Wood Books

In this retelling of this magical Scottish folktale, Mordicai Gerstein and Susan Cooper tell of the Selkie (maiden of the sea) who is compelled to live among mortals. When Donallan sees a beautiful naked selkie on the rocks, he falls in love with her and steals her sealskin so she can no longer live in the sea. He marries her, and she bears him five children. But she longs for her sea home and family. At last she finds her skin, and is able to return to the sea. This lovely book will appeal to all ages - 3-adult. A Publishers Weekly review said of it, "The lyrical text weaves a tale of sweeping dimension; this is storytelling at its finest. Particularly lovely are Hutton's sensitive and muted watercolors."

Mermaids get all the good press. Heck, you can't throw a dart in a crowded library without hitting five or six children's books all dedicated to those fishy sea ladies. But what about selkie women? When do they get their due? Few books about selkies actually make them out to be women, as it happens. The men get, "A Stranger Came Ashore" and "Island of the Aunts", for example. Female selkies appear in "Daughter of the Sea", but not much else. So it was with great joy that I located not only a selkie book starring a woman, but a picture book at that. "The Selkie Girl" is your classic tale of abduction, male dominance, and naked women. Everything a picture book could aspire to. It is written by children's literature demi-god Susan Cooper (known best for her "The Dark Is Rising" stories), and illustrated by fellow Brit Warwick Hutton. It is a lovely little work.

Donallan lives alone by the sea with his cat and his dog and his sheep. It's a lonely life and Donallan longs for some company. One day, while scrounging for seaweed, he is enchanted by the song of three lovely naked women singing on a nearby rock. When he tries to investigate, however, they dive into the waves and become seals or selkies. An elderly man living near Donallan tells the young man how to catch one of the women as his bride. He must come on the same day one year from now and before the woman can grab it, steal her seal skin. Then she'll be bound to follow Donallan home. He does, she does, and they have five kids. Until, one day, their youngest son catches his father removing a lovely long sealskin from a mysterious brick behind their house...

Cooper, quite frankly, should do more picture books. This particular one contains all her lovely turns of phrase and particular lilts. Says the first sentence in the book, "The island rise green out of the sea, where the waves foam over the grey rocks, and strange things may happen there". The fact that Cooper has remained faithful to the whole naked chick part of the tale is also impressive. Other authors might have shied away or said the ladies were wearing seaweed garments or some such thing. The tale is a classic one, one told for centuries and not to be tampered with. So yes, this is a book about a man basically forcing someone to be his wife. Therefore, when she escapes back to the sea at the end, you're not particularly sad about it. Some kids reading the book may be a bit perturbed, but picture books should engage children as much as possible.

It is a bit of a pity that Warwick Hutton's illustrations don't convey the mystery of the story particularly well. His watercolors are lovely and majestic, but not particularly detailed. I cannot help but think that the book's editor could have located a more appropriate illustrator somewhere. Ah well. In the end it's the story that matters, and this one is truly lovely. Barbaric, perhaps. But lovely. For a great Irish tale that doesn't necessarily involve leprechauns, try "The Selkie Girl" on for size.

This book was amazing to me the first time I read it and continues to touch me deeply....so much so that I just spent $90. for an old used copy so that I could own it and return to it again and again. It is the story of all women, women who are taken from their true selves to serve others, in places that are foreign to their souls. And, of course, the story of her return. A children's book, but one that speaks to all ages. Magical. Timeless. I have heard that this story has been told in many languages for many hundreds of years. I would welcome any information that anyone has about this.

This story has a gripping plot with a wonderfully poignant ending. Children will empathise with the dilemma facing the mother and her children in this tale.

Hodge Wood's "Sharks on Wounded Fish: Chum Water" is an absolutely riveting read ... a personal memoir that captures and holds the readers interest from beginning to end.
Mr. Wood grabs the reader from the very first pages with his unique voice and flair for humor, and masterfully maintains that flow throughout. His plotting and writing skills makes reading his work a pleasure.
The reader can surmise from the back cover and the introductory pages that this book is about an incredibly debilitating accident that renders the author paralyzed, so I expected a heart-wrenching account of the fateful day that ended life as Hodge Wood knew it forever. I wasn't disappointed, but I was surprised. The picture-painting detail and sometimes humorous way that Mr. Wood tackles a very dire and sober subject was completely unexpected, and totally appreciated. The open and honest way that he relays the experience of his ordeal allows the reader to become a part of (and actually feel) everything that he felt and endured. The reader will find themselves terrified during his description of the accident that broke his neck, and completely outraged by the inept and cruel way that he was treated by some of the health care professionals that were sworn to provide him with quality patient care and compassion.
Throughout his ordeal, Mr. Wood lost everything but his faith ... his faith in God and in himself. His story is an incredible tale of strength and perseverance. His passion for life drove him not only to push his battered body beyond its physical limits, but to thrive in his quest for a career, and a fulfilling personal life.
Mr. Wood is a master storyteller and I look very forward to reading his works to follow. I will enthusiastically recommend "Chum Water" to my family and friends.

Hodge Wood is a remarkable person. Filled with joy, empathy and insight into human nature, Sharks On Wounded Fish: Chum Water (Sharks on Wounded Fish) is the first in Hodge's Sharks on Wounded Fish series. In it, he describes the accident that changed his life forever -- and his valient effort to deal with paralysis.

For those of us who complain about bills, romantic disappointments and the state of the government, Hodge reveals the intimate details of life with spinal cord injury. It is a wakeup call. He shows us what it feels like to be dependent on others for the smallest of his human needs. His disability both frightens and horrifies those of us who are secure in our abilities. On the other hand, his determination to rebuild his life after the accident inspires and gives the laziest of us hope.

Having said that, Chum Water is a page-turner. Readable and tender, Hodge shows us the best part of humanity -- and the worst. A man filled with fun and adventure before the accident, Hodge shows us that we are always who we are dispite the misfortunes of life. I highly recommend this book.

Chum Water by Hodge Wood

Left with a devastating spinal cord injury after a car accident, Hodge Wood's young life is turned upside-down. In Chum Water, Wood provides a unique, insightful perspective as a patient and later as a health care provider. Reality slaps Wood in the face when he is thrust into a world where caretakers strip him of his self-dignity...as well as his Wellington boots. With determined and courageous effort, Wood brings to light the dedication and tenacity one must have to survive with a broken body and a broken soul.

Wood begins his lifelong recovery facing many obstacles others can only try to imagine. He navigates the health care system and endures strenous therapy sessions to gain back physical strength. When questioned as to what he will do for the rest of his life, he rises to the challenge of being a "disabled" student in a health field dominated by women.

Wood's positive attitude, along with his humor and belief in God, provides him with the needed strength to conquer his fears and tread new waters.

Chum Water, is the first book in Hodge Wood's series, Sharks on Wounded Fish.

Chum Water is definitely a heart felt journey that will keep you crying and laughing at the same time. This book shows the true meaning of overcoming all obstacles. No matter what happens to one, as long as we have our mind, we can accomplish anything. I think Hodge truly captured this idea in his book.

I love the Challengers of the Unknown!! I have loved this team of classic Kirby characters ever since my dad gave me all his Silver Age comics!! The concept of a group of guys who cheated death and now go out in search of the strange and unknown was just always intriguing to me!!
For the price and the content you just can't beat it!!
I love that DC has finally decided to collect older titles in a cheap, affordable format that ANYONE can get without putting a HUGE dent in their pockets!!
Yes they are in black and white but to me I think that enhances the art work of the penciller and the inker who created these issues!!

Now DC needs to bring on The Metal Men!! ;)

It is fantastic that DC has chosen to reprint their lesser known titles in this format. These stories were almost never reprinted before. The telephone book format is great, keeps the books affordable and accessible for everyone. The Challengers had some great stories and art over the years and outlasted many of the other books in the DC line that had better know heroes over the years. Thanks DC and please reprint some of the other team books of the Challenger type!

The line work in this volume of Showcase Presents is fantastic! Kirby's art leaps off the page! I think this volume is in the top five of all the Showcases offered so far. Dc should be commended on the wonderful variety of Showcases! We're getting adventure, horror, Sci-Fi, as well as the expected spandex teams. You can not go wrong with any book in the whole showcase line, but I think this Showcase Presents: Challengers of The Unknown, is a great place to start. Top of the line stories and art throughout, and you can see where some of the ideas for Kirby's later Fantastic Four started!

The art in this volume is SPECTACULAR. Specifically, in Challengers Of The Unknown #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8. The legendary Jack Kirby is inked by the EQUALLY legendary Wally Wood (Daredevil, EC Comics, MAD, The Outer Space Spirit and the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents to name a few).

This volume represents the work of two comics masters at the height of their ability showing how it's done! Wally Wood was an acknowledged master of futuristic sf ships and monsters and his control of light an line always brought a certain polish to any book on which he worked. Kirby is, well... Kirby. Kirby helped define the visual language of sequential illustration and his creations and concepts have been the foundation of Marvel Comics since the Silver Age.

To have Kirby partnered with Wood is about as good as it gets!

For the record-
This volume covers 1957- 1961 and reprints Showcase #6 , #7, #11, #12 and Challengers Of The Unknown #1-17

It's Kirby. It's Wood. It's a GREAT read. AND... it's cheap. 'Nuff said.

This book is excellent. Giving you the basic, and advanced knowledge of soil behavior written in the most simplest way.
Great work.

All geotechnical engineers must read this book. A beautifully crafted book with insight into soil strength and soil behavior. Wait untill the end of the chapters where theoretical developments are extended to describe laboratory testing from triaxial testings to Atterberg's limit.

I don't know how to explain about that but this book's really the best.

Let me recommend this book to you, if you are interested in soil mechanics, numerical modelling, and if you try to understand soils well.
Critical states soil mechanics is a popular framework for the recent developement of many soil constitutive models. This book is a step by step exploration of this framework, especially Modified Cam Clay model, both conceptually and numerically. The stress-strain-strength behaviors of cohesive and cohesionless soils under drained or undrained condition can be quantitively determined using this simple model. More sophisticated models in the current research front, for example, MIT S2 model, bounding surface models, are all shadowed within critical state concepts.
Overall, it is a book about a very useful elasto-plastic soil mechanics model. It uses some fundamentals of elasticity and plasticity. You may meet a little bit mathematics there, but that is almost trivial compared with that used in solid mechanics and theory of plasticity.

This book is truly a treasure. I was hooked from the moment I opened it, didn't want it to end and couldn't stop thinking or talking, about it when it was finished. The characters are rich and lovable, the story is captivating and there are important life lessons in each chapter. I came away with a new perspective of myself, life and the universe. Since reading the book, seeing sparkles glimmering on any body of water reminds me how rich and vast life really is. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in spirituality and exploring alternate perspectives of the universe.

This is one of those stories you never want to end. I fell in love with the characters, their journey through time made me more aware of my spirit and purpose in life. I am a strong believer in past lives and their effect on who we are today. If you feel the same -- then this book is for you. Enjoy!

"Sparkle" is it. Not only do you fall in love with the characters and the enchanting lives (past and present!) they lead, but you also come to love yourself more than you ever have before. This book will undoubtedly openthe eyes of the reader to themselves and to the Universe we live in.

I've read A Sparkle on the Water three times because it's very rich and there is more to glean with each reading, more that I'm ready to "hear." It's easy to fall in love with the characters of this book, and never want to leave them. In the course of reading the book, you will realize that it will end and that thought will bring sadness. Once you start Sparkle, you're in a different world which is magical and soothing. The stories inform us about the multitude of lessons and gifts we have in our life--we can learn from these lives which come alive so vividly, from the review of the lives in the between, and from the message of love and hope which is the spirit of Sparkle. You get the big picture in a delightful way, through stories rather than intellectual exposition. Sparkle combines romance, metaphysics, healing, ets, the Universe's eternal messages, and speaks to anyone who has spiritual yearnings.

THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK, ME BEING A HUGE SCIFI FAN THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST STARWARS BOOKS EVER WRITTEN. I WAS GLAD TO GIVE IT FIVE STARS.

Besides being extremely fun for Star Wars fans to see their heroes represented in art, this book, like Dorman's book, is great for art students because it shows the painting's process from concept to live model to finished work.

THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK, ME BEING A HUGE SCIFI FAN THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST STARWARS BOOKS EVER WRITTEN. I WAS GLAD TO GIVE IT FIVE STARS.

This book would have been more appropriately titled Star Wars: The Art of Shadows of the Empire.

While this book showcases most if not all of the Star Wars art by the Brothers Hildebrandt, it centers on the SotE story. It has all of their many paintings depicting the story in chronological order, along with quotes from the book, photos of their various models and references, early sketches, them at work, and commentary on their creative process. All of the art is beautifully rendered on the glossy pages.

After the are depicting the main story, there are 10 large portraits, one each of all the main characters, which are, if anything, more breathtaking than the story paintings, followed by six renditions of the characters' ships, including the stinger and virago. After that there are six paintings of Boba Fetts adventures in the comics and six paintings of Dash's adventures in the game. If you are a star wars or SotE or just a sci-fi art enthusiast, you should have this book. Forget the SotE comic, this one is much more well done and it is simply stunning.

I place very high recommendation on this book.

Now we know why Tiger Woods is such a winner--he believes that everyone can make a difference in the world, and this book shows how. Written by his dad (and clearly his best friend), this book has great ideas for kids/teens about how to get involved, make friends, be a team player, get along with parents, and be a bigger, better person. We especially liked the entries that addressed dealing with bullies and racism, and how to be a good winner and loser. Positive role models are so rare for kids, especially from the sports world. Tiger is a real treasure, and so is this book--it will be our #1 gift to give this year!

Earl and Tiger Woods team up in this book to provide great advice for children on how to make the most of their lives. The book begins with an introduction by Tiger that talks about the importance of being a role model, and describes his Dad as his. From his Father, he learned to "share and care." He challenges young readers. "With your help, I believe that we can make a difference in the lives of others across the world. I challenge you to join me."

The rest of the book contains advice by Earl for young people, the same advice that he gave Tiger. At the end of many sections, Tiger adds a quote that endorses and amplifies how he internalized these messages. Although explicitly aimed at youngsters, this book is equally valuable as role model information for parents, especially Fathers.

The key message is that good habits make for a better life. The book has about 70 brief essays that detail these good habits. Space limitations here prevent listing them all, but I thought they were all well worth articulating. Here are 19 of my favorite sections:

Follow your passion, not the pack.

Did you help someone today?

Unload your past mistakes.

Shut down the jerk who teases you.

You can pick your friends, but not your brothers and sisters.

You are a leader.

You have to start somewhere.

Notice the kid everyone ignores.

Respect your body.

Take responsibility for yourself.

Complaining is for cowards.

Are you listening?

Say hello.

What are you proud of today?

Keep promises.

Say you're sorry.

Say thank you.

Ask others about themselves.

Read newspapers.

Tiger Woods fans will revel in some of the stories in the book. One of my favorites is about Tiger when he was five. Earl and Tiger were watching a news program, and a story came on about children starving during the famine and civil war in Ethiopia. Earl told Tiger that a friend of Earl's was going to Ethiopia to help. Without another word, Tiger went into his room and brought back some of his cherished gold coins he collected and asked his father to send them to help the children in Ethiopia. Any parent would be proud to have such a child, even if he couldn't play golf!

Tiger's great golf ability is handled well in the book. Earl and Tiger make it clear that how well you hit the ball doesn't matter, it's what kind of person you are that counts. This message comes through loud and clear, and should help steer some young people away from the frivolous lives that many professional athletes live.

You will be proud of the Woods family as you read this book. It will reaffirm your faith in humanity and in positive role models. It is a truly heartwarming book in every way.

After you have shared this book with young people and begun to model your actions on Earl, think about how else you could be a good role model. What is your special gift that can inspire others to become a role model? Let me repeat Tiger's words here. "With your help, I believe we can make a difference in the lives of others across the world."

Love being a role model!

Parents and their children will love this great book where Earl Woods challenges young people to make a difference in their lives. As the father of champion golfer Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, Earl Woods shares his motivational philosophy of life for building character. He gives young people good solid advice in dealing with life's obstacles and coming out a winner.

Earl Woods lays down those old fashioned values of honesty, courage, integrity, respect and others that are essential in living in today's world. Each section begins with a question or comment that Earl explains and later has Tiger share his own thoughts about the subject. Thus you have a beautiful combination of father and son encouraging young people to achieve excellence in their lives. It is moving to read Tiger's sharing of his relationship with his father.

Get this book as a gift for that special young person in your life. Use it as a resource in motivating your students and raising your children to become responsible men and women. Our children are precious jewels. They will make a difference in this world.

I read the book and am planning to buy three more copies, one for our church library and one for my two oldest grandchildren. Children who are looking for a hero can trust that this book will be an inspirtation to them. The principles used by the Woods family while raising Tiger Woods are extremely admirable for people of all ages. It is easy reading and gives positive ideas on how to live our lives.

This book should be considered as a must read for those who want to understand statistics beyond "magical formulas and the rituel of significance tests". Authors manage to provide very concise, clear (and of course visual) depiction of some fundamental statistical methods. I think this book is an easy bridge to be crossed in order to reach the realm of advanced statistical theory.

This book is a good geometric explaination for regression, concentrated in the manipulation of normal distribution.

I read this after a course using Degroot's "Probability and statistics". It does give me deeper understanding about the text book.

I would like to see more geometric explaination about other theoretical aspect of statistics, such as fisher's information inequity and why we can use sufficient statistic to optimize estimator.

I am an educator of beginning college students. I have taught statistics for some 8 years and this book supplies the insight that allows the student to visually 'see' the connections between ANOVA, Regression, and ANCOVA. It does take some work to appreciate the approach, but is certainly worth it. As the authors state, it is an intermediate between the 'cookbook' routines and the advanced format using matrix algebra. I found I needed to review vector manipulation and some algebra of random variables before getting very far, but that is an acceptable preliminary to the consequent benefits.

This book reviews some of the core concepts of statistical science, through the angle of geometrical properties. This book will be very interesting for graduate or undergraduate students who want to broaden their understanding. Also for non specialists, this book presents the subject in a very easy to understand manner. It really helped me tremendously with statistical concepts.

This is such a good book!! I've read it a lot of times and I love it! Its such an exciting adventure and mystery that you won't be able to put it down. Its about 2 kids that go on an adventure and have amazing experiences. It is suspensful and really exciting! You should definetly buy it!Oh and if you want the sequal its called Islands Of Light.

p.s. Hi Dad!

This is such a good book!! I've read it a lot of times and I love it! Its such an exciting adventure and mystery that you won't be able to put it down. Its about 2 kids that go on an adventure and have amazing experiences. It is suspensful and really exciting! You should definetly buy it!

p.s. Hi Dad!

Although this book is written for children, I, as an adult found myself thoroughly enjoying it as I read it. Several times I was aware of the hairs on my neck standing up as I read. I would highly recommend it to young readers who enjoy a good mystery. I am anxiously awaiting a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it was given to my 10 year-old daughter to read! This book had mystery, adventure and kept the readers attention. It is a great example of team work between a brother and sister who are out to solve a mystery. It also highlights a great example of trust between parents and their children.

I'm anxiously waiting for the sequel!!

Harriett Woods tells it like it is for women in politics..she's been there...and also for women who want a voice and action in the world of power. There is plenty of virtual reality here written honestly and skillfully. She is challenging us to have the courage to step up to power in government but also in business and daily life.You go,girl!

A really interesting account of women's (slow) progress into politics from someone who lived it. Harriet endured a lot of bias and discrimination as she ran for public office (won some and lost some) and found that running was the easy part! She headed up the Women's Poltical Caucus and made it a credible force for women in politics, she opened many doors for women who came later. For me, with a new interest in politics and a desire to see women play a greater role in our democracy - Harriet's story is important and necessary background.

This book fills a gap in political literature and should be required reading for all those involved in politics at the grassroots level as well as numerous political science classes. The emergence of women into the political mainstream was probably the most important political trend in the United States in the last half of the 20th century and is one sure to continue into the 21st century. It is important not only because when we have men and women serving together in government, we have better government; but it is incredibly important to the status of women throughout the world. This book is essential because of the importance of its subject. In detailing her struggles in politics, Woods gives excellent practical advice and perspective to women politicians trying to get elected, women office holders trying to impact the political process of city, county, state and federal governments, and also to men to better understand the particular differences and benefits to working together. Whether she is talking about her early struggles in the Missouri legislature or the impact of the Anita Hill hearings during Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court confirmation process, Woods makes these events jump alive for us and helps us gain perspective on the critical impact women have had and can have as partners in the governmental process. This book assumed an added poignance for me because during my reading of it, the plane crash occurred that claimed the life of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. It is interesting to hear Woods' references to him in this book. Clearly, I highly recommend this book for all involved in the political process, both men and women. As a man, we cannot afford to allow the talents of our daughters, wife, mother, grandmothers, aunts and friends to be ignored and unrealized. The opportunity to now expand the role of women in government may be one which will have the most impact in improving our political system here in the United States and around the world.

Former Lt. Gov. Harriet Woods presents her insights into the changes she has witnessed over past decades. Particular insights are presented on changes in how the public regards women in politics.
It was only three decades ago when few were concerned with how the majority of women felt on issues, according to Ms. Woods. Few women existed in such professional occupations as physician and attorney. (In 1960, 95% of law degrees were awarded to men. Today, about one third of law school graduates are female.) The use of contraceptives then was a crime. The term "domestic violence" had yet to enter our collective vocabulary. Readers unfamiliar with this past will marvel as they read how far women, as a group, have advanced in some (but definitely not all) areas within one generation.
These times are described along with the career of Harriet Woods. Entering politics over public inattentiveness to her complaints over a loose manhole, Harriet Woods continued her activism when appointed to a City Council vacancy. From there, she was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1976, served as Lt. Governor, and then led the National Womens Political Caucus.
Harriet Woods did not at first want to be identified as a
"women's issues" politician. She soon learned there was a substantial need for her to advocate women's issues. Fortunately she also was able to make her mark in others areas, such as drafting and passing model nursing home reform legislation.
The 1960s opened new discussions regarding the status of women, Harriet Woods writes. More women entered politics. Even today, though, very few women with small children are politically active. Harriet Woods notes that 85% of female office holders are over 40 years in age. By comparison, 28% of male office holders are age 40 or younger.
The role of women in politics has changed dramatically in Harriet Woods's lifetime. This book is an excellent record of those changes written by someone who both observed and participated in these changes.