Washington Books

this book helped us find great hikes for kids from the day it arrived. strongly recommended.

It is the most accurate rated hiking book I've owned (I have alot) and most used I would also say its an accurate place to start if your out of shape the ratings are realistic you dont feel like your regretting it half way threw the hike You finish without feeling like the only thing you lost is a few pounds (not your mind or breath) your kids arent whinning and are ready for the next one!!!!

I have purchased several copies of this book, everytime a new edition comes out actually. I can't believe I am the first to review it. If you are a parent and you are new to hiking with kids in the western Washington region this will probably be the only book you need. It is superbly written, with great details on the hike itself,knowing ahead of time what difficulty level you are facing is a must in my opinion, as well as directions on how to find the trail head, tips and tricks to hiking with your children in a way that you will all enjoy it and so much more. I highly reccomend this book, you will not be disapointed.

For this Japanese textile collector, this rates among the very best for photography, not to mention information on the various dyeing techniques and other information on Japanese textiles. Not to be missed for the serious affecionado.

I checked this book out from the library and knew I had to have a copy on hand for my own research. It has more information between its covers than several other books I've read on kimono combined. Extremely valuable for anyone interested in the history of kimono and Japanese textiles. Beautiful color photographs, well-written and well-researched sections, copious footnotes and good quality paper all make this book worthy of a place on any textile collector's bookshelf.

This publication gives an excellent and extensive overview of the traditional Japanese folk textiles that are in the collection of the Seattle Museum of Art. Articles include an overview of these textiles and their use of color and bast fibers. Other articles highlight sashiko, kogin and hishizashi embroidery; katazome, tsutsugaki and yuzenzome, kasuri (ikat) weaving and the textiles of Okinawa. The book is lavishly illustrated with very high quality photographs of garments from the museum's collection. This will be a nice additiion to the library of any fiber artist or someone interested in Japanese design and crafts.

No more sifting through field guides containing hundreds of birds you will never see around here. The authors of this book have limited their scope to the birds of this region. Many helpful illustrations and charts help a beginner with identification. I plan to use this book to assist Boy Scouts with their Bird Studies Merit Badge

This in an excellent book for the birds in this area. My 5 year old can identify all the birds in our backyard and can easily look up the new birds that come around. A must for parents who have children and birdfeeders.

Birds of Seattle and Puget Sound is our most used identification source. We are beginners, and get confused with tomes which identify every bird in North America. This little book brings us the instant joy of identifying our flying guests while they are still at the feeder or bath. We appear to be "experts" to our house guests who marvel at the variety of birds visiting our yard.

After I read the first poem, I felt like this book was "talking to me" and continued reading the rest of the book. Having 2 boys, one with autism inspired me to read this book. I also realized that so many of the poems touch our everyday lives in more ways than I can list. Now when I need an uplift, I select a poem from the book and read it several times. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND FAMILIES WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS. You can carry the book with you for those moments outside of the home when you need an immediate uplift.

This book is a beautiful compilation of inspring, uplifting messages for your soul. Whether you are going through challenges now, or your experience of life is its grandeur and splendor, these thoughts WILL brighten your day!
This book touches all regardless of religious, cultural or spiritual base from which the individual views life.
I highly recommend this book for everyone. We ALL need a little light in our days or nights sometimes.
I am confident you will turn to this book again and again.

I read the whole book in one sitting. Then I started over, slowly, one poem at a time. The blessings are clear. Each poem grants a daily lesson for those who love to reflect. You will see yourself in the poems. Deeply personal and life-revealing, they are well written and easy to read. Highly recommended!

I couldn't put the book down and read it almost in one sitting. He is truly inspirational. I met him in person and a "special" spirit just flows from him. Willow is truly adorable and totally devoted to him, it is so obvious. I can't say enough about a truly wonderful book that made me sit down and think about my own life.

In any given day in San Francisco there are over 6,000 homeless individuals. Through personal interaction with those who are homeless I've learned alot about them... and even more about myself.

Richard LeMieux's book is a collection of stories that are raw at times and heart warming others. Richard (and Willow) put a face and a name to homelessness and reminds each of us that many of us are living in a glass house that could be shattered tomorrow.

Books have been written on homelessness in the past, sometimes by those who lived it. What makes this book unique is that Richard had the forsight to write the book while he was homeless - not as a book for you and I to read but as therapy for himself. He carefully introduces you to the charcters he meets and shares there all too real stories.

As someone who loves and works with the homeless, I'm thrilled this book was published. It puts a very human touch on who the homeless are, how someone could end up homeless, what it means to land there and even more remarkably what it takes to get out. If you choose to read this book you will never be the same.

I'll never look at another homeless person again in the same way. Although I thought I knew and understood the homeless after ten years working with The Salvation Army, after reading Breakfast at Sally's, I have a greater respect for the compassion, challenges and unconditional acceptance the homeless offer to all.

Richard LeMieux and his cast of unforgettable characters, Andy, Dorothea, Adam, Major Baker and of course 'C', made it as enjoyable as it was moving. I loved this book.

More than ever, in these economic times, everyone in America needs to read Breakfast at Sally's. Richard writes; "I could go on a bitter journey to a place of anger and hate, or head out on the highway of grace and kindness, though it may be the road less traveled and in greater need of repair." This inspirational book will serve as a travel guide to the road of grace and kindness.

John Sebby
Executive Director of Development
The Salvation Army
Intermountain Division

Book arrived much more quickly than I expected...especially it being over the holidays. Great information. A lot of recognizable wineries, close too! Good purchase.

Elisabeth Frater's lovely travel guide is great for both residents and visitors. I have lived in Northern Virginia for 13 years and don't even drink alcohol, but I found this book to be useful. Frater gives clear, concise information, but also offers opinions. You hear the facts about each winery, but you also here the stories behind each one.

I have enjoyed living in this area much more after using Frater's book to plan weekend trips. Her book was invaluable when family came to visit recently.

Comprehensive review of the wineries in Virginia and Maryland. Describes how each of the wineries got started and a bit about the owners, growers, and/or winemakers. Also offers a brief summary of the wines produced. Includes sidebar-type sections on such topics as individual varietals, wine festivals, and competitions.

A wonderful resource if you like weekend getaways, beautiful farms, and, of course, sipping wine! Indispensable for budding regional wine connoisseurs and casual travelers alike.

Butterflies through Binoculars: A Field, Finding, and Gardening Guide to Butterflies in Florida (Butterflies and Others Through Binoculars Field Guide Series,) This is an excellent reference book for butterfly lovers in the State of Florida. I take it with me on my butterfly field trips and when I sit in my yard to observe them. The book has excellent photos, detailed information for each species, and the habitat locations. It's an easy book to carry and pack.

This is one of the best presented field guides I have ever seen. Each and every species of Florida butterfly is pictured and described. Most butterfly guides I've seen use pictures of preserved specimens in a collection. This can be confusing because parts of the wings normally hidden are exposed when the collected specimen is mounted. This book avoids this problem by using only pictures taken in the wild (except for a few rare species). No more unnatural poses!

The text is easily readable without extensive knowledge of obscure scientific words and has enough humor to keep it from getting dry and technical, but not so much that it overpowers the book.

This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in Florida butterflies.

If you are looking for a filed guide to the butterflies of the northeastern United States, this is THE book to get. Written for a relatively small geographical area, the book contains only those butterflies likely to be seen in the regioon...unlike other guidebooks which offer many photos of butterflies not native to the regioon you are in. Excellent photos and the reduced subject area result in quick identifications. Although written for the northeast, the book is useful over a wider range...I have even used it in Texas to great effect. Don't put too much stock in the information about flight period and abundance, though. And don't expect much info on larval hostplants, etc

We have read both of Dave's books and he is certainly knowledgable in real estate. Dave also has helped us in the buying process, and all has run smoothly. We consider Dave a professional in all aspects of real estate. The book is filled with data that we did not truly know about concerning the market.

This book is packed with information that will help you if you've never bought a home, or have done so a dozen or more times. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, should read Chapter 3 on selecting an Agent... If you are buying, selling, thinking of a career in Real Estate, or are already an Agent!

For many people like me, the home buying process is alien, confusing, and full of pitfalls. What I needed was a guide to help me quickly and effectively understand the entire process, along with the plethora of associated considerations.

David Rathgeber's home buying book gave me almost everything I needed to quickly make sense of the home buying process. He introduced me to all the major issues and considerations that I was about to face. Not only did he clearly address the most pertinent issues, but he also concisely provided abundant advice on each aspect of home buying, to include difficult issues such as understanding the emotional and psychological aspects that both the buyer and seller face. In this book, David even helps the reader understand how to get the appropriate professional help at the right time. This is done in a constructive manner that demonstrates to the reader that he is only one part of a team that is focused on making the home buying process successful.

Along with David's personal help in purchasing a home, this book provides almost everything that a home buyer needs, especially if the buyer is completely new to the home buying process. It is actually quite comforting to read this book in that David teaches the home buyer how to develop a healthy respect for all the participants no matter what their role may be. Toward this end, David articulates the human aspect of a stressful process that often can appear to be impersonal.

a great example of a leader in many respects. mostly self-educated, g.w. was wise in so many ways. i am amazed at his character and have enjoyed sharing these with my family. what i like about this book compared to others with similiar info is that the author puts the manners into modern day use, although they are first presented in the old english style which is good for the kids to see and hear. a definite library must!

By George! is a delightful and insightful compilation of George Washington's rules of civility, written when he was only 14 years old. The author does an outstanding job of adapting these basic rules of good conduct, written in the 1740's, to current society. These rules, illustrated by timely stories of people doing the right thing, not only help us understand the high standards George Washington expected of himself and others, they are a timeless treasure trove. In a world torn apart by violence and hatred, this little book teaches us that a little civility can make a big difference in our lives. I highly recommend By George! by Steven M. Selzer.

I was most impressed by the tone of the book. I expected a "stuffy" list of do's and don'ts only to find each of George Washington's rules of civility applied to today's social and business situations with great insight and a touch of humor. I was amazed to learn that the civil behavior we learned from our parents and teachers is based on the same rules of civility that George Washington lived by 250 years ago. Some things are truly timeless. We could all use a refresher course. I highly recommend By George!

This isn't actually a review - I'm a bit biased, being the author of this book. I want to share the exciting news that BY THE SWORD is on the International Reading Association (IRA) Children's and Young Adults' Book Award 2008 Notable Books List in the Intermediate/Non-Fiction category. BY THE SWORD is 1 of 3 in this category.

I hope you enjoy my book, in which I aim to add a human face to history.

BY THE SWORD is a touching Revolutionary War story told from a unique perspective. A young teacher, just twenty-two years old, is moved to enlist in George Washington's army. Neither he nor his beloved horse, Highlander, is prepared for battle. As Selene Castrovilla begins her story, "Benjamin Tallmadge had never killed before." When he fires his musket for the first time, he takes off, "not looking to see if he'd hit anyone." Young readers will identify with his reluctance.
The Battle of Long Island unfolds with breathtaking intimacy. We are close to the man and his horse as they weather a British assault, the lack of sleep, poor food, drenching rains, contradictory orders, and their own fears, in order to help save Washington's army from annihilation. Selene Castrovilla's prose evokes the anxiety of war with painterly details, but without drenching young readers in the carnage.
When Benjamin, in the heat of retreat, forgets Highlander, he receives permission to go back, by boat, to retrieve him. So this story is also about a brave young man who risks his life to save his beloved horse. As cannonballs from the fierce, advancing Hessians (mercenaries on the British side) narrowly miss Benjamin's retreating boat with Highlander safe on board, readers of all ages will be cheering.
Bill Farnsworth's expressive oil paintings on canvas enhance the text, from the flash of musket fire to the thick blanket of fog that kept the British fleet idling long enough for Washington's army to escape. Detailed endpaper maps enable readers to follow the troops. The author's research notes, timeline, suggested places to visit, and detailed bibliography of sources makes this an absolute must-have book for all teachers and students of history, for anyone interested in the birth of the United States of America. .

Do you want your kids to actually read a book, enjoy it and learn something too? Well, this is the book for them. It's a good read, action packed, interesting and surprise, surprise ... you learn some local history. Selene Castrovilla sucks you into Benjamin Tallmadge's world even if history is not your thing. Coupled with wonderful illustrations by William Farnsworth this book is a must have.