Toys and Games Books

I've been running public school reading intervention programs for three years and I am a huge fan of this series. They are great content-oriented plays.

I love how this book presents a topic from adverbs to division to styles of writing in engaging simple pages. My son doesn't feel overwhelmed and yet it's thorough! Thanks!

Exactly what we expected from Skill Builders. Allows my child to prepare for the next year over the summer.

I needed to make sure my 8th grader was where he should be with regard to his reading skills. We used this book. I like Kelly Wingate books. My favorite part are the vocabulary flash cards. I carry the flash cards in my back pack and we review them at odd times, such as waiting at the doctor's office or before a ball game is to start.

I've had this book on my shelf for almost 3-4 years. Since I wanted to work on my reading program this summer, I pulled it, along with Strategies That Work...this book is a gold mine. I have been actively taking notes on the ideas that I will use for my third grade class. If you are going for National Board, I say get this book and use some of the strategies in it.

I teach 5th grade and use this all the time. The pages easily work with any genre you are teaching, whether it is biography, fiction, nonfiction, whatever. Another thing I like is the fact that there are some pages that integrate grammar into whatever story you are reading (like searching for verbs in the story.) This book is one that I use constantly.

My girlfriend and I decided to pick up this game as we had enjoyed a previous game, Lost Cities, also developed by Reiner Knizia. When we opened the box, I thought we were going to immediately drift into the strange and quite nerdy world of Dungeons and Dragons.

Your task as a feudal lord is to take over successive locations in the game by placing numbered tiles around the locations. A seemingly simple design, the game is actually quite complex and eventually becomes quite immersive. It is just as fun to make fun of the game while playing it (by taking on nerd voices and shouting statements such as "ZOUNDS") as it is to actually play the game. We are thinking that this game might become just as an important part of our regular game nights as Lost Cities has.

The biggest problem is in the design of the pieces for the game. They are all made of thick stock cardboard and are susceptible to errant spills of beverages and dogs with a taste for card stock. Additionally, the thickness and small size of the game pieces make them difficult to wield. Nevertheless, this is factor can be almost entirely discounted by the sheer enjoyment that the game provides.

From debt to domination, never did I imagine that this subject could actually entertain as well as educate me. This could serve as a blue print for many businesses under pressure!

This book is not the size of a traditional workbook. It is a little taller than a typical paperback novel. Given that it also has only 80 pages this makes it small and really good for backpack, purse, and car. There are only about ten pages of activities for each subject, but they are really awesome activities that encourage the right kind of thinking for the subjects. They are also enjoyable, which is key. My daughter didn't want to put this book away the first time we used it! Almost every activity involves creativity. The first activity in the reading section asks kids to choose short vowel sounds to complete words, but rather than merely filling in the blank the kids are asked to complete blank cat faces by drawing in the one that represents the correct vowel sound. Every page is well-tought-out and lots of fun. The only thing I could wish for is a larger version of this book so we could have more of these to do!

This is the rule book that covers and expands upon the basic rules sold with the miniature starter kits. Included is detailed information and background on each of the major factions, units in those factions, and playing strategies. There is "history" information that details how the Earth and space colonies got to their current states in 2175. Also there are some stories within the pages that really help to give a "feel" for the future setting in Rezolution.

I am really impressed with the game system. It's fast and furious compared to a lot of other miniatures combat systems on the market. The game system lends itself to lots of variation is strategy between players. It also works off a "you move a unit, then I move a unit" style of turn system, so you won't find yourself getting bored while waiting for your opponent to move all their figures. The rules are easy to pick-up and I've been able to get friends playing smoothly within about 10-15 minutes. In addition to the regular combat there are rules for computer hacking which can be used for completing mission objects or it can be used to try and take over your opponents robots if they have any.

Also in the book are pages that give painting tips and ideas for designing terrain for your battlefields. Typical battlegrounds are 4'x4'. There are plenty of pictures of their miniatures to give you and idea of painting schemes and terrain ideas as well.

I highly recommend this game for anyone who enjoys miniatures combat, especially if you are looking for something in the cyber-punk genre.