"Once upon a time ago there lived a dog named Fabio ... ". I was literally enthralled with this book from the time I read the first line. The topic was light but in my household both of my children are adopted and this discussed similar issues albeit with dogs. How a 'sister' is brought into the household, the older 'brother' doesn't like her, and how they become a family when others tease Gracie.

The author has hit a home-run with her brilliant children's book, 'My Sister Gracie'. The book is original, funny and touching. My twin four year-olds love it - we must have read it to them 50 times by now. Highly recommended for young children (and adults!). And oh yes, the illustrations, also by the author are superb.

This delightful story about a dog named Fabio who wants a new brother to play with. His owners agree but much to Fabio's dismay they bring home an overweight beagle-basset named Gracie instead of the frisky brother he was hoping for. Initially Fabio does everything he can to get rid of Gracie, but when the other dogs make fun of her he comes to her defence and realizes he really does love her. The story is written in verse and is best appreciated when read aloud. The illustrations are wonderful and bring the text to life. A great book for all kids, especially those with new siblings.

I chose this book because I love mystery books and I really love Nancy Drew Books.A summary of the book is ....Farock sends a rug with a hidden message in it to Carson Drew.Nancy Drew decides to make it a case and find out what it says. The rug wanted Carson Drew to come to Istanbul,with Farock's manniquin. Nancy Drew finds this out and takes Her father,Ned(her boyfriend),Bess and George(cousins),Dave and Burt ( there boyfriends),and Aisha (Farocks lover)to Istanbul to find Farock.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE ENDING!!

This book is about a rug who was sent to Carson Drew with no name or address. This was the message woven into the rug:Carson, find mannequin. I love her. Carry her to, well, I can't tell you the rest because you have to read it and find out because I don't want to spoil it for you!

The story starts when Mr. Drew recieves a rug from Istanbul. There is a secret message woven into it and tells him to find a mannequin of his because he loves her. Of course Nancy sets out to find it. It had such an awesome ending. I will let you find out what it is though.

Margaret Johnson has struck gold again. This book is a wonderful journey through the world of New Irish cooking. The pictures are breathtaking. These are recepies you will want to try out in your own home! Thanks again Mrs. Johnson for keeping us close to Ireland.

Margaret Johnson's latest book is a visual and culinary delight! Through her wonderfully ethnic recipes, Margaret invites all readers into her Irish family. My family usually has an italian course during its holiday celebrations, but Margaret's fare has inspired me so much that I am going to recommend that the red-sauced staples are replaced by the the delacacies outlined in this wonderful work (I just hope my mother-in-law agrees). Margaret--thank you for opening my eyes to this cuisine...you are an emerald jewel of Ireland!

I have been a fan of Margaret Johnson for many years now and her latest publication is her best yet! The beautiful pictorial presentation of this book is bested only by Margaret's poetic descriptions of Irish fare. The irish tastes described by Margaret will transform the reader (and chef) to the emerald isle. It is a journey that anyone with an ounce of irish blood cannot miss! The "irishcook" has done it again!! This book is a must have!!

On The Day His Daddy Left is a very moving picture book about the sensitive subject of divorce by Eric and Kathleen Adams. A young boy must come to terms with the day his father leaves the house. He must become used to seeing his father only at certain times of the week, and a question wracks him - "Is it my fault?" A heart-touching, powerful, and highly recommended story about adjusting to traumatic change, On The Day His Daddy Left is realistically illustrated by the artwork of Layne Johnson and an important addition to school library, community library, and family counseling collections.

Very moving and compassionate, (I cried) it deals with the primary question for children: "Is it my fault that my parents are divorcing?" However, children often don't know how to express this concern and this book would assist in opening a discussion about their feelings. Additionally, it can be read over and over especially during the first few months that children are learning to cope.

As a therapist I am directing parents to this book to assist parents in more fully understanding their childrens' reactions, concerns and questions. It also provides parents with positive models for how to respond compassionately to their children.

What a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, and counselors! I have not seen a better book for younger children on the pain and confusion of divorce. The text is clear and compelling, and easy to understand without being "written down" to its audience. The question "Whose fault is it?" is one that many children struggle with, and the authors treat the issue in a way that is caring and reassuring, yet very realistic. Beautifully illustrated, it speaks to children who are experiencing divorce as well as those who want to understand what their friends or relatives are feeling. Family therapists should also really appreciate this book. Great job!

I purchased this book after reading "The One Minute Manager." I was skeptical about how any significant parenting advice could be contained in such a small volume. Still, since the read would be easy and quick, I decided to try it. I was pleasantly surprised!

Johnson does an excellent job of applying the basic principles of One Minute management to the parent/child relationship. In his typical parable style, he describes the One Minute Reprimand, the One Minute Praising, and the One Minute Goal. His depiction of the results with the Father's children is sickeningly sweet and overly dramatic, but he makes his point.

For any father who has read "The One Minute Manager," I encourage him to read this book also. It will truly give new, valuable insights into being a better dad. Buy it and see for yourself!

Spencer Johnson always does a good job of breaking an idea down to some key components that can then be built upon to create a positive outcome. I was skeptical of "The One Minute Father" as most people seem to be about all of the One Minute Ideas. Don't let the title fool you. By using the common sense approach to discipling your children, you will eliminate the negative time to small points in time while giving you the opportunity to spend a great deal of time in a positive and rewarding relationship with your child(ren). This is a must read for any parent. The things that we often know but won't believe are possible are possible. I have started following the advice given in this book more regulary and I can already see one of my children turning the corner in how she sees herself and her actions and how the two are not necessarily the same.
Give this book as a gift to yourself and anyone else you know willing to learn how to be a better, happier and more successful parent.

This book and the concepts it shares with the One Minute (Manager) Series are the basis for the way I am raising my daughter. Manage behavior and unconditionally love the child. It works for parenting, management, and even marital relations. This book puts the principles of the One Minute Manager in the natural context of the parent child relationship. It is a gem of a book. I have given several copies to friends, employees, and in 1992 to my (then) future wife. Not only did I give her the book, I recorded it on cassette in my voice for her to study. She did. We have now (5/2000) been happily "Catching each other doing things right" for over 7 years as husband and wife. In the same way, we have harnessed the incredible power of One Minute style praising and reprimanding our daughter with fantastic results.

Under the occupation of the People's Republic of China, school in Tibet is too expensive for most families to allow their children to attend (Tibetans normally have large families while the Chinese are allowed to have only one child per family). Of course, for those who can afford to attend, the traditional Tibetan teachings are banned. Consequently, the Tibetan Children's Village was established in the city of Dharamsala in India with the motto "Others Before Self." "Our Journey from Tibet" is based by Laurie Dolphin on the dangerous journey taken by a young girl named Sonam to travel from her home in Tibet, through the mountains of the Himalaya in Nepal, to India. There, with other children who had taken a similar journey, Sonam learns about the language, religion, and history of her homeland. Dolphin, who has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for several years, was inspired by the plight of these children to write this book as a means of helping to preserve Tibetan culture. "Our Journey from Tibet" is illustrated with photographs by Nancy Jo Johnson, who has produced several stories for "Life" and "National Geographic." The book also includes a message from Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and an afterword by Rinchen K. Choegyal, Minister-in-Charge for Education for the Tibetan government in exile. As much as the story of a young girl having to take a perilous journey, the efforts of the people of Tibet to keep alive their Buddhist religious traditions, to reestablish in exile the monastic institutions destroyed in Tibet under the Chinese, and to teach their children their culture as part of a modern education is equally inspirational. Young students researching the land of Tibet for school would be well served by looking at "Our Journey From Tibet" as well to really get an idea of what live is like for children only slightly younger than themselves living on the other side of the world.

Although the book was written for children, as an adult I found it very interesting. The color pictures on every page bring the story to life. I liked the book so much I ordered another one for my niece. She is 9 years old, and is anxious to bring the book to school on a "show and tell" day.

I am 33 years old. I read this book for the first time today. These child's courage and bravery in this journey outshines all else. From the beginning to end this small child went through more hardship than most people I know of. What brings this book to light with most people is the quality of the pictures and the words. To be able to put the images that come to mind with pictures of such a dangerous journey is VERY Commendable. It also brings home the environment of what Tibets' children are facing each day. Makes me want to reach out to this child and hug her and tell her that it's over and it wont happen again.

I only right reviews when I feel very strongly about a book. To keep this in perspective for you, this is the second review I've written.

The first book I read by these 5 ladies - "Joy Breaks" is what prompted me to buy "Overjoyed". I can't stress enough how these are the most wonderful devotional books that I have ever read! Each devotional is very light-hearted and contains humerous situations which I find myself relating to very well. There is a short bibical scripture at the beginning of each devotional which serves as a "preface" for the story. Then there is a short prayer at the end of each story such as: "Lord, thank you for laughter. Help me to see the hilarity of it all and share it today. Amen." (p.52)

Each devotional is not lengthy. That may sound like a shallow comment, but in the past I have found myself painfully trying to get through devotional books that are very lengthy, deep and heavy on the heart, and by the time I reach the end, I have gotten very little out of it. But with "Overjoyed" I find myself reading 3 and 4 each time I pick up the book. And afterward all I can do is smile. I like the length of each devotional (2-3 pages) because sometimes I pick this book up for a quick pick-me-up at work or sitting in traffic, etc. (as you can tell, I like to always have this book on hand) and I don't want to have to read pages and pages to accomplish this. The size of the book is even perfect. It is small enough to fit into most purses (the book is about 5x7 in size).

This book packs a powerful and practical punch in each devotional. When I put this book down, I feel upbeat and spiritually fed. It is definately a high point in my day!

A collection of essays by five different Christian women. The essays are strong and powerful and tie into the everyday life of women everywhere. This book acknowledges that life is hard, but you can choose to smile anyway. I loved it!

This was the best daily devotional I have ever read. I can't wait to start my quiet time each morning to see what happens next! A positive way to start your day.

I do not have an extensive art background. Without becoming arcane, the author gives sufficient knowledge and support TO GET YOU GOING. This is the right book for someone who wants to try watercolor but lacks the art background and/or the creative support one would get from an instructor.

This book is great for reference as well as a gift to anyone wanting to explore watercolor! We are given examples and methods as well as how to shop for your supplies. I am giving this to my mom for Mother's Day. I highly recommend this book for anyone at any level.

A great book for the person who wants to try a new medium, or begin painting for the first time. Cathy Johnson's step by step instructional demos and great sense of humor make you want to get in there and just do it. The instructions are VERY clear and easy to understand--she never assumes you know what any given painting term means.

even though I am 12 years old my dad still reads me his story. we got it as a gift and saved it because it is so bad it is funny. All the children look as if they have premature aging syndrome, and the characters are such a stereotype of "hillbillies" that it's offensive, but not too offensive to laugh at. The illustrator believes that "if you have fun with anything you do, the rest will take care of itself." This book proves his theroy wrong. I reccomend not to buy this book unless it is as a joke gift.

In Picker Mcclikker, four-year-old Picker encounters Big Louis, a 300-pound gypsy and master grape picker. The event is a world champion grape-picking contest. Picker is the youngest child of a poor but happy sharecropper family from Evergreen, Alabama. And Picker has a very special ability when it comes to what he's named for! Stephen Hanson's wonderfully colorful artwork perfectly showcases Allen Johnson's engaging, entertaining, and warm hearted story of a little boy with a big talent! Picker Mcclikker is energetically highly recommended addition to family, school, and community library picturebook collections for young readers.

This is the original Picker McClikker Story set in rural Evergreen, Alabama where we find out how this endearing little boy became a world famous picker.

When I purchased this book in 1993, I was fortunate to get my copy signed by illustrator Stephen Hanson. Originally the illustrations drew me to the book. Little Picker McClikker looked just like my two-year old son who was also quick with his hands and into everything. However, the story along with the beautiful pictures has made this one of our family's favorites.

This story has all the home spun excitement of the yarns my grandfather used to tell - full of clean, rural humor and the heartfelt warmth of a loving, hardworking family. This sweet little boy, nicknamed "Picker" because of his remarkable picking speed, goes a long way from his depression-era, share cropping farm all the way to Paris, France to become a world champion grape picker.

You'll love this book if you are from the South and love those stories your grandparents used to tell. The illustrations beautifully convey an earthy, homey feeling.

This book sends the message to kids that you cannot be something you aren't. As hard as you wish and try, you still are yourself and you have to learn to accept it. If you are always trying to be like somebody else, no one sees the real you.
George the pig is always trying to be like Gertrude, the multitalented cow. He goes too far and finally realizes (with a little help) that he should act like a pig, not a cow.
I think this is a great book for kids to read with or without a parent. The illustrations are very colorful. My favorite character was Gertrude (the multitalented cow). I would recommend this for anyone to read.

Paul Brett Johnson's imaginative adventures with Miss Rosemary and her farm-full of precocious animals just keep getting better with The Pig Who Ran a Red Light. Playful watercolor illustrations and country-toned jargon add up to adorable fun for all ages, and especially "those who have sometimes wished to be somebody else." I think I got as much of a kick out of this delightful book as my nearly-three-year-old himself, and we liked it even more than its fun-filled predecessor, The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down.

This is an amusing book with great kid humor, and a punch line to remember to be yourself. Nice addition to any library for grade level K-3