Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

GO WEST young man, and take this book with ya...
I purchased this book for a major family road trip vacation that our family took through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Besides the book that I purchased that was for California specifically this book was another invaluable item for our vacation of a lifetime.Not only was it a wealth of information on tips for making the car ride more enjoyable, but also helped us to be uber prepared for anything that might come up, including food issues and expenses, entertaining the kids, where the populated areas are for gas stations, motels and campgrounds, and must-see attractions.And we were assured that we would not miss something by driving right by it and not knowing it was there or worth seeing. This book is loaded with the "must-see" things we didn't want to miss. And their ratings for things were right on.We were armed and dangerous with our information of what everything was going to cost, how we were going to plan our route to see the things we wanted to see, how much time things would take, and what places are crowded with tourists so when the best time is to visit - how to plan our day, where to stay, where to eat, etc.

The best thing about this and the other Family Fun California vacation guide that I purchased is that my husband and kids now have memories that they will treasure for a lifetime, thanks to the tips and ratings and ideas in these books.We did it all, saw it all, and didn't waste a moment's time on so-so attractions that cost a lot an didn't offer that much entertainment value.

If you are planning a trip to the SOUTHWEST, you have to get this book.Mine is still earmarked with sticky notes and serves as an anthology of our trip, packed right next to the photo album and all of our personal vacation journals.

Go west young man! And take this book with ya!

Horrible Book
This book is not helpful.It does not provide enough information about anything other than Disney World.We did not even take it on our trip.

World Ventures, Dream Trips, Dream Vacations
Not only can you use this for the whole family but also with friends. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy, "World Ventures, Dan Stammen".

Nothing but great from Family Fun!
I loved the book (we got the southeast one). It covers all of the southeast, not just FL and the big mouse! We live in GA so this book is awesome for us as we are central to all of the states it covers. If you are only buying one book, this should be it!! It rates must do's, costs, ages and also includes hotels and local eateries which most travel guides don't. I was very impressed. The above reviewer is reviewing the CA book so don't ket her review persuade you not to buy. You will not be disapointed!

needs help
This book needs some help. I am a big Family Fun Fan, and take the mag. and have all their books and was so excited to find that they had finally put a travel book together.
I loved the begining part about ways to travel with kids, all their tips and side notes. I liked that I could find kid friendly hotels and resturaunts.
But I was so dissapointed that alot of the states that I would be traveling in the book only talked about a few areas in that state. California should of had been one book and talked about northern and southern Calif., not just a few citties.
Family Fun has always had out of the way and unusal places to travel in their mag. why didn't they do this for their travel book.
If you are looking to see places all over the southwest in this book, you might be dissapointed like me. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

great resource
I live in Colorado and keep this book handy for planning vacations, family field trips, and weekend getaways. I appreciate that the author includes information on local parks, places to see, and things to do with kids that wouldn't necessarily be included in other travel guides. ... Read more

Book Description
Award-winning comics artist Alison Bechdel has been known for decades as "one of the best, one to watch out for," in the words of Harvey Pekar.Her latest work-the groundbreaking, genre-busting, best-selling graphic narrative Fun Home-has established her as one of Americas most gifted and extraordinary memoirists as well.With its stunning mix of graphic and literary forms, it has garnered exceptional acclaim, receiving exuberant reviews, winning placement on bestseller lists across the country, and claiming seven foreign publishing deals to date.In the wake of this tremendous critical success, Fun Home has also won new readers for Bechdel-on tour for the book she has been greeted by standing-room-only crowds-and the paperback publication will no doubt continue to expand her audience. In Bechdels affecting account of her relationship with her late father, personal history becomes a work of amazing subtlety and power.Bechdel grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, in a Victorian house that her father was painstakingly restoring to its period glory.Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the "Fun Home." It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay.A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

A graphic novel steeped in literary reference.
The subtitle - A Family Tragicomic - had the effect of putting me off from buying this. Bechdel wasn't someone I was familiar with, so my suspicions of an arch, disgruntled rant were forefront, and now fortunately unfounded. Having read it twice, and doubtless again, I can't ever before recall so many reviews stuffed onto/into the covers of one book, and all of them so closely matching my own impressions. As an exploration of a father/daughter relationship, Fun Home doesn't merely run from beginning to end, but uses the tack of revisiting telling moments with underlying illuminations. Steeped as Bechdel and her aloof father were in literature (here specifically Proust, Wilde, and Joyce) she employs the ideas of shared authors to assist in the formulation of a familial bond. The generous inclusion of her two younger brothers and their resolute, if somewhat mysterious, mother is further evidence of Bechdel's willingness to understand the whole.

Funny and genuine
Perhaps it is inevitable that I'd fall for this book, given that I'm a fan of comics --Art Speigelman, Chris Ware, Lynda Barry, Megan Kelso, Gilbert & Jamie Hernandez... and of course Alison Bechdel, whose Dykes to Watch Out For strip I've followed for a long time. Compared to that strip, this book has a more gentle pace and wry wit. It says as much as written biographies in a surprisingly compact way. The ending disappointed some, but surely real life is harder than fiction to tie up in a tidy bow.

Brilliant.Groundbreaking.Glorious!
I cannot praise this graphic novel enough.I was so impressed with way Bechdel wove her memoir together, building from one memory into the next.At first I found some of her writing potentially pretentious, something I have seen in the writings of other memoirs where the author wants the reader to know how much they know, to be impressed with the use of precise vocubulary, and the manipulation of time to unfold a story.Usually, these don't work because they are not used effectively so much as for effect.Bechdel, however, has no pretense.Vulnerable and transparent, how she tells her personal story is so powerful it breaks your heart and inspires you soul all at the same time.Her use of the same image, with a slightly different perspective, is not merely clever but perfection.If I could beg her to write about her relationship with her mother, I would.But what would be the point?Then I would want to know more about her relationships with her siblings, with her lovers, with her neighbors.I could never have enough.It is enough to hope for more.

As you can see from all the reviews
this is a GLORIOUS book, with wonderful drawings, elegant English, and a story which--no matter how different it is from your own---you will immediately identify with. What are you waiting for?

Witty, Tender, and Extremely Astute
Fun Home is an autobiographical comic written in a nuanced, literary style, intermingling the stories of the author's coming to grips with her sexual identity and her closeted father's untimely death. Bechdel, author of Dykes to Watch Out For, draws in a style that meshes comfortably with her narrative, neither outshining nor underwhelming it. To consider this comic simple autobiography, however, would be a disservice. Through its pages one sees the trials and tribulations suffered by generations of queer America, both in the cities and in the small towns of America.

This novel will appeal to all readers who enjoy thoughtful literature. Bechdel's work is clever, emotionally gripping in a way that moves beyond simple feelings such as joy or anger and into the strange sensations (or lack thereof) that arise at life's crossroads. She includes many snippets of other authors' works when the characters are reading, using the texts to replicate their various epiphanies, from Camus' The Stranger to Pauline Reage's The Story of O. ... Read more

Book Description
In this over-scheduled life, it's not easy for families to spend quality time together. Parents with children of all ages will love the valuable information in Simply Fun for Families. It shows parents how to make time for family activities, plan fun things to do, and enjoy them to their fullest. This easy-to-use guide includes creative ideas for everything from play time and fun nights at home to celebrating holidays and taking vacations. Loaded with practical tips, checklists, and loads of exciting ideas, this indispensable book is sure to turn family time into everyone's favorite pastime. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Customer Reviews (24)

Fun for All
I bought this book quite a few years ago to entertain my grandchildren when they visited.The crafts are so easy and so much fun for all ages that I ordered a new one for my daughter-in-law to use with my grandson who is 3.Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality time with their children.

A must have for parents of active minds!
As an aunt of two nieces and two nephews and a volunteer library assistant, I've gone through MANY craft books, trying to finda good one since the girls especially seem to love creating their own toys.
This series, and the other books in it, are WELL WORTH the money and shipping time, and what were what originally got me started shopping on Amazon.com.
It's got plenty of illustrations and photos, the kids in it look like they genuinely enjoy the activities instead of just posing for the cameras, and the materials formost, if not all of them are cheap and easy to find for the most part at your local Wal-Mart, K-mart or craft shops.
I recommend the entire seriesfor busybody moms, dads, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles everywhere, as crafts and building together area GREAT way to bond with your little ones, and I have yet to see an unsafe craft in the books, so no worry abouthazards either. Unless of course.. your kid has a taste for glue. XP

Great!
Contains a good range of projects to keep the little ones interested and on-focus.

horrible
this book only has about 20 crafts and almost all oif them use thread or pipe cleaners.They should have all of the supplies in the book but they make you go to the store and buy it.The crafts arenot interesting and very boring.I suggest you don't buy this book.

Family Fun is Great
I have bought Family Fun magazine for years just for their craft section.They have great crafts for all ages, many made of inexpensive and easily available materials. I have not only used the crafts with my grandkids but also use them with my Sunday School class, with an age range of 4-13 years old. Many of their crafts make easy and attractive gifts for children to give at Christmas, etc., and they have a collection of things to make for school parties.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must Have For Parents
This book outpaces many other day trip and travel guides in that it also recommends accommodations in each area, which is key when traveling with children.
The book is well designed inside and out and is destined to become a favorite in any household fond of piling in the car for adventures. Maine is a fabulous state to explore and this book is a terrific guide for anyone looking for a hike, a mountain, a lake, a place, a scenic drive and many activities of varying duration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun & Games is lame, lame, lame!
I am planning a family reunion and need some fun, creative ideas, so scanned the good ol' Amazon database for something helpful.I discovered this book, and ordered it.What I found between its covers were a bunch of ridiculously lame games, and largely unrealistic suggestions and sillyideas for what would amount, in my mind, to the family reunion from hell,should anyone actually put these goofy ideas into practice.(I certainlywill not!) Some may find these games and suggestions fun and creative, butI just hope that I don't have ocassion to attend a family reunion that'sbeen planned by them. I did not find one single idea that I'm willing touse in this book. On the other hand, I've since found magazine articleswith some very good ideas for family gatherings, which I definitely willuse. This book stinks!

An excellent idea book for activities for all ages
I found this book to be helpful not only for family reunions, but also for birthday party ideas for my kids.The games part was especially strong, but I thought the reunion section could have been more helpful.Bring onBook 2!I want to play more games!!! ... Read more

Book Description
This fun, read-aloud guide to Yellowstone National Park is full of fascinating information about the park's history, simple, easy-to-understand explanations of its unusual natural features, and a guide to park activities that will interest the entire family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not pleased with book
I purchased this book because we are planning a family trip to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole this summer and I was extremely disappointed. There is no map inside, (to show you where these places are), there are descriptions of hikes and cool things to see, but there is no ranking on how difficult it is or for what age group, there are no tips for activities for children at all.In fact, I think this was a guide book NOT written for families and the publisher just put that title on the book to sell more copies!Buy something else if you really have a family and are taking them to Yellowstone.

She knows Yellowstone
We've been to Yellowstone several times with our kids, and I wish we had this guide with us!

Robin Tawney knows Yellowstone well, and provides interesting, fun and useful information about the park.I'm sure we would have had a better time and not been as lost as we were if we had her guide in our back pack. ... Read more

Book Description
Summer vacation can be a wonderful bonding time for parents and their kids... if it's done right! In The Family Manager's Guide to Summer Survival, best-selling author Kathy Peel shows you how to make the most of the summer months with activities, learning experiences, trips, and more. Plus, she'll show you the top ten ways to answer the cries of "I'm bored!" with creative activities that teach children skills and values.

The ultimate guide to surviving school vacation for both working and stay-at-home moms, this book will help parents give their kids summers to remember! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wow I'm glad I got this book
I'm psyched for summer.I'm a SAHM and just read this tonight (I did do a lot of skimming as far as the actual crafts and stuff but read all the introductory text in each section).

I have no idea why someone would say this is geared toward working moms.There is a part in the beginning saying how to ADAPT it to working moms, but most if it deals with what to do with your kids on a day-to-day basis in the summer to help them entertain themselves (and avoid the "I'm bored" monster) along with teaching different values and focusing on different areas of their growth.I actually don't think it would work that great for working moms - did I miss something?!

There is a lot that I skipped over, such as how to help them earn money doing different summer jobs, and with any "list" type book of tips and ideas, there are some I already knew and a lot I probably won't use.However, just the craft part alone is worth the cost of the book. I got it from the library but am on here right now finding a copy to own so I can highlight and dog ear.

There are many many craft ideas that are actually cheap, unlike a lot of craft books and magazines that require you to buy special expensive ingredients and ending up with crafts that the kids can't even make well so the parent ends up taking over.The ingredients in here that look like they might be costly are used over and over again so at least you are not buying a big box of something like Borax or liquid starch and only using a tablespoon.And the crafts seem to be easy enough for the age range of 6-9 that I'm looking for.There are enough crafts that I'm interested in that I actually think it would take several summers to do them all!

I've already enrolled my 9yo and 6yo in a few day and overnight scout-type camps but was looking into some expensive daycamps at the Y and elsewhere (starting at $200 a week for both boys - yikes!) to keep them occupied during the day, since I plan to turn the tv and video games off for the summer.Now I realize I can actually enjoy doing camp-type activities with them without Mom getting too bored, and still have enough time to do the things I, myself, need and want to do this summer.Especially since there are a lot that require planning on my part but that they can implement all by themselves.

BTW, it has definite Christian overtones.If you are not big onChristian literature, as I am not, don't be turned off.It's not preachy and there is plenty here for parents of any religion or even no religion, like me.

Mostly geared towards working moms
There were some helpful worksheets and ideas, however, over all it is geared toward the working mom. Also if you homeschool - most of the ideas don't fit but some could be modified.

Make the Most of Summer
Sure kids need some time to relax over the summer but quickly become bored.What's a busy parent to do ?
I was delighted to discover this book after reading about in in the Maine Sunday Telegram.The author advises really listening to your children's input on what excites them, but also wants the parent to offer suggestions and set limits.
A child may think watching cartoons non-stop makes a fun summer.This book gives ideas (tennis, hiking, other exercise or structured programs).I highly recommend investigating the free programs at your local public library.They might be able to lure your child into reading for pleasure (or reward).
The book wants you to get resourceful and creative with your children.Learn origami or stamp collecting or take turns with other parents teaching the children new skills.
The author also suggests a designated "pickup time" each day to gather up the toys and do a 10-minute clean up.Great idea!
There are lots of things to do in the summer with children and many are inexpensive.Turn off the TV and turn on your family to having fun together this summer. ... Read more

Book Description
The winter holidays are a magical time, especially for families with youngsters. FamilyFun Homemade Holidays provides an inexhaustible guide to planning one of the most important holiday seasons of the year. This sixth book in our best-selling series features games, activities, decorations, tested recipes, and complete Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa party plans, plus winter holiday ideas from FamilyFun readers, timesaving tips, and step-by-step photographs. This volume is further proof that there is no greater authority on new and fun ways to pass the time than the experts at FamilyFun. Deanna Cook is a senior editor at FamilyFun magazine and the author of FamilyFun Boredom Busters, FamilyFun Crafts, FamilyFun Cookbook, and FamilyFun Cookies for Christmas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Holiday Craft Book
I liked the Halloween version so much I bought this, although not as good as the Halloween version, this has some good ideas in it...

Simply the Best!!!!!
I have purchased almost every book from Familyfun and they are the best books I have ever purchased,period!I don`t have any kids of my own as of yet,but when that time comes,I will have a surefire arsenal of help to reach for when in need.I can defenitely recommend all books from Familyfun,every family should have them in their stack of books at home!!

A must for starting Holiday traditions!
This is such a nice book - colorful pictures compliment each craft.There is something here for everyone to make their Holidays truly special.Highly recommend! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Family Travel Tips
Bought this for our trip to Upstate NY and Manhattan. Great tips for family travel. Would have liked to see more restaurant recommendations but otherwise a great tool! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great for the whole family
This is not only a favorite Children's cookbook in my house but I love using it too. Great photos, great recipes and great instructions.We have used this book many times. During the summer months my kids will pick out a recipe to cook and this is one of there favorite books to go to.I involve them not only in selecting the recipe but shopping for the list of ingredients and cooking it.
The chocolate dipped pretzels with sprinkles are supper easy to do and make great gifts during the holidays.I have a special needs child and this was a recipe she could do and feel good about.

the best family cookbook
it was "borrowed" from my mother 8 years ago when my daughter was born and i was living on my own for the first time. i cooked many meals from this book and my husband and daughter loved every recipe.

Excellent! Better than Family Fun!
This is by far, better than Family Fun cookbook in many ways
Pros: the book is spirial
Pictures of the recipe
Varaitions of reicpes
Cons:Some of the recipies are a little out there
Some of the recipies arent exactly healthy.Need to be modified

Recipies that I have tried: sneak it to them broccoli soup, excellent and easy to make and the minestroni soup.People wanted the recipe.I do think this cookbook should be a staple in any family library.

Yummy yummy for my tummy
I love this cookbook, the recipes are great!Thanks Deanna & FamilyFun Magazine!

Excellent Family Cookbook
IF your kids won't eat broccoli under any circumstances, theywon't like it in a recipe in this cookbook, either. Don't raise your kids to be picky eaters. Teach them to be willing to try something new, even if they didn't like it before.

This wholesome cookbook gives creative flair to things like grilled cheese or pizza. My son loves this cookbook and loves to find something new for lunch or dinner. So far, we haven't found one we haven't liked yet. We like the fact that everything is made from scratch and not with fast food mixes and unhealthy products.

Note: My son loves asparagus and broccoli.. and I know many other children that like veggies as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

It's About What I'd Expect From a BYU English Teacher
I found this book to be very disappointing. He should have called it, "Fun with the Mormon Family." Utah residents will no doubt find that they already know about most of the attractions Rutter mentions. Non-Mormons from in and out of state will be either puzzled or annoyed by Rutters heavy bias towards Mormon culture.

For example, in his Top Ten Picks for Southwestern Utah, the St. George Temple comes in second between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. The Shakespeare Festival was number seven. If you think I'm being unreasonable, do a search for each of these on the Web and tell me which one you'd rather make the five-hour drive from Salt Lake City for.

And speaking of what's worth your drive, Rutter provides very little detail as to the quality of each of the attractions. For example, if you came from out of state to see the Martin Harris Pageant, you'd almost certainly go home weeping bitterly over the lame local acting, singing and the two hours of your life that you'll never get back.

I understand that the Mormon history is a large part of Utah's past. I fully expect to see Temple Square and similar attractions mentioned. However, I think this book indirectly emphasizes what frustrates a lot of people here: there are other people here besides the Mormons. Hopefully Rutter will consider that in his next revision. ... Read more