Media Books

I have to get mine rebound. My sister and I have the one we used to read as kids and her kids and now mine beg for it everynight. Needless-to-say, it's in tatters!

My kids', and now my grandkids' favorite favorite favorite book.
I wish I could buy fresh new editions for all the children in my life...

I loved being read and reading this as a child, the funny poems and pictures are a delight. I still have the copy I had as a child and now enjoy reading it with my two daugthers, my older daughter loves the humor too. It is wonderful it is available in print again for families to love.

One of my favorite books as a kid; really made me want to visit New England. One of these days I have to buy myself a copy, but I really wish it was in print for new kids to enjoy.

I am so pleased to see that Amazon is offering this book. I grew up reading it and the rhymes are still so vivid. The illustrations by Wendy Watson are splendid and offer a wonderful glimpse into family life and life in small communities--quaint and old fashioned. It's a Garrison Keillor or Dylan Thomas type of world. The sweet and humorous pictures often contain little snippets of conversation (between the foxes) that illuminate the rhymes and make it that much more interesting a read, and there's always something happening in the background that makes it fun to pore over. I would highly recommend this for children 3-7. It's a warm book and perfect for a Fall day when the leaves are turning or Winter evening with a cup of cocoa.

Ayane Yamano's work is always top noth quality. Interesting stories, beautiful drawings. The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that only a half of this manga is devoted to the Finder series. The rest are bonus stories that have nothing in common with the main story. They are very good themselves but I would have prefered less bonus, more main material :(

This book is a MUST have for any true yaoi fan. Beautifully erotic, dramatic, and action-packed. Ayano Yamane churns out believable, sexy characters and a plot that will have you begging for more. I loved it!!! Totally worth the buy!

The whole series of Finders books are hot, beautifully drawn, and have good story. The sex scenes are really quality. The creator knows how to give you just enough build-up, romantic tension, and character development before diving into quality sexing that gives your tummy flip-flops because of the tense character intrigue!

The art is meticulous, perfect! Thats why so many artists imitate her. I don't think there's a better manga artist out there in my opinion.

I completely love this series, but it's not for anyone who does not enjoy the prospect of explicit sexual scenes of men with other men. Everyone else can enjoy to the fullest! Truly lovely. Your eyes are drawn back and forth over the dark, stoic Asami and the shiny new penny Akihito. The play between them is palatable.

Akihito is a tabloid photographer, and Asami is a mob boss. Akihito is caught taking compromising pictures of a politician, and Asami and his goons corner him on a rooftop. They begin to interrogate the photographer, and none too nicely. Luckily Akihito daringly escapes before they could discover his source. Akihito even taunts the Yakuza as he clings to the side of the building he jumped from to elude them. Despite a warning from his source, a cop (and apparently father figure) named Yamazaki, Akihito goes on yet another assignment. Possibly one that Yamazaki has set Akihito up on. This gets him snagged by Asami and his men. It's a trap. Akihito had no idea, until Asami stares directly at his camera just as he takes a shot. (A lovely knowing smile on Asami's face in that shot!) What follows is the kidnaping and seriously hot debauching of poor Akihito. Lucky for Akhito, Asami seems to have done this once or twice. (Scoff!) He dances expertly on the line between cruelty and kindness. He teases Akihito with several things, the best among them was taunting him with his own camera by taking some choice shots of his very naked and vulnerable body. There are times when Asami's even quite tender, but he is always in complete control. He makes sure that Akihito enjoys himself very well in the end. Can you say "screaming orgasm"? I knew you could.

The morning after finds Akihito reflecting on the previous night. Attempting to retrieve the equipment left behind during his kidnapping, he stumbles upon a deal between another mob boss and his friend Yamazaki. Akihito waits until the Yakuza leave, then tells Yamazaki that he's ok with him dealing with the mob, that he trusts him and his judgement as a policemen. Stunned at being found out, Yamazaki draws his gun and aims for Akihito shakily. Asami steps out of the shadows. He's been there the whole time. He pushes Akihito out of the line of fire to the floor, stepping into that line himself to kill Yamazaki. The cops are called, and the scene is left with Akihito sitting on the dock crying and feeling used. Asami comes back and consoles Akihito. Angry that Asami has used him too, Akihito tells Asami that he will find out his weakness and use it to his advantage. Asami grinning cooly and smoking a cigarette says he looks forward to being in Akihito's viewvinder, and looking forward to having Akihito watching him.

There is more. It gets even better, (Wait 'till you see Fei Long!) but if this hasn't hooked you nothing that follows will. The artwork is full of excellent detail, and the expressions are beautiful and believable. Asami is sexy and sleek in his tailored and neat business suits, his eyes are part of a well controlled mask. They show just a little emotion, but the satisfaction is completely evident when he's with Akihito. I'd even say he can't quite help himself. Akihito's beauty is his youth and his innocence. His expressions are wild and uncontrolled. He wears the uniform of the young: jeans, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, layers that do little to hide his lithe masculine frame. There is no doubt by the end of the manga that Akihito is craving Asami's calculated cruelty every bit as much as Asami craves Akihito's crumbling resistance.

This is my first real yaoi. It's really good but very short for my taste. When it arrived I have thought: good, it's really thick, so I have a lot to read. But of 200 pages, less than 100 are about Akihito and Asami, the two main characters, and the other are all short stories by the same author (some really interesting, like Love Lesson).

Akihito is a young photoreporter; he captures the attention of Asami, a business man who probably is engaged in a drug traffic and with the mafia. Asami kidnaps Akihito and during a night of passion and non consensual sex, marks Akihito as his property. When he frees the boy the next day, Akihito knows he could never forget this domineering man. Everytime he meets him, he can't deny the passion he feels.

And Akihito lets the guy fly away everytime, knowing that he will return back to him. But he will do also everything to protect him from his enemies that could use Akihito as a pawn to draw him in a trap.

Akihito is really young. Maybe not in age, but in experience. But he has a strong wit and Asami is fascinating by his free spirit. And he is really possessive: Akihito could be free, but not free to fly in the arms of another man.

In this graphic novel Akihito is not ready to admit his desires for another man, above all a man with a not so clear past. If I had not yet ordered the next two books in this series I would be a lot disappointed in not knowing if ours two characters will continue their game of love.

Recently I was reminded of this awesome book, which I loved to have read to me when I was a young child. I'm so excited to share it with my new niece and nephew! Wonderful story line of determination, and emphasis that one can be whatever one chooses to be.

This book was handed down to us from other family members who read it to their kids years ago. We loved it as much as they did and ended up buying a copy to give to our school. Highly recommended.

my daughter enjoyed this book when she was small. so much so that it looked very well used now my granddaughter is enjoying the book and it fast becoming her favorite book to read

Even though it isn't a "funny" book, I find myself utterly amused
with the pictures. The story is simple and charming.
The book is a classic in my eyes, and very special to me. I hope it will be for you too.

My daughter (she's six) just finished reading this book herself, out loud to me at bedtime. It took her four or five nights to read the three short chapters.

In the middle of the book, when Pickles the cat has a small triumph, she said "it makes me cry!" and at the end she said "I wish it just kept going". I felt so glad for her to have the experience of what it's like to read a good book - these are the feelings that make one a real book lover for life!

Like another recent reviewer I thought the pictures a little crude but the cats were remarkably cat-like; there was no effort to make them cute or cuddley. Yet, perhaps because of that simplicity, Pickles invokes a strong sense of feeling/identification as the he "grows" into a better cat through the three short chapters.

I think this was the perfect book for my daughter to read at this time. Just challenging enough, a great story and illustrations that work very well with the story. I'm also am glad to find a good children's book that's NOT about a boy (though Pickles IS a "he"); I'm sure all parents with daughters know that the vast majority of kid's books are about boy hero (yes I know there are some excellent exceptions) so a wonderful book that's not about a boy is a great find.

My 2 1/2 year old son absolutely loves this book..the illustrations are lovely, and it is so much fun to read with him. He has already remembered all the words, and fills in most of the gaps as we read it together. He is crazy about fire engines and firemen. I can't recommend this book enough.

My 2-year old follows this story pretty well (it has a repetitive-type storyline) and caught on quickly to the page turn cues (siren). He loves all the sound effects throughout the story. The illustrations are eye catching as well and help tell the story for a child that doesn't read yet. The price is reasonable considering how hard these cassette read-along are to find!

There's not much more to to add to the glowing reviews already here. I just wanted to say that the kids go crazy for Fireman Small. I like that he is such a sweet caring firefighter who goes out of his way to help everyone. I love any book that instills compassion in its readers. We love Fireman Small!!!

I picked this up thinking that it would be another good fireman book for my fireman-obsessed five-year-old. It certainly is that, but the flow and the structure also make it an excellent help-your-child-to-fall-asleep story. The basic plot is that Fireman Small is very tired and keeps trying to go to bed, but each time he does some new emergency happens that forces him to get up one more time. When he's done with the last one, everybody thanks him for all his help and he oh-so-happily drifts off to sleep. I usually read him several stories at bedtime, but I like to make sure that this is the last one; by the time we're through with it he's usually nodding off.

One small problem; Wong seems to have a unique sense of rhythm, which makes this harder to read aloud then you might expect; it took me a couple of readings before I felt that I had gotten it completely right. With practice, though, it flows beautifully.

This is a sweet story with a nice flow and repetition. My 2 1/2 year old son has immediately begun pretending to be Fireman Small saving the kitty and the baby bunny. I will definitely look into other books by this author.

Freedom summer is a story of 2 little boys one black one white who are friends during the desegregation movement. They really do not understand that skin color was supposed to make a difference in their friendship. An excellent book for the classroom showing that color doesn't matter.

An emotionally charged story for all readers, Freedom Summer is not a book to soon be forgotten. While its focus is on segregation, students of the current time can relate it to issues of bullying and prejudice. The painted pictures match the text and convey deep emotion through the use of color and texture. While the text is criticized for being overly contrived and romanticized in places, it often matches the message and mood of the pages. As a story for younger readers, it conveys a depth of emotion during a difficult time in history without overwhelming the reader with facts and information.

The story is told with a variety of colorful expressions and analogies. Illustrations are simply beautiful. The story was one that touched my heart and flooded me with memories of my own childhood, when this could have been my own town. I immediately shared the book with my own 9-year old granddaughter. Wonderful, powerful!!

This book won the Coretta Scott King award and the Ezra Jack Keats Book award. It is easy to understand why. Gorgeous illustrations belong in a museum; what appears to be oil or acrylic is rendered in a naturalistic, painterly style.

At the beginning of the book there is a historical note on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forms the basis for the action in the story. Two boys, one white and one black, are best friends in the deep South. They enjoy playing together in the summer in the river and on the fields. The black child's mother works as a domestic for the white child's family.

The summer of 1964 brings changes that some white people resent. The Act makes it illegal to bar blacks from businesses, public pools, and other places where they had been unable to go freely. Initially the boys were elated because that meant they could both swim in the public pool. But the pool is being filled in with asphalt when they arrive.

The level of hatred towards African Americans is palpable when reading Freedom Summer. It succeeds on all levels; a beautiful, educational, moving book. White attitudes are depicted honestly, but there are also open-minded whites who help the Civil Rights Act succeed. At the end of the story the two boys are entering a store together to buy ice pops. The reader is left rooting for them.

Have you ever felt bad because of how people treat you because of your color? Well if you have, you can make a connection with this book "Freedom Summer". "Freedom Summer" is about how two friends, no matter what people say, they continue being friends. That's how people treat one of them just because of his color black. If you want to know more about the book "Freedom Summer" just read it.

Every once in a while someone is affected by cancer or a sickness. This book Guardian of Angels by Lurlene McDaniel shows how problems can affect a family. A young girl named Darcy fears that her mother won't get better because she hasn't been well since she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been constantly in and out of the hospital. Darcy's mother has great hope that she will be better in no time. Darcy has to trust her mother and she has to try to keep her life moving along just like it was before her mother became sick.

The family is soon overwhelmed with Darcy's sister, Adel, getting married and her mother being sick. After the wedding Adel is planning on moving to Germany and this is when Darcy and their father need her the most.

Will Darcy's mother ever get better and will her family ever be the same again? Find out by reading Garden of Angels by Lurlene McDaniel.

Garden of Angels is a wonderful book about a girl named Darcy who's mother gets a rude a-waking by cancer. As her family and friends help Darcy's mother with her illness, Darcy meets a boy named Jason, who helps Darcy face reilty. But can Darcy's mother live and fight this cancer or will medial science fail her. The most needed question to be answer is: Are the Angels watching over Darcy and her family?

Lurlene McDaniel is one of my most favorite authors, and this book is by far one of the most inspiring books you could ever read. It's about a girl whose beloved mother gets struck with breast cancer, and her world is never the same again.

McDaniel writes with such flair that you can hardly bring yourself to put the book down. The ending is very sad, but also leaves you with a feeling of hope. This book teaches us that while we may not get to choose what happens to us, we do get to choose how we respond. This book reveals that people don't always get what they deserve, whether they be good or bad.

If you haven't read this book yet, then I highly recommend you read it. You won't be disappointed.

Some parts of this book were excellent. I loved the whole story, until I got to the epolouge. Why did Jason have to die? And why is Darcey living in the mountains? Although the epolouge isn't the best, and the story is rather predictable (mom dies, Jason liked Darcey all along, Connors would develop) it was an all in all good book. I would recomend it to anyone who wants to know Lurlene a little bit more.

After Darcy Quinlin finds out her mother has breast cancer, she is deeply saddened and in disbelief. She is also loosing her sister, Adel, to Barry Sorensen, a soldier in Vietnam. Above all that, there is J.T. who pushes her around especially when she falls hard for Pastor Jim's brother-in-law, Jason, who just moved to Connors. Darcy needs comfort and someone to talk to about boys, feelings, and school problems and her mother can't be that person. Neither can Adel because she is moving far away with Barry. Her mother did leave a beautiful garden that Darcy takes care of and it helps her through her many situations now and to come.
I liked this book because it was different from other Lurlene McDaniel books. In this book the girl doesn't have cancer, like in many other books, it's her mother. Also, this book is set in the 1970's during the Vietnam War.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls who like sad, loving stories or like other Lurlene McDaniel books.

This is a fun book to read aloud to kids and adults. The characters add a bit of whimsy to Christmas!

This is the best Christmas book written since "Twas the Night Before Christmas." We love this book so much it has disappeared and we have to buy a new one. Even my sister-in-law, who has no children, loved it so much she went out to buy it. She reads it to her high school students every christmas. They love it too. This is definately a book for everyone. I have read it to classrooms full of 2,3,and 4th graders and it has always been a hit. You will love this book!

This book is a hoot! My 5 year old loves it, I thought it was hilarious, and my husband thought the illustrations were great, too. I intend to buy additional copies--for my adult friends.

We bought "How Murray Saved Christmas" for our annual Christmas book (year 11). The author has created a fun story with witty writing and wonderful illustrations. Kids and adults are sure to find this book filled with Christmas fun! This is not your typical Christmas tale, but it is sure to become a family favorite! Give it a try.

I also recommend Mike Reiss' "Santa Claustrophobia" ; you will not be disappointed!

I have received everything from quiet snickers to loud guffaws, as I read this book to the students in my school. What a "thinking person's" twist to the Santa Claus story! This can be read again and again, each time picking up more clever turns to the Christmas night adventures of Murray and his elf buddy.

I recently did a make-over party and handed these out as favors. Thought this would get the kids off to a good start on their summer reading program. The kids loved them and the story is very thought provoking. Shows kindness to others.

My kids have all Judy Moody and Stink books. They love them, and I know for the fact that they help kids who struggle with reading in 3rd grade. They are easy to read and have a good story, are funny and appealing to that age group. A must have!

This book was good. My favorite part was when she hits the teacher's elbow. That made me laugh!

judy moody always wants to be in the news paper or on tv. judys cat won the pet contest and she finnaly was in the news paper.she was happy after all of that.when judy got home she looked in the news paper.she said thats a get picture of me and my cat.

i liked this book because stink was funny by selling moon dust.

the thing i dont like this book was judy always wined.

I thought this book was a bomb! You have got to read this book. If you are a Judy Moody fan and you read this book you will like it very much.The main thing that happens is Judy Moody is trying to get famous.

What an incredible book! You can tell that talented writer John O'Dowd has poured his "heart and soul" into this book! What a amazing story...... a very beautiful and talented actress who is starring in films with such superstars as James Cagney, "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" Gary Cooper, "Dallas" Gregory Peck, "Only The Valiant"! And earning 10.000 a week to five dollars a day! This book covers every aspect of Barbara's incisive "descend" into Hell! Her many amorous scandalous affairs with Bob Hope, Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, Steve Cochran, Tom Neal, Franchot Tone, and the famous headline fight between Neal and Tone its all here. But O'Dowd is not here to denigrate Payton, he wants to get at all the facts and the (real) story. You can tell that he wants to bring some humanity and respect for this actress! I firmly believe he succeeds in that! It had to take MANY painstaking years of flawless thorough research and devotion to write this prolific biography! O'Dowd doesn't seem to miss anything! This is hands down one of the BEST biographies I ever read! Also in this very thick book are many rare photos through-out. I did not know that much about Barbara Payton but after reading this well-written book I certainly do now! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Barbara Payton! Could it had been certain "influences" that led her down the path of this nightmare world of alcohol,drugs,and prostitution..... you be the judge. But I know that O'Dowd's book in reading it brought to me compassion for this actress and why not! Yes we get to see the "dark side"........ the seedy apartments,the prostitution! But when I read that she was a loving mother, loving and protective of her son! And when I read where she had hit rock bottom living on "skid row"! And yet she had enough compassion in her disillusioned heart to bring in a homeless straving dog into the run-down hotel that she was living in, that pulls at my heart! This is definitely a "heart-breaking" tragic story,that pulls no punches! The insurmontable suffering this dear woman went through is horrible! I believe John O'Dowd proves that with this book that he is one of the BEST biographers out there in the literary field! This is the type of imformative riveting book that once you pick it up and start reading the book it is hard to put it down until you are finished! Thank you John O'Dowd for writing this book! There is no doubt that this fantastic "compelling" book should be turned into a screen-play and made into a movie! What a movie this would make! This book is worth every penny it cost and much more! Again highly recommended!

Lawrence Fultz Jr.

I highly recommend Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, The Barbara Payton Story.
While I was reading this book I was totally consumed by Barbara and her story of highs and lows.
I feel she is the most beautiful actess in my eyes.
I was able to lose myself in Mr O'Dowds writing and took the journey of imagining Barbara's true life experiences with the author.
It was a read I will never forget. The research,time and heart felt writing shined through the whole book.
I purchased this book online and was not dissappointed. This book is worth every cent!!!!
The book is over 400 pages and I never lost interest or the desire to read. Plenty of glamorous and startling pictures included in this book as well.
I was sorry when I finished the book, I was compelled to keep reading online about Barbara and visited John O'Dowd's website on Barbara Payton.
Found that to be very interesting along with updates.
If you are an avid reader of biography's this is the book to read. absolutley one of the best.
Sincerely Beth

"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" delivers an entertaining account and perspective on the life of one of Hollywood's most troubled starlets. Authored by John O'Dowd, the book does a masterful job of piecing together the many sides of this complex individual. It works not only because John has spent years researching the former actress, but he's tracked down the people that knew her best. Interviews with her son, sister-in-law, and a former husband proved paramount to a full understanding of who she was. For the most part, this is the first time they've publicly spoke at length about her life.

While John presents an uncensored view of Barbara's demise, he does so with respect for her as a human being. Predictably the book details her struggles, but it also underscores her many strengths. Prior to "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye", we remembered her through tabloid headlines and a dozen or so films. Thanks to John O'Dowd, we now have a complete and accurate view of the real Barbara Payton.

Lee Martin
www.atomicpinup.com

I REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK AND IT HAD ALOT OF PICTURES OF THE ACTRESS. IT WENT IN DEPTH OF HER LIFE AND HAD INSIGHTS FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOU WERE INTERESTED IN THIS ACTRESS. SHE DID SOME OUTRAGES THINGS BUT YOU CAN'T HELP FEELING SORRY FOR HER.

John O'Dowd is clearly the authority on Barbara Payton and the roller-coaster existence that was her life in Hollywood. John brings out all the humanity and frailties that help us empathize with a woman whose life held such promise, but who ulti amately succumbed to her demons -- deftly aided by the machinery of a town that can break down stars as quickly as build them. In the age before Spears and Lohans, Barbara received no second chances and couldn't recover from her abrupt dismissal from the near pinnacle of stardom -- therein lies a cautionary tale and a potentially compelling performance for a new generation of actresses. As a film producer I say, "Bravo John, we'll see Barbara's story on the silver screen yet!"

Marley is a great book about a dog. He is crazy but still very cute. He is not obedient at all and when he's in public he is very naughty. This book goes from the beginning of Marley's life to when he gets really old. Marley is a golden retriever. He is so big that everyone is scared of him. When anyone walks into the house Marley dashes up to them and jumps up on them. This book is so good I couldn't put it down. These are some of the reasons I liked the book:

1. The book has to do with animals being treated fairly and I like that.
2. It taught me how much a dog can connect with its owner. It was touching.
3. The book was thick but I couldn't get enough!

There is just one thing that made me sad. I won't tell you what it was but I will say that it was so sad I actually cried. I hope this review helps you decide if this book is for you or not.

(Review written by Tysha)

This book is excellent for dog lovers. It spans the gambit from laughter to tears. A MUST READ!

In this condensed version of John Grogan's best-selling Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog, the author has written an adapted version of his life and times with his Labrador Retriever, Marley, that's perfect for younger readers.

Having read and fully enjoyed Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog when it was first released, I was a little anxious to see how Mr. Grogan would handle a shorter, easier-to-read version for the middle-grade set. Fortunately, MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER is a fun, vibrant, and compelling read that even older elementary school students will enjoy.

When John and his wife, Jenny, first pick Marley out from a litter of pure-blood Labradors, they have no idea that their small bundle of fur with the big paws and blocky head will eventually turn into a 97-pound drool-machine full of nerves, excitement, and limitless energy. This short story (196 pages) is a testament to the trials, tribulations, and ultimate loyalty of a dog who ended up starring in a feature film.

Marley is the type of dog that you love, despite his flaws (and there are many!), and even the youngest of readers will be overjoyed to read about the trouble that he finds himself in on a daily basis. And, I admit, I shed a few tears towards the end of this book, but they were well worth it, because Marley was worth it.

One great benefit of this version of Marley's story are the numerous full-color photographs that the author has included. This addition alone makes MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER an asset to your home library.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Loved the book --it made me laugh, smile, cry. I bought three -- two were gifts and one for myself, which I also loaned to all my dog loving friends.

Purchased as a gift. Have received good feed-back from the recipient, who, by the way, is a Marley fan.