Wood Books

I missed the humor that was so evident in the first book in this series House Of Dark Shadows,but my interest never wavered in this second book despite it's noticeable absence.

There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments,and some very interesting twists to the story,plus the father's history with the house,was appreciated.

My only complaint is with that cliff-hanger of an ending,LOL!

As Mr. Liparulo's books marketed more for adults don't really interest me,with the excessive gore warned about for Comes A Horseman,for example,I am hoping that he will write many more YA series like this one.

Watcher in the Woods picks up the eerie, engrossing story begun in House of Dark Shadows, which saw the King family move from Pasadena to the small town of Pinedale when their father Edward accepts the position of principal at the high school, and into a house with a dark history. From the first page of this Christian-published young adult novel we are plunged once again into the high intensity, rapid fire setting of the first. Liparulo cuts to the chase, providing a bare minimum of exposition in the first chapters to remind readers of where the story left us at the end of book one.

This series is one that builds upon itself, adding question upon question, layer upon layer of mystery and uncertainly to the storyline, while revealing few answers. These titles do not stand-alone; each is an integral part of the story. Each book needs to be read in sequence in order to follow along.

David and Xander, the King brothers, throw themselves fool-hardily into the search for their missing mother. Frustrated by their father's lack of action they take matters into their own hands despite their father's cautious prohibitions and warnings. This rebellion against their father marks the initiating of the downward spiral of the King family into the darkness that becomes more palpable throughout this title.

The King family struggles to maintain a somewhat normal façade (with little success) when dealing with the townsfolk of Pinedale. Edward King starts his new job and the King siblings enter the school year in unfamiliar surroundings. Together the family embarks on a plan of deception, and outright lies to mask the disappearance of their mother. I was so dismayed to see this plan being carried out with little concern for the word of God. This is only book two of the series, but as the characters involved are professing Christians I hope to see God dealing with this blatant sin in their lives before the series comes to an end.

Watcher in the Woods is not as cohesive a tale as the first book. Liparulo includes a lengthy scene which appears unconnected from any other events in the series to date. This odd scene seems only to serve as a respite from the relentless action. I am surmising that he will further explain the meaning of this incident in future books and is only starting to weave this thread through the story.

New characters, mysteries and challenges arise but few are solved. The King family learns some rudimentary operations of the portals in their new home, but so much remains to be discovered. I feel that we are barely at the beginning of learning how and why the house and portals work, but this installment hints at a fuller explanation in the near future.

While the ending of the first novel left us hanging with the disappearance of the King's mother, it pales in comparison with the monstrous cliffhanger Liparulo works up to this time. Anyone who has taken a creative writing course can tell you that the climax ought to occur approximately 80 - 90% of the way through a story, leaving the author time to wrap up loose ends and come to a conclusion. You can't expect that sort of formulaic tale telling with this series.

A frenzy of action builds up to the climax, and Liparulo leaves us there with no conclusion. Three dramatic, time-sensitive events occur simultaneously at the end of the novel, bringing stress levels to a crescendo before cuting us off abruptly with the words "NOT THE END". Whew, what a ride. Dreamhouse Kings fans are looking longingly towards the January 2009 release of Gatekeepers, the third title in the series; harbouring the distant hope of a conclusion, an ending, someday.

Sometimes when you know, you know! Right? Like when I first read Robert Liparulo's "Comes a Horseman," I KNEW I'd found a new favorite. You know, forget the fact that he had "Germ" and "Deadfall," along with a couple Young Adult books on the way. I was pretty certain I'd found another author to put near the top of my list. I think he's that good! Ted Dekker endorsed the first 2 books of this series, "Dreamhouse Kings," and Liparulo is creeping right up to Dekker. That's because he's almost as good! That's saying a lot right there. So, how about it? Are you ready for adventure with the King family? And by the way, don't even think about setting a cruise control, the setting is all or nothing!!

If you met the Kings, Xander, David, Toria, along with the mom and dad, you realize that they have a lot going on. Especially with this new house. And in book #2, Mom is missing, and Xander will stop at nothing to find her. And David is just as committed. But somebody else is just as committed, and he's always lurking in the shadows. And right when they meet this stranger, Dad immediately doesn't like him. Adventure, madness and mayhem is the name of this game, but it's really no game to the Kings. But if it is a game, then they have to play along to the rest of the world to assure others that everything is just fine. Does that sound like an adventure you'd be interested in?

Robert Liparulo has caught the attention of many, and he's shocked a lot of people with great writing! Tess Gerritsen, Michael Palmer, James Rollins, Steve Berry, all those authors are bestsellers, and they ALL give Liparulo a seal of approval. I give him nothing but the best, because he IS one of the best today! That's no surprise to me. But the world better watch out, because Liparulo has a ball rolling. And that ball is just rolling faster and gaining amazing speed!! AWESOME!

Okay, this guy named Robert Liparulo decides he can write thrillers. He gives us some great page-turners, then thinks that qualifies him to write YA books, as well. I figure I'll give the series a try, and I speed through book one, "House of Dark Shadows."

Well, this pesky Liparulo fellow leaves me hanging, so I pick up book two right away--which I rarely do when reading through a series--and I race to the end of that one even quicker. Yeah, this writer's that good.

Starting where book one left off, "Watcher in the Woods" churns through more adventures, more conflicts (with police, Civil War soldiers, and WWII tanks), and troubles between the King family members. We also meet a mysterious stranger, who tends to spy on the Kings from the neighboring woods. The Kings have moved into an old home, but find themselves caught in a whirlpool of portals into history. They've lost something very important, and they must figure out how to get this precious thing back without losing their trust in each other.

Although I, just like the story's teenaged Xander, got impatient with the family's plodding approach toward their problem, I began to understand the father's reasoning. Maybe Liparulo just had me tied into too many knots to believe that anyone could approach something so emotional so logically. Either way, "Watcher in the Woods" sucked me along in a few short readings, and left me hanging once again in anticipation for book three, "Gatekeepers."

Phaw! And that Liparulo guy thought he could write YA books. I'll have to keep reading these things until I can prove him wrong.

This story picks up as if it's just the next chapter of "House of Dark Shadows." That's good, if you had "Watcher in the Woods" handy, because you're going to want to go from one to the next asap. That's also the drawback, when you finish "Watcher" you're even more so going to want the next installment - and it comes out in January 2009. Write faster, Bob! Just kidding, I'm sure he's doing everything he can to keep us going.

I have come to really enjoy this family - they bond and grow together throughout this book, and they way they pull together seems to be the antithesis of the disfunctional family we all read about.

The adventures in this book become more recognizable by period and character, and I really look forward to the next 2-3 books as I'm sure you will if you buy these books.

We enjoyed this story very much. It is written as a story of a play that is taking place. The pictures are fantastic. Someone is in rabbit's house and will not let him in. Frog has figured it out but rabbit will not listen to him. Frog enjoys watching the trouble as the other animals try to help rabbit out. Finally out of exasperation Rabbit asks for Frogs help. This was a very fun book. Recommended for ages 6-9 years.

my 5 year old son loves this story and its surprise ending!

the play within a story framework is very clever but may be too complicated for very young children to follow

mjdykstra
mother & book lover

I love this story. My children enjoy it. Its great for children at bedtime. It is actually a play....thats how the story is being told.

Must add to your library of African tales!!

Who's in Rabbits House is one of those few book that people of all ages can enjoy. The book is beautiful to look at, the illustrations informative and clever. (Check out the lions.) It reads aloud beautifully, and even the youngest reader can be given a part to become part of the experience. The cultural contect is respectfully presented. The reader becomes one who learn that of the Masai vilagers that strength is less important than intelligence.

We found this by chance at the library and it is now one of our favorite books. During the three weeks we had the book we read it over 20 times and looked through it often. And we've checked it out a few times since then, too. Hmm, maybe we should buy it!

My boys have acted out the story repeatedly and I hear them quietly reciting the story to themselves.

The pictures are fantastic - bright, beautiful, so full of life. The text is superb and has a wonderful moral as well.

You will love this book and so will your kids.

My mom recommended this book to me and I am so glad she did. It is a book I will carry with me and go back to for inspiration and reflection. Short, simple and to the point. I loved it!!!

This is an excellent book. Is written very down-to-earth but has an excellent message. It left me with plenty to think about and actions to do.

I thought this was a great book!!!! I found it very easy to read and very inspirational! Looking forward to the next book by this author.

Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. Shawn is a fabulous story teller, and it comes through in his writing.

Wonderful life stories by an outstanding young man. What insight for someone so short on years.

I am an art teacher in an elementary school. Each year I read the series of three Angus books (in the order they were written) to my first graders when we are folding an origami puppy. They love each book. I introduce the Scottish Terrier by showing the encyclopedia entry about dogs. This gets them excited about dogs AND the encyclopedia. By the third book, Angus Lost the children can hardly stand it - they are so excited. They cheer at the end. We look at the dog entry again in the encyclopedia to find the collie that Angus meets on the wide road. (These children don't know Lassie!) We compare the sizes of the dogs, etc. The books offer a view into the past: suspenders, hedges, and the milk man, but the story is current, the illustrations lovely. In Angus and the Cat the children whoop with delight over the illustration of Angus looking out the second story window looking for the cat. All three books are great read-alouds!

I love all the Angus books. Having owned a Scottie dog, I am particularly thrilled with the illustrations - they are so accurate. I used to read these to my daughter when she was a child & am now buying them for all my friends' little kids. I'll keep my set forever. The stories are so endearing.

My 1.5 year old is already a fan of this book. We bought it because she's fascinated with ducks. The realistic illustrations and complex sentences are a nice change of pace from most of her more recently published children's' books. The story has a bit of intrigue, a quick pace, and a humorous ending. It's just perfect.

This is a wonderful book for children or for any age. Subtle and beautifully written, and perfect artwork.

I think this (or Make Way for Ducklings) was my first library book. At any rate, it starated me on a lifelong love of reading--and dogs! The illustrations capture every nuance of a dog's body language--you can practically feel Angus' warm little tummy as he stands up to reach something high. The story is not babyfied, but, as another reviewer indicates, is told with an intelligent vocabulary. Build vocab early!
I treasured my Angus book and each time my mom took me to the library (years and years and years ago), I confounded her by ALWAYS adding the same old Angus book to my pile of borrowings. I hope I will OWN them all one day!

Cache Lake Country stands up to the test of time. Out of print now, it is still as relevant and beautiful a testament to the outdoor experience of Rowlands, Kane, and Chief Tibeash as it was in the 50's. If you love nature and the solitary experiences of the wilderness then you'll love this book.

Rowlands is a marvelous writer, for sure, but I was totally smitten with the outstanding black-and-white illustrations of the highly talented illustrator, Henry B. Kane, who brought, humor, fine draughtsmanship, art, and passion together for this book. It's reminiscent in some ways of Joseph Wood Krutch's "The Voice of the Desert" and Abby's "Desert Solitaire" but it takes place in the North Woods (some say Quebec, others say Ontario). I liked this book even better than the two aforementioned because of the great teamwork of Rowlands and Kane.

Don't we all wish we knew someone like J.J. Rowlands. What a life! He should have been a father; what a wealth of information he might have imparted... ...and what delivery! Couldn't put it down. Thank goodness he left us his book.

I reviewed this book several years ago, and after accidently stumbling upon my review, the same images, smells, and excitement still come to mind. I just purchased an old copy at many times the original price, and I can't wait to read it again after more than thirty years. It still amazes me to thnk that a simple diary of life in a bygone distant frontier could elicit such a Technicolor panorama in the mind of the reader. Everyone should read this book. It's good for the soul.

I can only echo the other reviewers to date: this is simply the finest and most memorable book from my youth. The painstaking black and white line drawings embellish a story of life in the Canadian backwoods. The author was well aware that his was a disappearing way of life, when he spent time as a timber overseer on a remote Canadian lake, and his obvious care in crafting his recollections shows his love for that life. I was fortunate enough in my youth to have a chance to canoe 200 miles of Canada not all that far from Cache Lake country - and can only say that Rowland's account rings true. I have made some of the recipies, perched on rock shores above sparkling Canadian waters. I can only add that in a world of quick fixes and patent falsehoods, Cache Lake Country is a collection of truths. If books can truly be friends, this is a best friend.

Back in the prehistoric days of the 1970's, I found this small book in my school library. Despite it's small size, it became, and has always been a bible of life in the northwoods. No politics, no social agenda, just a detailed blueprint of the pleasures and perils of living far from the city. The book covers the basics of shelter and winter warmth. It instructs the reader in a variety of skills ( from keeping oatmeal warm until breakfast, to making snowshoes to get along in mid-winter). All in all, I recall it as the first docu-drama that I ever had the pleasure to read. Though it can be labeled as non fiction (of the instructive kind), it has the ability to build endles dreams of pioneer life in the mind of most any reader.

This author is The Matriarch of Herbalism among the inner
circle, which includes well known practicing herbalists,
"celebrity" herbalists, other authors, and many thousands
of community herbalists all over the world.
My 30 year old copy- my very first herb book -
is falling apart so I just ordered another because it
contains a lifetime of tried and true herbal information
for personal and professional practice. Anyone starting
out in their understanding of this field, as well as
anyone who has been studying for years, should have this,
and all her books, on their shelves, and use them! If
you do, you will "get it".

This book is recommended to educate and enlighten those
who have been brainwashed by the media to think "herbs
are drugs", or poisons, or worse- as it clears up issues
of practical usage, and proper usage, and everyday
applications, by someone with decades of experience ,
well respected the world over. It contains useful, full
descriptions of many common herbs (the "materia medica"),
some not so common, some , in older versions, which may
have fallen out of use or access. A story emerges of herbal
use all over the planet for health care, and along with
this information, the author shares her insights into
incorporating natural living to promote robust health
and vitality.

No fads here- just classical, timeless, tried and true,
unchanging , eternally helpful enlightenment.

Some people might question starting off as a novice with an herbal written primarily from a European perspective. When I was recommended this book, I was somewhat skeptical of what I might learn. I was a bit disappointed at first, because some of the herbs I found weren't even native to my continent.

However, over time, I have grown to love this book, as well as the author. The reason this book is so great isn't just the information about the herbs - there is similar information in many places. The book is great because as you read it, you begin to FEEL the herbs. You begin to gain a sense of what true herbalism is.

In our Western culture, we often think of herbal medicine in the same way we think of modern medicine. When you are sick, you take something. It goes away. You are now well. The end. This book counters that attitude - subtly, yet in a very profound way. This book encourages the reader to think of HEALTH, not just healing. To pursue an ongoing relationship with the plants of the earth - not just a one time quick fix for what ails you (although there is plenty of that information as well.)

If you are like me, and NEW to the entire concept of herbal healing - do yourself a favor and purchase this book. There are more comprehensive books out there about specific herbs - especially North American ones - but if you TRULY want to gain the proper perspective about herbs and your health, this book is priceless.

I also recommend books by Susun Weed. Her writings are similar in keeping in tune with the SPIRIT of herbalism, not just facts about individual herbs.

This book is easy to read, easy to understand and covers many herbal remedies. Designed for the practitioner and the home-user. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in herbal medicine.

One must first note this herbal was first published in the U.K. You gotta love the older herbals written before the over-inflated danger warnings, suppressions of the medical society and fears of legal action. Yes, herbs are medicine, but also food. With a little guidance and a lot of common sense & caution, herb use can safely serve many. Lots of great info on 200+ herbs with a simplistic approach to use, charms the reader to say "Encore"! Suffice to say, "I'm a pleased purchaser".

The author of this book lived and breathed hebal medicine. She used it on her family and animals. She has proven the usefulness fo using herbs. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in using the natural approach to healing.

The sepia cover with the altered family photo tips the reader off right away to the time period and family problems. The book takes you to the 1950s where you experience Annette Wood's childhood years as part of a Kansas farm family. The descriptions of home, school, church and family sound as familiar to me as Sunday dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. That could have been my family and childhood she was describing. The difference is Annette's younger sister, Jan, grew up autistic. In the 50s, little was known of this problem and the family struggles with the special needs of such a child.
Annette faithfully chronicles her life, giving us a view into this earlier time. As the family seeks answers to Jan's increasingly disruptive behavior, Annette finds escape through reading. The topsy-turvy family life will strike a chord in anyone with a special needs sibling. The author touches on her own guilt feelings that she couldn't help her mother more and that eventually her sister was institutionalized.
In the latter part of the book, she interviews other families coping with similar situations. Boxed sections provide further information: tips, a list of books by autistic authors, a list of fiction and non-fiction books about autism, and information on research into autism. At the end the book includes an extensive bibliography on the subject and a list of websites.

A Different Kind of Kin was a poignant, insightful and nostalgic yet candid reading experience. The story of growing up with an autistic sibling at a time when autism was a mysterious, almost exotic, and little understood condition was compelling.

Wood's realistic portrayal of her experiences revealed the author's deep love for and appreciation of her sister. But she did not sugarcoat her story. Wood was courageously honest about the positive and negative feelings and effects, in both the short and long term, of her sister's autism. Those effects were portrayed from a personal perspective, that of the immediate and extended family, and the community.

"Kin" also offers support and hope in the form of resources for learning about and living with autism. The research is impressive and a valuable source for others to tap. I recommend reading this book to all, whether or not there is a person with autism in their life, as they will be enriched by the experience.

As faculty in a baccalaureate nursing program I found this book provided a different perspective for nursing students than "this is the disease, symptoms and treatment" typical of a nursing textbook. It offers a touching view inside a sister's heart and a poignant description of how the family is affected.

For nursing students this means helping them to easily "see" feelings that are sometimes difficult to query and then accurately interpret. This would be an excellent reading assignment for students in pediatrics and family oriented courses.

I enthusiastically encourage all faculty in Schools of Nursing to add this to their student's required reading lists.

Awesome book!!

Especially since it deals with her sister and as ABC noted in a piece this week, there is so little coverage of females with Autism. Most stories deal with males.

Chapter Ten also shows how far we have come when it comes to mental health issues, since in the past most children with Autism may have had parents who were told by doctors or teachers that the only place for the child was an institution or state hospital. One can only imagine what parents went thru when told to do something like this to a seven year old child which was the age of Jan the authors sister.

Pages 108-110 have some excellent suggestions for parents as well as the whole family. A must read book for anyone interested in Autism.

Especially those who have friends with a family member with autism because the authors firsthand experiences are like a great for helping you be a better friend to the family.

The author of this book offers the reader a very personal view of autism from her vantage point as the older sister of an autistic child. The book, although quite small in size, comes up big as an informative guide, incorporating not only family photographs and resource lists, but also a peek into the fifties when the disorder was less common and often misdiagnosed.

From personal experience, the author shares the ups and downs, highs and lows, and the often stressful and chaotic lives of families where at least one member is autistic. It also illustrates the effects of the disorder on the other family members who are determined to deal with each day as it comes.

I would recommend this book to parents, siblings and relatives of autistic persons, not only as a resource guide, but also for the sharing of experiences about a disorder that requires a loving and supportive family network.

Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards, February 10, 2008

Emm...The book Lord of the Ring makes me feel good.It is very exciting and anxious when I read the book.Before I bought the book,my friend and I when to see the this movies.Starting,I didn't know what exactly is that movie.After I have seen this movie,I love with this movie.I don't know why I have this feeling.Maybe I like the young hobbit,that is Frodo Baggin.He was so cute,brave little hobbit man...In the books I like him most.The stories of the books was so great.It so adventurios of the stories line.It's also makes me fill with fear when they have to fight with that ugly creature working for Saruman.he's so bad.I don't like him.

So,I have the wonderful moment as I love my books and the stories.The Lord of the Ring is the best among all the books and stories that I've read and seen.

All i can say is that i loved this book. Anything about Elijah Wood is awesome.

I love to read about Elijah. Very interesting book. Everyone should know him as the best actor he is .

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I bought this book, but it turned out to be pretty interesting. I had no idea that Mr. Wood had been acting for so long, and had accomplished so much. Certainly by comparison to DiCaprio, Wood has shown much greater breadth and range of acting. A lot of the book was predictible, [...] but it did cover the basics--biography, filmography, pictures, and trivia. Hopefully this won't be the last book written about this talented young actor!

I rate this book * * * * *, because it has style, pictures and 100% Eliajh! This is my review!

If you like knights, kingdoms, and enchanted forests, then you'll simply love The Enchanted Wood. The Enchanted Wood, by Ruth Sanderson, is a book set back in the medieval times of kings and kingdoms, and takes place in a kingdom. After giving birth to her third son, the queen dies and the king and the land share the same grief. Then the king decides that the only way to end the drought is by going and finding the heart of the world and ask for the drought to end.
There are many good qualities about The Enchanted Wood and here are a few. The genres of The Enchanted Wood are historical fiction and fantasy. One good thing that Ruth Sanderson did is that her themes are very easy to find, like her theme," Don't be distracted in life by things that you want, just be glad with the things you have." The main character is Galen the king's youngest son and he wants to prove himself to everbody by finding the heart of the world. This book's genre is similar to Cinderella's genre because both books are historical fiction and fantasy.
The Enchanted Wood would be a good book for younger kids because ruth Sanderson wrote the book like it was for little kids. I believe that Ruth Sanderson should use more forceful language. The Enchanted Wood's theme is very easy to find where other books have it harder to find the theme. I think that this is a good book because it has a great theme. Remember, if you like medieval times then you will love The Enchanted Wood.

This book is a great story, filled with marvelous paintings. I love this book, and Ruth Sanderson is probably my favorite artist.

Thank you, Ruth Sanderson, for writing and painting!

This story teaches so much it is anything but 'weak'!! The folly of selfishness and vanity are foremost among the lessons to be learned. Devotion to a greater good than our own individual desires is modeled, and the pitfalls of the opposite character trait. I find it fascinating that the one temptation that ruled each of the first two princes turned out to be all 'smoke & mirrors'when the enchantment was gone. There WAS no black knight, only hack marks in the trees. So often in real life, the things that detour us from a noble purpose turn out to be irrelevant.

Ruth Sanderson is an excellent story-teller and author. This is a fine book to add to anyone's collection of fairytales or picture books. Highly recommended!

First of all, I need to clarify what at least two other reviewers have mistaken: this book is NOT Enid Blyton's 'Enchanted Wood' as part of her Faraway Tree trilogy. This is a children's picture book confusingly by the same name - an original fairytale by author and illustrator Ruth Sanderson, also know for her works 'The Crystal Mountain', 'Cinderella' and 'The Golden Mare, the Firebird and the Magic Ring'.

That said, this book is an interesting mix of truly beautiful paintings (its a pity there isn't a picture of the cover on this webpage, as that always puts people off buying products) and a traditional, predicable story.

After a beautiful kingdom becomes plauged by a drought the king sends his three sons Edmund, Owen and Galen to find the Heart of the World that lies within the Enchanted Wood to restore the kingdom - in finding it their purpose will be magically achieved. Successively the three head off, and individually come to a cottage on the verge of the forest, where an old woman warns them not to wander off the path no matter what. Well, you don't really need to be told any more to know exactly what happens. The two older sons succumb to temptation, while the youngest remains true to his quest and succeeds, inheriting the kingdom and marrying the old woman's beautiful daughter Rose who accompanied him through the forest (for both mother and daughter had been unwilling gatekeepers of the forest, though eventually liberated by Galen's nobility). It is an old formula, encompassing all the cliches of a beautiful maiden, the threefold trial, the cursed kingdom, the virtueous youngest brother... Even though children will certainly not be bothered by this, seasoned fairytale lovers will know the tune oh-so-well and be frustrated at its predictability. Thus the title 'original fairytale' is somewhat misused.

On the other end of the scale however, some points of the story are quite confusing. It is unclear why finding the Heart of the World restores the land to its former glory, nor how it actually manages to achieve this. Furthermore, though Edmund and Owen's submissions to temptation (respectively to hunt a white stag and engage in battle with a Black Knight) are indeed vices, we are never really certain whether Galen did the right thing in turning his back on his own brothers when witnessing them in peril. Lastly, the meaning of the silver key that Rose drops into the Heart's waters and the 'ceremony' that she performs is unclear in its meaning and point.

However, *please* don't let my grousing over this feature stop you from finding this book as they pale in comparison to Sanderson's exquisite oil paintings, and are in fact (in my opinion) her best. In no other book of hers has she reached the level of detail and realism that she does in 'The Enchanted Wood'. She captures motion perfectly, her animals (deer and horses) are beautiful, and all little girls be satisfied that the heroine Rose is stunning. The best part however is Sanderson's illustrations of the forest - their misty, mysterious, shrouded depths are gorgeously created, from their forbidding entrance at the iron gates to the Heart of the World - three treetrunks intertwinging to make one.
The illustrations more than make up for the story and make this book a must-have for all lovers of great art, children's books, fairytales or beauty in general.

It is unfortunate that it has such a well-used title, as I know of two other books by the same name (Enid Blyton's, and another 'Enchanted Wood' by the Australian writer and illustrator Shirley Barber) but the illustrations *are* worth the effort to tracks this book down, either from Amazon or your library.

Book about Warblers
this reference book is very helpful in identifying the migrating warblers.
It arrived in very good condition.

This book is much more than just a field guide to the warblers. It contains a wealth of information on identification, but it also functions as a summary of the scientific literature on the ecology of each species, complete with references to the primary literature. This guide is a great way to not only get more serious as a birdwatcher, but also to help this interest develop into an interest in and understanding of ecology.

As a field guide, this book is exhaustive and excellent. The illustrations are extremely clear, and there are distinct illustrations of different sexes, ages, and plumages (fall/spring) whenever these plumages are distinct. In addition to the illustrations of perched birds, there are also excellent illustrations of undertail patterns, which are very important and useful. Throughout the text as well, there are a number of detailed color photos. Visually, this guide has it all! The range maps are large and clear, although I wish that the range maps would mark migration paths more clearly.

The expanded chapters on each species are outstanding. While some of this information, especially the plumages, range, song, habitat, and behavior, would be interesting and useful to birders, this book goes above and beyond by discussing in depth the ecology of each species, taxonomy, and conservation status. The writing is clear and concise, and there are numerous references to the primary literature as starting points for people who are interested in further reading.

Bottom line? If you like warblers, you have to get this book! You will not be disappointed.

Several years ago, while watching the bird feeders at Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, Indiana, I heard a voice behind me pointing out that there were two races of White-crowned Sparrow at the feeder. He went into detail about the subtle differences between the two. At first I thought to myself, who is this guy? Later, I realized that it was Jon Dunn! I have had a high respect for him ever since.
Years later, he was the guest speaker at our bird club meeting. He presented some of the plates from his, at the time, upcoming new field guide to warblers. I fell in love with the plates from the very start. Thomas R. Shultz and Cindy House did a remarkable job, and the detail that was carefully gathered from museum specimens is second to none. I knew from the beginning that I had to have this new field guide and I couldn't wait until it appeared on the shelves.
When I bought my copy of the finished product, it was even more than I expected. Aside from the detailed plates making fall and female warbler identification easier, the text is filled with information on virtually every aspect of life history of each species, with cross-references that will aid any serious researcher. More than just a field guide for identification purposes, this book belongs on the shelf of beginners and experts alike who share a passion for warblers.

This book provides good color plates of the warblers in various stages of plummage. The distribution maps are easy to read and color coded. I bought the book because of the multiple pages of natural history information on each species. The birding guide I use in the field has excellent illustrations but totally lacks in the supplemental information. So, when I get home, I grab this book to learn the biology of the species.

Kimball Garrett and Jon Dunn worked together once again to produce a masterpiece. The information on status and distribution is remarkably accurate given the exceptional detail in which it is presented. The identification discussion is thorough and accurate. The discussion of subspecies, their taxonomy, and their identification (as is possible) is remarkable. The books only failing are the illustrations, which are flat and unrealistic for the most part. Their usefulness is limited.