Childrens Days Books

Reading this book was a great family experience. My 4-year old son is captivated by treasure and pirates, so we thought we would see if he was ready for a "chapter book." We started reading it over Christmas vacation, first at bedtime, then at any opportunity we had to all be in the same room (no one in the family wanted to miss a chapter!). We couldn't put it down!

The book describes a family vacation on the Emerald Coast of Florida, and alternates between the family's activities and a bedtime story the father tells about the adventures of two boys and the pirates of the Emerald Coast of old. The story is fast paced and captivating enough that our four year old begged for "just one more chapter" after every chapter we read! When we finished this book, we moved right on to Hickock's Gold - the 2nd in the series, about gold mining in the wild west. We're eagerly awaiting the third in the series, but in the meantime, we're enjoying a second reading of Bowlegs Bounty.

This book has inspired us to plan our vacations to include some extra adventure for our son. My husband is looking for treasure chests on line to add a little excitement to our next vacation to the home of Blackbeard in North Carolina.

This book was funny, suspenseful, exciting, upbeat. My favorite character was Benjamin because he has an annoying little brother like mine. I am going to read Hickok's Gold next. Chase from Michigan

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the way the story switched between the family and Tip and Tap. My favorite part of the book was the bedtime stories that Dad would tell the kids.

I initially thought that the telling of the story of the Kaye family vacation might make a ten-year-old feel that the book was for younger children. I was wrong. The telling of the story of a family vacation along with a pirate story worked very well. My son and I both enjoyed the book, and we look forward to the next one.

I loved the book. It was just suspenseful enoough to keep the reader interested but not too scary for the children. I could easily picture the Kaye family on their vacation, and as the mom of two active boys I found it very true to life. I am planning to read the book with my 10 and 6 year old sons. I know they will love it. Can't wait for the next book from Dr. Kropp!!

My sister collects this series of mostly wordless picture books. The artwork is eye catching and the stories always good for a giggle.
The stories all have a similar thread: mom has to step out for a bit and Carl is charged with taking care of the daughter. Carl's initiates all kind of messy, naughty fun for his young master, but the mess is always cleaned up before mom gets home. Great P.R. for rotties!

See more of my book reviews at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1128814

I always know that another Carl book will bring wonderful art, whimsy....and a PLOT, which consistently shows how smart and kind our canine companions truly are!

In this title in the ever-popular series about Carl the trusty Rottweiler, his owner and Madeleine leave Carl to nap for the afternoon while they run some errands. While they're gone, Carl has a number of adventures of his own, including sharing cookies at the bakery, helping out the town vet, participating in a magic show, saving puppies from a fire, and finally running back home to arrive right before his owner. Childen will enjoy an inside joke as Carl runs into Madeleine and her mother at every turn, although the mother somehow never notices the giant dog. Day dazzles again with her traditional watercolor artwork, and the many details in the illustrations lend themselves well to many re-readings. This is a charming addition to the Carl stories and will be enjoyed by children two and up.

This is another great Carl book! The story is good and the illustations are beautiful. Our toddler loves this series!

I have always liked the Carl books since I have owned rottweillers for the past 16 years. They are great dogs who have received a bad reputation because of irresponsible owners. This book shows the life of a loving family dog. If you ever wondered what your pet does while you are at work, this is the book to read. Another great thing about the book if that it is told in pictures. You will only find words on the first and last page of the book, but the author and illutrator get the story across very well.

I cherish this book. I am the mother of a wonderful little boy with special needs who is also terminal. I could never put into words all my thoughts and feelings. Ms. Buck did that beautifully and with heart. I reread it often and share it with other parents needing the encouragement that she bestows with her wonderful writing. Thank you!

"The Child Who Never Grew," by Pearl S. Buck, is the true story of the struggle of the author after learning that her daughter Carol, born in 1920, was mentally handicapped. The 1992 Woodbine House edition contains a foreword by James Michener, an introduction by Martha M. Jablow, and an afterword by Janice C. Walsh, who was Pearl's daughter and Carol's's sister.

Jablow notes in her intro that "Child" first appeared as an article in "Ladies Home Journal" in 1950 and was shortly thereafter published in book form. Jablow notes that the book is "a landmark in the literature about disabilities." As such, I consider "Child" a fitting companion text to a book like Helen Keller's "The Story of My Life." Jablow notes that mental retardation "carried a shameful stigma" when Buck first had this story published; Jablow provides further useful historical context for the main text.

Buck writes very movingly of her heartache at the discovery of her child's plight. She documents her awareness of the stigma against people like Carol, and also tells of her search for an institution where Carol's special needs might be met. Buck passionately defends the humanity and worth of the mentally retarded, and tells what her experiences with Carol taught her: "I learned respect and reverence for every human mind. It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights."

Walsh's afterword continues the story of Carol. She fills in some of the very obvious gaps in Buck's story. Walsh's contribution to this book is very moving, and includes photos of Carol.

In addition to being a work of historical and sociological importance, I found "The Child Who Never Grew" to be a moving and very personal piece of American literature. For another good companion text, try William Styron's "Darkness Visible," in which the distinguished writer tells of his battle against clinical depression. Also, try "On the Way Home," by Laura Ingalls Wilder; this book has additional material by Laura's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, and like "The Child Who Never Grew" is thus a sort of mother-daughter literary collaboration.

This old book was first published in 1950 by Pearl Buck (1892-1973), a 1938 Nobel laureate, but originally drafted by her in the much earlier days. Her first daughter Carol was born as a LD child in 1920, due to a delivery accident in a remote village of China. The cause is now known as PKU, a disorder in phenylalanine metablism (and PKU can be fully cured now), but then nobody knew either cause or therapy. That was a beginning of this tragedy of both Carol and her mother Pearl. But that is not the whole story. Pearl's first husband, a scholar, kept ignoring his own LD child, and did not give any special finacial support to this daughter. So when Pearl, then just a house wife, realized that Carol had to be taken care of by the best special school for LD children in the United States for the rest of her own long life (till Carol's death in 1992), she started writing a novel on Chinese farmers, The Good Earth, hoping to earn some money as royality for the sake of Carol's life-long welfare. In 1932, to her great surprise, this book becames the world best seller, and even filmed in 1937 with a great success, and eventually awarded her the big prize the followig year. In other words, this LD child Carol transformed her mother's life and career so dramatically, in a better sense.

Having met so many other mothers who also have LD children, eventually after the end of WW II, Pearl decided to publish her true story on Carol, which turned out to be her first and sole real daughter, in order to share her own difficult experience with these mothers. Meanwhile she adopted several orphan children including Janice Walsh with her second husband Richard Walsh, a talented editor who published "The Good Earth" very successfully.

In the early days of Carol's youth, Pearl had a great difficulty in being willing to admit that Carol's brain had been permanentally damaged. One day, however, at a small hospital in the United States, an old German doctor privately approached her and explained, though in his broken English, to convince her that her daughter would never grow further. To me, that particular scene was the most moving and unforgettable in this book. For I am a retired molecular oncologist who has been trying to develop, particular during my stay in Germany, the first effective therapeutics for a genetic disease called NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1) which causes not only tumors but also frequently LD in many young children.

It was fascinating to read the account from such an "open-minded" individual as Pearl Buck as having had such difficulty dealing with/ accepting her disabled daughter. Although she clearly loved her daughter she hid her from the rest of her family and the rest of the world almost until the end of her life. Ms Buck was an advocate for the disabled but could not deal with society's prejudices with regard to her own child.

A very moving book. The book was written 50 years ago, and it sounds as current as if it had been written today. A mother's feelings are timeless.

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker
The latest "Magic Tree House" book (#39) is now out. This time Jack and Annie are whisked back to the 1870s in the South Pacific to join the crew of the HMS Challenger on their scientific exploration of the dark depths of the ocean. They get to meet some real historical characters, such as scientist Henry Moseley and Professor Charles Wyville Thomson. From 1872 to 1876, the Challenger sailed nearly 70,000 miles around the world and found more than 4,000 new species of sea life. However, will Jack and Annie survive a raging storm at sea and the tentacles of a giant octopus to get back to Frog Creek, PA, with their new secret of happiness for Merlin?

We have been reading the Magic Tree House books since they first came out, and both of our boys have enjoyed them. What I like about them is that a lot of history and a good deal of geography, along with a little bit of traditional myth and legend, are included in a fictional story that appeals to children. So the books are educational, but they are also fun! While some of Jack and Annie's dialogue is a little stilted, for the most part these books do not talk down to children but challenge both their thinking and their vocabulary.

My grandchildren can't wait for the new books of this series. They wer so thrilled when I brought it over and it's read in one to two days. They already told me how much they liked it and wish the new one was on it's way. I told them it's on order for when it's released.

We have the complete series of MTH books, both the simpler paperback ones and the Merlin Series hardcovers. Currently my (almost) 8 year old son is ensconced in the books, but my 11 year old read this book as well just because she wanted to say she's read them all (granted, it took her less than an hour to finish the whole thing, but she is reading at the 7th grade level so no surprise). Both really enjoyed the story, said it is one of the better story lines in the Merlin Series, interesting, creative, etc. Highly recommend.

Mary Pope Osborne's 39th addition to her 'Magic Tree House' series, DARK DAY IN THE DEEP SEA tells of Jack and Annie, who have to find one of the four secrets of happiness to help save Merlin the magician. But when they find themselves on a misty island, they wonder how they can find anything - and when a pirate ship turns out to be the world's first floating science lab, an even more exciting expedition results.

OK, I'm not reviewing this for myself, although I do enjoy the concept and the stories, but for my (nearly) six year old grandson. He simply adores this series by Mary Pope Osborne...except...at the start of each adventure, when the tree house moves and then stops...when it says..."then everything was still...absolutely still"...anyone remember Abbott and Costello's "slowly I turn, step by step..."?
He just plain squeals when anyone either reads him that part or just starts the quotation (he loves it, though!)
The series shows great imagination (if you can "get over" the part where "magic" is involved. Sometimes I think we lose sight of the fact that magic is simply a storyteller's device to see a different angle of the story or to introduce elements that are more imaginary. If you believe it exists, it does...if you don't, it doesn't) and helps kids to come to grips with cooperation and a bit of self sacrifice, as well as helpfulness. (I don't know about you, but I struggle with that myself, and for our current generation of kids, they need all the help they can get!)
And, quite frankly, I bought it for the grandson because of the Octopus on the cover. He is enamored of this particular sea creature, and the story did not disappoint. (although we have read over 20 of the rest of the series as well, and he only found fault with one that I can remember, and I can't recall which title that was...)
As soon as his mom had read him this one (it was a birthday present), he wanted it read to him again, and that to me says that it hit the right note with him.
The "Magic Tree House" series is a grand adventure for all concerned. It enthralls the younger readers (or being read to), and is a joy for the parents to read to their children or grandchildren. Covering all sorts of adventure and relationship topics, as well as great brother-sister dialogue, it's just plain fun!

It's all up to Fuji. Michael "Fuji" Powers, the youngest son in a fairly large family, is the last hope for the Powers family. His father had always dreamed of making it to the major leagues, to actually play at Great American Ball Park. When that didn't happen, the task was passed onto his sons. In turn, each of his brothers tried to fulfill that ambition without success. Now, it's Fuji's turn.

In The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park, Fuji gets to live the dream. Not only does he get the call to play for the Withamsville-Tobasco Cardinals but he plays at Great American Ball Park. It's a game (and a story) that you won't want miss.

The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park is a classic story that warms the heart and keeps the dream machine going. Fuji is a great guy. He's just an average American boy who is always overlooked that is suddenly trust into the limelight.

Talk about déjà vu in stereo! On the one hand I'm reading The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park and on the other I am reliving memories of my sandlot baseball days in junior high on the heavily-treed school yard lot. I had intended to scan the book to see if my nephew would enjoy Paul Mullen's book but got so enthralled with my own days on the diamond that I finished the book before reaching for my now-cold coffee.

I love the special sandlot rules - into the woods in left field is an out, over Stover's fence a home run, into Stover's pool a two-run homer. On my school yard ball field there was a large oak tree immediately foul of first-base. If the ball bounced off the tree in fair it was playable; otherwise foul. If the ball was hit high into the tree and started ricocheting from left to right on the way down you could make a last minute leap for an out. And we didn't play barefoot because stomping down on an acorn could be painful.

Mullen's colorful descriptive language produced other instant memories - like when he describes his father's Old Spice cologne as smelling like "vanilla cream coffee." And in this day of wild-eyed hockey moms and fanatic Little League parents it was refreshing to hear Dad whispers to Michael, "Don't worry son. Whatever happens, you're still my boy."

What a wonderful story and delightful read. This is a story not only about baseball and youthful dreams but about character and how to live life without regrets. And, oh yes, my nephew enjoyed The Day I hit a Home Run almost as much as I did.

The world of a 12-year old sixth grade youngster is very often filled with many challenges and is not always a smooth sail, as we learn from Paul Mullen's debut young adult novel, The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park.

Mullen's story takes us into the life of young Michael "Fuji" Powers, who is the youngest of his family consisting of three brothers, two sisters and parents, living fifteen miles east of Cincinnati. He was nicknamed "Fuji" because his brothers taunted him, claiming that he was adopted from Japanese royalty, as he didn't bear a resemblance to anyone else in their family being small, short and around five-foot-three.

As the story gradually unfolds, we notice that what appears to be meaningless events eventually build up to an moving climax.
We immediately discover that all Michael ever wanted to do was play baseball and his ultimate goal was to one- day play at his dream baseball park, Great American Ball Park, the official base ball-stadium of the Cincinnati Reds. And he would be the last of his brothers to have a shot at playing in this great baseball park.

Michael's big opening to realize his dreams arrives when he tries out and makes the Withamsville-Tobasco "WT" Cardinals, a class "C" ball club that for fifteen years had been perennial Clermont County champs. This was most likely the first big challenge he ever faced in his young life for he had to prove to his overbearing father as well as his sometimes annoying brothers and friends that even the smallest kid who has the will and love for baseball can live out his dream. Michael was also love-struck with thirteen-year old Cathy Stuckman who could hold in her own as a ballplayer with any of her male classmates. Cathy was a little older and a head taller than Michael, however this did not deter him from chasing after her. However, unfortunately, Michael had to compete with his fifteen-year-old brother Dave, or as he was nicknamed "Salty," for Cathy's affection.

Sadly, Michael's first game with the Withamsville-Tobasco "WT" Cardinals was not exactly his finest. To add insult to injury not only was he ridiculed by some of his team mates for his pitiable performance but he was also subjected to some verbal and physical abuse from his father who reminded him that if it were not for him pulling a few strings, Michael would never had made the team.

Michael is also reprimanded for not being serious in understanding that this was his one shot to play on a major league field. Deeply upset and angry, Michael decides that he had enough, and possibly for the first time in his life, stands up to his father and shouts "It's your dream, not mine, maybe I don't want to live in this family anymore." Upon hearing these words, Michael's father, who is fuming, stops their van and shoves Michael out on the street. However, Michael's mother's maternal instincts take control and she hollers at her other son Billy to take Michael home on his brother's Davey's bicycle.

Notwithstanding the unrelenting bullying by one of Michael's team -mates as well as the embarrassment he feels when his coach hauls him over the coals in front of his girlfriend Cathy, Michael does manage to improve his baseball skills during the course of the season.
His big break crops up when a ball squad from a higher league drafts the team's superstar just prior to the final championship game.
The team's coach now turns to Michael and calls upon him to replace their star player. You can well imagine the pressure placed on a twelve-year old when he is asked to fill the shoes of the team's hero!

Mullen proves that he is quite adept at working a few threads with writing that is poignant, captivating and a pleasure to read.
The characterization of Michael is appealing to young as well as adult readers as we follow his quest in fulfilling his mission of not only playing at his dream baseball park but also becoming a hero to his team -mates, family, friends, and his girlfriend Cathy. In addition, the story succeeds where so many similar books fail as Mullen educates his readers in depicting the realities of life with its ups and downs thus managing to make it not only a good yarn but also thought provoking in a way that kids will be able to relate on at least some level.

As a footnote, I would like to mention according to the publicity material I received, that Paul Mullen is on a mission to combat the illiteracy that exists among 6 million middle and high school students who are unable to read at basic reading levels. It is a problem, as he states, "that we as a society can't afford to ignore." The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park was crafted specifically to address illiteracy among these children. Apparently, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has expressed a need for 30, 000 copies of the book, if funding can be found. Mullen is actively searching for donations and corporate sponsors to help make this and other placements of the book a reality.

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures

I really enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of my childhood. Friends and family are great features to everyones life.

Reviewed by Karma Barry (age 13) for Reader Views (11/07)


"The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park" is an inspirational read that tells the story of a young boy who is trying to reach his goals and commands you to never give up. A magnificent author, Paul Mullen can give an everyday pass time flavor in a story by using genius comedy and the life of being the youngest in a line of brothers. "Everybody line up, and Bill and I will choose sides." "Did I hear an echo?" Lovers of baseball and coming-of-age stories will reread this book, no matter what the age, and will keep an eye open for more of Paul Mullen's works, though I am not sure if there are anymore.

I have never played baseball on an official team but I have played for a volleyball team, and the pressure of some of the games was brought back as I continued to read and was intensified the further I was through the book. I also relearned some things I already knew from another perspective: Never give up on your dreams, Nothing is impossible, and Never stop believing.

I will be looking for more of Paul Mullen's works in search of more inspirational stories. The story in "The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park" is one that I will be keeping in my heart for a long time and I hope that others who read it will feel the same way.

One day, it begins to rain hearts, and young Cornelia Augusta begins to catch them. She realizes that these hearts would be great for making valentines. We watch her think of many different kinds of valentines, and think about who each one would be perfect for. What I love about this little book is the thoughtfulness Cornelia Augusta demonstrates, customizing each gift to please a particular friend (and the friends all turn out to be members of the animal world!). My young daughter enjoyed figuring out who each valentine was for and why. Very cute!

A wonderful and cute story. Short in length and great for younger children (ages 2-4). Definately recommend.

My mother bought this for Valentine's Day this year for my, then 2.5 year old, boy-girl twins and my kids love this book. It is May and we still read this book at least once a week.

The fact that little Cornelia looks at each heart and creates a special valentine card that matches the heart and the recipent shows thoughtfulness. I also liked that even though it never rained hearts again Cornelia wasn't disappointed or sad, but knew what to each Valentine's Day after that.

Our book also came with a page of stickers based on the illustrations in the book.

My six year old took the board book version of this book out of my hands. I meant to read it to my two year old son. Instead,
my first grader was enthralled with the illustrations, the story and the name of the loveable protagonist "Cornelia Augusta".

I especially enjoyed how ALL the rainbow hearts Cornelia Augusta catches are ALL different so she can craft personalized, different Valentine's for each recipient of one of her precious gifts.

The story is also a very opening one: there are always ways to create... no matter what the medium, what the celebration, whether the people are together or apart.

Also, I think the 3-5 year recommendation is a bit young. My 6 year old really enjoyed it as well, the language was perfect for a first grader.

It rains an abundance of hearts one day and
Cornielia Augusta catches them and brings them home and figures out who she wants to make things for.

She makes a necklace by stringing them together, then cuts holes in one and as the story goes on, the children try to guess who she made the valentins for.

It is simple and cute and give the children ideas about doing nice things for their friends.

ellen

The Diamond princess is hosting the Winterfest when theres something wrong in Sparkle mountain and she gos off in a crystal sleigh with Rolf a reindeer and a fox friend named Finley to find out whats wrong in Sparkle mountain , there they meet a bunny who saids Elsinor and some goblins are trapped in the moutain . So Demetra and her fox friend go in the cave and chose a light tunnel finding its the wrong tunnel they go back and go into a dark tunnel . But they fall into the tunnel and the princess is caught by a goblin and they wake up a bear . Can The Diamond princess get out of sparkle mountain ?

This is a book everyone has to read. My faviorite part was whentheir was a parade in the book. This a great and adventurous book thatyou have to read.

I loved these books! They are wonderful. I am in second grade and I love to read. This book has a princess and a fox and a bear and goblins. I want ALL of the Jewel Kingdom books.

It's about this princess who saves the day, and I can tell she likes skating. I liked the way the author described the "Looking Glass" pond where she skated. It's kind of blue and the back of the book shows what it looks like too. The animals in the story talk and I liked that. There are boys in it too, so boys could like it also. If you are an animal lover, you will love it. If you are not an animal lover I still think you would like it. Kids and grownup would like it because my grandma says that she liked it.

The Jewl Kingdom seems to be mix of Oz and Narnia. I would really love to live in one of the country's as one of the princesses. I truly can't decide which one. The Red Mountains where my advisor is Hapgood the dragon and I have a little pet hugaboo. The Greenwood where my castle is a treehouse and my advisor is Arden the unicorn and there are lots of elves and faries. The Blue Lake where my advisor is Zazz the butterfly and I have lots of water sprites and Gilliwags and a special Sea Monster. The White Winterland where my advisor is Finley the white fox and it always snows. Each Princess has there own special magic tool given to them by the Great Wizard Gallavant. Roxanne's is a belt which temporarialy makes her invisible. Emily's is a pan flute which can make her bigger or smaller until the next turn of the sun. Sabrina's is a pouch of magic dust which can make her fly. Demetra's is a magic mirror which can show her anything she wants three times a day. If the Wogglebug film is successful enough I will make a series and the Jewl Kingdom will be one of the places he visits to improve his vast knowledge.

As the mother to four strong-willed kids ages 19 down to 5, and I have read many discipline books and tried various methods over the years. This one is the best, hands down. I have been using behavior charts based on Ruth Peters' book for a few years (of course, I don't use the charts with my 19yo, but I do with my others - ages 11, 8, and 5 right now). My children get compliments from even from complete strangers on how well-behaved and polite they are, and how nicely they get along with each other. Dr. Peters has another very good book written for parents of preschoolers called Never Too Early to Discipline. Also highly recommended. My house is calm and peaceful, my kids are happy. The wonderful thing is, this can be accomplished without yelling, nagging, threatening, or spanking! Read the book!

My husband and I have been married for five years. He has 3 children from his first marriage and his ex-wife is the classic "emotionally needy parent" plus she is having problems with alcohol abuse. When we had visitations with the kids we would have an adjustment period of 2 or 3 days. After that their behavior would usually mellow out and the rest of the stay was okay. Recently DCFS stepped in and ruled that the children were no longer safe in her care and turned them over to my husband and I. The children are 14, 12, and 9, plus they have a 3 year old half sister that was given into our custody. Our house has been a combination zoo and war zone since they arrived. My husband and I were at the end of our ropes when I found this book. She has been the answer to my prayers.

Got this for my 9 yr. old granddaughter. We were spending 4 hrs a nite on homework, her room was a disaster area and she was on a continuous restriction for her mouthing back and attitude. Knew something had to change. Wrote up the behavior plan based on this book; She actually liked the plan. Daily rewards and punishments, no more restrictions lasting days or a week, and privelege and money chips for good behavior, homework done in 1 1/2hrs and room straightened,dog fed,table set,coat hung up, etc every day. Amazingly within a few days, everything done as above! Her room is straightened with bed made and everything off floor in about 4 minutes(allowed 10 min). Homework always done without any hassle as soon as she comes in! Guess what she bought with her first savings? An ORGANIZER! Cannot praise this book enough! If you follow her steps and stick to the program yourself, you too can have amazing changes in your child. Her parents and I were so pleased and amazed with the change. I just wish I had had this book when my daughter was little. Would have made life so much easier! Every month or so, we reevaluate her program and make small changes on problem areas and that's about all the extra time needed. On the weekends, instead of homework, she straightens her closet or drawers or bookshelves. I showed her teacher the behavior plan and this book and she made copies of it for herself and other mothers when they are having problems. It will save your sanity and family and give house control back to you!

I am the mother of a nine year old boy and a six year old girl that were beginning to take control of the house. I tried everything, but nothing stuck. Don't Be Afraid to Discipline really works! It is easy to implement and can be tailored to any family's special needs. Friends and teachers have been so impressed by the change in my children that they have all requested the title of the book. All that have begun the program are ecstatic! Privilege chips seem to be the key with my kids. They are even doing extra chores in order to earn extra chips. My son recently turned in 20 chips for a new computer game. He was proud of his accomplishment. So was I. Life in my household is calm now. The house is neater, the kids are happier, the parents are happier. We have more time to enjoy each other because the daily expectations/chores are taken care of without a fuss. My kids are self-sufficient in many respects. God bless Dr. Peters. Her program has been the answer to my prayers.

This book is absolutely readable! You learn real-life approaches to dealing with your kids! This is not a book of psycho-babble.

It contains loads of information on things you encounter in your daily life, yet presents them in a funny and fun way. The drawings by the author are the best part, it's the icing on the cake! It is great for kids of any age, especially good for summer reading, and a fun read for adults as well. Then keep it as part of your reference book collection.

An excellent book!! Day not only displays his knowledge and artistic talent in this book, but puts everything together with humor and wit. No facts were spared, he'll give it to you straight what can happen to you if you don't give creepy critters some space, and the cartoons will make sure you get the picture ;) All ages will enjoy this entertaining and educational masterpiece!

This is a great book to entertain and delight kids with the icky wonders of the world -- spiders, insects, plants that eat both, and so on. In addition to fantastic illustrations and clever commentary, though, the book is packed full of really useful information about what to worry about (or not) in terms of poisonous critters, plants that make you itch, and everything in between. My 4 year old was so entertained that he insisted on taking the book to preschool to show off -- and proceeded to explain tarantulas, and their relationship to the Italian dance the tarantella, to anyone who would listen. Your kids will love this book. And they just might learn something too!

This book is great! Has an enormous amount of information, that is supported by medical information, wonderful drawings, great humor, and is great for children (and adults actually)! I would recommend this book to anyone with children, as it's a fun way to learn about their environment. Mr. Day is an excellent author, and I look forward to seeing more of his work!

Ok, so my kid (6 yrs old) asked me if he could read this book instead of playing with Legos. Yeah, I'm still reeling from that. If that's not a glowing recommendation, I don't know what is. This book is like a field guide with all the boring stuff stripped out. It dives right into the information that kids really need -- all the things that will make you itch, swell up or scream mommy! And how to identify them, avoid them or treat them if your curiosity makes you "forget" the first two things. And the cartoons scattered throughout? Brilliantly twisted - in a kid appropriate manner of course!

Duffy and Maggie present a great book here that can be used individually or in a group context. Go through this book with your spouse, with your youth staff, or with your youth group. In a society that is too loud, we need to turn down the Ipod, turn off the TV, and turn up the voice of God. God wants to speak to us, but it's up to us to decide whether or not we'll listen for and to him. The beauty of this book is not in the powerful words of the authors, but in the instruction and guidance provided by the authors to experience God through the truth of his word. I've found this book to be especially beneficial in helping postmodern teens to experience God while being guided by the truth of his Word.

The Robbins family does a great job reintroducing a classical (i.e. tried and true) Christian way of engaging Scripture to listen for the voice of God. I know that there are some concerned fundamentalists running websites who hate anything remotely related to the word "contemplative," but they need to get over the 16th century.

This is a wonderful introduction to lectio devina for young Christians. By "young," I mostly mean 12-18 year old Christians, but it would be great for a new Christian of any biological age.

I found this book to be very helpful in my walk with God. It made me slow down to read familiar passages which led to new and real insights. The authors do a great job of explaining and guiding the reader into "lectio divina." This book has helped me feel one with God while revealing my own heart more than any other devotional book. A great introductory devotional style read for anyone seeking to emotionally draw close to and connect with the heart of God.

So far this book is good, it has been hard to find the Silence to enjoy, which is probably all the more reason this book is something I need to be reading.

The ancient meditative practice called "lectio divina" (Latin for "divine reading") is very simple and very helpful in studying scripture. The practice requires that you read a passage of scripture slowly, preferrably out loud, and then consider the words thoughtfully. After some journaling and prayer, read the same passage again, this time considering what it felt like to be there, in the event. Use all your senses and your imagination and journal on the passage. Finally, a third reading where you listen for the words or phrase that really speak to you and journal prayerfully about that consise message. This message is most likely God speaking to you personally through scripture. Studying scripture doesn't get any better than this!

Before I read this book, my prayer times had become pretty one-sided, with me listing out for God all the requests and concerns I had on my heart like a "honey-do" list for my patient husband. The practice of "lectio divina" renewed in me a love for the quiet, prayerful, listening posture that I had lost in my prayer time and reminded me Bible study and prayer is supposed to be a conversation, not a monolouge.