Keyana doesn't feel lucky to have such a head of hair, but Mama tells her she is because she can wear it any way she chooses.

    Her heart was full of sorrow, for there was nothing to fill the stockings, and there would be only a little mush for breakfast. Mary had written to her sisters in Idaho, asking for help with such necessities as wheat, yeast, flour, and cornmeal. She had also asked for clothing and some old, used quilts, for all of hers were thin and full of holes.At the close of the letter, she had written, "If you could just find a dress that someone has outgrown, I could make it over to fit Ellen. She is far too somber for such a young girl. She worries so about the family and about our needs. She has only one dress that she wears all the time, and it is patched and faded."Her letter had gone unanswered, it seemed, and their Christmas would be far from merry. But George Schow, their mailman, had a surprise in store. Could he brave the coming storm and bitter cold to deliver a Christmas miracle? And would there be a special present for Ellen? Find out in this classic tale of Christmas sacrifice and service.About this book: President Thomas S. Monson told the story "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in 1997, and an adaption of his address was published as a Christmas booklet in 1998. The story was related to President Monson by Marian Jeppson Walker (now deceased), a daughter of Mary Jeppson, the mother in the story. Sister Walker and her husband, William, also exchanged correspondence about the story with President Monson over the years. Additional details were obtained through correspondence with descendants of George Schow, the mailman who delivered the long-looked-for packages to the Jeppson family on Christmas Eve. In addition to other family members, those descendants include Mark Schow (now deceased) and Gayla Woolf Holt. The help and information from all these family members is acknowledged and appreciated.

    Lee's "beautiful" fruit store, and the "beautiful" smooth stone Old Mr. Sims always carries. The girl soon understands that beautiful means "that when you have it, your heart is happy." Young readers will enjoy appreciating the beauty of friendship and the power of hope in this encouraging story.

    You want to see them take responsibility for their behavior, their values, their lives. But maybe you've discovered that simply telling them to "do the right thing" isn't enough. From toddler tantrums to teenage temptations, you've got to help them take ownership of their behavior, feelings, and attitudes. But how?Establish healthy boundaries. Boundaries are the bedrock of good relationships, maturity, safety, and growth for your children and for you.Boundaries With Kids will help you prepare your kids to assume the responsibility for their own lives. Drawing on principles from the Bible, the authors of the award winning best-seller Boundaries help you recognize the boundary issues underlying child behavior problems set boundaries and establish consequences with kids get out of the "nagging" trap stop controlling your child - and instead help your child to develop self-control apply ten laws of boundaries to parenting take six practical steps for implementing boundaries with your kids. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend show you how to bring control to an out-of-control family life. How to set limits and still be a loving parent. How to define legitimate boundaries for your family. And above all, how to instill in your children the kind of godly character that is the foundation for healthy, productive adult living.

    But when the teenage King mistakenly kills two white deputies during a botched raid on the DuMonts, the Tremains' fear of reprisal forces King to flee Louisiana. King thus embarks on an adventure that first takes him to France, where he fights in World War I as a member of the segregated 369th Battalion—in the bigoted army he finds himself locked in combat with American soldiers as well as with Germans. When he returns to America, he battles the Mob in Jazz Age Harlem, the KKK in Louisiana, and crooked politicians trying to destroy a black township in Oklahoma. King Tremain is driven by two principal forces: He wants to be treated with respect, and he wants to create a family dynasty much like the one he left behind in Louisiana. This is a stunning debut by novelist Guy Johnson that provides a true depiction of the lives of African-Americans in the early decades of the twentieth century.

    Then she meets the boy who received David's heart in an organ transplant, and learns that life truly does go on.A journey of faith, hope, and love.Life at Darcy's house isn't always easy. Money is tight, and her parents argue a lot. Darcy's shy and quiet with most people, but it's not like that with her brother, David. He and Darcy are soul mates. Until David gets a girlfriend, that is, and starts to treat Darcy as if she were a pest. Darcy is hurt and humiliated, and one day after a huge fight, Darcy runs off. David chases after her and is killed in a shocking accident. Darcy is sure his death is her fault.Then Darcy's parents decide to donate David's heart for transplant. Darcy believes that if she can find David's heart, even if it's beating in someone else's body, she will have found her brother, and in some way he will still be alive. And so the search for David's heart begins.

    The radically different perspectives give a fascinating depth to this simple story which explores many of the author’s key themes, such as alienation, friendship and the bizarre amid the mundane.

    Now Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill offer new ways to foster a sense of togetherness through celebrations that honor the sacredness of life and our Mother Earth.Goddess tradition embraces the wheel of life, the never-ending cycle of birth, growth, love, fulfillment, and death. Each turn of the wheel is presented here, in eight holidays spanning the changing seasons, in rites of passage for life transitions, and in the elements of fire, air, water, earth, and spirit. Circle Round is rich with songs, rituals, craft and cooking projects, and read-aloud stories, as well as suggestions for how you can create your own unique family traditions. Here are just some of the ways to make each event in the cycle of life more special: Mark Summer Solstice by making sweet-smelling herb pillows for good dreams Send a teenager off to college with the Leaving Behind and Carrying With rituals Comfort an injured child with the Tree of Life meditation Commemorate a loved one by planting or donating a treeAs a one-of-a-kind resource for people of many faiths and beliefs, Circle Round will be a beloved companion in your home for years to come.

    He chewed with his mouth open (and full of food), he jumped on the furniture, and he broke his mother's vase! As a result, all David ever heard his mother say was "No, David!" Here is his story.

    This newly revised edition features additional information from recent research on vision and hearing deficits, motor skill problems, nutrition and picky eaters, ADHA, autism, and other related disorders.

    Heart-to heart encouragement, inspiration and insight for homeschooling mothers.

    And that’s okay! Follow the boisterous, bouncing protagonist as she explores her moods and how they change from day to day.

    Freddy's brother-in-law, Theo, a minister, is also ready to help, while her three grandchildren try to find a way out of the grief to move forward in life."Looking Forward" is the first book in the saga of the unforgettable Chadwick family.

    They traveled far each day in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa built a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story-books. Renee Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.Renée Graef recieved her bachelor's degree in art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the illustrator of teh paper dolls and the Kirsten books in the American Girls Collection. She is also an avid hat collector, with over 150 hats at last count. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her huisband, Tim, and thier children, Maggie and Maxfeild.Join the Ingalls family as they pick a special spot on the prairie and build their snug log cabin home. Their new neighbor, Mr. Edwards, comes by to help, and after the hard work is through, everyone sings and dances to the joyful music of Pa's fiddle. Renee Graef's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth William's classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in this eleventh title in the My First Little House Books series, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks.

    It's almost bedtime, but there's a problem-Patrick doesn't have a bed at Granny's. So Granny goes out to her yard, chops down some trees, and makes a comfy bed for Patrick. Now he can go to sleep. Right? Not yet. He doesn't have a pillow! So Granny dashes to the henhouse, collects some feathers, and sews a fluffy pillow for Patrick. Now he can go to sleep. Right? Not yet. A few other things are still missing . . . . If Patrick is lucky, this could go on all night!"Children will snuggle down with smiles on their faces after this comic spin on the paraphernalia associated with a common ritual." (Kirkus Reviews)

    This new book deals with anger's root causes, offering corrective advice from a biblical perspective. Pastor and radio teacher, John MacArthur, Jr. has said, "This book goes beyond the external manifestations of anger and deals with the internal source - the thoughts and intents of the heart. I know of no other book that addresses this problem with such practical and applicable biblical wisdom."

    Tears and Tantrums is a highly readable, compassionate, and well-researched book in which the author addresses these common questions and concerns.There has been a huge misunderstanding about the purpose of crying in healthy development, leading to the wide-spread notion that crying should be stopped. Backed by scientific studies, the author proposes a stress-release theory of crying and recommends an attitude of acceptance towards children's tears and tantrums. At the core of her approach is the concept of empathic listening.The book is divided into four sections. The first section (some facts about tears and tantrums) describes the major sources of stress for children, the physiology of crying, and the psychological benefits of it. It also covers the uses of crying in therapy, the differences in crying between men and women, and the ways in which stress-release crying becomes repressed.The second section describes the sources of stress for infants (such as birth trauma and overstimulation), which can cause a need for stress-release crying during the first year. The author makes an important distinction between crying to communicate and crying to release stress, and she explains how problems such as night waking in older infants can be resolved when sufficient stress release has taken place. She emphasizes that infants should never be left to cry alone. Instead, she recommends that parents hold their crying infants, try to meet the infant's immediate needs, and then offer comfort and empathy if the baby still needs to cry. An interesting section discusses the typical behaviors that can result when there is a mismatch between the infant's needs and the parents' response.In the third section (about children from one to eight years) the author explains the reasons for tantrums, specifically the "broken-cookie" phenomenon (when a child rages over a minor incident), while making an important distinction between healthy anger release and aggressive behavior. She also offers suggestions on how to respond lovingly to crying during physical hurts and separations, at bedtime, and after traumatic events. The final section (practical applications) includes many personal accounts by parents using this approach as well as answers to the most commonly asked questions. Tears and Tantrums has been favorably reviewed by Publishers Weekly and Booklist as well as by many psychologists, psychiatrists, educators, and parents. It has been translated into many languages.

    The sisters are so close that they have created a private language, yet to the outside world they can't be sisters: Birdie appears to be white, while Cole is dark enough to fit in with the other kids at the Afrocentric school they attend. For Birdie, Cole is the mirror in which she can see her own blackness. Then their parents' marriage falls apart. Their father's new black girlfriend won't even look at Birdie, while their mother gives her life over to the Movement: at night the sisters watch mysterious men arrive with bundles shaped like rifles.One night Birdie watches her father and his girlfriend drive away with Cole—they have gone to Brazil, she will later learn, where her father hopes for a racial equality he will never find in the States. The next morning—in the belief that the Feds are after them—Birdie and her mother leave everything behind: their house and possessions, their friends, and—most disturbing of all—their identity. Passing as the daughter and wife of a deceased Jewish professor, Birdie and her mother finally make their home in New Hampshire.Desperate to find Cole, yet afraid of betraying her mother and herself to some unknown danger, Birdie must learn to navigate the white world—so that when she sets off in search of her sister, she is ready for what she will find. At once a powerful coming-of-age story and a groundbreaking work on identity and race in America, "Caucasia deserves to be read all over" (Glamour).

    Tessa, a delightful twenty-two-year-old, still misses her dead parents and brother but has learned that it is better to be alone than to be with the wrong people. Will, a retired widow, is by nature a positive man. Enchanted by Mathilda's house and drawn to Isobel, Mathilda's housekeeper who still lives in the cove, he sees life taking an exciting turn. Beatrice, a retired prep-school matron, thinks the idea of living with her cousins is preposterous. But a magical Christmas spent in the cove soon wins her over. As they muck in together it is as though they have known each other all their lives. Isobel, who still grieves for her dear friend, recognises Mathilda in each one of them as she is warmly accepted as part of this delightful and truly extraordinary family.

    A late snow helps the trees make more sap for maple syrup, and maple syrup means sweet sugar cakes and sticky fingers for Laura! Doris Ettlinger's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams's artwork, perfectly capture Laura and her family in this My First Little House Book, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods.

    With her family in crisis, and with bombing raids devastating the streets of Birmingham, Genie struggles to achieve happiness.

    They'll go to Grandpa's farm to feed the calves, ride in the back of the mini-van making faces at the cars that go by, fly on airplanes, and someday, they'll even go to Africa on a safari.

    Six years later her sister Liza disappears while they are staying at their uncle's property. What Ann sees that day robs her of her memory and her speech. Ann escapes her anguished childhood, finding love and a new life away from Mallawindy. But there is no escape from the Burton family and its dark secrets. Ann must return to Mallawindy and confront the past if she is ever to be free.

    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Minnesota. This book features 111 species of Minnesota birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

     Updated with new material -- including an all new introduction and expanded practices in the epilogue -- Everyday Blessings remains one of the few books on parenting that embraces the emotional, intuitive, and deeply personal experience of being a parent, applying the groundbreaking "mind/body connection" expertise from global mindfulness leader, Jon Kabat-Zinn and his wife, Myla Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness is a way of living and there is increasing scientific evidence of its value for optimal health and well-being. A new field in psychology is devoted to mindful parenting, and mindfulness is being increasingly integrated into K-12 education. There has never been a better time for cultivating greater mindfulness in parenting and in family life.

    Barbara Delinsky has always had a gift for creating tales of extraordinary emotional power and depth. Now the New York Times bestselling author of Three Wishes surpasses herself once again in a novel that takes readers on a journey as richly textured, colorful, and poignant as the northern California landscape in which the book is set. Rachel Keats and Jack McGill were artists, deeply in love when they married, until the rush of life took its toll. After ten years of marriage, they divorced and went their separate ways. Jack stayed in San Francisco. Rachel moved with their two young daughters to Big Sur. Six years later, an alarming middle-of-the-night phone call demands that Jack put aside his own busy life and career as a leading architect to rush to his ex-wife's hospital bed. While she lies comatose, Jack maintains a bedside vigil and finds himself getting to know Rachel better than he ever did -- through their daughters, her friends, and, even more, through her art. Meanwhile, the beauty and grace of the Redwood canyon where she has made her home also work their own special alchemy upon Jack. He begins to see Rachel, his daughters, and the story of his marriage with new eyes. Coast Road celebrates those things in life that matter most -- the kinship of neighbors, the companionship of friends, and the irreplaceable time spent with children and family. Barbara Delinsky depicts with exquisite accuracy the ties that bind each of us to those people and places we hold most dear.

      A unique handbook to raising children with a compassionate, steady hand—and to giving them the support and confidence they need to thrive. Expanding on her universally loved poem “Children Learn What They Live,” Dorothy Law Nolte, with psychotherapist Rachel Harris, reveals how parenting by example—by showing, not just telling—instills positive, true values in children that they will carry with them throughout their lives. Addressing issues of security, self-worth, tolerance, honesty, fear, respect, fairness, patience, and more, this book of rare common sense will help a new generation of parents find their own parenting wisdom—and draw out their child’s immense inner resources.  If children live with criticism they learn to condemn. If children live with sharing, they learn generosity. If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.   And more wisdom.

    Full color.

    The grave is at Manzanar, where thousands of Americans of Japanese heritage were interned during World War II. Among those rounded up and taken to the internment camp were Laura's father, then a small boy, and his parents. Now Laura says goodbye to Grandfather in her own special way, with a gesture that crosses generational lines and bears witness to the patriotism that survived a shameful episode in America's history. Eve Bunting's poignant text and Chris K. Soentpiet's detailed, evocative paintings make the story of this family's visit to Manzanar, and of the memories stirred by the experience, one that will linger in readers' minds and hearts. Afterword.

    But he is drawn to the silent, slow-moving caterpillar in the jar next to his desk. He knows caterpillars turn into butterflies, but just how do they do it? To find out, he studies the words in a butterfly book so many times that he can close his eyes and see the black letters, but he still can't understand their meaning.Illustrated with paintings as deep and rich as the wings of a butterfly, this honest, unsentimental account of a schoolchild's struggle to learn language reveals that our imaginations powerfully sustain us. La Mariposa makes a subtle plea for tolerance in our homes, our communities, and in our schools.

    Three clever billy goats outwit a big, ugly troll that lives under the bridge they must cross on their way up the mountain.

    Next, some oil is generously applied. (It's really water.) And then some tomatoes. (They're really checkers.) When the dough gets tickled, it laughs like crazy.

    Tomatoes, peppers, onions, marigold, and zinnias grow in neat, straight rows...and every spring my father tells me about Mr. Bellavista and the summer my father was ten. -From the book. That was the summer the boy lost a baseball under a tomato plant in Mr. Bellavista's garden. And someone tossed a tomato back instead of the baseball. A lively battle took place, which seemed like great fun at the time, but in the end Mr. Bellavista's garden had been destroyed. In a touching story of one boy's efforts to make amends, we see the rebuilding of a garden and the forming of a relationship across generations. With luminous, beautifully detailed watercolors, the artist has captured both the sadness and the quiet joy woven throughout the tale.

    Full-color illustrations.

    It just happens to revolve around the refrigerator! So whether he's reviewing the list of things he's not going to do today, testing the first law of physics--"Bodies at rest tend to stay at rest"--or challenging Odie to a do-nothing contest, you can be sure that when mealtime comes, GARFIELD will have all the energy he needs!

    Like her family and the other slaves on the farm, Ann works from sunup to sundown and obeys the orders of her master. Then one day, Ann's family -- the only joy she knows -- is gone. Just 12 years old, Ann is overcome by grief, struggling to get through each day. And her only hope of stealing back her freedom and finding her family lies in a perilous journey: the Underground Railroad.Ann Maria Weems was an actual slave who lived in the mid-1800s near the author's home in Maryland.

    Book by Hellinger, Bert

    Tova Friedman, Frieda Tenenbaum, and Rachel Hyams all came from the same small town in Poland. After a series of ghettos and forced labor camps, all three girls were transported to Auschwitz with their mothers and for a time were together in the Kinderlager barracks-the children's section. By a twist of fate, when the final Nazi cry of "Alle Juden raus!" echoed through the camp, each of the girls was hidden by her mother instead of joining what was for many a death march. On January 27, 1945, the date of their liberation and, subsequently, the date celebrated by the three women as their "birthday, " Tova was six years old, Frieda was ten, and Rachel was seven. Nieuwsma, a journalist, assembles the sometimes brutal oral histories of these women from childhood through liberation and the aftermath of displaced persons camps, the often futile search for scraps of information about surviving family, and the difficult decision to emigrate. In the story of each woman's adult life, there is a resurgence of hidden memory and post-traumatic stress; Tova speaks of "existential loneliness" during every holiday, Rachel of her never-ending search for "missing pieces, " and Frieda recalls that "if you cried in the war you were dead...But I can do it now, and it's a precious thing." The photographs of these women with their children and grandchildren are a testament to their strength and to the capacity of the human spirit to survive. Their intenselymoving stories are a remarkable gift of insight to the Holocaust years and its implications for all of us.

    A cookie company seems the perfect way to make a little money, but it turns out to be much more -- an opportunity to meet some very special neighbors!

    But what do they do best? Mommies can do lots of things, like teach you how to ride a bike, sew a loose button on your teddy bear, and read you a cozy bedtime story. But what do they do best? The answer is made perfectly clear in this irresistible celebration of parents and the everyday things they do.

    You've never seen I Spy like this!

    Anything from a beautiful sunset to the mention of her porch swing can take her back into her past, from when she was just a little girl out on the farm with her papa or back to a recent birthday shared with her daughter. She can no longer do the things she used to do, but she's still their Momma Olivia.Laminack treats a difficult topic with great care, giving voice to the seldom discussed tragedy of watching a loved one slip into the past in terms children can understand. Bergum's delicate watercolors also give soft expression to the love that holds a family together during times of hardship.

    So is this work guided by the Spirit. It is the fruit of entering gently and respectfully into the child's joyful encounter with the mystery of God's silent self-revelation made tangible through ancient biblical images, liturgical signs and celebrations.The author, Gianna Gobbi, personally worked as an apprentice with Maria Montessori in Rome. In collaboration with Sofia Cavalletti, a biblical scholar, Gianna played a primary role in applying the principles of the Montessori method to the religious formation of children, now embodied in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.As the Catechesis spreads throughout the world, the origi-nators are conscious of the inclination of followers to dilute the work to familiar formulas and a set of skills acquired in training courses and textbooks. What is essential is not techniques nor even the right use of materials, as significant as these may be; rather, it is the spiritual formation of the catechist/educator as a servant of God's Word, motivated by the desire to enter more deeply into union with Christ, the one true Teacher of us all. Put simply: to listen to God with children.

    Hollinthwaite, however, has other ideas and when he forces the two to part Rob is sent away to school while Alena must start work in the local bobbin mill. Life is hard and her love for Rob severely tested. Torn between two men, her indecision is heightened by the knowledge of a tragic secret. Dolly Sutton has problems of a more intimate nature, while shy and unassuming, Sandra Myers finds herself an unlikely campaigner against Hollinthwaite’s destructive plans for the village when he ruthlessly sacks the man she loves.

    It also contains stories that are funny or just plain silly so kids will know that life's challenges are balanced with joy. Written by kids themselves and adults who haven't forgotten what it's like to be a kid.

    He never "served" as a priest -- but a priest he was, and is. Heartbreaking but inspiring at the same time.

    Sophia has dedicated this book to her grandmother Luisa, with whom she lived in Pozzuoli, the small city near Naples, during World War II. Watching her grandmother turn their humble wartime rations into succulent dishes left a lasting impression on Sophia, and it is this spirit of improvisation that marks the recipes in her new cookbook.Along with Nonna Luisa's specialties, Sophia's recipes come from all over Italy: a wonderful bean soup from Tuscany, Neapolitan pizzas, a risotto from Venice, fish from Sicily and, vegetable preparations from the South. Many of the recipes are variations on the classics, such as Vermicelli alia Sophia (which features her own interpretation of pesto sauce) and Luisa's Minestrone (based on her grandmother's version of the essential vegetable soup). Sophia's love of pasta is well-known, and the book includes a wonderful selection of pasta recipes, as well as dishes of risotto and polenta. Simple antipasti and recipes for meat, poultry, and fish round out this collection. Among the homey desserts are a flourless apple cake and an irresistible ricotta pie.In addition to the recipes, Sophia shares poignant anecdotes about her Neapolitan childhood and her illustrious filmmaking career. She takes us behind the scenes of some of the many movies she made in Italy with such stars and dear friends as Marcello Mastroianni and Cary Grant and shares the recipes that she discovered on location for various movies. While making Two Women, in the mountains near Rome, she learned to make Spaghetti alla Carbonara from charcoal workers.

    Joyce Maguire Pavao uses her thirty years of experience as a family and adoption therapist to explain to adoptive parents, birthparents, adult adopted people, and extended family, as well as to those who work with children professionally the developmental stages and challenges one can expect in the life of the adopted person.The Family of Adoption is truly the most insightful and healing book on the adoption shelf.

    Shifting the intense child to new patterns of success and strengthening all children on the inside.

    It includes over 600 images of costumes, official regalia portraits, books, icons and jewellery belonging to, or associated with, the imperial family. In addition, the book contains previously unpublished documentary material from the State Archive in Moscow: diaries of the tsar's family, their photo albums, letters and personal memorabilia, as well as historical documents relating to the family's murder. In the words of Dr Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the Hermitage, Nicholas & Alexandra 'presents the final chapter of tsarist Russia as it's never been told before.'

    Will it work? Instructions for making a dreamcatcher appear at the end of the book. Full color.

    If forgiveness is essential to personal peace, then why is it so hard to give? Whether you seek to be forgiven or to give forgiveness, pastor and counselor Chuck Lynch presents a thorough understanding of forgiveness and how it can be accomplished.

    The story of an attempt by the government to seize and constrain possible victims of leprosy and the determination of one small family not to be taken. A tale of the perils and glories of their flight into the wilds of the island of Kauai, pursued by a gunboat full of soldiers.A brilliant capturing -- inspired by the poet's respect for the people of these islands -- of their life, their history, the gods and goddesses of their mythic past. A somber revelation of the wrecking of their culture through the exploitative incursions of Europeans and Americans. An epic narrative that enthralls with the grandeur of its language and of its vision.

    Margaret Forster's father was not a man to answer questions - least of all questions about life and death, so she attempts to answer them for herself. As Forster looks back at Arthur's life and indomitable character, she evokes incidents from her childhood, his working life and stubborn old age, trying to make sense of their largely unspoken relationship, and of his tenacious hold on life, and on his family. Arthur and Marion's lives were ordinary, and apparently unremarkable, but, when faced with death, lives like these become strangely precious.

    Now they look back on a half- century of their personal and political struggles to maintain a healthy marriage and to create the record of distinguished accomplishment that earned each a Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.With Ossie and Ruby overflows with consummate storytelling skill developed by decades in the spotlight. From their early years as struggling actors in Harlem's black theater to Broadway and Hollywood stardom, they regale the reader with colorful, entertaining tales of the places they've been and the people they've met. But their charming humor is leavened with a more serious side, as they share their experiences of keeping a family together in a world where scandal and divorce is the rule, and of being artists and political activists in an era of intense racial ferment. Born into the struggle, their characters were shaped by the dynamic collisions of life, politics, and art; and from those experiences, they achieved some sense of their worth as married people, friends, and lovers.Warm, positive, and compelling, this is a book that will surprise and challenge readers everywhere -- black and white, male and female, young and old. Lifting the veil of public image, media hype, and mystique, Ossie and Ruby speak of the real-life dilemmas and rewards of their lifelong search for purpose and value.

    Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting will help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. For use during birth, the book offers proven techniques for coping with labor pain without drugs, a discussion of the doctor or midwife’s role, and a look at the father’s responsibilities. Childbirth education should also include what to expect after the baby is born. Here are baby basics, such as how to bathe a newborn, how to get the little one to sleep, and tips for getting nursing off to a good start. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a process of continuous learning and adjustment; Birthing From Within provides the necessary support and education to make each phase of birthing a rewarding experience.

    A teller of tales and a teacher. An artist and an apologist. In this collector's edition of three of his books, his unique gifts are interwoven in three unique portraits of Jesus.d

    Johnny Texas has more to fear from greedy, dishonest men than from wild animals during a six-hundred-mile trip to Mexico and back over the Old San Antonio Road.

    It starts with her birth and concludes when she welcomes her own baby.On each occasion, friends and family bring gifts to celebrate. In the end, though, the most cherished gifts are the ones that cannot be purchased.The first cherished gift Sara receives is her mother's milk and the story comes full circle when she gives that same gift to her own baby.Originally published in 1998, The Best Gifts has been fully revised, with all-new illustrations and updated breastfeeding resource information.Marsha Skrypuch is the author of many books for children, including Silver Threads, The Best Gifts, Enough, The Hunger and Hope's War. Among the numerous writing awards won her novel about the Armenian genocide, Nobody's Child, was nominated for the Red Maple Award, the Alberta Rocky Mountain Book Award, the B.C. Stellar Award; and it was listed by Resource Links as a Best Book.

    If You Had Controlling Parents helps spark understanding and acceptance across generations." — John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from VenusDo you sometimes feel as if you are living your life to please others? Do you give other people the benefit of the doubt but second-guess yourself? Do you struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, lack of confidence, emotional emptiness, or eating disorders? In your intimate relationships, have you found it difficult to get close without losing your sense of self?If so, you may be among the fifteen million adults in the United States who were raised with unhealthy parental control. In this groundbreaking bestseller by accomplished family therapist Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., you'll discover whether your parents controlled eating, appearance, speech, decisions, feelings, social life, and other aspects of your childhood—and whether that control may underlie problems you still struggle with in adulthood. Packed with inspiring case studies and dozens of practical suggestions, this book shows you how to leave home emotionally so you can improve assertiveness, boundaries, and confidence, quiet you "inner critics," and bring more balance to your moods and relationships. Offering compassion, not blame, Dr. Neuharth helps you make peace with your past and avoid overcontrolling your children and other loved ones.

    Here, where everything - walls, floor, courtyard - is mud, a boy's heart can still long for freedom, independence, and safety. And here, where life is terribly fragile, the strength to endure grows out of need. But the strength to dreams comes from within.

    Her mother, a popular and glamorous movie star, is more interested in her soaring career than in her daughter, hiding Allison away at boarding school much of the year. What's worse, Allison has no memory of her dead father, and her mother absolutely refuses to talk about him.Then in the summer of 1948, Allison is told that she must attend summer camp while her mother is out of the country. Dreading her fate, Allison devises a plan to escape to New York City and wait out the summer in her mother's now-empty penthouse. But while there, Allison uncovers some disturbing information. A letter from a grandfather she didn't know existed inspires her to unlock the mystery of her past. Will she finally find the love of a family she has always dreamed about?

    Angelica couldn't be happier, because her diabolical plan to keep Stu and Didi out of her way is working perfectly. But will her scheme backfire? Find out in this original Rugrats story.

    But in between what we all struggle with: the parenting, spousing, cleaning up, working, and carving out a minute or two for yourself, how do you give yourself to your children in the conditions you find yourself in? This is how: by being present--not in every moment (we're tired enough!)--but in key activities such as play, spiritual discussions, tender physical attention and little daily rituals that can see us through the pace of life today to a strong, coherent, lived family life."Gina Bria knows how to talk to families and make them listen and think. With a tone that is at once authoritative and compassionate, she gives us the steps for creating families that withstand the pressures of modern society. The key is to create a personal family culture around the domestic rituals associated with family, such as making your home your true haven from the outside world, really understanding how to play with your children and in your marriage, caring for each others' bodies--young and old, and finding a spiritual path to travel together. In essence, Bria shows us how to assign particular and special meaning to the everyday tasks that make up our home life and in so doing, build a family that can withstand the daily example of conformity, rejection and disillusion.

    Thursday is the day before Mama gets paid at work each week - it's the day when money is tight and spirits are low for Andre and his older brother and sister.As report card day approaches, Andre anticipates making the honor roll, and Mama said she'd throw a royal party for just such an event. But Andre can't believe his eyes when he looks at the calendar and sees that report card day falls on the worst possible day of the week - a Thursday.Andre's predicament - and the loving solution that his family offers - will strike a chord with readers of all backgrounds. Melrose Cooper and Nneka Bennett present a warm and touching portrait of a child who experiences a celebration he'll never forget.

    Although innocent, they are on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Along with their young son, they have eluded capture for 13 years, but are finally forced to stop running and fight for their freedom--and their lives. From the bestselling author of Nathan's Run.

    This easy-to-understand, down-to-earth book moves beyond parenting theories and techniques to get to the heart of parenting. If parents know how to look within their hearts to find the answers they need, parenting techniques are not necessary. If parents know how to find a loving connection with their children at most times, discipline and consequences are rarely necessary. All parents have it within them to bring out the best in their children. Approaching parents in this way makes parenting a true pleasure instead of the battle and chore it often becomes. Many so-called experts say that raising kids is the toughest job any of us will ever do, but it does not have to be that way. It can be the most joyful thing any of us will ever do. Parenting from the Heart is a must resource for anyone who cares about parenting and raising children. About the Author:Jack Pransky, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Inside-Out Understanding and is an international consultant and trainer for the prevention of problem behaviors and the promotion of well-being. He also authored the books, Somebody Should Have Told Us!; Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner-City and Beyond; Prevention from the Inside-Out, Prevention: The Critical Need and co-authored both the Healthy Thinking, Feeling, Doing--from the Inside-Out curriculum and guide for middle school students and What Is A Thought (A Thought Is A Lot), a picture book for little children. Pransky has worked in the field of prevention since 1968 in a wide variety of capacities. He has offered parenting training and consultation to a great number of parents, and has trained many parenting course instructors.

    Forced by the Agent's untimely death to head up the Orphan Train, not only does Will run into the expected late winter blizzards, floods, stampedes, thieves, and Comancheros, but he also, with Amanda's help, has to figure out how to handle the plagues of hornets, buffaloes, and snakes that the dozen children bring upon the wagons. By the end of the arduous trek, Will realizes that a loner is the unhappiest man in the world; that only by taking on the problems of those for whom you love and care, can a man truly be content.

    How is this possible? he wonders. He asks several of his Arctic friends how their mothers love them. Pinpin, the penguin, explains that his mother loves him with all her wings. Felix, the seal, knows that his mother loves him with all her flippers. When Polo finally asks his mother, she explains that she loves him with her whole body -- her fur when she rubs against him; her eyes that shine when she sees him; her nose that smells his warmth when she hugs him; her paws when she tickles him. But more than anything else she loves him with all her heart. This tender story, accompanied by adorable illustrations, captures the all-encompassing quality of a parent's love. Readers will soon love Polo with all of their hearts, as children snuggle up to their parents to hear this story read again and again.

    But as she rushes out to the cookhouse, disasters happen. Her homework blows out the window and is ruined by dogs. She drops her glasses and breaks them. Grandmother comforts her broken-hearted granddaughter with the wisdom of an old healing song: "When we have problem, we must choose what we shall be". Marta chooses to fly high and laugh at her problems, like the eagle. Set in a contemporary Tohono O'odham (Papago) village, Joy Cowley's gentle story contains a valuable message for everyone. Dyanne Strongbow's vibrant paintings capture the rugged beauty of the American southwestern desert.

    And for families as well as individuals, they are built on a complex web of shifting motives and emotions. But today, when personal revelations are posted on the Internet or sensationalized on afternoon talk shows, we risk losing touch with how important secrets are--how they are used and abused, their power to harm and heal.In this important work, Evan Imber-Black explores the nature of secrets, helping us understand: The distinction between healthy privacy and toxic secrecy What to tell--and not to tell--young children How to safely confront a family "zone of silence" Why adolescents need to have some secrets--and where to draw the line The effect of "official" secrets, like sealed adoption records and medical testing What to consider before revealing an important secret And much moreFilled with moving first-person stories, The Secret Life of Families provides perspective on some of today's most sensitive personal and social issues. Giving voice to our deepest fears and to our power to overcome them, this is a book that will be talked about for years to come.

    The book includes: A step-by-step, integrated system of yoga poses designed to increase cognitive and motor skills in children with learning and developmental disabilities. Specialized breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to improve concentration and reduce hyperactivity. And early intervention program to assure the healthy formative development of infants and toddlers.

    If these poems don't put a smile on your face, Stephen Carpenter's hilarious illustrations surely will!

    The author, anoccupational therapist who has worked extensively with children withDown syndrome, is also the parent of a teenager with Down syndrome.She offers parents and professionals dozens of easy, home-andschool-based activities, illustrated with black and white photos, whichhelp children gradually acquire the skills they need for fine motordevelopment. Readers learn how to incorporate work on fine motorskills into everyday activities and routines and to emphasise tasks thatchildren can use throughout life - play, self-help, printing, cutting withscissors, and computer use.

    A collection of photographs of the domestic cat.

    It stars child-at-heart Rose, her "decent Neanderthal" husband Jimbo, and their anything-but-precocious son Pasquale. Nominated for Best Newspaper Comic Strip of 1993 and 1995, "Rose is Rose" is loved by cartoonists as well as readers in more than 400 newspapers. "Peanuts" creator Charles Schultz says, "Ever since 'Rose is Rose' began, I have been one of its most ardent admirers.""Peace of Mind is a Blanket that Purrs" is a warm and charming gift book that reminds us of the securities that Pasquale -- and all young children--find in life.

    Every tale returns to the most basic question: What is fair?With tales from Africa, Asia, and Europe, from Irish, Jews, and Muslims, from American schools and courtrooms, The Cow of No Color is truly an international gathering. Ranging from tricks to watch for in playground games to big issues to ponder for a lifetime, here is a book with insights and challenges for every member of every family.

    But don't stop there. Discipline can accomplish so much more. We also want emotionally healthy, respectful, responsible, self-disciplined children who know how to make sound decisions, communicate effectively, solve problems with skill, handle difficult situations with grace, and treat others with dignity. What we teach with our discipline at ages 2, 5, and 12, will return to help or haunt us during their adolescence and adulthood. The tips, traps, and stories found in this book help us discipline effectively today yet keep an eye toward the future. For we will reap what we sow.

    Their struggles are the topic of TV shows, best-selling books, and popular magazines. Everyday something else that parents or children do is labeled 'dysfunctional.' Are the world's problems destined to become our own? How can we make sure we are part of the solution - not the problem? According to respected marriage counselor Gary Chapman, we can still make the dream of loving families come true. Just as bankers study authentic bills if they want to spot counterfeits, we can learn how to make our own families 'work' by studying successful ones. In 'Five Signs of a Loving Family', Dr. Chapman suggests that service, love, leadership, teaching and obedience are the hallmarks of lasting families. And he prescribes practical ways to help every family member nurture these traits. His words are powerful encouragement for parents and children alike.

    Up to the ceiling, down to the ground, backward and forward, round and round ... All babies love to be lifted, twirled and held in loving arms. Now a rhythmic poem by nineteenth century poet Anne Taylor makes a delightful board book perfect for baby and parent to share. Marjorie van Heerden has captured the energy and joy of this playful text in vivd pastel illustrations full of the soft, gentle motion of dance. For babies who are responding to music and movement, here's a playful poem that has father and child dancing lovingly across the pages.

    These classic stories have been inspiring children to grow in their faith for more than five decades. More than three million copies later, children continue to grow up relating to members of the gang as they struggle with the application of their Christian faith to the adventure of life.In The Indian Cemetery, adventures in Minnesota's Lake Country help the Gang learn what the Bible says about death and eternal life.In The Treasure Hunt, a mysterious note leads the Gang on an adventure, and they learn the terrible effects sin has on families when it has a hold on the father. In The Thousand Dollar Fish, the Gang learns about several kinds of fishing, the most important being fishing for men.In The Haunted House, the Gang learns something of the meaning of the Bible verse "... absent from the body... at home with the Lord.”In Lost in the Blizzard, the Gangs face a fierce storm and discover the significance of the great hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". In On the Mexican Border, the Gang learns how precious children of all colors are in God's sight.

    They have written their names inside each front cover and pored over the colorful pictures. Parents have shared Golden moments with their children, thanks to the happy hours spent with the books.

    They have written their names inside each front cover and pored over the colorful pictures. Parents have shared Golden moments with their children, thanks to the happy hours spent with the books.

    The examples are from Vietnam, but the experience is universal, so the book is helpful to active duty service members.Part One, Vietnam: What it was, consists of a series of chapters containing interviews with Vietnam veterans: Who Went, In the Rear, In the Pipeline and Forward Bases, Going Forth: Aviation and Mechanized Combat, In the Field, and Back in the World. Each chapter covers one type of Vietnam experience, followed by questions to help the reader understand what veterans go through. The details are from Vietnam but the experiences are universal, applicable to any war where the enemy can't be easily identified and anyone can kill you. Part Two, The Aftereffects, begins with "What's So Different About Vietnam", a guerilla war with no front line and no way to identify the enemy, conditions which apply to Iraq and Afghanistan. The next chapter, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,"  contains a clear discussion of the symptoms of PTSD along with suggestions for beginning to get help. "Our Problems" finishes the section and discusses how PTSD impacts the family. Part Three, Help Yourself has three chapters, First Aid, Listening, and Changing. These are designed to put your feet on the path that will lead to your recovery, whether you are a family member, friend or veteran. They contain a lot of personal experiences.There is a list of sources, suggested further reading, other sources of help, guidelines for a 12 step group for families of veterans and an index.

    

    Barbara and Dennis Rainey, parents of six teenage or older children, map out the unfamiliar, demanding landscape of both pre-adolescence (ages 10-12), as well as the teen years that follow."Preadolescence is when convictions are shaped; adolescence is when convictions are tested," they advise parents. In Parenting Today's Adolescent the Raineys help children and parents build a satisfying relationship while forging a vision for a productive, God-honoring life-before, during, and after adolescence.

    Numerous case illustrations assist the reader in eliciting the unique strengths of diverse families to the benefit of all their members, from small children to frail elderly. Guidelines are delineated for intervening sensitively and effectively with those struggling with sudden crisis, trauma, and loss; disruptive transitions, such as job loss, divorce, and migration; chronic multistress conditions of serious illness or poverty; and barriers to success for at-risk youth.

    Reproduced here are many of the thousands of photographs he took in New York's Harlem between the wars. 200 photos.

    

    For toddlers just discovering the joy of mimicking words and sounds, this exuberant chant is perfect to read aloud.My aunt came back from Timbuktushe brought me back a wooden shoe.A favorite aunt travels to exotic-sounding places and back again, into the arms of her delighted niece. This spirited chant is perfect for reading aloud with toddlers just discovering the joy of mimicking new words and sounds.

    When Trevor's Grandma Sally shows his class how to make old-fashioned taffy, he learns there are also fun ways to pull a tooth! Lester Laminack's humorous story captures the anxious joy that each child experiences with his or her first loose tooth.

    A clean layout and detailed treatment of words ensure accurate translation and allow the user to grasp the important nuances of the language quickly.This newest edition includes • 90,000 words and phrases • 120,000 translations • updated vocabulary in all subject areas • idioms and grammatical constructions • abbreviations, acronyms, and proper nouns • generous coverage of Latin American terms • regional Latin American labels • an extended supplement on life and culture in Latin America — 20 percent larger than in the previous edition.

    Full color. 24 pp. Ages 3-7. Pub: 2/98.

    It teaches people of every age to think and live Christianly. And it makes teachers of us all. Whether you're a parent or grandparent, a Sunday school or Christian school teacher, or a youth leader or pastor, you are responsible to help develop the community of believers into a unified, vibrant fellowship; to draw families together in committed relationships that extend beyond generational lines; and to live out God's covenant with His people in a way that makes authentic Christianity come alive.This practical plan for integrating Christian education into all of life shows what happens when, day by day, week by week, generation by generation, the church leads its people into the privileges and responsibilities of covenant living. Regardless of your role in God's Kingdom, Heirs of the Covenant will motivate you to leave a legacy of faith for the next generation--and to live for Christ today in your home, church, and community.

    But few people know about the inspiration behind her most famous character.The Moore household is abuzz whenever Miss Potter comes to visit. And no one looks forward to her visits more than young Noel. One day she announces that she's leaving for Scotland, but promises to write. Soon after, Noel becomes bedridden with fever and only begins to get well when he receives a letter from Miss Potter. The letter is really a story -- a story with pictures written just for Noel -- that eventually becomes The Tale of Peter Rabbit.My Dear Noel has a simply told, endearing text that is perfect for young children, and the charming, vivacious illustrations would have pleased Potter herself. A fascinating Author's Note and reproductions of famous letter also make this book a wonderful gift for Potter enthusiasts.

    For any parent who comes home at night to a waiting child, "When Mama Comes Home Tonight" is the perfect book to read together.

    Her mon wants to find her birth family who gave her up for adoption during the war, and Mai wants to help. In Vietnam, they visit orphanages and records departments, turning up nothing. Eventually, through an old photograph, they track down an old man who tells them the surprising story of what happened to her family.

    

    In ten easy-to-follow chapters containing exercises and practical suggestions, the authors point out that opportunities to express spirituality are abundant in our routine life. Talking at dinner, lighting candles, performing daily chores--all of these events have the potential to be sacred moments.Contemporary parents face unique challenges: In our media-saturated culture, children are continually exposed to violence, cynicism, and a confusing code of ethics. By offering concrete ways to help children develop positive values, Mimi Doe and Marsha Walch support parents' efforts to counteract negative messages.10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting is an invaluable guide for parents who yearn to help their children nurture a rich spirituality of their own.

    Ragsdale has been digging around in and writing about the region for the last forty years. In Big Bend Country: Land of the Unexpected, he takes a nostalgic retrospective journey through the times and places of this increasingly popular corner of West Texas to say goodbye to those who made the history, created the myths, and lived the legends.Building his stories around themes of compassion, conflict, and compromise, he profiles both famous and relatively unknown figures. He tells stories of curanderas (healers), charity workers, a woman who practiced medicine without a license, and another who started a private lending library in her store to encourage rural, poor children to read. In contrast to these stories, he chronicles blood feuds, shootouts, and the violence bred in wild, relatively lawless spaces.In a fascinating play on levels of meaning, Ragsdale traces the legacy of J. Frank Dobie and his stories of buried treasure—treasure that turned out to be that of the imagination if not of gold. Finally, he turns his attention to the cinematic portrayal of life in the Big Bend. He looks at the filming of Giant both as a subtext of its own--how the coming of celebrity and celebrities affected local lifestyles and self-perceptions--and as a cultural commentary on the popular perception of the West.Ragsdale's stories cover a half-century, roughly 1900 to 1955, from wagon trains to the filming of an epic movie, a time in which the face of the Big Bend changed: the quicksilver mines closed, a national park was established, isolation and cattle gave way to vacation ranchettes and tourists.Big Bend enthusiasts will want to join the author in his farewell tribute as he recaptures the spirit of the times through the eyes and words of the people who made the region the folklore attraction it is.