Some months back I received unbidden a copy of The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. Looking at the "for Children" part of the title, I briefly considered it for possible use as a reference for any of my students who might be interested in writing children's books. I put the book on the shelf and forgot about it. Finding myself recently in search of something that might deal intelligently with plot, I picked the book up and gave it the consideration I should have when it first fell into my hands. I found in it not a book for the writing of children's literature, but perhaps the most lucid, accessible, well organized, relevant, complete and credible work on fiction writing in my entire collection of texts on writing. I found my own ideas said better than I can say them myself. What is said in this book resonates with so much validity and clarity that I am sorry that I have wasted so much of my time and my students' time trying to teach without this text. I have corrected that situation by reorganizing the reading materials for my workshops, making The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children a required reading and a central part of our discussion.

Charles Connor, Director
Harriette Austin Writing Program
The University of Georgia

Reading this book is not only instructive but pleasurable. Lamb's voice is that of personal tutor, mentor and friend, giving good solid instruction in storytelling and instilling courage into the writer who falters along the way. Nancy Lamb has experienced the angst and the ecstasy of creativity, and every page is chock full of her humor, knowledge and sensitivity. I wish I had owned this book before writing my first young adult novel! I highly recommend it to beginning as well as accomlished authors. There is something here for every weaver of stories.

What a perfect book for every wordsmith from the aspiring writer to the published one. Nancy Lamb has much to offer any creative individual--not only writers of children and young adult books. Her advice is succinct, wise, humerous, and inspiring. If you can only purchase one book then this should be the one.

This book is a genuine treasure for those trying to explain to children the painful events that can occur into today's world. That's because children's experiences and voices are honored within a caring adult context and structure. I found the children's remarks had a cumulative, powerful, and even healing effect, which reflected accurately their concerns and showed them trying to make sense of a tragic and frightening event. In the end the reader is left with not only the very real anger and loss, but with the incredible spirit of everyone--both within Oklahoma and outside of Oklahoma--who reached out in compassion to help a fellow human being. Ms. Lamb, an Oklahoma native, was in Oklahoma City when the Federal Building was bombed. Perhaps that gives her book its ring of authenticity. We owe her thanks for taking on such a difficult subject and writing about it in a realistic, but reassuring way. This one's a keeper.

I liked this book! The children's views are very telling. We always think of the children when we picture this horrible event, and those are the people we hear from in this book. Thank you, Nancy Lamb

The Great Mosquito, Bull, and Coffin Caper by Nancy Lamb is a perfect book for life long pals to read. It reminded me of my youth and my own best friend. It takes the reader out on the crazy and fun adventures of two best friends who try hard to perform unforgettable feats for the sole purpose of simply never forgetting each other. It's a touching story, too. If you've ever moved away from your first home, at a young age, then this story will be especially meaningful. Anyone could read this book. It's friendly and funny. Nancy Lamb has done well, again!

This book is really funny and tells the truth about worrying when your best friend has to move. Also the parts about Zander and his awful big brother Marvin reminded me of my brothers! Read it!

I bought this book 8 years ago (I'm 20 at the time of this writing) and I was hooked. I've been a fan of horror, ghosts, haunted houses, and all that other good stuff ever since. This is an excellent book to spark interests and is not too scary for younger readers. Don't pass this one up.

In 1993, my son Brian was dx with ALL. He went throught treatment until Dec. 1996. In 1997 he relapsed. Since then, I have joined an online support group and had many questions. Nancy's book was recommended to me. This book has explainations on what leukemia is, how the blood works in the body, and things to expect from your child as a cancer patient. It is a book that is written in a style that is very understandable, especially to the newly diagnosed parents. You don't have to be a doctor to be able to understand the information.

"Childhood Leukemia" by Nancy Keene is a book I recommend to everybody I meet who has a child newly diagnosed with leukemia. Everything you need to know is in this book. Easy to understand, Nancy's book has removed a lot of the anxiety I have carried throughout my 4 year old son's treatment. Appropriate information can be found from whatever stage of treatment your child may be at. I don't know how I made it through my son's first year without this book.... Thanks Nancy :)

Nancy Keene's book, "Childhood Leukemia", is the best book in print for parents and other caregivers who have a child facing the arduous but very successful treatment for a once incurable disease. "Childhood Leukemia" bridges the gap between the hoodoo of inspirational books and the voodoo of medical texts. Using her background in biology, Nancy dispels the terror that the word cancer engenders - a terror that needn't be, now that over 85 percent of children with leukemia are cured -- by describing medical terms and procedures in lay terms, and offering practical methods for coping with pain, boredom, depression and uncertainty, as well as childhood development after cancer. This book is organized so that one can read and assimilate only what's meaningful and absorbable at a given stage, yet its comprehensive scope insures that this will be the book you check first to find the answers you need. Nancy pays special attention to the emotional aspects of coping with childhood cancer, merging many first-person accounts from parents who have found unique ways to handle each obstacle that has arisen. Indeed, this book would serve well as a reference for anyone coping with any childhood cancer.

I think that you should read "The Worlds Greatest Toe Show". It is interesting, exciting, and funny. Here is a summery about the book. "The Worlds Greatest Toe Show" is about a group that wanted the best both in the fair. One of those people was Emily. A few months ago her father was in a bicycle accident and lost his toe. The next day alot of people went to the place of the accident to try to find the toe but no one could. A week later Emily went to the place of the accident and found the lost toe. She didnt tell anyone until now. So after she told the group her idea and everyone thought that would be the greatest. The day of the fair came and everyone thought it was the dance. The price was one touch 75 cents, one peak 50 cents. Then two girls cam ein and got freaked and knocked the table over which caused the toe to fall off. Then the table hit them both which made a mess and.... I hope this summary will make you want to read the book!!!

It's school fair time, and the five members of the Canal Street Kids are eager to win the grand prize by bringing in the most money with their booth. Their mission is to come up with a better booth idea than their archrivals, snooty Bunny Bigelow and Violetta Epstein.

While Bunny and Violetta's organic bake sale booth (color-coordinated in periwinkle and cranberry) attempts haut cuisine (or at least haut décor,) the Canal Street Kids' booth aims a tad lower. The main attraction? Emily's father's severed toe.

This is exactly the type of gross humor that appeals to grade school kids. The grossness is handled very lightly, so the book should appeal equally to girls and boys (which is good since the Canal Street Kids have both boy and girl members and the series itself is unisex.) The length is just right for upper elementary readers and the pencil drawings, liberally sprinkled throughout, support the text nicely.

Having loved Betty's first book "Love, Ellen" I was surprised to be a little disappointed by this one. Still full of love and support, Betty does have good points to make; however, it gets to sounding like a broken record after a time. I think Betty's problem lies in the fact that society can sound a lot like a broken record on this subject, and feeling passionate about her own side, Betty states her points over and over again to compensate. Her style in this book is a bit more rushed and choppy. But, as it is a quick read, and has more specific advice spelled out for parents of gay children, I would still recommend the book to anyone interested in gay rights and coming out (from both sides of the fence--those doing it, and those hearing it).

For any gay child, reading more from Betty DeGeneres confirms that we want to adopt her as our own Mom. More personal disclosure than her first effort. The unfortunate breakup between Ellen and Anne makes the timing of this release a bit awkward though. For any parent who is struggling to deal with their child's sexual orientation, this is a must-read book.

"Just a Mom" was a tremendous help to me when I was struggling to overcome my ignorance about my daughter's homosexuality. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a gay loved one.