Parties Books

I was really happy to find such a great book :) It is so hard to find what you have in mind for your childs party. This book help me find what I was looking for and so many more ideas I could have Not thought of myself!!! This was a wonderful book that saved me alot of time. I usually spend hours calling around trying to find out information about a clown or character. I just turned the page to what I wanted and there was a list of names & numbers of who to call!!! It doesn't get any better than this!!!!!!! If you have a child any age you NEED this GREAT BOOK!!!!!!

Not only is this book packed full of information about birthday parties, it is a great reference for kids' activites in general, throughout the Delaware Valley. You will be amazed at all the things there are to do with kids in our area that many of us don't know about. Having them listed all together, in one "user friendly" format is wonderful for busy parents on the go, who don't have the time to research all this information for themselves. Whether it's a cool birthday party you are trying to plan, or a weekend activity for the kids, this book will give you what you need and more.

I was at a loss again for ideas on where to have my youngest son Andrew's birthday party. Using this book I found many great ideas and I didn't have to spend a fortune on the party. I recommend it highly to any parent who wants their child's birthday to be memorable.

This book is perfect for parents whose child loves Disney. It has different parties for different age groups, from toddlers up till pre-teens. My two favorite ideas are the Sleeping Beauty Princess sleepover, and the Cinderella party. It has ways to make invatations, recipes for food to go with the party themes, including drinks, and the all important cake. As well as games and party favors. The ideas in here are really cute, and the not only are perfect for birthdays, but for other holidays, like Halloween as well. And most of the ideas in here are realitivly easy, and all are very creative.

If a child (or adult) you know is fond of Disney movies, be sure to pick up this book before you plan their next birthday party! From invitations to food to activities, this book will guide you through planning a party themed to a specific Disney movie. A great resource!

I loved this book. It has excellant ideas for birthday parties that can be along the Disney theme or a similar theme.

There is a lot of detail given to every aspect of the party-and everything can be handmade!

A complete menu is included with theme appropriate foods and desserts!

I have done several parties out of this book and recommend it to anyone that wants to give an awesome party!

The Dynamic Dominion is more than a history of the rise of the GOP in Virginia. It takes up where J. Harvie Wilkinson left off and serves as the definitive political history of Virginia through the early 1990's. Unlike Mr. Wilkinson's book, which was dominated by statistics and voting patterns showing the changes that occured during the Byrd Machin tenure, Mr. Atkinson includes a wealth of material that was derived through interviews with actual participants in these events. This is simply THE BOOK for anyone interested in post World War II Virginia politics, as well as those interested in southern politics.

I too look forward to an updated version of this book, especially in view of the GOP taking the state legislature. But I think a real challenge would be to unleash Frank's clear talents on a biography of Henry Howell, who many credit with being the political force that caused the Virgnia democracy to tack far enough to the left to allow the GOP to become competitive in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

Mr. Atkinson is a partisan Republican. He is upfront about it in his author's bio on the book's dustjacket, which mentions his numerous positions in the GOP. At times one senses his partisan glee as he chronicles the rise to power of the Republican party in the Old Dominion from the 1960's, when the Civil Rights movement and the administration of LBJ (who carried VA in 1964)identified the Democratic party with extreme liberalism, until the early 1990's, when Republican stock continued to soar statewide and nationwide. For the most part though he maintains objectivity and gives his readers a gripping account of this very important political transformation.

At times the book has the tension of a good thriller, along the lines of Advise and Consent or The Manchurian Candidate. Certainly Atkinson presents to us a genuine cast of characters and a series of ups and downs, successes and failures, conflicts and confrontations one would find in a novel. There is the collapse of the Harry Byrd machine in Virginia, which in election after election had delivered the state solidly to the Democrats; there is the election of Virginia's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, Linwood Holton, a man decidedly not a conservative in a very conservative party in a very conservative state; there is Mills Godwin's agonizing decision to quit a lifetime of membership in the Democratic party and become a Republican in order to stop "wildman" Henry Howell's ascension to the VA governorship; there is Richard Nixon's wholesale attempt to convert scores of conservative Virginia Democrats to the GOP, an effort killed, of course, by Nixon's own Watergate; there is the promise of good things cut short by the tragic deaths of Democrat Sergeant Reynolds and Republicans Richard Obershain and John Dalton; there is John Warner's campaigning for the U.S. Senate with that Hollywood apogee of glamor, Elizabeth Taylor, by his side; there is the appearance of Chuck Robb, as though a white knight upon a steed, to rescue the Democrats from yet another ignominious defeat at the hands of the GOP, and on and on. Atkinson's spares no detail in this very lively account, which portends good news for his party, less good news for us remaining Southern Jeffersonian Democrats.

Atkinson's title is a prescient one. In politics, as in much else, Virginia IS dynamic and changing all the time. One would welcome a sequel from Atkinson, or at least an updated edition of this fine book, in light of the election of Republican majorities to the VA legislature in 1999 and the more recent election of Democrat Mark Warner to the governorship, which some observers attribute in part to internecine warfare in the GOP.

In 1945, the Republican Party of Virginia was basically dead, having only four members in the 140 member General Assembly - two in the Senate and two in the House of Delegates, but in the last 50 years, the GOP has risen to a status of parity with Virginia's Democrats, who have been the majority party since Reconstruction. The Dynamic Dominion is an excellent account of the early history of the Republican Party's rise to preeminence in the Mother of Presidents. Mr. Atkinson goes into excellent detail about the events that helped to shape the future destiny of the party, especially those following the controversial 1978 State Republican Convention, in particular, the death of US Senate Nominee Richard Obenshain (whose name is still very much revered in Virginia Republican politics today) and the eventual nomination, candidacy, and election of John W. Warner, who was given invaluable assistance in his campaign by none other than famed actress Elizabeth Taylor. I would suggest that Mr. Atkinson's work be made required reading in political science courses at colleges and universities all across the country.

And in this story, Edward isn't quite ready to let go of his. He's been invited to a birthday party at the town swimming pool. It's Georgina's birthday party and Edward's going, but he doesn't want to leave behind his water wings. He swam without them the last summer, but he's just unready to let them go. So he heads to the party and at first everyone's having a great time. But then the birthday girl starts teasing Edward!

This is a charming story for anyone who's ever been teased or was just unready. I don't agree with what was said in an editorial review about this series not sending the right message. Sure, it's important to drive kids to succeed and reinforce their self-confidence. But sometimes kids *aren't* ready and they need a story they can sympathize with. That's okay.

What I like best about Edward in these three tales of his "unreadiness" is that Rosemary Wells chose not to make everything work out in a contrived "Hollywood" ending, she risks telling it like it is. Kids value that in stories.

Truthfully in life we often step up to the plate unready to hit the fast ball....I'm a teacher of 1st graders and this week during "You Pick It", a time I read their book choices in shared reading, I read this story of a darling little creature (that doesn't look like a bear to me) who gets invited to a swim party, takes along his water wings tho his parents tell him he doesn't need them anymore, gets them popped by girls who squeeze him very hard reacting to his darling immaturity as only girls can, then about drowns.On the bottom of the pool. Edward is very smart about whats true for him-he knew he needed those wings. He's sent home by the lifeguard with the message he's not yet ready for "this kind of party". I guess not.His parents arrive with faces of acceptance and I suppose the gut feeling of "what did we do here to get us in this place".

My children in class spent the week ferreting out all the Rosemary Wells books, it was fascinating because I had a passel of books out to choose from, yet she was all I read. Edward's story got a standing ovation. And it should. Each of these kids this week felt a little nervous and unready to trudge into 1st grade. They are in Sheltered Immersion, not speaking English really, but being instructed in it and really aware of the feeling of maybe being asked to do something beyond them....meanwhile my newphew visiting today(a language maverick) starting 1st next week just finished reading the Narnia books and a kid version of Moby Dick. He tells me Edward is "a book for babies"...until I read it anyway to him and he listened spellbound and said, "Sometimes I know my baby brother feels exactly like that. " I think children hearing the Edward story often relate it to the younger brother or sister and their awareness of how that child isn't quite ready to do what they(the older sibling) are doing. The book acknowledges this somehow, in that Wells's way, allowing a child to feel the comfort of knowing that someone knows how it feels. Poignant. Children do care that the little one can't swim well enough yet and feel that "missing out" angst for the sibling. For that matter all of us are a little bit Edward. Life places us in so many situations each day where we know we aren't quite "ready". Maybe one day, not yet. Edward has the most wonderfully ambivalent look on his face as he gets picked up and taken back home after the swim party fiasco. I recall picking up my son after a failed attempt at a sleepover when he was six and not brave enough to go the distance. Same face. Sometimes we just have to wait awhile, grow a little, develop some gears and give it another go. I really recommend this book and it's companions to families. Ages 2 to 7. (And for tenderhearted adults that might be facing their parenting with an awareness that we might be not quite ready for the job and all the complexity it entails. )

Brilliant series of books about a young bear called Edward. The artwork and story are simply breathtaking. One would just love to give the poor young fellow a big hug the troubles he gets in.

With fifteen years of beverage catering all over the world under my belt, I can assure anybody considering this book: buy it! Planning parties always involves lots of stressful details, calculations, planning, and organization that make the process a headache rather than a joy. This book does the opposite, thankfully. Miss Charming helps anybody from a pro to a home enthusiast handle everything without forgetting about the fun and creativity that every cocktail party should have. It's a fun, easy read packed with useful information including resources, recipes, and helpful hints. The recipes are great and well-written, unlike most cocktail recipe books which confuse even the most seasoned bartender with vague procedures and obscure ingredients and feature lots of unpleasant recipes that nobody drinks these days. Not this one: Cheryl explains in plain english every delicious recipe so your cocktails come out perfect. The hints and tips she provides are worth the price of the book alone. (Do YOU know how much ice you need for a party of 100 people? This book tells you!) This is the book that will save your next party and make you look like a genius. I have two copies... one on the bookshelf and one for reference I keep with my catering gear. Cheryl is the Martha Stewart of the bartending world.

What a great party handbook! This very handy party planner is easy to follow and contains lots of recipes for cocktails both alcoholic and virgin. Ms Charming includes in her manual many recipes and suggest the perfect cocktails to accompany. She gives you thematic ideas and tells you how much to buy for your party. Lots of bang for your buck.

This book tells you like it is.......it takes a lot to put together a great party. But this book makes it feel very easy. Great guide and quick ideas that will work whether it's for drinks or food. The Martini names alone are worth having this book. Noone will forget these cocktails. Another unique creation from Cheryl Charming!!

I love these books they make reading and learning Spanish fun. My little one likes all the bright colors and the illustrations.

I loved this book! It took me through the Spanish alphabet connecting each letter to a Spanish word in a sentence dominated by English words. In the very front of the book is a glossary of Spanish words used in the book.

Although the book helps the reader learn a little Spanish as well as English, it has a little story behind it. The setting is a kid's birthday party and what happens at such an event. The text is very good and the illustrations were a joy to look at.

I would have liked the book better if the "birthday kid" had been introduced at the beginning and we had learned a few things about him (or her) by reading the book. We never do get to put a name on the birthday kid in this book. 5 stars!

I teach in a preschool classroom made up of 50% English speakers and 50% Spanish speakers. I love using this book in my classroom because it ties in the Spanish culture and both the English and Spanish language. My English speakers feel special because they are learning to say some Spanish words, and my Spanish speaking children feel comfortable hearing words that are familiar to them. All the while we are having an open dialouge about the letters of the alphabet!

Well worth it to get your oven mitts on this out of print hottie.

This is the one with her recipe for pesto and sun dried tomato torta which never fails to disappear rapidly into the mouths of ecstatic guests. The later book has a version of this with ingredients altered, not as wonderful.

Nothing in this book is truly fast, but everything is fabulous. Braden feels that if you can prepare certain things in advance (and she always details these for the reader), the cook's final assembly IS fast, so I can forgive this misleading title. Everything is organized into seasonal menus, with ideas for table presentation, type of party, & many useful suggestions on recipe variations. Perhaps it is this down-to-earth attitude about playing around with a dish which makes each recipe so interesting and fun.

I particularly like the way that many menus contain recipes which are not necessarily rich, caloric, and fussy. There are plenty of recipes that call for simple, fresh ingredients. That said, Braden definitely includes a number of recipes which are indeed very decadent, elaborate, and labor-intensive, with hard-to-find ingredients for all but those living in proximity to urban gourmet outlets. On balance, you can find herein either fuss or no-fuss recipes, and there always seems to be a way of simplifying a recipe. Also, Braden sometimes suggests ways of dealing creatively with a leftover.

There's a real enthusiasm in the whole setup of the book, which helps any cook immensely. Great skill is never necessary, and the recipes are clear and nearly fool-proof. Most joyful cookbook I've ever used!

I attended a cooking class featuring Michele Braden. I have to say, afterwards I would have bought 30 books, had she had them available! I have impressed company time after time with these wonderful recipes. Michele was the most interesting approachable chef I have ever met. I read through this book like a novel, its that good!

The most comprehensive plan for dinner parties by season. Decorating ideas plus a blending of wonderful flavors. She makes one want to try every recipe in the book. She has the ability to combine colors, flavors and tastes ina unique way to make you a wonderful hostess.

Horwitt portrays Senator Russ Feingold as a principled guy with a passion for progressive politics who worked his way to the top all the way from the bottom rung by connecting with and listening to people. That's exactly who Russ Feingold is and that's exactly what a Senator should be.

The first half of the book includes a short biography of Russ's life with special emphasis on the events that encouraged him to enter national politics. The second half of the book focuses on the events that define Russ Feingold. Whether the instances concern campaign financing, the vote on the Patriot Act or the vote on Bill Clinton's impeachment, Russ proves that he is not a panderer or a partisan but ultimately he supports what's in the best interest of his beloved state, Wisconsin, and his beloved country, the United States of America.

I've always been proud that Russ Feingold represents me in the Senate and this book enhanced my knowledge of his story and made me even prouder to call him My Senator. In such a mobile society, it is good to know that Feingold's roots run deep in Wisconsin. It was fascinating to learn some of the decision making process behind the principled stands he has taken through the years. He is a politician who considers The Constitution to be the touch stone of our government and as relevant today as ever in our history.

I think many Wisconsinites would find the historical references to local names and places stories fascinating. But I also highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks there is no one still willing to stand up against the big money interests for Constitutional principled government. Russ Feingold is one of the real people our founders were hoping would govern us. I agree with the previous reviewer that young people would benefit from reading this book to give them hope and an ethical guide, we sorely need heroes.

Many reviews have noted the simplicity of Horwitt's book about Senator Feingold, all for the good I say. Horwitt brings a clarity to the life of a rare individual and politician, similiar to his book on the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky. The author takes us through the life of Feingold, from small town Wisconsin youth to brilliant academic achiever to ever thoughtful and ethical politician. You have a front row seat through all the elections that Feingold has won, and understand that he did it on principle, even though many times he was seen as the likely loser because he wouldn't play ball the old (unethical) way. Feingold and his staff often had to use creativity, instead of lots of money, to win campaigns. Media watchers will love reading about the hilarious shoe-string television commercials that were created for Feingold's astounding wins.
Political junkies will love the analysis of Feingold's most important senate work in Wisconsin and in the U.S. Senate. From BGH (bovine growth hormone), Campaign finance reform, the Patriot Act, the Iraq war, and much of his work in regard to civil liberties. If you want to know about any of these things: Wisconsin, the U.S. Senate, ethics, politics, the Progressive movement in history, the constitution, where we go from here - you will want to read this book. And then if you have a young child or even a college age child, interested in politics or upset with the lawlessness of our times, give them this book. People like Russ Feingold are our hope for the future. Give your child hope and maybe they can change the world too.

From the beginning, where Anderson announces that to understand present American politics, one must grasp that Texas is a third world country whose capitol is Houston, he grabs the reader's attention and doesn't let it go. (Not only is Texas a 'third world country,' but Bush et al. have tried to run the US the same way... and were successful for several years.) _Follow_ tracks several characters (DeLay, Bush, Abramoff) through a twisting maze of money laundering, fraud, and crooked politics.

Much of the book focuses on the Delay/Abramoff scandal, though he outlines clear ties between Abramoff and Karl Rove. (eg. Rove's personal assistant is Abramoff's former personal assistant.)

If you're not the sort of person who reads the news, this is not the book for you. If, on the other hand, you wish to know just how the American government was stolen by politicians more familiar with the Banana Republic known as Texas (and how it all fell apart...), buy this book.

"Follow the Money" begins in Houston, a city 62% minority, one of the most ozone-polluted areas in the country, and the largest city in the U.S. without zoning regulations. In 1994, top Texas officials were all Democrats, as was the majority of its House and Senate, and its Congressmen in Washington. The only exception was its two national Senators - both Republicans. George W. Bush won the Governor's seat in 1994, beating incumbent Ann Richards with 53% of the vote. (The author suspects that Rush Limbaugh's popularity in the state was a factor.)

After a brief introduction to James Baker (major player in the Bush I administration, and architect of Bush II's Florida win), the scene shifts inexplicably to Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, Grover Norquist, and Karl Rove. It's on to Abramoff's first clients (Marianas Islands - fighting to retain their exemption from U.S. labor laws, and a Mississippi Indian tribe trying to prevent new competition in nearby Alabama), DeLay's creation of the K-Street Project and relief for corporations from taxation and regulation.

Abramoff goes on to create a number of false front organizations to launder his fees and donations, double-cross one Indian tribe client (also worked for their competitor against them), made numerous contacts with Karl Rove and the White House (learned despite use of Republican National Committee e-mails to elude retention requirement), etc.

A well-detailed and sordid history of recent American politics.

"Follow the Money" is, as John Anderson writes, a "first pass at history," an effort to chronicle a "vast web of intrigue." He might well have said a vast web of corruption, as intricate as a Mark Lombardi diagram, for that is the book's subject -- the barely concealed but highly complex efforts of Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, and a host of others, most with close ties to Texas, in their bald pursuit of money and power. Abramoff's story is particularly appalling -- for example, Anderson explains how Abramoff manipulated the anti-gambling Christian right in the service of his pro-gambling Native American clients who wished to crush competing tribes in nearby states, and then turned around to represent those same competing tribes in their efforts to legalize gambling -- but it is only one strand in Anderson's fascinating story.

Anderson's account is thoroughly documented and fair minded, acknowledging honesty and integrity on either side of the aisle whenever it presents itself. Witness the examples of Paul O'Neill, James Comey, and even John Ashcroft, all of whom come out quite well in Anderson's account.

Although George W. Bush is certainly an actor in this tale, his relative absence, compared to others, is telling in and of itself. Bush is not a prime mover in his own universe. That role falls to others, such as Dick Cheney and Karl Rove (yet another Texan).

Anderson's story, exposing the naked power grab of the Republicans in Washington, D.C. (and particularly in Congress), as well as in Texas, is a shocker. We can only hope the Democrats in Congress, and perhaps soon the White House, do a better job.

This is a delightful cookbook. It is perfect to read while stirring the pot. Very humorous - in the typical Szabo-Cohen/Kasdin style. (see their other titles) It has some excellent recipes to boot. Loved it! A great gift for that unique occasion.

These two authors have collaborated to write a wonderful book. I enjoyed the stories they have written in addition to the recipes. This book is completely different then any other cookbook that I have owned. My hat is off to Laura Szabo-Cohen and Karin Kadsin.

A wonderful book, full of humor and intelligence. My favorite chapter, of course, is the Preventing Mom's Suicide one, being a sufferer myself. Oh, and I just made the Oven Dried Tomatoes...absolutely wonderful!! And to think I've been buying those jars that cost an arm and a leg! Not any more! This book has been a positive addition to my collection, in spite of my husband's groans. Oh, he read a couple of the chapters and asked if he could borrow it later!