Anne Books

For somebody who appreciates exceptionally fine photography and writing that is definitely a cut above today's standard, I highly recommend Pacific in My Soul. Seldom does a "picture book" do it for me, but this is an exception. Having acquired my first copy as a gift, I've now found it an excellent way to communicate that majesty we here on the Northwest Coast are lucky enough to call "home". I've not yet read any of Anne Chadwick's other work, but am looking forward to doing so. Her descriptions are accurate, vivid and most of all, readable. She is an author who knows both her subject, and has a way of delighting her readers with the simplicity and the depth of her understanding of nature captured in both word and photography.

Looking at the pictures in this book took my breath away! The photography is so wonderful, I felt as if I could reach into the pictures and feel the water. I would love to have many of these framed in my house. I loved how Ms. Chadwick used her personal experiences in the book to tell me how she took them. She gave information about the animals and locations in such and easy to read and relateable way. A lovely book to keep around!

I picked this up while I was on vacation up at Sea Ranch this August. I love finding local books. I've been going to Sea Ranch for the past 5 years or so and this book is like bringing a little bit of that life home with us. I have read it and loved it, but leave it out on the coffee table, where just a glance is like a whiff of ocean breeze that calms my soul and soothes me.

Pacific in My Soul by Anne Chadwick is a remarkable effort. From the gray whales of San Ignacio Bay in Baja to the brown bears of Katmai in Alaska, the book examines the Pacific coast from a naturalist's keen and insightful perspective. It's a surprisingly big view of a big place in a compact 96-page package. More than 40 illustrated essays cover fauna (seals, otters, sea lions, whales, raccoons, deer, bear, elk, eagles, cormorants, swans, butterflies); flora (azaleas, rhododendrons, lilies, amanita); phenomena (waves, storms, fog, moon); and moods (sunrises, solitude, morning dew, sunsets). The writing is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening. The style is crisp, fresh, and lyrical. The voice is contemplative and reverent, and not a bit shrill or strident. The photography is stunning. Pacific in My Soul is practically a clinic in combining the visual with the verbal to evoke a powerful sense of place. Highly recommended.

Whether you have been there and want to reminisce or just want to understand the draw of the northern Pacific coast you will enjoy the beautiful photography and personal narrative of Pacific in My Soul. Pelicans, elephant seals, egrets, waves, sea otters, solitude, rhododendrons, herons, tidal pools, gray whales, redwoods, raccoons, ospreys, wildflowers, fog (beautiful picture), sea lions, lily, orcas, butterflies, elk, bald eagles, sunsets and other subjects are addressed in the book. Written as a personal sharing of the author's favorite things about the Pacific Northwest, it is both a beautiful and intimate work. Pacific in My Soul is highly recommended for nature enthusiasts of all kinds.

Indeed as it was explained to my son in law Mike by my converted to Judaism daughter Alex, "The reason you like your matzoh balls hard is because your mother didn't know how to cook-- and so they always turned out that way"!!! He has since learned to eat soft matzoh balls!!For my daughter is an excellent cook,and as I was reading Ms Lebrecht "Passover memories" it brought back all the smells and joy of my recent Seders at Alex and her family's homes on two successive nights.Reading the haggadah is always part of the tradition as is "let's skip these pages" (for it is extremely long and must be read in betwen courses.) Which in no way detract from the solemnity of the occasion..And I can't help but think how lucky some people are.. who like me navigate with pleasure and pride between those two religions!

Pierrette L Komarek .
Author of "le Cafe'de Cadix" and "Grandmére Awesome Family Cookbook"

Using a writing style without artifice, evoking effortless emotion, she writes about her Jewish grandmother ...

>> Her mantra was "I listen, so that I can learn." Every one of us heard her repeat these phrases... The table was always set with a cloth of starched white linen with linen napkins neatly folded, wine glasses of crystal, dishes of English bone china and sterling silver cutlery. Two huge silver candelabra's graced the table. There was never a need for a warning of caution to any of the children, as we all sat spellbound by the luxurious surroundings and meal of splendor: we behaved beautifully and as expected. We sat in silence as we gaped in awe. The candles from the lit candelabra's flickered and cast a spell as the crystal glasses picked up the glow, making flashes of lights dash across the room... <<

This story was taken from a young girl's perspective, though not as young as the romping child in the opening scene of another of Anne's stories, ON THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS. Here the girl was old enough to appreciate, observe, and listen to her grandmother, not only to her words, but to her behavior and repeated traditions. And to her cooking! The way Anne described this grandmother's culinary skills was abundantly appealing. Of course, the girl in the story would want to know her grandmother's secret ways into the pervasive world of YUM.

>> For years, each child and grandchild would persist in asking for her recipes. She continually ignored the questions. Her sweet smiles and silence was consistent every year. They all eventually gave up asking, all accepted the futilely of these requests. But not me.

>> While she lay in the hospital dying, I visited her often. I sat by her bedside holding her hand in mine, stroking her with tenderness and love. It was painful to watch this grand lady overtaken by the process of dying, the deterioration of a dignified human being. Kissing her for what was to be the last time, I whispered into her ear... <<

In PASSOVER MEMORIES you'll receive the Jewish grandmother's two-part secret ingredients to satisfying nourishment, and be stimulated to relive a few memories of your own. One of mine was about a special doll received as a Christmas gift, and how I cared for that doll and the others. Another memory was about my Mom's secret recipe for a sweet roll. The reason for holding the secret was Sloppy Joe.

Only minutes prior to beginning my read of PASSOVER MEMORIES, I had finished ON THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS, and had decided to read both stores back to back. As soon as I absorbed the warmth in the conclusion of EVE, I found and clicked the 49 cents for PASSOVER. Reading both took less than a hour, yet the distance traveled was immense.

These two stories taken together are so simply rich they're hard to describe. They're delicately, deeply sensitive yet easily uplifting. The way I felt after reading each was peaceful and hopeful. Yet, I began to notice another strangely uncommon feeling which seemed to have caused the others. Searching inside to identify what the feeling was, to comprehend what this pair of Amazon Shorts was, and how it affected me, I came easily to the word I sought.

Clean. I felt clean.

Though these two stories obviously have similarities, each has a unique mood and theme. What a lucky woman to have bits of both Christian and Jewish traditions in her family background.

All this for 49 cents? Such a deal. You'd better believe it!

A natural follow up story to PASSOVER MEMORIES might be THE ICE CREAM MAN. Of course ice cream is good before or after anything, any time!

Anne has a collection of books and stories on her Amazon pages which are well worth your time and dimes. Every Amazon Short I've read so far has made me hungry for more of their untarnished, sometimes refreshingly unedited variety, as well as more from each author.

Sometimes spirit can't get through too tight of an editorial choke-hold. So far Amazon Shorts have allowed Adam's Apples and pearly white necks the freedom to voice forth naturally, with a rare and addicting purity. True errors can be edited (by self or other) with the only loss being confusion; Voice cannot be edited without losing soul. Authentic, professional editors, those who are able to discriminate this difference with the precision of a brain surgeon, are as rare as they are precious.

My thanks to Amazon for creating a venue in which souls can sing proudly through writers' dreams.

Yum! Dim Sum. And then some.
Linda Shelnutt

Anne writes a very alluring story of a tender memory that obviously has impacted her life. The joy of love filled family gatherings during the holiday season as she grew up with her family must have been something to behold. she describes the gatherings making you visualize what it must have been like, with vivid smells of holiday cooking and the secret of what makes it taste so good. She writes with love in her heart honoring the memory of the one who made it possible. I loved this story and recommend it to everyone. Thank you for a great read!

Tory Lynn

Passover Memories is a warm, family oriented story that leaves you feeling good and wanting more. I'd recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a great way to spend a few moments, and perhaps recall some memories of your own.

The smell of home cooked chicken drifts through the air as you read this warm tribute to a much loved Grandmother. Even if you have never attended a Seder this short story will put there, aromas, sounds, and the love of family surrounding you. You might even learn the secret of making Grandma's special chicken dish. I thoroughly enjoyed this warm tribute to some one who made a major difference in Ms. Lebrecht's life.

For children growing up in dysfunctional families, the development of survival skills is critical. Without them those poor children would grow up to lead lives awash in their own misery and suffering. What Lesley Anne Schaffer has given us in "Pet People" is a wonderfully insightful view into the survival and even the salvation that pets can bring to all children, as well as to the child inside all of us. Her casual style reads like an old friend telling a tender story and her observations on both the nature of the dysfunctional family as well as the hope born from the love of a pet are nonjudgmental, graceful, and eloquent. "Pet People" is a joy to read and to read again!

Leslie's insight into the heart of a pet person is right on the mark. Her opening sentence...sleeping like a pretzel...captured me. Later I had to take a hard look at why I believed I was unwilling to take on new pets. Every word spoke directly to my heart, especially her recognizing how valuable pets are to recoving people. You'll befriend Leslie, and want to know how she, Rick and all her menangerie of loving pets are doing.

About this book? . . . well, Lesley Anne tells it best: "Pet People - Surviving the Alcoholic Home with the Family Pet is a memoir of the 18 pets that have come into and out of my life over fifty years. It describes their loving presence throughout my upbringing in an alcoholic home and subsequent moves to Texas and New Mexico. I've written and illustrated this book for all the pet people out there who like their pets more than people but are too embarrassed to admit it."

This is a wonderful story, particularly if you've come from a dysfunctional family, which most of us have . . . to some degree. Lesley writes with an easy, honest style, and I do appreciate a book that is designed to be easily read-large dark print, open spacing and a unique font style (Comic Sans MS), which adds to the flavor of her story.

I would like to share several excerpts that were meaningful to me . . . from page 30:

"What I did learn through all this is that the human heart is capable of actually expanding when multiple pets occupy a place in it. When one pet passes on he leaves that part of your heart marked with his name forever. So the more pets you have in your life the larger your heart becomes. I'm not totally sure that the theory has ever been scientifically tested, but I know from life experience this it is so."

. . . and from page 36 . . . "This would be an excellent place for me to interject some important pet principles that I have learned over the years:

#1 Not every loose animal is lost
#2 You cannot rescue every lost animal
#3 Just because you rescue an animal does not mean you have to keep it."

This memoir will appeal to many of us dysfunctional pet lovers. Lesley Anne currently lives with her husband of 27 years (kudos to you), 3 dogs and 4 cats in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Congratulations!

Review by Kaye Trout - December 14, 2006

I was not lucky enough to grow up with pets to share my life. And after reading the wonderful adventures that this family shared with their beloved pets was most warming. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have such unconditional love. We always looked at our human family for such a thing, but the realization is that we can get that kind of love through a famly pet. I see people all the time with there pets and treat them like their children. Never could understand that. But after reading this delightful book, I now can look at them with such admiration and desire to have that kind of love in my life.

this little book has it all... a courageous woman who has shared her soul with the readers..her insecurities, her fears, her losses, but most importantly her enormous capacity to take the risky road to love.. whether you're a "Pet People" or not, it's a joy to read..fnb

I love this book. I read it to my daughter and now I share it with my students. As a teacher, I have used it as a great introduction to verbs. The illustrations are fabulous too. Anne Hunter does a great job making you feel safe and cozy among the grasses with your best pals. Last year I read it right before the harvest moon came out. As I sat in traffic on my way home from school, I looked out at the big, beautiful harvest moon. It was a great reminder that the best things in life are free.

we read this to our children's circle at Mabon. it was a big hit

Possom is trying to gather guests for a pre-hibernation party! This is a story my 3 year old kept checking out of the library again and again. Finally, its time to add it to our personal library! We both loved the story and the illustrations are very good. Besides, who wouldn't want to party with a possum under a Harvest Moon?

I used this book in my classroom when I was doing a unit on autumn/harvest. I liked this book because it added a new view of harvest. Usually harvest stories focus around farm life - but this book takes a different twist as the wild animals notice the harvest moon. This book helped my students realize that all creatures notice the coming of autumn. A good read!

Just a brief note. I recently bought several copies of Possum's Harvest Moon as gifts for some young relatives. It's turned out to be one of those books that they just can't put down! It's a constant request either at bedtime or during a quite time. The book is especially good because it gives character to some of night's creatures and also leaves room for the kids imagination!

Even though I'd never been to Cape Cod, I enjoyed the amusing stories captured in Shorr's little book "Provincetown".
It was particularly delightfull when I did visit the cape to have,to the amazement of the "locals",so much local knowledge, that in many cases, they themself did not hold. The stories in "P-town" truely capture the flavor and uniqueness of that little town on a hook shaped sandy spit in the Atlantic.

I recently visited Cape Cod for a week, staying in Provincetown. I happened upon this book during a visit to a Borders in Hyannis. Breezing through it, it sounded interesting, and I was glad I had decided to pick it up. I read the book nightly during the visit, and it was perfect timing.

Exploring for a couple of days previously, I had already familiarized myself with the lay of the land. Delving into the book, I learned some interesting tidbits of history and specific areas of town that I had bypassed without giving a second glance. Knowing their significance, I went back to see some places/things I may otherwise not have, had I not learned their historical significance.

My only disappointment with the book was that it didn't have more stories about pre-1900 P-town, as these were the eras of Provincetown that truly fascinated me. Otherwise, this book not only proved to provide history presented in interesting stories, but it also proved to be an invaluable travel guide during my visit! A must for any P-town visitor!

I've been going to Cape Cod for a gazillion years and thoughtI knew just about all the stories hidden up Provincetown's sleeve. How wrong I was. Ms. Shorr's breezy book offers a wealth of stories I had never known and was delighted to hear. Her easy style combined with well-researched facts makes for delightful story-telling. Reading her book is like sitting at the dining table late into the night with a new best friend who is spinning tales of their life. You know you should go to bed but you don't want to miss one word.

What a wonderful book. What a terrific read. Shorr succeeds in giving a marvelous sense of place and history to those who already know Provincetown and also introducing it to those who've never been there. Even if you thought you knew Provincetown, this book will make it new for you. It is filled with things you never knew, clarifies vague things you'd thought you'd heard, and explains why Provincetown remains one of the most mythic and well-loved places in the country. The book is filled with the same kind of quirky humor and good spirits that so many of us associate with the town itself. Lost and lots of fun. Thoughtful, well-written, funny, engaging. A perfect little book.

This may be a small book of only 128 pages, but it is a "Treasure Chest of Information". This is a collection of true stories about one of America's greatest towns. If you have ever had an interest in this unique town, whether as a historian, visitor, or a resident, you will love these fascinating, sometimes humorous, stories taken from the town memoirs. Kathy Shorr has created a delightful book covering the history of "Provincetown", Land's End", during the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.

The author writes about the settlers who first landed in Provincetown in 1620, (not in Plymouth, as commonly believed), the floating of the houses from Long Point, the first Town Crier, the birth of the Art Colony, the building of the Pilgrim Monument, the Rose Dorothea, and the birth of The Cape Cod National Seashore. In later chapters, she touches on the "Meat Rack", Spiritus, Hurricane Bob, the yearly Carnival, and the Blessing of the Fleet. Interspersed throughout the book are appropriate illustrations by Anne Rosen relating to each story. Shorr writes these stories in an intelligent, exciting, and fun manner that make this book a gratifying and enjoyable read.

This book should not be missed if you have an interest and curiosity about this town at "Land's End". I wish this book was getting the fanfare that other "Provincetown" books are receiving. This book is very special, and I feel one of the best books published about this town. You should not miss this book. A special book about a very special place!

Joe Hanssen

My 5 year old daughter recently became interested in eagles and this book is perfect in helping her learn more. Each page is dedicated to a bird, and information is written in small amounts so she actually reads everthing about a particular raptor and learns someting too. There are also "cool facts" on each page, and they are exactly that, cool.

If you love raptors, then this book is a great way to get you started learning about them. The drawings and full color paintings are superb. The information is more than enough for a good introduction, and if you like bird carving, then this is one of the best reference books you can have. I got one for myself, and gave the kids their own. It's not just a coloring book, the activities are designed to get the reader thinking and doing, especially observing nature and not television. Perfect for home schoolers.

This is the only children's book I've seen that does a comprehensive job portraying the richness and diversity of birds of prey that exist in North America...As a scientist, this is certainly the kind of coloring book I'd be happy to give my kids. And, as a raptor biologist, I'd be proud to give it to a colleague's kids.

Wonderful facts and great drawings! Excellent natural history information. Great fun for children of all ages.

Coloring books are not appropriate for library lending and are typically not featured here; but Raptors: The Eagles Hawks Falcons And Owls Of North America is a very fine educational guide and a highly recommended pick parents will want to pick up for their children and that librarians could utilize as a reading prize incentive for their summer reading program promotions. Color drawings of hawks, eagles, and owls accompany basic information on North American raptors, with complex and detailed black and white drawings kids can fill in. A simple, appealing coverage.

Fourth book in Anne McAllister's captivating New York! New York! series ... all six books in this series are not to be missed! I recommend reading them in order, although each can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel as well. Make room on your keeper shelf for the entire series: Finn's Twins, Fletcher's Baby, Gibson's Girl, Rhys's Redemption, The Inconvenient Bride, and Nathan's Child.

Description from the book back cover:

RHYS WOLFE HAD ONLY ONE RULE: DON'T GET INVOLVED! His demanding job left no time for romance - or love. He'd been there, done that, and he wasn't doing it again. Ever. Rhys was close friends with his gorgeous neighbor, Mariah. But that was all they were - friends. Then they spent the night together. Once. Rhys knew it had been a mistake. Rhys didn't know the half of it! It was bad enough she'd been in love with him for years, now Mariah was expecting his child! Of course she knew he'd been hurt. He'd loved and lost tragically, and Mariah understood his anguish. But their baby needed a father! It wasn't that easy, Rhys thought. But Mariah was determined. She would teach Rhys to love again - though she had less than nine months to try.

Anne McAllister proves once again why she is considered one of the leading romance authors today with her latest novel, Rhys's Redemption. This story features a fiery passion smoldering between two lovers, just waiting to ignite! Half the fun of reading this book is the anticipation of watching and waiting to put out the flames once the two hard-headed leads realize just how much they love one another! McAllister does a wonderful job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seat until the absolute end. I highly recommend this one!

It was nice to see two friends fall in love. It was cute to see how hard Rhys fought it. I've read the stories of the other characters mentioned and enjoyed seeing what's become of them.

I am quickly bored by stories where the lovers meet, argue, fall in love "forever" in a matter of days. Give me a break. I can never figure out why these relationships would last any longer than the ones that went wrong for them before. Guess that's why I like this book where they have known each other for several years and gotten to like each other. I can believe this love.

I've enjoyed every one of this series. Beginning with "Finn's Twins". I'm in the midst of re-reading "Rhys's Redemption" to get myself ready for Dominic's and Sierra's story in "The Inconvenient Bride". Nobody does series any better than Anne McAllister! Witness the many "Cowboy" books. Each one a gem. I always feel that I'm visiting old friends when I read a McAllister.

Go Anne!

After losing his wife and unborn child years ago in a fire, Rhys Wolfe swore never again to forge familiy ties. So when he crosses the lines of friendship by turning to neighbor, and friend, Mariah Kelly for comfort in a dark moment, he is determined to reestablish their friendship in the hopes that nothing has changed. Unfortunately for Rhys, nothing will ever be the same again.

Mariah Kelly has loved her friend Rhys for years and she dares to hope that having their baby inside of her will help him to confront his past and move on. Since she knows a child is the last thing he wants, however, she is fully prepared to care for their child on her own. But she isn't going to give up hope that he'll come to love her, and the child they made together, without a fight.

Anne McAllister has written an emotionally stirring tale of two friends who must deal with the ramifications of a long-developed, and mutual, passion. Rhys begins as a man who is determined to be a distant, even uninvolved, father, Despite his original intent, he can't seem to let go of his concern and affection for Mariah as a friend or his attraction to her as a woman. Mariah is a strongly drawn character who is unafraid to face the prospect of single parenthood even though it is not her method of choice. She loves Rhys but knows she is taking a huge risk by hoping he will come to love her and their child. In a story full of wit, humor, and hope Anne McAllister brings together two friends who eventually come to love the family they have created together.

My five year old daughter who is Chinese/American really enjoyed this book. It was a great for her to find a book about girls that she can relate to. We are looking forward to more books about Ruby Lu.

My eight-year-old daughter and I both love Ruby Lu - she is the funniest character to hit children's literature since Ramona Quimby. Since my daughter is Asian-American, she loves having literary characters that resemble her, so to speak, in their lives. But Ruby Lu is for everyone - so I recommend these books across the board for the 7-9 year old set.

Read this book (and buy it for your kids) because it is well-written, fast-paced, funny and sweet. Ignore any references to multicultural stuff. Ignore people who want to call it an "Asian-American" book. It is first and foremost an addictive read about some hysterical adventures that happen to happen to a Chinese-American 2nd grader. My 6-year old and I whipped through it this afternoon. We couldn't put it down--and when a Kindergartener is entranced by anything for that long, it must be pretty extraordinary. While it introduces some complex themes like immigration and living with the deaf--it is not preachy about them. In kids lives--many things happen that they only partially understand. So in this book, there is no attempt to explain or moralize--which keeps the story from getting bogged down. We just got it from the library today and I'm buying both of Ruby Lu books for my own "Empress of Everything" (and for myself of course, the "Mother of the Empress of Everything"). Many thanks to the author who has written a fabulous book. Please write more soon.

Pick up a copy of "Ruby Lu: Empress of Everything" and turn it over to the back cover. There you will find a blurb by author Megan McDonald that says, "I love Ruby Lu. She's just like an Asian-American Judy Moody!". That's McDonald comparing Lenore Look's character to her own personal creation, and as such I'm sure she's saying this as a very big compliment. As a reader, I feel a little torn by the quote. On the one hand, that line is going to go over very well with parents and grandparents that want to get books for their kids that are at all similar to the ubiquitous Judy Moody. On the other hand, Ruby Lu is so much better a series of books in terms of humor, pathos, and deft writing that I don't like anyone, even an author, equating her with anything less than Ramona. But if it gets `em reading "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything", I'll shut my trap and applaud with the rest. This second installment of the Ruby Lu series is filled with (as mentioned in the author's acknowledgements), "new, and preferably more harrowing, adventures". The lack of children driving cars (shudder) is just a nice plus.

When last we saw Ruby Lu she had just met her new best friend and cousin, Flying Duck, at the airport. Flying Duck and her parents are staying with Ruby's family and the girl just couldn't be happier. Sure, her cousin is still learning the language and she's deaf, but she's also absolutely the coolest kid in school, bar none. This year, however, may turn out to be a difficult one of our heroine. Between getting into fights with former best friend Emma, hiding some very important letters from her teacher, getting into trouble at school, and a myriad of other adventures, Ruby Lu's got a lot on her plate. Fortunately, there's a whole summer ahead of her and she's gonna tackle each and every problem with her usual panache, no matter what.
Let's talk characters. I loved the extent to which Ruby Lu adores her new cousin. Of course, sometimes that love manifests itself in sentences like, "Having a cousin from China who was deaf was just as good as having a cousin who had a third eye in the middle of her forehead". Ah well. But what really sets this book apart from others written in the early chapter category is how honest affection between characters is portrayed in a unique and funny way. When you read something along the lines of, "He loved his sister. He loved everything she made. And he drooled heavily over everything he loved", that right there is dead on good writing. It's conservative in its words, but manages a kind of all-ages-wit just the same. Most importantly, you feel the love between the characters. When Ruby sees her mother and just whispers, "I love you, Mom", and gives her a kiss, that's a real little moment. One that makes the book stronger for its inclusion.

Let's talk humor now. This book is awash in it. There are humorous misunderstandings that might honestly strike a child as logical. For example, Ruby Lu misunderstands the use of eye tests. It is her impression that if you "pass" an eye test, you get the reward of a pair of glasses. As such, she likes to practice eye charts at home, just so she can "pass" them later. Then there's Lenore Look's grasp of how kids put two and two together. At one point Ruby has checked out a video from the library on "Basic Lifesaving", and is trying to figure out why "someone would film a drowning person instead of saving him", as the movie has so clearly done. Again, I'd like to draw your attention to how well Ms. Look is able to convey interesting descriptions and ideas through very simple words. When Ruby finds a stray dog it is said that, "His breath smelled like the end of the world, and his fur looked even worse". Brilliant!

Let's talk illustrations. More specifically, let's talk about one Ms. Anne Wilsdorf's illustrations. Aside and apart from being a resident of Switzerland, Ms. Wilsdorf's images are once again perfect complements to Ruby Lu's tale. What's more, they're funny. Honestly engaging and amusing. There's a shot of Ruby Lu and Emma covered from head to toe in swimming gear (snorkels and all) floating in a pool as their swimming instructor looms above them that's worth the price of admission alone. Wilsdorf doesn't limit herself to mere snapshots of action, of course. For example, when Flying Duck begins a new trend of wearing only pink (and Ruby, in conjunction/imitation, does so in green) there are adjacent diagrams of each girl with descriptive sentences like, "Green glow-in-the-dark-see-you-a-hundred-miles-away sweater".

Finally, let's talk about the little extras this book offers to kids. The multicultural aspect of following the adventures of an American born Chinese girl is nice (joining such other recent publications as "The Jade Dragon" by Caroline Marsden and "The Year of the Dog", by Grace Lin). "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" also teaches kids words like, "moong-cha-cha" which means out-of-focus or confused. There's a "Ruby's Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words" in the back that translates everything from GungGung ("Grandpa on your mother's side") to liver ("One of your guts. Looks like the bottom of a shoe"). After that there is also a passage that shows kids how to do Chinese sign language with helpful illustrations to aid in the motions.

I hereby declare, "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" to surpass its predecessor in everything from prose to politics. The fact that there is not a section akin to the one in "Ruby Lu, Brave and True", involving Ruby driving the family car (a sticking point for more than one concerned parent/librarian) only makes it that much more enjoyable. A fine early chapter book and an excellent purchase. I recently recommended it to someone at a wedding I attended and I'll continue to do so for quite some time. Top notch.

In this peppy sequel to Ruby Lu, Brave and True, Ruby helps her deaf cousin from China, Flying Duck, acclimate to the U.S. Readers will relate to Ruby's adventures, although some vocabulary is over the heads of the intended audience.

I love the anecdotes from some of the veterans of improvisational comedy. The almanac itself is scattered throughout the book (seven parts) and outlines what it means to play, or be a player, in an ensemble. This book is a great addition to your reference library if you are a student of the art, or are just interested in this type of comedy, and will definitely increase your appreciation of the art.

Item shipped promptly and in the condition as advertised. Would do business again and highly recommend this seller.

Every 20 years or so a new book comes out that sets itself apart as the definitive book of improvisation. Not since "Truth in Comedy," have I read such a useful and practical guide to improv by some of its greatest leaders. With more specialized authors and obviously more contemporary contributors Libera has written and compiled a work that is sure to be the improv industry standard for at least the next 20 years if not more. It has definitely helped me get more laughs on stage.

Written by a long list of some of the most talented minds in improv comedy, both past and present, The Second City Almanac is a scrapbook of useful and often contradictory information about improv and sketch comedy. Leading new comedic actors through how to start a group, direct, and maximize your improv potential, it is required reading for comedians, actors of all stripes, or anyone interested in live comedy. I found portions written by Tina Fey and Mick Napier to be the most revealing.

A word of warning, though. At times this book can feel disjointed. It's not a bad thing, just a disorienting one.

You can skip around in this book as much as you wish. There are gems of information all through it.

I decided to take a day to just relax and read, and I opened up this novel that a friend recommended just to have a quick peek. Oh my goodness! I literally could not put it down. I don't remember when I have enjoyed reading a book as much as this! It is a fantastic book. The characters are so well developed and interesting, and the subject matter is so apropos to the hectic and stress filled lives most people live today. I relished reading this book so much that I almost didn't want to finish it.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoy books by Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, and Anna Quinlan as I have read everything they write, but this book by Sarah Edwards entertained me as much as any of their works, and I hope she writes a sequel, as I want MORE!!!! Pat B.

I am in the process of reading this book, almost finished. It is SO hard to put down. Ms. Edwards has written a wonderful story about the lives of several different characters entertwining and evolving around community. It is very well written. It is full of life lessons we can all relate to and use in our everyday lives. I can't wait to get to the end, but also don't want to get there. It is such an enjoyable ride, and I don't want it to be over. Perhaps a sequel to this novel would be in order! Thank you Ms. Edwards for this incredible work of art! God bless!

This is one of those rare books that's fun to read and that has an important, uplifting message. It is timely, too. It seems that so many of us are now longing for a true sense of community, and that experience is at the heart of Ms. Edwards' story. Her tale illustrates the refining process that doesn't come easily but that is available when we reach out and cross the barriers that reside outside of us AND within us.

I loved this book, and got so involved I didn't want to put it down. Through her characters and their story, Edwards engagingly expresses the angst/ennui/longing of modern day humans in Western culture-and proceeds to share a simple, natural cure. Sitting with the Enemy has stayed with me in many ways and has impacted some of my personal decisions-- the mark of a truly good book, and proof that fiction can have a powerful impact on Life!!

A WONDERFUL NEW ECOPSYCHOLOGY NOVEL!

California ecotherapist Sarah Edwards has completed a wonderful new novel, "SITTING WITH THE ENEMY" that tells an inspiring story of people who have left the consumer-driven rat race and created the kind of community we all long to live in. The novel is published by the Pine Mountain Institute www.pinemountaininstitute.com I've recommended it to all my readers at the Ecotherapy newsletter (http://thoughtoffering.blogs.com/ecotherapy)
Linda Buzzell-Saltzman, International Association for Ecotherapy