Parties Books

My grandson is totally in love with Miss Spider Books. He carries them around with him all the time. When his dad tells him to get a book to read at bedtime (or anytime) he ALWAYS gets one of his Miss Spider Books. He loves this one even more because the three book come in a case with a handle so it's easier for him to carry them around, where they slide and fall out of his little hands.

These are great books. I've bought them as gifts for several friends' kids. The pictures are colorful and beautifully drawn, the language is clever, and I keep noticing new little details every time I read them to my daughter.

I love every Little Miss Spider book for the wonderful stories, but especially the illustrations. David Kirk's angles and perspectives on each page combined with unique color saturate your visual senses. His use of "camera angles" and points of view are fantastic. He is one of the inspirations I use when I draw.

I was originally given Miss Spider's ABCs as a gift when my daughter was born. I LOVE it. Even when she was an infant she seemed to be captivated by the brightly colored illustrations. Now at 6 months she reaches for the pictures and always gives a big smile at the ending "suprise!" I then bought Miss Spider's Tea Party (board book edition), and she really seems to love the rhymes. I am now here buying Miss Spider's New Car and wishing I had just bought the set (for only like $2 more!) to begin with. These books are great for even babies, but I know she will enjoy them as she grows older and can understand them better as well.

Even after almost three years, I still love to read and re-read these books to my girls. David Kirk's artwork is rich and deeply textured and the words (particularly in Miss Spider's ABCs) are unusual, roll of the tongue, and, in my experience, pique children's interest -- I particularly love introducing my girls to "hummingbirds hide inside irises" and "jumping june bugs kiss katydids" His books are where poetry meets art for the under five set. Added plus: I get a break from chanting "Brown, Bear"! For this alone I am grateful.

This is a great book. Wonderful color pictures for every party showing the dishes, great layout, great recipes, great ideas. The neat thing about this book is just how many bases it hits: it's like several books rolled into one (cookbook, party book, discussion guide). I like the little touches, like the book club suggestions for if you want to turn the party into a book club event. Each of the parties could be adapted for all sorts of different occasions and groups of people, depending on what options you want to go with. I've made several of the recipes and they're great. Not very hard, not too weird or hard to find ingredients, but really tasty and original. And it looks nice.

Alright... I admit it! I have many of Martha Stewart's party planning books in my library (most acquired in the late 90's!)... i love to throw dinner parties and i love to entertain! This book is perfect--because it brings together my love for cooking, entertaining, decorating, and bringing women together for fellowship! What's even better? I love the THEME parties:
I love Paris in the Springtime (yummy creme brulee and cheese!!!)
Candy Cane Brunch (baked apples with cinnamon stems and beautiful peppermint stick & rose centerpiece!)
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Pajama Party (candy bling and strawberry salad!!!)

What makes this book so wonderful is that it goes beyond the menus... You can add pizzazz with great favor and decorating idea, ideas to help you get to know one another, and it even comes with book club ideas!!! But most of all, it's really about helping women come together and strengthen their relationships with God and with one another!!!

This book has amazing recipes that would make any party fabulous. Group as done it again by mixing food and ministry. This book would make a great addition to anyone library or resources. Everything is here for you to have a wonderful party, meeting, or casual get together.

This book is perfect for all of you women who have the gift of hospitality. Beautiful, full-color pictures immediately make your mouth water at the possiblities of these ultra-fun themed parties. You will have girlfriends flocking from every corner of your community to attend these events. The instructions are very easy to follow and explain every detail to make these parties a HUGE hit!

I agree with this book's subtitle: 12 Fabulous Parties for Women's Ministry. Fabulous definitely describes this book! What a great mixture of great recipes, party tips, discussion starters and more. Organized by seasons and accented with beautiful colored photos, Party Divas! is easy to use. Whether you use some of the recipes for your own household or invite a group of girlfriends together to cook up a feast, you'll feel like an accomplished chef. Add recommended serving tips, simple decorations, invitation tips, music and more, and you'll have a complete party. Best of all, you can get a group of girlfriends together and try each party idea and recipes, one by one. Find out what you like and then share the ideas with others. Use it as a way to connect with other women who like to cook and host parties...especially those you might not connect with for any other reason. This is a great way to build friendships.

Before I met Party Drinks by A.J. Rathbun, I would literally host my gatherings at the bar down the street, because I was incapable of mixing anything other than vodka and orange juice in plastic cups. A.J., friend to cocktailers everywhere, took me to school with his great book, and showed me how to easily make lavish libations on a cheapskate's budget and to make 'em look like a million bucks. The Summer Beer (beer, vodka, and lemonade) is a treat, even in wintertime. The recipes have little tales about the drinks so you can really "act like ya know" when serving them up. Don't weep for the bar down the street, though. Until A.J. can fit a pinball machine in his jam-packed guide, there's always time for a occasional tavern call. Bottoms up!

I love this book! It has so much more to offer than the book I bought at Crate and Barrel for 5x the price. It's quirky and fun and filled with unusual recipes. Great selection of drinks for summer days, cold nights, casual get togethers or swanky cocktail parties. Plus it's filled with tons of hilarious footnotes that are worth quoting while you mix. My favorite drinks (not just because the names are great): the Red Carpet, the Presidential, Silk Stockings, and the Slow Comfortable Screw. You have to try the mojito. This really is the prettiest cocktail book I've seen. Perfect gift item--just tie a bow around it and add a bottle of your friend's favorite alcohol.

Ne'er have the pleasures of contemporary pleasure-drinking been so lucidly and persuasively and clearly set forth with not only the time and liver tested recipies but also the literary, social, and personal contexts of a true, rare spirit such as Mr. Rathbun, whose fine poetry is as intoxicating as the pewter cupped juleps, the spiraling highballs, and the mystifications of the orange buck, known in the southern hemisphere as le mâle orange. I am buying a copy for every (over-21) friend this Christmas.

This book is worth reading even if you don't drink! If you do, all the better. Great recipes, very inspiring commentary. Rathbun quotes Gogol on vodka, W. C. Fields on whiskey ("Always carry a large flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake") and provides plenty of good party ideas for intemperate friends.

Said friends will also find this to be a welcome gift.

I think this will be a great gift for the holidays--I plan to get several to give to family and friends. The book is slim, but packed with lots of great drinks, plus gorgeous photos! One thing I really like about the book is that it gives lots of suggestions on variations of the drinks--in case you need to mix different amounts, or don't like or have a particular ingredient. Plus, there's some good general bartending advice at the beginning of the book.

So far we've tried two of the drinks. We had some friends over last weekend and my husband made the Champagne Punch, which has light and dark rum, lemons, and champagne. It was delicious! Even one of our friends, who isn't a huge champagne fan, really loved it. We also have tried The Rebecca, another champagne drink. We actually froze the raspberries in the vodka during the day, and had the drink in the evening--the frozen raspberries were delicious, and a perfect garnish for this very pretty drink.

Though a separation of church and state is implied in the Bill of Rights, Sullivan suggests that our country was built on fundamentally religious principles that permeate the lives of all American citizens. Amy Sullivan's poignant book examines the issue of how one political party lost its right to religion. With keen wit and clever insight, Sullivan explores the series of decisions made within the Democratic Party which led to its inability to maintain religious voters.

The author points to key moments throughout history that contributed to the shift of religion in politics. Sullivan notes the importance of the Scopes Trial in disenfranchising evangelical voters from the left and acknowledges the huge role Roe v. Wade played in the democratic loss of catholic voters. She asserts that Bill Clinton's overt religiosity was not enough to inspire people of faith and that John Kerry's seemingly false Catholicism was even more off-putting for religious voters.

Though critical, her book is not without hope. Amy Sullivan suggests that the way for the left to reclaim religion is through compromise. The evangelical movement is not one against liberal ideals and the agenda has actually expanded to include such liberal issues as protection of the environment.

This book is an important one--for anyone of any political affiliation. Though a liberal reader may identify more closely with Sullivan's progressive bias, she expresses ideas on both sides of the political spectrum while providing an important message about modern politics.

Amy Sullivan obviously did a lot of homework, and she presents a wealth of facts and details in a very readable book that holds one's attention and whizzes by. And if you remember the pivotal presidential elections of 1972, 1976, and 1992, for example--pivotal because they involved religious issues that disrupted the composition of the traditional base of the Democratic Party--then you'll enjoy Sullivan's book even more. A very enjoyable read, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

For years, as a Democrat and progressive, I have watched the meteoric rise of the religious right. I have been struck by one question "what is it in the psyche of the American public that the Republicans are tapping into and the Democrats have missed?" I couldn't understand the exodus of fellow Catholic voters to support Republicans when so many of that party's policies were hostile to major tenants of Catholic teachings on economic and social justice. I raised this question with my Dad, a semi-retired college professor and political pollster. He too was perplexed. In an attempt to answer this question, a couple of years ago, we began a journey reading about the history of religion in America and its influence on politics and culture. It was not until we read Amy Sullivan's The Party Faithful that we finally got an answer.

One of late Democratic speaker Tip O'Neill's most famous quotes was that if you want someone's vote, "you need to ask for it." Politics 101! It appears that the Democratic Party forgot this very simple rule. They ceded a large group of voters, including historic supporters, because they incorrectly assumed all people of faith are conservatives. The party and its candidates stopped asking for their votes - or worse - pushed these voters away.

Ms. Sullivan's very timely book, describes the events and contemporary rise of the religious right as the Republican's seized a vacuum created by the Democrats. The Party Faithful is exceptionally well written, insightful and an astute social and political commentary. It is an easy read and full of entertaining and tragically true stories of how the Democratic party has bumbled its relationship with constituencies of faith voters. In the wake of the outcome of the 2004 Presidential elections, the book also highlights the actions of a growing group of progressive faith and political leaders to rediscover, build bridges, and redefine the "values voter." This book is a "must read" for all Democrats and anyone interested in the rise of religious right regardless of their religious (or non-religious) beliefs.

The actions of the Democratic party certainly were not unprovoked. The divisive rhetoric of a handful of neo-conservative evangelist leaders and outspoken Catholic bishops certainly exacerbated the situation. By narrowing the scope of issues that defined "good" faithful voters to include only abortion and anti-gay rights, they alienated members of their own faith, widened the cultural and political gaps in our nation, and pushed progressive religious voters of most faiths underground. Issues speaking to the faith values of economic and social justice - which are core to many faith traditions across the theological spectrum --were pushed off the agenda. Tragically and shamefully, over several decades, the actions of these faith leaders created a political environment that led to the de-funding of programs and weakening of laws and regulations that help the poor, safeguard the environment, and protect human rights.

The chapters on Catholics were of great personal interest. It was heartening to learn of the struggles of numerous prominent Catholic elected leaders to balance the internal dilemma of how to be a "good" Catholic and a political progressive at the same time. The chapters on white Evangelicals were also illuminating. Despite my own dislike for the too oft characterization of all Catholics as conservatives, I too had incorrectly assumed all Evangelicals were conservative. It was heartening to learn that, like Catholics, evangelicals run the political spectrum from progressive to conservative.

The impact of religion and political activism has run in cycles over the history of our nation. Ms. Sullivan's book artfully traces the beginning, middle and (hopefully) end of the most recent cycle. In a time when the American people are weary of four decades of political and cultural divisiveness that have torn at the fabric and cohesiveness of our nation, this book is a call for action.

Amy Sullivan is one of the smartest commentators at the intersection of religion and politics, and for readers who already appreciate her analysis and wit, this book will live up to their expectations. And for those who have not yet encountered Sullivan's talent for keen observation and lucid prose, The Party Faithful will be a treat. Filled with insider stories and compelling commentary, The Party Faithful is must reading for anyone who wants to understand why Democrats have much more than a prayer in 2008. Conservatives and liberals alike will learn a great deal from Sullivan and her impressive volume, The Party Faithful.

Our parents may have warned us to avoid talking about religion or politics. Fortunately, Amy Sullivan never got--or never listened to--that warning. Regardless of your political persuasion, The Party Faithful is a fascinating look deep inside a world which the mainstream media for the most part seems afraid to touch or simply does not seem to understand well.

It is no secret that Democratic party presidential candidates have been hurt by shaky support among Catholic voters and abysmal support among white evangelical Christian voters for most of the period from 1972 on. Catholics, once a solidly Democratic constituency, have preferred the Democratic presidential candidate only in 1996 and 2000 in the seven elections since 1980. And not since Jimmy Carter carried 58% of the white evangelical vote has that group favored Democrats, with no other Democratic nominee since then garnering more than 33% support among this very large demographic.

Sullivan, an evangelical Baptist and a liberal Democrat, maintains it did not and does not need to be so. National editor for Time and formerly editor of the Washington Monthly and a Capitol Hill staffer, she explains how Democrats have missed opportunities to do far better with both groups without compromising their principles--and of how the party is lately showing signs of rapid progress in working its way up that learning curve.

John Kerry, who lost the white evangelical vote 78-22, did not learn that there were evangelical Democrats until after the election. His campaign's approach: "We don't do white churches", even though 40% of evangelicals are politically moderate. Sullivan describes the recent broadening of priorities beyond abortion and gay marriage within the younger generation of politically active evengelicals to include attention to issues such as Iraq, poverty and AIDS in Africa. Many among this new generation of evangelical activists feel used and taken for granted by the Republican party and have put their support up for grabs based on which party can deliver on this expanded range of concerns.

Sullivan likewise believes that Democrats can, and need to, engage Catholic voters on a much broader range of issues and not assume, incorrectly, that Catholic voters are only concerned with abortion and gay marriage. She explains that many Catholic voters are influenced by Church teachings in support of the concept of the Common Good and that this outlook may align better with Democratic party approaches on many economic/social justice and foreign policy issues. But, fearful (not without reason) of being disrupted by anti-abortion rights protesters and a vocal, visible minority of communion-denying far right-wing Catholic officials, many Democratic politicians have declined to engage Catholic audiences. In this regard, I was moved by the account of Rep. Rosa DeLauro's refusal to disengage from her Church, no matter how much her Church has given the back of its hand to her and other pro-choice Catholic Democratic elected officials. DeLauro has been among the leaders seeking to put in place policies which would reduce the number of abortions without overturning Roe v. Wade.

Sullivan describes some of the strategies that, so far applied on a small scale, have already borne impressive results with both groups.

At 220 pages the book is a brisk read. While the author devoted considerable, and quite fruitful, attention, to the abortion issue, I would like to have gotten a similar level of detail and insight on the inside politics of the gay marriage/civil union issue.

Sullivan's sources are impressive. She left me feeling like a fly on the wall as she recounted one vivid anecdote after another involving major players ordinary citizens like me have no, or limited, access to. Marked by a lively reportorial style, a passion for illumination in lieu of condemnation, and sensible positive suggestions for how Democrats and liberals can pick up support among religious voters without losing their souls, The Party Faithful is a winning and hopeful window into that world where politics and religion intersect. As someone who has been trying to educate myself about this subject in recent years, I learned a great deal from this book.

This is the best ever party planning book. If you are planning parties for kids, or just want themed activities for another event, this is the book for you. These people really know their stuff!

Outstanding book...something for everyone, and most items that need to be purchased can be had at the dollar store. Rock-Solid book full of well-thought out parties.

This book was easy to follow and had ideas in it which were easy to adapt to other themes. I loved the information about how much activity each different age group should be able to handle. My three-year-old's party went off without a hitch thanks to this book. It will get used many more times in years to come.

This an excellent book with a number of party ideas for all ages. I especially like that this books gives suggestions for older kids parties. Packed with recipes, decoration, invitation, and favor ideas to go along with your theme. I will be using this for years to come.

I find this book to be very helpful for prents planning a party for their children. It's completely foolproof, from deciding on the number of guests appropriate for your childs age to making clever invitations, food, activites and take home gifts...all falling into one of several themes. There is a theme for any child's interest. The instructions are simple and very adptable to many different situations. I have had this book for years and used it many, many times with 4 kids.

I love to read this bedtime story! The whipped cream page is my favorite. This book always makes me laugh. The rhymes are fun and the pictures are perfect for the story.

I love this book. It's a great bedtime story. My favorite part is when Whitney is chasing the bee!I also love Kristyn's hair when Taylor yells "Boo!". The rhymes are fun and the pictures are beautiful. I think you'll love this book, too!

This is definitely an enjoyable book for young readers. The flow of the story and the illustrations attract young readers' attention and encourage them to read along with you. It's a perfect bedtime story...fun to read yet puts the "bedtime" idea in their heads. I have recommended it to all of my neighbors and believe this to be a wonderful book for young readers.

Quit Waking Us Up. We're Trying To Sleep! is a charming children's picturebook written by Scarlet Honeycutt and illustrated by Cindy Aarvig about two sisters who want to sleep, but their friends keep waking them up in a variety of eccentric, mischievous ways. The muted, soft, colored-pencil style illustrations have a central hue of light pink. The simple drawings, colors, and the gentle rhymes of the text about trying to go to sleep make Quit Waking Us Up. We're Trying To Sleep! an especially appropriate and recommended bedtime story for young girls.

The book is an excellent book for young children and beginning readers. The rhyming is fun and the repetitive line gives children an incentive to read along. The cute antics used to wake them up at the birthday party bring giggles to young children and they feel like they are a part of the party. The illustrations are beautiful. Overall it is an elegant children's book.

Hats off to the author!!!!!!!

This book has been a great help in planning our 50th Renewal wedding. Many thanks.

This is a fantastic buy if you are planning to review your wedding vows for whatever reason. For me, it is for a 10 year wedding anniversary and the book has some great tips on making it extra special. I wasnt sure before I read this book what you could wear, expecially if you had the 'full works' first time around, but you can wear what you like and have bridsmaids!! You can have and do whatever you want and more and this book made me realise that. Renewing your wedding vows is becomming very popular and this book makes you realise that. They have 'real life' stories which is great to read.

I had never thought about renewing my wedding vows! I loved reading the stories people shared. There were some very creative ideas, like the couple who wrote a poem to all of their guests and used a lot of symbolism of their union through flowers and certain songs. They were hoping to start a family and I thought it was adorable how they brought friends and family into the "mix" to celebrate 10 years AND to help them launch their next phase.

This easy to read guide has inspiring and creative ideas for different ways to plan a wedding vow renewal ceremony and celebration. Sharon Naylor cites ways to bring the original wedding into the renewal and offers ways to include children. My favorite chapter is titled Perfect Words. Great quotes and readings to include in your re-commitment ceremony. I additionally enjoyed reading real-life couples' vow renewal stories. My husband and I just celebrated our fifteen year wedding anniversary and are planning our own vow renewal sometime soon. We will definitely use the great advice and ideas in this book!

The book gave me lots of ideas on how to refresh and renew my 20 year marriage! From vows on the beach to vows in a chapel to getting the bridal party back together or having the latest additions of the family attend, this book is full of creative suggestions and ideas!!!

Mr. Hall has given us all a chance to better understand the speeches that have shaped our world. I am intrigued by the way he interprets these words and allows the reader to become a part of US history. An easy read and entertaining, not to mention educational.

Wynton Hall is one of the bright young conservative writers, It's delightfully informative to read his books. He does his research and knows how to explain today's political rhetoric. Keep your eye on him.

Wynton Hall's insight displays his knowledge as a rhetorician. The preview chapters I read on the publisher's website were well written and documented. In my opinion, this book is not only important because of its analysis of rhetoric but that it also reveals how much these speeches have affected the world. The Right Words is quite different from Home of the Brave and the Greatest Communicator but his writing ability makes it a wonderful read.

"I loved Hall's last book. This one is different but just as good if not better. It felt like I was in the audience for these famous speeches.
I was familiar with some of them, but others I'd never even heard of, which made it all the more fascinating to read. If you're a Republican I don't see how you can not read this one. It's a fun, fast read. I give it two thumbs up."

This book is valuable for two reasons. First, it is not a random collection of one person's view as to what constitutes a great speech. The 17 speeches examined here are oriented around eternal Republican themes of individual (rather than collective) responsibility; a belief in values that are absolute, not relative; and a strong national defense, the foundation of individual civil liberties.

Second, each speech is intertwined with commentary on its historical setting. Platitudes need no explanation. Great speeches, though, are rooted in a specific historical context while also appealing to timeless values.

Those of other political parties will gain from reading this book. It is not meant to convert but to educate. Serious people will want to look beyond the caricature of Republicans so often presented in many media sources. Understanding the basic beliefs of one of America's two major political parties is valuable regardless of one's political persuasion.

I've been entertaining for over 20 years for family and friends and was looking for some new ideas. I tried some of the recipes in this book for my last Christmas party and they were a huge success. I can't wait to try some of the other seasonal ideas in this book.

I like to have people over for dinner but I'm never sure what makes a good menu. This book takes the worry out of entertaining. The tone is accessible and reassuring, the recipes are great and not hard to follow. Now I feel confident enough to mix and match some of the menus and I know everything will come out alright. The photos and design are gorgeous so it's a good gift book, too.

Lovely ideas, encouraging, and full of do-able advice.
And notice on the flap of the book--NO author's face, only a photo of lovely legs. Hmm, little ego and lots of advice--Cheers.

Although I have never done an entire menu from this book, every recipe I've tried from here has been delicious, super-easy and perfect, and I've tried several for my dinner parties. The desserts, especially, are delicious, impressive and simple.

I love how the menus are all arranged seasonally, taking advantage of appropriate ingredients and cooking methods. Stick to the season you're in, and you can't go wrong. The author's suggestions for making a party special are fun to read, too. Admittedly, I am from San Francisco, and so is she, so she mentions foods and places that are near and dear to my heart. Her food sensibilities are right up my alley.

If you're a Saveur reader, a couple of these menus will look familiar, as they are from articles she's written for them (the Gnafrons and the Old Stoves Dinner).

Simple Soirees is my new favorite cookbook. In December I lugged it to New Zealand to bring as gift to our hostess. After she opened it; I snuck it off to my room to read at night. It distinguishes itself by being the first cookbook that I have read cover to cover. It read like a novel. We spent the rest of our stay making many of the dishes. Our favorite was the whole fish wrapped in herbs for Christmas Eve...it was extraordinary. My daughter and I have made several of the sweet things together like the heavenly fragrant geranium ice cream and the lavander and cardamom cookies. Everything we have made has turned out delicious.

I think Peggy Knickerbocker is a genuis. It is not only my favorite cookbook, but it is my favorite gift to give as well.

This book is a comprehensive guide to entertaining made easy. Every meal is planned out and the combinations are excellent. My family and friends rave about the meals. Fresh ingredients, uncomplicated recipes and clear directions make this book a must have for any hostess. I bought ten copies and hand it out at birthdays and holidays.

My sister, Marguerite, has created another awesome resource for lifelong foodies, inspired as she says by our mother, Rose. But this time she has brought entertaining and pre-preparing for gatherings with friends and family into a new perspective - one that is easy, fun and sure to bring joy and pleasure to those who appreciate great food. Fresh ingredients in easy to follow recipes wrapped within a cool selection of occasions and recipe titles make for fun preparation and entertaining.

I am so impressed with this cookbook! I have Marguerite's other two books (which I love), but this one tops them all. She knows how to combine fresh ingredients to create recipes that are so delicious and unique. My friends all think that I am a good cook. This is not true! I simply follow Marguerite's recipes and present the food as I've learned from her. She also writes recipes that are practical for anyone to do. This is a beautiful book written from the heart and her love of food.

The first recipe I tried - the Cassoulet - was a smash. I served it for a wintry birthday party in February. Everyone wanted the recipe, as they have with all of Marguerite's offerings in each of her books. The chicken cooked with a brick is a new twist, and was scrumptious with mashed potatoes. Thanks again, Marguerite, for passing on your love of food and making this hostess and her guests so satisfied!

Once again, Marguerite does an amazing job of creating beautiful recipes for the home cook! I was so excited to get this latest book and immediately began planning all the wonderful dinner parties that I could host in order to use her menus and recipes! This cookbook is gorgeous with it's stunning and luscious photography bringing the intimacy of her own family and lovely home for all of us to share! It will hold a prominent place on my cookbook shelf right next to her well-worn first two cookbooks! I highly recommend this book and her other two beautiful books as well! Bravo Marguerite! Bon Appetite!