Koncocoo

Best Fatherhood

On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
For over 20 years, On Becoming Babywise has been the de facto newborn parenting manual for naturally synchronizing your baby's feeding time, waketime and nighttime sleep cycles, so the whole family can sleep through the night. Practical discussions then focus on broad and niche topics including feeding philosophies, baby sleep problems, baby scheduling challenges, nap routines, sleep training multiples, baby sleeping props, Colic and Reflux and many other dimensions which impact breast feeding schedules, bottle feeding tips and baby sleep training. 1) Taking care of baby and mom. 2) A timeline of what to expect and when. 3) Baby Sleep Training Problems and Solutions. 4) Monitoring Your Baby's Growth. 5) Healthy Baby Growth Charts. It can help any parent develop a plan that meets both the needs of a new baby and of the entire family. Instead of being in baby bondage, I was liberated to be the mother God wanted me to be. We highly recommend ONLY purchasing the newest and most current version of On Becoming Babywise (isbn 1932740139). In becoming one of America's leading infant management guides, On Becoming Babywise has continued to improve its methods and practices throughout its 24 years and this latest version is the result of all the best over the last two decades. and co-author Gary Ezzo in this book helps parents successfully and naturally synchronize their baby's feeding time, waketime and nighttime cycles. Happy, healthy and contented babies who sleep through the night on average between seven and nine weeks of age. The best evaluation of any parenting philosophy, including Babywise, is not found in the reasoning or the logic of the hypothesis. Rather, our larger objective is to help prepare minds for the incredible task of raising a child. Your baby will not care if his head rests on designer sheets or beside Disney characters, nor is your success tied to his wardrobe or bedroom accessories, but rather to the beliefs and convictions that will eventually shape your parenting experience. It is our opinion that the achievements of healthy growth, contented babies, good naps, and playful wake times, as well as the gift of nighttime sleep, are too valuable to be left to chance. We realize there are a number of parenting theories being marketed today, most of which come gift-wrapped with unrealistic promises and unnecessary burdens. Spend time with relatives and friends who follow the Attachment Parenting style of infant care. The principles contained within the pages can help parents develop workable strategies that meet the needs of their babies and the rest of the family. However, your pediatrician or family practitioner should always be consulted when questions arise about the health and welfare of your baby. Because the principles of On Becoming Babywise are so effective, I consider it part of my extended health care for the family. They consistently produce babies who are healthy, content, and who sleep through the night at an early age. ". As family physicians and a husband-wife team, we are often asked questions related to parenting and the general care of children.
Reviews
"On Becoming Babywise taught me to tap into my God-given parental instincts while providing me medically-sound advice to equip me in teaching my infant to sleep through the night."
"My baby was sleeping 8 hours at night at 8 weeks old thanks to this book."
"Does he look like he's dehydrated, depraved, abused, malnourished or in a dangerous environment as what a majority of the downright idiotic 1-star reviews and their preposterous claims that would like you to believe to be the end result of following this book? I seldom write lengthy reviews, buts if I come across a product that I am passionate about because it affected our life positively, then I take the time to do so. I do this while I commute to work 100 miles round trip M-F. Needless to say, my blood pressure was at 206 mmHg at its peak during the first 6 weeks, waking up every 2 - 2.5 hours to feed baby with each feeding session lasting 30 minutes, then commuting 50 miles to work at 6:30 AM and returning home at 6:30 PM to cook for the family. I need to mention that it is imperative that you wake up your little one at set schedule to feed before he gets hungry and start crying. Sleep training, preemptively waking up your baby to feed or following a set schedule does NOT make you the devil incarnate, nor does choosing to feed your infant formula, and if you are one of those 1-star reviewers that feel this way, you need to go back to the freezer with your mother's guilt because your snowflake a$$ is probably melting just from reading my review. During this transition, we did not experience any attachment or neediness from him, thanks to Baby Wise's "Parent Directed Feeding" concept (PDF). He began taking in solid food, starting with baby cereal, pureed fruits and vegetables (we use BEABA Babycook 4 in 1 Steam Cooker and Blender, 4.5 cups, Dishwasher Safe, Cherry to steam and puree fresh fruits and vegetablee, then freeze them in Infantino Squeeze Pouches, 4-Fl Oz using the Infantino Squeeze Station). He enjoys sitting in his 5-10 minutes in Bumbo infant seat but loves his Graco high chair more - this at age 4.5 month. By 5 months, our son is fully engaged in the "Early Reading Program for Baby, Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten- Alphabet, Vowel Phonics & 200+ Sight Words - Little Champion Reader 9 DVD, Flash card, Book Kit" DVDs. Our son, born at 37 weeks via scheduled C section, a miracle in itself, is outpacing our friends' babies in terms of mental, physical and cognitive development by a mile and I sincerely believe sleep plays a large role in it all. We never force our baby to go on long distance road trip with us, rather, we only go as far as he is ready to handle, starting with 50 miles, then 100, 250 then 300+. The book repeatedly reminds the reader to make adjustments and be flexible based on the cues exhibited by baby! I absolutely refuse to believe this and we attribute our well behaved son to the steps we've followed as outlined in Baby Wise. The same pundits "predicted" our future by saying we won't be going on road trips or eating dinner at restaurants once our baby is born. That is, while we strictly follow the BabyWise guideline (with flexibility), we still showered our son with love, stimulation, appreciation, engaging interaction, encouragement and positive re-enforcement. Who's to say that you and your spouse can't enjoy life and need to be locked in the house feeling miserable and eating TV dinner the minute you give birth to baby? Some parents overcompensate their fear of having their freedom "taken away" by taking their newborn and infants to places like Las Vegas and other trendy locations to "prove" that they can still "hang", all the while their baby is fussy overnight and throughout their trip and the parents are exhausted to the core, defeating the purpose of a family vacation altogether. The concept may or may not work as smoothly in all situation for a variety of reasons, particularly if your baby has a medical condition such as colic or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which the book addresses. Follow the guidelines outlined in BabyWise, but be ready to be flexible and make adjustments or changes to accommodate the personality of your little one!"
"This was on a baby gift registry, and it seems to have sensible advice."
"Good read- great scheduling ideas."
"Baby wise was helpful for sleep training."
"The book was good and has good ideas."
"And if crying-it-out works for you then great I've tried their method to a T. I just did not know at the time that it was considered their method."
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Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know
Dr. Meeker shares the ten secrets every father needs to know in order to strengthen or rebuild bonds with his daughter and shape her life–and his own–for the better. Inside you’ll discover: • the essential virtues of strong fathers–and how to develop them. • the cues daughters take from their dads on everything from self-respect to drugs, alcohol, and sex. • the truth about ground rules (girls do want them, despite their protests). • the importance of becoming a hero to your daughter. • the biggest mistake a dad can make–and the ramifications. • the fact that girls actually depend on their dads’ guidance into adulthood. • steps fathers can follow to help daughters avoid disastrous decisions and mistakes. • ways in which. a father’s faith–or lack thereof–will influence his daughter. • essential communication strategies for different stages of a girl’s life. • true stories of “prodigal daughters”–and how their fathers helped to bring them back. Directly challenging the feminist attack on traditional masculinity, Dr. Meeker demonstrates that the most important factor for girls growing up into confident, well-adjusted women is a strong father with conservative values. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters reveals: • The essential characteristics and virtues of strong fathers—and how to develop them • How daughters take cues from their fathers on everything from drug use, drinking, smoking, and having sex, to self-esteem, moodiness, and seeking attention from boys • Why girls want you to place restrictions on them (even though they’ll complain when you do) • How to become a hero to your daughter—and why she needs that more than anything • The one mistake fathers make that is the primary cause of girls "hooking up" • Why girls depend on the guidance of fathers through, and even beyond, their college years • Recipe for disaster: the notion that girls "need to make their own decisions and.
Reviews
"Exceptional real look at what dads should step up and be for their girls."
"FATHERS NEED TO READ THIS BOOK."
"One aspect I like about both companion books is Dr. Meeker's comment that many problems amongst children and teens exist because parents aren't strong enough in a positive way."
"Great book for any dad attempting to be a great father figure in this crazy world we live in today."
"Unfortunately, I also realize that modern days hold nothing sacred anymore and this kind of talk is probably something that needs to be emphasized."
"Only 70 something pages into it and it seems like a very powerful message."
"When I first had a daughter, I said the typical, "time to buy a gun" because I thought I needed it to protect."
"During reading and since, I constantly evaluate my interactions with my two and try to heed Dr Meekers advice."
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Be Prepared
An indispensable survival manual for guys entering the trenches of fatherhood, Be Prepared is loaded with one-of-a-kind insights, MacGyver-esque tips and tricks, and no-nonsense advice for mastering the first year as a dad. Yes, there's a bit too much emphasis here on broadly drawn manly stuff like changing a diaper at a ballgame, but there's also heaps of useful advice that's cleverly and efficiently presented for pops who, despite their best intentions, really aren't prepared to dig into encyclopedia-sized tomes.
Reviews
"I bought it for my hubby but I wound up reading the entire thing myself."
"Most importantly, its not of the "you're a guy so you must be an idiot stereotypical clueless dad to be" type."
"I wanted something that would help him prepare for our first child, but worried that a normal baby book would bore him (he's not much one for self-help books in general)."
"My husband has very much enjoyed learning the essentials of first time daddyhood from this book."
"I've never wanted children, but I will make lifestyle sacrifices to make my wife’s lifestyle dreams come true."
"There are ideas in the book that every dad should know, especially those becoming a dad for the first time."
"I bought this for my son for the birth of his first baby, kinda sorta as a joke."
"The writing hilariously describes the first year of a baby's life with illustrations that match the absurdity and truth of new parenthood."
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Best Fatherhood

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads
An indispensable survival manual for guys entering the trenches of fatherhood, Be Prepared is loaded with one-of-a-kind insights, MacGyver-esque tips and tricks, and no-nonsense advice for mastering the first year as a dad. The basics (childproofing, bathing, feeding, entertaining) intermix with nifty sidebars (homemade bath toys, foods to never give your baby, exercises for dads) in easy-to-peruse chapters organized according to the age of the offspring up to age 1. (A hunger cry, for example, is "a pattern of low-pitched, rhythmic moans, growing more and more insistent," whereas a boredom pattern is "a low-volume whimper which stops and starts irregularly."). Along with the conventional chapters on baby-proofing your house and taking a baby's temperature are more obscure—and amusing—topics, such as how to videotape your baby and how to conduct a "Mirror Puppet Sing Along" to sooth a crying baby while driving (the technique requires two mirrors, a hand-puppet and an indifference to looking silly).
Reviews
"I bought it for my hubby but I wound up reading the entire thing myself."
"Most importantly, its not of the "you're a guy so you must be an idiot stereotypical clueless dad to be" type."
"I wanted something that would help him prepare for our first child, but worried that a normal baby book would bore him (he's not much one for self-help books in general)."
"My husband has very much enjoyed learning the essentials of first time daddyhood from this book."
"I've never wanted children, but I will make lifestyle sacrifices to make my wife’s lifestyle dreams come true."
"Not only did I buy this book for my husband when we were expecting, but TWO friends gave it to us as gifts (we've regifted to other expectant parents :) )."
"There are ideas in the book that every dad should know, especially those becoming a dad for the first time."
"I bought this for my son for the birth of his first baby, kinda sorta as a joke."
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Best Genre Films

Darth Vader and Son
Celebrated artist Jeffrey Brown's delightful illustrations give classic Star Wars® moments a fresh twist, presenting the trials and joys of parenting through the lens of a galaxy far, far away. "Darth Vader and Son is Brown at the top of his artistic game with beautiful full-color pages, many of which seem imbued with a sincerity that I would expect to find in his next autobiographical work, A Matter of Life. Author and illustrator Jeffrey Brown turns run-of-the-mill parenting activities into fun moments full of Star Wars references...Overall, Darth Vader and Son is a fun read for adult Star Wars fans who like a good laugh, as well as for children just learning to love these characters." "From potty training to lightsaber batting practice to ice cream runs, the endearing absurdity of the duo's dynamic makes for a remix treat of the most entertaining variety. "When the first Star Wars film conquered the world in 1977, no one could have possibly foreseen it going on to become such an ubiquitous part of our cultural heritage. of Darth Vader raising a four-year-old Luke Skywalker, the book twists father/son moments into scenarios within the Star Wars playground. However, the book also provides ample proof that adding a babysitting Darth Vader to any Star Wars situation makes it gently humorous.
Reviews
"In 54 pages Brown illustrates all the common expressions of child rearing and places them in the nerd universe of Star Wars."
"Mostly one liners from the movies, but if you've got a dry sense of humor (or maybe if you're a die hard Star Wars fan), you'll enjoy it."
"I grew up during the Star Wars era - where Anakin Skywalker was a mangled, cyberfilled ball of hate with only the vocal talents of James Earl Jones saving him from eternal peril (that Jones' voice can save the soul of a man who blew up a flipping planet is quite a testament)."
"Hilarious!"
"It is full of images from the original Star Wars movies, but it doesn't follow a specific timeline like the next book in this series: Star Wars: Vader's Little Princess."
"My husband flipped through and read the entire thing when he opened it."
"Maybe I will see if the library has the rest in this series, which would still only make for an hour of reading, tops."
"Perfect gift for a Star Wars fanatic, soon-to-be brother-in-law."
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Best Toilet Training

Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Her 6-step, proven process to get your toddler out of diapers and onto the toilet has already worked for tens of thousands of kids and their parents. Here’s the good news: your child is probably ready to be potty trained EARLIER than you think (ideally, between 20–30 months), and it can be done FASTER than you expect (most kids get the basics in a few days—but Jamie’s got you covered even if it takes a little longer). And check out OhCrapPottyTraining.com for more information—including expert advice, support from parents just like you, and instructions for how to take part in the next Great Potty Challenge! … It took three days and then [all] was fine!” (Christina Ricci ). "I'm saving a ton of money not buying diapersnow. Straight up, parent tested, andfunny to boot, Jamie gives you all the information you need to get YOUR CrappyBaby out of diapers. Withstraight forward language, a focus on learning blocks, the use of a clearprocess, troubleshooting suggestions, and how to prevent power struggles, Glowackigives parents the tools they need to help their children pee and pooindependently.” (Andrea Nair, therapist and author of Connect Four Parenting ). She is my go to ‘pee’ and ‘poop’ expert for all my parents, and thisis a book I will recommend again and again.” (Alanna McGinn, Founder of Good Night Sleep Site www.goodnightsleepsite.com ).
Reviews
"We ran into the dreaded fear of pooping on the potty on the second day. Her suggestions on the videos and in the book helped us to get over the poop hump and I am happy to say that on day 8 of consistent, committed and calm potty training, we did it! I definitely think that this method could be tricky for parents who don't have the ability to be home for 4 or more days with their child, but if it is at all possible to take an extra day off of work, it is totally worth it to give it a go!"
"I had a toddler in the "window" the author deems appropriate and I was reading this book, so I was obviously doing everything right from the start. The problem is the author sets you up for success if you follow the rules, but when you fail at part of the process you a) feel like you've royally messed up and b) don't get a lot of in depth information on how to get back on track. This is a very emotional process on its own, but I feel like the author's tone does not help ease any of the anxieties that come with potty training. And with the age window ending at 2.5 years, I felt like the odds were stacked against us with every minute that passed and she was not potty trained. The chapter on daycare is particularly depressing and set me up to believe my daughter's school was going to be difficult to work with. Basically, the general tone of this book creates so much anxiety that I can see why so many parents are turned off by it. There were many troubleshooting suggestions that were simply the cliff's notes explanations of how to deal with issues. Just be prepared to roll your eyes a lot at the author's tone and her anecdotes about all the amazing things she does for her own child (controlled diet, progressive schooling, etc.). If she would just stick to the facts, this would be a lot shorter book and I suspect more people would follow through with its teachings."
"In the nighttime section, the author claims that "The bladder is being developed at this age, and if it develops fully without the practice of holding and consolidating, those muscles will atrophy, and you will struggle indefinitely with bedwetting." This is complete nonsense because the same muscles are used for daytime and nighttime, so if they are day trained, their muscles aren't going to atrophy for nighttime use. In sum, the author just makes claims because she believes them without actually having research to back it up, which makes her an untrustworthy author."
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Best Motherhood

Knock Knock What I Love About Mom Fill In The Love Journal
Our crackerjack in-house team creates humorous nonfiction and specialty journals from the ground up, and we also publish new titles from outside authors, bloggers, and other creative types. Just complete each line and voila: you have a uniquely personal gift Mother will read again and again.
Reviews
"A word of advice if you're willing to put in the work (which you should be, since you clearly love your mom): In a Word document, type out all the statements on each page, then fill in the blanks here before you copy them all into the actual book."
"I loved the idea of this gift-- but I loved it even more once it was complete."
"I filled it out with some very serious responses, and some funny, and sent it to my mom for Mother's Day."
"My mom is my best friend and to get a chance to leave some really sweet and loving notes and then some really funny make her laugh out loud notes I had to buy this book!"
"I got one of these for both of my parents for Christmas and they ADORED them."
"I filled it out and mailed it to my sister, across the country, who filled out her answers and mailed it to the rest of our siblings in another state."
"Over all a cute idea, although for the price I would have expected something a bit larger."
"If you are a person of few words, this is perfect to get you thinking and writing from the heart."
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Best Family Abuse

Spilled Milk: Based On A True Story
Brooke Nolan is a battered child who makes an anonymous phone call about the escalating brutality in her home. When social services jeopardize her safety condemning her to keep her father’s secret, it’s a glass of spilled milk at the dinner table that forces her to speak about the cruelty she’s been hiding. When jury members and a love interest congregate to inspire her to fight, she risks losing the support of family and comes to the realization that some people simply do not want to be saved. Several colleges and high schools have incorporated the novel into their lesson plans and I've received tons of feedback from my voracious fans- I knew I needed to come out with a more polished and professional edition that was appropriate for the education system, my fans, and in general. Randis, author of bestselling novel Spilled Milk and thePillbillies series, started journaling at the age of six and had shortstories and poetry published by the time she was thirteen.She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and a certifiedexpert in the field of domestic violence. Randis engages audiences on a local and national level to raise awareness about child abuse, serving as a frequent commentator to media outlets.
Reviews
"A lot of us close our eyes and turn our backs to frightening things that were written about in this book."
"Sometimes bad things happen to good people and that thought breaks my heart."
"A story of courage of a young child in a very dysfunctional home."
"It's surprising that his mum was such a friendly, helpful and understanding person given that her son was the complete opposite."
"there were times I had to put it down and collect myself because I could feel tears forming in my eyes."
"I just know after reading the conclusion that she has not only written a best seller but has helped save many lives by writing her story."
"Concisely written, she moves swiftly into illustrating her rise from a hell ruled by her father into an adolescence marked by determination to change the dynamic; she forges a life for herself in spite of her father and mother who want her to remain dependent."
"I read this book in about 3 days."
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Best Divorce

Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship
This remarkably insightful and probing guide offers advice that lets you see the truth about your relationship—and with wisdom and compassion, it helps you act with the confidence of knowing that whether you decide to go or stay, you are doing the very best thing. “A powerful self-help resource for anyone caught in a web of relationship distress… Excellent.”—Christopher L. Hayes, author of Our Turn: Women Who Triumph in the Face of Divorce “Few have written with such common sense and clarity about how to come out of the trap of ambivalence in marriage. And threaded through the book, which is written in a sympathetic, chatty, accessible style, are validating anecdotes that dramatize how other people have experienced and responded to the same problems the reader is going through.”— Publishers. Weekly “Braving her detailed questions about power, betrayal, communication, respect, intimacy, and love can transform the frustration of being stuck into a decision that feels right.”— Booklist “Packed with meaty case histories.”— New York Daily News “No fairy dust here, but a real chance for healing what Kirshenbaum calls ‘the pain and waste of relationship ambivalence.’”— Minneapolis Star Tribune “Interesting reading and helpful in the way a good therapist can be helpful—by asking the right questions, by clarifying the answers.”— Olga Silverstein, family therapist, author of The Courage to Raise Good Men.
Reviews
"When I got this book it was my plan to read through it and reaffirm my reasons to stay. To be able to move forward, fully committed and free of fear. Upon reading the beginning of the book, I saw all of the words about staying. Deliberately, trying to make the best of every single memory while remaining truly honest with myself in the process. I let time pass and read it again, trying to make sure it was the mood of the moment."
"She knows how to gently but firmly help the reader understand and peel back the layers of ambivalence, denial, dissociating, rationalizing, lethargy, shame, guilt, fear...anything that keeps you stuck in painful emotional limbo."
"Recommended to us by our marriage therapist."
"A deeply thoughtful book."
"If the Title causes you to think "maybe?""
"This is a very practical and thought provoking book for those who are very much on the fence... Great read, well written."
"Amazing."
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Best Family Conflict Resolution

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Now, this bestselling classic includes fresh insights and suggestions as well as the author’s time-tested methods to solve common problems and build foundations for lasting relationships, including innovative ways to: · Cope with your child's negative feelings, such as frustration, anger, and disappointment. · Express your strong feelings without being hurtful. · Engage your child's willing cooperation. · Set firm limits and maintain goodwill. · Use alternatives to punishment that promote self-discipline. · Understand the difference between helpful and unhelpful praise. · Resolve family conflicts peacefully. “An exceptional work, not simply just another ‘how to’ book…All parents can use these methods to improve the everyday quality of t heir relationships with their children.” – Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Reviews
"It's hard to believe but if you read each chapter and do the exercises (for practice) and then try it out on your kids (or in my case, my kindergarten aged niece) -- it actually works! Here's an example: my niece was having a WWIII type of tantrum one day because her candy cane had broken in half. Her parents, older sister, grandma, everyone was telling her that it was no big deal, she can have another candy cane, it will still taste just the same, etc., anything to get her to see reason and calm down. Her mother started shouting threats to send her to her room."
"Not much in here about your child being a special unicorn, just plain simple ways to improve communication between parents and children to increase the peace at home."
"If you are just starting a family, with toddlers (even teens), do yourself a favor, rent one from the library and read a chapter or two. There are illustrations that represent sample interactions/conversations between parents and kids; one column shows the wrong way and another column shows you the better way."
"Great book."
"great reference book."
"Now, every time I notice somebody struggles with their kids behavior, I just get back to amazon and order a new one!!"
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Best Extended Families

Instant Pot Cookbook: 500 Most Delicious Recipe Collection Anyone Can Cook
You will learn how to make the best dishes in the world in the easiest way possible: using an instant pot. Your success in the kitchen is guaranteed with just 2 simple tools: this great cookbook and an instant pot!
Reviews
"I’m a new user of the Instant Pot and after having tried a few online recipes that didn’t turn out well, I though I would opt for a cookbook."
"Preparation time, Cooking time, Servings, ingredients, Directions, Nutritions. These are the six terms the author included with every 500 recipes of this book and the average preparation time of all the recipes included in this book is i think not more than 30 min and the recipes are prepared by a wide range of ingredients."
"This book is perfect for me because I don’t have a “soup” or “rice” button and these recipes list the times and what pressure."
"Just made our first meal tonight."
"I really like this book."
"This book has a big selection of recipes for all times of the day that can be cooked with an instant pot."
"This book is really great!"
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Best Grandparenting

Memories for My Grandchild: A Keepsake to Remember (Grandparent's Memory Book)
Don't you wish your grandmother had written down her life story?
Reviews
"Of the five memory books I purchased this holiday season, Memories for My Grandchild is my favorite. Some questions throughout the book are: What was your favorite home-cooked food? There is a pocket at the end of the book where you can store photos, old letters etc. The other memory books I bought were: Grandma, Tell me your memories, A Father's Legacy, Share your stories Grandpa, and A Grandparent's Legacy. It's a fitting, journal-sized book, has a variety of questions and provides ample room for sharing memories and posting photos."
"I looked at a couple in the store that I didn't like much because they had room for pictures on almost every page and not as much room for questions and answers - which is what I really wanted. - It has just a couple pages for basic geneology, which is nice to have for the record but not what I wanted the book to focus on. - There are several questions on each page with a good amount of lines to fill in each answer. - I liked the questions. I would give more examples of questions and what made me like this book, but I was so excited about it that I gave it to them right away and both of them live far away."
"Questions like " something I wish I'd done more of, something I wish I did less of, one food I cannot stand, the place I get my best ideas, you can never have enough of.... , people make a big deal about..., it's not easy being...., something I admire in others. The best thing about my age, my most featured role in life has been as a .., top website top magazine too book too musician, favorite tv show, favorite holiday."
"Great item for a grandparent gift."
"I bought this book for my 2nd granddaughter as I had used a different book for our 1st granddaughter."
"Perfect for the first time grandma to add stories, memories, and photos for your grandchild when they grow up."
"This was given as a gift to a grandma to be and was well received."
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Best Military Families

The 5 Love Languages Military Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts
If you are in a military relationship, you know the strain of long deployments, lonely nights, and difficult transitions. In this updated edition of The 5 Love Languages®: Military Edition , relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman teams up with Jocelyn Green, a former military wife, to speak directly to military couples. He is the #1 bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series and director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. The books in the Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series have been honored with gold and silver medals from the Military Writer's Society of America.
Reviews
"My wife and I have 2 small children and our house is hard to stay clean because every room feels like a mess. A big part of improving your relationship with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend is to sticking with a date night to make sure you have quality time together. My wife and I have been together for 10 years and got stuck in the rut of an endless routine of doing everything we could for our kids, followed by daily chores and left little time for ourselves. Committing to 1 date night a week has really helped our relationship and improved our communication."
"I was once asked to read this book by the only person in the world I love.....I refused. It's not a good feeling as a man to agree to read a book on relationships because you feel like you're putting everything into the authors hands.....and what if he "doesn't understand" or what if the advice doesn't apply to us.....what if it makes things worse between us because he advises things we don't believe in.....no....I'm not reading that I told her. I thought no matter what we would always figure each other out and we would be ok......I didn't see being asked to read this book , was a cry out from the woman I love hitting a boiling point and her attempt to communicate to me in a different way......the same things she's been trying to for a long time..... Instead of being some guys opinions or......typical shrink talk that in no way could apply to each specific relationship.......I found it to be a book that opens up the mind to the understanding of love.....and how it is not this one universal "language" we all feel we should be the same with.....I once told her...."nobody taught me how to love, I'm growing....learning".....I pleased with her to understand I love her.......we simply didn't have an understanding of how and why we didnt approach love the exact same way as each other.....only makes sense that it should be the same right? I will just end it like this..... last night I took a stretch that I have been doing for over 2 years and I changed it in a slightly different way....... a lot of the pain I normally get daily is gone....... just to put a spotlight on that sentence .....I'm saying that what I had been doing for so long..... trying to cure one of the biggest problems in my life that hadnt been working............that I continued doing........ believing in and depending on.... to be my much needed answer.......It wasn't until I allowed the idea of the same stretch applied in a different way, that I ALLOWED life to be better for me. You have to go into the book with an open mind because if you do it with the mindset of wanting it to say what it is that you want to hear.....then you can never let the life-changing words happen.......you're learning a language as you read...not what's right and wrong but what was being lost in life. Keep in mind this is a book about the language of love so if you think about when you go to school to learn a different language...you are taking the difficult step of taking time there in order to understand.....be able to take what you understand and apply it.....and be able to communicate in a NEEDED way once you learn....AND THEN USE......communicate and UNDERSTAND eachother."
"This book is amazing for starters."
"I have to say though I still love the book and am working with my husband after he reads it and comes back!"
"Find out your love language!"
"This was a great read."
"A quick read that gets information across in an easy to understand way."
"Very practical guide for human communication which seems to be lacking in this new age of technology... Was recommended by a friend."
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Best Sibling Relationships

Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life
#1 New York Times Bestseller Former first daughters and #1 bestselling authors Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush share intimate stories and reflections from the Texas countryside to the storied halls of the White House and beyond. "Deeply personal, emotional and often funny...― People "In this funny and heartfelt memoir, the twin daughters of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush offer their perspective on growing up in the public eye...Readers will be entertained by this charming, wild, and wonderful pair of life stories. "The two first daughters emerge as surprisingly well-adjusted, intelligent young women with strong family bonds in this insightful look at life inside the White House.
Reviews
"This is a heart warming book that made me laugh and cry and gives this senior citizen hope for then future."
"This book is SO funny and so hopeful and so full of love!"
"Incredible memoir by the bush sisters, gives you insight into their lives and they really didn't hold back whereas I think there are parts they could have excluded to sound better in terms of partisanship."
"I've read half of this book and not sure if I will continue with the remainder."
"It was very heartwarming to learn more about the Bush twins, especially Barbara, who is not necessarily in the limelight but is a leader in solving today's health crisis."
"Pretty good story."
"I loved reading this book."
"LOVED this book!"
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Best Dysfunctional Families

Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a therapist specializing in women’s health and hundreds of interviews with suffering daughters, Dr. Karyl McBride helps you recognize the widespread effects of this emotional abuse and create an individualized program for self-protection, resolution, and complete recovery. (3) Construct a personalized program to take control of your life and enhance your sense of self, establishing healthy boundaries with your mother and breaking the legacy of abuse. In this engaging book, Karyl McBride provides a clear, honest, and effective way to heal this wound and live life fully and joyfully." "Dr. Karyl McBride has convened a fellowship of female voices to describe every flavor of experience with maternal narcissism. Dr. McBride offers a step-by-step approach to understanding narcissism, setting limits on the abuse, and recovering from the psychological damage. In this insightful new book, Dr. McBride presents a detailed examination of narcissistic mothers and the harmful effects on their daughters. Providing true professional guidance and clarity, Dr. Karyl McBride heaps in genuine love and kindness.
Reviews
"I went into therapy last year after realizing I was seriously underachieving, yet remained passive like a leaf in the wind( this was due to the fact that I was always on other people's agendas and unable to act individually.). I realized I was codependent, stemming from being a peacemaker/emotional caretaker at a very young age... and that my "value" to my mom was and is 100% based on actions. There was a massive block, and only now do I realize WHY: I have been trained since birth to believe this, and actually live and experience an exclusively conditional environment. This doesn't mean I will stop talking to her or retaliate in any way, it just brings me out of a deluded, painful and ineffective way of living my life, which is not at all the real me."
"I have never written a book review in my life but I believe that this work is essential for daughters of narcissistic mothers. The difference with this book is that it is written from a first hand experience and includes very specific exchanged between the narcissistic mother and the "still" seeking daughter. IF YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF A NARCISSIST MOTHER THIS IS THE MOST HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT BOOK THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS AND IT IS ONE THAT I WILL USE AS A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR GROUNDING AND VALIDATION ON A REGULAR BASIS."
"For anyone who grew up with the feeling that they will never be good enough for their mother, always criticized by their mother and even as an adult feel her critical influence over them, this is the book you need to read."
"This book was like a therapy session and support group for those of us who have been through the above."
"Excellent and thorough treatment of the subject of mothers who cannot and do not show love to their daughters."
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Best Step Parenting & Blended Families

Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do
Stepmonster illuminates the harrowing process of becoming a stepmother, exposes the myths and realities of being married to a man with children, counteracts the prevailing notion that stepmothers are solely responsible for the problems they encounter, identifies the five “step-dilemmas” that create conflict, and considers the emotional and social challenges men with children face when they remarry. Wednesday Martin, PhD, has worked as a writer and social researcher for over two decades.
Reviews
"This book is VALIDATION."
"Even though I have a good relationship with my stepson, the transition of all of a sudden having an adolescent in my home was a bit of an adjustment."
"I think we create an idea of how things should be and we bang our heads against the wall, and ruin our own health and happiness to make it so."
"I fell in love with a wonderful man. Their ages do not matter and they are your adversary from day one because your goal is to love this man with whom you have fallen in love and their goal is for you to disappear off the face of the earth. Buy copies to give your misguided therapists, your in-laws, your friends who fear you will go insane. I have embroidered a shirt for myself that reads: My superpower is invisibility!"
"This book is the best book I've read on stepmothering, I wish I had found this book first and saved myself from wasting money on other books."
"Good read for a newly stepmother."
"It's been an eight year journey that has shackled me to a family I felt no connection to... my family!"
"This book is the best stepmothering perspective you can get."
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Best Twins & Multiples Parenting

When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads 4th Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy
This fourth edition of the book that introduced readers to the revolutionary, nutritionally based prenatal program for the growing number of women pregnant with multiples is now revised and expanded for an era when multiple births are on the rise and includes updated diet and exercise recommendations for the postpartum mother as well as twenty-five new recipes. Women who follow this program have significantly fewer complications during pregnancy--and their babies are born healthier, weighing 20 to 35 percent more than the average twin, triplet, or quad. * Finding a qualified maternal/fetal medicine specialist. * Dietary recommendations, menus, and 75 recipes for maximizing birthweight. * Safe guidelines on exercise, physical activity, and work. * Reducing your risk for pregnancy complications. * Recognizing the signs of preterm labor and what to do about them. * How twin type (fraternal vs. identical) affects prenatal care. * What to expect during and after delivery. * Feeding and caring for your newborns . You’re expecting more than one baby? When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads outlines a practical, nutrition-based program to keep you and your babies healthy, and provides a comprehensive tour of what you can expect during your unique pregnancy and childbirth experience.
Reviews
"I wished I would have purchased this at the beginning of my twin pregnancy but am so happy for the resource now."
"This book calmed me down when I found out I was having twins."
"This book is full of great information and helped me get through my identical twin pregnancy with the perfect weight gain and most importantly two very healthy babies."
"I had a full term (38.5 week) pregnancy and birthed 2 healthy and big baby boys."
"This book was an amazing resource for me as I was pregnant with my twin boys."
"I got a lot out of this book, but was turned off by the unrealistic guidelines in chapter 4 regarding how much to eat. I have taken the general weight gain guidelines to heart though, and am eating frequent balanced meals heavy on the protein, and lots of nutritious snacks, but I'm not counting every calorie."
"By far the most informative book for those expecting multiples!!!"
"But they had no health issues other than some jaundice (no lights) and the little one didn't like to wake up to eat early on."
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Best Parent & Adult Child Relationships

An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic
But through the sometimes uncomfortable months that the two men explore Homer's great work together--first in the classroom, where Jay persistently challenges his son's interpretations, and then during a surprise-filled Mediterranean journey retracing Odysseus's famous voyages--it becomes clear that Daniel has much to learn, too: Jay's responses to both the text and the travels gradually uncover long-buried secrets that allow the son to understand his difficult father at last. Mendelsohn weaves his basket with many wands; the complexity seems natural, an account of the quality of life itself, a route to revelation. The book partakes of at least four genres: classroom drama; travel writing; biographical memoir; literary criticism. Mendelsohn makes Homer’s epic shine in your mind.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times “My favorite classicist once again combines meticulous literary investigation with warm and wrenching human emotion—books like these are why I love reading.” —Lee Child “Poignant, tender, affecting. “When Daniel Mendelsohn’s mathematician father lands in his son’s Homer seminar at Bard, the older man sets in motion an odyssey both hilarious and heartfelt. Father and son start in the pages of an epic, board a ship to follow the hero’s path through the Mediterranean, and finally end where all our stories do. Dread of the alien thrums through [Homer’s] Odyssey ; for Mendelsohn, the ancient tale becomes an occasion not only to explore his relationship with his father, but to transform it. The recognition leaves Mendelsohn free to see through his father’s hardness—his ‘exacting standards for everything’—to the vulnerable fighter within: a scrappy, strategizing Odysseus from the Bronx. What solace or despair resides in the unexpected relevance of this ancient poem, its encounters with Otherness thrown into high relief by the xenophobia of our time? [But] it dives deeper, excavating a portrait of Mendelsohn’s special student, his father: his lonely childhood, his early brilliance, his forfeiture of Latin for a life of numbers. There is but one ending to the book; within a year, Jay would die, and so Mendelsohn’s journey—indeed like Homer’s—would be undertaken after the fact, when something remained to be learned. In An Odyssey, he reels us in with a storyteller’s strongest gifts: passion, clarity, and timing.” —Willard Spiegelman, Wall Street Journal. Mendelsohn’s exploration is [both] a personal family memoir and a critical report on Homer’s epic, and the two facets illuminate each other. The Mediterranean cruise that father and son take pays off in surprising ways; we get a haunting glimpse of the fear that the end of your journey means finis , the hope residual in permanent postponement. This is an honest, and loving, account of the improbable odyssey that gave them this one last deeply satisfying adventure together.” —Peter Green, The New York Review of Books “Heartfelt, touching . The course, and the cruise retracing Odyssey’s voyage to Ithaca a few months later, set in motion an emotional journey neither man could have anticipated. Mendelsohn expertly examines the Odyssey with depth and classical acumen, extracting meaning from even its most subtle moments. He details his own relationship with the ancient poem, and he culls from the narrative many insights into his own familial bonds, specifically with his father. a surprising piece of art—a masterful memoir of reading, teaching and learning; a book as full of twists and turns as its subject, often beautiful too. This is a story of reconciling a scientist and an artist; Jay, the man of calculus, comes to influence both his son and his fellow pupils. As well as a contribution to the art of memoir, An Odyssey is a vivid defence of the close rereading of a classical text, the tiny questions from which bigger pictures become clear.” —Peter Stothard, The Financial Times ★ “Enlightening—engaging, gripping and deeply moving . Mendelsohn explores the enduring relevance of Homer’s Odyssey through a memoir tracing the complex relationship between father and son.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Beguiling. in this memoir, Mendelsohn recounts a freshman class on the Odyssey he taught at Bard College with his father, an 81-year-old computer scientist, sitting in. … Mendelsohn gradually unwraps layers of timeless meaning in the ancient Greek poem; Homeric heroes offer resonant psychological parallels to a modern family. His father, a retired mathematician, had been interested in the classics during his school days and decided to continue his education by studying with his son . The author uses a close reading of the epic to illuminate the mysteries of the human condition; he skillfully, subtly interweaves textual analysis [with] the lessons of life outside it . At the book’s center is [Mendelsohn’s father] Jay, whose presence in the classroom bewilders and charms the other students and his son . With this graceful and searching memoir, we all drink from the cup of knowledge proffered by one of our leading philosopher-writers.” —Hamilton Cain, Star Tribune. A meditation on filial love as candid, tender and in its own way ruthless as its counterparts in the Bible, Shakespeare and Homer . both dense and fleet, and wholly captivating.” —Tim Pfaff, The Bay Area Reporter “It’s hard to pierce a legend, even when it’s just generation-old family lore . As author-professor, Mendelsohn doesn’t lecture; his storytelling leaves room for other teachers — including his current students, his former professors and relatives who decode multi-layered family myths. Classroom discussions of Odysseus’ long, wandering journey home to Ithaca led father and son to undertake a real-life Mediterranean cruise retracing the Greek warrior’s travels. Mendelsohn begins to see his father in a new light even while the older man challenges the basic tenets of Homer’s epic. A noted memoirist and venerable contributor to a myriad of respected periodicals, Daniel Mendelsohn doesn’t hold back. An Odyssey carefully unpacks details from Homer’s epic poem, with the author taking the stance of a vigilant observer. Witnessing his father’s guileless rediscovery of the ancient text, Mendelsohn’s life’s work as a classicist is turned on its head. The revelations and thoughts of the central characters of Homer’s Odyssey serve as portals to deeper understanding of contemporary relationships. Studying (and essentially mirroring) Homer’s legendary work allowed both the Mendelsohn father and son to find new dimensions for their love of one another. While the events of An Odyssey conclude with Jay passing away, the vibrant stamp he left behind on his son is evidenced by the profundity of the memoir’s pages. It’s an epic reconciliation, albeit a quiet one, focused on all that he’d been given by his father, celebrating their mutual love and respect.” —Michael Raver, The Huffington Post “Family memoirs are often chronicles of estrangement and rapprochement, typically seeking to wring meaning from the haze of grief or regret. As the memoir unspools, Mendelsohn’s narrative grip tightens, and the son’s search for his father becomes poignant and powerful.” —Julia M. Klein, The Forward “Compelling . As I read Mendelsohn’s wonderfully precise textual analysis of Homer, I couldn’t help but think how similar his interpretative method is to the ways in which Biblical scholars parse the Torah for deeper understanding. Through Homer, Mendelsohn has created a memorial his father: an extraordinary act of ­filial love.” —Helen Morales, Times Literary Supplement (UK). In this insightful, tender book, Mendelsohn gracefully marries literary criticism and memoir to describe an intellectual and personal journey that becomes one of profound discovery for both [father and son]. Most impressive are his transitions from scholarly con­sideration of ‘The Odyssey’ to intimate stories of his family life, as when the class discussion flows effortlessly into a magical moment, witnessing [his father] Jay as he offers a heartbreakingly beautiful tribute to his wife… [There are] many wise lessons to be gleaned from this lovely book.” —Harvey Freedenberg, BookPage. Mendelsohn has achieved an enviable renown as essayist, literary critic and author of autobiographical explorations undergirded by insights from classic texts. It’s clear that Mendelsohn’s Socratic method of teaching (via dialogue rather than lecture) forces everyone, including himself, to see things with fresh eyes. Every step of the way, An Odyssey charts a remarkable journey made indelible by Mendelsohn’s elegant prose. Mendelsohn is perhaps the most accessible contemporary ambassador of the classics; An Odyssey makes his most convincing case to date for their vital necessity. Mendelsohn takes us through the Odyssey alongside his class, meanwhile drawing comparisons between his and his father’s journeys, and those of Odysseus and Telemachus. Mendelsohn has honed a method of mixing memoir and criticism to reflect on the problems of contemporary life through the lens of the Greek classics. An Odyssey is a stellar contribution to the genre of memoirs about reading—literary analysis and the personal stories are woven together in a way that feels both artful and natural. “A marvellously entertaining and wise chronicle of [Mendelsohn’s and his father’s] odyssey, first in the classroom and then on a tour of the seas around Greece. This is powerfully true of this moving new odyssey as well.” —Alberto Manguel, Literary Review (UK) “A gentle, at times almost nostalgic, work: Mendelsohn’s lithe prose flits seamlessly across intervals and registers, switching from erudite exposition one minute to emotion-filled reminiscence the next. An accomplished, brave book that testifies to what is perhaps the Odyssey ’s most abiding message: that intelligence has little value if it isn’t allied to love.” —William Skidelsky, The Observer (UK). Besides creating page-turning narrative tension, Mendelsohn’s father Jay’s skepticism raises a question: What good are classics to a modern life? .Mendelsohn is the closest thing American classicists have to a hometown celebrity; his nonpareil prose has been recognized in wide literary circles. Even as Mendelsohn lights up hidden meanings in the Odyssey and universal resonances for the reader, he is not only conveying his knowledge about the epic, but about the little things, too, those details that make a person who they are. The book thus enacts a truth that has long been central to Mendelsohn’s writing and teaching, which is that the great works of antiquity remain relevant today. This is a gentle, at times almost nostalgic, work; Mendelsohn’s lithe prose flits seamlessly across intervals and registers, switching from erudite exposition one minute to emotion-filled reminiscence the next. This accomplished book testifies to what is perhaps the Odyssey ’s most abiding message: that intelligence has little value if it isn’t allied to love.” —William Skidelsky, The Guardian (UK) “Brilliant . The ancient story’s leaving and coming back to shared memories is also a strength of a son’s tribute to his father. Reading The Odyssey , the great book, with your failing old man, and keeping each other company in the parallel epic known as life [is] a memory that will last longer than anything on your cellphone.” —Ian Brown, The Globe and Mail (Canada).
Reviews
"As other reviewers have noted, Daniel Mendelssohn skillfully interweaves a compelling father and son narrative along with erudite commentary on the text of the Odyssey in this book."
"This was my favorite book of 2017 primarily because I know the author personally as well as his family."
"A book written by a fascinating, intelligent, educated man, that brings us into his thinking and remembering his life."
"A phenomenal book--healing, touching, and insightful."
"It was an excellent introduction to the Odyssey and a delightful memoir of a son’s relationship with his aging father."
"Jay Mendelsohn, a retired research scientist, decided to take the undergraduate seminar on Homer's Odyssey that his son Daniel teaches at Bard College. Additionally, Jay and Daniel take an educational Mediterranean cruise together that attempts to re-create the journey of Odysseus. Daniel blends literary analysis with personal family history and creates a powerful work that is an enduring tribute to both Jay Mendelsohn and The Odyssey."
"A wonderful story about fathers and sons."
"Daniel Mendelsohn, a Classics professor at Bard College, has written "An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic", a book, a memoir, almost a dissertation on what seem to be two of his favorite subjects, family and classical literature. Daniel had long tried to understand his father and felt that Jay, with a long interest in the classics and Greek, might benefit from studying that father-son (and grandfather) epic, "The Odyssey" together. How Odysseus felt after not seeing his home, his wife, his father, and his son for twenty years can't exactly be paired with a man's life two thousand years later, but just the working through the passages of the epic with his father helped bring the two closer and helps Daniel understand - a bit - about his father."
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