Used price: $2.69
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The illustrations are gentle but lively images of children playing around large letters. I am not familiar with the Kaye-Wise-Lippman song others have referred to, but the book is enjoyable anyway. Though I would rather have had a phrase for each letter of the alphabet rather than three strings (MNOP, QRST and WXYZ), I suppose that makes it fit the song.
Particularly useful when your toddler or young reader is down in the dumps, this gentle reminder tells them that they are special and loved and important. If you know the tune, all the better!
Used price: $2.22
We are introduced to big sister at the outset, who always takes care of little sister. But the heart of the story lies in little sister's small act of rebellion on a day when she grows tired of big sister always telling her what to do. Although the story is nominally about a little sister learning from her older sister such that "the two of them can take care of each other", it is the heart of the story that moves this tale out of the usual wretched and formulaic child's self-help lesson and into the realm of true literature. For not only does little sister run away from big sister, but when big sister comes calling for her in the meadow, little sister doesn't respond at all. Not only that, but we get a full two pages of little sister's quiet, existential reflections on the nature of being alone and in pondering what she has just done. This is the true heart of the story. How can a reader/listener not respond to the willfulness of little sister's unkindness, and yet fully understand the joys of being alone and feeling the grass under your knees while bumblebees buzz overhead? It is in identifying with these conflicting and ambiguous feelings that the young reader feels, perhaps for the first time, a frisson of bittersweet pleasure that will hook them on the joys of reading good books for life.
Of course little sister finally relents after she sees big sister break down and cry, but thankfully Zolotow doesn't give an adult resolution to the story. The answer to big sister's reproach, "Why did you run away?" is immaterial, and lemonade is the order of the day.
List price: $14.00 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $5.85
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Best of all it is extremely readable - I mean sit comfortably and read it simply for the pleasure of the contents. It explains why certain cuts of meats are the best, how herbs and spices grow and are used, different ways of working with fruits and vegetables - it is a spectacular scholarly and entertaining book.
As a collector of books I am also lured by the glamour of glossy cookbooks with their mouthwatering recipes and artful pictures. This book has none of this, but it is smeared with chocolate and dappled with olive oil, lemon juice, flour and dried parsley. Surely this is the best indication of a level of usage for any cookbook. Track it down and buy it!
EL QUE ME LEVANTO MI AUTOESTIMA
EL QUE ME DEVOLVIO LA ALEGRIA DE VIVIR
EL QUE ME HIZO TRIUNFAR EN MI TRABAJO..
...Y EN MI VIDA SOCIAL
It drives us to conquer all our limitations and make our personality SOAR IN A MATCHLESS WAY.
I lacked self esteem and security!
I've got it all now !
WOW!
In some spots, the text is a little bit too deep for a layperson to understand right away. However, there are other moments which may enable you to reread such sections. It definitely has potential as a reference tool.
Several things make Seinfeld's book unusual or even unique. First of all, it's highly intellectual. At the end of each chapter, I felt a real sense of clarity and ownership of the ideas and practices taught. This may be because I actually did the exercises according to the instructions of each chapter. But for the first time in my reading and searching I feel like I have a healthy intellectual grasp of these terms that I've been trying to understand - God, life, meaning, spirituality, goodness, love -
Second, it's not dogmatic - coming from a secular (raised Reform) background, I have been trying to figure out how to become more connected to my Jewish roots without becoming "religious". This book has done it for me.
Third, the author's secular/Buddhist background has enabled him to write interesting footnotes comparing and contrasting Jewish thought and practice with these. This information is helpful to me as I'd always assumed that every great religion was saying basically the same thing and Seinfeld tactfully points out where that is not true.
Fourth, the book is incredibly thorough, full of nuggets of information that together have shown me a Judaism that is not a hodge-podge of traditions but rather an awesome - amazing - holistic system.
It's as if I'd been staring at the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle for a few years and suddenly somone showed me a picture of what they're supposed to look like when completed. Now I can start to put them together on my own.
The CD, which Amazon sent with the book for no extra cost, is Rabbi Seinfeld teaching the concepts in the book. It's high-quality - sounds like he's right in the room with you! It is a very effective tool, because after listening to the CD the book made sense and was easy to read (otherwise, I might have struggled with some sections that are quite deep in the philosophy/mysticism).
I also like the fact that the appendix includes email addresses to contact the author and others. I have found these resources very responsive to my questions.
In summary, the book is like a handbook. I carry it around with me and find myself re-reading some sections while waiting in line at the bank, etc - especially the chapter on love.
And for Frum Jews whose brachas sometime become a little unemotional (like me), Rabbi Seinfeld's "mind manual" will put a lot more KICK into them! You'll even surprise yourself with your kavanah...
The stories are written on about a second grade reading level. Kids ages seven and eight will have little difficulty with the language or with following the story line. Honestly though, I'm not sure that kids this age will get the moral of the story on their own. They may just see the ending where Alexander doesn't get what he wants as unfulfilling until an adult explains further.
Used price: $2.00
Collectible price: $11.65
In the story, Alexander wants to be like the wind-up mouse because the wind up mouse gets more attention than he does. He meets the wind-up mouse one day and starts to talk to him. He finds out how he can become a wind-up mouse too. If you read this book, you will be able to find out what Alexander does. Will be ever become a wind-up mouse or not??
Brandon M.
Used price: $7.95
Collectible price: $12.71
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List price: $24.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $9.00
Collectible price: $4.95
Buy one from zShops for: $12.99
As you can see Knowing and Changing;a Guide For Preteens is a book for many places,many uses, and for many people.
If you're looking for a fun rendition of the song, you won't go wrong with the John Lithgow CD, 'Singin' in the Bathtub'. The whole CD is worth the money.