Stone Books

for young and old alike. My 3yr old granddaughter loves to hear the story, look at the pictures, over and over. She wants us to make "stone soup"!

For the classic tale of two peddlers making soup out of a stone, there are many versions of this story. The illustrations and story in Heather Forest's version are suberb! There is a recipe for stone soup at the end of the book. I read this story to my kids' kindergarten classes as a way to teach the idea that when you work together you can make something great for the community! The kids bring canned vegetables to "put in the pot" which is a box to bring to a local food pantry.

Stone Soup is a popular folktale in many countries that has been told for centuries. The Author Heater Forest tells a contemporary version of the popular folktale. Her Stone Soup is an imaginatively creative story with colorfully descriptive pictures that bring the plot about sharing to life. The author's writing is so clear and vivid that reader's can see the characters even before looking at the pictures. The illustrations are realistically drawn and help kids follow along with the story. The author uses the illustrations to teach kids a lesson about sharing. In Stone Soup, two hungry travelers stumble into a village. The travelers go door to door asking for food. Because the villagers say there is no food, the travelers decide to help them by making their magical soup. In the process of making the soup, the village learnes that if everyone shares good things can come out of it. The language and concept is simple for kids. When the traveler talks to the villagers, he uses simple words. "Please ," said one of the travelers, "we are hungry. Do you care? Will you share? Do you have any food?" These simple sentences express many ideas about sharing. "Do you care?" says that if a person doesn't share it's because they don't care. "Do you have any food?" says that if a person has food they should share it. Stone Soup isn't just good reading that is imaginative and creative; it also tells a moral, which teaches kids a lesson but doesn't preach to them. The moral, that if everyone shares then the outcome is huge, comes across clearly in this imaginative story. The travelers said the magic ingredient to their stone soup is sharing; every contribution counts from the smallest to the largest when people share. This is a idea kids can use in their lives. The author tells a well-written story that, even without pictures, could put the characters vividly in one's mind. The author makes a vivid picture of the travelers hopelessness in the reader's mind: "...travelers came along. Their coats were tattered. Their hats were torn. Their dusty shoes had holes in their soles." Using these descriptive words helps everyone enjoy this story. Susan Gaber illustrated this book. She made the pictures so detailed that a person can see the hair on a man's beard and the buttons on a kid's top, but not so much detail that it takes away from the story. The pictures are realistically drawn and colored. There are no purple trees or orange-haired people. This adds to the realistic plot of the story. Gaber does a great job drawing difficult items, for example: a kernel of corn and a green bean. The colors that are used are bright. When characters talk there is a picture of the main topic in the bubble of what the person is saying. An example of this is when a man says he has a potato and the picture shows a bubble with a potato in it. This helps kids follow the story. From start to finish, Stone Soup is a page-turner, with colorfully detailed pictures to its descriptive wording, which bring alive the imaginative story. Stone Soup is well-written for its age group, using word and concepts kids will understand, while at the same time teaching them a moral and new ideas about sharing. This is definitely one book to check out. -Michele Jicha

Two travellers come to a village and work their magic. Includes recipe.
You must play the music, written and performed by the author herself !!!! The kids will naturally sing along. Before you realize it, you'll be a singing storyteller too.

Although this book is listed for young people, I read the back cover and decided to see for myself how she treated this subject. The book's title, however, is very misleading. "Stone Water" as a title would make this book a questionable choice to pick up to read. Although I am in my sixties, this book was wonderful and I felt like I was there with Grant and his Grandfather. I am in total agreement with the choice that Grant made and think the author presented this story very well. A quick but not easy read because of subject, this book is definitely worth reading.

Stone Water is an excellent book dealing with real subjects in todays world. It deals with the hardships of life and death. In our fast paced world we need to stop and think about the quality of life, not the length of it. I loved the book, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down.

A must read. This book changed the way I view assisted suicide. Through a young child's life we see how one's final wish can shape another's life. A real tear jerker. It empties your emotions and leaves you trapped in the world the book creates for hours, if not days after. As all good books should do.

Eighth-grader Grant is a loving child whose affection for his dignified grandfather would never be questioned. In fact, when his grandfather suffers a stroke and is sent to "The Other Wing" of the nursing home, Grant is the only one in the family who makes the time to visit him; his mother and father are both so wrapped up in their careers that they find neglecting both Grant and the grandfather too easy to do. This story becomes complicated from the very beginning when the reader realizes that the letter and recorded story Grant has received from his grandfather is actually a cleverly disguised request for assisted suicide. Throughout the remainder of the novel, we follow Grant's life through months of agony as he tries to make sense of the value of life and the inevitability of death. The secondary characters--Grant's parents, his best friend Avery, and even Randi--become part of the reader's inability to put down this book. You won't know for sure what Grant does until the end of the story, and you will be left questioning what you would do in the same situation.

I bought 30 copies for my 7th graders to use year after year. Enough said?

I am impressed with the Stonehenge and Valley of the Kings books for a variety of reasons:
-crisp, clear, appealing layout
-inclusion of maps with modern cities and related sites
-timeline, glossary and index
-photos and drawings have clear informational captions
-interesting aspects of the topic are explained on full-page "asides"
-use of words like "probably" and "one theory" to explore how our understanding of these ancient sites changes as archeologists discover more
-the mixture of the historical and legendary with the technical and physical information
-interviews with the archeologists, which personalizes the subject and makes it real and possible for students

This is the best book on Stonehenge. The text is concise and extremely well written and documented. The photos of the sites, stones and artifacts are beautiful. I especially liked the anciet time-line.
Ms. Bernard answers the Who, Why and When about the constuction of Stonehenge. Anyone interested in archeolgy and problem-solving will devour this book.
I am looking foward to more Digging in the Past Serries.

Stonehenge is a comprehensive and intelligible book that delves into the past explaining facts plus the fallacious legends that have always surrounded this archeological phenomena. It helped me further understand what present day discoveries have been made' and how the legends grew up around Stonehenge. The interview at the end of the book with Ms. Malone was educational and informative. The thorough glossary was also very helpful. I would highly recommend this book to any novice or person already interested in archeology.

First of all, I like Robert Westall's supernatural tales very much. They run the gamut from gentle to utterly chilling (this story belongs to the latter category!). Don't be misled by the fact that he's normally considered a "young adult" writer, his material is completely enjoyable to adults (I'm 44!), and I highly recommend his works.
Getting back to this one, all I can say is "WOW"! Just like a Dean Koontz novel, he hooks you on the 1st page, and things just get more bizarre from there. A wonderful ghost story, and while it's not quite in the same league as tales by M.R. James, E.F. Benson, H.R. Wakefield, Frederick Cowles, Eleanor Scott, etc., this one definitely stands on it's own. I won't say anything about the plot, as to give anything away about this excellent short (100 pages, you can and WILL read it in a single sitting!) novel would be just plain wrong. All I can say is find a copy, either for sale or in a library, and if you are a ghost story fan, you won't regret it.
One caveat, however... a lot of it is written in Northern British "slang", and it may be a bit slow going for the unitiated (me mum's English, so I grew up knowing many of the speech patterns and colloquialisms that Westall uses. This is really a "non-complaint" though, as in my opinion, it only adds to the authenticity of the tale. Read it, and be prepared to end up looking over your shoulder for a while. Superb book!!!
BTW, I also HIGHLY recommend "Antique Dust", a collection of his more "adult" ghost stories. This is probably his most consistently good book of short stories. Believe me, these books are worth the time it takes to track 'em down. Read, enjoy, and rejoice that the classic Brit ghost story is still not dead (even though, unfortunately, Westall is)!!

What a great horror story! No, it's not gross, not bloody, not overtly spooky, and the Terminator does not make an appearance, but Westall's subtle writing and build up of true horror make for a literally hair raising read. I read "Stones..." as an adult, that means I was over 30 folks, while between "real" jobs and while working at a children's bookstore. I took this with me to lunch and was glad I had my back to the wall, even at that I kept looking over my shoulder... Not for under 12, but a great scare! ...Enjoy and read read read!

...this was one of the scariest books that I read at the time. I still have the book, and have re-read it only a few years ago. The gargoyle is what scared me the most; anyone who reads this will see why I say this. This is like a combination of "The Shining" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say, read this book. It is very, very short, and one can finish it in one sitting. Don't get too scared though...

If someone were to ask me why I read so much fiction, I'd hand them this book. Although it is short, this book is one of the best I've ever read and re-read. From the eerie but gradually intensifying strange occurences, to the uncovering of the cathedral's secret history, to the jaw-dropping climax, this book ROCKED!

I had to read this book for school, and I wasn't happy about it at all. Once I started reading it though,
the book was hard to put down! It is very enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone.

I went to the Christian book store to get a wedding gift, then I walked the aisles looking at books...I picked up this book and felt the Lord speaking to me, "This book will encourage you." I looked at it briefly and saw that she (the author) had a "glory cloud experience" and I could relate to it! I looked at the price and thought, "What is my husband going to think if I come home with it and say that the Lord told me to buy it?" It sounded lame, although I was so excited, so I looked at another book she wrote that was two dollars cheaper, but the Lord said, "Not this one, the other one." Needless to say, I bought it and my husband was not mad at all. (I did not realize that Amazon books had these spiritual books too!) Let me tell you, this book is so very awesome. She relays her experiences of the Lord visiting her personally and teaching her personally at various times. I believe that this book was meant for me. She wrote how when she had the glory cloud experience that the cloud got darker and heavier...I always wondered why the cloud I saw around me was grey. This is a book that clearly shows that if you turn to the Lord and seek Him, HE will instruct and guide you and come to you. I loaned this book out and now it has been reloaned to the same person. This book I plan to pass further around...it is a book that will excite and change you, I believe. I think it would be an "understatement" to say I highly recommend it. Have a blessed day in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord Jesus bless everything you touch.

It will make your heart cry out for more of god. this bookremindsl us of how caring our heavenly father is, and how much hewants to be a part of our lives. a "must read"!! It will change your life!! you won't be able to put it down!!

This is a fascinating book about Fuchsia Pickett's encounters with God. Most Christians believe that there is a deeper walk than they are experiencing. She not only says it is true, but says how she got there. It will leave you hungering to know more about God.

Ms. Ching truly pays homage to author Cao Xuequin's Dream of the Red Chamber. Her photographs carry us on a personal sojourn exploring the central love story and the unfolding allegory behind it. Beautiful and evocatively enticing. A lovely coffee table book to share with my friends.

I really enjoyed this book! Wonderful and stunning to look at. I read "Dream of the Red Chamber" many years ago and thought this book was an interesting visual interpretaion.

Loved it!

Makes an impressive gift! The photographs were taken in China and give life and excitement to an old tale, Story of the Stone.
I would highly recommend giving this beautiful book to family, friends and clients.

"In the hands of Linda Ching the camera is a delicate paintbrush. The images she has created to tell the tale of "Story of the Stone" summons the senses--like delicate water paintings, opalescent colors emerge. In silky browns and beiges she arouses ecstatic figures; a wistful woman is caught in a gossamer mirror; a twig soars alone, overlaid in sunlit leaves. A fresh new look at an old Chinese masterpiece." -- Moana Tregaskis

Suzanne Thomas effortless arranged imaginative plots with different levels of thrills while never losing the intrinsic value of the story. The novel is a can't-put-it down page turner that follows the lives of the rich and famous in a small southern town in Tennessee. It is a bigger than life story that makes you think is there going to be a tomorrow.

It is a unique blend of southern culture and present awareness. It is a spellbinding read while at the same time informs you of what's really happening in small town America.

Once I started to read this fascinating tale of drugs permeating a small, Southern community, I was completely spellbound! A friend recommended that I read this novel -- I am so glad that she did. It is as though Ms. Thomas was an eyewitness to the horrible events told in the storyline. I look forward to her next book! Excellent....absolutely chilling.....a true thriller!

Fantastic.
The author gives great details and leads you along unchartered trails.

I'm 100% GenX, and non-judgemental about drug use. But as someone from the rural southeast who has lost good friends to drug addiction, I can appreciate the attempt to expose this growing epidemic. This book describes the problem well, and is an exciting read.
Thank you very much for your efforts.

Not a 5 star read because some transitions are obviously mechanical, and a little distracting.

When psychologist Jackie Hitchcock returns to her sleep small southern hometown alongside the Tennessee River to investigate the death of both of her parents, she finds herself quickly involved in the underworld of drug gangs and their powerful allies and accomplices. It's the drug methamphetamine that has swept through the community creating addicts and a drug culture the produce poverty, mental illness, physical health problems, deaths by overdose, and all the corruption of organized crime. Although a work of highly recommended thriller fiction, Stumbling Stone clearly and accurately lays out the growing problems associated with meth addiction, meth labs, associated criminal enterprise, and the difficult struggle of decent citizens and law enforcement to keep their communities free from this 21st century scourge.

I read this wonderful book 8 or 9 years ago while preparing to enter the temple. It opened my eyes to the world of Gospel Symbolism and started me on a path to writing my own book about the temple. (Prepare Now for the Temple)

I also recommend these other books by Matthew B. Brown: The Gate of Heaven: Insights on the Doctrines and Symbols of the Temple, JOSEPH SMITH: The Man, the Mission, the Message, All Things Restored: Confirming the Authenticity of Lds Beliefs and The Plan of Salvation: Doctrinal Notes and Commentary

Excellent reading and excellent book for all Latter-day Saints who hold temple recomends. This has got to be the only Church that does not rely only on scriptures for salvation but through a living prophet! How could these prophets in the 1800's in the last days make-up all these symbols when they are incorporated in the Old Testament. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, Where did they get the resources or internet for these men in the early 1800's? Answer: There was none. More than just reading the bible needed to take place, but through revelation. The accuracy of the book is flawless!

I have found this book to be very interesting/intriquing. It has pictures of symbols found on the early Mormon temples and explains what their meanings are.

The authors take a detailed look at the Kirland, Nauvoo and Salt Lake City temples and discuss the architecture of each building and the symbolism of various designs in each of the temples. The book is well organized and easy to read. There are good illustrations to help the reader visualize what the authors are discussing. The book has good footnotes and a bibliography for further study. A great plus for the book is that it avoids wierd interpretations of various things like the Saturn stones that were supposed to be put on the Salt Lake Temple but weren't.

Judy Stone helps you understand the science behind food and our bodies and how they affect one another. One thing is for sure - you'll never touch margarine again after reading this book! Judy gives the reader a wealth of information in a very easy to read format and lots of fabulous recipes and menu plans to help the reader eat and feel better. I haven't tried all the recipes yet but so far my favorite is a toss up between the Italian Turkey Sausage and Tomato Stew and Spicy Meatball Mambo. This book needs to be in your kitchen.

Before reading Take Two Apples and Call Me in the Morning, I was recovering from heart surgery and had gained fifty pounds. I tried to follow a low-fat diet, but I was always hungry for a carbo binge, and was on the verge of gaining more weight. Low energy, poor sleep, aching joints, and itchy skin made me miserable and grouchy. What a revelation this book was! Adding fat in the form of olive oil, butter, and flax oil to my diet, eliminating wheat/sugar products, and eating protein with veggies for meals and snacks was the key to improved health. Judy Stone clearly and thoroughly instructs the reader to throw out the legalism of all those other "diets" and to eat the food your body needs to heal itself and maintain health. Do you want strong bones, supple skin, strong hair and nails, energy, a feeling of not being hungry between meals? Get this book.
Julia Hanawalt

I've read many of the low carb books (Atkins, Eades, Heller, Zone etc.) and this one is different. First, it's got lots of health info that the others don't have or may only touch on. Second, it makes the science/medical stuff about the body super easy to understand and interesting to read. And third, it has a very positive, supportive tone for people who are trying to change, and lays things out in easy to follow steps instead of asking you to change everything at once. It also addresses the psychology of making changes and not just the food part. I'd recommend this book for anyone who was new to cutting carbs or an old hand at it. Also, it's got some great recipes--a great BBQ sauce, lots of main dishes that aren't heavy on the cream and butter,and others I haven't tried yet that look good. I'm a personal trainer and I've recommended this book to all my clients.

Accessible written for the non-specialist general reader by Judy Stone (a former psychotherapist who has become an experienced and knowledgeable nutritionist), Take Two Apples And Call Me In The Morning: A Practical Guide To using The Power Of Food To Change Your Life! is a straightforward and "user friendly" guide to understanding and meeting the nutritional needs of one's body, while debunking myths and offering solid, reliable advice to eating a balanced diet, limiting artificial stimulants such as caffeine, developing delicious menu plans that benefit overall health, and much more. Enhanced with more than 100 recipes, Take Two Apples And Call Me In The Morning is very highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to alter their eating patterns and habits for the better.

This is the first Jean Stine book that I have read and I'm ready to order more. Great characters.

A story that kept you wondering. A beautiful story about two young girls who shared the same experience and a dark secret. The bond between them was the kind of bond all friends should have. I hope Ms. Stone continues her story. Ms. Stone's first book "Sins of Innocence" (which I have not read yet) is the beginning of Jess and Ginny. I am searching high and low to find "Sins" and I know it will be just as good as this one. Share this one with a friend.

What a pleasant surprise to see a sequel to Ms. Stone's excellent book, SINS OF INNOCENCE, a story of 4 unwed girls who gave up their babies for adoption. This book reminds me of why Ms. Stone is my favorite romance author. She knows how to write about women's feelings and the friendships between women with Jessica and Ginny as the lead characters (P.J. passed away in the previous book and Susan is out of the picture). Again, she manages to touch my heart with all the emotion and compassion that she portrays in this book. I love the way she writes dialogue. Her description of Martha's Vineyard sounds quaint and inviting, like someplace I would like to visit soon.

I found myself spending every waking moment reading this book and waiting to see what would happen next, but didn't want the book to end. Great work, Ms. Stone! I am anxiously awaiting your next wonderful novel.