Publishers Books

I have read this book over and over. For lovers of Yogananda, this book is a gem. Evey page is filled with encoouragement for daily living.

I love the book. I have been giving it out as gifts to friends and family for years.
It's wonderful to have something to read when you think that God has forgotten you and it teaches you to hang on. It shows that you are not alone during the tough times.
Also teaches when times are good to share the wonderful gifts you have been given.

This is a wonderful treasure of a book that will help you to see the light behind the seeming darkness of any situation that you may be in. I have found it to be one of the few books that has genuinely helped me to rise above "negative" appearances, and to embrace the gifts that may not be so apparent while in the midst of change. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for hope and answers for more inner peace.

I found this book to be truly amazing in it's wisdom. The author who died in body in 1952 has truly wrote a post-newtonian book on transformation. The movie "What the bleep" has nothing to add over the wisdom and teachings of this book. The author has a complete understanding of the ideas of Candice Pert who wrote "Molecules of Emotion," which came out recently, but Paramahansa Yogananda was writing about these concepts over half a century ago. Paramahansa Yogananda takes it a notch further and brings in the spiritual domain where the real transformation occurs.

This book "Where There Is Light," gives great tools in the form of instruction in using meditation and affirmation to change the patterns of thought that have become like grooves in our brains. So many of us have been stuck in repeating the same habits over and over again and we have all felt the frustration and suffering of being a slave to habits we want to be rid of. This book gives the answer to being free.

This book is truly a gift of mercy and compassion for all those who truly wish to lighten up and start living a life of more comfort and ease. Reading and following the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda takes the struggle out of life, and all for the small price of a paper back book.

Where There is Light will help you find the Light within to rise above any circumstance in your life where you might feel helpless or alone. A wonderful contribution to humanity that will bring you peace, and a way to find that peace within no matter where you are on your path.

I've read other books about finding life's purpose and calling, but they often do not give you the tool just to do that. This book does!

I've been using the Calling Card exercises to help my family and friends discovering their life's callings. It's a very easy and effective tool to find life's calling.

Books like this do everything in their power to get your drive going. And every time I read one (which isn't often), I do feel good about myself. But in the end, I'm back on Earth a few days later. OK, I am sounding pathetic, but the truth is, there isn't a whole lot of practical advice here, just motivational anecdotes. To be frank, there is nothing wrong with that. It just needs more to distinguish itself.

It starts out promising with the part about choosing the characteristics you most want in a job. However, it goes downhill with the straight out of "Touch By an Angel" cabbie stories that start every chapter. What I really did like about this book is that it makes you reevaluate the situation you are currently in to make the most of it. It doesn't preach dropping everything and chasing after your dream because not all of us are in a position to do so. Another thing I liked is that it keeps the message short (under 200 pages). There is no need for a book like this to be 300+ pages. All in all, it's a good starter book for those looking to make a career change.

This book helped me put a Name Tag on my life's calling.
I also found out how often I am able to use it in my job (only 10% of the time).
Now I need to know what jobs I could get that would maximize my use of my gifts - so I will never have to 'work' another day.

There are 52 transcendant calling cards from which everyone can pick their gifts. There were not enough examples of how people use their callings appropriately. I would have at least wanted to see a list to match jobs to calling cards.

I highly recommend this book. I've been trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up for a long time. Now I finally am able to put a name to it.
I got the book from the library, I wouldn't recommend buying it.

Get control of your career and your expectations of what career means in your life. This book does a great job of guiding you along as you question where you are in life and where you want to be. Redundant at times and interactive "take control books" usually don't appeal to me, but this one is an expection.

Davey is a great guy. He rides his bike all over Seattle. He wears really cool glasses too. I'm honored to be mentioned in the book. Dave is a great writer and philosopher. Everyone should buy this book and give copies of it as gifts to their friends.

The story takes place in Indiana, in a public school, a Hoosier teacher being the main character, and written by an Indiana teacher/writer was my reason for buying this book. Reading Indiana writers, especially books with a Hoosier setting, are a passion since I also am a Hoosier retired teacher and writer. (Not under the name above.)

"Why Johnny Died" is "right on" when it describes the school, teachers, staff, administration, and the relations between them. That part of the story is not fiction. Marlis Day does a tremendous job mixing the fictional tale of a murder into the school setting. Realistic? Close. I'm not sure most teachers are as adventure questing as the self-appointed detective, Margo, in the story; but then...stranger has happened in the public schools.

School personnel will love this book. "Claude Dupree, assistant principal, was temporarily promoted to main principal...spent an inordinate amount of time mapping the school and assigning new duty posts...disaster drills have become more regular...most of the faculty feel that the emergency has already occurred and pray for a speedy decision on the part of the school board in hiring a new principal."

And this: "In stunned silence we stared at each other--he with his gun in the doorway, and I , seated . . . as most school principals, Leo (Fitzbaum)had been given the gift of glare, and could beat me in a staring contest any day of the week."

Or take Roxie Rayburn, Science teacher and Margo's co-crime investigator, like Tonto to the Lone Ranger, or Barney Fife in Mayberry. "She unfailingly wore costumes rather than clothes...three earrings in each lobe...her smoker's voice and slight drawl...going to college in the sixties had taken its toll on Roxie, and I always suspected that she had a tattoo. Most likely, a dragon or a smoking gun was carefully concealed under her stirrup pants."

Like my first reading of a book by Marlis Day was "Death of a Hoosier Schoolmaster", actually her second book (I didn't read them in order). Both are next to impossible to put down, even at bedtime. Both with a twist at the end making it near impossible to guess who-dun-it.

Short, easy to read mystery, filled with the non-fiction of life for a teacher in the public school. Glad I never had a student murdered by putting a poisonous snake into his bed. The whole story can't be told for you, but now I KNOW Why Johnny Died.

Funny and mysterious. Now excuse me, Marlis Day has a third to read, "Curriculum Murders." Another Margo Brown Mystery coming up right now for this Hoosier reader.

I must tell you up front that I know Ms. Day. He is a fine school teacher who is now retired. I am very happy that she serves on a non-profit community center with me. I am the president, she is the vice.

Marlis loves to write and you can tell that in her style of handeling a story line. She is working on a new title and I am very much standing in line waiting. Most of what she writes about has some basis in fact. I can go out and say what parts, just keep in mine much of what she says is non-fiction written as fiction. She has a way with works that makes her works very entertaining,

Buy this book and the rest that come out. If you want more info on her work with the "Blue Jeans Community Center" then visit us at [...] We will even tell you where the name comes from.

Bless you all and enjoy Marlis' future books.

"Kerry Dean" Teverbaugh
FOX 7 TV Weathercaster
Evansville, IN

Marlis Day has been a teacher for 30 years. She holds a BS degree from Indiana State University and an MS degree from Indiana University. She is also a freelance writer, having published ten articles in Christian magazines and educational journals. Why Johnny Died is her first Margo Brown mystery.

Johnny Benson, a seventh grader with a sweet personality and a rotten home life, is found dead by his mother of an apparent snake bite. Margo Brown is his teacher, and when she reads a journal Johnny wrote for her class, she is convinced that he is too smart to have carelessly picked up a snake. She concludes that he was murdered, but no one believes her, except her colleague Roxy. Together they piece together a chain of facts that implicate their ever so stern principal in Johnny's death. Dr. Fitzbaum transparently tries to dispose of Johnny's journal because it has incriminating evidence, and he would succeed if it wasn't for Margo Brown's penchant for adventure:

"In stunned silence we stared at each other-he with his gun in the doorway, and I, seated in his chair with my arms full of his private papers. . . and Johnny Benson's journal. As most school principals, Leo had been given the gift of glare, and could beat me in a starting contest any day of the week. I'm sure my expression was a combination of terror and wide-eyed astonishment, while he was calm and feral."

Why Johnny Died is a mystery with a purpose, as Ms. Day clearly expostulates in her epilogue. Teachers see children from broken homes; children who are abused; and children from homes full of alcohol and drug abuse every day. Because of the legal system, teachers no longer have any real control over their students' lives. Therefore they cannot come to the assistance of children in need. This is a national tragedy. It has pushed good people out of teaching, and made the act of teaching that much harder. Children who are troubled are simply thrown back into the classroom, where they disrupt the atmosphere and interfere with the learning process for all children. Ms. Day writes her extremely entertaining, witty, but sad story to get our attention. Children are the single most important resource we have...thanks, Ms. Day.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Marliss Day has written a wonderful book that is engaging and entertaining. The story keeps you guessing and makes you laugh too. I hope she will continue writing many books with the same characters....if you love a good, cozy, mystery, check this out.

Margo Brown, a seventh grade language arts teacher and protagonist of Why Johnny Died, never planned to be a detective. It's only when one of her students dies unexpectedly - an event never before experienced in her twenty-year career - that the veteran educator turns sleuth. Her decision to give Johnny Benson's school journal to his grieving mother seems like a good one until Margo reads the final few entries in the book. Driven by a need to know the truth about her young student, Margo and fellow teacher Roxie Rayburn use their status as faculty members of James Whitcomb Riley Middle-High School to gain entry to the homes of those people closest to Johnny Benson. Their snooping eventually leads to a confrontation not only with school authorities but also with an extremely desperate killer.

Marlis Day has created a set of realistic characters in Why Johnny Died. Anyone who remembers their own school days will recognize Dr. Leo Fitzbaum, the slightly officious principal known as "Old Fuzzy balls" to the less reverent students of James Whitcomb Riley. Clude Dupree, "the only man I ever knew who actually tied his sweater sleeves around his shoulders," is the formidable but well dressed assistant principal in charge of discipline. Frances Updike is the teacher we can all recall, the one who "consistently wore dark skirts with matching blazers as her school uniform." And those of us who have been forced to sit through endless seminars in the name of continuing education will appreciate Marlis' humorous take on a workshop attended by Margo and Roxie. Having "traveled to Indianapolis in search of intelligent life," the audience "sat like amiable toads in harmony of purpose. There was no discord in our ranks; we were bored in unison."

Why Johnny Died is characterized by clean writing, good characterization, and a believable plot. Anyone who appreciates intelligent writing will find more than a mystery in this first novel by Marlis Day. I look forward to the further adventures of Margo Brown.

We bought this book when my now 3 year old was an infant. At only a few months old she would just sit (lay) and listen to me reading this book. Even now, 3 years and many repaired pages later, it's still one of her favs. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

After my 3 year old daughter kept pulling this off the library shelf to check it out time after time, I decided it was time to buy a copy. This version has beautiful illustrations and the text is lovely and timeless.

I loved this book as a child and have spent nearly three years looking for this particular version. A beautiful poem made into a fabulous bedtime story. Every child's personal library should have this book.

We love this book!!! The poem is beautiful and calming and the illustrations are gorgeous - definitely the best of the many available.

This was my favorite story as a child. I ordered this book for my grandchildren, they are too young to enjoy today, but will grow up with the story. The illustrations of my book of the 50's was much better, as the three characters were three babies of non gender.

Wonderful book with gorgeous photographs and thought-inspiring writings. Totally enjoyable book by an amazing doctor.

After receiving the book Zen of Watering Your Gardening by Dr. Matthew M. Cohen as a gift from a dear girlfriend, who is an art teacher and loves to describe what she sees, I began truly to understand why the book was so impressive. As we looked at each page, my girlfriend described her thoughts as to the incredible photography and sensitive prose.

Every page captured brilliant colors and textures of breathtaking garden flowers and foliage from different parts of the world with appropriate sayings well composed and matched to the pages. I am rapidly making a list of people to send this wondrous book as a gift. Thank you Dr. Matthew Cohen for creating the book and thank you dear girlfriend for this gift and your time in helping me see the world through your artful eyes, giving pause to my day and time to reflect - what a gift!

Breathtaking photos --transports me to a quiet , tranquil place; just what it was intended to do! A must for gardeners , and those who admire natural beauty.
MES

Matt Cohen has formulated a book that not only shares the beauty of a healthy garden,but also creates a haven of beauty and relaxation for the soul.As he formulated the book,I was attempting a similar re-creation in a very small space;
Matt's phtography and his aphorisms struck a deep core within me.

Do go purchase this book,if only to nurture your soul.

Art, among its many purposes, mediates for us the divide between memory and the present. In an instant, Mary Cassat puts back in our arms the child now grown. For a brief, sweet moment, Matisse carries us back to the Mediterranean honeymoon cruise and Monet returns us to our grandmother's garden. Picasso shoves into our face the writhing, mangled brutality of war - so that we never forget, try as we might. In these such encounters with art, our fading past is recreated in the mind, restored to us as we rush through the present moment into the inexplicable. Remembering, we travel gladly - or fearfully - forward through time, pulling with us those memories which then shape our unformed future. For some, this way be madness.

The Zen meditative experience, among its many purposes, holds at bay all that would detract us from the vitality of the present moment. Its goal is to immerse us completely in the here and now, to drive past and future from our consciousness and reintroduce our senses to the only moment of our life that is substantively real. We are allowed to settle, to rest, to reshape and reform our tattered selves, to open ourselves to the inexplicable. And eventually we learn to take these wholly present moments as our companions through time, allowing them to sooth the remembered past which distracts and threatens to undo us.

In his book Zen of Watering Your Garden, Dr. Cohen merges both these experiences into a powerful, yet peaceful, gift. With photographs - his own and others - which often rise to the level of art, Cohen lures us into our own memories of two of life's essential encounters with nature: the growing plant and the soothing shower which sustain. He accompanies these photographs with gentle, poignant, and at times breathtaking passages - his own and others -- which pull the reader even deeper into the encounter. This alone is sufficient commendation for the book, which should be in everyone's library.

But Cohen's gift to us is greater than just his book, rich though it is. In his introduction (don't miss it!), Cohen describes the heart of the Zen experience which awaits us in the garden, the experience of transcendence, centeredness, and tranquility. He deftly uses the powers of art and language to capture our imagination, pulling us along the path into the healing garden which can be found in diverse forms wherever we are. He offers us the secret of the garden's healing power, the quiet engagement with the plant not only in its beauty but also in its nurture. In sharing with the plant the water it needs to survive, the same water we must have to survive, we become companions in life's renewing moment. In return, we receive surcease and peace.

Dr. Cohen speaks of what he knows, the risks of deep engagement with a world filled with pain, confusion, and need. In his own medical practice, he learned what many of us have learned, that without a safe place for retreat and renewal, that way be madness. He teaches us that miraculously, this place awaits us just outside our kitchen door, or in the sunroom, or down the street in the park. Go, run, now.

I was drawn to this tarot after believing that I would never find a tarot that was right for me. Something about it interested me. Before finding it,I had no knowledge of Alchemy other than it involved something to do with turning metals into gold. This book gave me an insight into the true meaning of Alchemy, and showed how this can so easily be found in the tarot. I found that the meanings of the cards were enhanced by the reflections from Alchemy, and have provided an insight into the cards which I had not previously experienced. Although I would not recommend this set to the tarot beginner, it is well worth a read by the experienced tarot reader, or the Alchemist who is looking for a further way to refine experience as they seek the "philosopher's stone" within.

This deck is simply stunning--not just for the artwork, which is clear and classical and modern and surreal all at the same time--but also for the visual interpretations of the cards.

Generally, there is a flavor of classical alchemy, but I find that it does not overwhelm what is very much a TAROT deck.

I just find myself staring at the cards with their beautiful colors and mystery. In the context of a tarot reading, they sing.

As a long time user and fan of various incarnations of the Rider Waite Smith deck, I went looking for something different, but not radically different in a new deck. The Alchemical Tarot does depart from some of the familiar symbology, but in a very constructive and well-defined way. Nonetheless, this is a Tarot deck in the grand tradition.

The book: I came to this deck and book with almost no knowledge of alchemy, but as I sat reading the opening chapters, which give a concise, well-written overview of the long history of this art and its eventual integration with Tarot, I found many dissaparate elements I've picked up and drawn from coming together into a cohesive whole. For those who believe that Jung's collective unconcious is a good modern explanation of why Tarot works, this is a must read.

The deck: Again, WOW! Some of the images may look strange at first, but with a bit of insight into the rationale of the artist, they are rich, fresh, and inspiring. I look forward to meditating with them, and they should raise a few eyebrows in public readings, too.

This deck with a soon to follow re-written and updated book by both authors has been re-issued and is now available! I've had this edition and now own the new one....

The new version is far superior! And it's $35. Don't pay these ridiculous prices offered here.

Excellent, not only as an introduction to the Tarot, but also if you want to explore its links and convergence with the wisdom of ancient alchemical tradition. Rosemary Ellen Guiley and Robert Place really know what are they doing and writing.

The book is excellent. It includes introductory sections to the Tarot and to Alchemy. Their work is not without bases; their references list includes important works of the esoteric studies and tradition. In multiple occasions there are fragments of the Rosarium Philosophorum to introduce a section of the book. There are also references to Jungian Psychology and Qabalah, to enrich an already excellent work.

Robert Place's pictures resemble traditional alchemical images, but with Place's artistic touch. If you use to contemplate the cards in a meditative exercise, you'll find these are excellent because they are beautiful, not grotesque or unrelated to traditional symbolism of the Tarot like other decks. If Place painted a few images different from some decks, it was to introduce important and congruent images from the alchemical tradition. This enriches the understanding of the Tarot from the alchemical perspective, and vice versa.

A beautiful book and deck package. It fills me with good vibrations. Good job.

Susie Larson's message is true: Even though marriages may go through times of one-sidedness, we are never truly alone. God knows and sees and cares. And as one who has seen the healing of my own parents' marriage, I agree that enduring through the hard season and using the time to work on one's self are important steps to healing. Through focusing on God's Word and rejecting the world's view, an enduring marriage can come full circle to a satisfying one. Thank you for stating the truth, even when it's sometimes not the most popular view.

This book has been so encouraging to me personally. The title of the book says it all! It's one of those rare books that really motivates me to not just read it, but to "work" through it - taking notes, reading it with bible open, creating the scripture cards (as Susie suggests to do), etc. I'm so encouraged that Susie has written a book on this topic from a Christian perspective. It has an uplifting and hope-giving message that is so needed for Christian women who are feeling alone in their own marriages today. She gives us encouragement by giving a variety of women's perspectives and reminding us that there is hope in the midst of the valley that we seem to be in at this point in time. I highly recommend this book to any woman who seems to be feeling alone in their own marriage. Based on this book, I plan to recommend a bible study group with women in my church.

My daughter Sarah told me that Susie Larson's book changed her life and her marriage in such a positive way that she recommends the book to anyone who is married. She said the book shifts the focus from, what can he do for me, to what can I do to change me. It made her see how
grateful she needed to be and appreciative of what she has been given.
Their marriage is even better for taking this great book to heart.
Thank you Susie,
From a grateful father

I have read many books on this topic over the years but this book is much more practical. It doesn't just give me information that helps me understand my situation, but gives me tools to actually transform my attitude and my reaction to my situation. I love the "Lending a Hand" section at the end of each chapter which narrows down many aspects of the chapter and sums them up succinctly. The prayers at the end of each chapter are worth the price of the book. Whatever the circumstances of your marriage you will be challenged and blessed in your relationship with Jesus and rewarded with peace in your marriage.

I think that this is a good book for some women. She has a lot of good thoughts. The theme that is most helpful, I believe, is to encourage women to really depend on and lean into their relationship with the Lord. It may not be the best resource for the women that are in really painful marriages that don't seem to change. I think there are better books for this need. In my opinion, it is good for those whose marriage aren't what they had hoped for but not for the women in a lot of pain, dealing with some serious challenges.

DeMuth's book is a refreshing look at the parenting book. Her insight into raising children in this day's culture is a must for anybody who wants to face parenting head on instead of simply sheltering children from what they will eventually encounter anyway.

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (1/08)

Raising a child, or children, in the 21st century is not going to be an easy task. What an awesome responsibility parents have! Just as the generations before us, those of us who have been blessed with children have the opportunity and challenge to "train a child in the way they should go." Our main goals are the same as they have been in the previous generations. We need to love our children with a sacrificial love and be positive role models for our children to follow.

All homes are imperfect. You will never find or achieve the perfect home and life. Just as all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, having a perfect home is not possible. We need to understand just what postmodernity is and how to deal with it. There is help for us parents in the 21st century. Mary DeMuth has written and published a book which will help you to understand our very important roles as parents in this world of constant change. Postmodernity affects Christianity and the church itself. With many stories of Biblical people and many other people and their life experiences added, Mary DeMuth brings out her ideas and accomplishes her goal in bringing out what she feels is most important in parenting in such a time as this.

When you were younger, you probably heard that "children should be seen and not heard." Not anymore is that the way children should be raised. If we want children to someday be leaders and witness their faith to others, we as parents need to listen to our children and teach them how to share their ideas. Children will learn more from their parents by observing their modeling Christian behavior than by anything else.

Mary DeMuth uses easy-to-understand language. "Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture" is a valuable guidebook to help their children develop into the unique persons who God has created them to be. The consistent use of scripture verses adds to the spiritual walk through the pages of this book. This is an excellent book for Christian parents to learn more about themselves, what God commands, and their relationships. Parents will see how God will walk alongside them every step of the pathway to positive parenting.

My title for this review could be a good alternate title for Mary DeMuth's latest book. This book is not about teaching our kids to be postmoderns, it is about parenting in a way that is really "real" in an age where culture actively battles us. As Christians we are called to be a peculiar people, and we need to hold to our identity in Christ. However, this doesn't mean we don't use different tools in different times.

Mary's writing style is very easy to read. She writes with lots of personal experience, stories on "how not to do it", and feedback/insight from others. It doesn't take long to read, but it takes more time to digest and put into practice what she is sharing.

This is not a book of simple "how to" with easy lists to follow. It speaks more into wider issues of the heart of the parent and the child, although there are practical points of application that are encouraged through the stories. She is not out to fix certain discipline problems or give us 7 steps to the perfect child. She brings us into a conversation on how to be Jesus to our children.

For anyone confused over the idea of "what is postmodern?", she does lead in with an introduction of what that is and why it matters as a Christian parent. I would have liked a little more detail in this area, but that may be due to me being strongly interested in philosophy and worldview issues. This is not a criticism, as it is probably plenty for the average reader.

I haven't worried about reading a lot of parenting books lately, but I am really glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It has affected my parenting (3 boys, thank you very much) already. I highly recommend it.

I recently finished reading Mary DeMuth's "Authentic Parenting in a
Postmodern Culture". I found it to be a heartfelt, well written, relevant
book with great wisdom for parents. As a mom of a teen, a tween and a
kindergartner, I was encouraged to raise my children in such a way that they will be prepared to face the culture in which we live.

I have already used several of Mary's ideas in dealing with my three. This week I had a conflict with my oldest regarding the way she treated another person. I later realized that her behavior was not too different from my own in many cases, and approached her with an apology and a goal for both of us to do better. "Authentic Parenting" reminded me to be real with my children and to avoid trying to give them the impression that I am perfect. Instead, we share the joy of seeking to be more like Christ every day.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture by Mary DeMuth tackles the tough issue of how to parent in our changing world. How do we teach our children about truth and God in this pluralistic world? DeMuth gives lots of wonderful advice on how to bring our family back home where it belongs and support each other. She discusses different ways to worship and show your children not only to find God on their own but also to encourage others in their path. Postmodernism is such a difficult subject to define, but she handles it with grace and intelligence. She encourages parents to become more active in their children's lives and to bring thought to how we interact with them, God, and the world. DeMuth and her husband moved their three children to France, and she shares their struggles to fit in an atheistic society. She shows their efforts, warts and all, to illustrate how we and our children can thrive in this new world. It's a great, solid parenting resource.

This is a wonderfully original book to use with students when I talk about the Underground Railroad in my class. Like the other teachers who have commented, I have found that that my 5th graders loved the book, and we built upon it as we wrote stories and created some artwork.

I find it bizarre that anyone would use this book with young kids. A kindergartener does not know what slavery or the Underground Railroad is and is not developmentally able to understand those concepts. The book still works on some level, but the children really don't know what he is escaping from.

Instead of going through all the explaining, which the 6 year olds won't listen to, but will make you feel like you gave them a history lesson on the evils of slavery (duh!), read a book appropriate book for their age level.

If it's Black History Month, why not read a fun biography. The Pinkneys have written a lot. Bill Pickett, the cowboy, might be fun or you could read Ella Fitzgerald, and then read her song A Tisket A Tasket, which was recently published as a picture book. Just don't make little kids listen to explanations of every bad thing that happened in history. They don't understand and it just confuses them.

In teaching preschoolers and elementary students about the Underground Railroad, a tricky topic even for grown-ups, this book is a godsend! I recommend it to all teachers, parents, any one who is trying to get the idea of Freedom Seekers' journey north across to their children. Amazing illustrations are a big part of why it works so well, but even without them the story is easy for young ones to understand. It uses animals--always a favorite with kids--and is quite suspenseful. It's my favorite children's book on the Underground Railroad to date.

This book is a wonderful story depicting a run away slaves journey through a portion of the Underground Railroad, uniquely from the point of view of the animals who help him. The drawing are wonderful expressions of worry, fright, excitment, and joy. I would advise this book for any child, young or old, and for any classroom.

As a fifth grade teacher, I am always looking for a book to entice my students and help them to gain background knowledge. This book is a phenomenal find. It puts the reader/listener right into the fear and terror of being a runaway slave from the very first sentence. But, more than that, is the unique way the author has chosen to present the story. I can think of no better book to present the topic of point of view. Not only is the story told from the point of view of the forest animals that the runaway encounters, but the illustrations NEVER alter the affect. Each picture shows the runaway from the eye level/view of the animal that is reacting to his presence. It is a very powerful book.

This story has generated intense discussions as to whether or not they believe the animals consciously helped the barefoot escape the heavy boots, or whether the occurrences were merely coincidental. The students embrace the tone of the book and will often discuss how they originally did not care for the illustrations because they were too dark and made it difficult to see the details, but soon realized that they mimic what the barefoot is seeing -- a potent tool in immersing them in the story.

The students were so enthralled by the way the point of view of the story was presented that they asked to write their own stories based on the point of view of our classroom pet, S'mores the Guinea Pig. Some choose to write from their own pet's point of view. Each and every one of the stories were wonderful to read, and though some may have been lacking in conventions and spelling, EVERY one of them shouted with an author's voice that was astounding.

I ordered this book to use as a read aloud with my fifth grade's class study of the Civil War. Little did I know that it would be a valuable tool for teaching point of view. This is a wonderfully suspenseful short of a young slave's escape through the woods on his way to the first stop on the Underground Railroad. What makes this story unique is that it is told from the forest animals' perspective. Well written, well illustrated, and destined to become a classic. Wendy

I did like the narrative and it gave me a glimpse into what went on inside the Bismarck and her crew. Many of the photograhs were a first for me. I especially liked Appendix D, "The Rudder Damage: Were all Possibilities of Repair Exhausted?". Apparently the Bismarck was doomed from the start, but this may have been hindsight on the part of the author.

As for Appendix F "A Break in the Code", the tome was written before information was released indicating that the British were indeed monitoring most, if not all, communications of the Kriegsmarine. I refer to the two volumes of "Hitler's U-Boat War" by Clay Blair. The Americans were also monitoring the movements of the Bismarck, possibly in violation of international law.

The only reason I gave the book 4 stars is because the author related his opinions on the politics and his superiors possibly after the war. I wonder how he thought during the war. Too many apologies for the Nazi regime for my taste. I agree that the regime was inefficient. This may have been common among many authors who were involved on the German side looking back.

I would recommend this book in addition to the several books that have been written on the Bismarck in the last few decades.

V. Mullenheim-Rechberg executes brilliantly where others have failed. This is one memoir where the author maintains a confident balance between his own personal history and the larger event in which he took part.

Make no mistake--this is his story, yet one where the ship and its crew reamin the focus. An understanding that he was but one, small aspect of each seems to guide his writing throughout. Moreover, he is careful to call out what he can only qualify as recollection and what he has culled from the established historical record. The result is a practically seamless recounting that should satisfy readers who seek personal insights into the short operational history of the Bismarck and those who crave details on the ship's construction, crew composition, and blow-by-blow accounts of Dennmark Strait and the final attack that lead to its ultimate fate.

His chapter describing the last minutes as the crew abandoned ship take on a downright cinematic feel. The clarity there is of moments he could not shake and of people he would not forget. It's deeply personal, yet he provides both himself and the reader emotional breathing space by weaving in views of the operational action around the ship itself. This intensifies every personally-infused vignette that he presents and ensures that none are lost in the wash of mass human loss.

The author makes particularly handy work of his footnotes, sometimes using them to personally answer some of what he believes are significant misnomers about the ship's history--and his own. The footnotes are clearly -his- space, and he does not hesitate to answer some of what he feels are personal attacks that various other authors have made on his character and conduct. Still, he shies away from pettiness and cheap indignancy here. His tone is measured throughout, and he exactingly cites the sources that fuel his commentary--leaving the reader a chance to further explore the issues. After all, he was a lawyer and diplomat after the war. It shows.

Recommended highly for those who enjoy their history presented in a narrative fashion.

The author, and one time adjutant to Captain Lindermann, the commanding officer of the Bismarck, reveals the real mission of the battleship which is a new concept to most. It was very exciting to read the details from the beginning of the battleship including the sailors and officers, the training, and sailing to the Atlantic. Although it would have been nice if even more details could have been included, but perhaps space and memory prevented it. The author did mention that most of his experiences and service had to be written from memory since he was prevented from recording classified and secret information. Particularly interesting is his description and feelings of being a POW inside the POW camps; his repatriation, a person returning to his defeated homeland, once a proud nation, and how a former POW can fit into the new and recovering society. Lacking many technical details that we would liked to have read about, this is still an excellent book. To be able to read about the battleship from the German side of the ship and war, is invaluable. Excellent book and highly recommended.

FIRST THOUGHTS: EMOTIONAL WAR DRAMA OF LEGENDARY STATUS

The Bismarck, like the Titanic before her, went down on her maiden voyage in the North Atlantic with a great loss of life. Though both ships went on to become legends, the Bismarck was one that went down via the concerted effort of a large portion of the British fleet. Due to its being the flagship of the third reich and symbol of its 'superior' achievement the mission to destroy the Bismarck was a vital necessity to the British and a desperate race for survival for its German crew. In the end, there is little to feel good about the sinking of a vessel with over two thousand men aboard, only 115 whom were saved. Worse still, this tragedy followed the sinking of the Hood by the Bismarck just several days earlier with just a handful of survivors from the Hood. All in all a very nasty business, but an epic piece of real human history.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Battleship Bismarck: A Survivor's Story (Bluejacket Books)
by Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg, is another fine 'Naval Institute Press Publication' and a terrific account of the Bismarck's short life. The author, Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg was first, Captain Lindemann's adjutant and later the gunnery officer in charge of the aft range-finder. His rank was 'Oberleutnant zur See', or the equivalent of Lieutenant, in the US Navy. Von Mullenheim-Rechberg was on board before the beginning and was there after the end to become a prisoner-of-war. Both before and after are included in his expanded accounts in this "THE NEW AND EXPANDED EDITION - 1990".

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT:

Von Mullenheim-Rechberg takes us on-board the Bismarck as he is introduced to his new commanding officer, Captain Lindemann. It is 1940 and he is the Captain's adjutant as fitting out and trials get under way for the newly launched super-dreadnought. These prelimary maneuvers are included in detail. Von Mullenheim-Rechberg does give us insights into his Captain, Lindemann, Admiral Lutjens [fleet commander] and something about Adolf Hitler who did visit the ship. All three men will play an important role in the story that unfolds.

BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE -

A lot happened to the Bismarck its crew, the Hood, and the world in less than a week, and much of it is covered within this volume, first hand.

The author, and one time adjutant to Captain Lindermann, the commanding officer of the Bismarck, reveals the real mission of the battleship which is a new concept to most. It was very exciting to read the details from the beginning of the battleship including the sailors and officers, the training, and sailing to the Atlantic. Although it would have been nice if even more details could have been included, but perhaps space and memory prevented it. The author did mention that most of his experiences and service had to be written from memory since he was prevented from recording classified and secret information. Particularly interesting is his description and feelings of being a POW inside the POW camps; his repatriation, a person returning to his defeated homeland, once a proud nation, and how a former POW can fit into the new and recovering society. Lacking many technical details that we would liked to have read about, this is still an excellent book. To be able to read about the battleship from the German side of the ship and war, is invaluable. Excellent book and highly recommended.