Berry Books

This is a great book to introduce or reinforce counting by fives up to 30 and back again. I like using it with my children because of the above average vocabulary and because it is a great springboard for other studies (Northern Lights, Artic, Ermines, discussion on new words) all while teaching math concepts. The illustrations are cute too. A great all-in-one book.

I read this book to my friend's 6 year old son. Out of the two books I had for him to hear, he wanted me to read this one first because the animals on the cover caught his eye. All the pictures were entertaining as they followed along with this math story and led to a very colorful end - all the animals came to see the Northern Lights. While reading, we counted the number of animals that came each time and when I asked him how many would show up on the next page, he knew it'd be five more. We both learned what an "ermine" is for the first time. I think this was a really cute book and will read it to my future students.

The book Arctic Fives Arrive is an okay childrens book. It doesn't really make much sense in the beggining though. Childrens books don't have too though i guess. I didn't like the ending on it because i couldn't even understand what it was talking about. All in all though, the book to me would rank 3 out of 5 stars.

Children love this story which is a fun way to introduce the concepts of math (counting by fives), the arctic habitat, geography and natural phenomenon (the northern lights). As a teacher, I've used this book with three to six year olds. It is one of those rare books that lends itself beautifully to building several lessons around. It is easy to expand upon the books' concepts for the older children but the younger children love as well. It's simple but rhyming, poetic text and captivating art work make it a book that children ask to read again and agian.

I really loved this series. I can't wait til Marica Evanick comes out with another one. I bought "Catch of the Day" and had to buy all the rest in the series. I hope she comes out with more. Im already rereading them.

A light hearted romanantic caper with comic overtones.
That is my description of Marica Evanick's books which I absolutely love. They are well written and something I would share with my mother and/or my daughter without any reservations. Her books are ageless and not written for the very young or for "Adults Only". This is a book you will want to hide in a corner (to keep from being bothered) and giggle over. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Dottie

I like Christmas romances. There, I've said it. I love to curl up with a Christmas-themed romance next to the tree and read for hours.

This book is another set in Misty Harbor. The protagonist is Amber, a woman who moved in with her aunt in the sleepy town after the death of her young husband. Along comes an old friend, and there's a Christmas romance.

I got this book because I liked Christmas on Conrad Street so well. This story didn't disappoint me. It's simple, sweet, and enjoyable. If you like Christmas romances, you'll like this one too.

The only negative about the book is the atrocious editing and proofreading. Really terrible! This book should have been cleaned up a great deal before hitting the presses. Nonetheless, it's a good read.

From the back cover:

Seasons Greetings from Misty Harbour, Maine! The snowy coastal village is as pretty as a postcard, decked out for the holidays in its winter finery. It's the ideal place to celebrate a picture-perfect Christmas, as its hometown warmth melts the coldest of hearts...

Recently widowed Amber McAllister has left the hustle and bustle of Boston to help run her aunt's berry shop on Main Street. But the new ad campaign by Ian McNeal, her late husband's business partner, has made the store's jams and jellies the hottest gift in town. Amber is frazzled. Visions of unfulfilled orders dance in her head, until Ian comes to town to buy her out of the ad agency.

He falls instantly in love with Misty Harbor's quiet charm--and his long-time crush on Amber is rekindled. Ice skating and sledding together puts a twinkle in his eye--and makes Amber see the quiet, creative man in a whole new light. Though wrapped up in kisses, their fragile love is tainted by memories of her husband. Will ghosts of Christmas past haunt her Christmas present--and future?

And my review:

Well, I'm a sucker for Christmas romances, so I'll buy just about any book that fits the profile, whether I'm familiar with the author or not. And this was an author I'd tried only once before, when her Christmas novella A MISTY HARBOR CHRISTMAS was included in the LET IT SNOW anthology with Fern Michaels, amoung others. (you can see a pattern here about the Christmas-themed books, can't you? :) I hadn't been exactly in love with her work then, and A BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS did nothing to change my mind.

I was looking forward to reading about a grieving widow finding love again (with her late husband's best friend and business partner, no less). What really captured me in the beginning was how the heroine had had a good marriage with her late husband, how she had truly loved him. Very few authors seem willing to tackle this theme in this way. Most of the time, they make the deceased spouse secretly a horrible person. I was looking forward to a break from this tradition.

But the author started to let me down after the halfway mark. The heroine began to realize that maybe her marriage hadn't been so great after all. Sigh. I've read this theme over and over. Why did the author had to change directions midstream? Why couldn't the heroine have loved her husband, but put him in the past and just moved on? Why did she have to suddenly no longer cherish his memory anymore, because she realized that he wasn't all that great? I felt that the author was afraid to have the heroine move on any other way, so she had to muddy up the heroine's first marriage in order to make that happen, and I felt very let-down.

I understood Ian's reluctance to "move in" on what he saw as his best friend's territory, even if it had been almost two years since his death. But it didn't fit with the way he almost instantly pursued the heroine, or with the way he was willing to fall into bed with her. So he can sleep with her all he wants, but a serious relationship is out of the question? Okay....

Once these two fell into bed, I pretty much lost interest in the story. I kind of felt like the characters were just spinning their wheels without really getting anywhere. I want characters to grow and change over the course of the story, and that just wasn't happening here.

Also, this book is part of Marcia Evanick's "Misty Harbor" series, and I hadn't read any of the other linked books. So while the "small town" thing was pretty well done, I didn't know any of the characters that I probably would have recognized from previous books, and that might have something to do with my not really enjoying the book all that much.

I would only recommend this if you are already a fan of the author, and / or want to complete your "Misty Harbor" collection. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it.

We bought this in the children's section of our local bookstore, but the poetry in the book is aimed at a much broader audience. That's a plus for us -- it means I can read "Adventures of Isabel" and "It's Dark in Here" to the children and follow it up with "The Beautiful" and "A Prayer in Spring." The selections range from Silverstein to Blake to Frost to Wordsworth. All in all, they are well selected, both for their subject matter and their musicality. It's quickly becoming a family favorite.

This book of poems from all over is both intersting and fun to read. It has such a wonderful variety of sources from the Bible to African proverbs, Classic Poems to read aloud would be a wonderful book to have around for children. Especially the young ones whose minds are just developing.The magic, mystery, love and joy of these poems would be perfect for a family to read around a fire or you alone to read by yourself in the comfort of your own home. Poems are a great way to expand your thoughts and your mind in an intelligient way. This book is perfect for you if you love beautifully written words put together in the most professional of fashions.

This is a great selection of poems. James Berry is a poet and has a poet's ear for language. "To Be Read Aloud" is the key to the title. Open the book. Pick a poem and speak the words into the air. Read them to someone you love, young or old. Treat yourself to a poetry reading, by you, for you. This is not lightweight poetry; Yeats and Eliot are not your usual "Children's Poetry". There are classics that children love, such as "The Owl and the Pussycat," but it's not the second-rate poetry that is often pawned off on children who don't know better. If you would like your children to "know better" poetry, this anthology is full of first-rate examples.

I have given this book as a gift perhaps eight times now. It is without a doubt the most amazing collection of poetry...old and new, joyful and sad, silly and profound...that I have ever seen collected under one cover. I've taught English for 30 years and it still remains my favorite. It may appear to somehow be poems for children, but it is poetry for our entire lives. I love this book....

This book is light on instructions - just 3 pages, but HEAVY on patterns. That's because this technique is very easy to learn and do. After a few practice runs, you will be turning out beautiful collapsible baskets with ease. And with over 100 different designs there is a style for everyone. These baskets caught the public eye a couple of years ago, but they are still popular. If you want to make them for fun or profit, this is -the- book for patterns.

This book presents an ingenious, useful and impressive design concept for the woodworker. It is a central spiral cut collapsible basket supported in a frame that can be cut in countless designs.

These baskets are made from a single piece of ¾" hardwood. There are instructions for the bandsaw or scroll saw. Over 100 full page patterns are provided and the size can be adjusted by enlarging or reducing the pattern.

Patterns include farm & wild animals, dinosaurs, teddy bears, people, vehicles, buildings and traditional baskets. Many more designs could be easily adapted to the basic basket technique.

The baskets can be used as candy or trinket dishes and are wonderful with decorative floral arrangements. They collapse for storage or use as a trivet and make great gifts.

This book is good for its plans, I got good skills in my scroll saw with them, the designs are very creative, but I sometime think they are repetitive. I recommend this book for somebody want new ideas to their scroll saw

This book mostly consists of large patterns (not reduced) for cutting a flat piece of wood such that it forms a basket when turned on its side. Making such a basket requires skill and access to a jigsaw and bandsaw.

Put this one at the top of your list for next buys. It's got a terrific story taken from the headlines of the latest scientific discoveries on the origins of our universe. It's the perfect merger of great fiction and breakthrough science. Absorbing characters and story lines that build to an amazing climax and then go one step beyond. You'll never look at the night sky the same way again.

Much in the same vein as Michael Crichton, Mr. Berry amazes with his technical, well thought out and skillfully constructed plot lines. Although this book started out a little slow for me, it all pays off and culminates into a very surprising ending! If you are looking for a good sci-fi thriller, this book might just be your cup of tea!

This book was recommended by a friend. I do not usually read science fiction books, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Dark Arrival". I was impressed by the author's strong character development and captivating plots. I was especially intrigued by one of the main characters, a woman whose strength is tested time and again.
Although there is plenty of science (fiction and otherwise), the heart of this incredible story deals with human relationships and how they mold us and ultimately affect our world. "Dark Arrival" is a very thought-provoking story that will appeal to many readers.

John Berry does a great job at capturing your imagination. Once you start the book, it's hard to put down. Well written with excellent research. I would highly reccomend it for all readers.

I was really surprised by some of the people who were vegetarians. It's nice to know that such highly-regarded people of intelligence, compassion, and strength, were vegetarians. It's strange that in our modern society, people who are vegetarian or vegan are often looked down upon as idiotic or somehow aberrant; I suppose it comes with the territory of living a mostly cruel world full of bitter and jaded folks, but this book proves them all wrong. The recipes are also quite good. I would certainly recommend this book for all vegetarians and those curious about famous vegetarians.

a time or feeling fast fading from the landscape. The earnest pen-and-ink drawings of famous vegetarians, the surprisingly fresh biographical sketches, and a general feeling of creativity and gentility all call forth an era for which the word "nostalgia" may too soon apply. As you may gather, the recipes are just part of the appeal, although many (have even vegetarians become so jaded?) seem to have forgotten the homely joys of well-prepared grains and vegetables. Cloris Leachman's baked potato recipe sounds good & I'll probably get a charge from eating asparagas a la Plutarch. But it's Berry's fine sensibility, along with a delighful expansiveness (exemplified by the inclusion of early transcendentalist philosopher Bronson Alcott), that earns this book a place on my shelf, where it would make sense between a John Muir or Emily Dickinson collection and "Walden."

The author has come up with authentic recipes(or reasonable fac-similes thereof) reflecting the tastes of famous vegetarians throughout the ages. Anecdotal sketches give life to each of the 32 celebrities from Plato and Pythagoras to Tolstoi, Gandhi and George Bernard Shaw along with "contemporaries" like Paul McCartney and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Mr.Berry writes gracefully, and the 80 recipes are not only fascinating, but have been kitchen tested tested by the author for "savoriness." Many recipes are unfired. The book is fully referenced with footnotes(in the back). This is a superb book!

Rynn Berry's "Famous Vegetarians and their favorite recipes" presents an overview of famous vegetarians in history. Each biography of the 30 famous vegetarians is about 3-6 pages long. It is by no means a comprehensive nor referenced work (not that I'm questioning his sources, but that being that this book features short pieces of fascinating individuals, it only makes sense to provide a "works cited" list or a reference list for those who are interested to pursue their research). If you are looking for great vegan/vegetarian recipes, you are at the wrong place. Most of the recipes are not too appetizing.

Wendell Berry writes beautifully about regular people living and working in the fictional farming town of Port William. He captures their relationships, their loyalty to each other, the natural world, and their community. If you liked Berry's novel Jayber Crow, you'll appreciate these fine stories. Recommended!

I purchased this book because it was required for a liberal arts class I am taking. I was pleasantly surprised. Although I have four months to read all five stories, I completed them in about 3 weeks. I have read other Wendell Berry stories so I was already familiar with the characters. What I like best about this book is the sense of community, stewardship, devotion and love. The book took me back to a simplier time when farming and community were important and a man's word was as good as gold.

The title story touched me as no story has before or since. A son behaves intimately and unlawfully with his father during the days of his death. With the son we confront stupid laws and unfeeling bureaucracy and, in the end, vital community. The poignancy of the secret burial made me weep. How the son acts out his values with fidelity and grace is a story for all to learn from and be inspired. This is horror made beautiful. Berry's writing here is beyond criticism. Read this book and be renewed.

These stories, especially the title story and "A Jonquil for Mary Penn," are among the finest I've ever read. They are stories of such moral integrity and beauty that I would include them among the best ever written by an American author, alongside the best by Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Linda Hogan, and Tony Earley. All are set in the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky, and all confront similar themes: death, honor, community. The story "Fidelity" is the most powerful, the story of a mountain man who, according to the most rigid interpretation of the law, kidnaps his dying father from a hospital. Although Berry is heavy-handed in getting his point across, the beauty and honesty of the story easily carried me through it. A luminous book by one of America's greatest living writers.

This is the third copy of this book I have purchased. I gave the first one away. Ordered another for a friend and hope I can hold on to this copy for a while. I find this the best and easiest to follow and have made multible wines with these receipes. I highly recommend the book - especially the Mead.

This book has many, many recipes that can inspire even the most seasoned winemaker, yet it is simple enough for the beginner. A must-have, in my opinion.

C.J.J. Berry is a legend to winemaking hobbiests worldwide as the man who had a winemaking recipe for just about any ingredient. For literally tens of thousands of home winemakers, this is the only reference book they ever had or needed.

When it first appeared, the layout of "First Steps in Winemaking" was quite unique. After an admirable discussion of the basic principles of home winemaking, Berry then presented his recipes on the basis of the month in which the principal ingredients are readily available at market or are typically harvested in the British home garden. There are three things wrong with this format.

Firstly, citing harvest months for various ingredients geographically limits the accuracy of the format. Harvest times for any crop will vary greatly around the world, but they can differ from Britain's calendar by six months for gardeners in, say, Australia. Berry's treatment works fine in the British Isles and many other places, but certainly this is not universally so. In his later books, Berry abandoned the calendar-month format of "First Steps...."

Secondly, at least in developed countries, there is no longer a need to be tied to calendar-month availability of ingredients. Advances in cargo transport and refrigeration over the past 50 years have made dependency on local crops a thing of the past. Almost any ingredient can be found in the modern supermarket or produce center at any time.

Thirdly, Berry's presentation of recipes by month results in dependence on the index in order to find recipes for a particular ingredient. This is perhaps the greatest shortcoming of the book's layout. An alphabetical listing of recipes, as he used in subsequent books, would have been more convenient.

In defense of the author, however, I must point out that Berry never anticipated his book would have worldwide appeal. Nor, it would seem, that it would remain popular for so long. Certainly he would not have quoted prices for ingredients and supplies had he suspected as much.

Are these shortcomings fatal? Not in the least! This is still the classic reference to the subject and ought to be in every winemaker's library. Indeed, if you could only buy one book on the subject, only Terry Garey's "The Joy of Home Winemaking" could challenge "First Steps...." to a coin toss.

Buy it. Read it. Make wine. You'll love yourself for it.

The book is essentially divided into two sections. The first covers the basic principles of wine making: the science behind it, the key ingredients, and the necessary tools and techniques. The second half is a pretty substantial list of recipes, concentrating heavily on country wines.

Sadly, the coverage of the principles and techniques was too brief, particularly with regard to timing. I am still at a bit of a loss as to how long one should allow the aerobic ferment to take place, how long for the anaerobic format and so on. I think I'll be getting another book that focuses more on technique before I make my first attempt.

Its a book with a lot of recipes for fall, but i think it doesen`t has an order to read it it has to many drawings with the same colors, so its hard to read it.

I got this in time for Halloween and fall and have made many of the recipes in here. And they have all been big hits!

There is a whole section for apple recipes, breakfast, dinner, thanksgiving and Halloween. Its organized in a great way so you can find what you need with lots of advice and tips.

The BEST BEST BEST recipe in this entire book is the Apple Brie Bread Braid. I have made this 3 times in the past two months and I keep getting requests for it again. It is the yummiest recipe I have made from one of the books yet. And its not hard either!

You wont be dissapointed in this book if your a GP fan.

The heart-warming stories and the great recipes makes this one another winner from the ladies at Gooseberry Patch. I've tried several of the recipes and my family seemed to enjoy them plus I used some of the decorating tips, they were easy and added a nice touch. I would recommend this one to friends.

This is a WONDERFUL book full of delicious recipes for fall. Instead of flipping through it, I read each and every page and found some great recipes and ideas! The recipe for pumpkin cobbler caught my eye the first time I picked up the book, and I made it for dessert that night and it has since become a family favorite!
Buy this book! You won't be disappointed!!!!

This book is beautifully illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. Full-page paintings on every page make the myth come alive. His dazzling imagination and sense of design and warm colors make the tale both cosmic and human at the same time. Savor every page.

no matter where you're from you and your children can appreciate this book. easy reading and great story. whether Puerto Rican or not... its a culturally timeless myth and story.

I am going to tell you what happened, what the book was about and my opinion of the book. Well now that I've told you what I am going to write about, I will tell about the people in the story. The people in the story were very curious and they were really into working together, and I personally thought that were good people.
Now remember that this is a fairy tale, so some of the stuff will be unbelievable. It all started by talking about what it was like in the beginning of the world. Then it started talking about some people who lived on that very dry land and upon that land was a very big mountain or hill. Now there was this little boy who was out one day and found some seeds and planted them on the hill/mountain and days later a big forest started to grow. The boy then noticed and found a round shiny orange ball, he went up to see what it was. Now when I looked at it, I thought it was a pumpkin but I was wrong. Somewhat close to the end of the story 2 men came up top steal the ball and when they got both up there they started fighting over it and it busted. And surprise the ocean came out of it. There were whales, dolphins, crabs, sunfish and many more, and then they lived happily ever after.
I think the book was mostly about just being able to read a funny and exciting book. About how our world was supposedly made and the people who soon adapted to the situation and learned how to fish.
My opinion of this book would be probably ok. I would definitely not recommend this book to fast readers or kindergarten or first graders. But I would recommend this book to someone who has a lot of imagination.
Well that's all for my book report. If you would like to read this book, it is called the Golden Flower, by Nina Jaffee. I thank you for listening.

I have read this story to second and third graders and the story keeps them entertained and interested. They have fun predicting what will happen next. The illustrations are true works of art. It can be used to introduce Puerto Rico and also to show that there were native people living in all areas of the "new world" before Europeans arrived. It can be a little tricky discussing a creation myth in a public school setting but the positives outweigh the negatives with this story.