Amazon.com Exclusive

A Letter from Brian Selznick Dear readers, When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I'm an illustrator myself, I've often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities. My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things. I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn't until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born. A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work. Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Yours, Brian Selznick

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Amazon.com Exclusive

Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully! --Brian Selznick

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More from Brian Selznick

The Houdini Box

Walt Whitman: Words for America

The Boy of a Thousand Faces

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Customer Reviews:

The type of book you want your kids to read!.......2007-10-08

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about an independent, intelligent young boy who maintains the clocks in a train station. Inheriting the job from his deadbeat uncle, Hugo lives within the walls of the station and must deal with the daily struggle of taking care of himself without any money. While he isn't working he obsesses over an automaton that his father had once worked on. Throughout the novel he strives to make it work again, hoping it will connect him to his dead father. Along the way he makes a new friend and learns that it is okay to depend on others for help.

What really makes this book unique are the hundreds of illustrations that are wonderfully drawn by Selznick. They actually take the place of words, they don't just illustrate what you have read. They are not meant to be skimmed over, but analyzed and appreciated.

This novel is the type of book you want your kids to read; it is well written, teaches lessons, presents strong characters and has a unique story.

Great Book for Boys.......2007-10-07

My 11-year-old son read this book in 2 days. He absolutely loved it, both the illustrations and the writing. "I liked the way the pictures told the story," he said. He wants to read more Brian Selznick now. Great books for boys don't grow on trees; this is a real winner.

Wonderful Blend of Pictures and Words.......2007-10-05

This was just an incredible book. A wonderful mix of pictures and words, it is fifty per cent graphic novel and fifty percent prose. An intriguing mystery set in Paris, certain to be enjoyed by readers both young and old.
It flows quickly - you will get much more out of it if you take your time with the pictures particularly. The detail in some of the scenes is well worth the time.
The characters are believable - youngsters forced to be older than their years in some cases, but still children at heart.
I was amazed to read the author notes at the end, about how much was based on actual creations.
Definitely an interesting, and recommended, read.

Unexpectedly Educational.......2007-09-30

Although it doesn't come across as a historical fiction piece, that's exactly what this book is. Much like the film Amadeus, The Invention of Hugo Cabret uses real life historical people to create an exaggerated (if not downright false) interpretive biography.

Works of this particular genre contain a strange mixture of true and false elements, and are actually good tools for teaching. True, they may lead to some initial misconceptions, but adequate research after the reading can clear these misconceptions up in a hurry. I wouldn't make a big deal out of a minor conception though, if in turn you get a wondrous discovery to go along with it.

From this book I learned that intricate machines were being invented long before computers and television. Robots that could draw and write as far back as perhaps the 18th century. Amazing. Why aren't we taught things like this in school? Probably because the textbooks that are issued make people of the past look like complete dimwits when that really isn't the case.

The revelation of the existence of ancient robots alone is enough for me to give this book a high amount of praise. But the artistry in the book brings it to another level. So much work went into the dozens and dozens of beautiful pencil illustrations that you'd have to be a complete jerk to not give Selznick at least a little respect for his efforts.

Often I have to read five or six unexciting books before I get to one that really makes me say, "Wow!" This is a "Wow!" book, and makes a fitting addition to any library. The risk of constructing it in such an unusual style has greatly paid off. Books like this are the reason I read.

I know I'm not the first one to say this, but this might be the book of the future we're looking at here.

wonderful fresh story.......2007-09-27

I originally bought this book for my husband and son to read. They enjoyed it so much that I had to read it myself. What a lovely story. The illustrations were outstanding and placed perfectly within the story. I went strictly off of the description from Amazon and the one picture that they showed. I was so impressed with the drawing and the idea of them being inside the book that I just knew it would be worth having. What a pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Selznick.

Average customer rating: Easy to understand / user-friendly Signing with babies works Signing is cool -- don't need the video though Too much marketing, Not enough vocab. Best Baby Sign Language program

SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: US DVD Version, Book, Training Video (DVD), Quick Reference Guide Joseph Garcia Manufacturer: Northlight Communications ProductGroup: Book Binding: Misc. Supplies Infants | Babies & Toddlers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books Sign Language | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books Educational | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Citizenship | Crafts & Hobbies | Curriculum Supplements | Explore the World | Holidays & Festivals | Internet | Multilingual | Reference & Nonfiction | Series | Sports & Activities | Study Aids All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books Children's Books | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books Parenting & Families | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books Similar Items: Pick Me Up! Fun Songs for Learning Signs Sign Babies ASL Flash Cards, Set One: First Words Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, New Edition The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night What's Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life Accessories: Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer ASIN: 1932354018 Release Date: 2005-03-29

Product Description

Birth - 18 months. A straight-forward and light-hearted approach to teaching infants how to communicate using simple American Sign Language (ASL) signs.

Amazon.com

Sign with Your Baby Complete Learning Kit will enable you to communicate at new levels with your baby long before she can speak. This comprehensive package of book, video, and reference guide shows how simple gestures can communicate ideas like "I'm hungry" or "help me." Caregivers grasp baby's needs immediately rather than learn through trial and error. Dr. Joseph Garcia has designed the system so it's not necessary to learn an entire new language, although it also provides a terrific start in American Sign Language for a hearing-impaired child. A fascinating introduction delves into the development of language in children and uses informative line drawings to demonstrate over 150 hand signs for all kinds of actions and nouns. The accompanying video provides practical tips for getting started, some insight into the hows and whys of this method from Dr. Burton White (director of the Center for Parent Education), and inspiring sights of young babies signing effectively with their caregivers. The laminated quick-reference guide lists some of the most common words in any parent's day: cookie, no, and up are but a few. Garcia's clear, concise methods make learning a breeze, and caregivers gain outstanding new abilities to give the best possible care for the babies entrusted to them. --Jill Lightner

Customer Reviews:

Easy to understand / user-friendly.......2007-10-11

This set has many forms of materials included - the quick-view card helpful for babysitters and grandparents, the DVD to fully explain the theory behind sign-language as well as properly demonstrate the motions of sign-language, and a book which covers many of the same points on theory of sign-language as the DVD. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and after only 1 showing we both picked up many signs to be able to use with our little one.

Signing with babies works.......2007-09-10

We bought Garcia's DVD for our grandson at about 4 months of age. Signs helped him express his needs and even feelings with a minimum of fussing. He is now almost 3 and very verbal & advanced. It may be that he's just a great kid, but we believe signing with babies really works.

Signing is cool -- don't need the video though.......2007-07-08

I like the sign language. It was pretty great when our 9 month old told me he wanted milk the first time! I don't think you need the video though. You can just start repeating certain signs on your own. Just repeat them a lot and be consistent.

The problem we had is that we couldn't get our daycare providers to use the signs. So it seemed like any progress we made got undone by them. He would use the signs with them but they wouldn't recognize it. I can only imagine how that must have been frustrating and confusing for him. So make sure everyone around him is going to use the signs before you start teaching them.

Too much marketing, Not enough vocab........2007-05-26

I started at 7 months, he picked up the first sign at about 10 months, and the rest came around 1 yr. The video/book combination is good because the video shows you the signs and the book is handy for a quick reference.

Drawbacks:
1. I felt like much of the video was still trying to sell me on the idea of doing sign with my baby. It could focus less on marketing and present the information more efficiently.
2. The sign vocabulary is limited to the first stage of sign language learning only. It could be improved by including more vocabulary.

Best Baby Sign Language program.......2007-05-14

I have compared this program with other sign language programs, and it seems to be the best one I have come across so far. At one point, I taught another baby sign language course, whose name I will not mention. The program's signs did not always come close to actual sign language, which I found was offensive to the deaf community. Joseph Garcia's program follows actual signs from ASL, and the program is easy enough to learn if you are willing to put the time and effort into it. I would definitely recommend this baby sign language program for other mothers - the resources are varied - book, DVD, quick reference guide - it's the best out there!!

Average customer rating: If you're a mom, this will make you cry Beautiful A Mother's Storybook Wish for Her Child touching, to say the least made me cry

Someday Alison McGhee Manufacturer: Atheneum ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Family Life | People & Places | 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 McGhee, Alison | ( M ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Similar Items: I Will Hold You 'til You Sleep On the Night You Were Born Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy) Pinkalicious Not a Box ASIN: 1416928111

Book Description

A mother's love leads to a mother's dream -- every mother's dream -- for her child to live life to its fullest.

A deceptively simple, powerful ode to the potential of love and the potential in life, Someday is the book you'll want to share with someone else...today. The perfect gift for Mother's Day, Graduation Day or Any Day - share a copy with every special person in your life.

Customer Reviews:

If you're a mom, this will make you cry.......2007-10-10

Touching book about being a mom. I've gotten it for my mom friends as a gift, and they all found it very touching. It's geared toward mom/daughter, but the message is sentimental. Cry everytime I read it. Love this book.

Beautiful.......2007-10-10

I absolutely love this book and cry or get emotional almost every time I read it. I have purchased it as a baby book for every woman I know who has recently had a baby girl. Each one of them feels the same for it. It is a treasure.

A Mother's Storybook Wish for Her Child.......2007-10-04

SOMEDAY is a mother's heartfelt storybook wish for her child -- that her child will grow up healthy, experience great joys, and someday have a family of her own. It's also a wish that she will be lovingly remembered by her child ("Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun. And when that day comes, love, you will remember be.") The book is reminiscent of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever, but the storyline is simpler and more realistic. The illustrations complement the story beautifully. Highly recommended.

touching, to say the least.......2007-09-21

This book brings me to tears at the very thought of it. I got about 1/2 way through the darling pictures and wonderful, sweet words and the tears started. By the time I finished I was a mess. I'm sure it will touch every mother who reads it-it is definitely a book for a baby girl or daughter since the pictures depict a mother/daughter relationship.It's about the simple memories we make with our children that mean more than anything. It's also about the dreams we hold for them. I now have a FAVORITE new book, one that will definitely be bought for others as well. Don't miss this one!

made me cry.......2007-09-17

Takes you through birth-college-grandchildren-old age within a small book. As they say, kids grow up in the blink of an eye. Good for a pre-teen gift from mom to daugther. Very touching, probably how most moms feel about their daugthers.

Average customer rating: Great series! Falling Flat. Physik - A Great Read for Septimus Heap Lovers! Keep Septimus Coming! Physik - Septimus Heap book 3

Physik (Septimus Heap, Book 3) Angie Sage Manufacturer: Katherine Tegen Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Similar Items: Flyte (Septimus Heap, Book 2) Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk CD (Septimus Heap) The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) Cobra King Of Kathmandu (Children Of The Lamp) The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5) ASIN: 0060577371 Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

When Silas Heap unSeals a forgotten room in the Palace, he releases the ghost of a Queen who lived five hundred years earlier. Queen Etheldredda is as awful in death as she was in life, and she's still up to no good. Her diabolical plan to give herself everlasting life requires Jenna's compliance, Septimus's disappearance, and the talents of her son, Marcellus Pye, a famous Alchemist and Physician. And if Queen Etheldredda's plot involves Jenna and Septimus, then it will surely involve Nicko, Alther Mella, Marcia Overstrand, Beetle, Stanley, Sarah, Silas, Spit Fyre, Aunt Zelda, and all of the other wacky, wonderful characters that made magyk and flyte so memorable.

With heart-stopping action and a dash of humor, Angie Sage continues the fantastical journey of Septimus Heap.

Customer Reviews:

Great series!.......2007-09-28

Get Magyk and Flyte (Books one and two) Then get this one! Fun and interesting series. Bought them for my daughter but I enjoyed them too.

Falling Flat........2007-09-24

NOTE: I did not like this book, so if you are a die-hard fan of Sage and the sieris i suggest hiding this review.

After captivating you with her last two books. Sage's attempt at a story is laughable.

The writing style that gripped her readers in Flyte and Magick does not appear in Physic. The people seemed to have lost their flames and senses of humors, Snorri and the Queen have no death to either of them. Each has a chapter devoted to them but they are loosely explained and the chapters tell nothing.

Worser still is the fact that most of the Heap family is not even int he book. lovable Silas Heap and Motherly Sarah heap are in the background, the book does not seem complete and the series looks unprofessional.

The plot is confusing and always makes you re read passages and wonder what is going on. The word choice is good but overly done, there is none of the simplicity that was so endearing about Magyk and Flyte.

The book is a real put downer. After Sage's steller novels you would expect something a little more high class and gripping. For fans of the siearies, I suggest pretending that this book did not exist. It si a dissaponment to her fans.

I sincerely hope that Sage recaptures the magyk in next novel.

Physik - A Great Read for Septimus Heap Lovers!.......2007-08-24

This was by far the best of the Septimus Heap series! If you have read Magyk and Flyte then you must read Physik! The plot is very in depth and exciting and new characters are introduced that you will come to love as much as Jenna and Septimus. What a wonderful book and hopefully there will be another in the series!

Keep Septimus Coming!.......2007-06-27

I am a school teacher and my students were all reading the Septimus Heap series of books. I decided to read them as well, and they are FANTASTIC! I was disappointed that Physik was the last of the series(so far), I want to keep reading about him!

Physik - Septimus Heap book 3.......2007-06-08

Angie Sage did a wonderful job continuing the Saptimus Heap story. A quick read, antertaining and very enjoyable.

Average customer rating: book "Fancy Nancy" Great Read Great children's book A very "fancy" book I love it

Fancy Nancy Jane O'connor Manufacturer: HarperCollins ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Fiction | Manners | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Fiction | Girls & Women | 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 Similar Items: Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy) Pinkalicious Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Owen & Mzee: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ASIN: 0060542098 Release Date: 2005-12-13

Book Description

Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy.

How Nancy transforms her parents and little sister for one enchanted evening makes for a story that is funny and warm -- with or without the frills.

Customer Reviews:

book "Fancy Nancy".......2007-10-02

WOW - the book came in just a few days. Great service. The book was in good shape and packaged well. THANK YOU!

Great Read.......2007-10-01

My 3 year old absolutely loves this book. The first time we checked it out from the library I didn't really think she cared for it much. But, then I happened to order it for one of her little friend's birthday and she was sooo excited! She ran around saying, "it's Fancy Nancy mommy!" It took some convincing to be able to wrap it up for her little friend. Everybody needs a little "fancy" in their life.

Great children's book.......2007-09-30

I bought this book for my four year old grandaughter and it is now her favorite book. We are now going to have a 'fancy' party at a local restaurant just like Fancy Nancy did. Well written with nice illustrations.

A very "fancy" book.......2007-09-26

I purchased two of the Fancy Nancy series for my 5 year old granddaughter - she loves them! When the book arrived, along with it's counterpart "Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy", she couldn't wait for us to read them together. She loved the story and the illustrations, and was attracted to the "girly" colors and the "before" and "after" drawings of Fancy's Nancy's bedroom! I think my granddaughter may be a "fancy" girl at heart!

I love it.......2007-09-16

I love this book. I don't know who loves it more. Me or my 2 and 4-year old daughters

Average customer rating: A Child Called "It" review Will make you cry, a must read I couldnt put the book down Dave Pelzer is one courageous guy h-oookay.....

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive Dave Pelzer Manufacturer: HCI ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books Special Needs | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Social Services & Welfare | Poverty | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books Abuse | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books Dysfunctional Relationships | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books Similar Items: The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager's Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship A Brother's Journey : Surviving a Childhood of Abuse Ghost Girl: The True Story of a Child in Peril and the Teacher Who Saved Her Accessories: Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer ASIN: 1558743669

Amazon.com

David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel, The Lost Boy, detailing his life in the foster-care system.

Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love, and Pelzer is an expert witness.

Book Description

This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it." Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

Customer Reviews:

A Child Called "It" review.......2007-10-01

A Child Called "It" is an amazing book about the struggles of a young boy and his abusive mother. Though this book was disturbing and cruel, I thought it was very well written and the author had a great writting style. I thought some of the most disturbing parts were when David would be burned on the stove or locked in the bathroom for gas chamber sessions. I also hated that some of his greatest memories were at his favorite vacation spot and his mother ruined those for him. I think it is important that Dave let out his feelings and experiences in this book. I hope that he has found a way to move on with his life and not let the past ruin his present and future life.

Will make you cry, a must read.......2007-10-01

A Child Called it is and insperational true story about a young boy named David Pelzer being physically abused in his own home by his own Mother. The book shows how David made his way through life dealing with his horrific mother. He keeps his motivation through being drown, being burned, beat, forced to eat the contents out of a babies diaper, and countless other things while fighting for food in order to avoid starvation. He eats food out of trash cans, steals from students, and eats out of freezers in order to survive. This child's life was a living hell, but ahd the dedication to make his way through it with courage and bravery. This story is a must read that will bring you to tears and keep you motivated

I couldnt put the book down.......2007-09-27

I could not put this book down I read it in an hour and a half without stopping for anything. This story although so heart breaking needed to be told.. For the man who wrote this telling book 5 STARS and for the book aswell

Dave Pelzer is one courageous guy.......2007-09-24

I really have to speak up here. This review is for anyone who might be tempted to think that Dave made this stuff up. I am relatively sure it's all true because my childhood was similar to his.

Child abuse by parents really only came out of the closet, so to speak, in the 1990s. The myth was, and is, that ALL adult females are ALWAYS motherly. We now know that mothering is a learned skill, and is NOT instinctual in humans.

Take the story of Cinderella. It is too grotesque to think that a biological mother could be evil to a child, therefore the mother-figure is downgraded to "stepmother." For anyone who has been abused by one's mother such as myself, it is patently clear that this story is not about a stepmother -- it's about a biological mother. European culture could not face that a biological mother could betray her girl-child as in the story.

My experience of my biological mother (whom I call "anti-motter") was not unlike Dave's, only having occurred ten years earlier and in upstate New York. When I was about 18 months' old, she picked me up out of my crib and smashed me into a wall. I shouldn't be alive. By the early 1990s, these memories came flooding into consciousness. She never 'fessed up. If I did some small infraction like didn't finish my veggies, my anti-motter sent me to the cellar for 3-6 hours, and it was one scary cellar with its cold dirt floor, damp sump corner, and spiders. While other kids were out learning social skills by playing with other kids, I was forced to spend Saturdays scrubbing floors, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, starting in 5th grade.

There were no protections back then for kids. Abuse was not seen as abusive, and people in schools, libraries, neighbors, extended family did not put two and two together, and certainly did not "out" it. As the saying goes, when abuse was seen, people "minded their own business," and it just wasn't respectable to INTERFERE with other families' child-rearing techniques, and it was perceived as interference. Spanking was common. Until World War II, beatings were typical. Society in general thought nothing of treating kids harshly and without compassion. Child abuse was not on the map at all as a possibility. The "caregiver" (that is, abusive parent) could quite literally get away with murder. If a toddler fell downstairs breaking her neck and died, it was not investigated -- it was assumed to be "a terrible accident."

Anyone who doubts Dave's accounts and experiences has not been what I went through living with a brutal biological mother in the 1960s. A person could not think this stuff up if it were not true. Dave Pelzer does not seek attention -- he wants people to listen up and prevent it from happening to other kids. And it *will* happen to other kids unless we know the signs and risk stepping in as powerful adults. So just learn from Dave's many side-tales, and become aware.

Females are no more "motherly" than a rock unless they had nurturing females who treated them with dignity and kindness growing up. My anti-motter was herself battered as a child, never recovered from it, and did pass it on to her kids. Thank God neither my brother nor I had kids because we likely would have passed the hatred to the next generation. Not having kids was the only way we knew how to "break the chain of violence." Some lineages deserve to die out.

Dave Pelzer is a life-saver. He has said what I had not the courage or awareness to. He is an amazing fellow for bringing his stories into the light of day. He deserves respect, not ridicule. He is hero. If I were Catholic, he'd be a saint.

h-oookay............2007-09-23

All these five star reviews and the apparently wet faces of the readers was an impetus for me to seize the book and read it the first chance I got. I'm a sucker for tear-shedding novels, so you could understand my excitement and my all-too-ready sorrow for this "non-fictitious" little boy. Unfortunately, for my great regret, for both the work and my wasted time, what I read from that book was not at all what I expected. From the first page the story just barfed at me "I'm fabricated, synthetic as can be." The whole story has no point whatsoever, except that of morbid, preposterous describtions of events that we can't even prove to be true. Even if it were true, why would the author write about something like that? Who is he writing to anyway? What kind of helpful message is THAT to anyone? A story about falling off your bicycle & breaking your arm and learning a lesson about caution and attentiveness is more practical and useful than this piece of dross.
I could never undestand why some particular people's minds function the way they do. If you really want to read stories about survival, skip this one and read actually a book from this world, that can actually be put to use, starting from The Diary of Anne Frank.

Average customer rating: Not all that. Good resource 10 Star Resource Great information, Easy to read, Well organized 5 star easy! Highly recommended for its priceless content!

Win Your Child Custody War: Child Custody Help Source Book--A How-To System for People Serious About the Welfare of Their Child (11th Edition) Charlotte Hardwick Manufacturer: Pale Horse Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Children | Family & Health Law | Law | Subjects | Books Divorce & Separation | Family & Health Law | Law | Subjects | Books General | Counseling | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books Similar Items: Child Custody A to Z: Winning with Evidence Winning Custody: A Woman's Guide to Retaining Custody of Her Children Custody for Fathers: A Practical Guide Through the Combat Zone of a Brutal Custody Battle Divorce Poison: Protecting the Parent-Child Bond from a Vindictive Ex Fathers' Rights: Hard-Hitting & Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute ASIN: 1587470845

Book Description

This is an outstanding resource and covers more essential topics than any other.

Customer Reviews:

Not all that........2007-01-28

Well, another hyped up child custody/divorce manual that has been drastically over-rated by a few readers. What caused me to give this book at three star? Well it does have plenty of content. Kind of like when you go to a book store or library. How many of the books in there are you going to want to read? Maybe ten percent of them at best. Well this book will probably have ten percent of which may be possible to use in your court cases, and actually have it become applicable and useful to the reader. Another big problem I had with it was that the suggestions and information that the book was advising were too vague for it's readers,especially those involved in a custody battle. So many things in the book were way too generalized for the reader to be able to know how to precisely use them as effective tools. In essence, kind of when you read a horoscope, it's way too generalized to even know how and what makes this work. Also the book had the usual bias slant and actually gave much more advice to women going through child custody problems than it did fathers. The book seemed to focus more on how to legally screw over the father more by the mother than visa versa. Another drawback to the book is that it is very disorganized. There is really no order to it. It would of helpful if perhaps there were a chronological order to the advice using topics and subtopics relating to how events usually occur in pre/during/post divorce. It basically is a mumble-jumble and conglomeration of patches that were inserted while editing the book that say a lot, but say nothing useful. Authority and precedence is what is needed to be established in a family court. That is what a judge wants. The court cases that are mentioned in the book are relevant to the issue being referenced therein, but rarely apply to a lot of the situations that a father is going through. There are requirements that have to be meet while using a past court case that was established as precedence to be used. The only way to get applicable court cases for precedence is to use state family law books that are found at a law library. This book would be okay for a "quick read" at a bookstore.

Good resource.......2007-01-18

This was a good resource for someone going through custody battles. I would recommend it to anyone, but would also mention the fact that there were more misspelled words, typos, major lack of editing issues than any other book I've ever read. WOW. But, the content makes up for this gross neglect. Still, for the price I paid for this book, I did expect better from the editing...

10 Star Resource.......2006-12-13

Someone gave me a 1994 edition of this book at the start of my divorce and custody dispute. It was a better resource book than anything else at the Baker & Taylor Bookstore. When I found the 11th edition it was double the price of the 3rd edition and quadrupel the information. I am so greatful for the new book and it is again better than anything else available, even on Amazon. I read it for the information and because it is interesting. I appreciate seeing examples of reports and studies before I have to face them myself. Win Your Child Custody War, also helps me keep a healthy prespective on what is going on in my life because I can see what others have dealt with. I have used the letters and examples and they really made a positive difference. A great living, breathing piece of work and an outstanding reference!

Great information, Easy to read, Well organized.......2006-04-28

Remarkable. Because each case is so different it would be useless to present this information in any other form.

5 star easy! Highly recommended for its priceless content!.......2006-03-31

I wish someone would have recommended this book at the start of my divorce and custody dispute. This book is by far the best resource book for custody disputes and surviving a divorce. At first glance one would think that it is a bit expensive. However, once you receive it you will be thankful that you did. You could combine numerous other books in this genre and they would not compare to this single book. This book goes in depth without losing the reader. You will find yourself referencing it throughout your divorce and/or custody dispute. Chapters include: 1) Strategies to win custody 2)False Allegations 3)Evidence documentation 4)Grandparents 5)Hiring a detective 6)Rights during visitation 7)Parental Alienation Syndrome 8) Conflict resolution 9)DNA Testing 10)Case Law and so much more! 640 plus pages. An incredible resource worth every penny! Robert Pedersen founder of www.fatherachildsright.org

Average customer rating: For new baby Good all-around baby book Don't Like the Message Family favorite Wonderful - this really is a very good book

Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney Manufacturer: Candlewick ProductGroup: Book Binding: Board book Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Guess How Much I Love You | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Fiction | Rabbits | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Classics by Age | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Family Life | People & Places | 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 Jeram, Anita | ( J ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Fiction | Rabbits | Animals | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books ( J ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books Classics by Age | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books General | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books Fiction | Parents | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books Fiction | Emotions & Feelings | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books Similar Items: Goodnight Moon The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The Runaway Bunny Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book ASIN: 076360013X Release Date: 1996-03-06

Amazon.com

All children want reassurance that their parents' love runs wide and deep. In Guess How Much I Love You, a young rabbit named Little Nutbrown Hare thinks he's found a way to measure the boundaries of love. In a heartwarming twist on the "I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better" theme, Little Nutbrown Hare goes through a series of declarations regarding the breadth of his love for Big Nutbrown Hare. But even when his feelings stretch as long as his arms, or as high as his hops, Little Nutbrown Hare is fondly one-upped by the elder rabbit's more expansive love.

Anita Jeram's illustrations are bound to elicit an "aw" from even the sternest of readers; these loving rabbits are expressive, endearing, and never cloying. In turn, Sam McBratney tells a simple bedtime story of sweet familial love with humor, insight, and a delightful surprise at the end. Children and parents will love snuggling up for this one--a treat to be read again and again, just before the lights are turned out. (Click to see a sample spread. Text © 1994 by Sam McBratney. Illustrations © 1994 by Anita Jeram. Permission from Candlewick Press.) (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

The American Booksellers Book of the Year nominee is available as a sturdy board book for the youngest of children. Little Nutbrown Hare wants to show Big Nutbrown Hare how very much he loves him - but love as big as his is very hard to measure!

Customer Reviews:

For new baby.......2007-09-22

The first time I heard of this book was in my childbirth class. I loved it so much I had to buy it. I'm hoping it will become one of my baby's favorite books.

Good all-around baby book.......2007-09-19

I bought this baby book based on the reviews and the fact that Guess How Much I Love You is one of my favorite children's books. The book does a nice job of asking enough questions to make a complete record for your baby without being overly burdensome. Some of the other books I looked at seriously asked what the weather was on the day you found out your were pregnant. Seriously, who would care about that? This baby book also gives great suggestions for a few pictures which is helpful--like the place to put a picture of you pregnant. I am very pleased.

Don't Like the Message.......2007-09-15

I know many people love this book. I don't know why. We received one as a gift, and after reading it to my daughter, I was disturbed by the story. I felt sorry for the bunny whose parent invalidated his expression of love on each page. As many other reviewers said, it was a competition the adult wouldn't let the child win. This book contains a mean-spirited, misguided, sad, and disturbing message.

Family favorite.......2007-08-01

"Guess how much I love you" is a classic. The story is a simple dialog between a big rabbit (the parent) and a little rabbit (the baby), each professing and comparing the depth & "height" of their love for each other. We read this book almost every day to our infant daughter. She loves the watercolor illustrations & coos at the pictures. A lovely addition to a kid' book collection.

Wonderful - this really is a very good book.......2007-07-24

This is a fabulous book for little children and the grownups who read to them. When children are read to daily, they learn to love reading. Perfect bedtime stories, to calm everyone down and make us ready for sweet dreams. If you can find the LARGE size book get it- they're fabulous keepsakes. Perfect gifts for any child, and a perfect tradition in your own home and family!

Average customer rating: Disappointed in shipping condition... Haven't seen it yet A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13 Unfortunate Events Best Books Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13) Lemony Snicket Manufacturer: HarperCollins ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Orphans & Foster Homes | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Snicket, Lemony | ( S ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Series of Unfortunate Events | Fantasy & Adventure | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books Snicket, Lemony | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books Literature | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books People & Places | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books Series | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books Teens | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books Similar Items: The Beatrice Letters (A Series of Unfortunate Events) Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography (A Series of Unfortunate Events) The Puzzling Puzzles: Bothersome Games Which Will Bother Some People (A Series of Unfortunate Events Activity Book) The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition) ASIN: 0061119067 Release Date: 2006-10-13

Book Description

Some boxes should never be opened.

For the first time, the complete A Series of Unfortunate Events – including the highly feared #13: The End – is available in one awful package!

We can't keep you from succumbing to this international bestselling phenomenon, but we can hide all thirteen books in a huge, elaborately illustrated, shrink–wrapped box, perfect for filling an empty shelf or deep hole.

From The Bad Beginning to The End, this box set, adorned with Brett Helquist art from front to back, is the only choice for people who simply cannot get enough of a bad thing!

Ages 10+

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed in shipping condition..........2007-10-08

I have purchased many items from Amazon and this is the first complaint. We bought this very expensive book set for our grandson as a birthday gift. The 13 books came in its own display box which was severly damaged in shipment. His Birthday was this weekend and had to give the gift before retuning it. For the price of books and not even free shipping they should have been packaged more securely.

Haven't seen it yet.......2007-09-12

I purchased this product for my granddaughter for Christmas, so of course I haven't seen it. However the service from Amazon was great. From ordering to reciving this product we've had great service

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13.......2007-07-24

I think the series of unfortunate event is really good because the author tell the story in a fun way, unlike other stories, this book is really exciting. When I finish a chapter, I want to keep reading on because I wanted to know the ending quickly. I really like the character - violet on this story, she is really smart and calm all the times. I think the ending is really cool because it did not exactly tell us what happen, it leave us space for us to think

Unfortunate Events.......2007-06-13

A series of unfortunate events book one, by Limonene snicket


Have you ever been in a foster home? Have you ever experienced deaths like your mom or dad? This story is about three kids, violet, klaws, and sunny. Violet is the one how likes to invent things. Klaus is the one who is hand with words. Sunny is just good at biting. Then their uncle who is after their fortune their parents left them. He is very mean and will mar4ry violet for her money. If she doesn't sine sunny dies. Will she sine or not read the book and find out.

I liked the book because it is entertaining and because you never know what will happen next. Also because it is full of mystery. Last because there is always an answer for your question. I hope you read the book "A series of unfortunate event book one."

Best Books Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-02

I have read a lot in my ten years of life,but out of all those books,A Series Of Unfortunate Events have been the best. Some of it is funny, some of it is scary, and some of it is a little weird. If you mix that all together, you get 13 wonderful books. I wouldn't reccomend it for kids under 10 though, because like I said it is scary, although it's not always as scary as Lemony Snicket says it is. Some of it is a little violent, actually. Other than that they are great books. Oh, and people have been complaining about how some of the pages are uneven. That is how they are supposed to be! The End still leaves you with some questions, but when you find out the answer to a question your like, "O MY GOSH! VFD!"! And some times Lemony Snicket does something very unexpected, like in the 6th book when Esme Squalor pushes them down the dark elevator shaft, the next 2 pages were nothing but black, which was very scary because then I was reading in the car at night with no light but my book light. There are 2 reasons I am going to stop now. Reason #1: That is pretty much all you need to know, and Reasom #2 My hands ache from typing for 20 minutes strait. BYE BYE AND HAPPY READING!! :)

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5. Healing Anxiety and Depression
6. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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