Wood Books

I was entranced by this book. I began reading it to relive my own experiences of growing up on the Natal South Coast in the 1960s. The author's descriptions took me right back: the beaches, the climate, the vegetation, the culture, and even the coastal train are all described with affectionate precision. Her reference to amathungulu berries as `martin-gulus' gave me a `shock of recognition' at a distance of forty years. Her accuracy and honesty make this a valuable first-hand witness to what it was like to grow up there, then.

This attention to language is reflected in the presentation of the text. Non-English words are italicized and expressions peculiar to South Africa are placed in bold. Both are explained in the glossary, with aids to pronunciation when necessary. The author is an accomplished artist, and her clear maps and diagrams, and original artwork and photographs (some by other family members) enhance the book throughout.

As a direct contemporary of the author, I recognised the authenticity of her accounts of other life experiences that are similar to mine, such as the process of coming to Christian faith as a young adult or the controlled pain of emigrating with a young family. Again, I found that her recollections rang true, capturing with simplicity some of the complexity of these experiences.

The author's personal narrative is helpfully located within a wider historical perspective. The shaded `bhansela' (bonus) boxes offer a shift of focus that places her story in 3-D. Chapter 7, `Suid Afrika,' differs from the others in offering an overview of South African history, from the arrival of the Dutch in 1652 to 2006. The use of the Afrikaans name for the country reveals that this is a re-telling of the former `official' Afrikaner view from the perspective of an English-speaker. It is an example of oral history, artfully incorporating within it the recognition that others will have their own `meta-narrative', and that these are all likely to differ from whatever the official version is at the time.

A beautiful book, then, that deserves a wide readership. Readers familiar with South Africa will find much to enjoy, celebrate and regret. Others, curious about what life was like for South Africans of British descent in the apartheid era, will find here an honest, enlightening and appreciative family story with implications for us all.

Writer's Digest 15th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards.

Judge's Commentary: I greatly enjoyed the artwork and the juxtaposition of the art with the stories and locations described within the text. The writing is excellent and all is purposeful. The author has truly lived a remarkable life. Unlike many life-story/memoir writers, this author seems to see beyond herself and is able to reflect on the community at large, namely, South Africa and the U.S. She is one of the most learned, brilliant people I have ever read/learned from. From cover to cover: most ingenious.


Jeanette Gilks: Artist/Educator

Here is a story that sweeps broad and deep. Shelley manages to engage with both the micro and macro visions of things: minute, intensely personal details are seamlessly woven into the larger web of world events. Everything and everyone that has touched Shelley has been remembered - no, resurrected - in meticulous and often humorous detail. You peep into her world as you peep through a jeweller's loupe, where even the smallest worlds are vast landscapes of great clarity, colour and depth. Her world, our world, is made precious. The wisdom in this anecdotal tale is dished out with spice and flavour. Entirely to my taste!


Andre van Niekerk: Sculptor

An exquisite read for another expat. I relived my life in South Africa through the prose on these pages. Shelley brought back the vibrancy, the smells and sounds, the joy and pain that is Africa. The unbiased historical background will give readers a deeper understanding of the 'White Tribe of Africa'. To quote the author; 'True art is a sacrificial offering, a precious gift tremulously given to fellow human beings. The gift can be accepted, appreciated, thirstily imbibed - like sweet water from the last oasis on a parched planet'. This reader drank gratefully from this gift and in his humble opinion, considers the author to be a true artist.

The story is well written and easy to read aloud. The illustrations and story are for the older toddler who will appreciate the band of friends and understand the ageist theme. Beautiful illustrations.

"The Musicians of Bremen" as illustrated in watercolor and ink by Niroot Puttapipat is a treasure, a work of art. Most are well familiar with the story of the four aging animals who band together to go to Bremen and become musicians. In this artist's hands the animals look as if they have led long lives, yet they're endearing, each invested with a distinct personality that mirrors the animal's past.

First, we see donkey who is going to be discarded by her owner because she can no longer carry heavy sacks of flour. There she is - silhouetted against a sparse landscape, her tail drooping but proud, her thin legs weary from work.

Dog has fled in fear from a master who knows the dog can no longer hunt - he is still panting from the exertion of running away, and poor cat lies by the side of the road, discarded by a mistress because his teeth and claws are no longer able to capture mice.

Finally, an "utterly furious rooster crowing for all he was worth" because he knows he's on the menu for Sunday dinner. What a quartet they make.

The robbers are the sneakiest, slyest looking bunch you've ever seen, avarice and greed personified.

This is Niroot Puttapipat's first picture book. It's a winner!

- Gail Cooke

A perfect way to bring Laura's memories in the big woods to life. From churning butter, romping outside or playing paper dolls by the fire, your child can recreate a typical day at the Ingalls' cabin. This beautifully illustrated book helps your child visualize what pioneer life was like and the variety of the stickers holds their interest for hours. A must have for any Little House fan who loves stickers.

A perfect way to bring Laura's memories in the big woods to life. From churning butter, romping outside or playing paper dolls by the fire, your child can recreate a typical day at the Ingalls' cabin. This beautifully illustrated book helps your child visualize what pioneer life was like and the variety of the stickers holds their interest for hours. A must have for any Little House fan who loves stickers.

AN EXCELLENT READ!!! PICKED IT UP AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY TODAY IN THE "NEW ARRIVALS" SECTION. PLANNED TO READ IT IN 3 DAYS TO MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, READ IT ALL THE 1ST DAY. ONCE WE STARTED, WE COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! AN INFORMATIVE PORTRAYAL OF SLAVERY WITHOUT BEING TOO GRAPHIC FOR THE YOUNGSTER. ACCOLADES TO THE AUTHOR! LOOKING FORWARD TO READING YOUR OTHER BOOKS.

Eleven-year old slave Sally Henderson is faced with difficult choices as she and her family make a run for it, from Southern slavery into the Florida swamp. If they can make it to Seminole territory, her family may stand a better chance of remaining free. The story is very accessible to young readers, without shying away from some of the harsher realities of plantation life. Unfortunately, her mother does not survive an attack by alligators, but the remainder of her family manages to make it to relative safety. The Seminoles give Sally the name, "Little Song" for her habit of singing to herself to calm her nerves. While settling in to her new life, Sally must learn how to enjoy life again, even though her harrowing experiences will always stay with her. A unique perspective and a worthwhile read.

I breezed through this book in a couple of days. These "My Shot" interviews are classic, and the stories these golfers tell are downright amazing. Anyone into golf nostalgia won't be disappointed by this book.

Awesome book by an Awesome golf author!!!!!
A must have for the golf nut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been creating rustic woodsy baskets as well as teaching classes for fifteen years.Im always looking for new good quality books to learn from as well as share with my students. Natural baskets shows supplies easily collectable from your own backyard or near by woods, no matter where you live. This book has many clear and precise illustrations covering open work, twining coiling as well as rib style creations. Lots of good information for basket weavers of all skill levels. I enjoy mine very much.

I have been creating rustic woodsy baskets as well as teaching classes for Fifteen years.Im always looking for new good quality books to learn from as well as share with my students. Natural baskets shows supplies easily collectable from your own backyard or near by woods, no matter where you live. The illustrations are clear ,precise and easy to read. I enjoy mine very much.

June Wood's book comes straight from her heart into the hearts of her readers; this is a love story devoted to her father and the expansive and awe inspiring country in which she has lived her rich life: Nechako, British Columbia, Canada. Wood's writing is crafted to evoke in her readers the challenges provided early settlers of the area in terms of terrain, climate, and general survival. She also includes a number of photographs that add to her written account (I will never forget the photo of Bert and another man standing with an upright moose between them, in a harness with lead rope...the moose is frozen solid). We come to love and admire her dad, Bert Irvine, as he and his cohorts move to Nechako as trappers who annually range over unconceivable distances; they also bring their families, make Nechako their home, clear forests, and build everything themselves. This is a type of lifestyle we forget too quickly as we move from thermostat to computer to microwave, as we turn on the faucet for hot and cold running water, and thankfully, June Wood has captured it for the enjoyment and edification of us all. She herself continues to live in Nechako, as hydroelectric dams steal the wild rivers, as the pine bark beetles (spreading wildly in large part because of human interaction) devour the forests, and other environmental threats crawl over the land. Wood is the type of person on whom our planet depends, as she continues to preserve the best of her father's lifestyle while moving into the technology of the present, speaking out on behalf of the environment. Bert Irvine is still living and he has read this book written for him by his daughter, and seen it published. As I said above, this is a love story.

I just loved this book. The lady that wrote this lived a life few people ever see.

A must-have for any C. elegans laboratory or any researcher interested in beginning to work with C. elegans.

This is an extraordiany book full of information vital for people who are interested or reseaching on C. elegans. It gives detail information as well as illustrations to help guide neophyte undergraduates/graduates to understand why this worm is used as a model for neuroscience reseach. This book covers the genetics, genome, anatomy, cell lineage, development, nerous system, embryology, etc. of C. elegans in as much detail as one will need to know plus useful references. Highly reccommend this book for people working with this worm in the lab.

When picking out a book to read at night, this book seems to come up more often than any other. My six-year-old stepson and I have probably read this book over 150 times in the past 2 years, and he never gets tired of it. It's fun to read for me and he loves the holograms. I would definitely recommend this book for any child interested in dinosaurs.

Arielle (5 years old) has owned this book for two days, has had it read to her umpteen times, memorized it, and had it read to all her friends--who stopped transfixed in a kid's pool to listen. I have run out of fingers, and subsequently lost count of just how many times umpteen is. Since you'll be reading it a lot, you'll be glad to know if you are a parent, that A Night in the Dinosaur Graveyard is an adult friendly book (Sesame Street vs. Nickolodean's Blues Clues if you get my drift.) If a book wins out over cool pool water in the Louisiana summer heat--you know you have a winner

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. How Jerry lived through such a harrowing experience is amazing. How he overcame overwhelming odds was unbelievable. The loss of his friends to suicide was heartbreaking. However, he was able to overcome all that he had to endure. He is an inspiration to all of us. He is a wonderful father, husband and grandfather. I am proud to call him my friend

Its been a long time since I read a book that I literally could not stop reading. This true white knuckle action acount of the author's war time experiences is a great candidate for the big screen. Jerry begins the book as a prospective pro baseball player. Soon he inadvertantly trips into a path which will carry him into every major military action in the 60s, 70s and 80s. His descriptions of the POW camp he was in are priceless and something we as Americans who grew up in this era need to hear. Much of what he suffered was swept under the rug officialy. He and his comrads deserved a lot more...and a lot better. From the POW camp Jerry and several others make a terrifying escape. I'm telling you, its a must read. This is one of those scenes that just cannot be forgotten. Jerry and some of the others make it back to the States and thats where the depth of the book really unfolds. They have to cope with a lot and the way they get through is to sign up for clandestine military operations. Just when you thought the book was ending it takes a whole new twist. You just won't believe some of the surprizes in the end of this book. I highly recommend this book.