Erika Karres, Ed.D. adds exceptional insight into helping adults turn kids around and away from violent behavior. She provides numerous basic and sound practices, positive approaches, and fool-proof methods valuable to any adult living or working with children who face violence as a way of life. Erika's book is truly a blessing to those willing to listen and learn.

Discussing violence as a symptom of underlying cultural problems, Dr. Karras provides us with eight specific indicators of potential violent acts by young people. She also provides 77 practical, pre-emptive suggestions of what concerned people can do immediately to take command as primary caregiver to the young. In my 36 years in the classroom, and raising four children, I have never read anything to compare with the clarity of these suggestions. Dr. Karras offers them to complement love and concern, with the perspective of an adult taking charge of raising a responsible and sensitive human, rather than handing this task to violence-glamorizing media.

This book is the best! It is a MUST for all teachers! It covers ways to really reach your students as well as keep your sanity. I cannot say enough... It is invaluable! Do not hesitate to purchase this incredible book. I cannot believe this is not mandatory to all educators!

I loved this book! There is so much talk today about discipline and consequences. It was great to hear about warmth and rapport in teaching. If you use these techniquese you'll find students are naturally more cooperative and positive. I like the practical approach---lots of ready to use ideas, and meant to be copied, pages. A wonderful side benefit is that it makes teaching more fun for the teacher too.

I met one of the authors at a conference a couple of years ago, and was enchanted with her style so I bought the book. It is wonderful! Great ideas and practical games that teach lessons with multiple target educational objectives. I'm a motivational speaker and a theatre teacher. Working with the kinesthetic learner is a challenge. These exercises help make learning fun!

Although the illustrations are good, this will not appeal to everyone. I was always a bit uncomfortable reading aloud a few of the traditional verses -- "she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed" -- is an especially alarming example. But adults don't always give children enough credit; many generations have mentally sorted through these verses with no lasting harm. The rhythm, cadence and whimsy of the original versions have been sacrificed to be replaced with clumsy morals and motivational messages.

I've shared this book with my oldest granddaughter and she loves it. I've also bought a copy for my newest granddaughter. Hopefully her parents will bring her up with the mindset contained within. Why anyone would criticize this book as saccharine is beyond me. Isn't there already enough pain, fear, anger etc. in the world?

This was one of our family's FAVORITE books when my kids were preschoolers! The sing-song nature of the rhymes makes them easier to memorize, and the positive outlook they imbue is so refreshing compared to the dark outlook of so many of the rhymes they replace. It's just unfortunate that the kids wound up learning the original versions of the rhymes at school and don't remember these bright alternatives.

Unlike Ms. Loomans "Lovables" Books this one is geared to older children. It is in a desk calendar-type format with inspirational and multicultural ideas to practice each day of the year. It inpires one to think and do. The ideas are simple enough for a child to follow but thought provoking for adults. I suggest we all have a calendar to remember that each of us, and all we meet are worth the love.

This is one of the best books for reading to your children. Because kids love animals the author does a great job of relating animals they recognize to critical traits of positive self esteem. The pictures are very colorful and eye-catching which draws attention. The supporting proses provides an opportunity to reinforce a positive message of self-esteem over and over. I find the book to be a favorite as a baby gift. I have received incredible notes of thanks from the parents.

I found this book truly lovable. The message is clear. My child (4 years) loves it. He says he's lovable too :) I found it quite simple to read and very clear. I enjoy reading this to my child just as much as he enjoys listening and taking part.

This book is a great books! My children enjoy the colorful pictures and the clever way the pages rhyme. I've given several copies to my children's teachers to add to their classroom libraries. It may be over done graphically for some children but the message of the book is an important one. It's nice to be reminded of how special each one of us are!