Children Books

This books is an excellent illustrated story about dealing with loss, any kind of loss, and the different ways to grieve. I bought two, have given them both away, and need to order more.

This book was recommended to me by a counselor after I lost my son. It was a great support and truly helped me. I appreciated it so much that I got a copy for my step-mother after she lost her son. It's a great book for all ages--very simple, very insightful, very comforting.

I bought this book mainly so I would know how to help others with their grief. I've already shared this book with two co-workers who've lost loved ones. They loved the book and said they had planned to purchase their own copy to share with others. This is an excellent resource and reiterates that it's best just to listen and not say much.

I heard about this book from a nurse who learned of the passing of my firstborn baby. I have since ordered twelve, and have given them to people who are traveling own their path of grief as a way to honor my son's memory. It's a beautiful book and timely even when the loss is no longer recent. It addresses the many stages of grief and how there is no one "right" way to grieve. The ilustrations enhance the message in a very touching way.

Our seven year old son just lost a four year battle against cancer. A friend gave me this book and it was a perfect recipe for grieving. I can't say enough good about it and its effect on me.

I'm not convinced that this is a book for children. The concepts and illustrations are too strong perhaps. (My 9yr old daughter is emotionally mature - but I'm not sure if I'll share this with her until she's older.) There are other more appropriate book for kids.

I think this is an amazing picture book for adults to realize and understand their own grieving process - without reading a textbook. I fetched my biggest crab-pot from the cupboard and plan to mke my own Tear Soup.

My introduction to Steve Kluger was with "Almost Like Being In Love." The format threw me for a bit, but, once used to the manner in which the author was to tell his story, I went on to enjoy this delightful story. Next came this book..."Last Days of Summer." I found the author's website and wrote him an e-mail; I was about thirty pages short of the book's end at that moment. I sent another e-mail after finishing the book, heartbroken by the story's ending, yet having thoroughly been moved by spending time with such wonderfully fleshed-out characters. Read the book...no, I'd go so far as to say, "Read anything by Steve Kluger." He's a great storyteller...combining both humor and pathos expertly.

What's the difference between a Young Adult (YA) and a regular ol' adult novel? In this case, only a few words and phrases. Otherwise, this book contains all of the standard YA elements.

The wisecracking loner main character? Check. (Though he becomes less of a loner as the story progresses.) The dysfunctional but eccentrically entertaining family? Check. The unlikely good influence with issues of his own? Check? The Tragic Moment? Check. Only a sprinkling of f-bombs and other salty language keeps "The Last Days of Summer" off high school library shelves everywhere. It's like something Avi would write, only earthier.

This is not to say that it's a poor or childish book. Far from it. The notes & letters format, the imminently likeable characters, and the breezy plot pull you in quickly, making it hard to put it down. Nothing really happens that you didn't expect would happen, yet the ride in so enjoyable that you won't mind.

One thing that really annoyed me was that all of the letters, notes, and whatever used to create the book are written in the same sardonically streetwise style. The two main characters writing similarly is understandable, since their similarity is what brings them together. But Wilke-supporting conservative schoolteachers and busy US Army commanders writing report card comments and internal memos in the same style as witty young Joey Margolis? It's a stretch.

But that's a minor quibble. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind just a little coarseness about the edges.

Been reading Last Days of Summer for a couple of months now. Don't use a bookmark in order to lose my place every time I pick it up. I don't want to finish it! It's that good and I'm going to miss it like a great old friend, when it's read.

Oddly enough, the rereading works pretty well. "Last Days" is filled with so much humor, charm, silliness and stats that I find new life in every old chapter I misread - although misread is the wrong word. I do it on purpose.

It's about baseball. It's about the 40s, Broadway with Merman, coming of age in Brooklyn, Hollywood pin-ups, coping with bullies, FDR and Eleanor, The Green Hornet, The Shadow, Reese and Di Magio, and resistance to blending concurrent American cultures. But, mostly, it's about baseball, serving as father-figure for growth.

I still don't know where fantasy ends and reality begins here - or how it`s combined. But, that's why I won't finish. I don't want the world that's been created for me to be explained just yet. For now, I just want to continue living here for as long as I can.

Mr. Kluger, thank you! And MKA, thank you for finding it for me.

This is one of my favorite books. I usually don't read a book more than once, but I've read this one a couple of times. I recommend it highly.

I can not remember when I enjoyed reading a book so much. I probably should not have been reading it while working out at the gym. I was getting some very odd looks as I laughed aloud.

The book takes place from 1940-42, formative years in the life of Joey Margolis, an extremely precocious 12 year old Jewish boy growing up in Brooklyn. He is a prolific letter writer and an even more prolific schemer and wiseacre. Joey decides that he is going to get the NY Giants' new third baseman and phenom, Charlie Banks, to take him on a road trip and the scheming letters begin. The entire book is in the form of letters to and from the characters - including FDR and his press secretary. Eventually Banks becomes something of a big brother to the boy and the wisdom that is interchanged in the letters between the 24 year old and 12 year old is priceless. Joey even gets the young Protestant star to stand in for his father at his Bar Mitzvah!

This is not the typical book about being Jewish in Brooklyn in the 40's. Those are merely props to the story and in the relationship. It is about a wonderful relationship. What starts as pure hilarity becomes poignant. Most amazingly, the poignancy does not diminish the hilarity and laughter will continue until the last few pages. Although the ending is a bit predictable, it could not have ended any other way.

Once you pick this book up, you will have a hard time putting it down. It will carry you laughing all the way until... Highly recommended. Sometimes you just have to wonder why a book is not a bestseller.

This is my son's absolute FAVORITE book and has been since he was 6 months (he's 13 months now). He pushes other books away and laughs the whole time we read this. Great book!

In looking for another whimsical, creative, offbeat baby book like Pat the Bunny I found that this title was purchased through Amazon by people who bought Pat and so I bought it as well.

I certainly expected Moo Baa to have some more unexpected sounds than just the pigs' "La La La." I also expected it to have some kind of story connecting everything.

Instead the pigs sing -- something not entirely foreign to a baby book -- seven very typical barnyard animals make their actual sounds (along with Rhinoceroses), and finally there's the usual twist where the reader/listener is involved, something that was probably pretty creative the first time it was done.

The cartoons are nicely New-Yorker-esque. But this particular drawing style (not sure if it's always Boynton) has become so popular that it reminds me of a nice font that everyone uses and no one notices any more. At least Eric Carle's style isn't displayed on cartoons taped to office doors and on coffee mugs.

Other than the drawings and the one conceit this is an almost embarrassingly plain book that I do not anticipate using much. I will update the review if somehow my daughter ends up loving it and it inspires her to get involved in amateur theater. Until then I'll have to try hard to read it with any enthusiasm.

This is an absolute favorite for our 9-month old son. He loves to turn the pages and squeals in delight when he sees "some other dogs go BOW WOW WOW". Highly recommend this short but funny book!

I'm now an adult and have very fond memories of this book (as well as Boynton's other books). My parents read this to me as an infant and I loved it. I will take great pleasure in sharing her books with my own children when I have them.

my 19 month old still loves this book.. at around 13 months he would come to me with the book and tell me 'mom MOOO' ... then we'd read the book together, he loves the animals and the words are so easy to memorise so even though we read it a million times (cuz he loves it that much) i can do other things while still reading him the story by heart as he turns each page.
Also , because it is a nice light read I don't mind reading it over and over again as young children seem to constantly want! :)

I have such fond memories of Mrs. Mike. I have purchased it as a gift for the 13-year-old daughter of a friend for Christmas. I know she will enjoy it as much as I did when I was her age. When I was 12 years old our teacher would each day, just after lunch, read us an excerpt from Mrs. Mike. We always looked forward to the story and what was going to happen next. I am no longer 12; I am 62, and the teacher is now 84. I see her often in the town in which we both still live. And we have often mentioned this book to each other. She has said that many of her students from those days have commented to her on the book through the years about how much they had enjoyed it. I was so delighted to see a few years ago that it had been re-published so I could read it again.

Thank you.

As is mentioned in the introduction by the authors, all you need do is glance at the comments made by instant fans to know that this is a book you will never put down. It is a compelling story of a woman whose travails speak to the heart of anyone who has longed for adventure and suffered through hardship.

If you liked Anne of Green Gables or These is My Words, you will like this book. The main character comes to age in the Canadian wilderness and finds love. When heartache comes, her decision to survive is admirable and encouraging. A strong, graceful woman, Mrs. Mike will remind you of some of your best girlfriends.

This is the 2nd time I've read this saga of an ailing young woman who is sent by her Boston immigrant family in 1907 (or so) to her uncle who is pioneering on a farm not far from Calgary, Alberta, to recover her health. Her indomitable spirit in the wilderness makes a wonderful true tale of the peoples who lived in this part of the world at that time -- the native peoples, the immigrants, the "characters", the nuns, the wildlife, the winters, all wonderfully portrayed. I loved it 30 years ago, and I loved it again in 2008.

This is a wonderfully written book. It won't take long before feel that you know the characters and are part of their world. It's not that often that I'm really drawn into a book to the point of laughing and crying with those the story is about. Half way through I went out and bought the next book.

Our family got such a kick out of this CD we actually played it for our guests at a dinner party. This is music that has a humor and subtlety that adults will appreciate and subject matter kids enjoy. My boys 5 and 3 both love it. Most childrens music I find obnoxious, but this... 5 stars all the way!

Clever music and lyrics. When it comes to children's music, these songs are unlike anything I've heard before.

I bought this book and CD for entertainment on our summer road trips and it has quickly become a favorite of all 3 of my children (ages 14 months, 5 and 8). The tunes are toe-tapping and fun to listen and sing to. The lyrics are funny and easily understood so that kids can learn the songs. I highly recommend the book and CD -- makes a great gift for new big brothers and sisters when a baby is born.

I love this album. There are only two or three songs that I don't like, but several that are my favorites. I actually laughed out loud when I first listened to some of the lyrics. My five year old loves it and my three month old seems to as well. Definitely worth the extra dollar or so to get the illustrated book. I can't wait to get the other Boynton cd's.

Sandra Boynton has elevated the genre of children's music to an all-time high. The ubiquitous recycled children's songs with little musical value are thankfully absent from her album. Boynton's lyrics are delightful with accompanying music that adults will recognize from the mainstream. Jazz, ballads, imaginary Broadway hits come together for great family entertainment. This purchase will give you two treats in one. Along with the CD, Boynton's book is a treasure of zany sketches and musical scores.

If you have one CD/book to buy for the child in your life, this is it. The only CD that our family likes as much is Boynton's Blue Moo album. Both are wise purchases.

I was amazed at the condition on the book I ordered. It said it was in fair shape and it looks brand new to me!!

Trully enjoyable collection that is enjoyed by the whole family. My [...] old son reads (and recites) to us at dinner and I sneek additional time with it in the evening. Great gift!

Bill

I bought this book for my grandson, 4, after I discovered his love for Falling Up. When I was teaching sophomores, their favorite books of poems to memorize included anything by Silverstein. The illustrations are delightful and the twists appeal to senses of humor at all ages.

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me
Anything can happen, child
ANYTHING can be.
~ pg. 27

I first heard about Shel Silverstein in a strange way. One of his poems is about Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout and LUSH beauty products has a shampoo with the same name. When I looked the name up online I found the amusing poem about a girl who never takes out the garbage.

These poems are at times laugh-out-loud funny and at times delightfully silly. There are quirky drawings throughout that make the poems even more enjoyable. One minute you are laughing and the next you are having memories of Alice in Wonderland or other books you read as a child like The Little Engine that Could. The only poem I question is "Dreadful" but I suppose some people think it is funny.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And There the grass grows soft and while,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
~ pg. 64

A few of the poems struck me as especially profound while the poem about the Giraffe was very creative. After reading this collection I'll definitely look for more books by Shel Silverstein. While these poems may have been written for children they can be enjoyed by anyone from 9 to 120.

~The Rebecca Review

Nothing I could write here would explain how great of a book you are about to purchase. All I can say is... I loved it as a child and my son loves it. Stop wasting time and buy it now!!

This was one of my favorite books as a child and now it's one of my daughter's too! We read/look at it at least four times a day!

I read this book to my son, who thoroughly enjoyed it, and I now gave it to my grandson so my son can read it to him. It is a fun book.

My 17 month old daughter received "The Best Word Book Ever" as a gift and immediately loved it. I purchased a couple other Richard Scarry books and "Cars and Trucks" has surfaced as the favorite, mainly because she loves searching for the gold bug in every scene. The other Richard Scarry books we own have the worm and bug hiding out here and there, but this is the only one that I've found, so far, that has the "where's gold bug" consistenly throughout. She loves it and I know that as she grows, she'll learn to love it for other reasons, including the kooky characters and funny storyline.

I got one of my favorite Children's books in good shape and it came quickly.

My 2-year old daughter *loves* this book, especially finding Goldbug. Although now she's done it so many times, she remembers where he is on each page, so even though it's still fun for her, it's lost a little of the mystery. Can anyone recommend any similar proto-'where's waldo'-type books for toddlers?

I first read this book when I was about 12 -- it was a birthday gift. I don't have many books from my childhood (most are still at Mom's) but I have Mandy.

The book is written by Julie Andrews (the actress -- Sound of Music) and it is lovely and elegant. The writing is smart but not inaccessible, and the plot is touching.

An orphan girl longs for something... something she can not pinpoint. She is the darling of the orphanage, because she has been there a long time. She has the trust of the matron and the cook and the gardener, and she has a lot of freedom (more than many modern girls) but she is lonely and longing. Of course, she wants a family, and barring that, she wants some purpose, some project.

She finds a little clearing, and in the clearing is a beautiful house, all gone to seed. She wonders whether she can fix it up and make it her own. It is off the grounds of the orphanage, so she has to sneak to get away.

She finds great joy in doing the work of bringing the garden back to life, and cleaning out the little house, and getting acquainted with some of the woods and the creatures. But the downside is, she becomes more and more deceitful. She hides her whereabouts, then begins taking cleaning supplies and gardening equipment, and finally tells lies to protect her secret.

There is a happy ending -- I still recall it as a beautiful ending. And I think it is a moral story. It is clear that the lying and sneaking change her personality for the worse, but it is not the end of her, and she reconciles with the people she hurt.

Excellent book.

I read this as a young girl - too many years ago to admit but around the time when it came out - and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! It's one of the first books I can remember being torn between wanting to rush to the ending and not wanting to finish. As an adult I still remember the story very fondly and think about it from time to time. This year when my young neighbor (age 10) was looking for new books to read, I bought her this one. To my surprise she loved it every bit as much as I did! It's timeless!

I think this book was read to me in school many many years ago. I remembered it as an adult and purchased it for sentimental reasons. I think it reminded me of The Secret Garden in a way. The seashell cottage was the perfect hideaway that every little girl could dream of making her own. I loved the story of Mandy and found myself wistfully wishing that I had a place like that as a child. What a wonderful story that Julie Andrews has created. I will cherish it always and keep it to pass down to the young girls in my family.

I read and reread this book about 5 or so times as a child. I simply loved the adventure of it all about the protagonist discovering a home away from home that she could call her very own. This is a fascinating tale for children who love to live in their adventurous daydreams and who love secret hiding places of their own where they can just "be". Although this is a book I would reccomend to children, I wouldn't reccomend it to adults as the plot and drama is very minimal. Adults would be bored of this whereas most children, especially little girls, would be fascinated by the simplicity and beauty described within its pages.

Mandy is obviously the protagonist of this story. She is an orphaned child living in an orphanage with other children of the state. She has a friend that she bonds with over time and gets along farily well with eveyone else, as well as the staff, until the day that mandy climbs over the wall of the orpganage and discovers an abandon cottage! She decides from that moment thatthe cottage is hers and her secret hideaway. She begins to do things that are uncharacteristic of her such as lying about where she has been, stealing from the orphanage supplies to take and supply her new home with, and is suddenly secretive with everyone, even her best friend. Read on to find out about Mandy and what she goes through as a child trying to make a cottage into a home and keep her secret place just that... secret.

Although this book is aimed to appeal to girls approximately between the ages of 7-13, I was in college when Mandy was first released. Being a hugh fan of Julie Andrews, I of course bought the book and was amazed that I could not put it down! To me, a great book has the ability to transport the reader from their day-to-day life into another time and place. I was mesmerized by this charming story from beginning to end as I am sure every child who reads it will be. Mandy is not only a sweet, likeable orphan, but she is very positive role model for children, showing that if you try hard enough, you can make your dreams come true. I admire Mandy's spirit and courage to go after her dream of someday having a real family.
I had read that because Julie Andrews lost a bet to her teenage step-daughter Jenny, that her forfeit was to write her a story, which turned into this wonderful book! Lucky for us readers, the result of that bet gave us our first glimpse at yet another one of Julie Andrews' many talents.
It's been 30 years now since I first read Mandy and I still have my original version of this book in a prominant place on my bookshelf, along with a hardback copy of Mandy and each updated version that has been printed. All the young girls in my family have read this classic book and loved it as much as I do. I only hope someday a movie version of this beautiful story is produced.

This book is the perfect lap size. The illustrations are just beautiful. Both of my children (under 3 years old) love this book. This is the perfect addition to any collection...

We recently bought this book for our 15-month old and he loves it. The illustrations are lovely, the narrative is sweet and melodic, and it is short enough to be a book that holds his attention start to finish even when he is tired. A lovely find!

Time for bed is a wonderful bedtime story for children of all ages.
My granddaughters just love it and want it read over & over!

This is absolutely a lovely book. The illustrations are soothing for bedtime, and the rhythmic story makes for a perfect bedtime story. I have been reading this to my son since he was born, and he still loves it at 3 years old. Great bonding experience with this wonderful story.

This is a great book that I would recommend to all for those quite moments just before sleep. This gentle story leads you through an array of animals as they settle down for the night. I find the pictures great and the gentle rhythm of the book a delight. I could not as more of a bedtime story.

I really enjoyed this book. Anyone out there that has problems with negative energy and needs help with lifting their energy level - this helps! I am very sensitive to energy changes and pick up on other people's energy constantly. It's great to know there are people out there that can help with the overload. Great Job Dr. Orloff!

This book is excellent because of the empowering information. It opens up new perspectives and ways of thinking. Very positive and motivating on the journey to becoming a better human being. Highly recommend it as part of self growth and self help library.
Risa

Heard the author speak and love the book.
Am also a Psychiatrist and agree with her views.

Dr. Orloff tackles issues dealing with difficult people and situations in everyday life. She shares how these situations stress us and lower our energy levels. With exercises and discussion, the reader is lead on a path toward a healthier life. The book is interesting without a dull moment. Anyone reading this book is sure to benefit

Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love
Dr. Judith Orloff's book has given me so many important insights about myself! One of the most important is how to act in order to maximize my positive energy. This has an impact on practically everything I do AND the things I choose not to do! Sometimes when my awareness of my true needs are a bit clouded I use one of the other things that the book has taught me: my intuition. It's so amazing that all the answers to our questions are within us but sadly enough most of us never listen to our inner voice. Earlier, I could hear my inner voice from time to time, but the voice was so faint that most of the time I chose not to believe it. After reading the book I now realise that it's the true me that is trying to tell me something important. Today its voice is a lot louder and I LISTEN carefully!
Thanks for teaching me all kinds of wonderfull things, Judith:-)!

Peter Rahm
Malmo, Sweden