TITLE: CHILDREN'S GEMS FOR THE HEART:  I wonder When God Will Get Tired of People and Put Dinosaurs Back on Earth
Author: Arlene S. Uslander
Illustrations by Children
ISBN 1-59286-601-8

The following review was contributed by: Lily Azerad-Goldman &CLICK TO VIEW Lily Azerad-Goldman's Reviews

Feeling depressed, down in the dumps or perhaps distressed with life, then pick up a copy of Arlene Uslander's book: CHILDREN'S GEMS FOR THE HEART: I Wonder When God Will Get Tired of People and Put Dinosaurs Back on Earth.
This intoxicating and enchanting compilation of children's philosophical musings will surely keep a smile on your face as you go about your daily chores.

After 25 years of teaching elementary school Family Living, Arlene Uslander has organized her random pile of gems into orderly easy to follow topic chapters. 
Children's words are divided into pearls of wisdom under separate simple to follow headings such as: All in the Family, Really Serious Stuff and Really Cool Stuff, that all provide for an easy reading flow.

Some of the sentiments children express about their parents are fascinating: About fathers- "Lets you tell him your feelings and give your opinions. He doesn't say, my opinion is always right, or About Mothers- "My mom yells so loud, you can hear her three blocks away. She sounds like a lion roaring over the whole universe."
On grandparents, Arlene Uslander saved this precious gem: "Everyone is good at something. I'm good at coloring, and my sister is good at cutting with scissors. Grandparents are good at loving!"

Particularly touching and striking are the innocent, right from the heart drawings of some of the children such as: the Dinosaur front cover and the one on page 87: A little girl crying under the sun and the rain with a caption that reads as follows: "I wish a big, long rain would wash away all the sadness in the world," by Victoria, age 8.
Under Really Serious Stuff, What happens when you die, I picked up this little treasure:
Winnie -" I went to the place where you get buried. But it's really a braveyard,
'cause you have to be brave to go there."

On page 98, Arlene got a little wake up call when a child asked her: "What would you like to be famous for, Teacher?" Before she had time to answer, Adam said, "It's too late for her!"" But the Thank You notes she received when she retired made up for this little incident.

Such endearing quotes make this book a treasure to share with your children and forever clutch onto as a keepsake. Take it on the bus, on the subway, whenever you have a minute, no need for artificial mood enhancers, the "Gems" will perk you up.