Home Books

I like this book, because it gives you a look at handmaking yurts, and it doesn't look difficult at all. I might just build one someday!

Mongolian Cloud Houses: How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably If you're into simplicity in dwelling and have a piece of land (your own, or unhindered use of some other property) then Mongolian Cloud Houses by Dan Frank Kuehn may be for you. But please note, if you wish to build a yurt similar to Kuehn's specifications, you will also need to glean a fair amount of natural raw materials from that land, as well as have ample time if you intend to build according to the author's specifications. Although not terribly labor intensive in sheer physical construction, building yurts as Kuehn does requires a fair amount of determined patience (a notion of building that is almost heretical in today's culture of "instant gratification" but was widely accepted practice for centuries and firmly reconstituted by many a counter-cultural self-builder of the 1960's and 70's.) In short, this is not the book for you, if you're seeking to get a yurt erected overnight. (If that's the case, pony-up some hard earned dough and go buy a commercially manufactured yurt. Then also hire/recruit a bunch of warm bodies to assist you. Maybe you'll get the thing up in a week, maybe you won't. This IS the book for you, if 1). You are basically building alone or maybe with some help from a friend. 2). You are short of, or very economical with money. 3). You have abundant free time. 4). You want to live simply in the round and wish to work mostly with materials you can gather or scrounge. And finally, 5) You need to have something warm and comfortable yet nomadic (Because a nylon camping tent as your base camp/wilderness home/extra dwelling space just won't cut it.) As a micro building enthusiast, I admire anyone who creates useful organic dwellings and then shares what they know with others. Especially when that knowledge is shared at a most affordable price. As with all Shelter Publications, this book is chockful of useful information. Kuehn's own hand drawn ilustrations are fabulous. The pics of his yurts and his self-evolution from 1976-2006 are delightful. And Jim Macey's b&w photos of Mongolia are a nice addition. It is a valued addition to my homestead and architectural bookshelf.

Both the book and the transaction were great. A perfect step by step guide.

The author provides excellent resources and instruction on building Mongolian style yurts. Though the text is somewhat dated many of the principles are still applicable today. I recommend this book to any beginner interested in constructing this type of nomadic dwelling.

Nomadic living in the 21st century can be achieved if your house is flexible and even portable - and MONGOLIAN CLOUD HOUSES: HOW TO MAKE A YURT AND LIVE COMFORTABLE advocates and shows how to construct a yurt using low-cost, natural materials available in either a backyard or wilderness. Step-by-step black and white drawings accompany a yurt history and includes construction alternatives and tips and tricks. A rare 'must' for any interested in alternative do-it-yourself construction.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Youngsters love counting books, especially when the book is presented to them as a game then they quickly rise to the challenge.

What else do youngsters like? Monsters, of course. Now, create a counting book with monsters and you have a sure winner. In addition, it's funny as 12 hungry monsters provoke giggles with such rhymes as "Twelve tall monsters at the dance drink some punch and eat their pants."

Counting books make learning fun and what better lesson than education can be fun?

Monster Munchies has three things to recommend it:

1. Unlike most preschool counting books, this one goes up to 20.

2. By employing amusing situations as monsters misbehave, the book is a lot more interesting than any other counting book I remember reading.

3. If a youngster is fascinated by monsters (and not afraid of them), this book will be a long-time favorite.

The book's main drawback is pretty obvious. If your child is timid about monsters (especially thinking that some monster might take a bite out of them), this book could be unsettling. You'll have to decide if your child will be amused or not. If your child isn't sure, you can use the book to encourage feeling unafraid around these goofy monsters that eat the inedible and undesirable.

Here's an example of what I mean about evaluating your child:

"Twenty hungry monsters with nothing left to chew. Better close this book up tight . . . Before they chew on you!"

I loved the illustrations! The drawings are imaginative, colorful, and downright goofy. You get a cross between dinosaurs and space aliens with variations on Sesame Street characters in between.

Thisis an adorable book and perfect for a 3 year old! It has some "scary " pages that are age appropriate for the imagination at that age. Our daughter loves it.

My kids love this book, and when I read it to my 4 year old's preschool class, they went nuts! They ALL loved it! I'm buying it for his preschool teacher for xmas.

This is one that I ran across at the public library. The teacher in me loves that it has number words, color words, and rhyming words. My kids (boys- ages 4 and nearly 6)love the story, the illustrations, and the humor. From "One giant monster wears a dress, eats the couch, and makes a mess" to "Twenty hungry monsters with nothing left to chew. Better close this book up tight...Before they chew on YOU!" A really cute book!

My daughter loves this book, sounding out the letters and reading it to us. I'd highly recommend it.

This book is the first book a child can read independently. It is fun and the illustrations keep children engaged. This is probably the best book in this class.

My daughter LOVES mouse and his books. This was our first mouse book and it got us hooked on this clever little seriers. We have bought them all and wish there were more. Mouse makes reading concepts very fun and very easy to grasp. I home school and have shown these books to my other homeschooling friends. They have all been amazed at how cheap they are and how much information they deliver in a easy fun way.

It's a fun book to read to preschoolers. Its a cute book to read with your young/early reader. Its a GREAT book when your 5 year old reads it to you.

"Mouse is busy, mouse is fast--grabbing letters as he runs past. He finds new ways to make a rhyme by switching letters every time." --from the book

Contrary to the incorrect information given by both of the Editorial Reviews, Mouse Makes Words is a Step 1 book in the Random House Step Into Reading line which means that it is geared towards children in pre-school and kindergarten. If your child knows the alphabet and is eager to begin reading, Step 1 books like Mouse Makes Words are a great start.

This Phonics Reader playfully explores initial sounds substitution and short vowel sounds by using rhyming word pairs. With its big type, easy words, picture clues, rhyme and rhythm, Mouse Makes Words is an engaging book for learning words such as net, pet, ten, hen, wig, pig, pot, cot, bug, hug, and more.

My son requests this book every once in awhile and the simplied format really helped reinforce simple word recognition, rhyming, and sounding out words.

My husband and I have been in the Senior Move Management business since 1990. We share this valuable book with out Move Managers and also spread the word of it's value to the many senior seminars we present to. We find it an excellent tool and resource.

Diane Bjorkman
www.gentletransitions.com

If only I could have used this book several years ago when my sister and I had to move my mother out of her home of 40 years! Linda Hetzer and Janet Hulstrand are warm, witty writers who get right to the point in this short, concise, and immensely helpful book. Now I'll save it to use myself when it is time for me to move to smaller or different quarters, and I'll advise my daughter to consider it her handbook. This is a much-needed addition to "how-to" books.

I found this book to be an excellent source of practical information. The organizational tips given by the authors were excellent. I particularly noted the guidelines for preserving familiy documents and papers. I purchased one for myself, my sister, and my daughter!!

Moving On is "a practical guide to downsizing the family home." It is full of practical suggestions as to how to tackle the concrete task of emptying a house, how to categorize the multitude of things that accumulate over the years, what to do with them, how to keep the things one wants to keep and how to dispose of the things one wants to get rid of. But this is a book that is by no means only about things. It is very much a book about people, the first generation of people who collect things, write things, hoard things, love things, and the next generation of people who necessarily have the task of deciding what to do with all these things.
It is a book full of understanding for the agony of closing up a family home - after all, closing up a family home is saying good bye to people who have played a huge part in one's own life and are ceasing or have ceased to do so. As their belongings disappear one by one through the door of the house, so they themselves seem to disappear. This book suggests ways of making this process of saying farewell a dignified one, one without rancor and one without regrets. It deals in practical ways with problems that far exceed the practical. It makes concrete suggestions for coping with issues that are far from concrete.
It is also a book that manages to look in two directions at once, speaking directly to the reader who stands at the crossroads of the aging process, that point in life at which the older generation is moving from the scene and the younger generation is inexorably turning into the older generation. In emptying your parents' house, do you not inevitably begin to think, "And what will happen to my house?" For the first time, perhaps, you return home, and begin in your mind's eye to see the next generation picking up your treasured belongings, and saying: "What shall we do with this?" Moving On speaks to you, suggesting ways that you can look this painful thought in the eye, see it as an opportunity to do things the right way now, so that you will be eased through the ultimate moving-on that will come to all of us.
Moving out of a house is a huge practical job. Moving On is a transforming experience.

I was really glad to discover this book. Several friends in their fifties and sixties are coping with clearing out Mom's stuff so she can move into an assisted living facility. Quite a few also have to clear out a lifetime's accumulation of their own, so they can retire and relocate.
Here's the topics covered in chapter one (Planning Ahead, Remembering Who's in Charge, Preparing for the Day, Agreeing on a Family Plan, Dividing Up the Belongings).
Chapter two covers Sorting It Out, Getting Started, Considering Storage, Making It Work. In chapter three it handles the emotional part of downsizing (Preserving Family Heirlooms, Finding Archival Materials, Preserving the Memories Themselves).
Chapter four tells how to turn some of it into cash (Yard Sales, Estate Sales, Auctions, On-Line Auctions, Secondhand Retailers, Selling Direct). Getting rid of the rest is covered in chapter five (Giving It Away to Friends or Family, Donating and Recycling, Throwing Out the Trash).
The book also lists
*Helpful Books and Websites
*Organizations (Professional, Trade, Consumer, & Support Groups)
*Suppliers of Archival Materials
*Donation and Recycling Directory
*A Checklist of Questions to Ask

Great Book!! If only I had had it a year ago. My sister and I moved my 90 year old mother in April, 2008 from a home she had lived in for over 60 years to a "suite plus" which is a living/bedroom and tiny kitchenette. The whole thing was one big nightmare.

Wesson writes her book after her Mom's place has been broken into twice. In each chapter, Wesson talks of the reality, the hope, and the sadness that accompanies many moves to retirement, assisted living or nursing homes.

The book starts off with What Matters Most? which seems like an easy enough thing to consider. But after 60+ years in one house, raising 3 children there, watching one child and a husband die there; What Matters Most? is not an easy question to answer.

One of the best things about this book is the Suggested Activities at the end of most chapters. If you have the luxury of planning the move months or years in advance, by all means read these suggestions.

"Moving `away from' is not enough. We must know what we are moving toward." If this one thought is kept in mind, the whole move will be simpler and smoother on the parent and the children who are helping.

In Chapter 5, Wesson lists the nine domains in one's life then tells how to deal with each as the move becomes a reality. Each domain is listed: Health, Activities, Spirituality, Family, Finances, Community, Relationship, Creativity & Future and Helpful People & Travel. With each, there are needs to think of presently and needs for the future. As Wesson says, "...the natural tendency is to focus on the immediate needs, not the more mundane day-to-day activities that sustain life beyond the crisis." Again, I wish I had had this book, I'm pretty sure we only thought of the immediate needs of my Mother - because we were in crisis mode.

This is a very helpful book. Even if you and in your 30s, please read it so you will be prepared - we are all getting older.

For Nancy Wesson, a robbery at her elderly mother's house is the catalyst for an odyssey into herself and into the relations between aging parents and their grown-up children. As she works with her mother, helping the older woman to prioritize those parts of her life she can take with her into new and smaller surroundings, the author discovers things about herself and, more importantly, comes to understand what motivates an older generation and how they can be helped to revision their lives in a positive and rewarding manner. The result is a poignant, sensitive account of what worked for the author and her mother and what the author, using her own professional experience in creating livable settings, recommends to others who must help in that most delicate of all challenges, moving an aging parent away from the family home. Each chapter becomes a step-by-step guide to this new environment, with physical and emotional activities and exercises designed to demonstrate the principles of each step. The result is a guidebook not only to the compassionate treatment of elders but also for seniors themselves as they face making choices on their own. In this respect, chapter four, "to keep or not to keep" should be required reading for anyone over fifty. The book is also unusual in accepting the challenge of integrating emotion, intuition, mysticism, physical space, and rationality into the move.
Diana M DeLuca, Ph.D., author, Seniors Dealing With Life, http://coololdtech.blogspot.com

We are the aging parents who needed to move! We sold our house, every corner and crevice overflowing with forty years of our family's life, and moved to an apartment. The overflow filled two storage garages and a storage room (and that was after we gave away some large items).

Author Nancy Wesson covers practical, soulful, and medical needs in a variety of thoughtful settings. She makes a compelling case for being sensitive to the emotions of someone who is downsizing, as well as looking out for the physical requirements. She includes a section on how to meet the special needs of elders who have low vision or hearing, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease with specific details known to experienced caretakers.

As I read Nancy's admonishments for caretakers to remember to be kind to themselves too, I was amused to realize that I needed that advice. I had been rather hard on me, demanding too much of myself at times during our move.

This guide goes so far beyond downsizing or even helping elders downsize, that it surprises me that I also found it easy to read, and easy to implement her ideas. I'm so glad to have received this particular book as part of my participation in the LibraryThing Early Review program, because I have made room in our new place, in my new life, in my heart, for things I would have put aside without Nancy's wisdom.

Retirement, it has been often noted, is not undiluted joy, but can also be a time of facing new limitations, whether they be physical, financial, social, or all three. Nancy shows how to put the joy back into the Golden Years.

I dusted off my portable sewing machine, and discovered it can fit under and on top of a desk, making the area dual-use, then added my laptop for a triple-play. I brought my hand-loom out of retirement, and have been inspired to combine weaving, beading, crochet and sewing, making unique designs. It is fun to give myself permission to ignore "the rules" and make something just for the pleasure of it.

I cannot recommend this handy collection of practical wisdom and nurturing encouragement too strongly. Even people who are not moving could benefit from reading Nancy's book, as many of us could benefit by sorting out our lives, belongings and activities to get a fresh start on the tangle of possessions and frenetic scheduling we call home.

Reviewed by Mary Durfor for RebeccasReads (8/08)

"Moving Your Aging Parents" is an excellent guidebook for anyone who is engaged in the process of orchestrating the downsizing and relocation of another human being, whether a parent (the actual subject of the book), another loved one, or even themselves. The author has drawn widely from respected experts in a diverse field of disciplines, and has truly created a reference book for managing environment to create a special place of retreat. The special needs of the aging or disabled are thoughtfully considered, with practical solutions for overcoming barriers related to diminished hearing, vision, dexterity, strength, ambulation ability, as well as mental capacity and memory.

One of the most important aspects of this process is the awareness that after physical needs have been met, care must be taken to recognize and nourish the needs of the spirit. Since it takes at least a year to actually settle into a new living situation, for someone in their 70's or 80's, this is a disproportionately huge chunk of time in relation to time left to live! With a new location, particularly if in a new state, or even a new city, comes the need for new physicians and pharmacists, new grocery stores, neighbors, bank and beauty salon, new church, friends, clubs or groups, etc. It's an overwhelming amount of "newness" which can be gently explored as part of the ritual of moving toward a new and exciting, fulfilling life, instead of away from the familiar and loved previous existence. Often, a great loss prompts this entire process, such as death of a spouse, loss of faculties due to fading health, etc. Much care and planning can transform the entire process into a growth opportunity, filled with new rituals that the author clearly outlines, and she subsequently offers excellent blueprints for achieving these desired results.

The principles of Feng Shui form the foundation of the author's professional practice. This ancient tradition seeks to design living space in such a thoughtful way as to facilitate living consciously. Ease of movement, comfort, and natural flow provide the safe, emotionally nurturing and creativity enhancing arrangement of all things practical and ethereal for the creation of a sanctuary, a retreat, a place of great comfort and tranquility in which to reside. The practical considerations of noise, light and glare, optimal organization of medications, foodstuffs, and clothing as well as items for achieving cleanliness all are taken into account as the new living space is created and formed into a welcoming new home. The author gives a basic overview of the Nine Life Domains of the Feng Shui tradition, and integrates along with this spiritual eastern philosophical base, the sciences of ergonomics, Quantum Physics, and psychology. She deftly pulls together the concepts (along with their full arsenals of techniques) of conflict resolution, recognition of and dealing with self-sabotaging thoughts, the use of creative visualization, the positive application of color, sound, and odor for their support of the environment, the power of intention, as well as the science of organizing and the deliberate reduction of "things."

Also covered are the subjects of divesting of the old home, staging to sell, estate sales, and the actual packing of the belongings that are moving to the new space. Concrete suggestions are offered which will ease the transition for everyone involved, and ideas for "clearing" the old and new spaces, for performing rituals of blessings and thanks, as well as guidance on sensitively cherishing the emotions tied to this entire process are an invaluable gift from the author. Each chapter has a "Summary" and "Major Points" section at the end, which succinctly reviews the most salient points of the preceding chapter, and provides an excellent review for the reader. Also provided at the end of each chapter is a numbered list of Suggested Activities, which, if performed, will surely enhance the entire experience for all who are involved in this emotional and potentially rewarding endeavor. As a thirty-five plus year veteran of health care practice as a Registered Nurse, specializing in care of the elderly, I offer my heart-felt endorsement of this excellent book. It offers concrete plans to follow and emphasizes the emotional and spiritual counterparts that transform seemingly difficult chores into acts of mutual joy, growth, and love.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (8/08)

There are very few certainties in life. We are born and we die. If we are lucky, we age. If we are very lucky, our parents live to a ripe old age as well. When that happens, the traditional roles of children and parents become somewhat reversed. The oh-so-strong, capable and never-wrong person of our youth all of a sudden finds him- or herself in need of our assistance - their child! This is always a difficult position to be in, and usually it is true for both of the involved parties. So how does one handle such delicate situations without "putting down" one's parents?

Wesson's "Moving Your Aging Parents" is a true gem of a book. It is rarely gentle, compassionate, but utterly useful and practical at the same time. Wesson seems to have thought of every aspect of moving - from the very initial stages of planning and mapping things out, to the practicalities of the actual moving activities, packing, unpacking and settling in to the ways to create a "new home" quickly and efficiently. Wesson understands very clearly that a house is not a home, and she guides the reader into making it a home quickly, suggesting the essential activities, key pieces and rituals to achieve that. She is forever attentive to the fact that it is the parent's comfort, safety and happiness that count the most and she suggests ways of respecting their wishes, while maintaining a level of practicality and feasibility.

Having read "Moving Your Aging Parents," I found it an invaluable resource not only for those who have to help parents move, but really for anybody contemplating a move in general. The advice contained within those pages is incredibly practical and well thought out. I wish I would have read it sooner; or at least before our last cross-country move. If there is one piece of advice I could not agree with more, it would be the one about hanging the artwork you own as soon as possible. Nothing says home more than that as far as I am concerned.

I could not recommend this book highly enough to anybody who is lucky enough to be in the position to help their aging parents move. "Moving Your Aging Parents" provides all the advice on the technicalities of moving you'll ever need; and it will also teach you some valuable lessons in patience, understanding and compassion.

I bought Mrs. Chiang's Szechuan Cookbook when it first came out. It immediately became and remains my favorite Chinese cookbook. In fact, I have used it so much that I have worn it out! I take good care of my books, but years of kitchen use have put numerous stains on the pages and have broken the binding, never mind the total destruction of the dust cover! I have given this book as gifts to several friends who have enjoyed my Chinese meals (based on this book), and they are using it too.
You can also get Szechuan Home Cooking. It is just a later edition of the same book, and the only changes are in the introductory material.
Do yourself a favor and get this fabulous book before it disappears forever.
By the way, I finally replaced my worn-out copy, but have kept the old one stored sentimentally alongside--it's full of notes, like "excellent recipe", "Marc [husband] raves", "fabulous and easy."

A cooking friend loaned me this cookbook when the first edition was printed in the mid-1970s. I had experimented with Szechwan cooking beginning a few yeas earlier when I bought Robert Delfs' "Good Food of Szechwan" (another amazing book, last reprinted 25 years ago). By the time I got around to buying "Mrs. Chiang," it was gone--and I photocopied virtually the whole borrowed book and used (and shared) the stained, dogeared pages for a decade.

Ten years later and half a continent away, I found it in a stack of remaindered books and bought a pile of them--kept one and gave the rest away to close friends. There are some great recipes in here, particularly "Grand Duke Chicken with Peanuts" and the Ma-Po Dofu recipe mentioned by another reviewer. If you're interested in Szechwan cooking, this is a book you have to have.

Man, I love this book. The recipies are kinda long, but it's easy enough to follow. My fav in the book - 'Pock Marked Ma's Bean Curd'. The one recipie that opened my eyes to the fact tofu can be really, really tastey when the dish is well spiced and given the time to absorb the flavors around it (I think its even better and hotter the next day.)

The hot and sour soup is also excellent -- more like a stew and completely unlike anything I've had in a run of the mill 'chinese food' place.

My sister picked this book up first and one thing she regularly altered was cutting the oil in the recipies, about in half in most instances. Also, for recipies that ask for ground pork, grinding pork loin steaks (fat trimmed) gets you excellent flavor but less fat.

When a recipie asks for fresh water chestnuts, I'd suggest not using canned. The flavor is completely different. Fresh jicima might be a better substitute if you can't get fresh water chestnuts.

I am ethnic Chinese, but we grew up on spaghetti and tacos. My only memories of home-cooked Chinese food was the two years my grandmother lived with us when I was a teen. Nevertheless, she set the standard for me in the area of Chinese home cooking. I bought this book when I graduated from college 27 years go, my first cookbook and one of the first non-textbooks I bought--at full price, no less. It was a big investment for someone neck-deep in student loans, but I knew enough to recognize authenticity when I saw it. I literally learned to cook Chinese food using Mrs. Chiang's book. The recipes turn out dishes that taste just like my grandmother's did. I have since bought many other books on Chinese cooking, but none have been as reliable or authentic as Mrs. Chiang's. The only thing I alter is the amount of oil called for.

I bought this book when it first came out in 1976...it is simply the best cookbook of its kind ! Whether you are a novice or an expert in "szechwan cooking"...this book has something for you. The "Grand Duke Chicken" is food for the God's...I added green beans to her wonderful "red cooked shrimp". Want a dish that has the delicate flavor of butter (but no butter) try the
"Shrimp with ginger and wine" * if you can get fresh crawfish tails it will be even better !

The book arrived on time, within the predicted time-frame, and in great condition. I am very pleased.

I am definitely charmed by Lilian Moore poems, but I also want to tell few words about illustrations.
First thing I noticed about illustrations was... that I could not find them. They just were not separable from the poems in the book. One body and soul, one true love, one poetic story of the city (big or small) for a child (big or small). And this very fact, I suppose, is the greatest success of Roman Karas - extremely gifted artist, who managed to not only reveal his artistic talent but also do it in a very "understanding" manner. Neither did he overpowered nor yielded to the strength of Lilian Moore's poetic images - but matched and mingled his own into, creating, this synthetic artwork, that is greater then just text plus illustrations.
As the good theater starts from garderobe, this book captures the reader from the title pages. No poems were read yet, but the story has started with the image of the house-book - very poetic and very precise concept of the whole book. The book in which turning the new page is like opening new door (painted wood in the background is another grate tip carefully left by illustrator). The house, that opens it's pages letting out it's characters so resembling yourself. Or may be you are the one to step into?
I want to thank Roma for this creak of old doors, smell and touch of old paint, fairy tale of window reflections, that adds it's voice to the poetry of the book.

The Mural on Second Avenue reminds me of the beautifully illustrated poetry books I had as a young child in the 1950's. I remember the pictures inspiring me to memorize, recite and fantasize about the poetry. The Mural on Second Avenue has that same quality. The illustrations using wonderful colors and textures contain little surprises at every turn. A truly charming book for all children.

A delightful book for the whole family. Beautiful illustrations by Roma Karas bring wonderful poetry by Lilian Moore to life. Feel the "silence in the city hushed by snow," look at "how roofs design a sky," "fling yourself into the tree's great pool of shade." Enjoy!

This amazing book happened to be the last for poet Lilian Moore (who died at the age of 95 in 2004) and the first for a young artist Roma Karas. No wonder it combines wisdom and youth, experience and freshness, mystic and realism. Written for kids, the poems and images will remind you of your own childhood, no matter how old you are. You will recognize your own native town in images of New York, no matter what part of the world you were born in. And you will smile at the end of this book, no matter what...

I have about every faux and mural painting books that amazon carries, and this is one of my favorites. It's full of refreshing inspiration for the person that is looking for some new direction for their painting and decorating.

I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the book! Amazing!!! It reaches all levels of painters, designers, artist, etc.... So much info which is easy to understand not to mention the breath taking techniques and result. And I love the special attention to the business side of it. You never really get that side. I think the book covers every angle.

This book is full of detailed instructions and pictures of different artists' works. It has a great variety in styles and subject matter.

I am a full time mural artist, however, I do not have my business all put together yet. I purchased "Mural Painting: Secrets For Success" because I am trying to get my hands on any information that will help me start and build my business. This book has been an incredible tool for me because it gives insightful words of wisdom from professionals who have been there themselves. I was pleasently surprised to read the humble beginnings of the showcased artists, as well as their down to earth, practical advice. The second half of the book privides useful painting tips and pictures of the artists work. I HIGHLY recomend this book to anyone who is trying to get some good, sound advice on getting started in, or amping up their business of mural painting.
I understand that a second book in in the works, and I can't wait to purchase it as well!
Michele Hopkins

I spent last night reading through the book and I can honestly say I think it's one of the best and most interesting books on the market for decorative painting. You've brought together such a diverse group of decorative artisans with each of their own unique styles, which makes each new chapter a real pleasure to read and view.

I think the "Secrets to Success" and "Before they were painters" vignettes were the icing on the cake....In reading the brief snippets of how these masters got their start were inspirational as well as down-right funny in some cases (like Pascal Amblard saying the largest piece he'd ever painted prior to his first full-sized mural was a breakfast tray"!)

It makes the whole principal of decorative painting more "human" and
approachable because people who read the book who may be beginners or just starting to move from doing just faux finishes onto mural painting will see that everyone started somewhere, and that those who are passionate and practice can go far! Even the most experienced muralists and decorative painters will certainly enjoy this book, especially considering the wealth of paintings featured throughout the book and in the gallery section. Highly recommended!

This book encourages you to focus on creating a home that address all the needs of your family and to turn your heart towards home! So many women these days search for fulfillment outside the home and so end up expending all their energy running the roads instead of at home, with purpose for their families benefit! This book has encouraged me to see the purpose for my investment in my family!

This amazing book looks at the incredible gift of motherhood. Jill Savage reassured me in my decision to stay home with my children and gave me renewed self-confidence in my ability to be a mom. Her practical and uplifting words are just what this new mom needed! A must read for every mom whether you work outside the home or not. This book gives you the tools you need to be the best mom you can be!

My Heart's at Home by Jill Savage is a terrific devotional for moms. It's about being an intentional parent rather than always parenting by the seat of your pants (like I do). The book is set up in sections like Home as Museum, Home as Church, Home as Pep Rally with each giving great ideas on how to make your home a loving, nurturing environment for the entire family. The chapters are short and easy to read, and Savage writes in a very conversational tone. She quickly admits her own shortcomings and gives advice for trying to rise above them. Some of the advice is common sense, but it's stuff that needs to be said again and again until it sticks. I like the idea of planning rather than always dealing with the situation of the moment. Savage looks at every occasion in life as an opportunity to teach her children and show how much she loves them. It doesn't get much better than that!

This is one of those "I-wish-I'd-had-it-to-read-twenty-years-ago" books about mothering. As the mother of two young adults, I've traveled the years of motherhood that Jill addresses. I was glad to find a kindred spirit in her counsel for mothering and was delighted to learn that she, too, has a "God story" box (for knickknacks that represent spiritual signposts). Warm and practical, filled with personal stories, it's well organized around the big picture of a home's higher functions (i.e. "safe house," "rest area," "pep rally," "business office," and so on). Wherever you are in your parenting journey, consider buying this book. It would make a great gift for women just starting their mothering years, too.

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (4/07)

Have you ever tried to be everything to everyone? If you are a mother, you are everything from a nurse to a counselor to a tutor. As mothers, our families are of utmost importance to us. Jill Savage has written a book which would make a terrific addition to a family library. As she states in her book, "healthy relationships set us on our relationship track for the rest of their lives. The relationships we have with our parents and our siblings serve as the foundation for all future relationships in life."

Separated into individual chapters, you can learn all the different areas that a home should be. Our homes should be a safe house, rest area, trauma unit, church, pep rally, research lab, school, museum, playground, business office, hospitality house and cultural center. At the end of the book are specific questions to ask of yourself, or discussion questions for reading groups to share.

There are so many great tips in this book to try and briefly describe each part would definitely be an injustice. This is such a great sourcebook when dealing with our job in which we have the most impact, that being a mother.

Just as your home needs to be many different places all at the same time, mothers have so many different hats to wear. Each part of a family has their specific roles and responsibilities to maintain in order for the family to be the type of family that God wants us to be. When reading this book, I found myself making many notes in a notebook, so I could use them for quick reference when a specific circumstance would arise in my life.

"My Heart's At Home" is a terrific book by a very knowledgeable author. Jill Savage is the founder of Hearts at Home which is an organization committed to helping moms love their life. I would definitely love to see Jill Savage write more books as useful as this one.

This inventory is a toy collector for all i got this book is great it have a lot on G3 my little pony toy for all of us to know if you a my little pony toy collector this collector book is for you

The pictures are nice and glossy with excellent descriptions of each item. SO many pages from the past few years of all the pony toys and playsets and she provides checklists next to each item! I was personally excited about getting this book and was lucky to get to meet Summer in person and have her sign it for me. :) I highly recommend this book. I will definitely be using it for years to come. Thanks so much Summer for a fantastic product!

The guide is beautifully done, with clear pictures and fantastic organization. There is clearly a lot of research and work that has gone into this labor of love, and it shows. This book is just brimming with valuable information.

It's a great resource to have on hand. For those of us with extensive collections, it really makes all the difference when trying to organize and inventory ponies and accessories.

As someone who owns both of Summer's books, I highly suggest getting one of your own--it's a great investment!

This inventory is a toy collector (or kid's dream) come true! Each page is full of high quality, colored pictures with the name and description of the ponies IN YEAR ORDER of when they came out. A picture of the new in box ponies of EACH one is also featured at the bottom of the page!

This guide also feautres EVERY pony and My Little Pony piece from 2003-2007 when the book was published- If your little girl (or boy) loves the ponies, you would be at a loss to not purchase this book for them.

Can't afford to buy or purchase every pony out there? Well this would make a great addition to the pony collection and doesn't take up as much space and money as owning all the ponies!

This book is DEFINITELY worth it if you collect the current release My Little Ponies. Everything is very organized, with pictures of the different ponies both in their original packaging and removed from the box. Some even have detailed Cutie Mark pictures. There are notes about special European released items and the peculiar Mexican and Brazilian ponies, as well as those available for general distribution worldwide.

The only error I caught was a picture mix-up involving Fancy Hair ponies Royal Beauty and Rainbow Treat on page 112. Other than that, everything was perfect!

It is a fabulous paper resource to organize and catalogue one's collection.

This could also make a very good gift for children who like the My Little Pony toys, due to the pictures and interesting information, but beware--they could fall in love with one of the RARE ponies like Rosey Posey! ;) Of course, perhaps that would create a budding collector!

I can't wait to see a second or third edition as the My Little Pony line continues! Heaps of thanks to Summer Hayes for taking the time to get this guide together!