Junior Books

This book is packed FULL of wonderful activities to help children and adults of all ages learn about science through fun and simple hands-on activities.

I had to purchase a Sciensaurus book for a college class and this book was an add on (buy two for less money). This is the book I use!

My 6th grade students were beginning their science fair projects and didn't have access to the internet. This is where I sent them for ideas.

The experiments are simple, the materials are minimal, the "science" is included but not primary, it is truly for those people who want their kids to experience the "hands-on" of science.

The index is set up in a chart so you can choose the topic~ earth, seasons, animals, rocks...across the top and then follow the column down to get all of the experiment options.

This book could keep a science teacher busy with experiments for an entire school year plus some!

I am so glad to discover this book is still available. It's far more comprehensive and intelligent than so many other activity books. Laid out clearly, with activities in various realms of knowledge that offer numerous variations so a parent could conceivably use this one book throughout a child's school years. I can't imagine a child not discovering the joys of science (broadly defined) when a parent introduces him or her to some of these delightful activities. The best thing about the book is that so many of the ideas don't require vast preparation, but can be done spur-of-the-moment.

I used this book for Science Club for years and found it invaluable. I would highly recommend it for any teacher who runs Science Club or needs a supply of demos. Invaluable!

I've used this book for several years as a teacher, and found it gone from my bookshelf. It's great. It has everything. And it's written well and clearly. A very eclectic collection, but sound.

In keeping with the great Junior League tradition of fabulous cookbooks, the Junior League of the Palm Beaches has managed to live up to its reputation. A Slice of Paradise is a great example of Junior League excellence. A great holiday gift idea!

Junior League cookbooks tend to be very good, and this is the best one I've ever seen. The recipes aren't the same tired potluck recipes that have made the rounds for decades; these are exciting, yet easy-to-make recipes, many with a tropical twist. There are helpful guides to Florida's fish and to tropical fruits.
The Picadillo recipe has become a family (and company) favorite, and the Veal Escallops with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce (I substitute chicken) is a luciously elegant entre in the time it takes to cook a burger. This book is a winner!

What a nice surprise! I purchased this book expecting recipes that would be great for Florida. What I found was a book full of terrific recipes that are for anyone living anywhere. There are traditional favorites with unique twists and fresh recipes using creative combinations of readily available ingredients. I particulary like the selection in skill and prep time. There are quick and easy recipes for last minute plans. There are also more involved creations for an enjoyable rainy Saturday afternoon. The use of fresh ingredients and emphasis on healthy recipes was an added bonus. It's true; Junior Leagues really know how to collect the best recipes. I would recommend this book to anyone (it makes a great gift too!).

I am continually suprised at the fun recipes that I keep finding in this book. I read cookbooks cover to cover and I cannot keep a copy of this one in my house. I show them to my girlfriends and off they go with my latest copy. I am on number four at this time. The seafood and pasta sections have delightful recipes for a dinner party, and the salads are to die for!!! The Palm Beach Pasta Salad is my personal favorite. Hats off to the Junior League of the Palm Beaches. You have outdone yourself!!!

This cookbook is not only great, but it is beautiful as well. It does a wonderful job of featuring Florida's exotic fruits and seafoods with unique receipes and easy preparation. Some great receipes I have tried are the Key Lime Danish, Mango Nut Bread, and Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa!!! I highly recommend this cookbook to anyone who enjoys cooking and is looking for some interesting new receipes.

I'm working with several students in junior high to help them increase vocabulary for the SSAT test. This book helps teach the new words in context and lets them learn in a way that is more familiar to them. Love the book!!!

I am a 7th grader of a middle school, and this is what I think of this outstanding book. This book had a very interesting way of teaching... Instead of a textbook, this book was made into a chapter book with several excellent stories about adventures with three kids and a gargantuan, black cat. The stories were well put together and the advanced words fitted in perfectly. I shared my ideas with my family, and we bought more books of the same series. I think younger kids should just read the book for the stories if the words are a bit too complicated for them to remember, but I'm sure that they will enjoy it. Readers will no longer be oblivious about grammer. As a matter of fact, they might even excel in the field of grammer and writing. Anyway, to me, the words in the book were extremely easy to understand, because they were so well placed, that the context clues made the definitions very clear and obvious. There was also a glossary in the back that gave the definitions to the bold-faced words. Unfortunately, the glossary did not have definitions to all of the words, but if you have a dictionary, you should have no problem. Overall, this was a fantastic book leaving me craving for more.

I used to work as a professional SAT Reading coach, making big bucks; the key issue for most of my students was vocabulary. Rather, VOCABULARY. (The other is slowing down and thinking as--not after--they read.)

Many questions on the SAT reading section amount to vocabulary questions.

What this means is that if you want to improve your SAT scores, if you are an ambitious student trying to get into one of the top schools, there is no two ways about it: you have to study vocabulary.

And study vocabulary.

And study vocabulary.

You cannot study simply one book, or even one series of books. You have to study several series.

However, the Princeton Review Word Smart series is the best that I know of. You should start here. Even if you think you have a good vocabulary, start here just to be on the safe side, and you can move on later.

You would recommend studying any of the vocabulary books that I've ever seen--but I recommend mastering the Word Smart series. These really are by far the best--if you are shopping here, it probably means you need these books.

If you were one of my students, your parents paying lots of money, I would force you to master these books, and I would ride you like a horse until you did. And then your scores would come up, your parents would love me and tell all their friends, and I would get more jobs and more money. That's how it works.

Anyway, these are certainly the best vocabulary books on the market. Even if you're studying vocabulary for some other reason, these are probably still the best.

Good luck!

I am 11 years old and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, both as a story and as a no-stress way to learn new vocabulary. I am actually using the many words I learned in the book ~ it's easy because of the manner in which the book is written! I even enjoyed the quizzes at the end of each chapter ~ they were fun. I would save this book for after I had done my other work (I am a homeschooler) because I enjoyed this book so much. It was my inspiration to get finished with the other things so I could get back to this story!

The book is about three kids and a cat who have worldwide (and outer space!) adventures that lead them away from their real goal, which is to find Bridget's parents. You learn the new vocabulary from reading it in the context of their conversations. No memorizing lists! Great fun!

I bought this tape for my elementary age niece and two nephews. They have played this tape for weeks every night at bed time. They even fight over who gets to listen to it in the car. All of their vocabulary had sky rocketed. They are using "big" words properly and have no problem correcting the adults when we use them wrong. The way the new words are weaved into the stories give the kids the handle to truly understand what the word is, and what the correct usage is for any given situation. My sister and I are so impressed with this tape. We wish there were more of these.

This is an awesome resource for new and student teachers. Very simple, basic and claerly written.

Full of ideas I don't have time to implement. Regie Routman is wonderful.

I purchased this book a few months ago as a textbook requirement for a graduate course I took. Little did I know that I would end up dog-earing practically every page! Regie's approach to teaching writing resounded with me on so many levels. As a kindergarten teacher coming off her first year in a classroom, I had felt a nagging dissatisfaction with our school's packaged writing "program", but really didn't have the professional chops to move from yammering at my kids about sentence conventions and "three sentences, three capitals, three periods!" to teaching the writing process in a joyful way. This book was an awakening, because it showed me how to do just that. If you're a teacher of just about any grade level, and you're uneasy about producing a classroom full of automatons who write in lockstep, BUY THIS BOOK. Yes, it is a textbook, but it doesn't read like one. Nigh unto every page is flooded with examples from Regie's own teaching experiences, and-- as if that weren't good enough-- the appendices give you the lessons Regie taught WORD-FOR-WORD so you can model her practices in your classroom! I cannot speak highly enough of this book. I wish more teachers had the opportunity to learn from Regie and realize that writing CAN be a joyful experience!

Wow! I've read plenty of books regarding how to score or grade students' writing, but this book finally contains the "how" of teaching writing. It's chalk-full of realistic ideas for writing instruction that makes writing a part of what students are learning, not a separate activity. Regie also gives plenty of hands-on examples as well as practical tips for integrating writing into every day instruction, while actually suggesting less work for teachers, not more. I couldn't recommend a better book for teachers of writing!

If you want to become a better teacher of writing, then this book is for you! I am a huge follower of Regie Routman's teaching methods, and I think this is her best book yet. The greatest part of this guide are the step-by-step lesson plan suggestions, each of which guide you over a 5-day period of time. The lessons cover a variety of genres and can be adapted for any grade level. The DVD shows Regie in action, conferencing with students. If you're serious about wanting to change the way you teach writing, read this book!

Has your school district cut back on the arts. This book will help you intergrate art into social studies and Langauge Arts. In addition to the excelent lessons, the format is easily adaptable to author/illustrators.

This book has been a lifesaver for my art classes. The students love for me to read the stories as they are working on their art project! Which keeps them very quiet!! Never before have I seen so many great stories of so many great artist all in one book! Any art teacher will love it!!

This book is a marvelous resource for all teachers, but especially art teachers. The author has researched art from all times and places and then written stories that will delight children as they draw them into other worlds through art. The bibliographies alone are worth the price of the book.

We are a homeschooling family and this book has been an absolute treasure for our learning adventures. Saccardi's book shares information on the history of art during each time period, stories about the artists, suggestions for famous works of that artist to show, journaling exercises and recommended art projects done in the method or similar style of the artist you are studying.

We've used this book along with our history. When we started with ancient history and nomads we studied cave paintings and drew chalk pictures on brown grocery sacks. When we reached the Middle Ages we found a kit to help us do illumination. When we reached American history we painted historical scenes on large sheets of tagboard in effort to paint like Benjamin West. I'm very careful about money spent on materials and this book is one I've never regretted buying. I'm so glad to see it in print again so others can discover it!

-Jeanne

This is one of the only books I've seen that approaches teaching art in a holistic, content-rich manner. The author has compiled a wonderful set of resources. Each section begins with a brief overview of the period or style being discussed....very helpful refresher. This is followed by a story about the artist that really captures the kids' attention. There is no need for extensive research on your own, the author has done it for you. She provided extensive lists of resources for each topic, along with a brief comment about each. I am a National Board Certified Teacher, with experience and think this book is one of the best finds ever, a must-have resource for art teachers!

What a great cookbook! The pasta florentine was a big hit. And the photos of the Washington area are beautiful.

Beautifully enhanced with color photography, Capital Celebrations is a very highly recommended compendium of easy to prepare recipes nicely organized into chapters on Appetizers, Brunch & Breads, Salads and Soups, Seafood, Poultry and Meats, Pasta and Pizza, Vegetables, and Desserts. There is even a wonderful section dedicated to "Cooking with Children". From Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce; Roasted Corn and Wild Mushroom Salad; and Shrimp in Cajun Red Gravy; to Chicken and Artichoke Casserole; Green Beans and Cashews; and Coconut Pound Cake, Capital Celebrations has dishes suitable for all occasions and dining events.

This cookbook hasn't collected dust like the others sitting on my shelves! The recipes are simple to prepare and elegant. My family and friends have enjoyed many of the recipes during the past year!

The sourdough bread pudding with bourbon sauce is fabulous!

What a beautiful and interesting cookbook! The recipes are creative and delicious and yet many of them are simple to prepare. The photographs are beautiful and the variety of foods is excellent. This is a great Jr. League cookbook!

In the great tradition of Junior League cookbooks, this is a wonderful cookbook for the cook who likes casual entertaining. Recipes are easy to follow and the book is illustrated with beautiful pictures of the food. Capital Celebrations even has a section for cooking with children. This is a great cookbook for beginners with recipes using easy to prepare ingredients. The perfect gift for a new bride or college graduate just starting out or the seasoned cooking pro.

I have had this cookbook since it was published in 1986 while I was living in San Antonio. I've bought it for gifts several times and just bought a used copy for my daughter-in-law. It always reminds me of my days in San Antonio. There are some great recipes. The beef brisket recipe is out of this world. Everyone loves it. The cowboy beans are great, too.

I was born and raised in San Antonio, I moved to West Virginia, all my new friends come over and want Tex-Mex cooking, I show them this book, and they have ordered it. Everything in this book is "SAN ANTONIO" and the pictures remind me of HOME!

There are some great receipes in this book. The one for the barbecue beef brikett is just outstanding! Other meat dishes including chops and such are also fabulous. A definite keeper for the cook book collection in my house.

I grew up in San Antonio, so I can vouch that these simple recipes taste like home. The Tex-Mex recipes..green enchiladas, layered bean dip, picadillo, more exotic south-of-the-border soups, all shine, as do more all-American recipes for brownies, simple chicken dishes and vegetables. A great all-around cookbook with a South Texas accent..

Despite the earlier glowing user reviews of this book, I was was so surprised at how great it really is. I obviously don't know what a "Junior Forum" is because I expected a low-budget presentation from some kind of Boy Scout group. These are classy, classic recipes from the upper crust of San Antonio society and also its finest restaurants. Yet all the ingredients are as simple as you would find in Rachel Rays's 30-minute dishes and are easily available to me up here in Michigan. Of course, cooking times vary, but I would consider most recipes very easy. Also, due to the city's rich cultural heritage, which is also nicely touched upon in the book, there are many favorites from the heart of Europe. As above, a great all-round cookbook.

Homeschooling has become a big business with lots and lots of choices. It is hard enough sifting through the curriculum, let alone figuring out what learning style your child is, how to keep records, how to prepare for college. Well Mrs. Duffy covers all this and more in her organized, indexed, easy to use curriculum manuals. Every time they have been updated/revised I purchase them. I love her writing style, her personal experiences and her honesty in the features of a curriculum.
I could not have navigated through home schooling without these and definitely needed the JR/Sr. high manuals to get through the high school requirements.

When we moved overseas and had to be very selective on which items to take along on the plane, I selected Cathy Duffy's " Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manual 1997-98". It was the key to all the other resources we needed to continue to homeschool our children in Junior and High School, with very helpful comments, addresses and phone numbers of publishers. I understand the new edition is even better! I am buying it right now just to update the information.

When we moved overseas and had to be very selective on which items to take along on the plane, I selected Cathy Duffy's " Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manual 1997-98". It was the key to all the other resources we needed to continue to homeschool our children in Junior and High School, with very helpful comments, addresses and phone numbers of publishers. I understand the new edition is even better! I am buying it right now just to update the information.

Cathy Duffy is not only a gifted author, but she also knows how to review things. Sometimes it is hard to be objective, especially if you have books or material you love more than others. But Duffy tells you what is out there, what is good for different learning styles, and also what is good for your teaching style. (And gives you tests on how to discover each.) Plus there are forms in the back that help you keep records for this most important time in your student's life.
I work at a homeschool bookstore, and when people ask about a curriculum, or just how to survive high school, we grab this book!

This book gives very thorough reviews of the major publishers of homeschooling books, ie, BJU, Alpha-Omega, Christian Liberty Press, School of Tomorrow, Beautiful Feet, Greenleaf Press, A Beka - the list goes on! All the addresses, websites and phone numbers are provided in the back. It even reviews correspondence schools. Then it describes unit studies and reviews some of those suppliers. Then the best part--it describes in detail, subject by subject, various books, CD Roms, and videotape programs for teaching every subject a homeschooled student needs! All the reviews are from a Christian viewpoint and thoroughly researched. The author doesn't just pick one favorite supplier in each subject, either. She points out the pros and cons of each as well as letting you know when you don't have to buy all the teacher's manuals and extras that the publishers sometimes push. I consider this book indispensable! When a new edition comes out, I'll be first in line to buy!

This book supports the real reasons to sign with typically developing children. It makes them smarter, increases their language skills and enhances literacy. What else? Sign language is easy to learn and add to any classroom culture. The instructor does not need to be fluent to reap the many benefits! Every educational institution should incorporate sign language into their programming. This book gives the proof to getting it all started.

Daniels' book demonstrates that American Sign Language isn't just for deaf students. Citing numerous research studies, many conducted by Daniels herself, this book gives solid evidence as to why and how ASL supports literacy in hearing children. Best of all, Daniels offers practical strategies for use in the early elementary and preschool classroom.--Kathy MacMillan, author of Try Your Hand at This: Easy Ways to Incorporate Sign Language into Your Programs

This book is an excellent review of why and how signing with hearing children works to build literacy skills (and many, many other skills as well!). I highly recommend this book for early childhood educators and parents!!!!!

I started using sign language while teaching kindergarten years ago just for fun. The kids loved it. Now I know why! This book is great for teachers and parents. If you have a young child having trouble with spoken or written English, GET THIS BOOK! Also get it just for fun, to learn with a best friend, to communicate with someone who is deaf, to enrich your knowledge of human iconography, symbolism and to learn about the history of language. A great book, easy to read, perfect amount of detail, lots of references. (This book is for adults - and includes lots of ideas to use with kids...)

I have just finished reading this book and I cannot wait to get it into the hands of my kid's teachers (and administrators). I am currently learning sign and so are my kids. Although none of my children are ADD or ADHD I know that some of their classmates are. The book suggests that sign encourages a healthier classroom environment as all the children are ACTIVELY participating in the learning process. The ADD/ADHD kids are actually calmer and all students are learning more. (Less wear and tear on the teachers!) By learning ASL we are also encouraging communication with the Deaf. The Deaf cannot hear, so why do we exclude them and expect them to learn our language? We have the opportunity to begin to change the world our children live in, one sign at a time. That is something to think about.

One day, it begins to rain hearts, and young Cornelia Augusta begins to catch them. She realizes that these hearts would be great for making valentines. We watch her think of many different kinds of valentines, and think about who each one would be perfect for. What I love about this little book is the thoughtfulness Cornelia Augusta demonstrates, customizing each gift to please a particular friend (and the friends all turn out to be members of the animal world!). My young daughter enjoyed figuring out who each valentine was for and why. Very cute!

My mother bought this for Valentine's Day this year for my, then 2.5 year old, boy-girl twins and my kids love this book. It is May and we still read this book at least once a week.

The fact that little Cornelia looks at each heart and creates a special valentine card that matches the heart and the recipent shows thoughtfulness. I also liked that even though it never rained hearts again Cornelia wasn't disappointed or sad, but knew what to each Valentine's Day after that.

Our book also came with a page of stickers based on the illustrations in the book.

A wonderful and cute story. Short in length and great for younger children (ages 2-4). Definately recommend.

My six year old took the board book version of this book out of my hands. I meant to read it to my two year old son. Instead,
my first grader was enthralled with the illustrations, the story and the name of the loveable protagonist "Cornelia Augusta".

I especially enjoyed how ALL the rainbow hearts Cornelia Augusta catches are ALL different so she can craft personalized, different Valentine's for each recipient of one of her precious gifts.

The story is also a very opening one: there are always ways to create... no matter what the medium, what the celebration, whether the people are together or apart.

Also, I think the 3-5 year recommendation is a bit young. My 6 year old really enjoyed it as well, the language was perfect for a first grader.

It rains an abundance of hearts one day and
Cornielia Augusta catches them and brings them home and figures out who she wants to make things for.

She makes a necklace by stringing them together, then cuts holes in one and as the story goes on, the children try to guess who she made the valentins for.

It is simple and cute and give the children ideas about doing nice things for their friends.

ellen