Reviews (14)

Great For Any Teen
When I first got this book I looked at it as another book with an adult telling you useless ways to keep your cool in weird situations. Then one day I picked it up and I was amazed. The write of this seems to understand our life and doesn't lecture us about how we blow things out of proportion. All the chapters pertained to me and really helped me not to stress out so much. I think I am now a better friend and person from it. He (Richard Carlson, author) really shows us good examples and you remember things from the book as you go. I suggest this for every teen.

STRESS REDUCTION FOR TEENS
If you're "stressed out" and would like to look at ways to be a happier more contented person, you may find something in these pages that ring true for you. The book title indicates "for teens", but anyone could benefit from some of the author's suggestions. For example, when someone is talking, avoid the words, "I know."; or "dare to show enthusiam. Be a volunteer in your community-- find something that you really enjoy doing and do it! - Don't infect your friends with negative thoughts if you're in a low mood.-- Instead of making unkind, caustic comments, stay away from those close to you until you feel better; that way, you don't have to feel guilty, make apologies or re-ignite your stress worrying about any inappropriate hurtful words you might have used --Try some meditation or contemplation or yoga exercises to be more relaxed." Richard Carlson's hypothesis is- if you don't get stressed out about the small things, then dealing with more complex issues becomes easier. The book offers advice without lecturing and the topics are brief. One could read a few pages daily. Highly recommended reading. Quite inspirational, and not just for teens. Contains practical information for anyone

The best advice I've ever been given!
I admit, this was lying on my shelf for two years before I picked it up (almost). Being somewhat hard-headed, I never accepted that someone could tell me how to make life easier. But Mr. Carlson's methods and exmaples put his 100 tips into perspective... and reality. Although not all his examples are good, the principles have certainly helped me through a lot of stressful times, including keeping my cool in arguments with my boyfriend & family. It's a definite must-read for any teenager, and even parents.

*~ Some helpful Tips in this Book*~
I liked this book~ It was easy to read in 101 sections divided up. The only thing I think this book lacked was a teenager's point of view. Unlike Chicken Soup, Teen Love, and Teen Ink, a grown man is writing these tips. He had some good advice but I think some of the tips couldve been made fresher by having some kind of teenager input. Other than that theres many valuable lessons in this book and Richard Carlson did a good job (even if he is grown and not a teenager himself.) I suggest you read it! I'm sure you'll get some kind of help or advice outta it~

much needed
Being the uncle of an out-of-control teen with siblings I felt obligated to provide them with whatever I could without appearing overly concerned. This book fit the bill perfectly. All four kids have read it, each one commenting on it differently. I wish the school system was conscious enough to have "living life" classes in addition to the 3 Rs, you know something that helps kids with real-world issues they face. ... Read more

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Look ma, no textbooks! The Learn in Your Car series treats you like a child--in the best possible way--starting with one-word phrases ("please," "good-by"), counting exercises, and simple nouns ("bus," "train") designed to imitate a child's learning process. First you hear the words in English, then they are repeated slowly in clear, unaccented pronunciations. The method is extremely effective for those who don't know a thing, or for those who want to brush up by testing themselves when the English words are spoken. The tapes emphasize the building blocks of communicating in a foreign country rather than rote phrases that only apply on the tape and not in real-life exchanges. Level 1 painlessly covers basic verb forms, essential prepositions, near future and past tenses, as well as shopping, hotel reservations, and other travel-related situations.The series includes French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish in three levels that can be purchased individually or in boxed sets. Each level contains two 90-minute cassettes (or CDs) and an accompanying booklet (not for use behind the wheel) with helpful explanations and scripts for the lessons. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent way to improve listening comprehension
For someone at an intermediate to advanced level, this is the best method for maintaining or improving listening comprehension that I have yet found. The format has been described in previous reviews so I won't repeat that here. I have both the German and French versions of the tape so I can comment on them from the prospective of someone with widely differing language abilities. Since I spent two years in Germany and studied German at the university level, I could understand the German tape the first time I listened to it. It is an excellent example of normal conversation - something all too often lacking from your typical language course, which seems to either present tourist phrases or delves into classical literature. This is normal spoken German such as you might hear regular folks speaking in Germany today. There were few words that were not familiar to me and those that were are probably regional variations or colloquialisms not common in central Germany where I lived. As a previous reviewer pointed out, the tape is not primarily intended as a means of vocabulary acquisition and the English translations are quite free. Better to simply look up the German word directly if you are unfamiliar with it. For comparison, the French version (which contains the exact same stories) was much more difficult for me. I have studied only a couple of semesters of college French and have never lived in a French speaking country so, as others have pointed out, I have had to listen to the tape many times to even begin to gain a good comprehension of the spoken French. It certainly helps that I already know the stories from the German version.

Too often language courses present individual sentences for listening comprehension. This gives you time to listen carefully and then think about what has been said. In real life (and in this tape) the conversation doesn't stop for you to think about what was said and you can quickly find yourself lost. You could listen to a radio broadcast or movie but then you would have no transcription to let you review what you heard and it can't be slowed down to help you catch what you're missing. This tape allows you to do just that and I highly recommend it.

(Interestingly, with the advent of DVDs, I've noticed that you can pick the spoken language and subtitles independently allowing you, for instance, to choose to view a film in French along with the French subtitles. Unfortunately most movies seem to come in English, Spanish, and French so it doesn't help my German. I haven't tried it in French yet to see if the subtitles are an actual transcript of the spoken language but that would be another effective method for improving listen comprehension.)

Let's Talk German Today
An excellent concept, inadquately realized. The method of speaking first at a normal pace--often difficult to understand on first hearing--and then more slowly and carefully enunciated, is of great value, and justifies the reasonable price. However the tapes have a serious shortcoming in the area of vocabulary building, which is, of course, fundamental to learning a language. The problem, the serious problem, with these tapes is the colloquial English translations. These translations, while essentially accurate, frequently give the student little or no idea of the specific meaning of the German phrase, of the individual German words. English words are used as translations which, if then looked up in the dictionary, give words in German different from the original German word. Also, instead of using an English cognate, which would aid the student in fixing the meaning of the German word, in a translation that, at worst, would be slightly awkward, a colloquial English translation is used that, although it accurately expresses the meaning of the sentence, uses words that do not accurately express the meaning of the words used to make up the sentence. Vocabulary building is sacrificed for English style, where style is at best, of secondary importance. For instance:

"Wahrend wir uns das uberlegen, giesse ich mir einen Drink ein un schaue mir die Sportnachrichtin im Fernsehen an."

"Uberlagen" is translated as, "thinking about it", and "giesse" as "make". However "uberlegen" is more generally translated "considering", and "giesse" as "pour"--both perfectly reasonable translations in this context. And going the other way, "thinking" is of course more usually translated "denken", and "make" as "machen". "Considering" and "pour" are two useful words, but one would not learn them from this dialogue.

And then:

"Kann ich Dir auch einen Drink mixen?"

which could be quite adequately translated:

"Can I also mix you a drink?"

but which is translated:

"Can I fix you one?"

The English translations are all chatty exchanges that might well be used as movie subtitles that have as an objective the transmission of general meaning. Unfortunately they are of limited, and in fact in many cases, of negative use for learning vocabulary.

What is needed here are obviously not word-for-word literal translations such as, "Can I you also a drink mix?", but rather translations that stick as close as possible to the German words used, where possible to the German word order (although German makes that difficult), make maximum use of cognates, and that do not combine or separate sentences to satisfy English diction, even at the expense of some awkwardness of expression. The closer to a literal translation, without sacrificing coherence, the better. The objective is not to learn how to translate fluently into English, but rather to understand and speak acceptable German.

Great for insomniacs!
I bought this after reading the glowing reviews - I'm afraid I was disappointed. I'm sure it is through and would teach me German - if it didn't send me to sleep first! I'm not sure driving and listening to this at the same time should be allowed. All you hear is very dry and emotionless voices repeating words - a man says the English, then a woman repeats the German word twice. No hints on pronunciation, no cultural advice, no music, no enthusiasm, *nothing* except these two voices. You also need to listen to the tapes over and over again before you start to learn the words. However, I'm sure this would appeal to some people, and it is very through. Personally, I need a little more enthusiasm and joy in my life!

Good Listening Comprehension
This is just one cassette with an accompanying booklet, but it serves its purpose as good listening comprehesion. The level is intermediate, but even beginners will benefit from just hearing the language spoken clearly in dialog format. Each dialog is repeated three time, once normal (for a studio recording), once very slow, and once at normal conversational speed. There's not much else to say because there's nothing particularly amazing about this program . .. but if you are learning German and want to gain listening comprehension, it's definitely worth the money.

A good commuter's tape
A series of brief conversations for the more experienced student. The tape is completely in German except for a short introduction to each conversation. Each conversation is heard three times in a row, with the middle one spoken slowly to give you a better chance at grasping the words. The accompanying booklet contains the texts of the conversations along with English translations. This is another good choice for that morning commute! ... Read more

Book Description

What do you get when you put twelve lively kids together with a father -- a famous efficiency expert -- who believes families can run like factories, and a mother who is his partner in everything except discipline? You get a hilarious tale of growing up that has made generations of kids and adults alike laugh along with the Gilbreths in Cheaper by the Dozen.

Translated into more than fifty-three languages and made into a classic film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, Cheaper by the Dozen is a delightfully enduring story of family life at the turn of the 20th century.

Reviews (113)

It's still really funny
I was watching the attractions for the Steve Martin version of Cheaper By the Dozen and thinking that it looks like the only element they kept from the book was the title and having 12 kids. I really haven't read the book since..... 6th grade? It was my favorite book then. I decided to re read it and it's still really funny. I mean laugh out loud funny. The rest is a charming look at life in a different time.

It's just a wonderful story about Frank and Lillian Gilbreth (I believe he started motion study and invented touch typing, she was a psychologist) and their 12 children growing up around the turn of the century everything in the household is about learning and responsibilty to gently instill responsible behavior in the children as they grow to adulthood. That said I really loved the bit where the wife leaves him with the kids and when she returnes he says he only had problems with that one over there, but I spanked him and that worked it all out and she says he's not one of theirs.

Cheaper by the Dozen
Cheaper by the Dozen is a well written biography on the Gilbreth family and all the craziness they go through every day with such a big family. This large family consists of 12 children and a set of parents. All 12 kids-Fred, Dan, Anne, Bob, Bill, Frank, Martha, Lil, Ernestine, Jack, Jane and Mary-all have red or blonde hair and lots of freckles. My favorite character was Mr. Gilbreth. This story took place in Mont Clair, New Jersey and i think that was a very appropriate setting. My favorite part in the book was when Mr. Gilbreth would not let Anne and Ernestine wear make-up, high heels or short skirts. I also liked when the Gilbreths went to California to visit Mrs. Gilbreth's family. There are many more good parts, but you will need to read the book or listen to it on tape to find out about them. What i liked best about the story is that it was pretty funny. I would reccomend it to any one who likes books written with a sense of humor. There isn't any real plot or climax to this story, but that may be one of the reasons I liked it so much. It flows very well and the only confusing part is all of the characters. Overall, it was a pretty good book.

One of my favorites
A book that I have read no less than 10 times. It's entertaining and insightful and really a timeless story (although part of its charm is the historical information it provides too). It deals with subjects like family closeness, female empowerment, importance of education, and the loss of a loved one, all with humorous anecdotes and touching stories. As a book that I read both as a child and an adult, I was suprised at things I had missed (or where over my head) in past reads and how much I still enjoyed it.

I loved this book!
I just finished reading it ten minutes ago! I loved it! It has changed my life. I hope I can have such awesome experiences with my own five children! What an amazing family! Truly uplifting and inspiring! I will definitely read it again and again.

Cheaper by the Dozen
This book is about a family called the Gilbreths finding the best way to live. They have 12 children. All these children care for many different things and are different ages.They face many differnt obstacles. This family probably is like yours but maybe a little more funnier. You'll laugh by reading this book. The movie is a little differnt from the book. There are two versions of Cheaper by the Dozen. Reading this book will definately remind you of families and your own family. So if your ready for some laughs read Cheaper by the Dozen. If you liked the movie you'll love the book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you enjoy fingernails scraping across a chalkboard...
...then I recommend "Sing 'N Learn Vietnamese". The songs contained herein are renditions of popular Vietnamese children's songs. WARNING: Most of the words sung throughout are inaudible. While the accompanying workbook aids in comprehension, it isn't enough to get you through the annoying vocals of Sing N Learn Vietnamese.

In fact most of the songs contain screeching, blood-curdling vocals accompanied by low fidelity musical arrangements making listening to the songs almost unbearable. (My kids asked me to turn it off after two songs). One cause (maybe): The songs sound if the only instruments being played are extremely primitive (e.g., pots and pans, washboards, and the like) and the vocal quality is poor and grating at best. There are street vendors who can carry a better tune.

As a language instructor, I agree with the attempts that this series makes, but it is the execution that ultimately weakens this product. To be sure, there are much, much better ways to learn Vietnamese. I would recommend this title only as a last resort and after you've thoroughly exhausted traditional ways to learn Vietnamese.

Authentic
It was very easy to sing along for my children and all the words in the book matched the recording. My Vietnamese friends also loved the songs. The singing voice was pleasant and clear and the music is easy to listen to. We love singing Kia con Buom Vang (Yellow Butterfly). We listen to it over and over again. Illustrations are lovely and authentic.

An Ok Book and Tape...
On one side of the casette tape Vietnamese and the other side, just music.

The book that comes with the casette, 70 percent correctly matches the written words, of the words on the tape itself.

On the very back of the book, it list's the vietnamese ABC's, and writting marks of the vietnamese words.

2 stars from me... ... Read more

Book Description

This is an 80-minute audiocassette recording of a presentation made by Howard Glasser to an audience of parents and teachers in October 2000. It describes the basic concepts and techniques of The Nurtured Heart Approach that is covered in further detail in the book Transforming the Difficult Child. This approach has had extroadinary results in helping parents and teachers to quickly and surely shift challenging children to using their intensity in positive and beautiful ways...without medications in 97% of the instances applied. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Poor Audio Quality, just a hour presentation.
I was very disappointed in the audio quality of a CD this priced. As someone else had said, it is just an hour long talk he gave in an auditorium, where there was a mic at a podium. At time the audio is acceptable at other times very poor, with lots of back ground effect.

Not worth it!

This really helped
I just needed to hear about the approach over and over. This was my daily dose of inspiration that got me through.

This was the ticket
I had read the book and had great results right away, BUT my husband and my mom, who helps watch the children often, were not about to either read the book or take directions from me in a straightforward way. SO, this little tape has worked it's magic. My husband listened to it over and over on the way to worked and now pleasantly competes with me to be the best parent (I love it) and my mom now gives me advice on how to do the approach (love this too.) All this has added up to a very good outcome for our son who was stuck in the confusion of very different styles of parenting. Now he's applauding himself for his successes. Before, when he was intensely negative, he seemed to hate himself.

Review of the AUDIO version
This review is solely based on the cassette version of the book. I have not read the book nor do I plan to, after my experience with the audio version.

I was extremely dissapointed! You get a recording of a presentation made by (I assume Howard Glasser) to a group of parents. The recording is of low quality, I had a difficult, frustrating, time hearing the speaker.

The basic points presented are probably significant but are not really new. They seem like reencarnations of existing strategies I have heard in the past. Although the speaker may have different insights into these behavior modification strategies he does not elaborate with (realistic, every day) examples that will help me as a parent to apply the strategies in every day life.

Do NOT waste your money on this. As parents of ADHD children there are a lot of people trying to sell us miracle cures, this seems like one of them.

Instead, I would highly recommend the audio version of "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk [ABRIDGED]"
Although this classic is not specifically designed for the "Difficult Child" the strategies certainly apply to "Difficult Children" and the presentation is coherent and complete, providing the parent with a set of tools to use immediately. ... Read more

Book Description

When Whit returns from a lengthy stay in the Middle East, the entire town of Odyssey turns out for a joyous homecoming celebration complete with fanfare and fireworksBut for Jack, Whit's arrival means an uneasy reunion - and a tough decision about the future.Then, the phrase "fools rush in" takes on new significance for Eugene when he neglects to seek God's direction in his relationship with Katrina.

Meanwhile, it looks like the mission board isn't quitefinished with Whit, and an offer for continued foreign ministry is on the table.Will he choose to stay on at Whit's End, or will following God's plan require another long absence for him?

Reviews (1)

It's really good, awesome, spectacular.
If you've listen to to Adventures in Odyssey as long as I have, you'll LOVE this audio cassette. A special person (don't want to let you know who it is. It would spoil the surprise.) left Odyssey a few years ago and has FINALLY returned. Connie Kendall wanted to make this a SPECIAL day for this special person and instead of being at the airport, the ceremonies, ect. when this person arrived, she was just late for all of these things. She finnally tracked the special person down and he was asleep, do to exaustion, she was so sad, frustrated, mad, you get the point. She was cring, and she woke up the special person, she was so glad to hug the special person. If you want more information on Adventures in Odyssey, e-mail me at AWANABoy@aol.com Thanks! ... Read more

Book Description

With a bit of last summer’s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.
Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.
Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.
Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she’s certain of it.
Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman’s, she takes a film course only to find it’s what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (168)

the second summer is just as engrossing as the first
With The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, I was delighted to find that entering the world of the four teenage girls of Besthesda, Maryland was just as wonderful the second time as the first. While it starts a bit slow, the plot definitely picks up and gathers momentum as it goes.
All four deal with family issues and pain in this book. The memory of Bailey, Tibby's young friend who was claimed by leukemia in the first book, is painfully present in Tibby's mind as she struggles with her mother, who appears to be absorbed in the world of her two little siblings.
Lena uncovers an unpleasant, hidden secret from her mother's past, and has a passionate- yet tragically short lived- reunion with Kostos, her handsome Greek boyfriend.
Bridget is hardly recognizable in this second summer. After the disastrous event that happened to her in the first book, she quit soccer and dyed her hair brown. To recover her own identity, as well as to reunite with her mother's family, she sets of for Alabama on a life-changing mission.
The only character I was disappointed in was Carmen. Apparently having learned nothing from her mistakes last summer, she nearly ruins her mother's romantic life. However, I think she- like the others- is even more believable and endearing than before! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Can't Wait For Summer?
Ann Brashares became one of my favorite authors after reading the first book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I felt that there was someone that wrote down on paper the feelings and emotions that me and my friends go through each day. So, when I found out the the second book was out, I rushed to my nearest bookstore and bought it right away. I finished it the first day I got it and felt so emotional after reading it. Because I read the first book, I could tell that Ann Brashares likes to throw curves in her stories, where the unexpected always happened. I liked that too, it keeps we wanting to move on, to read more, to not put the book down! And that is EXACTLY what you get when you read the Second Summer of the Sisterhood, when I found myself becoming as emotional as Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bee themselves! What makes the book all the more better is that it can appeal to anyone, teen or adult because it deals with situstions that are real. I believe it is all the more enjoyable as well because even how it is written, its in the same way that I talk to my friends so I feel more into it as it is hard for me to enjoy a book the way I do this one! Therefore, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking forward to summer coming up and waiting for new adventures of their own!

Summertime Is Still Sweet....
I'm a big reader of books of all kinds - teen fare that I can get away with reading, the oh so popular chick lit (a la Bridget Jones Diary), and of course classics and top sellers. So I've got a lot to compare Ann Brashares 2nd offering to - and overall I'd give it a 3.5 stars rather then 4 or 3.

The story itself picks up 10 months after the last one began - summer break yet again with the girls beginning their yearly tradition of breaking into the gym where their mothers had exercise class together and thus brought the four main characters together -

Lena - gorgeous but shy and serious, deals with lessons in love and heartbreak via Kostos (her Greek grandparents family friends son) in this novel...my only problem is that she doesn't really seem to change her attitude much from the last book until the very end, and even then she seems unaware that she is growing up.

Carmen - Rehashes the storyline of the last book in this one with a few plot points changed - basically plays a bratty daughter yet again. Carmen is probably my least fave character in terms of development both plot and characterwise - she never seems to learn anything (which perhaps is a character trait).

Tibby - Seems to have a much smaller role in this book, particularly towards the end, doens't really grow much but revisits the previous summer in an interesting way.

Bee - My fave character and in my opinion has the strongest and most interesting storyline - where she impulsively takes off to Alabama to visit her long lost grandmother and to discover more about her bi-polar mother who killed herself many years ago. Its interesting because Bee appears to be the only one who changed OVER the course of the year, and thus you get to watch her become something from those changes instead of just re-visiting last summers experiences and lessons.

All in all I enjoyed Brashares writing, I love the quotes she uses, and she makes you feel for each of the characters. The only thing I have to criticize her on is the lack of major growth the girls should have experienced during the school year, as the mistakes they made in this book were far too similar to the previous years. Personally the summer before grade 10 and the summer before grade 11 (or grade 11 and grade 12) were completely different times for me, and I think the girls really should've learnt something more then quadratic functions over the year. Another small criticism is that the girls are almost too functioned on their said plot points...Brashares could've created a more 3-dimensional world but granted a book can only show you so much. Finally I think she makes the girls a bit over-emotional at times to the point where it becomes unbelievable. However if you are into the ever popular continuity-necessary teen novel that dominates the market today, then pick this (and the first) book up for some fun summer reads.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
I read the first book in the series and loved it, so of course I had to read the second one. The reason why I only gave this book four stars is because, there were questions unanswered and when I finished the book I didn't know that there was gonna be a sequel. My guess is that all of my questions will be anwered then. Like the first book it;s about four friends, Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. But in this book it goes into more depth with the relationship of Lena and Kostos. Bridget also meets a guy a soccer camp. What I guess I didn't like was that Bailey wasn't in this book. She was one of my favorite characters in the book besides the four main characters. I can't wait 'till the third sisterhood book comes out, Girs In Pants, but I guess I have to because it doesn't come out 'till january, 25, 2005. Well I hope this review was helpful. Oh, and sorry about all of the grammer mistakes that I made, i'm not very good at grammer.

The Girls Are Back - I read for 8 hours straight!
I absolutly loved this book, and for that note the one before it also. I don't say that about many books! It was truly touching - I cried for Lena twice!

The girls - Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee - Are off again on another exciting story! I was touched by all of them equally (except for Tibby, who didn't have THAT much substance in the book but it was still good! I loved that they brought Bailey's spirit back into the book! I also am glad Kostos came back, even if.... em I didn't like the end... But it was very good and I enjoyed it!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The last thing new parents can find time for is quiet reading, so manyhelpful books on infant care rely on bullet points and a "let's get to thepoint" writing style. Tracy Hogg, a neonatal nurse, teacher, and mother of two,uses these techniques to good effect in Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.Focusing on newborns and their parents, her simple programs are a blend ofintelligent intuition and methods based on years of experience. The first halfof the book is devoted to E.A.S.Y--her name for creating a structured dailyroutine for you and your baby that makes the most of your baby's awake times andalso leaves time just for you. These concepts aren't designed to force yourbundle of joy into not following her body's needs, but rather to create afeasible middle ground between total rigidity and on-demand food and sleep (andno time for mom to shower). If it still strikes you as too regimented, keepreading. The author makes room for differences in personal style and includesshort quizzes to determine whether you're a "planner" or a "winger", and whatlevel of daily structure you are likely to find helpful. In the same chapter,she identifies five general temperaments of infants, how to get an accurate feelfor yours, and what methods of care are likely to be the most effective for histemperament. Her statement that babies prefer routine is backed up by researchfrom the University of Denver. While most of the book relies on anecdotes to getthe points across, Hogg does find room to back up some of her statements withquotes from various researchers and institutions. Included at the end of thebook are assurances that E.A.S.Y. can be followed even with a colicky baby orone who's been ruling the roost for the first few months. Frustrated parentsmight like to read the last page first: "all the baby-whispering advice in theworld is useless unless you're having a good time being a parent" is anexcellent reminder to enjoy this time with all of its ups and downs. --JillLightner ... Read more

Reviews (400)

Gives confidence
I read this book to help me solve sleeping problems with the 4 month old I am nannying (as recommended by mom).It is easier to read than most parenting books and gives good practical advise.For example, she advises to put baby down before he's asleep but pick him up if he cries and comfort him until he stops and then put him back down - repeat until baby is able to calm himself to sleep.I was worried that picking him up would establish a bad habit, but I found out that after a while, he didn't need me to pick him up anymore.She mentions that on one occassion while teaching a baby to calm himself, she picked-up/put-down the baby over 100 times one night before the baby went to sleep.That's a little frightening, but it's those details - the range of normalcy - that most advise books leave out!Without that information you may get to pick-up # 30 and think, "My baby is different.Surely the author would agree that this just isn't working" and quit.But the example gives you confidence that although it may be tough at first, if you just persevere, it will get better and your life will be easier - and the baby happier.

I thought the advise about talking to your baby (giving it a tour of the house, explaining every touch and diaper change) was a little out-there, but I tried it and found that the baby responded much better and seemed to even understand.She also discusses that most babies' crying will escalate 3 times when putting them to sleep.That was helpful because I could count them in my head and know that after about the 2nd or 3rd, it would end!

The Baby Whisperer approach is neither too child-centered (attachment parenting) or too parent-centered (or rigid scheduling).It doesn't tell you to control the baby, but it also points out how teaching the baby independence is good forand respectful of him.It was extremely helpful to read a book that told me, "Do this and it will get better if you follow through."And it did!It wasn't more than a few days after applying the advise that I was able to get the baby to sleep without a fight.Now he's practically eliminated the whole 10-minute routine I did before naptime and will reach for his crib, find his passy and go to sleep by himself (sometimes with a little crying).I understand more when he's telling me he's ready for a nap and I find it's a fairly predictable schedule, although not rigid.

The explanation of 5 typical baby personalities is helpful, yet flexible.My baby didn't fit into one category, but I understood him better.May especially be helpful for parents with a "grumpy" baby to know that it's nothing you're doing or not doing (although it might be if the baby's not on a flexible schedule).Often it's just a disposition the baby has.

I highly recommend this book.I've also read Gary Ezzo's book and prefered this, even though most of my friends follow Baby Wise.I recommended this to my sister-in-law who was having trouble with her newborn's sleeping habits and it helped her tremendously also.

Don't recommend it to breastfeeding moms.
Tracy states in this book that formula is about the same good as breastmilk and makes women feel OK if they choose the first one over breastmilk. While I don't criticize anybody for their choices, I believe that a person who has some authority (as Tracy claims to have) should be more objective and give true information regarding that.

Most of her philosophy, when it comes to scheduling and dealing with babies, stems from 4-hour-feeding with formula and has nothing to do with breastfed babies who are less predictable. After reading her book, I felt like my baby was somehow inferior because she wouldn't last typical 2.5-3 hours between feeds and Tracy said that any healthy and normal baby should be able to do so. Well, mine didn't, she wanted to nurse more often and I realized that my baby knows better. I fed her on demand after that and she has a very healthy eating habits now at 15 months. She didn't wean herself as most of "BabyWhisperer" babies at around age of 1 year. I believe that BW babies, when their breastfeeding sessions are scheduled consider breastfeeding strictly for the purpose of eating while "demand"-nursed babies see it also as a source of comfort, therefore are not ready to wean themselves.

Other methods described by Tracy never worked either with my baby. Pick up/put down method made her even more overstimulated and miserable.

I don't like the term Accidental Parenting Tracy uses throughout her book. Most of people choose to sleep with their babies and rock them to sleep out of love and not because they are stupid and ingnorant.

I definitely don't recommend this book to new breastfeeding moms. It can create problems with milk supply as putting a new baby on schedule in first days will decrease instead of increase it. Also there is a risk of withdrawing food and comfort from your baby because you want to keep your schedule.

A Great Supplement to Your Collection of "How To" Baby Books
I thought this was a great book with some refreshing theories.It is not the end-all, be-all book on child care, but offers some great insights into baby's outlook on life and how to nurture accordingly.I was happy to finally read a book that was accepting of parents who choose to formula feed instead of breastfeeding.Most books I have come across enforce the "breast is best" policy and hardly give 2 sentences to those parents who choose to formula feed... talk about guilt!(Now I do believe that breast is best, but it's not for everyone, and no one should feel guilty if they can't or don't want to breastfeed.)

I think this book is best read before you begin mothering your child, as I think it would probably be hard to take on the author's recommendations after establishing contrary patterns.Also, I feel that this book is best used as a supplement to another child care book that will give you the detailed "how to's" on feeding, bathing, etc.

As with any book, you have to apply your own insight and experience when applying it's theories to your own life.This book isn't a HOW TO, but it's definitely supportive to new moms who are figuring out HOW TO.

Good advice but be careful...
This is an excellent book that I would recommend for any new Mom. Old fashioned advice that works, and helps Mom be in control instead of baby. However I've only given this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars as sometimes Tracy Hogg's advice is overly simplistic...it could make Mom feel a failure if she can't get the EASY routine to patt in the time schedule's Hogg mentions. As much as Mom's may try, not all baby's will settle into eating once only every four hours. However Hogg's actual routine is brilliant, just don't be too rigid with it and you and baby will be fine. See my reviews for other good baby books and my listmania!

Not for me...
I'm not a fan of this book and its theories. I had a very difficult infant (not that they aren't all difficult at some point!) and was told by a friend to purchase this book when my baby was almost two months old.

I tried desperately to get my baby on a schedule with little results. He simply wanted to be held and nursed all the time. I attributed it to my failure to do anything but be an 'accidental parent' as this book likes to call it.

Eventually we determined that my son had a nasty case of reflux. Once we were able to help solve his problem things became easier and then I could just follow his lead to determine what schedule worked best for him. Reflux is a very common problem - in fact most babies who are colicky and fussy usually have some degree of reflux.

Oh and the breastfeeding advice in this book was horrible. Funny, I don't consider myself to be a breastfeeding nut like some womenand even I thought her endorsement of formula over breastmilk was totally over the line. I nursed my son for five months and I'm so glad I did!

I'm sorry I bought this book. I wish I could get my money back. ... Read more

Book Description

12 of the most important Bible teachings portrayed in 12 fun-filled stories kids can identify with and understand. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Family Devotional
I've had this book for 3 years and both my children (now aged 5 and 11) still love to hear the stories. The pictures are colorful and enjoyable and the bible stories are well placed in the story themes. The story set up begins with a situation the bear family encounters and then a bible story that relates to that situation is recollected by one of the bears. The last story Heaven Can't Wait will have the reader teary eyed, and is told in such a way that although the child will experience the sadness of death, they will see the victory of eternal life with God. I wish there were more books written of Big Ideas In the Bible. This book makes a great family devotional!

My 6 year old loved it.
We were on vacation at a friend's. They brought out this book to read for her bedtime story. Well, we had to read 2 of the stories that night. The first thing the next morning, she got the book out again and asked me to read more. While the other kids were out swimming in the pool, she insisted I read her 2 more of the stories. When we got home from vacation, she told me she wanted to use her allowance money and buy a copy of the book herself. The tone of the book is warm and encouraging. The spiritual truths are shared in a beautiful and loving way. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My 14 month old loves it and already follows along!
This book/video combo is invaluable for both of us. Songs are written out in both romanji as well as hiragana so I am learning just as much as he is. The book also contains a handy glossary at the end and cultural notes which explain the traditional way in which songs are sung, and how lyrics are acted out as many songs depict games (finger play, staring contest, etc.). The lyrics are a bit short but in most cases they are repeated so it is easy to catch on. We've been listening for about 2 months now and my son already knows when to follow along such as with the clapping hands song, finger play songs, etc just from listening, so I think he is definitely learning some japanese. Plus it's a lot of fun. There's also a karaoke section for you to sing alone once you learn the songs. The audio quality is pretty good as well. We are definitely ordering the Japanese 2 verson!

Guaranteed migraine headache!
If you enjoy a thumping, skull splitting migraine headache, then Sing N Learn is for you.

As a longtime language instructor, I agree with the effort that this series makes, but it is the execution that ultimately weakens Sing N Learn Japanese. To be sure, there are much, much better ways to learn Japanese. In fact, I would recommend this title only as a last resort and after you've thoroughly exhausted traditional ways to learn Japanese.

The songs contained herein are renditions of popular Japanese folk songs. WARNING: Most of the words sung throughout are inaudible. While the accompanying workbook aids in comprehension, it isn't enough to get you through the annoying vocals of the entire Sing N Learn series.

Indeed, most of the songs contain blood-curdling vocals accompanied by low fidelity musical arrangements making listening to the songs almost unbearable. (My students asked me to turn it off after one song). Overall, the musical and vocal quality is definitely poor and grating at best. I will bet an entire year's paycheck that my dog can howl better than the vocals on this tape. Do yourself a favor: try something, anything else other than this series to learn a foreign language. "*"

Great for beginners or children
I used this for my teenage student who I teach Japanese privately. It has all classic Japanese songs with English translation for easy understanding. Also, comes with karaoke. I think great for learning Japanese through classic songs.

Great Kids' Songs
I showed this to my Japanese friends and they really knew all of the songs. These are popular songs. The lyrics are written in romanji (the roman alphabet) and hiragana so they can read by anybody. All the songs are translated. The CD is good. The songs are short but most are repeated twice. The voice is a little high for me but that's true with many children's songs. All of the songs are repeated without words at the end of the CD (karaoke style). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My 7 year old learned all his states!!!
I purchased this cd through a book club and put it in our car to listen to on the way to school. In a very short time, my 7 year old learned all his states & is well on his way to learning his capitals. My 4 year old has amazed us all by picking up most of the states as well. The lyrics are set to tunes most kids would already know (such as "Yankee Doodle") so they don't have to spend time learning the music and can jump right into the lyrics (ie state names.) It's a terrific educational tool!!!

Fun in Learning States and Capitals
This book is an excellent way for children to learn their stttes and capitals.It's fun way with music and rhythem is excellent.As a teacher, I use it in my classroom with third, fourth, and fifth graders and theyenjoy it and can tell you any state or capital.Geography is important ineducation and this is a great book to start your children off with forlearning. ... Read more

Book Description

Tommy Nelson proudly introduces two new audio volumes, each packed with approximately 6 hours of stories featuring "Heroes" of the Bible.Scripture "comes alive" for children as they listen to these fully dramatized stories while traveling, during Sunday school, or at bedtime. Each volume features stories from the old and new testaments. ... Read more

Book Description

Children will love the combination of music and reading in this celebration of the Bible’s best-loved stories from both the Old and New Testaments.A classic song, a simple verse, and a devotional prayer accompany each timeless story alongside full-color illustrations.Some of the short stories include:

- God’s Creation
- Baby Moses
- Strong Samson
- David and Goliath
- Wise Solomon
- And more!

A glorious sing-and-read-along set for your child. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fantastic
This book/cassette has been very beneficial for my children (ages 2 and 3).I find them quoting scripture, singing the songs, and becoming familiar with key Bible stories.It keeps my children's attention and I feel good about what they are hearing and learning.If something happens to my copy I will have to buy another one right away!

Great for Commuting
My son and I are in the car for about 3 hours a day.This is a great way to spend the time, singing learning bible stories and talking about them.I am always scared about what morning show DJ's are going to say.It is great to just turn them off!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Updated with helpful facts and tips for international travelers, this new third editions of Learn German the Fast and Fun Way is suitable as language teaching book for adults as well as for older children. It instructs beginners in the basics of reading, writing, understanding, and speaking German. The book lightens language-learning routines with cartoon-style illustrations, language games, and puzzles. A set of vocabulary flashcards and a small staple-bound bilingual dictionary booklet are bound into the book's spine and can be easily removed for supplementary use. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A very good tool for the traveller
There are a variety of basic german books and book/tape combinations available for the person who wants to learn a bit of the language primarily for travel purposes, i.e., shopping, eating out, making hotel reservations, etc. This seems to me to be one of the best of that genre. I'm not quite sure why, but it seemed to work better for me than any of the others of this ilk. The text is nicely done with amusing illustrations; and, more importantly, the exercises and tapes seem to go a long way to achieiving their desired end of teaching and implanting a bit of German. For the person who wants more than a smattering of German, may I recommend the other Barron's course, Mastering German (the old Foreign Service Insititute course) and the Berlitz, Think and Talk German, both of which are superb, but rather more demanding and pricey than any "tourist" course.

An Opinion
This is a pretty good book, for the price. It has useful language themes (travel situations, practical things) and many good sample dialogs to model your language use on. The layout is visually appealing. Its coverage of grammar is a bit skimpy. Yes, it's very simple, but they may have gone too far. There is no grammar index so it's hard to locate various grammatical explanations. The past verb tenses are not explained in the book, which I think is a deficiency. There are a few typos, too. ... Read more

Book Description

The Story of a boy named Almanzo Wilder...While Laura Ingalls grows up on the western prairie, a boy named Almanzo Wilder is living on a farm in New York State. Almanzo and his brother and sisters work at their chores from dawn until supper most days -- no matter what the weather. There is still time for fun, though, especially with the horses, which Almanzo loves more than anything.

Farmer Boy is the third book in the Laura Years series.

Reviews (47)

A gem
If I could pick one book that every 7,8, or 9 year old MUST read, it would be this one. The story of Almanzo Wilder's life growing up on a farm in New York is totally compelling to children at this age. He's just a small boy, but he's strong, capable, and shoulders so much responsibility in the day-to-day on the farm. He works hard, and like all boys, is daydreamy and wistful to be off playing rather than hauling water or chopping wood, but there's such an intensity of life this brings him that the typical media and gizmo saturated child of today is genuinely envious of Almanzo and charmed to journey with him for the year retold in Farmer Boy.

He comes from a large family, his parents very loving yet very hardworking people who expect a lot of Almanzo. Nearly everything they eat, wear, and use is produced there on the farm, and it is one of the greatest pleasures of the book that the planting and weaving and washing and building and milking and all the other countless necessaries are vividly detailed and the reader can almost taste Almanzo's favorite apples and onions or smell the sweetly dusty air of the hay barn. I think every child who has read this book is eager to go out at once and grow a pumpkin just the way Almanzo does it--Almanzo has the secret for growing the biggest pumpkins in the county. And there's no greater inspiration than Almanzo to tempt kids into adventuring with some good wholesome food. The boy's mealtime accounts are absolutely mouthwatering. And working hard from sun up to sun down, that boy could eat!

But Almanzo is restless, and not so much to be free to play all day, but to be allowed to work with his father's prize horses. His father is known have the finest horses, and he's not about to let just anybody mess with them. Horses must be handled just right, otherwise you could easily ruin them, and Almanzo's not ready to be trusted with them. The 'coming of age' for Almanzo is one of the most touching and powerful in all of children's literature.

Please - if you've a child this age who hasn't yet read or heard Farmer Boy, don't let this book pass them by. By the end of the book you have come to know and love Almanzo so well, it's a sad good-bye indeed. Reader's won't meet him again until years later, as a young man who first meets Laura Ingalls in "By the Shores of Silver Lake".

Farmer Boy
FARMER BOY
In Farmer Boy, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, there is a boy named Almanzo Wilder. He is spunky and loved the farm life and especially horses and colts. His father owned and trained them. Almanzo always wanted a colt, but his father wouldn't let him have one. When he goes to the county fair he sees horses there. He asks if he gets a colt, he could take it to the fair next year.
I think that Laura tries to tell us that hard work and being responsible really do matter. Also that if you try you can accomplish anything you want to. I also think that she tries to show us how hard life was in the 1800's. When they needed milk they have to go out and milk the cow in the cold. They can't go to the store and buy a half- gallon of milk.
I really enjoyed reading this book because Laura gives good descriptions and words it very well. She also shows how hard farm life was back then. So does his responsibility pay off? Does he get a colt or not?
By: Maura

Yikes!
I've never read any of Wilder's books except this one. I've never even seen "Little House on the Prarie." The first thing I thought while reading this book is, "Did people really live like this?" Sure, the kids in the book had some fun, but mostly their lives were work, from sun up to sun down. The father, in the winter (40 degress below zero) had to get up at midnight and make the cows move around, otherwise they would freeze where they stood. Thank God for modern technology, which has made our lives so much more easy and pleasant. I recommend this novel for everyone. Wilder writes in a simple, sparse style, one you might call "Hemingway for children." Hard to believe people had to live like this, just in order to have enough to eat.

One of the best from a great series!
Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Farmer Boy" is a departure from the rest of the famed "Little House" books in that it does not relate the story of her own family's hardscrabble existence on the western frontier, but instead tells the story of her husband's boyhood on his family's prosperous farm in upstate New York. Thus, it introduces readers to an entirely new family, the Wilders, and the Ingalls family is not even mentioned. However, this is one of the best books of the "Little House" series.

"Farmer Boy" details a year or so in the life of 9 yr old Almanzo Wilder. A good deal of this book is spent showing that life on a farm in the 1860's, even for a well-to-do family living in a civilized part of the country, still meant never-ending, hard, physical labor. Young Almanzo and his siblings spend their lives working on one chore after another- the work changing as the seasons change. Undoubtedly, modern children will read this book and be thankful that they don't live in a time where sleeping in past 5 AM was considered odd and children were expected to be seen (at work) and not heard.

In addition to describing day to day life on a farm, Mrs. Wilder also details the family relationships between the Wilders. Almanzo's parents are shown as loving, but, in contrast to Pa and Ma Ingalls, they come across as a little more stern and authoritarian with their children. For example, James Wilder, Almanzo's father, is always called "Father" never "Pa."

Almanzo's relations with his three siblings are also described. (Almanzo actually had five siblings, but oldest sister, Laura, and younger brother, Perley, were left out of the book.) Almanzo looks up to his 13 yr old brother, Royal. Ten yr old sister Alice is shown as being very spunky and loveable and was obviously Almanzo's favorite sib. (Alice, who was a very pretty girl, died at a fairly young age and this book is her younger brother's tribute to her.) And finally there is Eliza Jane, age 12, who comes across as every younger brother's nightmare of a bossy older sister. It's obvious that Laura Ingalls Wilder did not care much for her sister-in-law Eliza Jane because she portrayed her pretty badly in her books. However, one of the great moments of "Farmer Boy" involves Eliza Jane showing in her own way how much she truly loved her younger brother. The wonderful descriptions of familial relationships in the "Little House" books are one of the big reasons why this series is so beloved.

"Farmer Boy" exudes all the hallmarks of a great "Little House" book- the wonderfully detailed depiction of life on a farm, the loving but still realistic portrayal of family life, and it also exudes a warm-hearted sentiment for an era long gone. Yet, "Farmer Boy" shows some of the darker elements of mid-19th century life. An attempted burglary is a subject of one chapter and the book opens with a pretty scary depiction of an 1860's schoolhouse. The "Little House" books often present a fairly rosy picture of the one-room schoolhouse, yet "Farmer Boy" shows a darker side. In this book, the teenage sons of farmers are shown coming to school just to bust it up and pummel any teacher who gets in their way.

Finally, as an Irish-American, I've always been amused by the unconcious bigotry towards Irish immigrants found in the "Little House" books. The few Irish characters in these books are either shown as fall-down drunks or as fools- read the story about cutting-ice in "Farmer Boy" to see an example. I don't think Laura Ingalls was anti-Irish, but just writing down 19th century attitudes about certain ethnic groups. She did the same thing for American Indians, but even more blatantly.

The story of Alonzo Wilder's boyhood
In book three of the Little House series, Wilder turns her attention to the childhood of her husband Alonzo Wilder, who grew up in somewhat different circumstances in New York State. Although life for the Wilders is somewhat more settled and secure than it would be on the prairie, it is still a struggle to make a living off the land. But it is a good life, one that revolves around the family and the simple pleasures of rural life such as attending the fair. I found this book to be one of the more enjoyable of the series and find it unfortunate that Wilder did not write more about her husband. ... Read more

Book Description

Enter the medieval, magical world of King Arthur! The sorcery, bravery, and chivalry of this long ago time continues to enchant listeners again and again. Performed by acclaimed actor Sir Ian Richardson, the splendor of these epic tales comes to life for a whole new generation of listeners.

... Read more

Book Description

Read by Hope Davis
7 hours 6 minutes, 4 cassettes

"You must understand that I did not become a resistance fighter, a smuggler of Jews, a defier of the SS and the Nazis all at once.One's first steps are always small:I had begun by hiding food under a fence."

Through this intimate and compelling memoir, we are witness to the growth of a hero. Irene Gut was just a girl when the war began:seventeen, a Polish patriot, a student nurse, a good Catholic girl.As the war progressed, the soldiers of two countries stripped her of all she loved—her family, her home, her innocence—but the degradations only strengthened her will.

She began to fight back.Irene was forced to work for the German army, but her blond hair, her blue eyes, and her youth bought her the relatively safe job of waitress in an officer's dining room.She would use this Aryan mask as both a shield and a sword:She picked up snatches of conversation along with the Nazis' dirty dishes and passed the information to Jews in the ghetto.She raided the German Warenhaus for food and blankets.She smuggled people fron the work camp into the forest.And, when she was made the housekeeper of a Nazi major, she successfully hid twelve Jews in the basement of his home until the Germans' defeat.

This young woman was determined to deliver her friends from evil.It was as simple and as impossible as that. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Truth is beauty
I have read many books about the Second World War, and the Holocaust. This is one of the best.For those who ever read Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank, and wondered what life might be like for a Gentile girl at the same time, this book answers that question.Irene Gut's strong faith, and loving family led her to make the right, if very difficult, choices.The contributions by Jennifer Armstrong are seamless, the true voice of Irene never falters.I have only a few slight quibbles. I wish that there had been more followup on Irene's post-war life, and on the post-war lives of those she saved.Irene Gut Opdyke's faith is as clearly presented as the late Corrie Ten Boom's (The Hiding Place), however, I found In My Hands to be a much more gratifying book.I deeply hope that this book becomes part of the standard curriculum in schools worldwide.However, adults who have any interest in the Second World War and the Holocaust will find this to be a well-written, encouraging book.

A True "Profile of Courage"
I am so grateful for having read this book. It was deeply moving. I am a seventeen year old girl, as Irene was when the war began, and I cannot even imagine having to experience all of things she did....being raped, a mistress, etc. I admire this woman so much, her courage and determination are one in a billion. It's incomprehensible to know what she went through during those dreadful years, yet through it all her faith is what helped her to survive. I will never forget this book for as long as live...I've read so many books, and I have to admit that I think this one has truly moved me the most. I've read many Holocaust stories as well, but this had a profound effect on me. Please read this book--you'll gain not only a better insight of World War II and the Holocaust, but also how to appreciate life more and realize how much you take for granted.

Awesome
I just finished listening to this book on tape. It was extremely well done from Irene's recollection of events. The Holocaust was an atrocity to society, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't study the topic. Hitler and his regime need to be understood to prevent similar occurences in the future. I can't image what she was going through during those times and I wonder how many of us could even begin to imagine her anguish.

AMAZING READ!
This book was awesome! I've read it numerous times and each time it gets me hooked. The plot is heartwrenching and the bravery Irene shows is inspiring. Anyone interested in reading about WWII/Holocaust should read this book! You won't be disappointed!!

Irene Guts Memories of the Holocaust
I enjoyed this book very much. It gave me a better understanding of what the Holocaust was really all about. I couldn't believe some of the scenes that she described about what was happeing to the Jews. The courage of what Irene did to protect people that she didnt even know amazed me. She never gave up on herself and believed that one person could make a difference. I was touched by the way Germans could treat such innocent people and was amazed at the scenes that she described in the book. Irene knew what she was doing was right and the more she saw such behavior the more determined she became to fight. One of the things I did not like about this book was that they focused more on what was happening to her and the people she was protecting then all the Jews in general and what was really happening in the concentration camps. Also it was hard trying to follow up on what was happing in the war. I got confused on when they were being helped out by other forces or when Germany was in complete power. I also would have liked to hear more about Hitler and the evil that he aroused. Over all I believed this was a very good book to others interested in the Holocaust. ... Read more