Titles Books

The story of this book is just wonderful. I just remembered it at random, and knew I had to have a copy. I grew up with this book - it was my late mother's favorite. It's a well written fairy-tale with an Asian twist. The moral is that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The irony is that you CAN judge this book by its cover. The illustrations are not just good, not just beautiful, these illustrations are fine art! I want to get a good copy and maybe frame some of these beautiful pictures.

If you want a WONDERFUL gift for a child or adult, buy me a copy... oh, I mean buy this for your loved one!

"Give me something to eat and something to drink and speak to me politely," said the small, fat man with a bald head, "and I will save the city."

"Nonsense and piffle paffle," thought the rulers of the city. "Get out of the way!"

Well, the Wild Horsemen of the North were just outside the gates of the City of Wu ready to destroy it and all its inhabitants. And only the dragon god could save Wu from this terrible fate. But the dragon god wasn't sure he wanted to. For you see, this old man IS the dragon god. Or so he says. And this is no way to treat a dragon.

[Picture book traditional tale suitable for grades primary through intermediate.]

This story of a child's acceptance and trust in the midst of adult rejection and scoffs is a classic morality tale. Mercer Mayer's wonderful illustrations combine authentic Chinese painting styles with familiar "Little Monster" type characters. If Little Monster was human and Chinese, he'd look like this!

I had this book as a child, given to me by my late beloved grandmother and was thrown away by a wicked stepmother. Over the years, I remembered the book vividly having amazing pictures and missed it terribly. Of course 20+ years later, as well, it was hard to find and out of print. I searched all over the net to buy a copy for my own daughter. I found a wonderful bookseller here on Amazon who sold me my copy for $25 and what a bargain that was! I would have bought it for so much more just so my daughter could come to love this tale as I do. May it teach young ones that they should always be kind because they never know what good may come of it. Out of love for a great story, this is my review. dk~

Han, a poor orphan boy sweeps the gate of the city of Wu, which is sandwiched between China and the land of the Wild Horsemen. Threatened by the horsemen, the city leaders pray to the Great Cloud Dragon for help. One day an old, fat man comes to the city and announces that he is a dragon. Han takes him to the palace to meet with the city leaders. The old, fat man offers his assistance if the leaders will show him courtesy. The city leaders scoff at the old, fat man and send him away. Han gives up his own meager meal to the old, fat man who decides to save the city for his sake. Han tells the story to the people of the city and is called "The Honorable Defender of the City." Mercer Mayer's illustrations have the appearance of ancient engravings with expressive faces and intricate detail.

This story shows the folly of judging by appearance and the rewards of kindness. This lesson is reinforced when the city leaders - the Mandarin, the Captain of the Army, the Leader of the Merchants, the Chief of the Workmen, and the Wisest of Wise Men - explain that surely dragons must look like Mandarins, Army Captains, merchants, workers, or wise men. Unfortunately, the source of this tale is unclear. Is it a traditional folk tale or the author's invention?

This book was absoluteley amazing! When I read this book I fell in love with the characters and the story! The vocabulary used by the author was fanominal and this is a great book for teens to read. I know most people say that fairy tales are just for young children but this story can really connect to teens considering that the main character is a teen. I also can not get over the fact that the author is a young teenager. She will be coming out with another book shortley. [...]. To sum it up this book is a must buy for anyone who loves a good story!

I found this book creative, imaginative and exciting. I gave the book to a couple of my grandchildren who have shown an interest in writing. It is very inspiring. Kristina, keep up the good work. I am looking forward to your next one!!

As a teacher, I found this book to be an excellent way to capture the imaginations of pre-teen and teenage students. It is an example of excellent writing by a young person, and will help to motivate students to write their own stories.

My 2 daughters age 9 and 12 found the book to be exciting and positive. It demonstrated how young girls can stand by their convictions and stand tall. Would highly recommend it for this age group.

I'm amazed at the creativety and talent of such young
writer. The story transends its readers into a magical
place while sending a very powerful message to our youth;
how to stay self-motivated, confident and steadfast in
today's troublesome world. It's motivating and captivating even to an adult but with a greater impact on
our youth. I highly recommend this book to young girls the world over!

Having grown up in New Orleans i have a love for it's history.i've heard about the story of Baroness and it caught my attention. i wasn't disappointed having read this book.

Having grown up in New Orleans and visiting the Pontalba buildings on many many occassions, I thought I knew a bit about the countess. This book has brought up many aspects of her life and the lives of her family that I was totally ignorant of. It is quite fascinating even though there are times when the pace is a bit tedious. It is a bit academic at times, but it is afterall a biography and not a work of narrative fiction. There are aspects in everyone's life that tend to be less than thrilling.
Regardless I will recommend it to my many friends, paticularly those who grew up in New Orleans.

Vella brings to life with splendid detail the life in New Orleans and Paris in the 1800's. Vella is unquestionably a tireless scholar who has dedicated much time and passion into assimilating an astounding amount of archival materials to bring to life the realities and sensibilities of the different ranks of the aristocracies. Sophisticated, realpolitic, Machiavellian. A wonderful work and a great read. This is how history should be written (for non-academia). Well footnoted & bibliographed.

Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, by Christina Vella, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I took Professor Vella's class at Tulane University in the Spring of 2000. This book was the basis of the class. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thorough documentation of facts about a dynamic woman and her family, as well as two great cities, New Orleans and Paris.

Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, by Christina Vella, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I took Professor Vella's class at Tulane University in the Spring of 2000. This book was the basis of the class. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thorough documentation of facts about a dynamic woman and her family, as well as two great cities, New Orleans and Paris.

This book provides a clause-by-clause analysis of ISO 9001 and it contains all the knowledge you need in order to understand this standard and to formulate strategies for compliance. It does not cover detailed theory or procedures for certain themes such as customer satisfaction measurement, sampling, or statistical process control. This should be the first book you read if you wish to implement an ISO 9001-compliant Quality Management System.

If you consider ISO9001 more than a paper on the wall then you should read this book. The author tells you what to do rather than a detailed prescription of how to do it. But more important he explains the reason of each ISO9001 requirement. This helps anybody that works with this standard to think about what the rational behind and how does this fit in each business.

Everybody should understand first and implement after and that's the purpose of this book: to deeply understand the standard in order to create or transform your management system (and by this way the quality system) into a customer driven management system

"ISO 9000 Quality Systems handbook" is an excellent book on the effective implementation of quality management systems. The book is well written in simple/plain English that should make it easy to follow and understand by any reader.

The book was written by a very experienced practitioner in Quality Management Systems, the author (David Hoyle) having over three decades of experience in the field. This is an indispensable book for those implementing ISO 9000 Quality Management System. The reader will, among other things, understand the difference between the previous procedure approach to the current process approach to quality management. The reader will learn what the ISO 9000 requirements mean, why they are necessary and how to implement them.

The other critical features in the book includes a summary and questionnaire to reinforce the reader's knowledge and understanding as well as comprehensive list of references that should be very useful for those who need to explore the subject more widely.

The book is recommended reading for people involved in the implementation of ISO 9000 for enhanced organizational performance, particularly managers, designers, auditors, instructors and students of quality systems.

The material was just what I was looking for and the service from Amazon was excellent. Received my order ahead of schedule.

Thank you for the excellent service.

With the introduction of the ISO 9001:2000 standard, a number of publications offering ideas, advice and assistance to anyone who have been charged with implementing quality systems, have made their appearance on the bookshelves. The ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook 4th Edition, by David Hoyle is one of the best I have read on this subject. In this 4th edition, David analyzes each section, clause and requirement of the ISO 9001:2000 standard in detail.

David Hoyle has over 30 years experience in quality Management and has authored or co-authored more than five books on ISO 9000. He is also the director of Transition Support, a firm that provides training and consulting in business improvement.

The book is easy to understand and is suitable for students, managers, instructors as well as auditors. The novice ISO practitioner as well as the seasoned ISO 9000 enthusiast will find this book a valuable tool when implementing ISO 9000 quality management systems. For those making the transition from the 1994 version of the standard, this book helps to point out the changes from the 1994 to the 2000 standard.

The standard has changed considerably. In the 4th edition, the meaning of each of the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard is explained in detail and some of the sometimes confusing ISO language is clarified. The author explains why each of the requirements is necessary. He shows how each requirement links to the eight quality management principles on which the ISO 9001:2000 standard was based. The book gives practical guidance on implementing each requirement. This is the strong point of the book.

After introducing some basic quality concepts, the book explains the role, the origins and application of the ISO 9000 family. The succeeding chapters, 4 through 8, correspond to each of the five sections of the standard. This makes it easy when looking for help in understanding and implementing a certain requirement of the standard.

The 4th edition has a summary, a questionnaire that provides food for thought for the reader, and a list of references at the end of each chapter. A glossary and a list of related websites are included in the appendix.

The 4th edition of ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook will find a permanent place on your desk. Auditors will find this book indispensable.

What an excellent book. Both the story and the illustrations are superb. From the concept of the young girl out on her own, with just a small nesting doll her late grandmother bequeathed to her, to the magic the nesting doll contains to help Katya release a spell brought upon by a nasty vizier, to the fairy tale ending with her saving the prince, the story delivers. I have never seen a child's book with such exquisite illustrations. My five year old loves this book and we have re-read it many times; she has also recommended it on her own to friends and teachers. This is a wonderful tale told in an old style, that will endear itself to children, parents and grandparents.

I was looking for an uncommon story for my granddaughter and this book delivered. Lovely graphics and story.

I am delighted with this book, as I have just been to Russia on a cruise and the nesting dolls are what I brought back for everyone! Thank you for making this little book available! Malissa Baugh

I love the illustrations in this, they are sure to fascinate many detail oriented children, they are very much like the art that is painted onto the little nesting dolls. The story is a wonderful sort of reverse Sleeping Beauty, but told from the rescuer's point of view, Katya is a sweet but strong and determined heroine who rides a wolf, a bear and a firebird to save her sleeping prince.

A great gift for a child (or inner child) who loves fairytales.

This is the most exquisitely illustrated and delightfully magical book for children I have ever read. My daughter just gazes at the pictures, and she'll never let me read "just a few pages". We always have to read the entire book, and each and every time she is as enchanted as the first time we read it together. This is the kind of story I wish my mother could have read to me as a child. And I'm hoping someday I'll be able to read it to my grandchildren. I intend to keep this book forever. I cannot say enough about the beautiful illustrations...they are more exquisite than any real place on earth could ever be. As a result, they're sure to capture your child's heart and imagination. The facial expressions are haunting and I find myself wishing we could just leap into the page and spend a little time in this world. I am only wondering if Laurel Long has prints available? I would so love to hang one on my daughter's wall in her bedroom. Please read this book. It's just fabulous.

This is an excellent book. I have used it for medieval, folk/fairy tale, multiplication, critical thinking, and role playing studies. It is also just a wonderful story for read aloud at home or school. The illustrations are just beautiful.

...Nesbit writes beautifully and is clever and unpredictable enough that without going over the kids' heads, the reading adult can enjoy it too. The illustrations are excellent; I just wish the hardcover version was available!

A century-old thoughtful twist on the fairy tale genre by a classic Children's writer (would love to see reviews of some of her other works). Melisande is a princess subject to the usual misfortune: a wicked fairy not invited to the christening casts an evil spell on her--"The Princess shall be bald." Not to worry the King has a wish he was given by his fairy godmother locked in his safe, the Princess may use it however she wishes when she comes of age. At that point, the Queen says,

"Dearest, for my sake, wish what I tell you to." "Why, of course I will," said Melisande. The Queen whispered in her ear, and Melisande nodded. Then she said, "I wish I had golden hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch every day, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut..."
"Stop!" cried the King..."You've done about enough." For he had a mathematical mind and could do the sums about the grains of wheat on the chessboard...

You can imagine what happens next. According to the formula, they promise the Princess's hand in marriage to the Prince who can solve this problem. One unfortunate attempt leaves her growing into a giant a la Alice in Wonderland. The final solution is very clever and I won't spoil it for you. There is a great deal of humor throughout and it is illustrated very well, though I'm not an uberfan of Lynch's caricatures.

I remember this book from middle school. I told people the story, and everyone thought I made it up! I'm glad to see that it's in print, and not just a figment of my imagination. If you love fairy tales, you'll like this book. A little strange, but worth the read.

From one irritated, uninvited guest comes the gift of baldness. From one poorly worded wish comes out of control hair. Add one prince determined to find the solution. Mix in Melisande's need to rescue her island home. How does it turn out? It adds up to an enchanting tale that delights both young and old. I've used the book in elementary classes as well as college classes--both were mesmerized.

How blessed indeed we are to have these truths available to read and study. Thank you Joel Goldsmith!

Joel Goldsmith has been given a spiritual vision into living a life in Christ.

There are many steps to take in the spiritual life and sometimes we take one step forward and two steps backward.

There are days when all seems hopeless and your faith is waning and than you let go and let God and you reach the mountain top.

To stay at peace in your journey takes work and yet this is a paradox because grace will see you through.

I have read several of Joel Goldsmith's books before I read this one, but who could assimilate all that stuff in mere months? This book took me by surprise. It was bam bam bam, pearls everywhere, on every single page! To date, this is still THE best book I've ever read, whether by Joel or not, but then again, that's not a fair comparison. I am so blessed to have come upon this work.

I was skeptical about reading this book based on the first few pages. As I went further, I found Goldsmith's writing to be full of conviction and motivating. I will try meditation as a result of reading the book. Goldsmith frequently repeats points made earlier but with another twist added. This is good because it helps to remember the points that Goldsmith makes.

40 years after reading this book for the first time, I can read it again and still be amazed and astounded by the spiritual insight it contains. In consciousness it does not matter when something was first written -- it is the insight written on the pages that matters. You will be blessed to read the pages of this book.

everybody loves humor, everybody loves food, and, well, there are creeps who don't like penn & teller, but this if one of the funniest things i've ever read, i learned every trick in the book and life is neeeeeever boring. the two best parts, in my opinion: teller's bit on the great egg drop and penn's story of a milkshake as self-defense. worth every penny.

Penn & Teller take their stage personas to the print medium, and it works superbly. Penn is just as loud as ever, and Teller (seen in many of the photos) wears his trademark blank smile.

Most books on magic and ``tricks'' tend to be frustratingly dull, but the lively prose, scrumptious humour and fine photos and illustration make this one a pleasure to read.

This magic book also has the virtue of presenting several tricks that are easy to perform--if you want to learn two or three very funny and fun tricks table gags that require almost zero practice, this is the book to get.

Ugh, this one is hilarious. The bad boys of magic have a book here that is a little different than your standard "magic" book. Maybe that is why I like it. There are a few great gags that I got from this book that I have utilized around the dinner table. Read this one.

Penn and Teller are comic magicians who go back to the 1970s, but did not make it big until their appearances on David Letterman and Saturday Night Live in the 1980s. Since then they have made guest appearances on many television shows including Home Improvement. And recently a cable show has given them their own time slot. Penn and Teller have also written three best-selling books: Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends, How to Play in Traffic, and this book How To Play with Your Food.

Most magicians do not share their secrets. But Penn and Teller love sharing the secrets of magic in a comic way. Some of the topics covered in this book are "Genteel versus vulgar food play"; "Why all miracles are fake"; Stabbing a fork in your eye"; popcorn and pizza tricks; the JFK trick; and many others. My favorite is the "Oliver Stone Melon-Head Trick", which is not for the squeamish. The only caveat is that they did not include the ImpeachBlair vanishing trick, but perhaps they can make the White House lap dog disappear?

Got this book a couple of years ago, and spent a weekend trying NOT to die laughing reading it! Some of the tricks in here were absolutely wonderful. I'll never look at jello molds the same way again!

Santa Mouse is a classic childern's story that still holds up well today. This book is a timeless and wonderful story of a little mouse that thinks enough to give Santa a present. Because of his thoughtfulness Santa asks him to be his helper. Because of his thoughtfulness the story as great meaning at this or anytime of year. The illustration are just as good as the story. If you can find the book buy it. You will not be disappointed. Makes an even better gift and chances are whom you may be giving the book to does not own this wonderful story. Appropriate for childern ages 1-8.

I got this book as a present was I was a kid and absolutely loved it. Now I have a tradition. Whenever a friend of mine has a baby, I give them a copy of this book. That way even more kids can come to love Santa Mouse, just like I did.

This is my favorite Christmas poem after "Twas the Night Before Christmas"! I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is a family favorite. The mouse is so cute. It is a story of gift-giving. How wonderful for Christmastime.

I have been reading this book every Christmas since I was a kid. Every year I leave a piece of cheese for Santa Mouse along with the cookies for Santa Claus. You and your children will treasure this heart warming story for life!

Santa Mouse has traveled with our family for over 30 years. Through joy, triumph, tragedy, births and deaths every Christmas we would break it out. As life has grown and expanded us we have all continued to return each year, gather together and read our beloved Santa Mouse. It has been a missel of love, memories and treasured times that has woven through our lifes like a thread of gold. A wonderful addition to any special Christmas library. Why we just finished it for the 34th time!