Titles Books

The next blustery day, the kind where you stay in doors and make soup, curl up with this book and enjoy a wonderful experience. The illustrations are lovely and filled with the motion of wind. You can almost hear and feel it about you as you go into the story. The writing is lyrical and evocative, brimming with romance and mystery. A girl who does not realize she is the daughter of the stormy east wind develops into a weaver with magical talents of artistry and eventually wins her heart's desire. Here's a sample about her father so you can just imagine how lovely HER story is. "He found a girl who was not afraid of his wildness. They were wed. He built her a house of blowing branches and wind-torn cloud.They were happy there. She bore him a daughter, but then she died." I love this book and I encourage you to read it and let it sweep you up in the winds of its magic.

Murphy's rhythmical and mythic-sounding text conjoins with the Dillons' subdued and melancholy illustrations to create a subtle and rereadable work of art. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys fairy tales, as well as people who are looking for strong and engaging female protagonists. This one's going in my collection, and neither am I a child nor a librarian, only one who likes fine art.

Beautiful story. Beautiful illustrations. Sit and dream a little with your child (or by yourself). Such joy to read a story which speaks to the heart instead of the cartoonish world which so many children's current books fall into. Your child deserves this book of beauty.

This is volume four in the series, and it starts with page 801. Do you need to read the first three volumes first? Well, if you want to. The authors would get more royalties if you buy them. Do you need to in order to understand this volume? Generally speaking -- No. Only in a couple of areas might it help.

So, what do we have here?

A discussion of games, such as Rubik's Cube that you can play, and that they give instructions on how to make it come together. But don't get to thinking that this is all simple. Underneath it all, this is a fairly serious book on game theory, but the mathematics behind it are hidden.

Beyond the cube there are several other games discussed in this volume, some very beiefly, some getting a lot more attention - The last chapter in the book on the Game of Life gets some 35 pages.

As much as anything else, the authors witty writing style is a rare treat on a book like this.

Starting with Hackenbush (thanks to Groucho Marx) this book describes and analyzes a great many interesting games. While the authors are mathematicians, and there is mathematics involved, much of the discussion can be followed by the lay reader.

The new edition of these classic volumes has been completely reorganized, and this volume now contains mostly one person games or puzzles, such as peg solitaire, Soma, Rubik's Cube, mechanical wire and string puzzles, sliding block puzzles, magic squares, and life. The book is very readable and requires no mathematical background. However, this is no lightweight watered-down book and some sections of the books could take you months to understand completely (try the SOMA map or century puzzle map that appears in the Extras). Fortunately you can just skip over these parts if you don't want to dig down to this level of detail.

I have only looked briefly at the other volumes, but I believe this volume "stands on it's own" more so than volumes 2 & 3. Be warned, however, that there are several concepts (such as "nim addition" that you will need the previous volumes to understand).

Conway's game of Life is the subject of the last chapter, perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book, and that which has probably been most changed since the last edition. Still, they could easily have expanded this chapter into a whole volume, and looking at the internet it is already out of date.

Beware that the figures on the covers of these volumes DO NOT necessarily correspond to what is inside. For example, Volume 3 shows peg solitaire on the cover but the subject itself is all in Volume 4!

This is so much fun! Your imagination is incredible. I read through it and was almost dreading the end because I feared it would be the predictable boy (frog) falls in love with girl (faerie) scenario. I was thrilled and delighted at the unexpected twist you put on things! Thank you for such a fun and enjoyable read!

This children's story was delightful! It was full of neat descriptions about Hickem Tod's unusual world. The artwork was stunning -- it really brought the characters to life. The author read it at our local elementary school and the children giggled at the ending. It's a treasure!

Mr. Wheeler has clearly shown his flair for colorful characters and fantastic imagery. Both have been masterfully joined with a good moral and a surprise ending that delights kids and adults alike. Let's hope that this promising new author will not remain in _silence_!

I loved this book when I was a kid. The story line and interjected humor will entertain and interest children making this an unforgetable story!

I remember my mom reading this book to me as a small child. We would read it together right before bedtime. I am now a senior in college getting ready to become a teacher and I will more than likely share this book with my future students because it has special meaning to me. I could see it being used to teach number sense and rhyming but I would be careful when using it in the classroom because of its underlying Halloween theme. Overall it is a great book that has sentimental value to me.

The text and pictures are wonderful. It is a fun story about 4 witches who eat "bat wing sandwiches" and brush their teeth with "spider paste". This story is an annual Halloween favorite with my three children, ages 2, 4, and 6. I have shared this book with K -1 grade classes, and they seem to really enjoy it. The reading level is 1 - 2 grade.

This story, retold by Heather Forest and illustrated by Susan Gaber, is a rare treasure. The plot is summarized as follows in the book insert: "Asked to make a cake for the fairies, a clever bakerswoman must figure out a way to prevent the fairies from wanting to keep her with them always to bake delicious cakes."

It is truly a delightful and unique story and Gaber's vivid and playful illustrations really bring it to life. I was lucky enough to have this book read to me as a child by my wonderful mother and I have cherished it ever since. It is incredibly sad that this book is out of print, but at least you can frequently find a good used copy through Amazon's sellers. Don't hesitate to order this book used if you can find a copy available from a reputable seller, it will make a one of a kind addition to your children's/folktale library and it also makes a lovely gift.

Note: I recently ordered a copy of the library binding/first edition as a gift from the seller "The Peoples Books" from Amazon Marketplace and it was received promptly (within 1 week) and in good condition as advertised.

I am a professional storyteller, and always on the look out for something to add to my repertore. This is a delightful tale, which lends itself to a storytelling concert.

When I am done learning the story, I will pass the book to my two great grandaughters, who boast some Scottish and Irish ancestry.

Heather! Great Story! I really enjoyed this book. I sawyouperform in Charleston, SC last year and I found that I needed toread all that you wrote. This well done. I recomend that all Storytellers read this one! Plus you kids!

The "Wonders of Solitude" is a magnificent discovery of how to be at peace with one's self. A self-discovery of how wonderful it is to be alone, to reveal a deeper and spiritual awareness of ourselves. It brings a true sense of fullfillment to the word "solitude", without any feeling of deprivation or lonliness. Truly great reading material for anyone who is uncomfortable with being alone or in need of soul searching.

Living in a hurry up world has made it seem wrong to look for quiet and solitude. This book gives all the reasons why solitude is needed and important.

A really nice collection of quotes & thoughts to ponder, from a very wide variety of authors, philosophers, and otherwise great thinkers or just neat people. In such a busy world today where it seems like we are always on the go, this book is a really great reminder of the time we need for ourselves, to center ourselves and listen quietly to ourselves. I know a lot of people who have a terrible time being alone. This book is a great gift for people who need to just slow down for a bit. For the most part the quotes are non-religious but there is one section called "Finding God" which was a bit much for me. I loved the quotes/thoughts that center on nature especially. The chapters are as follows:
1) A noisy world
2) Solitude as Discovery
- Finding the Self
- Finding God
3) Solitude as Inspiration
- Inward peace
- Creativity
4) Solitude and the Natural World
5)Other places of Solitide
- At home
- In Houses of worship
- Among others
- Within the human heart
6) The power of silence

Really a wonderful collection with a super message woven through the quotes and the wy that they are assembled.

Parents want a good book for your kids? This is definitely one to purchase. This book is about a girl named Kaley and she is studying history in the 4th grade. Her teacher, Mr. Serrano, is having his 4th grade class write essays about the topics they study. He gets more than he bargained for with Kaley's essays. You'll never look at history the same way again, and you'll LOVE this book. I gave this book 5 stars because it is exceptionally written and definitely worth the read. It's one of those books you and your kids will read again and again, and I highly recommend it.

THIS BOOK IS SO LIKE ME!! WELL THE CHARACTER IS, ANYWAY. SHE DOODLES IN A DIARY THAT IS REALLY COOL I LOVED IT! It's ABOUT A GIRL WHO HAS TO WRITEIN A JOURNAL AND WHEN HER TEACHER WRITES HER BACK, SHE KEEPS THE NOTES AND TAPES IT INTO HER NOTEBOOK! ANYONE LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK THIS WOULD BE IT!!! YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!!!

In The World According To Kaley, author Diane Curtis Regan takes young readers ages 9 and up on a funny, partly factual, partly personal spin on world history as seen through the eyes and imagination of a girl assigned to write a history essay. Filled with doodles and personal "insights", The World According To Kaley is a fun to read and fun to look at middle-grade chapter book where creativity runs wild on notebook pages. Dian Regan is an expert at writing original, imaginative, and highly entertaining picturebooks, chapter books, as well as both middle-grade and young adult novels. Other highly recommended titles from this accomplished author include Chance; Dear Dr. Sillybear; Princess Nevermore; The Friendship Of Milly And Tug; and the "Ghost Twins" series.

Inspiration is the first word that comes to mind after reading about Eric Carle's successful life as an author and illustrator. This book contains information about his childhood, his books, but most important his art. I especially enjoyed reading the section about where he gets his ideas. What is so special about Eric Carle's books? Many people all over the world could answer that question. My favorite answer is from a little boy named Paul, he said: "One reason I like your books is they do special things."

This is a great way to show students the process of Eric Carle's art and create a picture of thier own.

I picked up this book, expecting to find essentially a picture book. However, this book is so much more...and it is lovely.

The book begins with an introduction by Leonard Marcus, the children's book reviewer for Parenting Magazine and a well-known book critic and historian.

Following this is an autobiography with many personal photos. I found the story of Carle's early years interesting: how he was born in the United States but then his parents returned to Germany when he was six. His father was drafted into the German army during World War II and Carle never saw him again for 8 years, when he emerged from a Russian POW camp weighing 80 pounds. Carle was a lackluster student, mainly because his creativity was stifled, but he did have some empathetic art teachers in Germany. In his early 20s he returned to the U.S. where he was promptly drafted into the army!

The next section of this book was by Ann Beneduce, the first editor to publish Carle's work. She first commissioned him to illustrate a cookbook. After that, she decided to publish his first book "1,2,3 to the Zoo" but could find no one in the United States who could satisfactorily produce it, so she had it done in Japan.

Next, Viktor Christen, a German editor, wrote about Carle's vision and what it means to children.

Takeshi Matsumoto, the director of an art museum for picture books in Japan, wrote an essay about Carle's use of color.

The text of a speech, entitled "Where Do Ideas Come From?", given by Carle at the Library of Congress was the next section of this book. He gave this speech to librarians and educators in 1990 at the International Children's Book Day Celebration.

Next was a photo essay on his technique of paper coloring and collaging, which also explained why he colors white tissue paper rather than buying pre-colored papers (they fade with age).

Lastly was a section of illustrations from his books, in chronological order. I found it interesting to see how his art had changed and become much more detailed in 30 years.

This is a book with many stories- the Wright brother's efforts to fly and consequent fame, life at the turn of the century and what was expected from women. Not many women today could relate to this book about Katherine Wright's dedication to her family. Even though she was an educated woman, she gave up her life to take care of her family and almost missed out on a chance for love late in life. Although aimed at older children I think adults would enjoy reading the book and browsing the photos.

Loved this book. Katharine Wright inspired me to want to name my daughter (if I have one)Katharine. But I wish people would spell Katharine Wright's name RIGHT in reviews. AR, not ER in the Katharine.

Katherine was a woman of her times, although she graduated from college, which was rare at that time, and the first in her family to go to college. The book reflected those times. The relationships in the book were sensitively portrayed, and quite accurate. Katherine was an inteligent, warm woman, and was support for her brothers, and was sometimes called the third Wright Brother. She was charming and outgong, which helped the reticent Orville after Wilbur died. Through her eyes, you could find a relationship with her brothers. I recommend the book because it puts a face on the era, the place (Dayton, Ohio and Kittyhawk, NC) and the efforts and success of the brothers Wright.

For Aussie writers looking to get their work published, this is The Guide. As well as all the resources, there are overviews on various types of writing, which is helpful for those starting out. Anyone who thinks writing a book is easy should pick up this book and learn that there's a lot more to it!

This is the number one guide and reference book for both new and experienced writers. The advice is clear and concise and the references to publishers and agents are invaluable.

(...)

New or experienced, what writers need today is guidance on what they're doing, where they're going and how they're going to get there.

Even with the plethora of writing guides and manuals on the market today, it's rare to find an all-encompassing volume that benefits fiction and non-fiction authors, freelancers, screenwriters and other wordsmiths.

That's why 'The Writer's Guide' by Irina Dunn is an essential resource for all genres and writing types.

Dunn, a published author, English tutor and consultant editor, provides comprehensive information on a wide range of topics including:

* Skills development (techniques for interviewing, researching and self-editing)
* Types of writing (commercial, non-fiction, drama, children's and online)
* Resources (writers' centers, organizations, courses and Web sites)
* Getting published (dealing with agents and publishers, and managing life as a writer)

In addition to being an informative resource for every-day use, 'The Writer's Guide' is also a good source of inspiration, motivation and it encourages introspection. But it's no rose-colored rhetoric ~ Dunn discusses the big issues and offers practical advice and guidance to assist you in your literary journey.

Some of the other topics covered include:

* developing tools and skills;
* drafting, revising, editing;
* online writing and epublishing;
* computer software and hardware
* formal and legal considerations;
* understanding your readership;
* constructive feedback and tuition;
* finding publishing outlets;
* commercial publishing, self-publishing; and
* marketing, reviews, publicity.

Littered with pithy quotes on writing, 'The Writer's Guide' is lively, entertaining and interesting to read from cover to cover. By the time you finish it, you should have many dog-eared and underlined pages that you'll refer to over and over. If not, you're doing something wrong.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com