Titles Books

"It Is Done" is one book that I could not put down. Once I started reading, I wanted to keep reading and reading until I had finished. You won't be able to put it down either. I can't remember reading a book in a couple of days. I wanted to know all about Kathy's miracles. This book has helped me to change some things in my life; i.e. thinking positive and affirming the things that I want. The affirmations really work! (The perfect parking space--try it, I couldn't believe it either!) Kathy has helped me to see that His plan for my life is already done. I look to Him daily for His protection, His blessings and His miracles. I am in the midst of reading this book again; and I know that I will read it over and over. It is easy reading! It is powerful reading! Thank you Kathy for sharing your miracles with us. I look forward to sharing my miracles with you one day.

This author writes in such an entertaining way, I did NOT want to put her book down! I was captivated by her story! I've been in sales for more than 35+ years, so I'm no stranger to positive mental attitude, affirmations, and visualization. But Ms Lewis' book made me reevaluate all I've learned through the years, put it in proper perspective, and further explore the spiritual principles to which she attributes her life's many miracles and her incredible success! It is very obvious Kathy is a genuine believer, and the way in which she speaks straight from the heart is very uplifting. The book was such an easy read, I felt as though Kathy was sharing her story with me over a cup (or two or three) of coffee. I would DEFINITELY recommend "It Is Done!" to others who want a good book with a wonderful story PLUS leaves you feeling good and inspired about life!

Kathy's book is simply wonderful! Through her own personal experiences, she takes you on a fascinating journey as she creates the life of her dreams by practicing basic spiritual principles. The excitement she exudes in sharing these principles with others is evident on each page, and you get the feeling that nothing would make her happier than to see others creating dream lives of their own. She has an honest, straightforward writing style that's fun and easy to read. It is truly inspiring to read about the modern day miracles that have shaped Kathy's life and positively impacted so many people around her. The book leaves you with a sense of empowerment to pursue the desires of your heart and the faith to surrender this pursuit into the loving and capable hands of God. If you're ready to live the life you were meant to live and feel it would take a miracle to make it all happen, then this book is definitely for you!

The book is NOT written with worn out cliches, difficult to understand platitudes nor with Pollyanna attitudes. Kathy has written a book from her real life experiences with which real people can relate. I would recommend it to anyone who wants the best in life or to anyone who does not know they can have a better life but are willing to find it possible. Even my friends who did not "need" this book, found it very enjoyable.

I teach pottery and always have at least one Jananese student in my class. (Some times they speak very little English)
This is the most basic pottery book. There are no color photos but what wonderful step by step instructional sketches, the sheer number of forms and different designs is truly Awesome.
This book is written both in English and in Japanese. I can't tell you how much this book has help bridge the language barrier (I speak Zero Japanese).
My students both Japanese and American love the book. Worth every penny.

This is an excellent book for the price! Simple and straight forward, it's a great learning tool and gives you some good basic info.

A very basic handbook if you are looking for pottery techniques, but invaluable for the English/ Japanese translations and terminology in hiragana, katakana and kanji for the Western potter who travels to Japan. Not many books around that gives one access to this terminology to enable one to discuss ceramics with the Japanese potter.The terminology regarding forms, descriptions, glazes, underglazes, etc are exellent, with helpfull maps on kiln sites and the different wares found in the different regions of Japan.

This informative and delightful book is a must for any potter. With charming and clear illustrations the authors provide information on tools, workshops, forming, decorations, kilns, etc. Even common problems are illustrated! Towards the end of the book, drawings of various forms will prove a valuable resource to many a potter. This book has become a constant reference in my own studio. Please note that two languages are used in the book, Japanese and English, accenting the visual delight of this well designed book.

How should Christians view childbirth? Is "natural childbirth" some fad started by hippies and humanists? Should Christians use midwives? These were questions that were being batted around by a group of us fairly new mothers back when I was pregnant with my second baby. I wish I'd had this book then. It presents a Biblical view of childbirth...a view that tells us that childbirth can indeed be joyful. Is this pie-in-the-sky stuff only for "earth mothers" or women who delight in "toughing it out" or being martyr-like during labor? Not at all! I have had the sort of joyful birth that this book describes and teaches. If you want to be inspired and taught on a practical level about childbirth and its significance for Christian families, this is a must read.

If so, read this book! The late Helen Wessel studied the Scriptures in their original language, and discovered the truth about Eve's "curse". The first half of the book is written as a story, about a young Christian couple expecting their first baby. There is alot of information to be picked up in the story, and even more follows in the second half of the book.

Part 2 has such chapter titles as "Childbirth Through the Centuries," "Childbirth in the Bible," "The Medical Model," "Family Sheltered Birthing," "Birthing God's Way," "The Joy of Natural Childbirth," and "The Joy of Breastfeeding." One of these chapters alone makes the book worth buying. All of them put together makes it a must-read, even if you are not planning an unmedicated birth.

I read this book when I was pregnant with my second child way back in 1970. After having a medicated birth I knew their had to be a better way. With the help of books like this one, plus Grantly-Dick-Read's Natural Childbirth. I had a wonderful birth experience with my second and third child. After eons of being taught that we must suffer as part of the curse its great to learn and realize that it is labor; hard work. Very helpful book and a great inspiration. God is awesome. Men may think they've got it made by not having to have babies but to me it was an truly awesome, spiritual experience that I wouldn't trade for a million $$.

Although some of the experiences chronicled in this book are "too good to be true" it was a most valuable read for me. I wish I had read it sooner!! The relaxing techniques really helped and the key for me was welcoming a coming contraction rather than tensing against the pain which I did with my first two children. Having had natural childbirth for all three of my children, with no pain medication whatsoever, and having read this book before my third child, I found it worth its weight in gold! Had I not read this book, I wouldn't have managed the 4+ hours at 9cm.

I had previously heard of Aaron A. when I read the online issue of Serenity Rose at his art website, so I recognized his art style as soon as I saw the girl on the cover.
Kimmie66 is a soft science-fiction story about a girl trying to solve a mystery concerning her best friend, Kimmie66, who has sent her a suicide note. Unfortunately, this is difficult since people now socialize through "lairs" or a hi-tech version of a MMORPG, complete with virtual reality goggles.
The characters are interesting, especially Kimmie66. The heroine may remind Aaron A. fans of Serenity Rose - almost similar dress style, mannerisms, etc. The topic of technology and virtual communities would also appeal to modern readers. The art mixes a crisp, cookie-cutter style similar to anime or Junko Mizuno, along with a sketchy, horror edge resembling the works of Jhonen Vasquez. My only complaint is that it is not very long. I would have liked to learn more of Kimmie66 and her life outside of the virutal one, and a few things as well.
For the price of 9.99, I would say its worth buying.

Art: A
Plot: A
Readability: A
Average score: A (worth buying)

The Minx line is supposed to be aimed at teen girls, but from what they tell me at Eide's Comics in Pittsburgh, a lot of books get picked up by regular comic book readers like myself -- older and male.

I picked up "kimmie66" by Aaron Alexovich a couple weeks back and only now got around to reading it. About halfway through, I caught on to what Aaron was up to and was astonished by where it was headed. The book is far more than one would expect for the Minx line or comic books in general. No, it's not as good as Straczynski's "Midnight Nation" or even "Spider-Man: Revelations" but I'd rank it as a "must read."

But Kimmie66 is not just another Minx comic. Sure, girls age 13 - 17 will like Kimmie66, but so will you! Sci-fi/fantasy/techno-goth/awesome! An intiguing story in a hugely new world, creative and brilliant art style with endearing character design.
Buy this comic.

This story will be enjoyed by anyone who has ever experienced a meaningful relationship online: friendship, romance, or even a deep 6 hour conversation with a complete stranger. If you are thirsting for a book that helps you understand the mindsets of the new world we live in, this is one of those books. It may be set in the future, but everything in this story directly applies to the present day.

It hits home with the world we now live in; where physical barriers are becoming less important; where corporations are organizing international employee training sessions in virtual worlds, and are recruiting in Second Life; a world where you have close friends internationally but have no clue who your next door neighbor is.

Information and technological advancement is happening so rapidly that what a person learns in their first year of college can become outdated by the time they graduate. This book captures the modern feeling of infinite access, infinite exploration, infinite creation. In a time when virtually anything is possible (pun intended), we need stories that target, capture, explore and encourage that feeling for all generations living here and now on our very, very small Earth.

The story itself is as old as time: it is the story of friendship, understanding, self-discovery and growing up. I would go so far as to say that I think parents might benefit from reading this book, to better understand the world their children are growing up in. And to simply enjoy the book itself; it is truly for all ages.

This is a very good story, and well told, even if ghost written.

Oddly, it casts the Duke of Windsor in a poor light, and indicates why, quite apart from the marriage question, he was a bad King. Who can read without wincing his account of how he abruptly cut short the presentations of debutantes to him at Buckingham Palace because it started to rain? This was the high point of perfectly harmless society ladies' lives, and he not only walked out in the middle, but caustically observes that he cannot understand why anyone was upset.

And then there is the peculiar passage where he says that he worked out that it would take nearly a month for bodies like the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and others, to present their loyal addresses, so he insisted on them all being done in one day, in one batch, because he could not be bothered to respond to all of them individually. Yet this was his job as a constitutional monarch!

A welcome feature of the book is that it stops at the moment of abdication. Although this means that he doesn't have to explain his conduct during the lead up to the war, and during the war (which is, however, documented in the Duchess of Windsor's memoirs), it does focus the book almost entirely on his upbringing as a Prince, and on the abdication, which are the most interesting things about him.

Well worth reading.

The Duke of Windsor wrote this book in the 1950s while living in Paris. Reading it you begin to get some sense that for all his faults here was an individual of extraordinary personal charm. It was certainly a singular life. Here was a boy who was led to believe he would inherit the throne of the greatest empire on earth but who ends up as a sad fixture on the international cocktail party circuit in the arms of an ageing American divorcee of uncertain past. What happened! The anecdotal style of this simply written book is very enjoyable to read. The passing of the certainties of the Victorian age, the Edwardian twilight, World War I, the thrill of all things new and American in the 20s and 30s: the would be Edward VIII is a uniquely placed witness. History increasingly casts the Duke and his bride as ridiculous even sinister figures. This book helps you to remember that they were human too, falliable, and at the mercy of political and world historical forces beyond their control.

The greatest love story of our century is an understatement.
A King's Story is well known to be ghost written for the Duke and even with constant prodding, he suffered from selective memory.
He seems to forget all his previous "friendships", those familiar with the saga will know this means the married women in his life before Wallis. A great addition to royal book collection, but if you are looking for the facts, hunt them down in Donaldson book. Companion book is the Duchess Heart has it's reasons. Maybe they should have gotten together so the facts in each book matched.

It is quite a sad testament to our times that there are very few true gentlemen left these days. Civility is indeed going the way of the do-do bird, and the days of gents like David Nivens, Cary Grant, Cole Porter, Sean Connery and the good Duke here, are slowly fading into obscurity. That need not be the case and, hopefully, there are few out there who still feel as do I, that it need not completely die. Perhaps if more read the memoirs here, they will become inspired and such a dream can become realized.

The memoirs themselves are quite extraordinary and give one fantastic insight into this legendary gentleman and family. Reading other reviews that quibble over "selective" memory of the Duke, I can only surmise that these come from the very same individuals who grab the latest issues of "In Touch" and whatever other gossip periodicals they can grasp, only to "learn" the inside dirt on various celebs and noteworthy individuals. If that's what you are truly after in the first place, then this is definitely not for you and you should just stick to reading the by-lines or scanning the photos of the tabloids. Otherwise, if you'd like to get a peek into a life of grandeur and civility, and perhaps some tips on how to bring a modicum of dignity to your own, then this is for you.

Enjoy.

A definite favorite in our house! Love the many sounds, the adorable illustrations, and the great story line.

I am becoming a big fan of this storywriter/illustrator. His illustrations are always fun, colorful and almost jump off the page. My 2 year old loves seeing all the different animals and making their sounds/noises throughout this book while waiting for Martina to find the grand finale "beautiful noise". With it's big pages and easy to read large print, this book is still at the top of the pile for our daily reading and enjoyment.

This is a classic book. My daughter is 3 and she just loves la cucharacha Martina's quest for the "beautiful noise." It helps that my husband is an entomologist - the two of them get a big kick out of this book. Spanish is woven into the book, in the signs and in names, but you don't need to speak Spanish to read and enjoy the book. The pictures are beautiful, fascinating to children. All around, a family favorite for us!

This book was wonderful! Although written for younger children older children and adults will enjoy it too. The illustrations are crisp, bright and whimsical. The story of a beautiful cockroach is based on a Caribbean Folktale. It is a fun read and a great book to share with others. The book has lots of secrets in the language. Look for the meaning to the many spanish signs and symbols located throughout the book. I shared this with my college classmates, my adolescent children and younger children as well. They all enjoyed the story and were equally intrigued by the illustrations.

I don't know how many copies of this book I've purchased over the years to give away as gifts for all the children I've encountered through family and friends. It's a wonderful story that breathes tolerance, humility, and respect and appreciation for one's differences. This is one of my favorite books! It's visually stimulating and speaks so much to the tradition of oral storytelling in Mexican culture. I also love the fact that the Lucia is gorgeous, and brown with deep black hair. It's empowering for little girls of color to see a strong protagonist of color---my students love her and connect with her character.

This is a powerful and beautiful retelling of this story. This book is written in Spanish and in English and anyone interested in Latino storytelling will buy this book for their collection. I also highly recommend DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM! by Cuban author, Mayra L. Dole, and TRINOS CHOICE, by Chicana author Diane Bertrand.

This retelling of the Legend of Lucia Zenteno is beautifully illustrated with vibrant colors and imagination. The text is given in English and Spanish. It is the story of Lucia who has the most beautiful long hair. It is so beautiful that the river that runs throught the town falls in love with her, and when the people of the town, because of their fear, drive her away, the river and all its inhabitants leave with her. The town has to learn humility and they try to get her to return. A wonderful book with a strong female hero.

Unlike the usual simpering heroine, Lucia is strong, mysterious, natural, and good. Children who are different from others--foreign, language difficulty, intelligence higher or lower--will appreciate how this stranger bounced back from hurt.

This books have very nice illustrations with a bite of reality to it. Excellent for children and adults!

My Mom bought this book for me because my "best friend" and I were always fighting. That was 1971, and I was 5 years old. I have always remembered this boook. It was probably the first book I ever had that didn't make it look like kids were always nicey-nice. This book shows how friendship endures despite differences. Even though we don't see each other but once a decade or so, now, I still think of that "best friend" and the good and bad times we had together. And I think of this book and the things it taught me -- children can be mean to each other (though nobody wants them to,) and friendships can endure.

This is a great book for four or five year olds. It is actually very realistic; young children are constantly making, breaking and renewing friendships, all in the great process of self-discovery and practice. This book could be used as a tool to discuss friendship with kindergarteners. The illustrations are perfect. The line drawings are simple, with only three colors: red, green and black. But I knew just John and James were feeling. This book is timeless!

This book was a favorite of my sister's when we were young. I'm taking 1965. She is now 37 with three kids of her own. I got it from the library for my 2 and 6 year old children. It was a big hit. They giggled, the 2 year old did because her sister did. It has become a favorite in our house all over again. Especially since I have bossy kids.

I think DelNegro is a fabulous storyteller. I enjoy reading Lucy Dove to my daughter's friends, especially at sleepovers...and let's not forget about Oct. 31st! The images Gore illustrated are so beautifully errie. You feel like you have stepped right into this Celtic tale. As both an author and illustrator for children's books, I can truly appreciate the craftmanship that went into this wonderful book. I Hope there will be another retold or original tale, soon? I certainly will be the first in line!

Lucy Dove is up for the challenge of seeing if there really is a ghost in the graveyard. She takes the challenge and succeeds, overcoming the odds and beating the monster. With all of the urban legend hype nowadays, Lucy Dove proves one urban legend in her town true- and lives to tell the tale!

There is a great mistaken belief amongst a large portion of the human race that if a book's protagonist is a child then that book, by extension, must be a work intended for wee ones. Too often, rather peculiar titles will be handed to little ones as kiddie fare (paging "Kira-Kira") when such notions are not only laughable but somewhat bizarre. I mean, if every book with a kid hero was meant to be read by kids then by extension shouldn't every book containing an elderly protagonist be read by the aged and infirm? Which brings us to the delightful picture book, "Lucy Dove". "Lucy Dove" actually flies in the face of my previous statement since I truly feel that every human being, the elderly included, would benefit from a perusal of this perfect meeting of folktale and ethereal illustration. This is one of those picture books you simply do not see every day.

There once was a foolish, superstitious, and incredibly wealthy gentleman (or "laird"). But this is not his story. You see, the laird was the kind of fellow who felt he needed a bit of luck to keep himself happy. And what better way is there to be lucky than to own a pair of lucky trousers? And what better trousers could they be than the kind sewn together under a full moon in the graveyard of old St. Andrew's church? So the laird sent a proclamation offering a whole heaping helping of gold to anyone who'd do the deed the next moonlit night. Which brings us to our heroine, Lucy Dove. Lucy was not exactly in the first fair bloom of her youth, and she was seriously considering retiring from the seamstress line of work. Problem was, she didn't exactly have a pension. So when she heard the laird's proposal she thought it was a mighty fine deal. The next full moon, Lucy's out in that churchyard ah-sewing up some trousers. Until a very nasty someone tries to stop her in her work. And it has quite long claws.

For anyone who reads this tale and then proceeds to attempt to find its predecessors, please know that according to author Janice Del Negro, Lucy is an original character and merely based on traditional Celtic and British sources. Says her bookflap, " `Lucy Dove' is her version of a traditional Celtic tale she has been telling for years, one that evolved from her search for stories with active heroines to offset the passive female protagonists of many popular fairy tales". One might point out that even when you do find a gutsy heroine in a tale, she's usually a young lovely maiden and very rarely a witty fast-thinking crone like our dear Lucy here. Moreover, the villain of this tale (a smelly bogle with a tendency to repeat himself) is simultaneously scary and pitiable. This is in large part due to illustrator Leonid Gore's remarkable illustrations. Creating the finest distinctions between shadow and light with luminescent acrylics, Gore's tale is all soft and scary at the same time. When the bogle is told by Lucy that people speak of it often, the picture shows it resting a sharp chin on the back of its hand, like a child pining for a story. Little details as well as grand ones make this book especially wonderful to view.

I know that there are roughly 78.4 billion Halloween picture books for children out there. But if you're thinking of doing something a little different in the autumnal season, definitely cast your eye over the fabulous, "Lucy Dove". A tale that celebrates age and wisdom in the face of self-obsessed evil.

I am lucky enough to know Janice and have heard her telling of this story which she has put into print. If you are not so lucky, the book does an excellent job of capturing her haunting, original tale. The ghostly illustrations set the mood for a graveyard trek. Lucy, the elderly and brave heroine, has that look of determination of one who will not be put down.

In almost lyrical prose, inspired by traditional Celtic lore, an elderly woman is the brave heroine who sets out to meet a challenge issued by the laird. The illustrations support, rather than compete, with this tale of a strong woman, but it is the words, imagined in the minds of readers or listeners, that truly cast the spell.

A visually rich picture book with its own symbology-whether a child is aware of it or not. I noticed a year passed in the images from the seasonal changes in the paintings. I noticed lots of Celtic references, ravens that forebode doom and some mysterious apple that appears in every image-all Tolkien-ish if at times grim.

The story is deceptively simple with a moral that seems to be aimed at adult readers just as much as their kids.

A child should keep this book into adulthood.

The story is engaging, with a very sensible moral attached to it. It is the perfect book for young readers or children who are starting to learn to read. The pictures are captivating and the work that went into them were obviously a labor of love.

I personally know two little readers who love this author very much.

Marc Sutherland's Macmurtrey's Wall is a superbly presented picturebook of a giant named MacMurtrey, who was stronger and braver than every other living thing. Believe that conquering everyone was the path to happiness, MacMurtrey challenged the one force that defied him: the sea. He set to cage the sea itself with a wall - but his plan held great hidden peril, and the true path to happiness is not always what it appears to be. An engaging story with a soft-spoken moral, Macmurtney's Wall is very highly recommended for elementary school and community library collections.

The pictures were wonderful - each one like having a fine piece of Art. The central character's endless pursuit of greatness and final realization that friendship and community is a far greater accomplishmnet than outrageous (and harmful) showings of physical strength could be easily translated to today. I loved the that the book has an ancient fable-like feel but was produced and created by a 21st century author.
Very high quality and meaningful book. I highly recommend.