Sports and Hobbies Books

Great fun and easy to do. Good choice for my 9 yr old grandaughter. Chicken Socks books are the best.

My girls enjoyed making the tiaras, and best of all, it is an activity they can do on their own.
They love making small ones for their dolls and stuffed animals, though getting those to stay on is a challenge! As others have mentioned, it would be nice if more tiaras were included in the package. Great rainy-day activity.

My wife told me to order I did the wife and the grands loved it and had a great time together

Tried it twice with young, self-described "princesses" (and we can go on all afternoon about that one), but the gift has been a hit both times. Now what is it with this whole princess thing?

My daughter just got this for her 4th birthday, and it was the hit present of the bunch. Decorating crowns was the activity of choice for a week of evenings around here, and she insisited that we make one for Mommy & Daddy too (there are three shiny cardboard tiaras in the kit, and they velcro on, so they fit anyone). The kit comes with stick-on and glue-on shiny jewels & things, plus a glue-pen. I recommend gluing everything because the stick-on jewels kept falling off when she wore them in the next couple of days.

The only thing is that when it's over, it's over, since there are only three. We have the crowns around for dress-up, they get put on occasionally, but the real fun was of course in making them. (There are little tie-on "doll tiaras" too, but she hasn't gotten into those.) That said, it was still a great gift, and I'd definitely get it for other kids.

I was purchasing perler beads for my 5 yr old son, and did not want to purchase perler beads for my 2 yr old daughter. I was at Michaels, so I went over to the Klutz book area looking for *something* for the younger one, and found this book! It is awesome! I also purchased additional beads from Orientaltrading.com. They just came yesterday. My daughter (now 4) still loves it, even though she also helps herself to her brothers perlers! I am buying one of these books for my nieces and I am sure they will find hours of entertainment as my kids have!

This was a great activity for my 5 year old daughter & I to do together. You can follow the patterns or use your own creativity. Very easy directions to follow.

My 5 year old and I fell in love with "melty beads". The only bad thing is the refills are expensive and they aren't very readily available. If you do find the refills, you will want to purchase them at the the same time you get the book. It is guaranteed fun for sure and it's something the adults like to do as well. I am buying another one for a Christmas Gift.

We got three of these for my in-home childcare. What a great investment this is. The kids love to make shapes and key chains for mom and little gadgets for themselves. This is great fun for kids of any age. It is loads of fun.

My 4yr old daughter received this as a gift and loves to make the different shapes. Now my 2yr old is totally into it as well, so I need to buy another book so there is no fighting. I did find refill beads and extra boards at orientaltrading.com (fyi).

This toy is awesome! The book has several game ideas, but it is just as fun to see how far and how high you can throw and catch the ball! Fun for all ages!

The foxtail is very fun. The book it comes with seems outdated and isn't a fun read, but the toy itself makes up for it. We haven't played any of the suggested games out of the book. We are having fun just doing our own thing. We bought two just in case (trees). All four kids (age 13, 10, 8, and 8) along with my husband and I love it. What a great toy!

I've used a foxtail before and love it! It's lots of fun to play with anyone. I would note that this item is the book only- though the picture shows the toy as well. I ordered this item too quickly and didn't double check that it was included. Enjoy!

One of the reviews tells about the ages of a family playing Foxtail. I cannot agree more that this is a family game that the whole family can play at the same time. My brother and I would play when we were in our 20s. I am now 46 and the last time I was home on leave I played with my children 14, 12, and 2. Granted the 2 year old was just clapping his hands together to try to get the tail but occasionally he could snag it on the second bounce. Each of us played at hard at it as we wanted to which resulted in a lot of running and diving for me as the children learned about throwing an object from a spin. But that is the way I like to play. I was also able to lead them enough to get them moving some and eventually they started to be able to read my throws. A great way for the whole family to play outside together as energeticly as each wants to.

The Foxtail is a really fun toy. The book was helpful on ideas for games, but just playing "catch" with it is great. Even dogs will love to retreive this toy - just don't let them chew!

"Production Fly Tying" is the second book you should have in your library (the first being a good beginners book with a few patterns). "Production Fly Tying" doesn't have many complete patterns in it, and the few that are in the book have to be pieced together from section to section, but it has some of the best tips a tyer could hope for. A.K. Best gives the reader tips he has learned from his years of professional tying. Each tip is extremely helpful. Best seems to focus on tips that make it easier and faster for the tyier to increase production while not skimping on the quality of the fly. Best always has plenty of tips on how to improve the action and use of your flies. This is simply a great book.

This book is good in that it goes in detail the whole way through. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it didn't tell you how to tie the whole fly. It only shows bits and pieces (how to tie the tail for a deceiver, how to tie a zonker body, etc), but I still recommend the book for the tyer that likes to flip through for reference. If you really want to absorb the information, you should read the book all the way through.

This book is dynamite for the skilled fly tyer as well as the beginner. A K Best shares with you the little twists and turns of fly tying that the others skip over or don't think are important enough to mention. He also shares with you his techniques that will make you not only faster but much more proficient. I highly recommend this publication.

As noted, the title is very misleading; maybe it should have been called "how to tie the most useful flies in your box in the most efficent way".

Like most tyers, I have dozens of books; there's Marinaro, Kauffman, Proper, and on and on, but this one book probably taught me more about how to actually tie than any other book. Best is a production tyer, but the same techniques he uses to tie a hundred dozen of some pattern are just as useful for the fisherman who needs a dozen assorted flies for a weekend trip.

The descriptions are marvelously clear and the photos reveal every detail. This book and a good vise are probably the first two things a beginner should buy.

I had been tying for a few months when I came upon this book. Until that time I had trouble finding sound instruction. The instruction I did receive was usually at club meetings or from the occasional video. This book made it very clear how flies where to be constructed. This advice on tools is very helpful. And the insight on material selection was also extremly helpful. This is one of the best books on fly tying period. Also he has a selection of videos out that are the best I have seen.

This is the best scrapbooking book that I have ever seen. This huge book is packed with loads and loads of original and very creative ideas. I love all the trick photography ideas, lessons on when to crop and when not to, as well as a LOT of information of journalism. It is an incredible book and probably the only scrapbooking book you will need. Highly recommended.

This book is well worth every penny. From beginner to advanced, it gives you so many ideas you won't know where to start.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to scrapbooking how to books - it always seem they're either TOO BASIC or unpractical, too contemporary, or don't have enough pictures, or don't have enough instruction. This is the the PERFECT book I've found that can work well for anyone's needs.
I have literally found HUNDREDS of ideas just from looking off the examples in this book. I LOVE IT!!!! I think this book has so much variety it could fit anyone's needs. I have had it for over 4 years from the time I was a beginner scrapper to now more experienced and I STILL find myself going back to it for reference and collecting NEW IDEAS even 4 years later! I definitely recommend it! I wish I knew if these authors had created any other scrapbooking books!

This is an very easy to use and understand how to book. It contains a great many ideas that I would never have thought of or attempted without this book. Worth the money. You will use it over and over.

This is a great idea generator for scrapbookers. Nothing is too fancy or involved - just great "anyone can do this" page ideas. Loved it. Gave one as a gift also.

This is a great book for ideas and inspiration. It is full of charts for beautiful patterns, and some amazing projects. She included a good variety of modern and vintage style designs which really fired my imagination.This is not so much a book for learning techniques as it is for getting great ideas for your work.

the previous reviewer hit all the highpoints. the charts are wonderful. i particularly appreciate the charts for beaded crochet, since i haven't been able to find many (this is not to say that they aren't out there, just that i haven't found them). a very nice touch is the inclusion of a color key for each chart--you can see at a glance what colors are needed.

there are several sections, including instructions and suggestions for cords, edgings and fringes. even though i have an extremely healthy bead book and magazine collection, i found many useful ideas for cords (one in a technique i hadn't seen before), fringes (with silhouettes of various shapes possible with fringe), and other applications. the projects have a nice range of skill level and variety--not just jewelry, but other uses, such as an embellished box, a scissors keep and a fringed key chain. the projects are not large or to time consuming, but they are well-thought-out and beautiful. the gallery is incredible.

the photos are generally clear and the beadwork is positioned for best viewing. the text is informative, and ms. davis frequently includes information on how a stitch can go wrong and how to avoid or correct the mistake (very very very helpful!).

it really is a must have for beaders, as is her first book, _the complete guide to beading techniques_. if this doesn't get your creative juices flowing, you may be comatose!

This is a beader's reference book, full of great patterns for several types of stitches (brick, peyote, herringbone, crochet, etc.). It's not an instructional book, though it does include instructions for a couple of tubular stitches. Great pictures, great designs, and a great bargain when you consider the price of an individual pattern.

This book has been helpful to me because I am a beginner and there were things that I did not understand. They used pictures to explain the different sizes, shapes and materials used for beads.

Over 200 beadwork graphics and designs, photos, and project ideas contribute to a comprehensive reference for both beginners and beadworkers alike. From large and small beadwork projects to finishing fringes and edgings, each project is accompanied by a graph, instructions, and numerous resources. The color photos of completed results are exquisite embellishments. A Beader's Reference is a unique and highly recommended addition to any dedicated craftmaker or needlecrafter's reference collection.

I bought this after my first trip to a casino. I enjoyed myself there but understood that I could have had a better time if I knew how casinos worked. This book is great at giving a basic knowledge of how casinos work and educates you on the many different games and how to enjoy yourself for entertainment purposes. I highly recommend this book if you a planning a trip to a casino for the first time or if you've been to a casino and you would like to expand your overall knowledge and enjoyment. It has basic tips and strategies for all the casino games and is a good starting point. You can always delve further into the games that you like with other books, but this is a quality broad overview of casinos and their games.

I was mainly interested in slots, video poker, & blackjack. Presented good info in an uncomplicated style. Also full of info for practically any other game that may be your particular choice(s). I recommend it VERY highly for beginners or the more experienced player!!!!!

Kevin Blackwood is an expert blackjack player who has played all over the world; he is an expert poker player as well. His knowledge of the casino games is profound and this book gives you everything you need to know to go to the casinos and play properly. Ignore the title because you are not a dummy if you buy this book.

You are smart!

Frank Scoblete: author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

I wonder why on page 170, the baccarat rules states that, for example, when the banker's total is 6, then the banker will draw if the player's new total is 6 or 7. The correct version is: the banker will draw when the "player's third card" is 6 or 7, not the "new total". On page 171 though, the table lists it as "player's third card". Incidentally, I found a bug in the Hoyle's Casino 2007 for PC game, with it drawing a card for the banker when it shouldn't... oh well... isn't the rule somewhat important? It is a very basic set of rule... I wonder if we have that sometimes in the casino and nobody noticed.

Otherwise, the book provides basic rules, strategies, and some interesting stories about the various games. It is a pretty good book for beginners, but make sure you pick another one up just to cross reference. Idiot's Guide and the Unofficial Guide also have a good book on casino gambling.

One thing I am sensitive about the book is that it stresses on etiquette quite a lot. Thing like, "don't hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn. After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you". Oh well, a "breach"? so serious? I don't know, I just feel that nowadays, we tend to have too much politeness and etiquette and too little true kindness among human beings, so I don't like to read about etiquette for this and etiquette for that.

Any new book on casino gambling has to contend with a shelf full (virtual or real) of other titles covering the same material, but in Casino Gambling for Dummies, Kevin Blackwood has done a masterful job of bringing a fresh attitude and informative approach that provides solid justification for another title on the topic. This is the 'For Dummies' brand at its best, tackling all the favorites, blackjack, craps, sports betting, as well as many meta-topics (like dealing with the IRS after a profitable run at the tables) with fact-infused, easy-to-read prose that will entertain and inform. People just entering the neon world for the first time will get as much instructional material as they can handle, from rules of the game to strategy. Seasoned gamblers will reap the benefits of Blackwood's expertise and experience at the felt-covered tables around the world. There is particular depth in the blackjack section, likely a product of Blackwood's long resume as one of the top players in the world. The organization is inspired and the writing is top notch, particularly the chapter on horse racing.

Edith Hope Fine's Cryptomaina! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the Cryptokids is a fun, interesting and most educational read. This book is completely original and puts an adventurous spin on learnning about Greek and Latin words. Kids of all ages will enjoy this book! It's a great addition to everyone's library. This book would be a great gift for anyone interested in words and their origins. Buy it!!!!!!!

This is an amazing book filled with the zany adventures of the CryptoKids, with their buddy Alphy, a microcyanasaurus. With knowledge of Greek and Latin roots increasingly part of state English and Language Arts standards, this book gives teachers a way to have fun with students, who will love the Teleporter destination and learn valuable decoding skills. Parents and grandparents will love it, too. It's a book for students of all ages to read, study, and pore over. Kim Doner's illustrations are beautiful, creative, and varied.

Here's a bright and beautiful plunge-into-fun book with fabulous teaching and learning potential. Beyond the clever storyline with its time/space travel adventure, you'll find a rich content of vocabulary instruction based on the Greek and Latin roots of many modern English words. Kids will start out exploring the fascinating drawings (they give Waldo a run for his money!) and finish by cracking the secret code of vocabulary enrichment. Greek and Latin roots can be used to decipher the special "hard words" at the end of the book. Kids in upper elementary grades will enjoy the book and it wouldn't hurt the pre-SAT set to pick up a few pointers either! Wonderful work!

I love giving this book to grandchildren and friends for birthdays, holidays and visits. I find new info every time I open it. Cryptomania is complex and fascinating. We come back to it often to find and understand the origin of words. Greek and Latin languages help the book's characters solve a homeWORD assignment using commonly available supplies (a big cardboard box), modern tools (a computer) and vivid imaginations (teleporting to different times) to discover the world of words. The illustrations and glosseries are terrific. I wish I'd learned word-meaning and word-making this way.

Suddenly, words I have known and used all my life make sense. I can pick them apart, scrutinize those parts, and understand exactly why the word means what it means. And I now also have a method to dissect unfamiliar words and figure out what they mean. Then, I can take some word parts, put them together, and come up with a brand new word of my own. All thanks to Cryptomania!

I never had the opportunity to study Greek and Latin in school. Now, thanks to this book, I've had my own course in the Greek and Latin roots of English--and I've been entertained while doing so. Each page is an adventure in itself, and young readers will find endless sights to fascinate and intrigue, all while learning. The illustrations are a perfect match for the tale, changing style as the characters travel through time and space. This book is certain to open young eyes and minds to the wonders of language. If these readers eventually participate in "Jeopardy" or "Millionaire", the knowledge they acquire from Cryptomania! might earn them a million dollars. For certain it will help them score higher on their SATs. Not bad results from one stunning nonfiction picture book!

Great book. I am a newbie at music and this is helping me incredibly. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to further their education in the new language of music. I love it.

I am new to learning music, but have the desire. WHat I needed was a book that would cover the very basics and ramp up from there without insulting my inteligence. This is exactly what I got! A great book for someone who essentially knows nothing about music. It starts out with notes and scales and builds from there. The book is easy to read, has plenty of diagrams, etc, plus came with a very helpful CD so not only do you see the musical notations, but you get to hear what those notations sound like.

It won't be the last music book I buy, but it certainly is a great place to start!

I've never seen the difficult subject of learning to read music so clearly explained. If you are interested in learning to read music, and then moving beyond the basics into music theory, this is the book. Most other books that I have seen on this subject, including the are just terrible; too complicated or not clearly written. This one provides lucid writing and clear visual examples. Highly recommended!

I really hate wading through reviews on Amazon. Some folks come to wax for no reason at all. This is actually my first ever review, so here goes. This book is perfect. It's a book on learning how to read music. It starts very basic so that any Joe can learn it. Once the author gets you started with the basics of notes and rhythm, you get some music theory. It's not a hardcore theory bok, but the author does go into enough detail to get you through just about any situation you may encounter. What I think is more important toa dd is that once you're done with the book, you can go to ANY other higher level theory book and learn there. So many books simply start TOO hard for the average user. The book is very approachable and the explanations are great. I can't reccomend this one enough!

I looked up the author, who has a few other book on Amazon, and according to his website, there will be a Music Theory book for this same company -- I can only suppose it will take off where this book left off.

The book reads very clean and the many musical examples make the book a pleasure to look at (as i think written music is beautiful). There is an audio CD, which is also excellent.

I hope this helps someone get a grasp on what this book is about. I have bought a few theory type books over the years to help with my piano playing (self taught). This is simply the only book that has started at a spot where I can "jump right in". Well done!

This book has been such a help to me as I started my journey and note reading and piano playing. The explanations, examples, and accompanying CD are all excellent. Mr. Schonbrun's book is a keeper!

This book could also be titled "Bicycle Repair for Dummies" and is on a par with that classic book on auto repair. The easy-to-read content includes basic information that every bicyclist (young or old) should know, but that most don't. If you ride a bike, you need this book. Also, the illustrations are superb and greatly help the reader identify parts, discover problems, and perform certain repair and maintenance techniques.

This is a creative book with delightful and practical illustrations. In an entertaining and instructive way, it teaches children responsibility to take care of their bikes. It also teaches important safety rules. Any child getting a new bicycle would benefit greatly by receiving a copy of this book. Even parents whose child owns a bicycle would benefit from reading this book. It is a great book for parents and kids to read together.

"Kids' Easy Bike Care" is a wonderful, thoughtful book authored by Steve Cole. Mr. Cole addresses all of the fundamentals of bike ownership and maintenance, and hass thoughtfully geared the book for the inquisitive youngster (and his or her parents) who is about to begin bicycle riding for the first time. From hand signals to the "five step tune-up", Mr. Cole covers all the bases. Moreover, Mr. Cole responsibly emphasizes the importance of "Safety First!", which is a crucial message that needs to be communicated to every child who sets upon a bike. The text of the book, coupled with clear and informative diagrams and illustrations (drawn by Sarah Rakitin), is easy to understand for kids and adults alike.

I believe that "Kids' Easy Bike Care" is a perfect gift (holiday, birthday, or otherwise) for bike-riding kids -- and I would especially encourage parents to purchase this book both for the novice bicyclists within their family, as well as for their own information. While I learned a lot from reading "Kids' Easy Bike Care" as an adult, I would have found this an invaluable resource as a child still learning to ride and take care of my bike. Great work, Mr. Cole!

It is evident to me after reading this book, as a senior citizen who just bought a new bicycle, that the contents of this book are not just for kids. It was extremely helpful to both me and my husband who are SENIOR kids. This book would be a very appropriate purchase for anyone regardless of age who owns or is contemplating buying a bicycle. After reading this book, children of ALL AGES would gain the confidence to maintain and use their bicycle safely. This book should be available at all bicycle shops.

This book really tells you everything you need to know about caring for your bike including repairs, tune-ups, safety tips, etc. As other reviewers have said, it's a great resource for adults and kids alike. Sarah Rakitin's illustrations are both cute and helpful. A great addition to anyone's library!