Adam Books

this is a great book. mansbach used to to publish a journal called elementary, and so i thought i'd check out genius b-boy cynics. i started reading it on the train and couldn't put it down until i finished the enire thing.

There's some terrific stuff in here. Playfulness, inventiveness, nonstop supercharged language. Mansbach is as talented with words as any writer. The book will give your intelligence a workout. And it's FUNNY-- without ever undermining its serious intentions. Very impressive. Shackling Water was no accident.

And I should add: for poetry with such an aggressive intelligence, there's a lot of heart in it, some moments of sublime tenderness-- "Black Marbles," "Sin Titulo." Really quite amazing.

Even if you don't usually like poetry, you'll like this. Mansbach's poems are like nothing else out there: funny, sharp and hard-hitting. He flows from topic to topic with ease, and his rhythm and wordplay are off the hook. This has none of the pretensions usually associated with poetry; it's like reading the lyrics of some incredibly well-read, clever and reflective rapper. Highly recommended.

Adam Mansbach's debut poetry collection, genius b-boy cynics getting weeded in the garden of delights, gives us a glimpse at what overused terms like "hip hop poetry" should, but seldom do, refer to.

Hip hop is only occasionally the subject matter of Mansbach's poetry -- alongside topics like race, family, consumerism, academia, love, jazz, popular culture and religion -- but a hip hop sensibility infuses his work. He collages words and ideas like the best DJs, samples voices, rhythms and ideas with a skill and wit worthy of the RZA or DJ Premier, twists and invigorates and layers language with up-to-the-minute wit.

And yet, Mansbach is more in the tradition of T.S. Eliot than he is in keeping with the contemporary poetry scene. His best pieces, like Eliot's, are long, winding narratives which shift from topic to topic, their structures revealing themselves cagily. Poems like "It's Your World Tour," "Black Marbles," and "Sticknmove" are searingly insightful, strikingly personal, and often hilarious attempts to grapple with the complexities of life. As with Eliot, the uninitiated may have to grab a reference book to properly understand all of Mansbach's allusions, but in this case the privileged insiders are more likely to be genius b-boy cynics than scholars.

Mansbach's scope of reference is so wide, though -- as Michael Eric Dyson, author of Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur, has written, he is "equally comfortable with high cultural classicism and vernacular vibrations" -- that his work is challenging to almost any reader. In a single piece, it is not unusual for Mansbach to cite cultural markers as diverse as Phil Ochs, Eryka Badu, Wallace Stevens, George Wallace, Grand Wizard Theodore, Phase 2, Tennessee Williams, and Shaharazad Ali, to name just a few of those who crop up in the first few pages of the expansive "It's Your World Tour."

In shorter pieces, Mansbach is often more pointed. In "Frontlines," he discusses the gradual process by which academics lose touch with reality: "late at night you gaze/at the titles on your university housing pinewood bookshelf/and beg james baldwin's forgiveness/because the fire this time stopped burning after two degrees/leavin you strong enough for a man/but ph.d balanced against outrage/like the scales of justice." In "Gotta Be," the tongue-in-cheek subject is his own obsession with Nikes, and in "Veen" he envisions a world in which "God plays time" like drummer Elvin Jones. "Knight in Shining Karma" explores fear and vulnerability in love relationships, drawing on kung fu movies and cold war terminology to do so, while "A Visit With My Brother David" is a poignant, straightforward narrative about a trip to prison.

The only thing longer than the title of genius b-boy cynics getting weeded in the garden of delights is the talent of its author. Adam Mansbach's poetry is dense with music, with insight, and with honesty. His is that rarest of poetry collections: one destined to become dogeared.

This book is incredibly adorable. I love reading it, and my 21-month old son loves hearing it. Well, not so much anymore...he made me read it over and over again, probably a hundred times in 3 weeks, and now he has it memorized and no longer wants to read it. But he can talk about the Statue of Liberty, can pick out the Washington Monument and U.S. Captiol, and can tell you who lives in the White House. All these are important things for him to know, and my friends think it's amazing that he knows them at his age. The pictures are cute. It's a great, quick read at bedtime.

This gorgeous introduction to the USA and all its wonders is beautifully illustrated. Other books in this series have boring, more work-book-stiff-looking art. This one shines. The stars in the sky, the twinkle in children's eyes, the feathers on the bald eagle... all have depth and a softness that renders this book a wonderful gift. We have given it to foreign guests several times! And our toddler loves the bedtime ritual of putting the whole country to sleep :)

I have enjoyed this entire "Good Night Our World Series" with our son for almost 2 years now. Any child 1 1/2 years or older will love these books. I would go as old as 7 years for the reader, depending on your child. I highly recommend this particular book, Good Night America, for anyone who wants to introduce our land to their children. The quality of their books are wonderful; thick sturdy pages with colorful illustrations. The writing is simple and perfect for bedtime; lots of "hello's" and eventual "good nights" to special places around America that the book discusses. We also enjoy the other "Good Night" series of books that highlight San Francisco, Provincetown, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket specifically.

Since our child has a tough time going to sleep and likes to travel, this is a perfect series for him. He goes off into dream land with quiet appreciation about adventures in a particular place he loves or wants to visit.

Also wonderful if your child has a friend who has moved to a particular town that these books cover-it will peak their interest in where their friend is living now and it'll make it an interesting experience to explore instead of a sad one. And, if sadness comes up, it is a good way to discover that your child may have deeper feelings you were unaware of around a friend moving.

The only reason I gave this one particular book in the series one less star, is because of a sentence in the book that states: "America stands for what is right". We always replace that with" "America stands for diversity." Seems an appropriate change because these words appear next to the Statue of Liberty, and we recognize the beauty of this as we are only second generation Americans. All in all, these are great books!

Beautifully designed by author/publisher Adam Gamble and illustrator/toy designer Suwin Chan, "Good Night America" is charmingly entertaining board book which is highly recommended for preschoolers and depicts some of America's most icon settings with respect to the nation's vast natural and cultural wonders. A multicultural group of children visit various attractions ranging from Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty, the Everglades, the Grand Canyon, and more. The rhythmic language of the simple but engaging text provides young children with the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while representing the beauty of each selected site. The debut title of the new "Good Night" series from Our World of Books, "Good Night America" will make a thoroughly entertaining addition to family, preschool, day care center, and community library board book collections.

"Gypsy Magic" is one of the very best anthologies of its type to come along in a long while. Rebecca York, Ann Voss Peterson and Patricia Rosemoor tell three stories so seamlessly it's like reading one story in three parts.

Ten years earlier, a Gypsy was railroaded into a murder conviction. As revenge, his mother cursed the sons of the three men responsible. The three younger men have all felt the effects of the curse. Now, with the Gypsy scheduled to be executed, can they prove his innocence before it's too late?

The main couple in Rebecca York's "Alessandra," Wyatt Boudreaux and Alessandra King, were once in love. Then she learned his police chief father helped send her cousin to death row. They are reunited years later. They're still on opposite sides of the case, and now Wyatt is blind because of her aunt's curse. Garner Rousseau, the son of the DA who convicted the Gypsy youth, has also experienced the pain of the curse. In Ann Voss Peterson story, he joins together with another of the man's cousins, "Sabina" King. He knows his father wasn't always ethical. He doesn't know if he can open his heart to the beautiful Sabina. Patricia Rosemoor finishes the set in "Andrei." Can the title hero and the murdered woman's daughter find the killer before they become the next victims?

"Gypsy Magic" is the best of the Harlequin anthologies like this I've read. Others like "Night and Day" and "Final Approach to Forever" have had problems keeping the same voice for the characters with the authors? different writing styles. In "Gypsy Magic," the three authors do an excellent job matching their styles and voices to make the stories flow together. "Gypsy Magic" is so much better constructed than the earlier Intrigue anthology "Bayou Blood Brothers" I wish I could go back and lower my rating for that one. The stories are all equally strong and do a good job advancing the overall storyline while telling each couple's story. The authors don't miss a step dropping clues that will come in useful in another story. It takes skill for one author to pull a story like this off and keep everything straight, not to mention three.

"Gypsy Magic" is one of the best Intrigues this year.

Valonia has cursed the sons of the men who railroaded her son, Carlo Mustov into prison for the murder of his lover, Theresa Granville.

Andrei Sobatka, one of their own, received the curse of "The law is impotent". [poor guy]
He is the cousin of Alessandra and Sabina King, and the product of marriage of a gypsy and an outsider. He has returned to the carnival to work for Milo Vasilli, he runs the Tilt-a-twirl [where he almost gets killed].
He has decided to help his cousins save Carlo and meets up, once again, with Elizabeth Granville, who had given herself to him ten years before.

Now he is hiding out with the carnival to hide his shame, figuring he could gain "Lizzie's" help, as he suspected her father of murdering his own wife.

Now they are in danger and another cousin, Tony has disappeared -- would the attempted murders never stop?

Running lose throughout the carnival is Milo's daughter, Florica, who confuses everyone with her childlike mentality.

Andrei and Elizabeth finally find the murder weapon with ten year old blood still on it. Elizabeth soon learns of Andrei's hidden powers and her own love for him is strengthened as the danger persists.

The cover is neat and representative of the men and the epilogue is great. [I always look forward to these]

Definitely recommended --M -- story moves great, especially through three authors. Just too much pm.s.[grin]

Valonia, a gypsy, cursed the sons of the men who sent her son, Carlo Mustov to prison for killing his lover, Theresa Granville.

The curse for Garner Rousseax was "Love is death".

Sabina King, sister to Alessandra, has the gift of healing. After Wyatt ends up in the hospital, Sabina is determined to seek out Claude Rousseax, to enlist his help to clear Carlo, only to find that he has died. So she approaches his son, Garner.

Now they have become the target of a killer. It becomes more confusing as they eliminate the suspects. Leon Thibault, the district attorney, warned them that they should leave well enough alone - they had no new evidence.

Fascinating as we follow them through their troubles...

This book is definitely recommended -- follow these three couples as they try to save Carlo and definitely end up falling in love with a little hanky panky thrown in.

GYPSY MAGIC carries us through 3 couples stories following a Romny curse. "Justice is Blind" - the curse of Wyatt Boudreaux -- "Love is Death" - the curse of Garner Rousseau -- "The law is impotent" - the curse of Andrei Sobatka, one of their own.

Some of the gypsies had certain powers -- Valonia, the mother of Carlo cursed the sons of the men responsible for sending Carlo to prison for killing a gadje, Theresa Granville, the wife of the Mayer of Les Baux. Louisiana.

Carlo has spent 10 years on death row. Now his time is coming to an end.

Milo Vasilli, the owner of the carnival, has brought the troop back to Les Baux. Allessandra, adopted neice of Valonia, hopes to uncover new evidence to clear Carlo and end Valonia's despair. Her gift is she "sees" things.
She must approach Louis Boudreaux, only to find out that he has just died - she meets up with Wyatt, Louis's son and her one time lover only to find that he has been blinded five years before.
There are several attempts on hers and Wyatt's life as they make it known that they are trying to save Carlo. Someone wants to stop them and wants them dead.

Most Excellent mystery to follow - well written and coheasive -- follow this group.

This book (the first volume) is over 600 pages. And they are 600 pages chock full of intelligent analyses and overviews of all the poetic schools in Britian and the US since the 1890s. This book is fascinating in its content and a joy to read because of Perkins' clear and humane style. It is amazing that one person can know so much. But don't let that intimidate you. This book will do wonders for your working knowledge of American and British poetry.

David Perkins's "History of Modern Poetry" gives the reader the essentials of the modernist movement, from its beginnings as a reaction against the outworn Romantic era to the poetry of Ashbery, Ammons, and Merrill in our own age. Brevity is a virtue here: Perkins states the essentials of a poet's life only and so escapes the common error of overinterpretation which most critics commit. The series also pays attention to minor poets who do not rank highly today and past movements in journals and anthology editing so as to provide us with a complete picture of what the past century of poetry has consisted. Highly recommended.

David Perkins's "History of Modern Poetry" gives the reader the essentials of the modernist movement, from its beginnings as a reaction against the outworn Romantic era to the poetry of Ashbery, Ammons, and Merrill in our own age. Brevity is a virtue here: Perkins states the essentials of a poet's life only and so escapes the common error of overinterpretation which most critics commit. The series also pays attention to minor poets who do not rank highly today and past movements in journals and anthology editing so as to provide us with a complete picture of what the past century of poetry has consisted. Highly recommended.

I love poetry. Books like "History of Modern Poetry: Modernism and After" fill my bookshelves. I eat this stuff up. But one thing a lot of poetry books do is mush up the sense of it all in the hope of appealing to the academics. Since most regularly published poets are professors in English departments, it works out, but it creates a great divide between the laity and the academic.

What David Perkins has done is explain the basic chronology of poets periods. This is neither an encyclopedia of terms nor an anthology of great poems. Instead, Perkins takes a period, affiliates the poets major within that period and explains their context and importance.

He keeps it simple without talking down to the reader.

Essentially, it is a collection of intelligent essays. Some are topical, like "The Postwar Period" while others are poet-specific, like "W. H. Auden."

Perkins writes clearly. It isn't trying to impress you, but he is trying to help you understand Eliot and onward.

I read it for personal growth, but it would make a solid textbook, in tandem with Perkins' other volume covering the previous eras.

I fully recommend "History of Modern Poetry: Modernism and After" by David Perkins.

Anthony Trendl

Instructively organized, beautifully written, and edited to include representive artists in painting, sculpture, and architecture, even "environmental art," over the most significant Western styles and periods, this general text glows with some of the best reproductions of visual art ever produced. The first two chapters, Why Do We Study Art and The Language of Art, provide marvelous distillations of themes and ideas that recur throughout the history. The artful coincidence between the intelligence of the author and the skills of the publisher will enrich all readers, providing endless pleasure.

My order was a new book, perfect condition and arrived very quickly.

Excellent textbook. Full of quality photos of the art in focus. The information is in great quality and to the point.

In a word - comprehensive. This book is beautiful from cover to cover and covers most of what you would expect, but adds detail in terms of comparing works of art in small side bars. A painting of a reclining Venus is brought up in sections covering later time periods to show the influence early art work had on the pieces of the day. A significant covering of 20th century art is also important to note as with that period now closed, we can see that it is more than just about Campbell's soup cans by Worhal.

I had the misfortune of having the flu but the recovery passed quickly as I spent literally most of the day reading through this book and reaquainting myself with the foundations of art. Now I see the influence of various forms of art in almost everything around me. As a designer I like to think that what I produce is new. Of course the best design borrows from the past...even if its a web page layout or corporate brocure. This coffee table sized book inspires me to realign and recognize that great art is to be inspiring as well as revolutionary.

I can hardly wait to get into the CD ROM again, which on first pass seems to beg for another sick day.

It was wonderful to hear Stephen Fry's version of one of my favorite BBC TV programmes "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
This is my firsy audio book and it's great as I can do other things and still listen and enjoy this book.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I had the good fortune to be invited to Maine to see the fabulous tree house that is the subject of The Treehouse Chronicles. I decided this would be a good chance to listen to a recording of an old favorite that I've never heard in audio form before. Browsing through the library, it was an easy decision to pick this new recording of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Within minutes, I could tell that I'd made a winning choice as I listened to Stephen Fry brilliantly share his voice to add texture to this intriguing story. Between the accents and the humorous references to irony, I was enthralled. I found myself wishing that the recording was a longer one.

When you read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it can come across a little simplistically in places. Those spots work much smoother in this audio version.

In fact, if you haven't read the book, I recommend that you listen to this recording instead. I think you'll enjoy and appreciate the book more in its more dramatic version here.

If you don't know the story, Arthur Dent finds himself awakening with a hangover determined to save his home. Only problem is, while the demolition crew looms, he's also about to lose his other home, the Earth. Aided by his alien friend, Ford Prefect, Arthur is soon off hitchhiking his way through the galaxy in a most improbable set of circumstances that will amuse and delight you. You'll meet Zaphod Beeblebrox, one of the most memorable aliens in anyone's fiction. Along the way, you'll learn more speculation about wearing digital watches and finding lost ballpoint pens than you ever expected to know.

Bravo, Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams!

It is fitting that this audio adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was voiced by actor Stephen Fry. Fry was a close friend of the late Mr. Adams, and he also narrates the new H2G2 movie as the voice of the Book. Fry does a great job of making this classic novel come alive, drawing the listener into the story. This audiobook makes a great tribute to Douglas Adams and the world and characters he created in the H2G2 universe.

A galactic freeway is coming through and you guest it the Earth is in the way.

Listening to the audio CD's has an extra dimension to the book. You do get time to catch your breath. And my CD player is in the car. Somehow I survived. I would say that one great advantage to CD's is the ability to hear how the names are pronounced and you get inflections that intended or not help understand where they are going before they get there. Another advantage is that CD's like acid free paper should outlast the reader.

How many times have you asked a simple question and go the answer as "42." Yep, you are a victim to this book. Many of the clichés and truisms that rival Shakespeare are creeping into our vocabulary. And attitudes - "It has been on file."

If you are the one person that somehow got through life with out reading this series or at least seeing this on TV, then you are in for a treat. Somehow this story is earmarked as sci-fi and I guess it can be in a sense and it has all the elements necessary; it delivers a powerful message to the local Zoning Board.

I will not go though the story, as that is why you are reading the book. You need to sit down for the next sentence.

This book has changed my life.

Even though I thought that the last two books were a let down I still give the story 5 stars. I just love the use of science fiction to make you think about your every day life and existance. I was laughing out loud. This is definately odd humor, not everyone is going to be amused but what about the answer to everything? and the new explanation on how life on earth began? Cows bred to want to be eaten, and with the ability to say so? You will find out that flying is possible, just don't think about it. I should read this again.

A modern-day masterpiece, Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Trilogy" is a fast read that will leave the reader rolling on the floor with laughter. The characters are richly written, from the ego-driven two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox to the manic-depressive robot Marvin, making the reader empatize with them during their journeys through space and time. A true must-read for all.

This volume combines all five titles from the Hitchhiker Trilogy under one cover. If you are a fan of any or all of the Hitchhiker books, this is an excellent way to keep them all together. For those who have never read them but enjoy science fiction, it's a chance to discover a new Universe.

Titles combined include The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe, and Everything; So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; and Mostly Harmless.

You'll travel with Arthur Dent from the destruction of the Earth throughout the Universe in a series of adventures and misadventures. He meets some of the most uproarious characters in the Universe, and realize he's met some of them before. All of this to answer the ultimate question of "Life, the Universe and Everything".

The book moves comparably in speed speed and action to the Hobbit, and Trilogy of the Rings. And wouldn't we all like to go "There and Back Again."

Douglas Adams is a master of the farcical science fiction novel, and here are three perfect examples in one collection! The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the end of the Universe, and Life, the Universe, and Everything compose the first three novels of the Hitchiker's trilogy (yes, there are four, check out So Long and Thanks for All the Fish). In this series, Arthur Dent, along with a broad array of alien companions seeks to discover the great question to the answer to life, the universe, and everything (the answer is 42). Along the way, excerpts from the greatest book of books, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (vastly more popular than the Encyclopedia Galactica), force readers to laugh out loud and annoy people sitting around them by repeatedly saying, "You've got to read this book!"

If you're looking for a comical way to spend a boring day, grab yourself a copy of this book. You won't regret it.

The author (an internationally renowned scholar) sets out clearly little known, and next to impossible to find details of the Hittite army and puts it in historical context. For anyone interested in Bronze Age armies and history this is a must.

Trevor Bryce's HITTITE WARRIOR is written by an expert on the topic and follows the history of a warrior people famed for their ferocity. Their early empire stretched from Mesopotamia to Syria and Palestine: this book examines not only their history and culture, but specifically their battle tactics and strategies.

This is one of the most powerful titles in Osprey's warrior series yet published, focusing on the Bronze Age warriors of one of history's first empires.

Initially known of only from several references in the Old Testament and in Egyptian texts, the Hittites were introduced to the archaeological world through the discovery of their capital of Hattusas in central Anatolia, and now much is known of their history, culture, religion, appearance, and indeed their arms and armies.

The author presents a fresh new look at this topic, revealing that it was not large quantities of iron (which they did not actually possess to the degree of giving all their troops iron weapons) but instead organization, duty to king and country, and sometimes fear that motivated the Hittite warriors to bravely clash with all their contemporaries, including the Egyptians and the barbaric Kaskas people of northern Turkey.

Though Egyptian soldiers gave them the derogatory nickname 'hmty' (meaning women-warriors, because they wore their hair very long), the Hittite Army was a formidable force, well organized, superbly trained, and capable of covering great distances in short periods of time. Just like medieval knights, the chariotry of the Hittite army formed their noble elite, and always sought to clash with those of their enemies. The infantry, who were usually either members of a militia or auxiliaries from conquered tribes, guarded the baggage and prisoners, and faced off with the infantry of the enemy.

Though the Hittites formed a vast empire, they did not get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their conquests like the Romans 1500 years later. Every year the Emperor had to ride out to put down revolts, and soldiers constantly manned the frontiers for fear of barbarian raiders. Though they were considered much more merciful than many of their contemporaries, the Hittites did not take kindly to revolts; the populations of defeated rebel cities were deported, forced to work as slave-farmers, and were sometimes blinded.

The title follows the Hittite warrior's experience of recruitment, training, combat, peacetime duties, and leisure (which included rowdy drinking parties in frontier taverns). A warrior's experience of life in the Hittite Army would of course depend on his rank; charioteers were much better off than levied infantrymen, but on the otherhand much more was expected of the charioteer. The Emperor's elite guardsmen and executioners are also examined.

This book is supported by numerous black-and-white photos from a modern reconstruction of the Hittites, including noble-looking pictures of the infantry on the march both in the field and in a frontier town, of the Emperor and his chariot driver setting off for war, and a Hittite empress. There are also 8 quality color plates by Adam Hook, who has illustrated numerous Osprey titles on various subjects; these show the warrior in the various stages of his career, recruitment, training, and fighting.

This book is essential for anyone studying the Hittites or Bronze Age warfare, presenting a wealth of information clearly and readably and giving it rich visual support. I extremely highly recommend it.

"Hittite Warrior" is one of the best issues of Warrior series of Osprey. This book, firstly is perfect to attrack usual history lovers as well as people who are only interested in military history. The text, which is rich in every aspect, is simple for everyone to understand yet perfectly informative fort the experts of this subject (thanks to the dominant information of Trevor Bryce in this subject). By using the historical written evidences, and the telling of the events of war from the Hittite archives, Trevor Bryce first ables the reader to understand everything better and then later forms a strong base for the comprehension of the illustrations.
Nearly reallistic and artistly rendered illustrations are in a perfect wholeness with the text. All the plates serve well their functional purpose of illustrating the Hittite soldiers, starting from the recruitment till all their roles in the army. Shortly this book is one of the best visual sources for learning about these fierce warriors of the Anatolian steppes.

Primarily for quilters, this lovely book includes excellent instructions for an applique quilt top as well as inspiration and suggestions for smaller cotton and wool applique projects, a few designs for rug hooking, and two "visits" to homes of interesting folk artisans, arranged according to the calendar year and its holidays. The book's best feature is its complexity, not of instructions, which are admirably clear and straightforward, but rather, of design. The featured quilt top, nine appliqued houses and their front gardens, is created twice, once by each author, a choice that hints at the wealth of possibilities available to readers. Further, each house block includes many, many design elements that tempt the adventurous reader to use them in different and original ways. The writing is warm and encouraging, the patterns full size and not overlapped, and the photography of both finished projects and artisans' homes visited is beautiful. Many instruction books are shared, shelved, or discarded once the skills are learned. Allen and Alma's Home Sweet Home is a book readers will want to browse, savor, and save.

I saw a quilt in this book in a monthly quilting magazine and had to buy the book to make the quilt. I made the quilt and it is absolutely lovely. The hand work took a long time. There is more hand work than machine piecing. The directions and pictures in this book make the book easy to follow. I recommend this book for anyone who is a little more advanced than a beginner. I have been quilting for 30 years and found it challenging but rewarding. Loved this book!

I bought this book after wanting it for a long time. I saw my online friends making the main house quilt and decided I didn't want to be too far behind, so went and got it. I have done the first block and am so excited! The book is beautiful, the pages glossy and full of color. I especially like how there are 2 versions of the same quilt. Just gives you more options. I personally am doing mine in very different colors from the book ones just to make it exciting and new to work on.

The main quilt is probably not for absolute beginners, but great for someone who loves needleturn applique. The blocks and nice and big - you can get lots of detail done on each block. A beginner might enjoy making it if they used a different applique method such as fusible web. But then again, why not just jump in and get both feet wet and learn to needleturn at the same time!

There are other projects in the book which look great, though I probably won't make them as I bought it mainly for the house quilt.

Barb Adams and Alma Allen do such wonderful work with their quilts and books. This book certainly lives up to their good reputation.

This book has beautiful pictures as well as great instructions. The house quilt, which is the bulk of the book, is unique and very detailed.
There is also a beautiful flag quilt which was my first project out of this book and I will definately do more.

Until recently, I hadn't thought much about cumulative tales helping with memory but they do. I recommend not skipping a word as you go back over the previous steps. Children (and I) love the art work also in this edition.

I also recommend these cumulative tales and songs.
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,
The Buggy That Boogied Away, and
She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain.

My one-year-old son adores this book and brings it to me several times a day to read it to him. It's text-heavy with tons of repetition, so we skip every few verses. He giggles at the rhythm of the text and sometimes even dances side to side. The illustrations are very colorful, consistent with the author's other books and those in this series. I highly recommend!

The illustrator adds a special delight to this old cumulative tale.
In addition to the visual and auditory treat, tales such as this are a great boost to language skills.

I read this book as a child, and now am reading this book to my nieces and nephew. What a joy it is to read such good books to young children. This is a must for anyone with youngsters. Buy it! You will not regret it.