Games Books

There are simpler intros to chess. The Bill Robertie series is modern, easy to follow, and very effective, and eminently suited to the casual beginner. But nothing comes close to Fine's one-volume opus in terms of completeness, utility, and yes, depth.

This is *not* a book for the casual beginner or the dabbler. It is for someone who, from the outset, is going to be serious about chess, perhaps someone who has played a few games with serious players in informal settings and now wants to learn "real" chess.

The book is not easy. Information is densely packed and requires care and attention in study. There are some drawbacks; the age of the original edition (now approaching 65 years) means that the opening lines are very dated (though the principles are not), and the book uses descriptive notation (I don't see this as a problem, but the beginning reader will have to learn algebraic at some point from a different source).

Still, the presentation of ideas is in a class not to be found elsewhere. Fine gives 10 rules for the opening, mid-game, and ending; and practicing and following these rules, and the rest of the material in the book, if done diligently will over time probably lead the reader to the 1700 or better play class. That's pretty darn good for a single 185 page book which assumes no prior knowledge.

As expected from Fine, the endgame chapter is superb.

One especially useful feature is the presence of numerous practical problems to test mastery of the material.

The reader must take this book seriously and study diligently to benefit. This is no "royal road" to chess. It is a pathway to success paved with quality stepping stones composed of old-fashioned hard work. Not so amazingly, that method continues to pay off better than any other!

It is fortunate that this book is easily and inexpensively available on the used market, and you can have a copy delivered to your door for well under $10. It's a fantastic investment.

Four stars instead of five simply because, as mentioned above, the age of the book makes the opening lines very dated.

I don't know what happened to my copy of this book but it disappeared many years ago. I've been waiting years in the hopes that it would be re-printed. Now I'm hoping that Amazon can find me another copy. It is unquestionably the best book for beginners and intermediate chess players. Mr. Fine presents the material in a simple, easy to understand method.

I consider this book my bible of chess.It includes ten rules for the opening game, ten rules for the middle game and ten for the end game.My copy of this bible is worn out. I urge a reprinting so that all levels of chess players will benefit. Remember chess is "the game of kings and the king of games."

I have been coaching chess at the high school and middle school level for 13 years. The teams I have coached have between them 6 state championships and 2 runners up. Chess the Easy Way is THE book that I use as an outline for teaching my players how to play good chess. There is no book that is better! Ten essential rules are given for the opening, middle game and end game. These rules are illustrated and expanded with examples. Fine's logical treatment of all of the basic endings is superior! There are class A (1800-2000) players that could benefit from the information in the endings section. As far as strategy goes, Fine offers all of the essential plans for each kind of positional advantage. For example, "If the [opponent's] pawns are absolutely weak, head straight for the endgame." Or, "If the opponent's king is not safe, the plan will be to attack him." There are others, of course. These rules of strategy are simple enough, but to the typical player under 1400 or so they are essential guidelines and prevent the aimless wandering in hopes of finding the right course in a game. It was a revelation for me to read these ideas so many years ago and give logic and order to my games! Thank you to the late GM Fine. If you find a copy of this book and you are a beginner to an intermediate player (under 1600) buy this book and feel your confidence grow as does your understanding!

Fine's Chess the Easy Way is somewhat mis-named. Although the text starts from the rudiments and could be used for self-instruction by an individual who has never played the game before, the tone and point of view are no-nonsense and tell the reader immediately the book is intended for someone with much more than a casual interest in the game. I first was given this book when I was a child. It would probably be more appropriate for a serious high school player. Beginners should be warned that Fine's text takes no shortcuts. He starts at the beginning level but then educates the reader to the level of a confident club player. This presumes that the reader invests the time needed to play through all of Fine's examples. Sometimes it's hard going: Although Fine's writing is clear he does not spoon-feed the reader. Anyone willing to spend the time will be vastly rewarded. I agree with other reviews I have read in this space stating that his examples of openings and some of the illustrative games he chooses are badly out-dated. This is accurate but immaterial: The fundamental principles Fine communicates are timeless. A good re-printing of his book would of course have to change to modern chess notation and would benefit from larger diagrams. Otherwise I think the book could be re-issued unchanged. Those who especially need information about chess openings can seek it in other texts. This is a gem and deserves wider readership.

"Hal: Bury her naked? My own mum? Its a Fruedian nightmare!"...or something like that. Too bad his own death was an act of violence too

This collection of (the late) Joe Orton's plays is amazing. Not for those who are easily offended or whose feelings are hurt. Orton, who was described as a "poor Oscar Wilde," lived up to the name. His plays are fast paced assults on everything that the British hold dear. There is no respect for religion, custom, death or social norms.

Satirical and full of quick wit, Orton's plays attack British culture and spit on everything that the "respectable person," would hold dear.

Orton does not hold back anything and could come on a bit strong for a conservative reader, but my suggestion is that any lover of drama and theater should own and read these plays.

Beaten to death by his male lover in 1967, Joe Orton has been rediscovered as an intriguing look into the mind and soul of a man who lived ahead of his times. His plays are fascinating and have so many layers that you can enjoy them repeatedly. He also wrote a screenplay for the Beatles, which was never filmed (according to the dustjacket). Now wouldn't that be interesting!

Although he is considered among England's greatest playwrights, today Joe Orton (1933-1967) is better known for the way in which he died--his head beaten in with a hammer by his long-time lover Kenneth Halliwell--than for his works. It is a bitter and ridiculous irony that might have been lifted from one of his own plays. It is also a great pity, for Orton was a comic genius whose plays equal the best of English with from Congreve to Wilde to Coward. And if you like your comedy with an ample edge of mean-spiritedness, brutality, cruelty, and flat-out viciousness, Orton is the man for you.

THE COMPLETE PLAYS is not as complete as the title implies, for the text leaves out several titles that never received any production during Orton's lifetime. Still, it does collect the major titles, and that in itself is enough to earn it a place on any serious play-reader's shelf.

Originally presented as a BBC radio program, THE RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR presents the story of Joyce, an unmarried woman of dubious background who is now under the control of Mike, an older man who has mysterious assignations that lead to a fateful encounter with a boy hairdresser named Wilson--whose lover (or brother, depending on how you think about it) may have been a victim of one of Mike's covert operations. It got Orton noticed, and his next effort would truly put him on the map: ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE was and is one of the salaciously funny comedies ever brought to the stage, the wickedly funny tale of an aging sex-crazed woman and her homosexual brother who use their father's murder as a means of blackmailing a young thug into their respective beds.

THE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, THE ERPINGHAM CAMP, and FUNERAL GAMES have much to offer but are actually minor titles in comparison with the two plays that critics consider great masterpieces: LOOT, a bitterly savage farce concerning a robbery, a death in the family, and the uses to which you can put Mother's coffin (not to mention false teeth) in a pinch; and WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, set in a psychiatrist's office in which everyone has truly gone round the bend.

Orton was a master of language that forces you to laugh even as it cuts you like a straight-edged razor across the throat; you can't help but laugh even as you collapse bleeding to the floor. Even so, it is worth pointing out that plays are really written to be performed rather than read, and this particularly true of Orton; unless you have a very strong background in theatre you may do better to wait for your local rep company to take up the challenge.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Tragic, brutal things happen to the characters in these plays. But none of these people is particularly likeable, so you can't really care. It's all just as well for them, in some ways, and it's all in good fun. The characters manipulate each other, lie to each other, steal from each other, screw each other, kill each other, and deny that they do it. Everyone here has the ethics of a doorknob, and it's all pretty enjoyable.

The last one, "What The Butler Saw", got a little bit too ridiculously farcical for my taste and went on too long, but it has its moments; and otherwise they're all pretty good to read.

I can also recommend the introduction. Joe Orton lived his own life very much like the people in his plays (which makes you wonder how much of his material was supposed to be comedy). Even his death was true to form: his envious lover, actor Kenneth Halliwell, bashed in Orton's brains with a hammer just prior to doing himself in with 22 sleeping tablets.

This is the second blackjack book I've read. It's very good and has a lot of interesting and useful information. It also only costs about 10 bucks, but there are two important points here: In Berg's view, one would need to start with about $150,000 to make serious money in blackjack. Second, he uses one of the most complex card-counting methods out there.

I've never played blackjack and probably never will, but I was absolutely fascinated by Alan Berg's book. Serious players must be blown away. I was amazed to learn so much about the game when I had always thought it was just a question of luck. NO WAY. It almost makes me want to take up black jack so I can reach the zenith of being barred from a casino. That isn't apt to happen since I got a bit bogged down in the intricacies of the numbers systems, but I LOVED the book. I especially enjoyed learning about Alan's gambling experiences and now have enormous admiration for his honesty in telling about himself in a thoroughly enjoyable and often amusing fashion. WONDERFUL book- I recommend it to players and non-players alike.

The thing I liked about this book is that it was like having a one on one lesson with the author. He gives you the important factual skills you need to win the game. But also throws in personal experience and stories that make it very entertaining. You will like what he has to teach but at the end of the book feel like you could hang out and have a drink with him.

Alan Berg has given us a thrill ride through the world's casinos from the view of a high-roller. Even for a confirmed non-gambler like me, his well-crafted book provides hundreds of insights into winning at blackjack - and winning all the side battles as well. Most impressively, he often succeeded at keeping himself in the building and in the game through guile, brains and style - when most card-counters would long have been banished from casinos everywhere. Read - and enjoy - "The Counting Game."

The Counting Game: An Accountant Reveals How to Win at Blackjack is different from an ordinary "how-to" gambling guide in that author Alan Berg is not only a skilled professional gambler (so good at winning money through card counting he's been banned in casinos across America), but also a certified public accountant. The Counting Game teaches the reader about the mechanics of card counting, the savvy acting skills needed not to get caught doing it, and especially about tax law, including how to take the government's due into account when calculating one's gambling profits. In particular, Berg notes that tax law is brutally regressive to recreational gamblers, effectively amounting to double taxation (and it's not much nicer to professional gamblers, who must adhere to stringent criteria to be considered such by the IRS). Taking the hypothetical example of a female recreational gambler who wins a $7000 casino jackpot and then amasses $7000 of losses in subsequent plays: "Her preparer explains that the $7000 win, even though wiped out by aggregate losses of roughly an equal amount, reduce her refund to the tune of $1475!" Although The Counting Game is the "must-have" blackjack counting book for anyone seeking to make money at casino tables, it effectively (and unintentionally?) is also one of the strongest exhortations not to gamble at all, simply because it spells out the unvarnished truth about what gambling for a living is really like, the severity of its risks, and the demands it makes upon a player. Highly recommended.

I would have given this book 5 stars, but I couldn't because of the editing errors...so I gave it 4 stars.

Don has some interesting strategies and ideas that even after reading a number of books on Craps had never heard of. I like his style of play and the book really does give some great insight in how to play the game at a lower betting level and giving yourself a better chance at winning. We all know there's no way to beat Craps, but there are some effective ideas that Don presents that can give you fighting hope on a regular basis!

Overall, good book, good ideas, worth the money, and 4 stars instead of 5 because of lousy editing.

I tried craps several times at casinos and always watched my money disappeared quickily while others won tons. I knew there must be some betting stategy I was missing. This book explained several different strategies in a way I could understand. Can't wait to get back to the tables in Vegas. And I'll remember to set my limit at $60 bucks a day.

I must give this guy a "5 STAR" review! This book is a tremendous insight to keeping the house advantage to a minimum. I intend to bring this book with me the next time i'm gambling so I am able to perfect his technique. The book is easy to read (I finished it on a lazy Sunday afternoon) and makes you excited to try out the strategies. It is my opinion that Mr. Favero should follow up this book with a sequel, if possible. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

I had the pleasure of playing craps with the author at the Rio several years ago. He is a true professional, and the book is well-written and a steal for the money. My game is internet poker, however it's fun to mix it up some in the casino setting. This book is complete with strategy and examples, but I also love the book from the gambling life-style point of view. Favero is not only an outstanding craps player, but he has taught his family and many others the finer points of the game and gambling theory; for his daughter is OUTSTANDING craps player in her own right and developing into an excellent and profitable Texas Hold'em player. I look forward to buying this man a beer! Highly recommended - Grinder

I'm a novice craps player (my typical goal is to break even long enough to burn the casino for a couple of free drinks), and I was looking for a concise text that explains some basic low-limit strategies beyond pass/don't pass betting. Don provides a number of understandable guidelines for minimizing one's risk as a low limit player and achiving modest profits and casino comps. This is not a book on statistical probabilities or game theory by any stretch, but rather a novice-to-moderate player's guide to surviving at the craps table, understanding the game as a whole and having fun.

The book's only downside is the editing, or lack thereof. There are typface inconsistencies that are kind of jarring, and serious copyediting errors. Also, the book is poorly organized. For example, the primer on craps rules and betting is at the end, but terms from that chapter are used in the preceding chapters. Some of Don's personal stories within the strategy chapters are humorous, but often are non sequiturs to the lessons themselves and break up the book's flow.

Granted, I'm in the publishing business by trade, so I'm OCD about some of these editing details that others won't care about. On the whole, Mr. Favero has done an exceptional job of getting logical craps strategies into the hands of casual players like me. I'm looking forward to applying his lessons in a few weeks in upstate New York.

Every hobby has one or two definative books. This is it for clowning. Everything I wanted to find out and more. Like any good reference book it started me down the path and I have read several books recommended.

If you are going to get into clowning you need this book.

Having read four customer reviews of this book, I might have had high expectations. Maybe I didn't realize it's true value at first, but after learning various skills, you may want to try others, which didn't catch your interest at first. Then you realize how powerful a tool this book is.

Until now I've focused on juggling and unicycling. The book not only teaches you how to ride a unicycle, -it also provides a lot of amusing variations. Though I knew how to ride before buying this book, it taught me how to ride in a very ridiculous way, seemingly out of control. I've experienced a tremendous effect when acting upon these hints in front of an audience. ...

Just recently I grew interested in the stiltwalking sections and made a pair of wooden tie-on stilts. I'm not exactly an engineer, but following the instructions, all I needed was a saw, some wood, a drill, some glue, some bolts and screws.

Reading the ingenious instructions given sometimes make me laugh out loud, thinking of how it would work in real life. The illustrations are really amusing, and I do enjoy all the hints on starting a clowning business. Lots of detailed information.

Also, the book is packed with numerous jokes and material that can be used for shows. The next stage for me will be learning how to twist balloons into different animal shapes.

I was actually looking for a book on how to put on clowns' make-up for my unicycling. This book is all you need to know about various types of make-up for various clown types, plus so much more. If you're thinking about clowning, either for fun or for money, I highly recommend this book!

My absolute favorite clowning book! If you can only get one clowning book get this one! Covers everything!!! Whenever I am writing clown shows I always go to this book. There are so many skit, gag and prop ideas in this book to build off of. It is truly GOLD!!! In addition to all the skit, gag and prop ideas it also covers make up techiniques as well as costuming. This book stays not on my book shelf or even out on a table but in my truck, so I always have access to it even when I am at work. I think one of the things that really makes this book so special to clowning is the fact that it is not just one author, there are around 10!! Each one writing on their speciality or passion.

I really wish they would come out with a second eddition of this book that would include websites and email address of clown scripts, ideas, gags, etc.

I'm considering setting up as a childrens entertainer, so I purchased a good few books. This is without doubt the best of the bunch.

The book covers lots of aspects of clowning, gives great ideas, and is an easy read.

The only downside is that it does not have space to go as in depth in some areas as I would of liked - but there are plenty of speciality books to do so.

I thought this book was informative, extremely informative for new clowns. You get a history of clowning, pictures of famous clowns, and jokes on most of the pages to use when performing. There is a chapter on how to develop your own clown character which also explains the different types of clowns (Whiteface, Auguste, Tramp and Character), their makeup and their character. Mimes are not excluded either! Topics covered are: clown outfits, props, routines, expression, timing, and working with partners. There are even chapters on balloon art, puppets, juggling, stilt walking, unicycling, and balancing objects. I found the last few chapters very helpful. They gave tips on designing your own business cards so people won't throw them away and how to get bookings and also how much to charge. There is a great Publications and Organization section full of books and suppliers. I would certainly recommend this book to any one who is interested in clowning around! This book has it all!

This book has wonderful photos and lots of GREAT ideas for beginners and advanced gourd decorating enthusiasts! It will surely inspire the artist in all of us!

As a novice in crafting with gourds this book gave me all the information from choosing a gourd to cutting, staining or painting, and creating texture to a gourd. Worth the money for anyone starting out on gourd crafting. Excellent resorce.

This was the very first book that I bought on Gourds and it gave me the inspiration and confidence to begin in the medium. Dyan's instructions are clear and thorough. I highly recommend this book!!

This is the first book I purchased on the way to becoming a gourd crafter--I chose it not only because of the unusual and beautiful designs, but for Dyan Peterson's easy and encouraging approach/tone which other reviewers have pointed out. For me,the most valuable suggestion from this book has been to "branch out" and try unusual designs. Dyan Peterson's style (earthtones, natural designs and embellishments) is what originally attracted me. I'm not one for santas and cute pumpkins--these projects are somewhat more art than craft-oriented. I highly recommend this to seasoned gourd crafters who want to try something new, or to artists like myself who are interested in painting, sculpture and pottery and are looking for a new medium (an addicting one at that!) to experiment with. As Dyan Peterson would say, Happy Gourd Days!

Awesome book! All around very detailed directions & photos for many beautiful projects. Plenty of inspiration to go around too, take a technique & expand. Wonderful book!

This is a fantastic module, apocalyptic in nature, this module stars the two great villains of Oerth: Vecna the all powerful lich god imprisoned within his Citadel Cavitius on the demiplane of dread, and the evil demigod Iuz the Old who seeks to destroy Vecna and gain his power. But what is this? Vecna has plans of his own which include challenging the Lady of Pain herself for ultimate supremecy over the multiverse. This module takes place on Oerth, the demiplane of dread, and Sigil though as stated the module is all you need to play.

The last book of 2nd edition...Your characters determine how it will all end. Adventure that begins in Greyhawk then takes you to Ravenloft and ends up in Sigil!! In Greyhawk, the adventurers find out that the god Iuz is starting trouble. Several small scirmishes and a wonderful story. In Ravenloft, the adventurers find themselves in a strange city, and they realizenot everything is as it seems!!! I wont ruin it, but I will add this: if Vecna breaks out, Ravenloft could be destroyed! In Sigil, your characters do battle with a god and if, if they survive...They might receive a blessing from the Lady herself. The creators of this module left enough room to play with as far as tweaking this or that, but over all, there is so much information about every little room, dungeon, NPC that even a new dungeon master would have no problems. I DM'd this module with four other players (Green Dragon Mage-constructed from the council of wyrms), a psionisist (Human male-uh, until he put on a girdle of feminity-haha), Minotaur warrior and a Paladine(Yes, the Paladine and Dragon got along very well, but that's what makes the role play). Any how, the charcters were all around 7the level and the game lasted 5 fridays, each friday lasting around 8 hrs!!! It was one of the funnest games I have DM'd since....Dragon Mountain!! Die Vecna, Die is an adventure not for the faint of heart...Oh, did I mention that half of the party died? I wont say who for fear of intimidating other players (Dark Smile)

Ah Yes! I've been intrigued by vecna ever since first reading about his infamous artifacts some 2 decades ago. and now TSR has kindly put out the ultimate Vecna adventure in a supermodule format similiar to the first edition: Temple of Elemental Evil, Desert of Desolation, etc... Within this adventure lies the ambition of two evil demigods seeking to attain full ascension to godhood by absorbing the powers of the other. Iuz the Old enters the demiplane of dread to destroy Vecna, yet unknowingly Iuz is but one pawn of many in a plan which Vecna initiated aeons ago. For Vecna not only plots to attain full godhood, but become the ultimate god by challenging the Lady of Pain herself, destroying the known multiverse, and then recreating it in his own image. There have been some questionables raised concerning this module ie..How can Vecna escape the demiplane of dread, or How can Vecna enter Sigil. Just note that the reasons are fully explained within the module if you read it. An excellant adventure, and no matter the final outcome--the worlds will never again be the same. This fantastic module is for levels 10-13. I give it 5 stars but I must warn you. This module is a killer! Players BEWARE.

One could make the defeat of Vecna the focus of 2 or 3 campaigns; the 3 adventures that star Vecna (Vecna Lives!, Vecna Reborn, and Die, Vecna, Die!)are certainly not for the faint of heart or low of level. Die, Vecna, Die! is an epic adventure that falls just a bit short due to the fact it seems a bit too pre-programmed, leading the adventurers by the nose at times. It does bring the story arc for Vecna closer to a conclusion, but relies too heavily on plot contrivances that negate some of what has come before in the other Vecna adventures, such as the revelation that the Sword of Kas that we've seen in Vecna Lives! is a replica, not the original, or that, oh, by the way, there IS a way for the Sword to defeat Vecna. This module also suffers in comparison to Vecna Lives!, which managed to evoke a truly terrifying atmosphere. However, this is a fine adventure well worth checking out.

As the final module for 2nd edition D&D, I think this is a classic. It's the first Greyhawk storyline I've run in over 10 years, but well worth it. I like to have a sense of continuity and cohesiveness in my campaigns, and although Ravenloft got a little play in my games I never really liked it. This module gives me the chance to essentially blow it away but maintain it's relevance to my ongoing campaign (now at to 19 years)!

The module also served as a nice sendoff to the realms of Greyhawk, Ravenloft, and Planescape, none of which will be officially supported by WotC once 3rd Edition D&D arrives. It's a killer of a module, one that will be difficult for DMs to handle and players to survive, but the ending is extrememly satisfying. I highly recommend this module!

My son loves anything with photography of trucks, trains, and especially construction equipment. The shape of the book is also novel to him.

The little one had a few others from this series and he likes this one just as much as the others. It's great.

I bought this book and another in the Things That Go Board Books series for my grandsons, 1 & 3. They seem to love the photos & ignore the text. The book lives in their car & is the perfect size for one or the other to read while traveling. This book is perfect for kids who love construction vehicles!

My truck loving 2 year old loved this book. He did manage to break it fairly soon, being a board book, but he still loves it.

My son is only 2 years old but he loves trucks. This is the perfect book for your son or daugther if they love trucks, too.
The pictures are real-life and the text provides informative information about each type of truck, with the correct name(s). I would recommend this book to any caregiver who has a child who loves trucks and anything that digs and moves!

I bought my son a couple of these types of books, all were comparable but had some different facts in each book, a fairly easy read and fun for kids and adults alike.

Full of fun facts and humorous illustrations, this is an excellent introduction to the Presidents as well as a useful review tool for those of us who, ahem, already learned this stuff. I used it to get ready for a Jeopardy! appearance, and it served me well. I also recommend it as a helpful supplement to younger students as a painless way to fix each President firmly into place!

This is an educational book that tells you about the presidents in a fun way. It gives interesting facts about their lives; like,for example, did you know George Washington's dentures were made of elephant and walrus tusks, cow, hippo, and even human teeth?! This book includes important dates, events, and timelines. Great illustrations. I would highly recommend you read this book for knowledge, and a few laughs!

Excellent book and an easy read. This author makes history fun.

My 8-year-old daughter has literally memorized this book. I think what's so engaging are the quirky facts and the way they're presented. She has now asked me to get her any books I come across by Kenneth Davis. What more can you ask for: a book that is so educational but one that kids will read over and over, all of their own initiative.

My 5 year old went from scribbling and frustration to drawing a discernible hen in 5 minutes! It has already done wonders for her self-esteem. She now says, "I can draw! This is easy!" She wants to draw everything in the book. I wish I had known about these months ago! I just ordered the whole set.

This book has given my 5 yr old son confidence by helping him to draw simple animals that he thought were too difficult to draw. He has not been as interested in the writing part. It would have been nice if it was like a workbook with blank pages across from each page so he could practice right in there.

I homeschool my kids and I bought this book for our art lessons. This is such an easy to follow drawing book. My kids are ages 5,7 & 10. All 3 are finding it easy to follow and their drawings are so good. I like to do the pictures myself. I like how the next step of the drawing is in a different color, it makes it so much easier. My 7 yr old even sat down with the book by herself and drew a picture without any help, and it turned out really nice. Hope this helps.

My girls, 8 and 4, love this book. I am amazed at how well their drawings come out. Not only are their drawings fantastic but the older girl utilizes the writing exercises and thinks they are fun - unlike other writing exercises.

I am a homeschooling mother and would recommend this book to anyone with children, homeschool or not. They will love it.

Bought this for my 5 YO daughter - it gave her incentive to practice her printing - she wasn't allowed to attemp the drawing part until the writing part was finished.
Basically, each page has three-four sentences for them to copy with a full picture already done above it on the same page. On the next page, the main object of the picture (a pig for example) is drawn with basic shapes in a step-by-step manner - even my older girls love to try to draw them.
I can't wait to get the next book in the series - great idea!!!!