Studios Books

My son and I love all of Janell Cannon's books. They're beautifully illustrated and generally have some wonderful lessons in them as well.

Beautifully written and illustrated book for children of all ages with a wonderful message.

I bought this book for my four year old daughter. She loves it and wants me to read it to her over and over. She loves the story and the colors in the book. I love the educational and fun value that the book provides. I would highly recommend the book to other parents.

My 7 1/2 yr old 2nd grade daughter & I read Stellaluna off her summer reading list. I had heard of/seen this book around, but it had never grabbed me. I was quite surprized at the fabulous illustrations, the story that draws you in, & the author's ability to make a bat lovable. I was eager to read Verdi, expecting the same experience. I thought the story was OK & the illustrations beautiful, but the story itself lacked depth to me. The young whippersnapper & wise old sage qualities hit me as being more relevant to an adult reader. Children can not adequately appreciate the age contrast, & how quickly time passes, & how we all become more boring & old than our young minds thought we would. Curiously, my daughter liked Verdi as well, if not better than Stellaluna. To each his own - read & see what you think.

This is a wonderfully written story of a young python, a young yellow python, who does not want to grow old a boring like the adult green pythons he see around him. The art work in this slender book is absolutely breath taking. The artist has blended his colors perfectly and created life like studies of these wonderful snakes but not life like situations as far as the snake world goes. This is the charm of the story. Few, if any, want to actually grow older and kids in particular do not want to do and act as "boring" adults. This tale lets the child know that we all can keep our child like wonder and love of fun into our adult years. I read this one to the second and third graders and they catch the meaning of the story quite well with a bit of prompting. They love the pictures, in particular the ones where the author has made the snakes rather hard to spot. I also not that this is one of the more popular books chosen by the children when they have their "read alone time." An endorsement of a children by children is as about as good as it gets. I must say though, adults will enjoy reading this with the children also which I feel is important as kids can sort of sense when your heart is not really in the reading. Recommend this one highly. Very much recommend you add this one to your child's collection or to your school library.

After reading the stellar reviews I purchased this book for my 13 year old sister. All I can say is "Blah". This is some of the lamest young fantasy I have ever read, needless to say she never got this book. Falling prey to a host of storybook and fashion cliches Emily the spunky loveable red-head, Adriane the quiet and mysterious raven haired guide at the Raven's Wood Animal Preserve, and Kira the blonde valley girl princess tromp about in a terribly typical manner discovering magic from another world and befriending a host of magical animal companions. Perhaps I've been spoiled by J.K.Rowling, but Rachel/Shelly Roberts writes as though the young women reading these books are stupid. Upon reading "Circles In The Stream" I was a little surprised that it was considered appropriate reading for a 13 year old!

On a less negative note, if you have a little girl about 7-10 that enjoys reading- this will be right up her alley. Certainly not a classic novel but one that is a "safe" fantasy book that younger readers can handle with ease. For all you not so little girls out there try "Howl's Moving Castle"- a charming fantasy novel and love story- or if you prefer a series Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums are an excellent age-appropriate set of fantasy novels.

This book is the best I have read ever!
The book is mainly about, friendship,magic, and the love of Animals, for those parents out there if you want to know more about this book and the series, go to....

http://avalonclubhouse.piczo.com/

This book a no put down, something to treasure. Shelly Roberts has a true talent for book writing!

Highly recommanded to Magic lovers everywhere!

this book is awsome!! Right now I'm middle of reading trail by fire but anyways this is a must read! I love all the magic in the book and friendship. Every thing is so magical. If u lov magic well this is a book for u!!

this book is the best its nice and thick and super interesting i wish i had the auctal book i took it out of the libray if you cant decide to buy it or not buy it you wont be disaponted also another good seires isw w.i.t.c.h.

I loved it! Emily is this new girl in town and is lonely but doesn't mind as her mom is a vet so spends most of her time with animals. As she gets adjusted to the town one day this sick animal comes with these brutal green gashes that everybody thinks is pioson. Not just that but dogs are soon found dead by the wildlife perserve. Emily decides to explore until she finds a stone that later turns beautiful like in all differnet rainbow colours. She later meets a girl Adriane and becomes fast friends. They learn to except the magic that entered their lives and most of all they learn that magic is strongest when your friends are there to help, and not to mention a magical world with evil lurking everywhere.

"Titanic An Illustrated History" is an excellent title for anyone who wants to know more about the Titanic from building the ship to the investigations into the sinking.

The book is around 225 pages, has numerous photographs and colorful illustrations, and contains around 12 chapters and focuses on the following main areas:

1. Inception and building the ship.
2. The maiden voyage and details of the sinking.
3. Evacuating the boat.
4. Rescue efforts and memorial services.
5. Investigations into the sinking.
6. Discovery the Titanic on the ocean floor several years later.
7. Some of the Titanic artifacts found during the discovery.

The narrative was smooth throughout the book and was very enjoyable to read. The book also served to dispel myths presented in the latest Titanic movie from Hollywood (1997?) that starred Leonard DiCaprio and others. In particular, while people of different social classes were pitted against one another in the struggle for survival in the movie, the book was full of examples of people who willingly sacrificed their lives so that others may live. While the movie was okay, Hollywood did seem to twist some of the facts. Thankfully, the book was more accurate.

Read and enjoy this great account of an unfortunate episode in maritime history. Recommended.

This book is great! The art work by Ken Marschall can't be topped! What can be said about the history within those pages?!

OKAY NOW I AM 24 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN TITANIC SINCE I WAS 14. SO A GOOD 10 YEARS. I READ THIS BOOK FOR MY SENIOR PROJECT IN 1999, MY PARENTS AND FRIENDS WEREN'T SUPRISED. THIS ONE BOOK WAS THE ONE THAT HELPED ME THE MOST. THE DETAILS WERE EXCELLENT, AND I LOVE READING IT. I CHECKED OUT OF THE LIBRARY ABOUT 30 TIMES THAT YEAR. THERE'S ONE MORE BOOK THAT IF YOU CAN FIND IT ITS GOOD READING TOO, I FORGET THE TITLE IT HAD REPRODUCTIONS OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES OF THE TIME (1912)AND THATS ALL IT HAD.

This is my favorite Titanic book. It includes everything to a dinner with Bruce Ismay discussing his idea of 3 olympic class ships, to try and try to beat out the Cunard Line to how it affects us now. The pictures are amazing and leave me in awe, everytime I look at them. This book is on the top self, in room, and am very proud to say, this is my alltime favorite book.

i've read this book about three times. i guarentee the information in this book is entirly correct. i've had the plesent expierance of meeting with the author (don lynch) on several occations and interviewed him on his knowledge of the titanic and her people. there's a lot of books about the titanic out there that i've seen that hold information that just isn't accurate. don't waist your money on them, buy books only from the following authors: Don Lynch, Ken Marshall, Charles A. Haas, John P. Eaton and anything by The Mariners' Museum. all of those people are the LEADING HISTORIANS on the titanic.

I read this book to my second grade class, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always preferred Beverly Cleary, but this book may be winning me back to the ranks of Blume.

Sheila is a very funny protaganist. Her constant desire to be popular, adored and liked by everyone fit in perfect with the children. That's exactly the way the kids here at this school work. The book was very funny, I loved the sleepover where the girls secretly shared their opinions of each other. The class laughed and laughed.

I loved that not every question was answered. The book left you to figure out the next chapter. Very nice story, perfect for "summer" reading.

I loved this book as a kid and I still love it now!! It was great to read it again and share in this girl's view of the world and the things that scare her and how she overcomes them!!

This was my all time favorite book as a kid. I still will recall parts of it in relation to my life now (im 39) . My daughter is finally eight and I cant wait for her to read it. Love this book, I could not have made it through childhood without Judy Blume and this book.,

My fourth grade teacher read this book to my class over a course of several Friday afternoons. It was the second Judy Blume book she read to us, the first being, "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing". I was introduced to Sheila Tubman in "Tales", and then we got a chance to really get to know her.

Sheila sounds a lot like me at ten, trying to figure out where I fit in and trying to appear "perfect". Unlike Sheila however, I loved dogs, loved to swim, and I had to kill spiders for my sister, who was deathly afraid of them. I thought Blume dealt with Sheila's story with a lot of love and humor and sensitivity. By the end of the story, Sheila soon learns that when she really puts her mind to facing her fears, they're not as bad as it seems. This is an important lesson for us all and the younger you can get it, the better off you'll be.

Since the fourth grade, which was over twenty years ago, I have read many of Judy Blume's books and have enjoyed all of them immensely. I'd recommend this book for boys and girls alike. If anything, it'll make you grab your side and laugh. :)

One of the things Judy Blume does in her writing is that she makes characters kids can easily and fully relate to, and this brilliant feature of her writing isn't missing in this funny novel that is a must read for all young readers.

Ben is that rare teacher who makes his subject clear for anyone, beginner or advanced user. He will not remain on my shelf, but in my travel bag and by the computer. This book will be well used and look it. Don't hesitate. Push the buy now button. You will not regret it. I am not related and have no financial interest in the book!!!!!!! Join the enlightened!!!!

This book is very good. Ben Willmore is an expert of expert. Buy it and it will not make you disappoited.

I'm a photoshop user since version 5, but with the latest developments I feld a little bit lost between all the possible features. Ben shows you how to use them and to develop your own style. It's more then telling how it works, but also how it can work for you. Now I can adjust and create my pictures even better. The book is easy to read, for the novice and even for an expert designer. Lot of tips, tricks and humor makes this book the best add-on for this product.

All of Ben's Studio Techniques books are a must read! There is no better Photoshop book out there! If you only buy one Photoshop book, this is the one to get!

Ben Willmore makes learning easy and appeals to the full range of learners. Great website support and lots of examples to help a person learn what they want. Dive in on any chapter and you will find out what you want to know and walk away with a better understanding of Photoshop as well. I would highly reccommend this book to all but the very newest to Photoshop, for it is jam-packed with knowledge that a lot of books promise but do not deliver.

I am a mom of 6 kids (mostly adults now) and grandmother of 1 and was delighted to receive this book to review. The books that have often been assigned or available in school for kids to read if not the "classics" of literature many times have questionable values and language that are not appropriate for grades third through eighth. This book is written primarily with that audience in mind although kids (and adults!) of all ages can enjoy this story and parents can rest assured that while both good and evil are present that there is a clear distinction.

Nick Stewart is an eleven year old boy and he has just been transplanted from his home in Washington, D.C. to Colorado. His mom was killed in an auto accident earlier that year and only Nick and his dad, an anthropology professor, are left. Nick's dad is having a rough time coping with his grief as is Nick. Nick's mom, Laura, was the glue that held them together but now the two of them are drifting apart. Nick is resentful of the time his dad spends with his students and misses his mom very much.

Nick is on a history school trip to an old West town called Silverado where he learns of a legend of Slim Marano who was wrongfully hanged by the town for murdering his boss at Falcon Mine. As Nick goes through the town with the tour guide, some strange things happen. Nick also become convinced he needs to find out who the true killer was and looks forward to researching and writing the paper the history teacher assigned. However, somehow Nick ends up in the wrong place and the wrong time and is accused of stealing Slim's journal from the museum!! Nick knows who did it but it is his word against theirs so he is suspended from school.

Nick's dad is very frustrated with Nick and doesn't know what to think but takes Nick along on a student dig in the mountains only a couple miles from Silverado. Unfortunately there is a cave-in and Nick is caught in it. However the spirit of Slim Marano appears and tells Nick that he needs his help to clear his name so that his family in generations to come will not have the shame of a murderer as an ancestor. Nick agrees to help him and so the adventures begin.

I enjoyed the way the book was written and the many abilities of the "spirits" of Slim and his friends. I also enjoyed the good vs. evil as well as the plot twists and turns that were not too complicated for even younger children to follow but do add excitement and intrigue for kids of pre-teen age. Most of all, I really enjoyed that Ms. Henn did not feel it necessary to add vulgarity or swearing to the book as so many authors do in the guise of making it "real."

Very highly recommended especially for third to eighth graders!!

I read the book Nick and Slim the Legend of the Falcon Mine which is a mystery. What made me keep reading this book was that I wanted to find out who killed Otis. My favorite scene of the book was when Nick first found Slim. The author did a great job of expressing Nick's fear. My favorite character was Nick because he was a great spy for Slim. I recommend this book because it is suspenseful and full of adventure. Any kid my age would really enjoy it. I can not wait for the author's next book to be released.

Nick & Slim: The Legend of the Falcon Mine is a novel for young adults that blends fantasy and the Old West into a rollicking adventure. In the present day, a young Nick is framed for stealing a museum artifact - the journal of the notorious Slim Marano, hanged for murder more than one hundred years ago. An unexpected meeting with Slim's spirit shows Nick that he and Slim have something in common; both of them have been unjustly set up. Nick travels through time and becomes embroiled in a search to expose a dark and terrible conspiracy. Aided by spirits and mortals a like, Nick and Slim must discover the truth, prove their innocence, and rescue lives in the balance. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this lengthy yet enthralling novel.

This was a first rate book by Pamela Henn, I could not put it down, it really holds your attention, I could not wait to finish it to see what happens. I hope she continues with another one, and makes it a series.
She has a wonderful imagination, it reminded me a little of Harry Potter.
Good luck Pamela, I hope you get to publish more in this series.

The Birth of a New Classic
Nick and Slim: The Legend of the Falcon Mine

By Samantha Roberts January 30, 2007 [...]

From the moment I picked up the book, I felt like I was a character in Nick and Slim: The Legend of the Falcon Mine. Every chapter revealed new plot twists and villains, and left me eager to find out what happens next. Even the author, Pamela Henn, said she experienced the same sense of surprise while she was writing the book.

"I didn't know who the villain was until the last couple chapters revealed who made the most sense to be the villain," Henn told me. "That was kind of the fun part of this whole project."

Just when I would start to guess where the story was headed, the storyline would change and draw me further into the adventure.

Nick and Slim is the story of Nick Stewart, whose life undergoes a series of tragic changes. His mother dies when he is 11 years old. His dad Lee then moves them to Colorado where he gets a job teaching anthropology. Nick finds himself in a new school trying to deal with his grief and a work-obsessed father.

On a school trip to the ghost town Silverado, he runs into more trouble. The field trip is part of a school assignment. He has to investigate the murder of Otis Watkins and the hanging of Slim Marano, who was wrongly accused of committing the crime.

Nick notices that the glass in a display case is broken. Before he can react, some of the school bullies beat him up. The bullies had stolen Slim Marano's journal--"the one piece of circumstantial evidence that had convicted Slim"--and slipped it into Nick's pocket. Nick finds himself not only trying to clear Slim Marano's name, but also trying to clear his own.

Later, Nick meets the spirit of Slim Marano, who takes him back in time to help him unravel the mystery and stop Slim's hanging. Slim's ghostly friends Michael, Keenan, and Christopher join in, and they begin on an adventure that uncovers a lot more than they ever expected.

The story of Nick and Slim grew out of a challenge to the author from a friend. Henn was an animation artist for Walt Disney. She worked on The Little Mermaid, Roger Rabbit shorts, Mickey Mouse shorts, Pocahontas, and The Legend of Mulan. She was also the model for Belle in Beauty and the Beast. After 20 years, she quit Disney and started her own business, White Wolf Studios. Nick and Slim is her first children's novel, which grew out of writing classes she taught at the studio.

"I'm really excited about it," Henn said. "I love history, and I use history as the template, or the background that we can lay the characters on. Slim is a ghost or a spirit. He can go anywhere, and he can take Nick anywhere or to any time, so we can explore really neat countries, cultures, and times."

I would compare Pamela Henn's story to The Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series. Silverado seemed like a town right out of the Old West. Add a kid from the 21st century and a few spirits wanting to change history, and you have a classic.

Henn is already working on a sequel, Nick and Slim: The Secret of Smuggler's Cove. A third book in the series is in development. I am certainly looking forward to them!

Samantha Roberts is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

They are wonderful. My six year old twins are fascinated. We read two chapters to them a night and they are transfixed. The parents and the children in this house highly recommend this series!

Mary Pope Osborne is such a talented writer. I really like her books. I wonder how she got her ideas...

This Magic Tree House Boxed Set has proven to be a wonderful past time for my granddaughter. She reads every evening before bed and it's a time to quiet down and prepare for sleep!! She loves her Magic Tree House books and I intend to get her the rest of the series very soon. The books are just the perfect length with lots of thrills. Your kids will love them.

I made the decision to purchase some of the books to the Magic Tree House series due to the fact I got tired of having to wait for the books to be check in at my library. I am glad I did, and so is my son. My son loved how they came in a "boxed" set.

Some of the best books to read to my children.They imagine they are jack and annie after reading each chapter.will continue to buy these books.

I'm a Pug fan, so I'll admit bias. The book is on my media room/bar coffee table and our guests have often been delighted with some of the opinions expressed by Wilson.

It's just a fun book.

I loved this book, and received it as a gift. I wish I could get my pugs to pose like that for pictures, how does she do it? I have purchased this book for other pug friends of mine, and they have simply adored it. I highly suggest this book as a gift to a pug person.

The Tao of Pug is a wonderful book. I had never noticed the similarity between pug behavior and Taoism before. Taoists believe that people are good by nature, and that one should be kind to others simply because such treatment will probably be reciprocated. Pugs are naturally friendly and trusting. Taoism is focused on nature. Pugs happen to be very fascinated with nature (mostly by the parts of nature that are edible). Taoists seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation. Have you ever seen the quizical look of a pug? This is a fun approach to both Tao and the Pug!

The Tao of Pug has great snapshots of pugs, and comically done by "Wilson the Pug", Nancy Levine's pug. 'Black and white isn't so bad', I always think to myself, looking at the pug photos. 'I believe it's just a nice, warm, way of showing pugs off.' The Tao of Pug will always be a family favorite!

This was great book. The pictures are awesome. It's a must for all pug lovers. I might be a little biased, though, I have a pug named wilson.

Heiloom Machine quilting is just the best if you want to learn to quilt your own quilt top on your sewing machine. This book explains everthing so well and why you need to do certain things to get the job done. I just enjoy this book There are quilting patterns in this book to use and the step by step on how to do them.

I thought I would always have to send my quilts out to be quilted, even though I had bought two quilting machines. This was expensive and not always satisfactory due to the results. So I finally broke down and bought this book. Now I do all of my own quilting, and because of the confidence gained by this book, have recently purchased a long arm. Harriet's ways are understandable, easy, and comprehensive. A real
"NEED TO HAVE" for any quilter!

I have this book and it is the bomb! I've used it for years and even bought the revision to it, it was so worth the money. If you only ever get one machine quilting book, this is the one to get.

harriet hargrave is a master, and continues to become even more amazing. if you are interested in machine quilting, get the next edition of this work--it includes her most recent tips, discoveries, etc.

From the outset, learning why some things are done this way rather than that, I wanted to gather and destroy the five quilts I've made because they don't even approach "good" quality (forget heirloom quality). Getting past that, there was really useful information that made completing the quilt I was currently working on much easier and showed why some of my earlier ones are in the shape they are (sigh - if only I knew then...). The information on batting was comprehensive and very helpful. I still prefer polyester for its economy and fluff, but am going to try cotton and now know what the differences are (besides price). I am not a total beginner but quilts are only one part of my sewing. I consider myself a "hacker" rather than a serious quilter. I have read other machine quilting books which were very good, but I would have to say this is the best, with the most practical information. Note: there are no patterns for quilts, though there are quilt photos throughout the book. There are quilting line patterns to copy, however, with directional arrows to guide your machine quilting.

This is an excellent book, but there are a couple of drawbacks. First, and most annoying, is the ordering of the herbs by scientific name. Makes it hard to find the herb you're looking for. Second, it's a large book, takes up a lot of space on the table and doesn't fit on all shelves.

It has served me well enough, but I recently came across Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More and I have to say this is the book I would pick up instead, in retrospect. I may even buy it anyway. It's small, has all the reference information in this one (and then some), and more readily available.

This is a simply marvelous book. It is a mystery to me why it is not continuously in print. Do not hesitate to buy this used from Amazon Marketplace sellers, as I did.

The book is large and beautifully fashioned and produced, with gorgeous full-color photographs not only of each herb, but of dozens of different species of each herb, and of every possible use to which herbs can be put. There are full-color pictures of crafts, teas, household items, massage how-to illustrations, dyes--to say nothing of prepared food dishes; this is actually a cookbook within an herbal!

ONE CAVEAT: if you are looking for an in-depth gardening how-to, with exhaustive planting info, you might want a supplement for this book, which sticks to the basics. But every other herb-related topic is embellished and elaborated on. There are dozens of pages with full-color, labeled illustrations of different "theme" gardens you can plan. Whole chapters EACH on potpurri, herbal cosmetics, dyes, medicines, and household cleaners. Fabulous, unique homemade gift items like herbal-scented beads--that's right, painted beads made entirely out of herbs and plants!

The food/cooking section alone is worth the price of the book. The dishes are fantastic. I have already made the Sweet Rosemary Slices and several teas and drinks, and they are wonderful. Almost every recipe has a full-color photo.

I could go on and on, but rather than waste your time, I will leave you to hit "Add To Shopping Cart."

Money has rarely been this well-spent.

Unless you want extreme detail, you only need one book on herbs and this is it - whether for gardening or for culinary or medicinal insights, crafts or whatever. It's all here - and concise. I love to grow and use herbs and tossed the library my other herb books.

Cannot say enough about how glad I am to own this. It has more than I would need to raise herbs. Concise. Beautiful pictures. Excellent reference source.

I purchased this book for a basic book about herb gardening. I used the reviews which were very helpful. It is fantastic! Not too confusing like some I purchased which were very technical. (Not being a scientist, I couldn't use a lot of them because I didn't know their botanical names!) This book is definitely user friendly. I am recommending it to my friends who also are getting into herb gardening. A lot of information for a good price, you won't be disappointed. Great recipe ideas too.