Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 793.21
EAN num: 9780399528460
ISBN number: 0399528466
Label: Perigee Trade
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 272
Printing Date: January 07, 2003
Publishing house: Perigee Trade
Release Date: January 07, 2003
Sale Popularity Level: 559372
Studio: Perigee Trade
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
This practical guide gives readers all the best Girlfriend-tested tricks-to make playtime and parties as easy as they are fun. Includes...
€ The best ideas for angst-free at-home fetes and off-premises extravaganzas
€ No fail game and craft ideas-for any theme
€ Affordable alternatives to junk-filled goody bags
€ Age-specific suggestions for can't-miss gifts
€ Save-the-day stuff to stash in your cupboard for instant fun, any time
€ Playdate sucess secrets
€ S.O.S. strategies for when you're too tired to move
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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Someone please stop this woman from mass-producing such rubbish. All of her books are a waste of trees. It's not so much that she is a former Playboy bunny and stripper, it's that without any degree or training in child development, or any related field, she has no intelligent basis for her "advice." She needs to take a simple parenting class and go from there.
Rated by buyers 
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This year I have attended so many kids parties with my 3 1/2 year old, and now its my turn. I am so glad to have this book as a guideline. I have seen parents throw parties where the guests arrive and everyone is just sitting around, there is no plan. They put some food out on a table for people to nibble on and the kids just run around. No structure, no plan, no fun party. Maybe I live in another world, but I found the girlfriends guide a great guide to avoiding having a dull gathering for a kids special day. Weather Lovine wrote it or not, the book is a valuable tool and I will be sharing it with all the mothers I know....especially the ones who have been throwing those dull parties.
Rated by buyers 
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I was really appreciative to find this book, because it offers a lot of concrete, practical advice and ideas for party and playdate planning. My favorite section outlines several sample party ideas, including the invitations, warm-Up/icebreaker activity, cake, food, party favors, main activities, and send-off ideas for several theme parties for kids of different ages. The party ideas aren't out of control, either--they don't expect you to spend several weeks with your glue gun (or several weeks of paychecks), although you could amp up these ideas if you were so inclined.
I also liked a lot of the advice about what NOT to do as you plan a party; the authors offer specific examples about mishaps that occurred in spite of their best intentions. I agree with their fundamental principle that party planning should be about whatever works best for you and your child--whether it's to host an entire class in your back yard or take five best friends to a special event.
The playdate section puts things into perspective for Moms with toddlers--being the Mom of the Bitten is uncomfortable, but so is being the Mom of the Biter. Again, a lot of specifics are offered here (dealing with stages of potty-training, dealing with a child's insistence on wearing a super hero cape everywhere, etc.) to help you prepare for and deal with a variety of child challenges.
Other reviewers mentioned being disappointed that Iovine co-authored this book and that it lacks her typical writing voice. I own the Girlfriends Pregnancy Guide and the Guide to the First Year, and while the different tone is noticeable, there wasn't anything wrong with it. There was plenty of humor, input from some new Girlfriends, and realistic advice, which was why I wanted the book in the very first place.
I will say that the gift-giving section could use an update, and it seemed like many of the gift recommendations were more extravagant than I'd want to be, especially if you have lots of parties to attend. Overall, though, I thought it was a great reference and fun to read.
Rated by buyers -
This book was a godsend when I was organizing my 3-year-old daughter's birthday party. It not only made suggestions about what to do, but gave critical info about what not to do (and why). The advice worked like a charm -- three moms told me it was the best party they'd ever been to. As for the other readers' complaints about voice, maybe it's because I've only read one other Iovine guide (Pregnancy), but I had no problem with it -- it's fun, friendly and concretely helpful. My copy is now lost in the house somewhere, and if it doesn't turn up before the subsequent party, I'm buying another.
Rated by buyers -
i am a card-carrying girlfiend ... loved iovine's previous books (i have all the guides from pregnancy to getting your grrove back and LOVE them all!). i really wanted to love this book.
instead, it was a huge dissapointment. it had none of the chatty, witty dialougue or cute anecdotes that made iovine's earlier books fun to read, and so different from every other parenting book.
this book read like a very tedious magazine article. the author occasionally tried to sprinkle in some vicki-like humour or language but it was sporatic, awkward and always fell painfully short. and as far as the content -- even the slightly experienced mom will find the ideas redundant.
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