This book had a large impact on me. It is a sure-proof method of how to take steps toward making change in our lives. Well written easy to undertand. Ruth has a magical style that makes it a user friendly guide book. It works! I highly reccommend i.
Margie Levine Author of Surviving Cancer Broadway Books Random House

My life will never be the same, and it's thanks--in large part--to Ruth Fishel's brilliant guidance. This latest book is another of Ruth's inspired "how-to" guides in the personal growth department. It contains not only the basics to creating life-changing positive affirmations, but instructs the reader in the power of words and "self-talk," in how to stay in the present moment, in what works and doesn't work and even when NOT to consider changing oneself! AND, would you believe there are 400 incredible sample affirmations which can be used, as-is, or personalized?! This book WILL change people's lives, if they follow Ruth's incredible suggestions and commit to the steps she suggests. Guidelines for becoming the woman I've always wanted to be have never been more clearly and concisely presented. Buy this book and get started RIGHT AWAY! (And, thank you, dear Ruth!)

I have read all of Ruth Fishel's work and this book is one of her best. If you ever wanted to make a change in your life this little book will help you. Read it today and let me know if you agree. The book is simple to read and understand and offers guidence to make your life better.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Susan Smith Nash is an absolute genius. Her writing is inventive and lyrical, and her stories are fantastic and realistic at the same time. Whatever else you do, read this book...buy this book. You will not regret it.

Most of what you read you felt like you've read before, but not with this one. Susan Smith Nash combines intellect and art in a totally unique way. It is a book that moves so fast that you can't put it down. It takes your breath away while you are reading it and pleasantly exhausts you when you are done.

I started reading, and I couldn't stop. I was laughing & completely entertained -- not just by the campy, drag queen viciousness of Nash's humor, but because it's all true -- too true --

I'm just a little paranoid about Y2K & I'm saturated w/media depictions of that -- so a raw, ribald, irreverent look at doomsday cults and/or the madness associated with all that really appeals to me.

My favorite story is Dubuffet Dances. I like the art of Dubuffet -- &his collections of the art produced in psychiatric institutions. But the idea of a woman who takes the stage name of Dubuffet & invents "mad" routines that are pure revenge fantasies is hilarious, but at the same time it's satisfying. A sort of This is Spinal Tap deconstruction of cabaret acts.

I'm running out of space. I'm not running out of words. Channel-Surfing the Apocalypse is amazingly good & I expect at least some of the stories will be the basis of a movie...

As a professional tour director and author I am always on the lookout for good information to share with my clients. When I took out a tour titled "A Week in Chicago" I needed a reference that would give me an insight to the city that guidebooks truly don't have.

This was the book that I luckily bought!

Here's 150 one or two page articles of the most defining moments in Chicago's history. I shared the stories about Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, the Black Sox Scandal, Reversing the River, John Dillinger's Death, The Bi-level Commuter Train, and of course, the Great Fire.

I was able to give fresh accounts of these widely varied events to tourist on their first trip to Chicago. These are the stories that mature people really want to know or remember. And this book delivers 150 of them.

Whether you're a tourist or a resident, this a book to treasure if you really want to appreciate this great city. It's a professional tour director's secret resource for Chicago.

With excellent photography and sometimes gritty, big city narrative, Chicago Days is the sum of Chicago's history in an easy to read, fast paces, well written book that you won't put down until you reach the end.

Objective and very tongue and cheek at times, the educational and nostalgic value of this work can't be put into words. It will evoke powerful memories and feeling in Chicagoans and teach volumes to those from other cities. It would also make an excellent primer for those re-locating to Chicago from other countries, dispelling the popular myths about the City and its people.

Covering people, places, events and accomplishments with impartiality not always found in books about Chicago, this is a must read. It deserves six stars.

"Chicago Days" is an excellent chronological summation of some of the important events that have occurred in Chicago over the past 150 years. Each event is given at least one page of written description and one photo. It is good occassional reading and has something of interest for almost everyone, making it a great gift. Some featured events are historic, some sports-related, some fads or 'firsts' out of Chicago, some frivolous and some heart-warming. You needn't live in Chicago to appreciate the stories, events and historic news items found in this book.

If you are looking for a way for your family to spend some time together each night during the Christmas season, then this is the book for you. It is filled with stories that make you laugh and cry. My 4 children ages 6 to 11 couldn't wait each night to see which story was next. It was like an advent calendar that we all could share in.

I am writing this review as a story contributor of this Chicken Soup book and a reader as well. I feel honored to be included in this book with such wonderful talent. These stories are just what a Mother needs to read to her children at night before they turn out the light. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas season and what a meaningful tradition to start! This is a book to pass down for generations to come! I am proud to be the lead story of such a masterpiece.

Denise Peebles

I found the stories to be thought-provoking and fun to share with my kids. We got a lot of good ideas for meaningful things to do this Christmas season. It sure is good to remember what Christmas is really all about and with those that I love the most!

Worth every dime!!! Anita Rui Olds has incredible insight into creating environments that are reflective of children and their interests. She believes that a child care setting should have "spirit." Included are Reggio-type environmental solutions that create a sense of wonder with an architecturally aesthetic sensibility. Lots of great ideas packed into this book. Only regret is that the pictures are too small and not in color. Would have been worth an extra [$$] to have an expanded edition.

This is a terrific and necessary resource for anyone involved with the design or renovation of a child care setting. The author has clearly and concisely poured into the book her considerable knowledge and understanding of child care facilities, her passionate beliefs, and her attention to the details of good design. Her knowledge of child development is evident in all of her ideas.

This must be the best book that exist about designing Child Care Center. It covers everything, but the most important is the focus the autor made on the children. This book is a must for every architect or people interested in design of this kind of buildings, specially if he/she is really interested in children well being.
The only but is that for the quality of its content, this book deserves a better paper and color pictures. (a 0 star here for MacGrow-Hill).
Probably this book is call to change the way a day care is seen today.

I have read and re-read this book many times since I first discovered it in the early 70's. I just love it, and wish I could find alot more titles by this talented author.

I bought this book because of its literary pedigree--the author was a Houghton-Mifflin fellowship winner. But I ended up loving it for its wonderful humor, insights, vividly drawn characters and on-target depiction of the turbulent '60s. The protagonist--Fitzie--is a bright Kennedyesque advertising man who struggles with his career, his marriage and his soul. I read it first in the early 1970s and I reread it every several years--it only gets better with age. Hannibal went on to write several more engaging novels (Dancing Man & Liberty Square Station) but has not been published recently---more's the pity...

I read this book many years ago, and have always loved it. That, however, doesn't say whether the book is good or bad.

What makes this book good is that it shows the transition of America during the 1960s in one of its most turbulent periods. In this book, we follow the path of Boston-born Fitzie, an Irish kid who attends college at a Jesuit college, ends up as an officer in the U.S. Army and eventually makes his way to Madison Avenue where he becomes a bigwig in advertising. (Hannibal was or still is president of Grey Advertising, I believe, one of the nation's top advertising firms; and yes, I believe it is on Madison Avenue.)

Read this book if you can get it; it's an excellent work of art, just excellent. (It reads like an American James Joyce in many ways.)

Choosing Quality Child Care, from the American Red Cross, is packed with useful information and lots of worksheets to help parents navigate this most important of searches. The 161-page soft-covered book includes many definitions, and even has a section to help parents define their child care preferences. Once this important step is accomplished, parents can set their sights on finding the type of child care that best meets the needs of the family. Because it's difficult for any one parent to remember all the details about what to look for when visiting with potential child care providers or centers, Choosing Quality Child Care includes everything from telephone questions, to what to watch for during an on-site visit. Of special help throughout the book are "Smart Tips for Parents." These notes, in the margins throughout the text, include many helpful hints and other insights to help parents in their search. There are few searches as significant as this. Choosing Quality Child Care goes a long way in helping new parents sift through lots of information and lots of choices. It is a book that has value to new parents in communities throughout the United States.

Choosing Quality Child Care is a great resource for parents to learn how to go about getting good child care. I learned what child care options are available and how to pick the best one for my needs. I learned good questions to ask providers and what to look for when I visit a site. I also learned how to find out about the local licensing procedures in my area. This is a must for a first time parent. (A great shower gift too!) Even experienced parents will find this a great resource!!

Deciding on child care is a major concern for parents. The Badger Chapter of the American Red Cross has done a remarkable job of providing a resource that will help parents through this difficult process. Well researched and tested this guide utilizes checklists and questions to assist parents in making informed and intelligent decisions on the type of care they wish to have for their child/children. I would highly recommend this resource to any parent who is grappling with the need to find reliable, safe care for their child/children.

This book is the epitamy of heartwarming. After all the sad, depressing things that happen in today's world, this book (and all of James Herriot's stories) makes you feel a lot better. Perfect for kids, this book will warm the souls of everyone.

Even though I haven't read this book since I was younger, I remember it as having a perfect happy ending. Even if you don't buy it, you should at least go to the library and check it out. You might like it enough to buy it anyways :)

Not having been familiar with the work of James Herriot before this book, I was happily surprised when I read this to my little cat-loving daughter this christmas season. This is a touching story which brought us both to tears, but gave a joyful smile as we reached the end of the story. Truly a story to be shared with every child at christmas!

This picture book, although written for children, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, especially cat lovers! James Harriot has a style of story-telling that draws you in and doesn't let you go until you've finished the story. This story is just a small sampling of the many wonderful vet stories that Harriot has to tell.

Heartwarming and deeply moving, Christmas Miracles brings the true "feelings" of Christmas into our hearts and homes with the touching collection of inspiring true stories of miracles shared by others. Sure to be a Christmas favorite year after year.

What thrilling stories. One was amazing, the next was heart-breaking. We decided to read one each night of the Christmas season and found them really inspiring.

This special collection of Christmas stories has real life stories of life experiences which give us hope for the future. The various story tellers share a part of their lives with us in a way which will allow you to feel their emotions in their own experiences. Having participated in the actual experiences of several of the story tellers, it is wonderful to find them where I can relive them time and again. For example, I will never forget driving by Janis Gardners house and seeing fire trucks and devastation and wondering what happened. I took my young son, classmate of one of the Gardner girls, to school and returned to the scene. How grateful I was to find all family members were safe. What a miracle to see Steve Larson put their home back together in just a few short weeks before Christmas. I can not drive by the house (even though it is now occupied by strangers), without remembering how lucky that Janis did not let the girls sleep under the tree that night. This is an example of the wonderful, spirit lifting stories you will read in "Christmas Miracles", by Jamie Miller, et al. Good reading for all. Velda Solomon

I am donating my copy of this book to my church. It will be great for those mission study groups involving kids (and even teens), and I think the kids will enjoy making the boxes during Vacation Bible School. Consider buying one for your church library. School libraries might appreciate the gift, too! (Grandparents: Looking for something to do with the grandkids when you have to babysit?)

I have two elementary school children and they are really excited about taking their boxes to school this year for the Valentine's party. My daughter is making a big yellow bumble bee and my son is making a fire truck. They are making these boxes using the simple directions and cut out patterns in this book. The boxes are made out of recycled household items so I don't have to buy a lot of stuff for them to make the boxes. My daughter is going to use her box as a piggy bank after she's done with it at school. (They've already picked out the boxes they're going to make next year too.) My mother bought this book for the kids. It has been one of the best resources for encouraging them to be creative and for building their self-esteem-- they can't wait to show their friends at school. To wrap it up, I found this book to be a wealth of creativity and simplicity. I hope other families enjoy it as much as ours does. Thanks mom for the book!

This book is a good crafting guide for creating projects with children. It provides step by step instructions, with illustrations for those of us who can't follow instructions (yes, dads, you might be able to do it by looking at the pictures). The book even provides pattern guides for cutting out pieces. This is a good brainstorm book for creative crafts using common household items. Highly recommended for K-5 grades. (yes, I am a certified teacher, so I would know about age appropriateness.) Ideas can be used for other holidays as well!