Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)

Book Description

"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addie he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.

Customer Reviews:

Great for philosophy enthusiasts of any age (and anyone who likes big pandas).......2007-09-22

Zen Shorts is a picture book written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. But it's also a short story collection. And it's also a philosophy book. And it has a giant panda. Oh, and it is a Caldecott Honor book too.

The story starts when siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl meet Stillwater, a large Panda who wanders into their backyard to retrieve his umbrella. I love the opening scenes of the story. Karl, the youngest sibling, is looking out a window and telling Michael he sees a huge bear. Eventually all of the kids go out and say hello to Stillwater. Addy introduces Karl, who is "shy around bears he doesn't know." I find that phrase so enchanting. This kind of charm continues throughout the book.

The next day Addy meets Stillwater for tea. Then Michael and Stillwater hang out. Then Karl goes swimming with Stillwater.

Each outing is accompanied by an appropriate short story. The first is about a man (panda) who gives a gift to a robber. Another is about a man who knows that luck is a many-faceted thing. The final story is about a monk carrying an unnecessary burden. I'll never explain the stories as well as Muth tells them, so you should just read the book.

The illustrations of Stillwater and the children are beautifully rendered watercolors. The coloring is subtle with quite intricate line work for the drawings. The stories between the "real" story are printed on pastel backgrounds and illustrated with silhouettes so that they have a clearly different look from the rest of the book.

When you're finished you should also check out the afterward which explains the underlying philosophy for each story. (Muth has a lot of Buddhist/Taoist influences.)

This is a great book to read with older children because even if they don't get the philosophy, the stories are approachable and they'll get something from it. (Even youngsters will enjoy the pictures.) It's a great introduction to philosophy, a fact that becomes clear after reading the afterward, for "students" of any age. Muth does an admirable job creating a picture book that children and grownups can enjoy together.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!.......2007-09-19

this book has it all, great watercolor paintings (i am a classically trained artist so this is important to me), great story, and meaningfull messages. i read this to my two year old daughter who is a book fanatic and can sit quietly for more than an hour and listen to long stories. for those of you with very small kids who may just be begging to read longer stories hear is some advice 1.don't give up if your child does not sit through the whole book the first time you read it small children, like my daughter, like farmiliar things and sometimes it just takes a few passes for them to reconize and chose a certain story, 2.don't chose to read a book when your child is bubbling over with energy, and 3.with longer stories it can also help to use a lot of inflection and tone to create intrest before your little one starts turning the page. this book is moderate in wording, not super long but not as simple as short verses or ryming stories. this book has a certain eligance to it that reflectes its message. it is just beautiful.

Gentle way to raise issues w/ kids.......2007-09-18

I like to treat my kids with respect and gentleness. Books that help me are a treasure. Jon Muth is a regular source of those kinds of books. Zen Shorts is not overdone or watered down. It is simple and beautiful and useful. It makes great literature more accessible to young folks. It helps parents and kids trying to live a more mindful or aware life.

A review by a five year old.......2007-09-15

My son Tyler says:

"This book is really great. From this book I learned about friendship and kindness, even though I'm already a kind boy. And I learned that good luck and bad luck are all mixed up. Please buy this book for your child. Bye."

Beutiful Zen Moments.......2007-09-13

Finally a children's book that not only entertains but also make the child (at least my son) raise questions and discuss. I picked up the book on a wimp from the return cart in the bookstore and I have enjoyed reading it with my son ever since. We are waiting anxiously for the next Zen book from Jon Muth.

Why Can't We Get Along?: Healing Adult Sibling Relationships

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Why Can't We Get Along

Why Can't We Get Along?: Healing Adult Sibling Relationships
Peter Goldenthal
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471388424

Book Description

Praise for Peter Goldenthals previous books:

"[Dr. Goldenthals] techniques...are presented with insight and clarity. This is a unique and valuable book." —William B. Carey, M.D., Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

"Peter Goldenthal gives us new insights.... This is a must-read book." —Myrna Shure, Ph.D., author of Raising a Thinking Child

Hasnt it gone on long enoughÂ-the rivalry, the jealousy, the pent-up anger, and the grudges rooted in the past? In this book, renowned author and family psychologist Peter Goldenthal offers proven prescriptions for brothers and sisters who want to break through old, destructive patterns and create a richer, more loving, and more rewarding relationship with their adult siblings.

Using dramatic case histories drawn from his own clinical practice, Dr. Goldenthal helps you understand why adult siblings fight. Warmly and insightfully, he presents practical techniques to:

Communicate withÂ-and listen toÂ-your sibling
Free yourself from past resentments
Cope with your siblings selfish or inconsiderate behavior
Support and comfort a sibling who suffers from mood problems
Manage a siblings difficult personality
Help your children avoid sibling problems

Dont let old hurts and destructive behavior patterns overshadow the love you feel for your sibling. Read Why Cant We Get Along? and find the key to establishing warm and loving sibling relationships that will last a lifetime.

Customer Reviews:

Why Can't We Get Along.......2002-04-02

Even adult siblings sometimes can't break long-standing rivalries or anger. Instead of turning your back on the relationship, read this book, and turn a new leaf. The author gives practical communication tips that will free you from the past and allow you to look to a brighter future with your sibling. For anyone looking to improve his or her sibling relationship, don't miss this book.

Maelstrom (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 2)

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Maelstrom (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 2)
Fun Read!
Novel or Serial?
PTB series
Newcomers on Petaybee

Maelstrom (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 2)
Anne Mccaffrey , and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345470044
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Book Description

In Changelings, bestselling authors Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough returned to the sentient planet Petaybee with a story of growth and transformation in the face of deadly new threats. The telepathic, shapeshifting twins Murel and Ronan found that Petaybee had plans for them as well. Now those plans begin to bear fruit with fresh possibilities . . . and dangers.

MAELSTROM

Now that Petaybee is forming a new equatorial island, the planet has agreed to harbor a group of new refugees, workers indentured to the powerful InterGal Corporation. But the mission to collect the immigrants becomes a rescue operation when it is revealed that InterGal is doing nothing to help these survivors of a world devastated by a meteor shower. Murel and Ronan set out to persuade the frightened refugees to come out of hiding, leave their world, and bring along their sacred totem animals, the gifted sea turtles called the Honus. But the twins discover that they’ve taken on more than they expected: The Honus are not the only animals sacred to the refugees. There are also the Manos, intelligent sharks who have lost none of their predatory habits–and who cannot be left behind to die.

When the Manos are released into Petaybee’s waters, a tragic misunderstanding endangers the whole resettlement operation. At the same time, the mysterious sea otters who once rescued the twins’ father are suddenly revealed to be much more than they appear to be.

Now it is up to Ronan and Murel, with the intrepid assistance of their river otter friend Sky, to smooth the waters before a maelstrom of revenge destroys Petaybee’s harmonious way of life.

But even as the twins uncover startling new facts about Petaybee’s past that will change everything they thought they knew about the planet, the forces of InterGal are gathering, preparing to strike. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Maelstrom (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 2).......2007-07-14

It kept up the pace and the story line as book 1 left off. I really enjoyed it and very much look forward to Book 3.

Fun Read!.......2007-06-26

This is the second book following the story of the selkie twins Ronan and Murel. Though I enjoyed Changelings quite a bit more than this story, this was a good sequel that kept the story going and I am now awaiting the third installment due to the cliffhanger ending. You will fall in love with the animals on Petaybee and I believe that is why I keep reading these books about the twins. Sky (an otter) is my favorite character. This book is very well suited for Young Adult readers, but can also be a good, short read for adults. I recommend reading Changelings before you pick up this book. If you enjoy these, you should read the trilogy that started it all starting with 'Powers that Be', they are terrific and I would recommend them to all fantasy lovers!

Novel or Serial?.......2007-05-15

If you don't mind cliffhangers, run, do not walk, to your local sci-fi source and get this book. You'll enjoy it immensely. The Twins of Petaybee are back and they're lots of fun.

Like Changelings (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 1), Maelstrom is well-written, intriguing, and somewhat frustrating if, like me, you prefer stories that end when the book ends. While I enjoyed the continuing adventures of the Petaybee Twins, I strongly recommend that anyone who is considering reading this book, first find Changelings and read that, then plan on reading the next installation of this serial as soon as you can get your hands on it. Better yet, wait until the final installation of this serial comes out and read all of the story without waiting a year or so between books. Eventually, The Twins of Petaybee will make a great omnibus edition.

PTB series.......2007-05-13

Another in Ann McCaffrey's PTB series. Good reading. Good for the heart and soul. If you liked the Pern books, you'll love these PTB series books.

Newcomers on Petaybee.......2007-05-02

Maelstrom (2006) is the second SF novel in the Twins of Petaybee series, following Changelings. In the previous volume, Murel and Ronan barely saved the sacred Honu from Dr. Mabo and then immediately returned to Petaybee. Their father had gone missing and Madame Algemeine shipped a load of helicopters, small submarines and other rescue equipment to search their planet. Ke-ola and the Honu were also coming with them.

Back on Petaybee, the twins soon recovered their father, alive and well, but without any memory of his ordeal. Later, the Petaybeans took Ke-ola and the Honu into the communion cave and there they received a message from the planet. Petaybee wanted to invite Ke-ola, the Honu and their people to come live on the new landmass and the twins have been selected as planetary emissaries.

In this novel, the selkie twins and Sky Otter leave their homeworld to deliver the invitation. On the outward journey, the captain of the Piaf, Johnny Green, arranges for them to learn various ship functions. They never really have time to get bored.

After reaching the Halau system, the Piaf encounters the Intergalactic Enterprises Company Corps carrier George Armstrong Custer, Colonel Zachariah Cally commanding. The Intergal crew orders them to leave, but Marmion uses her rank and reputation -- and an outright lie -- to overrule the order and land on the planet. There they find Ke-ola's hometown deserted and full of craters from meteorites.

Although the situation looks hopeless, the Honu informs them that there are survivors underground. After the surviving villagers and Honus are found, Colonel Cally asserts that there are no more survivors. Yet the Honus guide them to another nearby village where other survivors of the bombardment have also gone underground. But the twins soon discover that this village has Manos -- sharks -- as their aumakuas instead of sea-turtles.

After considerable argument and with some rationing, the Piaf returns with these survivors to Petaybee. Since the spaceport is far from the sea, the Petaybeans make arrangements to transport the Manos -- with their able-bodied people -- to the ocean. Meanwhile, the young and elderly remain aboard the Piaf, but with better meals and other supplies.

In this story, the twins and Sky have another encounter with the sea otters. Then Sky casually mentions that the sea otters have told him that the deep sea otters are still alive, despite indications that a volcano had destroyed their city. Since nobody else knows that these otters exist, the twins decide to warn them about the sharks. Murel and Ronan head out to the new island forming in the sea where the deep sea otter city had been located.

The twins also encounter a number of other creatures in the sea, including a pod of Orcas, some sea seals, and the newly arrived Manos. Murel and the Orcas have a confrontation that isn't entirely one-sided. The sea seals are helpful, but a little domineering until they meet Sean and the Orcas. The Manos are bloodthirsty, but the patriarch is rather afraid of Murel.

This story is the middle book in a trilogy, so the ending leaves the situation hanging. The sentient planet Petaybee displays some of its powers, mostly at the end of the volume. However, one wonders whether the adult Petaybeans are ever going to be able to leave the planet without dying from their planetary induced changes.

Highly recommended for McCaffrey & Scarborough fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of sentient planets, telepathic animals and precocious selkie children.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Magic Tree House #38: Monday with a Mad Genius (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

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No prior familiarity with the series is required to make this a fun, inviting read.
Another great story in the series
Magic Treehouse books continue to inspire
Great Education, Great Book, Too
Great Book!

Magic Tree House #38: Monday with a Mad Genius (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375837299
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Book Description

JACK AND ANNIE are on a mission to save Merlin from his sorrows! Charged with finding the second of four secrets of happiness, the brother-and-sister team travel back in the magic tree house to the period known as the Renaissance. This time, Jack and Annie will need more than a research book and a magic wand. They'll need help from one of the greatest minds of all time. What will they learn from Leonardo da Vinci?

Customer Reviews:

No prior familiarity with the series is required to make this a fun, inviting read........2007-10-07

ary Pope Osborne's MONDAYS WITH A MAD GENIUS offers #38 in the 'Magic Tree House: A Merlin Mission' series. Here a mysterious message from Morgan le Fay, magical librarian of Camelot, involves two children the key to helping magician Merlin discovery joy in his life again. First they must journey to the magic tree house for 1500s Italy, and meet Leonardo da Vinci no prior familiarity with the series is required to make this a fun, inviting read.

Another great story in the series.......2007-10-02

My 8-year-old son is a huge fan of Magic Tree House, and this latest book was just as interesting and fun to read as all the other books. This time, Jack and Annie meet Leonardo Da Vinci in old Italy on their mission to find the secret to happiness. Again, Osborne spins historical information into a tale of magic and wonder, which is fun to read for children and are educational just the same. The plot is a bit more simple this time, and it is somewhat lacking the magic that "Christmas in Camelot" and "Summer of the Sea Serpent," but is is well-developed and leaves the reader content - at least my son and I were.

Magic Treehouse books continue to inspire.......2007-10-01

This latest installment in the hugely successful Magic Treehouse series finds Jack and Annie traveling back in time to the Enlightenment period to spend a day helping Leonardo da Vinci. This third installment in the latest four book challenge has Jack and Annie seeking the true meanings of happiness. Once again, Mary Pope Osborne uses her brilliant technique to bring history alive and to explore philosophical ideas. In this story she describes every day life in the 16th century, discusses Leonardo's ideas and challenges in a way that makes him appear very human, and gives a wonderful story for the painting of the Mona Lisa. This is all written at a level my five-year old understands and my ten-year old still enjoys.

Great Education, Great Book, Too.......2007-09-28

My second grader loves this new Magic Tree House book! He read it twice the day he received it. He become so curious about Leonardo Da Vinci that he asked me about him so I dig out one of my art books about Da Vinci and showed him some of his most famous works. The next day he shared this book with his class in the morning sharing time and the class had a good discussion about Leonardo Da Vinci. I can't think of a better way to give a 7 year old such great education! I haven't read this book yet myself but I'm going to read it when his best friend returns it.

Great Book!.......2007-09-22

Great book - my kids love it (ages 7 & 8). This series of books is great!

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Potato Famine
Nory Ryan's Song
Talissa's book review
The English holocaust
A great historical fiction!

Nory Ryan's Song
Patricia Reilly Giff
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440418291
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Amazon.com

Life is hard for poor Irish potato farmers, but 12-year-old Nory Ryan and her family have always scraped by... until one morning, Nory wakes to the foul, rotting smell of diseased potatoes dying in the fields. And just like that, all their hopes for the harvest--for this year and next--are dashed. Hunger sets in quickly. The beaches are stripped of edible seaweed, the shore is emptied of fish, desperate souls even chew on grass for the nourishment. As her community falls apart, Nory scrambles to find food for her family. Meanwhile, the specter of America lurks, where, the word is, no one is ever hungry, and horses carry milk in huge cans down cobblestone streets.

As Patricia Reilly Giff writes in her note to the reader, the Great Hunger of 1845 to 1852 was a tragic time for the Irish. Enough food to feed double the population was sent out across the sea, while an indifferent government ignored the starving masses. More than one million of the eight million people in Ireland died. Nory Ryan's Song, a fictionalized account based on this terrible era in history, describes the heroic struggles of one girl who refuses to give in to hunger, exhaustion, and hopeless circumstances. Young readers may have heard of the Irish Potato Famine, but they won't truly understand it until they meet Nory. Giff is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Newbery Honor Book Lily's Crossing and the Polk Street School series. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Nory Ryan's family has lived on Maidin Bay on the west coast of Ireland for generations, raising a pig and a few chickens, planting potatoes, getting by. Every year Nory's father goes away on a fishing boat and returns with the rent money for the English lord who owns their cottage and fields, the English lord bent upon forcing the Irish from their land so he can tumble the cottages and clear the fields for grazing. Times are never easy on Maidin Bay, but this year, a terrible blight attacks the potatoes. No crop means starvation. Twelve-year-old Nory must summon the courage and ingenuity to find food, to find hope, to find a way to help her family survive.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Potato Famine.......2007-06-14

Nory is a typical twelve-year-old girl living in Ireland in the mid-1800s. Her mother died giving birth to her little brother, so she and her two older sisters and grandfather take care of each other while her father leaves on long fishing trips to earn their rent money. The English lord who owns their land, though, would rather they couldn't pay their rent. Then he would be free to destroy their home and use that land for his sheep to graze.

Things have gone reasonably well for awhile, though, and Nory's family has been able to pay their rent and live mostly off of the potatoes that are planted in their yard. Nory's oldest sister is saving up money to marry a neighbor. Then one of their other neighbors falls too far behind on rent and can't stop the lord from destroying her home. Nory's sister is worried, and she and her fiance use their money to take a ship to the United States, to try to find a better life there.

After Nory's sister leaves, things get even worse. Her father is taking much longer to return from fishing than he usually does, and the lord has come to their home to warn them about not paying their rent. Then all of the potatoes in their yard and the yards of their neighbors turn black and give off a horrible smell. There is no way they can be eaten, but the people have no other food. Will Nory and her family be able to survive?

I liked the history behind this book. It was interesting to read what life was like in Ireland, and to see what people may have been thinking when the potato famine hit. I liked the character of Anna. She was strong and sympathetic although she must have been suffering herself.

I didn't like the idea that everyone thought life in America would be so much better than life in Ireland. I know my history, and know that things weren't much better for the Irish immigrants in America.

Nory Ryan's Song.......2007-04-19

Nory Ryan's Song is about a girl who lives on the west coast of Ireland in Maidin Bay with her family in 1845. It's very beautiful there. But life there isn't easy. Nory's family plants potatoes there for a living. Nory's dad sailed away on a boat to go fishing to earn rent money for Lord Cunningham. The English lord forced the Irish to leave their land, so he can tear down their cottages and clear fields for sheep. Many people left Maidin Bay, and never returned. Nory's sister Maggie set off for Brooklyn. Nory dreams where all the Ryan's would live together as a family. A blight attacks the potatoes, which means everybody will go into starvation. And Nory's dad doesn't return when he usually does. Nory has to use courage and ingenuity to find food, find hope, and a way for her family to survive.

Talissa's book review .......2006-10-25

This book is about were a girl named Nory and her family are going through a rough time becausse there is a potato deease going arournd and thaat makes it were they dont have anything to eat for the winter so they run out of money and have to pay lord cunnigham their chicken and pigglets beccause her dad hasn't came home from his job on a boat . So her father and sister go looking for him and she is stuck looking after her little brother . She ends up falling in love with a young boy and he ends up moving to America after her older sister Maggie moves to America to but she has a old lady and they take care of each other and finally at the end of the storie her father ends up sending tickets to America for Nory and her little brother .She invites Anna the old lady but she is stubern and wont go . Nory ends up getting married to the man and they have 3 childern . this book was really good and if i was you i read it because even i dont read but my teacher made us for a bookreport so read it its really good.

The English holocaust.......2005-07-09

It seems uniquely challenging. The idea of making a readable children's book out of something so bleak and depressing as the Irish Potato Famine. Yet as an author, Giff has never shied away from difficult subjects. Whether you're following the trials of a 1870 German immigrant to Brooklyn in "The House of Tailors", or a 1940's Hungarian escapee in "Lily's Crossing", Giff has become one of those go-to historical fiction writers. With an emphasis on immigration, emigration, and forced transplantation, her books strain to find a balance between absolute historical accuracy and something your ten-year-old would actually (willingly) pick up on their own. Personally, when I was ten years of age I wouldn't have picked up "Nory Ryan's Song" for all the gold in King Solomon's mines. For those children that have strong stomachs and even stronger nerves, however, the book is a distinctly well-written explanation of why many of us in America sport Irish-American heritage.

Yeah, Nory's got a pretty nice life. True, her mother's dead and her father's away at sea to fish and pay the family's bills. Still, she has her two older sisters, her grandfather, her little brother Patch, and her best friend Sean to keep her company. And then one day she detects an odd smell in the air.... And even odder screams of panic from over the hills. The smell, as it turns out, is that of potatoes dying of a particularly nasty blight. The screams are the people who realize that death is staring them in the face. Before she knows it, Nory's potato patch is infested as well and the family is left with zero food to get by on. The English lord, Cunningham, who owns the land isn't about to show any mercy to his Irish tenants, and people begin to grow more and more desperate as he takes their lifestock for rent. In the end, Nory must decide what's most important to her as she takes amazing risks to find a way to keep the people she loves alive.

In writing this tale, Giff fast-forwards the tragedy a bit more than is strictly necessary. For example, the residents of Nory's village discover the potato blight one day and exactly two days later literally everybody's starving. Surely they weren't eating the underripe potatoes until now. It seems an odd way to write the book. Of course there's no faulting the language. Giff knows how to write something gripping and more than a little compelling. She parallels Nory's desperation with the hope that her father will, soon, return with money for food. Still, there are some moments in the book where it gets so downright depressing that it's all the reader can do to keep slogging on. For some kids, of course, this is a bonus. And certainly it would have been a far greater crime if Giff had played off the entire tragedy in a happy-go-lightly manner. All I'm saying is that this book, rather than being required reading for EVERY child in a certain grade, should only be given to kids who already enjoy historical fiction, tragedy, and a strong female narrator.

It's difficult to fault this novel. Giff knows from whence she writes and nobody in her field does a better job of describing degradation. No one. I don't see this book as the most pleasurable reading out there, but it's undoubtedly one of the best written. For the full effects of the Irish Potato Famine, there is nowhere else to turn.

A great historical fiction!.......2005-05-04

Most students know that the Irish potato famine killed millions of people, but they may not understand any more than that. Nory Ryan's Song takes students back to Ireland in 1845 and shows them what life was like. The oppression of the English was a terrible problem for the Irish at that time. The Great Hunger killed many, but it is also the reason that many Irish came to America. It took great strength for them to make the journey. It is an important book for children to read. It helps explain what really happened and what life was like for these people.
Children will be able to relate to the main character, Nory Ryan. She is a young girl with many responsibilities. This book is a wonderful tool for teaching about Ireland and the Great Hunger. It might also be a good tool when talking about family history. Students with Irish ancestry may be very interested in the story. A glossary of Irish terms included at the front of the book and a letter from the author at the end makes this story even more real. The author explains that it was her family history that caused her to write this book. She wanted people to know the truth about what happened during that horrible time in history. She accomplished her goal with the publication of this book.

Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special Needs

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Compassionate and insightful.
Giving voice to the "unspoken"

Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special Needs
Kate Strohm
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 1590301501
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Book Description

When there's a disabled child in the family, how are normally developing siblings affected? According to Kate Strohm, a counselor and health educator, siblings of the disabled face particular emotional challenges that are often overlooked. Able siblings commonly struggle with feelings of isolation, grief, anger, and anxiety—and these and other emotional issues can have lifelong effects. Being the Other One is based on the author's own experience (as a sibling of a sister with cerebral palsy) and on extensive interviews she conducted with siblings of all ages. In clear and compassionate terms, Strohm explores the often secret feelings of siblings and offers valuable strategies for coping with the challenges they face. Being the Other One reveals the difficulties faced by siblings at all stages of life, from early childhood through adulthood, when siblings must often assume responsibility for the care of their disabled brothers and sisters. Though the book looks honestly at the many challenges that siblings face, it is full of encouragement and practical strategies. Strohm emphasizes that when siblings are able to clearly identify and openly express their feelings and concerns—and when parents and health professionals offer the needed support—siblings can thrive. This book includes writing exercises for personal exploration and a substantial resources section listing helpful books, organizations, and websites.

Customer Reviews:

Compassionate and insightful........2007-09-18

I grew up with a disabled younger brother, and am only now, in my 40s, starting to realize what affect that had on me, and on my way of reacting to life. This book gives me permission to explore this, without feeling guilty. I thank the author for her compassion and frankness. The many examples and testimonies allow a glimpse of many kinds of different affects, depending on different family situations. I highly recommend this book. It helps me understand myself a little better.

Giving voice to the "unspoken".......2005-10-02

When I chose this book, I thought I would be adding to my teacher-knowledge of people with special needs and their families. I was stunned to find myself crying: this was me! I was reading about me and my family! The roots of my lifelong struggles and current stress were made plain. But who in MY family had special needs? I never thought of it that way. My sister has struggled with her weight and moods all her life, and so have we all. I am "the other one," and now I know why. I highly recommend this book, for speaking the "unspoken." Knowledge gives us the ability to understand, and to heal. At the end of each chapter are both a summary and strategies to deal with these issues. The author has given us an amazingly practical, working tool, in easy to read format. Whether you are a family member, teacher, or health professional, you'll be glad you read this book.

Average customer rating:

The book praises Japanese invade US
An everyday yet new lesson taught
An everyday yet new lesson taught
Possibly not fiction
WOW!!!

My Brother, My Sister, and I
Yoko Kawashima Watkins
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689806566

Customer Reviews:

The book praises Japanese invade US.......2007-01-20

The book insists that it was right that Japanese invaded United States.

An everyday yet new lesson taught.......2006-12-03

From this book My brother, My sister and I, I learnt quite a lot, though a lot of the dialogue seems to be cold and unnatural, the theme is the most important part of it. In this book the orphans Hideyo, Ko and Yoko squeeze through all the hard times and find new ways of over coming these things. In the end, the three of them find a special someone who may not look the same but is the same person, they live happily ever after (at least for now)

An everyday yet new lesson taught.......2006-12-03

Possibly not fiction.......2005-10-10

I read this book several years ago and could hardly put it down until I finished it. I wrote to the publisher to ask if this book was fiction, but I got no reply. I had the impression in reading it that is was not fiction, and yet the words 'fictionalized' and 'novel' are used for it on Amazon. I was curious to know what is fiction in it and what is not.

I differ with some reviewers criticizing the book's language or style. There is nothing wrong either, as I recall. Nor is the book only for children or "young readers" by any means.

WOW!!!.......2003-06-24

This book is a wonderful book. I have read it over 3 times now and I still want to read it again. Before I read the book I had some sibling problems, and after reading it I am now closer to my sisters. It teaches you how much you need your family and what they can do for you. I think it is more than a 5 star book. It should be a 100 star book. I think if most people in the world read it our world would be changed. It would be peaceful and people would not get into big arguments. That is how much this book can change us. If you don't beleive me you should read this wonderful, fantastic, brilliant book by Yoko Kawashima Watkins. It is one novel you'll never forget!

Changelings (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Simplistic sequel
Another great story of Petaybee!
No Dragons!
Continuing The Series
More for teens

Changelings (The Twins of Petaybee, Book 1)
Anne McCaffrey , and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345470028
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

With three acclaimed novels–Powers That Be, Power Lines, and Power Play–bestselling authors Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough launched a vibrant new science-fiction saga that told the story of a sentient planet, Petaybee, and the humans who fought to protect it from the rapacious designs of an all-powerful interstellar corporation determined to exploit the icy world’s natural resources. Led by Yana Maddock and Sean Shongili, Petaybee’s protectors prevailed. But now Petaybee is changing in mysterious, unprecedented ways, and the return of off-world scientists threatens the amazing planet and its equally amazing inhabitants with new dangers.

CHANGELINGS

They are Ronan Born for Water Shongili and Murel Monster Slayer Shongili. Twin brother and sister. Children of Yana and Sean. Children of Petaybee. As such, theirs is a destiny deeply intertwined with the sentient planet that is their home. For Ronan and Murel are more than human. Like their father, each can transform into a seal and converse telepathically with the planet’s creatures–such as the friendly otter whose life they save one day from a pack of ravenous wolves.

But the twins’ bravery has unforeseen results when a visiting scientist witnesses their startling metamorphosis and becomes obsessed with their capture. To protect their children, Sean and Yana send them to stay with a powerful family friend on an orbiting space station. But no one realizes that Ronan and Murel hunger to discover the origins of their shape-shifting talent–and that their search for knowledge will place them squarely in the path of peril.

Meanwhile, Petaybee is changing–and much faster than an ordinary planet’s natural evolution. It appears that portions of the sea are heating up and a landmass is suddenly rising from the depths. To investigate the startling occurrence, Sean heads out to the open water in his seal form. But the newly unstable region holds untold mysteries–and the potential for disaster.

Customer Reviews:

Simplistic sequel.......2007-07-06

I was disappointed by this book, because it seems less complex and exciting than the Power trilogy. Or maybe the novelty of Petaybee just wore off. I can only hope the boring nature of this book is because it sets the background for something exciting in its sequel.

Another great story of Petaybee!.......2007-06-21

What a great story! I love Anne Mccaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, and so I read Powers that Be, and loved it as well! You do not need to have read the trilogy that preceded this book, but I HIGHLY recommend it. Those three books get you familiar with the planet and its inhabitants as well as give you a great understanding and love for the characters. I believe I enjoyed those books slightly more than this one, but only slightly. Looking forward to reading the next in the series, Maelstrom.

No Dragons!.......2007-05-13

Not Pern, no dragons. But the PTB (Powers That Be) series is just as good and just as soul satisfying as any of Ann McCafrey's books. If you don't read it, it's your great loss.

Continuing The Series.......2007-03-19

Although the cover of the book says it is a new series, it really is a continuation of the original Peytebee (sp?)story. I liked the original series both as one of the few fantasy stories I enjoy and as a break from the heavy-handedness of my murder mysteries, and it continues to fit that bill. The book is light and fast reading (as are all of McCaffrey's books) but is a pleasure to read. Anne McCaffrey has continued to write in an interesting way about a fantasy type subject and I will continue to read her work; I look forward to any new books she might write.

More for teens.......2007-01-22

I'm not sure how this ties in with the first Petaybee trilogy. Sure, it is about the children born in the last book but it seems to be written for a much younger audience than before. The storyline is gungho children win out over the adults who can't manage without them. Not within the same lines of the previous trilogy but acceptable with a very large grain of salt.

Brothers and Sisters: Glimpses of the Cloistered Life

Average customer rating:

Evokes the feel of the cloister, but could have been better
To look and ponder
NOT OUTDATED AT ALL ! (Spoken from experience!)
Evocative
Evocative

Brothers and Sisters: Glimpses of the Cloistered Life
Frank Monaco
Manufacturer: Marlowe & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1569245789

Amazon.com

Among contemporary photographers, Frank Monaco has been granted an unusual degree of access to the lives of monks and nuns. His stewardship of this gift has produced images of uncommon beauty, collected in Brothers and Sisters: Glimpses of the Cloistered Life. Novelist Ron Hansen (Mariette in Ecstasy) notes in the foreword that "The happiness that men and women find in consecrated, cloistered life is what surprises outsiders most." Happiness does radiate from the black-and-white photographs depicting monks and nuns of various traditions (from Carthusians to Poor Clares) washing windows, reading, gardening, making music, and tending graves. Most of the images are accompanied by excerpts from the orders that structure cloistered lives, such as the following, from St. Teresa of Avila's Way of Perfection: "And if you are in the kitchen, our Lord moves among the pots and pans." Frank Monaco's photographs are composed with a joyful simplicity that is probably hard earned and certainly well suited to his subjects' lives. --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

Our experience of the rush of the contemporary world often awakens an inner longing for real rest and spiritual depth, but choosing to live cut off from the world is difficult for many to understand. During his fifty years as a professional photographer, Frank Monaco has often been welcomed as a guest within the walls of enclosed monasteries and convents. Brothers and Sisters brings together many of the images he has taken of monks and nuns at work, at prayer, and in the service of their communities. The 67 duotone photographs are accompanied by extracts from the simple rules—from the Benedictines, Carmelites, and others—that these men and women have elected to follow, and which guide every moment of their lives. No reader who sees these photos will be able to imagine life within the walls of a monastery in quite the same way. “A masterful collection of black-and-white photographs woven with prose.... The angles and composition of the photography are outstanding.”—The Dallas Morning News

Customer Reviews:

Evokes the feel of the cloister, but could have been better.......2004-08-10

The photos in this book, which is largely pictures showing the similarities between the lives of monks and nuns with small quotations from the various Rules of the orders, are beautifully shot and the book certainly brings 'into' the cloister in a very intimate way, but I was wishing it was a little more comprehensive. I wish that the photos had identified which house we were looking at, and that the corresponding text was from the Rule followed in that house. It became confusing to see Poor Clares with a quote from St. Benedict or Benedictines with a quote from Theresa of Avila. While such juxtapositions illustrate all that is typical of monastics, it also felt unsatisfying, like a diet dessert that doesn't quite get that sweet tooth, and some scriptural quotes would have been useful, also.

But then the author was going for one idea, and perhaps I had another in my head, so maybe I am being picky. If one is interested in monasticism, this is certainly worth having.

To look and ponder.......2004-01-14

Frank Monaco's book gives a unique glimpse into monasteries and the lives of the monks and nuns who live in them. The photos are filled with the nuances and moods of the subjects photographed providing a window into this life consecrated to God in a radical way of following him.
Whether all the monks and nuns are wearing "full" habit is neither here nor there. It must be admitted that the habit which is a profound witness, reflects the beauty of God.
Yes, some photos are "dated" by the glasses, computers,etc. So, who cares. It's true some monks and nuns continue wearing "older' frames and some have old computers that are discarded by benefacters but it's part of the everyday of poverty.
One criticism is that there are photos of Franciscan friars who are NOT monks but none of Dominican nuns who are cloistered nuns.

NOT OUTDATED AT ALL ! (Spoken from experience!).......2003-03-01

Those reviewers who have somewhat damned this exquisite book with faint praise, by commenting simultaneously that "the photography is superb BUT waaay out of date", are missing Monaco's main point. They have obviously not lived in a single one of the thousands of traditional Catholic monasteries which thrive today all over the world.

WHEREAS I HAVE LIVED INSIDE SEVERAL, & in recent years.

To wit: The Poor Clare, Carmelite, and Benedictine Nuns glimpsed by Monaco's deeply perceptive camera are NOT "outdated" because they are wearing the full, floorlength habits, bare feet, wimples and veils of their Rules & Constitutions. Popular media have unfortunately misled readers/viewers to believe that those monasteries which continue to flourish contain women in short skirts and mini-veils - or indeed, even no religious habits at all.

This is entirely wrong.

Monaco has given a completely realistic view indeed of today's thriving monasteries which are filled with steady streams of new vocations. Original austere Rules & lives of strict asceticism are the very incense - & sharp reality - of those cloisters which are NOT closing down. Consider, for contrast, the current documentation of monasteries such as the Carmel of Reno NV, where no habit is worn at all, & not one single new, fresh vocation has entered in over 25 years. A similar Carmel in Barre VT had to close recently for the very same reason.

Thus DO NOT BE MISLED by reviewers complaining that Monaco's photos are "beautiful but obviously dated because the nuns are wearing old fashioned glasses & habits, & using out-dated computers". No, Monaco is beautifully underscoring the fact that these Nuns wear such glasses because they value their vow of poverty far more. Their computers are outdated for the very same reason.

'Brothers and Sisters' witnesses to a living reality, exactly as it is lived today all throughout the world.

Monaco captures even the subtlest signs of these traditional monasteries' dedication to an asceticism & joyous austerity which NEVER goes out of date. The freedom, simplicity & bliss he captures in the Nuns' faces tells all. How ravishing!

Evocative.......2002-11-01

A beautiful, touching book with lovely photographs. I agree with the reviewer who mentioned that a more contemporary look would be worthwhile. Still, even though outdated, it is a marvelous look at the religious life of some years ago. Anyone actually moved to consider the monastic life by looking at this book would be well advised to get an update, however!

Evocative.......2002-11-01

Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability

Average customer rating:

Great book!
Away from the Trenches?
An honest look at the grief a special needs parent feels.
A very thoughtful book on special needs kids and families
Know a child with special needs? This book's for you.

Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability
Robert A. Naseef
Manufacturer: Paul H. Brookes Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1557665354

Book Description

Not just another resource on parenting. More than a book on autism. This important book is a must-have guide for any parent of a child with a disability as well as anyone who works with or cares for those families. Special Children, Challenged Parents shares the unique perspective of a father of a son with autism, with additional reflection from his perspective as a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with families of children with disabilities.

This moving book illustrates the impact that a child's disability has on the entire family. It is a valuable aid to parents dealing with fear, guilt, shame, sibling rivalry, marital strain, and other challenges. Though the author's personal experience is with autism, this book will be a valuable resource for families of children with a wide range of disabilities. Readers learn about resources, such as support groups, for working through complex emotions and about techniques for communicating effectively with professionals.

Special Children, Challenged Parents addresses issues of bonding between parent and child and presents strategies for dealing with challenging behavior. Additional chapters are devoted to special issues for the family of a child with a disability, including the relationship between the parents, the effect on siblings, and the needs of fathers, who the author feels often require special support to express and deal with their emotions in the challenging role of parent to a child with special needs. This book provides a unique and touching look at parenting and disability.

Customer Reviews:

Great book!.......2007-06-27

This is a terrific book that will help a parent move through the stages of adjustment to their child having special needs. It acknowledges the grieving process that most parents experience, while giving parents some things they can do to help them move towards a temporary acceptance of the situation. It introduces parents to the idea of meeting their child where they are and helping them grow to their greatest potential, rather than trying to "fix" the child and make him/her "normal". It also talks about the behavioral issues some kids with special needs have and encourages a parent to try to understand why the child is displaying the behavior instead of simply reacting to the behavior. It even moves on to talk about how a child with special needs effects the parents as a couple and the more typically developing siblings. In short, this book is a comprehensive discussion of all the difficult and wonderful things of having a child with special needs. I highly recommend it.

Away from the Trenches?.......2004-02-27

This book is a good, basic book outlining the grief process and other major common emotional issues in raising a child with a disability. However, as the mother of an autistic child who is with her child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I can't help but wonder about the authenticity of the author's personal experience "parenting" an autistic child, as his own autistic child has been institutionalized for a huge segment of his life while the author went on to have more children and a very normal homelife. It feels to me like the man "skipped out" on the real experience of raising his autistic son himself and elected to become a part-time parent to the child, then felt himself capable of writing a book about it. I find it hard to believe that he truly understands the day to day life of a full-time parent of an autistic child, given his own choices, however "right" they may have been for his son.

An honest look at the grief a special needs parent feels........2003-01-23

Usually when I review a book, I'm looking for one that's reader-friendly (a quick read, written in understandable language, and offering practical ideas). By that definition, this book may not fit. Is "Special Children, Challenged Parents" written in
understandable language? Yes. Does it offer practical ideas? Definitely. Will it be a quick read? Probably not. You see, Dr. Naseef's book is going to touch your emotions. This is perhaps the most honest book I have ever read on the grieving process of parents struggling to accept and raise a child with special needs. By sharing his own story and those of other parents he has interviewed and worked with, Dr. Naseef discusses why this process is so hard and what parents can do to survive the process and come out on the other side. But perhaps Dr. Naseef's most valuable contribution is his message for fathers. Fathers very rarely fit comfortably into the role of fathering a child with special needs and Dr. Naseef's unique
qualifications as both a father and a psychologist have given him rare insights to help other Dads facing this challenge. This may not be an "easy read", but if you're a parent struggling with your emotional responses to your child -- it is definitely a "must read".

A very thoughtful book on special needs kids and families.......1999-01-19

I am a psychologist who works with children and families, many of whom are grappling with difficult issues related to a medical condition, behavioral problem, or learning disability. This book provides sound advice written in plain English from a psychologist whose son is autistic. I have recommended Dr. Naseef's book to a number of my clients because of how thoughtfully he combines his own story with a practical guide for parents and others who care for a child with special needs. A wide range of issues are covered, and all are essential. A great find on Amazon- thanks!

Know a child with special needs? This book's for you........1999-01-19

As a parent of a medically fragile child with special needs, Dr.Naseef's book has been a wonderful resource for me, my wife, and our family and friends. The author's experience as a father of a special child of his own and as a psychologist shine through its pages. This book is a must read for parents, teachers, medical professionals, caregivers, and others whose lives are touched by a child with special needs. Full of practical strategies for coping, from the initial grief to working effectively with medical and educational professionals, to staying together as a family. It's not easy explaining to our friends and family how we stay positive while faced with so many challenges -- Special Children, Challenged Parents has been a great help to us and the people who are close to our son.

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