Educational Books

I will keep this short and sweet, everything that I have baked from this book has been outstanding, it is one of my favorite cookie books.

I can only echo what other reviewers have said: There's not a loser in the bunch. Every recipe I've tried -- and I've tried many -- turns out perfectly. I love the variations provided for most recipes, and since I frequently bake cookies to give as gifts, I find their information on the shelf life and proper storage of each cookie particularly useful.

My biggest problem with this book? Deciding which of the wonderful recipes to make! It's really an embarrassment of riches.

I'm about to purchase my second copy of this book, as my first (the paperback edition) has seen so much use that it's starting to fall apart!

My copy is spattered with ingredients from front to back. There is not a loser recipe in the bunch. Illustrations scattered throughout inspire you to try new and old favorites. The recipe format is easy to read and directions are clear and simple. I especially like that there are international recipes included. The Italian wine cookies, the cinnamon bars and Kentucky bourbon bars are always on my Christmas cookie platter. I have many cookbooks and Christmas magazines with recipes but I could chuck them all in favor of this one little gem of a cookbook.

Sharon Tyler Herbst's Joy of Cookies has just about everything that I look for in a cookbook. The introduction gives a brief history of the cookie and then a detailed description of cookie baking basics, equipment, ingredients, techniques, all accompanied by simple yet clear line drawings. The recipe section itself is organized according to cookie type: bar cookies, drop cookies, etc. The recipes, complete with country of origin and the cookie's name in that language are clear and easy to follow. The book is full of full page color photographs that are clearly labeled. The book is an odd shape and gives the impression that a previous edition may have been larger overall, but that doesn't take away from the book's usefulness. This would make a fine present for a budding baker.

Gail Small has contributed to an up and coming perspective on children in this wonderful resource book for anyone who's interested in improving the quality of their relationships with the children in their lives. This book illustrates how wonderful learning can be, and how to make real connections with children while enriching their learning experiences. This positive point of view makes working with children more enjoyable and effective. This book is great for teachers and parents; as well as any people, like me, that are planning to go into a field such as social work, where working with children is an integral part of your daily activities.

Students and learning are rearely coupled with the statement of fun. Gail Small's book Joyful Learning gives readers a good look at how to make the classroom fun. I recently used this book during grad school to help freshen up my school presentations and approches to the classroom. I can't wait to read her latest book Joyful Parenting which comes out soon.

This book is very reader friendly. Besides the usable ideas Ms. Small included, I was impressed with how the author was able to incorporate student samples throughout her writing. Hooray for an educational book that keeps one awake and interested. Hooray for one excellent teacher's willingness to share her teaching philosphy.

I always search for ways for my children to want to learn. This book gave me ideas along with smiles and enjoyment. I kept reading to hear more. Each chapter took me to the next. I think parents can learn as much from it or maybe more than educators. I now have new thoughts and ideas to help my own children.

My daughter loved this book so much when we checked it out at the library, that I decided to buy it for her birthday. Of course, I couldn't just find it at a store. Lucky for her, I found it online and with a cd! We love reading it together- she does the line "Jump frog Jump"

As a teacher and an aunt I highly recommend this book which is a favorite with the kids! It's easy for them to memorize the lines and follow the words (a great skill to develop while learning how to read). A fantastic addition to any child's library of books!

I was SO glad when this came back in print. This is a cumulative tale a la "House that Jack Built". You can get the children chanting "Jump Frog Jump!" in a few pages. Barton's bright folk-like illustrations fit right in.

The repetition and predictable outcomes were a joy for my 4 year old boy. After 3 readings he enthusiastically read the Jump, Frog, Jump! page by himself! We used green pillows as lily pads and acted out the escaping frog scenes.

The best way to learn vocabulary is through reading. There comes a point
in studying for the SAT; wherein, a volume like this one would be helpful.
This text has typical words and their usage set forth in an easy-to-read
format. It's important to have comprehensive definitions and sentences
because memorizing vocabulary for the SAT exam would be pointless.
Sample words are:
o abrasive
o accentuate
o alacrity
o ascetic
o benign
o cacophony
o cadence etc.

This dictionary would be invaluable in order to assist in mastering
the diction requisite for success on this exam.

I like this dictionary. Some of the sentences are actually funny and reading about the freaks at Anytown makes studying for the SAT almost bearable. Much better than boring flash cards.

some characters ar e weird but I liked reading about them. read the whole book. now i'm going back to learn the SAT words.

SAT Dictionary.

This is the easiest and most efficient way to learn vocabulary words on the New SAT. Its way better to learn the vocabulary words than those enormous phonebook-sized SAT preps. I carried the Dictionary in my pocket almost all the time. When ever I had my spare moments, I flipped a page and Bam! (I'm learning new words.) Flashcards do not have the time-saving ability that this versatile SAT Dictionary offers. Furthermore, the characters depicted in the book are very intriguing. My favorite characters are Josh and Timmy. The sentences involving them made me laugh a few times and helped me retain words through laughter. Paul is pretty cool too. You'll meet them once you buy the book :).

In addition, I took the January 28th SAT test. In the 19 sentence completions of the test, I saw many vocabulary words that were on the Dictionary.
For example: prosaic, ambivalence,tenacious,voracious, facile, and vociferous to name a few. The rest of the vocabulary words which I saw were also on the Dictionary but I could not retain their full meaning because I (procrastinated) and failed to remember a high percentage of words.

Don't procrastinate! If you have at least 3 months until the test. As an experienced SAT taker, my word of advice is: study NOW. Sacrifice video games,TV,Chess,Runescape and all your time-consuming activities for the SAT. Because those months will go flying, time will go so fast that you won't even realize that have you a few weeks left.

Also remember: if you have achieved to learn all or at least a high percentage of these 1,000 most frequently tested SAT words. Give yourself 200+ on the Critical Reading Section. The 19 sentence completions are about 200-260 points.

The surest way to get past 600 is by reading an actual USH textbook. I highly recommend the American History A Survey by Alan Brinkley.

I didn't buy this to pass any tests. I have been reading David McCullough's book John Adams and watching the DVDs too. And I wanted a way to "move around" within US Revolutionary War history quickly when I had questions about what was happening (or had or was going to happen). So regular history books would be way too detailed. I got what I wanted with this book: Helpful "Timelines" and short essays that cover the main events of each phase and period of the war that can be read quickly and are well-written and hence easy reading too. Also, it's great to have the whole sweep of US history in one book that I can dive into at any point and not only get interested, but invest a little time to get a good understanding of what was happening. So it's useful as a reference book too.

I bought this book in May to prepare for the June SAT II in US History and it was amazing!!! Before opening the book, I took a practice test through the OFFICIAL SAT SUBJECT TEST BOOK published by the College Board. I scored a 650 or 660, or something low like that. I was a little agitated because I bought a book for the AP US History Exam and read through that entire tome. Anyway, after recieving the book 2 weeks before the test, I read it cover to cover and took all of the 3 practice tests. Though the highest I recieved on the practice tests was a 690, I somehow pulled a 750 on the real SAT II. This book definately helped a lot and went into great dept on post-WWI. The main reason to purchase this book definately lies in the chapter reviews. They are great and give you the exact knowledge you will need for the test. Also, with review questions at the end of each chapter, the knowledge stays in your head and you retain all of the information. Two of the chapter review questions were word for word on the actual test! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to recieve a 700+, because with just a small amount of backround knowledge in US History you can learn all that it takes to ace the exam!!! A+, 5 stars, and my highest recommendation!!!

I will make this short and sweet.
I bought both this book as well as the barons sat US history book.
This one dominates in that it makes it 10 times easier to understand. Barron's has a lot of unnecessary info but it is much more thorough in basically all the reading. BUTT it is many times more boring and often very hard to read and understand.
I read this book about 3 times (takes about like 3-4 hours, short read!!), did the tests and skimmed over the barrons and amazingly got a 760!!! it was weird cus on the practice tests in this book, i score no higher than 720. the barrons tests are RIDICULOUSly hard!!!! might be good just for info review. If your like me, where if the reading gets to complex then you tune out, get this one!!! Barrons is unnecessarily cus i did not learn anything from that to be honest..
*make sure you memorize the ammendments,acts,court cases, and important election dates......which leads to (down)

BUY the sparknotes flash cards!! They work pretty. welll i thought soo.
good luck kids!!!

Notwithstanding the fact that I read probably at least 300 books a year, I have never reviewed a book on amazon.com before. But "Keeping Kids Reading" is so inspirational and helpful that I decided to share my enthusiasm. Ms. Leonhardt, a veteran English teacher, clearly explains how to ensure your kids become lifelong, passionate readers. Since the day my kids were born, this has been a goal of mine. When my kids were quite young, I read aloud to them constantly. (If you haven't read Jim Trelease's "The Read-Aloud Handbook," it's also excellent). But once my guys reached elementary school and started to read independently, I felt a bit lost. Sure, I still read aloud nightly, but have been feeling I could / should be doing more, but wasn't sure what. Ms. Leonhardt's delightful and compelling book has provided the missing link for me. I now have a whole toolkit of practical ideas to ensure that my kids become avid readers. Her book reassures me that I've done many things right and has given me plenty of ideas to ensure my boys' continued reading success. Thank you, Ms. Leonhardt, for making the wisdom you've gleaned in 28 years of teaching in the classroom available to all parents. This book is going to all of my mom friends for Christmas this year!

This is Leonhardt's second book, published three years after Parents Who Love Reading, Kids Who Don't: How It Happens and What You Can Do About It (see my review). In it she again shares her experience as a parent and an educator and breaks some new ground from the previous volume. As early as page 19 she flatly states, "Children must love reading. This goal is absolute. No one--teachers, parents, librarians, curriculum directors, book reviewers--must do or recommend anything that puts [it] in jeopardy...[A]ll of the skill exercises that children dislike--but are 'good' for them--are not allowed if they cause a child to dislike reading." She later adds that, as a parent, you shouldn't "try to force [your child] to read [a specific book] or argue her out of her dislike of [it]." From a teacher, this is, of course, a radical stand: doubtless all of us can remember plowing through some such title as "A Tale of Two Cities," or picking Shakespeare to pieces, because they were "required reading" (even some of the librarians I know, who have somehow managed to retain their love of books despite such experiences, recount them with bitterness). Leonhardt explains that in the high-school classes she teaches, any kid can get an A for his weekly reading if he reads 200 or more pages *of a book or books chosen by himself*. She also tells how all the young avid readers she has interviewed either grew up in homes filled with books, or lived within biking (or walking) distance of a library. (Having done both myself, I can testify that they are indispensable--although once a kid is 10 or 12, I would add that bussing distance, or perhaps nearness to the child's school, is also permissible.) And, as if picking up on my previous review, she declares that "Turning kids off...by insisting on too much analysis and criticism is winning a battle only to lose the war...[Many kids are] turned off by English teachers who insist that they analyze difficult poems they don't even like..." She points out, too, that reading often leads to writing, which, since most teens are reluctant to talk to their parents about their troubles (or just can't find the words to express their feelings), may help your kids to stay out of trouble as they enter "the angst-filled teen years. You want them home writing poetry and stories when they're troubled--not looking for the nearest drug dealer." Most important, she describes four basic "reading paths" and explains how to use them to find books that kids--at any age and reading level--can enjoy, books that will make them want to read not only the current title but more books, and eventually adult-level and even "difficult" or "classic" books. While many books about kids' or teens' lit break books into broad categories, such as animal stories, adventure, or nonfiction, this is the first time I've seen anyone try to separate those categories according to the type of kid who may be attracted to them.

As might be expected of a teacher, Leonhardt unfortunately shares the unhealthy fixation we have about college in the US; she describes how, on a visit to Ireland, she told young people there that to get a "good job" here, you have to attend college--which severely disappointed her listeners, who wanted to know about jobs for "ordinary lads like us." (It's true, of course, that we're moving rapidly away from an industrial economy, but there are still plenty of useful, good-paying jobs that can be learned through apprenticeship (like welding or construction) or at community colleges (which continue to prosper).) But the chief problem I have with her is that, for the most part, she tends to ignore a great many fine old books--in all possible paths--in favor of books that are current, recent, or in print, even as she praises libraries for offering the books that aren't. She says, for example, that "...most multicultural literature pushed in the schools is boring even to the group it showcases." Yet I can remember reading many fascinating books about what was then called "children of other lands," books like Robert Davis's Pepperfoot of Thursday market,or Louise Rankin's Daughter of the Mountains (Newbery Library, Puffin)--many of which are now OP, and which had the great merit of (because of their age) not being "dumbed down" as so many more recent titles are. One of her recommendations is to "keep trying poetry," particularly for elementary-schoolers, yet she doesn't suggest themed poetry anthologies like the many assembled by William Cole or the Brewtons. In describing Path #4, "Action/Adventure Reading With Realistic Elements," she laments that readers of this type (almost always boys) find a paucity of books, especially fiction, about sports or military subjects in libraries; for example, she suggests only Matt Christopher, without seeming to realize that he can lead to, say, Lester Chadwick's Baseball Joe series (a Stratemeyer Syndicate offering to be sure, but so are Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, both of which she praises as the kind of books that can ignite a child's love of reading) or Clair Bee's Chip Hilton or John R. Tunis's long string of sports novels. She also totally ignores the girls (often tomboys, if not necessarily sports freaks) who may be of this type (and having been one, I can say without fear of contradiction that they do exist--and they enjoy "boys' books" too). And she doesn't even mention such excellent (and prolific) authors for older readers (boys and girls alike) as Stephen W. Meader and G. A. Henty, both of whom are currently being brought back into print by specialty publishers, or Joseph A. Altsheler (all of them adventure tales focusing on "realistic," as opposed to magical or relationship-oriented, action). It has long seemed to me that if we want our kids to read "good books," we have to make *all* books available to them, and in that Leonhardt and I agree; but so many libraries subscribe to ruthless age-based weeding policies, and so many publishers are so totally focused on the bottom line, that our youngsters grow up completely unaware of the treasure trove of well-written and interesting older titles that we baby-boomers knew and loved. I hope that in a future volume Leonhardt may begin to relate these authors to her "fourfold path." The fact that she hasn't in this one is the reason I give it only a four-star rating: she's definitely on the right track as far as she goes, but she hasn't yet gone quite far enough.

Having just finished this book for the third time, I figured it was time to give the author kudos for this wonderful book. My husband and I are lifelong avid readers and it is very important to us to share our love of reading with our children. This book has given me so much help in choosing books for my children by helping me to identify their reading "paths". For a while, I kept offering the wrong books to the kids, and I was baffled by their disinterest. Now that I understand their preferences better thanks to this book, I am so much more successful at offering books that they will like. It really works! My boys read all the time; I'd estimate at least 3 hours a day of books they choose.

Over and over, this author repeats the message to trust your children. That can be so hard to do, which is why I've needed to reread the book several times. But it works! I've watched the children move from easy readers to longer books to Tolkein, and I've known that they're doing it in their own time. If I start worrying that they've been reading "below their level" or conversely that they may be choosing books that are too hard, I remember the goals of making them love reading, and have a habit of reading, and I realize they are on the right track.

I rarely take the time to review books that I read, but I feel strongly enough in favor of this one to chime in with BIG thumbs-up.

If you love reading the way I do, there is very little more important to you than raising children who love to read. I thought this book was wonderful. The author is obviously passionate about getting kids hooked on reading, and believes that you should do just about anything to acheive this goal. She points out how many parents that don't hesitate to spend tons of money on toys and clothes balk at buying kids books, and points out how books can be found at lawn sales and book sales by the ton for very cheap, and how money spent on books is an investment of the best kind. She advocates letting kids read what they enjoy reading, and letting that lead to reading you find more worthwhile, but wants us to keep in mind that just getting them to READ is the goal. Her kids loved Richie Rich comics (as did I as a kid!) I love her writing style---it's very honest and direct. A great book!

Whether you have recently experienced the death of someone close or want to prepare children around you, Joy's book provides information in a non-threatening, conversational format. Reading the stories of real children and the questions they ask, helps to make death a part of living.

This is an extremely readable, concise, enjoyable book about a very difficult subject. We give it to our families in our hospital.

I reviewed this book for Bereavement Magazine and was touched and delighted by the many stories and very human examples. I'm giving it as gifts to friends who work with grieving children.

This is the book I heartily recommend to clients and to workshop participants who need to know about helping children around issues of death and grief. Joy Johnson has put together a practical and extremely helpful book that reads easily from cover to cover or can be used as a reference. She addresses the most frequently asked questions and also makes sure to address the more difficult issues....anger, AIDS, suicide, murder, drunk drivers, and others. It's also one of the best bargains you will ever see in a book. 180+ pages for $7!

Packed with the information you need to deal lovingly with a grieving child. Explains death and grief from the various perspectives from infants to teens and offers you the information you need to respond compassionately

Easy to read and informative. Good suggestions and insights for preparing for and becoming a bleneded family.

This book was fabulous! It is helping us to understand some of the comments and situations we are dealing with through our adoption process!

The bargain pricetag notwithstanding, this is one of the best parenting books I've ever read. It's concise but comprehensive, covering domestic and international adoption issues, special needs topics, open adoption, and a host of other important matters related to building happy, healthy adoptive families. I found the material on interracial and international adoption issues to be among the book's strongest features; the author offers great advice for sensitively answering kids' questions, straightforwardly dealing with nosy strangers, and maximizing the joy of being a multicultural family. An excellent resource.

Discusses all sorts of issues on a high level. Great introduction to issues that may come up in adoption! And it isn't "scary." ;)

The Kid's Multicultural cookbook is a handy teacher resource when studying a unit such as multiculturalism in the primary years. It is full of recipes from around the world and ideas of things to do. The recipes are very simple and the most culturally orientated recipe for each land.

Many of my family's favorite foods are "ethnic" so we thought we'd dive right in and discover what else the world is eating that we haven't tried yet. Just looking through the pages makes you want to start cooking! We'll be better prepared now, to dodge the familiar "What's for dinner?" with an enthusiastic response and a taste adventure. Children of all ages can prepare most of the dishes, and there are activities and trivia from several countries represented in the book. We decided to buy it after briefly looking through a library copy.

This is a really fun cookbook. It gives a sampling of recipes from numerous countries around the world. It is also sensitive to availabily of ingredients, nothing strange or exotic that isn't available at the local grocers. Our kids have enjoyed cooking with it and we have certainly benefited from their efforts! It's great to see them going beyond Mac and Cheese and actually learning about cooking. They are already finding it is a creative outlet, that just happens to meet the need of eating.

Ms. Cook obviously put a lot of effort into this compilation of recipes and facts. She interviewed children around the world to find out about the things they eat, and pictures of some of these children are shown throughout the book. The book is divided into regions of the world by continent, and the recipes are rated for difficulty with spoons- one spoon is the easiest, and three spoons requires at least moderate adult help and supervision. Many of the foods turn out to be familiar dishes with different names (like Sherpa Popcorn and Ox-Eye Eggs), and there are ideas for theme parties (after-ski breakfast, ice cream buffet, etc.) throughout the book. I originally bought this book for my then-10-year-old sister, who was just beginning to show an interest in cooking, and now that she is 13 she still uses this book. A lot of these recipes are easy and quick enough to be used in a classroom or school cooking club. I bought a copy of this book for myself and think it is truly neat!

Ideal for third grade. Useful for introducing manipulatives or multiplication.

The King has so many commissioners he sets out to count them. Many distractions cause him to lose his concentration until his young daughter shows him a more effective way to count.

Young listeners may be prompted to count the multiples when tally marks are grouped in twos and fives. Further, the princess-to-be arranges the commissioners in rows to illustrate her point.

A great illustration of mathematical reasoning.

This book is a great book for younger children in first grade. It goes threw the math concept of regrouping. The children love the story line and also the illustrations. It makes a great read aloud in the classroom.

Have you ever had a struggle or mental block that simply never went away; one that made you feel self-conscious, ineffective, and utterly inept? Well, for me, that bugaboo has always been � embarrassingly enough � addition. Yes, simple addition.
I know, I�m a grown woman. I earned a high school diploma, have had some college, am engaged in a career that requires mathematical computation on a daily basis (thank God for calculators and computers), and am a homeschooling mom (thank God again for textbooks with clear directions and for children who know how to read for and can comprehend what they read).
I have never, ever, been able to add two-digit numbers in my head, and have struggled with even the most basic addition of single digit numbers if the sum is higher than 10 (i.e. 8+6=?), without either using my fingers or having a pencil and paper at the ready. My struggles with math are at the most basic level, too! I can multiply and divide, have a basic understanding of algebra, and love geometry. Adding and subtracting make me feel like an imbecile, though. And it�s not for lack of trying, either! I�ve studied textbooks ranging from preschool to college level, hoping to find a way to overcome this challenge, without success. But now I�ve found the key!
This book is so fantastic; I can�t put it into words. But I�ll try: First, the artwork is cute without being too cutesy; perfect for boys or girls. Second, the story is well-written, with engaging dialog (i.e. character voice, mood swings, etc.). The mathematical concepts are subtly interwoven in a �real life� applicable manner, so they make perfect sense and are easily grasped by young (age 6) and old (age 36 and extremely mathematically-challenged) alike. I can�t put it any more plainly than, �I GET IT! After 36 years, I FINALLY GET IT! And now, my children �get it� too!�
My �Math Miracle� Book �. Even my mom thinks it�s a miracle that I finally �get� addition!

The king has struck again. He has created havoc in his kingdom by creating too many commissioners. He has commissioners for foul balls, rainy days,and counting to name a few. The time comes when he must count how many commissioners he has. He calls on his counting commissioners who begin the long task. His daughter the princess helps count as well. Each person counts a different way to please the King but he can only follow the logic of one. That person is....... buy the book! This book is a great read for many ages and can be used in and out of school.