Sports Books

James "Ty" Tyrone writes sports columns for a "rag," but his excellent salary supports the tremendous medical expense of his wife who must live in an iron lung, a victim of polio. FORFEIT is a masterful thriller from Dick Francis.
Ty meets Bert Chekov, a fellow writer, on the street. Bert is drunk, but warns Ty not to sell his column. A short time later Bert falls or is pushed to his death. Thugs demand Ty's support for their race fixing scheme and resort to intimidation through his wife's frail grip on life. A must read for Dick Francis fans.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This was my first Dick Francis novel. Took a while to get into it, but it was a page turner by the end. 3 stars for those who aren't racing fans.

I've probably read all of Dick Francis' many books and always await the next one happily. In between the advent of his new books, I occasionally re-read some old ones with pleasure, which I rarely do except in the case of classics. He writes literature equaling, for example, Eric Ambler's writing in quality.

Forfeit, by Dick Francis, tells the story of sports writer James Tyrone beginning when a drunken colleague, Bert Checkov, warns him not to sell his column. Making vague allusions to blackmail and bribery, the man is so drunk that he's all but incoherent and then goes his own way. Chalking it up to the booze, Tyrone leaves his friend only to learn minutes later that the man has just fallen out of a window and died. A short while later, we learn that Checkov has been heavily touting a large number of horses that end up getting scratched from their races shortly before post time. This is the tip of the iceberg that leads Tyrone into conflict with bookmakers who will stop at nothing to continue a scheme that has already netted them a small fortune.

Tyrone is a remarkably strong character who deals with a home life that could only be called difficult, an editor who doesn't mind risking his life to get a story, and a gang of thugs that don't mind dishing out a beating or even murder to get what they want. He is not perfect, but he does have a good heart and readers can't help but root for him. Most of the characters are interesting and portrayed uniquely enough that they remain distinct and not just cardboard cutouts put in place to fill their assigned roles. The story builds momentum as it goes. In the beginning, I found it mildly interesting but as it progressed it became a real page-turner.

This is the first novel by Dick Francis that I have read but he has been one of the most respected mystery writers for many decades. His writing style is very clear and crisp, easy to read and understand. Some English novelists use language that can make it hard for Americans to follow but I didn't find that to be the case here. I am not particularly interested in horses or horse racing but I do like good stories with interesting characters and there was a healthy dose of that in Forfeit. After reading this book, I'll be ordering more Dick Francis novels soon.

I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.

My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.

In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.

In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.

Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.

A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.

We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.

We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.

THIS IS A GREAT RESOURCE IF YOUR DESPERATE AT THE FREE THROW LINE.MOST PLAYERS THINK YOUR CRAZY WHEN YOU TEACH THIS METHOD.

My basketball coach gave me this book in 7th grade to read because I was struggling from the freethrow line! Not only could I easily understand it but it also drastically improved my shot at the line! After practicing the steps I was able to sink my freethrows consistantly within a couple weeks!! I am now a high school senior and am still using the basic steps I read so many years ago!! This book is a must read whether you are struggling from the freethrow line or not!!!

I read the book with great pleasure. Following the guidelines in the book builds up an automatic sequence in your throwing style that definitely improve your results under game pressure!

Dr. Tom is the best at shooting a free throw. He makes it simple for anyone to improve.

I love this book. The methods and thinking demonstrated in the book can be used in other things (other than just basketball.)
It's a short read. You can finish it in less than a day. Go back and review it from time to time.
I buy a lot of books. Most get given away or sold. Some get a permanent place on my bookshelf. This is a keeper.

I guess it's working better than I could imagined -. I have started training in Martial Arts a couple of months ago. Immediately I noticed how difficult was for me to Kick properly.

Mr. Kovacich's book was really helpful. The author claims that the information in the book must complement the information received by a trained instructor and I understand why he says this.

A couple of days ago, my instructor, during class, complimented me on how high my front kick was.

Although I have managed to leave behind my white belt, I am still a beginner. This means that the central part of the book (which contains 11 variations of the Front Kick) has been put on hold because it's a bit too advanced for me. I guess, once I get the basic information down, I will be able to work on the rest later.

I have been focusing mainly on chapters 2, 3 and 4. These chapters contain the basic knowledge of the Front Kick, including Warm Up and Stretching. This basic information is contained between pages 25 and 65 - a huge amount of detail, pictures and diagrams. Incredibly well written, this material leaves no room for misunderstanding and, therefore, possible mistakes. AWESOME! At first, I thought it was too much information but as I was practicing, over and over, I realized that I needed that information so that I would not hurt myself.

Chapter 5 contains all the 11 (!!) variations of the front kick. I will work on this section later.

Chapters 6 to 9 contains training and practice methods. Not only very informative but the author provides simple ways to keep the legs strong. He focuses on Strength (obviously) but also on Speed and Power (very useful for both sparring and self-defense).
I truly enjoy the section called Trouble Shooting Guide, which is done in Q&A format. The Front Kick Applications section contains pictures and information including "what's wrong with that picture" which forces me to pay attention to the details of the application.

It's a mine of information and applications. I have been using the material in my own training and it's paying off. What else can one ask from a book?

My next challenge is the RoundHouse Kick. I got the book already and I can't wait to start working on that, too.

Author Shawn Kovacich has exploited an important niche in his "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series of martial arts instructional texts.

Shawn is quoted as saying "In an unarmed self-defense encounter, your kicking skills or lack thereof, can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. In today's society, kicking is not only used more frequently, but it also ranks as perhaps the most versatile and underrated weapon that you have in your arsenal." I agree with him.

I found "Front Kick" (volume 6 of 10 in the series) to be so highly detail oriented that it overcame any presupposition of dryness and boredom to which I initially attributed to it. In short, I was "hooked." Laid out in terms that the novice can easily follow and the practicing martial artist can incorporate into his or her regimen, Shawn starts out with the historical background of the Front Kick and then introduces the reader to the physical and physiological body movements and mechanics associated with the kick.

Providing tips on conditioning and training, Shawn demonstrates foot movement by foot movement the Front Kick's basic principles and then introduces the primary Back Leg Front Kick to his audience and follows with eleven variations; (some of which I have never even heard of!).

Shawn demonstrates the principles of each kick with clear photographs that leave nothing to the imagination. Fortifying the text with chapters on "Warm Up and Stretching," "Training and Practice Methods," "Trouble Shooting Guide," and "Kicking Applications," to name a few, Shawn provides the reader with more than a full understanding of what could and mistakenly be known as a "simple kick."

Totally complete at 224 pages, and chocked with all sorts of valuable information from the "nuts and bolts" of technique description and demonstration to body dynamics, this is without a doubt the "gold standard" by which any examplar of martial arts kicking should be judged by.

This book can stand alone or be incorporated within the series. I rate it at five stars without hesitation or reservation. Well done!

Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 6 Front Kick is a comprehensive study of one of the important kicks used in modern martial arts today. The book is incredibly thorough with numerous photos demonstrating the every aspect of the kick in minute detail. Mr. Kovacich knows his stuff and it is obvious that he has spent many hours honing his technique. The book provides an in-depth study of the bones, muscles and mechanics involved in the kicking technique.

In addition, the book contains a wealth of supplemental information on strength, speed and power generating exercises to enhance the technique. There is also a section on stretching as well as the application of the technique.

This book is ideal for any martial artist who wishes to perfect their front kicking ability. The beginner will find a wealth of information to assist in developing proper mechanics while the advanced practitioner will glean some vital knowledge from an accomplished teacher.

Be sure to check out the other books in this series. You are sure to find one that addresses the specific kick that you need work on.

Aaron Hoopes
author of Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation

I just finished reading Shawn Kovacich's book Front Kick. I found it to be very complete and detailed, as were the other two books that I have read in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series. I will not go into the front and back matter as I have already covered this material in my other reviews. Much of it repeats as things such as stretching, strength training, speed training, and the like apply to each of the different kicks equally. These specific parts of your training are covered in detail and are a very useful part of this book.

I found that I especially liked the "notes" which are found throughout the book. Shawn's notes are filled with useful and interesting information. Both the kicking applications and the trouble shooting guide were also excellent. I find it refreshing for a martial arts author to be willing to show photos of himself making mistakes in order to point out what you should not do, instead of just showing you how your kick should look. I personally find this teaching technique very helpful.

Obviously Shawn Kovacich knows what he is talking about when it comes to the art of kicking. I highly recommend this book to any martial artist, beginner or experienced, who is interested in improving his or her kicking skills. This book is technically complete and well written, and is a great addition to any martial arts library. My copy is now highlighted, pointing out tips and information that I want to go back and quickly reference. If you are looking for a great book to improve your front kick, this is it!

Dr. Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

If you desire to take your kicking to the next level, Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series is the most detailed set of written work on kicking available. "Front Kick," the sixth volume in this series takes an in-depth look at the front kick and ten of its variations. Just as the other books in this series, it is an outstanding reference on this particular kick and contains an enormous wealth of information on the application of this primary kick that is found in many martial arts and fighting styles.

In order for this book to stand on its own, Kovachich includes chapters on basic anatomy, warm up and stretching, strength, speed, and power that are similar to the other books in the series. If you have those, there is not much difference in those chapters in this book. However, for each book to stand on its own, I understand why Kovachich included these topics in each volume and am glad he did so. Additionally, these chapters on these topics are no where near complete. I have entire books that address this topics, as do most martial artists and self-defense practitioners. But what these chapters do is give you a small amount of practical advice that is relevant to Kovacich's kicking instruction, and hopefully encourage the reader to study more on these topics through different resources, because they are important areas to study and practice.

The chapters on the front kick and its variations is where this book shines. Nowhere else will you find such detail, illustrate by numerous pictures, showing you how to correctly execute the front kick. This kicks Kovacich teaches and illustrates in this volume include: Back Leg Front Kick, Step-Back Front Kick, Switch Front Kick, Cross-Over Front Kick, Hop/Slide Forward Front Kick, Hop/Slide Backward Front Kick, Front Leg Front Kick, Back-Spin Front Kick, Spin-Back Front Kick, Off-Setting Front Kick, Double Jump Front Kick, and the Cross-Over Front Kick (with the left leg).

How many martial art books have you read where they show a handful of pictures and a paragraph or two of text to describe the front kick? It seems that most books only contain such descriptions. In "Front Kick," Kovacich devotes pages 37 through 65 to the basic execution of the back leg front kick. This includes 18 full page photographs illustrating the kick and one page of review photographs as the end of the chapter. The text includes description of fighting stance, raising the knee, coil, midway to impact, impact, recoil, lowering the knee, and returning to fighting position. Also interspersed among the written text are diagrams of foot placement to ensure you step and pivot correctly. I have never seen as much written on the front kick.

The chapters on the kick variations contain smaller photographs and are a bit redundant regarding the parts of the kicks that are the same, but I am glad for that when I grab the book to only review one particular kick. I would not want to be referred to a different chapter to see the similar aspects. And that brings me to a point about using this book. It is not a book to read through cover to cover like a novel. In fact, to do so would be a bit dry. I recommend reading through the entire book quickly to see what is there. Then go back and study the chapters on the primary kick to get it down and then each of the variations as you are practicing them. Also be sure to take note of the "notes." Kovacich provides a lot of useful tips in these little notes.

As with the other books in this series, there is a short trouble shooting guide and a short chapter on front kick applications, but the real gold here is the detailed description on the front kick's execution. This is an excellent addition to any martial artist's library and a book that should be studied if you want to take your kicking to a higher level, a level of kicking excellence.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

This book was awesome, I could not put it down. You can really tell that he wrote it. It makes you understand what goes on in his head.

Jason McElwain's autobiography is well written and informative.
It describes the essential details of his life. The book presents
interviews with the most important people who have interacted with
Jason. It is highly recommended reading.
Jason's coping with his autism is relieved by his pleasure of
playing basketball. Jason in one basketball game colossally surmounts
being autistic by being artistic with his incredible three point shooting
accuracy. He sinks a total of twenty points with six three point shots and a two point field goal( where he mistakenly was standing on the three point line ) within the last three minutes and nine seconds of
his team's game. This performance was so incredibly phenomenal Jason's
life story is currently being developed into a national movie release.
One facet of Jason ( "J-Mac's" ) personal basketball practice
( "shootarounds" ) was never revealed in his autobiography that might
potentially be interesting to the public is his personal "best" basketball
shooting statistics and records. What percentage of three point shots
and free throws did Jason sink in practice? What were the most consecutive
three point shots or most consecutive free throws Jason ever sank in practice? What was the longest practice session shot Jason ever sank? Did Jason ever sink or perfect any practice "trick shots" or any other trick basketball handling or dribbling skills such as spinning the basketball upon his finger? I am an internationally famous basketball trick shooter and inspirational and motivational speaker named JIM "TRICK SHOT" LISTER.
I sink many of the most unusual and most difficult basketball trick
shots in basketball history with an astonishingly high degree of accuracy
despite shooting the basketball with a crippled right shooting hand.
My own personal basketball triumph over adversity is considered
by some basketball experts to be one of the greatest true basketball stories of all time.
I personally rate Jason McElwain's heart-wrenchingly and tear-jerkingly basketball triumph-over-an-obstacle accomplishment as the
single greatest true basketball story of all time!!!

RECEIVED THIS BOOK VERY QUICKLY. GREAT CONDITION. REAL BARGAIN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SELLER!

After seeing the tail end of Jason's recent appearance on "Larry King Live", I immediately went on line to buy "The Game of My Life". Jason's compelling story kept me up past 2:00 a.m. last night because I couldn't get enough of his unique ponderings on the importance of "focus" and his astonishing feat [20 points in just over 4 minutes of playing time!] on the basketball court.

Many parts of his narrative made me smile while others moved me to tears. I was even reminded of the brilliant screenplay penned by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for their 1997 breakout film, "Good Will Hunting".

I can't wait to see the movie based on Jason "J-Mac" McElwain's life and to see who plays the lead role. If I were directing, I would cast J-Mac to star as himself!

Many people probably remember hearing about Jason McElwain on the news back in 2006. He scored a record six three-point shots for his high school basketball team. That might not have been outstanding for a superior high school player, but Jason was the team manager, not a first string player. And, in addition to that, he was a young man diagnosed as autistic.

In THE GAME OF MY LIFE, Jason McElwain tells his story. He shares what he recalls from family stories about his early childhood years, unable to communicate or even tolerate his mother's loving touch. Extensive medical testing resulted in a diagnosis of severe autism. With the help of dedicated parents, Jason was able to learn coping skills and manage many of his autistic outbursts. Sports provided a focus point and an outlet for his energy, and ultimately earned Jason his moments of fame.

Jason's unique voice can be clearly heard as he tells his memories of early treatments thought to reduce the symptoms of autism. He explains the frustration of moving from one school to the next as school administrators searched for the best programs to help him. As Jason became interested and involved in a variety of sports, he found not only friends, but also a way to achieve success. Always in touch with reality, Jason knew his skills were adequate but not exceptional, and his success came as a chance to just be part of a team. But with the care and concern of his coach and teammates, his part on the team gave him the chance of his life and memories that have changed him forever.

THE GAME OF MY LIFE is an inspiring story about living with an increasingly common condition. It is an excellent book for teens suffering with autism or connected to someone with the condition. Jason's positive, up-beat personality is refreshing, as well as direct and realistic.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE NEW YORK JETS, HOW FAILURE AFTER FAILURE HAS FILLED THEIR HISTORY. THIS STORY DESCRIBES IN GREAT DETAIL THE FEW SUCESSFUL SEASONS AND THE MANY DISAPPOINTING AND TOTALLY PAIN FILLED ONES. THE AUTHOR DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING AND INTERVIEWING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DURING THESE DISASTEROUS TIMES. FROM WEEB AND JOE TO THE COMING OF THE TUNA, THIS BOOK HELD MY INTEREST AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL FOOTBALL FANS, I FEEL THE JETS PAIN.

This is a well-written history of the New York Jets. It covers the one great accomplishment (Super Bowl III) and the many failures and disappointments. As a fan you love the team and always get your hopes even though you know they will dash them in the end. This book covers those emotions well.

Well written, exciting and very difficult to relive all the abysmal moments in Jets history. END

Gerry gave a very honest account of the New York Jets.

You'll enjoy the stories of the early years. Recounting the selling of season tickets from the apartment of one of the original owners, Walt Michaels finding a "good practice field" while flying home from a game (it was located on the grounds of a NYC prison), the press' examination of Joe Namath's knee in the restroom of a local restaurant and many others.

Those who were at that dreadful Miami comeback at the Meadowlands in 1994 will relive that sick feeling in the pit of their stomachs.

Parcells has come and gone and we still don't have another appearance in the Super Bowl. This book might expain why.

But we return each season with high hopes of reaching the big game. Reading Mr. Eskenazi's book will remind all of us of the pain we go through to have some fun on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the Meadowlands (NJ).

Along came Bill Parcells and New York thought its troubles were over. Last year we were a half hour from the Superbowl and now we're in the cellar again. If you find yourself scratching your head and asking why. This book has the answers--the history of the Gang Green struggle and where we went wrong.

This is just a collection of Garfield comics you can get off the Garfield website. There isn't even any of the new stuff with Luz and John ending up together.

A great book if you like Garfield. I like the cat and the dog too. I didn't like how the man put the collar on the dog, it was cruel of him.

I have been a long time Garfield fan. While sometimes the strip seems to fall a little short, by and large it stays consistently funny. What I especially have liked about Garfield in recent years is that Jim Davis seems to have really cultivated his taste for the bizarre, so recent Garfield strips have often had a Far Sidian quality to them. This can especially be seen in the recent books, including this one.

I think this is a good book if you like garfield. I like when the dog and garfield dance. I didn't like when the men put the shock collar on the dog,that was mean of them.

While i don't have this book it still souds delightful!!!! After many years Garfield still puts a smile on your face! In this book it celebrates that as Garfield get older he still probaly the same and with his good and funny attitude. so enjoy as many others will enjoy i too!

I wish I had this book when I was a young athlete. The author writes clearly and well. She communicates about typical subject manner. But the book's inspiration derives from her tough wisdom and passionate vision for girls in sports and in life. This book could inspire anyone to make more out of their life.

Everyone can benefit from this, but young girls to young ladies will be stronger for reading it. It teaches more than my writing has the power to explain. I bought it for my daughter...thought I'd read a chapter to check it out first and ended up reading it through. It gives great insight to what it takes to be better than readers may have dared to dream...to push past the insecurities.

if you are a female athlete or you work with female athletes this is a great book for you. it is a quick, easy read, full of personal stories and examples. very motivating, excellent book!

This is a wonderful book for girls of all ages, but especially for pre-teen and teenage girls. I loved it! I would recommend it for anyone who has daughters!

Let me just start by saying that I've had this book for 2 years and could never get my daughter and husband to read it. So, on our way to yet another tourney, I had 5 hours to read it out loud to them. They loved it! My husband is a coach for our local girls softball team, and we had just won the district championship and were going to "state" a couple of weeks later, and my husband liked the book so much that he used it as his "bible" during the practices leading up to the tourney, and also at the tourney. This was our 3rd trip to "state", never having won the championship. But this year we won, due partly to this little book. It's written in conversational form, and is a very easy read, yet it packs a punch. These ideas are great, and implementing them into a "team" picture was easy. They were great team-builders also. Our team was so close during this tourney, and this helped their play. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone that plays or coaches anything. (Also, this book is not just about sports...the big picture is about girls in general, and how they can achieve their goals by implementing these ideas into their everday lives.) Get this for the girl or coach in your life!

I ENJOYED THE BOOK IMMENSELY.IT IS GREAT STORY OF A BOY GROWING UP AND HAVING ONLY GOLF AS THE ONLY POSITIVE THING IN HIS LIFE.
IT IS S STORY ABOUT GOLF, BUT ALSO ABOUT GROWING UP WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS LOVE.

Absolutely captivating story...loved the story of Bobby and Boy Lee. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the game. Share it with your friends.

The second book by the author I have read... sheds new light on Hogan and the game of Golf that we love... can hardly wait for his next book on Bobby Jones

This is the second book that I read from Bob Thomas. I enjoyed it very much. I found that I could not put it down. I enjoyed reading about golf in the 1950's; and how golf saved this boy's life. I also enjoyed the character Boylee, the elder caddie. I like Bob's writing. I look forward to his future novels.

Not understanding very much about golf I enjoyed the humane side
of "Golf Gave Me Something To Love".
It was interesting to read about how the experiences as caddies
when children shaped their futures and ideas as adults.
I also enjoyed the mischief they got into as children.

Reviewed by Conner (age 4) and Mom for Reader Views (04/08)

A boy remembers his visits to his Grandma with his other cousins when he was a "little bitty boy just off the floor." The best thing about the trip was her great big feather bed that he would have traded his whole family for.

"I love it all."
"Conner, do you think it was a fun bed?"
"It's a silly bed. I see piggies right there jumping up with the other dogs.
"Do you think you'd be able to sleep with 8 kids, pigs and 4 dogs in the same bed?"
"No."
"Would you like a feather bed?"
"No."
"Would you trade your family for a feather bed?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't like feather beds and I don't have geese to build a feather bed."

Parent's Comment:

"Grandma's Feather Bed" is a fun tale with silly illustrations for every line of the lyrics. But I don't think that song lyrics make the best storybooks because of the repetition of the refrain makes story telling disjointed. I did appreciate the background annotation at the end with the sheet music for the song to give it more of a history, though my son didn't think that part was as interesting.

This is the 4th time I have purchased this same book for family members & myself. It is such an amazingly illustrated book. The song was written by an inspirational man who has captured the hearts of numerous generations of families. My husband & I, our daughter (who as a child got to sit on the stage with John & sing Grandma's Feather Bed with a few other children at one of his concerts),& now our grandchildren all truly enjoy John's heartwarming songs. His ability to reach feelings that remind us of how truly blessed we were to have his multitude of amazing songs & his one of a kind voice. Keep these books coming to us we need them to remind us of what we are missing with his passing. He would be so proud of the job that Christopher Canyon & Dawn Publishing did to bring his song to life.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

I bought this because I've enjoyed John Denver since before I could read. This book was one of my nephew's favorites (the boy just turned 2 YO in early 2008). He would sit on my lap and look at the pictures for quite some time.
There is a lot to see in the pictures, there is a lot of fun in being able to read-sing the words to little ones. It's fun to play "i-spy" type games with the pictures.
Children love the rhyme, the repetition, the singing (should you choose to use the CD or sing it yourself), and the active pictures.

I bought this book thinking it was a read along book. It is just the song on the CD which is hard to follow for a 5 year old reading along. He does love the song and the book is beautiful and fun to look at. He had a fit of the giggles when we tried to turn the pages to keep up with the song, there is just too much to look at on each page to go so fast. We appreciate them seperately.