Titles Books

Get this book if language interests you. I'm studying linguistics, and had to buy this book, but I'm genuinely facinated by every aspect of this topic. It is very well put together, and an intriguing read. I'll have this book long after the term is over ;)

I must say that this book is genuinely exciting. In this case, you may judge the book by the cover (I think the cover's pretty nifty, anyway).

I guess you have to be into this sort of thing (linguistics) to pick up this book in the first place, but once you do, don't be afraid to read it straight through. You won't be disappointed. You learn so many interesting tidbits (and they actually have come in handy a few times). I also suggest THE MOTHER TONGUE, by Bill Bryson (come on, it's fun, even if some of the content is questionable). Together with this book you'll be a language whiz.

ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE isn't only for geeks, mind you. There's a helpful index at the back and if you want to learn more about a word or a particular age in our language's history, it's no trouble.

A la fin, this book is worth however much money it costs. It's really, really super.

Every aspect of the English languageis presented clearly and delightfully. Why does "ea" have three different pronunciations in "dream," "thread," and "great"? How did the Danish conquest of Engliand affect words like "sky" and "egg"? What words did the Roman Latin leave in English? Pyles writes great English himself.

"sklon'yat'... vo vs'ekh pad'ezhakh" -- "to decline (someone) in all the cases", so the Russian idiom goes. To discuss someone at length. Few speakers of modern English would make much sense of that idiom. Yet English was once nearly as inflected as Russian, having in common five of that language's six noun cases: the Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative, and Instrumental, each with corresponding pronominal and adjectival declension. Old English nouns had gender, too, and not just masculine and feminine as in the "Romance" (Italic) Languages, but, like Russian, the neuter as well. English verbs once required more complex conjugation, and the subjunctive was used far more extensively than today. Old English structurally resembled modern European languages, and until comparatively recently, even had formal and informal second-person address. The reason for these similarities? Six modern language groups all descended from a common ancestor, Indo-European. They include Indo-Iranian (Farsi, Hindi, Romani), Balto-Slavic (Lithuanian, Russian, Polish), Celtic (Gaelic, Cornish, Welsh), Italic (French, Spanish, Roumanian), Germanic (German, Icelandic, Norwegian), and Hellenic (Greek). English is a sub-group of the Germanic branch. This book is a fascinating technical study of how English developed and changed over the centuries and was influenced by various languages and regional dialects. From Chaucer to Shakespeare to Melville to present, you'll see how English has become simplified yet enriched. Learn the reasons for the varying pronunciations of our vowel combinations and consonant clusters that drive ESL students nuts! This is a scholarly study. But you don't have to be a linguist to enjoy the text. Even the most etymologically "challenged" will easily see some distinctive similarities between Old and modern English and other Indo-European languages. BTW, that Russian idiom? We English speakers would discuss someone "every which way".

Like Josh, I had to buy this book for the History of English course in the Linguistics dept at Portland State University. My instructor was Prof. Jennifer Mittelstaedt in 2006. Also like Josh, I know this "textbook" is a keeper that will stay in my home library as a professional resource, long after I graduate. Beautifully designed with pretty cover and crisp font/layout. (Expensive, but a nice book that gives pleasure to read & hold.) Organized into easily digestible and somewhat independent sections; the many verb-class & declension tables are clearly explained. Easy to pick-and-choose which chapters to assign, if time constrained. Fascinating historical linguistics & splendid etymologies, presented with surprising humor. The writers' "voice"(s) exude a warm, mature amusement at the vicissitudes of human history - and there is certainly an abundance of vicissitude in the history of the English language! Covers morphology, semantics, syntax, and phonology of OE, ME, EModE & PDE periods. Highly recommended!

My only complaint about this book is they often reference other diseases or complications and I am continually having to cross reference whenever I am reading. Overall, I feel like I can get a reasonable, generally understanding very quickly and this is a book I will save as a reference.

It's a nice book at a discount used.
Delivered in good time.
What more can I say.

I have been a fan of Sylvia Price's Pathophysiology text since I first studied for the CCRN exam in 1982. I have bought periodic updated versions since that time and recommend it to all my preceptees and CCRN study group members. The clarity of her authors' explanations makes understanding the pathophysiology of conditions commonly seen in ICU very easy. I do not have enough words to express how highly I recommend this book to any nurse beginning a critical care career.

I'm not going to be too verbose here, but I've used this text for three years now, and it's an excellent reference for basic pathophysiology. I've used it at both the undergraduate and medical school level, and I've been very pleased with both the organization and the content. It's not a replacement for Robbins Pathology, but it's an excellent supplement, and somewhat easier to read/use.

I have the first edition of Dr. Lorraine Wilson's pathophys. text and have just bought the fifth edition. It is an excellent resource for any nurse who wants to maintain a current knowledge base in pathophysiology. It is a great resource. It is obvious that the main editor, Dr. Wilson, takes great pride in the accuracy of the submissions and strives to produce a high quality text book. I understand that Dr. Wilson is completing the 6th edition but no word as to when it will be released.

An early 87 that no fan of the series should miss. McBain had the touch from the very beginning.

The third book in the 87th Precinct series is a more standard entry into the police procedural genre. But at the same time, it manages to reach an emotional depth somewhat unusual for the time period.

The plot is pretty straight forward. A pair of patrolmen stumble upon a apparent junkie suicide. But sometimes things aren't as easy as they seem, and the suicide squeal quickly turns into a multiple homicide investigation that threatens to become blackmail when Lt. Byrnes son becomes linked to the drug scene. The bulls at the 87th are relegated mainly to the footwork, as most of the behind the scenes action involves Byrnes as he struggles with his son's involvement. Byrnes goes as far as to fill Carella in on the situation, a decision that almost proves to be fatal.

Apart from some of the dated aspects one would expect from a well-reserched police drama from the fifties, the bulk of the novel is your typical expose on the brutal world of the street level drug trade. But as usual, McBain delves into the emotional causes and ramifications of the Heroin users and dealers. The most revealing of these is the personal and professional termoil faced by Lt. Byrnes with the revelation that his son is a Heroin addict. Adding to the emotional doubt of where he has gone wrong with his son, and the constant battle between anger and compassion, is the dilemma of whether or not to cover up his son's possible involvement in a crime, especially when a mysterious third party with knowledge of his son's connection attempts to blackmail him for police protection.

McBain doesn't just focus on the 87th detectives. Glimpses into the lives of low key players in the drug scene shows the many facets of human frailty and desperation and prevents the broad generalizations that many crime dramas easily fall into. Even the closer look at Carella's relationship with stoolie Danny the Gimp is both touching and revealing. But to McBain's credit, none of this detailed attention to the human element detracts from the gritty realism that is typical of this series.

Another great book by Ed McBain. Have just started reading this series and have a long way to go, but I am really looking forward to it if they are all like this one. Steve Carella and Bert Kling are back. They make a great team. They are trying to find who killed a young man, then others are killed to cover up the first killing. I don't want to name names as would take away from the book. The ending is good. McBain can make you feel like you are there. You can nearly feel the the thoughts and actions as they take place. A fairly short book that is quick to read. A very good mystery.

Of McBain's 70 to 80 books, this is without a doubt his best. This is what storytelling is all about. Simple characters, doing simple things and making it impossible to put the book down . I'm curious to know whether Evan Hunter is still alive or just retired from writing.

Published in 1956, "Pusher" by Ed McBain, one of the author's famed 87th Precinct mysteries,
may be a bit dated, but the sheer power of writing and the abilitiy of the author makes this one a
worthy read. McBain's legions of fans (most of whom have, no doubt, already read this one)
certainly found this to be a choice selection.

This time we find Steve Carella and Lieutenant Peter Byrnes again up to their precinct necks in
crime. As the title suggests, they're investigating the death of a drug dealer. The autopsy had said
suicide, but Carella and Byrnes know better.

And with the speed of some sound writing style and
excellent plot development, Mc Bain carries his readers full tilt. There's no resting; the pace is
terrific! Aided by first-class dialogue development "Pusher" is quick and easy to read. One doesn't
have to be totally dedicated to McBain to enjoy this one. Remember: it's quick and easy. And good.
(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Dolores has a gift for the histrionic and leads her guided meditation sessions with a unique flair. In this book she expresses her skills to the utmost and also gives the reader/participator a magnificent grounding in the sephiroth and paths. If you want to study the attributes use this book. Also if you want to set the tree in motion in your life use this book.

Unusual and almost unique.

The author has provided a complete set of visualizations on the various Kabbalistic Sefiroth as a guided path towards growth via meditation. It is interesting and even inspiring and a bit poetic as well. It's loaded with symbols of great meaning, but with symbols in general, their meanings are multiple and varied and, ultimately individual as well as collective. I think this book could be a very useful tool as long as the reader doesn't get lost in the fact that it is the author's view and not necessarily accurate for everyone. It is somewhat reminiscent of the ancient Hekalot literature describing a mystical journey through the palaces of heaven, the Talmudic description of the four who travelled to the Garden from which only Rabbi Akiva came away unscathed, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and the Egyptian Book of Gates. It can be viewed either as a light story (or myth) OR as a set of highly advanced mystical practices in the Kabbalistic tradition. Your choice. If you like it, I would recommend Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi's books, especially the "Way of the Kabbalist."

I have been involved in metaphysical subjects since 1969 and could not understand the Kabbalah or the Tree of Life until the initial printing of this book came out. This is a GREAT book for people of a non-Jewish background, especially if you are a Pagan, who wish to understand this glyph of the Kabbalah. Once you read the book it will enlighten you to the reason of why the Sephira react the way they do. My advice is to get a copy of this book, read it as a novel (like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) then get a diagram of the Tree of Life, see the correlations, and do the chapters as a meditation. Then you can go back to Jewish texts about the Tree and understand what they are trying to say. This is a CLASSIC, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND Text about the Tree of Life that shouldn't keep going out of print the way it does,so get yours today.

Anyone attempting to understand and use the qabala system will benefit greatly from this book. Dolores is a magnificent writer and knows her stuff. HIGHLY RECOMENDED.

If I ever end up shipwrecked on an island with no hope of rescue, this is the one book I MUST have with me. It's twenty years old now and for pleasure I still reread all of the pages, finding new details and new insights. In the introduction, the author suggests reading with deliberation and care. She probably didn't have my pace in mind! But it's been a joy and a deepending understand with each foray. I highly recommend this work to anyone with a sincere penchant for becoming the best you can be on a spiritual level. It's a 'keeper'.

Absolutely beautiful illustrations. Incorporation of artwork and text is especially appealing. The size of the book is a great plus for sofa reading time with young chilren. This book is a timeless edition and definitely one to add to your reading library. The little cherubs at my house love it!

This book has marvelous illustrations of the fairy tale story as originally told by the Grimm brothers. This book can be great for young children as the pictures are so vivid and life-like, especially of Snow White who is portrayed as a child rather than a teenager. Each picture is a springboard for conversation with little ones. I will be looking for all of Charles Santore's books after seeing this one.

Beautifully rendered drawings adorn the pages of this favorite classic. Santore's paintings always delight. If you love your children's books to include gorgeous illustrations, then look no further: this is a winner in that department.

A marvelous telling, with beautiful illustrations, of the classic Grimm fairy tale. Highly recommended for anyone interested in sharing the tradition of fairy tales with children, or re-reading the stories to themselves to rekindle the fires of imagination, fantasy, and good and evil. Bess Kuzma

A great picture book and wonderful addition to my collection of beautifully illustrated fairy tales to share with my children....

Snow White is beautiful. Too beautiful. At least that is the feeling of the queen who is beautiful, too, but insists on being MOST beautiful in the kingdom. And Snow White, without even trying, is becoming more beautiful as time goes on. "So, there is only one thing to do," thinks the jealous queen: "kill Snow White." But try as she might, again and again, Snow White lives on. "Curses," thinks the queen, "there must be a way."

[Picture book suitable for the primary through intermediate grades.]

I read this book when I was seven years old and have never forgotten it. Having been raised with Disney, I had never known what a real fairy tale was . . . at least, not the original tales. This book tells the story the way it ought to be told. I think that I can honestly say that this book started me on my love of fantasy novels and folk literature.

I found a copy of this version of Snow White in the school library in Japan where I was teaching, and took it home to read to my boys. Later, I photographed the pages and showed slides to my Japanese students, using these illustrations to explain the surface, psychological, and spiritual meaning of the Grimm's stories. Of Grimm illustrators, I think Hyman is best, and while her illustrations of Rapunsel, Living Water, etc, are wonderful, this is her most inspired work.

First of all, the paintings take my breath away. Unlike the Disney figures, one can understand why the Mirror on the Wall thought these two ladies beautiful, and why the prince fell in love with Snow White! Hyman uses light brilliantly, beautifully, and with subtlety. Wow! My students liked them, too.

Also, Hyman seems to be one of those rare souls who picks up on the spiritual level of the Grimm tale. None of the other reviewers has mentioned the allegorical nature of Snow White, and I don't want to ruin the story for anyone. But if this interests you, pay close attention to numbers, temptations, candles, the mirror, especially the final mirror image, and the face of the King's Son. Hyman has drawn so subtly that it is possible to entirely overlook this quality and thoroughly enjoy her art, as an atheist may enjoy, say, the Chronicles of Narnia. Nor am I even sure she was a Christian. But she may have picked up on something intended by the Brothers Grimm. (For details, see Ronald Murphy's The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimm's Magic Fairy Tales. Or see my upcoming article in Books and Culture, "How the Brothers Grimm Overthrew the Evil Empire.")

Lay all that aside, though, and this is still one of the most lovely children's books I have ever read.

author, Jesus and the Religions of Man

Parents looking for a good edition of "Snow White" need look no further than this one by Paul Heins and Trina Schart Hyman. One day a beautiful, yet proud and arrogant, queen stands before her magic mirror and asks: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is most beautiful in the land?" Instead of replying as usual that she is the beautifulest, the mirror informs the queen that her stepdaughter, Snow White, has now surpassed her in beauty. Driven by envy and anger, the queen orders a hunter to take the girl into the woods to be killed. He decides to spare her life and presents the liver and lungs of a boar to the queen instead of Snow White's. Meanwhile Snow White takes shelter in the house of the seven dwarfs. The scene when the dwarfs return home is reminiscent of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with the dwarfs asking "Who has taken some of my bread?", "Who has been using my little fork?", and discovering the girl asleep in one of the beds. They allow her to stay. When the queen discovers Snow White is still alive, she tries to get rid of her in a variety of ways: bodice laces that cut one's breath, a poisoned comb and finally a poisoned apple. The fairy tale obviously has a happy ending. There are two scenes in the tale that parents or children might find disturbing. One is when the queen cooks and eats the liver and lungs, thinking they are Snow White's. Second, at the end, when the wicked queen is made to dance in red hot shoes until she falls dead. Other than that the story is well told and the illustrations are magnificent---detailed with rich and vivid colors. I especially liked the one where the queen, disguised as a peddler, is tying Snow White's bodice laces. A wonderul story to add to your child's collection.

This is the well-known story of a princess whose evil stepmother tries to have her killed. The huntsmen could not go through with it and tells Snow White to run away. When she does she finds herself in the company of seven small men. They live in a house very happily until the queen finds that Snow White is not dead. She finds Snow White and tricks her into eating a poisoned apple. Snow White dies. She is awoken from her death by the kiss of a prince and they live happily ever after.
The reason I enjoyed this version of Snow White more than others that I have read was that is was not as much of a fairy tail like story and more of a darker approach to it. The seven dwarfs, for example, are not shown as happy little creatures that sing and dance all day long. They are merely shown as small, kind men. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful even though they are not the bright colors that would usually go along with this story.

I have found that Melinda Copper's approach of using animals in the illustration actually makes the original "unexpurgated" Snow White tale that much more accessible. The illustrations - the clothes, the settings - help put the story in its original context and in the ways of the past. The animals make it fascinating to look at but less frightening than an illustration or photograph of an actual child.

I have enjoyed this tremendously as has my niece.

well,um,i'de have to say this book is pretty well done,especially by that...umm...melinda copper,oh yes,she's the best artist i would have to say,well anyways,i own 20 copies of the book and i read it every night because those bunnies are just so darn cute
buy it or forever be unknowledgable(or be bunny cute free)

I have four grandchildren ages, 2, 3, 4 and six. They (and their parents) all enjoyed the book, especially the illustrations. It was wonderful to revisit the Brothers Grimm version of the story as well as to experience the beautiful full page illustrations. This will be a book that will stay in the family for generations. Melinda Copper is to be congratulated on a wonderful book!

I read this book to the K-1 and 4-5th graders at my daughters school. The children were so captivated by the beautiful illustrations that I had to promise to leave the book in the classroom for the day so they could look more closely at it. Once the children got used to the idea that there is more than one version of this classic, they were excited by the antics of the evil step mother cat! The older children loved the detail of the illustrations and the fact that they could see the texture of the canvas in the pictures. The younger ones were delighted by the hamsters and mice. This book raises the standard of children's book illustrations. It will make a wonderful gift for a child of any age!

Artist Melinda Copper has a unique gift - drawing upon the works of master artists she creates paintings in their style but with her own imprimatur - animals. Her paintings of cats, dogs, rabbits are treasures in themselves, sought after by collectors and art aficionados. Thus, her "Snow White" is a marvel for us to cherish.

Words cannot possibly do justice to the beauty of Copper's paintings - precious, irresistible, heart warming come to mind but they aren't enough to describe the attention to detail and luminosity found in Copper's work.

Of course, the story of Snow White is known to all, but it becomes new again with these meticulously drawn images and glorious full page illustrations.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

Totally amazing book. What Abdul-Baha accomplished in informal answers at the dinner table took some Bible Scholars years of research to reach the same insights, while Islamic scholars are still groping in the dark. Excellent variety of subjects. A major Baha'i legacy to the world.

Some Answered Questions is a compilation of the talks of Abdu'l-Baha (son of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith). Abdu'l-Baha gave both logical and traditional proofs to establish the existence of God and the necessity of Divine Educators such as Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Baha'u'llah, each being a successive link in the chain of God's unfolding plan for the education of mankind. He presents in a freshly illuminating way the Baha'i point of view on a number of perplexing Christian subjects such as the meaning of the "return" or second coming of Christ, the Resurrection, and the miracles of Christ.

There are innumerable subjects covered in this revealing compilation. Perplexing passages from both the Old and New Testaments are explained, the power and influence of the Prophets of God and their connection with the emergence of civilisations is expounded upon. Man's relationship to God, the immortality of the spirit, the existence of the rational soul after the death of the body - these and almost any questions which the human mind has reflected and pondered upon, are answered in a way which the mind can grasp and meditate upon.

Some Answered Questions is a treasurehouse of knowledge to the student of religion and to the person who questions what life is all about. It is an important part of Baha'i sacred literature.

Some Answered Questions is an excellent book. For me it provided many answers to my questions concerning such things as, Life After Death, the Nature of the Soul, and Biblical Prophesies. The reason and logic made a lot of sense.

I've been interested in the Baha'i faith for a long time, and this book takes the cake as one of my favorite Baha'i books. It is essentially Abdul Baha explaining to a student of his certain key questions, from the importance of nature, to connections to Christianity. He even mentions workers rights, and many topics relating to the early 20th century. This book as a religious text seems slightly odd, because most of the concepts aren't to foreign and can directly be applied to a person living an Euro-American lifestyle. All this, and I'm not even an actual Baha'i.

Some Answered Questions by Abdu'l Baha is a master work of questions put to Abdu'l Baha, son of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith. Abdu'l Baha was the successor of his Father's faith and the authorized exponent of his teachings. These questions were put to him by one of his French followers. They are a lively array of topics: Biblical prophecy, comparative religion and scripture, social issues, Baha'i perspective on traditonal Christian topics, spiritual psychology, man's development, etc. This incredible array of topics is so amazing that few will find it hard to believe that Abdu'l Baha was a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire most of his life, suffering alongside his father, Baha'u'llah. Abdu'l Baha was eventually freed during the Turkish revolution, allowing Abdu'l Baha to speak in Western countries, including the United States and Europe. These questions and answers are bound to stimulate your thinking and enlighten you as many spritual mysteries are made clear to you. I strongly recommend this book to all seekers after deep spiritual reality, students of comparative religion and scripture, Biblical students, and students of the Baha'i Faith. It is wonderful book which will get you thinking and provoke you about spiritual subjects for a long time.

First and foremost it's "Strega Nonna." "Strega" means witch or hag and "nonna" means grandmother. Therefore, it's about a grandmother figure who's thought to be a witch.

I enjoyed reading this book because I thought it was funny.
I liked all the magic spells that Strega Nona did. She made all the people in her town happy. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes magic.

This story is about a girl Nona who goes with her friend Amelia and learns how to do modern magic. Nona doesn't want to do magic the modern way. She goes back to her grandma to learn the magic the way her grandma does magic. I think children 9 and up would like this book.

I just love Tomie de Paola books. He is for me a great inspitation. As a college student, studying to be a teacher I took courses that I needed to do an Author Study. I found his books the greatest. However I must say...I knew about Mr. T. de Paola even before the author study. I especially love his Strega Nona series. In my high school days, I volunteered at he library in my neighborhood to read at a program they had called STORYTIME
each month they had a different author. I enjoyed reading His books....The kids love him also. When I had my own children, I read the book Strega Nona as soon as I brought them home. Of course also his other books. I am a collector of his books. I do not want to offend any other authors who also write children's books. I like them too. However Tomie's books touch my heart.
His chapter books for the older children are FANTASTIC.....As a matter of fact at my school, there is a big section set up just with his books. I find that he write from the heart. THAT IS WHAT MAKES A GREAT AUTHOR.

Just want to say THANK YOU Tomie de Paola. And Kids Read Read Read. His books are great....

This is the prequel to "Strega Nona" and has the same brilliant illustrations as the original classic, but the colors are brighter. This one has more characters than the first and a more complicated plot. Here we learn how baby Nona grew up to be a magic woman. It's great fun and a nice surprise for all those who read "Strega Nona" years ago.

This is a fantastic little book that is a joy to read and to share with the young and young at heart. The familiar story is well-told, but what really brings the tale to life is the exquisite illustration. Nearly every page offers a warm, colorful, and appropriate visual for the action, and the visuals are definitely very Irish in feel. The pictured food looks good enough to eat! LOL :) You can almost hear the wee people singing and dancing.

Young children will enjoy the story because the characters are well-defined, and they appear approachable--not scary, unpleasant, or weird. They are cheerful with their gentle, rosy, expressive faces. Even the naughty McGoons as they gleefully appropriate Tim O'Toole's magical prizes!

This is a beautiful book well worth the purchase.

Tim O'Toole is not exactly an admirable man. He's a lazy man. He's a man who sits around "bemoaning" his fate as he watches his children and wife grow thin from the hunger on them. Even the mice in the house are starving and the cat hasn't energy enough to chase them. It isn't until his wife, Kate, demands that he go off and earn some money that he rouses himself to knock on doors looking for work. So, it's not though any effort of his that his fortune is made, but rather through a chance meeting with a group of "wee folk," or fairies, while he is busily engaged in resting.
From them he demands treasure, and they give it in the form of a goose that lays golden eggs, but so feckless a man is Tim O'Toole that he allows a neighbor couple to cheat him out of it. The little people then give him a tablecloth that is always filled with food, but fool that he is, he is cheated out of that as well. The little people even help him get back at the folks who cheated him.
Was ever a man less deserving of reward than Tim O'Toole? Not likely. Yet, lazy and useless as he is, he ends up a well-to-do man of means and is the envy of all his neighbors, all on account of his luck.
It is a charming story and wittily told, and, because of the unlikely hero of the tale, about as Irish a storyline as one can get.
A large part of the charm of the story is the wonderful pencil drawings, rich in texture and color, and evocative in their composition. Each character is distinct and fully realized. It is in the drawings that one gets the sense that, although a worthless fellow, Tim O'Toole is warm and lovable for all that.
Highly recommended for ages 3-8.

This was a gift to a young child who has enjoyed having it read to him and will undoubtedly read it himself when he learns to read!

With so many long-time traditional holidays being pushed to the wayside to be replaced by those more currently popular and politically correct, we are always looking for ways to celebrate and anchor traditions with our grandchildren. To help our pre-school grandbabies get a little more anchored with their Irish heritage, we thought they were old enough this year to be introduced to the connections of this special cultural holiday. "Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk" was just the answer. Woven within the adventure of this tale of the very Irish Tim O'Toole are subtle but effective lessons about the benefits the moral values we hold dear, the outcome of choices made, and no small amount of fun, courtesy of the fanciful Wee Folk. To include in the package with this book and a strip of four-leaf clover stickers and green T-shirts, we also purchased from Amazon the "RiverDance" CD. We hear our grandkids were delighted with the whimsy of our gift and asked for the story of Tim O'Toole to be read twice before bed on March 17. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tim O' Toole is a fantasy tale about a poor man who goes to find work in the town. When Tim takes a rest he discovers a festive group of wee folk. Tim being a wise fellow indeed he threatens the weefolk
to hand over thier treasure and they'll be safe . The weefolk disagree and they give Tim a goose that lays golden eggs. The weefolk warn Tim not to tell a soul. When Tim goes and tells his neighbors , the Magoons.Knowing the great tresures of cherish they steal the goose. When Tim comes crying to the lepracauns they give him a magical tablecloth.Once again the samething happens. Will Tim get his cherished itams back, buy the book to see. The main cahracters are Tim, his wife Kate,the Magoons, and the weefolk. The lesson is becareful who you trust.