A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Book Description

My new friends have begun to suspect I haven’t told them the full story of my life.
“Why did you leave Sierra Leone?”
“Because there is a war.”
“You mean, you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?”
“Yes, all the time.”
“Cool.”
I smile a little.
“You should tell us about it sometime.”
“Yes, sometime.”

This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.

What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived.

In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.

This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

Customer Reviews:

Enlightening........2007-10-03

I think this is a wonderful book, so moving and beautifully written that you wonder how a person can manage to lead a "normal" life after experiencing what he has been through. The author tells the story matter-of-factly without whining or complaining about the hand he's been dealt. Because of this, it makes the story even more impressive.

Not just a good read, a book that enlightens is a must-read.

Fantastic book. Recommend for all ages!.......2007-10-02

This book is truly amazing. It is almost unbelievable to read about the lives of people like Ishmael, but it's true, and it's happening today. Yes, in some parts it is certainly hard to read, but it's worth it. It is better to be shocked and scarred by this book than ignorant to it. Ishmael is a wonderfully optimistic person, and I think we can all learn a lot from his courage. In his own words, Ishmael is not an expert on the history of Sierra Lione, but by putting a face and name to this story, you will still learn a lot from him! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Easy to read, hard to digest.......2007-10-02

I read this book on my flight to D.C. a couple of months ago. It was probably the fastest I have ever read a book. It was very easy to understand and painted an incredibly vivid picture in my mind. The content is important and the way Beah wrote his story makes it accessible to all.

Painful but Poignant.......2007-09-27

This book is not for the fainthearted who wants a feel good story; this is tough book to read, however, it is an important book to read as well. So often us here in the west are isolated from the fact that there are tough places to live on this planet, places where people are forced to do unspeakable acts and are exposed to unimaginable acts of violence.
This book takes on the voyage of a young man named Ishmael, who lived in the war torn country of Sierra Leone. His life is completely turned upside down by the civil war in that country. Ishmaels story is first a story of losing his family, than of losing his innocence as he is forced to fight for the Countries Army that's fighting the "rebels". After that the story focuses on his rehabilitation in a place called Freetown and eventually his new life in the United States (although I would like to know more about how he is today).
The most amazing part of this story as an American who simply didn't understand the truth, is that this Ishmael was 12 years old and was killing people, not because he was an animal, but because he was drugged and forced to become one merely to survive. This is a concept that as westerners we look on and go oh that's too bad, but do we really take the time to understand that this happens all the time in the same world we live in? Do we take the time to understand that there is big world out there and for the most part it isn't that safe little havens we take for granted? I challenge anyone who reads this book to be able to look at the world the same again.

A must read.......2007-09-26

This book is very graphic in its detail of events. It will put you right there on the front line and in the eyes of danger. I felt as though I was there experiencing all that he had. Then again I could never imagine experiencing all that he did. Its a touching story that will bring back to reality on the issues that have been going on for ages.

The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids Favorite Meals

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!
A must have for every parent!
Very Happy Mom
I love this book!
The Sneaky Chef Cook Book

The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids Favorite Meals
Missy Chase Lapine
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Family Health | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Brown Bag Success: Making Healthy Lunches Your Kids Won't Trade

ASIN: 0762430753

Book Description

Parents will do almost anything to get their kids to eat healthier, but unfortunately, they've found that begging, pleading, threatening, and bribing don't work. With their patience wearing thin, parents will "give in" for the sake of family peace, and reach for "kiddie" favorites--often nutritionally inferior choices such as fried fish sticks, mac n' cheese, Pop-sicles, and cookies.

Missy Chase Lapine, former publisher of Eating Well magazine, faced the same challenges with her two young daughters, and she sought a solution. Now in The Sneaky Chef, Lapine presents over 75 recipes that ingeniously disguise the most important superfoods inside kids' favorite meals. With the addition of a few simple make-ahead purees or clever replacements, (some may surprise you!) parents can pack more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants in their kids' foods. Examples of "Sneaky" recipes include:

-No Harm Chicken Parm
-Power Pizza
-Incognito Burritos
-Guerilla Grilled Cheese
-Brainy Brownies
-Health-by-Chocolate Cookies
-Quick fixes for Jell-O(R)

It's a book chock-full of strategies that will help any parent incorporate better health for the whole family.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2007-10-10

Two out of my three kids are picky eaters and they ate all of the meals I made from this book! It feels good to know that they are getting added nutrients that they wouldn't normally be eating. It does take extra time to prepare some of these recipes but it is worth it to me if my kids are getting nutritious meals. Great book!

A must have for every parent!.......2007-10-10

I was watching IVillage and the author was a guest speaker. She explained how easy it was to incorporate fruits and vegetables into basic recipes. I thought that was too good to be true but liked the concept. Since both my children are picky eaters I figured I would give it a try so I purchased the book. So far, every recipe I made from the book, they ate and ENJOYED! I even send in the cupcakes/cookies to school on their birthdays instead of sugary snacks (which the teachers love so the kids don't bounce off the walls). I wouldn't call this being sneaky, I would call it being smart! I highly recommend this book.

Very Happy Mom.......2007-10-10

The Sneaky Chef - I'm so glad I found this! I took about a month of weekends to get the freezer stocked with the purees - am using them now. The pbj muffins, the choc choc chip cookies, the tuna (salmon) patties, all hugely successful. My extremely picky child, who doesn't miss a thing, is eating the treats with the mom-approved hidden ingredients.

I used my ice cube trays to freeze the purees, so 2 cubes = 1/4 cup.

I also like it for myself, I won't take the time to prep fresh veggies, especially cauliflower, but now I'm eating better too, using the purees.

I love this book!.......2007-10-10

This is such a great book. I love that the recipes are all child friendly and I think the concept is brilliant! I have learned not only how to make her recipes, but also how to use her techniques for the recipes I already make at home. I found the extra hints and tips to be very informative and helpful and I loved that she used ingredients that are readily accessible and easy to keep on hand. My kids have eaten a ton of extra veggies and they can't even complain because they don't know it!!!

The Sneaky Chef Cook Book.......2007-10-10

Thank God for Missy Chase Lapine!! I was at my witts end trying to get my kids to eat their vegetables. Dinner time was a constant battle! Now my two boys are eating spinach, brocoli, navy beans, and more -- and asking for seconds!! I'm now using the purees from the book not just in the recipes provided, but also in my own and other recipes I've collected over the years. This book is BRILLIANT!!!!

Average customer rating:

My First Reacher Novel, Probably My Last
disappointing
Best Yet
The Latest Installment From A Favorite Author
Jack's Back

Bad Luck and Trouble
Lee Child
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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The Hard Way (Jack Reacher Novels)

ASIN: 0385340559
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Amazon.com

Ex-military cop Jack Reacher is the perfect antihero--tough as nails, but with a brain and a conscience to match. He's able to see what most miss and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Each book in Lee Child's smart, addictive series (The New York Times has referred to it as "pure escapist gold") follows the wandering warrior on a new adventure, making it easy to start with any book, including his latest gem, Bad Luck and Trouble. However, be forewarned...once you meet Jack Reacher, you'll be hooked, so be prepared to stock up on the series. --Daphne Durham

Who Is Jack Reacher? A Video from Lee Child

Watch the video

A Note from Lee Child

Two years ago I was on a book tour, promoting that year's new Jack Reacher novel, One Shot. One particular night, the event was held in a small town outside of Chicago. The date was June 21st. As I was giving my talk and answering questions and signing books, that date was nagging away at the back of my mind. I knew it had some significance. I started panicking--had I forgotten my anniversary? No, that's in August. My wife's birthday? No, that's in January. My own birthday? No, that's in October.

Then suddenly I remembered--it was ten years to the day since I had been fired from my previous job. That was why and how I had become a writer. That night in Illinois was a ten-year anniversary of a different sort, somewhat bittersweet.

And ten is a nice round number. So I started thinking about my old colleagues. My workmates, my buddies. We had been through a lot together. I started to wonder where they all were now. What were they doing? Were they doing well, or struggling? Were they happy? What did they look like now? Pretty soon I was into full-on nostalgia mode. Ten-year anniversaries can do that to a person. I think we all share those kind of feelings, about high school, or college, or old jobs we've quit, or old towns we've moved away from.

So I decided to make this year's Jack Reacher book about a reunion. I decided to throw him back among a bunch of old colleagues that he hadn't seen for ten years, people that he loved fiercely and respected deeply. Regular Reacher readers will know that he's a pretty self-confident guy, but I wanted him to wobble just a little this time, to compare his choices with theirs, to measure himself against them.

The renewed get-together isn't Reacher's own choice, though. And it's not a standard-issue reunion, either. Something very bad has happened, and one of his old team-members from the army contacts him, by an ingenious method (it's hard to track Reacher down). She gives him the bad news, and asks him to do something about it. He says, "Of course I'll do something about it."

"No," his friend says. "I mean, I want you to put the old unit back together."

It's an irresistible invitation. Wouldn't we all like to do that, sometimes? --Lee Child

Secrets of the Series: A Q&A with Lee Child

Q: Why do you think readers keep coming back to your novels?
A: Two words: Jack Reacher. Reacher is a drifter and a loner with a strong sense of justice. He shows up, he acts, he moves on. He's the type of hero who has a long literary history. Robin Hood, the Lone Ranger, Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, Jack Reacher--they're all part of the same heroic family. Reacher just ratchets it up a notch. Maybe more than a notch. Why is he so appealing? Most often people say to me it's his sense of justice; he will do the right thing. Even though there is no reward in it for him, even though there is often a high cost to be paid by him, he will always try to do the right thing and people find that reassuring in today's world when not too many people are doing the right thing.

Q: Jack Reacher gets compared to James Bond, Jack Bauer and Jason Bourne, each of whom now has a "face." In a movie, which actor do you think could fill Reacher's shoes?
A: That's the toughest question. The thing about Reacher is he's huge; he's 6'5" tall and about 250 pounds. There aren't any actors that size--actors tend to be small. So we aren't going to find a physical facsimile for Reacher because there aren't any. We have to find someone who is capable of looking big on the screen. Many people have said to me a young Clint Eastwood would have been perfect--we need someone like that who has the vibe of a big intimidating man. Hopefully there will be somebody available like that. It's also a question of finding somebody ready to sign up for more than one movie. They want to make a franchise, minimum of three, and that makes it a little bit harder.

Q: What research is involved in writing one of your stories?
A: My research is all kind of backwards. I don't go to the public library for three months and take notes in advance; instead my best research is by remembering and adapting. I read, travel, and talk to people just for the fun of it, filing away these interesting little snippets to the back of my mind and eventually they float to the surface and get used. The problem is, I approach writing the book with the same excitement and impatience that I hope the reader is going to feel about reading it. But even so, I need a certain measure of technical intrigue in the story. There is specific research I have to do as I go along, anything that's a small detail; a car, a gun, a type of bullet. I will check that out at the time. But, that's what I call the detail--the broad stuff is the stuff I already know.

Meet Jack Reacher

The Killing Floor

Die Trying

Tripwire

Running Blind

Echo Burning

Without Fail

Persuader

The Enemy

One Shot

The Hard Way

Book Description

From a helicopter high above the empty California desert, a man is sent free-falling into the night…. In Chicago, a woman learns that an elite team of ex–army investigators is being hunted down one by one.... And on the streets of Portland, Jack Reacher—soldier, cop, hero—is pulled out of his wandering life by a code that few other people could understand. From the first shocking scenes in Lee Child’s explosive new novel, Jack Reacher is plunged like a knife into the heart of a conspiracy that is killing old friends…and is on its way to something even worse.

A decade postmilitary, Reacher has an ATM card and the clothes on his back—no phone, no ties, and no address. But now a woman from his old unit has done the impossible. From Chicago, Frances Neagley finds Reacher, using a signal only the eight members of their elite team of army investigators would know. She tells him a terrifying story—about the brutal death of a man they both served with. Soon Reacher is reuniting with the survivors of his old team, scrambling to raise the living, bury the dead, and connect the dots in a mystery that is growing darker by the day. The deeper they dig, the more they don’t know: about two other comrades who have suddenly gone missing—and a trail that leads into the neon of Vegas and the darkness of international terrorism.

For now, Reacher can only react. To every sound. Every suspicion. Every scent and every moment. Then Reacher will trust the people he once trusted with his life—and take this thing all the way to the end. Because in a world of bad luck and trouble, when someone targets Jack Reacher and his team, they’d better be ready for what comes right back at them…

Customer Reviews:

My First Reacher Novel, Probably My Last.......2007-10-06

I picked up Bad Luck and Trouble because it sounded like an interesting book. I must say, though, that it was not my cup of tea. I, on the whole, enjoy crime novels and spy thrillers in the vein of Vince Flynn and David Baldacci. Lee Child most likely fits here nicely.

The story is about Jack Reacher, a former military policeman. He receives a call for help from one of his former teammates. It seems that several members of the unit have disappeared and Reacher needs to find out why. Interesting premise, but it quickly devolves into a revenge novel with a little bit of "let's stop the terrorist" thrown in to make the story timely.

I have no problem with the writing of the book. Mr. Child is a very talented writer. I just did not enjoy the story. Revenge for the sake of revenge is not my idea of a good time.

disappointing.......2007-09-27

Unfortunately, in my opinion, this book cannot be compared the The Hard Way. That one was taut, thrilling and extremely gripping. This one was drowning in minutiae, far too many 'filler' details. It took 250 pages to even know what the characters were trying to stop. From then on, you just knew Reacher would get the bad guys and the climax was pretty standard 'shoot 'em up', no surprises or twists at all. I expected so much more. Pass this one by.

Best Yet.......2007-09-25

I have enjoyed the seris, and liked this one the best, because of the former team members, they give some real balance to Jack...

The Latest Installment From A Favorite Author.......2007-09-18

If you somehow got your hands on a copy of Bad Luck & Trouble and have NOT read the previous Jack Reacher tales, stop and begin with The Killing Floor. Lucky you!
Having said that, Bad Luck & Trouble is yet another very satisfying installment in the series. I sincerely hope that Lee Child continues to be inspired by his character and the interesting settings that Jack Reacher finds himself in.
This story is fresh, edge of the seat entertainment that we fans have come to expect. Mr Child does not disappoint!.

Jack's Back.......2007-09-16

My enjoyment of the Jack Reacher novels is such that I actually purchased this hardcover. Anyone familiar with this type of novel recognizes that plot details are secondary to what has been called, "solidification of sequence". This novel is a shade less enjoyable than the rest. Is Mr.Child losing interest? Am I losing interest? Hard to say but this one comes up short. Of course Jack is still there. And I would still like to have him as a friend, although I come probably never find him if I needed him. By the way, isn't only owning the "clothes on his back" gimmick wearing a little thin. Jack,buy yourself a knapsack, a duffel bag, at least a brief case, and carry a change of socks. To those of us accustomed to changing clothing at least every day the idea of wearing them until they reek is not only unappealing but unrealistic. And, I have wondered, what the hell does Jack do when he takes the next bus to anywhere and gets there. What does he do, walk the streets? With no real money and clothes that stink his choices are somewhat limited. Seedy hotel rooms lose their charm after a while and there are only so many undeserving victims of cruel, powerful people out there to assist. Sure, it's great to read of him breaking the neck of some ruffian but walking back into the great outback of novel land, chucking it all so he can return next year to crack some more skulls does require the willing suspension of disbelief. Life must be awful boring between bouts with bad men. Jack, settle down, get a job, star in a tv series, marry that beautiful babe, put some roots down before old age catches up with you....and Mr. Child runs out of marginably credible adventures for you to participate. And, for cryin' out loud, change your clothes.

Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents

Average customer rating:

A must read for parents with grown children
So, I am not alone....
Disappointing
false relationships
solid

Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents
Jane Isay
Manufacturer: Flying Dolphin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Parent & Adult Child | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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EMPTY NEST, THE: 31 PARENTS TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, LOVE, AND FREEDOM AFTER THE KIDS FLY THE COOP
Without a Map: A Memoir

ASIN: 0767920848
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Jane Isay, the editor who discovered Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia and commissioned Rachel Simmons' Odd Girl Out, has written an insightful, compelling book about "the delicate lifelong bond between grown kids and their parents." Isay traveled across the country and interviewed nearly 75 people (including dozens of parents and grown children), and Walking on Eggshells shares moving stories that will help parents and grown children build strong new adult relationships with one another. We asked Po Bronson, author of Why Do I Love These People?, to read Isay's book and give us his take. Read his review below. --Daphne Durham

Guest Reviewer: Po Bronson

Po Bronson is the author of the brilliant bestseller What Should I Do with My Life?, the powerful and poignant Why Do I Love These People?, a hilarious novel called The Bombadiers, and The Nudist on the Late Shift, a collection of "true stories" about Silicon Valley.

When we tell family stories, we so often focus on the beginning and the end. The beginning is the two decades of our childhood and adolescence, and it's been the favorite narrative arc ever since Freud. What happens in your childhood does not stay in your childhood--it haunts the rest of your life. In the last decade, we've suddenly heard more stories of the end--narratives constructed around a parent's death, and often the year spent caring for that parent on their deathbed.

Because these are the conventional narratives, they often distract our attention from the many decades in between. We barely even have a terminology for these years--and the terms we employ sound like oxymorons: "Adult Children," "Parents of Adults." There's an old saying: you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. In the beginning this is true--we're in the care of our parents, like it or not. And in the ending this is also true--they're in our care, like it or not. But in the long middle, this isn't so true. The middle is a period where both child and parent can keep their distance, if they prefer. And often do, harboring resentment. We too often accept that this is just the way it is. "She's never going to change" is a common, fatalist refrain.

In Walking on Eggshells, Jane Isay shines a much-needed light on these years. With a graceful respect for the families she investigates, she tells their stories--how they lost their love, and how they regained it. Isay covers the many ways families develop resentment, and the many techniques they employed to make peace. She shows that small changes in routine can go a long way to restoring goodwill. But it's not a self-help book; it's more of a literary contemplation, and we learn more by inspiration than by emulation.

Though this book addresses the parents directly, I suspect it will be passed back and forth, between generations, in many a family. --Po Bronson

Book Description

On giving advice:
They Don’t Want It.
They Don’t Hear It.
They Resent It.
Don’t Give It.

We raise our children to be independent and lead fulfilling lives, but when they finally do, staying close becomes more complicated than ever. And for every bewildered mother who wonders why her children don’t call, there is a frustrated son or daughter who just wants to be treated like a grownup. Now, renowned editor Jane Isay delivers the perfect gift to both parents and their adult children—real-life wisdom and advice on how to stay together without falling apart.

Using extensive interviews with people from ages twenty-five to seventy, Isay shows that we’re far from alone in our struggles to make this new, adult relationship work. She offers up groundbreaking insights and deeply moving stories that will inspire those in even the toughest situations. Isay’s warmth and wit shine through on every page as she charts an invaluable course through the confusing, and often painful, interactions parents and children can face. Walking on Eggshells is the much-needed road map that will keep you connected to the people you love most.

Customer Reviews:

A must read for parents with grown children.......2007-09-30

I have insisted to several friends that as parents of adult children, they too, MUST buy the book. I even bought extra copies myself and gave to relatives. It's a "keeper" in my library.
Thank you, Jane Isay for the shared revelations.

So, I am not alone...........2007-09-28

Just when I thought I was all alone in the "inapt Mother-in-law" category, I read the book with such relief!!! Alas, I have company!!!

Disappointing.......2007-09-10

This book makes some good points but didn't go deep enough to help me. I found "When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don't Get Along" to be far more helpful because the author, Dr. Joshua Coleman, provides much more guidance for a range of situations and goes into much more depth for this very difficult problem.

false relationships.......2007-09-10

I was expecting more from this book than I got. The basic premise stated over and over is: Don't give advice, and hold your tongue. This seems to foster false and fake relationships. Would you want someone to "pretend" they adore you, when thet really can't stand you? I think most people want relationships that are true and real. I was hoping for a book with more advice on how to deal with specific situations, not just "keep everything to yourself" I was dissapointed in the author.

solid.......2007-09-09

easy, quick read. Nice ideas and points made in this book. It gives examples and things to think about. Well done.

Average customer rating:

Life-Span Human Development
Tired Read
Choppy, and incredibly dry

Life-Span Human Development
Carol K. Sigelman , and Elizabeth A. Rider
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Study Guide for Sigelman and Rider's Life-Span Human Development

Accessories:

Developmental PsychologyNow? (Stand Alone Version with e-Book) for Sigelman/Rider's Life-Span Human Development, 5th
Study Guide for Sigelman/Rider's Life-Span Human Development, 5th

ASIN: 0534553818

Book Description

Written in a clear, straightforward style, LIFE-SPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT provides the comprehensive coverage that you need to do well in this course. Each chapter focuses on a domain of development (such as physical growth, cognition, or personality) and includes information on four life stages: Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood. Features included throughout the text help you chunk material into manageable portions, master the skills required to understand research data, and understand the processes of transformation that occur in key areas of human development.

Customer Reviews:

Life-Span Human Development.......2004-07-17

I found the layout of this book very interesting in that it took a portion of the life-span and brought you from infancy to old age. In this way, the natural progression of life could be viewed for each topic. The alternative would be to start with infancy, then go to childhood, adolescence, etc. With the approach of this book, I found tracking each topie, e.g., "Perception," more interesting.

Tired Read.......2003-09-28

Very dry read. Complicated and confusing order of addressing topics. Reading for my developmental psych class felt like a chore with this book.

Choppy, and incredibly dry.......2001-05-01

I used this book with a human development course at my university, and it was less than adequate for the job. The book is incredibly bland, and while it goes through the life span in order, it seems to jump around from different people's theories too much. Better if all of Piaget's ideas were presented together for a certain topic, etc.. On top of that, I believe that the method of citing the sources, while it works for research papers, seemed out of place in this setting. Numbered footnotes would have worked better. The method of citation used made it seem choppy, as all of a sudden you'd see a last name and a year in the middle of the text. This could be done more effectively, because the current method definitely broke up the text significantly. Hopefully, some of these changes will be implemented in a future edition.

SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: US DVD Version, Book, Training Video (DVD), Quick Reference Guide

Average customer rating:

Easy to understand / user-friendly
Signing with babies works
Signing is cool -- don't need the video though
Too much marketing, Not enough vocab.
Best Baby Sign Language program

SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: US DVD Version, Book, Training Video (DVD), Quick Reference Guide
Joseph Garcia
Manufacturer: Northlight Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Misc. Supplies

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Children's Books | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Parenting & Families | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1932354018
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Product Description

Birth - 18 months. A straight-forward and light-hearted approach to teaching infants how to communicate using simple American Sign Language (ASL) signs.

Amazon.com

Sign with Your Baby Complete Learning Kit will enable you to communicate at new levels with your baby long before she can speak. This comprehensive package of book, video, and reference guide shows how simple gestures can communicate ideas like "I'm hungry" or "help me." Caregivers grasp baby's needs immediately rather than learn through trial and error. Dr. Joseph Garcia has designed the system so it's not necessary to learn an entire new language, although it also provides a terrific start in American Sign Language for a hearing-impaired child. A fascinating introduction delves into the development of language in children and uses informative line drawings to demonstrate over 150 hand signs for all kinds of actions and nouns. The accompanying video provides practical tips for getting started, some insight into the hows and whys of this method from Dr. Burton White (director of the Center for Parent Education), and inspiring sights of young babies signing effectively with their caregivers. The laminated quick-reference guide lists some of the most common words in any parent's day: cookie, no, and up are but a few. Garcia's clear, concise methods make learning a breeze, and caregivers gain outstanding new abilities to give the best possible care for the babies entrusted to them. --Jill Lightner

Customer Reviews:

Easy to understand / user-friendly.......2007-10-11

This set has many forms of materials included - the quick-view card helpful for babysitters and grandparents, the DVD to fully explain the theory behind sign-language as well as properly demonstrate the motions of sign-language, and a book which covers many of the same points on theory of sign-language as the DVD. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and after only 1 showing we both picked up many signs to be able to use with our little one.

Signing with babies works.......2007-09-10

We bought Garcia's DVD for our grandson at about 4 months of age. Signs helped him express his needs and even feelings with a minimum of fussing. He is now almost 3 and very verbal & advanced. It may be that he's just a great kid, but we believe signing with babies really works.

Signing is cool -- don't need the video though.......2007-07-08

I like the sign language. It was pretty great when our 9 month old told me he wanted milk the first time! I don't think you need the video though. You can just start repeating certain signs on your own. Just repeat them a lot and be consistent.

The problem we had is that we couldn't get our daycare providers to use the signs. So it seemed like any progress we made got undone by them. He would use the signs with them but they wouldn't recognize it. I can only imagine how that must have been frustrating and confusing for him. So make sure everyone around him is going to use the signs before you start teaching them.

Too much marketing, Not enough vocab........2007-05-26

I started at 7 months, he picked up the first sign at about 10 months, and the rest came around 1 yr. The video/book combination is good because the video shows you the signs and the book is handy for a quick reference.

Drawbacks:
1. I felt like much of the video was still trying to sell me on the idea of doing sign with my baby. It could focus less on marketing and present the information more efficiently.
2. The sign vocabulary is limited to the first stage of sign language learning only. It could be improved by including more vocabulary.

Best Baby Sign Language program.......2007-05-14

I have compared this program with other sign language programs, and it seems to be the best one I have come across so far. At one point, I taught another baby sign language course, whose name I will not mention. The program's signs did not always come close to actual sign language, which I found was offensive to the deaf community. Joseph Garcia's program follows actual signs from ASL, and the program is easy enough to learn if you are willing to put the time and effort into it. I would definitely recommend this baby sign language program for other mothers - the resources are varied - book, DVD, quick reference guide - it's the best out there!!

Average customer rating:

If you're a mom, this will make you cry
Beautiful
A Mother's Storybook Wish for Her Child
touching, to say the least
made me cry

Someday
Alison McGhee
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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I Will Hold You 'til You Sleep
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Not a Box

ASIN: 1416928111

Book Description

A mother's love leads to a mother's dream -- every mother's dream -- for her child to live life to its fullest.

A deceptively simple, powerful ode to the potential of love and the potential in life, Someday is the book you'll want to share with someone else...today. The perfect gift for Mother's Day, Graduation Day or Any Day - share a copy with every special person in your life.

Customer Reviews:

If you're a mom, this will make you cry.......2007-10-10

Touching book about being a mom. I've gotten it for my mom friends as a gift, and they all found it very touching. It's geared toward mom/daughter, but the message is sentimental. Cry everytime I read it. Love this book.

Beautiful.......2007-10-10

I absolutely love this book and cry or get emotional almost every time I read it. I have purchased it as a baby book for every woman I know who has recently had a baby girl. Each one of them feels the same for it. It is a treasure.

A Mother's Storybook Wish for Her Child.......2007-10-04

SOMEDAY is a mother's heartfelt storybook wish for her child -- that her child will grow up healthy, experience great joys, and someday have a family of her own. It's also a wish that she will be lovingly remembered by her child ("Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun. And when that day comes, love, you will remember be.") The book is reminiscent of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever, but the storyline is simpler and more realistic. The illustrations complement the story beautifully. Highly recommended.

touching, to say the least.......2007-09-21

This book brings me to tears at the very thought of it. I got about 1/2 way through the darling pictures and wonderful, sweet words and the tears started. By the time I finished I was a mess. I'm sure it will touch every mother who reads it-it is definitely a book for a baby girl or daughter since the pictures depict a mother/daughter relationship.It's about the simple memories we make with our children that mean more than anything. It's also about the dreams we hold for them. I now have a FAVORITE new book, one that will definitely be bought for others as well. Don't miss this one!

made me cry.......2007-09-17

Takes you through birth-college-grandchildren-old age within a small book. As they say, kids grow up in the blink of an eye. Good for a pre-teen gift from mom to daugther. Very touching, probably how most moms feel about their daugthers.

Social and Personality Development (with InfoTrac )

Average customer rating:

guided by Bronfenbrenner
Social and Personality Development

Social and Personality Development (with InfoTrac )
David R. Shaffer
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Adolescent Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Personality | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Social Psychology & Interactions | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Social and Personality Development (Cram101 Textbook Outlines - Textbook NOT Included)
Gerontology: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
Children's Thinking: Cognitive Development and Individual Differences (with InfoTrac®)
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Children's Thinking (4th Edition)

ASIN: 0534607004

Book Description

The success of this best-selling text lies in the author's belief that a good text talks with, rather than at, its readers. Shaffer does an extraordinary job of anticipating students' interests, questions, and concerns while treating them as active participants in the process of learning about social and personality development. The Fifth edition of SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT features clearly written, current coverage of social and personality development that aids students in discovering the causes, processes, and complexities that underlie developmental change. Students learn why biological and environmental factors, contextual factors such as cross-cultural, familial, neighborhood, school, and peer-group influences cause change in children. Shaffer also explores the approaches that researchers use to test their theories and answer important questions about developing children and adolescents. This book's effective coverage of field research stands out from other texts not only for its accuracy and currency, but because Shaffer consistently juxtaposes classic research with the latest breakthroughs in a way that helps students appreciate how knowledge builds on earlier findings. This edition features a much stronger emphasis on cultural influences on development.

Customer Reviews:

guided by Bronfenbrenner.......2006-05-30

As an instructor, I found this to be an excellent text. In particular, I appreciated the repeated incorporation of cross-cultural research. This text answers the call for incorporating diversity across the curriculum. Repeated inclusion of cross-cultural similarities and differences, combined with repeated discussions of the interconnections of multiple variables, helps students move away from a "one-size fits all" approach and egocentric thinking. By the end of the semester, when students were presented with a hypothetical problem scenario to resolve, they quickly outlined a list of additional details they would need to know, offering how each variable (parenting style, ethnicity, location of residence, violence within family, etc.) would alter the "goodness of fit" of their intervention. Also, the author does not shy away from presenting research evidence that is sometimes contradictory or inconclusive, which provides an excellent opportunity for in-class discussions of the reality of research and how, as a field, we address these issues. The only drawback is the amount of information sometimes overwhelmed students, so I found it necessary to focus their reading on certain sections of each chapter - however this can also be viewed as strength, since it allowed me to "customize" my course to some extent.

Social and Personality Development.......2005-09-22

This was a brand new book and I was pleased with the book however it took longer than expected to receive.

What to Expect the First Year, Second Ed

Average customer rating:

MUCH better than the pregnancy version
Just what a new parent-to- be needs!
Very Helpful
LOVE this series
Hand Tool

What to Expect the First Year, Second Ed
Heidi Murkoff , Sandee Hathaway , and Arlene Eisnberg
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Family Health | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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What to Expect When You're Expecting, Third Edition
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Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furinture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! (Baby Bargains)
What to Expect the Toddler Years

Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
What to Expect When You're Expecting, Third Edition

Product Features:

Bestselling guide to baby care
Revision of the 6.9 million seller
Incorporates the most recent developments in child development
Updated coverage of issues like SIDS, newborn screening, home births, causes of colic
Focuses on issues for mommy like returning to work, resulting of at-home newborn care and the expanded role of father

ASIN: 0761129588

Product Description

America's bestselling guide to caring for a baby is now better than ever: announcing a two-years-in-the-making, cover-to-cover, line-by-line revision and update of the 6.9-million-copy What to Expect the First Year, the bible for taking care of a newborn through the milestone of his or her first birthday. The Second Edition incorporates the most recent developments in pediatric medicine. Every question and answer have been revisited, and in response to letters from readers, dozens of new Q&As have been added. The book is more reader-friendly than ever, with updated cultural references, and the new material brings more in-depth coverage to issues such as newborn screening, home births and the resulting at-home newborn care, vitamins and vaccines, milk allergies, causes of colic, sleep problems, SIDS, returning to work, dealing with siblings, weaning, sippy cups, the expanded role of the father, and much more. An updated cover and all-new black-and-white line illustrations complement the fresher book with a fresher look.

Amazon.com

Is our baby eating enough? Is this much crying normal? How do I know when she is really sick? This hefty, 671-page guide to your baby's first year is brought to you by the creators of the bestselling What to Expect When You're Expecting. The three authors, all mothers themselves, are calm, clear, and encouraging as they tackle the first year of child-rearing, month by month. The easy-to-absorb, chronological format includes sections such as "What Your Baby May Be Doing," "What You Can Expect at This Month's Checkups," "Feeding Your Baby This Month," "What You May Be Concerned About," and "What It's Important to Know."

Part Two addresses special concerns such as illness, first aid do's and don'ts, the low-birthweight baby, the adopted baby, becoming a father, and sibling relationships. You'll also find discussions of breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, selecting a physician for the baby, diapers and clothing, safety, and many ways of stimulating the baby's development. The recipes for babies and toddlers in Part Three are useful, as are the recommended home remedies; charts on common childhood illnesses; height and weight; and the thorough index. (A particular strength of the book is the authors' careful attention to diet and nutrition for both mother and baby, incorporating the American Academy of Pediatrics' latest recommendations on infant nutrition.) While some of the authors' perspectives are controversial (such as whether to let your baby "cry it out" or not), this book remains one of the most comprehensive resources for new parents as they toddle through their baby's first year.

Customer Reviews:

MUCH better than the pregnancy version.......2007-10-01

I hated what to expect when you're expecting. I found it totally paranoid and annoying. This book, however, was very useful. I enjoyed the monthly breakdown of developmental skills and issues that might come up. It's in a question/answer format, which is easy to read on only a few hours sleep.

Just what a new parent-to- be needs!.......2007-09-30

What To Expect the First Year, Second Ed

My daughter & son-in-law were delighted to receive this book and find it to be informative, helpful and easy to read.

Very Helpful.......2007-09-27

I felt this book was very helpful as a first time mother. Many things that you'll question can be found in this book, and more.

LOVE this series.......2007-09-20

An absolute must for the intelligent parent. This series is not for the paranoid (it will only make you more obsessed about where your child "ranks" amongst otherchildren. This great easy to read book series (what to expect when you are expecting,... the first year... the toddler years) does just what it says it does. It gave us a guide to lessen the shocks and surprises that my daughter kept in store for us. It also helps me to gauge if any social or developmental abnormalities are occuring so that I can seek help if neccesary. Because of this series (in good part) When my daughter had her first peanut reaction on her 1st birthday I knew what was possible, watched, caught it, and got her medical attention immediately. I now carry a life saving Epi-pen. If you are now paranoid , don't get the books. If you can be rational and want to be aware, then run to get it, love it.

Hand Tool.......2007-09-08

Its a useful book for any new parents. It begins by explaining what essentials to purchase for your new born, breast feeding vs. bottle feeding, post parteum then it goes into depth for the first year fo your baby's development. It will be my guide through the first year of my child's life for sure.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive

Average customer rating:

A Child Called "It" review
Will make you cry, a must read
I couldnt put the book down
Dave Pelzer is one courageous guy
h-oookay.....

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive
Dave Pelzer
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Special Needs | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Dysfunctional Relationships | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family
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Amazon.com

David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel, The Lost Boy, detailing his life in the foster-care system.

Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love, and Pelzer is an expert witness.

Book Description

This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it." Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

Customer Reviews:

A Child Called "It" review.......2007-10-01

A Child Called "It" is an amazing book about the struggles of a young boy and his abusive mother. Though this book was disturbing and cruel, I thought it was very well written and the author had a great writting style. I thought some of the most disturbing parts were when David would be burned on the stove or locked in the bathroom for gas chamber sessions. I also hated that some of his greatest memories were at his favorite vacation spot and his mother ruined those for him. I think it is important that Dave let out his feelings and experiences in this book. I hope that he has found a way to move on with his life and not let the past ruin his present and future life.

Will make you cry, a must read.......2007-10-01

A Child Called it is and insperational true story about a young boy named David Pelzer being physically abused in his own home by his own Mother. The book shows how David made his way through life dealing with his horrific mother. He keeps his motivation through being drown, being burned, beat, forced to eat the contents out of a babies diaper, and countless other things while fighting for food in order to avoid starvation. He eats food out of trash cans, steals from students, and eats out of freezers in order to survive. This child's life was a living hell, but ahd the dedication to make his way through it with courage and bravery. This story is a must read that will bring you to tears and keep you motivated

I couldnt put the book down.......2007-09-27

I could not put this book down I read it in an hour and a half without stopping for anything. This story although so heart breaking needed to be told.. For the man who wrote this telling book 5 STARS and for the book aswell

Dave Pelzer is one courageous guy.......2007-09-24

I really have to speak up here. This review is for anyone who might be tempted to think that Dave made this stuff up. I am relatively sure it's all true because my childhood was similar to his.

Child abuse by parents really only came out of the closet, so to speak, in the 1990s. The myth was, and is, that ALL adult females are ALWAYS motherly. We now know that mothering is a learned skill, and is NOT instinctual in humans.

Take the story of Cinderella. It is too grotesque to think that a biological mother could be evil to a child, therefore the mother-figure is downgraded to "stepmother." For anyone who has been abused by one's mother such as myself, it is patently clear that this story is not about a stepmother -- it's about a biological mother. European culture could not face that a biological mother could betray her girl-child as in the story.

My experience of my biological mother (whom I call "anti-motter") was not unlike Dave's, only having occurred ten years earlier and in upstate New York. When I was about 18 months' old, she picked me up out of my crib and smashed me into a wall. I shouldn't be alive. By the early 1990s, these memories came flooding into consciousness. She never 'fessed up. If I did some small infraction like didn't finish my veggies, my anti-motter sent me to the cellar for 3-6 hours, and it was one scary cellar with its cold dirt floor, damp sump corner, and spiders. While other kids were out learning social skills by playing with other kids, I was forced to spend Saturdays scrubbing floors, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, starting in 5th grade.

There were no protections back then for kids. Abuse was not seen as abusive, and people in schools, libraries, neighbors, extended family did not put two and two together, and certainly did not "out" it. As the saying goes, when abuse was seen, people "minded their own business," and it just wasn't respectable to INTERFERE with other families' child-rearing techniques, and it was perceived as interference. Spanking was common. Until World War II, beatings were typical. Society in general thought nothing of treating kids harshly and without compassion. Child abuse was not on the map at all as a possibility. The "caregiver" (that is, abusive parent) could quite literally get away with murder. If a toddler fell downstairs breaking her neck and died, it was not investigated -- it was assumed to be "a terrible accident."

Anyone who doubts Dave's accounts and experiences has not been what I went through living with a brutal biological mother in the 1960s. A person could not think this stuff up if it were not true. Dave Pelzer does not seek attention -- he wants people to listen up and prevent it from happening to other kids. And it *will* happen to other kids unless we know the signs and risk stepping in as powerful adults. So just learn from Dave's many side-tales, and become aware.

Females are no more "motherly" than a rock unless they had nurturing females who treated them with dignity and kindness growing up. My anti-motter was herself battered as a child, never recovered from it, and did pass it on to her kids. Thank God neither my brother nor I had kids because we likely would have passed the hatred to the next generation. Not having kids was the only way we knew how to "break the chain of violence." Some lineages deserve to die out.

Dave Pelzer is a life-saver. He has said what I had not the courage or awareness to. He is an amazing fellow for bringing his stories into the light of day. He deserves respect, not ridicule. He is hero. If I were Catholic, he'd be a saint.

h-oookay............2007-09-23

All these five star reviews and the apparently wet faces of the readers was an impetus for me to seize the book and read it the first chance I got. I'm a sucker for tear-shedding novels, so you could understand my excitement and my all-too-ready sorrow for this "non-fictitious" little boy. Unfortunately, for my great regret, for both the work and my wasted time, what I read from that book was not at all what I expected. From the first page the story just barfed at me "I'm fabricated, synthetic as can be." The whole story has no point whatsoever, except that of morbid, preposterous describtions of events that we can't even prove to be true. Even if it were true, why would the author write about something like that? Who is he writing to anyway? What kind of helpful message is THAT to anyone? A story about falling off your bicycle & breaking your arm and learning a lesson about caution and attentiveness is more practical and useful than this piece of dross.
I could never undestand why some particular people's minds function the way they do. If you really want to read stories about survival, skip this one and read actually a book from this world, that can actually be put to use, starting from The Diary of Anne Frank.

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