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This was a gift for a Build-A-Bear fan, and she loved it. It is nice that they can have the store experience of creating a friend in the home.
Showing posts with label mermaid toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mermaid toys. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Colorbok Build, A, Bear Kit, Sweetheart Review
I gave this to my 5-year old niece. She was super excited and had seen these in the mall. The bear requires some sewing with a kid-friendly needle and she was too young to do this on her own. But it was a really nice activity for us to do together. We got 2 hours of bonding and then she got a really sweet bear. Recommended.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Reviews of Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder for Chicks or Ducklings
I've been using this for the last year and a half, brooding six rounds of chicks. The good news is that you're going to save a lot of electricity --about $11 per four week period (which is about how long chicks need it) at our energy prices of 12.3 cents/kwh. So, brood six sets of chicks and the ecoglow brooder has paid for itself.
The other good news is that you won't risk burning down your coop. We almost started a fire once when our heat lamp fell in the bedding. Another time, rain splashed onto a different bulb, causing it to explode --if we hadn't noticed that, our chicks would have died without a heat source. This brooder just keeps plugging along.
There are a few slight downsides. First, within a week, your chicks will learn to jump up on top. They'll love sitting there, and the brooder will get coated in manure, which you'll have to carefully clean off without submerging the heating unit.
The brooder has three height settings, but you need to be very careful when taking the legs off to change heights. I have a feeling that six or ten height changes will be enough to make the plastic legs break, so I usually step up the height by setting the legs on bricks instead.
The final downside is that chicks fresh from the incubator won't dry off enough under one of these if your interior temperature is below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of you probably keep your houses warmer than that, though, and once your chicks are a few days old, the ecoglow is enough for them down into the forties.
Those caveats aside, this is the best product I've found for brooding chicks. I will get another one when mine breaks.
My chicks are still under 3-weeks old, so they aren't fully feathered. My brooder box is in an unheated, uninsulated shed in Montana--so the chicks surely need heat. The chicks seem happy and and growing. During the day the chicks are frequently out from under the brooder, eating, drinking, and exercising. At night they are cuddled up under the brooder (I assume). It's very similar to chicks being raised by a broody hen (sans an old hen teaching the chicks about their world).
Edited:
Since the original chicks, this brooder has now been used for a second batch of chicks and is now heating two Runner Ducklings.
A couple days ago, I was sure I was going to lose a chick. It was so weak and not recovering well. I put it under this thinking when I lifted it to peek it was going to be dead for sure. Nope.. it was exactly right and the little dude is running around healthy and happy now. Very pleased with this item!!!
The other good news is that you won't risk burning down your coop. We almost started a fire once when our heat lamp fell in the bedding. Another time, rain splashed onto a different bulb, causing it to explode --if we hadn't noticed that, our chicks would have died without a heat source. This brooder just keeps plugging along.
There are a few slight downsides. First, within a week, your chicks will learn to jump up on top. They'll love sitting there, and the brooder will get coated in manure, which you'll have to carefully clean off without submerging the heating unit.
The brooder has three height settings, but you need to be very careful when taking the legs off to change heights. I have a feeling that six or ten height changes will be enough to make the plastic legs break, so I usually step up the height by setting the legs on bricks instead.
The final downside is that chicks fresh from the incubator won't dry off enough under one of these if your interior temperature is below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of you probably keep your houses warmer than that, though, and once your chicks are a few days old, the ecoglow is enough for them down into the forties.
Those caveats aside, this is the best product I've found for brooding chicks. I will get another one when mine breaks.
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I've raised chicks under 250W and 100W bulbs. I'm so happy I've found this Brinsea EcoGlow! At under 20W there are significant energy (MONEY) savings--even with a CFL on a timer to give the chicks a day/night schedule. Also important to keep in mind is the significant reduction in fire hazards! The brooder heat surface does not get hot enough to ignite pine shavings.My chicks are still under 3-weeks old, so they aren't fully feathered. My brooder box is in an unheated, uninsulated shed in Montana--so the chicks surely need heat. The chicks seem happy and and growing. During the day the chicks are frequently out from under the brooder, eating, drinking, and exercising. At night they are cuddled up under the brooder (I assume). It's very similar to chicks being raised by a broody hen (sans an old hen teaching the chicks about their world).
Edited:
Since the original chicks, this brooder has now been used for a second batch of chicks and is now heating two Runner Ducklings.
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I use the heat panels for my Cockatiels and other small parrot species I mount them on the outside of my weaning cages or use them in plastic tubs as brooder heaters they use very little energy, are safea great alternative for more expensive parrot brooders. They are super easy to clean too. They don't get too hot you can put your hand on the surface without getting burned it simulates the body temperature that would come from a mother henthere is no light that would disturbe the day/night rythm of the birds and the cable is long enough to reach almost anywhere. I used these in my chicken coop, for sick pet birds, for tiny baby cockatiels in pin feathers and I have even given one to an elderly family friend who needed a reliable and energy efficient foot heater that would not burn down her house if in use 24/7 nor cost her too much in electricity ( not sure if brinsea intended this kind of use ...)Honest reviews on Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder for Chicks or Ducklings
This brooder is perfect for my chicks! Right after they are born, I scoot them under it on the lowest setting and they hang out for about 12-18 hours resting from the energy it took to peck their way out of the egg. Then when they decide to come out, they are fluffy and just cute as can be. I have lost chicks under heat lamps even with the thermometer. I like this so much more. If I want to see how a newborn is doing, I lift it up and peek. That is probably the only downside to this is there is no way to view the chick, but I love this so much I just ordered the 50 sized one. I love the way they can come and go, and they do too. They know where its warm. They go out get their food and water then go back in for a rest. Its funny because I have 1 week olds in there as well as the newborns and they just scoot in to get the warmth and nap also. The room they are in is warm enough for them, but they like to go in and nap or play. You sure can tell which ones are going to be roosters because they are up on top of it in no time lol.A couple days ago, I was sure I was going to lose a chick. It was so weak and not recovering well. I put it under this thinking when I lifted it to peek it was going to be dead for sure. Nope.. it was exactly right and the little dude is running around healthy and happy now. Very pleased with this item!!!
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This is by far the best heater for chicks. I will never use a heat lamp again. It is very safe and will not burn if touched. I can not say enough about this heater. It is adjustable so you can raise as they get older. I have used this for chicks, ducklings and for puppies. The best thing is that they can get away from the heat if they want unlike a heat lamp.Wednesday, November 12, 2014
AmScope New!! Binocular Stereo Microscope 10x-20x-30x-60x Reviews
List Price: $700.00
Sale Price: $144.98
Today's Bonus: 79% Off
I worried about paying so little for a true binocular scope but this did not disappoint!
Amazingly clear, sharp images with a decent depth of field. Workmanship was not shabby and, if treated decently, would last for a long time. For a school kid or amateur enthusiast, this is a great buy and AmScope, in general.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Best AmScope 100 Home School Biology Prepared Microscope Slides (Set B) Deals
List Price: $250.00
Sale Price: $49.98
Today's Bonus: 80% Off
I like this set. Some of the zoological slides are themed...many frog and dog tissue samples. About half the slides (unlike some of the other sets) are botanical. The botanic slides also have some themes such as stems, leaves, pollen. It's nice to have some variety within a given concept to compare and contrast. I have Set A which is very interesting, however, I think for general study, this is a far better overview to get started with. So far no overlap between the sets. Sorry I don't have time to type in all 100 titles (which are printed on each slide). Maybe I'll get a chance to do that later.
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These slides are professionally done. My 5 year old is glued to the microscope. It is a very nice adjunct to the scope. Obviously, a nice microscope is useless without nice slides and vice versa.Will return to vendor without hesitation
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But have dirty pieces is coming in the box, are varied and very interesting samples recommended for children is great fun to be with them watching and looking for information of the specimensSaturday, October 11, 2014
Discount Spanish Flag Honor Medal Set of 10
I wanted to do a 'student of the year' in each class I have in Spanish, and I wanted something of high quality to give the kids who earned it. The price on these was a little steep for a first year teacher, however, when I got the package the quality of each medal is great. They are really pretty I know they will be appreciated by my students as an extra special way to say 'way to go!'
Monday, October 6, 2014
Buy Fine Motor Manipulative Set
This has provided endless opportunities for my young students! Attention, focus and creativity emerge as the children discover unique ways to combine these pieces.
Friday, September 5, 2014
megcos Magnetic Numbers in a Blister Card, 37-Piece Review
These are exactly as I would have thought they were. The magnetic strength is adequate. The magnet doesn't appear to be too hard to take away from the metal surface, but at the same time, it isn't so weak that the magnets fall or move out of place.
Included in the set:
*(3) of each of the numbers 0-9 (You could probably double the 6's as 9's and vice versa if you needed to. They look similar, but not exactly the same)
* In the set I received, no colors were duplicated within the numbers (i.e. all of the 0s were different colors, all of the 1s were different colors, etc, and there weren't (2) red 7s or anything like that) I'm not sure if that is how all sets are, but that's how mine arrived.
* (1) of each operator: +, x, and division sign
* (3) subtraction signs (could double as a slightly smaller 1 if needed)
* (2) longer lines to use under the equation
The numbers measure just under 1.25" long, so make sure you heed the warnings that these are not for small children.
Included in the set:
*(3) of each of the numbers 0-9 (You could probably double the 6's as 9's and vice versa if you needed to. They look similar, but not exactly the same)
* In the set I received, no colors were duplicated within the numbers (i.e. all of the 0s were different colors, all of the 1s were different colors, etc, and there weren't (2) red 7s or anything like that) I'm not sure if that is how all sets are, but that's how mine arrived.
* (1) of each operator: +, x, and division sign
* (3) subtraction signs (could double as a slightly smaller 1 if needed)
* (2) longer lines to use under the equation
The numbers measure just under 1.25" long, so make sure you heed the warnings that these are not for small children.
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These are relatively small, about half the size of the magnetic letters I already had. I cannot bring them out for my daughter to play with as I worry that they are a choking hazard.Best Deals for megcos Magnetic Numbers in a Blister Card, 37-Piece
Using the numbers to help child learn telephone numbers and it has been very useful. I love playing games with the numbers to help the child to commit things to memory.Honest reviews on megcos Magnetic Numbers in a Blister Card, 37-Piece
I bought this for my grandchildren. They love learning their numbers and letters. This is an educational toy that the twins can share. It was exactly what I expected. I personally would like the numbers to be a little larger.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for megcos Magnetic Numbers in a Blister Card, 37-Piece
Magnets barely work at all. They did not stick at all to a magnetic board. Very flimsy and frustrating product,Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Buy Leap Frog Phonics Book , Alphabet Adventures
This book is great. My daugher is finally learning what *sounds* the letter make! And she gets this book out on her own to play with it so it oviously is fun for her which is a huge + in my book!!
I would recomend this book to any child just learning to read, no matter what the age (my daughter is 5), it really helps to add additional practice to any other reading program (whether in school, homeschool, tutor, etc) and it is fun.
Also my almost 2 year old is starting to learn the sounds the letters make from watching her big sister use this!
Learning last a lifetime, so get them started with fun friends from Leap Frog.
I would recomend this book to any child just learning to read, no matter what the age (my daughter is 5), it really helps to add additional practice to any other reading program (whether in school, homeschool, tutor, etc) and it is fun.
Also my almost 2 year old is starting to learn the sounds the letters make from watching her big sister use this!
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This is a great book for people with the Leap pad and are looking for a book that is for younger kids. My daughter is 3 and she is able to follow alot of the concepts with this book. Each page is dedicated to one letter and there are lots of pictures to touch with the pen that make music and stories. I recommend this book for younger kids who are learning the alphebet. Very colorful pages with lots of easily reconizable picutes.(frogs, ice cream, apples)Best Deals for Leap Frog Phonics Book , Alphabet Adventures
My son is 4 and finally learned the sounds of letters with this book. The characters are funny and the songs are so catchy, my son sings the letter sound song all the time. Getting him from knowing the alphabet song to the actual sounds of letters was a big LEAP, but this book really really worked! I've already bought the next 3 phonics books and so far, he love them too. He also can't get enough of the book by Bob the Builder, teaching reading comprehension in a truly fun way that he can relate to. Great stuff!!Honest reviews on Leap Frog Phonics Book , Alphabet Adventures
This one has over 30 phonics games for little one to play. Put it in front of any child 8 or younger and they will play with it. The lessons are geared toward the 6 and younger crowd but it's great fun for anyone. When my son has nothing to do I'll get out one of the leapfrog books and we'll play the sound game. This book is especially great for that with its letter sounds and music.Learning last a lifetime, so get them started with fun friends from Leap Frog.
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I have always praised the LeapPad products and this is just another to add to it. These are the only things that I can get my 4 year old interested in.Monday, September 1, 2014
Best Cartesian Divers Hook; Ages 8 & Up; no. BAT7105 Deals
I love this little project. I often give it as birthday gifts to children who enjoy science. It can be difficult to get everything to work just so, but your patience will pay off with this wonderful product. Young children (under 10) need lots of assistance, but the directions are clear and accurate. The last one we built we left out on the coffee table and our guests couldn't put it down!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Best Little Tikes Dirt Diggers 2-in-1 Dump Truck Deals
My 2yo son got this for Christmas and it's already made it to a storage box. The back part that can also be used as a bucket comes off with just the slightist pressue. So, if he wants to use it as a truck and he tries to push it along, the back falls right off. If he wants to pick it up by the handle (what you should typically be able to do), it comes apart with NO force. What makes it worse is that the back panel that opens to unload the dirt also flaps open with no effort. So even if he just used the back part as a bucket, he couldn't fill it with anything because the end opens up with the first scoop of sand. What a piece of junk.
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The back bucket comes off and becomes a sand toy, which is neat, but that's about all this is good for, because unfortunately, the back bucket comes off at the SLIGHTEST touch, so you can't use it as a truck! All it does is frustrate my son, who makes me put it back together every 10 seconds.Best Deals for Little Tikes Dirt Diggers 2-in-1 Dump Truck
I bought this for my son because he loves to push trucks. The minute I took it out of the packaging the bucket fell off and I knew it would be trouble. The bucket is designed to be removable, but I can't even touch the truck without it falling off. I'm constantly having to put it back on when my son plays with it. I also bought the front end loader and I have not had any problems with it.Honest reviews on Little Tikes Dirt Diggers 2-in-1 Dump Truck
It was a birthday for my great-grandson, and he loved it! It was definitely one of his favorite toys that he received.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Little Tikes Dirt Diggers 2-in-1 Dump Truck
Love this Little Tikes Dump Truck. This is the second one I have purchased for my grandsons. Everything LIttle Tikes is durable and will last a good long time. This is a two in one truck, its a dump truck and a bucket. Great quality. Would recommend this purchase.Thursday, August 21, 2014
Buy First Act Disney Princess Acoustic Guitar
The guitar is much smaller than expected even after reading the description. My daughter loved the princess theme but thought it was not a "real" guitar.
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Guitar came in perfect condition and on time! My niece will love it. Guitar was in original box and was exactly as specified.Best Deals for First Act Disney Princess Acoustic Guitar
I bought for my then 3 yr old daughter. She loves it and even my 22 month old attempts to play it. I know nothing about musical instruments, but I would assume that this is very basic. If you are wanting one in hopes or your child actually learning to play with, I may look at others. This one served our purpose: Cute and fun.Honest reviews on First Act Disney Princess Acoustic Guitar
Bougt this for my 5-year old, she said to give it five stars. It is much tougher than other instruments has held up to lots of abuse. Sounds pretty good too.Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Multiplication Practice Math Machine Review
I had a toy similar to this when I was a kid learning my times tables. It was laid out in this grid, and I pulled levers for each number to reveal the answer. I loved quizzing myself, and learned the multiplication tables very quickly.
Now that my kids are learning the times tables, I have searched far and wide for a toy that has all of the numbers, 1-9, laid out in this grid, knowing that the grid helps the student find patterns and see relationships that you miss when using flash cards or something similar. I've even searched websites to find a grid layout game online, and couldn't find it.
I found this toy, but hesitated because it didn't look like very high quality (there is another, similar toy on the market that got bad reviews because of its poor quality). I finally caved and ordered this toy, since I hadn't found anything else similar, and my daughter really needed some help seeing the big picture. When it arrived, I was surprised at how heavy it is. Though the numbers are only printed on stickers that are placed on the plastic (I wish the numbers were printed directly on the plastic), the toy itself seems fairly well-made. I'm still not sure how long the springs will last, as we just received the toy today. But I do have a better first impression than I expected.
I definilety recommend this product.
This one exceed our expectation because the answers were easy to read & our old one was not.
Did not like the price; felt it was over priced by $10.00
Now that my kids are learning the times tables, I have searched far and wide for a toy that has all of the numbers, 1-9, laid out in this grid, knowing that the grid helps the student find patterns and see relationships that you miss when using flash cards or something similar. I've even searched websites to find a grid layout game online, and couldn't find it.
I found this toy, but hesitated because it didn't look like very high quality (there is another, similar toy on the market that got bad reviews because of its poor quality). I finally caved and ordered this toy, since I hadn't found anything else similar, and my daughter really needed some help seeing the big picture. When it arrived, I was surprised at how heavy it is. Though the numbers are only printed on stickers that are placed on the plastic (I wish the numbers were printed directly on the plastic), the toy itself seems fairly well-made. I'm still not sure how long the springs will last, as we just received the toy today. But I do have a better first impression than I expected.
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Purchased for my 6 yr old who loves math and loves to push buttons. He has started to memorize the multiplication tables using this toy. Afraid he'll be better at math than me in no time. It's easy to read (the answers pop up in red text on the bottom side of the button when pressed), easy to use, great layout/format, quiet, requires no batteries, and is great for travel. The numbers on the buttons are on stickers (not etched or painted on), but I have not had a problem with that.Best Deals for Multiplication Practice Math Machine
I got the multiplication for my son and he like it. He ask if he can get the division too.I definilety recommend this product.
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Kids love this and have fun while learning their math skills. I do suggest you have them do it in random order to make it more challenging.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Multiplication Practice Math Machine
We have purchased this type of multiplication table years ago.This one exceed our expectation because the answers were easy to read & our old one was not.
Did not like the price; felt it was over priced by $10.00
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo Review
In some cases the more a child enjoys a toy, song, book, or whatever, the more annoying the parents will find it. So far the "Fisher-Price Peek-A-Boo Cuckoo" has found its way into our daughter's heavy play-time rotation, but had not caused too many headaches for the grown-ups.
One of the things that she likes is that she can push the button at the top of the clock and an illuminated bird pops out. Our daughter is 10 months-old and she learned how to push the button almost immediately. Each time it brings a smile to her face.
The bird is one feature but there are many more
By pressing the middle of the clock-hands (which do rotate) you are able to play songs.
The dial at the top can be rotated to the "Sun" postion to play daytime songs or to the "Moon" to play nighttime sings.
A little side is key makes a clicking sound which represents winding the clock.
Rings are attached to the side... I am not sure why they are there, but my daughter plays with them.
The clock is not too loud and it offers a nice variety of sounds and music. This is what helps to keep the annoyance factor to a minimum.
Final verdict A nice inexpensive toy that children from ages 6-24months will enjoy.
5 Stars
Bottom line: Good buy for the price particularly if you can grab it on sale. Consider it as a crib toy. Takes up very little room in the crib standing up in a corner and doesn't trigger easily by accident if bumped at night.
One of the things that she likes is that she can push the button at the top of the clock and an illuminated bird pops out. Our daughter is 10 months-old and she learned how to push the button almost immediately. Each time it brings a smile to her face.
The bird is one feature but there are many more
By pressing the middle of the clock-hands (which do rotate) you are able to play songs.
The dial at the top can be rotated to the "Sun" postion to play daytime songs or to the "Moon" to play nighttime sings.
A little side is key makes a clicking sound which represents winding the clock.
Rings are attached to the side... I am not sure why they are there, but my daughter plays with them.
The clock is not too loud and it offers a nice variety of sounds and music. This is what helps to keep the annoyance factor to a minimum.
Final verdict A nice inexpensive toy that children from ages 6-24months will enjoy.
5 Stars
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Got this when it was on sale before Christmas for my 8 month old baby. Didn't have any expectations for it because it was so inexpensive but have been very happy with it. There are two modes -an ABC/counting/teaching and a music mode. My baby especially loves to grab at the little cuckoo birdie that's hidden and pull it out. She reaches for this toy every time so for what the low price, it is definitely worth the money. The music is fun and the toy seems very durable.Best Deals for Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo
Purchased the Fisher-Price Peek-A-Boo clock for 13 mo old who had shown facination with household cuckoo and other clocks. Toy arrived securely packaged and in perfect condition. Our toddler immediately began to play with it and quickly discovered the large buttons and how to release the cuckoo. She spent 20 minutes sitting and exploring the toy which is remarkable as her usual attention span is about 3 minuntes per toy! She continues to enjoy and "dance" to the music of the clock every day. As she gets older, I expect that she will start to learn from the built in educational material. The toy has been dropped many times and has suffered multiple assaults by tiny hands upon the cuckoo bird yet remains intact indicating good durability.I rated it 4 stars only because the hands do not move independently therefore is will not be useful as a means to learn to tell time. This is not an issue at for us at present but I will be watching for a second toy clock with this capablility in the futureHonest reviews on Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo
I got this for my ten month old. She loves it. The first thing she noticed was that she could pull open the door to the cuckoo and reveal the bird which starts a song. She loves the song. She has recently figured out that she can push the button that holds on the clock hands for more songs and loves that too. I actually prop this up in the corner of her crib so she'll see it when she wakes up from a nap or in the morning and play with it. The toy still has room to grow because she hasn't yet discovered that she can spin the sun/moon wheel and that she can turn the key. She also doesn't know she can open the bird's door by pushing the button on the top of the clock. I've been very pleased with this.Bottom line: Good buy for the price particularly if you can grab it on sale. Consider it as a crib toy. Takes up very little room in the crib standing up in a corner and doesn't trigger easily by accident if bumped at night.
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We purchased this clock for our 18 month old daughter who has started to take an interest in clocks, picking them out of books and pointing out the clocks on the wall. We wanted an early teaching clock that was safe for her age and also could grow with her and teach her numbers and time when it came time for it. I saw this online and the reviews were good so my husband went out to get it. When he came home with it I was very surprised to see that the hands do not move independently which means you can not point at different times on the clock. Worse yet, when you put the big hand on the o'clock (12) the little hand is almost never on another number so it is never __ o'clock! It is cute and maybe a good baby toy but is not good for growing interest in clocks and how they work! We went back on a search and found the Melissa & Doug shape sorter clock which although it is recommended for 3+ she can grow into it with a little supervision and help now and lots more learning later!Reviews of The Giver
Jonas lives in a "perfect" world where war, disease, and suffering have all been eradicated. Everything is in order; everything is under control. The people have no worries or cares. The Community strives for "sameness," in which everyone and everything are the same and equal. To help the Community function as a cohesive unit, each member is assigned a position in society. When Jonas turns twelve, the Community selects him to be the new "Receiver of Memories." Only the "Giver" knows the truth and memories of the past, and now he must pass these memories on to Jonas.
The Giver is a wonderful book. Lois Lowry skillfully crafted an intriguing and profoundly thoughtful story. She subtly creates an uneasy feeling that something is wrong with this "perfect world." The Community's advisors intend to establish security within utopian society, but they really establish a stifling dystopia. To protect people from the risks of making poor or wrong decisions in life, the advisors plan and dictate the lives of the people. In effect, the citizens have no freedom of choice; they do not choose their job or even their spouse. Moreover, the advisors inhibit the people's ability to feel because they want to spare them from the hardships and pain of life. For instance, individuals must take a pill everyday, which suppresses passionate feelings. The citizens do not know or experience true emotions like love. One of the goals of the Community is to achieve "sameness" so that no one feels embarrassed or gets excluded for being different. However, this limits individuality and freedom of expression because everyone conforms to a certain desired image. Finally, to relieve the population of the horrors and devastation of the world and the past, the advisors isolate the Community from the rest of the world (also known as "Elsewhere) and give the burden of holding the memories of the past to a single member of society: the "Receiver." Therefore, the Community lives only in the present, and the people have a narrow perspective of life because they only know their community and way of life. They are naive; they do not gain knowledge or wisdom from the memories. While receiving the memories, Jonas learns a different and better way to live and realizes what he and the Community have been missing. He decides that something must be done to change the current conditions and enlighten his community.
Although it is a Newbery Award Winner, The Giver is a controversial book that has been challenged and even banned. After parents complained that the violent and sexual passages were inappropriate for children, the Bonita Unified School District in California temporarily banned the novel from classes. The Giver has been challenged in other school districts around the country for its "mature themes" of euthanasia, infanticide, and suicide. I do not agree with banning and challenging of this novel. It is a great book, and part of what makes it so great is the incorporation of these controversial issues. They force readers to wrestle with their own thoughts and figure out their stance on the issues. Good literature makes readers think. Banning this book takes away the freedom of speech, the freedom to read, and the freedom to learn and explore. The banning of The Giver is ironically similar to the actions of the Community that lead the Community to its suppressive and stifling state. A powerful story, The Giver keeps readers in suspense, touches them, and stays with them for a long time. I love this book, and I encourage everyone to read it.
The Receiver of Memory holds the position of highest honor within the Community, serving as the repository for the memories and knowledge of generations. Whenever the Committee of Elders are faced with a new situation, they are able to seek the counsel and advice of the Receiver. They have the benefit of experience without having to bear its pain.
Because of his intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and Capacity to See Beyond, Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. The current Receiver, who has held the position for decades, then becomes the Giver.
Ms. Lowry paints a vivid picture of this Community. Referring to everyday concepts in a slightly unusual way helps to set that society apart from our own. Babies younger than one year are called "newchildren," for example; children of the same age are "groupmates"; the elderly, the unhealthy, or those who have broken the rules three times may be "released."
Why might parents or teachers consider THE GIVER inappropriate for their children? I can only speculate on this since I find the book profoundly original and commendable:
1. The setting being a community without freedom. It should be noted, however, that citizens relinquished their freedom years earlier in order to escape the accompanying chaos. They are perfectly satisfied with their arrangement and are not oppressed.
2. The family being depicted as a temporary sociological unit rather than a permanent socio-biological unit. Nevertheless, this family unit provides a very nurturing atmosphere.
3. References to "Stirrings" (sexual arousal). These occur only a few times in the book and are only vaguely described. Since Stirrings are forbidden in the Community, young people begin taking a preventative pill upon first experiencing them and continue taking it daily until they enter the House of the Old.
4. The idea of young people bathing the elderly of the opposite gender. This happens only once in the book. It is a gentle, caring, and (given the ages of the participants) asexual experience.
5. The concept of "release." This pervades the book, but its meaning remains uncertain until Chapter 19, when Jonas witnesses a release.
I would think that for many readers these concerns would be assuaged by Jonas, the young protagonist who, in the course of his instruction, recognizes the advantages of previous systems and selflessly tries to better his Community.
Although there are aspects of this Community that we may find unsettling, we must remember that Lowry is not advocating this system. She is, in fact, inviting us to consider whether our own society has any of the characteristics of the Community that disturb us:
Do we attempt to make our lives pain free?
Do we attempt to erase unpleasant memories?
Do we use euphemisms?
Do we use robotic phrases, as for apologies?
Do we have anything resembling the "House of the Old"?
Do we have a ritual that might be called a "Ceremony of Loss"?
Do we attempt Climate Control?
Do we avoid talking about ways in which we differ from each other?
In our own Society, without a designated Receiver of Memory, that responsibility -with its inherent pain and exhilaration -falls to each of us. Vital questions for us to consider are Which memories will we receive? Which will we give?
The Giver is a wonderful book. Lois Lowry skillfully crafted an intriguing and profoundly thoughtful story. She subtly creates an uneasy feeling that something is wrong with this "perfect world." The Community's advisors intend to establish security within utopian society, but they really establish a stifling dystopia. To protect people from the risks of making poor or wrong decisions in life, the advisors plan and dictate the lives of the people. In effect, the citizens have no freedom of choice; they do not choose their job or even their spouse. Moreover, the advisors inhibit the people's ability to feel because they want to spare them from the hardships and pain of life. For instance, individuals must take a pill everyday, which suppresses passionate feelings. The citizens do not know or experience true emotions like love. One of the goals of the Community is to achieve "sameness" so that no one feels embarrassed or gets excluded for being different. However, this limits individuality and freedom of expression because everyone conforms to a certain desired image. Finally, to relieve the population of the horrors and devastation of the world and the past, the advisors isolate the Community from the rest of the world (also known as "Elsewhere) and give the burden of holding the memories of the past to a single member of society: the "Receiver." Therefore, the Community lives only in the present, and the people have a narrow perspective of life because they only know their community and way of life. They are naive; they do not gain knowledge or wisdom from the memories. While receiving the memories, Jonas learns a different and better way to live and realizes what he and the Community have been missing. He decides that something must be done to change the current conditions and enlighten his community.
Although it is a Newbery Award Winner, The Giver is a controversial book that has been challenged and even banned. After parents complained that the violent and sexual passages were inappropriate for children, the Bonita Unified School District in California temporarily banned the novel from classes. The Giver has been challenged in other school districts around the country for its "mature themes" of euthanasia, infanticide, and suicide. I do not agree with banning and challenging of this novel. It is a great book, and part of what makes it so great is the incorporation of these controversial issues. They force readers to wrestle with their own thoughts and figure out their stance on the issues. Good literature makes readers think. Banning this book takes away the freedom of speech, the freedom to read, and the freedom to learn and explore. The banning of The Giver is ironically similar to the actions of the Community that lead the Community to its suppressive and stifling state. A powerful story, The Giver keeps readers in suspense, touches them, and stays with them for a long time. I love this book, and I encourage everyone to read it.
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Jonas, an Eleven when THE GIVER opens, lives in a Community where everything is meticulously ordered: houses look alike, people dress alike, each family unit includes a father and a mother (who can apply for one male and one female child). Children begin their volunteer hours when they are Eights, and the Committee of Elders assigns them their roles in the Community at the Ceremony of Twelves. Because the people have chosen Sameness, nothing in their Community is unexpected, inconvenient, or unusual. They have no hills, no color, no cold, no sunshine. Their feelings are only superficial; their memories encompass only one generation. Pain is relieved instantly by taking a pill. They have abdicated choices.The Receiver of Memory holds the position of highest honor within the Community, serving as the repository for the memories and knowledge of generations. Whenever the Committee of Elders are faced with a new situation, they are able to seek the counsel and advice of the Receiver. They have the benefit of experience without having to bear its pain.
Because of his intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and Capacity to See Beyond, Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. The current Receiver, who has held the position for decades, then becomes the Giver.
Ms. Lowry paints a vivid picture of this Community. Referring to everyday concepts in a slightly unusual way helps to set that society apart from our own. Babies younger than one year are called "newchildren," for example; children of the same age are "groupmates"; the elderly, the unhealthy, or those who have broken the rules three times may be "released."
Why might parents or teachers consider THE GIVER inappropriate for their children? I can only speculate on this since I find the book profoundly original and commendable:
1. The setting being a community without freedom. It should be noted, however, that citizens relinquished their freedom years earlier in order to escape the accompanying chaos. They are perfectly satisfied with their arrangement and are not oppressed.
2. The family being depicted as a temporary sociological unit rather than a permanent socio-biological unit. Nevertheless, this family unit provides a very nurturing atmosphere.
3. References to "Stirrings" (sexual arousal). These occur only a few times in the book and are only vaguely described. Since Stirrings are forbidden in the Community, young people begin taking a preventative pill upon first experiencing them and continue taking it daily until they enter the House of the Old.
4. The idea of young people bathing the elderly of the opposite gender. This happens only once in the book. It is a gentle, caring, and (given the ages of the participants) asexual experience.
5. The concept of "release." This pervades the book, but its meaning remains uncertain until Chapter 19, when Jonas witnesses a release.
I would think that for many readers these concerns would be assuaged by Jonas, the young protagonist who, in the course of his instruction, recognizes the advantages of previous systems and selflessly tries to better his Community.
Although there are aspects of this Community that we may find unsettling, we must remember that Lowry is not advocating this system. She is, in fact, inviting us to consider whether our own society has any of the characteristics of the Community that disturb us:
Do we attempt to make our lives pain free?
Do we attempt to erase unpleasant memories?
Do we use euphemisms?
Do we use robotic phrases, as for apologies?
Do we have anything resembling the "House of the Old"?
Do we have a ritual that might be called a "Ceremony of Loss"?
Do we attempt Climate Control?
Do we avoid talking about ways in which we differ from each other?
In our own Society, without a designated Receiver of Memory, that responsibility -with its inherent pain and exhilaration -falls to each of us. Vital questions for us to consider are Which memories will we receive? Which will we give?
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In a community that is all the same lives Jonas, who discovers he is very different. Jonas is the main character in the book The Giver, my favorite book. I loved The Giver because the plot was very creative, the theme was magnificent, and the setting was vivid. I think you should read this book for many reasons. The theme of this book is clearly represented: freedom, the right to make your own choices, uniqueness, and individuality are worth dying for. In Jonas's community, a commitee selects one's job, war is unheard of, all people wear the same attire, and all are assigned spouses and families. When Jonas is given the special, wonder-filled occupation of becoming the Receiver of Memory, he finds that there is much more to life. Through his task of becoming the Receiver of Memory, he discovers the meaning of love, pain, frustration, color, and cold. That is when Jonas realizes how much more there really is. Life soon becomes overwhelmingly unbearable in his world of "sameness." He finds life isn't worth living without the qualities (often that we take for granted) he discovered. That is when Jonas goes on a dangerous journey to find a land that is different. The setting in this book made it quite a pleasure. Everything in the community was predictable and pre-planned. The housing units were all the same. There were designated spots for everything. The setting helped develop the plot and theme. The mysterious ending leaves one filled with curiousity and wonder. The book, The Giver, by Lois Lowry is guaranteed enjoyment, especially for someone who likes a good theme and plot that ties in with the setting. I loved the boook The Giver, and I truly believe that everybody should read it!Honest reviews on The Giver
One of the few books that I can ever read past the first few chapters, Lois Lowry's "The Giver" has easily made its way into one of my favorite books. It's amazing how many only 170 some odd pages can work on so many levelsemotionally, socially, politicallyand still pull it off. Lowry perfectly brings a coming-of-age boy (Jonas) forced to live in a seemingly "perfect" community into receiving the truth about the past, a past where pain existed, a past where feelings existed. Jonas' own naivete towards the world is the most interesting part of the book; watching him come to his own revelations about the very society he lives in, and the pure simplicity of his convictions: "But we SHOULD have choices!" Lowry leaves a lot of the book open for you to fill in the structureshe never really explains the whole concept of why people moved to "Sameness," and I really think that's for the best. I think it gives the message that maybe we really aren't made for perfectionbecause, perhaps, beauty comes in imperfection. A classic.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Giver
At first when i had to read The Giver for my english class, I was "This will be boring!". When I came back from school, I started reading...and i couldn't stop! This is a unique story, the people are all the same. They live in a world with no music, or color or differences or true love. They take a pill to make them act like robots. The community gives them a job and a spouse and a family. They get their jobs at the 12th year. There is peace, but they don't have almost any feelings! Jonas is choosed to be the Receiver. He will have all the memories of The Giver. He will have all the memories of the old times (colors, love, pain, loneliness, hapiness...), so he can be the wiseman of the community, he will make the best decisions for the peace of the community. But only one person cannot handle all these feelings and he feels apart from the others, he feels he can't fit in anymore, like when he was still a child. He grows too old for a kid of his age and the other kids don't understand him. Then he learns the end of every person released in to the "Community's Elsewhere". But he decides to control his own future. With the help of the Giver, he discovers that there is a different "elsewhere" for everyone, some place beyond the community, where the past, the present and the future are. This is a wonderful book, that made me smile and cry. I will never forget this book, who has strong feelings to communicate to the reader. I stopped reading sometimes, for a minute, and look around me, enjoy the colors, the music and the happiness of be free of my own feelings. This book is one of the best books I have ever read, i really love this book and I think everyone should read it.
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