Smith Books

I read one CW Anderson book when I was a horse-crazy girl. Now I'm a horse-crazy middle-aged women. I was thrilled to find my original favorite book available on Amazon.com and enjoyed the wonderful pictures and sweet stories so much that I'm buying the whole series. Great books for kids - and wonderful books for those of us still "kids at heart" when life was simple and all you wanted to do was gallop your magic pony across the fields.

An older book with a timeless story. I highly recommend it.

The is the BEST of the charming and beautiful Billy and Blaze series by CW Anderson. Billy gets a human friend this time, who loves horses as much as Billy does. This friend wants a gray spotted pony for his birthday--Billy and Blaze have to go FIND him one. It's a hackneyed plot (no pun intended, Hackney lovers) but it is done right without any silliness. But this is a Billy and Blaze book, and any collector of them know the REAL reason to buy a Billy and Blaze book are for the amazing CW Anderson pencil drawings! It is amazing to see, over the course of the series, how much this man had improved as one of the top equine artists of this country and he is sorely missed. This is a great book to read as a stress-reliever for pony loving adults, or a bedtime story for children

The Billy & Blaze series was my absolute favorite in gradeschool-- the illustrations are gorgeous, and the stories are well thought out and written superbly. I remember signing this series out of the school library over and over and over again... now as an adult, I am THILLED to see it offered here at Amazon. None of these books will disappoint a horselover-- no matter what age you are!

We manage a tutoring for at-risk elementary-age children. All of the Billy & Blaze books are good for us!

My son loves the Billy and Blaze series. The "adventures" they have are told in such a way that the children can imagine themselves taking part in them.

In this particular story Billy sets off to find a "lost" quarry. This one reminded me of many of the "adventures" my brother and I had as children in the forests near our grandparents farm in Montana.

It is nice to share a quiet, interesting story with my son. Most authors today seem to think they need to compete with television and movies, therefore their books seem to be nothing more than written out tv shows and action flicks.

The other thing my son and I enjoy in these books are the drawings. They are very good and realistic. We have the oppotunity to study some nice art while reading a pleasant book.

As a child (first and second grade) I read this series. Billy was without a doubt my favorite character from any of the childrens books available to me then. They are well writen, easily followed, in or out of torder. I am very please to be able to buy them for my nieces and my own child!

My son (4 next week) wanted some "Wild, Wild West" stories. I found the wonderful books by C.W. Anderson in the library. I bought several of the reprints in paperback because he loves the stories so. The gentle adventures of Billy and his pony Blaze are a wonderful way for young boys to learn the virtues of loyalty and friendship and the love of animals. In this book Billy and Blaze spend a day looking for a forgotten quarry. They have a few adventures trying to get over the overgrown trail. The quarry is as wonderful as Billy pictured. He gets a bonus - he finds a puppy running from a fox. Billy and Blaze take their new friend home. The realistic pen and ink drawings illustrating the story are very much enjoyed by my son. I'm happy to have found these books reprinted.

My son LOVES the Billy and Blaze series......the books are exciting to read, educational, and very well written............we all enjoy them! Great for children age 4 and up!!!!

Never too old to read children's books, these were my favorites and I collected several as a cherished memory. With all the electronic toys for kids these days it is refreshing to read about what kids used to do for fun. It teaches that communing with nature and animals provides a healthy interest in the bigger world they we eventually support ourselves in.

I can still remember sitting in the children's reading area of our public library (about 20+ years ago!) reading every Billy and Blaze book I could get my little hands on! If you have a child who loves horses and adventures, you need to purchase this and other books in the series. The books are easy to read with the right amount words to keep a youngster's attention, and the illustrations are perfect!

This book is perfect for the very young horse lover it is easy to read and has wonderful pictures. It is a story of one boy and his pony who helps another boy with his pony. My 4 year old grand-daughter loves it. All of C. W. Anderson books are a pleasure to read for both the young and old horse lovers. I have enjoyed them since I was a child. The pictures are almost as good as a photo. I recommend this book to all horse lovers.

I received this as a child as a part of the Scholastic Book Club. It was an emotionally wrenching tale that highlighted the concepts of "right" and "wrong" in very personal ways. The writing is poetic.

This book was written about my aunt, Dorothy DeFalco. She was the crossing guard in Larchmont, NY that the book was based on. My Aunt Dot was one of the most caring people around, and she looked after the kids daily as if they were her own. She always made sure that the kids had rides home if the parents were late, or if they got hurt, she would care for them or bring them to the nurse. I highly recommend this book to teachers and parents of young men and women, especially in the 9-13 age range. It is a great story, and it teaches young people that you can trust and rely on those older than themselves in order to get through the tough "growing up" years. Every time I read it, it reminds me of her. She passed away 11 years ago, but the book brings her dedication to the younger generation right back to my mind.

When I was 12 this book came out in a school book order club under the title Silver Fox. I was stunned by how powerful it was. It continues to be one of the best books I have read for kids aged 9 - 12. I teach elementary students now (grades 5 to 7) and every year I read it aloud to the class. They are riveted by the characters and the story. They love how at the end of every chapter the author makes you desperately want to read on. Even now I cry at the ending! This book should definately be back in print.

I read this book when I was in fifth grade and at thirty-six years of age, I haven't forgotten it. This book touched me that deeply and actually forced me to confront my own issues as a young girl about doing what is right. The theme in The Silver Fox (underline), led to a few pivotal events in my life, namely the first time I had to stand alone for what was right. Now I am a seventh grade teacher in a high poverty, high-crime area and would like to introduce this incredible book to my students to help them confront issues of inner strength, compassion, and kindness toward all living beings. I absolutely love this book.

I really hope those who read it will develop an understanding of the power of love and respect for all life and find the courage to fight for those who can't defend themselves, be it human or animal.

Smith does what few modern poets accomplish: touching stories within a crafted frame. These poems are layered and poignant. His energy comes off the page.
The poem "Keep Him There" is gorgeous and his odes to Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are funny and startling at the same time.
Smith is another poet who reassures me that poetry is not dying.

Brilliant. Aaron Smith has written beautifully brutal, wildly funny poetry with the rawness and tenacity of a self performed autopsy; poetry has never been so gorgeously unfearing.

I never thought I could be a fan of poetry but his work is accessible, witty and moving. I highly recommend it. I can't wait for the next one.

Reading any of Aarons work is like watching something that you arent supposed to but coming away knowing even more about yourself and humanity...

Cathy Smith Bowers wrote this book of poems in part as a response, a dealing with the death of her brother to AIDS. She notes in the preface that the minute form was a way to try and focus her writing. As a poet myself I can understand that completely. There are times when you have something you desperately need to get out of paper but they can not take the write shape to truly give you catharsis. Mrs Bowers has succeeded in showing us a world of minutes.

I will keep this review short, but I want to make a point of saying that this is a book of poems that could appeal to a wide audience. The poems range from sexy, to humorous, to sad and didactic. It is a well thoughout collection presented in an intriquing format playing off a medieval book of prayers.

I read a poem a day from this book until I was finished. It was like a brief moment of meditation. The only drawback to completely a collection completely in such a rigid form is that there are a few poems that don't quite seem fulfilling, but that could just be my opinion :)

I am always amazed by this author - if you haven't read the other books of poetry, get those now as well. You don't have to be an avid fan of poetry to enjoy Cathy Smith Bowers. She writes for everyone and says things in ways that will overwhelm and enlighten. Read these when you can laugh out loud, and weep openly.

I am always struck by the gentle immediacy of Cathy Smith Bower's poetry.

These poems are in form, but they do not feel constrained. Each poem, more or less, is made of "sixty syllables in rhyming couplets with a syllabic line count of 8,4,4,4- 8,4,4,4- 8,4,4,4."

You won't be disappointed with this book--each poem will take you on an emotional journey. Something that only a very talented poet can do in such a small space.

Cathy Smith Bowers' "A Book of Minutes" is the best book of poems I've read in a year. Set up like a medieval prayer book, "A Book of Minutes" put me in a meditative state as I read and re-read the poems. The form--called a minute--provides a kind of Zen repetitiveness that helps Ms. Smith Bowers slide her words into the reader's mind. What wonderful stories she has to tell, from the natural world through the human world, through happiness and sorrow! Wonderful book! I have give it as a gift to several friends who enjoy poetry.

I'm a pretty picky reader and this book not only held my attention but left me craving more. The action is intense, the emotion is incredible and the story is ingenious. This story makes you happy, sad, scared, excited, and all of these feelings within seconds of each other. It's absolutely the best Christian Novel I've ever read, plus how cool is it that all proceeds go to charity?

If you want to read a truly unique and stimulating book, YOU GOTTA GET IT!

I bought 'The Bottom Never Ends' because I wanted to support charity, but I began reading the book and became very intrigued.

I always read the book while I was working out on the machines at the gym. Well, the book is so suspenseful and exciting that I repeatedly found myself working out much longer than usual so that I could continue reading!

It's a great book - the message hits home. I honestly believe that it will play a role in turning around lives for Christ. It allows you to peak inside the characters' minds and see the spiritual battles that go on. It also keeps you guessing . . . in fact, I'm still kept guessing as I wait for the sequel - plus, I have no motivation to go to the gym!

I bought this book just because the proceeds were going to a charity, thinking that I wouldn't be that good...but I could at least support a good cause. But to my suprise, this is without a doubt one of the best novels I've ever read. The suspense will kill you, the characters will leave you relating to each and everyone of them, and at the end you won't even know who to root for and who to hate. But as the dust clears, you know there is a lesson to take away that's better then the story itself.

I loved how the author described what it means- the bottom never ends. I found so much truth to my own life in this book. It's the first time I've seen Christianity described without the over cheesy context of other Christian books. This was not only on the edge, but showed how Christianity can be such a dangerous threat to all of the evil enterprises out there if we're willing to roll up our sleves and just simply fight back.

But with all the machoism of the book, the sole purpose is to show the power of having unconditional motives and to love others first, no strings attached. I love the point he made of that idea through many key relationships in the book. I don't know how many people have read this book, but if it's not many, what a shame that is.

This is by far the best Christian novel I've ever read. Besides the fact that all the proceeds are going to charity, the book rocks. I've never read something so exciting, but still delivering a powerful message with male and female emotions. I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Gina Langfeld

i highly enjoyed reading this book! the characters were well thought out and you felt as if you knew each one like a neighbor. the book takes a different approach to history. all of the events have actually happened, but alfred himself is a creation. you felt sad when he hurt and happy when he rejoiced. there were a couple of slow points in the book, but if you push past them, you will find the overall finish totally rewarding!

As a student of Black History of the Post Civil War West I can reccommend Mr. Smith's book highly. Although he has taken some liberties chronologically(which, in his forward, he apologized for) the events are correct.

Hopefully Mr. Smith's book will inspire other such studies and accounts of a long forgotten and neglected part of our history.

A great book. The story is full of historical detail, but it reads completely like a novel. I thought the main character, Alfred, was very believable. There is quite a lot of variety in the many adventures he has in the story. I learned a lot about the time period. The book has not just one main character, but a number of interesting figures. I highly recommend it.

This book is well worth a readers time - it educates, informs and makes you think - leaving a lasting impact in your life. The central character (Alfred) illuminates what conditions must have been like as a slave, a civil war soldier, a free man, a buffalo soldier - all in a manner that is very believable. Well done! I look forward to reading more of this author in the future.

The Bud Wilson Dream Book was one of those novels you can't put down! The characters were lively and all-too human; their flaws were familiar as well as being engaging. I particularly loved the way that each character grew and matured through the story, coming to crises, revelations, changes, and then subsequent challenges in a realistic way. I already bought all the copies at my local bookstore and I hope this book stays in print for ages! It was the mainstay of my shopping list for Christmas!

The Bud Wilson Dream Book is a must read for anyone who has, and almost everyone has, watched the network night time TV talk show host (whether Jack, Johnny, Dave or Jay) and wondered....

An engaging "could happen" tale compellingly woven from the threads of the modern American "stay up late" television viewing experience.

I stayed up late 'cause I couldn't put it down. A great read. A must read!

There have been additional revews of this book in Maine, the Maine Times, etc. There is praise from all the reviewers for the good prose style and the sheer fun of the plot. Although the central figures are mature women, there is the ever outrageous Bud Wilson, the host of the most popular nighttime television show. An enjoyable encounter between the host and the central figure, a mature woman recently widowed who becomes independent and spunky. There are many suprises and personalities that will stay with the reader long after the book ends.

I found that I was unable to put this book down. The characters seemed real although the situation is somewhat fantastic. I found the hypothesis that dreams are the poetry of ordinary people fascinating. The prose was enjoyable. Give me more books by this author!

I read stories for my children in the evenings and books by William Steele really hold their attention. My children range in age from 5 to 14, boys & girls. His stories are early American tales from a pre-teen/teen perspective. They're full of adventure and emotion. I'd recommend books written by this author to any parent.

My son (11) and I have realy enjoyed O'Steel's book. My husband read alot of these books as a child and I can see why! Fast paced, action, adventure, wonderfully descrpitive....made me wish I was a kid again!

I also read this school, but grade school, and then read every other Wm. O. Steele book I could get my hands on. It was a great intro to the genre of historical fiction and good for girls and boys.

To everyone, I wanted to take a moment to tell you how wonderful this book is. I first read it in Junior High School, I fell in love with it. I mustve read it 3 or 4 times since. Its a wonderful story, like all Steele books it leaves the reader spellbound at the end. The description says ages 9-12 but you can be MUCH MUCH older to enjoy this book. It is really a book for anyone with a sense of adventure and an imagination. :)