Tripp's penchant for putting well-worked phrases and familiar icons into new, strange, and often hilarious illustrations comes alive in Wurst Seller, where parody and giddiness rule. Whether it's the tepid yet darkly humorous "Little Bunny Wuffy" adventure or the subtle differences between a Pseudo Nym and a True Nym, you will find yourself giggling or staring quizzically at the curious -- but well crafted -- drawings and portrayals Tripp renders. The closest comparison I could make would be Richard Scarry meets Ogden Nash in the throes of a cheap-wine-induced delirium. For punsters and oddballs, this is a delightful book whose only fault is that it ends all too soon.

"Little Bunny Wuffy and Tee Wee" is an example of how great this book is. Just a nonstop barrage of cartoon hilarity that I read as a young kid (a lil TOO immature to get some of the humor, but NOW I get it!). I was worried this wouldn't even be in print anymore, but luckily it is.

I truly love this book & I think it's probably the best parenting book I've ever read, HOWEVER there are 2 things Ted Tripp mentions that I wholeheartedly disagree with. First of all, he claims that God COMMANDS us to spank our children (page 153), which he gets from Proverbs. I don't know about you, but nowhere in my Bible does it say that Proverbs are commands. Proverbs is a book of wisdom & "recommended applications" on how to live a godly life. I do believe that there are consequences to misbehavior (including in my own life!), but that does not always mean a spanking is in order. Sometimes time out works. Or taking away privileges.

The other thing I disagree with is that he recommends spanking for EVERY act of disobedience. I think grace MUST be applied every once in a while. After all, I know God gives me ABUNDANT GRACE when I misbehave!

As I mentioned earlier, I think 95% of this book is right on target. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that my husband & I are going to start leading a small group on it. But after reading the above issues, I spent LOTS of time on my knees in prayer & time researching this before I knew how I felt.

Bottom line is....NO ONE has the right answers for your own parenting. God has given YOU your children, not someone else. You have to parent the way God calls you to in your own heart, and I thank Him for doing just that every single day...because I sure need His guidance everyday!

There are two pretty extremely opposed camps out there, it seems, when it comes to Christian child-rearing, and interpreting the Bible. On the far end of the behavior mod spectrum is "Raising Kids God's Way," with many disciples. Then there are the extremely liberal "Do Whatever Your Heart Tells You" people (OK, I don't have any titles since I haven't gone there). This book brings quite a bit of good, solid Bibilical foundation to its approach. However, I found it to be lacking in how to practically attach to the child's heart. I preferred another book, "The Complete Book of Christian Parenting & Child Care : A Medical & Moral Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Children" by Martha Sears and William Sears, M.D. However, this book recommends sparing the rod, and makes a very weak Biblical argument to that end (in fact, in quoting all the "disciplinary" versus, mostly from Proverbs, Sears ended up merely convincing me he was wrong). Despite this, Sears presents virtually the same approach towards spanking that Tripp does, but within a much more loving context. There is no doubt that both these books are written by committed Christians who have looked carefully to the scriptures for their guidance.

Hey, this is just my read. But from my perspective, the Tripp book taken within the basic frameword of very deep and loving involvement described by Sears seems to me to address both the need for discipline, how to administer it, but the need mostly for involvement.

Wow, this book was awesome. Out of all the children's hand books I've read this was definitely the best and most convicting. So often as parents we deal with our children on every level: emotional, physical, but some how we forget about the most important level SPIRITUAL. It is always my desire to lead my children to the Lord but somehow I forget that area and jump straight to punishment for bad behavior. This book is an answer to prayer on how to lead my child to the Lord in every aspect of our family life. Here are some excerpts I found to be the essence of what the message is in this book. "Sadly, many parents have not thought through methodology. They just get mad and yell. When they have "had it up there," they threaten, holler, hit there kids and grow increasingly frustrated."- page 62
"Biblical discipline addresses behavior through addressing the heart. Remember, the heart determines behavior."... "If you only try to change behavior you are missing the real issue-the heart" -page 68
I consider myself to be doing a great job at raising my children to not conform to world and in the way of the Lord, but after I read this book I was guilty of doing so many things wrong that I was glad I read this book now while my children are still toddlers. This book doesn't claim to have all the answers but it causes you to look into your own heart thereby affecting your reactions in dealing with your child's heart. Happy reading!!

First Mollys in a dance show with her friends and shes the star so every day she curls her hair and then the day her dad came home the she had her show but she got sick that day and had to go home but her dad comes and shes the first to see him!

Each night, I read a chapter to my daughter, age 5 1/2, and my son, age 7. One reason they can't wait for me to return from my business trips is so they can find out what's going to happen to Molly next. My kids really enjoy the stories and all the characters. I think the writing is pretty good - appropriate and understandable for children - and the stories are fun and well-paced. "A peek into the past" at the end of each book is also fun to read with my kids. It's nice to show them how people lived in those days.

I never thought my kids would actually look forward to bedtime, but now they do!

Molly is my favorite american girl! usually, Valarie Tripp writes like a pulp author, but I think she put some thought into Molly!

Trivial bone-picking: the author states the commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division was the only general officer killed in the Viet Nam war. However I recall the great sense of loss everyone in the Cav felt when General Casey, CG, 1st Cavalry Division(AM), was killed when his UH-1 went down. But on the whole the book rings true.

Like most historical events and first person accounts of that history, there is more than one perspective that must be considered. Mr. Tripp's book although excellent and compelling, gives the reader 'his' experience. Sometimes this effort comes at the expense of objectivity. So, in reading this book be aware of other realities that share his Vietnam world.

I was with the 9th Infantry Division approximately the same time. In fact, I know many of the same places Mr. Tripp refers to in his book. Who knows, maybe he and I shared C-rations at some point. I also know that Mr. Tripp's description of the 9th Division and the Division Snipers in particular, although written from his perspective and with literary license, and meant to be compelling, is also unfair and plays into the hands of those who called us 'baby killers' and 'killing machines'.

We were young men, 18 years old and in combat for the first time. For most of us, it was not about proving one's self, or fighting the internal war with families and other bagage. It was about getting through the day without getting killed. Mr. Tripp has provided us with some gutsy descriptions of that emotion, I only wish it was not at the expense of other GI's who shared the same battleground, we were not all automatons nor were we without our own feelings of guilt, regardless of origin.

I can't make any claims to the validity or non-validity of the book's subject matter, but I found the whole book engrossing from beginning to end. The man's private motivations and trials may not belong to everyone, but I think they are deep and true enough so that anyone can understand them. They are mixed in with commentary about the war from the author's viewpoint then as a young man and at the time of writing, and is also filled with the nerve wracking, often spooky action of that period in that place, which creates its own atmosphere along the lines of Dispatches by Herr. This book is not to be missed.

changes for samantha was a good book. it talks about a girl and 3 friends who live in an orphnage. the days that samantha visited nellie they planed to escape from the orphanage. they finally escaped. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

I liked this book alot.It is about a girl named Samantha who lives with her aunt and uncle while her grandma is on a cruise with her fiance.Nellies parents just died and she has too go with her uncle but then her uncle mistreats her and her sisters so now Nellie and her sisters have to go to a orphanage with a very cruel lady what else could go wrong?

CHANGES FOR SAMANTHA is about a 10-year-old girl who lives in New York. The year is 1904 and she lives with her aunt and uncle. Her best friend's parents just died, so her best friend, Nellie, is going to stay with her uncle in New York. Samantha gets a letter from Nellie, who promises to come and visit her. The only problem is that Nellie's uncle mistreats her and puts her and her two sisters in a room with no food, water or blankets. A woman who lives below comes and finds them all cold and hungry. Since she has 7 children, she puts Nellie and her sisters in an orphanage.

Samantha gets really worried and she tries to figure out where her best friend is. The lady tells Samantha where the orphanage is and Samantha tells her aunt.

I think this book is really interesting and is the best one in the Samantha series because Samantha goes through a lot of adventures to find her best friend, Nellie. It's the only one that got my heart really pumping as I read to figure out what happens next.

It is just not well written, the quates were not dramatized more maximum effect.

"It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part."
--- Voltaire

If you're a public speaker, speechwriter, student or just looking for some new catchy phrases, this book will definitely "play a great part." Full of great quotes (like the one above), jokes and sayings, AND I QUOTE covers almost every topic imaginable. From the traditional subjects of love, failure and wisdom to the modern issues of abortion, drugs and psychotherapy, this book has it all. And no matter what angle you're speaking from, you'll find an appropriate quote from the wide selection available.

The book is well organized and easy to navigate, which makes it an excellent reference. There are reference lists --- listed both alphabetically and by subject --- in the front of the book, which makes looking up quotes quick and easy. The book is divided into six main topics, which are divided further into subtopics and then into specific issues. Each separate issue has well-labeled sections of "quotes", "sayings" and "jokes".

However, the authors have included an added bonus: speech-writing tips! After all, what good is a book of quotes if you don't know how and when to use them? The introduction of AND I QUOTE highlights the dos and don'ts of public speaking and explains when quotes and jokes are appropriate. Even the most experienced speechwriter will find this section useful.

The only thing worse than losing your audience is never having one. AND I QUOTE will make sure that you not only grab your audience's attention, but keep it as well.

--- Reviewed by Melissa Brown

I send everyone in our office a quote of the day, and this book is my favorite out of all the books I have. It has just about everything you would ever want in it; quotes, jokes, sayings.... Its GREAT!

This boxed set is jsut as mediocre as the first, recycling more stories from American Girl magazine and re-editing them for a book format. The highlights of this set are Samantha Saves the Wedding and Molly and the Movie Star. Felicity has more quarrels with Annabelle Cole in the Felicity story, Josefina gets frustrated with the piano in the Josefina story, Kirsten gets jealous of a new girl in the Kirsten story, and Addy wishes that she were a boy because she feels that she is loosing her brother. These short stories, which for the most part I have stopped collecting (by the way I collect American Girls things as a hobby) are lacking when compared to several other items in the American Girls Collection series. These could have been better. I recommend getting them at a library--but you might hacve a time finding one that has the whole set, since several libraries have quit buying the American Girls Short Stories, at least where I am from.

My almost seven year old daughter has been enjoying AG books on tape and has had at least 20 read to her. Our favorites are the short stories though, because they can be read in one sitting and they have great project ideas geared to the age group. We bought the newest series on July 1 and have read four out of six of the short stories. These books will become favorites for sure, just as the first short story set books are still read over and over again. Thanks for the intro to history in an appropriate format for the early grades.

A bunch of little books for a bunch of little kids! a perfect christmas present for any young girl of any age! i know my little girl loves it!

Moon Tide is poetically written and yet well crafted and exact in its use of language especially in its depictions of people's connections with the natural world. Dawn Tripp links her characters to the landscape in a mature style that is highly unusual for a first novel. The way she moves the story forward through the perspectives of different characters is reminiscent of Faulkner, but the central role played by the landscape and natural world reminds me a little of Thomas Hardy. Some may find the book difficult to read, but it should be read slowly and savored.

This is a brilliant first novel. The writing is so careful, so confident and so far above the level to be found in most books today I had a hard time believing this was a debut. But what really won me over was the extraordinary ability the author has in translating the history and specificity of Wesport and the surrounding area. From the curtained rooms of Skirdah, the large summer house at the center of the book, to the backyard clothesline of a working class family, Tripp gets inside these places and the people she has live there and conveys them with grace and authority on the page. As well, the research she as done on the Hurricaine of 1938 is stunning. She brings to life one of the worst natural disasters of the last century with terrific skill and detail. All in all, this novel has everything one could want from a serious work of fiction: gorgeous writing, fascinating characters, a view into a little known world, and a gripping tale that keeps you flipping the pages until the very end.

Hauntingly beautiful stories of three fascinating women in a small New England seaside town, culminating in the hurricane of 1938. Perfect summer, and particularly beach, reading.

This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Felicity Merriman, a nine-year-old girl living in the America of 1774. In this book, Felicity's mother decides that it is time to send Felicity for lessons in being a gentlewoman. At first, she does not wish to learn such things, but as her lessons progress she comes to enjoy all of the little things that she is being taught. However, as the colonist begin to chafe under British rule, Felicity finds her ability maintain politeness tested.

The final chapter is a wonderful look at school in 1774. Indeed, my daughter (eleven-years-old and still an American Girls fan) and I loved this book. I especially liked the way that the author artfully combined the story of the simple life of a young girl, with the happenings of the greater world around her. This is a wonderfully entertaining and educational book, one that my daughter and I both recommend.

Felicity is excited about her tenth birthday, and Grandfather gave her a guitar that once belonged to Felicity's Grandmother
She disobeys her parents for bringing the guitar and showing it to her friend Elizabeth Cole.

"Felicity Learns A Lesson" is a very interesting book. If you read the book "Meet Felicity" you will recall that Felicity Merriman is an "impatient" girl in the eyes of her family. Well, in Felicity Learns A Lesson, Felicity's parents decide to send her to Miss Manderly, to learn how to be a "lady." She takes the lessons with two girls from England, Elizabeth and Annabelle Cole. Felicity and Annabelle have trouble getting along, especially after Elizabeth and Felicity overhear Felicity's father talking to some of the men from town about how they are upset that Mr. Merriman decided to stop selling tea in his store. Annabelle accuses Felicity and her family of being traitors, and Felicity is so angry that she decides not to come back to her lessons. A very interesting book about growing up just before the Revolutionary War. Features a section on School in 1774.

I came across this book while looking for books about baseball for my preschooler. Not much to choose from in this niche market, but this book is a hit! My son thinks it's funny when Amelia Bedelia "steals the bases" and "runs home". Wish there were more books like this!

My son is 7 and he loves Amelia Bedelia. He thinks all of these books are a hoot! I loved thim as a child as well!

As a child, I read many Amelia Bedelia books and never tired of them. As an adult, I am looking forward to sharing so many of the stories with my own child. The fact that Amelia takes everything so literally allows for countless scenarios which children (and adults) will find hilarious. Whether "stealing home plate" or "dressing the turkey," Amelia always surprises and delights. Children will be begging parents to read these stories again and again. We can all use good, clean humor in our lives. The time to instill that love of laughter should begin in childhood, and the Amelia Bedelia books will certainly delight children everywhere.