We all know the importance of reading aloud to our children, butbeyond that, how do kids really learn to read? Why should youjump-start the process before formal instruction in school begins?And how do you know if your child’s literacy skills are developingnormally? In this empowering guide, Dr. J. Richard Gentry describes how toteach reading before your child enters kindergarten and how to makeprogress once your child is in school. He offers parents aneasy-to-understand program outlining the five phases of kids’literacy development, with age- and stage-appropriate activitiesthat make reading and writing fun. Raising Confident Readers is essential for every parent who wants their child to be alifelong learner.

Turn your home into a designer showplace without spending designer dollars! This friendly guide shows you how to create stunning rooms by mastering your own personal decorating style. Expert advice and cost-cutting tips will help you create the home of your dreams, whether you want to paint one room or redesign your entire house.

Guinness World Records 2009 continues to build on the intriguing, informative, inspiring and instructional records and superlatives that have made Guinness World Records one of the most famous brands and an annual best-seller around the world. This year, we've created a revolutionary new design and filled it with more records than ever before. And the 2009 edition will have two gatefold spreads and over 20 pages of special records all with 3-D photos, which can be viewed with enclosed 3-D glasses!! Combined with a new, research-tested, eye-catching cover, over 1,000 new records and 100% new photos, this year's edition once again sets out to be the best Guinness World Records book ever!!

You will not only learn how to construct and interpret birth charts but also gain a full understanding of the science of astrology, the human being’s relationship with the planets and conjunctions, and, finally, how to use this knowledge to improve your personal relationships, careers, and other aspects of your life.

A variety of beautifully-illustrated、case studies of smalI Interiors．ingeniously designed to maximise their limited space，make this an indiSpensable sourcebook．Featuring thorough technicalinformation-ground plans．materials，specifications on furniture and fixtures-this book provides ideas on every aspect of the design process frOm the ground up．These homes are streamlined inside and out．with dozens of never-before-seen solutions in storage and an array of innovative，multi．purpose design solutions for．furniture and fixtures in homes where space iS a limited commodity．

In the 18th and 19th centuries, architects and decorative artists were constantly seeking new sources of inspiration to satisfy the demands of their rich patrons.While some revisited the canons of the classical world, others began to turn their eyes towards the East, and the 'Oriental' became a byword for spectacle and sensuality. The result was a wave of creative expression that encompassed everything from the smallest objets d’art to entire buildings. This sumptuously produced book explores the enduring allure of Orientalist decor and introduces the princes and aristocrats, artists and poets who commissioned these opulent interiors. Packed with images of beautiful decorative objects, extravagant interiors, sumptuous fabrics and ornate furniture, this book will transport the reader to another time and place.

John Gray's Men are from Mars,Women are from Venus has helped many millions of couples transform their relationship.Now viewed as a modern classic,this phenomenal book has helped men and women realise how different they really are and how to communicate their needs in such a way that conflict doesn't arise and intimacy is given every chance to grow.

Feng shui means "wind water" and is the ancient Chinese art of designing spaces to improve one's quality of life. Thousands of people have already applied feng shui principles in their homes and businesses to improve their emotional well-being. Now in 101 Ways Feng Shui Can Change Your Life, feng shui expert Nancilee Wydra brings a unique approach to using these principles to enhance your life. She offers practical suggestions for common personal issues for everything from building self-esteem and losing weight to improving your energy level and reducing stress. The suggestions are inexpensive and simple and are soundly based on the ideas of feng shui. You'll learn that: Painting a room a mid-tone blue or salmon color can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress Entering through the front door of your home boosts self-esteem Eating a mint or smelling its scent suppresses your appetite, helping you lose weight Using a round table in the dining room promotes con

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Book De*ionBestselling author and marketing guru Joe Vitale offers insights and life lessons for achieving successIn the simple， straightforward tone of an instructional manual， this little book offers big wisdom and little-known secrets for living a better life. Packed with life lessons most people will wish they'd learned earlier， Life's Missing Instruction Manual uses humor and anecdote to present practical steps readers can use to take control of their lives， overcome any obstacle， and find fulfillment. Each simple lesson is explained and brought into focus with real-life examples and includes practical steps on putting those lessons to work every day. Full of uncommon wisdom and lighthearted humor， this book will help readers develop confidence， create a plan for success， get ahead at work， build rapport with others， develop time-management skills， and find wealth and happiness.Readers will learn how to live life to the fullest when they discover how to：* Take chances that l

Everyone has their own opinion about how the ideal family home should look. This difference out clearly in the various reports in this book, which range from historic country houses that have belonged to the same family for generations to distinctive, recently built homes for young families with children.

Growth, development, behavior... All these words are in-separable when speaking about education. Studies show that human development is especially transcendent during the early years, and indicate that the physical environment where this growth occurs is also very relevant. This is why schools, kindergartens and institutes of secondary education are being analyzed and studied from various points of view, including an architectural one. This volume contains a selection of educational centers from around the world that combine technological and constructive as pects with the creation of atmospheres that are suitable for students. For both children and teenagers these centers are places that are full of creativity and imagination, where they can develop as people and complete their education.

Let the trusted authors of Your Pregnancy? Week byWeek —the book you relied on while you were pregnant—guide youthrough baby’s remarkable, sometimes mind-boggling first year. Witheasy-to-understand information at your fingertips, you’ll know whatto look for and understand what’s happening. This book will provideyou with the skills necessary to support and encourage baby’sgrowth. Thoroughly revised and updated, Your Baby’s First Year? Weekby Week includes the latest pediatric guidelines andrecommendations, plus more than 50 new topics—everything from foodallergies to cord-blood banking. It also features the essentialmilestones of baby’s social, emotional, intellectual and physicaldevelopment on a weekly basis. Valuable information includes: Common medical problems : what to look for and when tocall baby’s pediatrician Bonding with baby : from baby massage to talking, whatyou can do to create a meaningful connection Feeding baby : breast milk or formula? and introducin

Nick Arrojo is known worldwide for his ability to give women hairstyles that bring out their individual beauty. Every week, millions of What Not to Wear viewers see him transform women's outdated styles or unflat- tering cuts into fresh and contemporary looks. Most important, he helps them to realize their true beauty potential. He not only changes their hairstyles, but he also changes the way they feel about themselves. In Great Hair, Nick Arrojo reveals his styling secrets so that women can better understand their hair type;assess what hairstyles will work best for their hair, face shape, and lifestyle; and get a terrific new look. Great Hair provides a complete education about hair including: Identifying your hair type and how that impacts cut, color, and style, including ethnic hair Understanding products and styling tools and how to use them to their best advantage Styling your hair--complete instructions on everything from blow outs to updos Choosing a flattering hair color that

A recent survey conducted by Universum Communication found that work-life balance is No.1 on the list of short-term career goals amongst professionals. But while work-life balance is an increasingly popular term, many of us are still unsure about how to achieve it, or lack the confidence to approach employers to negotiate flexible working hours. "Work-Life Balance for Dummies" will offer readers advice and simple strategies to achieve more balance whatever their situation. Discover how to: work out your priorities; put off procrastination and improve your time management; move your boss towards work-life balance; cast your net wider and change jobs and employers; and, plan a relocation. Jeni Mumford is the author of "Life Coaching For Dummies". She is a personal life coach who works with both individuals and organizations on personal development. She runs holistic coaching events in the UK and Italy and is an accredited NLP practitioner.

Motivational speaker and author Pat Mesiti states in his new book that being rich is a state of mind. To get there, you have to take five steps: You need to become aware of how you think and why you think the way you think. Once you’ve developed this awareness about your thinking, you are in a position to change how you think. If you change your thinking, it will change how you feel. If you change your feelings, it will change how you act. If you change your actions, it will transform your level of prosperity. The book’s simple message is illustrated via the author’s personal examples of how he’s helped people around the world change their mindsets and subsequently turned their lives around. Packed with inspirational quotes and stories, and written in a friendly and humorous tone, this book will appeal to people across many walks of life.

In this rare examination of the work of one of America’spreeminent interior designers and architects, David Easton, we aretreated to a retrospec?tive of his storied career. The versatilityof his talent is displayed in examples of his work that range froma 45-room Georgian-style house in Charlottesville, Virginia, to aMediterranean stucco house in Mexico and a modern house in Aspen,Colorado. Black-and-white pencil draw?ings alongside museum-qualitywatercolors by Easton’s partner, James Steinmeyer, show theconception and development of the rooms, accompanied by stunningphotographs of the finished interiors. Written with Annette Tapert,author of The Power of Style and former contribut?ing editorto Architectural Digest , and with a foreword by fameddesigner Albert Hadley, Timeless Elegance will serve as anhomage to David Easton as well as an inspira?tion to his manyfans.

Barbara and René Stoeltie capture the essence of New York’ssophisticated and glamorous elegance, inspiring the reader withprofiles of seventeen style setters and their private homes. NewYork Interiors is an inspirational guide to the eclectic interiorstyle of the Big Apple. The reader is taken on a thrillingexploration of both traditionally designed and strikingly moderninteriors, which reflect the city’s dynamism and diversity. NewYork’s interior design connoisseurs are experts at balancingelements from different cultures and epochs and have contemplatedeach facet of their homes down to the minutest detail, creatinghomes that are true havens from the hustle and bustle of the streetbelow. From a luxury apartment with magnificent paneling hung withold master paintings to a glassed-in eagle’s nest perched atop anart deco skyscraper, or a delightful brownstone with a privategarden worthy of a picturesque country village, Barbara and RenéStoeltie take readers on a personalized journey through sev

Beijing is an exuberant, bewildering city of contrasts,torn between the pull of modernity and centuries of dynastic tradition. Taking its readers beyond the mustsee attractions on every tourist itinerary, Beijing Chic explores the city's sprawling parks, bustling outdoor markets, winding back alleys and expansive suburban retreats, at the same time as it showcases some of its most sophisticated and innovative hotels, restaurants, spas, shops, bars and galleries. Featured alongside the capital's oldest and newest icons are sections devoted to its history, culture and cuisine, revealing the many faces and personalities that define Beijing, and shedding light on the allure it continues to hole for people all over China and even across the world.

The Emperor of Scent tells of the scientific maverick Luca Turin, a connoisseur and something of an aesthete who wrote a bestselling perfume guide and bandied about an outrageous new theory on the human sense of smell. Drawing on cutting-edge work in biology, chemistry, and physics, Turin used his obsession with perfume and his eerie gift for smell to turn the cloistered worlds of the smell business and science upside down, leading to a solution to the last great mystery of the senses: how the nose works.

The bathroom is quite possibly the most overlooked room in the home. Nevertheless, this smaller space is being increasingly upgraded and needs to be functional and attractive, with the right amount of storage. Whether it is being used for a quick shower or long soak in the tub, there are many aesthetic and practical considerations to bear in mind. This is where Plan Your Bathroom comes in. In this follow-up to the very sucessful Color Your Home and Plan Your Kitchen, Plan Your Bathroom uses a similar accessible and innovative format to help with all of the key decisionmaking. After an introduction to bathroom ergonomics and layout, including how to work with what you can't change easily such as plumbing and windows, Plan Your Bathroom looks at the major choices to be made relating to baths, showers, hand basins, and toilets. This is followed by chapters devoted to floors and walls, color, accessories, and gadgets. The final mix and match section contains sample floors, fittings, and walls for endless com