Weather Books

Probably no passage of Scripture is more widely used in the training of wives than Proverbs 31. However, in How To Pray For Your Wife: A 31-Day Guide, author Mark A. Weathers turns the tables and uses the passage to instruct men on how properly to appreciate a godly wife. Weathers, who is pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church in Concord, North Carolina, has a personal agenda for wanting men to be sensitive to this subject: he has three sons and no daughters!

The 31 entries are all keyed to specific topics related to the Proverbs 31 woman, such as "Trust," "Creativity," and "Devotion." Weathers shows the uniqueness of women. He says that what men call "nagging" is actually a woman's gift for seeing that a household hums the way it should. And he calls a woman's penchant for searching endlessly for the perfect pair of shoes, her ability to be a better bargain hunter than her husband. In these and many other ways, he instructs men on why God wired women the way He did and why husbands should be glad about it.

Each daily reading is followed by tips on how to pray regarding the topic of the day, such as how to ask God to relieve stress in a woman's life, or how to ask God to enable a wife to continue to be a good role model to her children. This material is followed by space for the reader to make entries to keep an on-going record of how the Lord is responding to his specific prayers. Space is also provided for the husband to make notes about how his own wife is a blessing to him and how he can show more appreciation for her.

From time to time the book goes a little far afield. For example, Weathers suggests at one point that some of the Proverbs might have been written by Bathsheba (uh...no, pastor), and he uses some military metaphors to describe the strength of women (a bit over the top), but, generally speaking, the book works well as a one month devotional. For men who might desire to mentor newlywed husbands, there are study guides in the back, as well as Sunday school lessons and sermon suggestions.

As someone married 35 years, I found these lessons to be good reminders of how precious a godly wife can be and how we men need to show our gratitude for the blessing godly wives are to us. - Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, [...]

Written by married Presbyterian co-pastor and missionary Mark A. Weathers, How To Pray For Your Wife: A 31-Day Guide is an interactive prayer journal, designed to be consumable if the user wishes to write in it, offering daily entries specifically to pray for one's wife, or wife-to-be if one is single. Each day extols a different virtue to respect and encourage in one's better half through faith in God, from Trust and Creativity to Multitasking, Hospitality, and Grace. A simple yet highly effective focus tool for personal devotion.

Guys, if you are married, you need to get this book. If you are single and would like to pray for your future wife now - you need to get this book. Mark Weathers has spent a lot of time looking at Proverbs 31 and using it to learn how to pray for his own wife, and this book is the fruit of his work in both studying the Bible and learning in marriage. His book is practical, grace-centered, and helpful. For each day of the prayer guide, he explains a theme from the verse to help men understand their wives better and learn to pray for them better. Then, for each day there is a list of suggested prayers based on the passage, space to journal about what you read, and then a section for recording answered prayers. The back of the book has a study guide with further questions and discussions on three themes: Sacrifice & Submission; Security & Significance and Physical & Spiritual. As far as I know there is nothing else like this on the market and it fills an important need for Christian husbands.

Here's a great sample of one of the explanation and prayers in this book (from Day 5 "Rewards"), based on Prov. 31:12 "She shows him good, not evil, all the days of her life"

"When loving and respecting are done in God's strength, the marriage becomes a beautiful cyclical dance: The husband shows his wife love by cherishing and protecting her, and the wife gives honor and respect to her husband. When one partner happens to give in to sin and `misses a step,' the other partner does not retaliate but keeps the dance moving forward."
Suggested Prayer
1. Lord, give me the grace to love my wife always and to provide her with the security she needs.
2. Help me to be a deserving husband my wife can easily respect, and help my wife to show goodness and grace to me even when I don't deserve it. (p. 40).


Husbands, you are called to lead your wives spiritually. If we are honest, most of us have no idea how to do that. One of the best ways to learn how to do this is to pray for her - specifically, biblically and daily. This book is a tool that will help you do just that. Get it today! And wives, if you are reading this, grab one for your husband!

"As a husband, I know it is my responsibility to pray for my wife. Often, though, I do not know the words to use, and I end up feeling that my prayers for her could be more effective. From marriage counseling and pastoral experience, I have met many men who share the same concern. The average Christian man does not know how to pray for his wife. Unfortunately, when we do not know how to pray, we end up not praying at all."

Because of this concern, Mark Weathers, co-pastor at Providence Presbyterian Church in Concord, North Carolina, decided to write a book--a 31-day study guide--to help men learn to pray for their wives. How To Pray For Your Wife follows through the well-known words of the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs, providing 31 brief meditations and prayer suggestions.

Weathers considers this book an "interactive prayer journal." Each day's entry features three things: the author's translation of the original Hebrew words; his explanation pointing out significant details about the text and how they point to Christ and the covenant; and supplication--starting points for your own prayers. There are blank spaces provided for husbands to write their own thoughts and prayers. The book also features a short study guide designed to help pastors and teachers in their teachings on marriage.

On the whole I found the meditations and prayers quite helpful. I opted not to make this into a 31-day read, but may well do that in the future. The meditations are nearly always grounded in Scripture and the prayers were often very helpful in pinpointing exactly what it is I should pray for on my wife's behalf. The book was beneficial to me even though I did not read it in the way it was intended. Though there were a couple of small missteps where the author quotes Brother Lawrence or Henri Nouwen rather than focusing on Scripture, the majority of the text is focused on the Bible.

Leslie, who writes reviews for Discerning Reader says rightly that "All Christian husbands and wives will enjoy and benefit from How to Pray for Your Wife. Encouraging and thought provoking, it will deepen a husband's prayers for his wife. The study guide included at the end may prove helpful to pastors who frequently counsel couples. Young men desiring excellent wives may also profit from this book." I would gladly recommend this book to any husband who desires to pray for his wife more earnestly and more effectively.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights . . ." (James 1:17). All too often we take the gift of a godly wife for granted. Mark Weathers refocuses men on the joy of glorifying God by daily loving our wives. In the process, we learn not only how to pray for our wives but also how to rescue their hearts. Are 6 stars available?

Fron the 1600's to the Present, this is the "go to" book for Hurricane history affecting the eastern coastline. But more than just weather and geographical facts, Rick "The Hurricane Man" Schwartz has conducted many personal interviews to put a human interest face in this well-read timeline of the Hurricanes' impact, and stories of miraculous survival and devastatingly tragic loss. As Mr. Schwartz reminds, "Hurricane history repeats" and "The Year of the Hurricane is coming"! Are we prepared?

Over the years any number of books have been written about the devastating hurricanes that have struck coastal New England. Likewise, there are a whole host of books available about the history of hurricanes in the great state of Florida. Yet, when he sought to do some research on the history of hurricanes in the Middle Atlantic states Rick Schwartz discovered to his great consternation that very little had been written about the subject and that no really comprehensive book on this topic had ever been written. So Rick Schwartz decided to correct this glaring oversight himself. After more than six years of painstaking research "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" was released in 2007. This is a book that proves to be well worth your time and attention.
As the complete title would indicate "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History...From Jamestown To The Present" traces the history of hurricanes in this region from colonial times until the present day. It is a fascinating study. Rick Schwartz conducted more than 100 interviews in putting together this superb book. He also unearthed old newspaper articles, personal letters and state and local government documents in attempting to cobble together the real story. Consequently, there is an interesting narrative on almost all of the storms Rick decided to cover in his book. Schwartz also made a very wise decision by choosing to include track maps on a good many of these hurricanes. This feature greatly enhances the readers understanding of the storms and underscores just how unpredictable they can be. In addition, the inclusion of more than 200 black and white photographs helps readers to gage the full impact of these powerful cyclones and serves to emphasize the need for coastal communities to carefully reconsider public policies that have allowed for reckless overdevelopment on the waterfront. The question is not "if" these areas will be struck by a major hurricane in the future but only "when". Then there is the enormous toll these storms exact on everyday people. For all too many, life will never be the same again. Schwartz devotes considerable time to those who are victimized by hurricanes as well as those public officials who must find new and creative ways to deal with the devastation. High winds, heavy rain, tornadoes and flooding can all combine to wreak havoc for residents in the affected areas. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of some of the fascinating local folklore that Rick Schwartz managed to sprinkle in throughout this book. Outstanding stuff!
Every now and then I come across a book like "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" that really seems to be much more appropriate as a reference volume. This is no knock on Rick Schwartz. This book is extremely well written, meticulously researched and thoughtfully laid out. Yet the stories inevitably do tend to become a bit repetitive and I found myself losing just a bit of interest from time to time. This is hardly surprising when one realizes that this book covers more than 300 years of hurricane history! Having said that, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" remains an extremely important addition to the literature on hurricanes in this nation and deserves a spot not only on the shelves of libraries in the Middle Atlantic region but in other parts of the country as well. It is a book that students, researchers and general interest readers will turn to time and again in the decades to come. Highly recommended!

Researched, compiled and written by hurricane historian Rick Schwartz, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History, Jamestown To The Present" chronicles four hundred years of the Middle Atlantic region's significant tropical cyclones beginning with the experiences of the Jamestown settlers and continuing down to the present day. A unique and exhaustively researched study, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" features a substantial chronology profiling all of the Mid-Atlantic hurricanes and major storms, examines the patterns and characteristics of the region's tropical cyclones, and provides a sound basis for comparison, planning and preparation with respect to Mid-Atlantic hurricanes. Of special note is a forecasting history chapter offering insights into past progress and current knowledge about predicting hurricanes. Ideal for weather and meteorology students, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in hurricanes and climate-changed influences on storm behavior, frequency, and intensity. Enhanced with an extensive glossary, a bibliography, and a geographically oriented index, as well as track maps and some 200 black-and-white photographs, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is confidently recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Weather & Meteorology reference collections.

Fascinating Book!!! Very informative, interesting facts and interviews. A must read for anyone with any interest at all on this topic.

BOOK REVIEW - "HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES"
Author: Richard Schwartz (Hardcover - 400 pages)

This incredible book is a first of its kind - dedicated to the storms that have affected the Mid-Atlantic States through the past 300+ years, from the "Year of the Hurricane in 1667" up through Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004. A great reference for all hurricane enthusiasts the book includes explanations of all commonly used technical terms, references, and internet sources for everyone to use. But mostly it covers all the storms that through this extensive historical period had an affect on the mid-Atlantic States region. And Rick has done this with a definite personal touch, going to great lengths to get a "people- perspective" on what actually happened, what people went through during these storms. And he does his best to educate all of us that we are never "out of the woods" as to the future. We may be in a lull for action right now, but that is definitely temporary, and more storms that form in the future will definitely have more profound affects on the Mid-Atlantic region. Anyone and everyone in the mid-Atlantic area should reach out and get this book to have as a reference and to learn about the great effects these powerful storms have on their local areas. As Rick put it, "An understanding of storms past is vital to preparing for those ahead..."

And nice blending of superb photos of snowflakes, with some of the science of them, in non-overwhelming doses. I even like the feel of the book -- nice quality.

I first saw Libbrecht's work in a recent issue of The American Scientist, and was delighted when my wife gifted me with this charming little book. In language that engages without condescending, Libbrecht explains the formation, symmetry, and growth of these miniature crystalline gems. I had just finished reading the book when we had an early-March snowfall. Armed with my modest digital camera and its macro settings, I was able to not only photograph individual snowflakes, but actually see for myself the changes in snowflake morphology as the termperature and humidity varied during the snowstorm. Later, after proudly sharing my photos with friends, they asked to see the book and were as captivated as I. Even if you don't care to understand the physics of snow, it's likely you'll never look at snow the same way. And it was stimulating to see that "snowflakes" are often capped columns or needles. I can't wait until the next snowfall!

This book has the most incredible, beautiful photos of a very transitory subject. What fun!

Caltech physics professor Kenneth Libbrecht burst into the public's awareness when he wrote the text to the stunning 2003 book "The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty", with photographs by Patricia Rasmussen. Even laypeople now associate his name with pioneering research in the science of snow as well as great snowflake photography. In this "Field Guide to Snowflakes", Libbrecht offers a practical guide to snowflake-watching whose intent is to entice the reader outdoors, magnifier in hand, to observe the exquisite and endlessly fascinating "Lilliputian world of snowflakes". He tells us just how to do that, how to decipher a snow crystal's history, and provides a method of classification that will help snowflake-watchers understand what they see.

In the first part of the guide, "Understanding Snowflakes", we learn how snowflakes are created by selectively augmenting ice crystals as they tumble through the clouds. Libbrecht explains the conditions that produce some of snowflakes' characteristics, such as symmetry, crystal faceting, branching, ridges, rims, ribs, and sublimation. And he introduces us to 35 snowflake classifications that he will explain in detail in Part 2. These are fewer than the traditional snow crystal classification system. Libbrecht has chosen to organize snow crystals according to their growth mechanisms for the purpose of this book. This seems to be a practical approach that allows the lay person insight into both the forms of snowflakes and their causes without burdening us with too many abstruse classifications.

Part 2 is the heart of the "Field Guide". Libbrecht's classifications are addressed in detail, with examples and explanations of what conditions produce them and why. Libbrecht's prose is always clear and fluid. His enthusiasm for the beauty and mysteries of snow crystals is evident on every page, so the text is never dry. Forty-four full-page "Case Studies" are placed throughout the book, each with a large photograph and a lively analysis of that snow crystal, so we can see exactly what we should be looking for. The explanations of classifications are also found in Chapter 7 of "The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty", though here they are presented in a form that more easily lends itself to field use. The case studies are new to this book and are worth the price.

The final section of "Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes" offers advice on how to observe the miniature marvels that looked so fascinating on the preceding pages. Libbrecht presents a choice of magnifiers that will do the job and describes the components of his set-up for photographing snowflakes, including advice on lighting and how to find good specimens. You may want more info if you plan to try your hand at microphotography, but this will give you an idea of what you need and how much it is likely to cost. For more details, see Libbrecht's web site www.snowcrystals(dot)com. The "Field Guide" is a hardcover book 5 ½ x 8 1/4 x ½ inches. It doesn't have a dust jacket; the cover art is printed onto the cover, which is attractive and seems pretty durable. I don't know if you would want to take this book out in a snowstorm, but it is a convenient size for reference.

I got this book for my husband for Christmas and he loves it. Not only does it have the most amazing photographs of actual snowflakes, but it gives more information than you ever thought to ask about snowflakes. My husband enjoys reading all kinds of field guides, whether it's about birds, trees, etc and this was one of his favorites.

If you are looking for something a little less informational, check out Ken Libbrecht's Little Book of Snowflakes. I gave that one out to teachers and friends and was enjoyed by all. It is more of a small coffeetable book with lots of amazing photographs.

Lucius and the Storm is a rhyming children's picturebook about a young boy who dares to stand up to the threatening black cloud with the potential to ruin his summer vacation. Though Lucius is beaten into a puddle, he rises again, and with help from the flame in the Smoking Stack, he attains victory over the cloud's oppression. The exuberantly fantastic color illustrations add the perfect touch to this whimsical adventure, told in the spirit of larger-than-life legends.

This inspiring story of courage and determination focuses on one boy's efforts to battle the weather. Lucius refuses to have his summer vacation ruined by an impending downpour so--brave soul that he is--he decides to take on the storm and fight to restore sunshine. The oil paintings are simply outstanding--moody, textural, and wonderfully evocative.

This children's book is wonderfully amazing. The artwork is fun and captivating... truly fun for all ages!

I recently read this story to my son's first grade class and they loved it! The vocabulary is wonderfully varied and sophisticated, but the kids enjoyed learning new words. They listened quietly (very unusual!) with wide eyes and actually cheered at the end of the story. A visiting student teacher told me after the class how much she loved the art work and the theme of bravery in the face of adversity. Even my three-year-old likes it and often asks me to read "Yooshus" to him at bedtime. I look forward to more amazing work from this author.

I bought this for my nephew, who very much enjoyed the artwork -- colorful, full-page paintings done by the author. The vocabulary and plot may be a bit sophisticated for younger children, so I think elementary-aged kids would appreciate this more. Nonetheless, an engaging story with terrific illustrations!

This is a great educational series. The kids don't even know they are learning.

I liked this book because it is a good way of showing what a hurricane looks like, how they work, what i can/can not do. It talls you how they are formed and where you can go to be safe from a hurricane.

Written in 1995, Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen's latest story begins where it ends - in Ms. Frizzle's classroom. And that's it. Nothing else happened. The Friz and her students simply went on a nice, leisurely field trip. They didn't end up miles beneath the earth's surface digging for rocks; nor did they travel to outer space to hitch a ride with a runaway comet; heck, they didn't even bother to travel backwards in time millions of years to observe ancient animal life.

End of review. Yes, that's correct. Ms. Frizzle has finally learned her lesson. The field trips she takes with her classroom of students are simply too wild, too wacky, too weird. How much did the children she instructs ever learn, anyhow?

But, of course, this reviewer is stretching the truth a little bit. True, the Friz's most recent field trip did begin and end inside her classroom. And, true, she didn't send her kids splashing through the local waterworks, or give them a guided tour inside the human body, or plunge them to the bottom of the ocean. So what did she do, you ask? All Ms. Frizzle accomplished was to drive through the eye of a hurricane, only to nearly get sent to the Land of Oz via a tornado. Oh, and one of her students - the ever-so-cautious Arnold - simply went on a high-seas adventure, battling wind, waves and surf with his trusted sidekick and faithful ally . . . a radio. And all of this happened before lunchtime in the school cafeteria!

Cole and Degen's seventh collaboration, "The Magic School Bus: Inside a Hurricane," is certainly eventful, if not downright ambitious. And it starts innocently enough.

"It's a perfect day for our field trip to the weather station!" the Friz exclaims. "We'll meet a team of weather forecasters. We'll learn all about our atmosphere!"

"We hadn't finished our experiments about air," writes one of the students in Ms. Frizzle's class, "but with Frizzie at the wheel, we were going - ready or not!"

Anyone who's familiar with Cole and Degen's work understands, recognizes and appreciates the delectable havoc that ensues. Because a field trip isn't just a field trip when it comes to the Friz. To "learn about our atmosphere," it is most preferable to head straight for the source!

The kids in Ms. Frizzle's class - especially hapless Arnold (and his trusted sidekick, faithful ally . . . a radio) - discover all kinds of interesting facts about our planet's weather patterns. For example, most of our weather takes place in the troposphere, the layer of air that is closest to the surface of the earth. The children learn that air has weight. Did you ever wonder why the air in your attic is always so stuffy, yet the air in your basement is usually so cool? Can you tell the difference between cirrus, stratus and cumulus clouds? Just how many droplets does it take to form one single raindrop? And that's just scratching the surface of what this well-researched, well-written, well-illustrated book has to offer. All this, and the Friz hasn't even tackled that hurricane yet!

One would think that after six acclaimed adventures, Cole and Degen would begin to run out of steam. But with "Inside a Hurricane," that is clearly not the case. The writing and illustrations are every bit as inspired as those in previous efforts. Once again, Cole and Degen manage to explain facets of meteorology that are, at once, both funny and easily understandable. Every page is brimming with facts about weather, along with a dollop of humorous sidekicks to boot.

There is something in this book for everyone. One random fact I wasn't aware of explained the connection between thunder, lightning and - get this - opening up a soft drink can! And did you know that faraway places such as Australia and India are susceptible to hurricanes? Most people only associate these hazardous storms with places like the tropics, Florida or the East Coast.

As is the custom with all tales about the Magic School Bus, the final pages distinguish what was fact in the book and what was made up for story purposes. And, always the clever duo, Cole and Degen hint at what is to come in Ms. Frizzle's newest expedition. The buzz surrounding the Friz's eighth escapade into parts unknown is already beginning. In fact, you could say it's un-bee-lievable!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Keep together, class!"

I'm a kid and watch the Magic School Bus on TV. The books are even better! When Arnold gets lost in a hurricane on one of Ms.Frizzle's wacky field trips, the kids need to know the parts of a hurricane to find him. I thought it was creative and funny to include a radio that knew everything and could dance. By the time Ms.Frizzle's class goes on the real field trip, they have become experts on hurricanes. The weather team is amazed at the intelligence of the students. This book is great because it's not like those other books that lag on and on about one subject without any excitment. The Magic School Bus books make subjects like hurricanes, fun to learn about . I liked how the kids knew more than the weather team. I give this book two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!

For those familiar with the "Magic Schoolbus" series, Mrs. Frizzle's adventures with her class all have a similar plotline. Mrs. Frizzle explains some scientific topic, whether it's the solar system, the dinosaurs, etc. and then lures her children onto her special schoolbus for an adventure. During the adventure the only child that is regularly singled out as the perpetual schlamatzel is Arnold, a boy who doesn't care much for adventures, thank you. In the end, the class is safe and has learned quite a lot, despite themselves. Even Arnold. Then there is a "letters" section in the back where readers wishing to complain about scientific inaccuracies (in this case, how dangerous it would be to be caught in a hurricane) are one-upped by already existing letters. The particular plotline in this hurricane obsessed book was not too dissimilar from the others, and was a lot of fun. I used to read these books to kids that I babysat back in my high school years, and certain types of children love them. The pages are always busy with text, speech bubbles, experiments that kids can do at home, and various factoids sprinkled hither and yon. I do wonder how long these series will last before it is regarded as hopelessly dated by the young. Please note that the review previous to my own was last written in 1997. Currently the show is doing well as a tv series, voiced by Lily Tomlin. Just the same, it would be very difficult to read this book to a group of kids. The books are relatively small and crammed with so much extra text that children will want to handle them one on one, rather than with a large group. Each book would pair well with a companion non-fiction book on the same topic.

I love this book so much! I wish they would reprint it I would buy a copy for every baby shower I went to. Precious book!

A wonderful, seasonable drama that involves all the colorful activities that small children are fascinated by, i.e. dogs, wind and leaves, outdoor messes, etc...

Shirley Hughes wrote this with a musical ear for language. It is presently my hands-down favorite for reading to my two-year old. It is writing that adults can appreciate for almost haiku-like grace, and that appreciation can be passed on to the youngest readers. The illustrations match the poems superbly, and there are four mural-like double-page spreads, one for each season, that are each pictures the child can wander about visually, and I have had long talks with my son about what he sees in these pictures. An almost ideal children's book in my opinion.

This book makes a fabulous addition to any children's library ages 3-8. My daugthers, 4 and 7, love the detailed beautiful illustations and the poems that walk through the seasons. A great combination of 'picture book' for the youngest and a great first reader for the older set.

In total agreement with other readers, I admire this book very much. I wanted recently to buy two copies, one for each granddaughter and lo, it is out of print. Furthermore, I have listed it in the books for children section of the yet-to-be published 7th edition of -Science Experiences for the Early Childhood Year. And I read it to my classes. I hope it comes out in paperback!

In a day and age of "bigger is better", Getchell makes the case (and I
must say quite well) for smaller is sweeter.

Oftentimes I will pass on a book because of it's copyright date, assuming
the info in it is now dated and there must be "newer" and better tomes
out there. Yet this one is timeless and shall remain so.

When I bought my first boat roughly 8 years ago, I came across this book in
a bookshop and figured that I could use a little edification on boating. I
couldn't put it down. What I found was a simple large-trade paperback
that gave you enough info on almost any facet of boating as relates to
small (18' or less) outboard boats. Think of it as the Swiss-Army knife
of running/fixing/touring/revamping/etc a small boat. Why aluminum v.
fiberglass? What hull designs work best where? How should I set up my
boat to do boat camping? What are the ins/outs of trailering and boat
launches? How can I tell if that used model is beat to heck? How do I
navigate? What do i do when the weather turns on me? Etc.

I recently purchased an outboard boat again. I also bought this
book, again. There aren't many books I would buy twice.

Buy it, you'll like it!

Plain, outspoken, wonderfully opinionated and varied accounts of the what, how and where of small craft. For this blue water sailor and sea kayaker, Getchell's book is a bible. Even a non motor head could understand, and enjoy the 'how ' of operating, buying, cruising, and sleeping on and with a small outboard under twenty feet. This book has now been through too many hands and is worn.....

We don't have a boat yet, but have a lake nearby so are contemplating it. This book is quite interesting as it describes different types of boats (runabout, bass boat, etc.) and what to consider before purchasing one.
Then it has lots of info on handling a boat, like how to run an inlet or docking and anchoring. It's a little scary seeing how much there is to learn about boats and motors. The info is quite practical on the proper load distribution in the boat and motor angle adjustment and how it affects performance. It covers maintaining, repairing and even towing the boat (selecting a trailer and tow vehicle).

Covers a wide variety of topics (e.g. selecting, powering, equiping, trailering, maintaining, and sailing) a small (12 to 20 foot)power boat. Excellent for boat owners or those considering buying a boat. I could not find anything as sensible and comprehensive in any of the local libraries

Out of all the boating books that I've read over the last few months, nothing comes close to matching Getchell's book.

It is replete with useful information that covers the entire gamut of outboard boating. For example, it was from this book that I learned about the advantages of a portable trailer lightbar. Furthermore, I used the guidelines he presented to make my own.

Experienced boaters may find some of the material a little too basic, but I'd wager that just about everyone will come away with a few pearls of wisdom.

Happy boating.

This is a very good reference and refresher for the novice flyer.

This was a great referance tool for most of the abbreviations used in aviation... only dissapointment was that there were no airport codes in the book!

This book has helped me win many beers on several overnights by stumping the "Most Experienced" pilots online. Keep 'em coming!! I'm looking forward to future editions.

Finally a small reference guide with thousands of aviation abbreviations.

Now I can learn and impress my "expert" friends with my new knowledge. The terms PAPI and CAVU for example, were easily deciphered by me recently when someone asked what the exact meanings were. Also, the weather section is full of abreviations that I now can understand pronto. I would recommend this book for any person in aviation.

This book is comprehensive, yet small enough to fit perfectly in your flight kit or case. The first chapter explains the meanings of thousands of initials and abbreviations. The second chapter makes weather briefings easy to read. Chapter 4-7 includes additional codes and symbol (transponder codes, military designations, slang, and memory joggers). This is a one of a kind book which every pilot should carry in their flight case!

Michael liked the part when the rainbow came out. It was colorful. Casey liked the same part. I like rainbows.

This little book is beautifully illustrated and colorful. The "rain" falls as words and each color, object and word is graphically illustrated as part of the landscape on which the rain falls. It's a lovely introduction to reading for a small child. I'd recommend it for toddlers who are beginning to recognize visuals and wanting to start to read. Very imaginative piece of work.

Michael liked the part when the rainbow came out. It was colorful. Casey liked the same part. I like rainbows.

My daughter is using this book now to learn how to read. She enjoys it very much... especially because the coloration of the text to match the images in the picture gives her clues about what the words are.

I think the book is neat from its style (using the word "rain" written on an angle to be the rain) and its vibrant use of colour.

This easy to read book has predictable and repetitive language. It teaches colors as well as everyday objects. It is a great book for young readers!

This book appeals to a wide age group of children. Important for a grandparent with limited room in the bookcase. It was given as a gift to a 1yr old, but 2 and 4 yr old grandkids got a kick out of it too. Nice way to introduce books to children with few words in their speaking vocabulary. Beautifully illustrated.

My two-year-old son adores this book, my husband adores this book, I adore this book. It's been a favorite for a year now and gets read almost every night, sometimes two or three times. It's a completely lovely book and even when my son was just a year old, he easily "got" it - the storyline, sequence, sounds, etc. He loves to "read" it to us now.

This book is beautifully illustrated by a fantastically talented artist and first-time children's book writer. Honestly, I have no idea why this book didn't win the Caldecott.

It's a simple but wonderfully realized concept.

There is no "story" in the conventional sense but rather the gorgeous images are accompanied by sounds: the SCRAPE of a shovel, the MEOW of a cat, the CRINKLE of wrapping paper.

Positively lovely.

Using only images and a few "sound words" (Onomatopoeia) bubbling up from the illustrations, Johnson conjures up the images and sounds associated with a snowstorm. (For example the sound of a snowplow outside scraping the streets, or the happy yawn of a little boy as he awakens and takes a peek outside.)
Brilliant concept and it is executed perfectly with beautiful delicate pastel illustrations. (As to be expected, Johnson is a very talented illustrator.)

So many memories of my own came to mind when reading (or should I say viewing and "hearing") this book. The trill of hearing a snowplow at night (and hoping it means a snow day the next morning.) immediately came to mind.

This is a great book to read to any child (young or old) who enjoys winter or better, who is enjoying the first snowstorm of the year!

Your average American citizen lives his or her life in a state that is too often blissfully ignorant of the horrors that surround them. Each day they traipse unknowingly into the void, never suspecting that one day, when they least expect it, the unthinkable may happen. They may be required to (gasp shudder) locate a good onomatopoeic story. Oh, I know what you're saying. "It could never happen to me." "Other people get those kinds of requests." "I'm too young to have to worry about searching out the word `onomatopoeic' in a library's on-line catalog." Well fellow citizens, I tell you that unless you prepare for this most awful of occurrences you may someday find yourself seriously and undeniably onomatopoeicless. Fortunately, there is a solution. A solution in the form of one Mr. David A. Johnson. Though he has not yet found himself the proud owner of a household name, Mr. Johnson's work is instantly recognizable to one and all. Even if you are firmly convinced that you've never seen one of his illustrations, prepare to be corrected in this belief. As for his delightful "Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story", it's a real treat. Capturing perfectly the feel of cold winter mornings, the anticipation that leads to Christmas break, and the experience of having to leave a delightfully warm bed when not a speck of light comes from the sky, the book is a woolly winter gem.

It's the 23rd of December, and a young boy sleeps soundly on a frosty snowy morning. Woken by his mom so that he'll get to school on time, we see both inside and outside the house. Outside, trucks salt, slush, and smoosh the snow on the roads, making it safe for travelers. Inside the boy goes through his morning ritual. These two narratives come together when the boy goes outside to shovel the house's walkway, just in time for the bus to arrive. He almost forgets a Christmas present inside (for his teacher or for himself?) but his mom manages to pass it to him just in time. Told entirely in sounds, everything from the crinkle of the present's wrapping paper to the chug of the snowblower comes to brilliant life when accompanied by Johnson's lively pictures.

We would be amiss if we were to say that Mr. Johnson's book was the first of its kind. I took one little look at "Snow Sounds" and immediately was reminded of Lynn Rae Perkins' wonderful, "Snow Music", published years before she earned herself a Newbery Award. "Snow Music" is perhaps the number one onomatopoeic winter tale. From the whispered words "peth peth peth" that describe the sound of falling snowflakes to a truck salting the road, Perkins captured Midwestern winter to a tee. But Johnson's eastern Connecticut tale is just as snowy and devotes itself to a different kind of telling. While Perkins would include dialogue and even a kind of poetic turn here and there, Johnson sticks to his guns. It's onomatopoeic sound or nothing. Some of these make it infinitely clear that the author knows from whence he writes. Anyone who has grown up in a part of the country prone to snow will recognize the "Whomp" sound that comes when you step outside of your home on a wintery morning in your thick protective boots. Or how about the "Crash Crush Clank" of the plows as they make a berth in the early morning hours? Every sound found here has its place in real life.

And then there is Mr. Johnson's style to consider. I have heard some people say that his images in this book are too light and airy, and I respectfully disagree. The fact that this book was made merely with watercolor and ink on paper boggles my little mind. I mean, let's talk about Johnson's use of light. One of the earliest images in this book is of the boy's house from above before the sun, such as it is, has risen. The family Christmas tree is entirely covered in a thick white coat, but several lights shine through, offering one of the two points of illumination on the page. The other light comes from a distant splatter of white, far far away on some distant road. You might be able to see it clearly, but Johnson has found a way to replicate the look of slight vision-obscuring splatters of snow. He knows how to make droplets of paint burst from the page like actual sparks of pure white light. And his grasp of pre-dawn darkness is unrivaled. I know of no other picture book that has ever done as good a job at truly displaying this time of day. Even when the day has lightened and the boy is going to school, you can still tell that the sky is overcast, even without seeing it. If there were a picture book award given solely on the basis of "quality of light", I don't think there's a title that's come out this year that could even come close to rivaling this book's style.

I don't want to tell you how to spend your money. Okay... fine. That's a lie. I would LOVE to tell you how to spend your money. I would love it if every recommendation I made was followed to the letter and purchased forthwith. If nothing else, however, I would like you to see whether or not you've bought enough onomatopoeic books for your picture book collection. Do you see a gap in this area? Well, how about early morning wintery stories? Do you have a lot of those? Honey, I don't see how you can afford NOT to go out and purchase "Snow Sounds" if you're lacking in either area. It's beautiful and truly without compare. Other books should be able to boast so much.