Coleman Books

Dr. Coleman's book gives a vivid and practical approach for understanding families and how families influence all aspects of a child's health and life. He then takes the next step and gives wonderful ideas about how to incorporate that insight into pediatric care. I really enjoyed the "fly on the wall" perspective and could observe an expert handle situations I would find challenging. This book is helpful for trainees but also for more experienced pediatricians who are looking for a way to connect in more meaningful ways with children and their families.

This book is an extremely valuable resource for the pediatric professional!! Using Dr. Coleman's methods, providers learn how to draw out families and include them in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Not only will patient relationships be enriched, but the entire experience of practicing medicine is more meaningful.
This book gives the reader a step-by-step plan for including the family perspective in pediatric care. There are case examples, a chapter on billing, and a crash-course in family therapy. It will not gather dust on your shelf and is worth the investment! I'm sending a copy to my own pediatrician!

Dr. Coleman's book is a must for clinicians working with children and their families. His insight and sensible approach to many commonly encountered pediatric behavioral problems are presented in an easy to read format that any busy clinician would find practical. Its family focused perspective is sure to add a new and rewarding characteristic to the work of those clinicians caring for children. It is a worthwhile addition to any pediatric library.

"Family-Focused Behavioral Pediatrics," by Dr. William Lord Coleman, brings insightful knowledge and compassion to the clinical world of behavioral science. This text is invaluable to the resident, and, or, Dr. of any field. Dr. Coleman's passion for helping our children is instilled in his approach. Providing the reader with not only a proven formula for success, but more importantly, by example, Dr. Coleman shows the clinician how to set the example for the family unit on the importance of listening, understanding, and the unity shared by a group when the group takes responsibility for the individual member - working, sharing together for the embetterment of the family. Not just the singling out of one troubled child. HOWEVER, HERE IS THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK - Like myself, any father, husband(or Mother, wife, of course) can read this book and instantly grasp the genius of Dr. Coleman's work without a Dr.'s vocabulary,(though I did have to go to the dictionary a few times). He has truly written this modern approach with the people he helps in mind. This book is for us as well. The examples and models of family discussion he offers have been invaluable to my family in bringing us together as a family unit. There is no longer any blame being felt by our child - we just focus on understanding and listening to ALL family members (We have two children) as equals with equal wants and dissappointments. Then we work together (using Dr. Coleman's examples) to solve the current family issue. My only reccommendation to the non-medical professional person using this book as the invaluable self-help tool that it doubles as, is to still make use of your behavioral Dr., or counselor. An impartial, professional mediator (using Dr. Coleman's 'Family-Focused' method) is necessary in helping build the trust in the child that it is OK to share with one another openly, without fear of parental authority. This book is the real truth of "Family Values," buy it, use it, and you will come to understand the value of family unity, and learn ways to bring about positive change - for the whole family.

Dr. Coleman's book, Family-Focused Behavioral Pediatrics,is a small book only in size. There is an incredible depth of information covered about interviewing families, actively listening to their words and the dynamics generating those words, helping the individuals to create their own solutions and feel an increased sense of accomplishment.Any professional interacting with families will find information immediately useful to their work as the book emphasizes using the resources within each family member as well as within the dynamics among the members to improve family functioning.
There is an excellent subject index in the back of the book making this book very "user friendly" for quick reference and many resources are provided for additional information and training.
Highly recommended for physicians, social workers, psychologists, educators, allied health professionals, attorneys, clergy, laypeople, or anyone else who is interested in ways to help families improve communication and begin creating solutions to family problems.

This is a wonderful book. The photography shows every detail of the exquisite designs, which are breath-taking. The commentary is very interestsing and gives an insight into life in the 1800's according to the way women dressed. I would love to be able to wear any of the fabulous dresses shown.

This book by Mr. Burbidge is a feast for the eyes. The book features dozens of 29-inch fashion dolls wearing costumes from the 1850s to around 1914. Being oversized dolls, each costume can have incredible detail. Mr. Burbidge has labored to create accurate period detail in each dress. Each doll is shown in a full-page picture with period hairstyles and accessories. Each accompanying page includes a description of the outfit, small inset pictures of close details, an interesting quote from historical sources about the time period and usually some tidbit about where the author found the material for the gown. Frequently the author will explain things about high society of the era and how certain items would be viewed - for instance, whether a gown would be considered racy because of its color or how young ladies didn't wear expensive jewelry with a gown until after they were married.

There are only 2 things that I found lacking about this book and they are really trivial items in my mind. The first is that the color of the full-page images is sometimes a bit "off". The dolls often feature very soft colors and the images have a warm tone that can wash them out. The inset detail shots usually have a better color representation.

The second is that the reader should not expect accurate period undergarments on the dolls. The crinolines and petticoats are fairly accurate, but there are no corsets shown.

All in all, the book is beautiful and informative. If you didn't know better, you would almost think the images were of full-size mannequins dressed in real period costumes. And the accompanying text is suitable for anyone, even if they have no knowledge of the eras shown.

If you're into miniatures, or just fabulous seamestry, you will love this book and this man's work with textiles, and fashion of a romantic era like none you've seen. These are fashions we will never see again in our society, (thank goodness - can't imagine wearing this stuff). But at the same time, I love to see how elegant and fabulous ladies looked in these garments. This man was responsible for making some of the most fabulous wedding gowns in our country for over a decade and now has preserved for us a fashion era that won't be brought back in it's entirety ever again. A must see for those that are into preserving a culture and miniatures.

I found this book very useful as a source for inspiration. Good quality pictures of very Victorian looking dresses. It is not a "how to" book, but if you have some experience in sewing, there you can find good ideas how it all must look then finished.

This book is a total delight for fans of couture, especially La Belle Epoch. Nothing will compare to seeing the exquisite Les Petites Dames in person, but this book comes close! I was fortunate enough to acquire some of these pictures when they were marketed in small groups, so I was thrilled to find that Mr. Burbidge had since expanded the collection and subsequently published it in its entirety (also the book goes into more detail). Just loved it!!

My son loves this book. he watches Signing Times and then when this book came, he hugged it. He knows Rachael, Alex and Leah from the tv show. It is a board book and so he is not able to tear the pages off. Sometimes I catch him (16 months old) reading the book himself and doing the signs. The pictures and words are colorful and big. I can see him using this book for a long time.

My 2-year-old has loved watching the Signing Time DVDs since she was 9 months old and is signing regularly so I thought she would enjoy this book. She loves it! She does all the signs as we turn the pages and likes pointing out the familiar characters (Hopkins, Leah, etc.). This is not really a read-aloud book, but more of a learning/practice book for sign language. If that's what you're looking for, give it a try but definitely try the DVDs too.

I just love Playtime signs boardbook 2. The pictures and description make it easy to learn how to do the sign. It has been fun to practice sign language with my son before he goes to bed, in the car or when ever we want to look at books. The book is well made out of a sterdy material and will last a very long time! I highly recommend this book and book 1. Check out all the other wonderful products they offer as well and the story behind them
www.signingtime.com

My Granddaughters love the book. It follows the video and they are always picking up the book and signing with each page.
Sometimes they bring it to me and sometimes they just enjoy it by themselves. I can tell which book they are enjoying, without seeing the book. They are quietly signing with each page. My Grandchildren are not hearing impaired, they just enjoy it.

These books are the perfect companion for the Signing Time DVDs. My 2-year-old twins love to pick up and read these books. My 2 and 3-year-old nephews also love to read these books. There is the picture, the sign, and the word for the concepts on the DVDs. I have no doubt that these books will help my children as they learn to read words without pictures by them.

Incredibly personal poetry of strength, love, self discovery and womanhood, that worked it's way straight into my mind and pulled some of my most intimate memories. Bringing me closer to understanding that I'm not alone in my experiences. Helping me take a closer look at who I am, and how wonderful the journey has been, however good or bad.

This a Great Debut for Ms. Coleman!! A wonderful book -- one that is profoundly interesting and thought-provoking.Good Work!!-Rick Worthy

Shonnese's book is excellent! The poems are thought-provoking, convicting and beautiful...wow...what a gift...brilliant job, brilliant work...however painful waking up can be, I appreciate any wake-up call and the poems in this book have that effect on me...thank you.

This book of poetry was such an inspiration to me. I'm not a fan of poetry normally but I went through this like it was a novel. I really got a feeling for the writer through the short comments she makes about her life in the book. It gives a three dimensional understanding of it. I enjoyed getting to know the writer a little bit. It gave me an understanding of where certain pieces came from, why they were written and out of what circumstances. I highly recommend this book not only to people of color, but all people. Ms. Coleman deals with life, love, the search and discovery of God and oppression. Oppression as a woman, as an African-American woman, and as a person. I believe everyone can identify with her work.

Wonderfully written. Incredibly personal poetry of strength, love, self discovery and womanhood, that worked it's way straight into my mind and pulled some of my most intimate memories. Bringing me closer to understanding that I'm not alone in my experiences. Helping me take a closer look at who I am, and how wonderful the journey has been, however good or bad.

Janice Marschner is my California Harry Potter author; I can't wait for the next volume to hit the book racks. Her "California 1850" is a seminal reference book on every county in our state in its puberty. It made me realize what younsters we are compared to 'the old countires' of our parents' origins. Anecdotes make it encouragingly readable. I feel it should be in every Califonira home, library, school, and on historical society bookshelves.

"California's Arab Americans" is volume one of a series she plans on the minorities that spice our Calfornia stew. The fact that there are several pages on my colorful maternal MALOUF family who pulled into Los Angeles in 1890, might make me appear somewhat prejudiced. The background chapters on immigrations, customs and ethnic individuality should be of common interest. It might help to help improve the status of ethnic minorities in times of suspicion, fear and hatred.

I, for one, am anxious to learn more about the Basques, Slavs, Orientals, etc. who are distributed thruout our State, some still with regional enclaves which perpetuate language, cuisine, religion, and festivals. Homogeneity is drab and tasteless; vive la difference!

Janice is a unique researcher and raconteuse. Brava! Encore!

A slice of our everyday lives you may have missed --- Arab Americans immigrated to California like many others. They are hard workers, family oriented and caring individuals. If you don't believe that, please read Janice Marschner's "California's Arab Americans." Her thumbnail snaphot of their difficult war-ridden history is a good refresher for the reader and makes their integration into American society, as put forth by Marschner, seem that much more remarkable.

This book does a great job communicating an important truth: Arab Americans are the people right next door. They are the owners of many landmark businesses in California towns. They are among the familar faces in our community as council members, board members, state representatives and participants in the movie industry. Janice Marschner has structured the book so that the information is easy to access and the sideboards, with topics like Arabic Writing and Names, Arab Cuisine and Key Issues of Conflict in Arab World, make obtaining that information even more convenient. This book will be appreciated by teachers and others interested in knowing more about the people of California.

Marschner's book is a refreshing change during these turbulent political times. So many new books tend to paint a superficial and grossly unfair portrayal of Arab Americans. With insight and sensitivity into the political and cultural history of Arab Americans, Marschner paints a compelling and accurage picture of a community in the spotlight.

Nidal Ibrahim
Editor
Arab American Business Magazine

A deeply researched primer about the Arab world, with 15 chapters & a bibliography, covering the history of the Arab American families in the counties of California, complete with photos of families, religious & community centers.

RebeccasReads recommends CALIFORNIA'S ARAB AMERICANS as a resource, a history & a record of emmigrations from the Middle East to America during the past century.

Written primarily for CEOs of technology startups, the concepts are more widely applicable in B2B marketing. The advice is pragmatic - obviously written by an experienced practitioner and not a theorist.

Only one chapter deals with the green banana principle. At any any given time, ten percent of your target is evaluating a product for an immediate purchase decision. If your firm doesn't already have credibility with the prospect, it's too late to win the sale at this stage. You should be establishing awareness and credibility with the other 90% so you'll be considered when they are ready to buy.

My favorite line from the book is this: "Never imitate you competitors. They don't know what they're doing either." That made me laugh.

This book is packed full of extremely timely and useful information for those who want to know what an 'intuitive thinking' marketing pro knows. It's fresh and practical, so it gets 4 stars. The layout and design is clean, crisp and draws you in with packaged snippets of advice and examples. Clean, simple visual communications bumps it up a star for me to a 5.

Keep it around as a reference, pick it up and read a few pages, flip through it until your eyes zoom in on a few words that catch your attention. You'll either learn something or have something you believe to be true reconfirmed. A great reference!

This book is packed full of extremely timely and useful information for those who want to know what an 'intuitive thinking' marketing pro knows. It's fresh and practical, so it gets 4 stars. The layout and design is clean, crisp and draws you in with packaged snippets of advice and examples. Clean, simple visual communications bumps it up a star for me to a 5.

Keep it around as a reference, pick it up and read a few pages, flip through it until your eyes zoom in on a few words that catch your attention. You'll either learn something or have something you believe to be true reconfirmed. A great reference!

I wish I had bought Green Banana Papers before ever spending a dime on marketing. It's a candid conversation with a talented marketing veteran who has made a career out of making the tough decisions and winning. Coleman anticipated all my questions and answered each with clarity, intelligence and humor. Where's the sequel? I don't want the conversation to end!!!!!!!

I found the book very insightful and interesting to read. There is quite a bit of valuable information for new companies, and great ideas to help established companies stay focused. Ms. Coleman uses actual business examples of her theories in the book which drives home the value of the information.

This is an extraordinary book, a real gift for the soul. Maisy and her family ladle out wisdom, guidance, hope and love - all with humor, honesty and imagination. The genius of the book, I think, is that Ms. Huss has given us a work of true spiritual inspiration without self righteousness or religiosity. Her wisdom is accessible, her vision practical, and her characters become friends you wish you knew. I'm giving this book to my friends, which is an even better review.

Happy Maisy Coleman is a spiritual, fun filled journey reflecting the disfunctions and joys apparent in many families and lives. You will laugh, smile and learn through the wisdom of Juli Huss's brilliant characters. Like life, it is a bitter sweet journey but one that is well worth the read. If you enjoy well rounded characters, humor and spirituality you will love these elements brilliantly combined by Juli Huss. Why wait-go read Happy Maisy Coleman now.

Deeply inspiring, magically transformative and endlessly entertaining, these are characters that will be with me forever. Porter Coleman's homespun spirtual advice is sprinkled throughout the colorful Sinatra-style world of Maisy's mother and the the earnest more conservative world of her grandmother.

All these worlds intersect brilliantly in a galaxy of personal triumph over great darkness. Neither overwhelms the other. There is room for both in Huss's beautifully told story of how characters can rise above their percieved worthlessness to become whole loving people.

They are not just characters. They feel like friends. Porter feels like the priest you always wished you had - full of meaningful, usable advice not overwrought religious tactics. Ursula is the teacher you always longed to have as your friend, to understand, to understand you. Maisy is perfectly imperfect. Her struggles feel real and honest and though she is most certainly experiencing the pains of growing up, she is wise beyond her years and speaks from a voice of knowing that is comforting and yet unable to alleviate her pain. They made me laugh and cry and cheer on the sidelines for their hard-earned success.

I loved it. There are those few handfuls of books you will always take with you in your heart. This is one such book.

Juli Huss is a superb storyteller who has the rare ability of understanding human nature. This ability is clearly drawn upon in the development of the characters in her book, Happy Maisy Coleman. Being true to reality, there are no "villains" in the story -- just multifaceted souls each on their personal journeys to greatness. My favorite character by far is Porter Coleman. Being an imperfect man himself, his words of wisdom, which are sprinkled through the book, truly make one think and encourage one's personal growth. Happy Maisy Coleman is not only entertaining, but loving, inspiring, and affecting. I recommend it highly. Enjoy!

This is one of the most powerful books I have read. There is so much in here to take away with you - words of incredible wisdom, hopefulness and a true feeling of faith and that we are being guided along our paths. Juli allows you to really become a part of each character and to relate to their individual issues. I know I will go back and reread parts of this book over and over - especially the words of Porter Coleman.

I am honored to have had the Coleman family share their story with me.

Nine Keys is a very practical step-by-step process in how to implement successful, healthy small groups into the local church.

I am a small-groups person. I have been in one small group or another, often as a leader, almost continually, for the past 30 years. I believe small groups are just about the most important aspect of a church's life.

I have read many books on this, gone to many seminars. There is a lot of good material on this topic.

But in my present role as a church consultant, this is the book on small groups that I hand to pastors who are wanting to know how to grow a small group ministry or how to better equip their small group leaders.

Why? As George explains in this book, most church small groups do a good job of promoting nurture and fellowship, but most stop there. George believes an effective small group should perform three basic functions, not just nurture. In addition to nurture, he believes small groups should be effectively engaged in small-group-based evangelism (George says that in any given year, only one small group in four does any evangelism), and he thinks that small groups should constantly be training small group leaders through apprenticeship. I agree that a small group needs all three functions. And so I use this book as the entry point for someone who is new to these ideas about small group life.

After this introduction, I point churches to further training or more in-depth printed materials about various aspects of this approach to small groups, but in my opinion, there's not a better starting point than this one.

We have used this tool since it came out. I've found that this tool is best for easily organizing the 'how to' stuff of small group leadership. It does not cover the ministerial philosophy issues. A good book for that is 'Master Plan of Evangelism' by Robert Coleman.

As the title for this book says, it covers nine keys for effective small group leadership. Each key really has four or five sub points...so in reality it is nine times about five...or forty five keys if you will. But George has organized them into nine groups...or keys.

We've found that leaders who study this material are easier to work with and easier to build a vision with for a local church ministry. There are a lot of books on Small Group Leadership that will help you. This one is very practical. It's so well written you can use it even if all you do is read the paragraph headers. Everything is well explained and easy to find or follow.

So even for leaders who don't like to read or who you suspect will not read everything you ask them to read, this book still might get through to them. I recommend it as a curriculum text for a course in a local church/ministry for leading small groups.

Enjoy it!

The best two things about this book are: 1) it helps the small group leader coordinate with the pastor, and 2) it includes shepherding, building community, discipleship and evangelism as part of the small group experience. It is the best balanced book available today!

Carl George effectively communicates the essential basics. This book does a good job of highlighting the difference between being a facilitator of small group time and being a leader (someone who is a disciple-maker). I have used this book as the main text for training small group leaders. It provides great material for interactive discussion and presenting a wholistic picture of all that small groups can be.

As with all Rumis poetry and Coleman Barks translations this is a goose bump inducing beauty. I love Rumi and this is no exception.

This has been my favorite book for years - it can transport the reader straight into the world of soul. rumi is the best and i love these translations. perfect, definately worth having even for people who are not-so-much-into poetry

Rumi needs no praise from me and Barks' translation is beautiful, mysterious, and urgent. I find his introductions to the many sections especially moving. My only problem is that I ordered the book after I bought Barks' "The Essential Rumi," which changed me. This book has many overlaps. I'd have preferred to see more original translations, but as a first introduction, you can do no better.

Coleman Barks once again translates the words of Rumi with respect, good nature, a bit of humor, and a deep understanding of this 13th century mystic and poet. A renowned poet and something of a mystic himself, Coleman Barks leads us through his book as a constant and caring companion. He begins each chapter with his own touching stories, guidance, and expert explanations for the material he lays out. One simply cannot come away from this book without having some sincere appreciation for the devotion and dedication Coleman Barks has for another poet's words.

In "Rumi: The Book Of Love: poems of ecstasy and longing", we are led deep into the regions of the soul, where love is both Universal and Divine. It is a love that beckons us to shed our own image and concepts of ourselves, in exchange for a love that is so vast and joyful, its eloquence can only be experienced rather than explained.

How can we know the divine qualities from within? If we only know through metaphors, It's like when children ask what sex feels like and you answer, "Like candy, so sweet." (88)

Rumi seems to realize mankind is comprised of many faiths, and he mentions many of them with dignity and respect. Yet Rumi's own experience takes him beyond religion, even his own. He often exchanges the word "God" with "Friend", and refers to himself and others who have achieved his enlightened state as "Lovers".

Rumi's words and sublime wisdom ring true for us, as he shares his knowledge of the God-Friend in a both Universal and personal message. We are extremely fortunate to have the poetry of this selfless and compassionate mystic reach us through the fragile, and often forgetful, span of time. Because through Rumi's poetry, we seem to hear our own soul's call and longing to gently open like a beautiful and fragrant flower, and laugh with a tender and colorful sweetness.

There is some kiss we want with our whole lives,
the touch of spirit on the body (33)

Brian Douthit
Author Of Perfectly Said: when words become art

How can I put into words the absolute wordless dimension this collection of poems creates within me?

The commentaries and introduction sections by Coleman Barks are valuable as well beyond words.

The reader would gain insights simply by picking it up and thumbing to any page and just read, read! My daughter and I tried this, we would bring up topics and then say "And what does Rumi say?" and I would read whatever the first words were that I saw in front of me.

They were always universally fitting.

I loved it, just like I love this book.

Wordless, speechless, love-filled - inspired.

My son loves this book. he watches Signing Times and then when this book came, he hugged it. He knows Rachael, Alex and Leah from the tv show. It is a board book and so he is not able to tear the pages off. Sometimes I catch him (16 months old) reading the book himself and doing the signs. The pictures and words are colorful and big. I can see him using this book for a long time.

These sign time books are just what I was looking for to introduce sign language to my preschoolers. I like that they are board books so I can leave them out for the children to look at on their own after seeing them during circle time.

These books are the perfect companion for the Signing Time DVDs. My 2-year-old twins love to pick up and read these books. My 2 and 3-year-old nephews also love to read these books. There is the picture, the sign, and the word for the concepts on the DVDs. I have no doubt that these books will help my children as they learn to read words without pictures by them.

I purchased this book along with "My First Signs" and think both books are great. "Everyday Signs" contains the signs for 29 words (including hungry, apple, banana, cookie, like, don't like, etc.) I got these books so I could learn the signs and teach them to my six month old twins. This book is so colorful and user-friendly that my three year old throroughly enjoys looking at the pages and is now helping to teach the babies some of his favorite signs. These books have definitely been fun for my entire family and I will be giving them as baby shower gifts in the future!

We absolutely loved the "Signing Time" DVDs, so this seemed like a really good reinforcement for our toddler. The one draw-back to the DVDs was the "cartoony" backgrounds they put the actual children that are signing into. It, to me, is similar to having your child's picture taken at a professional studio with a cartoon or an illustrated holiday background.

With the board book, we found this to be the case as well. The pictures of the children signing were pretty good--considering that you saw a still pose of the sign. But the cartoon frog "Hopkins" and other "cutesy" pictures distracts from the book a bit.

Having said that, the signs are really good, and they are relevant things to a child's life--so the signs are some that you will be able to use immediately. Some people could possibly find it difficult to learn the signs without the DVDs, but that would be the case with ANY board book, or any book in general, really. I would say that, minus the cutesy little illustrations, this would be a better choice than some of the board books with only illustrations, since in the past with all five of our children, they have always been drawn to real life pictures as opposed to illustrations. Something similar on this vein would be "First Signs (Early Sign Language)" by Stanley Collins, and others, that show real photos that children can identify with.