Davies Books

Lawrence Ritter in his original Preface describes his book as about the early days of baseball. I'm going to make a correction. Mind you it is the only one I will make. His book is about the early days of modern professional Baseball.
With that being put aside , I must praise Mr. Ritter for his most original idea for a book. He took upon himself to travel the U.S.A. in search of the very players who established our National Pastime in the early part of the 20th Century. People talk of Shakespeare and Churchill as prolific writers of the English language. What Mr. Ritter has done is an epiphany for writing a book. His concept was indeed very simple. Why not seek out the very best living Baseball Players of the early 20th Century, and ask them to please describe their experiences.
In the early to middle 1960's when Mr. Ritter did this, he was able to talk to these pioneers of modern baseball in the twilight of their wise years. These 26 men had time to reflect on their careers and describe an age unknown to us. Mr. Ritter traveled to these men and I'm sure asked the correct questions and let these gentlemen record their responses on tape. What he captured will stir the heart of each true Baseball Fan.
For the record my two favorites are Stanley Coveleski and Bill Wambsganss. You can guess from these selections what my favorite team is.

I really enjoyed listening to the stories from some of our classic baseball heros. They brough history to life. This audio book was one of the best purchases I've made. I truly enjoyed just listening to these remarkable men tell there own stories of baseball's past.

I have been an avid reader of baseball history for most of my life and I first purchased this book in the 80's and wore it out and purchased another copy. There isn't a season that goes by that I don't read it again. When you read the interviews of the ballplayers, recorded by Lawrence Ritter, it's as if you are a fly on the wall hearing the conversations first hand and the ghosts of seasons long past are brought back to life.

You get a first person account of some of the most famous moments in early baseball history through the fond recollections of some of the participants. Merkle's boner, Snodgrass' muff, Wambsgan's unassisted World Series Triple play are all recounted. The most entertaining parts of the book recount tales of Germany Schaefer stealing first base, the chronicles of Charles Victory Faust, and Wilbert Robinson attempting to catch a grapefruit dropped from an airplane. You get a glimpse of Ty Cobb from his teammates Davy Jones and Sam Crawford. You get several different takes on the great manager John McGraw from several different players who once played for him.

This is hands down the greatest sports book I have read. It's not only a great history of the early days of 20th century baseball but a wonderful piece of Americana. The book breaths humanity and paints a portrait of the ballplayers of the past who played for the love of the game unsullied by steroids and multimillion dollar contracts.

If you love the game of baseball as it once was and still should be this is a "must read"...some of the players interviewed by Ritter were unknown to me and I was fascinated to learn of their exploits...I ordered an additional three books and sent them to long time fans of the game...If I was a GM today in MLB I would have every member of the team read this book so that they might appreciate the game as it was in its infancy...the modern player (in most cases)doesn't realize how fortunate he is to wear a major league uniform and earn the money today for playing a "game"

Statistically, baseball back then couldn't be more at variance with the game now. Cy Young threw 511 career victories, and 750 complete games. In 1909, Ty Cobb led the majors both in batting average (.377) and home runs (9). Cobb's teammate Sam Crawford hit over 300 triples in his career.

What to make of such numbers? Lawrence S. Ritter's "The Glory Of Their Times" strips away the statistical confusion by getting to the heart of Major League Baseball's early days, the players themselves. An economics professor, Ritter invested his downtime from 1962-66 in interviewing elderly men, baseball players all who knew what it was like to face a Walter Johnson fastball, or have Ty Cobb slide into the base they were covering.

"People were more unique then, more unusual, more different from each other," says Davy Jones, who played on the Tigers with Cobb and Crawford. "Now people are all more or less alike, company men, security minded, conformity - that sort of stuff. In everything, not just baseball."

Transcriptions of Ritter's interviews with Jones and 21 other former players, including Crawford and two others then in the Hall of Fame, makes up the whole of "The Glory Of Their Times," published in 1966 and later extended with four more interviews in 1984. Nearly all the interviews offer both testimony and color for the game as it was then.

Bill Wambsganss tells us about his unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series, and how Ring Lardner once used his last name to rhyme with "clam's chance" and "Ray Chapman's pants". Fred Snodgrass tells us about his famous muffed fly in the 1911 World Series, and how his New York Giants tried to psyche out the Philadelphia Athletics by sitting on the dugout bench, ostentatiously sharpening their spikes.

You hear so much about another famous World Series moment, the Merkle "boner" of 1908, that you feel like you were there on the field, too. There's a Rashomon-like quality to hearing various interviewees give their different takes on such things as the character of John McGraw and whether "Giant Killer" Harry Coveleski was run out of the league when he was caught chewing on bologna. (Snodgrass says so, while Harry's brother Stanley, a major-league pitcher himself, calls it "a lot of bull".

Not all the interviews are riveting. One wishes Ritter could have pushed some of the old players more, like the rumors that swirled around Smoky Joe Wood involving fixes. But allowing the subjects the reins probably drew more color out of them than a Grand Jury could have. I love how Crawford keeps telling Ritter he hasn't much time to talk, while giving Ritter one of the longest and most entertaining interviews in the book, describing how players would allow themselves to be rubbed down with "Go Fast," a noxious combination of Vaseline and Tabasco sauce that made them sweat like a sauna.

"I hope I haven't said anything I shouldn't," Crawford says at the end. "There are a lot of the old-timers still left,you know, and they're liable to say, 'That fathead, who the hell does he think he is, anyway, popping off like that!'"

If you like baseball even a little, you will enjoy "The Glory Of Their Times" quite a lot.

"Beautiful Joe" is a wonderful story. It was given to me in the late 50's when I was about 10 years old, and I think I read it three times. It's always amazed me that so few others know of it. But it is a beautiful and enriching story especially suitable for a 9-12 year old child who loves dogs. It is very sad (and distrubing) in the beginning, however, so I would never recommend it for a young child.

I read this book countless times when I was a child in the 1950s; I was delighted to find it still in print and even more delighted to find that it is as moving and meaningful as ever. Today's children may find the language somewhat formal and will need to broaden their vocabularies, but they and their parents will find the small effort well worth it.

I love this book. Everyone should read it young or old. Beautiful Joe and the rest of the animals will touch your heart. I have never read this book without crying at the end.

I am not reviewing the edition but rather the book...and it is...of utmost excellence. Although written for its time period, it is something one can read now and enjoy...Beautiful Joe captures your heart, makes you share his opinions, memories and feelings...then leaves you wanting more.

Just thought I should say something. =)

I first read this story as a Whitman abridged edition when I was about eight years old. It was hard for me to believe that some people were so cruel to animals, but I loved the book's old-fashioned narration and of the adventures of and lessons learned by Miss Laura and her family in raising Joe. The moment I learned what the word "abridged" meant, I went looking for the complete story; it took me a long time to find this Applewood Books edition that included three of the farm chapters that were missing from the supposedly complete version I later purchased, and oddly, the Applewood edition is missing the chapter about the crow that is in some other editions. (I believe this is because the Applewood volume is a reprint of the original story and the chapter about the crow was added in a revised edition.) The story is full of memorable characters, both animal--Joe, Jim the spaniel, Billy the fox-terrier, Bella the parrot--and human--Miss Laura, Ned, Willie, Jack, and Cousin Harry. If you are tender of heart, you may find many scenes heart-rending, but it reminds us too that we have much to still work on in the area of animal cruelty.

If the uttermost goal of an author is to tangibly present the experiences, scenes, and feelings that make up the story he or she is attempting to convey, then the author has succeeded in doing so with this book. I was quite pleased with it and I look forward to discovering whether the same will be true of his next work.

Not that I have anything else to compare the uniqueness of this book to as far as other works go, still I can say without hesitation that it is an exceptional book. The work articulates an awareness and ability that is rare. Through the characters we are shown how it is possible to live fully and to truly experience and know ones passions completely. The book definitely expresses more than what is normally given. In addition, I found it to be seductive and heartrending, a pleasingly original and marvelous discovery.

Frankly I don't usually take the time out to read works of fiction but as the book came highly recommended by my fiancé I decided to give it my attention. I was surprisingly pleased and utterly impressed by everything this book offers. The writing is noticeably superior to most the books I have read, and the story that was told was one that needs to be embraced and understood. I believe it is the kind of book that anyone would find favor in reading.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best, or perhaps I should say the best book I have read in quite some time. Have you ever read something that made perfect sense of everything you've spent a lifetime questioning? That's precisely what this book has accomplished for me. In a world that is growing more and more disconcerted and unknowing we need to be reminded and made more aware of what is most important, and what must be present in all of us in order to continue on living with any true understanding of ourselves and each other. "Defining Fragments" cleverly dismantles all the fallacies of our society and introduces us magnificently to a much more defined interpretation of living and all that accompanies it. The author has an incredible ability to express so much in merely a few words. This work is bursting with a multitude of emotions; the immense passion alone is enough to overwhelm you completely.

Defining Fragments is a debut work the author Gary Davy has appropriately described as being a "metaphoric novel" about the aches and excitements, and treasures of life itself. Revealing personal inner experience with vibrant language and an eye for detail, Defining Fragments is a compelling, engaging, and at times simply fascinating journey through intimacies of self and the external currents of an ever-changing world. Defining Fragments is highly recommended reading and documents Gary Davy as a writer of unique voice and exceptional promise.

This scholarly and highly readable book is of importance to art historians, historians, and anyone with a serious interest in orientalism as both an art movement and a western cultural phenomenom. The illustrations are superb,and the additional profile articles on key orientalists (such as Richard F. Burton) are an added bonus. This book is certainly worth more than its price and will be of lasting value to future readers.

"coffee table" art books are usually just vehicles to display reproductions of the paintings. Not here - Davie's writing would make compelling reading if it was published in regular book format. He mainly focuses on orientalist painting itself - and shatters the critics - but he also has a fascinating section on four famous 'orientalists' which include Richard Burton and Lady Digby.

The reproductions are are splendid very accurate ( i have the pleasure of having easy access to some of the original paintings) and capture the exquisite craft of "Orientalist" painters. often with close ups of parts of painting that allow the reader to see the elaborate detail.

Worth every penny. I find myself reading it again and again.

An outstanding volume providing high quality images and interesting commentary. Too many art books commit the sin of spreading large images over two pages so the picture gets lost in the spine - not this one. Orientalist paintings are crammed with detail to show the erudition of the artists and their patrons: for once you can see plenty, and you're not sold short by the layout or the print quality. Not a book if you're looking for lush pictures of harem lovelies, one of the aspects of orientalism not given such high prominence here. Over all impression? The many different effects created by light in Middle Eastern landscapes, and the skill of these artists in capturing it

Brilliant book completely covering the subject, solid research, perfect rare illustrations. Lots of forgotten and difficult to find names. Very useful and highly recommended - worth every penny!

Really I'd like to give this 5 stars but for the lack of women it's 4. I feel sort of silly doing so because the art is astonishing and the sheer beauty just magnifies how "art" has changed. I wonder if any artist alive today could come close to duplicating these masterpieces. I doubt it. And Mr Davies writing blends with the terrain and subject matter splendidly.

This is one of the bases for the movie "Wonderland" but reading this book will creep you out on J.M.Barrie. You might never really like Peter Pan again. Author had access to his papers, letter, diaries etc. Very weird stuff.

I read this book over 15 years ago in an attempt to find out who the author of Peter Pan really was, and what his life was like. It was not a pleasant or easy read. I wanted to forget all about it and just have the enchantment of "Peter Pan," but as with the real life of the author and photographer of "Alice in Wonderland," the truth can wound deeply. But lies and half-truths can never reveal the relationship between biography and art, so one must often face much disturbing information in order to understand the art itself. This is not to say that art is reducible to biography; it is not. There is, nevertheless, a kind of dialectic (God, I do hate to sound so gawdawful jargony, but when it so plain, other words just do not work) between the life of a genius and the art of the same individual. The truth of art can only come from the struggle between an artist's vision and the life that made such a vision a necessity. Yes, a necessity: there are those artists whose lives were so fraught with sheer catastrophe that revelation through a skewed fantasy can be so powerful as to take on a "life" of its own. And this is why it is so grievous to "paint-over" the unpleasant details of such a life. There was a recent film with an appropriately disturbing title: in the attempt to not really "find" Neverland in Barrie's life, the art itself is drained of its truly tragic roots. At the time such "nice" little fantasies are presented, they seem so harmless, but they are not. Successful attempts to eradicate truth can also eradicate the depth of the art itself. "Neverland" is a word that begs a little attention: a land where children "never grow up." This is not to say that they physically die - no - instead they live their lives, as did Barrie, in a desolate, lifeless, and desperately lonely "land" and try, from within their internal isolation, to bring others along for the rides to nowhere and "never." Where else could such a person bring another? If one lives in "Neverland" of the mind, there is nowhere else to lead another - nowhere else to go. And if we do not face unpleasant truths as they are revealed in the crucible where life and art meet, we learn nothing further from the art. It is better, actually, to know nothing of an artist's life than to be fed untruths. I would suggest the readers either read this book and/or see Peter Pan, but would urge them *not* to see Peter Pan after experiencing a false represenation - no matter how "well-performed" the falsehood is presented. The play or story would be meaningless. The truths, whatever you choose to make of them are here in this book, like it or not. And once the genie is out of the bottle (such as when you have been fed a disingenuous Hollywood film or other disingenuous account), to refrain from the truths of an artist's life is a violation of the art. No one can any longer understand or be truly moved by Peter Pan, much less try to interpret it based upon a sugar-coated Hollywood paint-job. And the effect goes on: if other artists were inspired by Barrie's work (perhaps because it touched the nerves of their own catastrophic lives), and all we have is a candy-coated film, their art and whatever in their lives might have inpired their interest in Barrie's work is also distorted. I do not know if truth sets anyone "free," but I do know that untruths distort and harm. And then the distortion goes on . . . This book cuts deep, but struggles for truths, which is what a biography of an artistic genius should try very hard to do.

I found this book to be a well-researched and moving account of not only Barrie's life but also the lives and deaths of the original "Lost Boys". After reading this book, I read Peter Pan again in a whole new light and enjoyed it even more. I think reading this book is essential in order to fully appreciate the entire Peter Pan experience as it truly helps to bring the characters alive.

Having found this little book before the advent of the film "Finding Neverland" I was able to read it originally without comparing it to the film, always a good thing. The film, of course, changed much of the true story as films usually do. This book standing alone as far better, but note, it is not a happy story with a happy ending, it is a tragedy, and no one is left unscathed.
The photographs, almost all, were taken by Barrie himself, and are absolutely wonderful. He had a natural artistic sense, and his unposed photos of the five Llewelyn Davies boys, Michael, George, Peter, Jack, and Nico at their play, stay with you. They are dressed in the Edwardian clothes of the time, or in costumes they wore in the elaborate make-believe games they played with their childlike grownup friend Mr Barrie, and those are truly memorable in themselves. Often they are playing with J.M. Barrie's large dog, and one can't help but think of the big dog, Nanna, in Peter Pan, it's acutally quite eerie, seeing that the play "Peter Pan" itself wouldn't be written yet for years.
J.M. Barrie came from a lower class Scottish family, and in childhood lost an older brother to illness. His mother took to her bed griefstricken, for a long period, and once, trying to cheer her, young Barrie put on the older brother's clothes and went to see his mother. For just a moment she thought it was the older brother, and he seemed to see happiness in her eyes; for all his life, the message stayed with him, the boy who would never grow up was the loved boy.
He was a strange, brilliant, gentle, childlike man. Highly regarded in his own time, considered a great playwright, equivilent to George Barnard Shaw in his day; and very prosperous due to his books and plays, married, but childless, and probably not very happy in his marriage which would end in divorce, one day in Kensington Park he saw one of the five young Llewelyn Davies brothers. They struck up a friendship, based on Barrie being quite willing to talk to a child on the child's level. Soon after, he met the rest of the family, who were impressed to meet the famous playwright. Their family was also upper class, well to do, but would soon lose their father to cancer, they would thenceforth be in precarious financial straits. Barrie immediately became a combination father/ big brother to the boys. He also became close friends with their mother Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, but not, I suspect, to the degree the movie implies. It was all about the boys, their innocence, and something he wished to capture and hold on to. His obsessive photography of them makes that clear.
Tragedy struck again, unbelievably, when their mother died of cancer as well, at a young age, after a relatively brief illness. By then Barrie was such a part of their lives that his continued influence, and the benefit of his money in seeing to it that all five boys finished school in the manner befitting their "class", was accepted by the boys' extended family. He stayed involved in all their lives indefinitely, though it is interesting that he had his favorites, and the two who were not favorites resented and disliked him as they grew older.
The book stops with the boys' growing up, though he did stay involved with them as a surrogate parent. Tragedy did hound the family, but unlike some reviewers I am not sure that it can be blamed on JM Barrie's role in their lives. In fact, without him, financially they would have far worse off.
It is true the boy named Peter resented that the play was named "Peter Pan", and of course he was teased at school, and Barrie probably should have thought of that. (Of course without Barrie he most likely wouldn't have been at Eton to be teased.)
Two footnotes: all the proceeds of the play went to the Children's Hospital in London for 100 years, until recently with the 100 years anniversary, the copyright ran out, and now it is in the public domain. No proceeds of his biggest success ever went to Barrie.
Also, the girl's name: "Wendy", was first used in the play. It was an unknown name before that. Barrie used it in memory of a young daughter of a friend who was named Wendy, and who died at age 5. (Not known where that family got the name from, or if it was a nickname.) It was not a name known previously and "Peter Pan" popularized it.
Its an excellent book, an opening via the photographs into another long-gone time, a sad story, but not I believe, due to Barrie. I believe he meant well, and tried his best to be a friend to that unfortunate family. He had his demons as do we all, but to "love" children, in that era, to befriend them, and even play with them when they were pre-teens, could still occur without any implication of perversity; and even to sleep with a child, the concern of one reviewer, was, at the end of the Victorian world, seen as a pure and innocent act, like a parent and child might sleep together...I think it is hard for us in our cynical age to see things as the late Victorians/Edwardians did. No whisper of scandal or of anything improper ever came from any of the five boys, their family, servants, or anyone else connected with them; and I think had there been it certainly would have come to light. I believe he truly loved the boys, and they in turn, after he knew them several years, and had observed their play and their natural talk and style, influenced him to write his masterpiece "Peter Pan".

Prompted by the movie "Finding Neverland" I wanted to learn more about the Davies family and their relationship with Barrie. My research lead me to this book. The tragic story of the boys and Barrie was an eye opening read. Birkin is an artful weaver of ancedotes, interviews and history. While I was reading the book I got lost.I started feeling like I was an intimate friend of the families, instead of curious observer. Furthermore, Birkin's website has been updated with more pictures and media files. The website coupled with the book really saturates you into the life of the 5 boys and the mindof the man who loved them very much. A beautiful account of a flawed and tragic life.

Dream, Vision, Mission: Achieved - Begin to think like an executive with dreams. Organizations exist based on and because of dreams. Dreams of success. Dreams of product or service differentiation. Dreams of creating an enterprise the likes of which have never been known before. In Executive Thinking, the Executive Thinker, rising through the ranks, leads an executive team with ambassadors, working ambassadors and associates, ultimately leaving an executive legacy. A good read.

Kossoff delivers in this book. She not only shows you how to dream, she shows you how to reach and realize the new vision of your organization and your place in it. In clear, graceful and logical writing, she gives you step-by-step guidelines for creative, "out-of-the-box" thinking and the means to harness the ideas that emerge. Using compelling case studies, she reveals how this technique energizes management structure to move ahead, empowering individuals throughout the corporation. The book will have a significant impact in maximizing operations. A MUST READ FOR EXECUTIVES ON EVERY LEVEL.

Leslie Kossoff shares with us in clear, easy to follow words, the secret of successful executives. It is like being invited inside the heads of our corporate leaders both today and from yesteryear. The principles in this book are tried and true, yet nobody discusses the thinking process of success. There are no management fads or latest buzz words in here - This is the guide of how to turn dreams into reality. Today's business world is changing at light speed. To succeed in these topsy turvy times, now more than ever we have to understand the thinking proces. Ms. Kossoff has done this for us. No other management book comes close. This is THE book for today's and tomorrow's leaders.

If you've a business that seems to have grown like topsy very likely this little book is for you. Have you been told that communication within your firm is a problem? What does it mean and more important what do you do about it? Call a general meeting only to find that with 200 or more employees things it's different than when there were only 15 or 20. Employees no longer know you, worse they may no longer trust you. Or maybe you decide that a better e-mail system can help. I'd laugh but I've been there. If any of this seems familiar Leslie Kosoff's little book should help. I've just ordered a copy for each of our supervisors. I tired of hidden agendas and office politics, maybe we can finally begin to pull this firm in the same direction.

Remember the old Broadway song, "You gotta have a dream, or how you gonna have a dream come true?" This is the executive version. Author Leslie L. Kossoff maintains that executives must have - and must clearly and enthusiastically articulate - a dream of what a company can be in order to get everyone else in the company excited, aligned and active. As an executive (or as a climber of that ladder), you may find this a pretty reasonable introduction to leadership, though it could also sound fairly simplistic. Kossoff offers a few non-specific examples, either citing news stories or alluding to individual executives, but primarily she tells us how she thinks successful executives should behave. Like the content, the book's tone also is a little reminiscent of a show tune -not too challenging and enjoyable to hum - but its attitude is sincere. We at getAbstract recommend this refresher as a philosophical pep talk that reminds executives how their approach to their jobs affects the realization of their dreams.

This book ought to be available in every library, and made available to any and every one! It is a total jewel of a book. I would really be interested to meet the author.

Chinmoy uses new age jargon to mask the fact that he is uninformed about the subtleties of the subject matter. He is neither a philosopher nor is he spiritually adept. He uses his PR skill to lure unsuspecting youth to his cult. Don't buy his books.

Great book for Great Source of Enlightenment!
You wish you have read this book 20 years ago!

Sri Chinmoy is a living fountain of inspiration for the world. He writes from the heart in an elegant and lucid manner. His poetry communicates to our own hearts to stimulate the peace, harmony and love which are so simply already there. His rich Indian background and life accomplishments dramatically impower his messages.

It took me a long time to arrive at the place where I inevitably had to find this book. I find it to be the most succinct, beautiful, practical, and accurate work on the spiritual life that I have ever read. Long and bumpy is the path to arrive at this book, Wings of Joy. First I went through Catholicism; its rigid literalistic theology, though, leaves something missing for the thinking person. Then, Buddhism, with its deep meditation and striving for enlightenment. But there is something big missing there too: its rejection of the world is too non-intuitive, and does not make sense in trying to live a harmonious unified life. Then other independent religious thinkers, like Osho, whose books are wonderful and inspiring, but who demands that we tear down everything we have learnt from any institution (parents, church, state, etc.), in order to achieve the freedom that is our birthright. This may be the right way, but its radicalness can leave one feeling rudderless (in a bad way). It all leads to Sri Chinmoy, who, seemingly with direct access to God and the soul, has written a work that transcends them all. He does not reject religion, but says that they all contain truth: "each religion is right, absolutely right, in its own way, but when we cry for the highest truth, love of God becomes our only religion." Have you ever seen a more perfect statement. He does not reject the body or the world. He says the body needs the soul to illuminate it, and the soul needs the body to manifest the soul. So logical, so true, so inspired. Love is the answer, as it should be; not some detached enlightenment. There is not only one path, as too many religions demand. In short, this is the man, and this is the book. May you love it and each other

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker

The author has worked for Disney Feature Animation on such classics Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, for George Lucas at Industrial Light and Magic, and for Warner Bros. Feature Animation. Also, his illustrations have been found in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and other publications, and he maintains a studio and gallery in Laguna Beach, CA. In addition, he is the creator of the "Invisible Tales" series, of which The Giant Leaf: Take a Giant Leaf of Faith was the first and Fire Fish is the second.

Three little perch are inspired by the legend of the Fire Fish, mystical masters of the Bright Beyond, to embark on a great journey to find their parents who were captured in a net. Escaping from an eel and then the Great White but making friends with a turtle, a dolphin, and even an orca, they call upon the Finmaker to guide and protect them as they go from one adventure to another on their way to the Big Blue where the currents are warm and the green blossoms are sweet. But will they survive? And will they ever find their parents?

Liu says, "What if our visible world is just a mere reflection of the invisible reality." This "fish tale" fable which teaches timeless truth is lavishly illustrated with colorful, full-page drawings and ends with a surprising twist. Fire Fish is a lovely book that I think middle school aged readers will find interesting and enjoyable. It encourages children to follow their dreams and always hope for the best.

My goodness, what a throughly enjoyable children's story!! I loved every second of it. The animation was breathtakingly beautiful and was obviously done by someone who is extremely talented. This is the story of three little fishes, Sarai, RaaOn and Sesom, who learn the lessons of fear and faith as they transverse the sometimes perilous waters that they live in. One of the greatest pleasures of these young fishes is watching the great fin race where the reward is "sweet lovely food". Sarai and her siblings fantasize about what it would be like to participate in the race and win this much desired bonus. But all of this is put on hold because her parents are caught in a net and she and her siblings have to find a way to secure their release. In this quest the three fishes will have their faith tested, make new friends and above all learn that being part of a loving family is one the greatest joys in life. This story is a "fishy" take on the Exodus tale but is so well done that even if you already know that story as many of us do, you still feel like this tale is fresh. I believe that both parents and children will feel enriched after reading this story and will be dazzled by the extremely gorgeous drawings that make this story come alive. I highly recommend this wonderful book and I can't wait to see what else the writer and animator has in store for his next project.

"Fire Fish" is a masterful creation with story and illustrations by Davy Liu. Davy is well known for his work on Disney Animation films as well as his work with George Lucas. His illustrations have been featured in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

In his "Invisible Tails" series Davy exhibits another gift and talent as he writes for children with a mystical power as he shares insights into his own personal faith.

"Fire Fish" is the story of three perch, Sarai, RaaOn, and Sesom who live with their parents in the depths of a river bed. Sarai dreams of joining the fire fish who participated in the Fin Race every morning. She wanted to follow them to the Bright Beyond.

In fear of an approaching Croc, the perch family swam to the surface where Momma and Papa Perch were caught in a net. Sarai, RaaOn, and Sesom swam to Turtle Pool to ask for help.

Liu uses metaphors to describe calling out to the Finmaker for help as the three perch are faced with the dangers of predators seeking their food. As they meet other sea creatures swimming for cover they invite them to call out to the Finmaker with them for safety and rescue.

The full color pictures bring the characters into vivid life like images, endearing the reader to them. "Fire Fish" is a fabulous book for those frequent teachable moments when a child becomes engaged in a story filled with timeless truth, character building values, and virtue. Destined to be a classic this is a masterpiece of story and art.

The Fire Fiish is the tale of three little fish seperated from their parents trying to find their way to the Big Blue. On the way they meet other citizens of the deep, some friendly, some intending harm. When face with a challange they call upon the FinMaker for guidence or comfort. Finally reaching the Big Blue they face the most dangerous foe of all and enlist the other ocean creatures to believe and call upon the FinMaker. This book is richly illustrated and will engage any child (or adult)with its beauty.

This is a golden fable about a family of fish. When a fishing net catches Momma and Pappa Perch, Pappa tells his kids (Sarai, RaaOn, and Sesom) to go to the Turtle Pool for help. The wise Great Turtle tells them to call on the Finmaker. To do this, the three siblings need only to silently call from their hearts and have faith that the Finmaker will answer, even if it is only, "Be patient."

After awhile, the three explore a tunnel and this begins their journey of hope, faith, and trust as they dodge danger and search for their parents.

***** The author and illustrator of this book is Davy Liu. He has worked for Disney on several movie animations, as well as with George Lucas and Warner Bros. I mention this to stress the author's long experience with understanding children and what captures their attention. If you have ever seen the Disney movie "Finding Nemo", then you will see a lot of resemblance in these illustrations. Every single page is bright and colorful, ensuring to fascinate your child from the beginning of the story until the very end. Young children will easily be able to relate to the three main fish. As they enjoy the story, they will also be learning several life-long lessons about God, angels, faith, trust, and how to look beyond the colors and shapes of others. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Davy Liu's book is pure, wholesome bliss! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Another excellent book from the brush and mind of Davy Liu. Having read his most recent children's book, Fire Fish, I was familiar with the brilliant art work and beautiful stories that this animator is capable of. Just like Fire Fish, this book is a thrill from page one till the end. The story is about Kendu a fox who dreams every night about a giant leaf. He is not exactly sure what the giant leaf means in his dream but he knows that he is happy whenever he is under it and always wakes with a sense of freedom, something that eludes him in real life. Kendu and his clan of foxes have been enslaved by beasts that work them within an inch of their lives. One day he is able to escape but none of the other foxes will follow him because they have been slaves for so long that the concept of freedom almost frightens them as much as being caught by the beasts. Upon his escape Kendu decides to search for the giant leaf of his dreams because he remembers the joy he always felt in its presence. While on this journey he befriends Yitzhak the money and Odelia the Koala. They undertake an exciting and fearful journey as each searches for what the giant leaf means to them. This a heartwarming spin on the story of Noah and the Ark and it will delight parents and children as they read. The animation is beautiful and makes you want to read more of Mr. Liu's stories.

This is a precious story of risk taking, friendship and steadfastness wrapped around Old Testament scripture.

The story's key character is a fox whose name is Kendu. He dreams of a giant leaf that will take him away from slavery. Escaping slavery is his dream, even though he believes the Wilds outside of his immediate surroundings is frightening and filled with potential peril. He finally discovers a clever way to escape, and he begins his travels determined to find the giant leaf-his way to freedom.

During his journey he discovers and befriends other animals. Each animal brings their own special dreams of the giant leaf and how it will improve or change their unique circumstances.

This lovely tale is brought to life with stunning, colorful and distinctive illustrations that enhance each character, their adventures and surroundings.

If there is a child in your life who will enjoy and cherish a story of adventure, hope, friendship, and love-then choose this book for him or her.

Armchair Interview says: Another book about hope for children.

My son, who is 7 years old, loves this beautifully illustrated book. He read it before bedtime last night. This morning, he insisted on reading the book to me, making sure that I viewed every single painting, because, he said excitedly, "that's the best part of the book"! His favorite painting in the book is the one when Kendu finds Reia in the Ark. We are looking forward to reading Fire Fish next.

We can't wait to see The Giant Leaf on the big screen!

I was not at all surprised to arrive at the page for "The Giant Leaf" at Amazon with my review all written -- to find that every other reviewer gave this book 5 stars. It's that "entirely fresh" a perspective -- eye-popping in its vision of how to reach a new perspective on a timeless Bible story.

The book opens with the line: "The dream was always the same."

And that's really the goal this book accomplishes so beautifully -- it recaptures the awe, the jaw-dropping wonder of a classic tale. I won't spoil the surprises in this book by specifically identifying where the story takes us. That's part of the spiritual magic of your first "read" through this book.

What's great about the book, though, is that it doesn't preach -- it amazes. It doesn't instruct -- it invites us to discover these insights with the main characters, led by the brave little fox Kendu.

These books by Davy Liu -- this one and his subsequent Fire Fish (Invisible Tails) -- also are very timely right now because so much attention is being paid in religious communities to rediscovering the role of the natural world within our religious traditions.

Yes, it's a children's book. Yes, it's a family book. But it's a lot more than that. It's a new window into the wonder of our religious roots.

THE GIANT LEAF is yet another sophisticated, elegant book for children (of all ages) from the mind and artistic gifts of Davy Liu. The story and illustrations are by Liu and the actual writing is by sensitive author Douglas Wood who has realized Liu's compassionate tale with distinction. The story is a clever and inspiring retelling of the Great Flood from the biblical book of Genesis, but this time from the vantage of the animals that are saved from the destruction of the earth - the punishment for man's ignorant abuse of a creation made for him. Because this book is written and illustrated in such a sensitive manner, the recreation of the Flood and the accompanying suggestion about our current abuse of the planet earth is subtle and therefore a story children will love - and the adult readers will hopefully take note!

Liu is a gifted artist and while the story is well told and very entertaining and important, much of the worthiness of this book lies in the extraordinarily beautiful art that weaves the tale into a cinematic adventure. The characters include Kendu, a fox with a persistent dream of a giant leaf that encourages him to set out on a mission to discover the leaf, a wonderfully silly monkey Yitzhak, and a koala bear Odelia. Together they form a friendship and a determination to fulfill their dreams, each sharing the image of a protective giant leaf that promises them protection as they venture through the wilds, avoiding the mythical Animal Eater. But what lies at the end of their adventure is the discovery that the Animal Eater is in fact a haven - an ark containing all the animals of the earth that will float despite the floods that cover the earth and the giant leaf is - well, somethings must wait for the reader to discover.

Davy Liu (with the able assistance of Douglas Wood in this volume) has found a niche that is most certain to become a classic series of beautiful books for children, books that will not only breed an appreciation for fine art but will also open windows of understanding the spiritual world in a fresh and tender way. We can only hope there will be many more in this series. Grady Harp, July 08

I have a copy of this book for sale on Amazon.co.uk (Amazon won't allow overseas sellers to list items on Amazon.com). An opportunity to obtain this rare and very popular title!

This book has been republished! I just received the copies I ordered in the mail and they are perfect and beautiful! This is a treasure of a book and now, thanks to Fidra Books - everyone who loves it can afford to have a copy! YAY!!!!

I first checked this book out of my small town library at age 10 or 11. I recall frequently being drawn back to it, and, every time I remembered it and could find it (it was elusive even then, a battered, dusty book with an illegible spine) I would reread it and be spellbound. Suddenly, twenty-five years later, returning to this town with my own children, I one day thought of this book and was unable to get it out of my mind. Unable to remember either title or author but having a vague idea of what the book looked like on the shelf (!), I went to the town library, thinking that I'd recognize it if I were to see it! I have no idea why I was so compelled. In any case, I was unable to find it, and promptly put it out of my mind. Now,several years later, I again am visiting my home town and, for some reason, awoke after midnight last night with the title of the book, Winter of Enchantment, spontaneously occurring to me. After a fast internet search, I found other reviews describing similar experiences. Alas, it is long out of print and not to be found. This story left a lasting impression on me, like no other from my childhood, and I would love to find it once again to share with my own kids. In short, please reprint what is surely a marvelous book!!!

I am 14 right now..and have been looking for this book for 2 years. I read it when I was about 11..and wasn't really interested. I re-read it and fell in love with it..but little did my mom know, she threw the book away a couple months later. I was in complete shock. This book MUST be re-printed!!... IT MUST!!...

Just a note that "Winter of Enchantment" is going to be re-pusblished by Fidra Books, and will be due out in November of 2006. The "House Called Hadlows" is scheduled to be published the following year.