V Books

This has to be one of my favorites and no child should be without it. The text is lively and easy to read and reads like people really talk, which gives the story a lot of warmth. The illustrations are beautifully drawn with lots of detail and humor and also look true to life, from the pained expression on the dad's face as he's rowing the boat, to sister Jane peeking from the top of the stairs or chasing the cat under the bench in Mr. Condon's store. Jane is depicted just as most children her age really are - a real livewire who is both curious and active, climbing and getting into things - she reminds me of my 16 month old daughter! And Sal is accurately portrayed as a typical preschooler - asking detailed questions about everything and talking up a storm.

You won't be disappointed. This classic is a must for any preschooler.

This book is a beautiful picture book, and I still enjoy looking at it. The pictures are gorgeous. And this isn't a cheesy book. It's a wonderful story for children, and I highly recommend it! Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

Great condition! I remember this childhood book being illustrated in navy blue ink. Has this been changed? I was looking forward to that. Great service. Thank you.

I had this book when I was a child and bought it for my grand-neice because I love the book. I was so happy to see that it is still in print. It is a wonderful little story and the illustrations are amazing. I highly recommend this story for all youngsters.

To a child, every morning is a new start with infinite possibilities; at least that's how it should be. In this classic 1953 book Robert McCloskey brings a child's simple world to life. McCloskey, better known for his Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal, gives us another look at little Sal. The story is timeless and his line drawings bring the children to life.

The simple coastal lifestyle of more than half a century ago may be hard to find today, in part because of the high local tax valuation of shore and island properties. Still, if you were to take a child to the rocky coast of Maine this summer, she could be little Sal in the clam flats. One Morning in Maine (Picture Puffin) is full of that magical atmosphere where the land and ocean meet. We all want that magic!

McCloskey's Caldecott-honored book tells a simple story. Young Sal wakes up on a sunny morning in Maine with an adventure in store. She and her little sister are going with their father in the boat to Buck's Harbor to dig clams. There are idyllic family scenes, lessons from their father about the world around them, ice cream cones at the store, and the disappointment of a loose tooth lost in the clam flats.

Simple stuff? It certainly is, and just the sort of simple stuff children thrive on. Sal's morning may be long ago and far away, but the curiosity and wonder of a child's new day will be with us forever.

Linda Bulger, 2008

I am not new to the personal development scene. I have used many books, courses, introspection, meditation, ... to create a great life. This includes a great wife (20 years), 4 great kids, my own successful busines, being an author, a well-known speaker, ... Nevertheless, I admit to feeling certain amounts of stress and, I can't say it any better - being out of control. Things happen that I don't like and I sometimes just find myself reacting to them.

What I love about this book is:
* it tells the truth about the phenomenon of being a human being
* it gives some actual practices you can use to help you
* it touches the spiritual part of me that knows connecting to others and helping them is one of my greatest joys

This book is a great book if you are looking on how to manifest what you want in a world that doesn't always seem to be working in the direction you want it to. It gave me insights into both why control was not possible as well as how I could have peace without it. At the same time, it gave me insights into how I can help others. In my family, helping others in my family obviusly aligns with my own needs. In my profession, as an educator, it aligns as well.

How to assist others in meeting their goals while retaining peace if they don't is one benefit of this book. Reminding me I can be great in an out of control world is another.

I highly highly highly recommend this book. It is very near the top of a long list of books I would reccommend.

This is not manipulation

This book shifted my perspectives about "Control". It's one of those books that I come across once in a while that makes an impact on how I work, think and live.

The title itself was interesting - the power of losing control. Sounds oxymoronic, right? How could anyone gain power by losing control? What I understand now is that there wasn't any power to exercise in the first place. As Caruso wrote, what we really have is an "Illusion of Control". That's the essence of what I learnt -- we DON'T have control of many things in the first place, so we're worrying about noting!

The author doesn't preach or anything. What it did for me was to reframe how I could view the concept of control (or lack of). Subsequently, that changed how I viewed things -- my job, my work, my relationship with my wife. I've become a happier person now, and when I cite things from the book, my friends think I'm some genius. I tell them to read the book. : )

Written by Joe Caruso (cancer survivor, business consultant, speaker, workshop leader, and author of the syndicated column "Cup of Joe"), The Power Of Losing Control: Finding Strength, Meaning, And Happiness In An Out-Of-Control World is a down-to-earth anthology about adapting to, and making the best of, events that are beyond an individual's power to change. Individual chapters cogently address such topics as knowing when to stop beating the proverbial dead horse; the importance of making connections count; the power of faith to stand against fear; and a great deal more. A motivational, practical, and expert assessment of dealing with the hazards of reality, The Power Of Losing Control is confidently recommended for personal self-help, self-improvement reading lists and reference collections.

While the basis of the book deals with the energy consumed on things we have little or no control over, I found far more wisdom than this morsel. From my prospective of the book, what grabbed me most was this insite; We all own images of ourselves based on myths and fears and I own myths about myself that prevent me daily from being the best version of myself at work, home and play. The author does an excellent job of using stories and examples to light a path to self-betterment from within.

Most self-improvement books I have read deal with external processes such as setting priorities and time managment. This book deals with the inner set of beliefs we maintain true that hold us back from being the best version of ourselves. One example: Why do physically abused people choose frienships and partners that continue to abuse them? Answer: Until they change the inner belief that say's I'm not good enough, the cycle will continue.

The book challenged me to differentiate from precept and preception. The author includes exercises that I found very helpful.

This is an extrordinary book, easy to read but challenging to read. It has changed my life. Buy it! Believe that you're worth the $20 investment.

The Power of Losing Control by Joe Caruso is a book about how the true power of losing control lies in knowing the difference between what you can control, what you can effect, and what you need to accept. When you realize the only person you can change is yourself and stop wasting energy trying to change others you will have more peace and personal satisfaction. Caruso's book gives you an opportunity to experiment with yourself, learn new truths and become more aware of how you can enhance the meaning of your life. He points out how you are the stories you tell yourself and how rewriting your personal driving myths can reshape how you live your life. His book has helpful insights such as the real story of who you are isn't about what happens to you as much as it is about how you interpret it and define what happens. Also the more you repeat the story to yourself the more powerful it becomes and the more you allow the story to determine your behavior and behave as if it were true. My early life illustrates his point. I felt abandoned as a child so I believed I would be abandoned as an adult and I was until I wised up. He says the key to fulfillment is to keep asking, "Is the story I am telling myself serving me?" Caruso's book is packed with other powerful insights and advice: the difference between responding and reacting and a commitment and a decision. Also the 10 ideas and attitudes you need to let go of and the five stages of wisdom. If you use what you read in this book and apply it to the five stages of wisdom it could change your life.

Before reading Scratch, you really should read the 2 previous books by this author. He has a way of making your golf fun, while teaching you that you really are your own worst enemy on the course. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and hope the author will continue with more of Eddy's adventures.

I picked this book up on sale at a bookstore, pretty much blindly. What a fabulous read! Eddie Caminetti is flawless! You know you wish you were a little more like him: smooth, calculated, really smart, honest and quite successful to boot - but never boring. The whole book is engaging and I've never set foot on a golf course. It's funny and insightful and makes (intelligent) light of something that people tend to take very seriously - golf equipment. I recommend it to anyone!

If you play golf, it's a must read. If you don't, you will still enjoy it very much.

Troon takes a shot at how we golfer's feel so insecure that we spend crazy amount of money for an edge that isn't there. If you have a Callaway or any other expensive club in your bag, it will cut you up like a surgeon's scalpel and expose how vain you really are.

Worthy every penny! Pick it up!

The truth hurts. Yesterday I was told that a big name sports reporter bought a new set of clubs after every bad round of golf. I am going to send him this book. I will buy the bargain balls from now on.

Another enjoyable Eddie Camminetti read, but not as much fun as "The Green" or "The Foursome." As always, Troon McAllister has an interesting take on the game, and in this case, equipment manufacturers.

This book is awesome and very readable. Being so clearly written and straight to the point, it makes for a quick read and serves as a great reference.

While geared towards a business environment, the survival guide is written from a unique perspective which gives deep insight into the psychology of managers and coworkers.

I truly wish I had "Sink or Swim" for my first job. That would have helped me to avoid so many small mistakes which I was totaly oblivious to. It's just jam packed full of useful tips which coworkers usually won't tell you.

Even after two years in my current position, I found that reading this book gave ideas to naturally improve my professional image without any major effort or changes!

Definitely recommended for any professional employee - regardless of rank.

Within the first week of starting my new job at a startup internet company, I came across this book and it made all the difference. Working at a startup can often be disjointed, especially since we didn't have an office to call our own. By incorporating some of the advice in my weekly routines, I created a structure for myself that I continue to follow. The advice was clear, concise and right on.

This is definitely a must-read for anyone starting a new job.

Pay no attention to Jeffnc, the bitter reviewer from SC! I live in SF and have no idea who the Sidells are, but this book is fascinating! Follow everything they say week by week,a nd you'll get that "This is going very well" at your 90-day review just like me! What's more, you look not only super organized with this book on your desk, but also super-conscientious....I brought this book into a one on one with the boss, and I cracked the book and said "I'd like to talk about my career goals.." she asked me what the book was...she was impressed!

"Sink or Swim" is the book that I wish I had when I started in the working world over 18 years ago! It is a simple, step-by-step tool that shows new hires how to "get it right in 12 weeks". The week-by-week approach gives individuals the opportunity to set good habits and strategies that can be applied throughout one's career. This book has been very helpful to me as an HR professional in getting my recent college graduate new hires to better engage with the company and job they accepted within it! I would highly recommend this book.

This book is perfect for new college graduates or inexperienced employees starting new jobs. Milo and Thuy Sindell provide a wealth of information about proper business conduct and etiquette, including a checklist for recommended activities during your first 12 weeks on the job. Although the material is basic and somewhat repetitive (just like a start-up job), we think the book would make a great gift for anyone who is just beginning to learn the workplace ropes.

My Special Education class loved this book. The pictures are delightful and the story is fun and exciting for my Kindergarten/First Grade Class. This book was selected by my department as a suggested book for use in my class.

The warmth and openness that the authors convey in this book makes you feel like you live in that neighborhood yourself. Cute story; beautiful artwork. Children as young as 2 are drawn in and fascinated by the magical storyline. Great read-aloud book!

This imaginative little fantasy is sure to bring a smile to the lips of the smallest children and start a playful exchange of ideas. This is beginning imagination at its coolest. However be sure that you playfully talk to them about the book and get their ideas on what happens to snowmen during the night. Do not leave them with thre impression that snowmen are animated.

Even though we live in Florida and don't have snow my 3 year old son enjoys this book. It has good rhythm and cute story. This book was one of his preschool teachers favorites so we bought it. I am glad we did.

I've received this book & given it as a gift several times. It is good for young childrem, simple to read & the illustrations are beautiful. It is a great gift for new parents or grandparents. Also the the other book Snowmen at
Christmas is just as great.

This had some great old school recipes. However, if you are an Italian American you do not need this book. Had stuff my Great Grandmother and Grandmother have passed down.

Hill's book is extremely insightful. It's very descriptive and chocked full of authentic Italian recipes and stories from Hill's gangster life. The recipes range from very simple to somewhat complicated, depending on the reader's preference. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about the real-life, but old style of Italian cuisine.

A colorfull presentation of some excellent recipes, I truely value this book, in my collection. Try his shrimp receipe for the grill, excellent, my guests loved it and I the simplicity.

I've made a few of the meals in here, and they were very good. Not all that different from the way I cook anyway, but a few differences made the meals better. No problem with the recipes.

My problem is with the marketing of gangster life. This isn't a merely an Italian cookbook-- this is promoted as a MAFIA cookbook ("cooking on the run"?). His life stories are told in euphamistic and humourous fashion, but the reality is very different. The end of the book is almost enraging-- Henry says he he sees pierced and tattoo'd kids eating dinner at McDonald's, and wonders where their parent are-- they ought to be having a nice family dinner at home.

PUHLEEEEZE!!! Read his childrens' book-- "On the Run--A Mafia Childhood". Years of drinking and drug related abuse, not coming home for days at a time, turning his home into a drug and sex den, both before and after his bust-- and much worse stuff-- if you find yourself getting amused by his engagingly told tales of gangster glory or if you find his stories of his Broolyn childhood endearing, then you need to read his childrens' book for balance. See the link below.

Buy this book used. I wouldn't put a dime in Hill's pocket.


On the Run: A Mafia Childhood

I got this for my husband last Christmas and we haven't found anything that wasn't totally delicious. The only problem is, we can't eat Italian in a restaurant anymore! We cook better at home!! With Henry's precise step-by-step directions, and his delightful autobiographical inserts, this is our favorite cookbook.
If you can stomach it, a viewing of "Goodfellas" really makes the cookbook a lot of fun and brings the voice of Henry Hill to life. Sometimes we can feel him running around our kitchen in his drug-induced haze, preparing his Michael's favorite meatballs just like in the movie!

Ok, so a friend turned me on to the Neta Jackson series of "Yada Yada" and I was hooked from day one!!! If you thought Book 1 was was a page turner and the message was great... wait till you get a hold of this book!!! When I finished reading the book I texted my friend and said... "Simply Amazing"!!! The message that it brings, the story line, the power of the gospel simply AMAZING... A MUST READ!!! BE BLESSED!!!

My niece, Raecyne, recommended this book series. I enjoy the Yada Yada Prayer Group series so very much. Neta expertly crafts her characters so that you almost instinctively assign voices and faces to these characters. You feel as though you know these characters; you go to church with these ladies, they are in your choir or your small group. I told my niece that I am already lamenting my completion of the series. It will be like the feeling of loneliness you experience when you have to leave your church family and move to another location. You know you will miss these people who have meant so much to your life and your spiritual growth. Sounds like an extreme view of characters in a book? I challenge you to start reading the series. You will be delighted. You will also be challenged in your spiritual walk as the main character Jodi Baxter is challenged and grows spiritually. Treat yourself to the ladies of the Yada Yada Prayer Group!

I would recommend this series for anyone. I have already read through books 1-6 and am waiting for book #7 that will come out this week. I liked the series so much I now am buying a set of my own and am passing them around my church and friends to read. It will open your eyes to see how different ethnic groups look at church and prayer and how they see life from their culture. Book #2 brings the group together even more and starts to have an effect on the husbands and children. There is so much good in these books, I thank God for Neta Jackson and her talent for writing them. What a blessing!

This book carries the Yada Yada's further and closer to the Lord. I loved it.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group has been meeting for a while now and everyone is starting to get used to each other. Even though the group is very diverse, friendships are beginning to flourish and everyone is starting to open up little by little. But then one night at a group meeting, a woman comes into Jodi's house and threatens the group with a knife causing many old wounds to be opened in the group. Other issues with racism, anger, and trust put the group through a tough time as it tests all how strong is their friendship and their faith.

First off, I love love love the Yada Yada book series. I wish I was in a group like this. I love how this book series is very daring in the topics it chooses. Racism is something that most Christian books avoid because it's a touchy subject. Since the book is told from Jodi's POV, it's very easy to take her side on the issue with Ma Dear, Denny, and Adele. You get frustrated with everyone for not communicating with each other, yet at the same time you realize why both sides act the way they do. I also love how the group visits the different churches. It's nice to see them in the setting of a different denominations and have a new worship experience. Again since Jodi is the main character, you feel her pain and frustration. I felt the same way she did about certain issues. Some of the other characters seem a little too perfect at times, like how they are immediately ready to forgive Becky for what she did to them. I know that we should forgive those who hurt us, but It didn't seem realistic that people would be willing to open up their arms like that so soon. Sometimes you feel that since there are so many women in the group, it's hard to keep track of them all. I keep mixing up some of them or I forgot who's even in the group. I think that Jodie herself mentions this issue about whether or not the group is too big to keep close relationships with everyone. But it's really cool how diverse the group is, all races and ages are represented allowing readers of all ages to enjoy the book.

If you haven't already read the first book in the series, I definitely recommend it. This series is one of my favorites, the books are page-turners, you laugh, you cry, you get angry, you get irritated, it's like reading a slice of real life.

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Plasker at the 1st annual DCS Jam and the book is a must for anyone who wants to be in on the 100 year lifestyle. This is also a great read for your patients!

Dr Erik Plasker's Book is a great read for anyone looking to take stock of their life. The main message revolves around the fact that many of us will live to be 100 and beyond, so we may as well start preparing for this increased longevity that not many of us have planned for.
"What changes would you make today, if you knew you would live to be 100?"
Health, finances, relationships, career, social, and more are looked at in this book.
What will we do with this advanced warning our ancestors didn't get?

This book is life changing! Realizing that we have all this time to accomplish things in life is an awesome feeling. I loved the comparison of cris care vs. self care. If people realized this and started practicing this we would have a healthier nation. I have personally given out over a hundred copies of this book and everyone for Christmas will be getting a copy!

I've given this book to more than 100 people. They are changing their lives from stopping smoking and loosing weight, to starting exercise. The people that take the message of the 100 year lifestyle to heart are playing harder and living a higher quality of life. Thank you Dr. Plasker for allowing me the privilege of helping so many people through your wonderful book.

Dr. Plasker presents a compelling blueprint for a hundred year lifestyle. Whether or not you seriously have a shot at living to be a centenarian, his advice here on health, diet, fitness and emotional/spiritual well-being makes eminent sense. It is truly a holistic approach to lifestyle and longevity that has merit. Making the book more practical is the fact that it has a number of checklists and each chapter closes with a list of action items for the reader to take. The latter underscores the point that merely reading a book will not improve your lifestyle unless you follow through, act and execute upon it.

Since Dr Plasker himself is a chiropractor, there is a pitch for preventative chiropractic care. His plea here is not over-the-top or in-your-face, however, and is probably well founded.

The author's point is that many lifestyle changes can produce long-term positive results. In many cases, though perhaps not all, certain types of illness are products of lifestyle and tiny diet and fitness decisions made over the course of months and years. Making better fitness and health decisions every day can put extra years in your life and life in your years.

I own several screenwriting books and consider this one to be in the top 3 (McKee and Vogler being the other 2). The reason is because this is one of the few screenwriting books with information coming straight from successful screenwriters. This is key, because through their insights you can better understand how they work, think, and live. And this ultimately affects your writing positively because a lot of the uncertainties during the writing process are discussed. It won't teach you about structure etc, but it contains information that to me was equally vital: how to think as a successful screenwriter.

In real estate they discuss the three "L's" Location, location, location. This is the three "W's" Write, Write and Write more. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to write a screen play.

I always find it frustrating when I go to Amazon and look at the reviews that are posted and find that they are at least 2 to 3 years old. So I decided to at least make a more up-to-date review.

First and foremost, this book is NOT a `How to Write a great Script' book. This book is about screenwriters and their knowledgeable insight on the practice we all know as Screenwriting. These established screenwriters ( Akiva Goldman: A Beautiful Mind, A Time to Kill, and the up coming The Da Vinci Code Steven E. de Souza: Die Hard, 48 Hours.) reference their past experience on what works, what does not work, and what habits you need to establish to have a successful career in the shark infested waters of Hollywood. Not sure how many hours you need to write day in day out? Thinking that you are the only one with a spouse and kids, fearing that you will not have enough time to write? Arrived at Hollywood lost with no plan of action on how to get your script read? Worried that you born yesterday and began sending inquiry letters to agents and producers? Fear of rejection (it is inevitable) from everyone? All these topics are discussed and more in this book.

This book is required reading for all serious screenwriters. I also suggest Breakfast with sharks by Michael Lent, The Art of Dramatic writing by Lajos Egri, Story by Robert Mckee, Making a good script Great by Linda Seger, and The Writer Got Screwed by Brooke A. Wharton.

This is a must read for anyone who aspires to be a screen writer. Any wannabe writer has their own personal favorite blogs, a blog that helps inspire, motivate and teach them. This book is almost a best of those blogs from successful writers whose movies they have written have actually BEEN PRODUCED.
The one main theme of this book is just write and write and write because you love writing and not because you want the Hollywood celebrity lifestyle. Great writing will open a lot of doors for one and most importantly, keep that door open.
In my opinion, I like to study and and read how successful writers from all genres got their first break, their work ethic and how most importantly they work through writer's block and rejection. Again, Karl Iglesias' book does that successfully.

I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Iglesias at the Screenwriting Expo. He knows his craft, he loves the business. And he's brutally honest in conveying the realistic odds of breaking into Hollywood. While no one ever says it's easy, he can tell you just how hard. This book is a must read for any aspiring screenwriter. Interviewing some of the greatest screenwriters, they all are forthcoming in telling their own tales of struggle, achievement, success, and most of them, frustration.

This book may be geared toward all screenwriters, however it succeeds in leaps and bounds, by telling the realistic truth any up-and-coming screenwriter needs to hear. Too often people are putting together a script hoping to win the lotttery, sell it for mid-six figures, and not taking the time to understand that the money should never be the motivating factor of writing any script. And if that's your only motivation, you'll never succeed in making your dream come true. This book reminds those of us that do it for a different reason, what that reason is. It's the love of writing. Anything else, any other reason, is simply a waste of time and energy.

Mr. Iglesias lays it out in plain view, through interview after interview, just how much of an uphill battle it is get someone to simply give your script a look, and even then, chances of your selling it are slim. Nicholas Kazan once spoke at a seminar. He told them to go turn in their registration forms and go home. He then told them that if any of them seriously entertained that advice, they would never make it. It's all about challenge and it's all about sacrifice. This book will help you realize how important both of those things are.

I enjoyed the family saga that is portrayed in the novel but that is as far as it goes. The novel is not at all historically accurate in that in the 1940's the characters speak of African American's as "blacks" and speak of racism. These terms were NOT used in 1940 America. Blacks were called negroes and nigras. So the book does not get 5 stars since it does not ring true historically. Also, introducing Martin Luther King at a civil rights rally as a young man in 1940 Mississippi is also highly inaccurate. I doubt that there were civil rights rallies in 1940. So based on the lack of historical accuracy and inaccurate speech patterns in this book, I can not give this novel more than 3 stars. Read it for the interesting family story but nothing more.

Amethyst Noble is locked in a court battle with her son who thinks that, at age 93, she is too old to live alone in her house. While waiting for the court date, Amethyst spends time with her namesake, her great-granddaughter, and begins telling her stories about her life and the lives of those who came before her in the Noble family. Woven into the family story is the story of the Noble's relationship with a black family who were first slaves and then co-workers. Also important in the story is an amethyst heart which is passed down from generation to generation. This is the first book of Penelope Stokes that I have read, but it won't be the last. She is a delightful Christian writer who knows how to write a story with a good message.

I am a stokes fan, I own every novel she has written and with this one she has done it again, you will not regret reading this one! I loved it.

I have read Penelope Stokes' Circle of Grace book from the library. I checked the author on her official website and I was impressed by her education and writing skills and style. After that, I start to buy books which she has authored. I have purchased The Amethyst Heart and The Amber Photograph and will intend to buy the rest of her books.
First, the title of this book is touchy...amethyst which is a spiritual stone. Secondly, she puts bible verses and passages that are applicable to the lines in her story which makes it a more enjoyable read. Then in this book, there are touches of civil war issues and racism which are intriguing subjects and as her words flow, the reader will feel that he or she is being mentally taken to this imaginative world and being a witness to this story. I think this is one of her best, if not her best written story judging from the 3 books that Ms. Stokes authored that I have read.
Would I recommend it to every reader? Absolutely, because I believe in her style and her prose is written very adequately and consistent to her very excellent writing gift and talent.

I have recently discovered Ms. Stokes books and "The Amethyst Heart" is my favorite. After purchasing a few of her books, I decided to use my local library to continue with her collection. Now I need to purchase "The Amethyst Heart" so I can highlight various sentences and thoughts for future reference. This book was a very enjoyable, inspirational novel that I look forward to owning and reading again.