Curtis Books

Finally all the 25 books arrived. They came from many different vendors. They will be much appreciated by our church woman's group.

I have to say Liz Curtis Higgs sheds new light, at least for me, on a lot of those women in the Bible. You know, I've read about all these women in Ms. Curtis's book before, but somehow when I read my bible I missed a whole heck of a lot. I don't know how, because when I read this book I wanted to slap myself upside the head plenty of times. Duh, I'd mudder, how come I didn't see that? How come I didn't get it? Well I'm getting a lot of it now. As a Bible teacher, Ms. Curtis really excells and she makes it oh so interesting. I highly recommend this book.

Our church's women's ministry used this book for our Bible study and enjoyed it tremendously. I could relate to so many of the characters and was so horrified by some of the others! I enjoyed reading about the many relatively obscure Biblical women. We had several elderly ladies in our group who were surprised to read stories they'd never remembered reading before. I liked that Higgs focuses on Biblical women who were strong leaders, even if they were bad for a season.

We laughed, blushed, cried, and enjoyed every minute of discussing this book and how it related to our lives. Her message of grace for bad girls is one we all need to hear. I look forward to reading and sharing more of Higgs' books.

I had reservations about it when my small group decided to give this book a whirl, and although I was game and tried to like it, I just couldn't.

Liz's overfamiliar style, her judgemental tone, and pandering to churchy already-good-girls reads like a book that reinforces smugness among the churched.

I especially did not like the way she glossed over the difference in 21st Century standards for women, and instead just judged them against today's free-er women's options and opportunities.

I will say that we had many good conversations because we read the book, but in the end, we were all severely disappointed in the book itself.

Examples of what I mean: some of the "bad girl" scenarios seemed like she was stretching to fill pages, "bad for a good reason" - what?, or nattering on and on about David's sin with Bathsheba - wait, he's not a girl!

Our church has a Women's First Friday Bible Book Discussion Group and we've just finished "Bad Girls of the Bible" . Now we're beginning "Really Bad Girls of the Bible" and boy are we ready. Liz writes in truly personal way, with intense, genuine passion. Her discussion questions make fabulous jumping off points for our women's group. Fantastic author, FABULOUS book!

History may not be one of the funnest subjects to learn about, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. I have found, though, that I mostly find myself excited about learning only about big and important historical events that had drastic effects on all of our lives and helped shape our country to become what it is today. That is why when I read the back of "Riding the Flume", a story that takes place in 1894 during a time when all the giant sequias were being cut down to provide lumber, I didn't know how interested the book would get me. I had heard nothing but good about it, though, so I decided to read it. "Riding the Flume" has now become one of my all time favorite books. The author took this little known yet extremely important part of history and created a breath taking story that will make you laugh, go red in the face with intense anger, warm your heart and make you cry. The author had a way of tying in human emotions and realistic events in such a beautiful way that one couldn't help but feel like they were there. I felt more like I was watching a film, what with all the detailed description. The story is absolutly moving. When Francie,the main character, looses her sister in a tragic accident, her family is changed forever. But when she and her cousin Charlie discover a tree that looks as though it has been growing since the beggining of time and find that hidden somewhere in the mountains is a will that says the tree belongs the Carrie, her sister, Francie will risk everything she once held dear to keep the loggers away from the tree and keep the spirit of her dead sister alive. I hardly even realized the learning going on in my mind as I read the book, because I was so engulfed in the story. "Riding the Flume" is gorgeous and unforgettable, and I would not hesitate to recomend it to anyone who is looking for a good read and an exilirating, life changing experiance.

I love this book it is one of the best ones I have ever read.This story is about a young girl named Francie,and she lives in Northern California in 1894.When Francie's older sister Carrie dies in a landslide then their whole family has problems her dad is very upset and her mom is to.When Mr.Court comes to town then he tells Francie to count the rings on the old Sequia tree. When Francie gets to the stump she finds a note from her sister,Carrie wrote the note six years ago. When Francie returns home she goes serching for her sisters diary when she finds it she reads it.Then she found out that someone gave Carrie a tree the only way to find out if it is hers it to find out if the will is real so then Frncie has to go to Mr. Court to see if it is real..To find out what happens in the rest of the story you might want to read it.

Riding the Flume is an historical fiction book which is very exciting and suspenseful.This book is about a 15 year old girl, in the year 1894,who finds a note in an old sequoia stump. The note was written by her older sister, who was killed 6 years ago in a land slide. With that note, she embarked on an a whole new adventure to save her sister's tree, probably the largest sequoia tree in world. Soon, she was faced with a choice, between life and death. Either give up, or ride the flume in order to save her sister's secret, a secret that's about to die, that has been presurved in the pages of her sister's diary far too long.

I loved this book because of the suspense of a life threatening choice. One thing I really liked was the main character. She claims she's not like her sister, but she really is. She denies it but at the end she learns to accept it.

Honestly, I dont't think there is anything that I would change in this book. It's absolutely marvelous!

In 1894, Francie found a note, written by her sister, in a hole in a stump. This was shocking because her sister had died 6 years before. The note inspired 15-year-old Francie to try to solve the mystery of her sister's past. Francie went to her cousin Charlie for advice. He told her to find and read Carrie's diary. It turned out that Carrie owned a giant sequoia, but a logging company was felling all of these giant trees. Francie wanted to preserve her sister's tree, but she had to prove it was her sister's and get somebody to make the lumber company stop. In the end she had to risk her own life for that tree's life. Did she make it? You'll find out when you read Patricia Curtis Pfitsch's Riding the Flume.

Riding the Flume is one of the best books I have ever read! It is about a 15-year-old girl named Francie whose sister died in a landslide six years ago. She lives in California in 1894 where the sequoia trees are being chopped down for lumber. Francie one day finds a note written by her sister in a sequoia stump. She tries to figure out what Carrie's secret is. When Francie finds Carrie's diary, she discovers that a man named Old Robert left the largest sequoia to Carrie in his will. When the huge tree is discovered, the loggers plan to cut it down. Francie has to somehow stop them, so that the last thing left of Carrie is not lost. She must get to St. Joseph so she can show Mr. Court the will to prove that the loggers have no right to cut it down. Francie has no way to get there, unless she rides the flume. Will she risk her life to save Carrie's tree? Will she be able to stop the loggers before the tree is gone? Read this book to find out!

This is a great little storybook for a child adopted in China. Very sensitive portral of abandonment and adoption issues for a young child. My grandaughter loved it. Hard to read without getting a lump in your throat though.

Loved it - it was a great book, cute pictures & story.

It's nice for younger kids and has a good true story.

My daughter really did not get this one. We have other books related to China adoption that capture her attention more and focus on family.
This book just does not connect for her her or us as a family.

Shaoey and Dot is written by Mary Beth & Steven Curtis Chapman. The book was inspired by the true story of their adopton of a girl from China. Shaoey (pronounced SHOW-ee) is a little Chinese baby discovered by Dot, a little Chinese ladybug. Together the two embark on the journey of adoption. Told through rhyming verse, the book describes the orphanage and the first experiences of these two in their different environments. Dot acts as protector and comforter for this bundle she's found. It ends with both Shaoey and Dot going on an airplane with their new family to their new home.

Steven Curtis Chapman has won four Grammy Awards, forty-seven Dove Awards and one American Music Award. He and his wife, Mary Beth, have six children, including three girls adopted from China.

The book is illustrated by Jim Chapman, Mary Beth's brother. (Her maiden name was Chapman.) He and his wife have also adopted from China. His illustrations consist of line drawings and soft watercolor. They are endearing and detailed.

What I Like: There are a ton of children's books about adoption, but very few with a Christian perspective. This is one of them. I love the tenderness of this story. My sister was adopted from Korea, so adoption is close to my heart. Furthermore, all believers are adopted by God, so it is something I feel Christians should understand and embrace. This book is a wonderful way to introduce the concept to children. I like that it is truthful without giving too many details. The circumstances leading up to adoption are not always pleasant. This book does a wonderful job keeping everything positive. Also, the book reads easily. My daughter has me read it over and over.

What I Dislike: The illustrations are too sketchy and pastel for my taste. The illustrator is obviously very talented, but the quality seems inconsistent to me. Some parts are extremely detailed and interesting, while other parts of the same illustration seem rushed or incomplete. Also, the ending of the book seemed abrupt. The authors spent a lot of time telling us about Shaoey and her home in China, but no time telling us about her new family or her new home in America. I would love to see the book expanded (or a sequel) to describe her adjustments to her new life.

Overall Rating: Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

Questions: I would love to know if the book displays pictures of Guy Williams and has a consequent part about the disney Zorro. THANKS FOR HELPING ME and providing me with any info.

I bought this book because I am a long standing Zorro fan, and must have everything Zorro. I was filled with anticipation thinking it would be a true 'inside scoop' on the film and literary history of Zorro. While it did have good information, very little of it was new and unique. Most was reprinted from various books, articles, or tv specials. While it was nice having it all in book form, I was rather disappointed there was not that much 'New' information. I thought Bill Yenne's book was better, and had much better photographs, although admittedly he did have the advantage of a Zorro series being in production at the time he wrote it. As a previous reviewer wrote, there were many innaccuracies in the book, and while it would not serve anything to list them, they are there. In any other book we would just shrug and go on, as no one can get everything right. But in a book put out by the wife of the owner of 'Zorro,' we do expect a bit better. I certainly didn't expect to see the tacky, mean-spirited (and untrue) comments about Duncan Regehr. It was quite a jarring chapter in the midst of an otherwise enjoyable book. (I felt that I had opened a supermarket tabloid by mistake)One should never forget the Zorro fandom spans the globe, and we all share information and experiences. Many people had opportunities to visit the set, and become friends with the actors and crew. All of them were generous with their time, and were very enthusiastic about the program and the Zorro legacy. Even now they are all delighted to talk about their experiences and autograph 'Zorro' photos. (Especially John Hertzler and Duncan Regehr) I guess my final word on the book would be, nice information that is mostly accurate, but take the personal comments with a grain of salt.

When I first read this book, I was highly impressed. I felt that Curtis had collected an amazingly great amount of information. However, once I inspected it more closely, I found that the Curtis book has at least seventeen errors. What good is a book in which you have to take everything written with a grain of salt?

Worse, the person that wrote it is the vice-president of Zorro Productions. The entire thing could have been *much* more carefully researched, but it was like she merely slapped together a bunch of stale information. She even neglects to mention the now out-of-print "Legend of Zorro" by Bill Yenne, which she probably used as a source of information. ("Legend" was the first *real* authority on Zorro in over seventy years.)

Curtis spends much time merely talking about "Gertz" (as she calls her husband, the president and owner of Zorro Productions) and whether or not he liked certain things about more recent productions. Who really cares? She is supposed to be unbiased in her opinions, but Curtis most certainly is NOT.

That's not to mention Unmasked's choppy, spoiler-filled synopsis' of movies, or the second-rate photos.

The book is also filled with many untruths about Duncan Regehr, and Curtis made an effort only to interview one of the cast members of the 1990-93 series. The other New Zorro interviews were sent to her by A&E productions, a fact she freely admits to in the introduction of her book.

All in all, "Unmasked" is a sad lot of hastily collected, predujiced information. I'd give it lower rating, if not for the important information on the original New World Zorro pilot. That is, if we can believe it.

If you really want an authority on Zorro, don't go to Zorro Productions. Find a knowledgeable fan.

This book is informative when it comes to the history of Spanish California and Zorro. It would have been nice if there was more information about Guy Williams as Zorro and more photos of him than the author provided. But if you want to know the history of Zorro this book good base to start.

I've read the book, and Bill Yenne's too. Both books offer up different points of view and are both valid. Problem is the person who posted this... Full of errors and false information Reviewer: A reader from the United States November 28, 1999

Seems to have some issues with Sandra Curtis and the people who own the character Zorro. I mean belittling someone the way this person did in their review of the book just shows that the person has no valid points on the book because anything the person has said seems to be colored by some other issue not known to those who have come to maybe purchase the book.

For those of you out there looking for information on Zorro. This book does give you some of the information and is quite good. Disregard the person with the personal problem and their review. Pick the book up, it's worth the money and also if you can get your hands on the Bill Yenne book do so also. They book will make any "true" Zorro fan happy.

This is a well-researched, enjoyable read about the role of rum in the history of the Americas. It is a bit overly focused on North America (and the United States in general). I would have liked to read more detail about the islands and Brazil, but they are generally addressed. And when you're done, there's an appendix with several great cocktail recipes! What's not to like?

Unfortunately, facts are all you will find in this book. (i.e. Why they call it Grog, Was there a real Captain Morgan, etc.) And that may be fine if you are writing trivial pursuit question cards, but not for story telling. The author covers a lot of events in this book, though doesn't go into the back story much. It's a little like reading a history textbook. The flow is very choppy. Almost like a PowerPoint presentation.

I think the book would best have been split into 10 books. That way the author could take his time to spin stories, build plot, and empathize characters. It wouldn't be the first time an author used a device like an in animate object (i.e. rum) to link characters, history, or events.

The literary devices the author neglected to evolve were numerous. For instance, the chapter on the Tiki trend had my interest piqued. By building upon the characters the author would have made events much more enthralling. I was left with the desire to learn more about them so now must seek out more books.

I haven't tried to concoct any of the rum elixirs listed in the back, but I remain hopeful about a few of them. Perhaps they will be the redeeming value in this average book. I'm not that hopeful.

A very engaging read and a interesting, nay. . . unique way of formatting the different periods of time that he traces out in his book. Filled with a great deal of information laid out in a easy to read,at times humorous manner.

A well written and researched book and a must have for the rum Enthusiast who wishes to talk to anyone else knowledgeably on the subject. The drinks section has a number of excellent rum drinks that you will probably not easily find anywhere else as they cross a long span of time and he is particularly deft at gathering some interesting (and perhaps more important) eminently drinkable recipes.

If history were always this well written, I would have been a history rather than literature major. I actually laughed out loud in a number of places, at the same time that I learned facts about 17th-21st century history and popular culture that were frequently from an intriguing perspective and always interesting.

If you like rum, the recipes-through-history are a bonus. If you don't, you will still find much, much of value in this volume. Although rum is the focus, the social, political, military and historical dynamics affected by this and other liquors are the actual "plot." It is a legitimate and fascinating lens through which to view history, particularly when written by an academic who throws out the dry and dusty academic voice in favor of a learned, no-nonsense and yet often humorous one.

Liberal quotations bring contemporary voices to light, while duly considered authorial commentary places them in a reasonable context. I am not a historian, but the bibliography is sufficiently substantial to assure me of grounded research and neither the tone, factual content nor voice ever seems to be stretched to fit the "drink-by-drink" historical structure. This paragraph makes it seem dry (all puns aside, LOL), but this book most assuredly is not.

If you liked "Salt" or "Coal" or "Cod," you'll like this. More significantly, if you're feeling burned out on this kind of recently popular "slice" history, do *not* pass up this one. A must read for you, whether or not you like rum, and a great gift for others, particularly if they do like rum.

And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails is really all about rum. Should be obvious from the title, but some of these narrow-focus histories are all about social context and compelling commentary. And a Bottle of Rum has these things, but when all is said and done, reading this book is more like drinking a fine rum than reading an ordinary history. Curtis writes with the practiced ease of someone who's thoroughly familiar with his subject, and who doesn't have anything to prove, although at one point it seemed clear to me that he was aiming to undo some of the exaggeration Ian Williams presented in his earlier book. But there is no pervasive attitude of having to prove that rum was one thing or another; Curtis tells it like it is.

For such a short book, the reader never feels like he's missing something; if I only had this book about rum, I think that'd be enough. The title is misleading; Curtis doesn't stop at ten simple cocktails - he gives you the whole run that rum has made from its haziest origins to present upscale rum bars. The author appends a modest list of easy-to-find and enjoyable rums; the list is not comprehensive, but would serve as a good jumping point for those wishing to try different styles. He also includes some of his favorite recipes besides the ten featured in the core chapters. Technically, if you don't consider punch or grog to be a cocktail, it's only six, since Chapter 6 is about Prohibition and features a recipe for the nonalcoholic Prune Water, and the first chapter is simply entitled Kill-Devil. This is not a nitpick; no chapter is out of place here.

If I had to nitpick, I would only point out the lack of in-text citations; Curtis has included a bibliography, and the overall feel of the book is very casual, but those wishing to cross-reference facts may have to do some wading. That said, Curtis is not given to hyperbole, and his critical analysis is of excellent caliber. You get a good sense of the real global context of rum while reading this. Indeed, because of the friendly journalistic style, you tend to feel as though you're scheming in a colonial tavern, sailing aboard a naval galleon, sitting right next to Hemingway, or swapping surf stories in a tiki bar.

In all, this is a highly enjoyable read; if rum is your drink, And a Bottle of Rum should be your book. Wayne Curtis has the field experience of a real rum connoisseur, and his warm writing style really reflects his encompassing love for the stuff. Reviewers tend to overuse phrases like "I couldn't put it down," but in this case the book flowed so neatly I did find myself suffering from a strong case of the Just-One-More-Chapters. I'd give it 4.5 stars, but I'll bump it up to 5 for Amazon.

This book is crammed full of information on a wide variety of backpacking topics, from weather forcasting to group dynamics, however it goes into very limited detail about each one.
It is in my oppinion a good resource for the inexperienced.
Anyone that already has a good deal of backcountry savy would be better off getting more specialized information on select topics they wanted to know more about.

Whether you're just becoming interested in backpacking, or you've been backpacking all of your life, this book is a great addition. When researching a reliable book for the outdoors, I was concerned with whether or not this book addressed survival adequately. Well, it pretty much covers everything. Seriously, anywhere from feminine hygiene problems while backpacking to creating a watch out of a compass. It also address any preperation questions you may have as far as buying gear or planning your trip. Great book, I can't put it down.

This book is good for someone that wanted to get started hiking and backpacking. I feel that it has good source of information for starting out.

This is a great book for anyone looking to get into backpacking or as a reference is the field for the seasoned trekker. The book contains plenty of up to date information covering almost everything you would need to know. The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is just stacked full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A couple even in sections giving you numeric statistics and info. Apart from that... awesome book!

This book was written by Rick Curtis, director of the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University, one of the most succesful college outdoor programs around. It's not the kind of book you sit down and read, rather it's a good reference to keep handy when you have questions about things. Here's a bit of what it covers:

-backpacking equipment
-cooking and nutrition
-hygiene and water purification
-"leave-no-trace" hiking and camping
-weather
-safety and emergency procedures
-first aid
-trip planning

Every backpacker knows that space is limited and you can only carry the essentials- which definitely includes this book. In 10 chapters, a mid-size font, and 440 pages, it covers it all and will be the only backpacking guide you'll ever need. Hikers suffering with plantar fasciitis might also be interested in The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution.

Wow! What a privilege to share in the life of Renee Bondi through the pages of this book. Left fully paralyzed after a freak accident, Bondi, through the love of her family and her strong faith in God, found the courage to go on living.

The reader will find much to admire in the life of Renee Bondi, a story which is inspirational and uplifting, as well as undeniably sad. She never downplays the pain of her life, watching others do the things she once took for granted. Bondi's paralysis is complete; she describes not even being able to blow her own nose, but the book is remarkably free of self pity.

Reneé is not only a great singer, a truly moving speaker, a devoted mother and wife, but she is also a beautiful woman, inside and out. She believes that God has a purpose for her life, and she lives as though there is eternal meaning in everything she does and says. I have had the great joy and privilege to know her for nearly ten years, and everything positive, hopeful and joyous in her book is very real.

Yes, she has had low times. Yes, she has been discouraged. Haven't we all? But her message to us is about the goodness and grace of the God she loves. Despite a physical handicap which might have caused her to retreat and never emerge, she has instead resumed her singing career and has chosen to speak in order to spread the word that God is, indeed, good. A wonderful and truly inspiring story for the handicapped, but even more so for those of us whose handicaps are not as readily visible as hers.

This is not only Reneé's story, it's Mike's as well. He is a very special person and the essence of a "gentle man."

Read the book. Buy her albums. You'll be glad you did.

I first heard Renee Bondi nearly 9 years ago at a Women's Luncheon at my mother's church. Awesome voice, awesome book, awesome testimony, awesome person! When I found this book at my Christian bookstore, I was really excited. And it certainly didn't disappoint. In fact, I went back several years later to that same Christian bookstore to pick up a copy for my best friend. Unfortunately, it was out of print! Thankfully, I was able to find one -- CD included -- through Amazon.com!

Not only did I appreciate her upbeat attitude toward all that life had thrown at her -- and all the miracles that God did through her -- but I also appreciated her honesty in revealing her not-too-Christlike -- but very human -- feelings toward her sister's accident and some of the day-to-day frustrations of being a quadriplegic.

One minor thing, though. I think the actual date of her accident might have been Sunday, May 15, 1988 instead of Sunday, May 16, 1988, as my husband and I were married on Saturday, May 14, 1988! But that's minor.

I would recommend getting the book that includes the bonus CD in it, for it not only showcases her lovely voice but also the depth of feeling behind her singing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Finished reading this enjoyable autobiography yesterday. As a woman who has never been confined to a wheelchair and who has no disabilities, I am in awe of Bondi's balanced attitude, practicality, and her admission that the lack of privacy a paraplegic endures is difficult.

The strong cable of love that helps Bondi survive and thrive is amazing. It makes life a little easier for her; maybe a lot easier. The cable of love is comprised of the author's former students, her husband, friends, clergy, immediate family, and extended family. The cable is anchored by Christ.

Renee Bondi's courage and good humor prevailed after a heart-breaking accident that left her quadriplegic. Her faith in God and human kindness enabled me to address an uncomfortable situation in my life. Her book is truly inspiring.
Reviewed by Alexis Powers, author of Paths to Freedom: Women Who Triumphed Over Adversity.

Every day we read about the horrible things people do to each other, to their children, and to animals. This book lifted my spirit by letting me know there are still some good people out there. There are still people who care about what happens to a poor stray dog, or an animal that is scheduled to die. They may be few, but they are out there.

[...]
Second Chance is a touching story about adoption. Mom and Ryan, her adopted autistic son, go to an animal shelter to adopt a dog. Chance is a Rottweiler, German Shepherd mix puppy. He is now Ryan's dog. Chance has to adjust to having two smaller brothers and a smaller sister. He has to learn Mom's rules. Chance is a lucky dog to live with such a loving family. The front cover is beautifully illustrated. I read this story to my 6 and 7-year-old grandchildren. Unfortunately, it did not hold their attention. The illustrations inside the book are dark and muted. The printing is in white, which made it hard to read. Personally, I liked the plot, but it lacks appeal to children.

When someone borrowed my wife's book, I had to order her a replacement. A good book for dog lovers.

... but this book was a let down for me. Almost each and every story was poorly written and I could not really "feel" for the stories the way that I wanted to and the way that I think these animals "deserve". It was mostly "... and then this happened, and then that and then that and now we are happy together..."

Could have been a much better book in my opinion!

This book is full of profoundly moving stories, both heart-rending and heart-warming, and it is beautifully photographed. The author donates all the profits from her books to humane organizations to help rescue and rehabilitate abused and abandoned pets so that they can find new, loving homes. So if you love animals, buy it for yourself, your family, and your friends; you'll be glad you did!

I own an incredible amount of how to art books and this is the best among non figure drawing books. The exercises are of incredible help to me and there are an incredible amount of ideas to ignite my creativity.

With forty years of experience teaching basic drawing, this guide is probably the best I have seen for the beginning level university art student. It is clearly written and illustrated, thorough and pragmatic. Curtis does a very good job of explaining and illustrating linear and other perspective systems. The use of an imaginary clock face to estimate the angles of edges seen in perspective is very useful, and something I have done for years. (most students have difficulty comprehending a 45 or 90 angle, let alone something like a 27 degree angle).

I disagree with a previous reviewer's lack of interest in historical ideas such as the golden mean, and the Fibonacci sequence. While these certainly are not the only systems of visual organization, they demonstrate how some artists have designed their compositions. These ideas are about the relationships between various elements in a composition, and not just about perfecting a solitary object in the center of a blank page.

My only criticism is that the layout seems a bit cramped. It might look better with a larger page size, say 8.5 X 11 inches. This is a well done book and I hope it appears in a second edition.

Jim Nawara
Wayne State University

This text is the front-runner in our search for a text to teach visualization drawing for computer graphics students. Its methodology for perceiving and translating form and space into drawing very nicely parallels the principles used in computer modeling. The section on perspective clearly presents principles in such a way as to merge intuitive and analytical understanding. This is a hallmark of the book in general. In addition to practical clarity the text adds historical and theoretical perspectives to round out one's understanding of drawing. I appreciate this because, in the case of our program, it helps us to link the traditions of human visualization from ancient times to the computer age.

As a teacher of drawing, I have read many books on the subject. This book is the only one I would use as a textbook. I would agree with all the previous reviews but would only comment on the one review from the budding artist who felt the book is confusing and has too much art history for someone who only wants to learn to draw. I come to this book with over two decades of art experience so maybe that is why I find it so interesting, but even if the history is skipped and you read only the practical explanations and do the lessons in the back of the book, you will learn to draw from observation, as this book promises. The book is not meant to be read in two weeks. Learning to draw takes hard work and invested time.

Wonderful book for any artist; should be a required for all artist's library. Great reference as well as instuctional guide. Well organized, each aspect of drawing is fully covered, well written and appropiately illustrated.

I received this book for Christmas to add to my autism library and what a wonderful treat. I wish I had this books several years ago when I started working in a class with children who have severe autism. It's so basic and has such great sample charts. It breaks down so many behavior challenges and creates simple charts to help you help your students better understand how to self modulate...from Aspergers to severe, these tools work. They seem so basic, yet I have seen them work great over and over. This basic and easy to quickly read resource should be given to every teacher, parent, administrator, speech and occupational therapist who works with kids on the spectrum. It's a great starting point for managing behavior problems...big and small. Check out Ms. Buron's other related books also at www.asperger.net. Joanna Keating-Velasco, Author...
A Is for Autism F Is for Friend: A Kid's Book for Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism

This book has been very helpful with my Asperger son and my non-Asperger son. As a teachers aide, I have used it the the kids at school and some teachers have borrowed my book and are using it themselves. It has pages to copy so that you can make your own 5-point scale. Just wonderful!!!

This is a great concept, but not worth buying a book over.
It is a simple strategy that can be applied in any context -
Rate the behavior; rate the desired behavior.
It gets a mediocre smile or 3 stars.

You can make this work for just about any problem. I now just hold up a finger and my child knows what I am trying to say even my younger child is getting it.

Finally, a basic book listing basic skills for people who do not understand "thinking outside the box." I'm so happy to see something that can help educators and families find hands-on techniques for those who are clueless, hopeless, and helpless.