Holidays Books

A bouhgt several different NY guides, but this map was the one I used most. It's small enough that you can open it in subway without been in shame, but big enough to read street names without binoculars. Map also includes subway system, wich was great. Next trip I will leave my guidebooks to home and take this map and michelins guide to NY.

I bought four different reference sources for a trip to NYC. Each had something unique to offer but if I only had the funds to purchase one, this would have been it. It has it all - easy to use, tons of info like address finder, subway and bus maps, restaurant lists with pricing guidelines and much more. The size is great, fits nicely in a purse or deep pocket. It states on the front that it's the "Ultimate Map Guide" and it is.

I have had all the editions of this map. It is a great resource for NYC. I even use their recommendations for restaurants. The only minor complaint I have is about the Brooklyn and Queens maps. These are very superficial and cannot be used to get around these burroughs.

I have visited New York City twice now and I am currently planning my 3th trip. Fodor's flashmaps are an indispensible guide: practical, easy to use and with all the information I need as a tourist to quickly find my way around the city. I have compared flashmaps with other guides and maps but I find Fodor's stand out from the competition: the information is presented in a very logical and straightforward way and looking up the desired info is a matter of seconds; the information is comprehensive, useful and very to-the-point: the editors focus on information you need on a daily bases and is very much of the 'no frills, need to know'-class: important addresses, streetfinders, important contact information, transportation, hotels, hospitals, post offices as wel as shopping addresses, hotels and airports to name just a few out of more then 30 categories. And finally: the book's dimensions make it easy to carry around without that 'hey, look at me, I am a tourist'-feel. Perhaps one of the best guides on the market and highly recommended.

Two crucial tips for NYC: have great maps and pack lightly. Flashmaps allows you to do both! This small book can be pulled out quickly and referenced without having to unfold a huge map. Multiple maps for subways and buses and shopping aren't needed because everything is contained in this booklet. It can be stashed in a coat pocket or small bag.

I would recommend this to anyone visiting for the first time or 100th time!

Gives a very good overview of Hawaii. Tells of the lowest rates ect. Very helpfull

Well written book with lots of details and recommendations. I like the way it is laid out in geographical groupings, not just a long list of one type of attraction then another.

The Fodor's Hawaii and Oahu Trailblazer were excellent mates. Fodors was too heavy to carry around all day so we tore out the pertinent pages and used it for their takes on restaurants and Waikiki. If you're on a budget these books are a must.

We used this on Oahu and the big island. It was indispensable for getting around and finding places. The write-ups were very accurate and helped us find a much nicer hotel when the one we had checked into turned out to be a roach motel.

Along with specialty guides for Hawaii like the Trailblazer series, we use this Gold Hawaii book for things like the spa addresses and the refreshment reviews. We keep it in the back seat and reach for it when we approach the little towns. Thumbing through it always turns up something worth seeing.

The shop reviews and addresses always interesting. Sometimes the storefronts don't have curbside appeal and the book always spurs some interest to go inside.

It could stand for more young family with children stops and more cheap restaurants. That's our only criticism of this otherwise valuable book.

We started our five week tour of India with Let's Go India Nepal, and found the Footprint guide four weeks into our tour. After looking it over, we quickly realized how much detail, clarity, and completeness we were missing. We didn't open Let's Go again, other than to retrieve our bookmark.

Some of the telephone numbers were slightly off, but that is par for the course in India. The correct numbers were easily located via directory assistance, which the book informed us of.

We stayed at two of the highly recommended hotels between US$5 and US$6 a piece and were delighted by the overall quality and cleanliness we found.

Its descriptions of some of the sights surpassed even that of our tour guide.

We liked this guide so much that we now use Footprint guides for our travels wherever they are available and up to date.

WARNING: The guide warns that the prices for many tourist attractions will go up on Jan 1, 2001. They actually went up on October 18, 2000. Now at most major tourist sites in India, foreigners pay the same number of dollars as Indian's pay rupees.

A comprehensive guidebook to India which proved indispensable during our three month trip. Detailed descriptions of the history and layout of the various tourist sites renders local guides and guidebooks largely unnecessary. A broad based guidebook of nearly 1400 pages, it includes digestible background sections covering history, language, religion and politics which enhanced enormously our appreciation of Indian life and culture. Despite the wealth of information its handy size, hardcover and tough binding stood up well to the rigours of backpacking. The up-to-date hotel and restaurant sections cater for the full spectrum of travellers - from budget back packer to luxury holiday makers. The opinions offered are balanced and fair, providing enough information to plan and enjoy your trip without unfair bias - in contrast to many of the other India guidebooks we consulted. An added advantage of using this little known guide was that we avoided the ubiquitous "Lonely Planet" bores who tramp through India reciting parrot fashion the recommendations and opinions of the LP authors and researchers.

The India Handbook is a thoroughly well-researched and detailed guide. The most informative guide on the market, it provides invaluable information which is useful to both the short and long-term visitor to India, particularly by the inclusion of accurate large and small scale maps. It is also strong and compact. However, perhaps the most appealing feature is it's direct and non-chatty text, packing important and need-to-know facts into a notey yet precise format, leaving the reader to form his/her own opinions on people and places.

I spent one month travelling all over India with the 1999 edition of the India Handbook and what a life saver it was. The book was fantastic with its information and right on the money everytime with hotel rates, ferry schedules, etc. The brief anecdotes were especially helpful and I really appreciated the open mind the book had quick not to judge a country full of many different aspects. The book was enlightening and in my hand all the time, but my mind was still open to new experiences which were not preconceived by the authors. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to anyone who really wants to experience India in a different light!

We hav just completed an excellent three week journey through India. Much of this would simply have not been possible without the help and guidance of this excellent guide. For instance we have just come back by road from Goa to Mumbai through some very varied and interesting countryside including a trip up into the Ghats which was quite hairaising anlong narrow, twisty roads. The road conditions were such that it took us much longer than we anticipated. The Handbook did not let is down but suggested an excellent hotel at Kiplung. In addition, we found that the descriptions of the sites more than compensated for not having guides available at Orccha for instance. The only time we had problems was when we did not consult the guide sufficiently!

How wonderful is it to see a picture book done in a digital process that does not look like it came out of a Photoshop or Illustrator 101 handbook. This is rich, gorgeous and has tons of soul. As a pretty devout traditional media guy, I must admit that this book is just awesome. Mad Props to the illustrator! Enjoy.

Although Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Stein love their son, they just can't seem to teach him to be scary. Lessons in how to walk like a monster fail, and they "showered their son with scariness"--but to no avail. In a funny twist, Frankie dresses like a regular boy, gives his parents a hug, and finally achieves his own form of scary. The cartoon-like water color illustrations make the Stein monster family seem gentle, and this tale is perfect for Halloween storytimes since it's comic twists are unlikely to scare even the youngest listeners. Older listeners will be more attuned to the many Frankenstein references, making the story suitable for a wide range of listeners, from preschool through elementary school. Recommended for children three through eight.

great book for young kids. I had to have this one in my
personnal libary

This fun book is a heart-warming Halloween read for the 3 to 7 set. An engaging story with sweet, LOL illustrations. I'm sending this one to my nephews for Halloween and will be a super-star aunt. I always struggle with what to send on Halloween (no candy, no scary stuff); this charming Halloween book was the perfect answer.

Love it! Will buy any book illustrated by Kevan Atteberry! Fun to read, for kids or adults!

This book is a keeper. Easy to read and digest. This book has made me think the way I treat others.

As far as understanding the nature and power of forgiveness, this was a paradigm shifter for me. More importantly, it moved me to action, literally becoming a catalyst for mending, what was at the time, a seriously damaged relationship. I have not read a better book on the subject. Volf's a deep thinker, but he doesn't have his head in the sand. He writes from a place of humility and grace. And his understanding of the Gospel and what it makes us capable of becoming is so illuminating and life-giving. I hope I don't sound too enamored with the man, but his insights have proven to be very wise. I feel that I am in his debt.

Have you ever wondered what is missing in our culture? In our churches? In our workplaces? In our homes? In our "selves"? Volf offers a compelling diagnosis for one of modern culture's most significant and serious problems. I dare anyone to read this book and walk away unchanged. At the very least it will change your perspective, at best it may change your life.

Volf does an incredible service for the church in writing this. He is neither preachy nor condescending, but is thoughtful, articulate and weaves together a beautiful theology of forgiveness. This book fills a large gap in the thought and reflection of the church in America, and deserves careful attention to anyone wishing to follow Jesus.

This is a primer on the most gracious acts we can participate in: giving and forgiving. It is for Christians as well as those of other faiths or even no faith. The author sets out to explain first who is God and explains the difference between God's reality and his image. He then "...examines how to conceive of and live out two basic human practices, giving and forgiving."

Dr. Volf admits this is not a scholarly book, but says that "Most books I write, I write for myself, as s spiritual exercise almost." I found it a thought provoking study that requires contemplation rather than a quick fifteen minutes of reading before bedtime. I also see it as a basis for a Bible study class resulting in endless interesting discussions.

While Bible verse references are frequent, the author refers to the classics in literature as well as examples from movies. This book is not stuck in the stories of 2000 years ago, but in the reality of our times as well as those of Jesus.

Through each chapter the author defines the differences between God's acts of giving and our own, as well the differences in how we forgive. Early on he states with authority that "Faith is the first part of the bridge from self-centeredness to generosity." Dr. Volf's explanations provide a clarity which had me shaking my head in understanding many times. We all know it is good to give a gift, but as the author says, "When a gift is given, life becomes extraordinary because God's own gift giving flows through the giver." This is a perspective I hadn't considered, but it feels like the sun rising on a new day.

He goes on to address the question of why forgiveness is required and says it is a "...special kind of gift." He is not unrealistic and acknowledges how difficult it is. Examples from his own family show that it can be done, even in the most difficult situations. We can only hope to learn to forgive half as well as his parents did.

I challenge you to undertake the study of this subject. Give yourself the gift of knowledge and understanding, which will benefit those around you.

Dr. Volf, Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School, is a native of Croatia. He is the author ten books, including "Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation" which won the 2002 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. "Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace" was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Official 2006 Lent Book.

This is a gorgeously done telling of the 12th Century carol. The drawings make some of the language more understandable to modern readers. Sweet book for teaching the song to younger children.

I loved the pictures. My son (7 y.o.) read the book in school and asked for it for a Christmas present. I am very pleased
Great for all ages.

This book is an eyeful! Tomie dePaola's gorgeous illustrations to this simple story have a sort of pre-Raphaelite glow to them, and the animals' faces seem almost soulful. I also appreciated the music in the back that enabled me to sing the words rather than simply telling them. Reading the book to a one-year-old, I would prefer that more of the pictures actually show the baby Jesus rather than implying his presence, which is a little hard to explain to a very young child. But all in all, it's a lovely Christmas book for children and lovers of Christmas carols alike.

I have loved this Christmas carol since my children learned it in their Episcopalian school. It captures the essence of the season...giving of yourself is the most precious gift of all. Each "beast" in the stable honors the Christ child by giving of itself. What a powerful message illustrated by one of the finest authors/illustrators, Tomie dePaola. I have urged every parent I know to purchase a copy.

I believe this is a 12th Century French Carol -- and not an old English Carol,as stated. Well, regardless of which side of the Channel it comes from, it's charming. If ever you have the chance to hear this sung by little ones, don't miss it -- it was meant for their sweet voices.

During a recent trip to Chicago, I used several guide books to plan our trip and to use during the visit; I found this particular reference was the one I used most frequently and the one I threw in the backpack as we headed out the door each day. This guide was indispensable, containing suggested itineraries, an overview of the city, great ideas for excursions -- tours, strolls, attractions, shopping and entertainment -- as well as a history of the city and superb chapters on hotels and restaurants. We even stayed at a hotel that was surprisingly inexpensive and in a great location, and one that our native Chicago friends didn't know about! The guide is written in a friendly style, is well-organized, has lots of maps, and is jam-packed with useful information.

A superb guide to Chicago for families. Highy recommended.

With colorful maps and reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and activities for the family, this guide was the only book I needed to plan the perfect trip.

With colorful maps and reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and activities for the family, this guide was the only book I needed to plan the perfect trip.

I am a Frommer's fan! If you already have the recent Frommer's Chicago, then you may find much of the information in this book a tad redundant.

The book tackles topics pertinent to families: prices, facilities, times when families will feel most welcome, etc...

I am very happy with my purchase and will pursue other Frommer's products in the future.

Even if you've resided in or visited Chicago frequently, this guide includes activities and insight which are invaluable when traveling with children. From the best places to eat and stay to the most "kid friendly" museums and gallaries, this book has it all. A definite good buy if you want to plan the most cost effective and enjoyable family trip to Chicago.

I purchased the book for my mom for Christmas and she loves it. She is visiting Ireland for the first time later this year.

My wife and I traveled around Ireland for two weeks this summer, and Frommer's Ireland was an amazingly helpful tool.

Realizing this would probably be the last time we'd be traveling abroad for a while, we decided to mix it up a bit --"inexpensive" to "moderate" accommodations and restaurants in most places, with a few dabbles in the "expensive" (and even one "very expensive") splurges along the way. Across the board, the recommendations in this book were outstanding. What to see and do, where to stay, where to eat and shop.....all were presented in a very down-to-Earth way. The eye for small detail and nuances throughout the book made us feel we were getting advice from a local expert who REALLY knows her stuff.

I can't say enough about how helpful this guide was to us -- it really made our trip a memorable one. The fold-out map got us around most of the country with no trouble....once a nice gentleman in a petrol station showed me how to get my rental car into reverse.

All in all, a terrific book.

My family used Frommer's Ireland 12th Ed. extensively before, during ,and after our trip to Ireland in July of 2002. The first two chapters Best of..., and Planning your Trip... were worth the purchase price alone. All of the Best of tips we followed were excellent choices.
The large fold out map that was included served very well during our driving tour of Ireland. Using the county and town maps that were included in the local sections kept us right on track. Distances are deceptive however. It takes longer to get anywhere you go than it would appear from reading the map. The Irish road system is not built for speed ( nor comfort for that matter) so plan accordingly. It takes a long time to drive across the country, or from county to county. More could have been made of this issue in the guide. Our biggest mistake was trying to do too much.
The up to date information on Dublin was very helpful, as were the frequent tips throughout the guide on ways to avoid the summer crowds. I used the web addresses that were included for lodging and found them very helpful for checking availability and booking our rooms quickly. Don't go without it!

I planned a trip to Ireland for my Mother, 4 sisters and Myself.
I started with "Ireland for Dummies" then read "Frommer's Ireland 2001" and crossed referenced with "Ireland from $60 a Day". I learned more from these books in 2 weeks than in all of my years as a Travel Agent and Airline staff!! Their detailed in-sight and straight-forward advice was right on target. They give prices,times, phones numbers and payment information. They tell you where to go, what to do and who to talk to. I loved their list of on-line addressess for information. Only two things were wrong with my copy. They quoted every price in Irish pounds that were useless after February 2002. I realize that they had to go to print before this change and were unable to adapt in time. The other was lack of detailed mapping. A free map was included inside "Ireland 2001" but only had some of the streets shown for Dublin. I know these will be corrected in future printings. I would recommend these Frommer's books to anyone!! They are written in plain English, yet don't talk down to you(even the "Dummies" book. It was quite humorous)

On a tour with many other students everyone wanted to look at this book, why? Because every time we did anything the description in this book was dead on the money.

When Flan Floods old friend, Liv, from elementary school comes to visit, she wants to show Liv how exciting and fun she is. Or how fun she is trying to be. When Flan attends Liesel Rieds sweet sixteen birthday party, she meets celebrity Sarah Beth Benny and they decide to have their own sweet sixteen for Flan, even though she's only turning 14. Girls We Love is a wonderful book and J. Minter does an excellent job of revealing the drama in a teenagers life, from boys to just being popular. For example, Flan just broke up with her boyfriend, Jonathan. She wants to get back together with him, but now she thinks he likes Liv, but Liv actually likes Flans brother Patch. This is a fiction book and is suited for young teens. Girls We Love is the first book in the Insiders Girls series, and even though I have not gotten a chance to read the other books, I plan to. I know tons of people will love this book just like I did.

When Flan Floods old friend, Liv, from elementary school comes to visit, she wants to show Liv how exciting and fun she is. Or how fun she is trying to be. When Flan attends Liesel Rieds sweet sixteen birthday party, she meets celebrity Sarah Beth Benny and they decide to have their own sweet sixteen for Flan, even though she's only turning 14. Girls We Love is a wonderful book and J. Minter does an excellent job of revealing the drama in a teenagers life, from boys to just being popular. For example, Flan just broke up with her boyfriend, Jonathan. She wants to get back together with him, but now she thinks he likes Liv, but Liv actually likes Flans brother Patch. This is a fiction book and is suited for young teens. Girls We Love is the first book in the Insiders Girls series, and even though I have not gotten a chance to read the other books, I plan to. I know tons of people will love this book just like I did.

When Flan Floods old friend, Liv, from elementary school comes to visit, she wants to show Liv how exciting and fun she is. Or how fun she is trying to be. When Flan attends Liesel Rieds sweet sixteen birthday party, she meets celebrity Sarah Beth Benny and they decide to have their own sweet sixteen for Flan, even though she's only turning 14. Girls We Love is a wonderful book and J. Minter does an excellent job of revealing the drama in a teenagers life, from boys to just being popular. For example, Flan just broke up with her boyfriend, Jonathan. She wants to get back together with him, but now she thinks he likes Liv, but Liv actually likes Flans brother Patch. This is a fiction book and is suited for young teens. Girls We Love is the first book in the Insiders Girls series, and even though I have not gotten a chance to read the other books, I plan to. I know tons of people will love this book just like I did.

Have you ever felt like no matter where you are, drama follows you everywhere you go? Meet Flan Flood. An average New York City girl who just happens to be having a sweet sixteen party when she's turning fourteen. In Girls We Love, J. Minter does an excellent job of pulling all teens into this girl's life. Between the parties, boys, and celebrities you can say it's anything but ordinary. With Flan's best friend from kindergarten Liv coming to visit, and Patch her older brother all caught up in his friends, Flan has no time for the constant worry about what her ex-boyfriend Jonathan is doing. With all that is happening will Flan's party be a success or a total disaster?


This realistic fiction novel is definitely one of my favorites. I can relate to events going on, like all the drama. But also there are things happening in Girls We Love that I love reading about because they interest me. Including the hot parties with celebrities and going shopping with your new movie star best friend. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. I guarantee you will fall in love with this book just like it did.

Have you ever felt like no matter where you are, drama follows you everywhere you go? Meet Flan Flood. An average New York City girl who just happens to be having a sweet sixteen party when's she's turning fourteen. In Girls We Love, J. Minter does an excellent job of pulling all teens into this girl's life. Between the parties, boys, and celebrities you can say it's anything but ordinary. With Flan's best friend from kindergarten, Liv coming to visit and Patch, her older, brother all caught up in his friends, Flan has no time for the constant worry about what her ex-boyfriend Jonathan is doing. With all that is happening will Flan's party be a success or a total disaster?

This realistic fiction novel is defiantly one of my favorites. I can relate to thing going on, like all the drama. But also there are things happening in Girls We Love that I love reading about because they interest me. Including the hot parties with celebrities and going shopping with your new movie star best friend. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone. I garntee you will fall in love with this book just like it did.

The country where you were born rarely stops being home. Especially if you lived there for very long. This book highlights a family from the United States whose parents come from Mexico. The parents still feel very strongly that Mexico is home though they are firmly planted in the US. The kids are very uncomfortable with the knowledge. They prefer to speak English and feel that the US is home. What is this place their parents call home? What if they want to stay there? How do their parents really about about home in the US which the kids consider home? It's a confusing dilemma for kids and parents have to have mixed feelings too.

Eve Bunting takes her readers on journey with a Mexican family going home for Christmas. The text she uses is elegantly written. Through the feelings expressed by Carlos and his family you get a real sense of the Mexican culture and the importance of family. David Diaz's illustrations lead you into the journey with Carlos and his family. With the use of collaged background and inset illustrations the pages come alive. The text of Bunting and the illustrations of Diaz give you the sense of being there. This is a book that a child of any age would enjoy.

This book is very touching...it sensitively portrays the sacrafices Mexican immigrants have to make to move to America for their children to have a better life. Very well done themes of parental love, long car trips, the sadness of leaving one's home country, sibling realtionships, husband and wife being romantic (tasteful and age-appropriate), and a child's growing understanding of the complexities of life. Buy and read it to every child (and adult) you know.

This story is well told, with a nice pace and sense of language. Diaz is up to his usual standards, creating a colorful world that you just want to hop right into. Judge this book by its cover - it's beautiful!

Eve Bunting's books have a wisdom that transcends their simple stories. As an ESL teacher and a teacher in classes with immigrant students, I have often shared this book with middle school students and adults. In a brief and poetic narrative, it tells the universal story of parents sacrificing so their children will have a better life, through the eyes of a child. The adults in my ESL classes love it and take it home to read to their children.