Lee Books

The Ten Grandmothers, required reading for a course in anthropology, inspired a lifelong interest in and appreciation of Plains Indian culture. It is romantic without romanticism, sentimental without bathos, realistic and uplifting.

I stumbled on this book years ago, and I joyfully re-read it each year. It is a wonderful, engrossing look at a long-ago time, beautifully captured through the words of Spear Woman, Hunting Horse, and their families and friends.

Although not a novel, it sure reads like one!

My favorite parts? The chapter where Spear Girl and Hunting Horse elope, the poignant journey of Apiatan and the piece where the grandmother and granddaughter go to visit the buffalo. Truly a wonderful read!

This should be required reading for anybody interested in Indian culture, lifestyles, history. Heck, for anybody who's a student of human nature.

i loved this book. as did everyone in my family. i borrowed this book from my mom three years ago to check it out and i ended up keeping it and reading it all the time. as a matter-of-fact, i'm currently re-reading it.

for me, this was a great look into the past and at the old ways. it proved to me that the Kiowa are some of the strongest people on the plains. and i am proud to be one.

Having grown up in Kiowa/Comanche country for all my child and adolescent life and having been immersed in the attendant legends, though from a white perspective, I began to research Southern Plains Indian culture much later in life. During my early investigations I came upon Alice Marriott's "The Ten Grandmothers". This was the book I was looking for but didn't know it. Other research had served up books "about" the Kiowas. This was as close to a book "by" the Kiowas as could be expected given that the Kiowas had no written language. Ms. Marriott has done a superb job of not only recording these stories of the old ways, but has let the Kiowa voice come through loud and clear. As you read these stories you feel yourself sitting around the fire in an 1800s Kiowa camp listening to these stories being told first hand.

One of my favorite chapters was about the day the children made a play camp and built a defensive earthen berm and ditch (I believe the Kiowas were about the only plains tribe to employ such a defensive tactic). Later that night White Bear began blowing his "liberated" cavalry bugle as he led the victorious raiding party back to camp. The women in the camp, awakened and thinking they were under attack by the cavalry, began tearing down the camp as the men mounted and rode out to meet the enemy and cover the escape of the women and children. Not knowing about the children's ditch, both incoming and outgoing parties of mounted warriors careened into this obstacle in the darkness. Those within earshot of the melee were in a panic thinking their worst fears were being visited upon them. The next day, a rule was announced by White Bear that, while play camps are good, children were not to make play camps with ditches; only the men could make ditches.

We owe Ms. Marriott a huge debt of gratitude for preserving these treasures that might otherwise have been lost.

This is an absolutely superb book. It's the story of the Kiowa people, a native American tribe of the southwestern plains & Wichita Mountains, told from the point of view of individual Kiowas. The "Ten Grandmothers" are sacred bundles with special powers which are important to the spiritualism of the Kiowa.

The stories in this book are marvelously crafted, and full of life and sensation, and they spread new light on old ways. The chapters feel mythological, yet they help the reader to understand the shared culture behind the daily life of the Kiowa people.

This book was first published in 1945, when there yet remained some very old people who remembered the old-time buffalo days. Historically, the book reads very true. The events of each chapter are fixed within historical times-lines which appear in the back of the book.

The author, a woman, has gifted us with wonderful portrayals of the life experience of female Native Americans. So often, women's roles and labors go unmentioned in other accounts of the old days. Alice Marriot wrote an account of the Kiowa that includes the experiences and interactions of people of both genders.

Notable chapters include one in which a young woman of seventeen - about to be forced by her relatives to marry a man she doesn't care for - runs off during the annual Sun Dance with a young man her own age. The exacting ritual of the Sun Dance is interspersed with the tribulations of this personal love story.

Later, when their first baby is small, Spear Woman struggles unsuccessfully to fulfill all her home-making responsilibities. Her unhappiness leads to conflict between the couple, until eventually, he realizes that she has too much work to do and needs female help and companionship. Such a moving story, for people of any era.

And the author brings us forward in time with the Kiowa tribe, from nomadic life into settled agriculture. And, by knowing what has gone before, the reader can perceive how their shared cultural history and mythology has colored and formed the Kiowa response to this sweeping change in lifestyle.

I can't recommend this stunning book highly enough. What a good read. Definitely a remarkable book for those interested in Native American culture. Do read it if you are interested in the old ways of the plains tribes. An excellent book.

Definately, this is one of the best Anthropology-oriented books I've read, academically or for pleasure. The fact that it is mostly exerpts from actual ethnographies helps to get points across while still more than keeping my attention.

Well Done

got this book for an anthro class at my University. its basically just a compilation of short stories (3 pages - 10 pages) about case studies in anthro. its an easy read and actually was pretty interesting.

The book came fast and it was brand new. The book was crisp. It's a soft covered book but it still made that new hard-textbook sound. :0)

I've used this collection off and on for years in teaching Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. It's a great book, a real standard in anthropology. Honestly, I think the relevance and quality of the essays varies from edition to edition. I liked the 11th more than the 12th. Sometimes a 'favorite' essay gets replaced; and then in the next edition it is returned. Go figure.

I note that sellers of used copies are claiming that the 11th edition is virtually the same as the 12th, that nearly every article is the same. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how often I have students believe this and buy the 11th edition, then struggle all semester because they don't have the chapters I've assigned. Only someone who has never used the book in class, either as a student or a teacher, would make such an egregiously wrong claim. So, if you're looking for a nice, cheap, used version, make sure that you buy the edition being used in your class. Most teachers will not assign every single chapter in the book; most select 8-12 chapters, and they can well be the chapters that are not in the older edition.

Caveat Emptor ...

This text was used in my introductory anthropolgy class, and I thoroughly enjoyed the readings. The text includes many case studies of differing cultures without being overly technical. I found this text easy to read, but very thought provoking. Highly recommended!

Genre: Historical Fiction-Youth
Title: Danny and Life on Bluff Point
Author: Mary Ellen Lee
Ten year old Danny is very small for his age, and not very strong. This fact bothers him greatly. Still, he works very hard on the farm where he, his mom and dad and three sisters live. He does his chores and helps his father, along with the hired man, in the woodlot during the winter. Danny loves his family, including his aunts, uncles and cousins, visiting whenever he gets a chance and helping where he is needed. He enjoys his life on the farm and encounters many adventures. For all his small size, Danny is far more capable than he knows.
Out working with his dad, Danny takes a break to look for deer. His dad will need to shoot one for their meat this winter. He encounters a cougar that is also watching the deer. Lucky for Danny, the cougar is far more interested in the deer, but the warning he is able to give his dad, helps tremendously as the cougar continues to hunt close to their home. An incident with their team of horses proves how brave Danny is when faced with the need for his quick actions and small size, but dealing with a bully is almost more than he can handle.
Mary Ellen Lee has delved deeply into her family history to develop an enchanting story of childhood in the late 1800's. She brings her delightful characters, particularly Danny, to life through his thoughts, emotions and an in depth knowledge of life for rural children in that time period. This novel, recommended reading for children 8 to 12 years, would be a perfect addition to any school or classroom library. This is book one in the series.
Reviewer: Elaine Fuhr, Allbooks Reviews

I bought this series for my son as we live near Bluff Point. I pre-read them for content. "Life on Bluff Point" books are great reading on many levels. There is a bit of history, as well as daily life and lessons to be learned with in these pages. You do not have to be a local person to enjoy Dannys journals. My son liked the family dynamics of this era, with its joys and conflicts and I liked the many subtle lessons on good behavior. Reading about the daily chores and responsibilities of the children was an eye opener for my ten year old, as was the fact that all these years later, boys will still be boys.

Reviewer: Joyce Handzo, In The Library Reviews
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

What better way to experience history than through a firsthand account! Author Mary Ellen Lee has loosely based this novel on her grandfather's journals. She has creatively combined some real-life people and events with a dash of fiction to bring young readers a taste of this time period.

Ten-year-old Danny lives on a large fruit and livestock farm in upstate New York. The year is 1894 and life is decidedly different than today. These pages chronicle his everyday actions as he helps out at home, interacts with his parents and three sisters, and goes to a nearby school. Written in the first person, young readers will see things through Danny's eyes and might find their own eyes blinking in astonishment!

The book has a delightful cozy and conversational feel as Danny recounts ordinary events. His daily routine starts with many farm chores and ends with a family supper. A description of his school and studies, as well as his recreational activities, all provides a true sense of the time period. Danny's life is physically hard, and as a small boy he often struggles with the tasks that are set before him. His perseverance and courage provides many excellent examples for young readers to follow. Danger is often before him, which is seen with startling clarity as he comes face to face with a cougar. He also deals with a bully at school, and takes a higher approach to solving this problem than just using his fists.

This book is simply written, but leaves a lasting impression. These pages offer a fresh look into our own world, as it was over 100 years ago. Danny's family life and activities subtly speak of profound issues like morality, honesty and faithfulness. Young readers will spend their time wisely and wonderfully with Danny.

Danny & Life on Bluff Point is a delightful story of farm life in upstate New York State in the 1890s. As readers share 10-year-old Danny's everyday life, we can feel the essence and warmth of family life and values of this loving, caring family. Today's children reading this book can learn how life was different in Danny's time but how the attitudes toward family and community are still very necessary in their growth years as they become responsible adults in our world. Danny has chores to do but he also has fun. I hope he doesn't grow up too soon! I am anxiously awaiting the author's next "Danny" book.

Danny and Life on Bluff Point is a story based upon the real life accounts of her grandfather in 1894. The author's father, Danny, is an average ten year old boy who yearns to become a man and make his parents proud. The only son in the family with three sisters who try his patience. A boy who does okay in school but has a bully that makes his life miserable. Basically, Danny is a pretty typical boy who finds himself in not so ordinary situations- like coming face to face with a cougar.

Danny and Life on Bluff Point is reminiscent of the truly timeless historical fiction accounts about the old west and life in early America that continues to intrigue every new generation of readers. That the stories are based upon true events and that the characters are realistic helps add a fresh aspect to this traditional type of literature.

Honestly for the first volumes I though the story wasn`t really that great and IMHO the humor was lacking...a bit too simple if you may but in volume 2 it got better so I kept buying but i dindn`t expect this kind of surprside!! the story really kicked off and the drawing is superb as always I just wish they would give up in those annoying little things like the giant tomamtoe and a stupid-looking talking book do they really think that`s funny??or cute?? overall the story is great BUY IT!!

This manga picks up where we left off: with a mysterious demon lord hovering over our heros. He thinks that Eclipse would be better off working for him instead of Raenef. This Crayola inspired demon lord puts Raenef to the test; if he fails, then Eclipse goes to work for Lord Krayon. Being the demon lord in charge of the dream world, Krayon tosses Raenef and co. into some demon's dream (I'm not telling u which demon! ^-^). I'm not gonna give anymore away, but the last few pages involve a floating book that I personally think is not to be trusted, but I know others who disagree. Just to be cryptic, Raenef's gonna change for the worse...poor Eclipse.... Anyways, at the end of the manga, several types of magic are explained, which is kinda interesting, but I would rather they just kept going on with the story.

when i purchased volume 2, i thought that the story had died down a bit. but god am i happy that i felt like giving it a chance and buying 3 and 4. the artwork is beautiful, as always (eclipse and raenef are the best, no? =P) and the story definitely picks up. and this book leaves you with an evil cliffhanger...evil i tell you >_< im grieving over the fact that i have to wait quite a while for the 5th volume to come out T_T i fully recommend this volume...or series overall...

Okay i really love this book! The problem is a MAJIOR cliff hanger ending! It starts off with a really girly-looking Demon named Lord Krayon.(He's not as cute as Raenef *_*) And he wants Eclipes a very good friend and teacher to Lord Raenef to come and work for him! He gets pissed off when he sees that Eclipes Turn down his offer to work with him to work for the kind, loveable, and very cute Demon Lord Raenef so he traps them in a female Demon Seers dream. The demons name is Meruhesae and in her dream Lord Raenef can't use his powers to evil them out. And to escape from her dream they need Karyon's perrmisson to leave. They end up finding Karyon and he wants to see if Raenef is worthy of Eclipes's loyalty, Trust, And friendship so he attacks Raenef and raenef can't use his powers in krayon's relam so elipes who finally finds them in time to save them from krayon's attack. Krayon who is super pissed off now attacks eclipes wounding him and Then the dead past demon lord Raenef comes up freaking everyone out askes that krayon returns Raenef and company to there relam. Krayon whom is total clueless why the dead demon lord came up to help his predisessor, he gose to see Meruhesae the seer she has no clue neither so they decide to hold na meeting. Raenef who is still beating himself up about all the trouble that he's caused eclipes wants to become a proper Demon Lord fast so he gets help from a book who says If what you'er after is frightening and has a miserable personallity that he'll get it. Raenef who is thinking of eclipes best intersest in mind argrees from nice, kind loveable, little boy to a evil hardened and merciless Demon lord. Everybody is not to happy about the new and rude Raenef at the end of the book Eclipes wants to know what turned his good friend into this evil demon who would all but love to destroy a village or two. Thats where it cuts off. bummer so this book is great and all but need to show what happens next i'm die'n to Know!

For all you manga fans out there, this book is for you!! I absolutly fell in love with this series the second I picked it up in the book store. If ur a fan of dragon knights you'll really enjoy this series. It is very simalar to dragon knights, just less mello drama, but hey you just gotta love dragon knights!!!
Anyway, this book is just as funni as ever. It also provides a much needed plot twist. A demon lord comes to fight Raenef over Eclips, saying that he is a much better demon lord that little Raenef. Sure he IS a better demon, but WHO is the main charater here?! Anyway the original Raenef makes an appearence, further twisting the plot of this loveable series. In the end of the book you see a starteling change in our lovable little Raenef when he finnaly starts to act like a true demon lord. It's what Eclips has always wanted, but can he handle the new Raenef?! I really hope not, because I want the cute lovable one to come back. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next volume. THere are also some really cute and funni parts in this book, of course. but I wont spoil them just read the book, it's not like your gonna regret doing so!!!!!

:)have fun!!!!!!

I enjoy this series because the mystery is always well thought out and it keeps you guessing and second-guessing right up until the big reveal. They aren't overly violent or filled with gory details. They are just clever, fun reads.
This book in particular is a departure for the series in that the bulk of it is a flashback to Mark Sloan's early medical career and his first dabble in the detective world, told in first person. It mainly deals with new characters. With the exception of Dr. Sloan, the other regular characters from this series basically just bookend the story. Lee Goldberg really has the characters down, especially Dr. Sloan. You can't help but picture Dick van Dyke when reading this book. Overall, I would say that The Past Tense is my favorite in this entertaining series.

Lee Goldberg's "Diagnosis: Murder" book series, based on the Dick Van Dyke TV series, got off to a promising start with "The Silent Partner." The books that followed in the series were entertaining but inferior. Now, Lee Goldberg has redeemed himself of "The Waking Nightmare", the previous entry that was mildly entertaining but mostly mediocre and disappointing, with "The Past Tense", a book that's even better than "The Silent Partner" and even the TV series that inspired it.

"The Past Tense" begins when a young girl is murdered during a rain storm in Los Angeles. Her corpse is then carried by the tide to the beach outside of Dr. Mark Sloan's house dressed in a mermaid costume. Things become really interesting when Dr. Sloan discovers the murder is connected to a series of serial killings he solved in his earliest case as an amateur sleuth.

This leads into the most enthralling stage of the book. Lee Goldberg retells the account of Dr. Sloan's first investigation in first-person from Dr. Sloan's point of view. This account is set forty years before the initial start of the novel. Imagine Dick Van Dyke as he appeared circa "Mary Poppins." Readers are finally allowed a glimpse inside the main character's head. Dr. Sloan describes his early days as both a surgeon and a sleuth, as well as his relationship with his late wife and several old friends that take over the roles of the regular cast members of "Diagnosis: Murder" mysteries. The account fits well in its era, even involving the Red Scare in the plot.

This section makes up the entire middle of the novel and, in Goldberg's tradition of providing two mysteries for one with each novel in the series, works as a self-contained mystery story with plenty of twists-and-turns. The approach also distinguishes "The Past Tense" from all of the previous entries in the series, but the novel doesn't run out of steam when it ends. Dr. Sloan and his son Steve, a baby during the time of the `60's killings, spend the final third of the novel sleuthing the connection between Dr. Sloan's past and the murdered woman in the mermaid costume and attempting to catch another killer. These chapters are taut and suspenseful, and the climax is especially hard-hitting and will have readers on the edge of their seats. Lee Goldberg, a writer who worked on the "Diagnosis: Murder" TV series as well as several others, incorporates the quirky humor of the series into the novel, but, overall, this is the darkest and most suspenseful book in the series so far.

This is the first book I've read by Lee Goldberg but it certainly won't be the last.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE PAST TENSE. In fact, I had a very hard time putting it down. When I should have been doing other things, I pushed those things aside until I was finished reading this book.

If you're a fan of the DIAGNOSIS: MURDER tv series, then you should definitely read this book. Even if you're unfamiliar with the series, you should consider reading this book. It has a great story, great characters, and it's very well-written.

This book gave me what I most look for in a book - it entertained me for many hours.

Readers can't ask for much more than that.

Still suffering the emotional and physical after effects from the events in the previous entry, The Waking Nightmare, Dr. Mark Sloan takes a morning walk on the beach outside of his Malibu home...and finds a dead body. The mystery takes an immediate turn to the personal when a strange clue links the murder to the very first homicide case Sloan investigated, back in 1962. Sloan himself narrates the 1962 segment of the story, which is a fine little mystery, and the reader comes away knowing more about what makes the crime solving doctor tick than before. Lee Goldberg (who wrote and produced several seasons of the Diagnosis Murder television series) has added an emotional layer to this mystery that makes it the best in the series to date. Highly recommended.

In the middle of a Southern CA rain storm, Mark Sloan finds a dead college student on the beach near his house. With hair died red and dressed in a mermaid costume, things seem weird. A vile is found inside her that contains pictures from Mark Sloan's very first case.

In February 1962, during another huge rain storm, a dead woman is brought into the ER. Everyone assumes she drowned during the rain storm, but Mark thinks something fishy is going on. When they find evidence of murder, Mark just can't let it go, even when it puts him at odds with the detective, former friend Harry Trumble. Can an inexperienced doctor solve the crime? Even more intriguing, what does this 40+ year old murder case have to do with the present murder?

This book is ingenious. About half of it is set in the past and half set in the present. Really, you get two mysteries for the price of one as we watch Mark solve both cases. Yet they interact in a way I never saw coming. Seeing glimpses of Mark's past was enlightening as well. I really felt like I was back in 1962 for those scenes. Once again, Lee brings events from the series into the book making me wish I'd seen more of the earlier episodes.

These books are fast becoming one of my favorite series around. If you were a fan of the show, you owe it to yourself to pick up this great continuation. Even if you've never seen the series, the plots will pull you in and make you start looking for the reruns. Is the next one out yet?

This was the ideal book for me! Thanks to this book, I can draw better than I ever imagined possible!

Ames' provides good, clear instructions. Beagles, basenjis, bulldogs and Germans shepherds are fun to draw. Any dog with a curly tail is fun to draw. Readers are also treated to a brief history of each breed on the bottom of each page.

Now, I wish there was a book (or maybe there is and I just don't know about them) of drawing classic cars. How to draw a 1964 Ford Falcon - how cool is that!

I must admit that for me it takes a bit of work to draw realistic and 3 dimensional pictures. But using the 'Draw 50' books are so very, very easy to use! Lee J. Ames's drawing method is simple with the step-by-step instructions which are easy to follow. For kids 9 and older, "Draw 50 Dogs" by Lee J. Ames is great for drawing in your scrapbook, onto your notebooks, on cards, etc.

As the title says, this book includes instructions to draw 50 dogs; all of the 50 are different breeds and types. For me I love the portraits though I also love to draw dogs running or posing. My favorite pictures to draw are most probably the 'Irish Wolfhound', 'Cairn Terrier', 'German Shepherd Dog', 'Cocker Spaniel', and 'English Setter'. The book has another nice touch which is at the bottom of each drawing, there is some information on that dog including a brief history of the breed, average weight and height of the dog, and coat and color of the dog. Extremely helpful especially if you are thinking of coloring your drawing afterwards or would like to know how big to draw the dog when putting it in a background. My only complaint that there isn't a picture of a papillon to draw which I would like to (the reason? I have a papillon for a pet!).

Of course all of the "Draw 50" series are great, be sure to check them all out! The books I want are "Draw 50 Athletes", "Draw 50 Cats", "Draw 50 Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles", and "Draw 50 Famous Faces".

I bought this book hoping there would be a picture of a weim or a similar breed. I got lucky, there is a weim! It does look incredibly easy to follow, but I know what dog lovers want to know: is MY breed in there? so here's a list:

The book is divided into "groups". The Hound group has Afghan, Basenji (sitting), Basset, Beagle, Black & Tan, Bloodhound (sitting), Borzoi, Dachshund (smooth), Greyhound (running), Irish Wolfhound (running). The Terrier group has Airedale, Bedlington, Bull Terrier, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, Wire Fox, Kerry Blue, Scottish, Sealyham & a Westie (sitting). The Working group is actually the CKC working & herding combined, and has Malamute, Boxer (running), Rough Collie (running), Doberman (play bow), GSD (head shot), Great Dane, Mastiff, OES, Corgi (Pembroke), St. Bernard (lying down), Samoyed, Sheltie, Standard Schnauzer. The Sporting has Cocker (looks like American, is "sitting pretty"), English Setter (head shot), Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Pointer, Weim. The Irish, Pointer & Weim are on point. The Non-sporting includes the Toy breeds: Bichon, Boster Terrier, Bulldog, Chow, Dalmatian (sitting), Lhasa Apso, Standard Poodle (continental cut I think), Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Pug, Yorkie. All the breeds which can have cropped or natural ears have cropped ears in these drawings.

I agree with the other reviews,this is a great book in the series. If you have an interest in drawing or know someone who does,you'll find these books to be very useful. My daughter had brought some home from the library & asked for me to buy them.They go step by step with you,in no time you'll have a wonderful picture!

This wonderful step-by-step drawing book has great illustrations like the Yorkshire terrier(My favourite). Lee J. Ames, author, is very kind as I had e-mailed him many times. Hope you like this book too...

David Dodd Lee, Downsides of Fish Culture

(New Issues Press, 1997)

reviewed by Erin Marks

David Dodd Lee's Downsides of Fish Culture is a collection of poetry that seems to live and breath off the page, reaching out to expose itself to unsuspecting readers. Dodd's modern, free-formed verse speaks of the everlasting constants in life: death, violence, nature, and love in an honest and often times fierce fashion. He brings terror to the page, even, as the reader must face the harsh realities that make life the brutal experience that it is. One such terrifying yet wonderfully crafted image is created in "Watching Some of Them Live," which ironically traces the presence of death in multiple forms. In the poem, Dodd writes of a woman who "had disemboweled herself merely by standing up/ She and another nurse had to pick up the entrails and stuff/ them/ back into the body/ She died, of course, about two days later". Dodd holds nothing back from us, especially not the gruesome details and disturbing images that are, in fact, part of the reality of life. He writes with a blatant honesty, which can only be respected and revered for its fearlessness.
Much of Dodd's poetry in the collection reflects upon his own life, which has roots in Muskegon, Michigan, where he grew up. We are given bits and pieces of his memory as in the poem "1981" in which he writes "Muskegon mired itself down deep, butted up against the dunes/ and I had been twenty forever". Dodd's Michigan background makes his work especially intriguing to fellow Michigan residents, as they too can have an even more close connection with his words and the images he tries to convey. Such references are often made to Michigan's natural beauties such as rivers, dunes, and the Great Lakes. By writing of the natural world around him, Dodd creates a link between him and the Michigan reader that can only be truly experienced and appreciated amongst them.
Most often times than not, the poetry in Downsides of Fish Culture conveys the world as a place thriving with incidents and images of confusion, terror, and beauty-all forces of nature that exist, alone, then suddenly come crashing together to create the world as we know it. As he walks amongst "smoldering cardboard walls and pop-up trees," Dodd takes us along on a journey through the mystery of nature, "that blown nothing," and life itself "traveling speeding through the green, flickering light/ arriving, and having already arrived." We begin to see the world through new, unobstructed eyes, as we must confront both death in life, and beauty in ugliness. Dodd shows us that in the most unlikely places and forms, there is; in fact, hope, especially in the extremely brutal corners of life. As "Watching Some of Them Live" is concluded, he sends possibly the most profound message in the entire collection: "three people have survived whatever complications/ they were made to face, and for a few brief moments they/ believe-/ standing on now what must seem like the end of the earth-/ they could live through anything."

___

Erin Marks is an English major at Grand Valley State University. Born in the Detroit area, she enjoys reading and writing poetry as well as nonfiction.

I'm not a great lover of nature poems, I admit it--BUT the fish poems in this book are so creepy and wonderful and SCARY, that I was looking up "pike" facts on the web as soon as I finished these daring hardedged wild poems. David Dodd Lee's work spans violence from the deep lakes of Michigan to the Oklahoma City Bombing. I loved this book for how far it pushes the limits of "polite" poetry.

I'm not a great lover of nature poems, I admit it--BUT the fish poems in this book are so creepy and wonderful and SCARY, that I was looking up "pike" facts on the web as soon as I finished these daring hardedged wild poems. David Dodd Lee's work spans violence from the deep lakes of Michigan to the Oklahoma City Bombing. I loved this book for how far it pushes the limits of "polite" poetry.

These poems are full of a violent, clear eyed vision and a great humanity. When David Dodd Lee casts his gaze on the damaged world, he sees EVERYTHING... danger, heartbreak, beauty.In poem after poem he seems to question how these things can possibly co exist in the world, and yet in his poems they do. His sensibility is like nothing I've seen in contemporary poetry; immediate, haunting, full of gut & heart.

David Lee writes poetry the way a normal person lives life. Not always perfect poetic form or pattern or even sense. But often out of control in love or hate or lust and with a sense of urgency that is more real than 99% of the poetry out there today. Read it out loud in a crowded room at your local University. Read it aloud at your local beer and peanuts hole-in-the wall. Lee is not afraid. Or is he is afraid, he is not afriad of saying so. These poems are full of growing up. Or they are the child grown standing in a field of mud and lust and wondering how he got to be there. This poet will only get better. Can't wait for his next set of fish stories.

I have a very artistic child and another child who isn't quite as artistic. Both love this book and others from the "Draw 50" series. The one has a blast changing little things and making the pictures his own and the other has fun realizing that she too can create some cool pictures with the easy to follow instructions. This particular book has some wonderful cats featured from your common tabby to more unique household cats and large wild kitties. It's definitely worth the money.

I am teaching my students to draw cats using this book. I like the step-by-step drawings and the different position and types of cats.
We have gone one step further in class by making our own stationery and cards using our finished drawings. We add a complimentary quote to our drawing from the book 516 Sensational Cat Quotes, Proverbs, Quips and Jokes for Scrapbooking, Crafting and Fun ISBN 0966640578
Teachers, have your student make a copy of the original so that they can make numerous copies. Save the originals.
Great drawing book. I highly recommend it.
We are having fun in class.

I wanted to draw more realistic cats
and this book showed me that I needed to start with the head shape
and not the ears. There was not a lot of writing, just good step-by-step instruction. From my first drawing with this book, my drawings have improved. I highly reccomend this book!

This is the best drawing book I have gotten to date. It gives detailed instruction. Almost immediatley I was able to draw realistic looking cats. Using the techniques in the book I was able to expand and draw other animals as well.

My daughter borrowed some of these books from the school library & loved them so much i bought some for her. It goes step by step with you,giving examples,to show you how to make wonderful drawings.Great book for anyone who likes to draw.

My son was having bad dreams and I was looking for some help- this book has lovely illustrations and a great story. We now have a "dream jar" by the bed-just in case- too cute!

This book is just beautiful - both the story and the art work. My 3-year-old daughter loves it so much. It is one of the first books she has wanted to read over and over and over again (generally she likes a variety). Not only is the story fabulous and the art work absolutely captivating, but the lesson learned in it is wonderful. I may just make a dream jar for my own children so that they don't have to worry about bad dreams. I'll bet it would really work. The descriptions are very well illustrated - I can't say enough about the illustrations - I just want to crawl inside this book and live in it. It inspires me to try to create something beautiful myself. This is the greatest gift that literature (children's or otherwise) can give us, I believe. If you have a little kid in your life who either loves to dream or is afraid of dreams, this book is for you.

This is author Lindan Lee Johnson's first book and I hope not her last. My nearly 4 year old daughter and I love it.

The story is about a little girl who has scary dreams. But thanks to her wonderful older sister whom she shares a room with she gets a number of pointers that change her nasty dreams into fantastic dreams. And they are the kind of practical suggestions that can help any child who suffers from nightmares.

The author, who has studied Jungian dream analysis, must have had her own dreams come true when Serena Curmi illustrated her book. The pictures are beautiful, fun, and--DREAMY!

The Dream Jar presents an engaging approach to dealing with dreams and nightmares. An excellent introduction to the concept of lucid dreaming, and a useful approach for parents working with their children's experience of nightmares. A warm and realistic story that children will enjoy and learn from.

I was impressed with the little girl telling the story to her sister, in a way that you would expect sisters to share secrets. The message is beautiful even for children who don't have scarey dreams. For younger children, the illustrations are so vivid, they completely tell the story without the words. I'm giving this as Christmas gifts to four children so far.

The beautiful illustrations and rhyming verse make this a GREAT book for a wide range of ages. We checked this out of the library on a whim, and I had to buy it because we all liked it so much. Very well written and illustrated! What a joy!

This is a charming book that your child will love! Our three year old daughter begs us to read it to her each night and enjoys practicing the spanish words in the story. The illustrations in the book are vibrant and fun to look at and the english/spanish translations are not intimidating. After checking it out at the library a few times we decided to make it our own.

Woo Woo! And away we go to town, with a Spanish lesson on the side. Puerta Vallarta artist Lee Chapman does a wonderful job painting for the "small canvas" of each page. His whimsical style is one that both children and parents will enjoy.

What a wonderful book for introducing young children to another language. After reading just a few times, my son was started using the Spanish vocabulary in the book. It is particularly brilliant since English is married to the Spanish words such that the meaning of the Spanish words is clear from the context. We love it

Eight Animals On The Town Is A Festive Frolic for children and adults. "Frog hops along, hungry for flies. 'Moscas,' says Rana, 'economy size.'" You can't help but laugh as the mouse, cat, dog, bird, frog, horse, cow, and pig purchase the ingredients for their feast and later dance the night away. This is one of my son's favorite books. We both love the amusing illustrations - a horse dancing and playing maracas - a bird wearing sneakers riding on the back of a cow - a pig driving a car. The glossary at the back of the book provides english translation and pronunciation for all of the spanish words. Eight Animals On The Town makes learning fun.