Festivals Books

A very enjoyable book! Our kids laughed along with us as we all learned about "The Monsters." I look forward to buying other books by Marilyn.

This is a great book. The illustrations are fantastic. My fifth grade class loves it!

Once I opened this book I could not put it down. Sure, it's a kid book, but adults will enjoy it too. I'm a big fan of Gris Grimly's artwork, and this book is a showcase. There is a lot of detail in his pictures, so you can just sit and study the pages for a while. The little poems are nice too, but for me, the artwork is what sold it. If you like monsters, you will love this book!

Singer and Grimley have offered a disturbing look into what makes children tick. While presenting themes of exploration into what makes us frightened they have revealed the horrible duplicity of children's literature - good clean kiddie fun and the conflict with societal pressures as defined by what lurks in the closet/future.

Singer's poetic skills are not enough to release the monster within. Grimly, however, skillfully makes the whole message possible. His art focuses the reader's attention to the horrors at hand. The graphic depictions implying the grotesqueness of rote learning are on display for all to judge.

This book will be a delight for both young children and adults with Phd's in litural critique.

One of the best books of poetry for young children to come out in years. Cleverly done and with pleasing (not scary) illustrations. Some of the poems are too long for my 3-year old (so we skip the ends) but the older kids think they're a riot. The monsters give this book something of a Halloween theme, but it's general enough to remain on the bookshelf all year long.

Leigh Thompson was a medical news reporter for NBC-TV. He built three of the first Intensive Care Units, was a Professor of Medicine, wrote countless scientific papers and lectured worldwide. He has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and an MD. Maurice is a high school teacher and assistant to the Editor of the Women's Page of the local newspaper. She has many interests, including history and preservation, as well as science and producing meetings worldwide.

Charleston presents the Spoleto Festival each Memorial Day, which includes theater, opera, dance, and music. But this year's festival is conducted by an arrogant and cruel maestro whose captivating opera turns out to be a tale twisting Charleston's history into a craven story of debauchery. To add injury to insult, the diva topples into the orchestra pit just as she is hitting her climactic celestial note, impaling herself on an antique bassoon. Two more performances yield the same number of deaths. Is it mayhem, or murder? It is up to Medical Examiner Mary Elizabeth's team and a local football hero criminologist named Bubba to figure out the score:

"`Not quite so fast, Dr. Simons,' replied Dirk. `We've still got one peak on the blood analysis that I can't find in urine, in hair, in the vitreous humor, or in any of the pill bottles we have sampled. We've never seen this peak before in this laboratory and it is not in the usual references about drugs.'"

The team of Maurice and Leigh Thompson produce a fairly credible mystery yarn. Although it is evident that science and medicine is their love...they pay attention to the details of the plot thoroughly enough to keep the reader immersed in scientific procedures in pharmacology protocols while masking the true killer. Their sense of humor is ribald, and characters are drawn out to create an enjoyable theater of the absurd in which the scientists and detectives have to function. The ending is eye-opening and somewhat tragic, which brings the reader full circle in this irreverent tale of intrigue. This reviewer's guess is that the authors had a great time writing this book. It is one funny mystery from a couple who offer up a lifetime of fascinating experiences to bring to their craft.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Charleston characters, customs, cuisine, and history run through every paragraph of this thriller that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat but make you disturb your neighbors with laughter. You had better have one of those golden screws in your navel holding it on lest you laugh your a... off. Each character is so life-like you want to talk to them. Each death is so unique can you figure out if it is foul play, or in the case of the third death fowl play. When cyanide shows up as a bioterrorist threat to wipe out the lowcountry things move along at a rapid clip to an amazing climax, wrapped around local spirituals and 300-year old history. Buy it today but read it in a sound proof booth.

Only Charlestonians could have captured the unique culture and characters of the Holy City so perfectly. Every page is filled with wry humor and local color. The authors are to be congratulated for their ability to use the most precise forensic sciences like CSI, the most devastating characterizations like Biography, with believeable protagonists like Law and Order all wrapped in the style of Tom Clancey combined with Saturday Night Live. As poisoning and murder begin to take center stage there is news of a shipment of a half-million lethal doses of cyanide that threatens a bioterrorist event in this usually pleasant community. Leading Charleston families will recognize not only their names but their behaviors in this gripping story that wraps todays and tomorrows events around 300 years of history with an ending you won't guess. Read it in one setting, but be sure you won't disturb your neighbors with your laughing out loud at every page if not every paragraph. Where is the sequel?

Leaping from today's headlines this mystery skilfully weaves Charleston's culture and characters around a don't-put-me-down mystery. At the annual arts festival, Spoleto, stars triumph then die on stage. The first might be an accident as the diva is impaled on a bassoon "like a stuffed shrimp at Shucks." Then in an irreverent passion play, in which Pilate gets to flip for the sentence, the actor playing Christ dies on the cross. Two accidents in three days? Bad luck? Or murder. Bubba, the sleuth, and Mary Elizabeth, the medical examiner, team up in romance and using the most modern science, right out of CSI. When the prima ballerina collapses in convulsions, foul play must be on stage, but it takes all their ingenuity to discover the cause and the culprits and not before a shipment of cyanide threatens to end Spoleto and Charleston. Humourous mayhen with action on every page makes this a must-read and not so much scary as fun.

The world famous Spoleto music festival is the setting for this nail biter of a novel. Part farce, part suspence, this first novel by a husband wife team of medical experts is graced both by a driving plot and the obvious medical expertise of the authors. One thing this novel never does is take itself too seriously, and there is its strength. Bravo!

I love this book so much. Every child knows that their birthday is a special day, so to compare that event with Jesus' birthday is excellent. The book is relevant and easy to understand--more applicable to children than every other Christmas book I've ever read.

It outlines both the similarities and differences between Jesus' birth and our own. The message is profound, explaining that Jesus came to be our savior. And yet it is simple enough for a child to grasp. The illustrations are beautiful and the entire book is just outstanding. It's so well done that my toddler literally kisses baby Jesus each and every time we read it!

This book is a fiction book about a seven year old girl telling about how her's and Jesus' birthday are celebrated each year. The author, Holly Davis explains how the little girl's birthday and Jesus' birthday are very similiar. She tells how the little girl and her family celebrates her birth and how the families picked out or found names for each baby. Nancy Munger did a really good job with the colorful and childlike illustrations in this book. I would recommend this book to every child in America because it is very interesting,even to me,and it helps to teach children about Jesus.

It totally cuts through the commercialism of Christmas to explain the true meaning in a way a child can understand. In the age of Santa, toys, Frosty, Rudolf, etc., it's refreshing to see Jesus' birth explained in this innovative and child friendly way. Read it to your child throughout the Christmas season.

Excellent book for children to help them better understand Jesus' birth--how it compares with their own and how it is different. The illustrations are beautiful. I have given this as a gift at baby showers, and it has been well received.

The cover says for 2 to 6 but I feel this will appeal to a broader group than that. Read this lovely little gem to your children, grandchildren,child care group,Sunday School class,or as part of a little primary program about Christmas or BIRTHDAYS. If it is a one-on-one situation, take advantage of the opportunity to answer questions that might arise.

I have the cassette of the My Father's Angels song from when my 3 boys were toddlers in the early 1980s and I was delighted to see it on cd just in time for my first grandchild's 3rd birthday! My adult sons remembered the song at the birthday party! The song is beautiful and calming for bedtime. I've given it to my two great neices also.

What a great, great kid's book! The message is simple yetprofound - God's angels are everywhere, even though we can't seethem. The positive message for children - that they have angels protecting them - and the bright, colorful, happy artwork combine to make this book a perfect option for toddlers and early elementary kids. And the music cassette which accompanies the book is a nice bonus.

I was so impressed with the beautiful art in this book. Bright colors, kids with adorable faces, and angels like we've never imagined them before are just a few of the highlights.

The popular song, "My Father's Angels" is cleaverly woven through the story of kids' lives and ends up at church where you see the kids act out the traditional nativity!

This is a very very cool book!

I bought this book for my 3 children to share and listen to... it is so wonderful! I truely love listening to the song, and have found myself singing along with it! I highly reccomend this book! Happy reading!

My Father's Angels is a wonderful book that makes one feel good just reading it. The pictures are whimsical, warm and comforting, all adjectives that are perfect when reading to a small child. Reminding children that they can feel safe with angels all around them is a great concept to teach them at a young age. The cassette which accompanies the book is beautifully sung by children and perfectly matches the book. I couldn't think of a single way to improve on the book or the cassette. The illustrations in the book make me smile. I can think of no better way to picture angels. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to parents of young children. This book would make an excellent gift for parents-to-be. Grandparents, parents and friends could give this book with the assurance that it would be happily received.

I gave this to my Daughter for Christmas as she has a year old and she cried. She just loved the book and the idea behind it.

I got this for my daughter when she had her first child. Her eyes were teary the entire time. I now have a copy here at my house too!

This is a precious book. When I read it to my little ones, I confess I get a lump in my throat every time. It reminds me how precious a mother's love is to a child, and in it's own simple way, challenges me to be a better mother each time I read it. A special thrill has been watching my six year old learn to read and read this book back to me. Hearing him say these sweet words in his own voice is a treasure.

This book is terrific coming from a child to his/her mom. It teaches and at the same time shows appreciation. If you want to give a gift to a mother, this is the best and is worth more than I could say ..

I found this book at a book fair at my sons daycare and got it for myself as a Mothers Day gift. The words are very heart warming, and the pictures are wonderfully done. This book also came with a card which I found so moving that I have framed it. I would highly recommend it to any mother(or father) to read for their children, or just to keep for themselves as a little 'pick me up' when parenting gets tough.

Since my blog entry mentioning this book will eventually scroll off the screen for this page, it seems appropriate for me to repeat here that Neopagan Rites is an updated and expanded edition of Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach, now out of print. If you go to that page you will find twelve five-star reviews (and none less than five stars) from Neopagan and other clergy familiar with the earlier edition. Until we have a few reviews here, please visit the earlier ones to get a clear vision of the book -- then come back here to buy it, of course!

This is an enormously practical book, rich in accounts of actual experience. I recommend it very highly to everyone. Even Egyptian reconstructionists , Feraferians, high church Wiccans, Asatru, and Neo-Romantics who sometimes disdain the label "Neo-Pagan" will find much practical, valuable advice here. Bring the book home in a plain brown wrapper if you must, but buy it, read it, and grow richer. For beginners it provides an absolutely critical comprehensive introduction to a vast complex subject, one which will continue to be valuable as one's accomplishments grow. What Isaac has to say on the existence of God(s) is more perceptive than anything you read in Philosophy class, and the answer he comes up with is: yes.

Some may find the idea of this book off-putting, thinking that they don't need anybody telling them how to worship. Some will say, "Religion is emotional! I don't want to read about it, I just want to do it." But, there is a great deal of value here regardless of your mindset. Isaac has a lot to say about the need for faith and spontaneity in ritual. With the intention of achieving consensus on the meaning of terms, the book begins with a broad, analytical, brilliantly perceptive survey of religion and religious practice that ought to be required reading for every religious person on earth. Much of it agrees with things I have written myself, but Isaac and I have not compared notes. Isaac and I have come to many of the same conclusions from studying the same subject from the same analytical viewpoint.

One point Isaac does not elucidate is the concept of spiritual orgasm. That is, or ought to be, the goal of every religious gathering, the furthering of spiritual orgasm in the participants. Spiritual orgasm, like other kinds of orgasm, is accompanied by increase in heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, and often visual disturbances and hallucinations, resulting in an overwhelming sense of release. While some of us have little ones at rare intervals, the big ones experienced by Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus; or by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York; or by Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531 have, if not changed the course of history, certainly profoundly affected many millions of people. But in our rituals, little ones are perhaps more practical and better for domestic tranquillity and the stability of civilizations.

Really good read for someone wanting to understand magic better. Clearly written and interesting, to the point always. Explains the why of it well. Great sense of humor. I would buy more of his books having read this one.

This is the single most valuable resource about Pagan rituals I have ever laid my hands on.

"Neo Pagan Rites" Is by far the best book I have read in quite a while.
It really got me thinking about how my rituals are put together and ways to make them better for everyone. It got me thinking about aspects I would have otherwise overlooked. I recommend this book to any Priest/ess old and new.

I haven't given this to my granddaughters yet, will at Easter time. But the book is cute, something they will enjoy the night before Easter.

A bright happy book! Fun to find other objects in the story after reading the whole book. Would definitly recommend this book. Looking forward to purchasing other The Night Before books!

A charming Easter tale sure to delight young and old alike. Children will love looking for the eggs hidden in the pictures and listening to the rhythmic language; adults will smile at the new and original twists on this Easter time take-off of the well-loved Twas the Night Before Christmas. The perfect Easter basket gift!

I ordered this book for my grandson for Easter. I also have "The Night Before Thanksgiving". Since my 5-year old grandson liked that one so much, I decided to order the Easter version. The "story" is similar to "The Night Before Christmas".

My son received this as an Easter Gift for his first Easter, and we are still reading it three Easters later. He loves to hear it, and I love to read it to him. This makes a great addition to your Easter Basket!

Great Christmas story. Very great story about sharing and giving. My son just loves this book.

This is a sweet story about sharing. The illustrations are to die for cute!

...and mine, too! We have been reading this story for two Christmases now, and my toddler just loves it. She wants it every evening during the Christmas season. At 2 1/2, she can quote the book almost verbatim. It is truly one of the sweetest stories I have ever read, with a wonderful message. I recommended it to my daughter's preschool teacher, who then read it to the class. This book just makes you feel, warm, happy, and full of love. I have purchased additional copies to keep (as ours is getting very well loved!) and to share.

Every year before Christmas Eve dinner, our family reads a children's book about Christmas (this year, my youngest niece was 4 and oldest nephew 9). I bought this book for the occasion because it made me cry in the bookstore when I was reading it. Four animal families share a Christmas tree - the spirit of the season. Everyone absolutely loved it and took turns reading it aloud for a wonderful memory that I'll always cherish.

"Once There Was A Christmas Tree", by Jerry Smath, Cartwheel Books, 2005.
This book, in my humble opinion, is based upon the old adage, "It is more blessed to give than to receive".
Christmas is coming and Mrs. Bear asks Mr. Bear to get a Christmas tree. Being a bear, of course, he cuts down a tree that is too big for the house, and the illustration shows the tip of tree bending down from the ceiling. The solution to this problem is to cut the tree in half and give one half to Mr. Fox. Of course, Mr. Fox finds he only needs half of that half of a tree, and the fox gives half a tree to Mr. Rabbit. Mr. Rabbit is home alone, a situation familiar to many of us who are retired. Mr. Rabbit is happy to get the tree, and, whilst decorating the tree, the rabbit discovers a family of mice living under the floor boards. In the end , each animal family, (all nicely illustrated) has a wonderful Christmas, especially Mr. Rabbit, who has discovered he is not alone!

The book has a transparent plastic cover, through which you can see and maneuver a shiny gel, which is filled with red, green and other colored tiny balls. If you work at it, you can "decorate" the green tree with the gel and those ornaments, and Mr. Bear is standing there, ready to cap your efforts with a golden star.
Wonderful!

As always, Patricia Polacco scored another "A" with this heartwarming story. My second grade students sit mesmerized as I read yet another moving story from Patricia Polacco's rich collection of life stories.

This is a beautiful story about giving, sharing, and loving. It's a tear-jerker too. Patricia Polacco is an amazing author who has shared stories from her family which can now enrich the lives of all who read. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent book. Delightful story with excellent pictures. We thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to both adults and children. A great way to bring the true spirit of Christmas into your home during the Christmas season. Highly recommend.

This beautiful story moves me to tears each time I read it, and this year I am giving several copies as gifts. It is set in the 30s or 40s in rural Michigan. The Stowell family is preparing for Christmas. They don't have much money, but remember to share what they have with others, feeding hobos who stop in their village while the train is refueling. Frankie gives a prized possession to one of them who is in need. Later his family's kindness is repaid in a wonderful way. I don't want to give that part away, or tell what happens on Christmas Eve, but it involves the family's tradition of placing a juicy, ripe orange for each child (very hard to come by in those days in a wintery climate) on the mantle and enjoying them during their Christmas Eve party. Read the book to find out what happens; you'll be glad you did. The artwork is lovely and expressive, and the icing on the cake is knowing that this is a true story. The author's Grandmother and Great-Aunts and Uncles were the Stowell children of this story.

My 4yo daughter and I made our first trek to the library together recently and the first book she pulled from the shelf was An Orange for Frankie. She asked me to read it to her right there in the library, and, as I did, I thought it might be a little over her head. Ten minutes later she was still sitting beside me, enraptured and asking me questions about the story... and what a beautifully touching story it was! As we neared the last page, I had tears streaming down my cheeks and we (of course) had to check the book out. I read it again to my mother and my husband. Both thought it was as touching as I did. Anyway, I decided to purchase it as a Christmas gift for my daughter to celebrate and remember our first trip to the library together.

An Orange for Frankie is a touching story of a young boy who learns about truthfulness, obedience and the gift of sharing. An absolute delight to read!

My 9 year old granddaughter cried when she finished the book. Not because it was sad but because her " favorite book EVER " ended. Can there be a better review ?
I am a little sad too, because we have to wait till September for the next Penina book. But, Ahh, the anticipation.

Penina Levine is one of only two Jewish sixth graders in Mrs. Anderson's class in public school. The class has been given an assignment to write letters "from the Easter Bunny" to kindergarten kids in the nearby Holy Family School. Penina strongly believes she should not write the letter because she is Jewish and Easter is a Christian holiday. She doesn't tell her parents about the assignment because she feels they don't listen to her and favor her younger sister, Mimsy. She does tell her grandmother however, when they are preparing the meal for the Passover Seder. Her grandmother says she is like a hard-boiled egg because when you boil it, it gets hard, just like the Jews: "When the heat is on, we don't turn to mush-- we get tougher." Her grandmother is proud of her for sticking up for her religion and not writing the letter. Eventually Penina tells her parents about the assignment and they tell the principal, who then talks to the class about diversity. Mrs. Anderson, Penina's teacher, apologizes and Penina and her family invite her to a Shabbat dinner. The story moves along briskly and Penina is an appealing and feisty Jewish character with much humor. The various black and while line drawings complement the text. For ages 9 -12.

The girl is spunky, truthful, hardheaded, true to her beliefs and most importantly, very believable. Although written for maybe 8-11 year olds, Penina is very much beloved by my 6 year old, a self described "agnostic" and myself a tripped off the religion wagon ex-Catholic with a Jewish father. It is a great book for helping my daughter explore her Jewish heritage and a great starting point to discuss religion, faith, beliefs, traditions, and how much she dislikes dealing with her little sister. It has a wonderful "conversation starter" in my house. Penina Levine is a real find.

Tenacious sixth-grader Penina struggles to retain her beliefs, trust in adults, and humor while going through what seems like unfair obstacles in the course of growing up. Will an impossible assignment, troublesome younger sister, unsympathetic parents, tricky friend, and attending a school where her heritage is in the minority, weaken her or give her strength? Is telling the TRUTH and self-control always better than just DARING to pay for the consequences of one's actions?
Rebecca O'Connell manages to have all readers experience with Penina the joys and struggles of one's heritage in this flowing story. It is not until the reader of any background has finished enjoying the book that they realize the wealth of information they've gleaned not only about the Jewish culture, but the unique beauty of their own as well.
As a school librarian I recommend this must-have library book to students who want to laugh at the important daily issues of grouping up, as well as to students and teachers interested in diversity. This is one of the few young adult books that lovingly DARES to be sensitive to such major topics.

You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate the wit and wisdom of Penina. Rebecca O'Connell's book taps in to the frustration we all have felt when an authority figure (in this case, a teacher with a fixation on the Easter bunny) disregards our most diligent efforts to be understood. Start with a Passover feast, add an annoying younger sister, an empathetic friend, and a rich seasoning of humor...and you have the recipe for a rewarding reading experience.