Day-Care Books

This book was a great addition to the work that I do and the designing of a child care center. The author catches the essence of what is needed to consider when starting from scratch.
Great find! Great resource!!

Preeminent authority on design for child care, Anita Rui Olds consummated a lifetime of deep concern and research into the needs of children with the publication of this magnum opus. Lavish use of illustrations--photos, sketches, floor plans, and examples--and attractive layout support Ms. Olds's incisive text to create a remarkably accessible book. Many hundreds of child care professionals and architects who have studied under Ms. Olds will recognize and welcome this work as the summation of the concepts that placed the author at the forefront of her field.

More and more children are in institutional care and, "in search of a model," day care typically happens in society's "leftover" spaces, church basements, warehouses, and places intended for adults. This book will help anyone committed to doing better for our children to "see that young children are raised in nurturing, spirited settings that honor their precious young souls." (from the introduction)

The book's only drawback is technical as the reproduction of photographs is of disappointing quality.

Tragically, Anita Olds did not live to see this book published. We can be thankful that she left it for us, full of her passion for children. In its use we will honor her spirit as we effect her designs.

Worth every dime!!! Anita Rui Olds has incredible insight into creating environments that are reflective of children and their interests. She believes that a child care setting should have "spirit." Included are Reggio-type environmental solutions that create a sense of wonder with an architecturally aesthetic sensibility. Lots of great ideas packed into this book. Only regret is that the pictures are too small and not in color. Would have been worth extra [$$] to have an expanded edition.

This is a terrific and necessary resource for anyone involved with the design or renovation of a child care setting. The author has clearly and concisely poured into the book her considerable knowledge and understanding of child care facilities, her passionate beliefs, and her attention to the details of good design. Her knowledge of child development is evident in all of her ideas.

This must be the best book that exist about designing Child Care Center. It covers everything, but the most important is the focus the autor made on the children. This book is a must for every architect or people interested in design of this kind of buildings, specially if he/she is really interested in children well being.
The only but is that for the quality of its content, this book deserves a better paper and color pictures. (a 0 star here for MacGrow-Hill).
Probably this book is call to change the way a day care is seen today.

The only complaint I have about Dear Little one is... it ends. I could have read a thousand more pages of this author's loving reflections on subjects that range from hope and new life to marriage and the twilight years. But perhaps that is the beauty of this book - it is so pure and distilled, there may nothing further to add, not one word. Dear Little One seems to work on two levels: first, as a parent's thoughts to her children, and all children; but also then to adults, as children of God. Dear Little One captures the joy, vulnerability, dignity and meaning of being human. The reflections are, in turn, poetic, humorous, whimsical, wise and moving. My favorites include "The Moon in a Bottle Cap," "On Fear," "Money," a clever little poem called "Art," "An Uncertain World," and of course "Dear Little One." I am carrying this book with me these days and looking forward to the author's next work.

Dear Little One is a treasure! Filled with thoughtful insights, honest observations and engaging humor, this delightful book is a great source of inspiration for young and old alike.

At first I thought 'Dear Little One' was strictly a parent's thoughts and dreams for her children, but then I saw where the author was going. The reflections on so many topics of life are divided into four life-stages: infancy, childhood, adulthood, and the twilight years. The author began by talking to a baby. By the last page, she was talking to me. Beautifully written. `Dear Little One' is a classic children's book for grown-ups that reminded me of `The Little Prince.'

I was deeply moved by DEAR LITTLE ONE and bought several more copies for couples I know who just had a baby or are having one soon. This is a perfect gift book, but more than that, because the reflections will last a lifetime. Nice black and white photography, too.

Masterful. Quite possibly the most beautiful book I've ever read, for and about human beings on this earth. The reflections, observations and guiding hopes in Dear Little One will accompany my kids now, and throughout their adult lives. I can't think of another book that does that. This book is unique. And poignant. And ultimately the kindest gift.

As a card-carrying member of two organizations advocating euthanasia, I am gratified that two MDs took the trouble to write a comprehensive book about the subject. They discuss the moral, legal, and the how-to of this controversial subject. Especially significant are the chapters guiding readers about their right to refuse food and hydration, and using helium to bring about their self-deliverance.

Dr. Wanzer is a compassionate physician. He describes his hour-long discussions with patients and their caregivers in their homes and at hospitals. He often refers to the rights of dying patients to dismiss their non-cooperating physicians even when they are already in a hospital, and choosing a more empathetic doctor. The sad reality is that doctors stopped making house call quite a while ago, and found a way around treating their patients in hospitals. They are adamant about seeing patients in their offices for only 15 minutes, which allows precious little time to discuss the various options and methods to exit this world. Medicare (and the majority of dying patients carry this insurance) does not even compensate physicians for discussing questions about imminent death.

On page 145 the authors describe how to "avoid unwanted resuscitative measures." Absent clear instructions prepared beforehand, they advocate that the family avoid calling 911. But if that has been done, they suggest calling the patient's physician to deal with the responding emergency team. In over four decades of living in San Francisco, I have never had physicians answer my call personally. When I was lucky, they returned my call after office hours. Having called 911 makes it is essential for the family to speak to the doctor the moment they are connected to the office. Every second counts to prevent the responding team from commencing resuscitating the patient. That simply won't happen.

Likewise, the suggestion that patients who refuse food and water instruct the hospital staff not to check their vital signs or administer antibiotics when the need arises is extremely unlikely to be followed.

In summary, this pioneering work needs a companion book on how to deal with the present medical realities.

This is the book for anyone that desires to have control of their lives and bodies during their last days.

TO DIE WELL: YOUR RIGHT TO COMFORT, CALM, AND CHOICE IN THE LAST DAYS OF LIFE comes from a leader in the right-to-die movement, and a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist who offer insights on turning points in a dying patient's life: one when no reasonable expectation of a cure is possible, the second involving hastening death - the subject of this book. TO DIE WELL focuses on patient rights, physician involvement, and how to stay in control of advance directives. It promises to be an essential addition not just for medical libraries, but for general-interest collections.

At last! Two doctors have written a right-to-die book with the patients' interests first. Very readable by the lay person, bundles of good advice on how a patient's best interests should be protected, and straightforward reporting on euthanasia and assisted suicide. Recommend for instant reading, and filing away for future problems. -- Derek Humphry ('Final Exit')

This book should be on the shelf of everyone who thinks he or she might indeed die some day, and on the shelves of caregivers and hospice volunteers and end-of-life professionals everywhere as well. It is honest, easily readable and crammed with useful information every thinking person should have. The authors identify the times - introducing the helpful concept of "turning points" - which most of us will encounter as our health declines, and outline how we can take charge of our lives by recognizing these times. The first is when "there is no reasonable expectation of a cure or of restoring health;" the second is when the prospect of hastening death may appropriately be considered. While the authors are physicians, and some of the writing seems aimed toward physician-readers, the book is for everyone and accessible for the lay reader. Its point-by-point instructions on patient rights and hypothetical situations will enable dying individuals and/or their families to be better informed of potential choices and to remain in control of their own lives. It is this recognition of the individual's right to retain control that makes To Die Well unique among books of its type. Also included are accurate summaries of documents everyone should have, useful histories and information on end-of-life organizations. So pair this book with another favorite - poems, essays, (or perhaps my own Dying Unafraid) - and do yourself and your loved ones a favor by spreading it around.

This book was great! I enjoyed all the characters..we have all been there with the 'well-meaning' sister friends. It was good to see Patricia hold on to her professional goals, while dealing honestly with her short-comings. Mac was a brother with a purpose...I loved him. I am looking forward to Ms. Love's next book.

The reading of Whispers in the Night, is not accomplished without stopping and visualizing the scenes, the details are so vivid, Patty's crispness, and determination combined with Mac's strength, business savvy and vulnerability makes each chapter so devouring and the next chapter an anticipation of more excitement.

I strongly recommend my fellow romance readers to read this book, I know you should enjoy it.

The heroine in this story is Patricia Ryan, bumps into the hero Mackenzy Carter but called, Mac Carter. This chance meeting involves a community center for at risk kids.

In any story that mixes business with pleasure; well you are bound to get trouble in the relationship. But this story that takes place in Florida provides you with aggressiveness, some humor, lots of intimacy, lies, betrayal and unconditional love from a mother and brother. It also has some moments of danger that heightens the story that keeps you turning the pages.

I enjoyed the illustration that the author shows with Patricia, her mother and her brother Parker. The characters portray such unconditional love that I believe any of us can feel the love coming through as you read the book.

Thanks Ms Love for this wonderful and enjoyable story. I hope you'll consider a story with Parker Ryan real soon.

I loved the way you could see the maturing in the relationship between the main characters. You could feel their feelings build up. It was wonderful. I read the book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. I felt myself gasping when something happening and smiling later. Great climax as well.

Cindy W in Dallas, TX

The book was wonderful, inspiring and so well written. One live thru every phase of life thru it, and can reminice with it. It gives hope to love between a man and woman especially to people of color. the section, where she visit her mom was so vivid and brought back my childhood. The importance of unconditional love, family values, struggles, becoming a stong survival. All, that I can say that I wanted to read more and experience it all. It added youth to me. The sex sections were so tastefully written. They demonstrated two people valuing the worth of one another. All the beauty that the bible described Adam as the first time he saw Eve. Please keep on with your writing and your mission. I shall pass it own. I love their independence with their own goal, yet their interdependence with their love for one another. I could go on-on Mary Yvonne Eaglin-White

Bravo! I applaud this author's message to women everywhere. It's time for us to learn to say "no" and take the time to fill ourselves back up again without feeling guilty. So many times I have asked a fellow mother or career woman, "How are you?" and the typical response is, "I'm so tired...I have 100 things to do..." And you know the rest of the laundry list they spout. For once I would love to hear one of them say, "You know what? I feel great! I just took a nap, or I read a novel I've been meaning to finish, or I'm going home to soak in the tub." Perhaps if more women would receive Jennifer Louden's books as gift they would begin to see how they can make this time for themselves no matter what kind of life they are living. Thank you Jennifer for spreading the word. I'm going out for a walk now for no other reason except to see how many more trees have changed their color this weekend.

I appreciate the thoroughness of this book, as well as its outline structure. Each chapter addresses various aspects of the retreat, breaking down the how, where, why, what, etc. in an understandable and useful way. Even more importantly, each chapter stands on its own, and you can skip around, looking for specific answers, or read the whole way through, while still gleaning the essence of the book. I am reading the book all the way thru, in order, yet have already been able to do a retreat that was useful even though I haven't gotten to the end. This aids the process of retreating, since it takes the pressure off the retreatant, and doesn't create added pressure that would dissuade one to retreat in the first place. An undaunting, very informative book.

I cherish my time alone. As a homeschooling mother, it's hard to come by much solitude, but when I do, I want it to be time well spent. This book is an excellent guide to making the most of any amount of time: an hour, a day, a week, or more. From preparation, to packing ideas, to plans for your time, this book is full of useful, inspirational, and exciting ideas for the woman (or man!) who craves a retreat from the busyness of life. I plan to refer to it as often as I get away from home.

Lively and personal, The Women's Retreat Book is challenging, inspirational and above all full of practical ideas for retreating with and to ourselves. The book is definitely not a glib self-help manual on "how to retreat and heal your life in five easy steps." Louden's concept of retreat is different from th historical one of separating oneself from life, going off with a guru to pursue some artistic or spiritual quest. Instead her book focuses on short, inexpensive withdrawls from daily life. What makes a mini-retreat--many she suggests are less than half a day--restorative she says is not where or for how long but rather the quality of the time out/time away. Louden's book is full of encouragement, humor, reality, perspective. The book is full of creative suggestions, nitty gritty lists("Good Supplies to Have on Hand"), many personal examples from her life as well as those of many other women. A delightful and valuable back-of-the-book bonus is a series of resource guides to recent films, books, audio, video and music tapes that could be used in retreat. Although I eventually read all of the book, I don't think it is meant to be read straight through as a text. Rather it is a framework, a transition into the reader's being in retreat. I made many annotations and personal references in the margins and the book which I go to over and over now becomes a kind of collaboration. I would think that Jennifer Louden would feel the book had achieved its purpose. I've made it mine and it becomes part of my retreats.

We are a manic 24/7 society and Louden is a goddess for telling us to relax. Relax, relax, relax! If you need a retreat, here is a way to begin brining it into your life in baby steps.

This book is wonderfully written. Anyone going through this, will profit from the writer's experiences and outlook. I have many friends going through similar ordeals and have been buying this book for each of them. Their responses are so positive after reading it and their outlook so improved. Thank you Michelle Rapkin for sharing.

Joyce Faltus

ANY DAY WITH HAIR IS A GOOD HAIR DAY BY MICHELLE RAPKIN, who is herself a cancer survivor, is a great book for anyone who has just been diagonosed with the Big C. The book is a handbook of what to expect during treatments and how to cope on physical and psychological levels. She suggests many ways to avoid depression and discomforts and to endure the long process in the best ways possible. She also gives many helpful suggestions for the loved ones of the cancer patient, including gifts that are helpful, what is good and what is not good to say or do, and what is truly helpful to the patient. This is an EXCELLENT and unusual and really needed how to book.

I wish I had had this book when I was first diagnosed with cancer. If every physician would give their patients this book at the time they send them for "tests just to be safe", it would be a great help to the patient, regardless of the test outcome. It is so helpful on multiple levels.

This book is written with honesty, reality and a touch of humor. It is easy to read and provides ways to be empowered at a time we feel powerless. It is a help for our friends who don't know what to do or what to say. From the first tests to the end of our cancer treatments, Michelle Rapkin gives us help and directions to get through the days of tests and treatment. There are lots of helpful reference lists at the end of the book.

A must have for anyone going in for tests for cancer and those already on the cancer journey.

Any Day With Hair is a Good Hair Day by Michelle Rapkin is a primer on what to do immediately after the diagnosis of cancer. Rapkin speaks conversationally and pulls no punches; from sex to runny noses and mastectomies, she offers information on everything. I don't have cancer, but I learned a great deal about how the illness affects people and what I can do to help. I also took some advice that I can use as a rheumatoid arthritis patient: if your doctor doesn't treat you like you think he would treat his spouse/child, he's not the right doctor for you. Much of Rapkin's advice is about small things that can make a big difference to someone with cancer. Bring tissues with you everywhere; as the hair leaves your head, it will also leave your nose, so your nose will run constantly. Rapkin is upbeat with a flair for compelling writing. She doesn't spend pages going over her own case history; she's far more interested in helping you make the best of yours. There are pages that can be photocopied for friends and family with suggestions on how best to help the patient, plus a crossword puzzle, online resources, and even prayers for all major religions specifically focusing on cancer. This is definitely a must read for those recently diagnosed and those who love them.

All four of my kids were patients of Dr. Schiller and I couldn't have asked for a better pediatrician. This book was my "bible." My kids liked him so much that he finally had to tell them (at 18!) they had to go to another doctor...they were too old for a pediatrician!

This book is a must for parents...it really is a common sense approach to caring for young children.

I relied on this book while raising my eight children. I am saddened that it is not available for me to buy for my children to use while raising their children!

Working in medicine does not always prepare you to be a parent. Dr. Shiller's on target "tincture of time" remedies allows the child's immune system to kick in developing antibodies for optimal health. I highly recommend this and look forward to giving it for my grandchildren! Let me know when it is reprinted!

Doctor Shiller's common sense advice kept me calm through many bouts of illness with my three children. Now I'm buying it for them to use as they raise our grandchildren.

I purchased this book to help my daughter and I get started with potty training. I found it to be geared more to an older toddler, rather than my daughter who is just under 2. I've purchased some other books that seem to be more of what I'm looking for. Since there is some useful information and the activities look like something she'd enjoy when she's a little bit older, I'm planning to hang onto it in the event we're still training when she's closer to 3.

This was the only resource I found that truly helped me potty train my 3year-old son... He would fight it and have accidents everyday until we began using the ideas supplied in this book... It was fun and entertaining for us both and made training alot less stressful for us both!!! Buy it!

There are hilarious songs, great ideas for rewards, and a variety of activities to help you get your child engaged in toilet training. A great gift for parents!

My daughter is going on 3. She had become uninterested in using the potty. She was back in diapers when I got the book, and I just gave it to her. She was surprised and proud and it worked! We took it with us on bathroom visits and she didn't want diapers anymore.

This is a gem of a book - wonderfully written and inspiring to read. The stories of ordinary children and families stricken by cancer. Maria Sirois tells the stories about this children and how they affected her in her year of internship. I get the impression that she was changed by her experiences and we are also changed by reading this book. I do not usually read books in the 'inspiration' genre but this one was special and I am grateful that I did read it and will pass it on to others in my family.

Licensed clinical psychologist Maria Sirois presents Every Day Counts: Lessons in Love, Faith, and Resilience From Children Facing Illness, is not a standard, scholarly psychology text; rather, it is a compilation of life lessons learned by the author from her professional experience counseling children facing life-threatening sickness, and their families. Chapters tell stories of sorrow as well as joy, the faith held by children that can far outstrip that of adults, and making peace with the end of life when it comes at a young age. Written for a general audience, and especially to share with those who have or know a severely sick or hurt child, Every Day Counts offers insights to transform one's own view on life, inspiration to emulate the big and little triumphs of small patients, as well as the understanding to cope with inexplicable suffering. Highly recommended.

Maria Sirois is a great story teller, and her book is filled with inspirational tales that read almost like thrillers. I couldn't put this book down for a minute, even as I laughed or cried. Every Day Counts describes Maria Sirois' year as a psychology intern working with children who have cancer. Some people might be turned off by the idea of reading about kids with cancer, but the child-patients teach the author, and teach the reader, all the basic lessons about the power of connection, empathy, caring, listening, love, and faith. And the stories have the absolute ring of authenticity: I know this in my bones from my own career as a psychiatrist (and poet) who has specialized in treating patients who suffer from severe medical illnesses. The wisdom in these stories has helped me appreciate my patients' resilience and to recognize just how much every day counts.

The author tells compelling and insightful real stories of children facing critical health situations, which impart valuable life-lessons and a wonderful message to the reader. For anyone who has lost someone to chronic illness or is presently going through the experience... this book will give you hope, understanding and inner peace. Having recently lost a parent to cancer, I found the children's stories paralleled my dying parent and family's experiences living through a health crisis.

The book is an easy-read, which flows beautifully... I couldn't put it down and continue to think of the children's stories after having finished it. I'm putting it on my giving gift list for many friends & family -- it will have great meaning for all.

Cheri Register's book "Living With Chronic Illness" was both validating and helpful to me.
Eight years of living with chronic migraines has effected my faith, self-image, independence, relationships, work aspirations and what I consider my purpose in life.
At first I tried to minimize the migraines disabling effect but over time and with more acceptance I have, for the most part, found ways to accommodate and live with them.
Register describes many of the challenges of living with chronic illness. Sickness in our culture is seen as an enemy to be fought and defeated. These war images cast chronically ill people as victims, and it's sometimes seen as a character defect if we experience suffering, grief or fear. Instead of �battling� the illness we can accept it as something we live with that is our normal state of being. The realization that we can be happy and sick is a major lesson.
Our culture expects a person's disability to be a test of character or an opportunity for heroism. People effected with illness should not have to prove their value to others. We are not better or worse, no more heroic or cowardly, strong or weak than healthy people. We are people first not a disease.
Other hurdles for the chronically ill include: loss of autonomy, (self-reliance and being financially self-supporting carries the imprint of virtue). For the chronically ill not pulling your weight is compounded by the fear of becoming indigent and feeling different. Unemployment not only involves economic loss but the loss of identity, productivity, self worth and a sense of meaning. Register says it is important to separate our economic and identity issues from the quest of human worth. When we accept our illness we can stop looking for a cause to blame or a miracle cure.
Chronic Illness challenges our relationships. Adversity can bring couples closer but with chronic illness the adversity comes and goes on a regular basis. The crisis may even become the core of the relationship. Illness highlights and compounds the gender differences. Females are trained to show emotion and males to hide them. It is easier for women to "be there" for intimacy and shared vulnerability. Women often want simple consolation from their husbands, what they get instead is a rational solution. Seeing their mate sick leaves many men feeling powerless. When a relationship requires sustained expression of thoughts and feelings it may become burdensome for the mate.
Register illuminates patience as a way of life for the chronically ill. Acceptance means taking realistic control over how we live and being ready for chaos. The "one day at a time approach" helps. When pain grows intense it demands complete attention. It also helps to focus on the recovery instead of the traumas.
Most doctors are more comfortable caring for acute illness. When medications do not work the patient rather than the medication is often blamed. Few doctors are honest about the limits of medical knowledge and trust patients enough to be partners in care.
Register acknowledges that anger, fear and grief are healthy responses to physical suffering. The value of catharsis allows us to face the emotions head-on rather than avoid or dismiss them. It is reassuring to hear that having suicidal fantasies are a normal consequence of chronic illness and not evidence of losing hold. Since most people do not act on their suicidal thoughts, considering death as a way out of the pain often diffuses the suffering. Also, when we confront the suicidal fantasy head-on it looses its power. Register even came to regard her own suicidal fantasies as a treasured choice. Knowing that suicidal thoughts are a feature of the illness is empowering.
Instead of asking "why me?" the chronically ill are better served by the question "what now?" And for people of faith we might ask, "what do you want from me God?" which implies not penance but fulfillment of a mission. Instead of seeing chronic illness as a punishment for sin, an endurance test, a divine plan geared to your natural capacity or a random event Register recommends we see chronic illness and suffering as central to the human condition. It is our own share of life's condition - a way of life not an aberration. Register says, to live with passion allows us to live with the dynamics of contradiction in joy and sorrow, caring and indifference, in courage and fear, in friendship and alienation. Passion is a fully human and divine spark that burns with life.
To answer the question "what should I do?" Register says, "Just live your life, pain and all with attention and purpose." Lived fully, the experience of illness can free us from the curse of perfection. For people of faith learning to feel God's pain makes us more attuned to God's pleasure. Life is a beautiful tapestry being woven with our lives, it's pattern visible only to God.
Register redefines the disabled hero as one who demonstrates a capacity to come through multiple ordeals with their will intact. Instead of winners and losers, survivors have moments of courage, moments of cowardice, moments of determination and moments of despair, moments of glory and moments of humiliation. That many of us survive these ups and downs is a miracle that happens many times a day.
Register describes the ingredients of survival for the chronically ill: a sense of humor, tenacity, a will to live, discipline, inner strength, trusting ourselves, inner peace, acceptance, a support system, faith, skepticism, and a belief in a Higher Power and Purpose. Instead of saying, "There but for the grace of God go I" we might say, "Here, with the grace of God, I am." Our bodies are, after all, our medium for experiencing creation.

"Living With Chronic Illness" has probably been one of the most important books in my collection as I deal with chronic illness myself. I met the author in 1990 and heard her speak about the unique nature of rare and chronic diseases, and found myself nodding and smiling throughout her talk. If you are dealing with a chronic illness, you will re-read this book (or sections of it) for years as you experience different problems. Mine's marked up with yellow highlighter and underlined passages, a sign of how deeply and personally Cheri's writing touches my heart. I saw that she's revised and updated this book, so I would unhesitatingly recommend that one sight unseen too.

Register, who has a chronic illness herself, has interviewed other patients in Minnesota to get their views on subjects ranging from marriage to work. I found myself underlining so many sentences. The book has been a comfort to me since I first bought it in 1991. It has seen me through asthma and depression. One drawback, which Register acknowledges--all her interviewees are from Minnesota so there is no geographical diversity. Also, from their names and descriptions, they all seem to be African- or European-American--no Asians for example, and I didn't find any gay people. A more diverse sample would have made this a stronger book. Overall, I highly recommend it, and I hope she's still around to publish more! I really appreciated her sharing so much about her life.

"Living With Chronic Illness" has probably been one of the most important books in my collection as I deal with chronic illness myself. I met the author in 1990 and heard her speak about the unique nature of rare and chronic diseases, and found myself nodding and smiling throughout her talk. If you are dealing with a chronic illness, you will re-read this book (or sections of it) for years as you experience different problems. Mine's marked up with yellow highlighter and underlined passages, a sign of how deeply and personally Cheri's writing touches my heart. I saw that she's revised and updated this book, so I would unhesitatingly recommend that one sight unseen too.