On an ordinary winter day, Loretta Goebel was wrapping Christmas gifts in her basement when the doorbell rang. She rushed to answer the door, and in her haste, she hit her hand on the banister as she ran up the stairs. This seemingly innocuous injury eventually resulted in the amputation of both her legs, her left hand, and most of the fingers on her right hand. Through all her pain and loss, Loretta never gave up her quest to live a full life, and her story of triumph can inspire anyone struggling to adjust to difficult circumstances.

Not just another Holocaust story, Storming the Tulips is an intimate encounter with history, as told by twenty former students of the 1st Montessori School in Amsterdam. They were children-contemporaries of Anne Frank-and this book is a companion to The Diary of Anne Frank. While Anne's story describes her sequestered life in the Annex, Storming the Tulips reveals what children on the outside endured-in the streets, in hiding, and in the concentration camps. Their friends disappeared. Their parents sent them away. They were herded on trains and sent to death camps. They joined the Nazi youth. They hid Jews. They lost their families. They picked the pockets of the dead. They escaped. They dodged bullets. They lived in terror. They starved. They froze. They ate tulip bulbs. They witnessed a massacre. They collected shrapnel. And finally, they welcomed the Liberation. Some lost their families, most lost their homes, but they all lost their innocence as they fought to survive in a world gone mad-the only world that they knew.

This insightful book reviews the current research on literacy programming, examines the latest standards for strengthening reading skills, and provides educators, families, and caregivers methods for building successful reading habits in and out of the classroom. Research indicates that children need more than classroom instruction to become proficient readers. Unfortunately, few parents realize how simple, everyday practices can build a lifelong love of reading. Educators, diligent with employing mandatory literacy standards, may overlook families and support systems as tools for improving student performance. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the various methods of reading instruction, analyzing the pedagogy behind Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), the importance of reading aloud to children, and the necessity of working the home-school connection. For the Love of Reading: Guide to K-8 Reading Promotions provides strategies and tips for setting up successful reading environments for children, including having a well-stocked library collection; engaging students through book clubs, reading lists, and prepared book talks; and involving student and adult volunteers. The author asserts that the entire school community-teachers, librarians, parents, caregivers, and administrators-must work together to promote literacy. Includes a step-by-step implementation and explanation of each reading program Features forms, book talks, recommended book lists, photographs, and valuable websites Provides literacy workshop agendas for parents and caregivers Offers methods for soliciting and working with literacy volunteers Each reading program is described in detail to facilitate replication at public schools, public libraries, and home-schools An extensive list of vendors, professional development materials, and websites offer additional teaching support Prepared book talks, reading lists, and templates for programs provide the basis for immediate implementation Reading programs proven successful in inner city, rural, and suburban elementary and middle schools as well as public libraries are included