Town Books

This book of narrative poetry is beautifully written, evokes unforgettable scenes of Chicago to those who know the city well, and the accompanying art (also done by Tony Fitzpatrick) is amazing. I loved this book.

In the short and sweet, Mistah Fitz puts a world there before your eyes that exists, existed and will exist again. His Chicago and the one of his father exists and always will, it's changed a bit, but he got the gist of it here as it was, and his art gives the words the framing that a masterpiece requires, to put best though, and in a manner more befitting, this d*mn thing is friggin' awesome!

For a recent trip we bought a large number of sticker and activity books for our toddler. These in the Sticker Stories series were very popular and helped make the trip a pleasant one.

There are seven cheery and colorful two-page spreads and one one-page picture on which to place stickers. These depict an active street scene, a rural area, a community picnic, a schoolroom, outside a school, a winter park, a cozy home and two sleeping bunnies in bed. There are over 70 reusable stickers to place within these scenes.

We will definitely buy more activity books from this series.

I just HAD to buy this book after getting a look at the adorable bunnies. Jerry Smath really did a great job with the illustrations, here. Really sweet town packed with Bunnies (think Marc Brown-type pictures, but even cuter!) going about their day. Page spreads include the park, the streets, and stores in "Bunnytown." Short text encourages your little one to "help" the bunnies do different things (like get ready for a picnic in the park) by using the stickers provided. The stickers are more bunnies plus accessories.

Another neat thing about this book is you get to see Bunnytown through the seasons. It doesn't go into a lot of detail, but it starts out on "a beautiful Spring morning" and goes through a sunny summer day, getting ready for school (obviously fall), and then a wintry outdoor scene. Good for having a discussion about seasons!

I just can't bear to let my child use this one once. The cover says "reusable stickers" but we all know how that goes! I'm not taking any chances! I'm going to laminate the pages, have them spiral bound, and then have the stickers laminated too. I'm sure my daughter will enjoy placing the stickers over and over again in different places!

Incidentally, I bought this book in a larger compilation of four "Sticker Stories" books. I really feel like it was worth the money! I plan on adding to our collection of these titles as often as I can... there are so many of them!

Part memoir, part local history, Buried Indians: Digging Up the Past in a Midwestern Town tells about a struggle in the Trempealeau, Wisconsin hometown of author Laurie McMillin (associate professor of rhetoric, composition and religion) to determine whether the platform mounds atop Trempealeau Mountain constituted authentic Indian mounds. A sensitive and balanced accounting that examines opposing views between the dominant Euro-American culture and Native American culture, Buried Indians makes every effort to accurately portray not only the conflict of political agendas but also offer clear insight into what the platform mounds truly represented to different individuals. A highly recommended insight into cultural relations, regional history, and the lessons that can be drawn for future American government-Native American relations.

Part memoir, part local history, Buried Indians: Digging Up the Past in a Midwestern Town tells about a struggle in the Trempealeau, Wisconsin hometown of author Laurie McMillin (associate professor of rhetoric, composition and religion) to determine whether the platform mounds atop Trempealeau Mountain constituted authentic Indian mounds. A sensitive and balanced accounting that examines opposing views between the dominant Euro-American culture and Native American culture, Buried Indians makes every effort to accurately portray not only the conflict of political agendas but also offer clear insight into what the platform mounds truly represented to different individuals. A highly recommended insight into cultural relations, regional history, and the lessons that can be drawn for future American government-Native American relations.

This is one of the best books I have read in it's class. It held my interest from beginning to end and I could totally relate to the characters. I would recommend it to anyone for some good reading.

This is a really good book. Like most works in the "Sayville" genre like "Carnival of Evil", "Bury the Past" includes high school kids, an old town and the supernatural.
After reading the book, it really reminds me of Sayville, Long Island in so many ways, though the author used artistic license to make a few changes, like the location of Sayville. The story is about someone from a high school that interacts with the supernatural.
To learn more about the town the book is about and how it so accurately describes the town, go to google and type in the keywords "sayville" and "supernatural"

I read this with my third grade class, they had fun reading it. Some third grade students might find it easy, but overall all, it was interesting and fun to read.

Wow! This was a great book to read. I enjoyed the exciting story about a young girl who goes out on many adventures. She likes to observe people and the way they act. This story is so much fun to read and I can pretend that I am going on those adventures too. It made me want to go out and see all the different people in my community. I hope that you take the time to read this book. It won't be a waste of your time!

I got this book for my son, looking for an intelligent book with substance to it, but also something that he, as a 14 year-old, would enjoy. He never put it down--nor did I, when I read it after he did. I'd rank it right up there with Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies, Chocolate Wars and other high school classics.

Butterfly Powder is one of those rare books that quickly drew me into the story community and characters. It is full of the unexpected and written to enjoy the ride. I enjoyed each page, unlike many books that weave a story but are not enjoyable reading and I only finish to find out what happened to the main character. This one is rich throughout. The story is not just sad or happy but both and yet satisfying in a positive, optimistic way. The main character, Gilbert, attends high school in a rural Iowa community in the 60's. It is a much deeper, yet entertaining story than the usual adolescent adventures. Gilbert is trying to understand his world, an impossible feat, especially in the 60's. This is one of the few books that left me wishing the story would continue. I'd like to know the events in the next stage of Gilbert's life and would look forward to another book. I would rate this book near the top of any list I'd give to friends.

I am a "profesional" seascape artist and needed a push to get myself painting again; and perhaps a change of pace. I find that this book is brim-full of important info, techniques and ideas which any artist can enjoy applying. Raves!

This is truly an excellent book! Great techniques and illustrations shown with fabulous detail! Inspirational too! I highly recommend this book, especially if you like painting buildings or scenes with buildings. One of the best watercolor books I've seen!

This book stands up well alone but if you have ever been to Cardiff or Wales or have some Welsh relative then this book is for you. Like the best selling Cardiff East by Peter Gill and Ash on a Young Man's Sleeve by Dannie Abse, the story is all there but with the added reality of being writen in and around a real sometimes obscure place just adds to the majesty of the work. It is argued that the Welsh founded America and in particular pennsylvania and set the foundations for what is now the greatest nation in the world. It is tantilizing and intriging to go back and see where it all began. Buy this and enjoy, I did!

In his third work of fiction, Williams returns to the colorfully seedy neighborhood and characters of Butetown in Cardiff, as seen previously in his collection Five Pubs, Two Bars, and a Nightclub, for a crime novel that draws heavily upon the themes of his first novel, Faithless. That story featured Jeff, former punk saxaphonist who is drifting along trying to figure out what to make of his life in the wake of punk. Here, we have Mazz, guitarist for hire and former leader of a Welsh one-hit-wonder ska band from 1981, the Wurriyas. It's now 1999, and Mazz is making his way back to Cardiff for his bandmate Charlie's funeral, where he will encounter everyone from the "good old days" (including a number of characters who appear in Five Pubs, Two Bars, and a Nightclub).

Was Charlie's death an accidental cocaine overdose, or is there something more to it? And what about the mysterious disappearance of Emyr, formerly the Wurriyas' skinhead drummer, and now a brooding alt-rock god? Mazz ends up getting involved in both questions, but only in a meandering way, because what he's really wondering is how his life has gotten so off track, and what-if any-changes he can make. Mazz's struggle with the past is inexorably tied to that of Tyra, his former bandmate, girlfriend, and Charlie's daughter. Williams propels their story with flashbacks to the early '80s showing the formation of the band, their rise and fall, and the relationships between them all. Initially it's a little hard to feel too much sympathy for hard-drinking Mazz, who seems to be able to pull any woman he wants, but as the novel progresses, it becomes sad how these are the only things he can try and fill his emptiness in. What he really wants, he's not made for, and perhaps saddest of all, he knows it.

This is a great book, mixing crime, pulp, tragedy, grim humor, surfing, ska, urban renewal, nostalgia, and desperation. All the characters pop from the page, especially vivid are lesbian singer turned pimp Bobby, and laid-back former footballer turned surfer bum Colonel. Contrary to at least one review, there is very little slang in the book, and it's quite easy to understand from the context. A brilliant look at non-tourist Cardiff. in addition to his his two books mentioned above, also check out Williams' non-fiction tour of American crime writing, Into the Badlands.

I'm 17 years old and have had the bible for a little more than a year and have found it very helpful in answering mnay of my questions. Its very youth friendly with sidebar notes that help better explain each passage and relates them to teens today. I would very much recomend it because it is worth the price and then some. : )

Refreshing way for young people to read the Bible. Easy to understand introductions to each Book of the Bible such as "Did you know? The Silent Women of the Bible"

Dee Don

oh my gosh! this book made me crave for more! its as if i want volume two of josef and anne's love adventure! This book made me giggle a LOT!! every chapter, no, every line has its own romantic factor that will sweep you of your feet like what josef did to anne and to think that i have the same name as anne! Willa Hix will pin you into your couch with every turn of events and eventually not stopping you from turning the pages!! I really recommend this to hopeless romantics out there!!

Anne and Josef will win your heart as they did mine! A delightful story filled with realistic and heart-warming characters.