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Doug Crandell has written a poignant memoir that cannot fail to touch your heart and mind. Doug must have been a complete mystery to his family as a child. He was so sensitive, so intelligent, and so different from the rest of the family. The unconditional love and acceptance from all in the Crandell family shine as a steady beacon in his well written book. I became so caught up in the family story, and Doug's individual story, that I was almost holding my breath hoping that all would turn out for the best.

Mr. Crandell's memoir made me want to hold a piglet too- preferably a runt! I learned a lot about pig farming on a small farm from his story. I don't think I'll ever want to eat a ham sandwich again! His descriptive powers were so great that I could almost see the piglets long eyelashes and hear their contented breaths in the little pen.

I do wish that I knew if Doug was ever able to use his hand in any way. I kept thinking, "if only you could have seen a hand surgeon when this happened". But alas, there was never enough money and everyone did the very best they could without a lot of medical help, or really any kind of outside help.

You will love this book.

I grew up in neighboring Illinois not far from `Pig Boy'. So, in reading this lovely memoir I found myself transported back into my own childhood memories of growing up. I was tired of reading at the time and therefore hesitant to give this memoir a chance. When I finished, I found that the author had reignited my passion for reading. This memoir will make you want to read again...to write again. The author truly captured the very humorous and.... yes poignant business of growing up, families and the unique value that every person brings to this world. Get this book, you will be glad you did.

There is a distinct nostalgia in Pig Boy's Wicked Bird. The peculiar power in this depiction of an American family is relevant to anytime, place, or condition. The author uses beautiful language and rhythmical sentences to creat a compact telling of this humorous and poignant memoir. The business of living can be lonely. The reader can make profitable use of the insights illuminated throughout this story.

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I was skeptical going in, thinking it was just another outbreak in the rash of memoirs that has erupted on the best seller lists. This one is different. On the surface, it's a coming of age story, a story about self worth, self awareness, and the impact of family (the family in question being "the seven D's" - all of Doug Crandell's brothers, sisters, and even his parents have names that start with D.) But it turns out that what the story is really about is the three D's: disability, disfigurement, and just being different.

Two of the author's fingers are essentially severed in a childhood farming accident, leaving the boy disabled, disfigured and different. This leads to an awareness and an appreciation of those three D's -- that turn out to be everywhere in young Crandell's world: his mother who is "no longer a woman" due to a hysterectomy, a man with cerebral palsy who connects with the author, the runt pigs destined to be destroyed but saved by Crandell, a grandmother with a humped back, a sister with scoliosis, even the oldest brother is left changed by a never fully explained abduction reminiscent of Mystic River. (Most everyone in the book is marked in some critical, defining, and not always obvious way. Some, like the landlord's son, are, to quote John Lennon, crippled inside.)

Sherwood Anderson and his collection of grotesqueries, Winesburg, Ohio is the influence pointed out by Doug Crandell for helping him sort out his confused world of being marked different as well as leading him on the path to becoming a writer. What I noticed were the influences of William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, and in particular Carson McCullers. For a story of the Midwest, Pig Boy's Wicked Bird has a distinct Southern Gothic feel. (One person's physical characteristics are described as "crooked," "twisted," and "warped" in the space of a single paragraph). Like The Member of the Wedding, or even Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms, these disabled, disfigured, and different people will live with you forever.

Doug Crandall, former little Pig Boy of the Heartland, brings us a heart-rendering, oftentimes snorting food-out-the-nose-from-laughing memoir of friendship with farm animals and dealing with life's tragedys. Poetically written by the now grown up Mr. Crandall, even city girls like me can appreciate his love of family, roots and Jimmy Carter. If you love crusty old men, goofy dogs and little piglets, you'll love this story as I did.

Nice, light read, with quirky characters and interesting plot twists. I wish it would be reprinted, maybe as a single volume with some of his other comedic novels. I first read this as both a Reader's Digest edition and later read the full novel from the library.

This book tells the saga of the Kwimpers of Cranbury County, New Jersey, who decide to teach the government a lesson by homesteading on the fill that was trucked in to support a highway bridge. The story is told through the voice of Toby Kwimper, the family's eldest son, an elementary school football star (he never got much further than elementary school on account of repeating so much), who the girls all find irresistible. Of course, Toby has his own way of resisting the girls so that they don't get the better of him. In fact, through honesty and good will, Toby manages to persevere through all the calamities that the government, the neighbors, and Mother Nature can think to throw at him, his family. This book was sheer delight to read. I just hope Toby's still out there on his land in Columbiana because I would love to meet him someday.

At the time I read this book, I hadn't even heard of it. My mother recommended it to me, for which I am grateful. The characters are funny, but at the same time they are real and touching. The other characters are a delight and the story logically progresses. The end is totally satisfying and, at times, totally unexpected. This book should go back into print.

This is one of Richard Powell's best books. It's main characters are a family of New Jersey Piney's. As Powell grew up in Philadelphia and later retired to Florida, he obviously knew a lot about the people and the places he wrote about. The Kwimper family is hysterical. Particularly the father, who feels he is helping the government by taking advantage of their various assistance programs. The book is a true satire in that regard. The main character, Toby Kwimper (played by Elvis in the movie version "Follow that Dream") is your classic big strong dope with a heart of gold. Like all Powell novel's it's very cleverly put together with great dialogue. If you like this book, check out some of Powell's better known novels: "The Philadelphia" (later made into a movie starring Paul Newman), and my all time favorite, and Powell's last and greatest novel "Whom the Gods Would Destory" (about the Trojan War, Helen of Troy, Odyssey cycle of stories - a truly great read). Powell at one time was a creative writing teacher at Syracuse Univ and it shows. He's one of my favorite authors.

"Pioneer, Go Home!" is great fun to read. I read it as a teen in the spring of '61 on a trip from Ohio to Florida. Mom, my Aunt and I went to the movies soon after we arrived. The movie was "Follow That Dream" starring Elvis Presley. As it turned out, the movie just happened to be based on the book I had just read on the way down to Florida! I read the Reader's Digest condensed version at the time. A few years ago, I was able to find a copy of the book. It really is that good! I have read and reread it many times. It is always fun! I would recommend it highly to anyone who loves fun books and has been to Florida in the 50's or early 60's. You will like the movie, too. This portrays a more natural Elvis than his usual movies do. The story takes you back to 50's Florida when it was unique in its own way.

I really enjoyed reading Puddlejumpers. The book is actually geared toward, I'd say, the 10-13 year old crowd, but I think adults would like it. And, it would be a good book to read as a "chapter" book to a little younger crowd.

Thirteen-year-old Ernie Banks has lived in a Chicago orphanage ever since he was discovered on its doorstep at age three. His origins are a mystery; all he has of his former life is an old baseball card, a strange spiral mark on his heel and an unusual crystal blue acorn that he wears on a string around his neck. As for his current situation, he seems to have taken it upon himself to personally torment Mrs. McGinty, the matron of the Lakeside Home for Boys. As a result, he's been in some sort of trouble ever since he arrived. Mrs. McGinty has finally had enough and suggests handing him over to the Youth Authorities, but the director gives Ernie one more chance to prove himself. He boards a bus to spend three weeks at an Illinois farm.

The first person he meets in the small town of Circle, Illinois, is Joey, the zesty, horseback-riding, next-door-neighbor gal. She gives him a lift on her horse to the home of Russ Frazier, his host for the next three weeks. Joey also fills him in on some of the local news, like how Russ had a son who was kidnapped years earlier. The town calls him the Quilt Baby, because all the authorities could find was his quilt laying next to a puddle in the woods. Intrigued, Ernie convinces Joey to help him solve the mystery of the missing child. Unfortunately, Ernie starts getting into trouble all over again and this time drags Joey with him. But all the trouble is worth it; Ernie can hardly believe the amazing creatures he discovers living right below his feet.

Puddlejumpers are tiny, magical creatures that stand about 11 inches tall. They dwell below ground, living in harmony with the earth. Sometimes they come to the surface by way of puddles, but not very often. They have to be careful of their enemies, the nasty, evil Troggs, who hunt down and enslave Puddlejumpers. But times are hard, with very few free Puddlejumpers left, and the land is drying up with so little rain. They turn to their ancient prophecy promising help from the Rainmaker to save their lives.

PUDDLEJUMPERS is a magical story woven together by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson. They have ignited their imaginations full force, creating a fast-paced tale with an intriguing plot, incredible creatures and memorable characters. Their colorful descriptions bring the story to life, spiced up even more with their bizarre sense of humor ("Even from a distance, Chop could see their bloodshot eyes, scaly faces with puss-filled warts, and coarse hair covering their misshapen bodies. They were so ugly that as he stared at them, his eyes started to burn...Troggs had ten-foot-long tails with a big hairy nostril at the tip, enabling them to smell Puddlejumpers from a great distance.").

Jean and Carlson have worked together before, but this is their first middle grade novel. Their quickly growing fan base will be impatiently demanding more collaborative efforts from this talented pair.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND

Synopsis: A young boy's destiny to save the world from environmental devastation precariously unfolds.

Short & Sweet: This book has wonderfully vivid descriptions and a sci-fi plotline with a fascinating eco-twist.

Favorite Line: "It was a putrid mixture of dead fish, hog puke, and skunk farts."

Overall: Overall it held my attention and I throughly enjoyed the story. The plot line is complex, well paced, and solidly built. The protagonist goes through distinct sub-plot adventures that lead up to the final "save-the-world" climax. The authors' screen play influences are evident in the fluid scene changes and the dynamic relationships among different species. With it's sidebar tangents and life conflict explorations, the book is especially well suited for classrooms.

Given the strength of the primary story, the book could have easily have been broken into multiple installations with stronger character development. I'd love to see a prequel or a sequel told from a different character's perspective.

Ernie Banks was left on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was just three years old. Now, ten years later, he's thirteen and well on his way to spending his life running from the law.

The one thing that irks him is that he knows he used to belong to someone. See, he came to Lakeside with a baseball card, an unusual crystal acorn necklace, and a weird spiral-shaped birthmark on his right foot. Out of desperation, Ernie is sent out to a farm in the middle of Nowhere, Illinois, in hopes that he will come back as a kid with a new attitude.

Here he meets an interesting mix of people. There's Russ Frazier, the owner; Joey, the girl who lives on the neighboring farm; and then there are the Holsapples. The Holsapples are a mean bunch of money-guzzling oil hordes who are trying to buy out all the farms in order to drill for oil. The Holsapples are pretty much ruining the small town. Then there's the horrendous drought that is causing everyone to lose hope... If only there was some way that everything could be fixed.

As Ernie learns more about the people of the small town, he also finds out that Russ' son was kidnapped ten years ago and was never found. What's even weirder is that Ernie feels familiar in Russ' house. A coincidence? Maybe! When Ernie is exploring one day he finds two Puddlejumpers, small people that live beneath puddles, and learns that he is their rainmaker. It is even prophesied that he will save them from their greatest enemy, the Troggs.

Will Ernie help save the Puddlejumpers? Will he find out about himself along the way?

This was a great book! I was absorbed into the action from the very beginning. While the book is geared more for middle grade readers, I definitely think anyone would get a kick out of it. I thought that the characters, especially Ernie, were well-developed and really had a sense of being. I also liked the premise of the story. I thought it was original and cute, plus the adventure in it was great.

At the beginning of the book there is what I would describe as a mini-story within the story. It tells the origins of the Puddlejumpers and about the kidnapping of Russ' son. I thought this section may have explained too much, since I found that a lot of the events in the book following this beginning were predictable, but there were definitely still a couple of things that took me by surprise. Overall, I really liked PUDDLEJUMPERS and think it would be a great book for readers of all levels. I think this book would be especially great for reluctant readers, as it incorporates a little bit of action, adventure, fantasy, and sports!! What more could you ask for?

Reviewed by: Tasha

I was reviewing this book before my grandson read it. I was expecting to scan it quickly but became engrossed and caught up in the story and couldn't put it down. There is sadness, happiness, real and mysterious goings on. It's fast paced with unique characters that hold your interest and the story has unexpected twists and turns.
My grandson needs lot of encouragement to read but he was really excited about this book. I'll have to let him wrtie his own review.
I would love to see a movie or TV program of this book.

This book was such a great comfort and confirmation in regards to the reuniting of all my beloved pets I have had. I miss the ones I have lost and this book gave me that extra comfort knowing I will be back with my pets...forever. I loved the first book "There is Eternal Life for Animals". It was such a great reference with Bible Scriptures to back up how God loves all his creatures and they will not be forgotten. Then "Animal Prayer Guide" was a great follow up for praying over my pets I now have. This newest book has so many famous and reliable people backing up the scriptures and also confirming what I always believed in my heart that my pets will be in heaven with me.It is great to know I am not alone in believing this. Thanks to Niki for gathering up the information in a third book. The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain This is a must to own and a real comfort to share with others. Bless you, Niki for taking the time to write another great book.

This book bought me much needed comfort and compassion after the loss of my cat "Thumpy". I was amazed at how many times animals are mentioned in the Bible and they are truly part of are after life. I also enjoyed reading about the near death and out of body experiences. The author Niki Behrilis Shanahan writes from her own experience of loss with much compassion.All her books are wonderful reading, I have bought a few for friends. Thank you Niki for writing this book and God Bless you! We will see our fur babies again!!

This book and it's author, Niki Berakis Shanahan, are truly the gain of all who have ever lost a beloved animal companion. I have read her other books ("There IS Eternal Life for Animals" and "Animal Prayer Guide") as well and they are all wonderfully uplifting and inspirational. "Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss is Heaven's Gain" was especially so to me, particularly the section dealing with coping with grief and depression. Ms. Shanahan offers very helpful insights and ways of reconciling our moving forward with our lives while keeping our little ones in our hearts and memories. As she states, to recover from mourning does not mean we are forgetting or being disloyal to our animal companions. In a gentle and eloquent writing style, she encourages us to focus our thoughts on Heaven and the positive future God promises all of His creation--including animals.

Ms. Shanahan's work is blessed and her books are a must-read for all pet owners and animal lovers. I very highly recommend them all!!!

Wow...I"m so glad I purchased this book! I searched and searched (and read many reviews) to find the perfect one, and I'm so glad I purchased this one. I also purchased another one, but I immediatley started to read this one first. She has such a way with writing and totally eased my heavy, painful heart after loosing my 15 year old beagle. I struggled with would I ever see her again, because my mother told me years ago that since dogs do not have souls, that they would not be in heaven. This truly tortured me and I desperately wanted to know the truth. Look no further...this book put my concerns to rest. I now know that my sweet beagle has her eyesight in heaven and is doing one of her very favorite things right at this very moment...chasing those silly squirels and lovin' her life as she once knew it here on earth. I"ll see you again my sweet Mudsey...but until then...I miss you so much.

Niki Behrikis Shanahan's gentle and beautiful book is soothing balm to those who have lost pets they love. I like the way she comforts grieving owners with the assurance their beloved pets are waiting for them on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge and that God is watching over them with tender loving care.

In addition to the beautiful Biblical tone/theme of this book, Ms. Shanahan discusses domesticated animals throughout history and how pets are an important part of countless people's lives. Each such account warmed my heart and added cheer to my day.

Each chapter includes information from the Bible and how it applies to pets and people who love them. This book tackles relevant topics such as depression and how to cope with the loss of a beloved pet. I like the way Ms. Shanahan paints an optimistic face on the future. It IS extremely comforting to think of the pets one has loved and lost awaiting a joyous reunion across the Rainbow Bridge.

Her chapter about conducting a Memorial Service for pets is another way of providing a sense of closure and acceptance.

I salute Ms. Shanahan and would like to join in with another reviewer in giving her a standing ovation. Pets ARE part of life's circle - they are waiting for their owners to join them in a loving reunion across the Rainbow Bridge. Her perceptiveness and loving awareness are to be commended. I say this with tears in my eyes, a heartfelt thank you to Niki Behrikis Shanahan. Thank you and bless you, Ms. Shanahan on behalf of everybody who has loved and lost pets and thanks to this wonderful book countless people can take comfort in the thought of seeing their beloved pets once again. Please read this and share it with somebody. You will be very glad that you did.

This book is easy to read and has very helpful information that you can use. It contains things that you may not think about. I think if just about covers all items you would use in starting a business or just doing for yourself or helping friends with their home.

When you really want specifics on a topic, you just need a book by this author and you'll find yourself immersed in the kind of details and guidance you were hoping to get. Not one to mince words, Jennings lays it all out with precision, yet keeping the information interesting and practical and sometimes a little humorous. She's got plenty of forms, plenty of decorating training (dealing with the professional ways to arrange a client's furniture), and even more guidance on how to move a client's possessions, plus all the set up, promotional and business side of things. An excellent read.

If you're looking to do interior redesign AND home staging simultaneously, I highly recommend both books by this author as they are easy to read, provide outstanding guidance, give you information on additional helpful tools and are flat out the best you'll find on the subject. I am a teacher and always on the hunt for tidbits and gems I can pass on to my own students. I got far more than I bargained for which pleases me greatly. The information is really to the point, very detailed, very precise. Both manuals are large and packed to the brim -- no fluff like some others. Get both by this author. This is a no-brainer.

Jennings has a number of excellent books for the interior redesign and home staging business that fit together and build upon each other into a cohesive whole so that anyone can start and build a business from the ground floor up. This is her basic manual, which is filled to the brim with great advice and guidance, and she also has an advanced book called "Advanced Redesign", along with a couple more books geared for the home staging market. This book, however, shows you how to start up and set up your business, how to get clients, how to do consultations and price your services, how to market and promote it properly, and a good deal of excellent training on the design end of the business - the kind of stuff you won't get from others. For instance, at the end of the book she literally shows you the most common furniture arrangements used by professional designers. In most situations, one of these should be suitable for a typical room a person would work in. She makes the process easy to understand and gives readers the tools and examples to understand what to do, but also why they work so well.

The other books she has written show you how to add related products and services to your business to get the most out of your business that you can get. Since most people want to make profits from their business venture, the book gives you an excellent picture of how to go about doing just that, all in a clear, concise step-by-step analysis. All the books by this author are excellent and well worth the investment.

The furniture arrangement configurations in the back of the book are powerful examples of how to arrange furniture no matter what the shape or size of the room. This is worth the price of the book alone. In a nutshell, I can see the most common ways furniture should be arranged. All I have to do is select one and I should have a winning combination for any room I have to tackle. This is reassuring because I don't want to get to a client's home and not have an answer for their problems. And that's one huge gem at the end of the book, which I haven't found in any book out there.

From start to finish I found this book to be very practical, very thorough and very useful. It focuses on the single topic of starting a redesign business and doesn't get sidetracked. It also doesn't try to cover the subject with broad generalities and filler, like other books I've read. So it delivers exactly what it promises with the kind of details and thoroughness you would expect to get.

All the standard stuff about setting up a business is there, but it relates all that to a redesign business specifically. The author goes indepth on how to interview a client, how to start a project, questions you'll need to ask and the whole step by step process, including taking before and after pictures, collecting the fee and so forth. There are a generous supply of photos showing how it really is to be a redesigner (not studio pictures that are not the norm). So it accurately depicts the life of a redesigner and what we all face no matter where we live and work.

The author's style is easy to follow and conversational, which helped me stay interested throughout, even in the marketing sections that typically are less fun than the design parts. I mean, I'm a creative person, and it's harder for me to concentrate on the business side, but I know that's where I need to improve my knowledge and skill.

I enjoyed this book immensely and appreciate the tools and visual aids the author recommends. It's an excellent read.

Talk about a breath of fresh air.

I ordered Jonalyn Grace Fincher's Ruby Slippers with some misgiving, especially when I noted the subtitle: How the Soul of a Woman Brings Her Home. I hoped this book wasn't another worn-out rehash of "the Proverbs 31 woman" or a trip down the "yellow brick road" equating Christian femininity with Suzy Homemaker, June Cleaver, and "married with children." It isn't. Carefully integrating philosophy, psychology, theology, history, women's studies and "my own walk with Christ into a primer on the woman's soul" (p. 193), Ruby Slippers is a much-needed and long overdue look at God's ideas about womanhood. It shows how women are unique bearers of the imago dei and celebrates the soul of a woman within a thoroughly sound context of biblical truth.

Intelligent and incisive, Ruby Slippers is alert, agile, and penetrating without being pompous or trite. It avoids strait-jacketed "Christian stereotypes" and clears the way of narrow definitions, presumptions and prejudices to find out what makes women different and precious. Through careful biblical exegesis, meticulous research, thoughtful analysis and a well-rounded philosophical approach, Fincher shows us the real soul of a woman and its inestimable worth as a unique reflection of God's nature.

Early on, Fincher issues "one important caveat: I am not claiming to have the final words on women" or "an exhaustive index on femininity or the only biblical model for Christian womanhood," leaving the door open for further discussion. She also provides "Soul Care" questions at the end of each chapter for further thought.

In terms of writing style, Fincher's is generally tight, crisp, and lean. She shares personal anecdotes and experiences and analyzes vast quantities of data through a biblical grid. The author also brings an essential that's often lacking in many "women's ministry" paradigms and "women's Bible study" authors: demonstrable expertise and impeccable educational credentials. She's done her homework and has the background and qualifications to give this book gravitas. (Fincher holds a double Bachelor's degree in English and history from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology, my alma mater.)

Sumptuously sprinkled throughout the main text are relevant observations from such Christian luminaries as C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Sayers, to name a few. The material bogs down momentarily in Chapter 2, Uncorking the Soul, with a somewhat overlong discussion of soul and spirit, but it picks up steam thereafter. The discussion on The Same Planet in Chapter 3 regarding "gender roles", "equal without being identical" and "similar though not the same" is delicious.

Further on, Fincher masterfully deconstructs John Gray's "men are from Mars, women are from Venus" mythology, and the inadequate, incomplete "helper" rendering of Genesis 2, among others: "... contrary to popular pagan myths, contrary to Goddess Earth myths, and contrary to much Churchianity, God makes Woman to provide and offer the hope, the ezer for Man."

Other myths put to rest include: "East of Eden" femininity, "godly submission," "the weaker vessel" and "boutique form(s) of gnosticism and neo-paganism" which glories "fertile, female bodies over female souls."

More stand-out sections include Prescription Lists, Corsets and Slippers that Don't Fit (pp. 14 - 18), Why the Trinity Dignifies Women (pp. 156 -158), Natural Femininity (pp. 102 -140), Learning from Women (pp. 159 - 164) and Jesus in Female Form (pp. 185 -186).

As beautifully and as nimbly crafted as the Emerald City, Ruby Slippers is a ground-breaking work with much to offer in the on-going discussion of gender theory, cultural stereotypes and authentic Christian femininity. This fine work is perhaps best summarized in Fincher's own words: "I am becoming more free. Not free to live out my dominations or check off my lists or squeeze into a corset. But free to be more like the triune God, the way he has redeemed me: fully female, fully human."

Indeed, these Slippers are as welcome as Glinda's "Toto, too." Five stars.

This was a good book. I liked Fincher's writing style a lot and it is giving me something to think back on. Though her book isn't at all difficult to read, it isn't necessarily light either. It's something that needs to be digested so to speak. I had never thought of God technically not having a gender since he's not physical as we are. She presents a good case for women created in God's image, which is a nice contrast to women always being inferior to men. Her idea of corsets and naming the book Ruby Slippers was a great way to go and provided great imagery whenever they came into play. Recommended. When I'm done mulling this book over, and caught up with other reading, I think I will I will benefit from another reading of it.

I just finished Ruby Slippers last night, and wow! I think I need to read it a couple more times to grasp it all, but it's one of the best books I've ever read. This book stands-out from the rest of the popular Christian books on women/femininity/roles in that it doesn't give one-dimensional answers and a stereotypical grid through which to see what women can and can't do, how we should act, how we are a spin-off of men, how we like romance and flowers, etc... Fincher tackles the usually ignored issue of the woman's soul in its essence. What does it mean to be a woman, what was the picture of femininity God created in the Garden before the Fall, how did Jesus redeem that, how is our picture of who we are women so distorted from what the Gospel has called us to? I have never read another work that goes to the heart of the issue of what it actually means to be a woman created in the image of God, and it seems so logical that this is the first step in determining a basis for gender discussion. By uncovering the glory of the image of God in a woman, Ruby Slippers offers a beautiful, redeeming, healing, and honoring picture of what Christ sees when He looks at woman.
Fincher does a great job at integrating philosophy, theology, spiritual formation, and psychology. There is SO much information in this book, I was overwhelmed with the depth of research and the honesty of her own personal journey. Rarely do you find a work that is scholastic yet intimate. Fincher goes a step beyond most writing as she challenges and guides the reader to open their heart before God and explore personal implications in their own lives, as she shares those in her own. She has an understanding many authors lack in that she knows it's not just about accumulating information, but creating a space to allow God to transform your heart through the truth of the information. The questions and guided meditation she provides at the end of each chapter are much much more than typical content-driven "Sunday-School" questions...they encourage the reader to go the next step beyond information gathering, to open the heart and uncover false beliefs and understanding, and allow the truth to water the soul.
Ruby Slippers is a very unique work, and although very deep, it is also a fun read. The women in my small group at church meet for breakfast and discussion of a chapter on Saturday mornings, and it has been a great springboard for discussion, learning and laughter. I'm reccomending this book to everyone I know---Buy it!!!

I've spent a lot of time over the years studying gender and God. I was a women's studies major in college, I helped put together gender conferences with InterVarsity, I read so many Christian books on gender-- from John Eldredge to Christians for Biblical Equality publications. Jonalyn Fincher's book, which offers an exploratory and redemptive take on gender differences , is by far one of the best I've read. It's a very freeing and Biblical take on what it could mean that women uniquely reflect God. I was impressed by its integrous, thoroughly-researched, and down-to-earth approach, and also for the warmth and familiarity in Fincher's tone. It's worth reading for anyone interested in God and gender. It sparked some excellent conversations, and I especially appreciated her thought-provoking questions at the end. I passed it along to my roommate as soon as I was finished, and will be recommending it to other friends as well!

I tend to rate books by how much text I underline. I underlined a lot in Ruby Slippers! Jonalyn combines personal anecdotes with solid research resulting in a thought-provoking and insightful book. And the writing is as energetic and sparkly as its killer cover.

I'm a sucker for books that take on the stereotypes of the Christian woman, but what I loved most about Ruby Slippers is that it is not a book for conservative Christian women or one for liberal Christian women. It is a book for all women who bear the image of the God who made them special and for all women who long to be known as such. Every woman should read this.

Richard Doster's "Safe at Home" is a wonderful discovery! Set in the last days of segregation in the deep south, it explores the fraying edges of a small town's struggle to resolve its cultural identity when the centerpiece of the community -- its minor league baseball team -- drafts its first black player.

It's a story that artfully captures both sides of the civil rights journey -- set to the sounds of window fans and creaky front porch swings, smells of popcorn and cigar smoke on a ballpark breeze -- a poetically crafted tale of conflict and redemption that totally transports the reader.

Best of all, the real hero is the game of baseball -- an edge-of-your-seat experience of the great American pastime during one of our nation's most turbulent times.

I understand there's a sequel on the way. I can't wait!

I generally read only non-fiction, so I approached this book with some hesitation. But this is a fascinating story, quite moving and timely. The combination of history and baseball are so well integrated and the characters shine through all of it. Given the sorry state of baseball today, this story helps us remember what it was like in simpler days. At the same time, on the heels of an African American running for president, we are reminded of how far we have come and of the sacrifices and courage of those who came before. I recommend it highly and look forward to the sequel.

Richard Doster has a wonderful and accessible writing style. The dialogue is natural, intriguing, and compelling. You feel like you're at the warm sunny ball park. This book was just what I needed to satisfy my baseball craving in the Major League Baseball off-season. I can't wait for the sequel!

Safe at Home is by far my favorite fiction read of the year. I couldn't put it down!

It's hard to believe this is Doster's first book. He has that rare ability to tell a story so well that it doesn't matter what its about. For example, instead of saying that a preacher is nervous and unsure of what to say, he writes: "...he ventured into the uncomfortable unknown, and had no idea of where he was leading. He cleared his throat, hesitated, looked down at the notes he didn't have..." WOW! There are countless other places throughout the book where Doster crafts the most enjoyable language to describe the events and characters. At one point I thought the only shortcoming of the book was that he had not fully developed the character of Percy Jackson, the black ballplayer. Then I realized that this was intentional as the story revolves around Percy, but is really about the other characters and how they react to an upheaval in the relationship between the races. The ending didn't let me down - no romanticized happily-ever-after or pandering tragedy. I'll buy the sequel the first day its out!

A must-have addition to any serious scrapbooker's library! Not only is the design brilliant, the sample projects and pages are gorgeous and easy to adapt to your own works. I love how Elizabeth blended her fascination with history with her love of scrapbooking. It's made me look at the calendar in a whole new way!

The author has an enviable trio of skills: she is delightfully literate, she takes beautiful photographs, and she makes pretty, thoughtful scrapbook layouts that will stand the test of time. Her background in teaching and history has obviously informed the fun, smart content.

She also assembled an impressive team of contributors to complement her own work, and the book is content-rich. I keep going back to it.

I also really like the spiral binding . . . the book opens flat on the table. Yay!

This book is full of fresh, smart ideas. It is sure to impress and inspire the seasoned scrapbooker, and introduce beginners to the best part of scrapbooking - unique meaningful subjects and projects beyond the typical birthday/holiday layouts that so many other books feature. Kudos to Ms. Dillow for shining a fresh and inspiring light on scrapbooking ideas!

The Scrapbooker's Almanac is jam packed with fantastic ideas that any scrapbooker could find useful. I found that the book was timeless - as trends change and layouts become outdated, I think this book will stand the test of time. It provides a wealth of inspiration that you could use today, tomorrow, or even ten years from now. I found myself pouring over every page, squinting to see any little bit of tiny journaling. I couldn't put it down until I'd read it cover to cover at least once, and now I'm ready to go back in and devour each detail and incorporate them into my own scrapbooking. What a wonderful publication from Simple!

After reading this book, you will never look at a 12 month calendar the same again. Great project ideas and layouts. Embracing the simple clean lines that Simple is known for. No matter what stage you are in of the scrapbooking journey - you will find this book inspirational. To tell stories that might not otherwise get told.

I picked up Larry's Book, "Show me the way to go home", quite by chanceat a local book store. I was interested in Alzheimer's disease because my mother died from it a few years ago. I could not put the book down until I had read the last page. I read it again the next day and then again and again. Then I sat down and cried for a week. I found that I had fallen in Love with this handsome, dashing, man. If you have a friend or relative that is afflicted with this disease, you must read Larry's Book. He has achieved the impossible. He has given us an insight into the mind of person afflicted with this terrible disease. After reading his book and looking at his picture on the back cover, I feel that I know him well enough to call him Larry. Thank You, Larry, for your book and God Bless!Kathleen

This is a fascinating story actually written by an Alzheimer's patient in the early stages of the disease. Larry was diagnosed at age 54. This came after his getting lost on a trip, driving more than a hundred miles out of the way of the route to his destination before realizing it. Larry tries to see the good in this, writing that he has "more compassion for people, birds, deer, and the like" and he says "If when you read this book you feel a certain sadness...let yourself be sad, but not for me...I have had a good and prosperous life...Most of all, I have had the love of some beautiful people...and I have loved them, too."

My mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease at fifty years. I found Larry Rose's account of what was happening to be a wonderful way to relate to her in a way that she was unable to describe to me. This book will be a "hard to put down" account of daily life for those facing similar experiences along the way through this dibilitating illness that robs so much. Larry finds a positive light to shine on purpose in life and to keep on living. He is truly a courageous story that should not be missed. A big five star read with a human approach.

I bought this book shortly after my husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimers. At that time he was 54 - the same age as Larry Rose. I found the book to be helpful & giving us both a positive outlook after being told of this dreadful diagnosis. Larry Rose allowed us to see into his life, showing us so many things that we could recognise from dealing with our own day to day problems, and always writing with a sense of humour & dignity. This book has now been passed on to my family, enabling them to better understand my husbands emotions & feelings. It will be highly recommended to the people in my support group.

Rose poignantly describes his painful experiences of living midlife with Alzheimer's disease. He recalls the early warning signs and symptoms; the process of medical diagnosis and treatment; telling friends and family; coping with the confusion, fear and anger; and family involvement in decisions of property, caregiving and support. Personal quality of life issues are addressed as the author's awareness of the beauty in the ordinariness of life is increased through this experience. A highly individual, personal experience with universal appeal. Recommended for general public library collections.

We absolutely love "The Star-Spangled State Book!" It's a fun, fast way to learn about the 50 states. Each colorful state page has the following information: the capital, population, date of statehood, size of area, rank of size, the 3 most populous cities, important state facts, fun state facts, and four Geoquiz questions. Kids can test what they've learned by taking the Geoquizzes throughout the book. There's also a blank U.S. map you can print out. Overall, it's a fun way for kids to learn U.S. geography.

This is a really fun book to have around for your children. It is easy to understand and packed with fun information about each state. My family enjoys this resource.

This is a great book for introducing the concept of states to younger ones, PK and K. My DH travels for work and we can look up information about the state where he is working. It's better than just a map because we can learn interesting facts about the state as well as know what it looks like! It will be a central part of our homeschool curriculum for years to come!

The Star-Spangled State Book is an absolutely wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the U.S.! It is filled with so much great information in a format that is so appealing to kids and adults alike. It gets five stars in my house.

Ever want to press the "easy" button in your homeschool? Look no further. The Star-Spangled State Book is a colorful, child-friendly, easy-to-read book about the 50 states. My 1st, 3rd, and 6th graders all love it. You get great facts and no fru-fru with this book. (We use it with the workbook - much better with both.)

The book contains a page dedicated to each state. You will see a small picture of the state, the capital, the abbreviation, the flag, the 3 largest cities, date entered statehood, rank, population, and area. There is a Fact Box and 2 short stories about each state, usually about a famous person who has contributed to our country in some way.

In addition, you will find a page on the following: American Presidents, The Civil War, The 13 Colonies, a blank American map, a labeled American map, Statehood Order, State Abbreviations, and more.

The GeoQuiz at the bottom of each page reviews states, capitals, borders, and trivia. This is a great refresher for mom, too!

I compared this book to others on the market, and liked this one best. My kids have improved their knowledge of states, state recognition, and capitals with it.