Shepard Books

I loved reading the behnd-the-scenes of Pooh and friends. Very well written, and in the flavor of Milne's originals, with pictures and verses throughout!

This lovely publication commemorates the 75th anniversary of the publication of "Winnie-the-Pooh." It's not a storybook -- it's a sort of "biography" of Winnie-the-Pooh, the Milne family, and Ernest Shepard. The book has lots of interesting trivia for Pooh-ophiles like me and lots of quotes from the Milne stories and verse, as well as beautiful prints of some of the well-known and lesser-known Shepard illustrations. I'm not sure why the book was designed as oversize. This is a lovely, well done book that's going to have a permanent place on my shelf next to my beloved Pooh books. I love it.

In my admiration for this fun, fascinating, fact-filled book, I yield to no authority but the eminent KIRKUS REVIEWS:

"George Saunders participated in many great cattle drives from 1871 to 1886; later, he spent years collecting and setting down his aging comrades' reminiscences. His career makes a thrilling tale, full of danger and hardship, stampedes, hostile Native Americans, rough country, and bad weather. Lightfoot also depicts Saunders's life between drives as a rancher and businessman, a solid citizen who rode with a vigilante group but also stepped forward to prevent a local massacre of Mexicans, at a time when racial tensions ran high. ...readers will get a clear idea of a cowhand's work, and of Saunders's important role in preserving the lore of a vanished era. Bibliography. (Biography. 10-12)"
-KIRKUS REVIEWS

Trail Fever brings to life the true adventures of a Texas hero, George Washington Saunders. George was a gallant cowboy who braved stampedes, storms, droughts, and outlaws. D.J. Lightfoot tells this nonfiction story with thrilling description and a narrative full of adventure and danger. This is an exceptional easy-to-read biography with plenty of rich, authentic detail--perfect for schools, libraries, and homes. I especially loved the part where 20-year-old Saunders stopped a vigilante group of nearly 80 men from mistakenly taking revenge on some Mexican people. Lightfoot makes the reading easy, but most important she makes the reading fun and exciting. This is a perfect book for youngsters or anyone who'd like to get a genuine experience of a courageous man and an interesting era!

Widely regarded by many as one of the finest genre writers working today, Lucius Shepard has, in recent years, published a plethora of dark, delightful stories, thrilling his fans and giving award panels plenty to debate. Primarily working in the novella form, which at times seems to have been created especially for him, his eloquence, style, sense of place and troubled protagonists have lately once again raised his already high profile.

A reflection on love, death, virility and redemption, Trujillo is a story you can lose yourself in, a haunting, mesmerizing, wonderfully efficient piece of writing that fully engages each of your senses. Full of surprise, wonder, and sudden brutality, it also strikes a balance noticeably missing from Shepard's recent work, where love does not always prevail (think of the novellas Louisiana Breakdown and The Liar's House). In Trujillo, love leads to ruin, but it also leads to deliverance--it's the powerful juxtaposition of the two results that allows the novel to be characterized as both a triumph and a tragedy, making for a truly memorable reading experience.

Lucius Shepard is on top form, and this means absolutely spell-binding. I read this novel in one sitting, the way I've tended to read his other work.

Trujillo is grounded in complex psychology and psychopathology, and the 'supernatural' elements are allegorical rather than literal. This makes the story of Trujillo, like all his other writing, universally appealing. The sinister, oppressive pas-de-deux between psychopathic young gringo Stearns and battered, overweight Honduran psychiatrist Dr Ochoa, is gripping because of its many layers. There's the instantly recognisable arrogance of the rich American in a poor Central American backwater, pitted against a fine mind gone to seed in the oppressive poverty, heat and corruption of Honduras. There's the timeless theme of man tormenting woman for his pleasure, and indeed man tormenting man. There's the politics of a dusty, godforsaken Latin American province. I imagine the name Trujillo - also the name of the heinous psychopathic dictator of the Dominican Republic who was renown for his torture methods of innocent people - is not a mere coincidence.

The deeply humane undertones to this profound, savage story of cruelty passed down the generations stamp this hypnotic novel with the Lucius Shepard hallmark where horror and despair almost win against beauty and hope. Almost. There is nothing clear-cut in Trujillo's transgressive worlds, and nothing reassuring.

Lucius Shepard is simply one of the most original and exciting writers working in English today. Why he isn't published in Britain is a mystery that needs an urgent solution.

TWO YEARS ON THE ALABAMA is a contemporary account of the voyages and sailors of the CSS ALABAMA. It was written by Lt. Arthur Sinclair, the fifth officer of the ship. It provides a comprehensive account of the ships encountered and prizes taken by this vessel in the service of the Confederate States. I liked very much the personal details of the lives of the individual officers and men who crewed her. There are over 30 illustrations showing portraits of many of these men and this helped to put a human face on this account. It showed Captain Semmes to be a brilliant naval officer and not at all the pirate the northern press often portrayed him to be.He was an expert in international maritime law and followed it to the letter.On two occasions he released ships taken as prizes when he determined that they had been apprehended just inside the 3 mile limit. There was an excellent account of the battle with Kearsarge and the Alabama's sinking. I was pleasantly surprised to f! ind there was no attempt to rewrite history or refight battles or take the apologist's role by Sinclair. Just simple, factual accounting. I highly recommend this book to the historian with an interest in Civil War naval operations.

The thing that amazed me the most about TWO YEARS ON THE ALABAMA was that I was unable to put it down. Each chapter gave me a curiosity and eagerness to find out what would happen next, even though I was acquainted with the general facts of the Alabama's depredations. Although Sinclair wrote this book some time after the Civil War the writing style shows no signs of being outdated and therefore the book is very easy to read. On the whole, it read almost like some adventure novel, like Jules Verne's 20,000 leagues under the sea. It is an absolute must for everyone interested in Civil War naval matters, and I think a lot non-Civil War enthusiasts will enjoy it as well.

Although this is an engaging counting book, it appears that Ms. Ernst did not use the technique she employed in her great "Walter's Tail." In that book, she gets very luminous illustrations by building layers of pastels, and drawing over them with ink and pencil. Still, The illustrations here show action, have nice crosshatched shadings, and are easy to follow, but they pale (literally and figuratively) in comparison to MS. Ernst's splendid work in 'Walter.'

Ernst has written an interesting and creative counting book, however. There's a plot--a picnic--that drives the number-linked events. One lone duck, for example, watches and eventually swims outside the borders of the illustrations!) as 2 cars, 3 dogs, 4 boys, 5 girls, 6 balls, etc. arrive at the park. In a clever twist, the duck steps ourside the borders of Ernst's pictures and looks in on the action just as the reader does. ALong with the main scene, there are small squares containing something referred to in the 2-page spreads, and these small focused sub-pictures facilitate counting. For example, when 7 boats arrive on the scene, your young counter will see them in the river, but will also see 7 much smaller pictures--one for each boat--at the top of the spread. ERnst put a lot of thought into the book's design.

The phrase "10 clouds" is repeated, and the picnic-goers look at what seems like a gathering storm. In fact, 9 hats are blown off of 9 heads! They begin packing up the picnic party objects in reverse order of their arrival, as rain begins to come down. It's a great lesson in counting forwards and backwards to ten, all within a completely plausible narrative. After they leave, our 1 duck jumps back intothe pond; after all, water rolls off this bird like...well, water off a duck's back! THere are two unexpected but well-done extras at the back of the book. In another 2-page spread, the numbers 1 through 10 are listed, with the matching number of small objects next to them. ("5," for example, has five small pictures of girls to the right of it.) This is a great visual summary of the 1-10 numbers, and shows how each succeeds the other by just one additional box. Finally, the book's "mascot," the duck, is joined in the rained-on pond by a number of fellow ducks. How many ducks exactly remains another fun counting lesson. An entertaining book that doesn't demand counting, but shows instead why it can be be useful.

The text is written of a pattern of numbers followed by plural nouns. This makes it easy for students of English as a second language to understand.

If you are teaching Asian students, who usually have trouble with the plural form, you might like this book.

I got this book from my dad, and he got it when it was first edited (the German version) in 1962. It was standing a long time untouched on my bookshelf but one day I took it out and started reading it. From the first moment I was fascinated. I think its the way the book is set up: Every different chapter is written by another astronaut of the mercury program. It gives a very good description of the mercury program, free worlds first manned step into space. But there is more: The astronauts not only describe the program, there is also a lot of information about the in-betweens, the personal relationships and characters of the seven. When you read the book you realy can feel the spirit and the atmosphere of that time. When I had the chance to visit the National Air and Space Museum I stayed there a whole day and at least 3 hours I used to inspect the two shown Mercury-capsules in the entrance. It was one of the most fascinating moments because when I looked at the space vehicles I always remembered things from the book.
This book has become a family heritage for me and when I will have children of my own one day I will of course give the book to them - to let them smell the spirit of these seven pioneers.

I purchased the paperback version of this best-seller when I was eleven years old and read it so much that it fell apart! There have been more recent and certainly more revealing books written by and about the original seven American astronauts and those they worked with, both in and out of the space program. Yet this book, written at the time of the Mercury orbital flights, takes you right inside the Mercury capsule (yes, it was a capsule then) and makes you feel as if you were riding in space with the Astronauts, or training alongside them, whether it be in a simulator in their training headquarters, in a classroom learning cutting-edge (then) astrophysics, in a survival course on the desert or in the jungle, or on a trip to a meeting with the contractors who built the hardware for the space program. Each astronaut reveals his motivation for joining the space program and his idea of how to go about his assignments; this alone disproves the notion that these men were all white male military test-pilot "peas in a pod". It's as if they were guests in your living room. With all due respect to Tom Wolfe, this is where you find the real "right stuff!"

'What the Fach' is an excellent resource for any singer looking to find Fest work. I feel much better prepared for having read it! Good stuff!

This book is absolutely fantastic - and a very entertaining read! I can't think of another book or resource anywhere that even comes close to providing such useful information. The others that I've read are outdated and just don't thouroughly cover the information like this book does. Everything I need for my next visit to Germany and Austria is in this book, and Shepard presents it all in a clever writing style that kept me interested from start to finish. I especially appreciated that he never watered down the information or skipped over important details. I am most definitely recommending this book to all of my friends.

Synopsis: This folktale explains how the sun and moon became part of the sky. The story begins by explaining how the sun and moon lived together on the Earth in a large and beautiful home. The sun would travel the earth, and during his travels he befriended the sea and invited her to visit him and the moon at their home. The moon was a homebody who liked to be amongst her prized possessions. The sea eventually visits them, bringing along with her all the contents of the sea, her children. As the sea and her children engulf the sun and moon's home, both entities take refuge in the sky to keep from drowning. The moon is extremely upset with the sun's foolish decision to invite the sea to their house, and she decides to live on the dark side of the universe to avoid contact with the foolish sun.

Evaluation: The story begins with a citation, written by the author, explaining that this story originated from a Nigerian myth. The plot of this story is simple; the impulsive sun ruins his home by inviting the sea for a visit. He is not aware of the sea's size and believes the sea and all her children will fit comfortably inside his rather large home. The language is vivid and expressive. The sea is described as having "liquidy dances." The text describes the moon "turning blue" over the thought of the sea and all her children visiting her finely decorated home. A theme does emerge from the telling of this story. The sun was too prideful, believing his house was bigger than the sea. His miscalculation cost him his home and his partner, the moon. Also, the sun had an opportunity to ask the sea to leave before his home was destroyed, but pride prevents him from turning the sea and all her children away. Children will learn that pride can have consequences. The story conforms to western norms. Although it is a Nigerian tale, the language does not depict this culture in any way. The illustrations are whimsical and child friendly. Primary age children will enjoy the story. One activity that could accompany this story would be for children to create their own mythical story explaining how some force of nature came to be. This tale provides a humorous and entertaining reason for the sun and the moon.

This is a book that succeeds for children and adults. The artwork is unique and reminiscent of both Renaissance works as well as children's books of the 1940s. The story is simple, well-told and to the point. It highlights both the value of hospitality and the price of vanity. Highly recommended.

I sing of a boy and a bear...

Perhaps Vergil would have opted for Pu (Pooh) rather than Aeneid had he the choice, and begun his tome not in the journey from Troy, but rather the journey around the forest. The tradition of translating Pooh into Latin started with Alexander Lenard, who translated 'Winnie the Pooh' in 1960; Brian Staples carries on the tradition in his 1980 Latin translation of 'The House at Pooh Corner'.

I have this sitting next to books of equally interesting translation exercise, such as a translation of modern poetry into Old English, and Henry Beard's translations of various ordinary statements and phrases in Latin (and cat behaviours in to French) also sit next to this honoured tome.

When I returned from Britain and began to think in theological-training terms, I had to re-acquaint myself with Latin; for an exam I had to memorise one biblical passage, one passage from the Aeneid, and one passage of my choice. I chose Winnie Ille Pu and Winnie Ille Pu Semper Ludet, and, as this type of work had not been excluded from the list, I was permitted this indulgence (I believe that the exam list now has a section of excluded works, including this one, more's the pity).

Do not be frightened off by the fact that this is a book in Latin. It is very accessible, and quite fun to read with the English version of Winnie-the-Pooh at its side. The Latin version has kept many of the original illustrations as well as the page layout forms.

Statements sound much more grand in Latin: 'Ior mi,' dixit sollemniter, 'egomet, Winnie ille Pu, caudam tuam reperiam.' which means, 'Eeyore,' he said solemnly, 'I, Winnie-the-Pooh, will find your tail for you.'

This is a delightful romp through a language study. I have recommended the Pooh (sorry, Pu) books to friends who want an introduction to Latin, together with the Lingua Latina series, which uses a natural language method for instruction.

Like Lenard before him, Staple's work of translation is obviously a great labour of love here. Staples worked on his translation while recovering from a stroke; a resident of Sutton Coldfield, England, he passed away in 1996. This work is no small endeavour, but rather a thorough and engaging translation of the continuing Pooh story. One can (as I do) set the classic English version of Winnie-the-Pooh side-by-side with Winnie-ille-Pu Semper Ludet and follow line by line the engaging story, which translates well into this one-time universal language. And why ever not? Surely if there is a story nearly universal appeal, it would be of dear Winnie.

As A.A. Milne was a graduate of the Westminster School (which is housed down the block from my old Parliamentary offices) and of Cambridge, he might consider the translation of his classic work into the classical language a signal honour, and one wonders if, given the fact that Milne studied classical languages himself, if he ever translated any pieces, however small, into those languages that every English schoolboy learns to hate and love.

Of course, being a person of small importance myself, I identify much more with Porcellus (Piglet) than Pu. I do enjoy a good Tigris (Tigger) every now and then. Pu (with the able assistance of Staples) has given me a bilingual command of that language of difference and universality.

Long live the Porcelli amicus! May he always be playing (semper ludet).

Who can resist a classic tale of a boy and his bear retold in the language of the ancient Romans? Translator Brian Staples does a wonderful job of keeping to Milne's original adventures while adhering to the confines of a "dead" language. This book is a must for those who love Latin! Proudly display this little treasure next to your tattered copy of Winnie Ille Pooh, translated by Alexander Lenard. And if you simply love Pooh, yet know nothing of classical Latin, this book is certainly one to add to your collection. Being that I teach Latin and have been an avid Pooh fan for the extent of my life, I can't imagine not having this book in my library!

This beautiful collage of excerpts from four of A.A. Milne's books is the perfect way to acquait your child with the REAL Pooh, while you savor the stories from a new perspective. Your child will enjoy the short--one page--accounts of Pooh's gang, including Eeyore, Piglet, and Rabbit. And you will be reintroduced to Binker, Anne, and Piglet's compassion for Eeyore. Don't miss out on this very special book.

This book helps put the idea of the pleasures of friendships into words and pictures. Milne's wonderful style of simplicity is shown beautifully within these pages. A great gift for any Pooh lover, or for any friend that you hold close to your heart.