Big Books

I recently purchased the five book series of Ernest the Donkey for my granddaughter. I believe the series is destined to become a much-loved classic. Ernest is a delightful little donkey with honest qualities and human-like character that animal lovers often see in their "friends." The illustrations are beautiful, too. I just wish the series was available in a board book for toddlers.

Really cute book. I gave it to my Grandson on his second birthday and he just loved it. He wanted someone to read it to him right then. Great story and pictures.

I have all of the Ernest collection so far. Laura Barnes does an excellent job with these stories. I have given them to all my neices and nephews as well as my child. I personally like to read them myself. Perfect book for all kids.

There is no better field guide for South Florida flowering plants than this one. Photos are exceptional. Plant names are accurate. It is well-researched and easy to use (sorted by flower color). Perhaps it's best feature is references to pollinators that feed on the plants. Indispensible for anyone wanting to grow a butterfly garden or attract wildlife.

As you might tell from the above title I am quite proud of my professional attachment to the glades. I deeply love the glades and am angered by the deplorable condition that politicians, government and our American culture have allowed this unique ecosystem to degrade to. Americans, especially Florida residents, must be motivated to demand that politicians and government do whatever it takes to recover and nurture what is left of the Everglades. Anything less is shameful! Look for the book I am completing on the Everglades.

Roger L. Hammer's Everglades Wildflowers book is an outstanding work, both by him and the publisher The Globe Pequot Press (Falcon).

Knowledge of wildflowers is not a personal strength of mine. I needed a book that I was confident contained clear, accurate information on the wildflowers that are found in the glades. I'm very curious for any unusual characteristics that are not commonly known about species. Mr. Hammer gave me both. Example: The Horned Bladderwort is a very small yellow aquatic flower that is common to the Everglades marsh. But it was not until I got a copy of Mr. Hammer's book that I learned that this flower is a predator! It is the only aquatic carnivorous plant in North America.

This glossy paged book has color plates, a glossary and something that took me by surprise - a very informative description of Everglades natural history including habitat descriptions.

This is a book of unusually high quality. If you're an Everglades naturalist I think you'll want to add this one to your shelf.

I believe that this book will be valuable to the budding naturalist struggling to keep up on a wildflower hike and to the seasoned ranger in Everglades National Park. Arranged by color, the book is easy to use while giving a tour with interesting anecdotes that you can study beforehand. A great addition to anyones Nature Guides.

Fast Draw Freddie draws pictures fast. Big pictures. Small pictures. Short pictures. Tall pictures. -- And so it goes in this pre-school reader from the rookie reader series. Your pre-schooler will learn adjectives that describe the pictures Fast Draw Freddie draws and the words will be made more real by Susan Miller's excellent illustrations.

I like all the Rookie Reader books. They are just a great way to get a little pre-schooler started on his or her reading career. And an early start is so important in today's world. Children need every advantage they can get, so if you're a parent or guardian of a precious little one, I highly recommend Rookie Reader books. The dividends they will pay in the long run will be priceless.

Fast Draw Freddie draws pictures fast. Big pictures. Small pictures. Short pictures. Tall pictures. -- And so it goes in this pre-school reader from the rookie reader series. Your pre-schooler will learn adjectives that describ the pictures Fast Draw Freddie draws and the words will be made more real by Stephen Hayes excellent illustrations.

I like all the Rookie Reader books. They are just a great way to get a little pre-schooler started on his or her reading career. And an early start is so important in today's world. Children need every advantage they can get, so if you're a parent or guardian of a precious little one, I highly recommend Rookie Reader books. The dividends they will pay in the long run will be priceless.

This book for absolute-beginning readers is fine in a variety of ways. The text--limited to a bank of about 30+ words--is very simple and repetitive helping young readers learn words, the drawings are brightly colored and detailed as Freddie and family go to a zoo and see many animals, and I thought it was neat how a reader can compare/contrast the types of pictures and animals (and even family members) both by Freddie's pictures at the end of the story as well as illustrator Susan Miller's. A great book that will grab a young reader's attention for more than one reading.

<60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows Starring Frank Sinatra and Friends> is a monumental memorial to a showbiz phenomenon. Radio Spirits has issued this collection in two formats: 20 audio cassettes each holding 90 minutes of material (usually 3 half-hour shows) and 30 CDs each holding 60 minutes. This last is an improvement over other tape/CD issues in which the latter had to be abridged to fit in the shows what the corresponding tape could easily hold without cuts.

Some of the shows here have only a fleeting visit by Sinatra, others have him in short sketches, still others as co-star, and a few as the star himself. For example, he plays a major role when guesting on a Burns &Allen Show but is the star of his own series, "Rocky Fortune," of which this collection offers four episodes. These episodes, by the way, are a good example of Sinatra in his bad years after MGM fired him because of an unfortunate remark he made about the studio head's mistress. They work very well as light comedy mysteries but certainly do not call for any great acting skills. At his nadir, he substituted for Bill Stern in the Sports Newsreel series and did a very good job as narrator.

He is heard in several dramatic roles in "Suspense" and "Lux Radio Theater," and a good deal of jokes are made about his possibly receiving and later his actually receiving an Academy Award for his role in "From Here to Eternity." Included in his many comic guest spots with Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Joan Davis, and Martin & Lewis are endless "skinny" jokes, none of which seem to be repeated except possibly the one about being buried in the back yard by the family dog.

Naturally, you will hear a good deal of his vocalizing, once even with Lou Costello, and that is pretty much the raison d'etre of this collection. And if you have to listen to "Nancy With the Laughing Face" three times, well that is what fathers are for.

The question is whether to purchase the tapes or CDs. I have both. I heard all the tapes in my car and will use the CDs for my classes because of the direct access feature. However the CDs are packaged in such a way that you must touch the surfaces in removing them from their plastic envelopes--and drivers should take note that you need two hands to do so.

As a postscript, I should add that you don't have to be a particular fan of Sinatra to enjoy this collection. You get "A Date With Judy," "Command Performance," "Life With Luigi," a "Savings Bond Show," and so many other radio gems that still linger in the memories of us older crowd--and some that would be totally forgotten were it not for such Radio Spirit compilations as this one.

For a Sinatra fan who has everything this collection is an unexpected treasure because It gives you more of the Sinatra you crave. Not just singing, but acting: drama, comedy, and more! And a very personal encounter with Sinatra that you can't get with any other meduim. This collection offers something that the records and movies don't offer. You feel that you are In the room with Sinatra as he casually chats with the big stars of the day and joins them joins them in a comedy routine....than a song!! And this collection also introduces you to the world of old time radio. You will start to love them all: from Jack Benny to Burns and Allen.....Even If you were not that interested in Sinatra this collection presents an overview of old-time radio....where each show happens to have Frank Sinatra as the guest star!!! THIS IS A MUST HAVE!!! I want more!

Frank Sinatra and Friends Is like a perfect sampler of old time radio shows all of which happen to have Frank Sinatra as the guest star. Each show is presented in it's entirety (30 min). We get plenty of Sinatra singing of course, but also acting in comedies and dramas alongside the Big stars of the 40's and early 50's. WE also get the joy of experiending the old radio shows like the Jack Benny Program, Burns and Allen, the Bob Hope show and many others. So this is not just for Sinatra fans. Anyone interesed in Radio will love and treasure this collection. This is not just a bunch of predigested moments with Sinatra. This is the complete show. Each one is charming and intimate. The commercials are wonderful too. Listening to these shows is like traveling through time. These recordings show us a Sinatra that his recording do not. It is almost like meeting him in person. Everyone Involved in these shows seems like they are having a wonderful time! And it is full of surprises. I recommend it without reservation!!

As it's title indicates, this Franko's Map is specifically for scuba divers and snorkelers. It has amazing detail about individual diving sites, sea creatures you would see, tides, etc. There is general information too, but if you are looking for a more casual, things to see and do map, then I suggest purchasing Franko's Guide Map of Hawaii, the Big Island. There are also dive maps and guide maps available for Maui, Kauai, and Oahu.

If you're going to the Big Island of Hawaii for scuba diving, you'll need this Franko's map. It's excellent!

I'm not sure the other review of this is fair. Sure it is a dive map, and if that's not what you need, well, fine. But it doesn't mean that the product itself is bad.

Franko's maps are THE best maps for diving and snorkelling, and, contrary to other reviews, are some great general-use maps as well. Roads, dive sites, fish, topography are all displayed in a pleasing way. Attention to detail is apparent in all Franko's maps. These are some of the better examples of cartography available for the sites they cover. Highly recommended!

I read this wonderful book while my son was spending six hours in surgery. The uplifting tone and encouragement to tap into life's positive forces was not only inspirational but brought me peace during a trying time.

Lorin Beller is clearly one of today's top thinkers in the realm of taking control of your business and life. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting a business or anyone owning a business that feels they may be loosing their edge

Lorin Beller's book, From Entrepreneur to Big Fish, is a valuable addition to the good "success" material already available. If you have aspirations to be more successful in business or even to find more happiness and inner peace, her book is a worthwhile read.

I don't think that any single idea is actually new and she doesn't pretend they are. What she does do is bring them together and in a very refreshing way. The concepts are quite simple, fundamental and powerful. The book covers both attitude and execution. Ms. Beller delivers it all as your coach and your fan.

Sometimes, knowing something isn't enough. You need to have someone motivate you to take action. Maybe with From Entrepreneur to Big Fish, Lorin Beller will do that for you!

This book speaks to the entrepreneur who wants to take their business to the next level with ease not added stress. The author has actual experience and knowing of the challenges business owners face. She shares practical principles to live and work by that take the guess work out of success. Add happiness, fulfillment and profit to your personal and business life. Read 'From Entrepreneur to Big Fish: 7 Principles to Wild Success' I did and loved where it took me. Also check out the Big Fish Nation Program that helps the Entrepreneur align their business with the life style they wish to create by utilizing a skilled business coach and a year long tele-class www.bigfishnation.com

Did you ever think you could see further if you stood on the shoulders of a giant? Here's your chance. These authors have been involved with cosmological investigations for over 50 years. They explain the theory of the Big Bang for the layman but with enough detail to challenge the non-specialist. (The non-specialists will probably want to skip the appendices but if one wants to get a flavor of the deep thinking involved in Big Bang research the appendices opens that door.)

The authors are not short on details and their recollection of personal experiences during their scientific endeavors makes the book most interesting. These authors are not merely reporting on what others are doing but rather reflecting on their own personal critical investigations and presenting their opinion on subsequent research endeavors. They have been observers and critics of the evolution of cosmological investigations for essentially their whole careers. Thus they have strong opinions which are expressed unambiguously. I would expect that some would disagree with their opinions but to me this clear expression of these opinions is refreshing. But to their credit these opinions are presented clearly as their opinions so that the reader can explore the issues and disagree to their hearts content.

As a non-physicist, I had read enough to understand that the abundance of the light elements was created according to the Big Bang theory during the primeval evolution of the universe. And further that the heavier elements up to iron were created in the heart of collapsing stars but had never quite understood why this was the case. The authors discussion and presentation of data on the binding energy of the elements made this reasonably understandable to me. I mention this because I want to emphasize how the authors present a broad overview of a very complex physics problem with clear discussions but in addition give sufficient data to support understanding by the layman. Thus this book is not an easy read for the layman but rather is a challenging and invigorating experience for the amateur physicist who loves to try to understand the universe we live in.

The book includes an expert review of most of the evolving developments in the field of cosmology since their seminal work in the late forties. They present a broad overview of the concept of inflation in the early universe and express their view that this remains an open question. For those interested in the "why" question, there is a brief chapter on the Anthropic Principle. But to me it seems clear that the authors are by far more interested in the "how" issues rather than the "why" issues.

This book is by far the best overview of this subject I have ever run across.

I could say more about this book, but you might wish to read it first, along with the techincal material in the Appendix...

As with all such books, there is an error here and there, despite a gang of proofreaders unpaid by me.

If interested in the errata, please contact my son at AlpherV (aol).

Meanwhile, please enjoy one of the interesting who-did-what's of the 20th century.

If you're interested in the Big Bang, I can tell you, there is more to come. What happened before that singularity?

After the Big Bang--well, there is no better description that that written by the man who described it, who calculated all of the important equations on a slide rule! I wasn't there, but I was close--he is, after all, my father.

And, when I was ten, this very humble scientist, considered by many one of the great scientists of the 20th century, had his predictions of the cosmic blackbody background radiation confirmed by accident by two physicists working for the then Bell Labs in New Jersey. Those two men received the Nobel Prize. Not that Alpher and Herman were not nominated at times, frequently. It just so happens the Nobel is never awarde to FOUR people. Every other important Physics recognition--has gone to Alpher and Herman.

However, the most original work was from Ralph A. Alpher. A student of George Gamow, the colorful Russian physicist at George Washington University, this work was his SECOND doctoral dissertation. The solution to the problem of his first dissertaiton was published before he could defend it.

At his defense of this dissertation--there were news media, journalists, as well as his doctoral committee. It was a public event, and even the great cartoonist Herblock published a cartoon relating to the most significant cosmological PREDICTION of the 20th century, perhaps in all of Astronomy up to that time.

And that was confirmed, and as a trained scientist, I can say, that's a pretty nifty occurrence. Robert Herman, coauthor of this book, was my father's constant intellectual companion from the 1940s through the 1990s. Nonetheless, he is recognized as a coauthor, and Ralph A. Alpher would say deservedly so. I can also say, it helps to have intellectual colleagues.

I've read many, many other versions of this great story in cosmology over the years, and many of them are flatly wrong. Ralph Alpher was certainly always available to tell his story, but this book became the crowning achievement. I've read the proofs and the book itself, and I heartily endorse it, because is is a great story in science, although a bit heftier than "The Double Helix" by Watson and Crick about the race to find the code we now know as DNA.

However, on the Big Bang, there was no particular race. Yet today, we're on the verge of another great debate regarding creationism and the origin of man, and Clarence Darrow will possibly be watching in amusement. No doubt also will George Gamow. And many Nobel prize winners have had the fortunate opportunity to know my father.

Today, however, Dr. Alpher is working on that nagging question, what DID happen before the Big Bang. Being a theoretical physicist, and tending to make predictions and hypothecate (after all, the atom was long merely a hypothetical particle)...well, confirmation of what is to come may take a little time.

And, as usual, we can expect a little academic political intrigue as well. This book sets that record as clearly as anyone at the source could. And it is a work of passion, I can attest to that.

A great read for anyone who thinks about our origins and our future. Highly recommended.

I have read and widely used Dick B.'s book, The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. I understand it is the most frequently ordered and re-ordered of the Dick B. A.A. History books. And it succinctly lays out the material that is foundational to A.A. and the Twelve Steps and yet is neither known nor used among the secularized meeting fellowships today. True, A.A.'s basic ideas came from the Bible. True, Christians need to know that so that they can feel comfortable with their Bibles and believing within their recovery fellowships today. But how about those--and they are increasing in number--who want to have study groups in A.A., in recovery groups, in treatment programs, and among their Christian, clergy, and church friends? This Good Book-Big Book Guidebook fits the bill. It shows how to study the Bible and incorporate early A.A.'s Christian roots in your study groups today. It is a valuable companion book for the original Good Book title. I would recommend them highly for those who are conducting, starting, or thinking about a Good Book study group for newcomers and others who want to grow.

I like having a guidebook that I can use for my own study and which can also be used by study groups and fellowships that want to dig in together. There have been lots of attempts to provide guides to the Scriptures and the Twelve Steps. But most have been written by Bible companies, treatment facilities, and professionals. This book, however, is written by a veteran A.A. who is a long-time Bible student and also a long-time active A.A. member who has attended thousands of meetings and sponsored over 100 men. This book will be used for a long time. It will be used by AAs and Twelve Step people who are waking up to the importance of the Bible in the cures and high success rates of early A.A. This book tells how it was used. The book will be used by Christians and churches who are waking up to the fact that A.A. is not some self-made cult but actually had a Christian beginning, Christian Fellowship, and intense reliance on the Bible and the Creator in the early years. I find it uniquely helpful for its variety of segments: (1) How early AAs approached and included the newcomer in their program. (2)The frank statements by the pioneers that they had been healed; and Dick turns the reader to the Bible verses and history that show recovery and cure by religious means in early A.A. and through the ages. (3) There's a segment on A.A.'s own spiritual roots, a segment on the details of the early Christian Fellowship principles and practices,and a segment on the specific parts of the Bible considered absolutely essential. (4) There is more on how pioneers approached alcoholism, sin, overcoming, and victory. (5) There's a vital concluding chapter that tells me and me group exactly how to study this picture and use it today and spread the word by witness. There's an excellent bibliogrpahy. There's also material in two appendices which will inspire action and which will tell anyone exactly how he can study and conduct a study group today. It's a tool for Twelve Step work and Bible study.

Review of The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook

By Terry Dunford

The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook by Dick B. is a marvelous piece of work. I was very excited to hear that an author has finally written a book that explains how individuals, treatment centers, recovery groups, churches, counselors, etc... can apply the spiritual origins of A.A. into their own recovery. This particular Guidebook is truly priceless because once treatment centers, recovery groups, and individuals start applying the principles and concepts that Dick B. explains, alcoholics and all sinners can finally learn a program of recovery that truly produces awesome results.

Anyone in the recovery arena can utilize this Guidebook. This Guidebook is suitable for individuals in recovery, Christians, treatment centers, counselors, clinicians, church leaders, and anyone else that have a desire to learn the true spiritual origins of A.A. Furthermore, this Guidebook explains HOW we can incorporate the spiritual principles and biblical roots of A.A. into recovery today. This Guidebook is a must-have for all Christians. Dick B. uncovers the truth for us all to understand and utilize.

First, The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook explains how we can incorporate A.A.'s Biblical origins and Christian Fellowship into recovery today. This information is extremely important because early A.A.'s success rate was unbelievably high as they were utilizing the spiritual principles of the early program. Dick B. explains that the Founders of A.A. believed in Almighty God. He then goes on to mention the Founder's belief in a cure of alcoholism. This cure that early AAs believed in has been meticulously uncovered by the 16 plus years of research conducted by Dick B.

Dick B. continues on to explain the spiritual beginnings of A.A. The two distinctly different spiritual origins of A.A. are laid out for us all to understand. Many important factors on the early program are explained. For example, Dick B. talks about the materials from the Bible that Dr. Bob considered "Absolutely Essential." Other important information is explained like the verses that received special attention and use in early A.A. Dick B. then continues on to explain the important role of the Book of Matthew, the Book of James, and 1 Corinthians 13.

The information I listed above is just as short preview of all the great information provided by this tremendous Guidebook. One of the most important aspects of this Guidebook is the mention of how to use and apply the Guidebook in recovery today. Not only is the information about early AA explained, but Dick B. has explained how we can utilize the important spiritual principles in recovery today. This is very important because AA today is focusing on a "Higher Power" and the real biblical origins of AA are not talked about. Because of this, the success rate of today is extremely low. Now, with this new Guidebook, we can finally start utilizing the spiritual principles of early AA in recovery today. This book is a must-have for everyone in recovery. God Bless!

My daughter, Lena, 3 years old, loves this book. The title first caught her interest but she also enjoys the story. Gardens are intriguing to her and this story centered around a garden brings so many other positive lessons to light including cooperation, sharing, community spirit, family. I highly recommend this book to be included in any children's collection at home or teacher's collection at school.

Grandma Lena's Big Ol' Turnip is a soul-food picturebook adaptation of an old Russian folktale which is wonderfully illustrated by the fetching artwork of Jackie Urbanovic. A grand tall tail about woman who takes good care of her garden; the biggest turnip in it is so humongous that Grandma Lena, Uncle Isadore, Aunt Netty, and the dog can't make it budge! Who will make the difference? Exuberant color pictures add a whimsical touch to this cheerful tale with a positive message: "Anything worth doing is worth doing right".

I am simply amazed at this author's talents on a daily basis. What a wonderful addition to my baby's brand new book collection! Bravo Denia!

The Great Big Book of Children's Games is full of fun games of all sorts: Ball Games, Water Games, Chase Games, Card Games, and so on. Many of the games are well-known childhood classics, but many of them are either foreign or totally new.

The book offers lots of ways to play versions of popular games with a make-your-own version. Naturally, it doesn't tell you explicitly, "Don't buy game X, you can make your own!", but it does give great instructions on how to make paper playing boards for games like Shut the Box, Beetle (like a drawing version of Cootie), and also how to get the most out of a game like Checkers.

As far as outside games, it can't be beat, there are dozens of variations on classics like hopscotch, hide-and-seek, and that eternal favorite: tag!

This book is a great gift idea for Moms, Teachers, Daycare Providers, and it's a great one to leave around for the teenaged babysitter if you're going out and you don't want the kids to spend the evening in front of the TV. Wonderful!

This is such a great book! I was looking for some activities to keep the kids from being bored. What a wonderful surprise! This book was way more than I expected. There are tons of activities--card games, outdoor games, pen and paper games, travel games, table top games, blacktop games, and much more. As we looked through the book I remembered some of these from my own childhood, but I probably wouldn't have recalled them without this book to prompt the memories. I was very pleased and the kids love it. There are so many games that they will not be bored for a long time.

I do not own this book, but I put it on my "wish list". I currently have it checked-out from my local library for the second time. What a wonderful book for such a great price! I plan to use it for birthday party activities, kids church activities, etc. This book is well worth the price!