Big Books

Leo was a WWII hero. He flew off to war and never came home. He had the same dreams and aspirations as all American young men of that era as he bravely went off to fight for his country. He left a young war bride behind as well as a loving family. His life as a youngster, growing up in rural Western Maryland, brings back memories to those of us who lived there and shared those memories. We relive those happy times through the eyes of Dr. Kisamore (the "litttle brother"), and we remember with loving pride and gratitude those young heroes who eventually gave us back a peaceful world.

But don't think of this as just a literary anthology. Besides being one of the best in that genre, it also includes tempting meals as a prelude to a night of love. Complete aphrodisiac meals plus tempting desserts like the ultimate chocolate mousse and lemon hearts are guaranteed to keep the Valentine feeling year-long. You'll also find a recipe for fortune cookies which allows you to put in your own message. The recipe is footnoted with lots of suggestions to get your mind brainstorming, like "Birds do it, bees do it, we'll do it tonight" or any other messages you'd like to convey.

A final section includes love songs from the likes of Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, the Gershwins, and others. Of course, for days after reading these lyrics, I found myself constantly humming "I Only Have Eyes for You" by Al Dubin and Harry Warren.

Every page is illustrated with full-color images, over half from the early twentieth-century. They enhance the words, even those from people I never thought of as particularly romantic (Woodrow Wilson, e.e. cummings, John Adams, to name a few). So nice to know that love is truly a universal feeling that touches us all!

This anthology is a pure delight, guaranteed to keep love in your plans 365 days a year.

The collection is fun, well designed, and can be leisurely read in no particular order as desired by the reader. Cupid struck pay dirt with this wonderful collection that will brighten up anyone's day. THE LITTLE BIG BOOK OF LOVE makes a wonderful unique Valentine's Day present that will not lie on a coffee table, as the recipient will relish the wide variety of tributes to the power of love.

Harriet Klausner

Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews

--- Reviewed by Tammy Moore for Christian Bookshelf

Sarah Onderdonk is a very approachable, friendly writer. I felt like we were sharing a cup of tea and she was simply sharing her knowledge with me in person! At the same time, her Biblical knowledge, scripture quotes, practical advice and "how to"s regarding little sins are well researched, and they really work! At the end of each chapter she reviews what's been shared and asks pointed questions so that you can apply the lessons learned to your own experience.

Ms. Onderdonk also shares personal vignettes from her own life that allow the reader to experience what she went through in the writing (and the life that led up to it!) of this book. I did not feel like I was reading a book that was TELLING me what to do or how to live -- Sarah shares her trials as well as her triumphs and does not talk "down" to the reader at all. Her humanity comes through in chapters dealing with her struggles with an eating disorder, her need for Christian counseling several years into her marriage, loss of family members, and relationships with all kinds of people that require tending. From the introduction about Sarah's run-in with a frisky pepper in the produce department, to her final words of encouragement and humility -- you will be hooked!

Buy this book. Read it! Come back and buy two or three more for your women friends. They will thank you for it!

I now know, if someone needs help, instead of saying " Let me know if there is anything I can do" It will be: What CAN I do to help you? See what changes YOU can do today!!

Some of the chapter titles are: "Thinking Big, Giving Big, Blessing Big, Imagining Big..." The list goes on and on. There are examples in each chapter of people who have done just that. People like you and me, people with money, or without it, people that come from hard times. People who have jumped over BIG hurdles just to help other people.

We have to learn to give and receive love, without wondering what they "want from us." Stop being so suspicious. One little thing does make a difference. Maybe not to the world, but to yourself, or someone else. Last week, there was a guy that worked at a radio station who was staying in this little tarp-covered contraption 30 feet above the ground until he received 2000 toys to donate to Toys for Tots or until 100 or so hours had passed. When I came to donate, he said, "It feels warm in there." I just had read some of the book that day, and when I made cookies for my school's workroom, I put some aside and delivered some warm cookies to him. When the security guard called him over, he had this little smirk on his face, like I was some kind of secret admirer, or stalker. That part bothered me. It's like no one can do something nice, just to be nice!! So anyway, I don't know what happened after that or what, but just one thing we do for someone else.. well.. doesn't that make us (and them) feel good?

She talks about a woman who stayed in a redwood tree and lived there two years so they wouldn't be cut down, a man who paints huge murals on every wall he can find, a woman who adopted 28 children (not Mia Farrow) and 27 of them have special needs. These are people that we don't know about, because we worship celebrities in movies or on TV. People that are famous just because their faces are bodies are familiar or beautiful to us. I am just as guilty and can be "star-struck" at times. We need to remind ourselves that what we give is what matters, not what we get. We learned this when we were little around the time of exchanging Christmas presents.

Pam Grout mentions that "last year, we spent 40 billion dollars on weight loss products, 98 percent of which did absolutely no good. With that 40 billion, we could give a million dollars a day to a worthwhile cause for the next 85 years. Maybe instead of looking for the next big diet, we should ask: What is the one thing that makes me want to get up on the table and dance? What do I ache for? How can I inject surprise, fun, and outrageousness into this day?" Losing weight gives you a temporary feeling of happiness, but it doesn't last, cause it's not as important as many other things in the world. SUV's, big houses, and lots of money is also NOT AS IMPORTANT. I think we need to be reminded daily of that. Our children, other people, humanity, those things are important, but we spent "10 minutes a day talking to our kids."

This book is wonderful. Everyone should read it, then it wouldn't just be "one person making a difference." It would be everyone working at it. I want to live big. Don't you?

by Mike Cecere [big cat and elephant trainer, asst. manager, Double M Ranch, Hastings NY]

This is the cat book of the '90s! Sharon Rendell has done an incredible job of putting together the exciting story of the Tetzlaffs. She's chronicled the legend of Col. Lawrence "Jungle Larry" Tetzlaff, his wife Nancy "Safari Jane" Tetlaff and their son David Tetzlaff, who many believe to be the top wild animal trainer in the U.S. today.

Not many others have been able to take the nuts and bolts of animal training and make it a story people would want to read. Or adequately describe the years of devotion this family has given to the education through entertainment with wild animals.

Sharon Rendell also takes great pains to interview the leading trainers and zoologists of today to get the real story of what the animal business is all about.

This book is a must for all collectors and circus fans, as well as animal people. Especially important for anyone who is doing battle with the Anti's as this book will give you the facts.

Once you pick it up, you won't stop til you've read it all the way through. A book you'll read again and again. Good job, Sharon!

The price is a mere $11.95 -- a deal at twice the price.

Take it from me, it's a good read!

Now I can hardly wait for the movie version!