I received this book as a gift for my first son 2 years ago and I wanted another one for my second son. I couldn't find it in the bookstore, so a friend suggested amazon.com and there it was! I ordered one for keeping track of my second son's health and am ordering one now for a friend who just had a baby. It is the perfect gift.

I received this book as a baby shower gift for my first baby. Now that I am expecting another baby in April I searched everywhere for more copies. I finally found it here. There are not enough good things to say about this book. It is a full record of your child's health from dr. visits to first teeth, birthday celebrations to important steps in development. It is a must for every child in your family. I am ordering for myself and extra for gifts. Well worth the investment!

I bought this book not knowing what to expect. I wanted a book to record my daughter's medical records and milestones. I was VERY pleased when I received it. It wasn't as big as I thought it would be but I have found that it is the perfect size. It is a spiral bound notebook that is seperated by early months then years. For the first year, it has pages for feeding notes, milestones, birth history, pediatrician information and doctor visits. All throughout the book there are pages for illnesses, injuries, checkups and sick visits to the doctor. For each year, there are places to put notes about birthdays, talking/senteces, etc.. What is great about it is that it goes up to 9 years and has little notes about that year in baby or child's life.
I suggest that every new mom/parent get this book. It's a great way to keep up with your baby's life. It goes beyond most ordinary baby books. Another thing I love about it is that there are plenty of lines to write little notes about everything. I'm a writer so that is one of my favorite features.

When I went to my public library a couple of days ago, I never imagined that I would come across two of the best books ever written by a very talented author. 'From Anna' and 'Listen for the Singing' touched me deeply, in a way that no other book has had the ability to do. Although it's language is simple and the style is nothing too out of the ordinary, Jean Little was able to use easy words in a very good way.

The last time 'From Anna' was borrowed was early 1997. Most of us would most probably never take a second glance at the book -- that is, if we judged a book by it's cover. However, if one takes the time to read deeper and look beyond the cover, they will find that they have stumbled across an extraordinary book.

The story starts off with a young 9-year-old Anna Solden, nicknamed 'Awkward Anna' by her older siblings. Anna is indeed very clumsy and klutzy, hence the nickname. When she hears her family is moving from German to Canada, Anna is devastated. She can't learn German; how will she ever cope with English?! But shortly after her arrival in Canada, Thanks to Dr Franz Schumacher and his discovery that Anna has a severe vision disability, Anna receives a pair of glasses, which bring forth a world she never knew -- a world where words and letters aren't masses of grey blur, a world where numbers stay on the page and where the everything is clear and bright.

Anna is sent to a special sight-saving class in order to repair the damage done to her eyes and salvage as much of the remaining ones. There, she learns things about herself -- she CAN have friends, she IS skilled and most of all, she has confidence. Her friends and teacher, Miss Williams, see a whole new Anna devloping as the year draws to a end. A new Anna very different from the old one. And with their help and support, she finally learns to confront her family with secrets that they never knew.

A truly touching and moving story with a very fitting ending. Get this book, enjoy it and read the second one -- 'Listen for the Singing', which is just as good, if not better! A definite book I would recommend with two thumbs up!

I have deeply loved this book since I was a little girl. It is very touching and you might even cry if you read it.

Anna Solden is the youngest of 5 children. She and her family leave Germany and emigrate to Canada in 1933. Anna, then 9 wonders why she can't draw or knit like her sisters or help her brothers shovel snow or do any of the sundry household chores that want doing. Anna's father is a very kind man who recognizes Anna's potential and encourages her every step of the way.

Once in Canada, the Solden children are given a routine physical. The doctor, aghast to learn that Anna suffers from low vision works like a soldier to get Anna enrolled in a Sight Savers class. Once there, Anna flourishes. Outfitted with eyeglasses, she sees just what she had been missing all along. She develops confidence in her newfound abilities and makes friends readily with her classmates.

Anna, still determined to prove her worth is desperate to come up with Christmas gifts for her parents and siblings. Her teacher, a very wise woman suggested that the class weave wastebaskets. They do and Anna's basket is the one that stands the straightest without even the slightest hint of a bend. Stroked further by her teacher's praise, Anna sets to work finding ways to get gifts for everyone. She writes a beautiful poem for a classmate who defended her ("Benjamin Nathaniel/Braver than Daniel"), writes a hilariously illustrated dictionary of new words she learned for another classmate and, on Christmas morning presents her parents and siblings with the basket. Shock abounds and her siblings jeer at her, saying she could not have done that basket without help.

Ever ready to fight for her, Anna's father chews out the other four children reminding them that had they not had the help and input of others, they, too, would have turned up empty handed on Christmas. Everyone relents, and Anna's gentle father springs a lovely surprise for all -- Anna had invited some guests for Christmas and he heartily endorsed her request. The guests -- Anna's teacher and doctor!

This is a masterpiece. It is a classic.

"From Anna" tells the story of a young German girl whose family moves to Canada.Anna and her family learn about physical handicaps,financial problems and cultural differences as they settle into their new home.Most of all,though,they learn about love - a love that overflows at Christmas into a gift - a gift from Anna. I read this book more than twelve years ago,as an eight-year-old in a school library in St.John's,Canada.My family,like Anna's,had just moved to Canada(from India),and I was learning to cope.Like Anna,I too had to wear glasses and struggled with the same feelings of insecurity.Even today,I will never forget how I identified with Joan Little's book.I just hope that this tale will touch the hearts of many more readers.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH VITOU AND I HAD THE FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF HIS STORY. HE NEVER STOP TO AMAZE ME FOR THEIR WELL TO SURVIVE.THIS STORY SHOW THE TERMENDOUS COURAGE AND STRONG WELL TO SURVIVE AMONG MONSTERS WHO HAVE NO REGARDS TO FELLOW HUMANS, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AND RISK YOUR LIFE EVEN FOR THE BASIC NECESITY OF LIFE JUST TO SURVIVE. THIS IS AN EPIC OF FORGOTTEN HOLOCUST AND THE STORY OF A CAMBODIAN FAMILY GOING THROUGH HELL AN BACK. A SUCCESS STORY OF A FAMILY MOVING TO A COUNTRY WITH A DIFFERNT CULTURE AND LANGAUGE AND MAKING SOMETHING OF THEMSELVES. I AM PROUD TO BE A FRIEND OF VITOU AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, IT WOULD MAKE YOU APPRECIATE MORE OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN LIFE.

"To Destroy You Is No Loss is an extrodinary book; it should be read by those who wish to understand this or any genocide, by those who would like to better know the Cambodians among us, and by those who are concerned about the still unresolved tradegey of the world's refugees. Criddle's book is far more than a history of annihilation. Like the finest examples of Holocaust literature, it is an affirmation of teh human spirit, of the will to prevail. It is the proof of the possibility of endurance of the human dignity in the face of incredible brutality. This book is in fact a deeply disturbing real-life story.

Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

This book deals with the most important topic of the coming decade for the criminal justice system: what to do when all of the massive numbers of criminals we have sent to prison come home. Petersilia not only describes all of the legal and practical hurdles criminals face when they begin reintegration, but she identifies how we can actually help them return to the community. This book is an easy read with an invaluable compilation of the latest statistics and summary of the challenges of life after incarceration.
Petersilia has written an academic piece with both theoretical and policy influence. It is a must read for criminologists, but most importantly for all practitioners in the criminal justice system from police and prosecution to corrections and parole. For students, the book provides a necessary education of the implications of recent law and public policy.
This is an excellent text for all of those interested in the criminal justice system. Petersilia succinctly describes what we have done wrong, then she provides recommendations for the future.

In "When Prisoners Come Home," Petersilia not only describes parole and reentry, but also the impact the war on drugs has had on young people. In short: too many people to prison, too many prisoner returns, and in the end--too many lost lives. The author also outlines the impact of a number of unintended consequences for families, communities, and children of the prisoners coming home.

There hasn't been a book written on parole in over 30 years. This is a much needed publication and should be read by anyone interested in corrections and sentencing policy. However, anyone with even a casual interest in current correction's issues will find this book engaging, interesting, and easy to read.

Today, there are more than 600,000 inmates leaving prison and returning to their communities each year. This high number taxes communities, the correctional system, and the resources needed to assist in the prison-community transition. This book deals with the most important correctional topic of the coming decade: what to do when all the prisoners come home. Petersilia not only describes how we help prisoners return, but also identified all of the legal and practical hurdles they face in their reintegration challenges. It is critical that those interested in corrections, community cohesion, and saving tax dollars read and understand the challenges and opportunities that are available in improving the reentry process. There has not been a new book on parole in 30 years. Petersilia's book is the major resource available to begin this study of prisoner reentry.

Petersilia continues to define community corrections in her unique, empirically-oriented, style. Her writing is lucid, non-pretentious, and cutting-edge. Whether you are an academic or not, you will find this book totally readable and useful. This book goes through the entire parole and prisoner reentry continuum. Describing who is coming home, how well they are prepared, and what their contribution to crime in the community is likely to be. Petersilia also describes the impact on victims.
Victim advocates will find the chapter on how victims can play a
stronger role in parole and reentry as excellent.

Petersilia not only describes parole and reentry, but the impact of the war on drugs on young people. Too many people to prison, to many prisoner returns...and too many lost lives. Petersilia outlines a number of unintended consequences for families, communities, and children of all the prisoners coming home.

Petersilia identifies 12 policy recommendations for rethinking prison programs, parole release, and post-prison supervision. This book should be of tremendous use to correctional practitioners, academics, and all those interested in correctional policy. Strongly recommended.

As the daughter of a true Torchbearer, I deeply appreciate the candor, humor, and professionalism with which this book analyzes these women's lives. So many books have been written in the "spirit" of celebrating all women and their achievements, but they seem to be long on sentiment and theory and short on real research. Evans and Avis carefully structured their research to include women's persepctives about all areas of their lives but also leave the reader a great deal of room to understand and infer what s/he will. I also agree that most Torchbearers do not take enough credit for their culture-changing actions and attitudes, and I truly look forward to the day when (hopefully) my daughter and I can watch a "History of Women's Empowerment" program, and I can say to her that her grandmother was a woman who broke all the rules. More than any other I have ever read (and, as a psych major, I have read many), this book explains my mother as a member of this generation in a way I never could understand before. Plus, I now know that she really was part of a movement that, not unlike the civil rights movement, was part personal and part political. It brought Bell Hook home to me for the first time, without quoting her once.

I think this book is a must-read for all daughters AND SONS of Torchbearer mothers.

Just a hint, though, to those TB's rushing immediately to Amazon.com: You raised these kids, you know they won't read it if YOU suggest it : ) ha ha

One final note: I came to Amazon.com today for the first time ever (although I have previously used many e-commerce sites) expressly to buy 10 copies of this book to mail to my other 20-something girlfriends. Hey gen-x'ers: it's really THAT good!

The result of Evans and Avis's five-year collaboration is an extraordinary book, The Women who Broke all the Rules, containing stories based on ideas, motivations, and behaviors of 100 selected female representatives of the Torchbearer Generation (individuals born between 1945 and 1955). By utilizing an effective interview questionnaire, designed by the authors and provided in the Appendix, as well as by conducting extensive face-to-face interviews, Evans and Avis have accomplished a difficult task. They have successfully managed to combine four decades of thousands of childhood, adolescent, and adult memories into an enticing exploration of American social history.

Pleasantly surprising, these 100 Torchbearers are not easily recognized public figures, superstars, or celebrities. Instead, they may be readily distinguished as any one of our own trusted wives, older sisters, younger sisters, cousins, aunts, friends, and colleagues who have had to "reconcile their 1950s childhoods with their more liberated adult selves." Whether married, divorced, remarried, childless, with children, or invested in any other combination of personal realities, the self-made female heroes in this book are cleverly discussed within the concepts of "old rules" (e.g, "Your families' values, beliefs, and practices should be yours") or "new truths" (e.g., "Honor your traditions but act on what you think is right"). Understandable, engaging, and thought-provoking, this fine piece of work presents significant "choices" to think about and discuss with friends, lovers, or family members.

Instead of characterizing women born in the 1940s and 50s as selfish, anti-male, unappealing and unattractive, the authors portray them as questioning and adventurous, with an incredible enÝhusiasm for learning and life. In my own doctoral reseach, when I asked middle-age women if their lives were better than that of their "silent" mothers (the post-Depression, post World War II housewives), they replied, "Different, not better." They admitted that they have many more alternatives than their mothers had, which makes their lives more complicated. To guide women through this multitude of lifestyle choices, the authors offer "New Truths" and advice for young women. Their positive portrayal of midlife women inspires women who read the book to have confidence in the often rocky road of their own career and personal development.

It's clear the recipes in "Cucina & Famiglia" have been handed down and refined within the family over the years because they all work very well. They're not complicated, but they are satisfying. A few are even inventive, like chicken lasagna that uses besciamella sauce in place of cheese, lentils with spaghetti (once you taste this you wonder why you hadn't tried it long ago) and of course, the timpano. I find myself returning to this book more than any other except perhaps "Vegetarin Cooking for Everyone".

Many will buy this book for the Timpano recipe. I must say that there is just so much more to this book besides that. I've made close to 15 of the dishes in it and they are all gold so far. In particular, I must recommend the vegetable torte. The crust is absolutely fantastic and easy to make if you have a food processor.

As for the Timpano itself, a friend and I made it and it was quite the event. It took about three days to make sure that we had all the things we needed (sauce and meat need to be made ahead of time, not to mention side dishes). One thing to consider before attempting it is the right basin. Enamel basins like the one in the movie are not made any more, so they are difficult to find. I actually was able to secure one from a company recommended by the book, but it took a few days to track down a retailer. I was also able to get one that looked exactly like the one in the movie, but it was used and I don't know what for, so for the sake of being sanitary I went with the one from the retailer. After it was all said and done, the Timpano was everything we expected and more. Follow the recipe exactly and don't skimp on any of the ingredients, it may seem like collosal ammounts of food, but I tell you that it is all accurate.

Bottom line: fantastic cookbook with excellent recipies, comprehensive and easy instructions with preparations requirements that will appeal to everyone from the novice to the expert! Buy it now!

This book is a work of love, and as we all know...Food is Love. This cookbook is as interesting to read as it is to use. The stories of the emmigration of their families from Italy, bringing their culinary traditions with them and developing new ones in America, are as facinating as the food you'll prepare.

Joan Tropiano Tucci is the mother of actor Stanley Tucci, who wrote the forward and made the movie "Big Night" about a failing restaurant trying to come up with "the" signature dish to keep it alive. The timpano recipe from the movie is here.

There are chapters on appetizers, eggs, soups, pasta, bread, different meats, seafood, vegetables and desserts. Everything you need to know to prepare a fabulous meal for your family and friends is here.

Follow the recipes and you will enjoy a lush culinary experience that can only result from well developed family traditions. Get out your Pavarotti records and get cookin'. "Most of the world eats to live, but the Italians live to eat." Mange, mange!

It's not an easy feat to write a fantasy novel that will stand out from others, but that is exactly what Ann Chamberlain has done. She has adeptly managed to seamlessly blend truth, fiction and myth in a story that transports readers to another time and place. Although there are instances where the names and places were a bit confusing, it was easy to overlook that and focus on how skillfully the story was told. It read more like history than fantasy and at times I had to remind myself that the spells of magic in the book were fictional...or weren't they? That's what Ms.Chamberlain makes you think and feel. At some points in the book I felt the influence of pagan rites (for lack of a better term) and realized that she had successfully woven it into her story and managed to show it in a better light than others have previously done. In this story the heretical and heathenish behavior unfavored by the Catholic church was shown to the reader to have origins of good intentions--something that I'd never seen before in a book. Ms. Chamberlain's storytelling also was successful in creating characters that were extremely likeable and/or despicable. I pitied Jean Le Drapier and also liked and disliked Gilles, his milk-brother. I have yet to make a determination about his character until the next book, which unfortunately won't be out for several months. For me, this book is exceptionally good and I'll be sure to put it right next to my other favorite trilogy: The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series by Tad Williams.

I borrowed this book from the library and found it so captivating and enjoyable that I plan to buy. It is definitely a book you would likely read more than once.

The basis of the book is a story of pagan religion & magic in France -- it is told from the point of view of the main character (a child) who grows up seeing horrible violence and wonderful magic. He learns about life and love and the wonders of magic and the world. Ann Chamberlin tells the story with such clarity that you can picture what it was like during that century, you can picture the fantastic situations as they happen -- a wonderful writer! Any fantasy enthusiast will enjoy this story. Wonderful book!

I look forward to book two with great enthusiasm!

I borrowed this book from the library and find it so captivating and enjoyable that I plan to buy it now.

Any fantasy enthusiast will enjoy this story of pagan religion mixed with magic. Wonderful book!

I look forward to book two with great enthusiasm!

The first time I read this book was while I was in second grade. It was one of my favorite books to read. Today I am now getting ready to finish my associate's degree at the University of South Carolina and still give this book my highest regards. It is a wonderful book that encourages the thoughts and feelings of all young children, and will most definitely create a lasting effect.

We had this book and the copy was so old that it fell apart from reading it so much. My son who is now 4, memorized it at age 2 and we are purchasing another copy because he asked for it the other day so that he could read it to his two year old sister. It is easy to read and understand and children really enjoy it. We highly recommend it and it makes a great gift.

As a kid, I loved this book dearly. My father read it to me so many times, that when I was in college he could still repeat long passages of it from memory. Everyone I know who has children has received this as a present from me soomer or later. I highly recommend it.

While this book was written for a primarily American audience, it still made alot of good sense for me as a New Zealand mother-to-be. What she proposes is really very simple - moving away from the overparenting trap, including our children as part of our lives as women rather than our whole reason for being, allowing the parenting to extend beyond just the nuclear family and most importantly of all, elevating the role of the father as parent. Made sense to me.

No mother returns to work without some feeling of ambivalence. This book does a solid job of dispelling the myths of the benefits of the always available mother which society seems to call for and gives so many reasons why Mother's work outside the home is good for the whole family. I have read it over and over and find new jewels of wisdom each time. Ms. Peters speaks of the value of work with confidence and conviction while never losing her tenderness when voicing so beautifully the absolute joy which children bring to our lives.

As a woman contemplating beginning a family, I've been concerned with the issue of how I will balance my desire to be a good parent while also still having a life. I wasn't looking for validation of a career choice so much as guidance for thinking about the issue on my own. To that end, I found this book to be extremely useful and stimulating for thought--Joan Peters shed light on attitudes and assumptions I have had without every questioning or examining their sources. I came to realize that many of them are not consistent with my values, and reading the book was the first step in changing them. I appreciate the book's sensitivity to the many concerns women have regarding motherhood and career, and the fact that it isn't just saying "buck up and put your kid in childcare, you have a right." That would not have served me. Instead, it focuses much more on gender issues and how we can adapt parenting to better include both the mother and father for the everyone's benefit. It also brings to light the way that some women use having children as a way to avoid identity conflicts of their own. She asks some tough questions with regard to this, which I think will help some women get to the heart of their real motives for motherhood. If you simultaneously feel that you weren't put on the earth solely to reproduce but also care deeply about doing right by your children, this book will assist you in striking a balance that will work.

I've bought this and other books regarding knee rehab etc. and found this one is great if you want to find out how to maximise the use of critches after your surgery. There is very little information on what you need to do for rehab.

If your looking for a book to help you get about on crutches after surgery, it covers every thing from climbing stairs to driving!, try this one.

I agree, every orthopaedic patient should leave the hospital with this book! My only wish is that I'd had it sooner after discharge. Helps with topics other titles just don't cover, like flying while disabled, etc.

One year ago I snapped my patella tendon playing basketball. It sounded like a broomstick breaking, and my kneecap went up my thigh. I never thought I'd walk again. Not being able to walk made me realize how many things we take for granted: kicking my dog in the ribs, dressing up re-enacting Nadia Commenici's 1980 olympic balance beam performance, or dancing around my living room to the new brand new Huey Lewis and the news CD. Thank you Sally!