Here is a great site about children's rights. You may not be aware of it, but psychiatric drugging of children has become outrageously common.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a "brave new world" when I read about the horrible things happening to children in the U.S.

These drugs aren't a cure for anything, and often end up creating horrible disabilities and addictions in the children.

Take a look at the site mentioned above for more info.

Here's another good quote today, by:

L. Ron Hubbard

"Save the child, and you save the nation."

Something from Nothing

I read this little story to my boys last night and we really enjoyed it. Besides being a nice story about family and memories, it had this really cool concept of reusing and recycling. Look for the mouse family on each page!

Great quote!

I just thought I'd share this today.

"Never let it be said of you that you lived an amateur life." -L. Ron Hubbard

Scientology Silent Birth

What exactly is a silent birth?

This is all about providing the best possible environment for the birthing mother and her new baby.

Silent births are labor and delivery done in a calm and loving environment. This means everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible. Chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to “PUSH, PUSH” and loud or laughing remarks to husbands are the types of noises that are meant to be avoided.

The idea of silent birth is based on L. Ron Hubbard’s research into the mind and spirit. He found that words spoken during moments of pain and unconsciousness can have adverse effects on an individual later in life. What has been said during traumatic experiences such as birth records in a part of the mind called the reactive mind. These recordings store and have the power to influence a person by dictating thoughts, emotions and psychosomatic ills not under his control. Anyone can read about this in the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

Mothers naturally want to give their baby the best possible start in life and thus keep the birth as quiet as possible.

Scientology Silent Birth

703 Science Experiments is a really great book!

I wrote more about it at: Homeschoolmum.

Scientology and Literacy and Education

I recently read about the work of the Church of Scientology in improving literacy in the United States. The NAACP honored L. Ron Hubbard -

NAACP Honours L. Ron Hubbard, Reverend Heber Jentzsch, and Isaac Hayes

You can read more about the Church of Scientology working to improve literacy and education:

Scientology Study Technology
What is Study Technology?
Scientology Volunteer Ministers - the Technology of Study
Scientology Handbook - Study Troubles

Some great books for helping your children study better can be found at Achieve Success

Books I have found particularly useful are:



How to Learn

Help your child understand what he reads

Effective Education

How to pass a test

Recommended Website
Marriage Counseling

Game Review
Monopoly Junior
This is Monopoly for kids, and my kids love it! From my 4 year old to my 9 year old, it is one of their favorite games. Addition and subtraction skills are used for this one, and the theme is very entertaining.
What 7 year old wants to buy Park Place? Instead, they get to buy a cotton candy stand, a ferris wheel, a haunted house attraction. Then they collect money when others visit!

It's a day at the amusement park, and it's a great theme for the little ones.

It's more fun, even for the older kids, than the regular Monopoly game. I highly recommend this to every game-playing family!

Website Link:
Good News

Game Review

Candyland

I loved this game as a child, and I love it now as a mommy. I have six kids, and I've noticed that my girls generally like this game better than my boys.
It is very colorful, and the movements across the board are based on the color of the card one chooses from the deck. If you pick a blue card, you move to the next blue square.

The game is spiced up by the addition of "special" squares and "special" cards... you might get one of these cards that moves you to the beginning of the game!! Or it might move you from near the beginning to the end!

It is a bit more unpredictable than Chutes and Ladders because of these cards.

It's a great tool when the kids are learning their colors, and also just for teaching the idea of taking turns and as an introduction to board games.

We keep it fun, and if the 3 year old really insists on going to a green square when he has a yellow card, well, we let him.

I recommend this one for preschoolers and the mommies who love them.

Recommended Website
Why Relationships Fail


Toy Review
Barbie Toy Store
My daughters really like this toy, and they still have a lot of the pieces, after more than a year. The pieces are durable, considering that they are little plastic things, and they are very cute and brightly colored. The toys are toys they are famliar with; a See-and-Say toy, and other popular Mattel toys. They can put these on the toy store shelves, and so Barbie and Kelly can buy them.
They don't just use them in the "store" setting, either. When Barbie and friends drive to the beach in the minivan or convertible, some of these toys generally go with them.

It's great for girls who like to play "store" and especially if those girls aren't likely to lose all the little pieces. These are more useful Barbie accessories than some, mainly because the toys are so familiar to my daughters.

This is a great price, too.


---------------------------------
Homeschooling

Recommended Website
Improve Marriage

Book Review

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

I don't normally review Kinsale's books because I think they are just too perfectly written for my meager attempts at review, but then that's not fair, is it? So, I'll attempt to put my admiration for this book into words...
Jervaulx, the hero of this book, is as flawed and perfectly loveable as all Kinsale's heroes tend to be. And Maddy, our prim and proper heroine, is the typical Victorian miss -- except for her strong spiritual sense and her impressive reserve of courage and integrity.

She is truly an inspirational heroine, in her quiet, unassuming way.

One of the things I like best about Kinsale's couples is that the sense of belonging is right there, from the very first meeting. The conflict is most definitely there, but that irrepressible down-deep knowledge and acceptance of the other exists for the heroine and hero both. This is what really makes a romance novel click for me - the ultimate truth of the "rightness" of the relationship, despite all the things that are telling the hero and heroine that it must be "wrong".

Of course, the dialogue, the narration and the plot are very smooth. Just as one would expect from Kinsale, the characters are intense and very real.

I've read this one four times so far, which means the cover is about destroyed, and I'm going to get another copy very soon.

Highly recommend for all admirers of romance.

Recommended Website:
Scientology Home Page

Game Review
Harry Potters Sorcerer Stone

We actually enjoy playing this game, although the instructions were incomplete and we had to spend some time figuring out the rules of play ourselves.
One nice thing about this game is that the separate games don't all have to be played at once. You can take just one of the 6 game boards and play that, or you can hook them all up and play the through the whole thing.

Individually, some of the games are too simple, with not enough strategy or "game" involved to be lots of fun. Even still, it's fun enough for my kids (ages 6, 8 and 9) to find it endlessly amusing.

The pieces are as durable as thich cardboard can be expected to be, although there are a lot of them to punch out before starting the game. (That was actually very time-consuming, and somewhat irritating.)

The actual boards themselves are made out of a thin metal-type of material, which makes them bendable without putting creases in them. I like this material far better than cardboard.

My kids love this game, and I like it, too. I would hope that in the future manufacture of this one, that the instructions are more completely written up. I am sure there are some people who give up completely and don't bother with it, because of the poorly written instructions.

All in all, I think this is pretty fun, although I think the price is a bit high.

Website Link:
POS Upgrade - find a better Point of Sale System


Little People SchoolBus
It's MUCH nicer than the old model. For one thing, it now comes with a wheelchair, and a ramp at the back. My kids really think this is great, and so do I. The wheelchair itself is very cute and easy to use for little hands.
I also thought the wheelchair was great for giving the kids the opportunity to ask questions about wheelchairs.

The little people are adorable, much brighter than they used to be. And they are softer, now, too... one of these guys flying across the room and bonking someone on the head doesn't hurt quite so much as the old ones did!

They are larger and easier to handle than the ones we had as kids, and they are formed more realistically, as well. They actually have arms (they don't move, but they're there) and look more like people.

I've got 6 kids, and we've had this bus since Christmas. It is still in perfect condition, as are all the people, despite many hours of use in our household.

It was bought for the 1-yr-old, but it is played with by all the children, but mostly those ages 6 and younger.

Website Review
Family Advice



Movie Review
Life is Beautiful

I was very moved by this movie, and I agree with another reviewer that it wasn't "exploitative". The Holocaust was the background.. the setting. The characters weren't backdrops to the story of the Holocaust, but rather the situation they were in simply emphasized the beauty within the main characters.
The lives of the characters were terribly affected by the Holocaust, of course, but the experience of the Holocaust did not MAKE the characters. It demonstrated their wonderful integrity, particularly in the characters played by Begninni and Braschi.

It is a refreshing look at the horrible experience of the Holocaust -- from the viewpoint of a person who DOES maintain his integrity and refuses to be beaten down, even to the moment of death. It was a story of the spirit winning over all attempts to destroy it.

I think it's important to not forget what happened, but the way this movie was put together was uplifting, too.

I don't normally watch movies that deal with real tragic material, because it can be just too upsetting to me, especially when children are involved. (I have six kids, and somehow this has altered my "sentimentality factor".) I can say that this movie is safe to watch! There is grief, but it's bearable, and I smiled at the end.

Definitely worth buying!

Recommended Website:
Happy Marriage

Book Review
The Haunting
The acting was really great, but some aspects of the storyline were a bit choppy. The scenery was magnificent, but some of the special effects were not the best.
It was an interesting combination of elements, actually. Some of it was pretty scary, and the superb acting made it altogether pretty palatable, despite some awkwardness in the plot.

I never did fully understand HOW the character in trouble here got to be in this situation.. it seemed as though some vital scenes must have been cut out of the movie.

Zeta-Jones was really great, and I'm glad I saw the movie if only for her character. She was just so darned likeable and funny!

If you really like ghost stories, then you'll probably like this one. It reminded me of the older "scary" movies that I grew up with ... more tense moments and ghostly happenings than gore.

Today's Link
Cure your Pet's Diabetes

Book Review
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale

I don't normally review Kinsale's books because I think they are just too perfectly written for my meager attempts at review, but then that's not fair, is it? So, I'll attempt to put my admiration for this book into words...
Jervaulx, the hero of this book, is as flawed and perfectly loveable as all Kinsale's heroes tend to be. And Maddy, our prim and proper heroine, is the typical Victorian miss -- except for her strong spiritual sense and her impressive reserve of courage and integrity.

She is truly an inspirational heroine, in her quiet, unassuming way.

One of the things I like best about Kinsale's couples is that the sense of belonging is right there, from the very first meeting. The conflict is most definitely there, but that irrepressible down-deep knowledge and acceptance of the other exists for the heroine and hero both. This is what really makes a romance novel click for me - the ultimate truth of the "rightness" of the relationship, despite all the things that are telling the hero and heroine that it must be "wrong".

Of course, the dialogue, the narration and the plot are very smooth. Just as one would expect from Kinsale, the characters are intense and very real.

I've read this one four times so far, which means the cover is about destroyed, and I'm going to get another copy very soon.

Highly recommend for all admirers of romance.

Recommended Website
Cranberries

Movie Review
The Snapper (1993) VHS ~ Colm Meaney
Okay, I have to admit, this one was a bit hard to handle in certain places. Certainly, the expectant mother was having trouble facing the realities of her situation herself. Not the fact of pregnancy - that was perfectly acceptable, and very refreshing, I thought. But the circumstances -- the father of the baby -- well, that was a bit tough for her, and for ME, too, as a viewer...

The joy of welcoming a new life into the world, and the love of the extended family was well portrayed. Coming from middle class America, the lack of concern about the financial situation (all those people in a 3 bedroom house!) was really an unusual thing to see, but I really liked that aspect of it. I liked the focus of the movie.. in trying times, the family pulls together, and the REAL issue is that a baby is coming, and that's GOOD news!

The strength of the individual members of the family comes through, and their love for one another was really fun to watch.

This is a heartwarming movie, and very funny, too. Highly recommend.

Recommended Website
Homeschooling Links

Book Review
The Heiress by Jude Devereaux

This was probably the funniest historical romance I've ever read. The characters are very unique, and well formed, and the plot is surprisingly smooth. I did not detect any uncomfortable plot devices - the story was very natural, and the narration was interesting and light.
Devereaux has a wonderful sense of humor, and a very positive way of looking at people. Her appreciation for different personality types comes through in her writing, and I found this book to be full of characters I could admire. The conflicts were real, but not because of some "evil" person, which I find refreshing.

There are lots of shades of grey in life, and in this book, and I appreciate Devereaux's ability to show this to us while maintaining such an overall upbeat attitude.

She's really one of the best.

Recommended Website:
Scientology Handbook


Movie Review
The Postman (1997) VHS ~ Kevin Costner

I really like Costner heroes because they are very "real" people. The Postman is not a perfect heroic figure - he is simply a guy, trying to get along in a difficult situation, but unwilling to compromise his own integrity.
THAT, and that alone, is what makes him heroic. His own moral code is not perfect - he's willing to lie and cheat in order to survive - but those values which ARE important to him, he will not compromise.

He finds, during the course of this movie, that one can accomplish a great deal when one works with a group of like-minded people. He learns that people CAN be trusted. He learns to fight back and he learns that he is willing to risk his own life for higher principles.

It's not an overtly moralistic story, but it is very much a story of doing what's right and standing up for what one believes.

The Postman is truly a hero.

Abby was likewise a very believable heroine. She was one of the strongest females I've seen portrayed in movies, to the point of seeming almost "crazy" in her insistance at being strong and brave. She helps make him the hero he becomes, and not through her own weakness, but through her strength.

Giovanni Ribisi delivers a powerful performance as the mentally disabled boy. I didn't recognize him at first, he played this character so well.

This was a wonderful movie, and I find it refreshing to see a movie that shows qualities like integrity and loyalty as heroic and valuable.

Recommended Website:
The Man Behind Scientology: David Miscavige


Movie Review
The Princess Bride
This has been one of my favorite movies for years, but we just picked up the dvd and watched it for the first time with the kids.

What a darling movie. The story is sweet, the characters are loveable (even the bad guys, in their own way), and the scenery is really pretty.

The movie focuses on loyalty, honor, love, and friendship. And some of the scenes are just so funny!

This is one that the kids will like, and the adults will enjoy, too. It's definitely a keeper! I recommend reading the book, too, after seeing the movie - the movie was cast so well, that I could see and hear the characters while I read.

This is one of the best!

Recommended Website
Marriage Counseling

Book Review
The Lily Cupboard by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

This story is told rather ambiguously... the facts of the girl going to the country to stay with a family, and where she hides when the soldiers come, is simply told. Why she has to go to the country and why she has to hide, are more complex issues. This story does not attempt to explain all the details and reasons why. Because of this, it is appropriate in the opening of dialogue about WWII and the Holocaust with children of all ages.
I could read this story to my 4 year old, or I could have my 9 year old read it. It's not the complete story - but not all children can fully understand or are ready for the complete story.

I felt that the information was handled with dignity, and it wasn't told in a maudlin manner at all. As a teacher and mother, I can recommend this book to any child who is ready to learn a little about this tragic time in our history, even the most sensitive students.


----------------
Homeschooling

Recommended Website
Marital Help

Movie Review
Life is Beautiful
I was very moved by this movie, and I agree with another reviewer that it wasn't "exploitative". The Holocaust was the background.. the setting. The characters weren't backdrops to the story of the Holocaust, but rather the situation they were in simply emphasized the beauty within the main characters.
The lives of the characters were terribly affected by the Holocaust, of course, but the experience of the Holocaust did not MAKE the characters. It demonstrated their wonderful integrity, particularly in the characters played by Begninni and Braschi.

It is a refreshing look at the horrible experience of the Holocaust -- from the viewpoint of a person who DOES maintain his integrity and refuses to be beaten down, even to the moment of death. It was a story of the spirit winning over all attempts to destroy it.

I think it's important to not forget what happened, but the way this movie was put together was uplifting, too.

I don't normally watch movies that deal with real tragic material, because it can be just too upsetting to me, especially when children are involved. (I have six kids, and somehow this has altered my "sentimentality factor".) I can say that this movie is safe to watch! There is grief, but it's bearable, and I smiled at the end.

Definitely worth buying!

Recommended Website:
Battlefield Earth

Movie Review
Battlefield Earth (2000) DVD ~ John Travolta
This movie is really very fun. It's a classic sort of story, in that the bad guys are really bad, and the good guys are really good. This handling of good versus evil reminded me of really old stories which I have read, such as The Odyssey. There is no question about who the bad guy is. He's wearing the black hat. It's unusual, I think, in modern stories, but I found it satisfying.

The visuals are very comic-book like, and quite compelling. Dark and dreary, reminiscent of The Matrix, but not quite as stark. It starts of with a very dead sort of feel to it, but becomes more lively throughout the film. The odd camera angles continue throughout the entire film. During the commentary, the director explains that they had some scenes not filmed at unusual angles, but they ended up cutting them all. The effect was great. The story is about a skewed bad guy with skewed thoughts, and so the scenery, the music, everything is a bit skewed.

The music was great - it supported the film but did not overwhelm it. At times the music seemed to be laughing along with the audience, a sort of "Ha Ha" when the bad guy got hurt or something went wrong for him. I thought it was great, and it really appealed to my kids.

The acting was top notch. Ker was so loveable and fallable and "human" (for a Psychlo, that is). Terl was really hysterically bad. There was a subtle sort of sneering insidious element to him that was played, I thought, exceptionally well by Travolta. I can honestly say that this was a unique character... I never saw any character even remotely like Terl in any movie before.

I have seen plenty of DVD's with commentary, but this one was different in that every scene was commented on, scene by scene, throughout the whole movie. It was really fun to be "watching the movie with the director" as he explained the various challenges and what went on behind the scenes.

One unique positive point about this movie is that, although it is an action movie with plenty of violence, there is no gore. No one is shown dying or dead. There isn't any profanity, unless you count the word "Crap" which is only uttered by the Bad Guy. No sex, no nudity, nothing along those lines at all. As a parent, these points are a definite plus.

The kids gave this one 5 stars, by the way. They've watched the DVD several times now.

Highly recommended to all science fiction/ action fans.

Recommended Website:
Silas Buckley

Book Review
Psychiatrists-- The Men Behind Hitler: The Architects of Horror by Thomas Roder

I think any comprehensive study of WWII should include this book. I read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" in high school, as part of my required reading for history class, but I think this book is much more complete in terms of what actually influenced Hitler, and the undue and horrifying influence the psychiatrists had on civilization.

What is even more upsetting is the realization that this same "science" continues to hold power over our culture. The proteges of psychiatrists who advocated horrific "experiments" and treatments including execution, are now influential psychiatrists in practice or in universities. This is frightening, folks, but I think it's important that we take a good long look at this book and the data presented.

My thanks to the author for presenting this material in such a compelling manner.

Recommended Website:
Scientology Official Home Page

Book Review
Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought by Tribute to L. Ron Hubbard

This book is not light reading, but I think it is a vital book for anyone who is actively searching through different spiritual philosophies, looking for some answers to the basic questions of existence.

Chapters in this book discuss freedom and why we have barriers. The relationship between the mind, spirit and body. How we can be spiritual beings, yet are in a position where we have limited knowledge and abilities.

This is really intense stuff - and the meat and potatoes of true spiritual philosophy. I find this book to be challenging, yet inspirational to me every time I read it.

I recommend this book to anyone who is awake enough as a spiritual being to pose the questions, "Why am I here?" and "How can I improve my situation?"

Happy reading!

Recommended Website
Marriage Counseling

Game Review
Harry Potters Sorcerers Stone
We actually enjoy playing this game, although the instructions were incomplete and we had to spend some time figuring out the rules of play ourselves.
One nice thing about this game is that the separate games don't all have to be played at once. You can take just one of the 6 game boards and play that, or you can hook them all up and play the through the whole thing.

Individually, some of the games are too simple, with not enough strategy or "game" involved to be lots of fun. Even still, it's fun enough for my kids (ages 6, 8 and 9) to find it endlessly amusing.

The pieces are as durable as thich cardboard can be expected to be, although there are a lot of them to punch out before starting the game. (That was actually very time-consuming, and somewhat irritating.)

The actual boards themselves are made out of a thin metal-type of material, which makes them bendable without putting creases in them. I like this material far better than cardboard.

My kids love this game, and I like it, too. I would hope that in the future manufacture of this one, that the instructions are more completely written up. I am sure there are some people who give up completely and don't bother with it, because of the poorly written instructions.

All in all, I think this is pretty fun, although I think the price is a bit high.

-------------------------
Homeschooling

Recommended Websites:
The Lab

Communication


Book Review:

The Family Handyman Wordless Workshop by Roy Doty, Roy Doty

What a cool book! The problem is presented in a cartoon. For instance.. (I have six kids, this is my favorite)... a woman sorting through laundry to wash, trying to separate the colors. Laundry is all over the floor in front of the machine.

The solution: A frame is built which holds six little trash bins, stacked up one on top of the other, so clothes can be sorted into them by color, without taking up much floor space at all. Then the woman is shown, emptying the whites into the washer - no mess!

No words are used but the methods of creating these little organizational solutions are very simple to understand.

I am not a handyman (or handywoman) at all, but I really felt these concepts were clear, and we have used several of the solutions presented.

Other little gems in this book are: drawing paper dispenser, making a 2-pole closet, creating a nice organizer for rakes, shovels and the like, a neat little stand for roller blades, a ball stacker that goes on the back of a door, and even a baby bottle rack.

Every project is simple to do and easy to understand.

I recommend this book for any large family! Some of us just need to have every organizational tool we can get our hands on!!

Recommended Website:
Scientology Quotes

Sadness and Grief

Book Review

Self Analysis by Humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard
.

This book delves into the conflict between the exuberance of youth and the cautiousness that comes with hard-won wisdom. Why does it happen that as one ages and learns, one becomes less enthusiastic about life? Is there a way to retain one's wisdom, but regain that youthful enthusiasm?

Well, there is, and this book gives the exact processes to do just that.

These processes are truly remarkable, and very simple to use. Just about anyone could be helped with these processes, but I think they are especially good for someone who has suffered some kind of trauma - the loss of a loved one, for example.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in what makes us go "tick" and who wants to help others.

Recommended Website:

Applied Scholastics



Book Review

Grammar and Communication for Children by L. Ron Hubbard

My 9 year old son is currently studying this book, and I've happily thrown away the grammar materials he was using before. This book is written very clearly, and the data is presented in a straightforward, easy to understand manner.

My son now has certainty on the parts of speech, and punctuation. His writing has improved tremendously, and his understanding of what he reads has also improved.

This is a must for every homeschooler, and for anyone who found grammar confusing in school. It's not a difficult subject, and not nearly as painful as my elementary school teachers made it seem!

I would also recommend this book to anyone whose child is not doing as well in school as they would like. This is certainly the best grammar resource I've found.

Recommended Website:
Doc Shillington


Book Review:

Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements by James F., Md. Balch, Phyllis A. Balch

This book is very easy to use, with various disorders listed alphabetically. Each problem listed contains a description of symptoms, possible underlying causes of disorder, nutrients which are listed as either essential, very important, important, or helpful for the treatment of the disorder, a description of various herbs which may help, and how to use them, and other recommendations and considerations.

For instance, under bronchitis, recommendations includes "drink plenty of fluids. Pure water, herbal teas and soups are all good choices." and "Add moisture to the air..." Under considerations, bronchodilators are discussed, inhalers are mentioned, and one is advised to get a chest xray if bronchitis "does not clear up in a reasonable amount of time."

There are actually hundreds of disorders listed in this book. It is the most complete reference I have seen for natural remedies, written for the layperson.

There is an extensive section on various nutrients, why they are necessary, for what conditions they should be used, and how they should be taken. At the back is a list of manufacturers of the various supplements mentioned.

This book certainly does not displace medical care, but it is a good supplement. It is very useful for minor ailments for which one would not want to see a doctor, or for chronic conditions such as endometriosis or chronic fatigue syndrome, which traditional medical practitioners are unable to easily cure.

I can highly recommend this one to anyone who takes supplements and wants more information on how to heal the body with natural remedies.

Recommended Website:
Scientology Today


Book Review:
What Your Second Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Second Grade Education (The Core Knowledge Series) by E. D. Hirsch

I have the complete set of these books, from kindergarten through 6th grade, and I really recommend them all. The 2nd grade book contains poetry (including "The Night Before Christmas), stories (including a section from Charlotte's Web), American tall tales (including Paul Bunyan), Myths from Ancient Greece (10 stories in all), Learning About Language (nouns, verbs, sentences, etc.), and Familiar Saysings and their origins.

And that's just the language section.

History and geography, visual arts, mathematics, sciences and music are also included in this book. I especially like the history sections in these books. In the 2nd grade book, Civilizations of Asia and Ancient Greece are particularly interesting, with lots of great pictures. The religions of the cultures involved are discussed in a matter-of-fact and respectful manner. The section on ancient Greek politics leads right into the section in American History and democracy.

The next logical step is to discuss slavery in the United States, and important facts of the civil rights movement are explained. Civil rights heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks are given attention, and overall it is done with a proper amount of emphasis, and ends on the positive note of changes and improvements in our culture, rather than stopping with the Civil War and leaving it at that.

A basic overview of what a 2nd grader should know in terms of math is included, along with illustrations and details of the various mathematical concepts. This is not meant to be a complete math text by any means, but more of a checkout point. Anything the child is behind in can then be noted and remedied, and the basic concepts are there so the parents at least can figure out what needs to be taught.

I find the science and visual arts sections to be just a brushover of what should be covered. I only use this information as a starting point, and I find other materials to back these subjects up.

This book is very good as part of the overall Core Knowledge curriculum. By itself, it is an incomplete curriculum for a 2nd grader, I think, but it is very good in terms of history, and for the other subjects, I think it is a great starting point.

Whether your child is homeschooled, or goes to school outside the home, I think this is a good book to have around, and the entire Core Knowledge series is a sensible starting point for a homeschooler who creates their own curriculum, like I do. I think for all other parents, it is very important to have this book, in order to fill in any gaps in your child's education.

Website Recommendation:
Scientology in Los Angeles



Book Review:
Fast Fiction: Creating Fiction in Five Minutes by Roberta Allen

I have really gotten a lot out of this book. Ms. Allen breaks down the art of storytelling into 5 minute exercises that are easily done, and that can be linked together to complete longer stories - even full-length novels! By breaking the assignments down into 5 minute exercises, she takes a rather daunting task and turns it into something easily confronted and easily done. She gives lists of exercises which are varied and interesting, and which are geared to really stimulate one's creativity. There is even a section of photographs that one can use as a starting point in their writing.
I really enjoyed reading the samples of short shorts which she included, both from unpublished and published writers, and I found her appreciation for her students to be very encouraging.

I think she must be a wonderful teacher, and I am actually quite grateful that she has written this book. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys writing, or who thinks they MIGHT enjoy it if given the proper encouragement.

Recommended Website:

About L. Ron Hubbard (German)

Book Review:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the American Revolution by Alan Axelrod

This is such an easy reference book on the subject! The book starts with ancient American history and goes through Y2K. Pretty comprehensive.

It's written in an easy-to-read format, with chapters and sections clearly outlined, so one can just pick it up and start just about anywhere and read a section.

It's pretty condensed, but a great starting point for lots of basic information. It's also not just about wars and other political incidents, but addresses things like the Constitution, Ross Perot, how Rockefeller got started, the end of slavery, the Right to Life movement... like I said, it's really comprehensive.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes history, but doesn't need or want a scholarly tome on the subject.

Recommended Website:
L. Ron Hubbard (Italian)

Book Review
Ancient Egypt - Pbk (Growing Up) by Rosalie David

I would say this book is written for the 9 - 13 year old group. It is fun to read with nice illustrations, and told in a story-like manner. The problem with that is that it seems very fictional. Why does the author suggest that this is how ancient Egyptians lived? There is not much information about what has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs which verify the author's claims.

Perhaps this is fine for children with a passing interest in the subject, but my 9 year old is very skeptical and wants to know WHY it's supposed that Egyptians trained housecats to hunt, for instance.

The language is simple enough for 9 year olds, and there is enough to read to make it interesting.

Website Recommendation:
Doc Shillington - Natural Health

Book Review

Earthquakes (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) by Franklyn M. Branley, Richard Rosenblum

This is a very good beginning book on the subject for children. It begins with scientific information about how earthquakes occur, and then goes through what may happen during an earthquake, such as buildings falling down, fires, gas leaks, etc. It goes into further particulars, such as how it feels to be in an earthquake, and what safety measures to take.

The illustrations are very simple, and not especially appealing, but they do help illustrate the points well.

All in all, a good book for children ages 8 -12 who live in earthquake prone areas, especially.

Recommended Website

Marriage Book


Toy Review
Little People SchoolBus
It's MUCH nicer than the old model. For one thing, it now comes with a wheelchair, and a ramp at the back. My kids really think this is great, and so do I. The wheelchair itself is very cute and easy to use for little hands.
I also thought the wheelchair was great for giving the kids the opportunity to ask questions about wheelchairs.

The little people are adorable, much brighter than they used to be. And they are softer, now, too... one of these guys flying across the room and bonking someone on the head doesn't hurt quite so much as the old ones did!

They are larger and easier to handle than the ones we had as kids, and they are formed more realistically, as well. They actually have arms (they don't move, but they're there) and look more like people.

I've got 6 kids, and we've had this bus since Christmas. It is still in perfect condition, as are all the people, despite many hours of use in our household.

It was bought for the 1-yr-old, but it is played with by all the children, but mostly those ages 6 and younger.

Website Recommendation:
Scientology Volunteer Ministers

Book Review:

How to Get Out of the Hospital Alive: A Guide to Patient Power by Sheldon P., Md. Blau, Elaine F. Shimberg

While this book addresses some very serious dangers that we probably all ought to be aware of, and know how to avoid, it also stresses some very rare problems, which may result in over-paranoia for some readers.

I think it's vital to know what the actual risks are that we might need to face, but I think creating a "dangerous environment" is not at all helpful, and perhaps this author, in his attempts to help, has done a bit too much of that in this book.

For instance, he writes that adverse drug reactions result in 140,000 deaths per year. Pretty intense. He discusses ways to prevent this from happening to oneself or one's loved ones. Very good information.

The five pages he devotes to infant abductions, however, is a bit extreme, I think. In From 1983 to 1996, 89 infant abductions occurred in hospitals. Which, of course, is way too many, but I think that the prioritizing of the issues in this book leaves something to be desired.

After reading just a little of it, I began thinking that hospitals were horribly dangerous places to be, and I had to really look at the facts presented in order to see that the presentation of the facts was more horrifying than they needed to be.

I really like the advices for how to protect oneself in a hospital, but I think it could have been presented better.

Website Recommendation:
Scientology Spiritual Counseling

Book Review:
The Beauty : The Bride Quest #4

The basic plot and theme were interesting enough, but this is another romance novel that I really feel was just rushed through, with somewhat sloppy results.

The heroine had this "fear of men" which was told to the reader often enough - but not really demonstrated. The motivations of all the characters was stated in an overly straightforward manner - again and again and again. And both the dialogue and narration, as an another reviewer mentioned, were filled with "'twas" and "zounds", which would have been fine if it did not read in such a stilted manner.

The plot was actually quite good, and the characters themselves were interesting and fairly believable (although the heroine's attempted rape seems to have left her curiously unscathed.) All in all this is an acceptable romance novel, at least compared to most in print, but I do think that better editing would have made this a much more enjoyable story.

I wouldn't recommend this one unless you really have nothing better to do on a rainy day, but I haven't given up on the author. I think she could do better, and I will read her books again, hoping for better results.

Website Recommendation
American Religion

Book Review

Castle in the Attic

It's not overly long, and it's written in simple enough language that my 8 and 9 year old children had no trouble reading it.

It's a very engaging, sweet story, which introduces the concepts of chivalry and bravery. I actually think this book is very good for boys to read - it's about knights and fighting for one's honor, and demonstrating loyalty, but it's also about being able to cry when you need to, and being able to express love for others.

In this story, the little boy's nanny is moving away, because he's growing up and doesn't need her, and he has some trouble accepting this. I think it's a wonderful, simple way to address some of the issues all children face when approaching their teenage years.

I definitely recommend this one to parents and children.

Website Recommendation:

Kate Ceberano Home Page

Music Review

True Romantic (Best Of)(+6 Track Bonus C [IMPORT] ~ Kate Ceberano

Kate Ceberano is one of the best female vocalists I've ever heard. I've seen her in concert, and she really clicks with the audience - just an amazing musician.

She's got such wonderful energy, and it just feels GOOD to listen to her. "Pash" is on this album - it's one of those songs that brings back the best memories of growing up. I also really like "Love is Alive."

She is so happy, and her music makes one feel as though they can have an impact. I think Kate Ceberano carries, through her music, a strong message that people are powerful, and people are wonderful. She's very validating, and it's a real joy to hear her sing.

Her voice and music are very eclectic - Kate is not afraid to change who she is from moment to moment. She's a wonderful actress, and this is apparent in her music.

She's a great talent, and I think most everybody can find something in her music that they would like. I highly recommend this album!

Website Recommendation:
Kid Universe


Toy Review

Pokemon Sorry Game
This game has gotten lots of play time in my house. It's more fun than the regular "Sorry" game, at least for Pokemon fans.

Each player chooses which "gym" will be his or her home - for instance, Blaine's gym, or Misty's gym. Then the pieces all belong to one type - Misty's pieces, for instance, are all Water Pokemon.

The safe spaces are Pokeballs, and the cards have special moves for the different colors of pieces.

It's a lot of fun for all our kids ages 4 and up, and even I like to play this one with the kids.

The educational value is that they read the cards, and lots of counting is needed to play the game. Plus, there is some strategy involved.

This game is sold at a good price for the amount of fun involved. I recommend this one!

Recommended Website
Husband Working Long Hours


Toy Review
Scooby-Doo Slumber Bag
My son uses this sleeping bag all the time, and it gets washed a couple times each week. The colors are still very bright, and the material has held up well.
It's surprisingly warm, but in the summer it won't make him sweaty. We live in L.A., and during the winter it's all he needs, and in the summer it isn't too hot. I don't know what material is used to make these bags, but it's great!!

(I've slept under this sleeping bag, so I know what I'm talking about first-hand.)

I can highly recommend this sleeping bag. Scooby is just so cute!

-----------------------
New Mexico Girl

Website Recommendation
Truth about Drugs


Review
Pooh Slumber Bag

My 4 year old daughter has had this bag for over a year. It has been washed regularly, and the colors have remained bright. The bag has stood up well to the washing.

I have "borrowed" this sleeping bag a few times (it's short, but very warm when it's cold out!) but it's not too warm for the summertime. Something about the material it's made out of is really great for warmth, without making the child sweaty.

The bag is very lightweight (easy to carry) and it's not too big. I can fit two of these bags in one load of wash, and I have a small apartment-sized washing machine. They also dry very quickly - I don't usually bother to dry them at all, I just lay them on top of the machine for an hour, and they're completely dry.

I highly recommend this sleeping bag for little ones!

Website Recommendation:
Bridge Publications

Book Review:
Learning How to Learn

This is the first piece of "curriculum" I teach my children once they know how to read. I don't know what I would have done without this book!

Ever get to the bottom of the page and can't recall what you just read? Or do your eyes ever start to hurt when studying? Ever get confused about something you're trying to learn?

Does your child ever experience these problems in his or her schooling?

The causes of these problems may not be what you expect - and the solution for each situation is so simple and effective!

This book has been so helpful to me in teaching my children, that I credit it with the fact that my son (who is 9) can read anything he wants. Currently he is reading Where the Red Fern Grows, which is generally read by teenagers. My 8 year old is reading Little House on the Prairie and she, too, has had great success in applying the techniques set forth in Learning How to Learn in her own study.

If you only purchase one book for your child's education, let it be this one.

Website Recommendation:
New Homeschoolmum Website!

Toy Review
Elmo's PC Railroad

This was a favorite toy here, but we just tossed it out. The track got worn out and difficult to connect.

It's very bright, and the pieces are large, but it was just too hard for my son to put together himself. Once together he loved it, though.

There also wasn't enough track to do anything very interesting with, which is a big disadvantage in a train set.

Recommended Website
Church of Scientology answers about Dianetics

Video Review
How to Use Dianetics: A Visual Guidebook to the Human Mind VHS ~ L. Ron Hubbard

If you are interested in helping people, and interesting in knowing the fastest, most effective way of doing that, then I highly recommend this video!
I wish I had this information when I was a rape crisis counselor - it would have made my job a whole lot easier. There IS a method that works to relieve people of the weight of the past. Past losses, past failures, past painful experiences, do not have to follow a person for the rest of their lives. People CAN overcome the negative effects of these experiences, and this video will show you how.

If you know ANYONE who has suffered in the past, who is still carrying around shadows of these harmful experiences, then I highly recommend that you get this video, and sit down with them and watch it.


-----------------------------

Other Good Links:
The Dianetics Letters
Official Scientology and Dianetics Glossary
New Era Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard
Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science
Dianetics - The Official Information Center
Scientology - The Doctrine of Clarity (Dianetics)
Dianetics Seminar
Dianetics - Winston Salem
Bridge Publications - Dianetics
Dianetics Hotline

Website Recommendation
Religious Resources: Helping Children - Scientology Books, Materials and Courses for Parents


Toy Review
Rescue Heroes Command Center

Lots of fun for all my kids September 9, 2000
My 5 year old son asked for this toy last Christmas. Well, it's September and it's still his favorite toy. His younger siblings, especially his brothers, also love this one. Even the 9 month old plays with it! It's extremely sturdy . In fact, toys almost never last this long in our house - and it's gotten tons of play time and it's actually still in perfect condition - unheard of here!

The Rescue Heroes action figures each have something to do with the tower. Their packs attach to the tower for storage and the whole ensemble is really cute and lots of fun.

This is a great price for a toy of this high quality. I've never been happier with the purchase of a toy before. My son still requests the figures - he has earned some and gotten some for his birthday, and this Christmas he wants more.

I highly recommend this toy.

Recommended Website
marital stability

Book Review
Bob Books
Once a child knows the basic letter sounds, he or she is ready for Bob books! I have 6 kids, and we homeschool. I used other books for my 2 oldest, but my son Alex began reading with Bob Books. He loves them!

They are written at a perfect gradient, beginning with 3-letter, short vowel sound words. They are written just as I would have written them!

I do wish the books were larger in size (not more pages, just bigger pages) and the pictures are just drawings - no color. An improvement of better, more colorful pictures and larger pages would get a 5-star vote from me.

These are great tools, and I recommend them for every beginning reader.

Homeschooling

Recommended Website
Scientology

Book Review
The Scientology Handbook by L. Ron Hubbard, Church of Scientology


This book has several sections which I have found invaluable in terms of handling my children. The chapter called "Children" has a ton of data on how exactly to handle children and what kinds of things to avoid doing, and why. I have found this to be extremely helpful for me. I have six kids, so it is really important to me to be able to really handle my job as a parent well.
So far, so good. Using this data has helped me to make good decisions in parenting, and I have been able to avoid so many of the pitfalls other parents fall into.

It is by far the best information on child-rearing out there, and can be used by parents from all different cultures and points of view.

The section on assists (actions taken to help people who are ill, upset, or have been injured) is likewise invaluable. My older kids have learned how to give assists to others, and they really know what to do now when someone has been hurt! Which, I don't need to tell any experienced parents out there), is a very common occurrence when you're surrounded by toddlers and preschoolers.

If one of my children gets upset, I know what to do. If one has a nightmare and wakes up still upset and can't get over it right away, I know what to do. If a child gets ill, I of course take him or her to the doctor, but after that, I can take further steps to help him heal his body, and all that is fully described in this book.

I think this book is a lifesaver for parents, and I highly, highly recommend it.

Book Review

Husband-Coached Childbirth : The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth by Robert A. Bradley, Ashley Montagu

Dr. Bradley revolutionized American childbirth when he began, in the 1940's, insisting that husbands coach their wives during childbirth. This was when fathers were relegated to the waiting room, and childbirth was treated like a disease that the good doctors "cured".
Bradley examined the situation for himself, and realized that it was preposterous for childbirth to be handled the way it was. And a good thing for us that he did this!

In this book he explains his research, and his experiences as a doctor. He also gives the practical information that expectant fathers need, and he advocates such wonderful things as breastfeeding and "taking your wife out once a week for a date!"

Some women today might find him to be a bit "patriarchal", but I think he's charming, and he's obviously got a lot of respect for women and the natural processes of the female body. He does tell the husbands to make sure they get their wives to do certain things, but I think it's great that he expects husbands to take so much responsibility! In those days, childbirth and pregnancy were not in the "man's domain" at all.

He also advocates drug-free childbirth as being the safest route for mother and baby. He gives a method of childbirth that helps ease the pain, and I advise pregnant women to read this section carefully, and do the exercises! It really does help!

I recommend this book to anyone who is expecting, or plans to be expecting, a baby. As an advocate of natural childbirth, I give this book 2 thumbs up!

--------------------
Great Birthing / Baby Sites
Baby Snark
Gentle, Silent Birth
Attachment Parenting
Thumbshots - Attachment Parenting
Skywalk Directory - Attachment Parenting
Nursing Life - Attachment Parenting
Big Happy Family
What Fetus Can Hear Inside the Womb
Tom Cruise, Scientology Silent Birth
Parenting Quotes
Raising Responsible Children
Scientology Families
Live and Grow
Scientology Religion
Raising Kids - Giving them Hope for the Future
Helping Children
How to Live With Children
Nurturing our Children
Silent Childbirth
Natural Childbirth Story
Scientology Counseling Helps Expectant Mother
Scientology volunteer ministers

Recommended Website
Raising Responsible Children

Book Review
Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch, Sheila McGraw

This is such a powerful, sweet little story. Every time I read it to my kids I get choked up.. have to stop.. try to pull myself together. It's very emotional, without being morose at all. Just a simple story, a sweet little song, and a "circle of life" theme that, in its simplicity, has this amazing power to bring one to tears.
And it's not just me; I handed this one to my friend to read in a bookstore, and she started crying, too. I joined in, and we were both very embarrassed, and laughing and crying at the same time.

You have to read this one for yourself, in order to understand. The story itself does not appear to be wringing out one's emotions intentionally; it's just there, a simple little song, but it just sort of pulls on one's heart and creates this wonderful effect.

Recommended, but don't blame me if you cry over it.

---------------------------
Great Parenting Sites:

Jane's Pages
Homeschooling in California
Homeschooling
Kid Universe
Quotes about Education
Parenting
Parenting Links
Scientology Texts on Parenting
Scientology Life Improvement Courses - Parenting
Scientology and My Children
Large Scientology Family
Family Advice - Children
Help Kids Stay Off Drugs

Since I haven't posted much for a while, I thought I'd do a couple today:

Website Recommendation
Raising a Child and Providing Hope for the Future - Scientology

Toy Review
SPIRAL SPEEDWAY

I think this toy is for younger toddlers September 9, 2000
We gave this toy to our 2 year old for Christmas, and he played with it a lot for the first month or so, but then completely lost interest in it. It is in really good condition, still, and it's been knocked around quite a bit (we have 4 boys in one bedroom - all their toys get rough treatment, and the fact that this one is still in one piece speaks for it's durability.)

The race track comes with stickers, but they aren't a good idea since they slow down the cars. Unfortunately, the regular "little people" cars are too big for the tracks, so only the two cars the track comes with can be used on it. A disadvantage if your child is likely to lose pieces to games, as mine are.

All in all, the price is really good, but the toy doesn't get a lot of playtime here. My 9 month old baby has shown interest in it, though, so we aren't completely finished with the toy.

I would recommend it only for the younger kids. Although the stated age range is 2 years to 6 years, I would say 1 to 3 years is more like it.

Recommended Website
Secrets in Marriage

Book Review
Integrity and Honesty by L. Ron Hubbard
This book presents the concepts of ethics and morality at a level that just about anyone can understand. The concepts are defined, and instead of feeling guilty for one's transgressions, there is a very simple, yet incredibly effective, way to address these things. The result is a feeling of relief.
People are basically good. When we make mistakes and hurt ourselves or others, we feel guilty. Until now, there has been no easy resolution to these feelings of guilt.

I recommend it for EVERYONE, but I want to state that it is very effective with preteens and teenagers, too. I know many families with teens that are doing great in life, and this technology has been indispensible to these families.

Since reading this information, my 9 year old son has become very honest. If he does something he shouldn't, rather than keep a secret about it, he'll come to me, which is a MUCH better solution than hiding one's transgressions.


-------------------
Scientology
L. Ron Hubbard

Recommended Website
Youth who volunteers

Book Review
Hogwarts Journal

This is unlike most journals in that, instead of blank pages, it's got some idea-starters for kids. I have found it's easier for my kids to think of things to write about if they have something to start from.
This one has various lists of things started already for the young writer. For instance, the topic will be provided: "Things to bring to Hogwart's school" and then some examples will be listed: cauldron, owl, broomstick, etc. Then the writer can add more things that should be taken to Hogwart's, according to the book. Or things HE would take to Hogwarts, like a favorite baseball cap or something like that. OR he could make a separate list on the opposite (blank) page of things he would take to HIS school. There is plenty of room for creativity here!

I think this is a great way to encourage writing in children. The text and graphics are aesthetic and fun, and the paper and binding are very high quality and nice to use.

Highly, highly recommended for all aspiring wizards!

Recommended Website
Why Relationships Fail

Movie Review
Meet the Parents
This was a cute movie. Stiller and DeNiro are a combination I never thought to see on film - DeNiro played the father-in-law to be of every young man's nightmares, and Stiller was the dorky guy every high school boy THINKS he is.
Through his own desire for papa's approval, and fear of standing up for himself, he gets himself into terrible scrapes, and it's very funny, although a bit embarrassing to watch. I actually covered my face with my hands during parts of this moment; I just couldn't witness this man's huminliation any more.

I won't say how it ends - you'll have to see it for yourself. I gave it 4 stars for the laughs; not a deep movie by any stretch, but an enjoyable one.

------------------------
For those of you considering Marriage:
Marital Stability
Marriage
Marriage Counseling
Marriage Book
Happy Marriage
Marriage Counselors
Marriage Solutions
Successful Marriages
Secrets in Marriage
Great Marriage Websites
Recommended Marriage Books
Questions about Marriage
How to Handle Jealousy
How to Get Along with your Spouse
Marriage and Communication

Recommended Website
Have a Happy Marriage


Spooky Halloween Party (Step into Reading, Step 2, paper) by Annabelle Prager

This is a cute story about a boy who has moved to a new apartment and has to make new friends. He's a bit insecure because of the recent changes in his life, but then Halloween comes and no one looks like they're supposed to..
He thought he was too big to get scared on Halloween, but he finds out that's not the case!

This story isn't really scary to read, so it's appropriate for young children. The reading level is not for just-starting-out readers. Some of the harder words in the book are as follows: either, point, know, invited, climbed, faraway, special, though.

The text is big, and it's 48 pages. It's also a chapter book, so that's a nice encouragement for kids. There are only 8 chapters, and an average page has about 30 words on it. The pictures are nice, and the story is cute.

I recommend this one for kids at the 2nd grade reading level, as long as someone is there to help with the more difficult words.

Website Recommendation

Children; How to Raise Them and Give Them Hope for the Future?




Book Review

Four Puppies

This sweet little story follows the lives of four collie puppies as they explore the world around them through the four seasons.

It's great for exploring the concepts of the seasons, growing up, not being afraid of changes, and more. It's really a great little book.

As a child I loved this book. I'm disappointed that it's out of print - I'd love to get a copy for my own children.

Recommended Website
Church of Scientology and Dianetics

Book Review
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard.
This book gives the answer to why people engage in irrational, self-destructive behavior. It is a bit of a read - definitely have a dictionary handy when you read it - but it's well worth the effort.
What I like most about this book is that it doesn't leave one feeling sad that there isn't a clear way to handle these imperfections in people, but it actually provides a simple-to-use, and I've found VERY effective, method to handle these problems in others.

If you are interested in the mind, and what makes us tick, and if you like to help others, then this is the book for you!

I would also recommend the "How to Use Dianetics" video.
-----------------------------

Other Good Links:
The Dianetics Letters
Official Scientology and Dianetics Glossary
New Era Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard
Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science
Dianetics - The Official Information Center
Scientology - The Doctrine of Clarity (Dianetics)
Dianetics Seminar
Dianetics - Winston Salem
Bridge Publications - Dianetics
Dianetics Hotline

Attachment Parenting


Book Review
Wee Willie Winkie: And Other Rhymes (My Very First Mother Goose) by Iona Archibald Opie, et al

We've gotten lots of mileage out of this little book. I really appreciate how thick the pages are (very easy for little hands to turn) and how well made it is. Even board books don't last long in my house (6 young children here), but this one has been around for well over a year, and it's well loved, too.
The rhymes are shortened to their most essential parts, perfect for little ones. We can go through the book several times in one sitting, and each poem fits neatly on a page.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Down By the Station, and several other popular nursery rhymes are in this book. The illustrations are adorable and the colors are nice and bright.

Highly recommended!

----------------
Large Families
Kid Universe

Recommended Website
Church of Scientology Celebrity LiveWire - Juliette Lewis


Movie Review
The Other Sister starring Juliette Lewis

A lot of issues are dealt with in this movie - falling in love for the firt time, cutting the apron strings, getting along in a world which can sometimes be cruel.
These are things that most people have to face in life, the difference being that Carla has more obstacles than most of us, and this story is really about how she handles those obstacles and refuses to allow them to overcome.

She is a powerful woman, with some hindrances, yes, but all powerful people have SOME hindrances, don't they? She manages to make her way and retain her wonderful view on life, and inspire others despite the obstacles in her life. She is DIFFERENT - but I wouldn't necessarily say she is "handicapped".

I grew to love her family in this film. None of Carla's family members are perfect, but they all love her. I found this pretty realistic.

Ribisi's acting was, once again, superb, and Ribisi and Lewis were great together. I'd love to see as romantic interests in other films.

Website Recommendation

Scientology Books for Parents/Helping Children with Scientology




Book Review

Mrs. Doubtfire

This is great family movie. It's a funny (with Robin Williams and Sally Fields, how could it not be?), sweet, make-you-cry-at-least-once, kind of film.

All my kids love this movie (they range in age from toddler to pre-teen).

The values stressed in the movie are really great to see. The importance of love, the importance of forgiveness, the importance of families of every kind, are really explored.

I love this movie. We've seen it a few times, and I have no qualms about recommending it as a good family movie.

Recommended Website:
Scientology Home Page

Book Review
What Is Scientology? by L. Ron Hubbard

This book contains the answers to just about any question a person might have about the Church of Scientology and what Scientologists are doing all over the world, in terms of bettering conditions.

There is much information about various social reform groups, such as the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Narconon, Criminon, and Applied Scholastics, to name a few.

The Creeds and Codes of Scientology are listed in this book, and I have found these to be very enlightening. Questions that outsiders might have about any religion are answered here - an example is a list of Scientology holidays, and the history of the church, etc.

There is a colorfully illustrated biography of the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and an illustrated history of the religious heritage of Scientology, too.

All the basic books, courses, and auditing processes are described here, as well a description of the different types of Scientology churches and groups, and their different purposes.

This reference is a must for anyone who is interested in the subject of Scientology, or who has friends or relatives who are Scientologists, or who simply would like to find out why this religion is becoming so popular.


-----------------------
Other Good Sites
Religious Tolerance - About Scientology
Scientology and the Definition of Religion
Handling Life with the Scientology Religion
Dianetics and Scientology Introductory Services
L. Ron Hubbard - Founder of the Scientology Religion
New and Alternative Religions
Scientology's Crusade Against Injustice
Scientology in the United Kingdom
Scientology Handbook
CedarNet - Scientology
Scientology in the United Kingdom
Scientology: The Beliefs and Practices of a Religion
Happiness and Interest: Article by Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard

Website Recommendation


Scientology Resource Directory - Arts: Music



Book Review

Planet Jive by the Jive Aces.


We've had the pleasure of watching this band perform live on a number of occasions. These guys really play for the crowd! Great showmanship, great music, great lyrics.

Really family-friendly and lively enough to entertain the kids.

This is my family's favorite band - even my kids as toddlers love this music. They have a whole dance routine they created for the son "Planet Jive". And it's great fun for us (the parents) to watch the kids perform, of course.

We have six children, ranging from toddler to early teen, so it's really got to be good for the entire family to all agree on a c.d. as a "favorite"!

And this band has stood the test of time with us - they've been a family favorite for years.

The whole album is lively, upbeat, and fun.

Wholesome enough for the family, lively enough for the kids, entertaining enough for all of us.

Sixteen thumbs up over here!

Website Recommendation

Help - The Biggest of All Human Rights by by L. Ron Hubbard



Book Review

The Chamber

I can't say I "loved" this story. Or that it's a "great" story. It's a very hard book to read - the issues raised are very intense and very difficult to read about. I ended up with questions I'd never had before, which made this book really valuable to me.

The death penalty, racism, hate crimes, family struggles, forgiveness, taking responsibility for one's actions are all covered in this one book - it was truly an intense read.

I cried through a lot of it. This is definitely not escapism, light reading! It's not terribly action-filled - very unlike other Grisham books I've read. But just as good as the other books I've read by him, if more emotional and heart-wrenching.

I am very, very glad I read the book, and I'm very glad my son is reading it. Don't expect to walk away from this one with the same views you had when you started it.

Website Recommendation

Writers of the Future

Book Review

Runaway Jury

The book is about the manipulation of jury selection by the tobacco industry, and how that alone has allowed them to slip through legal battles unscathed.

I loved this book. I loved the idea that Grisham would come out swinging at the tobacco industry. I loved the hero and heroine of the story, and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns in the storyline.

I understand the new movie is not about tobacco, but about guns.

I find this highly ironic. A book about how the tobacco industry wields its power to keep itself from losing court battles is somehow turned into a movie about guns...

All I can say is...

Interesting!

Website Recommendation

L. Ron Hubbard - Literary Correspondence



Book Review

Understanding: The Universal Solvent by L. Ron Hubbard

I received this book as a gift. It's a very beautiful book, with hundreds of inspiring, uplifting, thought-provoking quotations.

I loved receiving this as a gift, and I have turned to this book many times, when I needed to read something inspirational.

Website Recommendation

Scientology - Official Church of Scientology Site




Book Review

The Slipper and the Rose

I love this portrayal of the Cinderella story.

It's a musical - and Richard Chamberlain is really entertaining. The storyline is a bit more complex than the typical Cinderella story, which is nice. There's enough to it to justify an entire movie.

The colors and music and dancing in this movie are very, very beautiful.

I loved this movie as a child, and it's still one of my favorites.

Website Recommendation

L. Ron Hubbard the Writer: Shaping of Popular Fiction





Book Review

A Ring of Endless Light

I read this book the first time when I was in junior high school. I loved it then, and read it a number of times.

I recently picked up a copy for my own daughter. I re-read the book, and this happened to be soon after the death of a very important family member. The book explores death and how it affects a family in a very positive way. I found it actually helped me deal with my own grief - not something I expected when I started to read it.

As a child, I adored this book. As an adult, I have an even greater respect for the philosophies in it.

I can see now, from the perspective of a few years, that this book really did help me develop my own spiritual beliefs and understandings. It's a very meaty story, but don't let that deter you. It's easy to read, enjoyable, with engaging characters.

Madeleine L'Engle is one of the best!

Website Recommendation
Craig Bader

Jazz teacher discusses Scientology and how it improved his life.


Book Review

Hocus Pocus

This is probably the most entertaining Halloween movie I've seen.

The story is a little bit scary - but not gory or too frightening. The bad witches are quite funny and boy, can they sing!

The costumes are wonderful - the music is great. Bette Midler is truly hilarious. (All three witches are hilarious.)

It's much more funny than creepy. Definitely lighthearted fun.

The only reservation I have in recommending this as a family movie, is that the trouble all starts because a virgin lit a candle in the witches' old house, thus bringing them back from the dead. The fact that the boy was a virgin was mentioned a number of times (he was teased about it by his kid sister.) And so, a couple of my kids then asked what virgin means. Which is a question that can come up around Christmastime, too, so it's not really that terrible. But I wanted to mention it so any parents reading this review are aware of it.

Website Recommendation
Scientology Directory

Get your questions about Scientology answered through these websites.

Book Review

Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck is not your everyday sort of hero. He doesn't look like a hero, and he doesn't act much like a hero. But in his own strange, bizarre way, he comes into the life of his brother's family and fixes all the problems, just like a hero would.

He's really loveable, even in all his rudeness.

This is a really funny movie. We all love it, from the younger kids to the adults in the family.

Website to see
Diane Keaton Filmography

Diane Keaton is such a great actress! I just love watching her movies. We actually saw her in person a few years ago at Disneyland. She waited in line with everyone else, and was just so unassuming and polite! I liked her even more after that.

Book Review
First Wives Club

I never read the book, but my husband did, and he said the women in the movie were kinder than they were in the book... which I find hard to believe!

These 3 women find themselves middle aged and in the middle of huge life changes, all brought about by the desertions and betrayals of the men they'd devoted their younger years to.

They all sort of fall apart, but pull themselves together through friendship - and a new-found purpose. Their new purpose in life? To destroy the men who betrayed them.

It's a very funny movie, not surprising, considering the all-star cast.

They do an admirable job, not only of exacting revenge, but of rediscovering their friendships, and discovering exactly how strong they really are.

I really enjoyed this movie, and so did my husband.

Interesting Website!
A movie? How cool is that?!?




Book Review
Harold and the Purple Crayon

This is a classic.
Harold creates his world with just a crayon - very imaginative, and a pleasure to read. The book is small - perfect for little hands.

Highly recommended for little ones!

Website Review
How to Live with Children

This site offers a great essay on childrearing. It's all about raising children who respect themselves and others, and who can be self determined in life.

Book Review

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Day
Alexander is having just one of those awful, awful days. It's a very funny story, and I like to read this whenever one of my kids is just having "one of those days." They love it, I love it.

Website Review
Successes from Management Technology Application

These successes are really inspiring!

Book Review
Speaking From Experience

My husband uses the management techniques in his business. They make a lot of sense and help him to put order into his daily work.

With lots of illustrations, the ideas presented in the book are easy to understand.

Website Review
Mail.com

Listed here, because it's the best free email service I've used. Very little spam, easy to use, and you get to pick your address from hundreds. @earthling.net @consultant.com @cheerful.com - that kind of thing. Pick the address you like!


Book Review

You've Got Mail
This is a great movie, appropriate for the entire family.

Two people fall in love through letters (actually, email). They meet in "real life" - as business adversaries.

A number of conflicts are explored - the need to change, and desire to keep everything the same, the difference between "business" and "pleasure" and the way men and women look at work and their personal lives.

The basic goodness of these two people overcome everything else - and it's really a very wholesome sort of love story.

One of my favorites.

Website Review
Scientology Handbook - Helping Others Recover from Illness & Injuries

Not intended as an alternative to medical treatment, this website gives practical methods you can use to help people who have been hurt or ill. Much of the material in the booklet described below can be found here. Highly recommended.

Book Review
Assists for Illness & Injuries
I like this book because it gives practical, exact methods you can use to help others when they are hurt or ill.

Not designed as a method of healing, this book addresses the emotional and mental aspects of illness and injury. I've seen reports in the news in the past few years, that show that new research indicates that one's mental state affects how quickly healing occurs. I'm sure you've read them - older people with a pet at home recover faster from stroke. People who laugh often are less likely to have heart attacks. People who get hugged every day heal faster from certain illnesses.

Well, the idea is that the mind is a very powerful thing - that our bodies are affected by our state of mind.

This booklet gives these actual techniques you can use with someone who has been hurt, to help them with the mental and emotional affects of the illness or injury.

I'm telling you, these work!

These methods are called assists. My favorite assist is called a Locational. The technique is detailed in the book - exactly how to give someone a locational. I use this one on my children pretty often.

You know how kids sometimes will get upset about something, and stay upset for a while? For instance, a toddler runs across the room and falls down. Then proceeds to cry - for too long. You know he isn't really hurt, he's just upset. What do you do to help him get over it?

Well, I would give my toddler a locational - and by the end of the locational (usually less than a minute, in this kind of situation), he is laughing and happy!

My kids don't get sick very often, but when they do, we give them assists. They've learned to give them, too, and will give them to one another. They heal very quickly. When my youngest had RSV, a potentially deadly illness in a child his age, we gave him an assist in the hospital.

He was really sick - we took him to the emergency room when he developed a sudden fever and was having obvious respiratory problems. They transferred us to a larger hospital less than 2 hours later, as he wasn't responding to medication (his fever kept climbing - was at 104, and despite treatment he was having more difficulty breathing). It looked very scary, since nothing was helping him.

As soon as we arrived and got him settled into the emergency room at the second hospital, I gave him an assist outlined in this book. 20 minutes later his fever was suddenly GONE and his breathing was totally normal. The doctors were very surprised. They had him stay under observation for 4 more hours, then released him. His fever and other symptoms never returned.

The techniques in this book do not heal the person - but they help his state of mind so he CAN heal. So he CAN respond to treatment. So he isn't so distressed, and the power of his own mind can aid him, rather than hurt him in his healing process.

This is a vital book for anyone, but especially parents, because kids tend to live such rough-and-tumble lives. (At least my boys do!)

Website Recommendation
Laura Kinsale

Author discusses her novels, life, and writing. Very fun, with a discussion board for fans.


Book Review

Hidden Heart
As her first novel, this book is somewhat different from Kinsale's others. Not quite as intense, but still far different from the typical historical romance light reading.

The heroine finds herself suddenly needing to deal with the ton, after basically being raised in the jungles by her father. She's afraid she won't fit in, and she's struggling to make her way in society alone.

The hero is an outcast, too, and very quickly we see that these two people are going to need to find each other while trying to navigate their way through high society of Regency England.

There is more action in this book than other stories Kinsale has written, and the hero is somewhat less the tortured hero needing saving from himself. His problems are very real, but they are more external than internal. The hero himself is pretty well-adjusted. Which works, since the world around him seems to really be trying to do him in, and he's got enough troubles as it is.

I found the heroine to be very sweet, and I really enjoyed reading about the troubles she had dealing with high society in Regency England. As an American, I am sure I would have the same problems, thrown into a similar situation. It was interesting to see that period described from this viewpoint.

This is a phenomenal book for a first novel!

If you haven't read "The Shadow and the Star", I would recommend reading this one first, then following up with "The Shadow and the Star", since it's sort of a sequel (although I think "The Shadow and the Star" is my very favorite historical romance.)

Website Recommendation
Barb Dakin

Barb Dakin, Scientologist and music teacher, discusses how Scientology has helped her in life, including the effects it has had on her career.


Book Review
Rock Star
This movie was kind of hard to watch in places. A rock musician discovers fame overnight, and we witness his descent into a life of overindulgence and no morals.

He loses sight of what's important in the pursuit of the rock star's lifestyle. He actually loses a lot more than that.

Wahlberg was amazingly convincing. I had a hard time believing it was him throughout the film. Aniston was also great in her role - complex but not overdramatic. Just simply complex - holding on to her own values in the end, she sets a really great example.

I have to say the last few minutes made the whole movie worth watching - it was like getting a tooth ache and finally having the thing extracted. The end made up for all the agony in the middle of the movie.

If you like rock and roll, and you like to see good guys win in the end (even if the enemies are their own stupidities), then watch this one, but not with the kids!

Website Recommendation
Jon's Homeschooling Resources - List by Zip Code

This is a great way to find homeschooling families in your area. Search by zip code, and ask Jon to list your site as well. Homeschooling is easier for everyone when we're organized!

Book Review

Grumpier Old Men
I love this movie.

Matthau plays a fellow who is having trouble accepting change. He's cranky, rude, frugal, and stubborn. Very, very funny. And entirely loveable despite it all. He meets Sophia Loren, and even she falls in love with him!

Lemmon plays his neighbor and friend. He's also a very funny guy - they get into a little war, and it's quite fun to see the two of them playing tricks on one another.

I think this movie is a good family movie. My kids haven't seen it yet, but I'm looking forward to watching it with them. Matthau's character is a good bit like their beloved Grandfather, so I'm sure the kids will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

Website Recommendation
Freedom Magazine - The Church of Scientology in Clearwater, Florida

Very interesting reading about the contributions of the Church of Scientology to the community of Clearwater. Not only does it provide interesting data, but it also gives family events that anyone can attend.

Book Review

Speed (DVD)

I saw bits and pieces of this movie a few years ago, and didn't think much of it. Last night I watched it all the way through for the first time. What a ride!

I love the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Both their characters were so heroic and caring - what a great example!

The movie was just plain on-the-edge-of-your-seat action. It was fast, it was exciting, it was fun.

There wasn't a lot of cussing, but there were several bloody scenes. It wasn't nearly as gory as most similar kinds of movies are, however, which I appreciated.

This isn't going to change your life, but it's certainly a fun few hours.

Website Review
Hidden Mickeys

This website explores various Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, including on the new Winnie the Pooh ride.

Fun!


Book Review

Winnie the Pooh
I gave The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh to my older daughter for her 10th birthday. She reads portions of it to her younger siblings. This is one of her favorite, most cherished books.

Don't be deceived into thinking that Pooh is just for toddlers and pre-schoolers. The humor is very intelligent, and the characters are just plain wonderful. It is written in a very British style, which I think makes it a great introduction to English literature for children.

This is a true masterpiece, and would make a good gift for anyone who truly loves good literature, no matter what their age.

Website Review
Current Scene

Very interesting articles and tons of "good news" at this site. Relevant. More than the typical "bad news" and celebrity gossip that's become today's news.

Book Review
Curious George
This makes a great gift. Curious George is a very fun character, who gets into really interesting situations. There's a lot of "story" here, and hours of reading fun.

I like this one as it's become a cherished book for my kids. They read it together, and have lots of fun with it.

Website Review

Harry Potter, official site

A couple of downloads. The first was automatic, and a really cool Flash intro - not too long, but definitely cool-looking. Only got a little spotty with my 56k modem.

The second download had a wait with a golden snitch flitting about the screen. I tried to click on it, and realized just how tricky those snitches really are!

This site is really very entertaining. My kids joined the email list and didn't get a ton of email from them, so I am pretty happy about that.

Definitely a high-graphics, aesthetic, Harry Potterish sort of website. A must for any true fan. :-)

Book Review

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)

This book was very clever! The plot had more twists and turns than the last, and I was very surprised and pleased towards the end, as every mystery began to unfold. The pacing of this book was great -- I couldn't put it down, it just got more and more exciting and the end was thrilling.

I would highly recommend than anyone reading this starts with the first book in the series (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), and reads them in order. There are a lot of characters, and the plot is rather complex, and I would imagine that it would be easy to miss out on some of it if the books aren't read in order.

I am impressed with the humor in these stories, and I think they are great for children. My 9 year old son loves these books, and I love them just as much as he does!

Website Review

Scientology Marriage Solutions

This website provides information about marriage help, a very thorough marriage compatability test you and your spouse can take, and resources for getting help if your marriage is in trouble.

The site is easy to navigate, very aesthetic-looking, and provides some good info.

Book Review

The Story of Us (1999) VHS ~ Bruce Willis

I watched this video with my husband and I must say that no movie I have ever seen has so accurately portrayed married life as I know it. At one point I was a bit embarrassed that tears were flowing so freely down my face - and I looked over at my husband, and tears were running down his face, too. And he NEVER cries.
The title is perfect -- the Story of Us was about US, too. The trials of marriage, and the joys, and at the end, Pfeiffer described marriage exactly as I see it. It was wonderful to watch in a movie! It was validating - it wasn't the romanticized, idealized version of marriage that would leave someone feeling like their marriage is lacking. Nor was it a cynical look at marriage. It is a celebration of the marriage in the face of the realities of life.

My husband said we should watch this one twice a year for the rest of our lives - and I agree.

I wholeheartedly recommend this one to any married couple. Anyone who hasn't been married might not like this one, but that's okay. I believe the intended audience is for those of us who have experienced marriage for some time.

Website Review
Dr. Sears

This is site promises a little more than it delivers. Member-submitted recipes page is actually just one recipe a week (I didn't see archives), the listing of events consisted solely of a cruise with Dr. Sears (as if we could all afford that!), and not all the links work. The glossary holds promise, but I still need another dictionary to understand his definitions (not being medically trained.)

If you're on the diet, you'll want to know where this site is, but a user group would probably be much more useful.

Book Review

The Zone : Revolutionary Life Plan to Put Your Body in Total Balance for Permanent Weight Loss by Barry Sears (Author)

Well researched, excellent diet, but difficult to understand and follow. My M.D. has had many patients on this diet, and he told me that only 4 of them have been successful in following it with precision -- and those four individuals are all engineers.

The research that Dr. Sears has done is extensive -- and from the few months that I followed this diet to the letter, I can say that it works. I felt very, very good. The only problem is that it does take extensive planning and continual calculations. I was pregnant with baby #5 at the time, and felt really good -- but could not continue following a diet so closely for long. My life is just too busy for that.

I did come away from this experience with a very good idea of what I *should* feed my family, and I do keep pretty close to this diet with family cooking. I actually do better on Atkins, personally, so I follow that for myself, while keeping my kids on more of a Zone diet. I can't say that they are actually "IN" the Zone at all times, but their diet is much more balanced now than it was before I got this information.

The book can be difficult to understand in some places. Sears does an excellent job in explaining why this diet works, but for the layperson it can be an awful lot of information, and a lot of technical/medical terminology. Be sure to have a good dictionary on hand when reading this one!

It also deals with "macronutrients" - the relationship of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and blood sugar and metabolism. It doesn't go into vitamins and minerals, so in my opinion, it's only half the story, but an important part of nutrition that is too often overlooked. It should be helpful to anyone with blood sugar or metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, that sort of thing. It's also a diet that ANYONE (not just overweight or ill) people can use safely and with great results.

I would recommend that EVERYONE read this book, and decide if this diet will work for them, based on their experiences.

Website Recommendation

When Mom is Sick; Christian Homeschoolers with Chronic Illness

This is part of a larger website, that ministers to all Christians with chronic illness. The article gives really good, practical advice for handling life when mom is ill. The author particularly discusses pregnancy-related illness. This is really useful for any homeschoolers who are dealing with pregnancy, or any other condition that might make things difficult in terms of consistency in keeping a homeschooling schedule.

I enjoyed reading this very much.

Book Review

Phonics Writing Desk by LeapFrog

My 3 year old was having trouble remembering the "ABC song" until she got this toy for Christmas. After playing with it for a few weeks, she could sing her ABC's. Her little brother now knows all the letters of the alphabet by sight, and I think this toy helped him with that.

The letters are very bright, the toy is really pretty and the plastic is nice and shiny. The letters are affixed, so there aren't any pieces to lose. Attached to it is a sort of a pen (not sharp, the point is rather rounded) which is used to write the letter on the little writing pad (it's magnetic - no ink!) There is also a little display where the computer directs the child as he or she writes the letter -- it will say, "A" then the letter "A" is written in the display, so the child can see HOW to write it. You can choose upper or lower case.

There are several levels here - just touch a letter and the voice says it's name and writes it for you. Or the voice says the letter, and you have to find it and push it. The voice is very pleasant, as well.

We are very happy with this toy, but the writing pad has become difficult to use, but honestly, we have 6 kids here and no toys last forever. We had this one about 6 months before the writing pad got messed up, and it has been played with a great deal.

All in all, I think it's a wonderful product. The only thing I would complain about is that it doesn't do letter SOUNDS at all - only letter names, hence the 4 stars for educational value.

Website Review

Meet the Artists - Ann Jonas

I really enjoyed reading about the artist of Round Trip

The site provides biographies of other artists, which are all pretty interesting. The only real problem with this website is that the text was so small I had trouble reading it!

Book Review

Round Trip by Ann Jonas (Author)

My son saw this one on Reading Rainbow and he was so fascinated by the pictures that we went right out and bought it. It is very cleverly done, and all my kids really like this one.

Basically, every picture tells TWO stories. You read the book through, then turn it over and read it upside down. A bridge with water running under it and cars driving over it become, when upside down, a fence with electric poles and wires running alongside and stars in the sky above! It's really a wonderful little book.

Only 4 stars because the story isn't interesting enough to read twice, although the pictures are great fun to look at over and over again.

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) VHS ~ Kirsten Dunst

When this movie was released I decided to skip it because I didn't think it would be all that funny. I was wrong! My husband and I read the screenplay first, and after laughing out loud several times while reading it, we decided we just had to buy the video.

I expected it to be a darker comedy than it is. There are some really, really good jokes in there, and some hilarious situations. The acting is great (Dunst is especially good.)

I can easily recommend this one.

More on Kirstie Alley (who is in this movie)
Scientology Success: Kirstie Alley

Small Town Girl by Lavyrle Spencer

I read another of LaVyrle Spencer's books before, and really loved it (Twice Loved), so I started this one with high expectations.

The writing was fluid, the characters were interesting, but I just couldn't get past the idea that the heroine stole the hero away from another woman (whom he had been seeing for 8 years -- and was happy with until the millionaire superstar heroine came onto the scene.)

The hero didn't enter his new relationship cleanly, either. There were a few instances of kissing (one while rolling on the grass) while his girlfriend was kept in the dark.

I don't know about other readers, but I can't admire a hero who cheats on his girlfriend, or a heroine who steals a man from another woman.

I have another book by Spencer waiting for me to read, and I don't know if I'll bother.


Real Heroes
Heroes I Fell in Love With

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, Don Wood (Contributor)

This is one of my all-time favorite children's stories.

We read that "King Bidgood's in the bathtub and he won't get out!" The lively characters, anxious to get their King out of the bathtub, but definitely not wanting to offend his royal sensibilities, subject themselves to the King's demands to fish with him -- in the tub. Dress up for a masquerade -- in the tub. Dine with him -- in the tub.

The lyrics are cute, but the best part of this story is, without a doubt, the beautiful illustrations.

This one is a keeper.

Sharp Edges by Jayne Ann Krentz

I really found the hero and heroine to be believable, the storyline was interesting, and the setting was really fun to read about.

There were, however, a few major problems with the story, which I found distracting. In the style of "Scooby-Doo", the "bad guy" confesses all, and long drawn out conversations ensue -- all while the "bad guy" is holding the gun and we're waiting for him to pull the trigger. I find this particularly irritating in a story. Maybe criminals actually do confess all and engage in an interview with their intended victims about their motivations and how they did what they did, just before they plan to kill them, but it doesn't seem real to me. I had the feeling that the writer was taking the easy way out of unfolding a rather complicated story by letting the criminal spill the beans this way.

I was also a bit disturbed by the ease the main characters had in falling into bed with one another. There wasn't enough sexual tension, and the whole sex thing seemed just a bit too casual for my taste. Because of the backgrounds of both the hero and heroine, I felt that there was a whole lot of depth to these characters that I never got to see, which was disappointing.

Krentz does have a strong talent -- the writing is smooth, but it seems as though she rushed through this story, and brushed over some failings in the plot.

This is the 2nd story by her that I've read -- I'm intrigued enough to keep reading, I am sure she is capable of writing some very good stories, even though this one was a bit disappointing.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) by J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)

I have fallen in love with Harry Potter! He's a charming sort of hero -- the lost, brainy sort of fellow, surrounded by people who can't appreciate his abilities, but who manages to find his own kind and use his talents to save the day.

This book is very funny, written with a definite British sort of humor. I am pleased to know that so many children are growing up with this book. It's not "dumbed down" like many popular children's books (particularly for this age group) are today.

My 9 year old son had gotten bored with Goosebumps and the like, and he was really ready to move on. From the first page in this book he was saying, "Mom, this is really funny!"

The first chapter was a bit slow, I thought, but the story really picked up after that. I finished this book myself and went right out to buy #2 in the series. I can recommend this one for any child -- or adult -- who who likes imaginative, funny stories, and doesn't mind a bit of the absurd.


More cool kids' links
Harry Potter Fan's Links

Bolt from the Blue ~ The Jive Aces

This c.d. gets more play time in our household than any other c.d. we own.

The music is very upbeat, happy and fun. We have literally played this c.d. over and over again, and it never fails to get the kids dancing around the living room.

Our kids have memorized several of the songs ("When You're Smilin'" and "Bolt from the Blue") and they are likely to start singing these at any time of the day -- walking down the street, driving in the car, on the phone with Grandma... it's very cute.

While the kids have eclectic musical tastes, from Madonna to Spin Doctors to Sesame Street tunes, this one is one that Mom and Dad are sure to enjoy as well -- and Grandma and Grandpa will, too.

Great music, fun music, easy to sing along to and dance to, and uplifting lyrics.

I can easily recommend this one.

Fun link:
Jive Aces Hit North America

Never Pay Retail: How to Save 20 Percent to 80 Percent on Everything You Buy by Sid Kirchheimer (Editor)

This book discusses how to save in a wide range of purchases -- from bakery items to cars to airline tickets to ceiling fans. Some of the advice is basic (Revlon cosmetics are less expensive at K-Mart) to some things one really might not know (the time to buy audio equipment is between January and April).

This book is full of 1-800 numbers for catalogs and other information. I would have liked some website addresses, but the book was published in 1996 -- can't have everything!

The best thing about this book is that I DIDN'T pay retail -- I picked it up for $3.99. I don't think the author had THAT in mind when he said we could save 20% to 80% on everything we buy...

Find out more about handling your money
Church of Scientology DC: Dynamics of Money Course

Silver Burdett Science Grade Two Student Text by G. Mallinson, et al

I received several copies of this book from a public school which had stamped them "obsolete". I thought it was a great find -- free textbooks! I soon realized that not only was this book too dumbed down for my 1st grader (I homeschool), it was too dumbed down for my 4 year old.

For instance, I just flipped the book open and find, "You can see shapes. You can feel shapes. You can use shapes. Shapes help you learn. What shapes do you see in the picture?" That is an entire page of this "textbook" -- the entire book is written at that level.

It might be a really good tool to use with a 3 year old. It is not something I would ever insult a 2nd grader with. I cannot stretch my imagination to the extent of understanding how any teacher of 7 year old children could find this book useful at all.

My advice is to skip this one, unless you're looking for a really good reason to doubt the sense of textbook publishers and public schools.

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

My 9 year old son read this book, and so I read it, too, so we could discuss it together. It's a very engaging story. My son read it in a day - he couldn't put it down, and I found that I couldn't, either.

There are some very good themes in this book -- the main character is very strong, determined, and survives despite having the odds stacked against her. One thing in particular that I liked is how she doesn't necessarily learn how to do new things with great speed -- but she keeps at it until she has learned a new skill, and is successful at it. I think this is a particularly good thing for children to read about. Not all skills are immediate, and working to achieve proficiency is worthwhile.

Other major themes are the importance of voting, the rights of women, the ability of girls to learn to do jobs formerly considered only fit for boys, facing fears in order to overcome subjugation and make a better life for oneself, and growing up without parents. Slavery is touched on.

This book lends itself to the discussion of any of these topics, and my son and I had some very good talks as a result.

I did feel the story ended a little abruptly. I was completely unprepared for it to be over, I was hoping more would be explained, and I felt dissatisfied after finishing the book.

I must say that I also felt a bit uncomfortable reading about the woman whom the story is actually based on. (She lived her life as a man, and it wasn't discovered until after her death that she was female.) While this book presents topics for children to discuss that are interesting and worthwhile, I don't know that all parents would feel that this book is appropriate for their children to read.

I would suggest that parents read the back of the book first, before handing it to the children to read. Be prepared for some questions!