Children Books

An alien living on earth! This book was a lot of fun simply because it was written from that perspective. It's hilarious and surprisingly revealing about our culture. Great addition to the series and proves why Animorphs has captivate so many fans.

Book came in great condition for a used book, as good or better than advertised. Shipping was prompt. Great seller.

This was an interesting and funny book in the Animorphs series. We get to see what Ax thinks and sees for the first time, it was a really good book.

This is the first "Ax" book of the Animorphs series. I have to say it's one of the funniest Ax books. You get to see his opinion on humans, and at the end you also meet Ax's parents (kind of) and find out about Seerow's Kindness.(See the Hork-Bajir Chronicles)

It is a definate must-read for a begining Animorph fan, and even if you've read the whole series, you'll still get a few laughs out of this one!

This is the BEST Animorphs book I ever read! Ax is just so stupid that he's funny. I kept reading the bit when Ax was at the movies again and again - I feel so sorry for him since he's all on his own on a distant planet where nobody looks like him except Visser Three who is evil :(
I liked that bit with Alloran. I read about Alloran in the Andalite and Hork-Bajir Chronicles, and I didn't really like him, but now I just think how awful and hard it must be :( (Oh no, I never want to be a Controller)
Anyway this was a great book and I'd read it a million times. ^_^

Well, someone has to do it- I must confess that I am rather perplexed that this book has not received more (read: any) negative reviews. 'Rainbow Boys' gained some notoriety among my friends as "the book in which depantsed was used in a *serious* context", however upon reading this "masterpiece" I found the the novel's problems ran far deeper than simple failed attempts at "Shakespearian wordsmithing".

I have a saying about this book whenever people ask me if it's any good. It goes something like this: "Rainbow Boys was so bad that it made me hate gay people." This, of course, is hyperbole, but it is difficult for me to express everything that is miserably misguided and wrong about this novel in less than twenty words without verbally composing a senior thesis. But I'll try:

My first impression of the prose was that it... under-developed. If I were in a generous mood, I would compare Alex Sanchez's writing to that of the kids who won the regional library writing contests when I was in sixth grade- I mean, it's *readable* as in there are full sentences and the descriptions are sort of coherent. But perhaps I am being unfair. I have certain benefits in life that Mr. Sanchez obviously has not:

- I have met actual gay people.
- I have met actual people.

Look, I'll be frank here: the real problem with 'Rainbow Boys' is not that it is badly written- although, let me reiterate, it is *very* badly written- it's that it purports to be an "educational" book dedicated to helping gay youths come to terms with their sexuality and helping straight youth come to understand their not-so-straight peers. Unfortunately, the book falls into a number of icky and damaging cliches and falls into them *hard*.

1. First and foremost, the father figures in the book are, without exception, portrayed as macho, over-bearing and incapable of understanding their sons' predicament while the mothers are always quick to keep the bond with their child. This is a book to help young, gay youth come to terms with the troubling events in their life? The subtext here is that a gay, male child will inherently relate better to the feminine aspect of their upbringing no matter their relationship to their father previous to their coming out. What message is this sending to gay youth who may be struggling with their father? Furthermore, is the author trying to say that gay men actually *are* closer to the feminine regardless of their upbringing or personality? My, my, that seems like an ugly bit of *stereotyping* on your part, Mr. Sanchez.

2. While it is certainly true that some gay youth do not realize that they are gay until late in their teen years, when Mr. Sanchez goes into excruciating detail about how much a character loves his girlfriend and enjoys sex with her and has never in his entire life thought sexually about men until he meets a gay boy of the appropriate age bracket... well, let me just say that I was not convinced. Maybe Mr. Sanchez was attempting to illustrate that Jason was desperately trying to convince *himself* he was straight, but the story does not read that way.

How the story reads is this: either you are completely straight or you are completely gay. Jason is attracted to Kyle so he can no longer be attracted to his girlfriend even though their relationship was perfectly healthy before. Bisexual youth struggle as well. Maybe theirs is a struggle Mr. Sanchez doesn't "admire" since they can theoretically "pass" in normal society by "choosing" to behave straight. Maybe he perceives them as having the "choice" ignorant people accuse homosexuals of having. I'll never know because Sanchez dismissed their existence entirely in 'Rainbow Boys': there is no in-between to him. If he wants to continue writing about social-sexual politics, he would do good to learn that sexuality is a spectrum, not a dichotomy.

3. Since Mr. Sanchez has never met an actual person, I was thinking maybe of giving him a free pass for his gross misrepresentation of eating disorders. Very few people who HAVE engaged in actual social interaction understand eating disorders as it is. In fact, many people who have known those afflicted with eating disorders fail to understand it completely. So instead of admonishing him on this point, I'll give him a few tips:

- While not traditionally considered mental illnesses, eating disorders tend to be coupled with abnormal psychology.
- Eating Disorders are a compulsive behaviour that lasts for a prolonged period of time. It is difficult to break the cycle and many sufferers take twice as long to recover as they did fasting.
- Eating Disorders are about control and mediating your identity. So yes, while it is conceivable that a gay youth might develop an eating disorder, it is an issue that you must treat sensitively. An example of an insensitive way to portray an eating disorder would be the following situation:

"Boy is depressed and eats a whole bag of Oreo cookies and then promptly throws them up. He declares that he has an eating disorder, but quickly quits when he is less depressed."

4. Token Lesbians. That's all I really have to say about them because that's all they really were.

5. Morning. After. Pill. For. AIDS. While this *does* exist, it is a problematic treatment which the effectiveness of is still in question. Mr. Sanchez, however, disregarded this because he was eager to offer his character an easy way out.

6. While this isn't a cliche, there is a great deal of hypocrisy present in the key relationship in the book. While the authority figures in the novel make a great to-do about "waiting" until you're ready for sex and "taking things slow", Jason and Kyle go on a grand total of *one date* before hopping in bed (they've formally known each other, what, a week tops?). Wait! this is a cliche, or rather, a harmful stereotype: being gay is so much about sex, those silly, promiscuous "homos" can't wait until they jump into bed! Yeah, yeah: I know they're teenagers, but seriously- Jason is recently out of a long-term relationship and barely out of the closet. If 'Rainbow Boys' wants to promote responsible sexual practices, then it should make sure to tell youth- gay and straight alike- that it takes more than a condom to make sex between confused teenagers responsible.

In conclusion, this book is an empty, soulless, poorly-written shill of a novel that sends a myriad of negative messages about gay culture to young people. The end.

*Rainbow Boys* is such a good book and a rare one on gay themes. The book focuses on three gay teens: Kyle, Jason and Nelson. Among them, they faced a variety of issues, such as coming out, HIV, romance, homophobia and other related issues. However, Sanchez doesn't stop there. He addresses other issues that other people face as well, such as domestic violence.

Between them, a friendship blossoms and they soon learn to lean on each other for support. And support, they all need it in any form. So, Sanchez introduces PFLAG, Gay-Straight Alliance and moral support from friends and loved ones. Little by little, with support, the trio soon bond and face tough problems together. With friends behind them, they soon learn that nothing shall stand in their way.

Sanchez is a gifted writer. He uses words so accurately that I was on my own memory trips throughout this book. I'm definitely reading his other books!

"Rainbow Boys" is a novel that excels at character development, telling its story through the eyes of three gay teens--Jason, Kyle and Nelson. All three are coming of age in their senior year of high school and coping with their sexual orientation in very different ways, ranging from open and defiant to closeted and in denial. Their stories intertwine, and each has not just high school to traverse but unique family difficulties to overcome. All three characters are eminently likable, and it's easy to sympathize with their plights. And their stories and travails are genuine and real. This is the first in a series of "Rainbow" books following these characters, and I greatly look forward to reading the next installment. I highly recommend this novel. It's a gay coming of age classic."

I bought this book for my son as a gift. He says they are well written and thinks that it's a good insight into the minds dilemmas and real life situations of queer youth. Thank you Mr Sanchez for writing something thought provoking and caring for these often forgotten group of people! We have now purchased all of these books.

i loved this book so much the first time that i picked it up i couldn't put it down i had to read the other 2 books

My daughter thought this was such a cute rhyming book! Super for young kids with great illustration!

This is a great book. It has everything: cars, hills, suspense, sheep, pigs, a bird and cleaning up. Since it is a board book, I can look at it myself with no help. I can also chew the pages with no help. I am good at chewing pages, two teeth is enough for that.

I have given Sheep books to almost all of the children that I have known since I first happened across the book. Not only do they like it, but it is amusing to the reader, as well. This is truly classic literature.

I am 9 months old and I have been reading this book since I was very little and I love it. Mommy likes it too, because there is knitting in it.

I ate the cover.

What makes Sheep in a Jeep such a delight to read is its unabashed use of onomatopoeia. Indeed, some of my daughter's first words were "splash" and "thud" as she recited along this favorite story.

With every page Shaw's vivid vocabulary comes alive in perfectly-metered rhyme, adeptly complimented by Apple's whimsical illustrations. In a format just long enough to delight, and short enough to entertain, it's little wonder Sheep in a Jeep has been such a longstanding favorite.

I can't recommend it highly enough for your own little ones, and it makes a great baby shower gift inclusion!

This book literally changed my life. As someone with a deep interest in Anne Frank and the Holocaust, I began reading it with some concern. I have read several books involving time travel and there is nothing that irks me more than a romanticized version of Anne Frank's life. However, this is a book that brings her and other victims of the Final Solution to life for me, and it is one of the best books I have ever read. I can clearly see how easily it could have been me and my family in the Holocaust, instead of someone else. The story also does a brilliant job of linking everyday events with those of the Holocaust. I can only imagine how survivors view modern life after what they went through. It makes you think about what is really important in life. I literally began thinking about how materialistic and selfish I can be, and how little that I really worry about is of any importance.
The title is misleading however; Anne Frank does spark the story and end it, but she is really not the driving force behind the book. She appears in the Holocaust flashback for only a few pages, though those pages are tearjerking.
Nevertheless, there is a great deal of information about the Holocaust in this book. It is extremely well-written, an incredible page-turner. I almost find it difficult to believe that it is a work of fiction, it seems so real. It is a slightly more mature book, recommend at least for teenagers. Aside from the age issue, this is a story that comes highly recommended. It will alter your life forever.

I loved this book! As i was readig it i thought what does it have to do with Anne Frank but as i kept reading the book got more interesting and i found out what it had to do with her.

This was the best book I ever read and i plan on reading it again. i recomend it to everyone.

Anne Frank and Me was an emotional story about a girl in present day and in the time of the Holocaust. If you do not like books that will make you cry, then do not read this one. The author uses very realistic details about the Holocaust so that you feel like you are really there in the story. Anne Frank and Me is exciting from the very beginning. You do not have to read for hours just to get to an exciting point in the book. I highly recommend Anne Frank and Me because it is an emotional book, and it is based on a horrible but real event that happened not too long ago.

Anne Frank and Me was an exceptional book and I enjoyed it very much. I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't love following Nicole through her journey starting in the 90's and ending up in year of 1942. I've read it twice and I know I'll set it down for a few months, then read it again! I recommend this to anyone with a heart! Enjoy Anne Frank and Me.
Stephanie A.
Tustin, CA

I would have to say that Anne Frank and Me is a very well written book about a modern girl trapped in a world shattered by the Nazis. Very realistic, I must say. Cherie Bennett makes it feel as if you are actually THERE. The characters are very original. The ending is very shocking and also well written.

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As a Psychotherapist and campaigner for the rights of children I would recommend this book as a compulsory text for any course on child care, therapy or education.
It is gripping, moving,shocking and eye-opening. It is particularly relevant to understand the capacity of disturbed parents to hide and disguise their cruelty and the mind confusing, emotionally scarring dilemmas faced by the abused child.
And yet it is hopeful and heart warming.

I am a special education teacher at a residential treatment facility that works with children in similar situations. As an end of the year project, I read this story to my 16-18 year old high school girls. They wouldn't let me put it down. The emotions, empathy, and similar situations my girls experienced were finally put into words. David, to them, is a survivor and has given them hope for their own future! Thank you Mr. Pelzer for sharing your story and helping my girls know that they are not the only ones!

This book was about a boy named David who went through a rough time when he was younger. He would get abused by his mother and his dad was an alcholic. The boy had no right and no say in that house hold his younger brothers had more say then he did. he would get tortured everyday and his mother would make him stay and live in the basement with nothing. Later in the book he finally gets rescued and is put into a shelter home. His life isnt how it use to be anymore.

As I read this, parts of the text were unbearable. Yet, Dave's story is an unfortunate reality of the deviance that exists within the human psyche to control, manipulate and abuse another. Anyone involved with educating children in whatever form they chose should read this because the truth brings to light what is hidden in the darkness. Dave is definitely an overcomer and his book will challenge you to look at the little boys and girls we see each day...a bit more carefully and mercifully.

The story a child called "it" it shows us the life of a boy longing to be loved. he is abused by his alcoholic mother. his father is torn between the two but chooses not to tell anyone. all his younger syblings are treated with love and care. he is trying to survive in his mothers 'hell'. i recommend this book to teens and young adults it will open your eyes to smoething you might have been blinded by but yet still happens in the world today... Abuse. some people just dont have the courage to stand up for what they know and believe is right. but just think about it you would be saving and inoccent life and giving a chance that wouldnt have been givin.

Menolly (DRAGONSONG) had left her family behind as she set out to find a place in Pernese society where her musical talents would be accepted. Little had she ever dreamed that she would be entering the Harper Hall at the invitation of Masterharper Robinton himself. When the dragon rider who had delivered her to the Hall left he assured Menolly that within a week she would find her place there, an idea that the terrified girl found unbelievable. At first it seemed that everything Menolly said or did was wrong. Still she did make a few friends, a slow witted kitchen drudge, the youngest apprentice even if the other girls studying at the Hall would have nothing to do with her. As the week progressed though Menolly did manage to find her place at the Hall in ways she had never imagined.

The action of this story picks up right after the events of DRAGONSONG and forms the middle book of the Harperhall trilogy which ends with DRAGONDRUMS and occurs roughly concurrently to the first part of THE WHITE DRAGON. The author of the Pern series, Anne McCaffrey, suggests that the series be read in order and, for maximum enjoyment, the Harperhall novels definitely read in order and after the first four novels of the overall series. Menolly and the other members of the Harperhall will figure prominently in later books in the series.

Fans of the Pern stories will not want to miss this lovely coming of age story. Those who have not read any of this series will want to begin at the beginning.

DRAGONSINGER shows off sci-fi/fantasy writer Anne McCaffrey at her best and most accessible. Of the three books which make up the Harper Hall trilogy, this one is my favorite and a book to which I've returned a bunchful of times. Only thing is, whenever I dust this off (or, come to think of it, any of the early Pern novels), I tend to go ahead and re-read the whole friggin' series. The Harper Hall trilogy, more so than any of the Dragonriders of Pern novels, is targeted towards a young adult audience, but it'll certainly charm a reader of whatever age. And if one is looking for a capable, extremely engaging role model, then look no further than Menolly of Half-Circle Sea Hold.

DRAGONSINGER picks up almost immediately from where Dragonsong left off, with Menolly arriving at the Harper Craft Hall to begin her harper's apprenticeship. A gifted songwriter/singer/musician and the young accidental mistress of nine gluttonous but ever loyal fire lizards, the shy and vulnerable Menolly finds herself near overwhelmed by her new circumstances. She's very conscious of her horribly scarred hand (which prevents her from playing her music) and her still woefully tender feet (from having outran Thread, deadly silver spores which periodically rain on Pern). At Harper Hall, Menolly meets and is intimidated by an array of stern and skeptical teachers. She faces the scorn of her fellow female students, with whom she must share room and board. Her unconventionality and her rare fire lizards mark her as a target of curiousity and envy. For Menolly, all this is almost too hard to bear. But she loves music and loves her fire lizards. And, it turns out, she has more friends than she thinks...

DRAGONSINGER, first published in 1977, is the second book in the Harper Hall trilogy, and, in my opinion, is the best of the three. It continues Menolly's coming-of-age tale and introduces the readers to a gang of winning characters, such as the quiet journeyman Sebell, the majestic, offbeat Master Shonagar, and the impish and ingratiating Piemur (who would take center stage in Dragondrums). Of course, the awesome and perceptive Masterharper Robinton figures in most of the Pern novels, and he makes his presence vigorously felt here. Who wouldn't want to work for someone like him?

Another neat thing about the Harper Hall trilogy is that it allows the reader to relive events in McCaffrey's other novels. Specifically, the timeline of DRAGONSONG and DRAGONSINGER coincides with that of Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern), so that, just as we revisited Jaxom's impressing of Ruth thru Menolly's eyes in DRAGONSONG, here, we get Menolly and Harper Hall's horrified reactions to F'nor's disastrous foray to the inhospitable Red Star. Later, the third Harper Hall entry, DRAGONDRUMS, would touch on events occuring in The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3).

McCaffrey warmly covers a span of seven eventful days in Menolly's life, chronicling her transitioning from an uncertain, bashful young girl to a confident one with the world opened up before her. Menolly is tall and gangly and unsure, and so appealing. It's a joy reading of her overcoming her challenges, making new friends, and impressing just near everyone with her musical talents. My favorite moments would have to be the ones in which she's engaged in her music or spending time with her fair of fire lizards (and, believe me, both activities take up huge, huge chunks of the book). Scenes to look out for: the first time Menolly feeds her fire lizards at Harper Hall, the impromptu Hall concert during Threadfall, all the moments with Shonagar, and Gather Day. As ever, McCaffrey peppers her book with sightings of benevolent dragons, who constantly guard Pern against Thread, and their miniature and inquisitive cousins, the fire lizards. Actually, in this Harper Hall series, the focus is more on the fire lizards than on the dragons. McCaffrey lends Menolly's fire lizards their own distinct personalities, from the imperious Beauty to the nagging Aunties One and Two, to the beleaguered Uncle, to the aptly named Lazybones.

Compared to the other, more adult-oriented novels about Pern, DRAGONSINGER is a lighter, more intimate read, and not as intricately plotted. The stakes here don't shape the world, just Menolly's personal universe. But, I'll tell you what, you'll get caught up in it. DRAGONSINGER (and a whole mess of McCaffrey's novels, come to think of it) fits cozily on my shelf of comfort books. I normally have two copies of books which I particularly love. With DRAGONSINGER, I have three, two of which are pretty threadbare. Such a good read.

Menolly has achieved her dream of living in Harper Hall, despite the disadvantage of being born female. But she does not know how she will fit in and the fact that she accidentally Impressed nine fire lizards causes disruptions in class and jealousies from the other students. That she comes to realize her full talent as a musician, singer and songwriter and revel in the company of other musicians is the delight of this perfect fantasy novel.

This gem of a story is appropriate for creative girls and women of all ages, all creative endeavors because it says that the barriers the world puts in your way won't stand up to friendship, hard work and talent. I wore out two paperback copies before breaking down and buying it in hardback. Highly recommended.

The harper Hall Trilogy is my favorite set by McCaffrey and interestingly the first books I read by her. I love dragons and there for dragon stories, particularly ones were dragons are not mindless monsters of destruction, so it would be odd for me not to like these books. The story is very original and the characters well written. If your not sure of getting into the Pern books, this is the series to read! Dragonsinger is a really strong book, despite being in the middle of a set. The story keeps going strong and the characters stay true to themselves.

I know I wasn't supposed to read this book first, but it was on the free book cart at the library. And I've wanted to read McCaffery for some time now. I'd give this book four a half stars. I'd like to have given it five. But I'll get to that in a minute. Her prose is elegant. Each of her characters is clearly defined. The main, Menolly, is strong and modest, but often bleek and insecure because of her background. Thus her behavior makes sense at times when she is overly passive when she shouldn't be. As well as apologizing for every little thing. However, her giving a shiner to Benis was priceless. I love the tiny info on the Fort Sea Hold, and look I look forward to getting clear description when I read DragonSong. The only problem I had with this book was there was no real action, besides the brawl at the Gather. Though I must say, the book was not boringt any time. But I did have to put it down from time to time because its lack of action.

Can't wait to read more McCaffery. I see why she's one of the leading authors in the SciFi/Fantasy genre.

A wonderful book about a bull who doesn't enjoy fighting or aspire to go to the bullfights in Madrid. Instead he is at peace with sitting in peace and sniffing the flowers. Without giving too much away, this essentially saves his life after a series of misunderstandings occur.
Its a wonderful lesson for children to stay true to themselves, with a comforting addition that their mother (or parent) will always love them.

I have this story as part of a compilation of children's stories. There is a reason this is a classic- it's sweet. It encourages children to be who they truly are. If you have a quiet, shy child this is a perfect book.

I encountered "Ferdinand" as a child. I was fascinated by the illustrations, which took me to a far-away place and stimulated my imagination. But I was most impressed by the message of the story -- an encouragement to remain true to my own nature. That's a great lesson for kids, who are so vulnerable to pressure from peers and our culture. I am thankful that my parents provided this book. I have read and given copies of it to my kids and grandkids, and read the story in school to my grand-daughter's class.The Story of Ferdinand (Puffin Storytime)

I am 44 years old and yesterday, at our Thanksgiving celebration at a relative's home, I came to read this wonderful book for the first time. I was so touched by it, really all choked up as I read about Ferdinand. I just couldn't hold back my tears. I will be reading this book to my 71 children, at the public school where I run an After School Program. This is a marvelous book and I recommed it to parents, teachers, educators and anyone else interested in planting seeds of peace into the hearts of others, specially children. I am Ferdinand, and I am happy. I also fell in love with his mother... what a loving, sweet cow....

This is not a review, others have done that excellently, it is a memory. When i was eight, Ferdinand was my favourite. Thirty eight years later and unremembered until finding it just now, the flashback was so intense i could hardly finish reading the Amazon review through tears of nostalgia. I smelled the flowers and felt that simple happiness that Ferdinand radiated all over again. If you want your child to enjoy a great yarn, be engaged by intense illustrations, learn to be peaceable and stay true to themselves, and have a powerful remembrance of a book later in life, get them "The Story of Ferdinand".

"In my hands" Irene Gut Opdyke narrates her tribulations during WWII. The saga of atrocities committed by the Nazis is intertwined with echoes not to be indifferent when another person's freedom is in jeopardy. Sharing her story with young life audiences, Irene is inculcating the same imperative: "You can make a difference; you have the power to fight against evil."

As a native of Poland, I find many familiar images in Irene's early surroundings. She comes from a little town close to the German border, so do I. I am inspired by Irene's
tolerance and warming heart, manifested from her early age on. She shunned rampant anti-Semitism and befriended none co-religionists. It my eyes, Irene is a shining example of righteousness. As a little Jewish boy, I was sometimes harassed by Catholic kids, because I was not one of them. The Russian and German invasions into Poland disrupted Irene's life. Despite her own predicament, Irene became very concerned about her Jewish friends' safety. She reached out to help and hide them from deportation to Nazis' killing centers. Many Poles assumed that they will be spared from persecution if they would cooperate with the Germans. Irene believed that once Hitler finished murdering the Jews he will do the same to the Poles. This was not a mere premonition but a keen observation. As it turned out, every Polish Jew was indeed a victim but not every victim was a Jew. Irene became a resistance fighter. For four years, her school years, did Irene risk her own life for the sake of saving innocent Jewish life!

I am a Holocaust survivor who had lost his entire immediate family and 123 members of his extended family. Being incarcerated for three years, my school years, in several forced labor camps, I realize how Irene's hidden Jews were spared from suffering and probable death. Irene did not let a woman in hiding to terminate her pregnancy, despite all possible ominous consequences. Reading about it, I had tears spilling over my cheeks. Irene cherished the sanctity of life. I am at awe; her sacrifice is a symbol of human kindness in a cruel environment. Irene's bravery and compassionate heart are extraordinary. It is indicative that conscientious people might be found in every group or nation. Negative stereotyping and prejudice are senseless!

"In my hands" is a well written narrative of compelling episodes that illustrate the compassion and integrity that the author had been imbued with. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem recognized Irene's heroism. Her name is inscribed in the Alley of the "Righteous Among the Nations" Her gracious deeds and her literary work will be eternally etched in my memory.

Alter Wiener, Author "From A Name to A Number".

First I listened to the book on audio. I liked it so much I got the book a year later andit it. Amazing story of survival. Hiding right in a Nazi officers home. WOW. What courage.

A must read for those who what to never forget.

Uplifting to what we can and will do for others when we have to.

Whereas the novel I mentioned in my title left me feeling cold (not to mention the author was a small child when she writes about her experiences, which must be grainy), this powerful account is simply written, but also written well. It's deliciously descriptive and emotional. I felt like I did walk in Irene's shoes, for I saw everything through her eyes (true, it was written in first-person point-of-view), instead of like watching a movie.

By the way, I think this would make a great film, though I am not sure if there is an actress beautiful enough to play Irene (who really should be played by a young, unknown girl, age appropriate, not a trashy pop starlet, who would degrade).

Through it all (being raped by two Russian soldiers and left for dead, becoming a German officer's mistress to protect her Jewish friends, etc.), Irene maintains an innocence that is refreshing, and when she loses her first truelove before they have a chance to marry, it broke my heart.

I will say I have an even dimmer view of the Catholic Church than I did before (not Catholics in general, just some of the politics of the religion), because when Irene goes to a priest to confess being a German's lover to save the lives of her friends, he says, "They are Jews", and I could actually hear the inflection in his voice that said, "They're just Jews", like they weren't worth saving. This un-Christlike priest refuses to give her absolution, which, from a doctrinal standpoint I understand, but not from a spiritual standpoint. Yes, Irene was sinning, but she was not committing crimes against humanity, and I believe my God is a merciful and just God and that He understands for He can see Irene's soul.

This deeply religious, courageous woman has earned my respect and her chronicle is hardcover worthy.

My 14-year-old daughter read this book and insisted that I read it. When I finally agreed, I could not put the book down. The story is so well told that you can can truly understand the experience of a 17-year-old girl in the midst of the horrible events. A compelling book that everyone should read and discuss.

I often think of this woman in my day to day life. She serves as a testament to all mankind that we must put others first and fight for the just cause. What she went through herself is quite harrowing. I am happy that she has been honored with a tree planted in her name at Yad Vashem in Israel. An easy read and a book that you cannot put down. She is truly inspirational.

This is a great gift for a baby shower. It encourages parents to read to kids from birth and tells them why it is important. It then gives book titles for every age and summaries of each book. I read to all 3 of my sons until they were seniors in high school. They all have doctoral degrees or are working on them. They attribute their success to a love of reading!

Let me start by saying I've become thrifty since I had children. Given that I don't work outside the home as much as I once did, I've been getting my books from the library at least as much as I've been buying them, but this is a book I have to own!

Jim Trelease is "preaching to the choir" with me, as we read to our children before they were even born, and then continued since the day they were born. My husband and I are both big readers, and we enjoy reading to our children every day. I initially got this book (from the library) to look at the list of suggested titles to read aloud. I wanted suggestions that would make sense for my children and their respective ages/abilities, including titles I might not otherwise come across....I thought I'd skim quickly through the front half of the book (the research which is meant to inspire parents to read to their children) since I was already motivated to do so. I wanted to get to the list of titles. But I found myself stopping to read the research with excitement and added motivation.

I picked up tips about the types of books to choose, the fact that we can read (and should read) aloud to our kids until they are teens (my sister whose children are 9 and 12 had mistakenly been thinking that she shouldn't read to them much anymore in order to force them to do most of it themselves....she was thrilled to hear that she should continue to read aloud to them and went immediately to the library to get some books), the ways to present even more opportunities to our children to read, etc. For example, this morning I read a section in The Read Aloud Handbook about how to get a 12 year old to sit still for a reading, and the author suggested reading to the child while the child is washing the dishes. The book shows a photo of the author doing this with his own son when the son was 12 (the son is now ~40). The author goes on to say that when he suggests this to parents, he gets some funny looks, and he points out to them that if there is a 12 year old in the house who doesn't have to do the dishes, then that child has a higher IQ than the parent ! :-)

This morning, my husband read a little to my son, who is 5 1/2, while he was eating breakfast, and when I wanted to motivate my son to come brush his teeth before school, I lured him with the book. I got no complaints about coming (which I usually do), and between my husband and I, we knocked off a chapter in the book!

There are so many little tips in the book, and the book is an incredible source for suggestions of books to read aloud. The author has a website which includes many of these book recommendations, I think, and even updated ones since the book went to print in 2006.

Yes, I got this book out of the library, but thrifty as I am, I am going to have to buy a copy of this book as it has so much information for the many years to come that I know I'll want to reference it again and again as I choose books to read to my children.

A great book and resource for parents. It is so important to get children involved with books early on. No better way is to read to them and interact with them and at the same time teach them reading skills.

Just like some things can only be learned through experience, some books cannot be summarized. They must be READ. Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook is one such book. There is no short-cut.

This book is chock-full of "Wake up, America: We're killing our readers!" statistics and anecdotes. Parents and Educators of all levels need to read and, in the words of Kevin from Freak The Mighty (Scholastic Signature): "Be Amazed."

The gist is, nothing in education is more important than the goal of creating lifelong readers. Besides the duh-factor of not being able to do anything else in academics if one is not truly literate, for the good of society, for the good of our posterity, for our own personal gain, nothing replaces lifelong reading. And yet, in Chapter 1, Trelease demonstrates to the readers that "By twelfth grade, only 19 percent read anything for pleasure daily." In Trelease's own words: "Any business that kept losing that much of its customer base would be in bankruptcy."

I am a parent. I am a teacher. From both standpoints, I can tell you that Trelease is absolutely, completely and totally correct. Education must be built on the foundation of true literacy, and Trelease's argument is that true literacy cannot be attained without voluntary reading.

Therefore, once again, it is the moral and societal obligation of education to create lifelong readers.

I am only touching on one part of this significant work. Besides being monumentally important for parents and educators, it's actually a fairly interesting read. Trelease throws in the perfect balance of anecdotes and statistics to keep the reader entranced. And while the bibliography for recommended read-alouds is in now way comprehensive, it is certainly a great place to start.

This book is on my Top 10 list. If you're a parent, read it, and then ask the principal of your child's school to read it. Our future as a society might well depend upon it.

This book is appropriate for every caring parent. I am a homeschooling mother of three and I can't recommend it highly enough. After reading the library's copy I had to buy my own copy, plus several for friends and family members who have kids. It is full of high-quality info and ideas about reading to children, and about them ultimately reading to themselves. There is also an organized and valuable "recommended books" list in the back. Wonderful!

This book was very good. When a girl's brother dies after he runs after her, the girl feels horrible and she will not be consoled. She loved her brother so much and she soon finds that his heart was given to a boy in need of a healthy heart. She goes off to find David's heart. Very heart warming but it definentally made me cry. READ IT!!!

my daughter really liked this story and would recommend it for others to read and enjoy

This book is about a girl named Darcy, who loves her big brother......until he gets a girlfriend. Darcy doesn't like that David is not spending time with her anymore, so she runs away. David is hit by a car and dies. Darcy knows it's her fault, so she finds a way to apologize....she must find his heart, even though it's beating in someone else's body. The rest of the book is a quest that Darcy and her best guy-friend, Sam, take in order to find David. The rest of the book, I will not tell, you must read it! I will say, though, I cried during most of it!

Book Review on "Searching for David's Heart"

Emily Simons
6th Grade
Oshkosh WI


"I don't see why Mrs.Pritcher is making us give stupid speeches in front of the entire class," I groaned to my big brother, David, & my best friend Sam Weiss." Is how the book Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett begins. In the book Darcy adores her big brother David. But when David gets a girlfriend & David starts treating Darcy like a pest things go haywire. On Darcy's Birthday David brings his girlfriend Jayne. Darcy doesn't like Jayne because she's getting all of David's attention. David & Darcy get in a huge fight and Darcy runs away. David decides to follow her and something that Darcy never pictured happens and she blames herself.



In this book the theme is tied in between three different things. Courage- Darcy is leaving home to find the 12 year old who has her brother's heart. Braveness- She's leaving home & not telling anyone & will bring Winston to her parents. Love- "He smiled thorough his tears Merry Christmas Dee-Dee." Merry Christmas. I think all these different themes tie up the book.

The characters in this book are Darcy the main character, a sister who loves her brother more than the world. David as you probably guessed is the second main character, David is know for how great he is at collage football. I think that Jayne would be the third main character, because she in some way is part of David's death. Dad would come before mom, because of his work problem. Now, of course we have mom. Meemaw also know as grandma would be sixth because she is just lying in bed all day & is only mentioned a couple times. Last but not least we have Andy the little brother.

My next topic is the setting of the book. The main setting is Darcy's house. There always at her house. Sometimes in the book there at school. Or they could be visiting grandma, or on the bus to mami, Appleton park, or and Sam's house.

So in conclusion, Searching for David's Heart is a good book. I recommend this book to all ages, & all who enjoy a little sadness and adventures in a book. There is a lot of interesting stuff in this book. So it all comes down to one question Darcy's lost her brother but can she find the only one part of him that still remains? Find out when you read Searching for David's Heart!!

Darcy is in sixth grade and she feels very awkward. She stutters when she gets nervous, and she finds it hard to talk to people. Her younger brother is a brat, her father always seems to be angry at her, and her grandmother is in a coma at a nursing home, where the children have to go visit her. But Darcy's big brother David is perfect. He is strong and sweet to everyone. Everyone likes him and he can get along with anyone, but he is especially good to Darcy. There is no one in the world she loves more.

Then David gets a girlfriend. She may be perfectly nice, but Darcy hates her and the fact that she seems to be taking David away. One night in a fit of fury after a ruined birthday celebration, Darcy yells at David and his girlfriend that she hates them and wishes her brother were dead. Then she runs off. As David is chasing after her, he is hit by a car and he dies.

Darcy is riddled with guilt. She feels that she is a murderer, that David's death is her fault. She doesn't know what to do, and her family is falling apart now more than ever. Then Darcy makes a decision. She knows that her parents donated some of David's organs, including his heart. Darcy decides to find the recipient of that heart, to maybe see if that person now has a little bit of David in him or her. Darcy and her best friend Sam set off on their journey to track down David's heart.

I liked the character of Sam, and the way he related to Darcy. I liked how the story was resolved at the end, and I liked how the father's prejudice was explained and dealt with. I thought that Darcy's parents were pretty horrible throughout most of the story, though. They should have been able to do something to help Darcy.