K Books

I received the book promptly and it is in wonderful condition. No complaints, would do business again.

I really enjoyed Anna Mindess's book Reading between the signs. I thought it was very informative and had read it once before when I first started taking ASL and didn't really understand it all that much but as of now I've been taking ASL for almost two years and have a better understanding and appreciatition for the Deaf and it's culture and the difference between the Deaf and the hearing world. What a great book for people who are just starting to take ASL and want to be come active in the Deaf community and one day maybe persue a career with it

This book entitled "Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters (2nd edition)" is the most indepth study of cultural mediation that I have ever seen. Anna Mindness does a wonderjul job of helping an interpreter to see where communication barriers exist, and then explain how to bridge those gaps. Why are cultures different? What is cultural mediation? How do you convey a message between conflicting cultures? What tools can effective interpreters use to empower the clients we serve toward better communication when obstacles exist? After reading this book, I found myself making adjustments in interpreting, and was able to see positive results in terms of faithfully communicating source language messages to the recipients. If one reads this book, and applies the principles learned toward their work, it will assist in making them a better interpreter, and ultimately a better communicator between cultures. I highly recommend this book to others and express my thanks to the author for putting the elements of intercultural communication together in one great volume.

i guess i expected this book to have pictures of signing for some reason...i don't know, but once i started to read it i saw how informative it is. i like the book a lot and i believe that Anna Mindess knows what she's writing about. if you want to understand the deaf culture more and are determined to become an interpreter, i think this book is essential.

In order to understand deaf culture, you need to understand what is standard American culture and then see how it contrasts with deaf culture. Anna Mindess does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting these cultures, with references to cultures from all over the world. She includes insights from respected Deaf members. This is an easy read, not a difficult textbook. I read this with many lightbulbs going "aha". She delves into values, presentation styles, and politeness in both worlds. She provides scenarios with cross cultural perspectives in the doctors' office and the job interview. I have a new understanding of myself as a hearing American and a new appreciation for the cross cultural obstacles that deaf people must face.

I bought this book for my Landscape Design class going toward my Horticulture degree. I looked through this book many times when I was stuck and unsure on what was supposed to be done. It's a wonderful book for beginners even if you are just designing your own home garden. Even if you aren't going to be a landscape architect it's a wonderful book to read through and learn the principles of design and what goes into to making a great design.

If you want to learn how to do landscape architecture, this is the textbook for you. Don't let the word "textbook" turn you off with thoughts of back when you were in school wishing you were elsewhere. While it is not full of plant lists nor pretty photographs of inspiring gardens; it will, however, teach you how to create your own inspiring gardens. The multitude of graphics will help you to even better understand the well-written text, which is not in the least dull. I doubt there is a better book on the market for the purpose stated in its title. I highly recommend it and am using the principles gleaned from this book to design my own garden. How well I'll do is yet to be determined. But it has given me the skills (I hope) and courage to try. If I fail, at least I know what to look for in a professional.

This book is great, but you might like to know that a 4th addition of this book is now available. Type in - "Residential Landscape Architecture: Design Process for the Private Residence (4th Edition)" and check it out.

I am in love with this book! It is clear, concise, well-written, and has wonderful graphics. I am a landscape architecture student at UCD and this book has taught me more than any of my teachers combined! Highly recommend.

I am a student at Kansas State University in Landscape Design, and this book is wonderful for getting ideas, symbols, and disign techniques. My professors own this book, and constantly approve and recommend this book for sudents. Although it is titled for a private resident, professional landscapers use this book also. This is one book you should add to your library.

Good for all ages.
Step back in time and stand with the crowds to watch the Biscuit fly down the track. Beckwith takes you there again as he did when he wrote this book more than 60 years ago. The writing style, the photos, and the fabulous drawings all help immerse the reader in the late 1930's time period. I particularly enjoyed seeing the real Seabiscuit and hearing what the owner, trainer, and jockey had to say at the time.
If you enjoyed the movie and/or Laura Hillenbrand's book, you will treasure this wonderful piece of tangible history. I recommend this edition highly. Don't miss your opportunity to own this gem!

Seabiscuit was my favorite book in elementary school and still rates high amongst a handful of favorites. Many times over decades, circumstances gained perspective by recalling the depth of spirit and perseverance conveyed so concisely by Mr. Beckwith. Seabiscuit's story is truly for all ages. I believe stories like this are a reason why people are prone to assign human emotions to animals or treat them like a best friend.

As a child I often dreamt about having a horse, hoping I might even be fortunate enough to have one like Seabiscuit. I ended up with four, all of whom indelibly changed my life. I took care of them as if my life depended upon them; even sleeping with them in their stalls when I could get away with it. Bingo, Scamper, Scully and Crackerjack have permanent places in my heart. With them is a picture of Seabiscuit from Mr. Beckwith's book. They always gave their very best and showed me mine. Anyone who reads Seabiscuit's story will come to understand that the innate ability to recover and succeed resides in every person and all life. Opportunity to find and use that power of heart and energy is always available.

I am infinitely grateful to Mr. Beckwith for recognizing and writing Seabiscuit's story and especially to my father for making a vital, life changing dream come true.

I knew B.K. Beckwith personally, and worked with him the last ten years of his life at Santa Anita. He was our television commercial spokesperson for the Santa Anita Handicap for several years, recounting remembrances of Seabiscuit. He was a consummate horseman turned journalist and writer, and had been at Santa Anita from the opening on Christmas 1934. He also wrote "The Story of Santa Anita," which was never published commercially, but used the same heroic and emotional Grantland Rice style that you enjoy in his Seabiscuit book. His memory was a treasure, and since he wrote this book contemporaneously with events, you can feel the horse come alive, as well as the people and the places. This is SO GREAT to have the publisher find this work of art, enjoyable for anyone who loves horses, or racing, of any age. The drawings by Howard Brodie -- who went on to great fame otherwise -- are superbly reproduced, and so are the historic photos. You can see the 'Biscuit's personality come through, especially when he's looking out of his personal railroad car at all the fans and cameras, and in several others!

Inspiring story placed in compelling historical setting. Beautifully done by someone who knew the main characters well.
Nothing to find fault with here. Terrific read.

Owner of Ponder Publishing Company, LLC, my first response after reading was `I wish I had found Beckwith's story before this publisher did!' I was there! I heard Seabiscuit breathing. I saw him sweat, felt his determination, smelled the liniment. You could taste the air of early last century, to anguish and rejoice with one horse's determination to Keep on Keeping on, despite all adversity. Here, love touches a reader, as it touched the crowds who flocked to admire the Biscuit, in the flesh, his ample flesh. My Christmas shopping is done this year!
www.ponderpublishingcompany.com

Don't let the small size fool you, this is a complete college level introductory textbook on Astronomy!

For amateur astronomers, you won't need anything else for theory. Using it in the field, might be rather cumbersome, as it is so loaded with information, it might be hard to sift out what you want "On the Fly".

Excellent book!

This book covers the basics on a wide range of topics. The maps are nicely done and easy to read. I have read a number of astronomy books, and this book is among the easiest to understand. The pictures are well done and compliment the text nicely to assist in the particular lesson being learned. If you've had a hard time understanding some other astronomy books, you might want to try this book. I found 3 drawbacks with this book. 1.) The RA/DEC coordinates given for objects in a number of the tables are epoch 1900. More current coordinates certainly could have been used. 2.) The binding is insufficient to be used as a "field guide" for any length of time. 3.) All tables at the back of the book that give times/dates for upcoming events are out of date. They end at 2006 or before.

If you're looking for a basic book on astronomy that covers a wide range of topics AND is easier to understand than most other astronomy books, you should consider buying this book.

The one and only knock against this great field guide (and kudos to the others who have pointed out that it's NOT a children's book, but simply the best introductory handbook to astronomy ever published) is that it will fall apart with regular use within a couple of years. This is inexcusable in a field guide, but the book is so wonderful and user-friendly that it still gets my five stars. If I could split the review: the book would get 5 stars, the publisher 0 stars.

But it's so cheap compared to other guides, like the lousy Norton's Star Atlas, that you can afford another when it shreds in your hands after a couple years use at the scope.

Bottom line: great book, but should be sewn-bound!!!

This little book is a great reference that handles most any issue an amateur astronomer might encounter in his gazing exploits. There is a thorough yet concise treatment of Basic Astronomy, followed by sections on Astronomical Instruments, Stars, The Various planets, and other celestial bodies. The illustrations and charts are wonderful and there is a very thorough treatment of each constellation, many tables, a good bibliography, and index of observatories and planetariums. It amazing what has been packed into this very small book!

Great Book, GREAT Charts (the grey section), but I had to drop a star due to a lack of Messier Photos and the terrible binding. I don't know HOW the review can say "4th - 8th grade reading level". If you find a 4th grader who can absorb this excellent material, he/she's in the wrong class! This book takes you from ignorance to comprehension painlessly. It even lists wonderful items which can be seen with only a pair of binoculars. It explains everything in the charts, listing the Messier objects and describing them, ie. "9th magnitude open-armed galaxy". Includes solar system, moon, stars, and deep space. A well done book, lacking nothing as a "text book", but as a "Field Guide" the above listed deficiences are intolerable. Well worth the small price.

I first read this at some young age long enough ago that I can't remember exactly when, but I remember very well the sense of awe and enchantment of the story. Even now, many many years later, I can pick it up and be just as engrossed even though it's such a short read. Highly recommended for all ages, if you enjoy a magical tale that somehow seems real, along with the very real story of a young boy's emergence into adulthood.

the snow spider is definately one of my favorite books of all time. when I was reading it, everyone was trying to get me to do something, ANYTHING besides read that book, but nothing anyone did could make me stop. after i read this book, I had to read "orchard of the cresant moon," and "the chesnut soldier." I often think of the snow spider now, and wish that i could be a magician like gwen, and do things like see pictures from a different world. Jenny Nimmo is extremely creative, and i know i will remember this book forever.

the best book and an added bonus of finally finding my name, i especially love all the characters and the way that everyone in their own magical way is a beautiful character

I read this book just this year for school and we couldn't read ahead of the class I hated that! But we finaly finished it.it was the kind of book you have to know what happens. When we were reading it in class we'd come to parts when we'd all go ITS BATHAN I KNEW IT I KNEW IT! I love the way jenny nimmo writes her books are the coolest. You gotta read em' all!

Gwyn's 5 gifts from his grandmother, Nain, take Gwyn's imagination to a whole new level. After finding out that he's a witch, he experences new things that he never thought was possible without the gifts. But the most important things that he wants most of all, is to bring his sister back that disappeared 4 years earlier and to bring his family back together. With the help of a magical snow spider named Arainwen he goes to beat the challenges of the mortal world to bring his sister home.

What would England have been like if the Germans had invaded England in 1940 and won? Well the King is in the Tower of London, the Queen and the Princesses are in New Zealand, and Churchill has been executed by firing squad. Only the southern part of England is under occupation, but the Nazis are heading up most government bureaus including Scotland Yard. In addition, there are the internecine battles between the Nazi Party, the Gestapo, the SS and the collaborating puppet government. Throw in a British Resistance a la "Le Maquise" and you've got a great story.

Archer of the Yard used to laugh but that was some months ago Britain is a conquered state the King is in the Tower of London and Chruchill has been executed. Some Britons carry on the fight there is a government in exile in Canada and there are groups closer to home who ambush mounted patrols but being scattered divided and basically without a plan the groups aren't going to last very long. Some others openly collaborate and Archer who is basically a good guy trying to do his best in a bad situation just wants to do what he has always done-solve crimes.

Now it is this point that things rapidly start to spiral out of control.

Overall-The only issue I have with the book is this why would the weak English resistance look to Archer to help? Also why would the German occupiers trust Archer? Oh course the answer is simple they do this because the narrative requires it but I am not wholly convinced.

What if Germany occupied England during WWII, that is the premise of this novel by Len Deighton. SS GB" is a thoroughly fascinating, absorbing, terrific novel--a first-rate murder mystery wrapped in a huge, wartime conspiracy, with a detailed, completely believable backdrop of Britain defeated and occupied by the Nazis. A real page turner sure to please not just Deighton fans but anyone who loves history.

This was a great book for many reasons. First of all, it was thrilling and moved very quickly. But it also had depth and intelligence. The picture he paints of German occupied England is very beleivable. Most of all, the plot was thick and there were some good turns and twists, especially at the end.

It's November 1941 in Nazi-occupied Britain, and Detective Inspector Archer of Scotland Yard finds himself reporting to SS Gruppenfuehrer Fritz Kellermann. The King is a prisoner in the Tower of London; Churchill has been shot after a brief trial in Berlin; Germany and the USSR are still the best of friends; and the USA is reluctant to intervene. Austerity holds Britain in its icy grip, with luxuries more or less limited to the German occupying forces and those who succeed in ingratiating themselves.

The successful invasion left swathes of ruin and destruction that have not yet been repaired. The blackened shell of a Panzer IV tank still sits halfway up Wimbledon high street. Anyone violating curfew, or breaking regulations, is likely to be shot or sent to a concentration camp. Yet there is no point in rebellion - that would just get more people killed. Apparently, the only way forward is to cooperate with the Germans. Kellermann hints to Archer that his young son might possibly attend the good German school in Highgate... On the other hand, perhaps he should be sent to a training school for young Nazis in Germany.

While developing one of his usual opaque plots, Deighton cleverly shows the dilemma facing Archer and others in positions of responsibility. We see the British resistance as more like the present-day Iraqi insurgency (depicted as terrorists, criminals and diehards) than in the heroic light that has retrospectively fallen on those who persisted in fighting the Nazis after their governments had surrendered.

As usual in a Deighton story, it is no use trying to work out which side anyone is on. Mostly, each of the leading players is on his (or her) own side. The question is: who can profit most by cooperating with whom? The answers turn out to be surprising indeed. Tension starts to build with the abrupt arrival of SS Standartenfuehrer Huth from Berlin - a man who stands for no nonsense, works for Himmler, and has dauntingly direct methods. Can the Resistance exploit tensions between the German Army and the SS to rescue the King? What is the secret of the scientist who is found shot dead, apparently suffering from an extreme case of sunburn? Add a beautiful American journalist, a sinister British secret service officer, a US military expedition, sundry criminals, black-marketeers and collaborators, stir vigorously... and get ready for some stunning entertainment.

Everyone thought Jessie Benedict's impending marriage to Sam Hatchard was a great arrangement-everyone that is, but Jessie herself. Was she the only one who could see that Hatchard, her powerful father's protege, had a scheming ulterior motive in marrying her? He was more than just the chip off the old workaholic block-he was positively lusting after Jessie's inheritance to build his own business empire!
Free-Spirited Jessie has plans for her own career as a detective-starting with the rescue of a teenage girl from a dangerous cult.
But when a break-in and an intimidating pairs her with the compellingly masculine entrepreneur. Hatch does make her heart beat deliciously fast, but she's not taking orders from any man. Imagine her surprise when he turns out to be not only a friend and ally, but a strong, temder lover who in the end, knows how to seal the deal with her resounding "I do!"
This is a fabulous book, I couldn't put it down until the end, a great read!

Out of all the Krentz books I've read over the years, this is the first one to fully grab me on all levels. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a truly exceptional book, but it was thoroughly engaging. I was wary to read it, as I've found most of Krentz' books to just be lacking some...thing, but Sweet Fortune worked on all levels for me.

The romance was probably the best of any of Krentz I've read so far. I enjoyed Jessie and Hatch, they had great chemistry and depth. That's something I've sometimes found lacking with Krentz before. The characters would feel flat. But I was emotionally connected to them both. There was something about Hatch that I just really enjoyed. I loved the way he pursued Jessie. True, he was a bit macho and demanding, but it worked for the story. And I liked Jessie, but to a lesser degree. Sometimes I thought she was a bit...dumb, or maybe it's illogical. Whichever. And the supporting cast was wonderful, especially the computer geek and David.

The plot of the story was a big part of the book, but it wasn't an overwhelming one. It was more like it was just part of the flow of events. There was a certain level of suspense to it, but not so much as in a true-blue romantic suspense. It fit the story, though, and was interesting enough to keep the book moving along and add some meat to it.

Overall, a fairly good read. It kinda confirms what I'd heard - that Krentz is one of those authors who steadily writes a little less romance, and a little more suspense each year. This is one of her older books, and I can clearly see the difference between it and her newer ones. But anyway, a good book to read if you like those romance books where there's a heavy dose of romance and a medium-level side suspense plot.

This is the first book by JAK I ever picked up, don't know how I had missed out on her before. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book and her other early single title mainstream romances such as Golden Chance, Silver Linings etc. Now having gone back and read much of her earlier work as well as her more recent hard covers, it is IMHO that with these books that JAK really hit her stride. Sweet Fortune is great, as are Perfect Partners and Family Man--I could go on. This book really counts as time well spent and the characters really stay with you. I've re-read Sweet Fortune many times and plan to keep it on the keeper shelf!

Jessie Benedict lived her childhood with a workaholic father that was never there. Oh, she was grandly provided for, but he always missed recitals, was never there for the school fairs. This shows as well in the man's two failed marriages, the ex-wives known affectionately as "the Moms" by Jessie and her half-sister. But there is a wolf on the prowl, one Jessie underestimates - Hatchard, her fathers right hand man, as far as Jessie is concerned,is a chip off the old block, so to speak. Another drive workaholic bent on filling her fathers shoes in business. He wants Vincent's business, but he might want his daughter more, but Jessie is far from convinced and is fighting the families assumption two will marry. Even "the Moms" assume this will happen.

Jessie spent her girlhood being disappointed and hiding that hurt, so she is determined her Father not do the same to her young half-sister, but she is more determined NOT to marry a man just like dear old Dad. Oh, she is wildly attracted to Hatch, but she fears her life would end with another series of being second place to the business that her father build. And she is quite set that history not repeat itself, not for her little sister, nor for her in marriage.

Being rebellious against her father, she has failed to turn out to be a business person and currently is determined to become a private investigator, by helping an old lady who is a psychic and rescuing a teenage girl from a dangerous cult. Much to her surprise, Hatch shows signs of being just a shade different than daddy. Instead of patting her on the head and ignoring her new 'business', he becomes a strong ally in helping Jessie handling her father to see the younger sister does not go through the same disappointments as Jessie to he helping smooth things for "the Moms" who always use to Jessie to run interference with Vincent, and he even supports and aids her investigations.

JAK gives you her quirky dysfunctional families that seem to function, you seen in so many of her books. The relationships are wonderful, warm and humorous, and Hatch and Jessie will steal a place in your heart.

A wonderful JAK gem!!

Another great story from Ms.Krentz.A definite re-read

I haven't found a Royo art book I didn't like, but this is one of the best ones. He depicts harsh future worlds: some with machines, some with fallen angels, others with a "Planet of the Apes" theme. One of my favorite types is the kind with a mostly abandoned world, complete with the skeletons of buildings and torn yet sexy clothing of the women who still inhabit that world.

His women certainly are sexy, but much more than that. The women suffer, but endure these future worlds, and often come out the stronger for it, making the illustrations more touching and powerful.

There are also a few cover arts for futuristic space novels by Julie E. Czerneda, which also have strong women as depicted in Royo art.

Being a long time fan of Luis Royo's art work, I expected some of the same poses, same features and same colors in III Millenium. To my wonderful suprise, he has taken a dip in the deep end of his talents and emerged with fantastic, horrific and touching artwork. He is, without a doubt, a master at his craft and transmits feelings to the viewer that are like a raw slap in face. For those of us who appreciate fine art, there is no comparison.

Wow! When I heard about Royo, I decided to look around for some of his work. When I bought this book I was delighted to see that my favourite picture, "The Announcement" was in it. The subtle blue in the eyes of the child are beautifully hypnotic. I personally enjoy drawing and I have to say Royo inspires me deeply. His blend of the female flesh with cold automatons is beautiful. What might seem like weird to individuals who look at this book, aesthetically, Royo has won my admiration because he is bold and different and that's what makes a unique artist.

Once again Luis Royo has created a world of wonder for his fans. Anyone who is a serious collector of his work should own this book. His imagination has created a world of the future that only pure talent could capture on canvas, and make us believe that Three Millenium may look just as he presents it. Incredible!

This book will lead you into the future, as Royo sees it. It's dark, ice-cold, scary. Barren landscape, ruined cities, machine making love to astonishingly beautiful women; monkeys control humans. Fallen angels turned to stone, yet capable to make love to each other. The colors are grey, brown, green, which make the light even more vivid. The details are painstakingly taken care of - just like everything Royo makes. You will find women in this book (too) which you wish you'd meet in real life - if you're a guy, like me :)

I have always loved this book, and it prompted me to read all of R.K. Narayan's books, though to be honest, it is not his masterpiece (that would be either The Guide, Malgudi Days as a whole, or The Financial Expert). Yet this book does capture a sense of Narayan's unique genius, his ability to write myth and folkore as a living force that can exist side by side with cars, film crews, and the entire panoply of modern India.

I taught this book in a Freshman Composition course, and the students were rather divided on its merits. Some found it too "simple," having trouble accepting a book that begins as the memoirs of a captive tiger (which Narayan is at no great pains to keep intact), only to jump off to other narratives and points of view. The key to keep in mind is that Narayan is writing this book from the tradition of folklore and myth, where tigers can talk--yet are not bound by our ponderous modern notions of "realism." Indeed, though a modern work, many of the characters and situations in this book seem lifted out of folklore, as brilliant translated and realized by Narayan (much as he retold the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and others). On the surface, it is a simple story, well-told, yet has powerful undercurrents, particularly on the purpose of one's life, and the contradictions of each "path" we choose. The relationship of the Raja with the holy man is brilliant, particularly as Narayan allows us to see the messiness of cutting one's self off to follow a path of individual salvation.

A short book, but one that I return to often. To truly enjoy it, it's important not to impose a Western perspective on it, or even look for "novelistic" elements in the narrative. Simply read it and let yourself fall into Narayan's folkloric world, which exist as much here as in some enchanted world at the beginning of history.

Did I mention the book is often hilarious as well?

This book is a gem, it has very witty sentence structures that make you laugh out loud. It equally articulates the many phases that man goes through in life very aptly, using the tiger as a fine metaphor. A treasure that you can revisit and pass on from one generation to the next. For me it's R.K. Narayan's most profound book- indeed one must have lived fully, in order to write it down this succintly.

I had to read this for a class and I thorougly enjoyed it. It's a simple read but there's so much in there for you to think about. I would very strongly suggest A Tiger for Malgudi!

The protagonist of this story is a tiger! He is young and ferocious (as we all fancy we are), he faces the cruelties of the world (being made into a show animal), he reacts through murder and carnage (as might be natural for a tiger), and he evolves into a philosophical and detached being, no longer quite " a beast."

The story of his evolution into an enlightened soul is uplifting.
The message, I think, is that every soul, not just human, has a consciousness, and strives for something.

The proof in the power of Narayan's crystal clear narrative is that the reader feels for the tiger, respects him, and admires him for the soul he has become. (Few lucky folks can attain the state of this smart cat!) Like many Narayan stories, he tackles a challenging premise and makes it appear effortless.

READ THIS! READ THIS!

Original, entertaining, deeply thoughtful, and ultimately profoundly spiritual, this simple book takes the reader on an adventure within the being of a magnificent tiger. The tiger evolves from a proud, ruthless, and mighty ruler of the jungle to a sadly domesticated circus creature to a spiritually aware and transfigured being. His growth is mirrored in the life of his "master," to whom he refers from the very start of this account and whom we finally meet toward its glorious end. Along the path of the tiger's evolution, we also meet many an animal and human whose essential personalities and quirks are clearly drawn. The reader can easily overlook Narayan's inconsistent narrative voice, which is sometimes from within the tiger himself and sometimes from the third person. Too, one is amused by the absurdity of Indian bureaucracy and corruption as "officials" at one point try to figure out what to do with the tiger as he freely roams from village to village, and the book is flavored by India's "gestalt." But simple spiritual messages are delivered in the last 25 pages or so as the master and tiger make their way to the master's retreat and reside there in peace: "It's often said that God made man in his own image, it's also true that man makes God in his own image." "When you address a prayer to God, you are only praying to yourself...or at least you are entitled to half that prayer...". "...only the foolish waste their lives in fighting."

I wonder if the author of "The Life of Pi" is familiar with this work. Also, the author of "Water for Elephants" would love this work. Narayan is a world-class author who deserves to be read, particularly now as the world lurches toward a delusional catastrophe.

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it to read to my four-year-old and the book well exceeded my expectations.

Here you will find classics such as the Three Billy Goats Gruff and tales you may never have heard of. They are all beautifully put together and could be told as a traditional story teller might or read aloud for maximum impact.

Great stories well told, and a treasure trove for children and folklorists alike.

I bought this book for my 9 yr old son who is interested in fantasy. The stories are really entertaining and he very much loves to read about the trolls, dwarves and other beings. The illustrations are also great! I would highly recommend this book.

I love children's books and I love sharing them with children. I have high standards... I like good writing. I expect illustrations that truly add something to the quality of the storytelling and which are truly artistic. Usually one or the other, and often both, is lacking.

Lise Lunge-Larsen brought my Scandinavian heritage forward in a respectful way when she retold these tales, and Betsy Bowen's well known woodcuts did everything art can do to encourage the telling of a tale. The art actually has a nostalgic feel that lends to how old troll tales are and seemed to have been dug out of the past with them.

I had begun reading about trolls to my son with D'Aulaires' Book of Trolls (New York Review Children's Collection), and while I love the d'Aulaires artistry and it's a well written book, it was as much the history of trolls as it was stories. My son sat through it, but he didn't beg for me to read like he did with this one. Lunge-Larsen takes the opposite approach with a little bit of Troll lore followed by mostly story. Having already read d'Aulaire aloud and taking my son's age into consideration, I read the commentary to myself this time and only read him the stories. He has continued to come back to this book to hear favorite stories again (which is good -- memory has its development in the early years and hearing stories repeated is beneficial) and asked for felt board characters to go along with the books and to aid him in narrating the stories from memory both for my benefit and when he is on his own.

I was so happy to find these wonderful troll stories told the way I remember them! My mother (who grew up in northern Minnesota) told us kids these stories when we were very small (that's a long time ago). Lately I thought the tradition was lost because I could only find watered-down versions of the the Three Billy Goats Gruff, not the fascinating and powerful tales I remembered. But all is not lost. Here is a collection of genuine Troll stories, with ugly, scary trolls in all shapes and sizes, and clever boys and girls who persevere through wild and strange adventures and eventually save the day. Great stories, wonderfully told. The illustrations are beautiful.

I first borrowed this book from the library, but of course had to then buy a copy of my own. I highly recommend this book.

My kids love these stories. Some of these I remember from my childhood but most were new to me. I love the intros to all the tales. They really describe what true Norwegian Trolls are like. The illustrations are perfectly done. They match the way the stories unfold and the ruffness of the illustrations really brings out that uncivilized Troll imagery.