Adam Books

A great book for all those feline lovers! The stories made me think of cats in a whole new positive way.

If you have ever been a guardian to a cat, or a cat has been a guardian to you, read this book! If you've never had a cat companion, you will probably want to run out and adopt one after reading this book. Cats are marvelous creatures and this book is full of interesting stories about them.

There's a wonderful story about a talking cat. There are stories about how cats have rescued people from almost certain death. These are not far fetched stories, but are amazing and true accounts of some wonderful felines. I highly recommend this book.

What a great book. Similar in style to the "chicken soup" type of books, containing a number of true short stories of cats and their owners. You might even shed a tear or two, such as I did in the story of Kitty, who survived a trip under the hood of a car! Recommended!

This book is perfect for any cat lover. Someone who loves their feline companion like a child. It has such great true accounts of miracles thats have happened to cats. Cats are very loving intelligent creatures and this book really proves it an dshows how love and heal and save aniamls as well as people an dhow animals can be angels to their people and save their lives as well. This book will really make oyu know that animals have souls

In a world where all around is apparent madness, this is a perfect book to read from just before going to sleep. It is
well written, with a quick easy style that is typical of Hanson and Steiger. The stories are both interesting and
uplifting, with nothing that will bring about any uneasy dreams. Only buy this book if you enjoy reading in bed, the
company of cats or getting a great nights sleep.

This whole series is such a sweet story of friendship. I purchased them for my little girl and have enjoyed them as much as she has.

The Clarence and Smokey books are some of the funnest children's books we have found. My 7-year-old daughter loves them and has been reading them regularly for years.

In this installment, we find our western horse and city pig travelling back home to the city. Along the way, they meet an old dog with a passion for dancing. My students loved reading about Clarence in the first book and flipped over this selection. Really is a must for any collection!

I am delighted that author/illustrator, Jean Ekman Adams, has returned Clarence to his devoted fans with a second book. Clarence stole our hearts with his first adventure, "Clarence Goes Out West and Meets a Purple Horse." Now he and Smokey are off on another adventure and they have taken a dancing doggie along with them. The same endearing illustrations are found throughout this second offering and "the great surprise"...well is a great surprise. Clarence and friends are gentle souls with silent lessons abounding throughout their stories and illustrations, all of which will delight readers of every age. I eagerly look forward to the next adventure.

When we last saw Clarence, the pig, and Smoky, the purple horse, they were about to leave the dude ranch and head back to the big city where Clarence lives. They've packed their bags and are ready to begin their long journey, over the mountains and across the desert. "Clarence can hardly wait. But first, Smoky is going to show Clarence a great surprise. Clarence loves surprises." They travel, and picnic, they sleep under the stars in a tent, go fishing, nap, watch the clouds roll by, and even get to stay in a hotel. "Clarence loves the hotel. He really loves room service. Smoky orders hay." But best of all, they meet a new and special friend along the way. Old Edgar, the dog, hums and dances. In fact, he is such an amazing and energetic dancer that Smoky warns Clarence, "You'll have to watch him to make sure he doesn't twirl away." And as the three friends travel on to see the great surprise, that's exactly what happens..... For those who loved Clarence Goes Out West And Meets A Purple Horse, Jean Ekman Adams is back with another Clarence and Smoky adventure that's sure to warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. Her engaging text, with its simple message of friendship, loyalty, and acceptance is filled with gentle humor and begs to be read aloud. But it's Ms Adam's marvelously bold and bright artwork, rich in witty western detail, that makes this picture book sparkle, and brings these endearing characters to life. With a satisfying, happily-ever-after ending to complete the story, Clarence And The Great Surprise is perfect for youngsters 3-7, and is a sweet little treasure of a book, you don't want to miss.

Adam P. Knave is one of those writers who is incapable of not entertaining. His stories, essays, novels, scripts are always worth reading... The guy just knows how to amuse, scare, delight, and shock his readers -- often simultaneously, which is no small feat. CRAZY LITTLE THINGS is a collection of short stories that contains some of his best work and is definitely worth a purchase, read, re-read, and recommendation to everyone you know who enjoys quality writing.

THE Stories in this collection are a mix of horror, fantasy, and science fiction and I enjoyed them all thoroughly. My favorites were "Causing
Effects and Crazy Little Thing". I am glad to have a new author on
my list, that can make me shiver and that can make weirdness seem
normal.

Basically Crazy Little Things is a mix tape in book form. Like any good mix tape each story puts you in a mood and gets you revved up, pulls you right into it. Then? It ends. Often a tad predictably.

The brilliance of Knave's work is in how easily he is able to pull the reader in through the use of realistic nuance. He is excited about his characters, and the reader can feel it and be swept up. His characters notice and play on the small, everyday pieces of the world that make us all human, by highlighting the monsters we all keep inside.

Crazy Little Things is a the perfect mixtape of a book, one song or many at a time. As if he made it just for you, each tale is familiar, just a bit. If only they could be longer, and perhaps with less predictable chord progression.

Adam P. Knave pulls no punches. Zombies, ghosts, demons, donuts, teenage beauty pageants, many hapless victims, and Mr. Binkles all blend magically in this tour de force of horror, dripping sarcasm, and reality inspired mayhem. Knave paints colorful and believable landscapes from the every day reality of our lives. These stories make you jump, laugh, and think and always end in some unexpected fashion. This is not your everyday writer and these are not everyday stories. This is an awesome book that entertains from start to finish.

Adam P. Knave knows that for different people, fear comes from different places. With Crazy Little Things, he explores twelve different sources of fear, and is bound to have at least one which will strike a nerve with you. His stories feel real, packed with the kind of dialog and reactions you would expect were the situations in those stories to come true. This gives gives the twists he applies to traditional story elements of zombies, fairies, and even beauty pageants that much more punch. This is a collection you'll want to read in the dark, curled up with your favorite teddy bear.

On second thought, you might not want the bear nearby.

It's always fun to tell ghost stories around a fire late at night, but coming up with something original isn't always easy. Adams has offerred us a collection of truly original tales that make for a spooky evening.

Adams has a knack for the original while he mixes small-town nastalgia with evil lurking just around the corner, or on the radio, or in the pond, or in the woods.

I'd love to read a full length effort from JA in the future.

We spend many a night at our backyard campfire and several overnighters up in the mountains here in upstate NY and are always looking for new stories to scare the heck out of the boys. We found it here with Creepy Campfire Tales. Wide eyes from our boys looking back at me over the fire while I read from its pages say it all. Keep em coming!!!

This book is perfect to tell around campfires or to kids on hayrides during Halloween parties, if you live in the country like us. The stories are short enough to remember the main details for retelling, yet long enough when you read them by yourself they seem to really be happening. Also, there are no dumb endings or forced scenes where people do unrealistic things. Everything seems like something logical you would do if the story was really ahppening. They all happen at Halloween or In October, and all around campgrounds or camp fires at some point in the story. They are all new too. So many other campfire story books we bought were retellings of old stories or just dumb stories. These are brand new, so the kids will really be shcoked by the endings. There are hayrides, monsters, spooky scenes in the deserted woods, and lonely campsites on farms. Onse story is about a family all alone, in the deep woods of Maine, and what happens to them when an unknown "thing" intrudes on their cook out. Having been to Maine, the feeling lonelinees and isolation in the book matches the real thing. Our friends from the big city (Manchester) think being out in the middle of nowhere is terifying. We think dark city streets are scary, so I bet city folk like our friends would be very scared by this book. It is fine for teens, while there is death and fright, no cusssing or sex (aside from one kissing scene, no nudity you could say.). Many of these characters reminded me of being in school and all the bon fires we would have, which sooner or later, led to telling ghost stories.

So, I read this book after a friend recommended it. I have never really enjoyed 'campfire tales'. This book was as creepy as it promised. And definitely original. I couldn't put the book down. I have shared the book already and have another friend waiting for it to be returned. I'll definitely read the second one. Keep writing, Mr. Adams and keep sharing those freakish dreams of yours. And I'll try to get some of my friends to buy their own copies...

This book is a really awesome book to have!! I was looking for a book with scary campfire stories to read when we all go camping and I hit the jackpot with this book. Everyone absolutely loves it. The stories seem so real and it's very easy to get wrapped up in them. I would definately recommend this book to anyone who loves a good horror story. Looking forward to Part II of Creepy Campfire Tales or any book for that matter written by James D. Adams, he knows how to keep your interest.

BOUGHT IT FOR MOM FOR MOTHERS DAY. A CUP OF COMFORT...HAS A GREAT BOOK LINE!

I received this book from my mother-in-law as a Christmas gift during my daughter's first year of life. I love picking it up when I have a few minutes to read a quick story. I wish I had the talent to write the way these women do, but until I master that I am going to give my mom a copy of this book and highlight the parts that best describe my feelings for her. There are going to be a LOT of marks. I love this book.

The stories in this collection are gems that every mother can relate to. If you're a mother or a daughter this book is definately for you. The stories will make you laugh and cry and, best of all, you'll recognize yourself in many of the pages. Five stars! Debbie Farmer, parenting author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'

A literary treasure! My favorite story, "Caroline's Prince" by Inez Hollander Lake was beautifully written by a creative storyteller. The incredible stories in this book are funny, heartwarming, and endearing.

Do you have an aversion to laughing and crying in a public place?
If so, seek a secluded spot to pore over the unforgettable stories editor Colleen Sell collected for A CUP OF COMFORT FOR MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS.
You can't prevent it. Your own heart becomes the setting for this uplifting anthology that celebrates the cherished bond between mothers and daughters.
Excellent story-teller Kristl Franklin reveals an innate secret shared between mother and daughter in "The Demise of Josephine." Humor softens a sad tale: "My kitchen looked like a band of monkeys had used it for survival training."
"Leaving" by Ramona John will also make you smile. "The first time I left my mother, I was five years old."....."I'm running away," I announced.
Lynn Ruth Miller, in "A Mother Knows," says a mother knows everything about you. "You can tell a true mother by the penetrating look in her eye."
In "Fashion Amnesia" Karen Favo Walsh, frustrated by failure buying clothes for her daughter, writes, "I am clueless about teenage fashion. It's a genetic flaw....."
Even if you skip about to find favorite stories sprinkled among the pages of this treasury, inevitably you'll read them all. This fourth installment in the Cup of Comfort series keeps its promise to touch, heal and inspire the reader.

Easy to read? Yes. Complex ideas? Yes. Will it help me on my job? YES! I am always reading the latest books on marketing and this one is so much better than the rest. I cannot believe someone did not write a book like this sooner. I have seen Lois speak at several DMDNY trade shows to fully packed auditoriums and it's no wonder. She knows what she is doing! She explains it all so clearly whether you attend her talks or read her books. But Customers For Keeps is her best work yet. Keep up the good work Lois!
Danny

As a former student in Lois Geller's graduate school course on Direct Marketing I know just how motivating she can be. Now she hits one out of the ballpark with this book. Lord have mercy I could've used this book two years ago when I was working with a major electronics manufacturer and we were planning the roll out of their new handheld organizer. We knew how to market the thing but we couldn't brand it properly. If only Lois offered a course in branding a few years ago! Outstanding book!

Easy to read? Yes. Complex ideas? Yes. Will it help me on my job? YES! I am always reading the latest books on marketing and this one is so much better than the rest. I cannot believe someone did not write a book like this sooner. I have seen Lois speak at several DMDNY trade shows to fully packed auditoriums and it's no wonder. She knows what she is doing! She explains it all so clearly whether you attend her talks or read her books. But Customers For Keeps is her best work yet. Keep up the good work Lois!
Danny

using a very clever format customers for keeps doesnt wack you over the head with a do this and do that mentality. this book guides you through the process of why programs work well and how you can do the same thing. the examples are entertaining and informative. think what color is your parachute meets the wealthy barber. five stars plus.

Customers For Keeps is one of those rare business books that does not pontificate information. I was educated and entertained while reading this book and what a rare combination that is these days. A thoroughly pleasant read and one I am sure you will also enjoy.

This book covers the psychology of dating a divorced man and is spot on target at helping you discover what you need and if he can provide it. A great place to start your education into the world of family court. If you do decide to date him, or marry him, your next step would be my book, "Every Single Girl's Guide to Her Future Husband's Last Divorce," which covers the legal and financial aspects and makes a perfect pairing with this book.

I am surprised this book does not have many reviews. I have found it to be SPOT ON and exceptionally useful.

I recently began dating a man who represented himself as being near the end of his divorce. His behavior was frustrating and baffling to me. This book very clearly identified the problems I was experiencing and what my options were for handling them. I am much more level-headed now and have a much better grip on the situation.

Ironically, I also identified a co-worker who has leaned on me heavily over the past two years while he has struggled to keep his marriage together, while considering getting out. The book identifies him as a "Mr. Wait-and-See" and says don't waste your time with these users and cowards. Although I didn't waste my romantic energies on this man, I did let him waste a lot of time in general listening to him whine about the issues he doesn't have the guts to address.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone considering dating a man who is either separated, divorcing, divorced or still married but shopping for a girlfriend.

This is an excellent book for divorced men and women. It shows that we all are experiencing similar issues and dating a single man with kids is challenging. I think this is a book that all divorced men and women should read!

At the time I read this book, I had already been dating a divorced man for about 5 months so I was a bit late on ready it. I came across the book because I wanted to know if there was information out there for women in my circumstance and what questions/clues should I be asking or tune into to make sure the guy was not a flake.

Surely enough, the book was very helpful. The author presents different scenarios (hypothetically of course) and questions women should keep in mind when entering into a relationship/acquiantance of a divorced man. I'll point out that the reading also applies for divorcing/separated men as well. For my circumstance, I was on track and getting the truth about the situation.

Over all, it is a good read and has lots of "food for thought".

Dr. Christie Hartman's "Dating the Divorced Man" gives single women a no-nonsense manual for getting to know this key demographic in the dating world. With specific examples, she clearly defines the different states of separated/divorcing/divorced men and the challenges that they can present. That said, she also leaves room for mature women to make their own choices based on what each individual is comfortable with, which is much more helpful than a black-and-white instruction book in this murky area. I recommend her book to any single woman -- if you wait until you're already dating a divorced man to read it, you may have made key mistakes already!

this book is amazing!! Mr. Bellow is my teacher in Long Island, NY and he is the greatest teacher ever!! His book is one of the best i have read ever.

This book was incredible. Don't be fooled it is not based on or about that crappy movie. This book was great. I saw it online on some website about up and coming books / authors - oh man was this cool. A short book, but worth it. The writing is superb with a story that really gets under your skin. A great summer read - Derailed!

I am not in the habit of writing reviews for things I like, but this book was different. I work in New York City and saw someone reading this book on the subway riding home from work. Being curious, I asked the guy about it and he talked about the book for the next three stops. I ordered the book from Amazon and when I read it the night it arrived. I can't tell you stongly enough how great this book is. It has action, suspense, and a creepy ending that left me breathless. I hope that this gets turned into a movie or something - it is really an awesome story... check it out!

This book was great. I loved Derailed so much that I actually read it twice to go back and catch all the little hints which lead up to the big ending. The writing is really pretty. That may sound odd for a book that makes more than one reference a dead baby, but the language the author uses is really captivating and vivid. I just finished the Da Vinci code, and I must say that although this is a different style, this book was throughly entertaining and engaging. You all should read it - you won't be disappointed!

This book was really great! It is suspenseful, creepy, entertaining, and really enjoyable. I loved it and totally recommend it!

This is my third or fourth year with the Dilbert daily calendar, and once again I am not disappointed. At least 2 or 3 times a week I find myself laughing out loud when I read the strip of the day.

I'm a living and breathing creature of cubicle land. So I can very much attest to the fact that Scott Adams nails the proverbial nail on the head. Beware! This calendar is funny only because it is the Truth! Buy it, enjoy it and know that others out there feel your pain too.

Being stuck in a cubicle farm, I can (unfortunately) relate to almost all of the strips Dilbert represents. It also doesn't help I'm in IT either... for the government. ::ugh:: From managment's incomprehensible requests, to co-worker quirks and finally the almost endless cycle of meetings this one-a-day calendar manages to keep in tune with what goes on in my office.
I've still got 2003 wallpapered all over my cube... guess it's time to start making room for this year. I give it 4 stars. (Only Farside has made me laugh more)

Have you worked in a corporate setting? Then you'll connect with Dilbert.

Scott Adams has created a world all-too-familiar to us who delve into cubicles for employment. Laughing at his cartoons hurts a little because we work for bosses like the pointy hair guy. We know consultants like Dogbert, and Elbonia reminds of too many clients.

Planting this calendar in your cube is a safe way to say to your boss, "I'm on to you." It might not change the inefficient culture of overwork for not clear goal, but you'll feel better in the process.

I fully recommend the Dilbert daily calendar. It is fun, and unlike a monthly calendar, you get a new panel everyday. It stays fresh this way.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

I enjoyed every single cartoon, though sometimes they made me sad - they mirror real (big) company life, and I was more than once tempted to take the cartoon to my office and slip it onto the table of my boss... And so the cartoons help to endure the harder hours of business life! Maybe I can get a prescription for the 2004 calendar...?

I bought this book to give to a friend whose little girl had passed away. The illustrations are brillliant and the storyline opened up many venues of dialogue that would be discussed at such a tragic time as this. The book brings hope and a "connection" to that little one's spirit that has passed on. I recommend this book to give to others. It will remain a treasure in their collection just like the memory of the little one who once was part of their earthly family.

I'd like to share some thoughts that other reviewers have touched on briefly or not at all.

I almost didn't purchase The Dragonfly Door because I thought it might be too overtly religious for the people I wanted to share it with. Fortunately, I did order it. The book can be interpreted on many different levels; the reader will bring to it what he or she likes or needs. The story will appeal to members of all denominations as well as to people who belong to no organized religion. Lea's "special place" can be just that, or the reader may choose to call it "heaven." The factual section on dragonflies at the end of the book adds yet another dimension. You or your child will enjoy The Dragonfly Door even if you have not lost a friend or relative. For me, the story brought back vivid memories of my own "lost" childhood.

The art is bright, simple, and will appeal to children. It enhances the text, sets the mood, clarifies emotions, and provides clues to the meaning of words. But it's the language I love most. It is natural, alive, playful, concrete, colorful. The words speak to the imagination. The dragonfly nymphs don't just run while playing tag: they "zigzag between the rocks" as the beetles and minnows "dart through the reeds." Nym "pokes" Lea with one of her legs as she squeals "You're it!" You can see the colors on the water, hear the laughter in Lea's voice, and feel the cold of the night or the softness of a leaf. You can hear Nym's voice "crack" with anger, see her mouth "quiver" when she realizes Lea is gone, and experience the silence and sadness of the empty nest.

Sometimes the art goes where words cannot go. Every character has a personality and a voice--even the sea creatures who don't speak (what they're thinking and feeling shows clearly on their faces). The artist's use of color, light and shadow, her rendition of Nym's dream and Lea's "special place" are nothing short of brilliant.

The characters are real. Leah's love for Nym is a shining presence throughout the book. Nym's playfulness, short-lived temper tantrum, sadness, anxiety, and hope all ring true. After Lea disappears, the questions Nym asks her in a dream are the same questions children are most likely to ask.

There are big life lessons in The Dragonfly Door about "loss and change," if the reader wishes to interpret the book on this level. But there are little life lessons as well. Nym is always polite with the other sea creatures, and she doesn't hesitate to say she's sorry when she realizes she has behaved inappropriately. Lea doesn't deny Nym's rebellious feelings or respond to anger with anger. At a critical moment, she knows just what to say to her friend to comfort her and lessen her feelings of guilt.

Don't pass up reading this book! If it is not available at your public library or your child's school library, talk to the librarians. The Dragonfly Door is a valuable resource for all families and communities.

John Adams brilliantly invites the reader into the world of Nymphs and Dragonflies to explore the changes that take place when Nym's friend goes to a special place.

When I had lost a family member I had read a wonderful story called, "The Water Bug Story." John Adams adds a fresh approach to this story by focusing on friendship loss and giving a voice to his characters. With the help of Gibson's eye-catching nature illustrations, "The Dragon Fly Door" answers general questions surrounding loss, such as feelings about loss, what happens to the nymph's body when he dies, and how a nymph is transformed into a dragonfly.

Adams creatively normalizes typical friendship rivalry and takes the reader on a nature journey to discover that one chooses to resolve conflict, loss, and changes in different ways. Adams concludes the book with uncomplicated educational facts for the inquisitive science mind.

This is a great educational tool for parents, grandparents or professionals to use to help explain the uncontrollable life cycle changes and loss.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample, MS
Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses(2006), also translated: Besos y Abrazos Al Aire(2006, Spanish edition) and Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book(2007)

As President of a nonprofit organization that reaches out to those who are grieving, I was very pleased to read a book such as The Dragonfly Door. This book provides a much needed way to offer children (and adults) a message of hope following the death of a loved one.

Children can relate to the playful nature of Nym and Lea who are the two young nymph friends, the sorrow of Nym when Lea dies, and the comforting feeling when when Nym realizes that he will one day see Lea again as a dragonfly, when he too has made his transformation into a dragonfly.

Our nonprofit organization recommends this book so highly that we have decided to make it available for purchase at all of our events.
-Valerie Marquardt

The debut children's picturebook of author John Adams, The Dragonfly Door dares to confront serious topics - of loss, death, grieving, and transition. Nym and Lea are two close insect friends, but one day after Nym yells at Lea, Lea disappears. Nym searches everywhere for her missing friend, and can't find her. At last Nym falls asleep, grief-stricken, and finally hears Lea's voice one more time. "'I died and went to this special place,' Lea said, her voice full of love. 'But I didn't want you to leave,' Nym pleaded. 'I'm sorry I yelled.' 'I know you're sorry,' Lea assured her. 'I left because my water nymph body died while I was picking flowers in the reeds, not because you yelled.'" The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson illustrate this highly recommended picturebook for sharing the bittersweet realities of life with young people.