Patricia Cox and Maggi Gorden effectively collaborate to present American Quilt Classics, a beautiful, full-color photographic showcase of Patricia's personal collection of more than 300 antique quilts. From an 1820's strippy chintz to quilts made for the Red Cross during World War I and quilts created from feed sacks during the Great Depression, American Quilt Classics is a showcase that captures a slice of history as well as amazing craft patterns. The text describing the known history of individual quilts adds flair to their presentation, and sample quilting projects for the reader are also included. American Quilt Classics is an informative and inspiring book for needlecrafters with a passion for quilts!

This is a great idea for a book, but many wonderful family movies are left out, for example, the hilarious "A Christmas Story", "Oliver!", "The Red Balloon", and "Swiss Family Robinson" to name a few (in fact, pretty much all the great Disney live-action movies of the 50's, 60's and 70's are excluded). The book seems to have more coverage of adult movies that might be OK for kids (They have "On the Waterfront" and "The Third Man" in there, for heaven's sake). The authors are pretty good about including notes as to violence content, but seem to downplay factors like sexual behavior and painful storylines in assigning appropriateness of these films for children.

This book should be in every household. With busy schedules a lot of parents don't have the time to research movies, this book does it all for them, easy,fun and caring. It also fits the bill for grandparents.I can't tell you how many times we rented videos not sure if the contents would be suitable for our 6 and 9 year old grandchildren. Thank you Patricia and Steve, you have a winner.

The title says it all! This terrific book recommends the best FAMILY videos -- not just the best videos for kids. If you want to find something to watch together with your children, this is the guide for you -- these are movies that everyone can enjoy. The reviews are lively and personal, and the authors give convincing reasons for their preferences. When they have a prejudice -- not liking Buster Keaton, for example -- they admit it. I also liked the category lists at the back of the book: "Ten Tasteless Movies You Can Safely Say Yes To;" "Ten Sibling Sagas;" "Ten Best Animal Films."

Cut by Patricia McCormick tells the chilling story of a teenage girl with an unusual addiction: cutting herself. This story goes inside a residential treatment facility to expose the world of teenage mental and behavior disorders. The most powerful aspect of this story is how easily it is to relate to the main character, Callie. Callie's story is not extreme: she feels that her family doesn't pay much attention to her, and she blames herself for her brother's illness. She finds relief in cutting herself. This works well for her until the school nurse notices her scares. Callie suddenly finds her self at Sea Pines, a residential treatment facility for teenage girls.
McCormick dives right into the thoughts and minds of this teenage girl as Callie is the narrator, and the story is told as if she is talking to her therapist. This book raises some important questions. When is a young person old enough to read a book that so vividly tells the story of girls who struggle with such heavy issues? Should issues such as suicide, self mutilation, pain and depression be discussed with children? How should these issues be discussed? McCormick describes a dark and grim reality for many teenagers today. Is it important for teenagers to be aware of such things? It is so easy to relate to Callie, so easy that it is scary for the reader to think "that could be me." Will Cut give teenagers a sense of hopelessness, or a sense of hope? This book starts out seemingly hopeless, with Callie refusing to talk to anyone, not even using her vocal cords. Eventually, as the reader goes on, a sense of control is gain. There is a sense that all is not hopeless, that Callie does have control over her situation.
This book is not to be taken lightly. This type of situation is very real for many teenagers and adults all over the world. Teenagers need to know that. Even so, this book should not be read without discussion. This book addresses some important, yet difficult issues that should not be looked over by anyone: adults or teenagers.

I recently read "Cut", by Patricia McCormick. "Cut" is a well-written book, and I found it quite easy to relate to. The issues the characters deal with in "Cut" are issues young adults around the world face daily. Callie reminds me a little bit of myself. But she reminds me more of some of my friends, trying to make sense of the world they live in, and trying to cope with it in any way that they possibly can. (Page 3) " Then I placed the blade next to the skin on my palm. A tingle arched across my scalp. "The floor tipped up to me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next. What happened next was that a perfect straight line of blood bloomed from under the edge of the blade. The line grew into a long, fat bubble, a lush crimson bubble that got bigger and bigger. I watched from above, waiting to see how big it would get before it burst. When it did I felt awesome. Satisfied, finally. Then exhausted."
I believe the theme of "Cut" is that, every one has problems, and everyone deals with them in different ways, but no one can help you deal with your problems unless you allow them. I agree with the theme. I have problems and so does everybody I know. Sometimes I want to deal with a problem on my own and no matter how hard people try to help me it will never work unless I allow them to.
I recommend "Cut" to young adults, and adults especially those who are parents. I recommend "Cut" to young adults, because they can easily relate to the characters in the story. I think Cut can help adults to understand what young adults deal with, and to possibly remind them of what they went through when they were Callie's age.

15-year-old Callie has been institutionalized for what she's doing to herself. She cuts her wrists, arms, and hands and she doesn't know why. It could be her parents who don't know how to deal or her brother who is very sick or maybe something else. She doesn't know. But she's not willing to ask for help. In fact she's not talking at all. She doesn't say a single word in therapy, or group therapy where both girls with eating disorders, and drug addictions talk about their problems. As Callie starts to come out of her shell and speak in therapy a new girl comes to the clinic who cuts herself and shows off her scars with pride. Cut is amazing book about an issue that is rarely dealt with in teenage literature but is often dealt with in real life. If you enjoyed books such as Girl interupted and want to learn more about self mutilation and mental hospitals, or just read a great YA book, this is for you. I reccomend this to anyone who's a fan of realistic teenage books.

Though it supposedly covers all the issues related to add(medication,legal etc.) this book simply lacks the substance. Try searching with google.com instead.

If you're having trouble in college (undergrad or grad) read/buy this book (despite the cost)! Other books on "childhood" & adult AD/HD just repeat the same basic info & don't deal with the specific challenges postsecondary education poses. This is for those already familiar with the basics of AD/HD & are searching for coping mechanisms, ESPECIALLY those struggling in college (Don't feel ashamed. I'm there too.). Some caring professionals in academia questioned the effectiveness of current methods, guidelines, interventions, etc. on AD/HD students. The preface sums up the format/vision: "a compilation of articles written in response to the unique needs of young adults with AD/HD who are attending college .... Recent research on AD/HD supports the need for recognition and treatment for this segment of the postsecondary population. Educational programming for these students must, therefore, now include medical, psychological, and academic interventions to address all aspects of this complex disorder." This wonderful, holistic, approach recognizes the unique problems of AD/HD. For example, a toaster & a toaster oven (students with disorders) may both burn toast (not succeed) but you don't fix them the exact same way. Finally, someone out there understood this! For example, one article discusses the differences between LD & AD/HD, showing different methods must be used. To further this horrible metaphor - these professionals examined all parts of the "toaster oven" (AD/HD students - carrying out several functions w/ the trun of a knob) & tried to figure out how to service, not just the heat element (impulsivity/attention span), but the power cord, knobs, and electrical outlet (psychological, academic, & medical interventions). They recognize how gender, comorbidites (disorders that coexist w/ AD/HD), legal issues, & others can effect students' success in college. This refreshing approach to looking at the whole student & caring about their wellness & success almost made me cry. I'm fed up with "red-tape" & not knowing what's out there and what will TRULLY HELP me finally finish college (I'm working on 6 yrs now). My hope is renewed & my battle attack revised after reading this. I plan to use this book to help dispell the frustrating struggle of fellow ADDers in college, illustrate the need for new stratagemin AD/HD treatment in college and initiate/facilitate change & growth in student disability programs (starting with UC Davis). I felt like a failure, despite "solutions" offered in books, medications, therapy & (insufficient) accomodations. For example, I perfectly understood, retained & explained all the concepts in calculus, but I bombed ALL my exams. Turn the struggle into something productive. READ THIS, learn the deeper effects AD/HD has & help others (by educating them) help you. We can succeed... here are some of the tools....

Kenny Gill played in Davis' band and got to know the politician/singer personally. Gill's book is valuable because he captures the human side of Jimmie Davis very well, particularly his humor. A very enjoyable read and one recommended for those who want to gain insight into both Davis and country humor.