V Books

Mortimer is a mouse, living in a dark hole under the stairs. In his opinion, his hole is "too cold, too cramped, too creepy." One night, as he's sneaking around the big house looking for crumbs that the human family may have left behind, Mortimer finds what he thinks will be a perfect new home for him -- the stable in a Nativity scene. The excited mouse struggles to drag all the Nativity figures out of this stable, and he nestles himself down in the manger. The next day, as he's out prowling for crumbs, he comes back to find that someone has put the figures back into the stable! Annoyed, he drags them out again, and so it goes for several days, until one evening, Mortimer overhears the human father reading the Christmas story to his children, about how there was no room for them in the inn. The little Mouse realizes that the statue he has been dragging out of the manger each day is a statue of baby Jesus. Touched by the story, Mortimer decides that he wants to make room for the baby Jesus, and carefully puts all the figures back in their places. And in the end, Mortimer own prayer is granted. He finds a home that is just right for him!

So cute!!!! The story is so fun to read and my twin girls age 6 loved to listen to it. We all loved the pictures. This will be a favorite Christmas treasure for years!!

Mortimer's Christmas is a wonderful story about giving unselfishly and the birth of Jesus and it is told in a way even the younger children can enjoy. I read this during a Preschool Story Time at our library and several parents and grandparents asked where they could get copies. The illustations were great and the story moved along quickly. Karma Wilson has found a way to share the true meaning Christmas with the little ones.

My preschoolers sat quietly and eagerly waited to hear the whole story. An awesome story that brings in the real meaning of Christmas.

This is perhaps the most powerful story about the Nativity outside of the New Testament. Kudos to Karma for the way she crafted a simple yet elegant story about one of the most important events in history. And the art? Jane is splendid. This is an all-star team who have created one of the most wonderful children's books I've ever come across. I now have a gift for everyone I know with small children. Keep 'em coming!

Well let me tell you you are wrong if you don't already have this book! This book is simply breathtaking. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to get it! I've never heard a Harriet Tubman story told quite this way before. She prays to God and listens to His responses to lead her away from slavery that first fateful time. I actually felt like I was there...hiding...holding my breath. Will she make it? Of course we know the answer but the way the book s written is just amazing.

Now on the equally tantalizing images. Kadir Nelson lives up to his reputation here. Quality through and through with this project. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

Beautiful pictures, historically accurate account of Harriet Tubman in a personal way, told from her point of view. Excellent for thrid graders.

This book is truly inspirational. It shows what one person in God's hand can do to change the world around them. Harriet Tubman was truly a heroine. She was a humble person who was raised up to do a great and mighty thing. The illustrations are wonderfully drawn and the writing is almost poetic. This is a wonderful story for parents who are trying to teach their children about social justice, hearing the voice of God, and communing with Him. I highly recommend it!

This is a very spiritual book. We have a copy for our home and gave one to the Godparents. It has a creative flair to it and lots of wisdom. It is a good guide to remembering to trust in God.

This is a wonderful inspirational book I found for my grandchildren. You do not need to be of African heritage to appreciate the message that it was God that got her through her trying circumstances. Great history lesson too. Don't relegate it to Black History Month only.

LOS CONSEJOS ADMINISTRATIVOS DE ESTE LIBRO, LE VAN A ENCANTAR CUANDO LOS VEA CONVERTIDOS EN UN COCHE NUEVO, JOYAS ETC...

UN LIBRO UNICO... que conjunta la sabiduria femenina en las empresas con una alta inteligencia y un sentido del humor finisimo !

YO tengo un negocio son cinco empleados, y el libro Keller ha sido una gran parte de mi exito

let me tell you it's also THE MOST ENCHANTING AND FUNNY BOOK I'VE EVER READ !
Incredibly well written and with a refined aristocratic sense of humor

CUALQUIER EMPRESARIO...
Y QUE ADEMAS DE SER SABIA, ES SUPER LIGERA Y DIVERTIDÍSIMA !

I was raised in Southern California and now reside in Indiana. I could not be happier that Coach Wooden also called both places his home. Though he clearly is a midwesterner at heart---as am I now---his legend truly grew in Los Angeles.

As my title indicates, we need more coaches like John Wooden here in 2008. Can you imagine what the current crop of college ballers would be like if they had a mentor and role model like Wooden? He had depth, insight, was spiritual, a reader, a thinker, etc. This was not required, but he knew all these attributes were necessary to grow "student athletes" into successful players and adults. Even a hippie like Bill Walton, the antithesis to a noble, mature person like Wooden---respects and admires "Coach." Wooden knew how to reach all. His quotes---taken from other coaches, his father and his own mind---are ones to heed. I have the Pyramid of Success on my wall at work.

He hated dunking, showboating, selfishness, hedonism, etc. He'd loathe the brainwashing and lack of civility rampant on today's college and high school campuses.

This bio spans a wonderful, rich life, leaving no stone or thought unturned; no mind or theory unchallenged or ungrown.

A remarkbale living legend, G-d bless Mr. Wooden (who is still alive at the age of 97) and all he has done for the game and collegians everywhere.

John Wooden has figured out some of the secrets of life. And he passes them on directly, in a way that can be transformational for a reader.

John Wooden is a hero of mine. His own heroes include Abraham Lincoln and Mother Theresa. Like them, he is a treasure for all of us because his life and lessons demonstrate what it means to live to "our personal best" in a way that is simple, profound and so clear.

This book should be required reading in "Human Being 101".

We grow up hearing about the importance of developing " good character", not always knowing what it is, or just how to obtain it. All of Wooden's books give his personal guidelines for developing character and living a decent life, whether we are athletes, musicians, teachers, or anything else.
Wooden's teachings have stood the test of time. His life and those he has influenced are proof of that.
I use his wisdom for myself, and I pass it on to all my students. They all know who John Wooden is. His life blesses us all.

This is a great book to help any coach of any sport get a good feel for the right way to coach young players. Teach them good life lessons and skills. It gives an insight into a great coach and even greater man.

John Wooden is one of my heroes. When I was growing up, his teams were dominant, but more importantly, they made the game beautiful to watch. After he retired at the peak of his game, he quietly stepped off the stage. With the rush of books on leadership in the 1990's through the present, it was inevitable, and overdue, that folks take time to examine Coach Wooden's approach to leadership. This has led to a cottage industry in Wooden books.

This book is short, personal and focuses on life lessons learned from the narrative of Coach's life. It doesn't attempt to be weighty, just a good read, that imparts wisdom without hitting you over the head with it. It touches on each chapter of Coach Wooden's life, and particularly shows the infuence of his father, his high school and college coaches and his growth thru experience

This is a fun, easy read that leaves the reader wiser. Highly recommend

What can I say? Max Lucado is a gifted writer who takes spiritual concepts and puts them into understandable and easy-to-grasp stories illustrations.

Max Lucado is a premier story teller. The message that Christ knows how we humans feel and that he is close enough to call on whenever we need him is uplifting and comforting.

i haven't read max lucado books in awhile and I have read quite some of them. I have to say that this is one of his best written. The chapters are short but they are meaningful, each one of them that applies to different people.

This a great book. I love the way Max writes. It's very unique and refreshing. He really brings the stories to life.

This is my first Max Lucado book and I loved it! It took me a while to read it because I don't read that often but something made me keep coming back to try and finish it. He made everything so simple and easy to understand. The real life examples were great! I would recommend it to anyone!

Definitivamente que no hay nada más sabio que los dichos o refranes populares... al que para este caso le aplicaría muy certeramente... "Para gustos los colores" . Si bien me gustan los nombres poco comunes y es lo que busco para mi bebé, NO LES PUDE ENCONTRAR a nombres de los que aparecen en este libro, como por ejemplo "Lupus (una enfermedad del sistema inmunológico) , Macrobia, Vulfrano, Sesonotris, Peneus, Boqlebo" entre otros, NADA DE "MAGICOS" NI NINGUN TIPO DE "MAGIA".
Si van a ser padres, al igual que yo, colocarle el nombre a su bebé es algo de suma importancia para ese ser por venir, ya que el nombre que se le escoja es el que llevara toda su vida, por lo tanto es una responsabilidad, debiendo escogerlo con un cuidado extremo. Asi considero sinceramente que de colocarle a mi bebé alguno de los nombres (salvo contadas excepciones) que aparecen en este libro, en el futuro nunca me lo perdonaria. Para mi... les repito, definitivamente para gustos los colores y este es de llorar. YO NO LE RECOMIENDO A NADIE ESTE LIBRO.

En este libro encontrarás el nombre ideal para tu bebé como si te lo hubieras sacado de la manga.... TE LO RECOMIENDO

What a great gift for the mother to be or grandma so she can make some welcome suggestions. Welcome edition to the child section of your home library.

This was an absolute hit with the mother to be at the baby shower and with others as it was passed around. It was an added bonus to have a different resource book for sellecting baby's name.

What a great gift for the mother to be or grandma so she can make some welcome suggestions. Welcome edition to the child- raising section of your home library.

Kathryn Mackel invites us into a post-modern future where the future of mankind is bleak at best. The land has been ravaged by nuclear war and deadly toxins have made much of Earth uninhabitable. Evil men hold seats of power and they have perverted God's creation through DNA manipulation, a process known as transmogrification. Innocent men, women, and children are continually taken captive and subjected to these horrific tests and experiments. Man has forsaken his Creator, and evil ravishes the land. However, there is hope.

A remnant of believers has built a modern day ark that is hides beneath the polar ice caps. They teach and train their children in the ways of the Lord, with the hope that they can impact the world above. As the children mature they are sent to the surface to live as Outriders and Trackers. Their mission is to scout the land and teach a lost world a message of hope it so desperately needs. Can they make a difference before mankind is truly lost?

This is a wonderful fantasy series that is chocked full of action, suspense, and heart. Mackel gives us a frightening glimpse into the future of mankind that is both original and eye-opening. The story seems to wander a bit at times, but overall the plot development is cohesive and effective. Mackel's strength is in the action sequences which are thrilling and full of excitement. Violence and gore are effectively used to draw readers into the heart of the battles. The heroes of this story are teens and young adults who have nothing to rely on but their training and a deep faith in God. Their faith is inspiring and encouraging as time and time again they trust in God, no matter how difficult the task.

This series is highly recommended for fans of fantasy and science fiction. Much of this material is intense and intended for mature readers, but it is appropriate for older teens. The lessons of strong faith and discipleship found in this series are worthwhile for adults and teenagers alike. (From Christian Library Journal)

This is the first of Kathryn Mackel's books I have read, and I am impressed with her imagination. She creates a world that is intriguing and shows definite parallels with a creation fallen from its original beauty due to the curse of sin. She also shows the hope of restoration of the creation by the valiant acts of Christians.

In Outriders, the world has been devastated by a war in which most technology has been destroyed. Bands of warriors called Traxx roam the countryside. To populate their army, they capture the few remaining humans, and through genetic engineering, they turn the humans into grotesque monsters. However, a remnant of humans escaped and has been kept safe in an underwater ark. Little by little, these people, called birthrighters, are released back onto the earth and commissioned to help establish an outpost of humane civilization in this barren world. These birthrighters must battle the warriors of Traxx while they rely in their faith in God. There are clear spiritual overtones in this battle of good and evil, and the use of genetic engineering is ripped from today's headlines. The Birthrighter characters are developed well, and they are shown to have their own internal struggles in fighting against their own selfish desires, while they are fighting the Traxx. There is quite a bit of striking imagery, including an archway of thorns that protects the stronghold of the Traxx warriors.

I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Trackers

Awesome read I can't wait to read the next one!!!

You're going to be disappointed if you read the first 2 books in this series. You might notice that I gave both of these books 5 star ratings and wonder why I'd say this. Well, WestBow Press, at the time I write this, has elected to not publish the 3rd and final book in this series. You're going to be disappointed in the light that Outriders and Trackers are so good that you'll feel a certain emptiness knowing that book 3 is unlikely (not impossible) to be forthcoming.

I love the post apocalyptic sub-genre of mainstream science fiction as well as Christian science fiction in general and this series falls into both of those categories. It exceeded my expectations in terms of plot and character development to the extent that I've actually caught myself daydreaming about the story. Off hand I can only recall a couple of stories that have had that effect on me, "The Stand" by Steven King, and "The Time Machine" by H. G. Wells. "Outriders" and "Trackers" are definitely well worth reading even knowing that the story may never be finished.

This was overall a very enjoyable read, but there were a few points that keep me from fully enjoying the story despite several interesting characters and an interesting world.

First, much of this 'new' world revolves around genetic manipulation and mutation, but the author seems to know very little about the subject even though it's foundational to her version of the future. In the story, _adult_ humans are routinely made into monstrous beings by unknowledgeable men using a seemingly inexhaustible supply of 'potions.' These potions were found in destroyed labs long ago and are really ancient cell-lines. Somehow, despite storage in primitive conditions and at least a hundred years passing, they still work perfectly. Not only that, but they can conveniently be administered by drinking the potion or by putting it under the skin with needles. If you don't give a fig about the scientific impossibility of that premise, you should have no problem.

Second, a big deal is made about how dangerous this world is and how the rooks wouldn't stand a chance on their own for several days (which brings up the question of how all of the first-evers survived for so long). The rooks are saved from death several times by Niki, they are shown as initially overwhelmed by this wide expanse of world, and they supposedly think highly of Niki and the other first-evers. These rooks are supposedly the top of their class and devoted to God, though only Cooper shows a hint of this being true. With all that being true, I had a hard time understanding why all three rooks totally disobeyed Niki's orders right from the start. Yes, Niki was a bit harsh at times, but they deserved worse for their constant disobedience since it was risking all their lives.

It is also established that everyone at Horesh is fairly used to following Brady's crazy battle plans and that they always work. Yet, at the end, suddenly _everybody_ from Horesh starts to disobey his commands during a rather lopsided battle. I kept wondering why everyone started disobeying him now (much to their harm) when they had been obedient for years and knew how important it was for them to do so in order to succeed. It is never explained, nor is punishment ever handed out.

All that said, the book is better than I just made it sound. The above are really minor points, though the story would have been stronger if it had addressed them.

After seeing the History Channel special on Wake Island, I just had to have more, and this book fit the bill. The Alamo of the Pacific, how true that was. Well researched and written, and a nice hefty work to boot. It is hard to believe that you can find them for under $1. Be sure and go for the hardback edition, as you'll want this one to be a keeper.

How often do you read a history book that's so engrossing you hate to set it down? Only as an exception, and this book is exceptional. The background is so well established that you'll feel like an island resident yourself by the time that first wave of bombers hit. The occasional humor further lends itself to making the book multi-dimensional and realizing the normality of the civilians and servicemen who became Wake heroes. I was also touched by some attention being paid to what a person's first taste of combat is like. 'It's okay to shoot at these guys, right? To actually try and kill them, right?'

It's just an amazing account. Read it - you'll think you lived through the whole thing.

To put it simply, Pacific Alamo: The Battle for Wake Island by John Wukovits is an excellent addition to any library. This well written book is thoroughly researched and filled with first hand accounts of this struggle during the opening days of the war in the pacific.

After the successful Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines the American people were in shock. Much of the American Pacific fleet was damaged or resting on the bottom at Pearl. Macarthur's command in the Philippines was in retreat and Pacific skies were dominated by pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Armies and Navies of the United States and Great Britain, were being driven back by what was considered by many, an invincible war machine. The Japanese were riding a wave of victories and America was preparing for the possible invasion of Hawaii or the west coast, with little left to defend either. Moral was low and the American people needed hope.

Wake Island, a tiny atoll half way between Japan and Hawaii, unprepared and manned by civilian contractors and a small force of marine, navy, and army personnel was about to enter the annals of history

I thoroughly enjoyed John Wukovits publication concerning the battle for Wake Island and the post battle information concerning the soldiers and civilians on Wake. One of the best insights into the conflict focused on the propaganda variable used by the United States to rally a nation. Another important trait is the focus on excellent and exciting detail concerning the battles on the island.

The Admiral who left these guys to surrender really did the military a diservice and I felt like a U.S. reinforcement and resupply would have ultimately held off the Japanese. The courage of those who fought at Wake is definitely captured by the author in "The Battle for Wake Island." The Marines and naval aviators were defenitely inspiring with their heroic defense.

It was also an interesting study of life in the prison camps, with wonderful first hand accounts. The Marines in the Pacific accomplished some heroic feats and it all started at Wake Island. If you decide to read this book you will be blessed to learn about some great American heroes. The civilian factor on the island and some of their heroic feats also adds more interest into this incredible account of combat and survival. The book also does a good job in telling the story of the Japanese as conquerers and then being conquered by a mightier moral/military allied nation.

An excellent and recent recounting of the struggles faced by a hopefully never forgotten saga in both American and Marine Corps history.
John Wukovits provides the reader with an assembly of perspectives from the defenders on Wake, the American WWII home front, and the Japanese attackers stitched together with the recent (2002) accounts of the surviving defenders themselves.
Wukovits `s addition to the Wake Island literary anthology is a gripping study of the atoll's most historic moments. The story follows selected men, not just Marines, from their stateside civilian lives to their enlistments or private construction contract jobs on Wake.
Every tale of Wukovits's interviewees will hopefully make the reader value the many freedoms we take for granted.
The book is a fair and noble salute to the men, all the men, who faced off with the Imperial Japanese Navy to lift the United States out of its Pearl Harbor gloom.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ-AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS TOO!

Sad, but not hopeless, biographical account of a young musician stricken with a horrifying illness. Heartfelt & honest without being overly sentimental. Written in a captivating & sometimes humorous tone, not witholding any details. I have been reading this as a physician, and will recommend the book to any young patients I have with grave illnesses.

I purchase this book many years ago simply because I was a big ebtg fan. I casually knew what he had been thorugh and felt terrible for him, but was going through the process of losing and then grieving for a loved one.
When I read the book, it offered me a perspective on what life may have been like for my loved one as he suffered illness. What a wonderful gift Ben Watt has given. He writes without self-pity, in his lyrical style without being flowery or glossing over the ugliness of illness. I am so glad that he survived for selfish reasons-the music he (&Tracey) has(have) produced (before and after the illness) has been a diverse gift to the world.
And I am so greatful that he wrote this book. Experiencing the death of a loved one through being a spectator to horrible illness, was, in a strange way one of life's best gifts to me. No I didn't learn to be greatful for my health and all that crap-I learned that true joy comes from giving to another and expecting nothing in return. Ben Watt's Patient, gave me an extra perspective on that experience, and sometimes helps me to remember the life-lesson from it all.
In summation, read Patient for more of Watt's lyrical writing, read it to find a surprisingly good story with plot twists and turns, read it to learn what severe illness truly is. Fascinating. A gift-thank you.

I'd been a fan of EBTG for quite awhile before this book came out. Their soothing music has always been a favorite so I was really interested to see what this book was all about.

It turned out to be a very disturbing account of Ben Watt's freak-show illness, blow by blow. His commentary is riveting and one gets the feeling that he does not feel sorry for himself in the least, but instead follows his own story as if he is an observer who also happens to be its main character.

I was heartened to read toward the end of the book Watt's own musings on what may have brought all his health problems about. Though he left it vague, his illness seems to be among those new "diseases of civilization" caused by many factors in our surroundings that lead to hard-to-define ailments where environmental toxicity and the overuse of pharmaceutical medicines are certainly not to be discounted.

In any case it seems that his passion for music transcended all, and was at least in part a contributor to his recovery. Most of all he deserves a thanks for telling his story, unadulterated. For sure it has made this reader not feel so isolated.

The fact that Watt's story lacks a significant plot (outside of the onset, diagnosis, and treatment of his rare condition) is largely forgivable. For those of us who know Watt primarily as a musician/songwriter, the somewhat static storyline here is acceptable. All that's missing from "Patient" is Everything But The Girl's enlightening bed of music to be heard under Ben's delicately articulated prose. Typical of many great songs, Watt occasionally blurs the line between the first- and third-person narration, and "Patient" is better off for it. Perhaps even better than the great writing, though, is the genuine and intimate portal into the lives of Ben and Tracey rarely afforded to EBTG fans. It's a relatively short read, but each page gives plenty to be absorbed as the result of Ben's crafty alliteration and his uncensored, yet careful, approach to the fog of medical lexicon. Not for the weak of heart--or stomach--Watt's book exacts distinct feelings of sobriety and contemplation...with an ending portrait that expertly convey's his trademark understated hope.

I'll admit I picked this up mostly out of curiosity as a longtime fan of Everything But the Girl. What kept me reading, however, was Ben Watt's skill as a writer. His story is gripping and harrowing, but told with a dry wit and wonderful observations. This book is not just about one man coming to terms with serious illness, but how that experience affected his relationships with his loved ones and his view of himself. This would be a great book for anyone in the health care field to read; it gives you a sense of the patient as a full human being, not just a "problem" to be fixed. Ben Watt's writing skills are as strong as his ample skills as a musician/songwriter. This book has my highest recommendation.

God, I loved this book! At times fascinating (why is pork eschewed rather than chewed by millions of muslims and jews?), funny (the stuffing of sausage), and evocative (virtually every description of a meal well set), I was enthralled by this most excellent jaunt through the porcine world. Kaminsky pulls off a difficult balance: making us admire and care for the pigs even as we long to eat them as soon as we can apply some of the author's recipes. He makes a valid argument that we must eat them in order to save them, offers a call to arms to take back pork production from the industrial torture chambers that pass as 'agriculture' and return to a more humane and respectful treatment of this remarkable animal.

I am a lover of all pork products. This book presents the history of pigs, ham, and how it has evolved to what we know today. The author has an entertaining style, and his love of ham shines through. I was moved to buy a Kentucky Country Ham, just after I had finished the first third of the book. My knowledge on the history, raising, breeding, and processing of hogs has increased dramatically from this book. An interesting look into the present and future of pigs is given. This brings back memories of Fast Food Nation, and its description of the cattle industry.

real informative book on how to raise a pig the old and real way.raising world class hams

This book is brilliant. The author keeps the readers engaged from cover to cover. It is definitely a book for foodies, particularly those of us who are obsessed with pork, but it would be an entertaining read for most anyone.

Most ham is the U.S. is barely edible. There are exceptional country hams put up in the South, but these are seldom available to the casual shopper. If you do love ham, you just have to try the Pure Bellota Iberian ham from Spain.

Now what this book does is illustrate, educate, and sharpen you taste buds for the incredible delight of eating great ham. There are taste matches made by the Creator: Iberian Pure Bellota ham with an ice-cold glass of Fino Sherry is one of them.