Books

Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

Average customer rating:

I really wanted to like Ida B.....
Really disappointed after all the hype
Ida B.
The Best Book
Ida B Applewood

Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World
Katherine Hannigan
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060730269
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Book Description

Who is Ida B. Applewood? She is a fourth grader like no other, living a life like no other, with a voice like no other, and her story will resonate long after you have put this book down. How does Ida B cope when outside forces—life, really—attempt to derail her and her family and her future? She enters her Black Period, and it is not pretty. But then, with the help of a patient teacher, a loyal cat and dog, her beloved apple trees, and parents who believe in the same things she does (even if they sometimes act as though they don't), the resilience that is the very essence of Ida B triumph...and Ida B. Applewood takes the hand that is extended and starts to grow up.

This first novel is both very funny and extraordinarily moving, and it introduces two shining stars—Katherine Hannigan and Ida B. Applewood.

Customer Reviews:

I really wanted to like Ida B............2007-06-08

*SPOILERS*

Ida B. Applewood has the life: no siblings, no sitting through agonizing hours locked in a classroom to learn, no smoggy city apartment. Instead, she is homeschooled by her loving parents in their ranch home, hangs with her slobbery dog Rufus, and talks to trees as she skips through the family's large prized apple orchard with a smile on her face and adventure in her eyes.

Sounds adorable. That was exactly what I thought, too. I would just die to feel the warm summery breeze blowing through the trees while I wrote essays on how to keep nature alive instead of being stuck in a stuffy room with a bunch of kids who don't want to be there, either. But once I started reading "Ida B", I realized something about her was just not turning me on.

The book is well-written with sections of amazing description and carries and typical, easy-to-relate-to moral...that change is hard. But Ida B, for me, did not turn out to be the cutesy nature-lover I hoped. I tried to like her. Really. But it just didn't click. As others have mentioned, the author almost seemed to push you too hard on the narrator. She was a Ramona Quimby, an Opal Buloni, and a Junie B. Jones on an apple orchard who seemed to know she was creative. The scenes were pressing for you to like her, as if little Ida B was waving a "Look what ELSE I can do!" sign.

The one scene that made me wince was a dinner table scene. Ida B and her parents were sitting around the table eating, and they were quizzing her on math. Her mother told her she gave her $20 to buy flour at the store, and immediately Ida B blurted out about which store it was and if she was walking, and her mother just pulled an "Oh, Ida B." And, of course, a page later Ida B had to throw in that she tallies up her mother's money at the store and the cashier coos over her genius. *wince*. Her parents were an annoyance sometimes. The fact that they pulled her out of school two weeks into kindergarten because she complained that she wasn't having "fun" was a bit strange. And when Ida B finds out she must return to this "Place of Slow but Sure Body-Cramping, Mind-Numbing, Fun-Killing Torture" due to her mother's cancer, instead of recognizing the fact that her parents are going to the extent to send her to a public school for both social and academic help, Ida B sulks and complains the chapter afterwards and tells herself she must hate this school and made the plan that she would have "no friends, no play, no smiling, no happy" and stick to her plan no matter what happened. Although Ida B's nicknames for the bus and school itself were humorous, I couldn't help but think how utterly depressing the book was turning. The book seemed to stress that Ida B was creative and optimistic at the beginning of the book, but that didn't seem to be happening later; sometimes, this little girl did not live up to her character.

The ending was satisfying--complete and well-written, where Ida B comes to her senses that she really could have been a bit selfish during the transition period between paradise and nightmare. Give her a shot; maybe you'll enjoy her antics more than I did. Overall, good, original story, but the main character really wasn't all I'd hoped.

Really disappointed after all the hype.......2007-06-01

I have to agree with my fellow reviewers who did not like this book. I don't think I made it past the second chapter, I found Ida to be so sappy and annoying (she talks to trees? What???)
Before you order your own copy I would borrow one from the public library and see if the book turns you off as much as it did me.

Ida B........2007-05-03

Lesley Benson Ida B
By Katherine Hannigan

The book I read is called Ida B. It was an awesome book. The book was about a girl called Ida B. She lives on an orchard farm. Her dad is very into nature. One day the apple trees tell Ida that trouble is coming. She goes to the brook and asks him if this is true but he doesn't answer. Then she goes to the old tree and he tells her that hard times are coming.
Ida B is home schooled. She went to school for two weeks and three days. Her teacher was Ms. Myers. She was mean. One day Ida B's mom came to school. That was the last day Ida B went to school.
Before the school year starts Ida B's mom gets sick. She is diagnosed with cancer. Now Ida B's dad is forced to sell some of the land. That meant cutting down some of the trees. Ida B also had to go to school.
Ida B comes up with lots of plans to make her life, as well as everone's around her, miserable. The only one she will talk to is her teacher Mrs.Washingon. There is a fun twist at the end of this story.
I think everyone should read this book because it is fun to read is has lots of suprizing thingss that you don't think are coming. You never know what Ida will do next. It is a woderful book that everyone can read.

The Best Book.......2007-04-04

I have read the book Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan and it was a very good book.
Ida B. always talked to the trees and the brook. She played with them every evening. Then one day Ida B.'s mom got a lump on her body.She went to the doctor and found that the lump had Cancer. Before Ida B. had been home schooled by her mom and dad, but Ida B.'s dad couldn't take care of the farm, school Ida B. and take care of mom.Ida B.'s dad ended haveing to sell a little bit of the valleys and mountains thay he owned and he had to send Ida B. to school. A school buddy, Claire, moved into the land that had to be sold. Ida B. got into a fight with her and can't find a way out. Then when the school year ended mom got better, but did Ida B. end the fight with Claire? Find out in this book.
I was stunned when I found out that Ida B.'s mom had Cancer. It would not be fun to have to sell some of your families land and go to school and have your mom sick and tired. I also think that it would not be fun to not have any friends at school and be in a fight with someone in your own class. It was a hard time for Ida B. Therefore, if you want a good book, read Ida B.

Ida B Applewood.......2007-04-04

Kelly J.
Would you like to read a book about adventure and friendship? Then you should read Ida B! This book is by Kathrine Hannigan.

Ida B is about a girl who's life gets turned upside down when she and her family move to a new home and all of the trees around her get cut down. Then her mom gets cancer,but still lives. At the end she ends up finding a new friend that she would have never expected to be her friend.

My opinion of Ida B is right in the middle of happy,sad,boring and exciting. I would reccomend that you read this book Ida B!!

Average customer rating:

A must-have inspirational masterpiece!
My daughter's favorite book
Fun Is A Feeling
Another great childrens book from the Curtis & Aldrich team!
Colorful way to teach a valuable lesson

Fun Is a Feeling
Chara M. Curtis
Manufacturer: Illumination Arts Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0935699139

Book Description

Find your fun! "Fun isn't something or somewhere or who. It's a feeling of joy that lives inside of you."

Customer Reviews:

A must-have inspirational masterpiece!.......2006-03-15

We just love this book!! The soft, melodic prose is very soothing, as well as the fun, airy illustration. The story provokes imagination and creativity, even in us as parents reading to our child. As with all books by Chara M. Curtis, I couldn't recommend this book more.

My daughter's favorite book.......2005-04-28

At 2 1/2 years old my daughter just hangs on every word and image. She loves this book as well as Curits' All I See is Part of Me. The message is outstanding, the writing divinely inspired, and the images evoking. When's the next one coming out?

Fun Is A Feeling.......2002-07-16

...Savor that smile as it slips onto your face and let the merriment begin with this refreshing and insightful narrative about the feelings of a child. This book is both adorable and wise, and it teaches children to look at everything and every situation in a different way. Fun Is A Feeling tells us that fun is where we find it and shows us how to look for it; however, it also reminds us that sometimes we have to put that fun there.

Inside this book, children will discover things that will delight their imagination and wisdom that can only come from within. Fantasy and whimsy permeate, fill, and overflow these pages. That isn't simply a sprinkle of rain pitter-pattering on the upturned faces of children! Who would settle for rain when it can be turned into tiny little kisses - from raindrops that were looking just for them? And what about that bug that lands on their nose? Isn't it there just to give them a hug?

Stardust sparkles and swirls from page to page, sweeping us along with pure joy. Trees stretch their arms wide to let the smiles of children sail through their branches and tickle their leaves. The clear blue waters of a stream giggle their way through a forest glade, while colorful little fish leap as high as they can to peek out at the glorious scenery. What child could resist such beautiful illustrations, or fail to understand the most important message carried within this story...children are very special and their joy can light up the universe.

This is a wonderful book. Sweep up some of its stardust, put it in your pocket, and let its magical message change the way you look at your world - and when that happens, it will change your life...

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson

Another great childrens book from the Curtis & Aldrich team!.......2001-08-01

...Fun isn't something or somewhere or who... it's a feeling a joy that lives inside of you!...

An absolutely wonderful book, full of joy and of course... FUN! Awesome illustrations and great for kids even below the suggested age group (suggested age group: 4-8). Our son is 2 1/2 and adores this as well as our 1 yr. old daughter!

This book teaches about feelings (sad, happy, angry) and how each and every one of them are healthy and ok, including the feeling, fun. Nice suggestions for older kids are included like having fun by imagining .. "vacuuming the hall with an elephants snout" and so forth.

Our kids enjoy this book every time we read it, which is almost every day incidentally. Not to mention, how much my husband and I enjoy reading it with them.

Colorful way to teach a valuable lesson.......1999-02-05

The rhymes are catchy-- And the colors real bright-- Read this book and-- Get it right!! Fun is a feeling, Don't you see? Put your 'tude on happy-- And live blissfully!!

Chara Curtis wrote it better! Wish I had this gentle knock on the head when I was a greedy little brat (not like your kids, right?)

Don't Be Shy: How to Fit in, Make Friends, and Have Fun-Even If You Weren't Born Outgoing (Sunscreen)

Average customer rating:

Don't Be Shy: How to Fit in, Make Friends, and Have Fun-Even If You Weren't Born Outgoing (Sunscreen)
Claude Clement , and Melissa Daly
Manufacturer: Sunscreen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0810958600

Book Description

An upbeat and encouraging guide for shy teens and preteens

Fifty percent of Americans consider themselves shy, but teens and preteens wrestling with the problem may believe they're "the only one." Filled with knowing insights and funny drawings, this lively book helps teens experiencing "panic on the inside" and "catastrophe on the outside" to understand such things as the mechanics of their situation and the fact that they're not the first person to own a "mental VCR" that replays embarrassing moments. It also lets shy kids know how common their problem is, and gives them tips for overcoming it. AUTHOR BIO: Melissa Daly is a former senior staff writer at Seventeen magazine, where she wrote articles and columns on health, sexuality, relationships, and other topics.

The Big Book of Stress Relief Games: Quick, Fun Activities for Feeling Better

Average customer rating:

Great for Groups
Did not buy this item
Quite good
Great stress-management techniques....
Not for the Workplace

The Big Book of Stress Relief Games: Quick, Fun Activities for Feeling Better
Robert Epstein
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070218668

Book Description

These quick games, exercises, and activities are designed to reduce stress wherever and whenever it strikes, in meetings, in front of the computer, or when dealing with difficult people. Psychology Today Editor-In-Chief Robert Epstein has created fifty 1-3 minute games based on STRESS-PROOFING, an original system derived from scientific research that makes stress reduction effortless and effective.

For everyone from deskbound office workers to managers in meetings, this is the latest addition to one of McGraw-Hill's best-selling book series:

Helps alleviate high-pressure situations at home and at work.
Includes comprehensive life-planning and life-organization activities.
Requires less then 3 minutes to play most of the creative, relaxing games.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Groups.......2007-06-05

This is a great book for anyone who is in the counseling profession. Make your group/family counseling sessions a little more fun and get the dialogue flowing. - Good job Robert!

Did not buy this item.......2007-05-03

Don't know why this is here as I never purchased this item.

Quite good.......2002-02-28

This is a collection of activities and exercises that you can use during training or meetings (or even alone) to reduce stress and make you more relaxed. Some of the activities are quite good especially the breathing exercises and the visualizations. However, there are quite a few activities that are quite ridiculous as well as others that are just not possible at work or in the training room.

For trainers, many activities are useful as icebreakers or as stress-reducers after a heated discussion. The reason I bought the book in the first place is because I could not find anything else in that category, so I guess there isn't really that much choice.

Great stress-management techniques...........2001-09-02

Personally, I think this book is easy to read and understand. The games presented in the book are unique and simple to apply. Many companys and businesses experience stress daily. Therefore, this book provides numerous ways to help relieve stress in the workplace. I strongly recommend this book.

Not for the Workplace.......2001-08-13

I agree with the previous reviewer that this book is too focused on therapy-type games instead of games that teach more practical skills. I teach stress management for a municipal government, and the games in this book (particularly the visualization and role-playing exercises) are definitely not oriented toward the needs of most workplace environments.

The Happy Book: Touch & Feel Fun for Every Little One

Average customer rating:

The Happy Book
a VERY happy book!

The Happy Book: Touch & Feel Fun for Every Little One
Diane Muldrow
Manufacturer: Cartwheel Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0590109936

Customer Reviews:

The Happy Book.......2002-02-08

My one year old son started reading this book when he was 10 months old. It quickly became his favorite book and it still is! He loves the touch-and-feel fun of this book. His favorite pages are the "pigs's curly tail", where he gets to pull on the little pink elastic tail and the "letter in the mail", where he gets to take the letter out that says "I love you". He enjoys the letter so much that he's nearly torn the letter. We have since then laminated the "I love you" letter so it'd stay one piece. He also loves the glow-in-the-dark surprises on the last two pages. Overall, this is an excellent book for little hands to explore!

a VERY happy book!.......1999-02-06

lots of fun...neatly illustrated...my 2 year old and my six year old (along with my 33 year old) enjoy it together

The Red Hen (Hello Reader!, Phonics Fun. Funny Tale Phonics)

Average customer rating:

Easy reading!

The Red Hen (Hello Reader!, Phonics Fun. Funny Tale Phonics)
Judith Bauer Stamper , and Wiley Blevins
Manufacturer: Cartwheel Books (Scholastics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Easy reading!.......1999-12-09

My first grade students enjoy the repetitive text, lively illustrations and easy readability of this book. It is phonetically-based and focuses on short vowel sounds. (For example the hen has e's on her dress and the dog has an o on it's head.) If you need a little red hen book for emergent readers, this is the one!

My Own Book of Feelings: A Fun-Filled Activity Book All About Your Feelings

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My Own Book of Feelings: A Fun-Filled Activity Book All About Your Feelings
Linda P. Silbert
Manufacturer: Silbert & Bress Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0895440172

Player's Book, a Half-Century of Fact, Feeling, Fun and Folklore

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Player's Book, a Half-Century of Fact, Feeling, Fun and Folklore
Henry Wysham Lanier
Manufacturer: Players
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Marvelous Machines / Cast a Spell / D-O-G Spells Fun / Zamani Goes to Market / Imagine That! / Beyond the Earth / Tell It Again / The Little Brown Hen / The Magic Bagpipe (Scott Foresman Reading Systems, Levels 11 and 12)

Average customer rating:

Marvelous Machines / Cast a Spell / D-O-G Spells Fun / Zamani Goes to Market / Imagine That! / Beyond the Earth / Tell It Again / The Little Brown Hen / The Magic Bagpipe (Scott Foresman Reading Systems, Levels 11 and 12)
Anthony Maitland / Mary Ann Hoberman /Madge Miller /James L. Ballard / Beverly Cleary /Eugene Field / Muriel L. Feelings
Manufacturer: Scott, Foresman and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EN19OE

Product Description

Very good reading,with great photographs.

Schooldays Nov/Dec 2000 Fables, Dealing With Feelings, Learning about Communities, Christmas Fun (Vol. 20, No. 2)

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Schooldays Nov/Dec 2000 Fables, Dealing With Feelings, Learning about Communities, Christmas Fun (Vol. 20, No. 2)

Manufacturer: Frank Schaffer Publications
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