Lifestyle Books

Cookie lovers are often divided into two types - those who like them crisp and those who like them chewy. Because my husband won't touch crisp cookies (no matter how delicious), I bought this book, hoping I'd find at least a few recipes to add to his favorites. I was delighted to find plenty that satisfied his sweet tooth, from classics such as Oatmeal cookies to more unusual selections like Hazelnut Macaroon Brownies. An added bonus- the author offers special tips for making sure cookies come out their softest and chewiest. There are also sections on Cookies for the holidays, cookies for chocolate lovers, cookies kids love (although my kids loved cookies from nearly every section in this book), layered bars, etc. This has become a book I turn to again and again!

This is an essential guide for lovers of soft, chewy cookies. It contains a wide variety of melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious cookies. The recipes are easy to follow & use mostly common ingredients.

The author does a nice job of explaining the basics as well as offering hints on the ingredients & supplies. She even gives instructions on storing & freezing the cookies properly.

There are sections for elegant, tea-time, kid-style, chocolate & holiday cookies as well as popular favorites like chocolate chip, bars-style, & macaroons. Healthy ideas with whole-wheat, oats, granola & vegetables are here too.

Some of my favorite cookies are the maple walnut bars & chocolate peppermint patties. My friends raved about the butterscotch meringue squares. You must also try the macadamia & white chocolate-chunk drops.

First published in 1991, and now in a new edition with an updated 2007 afterword from the author, Chicken Man is a classic National Jewish Book Awards Winner picturebook about a man who lives and works on a kibbutz (a special type of farm in Israel). Chicken man loves the chickens of his chicken coop more than anything, and he's so happy taking care of them everyone becomes convinced he has the best job on the kibbutz. When a new work list is posted, he must change jobs and work at the laundry instead - leaving his chickens wasn't easy, but he resolved to do his best and sing while he worked; this leads everyone to think that laundry is the best job on the kibbutz, and his duty is changed to gardening. But when the chickens stop producing eggs because they were deprived of their favorite keeper, the kibbutz learns that it's the person who does the job that makes the biggest difference, and Chicken Man is reunited with his beloved chickens. The new afterword briefly reflects on how kibbutzes have changed in the modern era (children's houses or work lists are generally not found within them anymore). But the central theme of Chicken Man, the value of making the best of every situation, is a positive message enthusiastically recommended to young readers of all backgrounds.

"Chicken Man" weaves a delightful tale about members of an Israeli kibbutz, all of whom wish they could switch jobs with "Chicken Man." Why? Because, no matter what his job assignment, he is always happy.

Everyone - including the reader - learns that Chicken Man's jobs are far from ideal. His attitude, however, always is. And that makes all the difference. My lectures and workshops for kids and adults convey this message, one that we are never too young to learn.

Hats off to Michelle Edwards!

This sweet, easy to read and easy to understand Bible will be great to read to your kids and when they're old enough, to read for themselves. The book is far from a word-for-word translation - rather a child's synopsis of major characters. Adam & Eve, Noah, Joseph, Daniel in the lions' den, etc.

Each story is summarized in one page, with easy to grasp wording. The illustrations are absolutely precious. Nearly every page has an animal in the background or foreground, usually looking content and happy. As Noah & his family are aboard the "floating zoo," a nearby whale is seen grinning ear to ear.

As depicted in the illustration concerning Moses, the Red Sea is parted and the Israelites run happily on dry land ahead of the Egyptians. In addition to donkeys, sheep, goats, etc., you can see a scruffy, happy little dog running along with them. These are sweet, thoughtful illustrations to stimulate the mind of the reader. There are so many details, your kids will love spotting new things each time they look at the pictures and read the stories.

perfect for a small child's hands, this handy bible's brightcolors combined with the child-like wording is wonderful. A great wayto introduce your child to Christianity.

Cultures and customs are explored in Chinatown by William Low.

Young readers visit a city within a city, where streets of herbalists, tai chi masters, and outdoor fish market abound. This colorful section of New York City will prove fascinating to young eyes as they're introduced to people with a different heritage.

As always, knowledge and understanding promote friendship.

In this story, with beautiful jewel-toned illustrations reminiscent of Hopper's paintings, a young child, accompanied by his grandmother, shows the reader various aspects of his life in an urban Chinatown. The busy urban setting takes on the elements of smalltown life as the pair cross a street, watch tai chi practicioners, greet the street cobbler, and visit the produce market, the fish market, the herbalist, a kung fu class and other fascinating places. The story culminates at a parade celebrating Chinese New Year. The colorful pictures, rich with detail, and simple, informative text give lots of opportunities for discussion. My two-year-old son has loved this book from the first time we read it, and requests it over and over again.

This is a delightful book to compare with city mouse and country mouse.
The story is catchy and great for October reading with children.

This book is a truly fun read! You and your child will enjoy the experiences that Muffletump and Mitzi go through in the name of friendship!
Mitzi truly prefers the city, with busy subways and lots to do. But cousin Muffletump can't stand the noise and pollution. Then, the tables are turned and Mitzi must see how she fares in Muffletump's neck of the woods. Author Wendy Wax creates two lovable witches, some hysterical situations and some wonderful rhymes to keep the reader laughing throughout this story. The illustrations by Scott Gibala-Broxholm are absolutely beautiful. Children of all ages will love this book. It's a treasure! Elise H.

Our 6 year old thoroughly enjoyed this story and was able to follow and read it easily. The rhymes work for this age group really well. She wants to take it to school to read to her class. The illustrations are fascinating for kids also. Highly recommend.

I have a seven year old boy who is an excellent reader. The problem is getting him to read. If it is not about lizards, he's not interested. This book was sent today as part of his K-12 curriculum. I told him to read the first 11 pages. He read 40 before putting it down. I've never seen him read a fiction book like that. I thought perhaps he was just skimming since he was reading it quickly, but I quizzed him and he actually read it! I'm very pleased.

This easy reader chapter book promotes books and reading with an appealing story set in 1905 Maryland. Inquisitive Clara desperately wants to learn to read, but there are no schools nearby, and her father says she's too busy with farmwork to waste her time on books.

Levinson makes historical fiction very appealing to younger readers, with a fine eye to the details of rural life, without getting bogged down in old-fashioned terms. While the story is simple, the characters and plot are realistic. In the process, the reader is introduced to the very first "bookmobile," a horse-drawn wagon, based on historical fact.

In our library, this title doesn't get checked out until it is read-aloud or otherwise introduced to the children. After that it gets a lot of use. Recommended.

Jean Ekman Adams' whimsical drawings and humorous writing continue in this wonderful story of the newest adventures of my favorite pig and his charming sidekick, Smoky. You will laugh out loud at this unlikely pair's latest adventures and the newest characters to this wonderful series. As always, the illustrations are filled with hilarious detail that will delight you each time you pick up the book and the story further defines and solidifies the unique and wonderful friendship Clarence and Smoky share. The newest cast of characters, Fern and the duck doctor, fit right into this quirky mix of personalities with Fern's outrageous cooking concoctions of egglant rollups, spinach tasties, and carrot blobs. You'll find yourself touched by the special friendship shared between the characters, laughing at their humor, and smiling at their views of the city. I am eager to see where Clarence and Smokey will land next!

These delightful characters are back with their continued charm and endearing friendship. Clarence brings Smoky to his neighborhood in the big city and he is anxious to show Smoky everything that is important in his life. Through these events, Smoky quietly becomes homesick for the open range but does not want to hurt Clarence's feelings. The solution will make you smile, shed a tear or two but in the end you will feel as "bouncy" as Clarence and Smoky. Author/illustrator, Jean Ekman Adams continues to produce books for children that teach gentle lessons of friendship and caring for one another. She and her characters are a gem.

I borrowed this book from a friend, a little hesitant at first. I was going to read this book to my four year old daughter. She loved it! I added a bit of a southern drawl to entertain her but is definitely not required. The illustrations are fantastic and kept her even more interested in the story line. The Clever Cowboy enters a contest and gets in jam, and you wonder, how will he get out of it? The outcome is outrageously clever. My daughter and I have had wonderful discussions on other clever ways to help the town of yippee-ville out of this jam. They have been silly but it is a joy to hear her use her imagination in such crazy ways. The Clever Cowboy will be a big yee-haw for your little cowchild at home. It has been in mine.

My 6 year old son checked this book out at the library and he loves it. We have read it atleast 3 times a day ever since he got it. I'm dreading returning it but hopefully I can find it somewhere to buy. This book is entertaining and funny and really keeps his attention. The illustrations are cute and funny and he loves just looking at it on his own and trying to read some of it himself. It's always hard to find a book that gets him trying to read but this one sure does it. It's VERY entertaining and I highly recommend it. My son knows most of it by heart now and still chooses for me to read it with him every night at bedtime and in the morning before school.

A father and his son discover that Kansas does have mountains, and many other wonderful things, as they spend a Sunday afternoon bonding on the plains of Kansas. The charming story by George Shannon is beautifully illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Gorgeous pastels of the wheat fields, grain elevators and sleepy main streets will be quickly recognizable to anyone from the midwest. The twist is - the words and illustrations will make you see your surroundings in a new way, just like the little boy in the book!

Hey--Kansas isn't flat-there are many hills, and this book is an awesome read---and sooooooo funny. You don't have to be from Kansas to enjoy the midwest humor---everyone from Kansas doesn't not have a dog named Toto! You will also find little tidbits of history.

My about-to be 15 year old, only child grand-daughter is very very bright, but her parents have fairly minimal experience at college choice-making, and we all want for her to be able to leave no stone unturned in the continuingly more complex, but sometimes generous options available to the college-bound. I plan to send it to her for her June birthday. Not much glitz or teen appeal, but she has more than a modicum of tolerance for delayed gratification, and loves schools and achievement. I think this book is excellent in its approach, its readableness (neologism ?), and the broadness of its' scope. I have read a library copy and can't wait for her to own one.

I found the book to be very informative. It covers everything from what courses admission officers' like to see on transcripts, to tips on how to save money for college without having it deducted from, if your applying for it, financial aid.

The book doesn't contain anything about specific schools (like admissions, GPAs, etc..), it is more of a overview on things like deciding location, size, and other factors involved in choosing a college.

One thing I found really interesting was that the book gave all sorts of hints,tips, and facts on colleges. It also proved and disproved many myths surrounding college entrance.

Overall, being a highschool sophomore, I found it well worth the price. This book takes you from beginning to end on the ABCs of college and gives steps on how to prepare no matter what age or level you're at. It really helped me, and I would highly reccomend it to anyone who is planning to go to college and doesn't know where to start.