Children's Gems for the Heart : I Wonder When God Will Get Tired of People and Put Dinosaurs Back on Earth

Rating:
Summary: This is a REAL GEM!!!!!!!!
Review: "Children's Gems for the Heart" is a wonderful, charming, and delightful book. Uslander, a former teacher, must have spent a lot of time during her teaching years listening to the young children in her classes. This book is a superb collection of thoughts and ideas based on the way that children think and respond. Presented in such a way to make for some very enjoyable reading and even some deep thinking on the part of the reader the book is illustrated throughout by some very amusing children's illustrations done in pencil and market. Children's Gems for the Heart" is a real treasure not only for owning oneself but to offer as a gift to any person who loves children.

Rating:
Summary: Former teacher recommends!
Review: As a former teacher, I can recommend this book highly to other teachers, sure, but friends, family, and parents as well. Rarely does a book come along that has something for everyone, but Gems for the Heart truly does, and that's saying a lot. Think about it: What other book have you bought recently where you can sit around the living room and read aloud for the entire family? Kids will love seeing themselves within its pages, and thrill to the fact that grown-ups are laughing, smiling, nodding, and sometimes even crying about what someone their age had to say on life, love, dinosaurs, reproduction ... and everything in between. How empowering! For your child ... and you!

Rating:
Summary: A Delight!
Review: Children's Gems for the Heart is a delightful read. If you love kids and appreciate the unrehearsed words of wisdom that they speak, you will love this book. Author Arlene S. Uslander has worked with children for many years as a teacher and has compiled this collection of her favorite quotes from her students.

I found myself laughing out loud while reading some of their profound, yet simple answers to life's most troubling questions. When asked what they would wish for if they could have one wish, one third grader said she wished "when I told my mom and dad I wanted a baby brother, they hadn't listened to me." On a more serious side, they were asked questions regarding what they liked about the world and what they didn't like. They discussed death, granparents, and AIDS. Divorce was a popular discussion. All in all, I was amazed by the maturity and ease that was apparent in the young students answers. The simple answer given by one student, when asked what she wanted her parents to do, spoke volumes to me. All she said was to "like each other more." Out of the mouths of babes!

I highly recommend this book for readers that need a chuckle as well as insight into the minds of our youngest members of society. Their answers will surprise, educate, and amuse you. This book is a treasure.
(Reviewed for Denise's Pieces Book Reviews)

Rating:
Summary: A Delight!
Review: Children's Gems for the Heart is a delightful read. If you love kids and appreciate the unrehearsed words of wisdom that they speak, you will love this book. Author Arlene S. Uslander has worked with children for many years as a teacher and has compiled this collection of her favorite quotes from her students.

I found myself laughing out loud while reading some of their profound, yet simple answers to life's most troubling questions. When asked what they would wish for if they could have one wish, one third grader said she wished "when I told my mom and dad I wanted a baby brother, they hadn't listened to me." On a more serious side, they were asked questions regarding what they liked about the world and what they didn't like. They discussed death, granparents, and AIDS. Divorce was a popular discussion. All in all, I was amazed by the maturity and ease that was apparent in the young students answers. The simple answer given by one student, when asked what she wanted her parents to do, spoke volumes to me. All she said was to "like each other more." Out of the mouths of babes!

I highly recommend this book for readers that need a chuckle as well as insight into the minds of our youngest members of society. Their answers will surprise, educate, and amuse you. This book is a treasure.
(Reviewed for Denise's Pieces Book Reviews)

Rating:
Summary: Intoxicating and Enchanting Children's Gems
Review: Feeling depressed, down in the dumps or perhaps distressed with life, then pick up a copy of Arlene Uslander's book: CHILDREN'S GEMS FOR THE HEART: I Wonder When God Will Get Tired of People and Put Dinosaurs Back on Earth.
This intoxicating and enchanting compilation of children's philosophical musings will surely keep a smile on your face as you go about your daily chores.

After 25 years of teaching elementary school Family Living, Arlene Uslander has organized her random pile of gems into orderly easy to follow topic chapters.
Children's words are divided into pearls of wisdom under separate simple to follow headings such as: All in the Family, Really Serious Stuff and Really Cool Stuff, that all provide for an easy reading flow.

Some of the sentiments children express about their parents are fascinating: About fathers- "Lets you tell him your feelings and give your opinions. He doesn't say, my opinion is always right, or About Mothers- "My mom yells so loud, you can hear her three blocks away. She sounds like a lion roaring over the whole universe."
On grandparents, Arlene Uslander saved this precious gem: "Everyone is good at something. I'm good at coloring, and my sister is good at cutting with scissors. Grandparents are good at loving!"

Particularly touching and striking are the innocent, right from the heart drawings of some of the children such as: the Dinosaur front cover and the one on page 87: A little girl crying under the sun and the rain with a caption that reads as follows: "I wish a big, long rain would wash away all the sadness in the world," by Victoria, age 8.
Under Really Serious Stuff, What happens when you die, I picked up this little treasure:
Winnie -" I went to the place where you get buried. But it's really a braveyard,
'cause you have to be brave to go there."

On page 98, Arlene got a little wake up call when a child asked her: "What would you like to be famous for, Teacher?" Before she had time to answer, Adam said, "It's too late for her!"" But the Thank You notes she received when she retired made up for this little incident.

Such endearing quotes make this book a treasure to share with your children and forever clutch onto as a keepsake. Take it on the bus, on the subway, whenever you have a minute, no need for artificial mood enhancers, the "Gems" will perk you up.

Lily Azerad-Goldman, Artist and Author, Reviewer for Bookpleasures

Rating:
Summary: sheer enjoyment
Review: The highest compliment a book about children and their uncensored quotes can get is a thumbs up from a reading specialist. As such, I've been there; done that. However, the original and heartwarming approach of Children's Gems from the Hearts presents a unique book of wondrous wisdom and charm. It is a collection of 25 years worth of quotes and illustrations collected by a Family Living Teacher, Arlene Uslander. Divided in to three sections, All in the Family, Really Cool and Really Serious Stuff, the reader joins the classroom as Uslander sets the mood and the character of the class. You can almost see the faces and share the excitement of raised hands of students eager to share. Evan expresses his frustation,"Sometimes my sister talks so much, I wish I could put her mouth on pause." or Kenny says of his grandma, "When I eat at my gandma's house, I eat her out of night and day." Perhaps Beth best sums up the feeling we getf from reading this book." I wish... I would always be as happy as I am now." You'll return to a time of innocence as you read and share this delightful book with teachers, parents, children or alone-just for the joy of it!.