Wood Books

I love this book. I shared it with my daughter when she was 3 or 4 and with my second grade Montessori students as we study the life cycle of a tree. The pictures are absolutely beautiful, full of creatures the children like to discover. The story is wonderful too, with the mother tree moving aside her branches so that the small sapling can have room to grow, and the daughter trees catching their mother when she finally falls due to lightning and old age. Her body goes on to nurture the next generation while providing a home for the woodland creatures. There is a sense of cooperation and symbiosis throughout the text and the pictures. The hardcover book I have is clothbound in deep purple and very elegant.

I have used this book many times with children who are seeking to understand death. It can be used with very young children and older students as well. The breathtaking pictures allow the distraction needed at times of high stress and jump start conversations. The story is beautiful and simple and profound.

It is a top choice of mine and my students.

As a psychologist I often am witnessing the pain of death for those left behind. Many baby-boomers will identify with the challenge of providing support to their parents, and the difficult task of laying them to rest. This book provides a very meaningful gift for those grieving such a loss, and puts death into a meaningful perspective...part of the journey of life. I bought 10 copies!

As a psychologist I often am witnessing the pain of death for those left behind. Many baby-boomers will identify with the challenge of providing support to their parents, and the difficult task of laying them to rest. This book provides a very meaningful gift for those grieving such a loss, and puts death into a meaningful perspective...part of the journey of life. I bought 10 copies!

"Whisper from the Woods" is a superb way to introduce to young children the idea that life is a cycle and although everyone and everything eventually dies, new things are also constantly coming into being. It's a comforting thought, and it's beautifully presented here.

Victoria Wirth's quiet, quiet text concerns an oak tree which drops an acorn deep in the woods. As the acorn grows into a sapling and then into a tree, we see through A. Scott Banfill's magical illustrations that the parent tree is growing older and weaker. When the parent tree eventually dies, the children trees sorrowfully cover her with leaves and await the spring--in which, of course, new acorns fall and new trees begin to grow.

Trees aside, Banfill manages to squeeze in tiny elves, butterflies, rabbit families, bears, and all manner of birds, among other animals. As if that weren't enough, each of his gorgeous illustrations is bordered with a handsome, each-one-different swath of stylized elements from nature: leaves, snowflakes, flowers, insects, and so on.

The book is a joy to read and a subtle reminder that life is an endless cycle--something every child needs to know.

How often do you find a children's Christmas book that is truly entertaining? This one was. The main character, Katie, an inquiring 'tween, is vulnerable, unexpected and funny. After reading about her love of family, her desire to preserve tradition and endless curiosity regarding an eccentric history professor, I wished she could be our next-door neighbor. My own kids couldn't stop talking about Katie or this book. The illustrations were an absolute treat. Anyone that enjoys a good yarn, engaging characters and a dash of holiday magic will love this new, children's classic.

I loved this book for both the marvelously warm illustrations and for Joseph's understanding of how a 12-year-old would feel, faced with the possibility that Santa doesn't exist exactly as she has believed all her life. I gave this book to my girlfriend's daughter for Christmas; she's 12 and recently learned the truth about Santa.

This wonderful book will remind us all that there is still Magic in Christmas. It shows us that it is better to give then to receive. You don't have to be a child to enjoy this story. You only need to beleive in the Spirit of Christmas. Winter Spirit will be added to my traditional Christmas reading list.
Thank you Gina for the reminder to always believe in the Spirit of Christmas.

i found this to be a fresh outlook on the christmas story,being the parent and grandparent of children between the ages of eight and twelve. i found the story allowes children of all ages to still believe in the spirit of christmas, all the while its lessons are wrapped in a story of giving and sharing that brings back memories of all my christmas's. the book is beautifully illustrated.Surley this will be on my coffee table during the holiday season for years to come.

The Winter Spirit is a pleasure to read. The book has the skills to draw our attention to believe in what is good. The book also allows you to have a tear, have a laugh and the ability to make you feel the warm and meaningful work.

Thank you,
Kaethe's Mom

This book is full of wonderful information presented clearly and in a very understandable way. As a woodcarver for some years, I was delighted to get pointers and insight from a master carver. The book is also a delight to read. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

This book is well written and easy to read. A lot of books by woodworkers or contractors are hard to read but this one is an easy read. Its' very informative but its' not enough for a beginner to read and start carving. It only covers information about the materials needed to start carving. It is still good for a beginner to read as it has a lot of good material about the tools and materials. It really opened my eyes to a lot of possibilities.

This ought to be within reach if you love to carve in wood. Plenty of illustrations and easy to understand text. Having this book would keep you from having to own a lot of other related material. It covers it all, especially with vol.2.

Very comprehensive set about carving tools equipment etc.
Both books tohether really gives you all you will need to know to get started and going the rest of your life...
Chris Pye is very thorough in his writing with high attention to detail, as can be witnessed in his other books also.

i have both of chris pye's books, and i belong to his web page. his books are well written and illustrated, and are well worth the money. not only do you have the advantage of his writtings, but he is one of the few pros that you can send an email to and get a response. pro woodcarvers can be snobs. whether you are an experienced carver or a beginner his books are great and he is always very helpful.

I purchased this book because of my great interest in birds (not hunting) and I particularly have an interest in the other birds of his menagerie. Frederick seems to me to be a truly Renaissance man before his time who had indoor plumbing, an extensive traveling library and who was a very creative architect of many of his palaces and lodges (which were more extensive than those of others). I am still searching for more information about how the many parrots and other exotic birds were housed and cared for, though I see that (in this book) that he had a large preserve for the large wild animals (elephants, lions tigers etc) and another just for hunting birds - no mention is made of the lovely gentle creatures and their care. My especial interest is in the Umbrella Cockatoo -so well described on page 59 of this book as "white parrot" but with details and it is apparent that there were at least numerous green parrots as well. I will keep searching and if anyone knows of a book showing his care of parrots please email vldazzle at Cox.net.

This is the perfect book for whoever wants to learn about what falconry was like a long time ago. However, I would not reccommend it to anyone who wants to learn about present day falconry. After you get your license, I would reccommend it. The reason I say this is because it can confuse the apprentice. It confused me. It does teach a lot though, and can give insight to diff. ways of training hawks. Belongs in every falconers library!

Frederick II was one of the very few brilliant minds of the Middle Ages who opossed the Pope and the teachings of the Church, even, it is said, declaring Jesus, Moses and Muhammad [...]. Patron of arts and Science, warrior and writer, it is also said that he spoke nine toungues (in an era when most members of the highest nobility were unable even to read). He was known as Stupor Mundi (Astonishment of the World), a Pope declared him the Antichrist, was twice excommunicated, and Dante sent him to the fires of Hell in the Divine Comedy. This book, about one of his passions, hunting, should therefore be in the shelves of every learned reader of the world. It is a fantastic source of information for falconers, historians (both of the Middle Ages and of Science) and for everyone interested in the history or the life of this great King, who, when crowned, wore a robe with this inscription wrote in Arabic: "May the Emperor be received well, may he enjoy vast prosperity, great generosity and high splendor, fame and magnificent endowments, and the fulfillment of his wishes and hopes. May his days and nights go in pleasure without end or change". So be it.

Beisdes being an incredible tract on falconry (modern ornithology has yet to surpass it, really. Doubly impressive, considering Frederick was writing some three centuries before the scientific revolution). This book is a cross-section of one of the most profound minds in all of Western history. Frederick the Second was the most magnificient of all the latter day emperors. From nothing he raised the throne of the Roman Empire to transcendant limits, defied both God and the Church, and brought in the fabled "third age" for the superstitious people of medieval Europe, who believed that he was either the bringer of Peace before the apocalypse or the Anti-Christ himself. His memorable utterance "...I am tired of being the anvil. Now I shall be the hammer!" was the inspiration behind Nietszche's work 600 years later. The Empire died with the next brilliant generation of the Hohenstaufen.

In light of all this, his book of falconry is indespensible. It shows us Frederick the Renaissance man, engaging in Scientific method in an era of revealed truths, and it shows us Frederick the hunter: shrewd, catching every detail, and always for the love of the chase. This book will amaze you to no ends!

As a practical guide to modern falconry, I don't believe this book would be as helpful as some on the market, but as a primary source from the middle ages it is first rate. The intricacies and details of the hunt, the housing, the care given to the birds, hounds, etc. . . . for this, the book is priceless. If you are looking for summaries of the hunting practices in the middle ages, Marcelle Thiebeaux and Anne Rooney are among the best authors to seek. If you want the actual details of the way it was by someone living at the time it was practiced, there is no better source than Frederick II's book (and few even close).

I found Babe in the Woods a very interesting and useful way of approaching altered mind-states as a personal experience. Although the book is written as a novel, the events and multiple points of view of the participants are true to the author's experience at The Monroe Institute in Faber, Virginia. Since my wife has also taken the Monroe training, reading Babe in the Woods gave me a greater insight into her experience. The book is almost like being there. Great read!

Frank DeMarco's Babe in the Woods gives the reader a front-row seat on the journey of a diverse group of individuals into the unexplored realms of human consciousness. One key to the book's success is the mix of characters, which includes a priest, a psychic, engineers, an artist, and so on. The main character, Angelo Chiari, is a journalist. All are well-drawn and the interactions between them that help drive the plot forward are often quite moving. The group has come together for a week-long program at an institute using audio-technology to enhance the latent human capacity to access different states of awareness. DeMarco takes full advantage of his setup to present a wide range of stimulating opinions and insights into not only the nature of reality but also how different people respond to the unknown. Chiari, initially a skeptic, is an ideal point-of-entry character for the reader: a journalist with a job to do.

The book works `from the ground up', gradually leading the reader from a starting point of `normal', everyday reality through increasingly intense altered states of awareness. This step-by-step approach encourages the reader to consider with an open mind the unfolding ideas and events on his or her own terms, rather than feeling preached to.

One of the most magical things about the novel is that it conveys a sense of possibilities. It's exciting. It's a voyage of discovery with these very human characters that engenders the sense that there is more to reality than what we take for granted. More than that, it allows one to reasonably consider that these `other realms' are not the exclusive domain of rarefied mystics but may in fact be accessible to all of us. DeMarco doesn't cram this point down our throats; it emerges gradually in the reader during the course of the book. And that makes this unique novel both intellectually exhilarating and solidly entertaining.

This is the first one of Frank's books I have read and it will not be the last.
What a great "Story Teller"
I have been to The Monroe Institute for many amazing programs, so I was interested to see how that setting was turned into a work of "fiction".
I was not disappointed. Frank's writing, had me totally engrossed in the characters and the tale, from start to the finish. I found myself living that week at the C.T. Merriman Institute along with the characters in the book.
I look forward to a sequel and finding out what is next for Angelo

Frank DeMarco is a natural writer and the characters in Babe in the Woods are consequently very real and natural, so the pages for the reader flow by very easily and pleasantly, which is half the battle won. Frank's merging of this world with what the ancient Egyptians called the "Other World" happens gradually through the experiences of his characters, though chiefly the cynical Angelo Chiari, setting up a strong argument for both sides, material and spiritual, being contained in one full reality.

However, Frank doesn't just rest with that. He also puts the counter-position, the argument against, with fairness and balance, although we finally feel, along with Angelo and certain others, that there is "more in heaven and earth Horatio" etc. (or should that be "Angelo").

There is also the point that the woman Angelo falls for, who has a certain magic about her for him, seems to personify the archetypal anima of the unconscious, with C. T. Merriman the "wise old man" figure, which would suggest that Angelo is undergoing Jung's individuation process, which indeed opens up spirit reality for male consciousness. Frank was almost certainly undergoing this himself, knowingly or unknowingly, which has now come out in his story. Altogether an excellent read.

First off I'll admit to you that I've known Frank DeMarco for many years and have attended a couple programs with him at The Monroe Institute, but I will also tell you that when I sat down last week to read "Babe in the Woods" it was to actually "read" the book and this review represents my honest feelings.

It isn't often I find a book that I do not want to put down and this was one of them. Frank has done a masterful job of capturing the kinds of personal growth and experiences programs like those of The Monroe Institute can trigger and with real and believable characters. I quickly found myself "in" the program with Angelo and Claire and Jeff and the others. I sat around with them listening to them talk during breaks and during the debriefs after the tape exercises. I shared the highs and lows, the breakthroughs and the frustrations. I laughed and at times I cried.

Whether you have attended programs such as those at Monroe does not matter. This is a story of personal growth and discovery and of the people who took the journey. I now feel they are my friends.

Candide: Or Optimism parodies the classic, romantic coming-of-age story, with the young title character, Candide - the ignorant, ever-optimistic metaphysician of Westphalia- confronting the evils of the real world. His forbidden love of a baron's daughter causes Candide to be evicted from his home and sheltered life into a desolate sixteenth-century Europe--where the strong prey on the weak and misery abounds in the heart of humanity. The master of social commentary dissects spiritual faith, ethics and legal systems, love and human vanity all in under 200 pages. Everyone can relate Candide's life story and journey to their own. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book, but it was irritating looking up the footnotes. They made it especially amusing and odd, but it definitely isn't my favorite.

Candide is certainly humorous for those that understand medieval to early modern European history.This satire is cynical much like Erasmus' "Praise of Folly". Voltaire attacks many of the issues of European society. You do not need to be a historian to appreciate this work, or have a great knowledge of European history to understand it.
Buy it and enjoy.

If you thought 18th century satire is irrelevant today, you might want to know the meaning of that Italian phrase, uttered by a eunuch at the sight of an abandoned and beautiful young lady in the story: "Oh, what a misfortune to be without balls!"

If you've made the decision to read Candide already, then this is the version you want to buy. Theo Cuffe's translation is more recent and much better than any other ones out there. I was thinking of purchasing the Oxford World Classics edition - after all, it's a few dollars cheaper and has a few more stories - but after contrasting paragraphs from Candide in either version, I decided Cuffe's superior translation warrants the extra money. This edition is also bound beautifully; it's a paperback but the cover is much firmer than a regular paperback and is adorned with eye-catching comic strips and a useful list (with pictures) of the main characters on the inside flap of the cover. This edition also has very thorough footnotes at the end; if you're like me and have little acquaintance with the 18th century and life through the era of Enlightenment, the handy footnotes will graciously guide your way. Aside from the footnotes, this edition also has additional pertinent writings from Voltaire including a poem he wrote on the disaster of the Lisbon earthquake and some excerpts from his Philosophic Dictionary.

Now, if you haven't made up your mind as to whether you'd like to read this, I strongly urge that you do. It's a rather short story but a very profound one. It's extremely witty, clever, and yet masterfully laconic. The story itself is an assault on the philosophic concept of "Optimism" as championed by Leibniz, Alexander Pope, and various other contemporaries of Voltaire who believed that all that happens in the world is for the best, and that we live in the best of all possible worlds. As Pope himself said famously, "whatever IS, is good." Candide, the young, naive and charming protagonist of our story is very much swayed in the direction of believing in Optimism because of the teachings of his philosopher teacher Pangloss. But as Candide inadvertently travels the world, matures, and learns from the sight of reality beyond the corridors of his residence at Westphalia, his perceptions begin to change, and we begin to develop nothing short of a sense for everything that is meaningful and meaningless in life. As Gustave Flaubert once said, the prose of Voltaire is mesmerizing and yet ingeniously succinct. You'll know the feeling once you travel the land of Eldorado, where people are indifferent to diamonds and gold lying in their streets and where everything is in perfect harmony, with non-other than the worthy Candide.

I think a lot of readers miss the point of this book. It is a romantic adventure story like the Odyssey and The Princess Bride, not some political rant or whatever people misconstrue it to be. It is named after the star of the book, Candide, a young nobleboy that's sent out on his own in the 18th century. Like Alexander the great, Candide has his Aristotle...in this case Pangloss, an amazing philosopher that believes everything has a purpose and works for the common good in the world. Throughout his adventures, Candide's faith in his mentor's teachings is continually tested, yet he stands firm in his beliefs instead of caving in capriciously.

You are no doubt getting ready to throw this book into your Amazon cart, but I beseech you dear reader, hold back and finish this review. For I need to impart in you the fact that this book is a love story as well! Candide, from his days in the Baron's court has been in love with the beautiful Cunegonde, whose stolen kiss is responsible for his banishment from the castle! On his journeys he meets back up with the fair maiden, in Portugal, and they go on a romantic boat-ride together! They sail to South America in the New World where they soon must split up.

Candide then travels to El Dorado where he meets the king! The king gives him billions of dollars worth of diamonds! He loses most of the diamonds on the way home, but he is still a millionaire. He then must travel to Venice where he is to meet back up with his love.

There were some funny parts in this book, but most of it was starkly serious. There was war, torture, natural disasters, and many other road blocks that Candide must overcome in order to get his prize, Cunegonde. I found this book to be a great motivational tool for myself. "You don't get the princess Cunegonde unless you sail to the New World and get a bunch of diamonds from the king of Eldorado," I keep telling myself.

I don't understand why so many people had a cow over this book. Apparently its author was thrown into prison for writing it! Maybe because it was a little violent and people weren't used to violence back then. Though I do admit, this book is strictly R rated, which makes me upset that they have school-kids reading this stuff. Kids, having never been subjected to the subjects of s e x and violence in this book may not understand it in a mature way without parental guidance.

The author picked a good name for the star of this book, as Candide is an unusual name and makes a good title. Can you imagine if he named the main character Steve? It just wouldn't have the same effect. I liked this book so I hope the author has some more fun adventure stories in the works.

This was an excellent, easy to follow guide to carousel horse carving.
The instructions and illustrations were very helpful in the building process.

I've wanted to know how to carve these beautiful animals since I was a teenager. This is the book. The techniques and "how tos" are very useful: from making patterns, to proper technique and tools, this is one of THE TWO books on the topic that will get you started.

Also, the author runs a "school" for carving. Horsin' Around. I think it runs for two weeks and is in the 1K plus range, but if you're serious about carving one of these magical creatures, then Bud Ellis is the man to see.

This book is a real insiders look at a contemporary top of the line carving school. Worth the price for the photographs alone, it's a nice plus that the information inspires dreams. I can not speak to its usefulness as a carving project guide as I bought it primarily because it is about carousels and I collect carousel books. Carousel Animal Carving is an excellent new edition to a carousel book library.

This is the best book to date on the subject of carving carousel animals. I recommend the purchase of this book even if you have Bud's first great book on the subject, as I do. This new book contains additional valuable tips and detailed instructions.

This book guided me through one of the greatest challenges in my woodcarving experience. After a couple of readings to become familiar with the process and sequence of operations, I began a project which has brought me more pride, and sense of accomplishment than anything I've ever undertaken. From the design stage through materials and tool selection, technique of workmanship, to the final painting and displaying of the project, instructions are clear and include many tips and tricks of the trade. Professional results are assured. For the first time carver, no clearer and concise guide is now available in my opinion. My interest in Carousel Carving encouraged me to gather many books on the subject. After reading them all, I return to this book for its store of relevant information and instructions on carving an Animal. My daughter is the proud owner of an authentic hand-carved Carousel Horse thanks to Bud Ellis and Rhonda Hoeckley's efforts in creating this fine instruction manual. An excellent companion to this book is the "Atlas of Animal Anatomy" by W. Ellenberger et al.

Having read this book to three to five-year-olds at Halloween for three years running and having it be a HUGE hit every time, I decided to get my own copy. The children love the repetitiveness of it and the spooky pictures. The tension builds and builds right to the end when everything turns out to be just fine. (Note: That's a total of 180 children with very big eyes and almost no wiggles!)

The artwork is beautiful and detailed. My three year old loves to find the cat in each picture and to find the faces in the windows, walls, and curtains. One can always find something new in the paintings. The story uses repetitious wording, so he can virtually read it to me. We have read this book many times, yet neither of us ever gets bored with it.

This "Dark Dark Tale" by Ruth Brown is simple, short and sports a gothic flair. The illustrations (also by Brown) are nothing short of brilliant. Brown the artist captures the fog, shadows and light of her own dark dark little world. Perfect for preschoolers (my two year old loves it and always anticipates the ending), it holds their attention (there can't be more than 120 words in the entire book) with the repetative prose that children love. Perfect for lovers of children literature and childrens illustrations as well (which is what drew me to the book in the first place). We love it and read it daily.

A wonderful choice for young children at Halloween or any time of year. Reading this aloud is lots of fun -- you can make it seem scary as you go through each page, then watch your child's reaction at the end. My son wanted me to read this over and over. We also have fun looking for all the little critters in the forest: owls, bats, tiny glowing eyes peeking out of the dark places, the cat, even a badger!

What a surprise--and disappointment--to see the cover of this book in green instead of brown as my copy is!! Green makes the book look like spring and fun. Back to my brown picture with a castle in the background in fog and mist and browns! A real invitation to a scary experience just as Ruth Brown, the author/illustrator intends!

Even the title page has cobwebs and mushrooms and spiders and a tiny, little mouse caught up in the browns of the book. So we begin: "Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor." The browns and grays and strip of purples and touch of yellow show a desolate moor. Oh, wait, not so desolate! What do I see in the blowing, dark grasses? Hide, little rabbits and mice, here comes the owl looking for you! Look, in the distance! What is that? A dark dark wood?

"On the moor there was a dark, dark wood." How many creatures can you find hiding there? Way up on the hill is a dark, dark castle. Look carefully, there's the black cat we saw on the cover. He has taken us to a dark, dark door. Inside in the dark, dark hall there are gargoyles and cobwebs and shadows and that black cat.

As the cat takes the reader deeper and deeper into the darkness of the great house, things get scarier and scarier. How the story ends sometimes makes children laugh, sometimes annoyed, but never scared! That's all I will say!

This book is a wonderful Halloween treat because it has such an unexpected ending! A must for all library collections!

This book is great. My father in laws dad was Emil Luebke and he saved his house but almost died in the fire. We are from Rogers City. The story that is told has been told down our family and is very much what was told. We really enjoyed this book and would encourage anyone to read it, specially if your interested in Michigan history.

This is an excellent book based on the Metz fire. My father-in-laws dad is Emil and the stories in this book have been told to him many times. He said this is a keepsake for his family and beyond. We have read many things on this fire, but this is the most interesting. My husband lived in the farm house Emil saved during the fire. This is truly a great gift to all readers of Michigan history.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (2/06)

"Devil in the North Woods" is a fictionalized account of the 1908 wildfire that swept through northeastern Michigan, wiping out an entire town. The author uses public documents, as well as the experiences of one survivor of the fire, and merges them into a beautiful story of fear, loss, and redemption. Young Henry Hardies narrates the story, and by having a 10-year old boy lead us through the fire, the reader is treated to a refreshing voice of innocence that an adult narrator would not have been able to provide. The reader is introduced to Henry, his family, and the people of Metz, Michigan. In this community, the threat of wildfires is very real, and a fear that these people live with almost on a day-to-day basis. On October 15, 1908, their worst fears come true as a fire quickly spins out of control. The town scrambles to decide how big a threat the fire it, but by the time they realize it will hit their community, it is too late.

After a somewhat slow start, the story quickly picks up the pace, reading more like a suspense novel than a historical one. The book becomes impossible to put down once the fire hits town. You are given a nearly minute-by-minute account of what is happening in the town, and in the Hardy family, during the fire, as well as its aftermath. The detail is so realistic and believable that it is easy to imagine yourself in this situation right alongside the characters in the book.

Sadly, the town loses 43 people, 4 of whom are Hardy family members. The town of Metz is obliterated and there is not much left to salvage. But the people of Metz are stronger than the fire that tried to destroy them. They are determined to move past the destruction and rebuild their community, as well as their lives. This is more than the story of an out-of-control wildfire; it is the story of everyday heroes and the way they reclaim their lives after tragedy.

Devil in the North Woods is a work of historical fiction, based on modern reports and oral histories of a terrible 1908 wildfire in Michigan. Ten-year-old Henry Hardies survived the fire that claimed his mother and three younger sisters; in real life, Hardess told personal stories that his own children have handed down to this day. Devil in the North Woods vividly recreates the terrible blaze from start to finish, the toll it took, and the trials of human beings forced to recover from the devastating losses it inflicted. Though Devil in the North Woods tells the story of man vs. nature, its core is emotional and human-centered.

"Devil in the North Woods" by Walt Shiel is a real barn burner. I kept trying to put out the fire. Walt's style kept me immersed in the story and fully engaged until way too late each night. I enjoyed the read and the education.

The Devil's Story Book is about a devil that disguises him self as different people every day. The Devil's Story Book has different events in every chapter about the devil doing different tasks to steal, catch, and grant wishes. We think the devils story book is mischievous, adventurous, and hilarious. We truly think you should read this book!!

The Devil's storybook is a touching, funny, and wonderful book. Though it has some language in it like Hell, we think it is an appropriate book for all ages. It's about a Devil who goes into the world, disguised as a fairy godmother, hobo, and towns people. Each wonderful chapter has a new setting for the Devil. Towards the beginning of the book, the Devil goes into the world and meets a beautiful lady. The Devil goes into her cabin. He reminds her of her beauty and asks her if he can take her beauty back to Hell. If you want to know what happened to her, then you'll have to read the Devil's Storybook.

Rating: Five stars

GG 5th grade students

The stories are extremely short, cunning, and witty - great for children and adults. Ms. Babbitt includes hilarious puns that are well placed throughout the book. The sentences are simple to read and the moral or ending of each story is amusing. My most favorite is the last one, "The Power of Speech". In general, no matter which species one belongs to - humans, animals, devils - one should always consider the consequences of one's actions and words.

I love this book! In this story a devil tries to turn hell into heaven. Like I say, try it, if you don't like it put it aside!

I LIKED IT!

...because the Devil herein seems almost like an ordinary person, just with an itch to make trouble and boss minor demons around. Both this and its companion volume, THE DEVIL'S OTHER STORYBOOK, were illustrated by the author; the original cover art of each shows the Devil reading the book. (He's drawn in standard Mephistopheles style, goatee, horns, tail, cloven hooves - and whenever he's shown in disguise in an individual story's illustration, the tail is visible to the reader, curled up behind his back or whatnot.)

Both books open with a stanza or two from the poet Robert Southey, "From his brimstone bed, at break of day, a-walking the Devil is gone, to look at his little snug farm of the World, and see how his stock went on." Most (but not all) the stories follow that pattern - the Devil getting bored and going out for a stroll to stir things up. He doesn't buy souls at all - he just makes trouble on his occasional visits to the world and people make their own decisions about how to handle their problems.

Most of the stories (all very short) have a kind of moral, if you look at them carefully, but Babbitt has a light touch.

"Wishes" On a dull day, 'the Devil fished around in his bag of disguises, dressed himself as a fairy godmother, and came up into the World to find someone to bother.' But the first two people he encounters are a crabby old woman and an old man who's at peace with himself - and each foils the old boy (the old lady's comeback catches even the Devil off guard). But along comes contestant #3, a foolish young man.

"The Very Pretty Lady" had many suitors, but wanted to be loved for herself - or so she said, although truth be told she enjoyed her looks and the fawning young men very much. Then the Devil got to hear of her, and figured she was just what he needed to brighten up the place, and went out to have a look at her, and set about coaxing her to join him of her own free will.

"The Harps of Heaven" - the Devil doesn't have any, and he's been stung by a nagging piano teacher's remarks about the quality of music in Hell, so when a pair of brothers who were the best thieves in the world wind up on his doorstep, he's got a little job for them.

"The Imp in the Basket" Instead of following the Devil's activities, this follows a very good man - a clergyman who tries to think well of everybody - beginning with the most severe test of his life: a little imp has been left on his doorstep, a devil's baby rather than a human one. But he knows that even the Devil was an angel once, so maybe there's hope even for this little one.

"Nuts" The Devil, like anybody else who eats walnuts, complains about the nuisance of cracking them open - then gets a bright idea about how to trick a human into doing it for him: hide a pearl inside a walnut shell, then tempt a greedy person into opening the lot looking for more pearls. But as often happens, his mischief doesn't work out the way he planned.

"A Palindrome" is a word or phrase that's the same whether spelled backward or forward. In this case, the Devil wants a particular artist - a painter whose pictures are much admired in Hell, but who's a good man - to become his #1 painter, so after the artist has produced his 40th picture, the Devil sets about making life difficult for him to tempt him away from his good life.

"Ashes" Mr. Bezzle (yes, Babbitt likes puns occasionally), a bad man 'who made a great deal of money by cheating shamefully', was cremated after he died, and his ashes on the mantel of his widow's house were just as warm as he himself was. But when a grumpy housemaid knocked the urn over and was careless about sweeping up, he couldn't understand why a pig suddenly showed up in Hell and began following him around. :)

"Perfection" The Devil (like some readers, to be honest) has gotten fed up with a goody-two-shoes little girl named Angela, and he's determined to annoy her into losing her temper a few times so she'll stop being so perfect.

"The Rose and the Minor Demon" The minor demon isn't really evil, but since he doesn't have anyplace else to go, his job is to guard the Devil's treasury - even though nobody *ever* tries to steal anything, of course. But looking at a vase painted with roses, he starts wanting to plant a garden of his own - but the Devil, of course, has strict instructions about what he's allowed to plant.

"The Power of Speech" The Devil likes an occasional pet, but in keeping with his character - in this case he wants a pet goat named Walpurgis, but the old lady who owns him belled him, because the Devil can't stand the sound of bells. Then the Devil got an idea for how to make the old lady stop wanting to protect her pet...