Literature Books

Wally Hatford is a 10 year old boy who started a war between the Hatfords and the Malloys. He has three brothers, Peter, Josh, and Jake. The Malloys just moved in from Ohio to the Bensons' (The Hatfords' best friends) old house, and the boys want to want to oust the Malloy girls, Caroline, Beth, and Eddie (Edith) out of Buckman.

Wally is in Mrs. Applebaum's class, right in front of Caroline, the wanna be actress. He is the mastermind for the boys in the war between the Hatfords and the Malloys. Wally wants peace between the boys and girls to see how long it takes for a waffle box to travel down the river, to jump off a tree, and to climb a church steeple.

I could relate to Wally. He is like a kid in my class named Jake. Jake, like Wally, can think up of ideas to win a war against anybody, boy, girl, or parent. Jake also is curious of just things in normal life.

The Boys Start the War is a book just for children seeing that adults aren't interested in wars between boys and girls. It is easy to understand all of the humor and vocabulary in the book. I loved the book and went on to read the whole series.

The Hatford boys were looking out the window with their binoculars waiting to see three boys moving in their friends house across the river.When they see their girls moving in and not boys.They makea plan to sent the Malloy girls back to Ohio.Throwing dead animals to dead bodies.Playing bad tricks on the girls.Will the girls get back on them?Is the war barly begining?Are the girls going to get even with the boys. This is a really funny book to read.

This book is a hilarious book. The Hatford brother's best friends, the Bensons, moved away from Buckman to Georgia. The boys were expecting 3 boys to move into the Benson's house, but they were surprised when they found out that it was actually 3 girls. The Hatford brothers decided that they would try to make that the Malloy sisters so miserable that they would want to move back to Ohio and the Bensons would move back because no one would rent their house. The boys are in for a surprise when they have to go against the Malloy sister's cleverness. The pranks go on from dead fish to dead bodies and from floating heads to washing windows. The boys and the girls keep going at each other. They both can't tell their parents because then they would have to tell about all their other pranks. The war goes on and on to other sequels.

I like book because of all the pranks. The pranks are all thought up cleverly but something always goes wrong. A quote that shows something going wrong is, "`You got the flashlight?' Jake asked Wally breathlessly. `Heck, no. You were carrying it.' `I thought you grabbed it,' Josh said. `Someone did!' But that someone was already inside the house." This shows how the Hatfords lost their flashlight while pretending to be a floating head outside Beth Malloy's window.

Another reason I liked this book is because it's a humor book. I don't read many humor books but this book made me laugh. This book is filled with many hilarious events. Caroline Malloy draws a funny picture of her teacher but Wally manages to steal it and blackmails her. The things that go wrong are also funny. Just when one side thinks they've won, the other side finds a way to get even. There are many other books in the series and this is only the first.

My favorite part of the book is at the end of the book when the final prank is played. When the girls go to get Caroline from the Hatford's tool shed, they think they won because they made Jake say to them, "Your faithful, obedient servant." As they were leaving Wally comes out with Mrs. Hatford saying that the girls were coming over to help peel the bushels of apples the Hatfords had picked. I thought this was hilarious and was a great way to end the book to keep you hooked.

Just when the Hatford boys were expecting three boys to move into the house across the river the Malloy girls arrived instead. Wally and his brothers decide to make Caroline and her sisters so miserable that they'll want to go back to Ohio, but they haven't counted on the ingenuity of the girls.

Cast of Characters:
Malloy's:
George Malloy-father-football coach
Jean Malloy-mother
(Edith Anne) Eddie-11-6th grade
Beth-10-5th grade
Caroline-8-4th grade
Hatford's:
Tom Hatford-father-mail man
Ellen Hatford-mother-hardware store worker
Jake and Josh-11-6th grade
Wally-9-4th grade
Peter-7-2nd grade

This is really cool.It can be for 3-??yrs old.Pluse it takes places in my hometown Buckhannon,WV.The school they go to has beem turn into a building for 5-18 year olds,called Stockert Youth Center.The Mallory girls are really cool!!The Boys are trying to get the girls out of their old best friends house by playing tricks and being mean,and the girls try to show the boys the can't tear them away from Buckman wich really is Buckhannon.Read it!!Its cool!!

This was the perfect book for my 8 yr.old son with AS. The illistrations really hit home for him!

This was an important resource, when I was trying to help my in-laws understand Asperger's Syndrome. I found it to be a huge help when I was attempting to explain to my husband why my son needed to be treated a little differently than our other children. This is a short concise book, taken from the perspective of a child with Aspergers. Very easy to read.

This book/guide is truly excellent. Extremely helpful when talking to others about Asperger's. It has an excellent part in the back on tips for the teachers. My son's teachers has actually read this and we are using to update his IEP for next year. Great book!

Most of the pictures shown in this book remind me of my childhood! I was completely unaware of Asperger Syndrome in those days, though. Especially, the one on p.18, which seems to indicate the similar experiences in my 1st and 2nd elementary school days. Everybody enjoyed playing ball,while I was just watching the scene almost all the time, not knowing what to do. Nothing was so embarrassing and awkward than that, if you ask me. Of course, I had tried my best to interact with the other children, mainly because I felt quite lonely. However, I was so afraid of `screwing up' or my poor motor skill that I wouldn't join them to avert my embarrassment. In short, I was preoccupied with such mixed and complicated emotions!
I'm sure this book tells about the experiences of people with AS and/or autism not only in the past but the present. And that will give them a lot of opportunities to learn from their mistakes!

Short and sweet, and very suitable - this simple story helps us expalin AS to our son (12) in a way he can understand, and has provided an uncomplicated way to introduce AS to family and friends. It is a really good springboard for more detailed discussions with those who either want to know more, or need to know more about AS.

Hi
I ordered these books and paid for them but still have not received them
Lyn Bos

I first got this book as a gift in 1996 and it's been a great part of my daily life all these years. I've bought several copies over the years for family and friends and it's the most beloved book and heart touching devotional I've ever read. I've never read it cover to cover, but instead pray for direction and open to where I'm lead. God has never failed me and spoken to my heart every time through these pages. I would love to buy one for everyone on the planet.

This book is like having God right there in your living room. My friend with ovarian cancer recommended it to me because of the comfort it has give her during her illness. Now that I face an uncertain future with parkinson's, it is helping me the same way. It is the best devotional I have found.

My first copy has long since lost its cover and the pages are dog-eared and tear-stained. I use this every morning during my prayer time to launch a converstation between me and the Master of the Universe. If you have ever longed to hear the sweet, intimate words of God and His plan for you, this is the book for you. Encouraging, and uplifting. After 8 years, this book still challenges me to walk intimately with God each moment of the day.

I have probably given at least 50 of these books to people that the Lord lays on my heart. This book speaks to me all the time, whatever I am going through. It is like the Lord is standing right in front of you talking with you. Everyone I have given it to says that they have been so blessed by the words in this book. I highly recommend it.

Not seeing Jesus in the reillustrated version of "If Jesus Came To My House" took away the entire meaning of the book. I have purchased many copies of the original volume and I was very disappointed to see the illustrations in the revised edition. Nothing was improved upon in the reillustrated volume. Make no mistake, it is the original for me.

Lola J. Sell
Indian River, Mi

I have purchased this book and the new updated version for our son and have purchased this one for 4 of our friends. I love it and know our son will one day, too! It is not only a great book to read at bedtime, etc., but also to use in a children's Sunday School Class. A classic. I love this copy because the cover looks somewhat "vintagey" and I have it displayed on my son's shelf. It helps remind me that I want Jesus at our house!

I would highly recommend this book to any Christian parent and those that would pick and choose various books from the BFIAR series. My kids loved it and so did I. Its one of those timeless classics.

My wife and I love this book. Our two daughters ages 4 and 2 enjoy having it read to them at night. We now use this book as a gift for christenings quite often. It is a wonderful way to start introducing children to religion

If Jesus Came to My House.. Children & Adults all love this story; it is kinda like "MT:25".

I am sure this book will be read many times with much enjoyment and peace.

This is an amazing story! Vividly written and really makes you think about what is good in the world. The characters stay alive in your mind for months after finishing the story!

This audio version is well narrated and easy to listen to. It's un-abridged, so all the wonderful descriptions of the book are in there.

Wendell Berry is a fantastic author - I can't wait to start the next book.

The book jacket calls this a "beautiful, lyrical love story," and it is. But it is not the romance of a man for a woman but rather the deep, fond emotion that Jayber Crow holds for his community, his friends, and all that has gone into his non-eventful but ultimately pleasant life. Here is a book that can be an antidote for the disillusion and despair we feel when we seem to be lost in the cosmos. As Jayber reminisces,

"I still do belong to Port William. Being here satisfies me. I have no thought of going away. If I knew for sure that I would die here, I would be glad. And yet definite as all this is, it seems surrounded by the indefinite, like a boat in a fog. I can't look back from where I am now and feel that I have been very much in control of my life. Certainly I have lived on the edge of the Port William community, and I am farther than ever out on the edge of it now. But I feel that I have lived on the edge even of my own life. I have made plans enough, but I see now that I have never lived by plan. Any more than if I had been a bystander watching me live my life. I don't feel that I ever have been quite sure what was going on. Nearly everything that has happened to me has happened by surprise. All the important things have happened by surprise. And whatever has been happening usually has already happened before I have had time to expect it. The world doesn't stop because you are in love or in mourning or in need of time to think. And so when I have thought I was in my story or in charge of it, I really have been only on the edge of it, carried along. Is this because we are in an eternal story that is happening partly in time?" (322)

Berry's lyrical prose helps us to enjoy the opportunity to be "on the edge" of Jayber's life, and we are the better for being carried along by it.

Reading Jayber Crow is like spending the weekend listening to your favorite uncle tell family stories. The conversational tone used by Berry could get sappy in the hands of a less skilled writer, but that doesn't happen on the pages of Jayber Crow. Wendall Berry's prose is exquisite. As the story moves slowly through another time and place, Jayber's voice draws you into his private mind. It is a tender place to be. The story is thought-provoking and deeply moving. I hated for this book to end.

I used to read a lot of books and I never felt the need to quantify or compare one book to another. But when I finished Jayber Crow I knew that this was the best book I had ever read.

As other reviews here will testify, it is astounding how Wendell Berry communicates with mere words the beauty of life, the human heart and the love that holds both together.

I've sold most of the books I owned but I doubt that I will ever part with my copy of Jayber Crow.

I'm 45 years old, from Indiana, and a barber's daughter. I'm pretty sure I know some of the people that Jayber talks about. The stories weren't only about what the people were experiencing, but what they were thinking and feeling. My favorite quotes: "I don't get paid to cut hair. I get paid to know when to stop." "He didn't yet know all that he was going to know." AMEN to that!

If you know Wodehouse, you love Wodehouse and this book will just confirm your feelings. If you don't know Wodehouse, read this or any other book and you will fall in love with him. Every book you read is like going on vacation.

I had only read one or two Wodehouse comedies, so long ago I don't recall precisely which ones. They were good. "Leave It to Psmith" is great. It won't be years until my next. (And my copy of "Leave It to Psmith" now goes to my 90-year-old mother.)

In addition to wonderful, loveable characters, laugh-out-loud narrative and dialogue, and a marvelously convoluted plot that almost defies summarization, the book also features semi-serious but still wryly and deftly expressed observations, such as: "What I like about the English rural districts * * * is that when the authorities have finished building a place they stop. Somewhere about the reign of Henry the Eighth, I imagine that the master-mason gave the final house a pat with his trowel and said, 'Well, boys, that's Market Blandings.' To which his assistants no doubt assented with many a hearty 'Grammercy!' and 'I'fackins!' these being expletives to which they were much addicted. And they went away and left it, and nobody has touched it since."

Yes, this is sheer entertainment, brain candy. But it also is superb and masterly. It is narrative comedy at its best.

This is an early sort of try-out version of his later masterpieces on Jeeves and Wooster. It was absolutely hilarious at times, with that wonderful upper crust stilted language Wodehouse was such a genius at, but at other times could be a tad plodding. Some romance here, which he would totally discard later. You can see Jeeves blooming in PSmith, and Wooster in Freddie Threepwood. Also Aunt Agatha in Lady Constance. But a marvelously convoluted plot, with all sorts of interwoven characters. and The Drones Club is here already.

In my opinion, this is the best of Wodehouse, and I was pretty surprised at it.

"Leave It to Psmith" was originally published in the U.K. on November 30, 1923 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the U.S on March 14, 1924 by George H. Doran. The edition I am reviewing is from "The Everyman Wodehouse" series published by Everyman's Library in the U.K., and for those in the U.S., you may be able to find the equivalent quality in "The Collector's Wodehouse" series which is being published by Overlook Press.

I did not have high expectations for this book, because I didn't think "Psmith in The City" was very good, but Wodehouse's writing clearly improved greatly over those 13 years, and the merging of the Psmith character with the cast at Blandings Castle was great chemistry. The character of Ronald Eustace Psmith (formerly known as Rupert Psmith and in both cases the P is silent), was much more interesting in this book than I found him before. He fits right in with the other Blandings characters such as Lord Emsworth, Freddie Threepwood, and a great foil for Rupert Baxter.

In this story, we have a diverse set of characters, all converging on Blandings Castle, and more than a few with the idea of stealing Lady Constance's necklace. Their motives are rather diverse, but whether they want it for money, freedom, or love, there is no shortage of people out to get it. As one would expect in any Wodehouse story, there is a fair amount of assumed identities and amazing coincidences which drive the story forward. Psmith, himself takes on the identity of Mr. Ralston McTodd, a poet from Canada in his pursuit of the beautiful Eve Halliday. The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the flower pot scenes, which is some of the funniest writing I have read in a long time.

As the second of the Blandings Castle novels, and the last of the Psmith novels, this was a great improvement on both of those series. The Blandings series would continue to grow from this point, and there are many more great stories in that series. I do not believe the character of Psmith appears again in any of Wodehouse's stories, but the fully developed Psmith that appears in this work does foreshadow such characters as Jeeves and Uncle Fred. If you didn't care for Psmith in the previous works, you may still want to give this one a try. This is Wodehouse at his best.

This cleverly written concept (counting and poetry) book combined with the most beautiful illustrations makes this a must have for any home library. Before they can even read, children will enjoy have this story read to them while they look at the vivid pictures and try to count all the bugs to match the story. Opportunities to increase vocabulary are bountiful with the creative and broad use of vocabulary within the rhyming plot. The ending shows a great character building lesson to get to know someone before making a judgement. Just perfect!

Very cute story. I bought my niece the Fisher-Price tea party set and bought this book to go with it. The story is short but the pictures are adorable and very colorful. I would recommend this book. My niece is 1 1/2, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over 3.

We've been reading this to our little guy since he was three months old, if even that, and he was glued to it from the start, easily his favorite book, still, at nearly 13 months. Great color, great rhythm, and lots of fun bugs! :)

The "Miss Spider" books are pretty easy reads. Nice stories, wonderfully bright, and imaginatively styled illustrations!

My 3 year old is a little concerned with spiders in general and I think by giving a sweet personality to a spider, it helps to take the edge off of the spiders we may find in the house and in nature.

The artwork in this book will keep any child interested. It took my daughter a few reads to get into the story and she still prefers Miss Spider's New Car, but we read this book often.

Rain on a Tin Roof (RAIN) is riveting. For those of us who are from the Caribbean, it appears that Gabriel Christian, by the attention given to every descriptive word, every detail, attempts to make those of us who are away from home, wallow in nostalgia. RAIN gives the impression of having never left the Caribbean.

My personal favorite, and the narrative by which this book gets its title, "Rain on a Tin Roof," is especially dear. Gabriel Christian takes what would have normally been a tale of despair, and demonstrates a balanced appreciation for what makes this island, his island, home. The author's ability to thread the diverse history of the island with his personal experiences makes RAIN a must-have. I guarantee you won't stop reading.

This book is a brilliant literary piece. It recalls to mind so many memories for fellow Dominicians and for others, it provides a glimpse into life in Dominica.
The collection is so true to life, captured and dispensed in a vivid setting immediately transporting the reader back in time -life, growing up, all the experiences that help shape our lives and make us who we are today.
My favorite was rain on a tin roof - recalling the catastrophic events of 1979.
Having read this, my pride as a Dominician overflows, and it is certainly inspiring to know that such talent and skill came from my homeland.
This writer is a literary genius and I look forward with eager anticipation to the sequel or future writings!
BRAVO to Mr. Christian!

Rain on a Tin Roof earned me quite a few concerned stares as I erupted into bursts of belly-full laughter while reading. This collection of short stories does not simply describe the innocent joys of growing up in in the Caribbean in the best of bygone eras - ours; it transports you back into those joys (and innocent perceptions of some very serious matters) and awakens dormant delightful memories. Though I have never visited Dominica, I fully understood and identified with the evocations presented. Rain on a Tin Roof underscores the similarities in culture of the various Caribbean islands showing that we are truly one Caribbean nation. Very delightfully and honestly written! Recommended ... Recommended ... Recommended !!!

I bought your book some time ago and I am finally got a chance to read it.

I just have say how much I have enjoyed this book. It's an absolute delight! I read it on the train in the mornings going into New York and I'm sure some of the commuters think I am crazy when I burst out laughing constantly after reading some particularly funny anecdote - and every story is full of them.

You have captured life on Dominica so beautifully that one just relives it again reading your words. It's funny, nostalgic, sometimes sad, such an accurate account on life on the island, and again it is soooooo funny. I can just imagine three scruffy little boys holding on to each other's belt heading into a Carnival band after consuming some of their parents rum from an essence bottle shouting "hold strain".

I am passing this book on to all my sisters when I am done. Every Caribbean person should read this book.

You have done a fantastic job. I can't wait for the next one.

....."We can hear the wind straining to get beneath the galvanized tin sheets that layer our roof. Are the nails lifting?" That was the question and worry of the day back in August 1979, when Hurricane David blew down the entire country. Thanks Gabe for taking me down memory lane.

This collection of short stories clearly indicate the writers passion for his birth country. It brings to life a diversity of family, love, politics, colloquial language and his life in the suburbs, which leave minds totally picturesque.

Once you pick up this fantastic publication, it is difficult to put it down. Though some stories were sad and others tense, humour was never lagging far behind. I definitely had quite a few laughs.

The most unique thing about this collection, is the fact that the old, the young and the middle age are able to read and enjoy this book. It brought and left my heart with much warmth.

Hats Off to You Gabe. Keep up the good work because your creative forces and brilliant ideas I believe regenerate many of our Dominicans living home and abroad and our fellow Caribbean people by extension.

Looking forward to another publication

Page-Turning Southern Novels!

Shadow of Dreams Book Review by Barbara Robinson
The novel is full of realistic Southern characters. If you love Southern novels, don't miss out on this one! Shadow of Dreams by Eva Marie Everson and G. W. Francis Chadwick is a well-written, well-developed novel full of foreshadowing. The main character serves as an excellent example of what happens to many young teens glamorized by the big city and running from problems at home. Instead of the prodigal son, the main character, Katie, is the prodigal daughter. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to Katie and her husband, and the bad guys. I loved the way the authors used literature for clues. I also loved the way the small-town Georgia guys protected their own and took care of the big-city guys. These authors do not preach, but they certainly know how to spin a tale that could serve to help others. These authors offer much insight, and a reflective reader will benefit from the experience of having read this novel. A good, reflective reader will find that this book is about many things that connect to life in such a way, it can't help but be realistic. The characters are realistic, not mere shells of characters. The way they talk and the things they say, the dialogue, provide that realistic touch to make them come to life. Katie's mom is really a Southern character. It is ironic that she seems to treat Katie as her own mother treated her, but she does not realize this.

Summon the Shadows Book Review

By Barbara Robinson

Summon the Shadows by Eva Marie Everson and G. W. Francis Chadwick is the second novel in a trilogy you won't want to miss. Katie, the main character loses her husband, but refuses to believe he is dead. She is forced to take over his business, running a posh hotel, as she faithfully waits for his return. Her faith in God sees her through. Katie remembers her roots and from where she has come. While being thankful to God for her own escape from the world of exotic dancing, she tries to help three other dancers find their escape by offering them jobs in the hotel. Looking back unable to let go of her past, one dancer secretly returns to the exotic dancing.

This book will not offend anyone with its subtle message of God's caring and love. Everson and Chadwick have interwoven the hope, love, and joy of His message throughout this exciting journey of Katie's life. Katie escapes the evil plot of others with the Lord's protection. Her faith and belief in God see her through the trials and tribulations she encounters at the hands of others. Even with so much turmoil in her own life, she still finds the time to love and care for others and opens her heart and hotel to saving the three dancers and turning their lives around.

This novel will keep you turning pages to find out what fate befalls the dancer who returns to exotic dancing. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering if Katie's husband will reappear, when she starts receiving gifts from an unknown admirer. Next, you will hold your breath as you await Katie's fate at the hands of so-called trusted friends who worked in her hotel. This novel is full of plot twists that make savory reading. Curl up with wonderful winter reads just in time for Christmas with this trilogy available through www.amazon.com because you won't want to miss a single book! What wonderful gifts of reading your presents may offer others!

Shadows of Light Book Review
By Eva Marie Everson
Book Reviewer: Barbara Robinson, Avid Reader and Passionate Writer, Educator

Shadows of Light is a page-turner with a Christian message delicately interwoven, so that the novel does not come off as preachy. Yet, it clearly delivers a much-needed message of God's love and forgiveness and how none of us are perfect. We all need loving kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and redemption, and the set of three novels in this collection clearly provide this message. Shadows of Light is the concluding book in the three-part series, one you will not want to put down until you see how it ends.

This final novel in the series of three illustrates how prayer and faith work in real life. Katie, the main character holds on to her faith, like the treasure it is, until her husband returns. She never gives up on him. Even when he returns and things are not picture perfect, she understands, has compassion, forgives, and continues to have faith in God. Maggie, the housekeeper, also models faith and how prayer works. She is not afraid of death and meeting her maker. In fact, she illustrates how she looks forward to doing so, and she tries to encourage Ben's faith. Just as in real life, all family members do not always share the same faith or amount of faith, but the novel displays a fine example of how one can model faith and belief in the power of prayer without preaching. One of my favorite parts of this novel is how Maggie is found with her finger marking a Bible verse and how Katie remembers the small things about Maggie, like where she kept Katie's slippers. For, when we lose our loved ones, it is always the small, simple things we miss the most about them.

Another favorite part is the epilogue and how the novel ends. I won't spoil the ending for you though. Read the book and find out for yourself! The ending ties in with an ongoing theme from the other two books as well as the third novel and wraps things up nicely like a well-wrapped Christmas gift. These novels would make great stocking stuffers for the readers in your life.

The novel also illustrates a love story and romance between Ben and Katie, the two main characters. It is very realistic to life and provides insight for the reader. If you like Southern novels, romance, or love stories, do not miss this delightful book. In fact, you won't want to miss a single one of the three.

This novel is full of plot twists that make savory reading. Curl up with wonderful winter reads just in time for Christmas with this trilogy available through www.amazon.com because you won't want to miss a single book from the collection: Summon the Shadows, Shadow of Dreams, and last, Shadows of Light.What wonderful gifts of reading your presents may offer others! Check out all of Eva Marie Everson's other great books online.

I'm hesitant to give low review to any author but felt compelled to do so because I was so disillusioned by the other reviews.

I kept waiting for something to happen in this novel and when it did, I was disappointed. It seemed that the entire book was written for the "surprise" ending which was overly dramatic and too unrealistic to be believable.

Then again, I had just read Francine Rivers' "Redeeming Love" and not much compares to that, now does it?

Eva Marie's series is fabulous. I couldn't wait to find the time to read the next page. I fell in love with Katie and hope there are plans to read more of her. Eva Marie's 3 books in this series is filled with exciting plot twists, suspense, and drew me closer to the Lord, plus making me even more appreciative of my wonderful husband. These books are delightful!

Once I started reading, I could not put it down. The characters and storylines are so realistic. I feel I know Katie personally (we are both from Georgia, after all). The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation and the love between Ben and Katie warmed by heart. This is definitely a must read and will keep you coming back for more!

The prodigal daughter returns to her southern home after twenty-five years of absence. Katie runs from her problems, and she discovers she needs to make things right with God before she can solve her problems. This book was intriguing and suspenseful, and there were times when I was sitting on the edge of my seat! The characters were well-developed, and I'm anxious to start the sequal!

"Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide" is a must-have book for all the wall-crawler's fan! It has information about lots of characters and a fantastic spidey's time-line! The illustrations are as good as well, and you can even find information on alternative Spider-Man series, like Spider-Girl, and Spidey 2099. Although the book is very nicely done i still missed more detailed profiles, anyway you will sure not regret for buying this one!

I never read a Spider-man comic book, but I wanted to know all about Spidey, his allies, and his enemies. This ended my search!

We bought this book for our five year old who loves Spiderman, but our whole family has enjoyed learning more about the villains and other characters in Spidey's world. It is fun to learn the origin of characters we are familiar with and some we had never heard of before. There are lots and lots of illustrations to keep the kids' attention, and the stories and bios are interesting enough for adults as well. The binding has fallen apart on our book- which may have survived better under normal wear and tear- but that is mostly because my son takes it to bed with him since he loves this book so much. Overall, a great book for kids and adults too.

Tom De Falco's comprehensive SPIDER-MAN guide is one of my favourite spidey books, covering everything from the comic's origins in the 60s to the recent movies. With some great insight into the characters in the world of comics and good layout, this guide tells you all you need to know about Peter Parker, Mary Jane and assotment of villians (Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom et all). DeFalco's extensive research has paid off, making this an essential addition to the already bookshelf-breaking collection of comic book guides. This is a must-have book for any SPIDER-MAN enthusiast.

I have been a rabid Spider-Man fan, reader, and collector for the past 13 years. In that time, I've seen some of the best (1980's to 1993) and worst (Clone Saga) this hero has to offer. IN addition, I have collected every issue ever published. So, I'm very knowledgable about SPider-Man and his world. Still, this book is a delight to read. I didn't learn anything new, but it is well written, spectacularly illustrated with original comic art from some of Spidey's most legendary artists (Ditko, Romita Sr., Romita Jr., Frenz, Andru, Sal Buscema, Gil Kane, McFarlane, Bagley, Larsen). New fans will learn a lot from this book, but no matter how long you've been a fan of Spidey, this book is a treasure trove for you!!