Nonfiction Books

Fun way for children to learn about the Bible. Makes a great baby gift.

My son is 3 and he received this bible for his Dedication when he was 18 months old. We started reading it together about 8 months ago and it is fantastic. He loved the pictures and the stories and it is worded perfectly and is wonderful!!!!

The problem with this beginners Bible is how it represents God. Imagine, the story of Noah begins with God being "sad" because people didn't think of him (and so consequently flooding the earth). This makes God seem like a tyrant to a small child (imagine creating fear in a child re: thinking of God). The actual scripture says "the thoughts of man were only evil all of the time." This could be better put into child language such as God felt upset because the people he made kept hurting each other and doing mean things to each other (so SOMETHING closer to the idea in scripture). A kind of lazy thinking dominates both the text and illustrations (which lack any depth or expression besides googley eyes). Imagine my dismay when I received three for my sons first birthday. As someone who does not like to take God's name in vain, I feel this thoughtless representation does just that.

As a 3 & 4 year old Christian Preschool teacher, I absolutely love this little book! What is even better is that my students love it too! :o) I can never get away with reading just one story from this book because the kids always ask for more! I first saw an older version of this book when I was talking with our Kindergarten teacher in her classroom. She told me that she loved it too because it covered some stories that our normal Bible curriculum didn't cover. So, about a two months ago, I purchased one to use in my own classroom. I was so impressed with the reactions of my students in the classroom, that I have decided to give these great little books to all of my students who move up to Kindergarten at the end of the year as a "graduation" gift. It was such a blessing to see the looks on their little faces when received their books. Thank you for having such a wonderful starting point for young hearts who are on their way to a lifetime of serving our Lord and Savior.

My kids - ages 5, 7 & 9 - devoured this book. They each read it cover to cover in the first few days. Its been 6 months since I bought it for them, and they are still reading it.

This memoir chronicles the year after the death of Didion's husband. It is an interesting treatise on grief and mourning, if a bit too cerebral at times.

Didion's husband, John, dies from a cardiac event right before Christmas. Shortly before his death, the couple's daughter, Quintana, suffered an embolism which led to her hospitalization. So basically, Didion has to deal with the death of her husband of 40 years while caring for her hospitalized daughter, who is still clinging to life.

Didion had, I thought, many interesting things to say about the death of a loved one - how we never expect life to change so drastically, so quickly. How we can never really know what to expect, how we will feel, until it happens to us. How most of us may think of our reactions to death in immediate terms - the funeral, etc. - but we never adequately consider the long years of absence thereafter, and how we will deal with those. How, despite what our rational mind knows (this person is gone forever, etc.), part of us still hopes/thinks they will return to us, miraculously.

My criticism of the book is Didion's tendency to over-intellectualize everything. By turns this habit was both interesting and tiresome. Having read the book, though, my guess is that this is the kind of person she is. I would bet that, were I to read one of her novels, I would find the same penchant for the slightly pretentious.

At any rate, I enjoyed the book. Not a must-read, but worth picking up if you have some time.

Didion repeats unnecessary details. That might be fine when reading the book, but I listened to it on CD, so it was maddening.

I thought the book was overrated and the insights were minimal.

I am not of Ms. Didion's generation. I am not a member of her moneyed "jet set." I have never written a book. However, I have to say that her "Year of Magical Thinking" resonates with the way I reacted to the sudden death of my daughter. I recognize the tricks that the mind plays to protect you from the pain. I probably would not call these mental processes "magical." I see them as protective and necessary.

As a result of my appreciation for Ms. Didion's memoir, I would like to address a couple points that stand out among the other reviews here. First, denial does not happen because you will it or because you are too weak to face reality. Despite emotional strength and intelligence, you cannot process all aspects of a significant loss at one time. This causes unusual thoughts at unusual times that do not always jive with everyone else's reality.

Additionally, many dissatisfied reviewers, point to the way Ms. Didion did or did not experience, express, write about her emotions as a result of her grief. I have to admit that I also reacted very intellectually to my loss. My mind was continually trying to process the situation, to go down every path to help myself come to grips. While most people believed that my emotions were in check, I was in shock and drowning in "what-ifs." I can relate to Ms. Didion's racing mind and flat countenance.

Finally, several reviewers claim that people in the Western Hemisphere(and pointedly Ms. Didion) do not handle loss well because our culture has taught us to dread, not embrace, death. This probably has validity. However, I cannot believe that anyone in any culture can unexpectedly lose a beloved spouse or child without pronounced shock, grief, and mourning.

Because of my own life experience and personality, I found this book to be very comforting. It validates many of the thoughts and feelings that I have faced.

I thoroughly appreciate the way she ends the book, by pointing out that no one "has an eye on the sparrow." My daughter's death reinforced my belief that random, horrible things happen with no reason, purpose, or plan. We each must face these things in our own way and time.

My one criticism of this book centers around something that Ms. Didion admits within the text. She says that she does not want to stop writing the book because it will mean that she is letting go of one more attachment to her husband. As a result, this book has about 4 or 5 chapters too many.

I highly recommend this book for readers who have experienced loss or are interested in how other people experience loss. I found it to be a very realistic, intimate portrayal of one person's experience.

K, on the continuum of accepting Buddhist to never-gave-death-serious-consideration, this story is definitely on the latter end. Right or wrong it is you think of the sort of celebrity mindset might be like. The rosary-like recitation of everything-is-extra-special details of vacations and houses and people and celebrations and work and dates that she went on about... those were evidently the anchors to her life. From the extreme shock of this author, the transitory nature of all of this wasn't obvious. I guess if you really didn't ever seriously contemplate your absolute aloneness this book could serve as a cautionary tale.

One magical thinkingish word that was unintended might throw light on the author's shock about physical illness and death. The author mentioned a timeframe in which "... I had my daughter." Presumably, there is absolutely no difference in any other aspect of raising and loving a daughter whether you are the biological mother or not, but there is a significant physical difference between pregnancy and birthing compared to adopting. She might have gotten her daughter, been gifted a daughter, adopted a daughter, but "had?" That verb seemed revealing bit of magical thinking. Especially when you consider the life-changing immensity and gravity of "having" a baby irregardless of genetic deformity or other problems, irregardless of pain and risk to oneself, and then hopefully, triumph. This experience can hardly be defined as identical to her description of the day her and her husband picked up a newborn from the hospital.

The audiobook is better than the book. I'd give five stars for the reader of the audiobook, Barbara Caruso. She is fantastic; her voice goes right into your DNA. I'd listen to anything she read.

In "The Year of Magical Thinking," Joan Didion chronicles the death of her husband, author and screenwriter John Gregory Dunne. One evening, Dunne died of a severe heart attack while the couple ate dinner. The day had seemed like any other, aside from the fact that they had just returned from a hospital visit with their grown daughter, Quintana, who was in a coma from an unidentified illness. Didion found herself lost, coping with the trauma of her husband's death at the same time that she faced the uncertainty of her daughter's recovery. This stress manifested itself in numerous ways, including the "magical thinking" from the title. Specifically, Didion talks about wanting her husband back so badly that she tries to trick herself into thinking it possible, such as convincing herself that if she kept his clothes, then he would come back for them. Or vice versa - if she gave away his clothes, this meant that he couldn't come back in the future.

Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one will likely find something in this superb book that hits them - something that describes their grief perfectly. As is typical, Didion goes through various stages of grief and finds herself wanting answers. She wants to know how her husband died, and she goes about it like an author would - researching the topic. Didion also recounts bits and pieces of their life together as she attempts to piece together a new life. At times, she is a bit of a name-dropper, chronicling her fabulous Hollywood life and her friendships with famous authors. However, in the end, she was a widow grieving a loss, just the same as anyone else; death affects us all, is universal. Didion's beautiful writing and the way she discusses her grief is universal as well.

Overall, "The Year of Magical Thinking" is a sublime work of non-fiction that deservedly won the National Book Award. However, I was slightly annoyed by one aspect of the book - the lack of details about Dunne's age. At the beginning of the book, I assumed, based on how Didion writes about her husband, that Dunne was in his 50s. I haven't read anything else by Didion, so I didn't know much about her life. In actuality, Dunne was 70 years old when he died. Gradually, Didion acknowledges that his death was somewhat expected - Dunne had had heart problems for years. Perhaps her neglecting to tell us that earlier about his heart problems and his advanced age is part of her "magical thinking." If one doesn't acknowledge the heart problem, even when writing about it after his death, then said heart problem does not exist. Of course, the age of a loved one is fairly irrelevant to the person left behind; one is still alone. It's a minor point, perhaps, but one that affected my reaction to this otherwise amazing book.

This review is of the audiobook version, which consists of 4 CDs. The reader is Barbara Caruso, who does an amazing job of embodying the "voice" of Didion. The reading is simple and straight-forward, with very little accompanying music, which really suits the tone of the book.

The book is in the shape it was described and the shipping is very quick. Excellent service

Price was great and shipping was excellent and the condition was brand new with no nicks or scratches.

Workbook was brand new, came in the time promised and was exactly what we wanted!

I did buy algebra 2 book and practic work books and i did mentioned to seller including the book number but unfortunately i got different text book that doesnot match with the work book. Now i don't know what to do with the two different books i.e work book and algebra 2 text book
if you have any suggestion please let me know
vijay

This is a decent algebra 2 workbook but I don't recommend it because there is no answer key.

Is it a coincidence that Thneed rhymes with Deadly Sin #3? Growth for the sake of growth is where we are today. This too shall pass, UNLESS....

Dr. Seuss, turned holier-than-thou by his elevated status in society, decides to preach to us about the evils of industrialization. Does he realize that the many millions of copies of "The Lorax" were all made in factories, using paper that came from trees?

There are not many books for this age group that the parent gets more out if it than the child.

The Lorax is an great story that is hard for young ones to comprehend the first time through, but still fun to hear. As you read it over and over to them will understand and appreciate it more.

This has many similarities to stories like The Giving tree

Stories like these are inspirations for content I create on the [...] storybooks site.

My 5 and 7 years olds have made this one of their favorites. My 7 year read it himself and is even memorizing parts of it. There are lots of made up words in this one, but my kids seem to like that, too. The story moves fast and every page has something new. It is a blatantly pro-environment story which is still relevant today. If my kids get the point, that's good.

If you're suspicious of the book's theme, trust that neither of my sons, now ages 5 and 4, rise up out of the beds and declare war against American industry after a bedtime reading. They like the Barbaloots. They like the mossy voice I give the Lorax.

The message I share with them is not to waste natural resources. There's nothing wrong with cutting down a tree (it makes great books!) but plant a new one. There's nothing wrong with fishing and hunting but eat what you collect. I applaud Dr. Suess for reaching beyond his "Cat in the Hat" fare and offering up a deeper story.

Have extremists on both sides used the book for their cause? Sure. But I'm reviewing this book for the bedtime book audience who wants to know if this is appropriate for young children. The answer is yes, in fact it is.

This is a beautiful book with unforgettable characters and I hope it helps you teach your children to appreciate nature.

The book received was exactly as described. It was delivered on time and in great shape.

I am using this book as a Homeschool Science Course for my children grades 4th, 3rd, and 1st. It is an excellent book with loads of engaging activities. The activities are usually things you have lying around at home in junk drawers, they are inexpensive, fast, convenient and exciting. I am enjoying the experiments as much as my kids. Highly recommended.

my eight year old got this when she was 7. she loves it. nice pictures and explanations. Needs parental supervision of course. I would recommend this book if your child loves science. fun family bonding time! Teaches children science concepts in a fun way!

This book contains a well rounded selection of projects for kids so they can experiment with a wide range of science topics. They are all easy to complete and understand and have a good specific message and illustrate scientific ideas very well.

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book is an ideal book for older school age children for Science projects. The experiments offer a detailed investigation into each concept being explored by children. Many of the experiments do require adult supervision due to the complexity of some of the experiments that require multiple steps. It is most suitable for middle school and early high school students. Additional facts related to the concept being explored are mentioned to peak the science student's interest in the topic. The experiments require moderate to extensive planning by teachers or parents while supporting the young learner.

product provided hours of fun for grandkids. especailly the list for things to make a science kit. Now we don't have to look for the things to have fun with. Good book.

I bought this for my 4 year old and she absolutely loves it! It is really great for kids who have a million questions about how things work and it does a phenomenal job of explaining a typical process (e.g., building a house) from end to end (including laying sewage and water pipes underneath the ground). It gives the details that curious kids really want to know in a fun, darling way.

This delightful book for children which is enjoyable for parents to read as well wonderfully teaches us that we are all part of a family here to help each other with the gifts we have been given. For those with Faith, it is a happy way to show that we need each other, and to be grateful for each person, and appreciate what they do to make the world a better place; that each person is, as Pope Benedict said, "loved, willed and necessary."!

I still have this book from when I was young; it is now 36 years old and has survived all of my children. I cannot bear to part with it and I will save it for my grandchildren. (Along with Richard Scarry's find your ABC's) I am buying a copy for my niece though so she doesn't have to do without. Thank you Richard Scarry

This book will keep your little one occupied for several long minutes and then some. Great book to keep in the car or at Nana's house.

I got this one as a child, back in the sixties. My copy is in Dutch and although a little weathered it's not falling apart yet.
The copy I'm reviewing here is a reprint that misses several spreads, but sad though it may be, if you don't know about it you won't miss it.
Richard Scarry shows different "people" (animals in clothes), all kinds of professions, how they interact and how one depends on the other. And in doing so he introduces a child to society where we all depend on one another.
More than anything else he was responsible that I grew up to be free minded and open spirited person. Whatever a human being does for a living, if he/she does it with love he will make your day.
A policeman, a baker, a newspaper man, a writer, photographer or singer, the postman, the bus driver. We all depend on one another. And as long as we try our best to understand that and accept and respect our fellow citizens we will be on the right path.
His drawings are world famous. They're sweet and funny without being too simplistic. No matter what family, the rabbits, the mice or the pigs, even the worm, they're all lovely characters with different personalities.
It has always been my first choice as a gift for kids.

Six words. I can't do it, so I'm not only touched, amused, saddened and laughing out loud by turns, I am also impressed that the submitters could condense their lives into just six words. I always need at least seven as I try to come up with mine. "Not Quite What I Was Planning" is a pretty good one though, I may just plagiarize and say "me too" with that one.

This is a quick read, a collection of quotes that make you think and wonder "what happened?" to the writers as you read their six word stories. This book would make a great gift.

I loved this book. Me, my mom, and my grandmother all read it - fantastic.

Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure

Not many books inspire readers to get out pen and pencil and start writing their personal life stories. Especially in six words! Did W.C. Fields really request for his gravestone "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"? OK, he's not in the book (probably because he was one word short). Still, his may have been prototype for this fun little volume. Some are lighthearted (Mullings' "Fat jolly bearded origami-folding accountant"); some profound (Santiago's "Mixed blood. I am America's future). Somewhere in this book, the reader will either find his/her story or the inspiration to play with words and make of them a personal Truth. For me, "SWF with older home seeks carpenter" does it. Readers who try it will like it.

The book was great; everything as described by Michael Smerconish. The work shows how much can be said in so few words. I am enjoying the book.

As with MOST of the books and a lot of the music I purchase, I "heard it on NPR!" I mean, really!! Listening to the awesome interviews of authors and musicians discussing their work is the very best way to find out about them. I presented a copy of the Memoir book to each of several friends at dinner recently, and they immediately responded EXACTLY the way I expected and hoped -- they started reading aloud as they paged through the book. My moment was complete!! I, of course, have a copy for myself and plan to continue to enjoy it. The other reaction that folks have is to try to write their OWN six-word memoirs. Really great idea!!! Kudos to those who compiled the book!!

I was trying to be smart about my book buying, which I generally do very well for myself. However with this book and its publisher there is a very big problem. This book is designed so that you have to buy it new! Save for the fact you want to read it for entertainment or leisure purposes. They do this by having the student (assuming of course anyone who buys this textbook is a student), require not only a pass code, but also a work manual, DVD, and a pocketbook dictionary. Which by now you may have guessed most of which is usable only once! If you are to Google the Vista site directly you can find the items that come packaged new separately. But by the time you add it together you were better off just buying it new from the college bookstore or the vhldirect site! So save yourself time,headaches,and money and do not buy this textbook used , unless you just want something to read for leisure. I hope this helps!

Hands down, this is my favorite book for kids age 5 to 10 about sexuality, love and relationships! Robie Harris tackles this subject with warmth and humor - she understands her audience and your kids will return to this book over and over.

Parents will appreciate her tone and the matter of fact way she handles "the facts." Be sure to read it yourself before settling in with the kiddos - while there probably isn't anything you didn't already know, you want to be sure it reflects your values.

And remember, this should supplement the ongoing conversations in your family and isn't a replacement for the information and values your kids want and need to learn from you.

Definitely a discussion starter, not something to sit down and read all at once! I love the chapters because it's easy to flip to the section that will answer specific questions as they come up. Perfect for our inquisitive seven year old.

I have 4th and 5th grade girls. Although not quite ready to cover this subject with them, they were approaching the time when it would be taught in their school. I sat them down and went through the book with them, it answered their questions and the drawings seemed to satisfy their curiosity. Both girls have asked to look at the book again on their own and have come to me with questions. I highly recommend it as a gateway to discussions and better communication with your child.

This book has kept my children reading and asking questions. The language is simple, yet not condesending. The graphics are excellent. I would recommend this book any child hitting the puberty years.

I have read mostly positive reviews about this book and I agree. We used this book for my daughter's Kindergarten body project when she wanted to know about where babies come from and I had no problem reading it to a 5 year old and a 7 year old, mixed genders.

Though I know some have suggested that there is a political agenda in the book regarding abortion and homosexuality, I feel this book is unbiased and promotes proper family values for the following reasons:

1. There is a focus on the love aspect of relationships along with the physical aspects of sex and reproduction. There is no way a child will walk away from this book thinking sex is appropriate between strangers. It is clear, from the writing, that this is something to share within a serious relationship.

2. There is a mention of homosexuality. It is very brief. It does not encourage homosexuality and more than it discourages homosexuality. It does not go into graphic detail of how two men or two women have intercourse. It simply points that some people in same sex relationships have children together. This is fact and is stated as such.

3. Abortion is not glorified. It is mentioned that some people end their pregnancies through abortion. Again, this is stated as fact- not glorified or demonized. It is reality and is mentioned as such.

4. There is also a part that describes sexual abuse. It is very sensitive and is written to encourage children to seek out help if they are in a bad situation.

These are difficult, often controversial, issues. They are handled with loving care by the authors. Two thumbs up!