Amazon.com

Angus the Answer Dog is back! This time the ever-helpful pooch is hereto help kids learn all about their new baby siblings. As in the other populartitles in Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect Kids series, including What to Expect When Mommy's Having aBaby and What to ExpectWhen You Use the Potty, the format is fun, friendly, and informative.Each two-page spread features a question likely to be asked by new big brothersor sisters: "What do new babies look like?" "Why do new babies cry so much?""Why can't new babies do anything by themselves?" "Why do new babies get so manypresents?" In his sensitive, respectful way, Angus answers each of the questionsand offers some fun activities to help children get to know the newest member oftheir family, as well as making sure they get their own needs met. ("It's niceto be held, even when you're big.")

In her series for kids, Heidi Murkoff, coauthor of the bestselling pregnancybook (for grownups), What toExpect When You're Expecting, bestows a gift upon both children andparents, guiding them through some of life's tougher transitions. Her honest,down-to-earth style is reassuring to every reader who is expecting something--orsomeone--new! Laura Rader's cartoonish illustrations are a perfect match forMurkoff's easy-going text. Pull up a cozy chair and read aloud to big sister orbrother while the new baby naps or eats. (Ages 2 to 5) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Super book for an older sibling!
My daughter is 8 and she loved the book. Though it is simple, it is well written and fun to read. She loved the pictures too.

Great book!
My son *made* me read this to him over & over before his baby sister was born. It encouraged him to help out and helped me explain what would be different once the baby was here. Also included things to explain to him that I never would have thought of. Thumbs up!

love this book
I actually bought this book for my friends 3yr old who is going to be a big brother really soon, in days. And I love the way the book is written. So does my friend and her 3yr old!!

i love angus
i am 6 and my mommy just had a new baby and angus helped me to understand it. my mommy is writing this review for me, but if i knew how i would. i give this book 1000000 stars because it is so good. and i love it. and i love to read it cause angus is so cute and smnart and nice, because he is my friend. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired by the many readers of Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul(one of many in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series), the authors decided toreach out to young people at that incredibly confusing, exciting chapter oflife, the preteen years. Readers between the ages of 9 and 12 (give or take ayear) sometimes felt that the book for kids was too young, while the edition forteens (Chicken Soup for theTeenage Soul) was too old. In this warm, supportive anthology of truestories by and about preteens, the very issues that seem so complicated andinsurmountable are addressed with intelligence and openness. Divorce, violence,death, friendships, school, family, attitudes, changes, dreams... preteens havea lot to offer and a lot to learn on these subjects. Many of the brief essays,cartoons, quotations, and introductions are witty as well as wise and touching;readers might devour the book from start to finish, drop in for a story here andthere, or focus on a concern that is most important at the moment. The preteenyears seem to be the perfect time to reach kids, before they are lost in teenangst and coolness. And who better to learn from than their own peers? For someadded incentive to read, celebrities such as Mia Hamm, Karl Malone, and 'N Synchave contributed essays as well. (Ages 9 to 13) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Great Book
Recently I purchased Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. I have just turned 11 years old. So far, I have enjoyed my newest Chicken Soup book. I have already received Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul as a gift, but now I believe I am growing out of it. I am almost a teenager who is going through her preteen years. This book has helped me find myself inside myself. I really love the authors who write Chicken Soup and the contributors who send in their funny, sad, and meaningful stories. This book talks about changes in life, getting older, the tough stuff we go through as preteens. My favorite stories are the ones of the people who are actually in their preteen years and how they deal with this tough time in their lives. Overall, I enjoy the book very much.

Thoughtful, hard edge realism
I purchased this Chicken Soup book for my eight year old son, although the book states 9-12. The younger version for kids seemed too "slight." And his teacher had read a few stories from this version, so we decided to buy it for him as an Xmas 2000 book.

I have found it riveting, and many of the stories can bring tears to your eyes. The stories are concise. The writing is fluid and easy to understand. I was struck, however, by the intensity and hard edge realism of some of them. There is a section on death and a number of the other stories touch on grief, divorce, loss and death. My son just lost his grandmother in March (my mom) so I believe some of these tales will be helpful. They touched my own heart. Parents should be aware however that there is a heavy dose of despair--albeit overcome by strength and love. Also some nine year olds are more mature, wiser and perhaps less innocent than others. A nine year old from an otherwise happy, intact family who has yet to face a great deal of loss or grief may be taken a back, perhaps even a little frightened. This is a good work that should be reviewed first by a parent. Certainly consider the age prescribed. Also examine your own views on death, dying and marriage dissolution. These stories may helpfully support them, or they may not.

As a consultant in the child and youth development field, I would be more likely to steer the 11-13 year old grappling with specific issues to this Chicken Soup.

Awsome stories
The book contains loads of stories of tennagers who survived all this stuff, and acomplished dreams. It's really cool that such book exists that we can read stories of all these adolecents who want to share a storie with us. Some are funny, some are life learning. There are mostly sad stories in the book than anything else, but there good ones! Justdont get me rong, they dont soak the book. It's a nice book and I thing all the teens should read it, to know that there not alone.

Never Say Its Too Late
This was a book that whenever you picked it up it touched your heart. It is hard to think that some preteens have to go through what they did. Laugh, cry, get mad, you will eventually do all of this when you pick up this book. I recomend this book to everyone that is having a hard time in their preteen days.

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul the survival guide for the preteen years is about real stroies of growing up, new friends, laughter, sad moments, tragic deaths, divorcs, changing, and struggle by kids between the ages 11-13. There are 101 stories that are all true. When you read this book you'll realize you're not alone and you can always make it like these survival stories by using you're mind and heart. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ophelia Speaks by Sara Shandler is a clever response to Mary Pipher's bestselling Reviving Ophelia. Shandler reveals telling portraits of teenage girls in this book, a compilation of essays, poems, and true-grit commentary from a cross section of teenage girls (or Ophelias), throughout the country. The book succeeds because it gives voice to their deepest concerns and their too-often frenzied lives. Because she's a college student, Shandler considers herself a peer of these adolescent girls, able to tap into their collective consciousness.

Shandler is as determined as she is a sharp reporter in chronicling the lives of these young women. To research the book, she sent out a mass mailing of 7,000 letters to high school and junior high school principals, counselors, and teachers explaining her book project and urging them to encourage teenage girls to contribute.

The topics covered run the gamut, but they include parental expectations, racial relations, and faith, among others. Sadly, eating disorders are an all-too-popular topic. The good news is that Shandler's contributors offer up some real insight for their peers. In one essay titled "Food Is Not My Enemy," Elizabeth Fales "calls us to a new feminism. In the old feminism, our mothers fought for the right to choose abortion. In our generation, we must fight for the right to eat."

The book also gives practical insight for parents who may find it hard to relate to their teenage daughters. In a nutshell, it appears that adolescent girls want unconditional love from parents who can be confidants without being overly critical. --Peg Melnick ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Jed Davis Girls' Basketball Coach/AD jlori81@gte.net
Ophelia Speaks is a literary response to Mary Pipher's bestselling and sometimes controversial work Reviving Ophelia which was published in 1994. In this book psychologist Pipher, who works closely with adolescent girls, documented what she thought were the key issues and struggles for teenage females growing up in America. She did this through cases studies and careful analysis. Author Sara Shandler, a high school student at the time, took it upon herself to recruit girls from all over the United States to write about all aspects of being young and female. She was not opposed to Mary Pipher's work. In fact, it spoke to her positively in many ways. She just thought it would be a good idea for girls to speak for themselves. The result is Ophelia Speaks, a collection of essays on a variety of topics that girls chose to write about...family, friends, diseases, sexuality, death, depression, religion and others. The book is excellent in two regards. First, the stories often take you deep into the heart and mind of adolescent girls. You are struck by how insightful and analytical theses girls are, then thrown back by how fragile and complex their feelings are. The stories, picked by Sara Shandler, are well-written and sincere although a few of them were written in the abstract and therefore lacked the clarity to fully understand the issue at hand. The second part of the book I found to be outstanding were the introductions to each topic. These were written by Sara Shandler herself. They gave perspective on the topic in question and introduced each contribution by giving the reader a taste of what was in store. She also adds a little of her own experience so you get to know her a bit. My life revolves around coaching teenage girls in basketball. I also coach young girls in basketball. A book like this adds to my understanding of teenage girls and therefore helps me work with them more effectively. One of the things Shandler says in the introduction is that teenage " girls are incredibly complicated. " When you read the stories and begin to understand this, I believe it lends itself to patience and understanding. But the book's greatest value probably lies in the support adolescent girls can feel from reading these stories. These girls do not hold anything back and many of their reactions to life's experiences are probably universally felt by a lot of teenage girls. Any teenage girl who is feeling isolated or finding life to be difficult would probably benefit from reading this book. I highly recommend it.

unbalanced
While I commend the editor for putting together this project, and respect the girls whose stories are included, I feel that the book is unbalanced. Almost all the girls included seem to be going through some pretty extreme experiences. An adolescent-psychologist told me that 1/3 of teenagers have major problems, 1/3 have minor problems and 1/3 navigate adolescence fairly smoothly. This book seemed to focus on teens in the first two groups. Perhaps they are the ones who responded to the editor's request for articles on eating disorders, drug abuse, suicide attempts, etc, and on down the list til her last and only strongly positve category, Why I am proud to be female. Perhaps girls who are enjoying life and involved in more positive activities aren't as inclined to sit down and write about it. Was the editor's aim to show that teenage girls are ill-fated, in line with the thesis of Reviving Ophelia? Also, some of the writing in these responses is poor and not really worth reading whatever the content.

Telling it like it is
In reading this book, I found it to be exactly like the life of a teenage girl. Anyone could read this book and get something out of it. In idea, it reminds me of the Chicken Soup series, but I enjoyed how it only focused on teenage girls and the struggles that they face. Excellent Read! Get it today!

Ophelia Speaks:Stereotyping all female adolescents
'Ophelia Speaks' by Shandler is a poor attemp at writing on Shandler's part. I had to read this book for my SOC 204 class, but otherwise I would have never picked this book up to read. I found the book to be only a collection of letters, stories and poems that Shandler had collected from adolescent girls. Most of these entries did not capture the true life of adolescent girls but instead glamourized the stereotypes that society has about female adolescents. The author, at the time of collecting these reading, was only 17 and it seems as if she was just putting this book together to make a few extra bucks. As well, I believe that since she sent out a letter asking for submissions for the book, I feel that the girls that wrote the entries, were meerly looking for some sort of fame by having their entries in this book. I also cannot stand how the author's experiences never reflect the experiences of the writings; this further indicates that the writings are not accurate. The author also never comes to any conclusion after a chapter. She could have given some psychological/sociolgical/physiological reasoning behind some of the girls experiences.
I would not refer anyone to read this book. It was a waste of time and money.
Save your money and spend it on better things.

Widen The Search
'Ophelia Speaks : Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self' is an essential addition to the vital library focused on teenage personal development. I gave Sara Shandler's book to my daughter and suggested that while she was searching for self, she might also look for her homework sheets, the four overdue library books I've been ordered to pay for, the banana skin I'd seen in her closet two months ago, the family cat last heard meowing under a mountain of crumpled jeans on her floor and her best friend, Marsha Pippens, missing, presumed piled, since last Saturday's sleepover. ... Read more

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Imagine a Dickens story with a Venetian setting, and you'll have a goodsense of Cornelia Funke's prizewinning novel The Thief Lord, firstpublished in Germany in 2000. This suspenseful tale begins in a detective'soffice in Venice, as the entirely unpleasant Hartliebs request Victor Getz'sservices to search for two boys, Prosper and Bo, the sons of Esther Hartlieb'srecently deceased sister. Twelve-year-old Prosper and 5-year-old Bo ran awaywhen their aunt decided she wanted to adopt Bo, but not his brother. Refusing tosplit up, they escaped to Venice, a city their mother had always describedreverently, in great detail. Right away they hook up with a long-haired runawaynamed Hornet and various other ruffians who hole up in an abandoned movietheater and worship the elusive Thief Lord, a young boy named Scipio who stealsjewels from fancy Venetian homes so his new friends can get the warm clothesthey need. Of course, the plot thickens when the owner of the pawn shop asks ifthe Thief Lord will carry out a special mission for a wealthy client: to steal abroken wooden wing that is the key to completing an age-old, magicalmerry-go-round. This winning cast of characters--especially the softhearteddetective with his two pet turtles--will win the hearts of readers young andold, and the adventures are as labyrinthine and magical as the streets of Veniceitself. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (199)

A Magical Journey
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke is a magical adventure that readers will find almost impossible to put down. This is a spectacular story about a band of street children, a magical carousel and a snoopy detective. It all combines into an enjoyable treat of a book.

After escaping from their cruel aunt in Hamburg, Prosper and Bo flee to Venice after hearing their mother's stories of its winged lions, the golden cathedral, and about angel and dragons perched on the rooftops of buildings. When they reach Venice, they meet a mysterious boy who calls himself the The Thief Lord. He leads a band of street kids who make their living by having him steal thing for them. Meanwhile, Prosper and Bo's nasty aunt Ester, has hired a very snoopy but kind detective to look for Prosper and Bo. The plot only gets thicker when a very weathy client asks Scipio, "The Theif Lord" to steal a wooden wing that is the key to a very old, very special, Merry- Go- Round. But Scipio also has a very dark secret that will change Prosper and Bo's life forever. They soon find themselves in an unforgettable adventure in the city of Venice.

Although I loved this book, I think there was a bit too much going on at once. But still, I highly recommend this book to anyone who might be intrested in reading it. I think Funke did an excellent job writing it, and I look forward to reading Inkheart. I recommend this book to kids ages 9-12.
-Lauren Henderson

Theives That Produce Smiles
The Thief Lord, originally written by Cornelia Funke in German, poses an interesting question: Is writing or plot more effective for children's stories? If you answered the former, Thief Lord isn't for you; the language is often simple and some wordings are very obviously translated. The reason so many children (and pre-teens) have been drawn to the book is its fairy tale like plot.

The Thief Lord focuses on the story of two children, Bo and Prosper, who have ran away from their Aunt and Uncle to Venice, a city their deceased mother used to tell stories about. The boys choose to run away because Aunt Esther and her husband want to adopt Bo, but not Prosper. Once in Venice, the boys meet up with a group of runaway children who live in a movie theater and are taken care of by a thief the same age of the rest of them who calls himself 'The Thief Lord'. Unfortunately, Esther has contacted a detective named Victor Getz, who agrees to search for the children, with silly and often laughable results.

The plot takes a sudden twist when a magical and mysterious merry-go-round and a Conte looking for the missing piece enter the picture. The ending, while not particularly surprising, is quite enjoyable none the less.

Although The Thief Lord is not Newberry material, the characters are likable and the plot exciting, making it a sure fire hit with younger Harry Potter fans. The writing, the weakest point of the book, can easily be looked over.

It Takes You to Another World!!!!!
I normally dont like to read and i absolutely loved this book!!!I read it and got the cassette tapes for it. Whenever i read it i got taken away to another world and i just couldnt stop reading. If your one of those people who likes to sit under a blanket in a cozy corner of the house and drink hot cocoa...this would be the perfect book for you. Its cozy and exciting and fit for all ages!! READ THIS BOOK

An ending out of the blue
After the death of their mother, Prosper and his younger brother Bo, are set to be separated. Their aunt Esther only wants to adopt five-year-old Bo and send twelve-year-old Prosper to some far away boarding school where he would probably only get to see Bo once a year. Not wanting to separate the two boys escape to Venice, a city their mother told them had magical lions and great canals. At first life in Venice is hard, but after they meet a young girl named Hornet who introduces them to an orphange life gets much better. However Prosper feels uneasy since the orphange is funded by Scripio, known as The Thief Lord. Meanwhile, Aunt Esther has not given up on finding the two boys, as she has now hired the city's top detective Victor Getz to track them down. After a series of events, Victor discovers their hiding place and many more surprising turns finally bring to light the true identity of The Thief Lord.

The Thief Lord is definitely a very enjoyable read. Unfornately a book that was suppose to be realistic was made into a part fantasy ending which didn't fit the book at all. Nothing in the whole booked suggested fantasy as being part of the book and the ending came totally out of the blue. If you get past the ending though you'll definitely enjoy this book that has is like a 21st century Dicken's novel.

Good, but
I found The Thief Lord to be a very interesting read. Yes, there were some parts that I did not understand, but, overall it was very good. Not up to Jo Rowling's Harry Potter, which I have read many times and love.

Also, I was also told it was a fantasy book but the only fantasy part was at the very end.

I am going into 6th grade, 11 years old, and I listened to The Thief Lord
by Cornelia Funke on an Audio Cd. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (25)

Lousy title, wonderful book
Why oh why do U.S. publishers insist on retitling classic European books? As "I Am David" this book successfully explores far more profound questions than freedom. David's journey is a process of self discovery and a self-imposed restructuring of a broken human spirit. Though told in the third person, the narrative invites us into David's young mind and allows us to see the wonder of objects and concepts that we all take for granted but which are new to the young escapee. Music, play, the taste of an orange, the feeling of being clean, language, colour! David's voyage of discovery is a bitter sweet mixture and we learn the awful truth about his past during his trek across Europe at the same pace as he does himself.

I have read this book with classes of children from fourth to seventh grade, as well as with adults. It is a book for all seasons, and I can still turn the pages with pleasure and wonder.

The wonder of realising what it is to say "I Am David" is what the book is all about! "North to Freedom" is a lousy title - meaningless in fact, David's first steps to freedom take him south! But this should not dissuade anyone from reading Anne Holm's book. The greatest children's story to come out of Denmark since Hans Christian Andersen.

one of my favorites
I have a copy of this book from the UK that is called I Am David. It starts with a man telling David, "You must get away tonight. Stay awake so that you're ready just before the guard is changed. When you see me strike a match, the current will be cut off and you can climb over -- you'll have half a minute, no more." This starts David's journey not just to freedom and home, but also to learning how to live as a regular kid after only living in a concentration camp. It's a serious book but one that should be read.

Timeless
This is such a beautiful book. I first read it when I was nine, twenty years later it is still a favourite.

The story of promise is quite remarkable and never fails to move me. All children should read this book. It opens doors to many other areas that too many forget too easily.

Great Book
This book is utterly compelling. This story of David starts in a concentration camp and ends him up at home. It is tension building and "they" will get him. This takes us from the concentration camp to Salonica then to Italy, Switzerland and finally Denmark. He is saved by King the dog. That was the most exciting part. A must read.

Trust
Do you know what it is like to be hunted? Or to feel the palpable hate from men who destroy everything except what is inside of you? David, from his experience in the concentration camp, simply can not trust anyone. He has to be wary because that is the only way to survive. Parts of him are so deadened inside that when he sees the beautifull it is so much more intense. This book provides a usefull insight into the experience of many that will evoke your compassion and give you some understanding of why some people who are hurt are so reluctant to ever get close again or to seek or even recognize help around them. And through all of this, David is a moral person. He knows why evil must be resisted. Excelent! ... Read more

Book Description

It's the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her twenty-six new students. Meanwhile, Adam Krupp wakes up, Brenda Heath brushes her teeth, and Christopher Beaker finds his sneaker. Miss Bindergarten puts the finishing touches on the room just in time, and the students arrive. Now the fun can begin! This rhyming, brightly illustrated book is the perfect way to practice the alphabet and to introduce young children to kindergarten.

"Multifaceted and appealing, this book can be enjoyed in many ways, at home and at school."
-The New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Reviews (11)

REview of Miss Bindergarten
Miss Bindergarten, a dog wakes up and gets ready for her first day back to school. She packs her car and prepares to fix her gloomy classroom. Her pupils are getting ready for their first day of kindergarten. Each student (animals) has a rhyme to go with their activity: "Beaver Heath brushes her teeth" and "Ian Lowe says, 'I won't go' ''. Some are excited and some, such as Ian, are upset. Meanwhile, Miss Bindergarten has transformed her room into a bright rainbow of colors. Ashley Wolff does a wonderful job of illustrating this book. The illustrations are done in watercolor-and-gouache. Depicting the animals realistically, she captures excitement, dispear, and love in their facial expressions. Each animal looks incredibly life like, even though they are portrayed with some human characteristics. I think that it is important for children's books to illustrate animals realistically. If children look at books that show purple elephants and blue horses they will believe can be any color. This way the children will be better able to identify the animal when they see it again. The colors used in this book are very vibrant. Every page contains busy animals and curved text, they fill every available space.

This book is delightful for teachers and children alike!
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten is a delightful book that should be a part of every kindergarten classroom! It is a good "ice breaker" story for the first day of school and gives the children an idea of what it is like for the teacher to prepare her classroom as well as exploring the various feelings that children may have about the first day of school.

The rhyming words and repetitive text throughtout the book provide the children with an opportunity to participate in the story, as well as enhancing their recall skills.

The illustrations are beautifully done and provide much for the children to look at. My personal favorite is the one in which Miss Bindergarten (who is a dog)applies lipstick right before school starts!

MISS BINDERGARTEN
I don't think this book gives an accurate veiw of what kindergarten is like. I teach pre-school and have been to kindergarten classes with the children. This book gives an idea of what pre-school is like.

Teachers work too
My pre-k and kindergarten students loved this book. They found all the animals dressed in clothing fascinating. It was a good introduction to centers around the room too. We talked about how much work had gone into preparing the room and how everyone should work together to keep it neat and tidy. Its a great "1st week of school" book, but revisiting it during the year when clean-up has become a problem helped too. The alphabet/animal connection is also useful and fun to work with during an animal unit.

A book for every child starting school
Looking at this book from the point of view of an adult, I didn't get it. The illustrations are decent, but nothing spectacular. The rhymes are not particularly inventive. And not much happens in the book, which simply shows a teacher getting her classroom ready for the first day of kindergarten, while students are getting ready in their own way - eating breakfast, saying good-bye (or clinging to mom), getting on the bus, and so forth. It's also an alphabet book. Each child in the class has a name that begins with a different letter of the alphabet. But there are hundreds of alphabet books on the market, I thought, and many of them are more clever or better illustrated than this one.

Boy, was I wrong. I got this book out of the library the summer before my daughter started kindergarten. She was a little nervous about starting. She's the type of kid who wants to stand back and observe every situation before she plunges in. That made her the perfect kid for this book. While we had it out of the library, she asked me to read it several times every day. I ended up buying a copy of the book before returning the library copy, because it would have broken her heart to be without it.

My daughter just finished kindergarten, and I have read this book literally hundreds of times. She still loves it, and I think I've finally figured out why it's so appealing. At the beginning of the book, you see a dark, empty, slightly scary looking classroom. For a child who's afraid of starting school, I think that's a pretty good image of her expectation. But a nice teacher comes in and adds blocks, play kitchen toys, mobiles, paint and brushes, posters, crayons and pencils, etc. and turns the classroom into a beautiful, inviting place. Little by little a child learns to see the classroom as a good place to be. Also, as the teacher adds each new thing, it gives the child a chance to see and talk about some of the new things she will discover when she gets there.

This book has already become a classic. It was the first book my daughter's kindergarten teacher read to the class (from talking to other parents, I've discovered that's true in a LOT of classes). And hearing a familiar and adored book the first day of school added to my daughter's sense of comfort.

If you have a child who has any apprehension about starting school, this book is probably the best tool available for helping him or her overcome it. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (22)

NOT JUST FOR YOUNG ADULTS--FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES A GREAT READ
I finished A Northern Light in a weekend; what a pleasure! I don't fit the intended young adult demographic, but I've always had an interest in children's and young adult literature as a result of my many careers.

Ms. Donnelly brilliantly captures the boom era of the 1900s New York Adirondack Mountain region. The story of Mattie Gokey, a young woman coming of age and struggling with difficult life choices, is a familiar story to most female readers. Her determination to become a writer reminded me of my own career aspirations. I found myself holding my breath and sighing with relief when Maddie finally decided her fate.

A Northern Light will stir passion, and even raise ire, among the young women who are fortunate to discover this beautiful book. Many readers will recognize themselves in Mattie, her teacher, Miss Wilcox, or even Weaver, her friend and fellow wordsmith. Most importantly, A Northern Light can be appreciated by readers of all ages, not just young adults, who appreciate great writing. A truly enjoyable read; I hope there's a sequel on the way.

Also recommended: The Lightkeeper's Daughter, Witch Child

An Historical Fiction Masterpiece
This is one of those books where about a third of the way through, you anxiously thumb the remaining pages, knowing that despite your best efforts to savor it, the book will be over all too soon. When A NORTHERN LIGHT falls open, you,the reader, will fall in. Descriptions of this book by previous reviewers, while excellent and accurate, still do not prepare you for the sheer delight and pleasure of reading this story. While it has been classified as a Young Adult novel, as it does contain some language and situations, every word is absolutely true to the character who is speaking or being spoken of. I urge every teenage girl to read this, then pass it on to her mother, all of her girlfriends, aunts, a favorite teacher--in short, anyone who has a love of words, of learning, of mysteries, and a belief in the power of young women. A NORTHERN LIGHT is a most extraordinary book. Don't miss it!

A great book! i couldn't put it down!
I found this book at the school library's new book shelf, i decided to read it and i was so glad that i did. This is about a girl living with her family and how she solves her problems and deals with the people she meets. After reading this book, I thought about life and people differently. I would recommend this book to people 12 years or older because it deals with some issues that may be....yea you get the idea. Overall, this is a great book. After reading this book, I also read other books by Jennifer Donnelly, they were also very good, but i felt this one was the best!

Not only for young adults...
I read this book after reading Jennifer Donnelly's novel "The Tea Rose"(which I loved). I enjoyed the characters and the their voices, but I especially loved the focus on words and the power that they have to change a life. I found myself aching for Mattie and her longings to stretch into the wider world.
Some of the scenes were quite graphic, so it would not be appopriate for some younger readers. "A Northern Light" is among the best young adult books I have ever read.

Great Book-Not for Kids
I think this book is wonderful. I read it three times because it is so delightfully delightful. However, kids should'nt read it. It has some inapropriate stuff in it. Anyone else interested in books should read it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

an important book!
Endorsed by many child abuse prevention programs and counselors, this is the perfect tool for parents to teach children about inappropriate touching.

Worth Every Penny
Child molestation is an uncomfortable topic. But far worse, it is a very real danger. A large percentage of childhood molestation goes unreported, silently scarring a child for life. This book strikes the right balance: it is not too technical, not awkward, and most importantly not frightening. The message is conveyed through a mom telling a story to her child and through repetition. The content and wording is geared toward a child as young as 3 although concepts such as trickery and secrecy are a little difficult to teach at this age. The book gives context and viable solutions that a child can handle. My child is now very good at screaming "Get away from me; I'll tell my mom and dad!" Don't take the risk; read this book.

A Complete Lesson for Children
I felt this book is a must for children. It is the best book I have read to teach children how to protect themselves. There are so many tricks people use to get access to children. This book covers them all, including trickery, deceit and secrets. It also teaches children to listen to their own internal warning system. This is so important so they will act on it and not ignore it.

I was not sure how to approach the topic with my 4 year olds. This book made it possible to prepare them without scaring them.

Well done-Wise Parental Instrument!
The best source I have seen to date for very young children on the subject of sexual abuse. Such a tough subject and very well written and illustrated.

Every parent should be pro-active and discuss abuse, this title is sure to open the door to communication. It also does so in a child friendly manner and does not shock or upset even the most conservative reader.

An invaluable and excellent tool for any adult to help educate and arm young innocent children. Perfect addition for any library.

Love means telling the truth.
The only reason to give this little book 5 stars is the lack of a 6 star category. My own children are grown now, but this is a book we will share with future grandchildren. My children were educated about "right and wrong touches" at home, in school, and at church. Thankfully they were spared such an experience, I was not. As a survivor of childhood molestation who told no one for nearly 20 years, I felt all the responsibilty for the abuse, and the total inability to tell a parent, teacher, or friend. Some of the scare are with me still, but Sandy's book empowers child and parent alike. The language, illustrations, and approach are frank but gentle. Presentation is sensitive to very young children, and different terms for body parts. The read-aloud thrust strengthens parent-child interaction about this vital topic. Best of all, the refences for further reading and help organizations provides the tools to go further in education, or to obtain assistance if the worst case has occurred. Actually the worst of all cases is to have abuse, and no one to tell. Bless you Sandy, keep books like these coming! ... Read more

Book Description

"How about a story? Spin us a yarn."
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned.
"Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

A 1995 ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of 1994
Winner of a 1994 Bulletin Blue Ribbon
A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Winner of the 1997 Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Winner, 1995 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1995 (ALA)
1995 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Children's Book Award for Longer Novels (Great Britain's Federation of Children's Books Groups)
Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle School-Aged Teens (V)
Best Books 1994 (SLJ)
Bulletin Blue Ribbon Books 1994 (C)

Reviews (503)

Creech's Walk Two Moons
In the exciting tale of Salmanaca Tree Hiddle, Sharon Creech does an excellent job of portraying the story of this young girl's life. Walk Two Moons is a sincerely touching account of Sal's journey, told in the form of two distinct story lines. Sal's mother leaves her and her father in Bybanks, Kentucky and shortly there after, upon hearing that her mother will not return, Sal's father packs up their belongings and the two move to Euclid, Ohio. Gramps and Grams take Sal on a road trip to go visit her mother, who is in Lewiston, Idaho, for her birthday. On their way, Sal tells them of her adventures with a new friend in Euclid, Phoebe Winterbottom. The two girls act as mini-detectives trying to solve the strange mysteries they encounter together. Between the secret messages left on Phoebe's doorstep, to the lunatic they see in their neighborhood, the girls come to share experiences that impact them in many ways. With stops all along the way, Sal eventually makes it to Lewiston in time for her mother's birthday. Up to this point, Creech leaves many loose ends floating along; finally all the loose ends come together in the end. Sal realizes that through the story of Phoebe, she has learned more about herself and her own story.
Sharon Creech is a talented writer who portrays each character in a precise way. I was most impressed with the realistic description of each character and could see them in my head as I read. They were real people who had real problems that I feel most readers could connect with. The structure of the book is such that it keeps the reader interested and guessing what will happen next. There are many twists and turns in plot. Because of that unique structure, the book is one that readers will not want to put down.

"Walk Two Moons" Class Book Review
In this book review are some things that our class liked and disliked. Read this book review to see if you're interested in reading "Walk Two Moons", by Sharon Creech.

One of the best things in this story within a story is the characters. Sal is a 13 year old girl with long dark hair. She came from Bybanks, Kentucky and moved to Ohio. In this book Sal goes on a trip with her grandmother and grandfather, and in another plot, she's telling the story of trying to find out who "thelunatic" is. Sal has a new friend in Ohio named Phoebe Winterbottom. Phoebe lives in Euclid, Ohio where Sal moved. Phoebe is a worry wart. She worries about everthing in her path. Her mother disappeared and they have no idea where she went until the end of the book.

Another good thing about "Walk Two Moons" is that there are a few cliffhangers. Like when Sal and Phoebe try to find out who was leaving the mysterious notes at the end of the chapter. Another example is when Sal tells her father that she left something under the flloboards in her room at their house in Baybanks, Kentucky.

In the book "Walk Two Moons," Sharon Creech puts in good details. An example of that is the characters are described so well. In "Walk Two Moons" Phoebe doesn't like cholesterol and how Sal is emotional when either her mom dies or if her grandmother dies. Another good detail is the vocabulary in the book. Some words are gooseberry, chickabiddy, Ill-ah-no-way, Huzza, Huzzo, and Id-e-ho are some vocabulary in the book "Walk Two Moons".

There are a lot of things that are sad in this book. A lot of people in this book died because there was a really bad accident on a bus. Sal finds out what really hapens to her mother.

If you like a book that's mysterious and funny and sad, this is the book for you.

My Favorite Book!
Salamanca Tree Hiddle is a "country" girl at heart. When her father and she move to Ohio, Sal's life is turned upside down. But Sal leaves, with her strange grandparents, to go to Idaho to find her mother. Along the way, Salamanca tells the story of Pheobe Winterbottom, a girl whose mother suddely leaves her family. Slowly, Sal realizes that her own story is beneaths Pheobe's.
Walk Two Moons has to be Creech's masterpeice. No wonder it won the Newbery. :~D

Not So Great
Before reading this book by Sharon Creech, I had read Bloomability and Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech which were simply fantastic. However, I don't know how on earth this became an award winning book.

In the beginning, it is really good but the interupptions by her grandparents are somewhat annoying. Phoebe, the girl who turns out to be her friend is sort of--well, off the wall.

Also, Salamanca (the main character), to be a thirteen year old, has some dumb and immature ideas. At some points, I thought I was reading about a five year old.

It is also stupid how Salamanca finds out about how mother died.

It makes no since how her grandfather allows her to drive when she's just 13.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars.

Review of Walk Two Moons
I really enjoyed this book because it had a lot of suspenseful, sudden, scary, and sad moments. As Salamanca tells her story you can picture the places she visits, and you can feel, with intensity, what she is feeling. Although it is heartbreaking when Salamanca finds out that her mother had died, it is still an outstanding book. I would reccommend this book to anyone who likes scary mysteries. ... Read more

Book Description

Family connections are vitally important to children as they begin to find their place in the world. For transracial and transcultural adoptees, domestic adoptees, and for children in foster care or kinship placements, celebrating the differences within their families as well as the similarities that connect them, is the foundation for belonging. As parents or caregivers, we can strengthen our children’s tie to family and embrace the differences that make them unique. Each child will have their own story and their own special place to belong.

This beautifully illustrated and uplifting book, for the 2-5 set, will help to create the intimate parent/caregiver and child bond that is so important. While others may notice the physical differences between us on the outside, inside we are the same. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Seeking Similarities
My 8-year-old loved this book. She was fascinated by the illustrations and the idea that despite our physical differences as a racially blended family, we are very much the same inside, where it makes all the difference. Excellent source for starting a dialogue with any child.

Excellent balance
I have found this book to be an excellent connecting point with our children who were adopted. The way that Kitze acknowledges physical differences and yet affirms the similarities that truly matter is reassuring for children who have concerns about not resembling their adoptive or foster parents. Multicultural illustrations add to the thoughtful writing.

An Excellent Book for All Families
Carrie Kitz has written a wonderful story for all families to enjoy together. My girls, ages 5 and 2, ask me to read it over and over. As a mom to one daughter from China and one from Cambodia, I especially enjoy the message the book sends- we may look different on the outside, but on the inside, we are the same.

A New Adoption Classic !
Don't be fooled by the cover. Carrie's newest creation speaks to the entire adoption and foster community. " I Don't Have Your Eyes" is the novel, one-of-a kind kids' adoption book we have needed.

Although a " feel good" book, there is nothing sterotypical about how adoption is discussed. The illustrations include and normalize all different type of families.

"I Don't Have Your Eyes" helps kids go beyond " blood" and "genes" as the only important ties between family members. Instead, Carrie gently points out, even more important, shared strengths and similarities. The book's concrete examples ( with a little dab of houmor) are delightful.

Congratulations to Ms. Kitze for carefully considering the needs of the adoption community as she publishes her 'adoption and empowerment- themed' books.

Beth O'Malley M.Ed adoptee and newly adoptive Mom .... ... Read more

Book Description

Joey Pigza can't sit still. He can't pay attention, he can't follow the rules, and he can't help it -- especially when his meds aren't working. Joey's had problems ever since he was born, problems just like his dad and grandma have. And whether he's wreaking havoc on a class trip or swallowing his house key, Joey's problems are getting worse. In fact, his behavior is so off the wall that his teachers are threatening to send him to the special-ed center downtown.

Joey knows he's really a good kid, but no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing, something always seems to go wrong. Will he ever get anything right?

00-01 Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Masterlist (Gr. 3-5), 00-01 Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Masterlist (Gr. 6-8), 2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist, 01 AZ Young Reader Award Masterlist (Teen Bks cat.), 00-01 Minnesota's Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Masterlist, 00-01 Land of Enchantment Book Award Masterlist (Gr. 3-6), 00-01 Young Reader's Choice Award Program Masterlist, Pacific NW Library Assoc. 2001 Young Reader's Choice Award Masterlist, and 00-01 Lone Star Reading List

Reviews (101)

Joey Pigza Swallowed the key
Joey Pigza Swallows the Key
By Jack Gantos
...

This summer I read one of the funniest books ever . Joey Pigza Swallows the Key by Jack Gantos is hilarious and funny. Joey has a hard time sitting still and listening. Because Joey is so hyper, he has no friends and has a hard time getting along with other people. Joey bounces from school to school and doctor to doctor trying to find a medication that will calm him down. Joey lives with his grandma while his mom is out searching for his dad. Joey's grandma is also very hyper and wild like Joey even thought she has Emphysema and has a hard time breathing. When Joey's mom finally comes home she is very kind and loves Joey. All of Joey's teachers are very caring and they want to help Joey as much as they can because they know that he needs their help.

One of the most important parts in this book is when Joey goes on a fieldtrip to the Amish Farm with his class. This part is so important because it sort of turns Joey's life in the book from good to bad, but it is not the climax. This turns Joey's life from good to bad because during the fieldtrip their class gets to have a taste of a special Amish pie. Everyone form the class has to get into a line for a piece of the Amish pie. When Joey finally gets up to get his piece of pie, Joey's teacher tells him that he can not have a piece of the pie because it has too much sugar in it. So instead of the pie Joey gets an apple. Joey gets upset because he really wanted a piece of the pie. So while Joey's class is exploring the farm, Joey sneaks off and eats a whole pie. After a while Joey lost control and went crazy. After this Joey has to go to Special Ed class.

As a whole this book was great. I absolutely loved this book. It was so funny and exciting. Some of the parts were so funny I started to laugh out loud. There are so many strange things Joey does that you don't know what he is going to do next so it keeps you thinking and laughing all through the book. The kind of reader that should read this book is someone that likes comedy. This book is for someone who likes comedy because most of the book is comedy. If you do not like to laugh then don't read this book.

A joy to read and a good point to boot
This was a book that touched me in many ways and I am quite happy to have read it. Joey Pigza is an extremely hyperactive 5th Grade boy. As he says to start the book "At school they say I'm wired bad, or wired mad, or wired sad, or wired glad, depending on my mood and what teacher has ended up with me. But there is no doubt about it, I'm wired". Through Gantos' deft storytelling, with Joey acting as our narrator, we are quickly taken into Joey's world. Joey's world isn't one that most of us would like to be a part of for very long. Joey has, up until the time we met him, lived in a world punctuated by two things. The fact that he is a wired, or in other words suffering from an extreme case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and a home life that involves a grandmother taking care of Joey, whose parents are AWOL, who in her own wired way is rather abusive towards Joey. Joey's life changes though with the return of his mother, which causes Joey's grandmother to leave. Joey's mother is a far more together person and is committed to trying to help Joey get better. However, Joey's ADHD causes him to get into ever more destructive situations that culminates in Joey accidentally maiming a girl's nose. With Joey describing the situation, if the reader reads quickly enough, it is quite possible for Joey's ridiculous decisions to make sense. Upon any sort of reflection Joey's decisions look ridiculous, but the fact that Gantos can make the reader understand why Joey acts the way he does is a large part of what makes this an excellent book. After reaching rock bottom Joey is sent to a special school where Joey's desire to not act that way is met with people who can help him get better. And slowly, and not without the occasional set back, Joey with the help of his case worker, "Special Ed", Joey is put on medication that works and he learns to make good decisions. The book ends with one of life's little triumphs as Joey is allowed to leave the Special Education school and return to his normal school. While not everything is OK things are look pretty good for Joey. This sums up the true triumph of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. The book manages to capture the shades of grey that are almost always missing from children's book. Joey is an astute 5th grader, but he is still a 5th grader and so sometimes there are just things he doesn't understand, unlike other children's books where the children appear to be nothing short of clairvoyant. This is a book that is fun to read while being so much more. I highly recommend this book.

Joey Pigza Soars Like a Roller Coaster
Joey Pigza is a kid in Ms. Maxy's 3rd grade class. He is suffering from ADH, and his life is like a soaring roller coaster. Originally, he lived with his somewhat abusive and also hyperactive Grandmother. Their house always looked like a tornado hit it. He had a very hard time at school. He had no friends. Since he could not sit still for 5 seconds, he always got in trouble. One day he sharpened his finger in a pencil sharpener. A big change occurred when his mom came back into his life, and his grandmother moved away. Joey has never met his Dad. One day he swallowed his house key, so he went to a Special Ed class for a little bit of the day. One day at school Joey was making bumper stickers for he and his mom to change the world. So he took Ms. Maxis big teacher scissors to cut the stickers out. He was running with them and tripped and cut off the tip of the nose of one of his classmates. He was sent to a Special Ed school to help him with his problem. They had to do a brain test to make sure that Joey got the right medication. Joey met new people and learned about his condition. He got to go back to his old school in Ms.Maxy's class. I think Jack Gnats did a great job on this book. Out of all the books that I have ever read this was the best one. I am ten years old in the fourth grade.

how dumb can you be to swallow a key
the book joey pigza swallows the key is a very good book. the reason this is a good book is because you never now what joey is going to do because it all matter on weather he toke his meds or not

Charecters for $ale
Buy this character, Joey Pigza, [...] you'll love his entertainment! He is michovus and funny. Also his love for pleaseing you will fil your heart. He'll help you like he helpes his teachers and friends. He'll bring joy and happieness to your home. Face it! He's better than any other kid! Even though he's different, he's superior acts of kindness, prove that he is the one for you! So now you an have him for yourself! [...] ... Read more

Book Description

My Friend with Autism is a coloring book to help peers and siblings understand autism and Asperger's Syndrome. It is the exceptional result of a parent's determination to help her special needs son fit in with his peers, and to foster tolerance and understanding among her son's friends and schoolmates. Author Beverly Bishop teaches high school computer classes and is the technology coordinator for a private K-12 school. She wrote My Friend with Autism for the teachers and students in her son's elementary school class. By helping others understand autism, she is able to encourage tolerance and a positive approach to classroom integration for special needs children. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Perfect for Children and Adults
This is a wonderful book for explaining what a child with Autism is like and how it might effect their behavior.

The children's coloring book section is really good and perfect even for the pre-school level.

The parent section is awesome. It is a wondeful section explaining to the parent how to discuss each page with their child and gives a wonderful understanding for the parent at their level as well.

We orginally bought to give to a couple of parents in our son's play group whose children were starting to ask questions about their friend and why his behavior was different.

We are now buying for all our friends and family (even the grandparents) to have for their own.

A must have book.

Great first resource for children and adults
My five-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with high functioning autism. It was no surprise to my wife and I as we had been dealing with the effects of autism for several years and had done much research on our own. The formal diagnosis made us realize it was time to try and explain to friends and relatives what autism is and why our daughter acts the way she does. This book has been extremely helpful. It was the first book we read with our eight year old who has been struggling with the fact her little sister is different. The adult section is also very well written and was also the first resource we used for grand parents and other adults in our daughters life. We plan to purchase many more copies. Thank You Beverly Bishop!

HATS OFF TO THIS BOOK!
This book does a wonderful service in describing autism and its related spectrum condition, Asperger's. The gently written text; the clear explanations and the child friendly form of coloring in the pictures provides a safe ground in exploring spectrum behaviors from a child's point of view. How I wish I had owned this book when I was a child!

This is a must-have for educators, parents and persons in related fields who work with people who are on the spectrum. This book is really for everybody because it opens new doors and provides a fresh approach in discussing spectrum behaviors.

A "Must Have" For Every Educational Library
"My Friend with Autism" is a wonderful educational tool for teachers, peers of autistic children, and other family members. This book is highly informative, yet simple to understand, and short enough to keep the younger readers' attention. I have bought 4 of these books for my autistic son's teachers, and plan to buy more for my extended family. I will also be using this book next fall to educate my son's first grade class at the beginning of the school year.

Thank you, Ms. Bishop, for creating a brilliant tool!

Buy one for every student in your child's class!
This is the best book ever for the peers of students with autism. The author recommends buying one for every student in the class, and I agree!! The teacher can easily use this book as a lesson plan for helping kids understand an autistic peer. Then, the students take it home for their parents to read, and many new doors are opened for the autistic student! This is a must read for adults and children!! ... Read more

Book Description

Life is a tangle of
twisting paths.
Some short.
Some long.
There are dead ends.
And there are choices.
And wrong turns,
and detours,
and yield signs,
and instruction booklets,
and star maps,
and happiness,
and loneliness.
And friends.
And sisters.
And love.
And poetry.

Life is a maze.
You are a maze.
Amazed.
And amazing.

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: A Maze Me
"Ringing


A baby, I stood in my crib to hear
the dingy-ding of a vegetable truck approaching.

When I was bigger, my mom took me out
to the street
to meet the man who rang the bell and
he tossed me
a tangerine...

...the first thing I ever caught.I thought
he was
a magic man.

My mom said there used to be milk trucks too.
She said,
Look hard, he'll be gone soon.And she was right.
He disappeared.

Now when I hear an ice-cream truck chiming
its bells, I fly.
Even if I'm not hungry--just to watch it pass.

Mailmen with their chime of dogs barking
up and down the street are magic too.

They are all bringers.

I want to be a bringer.

I want to drive a truck full of eggplants down
the smallest street.

I want to be someone making music
with my coming."

And so she is. And so she does.
A great joy that accompanies a new book of poems by Naomi Shihab Nye is the expectation that she will begin reappearing at national conferences and conventions, reading aloud from her latest collection. The good feeling I've taken away with me from her past workshops is about as close as I get to church these days.

A MAZE ME contains seventy-two of Naomi's latest poems. Younger teens will find these pieces easy to read and relate to. Hopefully, many will be intrigued and inspired by Naomi's ability to create poetry from such sources as a car manual, a newspaper article, a taco sign, "the hair on the head of the girl in front of me in school," Julia Child's patting potatoes, or a vapor trail "X" that a pair of planes have inadvertently left in the sky.

Being a book of "Poems for Girls" there are also the requisite handful of "longing" poems:

"High Hopes


It wasn't that they were so
high, exactly,
they were more
low-down,
close-to-the-ground,
I could rub them
the way you touch a cat
that rubs against your ankles
even if he isn't yours.

So yes I feel lonely without them.
Now that I know the truth,
that I only dreamed someone liked me,
the cat has curled up in a bed of leaves
against the house and I still have to do
everything I had to do before
without a secret hum
inside."

Despite being a guy, I really enjoyed the images and memories conjured up by these poems. Whether reading "Visiting My Old Kindergarten Teacher, Last Day of School," "Turtle" (about the persistent creature that had walked for twenty years), or "Across the Aisle" (about the little girl who coughed "every 30 seconds for seven whole hours" on a transatlantic flight), I've repeatedly interrupted Rosemary's reading on the couch and Shari's grading papers at the kitchen table in order to have an audience with whom to share the poems aloud.
"Big Head, Big Face
(what my brother said to me)


If your head had been smaller
maybe you woulda had less thoughts in it,
maybe you wouldn't have so many troubles.
This is just a guess but seems to me
like a little drawer only hold a few spoons
and you can always find the one you need
while a big drawer jammed with tongs
strings corks junky stuff receipts birthday cards
you never gonna look at
scrambled and mixed so one day
you open that drawer
poke your hand in and big knife go
through your palm
you didn't even know a knife was IN there,
well, that's why I think
it might not be so bad to have a little head
with just a few thoughts few memories few hopes
maybe if only one little one came true
that be enough for you."

Luckily for us, Naomi Shihab Nye has carefully sifted through that drawer to provide an entertaining assortment of poetic images, thoughts, stories, and yoga poses. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

My Favorite Book for Anyone with a Loss
Written in a children's book format - with simply worded concepts, wonderfully colored pictures, and a creative idea - this is one of those great books that actually feels written for adults as much as for school-age children.

I've used lots of books on grief in 30 years of practicing psychotherapy. And this is the best! It's written in a way that gives the grieving mind and exhausted spirit a quick, hands-on idea of what's happening, and it gives fabulous permission to every reader to absolutely do your grief "your way."

I've given out perhaps 25 copies. Some come back. Others set out on a journey of their own. And I love that they do. I feel like "the Lupine Lady" (reference to another children's book.)

I'd like to thank the authors, if they ever read their reviewers, for a heart-felt gift to us.

I felt understood!
... This book is wise and insightful, both for a grieving person as well as someone who loves a grieving person. Any type of loss is addressed in this book. The book is perfect for children as the illustrations are stunning and it is written simply, but adults will experience it more deeply as they will see it's wisdom and understand it's nuances. This is an excellent choice.

tear soup
fantastic in all ways...gentle words and metaphors that would be helpful to all ages to not only describe the process of grieving but to help them move through it. wonderful illustrations. a must for those grieving and those who are touched by someone grieving. 5+++

Helping Through
My counselor recommended this book to me after the loss of my son. As I cried my way through the book, I found validation for my feelings and thoughts. It was very helpful to me and it is also a good source for friends who want to know how to help people dealing with similar losses. I am buying a copy to donate to my local library.

Very Helpful...
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist who recently lost my beloved Mother. Her death was sudden and unexpected. I received this book as a gift to help me through my first birthday without my Mother. This book is absolutely tremendous in it's ability to address the truth of grief. This is a must have for both the bereaved and any professional who works with clients both young and old. I particularly enjoyed the way the book addressed the responses of the people around the bereaved--it was very healing and I will be purchasing several copies to give to people who have suffered a great loss. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

review by a teen for a book to teens
This is a very good book because it brings up topics that relates to teenage boys and gives them advice on how to handle some of the problems in their teenage life and answer some of the questions that have that no one will answer or that they can't find out. For example, it gives good advice on how to go on dates and what to do on them. I this book says on dates you should talk to the person you are out with and get to know them better, not to kiss or do anything bad. If you are a parent, this book tell your children to do anything bad.

Lacks depth
The book is very shallow - the section on sex is one page, for example. There is no discussion of AIDS, STD's or using birth control. If you are looking for a book to begin a conversation with your teenage son, go ahead and buy it. If you are looking for a book that will discuss the many issues of teenage life (emotions, friends, sexuality, drugs) in depth - this is not the book.