I Books

My 6 year old is a beginning reader! He is so enjoying this book. He will read it and then read it again. It is a perfect read for him and his facination with bugs!

I acquired this book for my 2-year-old who is fascinated by bugs, especially butterflies. The text is coherent and written in a way a early reader would talk. Some of the Step 1 type books do not impress me, but this one does.

This is a great book for young readers who are just connecting the idea of words having meaning. They are predictable & have good picture context clues. My son loves it & recognized the author from another favorite bedtime story.

Few words per page. Children can reread this story without having yet the ability to decode. Provides early readers with success. Appropriate for English Language Learners of all ages.

This book is a great first book. In fact, it is the first book my son read. *sniff* I'm so proud. :-)

The sentences are short and the pictures hint at what the words may be. I would recommend this to all parents who are helping their children learn to read.

Make your days easier with this comprehehnsive and user-friendly collection of what is central to family and daily activity: MEALS. We all know life is about the basic good pleasures, simplifying, and excellence.

This book has been the driving force in getting me to begin cooking.
My family loves what I am making them and meal time has become an event.
What a change this book has had on my life!
Thank you...you made cooking fun and easy for me.

I bought this wonderful cookbook about a month ago.

As the child of a single working mother family meals were rare. Later when I became a wife and mother of three sons I always longed to create memorable everyday meals, bake homemade breads and generally become a good cook. I spent a small fortune on cookbooks and cooking magazines trying to find a way to make my dream come true. I wanted to cook delicious meals my family liked to eat and find a system that would allow me to cook fresh food daily.

I visited Ms. Groveman's website after I read a quote from her in a magazine. I soon found myself swept up in her message. Finally here was someone who was saying all the things I wanted to hear; families need to eat together, it is vital! Creating a nurturing atmosphere through cooking for your family and friends benefits you and them in immeasurable ways! I had to know more so I purchased her book.

She is saying yes get in that kitchen! You can do it! This book and her website provide a perfect blueprint for anyone wanting to start cooking or for those who want a stellar recipe collection to add to their repertoire . I am a beginner yet I have found her cookbook to have it all; salads, special dishes, family style dishes and the best fancy and casual nibbles you will ever try!

I started with the pantry staples. These are mixes, spice blends and sauces that go along with many different recipes and they make cooking so delicious and incredibly easy! First I made the Scone/Biscuit mix, Pancake/Cake mix, Cornbread mix and the Muffin mix, then I made the spice blends.

Now making Baking Powder Biscuits or Skillet Cornbread on a weeknight is as easy if not easier than using a prepackaged mix, but the taste of these homemade mixes is unrivaled. I am already scraping the bottom of my biscuit mix ( I have three growing boys and a husband!). Oh, and the Banana Bread made with the muffin mix is sublime!

I first made the Buttermilk Pancakes and they looked exactly like the photo. I was hooked! I then made Perfect Roast Chicken (believe me it's perfect!;the recipe uses a spice blend) , Fajitas (also uses a spice blend), Pigs in A Quilt (with three boys I have already made this twice!). With each recipe I followed I was turning out incredible results. Not only did it taste great it also looked great! I couldn't believe it!

Then came the day I decided to make the Challah! Lauren suggests that this should be the first yeast bread you attempt. Well, when you see the photo of this beauty in the book you can see why I might be a bit intimidated-especially considering the fact that I had dozens of failed yeast bread attempts in the past. I read Lauren's bread notes (available on the website and in her first book) and set out to make the Challah. Well, on my first attempt I pulled the most beautiful loaf of bread out of the oven. I could not believe I made this! Armed with this success I then tried the Country White Bread- again success! Delicious! My kids helped me knead the dough for the country white. They did such a good job, we had a great time!
There is no fancy equipment needed to make bread with Lauren, no not even a yeast thermometer!

My children and husband are just lapping all of this attention and love up and I am feeling so great and it is not all about the food. It is about me providing the kind of home life I have always wanted to have. I want my children to know the stability that I never knew as a child and feeding them delicious meals at regular meal times has started to show my kids that life can be predictable and that they are worth every bit of effort it takes to produce great meals and pleasant meal times.

It has not been hard or terribly expensive to start this process. In fact I have taken more pleasure and joy in the past few weeks- with trips to the market and the store buying containers and a few bits and pieces for the kitchen-than I can ever remember. Now I have a mission! This cookbook and Ms. Groveman's website have been my guide. I feel I am starting to succeed in making my dreams come true and all of the guilt I used to have about meal times or lack thereof has dissipated. All of my new found success has not been limited to the kitchen. I now see my new found confidence and my family's contentedness spilling over into other areas of our lives!

As I write this review my kitchen is filled with vegetables and ingredients to make the Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken and Peas for lunch and the Loaded with Vegetables Lasagne for tomorrow night's dinner (with the Crusty Italian Bread from Lauren's first book, I had to get both!) I can only count the days until Spring when I can introduce my children to our farm stands and markets. I am already planning on finding the U-pick places and my husband is going to help me to grow fresh herbs! Life is so sweet!

This cookbook is fabulous! I am going to purchase a copy for my sister!

Very Highly Recommended!

This cookbook goes beyond great recipes -- really great, I should add: the scones are to die for, and the butternut squash soup the best I have tasted, and she even shows an easy way to make your own flour tortillas! -- with helpful tips and charming stories. Groveman's love of cooking is infectious. This is a book that you will use for everyday dinners as well as special occasions.

What a beautiful book! It is filled with an inspiring passion for cooking and sharing that passion with the people we love. A concept this world is sorely in need of these days. I have given this book as gifts to all of my friends and they love it. It is filled with great recipes and practical ideas as well as words of wisdom and inspiration. I have tried several of the recipes and gotten rave reviews. I have been cooking since I was ten years old and although I'm not professionally trained, anyone who knows me would say that cooking and loving is what I do best. It is a pleasure to have Lauren's book validate those qualities and encourage others to bring celebrations of warmth to those we love.

Please take note Bruce the Retiree who Cooks for Two--you seemed to have missed the point of the book. Cooking is an art--creative, warm, loving and meant to be shared. It is sad that you missed the point. It would have been ideal, for someone who is retired and has the time, to pass the beauty of cooking on to our younger generation. Lauren Groveman has been involved in getting a kitchen built in young women's prisons and has taken the time to teach and inspire the young women to cook and thus to care for their families. Her book reflects her kindness and sincere desire to share her talents with everyone. The book is a treasure--I highly recommend it and wish I could give it a double five stars.

Love this little book. We received it as a gift from a crazy aunt (ant/aunt...). My 3 year old practically has it memorized. To hear him quote the book ("oh ruin to wrack" whenever he drops a toy or doesn't get what he wants) is just hillarious.

I teach 4-5 year olds and this is their favorite book! They pretty much know all the words to the book and love telling it with me. Highly recommended!! I also own the Ant in the Parking Lot book and prefer this one to it. I feel the rhyming flows better in this one.

Purchased this book to read to my son's preschool class. The teachers enjoyed it as much as the children! Engaging and fun with great illustrations. This is one of our favorites!

This book combines my son's favorite things: ants and trains. It was also a wonderful book for me to read out loud to him. It's my favorite children's book so far. And he loves it!!

Our four-year old loves this book (as do I). The pace is quick, the pictures lively, and the rhymes quirky and intelligent. You will enjoy reading this together.

More than anything else, this book makes a great conversation starter to bring up the often-taboo subject of infant circumcision, more aptly called Male Genital Mutilation. It's a colorful and lighthearted look at one man's very real desire to have his normal, healthy, and functional prepuce back where it belongs--on his body.

This is a great book. Everyone should read it. The barbaric crime that is circumcision must end. Carl does a great job of expressing his feelings in a non-threatening way that may get the message across.

Three cheers for a great book!

How many times have you read the words "delightfully funny" and it actually be true? This is it. "I Want My Foreskin for Giftmas" light-heartedly critizes forced circumcision. It's an issue felt by many men but who have said nothing about it.

On a warm May morning in 1948 an unknown doctor assaulted my infant body and mutilated my penis. I have been angry about it every day since! Thanks to Carl Schutt my anger has found its voice. In "I Want My Foreskin For Giftmas," Schutt tackles a very adult topic from the perspective of a little boy who has been robbed of his birthright. That little boy was Schutt, but he also was me and millions of others like us. We were defenseless against doctors too eager to perform unnecessary surgery and parents too ignorant to stop them! This book is creative, funny, and irreverent. It is a great read for everyone and a primer for all parents thinking of taking from their sons what no boy should be forced to give away. Bravos for Schutt!

This offbeat book bursts with color, imagination, raw emotion, wit, and an idealism that challenges the reader to pause and ask, "What if we've been doing it wrong all along?"

The artist and author, Carl Schutt, combines art, craft, and folk art to create a book full of humor and social commentary about why we (Americans) insist on a surgical procedure that most pediatricians agree is painful and wholly unnecessary, i.e. circumcision.

The author creates a tone that is at one moment analytically irreverent about the outmoded Judeo-Christian holdover and in the next moment cloaks himself by assuming the voice of a forlorn, foreskinless child who wonders what it would be like to be whole again. The book's searching and fearless inspection brings into the fray parents, God, and yes...even Santa! No stone is unturned.

The author/artist is an iconoclast who finds a way to smartly broach a subject that could stand to be reexamined even though it remains, for the most part, unchallenged. Who can think of a topic so taboo that its first mention at a party full of urban hipsters would result in a choking halt in conversation?

Implicitly under attack is that uptight male machismo that says, "I'm cut and there's nothing wrong with me!" Well, what if instead of there being "nothing wrong" we could all strive for an ideal and, well, be intact and unmodified? Carl Schutt exclaims that circumcision is the male body image crisis equivalent to that of a middle-aged Orange County woman retooled by countless touches of the plastic surgeon's knife; and yet it's a body image crisis that our culture artificially creates, propagates, and hoists upon boys who are only days old. What if this should be changed? What if this could be changed? It's this sort of idealism and visionary spirit that makes this creation refreshing.

Visually the book appears to have been constructed from a million shavings of felt, paper, cardboard, and other banal materials; these common media are brought together by a hand fraught with an almost maniacal need for precision, energy, and speed.

"Foreskin for Giftmas" is the ultimate gift for enlightened parents-to-be, for people who are initiates in the "zine" culture, or anyone who appreciates a clever creation like this that pushes the edge of human understanding.

"I Will Wait For You" grabbed my heart from the beginning. What a beautifully written love story. I got so involved with the book at times that it moved me to tears, touching my heart. She writes so well that it throws you right in there with the characters. I can't wait to read Linda's next book. There will be a next, won't there? I HIGHLY recommend this book.

"I Will Wait for You" grabs your attention from the very first page. It is a beautifully written illustration of the way love can awaken parts of the soul that you never knew you had. This touching narrative is a real gem!

The author had me in the first paragraph! She transports the reader to a magical world in the name of love. This is love in the truest form. She tells the tale with passion, nurturing a fervent belief that true love reaches beyond all adversity and this world. The majestic wonder didn't stop with the beauty of their love. Her glowing descriptions of Ireland and Colorado were breathtaking and her style and rhythm generates passion that summon sensual sensations and beauty of the spirit. A book to cherish!

Wow, Love Stories just arn't like this anymore!! It truely is a story of Eternal Bliss!

From Mary.........I loved the idea that a man could grieve and love ONE woman that much. So wonderful for a man to have values and heart. Beautiful love story. LOVED IT!

Review by "Retired Geek's Wife": Having been to the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, VA, I was familiar with Chef Marcel's amazing chocolate concoctions. His other cookbooks are much more complex recipes than I'm interested in making, so I was very excited to discover "I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas" because the recipes are a bit simpler and certainly not just for Christmas. The recipes are extraordinary, but not beyond the time and talent constraints of us mere mortals. If you are wanting to stretch your talents, this is the cookbook to try. The directions and extra help provided in the "Chef Tips" are excellent, providing the details needed to create a memorable dessert for any special occasion. Be warned though, these are still more complex recipes than the norm, so allow enough time, especially for the prep work. When I made the Chocolate Chunk Celebrations, I spent 1 1/2 hours prep before I started actually cooking. Worth every minute...one of the best desserts I ever eaten and rave reviews from all that tried them!

I have read this book and have tried 3 recipes already and all of them turned out fantastic. This book is easy to follow, well illustrated with lots of great tips and I would recommend it to anyone interested in baking with Chocolate. 5 Star Rating.

Footnote: Would also recommend Rose Levy Beranbaum "The Cake Bible" also for the enthusiastic baker or dessert lover.

I was hesitant to buy another cook book, but I am glad that I bought this one. The recipes are excellent and fairly easy to make using easily obtainable ingredients.

I made several of them this Christmas and received rave reviews from family and friends.

If you like chocolate this is a book you need.

After reading the other reviews that said, "This book is so easy to understand..." I bought it for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I also thought I would try to prove how easy it was to follow by not only giving her the book, but also by making one of the desserts. I went for the Chocolate Amaretto Terrine - one of the fewest ingredient recipes in the book, but no picture... I figured it was a trade-off: I didn't have a picture to know what it was supposed to look like, but then again, I didn't have to worry about whether mine looked like the picture! I have to agree with the other reviewers - the directions were very easy to follow, and the dessert was delicious! The only reason I gave four stars, not five, is because I only made the one dessert. If the rest of the recipes in this book are as easy and tasty as this one, though, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to give it five stars instead!

I do a lot of entertaining and this book was great to have for those extra special Christmas deserts. I liked this book because the average cook could make these recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

This is a daily read for my 2 and 5 year-old boys. "Big in the Ocean", as my little guy calls it, is a wonderful book: a simple but compelling story, a great lesson, lots of little creatures to count, and good practice for beginning readers. Both boys adore the book, and the 5 year-old oftens reads it to his brother. Together they count shrimp, clams and fish, whisper when the shark appears, and giggle with glee at the end. They love it so much, I'm buying another copy for their school!

The clings look like fun, but would probably end up in the 2 YO's mouth, so I'll hold off using for a year.

My kids love this book, which features brightly colored illustrations and a simple narrative that many kindergarteners can read. When an octopus goes around proclaiming himself the biggest thing in the ocean, he sounds just like a preschool child. Of course, he gets eaten by a whale... but he's nonplussed; after all, he's definitely the biggest thing inside the whale.

I am 32 and I fell in love with this book. It's adorable and cute.

This is such a fun book. My 3 1/2 y.o. daughter loves it-- it's in her top 5 rotation.

My soon-to-be 2 year old grandson just loves this book. Apparently there are cut out sea creatures that he now has hanging near the bathtub.

This is a very special book about a girl who wants her own pony. My daughter loved this book, because she could relate to the story so well. She too wishes for a pony, but we don't have one. Very special book. Love it!

The illustrations are breath-taking--make you want to run your fingers across the page. Thousands of little girls can identify with the heroine, who is clearly the author herself( read the author's note first).

My book arrived quickly and just as I had ordered it. It was packaged safely and securely. You will be happy with this seller.

This is a wonderful story perfect for your imaginative little ones. It took me back to my childhood and all the imagining and pretending I did as a little girl. My children were enraptured. I did not give it a five b/c they have not asked me to read it over and over. I think you have to be in a special mood for this story. Great at bedtime! Great for the little girl or boy who dreams of horses or loves animals.

My girls LOVE horses. This is a really cute book, with great pictures about a little girl and how she loves ponies. It's totally worth it!

I related to a lot of her stories. She was funny, but with a good message for single women. It never hurts to hear that we need to focus on God being the only man we need!

A delightful and insightful look into the life of a Christian single twenty-something year old woman. From the first to the last page, the author's wit and honesty carry this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Such an honest depiction of dating. Even if you've dated a lot or even just had a long relationship this book is so easy to relate to. Kerri Pomarolli is so real in her struggles as well as her triumphs. Easy read, very entertaining and thought provoking. I highly recommend it.

I was so excited to finally read a christian singles book that I could relate to. Kerri Pomarolli was open and honest about her struggles and I really appreciate that. She showed both her challenges and her triumph. It made me feel like I was ok even though I face some of the same challenges. She is truly a joy and I'm so thankful that God brought this book in my path!

Kerri Pomarolli takes a stab at examining the dating world of Christians and provides an honest yet hopeful glimpse for her readers. I was tickled by the true humor in her adventures and found that the pace of the book kept me glued to the pages. More importantly, Pomarolli satisfies the craving so many women have for an authentic reflection on dating that does not glamourize the pitfalls of sex outside of marriage. I have personally lived on both sides of this line and champion Kerri for her courage and transparency for telling it like it is - you have given women of faith hope!

If you have to read reviews about I-Ching books this is the first book you need to buy. The study of the I Ching begins with practice by consulting the oracle not with immediate attempts at understanding-especially for the Western mind. This version of the I Ching is the easisest way to make that first step. You read a few paragraphs on instructions to throw three pennies and begin an adventure that can last from a few minutes to a lifetime. Despite its ease of use, this book is a complete work unto itself shold you choose to go deeper. It has ample references to history and more subtle interpretations. A glimpse of Western understanding may be obtained by reading Carl Jung's foreword in the Baynes/Wilhelm interpretation.

I own both this one and the I Ching Workbook and they are practically the same book, though this one doesn't have the spiral binding (which you'll need because you'll open it so much) but has the most beautiful, meditative paintings on each hexagram. The pictures give you a profound inner sense of the truth of each throw of the coins, transforming the experience into a deeply effective tool for inner growth. Not to be confused with the Art of War or the Tao Te Ching, the I Ching focuses mainly on political relationships and the development of character as one navigates one's way through professional and personal relationships. The main thing you'll get from using the I Ching is, to learn which situations you can definitely change and which ones you should just let pass. It also shows you where you are in the development of goals and what to prepare yourself for, as you go on. Start with one question, and when you read the answer, if you have deeper questions, ask them too. You'll get amazing answers.

Some of the longer reviews will tell you how this I Ching integrates relevant art work with practical advice. I just wanted to second all the positive reviews here in saying that from looking at many I Ching books, this is the only one that really clicked with me. The art work is beautiful and the text is very illuminating. 5 +++ stars!

I have bought several books on I Ching and this one is one of the most interesting books I have purchased.The book is larger than most books,about an A3 size but short on text than most books,less than a page for each hexagram.(a bit too light on for text).Written in simple English makes this book an advantage.The illustations throughout add to the character of the book.This book will please a lot of people.Didnt have this book for long because I needed more indepth books.

If you are looking for books on I Ching that go in depth and in great detail you might want to consider other books like those written by author Stephen Karcher,Kim-Anh Lim,Sam Reifler,etc.

this is the best version of the I Ching out: each hexagram is accompanied by a relevant piece of traditional Chinese painting that helps the intuitive understanding of the message the hexagram intends to convey. Lively text translation that interprets the hexagrams on the four planes of existence: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aids in the interpretation of the hexagrams' messages as related to the areas the question might address. The tone is psycho-spiritual-social but written in everyday terms.

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