Book Description
What is it about four-year-olds that makes them so lovable? What problems do four-year-olds have? What can they do now that they couldn't do at three? Drs. Ames and Ilg, recognized authorities on child behavior and development, discuss these and scores of other questions unique to four-year-old girls and boys, and they offer parents practical advice and enlightening psychological insights.
Customer Reviews:
Out of date advice, but 'bang on' observations.......2007-06-21
I remembered this series from its assitance in raising my "first litter" of kids, who are now in their mid and late twenties. I have just finished re-reading this title in honour of my four year old youngest.
I gave the book four stars rather than five because, as other reviewers have noted, the book is 30 years old and in some places it's obvious that it hasn't been updated since then. I was occasionally really surprised at the flashbacks I got in reading what was once the "gold standard" in child development advice and realizing how odd it soudns today. There are places, especially in the second half of the book, where observation gives way to opinion and advice that is a relic of its time. (TV is good, kids 'need' to be ghettoized in schools 'for their own developmental good', and a goodly dose of "girls behave this way and boys behave that way, and you can predict behavior based on body type [whaaa?!?!].)
But kids themselves don't change that much -- kids develop today much the same way they developed 30 years ago and 300 years ago. (Oh, their interests and our expectations have changed a lot, but kids and their development patterns haven't.)
So if you're a reader who can sort observation from the opinions based on those observations, I would still recommend this book as a really good primer on what to expect from your child's physical, emotional, and intellectual development over the course of the fourth year. She pegs the changes in the developing child very accurately -- even if her ideas about what that means are sometimes a little wierd.
Helped me understand our daughter!.......2006-07-06
I was looking for a short, easy to read overview about 4 year olds. I felt like I had a pretty good grasp on 1-3, but when our daughter hit 4, all control and understanding was lost! Ames' book really put the age in perspective -- she does a great job describing what's normal for 4. As a result, my husband and I felt a bit less isolated, more secure, and confident as parents.
Definitely helpful, definitely dated.......2006-04-01
My own four-year-old is now five. I read this book around the time he turned 4 so it's been a little while, but after reading the prior review I had to comment.
Swearing and violent stories ARE totally normal for this age -- at least for boys -- even when there are no "horrible experiences" or other negative influences that the child has been exposed to. My son has never been spanked, watches almost no TV or movies, and has limited exposure to "four letter words"; this is also true of almost all of my friends' similar-age children and my son's preschool classmates. But I found the book's description of the child's fascination with violence and exaggeration of his own capabilities to be spot on. And something of a relief, as other reviewers have mentioned, precisely because so many people have the judgmental attitude that any child who likes to talk about "killing bad men" must be in a violent home.
As for the chapter on temperament being determined by body type, I found it completely bizarre. I have to assume this is just another example (along with recommending "rubber pants" for bedwetters and so on) of how dated these books are; perhaps this theory had some currency then? My advice to anyone who reads this book now is to just skip that entire chapter. It makes no sense at all and seriously detracts from the rest of the book. If you want to read about temperament in connection with children's discipline and education, check out Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's books.
I wouldn't call this book a must-have but if you, like myself, are a voracious reader of parenting books, it's worth adding to your library at the appropriate time. Most other books for this age group focus on some particular aspect or issue -- nutrition, discipline, whatever -- and this is one of the few that give a good overall developmental picture. Just translate some of the dated ideas (substitute pull-up style overnight diapers for rubber pants) and skip the wacko body-type chapter, and it's a handy, quickly-read introduction to the next year of your child's life.
An Oldie But Goodie!.......2006-03-22
I am a stay at home mom of three older children and a four year old boy and I loved this book. I had a lot of worries about my lovable and intelligent son and this book was just a sigh of relief. Almost everything I read in this book described my son perfectly. He has a lot of positive qualites, but also his share of negative qualities (all of which were covered in this book) and it was refreshing to read that he is normal and will grow out of most of these things by the time he is five.
Although this book was written in a European style, and many years ago in 1976, I still feel it is relevant to today. Kids change some, but not too much. Although I in no way advocate severe child rearing practices, I think today's child rearing recommendations are way too lax and touchy feely and haven't even worked for me. This book gave me good, positive ideas for caring for my son (that I may actually be able to do!) and also gave me the confidence to realize that most of what he does and says is normal.
Very sensible and enlightening account of a 4 year old.......2006-03-16
I really enjoyed this book. It offered so many insights to my 4 year old's behavior and gave very sensible and practicle advice about how to deal with specific situations. The authors truly understand what it's like to parent a 4 year old!
Book Description
To fifty thousand readers, Catherine Newman is the beloved author of “Bringing Up Ben & Birdy,” a weekly column on babycenter.com. Now in the delightfully candid, outlandishly funny Waiting for Birdy, Newman charts the year she anticipated the birth of her second child while also coping with the realities of raising a toddler. As she navigates life with her existentially curious and heartbreakingly sweet three-year-old, and her doozy of a pregnancy, she lends her irresistibly unique voice to the secret thoughts and fears of parents everywhere. Filled with quirky warmth and razor-sharp wit, Waiting for Birdy captures the universal wonder, terror, humor, and tenderness of raising a family.
Customer Reviews:
A needed dose of perspective and humor.......2007-10-10
Waiting for Birdy has become one of my favorite books, and one I always pass along to new and expecting moms of second children. Her self-deprecating humor, love for her family and friends, and constant work to seek balance in her life are funny and life-affirming. Sometimes we feel like we are all alone when we have ambivalent or conflicting feelings about motherhood--Catherine feels like a warm, witty, wacky friend that shares those feelings with you.
Read this book like you eat a bar of Valrhona chocolate.......2007-10-05
Read this book like you eat a bar of Valrhona chocolate . . . a tiny bit a day, so you can savor the complex flavors of each bit more fully -- and make it last longer.
This book has humor and insight, but more than that, it reminds me of what is really important about parenting; reminds me to be mindful of the wonderfulness of it all, and not to let the worries and frustrations of the immediacy of parenting obscure the deep love and joy (and humor) of the body- and soul-changing job of being a parent. Like Catherine's columns, nearly every section in this book makes me laugh *and* cry and need to go kiss my little boy one more time before I go to sleep. One warning: it's tough to read if you're expecting; I'm not kidding about laughing AND crying, when you're already all hormonal and your husband already thinks you're crazy . . . (just make him read it too; he'll see!)
Made me a better mom.......2007-10-01
I was inspired to add to the many five star reviews when I read one that said, "This book won't make you a better parent, but it might help you to relax about being the parent you are." While I am sure this was intended to be a positive comment, I have to respectful disagree.
Reading Catherine's book and columns for years HAS made me a better parent. Specifically, she has a way of describing slowing down and paying attention to kids that really affected me. If my son wants to play Candyland, but by his own set of made up rules, why not? If he, well after the age that "the experts" think he should be independent, wants me to lay down with him for a few minutes while he falls asleep, I soak it up, because I know that the days that he will ask for me to cuddle are so limited.
Like Catherine, I do not advocate spoiling children, but I think that we need to pick our battles, say yes as much as possible, and ask ourselves if we are saying no for a good reason or just because OUR parents did not let us build forts with the living room couch cushions. Why not let them make the fort (better yet make it with them) and then teach them to clean up after themselves?
I love her book and her columns. She has made me a better, more patient, more creative, and more thoughtful parent.
If you don't like this book, you simply have no soul.......2007-09-29
This book is so great and funny, true-to-life and wonderfully written. No, it is not a directory on how to prepare your life for a second child, it is one woman gracefully sharing with us how she prepared her heart for her second child, and has helped SOOOOO many women know they are not alone in feeling scared, neurotic, weird, overcome with love, ready to pull their hair out, etc. I think it's very sad if you are unable to relate to the wonderful dance of parenting chronichled in "Waiting for Birdy."
Definitely a Top 5.......2007-09-28
I love this book! I loved Catherine's Babycenter columns, and was so delighted when there was so much laughter, honesty, and hysterical "I can totally relate to that" stories inside one book. We refer to Ben and Birdy in our house as if they live next door! Catherine keeps me sane by reminding me what's really important about motherhood.
As for the negative comments of a couple of readers--I feel sorry for people who don't get this kind of humor. Neurotic comes with the package when you give birth, and I always appreciate anyone who can admit it. Too many mamas spend too much energy trying to pretend that "everything is fine, life is perfect" when it feels much better just to embrace the craziness!
Average customer rating:
- Overwrought heroine
- A breathtaking and suspenseful tale
- Extraordinary Story!
- Just An OK Read . . .
- Unbelievable
|
The Wild Child
Mary Jo Putney
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0449005844
Release Date: 2000-07-05 |
Amazon.com
When Dominic Renbourne is visited by his identical twin Kyle, he steels himself for the sort of bitter confrontation that has marked their meetings for years. But when Kyle makes an exceptional request, and offers some family land as a bribe, Dominic feels his defenses failing. Unable to deny the desperation in his brother's eyes--or the chance to finally inherit some of their family's wealth--he agrees to an unusual charade. Dominic will temporarily take his brother's place in the courtship of the beautiful, if possibly mad, Lady Meriel Grahame.
The mysterious Lady Meriel is as unpredictable as was rumored. After her recovery from a childhood kidnapping, she turned inside to her secret world of silence and the comfort of her lush garden. Though two elderly relatives and an Indian caretaker have since watched over her, Meriel can not communicate, and flees from the external threat that Dominic presents.
Unable to dismiss Meriel's odd behaviors as insanity, Dominic seeks to uncover the source of her pain and the core of her complex personality. Warmed by his patient compassion and gentle encouragement, Meriel begins to open up to him. But the pressures of society and the growing threat of her commitment to an asylum force Meriel to choose between these two worlds. Helplessly in love with her, Dominic searches for a way to help her find her true identity, while continuing to conceal his own.
When switched identities, arranged marriages, and even the mildest case of insanity meet, a novel is bound to be an absolutely entertaining hoot. As well as creating sympathetic characters and their realistic development, Mary Jo Putney has a talent for capturing the complex rivalries of siblings and the conflict between our internal and external lives. Though the arrival of a final plot twist is distracting and unnecessary, Putney has once again written a solid historical novel that should support her reputation as one of the finest romance writers of our time. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Description
Bribed by Kyle, his twin brother, Dominic Renbourne agrees to take his twin's place for a few weeks at Warfield Manor, where he is to pay court to Lady Meriel Grahame, the orphaned heiress Kyle intends to marry. The last thing Dominic expects is to be entranced by a silent sprite whose ethereal beauty is as intoxicating as the flowers and trees that surround her.
For much of her life Meriel has lived outside normal society, finding joy and peace in her garden, safe from the nightmare that nearly destroyed her as a child. She is content with solitude until the handsome intruder begins to inspire dreams of life beyond her sanctuary. Despite his longing, Dominic's sense of duty keeps him away from his brother's future bride, but Meriel's untamed spirit proves more powerful than Dominic can resist . . .
Customer Reviews:
Overwrought heroine.......2006-11-17
This tale is bulging with plot and drama, not to mention characters.
Dominic Renbourne agrees to switch places with his twin brother, Kyle, who is supposed to be wooing Lady Meriel Grahame. Fine start, but there's more. Meriel is believed to be mad. As a child, she witnessed the brutal massacre of her parents in India and was imprisoned there for some time, before being returned to her family. Now she wanders in her own world and talks to no one.
Naturally Dominic finds her fascinating and alluring etc. etc. and is caught in dilemmas and plot galore. Quite frankly there was far too much of the galore of me.
Far too much of Lady Meriel and her painfulness. She was so very picturesquely possibly mad. There is some reference to the Keats poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci"(hence the title) and it seems the picturesque attitudinizing and dressing up of Meriel owed a lot to some of the famous paintings of the said merciless faery lady. She was not an appealing character, more an appalling one. A self-centred weaver of webs, a manipulator of people and her environment. Her behaviour is far too often inexcusable and almost vicious.
At one memorable point, Dominic accuses her of this selfishness, "You accept it all, and give back nothing.". Alas, this moment of truth does not induce Dominic to wake up and leave, no he remains and is sucked further into the vortex.
The heroine's character killed the story, it overpowered all the natural sympathy one ought to have felt for her.
The plot is indeed melodramatic, if a tad obvious. The best part was the presentation of the brothers and their fraught relationship through the years. It shows Dominic putting aside resentment and intelligently looking at himself and his whole family, consciously becoming a mature man. Except he's been sucked into the Meriel whirlpool, poor fool.
A breathtaking and suspenseful tale .......2006-08-29
There is some patience that is required to read this story. It's a delicate tale that is beautifully woven and its voice reflects the exquisite nature of its heroine, Meriel. As a child of five, she witnessed the devastating attack that led to the death of both her parents. She was captured and about to be betrothed to a distant prince when the maharajah who owned her decided to return her to an English encampment. She was quickly returned to her family but the damage was already done. Traumatized, Meriel withdrew into her mind and lost her desire to speak.
Eighteen years later, Meriel is the mistress of Warfield, her home and entire world. She still doesn't speak but her sanity and level of intelligence twinkles through in other ways like light through the chinks of an armor. She has built a garden that is arguably the most beautiful in England and draws intricate designs using henna.
Kyle Renbourne is unofficially betrothed to Meriel. The only way the betrothal will become official is if Meriel agrees to it. Kyle, however, is in a desperate situation. The only woman he has ever loved is dying and he wants to take her away to Spain but Kyle is also expected to spend a few weeks at Warfield to get to know Meriel. The only solution is to bribe his twin brother to take his place at Warfield. Dominic is reluctant but agrees to the task.
There is no doubt that Dominic is perfect for Meriel. He is patient with her, taking the time for her to get used to him and for him to draw her out. Meriel blossoms under Dominic's gentle care and before he realizes it, he's fallen in love with her. Although she knows that Dominic is her perfect mate, Meriel has no desire to marry. She is content to live at Warfield, in the reclusive world she's created for herself.
Circumstances, however, will force her out of her seclusion and compel her to put her trust in Dominic. Because the terror that robbed her of her parents now threatens to destroy everything in her life.
As I said before, this is not a story you want to rush through. There is much backstory involved and it plays a major role in the ending when the plot is resolved. I love the author's voice. There is such a simplicity and delicacy to it; easy to read and very appealing.
Extraordinary Story!.......2006-06-13
If you love historical romance, Mary Jo Putney is an author you must read. I love this story! The characters are so rich and endearing, you can't help but fall into the story. From the first page to the last, you will not be able to put down this book.
Just An OK Read . . ........2006-04-23
Mary Jo Putney's THE WILD CHILD came highly recommended by a dear friend. Alas, not everyone shares the same taste, for I felt THE WILD CHILD was just an OK read . . .
Kyle and Dominic Renbourne are identical twins - two halves of the same whole. In the web of life, ten minutes seems unimportant, unless it concerns an earldom. By a scant ten minutes, Kyle is the heir and Dominic is the do-nothing spare.
As children, the boys were inseparable; as adults, they were estranged. Until the day, Kyle approached his brother with a bribe. Kyle Renbourne, the next Earl of Wrexham, was to begin to court his future wife - the quite insane Lady Meriel Grahame. However, he had another obligation, so he challenged his younger brother to impersonate him.
When the irresponsible Dominic met Meriel Grahame, she quickly enchanted him and regret seeped in. What dreadful evil had driven this delicate beauty to the doorstep of insanity? What unspeakable horror?
Despite the fact that Lady Meriel Grahame is different from other "normal" women, she is hardly ready for ice baths, straitjackets, and leeches. Meriel may be lost in her own world, but she remains delightful and provocative and Dominic falls heavily in love with her, and what could be more insane then wanting a brother's future wife?
Although, I was disappointed in Mary Jo Putney's THE WILD CHILD, I was impressed with her discreet secondary story. A lower-ranking romance that absolutely glowed! One lone paragraph, found on page 248, brought me to tears and effectively made me want! All of a sudden, I wanted more of Kyle and Constancia, not the unbelievable drama surrounding Dominic and Meriel! Hmmm, should I take a chance and hunt down Kyle's succeeding story, THE CHINA BRIDE?
Grade: C+
MaryGrace Meloche.
Unbelievable.......2006-03-31
This was an unusual story about a young woman who is mute and detached from the world around her as a result of a traumatic event she lived through as a child. The girl slowly emerges from her shell as she gets to know and enjoy the company of a young man attempting to court her.
It's an absolutely ridiculous story. More than once I wanted to put the book down b/c I couldn't stand how absurd things were becoming. The girl was completely out of her mind. She saw colors around people, she drugged the man she wanted in order to seduce him, she hissed at people, she was generally selfish and unruly. Then suddenly, a few chapters later, she was behaving like a well-bred, normal young heiress. After 18 years of solitude?
Give me a break.
Book Description
Genius! moves past survival strategies to give parents of children diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, bipolar disorder, AD/HD, and Asperger Syndrome a practical plan for bringing out the best qualities in their kids while taking care of themselves in the process. It is based on the premise that the genius of neurologically different children is necessary for the survival of humankind. Through historical analysis, modern brain research, and the wisdom of myth, George T. Lynn shows us how the disturbing and wildly creative character of these children is required if we are to avoid stagnation as a species.
Throughout the book, Joanne Barrie Lynn weaves poems and anecdotes about the authors' son, Gregory, diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and high-functioning autism, to ground it in the reality of the joys and difficulties of nurturing the genius of an Attention Different child. As she writes in her foreword, "It is in the small intimate details of a life that eccentric neurology is illuminated, and it is in these details—the good, the bad, the painful, the sublime—that genius is recognized."
It's time for a positive vision for children with Tourette Syndrome, bipolar disorder, AD/HD, and Asperger Syndrome. Genius! does an admirable job of providing that vision.
Customer Reviews:
A Healing Oasis .......2006-06-01
As the mother of a challenging teenager with a long list of `disorders', I cried while reading GENIUS! George and Joanne Lynn write with a raw honesty that cut straight to my core.
In the Editor's Preface, Joanne writes "Families such as ours live in a crucible, that chemistry lab vessel made of a material, steel or platinum or porcelain, that doesn't burn away in a furnace...George and I live in the furnace of our son's wild neurology, and our job is to contain him so that he can grow, without burning up in his own heat. And we must not burn out in the nurturing of him."
This beautiful book, is written from the intimate perspective of parents who have lived in the furnace with their own son, as well as their perspectives as therapist and poet. George Lynn writes with professional authority about attention differences - in particular AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, bipolar disorder and Tourette Syndrome. Yet this is not just a book about coping with syndromes and disorders. It is about seeing the brilliance within our child. It is also about how we parents need to focus inward, nurturing our own genius, and giving it expression. Taking care of our own health, mind and spirit strengthens us to meet the challenges of living amidst the daily chaos. This book is like finding an oasis in the lonely desert of cultural misunderstanding and judgement. Thank you George and Joanne for this gift.
A must have for any parent who had a child with a neurological disability.......2006-02-19
This book is fantastic as well as all of his books. George Lynn is not only a therapist, but also a parent who has raised a child with many neurological challenges. I would highly recommend this to anyone!
Powerfully personal.......2005-12-11
This book will be high on the short list of titles I recommend to parents of challenging children who ask "which books are worth reading?" This title is clearly worth the investment of time, not only because George Lynn is a skilled therapist who has seen and helped scores of neurologically challenged kids, but because he has lived it as a parent. In addition to wise advice, this book records a very personal journey in which we can see what he and his wife experienced from the inside out.
I was particularly struck by his reminder that every human being needs a "Great Story" with which to frame their talents and strengths, something to serve as a beacon in darker times, a reminder that we each are much more than the sum of our liabilities. Kids with multiple difficulties need such a beacon especially, but while dealing with the stresses of daily living, it is all too easy to forget.
In the process of reminding parents and kids to seek the Great Stories they all have to tell, George Lynn has given the gift of a Great Story for himself.
AMAZING INSIGHT!.......2005-05-17
George and Joanne Lynn know first hand that the process of taking care of a neurologically eccentric child is emotionally taxing and all consuming; so much so that the child's deficits tend to take center stage at the expense of an appreciation for their gifts. Many of these gifts, they explain, are the results of the very eccentricities that brought on the diagnoses. With empathy and amazing insight, Lynn helps us to appreciate and learn to cultivate these gifts in our children so that our children may develop the positive self image necessary to reach their potential. This potential may exceed our wildest imaginings. Their disabilities are an undeniable part of their genius and the tapestry of their lives telling a story of where they have been and where they are going. With care, their genius can be cultivated and become a powerful and positive force in their lives. The Lynn's emphasize strengthening the positive without denying the challenges of these children, as both contribute to the child's sense of self and their path thru life. In-as-much as every virtue when examined from a different perspective can be seen as a flaw, so the struggles and "symptoms" of these remarkable children can influence them in very positive ways. A very encouraging read for the parent who is lost in the sea of doctors, diagnoses, frustration, and hopelessness and may have lost touch with their child , their family, and even themselves in the process.
blessings of neurological difference.......2005-05-14
While acknowledging that ADHD and other "neurologically different" children can be disruptive and have problems affecting both others and themselves, the authors - whose teen son has been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome - acclaim these exceptional people as also having a "genius" or "guiding spirit" that can help them make important, even vital, contributions to society.
As a counselor of children and adults, George Lynn says many of his AD/HD adolescent clients "are sports champions or team captains at the high school level. As performers or musicians they tend to be creative and innovative composers, and charismatic on stage." And there are many examples throughout history of prominent achievers who are neurologically different.
Average customer rating:
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Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna
Nancy White Carlstrom
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0689714459 |
Book Description
Whether they see themselves as King of the Wild Things or protector of Toto, children live in a world filled with animals--both real and imaginary. From Black Beauty to Barney, animal characters romp through children's books, cartoons, videos, and computer games. As Gail Melson tells us, more than three-quarters of all children in America live with pets and are now more likely to grow up with a pet than with both parents. She explores not only the therapeutic power of pet-owning for children with emotional or physical handicaps but also the ways in which zoo and farm animals, and even certain purple television characters, become confidants or teachers for children--and sometimes, tragically, their victims.
Yet perhaps because animals are ubiquitous, what they really mean to children, for better and for worse, has been unexplored territory. Why the Wild Things Are is the first book to examine children's many connections to animals and to explore their developmental significance. What does it mean that children's earliest dreams are of animals? What is the unique gift that a puppy can give to a boy? Drawing on psychological research, history, and children's media, Why the Wild Things Are explores the growth of the human-animal connection. In chapters on children's emotional ties to their pets, the cognitive challenges of animal contacts, animal symbols as building blocks of the self, and pointless cruelty to animals, Melson shows how children's innate interest in animals is shaped by their families and their social worlds, and may in turn shape the kind of people they will become.
Customer Reviews:
Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children.......2007-03-09
An excellent, comprehensive overview of the relationship between animals and children. Children's relationships with household pets, therapy animals, wildlife, and fictional animals are all explored, and many interesting questions are raised about what aspects of the relationship are the most beneficial, how caring for animals relates to caring for other humans, and what children may be most likely to benefit. The issue of children who harm animals is also discussed. The book is enjoyable to read and cites many references that may be of further interest.
A fascinating and informative survey.......2005-08-08
Kids live in a world filled with animals both real and fictional, from Black Beauty and Barney to Pooh and more. Kids seem to relate better to their pets than to adults - and may understand them better. Why The Wild Things Are is a fascinating survey of the history, psychology and effects of children's media and how it reflects kids' attraction to animals and its influence on their growth. Chapters tackle such varied subjects as how kids relate to and learn from animals, how they perceive object and animal differences, and how they form close associations with animals. A fascinating and informative survey.
Kids, Animals, and Psychology.......2001-12-13
Roughly 75% of American households include a pet. However, it was not until about 15 years ago that social scientists discovered that animals were an important part of people's lives. The result was an explosion of research in "anthrozoology"(the study of human/animal relations) and the publication of a number of books describing the sociology, history, anthropology and ecology of human-animal interactions. Surprisingly, until the publication of Why the Wild Things Are by Gail Melson there has been no equivalent book describing the psychology of these relationships. Melson, who is Professor of Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University and well known for her research on the role of animals in the lives of children, has produced a terrific book on the psychology of kid-animal relationships.
While the focus of the book is on the developmental psychology of human-animal interactions, it is an excellent introduction to general field of human-animal studies. The book covers a wide array of topics. For example, in the early chapters Melson discusses the evolutionary psychology of pet keeping, the emergence of pet keeping in the American middle class, and the demographics of companion animals in the United States. Other chapters focus on topics such as gender differences (or lack there of) in interactions between children and their pets, the role of animals in the development of empathy, and how children cope with the death of a pet. Later chapters deal with topical issues such as the role that animals can play in child psychotherapy and the connection between animal abuse and violence directed toward humans. In addition, there are treatments of the role of animals in children's literature and in the fantasy life of kids.
In short, Melson has provided a fascinating picture of the complex roles that animals can play in the psychological lives of children. Published by Harvard University Press, the book will certainly be of interest to scholars. However, Melson has an engaging style, and the general reader - particularly parents and animal lovers - will find this book useful and interesting. To my mind, it is one of the best books yet on human/animal relationships.
Wild about "Wild Things".......2001-08-09
Why the Wild Things Are is a long needed, wonderful, thoughtful and comprehensive review of child animal relations. Author, Gail Melson has reviewed and integrated research from a variety of disciplines including history, social work, psychology and literature. She has effectively walked a tightrope between producing a scholarly work and writing a book that is readable to a lay person who is not a professional psychologist. In addition to documenting the field of child animal relations she has also provided the reader with an insightful and critical review of the works that she covers. She does this in a way that makes her conclusions and findings comprehensible to the lay reader while acknowledging the academic concerns of the professional.
She suggests areas for future research, introduces the reader to programs of animal assisted therapy, animals in the classroom and covers the emerging area of the relationship between animal abuse and violence toward humans. She not only discusses academic research but gives plenty of real life, compelling examples. In addition her references are arranged on a chapter by chapter basis at the end of the book. They are very easy to either follow if you are looking for more information or easy to ignore if you don't want to be bothered by details. Anyone who has children, works with children or animals in any capacity or teaches child development should consider this most worthy book required reading.
Average customer rating:
- WONDERFUL BED-TIME STORY - A WELL DONE LITTLE BOOK.
- precious story about how there's no one like Mama
- If you have a little one that loves their Mama
- Adorable story
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Piglet and Mama
Margaret Wild
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction | Farm Animals | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Pigs | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Parents | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Emotions & Feelings | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0810958694 |
Book Description
In the tradition of the children's classic Are You My Mother? , a heart warming story by a breakout team
Speaking to every child who has ever been lost, this warmly illustrated book is perfect for bedtime and story hour. Poor Piglet has lost her mama! All the other mother animals offer help-the duck with a cuddle, the sheep with a daisy chain, the dog with a roll in the mud-but nothing will do for Piglet but to find her mama. "OIIIIIINK!" she cries finally in despair, and "OIIIIIINK! There you are!" cries her mama. Reunited, they cuddle, make a daisy chain, roll in the mud-all the things the other mothers offered, but now, with her mama, Piglet laughs and joins in. AUTHOR BIO: Margaret Wild's books have received many awards in Australia over the years. She has been shortlisted and commended by the Children's Book Council of Australia many times for such well-loved picture books as , and Thank You Santa. Stephen Michael King's books have received wide acclaim in Australia. A number of them have been published internationally and he has been nominated several times for Children's Book Council of Australia awards.
Customer Reviews:
WONDERFUL BED-TIME STORY - A WELL DONE LITTLE BOOK........2007-09-15
Piglet has lost her mom and starts her search. This is a wonderful little bed-time or read along story for the little ones. The art work by Stephen King is great and the text by Margaret Wild is easy to follow. Piglet, in her quest for her "lost" mom encounters various barnyard critters such as a duck, dog, horse, can and several others. All these friendly animals try to make piglet feel better in offering her different activities such as the horse who asks her to dance in the daffodils. Piglet of course just wants her mom. The story is cute, kids seem to like it and it is fun to read to the little ones. With the well done pictures, great text and nice story, what more could you want. Recommend this one highly.
precious story about how there's no one like Mama.......2007-04-26
While you shouldn't be tricked into buying a book by the cover, this one did for me! The illustration on the front of the two cute pigs was just too adorable to pass up. The story is about a Piglet looking for her Mama and while she finds other animal Mamas on her search, they just aren't HER Mama. Heartwarming bedtime tale.
If you have a little one that loves their Mama.......2007-01-11
This book is so adorable and is a must if you have a little one that just LOVES their Mama so much.
Adorable story.......2006-03-07
This book is about a little piglet that has lost his mother. He goes around looking for her, encountering other animals along the way that invite the piglet to join them in some sort of activity. The piglet only wants her mama. When she finds her mama, they enjoy all of the activities together ending up taking a nap snuggled up together. This is an adorable book to read with your child. My 20 month old daughter, snuggles up beside me before bed while I read it to her.
Book Description
Tofu casseroles, communes, clothing-optional kindergarten, antiwar protests - these are just a few of the hallmarks of a counterculture childhood. What became of kids who had been denied meat, exposed to free love, and given nouns for names? In Wild Child, daughters of the hippie generation speak about the legacy of their childhoods. The writers present a rearview mirror to contemporary culture; with an eye on the past they remind us that there is more than one path through the present. Contributors include Lisa Michaels (Split) and Ariel Gore (Hip Mama).
Customer Reviews:
truth & memory.......2007-01-18
When I read 'Wild Child' my first thought was, "It wasn't just me!" Having grown up in San Francisco in the '60s I can vouch for the fact that although the specifics for each girlhood remembered here vary, the overriding themes are shared. I gave copies to my parents to help them have some insight into the impact their "flower child" choices back then had on me. If you were there or know someone who was, I highly recommend this book.
The Love Children; Girls of the Hippie Age.......2005-06-12
Goats milk and free love. Traveling cross country in a mail truck and tempeh in the bathtub, "Wild Child" portrays numerous essays of young girls exposed to the counter culture of the late 60s and 70s. I had half expected a cold analytical study of young girlhood, another example of the growing tend to categorize life to a shallow limited cultural studies perspective. But thankfully the book did expose some valid truths and portrayed the revolutionary time and the extraordinary women,(the girls mothers)who influenced their daughters, in many ways that would effect the following generations, especially in the women's movement.
While I enjoyed this easy breezy read, and found each individual essay interesting, I couldn't help but hope that there would be more of a synthesis between these young womens' stories of their childhood during this culturally explosive time. For instance, all the girls were white( except one who was half chinese), and parents that had come from middle class backgrounds. And I didn't really enjoy the end essay on Rainbow Gathering, especially the way Chelsea Cain "reports" what goes on at them. I feel like she never made the effort to really get to know what these Gatherings are all about, and in doing so keep the dream positive.
So all in all an interesting read, but not a great one. Perhaps it was because of the shortness of the book, I finished it in a couple of hours. But if you like the hippie era and want some more knowledge about it and have the patience to read each account, then I do recommend this book. If not, then read better accounts of the sixites, like a bio of Jerry Garcia or the Hippie Handbook.
peace.
Testimonies about a Sweet, but Brief, Dream.......2002-05-07
As a mom who raised two children partially within hippie culture, I am intensely curious about how other kids raised similarly turned out. Wild Child didn't completely sate my curiosity, but it whetted my appetite to go out and read more books on this topic (they're coming fast and furious now).
One funny thing about "being a hippie" is that many of us feel like we weren't *real* enough, compared to, say Wavy Gravy or the Deadheads. Sure, my kids went to alternative schools, witnessed more sex than shrinks would advise, and loved riding around in our beige VW bus, standing on the seats so they could wave to passers-by from the open sunroof. But I only lived communally for three years; I held down a respectable office job; and at one point I even cut my hair.
Wild Child quelled my feelings of being a fraud by showing that there were a lot of different ways to be a hippie. One girl's family traveled back and forth cross-country in a mail truck bought at auction; another spent time working the sugar fields of Belize. About the only thing they all had in common was being embarrassed to reveal the contents of their lunchboxes to classmates-and having a lot of strange people wandering around their homes, whether they lived in a house, bus or teepee.
For me the most powerful piece was the editor's: "Welcome Home," in which she describes attending a latter-day Rainbow Gathering. Having already lived the real thing, the gathering's painstaking efforts to replicate hippie life cannot possibly impress or move her.
Only one contributor is angry about her childhood: she is furious about the omnipresent sexuality she was exposed to almost from infancy. For the most part, though, the contributors enjoyed their childhood and still love and appreciate their parents and what they were trying to do. Interestingly, none of them have chosen to adopt the hippie lifestyle--though many have retained its core values of peace, love, and self-sufficiency.
I recommend Wild Child to anyone with a vested interest in hippiedom-for instance, parents seeking validation for their child-rearing methods. It's also a fine antidote to hippie-bashing, considered sophisticated now even by those who once embraced the lifestyle. The truth is, it was a brilliant and optimistic moment in history. If it didn't transform the world completely, well, it did affect future generations-as Wild Child eloquently testifies.
Honest.......2001-10-10
This book was excellent, on the topic of family, friends and lovers. I loved it and had a hard time sleeping!
Honest.......2001-10-10
This book was excellent, on the topic of family, friends and lovers. I loved it and had a hard time sleeping!
Book Description
Wild Child explains the symptoms, thinking patterns, and behavior of children and adolescents with ADD (attention deficit disorder), in terms that are understandable by parents and grandparents, yet relevant to the professionals who deal with these children. It outlines specific strategies that adults can use to cope with a vast array of behavior, hyperactivity, and inattention problems experienced by children with ADD.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent guide to helping a child.......2001-08-10
Parents of children with attention and behavioral disorders will find Wild Child an excellent guide to helping a child, from building an understanding of such disorders to handling problems with family members and helping kids take control of their lives. Checklists, charts and keys to understanding make for an excellent self-help guide.
ADD in the Classroom, a teachers perspective.......2001-06-16
I was extremely excited when a teacher collegue of mine introduced me to this book. I have had many ADD and ADHD children in my class and have always struggled with them. I read this book with much enthusiasm looking for help all the way. I realized that my behavior towards these children was hindering them from growing, I have learned I need to be a better communicator with the parents and child about my expectation and set up a program that will help the child to meet our goals. Most importantly I have learned I need to be CALM with these children and model the behavior I expect from them. I have learned so much from this book. I look forward to trying these techniques in my classroom next year.
First Grade Teacher Brookvale El. School, Fremont, California
Average customer rating:
- lenses into vanished societies
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Encounters With Wild Children: Temptation And Disappointment in the Study of Human Nature
Adriana S. Benzaquen
Manufacturer: McGill-Queen's University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Children's Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books | Child Abuse | Divorce | Dysfunctional Relationships | Fatherhood | General | Grandparenting | Motherhood | Parent & Adult Child | Siblings | Stepparenting & Blended Families | Twins & Multiples
General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Child | Psychiatry | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0773529721 |
Book Description
Since the early seventeenth century, stories of encounters with strange children in unusual circumstances have been recorded, circulated, and reproduced in Europe and North America not simply as myths, legends, or good tabloid copy but as occurrences deserving serious scrutiny by philosophers and scientists. "Wild children" were seen as privileged objects of knowledge, believed to hold answers to fundamental questions about the boundaries of the human, the character and significance of civilization, and the relation between nature and culture, heredity and environment. Through detailed readings of a wide variety of accounts, debates, and representations, Encounters with Wild Children explores the many different meanings these children were given and the varied responses they elicited. Adriana Benzaquén explains why wild children continue to haunt and fascinate Western scientists and shows how the knowledge they have generated in different disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, psychiatry, pedagogy, linguistics, and sociology, has contributed to the shaping and reshaping of the modern understanding of "the child" and affected the social and institutional practices directed at all children in schools, welfare, mental health, and the law.
Customer Reviews:
lenses into vanished societies.......2007-06-11
How real were the wild children of history? The book looks at centuries of European folklore, that claim to have had instances of wild children abandoned in the wilderness, and perhaps raised by animals. The archetypal example is of course Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome. Little credence is given to that tale.
But the book's bulk is closer in time. From medieval times onwards. The so-called Peter of Hanover and the wild girl of Songi are two such examples. Several others are also presented. Forget the stuff about the wild animals raising the kids. Most or perhaps all of these children can be seen as tragic cases of abandoned children or runaways. Who somehow retained enough wits to survive in a hand to mouth existence. What the examples do is let the author analyse not so much the children themselves, but the societies that rescued them. And the subsequent efforts to educate and assimilate the kids. All this in days when there were no social sciences.
So the surviving tracts about the wild children are lens into societies that are now vanished. In some ways, the societies are as strange and lost to us as the children they tried to raise.
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