Second Helpings

Rating:
Summary: Second Helping Review
Review: My wife and I are grandparents to three boys aged 3-10. Reading the accounts of the the Harbaughs with their grandchildren/grandnephews brought memories of our experiences with our grandkids. Hank, Ruth,
and Jim Harbaugh have the gift of being able to relay stories of watching and participating in the growth of their loved ones in an entertaining writing style. I would hope that they would consider doing a followup when those young boys are older. For any grandparents or parents, I would highly suggest that you pick up this warm and enjoyable book.

Rating:
Summary: The world according to kids, grandparents & uncles
Review: This book encourages second and even third helpings! Each of its 100 brief essays is a delightful blend of story-telling, reflection and teaching. Anyone who has delighted in, marveled at, or been captivated by a child's reactions to his/her world and to life will enjoy these writers' observations. The authors--grandparents and uncle, all with teaching backgrounds according to the book's cover--reflect on their respective experiences of viewing life's events through the eyes of two small boys.

The headings of the book's 13 sections hint at the subject matter and include "the sound of love," "lessons learned," "socializing," "entertaining," "role models," and "hello & goodbye." The simple stories about everyday things such as choosing the perfect pumpkin, reading together, creating rituals, conquering fear, living at a distance, choosing & giving gifts, "doing" science, saying "hello" and having to say "goodbye" capture the joy of life as seen through the eyes of a beloved child.

Heart-warming without being syrupy, thought-provoking but not preachy, educational without lecture-y overtones, this book seemed very real. The essays made me smile, brought tears to my eyes, triggered memories, stimulated ideas. Each caused me to take another look at this old world--first through the uncritical eyes of a child who is able to see what's really important, and then through the eyes of a grandparent or uncle. Many of the essays even include titles of relevant children's books. A perfect gift ... for oneself, or for parents, grandparents, children's caregivers, anyone wishing to look momentarily at life through very young eyes and remember.

Rating:
Summary: The world according to kids, grandparents & uncles
Review: This book encourages second and even third helpings! Each of its 100 brief essays is a delightful blend of story-telling, reflection and teaching. Anyone who has delighted in, marveled at, or been captivated by a child's reactions to his/her world and to life will enjoy these writers' observations. The authors--grandparents and uncle, all with teaching backgrounds according to the book's cover--reflect on their respective experiences of viewing life's events through the eyes of two small boys.

The headings of the book's 13 sections hint at the subject matter and include "the sound of love," "lessons learned," "socializing," "entertaining," "role models," and "hello & goodbye." The simple stories about everyday things such as choosing the perfect pumpkin, reading together, creating rituals, conquering fear, living at a distance, choosing & giving gifts, "doing" science, saying "hello" and having to say "goodbye" capture the joy of life as seen through the eyes of a beloved child.

Heart-warming without being syrupy, thought-provoking but not preachy, educational without lecture-y overtones, this book seemed very real. The essays made me smile, brought tears to my eyes, triggered memories, stimulated ideas. Each caused me to take another look at this old world--first through the uncritical eyes of a child who is able to see what's really important, and then through the eyes of a grandparent or uncle. Many of the essays even include titles of relevant children's books. A perfect gift ... for oneself, or for parents, grandparents, children's caregivers, anyone wishing to look momentarily at life through very young eyes and remember.