September 2011 | Self Reliance Summary

Leslie's Journal Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Playwright Allan Stratton's first novel for teens, LESLIE'S JOURNAL, is a cautionary tale about teenage love gone drastically wrong. It all starts with Leslie, an angry, confused, rebellious girl in need of validation. Her days in school are numbered, she has problems at home, and her behavior just may...

The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)In this book, New York Times columnist David Brooks takes on the audacious endeavor of weaving together a unified picture of the human mind through various discoveries from the sciences. Oh ya, and it's all presented in the context of a story about two fictional characters, Harold and Erica. You can...

Cassandra's Angel Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Cassandra's Angel is the touching and inspiring story of a child who truly wants to please - as most children do - but is constantly being given the message that she just can't do anything right.Cassandra is truly everything that a little girl should be: delightful, beautiful, inquisitive, creative,...

Amazing Grace (Reading Rainbow Book) Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)A child's imagination is one of the purest forms of expression. Author Hoffman has captured that innocence in this superb tale. Grace, like so many youngsters, spends much of her day in the pleasures of "acting out" the characters that populate the pages of the books she reads. She feels that she can...

Sonata #1: For Riley Red Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)One great deed. One glorious contribution. Rachel finds herself in the whirlwind of her friend Desmona's search to save the world (and save herself). Written as if in the early sixties just before the Beatles came to America and just before protesting became a national pastime, the story takes you through...

Teaspoon of Courage for Kids: A Little Book of Encouragement for Whenever You Need It Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)I love these books and everyone that comes out for kids I buy at least two one for my own collection and one for whatever classroom my youngest is in. The pictures are great and the text that goes along with them are encouraging and humorous. I think every classroom needs a set of these books(3 so far)....

The Dump Man's Treasures Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Award-winning children's book author Lynn Plourde presents The Dump Man's Treasures, a children's picturebook with a strong positive message about literacy. Mr. Pottle, who oversees the town dump, can't stand to see perfectly good books thrown away or destroyed. He reuses and recycles them for everyone...

Road Trip Guide to the Soul: A 9-Step Guide to Reaching Your Inner Self and Revolutionizing Your Life Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Sadie has the gift for teaching. Together with hard-earned, lived wisdom, her gift comes through on these pages, as it does in the yoga studio. Her lessons are specific, practical, and rooted in the teachings of ancient wisdom traditions. Using examples from her own life blended with the road trip metaphor,...

Betsy B. Little Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Betsy B. Little is the tale of a tall giraffe who simply doesn't fit in. But rather than wish she were different, she learns to dream bigger --what a wonderful lesson for children in this world of conformity, cliques, "mean girls," and bullies! Through delightful language and beautiful illustration,...

Short: Walking Tall When You're Not Tall At All Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)This highly readable and deeply moving book isn't just for short kids -- it's perfect for any young readers who've ever been ostracized because they're built differently. (For that matter, it's perfect for the ostracizers too.) Schwartz is a former science reporter for The New York Times (he also trained...

Crisantemo Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)This is a great book to start off the school year. The childrenwill enjoy this wonderful story of a little mouse who loves her nameuntil she begins school and is made fun of for it. It is a great way to start discussions on diversity in the classroom, how to treat people equally and nicely, and except...

Apple Batter Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)I love this book for the 5 to 8 year old child. There's a little bit of lots of things in it. It is a sweet story of perseverance with very appealing illustrations. Besides demonstrating the idea that sticking with something (growing apples, playing baseball or whatever) leads to success, there is a...

Blue the Bird, On Flying Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)My Review: Blue is a bird that didn't want to fly. Blue will fly on the backs of his friends. When they could no longer carry Blue because it wasn't fun they left Blue and flew with other friends who can fly. Want to know if Blue ever flew then buy the book. I love this book because not only is it educational,...

Emerson's Essays on Manners, Self-Reliance, Compensation, Nature, Friendship Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)This collection has five Ralph Waldo Emerson essays: "Self-Reliance," "Manners," "Compensation," "Nature," and "Friendship." They were published a few years apart but have little intrinsic connection; the combination seems random. However, "Self" is an essential masterpiece, and the others are high quality....

Four Hens and a Rooster Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)We own ALL the Boo and Baa books, ALL the Will books, ALL the Benny books, plus a few more as well such as this one. This story certainly is not comprehensible to a nearly five-year old, and I don't like it at all myself. But the drawings are terrific as usual. We don't mind the woman's liberation theme,...

Finklehopper Frog Cheers Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)The way to win is just to face up to your fears, and do your very best. That's the message of this sequel to Irene Livingston's delightful Finklehopper Frog. The lively rhythms, endearing animal characters, child-friendly language and gorgeous full colour illustrations by Brian Lies should make this...

Palms to the Ground Review

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Palms To The Ground is the sort of gem of a novel that will appeal to readers of all ages. I'm 34 and I loved it so much that I've bought copies for the young people in my life and also for my best friend.Amy Stolls writes with clarity, empathy, and humor. Palms to The Ground makes me wish that she was...