This book is a simple and elegant statement of inspiration for anyone striving to create a life they love. It also contains colorful artwork expressing the author's positive outlook on life. It would be a great gift for any teen or adult who needs a bit of encouragement to pursue their goals, or to get through a tough time.

Plant Your Dreams and the Miracles Will Grow is a wonderful book to have and look through frequently, and makes a great gift, too. The illustrations are beautiful and uplifting, and the messages are truly inspirational.

I bought this book because I wanted a place to explore and play with my thoughts and dreams. Swirly has provided me with just the right amount of creative inspiration to get my thoughts flowing. Her designs are fun and carefree and the words send me into deep thought and reflection. I strongly believe that writing your dreams down helps launch them into becoming reality. What a wonderful and fun place to begin that process.

I am also a 3rd grade teacher trying to draw creative energy and confidence out of 20 eight and nine year olds. I share the designs and quotes with them and it promotes some great classrooms discussions and art lessons. I'm looking forward to the next Swirly Girl release!

If you have dedicated yourself to producing thoughtful readers who read for meaning, this is the book you need! Not only is it filled with helpful lesson ideas, but the arrangement of each chapter follows a scaffolded approach to help young readers engage and develop as lifelong readers. Miller shows teachers how to lay out the entire year. Included in this book are chapters about schema building, mental images, inferring, questioning, non-fiction reading, and synthesizing. She focuses on one comprehension strategy in each chapter, including how to introduce it to students AND what children's books she considers "tried-and-true." At the end of each chapter, the author includes a list of children's book titles that all highlight the comprehension strategy perfectly for young children. I have purchased many of the titles that she recommends. All of the books are outstanding pieces of literature that children adore. Also, the lessons work well in a Reader's Workshop format. After instruction, students can get busy practicing reading from their own books by using what they learned right away. This book is an outstanding resource for any teacher!

This is an excellent companion book to Mosaic of Thought by Ellin Keene and Susan Zimmerman. Debbie Miller's awareness of her students' needs and abilities, and her respect for them, are clear in the language she uses when talking to and about them. Especially helpful were the text use examples and the mini-bibliographies at the end of each section. If there is an e-mail ring out there for people using the ideas in Mosaic or this book, I'd love to know how to participate-please let me know in a review like this where to log on. I'm sure others would like to know, too! If you ever have to opportunity to hear Debbie Miller speak, SEIZE IT! You'll love the magic that happens in your classroom when you try out the comprehension strategies!

I had bought this book after it was highlighted at a conference I attended. Shortly after, it was one of the book choices for a literature circle I was participating in during a grad class. Now nearly all the teachers in my district have read it or are familiar with it. My reading intervention teacher teaches her lessons directly from the examples in the books. It proves that you really can do a lot with comprehension in the younger grades and you can teach them to use adult language (teacher terms) to convey their thoughts. A workshop I attended yesterday focused primarly on how the teacher incorporates all the aspects of comprehension as listed by Debbie Miller in her 1 and 2nd grade looping classroom. It is an EASY/Fun professional read that gives you precise examples of lessons, activities and student responses. There is also a video series that goes along with it which has the folks from Strategies that Work leading the conversations. A MUST HAVE in any primary classroom to teach comprehension and reading effectively.

I bought this book from Amazon after reading all the glowing reviews. I was skeptical, but hopeful, it would really help me. I want to tell anyone reading these reviews that this book is worth buying and reading, if you suspect, or know, that you were abused as a child. Every good thing said about this book is true. If you are hurting, angry, have trouble trusting, have trouble keeping a relationship going, this book may be just what you need.

I found the techniques described in this book incredibly simple with a powerful impact. "Simple" meaning very uncomplicated but requiring a commitment to healing on the part of the reader. It has made me very cognizant of those moments we all have when we are about to react from frustration or anger--or even dismiss an emotion because we don't want to deal with it. This book says, STOP...right in the middle of it...embrace it, feel it, hurt with it, learn from it. It's extremely empowering and very humbling to realize how often I have such moments. I highly recommend this book to those who want to make positive changes in themselves and ultimately in their relationships.

Few books have been written for people who want much more than feeling somewhat better. Jenson makes clear how much of our reaction to situations and other people is programmed by childhood experiences that must be uncovered, and grieved for. If you are satisfied with anti depressant medication, then don't bother reading. But if you want real healing, you will need to read this book. You may also want to read, No Shame On You.

What an appropriate title! Susan was starving from deprivation of love. You won't want to put it down. In addition, it may help those suffering from anorexia and/or bulimia to understand their sickness (or saddness) and seek out the help they need to heal. I highly recommend this book to all ages.

Starving Hearts is a visceral, powerful first novel about a woman who is consumed by food in every sense of the word. Susan Talberg's journey is told in stark and compelling language which immediately invites the reader into the story...and so we struggle, we cry, we rejoice, we mourn, and we triumph along with Susan as she fights to control her simultaneous attraction and revulsion toward food -- and a controlling mother who battles her own demons. Painful yet funny, sad yet hopeful, Starving Hearts is the kind of book that makes you want to seek out the author and hug her.

What a vivid account of life during a time when the general public knew little about eating disorders and abusive relationships! It makes me feel much more sympathetic towards people whose behavior appears strange. While it describes complex family and social environments with strong religious overtones, this book is also a gripping story - hard to put down and with a great mixture of humor, emotion and drama. A wonderful first novel - I'm looking forward to No.2!

This book contains a plethora of very funny ideas, but is not directed towards a general reading public. Rather, this book will appeal most to two groups of people: those who find modern music of the Cage-kind pretentious and preposterous; and those who are fed up with biographies that seem to be more about the biographer than the subject. And, just maybe, I should add a third category: people [messed] up for life because of the ... theories and thinking of their parents.

While I fit into the above categories, I found myself laughing more at the situations described in this book after I read it. In others words, the situations are very funny, but the writing is flat. I know this "biography" is supposed to be the work of a poor writer, but I think this approach was unintentionally too apropos. Thus, I laugh at what I read, but not particularly while I was reading it. Telling people about this book is almost more fun than reading it.

Silber's father is a sadist who develops a "method" for turning out a great pianist. He tortures not just Silber with this method, but the entire family. Silber's brother is somewhat of a doppelganger of Silber. Silber's hated sister is petty and cruel, but the way she turns out is the most lifelike portrayal of how a real human being would probably react to the torments of growing up with a bunch of self-absorbed loons.

Afflicted with a phobia against all noise, eventually this leads the composer Simon Silber to remove the strings from one of his best pianos and replace them with rubber. He writes a piece for piano pedals. He spends an hour performing Chopin's Minute Waltz. In short, Silber appears to be the bastard son of John Cage.

The story of Silber is told by a hired biographer, Norman Fayrewether Jr. If anything, I'm more annoyed with the literary pretensions of Fayrewether than I am with the musical pretensions of Silber. Silber is a victim of a childhood he couldn't control; Fayrewether is just a bitter failed writer of bad aphorisms.

There are two clear antecedents to this novel: John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" and Nabakov's "Pale Fire." The loony farce is descendant from Toole, the structure of the novel from Nabakov. "Pale Fire" is a novel told in footnotes to an epic poem. "Simon Silber" is a novel told as liner notes to a CD collection. It's taken a lot of decades for someone to come up with something as inventive as the structure of "Pale Fire", and, this is another plus in the column for "Simon Silber."

Genius. Christopher Miller is a genius. How he was able to keep my interest in his chosen format of liner notes is beyond me. Hilarious. I laughed out loud several times.

This book is just hilarious. I had a lot of fun reading it and laughing at the pretentious characters. The writing style is just so funny, I chuckled a lot while reading it.

Steve Seidler has captured Ralph Miller's philosophy in written form. The book's organization is perfect for coaches of all levels. It covers the fundementals of individual performance and applies them to team strategies. The motivational tools provided throughout the text provide the fuel for making everything happen. This book not only tells you how to be successful, it shows you.

I have over 50 books and videos relating to baksetball coaching. Some deal with certain aspects of the game, others deal with a system. A System of Game Execution is by far the best coaching book I have ever seen. It tells of the history of basketball, how that history is related to the system, the philosophy of the system, drills for the system, and how everything within the system ties together. The book is written by Steve Seidler and explains in detail the system used by the late Ralph Miller at Oregon State University. Steve was an assistant to Ralph at OSU. Steve also provides his e-mail address and is very good about replying to e-mails. The system is sound and easy to teach and learn. The drills help the players to teach themselves the system. The system is based on team concept and pressure on the opponent at all times. I feel every basketball coach on any level should have this in their library. It is a book you can read again and again and learn something more each time.

I purchased this book last winter at mid-season and I soon realized that I had uncovered a gold mine. Author Steve Seidler was an assistant to Ralph Miller at Oregon State from 1980-1987. Ralph Miller is probably the greatest college coach of all time but never got the credit he deserved because he could not attract blue chip players to Oregon State. Therefore, the closest he ever got to a national championship was one game shy of the final four ( 1982 ). But if you take a look at his record and if you consider what he accomplished with limited talent at OSU, you find that in retrospect, his accomplishments were much more impressive than the name brand coaches. ( John Wooden, for example, finally beat a Ralph Miller team when he began attracting the Abdul-Jabbars ( Alcindor ) and Waltons. Prior to that era, Ralph's teams at Witchita State and Iowa upset Wooden three straight times. ) The beauty of Ralph Miller's pressure basketball system is that it is simple. It reduces basketball to the components that always win games: defense, constant pressure, proper spacing and teamwork. And it leaves out ridiculous drills and impossible-to-understand offenses. Miller's system is based on six drills, a basic offensive set and two simple defenses. No, you can't read it once and understand it. You have to study it. And you will have questions. But Steve offers his e-mail address and is really good about responding to questions. A video is also offered with the book. I found this to be very helpful because you see how the drills need to be executed by the players ( the video is essential for this ). And you see the Miller offense and defense in action. Results? I immediately employed several of the drills and offensive/defensive sets. It is difficult to switch gears during the middle of a season but I did as much as I could. My first-year high school team improved dramatically. They ended the season at 15-7, 23rd best regular season record in the state in their division. The drills were very helpful. This summer, I have employed the whole system and I can see the improvement and efficiency in their game. And the teamwork has improved. Ralph had 50 years experience and in that span, had only three teams with a losing record. Understand the beauty of this system, trust it and employ it. More than likely, you will take your teams to their full potential.

BLACK HISTORY TREASURY emerges as a book filled with some of the best teaching exercises and material that I have ever seen pertaining to this issue.All races and ages should use this book. Melvia Miller, I applaud your ingenuity!

Reading about Black History will make us aware of how people who lived under horrible circumstances rose above the problems and became great inventors, athletes, artists, politicians, etc. I hope a lot of teachers, parents and other people who work with children will get this book and use it. We have so much crime,ignorance, hatred, racial division, gang-banging, and self-destructive behavior in this country. Maybe Melvia's inspiring book can open some eyes & cause people to think!

As a teacher, I found this book valuable because it has activities that I can use over & over to present these lessons. A lot of people say they want "Black History" in our schools--but we do not have a clue as to how to present it--or how to make a good learning experience from all of the information. I do not have to go take another semester of college to learn inspiring ways to teach Black History.And I think it will be usable for any age group. That is really valuable!

Bradamant is a rarity. A female knight in service to the Emperor Charlemagne. A respected and feared warrior knight, she is also a young woman coming of age and struggling with her beliefs. She is a lover torn between the enemy knight she loves and her devotion to her king. Fearless and ruthless on the battlefield, Bradamant is vulnerable and confused in love. With Bradamant: The Iron Tempest, Ron Miller has crafted a very highly recommended, classic medieval adventure tale of chivalry, humor, magic, treachery, and romance -- all from the perspective of a woman warrior holding her own in a male-dominated age of violence, intrigue, and treachery.

Ron Miller has given us a real treat! From white knuckle action and magical adventure to the highest ideals of chivalry and downright lust, BRADAMANT has it all. And it's presented in a richly literate prose reminiscent of Sir Walter Scott but doused with a wicked sense of humor. Don't miss out on this modern classic!!

A brilliant book destined to become a classic. Undoubtedly the best new fantasy novel of the past decade. I have read the book twice and plan to order the audio edition as soon as possible. I recommend this book without reservation--it's a must-read.

A well-written book about self-examination, re-training ourselves out of our miseries into finding our bliss, & learning to enjoy our lives. Remember, there are no guarantees given when we are born. If you're tired of feeling empty & angry all the time, then the tools & clues offered in THE ALARM CLOCK OF YOUR LIFE IS RINGING is as good as any book out there. It reminds us that it's time to wake up, enjoy the smell of the coffee, even if you don't drink it, & learn how to transform the quality of your life, gain contentment wherein you find yourself, with the deck of cards you've been dealt.

"The Alarm Clock of Your Life is Ringing: Time to Wake up to Happiness and Enlightenment" is a book about achieving happiness by reconnecting to parts of your self that have been lost emotionally and/or spiritually. One of the basic premises of the book is that emotions come and go and when they rise up they are meant to flow through your body and out. However, that is not the case for most of us. For whatever reasons many emotions become stuck in us instead of flowing through. When this is the case, "It is not possible to go back and change what happened. We can only change the way we feel about it." That is where this book becomes a helpful guide to releasing those long forgotten emotions that cripple us in daily life and cause us to do things that are not in our best interest or just plain keep us from being happy.

Through a simple process the author leads the reader a specific technique of recognizing those feelings, honoring them, and then using sound as a mechanism to release those unhealthy feelings.

As a result you feel free of these constraints to your happiness, more free and spontaneous and are able to lead a more fulfilling and happy life. What's that you say? Using sound, or vocalizations to release stress, emotional stresses and the like sounds a bit strange? To many people it does sound strange, but it is well documented that music can make a tremendous difference in our attitudes towards life, stress levels, feelings of contentment, etc. So many older cultures have used vocalizations to reach places of contentment and peace whether it be the "Om" of eastern religious mediations, or the chants of Native Americans to achieve altered states. If vocalization and sound can be used successfully to achieve such altered states then it is reasonable to believe that, if used correctly, it can be used to release emotional baggage from our past allowing then to then flow freely out of our bodies so that we are free of them.

Although this is a small book it is still wonderful reading and many will find it very useful to help move them toward a happier life. So, now the alarm clock is ringing. The question is whether you hit the snooze button and continue your life as it is currently or wake up and take action to change how you perceive past harms so that you can go forward in peace. An inspirational book that just about everyone will find of some value.

This book is written in a language that really speaks to a broad audience. The techniques she describes are very easy to apply and have such profound effects on one's life. I read the book in its entirety during a three-hour plane flight. I couldn't put the book down. Lisa has an amazing spirit! Every chapter seemed to be full of love and compassion for humanity. I have been recommending this book to all my family and friends and will continue to do so.

fo ay one inerested in the subject this book is a great read. it picked up momentum until I couldn't put it down. The stories are thrilling although many ar very unnerving. It also provides varying perspectives on attacks and non-attacks. Good storytelling by the writers. I highly recommend it.

"Cat Attacks" investigates the nature of the growing number of strange and terrifying encounters of ordinary people with wild cougars. Too many of these incidents are full-scale, blitz-like attacks on unsuspecting people, especially children, out to enjoy the bounty of the great outdoors. Virtually all these attacks end, if not in the death or injury of the people involved, then in a serious loss of their sense of security and well-being through the shear terror of what they endured. "Cat Attacks" proves once again that not only is reality stranger than fiction, but more captivating too.

People have forgotten the dangers that cougars present since their numbers have been so severely decimated through centuries of extermination. Once their range extended across the entire country. Cougar attacks were once almost unheard of and many people now seem to assume they present no real danger. However, since 1990 attacks have been steadily on the rise.

Like the setting in a fictional horror story, the people attacked in "Cat Attacks" were engaging in innocent, everyday activity: jogging, hiking, sleeping, picking mushrooms, watching birds and cross country skiing. The children were walking to school, running track, horseback riding, clinging to their parents in the presence of a park ranger and one was even riding inside a camper with his family! None of these people suspected the imminence of life threatening danger.

The authors explain that cougars are virtually silent and attack so quickly witnesses report only a blur. Most victims never know danger is present until they are hit hard usually from behind. The animal bites the back of the victim's neck trying to cut the spinal column while pinning the victim with its claws. If the attack is successful, the victim is dragged away by the head in the cougar's mouth. Some people are still conscious as they are being eaten alive.

I read this book to make sense of my own unexpected cougar encounter, which occurred by remarkable coincidence the same month this book was published in June 2001. I was near the end of the Lost Mine Trail in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National Park, Texas. Having a bad hip and being unsure how far and fast I can hike, I go alone so I won't slow others down. [Big mistake! See page 109.] I only had a bottle of water, a trail map and two canes with me. After three hours or so I made it to the end of trail-it was spectacular-and had started back down. Suddenly I looked up and there was this huge monster, killing-machine mountain lion crossing the trail about 30 yards in front of me! Good God! 30 yards! I was hours away from safety. I did not run [Good move! See page 109.], but remained still. He had massive legs and huge jaw muscles! He could have easily killed me and dragged me away to be eaten [See chapters 1 and 14], but by shear chance he was not interested [A probable low risk encounter. See page 180.]. Without betraying any fear, he crossed my trail and slowly meandered down the ridge and out of view. Going into the wilderness will never be the same again.

"Cat Attacks" is a very disturbing book. It set my own experience in context. It is informative and well written. With protection cougar populations are rising and ranges expanding; encounters are expected to increase. Anyone who lives in or near cougar country should read this book. Even people who live in cities are not completely safe. In 1992 a cougar ran into the underground parking garage of the opulent Victoria Hotel in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Read this book and learn more about the unappreciated dangers these vicious animals increasingly present.

As it turns out, I knew very little about cougers. I sit and read this book in an afternoon, yes you may say once I got started I couldn't put it down. I had no idea how quickly and silently a cat could swipe a child right out from under a parents nose. Every parent thinking about an outing anywhere near couger country should have a gander at this book first. The title is accurate when it says "Hard Lessons". The stories are stunning and true to life, yet one can learn what best to do before, during, and after a stalking or heaven forbid an attack. My only advise other than to give it a read is, have some tissue handy and don't start it around the camp fire, no one will be able to sleep.