Holidays and Special Days Books

As I said, this book is a good help for plan our trip to Cuba next August.
There are a lot of details, descrpctions, not only about the kilometeres between the villages, as the places we can eat something or the places we can buy something... Than you, and I have a nice live!!

Recuerdos a Enrique

Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on the best maps available. The authors' way of describing the routes kilometer by kilometer was of great help because very often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems in choosing the right road. The book also contains a lot of other useful information, for example, on accomodation.
We warmly recommend Bicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba.

Bicycling Cuba turned out to be invaluable during our three-week trip to the western part of Cuba. The authors really know what they are writing about. Some of the most interesting and rewarding routes suggested in the book were not on the best maps available. The authors way of describing the routes kilometer by kilometer was of great help because very often roads were unmarked. At the intersections we had no problems in choosing the right road. The book also contains a lot of useful information, for example, on accomodation.

We warmly recommend Bicycling Cuba for independent cyclists planning a trip to Cuba.

If you are visiting Cuba in the near future, BUY THIS BOOK. If you think you might tour Cuba,BUY THIS BOOK. If you don't plan to visit Cuba but enjoy reading travel narratives by those who have traveled to exotic places, BUY THIS BOOK. I have just returned from a two week bicycle trip with two friends and can report from experience that Bicycling Cuba is spot-on about everything. The Smiths have many years experience leading bike tours for a large bicycle touring company, so their guide book and route directions are presented as cyclists need and use them. Their routes cover the entire country, and the routes we follwed along the South Coast out of Santiago were accurate to a fault. Everything the Smiths wrote about the terrain, historical sites, social mores, laws,lodgings, and Cuban culture and society proved enormously helpful because everything is written clearly and, most importantly for cyclists, accurately. Anyone planning to tour Cuba by car, train, or bus will also find the book useful. I can't think of anything the Smiths left out, except maybe Fidel's personal telephone number! Europeans and other nationals should not pass up this book because it's in English. Even though written in English they will find the book invaluable. Now that I have been home for a couple of weeks I find myself picking the book up and reading about the places I have been and enjoying them all over again. Bicycling Cuba is about as close to Plato's Ideal Travel Guide as we are likely to see. Congratulations to the Smiths, and if you are thinking about a trip to Cuba, buy Bicycling Cuba. I'll bet you go.

Having never done any cycle touring, speaking very little Spanish and being a middle aged women travelling alone, I thought a few tips and hints and route advice would make my trip a little easier. I found it all and more in "Bicycling Cuba" by Wally and Barbara Smith. Their advice on what to take, where to go, where to stay, and gems to see was unsurpassed.

I had spent three weeks in Cuba previously and had used two guide books. The Smiths' advice, while not replacing a guide book, was the best: succinct, accurate and introduced me to friendly and helpful people. Their three main cycle tours, west, central and eastern Cuba cover the most scenic areas as well as the historic gems of this wonderful country. The route descriptions were accurate, easy to follow and contained good advice about difficulty, water availability, traffic problems and special sites.

The Smiths obviously love Cuba and this comes out in their writing. They include inserts about various social issues, economics and politics -- each fascinating.

I thoroughly recommend "Bicycling Cuba" with no reservations. My only wish is that the Smiths would produce some more books for other countries.

My wife and I recently returned from Rome, and one of our many fine moments in that glorious city was sitting on top of Michelangelo's Campodiglio, with Mr. Sullivan's book in hand and understanding for the first time exactly what Michelangelo did and why -- and thus helping us understand more deeply the greatness of his accomplishment. So it went with magnificent works such as Borromini's San Carlino or Bramante's Tempietto. Similarly, we came to understand the failures -- what the architect wanted to do and didn't quite get there. Mr. Sullivan's goal, was to help us move beyond admiration or puzzlement at what we are looking at, and understand what was done, and how well it did or did not work. Very well written, tough in its judgments, and infused throughout by a love for the city. Don't go to Rome without it.

A good read for those who love history, it is an excellent companion for travel to Rome

George Sullivan's "Not Built in a Day" is a unique and wonderful combination of scholarly knowledge, art, passion, and wit. The author recently gave a series of slide lectures at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. based upon the material in the book, which I attended. His lectures were exceptional -- insightful and enjoyable, a college-level crash course on the history of European architecture that was set entirely in Rome! He really made the buildings come alive through his enthusiasm and humor; I especially liked that he not only had definite opinions on buildings, but also explained clearly what architectural qualities those opinions were based on. This same in-depth but accessible approach can be found in the book, which is unlike any other guide to Rome that I have seen. I would enthusiastically recommend it if you are going to Rome, and if the lectures show up at a museum near you in the future, I would enthusiastically recommend them as well.

This remarkable book is a must read if you are planning your own itinerary in Rome. The author's love of Rome and its Architecture are apparent from the first page. He organizes the overwhelming amount of information into compact and readable units. Pick a time period or Architectural style of interest and follow the detailed path laid out by the author. The added information of the art to see inside each structure makes this the only "guide" book to Art & Architecture that you will need on your visit to Rome.

Not Build in a Day blends astute architectural observation with basic guidebook practicality. The descriptions combine detail and relevant explanation to make the most lay-person feel expert as they dissect the infinite elements in a church, piazza, or palazzo. For anyone who's been to Rome, the inexorable shuttling between sites makes you numb to the city's splendor, but Not Built in a Day constantly re-orients and reminds the reader that every site contains an element of architectural, historical, or civic wonder that makes the non-stop walking completely worthwhile.

The book's walking tours can be strictly followed (I completed tours 1,2, and 7 without any diversions), but once I had a better feel for the city, I picked specific places that I wanted to see and then read the appropriate entry.

Every guidebook should aspire to be Not Built in a Day

As a credentialed sub, I find this an invaluable book.
It is full of historical and scientific tidbits of information, which can be easily introduced to the class as an intro to a substantive lesson, or as interesting filler, and even as the basis of a Jeopardy-type trivia quiz. Each of the book's entries has at least a few sentences of explanation, and some entries (such as Amelia Jenks Bloomer's birthday) expand to a half-page of history and lesson suggestions.
You won't regret getting this book! (Of course, you'd get the current edition now!)

After I purchased the Teacher's Calendar, I stayed up late into the night finding great things to share during the next school year. I shared it with my teaching partner so she and I could plan some activities. She took it on vacation and was going to get it back to me in a few weeks. She wasn't quite finished a few weeks ago. Today, she just called and said she was mailing me a check since she had so much marked - couldn't I just get another one. So, I am gladly purchasing another copy and I can't wait to use it next year. I am really excited that my partner and I see the benefit in the mini-lessons that this book provides on so many subjects.

Principals, Teachers, School Staff: LISTEN UP!

This book is an AWESOME resource. At our small school (staff of 18), we have a faculty meeting EVERY DAY. We start the day together with prayer (we're a religious-affiliated school), and a brief session with "The Teacher's Calendar." It's a hoot!

We share the trivia, guess at the famous people's birthdates and ages, and use the facts (every now & then) with students.

This can be great for current events, "this day in history" PA announcements, or use the special events to determine your "words for the day" (that's what we do over the PA at the end of every day), or just stay in tune with everyday events.

P.S.: Teachers & Staff: this would make a great "start of the school year" gift for your principal! (hint, hint).

This will be the second year I purchased this book! I use it every day of the school year as a basis for my grammar lessons. There are multiple historical and current events briefly explained (just a few sentences) for each day of the year. I choose an item that ties into my curriculum, or I just feel the kids should know about, and write it on the board filled with punctuation, spelling, syntax and gramatical errors. The kids are responsible for writing the passage correctly, fixing my errors, then we talk about spelling, homonyms, grammar rules, the subject itself, and I often use it to extend into social studies, science, etc. The other nice thing about the book is there are plenty of ideas and resources for extending into lessons and projects. Just be sure to look ahead in the book so you allow enough time for mail and research! I have all but ignored my other calendar resources because this has all I've needed!

Are these books (the "Let's Make a Memory series") taken straight from the content of the book, "Let's Make a Memory?"....if anyone knows, this would be helpful info in deciding if I should order these. thanks!

I LOVE this book. Family traditions are a must in my family. This book gives great Godly ideas to create new traditions for each season. I highly recommend this book!

Love, love, LOVE this little book! Divided up into seasons (beginning with Spring), this little book is chock-full of wonderful ideas for creating new family traditions in your home that your kids will cherish for a lifetime and will draw your whole family closer together and closer to God. This book is well-written and full of great illustrations! It is deeply spiritual - Scripture verses are scattered throughout and there is an overall awareness of the Church calendar - without ever being preachy. It covers every possible "holiday" in all four seasons, including a few surprises like The Last Day of School and Grandparents' Day! My hands-down favorite is the Birthday Party for Jesus - a hit with my kids! Why not have a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Day?!? What better way to teach children the REAL meaning of the season?!? A wonderful part of childhood is all the beautiful memories you have forever, and this book will help you create new and wonderful memories in your children's lives. Highly recommend!

This is one of my 3 year olds favorite books. We read it a least every-other day and he always loves it. After we read the book we have to "act it out" he pretends to make me breakfast, make a card with hearts on it, while mimicking what the little pig says..."no peeking Mommy"..."Did I surprise you Mommy?" The pictures are great and very cute.

Little Pig sets out to surprise her mommy on her special day, but in the process, she leaves a trail of mess for mommy to take care of. In the end, Mommy loves all of her treats, despite the work. The reader never finds out just why this was mommy's special day, leaving you free to use the story for a number of ocassions-- Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or even a birthday.

The illustrations are simple and uncluttered, yet have interesting detail, as in the rust stains seeping down the walls of the basement and the colored dots on the bread wrapper, reminiscent of Wonder bread.

The book comes with a free greeting card, blank inside, that any child will be happy to sign for an instant "I love you." A Special Day For Mommy is aimed at ages 3 to 6, and will make a wonderful read aloud for all mommys and daddys to read to their children.

"Mommy" and her daughter burst out of a circular frame on the book's cover, in one of many oblique tributes to Porky Pig and the spirit of early animation. There's a real 40's feeling to this book, with its thickly three-dimensional interior objects that look like they're made from marshmallows and foam rubber. While it's true that there's not a tremendous amount of action in the story, the oversized objects, the images of globby glue and jam spilling on the floor, the strewn toilet paper, and the smiling eyes on the faces of the watchful clock and the framed duck painting give this book an emotive quality full of real and potential energy. I think it will hold the attention of the toddlers for which it was intended.

The story is simple but heartfelt and recognizable. It's Mother's day in pig suburbia, and the little pig girl (or boy, it's kinda difficult to tell) wants to treat Mommy on her special day. The adorable little pig's desires are greater than her skill,; however, and such surprises as breakfast in bed, a homemade greeting, and a cake turn out, well, badly. The mother, in a familiar motif, winds up doing more than she normally would as she somewhat secretly cleans up behind her child. It's touching, because both Mother and little pig are showing their love for each other, whether it's the little one tearing out the planted daffodils ("Mommy loves yellow daffodils. I know because she planted them all around the house") or the Mom cleaning the messy house or the messy piglet who spilled everything! Some of the scenes are a bit jumpy, you have to infer that the little pig did something to make breakfast in bed turn into breakfast on the floor beside the bed (maybe the pig excitedly jumped up and down). If you're prepared for these few discontinuities beforehand, you can have fun with your audience by asking, "Now how do you suppose that happened?"

This is a funny and fun book that shows how even the best-laid plans of pigs and people often go awry, but need not diminish the thought and effort that went into them. Dan Andreasen's pastel colors shows a real warmth between the two porcine ones, and his setting is a simple, uncomplicated one where pigs--not possessions--matter most. There's a real warmth evoked by the look of the 40's and the old-fashioned look of claymation and the stylizations of the 1940's. An excellent book for the young toddler set.

I bought this for my son-in-law for Christmas and he loved it! Every time I go to their house, I see the book in a different place and it looks like he reads it alot. He really appreciated the guide that shows what kind of camping, if any, is available at each hike location.

I really enjoyed this book. I have taken many of these hikes and they fit the descriptions. I was hoping to find the best hikes for my area (northwest Ohio), but there were not many around here. Check the map before you buy to make sure there are hikes in the region you hope to frequent. I should have known there would be few hikes in this area, just given the area and that I could not find any good hikes on my own either. I would prefer to have all hikes listing if pets are permitted or not and this book only occasionally lists info on pets.

Great story about an old shoemaker. He was very lonely one Christmas Eve. He read a story about Jesus that day. Wondering what he could do for Jesus, a voice speaks to him, telling the old shoemaker to watch out his window the next day and he will speak to him. But Jesus assured him that he will not be in a form the old shoemaker will readily recognize. He did show up the next day but in many different forms, i.e. a poor woman w/child, a hungry street cleaner, etc.

In this lovely picture book for older children, Papa Panov is an elderly shoemaker, feeling lonely on Christmas Eve. He reads about the birth of Jesus, long ago, and how Mary and Joseph had been turned away at the inn. If they had come here, he thinks to himself, I would have taken them in and cared for them. After drifting off to sleep, Papa Panov has a dream in which Jesus says he will come and visit the old shoemaker the next day. Eagerly, Papa Panov watches the streets on Christmas day, looking for Jesus. Along comes the humble street sweeper, and then a homeless woman and her child, and others who are down on their luck and in need. Papa Panov, though he wants to be watching for Jesus, kindly reaches out to each one who comes his way, offering a bit of food and comfort. When the day ends and Jesus apparently has not come, Papa Panov is disappointed -- until in another dream Jesus says that he had come after all! "I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me water, I was cold and you took me in. All the time you were helping them, you were helping me!"

I'm a collector of great children's books, and I was delighted to find this one: it's fresh, imaginative and just-plain-fun. I've started reading it to my three-month-old so that Hesselberg's stories are the ones she grows up on -- a big improvement over Cinderella and the Three Little Pigs! I've passed along the title to one of my faculty colleagues, who has written a book about children's literature: she loved it, too. It's a big hit -- with my infant daughter and her grown-up mommy.

As a elementary school teacher, I use this book all the time for great read aloud stories which never fail to light up eyes and get laughs from my students. Sometimes the story is a prompt for them to write their own tales. Kids are tough audiences and often the books that garner the acclaim of the adult critics bomb with the intended audience. These stories past the test in the classroom week after week.

Chase's Calendar of Events is more than a directory. It carries purpose, triumphs, and causes that will help humanity evolve in so many areas.
In this 2004 edition, you will see a new national holiday "National Divorced Parents for Children Week" which begins every October 1st. I created this holiday to remind divorced parents that their children are a part of each of them equally, and that each parent deserves honor and respect. This week long holiday puts children first, by giving their parents the opportunity to display healthy adult courtesy and respect to the other parent, solely for the benefit of their children.
You can create a holiday that has purpose and meaning too! This book is a fantastic resource to bring people together for reasons to celebrate, and make meaningful changes in our society. It is an excellent PR resource that will help you bring awareness to the special days, weeks and months that will help humanity evolve on all levels.

Highly recommended for bringing positive awareness for the benefit of all.

I live in the Phila. area, and can tell you that this is an excellent source of ideas for visiting the area. I borrowed a copy when a visitor was coming from England, and then decided to buy it because it was so helpful. I plan to use it when my family and I are looking for places to go for the day. There's helpful itineraries and maps, along with ratings for special places. I highly recommend this book!