Downloads Books

An excellent illustrated version of a favorite old song from childhood. The illustrations are exceptionally good. Came in fine condition.

I am now a fan of Peter Speir books. This is a very nice book. The provider was very prompt and arrived in new condition.

My four children are now in their thirties and they loved this song when they were young. I bought this edition for my two grandsons aged 18 months and three and a half and they love it. No publisher has it in Australia but Amazon came to the rescue! It also has the music included which is great for our musical famly. The whole family - children and adults- join in the singing and we always end up laughing. The illistrations are tasteful and vibrant.

A favorite family song brought to life with wonderful pictures. Perfect for a child--music and lyrics included.

This is one of my all time favorites. The text consists of one version of an old folk song, general known as "The Fox." There are probably several dozen versions of this particular song, likely even more. I know of at least nine myself. The one used in this work is from a Burl Ives recording done in 1945. I was and am a big fan of Ives, so this book has been a real treat for me. The song originated from a poem, written in the 14th for 15th century in Middle English. I can remember versions sung of this song at various gatherings back to the late 1940s. This particular work was originally published about 1961 i.e. the Spire's version...not to be confused with one written by Wendy Watson which is a good work itself.

Anyway, the text consists of the words to the old song and this is a wonderful sing-along book. The art work by Peter Spier is some of the best. It is extremely detailed, the colors are wonderfully blended and even though they are actual paintings, they give a true feeling of being there. The story consists of a fox who goes out on a chilly night and visits the hen/goose/duck house of a local farmer in or near a village. The fox does this in order to feed his family. The book is the picture and word story of his journey there and back with the meal for his family. I note that there is some disagreement here as to the location of this story. It certainly took place (the story) during the late 1800s or possibly the early 1900s. The setting is rural. If I were to give a guess, I would say it probably took place in New England, possibly Massachusetts, Connecticut or Penn. Of course you could make a pretty good argument for Virginia also, but the civil war monuments shown in the book look to me more Union than Southern. Yes indeed folks, they do grow tobacco in New England. There are several pictures of tobacco drying sheds in the book. There are also pictures of covered bridges and wonderful details of the country side, farm and village.

The illustrations alternate between full color and black and white sketch type drawings. I personally find this technique quite appealing. I know the kids to which I read this book to don't seem to be bothered a bit by it. In fact, I have caught several of them trying to copy some parts of the black and white drawings. I do love the author's use of color, shades and his minute attention to detail.

Now, parents do take note: The fox does indeed kill the old goose and makes off with a duck to boot. There are not graphic details of this other than the fox family finishing off the cooked bones after their wonderful meal. Some parents may feel that their child may have problems with this. To be honest, this is where parenting comes in. Each parent knows, or should know, what his kid can or cannot handle and at what age. I personally have no problems with it. The fox is acting according to his nature and yes, foxes do indeed raid hen houses.(Goodness knows I have lost enough chickens to the little guys). Again though, this should be the parent's call.

There is another note of interest and suggestion. This book is ideal to introduce the young reader to Middle English. A quick wed search can provide the text of the original poem, along with many versions of this song. It is interesting to see how our language has developed and evolved over the years.

All in all, there is little not to like about this book. The art work is wonderful, you cannot beat the text, you get a great sing-along book and I have found that kids love the thing. I have used this particular work from Kindergarten up through the seventh and eight grades. Adults also enjoy listening to it.

Gossamer contains both a delightful story about learning to use one's gifts to ease human suffering and a rich metaphor of the workings of the human psyche. Mysterious creatures of the night, more like angels than faeries, flutter and flicker through the objects of our lives finding fragments from which to form dreams to bestow on us. In this gentle story, a young apprentice dream-giver discovers how to use her gossamer touch to find the right fragments to give healing dreams to an abused and angry eight-year-old boy. Lowry has deftly interwoven the story of the young boy and his elderly foster mother with the story of the young dream-giver and her elderly mentor. While kids will identify with the struggles of the youngsters, grown-ups who work with kids will find inspiration in the work of the dream-givers. "We do such important work," says Thin Elderly. "Sometimes we forget that." Thanks, Ms. Lowry, for a wonderful story that will entertain, enlighten and give new strength to readers of all ages.
Janet Gingold
author of Danger, Long Division

This book pulled me in; I couldn't help but keep turning the pages til I reached the end.

This was an entertaining story. It portrays these creatures that give dreams and their struggles to help people through their dreams and to help them fight off creatures that bring nightmares. It also tells the story of an 8 year old boy abused by his father who also abused her mother and has now gone off to live with an elderly lady. It was a very short book. Very easy to read and pretty interesting. It starts out a little slow for the 1st couple of chapters before you figure out what's going on. Then it's very interesting.

Gossamer was one of the best books that I have ever read! The best part about it was Littlest, the main character in the story. She was entergetic and "happy" from the beginning. Even so, that it also what makes this book not one of my most favorite books. I don't think that the main character changed very much in the book, and she stayed the same. It would be a better book if Littlest changed even a little bit in the book. She was not so dull, but not really that exciting in the book, because of that reason only. If it hadn't been for that reason, I think that Gossamer would be one of my most favorite books of all time.

This is a story by Lois Lowry about three different people living, changing, and their dreams. They experience relationships, hardships, and find ways to understand themselves and do better. In the beginning, they all are facing difficult problems without seeing any solution. In the middle everyone started to help each other and understand the other person's feelings and situation. The power of dreams, through Dream givers and Sinisteeds, start to affect the people. In the end, after much struggle, they all find ways to begin to solve their problems.
Gossamer was a fantastic book for a fifth grade class. This book makes you continue to think a lot, even when you are not reading it. It is well written and lets you understand and feel the emotion of each character. Great descriptions help you visualize the detail. Our discussions were filled with emotions and understanding our own selves. It made you think about your problems and how to solve them more easily. We realized that we get much hope from the power of our dreams and our minds. You cannot put down the book until you are finished. People who are into fantasy, realistic fiction, and basically people in the real world, can have the same feelings. The book that Lois Lowry wrote is heartwarming and everyone will love it.

I was really intrigued by first chapters of Mr. Versaci's book. I'm curious to know what Drew, C-Man and Book could have done to create such fierce enemy as Smarty. Characters are masterfully drawn, a reader takes immediate dislike to the antagonist, who is introduced early enough in the book to picture opposing forces. Personally I would agree with comments of Debbie Wesselmann - it would be easier and more personable to read the book with only one first person's account; however I could also understand Mr. Versaci's objective of creating more of a documental approach by choosing multiple first persons. I really value sense of humour and eloquence of Mr. Versaci's prose, so I'm looking forward to read the whole book!

Green House looks to be a wonderfully told tale of a familiar type: the DC political thriller. Such a structure doesn't admit much tinkering - it's all in the telling and Sid Versaci tells it well with sly humour and a well tuned sense of irony. I think it would make a terrific airplane book.

I'm hooked! Can't wait to read the rest. Interesting, very different characters. So far, a great read.

I like the characters and the story line. I was intrigued by the mystery unfolding from the characters' perspective. I wanted to read on.

Like Jason Bourne on steroids, Sid Versaci's Green House cartwheels into action dealing a hammer fist to the sensibilities within the first 3 pages. Characters are smartly drawn, the prose is taut and the dialog first rate. For those inclined to the "whodunit" genre Green House promises not to disappoint. If the rest of the book is as artful as the first four chapters Mr. Versaci will have no trouble developing a devout readership.

Out of print book came quickly and condition was very good, service was quick. I will be back.

I loved this book! The entire time I listed to this book on cassette I felt I was hearing privileged information...yet Jess Oppenheimer shared his intellectual jewels freely as if they were common everyday thoughts. Well, for him, they were. What a genius. And what a witty, creative, generous, and responsible man! If he were alive I'd write him a fan letter.

This is an excellent informative book about the "I Love Lucy" show and a must have for any Lucy fan! The cd that is included is worth the price of the whole set alone. In the cd it includes hours of hilarious episodes from I Love Lucy and My Favorite Husband starring Lucille Ball, you will also receive lost scenes from the shows on the cd. I am not much of a reader but this book you just can't put down because it is so good and of course I love Lucy! The book doesn't look thick on the picture shown on Amazon but it is a nice thick paperback book and includes lots of wonderful pictures of the cast of I Love Lucy and fun information that you may have not of known about I love Lucy and how it became to be produced.

I THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMTIVE! IT WAS HILARIOUS AND I JUST COULDNT PUT IT DOWN. IT ONLY TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO READ IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW IT TOLD ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESS OPPENHEIMER AS WELL AS THE LIFE OF LUCILLE BALL AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS FROM THE SHOW I LOVE LUCY. I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK AND I THINK EVERY I LOVE LUCY FAN SHOULD READ IT!!!

I'd like to start with a clarification: this book is not a biography of Lucy, it is the creator's (Jess Oppenheimer) memoir. As such, there are many parts of the book that have nothing to do with Lucy, including episodes from Oppenheimer's childhood and young adult life.

However, this is still a GREAT book! It is well-written and full of entertaining annecdotes. "Laughs, Luck, and Lucy" follows Oppenheimer's slow rise to the top in the Hollywood radio industry. He describes Lucille Ball's program, "My Favorite Husband," which became the basis for "I Love Lucy." The book also includes some behind the scenes information about the making of "I Love Lucy."

The included audio cd is fun because it has clips from both "I Love Lucy" and "My Favorite Husband."

If you are only interested in information specifically about Lucille Ball, this might not be the book for you (try her autobiography, "Love, Lucy"). However, if you (like me) are fascinated with everything surrounding "I Love Lucy" and the Hollywood entertainment industry of the 1940s and 1950s, this is a great read!

This is a good book to read if you are a serious yoga practitioner or teacher, since it reviews in a simplified way the Yogasutras of Patanjali and Iyengar's point of view on life and life experiences. It has nothing to do with religion, it is just a different take on life that might prove useful and enlightening.

If you love yoga, or even think you would like to practice, this book is a must. Iyengar is the guru who will help you see the light and love of your practice and understand what yoga really is all about. I refer back to the book all the time. Merritt Becker, Maputo, Mozambique

Mr. Iyengar writes so anyone can understand and brings humor to complex subjects. The book has helped me deepen my yoga practice immensely. I completely recommend to anyone, especially those choosing to follow the yogic path.

I thought this was quite an interesting book of life--the life of B.Y.S. Iyengar. Recommended for those who are real curious.

This is a surprisingly accessible overview of yoga and levels of practice. It is not a "how to" manual, but rather a "why to" manual with insights for the beginner as well as the experienced.

This is a brilliantly original and creative work. Written with pathos and great humor, I was immediately hooked. The author gives us the challenging task of connecting to a quirky, obsessive-compulsive protagonist, and he succeeds in sparking our curiosity, and eventually, our empathy towards Ernest. I loved the use of footnotes: they created a story within a story feeling that really held my interest and added rich layering to the narrative. I laughed out loud many times! I found myself fascinated by the inner workings of Ernest's mind, and wanted to know more about what made him tick. I especially loved the originality of the piece, and appreciated the genuinely good writing! I would love to read other works by this author, and believe he has a legitimate place in the world of literature. This is an author who should be nurtured and supported in his creative endeavors!

To like this book, one has to throw out past ideas of what fiction is. Once you get past that, you get to appreciate what a wonderful book this truly is. The obsessive-compulsive nature of the narrator is very unique and left me laughing all the way. The things he does with his food (sectioning it, forming Eiffel Towers, and various images etc), the way he does his laundry, and the obsessive analysis of every small event in his life makes him one of the nuttiest and funniest character I've read in a long time. Man, are there really guys like that? Great job, Paul.

"The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune" is the kind of novel I like to read: clever, inventive, original. It captivates through its sheer obsessiveness, because we want to see what oddball conclusions its irrational--but perceptive--narrator is going to make next. Thoughts come and vanish, but then reappear later, showing that the author has a clear grasp on the totality of this project; the threads appear random, but there is a method to the madness. The only difficulty to be discerned from this excerpt is a lingering question about the compassion we as readers will feel for Ernest; his observations are often more clever and clinical than endearing--something that could prove alienating if left to continue without exposing an underlying human side. But already at the end of the excerpt we see a glimpse of Ernest's humanity; his girlfriend Violet is evidently about to establish an ultimatum--one that will force Ernest (hopefully) to emerge out of his obsessive-compulsive mindframe and return to "normal" live (as much as possible, at least). I feel that "The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune" has all the makings of a very fascinating read--one that I would definitely take home with me from a bookshelf. I only hope that Violet can bring Ernest out of his world, at least somewhat--so that we can meet the man hiding behind his own intriguing façade.

'The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune' opens with a unique suggestion from the narrator to the reader on how to read the book. The narrator's voice is hilarious as he talks about literary structural collapse (LSC) and suggests ways to avoid it so that his characters are not forced into the world of abandoned books. The prose is very well written and is both erudite and funny.

Ernest comes alive as a unique, interesting character as he solemnly pontificates his many theories on evolution and existence, and describes in detail his obsessive-compulsive personality of food sorting and his occasional need to reduce the world around him into a single 'reduction word' even as he assures the reader that he does not have a disorder. He reminds one of wonderful protagonists in literature like Holden Caulfield, Christopher -the autistic maths prodigy in 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' and Sampath of Kiran Desai's 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' who tries to avoid reality and escape from routine life.

This is one book that is in no danger of LSC - A reader might fan the pages to oblige Ernest (As I tried to do with the PDF excerpt), but is sure to keep on reading till the end. I am looking forward to read this book - The excerpt heralds a literary bestseller.

If I were a literary agent, I would track this Paul Margolis down and pray to god that someone else hadn't snapped him up first. This is the freshest, smartest fiction I've read in a very long time.

I picked this book because I love travel. I found it to be a delightful read, and a great story of female friendships. The uplifting message is a bonus as well.
Sharon and Penny take off to Finland to find Penny's long lost aunt. What an adventure they have, and you will find yourself laughing out loud at every little turn. Touching yet light. Sweet yet funny. I cannot recommend this book more. I am currently reading the second in the series and am hoping for more of the same.

This book shows how we can all grow and "become" as long as we live. It is delightfully written, characters are real and can be related to!!

This is a must read for the over 40 crowd. A GREAT read for teens on up.

I have enjoyed this series of books. They are an easy read and you can't help but laugh out loud sometimes. I enjoy the words of wisdom that you receive from the book. It is easy to think of the book as a sort of devotional. I have shared the books with my friends. I have just purchased the last two in the series and can't wait to read them. I have the hardback devotional book that goes along with the Sisterchick books and it is very good also.

This was the first book I read and I am now forever hooked!

A great Christian fiction book. It is so much fun to live through this pair of sisterchicks! It is about two best friends going on an adventure and then, learning more and more about themselves. No one goes home the same! It is fun but also thought provoking!

While Rebecca Seum could have spun a tale from the sensational aspects of a young woman choosing to become one wife of many in a polygamous marriage, her reserve in tone and style credits the plight of her main character in *Sisterwife*. With careful attention to how her narrator carefully takes us through her journey as one of several wives of Dillon, the restraint of Raina, the young protagonist, resists sensationalism and sentimentality. *Sisterwife* is a novel that in tone resembles the work of Anne Tyler and Jane Smiley, but with a sensitivity that belongs to this author alone.

A modern polygamous marriage? I was immediately intrigued by the premise of "Sisterwife." I can't help but want to be a fly on the wall in the kitchen of Raina's "family" and Seum grants me my wish. The author unfolds Raina's tale in beautifully clear, precise prose, making an extraordinary situation feel both natural and peculiar at the same time.

An intriguing premise -- who wouldn't be interested? This excerpt sets up a story with high potential for drama, emotional depth, and character development, and it's off to a good start. Now it only remains to be seen whether the narrative can build momentum and credibility as the plot unfolds, and not dissolve into sensationalized junk. So far the author has struck a tone that is serious enough, and presented a protagonist who seems sympathetic enough, to hold our interest. That's quite an accomplishment already, since (given the far-fetched premise and the tone of realism here) the moment something doesn't ring true you start to lose your reader.

That said, I wasn't really satisfied by the background story that Raina, the narrator, provides us Chapter 2, about the origins of this polygamous family. Apparently we're meant to accept the reasonable explanations offered as easily as Raina seems to, but it doesn't add up. Raina at one point admits to wondering about "the baser details of their lives" (well, of course, aren't we all?), and asks herself, "Exactly how did three women share one man?" But then these questions are just as quickly dismissed with the statement, "Soon, their marriage didn't seem at all peculiar to me." How could this be, when her (our) most obvious and pressing questions have not been answered? Since the unusual situation tests the story's credibility in the first place, I think it's critical that this chapter do a more convincing job of showing us how these people got there in the first place. The author seems to be trying to tell us that we're not reading about nutcases here, but normal people living in an unconventional arrangement for compelling reasons. If the story that follows is to rest on this assumption, then that foundation needs to be more persuasively established. There are hints of trouble in paradise, as Raina is clearly not comfortable with the rules and regulations of this clan, and the author has her work cut out for her shedding light on how they all got to this strange place. The breezy tale told in Chapter 2 doesn't begin to cover it.

Meanwhile, we're all just waiting to see how this volatile situation explodes -- um, I mean develops. And hopefully alongside the drama there will be insight into the meaning of family and relationships, that could move this story from mere prurient interest to lasting value. The writing style, while natural and clear, is not particularly interesting, and my sense is that the main attraction here is simply the story, not its literary merit.

the writing in and of itself is fairly good... i find the topic interesting. but...

after reading the excerpt, not sure that the story has a fullness to be conveyed. At times, the reading feels a tad redundant or unnecessary; the story seems - to lack purposefulness in how TRUTH is revealed. i'm sure the background elements that are shared in the excerpt feed into the overall plot, but .. the way that its presented, i am completely not interested in why or how.

also, the writer's own voice seems to come off to me as ... timid ... scared. perhaps i am misunderstanding what i've read and this is an element of the main character raina.

Would not read the full book.

The unusual topic of this book drew me in. Even in just a few short pages, the author has created a character with depth. Although I have absolutely nothing in common with Raina, I feel like I can identify with her, and I care about what happens to her. Hoping I get the chance to purchase this book on amazon.com one day and read the rest!

Why is it that the day after you build a snowman, the darn thing falls apart?

Forget science.

Everyone knows that what really happens it that the snowmen party all night.

This book explains everything in gorgeous rhyme that fits perfectly with beautiful, night-time illustrations.

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

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

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

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

What a fun read! I was delightfully surprised with this novel - it went far above and beyond what I expected when I picked it up! The cover is adorable, but it gets so much better!! =)

This is a new chick lit with a completely unique voice - one you don't want to miss! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was very disappointed when I turned the last page. Must...read...more!!!!!!

I believe women of all ages, shapes, and sizes will be able to relate to the realistic, heartfelt characters in this novel. For example, I'm 23 - a good 30 years younger than the heroine, yet I emphasized and cheered her on with my whole heart!

If you're looking for a chick lit with a deeper storyline and realistic problems for today's woman, look no further. This is one story that entertains without the extra layer of fluff.

BUY IT NOW!! =)

A Stitch in Time was a great romance and a great read. Dee is an engaging character and the "inside story" on fund-raising fascinating. As much as I liked this book, Allison Bottke's next book, One Little Secret, is even better! Keep it up, Allison!

Dee is now living the fabulous life. Once overweight and unhappy, thanks to gastric bypass surgery, plastic surgery and a great job she's starting to enjoy life a little more. She still won't forgive her ex-husband who cheated on her even though he keeps bugging her about it. She's enjoying her new image and wants to enjoy her life to her fullest. Unfortunately her two 30+ year children don't seem to share this idea with her and constantly bicker with Dee blaming her for their parents' breakup. Plus Dee's new clients are not the easiest bunch to work with. Then just as there is a new guy in the horizon, Dee is forced to work with her ex on the project! This definitely puts her new faith in Christianity to the test.

This was a really fun book to read. I enjoyed reading about Dee's business with all the movie stars. Loved the costume ball sequence with Patrick Swayze. I also enjoyed that the person who had kept doing wrong to Dee finally got found out and punished, without Dee extracting her own revenge. I also liked since Dee is new Christian, she is eager to share about her faith but she knows not to blast it out to people when they feel uncomfortable. She's still mostly the same person though, feeling insecure about herself and hoping that plastic surgery will ease all her troubles away. I enjoyed the fashion, shoes, clothes talk in the book. It made it more fun for me to hear about designer names even though I will never be able to afford them! Dee's a very likable character and the reader constantly wants to cheer her on. I felt that it was also very realistic to show that society was treating Dee better just because she was skinnier. Yes Christians are suppose to love everyone, but it's also truth that looks ARE being judged in society. The only thing I didn't like was that I felt the ending was a little too tidied up. I honestly didn't see why she had to go back to Lyle. Yes she should forgive him, but that doesn't mean she can't be angry with him. He lost her trust, she didn't have to take him back. I know he became a Christian but I would have liked to see him at least become more spiritually mature before Dee took him back. Other than this, this book is highly recommended. It's targeted for the baby-boomer set but I believe anyone who likes a fun chick lit book will enjoy this one at any age.

A Stitch in Time is a must-read! Dee Decker is a heroine, not only for those who are or have been overweight, but also for any woman who struggles to survive in a dog-eat-dog world of luncheons, business dinners, and posh banquets. She is the poster child for every woman whose husband has been unfaithful, whose children have been ungrateful, and who looks for herself outside of herself rather than what is at the core of a woman, her heart.

I gave up cuddling on the couch with my husband one Friday evening just to spend time with this book. That's saying a lot, because my hubby's a good cuddler.

Read it. You won't be disappointed.