Nonfiction Books

got this for my neice who started menstruation. she read it and talked about it with her mom. good book

This is a must have for every young girl. This book gives girls the opportunity to read about the changes of life in a nonthreatening way ... and opens the door for wonderful discussion time. As a parent, be sure to read the book before handing it over. There is some content that is really dated and might cause some confusion.

I gave the book to my daughter, to assist her with her daughter who is 9 years old now. The book is great. It covers all the things a little girl who is becoming a young teenager needs to know about her body changes and life in general. Wonderful!!

This book is great. I work with kids ages 9-11 and they're at that age where curiosity becomes overbearing. Mavis Jukes touches on hard to discuss topics and makes learning about scary things easier. At the same time it is not too detailed.

Although the book discusses it tastefully, I could have done without the section on Sexual Intercourse. That makes it less appropriate for the younger set (9) who are just learning about themselves let alone an interaction with another. The book is written in a manner that keeps the subject interesting and the true life stories are a hit. After raising three adult children, I was looking for a book for my younger children that just discussed the physical changes at this age. Things like why it may be good to wear deodorant, take more baths/showers while stressing things like feeling comfortable with your body and that other people touching it is not appropriate. I think a good book but stress its use for older girls.

My six year old son loved the book. It helps children understand better what divorce is about and what to expect. A must for children going through this.

This book is good for parents and kids living in a divorce situation. The parents part give suggestions for dealing with what the kids are going through. This is a handy reference book, in an easy read way.

Very easy to explain from the parent point of view and a lot easier for the kids to understand what is happening and why.
Truly a great help

I ordered this book for my 9 year old daughter to help explain to her about the changes going on in our family structure. The book explains a grown-up concept in a childs eyes with colorful pictures and good descriptions. My daughters therapist asked me to get this book for her and I am so happy I did. A must for any age child that is going through changes in their household. I would highly recommend this book.

My son was 3 1/2 when I first started to read this book to him, because he started to want to know why his Mommy and Daddy didn't live together, even though it's all he's really ever known since he turned a year old.

This book has a lot of scenarios and you can read the sections that apply to your current situation. I think this book would be better for a child who is 6+.

In one section, the daughter dinasour is trying to figure out her emotions and becomes frustrated. The illustration has puffs of red clouds about her head. My son refers to it as "The red puffy stuff" and is always concerned about the girl and her feelings. It bothers him that she has the "red puffy stuff" about her head.

As we were going through his toys that he wanted to donate, when he came across this book, he looked at it and said, "That puffy stuff is bad" and put it in the "to donate" box.

Even though this book was written by a man and a woman, I felt that some of the scenarios leaned on the mother, as being the "bad guy", or trying to buy-off the kids too much.

Lorraine Rhodes was a single teenage mother who shared parenting duties of little Ashley with her twin sister. They lived in a trailer and worked different shifts. Their home became the cool teen party hangout since there were no real adults around. Lorraine's maternal instincts were casual (when Ashley was a toddler, Lorraine strapped her into a car seat but not into the seatbelt; Ashley once fell out during a drive). Lorraine hooked up with an abusive boyfriend named Dusty, and was soon expecting. That baby died, but Lorraine became pregnant once more, delivering Ashley's brother, Luke.

The family moved to Florida when Ashley was three. There, Dusty ran into trouble with the law, and the two children were taken. Ashley was too young to understand that she would never live with her mother again, as she and Luke entered a foster home --- the first of 14 she would live in over the next nine years. No one explained to the three-year-old why she couldn't be with her mother. When she did finally see her mother, Lorraine said they would live together after she found a nice home and a good job. Ashley yearned for her mother constantly as she was moved from foster home to foster home, sometimes with Luke and other times alone. Lorraine visited occasionally, always promising that Ashley would live with her "someday."

Ashley and Luke were able to stay at their grandfather's house in South Carolina where they were relatively happy, thanks to their grandfather's live-in lady friend, Adele, who enjoyed mothering them. Yet they lived in fear that they would be removed from that home because Adele and their grandfather weren't married, and because Grandpa was frequently in jail and had a history as a wife abuser. Despite the instability of the situation, Ashley was so happy she felt like she was in a dream.

But when Grandpa got shot during an argument in front of the children, they were removed and sent back to Florida, where they entered Ashley's seventh home in two years. Their new "home" was packed full of foster kids, reeked of filthy diapers and was reigned over by screaming parents (as grim as this sounds, it was not their worst foster home, not by a long shot). Needless to say, Ashley and Luke were thrilled when they were sent back to Adele in South Carolina, where they were content until once again they were returned to Florida. During Ashley's nine-year stint in 14 foster homes, she encountered 44 caseworkers. None of these people, paid to help foster children, saved Ashley from living through sickening abuse at the hands of foster parents.

Finally, one woman, a volunteer named Mary Miller, took a special interest in Ashley. Eventually, Ashley was adopted by a loving family, although she agreed to it with major reservations (the three little words from the title were her "I guess so" when the judge asked if she agreed to the adoption). Ashley believed that the adoption could never last; she is frank about her problems adjusting to her new life after years of hopelessness.

Ashley Rhodes-Courter, who sued her most abusive foster parents, works tirelessly to help children in the foster system. She has spoken to the Senate, and many other groups, about the need for foster care reform. And in this excellent page turner, she gives vibrant voice to those voiceless, helpless children caught in this nightmare, giving us insight into a national tragedy. I highly recommend her heartbreaking and inspiring memoir.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Three Little Words is one girl's disturbing true journey through forgottenness, abuse and multiple foster homes. Hope IS found finally, but the process before that is heartbreaking, infuriating and senseless.
I was inspired by this girl's candor and courage, as well as by the power of CASAs and GALs to redeem lost kids.

Excellent book that describes what is both wrong and right with the foster care system. Reading this book should be a requirement for all social work students. This book is one of those "hard-to-put-down" books that is both informative and enjoyable.

From a person who has experienced it all, Ashley Rhodes-Courter has shown America the dirty, underlying truth. Everything from speeches to her book, Three Little Words, Ashley has made a difference in the minds and souls of Americans.

This deathly true book has the reader on their toes with every page. Ashley explains her past and all the families she has had to put up with. Yes, even those that treated her terribly. Ashley tells about the first time her and her brother where separated from their mother and other family members. As she grows older in the foster care system, the reader follows Ashley through her highs and lows, good families and bad, and everything in between. Until one day, Ashley finds a family that wants her. These new parents help her through every problem. With two other boys in the family, Ashley's new parents find room in their hearts for one more. But sooner than Ashley thought, the day comes that she has to make that dreadful choice... three little words that will change her life forever. Those three little words you will have to read to find out, along with all the other mysteries in her life.

I would recommend this book to any one who loves to read about something that is holding back so many children. It has a mind changing plot and a heart warming ending that will catch any reader's attention. It will also change the mind of the reader and help those who want to speak out against the traitors.

I purchased this book thru my book club i am a child who grew up in foster care and Ashely's story mirrored my own. I could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting.

The book shows plenty of emotions of their loved ones being lost. Livia wrote her memory into a book, like most Holocaust survivors did. Most people are unaware of the presence of the Holocaust or just were uninterested. Like most Holocaust books they show the nightmare they experienced. Elli gives the reader an idea that they have hope to survive.
Some people read certain Holocaust books that fits their writing style and her Livia gives the reader the first person point of view.
We chose this book for our English class and we presented how they were killed like if one person in the barrack did not cooperate with the SS officers, the entire barrack was sent to gas chambers.
I recommend readers read this book.

Fantastic book, I recommend it to many of my students at work. I cried and cried at the end. We certainly have no idea in our cosy 2007 world. A brave, graphic and well written book.

She was one in thirty five that returned...Originally, five hundred left. Into the ghetto then into cattle cars, off to fend for their lives. Thirteen year old Elli (later, changing her name to Livia. Yes, this is a true story!) was one of many young, Jewish, innocent, Holocaust victims. Elli and her family lived a comfortable life. They owned a local gocerey store, they were successful and had many close friends and family...that is, until Germany took over. In March 1944, the Nazis invaded Hungary. Privledges were taken away slowly but surely, no more school, giving up prized possessions and their store, having to wear yellow stars. What was this? No one knew. SUddenly, Elli finds that all will be lost. Elli's family is moved into a crowded ghetto, and they lose all the privledges and possessions that they hadn't already lose. It took everything they had to survive, yet little did they know, this was only the beginning. Soon, they were put on cattle cars. Ellie's family was spilt up among concentration camps; although, Ellie and her mother managed to stay together and survive some of the harshest punishments the Nazis dished out. This is a remarkable memoir of a teenage girl who no doubt had, lived a thousand years, she had no chouce. Her hope and faith along with her suffering and fears, you won't beleive a thirteen year old would've realized and out smarted the Nazis in such ways. Not only is this a beautiful story of survival but an ugly piece of history. Having background on WOrld War II helped me understand a bit more but also this book taught me a great deal of history, another reason to read. This book, was definitely a fast read, I couldn't put it down. You're constantly wondering..."Will she survive?! How will she out smart them this time?! Will she escape?!" You would definitely need to enjoy survival and history to get through this novel and also know that some chapters are a bit graphic. This woman went through the unthinkable and she doesn't hold back on letting you know that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an amazing story with some history behind it. Livia Bitton-Jackson is a part of our history and survived as one of thirty five returning of an original five hundred. This woman did the unthinkable.

-Kaitlyn Toner

This book is so powerful. I have read many stories of Holocaust survivors, but few if any have presented such a vivid view of the horrors the Jews faced. Some parts were disturbing, but they describe true history, so they are definitely important to read. If you're interested in the Holocaust, this is a great read.

"I Have Lived A Thousand Years" is a personal and gut-wrenching story of how a 13-year old girl survived the German Holocaust in the death camp of Auschwitz. The book is fairly short with short chapters. It is obviously written for adolescent readers, but can certainly be appreciated by adults as well. This is a very good first book for teens to learn about the Holocaust. It is written in the first person, and we "see" the horrifying conditions through the author's sensitve eyes.

The story is gripping from page one to the last page. It should be read and then discussed with the adolescent reader, as many questions will be raised as to the horrific nature of the Holocaust.

There are many good Holocost books, but the stark reality presented in this book, along with the narrative style, makes this an excellent introductory first-person account to the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Jim Koenig

Barack Obama has changed politics. Regardless of your social, economic, or political beliefs, he has altered the way many think of a presidential candidate. In "The Audacity of Hope" Barack catalogs his rise to become the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party. He explains each step by organizing categories such as, our constitution, faith, opportunity, politics, and family. He presents and explains his beliefs on many important issues that face modern voters. He recalls his failures, elucidates the present, and sets his future goals. "The Audacity of Hope" is all that it claims to be (do not expect a numbered game plan to solve war and global poverty). The nostalgia and love of his family members alongside politics is interesting to read of and I recommend this book to both Democrats and Republicans. It will help you become more knowledgeable of Barack's plans or prepare you to defend your own. Plus, his writing is as moving as his speeches can be!
Thanks for reading,
C.K.

The Audacity of Hope is as good a title as any for this book by a young, rookie Senator. And the hope at the heart of his writing and thoughts is well placed, for in this, Barack Obama's Second book, despair lurks in the margins.

He as much as admits to this at several places in the book. He sees the country so completely divided on certain issues that finding a solution to the myriad social and economic problems connected to those issues seems almost like a dream.

Indeed, there is one constant subtext throughout the book: Barack's restlessness at the slow pace of governmental change. The rules and the glacial pace of Senate procedures simultaneously fascinate and frustrate him. He is in awe of just how good the framers of the constitution set up this great political experiment. However, the machine of the Senate, and the current business of politics, seem to him an almost torturous affair. Early in the book, Barack explains that what is debated day in and day out in the Senate is not (contrary to what most laymen perceive,) what the NEW laws should be. Instead, most of the time is spent trying to figure out what the EXISTING laws actually mean. (This experience in the Senate seems to have opened his eyes to just how important the appointment of Judges are.)

He bristles at the tediousness of some of this, and he openly wonders at just how quickly he may find himself caught up in the machinery that has consumed so many before him. For instance he starts one chapter talking about just how nice it is to fly on private jets. He is very descriptive of the pleasures of this elite way of travel. But he is also aware of just how much it separates him from the everyday American's experience.

More apparent though is Barack's ambitious nature seem too large for a long term career in the Senate,

He wants a larger stage on which to operate and to articulate his thoughts, and this book seems to be a prelude to that.

The Audacity of Hope is split up into large chapters encompassing big topics, (Race, Faith, etc.,) and within those headings, Obama struggles with the conflicting and seemingly contradictory stances on many sides of the issues. If you follow politics in the news, many of Obama's analogies and examples will be familiar to you, but if you largely stay away from politics, this volume will give you a pretty good idea of what he honestly thinks regarding these issues.

The answer is simple: Like many in America, he struggles.

One of the most telling sequences of the book is when he talks about how the countdown for an approaching Roll Call vote. He laments that when complicated issues, involving many complex factors, come down to the final vote, you almost always are wishing for more time.

The book is political, and more specifically campaign-oriented in nature, so it can often get a bit wonkish and, well, boring, but Barack has a way of bringing it back to simplicity with a humorous aside.

In light of his more recent popularity, (one hundred thousand people seeing him in Berlin,) it is interesting to read his account of traveling around Illinois alone as a virtually unknown candidate and sometimes speaking to 4 or 5 people. My favorite anecdote involves his invitation to a Union gathering during a primary for one office he was seeking. While he sat onstage waiting to speak, the man introducing him basically announced that the Union would be endorsing somebody else, but adds that "Mr. Obama is here to give us his thoughts."

Once finished with the book, you can understand a little more about Barack Obama's political thinking. And a little about the gamble he seems to be taking in the upcoming election for President of the United States. Obama, if I read correctly, is gambling that MOST people in the United States feel as he does. That most people struggle with these issues in the same ways and would like to see an end to partisan politics.

Well, the book seems to have way too much audacity, and not much hope.

This book to me was a great primer for people who aspire to be voted into an office. Some very interesting insights.

Senator Obama makes a compelling case for positive change. He builds his reasoned case from history, bringing in his personal experience and beliefs. I recommend especially the CD version of this book as you can hear the Senator's voice, so it is much like an extended, compelling speech. He covers several critical topics, providing recommended policy changes for each. To anyone interested in the potential that an Obama administration would have for America, please listen to or read what the Senator has to say.

I love to brag about my daughter's talents but have to admit drawing is not one of them! My five year old daughter would not complete some work in school that had to do with drawing. One time she even broke down crying in school when asked to draw a book so I knew I needed something to help her. This book is great! Very basic. Makes it so easy to learn! I showed my daughter the book and said `Follow the steps and draw the cat' She drew the cat and started laughing! She was so happy she could draw and it was so easy, no frustrations! I love it so much I bought more of these books! So if your child has lots of trouble drawing you should really try this book!

From the day my 5 year old daughter got hold of this book and "I can draw people" she is stuck with these. She completed 4 drawings at one sitting and always wants to do more. The best part is the simple visual instruction that shows the way without any adult supervision. Great book!

This book is not bad, but it's very basic. My child already can draw most of what is in it. But for preschool or kindergarten kids, it might come in handy. Or for elementary teachers who have kids that hate drawing pictures because they think it's too hard or they don't know how. It gives some nice step by step instructions, but doesn't give a whole lot of variety.

All in all, not bad for those kids who are not up to drawing anything yet. But if your child can draw a cat and fish and such, this book might be too easy and useless for them.

This is a fun book to keep the kids busy and have fun with them. It has easy steps to follow and the kids learned a lot about circles and shapes, and coloring.

Hours and hours of fun! My 4 year old daughter and my 4 year old nephew received these for Christmas. They both use these books for hours and we also do it as a family. These (I Can Draw Animals, I Can Draw People, What Shall I Draw Today) are the only ones we have so far, but they are super. Not only are these books teaching my little girl how to draw, but reinforcing time alone drawing, group activity, sharing and "Please pass the yellow", etc... Every child should have these books.

Young children will be entertained and educated by What's the World Made of?, finding out about the three states of matter. With lots of funny, silly illustrations and some scientific observations of everyday stuff, this slim volume will stimulate readers to learn more about the suject and become increasingly aware of the world around them.

Excellent.

Ordered this for my son's 6th birthday and he really enjoyed it! It's great at explaining it at a "kid level" and he giggled througout the book!

My son received this when he was almost 4, and understood the concepts of solid, liquid, and gases by 4.5yo! This describes the concepts in such a way that youngsters can easily understand, but won't bore older children. I would highly recommend this book, along with other books in the "Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science" series.

I have a 6-yr old boy and a 7-yr old girl. It's very rare to find anything that they agree on but with What Is the World Made Of? I was able to find a book that both of them would enjoy and learn from at the same time. The easy-to-follow language made it easy for them both to follow along. The fun pictures and odd bits of humor kept them interested and wanting to know more. A fantastic find & one I hope to be able to use for quite some time.

This book is an excellent way to introduce solids, liquids, and gases. I used it with a 3rd grade class and it was perfect!

I picked this up to learn Spanish over the summer. I'm pretty good with languages but if my girlfriend didn't speak Spanish as a native, it'd be a little frustrating to learn from only the book.

It's a decent book and the presentations and practice sentences are well organized. My criticism is that I am often reading words that are not defined in the book and without a native speaker next to me I wouldn't know what I was reading. Of course a Spanish/English dictionary would fix this problem, I was use to language texts that provided everything you needed in the book when I learned Japanese.

It's the one needed at UCLA (and I'm sure other schools too) for Spanish 1-3. It does a good job of showing examples.

The internet portion of this book lacks detail of how to follow for self
testing.

the book is alright. I mean its not amazing. its plus side is that it comes with a website that will read you certain things and the answers to all the sections are in the back so you can check your work, but the truly big help comes from haveing a good profesor/a BUT the quia lab and workbook that are an extra 30(+) dollars EACH are the real key to learning this material....as if the book isnt expensive enough already.

I received the product quickly and it was just as described, in perfect condition. Thank you!

This book kept my 3 grandkids from quarreling in the back seat of the van! Great entertainment!

This is a great book for long car trips or just to play at home.Some activities include:mini-mysteries, mazes, crossword puzzles, where to find this, coloring pages, car bingo and many, many other fun activities.Rand Mcnally is a great activity book company.I suggest getting this book, and SOON!

All I can say, what is it that the legal world is doing nothing? The case against W is clear, solid and a cake walk, if only someone will take the first step. I guess, despite what the author thinks about the JFK case, no one wants to be as brave as the only one to bring a court case in the assassination, Jim Garrison. A lot of fear in taking this to court, but it must be done.

And, for that matter, where is the press in regard to this book and what it contains?

If the Vincent Bugliosi that wrote this book was the same one that prosecuted Charles Manson, Manson surely would have been found Not Guilty and would probably be a major recording star for years, if he could keep himself from killing anyone.

Where to begin with this silly book? The book would better serve as Exhibit A in getting Mr. Bugliosi committed for suffering from Bush derangement syndrome. What he calls evidence is pitifully, laughably weak.

I wonder how Charles Manson would review this book?

Bugliosi has a precise and orderly mind. He gives relentless example after example of intentional lies, obstruction, and hiding that has resulted in so many deaths.

This book is a good reminder of how numb we have become listening to our politicians sidestep issues, lie, and cheat, with full impunity and immunity, because putting Bush's Iraq was history in a legal framework with logic and commonsense, and without the media's politic glisando, helps to see Bush & Co's war for wat it is: murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Impeachment is not enough. You don't fire someone and send them home with a pension for murder.

The more I read, the more I continue to be disgusted. If the death penalty is ever appropriate, Bush is the case.

This is one of the greatest and truest books I have read for ages! He really covers it well and repeats the worst aspects of the entire mess as it appears we have to do as it seems people are shocked into submission by what has gone on. Otherwise we'd see much more obvious anger than we have! We have to think about also that the Patriot Act wasn't written during the night of September 11, 2001, so that obviously was in the wings waiting to be foisted upon the people. And since the terrorists supposedly didn't like our freedoms, the elite are seeing that those are being eroded subtley but surely, a little at a time! Thank you Mr. Bugliosi for taking precious time to lay it on the line! You are a true patriot and care about America and its people! That speaks volumes.

In The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder, Mr. Bugliosi makes clear not only his righteous outrage over the clear criminal activity of the current President of the United States, but actually lays out a legal argument that could be used as a basis for indicting and convicting Bush for not only mass murder, but war crimes, genocide, and various other nefarious acts.

In biting, no holds barred language, Bugliosi takes the entire Bush Administration to task, showing that not only is the current White House occupant guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, as well as treason, but shows how this man must clearly be a sociopath due to complete lack of empathy towards those he has ordered off to war under false pretenses.

Any prosecutor worth his salt must read this book, and all Americans, pro Bushies and anti-Bushie alike, should take the time to sit down and hear the truth about our glorious leaders of today.