2 comments about Raising a Child Responsibly in a Sexually Permissive World.

1. This is a WONDERFUL book for parents of all kinds. The Gordons understand how complicated it is to teach kids good sexual values--without being negative about sex--in our sex-crazed world. This book provides practical advice that covers a wide range of issues, such as: self-esteem, how families have changed, the media's sexual messages, school sex education, why kids need more than "just say no", and what to do when kids think they're "in love."

   Since parents are often embarrassed about this whole thing, the Gordons give lots of suggestions about how parents can deal with their embarrassment. They also suggest ways parents can open conversations about sexuality, and they provide lists of questions (with great answers) that kids of different ages will probably ask.

   It's hard enough being a parent--at least the Gordons make this part of parenting a little easier.




2. This is an excellent book. I plan to re-read it because I'm concerned about the proper upbringing of my two boys aged 7 and 9. I agree with another reviewer totally when they say, "The Gordons understand how complicated it is to teach kids good sexual values--without being negative about sex--in our sex-crazed world." This is going to be tricky as my boys enter the scary adolescent years.
   
   Thanks for this book of comfort and encouragement!

2 comments about The Essential Moving Planning Kit.

1. I am in the process of moving my residence and have purchased "The Essential Moving Planning Kit." Recently, I married and used the Wedding Planning Kit. I found that the wedding kit had kept me so organized that I couldn't wait to get starting with the moving kit. Moving one's residence can be emotionally difficult, especially when one isn't organized; but with an aid, such as the "The Essential Moving Planning Kit," my task has been definitely eased.



2. This book is a lot of fluff and filler, and not one original thought to be had. Its contents could easily be condensed to one or two pages, but they use all kinds of "title pages" and other tricks to try and make it look like a substantial-size book. Don't waste your money or time.

3 comments about Beautiful Necessity, The.

1. This book was a pleasant surprise. Purchasing what I thought would be a good idea book for an upcoming remodel of my basement, I ended up with a general schooling of the driving forces behind the Arts & Crafts movement. The illustrations exposed the styles of many of the great names of the era. I now have a more thorough understanding of this revolt against the machine and can better appreciate the efforts of Morris, Stickley, Hubbard, and others to save the craftsman. The resources at the end of the book are a treasure trove of suppliers for all things Arts & Crafts.



2. In the midst of a big arts and crafts kick I decided to bring home a bunch of books on the subject from my library. The Beautiful Necessity is the third such work I have reviewed recently, and I have to recommend it as a wonderful book. I really like the arrangement and presentation of the chapters, and the color photographs are well selected and beautiful. One of my bigger pet peeves with books like this is their tendency to be too regional in scope. Often a book purporting to cover a subject like arts and crafts interiors will focus too narrowly on just California Greene and Greene houses or just on New York Stickley houses. This book is great because it gives equal effort to showcasing interiors from Eastern, Midwestern, and Western examples of arts and crafts homes. I also commend the authors on their excellent resource guide in the back of the book. One can use this guide to find 10 sources each for everything from architects to antiques dealers, and carpeting to metalwork. There is even an extensive list of historic a&c homes that are open for public tours.
   
   If you enjoy and/or collect books on this topic, I highly recommend this title as a "must have". You won't be disappointed.



3. We've had this book in our pile of Arts and Crafts reference material for a while and it still gets picked up once in a while for ideas of just to look at all the great photographs. As a previous reviewer mentions (and I agree completely with the assessment!) this book doesn't cover just one region. Too many Arts and Crafts book authors waste time writing a book about the style and then spend the entire book looking at one or two homes. If I see one more book naming itself in such a manner to lead the reader to believe that it is contains broad information about the style yet features nothing but pictures of the Greene and Greene "Gamble House" I'm going to scream! (authors take note!)
   
   One thing I would mention to readers about this book is that it covers predominantly the American style of Arts and Crafts. While it does contain information about the individuals that began the movement in Europe and the reflections of those influences in the American version, it does not cover all of the style. The authors have done a great job presenting the information they have concentrated on, though. The book covers East Coast to West Coast, shows some of the influences that Japanese or Art Nouveau styles had in the movement and presents examples of the work done by several designers well known in the American Arts and Crafts movement such as Stickley, Wright and Greene & Greene. They cover funishings, decorative items such as pottery, leaded glass windows and lighting; along with the overall fit, finish, and philosophy behind building in the Arts and Crafts style. Definitely would recommend this book for your arts and crafts collection. Also recommend "The Arts and Crafts Companion", by Todd, for a bigger picture and more historical information.

3 comments about The Bag Book: Over 500 Great Uses and Reuses for Paper, Plastic and Other Bags to Organize and Enhance Your Life (Lansky, Vicki).

1. The Bag Book is chock full of tips and ideas for using bags to organize your life. With categories for paper, plastic, and miscellaneous bags (totes, garbage, and so forth), there is a practical use for almost any type of bag you encounter in your household.

   Ms. Lansky provides us with an interesting primer on the history of bags, and her environmental comparisions will finally help you solve the age-old dilemma of every grocery shopper: paper or plastic?

   From getting organized with ziplock bags in the junk drawer, to staying organized using grocery bags in the closet for outdated clothing, using the tips found in The Bag Book will streamline your home organizing system




2. Vicki Lansky has all sorts of ideas for using new bags or recycling old ones. 'The Bag Book' is full of ideas for a household item we take for granted. (excerpted from an article by Judith W. Winne, Courier-Post Staff)



3. While the book is full of useful tips and suggestions it doesn't have much in the way of reducing getting all these bags in the first place. Would have been nice to educate people on this aspect too. E.g. encouraging people to use resuable shopping bags.

5 comments about Found Style: Vintage Ideas for Modern Living.

1. This is one of the best decorating books out there if you love the vintage look and mixing new with old. Ideas in how to use what you may already have and how to incorporate antique and "junk" items in new ways. This book includes chapters on living rooms, home office/art studio, kitchen, bedroom, bath, etc. I look through this book again and again and see something new each time. I hope David and Amy are working on another book!



2. This book really made my day: full of fabulous, inspiring photos of the exact style I aspire to in my home: vintage but never cutsey, a little edgy and raw, but still cozy and natural and playful. Ingenious ideas here, and a great blend of folksy, country and urbane and sophisticated. I only wish there was a whole series by these two.



3. This book is full of wonderful, artistic ideas; each page better than the last. I wistfully moved from an old, 1920's bungalow into a brand-spankin'new townhome and have referenced Found Style many times for ideas. This book isn't for the cookie cutter, Christopher Lowell set; it's for creative people who prefer to have homes that reflect who they are artistically. I don't want my home to look like a Pottery Barn showroom. I want to create a comfortable and cozy, yet clever environment that you just can't find at a home decor store. Just as the name implies, the book imparts creative ideas for found objects, salvage and thrift store finds. For those of us who love frequenting flea markets and thrift stores, Found Style is the perfect book for giving us ideas on how to use our finds in clever and unique ways. It has enabled me to turn my suburban, builder beige townhome into something distinctive with vintage character.



4. The book placed vintage items in houses vs. looking at vintage items and creating new functional things with them. I was looking more for ideas for projects. This book did not spark anything creative in me. I can purchase vintage items and place in my home just like they did. This book was just a bunch of pictures...things that anyone can do.



5. I own 2 decorating books, and this is one of them. What separates this book from the other "vintage" or "flea market" books is that the syle is MODERN and artful, not the shabby chic-ish or country styles that I detest. These looks are for people who love the look of vintage and flea-market finds, but with a hip, modern, and arty spin.

5 comments about The Absolute Best Play Days: From Airplanes to Zoos (and Everything in Between!).

1. I was pleased to receive my copy of this book as it provided me with many valuable tips, games and ideas to occupy two very active children and their friends.

   The style of the book is easy and comfortable, giving valuable advice in how to constructively occupy growing minds in an appealing manner.

   The children, and their friends, have enjoyed many of the activities, so far, and I'm sure will continue to do so.

   Thanks to Ms Waterman for this invaluable resource.




2. Absolute Best Play Days, by Pamela Waterman, is an extremely valuable resource for planning themed activities for children. This is a book that we librarians will use to get ideas for our 2-to-6-year-old story times. We like to structure our story times around various themes and the ideas presented in this book are great--really creative--and also very do-able! That's definitely a plus! Thanks!



3. Well organized. Comprehensive. Creative. An excellent resource for teachers, parents, and caregivers. As a mother of girls aged 4 years 9 months and 3 years, I was searching for activities that they both would enjoy and that I could adapt to their different levels of development. This book is a lifesaver! For each theme, the author, Pamela Waterman, provides several Art projects with simple instructions, a few Indoor activities, suggested Musical activities or songs to sing, activities to do Outdoors, Books to check out from the library or buy, Videos to rent or buy, and special snacks to make. All theme related. Most using supplies that are easily found around the home or inexpensive to purchase. There is even a section called Hints for Your Own Situation that includes tips for older children. You can follow the themes from A to Z, or skip around to various favorites as I do. With 52 Weeks of Themes, here are a few:
   Astronomy
   Bugs
   Circus
   Detectives
   Firefighting
   Hair
   Musical Instruments
   Pirates
   Restaurant
   Surprises!
   Theater
   Wheels
   Zoo



4. I wish I would have known about this book earlier. We could have been having this much fun sooner! My son is turning 3 and it is perfect for him. The layout of the book is great. It lists the supplies you need, details variations you might opt for, and lists resources.
   
   I really like the resources being listed. I plan themed days in advance and I look for the books and/or videos listed in the resources at the local library to help with the theme for that day. For example if it is "airplane day" I look up books and videos on airplanes at the library so we can learn about them before we dive into the other activities.
   
   At first I thought "wow this book has so many themed day I will never have time to do everything listed". Now I see that some themes really only work planned in advance but others work well at last notice. I mean we all know with toddlers events are unpredictable!!
   
   Great book for anyone with children or those caring for them.



5. Our family and circle of friends have a wide variety of kids' ages, from two years old to fourteen. This book contains many activities that can be split up among age/capabilities of the kids involved, making it both useful and fun for everyone. Even older kids outside of the recommended play activities can participate by helping get things ready for the younger kids.
   There's very little that can't be set up during the course of an average toddler's nap time, another plus. Highly recommended for anyone who needs to wrangle a diverse age/capability group on a weekend afternoon.

5 comments about Kids Who Laugh : How to Develop Your Child's Sense of Humor.

1. Kids Who Laugh is a very informative, enjoyable and worthwhile book. I believe that one of the most important gifts I can give to my children is the gift of a sense of humor. Dr. Franzini, with his insightful text and helpful techniques, helps a parent achieve this goal. Dr. Franzini makes a convincing argument that a sense of humor is a learned trait and, after reading this book, I agree. Even if you already have a well developed sense of humor, this book helps you transfer that trait to your children.



2. Finally a parenting book that deals with teaching children a skill that will be all-important in any future relationship. It also teaches how to discourage inappropriate humor in a positive manner.

   This book would be a wonderful guideline for teachers who want to incorporate humor in the classroom. And as teachers are role models for children this is an excellent place to develop this skill.

   Kids Who Laugh is written in an easy and witty style and it is apparent that Dr. Franzini has an excellent sense of humor himself.

   I would recommend this book to every parent who thinks that laughter in life is important.




3. This book has information anybody can use. Even if your children are grown or you've retired from teaching. You probably have nephews, nieces, grand kids or neighbor kids.
   Incidentally, it's never too late to learn.

   This is an interesting, easy to read, informative book. Positive and full of good ideas. It dispels for once and for all the myth that some of us are born with a sense of humor and some are not. The author shows that this is not true. Everybody, especially kids, can learn to develop, and use, their sense of humor. Great examples and practices as well as interesting websites are chronicled. Exceptional children are also taken into consideration. As the author says, "exceptional kids like to laugh too." Don't we all.




4. Our world is ravaged by conflict and our kids are bombarded with stress. Parents are completely frazzled. Dr. Franzini's book is a wonderful antidote to all the stress because it addresses those quiet, marvelous moments we all share with the children in our lives--moments when you catch your breath and think, wow, surely there is hope for this tattered world after all. Humor serves as our deep connection to each other and if we can instill the ability to appreciate humor in our kids, we certainly must. This book will help everyone!



5. This book is a refreshing tale about the importance of developing a child's sense of humor. Dr. Franzini breaks down humor and explains what is funny to children at various ages. He highlights all of the benefits of humor. This book uses sound research to validate claims about the health, emotional, and social benefits of laughter. It is refreshing to see an expert who understands how humor can help children cope with a variety of stressful situations, such as teasing and bullying, as well as to deepen friendships. I also appreciated the practical ideas and strategies an educator can use to apply these techniques in a school or clinical setting. Plus, he is funny! And isn't that the most important trait after all?

1 comments about Hand Tool Classics Slipcase Set: The Handplane Book and Classic Hand Tools.

1. For the woodworker looking to expand his/her knowledge of planes, how they work, the history, good planes vs bad, how to tune and restore them, this is the book. Lots of illustrations, well written...would highly recommend

1 comments about Heloise from A to Z Updated.

1. This book is a good resource for uncommon (but viable) methods of cleaning while also focusing on ways to save the earth, such as using non-toxic cleaning elements (alcohol, vinegar, baking soda, etc.) rather than chemical products that can harm children and pets. This is a great guide book when you have exhausted (or even before you have exhausted) your options and/or your wallet.

5 comments about How to Decorate and Furnish Your Apartment on a Budget: From Budgeting to Shopping, Your Idea Source for Transforming Your Apartment into a Beautiful Home.

1. This book is for those of us with little money, little time and very little or no decorating skills/creativity. If you are moving into an apartment (like me) and have a desire to create a pleasant living space, this book is definetly for you.

   I like the book because it is very practical and it helped me focus on what I wanted my apartment to look like. It helped me establish a budget and a "look" for the apartment, so now, when I go shopping, I know exactly how much I have to spend, what I need and whether or not something will match or look good, etc.

   The author also gives tips on where to find stuff on at a discounted rate and her sample budgets made me remember to buy the little stuff you tend to forget about, like a small trash can for the kitchen.

   The best part about all of this is that the entire process, budgeting and creating a scheme only took a few hours to create.




2. This book is for those of us with little money, little time and very little or no decorating skills/creativity. If you are moving into an apartment (like me) and have a desire to create a pleasant living space, this book is definetly for you.

   I like the book because it is very practical and it helped me focus on what I wanted my apartment to look like. It helped me establish a budget and a "look" for the apartment, so now, when I go shopping, I know exactly how much I have to spend, what I need and whether or not something will match or look good, etc.

   The author also gives tips on where to find stuff on at a discounted rate and her sample budgets made me remember to buy the little stuff you tend to forget about, like a small trash can for the kitchen.

   The best part about all of this is that the entire process, budgeting and creating a scheme only took a few hours to create.




3. If you have very little money, little time, little or no decorating talent, and the desire to make your apartment look great, this book is for you! This is the first decorating book I picked up where ALL of the ideas in this book are paractical.

   How to Decorate helped me establish a budget and "scheme" for apartment. Following the author's guidelines will help you do the same. So when you go shopping for instance, you will not impulse buy and end up with furniture you don't really want.

   The author also makes great suggestions on discount shopping stores, space and style consideration, cheapo ways to change the look of furniture, and how to "size up an apartment" during your initial apartment hunting period.

   If your shopping/moving budget is $500 or less, this book is a must have!!




4. this book just didn't have any information in it that I didn't already have.



5. I'm currently in a position that forces me to move to an apt that is way smaller than anything I've ever lived. Going from a large house to a 577 sq foot space is scarey. Smaller income and health made it the only solution that was sensible. This book encouraged me that I COULD make it work. I needed this encouragment to help me see a picture that wasn't hopeless. THANKS to the author, I'm back on track. PB