English Books

I purschased this dictionary for my 8 year old granddaughter. She was always asking how to spell a word or what does that mean. She loves it! It has really good illustrations and she can find most words that are at her age level. She took it to school and showed her teacher and she was very impressed with the book.

Having just browsed through my new acquisition (a Christmas gift for my 7 year old Godchild of Chinese origin, now busy to learn English as well) and her younger sister, I find it is a serious option which can be of help - yet only to equally serious students looking for help.

While at first glance the number and choice of entries cannot be assessed in terms of exhaustiveness and adequacy for the stated age bracket of children users, the layout and the visual appearance is rather appealing. The accompanying definitions and explanations, though, require the full attention and some serious interest on the part of the users to be really helpful. Not only are they somewhat demanding in terms of content and descriptive qualities, the "fine print" in which they are presented really requires serious efforts to read AND understand the sometimes relatively complex wording and/or references that are given. Therefore the very young users may easily tire of looking things up, except maybe for pictures to give them clues.

However, for the serious students and frequent users the challenge eventually represents the advantage of mastering ever more words and terms, once they get used to it and don't loose the habit of consulting the Dictionary.
Having said that, I don't regret the investment and I hope the kids will join me in my enthusiasm.

Peter Paulenz

I RECOMMAND THIS DICTIONARY, IT IS AWESOME. I BROUGHT IT FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO IS IN THE THIRD GRADE. AND SO FAR, EVERYTIME WE LOOK UP A WORD THAT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT'S THERE. THE DEFINITIONS ARE SIMPLE. IT WAS A GREAT CHOICE.

We found this to be an excellent first dictionary. Most things that you want pictures of do have pictures, and the pictures are very appropriate and have helpful captions (usually a sentence describing the picture). The definitions manage rather well to explain the meanings of simple words in even simpler words. Also, with 5,000 words, almost all of the words in a beginning reader's reading vocabulary will be included.

This is a beautifully illustrated dictionary with easy to understand definitions. I gave it 3 stars because I bought it for my 6-year-old daughter, and I find that too often this dictionary does not have the words that she needs to look up. Now I need to buy an additional dictionary to supplement this one.

An excellent illustrated version of a favorite old song from childhood. The illustrations are exceptionally good. Came in fine condition.

I am now a fan of Peter Speir books. This is a very nice book. The provider was very prompt and arrived in new condition.

My four children are now in their thirties and they loved this song when they were young. I bought this edition for my two grandsons aged 18 months and three and a half and they love it. No publisher has it in Australia but Amazon came to the rescue! It also has the music included which is great for our musical famly. The whole family - children and adults- join in the singing and we always end up laughing. The illistrations are tasteful and vibrant.

A favorite family song brought to life with wonderful pictures. Perfect for a child--music and lyrics included.

This is one of my all time favorites. The text consists of one version of an old folk song, general known as "The Fox." There are probably several dozen versions of this particular song, likely even more. I know of at least nine myself. The one used in this work is from a Burl Ives recording done in 1945. I was and am a big fan of Ives, so this book has been a real treat for me. The song originated from a poem, written in the 14th for 15th century in Middle English. I can remember versions sung of this song at various gatherings back to the late 1940s. This particular work was originally published about 1961 i.e. the Spire's version...not to be confused with one written by Wendy Watson which is a good work itself.

Anyway, the text consists of the words to the old song and this is a wonderful sing-along book. The art work by Peter Spier is some of the best. It is extremely detailed, the colors are wonderfully blended and even though they are actual paintings, they give a true feeling of being there. The story consists of a fox who goes out on a chilly night and visits the hen/goose/duck house of a local farmer in or near a village. The fox does this in order to feed his family. The book is the picture and word story of his journey there and back with the meal for his family. I note that there is some disagreement here as to the location of this story. It certainly took place (the story) during the late 1800s or possibly the early 1900s. The setting is rural. If I were to give a guess, I would say it probably took place in New England, possibly Massachusetts, Connecticut or Penn. Of course you could make a pretty good argument for Virginia also, but the civil war monuments shown in the book look to me more Union than Southern. Yes indeed folks, they do grow tobacco in New England. There are several pictures of tobacco drying sheds in the book. There are also pictures of covered bridges and wonderful details of the country side, farm and village.

The illustrations alternate between full color and black and white sketch type drawings. I personally find this technique quite appealing. I know the kids to which I read this book to don't seem to be bothered a bit by it. In fact, I have caught several of them trying to copy some parts of the black and white drawings. I do love the author's use of color, shades and his minute attention to detail.

Now, parents do take note: The fox does indeed kill the old goose and makes off with a duck to boot. There are not graphic details of this other than the fox family finishing off the cooked bones after their wonderful meal. Some parents may feel that their child may have problems with this. To be honest, this is where parenting comes in. Each parent knows, or should know, what his kid can or cannot handle and at what age. I personally have no problems with it. The fox is acting according to his nature and yes, foxes do indeed raid hen houses.(Goodness knows I have lost enough chickens to the little guys). Again though, this should be the parent's call.

There is another note of interest and suggestion. This book is ideal to introduce the young reader to Middle English. A quick wed search can provide the text of the original poem, along with many versions of this song. It is interesting to see how our language has developed and evolved over the years.

All in all, there is little not to like about this book. The art work is wonderful, you cannot beat the text, you get a great sing-along book and I have found that kids love the thing. I have used this particular work from Kindergarten up through the seventh and eight grades. Adults also enjoy listening to it.

I have purchased several of Mr. Garner's books and this one, like all the others, is a masterpiece. Mr. Garner's command and understanding of the English language, combined with his concise, crisp descriptions, make this work an essential addition to anyone's library. I applaud Mr. Garner for his extraordinary efforts and I thank him for sharing his genius with the rest of us.

Garner's Usage is likely the single most useful and entertaining book on the topic. Little else needs to be said about it.

Garner's Modern American Usage My daughter attends law school at SMU in Dallas where Garner is adjuct professor. She says he is a great teacher. We ordered two copies. Yes, it's indispensible as a reference, but it also makes great bedside reading for us wordsmiths.

Being a layman, and not a wordsmith as some of the review-writers here, this will not be an eloquently written review, however the results are the same. I often hear people use words in a way that I believe to be incorrect, for example 'irregardless', but I'm never quite sure. A regular dictionary doesn't usually provide the explanations I'm looking for, and my curiosity goes unanswered. This book is exactly what I need when I question the usage of almost any word. It gives definitions, explanations as to why words are often used incorrectly, as well as pronunciations that are correct or incorrect, and often in a humorous manner! This book would be a must for any writer, but is also sure to satisfy the simply curious!

I ordered this reference based on an essay I read by David Foster Wallace titled "Authority and American Usage." In it, Wallace dissects the ongoing debate between the Prescriptivists (those claiming to defend the King's English) and the Descriptivists (those who claim language rules should reflect current practice rather than old rules), and he does so in the context of, essentially, a long-winded review of Garner's Modern American Usage.
The big problem with Prescriptivism is one of authority, or "why" their rules are what they are. The problem with Descriptivism is one of, well, spinelessness in the sense that rules cannot be based simply on "what everybody else is doing."
Garner, however, deftly walks the line between these two perspectives. He acknowledges common, accepted usage, but still has the guts to make "rules" where necessary. And when he does so, he resolves the "authority" question by logically and fairly arguing his case, rather than simply "that's how it is done."
In my limited reading of Garner's reference so far, I've found it to be amazingly thorough in its examination of everything from common errors to idioms to punctuation, and surprisingly down to earth for a linguistic reference.
Personally, I think everybody should have books like this. But if you write for a living or simply have an interest in language and grammar, this book is essential to your collection.

The author writes of her father's decent into Alzheimer's Disease (being more
and more child like in his progression of the disease and her young son growing up from a toddler to young boyhood..the opposite ends of the spectrum. A very moving book. I may reread this one.

In September 2004's Australian Reader's Digest, the story "The Unlikely Gift" had me in tears. It moved me so much that I searched out and ordered the book it was taken from - "The House on Beartown Road". I had been mourning the
death of a favourite and much loved friend who died from the ravages of a similar brain disease (vascular dementia). Although her body died recently, the soul and the entity that I loved which made her who she was, was taken from me many years ago when the diagnosis was made and the slow but inevitable slide began.

My friend Kath, whom I met in 1980, taught me joy and sharing, she took me into her family as if I was one of her own. As I am of a different background, she taught me to enjoy roast dinners and chocolate ripple cakes. She was a favourite auntie, a surrogate mother and most of all, a best friend. In the later years, I have been unable to be in her presence,
as I couldn't reconcile the angry, violent person as being the same caring friend I had known. She was diagnosed in her 60's which is much too early and didn't allow her to enjoy her twilight years with those she loved and who loved her.

Elizabeth Cohen's book is a beautiful and simply told homage to the reality of family life and in my opinion, a must read.

What a wonderful book. I have noticed that many who review this book are intimately involved in Alzheimers, be they professional or private care-givers. I don't have anyone in my immediate family with Alzheimers, but I read this as a potential gift to a friend who does. I am grateful that I was motivated to read this lovely, loving account of a disease and the way if effects those who are near it. The author and her family serve as reminders that love comes in all forms, and may be asked of you at the most inconvient moments. Don't wait until you have Alzheimers in your family to read this book. So much gentle learning to be done, so much joy to be given, so many miles we go, travellers through life.

Few books have brought me to tears. This one did. The author writes in a matter-of-fact way about the heart-wrenching disease of Alheimer's, its impact to her life, and the lives of those around her. I didn't want the book to end. It is a quick read. Great book.

I found "The House on Beartown Road" shelved in our local library (Pound Ridge, NY) under Mental Health/Alzheimer's. I don't know who decides these things, but this wonderful memoir ought to be prominently placed along with other contemporary memoirs. Elizabeth Cohen is a fine writer and she deserves recognition for this generous tribute to her 80-year-old father, Sandy, to her daughter -- one year old Ava, and to new-found neighbors on Beartown Road and to friends in the Binghamton, NY, community. Sandy and Ava of these are at opposite ends of the verbal spectrum, one forgetting language and the other learning. Elizabeth Cohen herself is there in the middle, somehow trying to work full time as a reporter, managing day care for the two people who depend on her, figuring out how to survive the winter in one of the nation's true snow-belts, and keeping her own sanity as a harrassed single mother.My own mother is 97 with Alzheimer's and I have a one-year old granddaughter, so this book is close to the bone in many ways. I tell everybody about it. I use it in the memoir course I teach. I want to keep it to survive as a classic memoir and as a year-long account by an un-self-pitying caregiver. Elinore Standard Pound Ridge, NY

As a former Outward Bound instructor who loves adventure, I found this book riveting. As a business coach I know that learning occurs when we are on the edge, in a little less familiar place. This story supplements the narratives about Shackleton because Perkins takes the story and applies it to leadership. Hence, it becomes contemporary. I liked some of his points so much that I referenced him in my book. I strongly encourage you to read this book. Doug Gray, PCC, author of [ASIN:0975884158 Passionate Action: 5 Steps to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work]]sionate Action.

Perkins uses Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of the early 1900's to identify ten leadership strategies. These stategies have proven useful for me in both military and civilian business settings. Perkins uses real-life examples form the Shackleton expedition in Part One to identify the strategies. In Part Two he uses recent (from when the book was written) business example to demonstrate how these strategies can be applied. This is an easy read and the stories of the Shackleton expedition helped keep my focus on the people that we lead while keeping the ultimate goal in sight. The title of this book applies whether you are leading at the edge of the world, the edge of survival, or at the edge of competition.
"Fortitudine Vincimus"!

This book is a "must read" for everyone aspiring to become a leader. The different life and death situations that Shackleton and his men faced, and how they overcame the obstacles in their way, is an example for all to follow.

The book is written masterfully, allowing the reader to reflect on how different leadership techniques were applied and how to apply the techniques to the situations particular to the reader.

Outstanding Work!

A fantastic text based on an epic journey. The history of Shackleton's ill-fated expedition is a sharp contrast to the modern view which epitomizes personal liberty as the highest virtue.

This book features vignettes from an expedition faced with nearly insurmountable odds that highlight the difficult choices faced by Shackleton and his men. In the face of adversity, they managed to endure, though not without cost. Perhaps the most moving part of the narrative is knowing that, after he and a few of his men made it (barely) to the safety of a remote whaling outpost, he insisted on mounting numerous rescue attempts for his other stranded crew-mates until they were successfully extracted.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether or not you are involved in business management. As a father, I found many of the examples and stories inspirational, and I have shared them with my children to teach them the virtues of perseverence and the responsibilities of leadership.

The author, Dennis N. T. Perkins, shows extraordinary insight in leadership with 10 clearly stated principles. Based in strong part on Shackelton's expedition, these 10 principles are not only clearly stated, but truly make a difference. It is obvious that Perkins understands leadership. The book is easy to read, but takes plenty of mental energy. This book should be read by any manager, and should be considered a classic.

"They sat on in silence, or almost silence; if you listened closely you could just hear a faint thrumming from thousand of wings. Beyond the dragonflies the sun was sinking slowly, casting its rays across the lake, on either side, everything as far as the eye could see was slowly dissolving into the haze. Ian thought, If I live to be a hundred years old, I will always remember this."


Mary Lawson has done it again in her second novel. Beautifully written, we are introduced into the farming community of Straun in Ontario. The characters are ordinary people but such fine people as we see in patient and long suffering good hearted; Arthur Dunn, his brother Jake; handsome, devious and charming, the complete opposite of Arthur. They, having just suffered the death of their father are left with two big farms to manage. This is no easy job as the World War is on, and as Arthur has just been declared unfit for the army, he decides that he will play his part by at least growing the food that will feed them. He goes by diligently; working morning to evening, so very hard on the farm, marries the most beauteous woman in the world Laura, who bears three lovely children. They live comfortable lives but their private life is about to be interrupted as Jake returns to the farm after years of living in many varied areas of the world and with his wary ways continues where he has left off. Other people are not happy to see him especially his brother. The people who passed through the life of the Dunns, and they themselves will quietly entertain you. I highly recommend this fine work by Mary Lawson.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 03/11/08)

As my review for her début shows, I was not impressed with the final result there. This however, is a far more accomplished novel.

For one, she got the narrator right; third-person omnicient. First-person was beyond her abilities as a rookie (I'm not excusing her editor in the debacle). Here, she tells the story with a far more confident voice, laying everything out for the reader in a way befitting the setting, and the times.

Her characterizations are richer, are drawn with a little more clearly, and their connections are more finely wrought. There's more opportunities creating for dovetailing and synergy...and she makes the most of these. Finally, her storytelling is coming into its own. Clearly, she does not aim for 'epic', and maybe that's never going to be her goal, but I suspect that were she to take this tack down the road, she'd be up to the challenge.

This was a far more gratifying read, leaps and bounds beyond what 'Crow Lake' delivered. 'Brava!' to the author. I'm looking forward to her next offering.

I really enjoy this author. I have read Crow Lake too. Very well written and interesting backgrounds of the Characters.. This takes place in Canada in the far North, so learning about someplace so far away and different in very interesting to me. I recommmend Other Sisde of the Bridge and Crow Lake.

"The Other Side of the Bridge" was warmly received, not just by me, but by the 13 other women who appeared at the book club meeting at which it was discussed. I can't remember any other book--and there have been many--that was discussed by our book group which received such unanimous approval. It is a heartwarming, interesting, study of human lives interacting in ways both good and difficult, with all warts showing. It stimulates much thinking about what happens to people because of events beyond their control.

Mary Lawson is a wonderfully evocative writer. You ache for her characters. You enter into the desolation and into the pull of the hard life in a very small northern Ontario community. I only want to add one thing to what else has been written in these reviews.

Sibling rivalry? yes. A wonderful re-telling of the story of two brothers, one charming, smart, handsome, irresponsible and careless of other people's feelings; the other slow, stolid, uncommunicative and responsible. However doesn't Lawson also show us that the parents are at least in part to blame? Would Arthur been more secure, more able to communicate with other people if his mother had been loving and encouraging of him? Would Jake have been less irresponsible if he had been able to win his father's approval for who he was rather than what his father thought he should be - a farm boy? Lawson seems to suggest that, despite Jake's careless ways, he really did long for his father to accept him for who he was. He wasn't Arthur. Arthur wasn't Jake. Neither parent can really embrace the differences in their sons.

I enjoyed reading this - as well as my husband. It may look small but it packs quite a punch! Some are funny, some thought provoking and some just plain hot!

Steamy Erotic Poetry is a real pleasure. Without being vulgar it is VERY sensual. Solomon knows, admirably, that Aphrodite is a laughter loving goddess, furthermore, and running throughout his poems is a rich sense of humor. Finally, this is a book that is lovely and loving: a gift (as it was for us) for Valentine's Day.

John Solomon's book was incredibly well written and while it wasn't the longest book ever written it is well worth the money. I recommend that people pick up a copy of this book. And give it a shot. As a matter of a fact, one of my friend's have currently borrowed the book from me. She mentioned she enjoyed the book as well. On a side note, John's book arrived quickly and efficiently. Again, I really think people should buy a copy of this book.

Hmmm...

This is good stuff.

This man loves his wife, that's for sure!

As for me, to discover he is content while reading this book, is an understatement of the first degree.

John Solomon grants us the favour of an intimate glimpse at his sexual feelings towards his lady. It's cooking, hot and steamy as you can expect of a heating boiler. It makes your ears turn red and your head to sweat. I enjoyed the book very much. It's tangible, visible, perceptible and enjoyable when you are engaged in a similar liaison and can recognize the train of thoughts he is experiencing throughout the day.

With an exquisite taste of humor and sexual feelings, he plays with words and ties them like a string. This man has a delicate feeling for what the phenomenon of pleasure is doing to you as a male human being. A great lesson for many serious believing men to enjoy life with the girl of their dreams. And for women to learn a little more about the feelings and fantasies that are racing through the male head while admiring his love.

A final word must be said, this book is a danger to the dispassionate reader.

A nice job!

I bought the previous edition which inspired me to write a few poems in similar style... this new one is even better and I'm SO glad I bought it! Lovely, erotic thoughts, sexy ones and funny ones, expressed with economy of words. Thoughts and verses to share together and smile over, and revisit. Thank you for a real treat!

Transforming Performance Measurement by Dean Spitzer is recommended reading for anyone who attempts to change the culture of an organization. In a field (over)loaded with data as in education, Dean focused our attention only on the measures that will likely improve performance. Guided by measurements as opposed to intuition, the readers will often find themselves wondering how to measure their contributions toward the team's success.

The book reaffirms the notion that data without context is just isolated facts. Positive transformation occurs when more people within the organization converts data into information, knowledge and finally wisdom. For those who try to capture performance data through integrated technology, you will recognize the common pitfalls of measurement technology cited in the book (pg 160). Unfortunately, some pitfalls may be difficult to avoid even after reading this book.

Finally, the importance of measurement leadership cannot be overstated. Success of scorecards and dashboards depends largely on the "systemic" nature of the implementation. Organization that promotes open discussion about measurement deficiencies will foster the social context necessary to transform its performance.

I highly recommend this book not just for one-time reading. It has moved from my bookshelf to the desktop and remains a great daily reference as our organization moves through the process of transformation.

The code for a new level of performance measurements measuring organizational success has been broken and its secrets are revealed in this book! Dean Spitzer brilliantly helps readers transform performance measurements by combining technical aspects with the often overlooked social aspects of performance. This book is a must read for all who truly want to create and maintain a transformational performance measurements "cultural shift" within their organization.

This book is a 304-page introduction and description of its subject. It tells how and why most measurement schemes yield disappointing results. The author never gets around to telling us how to improve measurement.

This book is a classic example of Bad Business Writing: massive introduction of the subject, followed by interminable discussion of how we get it wrong, followed by enormous build-up for the wisdom we are about to receive. Are we there yet? Not on your life. Next we get a lexicon of the elements of transformational performance measurement: context, focus, integration and interactivity. You may want to write those down, as I won't return to them. Then more buildup:

"When all four keys are working together synergistically, amazing things can, and will, happen to enable the awesome power of measurement to make a real difference--a transformational difference--in your organization!"

I am so ready now.

In a last, desperate attempt to get a plan for actually measuring something, I skipped forward to the chapter with "Action Plans" in the title. Does he begin with action plans? No, more description, more build up, then finally, an actual suggestion, the first needle in this 304-page haystack:

"[A] restaurant staff assign a "mood rating" (from 1 to 10) to each customer party when they enter the establishment and throughout the meal. The goal is to raise the mood rating, with the standard that no one should leave the restaurant with a mood rating below a 9."

I will take this brilliant pearl of wisdom back to my major financial institution and transform our business. Thank you, Mr. Spitzer.

This has to be the absolute best book I have read in this field of performance measurement.

Spitzer goes straight to the heart of what performance measurement is all about - transforming organisational performance - and he makes it crystal clear why it is more about the social system (the people) than the technical systems (dashboards, analysis, data).

His writing style is engaging, filled with great examples and wonderful inspirational quotes and advice from leaders in the management and performance fields.

It isn't a step-by-step how-to book, but it is essential for anyone leading performance measurement and improvement - and anyone leading an organisation - to read, to study and read again.

This book is an excellent example of thought leadership. The concepts presented on performance measurement places a whole new lens on the subject. I congratulate Dr. Spitzer on an excellent piece of work.

My two older daughters and I have recently watched the first two Lord of the Rings movies. This was the first time for them. While watching "Two Towers" this last Saturday I commented a couple times how it was important to attack where an enemy is weak. It is best to aim for the Achilles' heel. After the movie we talked some more about how in battle you don't want to throw your strength at the enemy's strong defenses.

One of my favorite Science Fiction authors is Eric Frank Russell. He served in the RAF during World War II, and many of his stories have a military setting and with the clever hero destroying much larger opponents. The hero always finds the Achilles' Heel. "Wasp" is the first Eric Frank Russell story I ever read. I go back and reread it every couple years. I just reread it, probably for the fifteenth time.

The background for the story is Humanity is fighting for its life. We've expanded out to the stars and settled several colonies. We bumped into Sirian Empire. We got along with them for awhile, but they then decided to try and conquer us. Earth has more advanced technology, while the Sirian Empire has about ten times the number of people.

Our hero, James Mowry, is recruited to be a "Wasp." James is told a story of a small wasp that stung a driver. In trying to kill the wasp, the driver wreaked the car, killing three people, including himself. After months of training James Mowery is sent to a Sirian colony with the goal of destabilizing the colony, single handedly, to be a wasp!

This is a funny story. Eric Frank Russell does a great job of telling an interesting story while weaving in humor.

If you like classic Science Fiction from the 1950s, check out Wasp, or "Entities" which includes several of his novels. A couple dozen short stories by Eric Frank Russell's collected were put together in "Major Ingredients."

As a young girl, I borrowed this book from my father's paperback collection. With time, it disappeared from my life, and I have missed it. Every so often, I have tried to re-locate it, and imagine my joy at finding it again.

What can you say about a book that has haunted you for over 45 years? It is great. An entertaining and enjoyable combination of spy and sci fi.

This is a terrible book. It is the first science fiction book I ever read and I have been addicted ever since. It produced the typical symptoms of science fiction addiction: boundless enthusiasm for individual initiative, a ridiculous optimism for the future, starry eyed idealism, and weekend reading marathons. I should have never read this book. Now I'm going to get a copy for my son. Better that than those darn computer games!

Decades before the Pentagon coined "assymetric warfare", Russell literally wrote the book on it. This is thus a classic, kept in print I suspect by orders from young officers at our service academies. Oh, and it also happens to be a great read.

Eric Frank Russell has long been my favourite sci-fi author. He creates fascinating characters who win out through intellect and logic, rather than brawn, usually, and WASP is no exception.

The book is set in the future, with the Earth up against the Sirian Combine - a galactic conglomeration of planets intent on conquering the Earth. While the Terrans (read: Earthlings) have superior weapons and technology, the Sirians have vastly superior numbers. As the war drags on, the Terrans feel the best way to defeat the Sirians is through propaganda. The theory is that if a wasp can distract the driver of a car, destroying the vehicle and all 4 adults, causing havoc, death and destruction grossly disproportionate to the insect's size, that one man, armed with the right tools, can also cause havoc to a whole planet. So they recruit James Mowry to land on the Sirian planet of Jaimec, to effect such disruption. In theory, with enough distraction, more attention and resources will be concentrating on the internal strife, enabling the Terrans to launch a quick and successful attack on the planet.

To effect this goal, Mowry creates a fictitious underground rebellion called DAG, making the authorities believe that there's a whole group set against the overthrow of the government, when in reality it's just one man.

The book can be seen as a how-to in propaganda, playing into the fears of the enemy, forcing over-reaction and panic with minimal effort and maximum results. Some of the technology doesn't seem that advanced. Granted, there's space ships that can travel between planets, but there are also cars and telephones. However, considering that it was first published in 1957 - 50 years ago - it's hardly surprising. With the brilliance of the story, it is also unsurprising that the book is still in demand - the copy I have is out of print, but there are new anthologies of the author's works being brought out.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Kylene Beers has done an excellent job of collecting and introducing a number of strategies and other practical tips to help teachers, parents and anyone else interested in improving kids' abilities to read. Although this book was used as the textbook for one of my college courses, it does not read like a typical textbook at all. I would recommend this book to anyone in or outside the classroom.

I have not read this book nor am I a teacher, but have a question. Does this book help with other professionals and adults? For example someone who knows science and takes Calculus improves comprehension analytically? Or someone who knows spelling and now uses shapes for math may help in identifying, say, words? So, not to just teach the kids how to read but to help them with their profession (outside of just teaching) or with their everyday activity/living too? Sorta like self empowerment. Thanks! Steve
Sorry for the negative rating. I just want to be indifferent about it and I cannot put zero stars.

I am a fist-year English teacher serving in a low-performing high school (based on states tests scores)in an inner-city public school district. I struggled to teach on-level text to below grade level students. Once I found this book, I felt like I had a master teacher standing next to me as I taught me students how to use strategies to create meaning from text. The title of this book is befitting of its content because when my students lacked comprehension, I had specific strategies to aid their understanding. Direct instruction of these strategies is based in cooperative learning. Hands down, this warmly written book equipped my students with the ability to comprehensively read any text that any teacher gives them.

Main contents of the book covers reading strategies, vocabulary, fluency, phonics, literary discussions, the reading process, philosophy on direct instruction of reading strategies, and cooperative learning.

This book provides excellent practical advice for teachers and specific strategies to help middle and high school students who struggle with reading. Most teachers will find this book easy to understand and apply to their day work of endeavoring to get kids into literature, regardless of whether or not the students are independent readers.

This book has a lot of ideas to help teachers of middle school and high school. It contains examples of many strategies for phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

If you are stuck on a particular student and can't figure out what to do to help them, read this book and find help.

This book is also good for content area teachers who need help with their struggling readers.