Big Books

I have gotten other so called hard Sudoku books and found them too easy. This one will keep you going for a long time. It has lots of different types of puzzles with the ultimate being the 16x16 grid. I would give 4 1/2 stars because I wish it were on better paper. I make copies of the hardest puzzles on better paper that can take LOTS of erasing!

Wonderful. No fluff in this book. It begins with some tricky ones that actually require several minutes to finish and gets downright hard after that. Some take hours, and often I just quit one puzzle and come back to it another day.

The various shapes/styles are a great break from the 9x9 norm. The 6x6 puzzles are absolutely vicious. Nothing like kids 6x6 sudokus that take an advanced puzzler seconds to complete. And I love the jigsaw shapes. Watch out for the 9x9 jigsaws!

There should be more advanced sudoku books like this. As recommended by others, this should not be your first foray into sudoku. But once you are hooked on the light stuff, this is a nice challenge.

If you like Sudoku but the puzzles seem to be getting dull, try the variants in this book. Different sizes and arrangements make new puzzles out of an old game.

First of all, I would definitely say that if you are just beginning to learn how to solve Sudoku puzzles, I strongly suggest that you do not buy this book. Instead, I would suggest a book which focuses almost entirely on the standard 9x9 Sudoku puzzles, and which starts with easy puzzles before progressing to more difficult ones. The Big Book of SuDoku 3 starts right out with difficult puzzles, and the puzzles only continue to get harder and harder as you continue.

If you are an experienced SuDoku solver who is able to solve all but the hardest 9x9 SuDoku puzzles without too much difficulty, or if you have grown a bit tired with the standard 9x9 SuDoku puzzle, this is a great book. For me, the most appealing feature of this book is that half of the 200 puzzles in this book are different from the familiar 9x9 Sudoku. While the Maxi (12x12) and Super (16x16) puzzles are just larger versions of the 9x9 puzzles, the Jigsaw, Duplex, and Triplex puzzles actually require the solver to use different solving techniques than are used for the regular puzzles.

Overall, I give this book 5 stars as long as you're up for the challenge. While this book may not contain quite the volume of puzzles as some others, the harder puzzles can take well upwards of an hour to complete, so this book will keep you occupied for a long time.

I started doing these puzzles over a year ago and I became hooked. This book is for people who have been doing them a long time, or who know they will become addicted. If you are a true beginner I would suggest the second book in this series (has a bit easier puzzles to start with up to the mega challenging. You can spend hours on some of the hardest ones, but if you are a true puzzler, that is what you want.

This really is a great cookbook. Easy to follow recipes (although some ingredients are hard to find in a small town in the middle of nowhere, where we live), and everything tastes good. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their cooking.

I received this book as a present, and I am very pleasantly surprised by this book. This book contains modern and creative twists on traditional American dishes as well as other food of ethnic origin making its way into mainstream. All the dishes I've made from it have turned out to be very delicious, the steps are simple to follow, and most of the ingredients are available at well-stocked supermakets. I was surprised how many things I used to have to buy can be made so easy with so little time or effort. This was what I had hoped my Moosewood cookbook would be, but this book actually succeeds because of it is more focused, placing emphasis on beauty through simplicity rather than purely just inventiveness.
Another part I really like about this book is that it actually contain a decent breakfast section. From now on I no longer have to rely on omlettes or toast for breakfast, but instead I can have banana french toast, different muffins, etc.
The recipes here are very straightforward, so they are suitable for most levels of cooks. The only possible drawback is that there are no pictures (though you won't need them), and there are no directions on preparation techniques, so I would suggest this book for those with at least some rudimentary kitchen skills.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I have been vegetarian for many years and I am an avid cook, and this book has provided nothing but perfect food, without meat, every time I have used it. The salads are great, the breakfast foods are great, the entrees are great. You name it, in this book, it's all good.
The recipes are well-tested and well-written recipes. A must have.

Great cookbook, has trendy new way to look at origional ingredients.
Made Tomato Bisque today.... Yumm..

This is an excellent cookbook, lots of variety, well-written, visually pleasing...definitely a good choice for anyone who appreciates easy-to-prepare, delicious recipes.

One of my favorite ongoing methods of personal growth is to study a different person in history every month. This month I am studying Teresa of Avila and from this study I am learning so much about so many other remarkable saints like in this phenomenal book I stumbled upon (thankfully!) at the library.

Part devotional, part study aid, part inspiration-for-women-of-all ages, this unique guide to more than 400 women saints across the ages it includes a years worth of daily readings which each include a brief bio of each woman (or group of women) along with a section called "The Genius of..." which synopsizes that particular saint's contribution and then a reflection section with a Bible passage.

The back matter of the book accentuates "the courageous Catholic saints" and what I would like to add is that this book is not solely for Catholics, it could speak to women of any faith, Christian and non-Christian alike.

The introductory section (before the daily readings) includes the definition of "Saint" and describes canonization, something which I, as a non-Catholic, found very helpful. I also enjoyed looking up the Saints featured on my birthday and each of my children's birthdays. (A quick aside is my birthday - January 29 - features Saint Bathildes, who went from being a Slave to being a Queen to being a Nun... she was known for her grace, generosity and compassion)

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in women in religion and spirituality. I am planning on purchasing my own copy to use as a daily conversation guide with my ten-year-old and sixteen-year-old daughters who enjoy being inspired by other women in leadership.

I am grateful I kept my eyes scanning the shelves as I walked out with my Teresa of Avila books in hand!

This excellent book came out about a year ago, but as today is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, I thought I'd post a review.

Ms. Gallick has done an exceptional job of writing a lucid, easily-accessible book on women saints. For each day of the year on the particular saint's feast day, the book contains biographical information about a woman saint, usually no longer than one page of text. The information about the saint is followed by short sentence or two supplied by Ms. Gallick explaining the "genius" of the saint.

(Example: For Saint Lucy Filippini on March 25, her genius is described as follows: "Lucy recognized that teaching is a vocation, a calling from God, and she lived the advice of her mentor, Cardinal Barbarigo: 'The Church of God is not a restful garden but a working vineyard.'")

I found Ms. Gallick's observations on each Saints' "genius" to be succinct and insightful. Each Saint's entry then ends with a "Reflection" from scripture that Ms. Gallick has selected; the scripture quote thematically relates to the Saint's life.

(Example: Blessed Barbe Acarie, a beautiful society girl, dedicated herself to bringing the Carmelites to France. The scriptural reflection provided by Ms. Gallick is from Proverbs: "Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Prov. 31:30.)

This book is a worthy addition to any Catholic's library, suitable as a daily devotional or a quick reference guide. (I hope that non-Catholics would find it interesting and inspiring, too!). As another reviewer mentioned, it would make a great gift (note the very handsome cover art), particularly perhaps for a teenage girl being confirmed, since the individual entries lend themselves to a quick read.

I give this book five stars.

Sarah Gallick's THE BIG BOOK OF WOMEN SAINTS is an excellent resource on the lives of a wide variety of women saints, from the very famous to the more obscure. It's compelling, highly readable and obviously well-researched. I'll be giving it as a gift to family and friends.

The wonderful thing about learning about the saints is that there are so many of them, each person is bound to find someone she can relate to and look up to as a positive example. In "The Big Book of Women Saints," Sarah Gallick has done a tremendous job of bringing together information about 500 women saints. While all the famous women saints are included, there are also many who are relatively unknown. Gallick divides her book into a reading for each day (some days feature groups of saints such as the four martyrs of Wangla featured on June 28th). This set-up makes it very easy to read and reflect on a life of a saint every day.

In the "Introduction," Gallick describes the canonization process for Catholic saints, a process not formalized until the 10th century. Prior to this saints were "recognized by popular acclamation, which was later confirmed by the local bishops." Interestingly enough, the first woman officially canonized by the Vatican was Wiborada of Saint Gall in 1047. She is featured on May 2. Gallick goes on to state that each of the women profiled in this book "shared a unique quality that has been called the feminine genius." Indeed, on each day's profile, Gallick includes a description of that woman's particular genius, the example she offers to each of us as we travel along our spiritual journey. Another helpful portion of "The Big Book of Women Saints" is the "Annotated Sources and Web Sites" which lists each saint and offers sources for further study about that person. She also provides a general bibliography.

"The Big Book of Women Saints" is a fascinating book, unique for the number of women saints Gallick profiles. It would be a wonderful companion throughout the year to learn more about these women who, coming from a variety of circumstances, have all had a profound effect on the Church and their respective communities. Their stories also provide hope and inspiration for all of us trying to live holy lives.

What I love about Sarah Gallick's Big Book of Women Saints is the emphasis on the saints' lives, rather than their deaths. Here, worldly women give themselves freely to their faith, and in the process, establish religious orders, set up and run schools, labor as diplomats among kings and Popes, and lead armies into battle. What better way to show contemporary young women (like my three daughters) how ordinary people can be touched by the divine? The fact that the book is organized by date makes it perfect for the bedside, with one-page readings per saint. (The first thing we did: We checked out the saints of our birthdays.) A compelling read and a perfect First Communion or Confirmation gift.

This was the first SVT book I ever read it was good. I took a disliking to Janet striaght away. In this book Elizabeth and Jessica's brother Steven is in love with Jill Hale the twins decide it would be fun to set Steve up with his best friend Cathy. Janet things they can't do it so she makes a bet with them if they can get Cathy and Steve together within so many days they get Janet's tickets to appear on a tv show, if they fail Janet gets Elizabeth's new camera. Will Jess and Liz suceed in setting up Cathy and Steven?

When Steven[The Twins's brother] loves Jill Hale,but she isn't interested in him,so he gets a job at Mc? so does Cathy and They start falling in love.The Unicorns,especially Janet[I hate that Witch,with a B] wants Elizabeth's camera,comes up with a solution to get that camera,and Janet has 2 tickets to be on tv.Guess who wins.Elizabeth and Jessica.

I consider this book as one of the best!It was fun to read about the twins's brilliant plan at how they got Cathy and Steven together. I especially like all the confidence that Jessica has and I dislike the way that Jessica betted Lizzie's camera.My cousin Mubina also can't wait to read this book.

Steven goes to huge lengths to get Jill Hale(Bimbo of the universe)to love him.And it seems that he is also trying to keep away from Cathy who maybe he is secretly in love with but he doesnt know that yet himself....(phew)

I thought this book was very interesting .I especially liked the part about the food fight just before they kissed.

I was introduced to this book from a friend. My two boys love this story. I enjoy reading it as much as the two of them enjoy listening to it.
I think it is helpful to introduce when the sibling rivalry begins to pop up in the family. (Maybe even before.)
The illustrations are magical and brilliantly placed in the story line.
I highly recommend this book.

I bought this book when I was pregnant with my second son. By the time my older son was 2 1/2, he was reading it to his one year-old brother by memory!! The pages have been taped and retaped, they are so well-read!! The illustrations are exquisite! The story is beautiful!! What a sweet, sweet story that celebrates the love between two brothers!

I've seen my share of "sharing" books that attempt to teach kids sharing, and this is one of the best. Unlike some "sharing" books that teach kids that it's OK to be selfish, this one models good behavior while at the same time showing that when the brothers are selfish, they hurt the other brother's feelings.

The illustrations capture in exquisite detail the facial expressions of the children, so there is a lot more to this book than the written text. Children especially can read the subtext from the illustrations. Even small children recognize the mixture of surprise, frustration, and hurt that plays across the little brother's face as his big brother tells him he can't play with his truck.

I loved this book and so did my 4 year old and 2 year old. It seems like they can both really relate to the brothers in the book. It is a book that they want read over and over. The illustrations are fabulous!

I have two small boys so I was pleased to see this book out by an author I enjoy. The story is very realistic and captures perfectly the bond that can exist between two small siblings. My three year old could immediately relate to the big brother in the book. While my two have a few more fights than the brothers in the book, I am hoping that reading and talking about this book may help them focus on the good things about being brothers.

Having been a long time marketer for over 30 years and a self-described "student" of the business, it's easy to feel as though I've seen it all. Ms. McMurtry's book changed that for me. For once, it's apparent that someone in the marketing field "gets it". The strong emphasis on emotional marketing, a key component to why people buy; the emphasis on lifetime value of the customer; the real life examples of the wide range of topics she covers, should be required reading for anyone in a marketing function. It tells us point blank that if you are not in business to create emotional ties and experiential relationships in the marketing you do, you're not likely to grow your business--and that's why we are in business, isn't it? Thank you Ms. McMurtry for covering so much valuable ground in an easily readable volume.

While most books tell you what needs to be done, this one gives specific detail on *HOW* to do it. Within 10 minutes of cracking open this book I found several tools that will help my company determine the value of various customer segments - something we've managed on gut feel rather than actual customer data. The author also provides multiple checklists to help with taking a company's key management through processes to identify where marketing programs need improvement. Like many companies, we're undergoing a significant change in our business strategy due to geopolitical change and her tools will undoubtedly help us manage the change more wisely.

While most books tell you what needs to be done, this one gives specific detail on *HOW* to do it. Within 10 minutes of cracking open this book I found several tools that will help my company determine the value of various customer segments - something we've never on gut feel rather than actual customer data. The author also provides multiple checklists to help with taking a company's key management through processes to identify where marketing programs need improvement. Like many companies, we're undergoing a significant change in our business strategy due to geopolitical change and her tools will undoubtedly help us manage the change more wisely.

This book offers both the beginning and experienced marketing professional with a good overview of basic and advanced marketing concepts. Good examples and case studies. McMurtry's passion for lifetime marketing is contagious and should excite and inspire business owners. Highly recommended.

Running a private music studio can be challenging, especially when it comes to the business end of things. Even though I have no employees, I found Ms. McMurtry's book immensely helpful. I especially appreciated the tips on identifying and connecting with my best customer. Learning how to write a marketing plan to support what I wanted from my business enabled me to keep my focus. The book helped me attract the type of students that best fit my needs while running my studio as an efficient, profit generating entity. I highly recommend it to sole practitioners, like myself.

After reading this book aloud to my second grade class, I served up different kinds of cheese! The kids loved it (since their mouths were watering for cheese after listening and seeing Schindler's tasty looking illustrations!).An outstanding slice of obscure history! Editor Melanie Kroupa is an expert at delivering great, obscure stories from history (see STEAMBOAT by Judith Heide Gilliland).Outstanding storytelling!

I have read this book to my two grandsons (Brooks nearly 4 and Pierce nearly 3 yrs old) and their interest and response to this book has been fun and surprising. The story interests them and the art illustrates the story very well. They enjoy finding the characters from the story in the associated pictures. Phineas Dobbs' grumbling has become an inside family joke. The boys go around the house often repeating his comment, "I told you, it can't be done!" while placing their arms across their chest.

The book has provoked them to ask many questions which has proved to be a good teaching opportunity as well.

They read everytime before naptime and bedtime and they have insisted that this book be included each time for about three weeks now. I highly recommend this book for reading to children 3 years old and up.

In this true tale of a tremendous cheddar, Candace Fleming asks: "What weighs 1,234 pounds, stands four feet high, and is made from the milk of nine hundred and thirty-four cows?"

"Why, a giant cheese of course!"

When President Thomas Jefferson was serving Norton cheese at the White House, Elder John Leland suggested that everyone could help make a whopping big cheddar, a cheese so large that President Jefferson would be serving Cheshire cheese at the White House for years and years!

After gathering all the milk and making the cheese curds, they had to press the curds in an apple press. Finally they haul the cheese in a wagon to ripen in Elder John's barn. To get the cheese to President Jefferson's New Year's Day party, they have to put it on a sleigh and take it to Hudson, New York. Finally it sails down the Hudson River and is then carted on a sleigh to Washington.

Apparently, the cheese was served for years and someone said it lasted until 1805.

Just by the way, cheddar curds can't be beat. Give me the curds
instead of the pressed cheese any day!

Cute story for young cheese lovers.

If you love cheese, look for Paula Lambert's Cheese Lover's Cookbook & Guide. She explains how cheese is made and even includes recipes.

~The Rebecca Review

Historical fact: On January 1, 1801, Elder John Leland, a Baptist minister, delivered a 1,235-pound wheel of Cheshire cheese to Thomas Jefferson as a gift of gratitude for Jefferson 's support of religious freedom.

Candace Fleming has taken this little-known detail and turned it into a deliciously delightful little "Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar."

In Fleming's story the villagers of Cheshire (makers of mouthwatering cheese) heard news "that threatened to sour their curds forever." President Thomas Jefferson was serving cheese made in Norton, Connecticut ! Not to be outdone, Elder John Leland convinced the residents of Cheshire to put their curds together, along with one day's milking from each of their cows and create a "whopping big cheddar."

Easier said than done the villagers soon realized. They had to resort of using a huge apple press to squeeze the whey from the curds. Then, the local blacksmith had to make a huge, custom-forged hoop to hold the cheese. Their efforts paid off however. Once finished, they had on their hands a 1,235 pound, four-foot tall round of cheddar.

After letting the cheese ripen, Elder John and the ever-doubting Phineas Dobbs set off to deliver the mammoth cheese to Jefferson. Sledding and sailing their way to Washington, the duo finally arrive at the nation's capital amid trumpets, banners, and gaggles of gawkers.

Jefferson, after cutting into cheddar and tasting it, declared it to be "The best you can serve at your table."

Fleming serves up a terrific treat. The tale is charmingly told and fun to read. Schindler's pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are filled with period details and humorous touches.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff

What makes this book so terrific for me is that I live in thetown adjacent to Cheshire, MA, and I have family that live inCheshire. We've always seen the cheese press in the center of town, but were only vaguely familiar with its history. Now, with this beautiful picture book, I can share the story with the children in my life. I wonder how Ms. Fleming, who lives in Chicago, happened upon this story?

My 22 month old daughter loves to read this book with me! i think she likes that the main character is a big girl and she's spending the day with her mom- something my little one can really relate to!

This is truly a wonderful book!
This story is told by the little girl who is going to town with her mother for the morning.
She has a big green pocketbook, just like Mama's, but hers is empty and she can't find anything to put inside it.
Mama says "hurry", because the bus is coming, so the little girl brings her empty pocketbook along anyway.
During the course of the morning, she gathers many treasures and by the time the bus comes to return the girl and her mother home, her pocketbook is full.

The little girl's view of the world is refreshing and enchanting~
She observes that the cool marble walls in the bank smell like pennies~ And she is amazed that, at the drycleaners, the machine knows exactly where to stop for mama's suit.
This is a delightful book that moms and daughters will enjoy, but both boys and girls will like hearing it, and seeing the usual best from Candice Ransom and Felicia Bond's awesome pictures.

Fantastic story, amazing illustrations. My daughters and I have both loved this book from the first time that we read it. The story is sweet and you just want this little girl's day to last forever. A must read, over and over.

This book reminds me so much of when I was a little girl and went with my mother to run errands. Back then the stores really did hand out keyrings and pocket calendars and my Grandma worked at a dry cleaner so I got to see the "magic machine" a lot when people picked up their clothes. My girls both love this book, even though the oldest is now 13. We have completely worn out the binding of the hardback copy we have!

This is a wonderful book for mothers to read to or with their daughters. A simple day of errands turns into something magical between them and a hand-me-down green pocketbook holds the key to a delightful day.

This book is true to Mark Rashid's simple and entertaining writing style with some nice stories. It is a very quick read. Not fine literature, but a nice way to spend a lazy afternoon. It is not a training manual, just some nice stories about Mark's life with animals.

A typically written Mark Rashid book. Very witty and leaves the reader with a little more insite than he started with. Recommend for most ages.

Once again Mark Rashid has given us some really good stories that warm the heart. While this one does not contain much about training horses, it is a worthwhile read.

This was a fun book to read. Being 'part' of Mark's life through his stories is such an adventure as well as offering wonderful teaching points. His tales of the draft horses has given me a new fondness for these hard-working giants. I'd recommend this book to not only horse lovers but also those who love to 'listen' to a good story. Mark's style of writing puts the reader right there with him in the thick of things.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that is was too short. I finished it in 1 setting and could not put it down. I am on Amazon now searching for his other books and will add to my collection very soon. Highly recommended!

I recently visited the Big Island and brought the usual guidebooks including this new restaurant guide. This volume is well-researched and provides visitors with an unbiased, and well-written guide to many Island restaurants. There are reviews on every type of restaurant from high cuisine (Merriman's in Waimea) to local diners with huge portions (Hawaiian Style Cafe with real people and friendly service ). I agreed with each review of all the places visited and feel that the authors have done an excellent job of helping sort out too many dining choices. Tako Taco is an obscure place in Waimea but has some of the best Mexican style food anywhere in the Islands, and this guide does an honest evaluation of a place that should not be missed.
I look forward to using the authors' other books when visiting Kauai and other islands next year.
I found other guidebooks with restaurant sections to be too generalized and not as comprehensive.

Wow! Another great book from the Carpenters! I have received 2 of their VERY interesting books so far and I am lookig forward to reading more, by them, in the future. They are very straight-forward and full of very useful information. I highly recommend their books for the tourists as well as the locals. They have done the research for me.....WELL DONE!!!

"Big Island Of Hawaii Restaurants and Dining" became a Bible, of a sort, for eating on a recent trip. Without it, selecting restaurants from the multitude of choices on the island would have been hit or miss. Every one of the places where we ate were listed in the book and fit their revues perfectly.

Being a frequent traveler in Asia and Eastern Europe I have come to rely on culinary guides like the Hawaii Restaurant Guide Series. My enjoyment of diverse culinary experiences is enhanced when I have good understanding of what I will partake in. The Carpenters are very knowledgeable and straight forward in presenting the cultures, cuisines and preparations involved in a wide variety of dining experiences. This latest offering, "Big Island of Hawaii" is an education in the dining practice and an invaluable guide to individuals with a taste for adventure and a discerning pallet. I highly recommend this guide.

This book is an excellent guide for delectable dining on the Big Island. We were fortunate enough to visit both sides of the island and dine at several of the recommended establishments. After dining on excellent scampi at an Italian bistro in Hilo, we sampled dessert with the locals followed the next day by innovative pizza overlooking the bay. It all proved quite satisfying.