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Rating: 
Summary: Great book to help parents with select preschool
Review: "You've got to start early with your child's preschool registration, especially with the baby boom." I had heard this a lot, but did not know where to start until I found this book. It lead me all the way from interview with school to pre-registration.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth it.
Review: I guess this book might help a little if you don't have a yellow pages handy and/or are totally clueless. It's basically a listing of preschools in San Francisco who have submitted completed questionnnaires to the author. Buyers of this book should be aware that not every preschool is represented, and those that are have chosen what information to include (and what information NOT to include!). It's certainly not a substitute for interviewing friends, neighbors and other moms at the park for recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: A must havbe for the first time mom!!!!!!!!
Review: That is a must have for the first time mother like myself. It tells you what are the preliminary factor affecting you in choosing a Preschool? What Preschool should offer? Different approaches to early Childhood Education and a list of Preschools in san Francisco.
Rating:
Summary: Fairly generic, publicly available information.
Review: This book didn't give me anything I couldn't have found without looking in the yellow pages or online. It is a comprehensive list of SF pre-schools with contact info and description, but not much else. I would have liked to have known which schools have waiting lists, what their entry criteria are, etc. It would also be nice to get a feel for relative school popularity.
Rating:
Summary: Not very helpful
Review: This book is not a bad place to start, but it's not very helpful either. It does not list all preschools in San Francisco. The information about schools seems to come from the schools (schools provide mission statement, for example) and is not consistent or particularly informative. The guide does not give an insider view of preschools, nor does it indicate which schools are particularly hard to get into. I liked that lists schools by zip code, but it doesn't provide a map to show where the schools are, which would be more helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: From a San Francisco preschool teacher...
Review: This book is very helpful to parents who are learning what to look for/avoid in a preschool. It also provides in-depth information about many of the programs in San Francisco. In response to the concerns of other reviewers: Although this book does not include every preschool in San Francisco it does list a good percentage of them. I would suspect that most of the schools that are not included are:
1. a small, in-home school
2. brand new OR
3. barely legitimate... Of course the information is written by the schools. No outside author could provide comprehensive information about each school. The object of this book is to provide 1 source for information about each school's philosophy and programs. Only by actually visiting the school or meeting the staff can you determine if its really true... Developing your OWN opinion about what is right for your child and your family is crucial. Listening to the playground buzz can lead to disastrous decisions. Only you can make decisions about what is right for YOUR child and YOUR family... I recommend this book to San Francisco parents all the time.
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