Clubs Books

As a parent of ten children (now grown) and a first grade teacher of 7 years now, I love this book-as do my students. It is colorful,encourages imaginative thinking and easy to follow. I use it for our animal unit as well as discussing story elements.

A tiger wonders why everything avoids him, and compares his body
to other creatures. We love this book for the extraordinary artwork, full of detail.

A gentle reminder that we are not all so different after all.

My two young boys love this book - just as they love The Magic Fan by the same author. It's one of their favorite bedtime stories.

The illustrations feature some of the most beautiful colors and overall design. My kids really like the way the artwork goes all the way to the edge of the page.

We'll probably buy everything else by this author.

I have no children of my own but have been a nanny for 6 years. Of all the stories I've read . . . this is by far the best! I give it to every person I know with children! Thank you for such a wonderful story, such beautiful artwork and such wonderful sounds!

This is a true picture book-as the pictures tell the story beyond the words. The illustrations go the distance for story time reading, as well as working for up close inspection (be sure to look for that unconcerned snail on every page!). I just never tire of this book and its illustrations, and I have been a fan of it for six years. The illustration of carp, tiger, and jungle folliage provide visual saturation satisfaction. The simple repetitious rhymes are fun to say, they roll off the lips in a way not always found in rhyming text, with wonderful repeating sounds. The story message is sweet, loud and clear, yet subtle at the same time. Thank you for this gem, Mr. Baker!

This book is simply a treasure. The story is about a boy and his bear and their blankie, who have an adventure on a dark, stormy night when they help their forest friends build a storm shelter. The rhyming text is very smooth and soothing...it actually slows down my 16-month old and 4 year old! And the illustrations are without a doubt BEAUTIFUL!! This book is requested every night and I'm more than glad to narrate!

I must add my voice to the chorus here - this is a wonderful book and one that my children have come to love! It is a ferquent bedtime request and the rhyming words and engaging artwork do their relaxing magic. We love it!

The illustrations and storyline are captivating. My children ages 2 & 3 can't get enough of this one. I don't even mind reading this over and over again! We own a large childrens library and this is at the top of our "favorites list".

The Adventure on Klickitat Island by Hillary Hippely and illustrated by Barbara Upton is a great example of collaborative story telling and fine artwork. The story is about a small boy and his teddy bear who wake up in the middle of the night in the midst of a thunderstorm. They are concerned about the animals on Klickitat Island and set off to help them, accompanied by the boy's faithful "blankie".

The story/poem has a wonderful rhythm, but it is the exceptional artwork that sets this book apart from many others. The artwork could only be called sumptuous, with multiple themes interleaved from page to page. It is a visual experience where adults easily will find continuous enjoyment and a story that will have the average child both enthralled and calmed before bedtime.

This should be a must for your child!

When I was a little boy, my big sister gave me an exquisitely illustrated book about a mother bunny who was called upon to deliver a special Easter gift to a dying child living in a remote mountain cabin.

I received the book about 50 years ago, and to this day I vividly recall the highly detailed illustrations and, because of them, I recall the gist of the book as well. I loved that book. And I found myself reading it once in a while until I was nearing my teens. It was just a beautiful book with a beautiful message about courage, altruism, and the responsibility we humans need to have for one another.

I kept the book, and passed it on to my little daughter. She, in turn, has read it repeatedly to my grandchildren.

Barbara Upton has the artistic genius needed to make a book into an heirloom. I don't know that Klickitat will rise to that level, but it might, because the book is very attractive and highly readable. If it fails to become a family treasure, it would be only because the language in the poem would not appeal to children beyond maybe 7 or so (my youngest grandchildren are 8, and they object to the word "blankie" in the poem, for example.) I think a book earns a special place in a person's heart when the book's message says something to "kids" of all ages, in language that does not turn off older children.

I hope a quality book publisher hires Upton to illustrate a real book, with a story line that will appeal both to tykes who can't yet read, and to kids who learned to read years ago, yet pick up the book from time to time simply because its message is still relevant, the language is not obviously geared to toddlers, and the illustrations are appealing unto themselves. All these elements make a mere book into a family treasure.

As I said, Upton has the gift to produce works of art that children will want to carry into their adult lives. I think Klickitat will pass down for a few generations. And I think competent book publishers will recognize Upton's genius for beautiful art, and turn her loose on a big project like my treasured Easter story. Let's hope so, anyway.

If they do, I'll be one of the first in line to buy it.

Glenn Troester, Editor & Publisher Meeker Herald & Rangely Times Meeker Colorado

John's ADVENTURING IN ARIZONA has always been a favorite on our bookshelf.

"A superb new guidebook called ADVENTURING IS ARIZONA is a fast-moving blend of history and trekking advice for canyoneers, climbers and river rafters. Author John Annerino even can tell you, mile by mile, how to see the Grand Canyon in virtual solitude.

Of all the general guidebooks I know on the Arizona outdoors, the best for hard-won information is John Annerino's ADVENTURING IN ARIZONA. A longtime resident of Prescott and Tucson, Annerino has been tooling about on the state's dirt roads and hiking trails for a couple of decades now, and he's covered a huge swath of territory firsthand. He takes in well-known destinations, from the Grand Canyon to South Mountain, but, more to the point here, he offers mile-by-mile instructions for more remote places like the Superstition Mountains and the Lechuguilla Desert. One of the treks he proposes, not for the faint of heart or easily sun-stroked, retraces Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino's route across southern Arizona's Camino del Diablo - a fitting name meaning "Devil's Highway," a route that comes the closest Arizona has to compete with Death Valley for sheer hellishness. Water is nearly non-existent along the route, and those attempting it should bring along at least four gallons per person per day, a luxury Kino could not enjoy. Many available guidebooks uncritically repeat long-obsolete information on the location of the Camino's few watering holes. Annerino went out to the place himself - in summer, no less - to map them on foot, an act that may well save a few lives some day. -New Times

I found John Annerino's ADVENTURING IN ARIZONA a great source of information.

ADVENTURING IN ARIZONA by John Annerino [is] one of my bibles

Linda Cutcliff has every right to be proud of her work, showing the strength a wife and mother is truly capable of and reminding us all of the inner strength we are all capable of. This was one story I could not put down and am looking forward to seeing the return of Dr. Deb Hunter. Keep up the good work Linda.

I started to read this book on a Saturday morning and finished it that night. Needless to say my house fell apart around me but I did not care, the book is well worth the read.

I had a hard time putting this book away. The book is fast paced, easy reading. If you liked reading John Grishams "Brethren" you will probably enjoy reading Advocate of Honor.

I loved this book! It kept my attention from start to finish and I never knew what to expect next or how it was going to end up. This is the kind of suspense that works.

A woman is told that her husband is not the man she thought he was, and her search starts to find out the truth.

If you are serious at all about hiking in the White Mountains of New England, then this is a "must have." It literally is the Bible of hiking in the whites. I cannot believe the monumental effort that it took to compile this guide. I have several other hiking guides to the area, and each has its own approach, but they cover a limited number of hiking trails. The AMC Guide is "the reference standard" and I believe comes very close to addressing all the hundreds of trails that exist in the Whites with the only exception being some of trails in the Randolph Mountain Club on the north slope of the Presidentials. In the a pocket in the back cover are 6 topographic maps, covering the White Mountains with all the trails shown. If you are a hiking enthusiast and a map-hound like me, don't even open this until you have a 3-day weekend!

This is by far the 'hiking bible'. Every trail you can think of in this jampacked 500+ page book with 4 maps is here! Little hikes to backpacking hikes for days and days...its all here.
The details are rich and very accurate. The levels of difficulty I found very on the mark.
I used this book to plan my first hike up Mt. Washington via, Tuckerman Ravine and it was invaluable. It was very accurate and when I reached the top, I felt if I hadn't had this book, I never would've tried this scenic and challenging trail. I would've missed out and taken the less interesting Jewell Trail!
We went back and did it again a month later using this book and took the Ammonoosuc Trail and my goodness...was I glad we did. The scenery was breathtaking...
We've done probably about 50 or so trails from this book so far and they were ALL very detailed and informative, with info on difficulty which I like very much.
The book gives alternate trails to the same places and where the AMC huts are and shelter. Mileages and information on dangerous spots. Even whether to try it in slippery conditions.
Don't hike without it!

Tracy Talley~@

This is a really nice trail guide. You will find all informations about trails in the White Mountains. Three maps are included. The only negative point is that there is no photos in this book. Photos are very important for me.

If you are going to hike in the White Mountains and only have room for one book, then this is it--hands down! It is no surprise how good this guide is when you look at the two editors.

Firstly, Gene Daniell, who, among many other things, has climbed all 48 four-thousand footers in the state of New Hampshire in EVERY month of the year. On top of this, Gene has donated many years of his time as Secretary of the Four Thousand Footer Committee. This club offers guidance and direction for the thousands of avid hikers who yearly strive to climb NH's high peaks.

And Steve Smith is a devotee of the Whites as well. I once bumped into him, accidentally, while shopping in a hiker's enthusiast store in Lincoln, NH (The Mountain Wanderer). As we conversed, it became clear I discovered a rich hiking resource. When he offered to autograph my copy of the AMC Guide, I then realized who he was and that he owned this store.

The AMC White Mountain Guide, whose first edition released in 1907, clearly has as its objective to provide the most accurate, thorough and up to date account of trails in the Whites. Towards this end, with Steve and Gene's expertise, they have refined and packaged the 27th edition in a manner worthy of the most avid hiker's respect.

Excellent topographical maps accompany the guide, offering extensive coverage of the trails discussed. A discussion of how to prepare safely for hiking the Whites is also present. Elevation gains are provided for the various trails and destinations. Moreover, a high level of forethought, in the form of potential alternate trails and escape routes, is all here for the novice and expert alike.

All this is done, thankfully, while adhering to succinctness, since few hikers want to waste their precious and sacred hiking hours reading flowery digressions. Not surprisingly then, the result is a piece of literature of which the owner quickly and particularly grows fond.

I have wandered through the forests of the Whites for over 40 years. I now hike in all twelve months of the year. Through the years I have invested money in many different items which promised to enhance my experience. I can honestly say, without a doubt, none of the dollars were better spent than the ones which went into the purchase of my first AMC White Mountain Guide.

Whether you're planning a backpacking trip through the Presidentials or a series of family oriented dayhikes, this book is a neccessity. I just returned from a week long camping trip in the White Mountains and this book never left my side. It includes 100's of detailed trail descriptions as well as suggested hikes for different abilities and the maps for each region. In addition, the introduction includes some very useful information about the park.

One problem I had with this book is that the difficulty of the trails is sometimes understated. This is not really the books fault as difficulty ratings are very subjective. I would highly recommend looking at the maps in conjunction with the trail descriptions to understand the elevation changes. I'm from Maryland and did not fully understand what a 4000 ft. elevation change in 4 miles meant until I got up there (it's not fun and could be dangerous to someone not in good shape). I cannot stress enough that if this book says something is difficult or dangerous, it most certainly is. It might be prudent to talk to a ranger about a certain trail if you are unsure BEFORE you attempt it.

One other fault with the book is that it does not tell you which parking areas require a pass. The best advice for this is to just spend the 5 dollars on the week long pass to avoid the 100 dollar fine.

This is one book every person dealing with mental health should read, I could not put this book down till I finished it. It tells of the horrors and treatment of the mentally ill in the late fifties and early sixties in Ohio. The book tells the awesome truth about this subject. I am currently working at this particular hospital, and have been since 1972, I have heard of some of the treatment. All of the stories are not just about the injustice to the mentally ill, it also tells of the programs that were established to help the mentaly ill. I highly recommend reading this book and the other in the series of, Some Die Mad.

I can't say enough. Some images keep me awake at night. This is literature.

This guy gets tossed into a real life garbage can and lets us root around with him and see all the funk. Here's a priceless work of art spun from one poor guy's actual agony. Don't miss this, it's a winner.

Auschwitz, Ohio which is Part II of the quatrain Some Die Mad is an amazing story and no doubt this work of art will become the definitive story about the tragic and bizarre mental health system of the Fifties. Whoever 44288 was, he does not deserve the anonymity his family has unnecessarily wrapped about him in its...ignorant shame. Auschwitz, Ohio and its three quatrain brothers, Gandy Dancing, Islands In Time and The Place To Wait are works of obvious genius and need to be celebrated. I cannot pass up an opportunity to tell prospective readers about this newly discovered classic, world-class piece of literature.

Auschwitz, Ohio couldn't be better... it absolutely is the finest work on Fifties Angst I''ve ever read. You can FEEL the suffocation....

Autumn Trail is one of my favorites.Except for one part in
the story.I don't want to spoil the book if you haven't read
it,so I'm not going to say what happens.When I read the sad
part,I nearly cried.But I do really enjoy this book.I recomend
it for everyone!

This Saddle Club book is one of the best. Carole, Stevie, and Lisa all try to think to be totally selfless. Stevie's of course is to try and be nice to Veronica. Lisa doesn't know what to do. In the end it turns out that Lisa does something completely selfless to help one of Pine Hollow's favorite horses. It's kind of sad. You might cry a little but I think that it was a great book

I picked this book out from our libraray and at first i didn't really understand it, (first saddle club book)and I cried all the way through when Pepper died. I can't believe what would happen to MY horse thinking of in no longer existing anymore. It was sad, but the most wonderful book I recomend it to any ages, I have read just about all the saddle club books and this one still remains my favorite. Happy Reading!

Lisa has been having a hard time with the fact that old Pepper is retired. But now, things seem worse than that. Could Pepper really be dying? Lisa has to learn to let her beloved Pepper go. And that could be the hardest thing she's ever done. Determined that he's just in need of rest, Lisa still becomes worried about him. Time is flying by, and Lisa has to accept the truth before she can say her tearful goodbyes.

I love how Bonnie makes you feel as if you are right there. When I read about Pepper being put down I cried right along with Lisa, Stevie, and Carole. I also was mad when Veronica made that rude comment about Now that Pepper was gone she wanted to put garnet in his stall because it was so close to the tack room!! How unbelieveable is that!! Especially after that weekend at Carole's and Pepper's sad death!!!

A few months ago, I read a novel called Queen of Camelot by Nancy Mckenzie, a recreation of the King Arthur story that centers on Guinevere. I thought that the retelling was very interesting and showed Guinevere as a flesh and blood, three-dimensional, kind woman and not the treacherous, adulteress that is shown in the original story. Beloved Exile, however, shows quite a different take on Guinevere, one of an ambitious, treacherous woman that would do anything for survival and to rule as queen with results as interesting as the one in Queen of Camelot. Guinevere is the Medieval/fantasy Scarlett O'Hara in this retelling. After King Arthur dies, Guinevere, along with Lancelot and Gareth, tries to bring Camelot to its previous glory, but things don't turn out that way, to say the least. Instead, she becomes a Saxon slave, and her struggles has just begun. But Guinevere is an intelligent, scheming woman, and she will do just about anything to reign again. There are various twists throughout the novel.

Beloved Exile takes quite a departure from the original King Arthur tale and the results are incredible. Parke Godwin gives Guinevere the sort of depth and layers that is absent in King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. And the anti-heroine here is also a departure from Queen of Camelot. Both of these novels show a very interesting portrayal of Queen Guinevere in very different ways and I cannot decide which one is the best one of the two. In this adaptation, Guinevere is an unsympathetic protagonist, but has enough complexity to make her compelling at the same time. That is why I compare her to Scarlett O'Hara, for she made me feel the same way when I read Gone with the Wind. This Guinevere is very interesting indeed. I just loved the complexity and many dimensions of this character. Mr. Godwin has created a wonderful and unique portrayal of this classic character. And he added gothic undertones to boot! I cannot recommend this gem enough!

This is my favorite depiction of Guinevere. Godwin portrays her as a powerful woman whose strengths (as is often the case) are also her weaknesses--and her undoing. Godwin's Guinevere is frequently hard to sympathize with, but she isn't hard to understand. I'm impressed with how dramatically (but believably) her character changes and grows between Firelord and this book. Note: Read this book carefully, and you'll notice that a character from Firelord, so minor that she had neither name or dialogue, is crucial to the events and attitudes in Beloved Exile.

Traditional versions of the Arthur myth focus mainly on the men. Other versions like Mists of Avalon, which I enjoy immensely, focus women characters and not much, really, on the weepy, very Christian Guinevere.

Beloved Exile is a smashing alternate view of the possibilities, given the times. Guinevere in this version is not construed as a saint, a hystrionic weeper, nor is she totally lovable, but is very human. She is a strong, unforgettable character.

Highly recommended!

This is a worthy sequel to the exciting "Firelord." It tells the story of the rest of Guinevere's life after Arthur's death, and she is even more of a vivid and strong personality than she was in that enthralling novel. Godwin's account of her captivity as a Saxon slave, and her adaptation to that way of life, is purely imaginative, but who could mind? It relates a sensitive and entertaining account of how this proud queen grows to maturity in her adjustment to a jarring change in her fortunes. Guinevere has never seemed more real, alive and captivating than in these pages.You can well believe that a woman this remarkable has captured popular imagination for 1500 years. Someone, please--put this book back into print! It deserves it.

More historical fiction than fantasy, you will not find any magic swords or sorcery in this gritty and realistic story of Guenevere and Britian after the death of Arthur. When the story begins, Guenevere is already middle aged, and Britian is on the brink of chaos. As the story progresses we learn of the maturing of Guenevere as a person and as a queen.

The novel starts off fast and furious with battles and betrayals. Then it settles down into a serious character study as it builds towards a strong and satisfying climax. Sometimes slow, but always interesting, this was worthwhile reading.

This book "Proves that good things come in small packages." This book has "emotion and the unexpected turns will put tears in your eyes". Buy it today!

A Better Place Literary Fiction/Short Stories written by K.J. Stevens These thoughtfully written and arranged stories have a tough, no non-sense feel to them. At the same time they present beautifully sad revelations that are easy to identify with. The stories carry the reader up then bring the reader down with care and intelligence rarely found in young writers (at 29 Stevens is younger than most of his contemporaries). A good, solid read.

KJ Stevens very ambititious work, loved the spirited characters, and how all the stories are brought together. This book stays with you long after you turn the final page.

K.J. Stevens sets himself apart from other modern day writers with this collection of short stories that shows the deeper meaning of the little things in life. His superb prose and intense descriptions puts you in the life of his characters and reminds you that being alive is a wonderful thing. With this kind of brilliant storytelling capability, we are sure to see more of K.J. Stevens in the future.

Written in simple, evocative prose, I was reminded of my youth growing up in Vermont. Steven's examines, love, family, and life in his collection of short stories. Perhaps the worst part of living, is knowing you cannot retrace the past. Once a moment passes, it is gone - whether good or bad, that moment will never occur again. Steven's looks beyond the sophisticated life dwellers with a telling eye of detail, and captures those moments in time that should be appreciated. Unlike David Sedaris, who likes to laugh at life, this author embraces life and spiritiality. A must read for those of us wandering through life worshiping the wrong things.

Joel's book held my interest and kept me laughing, especially the his stories and mishaps in Vietnam. You'll espeically like and will laugh about the pickle juice! Great reading!

You'll enjoy this one. Brace yourselves for the ride of a lifetime. Great laughs as the trickster brother rides again. He'll bring you into a relm that lights up your life!

From a boy in the streets to a man in the Jungle. Joel struggle's with life just to stay alive. Striking a deal with God in a rice paddy, Joel forgets the deal and goes on to a hippy infested lifestyle, until a knock in the head brings him back to reality. Great reading for all!! Buster Curtsinger

This is a real life story of Joel Russell . Once you start to read it you don't want to stop until you finish the book. It keeks you intertained from start to finish.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It captivated my attention. It talks of life, and humor in the midst of suffering,joy in the midst of pain and the sacrifices oneself has to do for others. This story is of a man who in the midst of horror and fear, served his country with honor. Veteran or not, you will enjoy this true story of life and the battles that sometimes go with it.