Bill Dollarhide has a new "how to get started in genealogy" book, called Grow a Family Tree! and subtitled "Seven Simple Steps."

The book is sort of a basic training manual for new genealogists. It is written in simple language, carefully explaining the buzzwords and terminology found in researching one's family tree. It also discusses the latest technology in some detail.

Grow a Family Tree! is divided into seven steps of research:

1. Do Your Homework. Dollarhide tells how to collect information from sources found at home.

2. Start Family Sheets. Learn how to use this key organizational tool used by professional genealogists.

3. Locate More Relatives. Tips for locating lost relatives who can be the key to unlock untold caches of valuable family history.

4. Get the Vital Records. Learn how to obtain written proof of a relative's existence.

5. Search the Census Records. Dollarhide is an expert at finding information—such as where a relative lived, when they were born, and how many children they had—in the federal censuses taken every 10 years since 1790.

6. Survey the Local and State Resources. Here are tips for obtaining genealogical data from the local courthouse, library or other public facilities near where a relative lived.

7. Survey the National Resources. Tells how to find what you need in the National Archives, one of the best resources for finding solid evidence of an ancestor's life.

Grow a Family Tree! also includes two other sections to aid the novice researching his or her family tree. One section provides five essays that illustrate many important aspects of genealogical research, including examples and case studies. Another section provides "hands-on" research forms that can be used to aid the research process.

Bill Dollarhide is a well-known genealogy lecturer and author. He has a great sense of humor, and I have always enjoyed listening to him speak. I wasn't too surprised to find this book liberally laced with humorous "genealogy rules" and even several cartoons by the author. Some of his "rules" include, "I'm crazy about genealogy, but not necessarily yours!" and "Don't put the hearse before the horse." This isn't a dry book! You will smile often while learning.

When you purchase Grow a Family Tree!, you actually receive two copies: one printed and one on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM attached to the back cover contains a complete copy of the entire book in Adobe Acrobat format. The electronic version has an every-word search capability so that you can quickly find any topic in the book. You also can print any of the forms on your local inkjet or laser printer. In the chapter entitled "On the Web" you can click on any of the URLs listed and immediately your Web browser launches and displays the cited Web site. The CD-ROM also contains a demo version of Generations Grand Suite 8.0 and a demo of GenealogyDatabase.com, along with Heritage Quest's catalog.

Grow a Family Tree! is a 183-page paperback published by Heritage Quest. It would make an excellent Christmas gift for the person just getting started in genealogy as well as for experienced genealogists. The book retails for $24.95 (U.S.). You should be able to order it through any bookstore or online. You may have to specify ISBN 0944931421.

For more information on Grow a Family Tree! by Bill Dollarhide, visit Heritage Quest's Web site.