyone, including the pets, has an important job and each is capable of doing something to help others. For example, the father is an attorney who helps his clients and the mother writes children's books. The bird even contributes by cleaning her cage. But at the heart of the story is Duncan, a dog that was rescued from a shelter and has become a volunteer at a hospital, passing on the love he receives from his family to the sick children.

Nicholas thought it was really cool that the kids got to play with the dog in the hospital. He enjoyed the pictures, which were very colorful and detailed. He laughed at the picture of the bird sweeping out her cage. He also thought it was funny when Duncan went to visit a grandma who fell off her skateboard. Although the book contains many light-hearted moments, it also provided an excellent opportunity to discuss more serious things with him, such as that some kids have to spend time away from home because they are sick.

This book will appeal to children between the ages of four and eight. It will be especially helpful for kids who have friends or siblings who have serious illnesses and often spend time in the hospital. The main focus of this book is that everyone plays an important role in the family and that each of them can do something to help others. After reading "Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty!" children will be interested in figuring out what their roles are in their families. This will be a great time to help them think of ways they can serve others.

"A delightful book. It has become a family favorite." -- Bettye Baker, columnist, Vineyard Gazette, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

This inspirational and educational children's book is written from the perspective of a little girl in a busy but loving family. Her father is an attorney and her mother is a children's book author (Lisa Dunn-Dern?) who writes at home.

The little girl has an industrious pet bird named Delilah, and a friendly brown dog named Duncan that they rescued from the shelter. Duncan is a "Therapy Dog" whose job is to visit sick children in hospitals.

Readers will learn all about therapy dogs from this delightful book - how they must get ready to visit a hospital; what they must wear (they have a special ID vest and a backpack with three important things inside); and the kinds of things they do to help children and adults to feel better.

"Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty" has adorable color illustrations by Andrea Yomtob on each page, with easy-to-understand text for young readers. Children will want to read this heartwarming book again and again.

Mr. Duncan Dog on Duty is one of those wonderful delightful jewels of a children's book that you want to give to all of the people you know from the very young to the very old. With a wonderful tale about a hospital visiting dog, and the life-loving and life-giving family who owns him, this book is a joyous celebration of life, loving what you do everyday, and the joys of service. Service, not in the showy way, but in the simple caring way that shows how simple, but how meaningful it can be.

I love this book. I love the quirkiness, the joy, the delightful text and illustrations, the multi-racial family that is at the center of the book and with no fanfare, just a beautiful fact of life.

And, the illustrations are absolutely delightful, done with imaginative detail, great sense of humor--again for all ages---so that everyone can have a great time looking at the quirky and delightful details.

This book makes me smile whenever I read it, or even think about it. A great story, great drawings, and a great book!

"My job is to go to school, ask questions, try my best, and have a good time," says the little girl who tells this story. Everyone in the family has a job, and their dog Duncan's job is to be a therapy dog at the nearby children's hospital. This is a children's book that affirms the idea that everyone (even the family pet) can be of service and has something to share. Children will be introduced to the healing and comfort brought to people of all ages by therapy dogs. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, the illustrations are warm and colorful, and the concepts empowering. And who could not love the adorable Dr. Duncan Dog?

by Carolyn Blankenship
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I saw Karen DeFelice speak a couple of years ago. She has an amazing story about how diet transformed her son's autism. He went from a completely non-verbal 10 year old who banged his head on his bedroom floor all night long, to a college student living in his own apartment.

Heart warming story with great information.

After reading this book, then I would suggest watching this video:
Gut and Psychology Syndrome DVD

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH good about this book. Karen, you absolutely rock! A thousand thank yous for this book!!! To reflect on the fact that this woman did all this work in finding solutions for her family, replete with 24/7 migraines, is absolutely heroic, in my mind.

so very pleased with this book, it is a terrific resource to have in my library. I would strongly recommend it to those interested in enzyme therapy, the terminology is simple, well organized and helpful.

This book has been very helpful. It gives you specific instructions in how to start taking enzymes and what they do for us. I have seen with my own granddaughter, how enzymes improved her Autism. My husband and I are improving our health with enzymes. I am telling all my friends to get this book, because I want them to find better health also.

This book really got to the specifics of how enzymes can help autistic children. A slow steady approach is best. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is is using the biomedical approach to address ASD. Is working well with my autistic child and my children with allergies. Great to know there's an alternative to the highly restrictive GF/CF diet.

After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins in 1998, my husband was told there was very little hope of his cancer going into remission let alone a cure. After six months the lumps came back after the 1st round, then another 6 months of the strongest he could get. A co-worker loaned him this book--he has been drinking the tea now and has had no lumps return, blood tests and xrays reveal nothing returning-- it is worth a shot!

this is a great book, i could not put it down.if you or someone you know is having medical problems, this book will reveal to you an alternative for modern medicine. you have nothing to lose and maybe everthing to gain by trying this herabl tea. my dad (age 74 ) and father in law (age 75) are both drinking this tea for prostate cancer and heart problems, both were amazed at the immediate difference in how they felt, both have more energy and feel 100 % better while drinking this tea. this tea will clean the toxins from your body and as my father in law says, you will feel 20 years younger. if you love someone who is in bad health, buy it for them. it is not just for cancer, but has been proven to help many ailments. darlene bishop, po box 35, henry , tn 38231

my brother in law got malignant melanoma and after several surgerys and chemo treatments it kept coming back,so the Dr stopped all treatment and we went home with very little hope then i was shown the Essiac Report,when i started reading it i could not put it down and somehow i knew it was our answer so he started on the herbal tea right away and i am happy to say he has been free from any malignant melanomas for 4 years now and i am very thankfull for the book...it was a sign from God for us and i highly encourage anyone to read it, you will not be sorry...

This is an excellent book. I would recommend it to everyone -- not only those who have or know someone who has cancer. It presents a lot of food for thought. The facts and testimonials are true. It informs the reader about Flor Essence Tea and its benefits -- something I truly believe in from personal experience.

I encourage anyone that has come in contact with Cancer in any form, to please, please, please, consider this. It has proven itself over and over again, but you will not see it on any commercial.........