I Books

The Hunting of the Snark is a whacky piece of poetical silliness by Lewis Caroll. Complete nonsense, no-one knows what a Snark is, or why Snark hunters hunt it, or why anyone would want to become a Snark hunter to start with. Anyway, the poem is definitely amusing at times with some of the humour he slips in.

The Hunting of the Snark seems to be a very, very short imitation of The Canterbury Tales. The first chapter (titled a fit) introduces all of the occupations of all the different people going on a journey. However, instead of going on a general pilgrimage and telling tales along the way, their trip is very specific to hunting.

The Baker actually attempts to tell a story, but the Bellman (who leads the group) says there's no time for storytelling. They have to catch the Snark before nightfall.

Along with the Bellman and Baker, a Banker, a Bonnet-maker, a Butcher, a Boots, a Billiard-maker, a Barrister, a Broker, and a Beaver tag along to hunt for the Snark. The Beaver is afraid of getting cut by the Butcher, so he puts on a dagger-proof coat and talks to the Banker about buying an insurance policy.

The Beaver is involved in a hilarious scene with the Butcher later, when the two attempt to compute sums. But perhaps the funniest scene of the entire book is in the Barrister's dream when the Snark declares sentence on a pig, only to find out the pig has been dead long before the trial even began.

I'd highly recommend this short poem for Carroll fans, even though it's not big enough to contain but a small portion of what's to be found in the Alice books.

I have read a great deal of nonsense in the past, but this was by far the best nonsense that I have ever read. There is no point, no meaning, no sense, and no boringness. It is a delightful poem (which is well written and very fun to read aloud) about a crew on a ship hunting a snark. The crew includes a captain who only rings a bell, a beaver, a cook who only cooks beavers (the beaver and the cook did not get along well), a man afraid that the snark would turn into a boojum and make him disappear, etc. As you can tell, this makes for an insanely silly poem. The subtitle is rather fitting, as my sides were definitely hurting from laughter when I was done. Well done Mr. Carroll.

Overall grade: A+

Nonsense poems can easily miss the mark
Yet, this masterpiece has that spark.

"How do you kill a _____?", you ask
To find the answer was the hunters' task.

"What was their fate?", you wonder
Did they ever catch their elusive plunder?

A paragon of haunting Carollian lore
Be in no doubt that you'll finish wanting more.

This poem is just great!

First, this one of the most delightful pieces of writing that ever appeared in (more or less) English. It succeeds as a sustained exercise in illogic. I am sure that only a mathematical logician like Dodgson could possibly have pulled it off - only someone with such deep understanding of reason could master unreason so completely.

Second, Martin Gardner's commentary adds depth and background to the reading. Gardner explains terms that are now obsolete, but also adds his own analysis and a rich history of the Snark phenomenon. It should be no surprise that Gardner is still best known as the long-time editor of Scientific American's column on Mathematical Games, a mathematician himself.

I can't add much to the scholarship or praise that already surrounds this incredible poem. I would like to point out, however, that most non-native English speakers are unfamiliar with this poem. Many of them have only ever seen the serious side of the English language, and have never seen English at play. I consider this short work to be the ideal introduction to the very best of English-language nonsense.

//wiredweird

When life give you lemons - make lemonade. Now how many times have you heard that cliche when your way looks rough? But, even when you add plenty of sugar, it can still zing your taste buds, and make your lips pucker. Well, have you ever seen a purple sweet potato? They are from the same family as the orange shaded variety, except the flesh is a lavender hue. Sounds kinda exotic, doesn't it? And, the purple tuber is sweeter than the regular one. So now when your way looks rough, say to yourself - When life gives you an ordinary sweet potato, add a little food coloring and make purple sweet potato pie.

"I Almost Missed...My Life" begins with what I'm going to call an ordinary beginning. You see, the author experienced some trials in her life, which are really no different from what a lot of women in the 21st century have had to face. At the age of thirty-one, she had two children, who had different fathers, and she wanted to divorce her third husband. What did she do in this familiar scenario? She took the knowledge that she had (an orange sweet potato), and combined it with the teachings of Anthony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the Dalai Lama and more (the food coloring), to result in a life filled with fun, excitement, passion, love and success (the exotic purple sweet potato pie).

Debra Russell jots down her recipe with 52 ingredients, which can be added to your dish of life. After stirring, there's a "Give It A Go" assignment, to help bring out the flavor. She also encourages the reader to start journaling for increased success, and to start your own recipe. I recommend "I Almost Missed...My Life: How to Breakthrough To the Life You Really Want" to those who want to color the ordinariness of their lives into something new - well maybe not exotic, but definitely in a different pigment.

"I Almost Missed My Life" contains 52 short (2 page) chapters that can best be described as instructional, self-help guidance on things you can do to change your life into the E Ticket life you would like to have. The E Ticket reference is used in the book and accurately represents the author's purpose with the book. Several years ago if you went to Disney World you would purchase a packet of tickets that contained A, B, C, D, and E tickets. The most popular, most exciting rides were E Ticket rides. My memories as a child include a trip to Disney World where we purchased one of these books of tickets. One thing I recall is that the A and B ticket rides were ones that I was not interested in and only rode them because I had a ticket that was no good for anything else. Many people seem to live their lives that way - life has dealt them a book of A and B tickets and so that is the limit of what they can ride. The purpose of the book is to change your life from an A or B Ticket ride to an E Ticket journey.

Each week you can take one of the chapters and focus on it for that week. Chapters include encouragement and direction on such things as "Practice Outcome Thinking", "Trust and Follow your Knowing", "Treasure and Nurture Your Friends", "Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously", "Listen", "Let Go of Regrets", "Be the Change You Want To See", and "Be Grateful". This is an excellent and recommended book for people seeking an organized plan for changing their life.

Problems in reaching success in your professional or personal life? Would you like to see what was wrong in your life and see all clearly in perspective? So, read this book and find your answers. To reach our objectives, we need first to identify, and then break our self-imposed internal barriers. The author makes the reader to explore common attitudes and wrong assumptions that continuously prevent people in reaching their goals. Russell opens doors, and in a simple way, empowers the reader. This book is a beautiful trip breaking barriers, that goes from procrastination and struggle to a successful life in all aspects. Highly recommended, and a good gift for a friend.
Jorge O. Corti MD, MPH

This woman is a living example of going from zero to a hundred on the success scale.

I liked how she is succinct and humorous - Russell specifically lays out what anyone can do to accomplish more and get more satisfaction out of life.

If some habitual thinking holds you back, you will be well-served to enjoy I Almost Missed My Life.

Debra Russell shares her life story, tips, and motivations on how to live a better life in her self-help book, I ALMOST MISSED MY LIFE, DON'T MISS YOURS: 52 SECRETS TO MORE SUCCESS, FUN & FULFILLMENT. Russell shares how she went from being a three timed divorced single mom and welfare recipient to a happy, successful entrepreneur and motivational speaker.

Russell shares 52 of her secrets, one for every week in a year, with the reader. Many of the suggestions are common sense knowledge, but it is reiterated in a way that makes it seem fresh and new. Some of the suggestions that I found most helpful were, keeping a journal, being optimistic, and surrounding yourself with positive people.

I ALMOST MISSED MY LIFE, DON'T MISS YOURS: 52 SECRETS TO MORE SUCCESS, FUN & FULFILLMENT is an inspirational story of one woman's determination to find happiness and to share her findings with others. The "secrets" offered are generic enough to work for everyone, but the author adds a special "Give It A Go" section at the end of each tip to help the reader make it their own. In addition to Russell's suggestions, the book is enhanced with several motivational quotes and statements. This book is a wonderful self-help for people who know that they need a change in their lives, but just need a little extra guidance.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I used to read this book aloud in a church nursery when I was in my 20's. When I had my daughter at age 36, I remembered how fun it was to read and how much the kids loved it. I added it to her collection and it is one of her favorites. I just read it to her again the other night and she is ten years old (not too old for a bedtime story yet)! I highly recommend this Seuss favorite.

This is one of the great Dr. Seuss books that a lot of people don't seem to know about. Really, really fun and a little bit different from the others. My nephew cracks up every single time I read it to him.

"I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today!" is a fun Dr. Seuss book which contains three stories and 1365 words. The book's Accelerated Reading designation is given as 2.9 which means the text is suitable for children reading at an advanced Second Grade level. [2.9 translates as a book that an "average" child should be able to read when in the 9th month of 2nd Grade. It can be enjoyed by people of any age, of course.]

At our house the stories were met with almost universal praise from both the 6 and 8 year old. And what's nice about Seuss books, besides the rampant craziness, is the fact that children often forget how many words they are reading as they work away at finding out what happens.

Summary ::: A fun Seuss reader which contains three stories. The AR designation is 2.9 but the word-magic of story and rhyme makes this book appropriate for non-reading children as well.

Pam T~

This is not your typical Seuss book - it has 3 stories, all of which teach a little lesson. Once again, Seuss' language can be a little obnoxious so I must warn you there that you'll need to change a few words like "stupid" as you go. That word just doesn't sound too great coming from a two-year-old. Anyway, it shows how you should be careful of what you say before you say it in I can lick 30 tigers (meaning, beat them up and not actually "taste them" as you may think), how you should take care of yourself and not let others tell you what to do in King Louie, and to watch what you think about and how you spend your spare time in Thunk Glunk. Valuable lessons and entertaining as well. Not too big of a favorite in this house, but worth reading once in awhile.

"I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories" presents a trio of stories told in verse and illustrated by Dr. Seuss in 1969. Each story makes a simple point. The title story is about a young fellow who looks like a smaller version of the Cat in the Hat (there is reason to believe he is part of the next generation) who declares that he can lick thirty tigers today. However, as soon as he see the thirty tigers he starts finding reasons to whittle down that number, which should indicate to young readers the problems of biting off more than you can chew (pick whatever phrase that expresses this idea you like even if it is your eyes are bigger than your stomach).

"King Looie Katz" is about the fancy cat named Looie who was the King of Katzen-stein and who was so proud of his royal tail that not only did he wash it every morning in a ten-gallon golden pail. In fact, King Looie is so proud that he decides that his tail should never be allowed to touch the earth and he made Fooie Katz follow him around and keep from dragging on the ground. When Fooie notices his tail is sagging he makes Kooie Katz lift up his tail. Soon all the cats in Katzen-stein are walking round and round keeping each other's tails from dragging on the ground. All the cats, that is, except one in this simple story about being more "demo-catic."

Finally there is "The Glunk that Got Thunk," which has the distinction of being the wordiest Dr. Seuss story I have ever read. The sister of the small cat we met in the first story likes to go upstairs after supper and use her Thinker-Upper. Usually she thinks up friendly little things with smiles and fuzzy fur. But one night she decides to go for go for something more fun and discovers she has thunked a Glunk. There are two problems with this. First, a Glunk cannot be UN-thunk. Second, this Glunk calls his mother each night, which is an expensive long distance phone call (ten dollars a minute), and this particular Glunk will never stop talking (which explains why this story gets so wordy; beginning readers will be amazed). There are actually several lessons that can be drawn from this one.

None of these are what I would call first level Dr. Seuss books but there are three of them, which just about adds up to a solid collection. You readers might find it strange to find three short stories collected in one, but there are other such collections out there. These stories are a bit more inclined towards making points beyond the good doctor's normal delightful infatuation with the realm of imagination.

I thought I would take a moment to compliment Charlotte Hayes on her book. This book is well written, organized, easy to read and easy to comprehend. More importantly, this book refocused my attention on my well-being. Sticking to a regimen has made me feel better both physically and emotionally. Having more energy makes life brighter.

Thanks to Charlotte for selflessly taking the time to write the book for my betterment. I will definitely recommend this book to my local Diabetes Society.

I have really enjoyed following the advice given in this very common-sense and well written book. The author's down to earth approach encouraged me to follow her guidance, and I have now adopted many of her suggestions into my daily life. I feel my circulation is improving each week! Thank you Ms. Hayes, you have really motivated me !!

This book was laying on the reading table at my Dr.'s office waiting room. After scanning it, I ordered my own copy. The book points out so many really simple ways to increase the amount of excercise I can get on a daily basis-----in the course of routine activities. And I notice the difference in my overall feeling of wellbeing, and increased stability in my blood test numbers.

Robert Parker Atlanta, GA

Charlotte Hayes presents the virtues and importance of exercise in a very thorough yet simplified format. The primary theme she emphasizes is to "stay active". Forget the quick fix solution and make a commitment to a long term lifestyle change. Lifestyle changes are paramount to staying fit, not strenuous exertion. She offers practical suggestions for incorporating exercise into day to day activities. Set achievable goals and build on them. The basic principals of exercise are the solution to most health problems. An extremely well written book.

As both a physician and a diabetic, I found this book offers reminders of basic nutrition principles(often forgotten...even by doctors) and many clever ways to incorporate more valuable exercise into my daily life. It's a "neat" little book.

John J. Bodine, M.D. Hampton Bay, NY

I have been struggling with digestive issues for about six years now. I've been to a number of different doctors as well as tried many different treatments. I believe that this book has an excellent analysis of IBS, using a much broader spectrum to encompass many different digestive disorders. It is written very well, sticking to the facts and making medical jargon understandable. I think that anyone trying to deal with digestive issues would benefit from reading this book. It gave me a whole new way to look at my problems and lots of new avenues to pursue with regard to maintaining a healthy, happy stomach.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with IBS. Its Q & A format along with all of the visual tables and flow charts make it very easy for patients, and those closest to them, to understand this very irritating illness.

This is the book that patients need to comprehend this complex disease. Put in a question & answer format will really make it much easier to break down all entanglements of physical, emotional, neurological, and psychological aspects of this relatively hard to treat disease. It is like a stream of valuable info flowing in the brain without turbulence. Thank you Dr. Farhadi for such a great contribution.

The format of this book is really what makes it amazing. The Q&A format informs readers of the hot topics of IBS while furthering each individual reader's medical knowledge about this widely suffered ailment. For those interested in getting a crash course on IBS this book definitely provides that with informative diagrams, explanatory definitions and easy to understand questions with corresponding answers. And all of this information is packed into a short read of 96 pages.

Dr Farhadi's guide is great! All of the information was so helpful. I learned how to manage my illness instead of it managing me. I feel like I have gotten my life back.

I Love This Guy is the 4th collection of the popular webcomic created by Ryan Sohmer and Lars DeSouza, Least I Could Do. For the uninitiated, Least I Could Do follows the escapades, sexual or otherwise, of Rayne Summers, an overgrown frat boy who in this latest edition shows newfound maturity in addition to his usual lovable-jerk persona.

Least I Could Do is at its heart a wish-fulfillment fantasy. Rayne scores dozens of girls, gets a highly-paid executive position without any relevant experience, and drives expensive custom cars. Even the name, Rayne Summers, is a thinly-veiled reworking of creator Ryan Sohmer. In any other comic, having such a Mary Sue as the protagonist would be a kiss of death, but Sohmer and DeSouza make it work.

Least I Could Do is always amusing and frequently hilarious. When push comes to shove, a comic needs to be funny, and very few comics today produce a daily strip that is this consistent. The comic is still most effective during the sexual jokes, and during its homages to geek culture, which Sohmer clearly has a broad knowledge of. Weaker moments come when the comic tries to justify Rayne's behavior, such as during spoof of A Christmas Carol where a ghost shows Rayne his own future coming up roses. It would be a great disservice not to mention the artwork of DeSouza, who must rank on any shortlist of comic artists today. Especially effective are his use of unique shot compositions that add vitality to otherwise ordinary scenes.

In the end, those interested in this book will have read the webcomic and liked it, and are wondering if the print version is worth it. To that query I can answer an emphatic YES. The book is jam-packed with author notes and artist sketches. If you liked the comic, you will love the book.

The book Least I could do "I love this guy" will make you laugh no matter what your mood and its in full color!

I'd like to cover the technical issues first with this book. To say this is a high quality product wouldn't be doing it justice. Not only is the cover thick and glossy, but every page inside is as well. This is a solid, well put together book. The print quality is great as well.

But really, none of that matters if the content isn't gold right? Well fear not, this comic is PLATINUM. For those of you not familiar with ghetto ranking systems, I'm pretty much saying that this is some damn funny stuff. I've only collected one other comic strip collection before and that was Calvin & Hobbes. So me paying money for this (and the other 3 previous books) when I could read them all for free should tell you something about how awesome Least I Could Do really is.

Why not read it for free you say? Other than being an nonsupportive jerk, you'll be missing out on so much! Damn near every strip has commentary from the creators, not to mention random sketches thrown around all over the book as well. Do yourself a favor and check out the strip for free at http://www.leasticoulddo.com/ and if you like it, shell out a few bucks and buy this book! It's worth it, promise!

I Love This Guy is a gorgeous memory for all die-hard Least I Could Do fans, and a knee-slapping-roll-me-over-and-poke-me-I-might-be-dead-I've-been-laughing-so-hard for absolutely anyone who reads it. With the extra commentary bubbles and random artwork between strips, it's a definate must-have. I am THRILLED that I have my own copy!

Lar and Sohmer continue to bring the creative genius and subtle (and not so subtle) wit of Canucks everywhere to print. The fourth installment of the Least I Could Do comic series delivers great comics, fantastic interviews with the writer and image creator and gives you an unparalelled look into their minds. I highly recommend this book.

I was lucky enough to perform this play in a competition in 1999. I was Raja. It has inspired me to no end! I have been told by people who saw our competition just how amazing this play is. And it's true. It will move you to tears, knowing that what is being said, are real words written by real people who lived this horrible life forced upon them. Kudos to the playwright!

This play is a wonderful thing. It really opened my eyes as to what happened to these poor children. Our audience was silent when we finished with opening night (last night) and I was crying. I have never experienced anything like it. I have never been so moved by words and actions. This play has changed me in a subtle way, and I thank my director for choosing it. To play someone who actually lived is a very moving experience, especially when you know what they went through in order to have a play written about them and many books too. I love this play, and will never forget the wonderful experience I've had.

I was one of the lucky few in a theater class to be able to perform this play. I can't begin to explain how touched I was by the children and there love of life. We had a Holocaust survivor come and see the play. She, above all other people, could appreciate this play for its amazing ability to bring the stories of those children to life. Thank you Celeste Raspanti!

We've been rehersing this play for about a month and a half now and are performing it tomorrow! I love the story but I would recommend that if you are involved that you do some research of you didn't know much like me. Schindler's list is helpful. I play Honza, who is a positive aspect of the play but the part is still depressing. It really does depend on how you look at it. You either focus on the horrible things that happened, and how many people died, or the positives - that people actually survived to tell the story. It's quite hard for me as I'm playing Honza in 2(we're only doing 2) performances and there are 2 Raja's (or Rayas). Please if you are in this play just appreciate the seriousness of the issue before you start acting.

I performed in this play in Northeastern Iowa (of all places!) when I was just 8 years old, and have repeatedly told people over the course of my life how moving the play is, and how it affected me as a child. My mother was also in the play and was careful to explain to me how important the story was. In college I searched in vain for a copy of this play to perform a scene for an acting class. I guess my review is this - after 22 years this play is still with me.

I was so involved in this book I neglected my friends and family until I could finish finding EVERY SINGLE THING on the lists! I loved it, and even though it's almost useless to ME now that I've found everything, I'll keep it on the shelf and show/lend it to others who come to visit. Maybe in a few years I can pick it up again and start over; my senior moments are becoming more frequent, and I might just forget where everything was hiding!

This was another great I spy book. Keeps the kiddies interested.
I loved it too.

Item as described and received in a timely manner... an excellent buying experience!

Very difficult book, but one you can't stop playing. Great person that I bought it from.

My grandson and I spend hours on these I Spy books. What I love is that even if we finish finding everything in the book (which we haven't on this particular book in the I Spy series), a couple months later, we have just as much fun doing it all over again!

A must read for all young couples going through difficult times. This book saved my relationship and my family. My boyfriend (now husband) and I found ourselves expecting a baby when we were both far too young. We knew several other couples in the same situation at that time. All of them ended up giving up on their relationships within the first year (or before) of their babies lives. I wish they could have read this book. It gave me the strength to tough it out through the hardest days. I am so glad that I did, too (12 plus years now)!

When conflicts arise in a marriage, the promise of peace through divorce is a temptation that few can resist. Divorce has become an acceptable and frequently encouraged solution to marital problems. As the Prathers tell us, today's "separation psychology," with its myriad of support groups and counselors, promotes selfishness: "you have a right to the kind of life you want," "the right partner will share your interests, meet your needs, and grow at the same rate you grow," "what's best for you is best for the children." Then we have the lure of certain "new age" ideas, such as the concept of soul mates, which excuses us from fulfilling our commitment to our original "imperfect" partner while we search for our "perfect counterpart."
The Prathers contend that none of us "deserves" an "ideal primary relationship and the fulfillment of all our dreams. What we deserve is love, and we have it only when we give it." For more than 20 years, Hugh and Gayle Prather have counseled couples and encouraged them to give to one another, thus building permanent, satisfying, and spiritually based relationships - the kind that can "go through fire."
The Prathers found that couples who divorces in spite of counseling are rarely happier after separation, and the betrayal of abandonment is damaging to their children and the community, as well as to the soul of the betrayer. The Prathers see the rash of divorces in today's society as one of the symptoms of an epidemic of fear and hatred. Their hope is that I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU will serve as an emergency manual to deal with tis ongoing disaster.
Filled with wit and wisdom, this manual takes us through all the stages a couple typically experiences in a long-term relationship. It clearly outlines the exercises and sensitizing techniques that the Prathers and their clients have used to successfully heal the breaches in their faltering unions.
The Prathers hold up the real relationship as the ideal for all couples to strive toward. Their definition of a "real" relationship is "one in which two people love each other to fulfill themselves rather than withdraw from each other to fulfill themselves." It is "unquestionably a haven from fear... Once it becomes the goal of any two people, it not only lasts but grows stronger and lovelier with every effort." Any couple who sets this kind of relationship as a goal will find that the Prathers' book will serve as a guide through the storms of life until the two can say to each other: "I love you; I bless you; I want to walk home to God with you."

Emily VanLaeys, author of DREAM WEAVING: USING DREAM GUIDANCE TO CREATE LIFE'S TAPESTRY

My husband and I have been married 17 years this spring. Twelve years ago we went through a major marriage crisis, and I credit Hugh Prather with giving us the tools to not only survive, but thrive. We now have two beautiful children, work together as partners in the same business and love and respect each other more than ever. Whether you are already in a relationship or yearning to be in one - READ THIS BOOK. It is life changing.

This is without question the best book on relationships I've ever read. I am a huge fan of the Prathers, and this book is one of their best. It has saved my marriage on more than one occasion, and I have given it as a gift to many friends embarking on new relationships, marriages or at a difficult stage in the one they're in. The bottom line message is about treating one's partner with gentleness, and being their best friend in the world. This involves a good deal of soul searching, forgiveness, honesty and dialogue - but more than anything it's a mindset, a willingness to love unconditionally. It's BIG stuff, and not for the faint-hearted or those who prefer to be right than happy. If what you're after is the ever-deepening joy of a long-term commitment, this is the book for you.

I picked up this book at the recommendation of a friend right after my wife left. I gave her the book to try to work things out, and I feel if she would have just read it, things could have been different; it's that powerful. The points presented seem so easy, and so simple to implement, but most of us just do not for whatever reason.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in relationship crisis, as well as anyone attemping to avoid relationship issues in the future.

This is a beautiful story and the illustrations are superb! I've given this as a gift... always a big hit!

From the book - I'm coming, Mama, I'll see you soon. I know just how... I'll follow the moon (how sweet is that?)

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read! My [...] son, who loves turtles, is inpired to read with this book. Stephanie Lisa brilliantly incorporates the adventure of a baby sea turle hatchng from his egg to his trip into the sea, all the while following the moon to find his mother. The illustrations are beautiful. A must read!

A neighbor sent me the link to this author's website and I immediately became entranced with her style, it is unique, captivating and totally engaging - my kids (5, 6 and 8) LOVE it! I sent the web site link to all my friends - everyone adores her books, they are fun, inspirational and this mom wants to put the word out for others: With the oversaturated, overabundant children's picture book market, why not choose books with sweet, thoughtful and positive messages?! It helps us moms do our jobs better! From one mom to another - thanks Stephanie Lisa Tara!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

I stumbled across this book quite by accident, and I found it to be a treasure. The verse is lovely and calm, as are the illustrations. It also depicts fairly accurately a remarkable natural phenomenon. As a new mom who longed for a child for many years and eventually adopted internationally, I found the symbolism achingly beautiful. I have since given the book to several friends who have also waited for their children to find them. This book is far too beautiful to be limited to the adoption genre, however. It is very meaningful on a number of different levels!