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See our TOP GOLD Star 2007 Winners
Books - General - 2010
Callous Diregard: Andrew Wakefield reveals the the inside story of the vaccine-autism connection, and his controversial research. As Andrew Wakefield states in his prologue, “If autism does not affect your family now, it will. If something does not change—and change soon—this is almost a mathematical certainty. This book affects you also. It is not a parochial look at a trivial medical spat in the United Kingdom, but dispatches from the battlefront in a major confrontation—a struggle against compromise in medicine, corruption of science, and a real and present threat to children in the interests of policy and profit. It is a story of how ‘the system’ deals with dissent among its doctors and scientists.”
In the pursuit of possible links between childhood vaccines, intestinal inflammation, and neurologic injury in children, Wakefield lost his job in London’s Royal Free Hospital, his country of birth, his career, and his medical license. A recent General Medical Council ruling stated that he was “dishonest, irresponsible and showed callous disregard for the distress and pain of children.” Maligned by the medical establishment and mainstream media, Wakefield endeavors to set the record straight in Callous Disregard. While explaining what really happened, he calls out the organizations and individuals that are acting not for the sake of children affected by autism, but in their own self-interests.
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Mommy Prayers: We all pray for world peace--but only moms need a Prayer at Preschool Pickup: "O God, please don't let me be late. Please keep the light green for just one more second. Please fill the small, tight heart of the program director with mercy and pity so that she doesn't charge me the completely outrageous $1-per-minute late fee."
What if there were a whole volume of prayers just for the frustrations, absurdities, and joys that moms of little kids face every day? Now there is: Mommy Prayers, a wry and witty manual for young mothers. The prayers cover early mornings ("Please God, let the baby go back to sleep. Let her find her thumb. Give me just a half hour more.") to noon and night, with entreaties for dozens of special occasions sprinkled in (Prayer for the Halloween Costume and Prayer Before the Plane Ride).
Whether seeking divine intervention for help with a biting toddler or a mother-in-law's extended visit, frazzled moms will find comfort in this heartwarming and entertaining collection. It's the perfectly heavenly gift.
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The Slap: Although this is Australian author Tsiolkas' fourth novel, it is the first to be published in the U.S. With its raw style, liberal use of profanity and racial epithets, and laserlike focus on the travails of suburban life, it is a down-and-dirty version of Tom Perrotta's best-selling Little Children (2004). At a barbecue in a Melbourne suburb, a man loses his temper and slaps the child of the host’s friends. This incident unleashes a slew of divisive opinions, pitting friends and families against each other as the child's parents take the man to court. Told from eight different viewpoints, the novel also deftly fills in disparate backstories encompassing young and old, single and married, gay and straight, as well as depicting how multiculturalism is increasingly impacting the traditional Aussie ethos. For good measure, the author also throws in male vanity, infidelity, and homophobia. Tsiolkas' in-your-face style is sure to alienate some readers - the child's parents, for example, are among the book's most unlikable characters - but his novel, which won the 2009 Commonwealth Prize, fairly radiates with vitality as it depicts the messy complications of family life.
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World: This guide to the happiest place on earth takes the guesswork out of planning the perfect Disney vacation. It goes beyond general descriptions of rides, hotels, and restaurants and instead offers readers advice based on the type of trip they want. Whether it's for a family spring break, a honeymoon or a convention, this book will help readers make the most of their time at Disney World.
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Dave's Dinners: The charismatic rising Food Network star returns with his second cookbook
Dave Lieberman’s boy-next-door charm and impressive kitchen chops have made him a favorite with Food Network fans. Now, in his second cookbook, he offers recipes that will satisfy even the busiest of families. Here is the perfect easy-to-follow guide for anyone interested in cooking affordable and delicious dinners. With dishes like . . .
-Orange and Five-Spice Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potato Smash -Twisted Pasta with Browned Butter, Sage, and Walnuts -Red-Wine Pot Roast with Honey and Thyme -Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
Dave shows how to make the most of every ingredient while minimizing costs, intensifying the joy of bringing a good meal to family and friends.
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Yndico Is: Yndico accidentally causes a rip in the fabric of time and steps through to a dimension where past, present and future merge simultaneously. Will she find her way home guided by the enigmatic Issy, a child from everywhen and the holder of incredible secrets and enormous powers? This bejewelled science fiction will sparkle your senses and ignite your imagination... YNDICO IS will set you free!
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Camp Wickitawa, here we come!
Mary Hershey's third book about fourth grader Effie Maloney is a hilarious Texas adventure, complete with a camp ghost, swim lessons, rescued armadillos, campfires, and cowgirl stew.
Effie has been waiting forEVER for St. Dom's special fourth-grade camp. Could there be anything more thrilling than an entire week with her two best friends? But when her big sister Maxey (Bosszilla) ends up working there, Camp Oh-So-Perfect turns into Camp Calamity. And Effie has to figure out how to hide the fact that she's not, um, the greatest swimmer. She can't even float. But she better learn fast, because she just HAS to be named Outstanding Camper of the Week and win back her family's good name! (And she is N-O-T homesick. Completely and totally not even.)
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How Do You Tuck In A Superhero: When Rachel Balducci looks for material for her writing, she doesn't have to look far. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and always at the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through conversations overheard, rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behavior that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. From the care and feeding of her team, to travels out in public, to their wide-eyed adoration of Walker, Texas Ranger, this laugh-out-loud celebration joyfully explores the sweet and wild side of boyhood.
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The Smart Family's Passport: Budget Travel magazine is dedicated to providing great travel experiences at affordable prices which is harder than ever when you've got a brood of screaming kids in the backseat! Thankfully, their dedicated readers are here to help. This companion volume to The Smart Traveler's Passport (100,000 copies in print!) features 350 tips for anyone traveling with children. Readers will learn:
- How a camera phone can help you overcome language barriers.
- Why a jar of peanut butter is the ultimate traveling companion.
- Memorable souvenirs that won't break your budget.
- How to answer the dreaded question, "Are we there yet?"
Full of tips on planning, booking, packing, flying, safety, getting around, and much more, this passport-sized anthology makes the perfect bon voyage gift!
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Living in a world of darkness and knowing only shades of black and gray, Tommy the bat stays up a bit too late one day and is greeted by the sunrise—astonishing him with a world of beautiful, vivid colors. He embarks on a quest to find color of his own, having to overcome initially distrustful animals, looming storm clouds filled with rain, and an absent-minded sun in order to keep the world awash in magnificent hues. Tommy’s tale, full of imagination and color, provides a new and fascinating perspective on the world people see every day.
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The Autism Book: With clarity and compassion, Dr. Robert Sears guides the reader through the maze of autism, explaining what precautions parents can take to decrease their baby's risk, how to detect autism at the earliest possible age, and how to proceed once a diagnosis has been made. The book provides parents with a simple and clear understanding of the biomedical treatment approach that Dr. Sears has used successfully with many of his young patients. It lays out a plan for developmental, behavioral, and learning therapies; shows parents how to begin treatments without a doctor's help; presents information on vaccines and their safe use; and includes an extensive resources section. THE AUTISM BOOK provides all the information and reassurance parents need.
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Living for the Weekday: This innovative and entertaining book takes a fun yet practical look at job satisfaction from the employee's point of view. Filled with challenges and self-assessments, it supplies you with a series of tools to get the most out of your team and your career, while serving as an enduring reminder that job satisfaction comes down to practicing a few simple behaviors—behaviors that may seem simple on the surface, but that can be agonizingly difficult to master. Make this inspiring and powerful book your first step in achieving a new level of workplace success.
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Books - General - 2009
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The 2007 pet food recalls followed a multitude of pets getting sick and dying from contaminated food; now pet owners must take charge of what they feed their dogs and cats. With The Ultimate Pet Food Guide, veteran dog trainer, behaviorist, and author Liz Palika focuses on nutritional needs and covers every type of feeding, including controversial raw diets, homemade cooked food, and commercial foods. Palika also addresses introducing new foods; what �human foods� pets shouldn�t eat; free-feeding; responsibility for food safety; where ingredients come from; and red flags in ingredients. Included are over fifty veterinarian- and pet-nutritionist-approved recipes and diets tailored to special-needs pets, such as puppies/kittens and pregnant, older, overweight and/or more sedentary animals. Buy it on Amazon!
Buy it on Amazon!
Read all about our exciting winners
of the Adding Wisdom Award
Books - General - 2008
The 2007 pet food recalls followed a multitude of pets getting sick and dying from contaminated food; now pet owners must take charge of what they feed their dogs and cats. With The Ultimate Pet Food Guide, veteran dog trainer, behaviorist, and author Liz Palika focuses on nutritional needs and covers every type of feeding, including controversial raw diets, homemade cooked food, and commercial foods. Palika also addresses introducing new foods; what �human foods� pets shouldn�t eat; free-feeding; responsibility for food safety; where ingredients come from; and red flags in ingredients. Included are over fifty veterinarian- and pet-nutritionist-approved recipes and diets tailored to special-needs pets, such as puppies/kittens and pregnant, older, overweight and/or more sedentary animals. Buy it on Amazon!
Buy it on Amazon!
Excerpt: Chris Hansen is the Dateline's correspondent for the "To Catch a Predator" series. Since the Dateline reports have aired, the show has exposed over 200 hundred potential child predators in its stings. His book takes you beyond the broadcast into a shadowy world. Below is an excerpt.
On MySpace, social networking
Sometimes you get lucky. Every detective knows that, and Lt. Jake Jacoby and Detective Peter Charles of the Fairfax County Police Department, despite their years of training and experience, never take their luck for granted.
Their wake-up call to the dangers of sexual abuse cases driven by social networking sites like MySpace, cracked wide open for these two detectives because a 13 year-old was stuck by a bolt of fear and balked at getting into a car with a man she met online. �Marisa� (the detectives asked that we protect her identity) was at a swimming pool in a Virginia suburb of Washington, DC, on August 24, 2005.
She had agreed to meet a man named Joey Dobbs�whose screen name was buttsecks just outside the pool. He was waiting for her in his car, but when she saw him, she panicked and handed her cell phone to a lifeguard saying, �Tell him you�re my mom and that he should never call me again.�
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Inspired by the popular Web site www.rookiemoms.com, the book offers bite-sized activities arranged according to the baby's age. Some are crafty, adventurous, and some are simply to help get a meal on the table!
Written in a lively, supportive tone and decorated with cute illustrations, The Rookie Mom's Handbook is the perfect gift or resource to remind new moms that there's more to life than dirty diapers and 3 a.m. feedings. See http://www.rookiemoms.com/rookie-moms-book for more info!
Writing Children's Books For Dummies
Everyone loves a children's book. And many dream about writing one. But is it actually possible for an unpublished writer�armed with a good story idea and a love of kids�to write, sell, publish, and promote a book? Yes, it is!
The Workbook also includes useful sections on Budget Considerations, Discovering Your Gifts and Talents, Family Considerations, Getting Your Business Started, Promoting Your Home Business and Preparing for the Home Business Challenges.
Books - General - 2007
Postmark Paris, by Leslie Jonath - The colorful world-within-a-world of postage stamps illustrates this lyrical account of a young girl's experiences in Paris. When she and her family move to the city for a year, one of the first places her father takes her is to the stamp market. Her adventures are magically captured in the dainty images of the postage stamps she collects. Young readers will delight in this uniquely told story of a girl finding her own place in a world far from home. Buy it on Amazon!
Answers
is an unprecedented book that is part journal, part memoir prompting parents and guardians to share advice and inspirational anecdotes on a variety of topics. It's perfect in creating lasting memories and impressions for children and guides journal keepers in sharing the treasure of parental guidance and wisdom. See http://www.joanneckinganswers.com for more details.
Books - General - 2006
Tired of making the same old same old, week after week after week? How about a brand-new 30-minute dinner every night for an entire year? As a best-selling cookbook author and host of three top-rated Food Network shows, Rachael Ray believes that both cooking and eating should be fun. Drawing from her own favorite dishes as well as those of her family, friends, and celebrities, she covers the flavor spectrum from Asian to Italian and dozens of delicious stops in between. Best of all, these flavor-packed dishes will satisfy your every craving and renew your taste for cooking.
Get Togethers: Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals (Paperback) by Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray puts the fun back into entertaining with this exciting collection of recipes, all designed to feed a crowd or smaller gathering in 30 minutes or less.
Super Foods for Children by Michael van Straten & Barbara Griggs
Few American children go to bed hungry but millions are malnourished by even the most modest nutritional standards. Recommending 100 super foods and offering over 150 tempting, nutritious, and easy recipes, this book is the answer for caring parents who are short on time.
When children learn how to eat right at an early age, they take pleasure in it for the rest of their long, healthy lives. This guide shows parents how to involve youngsters in planning and preparing meals, so that eating right becomes a hands-on family activity. Colorful page design and mouth-watering photography are supplemented by solid nutritional information and practical advice. Author Nicola Graimes, a mother of two, highlights one fruit or vegetable at a time. She explains portions and nutritional values, and provides simple recipes � including Leek and Potato Soup, All-in-One Tuna Risotto, Chinese Rice with Salmon Kebobs, and Toffee Apple Cinnamon Buns � that families can prepare together. At the end of the book is a pull-out calendar and happy-faced vegetable and fruit stickers. As children eat fruits and vegetables during the day, the stickers give them a fun way to keep track of their daily intake, while they reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other health problems.
Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent! If your kids drive you batty, don't worry! It could very well mean you�re an INVOLVED parent�a scar-bearing member of the Parent Corps�and your greatest ally is a good sense of humor as well as the ability to laugh at, and make light of, the challenges of parenting. Barker's hilarious stories will make parents laugh out loud and remind them that there is a lighter side to parenting. Buy it on Amazon!
Writing Children's Books For Dummies
Everyone loves a children's book. And many dream about writing one. But is it actually possible for an unpublished writer�armed with a good story idea and a love of kids�to write, sell, publish, and promote a book? Yes, it is!
The Workbook also includes useful sections on Budget Considerations, Discovering Your Gifts and Talents, Family Considerations, Getting Your Business Started, Promoting Your Home Business and Preparing for the Home Business Challenges.
Books - General - 2005
Writing Children's Books For Dummies
Everyone loves a children's book. And many dream about writing one. But is it actually possible for an unpublished writer�armed with a good story idea and a love of kids�to write, sell, publish, and promote a book? Yes, it is!
Books - General - 2004
The Workbook also includes useful sections on Budget Considerations, Discovering Your Gifts and Talents, Family Considerations, Getting Your Business Started, Promoting Your Home Business and Preparing for the Home Business Challenges.