By Make Books

For my daughter's first birthday, I wrote and illustrated a story for her about the day she was born. I'm no artist, mind you, but she loves it. (If you want to, I believe you can use the computer to make very simple sticker-like illustrations instead of drawing.) It was especially meaningful to her when her baby sister was born this last year. I am buying a new one for the little sister as well. I think it's a terrific idea for making a personalized keepsake FOR your child or grandchild.

The only drawback, you do have to be a little creative regarding the words per page limit.

This is such a great item and worth every penny. We'd love to do these every year and get duplicate copies for our families. This is a great way to capture the different stages of creativity in your children - and rewarding to them when they see their story "published" in a real book. Highly recommended for all ages!

I bought this book for my grandughter that is 10 years old and loves to write stores. It was a wise pick for me , as it is right at her age level. Easy to understand , Easy to follow directions . For any child that loves to write stores, or to encourage a child to write it is a great book.

Got this for my 6-yr old daughter's birthday. It was easy for us to do together. The great fun was getting the completed, hard-bound book back in the mail! She was so proud to be an author! She even took it to school to show her class. It's a great gift & a great keepsake.

We bought the first of these for our son when he was 3 1/2 and helped him create his first book. He loved it and would read it to us daily. He's five now and has 'created' 5 additional books (this time without our help). He loves this and has decided that he's going to become a writer when he grows up (after he becomes a pilot). As a result of creating the ILLUSTORY books, he's started keeping a journal (which we thought was a big endeavor for a 5 year old- but he's managing to write in it every day about the perils of kindergarten, of course!) Kudos to the makers of this product for keeping children educationally entertained!!

It's funny how many people say Oprah's never written a memoir. This book is definitely her story. I admire her all the more after reading about her struggle with food and her weight. She is an amazing and inspiring woman, and even though I won't be getting up at 5am to exercise as she does, I took away a lot from reading this book. Bob Greene was just icing on the cake.

"Muscle burns fat, so you certainly don't want to lose muscle. This is one reason diets don't work in the long run." ~ Bob Greene

Over ten years ago, Oprah and Bob Greene wrote a book to tell the world how to lose weight in a healthy way. While Oprah still has issues with her weight (most recently because of thyroid problems - how I can relate) she continues to be a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. While many of us can relate to the roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain, this book shows that with a proper diet and serious exercise you can stand on firmer ground.

Oprah's entries from her diary reveal the source of her eating problems before she had to deal with a thyroid problem. She lost weight by following Bob Greene's ten-step formula which is based on increasing metabolism and shedding excess weight through exercise.

I liked all the extra information along with the diet which is based on the food pyramid. You are instructed to eat more fruit and veggies and to eliminate most fats from your diet. I was surprised to read that you should avoid frozen vegetables. They are so convenient. Bob Greene answers some of the following questions:

Why do you initially gain weight when you start a new program?
Why do you reach a plateau?
Why can eating more boost your metabolism?
Why should you avoid alcohol if you are serious about exercising?

If you are ready to make exercise a part of your day then you are ready for this book. Walking alone can help you lose weight. I lost 25 lbs just by walking and eating less. I can highly recommend the Subway veggie sandwich if you are trying to increase veggies, especially fresh and delicious ones.

You may also want to read:The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets

~The Rebecca Review

I have been dieting for 14 months now. Having read and using some of the ideas in the book "The Best Life" by Bob Green, I thought I would check out more of his books. The "Make the Connection" book is very good. It has continued to help me in my endeavor to lose weight. I am currently down 108 pounds with only 66 pounds to goal. If you are needing to lose some weight then I suggest you check out Bob's book. It will help you along the way.

What I like so much about this book is it goes straight to the substance of Bob Greene's philosophy. Try to pick up any health/diet/fitness book and you'll have to wade through an excessive introduction and pages of effusive testimonials just to get to the point.

While you do learn how Bob and Oprah met and how implementing his 10 changed her life, each chapter is devoted to one principle, from Oprah's and Bob's perspective.
This is not a fad. He is very honest about what it takes.

Most impressive was the conclusion: the fundamental reason of why we want fitness; what really is health and happiness. However, it will sound simplistic if you skip to the end. Read the book, I liked it so much I completed it two days.

The book was in great condition for very low price paid. Thanks

I could not put this book down. These 3 doctors stories are almost too impossible to believe. It is amazing what the human spirit can achieve with encouragement. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read.

I picked up this book after my wife and I started a group reading with my son of the book; "We Beat the Streets." "We Beat the Streets" book was written by the same authors but geared toward a younger crowd (suggested ages 9 to 15y/o). The pact was a great book as a source of inspiration. Being an African American male near the same age range, I was able to relate to at least one aspect of each of the three guys. At points where Rameck had a chip on his shoulder and struggle to put the anger behind him I related to that anger when confronted by unfair situations and judgmental people throughout college. Times when set backs occurred related to bad choices, an ill family member, or failing to pass a critical exam on the first try reminded me how as a young black male you feel like you're on the edge of falling of track at any given moment. Regardless of race and sex when you spear-headed the family into a new level of educational/professional success you will feel the weight of a lot of dreams and hopes placed on your shoulders daily. Often as a young man I felt times where I just didn't want to deal with that kind of pressure.

This story reminded me that it is important to stay focused and move through the rough periods in order to be in a position to help friends and loved ones. By example let them know that they can achieve there goals/dreams.

Two key factors in this story will continue to give me the courage to move forward. Never forget the 3 D's; Discipline, Determination, and Dedication. Always remember that choosing the right friends may mean the difference between success and failure in my life's goals. Friends are crucial when faced with situations in life that are difficult. I am proud to say that my wife is my best friend with an ear to listen. As I pursue my second master's degree my thoughts turn to adding to my list of goals a doctorate. Thank you Doctors Davis, Jenkins, and Hunt for this wonderful gift of brotherly love!

I give this book a, 5 out of 5 stars. If you're a Dad it's a must read with your son or daughter. All they see is the man you are now; let them know that God, Faith, and loving relationships got you where you are today!!

This book was meant for any child, teen, man or woman, who are living today without hope for a better future. The pact is about a brotherly commitment between friends to achieve their life long dreams. The reason that I use the word brotherly is because their pact was only as strong as the weakest of them. They became like family in support of one another and diligently worked together to achieve their dreams.

This book is a must read for every African-American male, no, not only Africian-American males, but any young man that has felt that the odds were stacked up against him. The message is: all things are possible if you keep striving.

This book served as an excellent Read - Aloud for my middle school students in grades 6 - 8. I read excerpts from the book about each person and the students were in awe about the struggles and obstacles that these young men had to overcome. It was dripping with real life situations and real life solutions.

LaVaughn was the main character in the first book of this trilogy, called "Make Lemondade." However, this book has little to do with the first one, and can be read on its own.

LaVaughn is a teenager who lives in the inner city with her mother. Her father was killed years ago, caught in gang crossfire. LaVaughn and her mother do not have much money, but her mother is determined that her daughter will achieve her dream of going to college.

In this story, LaVaughn is struggling with a lot. First there is the issue of her two best friends. All of a sudden they have decided to devote their lives to Jesus and a radical church group. This group is very exclusive and encourages its members to only do church activities and spend time with other members of the church group. LaVaughn does not agree with the teachings of this group, and by not joining she becomes more and more isolated from her best friends. There is also the fact that LaVaughn has signed up for an after-school grammar strengthening class to prepare her for college. She is seen as a snob for wanting to speak properly and for hanging around with the other kids who are taking this grammar class.

However, the biggest turmoil in LaVaughn's life surrounds the boy who moves into her building. Jody used to live there when he was young and was in LaVaughn's elementary school classes. After a classmate of theirs was killed, Jody's mother moved them somewhere where she felt their lives could be better. They couldn't afford to stay there, though, so they have moved back. LaVaughn falls immediately in love with this boy she used to know when they were little, and she dreams of being his girlfriend. But things aren't going well. He doesn't seem as interested in her as she is in him. Can she convince him that they would be perfect together?

I really liked this book. I like that LaVaughn's character is so true to herself and she and her mother have such a strong relationship. This book was sensitive and interesting, and showed the dynamics between friends from different groups. I also like the format of this book, the way it is written in blank verse. It makes for a quick read, and it gets some really powerful emotions across.

it seems that as long as reguritate the dominate social narrative of an oppressed/underpresented group the work is considered a "masterpiece" and "touching". Well this left me cold. How many times does this novel need to be written? there are many ways to create unforgettable characters and working the hell out of tired stereotypes is not one of them.

Also, read something by Julius Lester if you want to see this kind of thing done well.

Wow... True Beliver! The girl in this story Is a true believer.
In the book it talks about sex an and things that could happen an how to prevent them from actually happening.
The 15 year old girl La Vaughn. La vaughn has faced things that i never thought about facing.
She bele
ives in her self. And God. La Vaugn was a very up tight girl. She wanted to go to college an wanted to do many things. La Vaughn did not care about the things she didnt have. Unlike many others. La Vaugn an her mother lived in a dirty old apartment. In the Slum of a city. La vaughn was happy girl..

Then One Day La Vaughns mother brings a friend home..
Only the Friend.. Wasn't going to help very much...
An don't worry. it only gets worse from there...

True Believer is about a 15 year old girl living with her mother in an apartment in the slum of a city. Her Name is la Vaughn, And La Vaughn Is a very Low Class Girl. She Dosnt Get New things All The Time. She can barely ever get what she wants.

La Vaughn is raised in a very bad neighborrhood were kids die of drugs and getting shot. It's all common in Her Neighborhood. Basically No one in La Vaughns neighborhood Makes it through Highschool. So La Vaugns Mother Is Willin g To do What ever it takes for her to get to college an get a good education.

An One Day La Vaughns mother comes home from work with a "friend" And La Vaughn Gets angry because she thinks her mother is betraying her dead father, By replacing him with a new man. And, La Vaughns friends are getting into some stuff that La Vaughn disagree's about.
And While All of this is happening, La Vaugns Child Hood Friend Comes Back And Turns her feelings for him about side down and all around. But the only Problem for La Vaughn is if Jody, The Boy Feels The Same...

This is a story about a 15 years old girl named La Vaughn. She has the challenge of surviving poverty, the constant threat of gangs, violence, drugs that have infested the neighborhood in which she lives. While all of this is going on in her life, there are some comical and very serious parts that are essential to the development of the plot. The emotions in the book are sympathetic and intensely real. The message of this book is to hold on to your dreams, work hard, get an education, believe in yourself and realize that the sky has no limits unless we self-imposed some restrictions. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Another great book that I highly recommend is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I decided a long time ago that I would stop chasing the record deal dream. Over the past couple of years I have been trying to make it on my own. This book definitely gave me some awesome pointers on how to do just that.

If you want to get lucky in the music business then you get this book. Me and my band are just starting to think about breaking out into the charts and have found loads of tips through the guide to help us get going. There is plenty of "inside" information and it is written by a former musician so he does know what he's talking about.

I want to join in what the other one star reviews said. It looks so review-fake, it's either a scam or somebody else is trying to frame him or her.
Anybody that promises Amway-like miracles like $ Furtune $ should not be taken seriously. Music is about harmony and art and not about how to make it big and rich. That is looking at music the wrong way, from the wrong end. This cannot be a good book. If you are in it for the $$$ in ANY business (especially in art) you are in it for the wrong reason. Make beautiful music because you love music and the money may just come all by itself.

It's true that all these reviews are once-off reviews. In addition, they all look like they were written by the same person because they all are about the same length, convey the same basic message, and they all contain the same grammatical errors. The "reviewer" always writes in rambling sentences which lack the proper commas, and h/she always fails to capitalize the word "I" as well as a few other words which require capitalization. Quite to be expected from someone who spells the word "fortune" wrong in the title of his book! In addition, all of the reviewers use either their full name or their first name with last name initial as their I.D., which is uncommon; and they all fail to capitalize the beginning letters of their name. The majority of these reviews were written within a one-month time period. I think we should all complain to Amazon about this obvious scam.

i have not read any of these books, i am browsing for music industry books and i noticed something:
all ty cohens reviews are 5 stars and they are all once-off reviews - the "reviewer" didnt write anything else about any other book at all! soemthing is fishy - i suspect his publicist, friend or he himself is trying to promote his books by writing false reviews. i dont know if this is the case, but it makes me suspicious enough not to buy his stuff and to warn potential customers. good luck shopping :-)

as the owner of several of Ty Cohen articles and cds books I realy like his approach to explaining how to achieve your through calling in the music business from musicians to managers,sales,marketing,any one can achieved by using his items.....

This book was personally recommended to me by one of my friends. He is in a band himself but was at a loss as to where to start promoting the band because he had pretty much exhausted all local avenues. We live in a small town which is dominated by music but ultimately none of the bands seem to actually go anywhere. He had read this book because he was determined not to go the same way himself. He said this book had helped to give him new ideas and plans. I was sceptical, but I am so glad he talked me into reading it.

The book is extremely insightful because it explains the complex music business in simple language and comes straight from a pro, who obviously knows what he's talking about. Cohen covers all the bases so you face no major obstacles that you are unaware of. He breaks it down nicely into sections so as not to confuse and never talks down to the reader, as many authors on this subject do. With Cohen's help, you wouldn't need to rely on anybody else because the education you can get from reading this book will make up for all the knock backs you have and would receive whilst trying to make it. It is well worth a read for anyone trying to get into the music business, even if it is just to give you a few ideas for a start.

To those of you who have reviewed the reviews and not the book on this page, I HAVE read this book and fully recommend it. If you are not willing to give the book a chance, leave the reviewing to those of us that are.

A great resource! Even if you don't make a full 500,000, the tips and tricks in this book will make you a profit, and help you better manage what you already have. The book is easy to understand and written in a friendly tone, making it a great book to reference again and again throughout your career, a career that is sure to get a boost when you follow the advice crammed into this text! It really helped a friend of mine market his music; this book really works!

I know it's common practice, but give me a break. Most of these "reviewers" have only reviewed one thing, this CD. also, I was looking at another person and they advertise this guy's website and all her reviews say "so & so's book is okay, but "how you can make ....." is the best most complete book out there." Give me a break. Even if this was the best book out there, which it's not, I still wouldn't buy it.

I agree that these reviews are bogus. It's the same with the authors other book, "The New Music Industry..." I have a feeling that a lot of these "reviewers" are either a sockpuppet of the author or friends, paid stooges etc.

Seems reason enough to steer clear of this author's works.

As a mom of two boys under the age of 4, and a freelance writer , I didn't (and still don't) have a lot of time to devote to researching online markets for possible queries. This book has done all the work for me in a fun and relaxed read. The Tedesco brothers begin the book with all the web-related jargon and skills you need, including a great primer on sending HTML files, followed by a thorough complilation of "paying" online markets. This is one book that serious freelancers must have if you want to break into the online marketplace.

The Tedesco brothers have written a book with good advice, useful infomation, and many links to sites using freelance writers. Some of the information is still valid, and for that it is worth reading. However, the book is hopelessly outdated, as the Interent is constantly changing.

This resource for writers is excellent. Funny and well-written, the authors really did their homework. Best of all, updates are available for readers. I heard from the author personally via e-mail. Very nice.

If you're even remotely serious about writing online, you need this book. The spotlight stories were very informative and the markets section is filled with leads. I lost count of how many markets I found that I'm querying.

-This book covers all the basics you need for writing online; the how to's of query letters, electronic rights, pay rates, contracts, and more. It's informative, well presented, and enjoyable to read. In addition, the authors even have a sense of humor. I've ordered other books on the subject and "Online Markets for Writers" is clearly the best.

-MUCHO THANKS TO THE AUTHORS FOR MAKING THIS INFO AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE!

Best Regards--Dan Murphy

Ty Cohen's work is without a doubt - GENUIS! I would highly recommend his books, videos, etc. If you don't get it from Ty, don't get it. He is experienced, professional, intelligent and unbelievable. I couldn't believe how insightful and intelligent his work is. You should buy EVERYTHING he sells and everything DJ Cardiac makes as well. DJ Cardiac is a genius too, but Ty has been around longer.
Check out his work as well: How to Become a Professional DJ

I am an indie musician and a bit of an introvert. I had problem booking and negotiating gigs which posed quiet a problem for me. After reading this book I gained a lot of confidence simply because I became informed of the tips and tricks in the indie side of the industry. Since then, I have also recorded and released a CD!

This book definitely helped me look at the music industry from a different angle. You can say it got me thinking outside the box. There are so many ways to make money in the music industry and this book reveals them all. Thanks!

I am a do-it-yourself kinda guy. This book definitely was full of tips and tricks on how to do just that. I am an indie artist trying to make it in a newly "indie" world. This book helped me figure out just how to do that. A great read! Haven't made $500,000 yet but I am on my way!

This book has no publishing company nor editor. It has not been edited. There are at least a hundred spelling and grammatical errors in all 68 pages of the book. Much of his advice is ambiguous and from the quality of his literature, I would be surprised if he graduated from high school. The only information I could find on the internet about the author is from his words which seem to have no merit. I contacted him in a professional manner to discuss my disdain for the book and to question him about his so called "experience", he did not have the courtesy to respond. Because of the poor writing and effort I do not have any faith that the advice given in this book is valid. Somebody would have to pay me to read another book that he wrote. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK. I wish I had done my investigating before I bought this book, I'll never trust the information given in the description again.

I bought both this and Volume 2. Returned Volume 1 and am not too thrilled with Volume 2. I have much better books on the same information which include easier to understand instructions, illustrations and certainly a much broader spectrum of challenges. Artfully illustrated but too limited in my opinion. It covers only one technique many time over. Volume 2 goes just a little beyond that! As a design instructor I used the art of "POP UP" as a tool for my students to use paper engineering to exercise their critical thinking skills. I would not have included either volume in my recommended reading for that purpose. It is more of a "cut and paste what is already provided" example of a very limited number of techniques.

If you like pop ups, and want to try different ones, this book is one to have! You can also buy more to cut up instead of cutting up the ones included in the book. There is also websites that you can find (search: Tunnel Book) and you will find a link to this book!

The perfect book for a beginner. As a bonus, the book itself has a fantastic design concept. It presents an example, then you can tear out a card with the pattern for that example, and when you finish, it has a pocket on the next page where you can store the card you just cut. Also, if you don't like cutting up your book, there is an order form for replacement cards. It's nice to see form follow function!!

the Pocket Paper Engineer book is very informative from tools that you'll need to templates for a variety of designs. The only negative i have is that i wish it wasn't on spiral for greater ease of removal of the templates.

Of the several how-to books I own on creating & designing pop-ups, this book disappointed me.
The vast majority is devoted to what is basically one pop-up technique, and the author gives numerous variations on that one type of pop-up as if each were entirely different. Yes, this book is simple & easy to use... great for those who want to play a bit -- or people who work with kids.
For true pop-up explorers however, pop-up mechanisms such as floating layers, scenery flats, boxes, etc. are not included in this book. To really dig into the subject of pop-ups and paper engineering, look elsewhere.

As a long-time vacation owner and manager, I can highly recommend Alfred and Emily's system to those owners just starting out. The forms, copyrighting tips, and sections on how to advertise and attract guests are important elements for success.

When I bit the bullet and bought a property in the Bahamas over eight years ago, my wife and I were genuinely afraid we'd made a big mistake. At the time I didn't know about the Glossbrenner's system and had to figure it out on my own. Because of our lenghty learning curve, I DON'T recommend others do this! Get the book and CD's and start putting warm bodies in your vacation home now. Then you can breathe easier and more often.

Thank you for the time, energy, and effort you have put into helping people, like me, break into the vacation-rental business with a bit of a `security blanket.' Your book, articles, and insights have literally helped me not only make $$$ with my Daytona Beach vacation rentals, but save $$$, headaches, and time as well.... Your list of leading vacation-rental advertising sites was right on point.

Kenny Doucette
Owner/Proprietor
www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com

I have thoroughly read "How to Make Your Vacation Property Work for You!" and I have bought their *new* CD on further hints since the original book was written. Both are *superlative* products! I have learned many ideas I was unable to find in other sources. These products are the best single-sources for renting your vacation home, and these products direct you toward other useful sources as well.

In addition, I have found the authors to be friendly had helpful when I had individual questions.

I rate these products five stars!

Jim

A vacation rental owner myself, I found the information in this book absolutely fabulous! You'll read and re-read this "Bible" for vacation rental owners. Regardless of where your property is located this book covers all the essentials to help you to be succssful in the Vacation Rental business. Easy to read and well written it is money well spent!

We're pleased to share this review written by travel writer and vacation-rental guru Joyce Hadley Copeland, author of the "Renting Paradise" series of e-guidebooks on exceptional vacation rental properties. The review originally appeared in Ms. Copeland's Ramblings blog at her RentingParadise.com website and is posted here with her permission. -- Alfred & Emily Glossbrenner, Authors

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME... THEN AGAIN, MAYBE YOU SHOULD

If you've had great experiences renting vacation homes--and especially if you've been swept into the welcoming (usually figurative) embrace of a particularly passionate owner--a funny thing might start happening. You might start imagining yourself doing the vacation rental thing yourself. And why not ask Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner?

If you own or are thinking of buying a vacation rental property, the Glossbrenners will show you how to pay your mortgage and make money by renting it yourself. Their 300-page book/CD seminar-in-a-box is based on what the couple learned from a decade renting a Williamsburg-style cottage on their property in Bucks County, PA. Today their second home is routinely fully booked as much as six months in advance.

The book is engaging (the Glossbrenners are successful authors with over 60 books to their credit) and full of practical wisdom, step-by-step instructions and clear examples that will guide you in maximizing the Internet to promote and rent your dream vacation or retirement home (finding the right listing sites, boosting your search engine ranking etc.).

HERE'S WHAT I ESPECIALLY LOVE: Guidelines for writing a property description! "Write from the Heart!" These smart-cookie marketers advocate infusing rental descriptions with "personality." (Because, aren't we all tired of the hype?) They talk about "painting a picture" for rental prospects... going into detail about what you (the owner) personally love about the property such as distinctive architectural details or an interesting history... weaving in off-the-beaten-path secret places you've discovered. That's music to a prospective vacation renter's ears. AND they devote a whole section to "Enhancing Your Listing With Great Photos." Hallelujah!

The Glossbrenners also include a CD containing a collection of personally-selected Windows programs to help you manage and market your vacation rental property--in what is becoming a highly competitive market niche--in your spare time.

Check out the 30-day Money-Back Guarantee. But also check out the Glossbrenners' promise: "Regardless of your rental rate, and regardless of season, if you get just one extra booking as a result of what we have to teach you, this vacation rental owner's training package will have paid for itself many times over. And it will continue to do so year after year from now on."

Pssst: Check with your accountant. You may be able to write the whole thing off as a business expense.

Joyce Hadley Copeland
Ramblings Blog
RentingParadise.com