5 comments about It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear: A Read-Together Book for Parents and Young Children During Divorce (Lansky, Vicki).

1. Koko has become my daughter's favorite book. The book answers the questions that she has, validates her feelings and focuses on the issues that she is concerned about-pick up and drop off, dinner, bedtime. It is well written and perfect for 5-7 year old children. I was recommended Dinosaur Divorce by several people (without children)-my daughter is not ready for learning about stepparents or money issues. Koko bear is just what we were looking for.



2. very good book for a older child i would not recommend for a young child



3. This book has been wonderful for discussing divorce in a nurturing way with a 5 year old. It is a favorite at bedtime, and is well written for young children. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to answer childrens' questions about divorce.



4. This book was helpful for my 5 & 7 year olds during divorce, but it contained things they will not experience, so that started more insecurity issues. Still had good ways to handle tough situations.



5. I read the book to my two children and they simply looked at me and said ..."bears don't get divorced!" I think it is unrealistic and they're aren't any coping tools to resolve issues the PARENTS often create for the children after divorce or separation. It is cute but they seemed to have a hard time identifying with bears getting divorced.

5 comments about Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies.

1. I bought this book for my best friend's 5 and 7 year olds while their grandpa was dying from cancer. They often asked to work in this book when things were getting bad. I think art is a fabulous way for children to deal with grief, because they have such a hard time expressing their feelings. I definately reccomend this book for grieving children.



2. Reviewer's Book: Overcoming Loss: Activities and Stories for Children Who Have Experienced Grief and Loss
   
   This is a wonderful expressive activity book for young children who have experienced a loss. It can used by parents, schools, faith based groups, community groups or any person who is trying to help a young child express the feelings that accompany a loss.



3. Useful, practical activities that help children open up and express their thoughts and emotions about the loss of a loved one. Clients going through grief and loss can really benefit from this activity book, especially when they tend to be quiet and have a difficult time expressing themselves. I made copies for my clients and it worked really well. It helped them understand their feelings and to verbalize them appropriately.



4. Bought this for my godsons when their mom died; they are ages 7 and 10. Both of them had a hard time with the book, but it was helpful for me and gave me ideas of creative things I could do with them. They seem to be better with less structured approaches -- just their own art supplies and some suggestions of things we can do together based on ideas sparked by the book (painting pictures of happy memories, et.al.). Clay is good because they can pound on it and make noise and create "weird" things without having to be so direct about expressing their feelings while doing it. Plenty of feelings, but not so confining in how it's done. Kids have so many ways of expressing their grief and I'm learning to follow their lead rather than what I, as an adult, think it should look like.



5. This book is a wonderful way for children to express their thoughts and feelings about dying. This book can be used before the death of a loved one. I bought two of these books for a friend whose husband is dying and they have two young children. They love the books and using art therapy has helped these children to express what they are thinking and feeling.

5 comments about Why a Daughter Needs a Dad: A Hundred Reasons.

1. Like the author, I'm a divorced dad of daughters so his foreward struck close to home. As if the words and pictures in this book weren't sappy enough on their own, my daughters recently gave me a copy to which they'd added a sentence or a paragraph next to a dozen or so of the author's lines which resonated with them. I nearly cry every time I read it.



2. I bought this book for my husband in anticipation of our adopted daughter from China. For starters, I was thrilled that the photographs showed multicultural, multigenerational fathers and daughters including a photograph of a white father with an Asian daughter.
   
   The sentiments inside are beautiful. If you're looking for a self-help book, this isn't it. If you're looking for short, single sentences of wisdom and encouragement accompanied by moving and beautiful photographs, this is your book.
   
   I found this book in Target and must admit I was a little embarrassed by the tears streaming down my face when I read it. It reminded me of my own father, a true inspiration, and how my husband will be as a father once we bring our daughter home. This is a wonderful Father's Day, birthday, or Christmas present for any father from any daughter.



3. My order arrived on time and the book was in pristine condition. This collection of books are great, meaningful gifts.



4. I have rarely seen my Dad cry, but opening this birthday gift definitely brought a tear to his eye! To be needed is to be loved, and I guess getting this book let him know that he was loved!



5. I read this one in less then an hour. It's basically a lot of fluff and no substance for parenting advice with your daughter. It's good enough for a coffee table book in my opinion, but not a resource by any means.

2 comments about Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Men: Seven Questions to Ask Beforeand AfterYou Marry.

1. You will definitely need the actual book to use the workbooks. My fiance and I have been working through the lessons and are about halfway through the workbooks. The best thing about the exercises is that there are so many things about my future wife that I didn't know, especially in regards to how she thinks and feels about certain aspects of life. We are becoming closer as we're beginning to understand each other at a deeper level. I'm learning more about how women communicate and how they really aren't able to come to grips with exactly how we operate either. The exercises vary from childhood influences to budgeting to love languages. We look forward to each time we work through the lessons. I highly recommend them for any couple preparing for marriage.



2. I would highly recommend this book to any couple who is considering marriage, engaged, or recently married--or even couples who have been married for years. The practical advice is effective and Drs.Parrot illuminate issues that are vitally important to consider when building or fortifying a marriage yet that are often overlooked in favor of wedding preparation. Very helpful, honest and eye-opening.

5 comments about Emotional Life of the Toddler.

1. The Emotional Life of a Toddler is a good book for you if you're interested in the attachment theory or attachment parenting viewpoint of toddler psychology, and this book does read like a psychology text. It offers some insight into the whys, which will help you understand your toddler as a whirlwind of emotion and contradiction; however, the book does not offer any hows for living day-to-day with your tot. Therefore, if you are looking for practical advice and tips, skip this book and head to Toddler 411, Pocket Parent, No Cry Discipline Solution, or the dozen of other books that address toddler behavior.



2. I'm studying child development, so this book has been great! Very easy to read and filled with enjoyable stories. It may not be so useful to parents though. I tried to pass it along to someone I babysit for, and I think it was too over her head. I think it's a great overview though for people who already have a strong grasp of the basics of dealing with toddlerhood.



3. This book has been a great resource to me. As my husband was deployed overseas I suddenly became a "single parent" to a toddler...I was dealing with "normal" toddler behaviors, as well as separation anxiety. "The Emotional Life of the Toddler" has opened my eyes, given me insight into my child's personality and helped to make me feel less stressed by knowing these behaviors are characteristic of a toddler! Grab it up if you are struggling or want to better uderstand your position as a parent of a toddler! :)



4. I found this book to have great information. Not only answers the what but the why as well.



5. This book has that hard-to-find balance of great explanation of theory and practical application of that theory.
   
   I've barely been able to set it down and has already helped me understand why my sweet even-keeled 2 year-old has become irrational (I know she's 2...) and emotional. But for me, understanding why 2 year-olds are so labile and illogical helps me respond better. Responding differently has helped our day go much more smoothly.

5 comments about The Liars' Club: A Memoir.

1. I read this book when it was first published; and re-read it this week for a book club discussion of "reader's choice." Mary Karr is a poet with a hard-knock childhood. Is it any wonder she wrote a memoir that is beyond belief in every sense? The sentences jump off the page. Oh, that I could write like this.



2. I just finished reading this book, and it is one of the most un-put-downable memoirs I have ever read. Karr grew up in the lower middle class of a depressing town in Texas. The story revolves around her family life as a very young girl - ages 6 to 9 or so. What first strikes you is Karr's voice. Tomboyish, able to hold a grudge, thirsty for love, stubborn as a mule, Karr unflinchingly admits her own foibles and those of others, but also cuts through the novel's events to the beating, loving heart of her family.
   
   Her alcoholic/manic depressive mother is beautiful and educated in a town where neither attribute was common. Her father, a working man with a talent for bombast, dotes on both his children, but particularly on Karr, whom he dubs "Pokey." After her mother leaves her father, Karr and her sister choose to live with her mother, more out of a sense of feeling obligated to protect her from herself than anything else.
   
   Eventually, the family finds its way back together again, and the story is satisfyingly whole. Though few doubt that at least some of a memoirist's work must be imagination (Who among us can remember such detail about their life as a 7-year-old?), Karr has a knack for taking down some of her more relatable thoughts and experiences. The people she writes about, their conversations, their weaknesses, have the ring of universality.
   
   Worth reading, and one of the best examples of the genre I've come across in a while.



3. Mary Karr shhots from the hip, creating a superficial narrative that expounds a kind of confession. People like this-- that is, average readers. Set out in the world she claims, in Book World(2008) Bill Matthews beat brain cancer by having a heart atack-- (lie) She also misspeaks regarding Keats(Book World 2008)-(liar) As I said, she shoots from the hip-- in no way is an academic, does not check her sources, writes anything she wants, because, perhaps, she has branded herself a liar already. Her work is, frankly, weak, poems and prose. Those of you who "love" it should reach higher in regrd to your reading. Or not. Stay on the low plain of writing like Mary Karr's.From what Kevin saio



4. If you are a fan of child rape then this is the book for you. Otherwise you may want to try something a little lighter. Briged Jones Diary is good for a few laughs. Anything by Terry Pratchett is amusing.



5. Mary Karr's writing is beautifully poetic, simple, yet amazingly eloquent. This book is a treasure. Not only because it's so well-written, but because of the personal nature of it.
   Karr doesn't allow me to feel like I'm imposing on her private memories. She is only being open and true to those memories. This approach only draws respect from the reader.

5 comments about Relationship Rescue: A Seven-Step Strategy for Reconnecting with Your Partner.

1. Dr. Phil just lately has been known in the Middle East through his program "Dr. Phil". I got to know Dr. Phil from quite some time.
   
   This book is, as its name, a rescue procedure that the couples should follow. It starts with an inventory that each partner should do alone; evaluating him/herself independently, what were the weaknesses, how did I contributed to the failure/success of the relationship.
   
   Then the real work begins..!!! Where the couple meets together and reviews the result. They should apply certain communication techniques. It is really very effective. At the end, the couple should agree and maintain certain techniques throughout the way.
   
   It is not a book that you read for educational purposes, it is a life curing surgery.
   
   For the best results, both couple should have the interest for the rescue. My advice, maintain the passion throughout the way, try to influence your partner if he(she) is not the driver for this process. It is a surgery...but very effective...
   
   Wish you all the best while reading and applying this book...!!!!



2. "When you own your relationship, you must hold up the mirror to look at yourself. You will finally realize that whatever your partner is doing, you are either eliciting, maintaining, or allowing that behavior." ~ 97
   
   It is difficult to work on your relationship by yourself. That said, Dr. Phil believes you have a lot more control than you think. By analyzing your relationship you learn about the areas that need improvement. The book begins with a questionnaire of sixty-two sentences. You choose true or false then instantly find out if your relationship is in distress.
   
   It takes quite a lot of time to answer all the other questions including sentences you complete and analyze. You may think you have a pretty good relationship until you see what the test results are. This book may even temporarily make your relationship worse, especially if you try to get your partner to take any of the tests. The 17 page family history evaluation did seem a little over the top.
   
   This book requires you to make a commitment to making your relationships work. It is an extremely detailed program designed to improve your relationship in a matter of weeks. You learn to agree to disagree or to argue more effectively. You develop relationship skills instead of relying on the feelings (infatuation) you felt at the start of the relationship. Dr. Phil then delves into the dark side that can sabotage a relationship.
   
   Dr. Phil completes the book with questions he thinks you might want to ask him and then in conclusion he writes a separate letter to women and then to men. For the most part this book is complicated yet engaging. The tests are fun to take if you have the time and they do reveal aspects you might not uncover in a more casual conversation. Dr. Phil takes on all the difficult subjects and puts the ball in your court. In one sense it can be discouraging to work on a relationship by yourself and on the other hand your partner might actually get involved in making the relationship work. "Relationship Rescue" is one of the most intense relationship books I've ever read.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. The Doctor focuses on The Reader, and hammers away at making the point again and again that it is The Reader, not their partner, that must embrace change and improvement. It's a strong book. I laughed at how he puts into light how good my relationship is by his standards of trouble. My reasons for buying and reading this book are the same as anyone's for buying a self-helper: uncharted territory and the wish of self-improvement.
   
   My only concern is that this book would most likely never help those who are the ones who really need it. It makes strong points to this itself: You cannot control or change other people. And those who need this book are probably not smart enough to even consider reading it or seeing the need to change and modify themselves.
   
   Thanks Dr. Phill. I am glad I read your book. It is strong and helpful.



4. From what my husband and I have read so far, there is a lot to learn from Dr. Phil's Relationship Rescue. We also bought the workbook to go along with it and would highly suggest that people do that as well. The two resources put together are wonderfully productive. Just don't expect a "how to get your spouse to change" book, this is a book designed to help you better yourself. You realize what you are doing wrong so that you can begin doing the right things. Eventually, your spouse will come around based on your actions. The old proverb that goes something along the lines of kill meanness with kindness definetely applies here.



5. This book is not what it is hyped to be, Not very informative and not what I thought it would be.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Baby Names (Complete Book of).

1. I draw, write and play plenty of games with character creation, so I've been looking for a name book.
   
   I'm quite happy with it. The lists at the front are quite handy and while I'm not having a baby, I think they gave some good advice at the start of the book.
   
   After that, the names are kind of jumbled. Besides the lists (each with ten names for each gender), the names are either under boy or girl. I wish they had been organized by country.



2. I recommend this book for anyone searching for a name for a new baby, or even for a story they are writing. The lists (of popular names, according to categories) are especially helpful in narrowing down to the right name.



3. We picked the book up as an impulse item while starting our baby registry at one of the big box stores.
   
   The up front information on things to think about is valuable. But the bulk of the book seems to be a data dump of any possible word that could be used as a name. As another person observed - too much filler. Some of the top ten lists were pretty weak - top gangster names, top zodiac names etc.... There are little side notes (symbols) next to many names, but we couldn't find the key to let us know what the symbols meant.
   
   Kind of a fun book for conversations, but far too many nonsensical offerings to sift through. And somehow in the 100,001 names such as Hemp or Turbo she missed Lars? Odd.



4. This was given as a gift and the mother-to-be was very excited to receive it and has looked at it almost daily.



5. I do not own this book. We were in Target and I spotted it. Since there was nothing else to do, I started reading it. I didn't read the beginning or anything...but I found the page that said: GIRL NAMES. There was ALOT of names! I found my name! It meant what I already knew it meant...and I saw tons of other cool names. Some names I had never heard of...but liked them. It's a very helpful book if you need names to name someone or soemthing. I REALLY want to get it. I have around 50 baby dolls and need some names for them. I would definitely choose this book over all the others I've looked at. Even though I don't have this book and only read it a little bit...I would tell anyone to buy it even if they don't need it! I really like it.
   Thanks!

5 comments about Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers.

1. Very informative, will purchase other books of Tracy Hogg as soon as I finished reading this one.
   I reccommend it to every mom dealing with toddlers.



2. Tracy Hogg helps you through the rough adventure of parenthood, solving ang figuring out problems. Great book, easy reading & comprehension. All moms should have it.



3. I need to say that after I red the first book of Tracy Hogg, I became a huge fan, the book was great (you can see my review). So few months later when was necessary I didn't hesitate and I purchased this book, very good, excellent tips, Tracy knows what she talks about, a real expert, she describes every situation you live with toddlers, is an amazing guide, definitey very helpful, she is against yelling and spankig, but still guides you to set up boundaries, also she confirms the respect that every child deservs.
   This book is universal, I am from Monterrey, México and it helps me, also if I have any additional question I enter at [...] and I can post my question in the blog and somebody will help me, it's amazing.
   I totally recommend this book as guide and support in your baby's raise.



4. God bless Tracy's soul. Reading this book opened my eyes to the not-so-secret, yet unnoticed little things that make it easier handling a toddler. I am enjoying my little girl so much more now, and of course, we are all having more restful nights. I highly recommend this book, specially if you read 'Secrets of the Baby Whisperer', it also worked magic in our household. I only wish I could have send Tracy a personal thank you note! Shirley from Australia



5. Tracy Hogg helped me when my baby didn't want to sleep in his crib alone. He started to sleep all night long when he was 3 month old. I can easely undestand him and his necesities and the motherhood is so much easer for me!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond.

1. I like this book for parents of students who don't know where to begin and need a good overview. It is a how to on organizing techniques and esp. good ideas for kids making the difficult transition from homeroom instruction to different classes throughout the day, which is where the system usually falls apart with many kids.



2. This book has several good tips (particularly on teaching the concept of time), but just how practical is it to teach a child a special organizational system, when many schools these days require the purchase AND use of a school planner? (Really a mandatory fundraiser, if you ask me.)
   
   I have seen where the school planner use is actually part of the student's grade in some schools, so aren't you just making extra work for the student? The author's advice to work it out with the teacher could cause problems (Why is so-and-so excused from doing what the rest of the class has to?). Or worse, it could get your child labelled, which you might have an issue with.
   
   It would be far better to just tell the student "This (a particular planner) is one of those things that you will just have to put up until you get out of this particular school. When you are out in the real world, no one will care how you keep track of important things, as long as the system works for you."
   
   Mind you, I'm all for teaching organizational skills, and I do agree with the author no particular planner/system is a one-size-fits-all solution. But, until schools get the message that it is truly NONE of their business how a student keeps track of his/her responsibilities as long as assignments are turned in on time, this book would be much more useful for someone who is homeschooled, or going to a more enlightened public or private school, where one has more choice in how to keep track of things. An adult going back to school again might also find this book useful.
   
   The author does tend to go overboard on some things, such as writing every little thing in a planner--really, who has time for that--and her assumption that every child is either over-scheduled with outside activities, and/or is having difficulty in school planning out how to do long-term assignments such as research papers, wears thin after a while.
   
   I also took off a star for the book being printed on cheap newsprint, considering the price.
   
   Borrow from your library first, before buying.



3. The book is readable, and it has nice hints about physical space, surroundings, etc. Unfortunately it is a little too commonsense and basic - do we really need pictures of office supplies to show us what they are? I am a bit disappointed.



4. This is the second time I bought this book, because I loaned it to a friend and never got it back. That's how much she liked it, too. Practical and straight forward. I bought it to help organize my 4th grader who habitually forgot to bring homework home, or bring back to school. This book is aimed at parents rather than kids, and does an excellent job describing the deficiencies in adolescent Executive Function and how we, as parents, can help compensate. Highly recommend.



5. The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond
   
   I thought this book contained good information and was easy to understand and follow. It wasn't anything earthshakingly new. I feel I could get the same information from the internet and talking with my sons teachers. I do like referring to it for ideas when we need it. It provides pictures that were extremely helpful for my visual son.