Stewart Books

Taking *The Journey* is like stepping out of a Time Machine as a northern Indiana Amish child is transported into the 21st century in Chicago. The team of Sarah Stewart and David Small produced this winner in 2001 and it's my opinion that only *The Friend* (see mcHAIKU's review dated October 3, 2004) has it 'bested'.

As Hannah becomes a time-traveler between two very different cultures, her level of excitement rises to test her well-schooled mannerliness. She is awe-struck and makes her discoveries seem new to us as we read over her shoulder the words written in her diary: "going down the street is like making a journey across the whole world. I feel like happiness has rushed up and grabbed me ..... "

There are only two small disappointments for me: I wish there were a situation in which Hannah was juxtaposed with a young city girl - - perhaps in that not-to-be-missed Chicago River boat ride - - somehow sharing an adventure which might suggest kinship despite their obvious differences. And, having recently written a review of *Berghoff's* ("The Berghoff Restaurant" of Chicago) I wish Hannah & her mother & friend had walked to that 100+ year old establishment to have a German meal - - where another comparison could be drawn. For me, the small black & white sketches of Hannah have a special appeal. Her facial expressions declare that she is a story-teller herself, and David Small makes obvious why he was selected by Caldecott judges.

This book is a delight to share, and can be a conversation-starter among children raised so differently from those of the Amish faith - - they may question how Hannah could be so eager to return home to the chores she has escaped for a week, and to a culture with gender-segregated religious services, and outhouses, and riding in an oh-so-slow buggy. When picture-book-age children aren't close by I reach out to adults or eleven-year olds & share the sweetness and strength of these words quietly enhanced by the dark blues of early morning and the jubilant sunrise. I will look for my favorite Monet-like haystacks the next time we travel north, too!

REVIEWER mcHAIKU is content that "the simple life" makes room for a love of books and hopes that Sarah Stewart & David Small continue their story-telling for many years.

Hannah has traveled with her mother and her mother's friend Maggie to the city. For an Amish girl from a small community, the city is big and full of strange and wonderful things. They go to the top of hig buildings, to marvelous stores, to big parks, the aquarium, the atr museum,on a boat ride and into a grand church. While Hannah is enchanted and enthralled by all the new sites, each new site reminds her of things at home she loves. Written as diary entries by Hannah during her adventures, this book manages to capture the wonder of a young girl in a new enviroment, and her thankfulness for the simple ways at home. Once again Sarah Stewart has crafted a wonderful storyline and David Small has turned what is in the mind's eye into enchanting illustrations. A wonderful book to read aloud, and to be enjoyed by all ages.

"Dear Diary, The luckiest girl on this good earth is writing to you tonight..." So begins The Journey, Sarah Stewart's lovely story of Hannah, an Amish girl on her first trip to Chicago. Each night, before she falls asleep, Hannah writes about her day and marvels at all the wonders of the big city, the fancy department store with it's frilly dresses, the aquarium and public library, the enormous cathedral with its loud choir, the cars and hundreds of people rushing here and there... And each makes her remember and appreciate something from her simple life at home, trying on a homespun dress, fishing in the pond, praying silently in the small wooden church, quilting with the ladies from other farms... David Small's expressive and detailed artwork take readers from the busy, brightly colored streets of Chicago, to the quiet, softer and subdued life of Hannah's Amish farm. Together, this award winning duo of Stewart and Small have authored a gentle, understated picture book, perfect for youngsters 6-10, that is sure to become a treasured classic in the years ahead.

This book was a great project book for my daughters, especially the 10 year old. We learned a lot about weaving and were able to produce some nice, usable projects in a short time. We still plan to make the loom from PVC piping and make some Christmas gifts with it.

I had gotten the book from our public library and felt it would be a great addition to our craft library and had to buy it. The instructions, diagrams and photos are well done.

This book is great if you want a book that has interesting, useful projects, clear instructions, and beautiful photos of kids and their weaving. The starting projects are loomless, involving weaving paper ('checkerboard notecards'), twigs ('fairygarden planter'), pliable tree branches ('hideout'), and what looks like a kind of six-strand braiding of embroidery floss hung from a pencil ('friendship bracelet'). From there you graduate to use of a cardboard loom to make a small wool pouch (I did this one) and to weaving cloth strips to make Japanese Rag Warrior dolls. (These, by the way, really do look like dolls my boys would play with.) Following that, the book details how to construct a stand-up loom from pvc piping and fittings, thick wooden dowels, and tongue depressors, and comes complete with heddle bar. I made mine for a cost of about $20. This pvc loom will handle a band of weaving up to 5" wide. From this loom (dubbed 'inkle loom') you can make these projects: inkle strap shoelaces, tapestry dog collar, a belt, a 43" long scarf, doll-sized pile carpets, and, by sewing woven strips together, a kente cloth blanket. The book also includes information, about making your own fiber dyes, different ways to set up the inkle loom, what is 'fulling' and how it is done, as well as bits of weaving history and lore. I got 'Kids Weaving' from the library six weeks ago. I meant to photocopy only a few pages for use introducing weaving to a small homeschool co-op. But when I began to see that it wouldn't be just a few pages, that's when I realized that I should just buy the book. Nearly all of the projects look like something we would do. That's rare.

Lots of GREAT ideas!!! Some are quickly done while others are more involved. This is the best book I have found for doing weaving with children. The PVC pipe loom is a terrific idea and inexpensive enough for each child to have one of their own to work on.

Krishnamurti, although interesting and intriguing, is not known for his entertainment value. He was as austere and uncompromising as he was fascinating. This book is entertaining, and interesting, and intriguing, and fascinating. It is my educated guess that Krishnamurti's teachings will become more well known in the years to come. Much more well known. This book is an excellent introduction to his teaching as well as a supplement to his actual wealth of books. What other book offers an invitation to what it means to being really aware and seeing truth, and also shares anecdotes of the like of which Krishnamuti is on a picnic with Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, and Aldous Huxley, to name a few. This book is a wonderful gem, full of insight. Absolutely enlightening.

I first came across this book in a library and borrowed it, and the impression I got, sustained for 3 years to make me actually buy it. As Krishnaji would say, the only way of understanding and discovering your self is through the mirror of relationship, what better way of understanding Krishnaji than through the way he interacted with people from different parts of the world and with different perspectives? That said, Krishnaji still remains a mystery as he rightly should, but nevertheless a delightful mystery.....

This story of Krishanurti's life is the most fascinating and complete biography I have ever read. It certainly helps that the book begins with intriguing accounts of Krishnamurti's unusual childhood, in which he was "found" by the Theosophical Society. ... "Leadbetter suddenly noticed one of the boys, outwardly a rather skinny looking little boy with a shaved front to his head and a pigtail. He was about thirteen (actually fourteen but appeared much younger), and had a little brother with him. He saw that around this boy was an aura of such brightness and glory as he said no one else in Adyar had, and that was so outstanding to him that he at once made friends with the two brothers."

Thus begins a most unusual relationship between the very young Krishnamurti and the Theosophical Society (Annie Besant was appointed guardian of Krishnamurti and his beloved younger brother one year later, in 1910. There were many advantages and disadvantages to the transformed life Krishnamurti led, and this book covers all the most interesting facets of Krishnamurti's life with beautiful photographs, hand-written journal entries, and interviews with Krishnamurti and other great thinkers of his time.

This is the story of a man devoted to giving spiritual teachings -- a man who inspired many (including Bruce Lee, Van Morrison, Henry Miller, Deepak Chopra, and Joseph Campbell) with his tremendous wisdom and clarity. Many of Krishnamurti's thoughts and quotes are included, such as, "In yourself lies the whole world, and if you know how to look and learn, then the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either that key or the door to open except yourself."

I highly recommend this book, both for its exquisite attention to the details and big picture of Krishnamurti's life, and for the inspirational wisdom it imparts to the reader.

I've just discovered the books of Sid Marty this year and I'm finding anything written by this gifted author is simply astonishing. What a rare combination-- what we have here is a park ranger with an extraordinary insight into human behavior who also has an ability to record his reflections with uncommon talent. Leaning on the Wind is spellbinding. I could not put it down.

Leaning on the Wind is a biography of the eccentric Marty clan and their homestead on Alberta's prairie below the eastern front of the Canadian Rockies. While a family history, it is equally an ecological treatise and a paean to the beauty and wonder of nature. Marty is a gifted writer who captures the heart and brings it home to revel in his mountains. Alternately comic, tragic, and inspiring, one readily feels a member of his family and the unconventional lives they lead.

Like all eco-centric books, there is a fair share of ideology tossed about, but, unlike others, Marty takes the complete political spectrum to task. His is no Leftist caterwaul that bleeds well beyond the issue of environmentalism, but an objective exposition on the ecological ills that all forms of government bring.

From page one, I swept through this book in just a couple of sittings. It is a model of it's genre full of optimism, success, failure, and melancholy, but ultimately, of love: Sid Marty's love for his people and their place amidst Alberta's rustic natural majesty. I recommend it highly. 5 stars.

From the warmth of your bedroom to the clarity of a foothill on a February morning, Leaning on the Wind takes you to places you didn't think existed. Like going on a trip with a serene uncle and reading his life like a carpet slowly unrolling in front of you. You are there with him and above it looking at his memories. This novel is neither myth and only cousin to fact; it is a folk story of the every day. In the middle east, Persian weavers insert a flaw in the pattern of their rugs, because only God is perfect. Marty, too, puts some extra stitches in his weaving and occasionally waxes tedious in his comment on the every day. But every insight requires a little bit of time and energy. It is a picture of both the beauty and sorrow in Canada.

This is a very good book. It gives a lot of insight into labor laws and issues, and rights of the union stewards. It is a definite must buy for every union steward or aspiring union steward.

This book should be the first thing any new union officer reads and as a long time union officer I read it at least once a year to refresh myself. As president of my local union I make sure all of our officers and stewarts have their own copy to read and refer back to as they have need to. "The Legal Rights of Union Stewarts", answers many questions and provides a knowledge base for more indepth learning.

I've been a steward for 2 years and heard of this book from a fellow steward. It has been very informative, helpful, and it is in a condensed format thereby making it user friendly.

A great little book, similar in style to McBratney and Jeram's "Guess How Much I Love You", or the Frog and Toad stories. The illustrations by Chris Riddell are fabulous.

Rabbit and Hedgehog are two close friends (one is put in mind of Toot & Puddle or Bert & Ernie) with one not-so-small problem: Hedgehog hibernates the winter through and Rabbit does not.

Rabbit is concerned that Hedgehog will not miss or remember him during the long winter. Hedgehog plainly states that he won't miss Rabbit because he'll be sleeping. While Rabbit says he'll miss his friend, Hedgehog is bothered by the fact that he doesn't know what winter IS-he sleeps through it!

Hedgehog asks Rabbit to "save a bit of winter for me" and writes a note on the bark of a tree to help Rabbit remember. Problems arise when winter hits and Rabbit, who usually eats pink clover and green grass is reduced to eating brown things--including bark off trees with MESSAGES written on them!

Well, fortunately, while Rabbit may be scatterbrained, he remembers what Hedgehog wanted him to save, and manages, with a bit of forest ingenuity, to save some winter for his sleeping friend.

"A Little Bit of Winter" is a testament to friendship. The precise illustrations and depth of expression make the characters feel so very REAL, to children as well as adults. One can simply FEEL Rabbit's sadness and frustration at having to eat brown stuff, dig through mountains of snow AND be lonely on top of everything else. The joy both Hedgehog and Rabbit feel when spring comes and they get to be together again is infectious and radiant.

An excellent book, highly recommended. Even if you DON'T have children to give the book to, buy it and give it to YOURSELF.

This book is a pure miracle ! I've read it in french. (Amazing ! For one time, the french translation is released before the english edition!) I bought the book as a gift for a four-years-old girl but after I read it with her I went back to the bookstore to buy my own copy. The text is simple and speaks to both heart and soul. I had never read such a good and masterful description of friendship. And what a gifted illustrator Chris Riddell is ! Last but surely not least : you don't need to be a child to appreciate the tale, I testify and I swear !

Stewart Edward White was many things- lumberjack, cowboy, novelist, biographer, even a writer of a psychic phenomenon series,and though this is the first book of his that I have had the immense pleasure of reading, I must say that after reading the Long Rifle, I believe that this, out of his almost sixty books, was the one he enjoyed writing the most. I think most writers have a favorite that they have written, because it is the one that they have put the most of themselves into, yearning to almost be the imagined character themselves, or to live in the world that lives in their mind. I would not be surprised if the life of a mountain or frointiersman is the kind of life that White would have loved to have led.

There are a number of reasons that I can find for saying this. First, with his vivid, sweeping, almost panoramic descriptions, you are thrown into the true *wild* west, long before it became the wild west of the cowboy days and the countless novels of the *western* genre. The only peoples that you would be fortunate enough to see (or unfortunate as the case often was) was lots of Indians, the rare Spanish settelment, or the even rarer fellow Mountain Man. The mountains and the valleys are written as if White were sitting there with them right in his view. Perfect. Breathtaking. Untouched. Majestic. So full of wildlife that, in the words of Joe Crane, *You needn't hardly aim yer rifle, and you've downed yer dinner*. This is the land that is so beautifully described.

Second, in this age where it is culturally acceptable (at least in most of the western countries) to be a New Age guru or a Catholic monk, Agnostic or Christian, Hindu or practioner of the far-east disciplines, we are at least used to the idea of normal, everyday people being any of these things. But in the 1930's? Spiritualism outside of Christianity was not as accepted by mainstream American culture as it is now. Despite this, White still puts traces of his beliefs (his wife, Betty, channeled mystical teachings, giving him the material for his three psychic phenomena books,) into the character of Andy Burnett. These are written about in a way that can be interpreted as just instinctual reactions, but a careful reading declares them to be more of a spiritual understanding of what is going on around him.

The third can be found in the central figure of this book, the previously mentioned Andy Burnett, the fictional inherator of Daniel Boone's long rifle, giving the book its name. Andy has not been steeped with what our more modern minds think of as *hero* characteristics. He is not superhuman, he doesn't war with himself about what the right thing to do in a situation is. He is not given to heavy drinking, chasing women, (the one time he did try completely scared him out of his wits,) engaging in brawls, or causing commotion; all things that a rather large chunk of the modern heros in movies are found to do. Interestingly enough they are also all things that Andy's fellow mountain men would be ashamed not to take part in, earning him a lofty if somewhat frowned upon image from his companions. No, Andy has more of the character of something that White was very familiar with. A cowboy. Self assured and of strong character, he knows that morals aren't something that you should have to try to live by, but that they should come naturally, with a desire to respect your fellow man. Andy carries this with him everywhere, even in his dealings with Indians. Through his strong love of other people he eventually becomes a member of the Blackfoot tribe, a tribe that no one, Indian or white man has ever been on good terms with. Andy can handle himself in any situation by just being calm and of uncompromising character. These qualities would benefit anyone, and I'm sure that White belived this. In fact I'm also sure that he modelled Andy on what he himself would like to have been. White wrote about him so passionately that I found myself quite often wanting to be in Andy' life.

Now let us move on to the book itself. We begin by reading of a young Daniel Boone (on a side note, while this is a fictional account of Boone, White does have some historical facts on his side, as he should, being the author of the highly acclaimed biography of Boone,) entering a shooting contest with a new kind of rifle that is at first laughed at, as are most new ideas when you're set in your ways, at least until the accuracy of the idea is proven, in this case Boone showing that you can shoot straighter, faster, and cheaper, break all previous records, take first place, then dissapear and become one of the most famous men ever to explore the wild frontier. Narrativelly this is no small feat for the first fifty pages of a book, and you are left wondering how this is going to be topped, carrying a fast paced adventure through three hundred more pages. Then like a plunge into shockingly cold water we are thrown into the boring life of a young teenager about to have destiny come crashing down on him.This is the young Andy Burnett whose grandfather was given that same rifle by Boone as a wedding gift for saving his life. The rifle eventually is passed to the niave Andy who runs away, leaving behind an uncaring step father, and his grandmother, whose last wish was for Andy to escape the farmers life and become the man that he was meant to be, which in her mind is a frontiersman.

Andy is taken under the wings of two genuine mountain men who teach him the ways of the wild. He is quickly thrown into adventure after adventure, as White writes Andy into the real life histories of mountain men. Meeting and traveling with many famous men of the era, he helps discover the first pass over the Contenintal Divide, making a path where the Oregon Trail will eventually ride, helps the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in its begining years by being a good friend of the owners, and also becomes one of the first white men to see the Pacific Ocean from an inland route. Along the way are famine , thirst, hostile Indians, ruthless trappers, and death. But all of this serves to make Andy stronger, culminating in an ending that shows the true misfortune of white mans encroachment upon the wild.

My only problem with the book was that near the end the writing switches back and forth from Andy's life to a more epic, wide-angle lens stlye of writing that shows the sweeping changes being instituted in the land, with years passing by as landscapes and lifestyles change, and then back to an older and wiser Andy, and then back again. But by the end you can see the reasoning as it was needed in order to build up the climax, an immenent tragedy that shows how callous the world is to personal suffering and what motivates people for right or wrong.

In the end we are left with the notion that not only have we lost a national treasure in the eventual taming and destruction of our wilderness, but that an entire lifestyle has been eradicated in the name of progress, and all we have to show is legends of men who could never be equalled.

Yes Mr. White, I too would have loved to have been alive at that time, and I also am aware of what has been lost everytime I take a trek into the majestic Rocky Mountains, following the paths of people just living a simple life surrounded by beauty. Your book is a bittersweet taste of how a man can live his dreams, through good and bad.

A great tale of the early west. A brave young man goes west with the early fur trappers. The long Rifle saves his bacon many times. He meets and traps with many of the famous old trappers and they share many wonderful adventures. Fiction at its best for youngsters. I read it first in 1953 and I still love it.

This is an excellent book for a young person because it teaches some great lessons about history, personal responsibility and cause-and-effect. The characters are incredibly life-like and the writing is spell-binding. This book is a "pager-turner". However, don't be shy of picking up this book if you are an adult, either. It's a great read. A belated "Thank You" for this book, Mr. White!

Father Bob Stewart's easy-to-read book will cause you to weep and mourn, but his message is strong, clear and inspirational. He shows us that a life cut short by a disease such as cancer isn't a tragic or unfinished life.

He challenges us to walk with our crises, rather than run away from them or bitterly stand against them. He teaches us how to find moments of love and blessings in our darkest times.

If you or anyone you love suffers or has suffered from cancer or any other terminal disease, this book will be a God-send. Because through his own journey -- his walk with Brother Cancer -- Father Bob shows how to find meaning and peace in death.

Painting without canvas was what Fr. Bob originally wanted to name the book. I think a better name would be making peace with life.

He does a wonderful job of teaching even when he was in such pain and others would feel sorry for him. His words reminded my of Tuesdays with Morrie.

He shows that even though we all know that death is coming, to make the most of our time here.

It is a short book but it demonstrates his ability to teach adn to command an audience (even of one) very well.

Father Stewart�s book speaks in everyday words to the everyday man and woman, but with a beauty not unlike poetry, such as Donne�s Sonnets. It is not a theological tome to be waded through. It flows with an ease the reader will appreciate. It is the same ease at which Father Stewart lived his life. For me, the nexus of �Making Peace with Cancer� is the freedom God has given each of us. That freedom forms the basis for understanding why people suffer from cancer, or endure other hardships. It is not God�s will for these events to befall us. As Father Stewart explains, God cries when we do, and He cries when we are in pain, whether physical or emotional. If God controlled these things, we would not be free.

�Making Peace with Cancer� is not just for cancer patients. It is for everyone who wants to find peace in their lives as well as a sense of the wonderful life that awaits us in God�s Kingdom. I found the book, in a word, to be �life-affirming.� In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that Bob Stewart is my cousin. However, I have recently returned to my faith, and so it was not with a blind eye that I read �Making Peace with Cancer.� The thoughts expressed in the book are beautiful and will perhaps provide peace, as well as truth, for those who seek it.

After the last couple of crappers I've read, this book was like a cool breeze on a hot day. Snappy writing, interesting characters, great plot, funny repartee--what more can you ask for? Love this author and plan to read more Stuart Hoag books based on my excellent experience with this one.

Handler is a scream. His stories are orginal and his characters are very lively. No trends are spared from Handler's savage pen. I hope Handler enjoys writing the Hoagy series as much as I enjoy reading it

I have never been shooshed so much while reading a book - I was chuckling at Handler's wit every other page! Hoagy is a great character and the plot is a pretty twisty one as well. A great read! I've said it many a time to emphasize how good a book was, but this is the first time I actually FINISHED A BOOK IN ONE SITTING! I couldn't read it fast enough. GOOD STUFF!

I was looking for a reasonable map of the US to hang into our camper, to keep track of the states we've been too.
This works perfect - we added 5 stickers this summer !

My kids loved them. It was easy to use. Even my 2 year old could do it correctly with minmal help. They want to play with their stickers all the time.

We used this when we traveled across the US with our children that range from three to ten. We bought one for each of them and had them place each state sticker as we traveled from one state to the next. They also used it to try and figure out what state we were going to be in next. After we returned home they added the states that we had visited in the past.