Roberts Books

Readers who have been have read Stanek's first installment in the Ruin Mist Chronicles will not be disappointed. The story picks up where Keeper Martin's Tale left off, at the end of the battle at Quashan' and the sacking of Alderan. Vilmos is now called a mage in training, one of the first human magus in a millenia in a time when magical beings and creatures are hunted and killed. Vilmos has a big challenge ahead and his life is changed forever. After he leaves Quashan' with Prince Valam's promise a safekeeping, he and Xith go north to the Mouth of the World. In the meantime, Adrina and Emel have gone their seperate ways. Adrina goes to Klaive to see her betrothed. Emel must return to Imtal. In parallel story lines and groups of alternating chapters, Adrina and Emel work to help the elves, each in their own way. Stanek's lush writing and attention to detail make this epic flow effortlessly. He leaves readers wanting more and thankfully Fields of Honor and Mark of the Dragon are already completed.

The first book in the series was good, really good, and I enjoyed it. This was is even better and I enjoyed it even more. Strong writing, strong characters, plenty of action, an all around great read.

Keeper Martin's Tale is one of my favorite books, and this was even better. A good read and recommended to anyone who likes fantasy.

This book is full of action and adventure as Vilmos continues his journey. Before you read this book I would recommend reading the first book called 'Keeper Martin's Tale' which I would give five stars to. In this book it tells a story about a couple people. The first being Vilmos, a young teen cursed by magic, Adrina, a teen who is a princess, and Seth a long lived elf. You will read about how Vilmos learns new skills, the hard ships he goes through, if he will ever meet Adrina and Seth again, and all of the battles he goes through. Not every chapter in this book has action but it keeps the reader's attention going with new twists and turns. It's also a great read.

This is a fantastic follow up to Keeper Martin's Tale - a true joy to read full of mystery and intrigue and action and adventure. Like many readers, I found this to be even better than the first one. The series continues to be entertaining and interesting and has become one of my favorite ongoing fantasy series.

What makes it different from other fantasy series is that fantasy world is as much a character as the characters themselves. Stanek moves between three to five different characters, so its like your in their head seeing through their eyes. So you can be immediately whisked across the land into another battle, another intrigue, another personal struggle at the turn of a page. Often instead of getting just one pov you get two or three different povs and it just makes it all the better.

Stanek isn't afraid to kill of his characters, even some of the most beloved ones get the ax. I like that but it can be difficult to read when your favorite characters is killed off.

It's going to be interesting, that's for sure, to read what happens next. And the best thing there's two more to enjoy: Fields of Honor and Mark of the Dragon.

I grew up on Homer Price (along with Danny Dunn and Henry Huggins). I don't even own a copy of the book and haven't read it in 45 years but I can still recite from memory: "Forty two pounds of Edible Fungus, in the wilderness a-growin, saved the settlers from starvation helped the founding of our nation!"

Make sure your kids read this book. And "Centerburg Tales" too!

You'll roll on the floor holding your splitting sides when you read about Homer Price and the crazy doughnut machine. This is great midwestern 40s stuff, still suitable today for both early teens and self-actualized adults alike.

Homer Price is a kid who's oblivious to difficult challenges. His antics causes each of us to mentally return to the days when frutrations were few and obstructions to new dillemmas just simply did not exist. Homer just takes on each situation as it arises and, somehow, things always turn out okay.

Originally published in 1943, this is one of my two favorite books for young people, (the other being "The Trolley Car Family," by Eleanor Clymer, 1947). The six short stories in this Homer Price volume include:

1. The Case of the Sensational Scent

2. The Case of the Cosmic Comic

3. The Doughnuts

4. Mystery Yarn

5. Nothing New Under the Sun (Hardly)

6. Wheels of Progress

This book is also available in softcover, which is the one I own. You COULD get this book for your kids, especially for boys, but the heck with that idea -- get it for yourself and you won't regret it! My highest recommendation.

The author of Homer Price, Robert McCloskey, has written six tales for readers to enjoy:

THE CASE OF THE SENSATIONAL SCENT: Homer catches a group of robbers with the help of his pet skunk, Aroma.
THE CASE OF THE COSMIC COMIC: Homer's friend, Freddy, learns what Homer already knows about comic book characters.
THE DOUGHNUTS: Homer can't stop his Uncle Ulysses doughnut machine! Now there are way too many doughnuts, and a lost bracelet cooked inside one of them. Let the eating begin!
MYSTERY YARN: Homer's Uncle Telly and the sheriff both save string. Whoever becomes the World's Champion String Saver is supposed to win the hand of Miss Terwilliger in marriage. But what does Miss Terwilliger think of this little agreement?
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN: There's a stranger in town. Is he a nice man, or a fugitive in disguise? Homer is on the case.
WHEELS OF PROGRESS: A new part of town is built in Centerburg.

I loved this book ever since grade school, and The Doughnuts is the tale I enjoyed most. I remember that my teacher read this book in a way that made the characters come to life for me; especially the sheriff, who gets his words a bit twisted every now and then. And the illustrations done by the author are some of the best I have ever seen! Parents everywhere should add this book to their child's collection.

For the first selection to receive a retro review, you best believe it had to be a winner. Homer Price does not disappoint. Puffin recently released this book with updated cover art under the moniker "Modern Classic", and indeed it is. The book is separated into six chapters, with each acting as it's own short story. There are a few things you should know about Homer:

* He enjoys a good doughnut (hence the cover art).
* He lives just outside the small Midwestern town of Centerburg where everyone is in each others business.
* He apparently is more intelligent that most (ok, all) of the adults in town.

McCloskey keeps the action moving along - from catching criminals to stopping an out of control doughnut making machine, each story contains a large dollop of interest-piquing situations and characters. How could you not love a story about two men taking part in a contest to see who has the largest collection of string, with the winner getting the opportunity to propose to the woman they're both in love with? Or how about a story with a mysterious Rip Van Winkle type character who has devised a ingenious way to rid Centerburg of mice - without harming a single one?

Reading Homer Price reminded me of listening to an album where the first few songs are so good that you're nervous about the rest of the tracks living up the high standard. In this book, there really isn't a letdown. As you might expect with a book that was written in the days of yore (c. 1943) there is some dated content, but that is minor and unlikely to make much of an impression to young readers who will be too engrossed in the story to notice much. A classic for modern times.

Homer Price
A collection of heartwarming tales from a small town in the USA, as told by one of its younger residents. Shades of Bill Bryson, except that Homer Price predates him by a generation or more.
Wonderful, quirky illustrations by the author himself, who has a an eye for detail similar to that of Norman Rockwell.

Every reader has a "first book" that captivated their heart and took them where nothing had before. Just like a first kiss or a first love, it is something that you always remember. For me, it was the Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches quartet. Robert Stanek pulled me in with The Kingdoms and the Elves #1, then entwined me with the next three novels. Imagine my delight when I discovered the Service of Dragons quartet was a direct continuation of the other series.

I think I've read the series (start to finish) over ten times, and each time I find something new I hadn't seen before, and the delight starts all over again. On the surface it can seem like many other fantasy tales. Men and Elves, Dragons and Wizards, Good vs. Evil. We've seen it before but Stanek spins the fantasy standards in new ways and invents an entire fantasy uniiverse in the process.

He takes us on this fantastic journey through the eyes of the naive Seth, the innocent Vilmos and the dreamer Adrina. They are good, friendly, highly likeable folk caught in the middle of a cataclysmic change. Where as The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches books are light hearted tales of adventure, Service of Dragons takes you on a deeper, darker journey.

I can't recommend any fantasy work higher. It will take you where only dreams can, and you almost hope you never have to return to reality.

If you've been following this fascinating series, you'll already know that it is based in a fantasy world called Ruin Mist. This first book of a completed four book sequel series to The Kingdoms and the Elves. It starts with a mighty titan watching a procession of giants. When the titan returns to his over world, his mystic companion is nearly swept away into a swirling gray abyss and thus starts a truly amazing story of men, elves, titans, royals, commoners and fair folk.

This well-written book is terrific reading for all ages. Cool monsters, shadow warriors and bad guys abound. This is one of those series where you just gotta get them all. Good thing all four books are available.

You know it still surprised me when I run across a kid who hasn't read one of Stanek's Kingdoms or Dragons books yet. These books are so amazing and so descriptive, the comparisons to Lewis, Dahl and other great writers are right on. Kids is my classroom aren't exactly sheltered, but they often don't hear of all the wonderful new authors and each year I love introducing them to Stanek's books. I have five copies of his Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 in my class library and after the first few weeks kids were already begging me for Book #2 and Book #3. They were thrilled when they found out there was a Book #4 and I saved the best surprise for last, this whole new series, In the Service of Dragons, with four more books for them to enjoy. The first in the Dragon series, Stanek raises the stakes, adds in a couple new heroes and villians, and basically ratchets up the tension while cutting down on the easygoing moments. We get to see the bigger scope of things through Noman, who's on a rescue mission to save nothing less than the entire world and all the magical realms. It's bound to make readers happy (and it does). "In the Service of Dragons," will satisfy its die-hard fans. A fine addition to a fun, fast-paced series.

Just a warning here, these books are like potato chips, it's very difficult to eat only one!!! ...and then you'll find yourself walking around singing Eldrick's song of the tree brothers or longing to reread the part where Vilmos plays Edward in King's Mate or wanting to jump ahead to get to the next trio match.

I bought this book around Christmastime and found the story to be fascinating. As soon as I finished, I found myself reading the next book and then another. After that I was ready for the fourth and final book. (I also recommend the Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches books as the place to get stated.)

In the Service of Dragons is a fun and exciting book. I highly recommend it. 3 lives, 3 fates intertwined

VILMOS
When little Vilmos Tabborath (a village boy) flees a bear in the woods, he would've never guessed that it would set off a chain of events that would put him face to face with evil shapeshifters, enemy soldiers and magic-loathing priests.

ADRINA
When sad Adrina Alder (a princess) wishes for change, she would've never guessed that it would come so soon and that it would make her life even more miserable than ever, that she would have to face the dragon king, avoid killers, and escape kidnappers.

SETH
When unworldly Brother Seth (an elf) seeks to learn about humankind, he would've never guessed that it would mean he would lose touch with his own kind, that he would be ambushed, betrayed and left for dead.

My favorite things that I like about this book are the ancient heroes and legends who have returned to help restore the land

TITANS
Titans were the original rulers of the worlds. They ruled with iron fists.

EAGLE LORDS
Eagle lords were once a mighty people. They dwells in the mountain ranges.

MYSTICS
Mystics have powers of illusion and control. They were all but forgotten yet still feared like wizards.


These ancient powers return in the form of Amir, Ayrian and Noman. Amir, son of Ky'el, is one of the last and he uses orbs of power to travel the lands. Ayrian, the lord of the gray eagles, has returned to reclaim what his people lost and to battle the ancient evil. Noman, a master of illusion, has returned to form a company of companions that just may save the world.

In the Service of Dragons is a well-written and exciting book! It will keep you reading and reading. Two thumbs way up!

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is difficult enough. Deciding on the right treatment can be down right excruciating. In some respects, choosing a treatment for early stage prostate cancer is like buying a car except that the stakes are much, much higher. You start out knowing you've got a number of good options. Then you collect a lot of confusing and conflicting information. You change your mind a lot, often leaning toward the last person or physician you spoke with. Fortunately for me one of the last things I did before deciding on a treatment was to read Bob Marckini's excellent book "You Can Beat Prostate Cancer ."

Frankly, I would have never known about Bob's book had I not lived in Jacksonville, Florida where proton beam therapy is offered at the University of Florida's Proton Therapy Institute (one of five centers in the United States currently in operation).

I was well into my research for a cure when I discovered Bob's book. What I found remarkable was that his story was my story, too. I gained great insight and comfort from his book. I can't tell how many times I would read a section about Bob's search for a treatment and think "that's exactly what I went through."
Most of all, it helped me further validate my decision to proceed with proton therapy.

Bob is not a doctor, but he is a prostate cancer survivor who did his research and tells his story in a very human and compelling manner. Even if you don't ultimately decide that proton is right for you, Bob's book is an easy to understand roadmap of how and why to take control of your treatment options.

If you have prostate cancer, do yourself a favor and read Bob's book before you make a decision that can affect the rest of your life.

Bob Marckini's book took me by the hand, so to speak, and oriented me to the world of the prostate cancer patient. Quickly, I became highly informed about the nature of my disease, and the pros and cons of the treatment options. I cannot thank him enough for all his diligent research, for his wonderful gift of making complex things simple, and for the humanity that comes through in every page. Reading Marckini's book made me feel as if I had a friend and advocate right there with me to show me the way.

I was recently diagnosed with an early stage prostate cancer. I immediately began a feverish internet research of treatment options and interviews with friends who had undergone various treatments.

The good thing about a cancer discovered early is the option of several treatment methods which can offer a cure. My dilemma was to choose the best treatment for my situation that also offered the highest quality of life.

I stumbled upon Bob's website and I was impressed by the large number of testimonials in favor of proton therapy by prostate cancer survivors. In my research I did not find a groundswell of support from treated patients for other treatment options.

I read this book from cover to cover and learned many new things about the various treatments, especially the variability in brachytherapy with seed implant distribution, placement and migration. This book should be required reading for every man facing prostate cancer decisions. Bob offers a wealth of insights on the quality of life after treatment which were shared with him during his many interviews with treated prostate cancer patients.

Read this book before finalizing your treatment decision - you won't regret it!

John Miller DDS, MSD

I purchased this book from this website on the strength of the reader reviews. I was not misled!
Having just been diagnosed in early July 2008 with Prostate Cancer, I was in shock. I too, received the same kind of feedback about being perfect for surgery, photon radiation and seed implants, as the author did. But reading this book armed me with so much information, I was teaching my Primary Care Doctor about Proton Therapy. And HE was getting excited listening to me!
Nearly everything written in this book is of practical value. The usefulness of the information is extensive for a non-text book.
This review is a little premature, in that I have not begun my Proton Treatments yet. I will begin treatment at MPRI in Indiana in the coming weeks. But, I will add to this or write another review in the future. Because it appears to me that reviews of this book are by extension, also reviews of Proton Therapy.
For today, I will just say that one could add another subtitle to this book that may read something like this:
Proton Therapy - The Cancer Treatment with the least side-effects and least risks of all other Cancer treatments available today!
or this: Proton Therapy - The Prostate Cancer Treatment that will leave you ready to work and live your life immediately after the treatments are done!
Stay Tuned. I'll be back with more.

You Can Beat Prostate Cancer
By far, this is the most decisive and practical book available concerning prostate cancer treatment and options. This book offered much reassurance and comfort during a time of great stress and anxiety, after I received my prostate cancer diagnosis. Mr. Marckini's book helped me to take a systematic and logical approach to exploring my treatment options with optimism and hope. Mr. Marckini offers an extremely well researched and step-by-step approach to investigating your treatment options while identifying with his own treatment insights and experiences.

I felt well-armed and equipped to ask the best questions of my primary medical doctor, surgical doctors, and radiologists with whom I consulted. After reading this book, I felt empowered to make a proactive and well-educated decision, rather than feeling powerless and overwhelmed by the amount of information I had to digest and the decisions I had to make. Because his book provides such sound information and is easy to read, I routinely make this book 'required reading' for any of my patients with prostate questions and concerns. This book provides a wealth of information and resources necessary for every man to make an informed decision.

The diagnosis of prostate cancer affects not only the one who is diagnosed, it also affects everyone with whom he is close. This book is a "must-read" for every man, (and family members and friends) faced with the difficult task of confronting a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

This book was pivotal in my decision for Proton Treatment for my prostate cancer. I am grateful to Mr. Marckini for this wonderful book and for my life changing experiences at the Proton Treatment Center at the Loma Linda Univeristy Medical Center.

I first read this book as a boy and I loved it. My 10 year old just finished it and says it is the best book that he has ever read. We read this together and I noticed some details date the story. For example, the Investigators use film cameras and do their research at the library, not on the Internet. Times have changed!! Still, this is a great detective story for boys, may not appeal as much to girls.

The Three Investigators have their first case: to find an authentic haunted house. Jupiter Jones, the intelligent leader, and Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews set out to see if an old castle nearby is truly haunted or not. Built by a silent film star, Stephen Terrell, no one has been able to spend the night in the castle since his untimely death many years earlier.

I first read this book about 30 years ago when I was a kid, and loved reading all the adventures of the Three Investigators, and they quickly became a favorite of mine. Now my 10 year old son and I have just finished "The Secret of Terror Castle," and he loved it, too. We especially noticed how the adventure and excitement was kept up throughout the story. We both agreed that the Three Investigators were much more exciting than the Hardy Boys, having tried to read one of that series without sucess. Instead, we found Jupiter Jones to be far more intelligent and we enjoyed the cleverness of the plot and story. We read the version with Alfred Hitchcock, which I'm sad to see has been changed in most of the books now available.

This is a good series we can recommend for kids who are sometimes reluctant to read, but who enjoy an intelligent mystery.

I remember reading this book when I was young and loved it. Great plotline with great characters and humorous dialogue at times. I started my 7 year old son on it. The first two chapters were slow going for him, but he slogged through it. The fourth chapter hooked him. He wouldn't put the book down for another 6 chapters. Recommended for ages 7 and older.

This book is so much more than a kids book. It was my first introduction to the Three Investigators, and quite possibly the best book in the entire series. The plot is quite intricate, and very intelligent. Adults can read this story and be thrilled and caught up as well, and to be honest, I get out my copy every now and then and visit with Jupiter, Bob, and Pete. The setting in California in the fifties, with Alfred Hitchcock as their mentor, is just perfect. I've read the later updated versions, with all refences to Alfred Hitchcock removed and rewritten, and I just think the original stories worked so much better. There was more of an air of mystery to them, although the stories themselves didn't change. In this book, the setting of an old movie star castle is just right. The writing is sharp, the characters already developed. Everybody at time in their life has encountered a super-smart kid, the one who knew everything. Sadly, the ones I met weren't as likeable as Jupiter Jones. This series is always clever, with strong plots, strong characters. Get these books and enjoy them. Many books aren't this well-written nowadays, especially for the teen-to-adult age range.

Quite a few children's mystery book series have become classics. Most people are familiar with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift. Even the Boxcar Children are relatively well-known. However, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators were well-written books that offered an intelligent, interesting and more contemporary alternative to many of the earlier classic series. Many people recall the earlier series well, but the Three Investigators series, which Robert Arthur wrote and debuted in 1964, has, for now, largely been overshadowed by the other series and generally forgotten. Fortunately, all of these books are available either from Amazon or from other internet sources.

In this book, the first book in the series, we meet Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews. Jupiter is the intelligent, often arrogant member of the group who has a tendency to be condescending. Pete Crenshaw is typically the muscle of the group. Pete is usually quite fearless. Bob Andrews, who begins the series with a broken leg, works at the library is handles records and research for the group.

In this debut story, Jupiter Jones has won the use of a Rolls Royce for 30 days of 24 hours each. Jupiter has also created business cards for the trio with the auspicious title "The Three Investigators," "We Investigate Anything," and three question marks. Jupiter Jones learns that Alfred Hitchcock is seeking a haunted house for use in his next film. The boys offer to find a house for Mr. Hitchcock if he will introduce their first story; thus the reason the title includes Mr. Hitchcock's name.

Soon Jupiter Jones is on the trail of a home owned by silent movie star Stephen Terrill. When the boys visit the late Mr. Terrill's home, strange phenomena in the house causes the boys to go running from the home, scared to their very bones! The mystery continues to deepen as the boys investigate Mr. Terrill's past the history of the strange house that appears to be haunted for real.

I wondered whether I would like these books as much as an adult as I did when I was a child. My answer is yes. Robert Arthur wrote these stories in a way that treated these three young boys as young adults rather than children. The three boys approach their mysteries with creativity, logic and more than a little bravery. The result is stories that continue to captivate readers.

If you are looking for mystery books for children and you are looking for an alternative to the stories I listed earlier, I highly recommend the Three Investigator series, and the best starting place for this series is absolutely with this book.

Enjoy!

This book has lots of good ideas in it.

Well worth the money.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book. I was amazed at how well thought out the "hacks" were and the authors take the time to explain the why of the "hack" with plenty of detail. Their handling of the different topics are from the perspective of what they found works well, but they take the time to address alternate viewpoints and the relative merits of each (an example is their handling of the red-dot sight vs Telrad vs Rigel Qwikfinder debate, some very useful information there!).

This is a definite "must have" book for any telescope owner (they handle dobs extremely well in this book), and is the second book you need to buy after choosing a good observing guide.

My wife gave me a decent telescope for Christmas and by luck got one that's pretty good. This book makes some specific recommendations that would have been useful to have read first.

A must have book for anyone getting into astronomy, whether with binoculars or a telescope. It's also a good to buy and read before you buy binoculars or a telescope, as it helps you decide what need to get. I was very impressed with it, and couldn't put it down, which says a lot about a technical book.

Gazing at the night sky is part of our nature. Whether for scientific and/or aesthetic purposes, we humans are fascinated by the enormity and beauty of the heavens.

The authors explain how astronomy gives them an "unchanging framework that places us in context within the universe. We look at the Great Orion Nebula, for example, and realize that the light we see tonight began its journey about 1,550 years ago, when the Roman Empire was in its final days."

This book is a comprehensive (almost 400 pages) guide to getting the most out of your nocturnal viewings. It will be useful for the complete amateur, the hobbyist and even offer some tips for the seasoned astronomer.

Don't be frightened by the word "Hacks" in the title. Like other O'Reilly Hacks books, this is not a compilation of illegal or unethical computer programs. It is a reclaiming of the original meaning of the word "hacks." Before the media started using the term hackers for everyone from mischievous teens to dangerous criminals, a Hacker was someone who used a creative workaround or discovered a more elegant, or quick-and-dirty, solution to a problem.

You probably won't read this book from cover to cover. Depending on where you are starting from and where you want to go, you will find sections that pertain to your interest and experience. Early in the book is a guide to choosing binoculars and telescopes. I like the hack that explains how to measure your "entrance pupil size" using Allen wrenches. This will suggest the optimal telescope for my eyes.

The book also gives tips, guidelines and even etiquette for venturing out alone or with others on an observation trip.

There is some solid information as to how our eyes function in the dark. If you are eager to see stars, you can skip some of this but I found it interesting. Especially the explanation of why all cats are gray in the dark.

After about 100 pages you will get into star identification and cataloging. It begins with the Bayer Catalog, (Johann Bayer published the first comprehensive star atlas in 1603) and then includes more modern catalogs.

The authors provide lists of, say, the 88 modern constellations and include a pronunciation guide so you don't sound like a newbie.
As an "urban observer" (about 8 miles from downtown), I have different equipment needs and techniques than a country dweller. There is a whole section dedicated to Urban Observing Skills.

For the adventurous, there is a game plan to complete a Messier Marathon (seeing and logging all 110 Messier Objects in one night.

Astronomy has long been linked to photography and there are a lot of hacks dealing with taking pictures of the images you observe.

Those who have gone beyond the beginner stage will appreciate all the hacks and modifications you can make to your telescope and other equipment to improve your experience. And the book concludes with hacks to make your PC a better tool in your observations.

This book provides a nice starting point for people interested in the night sky. But it's not a beginner's book. As your skills and interest grow, you will continue to uncover new and useful ideas from this book.

This is so much more than just a book with art in it. This book gives you inspiration and help and encouragement in your journey with whatever art form you work with. Kelly's art is beautiful and so inspiring and the fact that she included some other artists in the book as well was such a bonus. The interviews and techniques of these artists are awesome and eye opening. The way Kelly used their techniques with her own just gives to the overall feel of the book. Learning to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. I am glad to have been opened up to their art as well and learn something from them. Every project in this book is awesome and I cannot wait to try them all. You really get into Kelly's heart and see how she started out and what she has overcome in her own journey. It is almost like a little dose of therapy in there as well. I just got inspiration overload from it all. The book is great, you will not regret having it in your home library. I have always been in and out of a rut with my art and this has been the push I need to give my creative spirit wings and soar. The only thing I regret about the book is that it's not signed by the wonderful artist Kelly Rae Roberts, that would be the final touch!
Note: And to note, I just couldn't resist saying something about the 1 negative comment about the book so far, basically is to ignore it and not even waste the time reading it cause it made absolutely no sense at all and I just have to wonder what this person is on. A monkey could follow the step by step instructions given, they are easy to follow and understand. Okay, off my soap box now!

I was so excited to receive this book...and it certainly exceeded my expectations!! The projects are wonderful, the directions easy to follow and I am up to number 3 reproduction of Kelly's amazing art..Buy this book, you will not regret it!!!

I agree with the other reviewers in that this really is a gorgeous book. But it is more than just a pretty picture. The passion that Kelly Rae Roberts has for her art seeps into every corner of this book. I am not a mixed media artist (yet) but I do make one-of-a-kind jewelry that has a mixed-media appeal. All I know is that I am truly inspired by her book to take my art to the next level. I have never been good at keeping a journal but the workbook pages in this book are really quite helpful. I am using this as a getaway from my life...when I need to be inspired and uplifted and righted on my path to creativity. When I am done I will go back and read through my answers to see where this book has taken me on the wings of Ms Robert's fancy. Ms Robert's artwork is a stunning backdrop to a rich collection of essays and quotes meant to treat your senses to an inspiration smorgasbord. Perfect book for anyone who wants to follow their dreams or just put a bit more creativity into their lives.

just as the title indicates, this book has proven to give me wings and set my creative juices into motion. i have thoroughly enjoyed learning and being inspired by kelly and the techniques presented. in fact, i started a project (finally) one evening. when i awoke the following morning, it felt like christmas and i diverted from my usual routine and went straight to the art table*** thank you kelly!

I bought this book because I really liked the front cover and also because the critics were so wonderful that I thought that I really was going to LEARN something but I found that she didn't even know what "gesso" was,an artist! I found a book made only for women who needed to be encouraged about their art abilites,needed of hearing that they could do it, that they are sacred, and blah blah blah....It is a self-help book not a real art technique one.Much better any of Claudine Hellmuth for exemple,I have much more, or any of the thousands of journaling blogs in internet made by famous mix media artists.
For me it was a really waste of money because I couldn't read more than ten pages.If I give it 2 stars is because some step by step are O.K.
I already know I am an artist and I can do anything if I work hard and I find the right information
This opinion is just to help other people looking for other kind of help.

I'm a fan of clever dimensional art and this book is one of the more impressive works I've seen. But I was most impressed with the fact that the rest of my family was impressed too. They loved these beautiful and ingenious creations that arise from one page after another.

This is a truly excellent version of Lewis Carroll's classic. The 7 two page spreads are gorgeous. The first spread contains Alice reading, the White Rabbit, and the tree that the White Rabbit is walking away from; its dimensions are 11 inches wide and tall, and 8 inches deep. The full text is contained in a mini-book embellishment with each spread. These mini-books are astonishing! They're very colorful with additional pop-ups. This is simply a stupendous book that I recommend highly! Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation

This book is a wonderful adaptation of the famous tale.

It is art as much as a book, and like others I would recommend reading this book to younger readers (as oppossed to letting them handle it)

I have always loved pop up books since I was a child, and this one is one of the best.

the book is so beautifull, as a huge "alice" fan- its the top of my items!!! its like having something taken out from a museun in my house!i highly recomend

I purchased this book as the first pop-up book for my three-year old son and two-year old daughter. I knew it could be a risk, due to the fragile nature of pop-up books, however this one is truly a treat for my children, my wife, myself and everyone else who has seen it!

I'd recommend the book (for self-reading) to older children who know how the fragile the pop-ups can be, but if you read to your kids I recommend this to anyone. It's a classic story which inspires a child's imagination and has an excellent graphical presentation of the story which really captures my children's attention while they're read to.

I only gave this book four of five stars due to the small portions through-out most of the book which actually has the written text. These are also created with mini-pop-ups, but are not incorporated into the whole width and length of the book. Instead the main text of the book is grouped into small 3-4 inch wide pages with small text. Not something you want if you read to your children at bedtime with minimal lighting.

However, don't let this prevent you from buying the book! It is worth the price and has some of the most fantastic pop-ups I've ever seen!

had no idea this book had been in print so long. After seeing the bronze statues in the park on a trip to Boston, I ordered the book as a gift for our seven year old granddaughter for Christmas. I was not happy at the appearance or the "musty" smell of this old book, but the seller will not take it back. I am trying to get the smell out of the book with baking soda, I will just give our granddaughter the book when it smells better, but not as a gift.
Buyers, be careful when ordering used books, I hope you are not as unhappy as I am with this purchase.

This is one of the greatest childrens books, especially if you are from New England. Recommend it for everyone, big and small.

I haven't actually read this book in many years but it was a favorite of mine as a child. I remember my mother reading it to me night after night after night and then taking a trip into Boston to see all of the places mentioned. It's a great story and the illustrations are beautiful. I now use it as a gift for new moms to read to their children.

Prior to a planned trip to Boston, I purchased Make Way For Ducklings for my grandchildren who were three and a half and five and a half at the time. Their mom was running in the Boston Marathan. Knowing that we would be taking them to the Public Gardens and they would see the "ducklings"..this was a perfect history lesson written so well for little ones and adults to learn...Highly recommended

Make Way for the Ducklings by Robert McClosky has become a classic in children's literature since it was first published in 1941. Children's books have changed a lot over the years, but this particular work is substantial proof that change is not always best and more importantly, that quality will always stand the test of time.

The work has a lot going for it. First there is the story. Two Mallard ducks, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are trying to find a safe home to start a family; one that is safe from foxes and turtles. As they fly, several locations are considered and after a lengthy journey they settle upon a small island in the Charles River, Boston, Mass. Before settling here and starting their brood, they visit the Public Garden in Boston, where at first the find food rather hard to find, but after they encounter the "Swan Boats" and the people riding these boats throwing peanuts to them, they decide that the park is a good place. After checking the area out, the settle on the small island in the Charles River where Mrs. Mallard hatches a number of ducklings; eight in all. At that time, Mr. Mallard decides to take a short trip to check the area out. In his absence, Mrs. Mallard cares for her young and one day, after the little ones can walk, swim and learn to line up in a straight line, she takes them to the park.

The story of the friendly policeman and his coworkers, the journey through the city and their eventual arrival at their new home makes for a wonderful tale. Actual place names are used in the story and are depicted quite accurately in the illustrations. Louisburg Square, Charles river, Mount Vernon Street, Beacon Hill, The Book Store and several others sites allow visitors to more or less trace the journey of the duck family.

The second thing this story has is the marvelous art work. All is done in charcoal, with wonderful shading and great detail. The buildings, cars, people, dress and stores all are accurate to that particular era. This does not distract from the story in the least, and indeed, adds to the charm.

This is a wonderful read along book and is suitable for ages four through eight. I have personally "kid checked" it with these age groups and get asked for many rereading.

This book received the Caldecott medal in 1941 and it was well deserved. Other children's books by this author include Lentil, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine and Time to Wonder. All of these are excellent choices and should be included in any child's library.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

this book may or may not be true, but if it is not then it's probably based on one or more true stories. it is told from the first person, and is very exciting. it does jump around some, leaving wide gaps of time. it is the story of an SS commander as the german army surrenders, and after. it also details the mens handeling of communist terrorists, and the battles they engaged in. there is lots of action and an intersting echo of todays events. this is a book i highly recomend. particularly for VETs of the current war on terror.

I loved this book. I don't believe as a christian that this is necessarily the right approach to win a war, but it is indisputable that you can win a war using Hans Josef Wagenmuellers methods.

This is a great story for all of the reasons mentioned in the other reviews, but the writing is really second rate. The use of exclamation points is childish in many instances.

Well worth your time if you can get your hands on one.

I enjoyed The Five Fingers by Gayle Rivers more than Devil's Guard.

It is another may or may not be true war story set in Southeast Asia.

To a soldier conflict and combat are the mainstay of his vocation and profession after a certain point the victor and vanquished become little more than facts to be minded by the history keepers (usually the victors) and refered too by the participants in abbreviated rhetoric and broken dialogs. The author has done the reader a great service in the delivery of this redition of the activities and experiences of soldiers as they traverse the perilious and unforgiving realm of those involved in the arena. The fact that this material is non fiction affords the reader the added benefit of being a glimpse of history rearely exposed from a participants perspective.

This book purports to be a barely edited transcription of "18 days" of continuous tape-recorded narrative by Elford (a zoologist working somewhere in Southeast Asia) of a former Waffen-SS non-commissioned officer, encountered by the "editor" in a local bar. Unfortunately, the "Devil's Guard" is just a bad novel. There are too many historical anachronisms for this tale to even vaguely approximate a factual recounting. For example, the author refers to a French encampent at Dien Bien Phu, which places at least half of the action on or after March, 1954. As the defeat was not mentioned, it was before May, 1954 and as there was no reference to the battle, it's got to be before November, 1954. Within a page or so (in the Hailer Publishing edition, anyhow), our protagonist mentions working with a British military man who "fought in the Malayan Emergency for 3 years": the Emergency was declared in 1948 and ended in 1960. In order for there to be an encampment at Dien Bien Phu and for the British soldier to have fought for 3 years, the action had to have taken place in a very short time span in early 1954. This seems to contradict the chronology, as the narrator and his pals were former SS who left Europe in 1945 and joined the FFL around 1946. There was absolutely nothing in the story to suggest they were fighting for over 7 years at the time these references were made. Additionally, noted authorities on the French Foreign Legion, such as Bernard Fall, do not describe a unit comprised of German nationals, exclusively, much less one that was all former SS. Finally, none of the massacres nor any of the French FFL officers named appear to have existed. Aside from these major flaws, the approach to "counter-terrorism" espoused by Wagemueller, the putative principal of this yarn, was just that used to such worthless effect in the USSR. By thoroughly alienating the civilian population, the Wehrmacht was left without "native" allies and without indigenous support. A much more effective approach was outlined by David Galula in his seminal work, "Counterisurgency Warfare". If you are looking for a comic book or cartoonish tale, this might be for you. If an historical account is your object, look elsewhere.