Kites Books

Excelente libro, escrito con naturalidad, captura la atenciòn del lector. Lo recomiendo plenamente, es para entrar en el mundo de los sentimientos del egoismo y la amistad

Hay dos cosas de esta novela que me gustaron mucho:

Para empezar, me fascinaron los primeros capítulos, que están repletos de información y datos interesantes acerca de la sociedad y la cultura afganas de los 70, hasta la invasión rusa (además de las hermosas descripciones de los personajes principales y sus relaciones personales). Los capítulos centrados en los EE.UU. muestran cómo las tradiciones, las costumbres y los valores de una cultura trascienden las fronteras físicas y siguen a una sociedad más allá de su país natal, lo que se refleja especialmente en el General Taheri y la historia de Soraya. Por último, el regreso de Amir a Kabul nos muestra, a través de los ojos de un hombre que no ha visto su país natal en 20 años, el desastre en el que décadas de guerra tras guerra han convertido un país que alguna vez fue feliz (sentí un nudo en la garganta cuando Amir le regala su reloj a los niños... y con lo que sucedió después).

Lo otro que me gustó fue que, a medida que la historia avanza y transcurren los años, llegamos a conocer a los personajes, sus defectos, sus cualidades, y sus motivaciones. Aunque no todos ellos son "queribles" (personalmente, Amir me pareció bastante poco querible), no podemos evitar empatizar con ellos e incluso entender -en cierta medida- por qué han hecho lo que han hecho. La traición REAL e INTENCIONAL de Amir hacia Hassan -no me refiero al día de la competencia de cometas- casi puede perdonarse al mirarla a través de los ojos de un niño que nunca antes había sentido el amor de su padre, y que está aterrado de perderlo ahora que lo siente por primera vez. Casi puede comprenderse. Para mí, eso es un gran logro.

Por lo tanto, ¿por qué no 5 estrellas?

Porque considero que la historia se torna cada vez más inverosímil a medida que nos acercamos al final de la novela. Todo encaja DEMASIADO perfectamente, si eso tiene algún sentido. No hay cabos sueltos. Cada uno de los datos que leemos en la primera parte (hasta que escapan a EE.UU.) se "empareja" de algún modo a algo que sucede en 2001, en una especie de "justicia cósmica". Eso fue, para mí, demasiado "hollywoodense".

~ARiffo~

Este es un libro que todo el mundo deberia leer. Es muy conmovedor y enseña muy buenas lecciones de vida. La historia tiene partes felices y partes muy tristes y duras. Al terminar de leer este libro sientes como a veces tomamos la vida "for granted". Hermosa historia que definitivamente tocara los corazones de todo aquellos que la lean!!

The reviews of The Kite Runner when it came out made me think I wouldn't like the book so I deliberately passed on it until now. I recently had the opportunity to read Khaled Hosseini's stunning second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and realized that I had made a mistake by skipping The Kite Runner.

Amir grows up in a male-dominated kind of Eden in his wealthy father's beautiful home in Kabul. His doting father loves to give him presents. There are two servants Ali and his son, Hassan, who make life pleasant. Amir and Hassan also enjoy a close friendship whose foundation is Hassan's tremendous loyalty. But there are cracks in Eden. Amir knows that his father doesn't really approve of him: Amir is a coward while his Baba is as brave as a lion. Amir's mother died in childbirth so there's little nurturing except from Baba's friend and business partner, Rahim Khan. Ali's wife and Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers a week after Hassan was born. Both boys shared a wet nurse which helped make them feel closer. Ali and Hassan are Shi'a Muslims and ethnic Hazaras, two qualities that make them be viewed as worthy of only being servants by the powerful Pashtuns. To further emphasize their differences, Ali is crippled and Hassan has a hare lip. Amir loves books, but uses his learning to humble Hassan.

But Amir thinks things are going well when his father hints that he thinks Amir can win the annual kite fighting festival, something his father did as a boy. Perhaps if Amir can win, his father will approve of him. With the talented help of Hassan, the greatest kite runner (helpful in getting kites into the sky and running down those that have but cut off from their string), Amir has high hopes. The day goes well until the very end when Hassan finds himself in trouble: Amir turns his back on his friend out of cowardice. Branded by that shameful memory, the close bond between the boys is broken.

The book then takes Amir and his father to the United States to escape the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Amir adjusts to the new country better than Baba who wants to keep to the old ways.

Many years later, the tranquility of Amir's life is unexpectedly shaken when a dying Rahim Khan calls on Amir to visit him in Pakistan. What Rahim Khan has to say will forever change Amir's life. In that message comes an opportunity to atone and gain redemption.

This story is very powerful. You'll find yourself filled with strong emotions as you imagine what it is like to be Amir, Hassan, Baba, and Ali. While the story is based on modern Afghanistan, the lessons are much more universal than that.

The plot is beautifully woven in ways that will surprise and delight you. It's hard to imagine how a first-time novelist could have been so deft. But having read A Thousand Splendid Suns, it's clear that Mr. Hosseini has staggering amounts of talent.

So if reviews have discouraged you from reading this book, forget the reviews. Read The Kite Runner anyway. You'll be glad you did.

Highly recommended.

This a wonderful book, exploring angel lore and the magic of fruits and flowers--a botanica of information for anyone interested in learning aromatherapy. I also learned a great deal about Indian herbalism. This is a witty, well-written book chockful of useful, encyclopedic information, yet in layman's terms. I absolutely adore the heroine, a college professor named Carolina. What a bright and positive role model she is, not just for young Latinas, but all young women. And so pretty. It's a wonder she's single. The recipes readers can test out are dreamy. Also, I work in Boulder and find the author's description of the community to be very accurate.

it is a nice story to boot! Great heroine and wonderful spiritual ancestor. Pardon me, but let's translate that last paltry review (in English): "and beautiful... in the one that you don't learn anything of aromaterapia." Oh, is this non-Latino way left of zero review, or what? Did this person fall off the planet? Did he/she even read the book? I doubt it. Read it, you will see! It is wonderful and has plenty of herblore and aromatherapy history. Personally, people who do these stupid, spiteful reviews should be banned from online reviews. They are so distasteful (desagradable)! I love this latest Carolina da Silva book and I use it as a desktop reference. Espero con aliento cebado para su próxima aventura. ¡Compre este libro! (I wait with baited breath for her next adventure. Buy this book!)

it is a nice story to boot! Great heroine and wonderful spiritual ancestor. Pardon me, but let's translate that last paltry review (in English): "and beautiful... in the one that you don't learn anything of aromaterapia." Oh, is this non-Latino way left of zero review, or what? Did this person fall off the planet? Did he/she even read the book? I doubt it. Read it, you will see! It is wonderful and has plenty of herblore and aromatherapy history. Personally, people who do these stupid, spiteful reviews should be banned from online reviews. They are so distasteful (desagradable)! I love this latest Carolina da Silva book and I use it as a desktop reference. Espero con aliento cebado para su próxima aventura. ¡Compre este libro! (I wait with baited breath for her next adventure. Buy this book!)

While this book is in Spanish I had the opportunity to read an English manuscript while I was working on the cover artwork.

This book is really refreshing! The first in a series of potentially 6 books - focuses on a woman's journey into learning the art of aromatherapy. It reads partly like a fiction novel and partly like an aromatherapy instruction book. It is both entertaining and informative with actual aromatherapy recipes that you can try yourself.

This book was great and a lifesaver for me! I taught a camp this summer "How things grow" and this book gave me tons of ideas. Gardening Wizardry for Kids has indoor activities, outdoor activities, and most are really simple and easy to do!

We love this book! Easy reading, fun project ideas!

I bought this book as a gift and I am delighted with it. Many books I see for kids are lacking in one or more respects, this book is a clean sweep on every front i.e. well-organized, accurate content, meaningful activities, good cartoons and lots of interesting facts about plants.

The book covers the history and folklore of common vegetables and fruits, various activities that teach principles and appreciate for how plants do what they do and many indoor growing experiments that educate. It even includes sections on raising earthworms, pill bugs, snails and information about growing herbs.

One nice feature of the book is the presentation of provocative questions about plants that are then answered in the text or must be answered through an experiment of some sort. This is top-notch material, even the illustrations are excellent.

Although I believe this book is recommended for children 4-8, I think it is probably more appropriate for 6-12. It is certainly fine for even a very intelligent and motivated 10 year old.

This book was very helpful in giving me ideas to share with others, and use with my own children. As a creator of garden based stories, I particularly enjoyed the background information for some of the common herbs and flowers. For instance I had no idea that Dill seeds were called 'meeting seeds' as on long church services (meetings) the early colonists would chew on dill seeds to stay awake.

MUCH fun was found in this book and it was very helpful to me!

I am enjoying being a grandmother so much and part of this enjoyment is passing on pieces of our heritage which includes toys/dolls like Ragedy Ann and Andy. My grandchildren are bi-racial and I came across a lady who makes Ragedy Ann and Andy dolls in all ethnicities. I bought an Ann doll and had her make an Andy doll for the grandson to give in their Easter baskets. These dolls will have Easter bunny ears on and the oldest will also recieve the book "How Raggedy Ann Got Her Candy Heart", and I will also show her the stiched heart on her doll. This story by Johnny Gruelle is a classic for children and when given with a doll that the book is based on is great fun as well as telling a loving story and passing herritage on.

Here's another set of books I grew up with. I owned all of the Raggedy Ann books listed here except the Nice Policeman. All of them were my mother's books before me. They are truly wonderful books for little girls and boys to read, with lively illustrations in bright colors perfect for little eyes to enjoy. The stories are sweet and full of adventure, but still teach good lessons to young readers. These are among the timeless classics that children from any generation will love.

I grew up with Raggedy Ann and the story books that had been given to my mother when she was a child. I still have these original books (copyright 1918) and shared them with my daughter when she was a small child. The Raggedy Ann stories are wonderfully warm, light hearted stories that entertain, but also make a point about kindness. Raggedy Ann is always an 'upbeat' doll who is an eternal optomist! The story of "How Raggedy Ann Got Her Candy Heart" gives the reader the back round of the 'I Love You' that is on the 'heart area' of a REAL Raggedy Ann. In this story, Raggedy Ann is tied to tail of a kite (to help steady it) and flies high in the sky. By accident, she is 'falls' into a bucket of paint. From this misfortune, she weaves a wonderful story about her adventure away from the nursery. One of the young painters rescued her from the paint and took her home to clean her up. She was washed and hung on the line to dry. While drying there, she was visited by a couple of robins with whom she shared a little of her yarn hair and some of her stuffing so that they could build a nest for their family. Before she is returned to Marcella (the little girl who owns her), the painter's wife re-stuffed Raggedy and gave her some new yarn hair. Just before the final stitches were sewn, the painter's wife went to her cabinet and got out some little candy hearts. She sorted through them until she found the perfect one. In bright blue letters, the words "I Love You" were printed on the heart that she chose to sew into Raggedy Ann. When she returned to the nursery with the other dolls, Raggedy Ann told all about her adventure . . . and her new 'heart'. This book is a must for the real Raggedy Ann lover. It took me back to my childhood and the time I spent with my Raggedy Ann and the quality time with my mother -- reading these wonderful stories together!

This is the perfect book to introduce little ones to Raggedy Ann. My child just turned 5 and got her first Ann and Andy dolls, and they are even more special to her after reading this story. Perfect for young ages.

This is a great book, but there are very few pages and it is a bit pricey.

Research shows that simple images are best for young children who may be overwhelmed by too many pictures at once, and this book contains one simple image on each page. Our daughter is 6 months old and this book is by far her favorite. In addition to turning pages, she can grab the book, squish it, and--most important for her--suck on it. It's made with non-toxic inks and is hand-washable. I recommend all four books in this series by Lucy Cousins.

(update 2 1/2 years later: she still LOVES books, and I'm convinced that this early exposure was formative in teaching her that "books are fun," even though she had outgrown the books by around 1 year)

My six month old LOVES this book. Since there aren't any words, just bright, colorful illustrations, the story changes every time I "read" it to him. He loves to hold this soft squishy book and I feel comfortable letting him, knowing he won't hurt himself on any sharp corners!

Kite in the Park is the first book my daughter really loved. We tell stories about all of the fun things (dog, tree, sailboat) that are in the book. And it was perfect for her to handle, since it's so soft! I actually didn't realize it was a wordless book when I bought it, but it's turned out to be a pleasant surprise! It's a great baby shower gift, too!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think the author did a wonderful job making this book a fun one to read. His illustrations though cartoons and caricature are very neat. I read few other books on Leonardo besides that and I could see that Robert Byrd packed a lot of information in this thin book.It will appeal not only to children but to any age. If you are being introduced to Leonardo for the first time make sure you start with this one, if you already know about him you will appreciate the author for doing a fine work in telling his story in so few pages. It could also be a wonderful gift to somebody.

This story is beautifully illustrated and told. Lots of interesting facts about the man, his life and his work. My 8 year old daughter is enjoying it. The language level and some of the concepts are a bit too difficult for my 5 year old, but the pictures have captured her interest.

There could hardly be a more fascinating or beautiful way to introduce young readers to a man who is arguably one of the greatest geniuses the world has ever known, Leonardo da Vinci. As an artist in the field of children's book illustrations, Mr. Byrd has few peers. As an author, deft at reaching young minds, he is an expert.

From da Vinci's birth throughout his remarkable life readers are allowed to trace his accomplishments. Much of this data is gleaned from da Vinci's personal notes which are still available today. We learn of his childhood fascination with flying, and his observation of a kite, a bird that glides apparently without effort.

It seems that from boyhood onward he took great delight in nature and its study. In his early teens da Vinci joined his father in Florence where he would spend a dozen years in Verrochio's workshop. He learned much from the renowned sculptor.

From Florence he traveled to Milan where he enjoyed the patronage of a wealthy duke, and was asked to paint the Last Supper. His fame spread. Today, some 500 years after his death, philosophers and artists from throughout the world continue to look to this amazing genius.

Author's notes, and a timeline are included.

- Gail Cooke

This lavishly illustrated picture book biography of Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci paints a well-rounded portrait of the painter, inventor and philosopher who dabbled in everything from astronomy to weaponry. It is also timely; with the tremendous success of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code (Doubleday, 2003), Leonardo has never been a more fascinating figure.

Born in the Italian countryside, Leonardo had a curious eye and artistic hand from the start. These two qualities emerged in each endeavor he undertook, from painting and sculpting to writing observations and drawings in his notebooks to playing practical jokes and creating quirky mechanical toys for the aristocracy.

Byrd's authority of and passion for his subject is evident in his thorough research and detailed drawings. Each themed two-page spread covers a period of Leonardo's life, and is headed with a caption that brings all the pieces together. Small sections of quotes and additional information box in the main narrative on each page.

The wonderful illustrations have a comics styling to them. Each page is dominated by a large color drawing set off by smaller sepia toned maps, reproductions and pictures. The end papers are filed with quotes in what looks like da Vinci's own hand.

An author's note, annotated timeline, and extensive bibliography are appended. Recommended for public school and library collections serving students in grades 4-8; great cross-curriculum potential.

(...) This little book is serious about its approach to scripture but has some practical, even whimsical applications--a nice combination and worth picking up! Here's what John Ortberg said about it (from the back cover) "The biggest questions are still the oldest ones: Where do I find meaning? What produces authentic joy? How do I live well and wisely in light of my finitude? Every once in a while someone raises these questions in a fresh, light-giving way. This is Mandy Smith's gift to us."

This book is insightful and entertaining, raising the big questions that everyone faces in life and challenging the reader to evaluate what is important to him/herself. Mandy Smith provides the reader with guidance in processing these ideas and maintains a strong biblical foundation throughout. Smith even provides some real-life examples that are both entertaining and easy to resonate with. I highly recommend this book.

Mandy Smith has managed to collapse vast questions about the meaning of life into an often humourous but always focussed discussion on the philosophy of simple joys. She writes very well, sequences information even better, and complements her text through a judicious but wide-ranging selection of quotations. Easy to read, but not easy to put down.

Everyone lives for something. We devote huge portions of our lives chasing after money, power, knowledge, pleasure, beauty and many other things, only to discover that none truly satisfy. Mandy Smith helps us stop and think about why we do the things we do, in order to make important course corrections in our lives. Her down-to-earth, practical wisdom is born out of deep reflection on the Ancient Wisdom of Ecclesiastes. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and even found myself laughing out loud at her humorous stories and pull out quotes that poke fun at our feable attempts at living meaningful lives apart from God. This book is so good, I'm buying several copies for friends that need the encouragement this book brings. I'm also going to use it for a reading group in our neighborhood.

I had bought the Statehood Quarters book from this same company before, and was happy with it so I searched for one for the Presidential Dollars. I just wish that it had shown the inside of the book because I didn't know you have to have a dollar from each mint to fill the book. I do like how there is a plastic cover to go over the coins to protect them from fingerprints.

PAGES CAN BE RE-ARRANGED IN ANY ORDER. BLANK PAGES CAN BE PURCHASED AND ADDED (UP TO A TOTAL OF 7 PAGES) HOLDS BOTH P & D MINTS. COINS ARE EASY TO INSERT AND CAN VIEWED FROM BOTH SIDES.

I am a coin collector and this brochure accomodates each year and mint until the end of this coinage. It is of good quality construction and includes clear sleaves to protect the coins. If you are a serious coin collector and wish to display and protect your uncirculated presidential dollar collection this is the album for you.

I got this for my husband, and he is thrilled with it as he wanted both the Philadelpia and Denver mints. It's also a very attractive and easy-to-use album.

Jessie Hass lived on a Vermont farm as a child. She had lots of pets in her childhood, and she also trained her own horse.
Chad's old dog, Shep had died and his family bought a new dog, Queenie. Chad doesn't like Queenie because he still misses Shep, and Queenie isn't good enough to replace him. Chad's new neighbour, David was an animal trainer and helped Chad train Queenie. Chad and Queenie understood each other through the training.
I think this story is heart touching because Chad and Queenie finally understood each other after the training. This story is also a page-turner because I couldn't stop reading! This story has a lot of details. I think that lots of friendship and understanding happened in the story. This is mostly showed by Chad and Queenie.

Jessie Hass lived on a Vermont farm as a child. She had lots of pets in her childhood, and she also trained her own horse.
Chad's old dog, Shep had died and his family bought a new dog, Queenie. Chad doesn't like Queenie because he still misses Shep, and Queenie isn't good enough to replace him. Chad's new neighbour, David was an animal trainer and helped Chad train Queenie. Chad and Queenie understood each other through the training.
I think this story is heart touching because Chad and Queenie finally understood each other after the training. This story is also a page-turner because I couldn't stop reading! This story has a lot of details. I think that lots of friendship and understanding happened in the story. This is mostly showed by Chad and Queenie.

This book knocked me off my feet! I bought it for my nephew's birthday and read it first - it is lovely! It is a great story about a young teen-age boy and his dog, as well as factually accurate in terms of positive/clicker training. In fact, buy it for every dog trainer yoiu know as well as every dog-loving kid!

Anyone interested in animal training using operant conditioning (clicker training) will truly enjoy this story of a young boy learning how to train his dog with the help of a new neighbor. His sister also learns training techniques for her horse. But the story has even more to offer about how to shape your own life and help those close to you in a positive way. The author deals effectively with issues of grief due to the loss of a pet, reconciliation between a boy and his grandfather, and the often tested love between siblings. The message is of a teenage boy surviving difficult times and looking forward with hope to his future. If you want to remember how it feels to be young with a world of possibilities before you - read this book.

From front jacket:

"The kite, soaring and swooping, a bright streak of color against the clear blue sky, is one of Japan's most exhilarating craft forms. Even on the ground, the variety of Japanese kites in size, shape, and decoration is a constant source of visual delight. Here are birds and insects, legendary heroes and Kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, tops, and fans, all drawn in bold, vivid hues. The largest kite of all, the Hoshubana Showa, weighs over 1750 pounds, measures 48 by 36 feet, and can only be flown by a team of 50 men using heavy ropes. At the other end of the scale is the miniature kite, smaller than a postage stamp and flown by thin strands of thread in the breeze of an electric fan.

This book is an American sculptor's joyous tribute to the Japanese kite. In 130 photographs, including 52 in full color, and an immensely informative yet zestfully spontaneous text, the author introduces a wide selection of Japanese kites. He also takes the reader into the workshops of six famous Japanese kite makers, where the process of making a kite unfolds: the preparation of bamboo and paper materials, the drawing of the picture, the positioning of noisemakers, and even the application of powdered glass on the cutting string of fighting kites. Here are hints and tips on making your own kite, a brief history of the kite in the Orient, and the excitement of the annual kite festivals held at Shirone and Hamamatsu, where hundreds of giant kites battle in the skies."

If you are a Japanophile or remotely interested in kites, then this book needs to be ordered!
I bought it for a relative as a gift and when I received it to wrap and send, I couldn't put it down and had to order my own copy. It is out of print but many copies are available used and in good condition.
Also of interest to anyone involved in handmade crafts and the Living National Treasures of Japan.

Tal Streeter based this book on extensive interviews in Japan, and time spent there making and flying kites. This is not a how-to book, but it does provide tremendous inspiration for kite makers and gives essential background information on materials and design. It is also a very entertaining read, with acute observations on Japanese history and culture. Tal Streeter's respect for traditional kite makers and their craft shines through this book. And although it has many serious points to make about the decay of tradition, it also captures and describes the joy and passion that the Japanese invest in kite flying - a joy very evidently shared by the author.

The photographs in this book are simply magnificent. For serious collectors of literature on kites, and of Japanese culture, this is a must have book.