Spider Books

This is what I want to be, a Cicindelist! Thank you for your review about this Field Guide, I'll consider it invaluable for protecting these awesome little beetles' environment.
I'm more aware now how people mine/where.

This is the second exceptional volume to come out recently on a regional tiger beetle fauna, providing an outstanding companion to Knisley & Schultz's volume on the tiger beetles of the South Atlantic states. The volume is well-written and includes much basic information that would be helpful for the beginning cicindelist on tiger beetle biology, the nature of species, and collecting and preparation techniques. Cautions are also included against collecting endangered or protected species, with strong and specific advice on photographic techniques for these. More advanced materials include keys to both adults and third-instar larvae. Each species is described, and key identifying characteristics are underlined for easy reference; distinguishing characteristics from similar species are included for each, which is a big help for a beginner. The volume is profusely illustrated with line drawings and a black-and-white reference photograph of each species; color photographs of all species included in the study area are also included in separate plates. Maps showing distributions in the New England States and adjacent Canada are more detailed than those of Knisley & Schultz, and include major rivers and lakes. This is an obligate addition to the library of any serious cicindelist.

If you are a "lay person" and not an entomologist or a biologist, this book will take some patience to read...maybe even wade through with your dictionary! As a recent convert to the world of bugs, I found it fascinating and well worth the effort. I'm still enthralled with ants and bees, but now have an appreciation for some other social insects as well.

Deeply satisfying, well researched, detailed and fascinating review. I recommend it enthusiastically and without reservation.

Your youngsters will ask to hear this story over and over, especially the wonderful sounding name of this adorable ladybug. The pictures are beautiful in the pastels and blues and each one has small details that will keep the little ones busy looking at them. The story of getting lost and returning home again is bound to reassure them. Persephone is a ladybug sure to enter the realm of Thumbelina, Heidi and other favorite heroines for children.

Written and illustrated by J. Moria Stephens, Persephone The Ladybug is a charming anthropomorphic picture book about a young ladybug - pictured as a girl with ladybug antennae and a red-and-black spotted dress - who is traumatized when her tulip home is taken to a proper tea shop; in the process, Persephone is separated from her beloved mother. Her trials and conflict with a wicked rat gang and her struggle to return home form the heart of this inviting tale. Persephone The Ladybug is especially recommended for young readers ages 3 to 6.

Award-winning children's book author Melissa Stewart presents A Place For Butterflies, a picturebook beautifully illustrated by Higgins Bond with realistic, full-color art of butterfly species and the lush natural environments they inhabit. Each two-page spread features a couple sentences about butterflies, a sidebar about a specific butterfly species, and artwork of a typical home for that species ranging from forests to lush open fields. A Place For Butterflies is written to instill love and appreciation for these marvelous insects, and a final section about helping butterflies warns against catching or keeping them, or spraying chemicals that could harm them.

Our daughter loves this book! She started to read it because she was interested in butterflies, but the text not only discusses butterflies, it explains how they have an enormous impact on other living things. As a result, the young reader comes away with a deep understanding of how the natural world works. The book is about more than just butterflies. The illustrations are also excellent. I highly recommend it.

This small book uses the hymn attributed to St. Patrick as a basis for presenting a theologically sound incarnational mysticism grounded in scripture and suffused with simple celtic prayers that make it a heart-moving prayerful support for all Christians.

I recently heard someone in the liturgical field talking about the resurgence of interest in things Celtic, but then had to reflect that interest in Celtic spirituality and liturgical forms is almost as old as Christianity itself. David Adam, Vicar of Lindisfarne (famous for, among other things, a wonderful illuminated manuscript dating back to the early days of Celtic influence in Christianity), has a gift for developing prayers and liturgies in Celtic form and Celtic spirit, and this book (first published in 1987, and in its fourth printing in 1998) reflects many of the influences and inspirations in high relief.

Adam begins with a brief reflection on St. Patrick himself; patron saint of Ireland, his first experiences in Ireland were as a kidnapped slave. When he was 16, he was taken to Ireland and spent six years there, often working as a shepherd. He returned home to Britain, but as Adam says, 'Ireland had already captured him in other ways.' He had dreams that the people of Ireland were calling him to return, and after his education and ordination, he returned as a missionary bishop to the people of Ireland, who have been resolutely Christian ever since.

However, Patrick's ministry was not universally accepted and unopposed at the start. The story of his fire burning at Tara during a time when the Druidic festivals of the time would call for all fires to be extinguished is well known; also, one of the Irish kings was warned against Patrick, who was proclaimed a 'falsifier who is deceiving everyone.' When the army plotted to attack Patrick, he escaped by being seen as a deer (local legends proclaimed that Patrick had been changed into a deer). Tradition states that the prayer/hymn text, 'The Deer's Cry', also known as St. Patrick's Breastplate, was composed during this journey.

This famous prayer or hymn is most likely dated several centuries after Patrick. It is oft translated and reworked; Adam includes two translations of the text here (one by Kuno Meyer, and one by Mrs. C.F. Alexander). Adam then uses lines from the text as headings for his meditations, prayers and exercises. Each meditation (there are eleven in all) each derives from a single line of affirmation - 'I arise today' - or through an entire section of the text - 'Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,....' After each section, Adam leads the reader through a meditative exercise, which can involve silence, recitation, movement, and more. For example, the exercises associated with the first meditation, 'Strength through faith', begins with a silence reflection upon the word 'In the Beginning, GOD', follows through to a practice of the Caim (a kind of physical centering prayer, and concludes with the 5-P exercise (Pause, Presence, Picture, Ponder, Promise).

There are Celtic-inspired line art drawings throughout the text, including images from nature, hagiography, and religious symbolism. There are notes in the back for references, but these are used sparingly throughout the text, very unobtrusively.

This is a book that could be read quickly, but that would be to lose the subtle spirit contained within. Each meditation and practice deserves careful attention and time. This makes an excellent gift for those interested in prayer practices and Celtic spirituality. It is also a gift to oneself, a wonderful way of reconnecting with timeless spirit.

Children need to rove and play outdoors and explore new vistas. Roonie B. Moonie, a bee-child, is brave and foresightful and ready to take on the world. Like every little kid, he loves to roam, so his wise mother reviews a few salient points before he goes out into the world. Unlike many a hero, he actually hears and remembers his mother's advice, which proves timely when he gets in trouble. Roonie gets lost for a time inside a hollow log. It gets worse when a strange bird offers to help Roonie find his mother; but he holds fast to his Mum's advice and avoids another pitfall. More than a story and pictures of inimitable charm, the great strength of this book is how it offers models for for coping with potentially dangerous situations. This inventive romp will help both children and their grownups to reinforce teachings for what to do when lost, or when strangers are "too friendly".

Written and illustrated by award-winning children's book creator Janan Cain, Roonie B. Moonie: Lost and Alone is a children's picturebook featuring a young, anthropomorphic bee who longs to become a great explorer like his hero, Christopher Columblebee. When Roonie's explorations take him to a dark, unfamiliar place, he encounters scary situations and is approached by a suspicious stranger. Roonie must remember his mother's advice and listen to his own instincts to stay safe. Instead of going along with a stranger, Roonie keeps searching until he finds someone can who can help him in the proper fashion. "Roonie took a deep breath and carefully approached the mother ladybug. 'Ex-ex-excuse me,' he said nervously. 'My n-n-n-name is Roonie B. Moonie. I was exploring and got lost Could you please call my mom and tell her where I am?' 'Of course I will call her,' the ladybug replied kindly. As he recited his phone number, which he knew by heart, Roonie was happy that he had trusted his feelings and used his head." The colorful oil paintings on charcoal paper bring to life this story that is not only enjoyable, but also invaluable for parents to share with their children while rehearsing what they should do and how they should be careful to protect themselves if they should become lost. Highly recommended, especially for children's public library collections.

This is a nice little story that celebrates our similarities and differences.
The story follows 7 children each involved in the same activity, but in a different way. For example, each child has a different favourite food, they live in different types of home, like to have fun in different ways, etc.

I read this to my kid quite frequently. I'm almost 30 and I think I enjoy it more than she does.

There's just something about it that I really like, but I can't pinpoint it.

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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Book description, December 13, 2006

This book has been written by a practising therapist with many years of experience.
The contents include:
Hypnotherapy
Secret Language of Breathing
Breathing Exercises
Secret Language of Posture
Posture Exercises
Secret Language of Language
Language Exercises
Coping with : panic, anxiety, stress
Phobias: public speaking, flying, spiders, snakes
Personal Problems: anger, fertility, insomnia, confidence, impotence,
premature ejaculation, jealousy
Stop Smoking
Weight Control
Self Hypnosis
How to Hypnotize
An Explanation of Hypnosis
Causes of Panic, Anxiety, Stress and Anger
Goal Achievement and Visualisation
Milton Erickson

* Learn how to hypnotize
* Learn Self Hypnosis
* Includes scripts for you to use
* Solve a huge variety of problems

It also shows how to get much closer to achieving personal goals when
spoken and thinking language, body posture and breathing are transformed.

The book is set out so that techniques are explained and the ways in which they are used to help eliminate a huge variety of problems are given.

(2)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A great resource, November 12, 2007
By James Malone "NewJersey Hypnotist"

The author generously shares here of his experiences as a clinical hypnotist. As a practitioner myself, I see this book foremost as a resource for those of us in the field, although there is a lot for the general public here too. What I found most interesting was his take on the relationship between evolutionary patterns and weight management and why age/gender has to be taken into account.


(3)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
If you have stress in your life then this is a must book for you, 16 Nov 2006
By Maxine Cox (London, England)
The following is a copy of a review for this book in the MENSA magazine. Even egg-heads love it!
"There are some excellent sections in the book; the down-to-earth techniques on giving up smoking and conquering a fear of public speaking in particular. But, best of all, is a guide to self hypnosis and relaxation and coping techniques. If you have stress in your life then this is a must book for you."


(4)
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
A brilliant self help book, 15 Nov 2006
By Mrs. K. Welland (Farnborough, Hampshire) -


The secret language of hypnotherapy is a must for surviving what we call modern life. As we strive through life we have forgotten the most basic natural functions of our bodies, mainly to breathe and relax (both mind, body and body language). For example take the mighty tiger. On one side he is immensely powerful, he has to be, to run after and kill prey sometimes bigger than himself. On the other side he could be perceived as being lazy. While in fact he is totally relaxed and breathing as nature intended. He can not afford to burn energy recklessly.
While on the other scale, we humans run around like headless chickens burning up far more energy than we can afford, with no proper recovery time (no wonder we are so exhausted!).
This book teaches you to take time out, you need it and deserve it. If you are relaxed and breathing correctly you can think more clearly, have more energy and be able to prioitize your home life, work or whatever life throws at you, and above all conquer your problems.
Perservere with the exercises, no one can go to the gym and get the body they desire by only going a few times. It will be worth it in the end.
A easy to read and understand book, no garbage or waffle in site. Brilliant!!!!!

This book has been written by a practising therapist with many years of experience.
The contents include:
Hypnotherapy
Secret Language of Breathing
Breathing Exercises
Secret Language of Posture
Posture Exercises
Secret Language of Language
Language Exercises
Coping with : panic, anxiety, stress
Phobias: public speaking, flying, spiders, snakes
Personal Problems: anger, fertility, insomnia, confidence, impotence,
premature ejaculation, jealousy
Stop Smoking
Weight Control
Self Hypnosis
How to Hypnotize
An Explanation of Hypnosis
Causes of Panic, Anxiety, Stress and Anger
Goal Achievement and Visualisation
Milton Erickson

* Learn how to hypnotize
* Learn Self Hypnosis
* Includes scripts for you to use
* Solve a huge variety of problems

It also shows how to get much closer to achieving personal goals when
spoken and thinking language, body posture and breathing are transformed.

The book is set out so that techniques are explained and the ways in which they are used to help eliminate a huge variety of problems are given.

The author generously shares here of his experiences as a clinical hypnotist. As a practitioner myself, I see this book foremost as a resource for those of us in the field, although there is a lot for the general public here too. What I found most interesting was his take on the relationship between evolutionary patterns and weight management and why age/gender has to be taken into account.

My 18-month-old daughter "inherited" this book from her 7-year-old cousin, who really enjoyed it. It fast became her favorite book and she'd spend lots of time tucking the cardboard "silly spider" in and out of his hiding places. I bought a copy for a friend's daughter and she loved it, too. Try it -- you'll get a real kick out of the bright illustrations and the "peek a boo" interactive spider!

This book has been a favorite of my son's since we have been reading to him. At first, he was fascinated by watching the spider pop through the pages on the book. Then, he loved to try to find the spider as it hides throughout the book. Now, he takes the spider through himself. This is a very interactive book and a lot of fun. We can't read it just once, it's at LEAST twice. The only drawback is it gets a little old for me! But he enjoys it so much, I don't really mind.

A great book that takes a unique angle - what its like to be a slug. Himmelman and Stewart don't just tell us about slugs, they shows us their real-life danger and adventure story (you'd be surprised).

Really neat book, appeals to all. Can even convert those of us once grossed out by these slimy creatures.

This book was great! I learned a lot about slugs, more than I thought I wanted to know. I never knew they were hermaphrodites. The author managed to write a suspensful book about a slug!! The kids in my class (and I) all said, "whew!" when the slug escaped danger! I also like Mr. Himmelman's dedications. We are learning how to write dedications in our class and I show these to my students. The illustrations are fantastic. They show point of view, detail and are accurate. The close up of a slug's face is a sight to behold. The books in this series are the best non-fiction books for young children I have ever seen...and teachers, too. Mr. Himmelman teaches respect for nature because he allows the reader to get caught up in the life of his characters...from now on, when I see them in my garden, I will think of them in a whole new way....This is a tribute to Mr. Himmelman!