Book Description

This book is newly updated to reflect changes to the COOP test. There are four parts that can help students prepare for their high school entrance exam: Part I includes information about each exam type and how it’s scored. Part II contains verbal previews such as, analogies, verbal logic, reading, and composition. Part III reviews quantitative and non-verbal skills, such as mathematics. Part IV includes practice exams for the COOP and the HSPT. This book also introduces the SSAT and the ISEE. ... Read more

Book Description

The statistic is staggering: As many as 50 percent of Christian students say they have lost their faith after four years in college. For far too many students, the transition from home life to campus life is traumatic--what begins as a University of Instruction often ends up being a University of Destruction...with long-lasting negative effects and no guarantee of return.

Relating his own experiences at Stanford, David Wheaton describes the three Pillars of Peril you will face in college-sex, drugs/alcohol, and humanism-and presents a game plan for victory over these pitfalls based on raising your spiritual GPA. You will also receive practical advice on dating, friends, choosing the right college, and how to get back on course if you have gone astray.

Headed to college? Already there? Let University of Destruction show you how to be an Overcomer on campus! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Finally! A Practical Gift for the High School Graduate!
What to buy that high school graduate who is a Christian? If the answer is, "Buy him/her a book," until now the option had been limited to saccharin, shallow devotional guides. With David Wheaton's "University of Destruction: Your Game Plan for Spiritual Victory on Campus," there is now an option that is relevant, penetrating, and practical.

Author David Wheaton has "been there, done that." From his own experience on the campus of Stanford University, from his research, and from his interaction with 1000s of young people, Wheaton has distilled three "Pillars of Peril" for the Christian on the college campus: sex, alcohol/drugs, and humanism. After identifying the perils, Wheaton creatively offers realistic guidelines for raising the college spiritual GPA in order to become a victorious Christian on campus.

Wheaton demonstrates his insight by not stopping at the "body sins" of college campus--sex, drugs, and alcohol. For the deepest, ongoing college peril is the "mental sin" or "faith sin" of the deconstruction of belief that systematically occurs on secular college campuses.

You know that a book is solid when both Sean Hannity and Dr. John MacArthur recommend it. They're correct. "University of Destruction" is an excellent gift not only for the high school graduate, but for her/his parents.

Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends." He is also the parent of a college junior on an elite secular college campus and the parent of a high school senior headed to an elite college.

Excellent book!
I could have used a mentor like this when I was a young adult! I am a parent of a high schooler and highly recommend this book. David does an excellent job of preparing the reader for the temptations of "Sodom" found on many college campuses (and many high school campuses as well). He teaches the reader how avoid the temptations by establishing the habits of a godly lifestyle. This book would be very helpful for any young adult ready to go out on his/her own, college bound or not.The same temptations are there in and out of college. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now including terms such as DVD, browser, rap ("noun, A type of song in which the words are spoken in a rhythmical way to a musical background"), and almost 200 other new entries, this freshly updated version of the perenially popular Scholastic Children's Dictionary continues to keep up with children's rapidly shifting day-to-day world. Easy-to-understand pronunciation guides, sample sentences, word histories, cross references, synonym boxes, illustrations, photos, and language notes all make this a dictionary any child will be sure to use regularly for schoolwork--or even peruse for fun! (Check out the detailed illustrations and definition for space shuttle.) Included also are maps of the U.S. and the world, Braille and ASL alphabets, flags of the world, facts about the 50 U.S.states, and a list of American presidents. This colorful, accessible, illustrated dictionary was designed for real kids living and learning right now. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (21)

a top-notch dictionary
I bought one copy of this dictionary, mostly for its pictures. I plan to buy about 30 more copies. I plan to use them for 5th graders whose primary language is not English I found that the pictures were heavily weighted in animals, which is okay for my purposes. There are special "boxes" for prefixes and suffixes, which will also be useful for us. The word histories are interesting as well. In addition, certain words are listed throughout the book in those special "boxes" and they are entitled, "synonyms." Then, 4-7 synonyms are given for that word. This may come in handy, as synonyms are an area of study that these students currently need to review. What I think is missing from this dictionary is any type of grammatical hints, lessons, or instruction in the book's index. I feel some type of text on grammar should be added because it is a children's dictionary.

good for 3rd grader
When my third grade daughter started to have a daily word to look up as part of her homework, we quickly discovered that the various adult dictionaries we had at home were not suitable. The print was too small and the definitions often had other words she did not know. We also had a "children's dictionary", but it did not have any of the words that she was assigned.

Since she uses the Scholastic Children's Dictionary in her classroom, I suspected that any words she brought home would be in it, since I assume that the teacher checks that dictionary before assigning them. So the fact the ten words I checked were in this dictionary, but not in some other children's dictionaries in the stores, does not necessarily mean that this one is more complete.

But I do like the layout and typefaces used. My daughter, who is slightly dyslexic, can find words reasonably easily. One flaw is that it lacks a page to indicate how far down the edge to look for the "thumb index tab" markings for a given letter. The book suggests looking for the "ninth red tab" for the letter "l", but I don't find that a practical way to find a section. A useful addition would be cutouts on the edge for these letters (seen on some adult dictionaries) even though that would certainly increase the price.

The sample sentences for each word help give an idea of word usage. And warnings about homonyms are also helpful. The definitions are simple enough for an 8 year old which is perfect for our current needs, but I'll want to buy a more advanced dictionary for my daughter in a couple of years.

Not A 'Complete' Dictionary
I purchased this Dictionary for my daughters thinking it was a thorough complete dictionary that would meet all of their needs when searching for a word. I have recently come to learn that this book definetly falls short of a complete dictionary,..as it simply does not contain many words you would find in any other complete dictionary. Several times my children were searching for a word and gave up not being able to find it in the book, so I had to get MY dictionary so they could find the definition! Very disappointing!

not so great!
This dictionary WAS good up until my child was in 1st grade. Ever since then, we are unable to find words in this dictionary!! It is a very frustrating experience for a child to actually use the book and then find this book does not have the words they need!! Only use this book for the early reader.

Terrific!!
GREAT reference item for a kiddo in 3rd to 5th grade!! Very informative; great illustrations and explanations. Even includes brief info about the states, presidents, a world atlas and flags info! I HIGHLY recommend this book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Is it a fact--or have I dreamt it--that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?" If you, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, are kept up at night wondering about how things work--from electricity to can openers--then you and your favorite kids shouldn't be a moment longer without David Macaulay's The New Way Things Work. The award-winning author-illustrator--a former architect and junior high school teacher--is perfectly poised to be the Great Explainer of the whirrings and whizzings of the world of machines, a talent that landed the 1988 version of The Way Things Work on the New York Times bestsellers list for 50 weeks. Grouping machines together by the principles that govern their actions rather than by their uses, Macaulay helps us understand in a heavily visual, humorous, unerringly precise way what gadgets such as a toilet, a carburetor, and a fire extinguisher have in common.

The New Way Things Work boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumblingwooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, bits, and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound ofmusic in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," andexamine e-mail in "The Digital Domain." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index. What possible link could there be between zippers and plows, dentist drills and windmills? Parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay demystifies them all. (Click to see asample spread of this book, illustrations and text copyright 1998 David Macaulay, Neil Ardley, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The New Way Things Work
This is the best book for childern and adults I have ever read. I recieved "The Way Things Work" When I was in 4th grade. Now I have this newer version. My classmates and I both used it during my College Mechanical Engineering Classes. Everyone can learn from this book it is not just for kids but really belongs on every childs bookshelf.

This book really tells you how things work!
Do you think you know how a lot of things work? Yes? Well, you are probably wrong. I am a Physics Major in college and I thought I knew how a lot of things work. However, when I found this book in my physics professor's office, I fell in love with this book. I ordered for my copy on the same day. This book is good for the kids, but some of the stuff is hard to understand because there are some words like forces or angles. These are hard to understand for kids, but the pictures in this book are good for the curious kids. They may understand some of the stuff. But, I would rate this book for grownups. You will learn how locks work, how airplanes fly, how helicopters can go forward or backward. You will understand the mechanics just by looking at the pictures, but the reading the explanations also helps you understand. This is a nice book to keep at the corner of your bookshelf.

An Absolute Need for Every Household
Few books can compare to "The Way Things Work" in the amount which they can teach the curious. Be they old or young, college educated engineers or preschoolers, everyone can pick something out of this book. Trust me; I've seen it from all ends.

When I was six, I loved the mammoths...and learned about simple machines and airplane wings. When I was in high school, I appreciated the mammoths' wit...and learned about automatic transmissions and transistors. Now that I'm in college, I've read the whole thing, and it's still a great reference book, just as entertaining and informative as it was so many years ago. And the mammoths are still funny.

For kids with insatiable curiosity, "The Way Things Work" can be a great and entertaining resource; for everyone who's ever wondered how their car drives, or why their computer works, or how satellite communications happen, it can be an immensely satisfying read.

Good book, but not for the very young
I bought this book for a boy of the age of 8. He didn't seem very interested in the text explanations of how things work. Perhaps he's a little young, but like other reviewers said, this is a book that can most definately be put on the shelf for several years and still have relevance when a few years of knowledge is gained.

BUY THIS BOOK!
My god, this has to be one of my favorite books. When I was a kid, I was FASCINATED (well, I still am) by mechanical things. I must have checked this book out of the library twenty times, and it never got old. It is PACKED with info, the drawings are great, and it is very educational. Well, I was at the library today checking out books for a mechanical engineering class, and there it was on the shelf. I checked it out again for old times sake, and here I am at Amazon.com (to buy my very own copy of course), writing a reveiew. Nuff said. Anyway, if you have a child, boy or girl, old or young, smart or not, it doesn't matter- this book ROCKS! ... Read more

Book Description

This user-friendly reference is packed with full-size, full-color physical, political, and thematic maps of the world and its continents specifically designed by the Society's world-renowned cartographers to help students understand basic geographic concepts and compare and contrast data critical to making global connections. The 2001 edition, which was an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children (NSTA/CBC) and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Children (NCSS/CBC), has been completely updated and expanded to include 16 brand-new pages with more maps, photos, charts, and graphs. In addition to existing thematic spreads on topics ranging from Earth's geologic history and world climate to predominant economies and global freshwater supplies, the 2005 edition will feature all-new illustrated essays on environmental trouble spots, ocean and climate, coral reefs, world refugees, global communications, and diffusion of popular culture, as well as expanded treatment of world languages and religions.All statistics, maps, and flags of the world have been updated to reflect the most current data, the latest boundary changes, and the newest countries. Web sites keyed to each photo essay and thematic map provide students with a means of keeping up with our ever-changing world. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No matter what you thought of Phantom Menace, you just have to love its visual effects and props. Episode I was absolutely radiant with special effects, making use of some 2,000 of them, dwarfing that of previous Star Wars installments and even the CGI-happy Titanic with its now-paltry 500. And the low-tech effects, the physical props of Star Wars, have always been unbelievably detailed, from Luke's scuffed-up speeder to Vader's slightly dinged-up helmet (don't pretend you didn't notice). Phantom Menace continues this tradition proudly, whether it's with Amidala's baroque headgear or the intricately machined (and deadly) armament on a droideka.

A page-turning droolfest, Episode I: The Visual Dictionary stops the film and zooms in on all this eye candy. As he did with the first trilogy in Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, author-archaeologist David West Reynolds once again elucidates and itemizes with glee, combining witty, pseudo-scholarly prose with clear movie stills and excellent closeup photos of actual props and characters. Every personality and group of note gets its due in this well-labeled, picture-packed book, from the Jedi High Council to the podrace crowd to the sea monsters of Naboo. Craving a closer look at Maul's double lightsaber? Wish you could tell a Neimoidian's rank by the hat on its head? Need some ideas for filling out your podracer toolkit? This is the book for you. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (42)

A visual treat for Star Wars fans
"Star Wars, Episode I: The Visual Dictionary" combines text by David West Reynolds with a wealth of excellent full-color photographs. Rather than rely on shots from the film, the book primarily uses still shots that appear to have been purposefully taken for a project like this. This was, in my opinion, a wise choice, since I have noticed that the photos in other movie tie-in books can sometimes be a bit murky. The photos here are crisp and colorful, and really allow you to analyze and enjoy the details.

The text comes in the form of easy-to-digest nuggets. The book covers characters, ships, weapons, clothing, robots, animals, and other elements from the movie. The text offers intriguing little tidbits of info about the SW universe (although I imagine that more devoted fans may argue about how "canonical" this info is).

A nice aspect of the book is the fact that barely glimpsed elements in the film are given loving attention here. For example, you can "meet" the members of the Jedi Council more intimately. I liked the comparative size chart of Naboo sea monsters. And the fashion-oriented will have a great time exploring the ornate costumes worn by Queen Amidala and others. Overall, this book is a lot of fun.

DK Strikes Back!
The Dorling-Kindersley Visual Dictionaries are all top-notch products, fascinating not only for children, but for adults, as well. The STAR WARS, EPISODE I addition to this line does not disappoint, with page after page of wonderful, detailed photographs of the people, things and places featured in the film. Everything, from lightsabers to battle droids to Darth Maul, is examined closely and exhaustively labeled.

The fun doesn't stop with the photographs, however. Written in close concert with Lucasfilm, the book provides greater insight into the film by providing information about even minor characters with little screen time. As a result, the next time readers watch EPISODE I, they'll find themselves recalling these tidbits, and enjoying the movie even more than they did before.

Readers, adults and children alike, will find this Visual Dictionary a delight, and it will rarely stay on the shelf. Fun to read cover-to-cover, or just to leaf through, the book is an excellent addition to any STAR WARS fan's collection, and comes very close to being a must-have.

Also a good book
This book likewise its similar for the classic Trilogy, is a good buy for a Star Wars Fan. Depicts everything that appears in the movie, except the starships, the only thing I missed, but it is not a major problem.

Jar Jar Okiday!
The comprehensive dictionary of the first prequil is full of detail that even the movie didn't cover. Big, bright and easy on the eye, we are introduced to nthe characters that would be and influence in this up and coming prequil series.

A better read than the original Star Wars dictionary as that edition had to compress down into one volume all three of the trilogy.

Wonderful Visual Treat!
This slim volume, published in 1999 to coincide with the release of Episode I, is actually a treasure for Star Wars fans who are interested in the details of the characters, lifeforms, and technology from that "galaxy far, far away...." Lavishly illustrated and wonderfully written by David West Reynolds. Also worth getting are The Star Wars Visual Dictionary and the Star Wars Episode II Visual Dictionary. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Best Writing Source that You Haven't Heard About
This is the writing resource that I wish I had been introduced to back in high school when writing essays and term papers. It is accessible for high school students but can also provide guidance for those out of school.

With writing becoming increasingly important in high school (the SAT is about to add a writing section), this is an invaluable pedagogical resource for the teacher and student. High school and college student with superior writing skills will always differentiate themselves from their peers. By using this book, the student will improve organization and construction of essays and term papers as well as improve analytical reasoning and thinking. There is even a section of appropriate language for business writing. Teachers will find the most improvement in student's revising skills, a step that most high school students skip over in the writing process.

It is more useful as a writing resource than as an authority on grammar. For a grammar resource, I recommend Dianne Hacker's Writer's Reference. Another useful writing resource for those out of school is Peter Elbow's Writing Without Teachers. Elbow's book is quoted several times in Writer's Inc. for providing suggestions for lifelong improvement of writing out of school. Another perennial favorite is E.B. White's Elements of Style.

More parents, students, and educators should be made aware of this book. It is a good investment.

An Invaluable Resource
Before I reached high school, I thought that English books were the most boring books in the world. When I was assigned to study from "Writers Inc" in 9th grade, however, my opinion changed drastically. "Writers Inc" may be an English book, but it is so helpful and so fun to read that it doesn't seem like one. In addition to having sections for the writing process, personal writing, subject writing, creative writing, persuasive writing, academic writing, research writing, and workplace writing, it also has a student almanac that contains important dates, maps, scientific/mathematical info, government, and language info. The most helpful part of the book, though, is the mechanics section. "Writers Inc" contains a handy guide to proofreading that will be indispensable to students as they learn to improve grammatically -- I know that it has taught me a lot about using the correct syntax. The centrality of all of the "rules" to writing is worth the price of the book alone! Of course, you'll learn a lot from the rules, but you'll also learn from how the book teaches you to adapt your writing to fit a certain purpose. There is even a section devoted to writing better book reviews! :-)

As you can tell, I am very happy with this English textbook -- so happy that I went out and bought a personal copy. "Writers Inc" is simply an invaluable resource for learning to write well. I recommend that school administrators use it as the primary English textbook at their school, and I recommend it to all students wishing to improve their English skills (certainly something that no human is perfect at). Even though I may be an English geek, please take my advice and read this book . . . there is something for everyone to learn.

essential guide
I was introduced to this book in high school where we were required to have a copy and use it throughout all four years of English classes. I found it so invaluable that my first copy was worn out during college. Combined with "The Elements of Sytle" (Strunk and White), there is no excuse for poor writing.

By far the best
By far the best writing tool you could (and you most definately will) ever need. It's concise and comprehensive, and a must-buy. It has a feature which I think is hard to find: it's updated to deal with todays media, such as television and the internet. I even used it to write this review. :)

Use it for life!
I bought this book in 1993 as a requirement for my high school freshman English class. I have used it so much over the years that the spine is barely holding together! The information is laid out so simply and it is wonderfully easy to understand. The only reason you'll ever need to update it is to keep up with new rules on sourcing. My copy was written before there were even encyclopedias on CD-rom, much less the internet! But I still use it today -- 10 years and a master's degree later! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In evaluating a children's dictionary, there are two test words wealways check first: "e-mail" and "iguana." After all, if "e-mail" doesn't appearin a dictionary, how up-to-date can it be? And iguanas, well, what kid doesn'twant to read all about this "very large tropical American lizard with a ridge oftall scales along its back"? We are happy to report that this fine dictionary isabove and beyond our gold standard. Not only are there definitions for each ofthe test words, there are illustrations for each, as well! This 912-pageillustrated dictionary is packed with great information, including world maps onthe inside covers, an easy-to-use how-to guide, and a reference section withfacts and maps of the continents, pictures of flags from countries around theworld, U.S. presidents and vice presidents, pronunciation guides, signs andsymbols, and lots more. Sandwiched between this wealth of facts and figures are846 pages of definitions with DK's trademark crisp, clear photographsillustrating many of the words. One of the handiest features in this volume isthe multicolored alphabet running down the outer edges of every single page,with the featured letter highlighted for easy reference when flipping through.So get out there and e-mail all your iguana friends about this terrificreference guide! (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent for kids of all ages
This is a great addition to any child's library. It's packed with pictures and simple definitions. It give enough information to be very helpful but not so much detail for one word that the child's eye's glaze over! The most amazing thing to me is the number of times that my daughter has picked it up for casual reading! The pictures are that engaging!

This dictionary is a great value and a wonderful tool.

must have
I have a 6 and 8 year old who love this book! My boys are able to look up words and understand the definitions without it being "too easy". The illustrations are great too!!

Best Illustrated Dictionary for children
I bought the second copy in 6 months a week ago and gave it to a friend as a gift to their children. And they really loved it.

Its DK! Yes that matters. DK has mastered the art of making dictionaries. I have used DK Oxford American Illustrated dictionary. Dk made it so wonderful that when I sit with it I spend atleast 15 minutes. Wesbter knows how to convey the meaning of a word.

So you combine the best of DK and Webster you get this masterpiece. The salesrank for this book is less than 2000 and that tells you how popular this book is. I would just go ahead and buy it if I am thinking of buying 'a' book for children.

For children this book is a treasure from which they can learn new words seeing lots of pictures. If a kid wants to know what a fruit is he looks at fruit here he will also be able to learn all about fruits and types of fruits like dry fruits, etc. he turns the pages to fruit and finds the pictures of all kinds of fruits and that makes him recognise what a fruit is and what all fruits he eats.

There are 4000 pictures. Other books boast of 2000 pictures but they arent even close and all they got are bad and small pictures. All they carry is a small picture of an apple or something while explaining fruit. Also if you see letters XYZ alone you will see lot of pictures in this book. Its the best book rated in America and I have seen all children's dictionaries recently.

I had an option of choosing between this one and World children's dictionary which costs less. But I realised that a bad dictionary is no better than not having one. So I chose this one and its a perfect gift for my cousins. So if you are looking for a book to gift some kids, grab this one.

High Quality Children's Dictionary
Comprehensive, well illustrated, and written to be understood by children aged 9 - 12. The definitions of most words searched have been easily understood by my nine year old son. Some definitions have necessitated my participation to provide a more simplified explanation. A further noted weakness of the dictionary is that a significant number of words fail to provide an example of its use in a sentence. A more consistent usage of this feature would have resulted in a 5 star rating. These faults, however, are minor and should not deter the reader from purchasing this dictionary. Some noteworthy unexpected strengths of the dictionary was the inclusion of a reference section containing maps of the world and seven continents, illustrations of the flags of the world, a list of the 50 states and their capitals, and a listing of the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States. A recommended companion to the dictionary is The American Heritage Children Thesaurus.

Awesome picture and Lots
Very good book with lot of pictures.
Buy it asap. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just what I needed
I could not expect anything more from a thesauras. This has all the words I, through my preteen years, have needed, without boggling my mind with lots of words that I never try to use. I don't feel overwhelmed, but I DO find the information I need.

How can I describe this Thesaurus
This thesaurus is:
Fantastic
Excellent
High Quality
Stupendous
Superiour
and least, but not last, very good!

All joking aside, it's a thesaurus. It's a good value and as good as any other thesaurus.

Elementary Teacher Prizes This Book!
_The_Clear_and_Simple_Thesaurus_Dictionary is the most practical thesaurus I have found for use with my fourth- and fifth-grade students. Unlike many thesauruses, it is formatted in a style that students (and adults!) will find familiar and easy to use. While not as comprehensive in scope as those designed for college use, this thesaurus allows students the satisfaction of finding synonyms or associated words for almost any word they might need. I had not found this to be true of other "beginning" thesauruses, which was a frustration to both my students and to me. This gem was a major find, and is now in regular use in my classroom. I highly recommend it to any teacher of intermediate or junior high age students, as well as to parents who want a truly helpful resource for their school-age children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nancy Holyoke's user-friendly guide to manners, brought to you by the beloved American Girl Library, is for girls who are "getting older, going new places, and doing new things." The introduction explains that "Manners can help. Manners are a common-sense guide to getting along with other people. They prevent you from being selfish or annoying. They remind you to be kind. They make you better company--and a better person." This cleverly designed, comically illustrated 116-page manual covers topics such as first impressions, introductions, invitations, thank-yous, table manners, good sports, embarrassing moments, family gatherings, and more. Holyoke's tips and suggestions, enlivened by numerous, humorous cartoons, are funny, easy to digest, and informative without being heavy-handed. Girls will be happy to know what to do and how to act in different situations. No doubt this tool will help them radiate confidence even when eating gristle, meeting new people, or having tea with the Queen of England. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

If you want to improve your manners....
...then get this book! It's filled with tons of practical advice for ages 8 and up. If your manners need some polishing up, then I would suggest reading this book. Like all of the American Girl Library books, it's in a fun-to-read, easy-to-understand format and includes valuable information that girls really can use.

"Oops!: The Manners Guide For Girls" includes ettiquette advice for basic manners, greetings and introductions, manners with friends, gifts and presents, table manners, special occasions, embarrasing moments and horrors, and so much more. Sprinkled throughout the book are quizzes to test your ettiquette, answers to questions sent by real girls, and advice for sticky situations. This is one of the best books I've read for improving your manners. If you're a girl (or parent of one) with manners you think could use improvement, read this book.

Prim and Proper
I got this book when I was twelve. I knew I had to improve my manners yet I didn't want to go to to a school for etiquette. This book teaches girls the fundmentals of having good manners (i.e. first impressions, body language, house guests, nosy questions, etc. ) without being fussy and too prudish. They have quizzes that you can take to test your etiquette when it comes to hosting parties, the outdoors and how to deal with horrible house guests. The book is divided into chapters that put you in compromising positions where your manners can make or break you. They cover absolutely everything you could possibly think of; traveling in a foreign country, how to write the perfect party invitation, how to act in public, everything. They even have solutions on how not to interrupt people when they are talking and how not to bore people when you're initiating a conversation and how to address unmarried women, married women and young girls (i.e. Mrs. Ms. or Miss?) Since reading the book, I am no longer intimidated by how to act at a wedding, funeral, at a friends house, a fancy dinner or even meeting presidents and royalty. I even know how to make the perfect curtsy since reading "Oops!: The Manners Guide for Girls".

GREAT BOOK
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! I'M 10 AND I READ THE BOOK, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK! IT IS ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. THE BOOK HAS FUN QUIZES. IT TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANNERS IN A FUN WAY. IT HAS CARTOONY PICTURES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU. IT IS A LONG BOOK, BUT DOSEN'T GET BORING. YOU SHOULD BUY IT.

Soooooooo Totaly Coooooool
I love this book.I have read it a lot of times very thoroughly.I usually look at it when I am going to go to a nice restraunt.I like it because it has lots of tips,letters from girls,cute illustrations,and quizzes.Even though it's supposed to be for girls,I think boys could probably learn some things from it.Also if you get it for your child, you might want to look at it.Once my family was hosting a fancy dinner, so my mom had to look at it to remember which silverware and drink glasses go where.I love this book!!

Every child (not just girls) needs this book!
We purchased this for our 8-year-old daughter, and I wish we would have had it years ago. It teaches all children to correct way to act in many different situations. This book has been great for our daughter, but also for me to teach our four sons the same manners lessons! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Really Fun Math Adventure
Introducing Geometry has now been made more fun. Cindy Neuschwander has given upper grade teachers an exciting way to introduce a somewhat complex subject through the adventures of Radius, son of Sir Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter. This beautifully written and illustrated book has Radius out on an adventure with only a circular medallion (a protractor which is included with the book) to use to find his way through a maze of angles. Students will love the twists and turns the hero Radius encounters but solves and will be excited to learn how to use their own "circular medallion." I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to appropriate teachers who I work with as a student teacher supervisor. ... Read more

Book Description

There's this boy. Let's say he's somewhere between nine and thirteen years old or so. You'd like to see this kid get creative. You'd like to see him get some exercise. You'd like to see him get out from in front of the television. And you'd love for him to be motivated enough to find some stuff to do on his own. This boy NEEDS The Big Book of Boy Stuff!

The Big Book of Boy Stuff has all the important information that boys just have to know. Collected here for the first time in one place, it holds the answers to these timeless questions:What do I do if I get a bean stuck up my nose?How can I make lightning without killing myself?Where can I find new practical jokes to play on my friends and family?What is the best way to poop outside?How do I tell a girl I like her?WHY would I tell a girl I like her?How many mosquitoes does it take to suck all the blood out of a person? . . . and many, many more! This big, thick, durable book includes fascinating chapters on gross stuff, magic, emergencies, fireworks, games, experiments, jokes, activities, insults, pets, flying things, and, of course, duct tape. This is perhaps the greatest book ever published! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Funny and fun
It has great practical jokes and gross stuff. Besides saying this book will make my summer a lot more fun, IT ROCKS

Boys Dream
To every boy, and every 50 or 60 year old, boy at heart, you need this. Written by a genious, this book has everything you need to keep yourself busy. I, myself as a student in his amazing class, can certainly vouch for the fact that, in truth: This book is so well written and so funny, you will wish that YOU could write a book right now! So get on it, and take yourself on an adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'M SMARTER NOW!
This story is about kids that have difficulties with their friends and try to get them back. The story that I'm reading doesn't have 1 character, it has
millions of them. But most of all, my favorite character is JENNA. The setting is in a house, in a car, and in a school. My story also has lots and lots of photos and
d it also has tests in it. I chose this book because it is helping me to realize about my
friendship and the problems that I have with my friends. This is a book that teaches kids
about friendship troubles and how to get your friends back. I enjoyed the part I read with
JENNA and this new girl coming to the school that JENNA went to. But I know that this
story doesn't have tragedy or anything. The author of this book I'm reading is PATTI
KELLE and the illustrator is ANGELA MARTINI. This book makes me feel better now!

A SMART GIRLS GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES
The art rocks!The story was great. But it was the illustration that I loved the most. ... Read more

Book Description

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun!With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments.High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree.Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Everything you need to have fun...(and learn, too)
This is a great book, chock-a-block w/ very accessible experiments. One of the best features is the way the experiments are grouped together: a 'theme' (say, Acids, in the Chemistry section) will have a group of experiments of varying degrees of complexity that together add up to a pretty good understanding of the concept. Also, most of the materials are readily at hand- for many of them we really did already have everything in the house. This is esp. gratifying for the kids, who of course want to do the experiment *right now*. I would imagine that home-schooling families would enjoy this, but our school-going kids enjoy doing these experiments after school & on weekends.

p.s., one of the easiest experiments is also a real showstopper, though it takes a couple of days to complete: dissolving the eggshell of an egg, leaving the egg inside intact!

Great Resource for Parents!
I wish I had this book 15 years ago as we spent time at home playing "Mad Scientist" with our young children. Our kids are now all teenagers and have enjoyed exploring Robinson's book.
Children LOVE to experiment with their world. "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book" offers parents and kids alike a wide array of adventures in science including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, and the Human Body. This book is oriented to kids ages 7-12 but offers information and exploration for budding scientists of all ages. I appreciate this book's easy entrance into the world of science and the three levels of experiments for each area of science: 1)Simple Home Experiments; 2)More Detailed "Kid's Lab Lessons"; 3)Science Fair Projects. The art layout (including multi-color printing, fun-graphics, puzzles, and side-bars), the splashy presentation of information (including fun facts, words to know, dumb-jokes, online science websites and cool quotes) and a complete index make this book an excellent resource for parents, homeschoolers and science teachers. For two other parenting resources, look into "The Family Cloister" and "The Christian Family Toolbox", both by David Robinson (...)

Science fun for kids of all ages!
Wow, what a great book! My kids love it. It is set up as a series of activities that begin with a question followed by an experiment that answers the question. Questions such as "How do you peel a raw egg?", "Does air take up space?" and "Why can't I taste medicine when I plug my nose?" are all examples of questions posed in the book. The fun is in the experiment that answers the question. I think I counted something like 30 different experiments from 5 main science areas (biology, chemistry, physics, planet earth, and the human body). Following each area is a "science fair project" for the kids to use at the next science fair at school! What a great resource it will be for our family in the years to come. All in all a great book at a great price. ... Read more

Book Description

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars is the complete guide to the locations from the Star Wars Classic Trilogy. The book is illustrated with 20 full-color, fantastically intricate cross-sections, and features an array of spot artworks, 3-D plans, more than 60 crystal-clear photographs, and detailed orthographic keys to create an extraordinary visual experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You won't find this book on a school library shelf--it's pure teenage anarchy. While many homeschooling authors hem and haw that learning at home isn't for everyone, this manifesto practically tells kids they're losers if they do otherwise. With the exception of a forwarding note to parents, this book is written entirely for teenagers, and the first 75 pages explain why school is a waste of time. Grace Llewellyn insists that people learn better when they are self-motivated and not confined by school walls. Instead of homeschooling, which connotes setting up a school at home, Llewellyn prefers "unschooling," a learning method with no structure or formal curriculum. There are tips here you won't hear from a school guidance counselor. Llewellyn urges kids to take a vacation--at least for a week--after quitting school to purge its influence. "Throw darts at a picture of your school" or "Make a bonfire of old worksheets," she advises. She spends an entire chapter on the gentle art of persuading parents that this is a good idea. Then she gets serious. Llewellyn urges teens to turn off the TV, get outside, and turn to their local libraries, museums, the Internet, and other resources for information. She devotes many chapters to books and suggestions for teaching yourself science, math, social sciences, English, foreign languages, and the arts. She also includes advice on jobs and getting into college, assuring teens that, contrary to what they've been told in school, they won't be flipping burgers for the rest of their days if they drop out.

Llewellyn is a former middle-school English teacher, and she knows her audience well. Her formula for making the transition from traditional school to unschooling is accompanied by quotes on freedom and free thought from radical thinkers such as Steve Biko and Ralph Waldo Emerson. And Llewellyn is not above using slang. She capitalizes words to add emphasis, as in the "Mainstream American Suburbia-Think" she blames most schools for perpetuating. Some of her attempts to appeal to young minds ring a bit corny. She weaves through several chapters an allegory about a baby whose enthusiasm is squashed by a sterile, unnatural environment, and tells readers to "learn to be a human bean and not a mashed potato." But her underlying theme--think for yourself--should appeal to many teenagers. --Jodi Mailander Farrell ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Hopeful and Inspiring
I was in a school that was a failure in almost every way. Emotionanlly and physically abusive, the low achievement and education rates were hardly worth noting. The only thing that school taught was how to obey and accept abuse.

Dropping out at 16 to escape the violence, irresponsibility, and abuse dealt out by the faculty (supported by the principal), I discovered unschooling, and this book, from a woman that helped homeschooled kids. (Unschooling is a specific type of homeschooling, and different from what most people assume.) All the unschoolers that I met are light years ahead of people in the public schools that I once knew. My only regret is that I waited so long to do this!

Grace Llewellyn is an inspiring author filled with hope, enthusiasm, and inspiring thoughts for all who read her books, including this one. Even when she shares the problems she experienced as a teacher, there is an undercurrent of humor that is refreshing and inspiring. But this book is mostly about how to learn without school, not about condemning the school system. Even when she's critical of the public schools, she remains positive. When she explains unschooling, she is inspirational!

Drawing on her experiences as a teacher and an educator, she vividly illustrates the difference between education and the currently outdated school system. Yes, there is a big difference. This book has restored my love for learning that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Grace Llewellyn, and this book, is inspiring and gives me hope for myself, and the education process as a whole for other kids stuck in the old school system.

I was outraged
I was a very fortunate person as I knew Grace Llewellyn personally and was privelaged to read a copy of the book when it first came out. When I she told me about the book I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders, "that's Grace" I thought. I felt certain that I would find the book well written but would disagree with it right down to the premise. I had an excellent High School experience and held a BA from a very good private college. I felt that schooling had been to my beneifit.

But when I read the book my reaction was one of sorrow and outrage that I had not had this book when I was a teenager. I gave it to my Mom to read and she is now a huge supporter of Ms. Llewellyn's work as well. This is significant as my mother is a former community college administrator.

Reading this book is risky, dangerous, frightening. It will open your eyes to truths you don't want to know and ideas you don't want to think. It will make you question the systems we have set up for education. It might make you quit school, it might make you wish you had.

Anthony Valterra

Wonderful unschooling manual
I just finished this book after unschooling my children for the past 6 years and neither has attended a school. It has reaffirmed my belief that unschooling CAN work and my kids will not flip burgers all their lives.
The book goes through every subject and gives lots of resources for unschooling it. I wish I had found this book sooner and I would have had many less sleepness nights, worrying about unschooling versus "school at home"! I am purchasing a copy to use as a reference manual in our library. Lots of volunteer organizations, internships, business ideas. Just an awesome resource for unschoolers.

Great book (one warning though)
This book is excellent. I sometimes wish it had a different name because a lot of people can benefit from it other than teenagers. I am a homeschooling mom of young children but I still got a lot out of it. Her philosophy is basically that you don't need a curriculum to learn. I agree with this. I liked her idea that you can still spend 4 hours a day doing "school work" but you do what YOU want to do instead of what someone assigns you. You do self directed learning. I have found that a solid math and grammar program is all you really need. In the end the SAT and GRE only tests you on your verbal/math skills anyway. Why waste time learning all kinds of subjects in the order some adult tells you to? The only subjects worth studying in a regimented manner in my opinion are math and grammar. Aside from that you should follow your interests. Now the author is a bit extreme in her views so I find you have to temper it with your own good judgement.

The warning is that she actually endorses experimenting with drugs. Pretty scary but she does. I find this very irresponsible of her. Fortunately I was able to work around that and read the rest of the book. You just have to realize she's a bit of an extremist so you have to just take what you learn from it and let the rest go.

And one chapter later...
It took me about a chapter to realize that I truly hate school, as much as I've said otherwise, and no matter how many times I've been moved up I'm not going to get anywhere. Now, I still haven't finished, and I am already feeling a mix of terrible miffedment, depression, and determination to get out of this place.

Thank you unschooled cousin Loopy for lending me this book! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

great for pre-schoolers!!
My 3yr. old loves this book. As we read the book, he acts out all of the correct things to do with hands (hugging, helping, shaking). When he gets angry and wants to hit--we remind him of this book and he calms down.
It is simple enough for a child to understand and gets right to the point.

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
What a delightful learning book this is.
Full of bright, colorful illustrations that bring the point across without any confusion!
The author shares all the wonderful things hands are good for, playing, drawing, saying hello, to name a few of the many examples used in this read. . Just adorable!

I shared this book with my 3-year old granddaughter. I can tell you, it was a hit!
This is a sturdy, colorful, well constructed
book. A book that can take the abuse of a younger child and still stay in one piece. Not an easy feat!

A great book with a great lesson; one your child will treasure and read over and over again. Hands are NOT for hitting! I've learned my lesson, have you?

Recommended!

AWESOME BOOK!
This book is perfect! Great illustrations, very easy to read and easy for children to understand. Very to the point, hands are not for hitting but they are for playing, washing, hugging. Wonderful!

I loved this book!
I bought this book, and "The Way I Feel" in response to my almost 2 year old going through a hitting phase. I could not be more pleased with how this book (and the other) addresses the issue and proposes solutions for dealing with anger and frustration. My son LOVES acting out the things that hands can be used for. He sits through the whole book and often wants to read it again. He quotes catchy phrases that he remembers from the book. It is so interactive! I really think that it has made a difference in my son's behavior over the period of 3 weeks.

a picture book to teach nonviolence
This book is in the category of picture books that gets read to children to teach a lesson (rather than being a simple story picture book). The title says it all but the back cover also gives a great summary (which you can view right here on Amazon). The pages are covered with ideas for what hands are to be used for (playing, working together) and then each page has numerous illustrating examples (building snowpeople, sandcastle, block tower, etc.). Over and over we hear that hands are not for hitting but they are for doing many positive things.

I am a homeschooling parent of a four-year-old who at times hits others. Our biggest problem though is bullying being done to him by others. I bought this to read to him as a reminder because for a while he was learning more from imitating his peers (hitting back) than listening to what his father and I were verbally teaching him. I figured having this book around the house could not hurt. My son likes to browse it himself and look at the pictures and I read it aloud from time to time. I don't read it a lot because since he rarely hits it is a little annoying to keep telling him something he already knows. However, this is published by a publisher focusing on books for teachers and schools. I think the best way this book could be used would be to read it aloud to groups of children because there is bound to be a child in attendance who may need a reminder. This would also be a great book for public libraries to have in their collection for parents to borrow.

The illustrations are cute and brightly colored. At the back of the book is a note to grown-ups about teaching non-violence to children. There are approximately 4 pages that list out additional activities and discussion questions to go along with each page of the book. There is also a listing of books that expand on various subjects touched on throughout this book. I can't think of any way that I'd improve upon it. Overall a great book on this important subject! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

MUST HAVE BOOK
Great gift from Grandmother. Children love this book. It's a great book for anybody learning the English language. EVERY class should have this book. This is a gift that everybody appreciates. Get the book down for the child to look at and learn. Great teaching tool! Exceptional pictures! I always buy two--one for the new grandchild, and a copy goes to the school, when they start school. You have my vote for the VERY BEST.

Eye-catching dictionary that promotes learning
Learning should be an interesting and fun-filled exercise be it at home or at school. This excellent dictionary promotes that. It serves as a good resource not only for children, parents and new learners of English but also for adults that need reinforcement. Highly recommended.

Best for Second Graders
We needed a good dictionary for our second-grader. This fit the bill. Our cover looks slightly different (e.g., "DK" instead of "Darling Kindersley"), but it is the same ISBN. I looked at ALL the appropriate dictionaries, probably 40 in total, and this was the best. There are 5,000 main entries (related words bring the total to 12,000 words), including most of the ones that our child uses in class -- he wanted to make sure they were there. The alphabet runs down each page with the current letter highlighted in color. Each word tells what type it is (noun, adverb, etc.), but it is unobtrusive. There are 2,500 pictures, which many of them being incredibly descriptive -- good pictures for words like "lose", "guess", "shrug", "zigzag". Many of the words not only have the definitions, but a sample sentence that uses the word clearly. This is definitely a best-buy for our second-grader.

Why can't all dictionaries be this much fun?
Young readers will not only love the 2,500 full-color photographs and illustrations, they will find this dictionary easy to understand. When you look up the word "wave" you not only find the description, you will also find a picture of the wave.

Not all the words have pictorial explanations, but in many cases the word is used in a sentence. For example, "every" would have a sentence using the word and state: "Every" space in the parking lot was full.

The 12,000 word entries are explained through clean definitions, examples and usage. This is an invaluable reference book for young readers and writers. It was developed in consultation with experts in the teaching field. The vocabulary lists are up-to-date and includes entries such as compact disc, biodegradable and word processor.

The introductory section encourages dictionary skill. This book will help to build a child's understanding of language and will help them to improve spelling and grammar skills.

Now, could they please make a dictionary for adults that is this fun! :)

The Dorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Dictionary
The DK Children's Dictionary is the best dictionary I have used in working with students in our school's ESL (English Second Language) program. Often, in working with ESL kids, word explainations are not enough, you need a picture. This dictionary provides quality pictures and lots of them. This is a great resource! ... Read more