South America Books

My son, 12 and daughter 14 both enjoy the Rani adventures. It's a great true story full of adventure.

We highly recommend all three books.

This book is full of fun, adventure, and learning. If you want a solid view of South American up-bringing, combined with honest insights on multi-cultural interactions-- this is it. You will never think of the rainforest and its tribal inhabitants the same way again. Great for all ages. Inspiring. Remember that this is the third in the series, reading the others adds to your enjoyment, but they all stand well alone.

I'm a big fan of children's picture books, and I am definitely adding this one to my collection. The illustrations are wonderful - they really convey a feeling of the tropics with their vibrant colors and bold shapes. My 4 year old son loves this one too!

I'm the illustrator of this book and would like to share the following reviews:

Children's Literature - Sylvia Firth
The folk tale of making soup from stones or "nothing" is found in many cultures. This version, set in the Caribbean, is vibrant, funny and clever. Poor Granny is very hungry but has no food or money. When fishing proves unsuccessful, she decides to use a shell as the basis for a pot of soup. At the outdoor market, Granny ingeniously manages to get everyone to contribute something to the soup by convincing them that her shell has magical powers. After the addition of the last ingredient, fungee, the crowd gleefully enjoys the free soup and gives a resounding cheer for Granny and her wonderful kallaloo. The strong, lively illustrations have the feel of the Caribbean and are a first-class addition to the story. As an added bonus, instructions for making kallaloo, either for a crowd or just two, are included on the last page. 2005, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-"`Lunchtime,' said Granny, `and me belly bawling.' But her cupboard was bare." So begins this West Indian version of the ever-popular "Stone Soup." In lilting language, Granny and her hungry stomach have a conversation about what they are going to do as she sits fishing, but not catching anything. Then she comes upon a shell and decides to make soup with it. She runs to the Market Square crying, `"I find it!'" Of course, everyone is curious, especially when she declares that the shell can make soup, and if someone brings her a pot of water, she'll prove it. As the people gather, they each contribute an ingredient until a big pot of savory kallaloo, a Caribbean gumbo, is ready to be shared by all. This humorous tale can be enjoyed alone, but is well suited to reading aloud. Greenseid's bright and vibrant acrylic illustrations are a perfect interpretation of the text and bring the setting to life. A well-written, engaging, and gentle story about sharing and the power of working together to achieve a goal.

I was recently gifted with Kentucky's Covered Bridges by a friend who knew my late mother, and the Switzer Bridge enthusiast that she was. I was absolutely delighted with the details of Kentucky's history, architecture, and biographies that one would never expect in such a handy little collection. Including antebellum events and beyond, and even for non-Kentuckians, this is an enjoyable and extensive research into the nearly lost era of covered bridges and their nostalgia. The photography and landscapes are effectual portals into by-gone days and the romance and allure of a simpler time. I have visited "my mother's" bridge, seen the carvings in timber and listened to the stories that described a generation. This book preserves such memories and sheds light on a great deal of wonderful information about these gorgeous old structures.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the primary author, RWM Laughlin, had revealed what is renown, in Kentucky where I grew up, as the most extensive photographic chronicle of these bridges and related events, people, and history. This is a remarkable collection to impress any enthusiast and the casual reader alike. Laughlin, historian and authority, has lent us all a wonderful gift by sharing his private collections and those of others which span centuries in this pictorial and expository work. Together, Laughlin and Jurgenson have created and preserved the past in a remarkable volume of Kentucky's Covered Bridges.

Robert Laughlin and his co-author have done a wonderful job at bringing these old timbered tunnels back to life. Even those who have never given covered bridges the first thought will find the excellent writing and magnificent photographs interesting. For those of us who are nostalgic for those bygone days this book is a must have. I look forward to Laughlin's next book.

Whether you love to travel, or just love to read about it, this book will fill you with awe and wonder at the world's most amazing region. The beauty of it is that it isn't a guidebook full of hotel and restaurant listings; it's a compilation of travel stories from dozens of authors who seem to have covered every square inch of Latin America and share their favorite places. As it's written by so many travelers, the writing quality varies from pedestrian to brilliant--and typos abound--but the passion Latin America evokes shines through. I've traveled extensively in South America, but learned of new places I can't wait to experience. Bravo, Viva!

In September 2005, I filled a backpack with what I would soon learn were mostly useless items (anything white, hand sanitizer to last me a lifetime, an arm sling) and headed via red-eye from Los Angeles to Lima for a seven month solo backpacking stint all over the South American continent. With no idea what lay beyond, I spent the majority of the overnight flight with eyes wide open, examining the Peruvian businessmen sleeping all around me.

When I crack open V!VA List Latin America: 333 Places and Experiences That People Love, my trip comes flooding back to me. A sense of wonder and awe pervades the pages. These passionate articles, written by Latin-American loving travelers, writers and photographers from around the world, transport me back to the countries I have explored and loved, back to the infectious rhythms danced to during Brazilian Carnaval, the flavor of a gorgeous Argentine steak, the feeling of being dwarfed by the rolling Andes of Peru and Ecuador. There is truth in these articles, history and honesty, attempts at making sense of cultures different from one's own.

V!VA List Latin America is a compilation of articles submitted to Vivatravelguides.com by the website's global community. Anyone with a story to tell and a passion for travel can potentially be published, and this sense of openness and authenticity makes for a truly exhilarating read.

Creo que llega un momento en la vida de muchos lectores amantes de la historia en que se dan cuenta de que saben muchísimo sobre la historia norteamericana. Ya conoces a todos los personajes más importantes, además de los eventos más significativos, los hitos más relevantes y los acontecimientos más rompedores desde 1492.

Y luego, después de leer un montón de libros sobre los temas específicos qué más te hayan interesado (sea el período de la revolución, la guerra civil, la historia de los negocios, o lo que sea), llega el día en que te apetece leer otra historia global de nuevo para repasarte la historia norteamericana en general. Eso me ocurrió a mí hace unas semanas cuando fui a la librería de mi barrio y compré este libro, totalmente por casualidad, cuando me fijé en su llamativo título y mi necesidad de tener una nueva visión de todos estos siglos.

Fue el libro PERFECTO para este propósito. Como he leído muchos libros sobre la historia de los USA, haber leído lo mismo hubiera sido una pérdida de tiempo, pero al leer este tomo en particular, me acordé de todas las épocas y occurencias más importantes, pero esta vez desde el punto de vista de los grandes perdedores y los más débiles. Al conocer su historia, he comprendido que tal vez tendrían una visión menos patriótica llena de banderas americanas y héroes de lo que ha pasado en este país.

Este libro nos cuenta la historia de los pisoteados, la gente que sabemos intuitivamente que existió, aunque no se habla de ellos ni dentro del colegio ni fuera. En algún rincón de la mente, como seres inteligentes, sabemos que la Revolución Norteamericana no pudo ser positiva para todos. Y lo mismo se puede decir de la Guerra Civil, el invento de las grandes empresas, la apropiación de todo el continente norteamericano en general, la construcción de los ferrocarriles y la victoria en todas nuestras guerras. Siempre hay ganadores y perdedores, aunque muchos omiten mencionar a éstos.

Es posible tener una perspectiva negativa sobre este libro y tacharlo de retórica anti-americana de extrema izquierda, o lo puedes ver positivamente y entender que la historia se tiene que contar desde todas las perspectivas. Si lees este libro sabrás a quiénes hemos dejado atrás y a quiénes hemos pisado para poder alcanzar la riqueza y el poder que tenemos hoy en día.

Este libro debe ser incluido en el curriculum del Sistema de Educacion de los Estados Unidos.El profesor e historiador Howard Zinn nos abre un mundo de verdades hasta ahora disimuladas en todos los materiales de texto que se usan desde la ensenanza primaria hasta en el nivel superior en la nacion norteamericana."La otra historia de los Estados Unidos" sorprende por decir lo que otros historiadores no han querido o no se han atrevido a decir sobre los crueles, intensos y algunas veces perturbantes pasajes de la historia.Es un material que todo norteamericano debia leer para poder encontrar respuestas a muchos aspectos de la realidad actual.Con una traduccion al Espanol impecable, esta obra brinda a los hispano parlantes la posibilidad de enriquecese en todos los sentidos.

If you can truly understand and internalize Dealy's premise, your understanding of the world will change dramatically. That is if. bc

An extraordinary tour of the Latin American mental model, written by a North American who discovers as much about the idiosyncracies and shortcomings of his own culture as he does about the enduring and seemingly contradictory values of those half-billion people who live south of the Rio Grande. Required reading, not only for aficionados of Latin America, but also for students of cross-cultural relations and those who desire to understand why anglos often find it so hard to really connect with their southern brethren -- and vice-versa. Dealy writes with wit, insight and sympathy into both perspectives

This book answers a lot of questions about the Latino culture, experience, past, present and future. Some essays tell stories, while others are plain facts. This book has about 670 pages, yet it is a fast and informative read where you can't put the book down. It is organized by section of topic and gives suggested reading lists at the end of each chapter. A good introductory to Latin American studies, historically, culturally, and sociologically. It gives a lot of information for the price, you will not regret buying this book.

Excellent book, but know in advance that this book is heavily skewed toward legal topics and lawyer authors. While much of the legal writing is dense for lay readers, it is often well worth the effort. The selections authored by Margaret Montoya, Kevin Johnson, editor Richard Delgado, and non-attorney Gloria Anzaldua were the very best of this remarkably well-written anthology.

Deseo conocer el último libro de Ricardo Levene (padre) sobre historia argentina

Deseo conocer el último libro de Ricardo Levene (padre) sobre historia argentina

I really enjoyed this book since I grew up in Lexington, NC...a lot of history in Lexington I didn't know. I also gave copy to my best friend since we grew up together and were neighbors in Lexington.

I gave this book to my mother-in law who is from Lexington NC and she loved it! There are a lot of pictures to think of good old memories.
I think a book like this is very special.

I wouldn't be a true historian if I didn't say I have lots of questions after reading Ms. Hollingsworth's book. But, that's a sign of a good writer...leaving your reader wanting more. The writing style is engaging and is based on some unique and comprehensive sources. This book is all you need to read to know the real story of Lexington.

Since the Wright book about Lexington appeared in the 1980's I have been hoping for a more extensive, up-to-date history of the town in which I grew up. This is it. Ms. Hollingsworth is a gifted writer. Her lively, articulate and entertaining account of Lexington from its earliest days to the present left me aching for more. She has obviously thoroughly researched an enormous quantity of primary sources in writing it and I have visions of bulging files somewhere that she will see fit to use to expand and broaden her story. This was one book I wanted to go on forever. I made the mistake of starting it at bedtime and finding myself unable to put it down. It is so rich in history and local color that I found myself reading very slowly when I am normally a fast reader. I didn't want go miss a thing. Of course, I'm sure I will re-read it within a month or so and use it as a reference forever.