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IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY has been a fabulous find for us. Our 2 1/2 year old boy loved it the first time we read and sang it to him, and he asks to read this one over and over. IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY alternates between little mini-stories where parent and child are some kind of animal, with lullabies with familar tunes but new words to fit that animal. Just this evening, I got out IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY and had him snuggle into my lap with delight.

IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY manages to hit a wonderful balance. It is purely sweet, without seeming overly so. It is just a sweet, sweet book in which parent and child love each other and pretend. IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY is a big, big favorite with parents and toddler at our house.

This is one of my very favorite books from the baby and preschool years. My daughter is 7 years old now, and I just came across "If You Were My Bunny" again while picking out baby shower presents for my best friend. "If You Were My Bunny" sets new poems to old lullaby tunes. The illustrations are charming, the length is just right, and it makes a perfect bedtime ritual. This is a special and memorable book.

We've had this book as part of our bedtime routine for years. All three of our younger boys truly enjoy the story - especially since it is set to various tunes of familiar lullabies.

The illustrations set the stage for some interactive conversations with the boys while the songs engage them. It is a truly interactive book for everyone.

This book has certainly become a special keepsake for our family and we'll be keeping this board book to share with our grandchildren.

I found a copy of this book while I was pregnant and just picked it up without really looking at it. What wonderful luck as this has been one of our absolute favorites (which says a lot, considering that we easily have over 200 children's books)! We've even had to replace it because we literally wore it out!

I've read this book to my daughter literally since the day she was born. I'm the "singer" in our family and this book is perfect, with its combination of prose and song. It's one of our favorite bonding activities. Now, at age two and a half, my daughter "reads" the book herself, singing the little songs.

In response to others who say that this book perpetuates the concept that only mothers love their children, I have to disagree. This book simply focuses on a mother's love. The song about the ducks specifically mentions that Daddy is near, protecting the family. In our family, we have an equal number of books that focus on a father's love as those that focus on a mother's love. This book happens to be one of the books that my daughter asks for on the nights I read her a bedtime story; on the nights that my husband is the storyteller, she tends to choose one of the daddy books. Don't fault the book for having a focus; instead, build a balanced library for your children. We are particularly fond of "Guess How Much I Love You" to show a father's love.

If you enjoy singing to your child and want an excellent addition to your bedtime ritual, get this book. You won't regret it.

This is the BEST book someone gave me after my son was born! The book has songs to sing to familiar toons and gives you a guide in the back. This has always worked at getting baby to sleep and now I can quote the book.
I often give this at any baby shower now that I know about it.

This book is essential for any english or elemtary school teacher. I teach social studies and found many ideas within it informative and relevant. The book is written in an approachable way, filled with mini-lessons and examples of her own students writting. An easy read and needed guide for great practice within the classroom. I highly recomend this.

You can let students have choices about what to write and still have formal guidelines, unlike what the other reviewer/teacher wrote. Nancie Atwell's book is based on years of her own first-hand experiences in the classroom, and, as someone who assigns and reads well over 1000 formal essays per school year to over 200 students, I'll listen to Atwell's advice before some burned out teacher's rantings about the need to drill, drill, drill.

Atwell's research and dedication to the true teaching of literacy in classrooms of all levels has changed my philosophy of teaching forever. Those who judge her approach without attempting to understand it, are only missing out on an innovative and fresh approach to how English should be taught.

In my own classroom of tenth graders, I have gone from yawns and glazed eyes to students who leave my classroom at the end of the school year saying "I could write for pages and pages about how you've helped me become a better writer." I still address grammar, literature, "5 paragraph" essay writing, and the dreaded (and overrated)state tests. Instead of being students who force themselves to read and write for a grade, they are readers and writers who are proud of the accomplishments they produce in literacy.

I recommend this book to anyone who is serious about changing the way literacy is taught in our schools, and creating not only engaged students, but people who love to read and write.

I bought two copies of this book from Amazon, for myself and my class aide, on the strength of the other teachers' recommendations here. The book is as good as the most enthusiastic reviewers say it is, but it is seriously flawed, and to some degree self-contradictory, because it talks too much. As good as are the author's approaches, she doesn't really need 484 pages, plus numerous appendices, to get the message across. In fact, she buries the message in verbosity.

Note that other reviewers found the book easy to read. But if you are already convinced that you want to refresh your approach to teaching reading and writing, you may grow impatient with the overabundance of anecdotes, homilies and elaboration.

Teachers know there is no itemized recipe for teaching, but a book on teaching writing could at least demonstrate the virtue of being concise. Mrs. Atwell should read her own quotes and not "cloud the issues with jargon in place of simple, direct prose...." (p. 16). (This is one of numerous quotes of Donald Graves, who returns the favor by endorsing her book in an exemplary brief foreword).

As one who likes quoting great writings in every chapter, the author could have used and applied the Hellenistic Demos: "I will be moderate in all I attempt and do Nothing to Excess."

Summary: it's just too much of a good thing. I'm going to spring for the workbook (Lessons that Change Writers) and generate even more royalties for the author, in the hopes it is more to the point.

A book that helped inspire me to become a teacher. Some other reviewers may not find it totally "practical" for them to adopt, but anyone with common sense would know that you take what works best for you from as many legitimate resources as possible and adapt.

Both his hospitalized cancer patients and the reader are "Captive Audiences." The narratives are short -- just read one and come back later. It's taken years to find such a good book! We are overrun with OOBE and NDE evidence, but no one until Dr. Lerma, I think, has taken the trouble to compile the "Before Death Experiences" of his patients. That's not to be confused with "Moment of Death" occurrences reported by family and nursing personnel, and "Pre-death" sounds too imminent. These accounts are different -- they can happen weeks or months ahead of time. The only other comment I have is: Who was the yellowish-dressed person I saw trying to get in my patio door 3 months ago? As if divided in half by the door, the right side of "him" was trying to keep the left side out. I could hear the scuffling and walking down the steps -- but no one at the end. Hopefully that will be reported in the next volume. I am very ill, but I'm still here, and everyone wants to borrow the book!

I wish I had read this book years ago previous to the passing of my parents who were over ninety. A great enlightening about the Hospice Program and Death. Seeing that we all are going there these stories are just amazing to say the least. I believe I will be able to accept the future at greater ease because of this writing.
Just a great read!!!

Well written,detailed experiences.Viable answers for long thought about questions.I liked it so much, I gave it to my Mother with specific instructions to return it to me for my second reading.

After having read dozens of books on metaphysics, spirituality, and New Thought, in general, Dr. Lerma's book impresses me greatly with its vast scope and intensity. When ACIM came upon us in the 70s, it was said to be needed by the earth because our planet's vibrations were slowing down. Now, 30+ years later, I glean from the incredible visions of dying patients that Mother Earth's vibrations are increasing.

The luminous visitations cited here are carefully presented by the good doctor, and include his own questions and incredulity at times. I'm amazed at some of the dying patients' visions that include awesome predictions, which I'll leave to the reader to discover.

This book starts out as interesting, and important, observations by a physician who works exclusively in hospice settings but unfortunately deteriorates at the end into a Christian tract-like statement. It would be better if he had spent the last couple of chapters analyzing and summarizing his observations.

There are other books on the subject that capture a child's interest better. Passable, but nothing to rush and buy.

Just Go To Bed was one of the first Little Critter books that I bought for our son. He was in so many ways our own "little critter". The character and our son felt the same way about going to bed and the frustrations and joys of growing up. Later we added a baby girl to the family and our own little critter also had a baby sister. Almost three decades later our little critter has his own son (who has a baby sister). All of the roles have shifted. Three generations in this family enjoy and appreciate "Little Critter" and his out-look on life.

My husband reads this to my kids ages 3 and 2 every night. My three year old has it memorized and reads it back to daddy too. Right after, they always go to bed!! It's the greatest book. They walk around the house pretending to be "little critter" telling everyone to put on their pajamas and "GO TO BED!"

My 3 year old daughter adores this book! We have literally worn out the cover. I am needing to buy another copy to keep this favorite alive. My daughter can recite the entire book and will look at the pictures even after we are done reading it before she falls asleep. It encourages the imagination and instills the message that everyone needs sleep. A must have!

My 3 year old loves this book. I do too, when she's being difficult about going to sleep, we read this and she follows Lil Critters example. LOL I use whatever works...and this works.

I did not want this book to end! It is a fascinating, fair, well-written book about all of the Kennedy women, their men, and the lives they led. I gained new insight, especially, into Kathleen Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, and matriarhc, Rose.

"For the most part Rose grandchildren observed and respected and obeyed her, tiptoeing around her life as if she were an exquisite piece of porcelain. She had led such a decorous life, blocking out the untoward, the ugly, and the unacceptable, that her eyes no longer saw the darker colours of the spectrum. "Pat drank a bottle of wine in the morning," Rose was told. "That's impossible" Rose replied, Pat doesn't drink"

I was glad that I read this book because it has helped me to understand so much more about this so much talked about family. In Mr. Leaner's book we get to know about the Kennedy women's personal thoughts and the correct stories of the daughters and daughters-in-law. Mr.Leamer has given us indept portraits of these women and my favourite is Rose Kennedy the Matriarch of the family. For Rose was a woman so strong and who suffered great disloyalty by her husband which she took all gracefully all for the sake of her family and what she supposed the public expected of them. She was a stern Catholic and gain her strength through her prayer and trust in God.
Also portrayed are Joan Kennedy; Ted wife who had a problem with alcohol. Jackie Kennedy Onnassis; the President's wife who remarried after the President's death to a Greek tycoon. Pat Lawford; married to a Hollywood star and spent most of her time in Los Angeles. Eunice Shriver, who was always working for the handicapped and underprivileged and was one of the Kennedys with great patience and common sense. Ethel Kennedy, Robert Kennedy's widow and Jean Smith.
The Kennedys pushed their tragedies to the inner recesses of their minds.They refused to let others see the negative side of their lives, and carried their problems and burdens inwardly taking pains not to show their broken hearts. To some this might seem pretentious, but they honestly had their reasons. After all they were special in the eyes of America.
Whenever tragedy struck it was not unusual for them to suddenly get physical by taking walks, riding, swimming and any form of exercise. Rosemary the eldest daughter who was mentally retarded was isolated from the public eye and sent to Wisconsin where she was looked after by those of the Sacred Order. This book has helped me to understand so much more about the choices they made and the reason they made them, though tragedy seem to follow them everywhere.

Mr. Leamer has pulled out all the stops in the brilliantly written book, and I would not hesitate to read anything by him in the future. Bravo! Bravo! Heather Marshall 04/04/04

This book arrived in good condition and in a timely manner just like the seller promised! A++

I found this book about the Kennedy family women a very interesting read. The only problem with it is that it is so long. At over 900 pages Mr. Leamer could have written three books and had them in instalments about one pericular Kennedy family women instead of tying to write so much about so many interesting people.

This book relates details of the lives of the many Kennedy women, from Bridget Murphy Kennedy, born in Ireland, through Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's daughter. Leamer describes the rise of the Kennedy family from the hard luck tales of newly-arrived Irish immigrants through the dynasty years in Hyannisport. While the book presents many of the historical events of the lives of political Kennedys, the viewpoint is always that of the women, and how these events affected their lives. We hear about the Kennedy women's efforts in John's political campaigns, or how the stress of campaigning contributed to Jacqueline's miscarriages. Leamer includes both women born as Kennedys and women who became Kennedys by marriage. Much of the book, however, focuses on two women who married into the Kennedy family, Rose Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The book is also about the family structure of the Kennedy's and portrays some of the sinister aspects of Joseph Kennedy as well as the positive traits.

Many times I've heard the Kennedy family referred to as a "dynasty". However, it has never been clear to me why an American family would be called a dynasty. In this book, Leamer describes why this group of people is more than simply a family. He describes the relations between Joseph Kennedy's children, and how Joseph and Rose's parenting style contributed both to their children's closeness and competitiveness, and how their own aspirations were realized in the accomplishments of their children. He also relates the difficulties that Jacqueline had as an outsider in establishing a position in the family. The book provides a unique viewpoint on the political events of the 1950s and 1960s whose legacy continues to permeate our society.

A powerful book that I just would not put down. I had many "aha" moments.
Higly recommend for those "living in the light". Worth a read. :-)

I ordered this book again, after I read it years ago and gave it away. It was great the first and second time. Doreen is a profound spiritual teacher, clairvoyant and life educator. If the word Lightworker rings true to you, you MUST read this book. Doreen is a PHD psychologist AND a healer, intutive, so you get an overall way to heal that is loving light and soulful and practical knowledge. She talks about her history of having gifts and struggling against them and then embracing them. I have seen her numerous times and met her in Los angeles and she is the REAL DEAL. She beams an angelic quality and knowledge. I can't say enough how much her books have helped me on my path. I am a spirtual healer and psychotherapist, so I resonate with her being bold enough to speak her truth.

As the author of The Second Virgin Birth, I enjoyed The Lightworkers Way. I found it different and interesting.

This is a Awesome book!!! I have many of Doreen's book and I have enjoyed all of them.

This book is very uplifting in a world of so much negative energy. Though the author is christian, what she has to tell the world applies to pagans also.

the explanation of the ego; how God is all about Love; how the metaphysical does have a place in religiuous belief;... all of this was so insightful.

as a prior christian, I knew that the gifts of prophesy, of dreams, of visions, of discernment all were part of the early christian church and very much a part of the OT also. But along the way, these things got dropped and overlaid by a patriarchal not a dual mother and father beliefs.

we all, no matter how we see God, what we call God, how we honor God, we all have a stake in what is to come. Love can be present without hate. Peace can be present without war. Light and shade is a natural part of this world but it does not need to be part of the emotions. God is all about love, not about which belief is right or wrong etc. God is not judgemental.

anyone who reads this book knows that we have a mission to achieve. to spread the light and the way that we will be ready for the physical and the emotional shift coming. The heaven on earth so to speak that is possible if we can only liberate away from the doubt, anger etc.

the path that the author has travelled shows how it will not be an easy path but one that you and I will be guided on if we only listen to God and the angels and nature. beautiful

from what I learned it deserves a 5 star

What I as a man like most about this book is that Gary is humble enough to admit that he himself had to overcome the same typical male responses and insensitivity to women that nearly all men do. That makes me relieved that it's not just me, and gives me a lot of encouragement.


Lee Liebner, author/singer of As You Go, an inspirational gift book/song-on-CD/scrapbook-journal for young people leaving home to enter the world.

This book should be required reading for every married person - male and female. It's a quick read - written well - enjoyable and greatly informative. There's a ton of wisdom packed in its pages. My husband and I just read it and we've been together 11 years - it's truly helping us get back to where we used to be - the love of each others lives!! It will bless your life - it will also help you with your children. This book teaches you how to love unconditionally through commitment and kindness. It is a MUST READ!!

My husband and I read this book while we were engaged. It truly helped to prepare us for the love life in marriage that comes after the lovey-dovey stage is over. I have given this book to many engaged couples as well as seasoned couples who are having rocky times because marriage can be hard in the first, second, fifth, seventh years...

This is a classic book. If you are looking for some good information to build a life upon, this is a great book to start with.

If you are facing problems in your marriage, order this book and then look at The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His! and The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His 2 - Livin' It and Lovin' It! (Volume 2)

Blessings to you!

Joel and Kathy

This book would probably be lost on non Christians. But since I am a born again Christian the advice and suggestions I found in this book were right on target. I have put them into practice and I can tell you...they work. I highly recommend this book for those in a difficult marriage or relationship of any kind.

This is an excellent book. It really shows you how being a Christian makes sense.

Mr. Colson gives an excellent argument on his experience with the Watergate scandal. He illustrates how if Jesus Christ were just a scandal, then Christianity would have caved-in with the apostles and the first believers long ago.

Neat book.

It is a must for christian reader. Very moving and crystal clear message of what constitute Christian message.

Inspirational writer, Chuck Colson, delivers a heartfelt and moving book about loving God. He refers to R.C. Sprouls "Holiness of God" dvd series, which is a class I'm taking at my church right now. I couldn't put the book down & read it in two days.

This is a wonderful book whether you are Christian or not. It really depicts what Loving God really is. This book has helped me make my decision for Christ. There are many stories inside that really depicts the foundations for loving God. Chuck Colson has incorporated many wonderful testimonies that truly depicts how wonderful this God is.

I appreciate Colson's heart and where he has been in his life. This book is chock-full of stories of his life and ways we can learn to love God. There were a few chapters that seemed to bog down, but overall it's a good read and worth the time.

Good for you Crystal for losing 167 pounds. I don't blame you for writing about it either, something this dramatic needs to be shared. What I really liked about this book was that it did not pressure the reader into losing weight. Diets these days are very stick: don't eat this, you must eat this, that and nothing else. Crystal shows us that you can lose weight your own way and it's up to you to set the pace.

I would like to give this book 3 1/2 stars but there aren't any 1/2's so I have written it. I really enjoyed her story and how she worked thru her struggles. It was a little unorganized but still enjoyable.

I,JUST PURCHASED CRYSTAL'S BOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO,AND I LOVED IT.I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED,USING HER SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS
I'M PRAYING EVERYDAY THAT THE LORD WIL GIVE ME THE STRENGTH AND THE CURAGE TO SUCEED.
I HAVE NOT BEEN TOO SUCESSFUL IN THE PAST.
CRYSTA IF YOU READ THIS,GIRLFRIEND,PLEASE KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS
I KNOW I CAN DO THIS.
LOOK FOR THOS BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES,IN THE FUTURE.
LADY DI.

This book allows one to understand that the challenges of temptation for those struggling with weight loss is normal.

Some people kick themselves for backsliding on the diet trail. But this is verifivation that you still can continue and get over those mental humps.

This is chrystals everyday challenges that gets her through the storm. She begins to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I admire her because she experimented and found a method that was good for her. She teaches that there is no "blueprint" available for everyone.

If this book taught me anything it was the power of jeeping a journal. It will help you see where the problem lies and how to get through; and it will enable you to identify what is causing you to stifle your plans. It may be mental, physical or spiritual.

I use this book strictly for motivation. It's nice to read the words of someone who has been there.

I'd like to see her now! I hope she has kept up the good work.

"The Me I Knew I Could Be" is Crystal Phillips' journey from 292 lb (size 26) to 138 lb (size 6). I believe Crystal's obesity and binge eating would probably fall into the worst case category so I couldn't identify with Crystal's struggles, but I was inspired by her committed plan to lose weight. Apparently, the 292 lb was a result of her continuous binge eating (4 steaks, entire peach cobbler, and much more in one setting) causes my emotional issues (anxiety induced by grandfather, death of her brother, volatile marriage, and insecurity) she refused to deal with. Instead of just waking up one morning stating "I'm going to lose weight", Crystal learns the real reason she binged and began to deal with it. She uses typical weight loss techniques that can be found in any book, but what sets this story apart is her true story (complete with journal entries) that describes how she worked through the emotional problems to stop the emotional eating. At times, Crystal discusses how she came to a crossroad had to make the decision on whether or not to emotionally eat - sometimes she did, most times she didn't. When she did emotionally eat, she didn't give up but got refocused. Never does she say she's cured of binge-eating but offers ways to prevent to urge, i.e., after a big family gathering give leftovers away or only buy the smallest portion of a snack item. Her story is very honest.

Included in this book: recipes, before-after photos from her workshop participants, several exercises, and much more. The one unique item I found is the contents for a Survival Kit - a bag packed with healthy food and water that prevented Crystal from stopping at fast food restaurants.

I wanted to read this book for a number of years. For whatever reason, I was unable to purchase it. I read parts of it on line. It is meditation in words. There are few scriptures that have effected me so deeply.

This is an outstanding piece of academic work. The translator has done an excellent job helping the reader through the tremendous repetition of the Pali canon and has provided valuable indices, tables, pronunciation guides and introduction. It probably is not a work for beginners, but once you have some foundation and understanding of the Pali canon, this volume is one of three you must have.

the realistic theravadan buddhism . this is a very big book and you cannot finish it in a month ...-to enjoy this book you must intuitivly understand the spirit of buddhism .mahayana buddhism has supermen complex
they run before learning to walk .before you begin trying save the world save yourself .

I have spent this past summer studying at the monastery where Bhikkhu Bodhi resides. In my daily contact with him, listening to his lectures, and having one-on-one discussions about Buddhism, I must say that he is one of the most influential and authoritative figures on the Dharma.

This translation is top notch and very readable. I do suggest that one go on the web to find a reading guide to the suttas as they were arranged for ease of memorization by the monks and nuns, not in the logical order of the content.

This Nikaya (division of the Pali Canon) is coming straight from the source of the Dharma: the Buddha himself. If one has mastered the basics of Buddhism doctrine, then this book may be a suitable next step. Beginners may want to seek out other sources to give them a foundation first.

With Metta

-Here's another five-star vote for an excellent translation showing care and faithfulness. The Introduction is itself a wonderful introduction to Buddhist thought and concepts, and the footnotes and index are commendable. The author often advises the reader when some controversy exists in translation and how this was resolved. Reading such a fine translation can add tremendous depth to your practice, help refine your compassion and wisdom, and give you an irreplaceable understanding of Buddhism.
-Although many good modern authors have published books with their own interpretations of Buddhist teachings, nothing can speak to you like the originals (this is also a good way to think for yourself).
-The individual suttas are just about right for reading one per day (even one sutta per week would be a good goal). You can easily finish the book in less than a year, and have enough time left over to read the Introduction as well.
-This is an excellent work of scholarship and IMHO would be a useful addition to the library of anyone interested in Buddhism.