I Books

My kids and I both love this book. The art is pretty without being distracting. Sid is drawn very expressively, and as a real character, without being a talking animal. The message of sharing, openess, and flexibility are important and come in handy in our lives.

This is a delightful story of a friendly cat! My students like to listen to this book over and over again!

Sid likes six different kinds of dinners, being scratched six different ways, and he sleeps in six different beds. He's just that way!

And... when everyone talks to each other... everyone knows, so no one minds.

An awesome polyamory fable, great for kids and adults.

Although my girls are teenagers now, this is one of the books that they always mention when we talk about favorite books from their childhood. An endearing story of a much loved cat and the community of families who feed him. A must-have for small children and a wonderful gift from grandparents.

There can be no doubt what-so-ever that the author, Inga Moore, knows her cats. She has nailed them, or him, in this case, perfectly! I doubt if many people who pay attention to animals in general and cats in particular, has not known at least one cat in their life time that is quite like the loveable Sid in this story. Children absolutely love this work when it is read to them in a class setting and it is quite a popular book (still) in the school library. The nice thing about this book though is, as one reviewer has pointed out, the age of the reader really dose not matter all that much. Adults will find this work just as interesting and just as delightful as the young reader. This is certainly one you need to add to your collection. Highly recommend.

I saw 2 of Chekhov's plays in college and I honestly don't remember them. Glenn Close appeared in one I remember, but beyond that I was obviously distracted. Nothing could have prepared me for the perfection of these stories. I have never read a collection that had such an impact. Chekhov's clear-eyed world view peers at tiny physical details in the lives of the characters to see into their souls. They are tragic heroes in common clothes.

Chekhov looks on without judgment. His attitude is humane and liberal. No matter how foolish his subjects, his attitude is never condescending.

I hadn't realized it until I finished Pevear's forward, but Chekhov begins to slip subtly into stream of consciousness in several stories. This and many other innovations make Chekhov a pivotal figure in fiction writing. He is certainly under appreciated at present.

(I can't compare it, of course, but the P&V translation is another gift.)

Anton Chekhov is largely known for his plays (The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya), but he is also widely regarded as a master of the short story. However to fully appreciate these stories the reader should be somewhat familiar with the state of fiction in Russia during the last half of the 19th century as well as social and political conditions in the country at that time. Some knowledge of Chekhov's personal history and his philosophy of life is also helpful. Lacking these insights one is likely to find these stories to be excessively negative and depressing.

One difficulty in reading this book of his best short stories is that the first few (50 pages or so) are unrelentingly depressing; death and unrequited love being the main themes and they are told in Chekhov's spare style. A Boring Story is a longer and more interesting piece. It includes some aspects of Chekhov's philosophy, and while it ends on another depressing note, there is still an element of hope present. Ward No. 6 is perhaps the best of these stories, as well as the longest. It tells of a hospital in Siberia with a ward for mental patients. The story centers around a doctor (Andrei Yefichmych), a decent and compassionate man who gradually descends to the depths of the place. Along the way he has an interesting exchange with a mental patient, Ivan Dmitrich. The doctor suggests that one can be happy anywhere, even trapped in a prison, and cites the example of the Greek philosopher Diogenes who so distained material things that he lived in a barrel. The patient disagrees strongly, shouting, "I love life, I love it passionately!" He adds, tellingly, that maybe Diogenes would not have been so happy if he had had to live in a barrel in the wintry cold of Siberia!

The other stories in the book treat of a variety of people and situations from all walks of Russian life. While despair and a sense of hopeless fatalism remains the main thrust of many of these stories, there is also an element of hope present. Chekov keeps coming back to the idea that the future will be better. Some stories, such as Anna on the Neck, even have an element of humor. The last story, The Fiancée, perhaps sums up Chekhov's view of Russian life. In this tale a young woman living in a small town becomes engaged to a local man. A guest from the city, Sasha, starts to talk with her about how empty her life will be if she marries this man. Gradually she begins to come to this realization and in the end leaves to move to St. Petersburg to have "a new, expansive, spacious life, and that life, still unclear, full of mysteries, lured and beckoned to her."

I have given Chekov a rating of 4 stars, rather than 5, because, compared to Guy de Maupassant and O. Henry, his stories do not sufficiently express the full range of human emotions. Both of the latter masters of the short story infuse their work with humor and even broad satire and this is the stuff of life as well as the dreary world that Chekov inhabits. Yet maybe Chekov is reflecting the reality of Russia in his time. In any case these stories are well worth reading.

There are no better short stories than those of Anton Chekov. He wrote characterizations that resonate across the years and across cultures. Chekov takes you deep into these people's lives and struggles so that the reader feels a very definite strong connection with these characters that populate pre-revolutionary Russia. Short on plot and yet each story is satisfying and memorable. Some , Ward 6 is an example ,are masterpieces of the short story form.

Excellent translation and stories that you can read and enjoy again and again for years. You can't go wrong here.

This is the first series of works that I have read by Chekhov. I wanted to read some of his shorter works before beginning reading his novels. Now that I realize how much I enjoy his stlye, which I think other people will like as well, I am looking forward to reading his larger works. I very much liked the insight into the Russian culture.

Chekhov simply astonishes. "The Lady with the Little Dog," one of his most famous stories, is rendered splendidly by Pevar and Volokhonsky. I don't know of any other writer who captures the confusion, fear and excitement of romantic love as well as Chekhov does here. The last line is perfect.

This book is a perfect example of why you can't judge a book by its cover. Why is Rachel Zook, an Amishwoman, dressed like that (she is not dressed like that anywhere in the book)? Her hair was just the right color though (blackberry wine), and she was well-endowed (which her husband thought "sloppy", which made her husband come across as asexual--what man, even if he only has relations with his wife for the sake of procreating, doesn't take any pleasure in the act?).

I never understood the motivations for Rachel's husband and Jacob's brother, Simon Sauder. He made a great villain, but was it just that he hated his brother so much because his father favored the prodigal? That's very believable, though the underlying reason why he married Rachel (and abused her) was explained in the last part of the book, it seemed a bit far-fetched (but then, Simon was a religious zealot).

Ms. Blair's solution for Jacob and Rachel to still be together and still be Amish (which was so much a part of them), however, more than up for that. I got a real sense of community, and though this was not a Christian romance per se, these were refreshingly real characters of faith unlike many Christian romances where everybody gets saved or is "born again". There is no preaching here, no bashing the Amish or saying being Amish is superior to being English (think Beverly Lewis and Wanda E. Brunstetter, who are all-Amish, all the time). Being Amish is just a part of who Rachel and Jacob are and Annette works with this. This shows her strength as an author--no agenda here.

The love scenes were highly sensual and tastefully done without being pornographic. After all, these are not two real human beings doing it on the movie screen, so one can be a lot more descriptive with the written word, and no one's soul is sacrificed.

A very spiritual (while at the same time, earthy) novel that inspires.

For Amish schoolteacher Rachel Zook, the world beyond her tightly knit village was unknown-and the Elders decreed that it should stay that way. So when the man she loved abandoned their peaceful culture for a forbidden life among the "English", she couldn't follow him. Now bound in marriage to a man she doesn't love, Rachel is torn by longing when Jacob Sauder returns...

Jacob knows only one way to raise children-the Amish way. But asking the community he had forsaken to welcome him and his motherless children is more painful than he had imagined, especially when he learns that his beloved Rachel has wed his own brother. Amish law makes it impossible to dream of a future together...until tragedy forces Rachel and Jacob to place their faith in the power of love.

This is a great Amish romance with sex, lies, but no videotape. There is infidelity, love unrequieted, bad family relations, and bitter jealousy to name a few emotions in this novel. Although not altogether historically correct, it remains a fasinating read that holds tightly onto your interest and ends with an explosive unexpected finale. The choice of cover picture is most unfortunate as well as inaccurate, but worth the effort for what is between the bookcovers.

I am not a fan of romance novels, but this one came so highly recommended by a friend that I made an exception. I was reading Thee I Love on an airplane when I started weeping uncontrollably. (This is very hard for a grown man who's a bit sheepish about reading a romance in the first place.) This is one of the three or four books I have read in my life that moved me to tears.

A world-class novel hidden in a badly-chosen cover. This is a story that raises the bar on romance, transcends the genre, takes us to an amazing new world and doesn't let us go until we're emotionally exhausted, satisfied, amazed, and sated. Simply, unbelievably, wonderful. Kudos Ms. Blair. Thee, I Love would make top-notch movie.

Great illustrations, characters and an amazing setting make Tut, Tut (Time Warp Trio) a fabulous find for young readers. There's plenty of laughs here for parents as well in this very well written novel.

Join Joe, Fred, Sam and Anna (Joe's sister) as they travel back to ancient Egypt through a book that lands them in quite a situation. The problem is that they need that same book to get back home, and they lost it!

There's non-stop adventure and some wonderful history that may well encourage young readers to seek out more information about this period of Egyptian history.

Recommended!

Time-traveling is not as cool as you think. Being mummified, being trapped in a secret room and having your friend almost eaten by a crocodile is not cool. But what is cool is being treated as a royal guest in Thutmose III's palace, sailing in his boat and teaching him basketball. So, if you like things that are cool and not, you should read this hilariously funny book.

The book was about three boys and a girl who go to Egypt through a book that one of the boys uncles gave him. They have to travel through Egypt and find the book to get back home and meet a little challenge along the way named Hatsnat. I liked this book because we had just learned about Egypt so that made it better to understand.

This book is exciting. You always want to turn the page. It is funny and interesting.It takes place in ancient Egypt.In Tut Tut there is a girl named Annie. She is 6 and two brothers. I would tell you to read it.The name is Tut Tut.

I give this book five stars because it is very funny. It is also adveturous. The characters in this story (Joe, Fred, Sam) get in a lot of trouble and Sam almost gets eaten by a crocodile. I don't want to say more because I want you to read it for your self. I don't want to spoil the surprise.

This book is about 95% perfect for a new Vizsla owner. Higher quality images would be the one improvement I would recommend...

This book was highly recommended to me by a Vizsla dog breeder as the authority on raising and training your Vizsla. After reading the book I have to agree that this is an excellent book. It covers all aspects of the breed from birth to death. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in buying this lovely breed of dog or to anyone who is currently the owner of a Vizsla.

This book was everything I expected for a good book on the Vizsla breed. Tons of information on Vizslas. Nicely done.

This is a great book, full of information! It is very helpful for preparing for this breed.

Vizslas are great dogs, but they have some unique characteristics, that you need to know about before owning one. I would highly recommend this to anyone considering buying a Vizsla or a new owner. I have made notes and noted page numbers and have referred to them often.

My younger sister is 7 years old. When she started reading the book,outloud, I was interested. The book was a little bit hard for her,but she loved it. Later, I read it. It meant a lot to me and now it is one of me and my sister's favorite books.

after reading one page, you're hooked. makes you feel lucky to live in a home. children ages 8 to 18 will definitely enjoy this book. definitely best children's book material. frances o'roark dowell did an awesome job. i give it two thumbs up!

Where I'd Like To Be is a great book by Frances O'Roark Dowell. It is about a girl named Maddie who lives in an orphange and keeps to herself. She hardly tells anyone her secrets especially about her scrapbook of dreams. Her scrapbook contains magazine clippings of things she wishes she had like a big house, dogs,etc. One day her scrapbook is revealed.One of the boys at the orphange becomes friends with Maddie. Eventually she trusts him enough to tell him about the scrapbook and dreams. This is a heart-warming book that you should read. To find out what happens to Maddie read this book.

What if when you were a baby, a ghost saved your life? Well, according to Granny Lane, that's what happened to 11 year old Maddie. She longs for a family and a place to call home and feels that it's hopeless. After all, who adopts an 11 year old? But maybe it wasn't as hopeless as she thought.
Maddie may seem a normal kid to you, she goes to school, has great friends, is in after-school activities, but then you go to her home. She has shared a room with people who come and go as often, it seems, as the seasons. Maddie lives at the East Tennessee Children's Home. She wants a home so badly she has a "book of houses" and a "book of people." Throughout the book she and her friends find that they are all a family, a strange one, but a family none the less.
Where I'd Like To Be, is a book that all people should read for a heart warming tale. I think what I liked best is that you can almost feel each character's emotions as they change. I think anyone who likes a story that makes you glad for what you've got, should read this book.

Great book, especially for young girls in their search for self. This book surely must be based, at least in part, on some observations from East Tennessee Christian Home in Elizabethton, Tennessee because the author has cited several times East Tennessee Children's Home (where the novel is set), as well as Allen Avenue (the actual location of The Home), and Elizabethton, Tennessee (the city in which the novel is set). I certainly encourage young girls to read the book, as well as their parents. I think it will lead to more understanding on both sides.

Wonderfully written. Up close and personal, written from the individual soldier's perspective and covers a part of the Bulge that tends to be glossed over.

This is a clear history of the shock and awe confronting the Germans on D-Day. The losses and triumphs of the GIs and their perserverence was heroic and well documented in this account. Keen research and clear writing.

I have been reading World War 2 books for well over 3 decades and I can sincerely say this book did the best job of describing the horrors faced by the American soldier at the beginning states of "The Bulge". Excellent account of the battle before the Bastogne siege. Well done!

Great read about hours just before and during German push known as Battle of the Bulge. Expect incredible details and plenty of first-hand observations. A must read for WWII buffs. May be too heavy on details for casual readers. Highly recommended!

If you like to read what American soldiers experienced during World War II and specifically during the the Battle of the Bulge, this book is for you. This book has so many detailed anecdotes about the experiences of US soldiers that it is impossible to relate even a portion of them here. However, here is just one example. Like his previous books, as you are reading this, you can sense the fear that the soldiers felt as the German tanks approached them. You can feel that you are there with them as they shiver with cold and fear, with only an M1 rifle, a bazooka and their buddies, many of whom are getting shot up, in their foxholes as the Panther tanks approach them, running over their foxholes. You can sense their fear as the tanks stop over the foxholes. If the tank is destroyed here, then they burn with it. Although certainly you aren't there, thank God, this is the closest that I've been brought to the real experiences of the US soldier. Consequently, I highly recommend this book for any reader interested in what US soldiers experienced in the World War II and especially in the Battle of the Bulge

Maya Angelou's reading of poetry is moving to the point ot tears and laughter. I highly recommend it.

This audiobook arrived in about a week and was in the condition advertised. Overall, I was satisfied with the transaction and would purchase from this seller again.

...Invictus is by William E. Henley......I do not like much poetry.....but 'Still I Rise', is one of the most moving and powerful pieces of literature of our day. You can feel the rumblings of motivation rising within you as you read it---it summons the power of our ancestors as you read it... YOU FEEL this poem with all your heart--or I fear you have no heart and you remember that feeling for years after you have read it!
It is a magnificent poem that the author not only wrote, but earned through her own life.
This book would make excellent Christmas gifts of inspiration.

This book is filled with wonderful, powerful poetry that really awakened me to the troubles of African Americans in that time of history. Diego Rivera's paintings in the book are staggering and breathtaking. This is a must-see for any ameteur or lover of poetry.

The title says it all. I love this poem. It's Maya's best so far. And I love the combination of the poetry and artwork. I hope she chooses to do this more often. A superb book created by a superb woman! *****

I agree with all the rave reviews about how these books progress from basic to more advanced reading skills. I also appreciate the illustrations. I rarely buy a book for my children that is not beautifully illustrated, ala The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim Lamarche or Sophie's Masterpiece: A Spider's Tale by Eileen Spinelli and Jane Dyer. While not beautiful in a painterly manner, the illustrations by BB Sam are not at all garish and by far the best I've seen in any beginning reader.

My toddler loves these books. She can't get enough of them. Even though she isn't reading them herself, she loves it when we read them to her and she loves looking at the pictures. These books will be great for her when she starts reading herself!

I highly recommend these books by Nora Gaydos for parents who are teaching their child to read at home. My son has known the sounds of all the letters and has been able to sound out three and four letter words with short vowel sounds since he was three. I thought he would be an early reader, but at age 5 now he has not liked any books we have tried as beginning readers until now. He became so bored with the Bob Books, McGuffey's primer, Step into Reading books, etc... that he started pretending he didn't know the sounds anymore. He still loved me to read to him, though, but he would not try to read by himself.

Then I ordered these books a few days ago and amazingly, he was so intrigued by the illustrations, he sat down and read three of them straight through to me. He has never been a fan of stickers, but for some reason, the incentive to place a sticker inside each book when you finish reading it really has appealed to him. We got the Animal Antics and the Playful Pals sets two days ago and he has already read five of the books three times each by himself! I am so amazed and excited that he is happy about reading again.

These books are very well done. They follow a good phonics program, with funny stories that actually make sense. The illustrations are superb and really get the child interested in what is happening in the story. I wish I could give these more than five stars! I also recommend the other Level 1 books called Playful Pals. The books are a little smaller but the stories are different and continue in the same vein as these Animal Antics. Both sets contain 10 readers each. You could do the first five of each set first, which are easier, and then the second five of each set. Happy Reading!

I am in love with these books that I ordered all levels, all serries available. Highly recommended. However, for a lower price, you can get Playful Pals: Level 1 (20 books) instead of Animal Antics: Now I'm Reading! (Level 1)(10 books). The Playful Pals: Level 1 includes 10 books from Animal Antics. The size of Animal Antics is smaller though.Now I'm Reading!: Animal Antics - Level 1 (Now I'm Reading)

It is so hard these days to find interesting books that focus on phonics AND child confidence that don't have an overwhelming number of undecodable words. This book is a treasure if you are looking for a program focusing on beginning phonics (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) and Consonant Blends and Sight Words in a format that your child will enjoy while building up confidence. Each soft cover book is about 5" by 5" and has about 10 easy reading pages that slowly builds up the sentences with each page, (e.g. A cat. A tan cat. A tan fat cat.) yet is still able to hold a story (e.g cat loses a race but his friends still clap for him). The books are Fat Cat, Hot Dog, Pig Jig, Rub-A-Dub Cub, Wet Legs, Crab Trap, Frog Cops, Fish Gift, Stuck Duck, and Elk Yelps. My daughter is so happy to be able to say she can read a book without help! It truly builds up their confidence and is exactly what reluctant beginning readers need. The set comes in a nice little hardcover case, easy for readers to carry around, and has individual see-through pockets to keep each book safe in or insert the back flaps to make one big book, and has a magnetic closure tab, to keep it all together and give kids that special-book/diary type of feel so they'll want to take it to bed. It also comes with a list of questions for kids, parents advice book and stickers. The illustrations are simple, funny and enjoyable. I am so happy I found this indispensable teaching tool! Highly recommended!

This is the third book I read by Gibran. I started with "The Prophet" and "Voice of the Master". "Broken Wings" is the first novel I read by this author. It is a love story between two young people at the tender age of 18 that meet and establish spiritual connection between each other immediately. The girl, Selma is raised by her wealthy widower father, who in spite of his wealth seems to be ignorant of the way the world works. The young man, our narrator, is somewhat of a dreamer and idealist who believes that patience and perseverance will grant him the hand of the woman he loves (Selma). But world, being the cruel place that it is has different plans. Everyone pure and true ends up being hurt in the process, only the cruel and greedy get to go on with their lives as if nothing happened. Beautiful story beautifully told and wise as only Gibran can make it so.

"Every beauty and greatness in this world is created by a single thought or emotion inside a man. Every thing we see today, made by past generation, was, before its appearance, a thought in the mind of a man or an impulse in the heart of a woman. The revolutions that shed so much blood and turned men's minds toward liberty were the idea of one man who lived in the midst of thousands of men. The devastating wars which destroyed empires were a thought that existed in the mind of an individual. The supreme teachings that changed the course of humanity were the ideas of a man whose genius separated him from his environment. A single thought build the Pyramids, founded the glory of Islam, and caused the burning of the library at Alexandria.

One thought will come to you at night which will elevate you to glory or lead you to asylum. One look from a woman's eye makes you the happiest man in the world. One word from a man's lips will make you rich or poor."

--Khalil Gibran, Broken Wings

We have all the tools to keep us connected that our forefathers never could have dreamed of. Cars and airplanes allow regular visitations between friends thousands of miles apart. The telephone and the internet allow direct connection with those not in our presence, the cell phone extends this connection to all times and virtually all places. Yet, do we take the time see what we do to those who really are around us, when we leave the guest in our living room to check and see who is signed on to our buddy list on our computer? Do we see our friends' hopes and dreams, joys and sorrows, when we ignore them across the booth in the restaurant to answer our cell phones?

Every action I perform has an effect on someone else. Many people that we meet, we only see that one time. I wonder what their impression of me is. I wonder if I have uplifted them, or hurt them, or barely made an imprint at all. I wonder if they ever look beyond how I have changed them to see me, to see beyond the generally relaxed, goofy, at ease outlook I put on the situation to see how I really am feeling at the time.

Our feelings, our outlook on life, our hopes and expectations can change in an instant. When that person you are thinking about calls or emails, elation ensues. When you don't hear back for awhile, doubt and yearning go through you mind. Yet, it could just be random, the person deciding to send a message just to say hi, like I often do to my friends.

Okay, I am rambling again. That passage above by Khalil Gibran comes from his short book Broken Wings, written from a first person perspective about a man's first love, Selma, who was betrothed to another. This passage was from one of the middle chapters. It caught my eye, and I am still trying to make sense of it, what it is really saying. Any thoughts? Feel free to share. You can post comments on my blog anonymously.

Kahlil Gibran once again tells a beautiful love story. I fell in love with this novel, and would recommend it to anyone who loves to read a beautiful, and realistic love story. It made me cry!

Khalil Gibran's fiery book on first love and its undying potency. A must have read for fans of the Prophet. A fictional tale that captures the essence of love awakening energy in the context of culture, social rules, and family ambition. A juxtaposition on the distinction between a love marriage and a marriage as a merger and acquisiton.

Gibran says, "I was eighteen years of age when love opened my eyes with its magic rays and touched my spirit for the first time with its fiery fingers and Selma Karamy was the first woman who awakened my spirit with her beauty and led me into the garden of high affection, where days pass like dreams and nights like weddings."

In his typical lyrical prose, interlaced with subtle imagery and deep philosophy, Kibran creates a masterpiece of first love. The story is poignant, and is full of platonic ideals, so characteristic of first love, especially in the East. I say so, as in the East, be it South Asia or the Middle East, first love is a cherished territory where spirituality overwhelms every idea of sexuality. The prose is delightful in content as well as intent, and is laced with a wisdom, so reminiscent of his most famous work, the Prophet.

Gibran always wrote short novels, and this one too is a short, but intense read. The sentences are rich with poetic descriptions, and the way author describes nature and love is refreshing, soothing, and beautiful.

I recommend Gibran to one and all. His writings may not appeal to you if you are looking for cheap thrills, but if you pine for a love story that defies the usual pot-broiler stuff, a love story full of purity and selflessness, read this one.