Anne Books

This little book is not only packed with good ideas but it is filled with beautiful illustrations on each page.

It would be a very nice book to put in a basket for a bridal shower or to add to a teenage girl's hopechest.

Take the previous review with a grain of salt- the woman advertises this book on her interior decorating web site and most probably gets a percentage from each sale. She has the same review, word for word, on her web site.

I haven't read the book, so I can't rate it, but I thought those who would be influenced to buy the book based on reading that review should know that the reviewer is not simply "a reader", but someone who may stand to profit if the book sells.

This is a wonderful little book that's packed with great ideas that won't break your budget. The authors suggest using what you have and list good places to find bargains. But they also help you re-think a room and get clear on your tastes before you start. Unlike most decorating magazines and books, this one doesn't leave you feeling poor and envious - it cheers you on and encourages you, even if you have very little money to spend.

BTW, I have no connection to these authors - perhaps the authors put my review on their website. I haven't been to the site.

What a lovely book this is!! Becoming Butterflies is the story of what happens when Ms. Dana brings in a special milkweed plant and three caterpillars to her classroom. Here we are treated to a story that seamlessly weaves together the narrative (from a students perspective), which gives us a child's eye view of the process and the many activities the kids did as a class as the caterpillars grew and changed and scientific facts...it'd done so well that kids will probably miss the "lesson," learning all about these butterflies right along with the kids in Ms. Dana's class.

What I was particularly enjoyed was that the author managed to get the information in there (all of it) without skipping over the FIVE times the caterpillars split our of the skin before they are ready to become a chrysalis. Even after the butterflies break out of their chrysalis, dry their wings, and are released outdoors to migrate to Mexico with much sadness on the students part, the author takes it one step further. She has the teacher tell them that the butterflies are going to Mexico, showing them on a map and the kids then write letters to kids in a school in Mexico who write back and send Ms. Dana's students a lovely photo of a tree FILLEED with butterflies that have migrated there, giving the kids a sense of closure on the whole process. The book really captures that sense of wonder and joy in watching the metamorphosis from start to finish. This is an excellent book fro preschool age kids up to about grade 3, older kids will probably find it too simple, but for younger readers it's an excellent classroom or homeschooling resource! I give it 5 stars and recommend it highly!!

"One day Miss Dana brought a surprise to school-three striped caterpillars and a flowerpot. A green plant called milkweed was growing in the flowerpot." So begins this informative and charming tale about a classroom full of curious children and three caterpillars that become, in time, magnificent Monarch butterflies.

As the children watch the metamorphosis, they draw pictures and comment on the process. They also ask the questions readers would like to ask, if they could, thus allowing the author to weave tidbits of information into the story seamlessly.

We learn, for example, that when the caterpillar's skin splits for the fifth time, it is ready to become a chrysalis.

At story's end, the butterflies, after drying their wings, are set free from an open window. The children watch them go with a mixture of sadness and hope. Thankfully, the author does not end the classroom adventure there (as she might have). Rather, Miss Dana shows the children where Mexico is on a map and tells them the butterflies will eventually go there before the onset of winter. The students then write a letter to schoolchildren at a school in Chincua, Mexico, asking them to "Please take good care of our butterflies." Winter arrives and so does a letter from the students in Chincua, along with a picture of a tree laden with Monarch butterflies. "All of us looked and looked," says the narrator, "wondering which were the three butterflies we hatched in our classroom and set free to fly so far away."

Also included is an author's note which gives readers more information about Monarchs as well as an internet resource where they may go for more information. The endpapers at the book's beginning show illustrations of nine different caterpillars. Turning to the back of the book, readers are treated to colorful, detailed illustrations of the butterflies that they become.

The illustrations are watercolors that have been cut and then layered, thus creating lively, realistic three-dimensional scenes.

We took the book into a second grade classroom to read aloud. The children enjoyed it immensely and asked many thoughtful questions about caterpillars and butterflies. They were especially taken with the illustrations, poring over each page and pointing out details to each other.

A definite "must-have" for your classroom.

(...)

My preschooler loves this book. It walks through the stages of a butterfly's development in a story format. The illustrations and descriptions are perfect for helping the younger listener/reader imagine what is taking place as the caterpillar grows and changes. It even descibes the migratory patterns of the monarch butterfly. This book does a great job of conveying a lot of factual information while still maintaining the fun of a bedtime story.

This a great read; funny, fast paced. Eighties disco glitter spangles every page. Outrageous details of designer clothes, unlikely coincidences, romantic confusion abound. Allen's book is original and crisp. Gay Culture is accurately depicted. "Best Revenge" is full of unexpected humor as "predictable" characters act against type. Life can be funnier!

Anne Allen has done it again, another witty, engaging look at the foibles of our times. Well, my times, I was there for the 80s. Like Food of Love, Best Revenge is part bildungs roman, part picaresque "Perils of Pauline" (Calamities of Camilla?) that while laugh-out-loud funny, carries a message about how we view ourselves and how others' views of us may conflict, yet make us grow. Just as when I read Food of Love, I was up till the wee hours reading the last third of the book at breakneck (or break-page-turning thumb) speed. But this time, when I finished, I immediately started over and reread the first third! See if you can read it just once!

Poor Camilla Randall is forced to make her getaway in a DeLorean from accusations of murder. Instead of heading back to her past to fix her future, she finds a new and laughable life, avoiding a lusty Colonel Sanders with something other than chicken on his mind, embracing an egotistic yet attractive news editor -- also with something other than chicken on his mind, and appreciating a charmingly wacky senior citizen with a lavender Edsel and who-knows-what on her mind.

I met Anne at a CT Authors and Publishers meeting where she was the guest speaker. She kept us enthralled with her tales and adventures in her journey to be published after she had written this book. The journey never stops. I found it very inspiring to see someone have both the courage and support to take off on a cross country journey and then write about it. My ownself, I have fictionalized my experiences in "Forever Retro Blues." I am in awe of anyone who can put themselves out there like Anne did. It's a spiritual quest in addition to the physical one of finding herself in mid-life. Well done, Anne, well done.

As an international skydiving champion, Anne Batterson was someone I admired when I began jumping in 1962. She went on to become a flight instructor and charter pilot. She understands flight and is fascinated by all who fly.

Batterson describes her following of a fall bird migration with flashbacks to her earlier adventures. I loved reading about her skydiving in the early days.

She relates the need to be alone from time to time.

A good writer with a large and varied vocabulary, she crafts a good read.

As an author, publisher and skydiver, I found this book fascinating and fun to read.

Dan Poynter, ParaPublishing.com

A beautiful, subtle, completely absorbing story that will stir the reader's own internal wild bird. It was such a privilege to share Ms. Batterson's journey. Hard to believe this is her first book and can't wait to read more from her.

Alaskan-born poet Anne Coray presents Bone Strings, a collection of free-verse poetry reflecting upon seasonal beauty and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. A handful of poems have a brief, one-sentence introduction referring to their inspiration or dedication, from "The Ptarmigan", written in response to the tragic accidental shooting of a well-known Anchorage doctor, to "Mail Run", a meditation upon those who carried mail across the snows via dog team. A wistful evocation of the many facets of Alaska's soul. "Divested": The mist, / a perfume of absence, / walks through the day's largess. // I have nothing. / No tonic of bright bells, / or resound of iron. // A casket meant for pearls / drifts on the mute wind.

The poems in Bone Strings take the reader on a rewarding journey into the distances of the Alaskan wilderness and the inner privacy of the self. Anne Coray views history, nature and personal experience with a unique consciousness, refreshingly un-self-absorbed. This is poetry worth reading and re-reading for Coray's evocative images and sure sense of language.

The setting for this collection of poems is Alaska, and like the landscape expect to be stunned by powerful images. Though there are real gems throughout, read it, if just for poems like 'Ivory', 'Rhythmics' or 'Waiting'. The themes are universal, and the poetry as good as it gets.

From Hank Aaron to Jeff Francoeur, Victor's camera captures the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves for over 40 years. But this is more that a mere picture book for the coffee table. Along with his outstanding photographs Victor provides first hand accounts and anecdotes about the players as only he can tell them. He also includes the story of his own life, how he served his country during World War II and how he became the official photographer of the Braves. This is a book for both Braves fans and history buffs alike.

If you are a fan of the Atlanta Braves, this book is a must! The photos and behind the scenes stories are fascinating, as is the life story of the author.

This book is a must for any Braves fan. Photographers and WWII enthusiasts may want to check it out as well. I was fortunate enough to interview Walter Victor (the subject of this book) recently for a newspaper article I was writing and he is without a doubt the kindest man you'll ever meet. He went through the book with me and described the significance of many of the pictures, some of which are included in exhibitions at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
This book doesn't just chronicle Victor's experience as the official photographer for the Atlanta Braves baseball team though, there are also early photos that Walter took while fighting in Europe during WWII.
In closing, I further want to stress that this is an important book to own if you are a fan of America's baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, or a fan of America in general, Victor one of the last of a dwindling breed of Americans who possess true grit, guts and spirit.

Brian is so excited when his parents buy him a pet bird. Everyone is amazed when he teaches it how to talk. When his pesky big brother leaves the door open though, the bird flies out. While Brian's visual impairment plays a big part in the action of the story, it certainly isn't the focus of this charming book. This book acts as a great way to introduce children to diversity.

I purchased this book for my six year old nephew who is blind and a bird lover. This book is incredible! The illustrations are wonderful and the story focuses on family togetherness, not just blindness. It is a wonderful book for siblings with differences, any child really.

Brian's Bird is a wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated picture book. Author Patricia Davis tells a simple direct story while creating many opportunities for visual images. Layne Johnson's striking and colorful photo-like pictures jump to life off the page.

This story of a blind boy who delights in his new pet parakeet is ideal for young readers. The book treats Brian's blindness in a positive manner. The scene in which he uses his sense of touch to solve the mystery of his birthday present gives young readers the opportunity to gain understanding of the special skills of a blind person. The description of how the bird's feet feel on Brian's finger is delightful.

Brian exhibits patience and persistence in teaching his bird. There is humor in the story, as when Brian hears someone calling his name, only to realize it is the bird. Once again, the author highlights the use of an alternate sense.

Brian's brother presents challenges for Brian from the opening pages of the book. Indeed, his brother's actions lead to the bird's flight from the house. The boys work together to solve the problem and sibling teamwork wins the day.

The book presents many opportunities for an adult reading this story to a young child to discuss a variety of issues. The book is also appropriate for young readers up to age 8 or 9 to read on their own.

I don't know how I could have planned my wedding without the BrideGuide. Once I received it I immediately felt as if things were under control. I am a very busy person and having the BrideGuide was a tremendous asset. I whole heartedly recommend the BrideGuide to anyone that is planning a wedding...it is a wonderful organizational tool and a quality product.

I don't know how I could have planned my wedding without the Bride Guide. Once I received it I immediately felt as if things were under control. I am a very busy person and having the Bride Guide was a tremendous asset. I whole heartedly recommend the Bride Guide to anyone that is planning a wedding...it is a wonderful organizational tool and a quality product.

This wedding planner includes everything you will need to plan your special day. It is the most complete bridal guide you will ever need to plan your wedding. When I purchased the book, I instantly felt relief. I was so overwhelmed with the planning of my wedding that I was making myself sick and once I got the BrideGuide I got organized and what a difference that made in my life!!! Thanks BrideGuide!!!

I first borrowed this book from the library in Casper, Wyoming. Was browsing for a good book and the title intrigued me. Needless to say I could not put the book down, I laughed so hard I cried, then in the sad times I cried till the tissue box was empty. I read the book twice before taking back to the library and then some years later tried to borrow it again but disappointed that it was no longer available till I found it through Amazon.com, I bought it. Now I want to order it for a dear friend who is moving to a rual area in Kentucky. I know she will love it as much as I have. I only wish I could find more books out there with the same real to life hopes, joys,and sorrows that happen in every day life but build character and fill us with wisdom that working with and appreciating the animal kingdom can bring us. Margaret Barnes, this is my most favorite book 2nd only to my Bible and is close at hand on my bed side stand- you are the best.

A cow under a beach umbrella? Perhaps with a glass of tea? These are just a few of the absurd images shared in this charming book. In A Buzzard Is My best Friend, Margaret Anne Barnes describes her family's experience on a 112 acre farm. Searching for solace beyond the suburbs, they sought the peace of a country home. Little did they know what lay ahead. As they moved from crisis to crisis, family members learned as much about themselves as they did about farming. They also learned about the animals and birds around them. An ice-water rescue by ducks, and peacocks in a paddock are just a few of the situations they encountered. Written in an engaging companionable style, this memoir explores the triumphs and tragedies of rural living. A celebration of bonding and values, it is peopled with an assortment of personalities, including four-legged creatures. Its insights are lessons for all generations. Originally published in 1981, the work has been reprinted by the Mercer University Press, a testimonial to its timeless appeal. (This book was a joy to read, not only because of its interesting story, but because of the fantastically good writing. Margaret Anne Barnes has a true gift, a natural talent for putting words to paper.)

This book will be re-released by the publisher in February. It is the hilariously funny recounting of a city-gentlewoman's family's attempt to manage a Virginia farm and get "back to the simple things" in life. Their trials, tribulations and mistakes will keep you rolling with laughter. If you have read any of Mrs. Barnes' other books you will recognize her fine writing style. She wrote this from her own family's experience. If you live on a farm or have ever thought this would be just the thing for you, you'll enjoy this book.

Anne Brooks Brauer, did a wonderful job of describing the island in the Dutch West Indies where the horrible murder took place. A young Grandson of the victim had just returned from Holland to be with his Grandmother, when the murder occured and showed signs of acient voodoo death. Brauer has a natural talent for bringing the reader into the stories she writes

I have just read The Cactus Fence, as one of my first books since I have been able to read again. I stayed up all night until I finished it and was just thrilled with the material. I felt as if I had been on the tropical islands where the fictional story took place. The author had been and it was apparent in the way she decribed in detail the scenes in the book. Wonderful relaxing reading, can't wait for another of her mystery books.

This is a today's mystery, fictional but realistic people living in the Dutch Indies. Set in beautiful Dutch West Indies, a Grandson is startled when returning from schooling in Europe to experience the death of his of tribal leader Grandmother. The voo doo rituals of the past come alive . Brauer is able to take the reader with her to experience all the beauty of the locations, plus the intrigue of the plot.