Non-fiction Books

What can I say about this book that the other reviewers have not already said! The plot and characters were great as always. A beautiful and touching time travel romance with Elizabeth finding a path to the 1870s while wearing her Aunts necklace. She is desparate to divert a tragic fire that claimed the life of Dr. Jonathan Fortner and his daughter.

This book is one of my favorites....I have re-read the first and second book over again. You will really enjoy!

Elizabeth and the necklace, what a story! I was mesmerized from the first couple of pages and read into the wee hours. Finishing the book this morning, I can tell you that you will travel with Lizzie into the 1800's and realize that it is not what you have materially that counts in life.
I am glad that I bought many more Miller books on sale at the bookstore.

AFTER STARTING MANY BOOKS & LEAVING THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HOLD MY INTEREST, I FOUND "BEYOND THE THRESHOLD." THE BOOK IS 2 COMPLETE NOVELS IN ONE, "THERE & NOW" AND "HERE & THEN." I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN & CAN'T WAIT FOR MY SISTER TO READ IT. GOING BACK & FORTH FROM MODERN DAY TO THE 1800'S GIVES THE BOOK A MUCH MORE INTERESTING READ. I AM DEFINATELY RECOMMENDING THIS BOOK.

The time travel element gave an intriguing and refreshing twist to the romance. Elisabeth found herself in the same house one hundred years back when she worn the magical necklance. I was intrigued by the kind of shock and bewilderment that I imagined that I would experience, just like Elisabeth. Furthermore, she met and fell in love with Jonanthan and his daughter, Trista. Jonanthan was a loving and devoted father to Trista, despite his hectic life as the physician of the town. But we felt his loneliness and sadness. He was a man in need of a woman's love. And Trista, adorable and yet at times appeared to be too mature for her age, yielded and deserved a mother. Elisabeth just fit the role perfectly, except that she was from the time a century away. I was touched by the extent of commitment one would need to overcome to realise the dream of being with the loved ones, separated by a century. At the end, I wished there was more. It would be better if there was greater room for character development.

The story is narrated by fifteen year old Josh, son of waning film star Rita Cydney. Rita enjoys a traumatic love life, divorced from Josh's father and with a trail of failed lovers. Enter Ben, the seemingly perfect partner, and father to be for Josh, but then one day Josh discovers Ben's body at the bottom of the Garden with a bullet in his head. But is it suicide or murder, and so the nightmare begins. A fascinating tale, but the real beauty is the writing, which truly conveys the honesty, passion and innocence of the fifteen year old Josh; an absolute joy to read.

I read this book as a high school sophomore...I can honestly say that it was one of the most inspirational books I've ever had the pleasure to read. On my college applications I wrote about it as the book that most changed my life. I was fortunate enough to find a used copy at a local library sale, and will never part with it again.

I believe I have read most, if not all, of James Kirkwood's books. It would be extremely difficult to pick out a 'favorite'. They were all favorites...they still are, though my dog-eared copies have long since mysteriously vanished! But my memories of the writings of this incredible man and the way he could reach into my heart and soul and make me feel so much will never dissappear. As with all of his books, this one pulled me (more than once) through very dark periods of my life, of which there were many. Thankfully, I am more comfortable with myself now. But I will never forget how all of Kirkwood's books provided me with a respite from whatever internal or external turmoil that was going on in my life. How sad that this brilliant writer is no longer writing. Even sadder that his books are so difficult to find. I'm seaching for them all, to read again from a different perspective and to remember where I've been and what lifted my spirits when I really didn't think I had any spirit left.

This was the first of Jimmy Kirkwood's books I read, over 30 years ago, and I was as hooked as I was to Salinger -- in exactly the same way. I related, I experienced, I lived the main character. "P.S. Your Cat Is Dead", will remain my favorite, and I have read them all, but Pony establishes a reader's line of communication with the author on an almost personal level. With one exception, I've read all his work in chronological order. That line, that level, that common bonding, both between reader and author, and between author and underlying content, threads itself through all the novels and plays. In the early 70's, while spending several seasons in the Hamptons, I was fortunate enough to meet and spend some time with Jimmy. To read his work is to know the author, and he, in turn, is a master of turning the mirror toward the reader. Any of his writing is a good place to start, but, in my opinion, Pony is the best beginning. . . and a sure guarantee that you'll search out copies of all the rest. Like his personality, his writing is addictive.

I find it so sad that most of James Kirkwood's books are now out of print. I still have my copy of P.S. Your Cat is Dead. I lent out all of my others over the years and never got them back...now, I'm searching for copies. It makes me crazy to think that an entire generation and generations to come will miss out on this wonderful author. I first read him in my sophmore year of college and was immediately hooked and grabbed every book of his I could find. My college roomate and I fell in love with his writing; much the same way that we did with John Irving. I still feel the connection 25 years later. Each and every one of his books is worth a read. James Kirkwood's life was too short and his work should not be forgotten! HIT ME WITH A RAINBOW is another one not to be missed. Happy reading and good luck to all trying to locate his wonderful work...

I bought this because my son came home from Kindergarten one day having memorized the poem. We had to have the book! The poem is so sweet, and the illustrations are charming.

This book is the greatest! The fun rhyming poem keeps my 15 month-old son entertained for hours. He loves the bright pictures and helping me turn the pages. It's such a short and catchy poem that even when he turns the pages quickly I can keep up because I know it by heart. Even our family members can recite along!!! The best part is that when I ask him 'Where's the Puffin?' he can find the book no matter where he is. A fun and great choice!

The charming language and addictive rhythm captured my 3-year-old daughter's imagination. "Then along came the fishes and they said, 'If you wishes, you can have us for playmates, instead of for tea.'" Not only did she memorize it all on her own, she loves to play with the words, inserting various other food items for the pancakes which the puffin ultimately chooses instead of eating fish.

Adroitly written by Florence Page Jaques with an "easy reader" text, and enhanced with the artwork of Shari Halpern, There Once Was A Puffin is a brightly illustrated picture book about a lonely puffin. At first he ate fish, but he had no one to play with - so he befriended the fish he once ate, and learned to eat pancakes instead. An upbeat story told with energy and gusto, There Once Was A Puffin is a welcome addition to any school or community library collection.

I love this book. My children are now in college but I can still recite most of the poem. I would love to have the words to the poem if anyone is willing to e-mail them to me. If this book was in stock I would buy several to have on hand as presents and keep at least one for myself.

Having read Stewart's Arthurian saga, and thoroughly enjoyed and admired them, I was a bit disappointed in this book. It is an adventure and mystery novel, with no real magic in it (as exists with Merlin and The Crystal Cave and the rest). I found her writing amateur and struggling, not the masterful work she put forth in the Arthurian saga books.

I could picture something of Corfu, and I substituted Ian McKellen for Sir Julian Gale (this was a good character). I liked her descriptions of the old houses and the hidden cellars and passages, the rich rose garden, the dolphin element, but for the most part it felt like a setting, and the characters worked to move the plot along.

However, I was touched by some bits of the romance, the tension of the mystery, and the fear of what-if towards the end.

This Rough Magic is one of those perfect books-it draws you on with suspense, involves you deeply with jewel-cut prose, and unlike most Stewart novels, is quite funny in spots. I love this book for its lightheartedness and its tragedy and its lovely romance, if that makes any sense. This is perfect romantic suspense, great for constant rereading.

An out of work actress staying in Corfu with her rich pregnant sister becomes embroiled in a dangerous mystery after encountering a famous reclusive actor and his passionate son. Throw in a few murders and our heroine is out to determine the who and why. One of Ms Stewart's best novels, it is totally absorbing describing a country and lifestyle in such vivid detail, and impressing her characters with warmth, understanding and plenty of realism.

As in other Mary Stewart classics, the action of "This Rough Magic" takes place in a mere matter of days. Lucy Waring, a twenty-something actress steps off the London stage and onto the idyllic Ionian island of Corfu. In a the course of a morning swim, paradise transforms to a place of sinister doings: someone shoots at a tamed dolphin, a young Greek drowns off the coast of Albania, and a smuggler washes up dead in a nearby cove. Stewart uses all her formidable skill, crafting a strong story that is both literary and fast moving. Told from Lucy's point-of-view, the reader's is kept as taut as a wire as the tension mounts not only while Lucy attempts to determine the identity of the wrongdoer and the reason for his misdemeanors but as she inadvertently puts herself in harm's way.

Playfully, Stewart pulls out all the stops, introducing one of her most cleverly contrived secondary characters, Sir Julian Gale, a Lawrence Olivier facsimile whose theory that the island setting of Shakespeare's "Tempest" and Corfu are one and the same adds much charm and ambiance to an already gloriously depicted exotic locale. Cleverer still, she employs the idea of the deus ex machina in a most enjoyable sequence, where the 'god' is a young Greek male and the 'machine', his improbable motorcycle.

As always, the Stewart heroine impeccably relates each event as it occurs with an astonishing literacy--the language employed borders on poetry; the reader actually smells every flower, is blinded by the lush colors of the foilage and stung by the salt of the Ionian Sea. In kind, Stewart characterizes her Greeks with an affectionate curiosity and love of the stranger; their traditions and rituals are reported with much respect and admiration.

As noted in some of my other reviews of Stewart's work, this author's masterly use of plot, character, language and style puts her in a genre all her own. She is quite definitely incomparable. 'This Rough Magic" is one of my favorite Stewart selections: one of a trio of novels set in Greece and the Greek Isles that uses the strained politics of the late 50s and early 60s as a backdrop to catapult a rather normal UK female protagonist into an abnormal situation where the British sense of responsibility is shown to positive advantage.

Recommended with the wish that all the Stewart suspense tales are reissued in trade paperback with Reader's Questions.

I love everything Mary Stewart has written. Her books are classics. This was the first book I read of her's, and to this day I think it is still her best. This Rough Magic is a truely charming story. When I think of the story I get a smile on my face. That's how good this book is. I highley recommend this book and all her others.

W.P. Kinsella is an excellent writer of short fiction. Many will know him as author of Shoeless Joe which became the movie Field of Dreams (Widescreen Two-Disc Anniversary Edition).

Kinsella also has written a number of short stories, relying on baseball as the theme, but with themes that are universal. This isn't the "get the big hit to win the game" story, but rather baseball as a metaphor.

With any collection, the question of best and worst short stories come up. Particulary strong is the opener "The Last Pennant Before Armageddon" which deals with a prophecy that the next pennant that the Cubs win will be the last pennant that any team ever wins -- a prediction that still hasn't been tested since this piece was penned in 1984.

The collection also closes strong with "The Thrill of the Grass" dealing with the baseball strike and a populist secret revolt against artificial turf -- a methphorical return to purity.

Excellent work. Kinsella is truly a master writer.

My brother told me about W.P. Kinsella in 1984 and I've been a huge fan ever since. I've read everything I can find by him, starting with "Shoeless Joe" and this might be my favorite book of his. He has written at least three collections of baseball short stories and this is easily the best.

Most of the stories are not so much about baseball, it's more a case of using baseball as a background and common thread to tie the stories all together.

These are the kind of stories you can read over and over again. One of my favorites was the story about the fans who decided to turn the latest player's strike into a chance to replace astroturf with real grass. With the stadium shut down for the strike, they came in and returned the field to a natural state. I've always thought that when the players strike they should strike to get rid of astroturf; a cause many fans could get behind.

I don't know of any baseball fan who would not enjoy these stories.

A collection of baseball stories - or rather, stories involving baseball and baseball players in some way. Kinsella is at hist best when he stays close to earth - hopeful bush leaguers, women trouble - but tends to go way over the top when he tries to involve more "magic" (in his own words) to the game and the story. The Iowa Baseball Confederacy suffered from this problem, and so do a few of the stories in this collection. But when his "stories aren't about events, they're about the people they happen to", he has a wonderful touch. Some of my favourites in this collection are "Drive me to the moon", about a Rookie leaguer and his affair in a one-horse town in Canada, "Barefoot and pregnant in Des Moines", about a big league star and his marriage. Some of these stories are true gems and fully warrant the five-star rating; others are filler, but then even the most classic games have their straightforward 6-3 groundouts.

W. P. Kinsella writes with poignance and wit, capturing both the humor and the occasional tragedy of the game. This collection displays some of his best work.

My alltime favorite among this collection is "The Last Pennant Before Armageddon." In the wake of the Cubs' collapse this fall, a work like this has real prescience and is somehow reassuring that there was a higher purpose behind it all.

Still, there are other strong stories in the mix. In one, the narrator is offered the chance to trade places with the recently-killed Yankees catcher Thurman Munson. Another, more whimsical story takes you inside the clubhouse of the 1951 Giants, as a surprisingly literate team debates whether The Greaty Gatsby is an allegory.

For me, "The Last Pennant Before Armageddon" is reason enough to buy this book. In the wake of the 2003 NLCS, I feel a dire need to read it . . . repeatedly.

Kinsella is short stories. Period. I started reading this book as an average teenager who hated baseball, sports and those who played them. I come away from it, my opinions about "jocks" shaken. If you do read it, look for the themes of desolation, failure, dreams, and a "grief cycle" which is really Kinsella's Theory of Life. Extradonairy....beyond description.

I'm a big fan of Naval fiction - from Napoleonic Wars to present day - and this was one of the best I've read. I picked it up with some trepidation, because I couldn't even finish Fleming's mish-mash "Over There" but he's redeemed himself with this one. The ending of Time and Tide is particularly poignant.

I came across this book overseas 12+ years ago. It is a great read for anyone who enjoys WWII books and likes well written stories. Other reviewers have described the plot enough so I won't waste space.
Suffice it to say that Fleming captures the spirit of the times and has a true gift for filling out characters. Writing as a Navy veteran, I can say that he got this right. I would recommend this without reservation.

I just finished "Time and Tide" this morning and perhaps I'm still "under the influence" but I don't think so. I've read hundreds of novels...many about the Navy/military/WWII. This is truely a cut above the rest. I agree with the other reader/reviewer that this reminded me a lot of Herman Wouk only a little better. This is my first book by Flemming but it sure won't be the last. As a mustang Captain I could see myself and former shipmates in so many of the characters. They were alive for me. They were so real I find it hard to realize I must bid them "fair winds and following seas".

I read this book a while back. I just saw it in the library today. I remember it so well that I felt compelled to right a review.

Anyone that is familiar with WW II and the naval campaigns will want to read this book. This is the story of a light cruiser with a new captain. The previous captain (if I remember correctly) was court martialed for cowardice. He was a close friend of the new captain. That's the first sub plot in this book.

There are other plots that that happen throughout the book. The book is so well written and the character so well developed that I can still remember the pleasure of reading it. There were good guys and bad guys, creeps and regular Joes. The ship is like a small town.

Oh, I left out the battle sequences. Wow! Incredible. Even the aftermath and cleanup after the battles was well handled. The cruiser limping back to port for a refit and overhaul.

The ending is a little sad. But, after you read the book, you will understand why it had to be so.

If you at all enjoy WW II naval action, this is a must read book.

You almost have to have been A U.S. Navy Sailor to appreciate this book fully. Those who have "gone down to the sea in ships" through the years will understand what I mean. This book combines all the elements of good fiction (in my humble opinion). Good characters, most niether good noe evil, but human: war, love, honor, deciet, and friendship. My favorite aspect of this book is the air of mysticism applied to the sea nad the ship, you either have been to sea and understand it or you haven't and probably don't. The characters are very good, it is obvious that Mr. Fleming read Herman Wouk, the parallels between Arthur McKay and "Pug" Henry cannot be missed, but I believe this is a plus and as a long time member of the Pug Henry fan club I cannot fault him for it.

If you are or have ever been on a Navy Combat vessel at sea READ THIS BOOK. If you haven't, read it anyway, and perhaps you will see what it is about this duty that forever changes those of us who have.

I loved this Hannibal Jones story. If Austin Camacho ever decides to give up writing, he should set up his easel. The descriptions of the people and places are amazingly vivid.

This was a great summer read which I finished all too soon in one weekend. At heart, this is a good story with interesting characters and little need to suspend disbelief. Camacho writes smoothly and paces the story well. The characters are interesting and not predictable, which is always a plus. He also writes great fight scenes. I'll recommend this to anyone looking for an action story set in the real world of Washington DC.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and you feel you know them, especially after reading the following books. His endings never leave you hanging, and the twists in the book are unique.

While third in the series featuring Hannibal Jones, the events depicted in this novel predate the novels "Blood And Bone" and "Collateral Damage." As such, it serves as a perfect introduction to the series for new readers and for those fans familiar with the series, explains how it all began.

Displaced by a fire in his apartment complex, Hannibal needs a new home, at least temporarily. With his new struggling business open less than six months and all records destroyed in the fire along with everything else he owns, Hannibal is devastated and contemplating a bleak future. Thanks to Cindy Santiago, daughter of his friend, Ray Santiago, he may get a new place fast.

Cindy works in a small law firm and one of the partners, Mr. Dan Baylor, has recently branched out into real estate as a developer. Cindy is sure that she can set up a meeting and Mr. Baylor will help Hannibal get a new place. They do meet and after Baylor checks with his staff, he informs Hannibal that nothing is currently available. The only possible exception and one that he is very reluctant to reveal, is in a building across the river in Anacostia. Infested with squatters and drug dealers, Mr. Baylor has been unable to get them out of his building despite repeated requests to the Police. The property, which he bought from the government and is intended to be developed for low-income housing, is costing Baylor every month and thanks to the squatters and drug dealers, he can't recoup his investment.

A deal is struck for Hannibal to clean out the building and provide security so that repair crews can go to work. Former government agent and now "troubleshooter" Hannibal Jones figures he has the bases covered and can have the building emptied permanently in less than a week. But, he is very wrong and quickly puts himself and those he cares about in great danger as the war for control between a neighborhood and the mob heats up.

Unlike the earlier two novels of the series, this novel is more of a character study and less a mystery. Little detective work is actually done since the dealers and other bad guys are quickly identified. As such, this novel shifts more into a vigilante style of justice work with Hannibal forced to repeatedly do battle at considerable cost to clear the building. Over the course of the siege, not only do we see how Hannibal came into being through insights into his character but we also see the beginnings of the romance between himself and Cindy Santiago. Several other recurring characters from the other novels make their introduction as well, explaining the tight bonds that exist.

Like the others in this series, this very enjoyable novel features tight writing, plenty of action, and intriguing characters. However, in so doing, some reviewers have mistakenly compared this author with Tom Clancy. Please do not be misled as this book and the others in the series have nothing in common with Tom Clancy novels. Both authors are writing books that do not share connections of style, character development, plotting, pacing, or anything else in common other than the fact they both release books printed on paper. Since Tom Clancy writes detailed techno thrillers making such comparisons meaningless and absurd, a better comparison might be made between Hannibal Jones to the "Lucas Davenport" character of the Prey series by John Sandford if comparisons must be made. Much like Lucas, Hannibal is an intense loner by his very nature and is very selective in his personal entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Much like Lucas, Hannibal does not tolerate evil in its many forms and is often conflicted as to the results and consequences regarding such confrontations. Much like Lucas, Hannibal is often pitted against forces that devalue human life at great personal cost.

Hannibal is fast becoming an old friend that this reader regularly looks forward to every time a new novel is released. This author and his three mystery novels to date are well worth the read and worthy of a place on your bookshelf.


Book Facts:

Troubleshooter
By Austin S. Camacho
www.ascamacho.com
Intrigue Books
www.publishinggold.com
August 2004
ISBN # 1-890158-63-1
Large Trade Hardback

Kevin R. Tipple (c) 2004

I just finished reading the Troubleshooter. It was a great story - since I went to business school in DC and worked there for 20 years, I knew the exact places in the book where the story takes place. It was very interesting to see how Jones was able to outsmart the drug dealers and how the entire community stands behind each other. I can't wait to read Austin Camacho's other books. It gives readers a look at real life outside of the Capitol of the U.S. Mr. Camacho's writing style was very easy to stay with and the entire story was so interesting you kept wanting to read but really didn't want it to end.

I liked this book. P.J. Funnybunny's mother, father and his many sisters and brothers all call him a bad bunny. So P.J. thinks he knows what a bad bunny is. But P.J. and his family- have to spend a day with little cousin Binky before they understand how a bad bunny can be! Beginning readers will root for P.J. as they follow the bright, lively illustrations and funny story to its delightful ending. The simplicity of the text, the illistrations, and the concepts makes this a perfect book for all readers. Children will want to read it a again and again!

I really liked this book, but I think my son learned how to misbehave by reading this book. He drew on the walls of his bedroom when he was 2 1/2 years old and said "the Bad Bunny did it Mama." Oh well... I still love this book!

This was a favorite bedtime story for my son and me. It really helped us to keep a good attitude about what might have gone wrong that day. It helped me to keep my sanity and laugh about the little mistakes my own "very bad bunny" might have made. I have been searching high and low for additional copies to share with other mothers of young boys. Thanks, Marilyn and Roger, for sharing!

I liked this book. I think it was entertaing and cute. P.J. Funnnybunny's mother, father, and his many brothers and sister all call him a bad bunny. So P.J. thinks he knows what a bad bunny is. But P.J. and his family have to spend a day with little cousin Binky before they understand how a bad bunny can be! Kids will root for P.J. as they follow the bright and funny story to it's ending. I think this is a perfect book for all readers. Kids will want to read it again and again.

I work in a preschool and have read this book to both toddlers and preschool age children. I was amazed at how mesmerized they were by the story of PJ Funnybunny and his rascal cousin Binky. The children loved this story because they could relate to PJ and how he was at times misunderstood in his own family. Then came Binky to put the whole world into perspective. The story and message was conveyed in an entertaining and endearing way. As naughty as Binky was, the illustrations made him very cute and loveable. I often ask the children at the end of the story, "why do you think Binky does those things?" and "what could you do to help Binky learn how to be nice?" The answers are always interesting. This endearing book has sparked my interest in reading all the PJ Funnybunny books. The stories are cute and the illustrations are even cuter.

I received this book as a Christmas gift around 1980, I believe. I cannot tell you how much this book meant to me as a girl. I must have read it about 200 times. My mother recently moved and was going through all our childhood things and found the book packed away. She gave it to me. I was so delighted because I thought I'd lost the book years ago. I sat down immediately and read it again. And yep...its still as good as it ever was.

I am a ballet dancer. I have been dancing for 15 years now, and this is still one of my favorite books. I was introduced to it when I was about 5 and it facinated me. The whole story seemed true to what I knew about ballet and Stephanie, the main character, lived my biggest dreams! For years, I only borrowed it from the library, and soon it was one of the most worn in their collection! Finally, we moved away and the next library didn't have it, but Mom found it at a used book store and bought it for me. I ended up meeting David Richards, a teacher in the book, at a ballet competition and he signed it for me. He told me that Stephanie doesn't dance any more, and I don't think she ever made it into New York City Ballet company or any other ballet company. Like I said earlier, I've been dancing 15 years and this book, to me, is even more a true embodiment of what the every-day life of a ballet dancer is! I've known this book so long that I can quote it forwards and backwards, and almest every sentence is or has been true for me! I just finished a run of Nutcracker and, "I tore a little pink ribbon off the pantaloons that I wore in the party scene to keep for a souvenir."-to quote page 118. I am positive that current dancers, former dancers, future dancers, and sancers in their dreams will absolutly love this book, especially because it is so true to what they feel!

While Jill Krementz is a talented photographer, what my daughter and I really loved about this series was the very detailed text. She was fascinated to learn that each level at the School of American Ballet wears a different color leotard. She sympathized with the dancer who wants a new role in The Nutcracker, but gets the same casting. She learned the difference between a class, a rehearsal, and a performance - all opportunities to dance, but each with a specific purpose.
The original Jill Krementz books, like this one, were printed in black and white. A few later books ("A Very Young Skier") are in full color. But while the color photos look more contemporary and appealing, the later books are "dumbed down" - the text is very short, more like picture captions than narrative.
For the wonderful sense of detail you need the classic titles like "A Very Young Dancer." They make a dancer's life so real, a young reader can easily picture herself (or himself) doing the same. And that's the real power of this series: instead of being a passive spectator, the young reader becomes a participant. My daughter is now dancing in The Nutcracker for her ninth (and last) year. I think "A Very Young Dancer" was a big help along the way.

I am very partial to this book because it was one of my favorites when I was a little girl. I do believe this book is an absolute must-have for any young girl who takes part in the performing arts, particularly ballet. A VERY YOUNG DANCER is about a beautiful little girl named Stephanie who is a student at the prestigious American School of Ballet. We see her learning technique with her fellow students under the direction of David Howard. Eventually, we see her live the dream of many little would-ballerinas as Stephanie is chosen for the part of Mary (or Clara in many versions) in the New York City Ballet's production of the Nutcracker. I think the most important aspect of this book is the message--hard work, determination, and a good attitude are essential for making dreams come true.

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. A Very Young Dancer was one of her picks.

This is a story of a girl, Stephanie, who has the starring girl's role in The Nutcracker at age 10. The book is full of wonderful photographs that show ballet as it is experienced by the dancers. The story is written as though by Stephanie, so you see the world from her perspective.

My daughter loved this story so much, that she would beg me to keep reading. I would keep going until my voice was so hoarse I could not continue. And I loved the story, too.

Almost all little girls become interested in ballet at some point. This book is a wonderful way to encourage and expand on that interest while your child is too young to actually begin training. The material in this book can help sustain an interest in ballet later on, either as a dancer or as a fan. It will certainly encourage everyone who reads it to see The Nutcracker performed again this holiday season.

Although the story is focused on Stephanie, she also dances with eleven year old Stephen in The Nutcracker. Other male figures include Shaun O'Brien who plays Drosselmeyer and Stephanie's teacher, David Richardson. So boys who are interested in ballet will also find role models here.

Overcome your misconceptions that being a child star is bad for children with this heart-warming book about learning, growing up, beauty, and sharing with others.

This book started me on yet another new craft obsession - carving my own stamps has turned out to be so much easier than I thought it would be!

I don't think there's anything the author could have added in this textbook - there are already wonderful stamps, a gallery, thorough instructions that are beautifully illustrated and tons of inspiration. Also a nice section for troubleshooting and fixing mistakes when something goes wrong in your carving - very helpful!

Very happy to have purchased this book!

Zig

If you are interested in learning how to carve your own art rubber stamps then you need this book as well as Art Stamping Workshop. Both books provide clear cut instructions on how to carve your own stamps to make artistic and fun stamps that are one of a kind. Well worth the 10 bucks here on Amazon! I recommend it.
5 stars!

I've been a stamp carver and art teacher for many years. This book is the best instruction guide for learning to carve that I have ever seen. The author has described all aspects of carving soft blocks for printmaking. Her step by step carving instructions are beautifully illustrated with good, clear photographs. This is a guide that can be followed by an absolute novice carver AND is very useful to the intermediate or advanced carver. As carving teacher that has given workshops all over the country, I found many of her carving tips useful. If I ever write a "how to" book, I hope it would be as helpful as this one. This book answers and illustrates with excellent photographs all of the FAQ's (frequently asked questions) that have come up in the carving workshops that I have taught. I own or at least have read nearly every stamp carving pamphlet and block printing "how to" book on the market. This book is the best I've ever seen. Sure wish I had written it!!

I think a new carver or Seasoned carver would be inspired to carve after taking a look at this book! Great job, Luann!

This book clearly details the ins and outs of carving your own rubber stamps, for those whose creative instincts urge them to follow their own path in the world of stamping. With clear, non-technical language, the author shows in words and pictures how even the simplest and most modest of tools can create lively stamped images which can stand on their own or be incorporated into larger and more complex works.

This is a good "inspiration" book for either the novice entry-level artist/stamper or for the seasoned creator who is looking for new directions for their art. Luann strikes a nice balance with her presentation, with an instruction book that is user friendly and free of "tech-talk". The "how-to" instructions are clearly written and well complemented by excellent photos showing exactly how to proceed. This book will be appreciated by any who purchase it as a springboard into new areas and levels of creativity.