Family Resources Books


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Family Resources Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Family Resources
Twelve Gifts of Birth
Published in Hardcover by Harper Resource (2003-04)
Author: Charlene Costanzo
List price:
Used price: $18.72

Average review score:

You Are Gifted
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-06-23
This book encourages a person to look at the gifts they received with their birth and decide how they will use them in life. I believe it also encourages parents to recognize the birth gifts their child/children received which they should encourage their child/children to develop.

Fine!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-06-22
It took longer than I had expected to receive the book but that was no problem. It was packaged very well and I was happy to get the book.
Nancy

For my children
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-25
I bought this book to mail to the 3 children I gave up for adoption 4 years ago. My mom bought it for me when I was in high school, but I lost it when I became homeless. When I was thinking about what to get for my kids that would reflect how I felt in my heart, this book came to mind. I cried as I read it, it was a perfect message of what I felt in my heart for them. I got a copy for me because I still needed to hear the message, and one for my children. I am so grateful I came across this beautiful book!

Every child should have this book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-02-13
The book is amazing, beautiful written. It should be read every day to your child as a reminder of what is important. I have given this book at birth to all the childern in my life.

A wonderful children's book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-12-22
This is one of my top five children's books of all time. It is impossible to read it without getting goosebumps (at least the first 100 times).

Family Resources
Fire at Mary Anne's House (Baby-Sitters Club)
Published in Library Binding by Sagebrush Education Resources (2001-03)
Author: Ann M. Martin
List price: $12.40

Average review score:

A sad but good book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-24
I thought this book was so sad. Mary Anne loses everything- only a few things survied. Mary Anne is woke up in the middle of the night by her cat Tigger. She didn't even cry about it. Finally at the very end, she decides to cry. I would have to say, if you are like Mary Anne, and you cry allot. Don't read this book.

Poor Mary Anne
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-13
I cannot believe Mary Anne's house burned down! She and Dawn were VERY upset. But I can't figure out why Mary Anne could not cry. She normally cries right when she SEES something sad or cute. Or even HEARS about it. Finally one night she is able to cry. Dawn cried when she got one look at the house. I was glad they got to save A FEW things even if they weren't worth very much. I an VERY glad Tigger woke Mary Anne up. She might not have gotten out in time if he hadn't. I loved the book.

Shocking!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-26
Mary Anne's house burned bacause of wiring. Mary Anne almost loses everything like clothes, books.... Dawn was pretty upset when she heard that Mary Anne's house burned. Where Will Mary Anne live?. Will the Baby Sitters help her?

Realistic
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-18
I know just how Mary-Anne feels. Our house burned down a year ago. I lost everything-including old letters (I'm like Mary-Anne and, the worst, pictures and things of my older brother, whom died when I was 7. So I know it was really hard for Mary-Anne. I cry when I read this book and I feel like Mary-Anne and I are crying together.But life goes on and changes happen-to Mary-Anne and the whole BSC (And We Love Kids Club too!)

Excellent Book! A Tearjerker!
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-17
In this book, Mary Anne's house burned down due to faulty kitchen wiring. She's very upset and in total shock. She loved the colonial farmhouse she moved to with her father after his marriage to Dawn's mother. Mary Anne loses almost everything during the fire. Her clothes, books, diaries, letters, pictures, etc. are gone, but she found some jewelry, her mom's picture, and her recent diary. Even though I've never liked Dawn, I'm glad she came to CT to comfort her family. Dawn was pretty upset about the fire. Even though she mostly hated CT, she loved the old farmhouse, the barn, and the secret passage. (the barn didn't burn down, but the secret passage from her room is gone!) I'm glad that Mary Anne finally cried about the fire, after her long shellshocked spell and she's hoping for some positive changes in her future. She doesn't want to move to Philidelpia, where her dad was offered a new job there. It's great that Kristy and her family took in Mary Anne and her parents and that the club and other neighbors comforted and donated lost items from the fire. It was a great book, but I cried my eyes out when Mary Anne lost her house and felt lost. I think she's a strong, brave girl who dealt with a lot of tough events in her life. I'm glad that Mary Anne, her dad, her stepmom, and her cat Tigger got out of the house safely. During a house fire, the number one thing is to get people out of the house and not try to save possessions. I give this book a 10.

Family Resources
The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace
Published in Library Binding by Sagebrush Education Resources (2000-09)
Author: Parry Aftab
List price: $22.20
Used price: $89.00

Average review score:

Guiding Your Child Safely on the Internet
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-22
Parents might worry that their child will find inappropriate sites on the Internet. It is important for parents to monitor their child's access to the World Wide Web and teach them proper use of it. This is not a television set with a limited number of channels. It is the information superhighway to the whole world. Think of it the same as traffic safety. You don't leave a young child playing unsupervised by a busy roadway. They could be hit by a car or kidnapped or attacked by a neighbor's dog. An older child after being taught basic principles is allowed more independence in that same situation.
Provide clear guidelines. Let your children know there are subjects or areas that you prefer to be off limits and explain why. Explore cyberspace with the child and talk about what they are seeing and doing.
Teach children safety rules for dealing with strangers online such as never giving out their full name, address or telephone number; never giving out a credit card number; or arranging to meet someone online without your permission. These are the same guidelines you probably use for telephone use in your home or for talking to strangers on the street.
Don't miss out on all the wonders of the World Wide Web. Take your child by the hand and set out on that information superhighway.

Our police chief told us to buy this book.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-17
Our police department has worked with the author of this book in trying to help victims of cybercrimes. She really knows her stuff. She has even shared many things that my teens wish she hadn't. Now when they type POS, I know it means that they are telling their friends that their parent is looking over their shoulder.

When I don't know where to turn, I just turn to this book. I keep it next to my computer so my children can rely on it too. I was amazed that they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Next time, I'll buy the book BEFORE I buy the computer and set it up right.

a country mom.

I'm a teen and this book helped save my girlfriend
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-12
I read this book when my mother bought it for me and my friends to read. I was very interested in what this person said about online safety and teens. Most talk about how terrible the internet is, but she thinks it's great for teens as long as we use it following safety rules.

My girlfriend was chatting with a boy she met online. He sent her pictures and said he loved her. She even talked to him on the phone. When he asked to meet her at the mall, I told her about the stories I read in this book, and gave her the book to read.

She didn't meet him after she read the stories about bad men who tried to trick girls into meeting them offline.

Her parents found out and found out that this boy wasn't really a boy.

Mrs. Aftab helps keep teens safe. I want to work for her group and help other teens.

Thank you Mrs. Parry Aftab for caring about teens. we love you!

a sixteen year old girl

God bless this book! It saved my daughter!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-29
My 12 year old daughter was stalked by someone online. I went to Cyberangels for help. Parry Aftab (the author) runs Cyberangels, which is the world's largest and best safety group. This book supports the group, and after Cyberangels helped me find the stalker (someone we knew!), we bought this book to read together. My daughter and her friends in Girl Scouts are now creating an online safety club, thanks to this book, and this incredible woman. Please buy it and support online safety and protect your family online.

It's the best book on the subject, I've read them all
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-28
I read Parry's first book, and all the other ones that copied it. This is by far the best book out there. It's got every answer to every conceivable questions, easy to understand and fun to read.

I'm a teacher and need to keep up on this subject, and no book, not even her first one, comes close to this book. It feels like she is giving you free tutoring on any question you have about your kids online, right at your side.

I recommend this to all the parents at our school. Trust me on this...only buy one book - this one. And if you have any questions, e-mail Parry, she answers all of them personally. parry@aftab.com (her name)

Family Resources
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens (Resources for Changing Lives)
Published in Paperback by Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co (1997-12)
Author: Paul David Tripp
List price: $14.99
New price: $6.65
Used price: $0.87
Collectible price: $88.88

Average review score:

Every Christian family need to read this, especially if they have children!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-06-29
I like this series by the Tripp brothers because they really get you to think and take a deep look at yourself as a human being beyond just a parent. It addresses a lot of Godly character issues that we don't always chose to reflect when raising our child(ren). It has completely changed the way my husband and I deal with, not only raising our kids, and talking, and unfortunately, yelling at them, but addresses the issues between how we deal with the siblings and perspectives that has never occurred to us as we disciplined them. It is a must read and especially the first book will be a great gift for parents-to-be ("Shepherding a Child's Heart" - by Tedd Tripp).

Biblical and wise
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-03-30
Tripp can be counted on to stick to the truth in his writings. He can sometimes be a little wordy but very helpful and hopeful. This work that is geared toward parents and teen caretakers explains that the teen years are the age of opportunity - an ideal time to give kids the gospel and guidance for making choices. I highly recommend this work.

Best Book for parents with teens and preteens
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-25
Every parent with children who are 10 or 11 years old and older should read this book. Age of Opportunity turns the tables on society's view of how teens should be raised. Parents' hearts and minds will be challenged to consider new ways to connect with their young adult. This book is significant in pointing the hearts of both parents and teens to Jesus. It challenges the parent who just wants to "get through" the teen years to take advantage of the amazing Opportunity they have to deeply affect the lives of their children. It is a must read for every Christian Parent.

Best Book on Raising Teens
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-24
I bought this book years ago when my son became a teen. We have used the principles and it has been a great help.
I am re-reading it as our youngest is a teen now.
This is a very positive approach to parenting teenagers.
Our 3 children have ended up being good, responsible kids and have given us no problems. I have bought a couple of copies to pass on to our youth leaders. It would be a good resource to counsel parents of troubled teens.

Very insightful and God honoring...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-09
Although I do not have any teenagers in my house, I thought it would be better to read this book too early, instead of too late. I believe I was right. This book reminds me a lot of Tedd Tripp's book, Shepherding a Child's Heart, but with an emphasis on teens and how to relate to the teenage populace.

I truly enjoyed the honesty and also the way in which Dr. Tripp directs us as parents at the heart instead of our children instead of fixing mere actions. Usually, we as parents believe all is well if our children would just obey us, whether they are obeying us for the right reasons or not is a totally different question. Paul's book sets up so the parent gets to the teen's heart so that they obey based on their love of the glory of God rather than merely trying to follow rules that are set up. What this will do is drive critical thinking in the teen so that they can make decisions for themselves in different situations and will not need to know, "did my mom and dad say specifically I couldn't do this or that?" Instead they will strive to seek the Lord's will and ask, "In what way does this decision either glorify God or take away from it?"

The book is set up in three parts:

Part I: Clearing the Debris

In this first part Dr. Tripp is really trying to lay the foundation of the family and how God desires it to be set up. He speaks to those involved (parent and teen) and also speaks to the parent understanding the teen so that the next parts of the book can fall into place. I sincerely appreciate the chapter on "Whose Idols Are in the Way?" Dr. Tripp drives home the importance for us as parents to seek out our idols and destroy them so that our discipline and time with our children becomes godly, instead of reactionary.

Part II: Setting Godly Goals

This is really the practical part of the book. After laying out the foundation Dr. Tripp shows what should be important for every godly parent. He helps show forth how to disciple your children to have godly convictions towards culture and wisdom in how to respond. The idea behind this chapter is so that when that day comes where the teen leaves home, you can be confident that your work in them has been accomplished and they are ready to decipher the world through godly vision.

Part III: Practical Strategies for Parenting Teens

This last part is only 40 pages of the 253 page book. It seems to be more of a wrap up instead of completely new ideas. It seems to be more of a conclusion than a separate part. Part II and Part III really bleed together to make the last half of the book the practical wisdom given from Dr. Tripp to the readers.

One of my favorite discussions in the whole of the book was found in chapter 11. Dr. Tripp sets up four verbs for parents who desire to model Christ to their teen. I believe a quick synopsis of this will give you an overall feel for how the book is laid out.

They are:

Accept: We are to accept our sinful children with the grace of Christ. We are not to enable their sin, but we are also not to be judgmental parents who are condemning to the teen. When condemnation and judgmental attitudes prevail the teen will shut themselves off and never feel as though they can openly communicate to the parent.

Incarnate: As Christ was incarnate God to the world and to us, so too we are to incarnate Christ to our children. We are to reveal love, grace, patience, gentleness, kindness, etc. and continue to show them the gospel in deeds instead of merely words.

Identify: (my favorite part of the entire book) Hebrews 2:10 says that Christ was not ashamed to call us brothers and we should not be ashamed to call our teens, brothers and sisters in Christ. We should be able to identify with them in their sin. We should not be ones who would ever say, "I can't believe you would do that, I would never have done that." If this statement is actually true, the parent is not a sinner saved by grace, but a Pharisee who sees themselves as greater than others by their works. To identify with the teen will show them that you too struggle with sin, and you can show them who you go to for comfort and forgiveness in that sin: Christ Jesus our Saviour. Without the reminder that we too are sinners, the teen will believe that you cannot relate and will run away from you during their struggles instead of running to you.

Enter: As Christ entered our world and culture for 33 years, so we too should enter the world that our teenager lives in. This means seeking them out, even if it is uncomfortable. Asking them questions and listening to what drives them, what discourages them, what excites them, what they struggle with and the temptations that they face every day. When we seek them out to find out where they are coming from, we show them that we truly have an interest in who they are and what they face instead of trying to just pigeon hole them into whoever we think that they should be and what they should be facing. It shows that we truly have interest and value them.

I truly enjoyed this book and believe it is of great help to any who have teens now or who will be having teens soon. Dr. Tripp continues to humble the parent and drive them to the greatest desire: to parent for the glory of Christ, not for the glory of the parent. Highly Recommended.

Family Resources
First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos
Published in Paperback by Gryphon House (2002-05-01)
Authors: MaryAnn F. Kohl, Renee F. Ramsey, Dana Bowman, and Katheryn Davis
List price: $14.95
New price: $8.99
Used price: $9.25

Average review score:

Full of ideas - a great place to start for toddler art and creativity
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-06-27
This book is really inspiring. It's easy to use, the instructions are clear and the ingredients clearly laid out, so you know just what you need. It includes set up times, including what the grown up should do & what the child can help with.

It comprehensively lists different media for craft activities. I have started collecting all kinds of things to be used in future art projects.

It emphasizes that the process is important, rather than the end project - I like that. I have repeated the same activity a few times as my toddler seemed to enjoy it so much.

My 2 and a half yr old boy has loved the things we've tried from it so far: different kinds of play dough & feely goop, collages, painting with different materials, sand drawing and more. I think we're both excited to try to more activities from this book.

You do need to work out what you need in advance, so for some of the more complicated activities, I try them first myself, and set up during naptime, so we're all ready to have fun when he wakes up.

Lots of easy ideas for little people
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-24
Most of the "recipes" are rather simple. Lots of focus on exploration of color, color movement, textures, building fine motor skills, etc. No grand works of art will likely emerge from this book, just a book of fun ideas to help little ones explore the simple wonders of the world they live in. Many of the projects call for ingredients that most of us have, such as kitchen and around the house items that many of us have or can borrow from friends. You'll have to buy paints and things like that, but that is part of the fun!

First Art
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2009-02-13
Great resource for the youngest artists. Toddlers and young preschoolers. Full of ideas and medias for parents and preschool or day care teachers alike.

Love. This. Book!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2009-04-22
If you are familiar with making art, this book will give you some new ideas and ways to adapt materials and activities for a little one. If you are not familiar with making art, this book will help you get started with clear step-by-step instructions and tips. The activities are very creative and cover a range of developmental skill levels. My toddler and I are having a blast!

Good ideas, recipes not always right-on though
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2009-02-25
I got this book for all of the obvious reasons. I haven't had a problem finding and buying ingredients, but where I have had problems is with the mixtures. For instance, "The Need to Squeeze" called for 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water which you mix together then put in a squeeze bottle for the kids to squeeze out. My kids would like to squeeze all the glue out of the glue bottle (as the author notes) so I thought this would be perfect for them. The author also encourages the parent to let the kids be present for the mixing of the ingredients. So that's what I did. What I ended up with was a dough that was REALLY hard to squeeze out of a squeeze bottle (not a glue bottle with a tiny hole, either). It was hard for ME to squeeze out, let alone my 2 year old. This was a fairly easy fix as I just had to figure out what was wrong and add more and more water (somewhere between 1.5 cups to 2 cups) to make the dough more similar in consistently to glue than playdough (as it started out). Then my 2 year old was able to squeeze it out to her heart's content.

Unfortunately, that's not the only example of inaccurate mixing ratios or time expectations. For instance, my experience with plaster of paris is that it takes closer to 10 minutes to harden than 2 minutes - and even I got bored with "Sculpture in a Bag" before then, and I like to think my attention span is a bit longer than my 2 year old's. I won't even dwell on the flimsy sandwich bags (recommended by the author) that broke or the "sculpture" that fell apart when trying to remove it.

I've had to make several correcting notes in the book. I'm finally understanding that I need to practice new activities before I start them with my toddler. Set up is often a significant part of the activity, and when you're encouraging your toddler to help you so that you can do something fun, and then you have to start over because it didn't turn out right, and it takes twice as long to get to the "start," my toddler's attention span has been spent. Yes, yes, I realize that we got to do something together - playing with the ingredients - but I'd like the art part of it to play out too.

I thought about giving this book 3 starts because of the issues I've had doing the projects, but I'm giving it four anyway because it does have a lot of ideas that I wouldn't have thought up on my own, and now that I know I have to do a test run before actually trying the things (those that require mixing and creating the medium, anyway) I expect to get a lot of use out of it.

Family Resources
The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth: Expert Advice and Real-World Wisdom from the Top Pregnancy and Parenting Resource
Published in Paperback by Rodale Books (2005-06-22)
Authors: Linda J. Murray, Leah Hennen, Jim Scott, and BabyCenter Editorial Team
List price: $15.95
New price: $2.53
Used price: $0.33

Average review score:

Great book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-02-05
This book has great information. It is easy to understand and does not try to scare you. It has answered all of the questions I have had up to this point. This is my first pregnancy so I have a lot of questions. I recommend this book to anyone that is expecting and doesn't want to be on the Internet or calling their doctor all the time.

So Far So good
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-25
I really like the fact that they have information week by week about what you and the baby are going through. In addtion they have comments from mother's for each week. A lot of the time these comments are contradictory which helps to illustrate the point that every pregnancy is different and what you are going through is normal for some. I'm in my first trimester and i've read the first 14 weeks thouroughly and looked through the rest of the book as well. I like how the sections are split up and the sections at the end such as the "is it safe?" section are great. There are benefits to other books as well - one is that some of the information, such as information on specific symptoms, is talked about throughout the chapter and so it may not be as easy to search for answers to specific questions in these areas. However, I've really enjoyed this book and I think it's a great reference to have.

Great for Fact Lovers
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
I flipped through a bunch of books (and someone gave me What to Expect When You're Expecting). But The Baby Center's Guide had the most meat of those I looked at. I'm the type of person that wants the facts written in intelligent terms. The rest seemed "dumbed down" in comparison.

Best Preggo Book Out There!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-04
This book was well-thout out, put together clearly, and features input from mothers at each stage (week) of pregnancy, which really helped me understand that everything I was going through was normal (and scientifically explicable). I'm a childcare provider and 1st time mom (now 16 months old), and I recommend and buy this book for all of my pregnant friends (even dads-to-be should read it).
Trust me, you won't be disappointed! I had 7 other pregnancy books given to me by friends/garage sales, and they all were terrible, common sense type books. Even the "What to Expect" series is so incredibly overrated...I have no idea why! Buy this book and you won't regret it. Oh, and you're welcome to check out my wish list on Amazon that I share with my expectant friends and family. I researched forever before deciding on each item and have nothing but terrific things to say about each one!

Simply the best guide to pregnancy
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-06
This is hands down the best pregnancy guide I've read. "What to Expect" is alarmist. "The Girlfriend's Guide" will quickly make you neurotic about your weight. The 2004 edition of "The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby" is organizationally muddled. This book, however, is wonderful and everything you could ask for in a pregnancy reference guide.

The week-by-week pregnancy descriptions in "Essential Guide" are informative enough to satisfy your curiousity about what's going on with your body and your baby's development, but not so detailed that you feel creeped-out or overwhelmed. The tone of the book is never preachy or anxiety-inducing. The medical info is largely up-to-date and tailored to common American health care system practices. And there are helpful sections on "making the most of your changing look." Bravo! A superb resource I consult often and would recommend to any pregnant woman.

Family Resources
The Children of Green Knowe (Voyager/HBJ Book)
Published in Library Binding by Sagebrush Education Resources (1999-10)
Author: L. M. Boston
List price: $13.85
Used price: $24.00
Collectible price: $24.00

Average review score:

Excellent book series!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-29
The Children of Green Knowe is the first in the Green Knowe series. These books are so well written. Get them for your kids, they will love them. There is a film being made based on the second book in the series, The Treasure of Green Knowe. The film is called "From Time to Time" and stars Maggie Smith ( known to Harry Potter fans as Professor McGonagall) as the grandmother. The movie will be released in 2010.

The children of Green Knowe will stay with me forever
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-04-11
I read this many years ago & then again recently & still love it. It is hauntingly delightful. A real masterpiece of children's fiction.

A good story about what happens when the supernatural meets the real world at an old Manor
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-01
Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

The Children of Green Knowe
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-21
I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

Almost Enchanting, but ....
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-07
Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

Family Resources
WHAT YOUR SECOND GRADER NEEDS TO KNOW (The Core Knowledge Series. Resource Books for Grades One Throu)
Published in Paperback by Delta (1993-07-01)
Author: E.D. Hirsch Jr.
List price: $11.95
New price: $2.74
Used price: $0.19

Average review score:

Wonderful Resource!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-21
My preschooler was having behavioral problems at school. One teacher said she needed to be in advanced studies and another said she needed to be held back. I had no idea where she was academically for her age. I had always relied on the school system to tell me how my child was doing and now I had two completely opposing views and a child who was unhappy in school.

I bought this series for grades preschool through second grade to determine where she fell. I used the books to supplement her education where I thought she was lacking. After four months not only was she accepted into a private school that teaches two grades advanced of standard, but they bumped her up a grade as well. She has completely stopped her behavioral problems and is happy in school again.

I would have never known what was the right the path for her, if this series had not helped me determine what a child of her age supposed to be learning.

I highly recommend this series for any parent who just wants to be informed about the educational standards and where their child falls. In addition, its a great resource for supplementing your child's education.

No one knows your child as well as you do, but you have to have the knowledge to make decisions. Without knowing what your child should know, how can you really be sure how well their doing?

In addition, I completely disagree with some reviewers who have claimed the books are racist. I was impressed with the multicultural approach of the books. The history section made a point to include important minorities, including women, asians, blacks, hispanics. The literature section included stories from asia and stories about slavery and women's rights. We did not studies those in school when I was growing up. I thought the book was well balanced.

If home schooling, I thought it made an excellent guide, but it doesn't claim to be a tool as your only resource. It would certainly need to be supplemented, but it provides a great guide for the topics that you would need to cover.

Essential
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-10
This book is essential to any family with a core curriculum student. A must have!

Great Books!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-17
Every parent should buy these books for their children. We bought the Fourth grade, second grade and Kindergarten and they are all fabulous. The kids find them very interesting and my husband and I even enjoy them. They are packed full of terrific information. Highly recommend. This is a book your child has to have.

Homeschooler using this book as a resource
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-16
I have been very pleased with this book. I love to get ideas out of it for our homeschool.

Mom in Northern Wisconsin
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-17
Every parent should have these books for the grade school children. It's a great way to know if your school and/or child are keeping up with your childrens grade level. I used the book in the summer, prior to my childen entering the grade to make sure they were ready for their next school year.

Family Resources
Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages, 2001 Edition
Published in Paperback by Osborne/McGraw-Hill (2000-09-07)
Author: Jean Armour Polly
List price: $26.95
New price: $6.94
Used price: $0.02

Average review score:

For Good Family Fun...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-11
...purchase this book. I was looking for web sites to enjoy with my nieces and younger cousins and decided to purchase a book which could "direct me" in the right places. This book is a wonderful addition to have if you have younger children and younger visitors and need a way to "keep them occupied"! Buy this book. It is very well put together! It is also worth every cent. The only thing it doesnt have that I would give it 5 stars is a CD ROM directory for the electronic version...otherwise go for it if you dont mind typing in the sites yourself!

A Fabulous Reference for Teachers, Parents, and Kids
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-15
The Internet Yellow Pages is a "must have" book for students, adults, schools, teachers, and public libraries. Parents, teachers, and libraries should have access to this fabulous resource. After all, most homes and offices have at least one telephone directory. Let your fingers do the walking with this fabulous Internet directory which includes over 800 pages of carefully alphabetized, categorized, and graphically appealing subjects that can be used for research and information gathering. Does your child or someone you know need to write a report? Possibly a state, gold rush, science, animal, or other type of school report? Look no further. Just get out the Internet Yellow Pages, type in the URL and you will be instantly connected to quality web sites without wasting valuable time using various search engines.Each site is full of great information that has been carefully reviewed as "kid safe" by the author, Jean Armour Polly and her staff.

In addition to the excellent educational locations there are also many sites that are fun to visit, such as, jokes and riddles, toys, sports, games and fun, rainbows, boating and sailing, to name a few.

The final section of the book is dedicated to parenting and families. This section includes subjects such as entertainment, movie, video reviews, education, baby-sitting, health and safety. All the information is carefully referenced in the final index and the bonus CD-ROM includes tutorials, for safe and fun surfing on the net. This is a wonderful book and a very good investment. It is a reference guide each home, school, or library should have at their fingertips.

C. Mendenhall Teacher Deer Creek School

Newer edition available than this one
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-25
Customers may be confused by the way this book is listed. There is a NEWER edition of this book out, I should know, I am the author! It's available here at Amazon. Look for the one that says 4th edition. The ISBN number of the new edition is 0-0072121858. It is also called the Millennium Edition.

A Great Place to Go for International Day
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-15
Our Girl Scout/Brownie International Day was a smashing success thanks to this book. Our troops were able to find information, recipes, songs and dances quickly and easily. We kept it at the Headquarters for a few months and everyone turned to it to find out about every country from Haida Nation to Iceland. The girls loved the website activities and the leaders loved the ease with which they could retrieve information. I also used her editorial blurbs to entertain the crowds between performances.

Families Will Enjoy Many Hours of Fun and Adventure!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-09
The 2002 Net-mom's Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages directory offers kids and their entire families a number of refreshing, entertaining, and informative Websites. After a brief introduction readers are treated to Net-mom's top hotlists, top Websites, and safety tips for surfing the Internet. Then the real fun begins!

This 587-page yellow page directory covers hundreds of topics of interest to kids and their families. Websites offer information about animals, art, buried treasures, coin collecting and money, computers, food, foreign countries, American history, insects, interesting facts, the Internet, music, scouting, ships and shipwrecks, space missions, sports history, toys, transportation, weather, world leaders, and much much more. I took the time to visit some of the Websites listed in the book. Here are several that caught my interest:

Students will be in for a real gooey education at Silly Putty University. Here they will learn about the history, composition, and many uses of this still-popular toy - the toy with only one moving part. Students will also learn about the many varieties of Silly Putty currently available - the original pink, the 50th year anniversary metallic gold, glow-in-the-dark colors, temperature sensitive color changing colors, and an assortment of bright colors. When ready, students can elect to take the final exam in order to receive their Silly Putty degree!

After viewing the Silly Putty Website I moved on to Coin World , to look up some information about my favorite coin - the 1943 steel pennies. During the second World War copper was needed for the war effort so zinc-covered steel pennies were struck. However, some rare 1943 copper pennies and even rarer 1944 steel pennies were made. At least one 1943 silver-bronze penny was made! I performed some additional online research and ended up placing bids at eBay for some steel pennies - and I won!

As with any child-age educational material, parents should become seriously and creatively involved with the upbringing of their children. They should take the lead to protect their children at all times while they surf online. To her credit, the author advises parents to review certain Websites that contain sensitive material. Topics such as religion, politics, child development, environmentalism, and the creation-evolution debate sometimes touch upon controversial issues and require responsible parental involvement.

The author provides brief and concise summary descriptions of each site mentioned in the book and creatively relates topics of interest to encourage readers to dig deeper in their online researching. As I've found out for myself, visiting Websites like the ones listed in this book can be a good educational experience, as well as a bunch of fun for the whole family. Parents can sit down with theirs kids and have many hours of fun and adventure. This book is ideal for babysitting, daycare, home-school, and public school use!

Family Resources
Everything Changes: The Insider's Guide to Cancer in Your 20's and 30's
Published in Paperback by Wiley (2009-02-12)
Author: Kairol Rosenthal
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.50
Used price: $8.50

Average review score:

Not just for cancer
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-27
I am in limbo about my condition but I've had lots of illnesses in the past and this is the only the book I have ever found that lets out the frustrations I that I have, especially the ones toward doctors. I thought I was alone and that no one else was ever told that they were "too young" or that the pain was in my head.

This book is amazing. It is for patients, survivors, friends, family members, and anyone that has been told that they were too young for a disease to happen to them.

This great book is not just for Singletons!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-05
As a recently-diagnosed young adult cancer fighter, this was the first book I found that spoke directly to ME and MY AGE GROUP, regardless of type or stage of cancer!

I read the Introduction and Acknowledgments sections TWICE because they immediately made me feel not-so-alone in all of this. Much of what Kairol and her interviewees say throughout the book about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with living with cancer at this age read as if they were my own! I was truly amazed at how well I related to the genuine people in this book.

The Table of Contents may lead some readers to assume that this book only speaks to the single people among us. But that is not true! Married cancer patients, like myself, can relate just as equally to this book. Chapter 3, which is called "Single," is actually full of valuable tips and suggestions for any intimate relationship, and Kairol refers to marriages quite often throughout.

While I felt I could relate to much of what the people in this book have to say, there is an equal amount of new insight, advice, warnings and even humor that I would have never thought of before!

I STRONGLY recommend this book to anyone in their 20's and 30's fighting cancer! Also, it can be just as helpful for parents, family, spouses, and close friends of such cancer patients.

Everything Changes: The Insider's Guide to Cancer in Your 20's and 30's
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-05-03
This is a very well written, informative and comprehensive book for the growing number of young adults affected by cancer and their loved ones. It puts a face on the young adult cancer survivor by telling stories in a conversational way. A great resource! Diana Ulman, co-founder, The Ulman Cancer Fund For Young Adults

A guide for health and health care smarts, for everybody.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-04-10
I don't have cancer. I wanted to read this book for the friends I have who do. (I watched a good friend diagnosed in her early 20s get confused silence from medical experts who didn't know what to expect for her in 20 years because they weren't used to treating patients who would live that long. There just aren't many models, or much research, for young patients.)

But I was surprised to find how much the book spoke to me and to my own experiences.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis four years ago, so I obsess about research fads regarding food, and I balance chronic pain management, and I've negotiated changes in my relationships with people who can't imagine my experience.

Not only does Everything Changes deal with these issues, it addresses questions that apply to even the healthiest of readers: how do we choose a doctor who's right for us? Which foods are worth buying organic and which ones aren't? Why and how should young people go about making a will or memorial arrangements?

Rosenthal not only gives voice to strong, compelling young people struggling with cancer, she gives great practical tips and resources for patients, their families, lovers, and friends. It's a strong and grippingly honest read both for anyone with chronic illness and for anyone seeking to understand what it's like for people with chronic illness.

Yet it also portrays very specific and varied young people living with cancer--a disease unique in its brand of life-changing. This is a window into their lives.

Personal and Powerful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2009-04-01
I read this book as someone who wanted to understand better what a friend with cancer was going through and also as someone who has conducted interviews and wondered how a writer can best convey them powerfully. Kairol has succeeded on both counts. Her writing is honest and deft. And the way she moderates, integrating her own personal experience and commentary with the real voices of cancer patients writing, is an amazing feat. This book is incredibly artful and informative!


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