The Mother's Almanac (Paperback)

by Marguerite Kelly (Author), Elia Parsons (Author) "There are many times in parenthood when happiness thrusts your spirits higher than the stars and the pleasure of loving makes living a throbbing delight..." (more)
Key Phrases: indoor sunlight, patch plaster, child stir, Basic Soil, Thinned White Glue, Homemade Biscuit Mix (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A national bestseller for two decades--more than 700,000 copies in print--now completely updated and revised for a whole new generation of mothers. From new findings in personal health--during and after pregnancy--to the concerns of working mothers and the influence of TV on children, this is now, more than ever, the most complete guide to loving and living with small children.

From the Publisher
A national bestseller with more than 750,000 copies in print, now revised for the new mothers of the '90s -- the latest findings on health, advice for working mothers, facts about the influence of TV, and more.

B & W illustrations throughout.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Main Street Books; Revised edition (September 24, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385468776
• ISBN-13: 978-0385468770
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,253 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, witty, gleeful book---enjoy!, June 24, 1999

By	Karen Sampson Hudson "Karen Sampson Hudson" (Reno, NV United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

My children are now 28, 25, 23, and nearly 20 years old, but today I decided to plant an avocado pit and looked up how to do it in "The Mother's Almanac." My faded, dog-eared copy is filled with notes jotted on the margins; looking at it brought back many warm memories. This book is a wonder, filled with common-sense wisdom. Over the years I have given it to many new mothers, and referred to it, and quoted from it, hundreds of times. From instructions on how to survive the exhausting early weeks, to detailed explanations of creative projects a pre-schooler can "The hours are terrible, right from the start, but remember, at least you are the boss!" Yes, young mothers, you are in charge of these fast-passing days. This book will help both you and your kids to bask in the love, joy, and creativity of the early childhood years!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most realistic synopsis on children available for moms, September 19, 1999

By A Customer

I have a multitude of books on parenting and parenting techniques and continually find myself referencing "The Mother's Almanac" for that reasuring advise or story that lets me know that my child is perfectly normal. My favorite part to date is the section on lying. I have a 4 year old who fits this description completely, what a creative story teller he will be some day, until then, magic continues to work when the truth is having a hard time being told. Time and time again I wonder why is it that my child does..... and then I read The Mother's Almanac and find that ALL children his age do what I thought was so out of the ordinary. Many thanks to my best friend Amy who introduced me to this book, it's my gift of choice for mother's to be.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for all parents, May 30, 2003

By A Customer

I got a copy of this book maybe 23 years ago. It made me laugh out loud while I was sitting alone in my house, and it was filled with ideas that I put to use. The job jar was worth many times the price of the book. Our son and his friends used to beg to dip into the job jar and take out a folded piece of paper that said "Dust everything in the living room" or "Pick up all your toys," and they would perform the task on the paper as though they'd been given a prize, a phenomenon which I believe the authors had described!

The book is written in a wonderful style, very approachable, very comforting. I think it helps to have the perspective of Marguerite Kelly, who truly cares about the children and the parents she's addressing. It's like having a warm, wise, helpful friend who comes unobtrusively into your home and holds your hand as you navigate the shoals of motherhood.

The humor in the book is terrific. I found that many other books were too rigid, too doctrinaire, and they inspired a sense of "Omigosh! I'm doing this wrong!"

But Marguerite Kelly never made me feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. She makes helpful suggestions that make motherhood go better.

For years, I gave this out to everyone I knew who was having a first child.

My highest recommendations for this book. You will rarely in your life spend money more meaningfully.