Paul W. Coleman

On the one hand, this is an awesome book for the tongue-tied parent or parent who finds themselves battling a brick wall over issues like homework, hitting, or tempermental issues. The advice is given in bullet points making it immediately useful and not too wordy. He gives actual phrases you can say, actual phrases to avoid saying and things to consider about the issue (to change your own perspective) before you say anything.

On the other hand, he is definitely a bit too conservative and right leaning--and NOT objective for my taste. Several times he presents his own bias as expert advice--see the sections on abstinence and religion for his fear tactics.

A good resource to have in most cases, but beware of his crossing boundaries without mentioning he's giving an opinion and not hard facts.… (more)

SUMMARY:
This is a contemporary realistic fiction about a boy named Corey who is loved dearly by his grandmother who lives close by. His grandmother had a love for balloons of different colors. She took Corey out to the clover on the hilltop to send balloons up to the sky and watch as they disappear. Cory questioned her a great deal about the whereabouts of the balloons. Therefore, his grandmother made him imagine a field of balloons with different colors. But one day, his grandmother became ill and never recovered. In memory of his late grandmother, Cory and his dad went to get the balloons his grandmother had, they also got paper and wrote notes to show their affection. Then they waited when the wind was just right then let the balloons loose.

PERSONAL:
This an interesting and heart-warming story about love of a grandparent towards their grandchild. I enjoyed this story very much. It reminds me of my my daughter and my late dad and how she was the apple of his eyes. This very good for students who have lost a loved one(s) by death or any or means. This age appropriate for Grade k to grade three.

CLASSROOM:
Students will have a discussion about someone they know they have lost by death or went away for a very long time.
The teacher will bring in packets of different colored balloons. Each balloon will be blown up with helium. The students will write a message to someone they have known and loved on the balloons. They will let the balloons loose so that they could stick on the ceiling. This would be called their "Ceiling of Love."… (more)