"When I was asked to write this book it was not because I am an accredited child rearing expert. I have no degree, credentials or recognition as a child raising expert. I am a professional storyteller who occasionally tells stories about parenting. Here’s an important credential I do hold: I have won the West Virginia Liars’ Contest five times. The advice I offer, however, is honest. I have two kids who, at this writing, are eight and eleven years old. That gives me nineteen collective yea...

Remember the Monster Stick? The greatest-and most dangerous-fishing rod ever? What about Buck, who simply "ain't no ordinary dog"? Anyone who has seen the Lepp boys perform — or read their book, The Monster Stick — will never forget them.In this recording, we revisit West Virginia with Bil Lepp as he tells some of the stories that made his brother Paul and himself repeat winners of the West Virginia State Liars Contest.Stories ©1999 Bil Lepp and Nancy Lepp, except ...

John Dunn never expected that his summer job as a caddie at the local course in Connecticut might turn into something more. The lifers who plied the loops were an ensemble of misfits and degenerates who made the caddie yard look more like a gambling hall than a country club. But Dunn came of age in those yards and on those courses, and the magnetism of the game and the lifestyle proved irresistible. One adventure after another kept him coming back summer after summer, until he found himsel...

Yogi Berra’s dad, an immigrant from northern Italy, didn’t see the point of American sports, but taught Yogi to keep his word and always be on time. Mario Cuomo’s father seemed diminutive (“Maybe he was five foot six if his heels were not worn”), but he once led Mario and his brother in a herculean, nearly impossible effort to hoist and replant a downed 40-foot-tall blue spruce. C. Everett Koop’s dad imparted to his son the crucial difference between buying something and affording somethin...

Just as a baby is born, so is a dad. Learn what to expect on the lead-up to the final big day when fatherhood starts! From the coauthors of The Baby Book .A baby brings great joy to a new father, but also, perhaps, some uncertainty. Don't let these preliminary nerves get to you and dampen what will no doubt be one of the most joyful days of your life. 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know provides information and e...

We can never thank our fathers enough for the special moments that make us cherish our childhood memories. It's those little things - fixing toys, barbecuing the perfect burger, applying a thousand band-aids - that count for so much and that we sometimes take for granted.Illustrated throughout with vintage black and white drawings, each of these heartfelt thank-yous pays tribute to the thoughtful and loving acts our dads do for us each day. This small, charming book will let dads k...

To all who value the preciousness of raising a life and the significance of contributing to this planet this book is a must read. Everything God created has a functional benefit for humanity and the environment; as His Image bearers, we are indicted to make a responsible contribution to benefit our community, society and even the world. This is a timely reading adventure into the inner world of parenting, a conscientious pilgrimage, that affords a pragmatic and spiritual excursion, providi...

Raise Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know describes what parents can do to be effective and help their children succeed, both in school and in life. Part I opens with some big, foundational questions, including the need for parents to realize their own importance. It goes on to discuss how to create a family mission statement, the importance of creating family traditions and rituals, and the pivotal need to model good behavior. Part II starts by exploring ways to let your k...