Collins Books

A great classic that each child should have in her library.

I've been searching for this book since the birth of my first child. It was my all time favorite book. My mother read it to me night and day. Upon my learning to read, I remember taking this book to bed with me during nap time and reading it over and over again. I never grew tired of seeing how children in other countries lived. This book went every where I went. I'm estatic this book has been reprinted and I can share it with my children.

In typical Dr. Suess fashion (LeSieg is backwards for Geisel...Dr.Suess' real last name) this book carries the poetic rhyme that kids love. It tells the story of how homes are different everywhere, but how "they're all alike when a friend asks you in." The pictures are bright and interesting. Young children will be filled with curiosity with the amusing pictures of homes in far away lands.

I read this book to a group of first graders and they hung on every word. None had ever heard the book before. It truly is delightful! It is a shame that this fabulous book is no longer in print. I got my copy nearly 30 years ago. It is still my favorite!

This book is amazing. I found it at a thrift store for .25 and put it away for the birth of my first child. I am an American living overseas, so for my son to see all the different cultures familiar and unfamiliar, it great. He is 18 months old and just wants to look at the pictures and hear me read it over and over and over again. I never tire of reading it either.

I have been "hunting" for this book for years! I loved it as a child, going all those different places, and now am anxious to share it with my nieces! Thank you for allowing us to do some "traveling" together!! Ronda

This book was well worth the money paid,the book covers many things from beginning to end,topics such as how to increase your drawing capabilities,steps to move from to get better,then slowly moves towards things such as learning figures and anatomy,then to drawing the figures and inking them,the 2 forms of inking,and what materials are best for making a manga*WITH PICTURES!*
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to improve, get tips, or just starting out

This is a useful guide for all ages and skill levels of drawing. Especially those that are not familiar with or from the culture of manga animation artistry. It gives the history and origins of manga to give the reader and artist a better of understanding of manga. It then helps the artist see how traditional manga artistry is performed and the processes to make "good" and "proper" manga characters and art. Moreover, it shows the reader and artist how to develop their own style of manga artistry based upon the principles of the tradition. Then it helps the reader and artist to create and develope manga stories, and characters to be in them with "good" plots and flow to create your own manga novel of equal greatness to all those that many/you know and love.

I got this book out of the library out of curiosity
and was very suprised by its content.

Most Manga books show you how to
copy the CONTENT/STYLE of Manga; this
this addresses Manga's FORM as well
as its historical background and relation
to Western comics.

The section on how to use computers and
various software to layout, ink, letter and color
your OWN comics and/or manga
is worth the price of the book alone.

Highly Recommended!!!!

After you finish practicing Bruce Lewis' tips and techniques, you cannot help but emerge with your own particular style. Instructions are clear, informative and inspiring.

Its actualy the most helpfull book I have purchased so far when it comes to drawing in that style. It stresses the importance of practicing your own style and mastering it before moving on to anime esk figures. infact heres some advice, master basic anatomy before you decide to try manga, you have to be experienced regadless. The "How to Draw Manga" series is flawed in that it expects the customer to already know how to draw...

This book has many great ideas! It is very simple and to the point. YOu can turn around and use these lessons tomorrow.

I wish every teacher in America could teach reading this way- we would have classrooms full of kids who LOVE to read instead of kids who get DRILLED to death with phonics and word attack skills.... phonics is important but learning to choose appropriate books and LOVING them will create LIFE LONG readers... this author knows that and shares her thoughts in a fabulous way :)

We just finished a Book Study @ school using this book! We all thought her suggestions were great (especially the one about not ONLY using running records & DRA levels to "label" readers) but using individual conferencing also.
Mini Lesson Ideas abound! Specifics are included throughout! A must-have in your personal/professional library for ANY Elementary School Reading Teacher!

Mrs. Collins gives you a classroom teachers perspective on guiding yourself and your students down a path to discovering reading, readers and the step readers undergo to comprehend what they read. This is an easy read because Mrs. Collins narratives transforms you from the pages of the book to front and center in your classroom, working with your students.

This is an excellent source to guide teachers on how to teach Reading Workshop. It gives dialogue on mini lessons and ideas of how to set up your room. It is a must read for Reading Workshop teachers. It is a down to the minutes guide of what to do.

My 8 yr old son checked this out of the library two days ago and has barely let it out of his grasp since! Including when his 6 yr old brother tried to yank it from him because it's "soo cool!" So far, the page he keeps turning to is how to make a marshmallow shooter out of PVC pipe. Guess we're heading to the hardware store this weekend! This is a perfect gift for a boy, any age really. I am going to buy a copy for him.

The content has been reviewed thoroughly (it's great, and well organized and fun to read). The book itself is on high quality, glossy colored thick paperstock. So not only is this a fun book for kids (and grown-up kids) to go back to time and time again, it should last for a long time.

I gave Howtoons to my 11 year old daughter for Christmas. She loves it, and it's a fantastic way to come up with active and interesting activities that don't involve a pile of imagination-crushing store-bought toys.

Her cousins have seen it, and they want their own copy too!

This book was recommended to me by a friend for my 9 year old son as a gift. Since he enjoys comic book, and enjoys making things (especially of it involves shooting objects), this was a real hit (no pun intended?). The stories are fun and the drawings well done. Very engaging and friendly, and has a universal rating. Highly recommended!

A nice guide for children nine years old and above.Adult supervision is recommended and the necessary materials are not supplied.A step in the right direction for all interested in chemistry.

When I gave this as a gift to cat-loving friends I knew I was doing the right thing. It has been received with great appreciation, not only for the subject matter, but for the beautiful way it was written and illustrated. Judy Chicago is a master at what she does.

This book is exquisite: well-researched, superbly-written, and the art is incredible! I love cats and love art - she has done a masterful job capturing the feline essence, and the relationships she and Donald have with their cats.

I've been sharing my life with cats for twenty years, and thought I knew feline behavior and physiology pretty well. She taught me things I never knew before.

I plan to give this as a gift to many of my friends. I am proud to have it as a part of my personal library. It is a true treasure that I will always cherish. Every time I open it, I find something new to marvel at. Her feline companions are very lucky to have found her; her love of, and understanding of, those she has made a part of her family, shine through on every page.

Bravo, Judy!

As an artist and an animal person, I treasure this exquisite book. Not only is it beautifully painted (in the challenging medium of water color no less!) but it has a rich feel of the Medieval with its purples, golds and parchment divider pages. Hence the sub-title, "A Feline Book of Hours." I share my home with several cats as I have my whole life. This book honors cats by not just showing one's daily routine with them, but also shows the dignity, courage and humor cats possess. It also shows, from the artist's perspective, the joys of daily life in the companionship of cats and the tragedy of inevitable loss.
It is a joy to see cats represented as the unique creatures that they are by one of the most gifted and brilliant artists of our time.

Kitty City: A Feline Book of Hours caught my attention because of the author's name, Judy Chicago. I have always admired her work in the world of fine arts. This book is a wonderful surprise. It is beautifully illustrated and truly influenced by the illuminated Book of Hours treasured during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The pleasing illustrations are enhanced by the use of gold and vellum.

To my delight, the reader is allowed a very intimate look at the life of the artist with her husband and their feline family. The day-to-day joys as well as life's harsh reality in the loss of a loved one.

Kitty City makes a great gift for anyone that has ever loved an animal or is interested in feline history and feline facts of life. Little known tidbits about cats and their place in the world add to the uniqueness of this book.

If you are familiar with Judy Chicago's work, you know that endless hours of research precedes each project, and this one continues in that tradition. The text is lively and informative, and the illustrations prove once again what a fine artist Judy Chicago is. Her sense of color is just amazing. Even if you're not a cat lover, this book is a treasure.

The photographs are interesting to look at, but the stories that accompany them are awful! They're poorly written. Also, the intro to the book over-stresses the fact that this is the "instant access generation." That's not really news, and I think it pigeonholes teenagers too much. It's the completely obvious way to look at teenagers right now. And though Franzini stresses in the intro that he identified himself to the teens as a peer, he definitely comes across as someone with an agenda, looking at teenager as specimen. I also don't like the way they used a low-angle shot on the overweight girl, making her look even huger. I bought this at the same time as "It's Complicated," another photo book of teenagers, and "It's Complicated" is MUCH Better, more honest and less other-izing of teenagers.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1CXY6H5MKQ650 I love this book. It documents America's youth today in a stunning and sometimes shocking way bringing back memories of teenage anxiety and joy. I lool forward to other works from this brillant documentarian and photographer, Michael Franzini.

This book is captivating. A very personal glimpse into the life of 100 individual personalities. Independently, each is fascinating. Collectively, it is an even more compelling look at a generation.

Terrific, it's all there, the kids' hopes and dreams, their passions, fears, mistakes.
Michael Francini (and his team) did a terrific job in finding such a diverse group of 100 youths around the country.
The portraits are fabulous. Each one made to fit and doing justice to the person in the picture. All telling different stories. Great light, composure, good ideas and great people, all of them! This is what portrait photography is about.
We all can learn from each and everyone in the book. From who they are, what they want to be and what they have to say. Listen, try to understand and it will make you a better person.

One Hundred Young Americans is an eye-opener for me. I consider myself pretty connected with the youth of today but after reading this beautifully published piece, my perspective has broadened immensely. Franzini's lens captures the emotions, aspirations, and dreams of his subjects with vivid and detailed artfulness. The images are provocative and many times playful. Though I learned and got reaquainted with today's young people through Franzini's eyes, I almost feel like I personally knew many of these kids when I was in high school.

I too love this book, and I apparently am the only one here who has taken good care of her copy, as it's still around and last time I checked not even falling apart. I agree with all the praise and would like to add that the book is also full of wonderfully realized secondary characters, an area in which far too many writers fall short.

Oddly enough, GILDED SPURS, which she wrote as Ingram, is a prequel to POWER OF DARKNESS, which she wrote as Adams; there is at least one character who appears in both. I think POWER OF DARKNESS is very nearly as good as RED ADAM'S LADY, but I didn't care for GILDED SPURS at all. The protagonist was likeable, but nobody else was; and if I remember correctly, there wasn't a romance.

I am thrilled to see others know how good this book is! I read this years ago and kept the copy for a long time. Then because I was crazy I got rid of my copy. I kept thinking about it though and a few years ago paid about 40 dollars for a used copy. Money well spent! I read this book at least once a year and enjoy it every time. I keep hoping it will be reprinted so more people can enjoy reading about Adam and Julitta. There is something romantic about a man literally having some sense knocked into him. Unlike so many romances of the time that had the love interest fight each other to the end then suddenly they are in love, Ms. Ingram gradually brings Julitta from dislike, to grudging respect, friendship and then love. All this while the Scots are over the border, there is disloyalty in the household and treason is afoot. This it a great read!

Mistaken for a peasant girl and kidnapped by the drunken lord of Brentborough while returning home to an abusive uncle, Julitta valiantly defends her virtue. Forced into marriage the next morning to salvage her reputation, she gradually begins to trust the tenderness and respect with which her noble husband eventually wins her.
The period detail and writing literally draw you into the story, weaving a lush tapestry against which the splendid romance between the strong heroine and the persistent hero unfolds beautifully. Red Adam is not only patient and kind as he endeavors to win Julitta's affections, but he is strong and intelligent, recognizing in Julitta an equal, worthy partner and giving her full control of the household whenever he must ride out. Facing impudent serving wenches, a resentful chatelaine, an insolent comrade of Red Adam's, and even a thieving cook, Julitta has her hands full with the running of the estate and all its inherent problems, not to mention the whisper of mystery surrounding the former lord. Throw into that brew political unrest and rebellion, raiding Scotts, betrayal and breathtaking escape, and you have a truly dynamic, potent tale.
There is just so much more to the story than the above. A true bond between the characters, genuine affection, and several subplots, all threads being masterfully combined. Any summary is inadequate. But if you like adventure, a mystery interwoven throughout, compelling history that draws you into its pages, true love in the truest sense, and blazing triumph over adversity, then this is your book! I don't know why no one will republish it!

The best historical romance ever written. This book was the first 'romance' book I read. I bought it in the summer of 1974 as a beach read. Little did I know that it would spark a love of all romance novels that lasts to this day. I read this book once a year, and it never fails to deliver!
This book has everything! Mistaken identity, nasty family members, a rogue hero, a feisty heroine, villainy, intrigue, marauding hordes all set against the backdrop of feudal England. And must not forget a love story for the ages. This is one for every hopeful romantic!
If you ever come across this gem, buy it! You won't be sorry.

Lady Julitta is mistaken for a peasant and is accosted by a drunken "Red" Adam de Lorismond, the new lord of Brentborough. Adam takes Julitta back to his keep bent on rape, but the ever resourceful Julitta knocks him out with a stool and when he's sober Adam marries her to assuage her damaged honor. Julitta is none too thrilled with the match, but sparks soon fly between the two as Julitta's uncle Lord William and his cronies conspire to support young Henry in his plan to oust his father Henry II and rule England instead. Julitta also soon finds her hands full with a castle and mutinous servants allowed to run to ruin by the previous lord of Brentborough (Adam's uncle), a thieving seneschal, invading armies of Scots, a perilous climb down ocean cliffs, a mysterious death or two and more as "Red" Adam and his lady banter their way through it all to find true love in the end.

While I very much enjoyed this book, at times it was a bit too busy and fast paced for my tastes. At times I lost track of who was who when characters from the first part of the book returned back to the story and the author didn't provide enough background to refresh my memory, and I got lost more than once until I fell back into the groove. A cast of characters and their various names and titles would have helped quite a bit and enhanced my appreciation of the story. That said, it was a highly enjoyable romp through the 12th century and a very entertaining read. I see from the current selling price the book is quite rare, but if you are lucky as I was to find it at your library it's worth taking the time to check this one out.

...shake your 'tini?

I was pleased to receive this book recently as a gift and couldn't wait to peel back the front cover and begin seeing what it had in stock for me. The book was a perfect companion as I'd just gotten a set of 4 martini glasses and a shaker/strainer and was eager to put them to good use. But since my nose was too buried in this concise little text, I didn't have any need for the hardware yet. Since "Shaken Not Stirred" also offered conventional and more modern drink recipies - in an effective layout - I was perfectly willing to go back to it to look up a couple of drink recipes once I'd read up on my background info on the drink. I feel like I am now a true martini aficianado and much better informed!

The book was put together by the authors of a website by the same name, who launched their site on Halloween of '95. Soon, they had gotten many suggestions to put the book together - and it turned out to be an unqualified hit. There are many reasons to like this book, it's easy to read and the words flow, plus its something I'd want to read more than once. But perhaps my favorite part about this original idea for a book (it purports to be the first bar book expressly dedicated to the martini, and backs it up by research done by the publisher) is that it's not just a recipe book or just a list of bars. In other words, all you probably ever need to know in a tight little package. It was also neat finding out I'd already visited some of their best "martini lounges" in my city within the pages, but was eager to try the places I hadn't heard of. I'd recommend this volume to anyone interested in mixing their own drinks, or even wanting to learn a little bit more behind the whole martini or "Swingers" culture.

Now then, care for a cocktail? ;)

This book not only has some great recipes for varied martinis in it (I think I hear my gin calling me now!) but it gives great history and background to the drink and the ingredients and the characters and places that have made the martini an example of elegance and simplicity in potables!

Get it, find a recipe, make one up, then sit down and sip and read more.

A wonderful intrduction to the world of the martini with hints and tips on subtle variations. We're already planning trips to the martini lounges listed.....

I don't consider myself to be a big drinker, but the Martini is so cool and this book represents it in every aspect. It's just a really cool book to leave around the apartment so people can spy it when they drop by. I'm going to find one of those Martini lounges!

This is a great little book. It has great martini recipes as well as martini-stories from the authors and others... martini lore, history. Totally fun if your into the martini thing.

The recipes were fun and interesting..some a bit too esoteric for me...but I liked reading them anyway. And like that they are interspersed with the text instead of in a separate recipe section. There are some fun martini quotes too..

The only drawback, I think, and its minor..is that I just hate the feel of the paper. The cover is fine but the pages feel cheap and grainy to me. Harsh, even... It may be a pleasure to read but it isnt really one to hold. Seems to me a smoother paper would be better, altho probably alot more expensive.

That said...its a fun fun book. Easy to read, in a fiction way, as opposed to a non-fiction way. It has flow sometimes lacking in non-fiction.

This is a great book. I love the back story of our four heroes- Jezzil, Thia, Eregrad, Taris. Especially poignant is the relationship between Jezzil and Thia. The fantasy world building is good. The only problem is that there is no sequel in sight. This book was published in 2005. The authors blog has not been updated since 2006. The Eos website does not mention any upcoming books by this author. It looks like A.C.Crispin has fallen of the Earth! So beware.. great book but the series may be left unfinished.

I've been a Star Trek fan for years, that is how I dicovered A.C. Crispin's writing. I decided to check out some of her other books and I fell in love with this Storms of Destiny. I could not put it down. The characters are so well written, you feel what they feel. The twists and turns are well written. I just can't say enough. The book does keep you on the edge of your seat or where ever your reading it! I can't wait for the rest of this series!

Storms of Destiny was the first fantasy novel I've read in quite a while, and it grabbed me immediately. A first-rate fantasy requires that an author do several things simultaneously, and Ann Crispin does all of them well. One is to introduce a cast of distinct and interesting characters. The second is to create a believable new world. The third is to keep the story moving as the characters and the world come together. A fourth item that deserves special mention for military history buffs like myself is that Crispin has done a good job with armor, weapons, and tactics: the novel's major battle is a complex and compelling tale all by itself. Finally, she has written a good yarn that not only stands satisfyingly on its own but provides a nice set-up for the next book. Storms of Destiny is a winner.

This is the first book of A.C. Crispin's that I have read. I inhaled this book, and was unable to put it down. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. It's a great fantasy read!

Storms of Destiny is a fantasy adventure from the word go. In retrospect I would say that it was a mix of Dragonlance and Planet of the Apes. A strange mix, you say? It won't seem quite as strange once you read the book.
"In a world at peril, five exiles must band together to stop a god.

Banished from their former lives, an unlikely group of comrades -- a warrior disgraced, a disillusioned priestess, a fiery revolutionary, a mysterious non-human healer, and an enslaved prince -- are drawn together in a desperate race to stop an invading army. But they soon discover the danger is infinitely greater, for their true enemy is none other than a malevolent, vengeful god who has destroyed many worlds..."

There are five primary characters (for the forces of good):
The Exiles of Boq'urain: Storms of Destiny is the first book in a trilogy about five adventurers who must defeat the demon Boq'urak. The story begins with the warrior-priest Jezzil infiltrating an enemy fortress. It goes horribly wrong and his comrades quickly find themselves outnumbered. His training tells him that he should fight to the death, but he wants to live. He flees for his life, instantly marking him as an outcast to the Pen Jav Dal

Thia is a 19-year-old novice priestess. A wrong turn in a forbidden tunnel, reveals the true nature of the god she worships; Boq'urak. She flees the temple, barely escaping with her life. She finds herself lost, not only in a world that she has never known existed outside the temple, but also in her spiritual direction. She had spent her life in the service of a monster and now has no one to pray to for help.

Khith is a generless, furred creature that lives in the jungles that surround the city of the ancients. He, er "it" is a sorcerer, healer and scholar. His thirst for knowledge about the ancients eventually gets him the boot from his community.

Prince Eregard is the youngest of the King's sons. The Crown Prince Salesin (his oldest brother) is an overpowering, greedy, manipulative tyrant and he isn't even the king yet. Even his own father (the King) fears him. In an effort to stop an uprising the King asks Eregard to sail to Katal to discover the source of the unrest (I bet you couldn't guess that Salesin's greed has a lot to do with it). On the long journey, the ship is captured by pirates (I love pirates) and Eregard is forced into slavery.

Talis Aloro hates men, plain and simple. She was savagely raped by her uncle and her father did nothing to set things right. She also happens to be the right hand...er, woman to the man who is plotting against Eregard's kingdom.

The story moves between the points of view of these characters, showing the reader the world through many different eyes.
There are a few places that seem to drag as she sets the stage, but they are few and far between. The first book of a trilogy always has the hardest duty; setting up the world and characters for the rest of the books to run with. She did a remarkable job of getting all of the pertinent information across without just spelling everything out for you. The story ends with several unanswered questions, setting us up to dive right into the next book the moment it is released.

Ann Crispin has wove an incredible story here. She fleshes out her characters to the point that they are almost tangible. Her battle scenes are brilliantly laid out; you can almost smell the blood on the battlefield. Swordplay, revolutionaries, magic, strange creatures (both good and bad), not one but two formidable enemies and an underlying moral about freedom (with it's many levels) and the cost of keeping it, this book has it all. If you enjoy fantasy at all, you will love this book. It was a fun read.


I can't wait to pick up the next one.

Wonderful book for those who want to learn how to learn how to gain control of your money and invest.

This book truly changed my life. Ms. Stephen's down to earth, friend-to-friend approach spoke to me like no other financial advice book ever had. As everyone here has said, the daily devotional style makes it easy to digest and the quotes are truly inspirational. My thanks to Ms. Stephen's for this fabulous book.

Like the other people who reviewed this book, I just love it. I first borrowed it from the library and then purchased it for myself. I like the way it is made up, in tiny steps and really easy to read and follow. It truly inspired me to take a new look at money and I found out that you can save money in more ways than I ever thought possible. I highly recommend it. It is well worth the price.

I recommend this book to anyone who needs to gain control of their finances and set up their future.
Easy to follow....straightforward....tons of great advice!

I feel that my review should be first! This book is great. Not only is it a daily financial devotional, but it is also a down-to-earth NIV financial bible. I bought this book on a clearance rack in Crown and never read it until last week(note, I bought the book a year ago!). However, buy it, read it, use it, and read it again......