5 comments about Husband-Coached Childbirth (Fifth Edition): The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth.

1. We bought this book because we did not learn about the Bradley method till I was 6 months pregnant and couldn't find a session that had openings and finished before the due date. We knew a lot about the method and were very interested in using it in the birth of our first baby. We expected that the book would give us more information on the principles of the Bradley method than it did. The book's basic motiv is just to convince you that nonmedicated natural childbirth is the best way. We already knew that; we just wanted some literature beyond lamaze to show us how to manage the pain more effectively. Don't waste the money on the book; try to sign up for the classes.



2. In response to the other reviews, I'd like to say that this book was written to the husband of the woman having a baby, not to the woman herself. It's written by a man who has assisted hundreds (thousands?) of women during natural births to men who will be coaching, supporting and helping their wives through their own natural births. As a woman who has had two natural births and is anticipating her third in January, I read this before asking my husband to read it. Over and over I thought, "Oh, I'd love for my husband to think about that." or "It would be really helpful for my husband to know this." He then read it and found it very enlightening as to what is going on during the stages of birth, how I might be feeling, what I should be doing, and how he can help.



3. I must admit, I had my doubts about my ability to sucessfully give birth naturally. But once I read this book and began attending the Bradley Birth Classes with my husband, my doubts disappeared. Everything made sense after that as I became educated and confident and prepared in the area of natural childbirth. In July, I delivered my first child without any medical interference, and everything went perfectly. I know we are blessed to have had the experience without complication, but we were prepared for that as well. The Bradley classes were especially good for helping you feel prepared for the complications that can, and many times do, occur. This book is a must for anyone who wants to take control of their experience as it relates to natural births and making medical decisions that are best for you and your baby!



4. After reading some of the negative reviews about this book I feel I need to correct some of the misinterpretations of Dr. Bradley's book. First of all it is written specifically to the husbands to give them an understanding on how the birth process works and how they can be an active part in the preparation for and the act of childbirth; as a coach and as a companion to the mother. The language used is a bit dated, but the principals and concepts are unchanging.
   This book teaches how a woman can prepare her mind and body for the natural process of delivering her child. Dr. Bradley cites his years and years of experience and an amazing success rate only to give you encouragement- to give you someone to relate to so that you can see how women over decades (and centuries for that matter) have worked with their bodies to avoid complications and have received an amazing and empowering experience in return, not to brag about himself as an OB.
   I used the knowledge that I acquired from this book to deliver my first son after 4 hours of labor (dramatically shorter than the average first time mother I feel because I was prepared to deal with the different demands my body was placing on me at each stage)- with no medication. With my husband by my side encouraging and supporting me I knew I could do anything.
   Dr. Bradley was a Pioneer of his day and has made it possible for thousands of women to have the birth experience they deserve. I would definitely recommend the Bradley Classes as a companion to your individual research. It provides a support group as well as a knowledgeable instructor who can answer more personal and direct questions then you could obtain from the text of a book.



5. I thought the book was very informative and helpful on what to expect with labor. I just wish the book had a larger chapter on relaxation techniques. My husbnad and I do feel more prepared and confident about the birth of our baby. We wanted to go natural and this is our first child. This is definitely a book worth buying if you want to learn more about going natural. Reading the testimonials from other families was great, because everyone is different and you really don't know what will work for you until you get to that point. This book is a must.

5 comments about Torn (Triple Crown Publications Presents) (Triple Crown Publications Presents).

1. You gotta love Keisha Ervin for serving up yet another page turner, dramatic filled hood tale!!!
   
   Mo is your quintessential ride or die chick and she will ride or die for her man Quan. But after 9 years of cheating, lying, drama, side chicks, mis-carriages, lonely nights and heartache - Mo has decided enough is enough. Don't get the game twisted though - Mo has her issues too. Her father, friends and even Quan's mother tell her to leave him alone. But he draws her back in each and everytime.
   
   But when is enough ENOUGH - for Mo it's a dramatic turn of events that leave her shaken to the core. Will she return to Quan's arms or will she finally find the strength to stand up on her own. See for yourself - you won't be disappointed that you did.



2. I've read and loved all of Keisha's novels, but I had to force my way through this one. The story just seemed to drag and Mo was very nerve-racking. I also noticed Keisha jacked a lot of movie scenes.



3. I found myself dreaming about this book after I read it at night! This is the first book that I have read by her and since I have gone out and copped all other's written by Ms. Ervin. An excllent story teller. I felt like this was a true story. It is my true story and so many other young couples who are or have gone through this! It not esay to walk away from what's familiar even if its not good for you and Keisha captured that exactly in this book! GREAT WRITING from someone who reads all sorts of books.



4. This is my favorite from Keisha Ervin. I loved these characters, felt the pain and the love. Loved "Mo" and "Quan"..but "Boss"...oh yea...GREAT BOOK!!!



5. Great book there was never a dull moment. This book was good from beginning to end. I really loved this book. I wished the last chapter was longer and included more details about Mo's pregnancy and her relationship with boss.

5 comments about Generation Dead.

1. Everyone else who's reviewed this so far has mentioned plenty of the good things about this book, and the other reviewers have also done a great job explaining what it's about. I agree with most of them that it was a fun read, but there were too many things about this book that bothered me for me to say I liked it. I give this book a middle-of-the-road rating, and I'll explain what my fundamental problems with the book are, though I should say for the record that such things will not ruin the book for everyone--just did for me. But first. . . .
   
   I'm the first person to rate this book at less than a perfect five stars, so I realize I am just asking to get kicked in the face by fans who like to abuse ratings buttons. This review is CONSTRUCTIVE. Reviews are supposed to be honest and well-constructed, and this review contains my reasons for not liking the book very much. It's not hateful or full of bashing, so I respectfully ask readers to withhold THEIR hate and bashing and remember that your votes are supposed to be for "helpful" and "not helpful," not for whether you agree with my assessment. I venture to say I am writing helpful things here. Now, on with my comments.
   
   My biggest problem with this book is that the concept is a neat idea but wasn't all that well carried out. It seemed almost like the author wanted to write about the social aspects of how dead people returning to life would affect society, but skipped the gritty details of what WOULD actually happen in between, moving right on to the fun part where dead kids are in your school. Consider this:
   
   Less than three years had passed since the phenomenon began and yet there was already this push to fight for zombies' equality as citizens. Before scientists knew what made this happen. Before they could tell if zombies were in fact unstable, dangerous, diseased, whatever. The way this book is structured, it seemed like the author thought it really was feasible that the scientific community would collectively shrug and let these kids go about their afterlives.
   
   I'm not saying I can't suspend disbelief about zombies in the first place, because that's the fun of it--it's just that since the book was written in a non-humorous, otherwise *realistic* fashion, it seems to be trying to frame how society really would react to dead people joining "our" ranks, and yet it misses some of the basic fibers of human nature.
   
   For an example, let's look at America's embarrassing history when it came to equal rights for blacks. When black and white schools were getting integrated, so many white people were furious that their kids had to go to school with blacks that they withdrew their children, and the black kids had to be escorted to school and protected by policemen, frequently holding back crowds of whites who yelled and threw things. And this is how they acted when the kids were actually protected by the law! Zombies, in this book, have no rights. They would fare far worse. Even in this supposedly enlightened era. Dead coming back to life is a LOT more of a fundamental change than learning next to someone with a different skin color. There would be upheavals on scales that are nearly inconceivable. But here are these kids facing some prejudice and physical danger but going largely unmolested to school shortly after waking up dead.
   
   And . . . how are they in school, exactly? They're not citizens. It's said they can't get driver's licenses or vote. But I suppose somehow they're able to be enrolled in school? No law can be requiring them to go (so one wonders why some of them are even there if they don't "have" to go), but even if they wanted to . . . would they really be allowed? I know visitors who aren't students sure had to jump through hoops to even be allowed inside the schools I worked at in college. Laws don't acknowledge these poor dead kids, so I find it hard to figure out why for no reason whatsoever some laws do seem to apply to them and some don't, depending on if it's convenient for the story's situation.
   
   It's stuff like this that made the world "feel" wrong to me. I did like the slice of life the author chose to portray. Phoebe and Adam's relationship was VERY well-done--their adolescent confusion was believable, and most of the character interaction was convincing; I think character-building is this author's strong point. Another good example was that prejudice existed on both sides; there were some zombies who didn't trust the "traditionally biotic" and treated them badly, so it was refreshing to see zombies were not just a bunch of sad, maligned, defenseless creatures who never did any hating of their own. But I was pretty disappointed in the worldbuilding.
   
   It would be obnoxious of me to demand that every question be answered, but it wasn't so much that the questions weren't answered that bothered me; what bothered me most is that there were several aspects of the story that made it seem impossible or improbable (even while suspending disbelief for kids coming back to life, of course), and no attempts were made to address these. Sorta like the author wanted to skip over some of the realistic ramifications of undead teens and skip right to the part where dead kids are an oppressed minority whose rights are only recognized by PC progressive types (three years after they started existing in the first place), complete with cheesy slogans on tee shirts.
   
   Stuff I'm not sure the author thought of:
   
   Zombies are repeatedly said not to breathe. How are they talking? I'm cool with it if there is a good explanation--like that they *can* breathe but don't need to to "live," or they're talking some different way. But nobody ever tells you.
   
   Why would their eyes and skin lose pigment within a few minutes or hours of being dead? That doesn't happen to people who actually die. They don't suddenly become pale and lose their eye color. So why does it happen to zombies? I'm not saying it can't happen in the story, just that I would like some understanding of why besides "it just does, because that's what zombies look like."
   
   Why do their hair and nails grow? They don't actually grow after death. That's a myth.
   
   I guess my bottom line here is to say that I would see the events in Generation Dead happening more realistically in *micro* if some of the *macro* issues had been thought through a little better. They wouldn't have had to be focused on--just either addressed peripherally or insinuated to have been. The author pointed out several times that the scientists don't have any clue what allows zombies to "live" and why zombiism only occurs in American (or Canadian!) teens--but saying no one knows how it works doesn't do it for me. The ramifications of the laws of physics and biology being violated in an otherwise rational world is not examined at all. Scientists would freak. Society would freak. And not calm down for a very long time. If they don't find the answer, you've got to show what happens when they don't find the answer.
   
   And if, somehow, the zombie phenomenon did NOT cause a widespread panic, and eventually things settled down to the point that they could begin to pursue their rights and enroll at your school, I think it would only be after there were a lot more answers. Look at how schools and society handled the concept of living with students who had AIDS when it was first showing up. The reaction was something like "OMG what are the rules, can I get it from touching him, what if he bleeds on me, isn't AIDS a GAY DISEASE, hey wait you want MY KID to go to school with THAT?" Now try multiplying the height of THAT by fifteen or so and you'll have the attitudes and reactions that'd be caused by walking, talking dead people. I don't demand that the zombie thing make scientific sense or anything; I just ask that the world depicted in a book is internally consistent, and I ultimately could not reconcile the concept with the reaction in this book.
   
   Just one more note: The book had a higher than average language glitch score (which isn't good). Editors and fact-checkers, please put on your glasses for the next edition. I caught "peoples'" instead of "people's," a possessive used incorrectly with respect to someone's house, "Badger's" instead of "Badgers," "fifteen minute" instead of "fifteen minutes," and "sight" instead of "site," and the first time I saw the word "retina" used when the author meant "iris" it startled me. Then he did it again later, which means I guess he thinks the colored part of the eye is called the retina. Retinas are on the inside of eyeballs. Really weirded me out when I thought we were seeing a zombie's retina, until I realized it was just a mistake.
   
   Most people who don't overthink everything and aren't as picky as I am will probably still enjoy this story, so read the other reviews and decide for yourself. Like I said, it's entertaining in micro and the characters are well-written while the concept is entertaining. I just think it could have been thought through a little better, and I have a sneaking suspicion that part of the reason an unrealistically short amount of time was allowed to go by was so we could still get these zombies into the schools when they weren't too much older than when they died. Since reality is skewed to make the premise work, I lost respect for it early on and that upset my ability to enjoy the book.



2. I enjoyed this book quit a lot! its just something i wouldn't read vampire, werewolf yes zombies heck no! but Daniel waters takes you to a different perspective on zombies! Its great i hope theirs more to come. And if you want to read something different get this book!!! Oh and btw the characters are great!



3. Although a lot of people seemed to think this book was well written and went into depth about how life would almost BE like if living (sort of) zombie adolescents romed our streets, I just didn't get into it.
   
   It seemed to me almost a bad imitation of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" which I am a big fan of. The impecable white skin, eyes a different colour and the obvious none beating heart were just some indications of how it was related not, on the other hand, including the forbidden love.
   
   I still haven't finished my book, and I just feel like putting it down and reading "Twilight" again.



4. In its Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that separate schools for black and white students were unconstitutional. The schools for whites were often superior to their counterparts for black students and consequently the separate schools offered very different educational opportunities. This ruling was key to the civil rights movement and efforts to end segregation.
   
   On September 3, 1957, nine black students were barred from entry into Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. By September 23, after another court decision ruled that Arkansas' governor could not keep them out, the Little Rock Nine were able to begin their school year in the white high school. President Eisenhower also sent the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to help protect the black students from harassment that ranged from insults to acid being thrown into one student's face.
   
   Eight of the Little Rock Nine finished the school year at the Central High. In May of 1958 Ernest Green graduated from the school, the only minority in his graduating class of 602 students.
   Fifty years later, Daniel Waters' debut novel Generation Dead offers a new take on integration and the fight for civil rights. In Oakvale, Connecticut parents and students alike are worried about the new students transferring to Oakvale High to benefit from the school's program of integration. Some of the new students are minorities, some of them are not. The reason all of the new students prove worrisome to some locals is more fundamental: The new students are dead.
   
   All over the country, dead teenagers are waking up and rejoining the living--more or less. Called "living impaired" or "differently biotic" by a politically correct society, many of the undead kids prefer the term "zombie." No one knows why some teenagers come back and some don't. The only certainty is that everything changed the moment these zombies began trying to reconnect with the world of the living.
   
   Unfortunately, some (living) people would prefer to have the zombies stay dead. Permanently. Everyone child knows that names can never hurt them, but for undead teens that don't heal sticks and stones suddenly seem much more dangerous, especially when the government has no laws to protect differently biotic citizens. After all, citizenship is supposed to expire when the citizen does, isn't it?
   
   In Generation Dead integration doesn't start with a court decision detailing undead rights. Instead it starts with Tommy Williams trying out for the football team. Dead for about a year, no one expects Tommy to survive tryouts, let alone make the team. Except that he does.
   
   Suddenly, the zombies don't seem quite so different. Phoebe Kendall, a traditionally biotic (albeit pale) student, realizes that better than anyone as she begins to observe Tommy and the other living impaired students at her school including Tommy and Karen (the girl featured on the novel's cover and possibly this reviewer's favorite character). The more Phoebe sees of zombies like Tommy and Karen, the more they seem like any normal teenager, well mostly.
   
   No one questions Phoebe's motivations for befriending Tommy until it begins to look like the two of them are more than friends. Margi, Phoebe's best friend and fellow Goth, can't understand what Phoebe could see in a dead boy. Every time her neighbor Adam sees Phoebe with Tommy, he can't help but wonder why she doesn't feel the same way about him when he's actually alive.
   
   Eventually Margi and Adam come around, forming their own tentative bonds with the zombies in their midst. Meanwhile, other students at Oakvale remain hostile. Determined to make sure that the dead students invading their school stay dead for good this time, they set a vicious plan into motion that will irrevocably change everything for Phoebe and her friends--dead and alive.
   
   Written in the third person, Waters alternates viewpoints throughout the novel. Each of the main characters mentioned here, specifically Phoebe and Adam, have sections of the novel related from their perspective. The novel even features narration from one of the students strongly opposed to the zombie presence in Oakvale. This technique, aside from demonstrating Waters' masterful writing skills, offers a fully informed perspective on the events of the novel with its variety of viewpoints.
   
   Upon first glance, this book looks like a quirky but not necessarily serious book. A cover with a dead cheerleader wearing biker books can have that effect on readers. And yet, even though the story is about zombies, it isn't just another fun book. Filled with smart writing and an utterly original story, Generation Dead also adds to the ongoing conversation about tolerance and equality suggesting that people often have more in common than not. Even with zombies.



5. Generation Dead intrigued me from the moment I saw the cover, and most of the book was very good. I liked the new spin on the zombie story, since I have always found zombies to be rather pointless and boring. But the last thirty pages or so really let me down. It feels like the author ran out of ideas and could not find a way to bring the story to a conclusion. I would give the book more stars if the ending had not been such a disappointment. For a first novel it was very creative and I enjoyed reading most of it. Even though I did not like the way the book ended, I hope to read more from this promising author.

3 comments about Resurrecting Sex: Solving Sexual Problems and Revolutionizing Your Relationship.

1. The fifty pages in Part II are the core content of this book. They offer a comforting view of the difficult side of marriage - the long term, committed relationship where sex is dead or dying. I say "comforting" because Schnarch maps out the progression of a relationship in a way where you can see that the fluctuations in the passion and intimacy couples feel for each other are part of the natural growth cycle of a marriage. What sometimes feels like the end of a relationship is actually a trigger for the next growth cycle, for the individual and the couple. Through various examples using couples from his practice and his own marriage, he offers encouragement and practical advice to help couples through this sometimes difficult and frustrating cycle of a marriage.
   
   The tone of Schnarch's writing is more down to earth, like advice from a friend, compared with his other book "Passionate Marriage" which is also excellent but sometimes sounds a little preachy in comparison. This more personal tone, plus use of examples from his own life experience make this book like a personal consultation with Dr. Schnarch.



2. It's always good to hear the opinions and advice of a professional. You can be confident that this writer has not only thoroughly researched his subject, but has then presented it in a way that is understandable and usable for the lay person. The approach of this book is meaningful and candid, with a view toward fixing problems that married people are bound to experience at one time or another. Using his personal experience as well as patient examples, the author clearly states the problem and creatively supplies a solution. Pair this splendid book with The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex, which addresses some of the same issues and problems, but from a more specific vantage point. Oral sex is a great way for a married couple to express their intimacy and get to know each other better, and requires a degree of trust that will enhance any bond. Both books would benefit a troubled relationship.



3. Resurresting Sex is a book about sexual problems, dealing with couples. Inside, I found a "crash" course in sex and things that lead up to the sexual problems, themselves. The author really knows his stuff and puts it in this book in order to help couples overcome barries. A good read. Another good read, too: Good Sex: A Woman's Guide to Losing Inhibition.

5 comments about l8r, g8r (Internet Girls).

1. I was shocked when my 12 year old showed me this book. I reviewed it and found several passages where the girls in the book are talking about sexual acts performed on boys. This is definitely not a book for young girls and I'm shocked that the author added this type of material to this book. I didn't find sexual acts in the first book, TTYL . . however, I'm going back to review it more closely.
   
   See page 157-158 for Bj references, 86 for F*ing references, page 82 for c**k references, and so on.
   
   I'm surprised that others are rating this book so high . . must be teen readers and not teen parents.
   
   Don't buy this book for your young children. I'm not certain what a good age is for letting your kids read about sexual acts . . .



2. I read the 2 previous books in this series and was thrilled to have read the third book. It is a fun "new age" read. It is a great idea to have a book about the ups and down in high school be in a IM forum. I read this book in one sitting. I must mention this book can stand on its own. You do not have to read the previous books to understand and appreciate L8r, g8r.



3. This book is so poorly written even if it was appropriate for children to read they should not. This is a 4th grade reading level at best yet geared for 15 year olds?? Why is the writing so moronic maybe it has to do with the three main dumb girls and the poorly written plot? Don't waste your time or your brain cells on this one.
   
   Caution to parents this book is not appropriate for children, don't be fooled by the cover and low reading level.



4. This book, apparently like all of the books in this series, is complete trash. Over my dead body will my kids ever speak or act this way. I am a liberal, long-haired academic and yet I am disgusted at the lifestyles that this book glorifies for young teens. I understand that drugs and sex often happen early, but glorifying them in any book, much less a book aimed at young girls is completely unacceptable. This book is trash. Do not let your kids buy it.



5. I find this book fascinating. And I find the reactions it gets in the reviews even more fascinating. This book is a social commentary on the life of high-school girls, their joys, their fears, their heart breaks, the parents, and the friendships that survive it all.
   
   The content is naughty at times, yes, and whether that reflects reality I cannot say. I found this book thanks to my visit to a family with a 12-year old daughter, a demographics I'm otherwise not exposed to, as child-less 30-something male.
   
   What's both surprising and a tad amusing to me, and, in my opinion, this is one of the hallmarks of this book, is that it provokes such strongly differing reactions between the two demographics that seem to read it. On the one hand, the teenaged readers who view it as a commentary of their own lives, finally a book in print that publicizes and expresses how they often must feel themselves, and that thereby validates these feelings, the dilemmas, the drama and the exhileration. On the other hand, the concerned parents who view the book as unwelcome agitation of their kids around topics such as sex and drugs that they'd rather keep them away from for some more time, and the fear that presumably underlies this anger that it'll make it harder still to "get through" to their kids.
   
   No longer a teenager, neither a parent, I have no judgment about either, but if I had to say something to either group, I'd say to the teenaged readers that while life does contain drama, sex and boys, and that all these feelings are valid, it is not all that life is really about, and what looks big and insurmountable now will make you smile and laugh about a decade from now; this is entertainment, just like life on TV isn't really like life in the real world. To the incensed parents who are fearful that this book will deter their kids from the righteous path I'd say that this book shows you one way how to get through to your girls, how the girlfriends support each other, empathize with each other and (some of the time) hold judgment.

5 comments about Parenting by the Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child.

1. John Rosemond writes with what was once called "common sense", a now all too uncommon trait of modern psychology. Well written, wise, biblical, practical information on training happy, healthy children to become happy, healthy adults.



2. John Rosemond's sensible and solid advice frees families to enjoy each other instead of fighting and refighting the same discipline battles. If you are experiencing crisis conditions in your home you may want to read his The New Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children or Making the "Terrible" Twos Terrific first. All of his books emphasize practical methods for raising secure, confident, responsible kids.



3. More people need to get back to Biblical principals when it comes to living our lives including parenting. The devil has done a great job of confusing and getting us to buy into the lies of parenting. Are our kids better behaved now? No, and we need some back to basics (Bible) teaching to help us rear our kids to be productive rather than non-productive citizens of this world. Just the other day there was an article in the paper for a seminar for employer for Generation Why? And it headlined instructing employers how to motivate the Generation Y because they are so unmotivated. Have you ever seen a seminar for this is previous generations? This book should be handed out when babies are born.



4. First of all, it is very clear that most, if not all, of the 1 star reviewers either did not read this book or are just John Rosemond haters who assume his books do nothing but condone spanking. This could not be farther from the truth. If you are considering buying this book and don't know anything about John Rosemond, then visit his website: www.rosemond.com. If you look under the "About John" section, there is a position statement on spanking. READ IT if that is of concern to you. Then you will see how full of baloney these people are who are spitting venom at him because he respects the right of parents to discipline as they see fit.
   I thought this was a well-written book that brought to light many of the problems with the post-modern psychological parenting model. One need not look too far to see frustrated parents running ragged because of out-of-control children. Is it that difficult to admit that children are generally ill-mannered these days with little to no respect for authority? That being said, isn't it a good thing to find someone who offers an alternative if a family feels they need one?
   If you don't like John Rosemond, then parent your children as you see fit and don't read his books. But why should you try to persuade someone to not check something out that might really help their family just because you have an agenda? I am raising two children, and I find that when I apply Rosemond's advice, I discipline calmly and I stay in control. I'm guessing that most child-abusers do the exact opposite: They LOSE control. That is something Rosemond tries to help parents keep from doing.
   So I personally recommend this book to those who are frustrated with their current parenting philosophy and want to make a change. But if you are an attachment parent, then don't read it. You won't find what you're looking for here. It's as simple as that.



5. I find it very interesting that 27 out of the 28 negative reviews were made the first week of June 2008. A little fishy.
   This book is an excellent guide to parenting. Firm, but not too strict. I love the example of "Hey, in a ball game when you foul, you don't get a second chance, do you?" To many sports obsessed kids, this example works perfect. Why should they follow the rules of a game better than house rules??? Which are more important in the long run?
   Too many parents confuse love with overindulgence today. There's nothing wrong with teaching your children a little self control.

5 comments about Grandpa, Tell Me Your Memories.

1. I started by buying these books for my parents to fill out for me. I loved reading their responses. I learned many things about my parents that I didn't know before. It also sparked conversations with them about additional stories.
   
   Now that I have children, I'm buying these books for me and (the grandparent ones) for my parents to fill out for them. And buying them as gifts for new parents.
   
   Regarding the comments that there isn't a lot of room to write...The pages are small, but there are only a few pages that you would get that lengthy on your stories. You can always attach in an additional sheet of paper to continue your story.



2. This is a wonderful gift to give your father or grandfather. Basically, this book contains many questions and pages for Grandpa to answer and pass down to his grandkids. It's something the grandkids can read whenever and get a great understanding of the person their grandfather is. It might seem a little morbid at first, but having something written down is a great suppliment to all the great times the child will have with his grandfather. Please note, however, that in order to get hundreds of memories into one small spiral bound paperback book, it is not as substantial and sturdy as some of the other memory books. Though I think it is a good trade-off.



3. Grandpa, Tell Me Your Memories by Kathy Lashier
   Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories by Kathy Lashier
   These wonderful little books make great gifts for grandparents to complete for their grandchildren, as Christmas gifts, graduation gifts, birthday gifts - you get the picture!!! I first purchased one for my father, who is 80 years old, and when his 5 daughters are with him and mom, we ask him questions and have such fun writing in the answers! It has provided great family time, wonderful memories for the folks, and a great gift for me - his daughter!



4. I gave this to my dad as a gift from my daughter for his birthday and he began filling it out immediately. I teared (sp?) up this first time I read some of his entries because I learned things about him I never knew. This can be enjoyed by both his children and grandchildren for years to come. I'm so truly grateful I purchased this book.



5. (review written by Nick's wife) I came across these memory books in a parenting magazine and loved the idea of having my children's grandparents fill them out. I even bought some for my grandparents to fill out for me.
   
   After searching through everything Amazon has to offer, I ended up purchasing a variety of books. I bought Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Tell Me Your Memories. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I really didn't think they would all be the same with a different cover page as they are. I was really disappointed in the size of the books. They are 4" x 5.5" with a 1" spiral binding. Each is about 1" thick. It is laid out for a full calendar year - each day having a different question or memory for the person do write about. The pages have a question at the top and are blank (no lines) below.
   
   The other books I decided to purchase are: A Grandparent's Legacy and Memories for My Grandchild. A Grandparent's Legacy is laid out month-by-month with topics to discuss. The book measures 8" x 5" with a nice covered spiral binding and is about .75" thick. Each page has topics to discuss and lines for writing. Memories for My Grandchild has the most flexible layout - meaning there is no guide for filling things out at a certain time. It is also the largest book, measuring about 8" x 10" and just less than 1" thick. It has a covered spiral binding. This is the only book with a pocket in the back to drop in any special items and a pull-out page to fill in the family tree. The pages in this book are lined as well.
   
   The books all cover similar questions and memories. I haven't gone page-by-page to compare, but have been pleased with what I've seen so far. Since the books are so similar, I'm basing my overall opinion on the appearance. My favorite would have to be A Grandparent's Legacy.

3 comments about Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School: 101 Stories of Life, Love, and Learning for Younger Teens (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. Middle school is such a difficult time for nearly every child. Somehow, with patience and perseverence, we survive it. I wish I had a copy of this book 16 years ago. It would have been nice to relate to someone else - even if only through written word.
   
   Parents, arm your middle schoolers. Buy them "Teens Talk Middle School." Let them know that we have been there too and that their problems are important.



2. This is a very touching book, sometimes funny,sometimes sad and always moving. Unlike other books, the 101 stories have a different feel, more like a bunch of freinds laughing and talking with you then other teen "support group" books' far-off, detached view. The Chicken Soup series has done it again!



3. I may be biased as I have a story in here but there are some really great stories in here, especially those by Donald Verkow and Annmarie Tait (The first one), and of course, mine. What?
   
   Rock On,
   
   Harris Bloom
   www.harrisbloom.com

5 comments about The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child.

1. I happen to be a special ed teacher, unlike the author of this book, however, I don't claim to know everything. At least this author has 30 years teaching experience, unlike many with two-five years experience who are deemed superior, and suddenly become philosophers, instructing the rest of us how to do things. The advice here for teachers is a little callow with platitudes like "Provide a structured, predictable environment" and "Give simple, single-step instructions." This is by far not the best book of its sort; certainly not comparable to Fred Jones' "Tools For Teaching." The author's advice for parents is probably far more helpful to them than his advice for teachers is for teachers. All considered, I would advise teachers to save their money for a better book.



2. I am reading this book as 1) a professor/college instructor, 2) a parent of a child with a significant learning disability (LD), and 3) a researcher in the field of childhood developmental disorders (e.g. ADHD and autism). Honestly, in my classroom I already care about how my students learn and how to reach out to struggling learners (yes, content applies to certain aspects of college instruction). This book affirms the techniques that I already employ - which is a boon to my confidence but offered me no new insight. As a researcher, this book is technically sound, giving information on how children learn, specifically how children with LD learn, that is supported by research. I applaud him for discussing in simple terms what we now know about how children learn. So, this book does compile "best practices" but does not fully cite sources, which is disappointing.
   
   Now, as a parent, I read this and cheered along. Yes! Yes! I wish my son's school did that! However, what do I do with this information? I cannot exactly plop the book down and insist they conform. Lavoie fails to cite where he gets all his information, so I cannot direct educators to these sources from the material herein. Frankly, the focus is more on the classroom environment, so it will have limited applicability at home. Although, the information DOES apply, there is no help in how to carry it out. For instance, Lavoie discusses WHY yelling at a child reduces motivation and hinders positive behavior. To me, this seems obvious, but I'll allow there may be some adults who feel yelling is really effective. I yell from time to time. I feel bad. Lavoie offers no strategies or replacement behavior to reduce yelling. Fixing the problem that led to the yelling is your problem - use "I statements" just don't yell.
   
   As a parent, basically I read this book and felt really awful and discouraged about my son's school and the education he is receiving. I felt frustrated to begin with, but reading about Lavoie's school demonstrated the lengths to which a school can go to include and educate the whole LD child. Since I cannot afford a private LD-centered school, I have no idea what to do with that information - I cannot exactly write into my son's IEP - "Ms. XYZ will praise in public and criticize in private" - it's just not realistic, and as a parent (even one carrying credentials of my very own), I just get very little respect from the district without threatening to sue (and that's not exactly respect or the relationship I seek). So, applying Lavoie's principles in a resistant school is impossible as a parent.
   
   The writing itself is sound. The book could be dry and dense, but instead it is dense and interesting. It is a bit preachy, but he has the experience to justify that. One side note that really bothered me is that he uses far too many examples and analogies. I really only need 1, 3 is just obnoxious. It seems he has writing for people that are slow to understand or accept his point, possibly people like my son's teachers and administrators. Certainly teachers who belittle, demean, and see the LD as a reason to write a child off would have the most to gain from this book. Unfortunately, I doubt they are the audience who are actually purchasing and reading the book. My guess is people who read it probably are already two thirds the way to believing and adopting his philosophy, and for these people very little new information is offered, hence it's average but not superb. To be excellent, he would have needed to address some functional goals of the book and the appropriate audience(e.g. towards rehabilitating schools and/or teachers), streamline the text (cutting out superfluous analogies), adding more detailed research and citations in, and discussion of how to implement into a school as a parent or administrator.
   
   For parents reading this with a child with any disability, I highly urge you to consider reading The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child and using NOLO's advocacy information to try and insert some of Lavoie's principles into your child's IEP. These can be done by asking for a behavior plan or study skills as a target area.



3. I already knew from experience that different people are motivated for different reasons but I admit that I didn't realize the importance of recognizing these differences when it came to motivating my own children to excel at school. This book helped me understand the different reasons why children are motivated to succeed at school and it provided a method for classifying these differences so that appropriate motivation strategies could be selected and used.
   
   As an example, through using the method in this book, I discovered that one of my daughters thrives on and is motivated by praise. When I pay close attention to her homework and provide plenty of praise for her successes, she's delighted and tries even harder...happily! In this case, identifying her motivational strategy provided me with a way to encourage her beyond doing mediocre schoolwork to doing outstanding schoolwork. I'm actually a bit surprised by how well this approach works.
   
   To say that this book is a worthwhile investment for any parent of school age kids is an understatement.



4. I am so glad I ordered this book. Last year, my child had great difficulty in school. She subsequently repeated the grade this year, however with a different teacher. She is doing much better this year. Although some of the differences were very obvious, this book opened my eyes to the subtle differences that revealed just how much of an uphill struggle my child faced last year. I've read a few reviews of this book, claiming the advice is elementary or basic. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of teachers out there who should read and follow the principles of this book. The first two-thirds of the book even seem to be aimed more towards teachers than parents. Just reading this book reinforced my belief that my daughter was placed in the absolutely worst possible situation last year vs the best possible situation this year. I found myself nodding in agreement as I read all of the bad and good teaching examples. Even the preface, which describes the author's daughter's initial bad school experience and subsequent turnaround was identical to what I experienced with my daughter between last year and this year. The fact that such a disparity exists in the same grade of my child's school disturbs me because parents have no say in what classes their children are placed into. This book offers excellent information as to what we as parents should expect and demand in our children's learning environment. I feel better informed and prepared for those parent/teacher conferences. Highly recommended for parents, especially if your child is experiencing difficulty in school or has learning disabilities.



5. This book is filled with great ideas; some make me think, "I have to try this on my classes!" and others, "I should have done that with my kids!"
   
   Even though both my students and my kids are now adults, I see a great deal that I can still use. The author is very specific and filled with enthusiasm for teaching and motivating. He shows great understanding of, and compassion for, kids and students who have difficulties in school or in social situations. He has certainly motivated me!

5 comments about Children's Book of Virtues.

1. As a homeschool mother I am always looking for great stories for my almost 7 yo and my 2.5 yo. This book is part of the curriculum for Sonlight and it is fabulous. My daughter's favorite is about two brothers, one who doesn't let his "please" out of his mouth so the "please" jumps into the other brothers' mouth (which makes him say all his "pleases" twice). Eventually though, the "please-less" mouth wants his please back and his "please" is thrilled to be at home and allowed to get some fresh air. The stories are grouped by moral or attribute (compassion, courage, etc.). Both male and female main characters throughout the stories and the poems makes this book appropriate for both boys and girls. I highly, highly recommend this book, no qualms about it.



2. I purchased this book and a few others in the series for my 4 ½ year old. My son is very intelligent for his age, yet some of the stories were a bit long and beyond his attention span and/or understanding. However, I am not disappointment as I am confident that in time, all the stories will be appropriate. I would recommend this book!



3. These tales were collected from virtually every corner of the globe and some go far back into the reaches of antiquity. Bennett and his collaborators did a fine job of finding stories of universal, fairly non-controversial appeal that we can all cite without worrying about the inherent differences in religion or politics that might otherwise divide us. Segregated according to the principles being celebrated (Honesty, Courage, etc.) these fables and true life stories demonstrate virtues of conduct far too often left unstressed in our morally-undermined society.



4. I had this book when I was a little kid. I honestly think that by reading it, it changed how I viewed things as a child. Partially because of this book, when I was little I had strong feelings about responsiblity, kindness, courage, perserverance, and many of the other subjects illustrated in The Children's Book of Virtues. I loved reading it and the stories affected me greatly.



5. My children and I just adore this book. What a lovely collection of stories all heavily demonstrating solid virtues that are Biblically rooted, not worldly. My children, ages 5 and 4, request that several stories be read time and time again. This book will grow with us through the years; they are no where near growing out of it.
   
   Bennett compiles the stories and poems in 4 categories: courage/perseverance, responsibility/work/self-discipline, compassion/faith, and honesty/loyalty/friendship. There is a nice selection in each category of 1 paged poems, to several paged stories. There is a solid virtue to be taken from every single work.
   
   I recommend this book highly. Fill those little minds with things that are good, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Also recommended by the same author are The Children's Book of Faith and The Children's Book of Heroes. Both also have wonderful collections and wonderful illustrations.