Otto of the Silver Hand By Howard Pyle

Otto of the Silver Hand was originally published in 1888 - and I am amazed that the content within this novel continues to be relevant in today's society. This story is set in medieval Germany when castles, feuds, barons, knights, kidnapping, soldiers, and rescues were common. Violence, revenge, hatred are all themes that continue to permeate within our society. Yet, in both the past and present we can also find humility, gentleness, love, sacrifice and forgiveness. The traits that little Otto possesses will encourage children to see the good and evil in their world and strive to have a positive outlook on life, even when experiencing turmoil within ourselves. Otto's gracious and forgiving nature will inspire the best in all who read this novel.

Otto of the Silver Hand
By Howard Pyle
Publisher: Yesterday's Classics
ISBN: 1599151979

City Dog by Alison Pace

Who wouldn’t love a novel that is centered on a cute and funny White Terrier? My neighbors have two and they have such wonderful personalities but, back to Alison’s wonderful novel, “City Dog.” This novel is very unique in that Alison uses various view points to relay her messages throughout the novel. Even Carlie (the main character, Amy’s Terrier) has her turn at telling the story. These individual and unique viewpoints pulled me through Amy and Carlie’s experiences as I was interested in what each individual character thought about the events in the novel.

Our main character Amy, works through many real-life situations as she struggles with independence and finding herself and her direction in life. Amy is a very relatable character in which a young woman would easily share the very same interpersonal struggles. It takes Amy quite a while with many different experiences to gain self esteem and realize that she is a strong independent woman. At the conclusion of the novel, Amy is a confident young woman who has finally found her life direction and acts on her self-discoveries.

I truly enjoyed experiencing and working through Amy and Carlie’s situations, but was especially happy that Amy had found inner peace at the end of this novel.

As a side note for Alison - I hope the “Carlie” children’s books are in the works because I know for a fact my kids would love to read the adventures of Carlie and Robert Maguire!

City Dog
By: Alison Pace
The Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780425221433

All children should be raised to respect those who look and think differently

Shouldn't all children be raised to respect those who look and think differently? That is what Kahani magazine strongly believes in and they are asking you to help get the word out.

In playgrounds and classrooms, children constantly barter and negotiate to see who wins or who's first in line. But what if their classmate doesn't look or think like them? What if he wears a turban? What if there's a red dot on her mom's forehead? Does communication break down?

Answers to questions like that can be found in Kahani - an award-winning children's magazine you've probably never heard of. Told from the unique perspective of a South Asian child living in America, Kahani (which means story in Hindi) uses contemporary storytelling and very vivid illustrations to spotlight these children and their cultures.

And when our readers (ages 6-11) are ready to express their creativity - after discovering the diversity and richness of South Asian cultures from Nepal and Bhutan to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka through the non-judgmental stories and features - children are invited them to take part In the exciting Annual Writing and Illustrating Contest running right now (deadline Nov 23). There's absolutely nothing more thrilling for a budding author or artist than seeing their work in actual glossy print!

Completely ad-free and dependent on subscriptions - an anomaly in the publishing world - Kahani has won several awards, including two from the Parents' Choice Foundation in the last two years. Of course, no ads means they make no money and pay no salaries - the writers and illustrators only receive modest honorariums - BUT the passion of their mission makes them feel truly rich.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we could raise children with a deeper understanding of where "other" people come from? Please help and do your bit to educate future global citizens, spread the word on Kahani.

Visit Kahani

Sarah Palin's Debate Flow Chart

Obama or McCain- Why You Should Vote

Great video about making sure we all vote this election year...

Click on the following link:

Obama or McCain- Why You Should Vote

Science Center Wonders

We are ready for Pre-School

Elizabeth & Anthony's first day of pre-school... so cute and soooo excited :)

The Michalek Dancing Troupe

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

My cool kiddos

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Petfinder - 12 Million Adoptions since 1995

The temporary home of nearly 250,000 adoptable pets, from cats and dogs to sheep and potbellied pigs. When you're looking for a best friend, look no further than Petfinder.com.

Before heading to the pet store or breeder, head to Petfinder.com and discover hundreds of thousands of loving animals who need your help finding a good home. Why should you adopt? Well, for one, many Petfinder pets have no adoption fee, or one that costs much less than buying the animal from a breeder or store. Then there's always the lifetime of unconditional love and appreciation that can only come from a rescued pet (and who can resist that?). Not to mention the great feeling you get knowing you gave a caring dog/cat/bird/ferret/degu/snake/whomever a second chance at life. Aw.

But Petfinder.com isn't only for locating adoptable pets. You can also check out helpful cat and dog training videos, get animal care sheets, tips and tricks, post free pet classified ads, submit and view videos and talk with other animal lovers in the Petfinder forums.

Since the site was founded in 1995, Petfinder.com has facilitated over 12 million adoptions. But there are many more animals out there looking for a loving home - and they're looking to you!

Visit Petfinder

TerraPass - Everyone contributes to global warming

Everyone contributes to global warming. Find out how you can reduce and balance your impact.

If you drive a car, use a dishwasher or even just flick the lights on when you get home, you're building up a "carbon footprint" (a measure of your carbon dioxide effect on the environment), a pretty big factor in the cause of global warming. But most people aren't in a position to stop using these carbon-emitting items. And TerraPass.com says that's OK.

So what can you do to make a difference? Well, to start, there are a lot of small things that can reduce your impact. Check out the conservation tips on TerraPass and see how things like lowering the temperature on your dishwasher, following the speed limit and unplugging electronics when they're not turned on could lower your emissions. The site also has a section of recommended green products (and provides the links to buy them), from low-flow shower heads to solar-powered cell phone chargers to energy-saving power strips.

But to fully balance your impact, you can purchase "carbon offsets" through the site, as well, which support clean energy and other projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. First TerraPass will calculate your footprint based on your driving, flying and home energy use habits, determining the amount of carbon dioxide you contribute per year. Then, you can choose to purchase a TerraPass. Your money goes to help fund things like wind farms, landfill gas capture and farm power - of course, you can read all about the projects TerraPass sponsors on the site.

You don't have to sell all of your belongings and live off the land to reduce your carbon footprint - just check out TerraPass.com and get in balance. Visit TerraPass

Retail Me Not

An impressive database of coupon codes for more than 13,000 online stores. With discounts at sites from Amazon to Zappos, RetailMeNot will save you money.

Who doesn't like shopping with coupons?

On RetailMeNot.com, you'll find over 70,000 coupon codes redeemable for savings like free shipping, money off your order, and free products when you make a purchase (to name a few). To find codes, just enter the site you're looking to shop on or check out the most popular coupons on the main page. Each one lists the success rate other people have experienced using it, so you'll know what to expect when you enter the code at checkout.

You can also stop by the RetailMeNot Shopping Community for additional coupons and tips pointing you towards the best online offers and deals. The people on this site are serious about saving money!

When you're shopping online, you don't have to buy less to spend less - let RetailMeNot.com help you out with the savings.

Visit Retail Me Not

The Word of Mouth Manual Volume II by Dave Balter - Free Download

The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II is the ultimate illustration of how Word of Mouth actually works. Each element of the book (including the free distribution) was carefully crafted as an example of how you can make Word of Mouth work.

What do Falco and the Grateful Dead have in common? How did Joey Chesnut unseat "Tsunami" Kobayashi in the Coney Island hot dog eating contest? From Tickle-Me-Elmo and Casey Kasem to Crocs and those terribly annoying HeadOn commercials, the book is packed full of real-world examples of what makes people recommend products and services to each other.

The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II is a free download and the second book from BzzAgent founder and CEO, Dave Balter. His first book, Grapevine, was released in December 2005.

Click on the following link to download this free eBook: The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II

OurStage - music discovery stop for the best new emerging music (and film)

OurStage.com is the music discovery stop for the best new emerging music (and film). Our fan-powered, 100% fair voting takes your honest judgment to drive the best to the top. No more celebrity judges, meaningless 5-star ratings, or annoying popularity contests where the guy with the biggest extended family wins. You, the fan, decide and rank the artists based on the quality of their art.

No pressure, but a lot is riding on your vote. Each month, your judgment powers the OurStage Charts across over 40 genres giving the best artist their shot at being discovered.

So go on, be judgmental! Sign up with OurStage.com today and you'll get 30 free MP3s of the best new music from top-charting OurStage artists upon activating your account.

OurStage helps you be the guy or girl who is always on the cutting edge of music. You get VIP access to our Music and Video Charts covering every major genre: Like Alternative Country? It's there. Indie Pop: Check. Death Metal: You bet. Peruse our charts, meander through the archives of past winners, and discover fresh, ear-gasmic music to store on your profile, download, or share with others.

Visit OurStage.com

Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava

When was the last time you heard a business book described as fun? The author, Rohit Bhargava, works at one of the largest marketing agencies in the world, and is a frequent speaker on the topic of marketing with authenticity. He believes that personality is the key to building a successful business and career. His new book, Personality Not Included (PNI), is a guidebook and collection of stories every businessperson, entrepreneur or consumer should read, including...

• Why a small restaurant outside Barcelona is rated "Best in the World" despite being closed 6 months of the year


• How the Death of Superman comic book series led to the rise of authenticity in marketing


• Why a small cartoon from the back of a business card is changing the corporate culture at Microsoft


• The secret of where to get a $7 steak in Las Vegas and why you won't find it on any menu


• How a travelling salesman in 1872 changed the face of American retail forever


• And more than 100 other stories of personality from brands like Trader Joes, Timbuk2, Dyson, Bugaboo, Apple, Moleskine, Subway, Virgin America and lots more!

Here's what Jono has to say about the book:

"Rohit definitely nails it. He's right on when it comes to what brands need to do to connect with consumers and his hands-on tools and guides are a pretty sweet bonus that help bring his concepts home. Plus, he's witty, conversational and insightful - all things I can relate to!"

Personality Not Included has been taking the marketing world by storm since its release just last month, with more than 100 positive reviews on blogs and in media around the world. Get an exclusive inside look at Personality Not Included:

"Do not eat iPod": Read the first story of the book...
Download the full introduction

Exclusive Download: The Story of BzzAgent's Personality Download an exclusive excerpt from Chapter 1

Dave Balter Retells How the Bee Logo Was Created Read Dave's story on The Personality Project

Give The Book As The Ultimate Father's Day Gift! Buy the book for Dad

AVEENO® AGELESSTM Lifting & Firming NIGHT CREAM - Free Sample and Coupon

AVEENO^® POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming products are actually part of a proud lineage. Back in 1945, when AVEENO® launched its first product - Soothing Bath Treatment - in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, they used colloidal oatmeal as one of the product's key ingredients. Mother Nature certainly has a few tricks up her sleeve!

You can learn more about AVEENO^® POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming by visiting

AVEENO Sample and coupon offer

To receive a coupon for $1.50 off AVEENO® facial care products and a free sample of POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming NIGHT CREAM, simply complete the required information fields and check the boxes selecting your preference. And be sure to visit the site often, as AVEENO® will have even more information and offers for POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM soon!

I absolutely love the AVEENO product line - tell me what you think of their products :)

From the Top at Carnegie Hall

Experience the Emmy-nominated PBS series that gives you a backstage pass to meet the country's most talented and inspiring young classical musicians in performance at Carnegie Hall (most of whom aren't even old enough to drive).

At pbs.org/fromthetop you can stream and download full episodes of From the Top at Carnegie Hall, subscribe to video podcasts, access music education resources and learn more about these amazing young artists.

From the Top at Carnegie Hall offers an intimate, and often funny, glimpse at the lives of young people who pursue life with passion, dedication and joy. These kids deserve all the Buzz they can get.

Based on the wildly popular NPR radio program, From the Top at Carnegie Hall is hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley and is a co-production of WGBH, From the Top, and Don Mischer Productions in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Emmy Award-winning director Gary Halvorson directs the second season. With a combined list of credits including Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the venerable production team of Halvorson and Don Mischer Productions represents an unprecedented collaboration for public television, and a rare one for the entertainment world at large.

Visit From the Top at Carnegie Hall

Kids Can Earn a Free Book This Summer from Barnes and Noble

Here's How It Works:

1. Kids read any 8 books.

2. Kids use the Summer Reading Journal to tell us their favorite part of each book. A parent/guardian signs it when it's complete.

3. Children bring their completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 29th & September 2nd, 2008.

4. We'll give them a coupon for a FREE book! They choose from a list of exceptional paperback titles.*

* Eligible books will be listed on the coupon. Choices must be made from eligible stock. No special orders. Limit of 1 form per school-age child (grades 1-6), please. Incomplete forms will be ineligible for free books.

Transcript of Life Chat with Debbie Macomber, Author of "Twenty Wishes"

New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber will be on Gather discussing her new book, Twenty Wishes, in The Book Review Group on Thursday, May 29th at 9 pm ET.


She's written the 4th story in the Blossom Street Books about a female character who is thirty-eight, childless, a recent widow and alone. The story follows her life as it takes unexpected turns, she forms new, surprising bonds, her wishes come true.

Follow this link to leave a question or CHAT LIVE with Debbie Macomber

Elizabeth ... Looks Like ...

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family roots - Family history