Miniatures Books

In the anals of music, the Requiem mass is by far the most beautiful of all vocal/orchestral pieces. Verdi's Requiem is no exception.
A unique element of this Requiem is it's theatrics; his use of varying volumes in rapid succession and a grandiloquent choral score can startle the unprepared music lover. Indeed, Verdi's Requiem is almost a dramatic opera rather than a plea to God for the soul of the dead.

This score of Verdi's greatest work is basically the full score and nothing else. The score begins with the instrumentation, a translation of the German terms, and then the music. The notes are easily visible and the score is arranged perfectly. If you're looking for some serious in depth commentary and analysis of the Requiem you might want to turn elsewhere. But for theory students, interested musicians, or just casual listeners who want to see how Verdi did it, this is the copy for you. An excellent buy especially at this incredible price.

All in all it is a very good, easy to read score. It could be excellent if: 1. The publisher included the rehearsal numbers that are found in the parts.

2. The few errors were repaired. These errors are as follows: In number 1, measure 71, vocal parts should be double dotted. Vocal parts in mm 73 and 74 should be dotted. This error reoccures in other similar passages. In number 4 m135 there should be a fermata.

Otherwise this is a great score.

The editorial comments made by Kurt Soldan are helpful. They are found in German and English. These, I understand, are from the original Peters score.

Dr. RW

First of all, chances are you've heard Verdi's requiem before ordering this *pocket* score. I emphasize pocket because it doesn't seem to mention it clearly on the page. Well, okay, it's not that small, but just don't expect a full size score to show up at your house. The score itself is VERY well notated and arranged. There's some extra room in the margins for notes, etc. At the beginning of the score, it gives you the full text of the requiem, so you don't have to pick it out from the music. It also gives and notates what's needed in an orchestra in order to play it. Although I would have liked some commentary on the requiem itself, for this EXCELLENT price I'm not complaining.

As for the requiem itself, it is BY FAR my favorite. It is surely never to be played at a funeral, but it's a heck of a ride. From the grand, raging Dies Irae to the gorgeous Lacrymosa, to the Libera Me rondo in the last movement, this requiem is great. The score is great to examine and read along with the music because you can see where the composer made his own judgement and added things in, and what was original.

If you like the requiem, you'll love it when you're reading the score along with it.

This is a continuation in the D&D Miniatures line and maintains the quality of prior releases while adding a few gems.

In terms of monster/figure variety and quality of minis. The paint jobs keep getting better and showing more detail. This set in particular has a good number of large figures, including the cool mounted paladin. For Dnd gamers, there are many interesting monsters and villains in this set. For fans of the skirmish game, there are also figures you'll want to add to your next warband.

Since WoTC launched these pre-painted booster packs, I have bene absolutely addicted to them. don't play the miniature game, but I do use the minatures for regular pen and paper gaming. Like the other sets, the stat cards include the minature game stats on one side, and the official d20 stats for 3.5 on the other side. If you see minis as a hobby and enjoy putting them together and painting them, these aren't for you. The quality doesn't compare to a well painted metal mini. But if you are artistically handicapped like me and just like having tons of minis ready to torture players with, these are a must.

D&D Minis have three basic purposes: as pure collectibles; as pieces for the miniatures game; and as figures for D&D role playing combat. In the first category, this set is a knockout. It features some of the best sculpting to date, and the painting has definitely gotten better. As pieces for the D&D Miniatures game, I've heard both good and bad about this set. It will probably be months before all of the strategies shake out and we know for sure, but certainly this expansion adds some very useful minis (including an uncommon commander that's quite handy).

But, I'm a D&D role player, DM, and long time fan of using minis in role playing. How does Angelfire stack up? Superb! It's rare that minis give me ideas for my games, but this set has done so many times over. I'm in love with the flaming skeletons, and simply must find a niche for them in my game. The PC races are well represented and some of the new takes on standard NPC / monster races will play nicely into my Greyhawk game. If you use minis for role playing, drop the metal paints and rush down to the hobby store for a few boxes each of the basic set and Angelfire. You won't be disappointed.

This book surprised me because it's not a standard book size. Its a 2 inch cube. There's one word for each page along with an illustration on the opposite page. I love it because it's very basic. My six month seems to love it as well. It's simple and easy for her to follow.

This book was given to my daughter on her 1st birthday. She wore it out!!! I am buying a new one for her 2nd birthday. It is perfect for little hands and for storing in a diaper bag.

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If you are starting to see SPOTS ( books) everywhere, "Favourite Words" is a good starting point for any collection.

Eric Hill has found a very successful formula with Spot. This little "block" book with its compact size is a perfect way to turn the small hands of young readers into confident little page-turners.

These books are hardly sophisticated but their simplicity is very effective. Definitely a good way to get the young ones connecting words and images.

This book is at the opposite end to "Spot's Noisy Farm" with its synthesised farm noises. However both books should inspire children to develop a love of words, story telling and eventually become capable readers.

The pictures in this book are great for my daughter's age (16 months), and she enjoys flipping thru it. However, the book is a "block" book - meaning it is eleven small square hardcover pages bound together. So within two weeks, we ended up with "flash cards" instead of a book!

This is a good beginners book with information about all phases of the art and some of the science. It is accessable to anyone. I would recommend it to serious beginners.

This book provides excellent background and general information for someone starting out in bonsai. The photos are excellent and a wide variety of types are shown. However, I was expecting more of a guide on how to actually start growing a bonsai. There are a lot of references to finding "a local club" which would of course be helpful, but if you're just starting out (like me) and don't have a nearby bonsai club, you'll probably want additional books to guide you through getting started.

What is vastly different about this book and most other Bonsai books is one simple premise. It is this. When you start Bonsai you are afraid that growing such a plant will take many years. Most folk can be put off by the fact that they believe they will need 30 years to produce a Bonsai that looks old. Craig Coussins new book explodes that myth.

In his first book, Bonsai for Beginners, Craig Coussins covered a vast range of subjects up to intermediate but in Totally Bonsai, the title used in North America, ('Growing Bonsai' elsewhere)he uses Bonsai throughout the book that are rarely over five years old. But what Bonsai. Some of these trees are wonderful and extremely beautiful. Gone are the seedlings in a plastic pot, Craig Coussins really shows you what you are capable of. This shows the newcomer exactly how much they can achieve in a short period of time. Many of the trees are also shown in winter so that you can really see the branch structure and shape under the leaves. Most of the trees are easily available as shrubs or garden centre material which makes life a lot simpler for the complete novice.

The unique section written by his friend Salvatore Liporace and his student Luigi Maggione, highly respected Bonsai Masters from Italy, also shows how you can, within Craig's five year period, take basic raw material and turn it into a masterpiece when you have understood the basics and focussed on the techniques.

This well liked Bonsai International Teacher has kept to his remit in writing a book that is truly for the beginner and it is recommended as a very good read. A great present for a friend just starting out.

One interesting thing is also his sensitive dedication to his mentor, John Yoshio Naka, the respected American Bonsai Master and one of the top five Bonsai Masters in the world.

"What else would I need than this book when learning about Bonsai? I recommend it fully and suggest that it should be on everyone's bookshelf, or at least in his or her hands"

When you start growing Bonsai, it is hard to work your way through all the titles available. I first bought a book called Bonsai for Beginners by the same author and while this was a very nice book, it was not only geared to beginners but also to more advanced growers. This new book is a revelation. Beautifully laid out, the practical guide to Growing Bonsai is the first book I have read that truly spells it out. It is lavishly illustrated and very well written that it is more than a reference book. It has become a `read'.
The Practical Guide is just that. It covers all the basic information that you, as a Bonsai Grower in the early stages of this wonderful hobby, need to learn to understand what is to be done. A real beginners book but written by someone who understands what a real teacher needs to speak about when speaking to a newcomer. Craig Coussins writes in a very one to one style and I really felt that he was with me every step of 'his' way. This is a great book!
Clear instructions filled with some gorgeous photographs looks at all the techniques that I need to know. Charts explain the right times of the year to do the work and completed by a species list of all the most popular Bonsai that beginners should try.
Therefore, what else would I need than this book when learning about Bonsai? I recommend it fully and suggest that it should be on everyone's bookshelf, or at least in his or her hands.

This is definitely not what I expected. There is no in depth review of each country. I wish I had seen this book before I bought it, because I would've steered clear. Out of 48 pgs, only 14 pgs are dedicated to a 2-page display of each continent. You find out nothing about the actual countries and capitals besides little pictures on the "maps." Most of the book is filler pages on basic background info such as getting around (by gondola in Venice, rickshaw in China, snowmobiles in snowy places, etc.)

Really cute book. And boy, do American kids ever need to boost their geography skills! This book goes into the concepts of cultures and other world concepts, not just maps...a great start. My 3-year-old nephew learned to point out "Africa" as easily as he could find his favorite television characters!

This is a fantastic book for young ones with amazing illustrations. Our 4 year old daughter loves all the little details and pictures about each place in the world. Beautiful, bold colors with a lot of info on animals and people from all around the globe. We highly recommend this as an introduction to geography and culture of the world.

Kids need to learn more geography! A great book

In an effort to make comparisons easier, I'm consolidating three reviews for three different editions of Snow White. First, the recap: The Queen is a very vain woman, not happy to see her step-daughter's beauty eclipse her own, so when her mirror finally confirms the dreaded reality, she sends the huntsman into the woods with Snow White with orders to kill her. The huntsman can't bring himself to do it, so he warns her and tells her to run, which she does. Finding a small house, with the help of forest animals who have befriended her, Snow White cleans it up in hopes of being invited to stay. The owners of the house, seven dwarfs, find her there when they return from work and decide that she should stay - and that she should be very careful from now on. When an old woman comes to the cottage, offering Snow White an apple, she fails to see the harm until it's too late. Certain that she's dead, the dwarfs give her a coffin of glass and gold and she lies there until her prince comes and wakes her with a kiss.

ISBN 0307010368 - 5 stars - Having read a number of collaborations between Disney and Golden Books recently, I'm so happy to find them back on track with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The illustrations are standard Disney, the story is complete and well told. Unlike recent reads from Disney/Golden Books, Snow White hits every important note of the original without seeming hurried. For those parents who stress about these things, there's no violence and the single presumed death is vague, to say the least. Well worth picking up for your little reader.

ISBN 1845770773 - 4 stars - This edition, from the Early Readers Treasured Tales series would probably merit a 3 star review, if not for the "points to help you teach your child to read" in the front. It's such a nice addition to this average re-telling, edited by Claire Black, that it deserves a star all its own. This edition begins a little earlier than the Disney one, with Snow White's pregnant, happy mother and how she chooses Snow White's name. There are questions at the bottom of several pages ("Why was the princess called Snow White?" for example). They are unobtrusive, so they don't interfere if you just choose to read the book, but are useful for comprehension - one "point" to help a child learn to read. Some versions leave out the Queen's order to the huntsman that he must bring back Snow White's heart in a box - this one does not omit that detail, but it does leave out the Queen's death. If the heart in a box thing is something you think your child will have issues with, this isn't your edition. The illustrations here, by Eric Kincaid, are very well done and more true to the Grimms Brothers version than the Disney one.

ISBN 0785310320 - 3 stars - This edition, A Little Rainbow Book, is all right but nothing special. The look of the book is clearly an attempt to look like the Little Golden Books. The cover illustration, by Kenny Yamada, is the best of the lot. The inside illustrations, by Gary Torrisi are just about average, lacking in detail and a bit boring. The adaptation by Dorothea Goldenberg is fair. The text flows well and the words are simple, a plus for young readers. Several small differences in the story made it boring for me but might appeal to others. Snow White is simply banished to the forest - there's no huntsman and no threat of death at that point. Rather than jump straight to the poison apple, the Queen tries a poisoned comb first, which is a little closer to the original tale. However, it is very strange that, after that attempt, no special warnings to be careful follow. The gold and/or glass coffin is left out here, and the dwarfs place Snow White on a bed of rose petals and moss. The Queen is not killed. Those things add up to a far less violent/scary tale but, again, they make the story boring to me.

- AnnaLovesBooks

This book will delight children. There is a great deal of bright, contrasting colors and the pop-ups have a great deal of detail. The tabs also allow the reader to generate a little bit of animation, further adding to the level of interest. Of course, the story is a timeless one of despair, aid and assistance, battles between good and evil, more despair and then triumph, as Snow White, the prince and the Seven Dwarfs all live happily ever after. A perfect story for children as they begin their journey to understand what life is all about.

This is a faithful recapitulation of the Disney animated movie of the same name, featuring colorful scenes from the film. As a rehash of the movie, it is okay, but the picture book format highlights the dated qualities of the film. Characters are often shown in Victorian dramatic poses, mouth agape, which diminishes, rather than enlivens the text. Also, I miss the comical scene of Snow White, who, due to her relative height, must stretch out across several of the dwarfs` beds lined up next to each other, in order to take a nap. There are other, better versions of this fairy tale for small children, so don`t go out of your way for this one.

This book captures all of the magic of Walt Disney's Snow White and transfers it to the pop-ups and pull tabs that children as young as two can joyfully discover for themselves. As a mother of a two year old who loves nothing more than parking himself in front of Walt Disney's treasury of videos, this book provides a welcome change from the glassy eyed gaze of a video transfixed toddler, to an eager, hands-on explorer of one of Disney's best loved films. Kids will love how the images come alive as they work their way through the book. It is very interactive and it provides hours of entertainment. This is a must buy for any young fan of Disney and any parent who would like to vary their children's intake of pop culture. A great stocking stuffer or Hanukkah gift for a young person. If you are looking for something different, give this book a try and prepare to be very pleased with your purchase

I'm a sucker for anything miniature. So even though I've never put a whole lot of stock in astrology, I couldn't resist picking up one of these little 2 x 2 1/4 inch books just for kicks. It's incredibly cute, and beautifully illustrated. It begins with a brief introduction to the history of astrology, followed by descriptions of Aries' personality, associated symbols, physical and mental features, home and family life, career tendencies, and common liesure activities. The second half of the book is devoted to love life, and provides an analysis of Aries' compatibility with each other sign (and with other Arians). However, at least 75% of what the book said was wildly innaccurate in regards to myself, and the rest was so vaguely worded that it could be applied to just about anyone. But it's inexpensive, and it's tiny, and it's cute, so it still makes a nice, light-hearted gift for yourself or a friend.

This pint-sized book about the Aries birth sign exceptionally covers in a concise, informative and very pleasurable to read style, all the basic information any astrology follower would enjoy having around in a single, beautifully illustrated, compact volume, more than suited to be carried around everywhere.
In merely eighty pages, it offers a fascinating look at many of the qualities and traits of the Aries personality as studied by astrology and their relationship to almost every aspect of daily life, including:
*The Sign of the Ram
*Character and Personality
*Signs and Symbols
*Health and Fitness
*Home and Family
*Careers and Goals
*Pastimes and Play
*Love among the Signs
As a bonus, it also contains a brief introduction to the history of Astrology.
This is a fun read for everyone.
--Reviewed by Maritza Volmar

Although this book is miniature it is packed with information about your sun-sign. The feature of this book I enjoyed most was that it paired your sign with each of the other eleven signs (including itself; Aries and Aries). For example Aries and Leo. It then described the chances of a relationship between the two. Another feature I enjoyed was the different chapters about Aries. Such as your talents and careers, body and mind, and Aries at a glance. I know that you will enjoy this small book as much as I have.

This is a wonderful book with a lot of directions and advise for beginner quilters. I am very happy to find something like this

For some years now, I've been waiting for new books by Berg, Von Holt and Johnson. The three authors wrote two excellent books for quilters:
"Little Quilts" and "Celebrate with little quilts". These were inspiring
books for quilters who want to sew quilts from traditional American block
patterns.
Recently I found what I've been waiting for: the "Big Book of Small Quilts". This book by Mary Hickey continues in the style of the "Little quilt books". The instructions are easy to follow; the patterns are traditional block patterns; and the size of the quilts are small, so the results may be enjoyed in a short while.
I am very happy to recommend this book!

This is a great book with a lot of variety and easy to follow directions. It is the first time I tried paper piecing, and I am hooked. I am a tough grader and I give it a four star. Looking forward to her next book. Only a few patterns are paper pieced. From sailboats & lighthouses to blue jays and cardinals to stars & log cabins there is something for everyone. My first quilt looked like it took me a long time when it went very fast.

Pretty good book. It has lots of pictures and ideas in it for your own doll house. I wish that I had seen the table of contents before I bought it. It didn't have much victorian stuff in it.

THis book is the best I have ever seen .The subject is meant for more than a childs plaything and obviously a great hobby.. My younest grandaughter wants poppy to make all of the houses in the book.. well that is interesting and the details in the book make for dreams..
The photographs and explanations are excellent and anybody that is interested in a sedate hobby should include this as a reference book...

This is a wonderful book with many great ideas for making dollhouses. It explains each type of house from the most prominent eras. Tudor, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, and onward just to name a few. It is clearly set up and a joy to read. There are many great color pictures to go along with the text.

I will buy this book soon as a private tribute to a dear friend of mine, Jeff Gray, who is one of the models in the book. I remember him showing me the photos which Robert Mapplethorpe had taken of him. At the time, he doubted that they would ever be published. I did see the book later, but didn't purchase, but I was impressed.

When Jeff was lying in bed in a hospital in San Francisco, I called to inform him that the book had indeed been published. He was thrilled to know that he had been immortalized, for he was dying of AIDS. Jeff never saw the book and didn't have anything negative to say about Robert, whom I never met. I still own a pair of leather pants and a vest Jeffrey designed and made for me.

Mapplethorpe, with his great photographic potenial produced a riviting book that dignifies the male, black body to the next zenith. He was able to capture the very essence of what it is to be a male and to be viewed as "God's" art or creation and not a male "pig." This book demonstrates the power of the camera when the beholder knows what he/she is doing. The images in this book do not apal me, afend me nor do they disgust me. I enjoyed reading and flipping through this book as a ligitimate art reviewer and as a academic scholar.

Published in 1986, Robert Mapplethorpe's BLACK BOOK remains one of my favorite books of photography. Nothing had been published like it previously; nothing comparable has been published since. The book is devoted entirely to shots of black men, some of them naked, some of them not. There are portraits included here as well-- one of my favorites is the stunning portrait of Roedel Middleton on page 70. Some of the images are outrageously beautiful. Many of the models' bodies take on the quality of polished ebony. The four nude photographs of someone named Ajitto in a classical pose-- as are many of the images-- at the beginning of the book are as beautiful as any you will ever see.

It is common knowledge of course now that some of these photographs have been declared obscene (by the likes of Jesse Helms et al.) and racist by some African Americans.(Some of the black men making these allegations, to paraphrase the black poet Don Lee, talk black but sleep white.) According to a less-than-scientific survey by this Caucasian male, there are about 94 photographs included here, only six of them are of body parts-- and I'm not talking here of feet and hands or even behinds here-- 27 are of male nudes with their genitalia exposed, and only in five of them is the model unnamed. Mapplethorpe may well have been a racist, but I fear his critics may have to look elsewhere for proof. An observation or two: his models appear to be willing subjects as no one is tied up or seems to be shot unawares. Secondly, the nature of the male animal of all colors being what it is, there's a good possibility that people having little to offer may have been unwilling to make the sacrifice of giving the viewer the full monty. The artist obviously loved black men and had many black friends as well as lovers. Finally the poet Ntozake Shange has written a beautiful poem as an introduction to this book. Apparently she had no problem with Mapplethorpe's creative vision.

Many of these photographs will last.