Kaleidoscope Memories [Paperback]

Cindy S Oldham (Author), Vicky K Ennis (Author), Jenny L Stees (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2008

Kaleidoscope Memories - Childhood Stories That Celebrate Family Life. Meet three sisters who share their childhood memories of growing up in a rural, midwestern neighborhood. Vicky, the painfully shy, easy-going, middle child. Jenny, the spunky-tomboy, tender hearted, older-by-twelve-minutes twin. Cindy, the playful, constantly scared, official baby of the family. Don't miss a single spin of the kaleidoscope in this exciting new collection of memories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Tide Dancer Publications (December 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979707900
• ISBN-13: 978-0979707902
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,810,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A walk down memory lane, July 18, 2011

By 

Sonia Hardman Ashby (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaleidoscope Memories (Paperback)

Kaleidoscope Memories was a pleasant walk down memory lane with the Stees family. Many of the family stories reminded me of my own childhood experiences. What childhood isn't filled with good, bad, and lasting memories? This book is a journal of sorts with dialogue, so you can tap into the feelings of each family member. Everyone will be able to relate to some of the memories shared in this quick read.Plain JanePlain Jane

4.0 out of 5 stars A Trip Down Memory Lane, October 31, 2009

By 

Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Kaleidoscope Memories (Paperback)

Take a nostalgic trip back to your childhood with these memories written by three sisters. They recall their Indiana youthful activities with many of the traditional games and some of their own invention like barrel-rolling. The pieces are arranged in categories like school days, playtime, family pets, the hungry palate, golden moments and potpourri.

They make very pleasant reading, though it lacks the tension found in some childhood memoirs. There is no alcoholic father, poverty, dying mother or racial discrimination that grip and tear at the reader. If your preference is for such a wrenching biography, try reading The Glass Castle. If you want relaxing reading for a summer day; one that jogs your own memories, then read Kaleidoscope Memories. The sisters make good use of dialogue to bring their memories alive in this collection.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great memories of how it really was, May 19, 2009

By 

Learning Abilities Books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaleidoscope Memories (Paperback)

The clever cover and title immediately caught my attention. I enjoyed remembering various scenes of my own childhood as I looked through this kaleidoscope.

My favorite story was about the fox fur stole of the 1940's. Oh, I remember the animal pelts complete with heads, feet, and tails. Who could forget saddle shoes of the 1950's?

Serious moments and delightful moments are recreated in stories of school days, family pets, playtime, mealtime, church activities, childhood fears, etc. How many of today's children can imagine 6 children and two adults in a house with only one bath room and no air-conditioning? How many of their toys run on imagination? How often does a group enjoy the action games described in this book? What did kids do before TV and computers! There wasn't a telephone in every house? They didn't have cell phones! Mealtime was always family time. Values were taught largely by families, church, friends, and interacting with each other.

This is a great book to share with children, teens, parents, and especially grandparents. Perhaps more of us should jot down a few notes or even stories to share with our own children: the first time we saw a microwave, what we were doing when we learned about 9-11, our experiences with teachers, friends, etc. as we grew up. I'm glad these three sisters have let us look into the kaleidoscope of their memories with this collection of short stories by each of them.