By Class Books

An Excellent reference for beginning through advanced painters.

Everything needed to paint lovely floral watercolors: Selection of paper and paint colors; step-by-step sequence of demonstrations along with samples of completed "floral portraits".

If I were to own only one book of floral watercolors, this would be it!

This book is on the top of my list of books I would recommend to learn to paint and draw flowers in watercolor, and I have a huge number of watercolor painting books to compare it to. It is also great for learning basic watercolor techniques, as the beginning chapter cover everything a beginner would need to know, but it is a book for watercolorists of all levels.

After the basic techniques and materials chapters which are outstanding in themselves, the student is given 26 beautiful flowers to paint, each with detailed instructions, and sometimes close-up views of exactly where the detail such as masking fluid goes, or where the next glaze goes, etc.. Each exercise gives the exact pallet you will need. The instructions are excellent.

I consider myself still a beginner, but was amazed at how beautiful my first flower turned out, and credit most of it to the teaching methods in this book. This book is among the very BEST OF THE BEST to learn from and also to enjoy the beauty of the paintings. I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. It's tops in every way.

This is a fabulous book for with accurate patterns for flowers & leaves & stems. However, ithe instructions are for oil & decorative painters. Watercolor painters can use it for patterns.

I found this book to be very helpful in painting flowers with watercolors. Being new to the medium, this is a very valuable reference.

Not all artists can teach, but Adelene Fletcher is definitely a teacher. One thing I like about this book is she tells you all the colours you will need to do each flower in the book, and then gives you some very good instructions in painting them. I have done the first two flowers in the book and thoroughly enjoyed her method of teaching. I am now looking to buy her Trees and Foliage A-Z book but Amazon cannot get it and the other suppliers I've looked at so far do not ship to Canada.

Relating modern-era history to children often prove to be be a challenge. Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame, written by Michael S. Class, attempts to fill this void by bringing the child into history, literally.

Anthony is you average twelve year old boy, with one difference, Anthony has a magic picture frame. Anthony's picture frame allows him to step back in time and witness history first-hand. Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame is a narrative journal of Anthony's activities and provides detailed descriptions of what he saw, heard and lived through.

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame brings history to life for middle-years and older children. Wonderfully illustrated with archival photographs your child can see and read about important events and how these events shape our lives today. The photographs and brilliantly altered to include Anthony, in period garb, right in the middle of the action. Be warned, however, that many of these photographs are graphic. The photographs are real and are well-used but they are made so much more real by the presence of this little boy in each of them, sometimes in the middle of a battlefield. If you have a highly sensitive child you may wish to save this book for when they are of an age to see children in distressing situations.

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame has a place in the library of all Americans who want to give their children an accurate and detailed education in current-era American history. Best suited for children twelve and older, Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame will provide years worth of lessons or serve as a fantastic stand-alone resource.

Michael S. Class has created an amazing piece of literature that touches on the importance of how history and the present weave together. As he explores particular historical events and how they have impacted the way society functions today, Michael has taken it a step further. His visual interpretation of Anthony is a creative masterpiece. The illustrations capture the imagination of both the young and the old while the text inspires people to think about their own past. Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame is a solid piece of literature and a wonderful piece of art. This book will introduce children to history in a new, lively and exciting manner. Michael is bringing back an education that creates children who are deep thinkers and life-long learners. Don't waste another second. This is a gift for all.
Cherie McIntosh, Deena Cook
P & P Publishing LLC
[...]

This book will inspire interest in the great stories and famous photographs of history. The photos are very creative and tell a lot about the time period just through the expressions of the author's son, who is nearly seamlessly inserted into historical photographs.

Younger children will enjoy just looking at the large photographs (this book is coffee table size) and older children and adults will enjoy the well written text. I have used it with 8 and 12 year old homeschooled boys as a book to read aloud.

The chapters and topics can be read in any order. The subjects cover the Civil War, when the first photographs were taken, to the polio vaccine in the 1950s. Many of the photographs will be familiar to people born in the early to mid 1900s, and so the idea of developing the story and conversations behind the images is especially appealing.

Clearly, the author loves history. He treats his subject with honor and respect and tells the story of individuals using their own words and images. This is not just a cute and clever idea for a time machine; there are serious lessons to be learned and remarkable and heroic achievements to be celebrated.

The book has an excellent resource list including movies, music and places to visit to supplement the journey back through time. An unexpected added bonus!

Highly recommended. Great gift idea.

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." ~ William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)

Imagine what it would be like to be a kid who jumps into a picture and lives some of the most exciting moments in history like walking on the moon or arriving in American ready to start a new life. In "Anthony and the Magic Pictures Frame," history comes alive in the mind of a child.

Here we find Anthony in digitally enhanced pictures so it looks like her really was walking on the moon or standing next to Charles Lindbergh and his airplane in 1927. The pictures are great because they show things you might not normally see like the inside of the plane. You might not see this unless you went to the National Air & Space Museum in Washington.

Here we also find Anthony interviewing Thomas Edison and standing with Lou Gehrig on opening day at Yankee Stadium in 1937. Throughout this book there is a sense of humor, but also profound moments and moments for reflection.

Suddenly history becomes far more interesting when it is told from this type of perspective. Even in the stories of harsh realities during the war, there is a sense of kindness as people help one another to survive. This is a book children and adults will love and it puts a smile on your face while you learn a lot about history.

~The Rebecca Review

Anthony And The Magic Picture Frame is an informative exploration for children into the history of America and the world. Anthony And The Magic Picture Frame offers young readers an incredible depiction and encouraging read for many of the great historical markers of America's history as twelve-year-old Anthony travels the world, and even to the moon. Included are the first lunar landing, Charles Lindbergh's first New-York to Paris flight, WWI and WWII, Edison's first electric lamp, and so much more specifically designed and deftly written in a child-friendly and educational format. Anthony And The Magic Picture Frame is very strongly recommended -- especially to all parents wishing for an accurate and expansive education of American history for their children.

I just love this cookbook! I have given it to several people including those just really learning to cook-it's beautifully illustrated and just has so many good "tips". The desserts especially are just delicious and many can be prepared ahead of time.

Cooking Class: A Chef's Step-By-Step Guide To Stress-Free Dinner Parties That Are Simply Elegant! by Carol Dearth (a chef formally trained in a Master Chef program at Le Cordon Bleu in London), is a superbly illustrated guide to creating masterpieces with professional techniques, not only for bringing out flavor, but also for garnishing and presentation. The full-color photographs, the extensive instructions, and the unique extra touches highlighting culinary creations, make for an excellent and confident introduction to expanding any kitchen chef's cooking skills into the realm of high society quality cuisine. From Lemon Linguini with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Grilled Chicken; Eggplant Fans with Onion Marmalade; and Basil and Ricotta Tart; to Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Crostini; Black Bean Salsa; and Truly Decadent Chocolate Sauce, Cooking Class truly lives up to the promise of "do-it-yourself" culinary elegance and memorable dining!

I bought this book after seeing the author on a local cooking show. I am so impressed with the layout, pictures and plans...it's just what I've been waiting for as a cook. She lays out in detail a menu and what you are doing with the food 3 days ahead of the party, 2 days, etc up until the day of the dinner party. It really takes the stress out of having people over for a fine meal.

My family has been fortunate enough to be guests at the Dearth table on more than one occasion. Carol is a terrific cook and teacher. Her book is the result of many years of studying, experimenting and teaching. She has designed her book to be used year round, and has made planning a dinner party easy from start to finish. All you have to do is invite your guests, pick a menu, follow her Master Work Plan and relax. You almost feel like she has done the bulk of the work for you!! P.S. The food presentation in the photos is beautiful and makes you hungry just to look at it.

I have made several of Carol's recipes and they were easy to make and oh so delicious--especially the Molten Chocolate Cakes! Yum!!

Carol's sidebars are very imformative. Her explanations make so much sense and are therefore easy to remember.

This book makes entertaining easy and less stressful because Carol takes you by the hand and guides you all the way through. I would recommend Cooking Class to anyone who enjoys cooking.

I have a library of over 60 watercolor books, and this is by far my favorite. I also own all of Wades's tapes, and his new CD. I find them to be an extension of the book. I took a workshop from a famous watercolor teacher who had us doing wash on top of wash. She must have gotten the idea from Wade as he has a section on just that topic. He covers washes on top of finished paintings that changes the character of the painting completely. A fasinating book that I return to over and over again.

I was very impressed with this book. The side tabs make it easy to go directly to the section you want. Advice was excellent and well presented.

A beautifully printed hard cover book by an extraordinary watercolor artist. The book is filled with outstanding examples of landscapes, cityscapes from all over the world. In addition to being an inspired World class watercolor artist, Robert Wade is also a great teacher, the book is filled with practical advise and hands on lessons on color mixing, painting people,skies,glazing,location painting and many other subjects.Just to be able to look at his outstanding paintings would easily justify buying this book.

Excellent handbook for the serious watercolorist. Robert Wade has a great approach to some of the more difficult aspects of painting with watercolor. He is brief, to the point, yet his explanations make sense! Enjoyable reading and a great reference tool.

What a wonderful book with terrific instructions and insights. Replaces 20 books in my collection which don't come close to the wisdom this book provides.

Everything is explained thoroughly and well illustrated. Its definitely a good book to have if you're starting ballet or getting back to dancing (like me).
A must have for every parent, student and teacher.

I really enjoyed reading about the different levels and what they encompassed. I had been through these levels but couldn't recall what each offered. As an instructor, it was a great review.

This is great for the first time dance teacher to break down things by age. Super if you are having a time trying to remember what the basics were! Great book with pictures :)

Since I come from a family that moves around a lot, sometimes it's hard to find a serious quality dance studio. This book was a tremendous help in keeping me toned and in gear. It gives me the help I need to reach the height of my aptitude.

Good illustrations and text especially for the beginner. It was too basic for my daughter who has had 5 years of ballet classes. I recommend it for the 1-2 year ballet student.

"BEST AND WORST TRAVELS is that requisite blend of acerbic scrutiny and golly-gee wonder that all good travel commentary necessitates. Witty, sophisticated, captivating, incisive, bitchy - reading Ramon Carver is like being escorted around the world by the spiritual love-child of Dorothy Parker and Marco Polo!"

I haven't been to most of the places written about in this hilarious tome but if and when I go, after reading Best and Worst Travels I will be more than ready. I do travel around the world frequently and now make use of the ideas, advice and, on occasion, the opinions of Carver. I really enjoyed reading passages aloud to my wife from the bathroom where this travelogue has been kept. We found the book's presentation to be original and very clever. We also agree that it would make a great Broadway show or at least a rip-roaring good read in a boring cruisline talent show.

Not "your father's Oldsmobile" guide book to travel. I found this refreshingly different -- an insightful, irreverent, personal look at the pleasures and pitfalls Carver found in extensive globe trotting. A good read, whether one has just returned from a trip, is planning one, or just wants to settle down and enjoy.

Yes, this is a travel book. That is its stated purpose. But it is actually much more. Carver explores also the human side of the world. His comments can touch on the service he has received, but the more interesting bits have to do with the people he meets and the things he sees. Most of us will never go all the places he describes, of course, but this book does not contribute to vicarious angst. Rather, it allows the armchair traveler insights into the world' soul itself. That alone is worth the price.

Always seeking information regarding places to travel, I find this book easy to gain various details about different lands. Before embarking, a wise traveler would be wiser still to seek the advice contained herein. Best And Worst Travels has such detailed information regarding different areas, I highly advise anyone who travels to pay heed to it. It will make your trips more relaxed and informative.

Olsen writes stories that are so powerful, and so well-written, you'll want to read them again and again. Although she uses Jewish culture as a backdrop, her talents bring a universaility to her stories which reminds me of Steinbeck in its power, and Morrison in its complexity.

Tillie Olson is a brilliant woman. She was way ahead of her time, breaking through the constraints binding talented women back then by her sheer persistence and follow-through, becoming recognized as a notable author. Her insights regarding women authors of the 19th century are brilliant. And her story "Tell Me A Riddle" is a classic.

However, her words sometime seem to start from the middle of a conversation, back up against one another, fall over themselves and then make a circuitous route to sometimes puzzling conclusions. "Tell Me A Riddle" occasionally found me shaking my head as if to dislodge some buzzwords that were way too loud and confusing. Although I understood the gist of this powerful story, I found its delivery to be irritating.

Perhaps that is the way Tillie Olsen writes. However, despite the brilliance of her observations, I find her writing style too discordant.

Tillie Olsen packs a lifetime of enforced silences into this slender work of art. These are dense and poetic evocations of Joyce and Woolf, but with an added proletarian knife-thrust to the heart.

"Hey Sailor, What Ship" is the most powerful, concentrated portrayal of alcoholism that I have ever read. Olsen gets inside the mind of a late-stage alcoholic. Her prose seems to stretch and distort as her main character goes on an unplanned bender while on shore leave.

She shows beautiful restraint, too: there is nothing sensational or mawkish here. I am in awe of this story.

Amazed by her words and writing - the first story, I STAND HERE IRONING - where a mother is mulling over the changes in her and her daughter's lives and relationship. The stories were published in the 50s originally, but were written in a time-free fashion. Get you a copy, you hear?

This book is one of the most beautiful art books I've ever seen. The detail on the artwork is amazing. The content is nicely laid out. For flowers or watercolor lovers, this is a must have!

For watercolor, this is the best botanical illustration book I've seen yet. Showell is an absolute master, and the illustrations are positively gorgeous. But more importantly, she generously demonstrates how she does it, step-by-step. There is more detail in the lessons than in other similar books. Here is a superb course in watercolor botanical illustration. Be prepared to be inspired.

This book improves on many previous painting books by giving very specific step-by-step instructions. Each step is beautifully photographed and carefully explained. This makes it a must have for both the beginner and the experienced painter.

Billy's paintings bring a contemporary feel to botanical art. Her work is meticulous and detailed. The Artist's talks about all aspects of creating a painting including choosing paints, brushes and paper for the execution of your work. Her comments about composition and her approach to painting help guide you to develop your own approach.

I highly recommend this lovely book.

My wife was thrilled with this book that was added to her resources. She has used it already.

Unseen America is a fantastic visual reference to the United States unseen or overlooked by us. Often we see things but don't recognize, the "little people", who keep us in our comfort zone. This book with photo's by those "little people" brings home our underlying culture. The black and white photographs are sometimes disturbing and revealing. This is the "Unseen America" we all need to see!

I bought this as part of my research on Latina/o immigrants and depictions in the media, to try and see another side of the working world not really explored by most US media. This is an excellent visual portrayal of reality for the people depicted in it, and offers a stark look into the reality of the life of many neglected and marginalized communities in the US.

It is very important in today's world in America for us to have contact with all ages, all races, and with a wide range of socio economic groups. If we remain enclosed in one homogeneous world, be it economic or cultural, we loose the full experience of our composite richness. It is not only out of our benevolence that we should reach out, but out of an awareness that we ourselves benefit from them. Their hearts and souls have much needed medicine for us. This book is a wonderful contribution to that effort.

I have male 6th grade student that absolutely does not like to read. He reads at a lower level than his friends, but he still wants to read cool books like theirs. He picked up this book and loved it! I ended up getting as many of them that I could find.

My son can't put these books down. He is in 2nd grade and is reading a couple of these books each day. It's nice to find a series that is a hit with the kids.