Stations Books

The International Space Station (ISS) had been operational for a while when this second edition came out in 2004, so there are a lot of great interior and exterior photos. I'm an adult "space fan" with an interest in educational outreach, so I'm always looking for good space-themed books for kids, and this is one of the best I've ever seen. And it's not just for kids - I learned a lot myself! The hands-on activities look great too (haven't tried any yet).

Construction is finally continuing on the ISS now. The shuttle Atlantis is still in space as I write this, having just delivered and installed a major new ISS section, and private space explorer Ms Anousheh Ansari is in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft ready to dock with and board the ISS tomorrow. It's going to be a busy place in the coming months, so if you or your kids are at all curious about the ISS or space flight in general, get this well written book and become a Space Station expert practically overnight!

An excellent book about the science of free-fall and space, written for kids, but interesting for adults as well. It has tons of interesting "hands-on" demonstrations suitable for kids that illustrate how the space station works. Would be great if you wanted ideas for a science project, or just if you're interested in the science behind space missions.

Space Station Science was selected by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to receive the Golden Kite Award for best nonfiction children's book of 1999. Booklist named it a Top Ten Youth Science Book, and the National Science Teachers Association and Children's Book Council named it an Outstanding Trade Book for 2000.

Marianne Dyson has produced a wonderful, thoughtful book that answers many of children's questions about living in space. How do you go to the bathroom? How do you eat? How do you breathe? She provides clear explanations and wonderful, first-hand quotes from astronauts that bring the experience to the reader in a fresh manner. The little science experiements and "try this at home" examples are a delight and really set this book apart. I read this book to my 10-year old as a bed-time story and we both loved it! As the International Space Station becomes operational next year, this volume will be indespensable for explaining to curious youngsters just what is going on.

Dyson's treatment of the phenomena in microgravity is particularly good. She provides a variety of entertaining experiments to demonstrate technology used in space. Though this book is clear enough for older children, it certainly would furnish an interested adult with plenty of new information in a readable, interesting style. This is a good gift book for that curious kid on your gift list -- but you should also get a copy for your coffee table.

This is a great book for teaching the writing traits. And, it's easily adaptable to grades 5 and 6 also. I highly recommend it.

This book contains transcripts and activities of lessons taught in conjunction with specific examples of children's lit. The transcripts show how the intended activity emerges. Some planning would be necessary to have these books on hand, or similar examples could be substituted. Overall, I think this will be a great book to use with my class.

This book is a great teaching tool. Within days of receiving it, I had already used several lessons. My class loves the lessons. I've also seen an improvement already in their writing. I have a class of second lang. learners. If it can work for them, it can work for anyone.

I am a third grade teacher of mostly at-risk students (English Lang. Learners and low socio-economic students). I was frustrated with the format of most writing instruction books. They were boring or hard to follow. I also wanted to incorporate the 6 traits of writing into my lessons, so when I saw this book, I thought I would try it.

I love how Sloan walks you through each lesson, what to say, what to do. The lessons are simple to understand and give for the teacher and the students.

It incorporates read-alouds of real books at the beginning of each lesson and shows how it ties in to what you're teaching.

My students were better writers from the very first lesson!

Book is full of excellent resources. I used it with my fifth graders and they enjoyed the lessons. My only wish is there would be more lessons for each of the traits.

This book packs a punch. If you are talented at reading between the lines this book is even better. While it is mostly an overview the specifics are mind boggling. Make it a companion for a month and watch what happens.

Thanks so much for this excellent book. It is one of the best books about the practice of this Way on WHOLE day. I don't practice Dzogchen but it is easy to see that the quality of teachings of this book are superior. One of the best books of practical Buddhism that I have read.

The simple way to expose the deepest matters and the humility and high knowledge shows the great level of practice of the author and the importance of this Tibetan school. Helpful to any Buddha follower. Excellent purchase. Recommended 100%.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on Tibetan culture and religion. It is clear and concise. It is extremely informative, revealing practices that have been kept secret, for some unknown reason, for centuries. A great book!

His Holiness the Dalai Lama writes, "This book will be of great help to readers wishing to find a clear explanation of the Bon tradition, especially with regard to its presentation of the teachings of Dzogchen."

Indeed! *Wonders of the Natural Mind* is a treasure trove of information --- appropriate for any level of practitioner. Here's an excerpt from the back cover of the book:

*Wonders of the Natural Mind* is a presentation of Dzogchen as taught in the Bon tradition. Dzogchen has begun to be familiar to Westerners principally through the teachings of the Nyingmapa school, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other Tibetan teachers residing and teaching in Western countries. In *Wonders of the Natural Mind*, the author presents the Dzogchen teachings based on the *Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud*, the fundamental Bon text. The book gives an epitome of the main points of Dzogchen, its relation to the various systems of Bon teaching, and the author's personal reflections on the practice of Dzogchen in the West.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, a Lama in the Bon tradition of Tibet, presently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is the founder and director of The Ligmincha Institute, an organization dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of the Bon tradition. He was born in Amritsar, India, after his parents fled the Chinese invasion of Tibet, and received training from both Buddhist and Bon teachers, attaining the degree of Geshe, the highest academic degree of traditional Tibetan culture. He has been in the United States since 1991 and has taught widely in Europe and America.

Recently, in the West, a number of books have appeared on the subject of Dzog Chen. This is the first book to describe the Bon-Po point of view of these high teachings. This pleases me greatly. They are derived from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud, which is the most essential within the Bon-Po Dzog Chen.

Lama Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche has been trained in this lineage since he was fourteen by the Venerable Lopon Sangye Tenzin and the Venerable Lopon Tenzin Namdak. From the early days on, he has shown a special gift when it comes to these meditations.

The book is written in clear and concise English. This is particularly important as the teachings are very elaborate and at times hard to understand. The simple language used clarifies tremendously. The authentic descriptions of Dzog Chen give the serious student ample material to practice Dzog Chen.

This book doesn't include stories; it explains the quintessential aspects of Dzog Chen. In other words, it gets right to the point. Especially the chapters such as the ones on Contemplation and Integration. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of these high teachings.

The best World's most Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Guide to Broadcasting.

This is a must have for Shortwave Listening. A wealth of information.

for anybody who have a problem to verify listening of the radio.
It is like litle cook book which you must have altough he know to cook.

Localy not so precise (maybe for litle cauntrys)

All you need to make DXing: info about countries, local & international radiostations of LW, MW & SW; interesting lists, ecc.

As a long time and long distance radio listener, I find this invaluable
to identify radio signals, where they are from and the language being
used.
Leo

My grade 1-2 students enjoy this book every year. We read it on the 100th day of school and also do lots of the activities in the book. My kids especially enjoy making the hats with 100 things stuck on.

If you you are wanting a book that would grabb you and make you keep reading, read this book. It is just the most exciting book there is. Trust me on this. Have fun reading!

This is easy enough for my 6 year old and her best (7 year old) friend really likes it too. A fun read for the 100th day of school.

I read this book to my class on the 100th day of school every year. It's short, energetic, idea-inspiring, and the kids love the rhyme. It mirrors the way we celebrate the 100th day at our school, so the kids think it's fun to see another class celebrating in a similar way.

I teach drama to children ages 9-12. It was nice to find something that did not play down to them and was simple to memorize and stage.

Any type of plays/readers theater are a great way to involve all students in reading. My students enjoy these stories very much. This is a great way to make reading fun for students and can be used in the classroom with reading groups/whole group or at home with different family members reading different parts, a great way to practice reading and spend time together. Readers of all ages will get a kick out of reading these very adorable plays.

humorous fairy tales for elementary age students - a colleague and I were laughing so hard ourselves at the humor in the plays!

I took this book to the beach for the kids to have something to do if the weather turned bad, it did, and the whole family loved it. The kids got to be creative and work together to put on a play for the rest of the family. Even my [...] year old got to play a part (with my help) and because they are familiar kid fairy tales, they already knew how they wanted to act out their character.

I have been married to an Active Duty servicemember for the last six years. We freely share all aspects of our lives and of our pasts. Yet there was one period of his life that he never discussed and that was his time during the Gulf War. My husband was on his first enlistment when he was sent into the Iraqi desert, he was young, impressionable and just out of high school. His experience there changed his life.

Now I understand what he experienced during his time there. Mr. Haigler's accounts have given me insight into my husband's experiences and those of thousands of our wonderful men and women called to serve. Mr. Haigler gave me a better appreciation for what they do every day and I love my husband more for the sacrifices that he has made.

I hope everyone has the opportunity to read this book, it will give them a better appreciation of our service men and women. Hopefully with that appreciation, one day they will get the respect and recognition they deserve and not have to live with fear for their family's wellbeing because they were following orders.

Mr. Haigler does a magnificent job of articulating the angst, joy,
heartache, camaraderie, elation and boredom of running a medical
facility in the midst of a high tech and fast paced war. As I read
his book from my current Aid Station in Iraq, I re-learned that most
of war's lessons and experiences are universal, as my experience was
and continues to be shockingly similar to what he endured in 1991.

My only regret about Mr. Haigler's book is that I had thought to
write my own book about such an experience, and Mr. Haigler has done
a far superior job to anything I could hope to convey. He's given me
precious little new information to relate to an audience.

"131 Days" is a must read for anyone who wants to know what it's like
to be a line soldier and medical provider on the modern, but desolate
battlefield.

Dr. Hal Walker, MD/MA
LT COL, US Army Medical Corps
LSA Anaconda, Iraq

I cannot say enough about this book. I couldn't put it down. The author led me through his daily journal of every emotion possible during Desert Storm. Being a military spouse with a deployed husband. This book helped me to realize what my soldier must be facing and the harch conditions he has to live in. I felt love, compassion, anger, disgust at the injustice of war. My heart was torn for this soldier and his family. I felt the frustration, fear, joy and anger. I highly recommend this book for everyone rather military, spouse or just everyday reader. The author opens your eyes, your mind and your heart. I hope to see more from this author in the future.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those in the military. Mr. Haigler's views about the war are so honest. I love how he expresses his feelings to include loneliness, disgust, sympathy, fear, and happiness. Being a military spouse, I can totally feel the emptiness he felt being away from his wife and children. This book is definitely a page turner and hard to put down. He keeps the book entertaining; just when you think something serious is about to happen, he puts in a joke to lighten the mood. I am a nurse and was thrilled to read about the skills he performed in the field under terrible conditions and lack of supplies. Once again, I loved the book and would like to see more by this author.

I had recently read this book because of a Creative Writing assignment. The reason I chose this book is because reading it took me way back to when my mind was early in the stage of the exploration of literature. I owned this book as a child, and reading it gave me another small perspective on how our own life and time itself progresses.
Robert Munsch uses humour in alot of his books and this is another one of those cases. For example, at the end of this book, the child's father is suspended in the middle of the kitchen by his toe with a long rope.
Munsch also uses a form of anticipation to ensure that the child >wants< to turn to the next page. For example, most of the pages in this book have sentences that end like: "He looked in the kitchen, it was empty. He looked in the bathroom, it was empty. He looked in the garage and..."
Not only can I look at this book from the perspective of just an ordinary reader, but also as a child; the intended audience of this book. Because of this, I can say the Robert Munsch did a wonderful job of creating literature that will intrigue children for many future generations

I liked the book 50 Bellow Zero. It is a very funny book.I liked when the kid started sleeping on top of the refrigerator.It was also funny when the dad was sleeping out side. I studied this book for seven months. After we studied the book we did a play on it.I would recomend this book to a little kid.

I read Robert Munsch's book 50 below zero. What did I think of it? Well I thought it was great! When [my reading buddy] and I read them 50 Below Zero, they loved it! They'd say stuff like..."That book was funny, good, and exciting!" [My reading buddy] and I also thought that the book was great too.
If I recommanded this book I'd recommand it to parents who sleep walk because the whole story's mainly about the boy getting his father back to bed, because he sleep walks.

Robert Munsch is a funny author with an easy style for the kids to master. If they learn to read one book they can read them all. Parents and teachers won't mind re-reading it over and over again.The illustrations are great, and the humor is funny.This author goes crazy with a sleepwalking dad. Great for teaching prediction,and easy to read to a class. The words are on one page and the illustrations are on the back so you don't have to read sideways(an important detail for tired teachers).He has over twenty books for sale and each one is better than the last.Check his picture on the back cover.He's a wild and crazy guy!

Mr. D has a hit on his hands! Not only have I fallen in love with his "Tricks to Student Story Writing" but so have my students. They have incorporated Mark's tips into their everyday writing...my class abounds with WOW-lines and wonderful finished pieces of writing! This is a must have for teachers and students alike!

As a fourth grade teacher, I have long experienced the problem of reluctant writers. This makes for a reluctant writing teacher. Not anymore! I have seen the greatest improvements in my class' writing since using Mr. D's new book, 6 Tricks to Student Story Writing Success. My attitude toward teaching writing has changed as well. His tricks and tips are invaluable. Thank you Mr. Diamond!

Even though he's a good student otherwise, my 11-year-old son hated to write. He was easily frustrated and overwhelmed by his writing assignments at school. Enter: 6 Tricks to Student Story Writing Success. My son and I read the book together in an afternoon, savoring every page. The illustrations were fun and compelling; the ideas embodied in the book were fresh and novel. The easy-to-read primer taught even this "old dog" new tricks to story writing, and my son couldn't wait for his next writing assignment to try out all he'd learned. When that time came, he approached his work with the enthusiasm and confidence of a skilled writer. We can't wait for the next "6 Tricks" book to come out!

Having taught various levels of writing for the past 20 years, I can say that this book is one of the best. It's incredibly user friendly and has excellent tips in it. The WOW line is my new favorite tool.

As a mother, I was thrilled when my son read the book and expressed his excitement about the creative process. I almost cried when he went to write a story just for the fun of it.

Thank you, Mr. Diamond!

This book is a fascinating, engaging read. It feels more like a great story than a history book, but is a really interesting insight into the beginnings of WSM, the early history of radio, country music, the Opry, the start of many a famous name in broadcasting, and Nashville itself. Thoroughly enjoyable, I would recommend this to every reader I know.

Havighurst has compiled a tremendous amount of information on this subject into a story which comes to life. I can't imagine any one writing a more definitive work on WSM and that era. He has succeeded, for this reader, into making WSM a living, breathing character unto itself within this story. I'm not even a huge country music fan but no matter, Havighurst's storytelling style and obvious passion for telling this story won me over early on. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. He made me feel as if I was right there in the early days of radio, watching and listening as all the early pioneers of the industry shaped the airwaves. Great read for anyone interested in how radio began and evolved and it's impact on not only country music but the world as well.

I believe Air Castle of the South is an important book, in that it goes far beyond the history of a musical genre. It sheds light on the mindset of those who first dabbled in a revolutionary new medium. The innocence, curiosity, and zeal of some of radio's brilliantly naive pioneers is painstakingly recorded, as is their evolution from enthusiastic hobbyists to full time broadcasters. But this accessible read is not just a nostalgic indulgence. It's full of insights for the era-changing times we are in now, where the Internet is opening new doors of opportunity for those willing to rethink the why, the what, and the how. As a performing artist who came up through the ranks playing on country music radio shows, including the Opry, Air Castle rekindled my affection for the charm and simplicity of those shows. As someone who grew up listening to a transistor radio in bed late at night with an earphone, it renewed my love of the medium of sound; where the absence of force-fed visual images allows one's imagination to create them in the theater of the mind. Thank you, Craig Havighurst, for this invaluable work. It is clearly a labor of love.

Just finished Craig Havighurst's magnificent history of WSM. It's a read that you hate to see come to an end.

What a GREAT station WSM was in its golden age which extended into the TV era while other stations of its size threw in the towel and got rid of its live musicians and the stuff that made bigtime radio great.

The book comes to a sad ending--the rash sacking of TNN and Opryland--and I kinda felt like I was finishing the final pages of "Gone With the Wind."

Anybody with an interest in Bluegrass, Country, Nashville, big time radio, the Ryman and/or the roots of country music and broadcasting has to read this book.