Melina Gerosa Bellows

This book, although marketed for children, sure captured my adult mind! Each question is followed by a concise answer and explanation. Wide in its scope, there are topics to interest everyone. With the approaching Major League Baseball season, I was surprised to learn that baseballs are retired after only about seven pitches. Scuffed or dirty balls are not allowed! There are 101 intriguing questions in this fascinating book. I’m going to search for more volumes in this series, if only to increase my knowledge of entertaining trivia. Kids will love this book with its full color photos.… (mehr)

This is the kind of book no one really wants to get as a present and it's one that people give when they have no idea what to give but feel they must give something. A totally useless, cutsie book with hardly a good idea in it. The kind of mom that can do most of these suggestions is the kind of mom that has mucho disposable income, doesn't have to work, and is as selfish as can be. For example, one idea is to take your baby to a 9pm movie. The "noise" of the movie will lull the kid to sleep and then you can enjoy pizza and frappucinos that you smuggled in. Yeah, right! I've been to the movies where someone thought it was a good idea to bring the baby (rather than pay for a babysitter) and ruined everyone else's night out. I suppose it is supposed to be humorous, not to be taken too seriously, but though some of the ideas are harmless, there is something very condescending about the book as a whole. It's so unnecessary. Do you really need a hardback book to tell you to "get to know each child individually"? In many ways this book is insulting to moms, and to receive this as a mother's day gift is especially so. I'm sure the person who gave it meant no harm, probably thought the ideas were charming. I need the space on the bookshelf. I hope someone else can "enjoy" it.… (mehr)