Brooks Books

This is a great book...fun for both kids and adults. I love how the pages have cut outs that clue you in to the next page. Fun!

Great simple illustrations with bold colors - neat thinking - leaves age-old question unanswered, which does come first - chicken or the egg?

I love the book. I bought it for my son last Christmas, but it's a little too conceptual for a three year old. Still, it's beautiful. I'll try this out with him in a year.

A lovely book for young people, with die cut pages that explain some of life's mysteries in an age appropriate way.

Which came first--the chicken or the egg? Finally, someone is here to tell us. But the answer later.

"First the egg," written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, is a Caldecott honor winner for 2008 and an honor book for the Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) Award. What makes it special? Both the artwork and the story, or actually, in this case, concepts that lead from one transformation to the next. Two previous clever winners are Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) by David Wiesner and Black and White, an earlier Caldecott by David Macauley.

I took this book from a display in our bi-annual Book Fair. I read it in just one minute. Then reread it. And reread it. Every time I pick up this seemingly simple book, I see something else I missed. Even the covers are part of the story. This book is more than clever--it is brilliant, as in illuminating.

Listen, here is the story. Get comfortable and let me read it to you:

First the EGG
then the CHICKEN
First the TADPOLE
then the FROG
First the SEED
then the FLOWER
First the CATERPILLAR
then the BUTTERFLY
First the WORD
then the STORY
First the PAINT
then the PICTURE, First the CHICKEN
then the EGG!

Well? Exactly! Without the bold colors and almost in-your-face images in the background, the words are fine, but...? A Caldecott Award is given to the most distinguished picture book of the year. Please look at the cover image with this review. That gives an idea of the power of the colors and paint technique, which is impasto on canvas, providing two layers of texture. That is what this book has--texture: layers of texture in the art and the concepts.

Art? A creative, bold enterprise that can make the chicken or the egg first. Think it, do it. Create. That is exactly what Ms Seeger did. She created a bold, creative way to examine this age-old riddle.

"First the egg" is highly recommended, not only for children, who will adore it, but also for adults, who will be reminded of the grandeur of creation in all its many forms. Great children's books belong in the collection of adults as well as in children's.

Freddy is helping his old friend, Mr. Boomschmidt, with his circus. A mysterious plane has been dive bombing every performance and dropping sacks of flour. What can Freddy do to help? I love Mr. Brooks' writing style.

This Is WONDERFULLY FUNNY, AND WITTY!!!
it is one of the best ones i have ever read it is very smart to put robin hood in it and i love how freddy acts like Lorna Del Parda (Lorna The Lepoard Woman) and how there is Mrs. Wiggins acting like that phantom.
it is highly recomended as a book for all ages and you never get tired of it and the engoyable bean animals to the funny Mr. Boomshmidt are especially witty along with the ten horribles this is Wonderfully Boomshmidt.
Caleb A. Craig.

Freddy has been on crazy adventures but this time its the crazest one yet! Freddy's friend, Mr. Boomshimt is in a delemma and an quandary both. Mr. Condimment, a rich and determend man is after Rose the bareback ridder and there's no stopping him. He has someone divebomb the circus with flour bags and tries to buy the circus from Mr. Boom. He "pops the question" every week but Rose always says "No!" Can Freddy save Mr. Boom without gettong into a quandary too? This is a great book for all ages. Freddy took me some getting used to but he is now one of my favorite books and charatures.

A sweet, retrospectively innocent pre- 9 11 adventure about a pig zooming about in an aeroplane and saving people Pat Robertson would probably think should be deported to Venezuela.

It is only inevitable that the indefagatible Frederic Bean, bank manager, newspaper owner, detective, and overall pig extraordinaire should also become an ace barnstormer. How this comes to be is the subject of "Freddy the Pilot" a 1952 effort by Freddy's creator Walter R. Brooks. It all starts when Boomschmidt's Stupendous and Unexcelled Circus returns to Centerboro a bit early so that Mr. Boomschmidt can enlist Freddy's help in solving a dilemma the circus is in.

The star of the circus is the beautiful Mademoiselle Rosa, a bareback rider whose grace and ability are part of the Circus's special magic. Unfortunately, Watson P. Condiment, a very rich, but not particularly nice, comic book publisher has fallen in love with Rosa. Despite her refusal to encourage him, Condiment is fixated on his goal. So intent is he that he is more than willing to destroy the Circus entirely in order to propel Mademoiselle Rose into his arms.

The nefarious Mr. Condiment has tried many rotten tricks to close the Circus down, but the worst is having a plane dive bomb the Circus, blasting the audience with flour bag bombs. Mr. Boomschmidt keeps having to return the crowd's ticket money and is in great danger of going broke. Freddy summons his courage and decides to beard the mystery pilot in his den. Our pig shows up at the local air field and takes flying lessons. Soon he has his own plane and is preparing for his counter attack.

Freddy, assisted by his partner Mrs. Wiggins, a troop of Robin Hood-like skunks and the Horrible gang of scurrilous rabbits mount the effort designed to save the Circus and rescue Mademoiselle Rosa. The reader can count on a great deal of fun and excitement as one villain after another is rousted and sent on his way. The ingenious plot will even involve the U.S. Army and Uncle Ben's astonishing combination bomb sight and piggy bank.

Once again we are treated to a lovable adventure which teaches by example rather than lecture. The reader quickly finds out that courage, respect, and teamwork are the keys to success and happiness in Centerboro and the Bean Farm. Although late in the series, "Freddy the Pilot" can stand on its own without losing the reader. Kurt Wiese's original illustrations, always a treat, are exceptional in this volume, making it will worth its reasonable price.

This is the best invertebrate zoology textbook on the market, perhaps the best ever written. The authors are not content to merely present in fine detail the classification, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology of invertebrates, they present alternative interpretations and controversial opinions where these topics are concerned. In that way, invertebrate zoology comes alive as an active, important, and relevant field of study for understanding the ecology and evolutionary relationships of these organisms in a global setting. I highly recommend this book for a course of study or as a reference for Earth Science instructors who wish to solidify and deepend their knowledge and understanding of invertebrates.

A modern replacement of Libby Hyman's classic series, but, even so, is now beoming out of date because of the rapid advances in molecular biology. Dr. Barnes is deceased and I understand that Dr. Ruppert has no plans to update the book, a horrendous undertaking. Nevertheless, I know of no substitute for this fine text. Readers should also refer to Margulis & Schwartz "Five Kingdoms".

Ruppert and Barnes' text, now in its 6th edition sets the standard for invertebrate zoology texts. The authors provide adequate depth for undergraduate courses in invertebrate zoology, and good fodder for graduate students starting in the discipline as well.

There are outstanding collections of line drawings in the text -- a method of illustration I prefer to photographs for most instructional purposes.

There is good coverage of invertebrate animal groups, but, since it's published in 1994, there are a few places where the book is becoming dated. There is, for example, no information about the Cycliophora, the latest invertebrate phyla to be proposed.

I hope that there will continue to be new editions of this text produced. I cut my teeth on the 3rd edition, and other editions have figured prominently as I have worked through my graduate and professional careers.

Top-notch material. If you are considering which text to select for an invertebrate zoology course, I urge you to give this book a look.

This text is the most comprehensive yet easy to read book on invertebrates out there. Using an evolutionary approach, it begins with the simplest organisms and ends with the most complex. Reproduction, organ systems, and lifestyle are discussed in detail giving the reader a functional view of a continuum of simple to complex nervous systems, digestive systems and locomotive and reproductive life styles. This book explains invertebrate zoology using techniques and concepts that can be used to study most biology topics in a systematic fashion. It is a must own for any undergraduate or post graduate!!!

This book covers all the major taxa of invertebrate fauna and is surprisingly comprehensive for such a diverse topic.

It was the most wonderful book I ever read. About a girl who loves here dog and has such a strong realationship with him. When Cheddar was hit by the I coundn't stop reading! This book was filled with sadness,and happyness but yet still a little bit of mystery in it too. This book inspired me to write a story of my own and I hope if you read it will inspire you too!

I would recommend this book to other people because it is very detailed and it is also very curious too. Some parts of this book were exciting or scared or curious. I think a lot of people would like to read this wonderful book. If Cheddar did not get hit by a car I think none of the horrible things would have happened. I also think that some of Kat's reactions were not very good choices. I think that Kat should not have gone to the hospital because she could go to the hospital after school. When the bike was found, I was very curious about who stole the bikes. To me, this is a very well written book and I hope many people will read it!

This book was the best I have ever read! It is a wonderful book filled with sorrow, humor, and everyday situations.

If you love pets the way I do and you'll do anything in the world to take care of them and make sure they're all right, then you'll be right there with Kat and her dog, Cheddar in Pam Swallow's well-written story about them! This is a funny and sometimes serious look at a girl who does the wrong things for the right reasons - a girl I could sure identify with and I think you will, too. You'll want Kat for your friend.

It is wonderful to read a story about a character I can relate to. Kat is not a bad kid. She does something wrong, but she does it for the right reason. And then she pays for her mistake. A reader can see how one mistake can mushroom into something big, and that a person's reputation can be affected. But the reader can also learn, the way Kat does, that people can be so different than you imagined they are, once you get below the surface. Kat is a caring person, and that quality shines through. I was with her all the way!

The Mountain Meadows Massacre is usually recounted in one of two simple version: 1) Brigham Young ordered the assassination of innocent Gentile travellers; or 2) John D. Lee took it upon himself to do the same.

Brooks deals with the Massacre more thoroughly in her appropriately-titled _Mountain Meadows Massacre_, also available on this fine website. But the picture is incomplete without an understanding of who John D. Lee was. That picture is provided in great detail by this book, and it is sometimes startling.

Lee was not some renegade Danite chieftain. Raised on the American frontier, he joined the Mormons and became a pillar of the southern Utah community -- a church leader, the federal government's Indian farmer, and an officer in the militia. He was widely respected and reputed to have spiritual gifts of prophecy and healing.

And on the day of the Massacre, he was in a bad spot. Caught between conflicting and ambiguous military orders and facing the alternatives of killing not-completely-innocent travellers and alienating the native american population at a moment when the U.S. Federal government had declared war on the Utah Mormons, he made a tough choice.

Eventually, of course, Lee was banished for his crime, living out his last years as a ferryman with a greatly reduced family on the Utah-Arizona border. Some odd details strike you when reading Brooks' account, though:

1. There's plenty of evidence that people talked about Lee's excommunication, but in the well-kept church records, no sure indication that it actually happened.

2. Lee was a spiritually powerful man and a firm believer. Moreover, he was an intimate of Brigham Young (Young's adopted son, in fact).

3. Lee was a frontiersman through and through, one of the few Mormon pioneers (along with, say, Orrin Porter Rockwell and Bill Hickman)really equipped to deal with the harsh desert environment.

4. Lee was banished not when Brigham Young found out about the Massacre, but years later, and almost certainly in response to public sentiment.

So ask yourself this: if you were Brigham Young, and you needed to sacrifice someone to protect the church, who would it be? It's hard not to wonder whether John D. Lee's banishment was a calling. Maybe he wasn't excommunicated at all, but sent away as a visible sacrifice for the good of the community. Only a man with Lee's faith, independence and wilderness skills could be called on to make such a sacrifice.

Likewise, Lee seems to have virtually surrendered to his own execution, but it's not clear why. Was he again sacrificing himself for Brigham Young and the church? Did he feel the guilt of the Massacres and seek to atone by offering his own life?

I don't know, but I know this: if you're interested in Mormon history, Utah history or even the history of the American West, you should read this book.

I am pleased to be the first reviewer of this book who is not a decendent of John D. Lee, yet I, too, must give the book highest marks. While it is history, and a biography, it is as captivating as any novel, and a treat for the immagination as well as the rational mind. Full marks for the late Ms. Brooks in her ability to weave together the elements that make the man, her insight mostly derived from his own copious writings and those of his faithful wives. The result is a reasonably complete look at the complex man, faithful to his dying moments in the Church and gospel he thought he was defending, a look that includes his intimate thoughts, a sense of his apparent egotism, his devotion to his multiple families, and the role that his wives and children played in his life.

There is much that I appreciated about this book, not the least of which is the fact that Ms. Brooks did not shy away from the possibility that Brigham Young sacrificed J. D. Lee in a manner consistent with a Book of Mormon account, in which it is stated by God that "it is better that one man should perish, then a whole nation dwindle in unbelief." Lee himself implicates his "adoptive father," Brigham Young, in his farewell letter to his wives. At the same time, she does not for a moment lose the perspective of the seige mentality, the war-time thinking of both the perpetrators of the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and the leaders of the Church. Without this context, it is easy to stand in self-rightous judgement of what hindsight clearly dictates was a horrible act. With that psycho/social context, the fair-minded reader can at least admit that while John D. Lee was indeed a participant in an evil day, he was not an evil man. Far from it. Indeed, he may have paid the price with his life because he was in fact a man of high principles, and utmost regard for the God who gave him life. His faith sustained him through remarkable hardship, and sustained him in his own noble imprisonment and ultimatly his execution.

You will not be able to read this book without a strong sense of compassion for his wives, either. They were called upon to endure extreme hardship, and appear to have risen to the challenge. From their march across the plains, to the numerous times they were asked to open a new settlement, to eventually living practically alone in Navajo country to fend for themselves, even to birth children without so much as the help from an older daughter, these were women of enormous faith, incredible fortitude, and proud devotion to a man that their Church had marked as a scapegoat and sacrificial lamb.

It is likely that decendents of the Fancher Party would read this book with different emotions than I, but I found it to be highly stimulating and engaging, both to the sensitivities and the mind. It is a story of faith, of perseverence, of work and sacrifice, and ultimately betrayal by a man's dearest friends. If the book is too forgiving of Lee for his role in the Massacre at Mountain Meadows, it is only because his life was so much more than that one, dark day. The rest of his life was a labor of love, for his God, his Prophet, his friends, his wives, his children, and for the establishment of the Kingdom of God, of which he believed he was a key builder, in partnership with his God and his prophets.

The book is a great book if the reader is interested in the early years of the LDS church. As a member of the LDS church I found it very insightful. It is more insightful on the every day history of the church and the struggles of the members than it was on just John Lee. By insightful I mean tidbits of policy, history, the way things were handled, and changes in the church sinnce then that as members today we never hear of. Juanita Brooks through much research tells the story and pulls no punches for the LDS church or against the LDS church.

All the elements of classic dramatic tragedy are alive in the story of John D Lee and the Mountain Meadows Massacre - a telling, complicated, and chilling 35 year saga. This is truly one of the most powerful individual tragedies in American History.

Juanita Brooks, a powerful brave Mormon woman, said "nothing but the truth can be good enough for the church to which I belong". This biography of John Doyle Lee is part of her work to fulfill her belief. Her story is compelling and powerful, but suffers from some significant weaknesses in my view which I will describe after I "briefly" (sorry) relate the story of this tragedy. But on the whole, I highly recommend this book as a part of learning about this incredible occurence in the American West.


THE TRAGEDY

Lee converted to the Church of Latter Day Saints in the late 1830's. He had witnessed first hand the bloody conflicts between LDS communities and the "Americans" around them in Missouri and Illinois and had defended his community from the attacks of the "Gentiles". He had mourned the murder of his beloved profit Joseph Smith. Lee had played a major role in the migration of the "Mormons" from Missouri and Illinois in 1847 and 1848 and the settlement of Utah. He became the trusted and adopted son of Smith's successor, Brigham Young.

Over the next 10 years Lee became one of the richest men in southern Utah, a powerful and respected member of the Latter Day Saints, a community leader, builder, pioneer with a large and prosperous family. But then all the forces of a true tragedy began slowly to converge on the fields of a place named "Mountain Meadows" in southwestern Utah.

The "Saints" had been attacked by the larger American community and had become "outcasts". They had moved beyond the immediate power of the American Nation and had settled in a difficult land. They worked hard to build their communities and society and were proud of their hard-earned accomplishments. They were deeply committed to their faith and Church. Their views were of the "fire and brimstone - Old Testament" variety. They firmly believed the "End Times" were eminent.

The Utah LDS church and civil society was extraordinarily hierarchical. The "Saints" believed their leadership spoke directly on behalf of God - an assumed infallibility that would have been the envy of any Medieval Catholic Pope. They intended to build their vision of "God's society" in the wilderness and desired nothing more from the United States than to be left alone until the Second Coming of Christ, at which time they would take their rightful position as the new "Chosen People".

But the American Republic was young, brash, and expanding - and infused with the populist democratic ideal (at least for white folks). The US - Mexican War ended in 1845 and added California, Texas and the New Mexico-Arizona territories to the Union. Gold was discovered in California in 1848-1849. One of the largest migrations in history saw thousands of Americans moving across the plains and mountains to get to California and Oregon. And right in the middle were the Mormons of Utah. The society from which the Saints had escaped a few years earlier was now on the march through their domain.

The hierarchy of the LDS resisted Federal control. Brigham Young and his associates informed the American government that they were not obligated to obey federal law with which the disagreed, and they would decide for themselves which federal officers would be allowed to exert federal authority in the territory.

In 1856 John Fremont, the first Republican candidate for President, ran on a platform that promised to "prohibit in the Territories those twin relics of Barbarism - Polygamy and Slavery". The Democratic President elected instead of Fremont - James Buchanan - won with 45 percent of the vote in a 3 way election. Buchanan realized the country could be sliding toward Civil War. He was offended by Mormon "treason", and saw an opportunity to divert the nation's attention from the "irrepresible conflict" over slavery by focusing on Mormon treason and polygamy.

During this time the LDS church experienced a religious "Reformation". The Saints were challenged to renew their deep commitment to the Church and to root out the "Apostates" among them. The forces of God and Evil were increasingly at War, and the Saints had to be "purified" to face the doomsday events immediately before them.

In the summer of 1857 Buchanan ordered the army to discipline the Mormons in Utah. General Albert Sydney Johnston, soon to be one of the Confederacies most important generals, commanded the "Army of Utah". The Army that had recently defeated Mexico and greatly expanded the Republic was on the march against LDS domination of Utah. LDS leaders mobilized thousands of members of their militia to be prepared to oppose the Army. Brigham Young and his followers were preparing for war.

Right at this point, 250 emigrants known to history as the "Fancher Party" left Arkansas in April 1857 bound for California. Over a dozen family groups and many individuals comprised a loosely organized group of several wagon trains that crossed the plains and rolled into Salt Lake City in August 1857.

While they were on the trail a beloved and very important "Saint" - Parley Pratt - had been murdered in Arkansas by the first husband of one of his several wives. This news was reported in Utah newspapers in July 1857. The news "devasted the Saints and aroused sentiments of anger and grief" (see Bagley book below). Then, one month later, a wagon train of people from Arkansas arrived in Salt Lake City.

What happened from the time the Fancher Party left Salt Lake in mid-August until they camped at Mountain Meadows in early September is highly disputed. There are dozens of stories ranging from severe anger by Mormons towards the emigrants to aggressive disdain of the Mormons by the emigrants, including an alledged poisoning of a spring.

All these and several other threads came together in the Mountain Meadows from Monday 9/7/57 through Friday - another infamous 9/11 in American History. Early on Monday morning the emigrants were attacked by a combined group of Mormons and Native American allies. Subsequent investigations determined that on Friday, 9/11 the Mormons convinced the emigrants to surrender, in exchange for which the Mormons would lead the emigrants back to a town and safety.

Instead, after they surrendered, well over 100 emigrants were murdered in cold blood in a 30 minute slaughter. Only a few children survived. The Mormons believed they were too young to remember enough about the Massacre to be witnesses in the future, although several reported late in their lives that "you can never forget the horror". Also, Mormon doctrine held that such young children were by nature "innocent" and killing them would be a "mortal sin".

The man who convinced the emigrants to surrender to the Mormons was John D Lee.

John Lee was put by fate in the middle of an extremely ambiguous and terrible crisis in which he had to choose. His choice led to his being the immediate leader of the largest slaughter experienced by any wagon train in American History.

Did Lee make that choice on his own; was he the "highest" member of the LDS church who had "blood on his hands"? Or, was he following the orders of "God's representative on Earth" - his adoptive father Brigham Young? Or was the truth somewhere in the middle?

Just as this tragedy slowly built over 15 years, it slowly unwound over the following 20 years. For a short time Lee remained one of southern Utah's most influential men. But then nature and his society began to work on John D Lee. Step by step Lee lost his wealth and position, until he was cut off from the LDS Church. But he still followed its orders to go to a desolate but beautiful outpost called Lonely Dell to operate a Ferry on the Colorado River in Arizona at the southern reach of the Morman kingdom - today named as "Lee's Ferry" on the map.

Then, he was arrested, stood trial and was convicted for the Massacre. On March 23, 1877, Lee stood again at the Mountain Meadows, shook hands with those around him, and then was shot in the heart by a firing squad.

John Doyle Lee was the only person who faced legal justice for the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Was this justice? Or was Lee made a Scapegoat by the LDS Church? If so, did the LDS leadership sacrifice Lee to protect their own skins, or to save the Church?

Or, to use a more contemporary phrase, "What did Brigham Young know, and when did he know it?"

THE BOOK

Juanita Brook's biography of Lee tells in detail the story of his life, and weaves it into the fabric of the terrible tragedy of Mountain Meadows. You get a real feel for the man and his times, and how he lived his life. Lee was energetic, responsible, industrious, difficult, committed - and Brooks tells the story well.

HOWEVER, much of the "larger context" I described above is missing from this book. For example, there is no discussion of the effect of the American Civil War that began 4 years after the Massacre. Surely the most powerful event in 19th century America had some affect on this story. In fact, the War was so powerful and all-consuming that it appears to have prevented the federal government from effectively pursuing its investigation of the Massacre and bringing those responsible to justice.

Brooks wrote another book - the Mountain Meadows Massacre - that explored this larger context. A more recent book - Blood of the Prophets, Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows - by Will Bagley adds more contextual detail to Brook's Massacre book.

To really get a full appreciation for this complex tragedy, you need to read both this biography of Lee and preferably Bagley's broader book. I give Brook's book "only 4 stars" because much of this broader context is missing, but in fairness her book's goal is to tell the "inside" story of John D Lee's life.

I could not put this book down until I had finished it cover to cover. It is a gripping narative that is historically accurate. (None of the criticisms I have heard change the nature of the story at all.) She draws on primary resources and was often able to obtain documents no one else could. Her analysis, especially of Lee's second trial, is very insightful.

I was surprised to learn that the group of 12 or so men known as the "Misouri Wildcats" who were probably the target of the massacre had parted with the Francher company the day before the the first Indian raid and hence escaped being in the massacre.

I am not a descendant of John D. Lee.

I sent this to several widow friends of mine and they felt that it not only helped them with their sorrow but gave them great insight into the problems of widow-hood. It is so well written, you want to hug Ms. Field Brooks. A fast read as well.

I read this book shortly after my husband passed away and it was a source of understanding and support. It was like a friend helping me through that difficult first year. I was grateful for Ms. Brooks' help and guidance.

Great reading for anyone who has lost a loved one to death. Fern has an uncanny ability to project the emotions of a lifetime of love through the written word, as well as the pain of grief. This book will help anyone, in particular those who are widowed, to walk through the anguish of grief. Absolutely a "must read" for the widowed.

Hello Fern, Thanks for giving me an autographed copy of this book. I lost my dear sister who was like a twin to me about 2 years ago and you have helped me to come to grips such lost and emptiness in my life. Granted, I have a husband and 3 children (one is her son that we adopted after her death) but there is still a undescribed lonliness that I feel.

I read a couple of chapters a night and savor in depth of this book. I've also learned that it's okay to write a letter to my sister or keep a journal instead of keeping everything inside. And, most importantly, you do not say that I will get over it or "just go on with life." Thank you so much for understanding and for letting me know that the way I feel about the death of my loved one is quite ok afterall. And it's ok to cry or get angry or to write to her. Fern, you're a gem. And that Normy must've have been such a wonderful man. I like him and have never even met him before. Can you explain this? (smile)

I am a single man and did not read this book because I lost a spouse (though I have given it to others who have). I read it because it is simply magnificent. It touches on the human condition of loss and tells us a story of love and laughter, shares a life, a relationship,and leaves us with the distinct feeling that we are better off for having read it. It's simplicity is it's beauty, and Field, who is courageous and so appealing in her story, must be a wonderful woman. Just a beautiful little book to help us deal with our difficult life journeys. Bravo!

This book of "Poems" was very well done. It had a sense of straight from the heart warm feelings. The poems were very true to life... Living and Living for Christ. I really, really enjoyed reading "Living".

This book is a wonderful book of remembering what God is to us and how we should be to others. I'm so glad God inspired Paula Toney-Brooks and even MORE glad that she ACCEPTED the inspiration to write!

Thank you!

Very seldom does one read a book that touches the core of your soul with each word...."LIVING" did just that for me! The variety of poems makes for an all around special blend that speaks to all situations and occasions. Two of my VERY favorites are," IT'S YOUR TURN NOW",(which is still ministering to me) and "SECOND CHANCES"...( What a great reminder to us all just how good GOD is and how he keeps on giving us another chance when we mess up.) To the author, Paula Toney-Brooks, I have only one thing to say...." LET GOD CONTINUE TO USE YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT PROJECT." GOD BLESS

My sister in Georgia gave me a copy of the book Living for my birthday. Best birthday present she could have given me. I have read the book twice already and shall read it over and over again. This is the type of book that once you start reading it you can't put it down. Very inspiring. Thank you Paula Toney-Brooks for being God's secretary.

LIVING makes you want to "live"! Each poem became my "favorite". The best gift I ever received from any man except Christ!

A collection of 29 short stories from five remarkable authors! Talented author, Su Kopil, was kind enough to send me this for review. I am happy to say that this collection is fantastic!

Modern romance stories of all ages of lovers. First marriages, second chances, magical, renewed, you'll find them all here. Each will have you smiling and sighing in contentment.

Short stories cut out the fillers and additives. Instead, it gives you the meat immediately, so you will never be able to catch your breath with this book! Delightful, fun, and highly recommended!

I picked up this book only because I was so bowled over by a writing book by one of the coauthors, Tami D. Cowden. I've read mystery short stories for years, but had never really seen a collection of truly short romance stories before - most of those are novellas.

But this unique collection does not contain novellas - these are nice punchy short stories just like I find in mystery anthologies. You'll be amazed at the characterization the authors manage to pack into so few words - the very brevity makes each story so much more powerful.

The stories themselves are quite varied. A few brought tears to my eyes, while others had me laughing out loud. Each one truly different from the other. The only things they have in common are the very satisfying happy endings!

I recommend this books as something off the beaten path. But frankly, I hope to see a lot more books like this in the future!

Need a quick pick me up? Hate having your reading time interrupted? Try Love Triumphs, a collection of short romance stories that will have you remembering that instant you fell in love. Written by five wonderful authors, this electronically published anthology is worth a second look. I usually like my romances long and involved, with detailed characterization and vividly imaginative settings, so this collection caught me by surprise. Each story is brief and yet has character portrayals that stick with you. Within these stories you are bound to find yourself, and come face-to-face with your own insecurities and doubts. Whether you are still searching for your true love or have been happily married for fifty years, these stories will remind you of that powerful, all-consuming feeling that we call love and how often it can catch us by surprise. Within every mountain there lies a sparkle of gold and within this collection there is a true gem. Seven stories truly touched my heart and left me yearning for more, more detail, more scenes, more joy and heartbreak. Author Carolee Joy is the treasure buried within these pages. Every story she wrote was more poignant, more heart-touching than the others. I sincerely hope to see more written by her in the future for I feel this is an author with true potential. If you have only five minutes during your day and wish you had something to fill it, pick up this great collection of stories. They might reflect you, they might move you, but they are guaranteed to touch your heart and remind you that love can often be found in the most unexpected of places. Recommended

Aimee E. McLeod Reviewer

A collection of 29 short stories from five remarkable authors! Talented author, Su Kopil, was kind enough to send me this for review. I am happy to say that this collection is fantastic!

Modern romance stories of all ages of lovers. First marriages, second chances, magical, renewed, you'll find them all here. Each will have you smiling and sighing in contentment.

Short stories cut out the fillers and additives. Instead, it gives you the meat immediately, so you will never be able to catch your breath with this book! Delightful, fun, and highly recommended!

This story had me misty eyed, the emotions and characters leapt from the page. All of the stories in this anthology will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. And Heaven knows, we can all use a little warm and fuzzy in our lives.

What a wonderful book and so very informative. You will love the characteristics she so intriguing portrays. I hope the sequal comes out very very soon!!!

Lucifer's Flood is a mystical mystery wrapped in spiritual authenticity. Although the book is billed as fantasy, the characters are "fleshed out" as very real people in both believable and yet supernatural life situations. From the courts of heaven to the middle east and from the major capitals of the world to the lives of ordinary people, the reader is taken on an exhilarating wild ride of provocative questions and startling answers. Don't miss it. I highly recommend this book.

My sister lent me this book at the beach, and no one saw me for the rest of the day (unless you count simply seeing the top of my head over this book). The author wrote the story of rebellion, creation and humanity up to Moses in this page turner. The little bit of the book that deals with getting the scrolls is a bit hokey, but the story itself is well written. The author has put in not only a lot of humor but also a lot of truth into these pages. The fallen angel who is narrating the scrolls did not choose sides, which led to his fall. He doesn't want us to think he is whimpy as he chews his tail during stressful moments of human history. I am recommending this book for our little church book club. I think it will give everyone who reads it not only some laugh out loud moments, but also insight by looking at these well known events from a very different perspective. I can't wait for the next installment.

This is seriously the best book I've read this summer. And I average about 6 a week, and this one stands above them all. It's such a wonderful, creative and well written story, and the author has such insight! I was thrilled to learn that there will be two more books in this series. I'd love to know how the author came up with the idea. So if you were wondering whether or not you should read this book, I'd say absolutely.

This book is interesting in that it discusses and breaches many topics that the church doesn't analyze further. It is good in that it shows a perspective that many of us wouldn't have otherwise thought about. The thought of a demon who is sad that it had been involved in the rebellion is interesting. She tells a fascinating story from the rebellion to the gardern filled with interesting theories including different dimensions.

This book is a lovely way to discuss the life cycle with children and to encourage them to view living and growing old with spirit. Old Pig is a grandparent figure who celebrates life but one day does not get out of bed. He lets the young pig know it is his time to slow down and that life will go on and that his spirit will continue.

I think this must be the best book I have read to help the youngest members of your family deal with death. It is an incredibly positive and loving book.

Young pig and old pig live together, young pig is old pig's grand-daughter. They do their chores together each of them doing something different - constructive and sharing. Until one day Old Pig can't get out of bed.

Later they go for a walk. Old Pig knows she isn't long for the world and wants to look one last time at the beauty of things - the light on the water, the leaves on the trees. Then they go home. Young pig HOlds her tight for the last time.

It is a very beautiful and positive book. The illustrations are very sweet too.

Old Pig is the most touching story of life. I read it to my children, ages 3 and 4 years. My son, who is the older of the two, had questions about what it meant to lose someone you love. However, he quickly turned it around and spoke about life and how much fun it is share to it with others. Later that evening and for many evenings thereafter, I read Old Pig after they went to bed. It is indelibly etched it my heart.

i came across this book in 1996 when a fellow production controller showed me OLD PIG. we were the printer of this book for allen & unwin.

it made the hairs at the back of my neck go all funny the first time i read it. and it still does everytime i reread this achingly beautiful book. i left my hometown, 10 years ago, to work when i was barely nineteen and my grandfather died a few months later- never had the chance to say goodbye. i wished i had the chance to hold my grandfather tight one last time...

Soft illustrations from Australia's best young lit illustrator (Rob Brooks) keep this tale of death from being utterly bleak.

In the book, death is dealt with through the emotions of grief and loss. So incredibly powerful is the simple text, it is hard to be unmoved in the reading. For me to hear the illustrator himself give a reading of the book, while my dearest relative was in the clutches of incurable cancer, was almost too much. For this reason, this is NOT a pick-up-and-read-any-old-time kind of book.

To be sure, there are going to be times when this book is extremely valuable. If a child is suppressing his emotions over a loved one's passing, perhaps this book could be the perfect ice-breaker.

But if the parent feels that his or her child needs to deal with death from another angle besides loss, it might be best to find a book that expresses other philosophical views on death.