Audio Books

This book was a favorite of mine when I was young and now I love reading it to my girls. It is so sweet and wonderfully illustrated. My absolute favorite from the spectacular body of work of Mem Fox.

This is a beautiful story. It's perfect for reading to children who have grandparents with major memory loss. The illustrations by Julie Vivas are equally beautiful.

All I can say is I have had this book for many years and it is one of my FAVORITE children's books. Cutely written and the message is wonderful.

In Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox was absoultly adorable. Wilfrid lives next door to an old folks home. Wilfrid knows all the people there and excpecially likes Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, because she has four names just like him. He had a very special relationship with her.
One day Wilfrid over heard his parents talking about Miss. Nancy. They said, ''The poor old thing has lost her memory.'' Since Wilfrid didnt know what a memory was, he asked everyone at the old folks home and each one said something different. Wilfrid went home and found lots of things that makes him remember special moments.
Wilfrid brought all these things to Miss. Nancy and something remarkable happened. Miss. Nancy's memory came back.
This is a truly heart warming book and is also for all ages. I enjoyed it a lot and I am sure you would too if you read it.

Have you ever read the story, Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge? If you haven't read it, it's a cute little story about a little boy and an elderly woman. The story takes place in a town where a little boy and his parents live in one house and some elderly people live in the house next door. The little boy loves to go over to see these people and talk and laugh and to do different, specific things with each person. But there is one person the boy loves the most, a woman he calls Miss Nancy. He loves to talk with her and to share what they both have in common. But one day, the little boy's parents told him that Miss Nancy had lost her memory. The boy wasn't sure, so he decided to find out. Has Miss Nancy lost her memory? To find out for yourself, you'll have to read Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge.

Very insightful book. Basically Mr. Gire discusses situations, moments, windows that God opens in our lives that allow us to look thorugh them and see Him. These windows are opened, generally for a limited time, and we have the opportunity to look through them but are not forced or required to. Of course, in the failure - or refusal - to look through the window we also miss the opportunity to see God and what He is saying and/or doing at that moment. A common mistake is looking AT the window, and merely seeing the window (situation), rather than looking through it and beyond the situation before us. I will be re-reading this book as I think the thoughts are meatier than a single pass through and derserving of additional pondering. I would recommend the book.

In "Windows of the Soul" Mr. Gire Takes you to places where you have always known God was, but opens your eyes to realy "see" God. It is a poetic journey that touched my soul and allowed me to experience God in a whole new way. I would highly recommend this book to the new believer as well as the person who has walked with God many years, neither will be dissapointed.

I purchased this book off the shelf as its artistic references in the description attracted me to it. I soon discovered the value of Mr. Gire's wisdom, compassion, and his own personal knowledge of an intimate relationship with God that evolved through his own personal experiences. This book came at a time in my own life when, a few months earlier, I had suffered a sudden tragedy that resulted in the death of my husband of 11 years. This book, and its quiet reflective nature, brought me peace during many sleepless nights. I found the thoughtful wisdom inspiring, and appreciated his knowledge of literature and history. I have purchased several of his books since, and have been blessed by each one.

In 1998 I reveiwed this book by writing the following:
Ken Gire is one of the most expressive writers of our day. His words paint a picture of our soul. Words that are simple, yet profound. Gire shows us how we can experience God through different avenues that intersect our daily lives. Don't be surprised by the tears that come to your eyes, they are tears from God showing you an area of your life that may need to be explored, understood or enjoyed. This is a book that you will continually want to come back to again and again.

I continue to read this book and find it as refreshing as the first time.

I disagree with the review from Hooterville. Ken Gire is very sound theologically and his work reflects this. Ken encourages us to look for new ways in which we can discover God. There is nothing mystical about discovering new ways for one to grow in their love for God and in their love for people.

I think it's obvious there's nothing wrong with observing our world and the happenings within it and speculating what God's perspective might be. And there's nothing wrong with contemplating a piece of art, literature, music, or film and recognizing in it symbolic correspondence to transcendent truth as revealed in Scripture. And author Ken Gire does this well. If he had left it at that, I probably would be as enthusiastic about this book as the next reader.

However, in "Windows of the Soul," Gire goes a step further and teaches that such endeavors are actually communications from God, "moments of revelation." The book is Gire's attempt at giving Christians insight into how to perceive such "revelations." Gire goes as far as to imply that such "revelations" possess an importance equal to that of the Bible, even referring to them as "God's word." Gire implies that Biblical revelation sometimes fails to satisfy our spiritual longings because, through it, "we are fed the experience of others. But they are not OUR experiences. I can read a psalm about David crying out from a cave in the wilderness, and I should read that psalm, but it is not MY psalm. It is not my psalm because it is not my cave, not my wilderness, and not my tears." Thus, Gire feels a need for a new category of revelation.

I sense Gire is well intentioned, but I believe, in this respect, he's teaching a form of mysticism, not Christianity. [Webster: "mysticism - the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight)"] And while I recognize that the defense of these ideas isn't the primary intent of his book, the theological extrapolations Gire offers are tragically sloppy and at times involve the assignment of new, unorthodox meanings to Biblical accounts and terminology.

Some might suggest that Gire's paradigm is just an elaboration on the concept of "general revelation," the Biblically supported idea that the world implicitly communicates certain things about God and His nature. However, the variety of channels described in "Windows," as well as the content of the messages Gire speculates they deliver, far surpass the traditional understanding of the nature and role of general revelation. (And Gire writes as if he's aware that what he's proposing is unconventional.)

READER BEWARE : I believe it is accurate to say that Ken Gire is advocating a theology and discipline not taught in Scripture.

When it comes time to contemplate the "furniture" of life and apply Biblical teachings to what you observe and experience, "Windows of the Soul" does document some good exploration in that regard. However, when it comes time to hear God speak, don't let anyone convince you God's revealed Word in Scripture is insufficient for the task.

For my more thorough critique, see: HotFudgeSunday.com/WindowsOfTheSoul

This is the most lovely x-mas story I ever read! It's about not giving up on your wishes, be bold and don't have the attention on you.
If you like this story, look for a book of Ariel and Shya Kane, they have found a way of living, that is beyond all I could immagine - all it takes, like in this book, is courage.

Get the movie. Get the book. Enjoy them together. Fun and quirky.

This is my favorite of the Breathed series of children's tales. I have a six year old son and this will be my fourth year of being sure this is a part of his Christmas season. As well as, throwing this title in several times throughout the year. A very touching experience to share this story with my son.

Our family absolutely LOVES all the Berkeley Breathed children's books. There's just one problem. If you're trying to read it to your children, it's difficult not to be laughing so hard you cry. Story and illustrations are just hilarious!!! My daughter now reads to children in after-school programs and it's a definite winner with them. Very entertaining.

If you purchase this book for the illustrations alone you would still have an incomparable treasure but wait there is more, because this is a story that is a treasure in itself.

Opus wants a pair of wings that work. But in his mind wings only work if you can fly. It's not until Santa's sleigh is sinking in the ocean that Opus gets to use his flippers and fly through the water and save Santa and his sleigh. It's then that he realizes he has something useful.

This is a story that's about recognizing the value of what you have in mind, body, and spirit. The courage and spirit to use what you have to go where help is needed and whenever possible, help save the day.

I blame the book industry's insatiable deluge of new and not very inspiring books thrust onto an already overburdened market place for burying classics like, "An Opus Christmas Story."

This is a book that every child would love immensely, one they would treasure and one the parents would not have to dig so hard to find the life lessons to discuss with their children after the read.

"Wolfwalker" is a good book. It's by all means not the best book, but it's a pretty good one, better than the Wolfwalker books published thus far. This is book one of the Healer Dione adventures (Or the Gray Wolf of Randonnen Series), and it's clear how much different it is than the rest of the books despite the fact that it was published first. Certain creatures familiar to the series have changed dramatically, even from word terms, to the characters themselves. Worlags wield clubs in this story; `bota bag' is `boata' in this story; the characters are actually very interesting, something that slowly ebbed from the rest of the series, and the similes are actually quite bearable here.

To those who are reading this book for the first time, this book is very predictable. It is also confusing, since the writer doesn't explain what exactly a Worlag is, a Lepa, how many countries are there, all of these things are not explained. But if you're a wolf lover, you will love this book. Wolves are treated like Gods, people dropping to their knees and giving the Moonblessing, something similar to a prayer. In this volume, Wolfwalkers are rare, and Ember Dione is one, and also a healer, the very thing she has to be to learn the forbidden art of Ovosibas. Among her journey, she encounters cruel Raiders, a hardened man who everyone knows will be her mate the minute they see one another, and other characters. While the action is spot-on, the characters are just as good. Gamon shows his wily silliness here, something that dimmed down tremendously during the rest of the series. Hishn actually has a personality, and its wonderful to re-read this story. It's great to tell between these characters, while in the later series, everyone sounds so alike.

While the romance was...meh, the book still stands as one of the best Wolfwalker novels, despite its predictability. And while the similies are smaller here (thank god) I still wince at the `You limp like a one-legged-dog' comments. A worthy purchase, if you want to spend more than 20 bucks. I suggest you get a used copy, to save you money on such a ridiculously high price.

My name is Otis D. Ritch. (...)I think Tara K Harper is the greatest. I love all her books. Being an author myself, Where Eagles Soar--"a spiritual adventure," I know how hard it is to write a great book--all of hers are great.
She will become known as the all time greatest in her field.

This book is by far the best Sci-fi books out there! Well, if you like wolves and the fast paced action!
This book actually grips you and won't let go. I read plenty of Sci-fi books that are just so boring that what was the point in finishing it, but not this one. The book will make you re-read,e ven if you don't like the idea of female Wolfwalkers ruling the series. I honestly wish for A Male Wolfwalker to star the show.
But that isn't what makes this book the best! The action is so descripive, it makes you feel that you are a wolfwalker yourself and that you can actually feel the environment with the character.
I recomend this book if your reading this review right now. Its too damn good to say more in words!

My wife recommended that I pick up the Wolfwalker series after I had finished reading the Wheel of Time series - and maybe that was why I gave this novel 4 stars instead of 5. Tara Harper has created a vibrant character in Dion and the beginnings of a wonderful story line that plays out over the next 5 books in the series. I found that as the series progresses, I became more and more engrossed in the story.

My only minor gripe is that in this novel more than any other of the Wolfwalker series, her pacing of the action is relentless. The world that Tara Harper has created is such a harsh and violent environment that both Dion and the reader never are given the chance to take 'a breather' and unwind. In many fantasy stories, I feel drawn to the world itself - yet on the Wolfwalker world, I think its the last past I'd ever want to live!

Overall, add this to your list of must read fantasy series...

This is the first book in Harper's first series. I read this book after 'Cat Scratch Fever' and 'Cataract' were finished. I was hungry for more writing by the artist, and so I searched high and low to find all three books in the series.

In this first book, we are introduced to Dion, a very unusual woman. One day I hope the author writes a prequel, that details some of what the girl's growing up years must have been like. Suffice it to say, she is warrior trained, a healer by choice dedicated to saving lives, and a wolfwalker. Wolfwalkers are introduced to the reader in this series. They are humans who are drawn to wolves, and capable of working/communicating the wolves.

In this story, Dion begins a tale that will last 5 books and three generations of children. Dion begins the road to becoming a legend. It's interesting how a few twists in circumstances can completely change the road you walk. She faces a few very important decisions: the large sense of responsibility she has for those around her, because she has knowledge and skill that others don't have, and how far that responsibility should extend; the decision to save lives, following her healer-rank oaths; the responsibility to take lives while protecting herself, her loved ones, and those that are defenceless. It is the conflict between these three that sucks in the reader and refuses to let go.

I highly suggest this book to anyone who likes action, adventure, tough decisions, great fighting scenes, and personal relationships. This book was quite an eye opener, and a great introduction to the amazing worlds out there waiting for us to visit. (Or maybe not waiting.. maybe dreading..)

The author retells her Aunt Syvia's story of surviving in the Lodz Ghetto during WWII. The book is based on Syvia's true story, although the author has fictionalized some events. Told in a series of vignettes that are vivid and poetic, the story begins during the fall of 1939 and ends with the liberation of Lodz in 1945.

Each of the book's five sections starts with a short factual introduction that puts Syvia's story into a historical context. Then, told in first person, each of Syvia's short but vivid memories helps the reader understand the true horror of the Holocaust. Syvia's story is wonderful and terrifying and wise.

Told from a child's perspective, the story uses simple and powerful language. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for children and adults.

I am always trying to educate myself on The Holocaust since I teach a unit over it during the school year. This year I attended an educator conference for teaching The Holocaust and one of the speakers highly recommend this book, so I went home and ordered it. When I received it, I sat on the couch and started to read it. Two hours later I got up feeling like I had just lived through a horrible nightmare. This book is amazing. You are there feeling and seeing everything. If you have any interest in stories about The Holocaust, this is one to add to your library.

Thinking my 12-year-old daughter would enjoy this after studying WWII, I brought it home...only to have it be seen in the hands of our 17-year-old daughter. Now I have it. The 12-year-old gets it tomorrow. Highly, highly recommended.

My seven-year-old daughter selected this book at our local library. She has been studying events of WWII, and consequently, has become both fascinated and enraged by the Nazi regime. I previewed the book first and found it to be a moving, gripping portrayal of ghetto life from a child's perspective. I have read a lot about the Holocaust, but this book moved me to tears. The style of first-person narrative allowed me to understand Syvia's hopes, fears, dreams and despairs.

I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas. I had never heard of it, but it came up as recommended when I bought "The Boy in The Striped Pajamas" as a gift for someone else (which is amazing, btw.) So, had no idea what I was getting really, except subject matter, of course. My daughter read it on our Christmas vacation and then passed it on to me, and I passed it on to my mother-in-law (it is a book you can read in one sitting.) What was unique about it is, that it is actually written in poetry format, but all the poems link together to form the story. It is a youth book (I believe) so it is extremely accessible, but very sensitively written and moving.

I didn't think a non-fiction book about the personal and professional lives of 'everyday' people would be so well composed. Sure, I expected to read about drama and bravery and tragedy, but Sean Flynn writes with well-tuned prose and a well-honed ear for the people and the town he reveals to the reader. He has done a great service in getting to the heart and soul of the protagonists and their loved ones. He does so without exaggeration, false bravado, or romanticism. The heroic fire fighters are shown three-dimensionally, and there isn't a phony note or word in the book. And like the true heroes in history, they are far from perfect human beings. In fact, the profound issue suggested in this book is that they are willing to risk their lives because they have flaws and have felt personal pain. How else could one feel so obligated to save utter strangers at the risk of their own lives and to have such an intuitive sense of how far your body and soul can go when they're up against a formidable foe. George Orwell said that it is the job of a human being not to be a saint. If my life was at risk, and given the choice who would try and save me, I'd pick these guys over any saint, preacher, minister, or holy man.

Note to who ever wrote the Publishers Weekly review. Get a map. The second largest city in New England is Worcester Mass. not WorcHester. Those of us born and raised there pronounce the city to rhyme with mister.

All that I can say is that Sean Flynn wrote this book about a horrific true event in such a way that I feel as if I lost my friends in the blaze. I can only imagine how the true friends of these 6 men felt and continue to feel each time they see a family member of one of their perished brothers. I'm not a crying man, but I cried at some points in this story b/c they hit so close to home for one, but for two you get so wrapped up in the lives of these men that you feel the stinging pain of realizing they have died. It's a sad story, that I actually remembered hearing about after i read the book, but it's also very motivating to anybody that has thought of becoming a FF. It's almost as its a test of your heart to be a FF. Like the beginning of initiation (hazing) to become a part of a fraternity. I know two other people that read it, that upon completion(one wasn't even able to finish) withdrew from the FF applicant process in which we all signed up together. Weeds out the weak...well kinda. :o)

Either way you look at it, this is good reading. I finished in in 4 days and I was continually fussed at for 3 of those days by my 9 month pregnant girlfriend b/c I wasn't giving her the attention she wanted. Now she's reading it and i'm not getting any attention. Go fig!

Buy the book! BTW...my addiction i speak of in my title just means my addiction to FF books.

I really enjoyed this book. My dad was a firefighter and I thought the writer portrayed the firefighters with a tough realisim without taking away their compassion for what they do. The families stories seemed to convey not only the day to day fears that all firefighters families have but, a small sense of what they went through when the unimaginable happened to them. Overall a great read by a writer who seemed to care about the subject.

I read this book simply because my boyfriend said he couldn't put it down. I was mesmorized by the bravery these men went gave out to fight the fire. After every page, I kept thinking to myself, "This is TRUE." I have a stronger respect for the brave fire fighters aroundt he world. Not only is this book about the fire and the fighters themselves, but it also depicts the family's devistation after the fact. Every page brought tears to my eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially family's of fire fighters. Didn't want to put it down.

I read this story about Zoya, the young Afghan woman and her story of refuge in Pakistan and trips into Afghanistan. This is an OK story, although I prefer My Forbidden Face, another Afghan woman's story. Zoya's comments about the Mujalideen being as bad as the Taliban has some truth. Her resistance to these two regimes through RAWA is brave and principled. It goes to show that Afghan society is very traditional in the sense of repressing woman throughout society. The Soviet regime was probably the best in representing women in the society, but of course they were invaders and Zoya was not happy about their occupation of the country.

This is a pretty basic story detailing the crimes of the Mujalideen and the Taliban. Zoya loses both parents, probably to the Mujalideen. Then she is forced to flee and her opposition to the Taliban makes up the latter part of this book.
Hers is a difficult position. Friends in RAWA place her in a school and she becomes liberated with knowledge. She refuses to leave her countrymen and lives in a refugee camp. Her life is spent for the betterment of her countrymen, including women.

I like the other book better, but this is an OK read about the difficulties faced by Afghan women.

zoyas story is a tale of one girl whose mother was an advocate for womens rights, and she followed suit after her mothers death and after discouraging life changes. living under the taliban was a historically tragic event for all women who endured this horrific regime that ruled afghanistan without mercy or compassion for women or their rights. zoyas entire life has been uprooted and yet she has such a strong heart and mind and will not let her people suffer alone, he courage and strength is a guide to those who have equally or more suffered and lost all theyve ever had. an example to live by, a great inside look into an awful time in afghanistans history. this book will also take you into pakistan where many refugees fled, and zoya continued to be a help to many people.

If you've been unable to make sense out of the conflicting regimes and wars in Afghanistan during the past 2 decades, this intimate account of one young woman's life will help put it in a human prospective. Zoya is the nom de guerre of a 23-year old Afghan woman who fled her homeland after her parents were murdered on orders of the thuggish Mujahideen.

I found the first part of the book more interesting than the last, as Zoya describes her life as a lively little girl playing in the streets of Kabul and as the beloved only child of educated parents. She becomes gradually aware that her parents are involved in clandestine activities to undermine the increasingly repressive political regime. One day her father, and somewhat later, her mother simply disappear. As more women are victimised in the streets and in their own homes, Zoya and her grandmother decide to take refuge in Pakistan. There Zoya grows to adulthood and joins the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).

Zoya is involved in assisting Afghan refugees and later becomes a spokeswoman and fund-raiser for the organization. There are brief accounts of secret travels to Afghanistan to photograph Taliban activities such as the cutting off of hands. I wish Zoya had been less vague about the work of her organisation and her actual role in it, but it is apparently necessary for reasons of personal security. Considering the venomous hate-mail she & RAWA received from American supporters & former friends after 9/11, it is understandable and very sad that they cannot afford to trust anyone.

I loved the book and love the courage of Zoya. Women like Zoya should become all oppressed women's role models!
This book is entertaining and the same time educating!

Having grown up with the priviledges of living in the United States one can only imagine the devestation this amazing young woman has gone through in her short, inspiring life.
At the tender age of 7, this courageous girl already started her early beginnings helping her mother work for RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan). Living in a country that had been overtaken by the Russians in what they called "the puppet regime", one couldn't imagine that life could get worse in this destitute country, ravaged by war and poverty. "The bleeding wound" Gorbachav called it.
Zoya's graphic, heroic and saddening story told with such detail brings you to a life, I would say you "could just imagine", but I can't imagine that life. orphaned at a young age, under two controlling fundamentalist Moslem regimes, life in Afghanistan only seems to grow worse. Under the control of the Taliban, you will read of the most inhumane, torturous treatment. The taking of lives. I always knew how awful the Taliban was, but I never knew from an individual's personal experience what it was REALLY like to live there.
This incredible young woman has done so much for the woman and people of Afghanistan, helping refugees, teaching women to read and write in a country where 90% of the women are illiterate, spreading the words of freedom, where her life can be taken at any time. Zoya is a true hero and inspiration.
There is one line in the book that I will never forget, and I believe it is how Zoya truelly loves and feels for her country. It is a line from an old Afghan folklore "I am ready to die for my love, but I want my love to be ready to die for my country." This is the passion Zoya lives with on her crusade to make life better for people in Afghanistan.

Though a little skeptical based on one person's review that the book was "lean" in terms of graphics, I went ahead and bought it. While I agree that the book is not gorgeously laid out, it has some of the best information I have ever read in a how to book. My learning curve went straight up and not only would I recommend this book to any parent but have also bought copies for friends.

Everything you ever wanted to know about athletic recruiting when your high school coach doesn't do it for you. And here's a hot tip. You can go one better than your high school coach, Mom and Dad. Check out the opportunities at West Point. Almost everyone there is a scholar-athlete, and all on full scholarship plus getting paid [...] a year! And, best of all, if you get hurt, you don't lose your scholarship! To find out what West Point is really all about, read Norman Thomas Remick's book, "West Point". In conclusion, Wayne Mazzoni did a great job. His, "Athletic Recruiting & Scholarship Guide" is the book that tells you everything you need to know. (Unless you become interested in West Point).

This book made it clear what we need to do. I can't wait to get started on helping my daughter get a place to play in college and a scholarship.

While this book does not have the perfect layout of pictures, etc. that many books do, it has the only thing you really need when it comes to recruiting...an insiders perspective on the process. This book can be read in a few hours and your learning curve during this time will be dramatic. I am so much more prepared now then when I started this process.

I thought I did everything for my son that I could...When it came time for college, we just hit a brick wall. Wayne has helped us break through that wall. Step by step. Our family owes a great deal to Wayne. Thank you!

This book was one of my all-time favorites when I was a kid! It was so exciting... very mysterious and magical. And full of goo! What kid doesn't love goo? Every kid needs a book like this.

An excellent item and although the cost to get it here quickly was expensive, it was worth it. Thank you

I had loved the book as a child myself. So I bought it for my neice. We read it together and she loves it as well. I haven't met a child (or adult) that doesn't like Dr. Seuss!

This was a gift for my niece. The adults in the room enjoyed it as much as she did.

I bought this book because it brought back such good memories of my child's childhood and my own as well. I look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren someday. This is a great book to read!

Excellent reference material. Can quickly look up any bird by the color coding on the outside of the pages. It is small enough to carry in your jacket; we took it with us when we went canoeing so we could look up the water fowl along the way. We purchased the CD that went along with the book, and we enjoy that very much as well!

This book lists birds by their color and markings so you can find out what kind of bird it is easier. What a great idea!

My daughter and I stumbled across a copy of this book at our local library. We couldn't get enough of watching the birds at our bird feeder after that to see how many different varieties we could identify. I bought my daughter a copy of the book last Christmas, and we've been able to identify all of the birds that we've seen so far.

I like how the book is arranged by color and then by size. The colored pseudo-tabs along the edges of the pages make it very easy to flip to the right color. This morning, it took me less than 10 seconds to identify a female rose-breasted grosbeak. My sister was impressed. I'll

This is the greatest bird book-easy to identify birds you see, good info, and very portable-just look under the color of the bird to identify.

my mother in-law brought me this book for my state and I loved it. my daughter lives in kentucky so I got the same one for her. I didn't want to spend a lot of time trying to fiqure out what a bird is when I see it. This book couldn't be easier. you look under the color of the bird you saw and then find the bird. The colors are all indexed. It's a great book for a nonexperienced birdwatcher as myself...