W Books

This book is a MUST for all new puppy owners! It will tell you when to do what with your puppy so you can raise a puppy that you will be happy to have around and proud to own. Also great for all breeders- it goes into the first 8 weeks as well and what should be done to raise well adjusted puppies.

i thought this book was easy enough to read. it explained everything you needed... gets straight to the point and has good explanations of your puppy at a certain level or age. im planning to get a puppy and after reading this book, i know a lot more about how to take care of one. i feel ready.

This book is invaluable in the way it describes each stage of the puppy's development (both physical and psychological). It eqips you to answer the age-old question: Why is my puppy behaving this way???

Also, after reading this book, you will understand why you should always purchase your pup from a breeder ... and NEVER from a pet store.

Great book with common sense ideas. I have raised many dogs over the years and this book offers sensible advice that hadn't even occurred to me.

This is the best book I've found on raising a puppy. Especially helpful is the week by week detailed description of what a new owner may expect developmentally from the puppy, and what the puppy needs for each stage of growing. I've given this book to every new puppy parent I've known!

Mr. Smith has produced an invaluable resource that will become a standard---I've had this book for a couple of years, but this year was the first I've had opportunity to put his words to practice. He's dead-on in his excellent advise, so this year's modest garden will definitely grow next year. I'm wearing out my copy from use---a book well-loved indeed! If your planning a vegetable garden and need help---look no further. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This book was listed by someone who began a hobby farm as the best book she bought on the garden in general and for self sustaining wannabees...so I took a risk and I found it to be great! I live in an area with a short growing season (Pacific NW) and found many great ideas that are very applicable to me. This guy makes a lot of sense and makes it very easy, in fact you can decide how "deep" you want to take his ideas. So if you want to employ some of his methods, you can do that with ease, or if you want to go all out, and have a huge garden like he does. Anyway, I thought this was great for me, a beginner home gardener. This book got me very excited about a whole bunch of new things I never thought about, including things you do in the fall/winter & early spring that contribute to the health of your garden. Anyway, I highly recommend this book and thought it was worth it for sure.

I've just retired from Corporate America and decided to take up gardening. This book has been the best purchase I've made in years. It's well organized, easy to find and follow the instructions. As a novice gardener, I've appreciated the thorough coverage of all topics. I know I will have and use this book for many years. Thank you for a wonderful gardening tool. VTD

I borrowed this book from our library a couple times this winter as I was making plans for this summer's garden. Then Spring hit and I needed it again, so I purchased it as I know it is a book that I will refer to again and again. And I have used it extensively already. It lays out all you need to know to garden using raised beds including bed preparation, soil amending, composting, watering, using trellis to have things grow up. The last part of the book gives specific information for individual vegetables and herbs, including when and how to plant, care for and harvest. It has been an invaluable resource and my garden is coming along nicely already.

The content of this well written book has been covered in other reviews and I agree it is a solid, introductory text at a decent price. However, I find it a little too "coffee table" for my tastes with big type and lots of pretty photos, rather than a lot of breath or depth. If you haven't been introduced to bed gardening and creating a "living" fertile soil, it would be a nice intro, but easy to outgrow (no pun intended).

Notably lacking is content on more than a couple herbs, most salad and Asian greens, as well as some of the less common crops and pest/disease situations that you might encounter. Also, while a prescriptive "how-to" guide, it doesn't educate as to the "why" of things as well as other texts I have read, which let you transfer the techniques to your own specific situations.


I'd recommend picking up a good seed catalog that is at least partially aimed at commercial growers (e.g. Territorial and/or Johnny's) both for cultural and growing suggestions, as well as knowing what cultivars are available (since most of the books are 10-20 years out of date on that), and considering instead:

Golden Gate Gardening: Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area and Coastal California -- Although written for one geography, both the general information on gardening, as well as the extensive sections on vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers make it a "go to" for me.

Grow Your Own Vegetables -- Great general information on gardening as well as tons of specific information on a very wide range of vegetables. A well-respected British author, so you have to get used to some difference in language, like "marrow" and "beetroot". Also be aware that "organic" is different in the UK, so some US practices, like insecticidal soaps, aren't covered.

Oriental Vegetables: The Complete Guide for the Gardening Cook -- If you are interested in "salad greens" or "baby greens" then this covers well a lot of the "fancy" leaves you'll find in mixes or at the market. (I don't recommend Larkcom's "Organic Salad Garden" as it is not much more than an extract from "Grow Your Own Vegetables" on high-end paper with lots of glossy pictures.)

How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits: (And Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) (How to Grow More Vegetables: (And Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains,) -- Covers "intensive" bed gardening and has a lot of good reference information on crop timing and yields. Sometimes a little "earthy" or "preachy" in style and content, and perhaps not as well researched and supported as the above (or The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener (A Gardener's Supply Book), for another "second" book) but worth adding to a collection (as I prefer the previous as broader, more balanced texts). Revised and reprinted regularly, so make sure this links to the most recent.

While looking to see if one of my favorite historical authors (James Alexander Thom) had a new novel out, I came across the books of Allan W. Eckert on of those "If You Like This Book, You'll Like This Too" lists. I had never heard of Eckert before, but based upon the GREAT reviews of this book I decided to give it a try. What a suprise! All of the positive reviews aren't lying. I can't put the book down! It just pulls you in until you feel like you're roaming the Ohio Valley with Kenton and all the other brave folks (White and Indian). The 588 LARGE pages make it extra special for folks like myself who fly through books quickly. I would highly recommend the book and can't wait to start another one by him.

P.S. The books by James Alexander Thom are equally well written for those who are looking for a simular type author.

Wow, what an interesting, exciting, factual book! Just as engaging and excitingly written as any Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel, except very factual. Based on tens of thousands of pages of interview notes taken from those who lived during this period of history. You will learn a lot of American history and enjoy it, to boot, if you read this book! Don't miss this one!

Eckert has written a truly engrossing book on an amazing figure in American history. Simon Kenton, like Daniel Boone had the lust to wonder the woods for days and both had a immense memory for the scope of the land he wondered. The narrative writing is excellent. It puts you back in the 18th century when America was truly wild. It was a harsh land when one false step led to an early death, often times gruesome. The Shawnees were none to compliant to give up their lands and sold it at a high cost of human life. Tecumseh also emerges here, also one of the greatest figures in history. A Sorrow in Our Heart, which is about Tecumseh is also a must read. In the Frontiersman, the Ohio River flowed blood red with hatred for intruders. There are captivating stories here of the many clashes that took place between whites and indians. It was a time period of two cultures clashing, one wanting to hold on to a way of life etched into the land through balance and harmony, aganst a culture that produced men who were determined to see new vistas and experience the thrill of blazing a trail that many would soon follow. But it was this migration which ruined the very thing they loved most, the feeling of true wilderness. This book captures it all. A must read for those who find history a fascinating subject.

I was assigned to read this book for my 10th grade American History summer reading. I loved to read as a teen. I loved history -- I went on to get my degree in it. This book threatened to change all of that.
A ponderous piece of agonizing minutiae, this book brought me to the breaking point. I read it -- the whole thing. As a fifteen year old. I think it actually made me cry, I hated it so much. It's well researched, but seemed almost masturbatory in its envisioning of the motivations of frontiersmen. And excruciatingly long. Some people obviously enjoy this book. To each their own. But for the rest of you, it is okay to hate it. Really. You know you want to.

I first became acquainted with Mr. Eckert's books a few years ago while shopping for a gift for my son-in-law who loves local history and someone recommended one of his books. I took it home and while wrapping it, read a page. I was hooked, I went out and bought one for myself. We live in an area rich in history and his books cover our area extensively. I only wish all the history classes I took in high school and college had been this interesting. Our whole family now enjoys Mr. Eckert's books.

Clearly this book provides the basics on writing letters of complaint. Most of it is just common sense (not so common these days). If you treat business people the way you would want them to treat you, it usually works out in the end. I didn't find much new in it. The contact addresses are helpful, but then most of them can be found on the net.. and more current

Very insightful and useful. I have used some of her template letters for airline complaints. In the past, I used her writings for a labor complaint and got $18,000 from my former employer.

I wish this book was available in downloadable electronic form which will make it more useful in practice by cutting and pasting.

I have the book for several years and its contents have saved me time and money over and over again. It is rich in samples of real letters and complaints, with real cases.
I recommend to anyone that ever needs to write a complaint letter and/or need to reach government agencies.

Anyone who has made enough transactions with Amazon.com can tell you, Amazon.com has its share of foul-ups. And when mistakes (that are bound to happen from time-to-time) do happen, the biggest errors occur in their customer service department. For me, I know that I have written e-mail after e-mail complaining about RUDE, ERRONEOUS and downright FRAUDULENT communication emanating from the unskilled and unsupervised excuse for a customer service department only to have other unskilled, unsupervised hacks respond. I kept explaining that I was not seeking compensation, I was trying to complain about Amazon.com's customer service, but Amazon.com either doesn't care or doesn't have a mechanism to care. My e-mails which always started, please forward this to so-and-so's supervisor never were. I can't wait for the follow-up to this book. "How To Write Letters Of Complaint to OUTSOURCED INDIANS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WANTS TO BE TREATED!!"

The story of Christy Miller goes from her preteen years up through college and finally to her wedding. (This book is the first in the series.) It's a coming-of-age story of a Christian young woman. Themes include purity, relationships, romance, school stress, family issues, and negative influences.

Each story in the series has a moving ending, is uplifting, entertaining, and makes you feel as though you are friends with each person in the story. Well written and enjoyable - I highly recommend.

This series was is one of my favorite teen series. The first book really got me hooked, then the next three still kept me reading. I really liked Christy because she was kind of insecure and shy, but she blossoms throughout the books. Todd was such a sweet guy, but sometimes he was a little slow when it came to Christy. I really got involved with the characters, and I felt Robin Jones Gunn did an amazing job of making the characters. They were 3 dimensional and so realistic. I recommend this series!

After many failed attempts during the past few years to find a book or series of books for her to read for pleasure, I gave this book to my 14 yr. old daughter, Amber, in June hoping she would enjoy reading it this summer...I am thrilled to say that she couldn't put it down!!! Not only have I also purchased Vols. II, III and IV for her (she is currently reading Vol. IV)...she has shared her love of the books with her friends and now they have the series and are reading them!!! This has made me so very happy...especially since these are Christian based books with valuable life lessons for our teens. What a wonderful gift to be able to give to our teenage daughters in this challenging & confusing world we live in~~~Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Robin Jones Gunn...from the bottom of my heart!!!!

The first three books in this series are great! It's really hard to put the book down once you've started reading. The three books are fresh, invigorating, very realistic and heartfelt. They really bring you closer to God. I love them!

In SUMMER PROMISE, the first book in Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller series, a farm girl from Wisconsin is invited by her aunt and uncle to spend the summer with them in ritzy Newport Beach, California. However, upon arrival, Christy Miller realizes that she certainly does not fit in with the glamorous crowd that inhabits the town. After rejection and embarrassment, Christy's Aunt Marti suggests that she undergo a makeover; perhaps a transformation is all she needs to make some new friends. With an expensive new wardrobe and a stylish haircut, Christy finds that she indeed captures the attention of Todd and Shawn, the classically good-looking surfer boys, as well as Alissa, a stunning older girl who has lived all over the world.

All seems to go well until Christy realizes that her new friends may have an entirely different definition of a good time. Shawn invites Christy to a party, and she soon learns that it may be unlike any party she has ever been to. After being ignored or laughed at by most of those in attendance, and uncomfortable with the presence of alcohol and drugs, Christy decides to get out. While she makes a wise choice, others do not, and the night soon ends with a tragedy that will change the rest of the summer. Afterwards, Christy begins spending more time with Todd, who opens up to her about his strong faith in God.

Although she has gone to church all her life, Todd introduces her to a new group of people who are serious about faith in a way she has never experienced before. At the same time, Aunt Marti's constant nagging and desire to "improve" Christy begin to eat away at her self-esteem. As her world seems to move faster than it ever has, will Christy be able to live up to the promise she made to her parents not to do anything she will regret? Will she finally be able to figure out how gorgeous, sensitive Todd really feels about her? And why is she being forced to suddenly return home?

SUMMER PROMISE is an excellent beginning to the Christy Miller series. Fans of TV shows such as "The OC" and "Summerland" undoubtedly will appreciate the familiar beach setting and situations. Gunn does an excellent job of filling the book with a plot that is not quite as predictable as those usually found in teen fiction, as well as keeping up with the latest pop-culture references. It tackles many issues, such as self-image and family problems, but underlying all of this is Christy's newfound ideas about God. SUMMER PROMISE is a great read, with an ending that does not resort to the contrived and surely will have readers eagerly awaiting Christy's future adventures.

--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby

His opening paradigm (chapter 1) is remarkable. I remember it, even years later! And how he builds on that is excellent. One of his best.

Like some other Christian authors, Lucado has such a large library of books that deciding on one can be daunting for a new comer.
So, if you've never read anything by Lucado before, I recommend you start right here.
"In the Grip of Grace" is by far my favorite work by Max.
Enjoy!

Also recommended: He Still Moves Stones and When God Whispers Your Name

I was drifting from the church. I had (and continue to have) a different perspective on the church from certain issues. I was taking a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to homosexuality, basically saying, what they want to do is between them and God, and it's not the role of man to place judgment on them for that. And certainly not the role of man (or church) to LEGISLATE morality. But, before I get someone ripping my head off for that opinion, you can imagine that it isn't popular in the church.

When I read this book, I saw so many people in the Church in the role of the second brother in the parable of the river. The Fault-Finding Judgmentalist. And at that point I was instantly hooked into this book. I felt like this was someone who saw things from my perspective, whether he agreed with me or not. He could at least see what I was thinking, of this much I was assured. He doesn't mention any of those controversial topics explicitly, but I feel like the interpretation is valid.

Simply put, I came away feeling a greater love and appreciation for God, and feeling thankful for His grace that has saved me. I'm still more far from the Church than I would prefer. It will take awhile for me to find my way completely back. But guided by my re-growing faith, and books like this, I won't be gone forever.

My review is not meant to be a beautiful write up for Max, I am sure he is a great guy, but hey, even his insurance company has problems with him. (I must be a the judgemental type) This book helped me realize that no matter how hard I try or how hard I think I am trying its not good enough. I cant jump to the moon, I cant make it up the river alone, and I cant place a value of a sin and try to "repay it with good". I am helpless. The book made me feel uncompfortable and small, but compared to God I think thats exactly how we have to feel to even accept his grace let alone understand it.

I reccomend this book to anyone who is desperate enough to listen. Dont read this for entertainment, Max is funny, but not that funny. Read it if you want to change. I know I did.

Thanks Max, for allowing God to use you as His megaphone.

I have been a church goer my whole life and just went with the flow, never really in touch with God...until I read this book. I read it, and it turned me right around. This book will make you embrace the grace of an awesome God. If your life is off track this book will show you what is being offered to you, and if you've already accepted your forgiveness, this book will make you smile when you think of what an awesome God you serve. I love this book because it shows me how much God truly loves me and it sparked me into reading my bible daily and leading a different life. I love the joy that this book portrays that we Christians need to remember and embrace daily.

This is a well produced series that makes listening to the New Testament a lot like an old time radio program. Great 'theater of the mind' and very good for long drives, plane flights, etc.

I was excited about "The Word Of Promise" after seeing an interview on TBN with Jim Caviezel about this production. Though I'd recently bought the King James Version of the Bible (probably the most authoritative translation of God's Word; the New King James Version OMITS the lovely pronouns "Thee," "Thou," "Thine" and the beautiful archaic language of the Elizabethan period and the NIV is THE WORST translation), I was intrigued by a dramatic audio version of the Bible. The all-star cast is excellent. However, I had to deduct one star because of one major thing: the actor who played Felix sounded like a woman (the actor who played Satan was a woman, but I guess the producers mixed her voice with sound effects and did it so well that it wasn't noticeable that it was a woman playing Satan. A minor complaint: Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss DOES NOT DO FULL JUSTICE to the part of Moses (woefully underused in the New Testament). I think that had Academy Award winner Charlton Heston ("The Ten Commandments," "Ben-Hur" [Best Actor, 1959]) not been ill, the producers could have gotten him to play the part which launched his career for this and The Word Of Promise Old Testament (coming Fall 2009). I've yet to see a good audio version of te King James Bible.

This New Testament Audio Bible brings the Bible to life. With all the high tech sound effects and the talented actor's voices, you feel you are right there, living the moment. It is really an outstanding production of God's word. I give it the highest recommendation.

The WOW is how the audio book brings the New Testament to life. The sound effects help and rarely sound hokey. Plus, there is an amazing cast of actors who play the parts in the story. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many in Hollywood were willing to be part of a Christian project.

The exceptions were few. One thing in particular makes listening a little difficult. When Jesus is talking, sometimes his voice becomes incredibly choppy. The words are practically thrown, one by one, into the recording. It reminds me of the early days in Hollywood when an actor was portraying a stereotype of a Native American and trying to mimick the speed and accent. Fortunately, these sections of the recording are few and far between.

I have to say, the New Testament and CD has been a wonderful purchase. I would encorage you to buy it, enjoy it, and let is speak to your soul.

I own about a dozen different audio Bibles and this one is by far the best. The score and sound effects are beautiful and the actors did an excellent job.

They split the tracks by chapter and did a good job of putting the complete books on one CD.

My only negatives were that sometimes it feels like the actors are just reading it and the voice of satan/demons were a bit...shall we say trick-or-treat (I was hoping for more of an Exorcist/Omen).

This is the best book I have ever read. It is mainly about a half-naked boy who is a hero. The part I like the best is when the toilet and him fought. This is very cool book.

I love spending time with my grandson and this book is fun to read with him. I also love to hear my grandson laugh.He likes to read now and he takes the book to school for others to read.He likes all the Captain Underpants books.This is an excellent read...

Captain Underpants is a great epic novel series by Dav Pilkey.With his new book Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking toilets we discover his power against talking, eating, mad toilets. He uses cafeteria food and his underware.This book also has more flip-o-ramas than ever.The flip-o-ramas are filled with even more juicy underware fighting.Captain Underpants beats the talking toilets with underware and his extreme power.
George and Harold,the main characters,try to help Captain Underpants but just stir up more trouble.Captain Underpants not only has to worry about the evil talking toilets but also freeing George and Harold.Captain Underpants ended up winning the battle and freed George and Harold.Over all,Captain Underpants is an awesome fighter and awesome warrior.

My book review
What I'm writing for my book review is Captain Underpants. The reason why I'm writing Captain Underpants is because the book is funny and I want to share how the book was funny with the class.
In Dave Pikley's second adventurous book he talks about Captain Underpants and the attack of the talking toilets. Captain Underpants runs around in his underpants saving the world. I know, your wondering why he can't just do these things with his clothes on instead of doing it in his underpants. It was not his fault that he runs around like this.
The top-secret truth about captain underpants. There were two boys named Harold and George. In the book Harold and George are the narrators. Their principal (Mr. Krupp) was always mean to them. So Harold and George bought a hipno-ring that could hypnotize people. Here comes the funny part. Harold and George hypnotized Mr. Krupp! Then they turned him into Captain Underpants! Now whenever Captain Underpants hears a scream, he runs off and says "tralalaaaaaa!" Every time he does this Harold and George have to watch over him, then catch him.
The whole book is a comic book that Harold and George made to make fun of their principal. Harold and George are known around the whole school because of the pranks they pull. One time they put bubbles in the band instruments. Another time they glued everyone in the lower school to the auditorium seats, and another time they changed the words around on the school board to make it say come and see our hairy armpits.
Captain underpants is a funny book and I hope a lot of people read it.

By Jordan

My eight-year-old loves this book, and I think it's hilarious myself. If fighting vicious toilets using underwear and cafeteria food sounds funny to you, you'll love this book.

This book does teach a certain amount of contempt for adults and suspicion of cafeteria food to children. In that sense maybe it's emblematic of our society. I have found it necessary to sit down with my son and explain that all of this is FICTION, and has nothing to do with the real world. Did that have any effect? I don't know. I suppose it's worth it to have him reading.

Being an Elvis fan, the title caught my eye. Realizing it was a series I began with the first book - Murder on a Bad Hair Day. Yes, these are humorous mysteries. I'm reading at work in the breakroom and I just laugh out loud. Ms. George is funny, she creates a storyline and a plotline and her Alabama sisters are far from amateur sleuthes, they are just two retirees who are at the wrong place at the wrong time and making the most of it as they invite the police in for coffee and orange rolls. Sadly, it stops with this book as Ms. George, a retired schoolteacher has passed on. But I am eternally grateful to have joined her and "Vulcan" for the great ride, stepping over the dead bodies they happen upon.

This final book in the Southern Sisters mysteries was a delightful book as they all were. Bitter sweet in the reading as I continued to enjoy the antics of Mouse and Sister, all the while knowing there would be no more. The 8 book series was a delightful read and I so enjoyed sitting down to romp through the Birmingham area with an unlikely pair of sleuths. I will forever wonder what happens to them all and what other troubles the two sisters could have worked their way through Had Ms George continued with us. She and her delightful characters will be missed.

I love Anne George. Too bad she didn't write more of these before she died. I truly enjoyed reading this book to the very end. In the back of the book it states that she is an award winning writer and poet. I suggest reading them all - they really are entertaining, especially if you are a senior!

If you like a mystery book that is light and does not go into gory details then Anne George is for you! I read all types of mystery stories but have enjoyed the Souther Sisters Mysteries emensely. It is a shame that Ms. George passed away in 2001.

I cannot go to my grave without sharing the delight I have found in Anne George's books about Murder...., starring the two sisters. I am happy to say that they bear a great resemblance to my sister and I! I have laughed so hard that, yes, I really did wet my pants. But that's not hard to do these days ( I am 64 and obviously not Southern 'cause I just told you my age!). Anyway, I have read ALL of the books. I know because I searched so hard for more that I found out Anne George had DIED! 'Course I was sorry - I mean, real sorry - because by that time, I had gotten addicted to those I have come to consider my true blood sisters! I am so sorry I didn't discover her books before her untimely demise. Maybe I could have convinced her that she owed it to her public to write some more. Anyway, you have a treat in store for you if you like to laugh like I do. Best readings from my house to yours! PRH

I LOVE Jan Brett's books! I buy them anytime I see them whether on sale, old ones on Amazon as remainders, or new.. They make great gifts. I have a backup of many to give to children, particularly my granddaughters. The illustrations in this one are so beautiful it is really a keepsake to save as well as enjoy. Give it as a gift and you will make some child very happy and a parent happy,too.

Beautiful illustrations reprinted from over 40 sources. All illustrations are credited on last page. Book measures 9"X11.5" Only down side was that the price changes by the day. One day it's almost $11 another it's $8.97. But that's just the way Amazon works; something to be aware of. (It's worked in my favor often while shopping at midnight--price suddenly went down!)

it's a classic, so of course you can't go wrong, but as far as the best one being out there... well, I'm sure there are much better illustrated ones out there than this one

I bought this for my grandchildren last Christmas. The wording is traditional, and the illustrations are wonderful! This has become a part of the Christmas Eve tradition at my daughter's house.

These illustrations are the best ever for The Night Before Christmas...Stunning even! A worthy heirloom Christmas Book. The illustrations cover both sides of the page for a large panoramic view seldom seen in other books...