Book Description

Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about baby-sitting is included in this easy-to-read and info-packed beginners' guide.

Eager baby-sitters discover new ideas and tips from how to get started in a profitable baby-sitting business, to how to face the challenging situations between you and your KTWs (or Kids to Watch).

With The Ultimate Babysitter's Handbook, baby-sitting has never been so much fun--or so profitable! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Keep the age in mind
This is a well written babysitters guide. My problem with it is that it is written for 9-12 year olds and many states require that babysitters be 13 years old and have a babysitting class. If you aren't sure about your state's requirements (or didn't realize they existed), call your local department of Family and Children's Services and ask them the home-alone and babysitting age requirements.

I love it!!!! LOve it!
I liked it! It helped me, and was packed full of info! You should really get it!

Helpfull!
VERY,VERY,VERY Helpfull! On my first babysitting job I used this book, and the second time I got a raise! Get this book and you will not regret it. Full of information

Totally awesome and really helpful.
This book was extremely useful to me. I am a new babysitter,and this taught me a lot of things I never knew. Of course, some of the things in this book were kind of common sense, but there were a lot of things I didn't know, and that was very helpful. It has fun things like games to play and fun recipes to make. It helps to try decide how much to charge, too, and ways of advertising. I highly recommend this book to beginning babysitters. :-)

A very helpful guide to a budding babysitter
I am becoming a babysitter, and this guide answered all of my many questions. It has everythin from finding clients safely to cooking an easy meal that kids love. The first aid guide has info on almost every accident that could happen. It has about 100 letters and advice from real babysitters. I strongly reccomend this easy to read book to any to-become babysitter, it was a great hel to me :) ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the story of the Holy Land -- its geography, history, and the ancient civilizations of its peoples.

Here is an original and exciting look at the fascinating history of the Bible Lands. Stunning real-life photographs of everything from swords to statues and ships to seals offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the history of the lands of the Bible and the people who lived there until the time of Christ. See what Solomon's temple looked like, the earliest human statues ever found, armor from ancient Assyria, the treasure of the kings of Ur, and the plants, trees, and fruits of the Holy Land. Learn how the Phoenicians dyed their clothes, how the people of Abraham lived, what people ate in the Old Testament times, the story of Jericho, and how Canaanite women put on their makeup. Discover who the Israelites were, how the people of the Holy Land defended their cities, how bread and wine were made in Old Testament times, how the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A supplemental collection of documents that shaped America
In an idealized world, or more particularly a perfect classroom, it would be nice if there was a CD-Rom that came along with each set of history textbooks for a classroom that would contain all sorts of wonderful study guides for teachers along with a collection of documents from American history that could easily be printed and then copies created for the students. The current alternative is a volume such as this "Sourcebook and Index," compiled by Byron Hollinshead with introductory notes by Steven Mintz as a supplement to Joy Hakim's 10-volume A History of US series. Of course, this volume also works as a stand-along reference, providing a collection of great American documents, most of which are touched upon in your standard American history textbook. I have a strong affinity for primary documents, and this collection provides almost 100 of them in this collection of letters, declarations, proclamations, court decisions, laws, acts, speeches, the Constitution, and other writings, all arranged chronologically from "Magna Carta" through Ronald Reagan's 1988 speech at Moscow State University. The goal is to illuminate the experience of the diverse groups that make up American society, so that in addition to influential Presidential speeches that are scattered throughout this volume young readers will also find the voices and experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants, women, and many other groups represented as well.

This sourcebook presents excerpts from many of the documents recommended on state frameworks and that support the National History Standards. At the beginning of each excerpt there is a note on where you can find the document or topic discussed in the series (e.g., John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address does with Chapter 17, Book 10, "All the People"), a headnote that provides background on the document and discusses why it is important, the text if the document, and definitions in the margins that will help readers understand unfamiliar word or unusual meanings as well as identifying historical figures mentioned in the documents. I especially appreciate the later because having co-edited a collection of great speeches I was quite proud of the annotations we provided and Hollinshead and Mintz are doing something similar here. The focus is on helping young readers tease out a document's assumptions, uncover its meaning, and assess its historical significance. For example, there are only two lines from "Magna Carta" but the analysis emphasizes the ideas of preserving rights, obeying the law of the land, and extending rights to all citizens.

By devoting an entire volume to such documents Hakim is able to get well beyond the few documents of state that often end up in the back of an American history textbook (i.e., the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.). Here you will find the Articles of Confederation, the Homestead Act, and the Civil Rights Act. The Gettysburg Address is short enough to make its way into most textbooks but students will also find words from Lincoln's "House Divided," debate with Stephen Douglas, and Second Inaugural Address. When the authors works in John Marshall Harlan's dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson you know that they have done their homework and gone beyond the obvious possibilities. There are easily a dozen other impressive additions, from John C. Calhoun's speech on the Compromise of 1850 and Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to Congress on "The Four Freedoms" to Thomas Jefferson's "Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" and Martin Luther King, Jr's letter from Birmingham City Jail.

Among the reasons why I would prefer a CD-Rom to a book in this matter is that you would not only be able to include many more documents, but you would also be able to provide them in their entirety. Even a relatively short speech such as Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" is edited (and there is no reason you cannot either provide both complete and edited versions of the longer works and/or allow teachers to edit them themselves before making copies). However, I am well aware that my preference for primary documents may well be greater than your average student of American history. Even if you are not using Hakim's series, American history teachers can certainly use this volume to help expose their students to some of the most powerful words in our nation's history. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Using language arts standards from around the country as a guide, Building Your Vocabulary introduces kids to words origins, words parts, context clues, synonyms and antonyms, and other critical skills. Instead of endless words lists to memorize, this book give kids tools they can use throughout their lives. Kids will discover that English is made up of words from many different languages. They also find out about eponyms--people and places that became words. ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is an exciting and informative guide to the natural history, geology, and exploration of the world's vast oceans. Superb, color photographs of incredible submersibles, realistic models of the sea floor, and the remarkable animals and plants that make up marine life offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the ocean's hidden wealth.See a sea spider crawling on the ocean floor, ocean research vessels in operation, a cuttlefish disappear in a squirt of ink, inside a decompression chamber, and an octopus escaping a predator by jet propulsion.Learn how a monitoring buoy measure temperature, about the world's major currents, why a hermit crab finds a second home, and how the earth's plates form.Discover where the deepest dive was made, the length of a giant tube worm, what fish eat at the bottom of the ocean, how a coral reef is formed, how dead man's fingers got their name, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Educationl Text
I'm a teacher and I find the Eyewitness books highly educational. I like the way the concepts are presented in a form without backgrounds. This gives clear facts to the reader without over taxing the attention span. The books are highly informative, presenting difficult concepts in comprehendable chunks that stimulate interest. I have almost the whole collection for my own children and they LOVE them!

An Intresting book but doesn't focus on anything.
If you want to see sharks look at eyewitness SHARK. If you want to see Whales look at Eyewitness WHALE. This book has both whales and sharks, but doesn't focus on them. This book is good because it has a little bit of everything from the Ocean, but if really love sharks or whales, for example, then you would proubuly soak up a whole lot more imformation then this book. But that doensn't mean this book is bad. Like I said, this book has a little bit of everything from the ocean. You should buy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Ashley Bryan says, "My mother had a proverb for any situation, attitude, or event." Many of us have had the same experience. But have you ever heard, "As a crab walks, so walk its children" or "A log may lie in the water for ten years, but it will never become a crocodile"? These are two of the twenty-six African proverbs Ashley Bryan has chosen to illustrate in this book.

Having grown up with proverbs, it was no surprise to Mr. Bryan when he began reading African literature to find African proverbs along with African stories. The proverbs grew out of the lives and experiences of the varied African peoples.

Each proverb here is credited to a specific tribe, yet, as Ashley Bryan explains, most were known in other tribes as well. And in fact, all are true for people everywhere. We may not see crabs often, but we understand about crab children, and even people who do not have crocodiles nearby know that they do not begin as logs. This is a book to treasure for its rich universal wisdom and its gloriously evocative illustrations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Helicopters and hibernation, Nelson Mandela and Medieval Europe, the sunand the Supreme Court. Discover something about everything in the fully revisedDorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia, featuring morethan 4,500 photos and illustrations (that's 1,000 more than the previousedition!), more than 500 alphabetical entries (including 100 new full-pageentries), and 2,000 additional subentries on a wide range of topics. Inaddition, education experts have revised the text to complement the curriculumfor 8- to 11-year-olds at Key Stage 2. Web site links, cross-references, digitalmaps, and up-to-the-minute coverage of world events ensure that children arewell equipped to face the 21st century. The text is lucid and packed withrelevant, scrupulously researched information. Special features include a "pathof discovery" method of cross-referencing, which includes "find out more" boxes,guiding readers to related topics and Web sites. Look up lasers and be pointedto gas, gems and jewelry, light, shops and shopping, and sound recording. Checkout Brazil and soon you'll be seeking information on festivals and feasts,forest wildlife, rivers, soccer, and South America. A 30-page "Fact Finder"reference section provides still more detailed information about a variety ofsubjects, including astronomy, global communications, plant and animalclassifications, and J. K. Rowling! This is a superb resource for school andhome, worthy of browsing any time. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

excellent, except questionable age range
I bought this with idea of giving it to a 5 year old. Upon arrival, it seemed much too advanced. You have 4 to 8 years. I checked the DK website and they indicated age 8+. The book is great and will go to an older child. This book is so well put together that an adult would benefit by having it for a reference.

Very Good but information not very accurate
Like the pictures and coverage but was not happy with the authenticity of the information.

In 5 pages found about 5 mistakes.

An education enthusiast!
So many questions were hard to answer when my 2 1/2 year old son started asking me (why do crickets make that noise? etc.) so, I bought this as a reference. Now, we read a section every night and he has so much knowledge from this book. It is very easy to read and has many detailed and colorful pictures (even boring subjects hold your interest!). My son, who is now 3 1/2 tells everyone how the noise is made by crickets rubbing their legs together. I've even learned a few things myself.

A MUST HAVE!
As a librarian I see lots of Encyclopedias. I was very impressed with this one in particular because it is full of color photos, and children always like pictures with their text. I ordered three copies for my library which have become so popular that I plan to order two more to keep up with the demand. My next goal is to try to get one into each of the seven classrooms in my school!

Oxford's children's encyclopedia has refreshing perspective.
It was with some trepidation that I opened The Oxford Children's Illustrated Encyclopaedia, being it is a product of acedemia. I need not have worried. It is refreshing and is crammed with facts; and without being jingoistic, it cheerfully assumes it is not a bad thing to view the world through Western eyes. That is, it speaks from a largely Western perspective.

Chinese history gets its due, for instance, but mainly as it intersects with European; the same goes for Africa.

It is also notable that the encyclopaedia explains herbalism, reflexology and aromatherapy in a one-page article on complementary medicine, for instance, but devotes pages and pages to standard science: bacteria, viruses, breathing, cells, the brain, the heart, immunity, pregnancy, birth and so on. The "wisdom of the rainforest" is absent. So is the group theory of scientific discovery, in favour of the accomplishments of such individuals as Archimedes, Marie Curie, James Watt and Albert Einstein.

Pollution and its effects are discussed, but without any technology-bashing. The entries on the steam engine, crane, battery and photocopier (bet you didn't know that the key to photocopying is magnetism) are more than clear; they impart to children that each is a triumph of the human mind.

Its accurate chronology and historical structure for example include Medieval England with exposition of king, law, parliament, God and the Black Death. Then there is the matter of religion. Its pages on Buddhism, Islam and Judaism provide excellent synopses, and the entries on Christianity are packed with information. Space was found for Methodism founder John Wesley, the Quakers' George Fox and many more.

In summary, it is accurate, factual but more important it presents things in perspective.

Nathan Greenfield [BCR] ... Read more

Book Description

With insights into a timeless cast of characters-including superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman and villains such as Solomon Grundy and The Shade - Justice League: The Animated Series Guide is a super-cool resource for fans of the popular series. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Appealing for leisure browsers
Profiles of over four hundred famous and infamous figures of US history include such notables as Bob Dylan, Abraham Lincoln, and Colin Powell. A photo accompanies every entry, quotes are included, and info covered includes biographical sketches of scientists, artists, activists, and politicians alike. The lively format makes this appealing for leisure browsers or those honing subjects for a deeper biographical report. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover ancient African civilizations. Explore the devastating Middle Passage and see the famous March on Washington. Find the answers to your questions about African American history . . .

Did blacks fight in the Revolutionary War? See page 18.

What was the Underground Railroad? See page 30.

Who were the Buffalo Soldiers? See page 59.

What is the NAACP? See page 64.

What was the Harlem Renaissance? See page 77.

How did the civil rights movement begin? See page 112.

What was the Black Power movement? See page 131.

What is affirmative action? See page 146. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the inner workings of one of Earth's most terrifying natural phenomena in Eye Wonder: Volcano. How hot is molten lava? How are volcanoes formed under the earth's surface? Learn about famous volcanic eruptions such as the disaster in Pompeii with this unique visual reference. ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the extraordinary world of insects. Superb color photographs of beetles, bugs, bees, butterflies, and more give the reader a unique "eyewitness" insight into the variety and complexity of insects, their structure, life cycles and behavior.See a queen wasp building her nest, a caterpillar devouring a leaf, a cockchafer beetle taking off, two stag beetles fighting over a mate, and a damselfly nymph emerging as an adult.Learn why bees make honey, how to identify insects, why leafcutter ants build underground nests, how diving beetles live and breathe in water, and how mosquitoes spread disease.Discover how a wasp's compound eyes work, which insects have ears on their knees, how wasp grubs feed on living caterpillars, how a butterfly can smell with its wings, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Educationl Text
I'm a teacher and I find the Eyewitness books highly educational. I like the way the concepts are presented in a form without backgrounds. This gives clear facts to the reader without over taxing the attention span. The books are highly informative, presenting difficult concepts in comprehendable chunks that stimulate interest. I have almost the whole collection for my own children and they LOVE them!

this will interest children in insects
This would be a great book for use in elementary school science classes. It has a wonderful layout, with many beautiful photographs (if insects can be called beautiful). The text, mixed nicely with the pictures, covers basic information on insects as well as various interesting facts. ... Read more

Book Description

Broaden your children's horizons by helping them to learn of Spanish. A bright and accessible introduction, Spanish: First 1000 Words helps children build vocabulary skills in a second language, an increasingly important asset. Wonderfully detailed illustrations make learning a fun challenge, words are used in thematic context, and links to exciting websites are included for further study. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A whole whack of ideas packed in this updated classic
I had this book as a child (late 1970's) ...it is now updated and revised but it was one my most favourite book besides Harriet the Spy. This book taught me how to "spy" even better than Harriet! Wow, its still in print! Doesn't that tell you something? The one thing that stands out in my mind is the different code kits you could make...oh! and writing with lemon juice! oh yeah! and how to make your skin look "old" and wrinkly... kind of like me now...ironic isn't it? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Why ?
I'm getting it now for my nephew, age 3 (and his dad).It was a great favorite of my two boys -- now in law school and computers.It has the real answers to why does it do that? ---
for when you don't.

Usborne Books are Great!
I absolutely love Usborne books!If an adult learned everything Usborne books had to say about Science & Social Studies, they would know a lot more than many adults.I homeschool my K and 2nd graders with several Usborne books and even my husband can't put them down. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the real-life world of working cowboys -- from longhorns and lariats to chuckwagons, chaps, rodeos and ranches.

Here is a spectacular and informative look at the fascinating lives of cowboys from around the world. Stunning real-life photographs of horses and cattle and branding irons and lariats offer a unique "eyewitness" view of life on the range. See what an authentic chuckwagon looks like, how an expert ropes a calf, a rodeo rider in action on a wild steer, how a saddle is made and a Mongolian herdsman lassoing a wild horse. Learn where wild horses and bulls live in France, why cowboys wear Long Johns, how to tame a bucking bronco and why a gaucho decorates his belt with silver coins. Discover how Annie Oakley got her nickname, why an Australian saddle has no horn and how the cowboy's romantic image influenced music and films, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best cowboy book ever!!!!!!!!!
I like this book on Cowboy (Eyewitness Books) & I think it's a cool book & in this book you can see why what an athentic chuckwagon looks like, how an expert ropes a calf, a rodeo rider in action on a wild steer, how a saddle is made & a Mongolian lassoing a wild horse.

Also learn about where wild horses and bulls live in France, why cowboys wear Long Johns, how to tame a bucking bronco, why a gaucho decorates his belt with silver coins.

You can always discover how the cowboy's romantic image influenced music & films & even much, much more ever!!!!

This book reminds me of a video called "Big Comfy Couch: You Can Do it Molly, Black Beauty book illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

This is the best cowboy book ever!!!!!!!!!!!

This is like a new favorite of eyewitness books ever!!!!

I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!

Yee-haw for your eyes
DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other cowboy picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful photos of historically cowboy/cowgirl things, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about American cowboys in the old west (along with cowboys from a few other cultures). See photos of real cowboy paraphernelia, clothing, weapons, etc.!

If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by all things cowboy, then you must introduce them to this book! It's a visual crash course in cowboys, and it's excellent! ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the 21st century and beyond. Original photography and artworks illustrate the extraordinary visions of the future of scientists, artists and inventors through the ages, offering a unique "eyewitness" view of a world we are yet to know.See an insect robot learning to walk, a hypersonic plane, a calendar for the next century, a space hotel and a millennium tower that will house 50,000 people. Learn the way genetic engineering will affect future foods, how a spaceship will be driven by antimatter and how large the world's population will be in 2050. Discover how a woman can work a flight simulator with her mind, the medical advances that will prolong life, the cyberpets that will be the companions of the future, and much, much more! ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the amazing world of crystals and gems. Superb color photographs of crystals, jewels and gemstones of every color, size and shape offer a unique "eyewitness" insight into their extraordinary beauty and variety.See a crystal growing, diamonds used to cut through a brick wall, a phantom crystal, gemstones formed in a volcano, and crystals of gold and silver.Learn how a quartz watch works, how to identify crystals, why crystals have been grown in space, how crystals are used healing, and why Napoleon had a diamond in his sword.Discover where to find crystals in your home, how synthetic crystals are made, which famous rubies are really spinels, which is your birthstone, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A VISUAL FEAST!
The photographs of OVER 200 CRYSTALS AND GEMS is worth the purchase price of this book. And I am not just talking about ANY picture of each crystal, I am talking about a GORGEOUS, AMAZING sample picture of each crystal! Some of my favorite photographs/stones included are: Opals (My personal favorite stone ok, tied with Diamond!), Aragonite, Agate, Tourmaline, Calcite, Topaz, Barite, Hematite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, The Blue Hope Diamond, Ruskin's Ruby, Moonstone, Spodumene, Blende, Natural Mosaic, Malachite, Gold, Mother-of-Pearl, Turquoise....I could go on forever!

Here are the chapters: WHAT IS A CRYSTAL? A WORLD OF CRYSTALS, NATURAL BEAUTY, CRYSTALS-OUTSIDE, ...AND INSIDE, THE COLOR OF CRYSTALS, IDENTIFICATION, NATURAL GROWTH, GOOD HABITS, DISCOVERY-RECOVERY, GROWING FROM SEED, CRYSTALS AT WORK, GOOD VIBRATIONS, QUARTZ, DIAMOND, CORUNDUM, BERYL, OPAL, OTHER GEMSTONES, COLLECTORS' ITEMS, STONES FOR CARVING, PRECIOUS METALS, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE, WHAT IS IT WORTH?, MAKING THEM SPARKLE, LORE AND LEGENDS, CRYSTALS AT HOME AND INDEX.

This is a must-own if you have any interest in the marvelous beauty of crystals and gems. Not only are the photographs great but the information is succinct and fascinating! I highly recommend this book along with any other of the 109 in the Eyewitness series! Talk about something for everyone! Thanks Dr. Symes and Dr. Harding! Wow!

This book is isn't bad, It's meduim (Average).
This book had a lot of Crystals and Gems that come in all shapes, sizes and colors. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the world of elephants -- their natural history, behavior and how humans have changed their lives.

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the fascinating world of elephants. Superb color photographs of Asian and African elephants, their living relatives and reconstructions of their ancestors offer a unique "eyewitness" view of these remarkable animals, their natural history and relationship with people. See the adult "tusker", inside an elephant's mouth, a baby elephant feeding, an elephant in a threatening posture, elephants at work, and an elephant painting a picture. Learn how to tell an African from an Asian elephant at a glance, why elephants are worshipped, how long an elephant's tusks can grow, how elephants "talk" to each other, and why the future of elephants is threatened. Discover why elephants walk on their tiptoes, how much food an adult elephant eats in a day, the cruelty of the ivory trade, why elephants flap their ears, what an elephant does to keep cool, how intelligent elephants are, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great source of information!
This book is awesome. It is filled with amazing pictures and all the information you will ever need about Elephants. I love it! I recomend checking out many of the other "eyewittness" books. If you need information for a book report or are just ready to discover something new... this is the book for you. ... Read more