Brown Books

Like all of Nava Atlas's books, this one is wonderful, filled with clear descriptions and phenomenal recipes with an eye toward good health. My one and only quibble is that the recipes are hardly "updated" as described on the cover ... I went through it page by page comparing it to the original version, but the only changes I could find were to delete "water" as an ingredient, and to change "margarine" to "reduced-fat margarine" -- which hardly seems worth the cost of a new book; mine is going right back to Amazon. However, if you don't already own the original version, I highly recommend this book for uniquely delicious recipes (many of them kid-pleasing, and appealing to omnivores as well as vegetarians) designed to promote good health, with as little fat and sodium as possible without sacrificing flavor. Although I own almost every vegetarian cookbook in print (no exaggeration), this is one of my all-time favorites, and most dependable ones.

this book provides recipies grouped into entire menus. no more finding a recipie for a dish you like and not being able to figure out what to serve with it. this book also provides step by step directions for preparing dishes ahead of time. perfect for entertaining.

As thanksgiving is only a few days away and I pulled out this cookbook once again to look for some ideas on what to take to my relatives (who are not vegetarians but are getting to like the ideas better) I thought I better write a review. This is a great cookbook and as I mentioned, I pull it out at certain holidays, either when I'm cooking a full vegetarian celebration dinner or when I'm just bringing a couple of dishes over to our relatives houses.

The chapters in the book are actually the celebratory event:
New Years, Valentines Day, Easter & St. Patricks Day, Passover, Mothers day and Fathers day, memorial day, etc etc

Within each chpater there are a couple of different menus, usually 3 or 4 so you have some variety on what to pull together. For thanksgiving, for example, the menus are: A family Thanksgiving, A Harvest Feast for friends, Substitite Main dishes for thanksgiving dinner, and Substitite Stuffings

There are breads, salads, main dishes, side dishes, the whole works. Everything I've made so far has been great. I still use my other cookbooks at holidays too but this one definitely has the right dishes paired up with the different themes of the holidays.

This is the cookbook I've turned to again and again -- it has the most food stains of any cookbook in my collection, which is a good sign! I had no idea vegetarian cooking could be so tasty until I bought this. Not a single recipe has been a disappointment, and what a great idea to organize them according to traditional celebrations. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Both me and my wife consider this the best of about 20 cookbooks we have. This is not your usual uncritical collection of recipes (like 99% of the other cookbooks), the author really teaches you new ways of thinking about vegetarian food, that go beyond italian, or asian, or midwestern style. Certainly a step forward in vegetarian cuisine innovation. Very handy, also, for those holidays when you still don't want animal foods, but don't quite know what to cook. Our two last Thanksgiving banquets have been vegetarian, and great successes too.

From The Back Cover-

Vegetariana is a spirited celebration of vegetarianism - a unique compendium of imaginative recipes, witty illustrations, and literary anecdotes on the delights of vegetarian cookery. Originally published in 1984, Vegetariana is now available in a completely revised and updated edition, featuring more than 80 brand-new recipes.

Nava Atlas, whose illustrations embellish the book has put together an international collection of recipes from soups to desserts, including Chili Lentil and Rice Pilaf, Scallioned Potato Bake, Zucchini Pancakes Parmesan, Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia Bread, and Fresh Peach Crumb Cake. Vegetariana is an essential cookbook for anyone who cares about healthful and delicious food.

From The Introduction-

My maiin intent when first producing the book was to put vegetarian cooking in a lighthearted context, so that the broad range of delicious foods and flavors would be showcased in an inviting, nonintimidating way. Why a new edition? Since the book was first written, many fascinating and healthful foods have become better known or more widely available. I wanted to include new recipes for foods such as tempeh, quinoa, seltan and others. More tofu recipes are here, too, since this versatile food is practically a supermarket staple and I'm constantly asked for ideas for its use.

Some of the original recipes have been slightly defatted in accordance with the current trend of keeping fat content low. While there are still some rich, special-occasion dishes here, most of the recipes will serve a basic, everyday fare for anyone who wants tasty and uncomplicated meals that are healthful as well as fun to make and eat. Nondairy soy alternatives have been suggested in many of the recipes. Those who use no dairy, as well as vegans, will find a wider range of recipes that they can use in this edition. Above all, this new edition of Vegetariana is the continuation of the celebration of vegetarianism and the vegetarian cookery that so many are embracing as a healthful and satisfying way of life.

I have the original, published in 1984, and not only is it a fabulous cookbook - it also makes for interesting reading. The illustrations are wonderfully witty. Nava Atlas is simply the best. If you love to cook and enjoy reading cookbooks you won't find a better one that this.

This was my second veggie cookbook and I use it all the time. Simple, easy to find ingredients, most recipies are about 30 minutes to make. Has both menu plans and individual recipies. nice illustrations too. thanks!

This was my first vegetarian cookbook, and it was a great introduction to this style of cooking. Nava Atlas is a funny, talented writer and the recipes work. Not too complicated, but not bare bones either, I will always have a copy of this book around.

The minute I opened this book I was hooked: Great recipes, fabulous illustrations and a joy to read. It's been my favorite for years; you'll never find another one like this.

This book should be held up before the publishing world as a shining example of what an art book should be: it is BIG in size, BIG in reproductions with some close ups and with just enough information. The crucial point of ANY art book in my humble opinion should be BIG reproductions with the writing playing a supportive not overwhelming role. Among my library of some 100 art books this book ranks among the favorites.

This is one of the best books on Velazquez. Velazquez a prototypical "painter's painter", was a master at achieving "more with less". This large format book depicts virtually every work that is currently attributed to the artist. So, for practical purposes, it serves as a Velazquez catalogue raisonne. Large, very clear color and B&W photos allow you to get a good feel for the way Velazquez constucted his paintings. Emile Carolus-Duran, a solid 19th century academic painter and Sargent's teacher, urged his students to "study Velazquez without respite". This is an exceptional book from which to study!

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MY ART BOOK REVIEWS: It might seem as though I rate most art books very favorably. The reason for this is that I usually visit my local library before buying a book. I'll look at all (in print and out of print) of the Rembrandt (for example) books and choose my favorite one to purchase. In the case of an artist's monograph, I try to choose one or two comprehensive books for each artist. These are generally large, well illustrated hardcovers with above average reproduction quality and informative text, often by one of the leading scholars on the artist. Thus, by the time I purchase a book, I have already found it to be among the best available on the subject.

This is the best book I have yet seen on Velazquez. Informative and lushly illustrated: its got the pictures AND the thousand words (and more). As a painter myself I use this book almost like a holy book; for guidance, inspiration and refreshment of the spirit.

Having never read a book on Velazquez, I took a suggestion from one of my teachers and picked this one up at the library (art books are too expensive!). Being a fine arts/art history student, this was like discovering gold. The book is very well-written. I was able to travel the halls of the Spanish court with ease, because of the lucid, conversational style of writing. Brown doesn't mince words, and his inclusion of 17th century Spanish history is done where it needs to be. Everything in the book is there to inform the reader about Velazquez, whether it's his life, technique, or those around him. Most interesting is how the mood and frivolities of court greatly affected Velazquez's output. Brown states in his introduction that the book is for both the casual reader, and the scholar. After reading the book, this is very true. Scholars would do well to read this book, as Brown offers highly educated opinions and conclusions on Velazquez's style of painting, and the internal and external reasons around the artist that made him paint the way he did, both in quality and quantity. If you can afford this, buy it by all means. It offers the student a great grounding from which to explore Velazquez's paintings, and the techniques seen therein.

Very interesting book with a good analysis of painter and his paintings.

This book hit me to the bone. It's a soldier's images of being on the front line in a war. It could be any war in any country. It's a gripping read. I wish this message could get out to the world. The author would deserve a Noble prize for peace.

I no longer remember where I stumbled across Vessel of Sadness. I recall that I was totally unfamiliar with this book and its author. I was puzzled by the title. But my attention was captured by the literary reviews on the back cover.

"How have you said so much and involved me so deeply with so few words?" Gunnar Myrdahl, Nobel laureate.

"One of the most sensitive and moving books of the war, both authentic and poetic" A.L. Rowse, Elizabethan historian and Shakespearean scholar.

This is a fictional account of the protracted and bloody Allied invasion of Anzio in 1944. The story is told through shifting points of view - an Italian child, a British general, a camp commandant, and Allied and German soldiers. This mosaic is slow to unfold, but a tragic, unrelenting story emerges. Overall the book is subdued and somewhat detached. But its impact is staggering.

This short book is quite remarkable. It has a haunting aspect to it, but it is not a blatant antiwar account. As others have noted, possibly the best comparisons are with The Red Badge of Courage and All Quiet on the Western Front. In a poetic style William Woodruff conveys a frightening sense of realism. High level strategic decisions move down through the chain of command and are translated into battle. Confusion, fear, and pain are pervasive. The focus is on survival.

The author participated in the initial invasion landing at Anzio on January 23, 1944 with the First British Infantry and fought for the next four months on the beachhead, trapped by German forces on the high ground. Woodruff tells the story of war with an emotional impact that ensures that this literary work will become a classic. I highly recommend Vessel of Sadness.

This is a moving and vivid description of the Allies attempt to take Rome during World War II. The novel is brief and concise but reaches a level of greatness comparable to the best World War II literature. Woodruff has make an understanding effor to convey to all readers the stupidity of war and the suffering of those who were persuaded to fight for the betterness of humankind but were uncertain of their personal destinies. As a reader I was very impressed with the quality of the narrative, the interesting dialogues, the sense of inmediacy that the novel brings and the matter of fact approach to war. Woodruff has brought us a magnificient work that will leave an ever-lasting impression on those who read it.

This is a brief, powerful story of life on the front lines in WWII. It is a quick read, but it will touch your soul.

This is a moving and vivid description of the Allies attempt to take Rome during World War II. The novel is brief and concise but reaches a level of greatness comparable to the best World War II literature. Woodruff has make an understanding effor to convey to all readers the stupidity of war and the suffering of those who were persuaded to fight for the betterness of humankind but were uncertain of their personal destinies. As a reader I was very impressed with the quality of the narrative, the interesting dialogues, the sense of inmediacy that the novel brings and the matter of fact approach to war. Woodruff has brought us a magnificient work that will leave an ever-lasting impression on those who read it.

At the end of World War I countries shed their kings and emperors. At the end of World War II, countries shed their colonies leaving the United States and the Soviet Union attempting to influence nations of the world to enter their sphere of influence. Vietnam was tailor-made for all these forces to converge in one desperate struggle, and Thomas Boettcher takes the reader step-by-step through the whole tragic process of events that would leave a scar on our national psyche.

The first lesson learned and long since forgotten was the arrival of the US Special Forces to teach the South Vietnamese Army. The army never considered learning the culture. Their green berets and round eyes reminded the Vietnamese of a century of French cruelty that destroyed their universal education system and brought them to a level of poverty previously unknown in their history. With the narrow-minded philosophy that communism would have to be confronted anywhere and anytime, the United States was doomed to the following fifteen years.

This book analyzes the history of Vietnam starting with their fierce struggle against the French and their envoy appealing to President Grant to ask him to make their Eurpean neighbors leave their 900 year old kingdom. Only no one here ever heard of Vietnam. Americans would hear of it under President John F. Kennedy's who first committed American advisors, and also with President Johnson who was told by Kennedy advisors that leaving Vietnam before victory would be a stain on our national honor. The Joint Chiefs of Staff did or said nothing.

The pictures are vivid reminders of those that filled our daily newspapers and Life and Look magazines. The text is interesting with a number of "by lines" such as the plan to destroy the Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu with unmarked American bombers, a plan that was defeated by Senator Johnson from Texas, the advent of the M-16, or the story of Lieutenant Colonel Hambledon who was shot down behind enemy lines and rescued after several days who relayed his movements describing stateside golf coure fairways he had committed to memory, the various types of booby traps, the drugs, the life of the tunnel rats, and the last man drafted before it officially ended. (He was given punitive active duty for failing to anwer several notices, and even though we were already in transition to an all-volunteer force).

There is no better account than this one by Thomas D. Boettcher, a 1967 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. This book is in depth and offers a definitive study of the history, the causes, the mistakes, and the lessons of Vietnam.

The parallels to today are, sadly, remarkable.





Dedicated to Robert Norman Norris, friend, 101st Airborne (Sreaming Eagles) Division, Scout Dog Patrol, whose only return was to Arlington.

i certainly cannot improve on the review done by the man from Camp Lejeune, so be sure to read that review. I have not read Stanley Karnow's book on Vietnam although I found his Pulitzer-Prize-winning book In Our Image, on the Phillipines exceptionally good. My only complaint about this book is that it is hard to read straight through since the sidebars don't end on the same page and so sometimes one is reading a sidebar and when finishing it has to go back and find out where one left on in the main text. But if one wants a balanced view of the conflict--probably more critical of the war than some enthusiasts for it--this is the book to read.

When I was in 11th grade (1987), somehow I came across a copy of this book. At that time I wasn't an avid reader (or a lover or history), but this book made me one. It was extremely engaging and a worthwhile read. Boettcher hits it on the head, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

An indispensable book that effectively and efficiently covers the entirety of the Vietnam conflict, from its roots in French colonialism to the aftermath of the war up to, and including, the time of the book's publication (1983). Although Mr. Boettcher provides some very interesting, informative, and moving original material concerning the experiences and insights of some junior officers who actually served in Vietnam, most of the information presented in the book has previously been published in the many books he cites. Each of those works, however long each may be, looks at a fairly limited topic (e.g., Bernard Fall's work on Dien Bien Phu, Hell in a Very Small Place) or time period (e.g., David Halberstam's The Best and the Brightest, which focuses primarily on the early to mid-60s). Mr. Boettcher used the best sources available to assemble a coherent picture of the roots, growth, and aftermath of the conflict. The author does an outstanding job of distilling each work to its essence and using it in the way that best contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Having read a majority of the sources he cites, I was impressed how faithful he was to not only the content of those sources, but also to their context.

Content-wise, the most similar book I have seen is Stanley Karnow's Vietnam. One of the biggest differences between the two books, however, is Mr. Boettcher's extensive use of photo illustrations and sidebars. These devices make the book more accessible to those who have not read extensively on the matter. But the extra material is not there merely for entertainment or diversion, it serves like highly informative and readable footnotes. The sidebars add another layer to the story and the author's judicious use of photos proves the adage about each picture being worth a thousand words.
Unlike most of the other prominent historians of the war, the author has a rare perspective, having served in Vietnam as a young air force officer during 1968 and 1969. At the hands of another writer, that background could have been a constraint, turning the book into a love song to himself or a hate letter to those he felt let him down, but Mr. Boettcher is largely invisible throughout the book. My feeling was that Mr. Boettcher did not write this book about himself, but he may have written it for himself. Like many of his generation, he entered a service academy in the early 1960s with the calls to service of JFK ringing in his ears. The world was very different when he reported to Vietnam four years later after much of the U.S. had turned against the war. Rather than the enthusiastic volunteers who had fought in the early years (such as the troopers in LGen Hal Moore's We Were Soldiers Once, and Young), the war was increasingly being fought by conscripts who questioned the Johnson and Nixon administrations' conduct of the war and whose primary focus was understandably on self-preservation. This book goes a long way towards answering questions that veterans such as Mr. Boettcher must have had upon their return, e.g., why were we there, how did we get there, what went wrong, and how can we avoid the same mistakes in the future?

Despite his personal involvement with the conflict, the author never demonstrates any personal agenda. Unlike the approach of others, Mr. Boettcher does not overly demonize or glorify anyone. He demonstrates a notable respect for the parties involved and an understanding of the forces that affected them. The result is an unusually nuanced picture. We are not given a drama of heroes and villains, but a tragedy of generally decent, intelligent, and well-intentioned people making choices that are only clearly bad here in hindsight. In many respects, that is the most unfortunate aspect of the whole matter; based on the people involved, their strongly-held beliefs, the assumptions they made, and the constraints they operated under, it was almost inevitable that events would play out as they did. Hopefully, Mr. Boettcher's book can help us identify when, in the future, we are making similar errors of thought and action.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, regardless whether this is their first or fiftieth book on Vietnam. The book is well-researched and exceedingly well-written. I enjoyed this author's work very much. I read that his other book (on the U.S. military from 1945-53) will soon be republished under the title Harry Truman and the Military: How the Early Cold War Years and Korea Reshaped the U.S. Military, and I look forward to getting a copy of it.

Those who intend to read only one book about Vietnam should read this one. The author covers this disaster with a unique insight into the flawed decision-making processes of otherwise intelligent bureaucrats who failed to understand the complexity of the situation. War games prior to our massive air campaign had predicted the eventual tragic outcome, yet the results were completely ignored. A combat commander (which I was) usually sees a war from an entirely different perspective than that of government-employed theorists. The theorists may dismiss their mistakes as an investment in the learning process about a problem. The commander is left to count his dead, and write the letters to their families.

Wabi Sabi is a children's book with a universal theme -- the quest for self-identity. This timeless motif in literature is beautifully expressed by the author, Mark Reibstein, who weaves an enchanting tale of a cat in search of the meaning of his name. The synthesis of collage art with simple, lyrical passages of haiku throughout the text gives the reader -- both young and old a taste -- nay a morsel -- of Eastern philosophy as embodied by the concept of Wabi Sabi -- finding beauty in the simple, imperfections of every day life. Buy it, read it and savor it. It will make a wonderful stocking stuffer for the children for the holidays!

WABI SABI
MARK REBSTEIN
Art by Ed Young
Children's (ages 4-8)
Little, Brown
ISBN# 978-0-316-11825-5
40 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

WABI SABI is the story of a cat by the same name, who after hearing a conversation her owner has with friends about her unusual name decides to go out in search of the true meaning of Wabi Sabi. Along the way she asks fellow feline Snowball, Rascal the dog and even wise old monkey Kosho who all share with her their personal meaning of Wabi Sabi, which are all told in beautiful Haiku style. Once she's satisfied with her answers from her friends, Wabi Sabi finally returns home, content with her newfound knowledge.

I think WABI SABI is the most unique children's book I've ever seen and one that many will no doubt enjoy. I would say though that this is one children's book that has a higher reading level to it to go along with its message of Wabi Sabi, the art of finding "beauty and harmony" in what is simple. The accompanying illustrations, which are actually collages made from natural and manmade materials, are truly beautiful to look at and compliment the story really well.

Mark Reibstein is an English teacher and writer who has lived in New York, California, Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand. Now Mark and his daughter live near San Francisco with their good friend Arlo, who is also a cat. This is his first picture book.

Ed Young has illustrated for over 70 books and has been awarded the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po and the Caldecott Honors for Seven Blind Mice and The Emperor and the Kite. He lives in upstate New York with his daughters.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2008

Credit author Mark Reibstein with this much. He sure doesn't shy away from trying to teach kids complex philosophical concepts. Here he is writing his very first picture book and does he select something easy like being the new kid in school or losing your first tooth? No, Reibstein decides to write a book about the ancient Chinese concept of wabi sabi (later adopted by the Japanese), working in thoughts on Taoism, haiku, and even the works of Basho on the sly. Paired alongside the remarkable Ed Young's artwork, the final product is a quiet, deep, moving story that may require a special audience, and yet has many uses.

One day Wabi Sabi the cat overhears his mistress discussing his name with a pair of visitors. When asked what "wabi sabi" means, the young woman replies, "That's hard to explain." Curious, Wabi Sabi sets out to find the true meaning of her name. Each creature she asks explains how difficult a concept it is to explain, and they often end their thoughts with a little haiku (each one describing wabi sabi in some manner). It isn't until the cat meets a wise monkey and partakes of tea in a plain and beautiful bowl that the phrase begins to take on a real meaning. Wabi sabi is the feeling you get when you find harmony in the imperfect that is beautiful. Stopping at a temple on her way home, Wabi Sabi creates poems in its honor and truly understands her name by the time she meets up with her mistress once again.

The book bears some surface similarities to Jon Muth's Zen Shorts, though the tone feels a bit different. In both cases, however, you find yourself wondering idly about audience. The idea of a cat searching for the true meaning of its name is something kids will grasp easily. But with the added haiku in the text, the book appears to be aimed at older children. Maybe if a school had a class assignment on haiku this would make for a natural companion piece. Normally when a child has to learn about haiku they are handed a book of poems that are separate from one another. A title like If Not for the CatIf Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky is fun for kids but doesn't always make plain haiku's power to set a moment in time apart from the busyness of life. What Wabi Sabi does is to place these haikus within the context of a larger tale. When that happens, the little sayings and moments are set apart. They are shots of quietude in the midst of a busy narrative. As a result, the entire book has a kind of calming effect on the reader. Whether that effect will touch children as often as it touches adults remains to be seen.

I wouldn't call my relationship to Ed Young's work a love/hate relationship because I've never really hated anything he's done. I just feel that his art varies to a great and grand degree. When Ed Young created Lon Po Po it was justly given a Caldecott Medal for a title that was inarguably the greatest children's art of that given year. Lon Po Po was a triumph. Since then Mr. Young has done personal tales like My Mei Mei and grand sweeping visions with eclectic techniques as in Beyond the Great Mountains. These are all fine and good but few have them have really touched me in any way. Really, I haven't found an Ed Young book I really liked since I, Doko. Wabi Sabi, however, grabbed my attention. It could have been another run-of-the-mill book, but there's something extra here. Something special. Maybe it's wrapped up in the story of these illustrations' creation.

Here is the true story behind the pictures you will see in Wabi Sabi. When Mr. Young was asked to create the art for Reibstein's book he produced a series of beautifully simple images. When the pictures were done he went to visit his editor (or was it his agent?) and left the images on the front porch of the home. When he went outside again to retrieve them, they were gone. Poof! "It was a wabi sabi moment," says Mr. Young. And rather than bemoan his fate, curse the heavens above, and fall into a funk, Young resolved to make the pictures again, "and make them better." The result is what you hold in your hand now. Rather than use the same style (and this really was a case of starting over from scratch), Young went in a new direction. They'll call this artistic style mixed media and I guess that they aren't wrong, but there's something about Young's combinations here that gets at the heart of the story better than any random smattering of pulp on paper could. The epilogue to this tale is that six months or so after the disappearance of the art, it reappeared anonymously at a local church and was returned to Young's possession. And if you do a side-by-side comparison of Young's first try and subsequent re-illustration one thing is patently clear. The new images are better than the originals. Just as Ed Young said they would be.

To talk a little more about the art, can I confess to you that I'm not actually a fan of collage? I'm not. I have nothing against pasting random bits and pieces together in the hopes of creating something new and different, but it's not my favorite style in the whole wide world. And so the single most impressive and interesting image in this book is not, to my mind, the cat or the creatures he encounters but in fact the photograph that lurks behind the publication information at the end of the book. It's a shot taken in low lighting of what appears to be a stone garden. The sand is even, possibly after a recent rain, but breaking it up natural as you please is a set of small and precise cat footprints. The combination of perfect smooth surface and the playful remains of kitty feet is what this book is all about. The perfection of imperfection.

It is not an easy book to describe. I keep trying to give you some vast sense of the whole, and instead I keep finding myself returning to descriptions of single moments. How could I review this book without mentioning the image of Wabi Sabi staring out over a busy city at dusk? Young perfectly captures in a visual sense the accompanying haiku's description of the darkening city, "before the shock of new light", that will come with electricity. I was particularly intrigued to find that though I started the book by imagining that it took place in the past (Wabi Sabi's mistress wears a kimono), the shot of the city places it squarely in the present. This is not a jarring realization, however, and few will have any problems with it.

If people dohave any difficulties with the book, it may lie in the design. Wabi Sabi is a vertical book. To read it, you must turn it so that the pages move from down to up rather than from right to left. Some people find such books too difficult to read to children though, if Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens is any indication, this is something adults object to. Not children.

If you find the song Simple Gifts running through your head, do not be surprised. Heck, you could even pair this book with Chris Raschka's picture book Simple Gifts for a cat-related, simplicity-centric storytime. Concept books are hard enough when you're trying to teach a kid why sharing is bad or why homemade things have more meaning than store bought. Trying to teach kids about why the simple and plain are also beautiful is a task few would willingly select. Reibstein and Young, however, have hit upon the one way it can be done. I suspect that the world will recognize their achievement accordingly. Highly recommended.

Wabi Sabi is a charming tale of deceptive simplicity. A cat's search for identity takes readers on a journey through lavishly illustrated landscapes punctuated by thought-provoking haiku. The discovery at the end of the journey has the impact of a true epiphany or "satori," a breakthrough to understanding and enlightenment that will resonate with older readers but is easily accessible to children as well. A rare gem--and a lovely gift!

I was so charmed by this gorgeous book, I bought copies for all my nieces and newphews. All respect is paid to the concept of Wabi Sabi in every nuance, elucidating young and old. The book is laced with Reibstein's haiku as part of the story and haiku in Japanese kanji by Basho and Shiki.

A beautiful gift. I love it!

Lots of information to help sort it all out for a new Kindergarten teacher. Filled with many good ideas. Well worth the cost.

Great book for start up hints and classroom routines. Well written and easy to read.

I bought this thinking I would get curriculum with a title of "Month to Month Guide to Teaching and Learning". Sounds pretty thorough and it's nothing of the sort. It's mostly ideas for you to build on. There are a couple cute suggestions, but overall, I am very disappointed. I gave it 5 stars, as I do feel it would be beneficial to the public school teacher. I highly recommend a book like Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills, which is outstanding for homeschooling kindergartners.

As a first year teacher, I found this book to be more than helpful! It served as a guide for starting my classroom decorating and arranging!

This is a great book for teachers and future teachers. I am currently taking a grad course with the author- Bonnie Brown Walmsley. She is wonderful!!

This is a small gem for our time. I don't often buy books for my adult kids, but this one is an exception. In more than 30 years of preaching to them, I've never communicated the heart of Christianity so simply, clearly and effectively as Del Brown does here in just a few pages. It belongs with Marcus Borg's "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time" for its path-breaking significance for people seeking a fresh, credible approach to Christian belief and the life-transforming way of Jesus.

As a former fundamentalist Christian I wish that this book had been available to me years ago. Clear and concise as well as informative and thought-provoking, Del Brown's latest book is a must-read for those seeking to understand just what progressive Christianity is all about.

Delving into the historic roots of the Christian tradition he embraces our past and provides compelling reasons as to why the future of the faith needs to be grounded in what came before. We are formed by this tradition that, he says, "can provide insight, hope, and transformation today to the entire human family."

Chapters that talk about "the Bible as our foundational resource" and "the incarnation of God in the entire creation" will transform your perspective of progressive Christianity and give you a new hope for humanity.

"What Does a Progressive Christian Believe" is life-affirming faith-empowering, and truly educational. At the end of each chapter, Brown provides "Points for Reflection," which highlight the main points of the chapter and serve as a launching pad for further study. Adult religious education study groups would benefit greatly from their use.

Indeed, anyone who is interested in learning more about progressive Christianity, it's roots and it's future, should read this book. I highly recommend it.

What Does a Progressive Christian Believe?: A Guide for the Searching, the Open, and the Curious

I can't count the number of meetings I've attended in which people struggle to make sense of the current broadening of the Christian climate. Liberal, conservative, moderate, fundamentalist -- many Christians know more about what they don't believe than what they do.

This book leaps right into the fray and provides some very simple reasons for a Christianity that eschews the worst of the Christian Right, while articulating some problematic assumptions of classic liberal theology.

And while labels often form the least comfort for the perplexed, Del Brown does a masterful job in getting to the heart of a serious and compassionate faith.

I don't doubt that the balanced theology in this book represents the future of major sections of evangelical and mainline Christianity. For example, when dealing with the old theodicy question, Del Brown weaves Process and Open theologies in with the traditional view of God, and uses the concept of incarnation to make a winsome case for an active faith even in the face of terrible human suffering.

If you're "not that kind of Christian," but dubious about "progressive" being anything really new, I recommend this book. It has helped me to grow in my personal faith and grounded me deeper in my Christian ideals.

Dr. Delwin Brown's latest effort, What Does a Progressive Christian Believe? is nothing short of brilliant. Brown offers Christians a third option - one that does not fall into the trappings of religious fundamentalism or religious humanism. This is an excellent introduction for anyone desiring to learn about Progressive Christianity as well as those seeking a better way to follow Jesus of Nazareth in this new post-modern era.

We need this book! It's a terrific corrective to the kind of Christianity that's dominated the airwaves in recent years.

In a brief systematic theology, Brown offers a Christianity that "charts a different course" than liberal or conservative Christianity, a course that embraces the rich diversity of the biblical narrative and the public witness of the church.
In seven points, he retrieves the value of the bible, affirms the presence of God entwined in all of creation, and breathes life into the creeds (imagine that!) He grounds a view of humanity in the Genesis story of co-creation and the twin commandments to love God and others as ourselves.
Love is the key to his treatment of sin, and he give us a refreshing correctives on centuries of bad preaching. Sin he rightly portrays as a failure to love "loving too much or too little any part of the interconnected web of life"; and sin's clever strategy of deception, subtle self-deception gives rise to the structures that plague our world: racism, consumerism, militarism, etc. But there is good news: salvation. And salvation, of course, is not located on the other side of pearly gates, but available here and now in our world where God is "working through all the processes of the creation to bring it to the fullness and health made possible by love." And we are part of the process, as the church, "the community of those who seek to serve God's healing work in the world."
One succinct way to express the value of this book is to point to a phrase that prefaces several positions descriptive of progressive Christianity: "There is a Christian reason for..." What follows is just that, the explicit Christian reason for, say, respecting diversity or working for economic justice or caring for the planet or making peace valuing the common good or or being open to other faith traditions. Brown gives us reasons by taking us into the biblical record and the early church's rendering of that narrative to offer compelling reasons that comprise a sound theology. This is what takes this book beyond one more expression of liberal ideals or a philosophical theology that would ignore the particularity of Christianity's biblical heritage.

This book is a excellent read I read it 6 hours and it isn't what you are excepting from African American lit. The author took time to develop the characters and the story made for a quick but pleasant read it had substance and is not filled with un-needed sex scenes and not full of profanity but she still got her point across effortlessly. Kudos to Ms. Brown for a superb book I am defiantly waiting on the next book from Tanya Brown! (DON'T SLEEP ON THIS AUTHOR)

The beauty of the Internet is discovering superb authors you would have never heard of otherwise, Tanya Brown is one of those authors. If Tonya Brown had a million dollar publishing company behind her, this book would be a best seller.

It is hard to write a book about relationships that can hold my attention. I always expect them to be books about man haters or just another sex romp disguised as a novel.

Thankfully, that's not what this book is.

Instead this is a cleverly crafted novel a...more The beauty of Goodreads is discovering superb authors you would have never heard of otherwise, Tanya Brown is one of those authors. If Tonya Brown had a million dollar publishing company behind her, this book would be a best seller.

It is hard to write a book about relationships that can hold my attention. I always expect them to be books about man haters or just another sex romp disguised as a novel.

Thankfully, that's not what this book is.

Instead this is a cleverly crafted novel about revelations as Danielle discovers some things about her husband and in the process, her girlfriends Maxine and Pam.

The twists and turns will leave you stumped. Each one builds the suspense and then ... (Well that would be telling)

Brown has an amazing writing style, she builds suspense on every page and provides real characters instead of cardboard cutouts.

Read this book!!! It is a journey worth traveling.

If you are looking for a good book to read, look now further. You found it!

"Good things come in small packages."

Normally when seeking out a book to read I look for anything with 350 plus pages because like a good treat I want it to last a long time. To my delight, "What You Owe, Loves Does Not Pay" was more than a good treat -- it was fine cuisine.

The novel opens in a bar focused on Charney, one of several male characters in the book. We are then introduced to a trio of girlfriends, Pam (relatively good girl), Maxine (gold digger/wealth partner) and Danielle (married doormat). Charney is married to Danielle. As the story unfolds we soon learn that Charney aka pretty boy, minipulator, dawg, touched the lives of all three women in uninmaginable ways.

"What You Owe, Loves Does Not Pay," gives new meaning to "Kissing Cousins" and "It's A Small World." There are numerous twists and turns in the book and surprising connections that all lead to a jaw dropping conclusion.

The other male characters are eqaully interesting. Vin, a young white guy and neighbor to Pam, brings his own surprises to the bedroom and the table and Kahn, an up and coming Michael Jordan wannabe, leads Maxine to believe she's finally scored.

I loved the way Tanya has structured this story. It's straight forward, clear and it keeps moving. I'm impressed with how she slowly reveals and unravels the secrets. This little gem will keep you coming back for more. The end is explosive and realistic. I feel like I've been in another world. When you read this movel you will move into another world. A world of secrets, heartaches disappointments and finally victory.

Both men and women can enjoy this book.

This African American Novella has the potential to be amongst famous authors such as, Eric Jerome Dickey, Zane, E.Lynn Harris, Terri Mcmillian, and Lolita Files. A definite page-turner filled with suspense as drama unfolds through the lives of three main characters: Maxine, Danielle and Pam. Ms. Brown's hip and unique style of writing will have you yearning for the next sequel.

The soft, simple city and country illustrations and the gentle rhythms and add-on patterns of the reassuring text make this warm and loving bedtime story a good choice for early readers and pre-readers alike. Since my toddler was 18 months old, this has been one of our favorites. We have fun adding our own animal sounds to the chain of events, and, of course our own nighttime snuggles and stuffed-animal cuddles at the end.

I am eight years old. My teacher read us this book when I was in first grade. I like the end when they are all in the bed. My teacher sings it to us like a lullabye. We like that.

This is sweet book with wonderful ryhmes.
The second page ties in with the first page's
ryhme and it does that throughout the book and at the end of the story you realize that the animals are the child's stuffed toys and that they were out in the places where the child's imagination placed them and that they are all home now because the child has gone to sleep.

This book was written by my pre-K teacher. I am now in third grade. This book is a story about a dog, a cat, a monkey, a camel, a seagull, and a brown bear. Each animal has its own page, but the author repeats certain words to give the book rhythm. This is a good book for a parent to read to a child to make the child feel comfortable and at home. By Zoe Jacobson, age 8.

Not only is this book fun to read for children, but enjoyable for an adult reader -- adding a little rhythm track to the text, and a pat-clap from the children, produced a wonderful lesson for my music students. They learned the text quickly and enjoyed the ending which reminded them of similar "toys come to life when you're not looking" stories.