I Books

My daughter loves this line of books and I love reading them to her. She is picking up on the words. She is also learning the lessons within the book. When I read the book to her, I will apply the situation to her life and ask her what she should or shouldn't do. Regardless of how she answers, we continue on to see how the story ends. Then, I apply that to her as well. It also makes reading fun. She almost always picks one of the lil critter books to read at bedtime.

My son is 8 yrs old and loves this series of books. The reading is fairly easy and the stories short so it keeps his interest. We read them as bed time stories and they are perfect. We own several of this series and we like them all.

My little guy is five, and we've been reading this book since he was three. Usually he likes to read long books, and has little interest in what he calls "short stories". This book is short; it only takes a few minutes to read. Mercer Mayer books have a special exemption, however - he loves the stories and this is one of his very favourites.

This was a funny book. It reminded me a lot of myself and how I leave things on or don't put them away on accident. Another part that reminded me of how I am is how little critter said they didn't forget to close the refridgerator he was just not done eating. I always leave the t.v. on in a room and come back to it because I'm still watching it. This book I think was made to say that you never forget the important things and the things that really matter. It also lets kids know that everyone is forgetful.

In the beginning of Mayer's book, our hero looks straight at the reader, slightly lifts both arms, and states: "Sometimes I remember, sometimes I just forget." For example he (or she?-it's difficult to tell the gender in this "Little Critter" book) puts his dishes in the sink, but forgets to put away the milk. Humorous twists on the `I remembered this, but forgot this' motif lift this book above the ordinary. For example: "I didn't forget to feed the goldfish, he just didn't look hungry," and, after a bath, "I didn't use soap, but I didn't forget to. I just don't like to." His mother is alternately tired, frustrated, and amused, and the clever story ends on a warm note. This is a sweet and simple story that manages to cover many familiar situations with honesty and empathy for all involved. Watch for the little mouse friend on every page!

In I Knew a Woman Cortney Davis leads us where every woman fears to tread; through the swing doors and down the corridors to an often far-to-busy-to-see-us women's clinic reception desk. The poorer the clinic the more tatty and out of date the magazines, scattered like bird seed to keep our minds occupied while we wait. But there is rarely any item in them to calm the nervousness that women feel on checking in. After the wait your name is called, you go to a room, undress to wait again. Nothing unlocks the nervousness that numbs the mind. Nothing that is, until Davis or one of the legion of nurses like her enters the room. But what is it that these nurses really do for women? I think the answer is that as much as we open and give them, they receive us as complete women.
Long ago Davis honed the art of nursing her complete patient and over the last decade she has also practiced the art of writing. In her poetry and prose she gives us back ourselves, a mirror image of our womanhood. See, she seems to say, see, this is you and this is all of us, do not be afraid.
Davis is a poet as well as a prose writer and in I Knew a Woman her prose has reached a new level of lyrical movement. During the late fifties, as medical knowledge and science began to explode the person inside the patient was often getting left behind. Dr. A.F. Clark-Kennedy of the London Hospital wrote a small book called Patients as People; Medicine in its Human Setting. (Faber and Faber London 1957). He wove the stories of patients and their disease together showing young doctors and nurses how each related to the other. It was not until the seventies that physician writers such as Richard Selzer invited us to look again and remember patients as people. Davis has claimed her place alongside these two fine literate physicians as a writer of such caliber. I Knew a Woman is a book to be read by everyone; teachers, nurses, physicians and woman patients. Davis led us into the clinic with her poetic prose and we leave I Knew a Woman with a stronger and more open heart.
Muriel Murch
Author Journey in the Middle of the Road.
Producer Living with Literature for community radio.

I have recommended this fine, beautifully-written book to all my friends, and to all my colleagues in the health-care profession. I tell them that though this book stitches together the stories of a nurse-practioner and four of her women patients (fictional composites, to protect the privacy of the author's real patients), it is a book that reaches beyond the subject of the female experience in the medical world. Cortney Davis writes compellingly about humanity--about the vulnerability of both the human body and the human spirit. In addition to her obvious gifts as a writer, she offers the reader the gift of her strong, sensitive spirit.

I have recommended this fine, beautifully-written book to all my friends, and to all my colleagues in the health-care profession. I tell them that though this book stitches together the stories of a nurse-practioner and four of her women patients (fictional composites, to protect the privacy of the author's real patients), it is a book that reaches beyond the subject of the female experience in the medical world. Cortney Davis writes compellingly about humanity--about the vulnerability of both the human body and the human spirit. In addition to her obvious gifts as a writer, she offers the reader the gift of her strong, sensitive spirit.

In I Knew a Woman Cortney Davis leads us where every woman fears to tread; through the swing doors and down the corridors to an often far-to-busy-to-see-us women's clinic reception desk. The poorer the clinic the more tatty and out of date the magazines, scattered like bird seed to keep our minds occupied while we wait. But there is rarely any item in them to calm the nervousness that women feel on checking in. After the wait your name is called, you go to a room, undress to wait again. Nothing unlocks the nervousness that numbs the mind. Nothing that is, until Davis or one of the legion of nurses like her enters the room. But what is it that these nurses really do for women? I think the answer is that as much as we open and give them, they receive us as complete women.
Long ago Davis honed the art of nursing her complete patient and over the last decade she has also practiced the art of writing. In her poetry and prose she gives us back ourselves, a mirror image of our womanhood. See, she seems to say, see, this is you and this is all of us, do not be afraid.
Davis is a poet as well as a prose writer and in I Knew a Woman her prose has reached a new level of lyrical movement. During the late fifties, as medical knowledge and science began to explode the person inside the patient was often getting left behind. Dr. A.F. Clark-Kennedy of the London Hospital wrote a small book called Patients as People; Medicine in its Human Setting. (Faber and Faber London 1957). He wove the stories of patients and their disease together showing young doctors and nurses how each related to the other. It was not until the seventies that physician writers such as Richard Selzer invited us to look again and remember patients as people. Davis has claimed her place alongside these two fine literate physicians as a writer of such caliber. I Knew a Woman is a book to be read by everyone; teachers, nurses, physicians and woman patients. Davis led us into the clinic with her poetic prose and we leave I Knew a Woman with a stronger and more open heart.
Muriel Murch
Author Journey in the Middle of the Road.
Living with Literature community radio.

Cortney Davis, nurse practitioner, poet, creative nonfiction writer, has written a remarkable book about the science and poetry of healing, about protocol and ritual, gnosis and diagnosis, and, above all else, the blossoming of hope. The laying on of hands.

Her book is a lyrical manifesto of Carl Jung's observation that "every personality has a story. Derangement happens when the story is denied. To heal, the patient had to rediscover his story." A good nurse is one who knows that it's just as important to hear her patients' stories as it is to palpate abdomens or check reflexes. In the exam room, that sacred space, four women tell Davis their stories. Like a good novel, Davis builds believable characters using dialogue and humor and dramatic scenes and then weaves her own story into theirs.

Healing literally means "wholeness," with the words "holy" and "heal" both deriving from the Anglo-Saxon "haelen," meaning "whole." Davis brings her rejected and discarded patients into the circle, and listens with an inward ear for those parts of them that have been silenced. Healing is restoration of communication within one's self, a restoration of balance, a willingness to change. Davis is a healer in the true sense of the word.

I Like Gum is a refreshing new children's book for all to enjoy. It made my heart sing.

Cute, clever and delightfully charming. Each page brings a smile. Kids (and adults too!) will enjoy and relate to this character's likes and dislikes.

I Like Gum is a rhyming picturebook recounting a young girl's likes and dislikes. The enthusiastic bordering on outrageous art emphasizes the sense of whimsy and pure fun that comes from the gleeful lyrics. "I like ice cream. / But not in the sun. And not on my shirt. / And not when it's done." A truly fun read-aloud book for parents and children, with simple text ideal for young people just learning how to sound out words on their own.

As a teacher, this book is a great way to provide students with a starting point in their writing. Even the most reluctant or stumped writer finds it fun to write in rhyme and express their own likes and dislikes.

The illustrations are whimsical and the backround details add much fun. I laughed outloud when I saw the baby in the high chair pointing to her missing teeth.

Well done!
K. Lang (New Jersey)

This is a wonderful book all young children can relate to. The rhymes are just what kids like. The pictures are fantastic!!! They expand the story, and give the book so much dimension.

Pictures are worth a thousand words....

Bought several books for all our grandchildren, and our friend's grandchildren. Great, great, book..

We received this book as a gift when our baby girl was born. I love this book. The verse is very sweet and simple and describes emotions that will be familiar to a young child. The illustrations depict the emotions with enough detail that a child can start to recognize them. Very few children's books these days have illustration this nice. Highly recommended.

LOVE is an unconditional. This book illustrates the differences between like and LOVE. This is a great book to read to children of all ages. The illustrations are marvelous. Even though the choice of roles may be a little gender biased, the story still depicts and models (for parents or caregivers) the art of teaching love.

Great book, easy to read and really lets your child know they are very loved and very special.

I read this to my niece every time she sleeps over..She goes over to the book shelf and picks it out...along with a few others we read before she goes to sleep...Jessalyn is 3 years old..

My favorite line in this elegant volume is when
the regally dressed Mama fox says to her little one,
"I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do."

How many of us wonder, "Will they still love me, even
though I......." fill in your blank?

How many times we PRAY the important people in
our lives will love us unconventionally and how many
times do we deny ourselves the comfort of a
"Yes, ofcourse I will love you any way... no
matter what you do"?

Read this child to the preschooler in your life
AND be sure your teen-aged children (nieces,
nephews, neighbors, passers-by) are listening
as well. Read it often.

Read it to yourself when you are feeling low -
and allow yourself to be embraced by Mama Fox.

It is a less-than-five-minute investment
in contentment, peace and growth in
unconventional love... and hopefully the message
will carry over into the hearts and souls
of the listeners.

I had to buy this book for the second time as it got so much use it finally fell apart. My kids love this book 2 & 4. My 2 year old walks around with the book saying I LOVE YOU. I actually have to hide this book when I need to do things around the house because I get followed around hearing I love you with the book waving in the air. SOOO Cute! A must get book!

Every kid in my family loves this book. It is a very simple reading poem that it is told with words and pictures. I received it as a gift for my daughter and it is a must read every night. Get this book.

We checked out I Love You: A Rebus Poem by Jean Marzollo from the library on Saturday. I read it twice to both of my children on Saturday. I read it once to my three year old daughter again the next morning. Then she said to me, "Mommy I'll read it to you" & she did. Multiple times she has "read" this book to me. Of course it's a rebus so I am not saying that she can "read". However, I am saying that I love the pre-reading confidence that she is gaining from being able to "read" to her mommy.

GREAT BOOK! Highly recommend. It's a keeper. I will purchase my own copy!

This book is so cute. My 3 year old son loves to read it. The use of pictures and words in each sentence has him mesmorized. He reads the whole book and then has me read the whole poem that is written in text at the end. He loves it and I love the fact that he can recognize a few words in text and "read them"

I have just recently introduced this book to my 3 yr. and 4 yr. old granddaughters. They LOVE to read it to us! It serves as a cute story AND a great tool to promote the love of reading. Even very young children can manage the few repeated words along with the humorous but simple pictures. They also can use the rhyming schemes as great clues.
This is a great book pleaser for any pre-schooler....and grandparent!

Our unit in Iraq recently received this hilariously funny book in a "Care" package. How wonderful to be reminded of home! The dumb blonde jokes, children's funny stories, church stories hit close to home and our laughter over these little moments taken for granted in our lives makes our homesickness all the more apparent for our beloved United Staes. Each chapter represents a freedom that is lacking overseas here in this country. Chapter VII was especially enjoyed by the troops here. Thanks, Dr. Powell for this gift of home. Holidays are lonesome here, but this book let us laugh and forget our troubles for a little while.

There is nothing to compare this to on the bookshelves in the bookstores. It's definitely worth the wait ordering this book online. Thank you, doctor, for making me laugh today. I love every section, it's the best book ever. Cannot possibly wait for volume two to become available!

"Quite funny."

"Dr. Powell is blessed to be with fine folks who take the time to let others know about his good deeds and this very fine book."

Books About the South editor
Southern Living Magazine

I am a staff member for a major southern magazine. We get a mountain of mail every day... manuscripts, books for placement in our magazine. Most of what we receive as far as humor goes is not what our staff and colleagues would buy. A reader sent in this book for possible review by our magazine here in Alabama and I just had to order more copies for my friends! This is really an outstanding humorous book. I recommend it highly to everyone! The staff in our office passed this book around for days. It brightened our day, the humor we had to share in this book. Every page lead to a story that we all had to tell and laugh over. All us of definitely "needed a copy of that!" Thanks to the person who sent it in. Guaranteed to be a bestseller.

a book obviously by a great and wise man who knows the world needs more prescriptions for laughter... so do as the doctor ordered and get lots of refills-- for all your friends and family today!!!

Pride and understanding of the past wars is something I never had before I read this book. It gave me the same feeling I felt the day I walked through Arlington National Cemetery. It warmed my heart and made me want to cry in rememberance. This book is wonderful and should be read my the rest of my young generation to acquire knowledge, pride and understanding of our nations past.

Pride and understanding of the past wars is something I never had before I read this book. It gave me the same feeling I felt the day I walked through Arlington National Cemetery. It warmed my heart and made me want to cry in rememberance. This book is wonderful and should be read my the rest of my young generation to acquire knowledge, pride and understanding of our nations past.

Mr. Coffman was a friend of my mother's growing up in the hills of West Virginia. This book for me was so informational about her childhood area. Unlike the other reviews, my interest was not the military aspect of Mr. Coffman's life, but his early years. So many memories of childhood are lost over span of time, thank you for bringing them back to my mother. I most enjoyed reliving those times with her.

The fortunes of war brought Warren Coffman and me together in the Channel village of Swanage, England over fifty-seven years ago. I found the story of his life to be most interesting, especially the periods before and after WWII. As a veteran, I was amazed at his excellent memory of so many past events. His coverage of the action at Diepenlinchen, Germany in September, l944 is most outstanding. One should also be impressed with his comparison of soldiers' outlook and morale in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Our presidents, present and future, should read this and, hopefully, come to understand why police actions and limited wars do not work.

It was one book that I just could not put down. I just wanted to read and read to see what would happen next.

The best thing about this book is the lilting happy rhyming. This book is meant to be read out loud, and it's actually a fun thing to do. Some so-called children's classics are tongue twisters, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The prose in this book floats freely and melodically. The pictures are kind of cute in their own way, but I swear I could have drawn those bunny ears! My kids don't read on their own yet, but once they do start learning to read this poem may become a favorite.

What a fantastic book- the first time I read this to my 9 month old daughter it became an instant favorite! We have read it every day since, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face- especially the lines "I will kiss you on your toes, when you're naked with no clothes, and your tiny tushy shows"! Along with Goodnight Moon, our bedtime favorite, and Sandra Boynton's "Belly Button Book" (which also always makes me chuckle), this book is on the top of my list. It is the perfect length- not too short and not too long- and full of great rhyming text and cute illustrations. I read my daughter at least three books a day, so it's important to me that I can enjoy them as much as she does. I think I probably enjoy this one more! I highly recommend it!

"It is bursting with love." - Elise, 7

In "I Will Kiss You," Stoo Hample has captured that deep emotion of adoring, delightful, absolutely complete love shared between a mother and child. His illustrations sweetly show the contentment and peace that come from such love. Well done Stoo Hample.

My daughter is a spirited 2 and 1/2 year old young lady who loves the silly rhymes and kisses all over when I read the book to her and mommy does too! We read "I Will Kiss You: Lots & Lots & Lots" over and over and over! Total fun to share this book with everyone.

We recently received this book as a gift and it has quickly become a family favorite. Our soon to be 3-year-old son likes it "lots and lots and lots" and will read it to himself over and over and over. The illustrations are darling and the text is so cute and humorous. We will add The Silly Book to our list and look forward to reading more of Stoo!

This is a wonderfully told story of life, death, despair and hope, in uncertain times of the post WWII era. The relationships between young Nova and her family and friends is realistic and endearing. I was struck by the closeness between her and her older, teenage brother. She idolizes him and he truly loves her. The most touching moments for me, however, are between Nova and Josef, each providing a source of comfort and encouragement to the other. The story of hatred, loss and forgiveness are entwined in a heartwarming lesson of God's love.

This is an incredible story of love and forgiveness. I will recommend this book to everyone I know! I can't remember the last time I read such a moving, touching story.

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. From the first page, I couldn't put it down. It's excellently written and the characters are people I'll forever remember.

I enjoyed this book so much! A warm story of family relationships and caring friends. I will recommend this book andthis author to all my reading friends.

I didn't notice this book was from a specifically Christian publisher until I had finished reading it. (I think people of many faiths would appreciate this book, but I'm guessing atheists might not care for it.)

Unlike many religiously oriented works, this one was touching without being sappy, and inspiring without being preachy. At the time I was reading this, I got some bad news about my mother's health, and felt very depressed. Yet as I continued reading the book, I felt my spirits lift and my sense of life's meaning return.

The storyline was interesting, and the characters were very believable. I appreciated that all the main characters had the desire to be good people, but that even the most admirable of them had flaws.

I will definitely seek out Tatlock's other novels.

I'm A Girl, written by Lila Jukes, effectively delivers an important powerful message to young girls to be "courageous, smart and valuable." This, in the eyes of the author, is the inner beauty of the reader. It's a good message to young girls that is not often exposed to younger children. The book is easy to read, with a large font and the location of the words is consistent from page to page. Even though the style of writing is repetitive, it reinforces the importance of the message. One thing that seems off kilter is that the illustrations don't really fit with what the text is implying. The illustrations aren't sharp vivid images and the colors are plain yet the words are intense and confident. The girls depicted in the illustrations are young and are of different race. This is a good tactic because it involves all girls, not just one kind. This itself helps children feel like they are included in society. The illustrations also depict girls active in different kinds of activities. These activities range from sports such as sottball to spending time with a family member. I'm A Girl is a book that should be read to all young girls.

The book "I'm a Girl" by Lila Jukes is a well written book designed for children of a young age. The book is very positive with flowing words easy to read for any youngster. It describes the attitude of what a growing young girl should have. The illustrations are very vivid and help attract the reader to what is on the page. I didn't enjoy the book because it's not designed for me but I would recommend it to anyone raising a young girl. This book gets right to the point by using powerful words in its text. This book is simple yet powerful and would be a great addition on any bookshelf of expecting parents.

Lila Jukes says it all, in a flowing, basic little book which is wholly positive and encouraging. It describes important attributes of healthy, emotionally functioning girls, provides beautiful, down-to-earth illustrations, which clearly illustrate the story being read,(perfect for 'picture-reading' age girls). I recommend it be read to girls from pregnancy onward! I'm a Girl! is enthusiastic, to the point, and uses specific words: 'independent', 'powerful', and 'valuable'--great for readers who wish to expose their girls to the capabilities of language, not protect them from them. It's the kind of simple, universally understandable book which makes perfect bed-time reading, and it will have an effect far beyond its size! Query as to how this book can possibly be out of print????

What a simple, yet powerful book. It takes the reader into a world where they can make anything happen. Any girl will feel good about themselves after hearing this story. Any woman will also feel good about being a girl! We are beautiful.

It is a thrill to see these wonderful comments. The "girls" portrayed in this book are all young friends of mine....beautiful, smart, great individuals quickly growing into young women. I'm glad to have been able to portray them in a book. I, too, think a reprint would be great. Frequently, I run into people who've looked--unsuccessfully--for copies to give to loved ones. Thanks for your support. And, if you liked this book, please take a look at The Piano!