News and Media Books

The text follows the movie script. The illustrations are great. It is fun to read.

Excellent. If you did or did not see the movie Happy Feet this is a treasure. It tells the whole story of Happy Feet. Pictures are all so cute. Tells the movie perfectly.

My three-year-old grandson loves the movie "Happy Feet". When I saw this book, I knew he would love it too. However, when it arrived, I was amazed at the quality. The pictures come right from the movie and the story is carefully condensed without losing the integrity of the movie. My grandson looked at the pictures and told me what was happening in each one because they follow the movie exactly. This is one of the books that he will keep all his life and share with his own children some day.

Mumble is a great name for this penguin, and the story does send the message to be true to yourself. Kids need to hear this and recognize that their differences are special gifts. It was wonderful to watch children dancing their own happy dances after hearing this story. The movie is also great and pleasing that the message is "happy" and not violent or cynical.

Rayna Gangi, author, "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause."

this is a special book filled with 43 pictures from the hit video! plus a special bonus-a beautiful keepsake pink dolphin necklace

In this book, Nine year old twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, go off to hawaii and make sand castles, surf, swim, goon jet skies, and have fun with there friends! This is one of my favorite stores about the olsen twins. I like their younger books better when they were little girls. Such as The Adventures of Mary-kate and Ashley and Your invied to mary-kate and ashleys and Full House Michelle and The New Adventures of Mary-kate and Ashley and Full House Sisers and Two of Kind, these are much better then when their teenagers when all they think of is boys and clothes!

If you first read the book it is great but the movie is better but

the picture in the book are great and you get a dolphin necklace for free with it

when you read the book you feel like you are in hawaiian yourself. The book is ofcourse for children that have a better time for it.

it is about mk&a that have weekend and decide with there friends to go to hawaiian where the have the fun of there lives.

good book for your children and maybe for you to

Cool, this is more a picture book, and not a reading book... But that's one of the reasons i love it so much, the pics are great and NOT blurry.. The story is not very good, it's for little children, but i'm a big (15 years old) fan so i bought it anyway.... and i love it because of the pics, the pics come from their party video "Hawaiien Beach Party" and are kinda rare.. so i give this book 4 stars for the pics!! and the story?? well.. i give that a 0... but i think the pics are more important so i still give this book 4 stars, if you are an MKA fan you gotta get this book!! it's a collecters item!!

I thought this book was wonderful. Not only would Disney himslef be pleased but the original author of the Peter Pan books would also be pleased.

It is also classic Brooks. Filled with his enriched details and his way of writing that draws the reader into the book.

I have read almost all of the books that Brooks has written, including all of the Shannara books and the Landover series.

He is a wonderful writer and is able in his own way to make the reading of a book not only enjoyable but also very stimulating.

His way of bringing the reader into the novel is so wonderful that you can not put the novel down.

Brooks stayed true to the Peter Pan story and offered us a look at what Peter Pan might have been like had he actually grown up.

For a "What If" book, I give this book, not a 5 star rating but a 10 star rating.

I just read "Sometimes the magic works," a memior from Terry Brooks. He said writing this book was the worst experience of his life. The movie workers helped him in no way, so I was shocked when that person (someone who reviewed the book on amazon) said that the credit for this book goes to them.

And yes, it was good. No, don't buy it though. Borrow it from a friend, that way, Amazon doesn't make any more money.

Let's see how long this review stays posted, if at all.

Poor Peter Banning is living his life in the fast lane, making deals, making deadlines, attending meetings, and getting ahead. But, if there's someone he's not getting ahead with, it his children. But, when his children are kidnapped, Peter suddenly finds himself thrust into a world beyond his imagination. It seems that his children were kidnapped by Captain Hook...that's right, the villain of J. M. Barrie's story. It seems that Hook has this far out idea that Peter Banning is really Peter Pan. To rescue his kids, Peter is going to have to reach deep inside himself, and find something that he lost. But, will he do it in time?

In 1991, director Steven Spielberg produced yet another great movie - Hook. I absolutely love that movie. (I think it is directed more towards fathers than kids!) So, when I saw the book, I jumped at it. In this book, veteran fantasy author takes the story of Hook, and presents it in story form.

Now, it must be admitted that this book does not go beyond the movie, being a faithful novelization of the movie, and nothing more. But, that said, this is a very good book, one that brings back the magic of the movie to you when you are sitting trapped in an airplane, or God knows where. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.

Granted, this book is a novelization of a movie, and a very faithful one at that, so much of the credit goes to the makers of the movie rather than to Brooks, but he does succeed in taking a marvelous story and telling it wonderfully, fully capturing the spirit of the story with his tone, as well as the events in it.

And a wonderful story it is, too. A superb sequel to the original Peter Pan story, answering the question "What would Peter be like if he ever DID grow up?" in a very plausible, indisputable way. Further, it is a perfect primer on how NOT to be a father, and what effects it can have on the children of someone who's falling down on the job, as well as showing a good example of how to do it right for comparison. Additionally, it is, like the original Peter Pan, an excellent story of the magic of childhood, but this one discusses how an adult can (and indeed MUST, if they want to avoid becoming unbearable) hold on to some of that magic, even while growing up and becoming responsible. And that sometimes, even people who HAVE lost that magic still don't learn how to be particularly responsible.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is truly wonderful; do yourself a favor, and track down a copy. It will be worth the effort. Then settle in for a good evening's read. You won't regret it.

"I Want to be in the Show!" is a rare "Blue's Clues" book based directly one of the stories from the show. This is a version of "Blue's Big Musical Movie" and featuring Sidetable (Drawer)'s story. Everyone's holding a big music show. Sidetable wants to sing in the show, but she keeps getting stuck with boring jobs. She just needs a little help to speak up for herself.

This book has a bit different feel from some of the others. For one thing, the font being used a bit larger and more stylized than the normal font used in the books. Something about the overall look of the coloring feels a bit different and the story starts on the same page as the Note to Parents. None of this detracts from the story, though, which is quite enjoyable.

In the Note to Parents, it says that the book stresses empowerment and they hope it will teach kids "they can be anything they want to be." Certainly a nice lesson, and very Blue's Clues.

Any BluesClues book is wonderful..you can't go wrong. Deciding which one to buy is difficult. I bought so many for my 36 mo old daughter and like them all.

My two boys (5&2) enjoy Blues Clues books. This book teaches them not to be shy and to speak up when it is needed. It is very illustrated and colorful for all ages.

This is such a sweet story, a real lesson in how shy children can make good friends, and fulfill their dreams. The best thing about Blue's Clues is the spirit of friendship and respect among all of the characters. My daughter absolutely loves this book.

This is the premiere book of its kind on the Red Sox. Knoefel has clearly established himself as the Bob Dylan of sports writing. He is able to make sense of and put into words the things the rest of us only wish we could. No one his age has ever understood the psychology of the game as he does. How many masterpieces must a writer publish before you call him a sage? The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind but this kid has it!

This book was absolutely amazing. There aren't any sports authors his age that can understand the depth of baseball culture, fanaticisicm, and performance like Knoefel. He has a level of understanding that would make major sports networks weep, and could add more than quality insight to any major syndicated show in the US (not just because he is a sox author). Furthermore, he's been able to capture the essence of a season that really can't be described with any language god's been kind enough to pass to us. Not that I'm religious, but Knoefel has a divine talent and should be read, studied and respected by any baseball, or aspiring sports author in the planet. Enjoy, and to knoefel, keep hacking away.

We all knew it would hit--the onslaught of books, each claiming to be "the" definitive documentation of how the Red Sox won. I've perused most of them--except the O'Nan/King debacle which I blindly purchased thinking, "Hey, it's Stephen King--it's got to be good--right?" Wrong! Boy, do I wish I had my money back. The last time I read something so boring I think Joseph Conrad wrote it.

The first warning to every fan looking for a definitive documentary of the Red Sox 2004 season is to not be put off by the cover of Idiot-syncrasies. The cartoonish caricatures would make one believe the book is another in the long line of box score recaps that populate the market. Jerry Remy's forward certainly does nothing to alert readers to what will follow. Rather, it appears to simply be a vehicle for Remy to remind us of his playing days.

Then--then, if you will simply take a moment to read Longest's introduction, The Eternal Sunshine of Terry Francona, you will know that Idiot-syncrasies holds the promise of something as special as the 2004 season itself. I must admit that Longest knew how to hook me when he begins his season-long narrative with the grandest "idiot" of all--Johnny Damon. After a delightful analysis of how JD fit into the overall dynamics of the team I was captured. If Longest was to dissect the entire team as he did Damon I couldn't wait to read on. There they were: Manny and Ortiz. Varitek, Millar and Pokey--Mueller--well, count on it--they're all there. While many championship season books include only the post season, Longest puts us on a season-long path with the Red Sox--potholes and all.

Longest takes us far beyond the mundane stats of a season. He engages us in a deep analysis of what makes these men tick and how they converged to make a team tick. There are some who might argue his analysis, but this is precisely the point--you can't argue finite, historical statistics, but you can debate the elements, and eccentricities, of personality. It's the same as debating how one man won the presidency--a conversation of personality, character, soul and many intangibles we can never really quantify. This is what we'll discuss over the years rather than the stats--well, except "the walk"--a stat we'll not soon forget. Longest doesn't completely ignore statistics, but couches them in game situations that assist in explicating his analysis of character and skill.

Longest's compelling analysis of a season is enhanced by his generous inclusion of sidebars he labels "MONSTERminutiae" and his final words at the conclusion of each chapter (Idiot Rule) are thoughts one might choose to live one's life by.

A few hours later when I read the last Idiot Rule--The Future Can Wait--on page 288, I felt I had been in the stands for every precious moment of a precious season. I really didn't care there was very little box score trivia like so-and-so was lifted in the seventh for so-and-so; so what! Rather I now have a vivid portrait of a team of players who performed magic tricks for us. I agree with another reviewer who compares Longest to Roger Angell. While I think this is Longest's first book, it's obvious he's a student of baseball and probably a student of Mr. Angell's prowess at capturing so much more than statistics. In fact Longest may have an even keener sense of vision in his ability to seize nuance.

You might buy one of the "box score" books, but if you want a documentary to consult over time in reliving the 2004 Red Sox season--something to pass along to your children and grandchildren--then Idiot-syncrasies is the one book you should have. I've only owned the book two weeks and I've relived the season cover-to-cover three times.

Somehow this book is flying under the radar, and I'm afraid it's going to be lost under the deluge of titles hitting the market about the 2004 Red Sox. Too bad, because there is only one word to describe "Idiot-syncrasies" - Gem.

This book is difficult to describe precisely. It's not a nuts-and-bolts examination of the strategy of the 2004 season. It's not a retropective of the year. It's not a behind-the-scenes look at the team. I suppose it's best described as a look at the philosophy of and the lessons imparted by the "Idiots," and how we as fans related to them, and they to us.

What's best about this book is its style; it utilizes magnificent turns of phrase and builds profiles with the lyricism of Roger Angell (with perhaps a bit of the wryness of George Plimpton as well). At various moments I was nodding in agreement, then laughing out loud, and then breaking into tears. It's a magnificently crafted series of essays on most of the key players of the 2004.

This is a MUST read for any Red Sox fan. Treat yourself, or buy it for a Sox fan you love.

Carney is a former journalist who has worked in various aspects of communications for more than 20 years. His book is packed with information on approaching the media, developing and maintaining a relationship with it, handling interviews, analyzing the success of message delivery, lodging complaints and a whole lot more in between.

This is a book designed for people in the public,private and voluntary sector who know very little about the news media but need to know more if they are going to do their jobs properly. It contains lots of practical advice about how to approach reporters, turn events into a news story,navigate difficult interviews,and write grabby press releases.

Although Carney, a former journalist and now an experienced political staffer in the premier's office in Saskatchewan,he manages to avoid casting news media as puppets to be manipulated. Instead, he urges public relations practitioners to help the news media do their job rather than hinder them. Journalists wanting to
know more about the tricks of the trade used in the PR business will also find this interesting. G.S..

Recommendation: Definitely worth owning for all but the very experienced. The two chapters on handling interviews are touchstones to be read over and over, as are the concluding thoughts on professional development. Total beginners will want to supplement this volume with additional case studies showing the principles in action and material on the how-to of activities such as setting up a news conference venue or conducting a media drop.

In The News: The Practice Of Media Relations In Canada by experienced journalist and lecturer William Wray Carney is a solidly informative treatise about public relations with the media - in particular the Canadian media, but the vital advice and sound information, such as the principle of "Good Communications Cannot Override Bad Judgement" apply directly to public relations workers everywhere. Grounded solidly in research and personal experience, yet written in a straightforward, direct style particularly suitable for introducing novices to public relations while offering new tips, tricks, and techniques for veteran PR workers, In The News is a first-rate and highly recommended guidebook to the art, craft and science of media relations.

Jack's New Power is great. The best chapter is at the end when he goes to the cock fight and loses a piece of money. Even though his sister is annoying, she ends up being right. I felt bad for Jack, kind of, at the end. He's off to Florida and he doesn't know what that is going to be like.
The funniest part was when he is totally purple and is trying to hide that fact by running around the neighborhood at night when it is dark. Even though he doesn't want to see anyone, someone else is running at night too. He ends up being his friend.

I loved this Book about Jack and his Memoirs. I read it in One week!!!!

i know this is a kids book, and i read it a few years ago, but every once in a while i get it out and read it from cover to cover again. every time i read this book i get inspired about life. does that seem a little drastic? i love this book. it's like my security blanket. read this book!

What a truly great book. I read this when I was in 4th grade.It has a beautiful mix of comedy and just plain interesting writing.It's the best book that I've ever read in my entire life. I also own my own copy of it. I would automatically recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh. This is a great book for all ages. I would also like to recommend "Heads Or Tails" which is also in the same series. I am also currently reading the third book in the series, "Jack's Black Book". It's great. Everyone should go out and buy copies of all three books and read them.

My husband bought this book on a whim at a bookstore, and my daughter has loved it ever since ! We began to read it to her at the age of 18 months, and it really encouraged her to learn about James. She would often make the buzzing noise whenever we arrived to that area in the book. The book has become a favorite in her collection. The reason that I gave it 4 stars, rather than 5 stars, is that the paperback version can become a little ragged after many readings, but I always feel that this is a mark of a beloved book!

My 2 1/2 year old son loves the "Thomas" books in the Step into Reading series, but James Goes Buzz Buzz is his favorite by far. My wife and I bought it for him for St. Nicholas's day (along with 3 others listed below), and since then he has read it every day, multiple times a day, and like the another reviewer's son, he knows the words. He liked them all so much, we could not resist buying him three more for Christmas.

For early readers and Thomas fans, this book is a must, as well as "Happy Birthday Thomas", "Thomas and Percy and the Dragon", and "The Great Race".

Just a Note: There is a mistake in the text. Poor Trevor is described as a "Tractor Engine". How ridiculous. Trevor is a "Traction" engine. Ok...I feel better now. LOL.

In any case... we love these little books. Despite what the recommended age ranges suggest they a good for younger Thomas lovers as well. The drawings are colorful and the stories are fun and amusing; and as the previous reviewer has noted, young children can 'read' this themselves after a few times through.

"Step 2" refers to the Preschool through Grade 1 reading range, which means "Reading with Help". Sentences are short with 'basic vocabulary'.

An example from the book:
"Bees are very loud!" said James.
"Do not make them mad," said Trevor. "They may sting you!"
"Hmmmph!" said James. "I am not scared of a bunch of bees!"
James puffed off.

Hopefully the above will help you gage whether this book is appropriate for your child. My suggestion though would be to get the book anyway. If they can't read it now, they will be able to in the future.

Five stars. One of the Classic Thomas Stories.

This book is one of my 3 yr old son's favorites. After hearing
it only twice he is now "reading" it to us. The pictures are very bright and colorful and bring the story to life. A great gift for any Thomas fan. Also check out Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Happy Birthday Thomas in this series. We've read them so much we may have to get new copies...

!~Josefina learns A Lesson~!
I am writing a book called Josefina Learns a Lesson. Its about a girl who likes to read. She likes to write about her family. She has two sisters and two nephews and a dad. She gos to school to learn how to read and write better. She likes to run outside and play with her nephews. She lives in Mexico. I recommend this book to people who like to read and write. The author is Valerie Tripp .The book is from American Girl Collection. Someother characters in the collection are Kirsten, Samantha, Addy, Molly, and Felicity. There are more characters.

This is another one of the American Girls series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl (almost ten!) living in the New Mexico of 1824. When a flashflood brings disaster to her father's rancho, Josefina's aunt Dolores suggests that they begin weaving blankets that they can trade. Josefina throws herself into the work, eager to help the family, but one of her sisters is holding back, and Josefina needs to find out why.

The final chapter of this wonderful book is a highly informative look at schooling in New Mexico in 1824. Jean-Paul Tibbles' illustrations are nothing short of excellent, and add so much to this wonderful story.

This is another of the excellent stories that American Girls presents. This one also has a fine lesson, while the story is highly entertaining. Also, I do enjoy the way the author has realistically woven Josefina's religion into her daily life; religion is something lacking in most American Girls stories. My eleven-year-old daughter and I read this book together; we both enjoyed it, and we both recommend it to you.

I like that there is a glossary of Spanish words at the end of the book, because I know that if I ever go to Mexico, I will know how to say thank-you and stuff like that (gracias). The idea of a maid teaching Josephina and Josephina being so eager to learn makes me stunned. I think that you will very much enjoy the pictures, as I did. I did not recognize the dyes that the girls used to dye the wool, but from the pictures I understood that they were very beautiful. (Carmelle, Age 8)

Nine year old Josefina Montoya is growing up on a rancho in New Mexico in 1824. When Josefina's Tia Dolores comes to visit to Montoyas, Josefina learns about a world beyond the rancho-a world of elegance. But Josefina and her sisters begin to worry that Tia Dolores will replace Mama, who died last year. And then disaster strikes. The Montoyas lose most of their sheep in a terrible flood. Tia Dolores comes to the rescue with the suggestion that the Montoyas weave blankets to sell so that they can get new sheep. But more and more, Josefina and her sisters begin to believe that all the new ideas their aunt has brought will make them forget all that Mama taught them. Then, Tia Dolores begins to teach the girls to read and write. Mama couldn't read and write, and Josefina and her sisters aren't sure she'd approve. More and more, Josefina must face many changes-both good and bad.

An excellent book teaching students and children differences and similarities of culture. My students love it! Fun and well written. The ending is touching.

I was telling my sister-in-law about a friend's child who just started a new school and is having a hard time. My sister-in-law knew about this book and suggested I get it for my friend. She loved it! After she read it to her son, it opened up a whole discussion on what would be the same and different at his new school, and how the differences don't have to be bad. He really responded well. I read it, too, and I have to say, after just starting a new job, I found myself laughing at how appropriate this children's book is to my life. You may miss friends and things from the past, but you can learn a lot from new experiences. Ms. Miller's students are lucky to have her as a teacher.

Just Like Home is unlike any other book I've ever encountered for ESL and Bilingual curriculum. It's patterned, alternating format is perfectly designed for English and Spanish language learners alike.

It is moving, engaging, and an honest account of the challenges and joys faced by every child who is faced with two cultures or two languages.

It is a must read!

I just received an early edition of this wonderful children's book.

This eloquently written and beautifully illustrated children's book effectively describes what it is like for a child to move to a new place.

While this book is about a girl who moves to a new country, it can be used to help any child who is faced with moving to a new place and adapting to a different life.

The writing is fast-paced and kept my young child interested. And the pictures are colorful; they really help to tell this story.

Since the book is in Spanish and English, it is a great teaching tool for ESL classes and Spanish classes alike. And the well-thought-out glossary in the back of the book makes it an effective study book for an English class.

I could not find any other children's books by the brilliant author, Elizabeth I. Miller, so I'm guessing that this is her first book. My son and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next