Average customer rating:
- Excellent Read
- Unlikeable Characters
- Good read - A bit disappointing
- Family Tree
- Do you know your origin or are you sure of it?
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Family Tree
Barbara Delinsky
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
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Family Saga
| Genre Fiction
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ASIN: 038551865X
Release Date: 2007-02-06 |
Book Description
Dana Clarke has always longed for the stability of home and family—her own childhood was not an easy one. Now she has married a man she adores who is from a prominent New England family, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, but no one can help noticing the African American traits in her appearance. Dana’s husband, to her great shock and dismay, begins to worry that people will think Dana has had an affair.
The only way to repair the damage done is for Dana to track down the father she never knew and to explore the possibility of African American lineage in his family history. Dana’s determination to discover the truth becomes a poignant journey back through her past and her husband’s heritage that unearths secrets rooted in prejudice and fear.
Barbara Delinsky’s Family Tree is an utterly unforgettable novel that asks penetrating questions about race, family, and the choices people make in times of crisis—choices that have profound consequences that can last for generations.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Read.......2007-08-31
I enjoyed reading this book. As a knitter the references about knitting kept me interested in the book.
Unlikeable Characters.......2007-08-28
To me the book seemed unrealistic. Good premise, but I had a hard time liking any of the characers. The knitting theme throughout the book drove me crazy. I was dissapointed.
Good read - A bit disappointing.......2007-08-23
I enjoyed Family Tree, but, unlike other recent Delinsky books, found the characters to be more "wooden" and less believable than usual. Someone else mentioned stereotypes, and I also found that many characters were very much stereotypes. I actually enjoyed the subplot of Hugh helping the single mother, Crystal, more than the main plot. This is a minor point, but sometimes things that just don't ring true distract me from the enjoyment of the story. When one chapter began by saying, "Strapped in a bouncer on the kitchen floor, Lizzie was contentedly full. She was so intrigued by the play of morning sun on her own hands that Dana decided the bath could wait." I thought for a moment that more time had passed than I'd realized in the plot line, but on the next page, Dana is telling someone on the phone that Lizzie is two and a half weeks old. Either Barbara Delinsky doesn't have children, or it has been so long ago that she doesn't remember that 2-1/2 weeks old is way too young to be strapped in a bouncer chair. And as for being fascinated by light on her hands, 2-1/2 weeks old seems a bit young for that also. Babies aren't even holding their heads up on their own at that age. It just didn't ring true and distracted me from the story.
Family Tree.......2007-08-23
Excellent story and could not put it down until finished. Shared with several people that also found it great. Would recomment it to anyone. It could happen to anyone....At least 5 stars
Do you know your origin or are you sure of it?.......2007-08-02
This book was an eye opener for me. I'm from the black race and I've never thought about how a white person feels if they found out they're mixed with black until this book. I must say this was a daring step the author took because it touches on so many details in life we keep hidden. We never dare think of others and how it may impact their future lives when we keep hidden secrets, but if you read this book it will challenge you to react differently. I've never, ever read a book so touching and compelling on racial issues and family situations, like this book. If there is a book to read and keep this is it,no dust will gather on this one. It's a great gift for all races. It's something one can pick up from time to time to reflect on the little intracies of life. We say we're one thing but if searched real carefully we'd surprised ourselves of what we'll find in our hearts and our family tree. Fear of the unknown holds us back from many things, but this book will make one search and dare to question the unknown. This is an excellent read, I truly enjoyed every minute of it.
Amazon.com
Francie Nolan, avid reader, penny-candy connoisseur, and adroit observer of human nature, has much to ponder in colorful, turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. She grows up with a sweet, tragic father, a severely realistic mother, and an aunt who gives her love too freely--to men, and to a brother who will always be the favored child. Francie learns early the meaning of hunger and the value of a penny. She is her father's child--romantic and hungry for beauty. But she is her mother's child, too--deeply practical and in constant need of truth. Like the Tree of Heaven that grows out of cement or through cellar gratings, resourceful Francie struggles against all odds to survive and thrive. Betty Smith's poignant, honest novel created a big stir when it was first published over 50 years ago. Her frank writing about life's squalor was alarming to some of the more genteel society, but the book's humor and pathos ensured its place in the realm of classics--and in the hearts of readers, young and old. (Ages 10 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.
Download Description
E-Book Extra: Self-Reliance: A Reading Group Guide
Named by the New York Public Library as "one of the books of the century," A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan -- and her erratic, eccentric family -- in the turn-of-the-century Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn. Originally published in 1943, this true American classic has sold millions of copies worldwide, and includes a foreword by Anna Quindlen.
Customer Reviews:
Lessons in Life.......2007-09-27
This is the kind of book where there is no interwoven complex plot - just life, death, marriage, sacrifice and lessons learned. It's these simple writings that sometimes touch us the most and are the most thought-provoking. A girls life from childhood into womanhood, and all the dreams and devastations in between... Excellent.
Great book.......2007-09-24
This is one of the best books I have ever read...it has a great plot and a great setting too. Once I started reading it, i couldn't stop. The characters and problems they face seem so real! I recommend this book for people 13 and up because It does have minor "things" in it. BEST BOOK EVER!
Inspiring & Touching book.......2007-09-20
I'm so glad that I decided to read this book. I'd initially purchased it because it was on sale (and I really needed something new to read). Nonetheless, this book has become one of my, if not all time, favorite novels. The characters and situations are so real, and I'm a firm believer that ANYONE (male or female, young or old) can somehow relate to Francie Nolan. In this day and age where the youth seldomly read and are exposed to terrible mediums of entertainment (reality tv--Paris Hilton??) we need books such as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." It's so genuine and full of spirit and heart, despite the characters' dismal situations. This book has the ability to inspire readers to live their lives with integrity and to persevere--especially in seemingly hopeless situations.
A Tree Grows..........2007-09-20
Like before...I am pleased to say your product was sent in a timely fashion and in very good condition. Good job...keep it up!
The Best Book Ever.......2007-08-30
This book was required reading by a Jewish teacher in my 8th grade English class, in Brooklyn. Being a know-it-all Black girl from Brooklyn, I never wanted to read it because I thought I knew it all. Fast forward 10+ years and I finally read the book as a semi-adult. Fast forward 10+ more years and I read it AT LEAST twice a year. This is, in my opinion, the best book for any young woman to read, EVER. It made me read everything else that Betty Smith wrote. It makes me check my local library's supply to make sure they have adequate copies for other young (or older, wiser) girls to read. I have searched and found a 1st printing of the book and I hold it more dearly that my most profound treasure. I would suggest this book to anyone that can read. It will surely teach you something about love, sacrifice and the complexity of the human heart. It is full of romantic love, child-parent love, hopes, dreams, fears, innocence, everything! I recently purchased the movie and I've watched it at least 15 times already. This is a really good book. Oprah thinks so too; she lists it as one of the few books that changed her life. I wholeheartedly agree.
Book Description
Written by two of the country's top genealogists, this authoritative book is the first to explain how new and groundbreaking genetic testing can help you research your ancestryAccording to American Demographics, 113 million Americans have begun to trace their roots, making genealogy the second most popular hobby in the country (after gardening). Enthusiasts clamor for new information from dozens of subscription-based websites, email newsletters, and magazines devoted to the subject. For these eager roots-seekers looking to take their searches to the next level, DNA testing is the answer. After a brief introduction to genealogy and genetics fundamentals, the authors explain the types of available testing, what kind of information the tests can provide, how to interpret the results, and how the tests work (it doesn't involve digging up your dead relatives). It's in expensive, easy to do, and the results are accurate: It's as simple as swabbing the inside of your cheek and popping a sample in the mail.Family lore has it that a branch of our family emigrated to Argentina and now I've found some people there with our name. Can testing tell us whether we're from the same family?My mother was adopted and doesn't know her ethnicity. Are there any tests available to help her learn about her heritage? I just discovered someone else with my highly unusual surname. How can we find out if we have a common ancestor? These are just a few of the types of genealogical scenarios readers can pursue. The authors reveal exactly what is possible-and what is not possible-with genetic testing. They include case studies of both famous historial mysteries and examples of ordinary folks whose exploration of genetic genealogy has enabled them to trace their roots.
Customer Reviews:
This is a "Must Have" addition to your DNA library..........2007-09-03
As a DNA-surname research group administrator, I tend to buy every book, VHS, or DVD I can find regarding the use of DNA research in support of traditional genealogy.
Of the 12-15 books I have purchased so far, Megan Smolenyak's touchstone reference work continues to be the one I reach for when I have a question myself.
Easily read and understood, this book makes complex concepts readily accessible with clear illustrations, definitions, real-world examples, and authoritative references when needed. I am not naturally science-minded, but as a good researcher, I want to be able to use every tool in the box. This is my go-to book for that purpose.
Buy as many DNA books and tapes as you want, but your DNA library will not be complete without this classic introduction to the concepts involved in genetic genealogy.
I highly recommend it!
CHT in Virginia
Excellent contribution in a new subject of growing importance.......2007-06-08
Even a decade ago, "genetic genealogy" barely existed as an almost science-fictional idea. Now, it's one of the most debated topics in our field and thousands of family researchers are involved in projects to identify ancestors through DNA analysis. (I'm in two projects now, myself.) It's a rather complicated subject, though, and for those (like me) who barely scraped through high school biology, the more books for beginners, the better. Smolenyak is a well-known genealogist and lead researcher for the PBS Ancestors series and Turner has become one of the principal popularizers of genetic genealogy on the Internet. The important point is that both have been pursuing family research since the days of manual typewriters and paper library catalogs, and that's the perspective from which they approach the discussion. They explain very clearly why DNA analysis can tell you only who your ancestors *aren't*, not necessarily who they *are*, and the strategic differences between researching your father's and your mother's lineage. They lay out the options and limitations among uncovering ethnic origins (what about that Indian great-grandmother?), global origins (Eastern European? or Scandinavian?), "deep maternal" ancestry (the "daughters of Eve" thing), and even African tribal origins. How do you set up a family or surname research project, attract participants, ensure their trust, and analyze and publish the results? And what do all those numbers in the lab report mean? This is very much a practical book and I strongly recommend it, perhaps in conjunction with Thomas H. Shawker's _Unlocking Your Genetic Heritage_ (2004).
Trace Your Roots with DNA.......2007-01-19
Excellent book for the beginner who wants to understand DNA Testing and how to use it for Genealogy.
DNA and Genealogy.......2006-11-03
This publication is a "must have" book for anyone desiring to utilize DNA
to augment their genealogy study.
Genes.......2006-02-22
I enjoyed the book immensely. The book has good information about places that do genetic testing to trace human migration.
Product Description
The author explains how through his medical and religious experiences he has discovered another method of healing. He believes that many supposedly "incurable" patients are the victims of ancestral control. He therefore seeks to liberate them from this control. By drawing up a family tree he can identify the ancestor who is causing his patient harm. He then cuts the bond between the ancestor and the patient by celebrating, with a clergyman, a service of Holy Communion in which he delivers the tormented ancestor to God.
Customer Reviews:
Best book on healing.......2005-02-25
A great book on healing,it is amazing and wonderful to read how God helps even in times of trouble.
I read this book along with A Guide to Healing and also Intergenerational Healing by Fr Degrandis and then proceeded to heal my family tree this way:
First I started inner healing of myself.
Then I prayed for healing my family tree and it has worked wonders for me.Thank God ,this book is truly a gem for those seeking solutions to the various unexplained things happening in their life.There were many problems in our family including mental illness passed down to generations which modern medicine could not cure and we did not know what to do. Dr.McAll actually helped us see the root cause of our problems like idol worship and disobedience to the first commandment by previous generations and by solving them,we were delivered from such long torture and agony.Also there were many abortions in our ancestral families and we were able to ask forgiveness and baptize those unborn souls.Thus many unresolved problems and violent behaviour of many family members were cured.I could write many more examples, this book actually took me to a higher level of understanding God's works.The healing powers of Jesus' blood in the Eucharist was always there,but we just did not know how to receive those blessings.A great many thanks to Dr McAll for such wonderful sharing.
wonderful, enlightning, fascinating and very spiritual.......1997-08-26
This book and it's new companion - Guide to Healing the Family Tree are a must reading for anyone engaged in counseling be it 'spiritual' or not. The anecdotal format is excellent for bringing examples to a sharp point without a lot of laborious wordiness. These books give a sense of hope and give a direct relationship to biblical teaching and belief that is relative to problems of today on an individual level. It doesn't require any great knowledge of psychology but only a desire to better understand how past personal or family experiences can have a great impact on current lives and events
Product Description
Bringing the world of Trees to your fingertips, Fandex presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys - die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree - plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees. In addition, Trees is a cultural history - of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Ailanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today. 50 die-cut cards Full color throughout Knowledge at your fingertips For the whole family Measures 10.5" by 4"
Customer Reviews:
A cute guide to trees for kids and parents alike..........2001-02-24
My kids find the Fandex format easy to use, and the information on them accessible. We have several, and they're fun for all of us to use together.
I like the fact that each page has illustrations that show the leaf, bark, and seeds. There is a brief description of the tree, some history as well as typical usage. Each page has the following descriptive categories: Leaves; Bark; Flowers; Fruit or Cones; Seeds; Tree Shape; Habitat; Range; and Other Names. Mind you, this is not a complete and scientific field guide for adults, but rather a book a family can take out on a day hike and have fun using.
The only quibble I have about these decks is that sometimes when they're completely fanned out, the edges of the illustrations get caught up in each other, making it hard to close them properly. But other than that, they're cute, informative, and a nice format for kids.
Disappointment.......2000-11-14
I was very disappointed with this "book." I felt the variety of trees found in this collection to be far too minimal. If you plan on learning about trees in the winter, good luck. The primary method for identification is based on leaves. Although you can identify trees based on bark, etc. it would take hours with this manual. Also, it is far to bulky and awkward to comfortably carry along on a hike.
a stroke of genius.......2000-08-31
I read a lot of field guides, and the format of this one is a stroke of genius. You match the leaf to the die cut leaves at the top of the "book" and you're well on your way. My kids also adore it.
Excellent, easy to find what you're looking for.......1998-12-17
This guide is very easy to reference the tree that you are looking for without having to read a tremendous amount of information in typical identification guides.
concise, wonderful color pictures,historical antenotes........1998-09-16
The Guide is good for initial identification to instruct and interest children. It also contains enough important information to impress the nature lover. The historical data and other interesting information makes for good reading.
Book Description
In this dazzling, hilarious memoir, best-selling author ofKinflicks Lisa Alther chronicles her search for the missing--oftenmysterious--branches of her family tree.Most of us grow up thinking we know who we are and where we come from. LisaAlther's mother hailed from New York, her father from Virginia, and everyday they reenacted the Civil War at home in East Tennessee. Then one nighta grizzled babysitter with brown teeth told Lisa about the Melungeons:six-fingered child-snatchers who hid in cliff caves outside town.Forgetting about these creepy kidnappers until she had a daughter of herown, Lisa learned that the Melungeons were actually a group of dark-skinnedpeople--some with extra thumbs--living in isolated pockets in the South.But who were they? Where did they come from? Were they the descendants ofSir Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony, or of shipwrecked Portuguese or Turkishsailors? Or were they the children of European frontiersmen, Africanslaves, and Native Americans? Theories abounded, but no one seemed to knowfor sure.Learning that a cousin had had his extra thumbs removed, Lisa set out todiscover who these mysterious Melungeons really were and why hergrandmother wouldn't let her visit their Virginia relatives. Were thereMelungeons in the family tree? Lisa assembled a hoard of clues over theyears, but DNA testing finally offered answers.Part sidesplitting travelogue, part how--and how not--to climb your familytree, Kinfolks shimmers with wicked humor, illustrating just howwacky and wonderful our human family really is.
Customer Reviews:
Irresistible!.......2007-09-18
Lisa (LYE-ZA) Alther's latest, Kinfolks, falling off the family tree, is irresistible!
Kinfolks is the most humorous and entertaining book I have read in years! (And I've probably read 15,000 in my lifetime of 81 years.) It also introduces you to a very interesting woman who is unafraid to reveal her weaknesses and foibles. She is also a marvelous role model of openness and self-effacement for the young as well as a reassurance for all senior citizens.
Do not be fooled this is only about ancestors or genes. The genealogy and DNA searches provide the structure for very wise and unhurtful humor--a very rare quality.
Most Americans no longer live where they grew up. What they gained by living among strangers, what they lost by uprooting, and what they may profit from by accepting ALL their roots, traits, and history are hilariously illustrated.
The Melungeons, interesting as they may be, only provide a vehicle for Alther's search for more self-knowledge by a very gifted writer. The writing draws one on as Alther reminds us of cogent points through artful means: she contrasts northeast Appalachia church message boards' weekly quotes with Vermont bumper stickers to give us insights into two very different responses to extremes of the Appalachians. She teases her family who seem recognizably familiar, and she tantalizes us with the potential of what DNA may one day tell us about ourselves and others.
Great Story of Climbing the Family Tree.......2007-09-08
This was a great book. It is styled like an autobiography and tells the tale of the authors childhood through adult years, focusing on family, culture, and the things she learned about her family through the years.
Some LOL moments but..........2007-08-19
"Kinfolks: Falling Off the Family Tree," I had very mixed feelings about this book at points loving it and at other points just about abhoring it. I am a scholar on race studies and I found it refreshing to take a break from heady academic reading to this colorfully written biographic memoir. Two things stood out that annoy me about the book: 1. Sometimes I felt as though I was listening in on the conversation of a batty lady because she doesn't edit her thoughts very often and # 2. is the dwelling on the Melungeon--Turkish connection. Not to make this review too convoluted, issue #1 is what left me laughing out loud (the LOL mentioned in the review title) at points--Lisa Alther has an easy to listen to, storyteller's voice as a writer that immediately pulls the reader in. Issue #2 grated on my nerves because while I'm sure there is some Turkish blood in the Melungeons just from understanding the population distributions in early American history I bet that quantum is lower than the African or Native American content. It seems as though exotic ethnicity that is non-African is the flavor of the day, sadly showing a hint of racism still existent even in highly mixed raced group of Americans. Moreover, I find the tendency to explain away several Native American customs and languages of the various indigenous groups of what is now Appalachia as originating in Turkey and parts of the Middle East disturbing and insulting to these long-standing, well developed cultures. It also just plain seems like a stretch toward the ridiculous that she and her distant cousin, well-respected expert on the subject of Melungeons, Brent Kennedy continue to take. Melungeons such as Lisa Alther have a unique opportunity to step above the fray of a largely racist America by virtue of their mixed blood lines--rather than doing so Melungeons whose beliefs are aligned with Alther's are showing us by clinging to the romantic idea of having Romany blood, ample Turkish and other Middle Eastern heritage that even they despise Blackness even it is mixed right into their DNA and to some extent into their phenotypes (physical appearance such as brown skin and curly or wavy hair). Lisa Alther had a unique opportunity while researching for "Kinfolks" to reach out to her African American neighbors and Native American communities, breaking new ground right in racially charged Tennessee, the Carolinas and Virginia--visiting and interviewing people in her blood lines with the same surnames that have culturally blended into the "Black" or "Indian" communities right under her nose to get some answers as well but instead she mounted an international search for answers from exotic lands for answers to ethnic and cultural questions that might well be right here in America in her own backyard.
Not a History Book.......2007-06-13
Well written, easy reading. But if you are looking for the history of the Melungeons, take this book very lightly. Borders on "Cultural Genocide". As with the works of Brent Kennedy and Elizabeth Hirschman, a very poor attempt at rewritting the history of the Melungeons.
What did Noah do with the woodpeckers?.......2007-06-05
I had never heard the word 'Melungeon' before, so I had to go look it up on the web. It appears that no body else really knows what a Melungeon is either. Therefore, what a great thing to go searching for. You can find it if you wish. (662 people claimed to be Melungeon in the 2,000 census).
Ms. Alther's search among her family roots lead her to about as confused a family as, as, as, well most families. The particularly amusing aspect of her family, especially among the older members is the refusal to admit even the slightest possibility that there might be a small percentage of African American blood running through their veins.
Ms. Adler is able to take her investigation into the upper bounds of comedy. She reports a church sign, 'What did Noah do with the woodpeckers.' Upon her father finding out that he might have some Indian blood he tells a fund raiser who calls, 'Sorry, but I'm Cherokee, and I need to give my money to my own people.' I'm going to try to remember that line.
Average customer rating:
- community helpers
- A Sweet and Savory Story by One of the Very Best
- The Bee Tree
- This book is great
- The Bee Tree
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The Bee Tree
Patricia Polacco
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
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ASIN: 0698116968 |
Book Description
When Mary Ellen gets bored with her reading, Grandpa knows a hunt for a bee tree is just what she needs. Half the town joins the exciting chase, but it's not until everyone returns home that Mary Ellen makes a discovery of her own: Sometimes, even the sweetest of things must be worked for. Polacco has created another charming picture book featuring a child learning from a grandparent in an idyllic pastoral settingBoth the writing and artwork are fresh and inviting. -- School Library Journal, starred review The newest gem from Polacco's treasure chest of family stories extols the virtue of reading--and of taking a study break.Like Mary Ellen, readers will emerge refreshed from this respite, ready to seek out new adventures. -- Publishers Weekly Young readers will savor this. -- The Horn Book Patricia Polacco lives in Union City, MI.
Customer Reviews:
community helpers.......2006-07-03
I absolutely love Patricia Polacco books! This one is no exception. I will use this in my class to show how a community comes together to help and they all benefit. I highly recommend it.
A Sweet and Savory Story by One of the Very Best.......2004-03-22
"The Bee Tree" is another of Patricia Polacco's superb explorations of intergenerational friendship, and the significance of culture and tradition. Her expressive, folksy, slightly loopy style are all her own, and she has long been one of my favorite illustrators. Here, the warm, homey pictures just draw you into the story, and suffuse it with the familiarity of a family heirloom. That's part of the magic here: Polacco's stories and colors are so vivid and personal that they seem like par t of your own history, when really she is merely honoring everyone's personal history in general. The colors are vibrant and soft at the same time, the narration has action and unique characterizations, and the obliquely offered message is even more powerful for it's brevity. Very definitely recommended, and I encourage you to discover more of her work!
The Bee Tree.......2004-03-15
Patricia Polacco, in her story The Bee Tree, tells a tale that emphasizes the important value of learning for its own sake. In this story, a young girl, Mary Ellen, tells her grandfather that she is tired of reading, that she would rather be outdoors running and playing.
"In that case," responds her grandfather, " it must be time to find a bee tree."
The grandfather goes outside with Mary Ellen, takes a sealed glass jar with him and leads his granddaughter to a garden full of bees pollinating flowers. The grandfather uses the jar to capture a number of buzzing creatures. He informs Mary Ellen that the insects will lead them to a hive full of the sweetest honey she will ever taste. As the grandfather lets the first bee escape, the chase begins.
Some of the most intriguing characters join in on the chase when they see what the grandfather and the granddaughter are doing. They see some of the most interesting landmarks as they run after the bees that lead to the tree that holds the sweet reward. When they finally reach their destination, the grandfather knows just the right procedures that enable him to pull the honey safely out of the hive. After he acquires the honey, he invites everyone back to his house for a celebration.
During the party, the grandfather takes Mary Ellen away from the crowd. He says quietly to her, "Now child, I am going to show you something what my father showed me, and his father before him."
He spoons a dab of honey onto the cover of a book. "Taste," he says, almost in a whisper.
"There is such sweetness inside of that book, too. Such things ... adventure, knowledge, wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book."
Then he smiles and hugs her. From that day on, Mary Ellen never again complained about her reading. She found it to be every bit as exciting as a wild chase through the countryside and as sweet as honey from a bee tree.
Polacco stresses a number of positive images in her depiction of the grandfather. With a flowing beard and his head always covered with a yalmulke, he is a traditional Jewish figure who is a true source of wisdom and vitality. He is the kind of person whom children today unfortunately do not always experience, particularly when old people live in segregated neighborhoods and nursing homes and retirement complexes, and when parents and grandparents can live thousands of miles apart.
This book is a true gift .
This book is great.......2003-10-07
We think that this is a great book. You should read this book because the pictures are colorful and detailed. The story was interesting, funny, and a little sad. The grandpa is our favorite character - he is sweet. Our favorite part was when the grandpa caught the honeycomb and wrapped it in the diaper.
The Bee Tree.......2003-03-12
Patricia Polacco does an excellent job in creating the masterpiece, The Bee Tree. She goes into bubbly detail of the adventurous journey that the characters take to find...the bee tree!
Mary Ellen is tired of reading books indoors. Her Grandfather offers to go on a "bee tree hunt". They capture a few bees in a jar, and set one free. -That is when the hunt begins. As they run after the bee, others follow along to enjoy the tradition. After setting all of the bees free and loosing them, they actually find the tree.
The adventure was told in great detail and kept me reading on. The story had a good, united town of people that had fun together. In this book, my favorite character would have to be Grampa. Grampa told Mary Ellen that books can be exciting also. Grandpa also liked to have fun and enjoy life.
Book Description
Cutting edge scientific research has shown that exposure to the right kind of environment during the first years of life actually affects the physical structure of a child's brain, vastly increasing the number of neuron branches--the "magic trees of the mind"--that help us to learn, think, and remember. At each stage of development, the brain's ability to gain new skills and process information is refined. As a leading researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, Marion Diamond has been a pioneer in this field of research. Now, Diamond and award-winning science writer Janet Hopson present a comprehensive enrichment program designed to help parents prepare their children for a lifetime of learning.
Customer Reviews:
Great for Parents.......2007-01-08
I was assigned to read this book for a class on Child Development. It went along with many of the main ideas in the text book about the brain development and growth of a child's brain from infancy through adulthood. I work at a daycare and would pay for the parents to read this material. It really help you appreciate how fragile children are, and scientific explinations for the wonders that they achieve every day. The writer does talk a lot about herself and her personal journey making about 1/4 of the book an autobiography, and she seems to brag a bit which is a little annoying to be honest. But if you can get past that then I think it is worth reading for the information that she provides.
Magic Trees of the Mind : How to Nurture Your Child's Intelligence, Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolesce.......2006-12-11
This book is scientifically grounded and well presented to make it a fascinating read and easy to apply at any age.
My daughter was about 13 months old when we were vacationing in San Diego when a guest who had been observing us interacting by the poolside approached us and informed me I should considered this book. It turned out that the guest was a child pychologist and 'saw' tremendous potential in my child and went on to explained the power of nurturing and stimulating the young mind; particularly keying in on the 'window of opportunities' or knowing when the right timing for introducing particular stimulants at specific ages to enhance development of the mind. It has been 6 years ago since I purchased this book and I still make references to it!! It has been a tremendous "awareness" gift given to us from a complete stranger and this is why I felt compelled to write a review (even years later) and to share my enthusiasm! It is rewarding seeing my daughter thrive and so full of life and eager to learn. I am grateful I got my hands on this book early enough to make a difference in our lives.
Parts of the book provide medical explanations and supporting examples on how the brain's neuron, branching dendrites and synapses function and develop. Along with this, the author provides parent-recommeded enrichment tools to introduce at each particular age which has been an invaluable reference; keying in on when and what types of activities to undertake or books and games to support a childs learning.
I highly recommend this book as a vauable guide for those parents who sensibly want to nurture their child's growing mind.
For an understanding of the relationship between life experiences and brain development.......2006-06-30
As a child psychiatrist, I've recommended this book to area developmental specialists, teachers in early childhood education, and parents who have questions about understanding the relationship between brain development, behavioral and emotional development, and early life experiences.
It helps parents feel assured that negative experiences will not be destined to cause permanent adversity. It helps parents feel less guilty about "failing" to expose their child to Beethoven in utero. And it helps parents understand a bit about why early intervention for emotional, behavioral, and anxiety issues may be very protective.
Readers will come away from reading this book with a vivid picture of how the brain's neurologic connections are always dynamic--for example, if you sit in a room and practice piano for hours and hours, the areas of your brain responsible will become very dense and enriched. If you then stop practicing, that area will "prune" and become less enriched. Of course, early childhood is a time when the brain is more ready to learn many skills (language, for example) and the book explains this, too. But ultimately its message is that we can all explore and experience new things at any time--a very positive message!
I use some of the concepts presented in this book to educate parents about development, parenting, nurturance, and enrichment. I use some of the concepts to help others understand the impact of child abuse, and traumatic early experiences.
I haven't utilized the appendices that recommend specific books and toys for enrichment--I really believe in following a child in this regard, and so I make more personal recommendations to parents than a book can really do.
Nurture nature!.......2005-10-14
Half technical manual and half advice column, this book serves as an explaination as to how the brain develops, and how to best nuture that development. The book divides the human brain into "trees", each one branching out into different areas such as emotions, intelligence and creativity.
Included in the book are interviews with leading scientists as well as brain-enhancing activities from parents. The premise is that by learning how the brain develops you can best stimuate it's growth. This is an excellent book for all who care for children from infancy through middle school.
Absolutely a must have!!!!.......2005-05-03
I have been using this book since I was 3 months pregnant till today (my son is 10 months old). I find the information in this book very helpful to help me educate my son and help me learn about the different stages of development. This book is a great buy and useful reference book. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)
- Series improves as it goes on.
- ironwood tree
- spider wick the iron wood tree book 4
- AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)
Holly Black
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
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Similar Items:
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The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5)
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Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)
-
The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)
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The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)
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Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You (Spiderwick Chronicles)
ASIN: 0689859392 |
Amazon.com
After a brief breather in book three (Lucinda's Secret), the Spiderwick Chronicles heat up with doppelgangers, then dwarves, then a dastardly double-cross, as this five-part series approaches its dramatic end.
The Grace kids (9-year-old twins Simon and Jared, and 13-year-old Mallory) might think that things have finally quieted down for them, but the nefarious faerie world has many more surprises in store. In the second chapter, titled, "IN WHICH the Grace twins are triplets," a mysterious and menacing shape-shifter shows up at Mallory's fencing match--and before Simon and Jared can suss out what's up, their sister disappears, presumably kidnapped. Eager to recover Mallory, the two descend into a strange subterranean world beneath a nearby quarry, only to find themselves prisoners and then privy to a wicked (and almost unbelievable) plan. The twins do end up tracking down Mallory, but only in very peculiar circumstances--not the least of which that she's wearing a dress.
Author Holly Black once again skillfully manages to weave in plenty of creepy details (including a bloody final chapter) without whitewashing or leaving young readers feeling too creeped out--and she gets able assistance from Tony DeTerlizzi's ever-evocative pen-and-ink drawings (especially in the looming menace of the Mulgarath). Fans of the series will have a hard time waiting for the final installment, titled fittingly, ominously, The Wrath of Mulgarath. (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
First a pack of vile, smelly goblins snatch Simon. Then a band of elves try to entrap Jared. Why is the entire faerie world so eager to get their hands on Spiderwick's Guide? And will the Grace kids be left alone, now that the Guide has mysteriously disappeared? Don't count on it.
At school, someone is running around pretending to be Jared, and it's not Simon. To make matters even worse, now Mallory has disappeared and something foul in the water is killing off all the plants and animals for miles around. Clues point to the old abandoned quarry, just outside of town. Dwarves have taken over an abandoned mine there. And the faerie world's abuzz with the news that a creature with plans to rule the world has offered them a gift to join with him -- he's given them a queen...
Customer Reviews:
The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4).......2007-01-16
We love this book. The series is so much fun. I have enjoyed it as much as my seven year old.
Series improves as it goes on........2006-12-14
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, The Ironwood Tree (Scholastic, 2004)
The fourth installment in the Spiderwick series continues bringing the storyline together. Once again, character-building is dispensed with; the plot's the thing here, but by the fourth book in a series, you should know everything you need to know about the characters. And to be fair, you do know everything you need to know about what the main characters can do; you just haven't gotten to know them very well over the course of the series. But that's not the fault of The Ironwood Tree.
Things hit kind of a lull in the series' third book, but heat up again in The Ironwood Tree, where the Grace siblings encounter their nemesis, Mulgarath, the driving force behind all of the (unfortunate) events that have driven the series so far. Mulgarath's minions, the dwarves, have kidnapped Mallory to install as their queen, and Jared and Simon have to find a way to get her back.
As with all the Spiderwick books, the action is fast and furious, with Black's writing well-complemented by DiTerlizzi's drawings. The series is getting better as it goes on; if you'd previously given up on it, give it another try. The books are short (easily readable in one sitting), and everything points to a satisfying conclusion. *** ½
ironwood tree.......2006-12-07
I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK CALLED IRONWOOD TREE IT'S AABOUT A GIRL THAT IS MISSING FROM SWORD TOURNAMENT.BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO GET INTRESTID IN THE BOOK AND IT WAS SLOW TO READ.
spider wick the iron wood tree book 4.......2006-11-17
This is about 2 brothers going through a fantasy world to save there sister. This is a wonderful story of adventure and I think you will really enjoy it. Jared is the older brother and he is very mischievous. Chris is the younger sibling and he is just an innocent little thing. Mallory is the oldest and she is a very experienced fencer. She is kidnapped and taken to another world. That`s when Jared and Chris have to rescue her from the evil elves. Also Jared and Chris are taken as prisoners. Then they escape and rescue Mallory.
ONE of my favorite parts is "come on! I can't be late," Mallory said, smoothing her hair back unnecessarily." It's my first match "!
And my response was these few sentences really lead me to keep reading because I want to know what's going to happen next.
Just jump to the rocks, I'll give you the flash light.
I felt he said that just like it was nothing, so if he feels that way he should do it.
Mallory said shut up your so loud.
I think that's so mean and harsh to say to your own siblings.
AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-10-02
The spider wick chronicles have five adventures books!!!The books are about three children always getting in some trouble.There names are Jared,Mallory and Simon!!!In book four they loose there sister and have to go find her but there are dwarves procting here case!!!
Customer Reviews:
An easy to use and understand assessment tool. .......2007-02-13
Kinetic House-Tree-Person Drawings or K-H-T-P by Robert C. Burns of the Seattle Institute of Human Development, is an easy to use and understand interpretative manual for this popular, though still controversial, assessment technique.
Dr. Burn's theory for adding the Kinetic action-to-purpose element to the existing classical model, argues that action in the exercise and symbiosis of the projective components, interplay in creating a dynamic that can yield much more patient information than the standard traditional technique and paradigm.
Dr. Burns demonstrates his point by comparing and contrasting results from several classical model assessments of projective drawings with a kinetic model and interpretation. K-H-T-P is well written and organized providing rich examples of real illustrations for practice and reflection. It is an excellent tool and reference guide for all serious advanced students of psychology and for which assessment will be an important part of their practice.
For the serious student of projective techniques, I would recommend not to focus to much on the illustrations until you have read the concept and assessment techniques provided within and then take a turn at assessment and compare your effort with Dr. Burns final conclusions.
Excellent resource.......2007-01-11
Well presented and an excellent resource for those that utilize this easily administrated and effective assessment.
A good tool.......2004-02-01
I started using art projection when I was a psychologist for a child adolescent unit in a state hospital. A good way to engage angry or depressed children without threat is to ask them to draw something, unless they have poor perceptual motor skills. But getting them to draw will tell you something about that right away. It is important to know what to expect in average drawing skills and this book helps with that. It also gives a place to start with children who have difficulty with verbal expression. This is not the Be All- End All text but it is worthy of being a companion to other art evaluation tools. It is for the subjective anecdotal information to supplement the more objective tools.
It works for me in Special Education: quick emotional test.......2003-07-06
This is not the original I was trained to use but it works as well or better than Goodall's. I use it twice a year and have found the student responses are more in depth for interpretation than their psychoeducational or psychological reports. You can find more quickly where the "hope" level is and put energy into those who are reachable and refer those who aren't. I have collected hundreds of these samples over the years and find most are right on the mark. Of course, it mustn't be used as a diagnostic tool but it works well as a verifier of info.
An unproven laundry list for interpretation.......2001-06-10
For those who want easy answers to deciphering drawings, then this book is a *must read.* But reader beware-- this research is not particularly sound and the original text was written in the early 70's, approximately 30 years ago-- and this book was not significantly updated since then. Hello! Our family values and ideas about family have changed since then, but that is not addressed in this volume. An art therapist worth their salt does not use this type of unreliable assessment to work with clients. I apologize for disagreeing with the last reviewer, but I believe this volume is more of a *must avoid* rather than any type of a classic in the field of art therapy.
Books:
- First Day Forever and Other Stories for LDS Youth
- Flight Volume 2
- Follow the Drinking Gourd
- For Whom the Dinner Bell Tolls: The Role and Function of Food and Drink in the Prose of Ernest Hemingway
- Goodbye, Good Men: How Liberals Brought Corruption Into the Catholic Church
- Half Life: A Novel
- Heaven
- Hide
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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