The Party Books

This is a wonderful book with great rhythm and rhyme. My 3 month old already smiles when I start reading it, and I know as he gets older it will be one of his favorites, as he doesn't react this way to any other book. I also think it is a great story... VERY cute pictures!

My daughter loves this book (22 months old) and my husband and I enjoy the sing-song rhyme as well. It has a nice rhythm for reading aloud. We don't mind reading it over and over! The illustrations are great also.

My 11 month old son loves this book and has since he was little. He loves the cadence of my voice as I read the clever rhyming story and he loves the pictures. However for younger children like him this book is also available in a board book format. Just search amazon for bear snores on board book.

This book was given to us when our boy was born and it's been a favorite for his two years of life. We've given this as a gift now many times.

This book is one of our favorites. Great, original verse, lots of cute animals, and a repeating phrase make our 2-year-old pay attention. The other "Bear" books don't seem as original to me. We give this book as gifts, and everyone loves it!

I was surprised at the wealth of information this book contains, not only about different types of guns, but laws and other information.

I got this book due to recommendations from many excellent websites and other authors whom I know to stand for Freedom and Liberty as established by our Founding Fathers and the many excellent riflemen who fought the Revolutionary War and all the men who have fought in subsequent wars to preserve our Constitution. What I got was a super bargain for the price. It is enlarged from the original by some 200 pages and reads so fast and easy that it is phenomenal. He gives the reader a good Index of terms/acronyms that you will use. It is located in the front of the book and is easy to refer back to when necessary. Aside from that, this guy gives you history, heritage, explanations on WHY we need to protect ourselves, especially from over zealous liberals who want to remove our 2nd Amendment Rights and who keep bogging us down with "Regulations" in effort to try and take our guns away. You get reviews of rifles, handguns, shotguns in as much depth as you could wish for from a man who knows what he is talking about. He brings in views from "experts" in many areas and topics to back up what he is trying to explain to you.

You cannot go wrong with BTP. He's right for every FREEDOM LOVING person in the U.S. If you are a Liberal and are against anyone except the police and military having guns, then you are going to find yourself very much abused in this book for being already enslaved and under control of other people who think they know what is best for you, regardless of what you think about it.

I must emphasize one very outstanding focus BTP makes in this book. He has a fully detailed section for Women and how they need to protect themselves. He helps with gun selections and other protective means.

Lastly, he gives you resource referral information on where to go to get what, things to watch (videos, movies), books to read, and important names/addresses/contact info, website addresses, etc.,on other resources including within the government. This is a super resource and learning book that is very timely in this day and time when it looks like we may be faced with some kind of issues in self protection/survival from terrorists, bad governmental agents, or people who want to bring you and your family harm. It will lift your "Freedom Loving" spirits in showing you how YOU can survive and how you MUST protect yourself and your family. I find myself picking it up and rereading here and there all the time. It is almost a daily thing to review something or some section in my Gun Bible and get Boston's views on it again. I found this as one of the best ever books I've ever owned and it is definitely very inspirational to this old Constitutionalist who feels that his freedoms are slipping out from under him very fast in this day and time.

This is one book I would honestly recommend for everyone. If you are a gun owner and have not read this book you must at once. If you plan on buying a gun at any point you need this book. Without a doubt the best single book on the subject of firearm ownership.

This book gives the best information about the technical specifications and advantages of different guns than any other I have ever seen. It also gives a lot of information regarding the law, your rights, and which states are gun-friendly. There are also substantial portions of the author's philosophy written about in the book. Kenneth Royce is truly an expert on the subject of guns, and this book has changed my way of thinking forever. The most valuable part of the book, I believe, is the section dealing with the advantages and disadvantages of various guns. He thoroughly exhausted that subject. I recommend this book for everyone, not just gun owners. If you are a gun owner, I guarantee that this book will have some information you can use. If you're planning on becoming a gun owner, this book will help you decide which gun to buy first. If you're not sure, I believe this book will convince you you need a gun. If you are anti-gun, this book may very well change your mind-- if not with its philosophy, then with its statistics.

In the title of my review, I mentioned that there is some impractical advice in the book. Mr. Royce strongly encourages everyone to devote a major portion of their life and money to purchasing and training with guns. While it's fine to talk about different training ranches and expensive guns, Royce goes so far as to imply that if you don't do this, you're a fool. In reference to people who say that they can't afford a multi-thousand dollar sniper rifle, he responds, "how much protection can you afford not to have? Save money in other areas so you have enough to purchase guns." He says basically the same thing about expensive gun training courses offered by Thunder Ranch and others. It's the arrogance of his statements which really bother me. I don't know how Royce makes a living (I doubt that much of his income comes from books), but normal people have families to feed, and simply cannot afford to buy a $6,000 Barrett because the USA is an expensive country and people with normal jobs don't make that much money. He also says that there are two kinds of people in an army: riflemen and cooks, and refers to those firearms owners who aren't expert riflemen as "cooks" (his criteria for graduating from "cook" status is in the book). Not everyone can be Carlos Hathcock. His attitude throughout the book brings the term "gun snob" to mind, and really put me off after I thought about it for a while. From reading this book, I'm sure Mr. Royce thinks very highly of himself.

Although his superior attitude offends me, most of his statistics about crime are hard to argue with, most of his philosophy makes sense, and I certainly can't knock the technical information contained in Boston's Gun Bible. Again, this is a must read. Buy this book NOW.

Boston T. Party is a pen-name for Kenneth W. Royce, a libertarian author of several non-fiction books. In his firearms reference manual, Boston's Gun Bible, the author pours out his knowledge of guns, but apparently does not bother to employ either a ghost writer or editor.

A basic knowledge of firearms is assumed by the author however, the first chapter does cover terminology. Later chapters include Women and Guns, Rating the Battle Rifles, Rating the Battle Carbines, How to Buy, Sell & Trade and You & the BATF. Also included are chapters or sections covering individual rifles and pistols. Based on the information provided, I would give the book five stars.

There is a detailed table of contents, but no index. The pages are number in the military style, chapter/page, so if you are on the tenth page of chapter four it would read 4/10. One reviewer mentioned the book had 848 pages. I have not counted.

The writing style varies unevenly from technical to conversational, sprinkled with wit and occasional sarcasm. Fonts, font size, italics and bolding seem to change at the whim of the author. This does detract from a five star rating. However if you want basic information and opinion based upon experience about modern firearms and accessories as well as rankings and comparisons between different makes and models, this is a good buy.

Recommendation: If you have one or two guns and are interested in expanding both your knowledge and your collection I recommend Boston's Gun Bible as an easy to read reference manual.

Kyle Pratt

This novel brings you to the late 1700's and offers the drama of a modern romance with all the trials of war while in another era and country.
Twists and turns along with an easy/quick history of early Poland will keep the pages turning. Quickly went to buy the sequel before starting a new book b/c I was up in arms to find out the happenings of these compelling characters.

This book is a page-turner right from the beginning. I loved reading in this time period when men spoke to women like this (from page 23):

"See the two meadow flowers, the yellow and the violet? One is as different from the other as day from night. Yet who will say that one is more beautiful? Oh, a fool might. But only a fool... But do you know what may determine the desirability of one over the other?... The fragrance!"

Be still my heart! If you love that kind of subtle romance, you will love this book.

Anna shows such strength despite the overwhelming tragedies (one after the other) she faces in her young life. And even though she is a Countess, she is very down-to-earth and sensitive to those "under her" although it was a no-no for those of such high society. Her tenderness and innocense makes her so very likable.

The book goes back and forth between family life and what's politically going on in Poland during the late 1700s with the underlying romance throughout. You're always wondering about what will finally happen with Jan Stelnicki. At no point was this book boring!!!

I loved it.

I loved this book. There are so few novels on the market about Poland and Polish history (I don't know of any others!). This is indeed a rare find. The characters are well developed, the descriptions of locations and activities are wonderfully detailed and passionately written. The setting and content about the significant historical moments are woven in expertly. It really is a history lesson embedded in a very fast-moving and dramatic story. Yes, sometimes it may be a bit overly dramatic, but I really enjoy that rich, gossipy style. So cool that it is based on REAL journal entries. These characters come alive and will stay with you well after you are done reading. Great ending, too.

Looking forward to reading Chrimson Sky.

This book very much wanted to be Gone With the Wind, I think.

It helped to know the story was based on the actual diary a Polish countess -- especially when reading the quoted passages from her cousin's diary, as I never would have believed them otherwise. So lurid!

The story itself is very exciting and tense, but the writing simply isn't up to the story. It is a shame. i think it could have been a great historical novel/romance/thriller in the hands of the right author. Instead it seems limp and tepid, filled with silly turns of phase and under-descriptive language.

I found this historical fiction text to be absolutely enthralling! It has not only provided me with hours of enjoyable, page-turning reading, but has also given me great insight into my Polish ancestry and heritage. The strength, spirit, and heart of the Polish people--MY people--is wonderfully portrayed within the pages of this book. I'm so looking forward to receiving Mr. Martin's sequel, Against a Crimson Sky. I'm sure I'll not be disappointed!

This book is really nothing more than a forum to advertise the Passion Parties products. Don't bother.

Pat Davis brings us a complete guide on how to bring out the diva in all of us, no matter what our age, size, marital status, etc. This book is one of the most comprehensive self help books I have read. I truly enjoy reading about how you can find ways to keep any relationship alive and sexually satisfied!! Plus, you get all the information you need on the products you need to keep your sex life complete!! www.spiceupyourlifetoday.com

Great book with many useful suggestions. Easy to read. I have continued to refer to it for new ideas.

What a great guide! It offers solid practical advice for all of us! I feel somewhat knowledgeable on the subject and still added a few tricks to my arsenal!

This book is more like a catalog of sex gizmos for sale, than passion techniques.

I have read all of the reviews that have been uploaded as of 5/23/2008, and the purpose of this filing is to summarize the points that were made AND to provide a perspective that has not yet been uploaded.

I have been carrying-around this book for a year, having learned about its author after I listened to Michael provide a speech to a Republican group in the Philadelphia suburbs. My only complaint is that it does not easily slip into my pockets, because there is so much concentrated information that I would want to reference during conversations.

It contains more than a "string of pearls"; it conveys "history with an attitude" which renders it easier to recall, and observations therein have subsequently been noted in other sources, notably the strong civil rights record of the GOP that indubitably dates-back to Lincoln...threading throughout the "narrative" that Republicans have generated for ~150 years.

COMMENTS:

Bruce Rheinstein's review serves to reinforce the history-lesson provided by Zak, amplifying and amending; it is engaging itself, and essentially the book is shown to pass muster when it emphasizes the contributions of the Radical Republicans.

Aaron Z. Gadouas's review emphasizes that Zak provided a timely manifesto and historical overview of the ideas that define the Republican Party, vital reading for activists and thinkers.

Michael Miller's review focuses upon the need to show the GOP has been anti-racist, and it recognizes the ability of Zak's book to help "recalibrate GOP compasses."

Former Diplomat observes that this book has been cited in a Supreme Court Opinion (as a DC "cult favorite") because it debunks myths and probes "simple truths." It should be noted that it has a treasure-trove of references, reflecting the extensiveness of the research that yielded it.

American laments that too few blacks appreciate the GOP's civil rights legacy. That the turning-point occurred in 1964 is probed, for Zak provides insight as to how their current D-orientation could/should be countered.

Patrick D. John considers it to be a GOP-Infomercial, claiming it oversimplifies and elides over key-points (some of which are discomfiting); the author aspires to compose a text (as a Black Republican) that emphasizes the former ("Black") more than the latter ("Republican"). His review should be consulted for myriad details that weren't included in the book, although some are more arguable as quasi-facts than are others.

George L. Lyon praises Zak for telling us the story that mainstream academia would rather just ignore, namely, that the Radical Republicans were courageous and accomplished.

PJ Hunger "Peej" praises the book because it renews excitement, corrects the course and calls for an engaging vigor not seen for a terribly long time; regarding the GOP, we can dust it off, polish it up, get it working again and show it off. The pivotal observation, however, is that the book conveys essential truths that are as relevant now as they were when first articulated and implemented.

Publius condemns the book because, to him, it represents a self-fulfilling prophesy. Allegedly, it starts with a premise and then creates supportive facts. As examples, it suggests that stereotypes applicable 100 years ago are no longer relevant. He forgets, however, that ideologies that generated those behaviors have evolved over time...but have not dissipated. The reviewer recommends Gould's "GOP" for history, but he fails to dispel the thrust of Zak's presentation of the GOP's strong Civil Rights legacy.

Jonathan Jenkins considers it to be of textbook quality, best perceived as serving as a compendium of the GOP's rich history and as a motivator for budding activists.

Karen B. portrays it as brilliantly concise, an observation recalls that Hemingway--when discussing "The Old Man and The Sea"--invoked this short-book as a model for how the best writers know what to edit OUT as much as what is necessarily included.

Jorge Roque praises the book for reminding him of why he's a proud Republican.

Ann Kotelman writes (simply/eloquently): "My friends, particularly the Democrats, are calling me a born again Republican. The book is inspiring, informative and cemented my affiliation with the party and my belief in Republican ideals." This captures, assuredly, the experience of most who have experienced Zak's efforts.

A Customer emphasizes both how replete the book is with nuggets and how well it conveys fundamental Republican principles that he tries to convey as often as possible.

S. Gershberg considers it a must-read because, by tracing the history of the Republican party, it show us where the political system needs to go at the start of the millennium. It contains so much fascinating detail that the reader must remember to try to remember all the concepts that it conveys so effortlessly.

Cathie Adams claims the book will put wind under your wings. As timely as the book may appear now to be (pre-Presidential Elections), it also has a timeless quality.

Bill Carroll says it all: "Michael Zak's book, "Back to the Basics for the Republican Party," is at once a splendid history lesson of our nation and an illuminating dialogue of our political system. Mr. ZaK begins with the events and the ideas that gave rise to the Republican Party. He goes on to explain how the fundamental tenets of the party enabled the Republicans to save the Union, rid our country of slavery and lay the foundation for the modern American economy. Mr. Zak then discusses how the GOP strayed from its principles, allowing the Democratic Party to gain the advantage. Finally, the author provides, through his own incisive analysis, the framework by which the Republican Party can regain the moral and political high ground, and lead America to even greater accomplishments. Nonetheless, this book is neither a dry nor a pedantic study. It is a thoughtful, well-written, compelling and entertaining discourse in the realm of politics. Most importantly, "Back to the Basics for the Republican Party" is a clarion call for the GOP to return to its roots. I highly recommend this outstanding book."

*

I had planned to encompass all the reviews, but the last one was so concisely correct that it cannot be bested by any other reader.

If you're a dedicated Republican and want Sean Hannity style content, Sean's your guy and Michael Zak is not. Back To Basics is truly a brilliant work, chronicling the history of the Republican party from its inception to the present.

As a moderate, I do not always agree with my party line, and am often skeptical of the volumes of political hyperbole to which we are subjected. Zak makes a laudable effort to incorporate information sources, evidenced by a 10 page bibliography, single spaced in 6pt type, and a plethora of footnotes through his book.

This is not a quick or casual read. Zak's attention to detail in his investigation of the past 150 years is evident in every paragraph, though his writing style is universally fluid. It's a hard book to put down, especially if you are not well versed in this topic.

His objectivity is evident in his persistent criticism and evaluation of significant individuals and events that have shaped the Republicans to what we are today. Zak does not hide his disappointment in several aspects of the current state of Republicans, however his admonition of returning to the basics on which our party was founded is the most compelling theme in the book.

Readable, informative, research-based, and a clear call to action, Back to Basics for the Republican Party is not only a chronicle; it is a guide for us to re-energize and to once again become the Grand Old Party.

Michael Zak's book was fascinating and made me wish it was a textbook used for high school and college students. In reading the comments, I see that some things did not appear in his book that were unfavorable to Republicans. That is unfortunate, and more study should be placed beside this book. It is a good read! It'll open many eyes.

As the chairman of the fastest growing and most active Young Republican group in my tri-state area I need books like this to more quicky educate conservatives. Whether candidate, supporter, or voter it is pertinent to understand the core values of Republicanism as well as our rich history. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is a terrific book about our values and history. It is in a must-read for all Republicans. Our principals are ever lasting yet without knowing and applying them we cannot truly unite and maintain the way of life our forefathers fought for. My challenge to every individual and campaign: Purchase, read, and pass around Back to Basics for the Republican Party.

I myself am a Black Republican, so I agree with Mr. Zak that the GOP's history on civil rights has not been fairly told. However, this book makes the same 2 errors that most GOP loyalists make when discussing Blacks and the GOP: 1) they oversimplify the ideology of the early Republicans and abolitionists. For example, notably missing from Mr. Zak's book are the following facts:that Herbert Hoover (Republican) was the first president to refuse to address the NAACP's convention, that Carter G. Woodson-the Founder of Black History Month-became so disappointed with the GOP that in the late 1920's he publicly stated that Blacks should stop being blindly loyal to the GOP, that soon after Reconstruction the GOP condoned the formation in the South of racially segregated GOP organizations, called the Lily Whites and the Black & Tans;that beginning in the 1870's Republican candidates lost elections in some Northern states because the Radical Republicans' idea of perfect equality was not embraced by most Whites, not even by most Republicans; that Lincoln was NOT a Radical Republican, he was a moderate who had ALWAYS discussed freeing the slaves ONLY in conjunction with deporting them to another country, for Lincoln openly declared that Blacks were inferior to Whites; that after the Civil War the GOP was weak nationally-since the founding of the GOP America has had 4 presidents who won by electoral vote but lost the popular vote, and all 4 were Republicans (Harrison, Hayes, Garfield, and Bush); that not all Republicans or abolitionists believed in racial equality, in fact most did NOT, they believed ONLY in ending slavery, and even on that issue they disagreed on the reasons, some were against slavery for moral reasons, others because they feared slave revolts, others because slavery competed with White labor, others because they wanted the good farmland used for more than just cotton. 2) they leave out much of how/why Blacks left the GOP in the first place: Mr. Zak's book does lay blame at the feet of Barry Goldwater, but overlooks the fact that Goldwater's victory in the GOP presidential primary obviusly says something about the views of rank and file Republicans in 1964-national civil rights legislation was clearly not a priority for most Republican voters in 1964, else Goldwater could not have won. Goldwater was just the icing on the cake. Beginning in the 1870's, the GOP began taking the Black vote for granted precisely because the Democrats were such vicious racists. Mr. Zak's book points out how the Democrats were at one point synonymous with the KKK, but he overlooks the obvious political implication for Black voters-if their only 2 choices were between the GOP and the Klan, it was an easy decision. Blacks voted for the GOP because they feared voting for the Democrats, this led to the GOP taking the Black vote for granted as the GOP moved further away from civil rights issues in order to attract more White voters, feeling confident that in doing so it would not lose Black voters. Today, it's the Democrats who take the Black vote for granted, because most Black voters are afraid of the GOP-the tables have turned.

As a Black Republican who is pro civil rights, I think what we need is a balanced review of history. This book is not balanced. Throughout history minorities have been used by the dominant group like a political footbal, and Blacks in America are no different. I'm working with some other Black Republicans to prepare a balanced view of Blacks and the GOP told from the Black perspective, not the perspective of a party loyalist.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. I say that I read it, but really this is more like a book you do. What do you do? You solve the mystery of the poetic story by searching the detailed illustrations for clues. Some clues are more obvious than others, but most clues take real sleuthing to discover. I had so much fun with it, and after about two days of study, I came up with the answer, but there was still so much that I had overlooked. Thankfully, the author reveals all to you in a sealed section at the back of the book. I encourage you to resist seeking the answers until you've tried your hardest to find as many clues as you can. Even if you can't figure out the who dunnit, you will be exited with every clue you find, and will likely hear yourself exclaim, "Ah-ha!". This book is marketed to children but it takes a sharp mind to solve the mystery and discover the clues, so it is really better suited for teens and adults, but even small children will enjoy the story and the amazing pictures. I would give this book as a gift to anyone who enjoys a good brain teaser. So get out your magnifying glass, a notepad and pencil, and have fun!

The story is about Horace the elephant who has decided to celebrate his eleventh birthday, with 10 of his friends in the eleventh month (November) on the eleventh day. After all have arrived the eleven characters participate in eleven games in anticipation of a birthday feast at the eleventh hour of the day. Thus the title of the book - The Eleventh Hour. The day is filled with musical activities, indoor/outdoor games, board games, cards, party games and more. The eleventh hour arrives disappointing the guests with the unexpected disappearance of their birthday feast. Apparently a theft perpetrated by one of the invited guests. Horace saves the day by serving healthy whole wheat sandwiches to all and the birthday cake remains because it had been stored away from the feast. With everyone enjoying the birthday cake, the story closes with a happy ending.

However, this is where one story ends and other mysteries begin. On each page of the book there are puzzles to be solved and clues to lead a more intrepid reader along the trail to the thief of the birthday feast.

I'm a freshman in college and I still love this book. My third grade class room had a set but we were NOT allowed to open the pages in the back! The entire class spent lots of time pouring over the sumptuous pictures and trying to spot each and every hidden...well, I won't give it away. I came across the book in a bookstore recently and bought it immediately because I had such fond memories. Do yourself or your kid a huge favor and buy it!

-- And it's a "kids book"!!!

I'm 26 now, but I remember the astonishment and awe I first felt borrowing this book from my 5th grade class's "library" when I was 10 years old. Back then, I gave up after 4 hours of not being able to figure anything at all out and had to look in the Sooper Sikret Section, but this time around, I got a few more of the clues on my own before having to look up the Section :P

A great book to sate the inquisitive mind of a bright child, honestly. Highly recommended!

Horace the elephant is inviting his animal friends over for his
eleventh birthday. Horace has prepared a magnificent feast for he and his friends to enjoy. But while they are romping outside, Horace's food has mysteriously disappeared. Which animal stole the food? Base's lush artwork contains cleverly hidden clues to help the reader solve this mystery. An excellent choice for all ages.

All I can say is Spirit Horse's is just Breathtaking. A beautiful book,I would recommed it for any horse lover.

This is one of the most beautiful books that I have seen of horses. Very well done. If you know somebody that loves horses, this is the book to buy.

The best art photography I've seen.. A must for horse lovers.

The photo book Spirit Horses is an must for every horse lover. The photo's are incredible and create or catch a mistical atmosphere as I have seldom seen. The captions are inspiring. Not a book to read but one to pick up once a week for half an hour meditation. Highly recommended

Misleading - Linda Kohanov only wrote the Intro.
Repetitive photographs and sparse text.

I started reading R.L. Stine books over a year ago. This was a great one. Well, actually most of them are good! WARNING: DO NOT GET Fear Street Nights. Thos are crapy books. Don't get Feer Street Cheerleaders either. Anyway, I have to admit, it's probably been aout a year since I've read this. I should really start selling my BIG libray of R.L. Stine books. If you ever se my name for buying a book, get it. I do NOT lie about the conditions of my books and most of them look new. All the ones that I didn't buy used, all look brand new- and I'M NOT KIDDING! Anyways, from what I remember, a boy named P.J. and can't tell you much else with out giving anything away. Just buy it :)

This book was the best! I loved it. It goes from a party to kids at school to people in the street to a suprising ending. The best part is the ending, it was so unexpected. The murderer was a stone-cold killer, twisting their heads all the way around. I'm REALLY looking forward to reading another R.L. Stine book.

Best Book
The book the New Years Party written by R.L Stein was a thriller book. This book mostly takes place at a party, school and many more. This is the best book I've ever read.
A Thriller book
This book is mostly about a couple of people who hang out with the new girl and her brother who seem nice. So they start to show her around. Then they get in a fight later in the story. One person from the group of girls tries to not be in a fight with the new girl anymore. The ending I thought was kind of scary and exciting at the same time. What happened I didn't expect it at all.
Exciting
This book had some pretty gross moments. I would recommend that you don't read this book during the night because you might have night mares. I loved this book because it kept you wanting to turn the page. For example when they we're in the restaurant, they went outside and found a body in the trash can. I loved it so much. Another reason I liked it is because when you would stop reading it for 10 minutes, you want to pick it back up and keep reading it. I also thought that the front of the book looked interesting and scary. I thought I would read it because I like scary books and if you do then this book is perfect for you.
Nice but Not Nice
Something else I'd like you to know about this book is that the beginning is kind of boring but the middle of the book and the end are great. If you decided to read this book then hears something you should hear just because someone seems nice doesn't mean that they stay nice.
Good or Bad
I would give this book 1 millon star if I could but since I can't I would give this book 5 stars. I loved it so much. I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!! THE KILLER IS SUCH A BLOODY SURPRISE!!!

This book was about a group of friends on New Year's Eve who are about to count down the New Year, but something's gone wrong. Someone is crashing the party and one boy gets offended by it. It's icy on the road so he goes for a drive. Now no one can find him. Now you have to go read the book to figure out everything else and see what happens to him and his friend Beth. I recommend this book strongly to people who like horror books and books that have a lot of suspense. This book makes you want to read ahead the whole time to see what's going to happen. That's why I like this book a lot. I would tell anyone to read this book. There wasn't anything I didn't like about it. The book was really cool because the time base was 1965 and it was really cool to see how something really haven't changed from now and then. Sometimes in this book I could picture myself there at the party as scared as they all were. The end and close to the end of the book is really surprising and kind of hard to believe. That's why I loved it. This book is now of my favorites and I like it a lot like I have already said. So that's why I suggest you go and buy this book! (:

"One lonely spider sipped her tea while gazing at the sky
She watched the insects on the leaves and many flying by..."

So begins the tale of Miss Spider, a charming arachnid whose only wish is to have many an insect delight in her hospitality by attending her elegant tea party. Outwardly, Miss Spider is quite beautiful - a cheery goldenrod body accented by large black dots, hypnotizing peridot eyes fringed by heavy lashes, a striking red coif and coquettish smile all look very innocent, indeed. Despite her attractive appearance and friendly demeanor, not one insect in Miss Spider's neighborhood will accept her invitation for fear they will be caught in a literal web of deceit and become the main course amongst the gleaming china and sweet cakes.

As Miss Spider tries time and again to coax different insects (bumblebees, beetles, etc.), for a sit-down, she is continually met with resistance and/or rejection and retreats to her place settings, shedding a tear for the loss of company. It's not until a hapless moth soaked by the downpour of a thunderstorm stumbles upon her council that Miss Spider offers a tablecloth and tea to warm him. As the grateful moth flies off with a piece of chocolate cake, the good news spreads quickly of her generosity and good nature. Before she knows it, Miss Spider is flanked by dozens of insects and becomes the guest of honor at her own party and is graciously welcomed into the fold of many an insect family.

David Kirk has crafted a charming story that tells young children that people cannot be judged by their outward appearance, only by the content of their character and it does so magnificently with all the colorful and resplendent original paintings contained within. Your child will be enraptured by Kirk's bright and beautiful art work (it's one of the main reasons why I picked up this book for my daughter) and as an added bonus will get a nice refresher course on counting from 1-12 (two beetles, three fireflies, four bumblebees, etc.). The entire book is written in the form of a poem with spontaneous rhyme schemes - the language as well as the story flows beautifully as a result.

Bottom line: Undeniably enjoyable for the reader and the spectator, the artwork and word form of "Miss Spider's Tea Party" makes for a visual and auditory rapture.

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.

AL-Saadiq you are a tease-lol! That is two books in a row now that you just left me hanging-lol! Can't wait to see what happens next.

excellent book I could not stop reading it was really a page turner you put your foot in this book, real and I love the part about loyalty and differences in generations

Block Party by Al- Saadiq Banks is a fast-paced, entertaining read. It grabs you from the first page and keeps you entertained until the very end. The characters are real, the setting is true and the message is clear. As an author myself, I am most impressed with what Al- Saadiq Banks has to offer. This is exciting urban fiction!

I cannot believe I had this book in my possession for months and never read it. The reason being I did not like the bold print throughout the book. I am glad I got pass that.

Block Party is about the life of Donald "Cashmere" Pierson.

He has just returned home after a seven year prison bid and the streets and the players have changed. Can Cash adjust to this change?

Cash is a devoted husband, father, friend, and street hustler. No matter how hard he tries to ignore the call of the street he can't. Will this be his downfall?

I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading any book Mr. Banks writes.

This was the first book that I read by Mr. Banks but it definitely won't be my last. In Block Party, we meet Donald Pierson a.k.a. Cashmere or Cash. Cash had the game on lock when he went to prison, but after a seven year prison bid, he comes home to find that the rules to the game have changed. All the young kids that used to look up to him are now hustlers. One kid in particular----Junebug. Junebug is now known are the "Mayor" because his cocaine-- nicknamed "Block Party" runs the street. No one can sell better cocaine in his town than him or his infamous goon sqaud will take them out.

Cash thought that he would come back home and chill out but after seeing the New Mercedes and the Bentley that the "Mayor" was rolling in, the hustler in him came back and just had to prove to the youngster Junebug that he could come back and still be on top of the game. He really was pissed when the Mayor insulted hsi 1993 Benz that he bought brand new off the showroom floor before his bid. The "Mayor"'s cockiness came to an abrupt halt when Cash came with the illest cocaine the dopefiends had ever seen and he nicknamed it "Bangman". It was the perfect name because soon after it hit the streets a lot of banging went on and lives got lost becuase of Junebug's jealousy and pride. Will Cash be able to run his last run without getting popped and without jeapordizing the life of Love, the faithful woman who married him while he was incarcerated and his two beautiful sons?? You haev to get the book to find out!!! Mr. Banks, we need a sequel!!!