Titles Books

The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years is a cute little pink and green book that will match most gift-wrap at the next bridal shower you may attend. Humorously delving into such topics as Mother-in-Laws, moving in together, household chores, decorating, husband hygiene, and feeding and fighting this book provides a comic relief to many newlywed dramas.

The delightful and interesting thing about this book is the Southern spin Annabelle Robertson gives to age-old situations. While she's not quite the female version of Jeff Foxworthy, she is good for a few chuckles. I particularly like the small graph/tables she includes to reinforce her points such as the Color Code for Disposal of Husband's Possessions:
Color Code for Disposal of Husband's Possessions
Red Stickers: Items to dispose of before the move
Orange Stickers: Items to lose and/or break during the move
Green Stickers: Items to keep temporarily

I also enjoyed some of the recipes in this book such as Everyday Chicken Casserole and Southern Sweet Tea; however, an index would have been nice, so that you can find them again once you've read through the book.

Written like a self-help book, The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years is easy to flip open and begin reading from any point. Like wise it is easy to read a section, set it down for, oh say, 7 to 9 months, and then pick it back up again. At times the humor is a bit redundant and more like the Southern Girl's Guide to being high maintenance than it is to surviving a marriage. Of course, I might not get all of the humor, being a Yankee in all. One thing about this book that is universal is how funny being married can be. It makes the perfect gag-gift and should be read as such.

Treat yourself to an easy read of Annabelle's fun stories this summer. You'll be glad that you did! She makes the mundane and even annoying adventures in matrimony funny. Enjoy!

I read this book in the Greensboro, North Carolina airport at 6am while waiting for an 8 am London flight. I was laughing out loud so much that the man beside asked what I was reading and I told him. I ended up reading it out loud, and we both laughed our buns off!

True Southern Girls are not to be confused with southern girls. Southern Girls are natural-born beauties who never fail to write thank-you notes, and understand the importance of a little unsolicited advice. Whereas, southern girls were born and raised in the south, but sadly, they don't have the charisma, breeding or anything else that might remotely resemble the charm of a true Southern Girl.

In The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years, Ms. Robertson teaches us the difference between Southern Girls and southern girls, and talks about all sorts of important issues to beginning married life with your significant other. Looking for a love shack? Ms. Robertson shows us the pros or cons to moving into your place, his place, or getting someplace entirely different.

With fun titles for the chapters, such as:

-- Men and Food: Help Me, Rhonda
-- Cleaning and Chores: I Say a Little Prayer
-- The Mother-In-Law: I Wanna Be Sedated
-- Conflict Resolution: Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting
-- Babies: In the Year 2525

Ms. Robertson addresses all issues of married life. As a veteran of ten years of marriage, she knows what she's talking about. She also discusses how difficult divorce is on all concerned--and she knows that first hand too, as her parents have gone through multiple divorces.

All newlyweds or those going to be married, Southern Girl or not, should pick up a copy of The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years. It will truly teach you how to stay sane once you've caught your man.

Armchair Interviews says: Wonder if there is a difference between northern girls and Northern girls?

I had the great pleasure of meeting Annabelle while arranging for her to speak at a spouse function. I knew almost instantly that she was a witty, intelligent woman however nothing prepared me for the real deal. She is downright F-U-N-N-Y and proved to be quite the entertainer. While I am definitely not a newlywed, I truly enjoyed this book and was unable to put it down as I was anxiously awaiting the next fit of laughter. The longer you have been married, the funnier as we have all "been there, done that" at least a time or two. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! Thank you Annabelle for this literary dose of fun and giggles... I look forward to the next great reading adventure!

We enjoyed this story very much. It is written as a story of a play that is taking place. The pictures are fantastic. Someone is in rabbit's house and will not let him in. Frog has figured it out but rabbit will not listen to him. Frog enjoys watching the trouble as the other animals try to help rabbit out. Finally out of exasperation Rabbit asks for Frogs help. This was a very fun book. Recommended for ages 6-9 years.

my 5 year old son loves this story and its surprise ending!

the play within a story framework is very clever but may be too complicated for very young children to follow

mjdykstra
mother & book lover

I love this story. My children enjoy it. Its great for children at bedtime. It is actually a play....thats how the story is being told.

Must add to your library of African tales!!

Who's in Rabbits House is one of those few book that people of all ages can enjoy. The book is beautiful to look at, the illustrations informative and clever. (Check out the lions.) It reads aloud beautifully, and even the youngest reader can be given a part to become part of the experience. The cultural contect is respectfully presented. The reader becomes one who learn that of the Masai vilagers that strength is less important than intelligence.

We found this by chance at the library and it is now one of our favorite books. During the three weeks we had the book we read it over 20 times and looked through it often. And we've checked it out a few times since then, too. Hmm, maybe we should buy it!

My boys have acted out the story repeatedly and I hear them quietly reciting the story to themselves.

The pictures are fantastic - bright, beautiful, so full of life. The text is superb and has a wonderful moral as well.

You will love this book and so will your kids.

I am a big fan of the Anansi tales, and the spider's adventures are delightful as well as thought-provoking. For edutainment (educational entertainment) and discussion, I include them in my high school / college level introduction to mythology / humanities survey courses. All ages can enjoy a clever trickster hero who possesses many human qualities, the good and bad--who makes us think about our own deeds and behavior.

In Anansi The Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti, Gerald McDermott retells an Anansi story with warmth, cultural sensitivity, and bright, attention-seizing illustrations. Among the children's books about Anansi, McDermott's efforts stand in a unique place because the text is used sparingly and with great effect, conveying important events only and not burying key ideas in lavish descriptions or dialogues. In this book, the elaborate, geometric illustrations paint the "descriptions" that the text omits.

Features that I like...

The map in the opening that shows the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana. (I'm always happy to see a bit of geography dropped into stories, especially those designed for children.)

The Prologue, which describes the importance of folklore, mythology, and legends. I especially appreciate this statement: "Folklore prepares man for adult life. It places him within his culture."

Rather than beginning the story with the familiar "Once upon a time...," the author uses "Time was..." which is cool! :)

Each of the spider sons in the story is unique in design, appearance, and talent, which makes him easy (and fun) to identify as the tale unfolds. The six sons are See Trouble, Road Builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower, and Cushions.

The character of Anansi is rendered with an expressive personality and face while his sons' faces are not shown--just their designs, bodies, and talents. Anansi's face changes emotions based on his experiences, and this would be an excellent teaching element for very young children upon hearing / seeing the story.

Themes & Talking Points the book offers:

Counting, colors, shapes, animals, teamwork, family, intro to Africa [Very Young Children]

Reading; Cause & Effect; Critical Thinking & Response; African Culture. How does Anansi get into and out of trouble? // Each spider is an individual with a specific skill or trait; each spider has a place in the family. What does this suggest about the culture of the Ashanti? // The rescue of Anansi is really a team effort by the sons, but who should get the reward? Does the ending solve this problem? [For children 5-12]

Reading & Design; Symbolism; Critical Analysis; Author Intent; Culture. Why did the author / illustrator choose not to show the faces of the six sons in the story? How does this choice affect the story? How does Anansi's face tell his story? What is the relationship between a son's name and his unique design? In what instances is Anansi's face NOT shown and why? What lessons are taught in this tale? What universal themes are present? Does this book deserve its "honor" designation? [For tweens through college students]

Anansi and his sons are popular guys in our home. My son and daughter (nearly 4 and 6) just adore them, and I enjoy the fact that this book demonstrates how well cooperation works. Not to mention that we get to discuss the story, Ghana, and how people are both like us *and* are different from us.

In this story Anansi heads out for a walk only to be besieged by problems, first from a hungry fish, and then from a falcon. He would have been lunch were it not for his caring sons who fortunately have super-arachnid abilities.

Four Stars. Good Read-aloud. Good story with a moral. My daughter even decided to practice reading this fun and exciting story.

Anansi is one cool African trickster, and he does it again in this book! When he tries to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, he becomes responsible for putting the moon in the sky.

My 18 month old son loves the artwork in this book. There is a lot to talk about on each page. For the first time it seems that my son is following the story and not just dealing with one page at a time. He waits eagerly for the page when Anansi is swallowed by a fish (don't worry it is not violent in any way!) Since there are 6 spider sons there are lots of opportunities for counting. My 18 month old can now count to 6.

The Anansi stories have been handed down through generations of Ashanti culture. This book is a wonderful, vibrant and vivid story for children of all ages. Born in Ghana I left at aged 3, leaving much of the Ghanaian culture behind. At aged 30 I can still remember a song about Anansi the spider, the only remnants left of my native tongue. I was given the Anansi book as a child, it captivated me, I read it over and over again, and it provided a connection to my past. At 16, I spent hours crafting a cushion embroidered an illustration from the book that was a childhood favorite. Sadly, the book was lost and I never thought I could get it again. Now, some 14 years since I last saw the book I can still visualize the pictures and hear the wonderful tale of Anansi the spider, his sons and the moon. I have just bought two copies, one for my niece and one for my two year old daughter. I absolutely cannot wait to read them again and again and pass this memorable story to a new generation.

Bought it for a college course because I had to. Fell in love with it because it's well written, well thought out and full of more information than I thought I could possibly learn about films. The beautiful color photos contained within also help to keep one's interest.

Yes it's pricey, but it's also worth it!!

This book provides insight into the many aspects of movies. It focuses on the details that you don't consciously think about when viewing movies. Any beginning film student (or anyone interested in getting more out of the movie watching experience) will find this book very helpful. I also enjoyed the references to movies young and old.

This textbook was purchased to fulfill a required "humanaties" course, while attending college. It's informative, easy to read, and guides you into becoming a "trained observer" in the art of watching films. As part of the curriculum I was instructed to watch several films selected by my professor. Some of the assigned films I would have never viewed by choice, including classics. However, this textbook has definitely given me a whole new perspective when attending a movie theater or at home watching a DVD. I've also acquired a deeper appreciation and understanding for all the hard work that goes into film making. Buy it for school or as a guide to help you enjoy your next movie experience.

product was exactly how seller describe. the book gives great insight to understanding all the components and theatrical elements of a film. Every element in a film is purposely selected in order to catch the audience attention and emotions. Highly recommend this book.

Used this book in an intro to film class. I will keep it on the shelf as a reference book. For class it has smooth reading that is cohesive, didn't seem like it has filler information in it. It was fun to read. The context was very helpful in class for lectures, and movie analyzation. Goes over key aspects of film as well as very detailed examples of what to look for, how to see it.

Brothers of the Knight is a wonderful book that helps children see that dancing is not just for girls but for boys too.

I read this book first and foremost because I am a fan of Debbie Allen's. After reading the book, I was convinced that it deserves all the hype...not because of who Debbie Allen is, but because she has written a great children's book. The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are funny, colorful, cute, and charming.

"Brothers of the Knight" is told by the family dog, Happy. Rev. Knight has twelve sons and a mystery to solve in Harlem, New York. Why does each Housekeeper get fired or quit? How are the boys' shoes getting messed up? Will the story end happily ever after? Who upstages the dog in the end? I recommend this charming story book.

Review by:
Pamela Jarmon-Wade

This book has a wonderful storyline, never gets boring(great for my boys) and the artwork is fantastic. The story is funny, down to earth, and the pace is just right. This is my second copy.

Brothers of the Knight, was a good read told by the family's dog, Happy. Happy tells us that some kind of way Reverend Knight's twelve sons shoes are always, "worn to threads, messed up, torn up, stinky, dirty, tacky, jacked up," but no one never knows how it happened. That is until the Reverend hires Sunday, the housekeeper, who has magical powers. The twelve brothers aren't sure, but they know that she knows their secret. Will Sunday keep their secret from their dad?

I liked it because it was funny and a mystery.

Reviewed by: Marquis, 7-years old

It's a wonderful story full of surprises. Exceptional pictures!

The story of this book is just wonderful. I just remembered it at random, and knew I had to have a copy. I grew up with this book - it was my late mother's favorite. It's a well written fairy-tale with an Asian twist. The moral is that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The irony is that you CAN judge this book by its cover. The illustrations are not just good, not just beautiful, these illustrations are fine art! I want to get a good copy and maybe frame some of these beautiful pictures.

If you want a WONDERFUL gift for a child or adult, buy me a copy... oh, I mean buy this for your loved one!

"Give me something to eat and something to drink and speak to me politely," said the small, fat man with a bald head, "and I will save the city."

"Nonsense and piffle paffle," thought the rulers of the city. "Get out of the way!"

Well, the Wild Horsemen of the North were just outside the gates of the City of Wu ready to destroy it and all its inhabitants. And only the dragon god could save Wu from this terrible fate. But the dragon god wasn't sure he wanted to. For you see, this old man IS the dragon god. Or so he says. And this is no way to treat a dragon.

[Picture book traditional tale suitable for grades primary through intermediate.]

This story of a child's acceptance and trust in the midst of adult rejection and scoffs is a classic morality tale. Mercer Mayer's wonderful illustrations combine authentic Chinese painting styles with familiar "Little Monster" type characters. If Little Monster was human and Chinese, he'd look like this!

I had this book as a child, given to me by my late beloved grandmother and was thrown away by a wicked stepmother. Over the years, I remembered the book vividly having amazing pictures and missed it terribly. Of course 20+ years later, as well, it was hard to find and out of print. I searched all over the net to buy a copy for my own daughter. I found a wonderful bookseller here on Amazon who sold me my copy for $25 and what a bargain that was! I would have bought it for so much more just so my daughter could come to love this tale as I do. May it teach young ones that they should always be kind because they never know what good may come of it. Out of love for a great story, this is my review. dk~

Han, a poor orphan boy sweeps the gate of the city of Wu, which is sandwiched between China and the land of the Wild Horsemen. Threatened by the horsemen, the city leaders pray to the Great Cloud Dragon for help. One day an old, fat man comes to the city and announces that he is a dragon. Han takes him to the palace to meet with the city leaders. The old, fat man offers his assistance if the leaders will show him courtesy. The city leaders scoff at the old, fat man and send him away. Han gives up his own meager meal to the old, fat man who decides to save the city for his sake. Han tells the story to the people of the city and is called "The Honorable Defender of the City." Mercer Mayer's illustrations have the appearance of ancient engravings with expressive faces and intricate detail.

This story shows the folly of judging by appearance and the rewards of kindness. This lesson is reinforced when the city leaders - the Mandarin, the Captain of the Army, the Leader of the Merchants, the Chief of the Workmen, and the Wisest of Wise Men - explain that surely dragons must look like Mandarins, Army Captains, merchants, workers, or wise men. Unfortunately, the source of this tale is unclear. Is it a traditional folk tale or the author's invention?

This book was absoluteley amazing! When I read this book I fell in love with the characters and the story! The vocabulary used by the author was fanominal and this is a great book for teens to read. I know most people say that fairy tales are just for young children but this story can really connect to teens considering that the main character is a teen. I also can not get over the fact that the author is a young teenager. She will be coming out with another book shortley. [...]. To sum it up this book is a must buy for anyone who loves a good story!

I found this book creative, imaginative and exciting. I gave the book to a couple of my grandchildren who have shown an interest in writing. It is very inspiring. Kristina, keep up the good work. I am looking forward to your next one!!

As a teacher, I found this book to be an excellent way to capture the imaginations of pre-teen and teenage students. It is an example of excellent writing by a young person, and will help to motivate students to write their own stories.

My 2 daughters age 9 and 12 found the book to be exciting and positive. It demonstrated how young girls can stand by their convictions and stand tall. Would highly recommend it for this age group.

I'm amazed at the creativety and talent of such young
writer. The story transends its readers into a magical
place while sending a very powerful message to our youth;
how to stay self-motivated, confident and steadfast in
today's troublesome world. It's motivating and captivating even to an adult but with a greater impact on
our youth. I highly recommend this book to young girls the world over!

Book about Warblers
this reference book is very helpful in identifying the migrating warblers.
It arrived in very good condition.

This book is much more than just a field guide to the warblers. It contains a wealth of information on identification, but it also functions as a summary of the scientific literature on the ecology of each species, complete with references to the primary literature. This guide is a great way to not only get more serious as a birdwatcher, but also to help this interest develop into an interest in and understanding of ecology.

As a field guide, this book is exhaustive and excellent. The illustrations are extremely clear, and there are distinct illustrations of different sexes, ages, and plumages (fall/spring) whenever these plumages are distinct. In addition to the illustrations of perched birds, there are also excellent illustrations of undertail patterns, which are very important and useful. Throughout the text as well, there are a number of detailed color photos. Visually, this guide has it all! The range maps are large and clear, although I wish that the range maps would mark migration paths more clearly.

The expanded chapters on each species are outstanding. While some of this information, especially the plumages, range, song, habitat, and behavior, would be interesting and useful to birders, this book goes above and beyond by discussing in depth the ecology of each species, taxonomy, and conservation status. The writing is clear and concise, and there are numerous references to the primary literature as starting points for people who are interested in further reading.

Bottom line? If you like warblers, you have to get this book! You will not be disappointed.

Several years ago, while watching the bird feeders at Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, Indiana, I heard a voice behind me pointing out that there were two races of White-crowned Sparrow at the feeder. He went into detail about the subtle differences between the two. At first I thought to myself, who is this guy? Later, I realized that it was Jon Dunn! I have had a high respect for him ever since.
Years later, he was the guest speaker at our bird club meeting. He presented some of the plates from his, at the time, upcoming new field guide to warblers. I fell in love with the plates from the very start. Thomas R. Shultz and Cindy House did a remarkable job, and the detail that was carefully gathered from museum specimens is second to none. I knew from the beginning that I had to have this new field guide and I couldn't wait until it appeared on the shelves.
When I bought my copy of the finished product, it was even more than I expected. Aside from the detailed plates making fall and female warbler identification easier, the text is filled with information on virtually every aspect of life history of each species, with cross-references that will aid any serious researcher. More than just a field guide for identification purposes, this book belongs on the shelf of beginners and experts alike who share a passion for warblers.

This book provides good color plates of the warblers in various stages of plummage. The distribution maps are easy to read and color coded. I bought the book because of the multiple pages of natural history information on each species. The birding guide I use in the field has excellent illustrations but totally lacks in the supplemental information. So, when I get home, I grab this book to learn the biology of the species.

Kimball Garrett and Jon Dunn worked together once again to produce a masterpiece. The information on status and distribution is remarkably accurate given the exceptional detail in which it is presented. The identification discussion is thorough and accurate. The discussion of subspecies, their taxonomy, and their identification (as is possible) is remarkable. The books only failing are the illustrations, which are flat and unrealistic for the most part. Their usefulness is limited.

When I first heard of my uncle James Going to jail over this car scam thing I truly didnt believe it was so big. James and Robert were great friends, but Robert always brought him down in alot of ways. Robert was a crook from the start but its funny to know just how they wrote a book about him and Robert and they"ll be on Cnbc 3/26/2008 at 9pmPT on the show American greed. I even rode in one of the cars in high school not knowing it was bought with criminal money. James came from a great family and a nice neighborhood unlike the Bulls%$t they're writing my uncle was a great football player and an excellent student he also wanted to be a cop. This sucks. I feel sorry the person who Charles Mansion's family member but I still love my uncle and I truly believe that he made a bad decision by being friends with such a loser like Robert Gomez. Steve V. Nichols, Jr. his nephew.

Truth really is stranger than fiction. An amazing story that was very well written.

Everyone should read this book. It is well written and a real page turner that is based on fact. I was surprised that the religious people had such a hard time accepting and admitting that they had been taken. Like God was going to protect them from crooks. It was a fasinating read. You will enjoy it. I did.

Americans' obsession with the automobile makes it the ideal object for a scam. Invoke divine approval and success is guaranteed. Yet the two young perpetrators could scarcely have imagined that the "miracle cars", which they promised to deliver to a Los Angeles church congregation, would eventually yield 21 million dollars nationwide. They were certainly incongruous partners: Robert "Buddha" Gomez, a brash, extravagant gambler and James Nichols, a serious, seemingly conservative church goer whose fellow worshippers provided the first victims. It was Nichols who was the "executor" of a vast estate, charged with the liquidation of an ever growing fleet of luxury vehicles at bargain prices. Even James' mother, a church deaconess, believing that she might serve God's purpose to provide deserving people with better transportation, was persuaded to help with the collection of money.
Throughout the five years that the fraud flourished, not a single car was delivered and the only visible evidence of the purported fleet was a distant view of some completely unrelated vehicles. As some of the original buyers became impatient, the operation became a Ponzi scheme, with newly collected funds being used to reimburse them. This had the effect of adding a false sense of good intentions to the scheme, thus prolonging it.
Phillips maintains a remarkably even tone in describing events that sometimes verge on the farcical. Judging by his reported conversations with both the primary and secondary players, the reader is left with the impression that they came to believe in the reality of their own deception. Only with the arrests did some admit to the fraud. Yet Gomez, true to character, would even then insist that he knew nothing of the source for the millions he had wagered.
The particulars of this account may be unusual but the general outline is all too familiar: greed combined with gullibility inevitably lead to disaster

As one of the prosecutors in the case, my review may be on the biased side, but I think John Phillips did a great job on this book. Somehow he made it accurate and entertaining at the same time. Having read John's articles in Car and Driver long before I ever met him, I always enjoyed his humorous writing style. After meeting him during the trial and afterwards, I appreciated both his writing and his humor even more. It was a very interesting case to investigate and try in court, but the book was entertaining even to me. Some of our witnesses opened up to him with more information after the trial was over. I hope anyone who reads this book will have an appreciation of the inside view of what seems like an incredible fraud scheme but is actually "sad but true." I know anyone who reads it will be entertained.
Dan Stewart

Having grown up in New Orleans i have a love for it's history.i've heard about the story of Baroness and it caught my attention. i wasn't disappointed having read this book.

Having grown up in New Orleans and visiting the Pontalba buildings on many many occassions, I thought I knew a bit about the countess. This book has brought up many aspects of her life and the lives of her family that I was totally ignorant of. It is quite fascinating even though there are times when the pace is a bit tedious. It is a bit academic at times, but it is afterall a biography and not a work of narrative fiction. There are aspects in everyone's life that tend to be less than thrilling.
Regardless I will recommend it to my many friends, paticularly those who grew up in New Orleans.

Vella brings to life with splendid detail the life in New Orleans and Paris in the 1800's. Vella is unquestionably a tireless scholar who has dedicated much time and passion into assimilating an astounding amount of archival materials to bring to life the realities and sensibilities of the different ranks of the aristocracies. Sophisticated, realpolitic, Machiavellian. A wonderful work and a great read. This is how history should be written (for non-academia). Well footnoted & bibliographed.

Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, by Christina Vella, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I took Professor Vella's class at Tulane University in the Spring of 2000. This book was the basis of the class. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thorough documentation of facts about a dynamic woman and her family, as well as two great cities, New Orleans and Paris.

Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, by Christina Vella, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I took Professor Vella's class at Tulane University in the Spring of 2000. This book was the basis of the class. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thorough documentation of facts about a dynamic woman and her family, as well as two great cities, New Orleans and Paris.