Ward Books

with a preface by Ohshima the Shihan of Shotokan Karate, this book explains numerous old techniques and training tips, together with all the kata in karate do kyohan, there is enough to keep the practicioner going for a while...

ok I reversed the title a bit in favor of Shigeru Egami, that's for one simple reason: het tells more than about karate alone. The book gives a good view on training in the old days without grabbing to some mystical words. He tells his own feelings and give his view on karate. He puts an atmosphere of ancient days in the book. Also it contains a lot of good and precise pictures of karate punching, blocking and kicking techniques. A must for every karate beginner and a good one for expanding your martial arts library!

same book as _heart of karate_ I bring so that there isn't any confusion as to trying to get ahold of both books, __the only difference is _heart of karate_ is soft cover, and the other is hard back with dust jacket. Some very cool antecdotes and pictures in both books regardless

Karate-do is part of my life since I was 12 year old, and I search for this book since.Now I'm 35. This book is fundamental to discover true karate. Please reprint it.

From long time ago, I am trying to buy this book. In Portugal it is very difficult to do that, so I ask you very kindly to make a new edition of this very special book which is undoubtedly a master piece of karate-do and will add very important knowledge to all student and teacher of this art.

The world has known the American West as the wild and untamed land of cowboys and Indians that Hollywood brought along with it's movies. The real story of the West is much more amazing than at first sight. Ward's story is beautifully illustrated with magnificent text that makes it a worthy successor to the movie series. He tells the story through the eyes of those who lived it and that is something very important in the history of the west. Without first hand accounts our knowledge would be vague, but this book captures the essence of all the west had and has to offer: adventure, a beautiful landscape, and a great mysterious past...

This book is well organized and written. It would make a
perfect reference for a class project. There are vivid scenes
from the American West; such as, a majestic portrait of
the legendary Davey Crockett. The Devil's Tower is depicted
in a picturesque Wyoming scene. There are beautiful still
photos of a Snake Priest and Hopi dancer. The author researched
this work thoroughly. It is representative of the early
West. The purchase is recommended as a top rated historical
reference book well-suited for students of all ages and
backgrounds.

The promos for "The West" series on PBS seemed to imply that Ken Burn's following up to his incredible "Civil War" epic would be as good as the Civil War was.

And it was. Burns was able to capture the whole panorama of the history of the West, and left no stone unturned. Here was the saga of the pioneers, the cruelty of the buffalo hunters, the tragedy of the Native Americans, the bravery of Custer - and of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph, the terrible "die up" where thousands of poor cattle froze to death in the Montana blizzards, and the courage and perserverence of settlers like the Loves. The musical score too was perfect, capturing every dramatic movement, every nuance just right.

And the book too, while perhaps not as comprehensive as Geoffrey Ward's earlier "Civil War" volume, provided the viewer with a superb text and many, never-before-seen illustrations. The reader can sense the drama of the Earps and Wild Bill Hickok, can hope that Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce reach Canada and safety (which they didn't) and feel the heartbreak when Joseph was cruelly denied the return to his homeland. The reader can also cheer for the courtship of the Loves, and almost live the toil, the disappointments, and the determination of that family through the text, the first-hand accounts, and the marvellous illustrations. I found myself getting angry over the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Mormon scapegoating of the Paiutes; being sickened and almost in tears over the slaughter of the buffalo, and the old Native American woman's tale of how the last buffalo went into Mount Scott, never to return; and in appreciating how Buffalo Bill Cody and Theodore Roosevelt did their level best in trying to save the West that they loved - Cody through the Wild West shows, and Roosevelt through his conservation efforts.

It is all here in Mr. Ward's excellent text, and more. There may be other books on the West, but for the perfect introduction to anyone interested in Western History, or even for the grizzled enthusiast, this book is not only the perfect companion to the series, it is also a perfect coffee table pictorial history of a history and a lifestyle that is all but gone.

The West : An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward, Dayton Duncan has got to be one of the most "Can't put down" type of books I've had the wonderful pleasure of owning, ever! The illustrations, to many to count are of the finest quality I've ever seen in a book not to mention that the editorial choices were perfect. The photos depict the exact expressions that capture those lost moments in time... If you can get this book - buy it! It is for all ages and you could never grow tired reading it, as well. A certain coffee table type book! I rate this book a 5 STAR!

As a book based on a PBS documentary, it's a big coffee table affair with plenty of photos (I had the hardcover version). And there are some extraordinary pictures in there - while much of the period of history they're looking at (from November 1528 with a some shipwrecked Spaniards washing ashore on Galveston Island to the early 1900s) was pre-camera, much of it was post. Moreover there are maps, paintings and photos of relatively untouched landscape to illustrate earlier times.

That being said, there's also plenty of text. And being that they've consciously chosen to largely illustrate the time by retelling the stories of extraordinary and/or typical individuals of the times, there are many engaging and fascinating stories. C'mon, the whole interaction between European settlers and the native Americans is chock full of tragedy, adventure and colour - you'd have to work hard to make this sort of content boring (although it's been done). It's a very palatable way of reading history, not getting bogged down in statistics or alternate interpretations. Of course in their selection of material you're definitely getting only one version of events, and the bias, while generally subtle, is unavoidable. But, hey, given that I hardly had any version before, this gave me a lot more of an idea than I had.

You have to suffer the odd overblown essay thrown in here and there, where guest writers try to outdo each other for sentimentality and bogus psuedo-spiritual flapdoodle about (FX: turn the reverb right up) `The West'. At least it's not quite as silly as the religious fervour some attach to Baseball as some sort of sacred ritual - but it is still silly. Sure, the West is an amazing place, it's more than just some rocks and sand - we get it. You going on in with some gushy mysticism really just cheapens it - let it speak for itself.

Well, that's what I reckon anyway. But, as I said, the self-conscious attempts at grand writing are only aberrations, most of the time you are treated with amazing but true stories. If that's the sort of history you're after, it delivers.

Simply the best reference for learning about the cruise experience and comparing ships. Should be required reading for anyone contemplating a holiday on a cruise ship.

Detailed and descriptive, this reference is "tops" in the field. Doug Ward's high standards and detailed critique of ships will enable you to select a ship and itinerary so that, upon disembarkation, you'll be thinking of your NEXT cruise vacation. Bon Voyage!

I asked for this book as a birthday gift, because I work on a cruise ship, and wanted to be able to look up other cruise ships when I saw them to find out a little about them (how large they are, how many passengers they hold, when and where they were built, etc.) I felt that this book had a wealth of information about ships, especially for people who are ship enthusiasts or who are already familiar with cruising and cruise ships, but was a little misleading in parts to the folks who would be more likely to purchase this book...Those who have not cruised before and may be looking for some advice as to what type or which ship to choose. If you have seen a ship and you want to find a little more about it (the reason I wanted this book) you'll find it useful. It gives a black and white line drawing of the ship along with all the vital information..Who owns it, what the ship's former names were (if any) and all about the ship itself...Its dimensions, propulsion type, how many passengers and crew it holds, when it was constructed, what amenities are available, etc. However, the author seems to let his personal tastes and his thoughts about what makes a good ship and a good cruise show through instead of giving an unbiased critique of each ship...For instance, in the descriptions of many of the ships, he includes details on whether or not they have decent breads, cheeses and fruits at dinner. He also spends lots of time discussing whether certain ships have tables for 2 in their dining rooms. Though in all actuality, these are a small part of the onboard fare, and have little to do with the enjoyment of cruising for most people. Also, he tends to complain in most of the ship's reviews about too many announcements and to much background or "mood" music throughout the ship. These things that he mentions often seem to be personal pet-peeves of the author's. He has a few other complaints about most cruise ships which are thinly-veiled throughout the book. I felt that, overall, the author was a little too negative towards lots of the ships he rated when he was picking on the small things that sometimes don't matter to most people. In addition to his personal likes and dislikes which he tends to incorporate into every review, he tends to have a great deal of passion for ocean liners of old, like the QE2 and the former SS France, now the MS Norway, and he refers to them often and compares them to todays newer, more modern ships which were designed for cruising. However, those ocean liners were built in the 60's and are from another era..They were built when trans-Atlantic crossings were popular, and before "cruising" was even thought of. He also tends to favor certain lines and is biased towards them, and favors certain ships just because of who designed the interiors. The things he doesn't mention are sometimes the most important...Lots of ships I've seen (and sometimes worked on) really were in poor repair and were looking old and worn. This could disappoint passengers when they saw them and realized that they booked a cruise on a worn out beat up ship. He never mentioned this at all. Some other ships I've seen were older but really well-maintained and newer-looking, and he never spoke about this at all. Also, some of his "facts" were inaccurate, and lots of times I found that the ship had been updated or things he mentioned in his book had been changed years ago. It would do well with a little updating. Overall, this book is great if you just want facts about a certain ship...But for first time cruisers looking to find out which ships might be better than others, or looking for suggestions about which ships to sail on, don't put too much stock into this one.

There is a *lot* of information here - 623 pages of small type covering the gamut of ships from the ultra-luxe to some ghastly-sounding Ukrainian tubs. There's even plenty of data that can't be found on the cruise lines' own web sites. If this book can't help you pick a cruise, I can't imagine what would.

I disagree with the reviewers who say Mr. Ward is too picky. I WANT someone who is a detail freak and VERY picky when describing cruises they have been on. The issues he chooses to criticize are important to me too - but I wouldn't even know these issues existed if he gave only bland perfunctory reviews. My first cruise was a TOTAL disaster because I didn't do my homework. This book helped me do my homework and find out what was important to me on a cruise. Lots of decisions: do you want to be around kids? Then travel during a peak holiday like Easter Break, Christmas, etc. Do you want to hear blaring PA announcements all day every 15 minutes in 3 languages? Certain ships do this, certain ones don't. Do you want to travel with 3,000 other people with frantic activity all day long, or would you be more comfortable around only 500 people in quieter more elegant surroundings? Mr. Ward can help you structure the questions to ask yourself so you can make an informed decision. His reviews are the ones used on a huge website travel agency - (It starts with an E.) I just booked a cruise with them based largely on Mr. Ward's reviews. Mr. Ward helped me quickly pick out the exact kind of cruise on the exact kind of ship that I wanted. I didn't realize I had so many choices and so much control over my environment and itinerary. The only criticism I would have about the book is that the typeface is a bit small. I can read it easily without glasses, but it is smaller than I would prefer. However, if the typeface were larger, the book would probably have to be 200 pages longer. I would recommend this book to anyone cruising for the first time who knows NOTHING. Plenty of info so you can make an informed decision - or at least start you in the right direction. The other cruise guide books I read gave the same general advice without the ship reviews. The general advice was so similar in each book it felt like plagiarism. I would recommend starting with Mr. Ward FIRST.

I found this at a used book store bargain bin, it is my second "Best American Series" book and I really enjoyed it. The variety of writing that can fall under the classification of "essay" is so vast that the editor has somewhat of a hard job in choosing. In this case Ozick focuses on retrospections, older people looking back on their lives. I appreciate the thematic organization, but I am certain these are not the "best", rather ones that have a common theme. But then, what is "the best"? J.M. Coetzee examines this question and more in "What is realism?", probably the most mind blowing essay of the bunch - I'm not sure if it's fiction, non-fiction or a lesson on writing but it really opened my eyes to some of the games and tricks of writing.

Other essays I enjoyed include Jeremy Bernstein's "The Merely Very Good" which is both an interesting history lesson about some famous 20th century physicists, and a lesson of what it means to be really smart, but not at the top of your field, second-tier. "A Peaceable Kingdom" by Edward Hoagland is a short beautifully romantic piece about the natural world at a mans summer mountain cottage, although it could just as easily be anyones back-yard (replace the bears with chipmunks). Louis Simpson's "Soldier's Heart" is a somewhat dark and effecting story of a WWII vet who had PTSD and ended up in the hospital getting elctro-shock therapy and the lifetime it took to recover and heal from both experiences. Finally, Diana Trilling's "A Visit To Camelot" is a re-telling of a party she went to at the Whitehouse with the Kennedys, it's magical.

Joyce Carol Oates essay , "They all just went away" tells of her childhood attraction for abandoned houses, and the story of one family whose house was set on fire by the outraged, drunken father. It is a masterful reflection on the fragility of human existence- and also provides an insight into her own rich and troubled imagination.
Edward Hoagland's reflects on his own relation to Biblical religion after his recovery from two years of blindness. He has a deep appreciation of the Biblical text, especially of Job. His essay is moving though he shows an imperfect understanding of normative Judaism especially in regard to its conception of Justice and Mercy.
William Styron tells of a misdiagnosis he suffered from while a Marine, and gives insight into the sexual norms and expectations of another time.
Julie Baumgold takes a look at the Elvis Myth and also at Elvis own tragic end.
One of my favorite essay writers Joseph Epstein writes of the roles naps have played in his life, and that of many other noted masters of midday refreshment. He in the course of this provides an insightful look into the subject of 'sleeping'.
On the basis of these essays alone I would say that this is a first- rate volume.

I'm really glad to meet this place. Now I am defencing these on Thomas Pynchon. So I wish you could send me a new list on Pynchon. Thank you.

I found this series a couple of years ago, and each issue is a treasure to enjoy. I often find myself reading about things outside my experience, outside what I expect to be interested in - and every time I learn and think and imagine and am given pleasure in the reading. The essay form, in the hands of these writers, is a grand and various opportunity for thought and exploration of grand themes and of the minutiae of human life.

Being of a younger generation, my acquaintances are generally surprised to find me reading a collection of essays. This provides me with a golden opportunity to share the wealth I have found in this book. Not only have the essayists here provoked thought and surprising emotion from me, but this art has pushed me in a new direction. Witnessing all of the unexpected beauty pouring from this book has made me want to write essays. I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of this series. Fiction has been moved to the back burner. I am forever grateful.

The author draws you into his story from chapter 1. You want to keep reading to find out what's next. Just like the title itself and the bookcover photo suggests, there are a lot of layers within this book. Very interesting story with plenty of twists and turns. You get so caught up in the characters that you find yourself cheering them on. The writing and storyline reminds me of an Easy Rawlings Mystery by Walter Mosely. Very well written. Chameleon should be given a lot more exposure. I would recommend this book in a heart beat.

Opening chapter does a good job drawing you into the story making you look forward to the rest of the book. The author did an excellent job in giving you a clear visual picture of each scene, makes you feel like you're in the story and makes you empathize with the characters. If you're not familar with how different cities of LA county are treated, after reading "Conspiracies and Groceries" chapter, it's an eye opener. Overall, GREAT story...didn't want the book to end. Looking forward to next novel.

Chameleon is an awesome book. This is a must read book for those of you who enjoy good stories. The characters are interwoven in such a manner that it is difficult to put down. Dr. Clark was ultimately given his due justice on all levels. The night club scene was hysterical. The established bond between Schafer and Dr. Clark was heartening. This author is to be commended for is writing style and creativity. Oh, the ending was phenomenal!!!! Can't wait for the next book by this talented author.

Chameleon is an amazing book. I could not put it down once I started reading it. The authors ability to make the charactors so realistisic made me feel as though I was there as the story unfolded. This book was enjoyable to the very end.

R.C. Ward's tale of a young doctor caught between his hope for the future and the demons of his past, is a wonderful weave of fiction and inner-city realities. The characters can be any one of us, whose lives take different turns due to the choices and paths that we take. This book has easy to follow flashbacks and scene changes that will not confuse the reader. This is a great story which will hold your attention The writing style permits you to feel exactly what Dr. Don Clark and the other characters are going through.

My 10 year old son who doesn't like to read loved this history based mystery. It was great to see him reading without me asking him to read. I read the book as well Dan Gutman did a great job of mixing an interesting story with history.

Qwerty Stevens Back In Time is a wonderful book. Dan Gutman took his time on this story and made a detailed and fun chapter book. This book teaches you important lessons such as reminding you that you should never go somewhere with out telling your parents because they will get worried! I especially liked how Dan Gutman told some fun facts about Thomas A. Edison through this enchanting story.
In the beginning of this story, Qwerty Stevens, a thirteen-year-old boy, has a tough life. When Qwerty was in his young years his father died, which made his family very unhappy. To deal with his sadness and anger, Qwerty digs in his backyard. One day he was digging in his backyard and found a box. Qwerty ran into his room and burst the box open on his bed. Qwerty's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened larger than a quarter. Qwerty couldn't believe his eyes. Qwerty Stevens had found a time machine made by Thomas A. Edison.

If you are looking for a great book read Qwerty Stvens back in time Edison mystery.It's about this boy named Qwerty that was digging in his back yard and found Edisons back in time machine. So he hooks it up to his computer and goes back in time and gets stuck.If you want to know if he comes back read this book.My favorite part is when he finds the time machine.I would recommend this book to any one who loves history because it shows pictures of Edisons labratory.

The book Qwerty Stevens-Back In Time By,Dan Gutmanis an awesome book,if you like mystery and suspense.It's about this boy who finds a wooden box with a machine inside of it while digging in his backyard.Qwerty recinizes that the box says Thomas A. Edison. Qwerty soon finds out that the machine can take you anywhere you want. After awile he finds out that Thomas never patented it. He is soon to discover that that it can take you back in time also. After a man shows up(Ashley Quadrel) thinking that Thomas made an inventioncalled the "anywhere, anytime machine". He also thinks that Thomas burried it in his backyard. So Qwerty goes back in time to ask Thomas why he burried it, But Thomas says he didn't burry it.

I like it when Qwerty hears beaping from the machine, thats when Thomas was trying to talk to qwerty on the computer. This bok is full of suspense. The main character is Qwerty. He is tall, has brown hair and brown eyes. When he is mad or frustrated he digs in the backyard(thats how he found the box with the machine inside of it).He's also a pack rat. The ending of the book is the best!

Thirteen-year-old Robert Stevens, known as Qwerty for the mistake he made in his third grade keyboarding class, unearths in his backyard a large mysterious wooden box that has the name Thomas Edison inscribed with gold lettering.

Qwerty and his best friend Joey who lives in West Orange, New Jersey in a community called Llewellyn Park bordering the mansion that Edison once lived in,locked themselves in his room to discover what was in the aged box. To their surprise, it was Thomas Edison's time Machine.

Unsure whether to give the machine to the authorities, sell it for millions, or take it to school to show off to their friends, the boys decided to find out how the time machine works before bringing it out of obscurity.

Qwerty hooked up the wires from the machine to his computer and with a touch of a button he was transported into Thomas Edison's workshop where he helped him develop the electric light bulb. Qwerty Stevens had no problem getting there. However, he needs his older sister, whom he hardly says more than one word to, to help him return home safely.

The author cleverly depicts Edison's story while adding circumstances that bring his character into the 21st century. In addition to the text, Gutman includes a "Truth and Lies" section in the back of the book with one recommendation "Read the story first!" Also included are black and white photographs of Edison's mansion and laboratory. In the far back of the book is the chronology of Thomas Edison. Younger children will also enjoy this book as a great read aloud. Living in the next town over from West Orange, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because the author captured the authenticity of the town. Children everywhere will enjoy this book but I know it will be a big hit in New Jersey.

Aunque Eric Gill es un personaje de grandes claroscuros, su trabajo como artista es impresionante. Este libro no solo toca el tema tipográfico, sino sus ideas del arte y la relación con la industria de su época.

Es un poco difícil separar los grandes ideales que escribe y la realidad de su vida, en algunos momentos suena falso y vacío.

Aun así es un gran libro, un clásico de la tipografía. Escrito por alguien que no logró integrar en su vida lo que decía y lo que hacia.

This book has the details and history anyone drawn to printing and writing will savor.

This essay on typography is actually an essay on far more. It goes well with William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, in its nostalgia for the 'humane' individual craftsman over the commerce and industry. Gill comes back, again and again, to question the proper places of mass production and handwork with respect to each other. He was an idealistic, but still realized that industry was here to stay - it could not (and still can not) simply be wished away. The real goal is "an industrialism ... [with] many noble and admirable features."

Gill uses typography and printing as the vehicle for his social thoughts, and offers a good bit of advice on typography throughout. He discusses letter forms as ethetic, practical, and historical objects - especially interesting from a man who made so much typographic history himself.

I never did quite work my way through all of his social arguments, however. He seems to hold "engineers" as the opponents of art and perhaps creativity. I known that many engineers then and now lack training in esthetics and visual presentation. Anyone who's seen the Brooklyn Bridge or Eiffel Tower knows, however, that engineering is also a creative act. Gill ridiculed the practice of one worker designing a font, a second preparing it for transfer to metal, another cutting the master tools for each letter, and so on. I have to agree, the assembly line mentality is not suited to all tasks, especially when each product is as unique as a letter form. Still, among all arts, printing is perhaps the one most typified by team effort and division of labor. It would be a very rare individual who could create a text worth reading, create the font in which it is presented, set the type and run the press, and carry out all the other tasks needed to create a bound book. The question is not whether parts of a job should be handed to different specialists, but which jobs should be subdivided - a question I never saw answered.

This is a wonderful work by a man whose livelihood, art, and spiritual life all worked closely together. I recommend it to anyone who works in the arts, not just those with an interest in type.

I noticed few reviews for this book, so it had to be said. At once a historical view of typography as well as universal ideals still applicable to modern design. Eric Gill was a genius, and his timeless typefaces were the only window I knew him through before I read this book. This is the sort of book that you finish and then go look for more books like it; my favorite kind.

This multi-faceted book is a gem. It was written in a period when Industrialism was increasingly establishing itself over Craftsmanship. Gill starts by analyzing the clash between these two worlds, then goes on to situate typography in this melee. Most of the book concerns Gill's views on correct typography, some of which seem quirky. Gill is unique: his forward style and searing insight are inspiring and refreshing, even after six decades. The last section of the book is Gill's proposal to convert written English into phonetic writing, avoiding spelling/pronunciation inconsistencies and increasing efficiency. It makes great sense - typical Gill

What a great book! Ms. Ward summarizes in just a few hundred pages what it took me nearly 30 years to learn. Her story is so inspiring that it left me just mesmerized. The road she traveled to become a success was so long that it makes it easy for the reader to say, "Wow, if she can do it, then so can I!"

The book is well written, engaging, and very enjoyable to read. There are many specific exercises to do so that you can implement her suggestions and look deeply into your own life. I can't say enough good things about this book. I have already bought many copies to give as gifts, particularly to the young adults in my life who have so much potential and are sabotaging themselves with all the daily manifestations of poor self esteem.

Jan Dahlin Geiger, CFP(r), Author of "Get Your Assets in Gear! Smart Money Strategies," available at Amazon. Get Your Assets in Gear! Smart Money Strategies

I was lucky enough to meet Francine at a book signing and she is indeed an impressive person. The book flows well and Francine's personal story is really the inspiration. I find when I don't feel like doing something I repeat what she said to our group.
"It's an esteemable act to....." and then I do it anyway.
She does not advocate any quick fixes, just constant small esteemable acts.

The book Esteemable Acts, is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. Francine Ward speaks a lot about walking thru fear -- something i don't do often in my life. She also talks of living your best life, making your dreams come true, and financial freedom. They are the three things I didn't think I could do.

Esteemable Acts teaches you step by step how to make ALL THINGS POSSIBLE. Granted I needed the willingness to take the suggestions in the book, but they really aren't that hard. I've decided to go back to school, and i'm interviewing for a new job. I've moved in with a roommate and am walking thru that fear. I've never felt as good as I do today. Today is by far the best day of my life! Esteemable Acts is a book that has helped me change my life. I'm becoming the person I've always wanted to be!

How can you expect other's to know who you are when you don't know yourself? Esteemable Acts is a self-help book based on helping you identify yourself and overcome issues and excuses that's holding you back from being all you can be.

This is one of those books that help you understand why you do some of the things you do and help you identify why things turn out the way they do in your life. You will need to be honest with yourself in order to take the self-help test. Once you realize what you need to do you will find out no-one knows you better than you do.

I really enjoyed this book and most of what I read helped me (Ok, the majority of what I read helped me...see I admitted it).

Thank you Ms. Ward for a well-written book. You really did your research.

This book offers real-life suggestions on how we can be the quality of person we want to be now, not someday. The book shines with credibility because the author has "been there, done this." Her stories of how she overcame a rough beginning prove than ANYONE can develop more confidence if they follow her suggestions. This highly readable and encouraging book gives readers supportive, practical recommendations that will help them turn their intentions into actions.

I think I like this book more than my kids, but they do like it too. It not only has some unusual animals(not just your typical dog, cat, cow etc), it also teaches numbers. It starts by showing 10 different animals that you might see during the day and it's night time counterpart is also somewhere in the picture (easy to spot, but interestingly illustrated). Plus, there is also the fun of finding the actual number somewhere in the illustration, like in the lines of tree bark, or in ripples in the water. Not very wordy, and really well illustrated. It's especially nice if you live near wooded areas and get to see these animals.

Reviewed by Cayden (age 3-1/2), Max (age 19-months) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (4/08)

"Forest Bright, Forest Night" is part of the "Simply Nature" series and is a great introduction to forest animals. The first half of the book explores different animals that you see in the forest during the daytime such as deer, woodpeckers, and squirrels. The second half of the book introduces us to a variety of nocturnal animals such as owls, skunks, and opossums. In the corner of each page there is a number corresponding to the number of that animal on the page. There are also "hidden" numbers on each page etched in various trees and rocks or formed by plants or animals.

Cayden: "I want to count the animals!"

Cayden: "Look, a deer! And there is a bear, no two of them!"
Max: "Two! Rrraaarrr!!"

Cayden: "I like finding the hidden numbers! It is fun! That is my favorite part. I like counting though too."

Cayden: "I like this book a lot mom."

Parent's comments:

"Forest Bright, Forest Night" was definitely a hit with my children! Besides reading the text there are so many other fun things that you can do with this book from counting and naming the animals to finding the hidden numbers and hidden animals. It is also a great introduction to teaching children about how some animals sleep during the night whereas other animals are out and about during that time. The illustrations are great and definitely held both of my children's interest. Any child who enjoys counting and animals will love this book!

This book is excellent. I am a grandma who lives in the woods. I was tired of reading books to my grandchildren about farm animals. So I purchased every board book on forest animals that I could find on-line. Forest Bright, Forest Night is the best book of all my purchases.

What a wonderful book. So much to explore in the beautiful illustrations. You read. You count. You learn. You spy out hidden animals and numbers. More than a storybook it is an engaging adventure. Gave it as a gift to a preschooler. Intend to give it to several more.

A must for every class library. Effectively integrates reading, math and science.

This is a highly unique story that adults and children will both enjoy. Forest day depicts animals and their young in their habitats (while other animals that live and flourish in the forest night are sleeping in the same picture underneath) during the daylight hours for the first 11 pages of the book. The next pages compares forest day animals with others and gives factual information about them. The fun part about this book is that you have to turn the book upside down and around to read about forest night. The forest night animals are now awake and living in the moons light and the day time animals are sleeping underneath them. Utterly amazing illustrations with details of foot prints, younglings, nature and colors lead to a terrific story accompanied with rhyme, rhythm and fun words.

Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation opened my eyes to the whole picture of our origins. First, I hadn't read the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution since college. And, the original draft of the Declaration by Jefferson? It was never mentioned in high school or college, so I missed its relevance altogether!

Then there is the Treaty of Paris which I know see in a whole new light - it's the formal recognition of our country after all. And, I had never read the full text of George Washington's farewell address until Founding Character; what an eye opener!
The significance of a peaceful transfer of power every four to eight years now seems trivial, but it really isn't.

But, the most eye-opening part of this book is the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms; written a year before the Declaration of Independence, this resolution from the Continental Congress called for armed resistance to the crown. I had completely missed this in my history studies.

This is much more than a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the additional content, this is a complete picture of the character of our nation at its founding.

If you are tired of the tiny pocketbook edition of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and want a version with more substance, then Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation is the book for you!

Not only do you get the Constitution and the Declaration (both final version and Jefferson's original version), but you also get the Articles of Confederation, The Treaty of Paris (a very important document where the United States are recognized as a nation by England!), as well as the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (never included in other books, but oh so important!) - a document from the Continental Congress that predates the Declaration by a year!!

This is a book that I have given to each of my teenagers as well to take off to college!

I found this book "Founding Character:The Words and Documents That Forged a Nation" to be outstanding. In todays climate of Red States vs Blue States and the Division that the last election has wrought, it was uplifting to read the words that
formed our nation.
I highly recommend this book for every American whether they are liberal or conservative. It gives you pause , makes you think and appreciate what we have today.

I really like this book. It almost has everything you need. If the editors had included "Common Sense" it would have been perfect. Still, though, it is the best all-in-one reference I have found.

Found this book while doing a search for the Constitution and was pleased to find that it had everything in it I needed for my American History class. Saved me from having to buy a couple other books.