People Books

This book provides a rare glimpse into the thoughts of real Peoples Temple members and the words of Jim Jones himself. People tend to forget that these were real people who saw Peoples Temple as an organization that was trying to fix the way racism was controlling America. The documents in this collection are well chosen and well presented and the photos add even more interest to this invaluable source. If you are interested in learning more about Peoples Temple, this is a must buy.

What a great collection letters, photos and memories from the life and times of the Peoples Temple.

I found it to be an easy read, the chapters have a nice flow, and it does something different than other PT books I've read. It does not show the PT members as crazied followers of a madman, but as a family. A family that was genuinely trying to create a better world. That is, until things got bad and people from the states wouldn't leave them alone.

I blame the 'concerned relatives' for more than 900 deaths on November 18th, 1978.

After having read Deborah Layton's book about Jim Jones, I thought I wanted a somewhat more objective book so I ordered this one. And it didn't disappoint me. Dear People is a compelling presentation of personal stories, official documents and fascinating photos which really gave me the information I was looking for. No drama or ethos, just the plain facts. I've read many books about the Pol Pot era in Cambodia, and frankly this book fits right in - only in another setting with another crazed leader (both utopian communists, by the way). It baffles me still every day how intelligent and otherwise sane people can fall for crazed lunatics like Jim Jones.

By the way, I think that that very impressive farewell note (the Last Words), which starts off the book, supposedly from an unknown PT member who wrote it during the mass suicide, was prepared way in advance. I simply can't believe anyone can have the clear state of mind to write a letter like that while hundreds of people are dying around you, including more than 200 small children. But if it is true, it just goes to show how utterly brainwashed and inhuman these cult-members had become.

I have read so many books regarding Jonestown/Jim Jones and I will never understand why this tragedy happened. Dear People, Remembering Jonestown brings you so much closer to the people that were in Jonestown on that tragic day. I loved the personaL letters and interviews. I specially like the personal letters from Carolyn Layton and Maria Katsaris, two of Jims closes and very personal assistants. I loved this book! If you are thinking about reading this book I recommend you read first, Seductive Poison and Six Years with God. These two books are two of the most personal stories I have read about those that were the closes to Jim Jones. I highly recommend Dear People, well put together.


A.M.O
Van Nuys, CA

I purchased several books related to Jonestown and the Peoples Temple. This was the first book I read beofre reading the others. This book helped me understand the historical aspects of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. The information provided in this book is from the historical archives located in California. Although this is a "history" based book (not a memoir), it helped prepare me to understand and fully appreciate the other books I read on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. This is a must read for historical facts!

DESERT by Jack Dykinga is published by Harry Abrams, Inc., a company that publishes high quality art books and not, for example, vacation tour guide books. DESERT is 143 pages long, and contains 83 full-sized color reproductions. Dykinga uses a 4X5 camera, resulting in a higher quality image.

Many of the images are merely of flowers or of pretty scenes. Here, there is no attempt to produce a photograph of artistic merit. However, this slight shortcoming is overwhelmed by a number of novel and creative photographs.

For example, JOSHUA TREE AT DAWN AFTER SPRING SNOW discloses a dark cloudy sky, tinged with purple, a shadowy snow-covered desert, and a grove of snow-covered Joshua trees--all cloaked with pre-dawn shadows. It is difficult to tear one's eyes away from this photograph.

DAWN ON THE PANAMINT MOUNTAINS and CRYSTALLIZED SALT FORMATIONS are two photographs that continue with the artist's experiments (successful experiments) with pre-dawn photography of the white desert. Here, the whiteness is not from snow, but from white salt.

Jack Dykinga has also focused his attention on cracked lakebeds (dried mud). CRACKED CLAY AND THE MESQUITE FLAT reveals a fascinating heart shape in a patio-like area of cracked sand. The cracked mud area abuts a region of desert that is soft sand.

Another fine shot, MESQUITE FLAT SAND DUNES AT SUNRISE, features a patio-like area of cracked sand, each pentangle of cracked mud is covered with warty clumps of earth. An open area in the middle of the cracked mud patio contains an open area in the shape of a diamond. At the center of the diamond-shaped open area is a small growing bush. The diamond-shaped area with the little round bush resembles an eye.

RACETRACK AT SUNRISE and RACETRACK AT SUNSET are fascinating images--the most unusual in this book. Each shows millions of tiny pentangles of cracked mud, stretching off into the distance. In the foreground are a couple of flattened areas resembling thick ruler-lines. The flattened areas were produced by small boulders, somehow propelled over the mud by the wind. At one end of each ruler-line one finds a boulder.

Again, if one is able to tolerate the abundance of conventional "pretty" scenes of flowers and sunsets, one should purchase this book, if only to view the seven great photographs discussed in this review.

Mr.Dykinga's skill as an artist is further demonstrated by his book, STONE CANYONS OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU, also published by Harry Abrams, Inc. STONE CANYONS is especially distinguished by its focus on a park called, Vermilion Cliffs (Paria Canyon, The Wave, Coyote Buttes), a park that is rarely the subject of published photographs. STONE CANYONS also uses the style of depicting scenes just before sunset (or just after sunrise), when all but a thin line of the horizon is steeped in shadow. Stand aside, David Muench, here comes Jack Dykinga.

There is a knock at my door and here is the UPS man delivering my order from Amazon.com. Among the books: Desert, The Mojave and Death Valley Photographs by Jack Dykinga, text by Janice Emily Bowers. I barely had time to read more than a page or two of the text before it made me want to go straight to the photos to see the place she was clearly, and intelligently writing about. And I was not disappointed: It was overwhelmed with joy of at being able to share the keeness of Mr. Dykinga's fine and perceptive photographic vision of that place. This is a more subtle body of work than the previous books based around his photographs.

The Sonoran Desert had a similar effect on me years ago and expanded my sense of what ilandscape photography could be. Stone Canyons did not have as great of affect on me as the first book

More than anything else, the images in this book remind me why the large format camera is such a tremendous aid to seeing something more clearly and perceptively than you can with the naked eye. even more so than a 35mm or medium format or easily portable digital gear can. Some of the photos even have a sense of humor to them and when did you last see that in a photograph of a natural landscape? The reproduction of the images appears to be first rate and the design and typography of the book match its contents in quality.

In short there are wonderful things to be found in this book.

This book just shows how spectacular a desert can look with the magnificent photos around the Mojave desert and Death valley of emptiness, stark flowers and blooms and just superb landscapes. It'll give you some inspiration to find something to look for even in a desert.

I know I will as I will be going to Ayer's Rock (Uluru) in Australia in a few months and it's also a big desert!

This book is a beauty, some of the most beautiful photographs I have ever seen.

I spent the first week of September in southern California this year, and on Sunday before Labor Day I drove from Los Angeles up to Death Valley. I hadn't been there since I was a child and I have to say although it is a desolate and lonely place (and 114 degrees at Furnace Creek the day I was there) it is also one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The sand dunes at Mesquite Flat alone are worth the trip.

Everyone should see it, but if you can't buy the book. My copy came shrinkwrapped in plastic which I really like, the last thing you want is to buy a nice book like this in a bookstore where someone has spilled coffee on the pages.

As I went through this book, I kept asking myself, am I looking at the dessert or am I looking at the landscape photographs of Jack Dykinga? I've been to the Mojave and to Death Valley and I don't remember them looking so beautiful.

Dykinga's style reminded me of the work of Eliot Porter, with modern film stock. Most of his pictures have the same subtle quality, created by the use of analogous colors, that is, colors near each other on the color wheel, and varying only by tint or small changes in hue. A Dykinga picture almost always has one dominant hue like brown or tan or blue, and the hue rarely feels intense, even if it's a field of California Poppies.

It's obvious that Dykinga's work utilizes a large format camera. Everything is in sharp focus from foreground to distant mountains, thanks to small apertures and the ability to twist the light through his camera. This means that the picture is not going to immediately draw your attention to one aspect of the scene by controlled focus. More likely, the viewer will have to work his way through the picture, discovering things along the way.

The layout of the book seems to be well considered. Quite often two plates with similar subject matter will face each other and there is a synergistic effect from the comparison. For example, I delighted in examining two facing pictures of desert sunflowers. In both cases the yellow orange flowers have a hilly background, but one group of flowers is pushing up through dried-out, cracked clay, while in the other picture the flowers are growing from a small body of water collected for a brief time from rainfall. The mud and the water are both magenta in color but the textures are completely different. The thoughts that arose from the juxtaposition were not only about the variety of the desert but also about the nature of color and vision.

I suppose one reason that I never saw the dessert the photographer portrays is because most of the pictures were taken at the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. To have been that many places in the desert at just those times would have taken me months and months. At the very least, I can be a philistine and thank Dykinga for saving me a lot of time.

As to the text in the book, my feeling is that it probably has to be included for marketing purposes. Janice Bowers' essays seemed poetic and show that she loves the desert, but like most such commentaries, they do little to illuminate the photographer's work. I suppose the essays are worth reading once. The pictures on the other hand can bear many, many viewings and add something to the sense of the place each time.

I finally concluded that I was looking at the desert through Jack Dykinga's eyes when I viewed this book. I resolved to return to the actual desert again and see if I could continue to see it through his eyes.

Diving: The World's Best SitesI gave this to my husband for a Christmas gift. He loved it. I don't dive but he loves it. He just got certified last year and this book gives him a lot of ideas on where to go for good diving. This book is only useful to someone who dives. Not for a vacation guide.

A really good book with great pictures. A source of inspiration if you're planning a diving trip. Obviously written by someone who really enjoys diving and knows what he's talking about. A lot of practical advice too. A must for divers!

i want to know what site for the best diving. because i just pass the diving license.

This is a good book for divers. It lists all the pertinent info about each site (i.e. water temp, sites to see, best time to visit, etc). I would definitely recommend buying this book. The pictures are awesome!

Read it cover to cover Christmas day-and over and over since

Bill and Sandra McGee have authored a fascinating account of an almost forgotten era of the Old West. The old days of the romantic Nevada dude ranch unfold in a format reminiscent of "The Love Boat". Told through the eyes of real life cowboy, Bill McGee, we see east coast patrons come and go through the gates of the famous Flying M E Guest ranch. The dude guests are mostly women arrived to establish a six (6) week residency before securing a quickie divorce. And while lounging at the Flying M E, who could blame a girl for romancing a handsome cowboy? The wonderful photographs alone make this coffee table book well worth its purchase. Fans of the old west should seriously consider adding this fine book to their collection.

The McGees have pulled together a remarkable historic and pictoral event in Nevada history. Nevada's easy divorce laws attracted the rich and famous to well known Divorce Ranches, complete with horses and swimming pools. Bill McGee was a wrangler at one of the better known "ranches". McGee introduced divorcees to horses and the spectacular Sierra Nevada Mountains. As the daughter of a former owner of one of the nearby smaller divorce sites (we didn't offer horses or a pool), I was impressed with the results of the McGee's research. Many of the photos have not been produced before; they interviewed many of the ranch's former "guests" and provided information not available earlier. This book is truly a collector's item. The Divorce Ranch years brought many new residents from the East who subsequently enriched northern Nevada's cultural community. Before the McGee's this Nevada saga was largely overlooked.

A great and very personal account of the times when everybody who was anybody spent six weeks in Reno to cut the bands that had bound them in their homes,churches, cities and states. Provacative text supported by even more provacative photographs.

Biographer:Adriana and veteran attorney: Tom Williams, San Francisco

View a clip at www.divorceseekers.com -- Click on CHARLIE CHAN IN RENO.

I'm honored to appear in this and another special feature, RENO MEMORIES, both on the newly-released Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 4 (Charlie Chan in Honolulu / Charlie Chan in Reno / Charlie Chan at Treasure Island / City in Darkness) (4DVD). Both special features are peppered with photographs from my book, THE DIVORCE SEEKERS.

The producers were looking for a firsthand account of life in Reno during the 1940s, the heyday of the Reno six week divorce. I was working as a dude wrangler then on the Flying M E, an exclusive divorce ranch outside of Reno that catered to wealthy divorce seekers. As the movie opens, the Mary Whitman character, in a cab on her way to a swank Reno hotel, could have been any number of divorce seekers who came to the Flying M E. She looks the part, believe me. The dialogue for the Cab Driver is pretty authentic, too.

CHARLIE CHAN IN RENO is a fun Reno divorce movie.

If you love history, Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and cowboys, this book is for you. Being from Minnesota and working at Lake Tahoe in the mid-70's and now being a resident of Reno, I found this book to be a lot more than it's title indicates. Yes, the Reno area was known for being the Divorce Capital of the World, but Bill McGee takes the reader into the back mountains of the Sierras, into the world of New York socialites settling in Virginia City and into what must have been a unique place to live and work - the Flying ME Ranch. The Flying ME was located in what I think is one of the most beautiful spots in Northern Nevada today - Franktown. Even before I knew of the dude ranch, this spot between Carson City and Reno is one of beautiful ranches with white picket fences, Ponderosa Pines and mountain views second to none.

Bill and Sandra take the reader back to a time that was unique and one that will probably never exist again. The photography is wonderful and probably tells a story all by itself.

This is definitely a worthwhile read and a great coffee table book!

D. Geraghty
Reno, Nevada

A disturbing work that showcases the skills and emotional depth of this up and coming (or is he already here?) author.

"Dog 'Em" will have its reader turning pages in anticipation of finding out if Mick Hart can solve another baffling crime. This story combines love, suspense and intrigue. Lawrence Christopher has created another metaphor to the phrase "Dog 'Em." This is a fast paced story that will keep your interest with its crisp dialogue and dynamic plot. Anyone looking for an excellent short mystery to read should definitely purchase this book!

I couldn't put this book down! Lawrence Christopher weaves a spellbinding mystery, leaving any reader's mouth gapping. Just when the reader thinks he/she has got it all figured out...BAM! And the reader must start chasing his/her tail all over again.
It ain't over 'til it's over.

A very satisfying read, love, mystery, relationnship issues; all in a fast paced slice of life book, I look forward to more Mick Hart mysteries

Looking for a quick paced mystery to get your mind running as you try to figure out whodunit? Well, Dog 'Em: A Mick Hart Mystery, fits the bill and goes the extra distance to take you into the world of Mick Hart, private investigator! It also throws in a measure of drama and romance to give it an extra twist and provide wider audience appeal.

Mick Hart can't win for losing. When he goes against the rules and bends the rules for a single mom to help her find the father of her child, he loses his job. We then take on a journey through one of Mick's cases in which he's hired to find Amanda Monroe, reported missing by her grandmother, and using his first tactic of checking the city morgues, he comes up empty handed...well, almost empty handed. Instead of finding her, he finds two corpses with similar injuries and then finds Amanda in the hospital in a coma with the same injuries. The plot thickens when he finds out that all the women know each other and are members of the Sisters of Empowering and Learning Book Club.

Their last read was How to Train the Dog in Your Black Men so perhaps that has someone feeling a bit threatened, challenged, and ridiculed by women across the country. Many women are picking it up and trying to put its principles to practice at the risk of becoming the next victim. And the serial killer is on a rampage trying to redeem himself. He's [upset] and tired of being the one dogged.

Christopher has brilliantly penned a novel that is poignant and revealing, just as it is suspenseful and intriguing. I read this book in under two hours and my only disappointment was that it was over. I look forward to the next installment in the Mick Hart series and would highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This book is a great addition to this series. My daughter and I have loved this book and all the others.

The 3rd in a great series, Dragon Cauldron is the further adventures of the exiled dragon princess Shimmer and her 4 companions; the Monkey wizard, Civet the Witch, and human children Thorn and Indigo. I really enjoyed this book, though I dislike the way that Shimmer played favorites with Thorn and Indigo. It's all right to help a friend feel better, but not at the expense of another friend's feelings. I recommend this book to anyone enjoys a good tale of magic and dragons.

Much as I love all types of books, fantasy has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. So, considering that I have read extensively in this field, I have read all the cleshaes to the point where I can almost guess the ending two chapters into most books. This series I'm happy to say, is in a league all it's own. It's completely unlike any series I've ever read before, and I have to say I'm releaved that there actually is a fantasy series where male and female characters treat each other equaly, and female characters can be just as strong as male characters. Anyway, in this book (which is third in this incredible series) Monkey tells the tale as the book picks up basically where the previous one (told by Shimmer) left off, as they continue their quest to try to restore the inland sea. At first I was a little irritated at having Monkey tell this segment of the adventure; I wanted more Shimmer! but I quickly warmed up to him, and to the hillarious irony with which he tells the story. This book was also largely character based, focusing a lot of the interrelations of the characters, as Monkey begins to build a bond with Thorn, a saintly young human boy, who is very jealous of Shimmer's favoritism to newcommer Indigo. (a human girl) This book also has plenty of exciting action and adventure scenes though, and tons of suspense, so fans of action will not be dissapointed either. I would recommend reading the first two prior to this one, since it will make a lot more sense that way. Also, I would recommend these books to anyone from ten years old one up since in my opinion they are quite timeless.

The 3rd book out of a great series thata started with "Dragon of the Lost Sea", and "Dragon Steel". It uses a famous chinese character called monkey,(from "Journey to the West" {an 100-chapter book written during the chinese dynasty. *rare!*)Wise-cracking, witty, and unpredictable monkey tells the story from his point of view. Great fun, a good storybook to cuddle up with. I recommend reading the first book first to understand what is going on.

This was an extremely good book. it was a fantasy, but it had a little human touch to it. For example, two of the main characters, a monkey and a dragon, constantly tease each other. The author is very skilled, making even a monkey seem wise and dignified. The storyline is a bit overwrought, relying wholly on constant action rather than suspense. However, many people enjoy that more. All in all, I would say that it was better than a similiar book, Dragon of the Lost Sea, which happens to be by the same author. The books even have the same characters. Dragon Cauldron, however, used the mystery of magic to the better advantage of the story. This adds more fantasy to the sroryline, but it also makes parts of the book extremely confusing. In all, it was one of the best fantasies I have ever read.

The wonderful illustrations and clever story about a girl's fantastical journey to prove her ability to do a "man's work" has quickly made it to the favorites in our home library. I can imagine the inspiration it may offer a young girl, but having only a son...I share it with him in hopes that he appreciates early on gender equality. He enjoys the art and the musical aspect of the story.

Our family absolutely loves this book.
My daughter Ailia (age 4) enjoys the story, illustrations and wonderful colors in this book.
It is a fairly quick read, but not too short, a great one for bedtime.
and for us glassblowers... it simply warms the heart,
signed,
Edward T. Schmid
author of "Beginning Glassblowing" and "Advanced Glassworking Techniques"-(also available through Amazon.com or at: glassmtn.com)

This book has wonderful drawings and an imaginative story--very much in line with South American magical realism. My son loved it dubbed himself coyote (one of the characters) for two months.

Elena's Serenade is the first book to receive the Comstock Book Award for the year's best picture book to read aloud to older children, ages eight to twelve.

Young Elena leaves her home to embark on a magical journey to Monterrey, Mexico in order to follow her dream of learning the art of glassblowing. Later, she returns home to her father, who had refused to teach her his trade because no one had ever "heard of a girl glassblower." This story celebrates Elena's uniqueness as an artist and a person, as well as the importance of pursuing a dream.

With acrylic and crayons, Juan has created luminous paintings with an expressionistic, folk-art quality and a palette of desert colors. Juan's use of light is particularly noteworthy, especially in the illustrations depicting glassblowing. The rounded figure of Elena and her expressive facial features make her an attractive character. The colors, movement, and details of each painting invite one to linger over every page.

In selecting this book for the Award, the Read Aloud Committee noted the lyrical quality of the text, as well as children's special appreciation of the illustrations. In addition, children were interested in the conflict between Elena and her father and also enjoyed the sprinkling of Spanish words. Readers found the Spanish-English Glossary in the front of the book helpful.

Elena's Serenade is about a little girl who travels to Monterrey, Mexico to become a glassblower. I did enjoy the story and especially the illustrations. My favorite illustration is of Elena dressed in her brother's clothes trying to look macho. I think kids will enjoy the bright sometimes humorous pictures, and the imaginative story.

This book is about a half-white, half-Acoma boy who has to visit his grandpa during the summer. His grand pa lives in a Native American village that sits on top a mountain. Kendall tries to fit in, but the native people are a litter wiry of him because of his white dad. Kendall finds out that his constant need to run is because of magic from his Acoma blood. There is an enchanted mountain that Kendall runs to every day in the desert. At first Kendall does not want to go to visit his grandfather, he wants to go on a road trip with his dad and brother, but towards the end he likes being there and does not want to leave. In the end of the book, his grandfather visits a sacred mountain when he does not come home Kendall runs into the desert to find him. His cousin has to go looking for him before his grandfather dies. I really liked this book because the author put some into detail, you could almost believe you were there. This book was great because the setting was so cool and the plot was one of a kind.

Little has a unique ability to draw the reader right into the setting, the character and the emotion of the story. I could see the beautiful New Mexico landscape. I could feel Kendall's worries and heartache. This story is both informative and moving - and shows deep respect for the culture of the Acoma.

This book just WON the SOUTHWEST BOOK AWARD! I am so glad ENCHANTED RUNNER won this recognition because it truly deserves it. This book is very emotionally moving, as well as having exciting, dangerous action. The setting is stunning and I loved reading about the Snake Clan and the powerful, magical runners. What a special book! I'm going to use this book in my classroom. I've never read anything else quite like it.

Enchanted Runner is definitely enchanting. Kimberley Griffiths Little sweeps readers into her story's world; one that is a thoughtful mixture of past and present. Ditto with her characters. From the beginning, I felt Kendall's magic as if I were running beside him as he confronted wild horses, rattlesnakes, heartbreak, and ancient mysteries. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Kendall and Trina, and her curiosity about his secret ceremonies. Kendall's journey was a satisfying one. I hope a sequel is on its way because I'd like to run with him again.

I'm 41-years-old and normally would not read a book targeted for the 9 to 12-year-old age group. But after reading Ms. Liitle's first book, BREAKAWAY, there was no way I'd pass up her second book. And I wasn't disappointed. ENCHANTED RUNNER was awesome! The research that went into the story is probably more than found in most adult novels. I was blown away by what I learned about the Acoma Culture and the Snake Clan. Visiting Sky City is now on my life's list of things to do. Parents: Do yourselves a favor. Buy this book. Read it, then share it with your kids. Ms Little: Thank you for pouring your soul into the story. I look forward to your next effort and hope there is a sequel to ENCHANTED RUNNER!

I wanted something thorough and informative about Native American Tribes. I also wanted something clear and concise, but not so bogged down with detail that it was a chore to weed through.
This encyclopedia gave me what I wanted and more. I'm writing a fictional novel with a Native American character and needed help in knowing him and his background. I was impressed with how easy it was to look up information by tribe and get interesting tidbits, that if I so desired, I could research further.
This is definitely a writer's dream. I feel confident writing about a character from any tribe with this book in my collection.

Excellent. As a Englishman, in my middle 60s, interested in native American history since I was a child, this book is very informative.

I had read about most of these tribes in the past in web searches and other references.
That is why I fault the illustrations ( the stone tools look noting like their actual pictures) and that there isn't a better coverage of tool, housing and food sources. The language groups are well covered and their relationship are made pretty clear.
I was looking for my local California Indians that are in San Diego County.
They are noticeably absent in this coverage or disguised pretty well.
Since most of this information is in my old 1950's World Book
encyclopedia under different sections, I was hoping for a little more information here. I have to admit that it is a good reference source.

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" is a compilation of facts for more than two hundred Native American tribes in North America, including prehistoric peoples on the North American continent as well as all of the identifiable Native American civilizations on the continent. Organized alphabetically by tribe or group, there is at least one representative Native American tribe from each language family or language isolate for each culture area covered. From locations, migrations, contact with non-Indians, wars, customs, housing, tools, clothing, art, rituals, diet, and cultural contributions, "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" has special relevance for contemporary tribal issues and concerns. "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" is a critically important, superbly presented, essential and core addition to professional, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections.

I am a fifty seven year old retired elementary teacher...but
my lifelong interest has been the Plains Indian Culture.
I just asked my hubby to get me this book for Christmas after
spending about ten minutes looking at it in Barnes and Noble
yesterday.
Good sized print, the info is arranged as user friendly.
I saw tribes mentioned in there that have been omitted from other
books about North American Tribes. A comprehensive guide.
Many drawings....colored illustrations.
My only negative -----I wanted to see a few more maps ...regional
maps of the tribes.
ALso...at the store ...I was looking at a SOFTCOVER edition....not
a hardcover one. (I would not pay 75 dollars for hardcover when
it is available in softcover. )

REVIEWED BY: Wayne Walker

As I have said before, poetry is not my preferred form of reading. However, I do like good poetry, which is a legitimate form of children's literature, and have several favorite classic poems. Many authors find that keeping children's interest in poetry requires a touch of humor. That is what Tom and Tess Hannah have provided in The Endless String. There are 53 pages of poems in this book, many a full page, others shorter, including several limericks, that deal humorously with different aspects of children's (and adults') lives. "Have you ever pulled the endless string, the one that hangs and can't harm a thing?" What person, young or old, has not had that experience!

Tom, who enjoys writing, and Tess, a language arts teacher for nearly twenty years, live in the Midwest and have always enjoyed reading stories and poetry to their four children. Tess's line drawings add a great deal to the light-hearted feel of the book. Youngsters who like poetry should really appreciate these laughable but true-to-life verses, and even those who say that they do not care all that much for poetry will find something to tickle their funny bone. When I was younger, I could especially relate to this one: "Can you believe it? Just look at this hair -- it's out of control and beyond repair."

Tom & Tess Hannah have written a book for all of us, young and old. Their sense of humor and love for children and animals is quite apparent. It shows us everyday situations that viewed from above are very funny! I particularly liked, "Get in Shape." There is a familiar theme there that we all can look at with a smile. Every parent does it and to see it written so lightly, immediately makes you remember raising your children and wanting them to be a circle or a square or a triangle. I would place this book on my gift list for my children and also their children.

We are lucky that Tom and Tess Hannah can be so silly and that they have great imaginations. The result is 'The Endless String', a fun collection of silly poems for children of all ages(including adults). Many of the poems are accompanied by the zany illustrations of Tess, but even the non-illustrated poems have the reader picturing very vivid images that add to the humor. A great book for kids and fun for everyone!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and illustrations. Reminiscent of Shel Silverstein, it is as enjoyable for adults as for children. Reminds us all of the everyday joys and difficulties of growing up.

The Endless String is a continuous enjoyment of entertaining and humorous poetry. Readers of all ages can enjoy these creative poems that reflect childhood pasttimes and funny events that can pertain to everyone. I have read these with my children and to myself on a treadmill. The giggles that come out of my children while listening to me read the poems is an endless smile to me. I read a lot to my children, who are all ages, but also was brought up with entertaining poetry. So with this in mind, I myself am also a number one fan of The Endless String. Poetry can be just as fun and exciting as reading a good book with your children. So if you are caught up in the rat race of today's craziness, enjoy this book, and I hope you too enjoy a good laugh with your kids.