Titles Books

This book is translated by a person named N.J. Darwood. It's simply wonderful. The tales involved are tales of the Persian Gulf, of Bagdhad, Arabia, and tales that we as adults should revisit for some enjoyable light reading that will make us smile and wonder at the old folklore of the Arabian Peninsula. Sinbad the Sailor is in there, as is Aladdin in it's original form, and the story begins of a king who is so upset by his wife's unfaithfulness that he will now only accept virgins for one night and then have them killed. A smart virgin begins her night with the infamous king by telling him stories, and she so fascinates him and enthralls him with her tales that the tales turn into folklore for readers of the ages. I won't tell you what happens in the end to the virgin princess, but you will find humor, enchantment, wisdom and fantasy for those times when stress becomes a factor in your life. I highly recommend the tale of "The Historic Fart" as a both funny and inspiring tale of human nature. Please buy this book and remember to become a nine -12 year old again as you read with curiosity and wonder at the fabulous enchanting, lively stories. I was beginning to wish my children were a bit younger so I could read these to them. Any child would enjoy these stories, and any adult will find them simply relaxing and a reflection of medieval Islam.

This book is a selection of the choicest tales from the Thousand and One Nights. The translator, N.J. Dawood, also translated the Koran for the Penguin Classics series. Dawood explains in the introduction that the first of these tales appeared in a written form around 850 C.E., in a book called, "A Thousand Legends." More tales, of lesser quality, were added over the years until an anonymous editor in Cairo finally codified them in the 18th century. A French version of some of the stories appeared in the 17th century, and was followed by several English versions in the 19th century; the best known adaptation came from Sir Richard Burton, in 10 volumes. The stories are a mix of Arabic, Persian, and Indian tales and appear to have been written in response to classical Arabic literature. The Arabs do not consider them part of the classic canon, and after reading these stories, I can see why. They are aggressive and highly sexualized, and are loaded with sorcery, fantasy, and criticism of authority figures.

Whatever their origins and means of transmission, these are excellent and entertaining stories. I cannot think of one tale in this selection that I did not like. Included in the book is the instantly recognizable Aladdin story, as well as the Sinbad voyages. Other tales are just as interesting: "The Tale of the Hunchback," "The Tale of Judar and his Brothers," "The Porter and the Three Girls of Baghdad," and many others. Many of these stories are cycles; they have stories within stories, as characters in one story tell their own stories. At the end of the cycle, the story is cleverly wrapped up, usually with a happy ending. I do not think I need to go into detail about Aladdin or Sinbad, except to say that I was surprised to see Aladdin described as Chinese. Providing details to these stories would be useless anyway because they are so detailed as to be impervious to summary.

There is no doubt that many of these stories started as oral stories, and retained that shape into the written versions. The best example is the Sinbad cycle. All of the stories in this cycle are framed in the same way. This repetition made it easier to memorize the stories, or at least the basic outline. A good storyteller could take the frame and fill in the blanks with whatever his heart desired. You often see this kind of writing in the Bible.

Social roles and class play a large part in these stories. Women are presented as wily and dangerous, but not always. Several stories show men trying to pull fast ones on the ladies, with the results much to the detriment of the men. Many stories show how the high and mighty come crashing down, or how the lowly are elevated to great status. These movements are attributed to the grace or condemnation of Allah, and the characters all act out their movements with Allah close by.

You will not go wrong with this book. These are immensely entertaining stories for both children and adults, although you might want to find a toned down version for the kiddies. Why? I am thinking about the tale where a man and some women play "name that body part." My only criticism of this version is that the tale of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" is absent. I have no idea why it is missing, but the book loses one star for this grave omission.

A collection of tales mostly of Persian, Indian, and Egyptian origin. Legend has it that Shahrazad, to prolong her life, told these tales to the king each night over 1,001 nights. In the end, the king let her lived as he had fallen in love with her. What a delightful legend!

In reality, these tales are most likely a collection that were handed down over time very much like folk tales in our Western world. They are fantastical stories in many cases involving jinnees and magical islands and far off lands and mysterious animals and beautiful women and enchanted lamps and....well, it goes on and on! There are some common themes: poor, common men become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams and eventually become kings, women are (usually) portrayed as deceitful and conniving, and at the center is religion.

An entertaining and fascinating book for children and adults, although there are some stories that might need to be monitored by adults for children - the stories can be a little bawdy! But there are so many good ones here, such as Sindbad and his voyages and Aladin. However, the other stories are just as entertaining, too, such as the hilarious Historical Fart and introspective The Dream. I'm normally not a fan of fantasy fiction, but these are easy to read and easy to follow and allow the read to let their imagination just go to the four winds. Wonderful book!

The stories in the Thousand and One Nights never seem to grow old and captivate readers, both young and old. Dawood's translations are faithfull to the original stories while giving a firm footing in the present. This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in quite a while. If you think you know the stories of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, or Ali Baba from movies then think again. These tales in their original form are timeless!

What a great book. These stories are extremely old from places such as Persia and India with a mostly arabic influence. The introduction gives great historical insight about the various tales. Of all the translated versions of these classic stories, and what was probably much more complicated original prose, I find Mr Dawood's translations simple and fun to read. The stories are rich with adventure and fantasy. Mr Dawood does an excellent job of keeping the stories down-to-earth and entertaining. Those who enjoy cryptic, esoteric literature will enjoy losing themselves in the intertwining stories of this book. With a simplistic style of story-telling, it is still intricate enough to keep one immersed. Those who already enjoy simple stories will be intrigued by the unique storylines and plots. For young, impressionable readers, the tales have no religious overtones or underlying political agenda and women are revered and respected. I first read this book when I was 12, and continue to enjoy and re-read the stories well into adulthood.

The beauty of this book is that so many letters, reviews, interviews etc. about/by so many artists are conveniently gathered in one place. On the whole, there isn't anything in here that you can't find elsewhere, such as in biographies of the individual artists. For example the letters contained in the opening section on "Post-Impressionism" from both Cezanne and Van Gogh are included in just about every biography on them.

The over-riding reason for buying this book is that so many are collected together. So, even for an artist that you might not like enough to go out and buy their biography, atleast you get an insight in to their thoughts/motives etc. In some cases this may spark your interest in a previously less favoured artist and appreciate their works from a new perspective.

Chipp covers all the main "isms" of modern art from Post-Impressionism (Cezanne) onwards. Each movement opens with a treatise detailing the main theories/artists/concepts/techniques that made it unique. This is followed by a comprehensive selection of articles/letters/interviews etc. concerning the main players i.e. the section of Expressionism includes writings from Nolde, Kandinsky, Kokoschka, Kirchner, Marc, Klee and Beckmann. One of my favourite pieces is by Stuart Davis. He's responding to a critic's recent review..."in your review you speak of your enthusiasm for my work and call me a "swell American painter". This attitude on your part I heartily approve, but you further state that my style is French and that if Picasso had never lived I would have had to think out a style of my own. Now is that nice Mr. McBride?" and off Davis goes in his defence. Superb.

Rather than reading about these various "isms" via the well meaning but often biased views of a expert art historian, here you get the views from the artists themselves.

For any art historians dealing with the modern art period this book has to be essential. And for general appreciators of art, as well as artists themselves, this book contains a wealth of information, and pays dividends to both intense study or just random browsing.

Since it's first publication in 1968 this book has formed the foundation of any respectable art library. I just checked the bibliography of more recent books on art history - this book is referenced extensively. In my opinion, if anyone is looking for an interesting and enjoyable introduction to the world of "Modern Art" they could do a lot worse than start here. And given the way that any one "ism" owes it's existence to the "isms" that came before it*, this almost reads like a novel.

*Regardless of Dali's utterances about Surrealism being a unique movement, unfounded by anything that came before, just go and have a look at the works of Hieronymous Bosch to see that wasn't the case.

Recommended!

Even if you are not interested in the arts but simply in thought process- I think you will find this book very interesting. You could say this is the history of modern art without pictures (although there are some pictures)- bringing the reader facinating insights into how different types of artists came to their philosophies of art, and of course, the world. Documented through personal letters, manifestos, and articles, the varity of different thoughts and beliefs catapolts just what art can be. To me it shows that art is a never ending universe of ideas- all connecting but all very individual just the same.

I just wanted to respond to the person before me. It sounds like contemporary art is way over your head. Please do not waist our time with long reviews about things you clearly do not understand.

How often had I looked at a painting of Van Gough and wondered what exactly was this great man thinking when he conceived and painted such a picture. Now by reading thru this excellent book, I can claw into the mind of artists themselves.

Not only educational, but inspiring. I not only learned about each artist and what when on during their time of certain artworks, but I was able to get inside their head. The words of the artist's in their letters were captivating. I was caught up in the reading. I especially enjoyed Matisse and Kandinsky. Kandinsky is very spiritual about his writing and gives a deep explanation of colors. Anyway, it is a great read. It was required for my history course, but I enjoyed it. Not very many in my class could understand what they were reading. I guess you not only need intellect, but sophistication. I liked it!

This is not National Geographic stuff, but if you find that being able to combine war coverage from the eyes of soldiers with a documentary approach of photojournalism done by complete amateurs, then you will be impressed. The book takes pictures that our brave young men and women shot with a simple digital camera and turns them into life in Iraq for our armed forces. Sometimes it's humorous and sometimes it's serious, but all the time, it is real and from the eyes of soldiers.

I love it and I recommend it.

This book is great and would have recieved 5 stars instead of 4. But some of it was kinda cheesey. Like the pics of the guys girlfriend. Who cares?And some jerk standing in front of the flag with praying hands trying to look hard. That guy sucks. Other than that. The pics are great and show alot of emotion. That's the good part. Guy looking hard standing in front of the flag with prayin hands. Uh no. That guy sucks

THIS IS OUR WAR: A SOLDIERS' PORTFOLIO: SERVICEMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIFE IN IRAQ is simply outstanding: it offers powerful and personal photos all taken by the men and women serving in Iraq, thus going beyond a reporter's outsider impressions to provide nearly three hundred images culled from tens of thousands GQ collected from servicemen and women. From everyday life to combat, all aspects of the Iraq experience are illustrated.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book is a remarkable look into the daily lives, trials, and hardships our troops in Iraq are facing. The beauty and truth in the images taken by soldiers is a priceless glimpse into our mission there that every American ought to see.

As I write this review, it is Memorial Day in the United States, a time for remembering those who have sacrificed in conflicts past and present in defense of the nation. We are currently engaged in a conflict, one like no other in many ways (however, I am reminded of the words of Anthony Swofford, who wrote 'Jarhead', that every war is different, and every war is the same). One of the differences of the war in Iraq is the ubiquitous nature of personal recording devices - virtually every soldier and marine on the ground there has a digital camera, a cell phone that takes pictures, a video camera, or other way of making a personal chronicle. This gives a remarkable view and insight into the daily life and work of those who are fighting in Iraq.

This book is a collection of these photos. They are not professional-quality photojournalistic spreads - quite a number of pictures are blurry, grainy, or otherwise lacking in what would be considered 'professional' aspects. However, what they lack in that regard is more than made up for in the individual power of the subjects - the subjects in this case being both the photographers and the photographed.

The pictures here show victory and defeat, as such comes in small and larger ways each day in Iraq. There is hope and there is despair, but above all there is humanity, and this book captures current history in its most basic raw form.

This book has no particular political bent - like many images and icons, those contained here will be subject to multiple interpretations. What I took most from this is the need to remember those in the pictures, and realise that these are people who, like me, hope for a time beyond the war, and that such a time may come soon. This book is a tribute to current day heroes.

Wendy Mass, as well as Gail Carson Levine, do something that the Brothers Grimm forgot: they give all of the characters names and porpuses. In the Brothers Grimm tales, we have no idea what the other character's (most often the prince) life was, which would have added better understanding to the story. I highly recommend the works of both Wendy Mass and Gail Carson Levine, for giving the second side to the story, or for adding reason.

My [....] daughter absolutely loved this book. I was a little worried at first due to the length of the book, but it held her interest. We read it alound together, and she was one the edge of her seat wanting to know what would happen next. I liked the way there were two stories in one and how it switched back and forth and how it all came together in the end. I thought it was very well written.

This is a great book! I love the author's voice, and how every chapter is either Prince Benjamin's or Rapunzel. This story follows the whole plot line of the original, but adds some twists and turns, like what really goes on in the tower, and what goes on with Prince Benjamin before he ever meets Rapunzel. This is a very good book for 9-12 year olds, and for anyone who likes hilarious books!!!!!!! ;)
READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to admit that I was never a great fan of the Rapunzel fairy tale. I have other favorites. But I love this book. It was a very fun book to read and I like how it shows the two sides of the story from each of the main character's point of views. I especially liked Prince Benjamin's side of the story. It was a very amusing story. And I liked how very thing worked out...well...happily ever after in the end. I am glad to learn that this is going to be a series and so I can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend reading this fun story!

I really loved and enjoyed this book. I t was hard to put down and cougbht my attention. I liked how Repunzel and Prince Benjamin were both trapped but in different ways. For example Repunzel was captured by an evil witch that locked her and left her in a tower that's only door is a trapped door, which she did not know of until she saw it through a compact mirror.Prince Benjamin is trapped in his castle because his mom wont let him leave her sight and he is thirteen years old! There paths cross later when the prince is out in the woods looking for a treasure that he later finds out is a myth, he hears her singing and follows it to the castle and tries to save her.

Kiesa Kay has drawn together heartfelt essays from parents, wisdom from school administrators, and research from many of the top experts in the field. It is an excellent resource woven together with intelligence and compassion. Parents, teachers, principals, counselors, and psychologists will all benefit from reading this book.

In Uniquely Gifted: Identifying And Meeting The Needs Of The Twice-Exceptional Student, Kiesa Kay has amassed a wealth of insightful, informative, and occasionally challenging contributions from some of the finest minds in this specialized area of modern education theory and practice. The contributed essays are divided into four major sections: Family Matters - Perspectives from Family Members; Teaching Strategies - Learning and Leadership; Research and Theory - Discovering Possibilities; Administrative Options - Working Together. A highly recommended addition to education studies reading lists, Uniquely Gifted is further enhanced for the reader with a bibliography, Sandra Berger's "Internet Resources for Expanding Options in the Classroom; George Betts and Jolene Kercher's "The Autonomous Learner Model"; a section of notes on the contributors, and a striking conclusion "If Not You, Who?".

This book teaches volumes in wonderfully written real-life stories from parents, teachers, and the children themselves.

It also has common-sense advice.

This book is like a breath of fresh air. It shows what "Gifted-LD" is REALLY like, with both compassion as well as respect. It gives permission to parents to address their child's NEEDS rather than go with what the "system" says.

I LOVE the unique perspectives presented, and I learned new USEFUL terminology that would have been so helpful in explaining to people why a highly gifted child, let alone one with an LD, might have unique educational needs.

I could not put this book down.

I'm not going to summarize the contents because others have done so. I am just going to say that this book, in my opinion, is far superior to many other books I've read on giftedness. That's because in this book, there is a very strong stress on treating children as individuals, rather than lumping them into a category called "gifted" (or moderately, profoundly, etc. etc. gifted) and then making generalizations about them. It's clear that a lot of research and painstaking effort went into the writing of this book, and it shows.

There are just a couple of things I would have liked to see. Sensory dysfunction is discussed, and so is dysgraphia and other learning/motor problems, but the impact of prematurity is never mentioned. I was a preemie (born at 29 weeks) and I have no depth perception, am very clumsy, and have trouble with my handwriting. This is not due to the sensory integration disorder described here - I've never been diagnosed with that and my muscle tone is normal. I've been told it's due to the poor motor skills, strabismus, etc. that often show up in children who were born prematurely.

I would have also liked to see more information on the impact of anxiety - one of the writers repeatedly states that the 2E children she works with are often quite anxious. That can impair school performance and test results.

The one essayist I disagreed with was the mother whose daughter had severe emotional problems. The mother blamed it all on school, although she was a single parent and there were likely other stresses. I'm not saying she was a bad mother or that school was OK, only that her analysis seemed too simplistic. She also states that her daughter could have gotten help by being declared as having emotional disturbances; the mother did not pursue this because of the stigma around labels of mental illness. While I understand that perspective, her daughter was hitting herself and banging her head against the wall. I have been a patient in the mental health system for some time, so I have experienced these issues. I have unfortunately found out that it's not enough to get treatment, because much of the help doesn't help. If one's "case" is complicated, it may be necessary to go through 5 or even 10 professionals before finding the one who can really help. That has been my experience. The mother states this as well, but she has a very high amount of anger towards the professionals who didn't help, which suggests to me that she may still not really have gotten the help she needed.

I understand that anger though. Boy, do I. I started treatment in 1988. I began *effective* treatment in 2001. In those 13 years, I went through 5 therapists, 2 psychiatrists, 1 psychiatrist consultant, 1 psychologist who administered IQ and personality testing, 1 hospital program, many support groups, and 2 aptitude tests, and at least a couple other professionals I saw on a short-term or one time only basis.

And a partridge in a pear tree. Just kidding.

Some of these helped to some degree; none was sufficient. I finally had to go to a therapist who had published several books and was very well-known. I assumed she wouldn't give me the time of day, but I got a very good referral.

I am still angry about the help that didn't help, *especially* because these professionals did not know or care enough to do a good referral. But now I am receiving excellent treatment, so I'm a lot less angry than I used to be. Although I still wish it hadn't taken 13 years to get there.

The fields of psychology and education are maturing (in at least *some* places) to reflect better research, and I hope someday others won't go through all this.

Anyone who has a twice exceptional child simply must buy this book. They are such an perplexing combinations: unusual and confusing, brilliant and constrained, with an unfortunate dose of 'needing what there ain't'. Simply helping them navigate childhood in one healthy piece is a challenge of mammoth proportions; seeing them reach their real potential can seem a distant dream. However, this book has just given us both a path and the guide book.

I have finally found the closest thing to an instruction manual for raising my son, and I needed it more desperately than I could ever say. Ms. Kay has done something of real significance. Many people write books - some are more helpful than others. She, however, has done something more momentous for parents like me. There are many things in that one book - something to clutch in the dark times of self-doubt - something to give to others showing glimmers of willingness to understand - a reference library for calm moments of learning - a "been there done that, survived it too" hug for the times when we just can't go another step. So much more.

The book doesn't preach, or prescribe - it gives options that have worked for others, insights that only come from years of desperate struggle, and hope that springs cautiously from the knowledge that others have been here, and survived.

If you have (or work with) a 2E child, or a "he's so clever, if he would just... " child, or a "I just don't know what we're going to do to help her" child, then order it now.

I have to admit I wasn't counting on much when I picked it up, but it is a great book. It pulls you through really quickly, and the ending is very satisfying. It is quirky and fun, and it seems to be very reflective of the real Key West. I recommend it highly.

This novel has a relentless bleakness to it that reminds me of David Goodis's best work. It's a sort of Bonny and Clyde for the new millenium, with plenty of Hendricks' great ertoica sequences. Maybe it's because of the vivid restaurant scenes, but the book also reminded me of Choke by Chuck Palahniuk....Highly recommend this fast, highly entertaining read, as well as Hendricks' noir classic, Miami Purity.
Jason Starr, author of Twisted City, etc

Voluntary Madness is a loosley updated and modern Bonnie and Clyde story taking place on the Florida Keys. This is a masterfully written novel, a noir erotica classic! The writing is tough, gritty, graphic, and leaves you disoriented. This is one of those books you can't put down, and it takes you on one hell of a ride. And if it's ever made into a movie (and it should be!) Brittany Murphy would be ideal to star in it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves either noir or crime fiction.

-Dave Zeltserman, author of In His Shadow

I couldn't believe I actually cried through the last 3 chapters of the book! Ah, the bitter sweetness of true love. The characters were so unapologetically dysfunctional that it made the story that much more real and that much more beautiful. Hendricks makes you feel like you're watching a homemade video of a real-life couple's tragic story.

Sexy, gritty and raw, yet at the same time intelligent and touching, VOLUNTARY MADNESS proves Vicki Hendricks is the queen of noir. The novel is the story of young Juliette and her relationships with the characters around her - especially her drunken, would-be novelist boyfriend Punch. Their plan is to defy the futility of the world by "living wild" in Key West, Florida for a year until their money runs out at which time they will unite in a spectacular, public double suicide. This is a hardboiled book, with vivid, tough prose and crime elements that build as the tale progresses, but the genius of the story is the novel's struggle to differentiate between art and life, and the conflict inherent when these terms become mutually exclusive. A quick and frank read with the ability to cull weak readers from literary herd.

This is a great children's story by Eric Carle. My granddaughter had me read it to her over and over again. She is three. I think it's a great book for preschoolers because it is a simple story and has great illustrations.

Walter the Baker is good book.It's about a baker and his wife.They make the best food in the whole village.Everyone rushes in the morning to buy their goods.Even the prince.Till one day the cat accidently runs into the milk.So the prince gets very angry with his bread.So he has to come up with something before time runs out.Something the prince will be happy with.So he trys so hard to make something.It teaches your mistakes can turn out good. That change isn't always bad.This book is probaly for children between the ages of 6 and 8.

This is the tale of Walter who is possibly the world's best baker. After an unfortunate accident, Walter finds himself on the wrong side of his Duke and is faced with possible banishment! Walter uses all his talents in the kitchen and with a bit of good fortune he is able to satisfy the Duke's challenge and create a new treat for the entire world to enjoy. We received this book as a gift before moving to Germany. My children were 1 and 5 at the time and both loved it. Even my restless one year old could sit though the whole story. Collage pictures (a Carle trademark) are more detailed in this book than in Carle's more elementary stories. Here we have background - a kingdom, people standing in line outside the bakery, a large group of horses and dogs in a scene. The pictures alone entertained my girls for hours as they choose their favorite horse, dog and pretzel in the pictures and made up their own stories of the other characters pictured. This is a great book for anyone who likes a make believe tale of how things could have been invented. It is a nice story about working hard to solve a problem even when it is seems "unfair". It is a great book for reading in Germany with bakeries on every corner and so many pretzels to choose from!

Walter the Baker by Eric Carle is an excellent resource to have in your classroom for all elementary students. It is the story of a well-liked baker, Walter, who makes amazing sweet rolls that the Duke and Duchess love to eat every morning. Except one night, Walter's cat spilled all of the milk he needed to make the sweet rolls and had to use water instead! Needless to say, the Duke and Duchess were not happy, and threatened to banish him from their land forever. Walter's only chance of staying was to make a great-tasting pastry through which the sun could shine 3 times. At the last minute, Walter did it...the pretzel! The Duke and Duchess loved it and let him stay in their land. This book can be used in many different ways in the classroom. It can be used as a fun story to tell young children, a lesson on cooking/pretzels for 2nd-3rd graders, and even a social studies lesson on the caste system of the rulers and the workers for older ementary grades. I recommend this book to any teacher to have in their classroom!

I now have to read Walter the Baker nearly every night, and he talks about the book frequently while we're on trips. There's a lot going on in the story, but not too much for a toddler to handle (he's 2-1/2). Definitely entertaining, and Eric Carle never seems to miss with the kids.

Like all Froud books this one is incredible. This isn't just for children. People of all ages will enjoy it. Especially if you are a Froud fan. The pictures are beautiful and the story is really nice. This is must have for all children and Froudians

On the Midwinters Eve the faeries are having their annual celebration to welcome winter. But something is a miss and they all know it..where is winter? Why are there still flowers and fruit on the trees? Where has lady winter gone?
This book is illustrated with beautiful faerie figures in the traditional Froud family fashion. The story is a little familiar of many fantasy stories, and yet unique and steeped in lore.
Almost looking as a young childrens book at first this book is pretty and soft but the story is almost that of a short chapter books. The story is long enough and yet simple enough to be enjoyed by all. This book is great for children and adults alike

This is an extremely beautiful book. With Wendy Froud's doll making skills and Terri Windling's magical story weaving, teamed up with Brian Froud well, it sounds too good to be true. This follow up to "A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale" did not disappoint.

Sneezle, our beloved hero from the first book, is again teamed up with his friend Twig for a quest to find out why Winter has not yet reached their forest. Again they encounter many characters, in which Wendy's dolls never fail to amaze me. She is so incredibly gifted. I would like to show this book to anyone who does not appreciate winter as a season, because while it's not the "moral" of the story...it takes a look at winter as being the season for rest so that everything can be reborn in the spring. It tells a magnificent tale.

Not only is it a wonderful book to read and enjoy, but it's a treasure to put up on the shelf or coffee table for looking at again and again.

Wendy Froud is the wife of Artist Bryan Froud ( Good Fairies, Bad Fairies). She is a great artist and this book reflects her abilities, the books has pictures of the dolls she created for the story. The pictures say a thousand words. If you are a doll maker, you will greatly enjoy this book. The story is good but the pictures are better. It has different kind of trolls, fairies and wizards. If you love fantasy you will love the book.

Terri, Wendy, and Brian have done it again! Teaming up again to send Sneezle, the beloved hero of "A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale," on another adventure, the Frouds and Windling masterfully create a mythical world that defies the pages the story is written on. Using photographs of dolls created by Wendy Froud in settings built in the Froud's garden studio, the characters literally step from the pages. Fresh and exciting, Windling's writing brings new life to old folklore, bringing the faeries and goblins of Dartmoor out of their hiding places, at least for a little while, for us to see. A treasure to keep, with plenty to share, this is a wonderful read for the self and the wee ones!

Kerrie Colantonio, Penny-A-Page Publishing

I bought this book when (I'm ashamed to admit) McD's came out with Wizard of Oz toys. My 5yo wanted to know who all the characters were, and what they "say". She loved the artwork, pouring over each page to find each character. The book is so eloquent, it's not nearly as scary as the movie. Also, because she's just beginning to read I could gloss over scary parts or words. She has loved it! The day we finished it she wanted to start over and read a second time. I highly recommend for reading with your child!

I bought this book years ago and am looking for another copy as a gift. This edition is the entire MGM script (including the lyrics to the songs) of the 1939 movie and is is wonderfully illustrated with stills from the movie. My family has practically worn out this oversized book and we need another! My husband recently witnessed my daughter's new boyfriend reading along as they watched the movie because he knew we were just fans and he had better catch up! Our families favorite book!

I think that this is a very good book and it also helps me because I have to do a research project on childrens literature and I needed to get pictures of the wizard of Oz and Amazon.com took me right to it!! I was so happy and also I tried other book websites and could not even find a thing!!!

The imagery of the century-old text is superb, and Michael Hague does it a great service. I've been reading this edition to my five year-old son over the past several nights, and he lingers over each lovingly detailed illustration. I'm surprised The Wizard of Oz doesn't have more high-quality editions in print. This volume is a wonderful item to add to your child's library, or even to libraries of adults who enjoy children's books. Highly recommended.

Here's a trivia question for you. When Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West by dropping her house on the witch, was the witch wearing (a) ruby slippers? (b) silver shoes? (c) both?

If you answered "both," you have the correct answer. L. Frank Baum's original story (found in this book) has magical silver shoes in it. The movie version of the story, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, had ruby slippers. Why the change? Well, ruby slippers film much better. So the Wicked Witch of the West wore both types of footwear, depending on whether you are reading the book or watching the movie.

I share that example with you because 9 people out of 10 have seen the movie, but never read the book. When I was a wee lad, I started in the opposite direction and was sorry to see how much of the Oz story was left out in the movie.

Now, you can make up for lost time by reading or rereading the original. I commend it to you for three primary reasons. First, the book version is built around the idea that the different parts of Oz cannot be easily traversed and the ensuing travel complications make for a better plot. Second, there are many more types of imaginative creatures in the book than in the movie. Third, the book has been lovingly enhanced by new illustrations done in turn of the 20th century style by Michael Hague. The illustrations encompass styles from immediately post van Gogh (yes, there are sunflowers) through Art Deco. I especially liked the water colors of gloomy and darkening skies.

If you are like me, you will chortle when you read L. Frank Baum's comment in the beginning that the story was "written solely to please children . . . a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained . . ." while the scary parts are left out. If you remember frightening moments, you are thinking about the movie. The book is much more gentle, which makes it more suitable for the youngsters. Yes, there are frightening villains, but they are quickly dispatched rather than being allowed to hang around to menace and frighten children just before bedtime. Still, children must have been braver in those days. This story is still scary enough for most to feel a deathly chill now and then.

Many of the ambiguities and confusing aspects of the movie are clearer and less disconcerting in the book, as well.

I won't go into a fine comparison of the two, because that will just spoil the plot for you. Do let me mention a few chapters that you will not recognize from the movie . . . just to whet your appetite for the book -- Away to the South, Attacked by the Fighting Trees, The Dainty China Country, and The Country of the Quadlings.

After you have finished enjoying the wonderful story and new illustrations, think about some of the lessons of the book. Notice that by teaming up, Dorothy and her friends could combine strengths to overcome individual weaknesses. This is the ultimate group of superheroes. How can you combine your talents with others so that all of you combined can accomplish vastly more than any one of you can individually?

Stay on the Yellow Brick Road with effective allies!

As mentioned by another reviewer, this book is highly motivating and after reading it cover to cover, I am now RE-writing my exisiting stories.
If you are looking for a question format (where where you born?) this is NOT the book for you. It does NOT give you the questions which upon answering will give you your "story". This book is also not focused specifically on the many literary structures, styles and such that a professional writer worries about (although there are some suggestions)

It IS structured like a Q&A session about the OVERALL process of creating your life story. Sections include Preparation, Structure, and "
Writing is Hard", and chapters include information on length, audience, and solitary vs. group writing.
I think the most enjoyable aspect of the book is Steve's style, which he also talks about in detail. While I was reading I felt like I was hearing him in a conversation between us. I am the kind of person who doesn't hesitate to skip pages in a book, but this one I read cover to cover, even the topics that I had no personal interest in.
I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for motivation and a right attitude about life story writing (most of us are not famous, and most of us will not get to publish our book to the mainstream public).

Also highly recommended (though for different reasons) are Bernard Selling's "Writing from Within"(uses a "first person" perspective with your stories), Denis Ledoux's "From Memory to Memoir" (love the concept of a "Lifelist"), and Frank P. Thomas's "How to Write Your Life Story" (which does have some questions but much other good info. as well)

Zousmer's You Don't Have to Be Famous offers varied and interesting approaches to material, concrete writing tips (be specific, use names, change pace), and talks about how to find and use memories. He takes us step by step through the process and encourages careful thought about who our audience is. He even explores the ethical issues accompanying confession. Finally, he reviews the merits of self-publishing, and gives some brief thoughts and suggestions about the use of audio and video formats. And he does it in just over two hundred readable pages. If you've ever thought about writing an autobiography or even simply crafting some signature stories from your life, this is the book for you.

Any who would record their life history for future generations - whether it be the general public or their descendants - will appreciate Steve Zousmer's You Don't Have to Be Famous: How to Write Your Life Story. Different writing models, from flashback chronology to something more versatile, are surveyed in chapters which discuss writing techniques, solidifying objectives, and putting everything in writing. An excellent guide most accessible to beginners who may have no professional writing experience or objectives but plenty of desire to chart a life for future generations. General-interest libraries will find it a popular pick, especially with scrapbooking gaining such attention for its visual memories.

Zousmer makes many realistic statements about what is needed, or not needed, in order to write your own personal history. I found that his advice allowed me to foget about being worried because I was not famous, or a professional writer, or had any idea of how to proceed with telling my story. I'm working on putting my life down on paper right now, (so my family will have a permanent record of me) and find myself continuously referring to Zousmer's book for guidance.

By the time I neared finishing "You Don't Have to be Famous" I couldn't wait to start writing my own life story. Zousmer warns the reader of the pitfalls autobiographers face, yet his enthusiasm for autobiography for the average person is contagious. This book is to amateur autobiography what Strunk & White's "Elements of Style" is to clear writing. It's beautifully written, too.