News and Media Books

As a now "older woman", I surely appreciate this book. I found it inspiring, enlightening and empowering! I am so encouraged that I plan to invite some others to form a wise woman circle in order to celebrate our collective wisdom and share our varied and courageous stories. I am thankful for this book highly recommend it to you!

thoughtful and provoking -- an academic description that gets a little detailed for the casual reader. Still, highly recommend to those who are studying Dr. Bolen's messages re. spiritual quests and journeys.

In a culture that worships youthful beauty, this book reminds us all that our esoteric standards are stifled, immature and limited. The wonderful Bolen leads women (and real men) on a revealing and empowering exploration of the many rich, strong, wise, diverse and beautiful identities that both shape and define the gifts of "older" women.

I have shared this book with my daughters, my friends and as a springboard to discussion in nursing homes with goddesses over 90 years rich.

There are truths here that we must affirm (as they affirm us!) in order to claim our true places in this world!

Sometimes we carry the burden of getting older as a curse. This book will help women over 50 rediscover the greatness within.

I have read earlier works by Shinoda Bolen and found them both informative and easy to absorb. This book is the same, expanding on her earlier work (Goddesses in Everywoman). I recommend this to anyone interested in Goddess work, Jungian archetypes, history / mythology, basic psychology or anyone just looking for an interesting and new-ish approach to women.

My daughter and I really like this colorful and thorough guide.
It has lots of information and feels like a Field Guide we can take anywhere.

My 4 years old son is a dino lover, and enjoyed the book very much. Especially, he favored the attached mini poster with small images of many dino species.

My 5 & 6 year olds who have been obsessed with dinosaurs for the last 3 years, love this book. They sit and read for HOURS and have learned all the specs on their favorite dinosaurs. As a parent, I think this book has a lot of great information and is simple enough for my 5 year old to read. Hope this helps!

I have a 5 and 7 year old. We all think this book is great! It's colorful and informative and Up-To-Date! One feature I enjoy pointing out to my kids is the little images which compare the dinosaurs size to a human child's size. That way we get an even better idea how big the creatures were.

Promising high interest and educational quality alike is this dinosaur 'field guide' for all ages, which packs in museum-quality dinosaur illustrations, expertise by two paleontologist authors, and details on dinosaur digs and places to see fossils in the field. Web sites, museums, and bibliographies are also included in this highly visual, appealing guide.

I bought this book back when I was graduating from College in 1994 and followed all of its suggestions. It gives you a great framework to follow for success and shows you all the basics. Since that first job, I have been working in the staffing industry, helping people find jobs all day long, and now reccommend this book to everyone I find who is looking for a job. It is worth every penny. Buy this book and squash the competition in your interview. Hint: Most hiring managers have read this book or a similar book (especially the interview questions part), so should you.

I've taught at colleges where graduating students were offered placement services as well as having to interview people myself for a job. The contents of this book are of more value than the entire program at the college. Filled with brilliant ideas for how to organize and prepare your resume as well as how to get an interview and how to answer the interviewer's questions it is a valuable resource for the job seeker.

I especially like the way that the book details how to handle situations where the interviewer asks right up front how much you are expecting to make, or when your years of experience don't match the number they are looking for, or when your education is not at the level they are looking for and similar situations. Things that are an interview killer are covered in detail as well as how to get past them unscathed.

Better than any placement program I've seen, some of the most detailed advice that you will find anywhere, and up to date with modern technology and techniques, this is your best source for competent advice on how to actually get the job you want. Don't send another resume, make another phone call or go to another interview without reading it first.

It's not every day that you run across a book that actually lives up to its reputation. This one does, and more. Martin Yate's Knock `Em Dead series has spawned numerous bestsellers. Here's the original, in an all-new, updated edition. The core of the book is a catalogue of strategies for answering the wide array of questions you could be asked during a job interview. The book also includes plenty of other job-hunting advice. If you don't get the job after following this book's advice, it can't be because you flunked the interview. We from getAbstract recommend this book to all job-hunters and to those who think they may be out looking anytime soon.

I had a different attitude in interviews and meeting with CEO `s during my life.But this book changed my style, made me look different , answered a lot of worrying questions and opened my eyes on so many hidden tactics in winning a job.

I read the book during applying to a job and when I was placed second best I used the last chapters techniques & advise and was ranked first.So I got the job I always dreamt of!!!

Thanks to Martin Yate.

I tried to contact him on line to his address in the book but could not reach him.If you ever reach him send him my regards.

I beleive this book is important to every one who is looking to get a job and to every one who is hiring people.

Abdelfattah Toukan
00962-77883123

I bought my copy in 1995 at a low point in my job hunt -- 10 months looking (I was already employed), a few interviews but no offers yet. I happened to have an interview lined up for the following week and did not want to blow it -- again! I used the information on how to answer common interview questions and was offered the job. I actually wrote the author a thank you letter afterwards. Two years later I was promoted and had to start hiring people. I turned to his book "Hiring the Best" for help and would also recommend that to anyone job hunting to get inside the interviewer's head. Now, I am getting ready to job-hunt again and plan to use "Knock 'Em Dead" once more.

It seems to me that magic is just another form of positive affirmations/prayers/spiritual practice. I enjoyed reading this and still refer to it every now and then.

Just when you think every possible book on Wicca had been published already.Along comes this fine book on Wiccan spells and interpretation.This spellcraft book is ideal for camping sabbaticals and day-hikes in the wilderness.It's not weighty enough for a serious ponderous look.Yet,it can not be dismissed as a feather-weight either.You can't even use it as a 'Pagan Breviary' really.You can use it as quick resource for your heathen inspirations and ideas for Wiccan devotional ritals.Do yourself a favor,and read a copy of this excellent wicca-craft book.Bright Blessings & Blest Be!

I really like this book. I begun reading last week and I'm really interested in the topic. I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to know about white magic and how it works. It provides information about (I think) everything your need to know before making any spell:

C1. The philosophy and Ideology of Wiccan Spellcrafting.
C2. Belief, Intent, and the Magickal world around us.
C3. Creating Sacred Space.
C4. The witch`s Kit: Tools and Symbolism.
C5. Spellcraft Fundamentals.
C6. Types of Magick.

All this before you get to the second part where there are the spells. This is not a bible... is not super-extended about each topic, but delivers enough information for you to understand what you are doing.

I`ve just finished the first part last night. So I still can`t say much about the spells, but as I`ve read some before... I can tell you that are practical, easy to perform and completely natural. That`s what I love about this book, it lets you bring the magic inside and gives you tips for doing your own spells.

If you are new to this, I recommend you buy it. You`ll get a general idea and an easy understanding about magic and wicca.

It's great wiccan manual for spells, solitAary wicca as well as you can
find many useful tips and explanations for starting with wiccan rituals.

I bought this book for my daughter who chosen the wiccan path. She really enjoys it almost as much as I do being a green witch. She said it is great for those who are new to the craft as well as to those who have been practicing it their entire life. I often see her reading this book when I go to visit her, infact she has opened it so much that the cover is wore out!

My son is 5 and absolutely loves this book. It's a story about young boy and how he must help to care for his large Italian family that has come to America in hopes of having their dreams fulfilled. Disappointment of a father leads his young son to think his job is meager. But in the end one little boy does make a difference, for without his light the whole world is a dark place. The book just gives you a warm wonderful feeling when you finish reading it. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and give you the contact to really feel what Peppe and his family are feeling.

A young boy of modest means seeks a job to contribute to the needs of his family. Initially, his father is disappointed in the lowly responsibility that his son fulfills. The young man takes inspiration from his sister's admiration of him and finds that his job as a humble lamplighter blesses others beyond his understanding. The breath-taking illustrations span the entire two-page spread. This is a beautiful story of how everyone has their important role in life and can embrace it with excellence and passion.

There's a whole genre of picture books that examine the working class members of American society throughout history. These stories are usually based on the lives of the relatives and ancestors of the authors. "Peppe the Lamplighter" is no exception. Loosely based on the grandfather of author Elisa Bartone, the book examines one boy's occupation and his struggle be accepted in the eyes of his father.

Peppe lives with his sick father and seven sisters (not including the one in Naples) in the section of New York known as Little Italy. Taking place in what looks to be the 1910s, Peppe moves from store to store, attempting to find work. His father, is too sick to work himself, and all the children in the family must strive to find some kind of money. One day, old Domenico the lamplighter asks Peppe if he would light the lamps for him while he returns to Italy to fetch his wife. Peppe agrees readily and is delighted with the prospect. Delight slowly sours to shame, however, when his father is horrified by the job. Says he, "Did I come to America for my son to light the streetlamps?". As time goes by, Peppe's disenchantment with the job grows until he doesn't light the lamps at all. Only through the discovery of how important his job is to others can Peppe find the strength to return to lighting the lamps of New York City.

The pictures in this book are wonderfully rendered. Here we find the New York City tenements in all their filthy glory. At the same time, we see the strength of the people living in them. The first painting in the book shows Peppe and his family staring at the viewer as if they were posing for a formal family photograph. The light from a single latern lights them all, and illustrator Ted Lewin shows off his talents. In many ways, the book is similar to Chris K. Soentpiet's style (of "Molly Bannaky" fame). Reading this book is to actually find yourself in early New York itself. Crowds come alive and individuals display a wide range of emotions. The best picture in the whole book, to my mind, is the image of Peppe lifting his little sister so that she can light the lamp on the street herself. The light is above them, illuminating their faces with incredibly intensity. The two stare up at it, entranced.

The story itself if good, if not overwhelming. Peppe's father has a somewhat unbelievable change of heart towards the end of the tale. For a man who has harbored so much bitterness towards his son's chosen profession, he seems to come around to it mighty fast when the mood calls for it. Otherwise, it's lovely. Peppe compares the lighting of the lamps to the lighting of candles at Mass, and even goes so far as to say a small prayer for each. Small details like this truly bring the story to life.

The book celebrates one small boy who can, in his sister Assunta's words, "scare the dark away". It is a book about how every human being, if they've a mind to, can bring light into the world in their own humble fashion. Peppe may only be a lamplighter, but even his father recognizes by the end that this honest job gives safety and comfort to others. We should all be so lucky as to have jobs that do half as much.

I purchased this book for my husband for Father's Day (he's Italian American")--I didn't really think that our then 2.5 year old would really care for the book. But he loves it! It's a good story, although at times the messages can be a bit confusing for a very young child--but my son seems to enjoys the illustrations, the sounds of the Italian names, and of course the most elemental aspects of the story.

"Peppe the Lamplighter" combines a story by Elisa Bartone with illustrations by Ted Lewin. The story takes place "[a] long time ago when there was no electricity and the street lamps in Little Italy had to be lit by hand." The hero of the book is Peppe, who lives with his widowed father and sisters in a tenement. Peppe's decision to get a job as a lamplighter leads to conflict between Peppe and his father.

This is a good story that is greatly enhanced by Lewin's superb artwork. Most of the illustrations are two-page spreads that are packed full of energy and emotion. Lewin's realistic style is well-suited to capturing many colorful details: the sausages hanging in the butcher shop, a crowded street scene, the old-fashioned iron stove in Peppe's home, etc. Overall, a memorable celebration of Italian-American history.

For a long time I have been discouraged in my efforts to establish two-way communication with children. I would bring books, toys, and games to social functions and share them with children. Once one activity was over, the children would stare at me, waiting for me to start another activity. Why won't they provide any input of their own? Am I overpowering them without realizing it?

This book explained everything: the children think I'm a television!

This book is about the effects of television on children and families.The use of television starts innocently enough.Too often TV is used as a child minder so that parents can get some peace and quiet: to prepare meals, so that Mom and Dad can sleep in at week-ends, etc.But dangers lurk in this innocent scenario.Before long, the kids are hooked on watching, and parents are hooked on a device for having the kids out of the way.Marie Winn aptly calls TV a drug.Many parents are aware of the dilemma, but often they are and the kids too hooked to break the habit.Winn explores the process of this addiction and the harm done to vibrant human living.For example, excessive TV viewing hampers the personal and social development of the child, so some mothers get a job to escape from their maladjusted kids!Winn offers helpful advice to families trying to cope with TV.She gives examples of the benefits families have experienced when they went without TV, such as increased family interaction, more creative and satisfying activities,doing various things that had been put of, and so on.Marie Winn gives many examples from family life which add great interest to this thoughtful and helpful book.

Excellent. A must read for parents of kids of all ages.It is really well written and should make a responsible parent a believer. Kill the TV before it kills your kids brains or at least be very selective as to what they watch.

A wonderful book, that all parents should read in order to eliminate their TVs and *live* again.

Read 4 Arguments...Jerry Mander Then this book! If you are looking for "ways" to get rid of the TV, or "ways" to occupy your families (or your) time away from the TV. This is not the book. This is the book if you would like statistics, and startling information about TV in the lives of people. Although the TV refrences are quite early 80's ALL of the information is very useful, persuasive, and passionate.

Dont believe the hype up there! It is relevant to this day in age, take yourself to account, before the TV takes you! Buy this book and dont burry it into the shelves, pass it on the neighbors, your childrens teachers, family and friends! this book is for EVERYONE!

In several of our major metropolitan areas (e.g. Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles), a daily newspaper played a major role during the 20th century. From my perspective, the area and the paper had a symbiotic relationship which must be understood in all its complexity if we are to understand either the area's culture or the unique role the newspaper has played within that culture. In this book, McDougal functions as a journalist and an historian, of course, but also as an anthropologist. As the book's subtitle indicates, his primary purpose is to examine Otis Chandler during "the rise and fall of the L.A. dynasty." (It is worth noting that the Boston Globe is now owned by the parent company of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times is now owned by the parent company of the Chicago Tribune. Perhaps McDougal or someone else will examine those recent developments in a book yet to be written. And perhaps examine, also, recent mergers which have created media conglomerates such as AOL Time Warner.) For much of this book, the Times's various publishers dominate the narrative. Specifically, first Harrison Otis, then Harry Chandler, then Harry's son Norman, and finally Norman's son Otis. Of equal interest to me were the roles played by various women, notably Norman's wife Buff and Otis' two wives, Missy and then Bettina. In California throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, the Chandlers established and solidified a "dynasty" but also what McDougal more correctly describes as an "oligarchy."

These are among the important questions addressed in this book:

1. How and why did the Los Angles Times become so influential?

2. How and why did it later lose so much of that influence?

3. Precisely what role did Otis Chandler play throughout that process?

McDougal is especially effective when explaining the culture within which three generations of Chandlers served as publisher. For example: "Like Harry, Norman understood early that the business of the Times was conducted as much in the private clubs and exclusive retreats of Los Angeles as it was inside the Times Mirror Building....With his chiseled good looks, cleft chin, and Stanford polish, Norman also rose naturally to a leadership among the newest generations of L.A. Brahmins. As the older patricians with whom Harry once did business began dying off, a new wave of young tycoons came to populate the exclusive mahogany-paneled grandeur" of the city's most exclusive cultural and social organizations. The young "brahmins" also called themselves "the Economic Roundtable" and founded their own organization bearing that name.

It was into such a culture that Otis was born and within which he was raised to assume, eventually, his own position of immense wealth, power, status, and prestige. He and others in his generation "behaved in much the same fashion as their East Coast counterparts with their insulated neighborhoods, leisure time activities (e.g. membership at the Los Angeles Country Club with its "no-Jews/Negroes/Mexicans allowed clubhouse"), and social inbreeding. Otis was perhaps the most privileged of sons but, interestingly enough, his father required him to begin at the lowest level in each of the newspaper's departments; after completing one apprenticeship, he was assigned to a different department and again began at the bottom, including salary level. By the time he became publisher, Otis was well-prepared in terms of understanding literally every facet of the newspaper's operations.

There are only a few recently published biographies and cultural histories which read like a well-written novel. This is one of them. I'm not suggesting that McDougal is an heir to Balzac or Barzun but I do commend him on the liveliness of his narrative as well as on the substantial content produced by his extensive research. McDougal helps his reader to understand why the Chandlers and the Los Angeles Times have been central to the evolution of a city, indeed of an entire region.

As a history buff, this book was fascinating as both a history of LA and Times Mirror. As an employee of the LA Times I found it even more interesting and intriguing.

This is a wonderfully entertaining and informative book -- I have a waiting list of friends waiting to borrow it based on my recommendation.

The book has a problem, however. The author has chosen a posture of ridicule and pejorative disapproval of many characters -- he calls some of them "neanderthals," for example -- so he has a special burden to be correct in his facts. Unfortunately, Mr. McDougal has been careless and many of his facts are wrong -- small things, but they do tend to impeach the larger work.

There is no such thing as a "Las Padrinas" ball at the Valley Hunt Club (p. 116). Cate School students have never been called "Caties" (p. 168). Harold Brown was not a cause celebre at the California Club in the 1950's (p.477). (In late 1976, while still president of Cal Tech, Brown became the club's first contemporary Jewish member. Ironically, he almost had to resign from the "segregated" club to join the nascent Carter administration as Secretary of Defense.)

Enjoy the story, but don't take Mr. McDougal at his word.

I really liked this book. As a fan of LA where I travel often for business and pleasure, this book fills in the history of how LA was built and the role played by the driving family of the LA Times. But as interesting as this history is, there are so many subplots to follow that are also fun. For example, as the family is accepted in the Pasadena "blue-blooded" culture, it's interesting how most become so snobbish about accepting anyone in their culture. My favorite stories on this subject are his second wife's training to develop social graces to travel in the Chandler's circles that was somewhat required. Also, when he divorces at 50, his Mom starts investigating which of her friends have unmarried daughters that would be acceptable marriage bait for this 50 year old bachelor. Like he can't take care of himself.

But enough of the small stuff, this book is about the Times and LA and starts with the Otis family and its purchase of the Times. The General and his Son-in-law ran this paper as a Republican tour guide of LA. And it worked. Maybe too good as LA is way too crowded. Along the way is great history of the need for water and the shady ways it was obtained as well as real estate development stories including a foray in Mexico.

Harry Chandler's son Norman ran it much the same way but his son Otis Chandler who took over around 1960 was much more liberal and open to debate and other opinions which did not endear him with his pompous family. This break seemed to eventually lead to his ouster in 1985 even though he had grown the earnings strength of the paper. I believe the book did not adequately explain the buildup to his ouster. His Chairman comes in and it's over. Clearly, Otis was partially to blame as his hobbies of hunting, cars and lifting weights took away his attention.

The replacements proceed to tear down the paper leading to its eventual sale to the Chicago Tribune. It's a very interesting business story although from that perspective it could have done a better job by financially describing the significance of the paper's net worth at different points in history.

But the book also overlaid the history of Otis' family, as he clearly was where most of the information for this book came from. Interestingly, Otis grew up in an exclusive family attending Andover and Stanford. But while two of his sons attended prep school and top colleges, one did not. And many of his offspring did not marry inside their social set and did not rise to the same levels as captains of industry. Otis Chandler did not place large pressure on his family to live the same social life he was forced to live and it's interesting how they grew up and the relationships they had with their parents. With so many transplanted Southern Californians all enjoying the beautiful weather, it was inevitable that many in his family would marry outside the Pasadena blue-blooded set.

I enjoyed this book immensely but it is a time commitment at over 450 pages of small print. I recommend this book for someone interested in journalism, the history of LA and Southern California, or a history of a wealthy influential family that helped shape the future of LA.

_Priveleged Son_ manages to hit that sweet spot that so many biographies of business figures fail to capture-- it manages to be a very good look at a business and industry and at the same time be readable and enjoyable on the level of a novel.

While ostensibly a biography of Otis Chandler, it gives a fascinating look at the rise of a newspaper as local empire and the same newspaper's (largely unsuccessful) efforts to translate that into a truly national business.

Without any industry focus, the story of the Chandlers and their relationship to LA is the stuff of novels (pulp fiction and true romance)-- LA grows up with its paper in this book.

I was particularly fascinated to read what happened at the paper under the direction of Mark "Cereal Killer" Willes. His ill-starred management is a cautionary tale for would-be media moguls who fail to understand the core values that make up the news industry.

A great read for people interested in the media industry. A just-as-great read for people who like a good story.

This is one of my favorite Sabrina books! Sabrina, Salem, and Valerie go back to Ancient Egypt and the cat goddess Bast falls in love with Salem. They take away Sabrina's powers and she must find a mirror to get them back and save Salem. You should read it if you're a Sabrina fan.

I stopped reading the Sabrina series a while ago due to the last 5 or so books not been very good, but then I decided to give it one more chance and began my 25th Sabrina book "scarabian nights". I have to say that I was very impressed, I realy liked this one and was glad to see that Valarie was involved and its not about Sabrina and her family as that has got real old. I would go as far as saying this is one of the best Sabrina books, so read it! If you like it I also recomend "showdown at the mall", "Prizoner of cabin 13" and "sabrian goes to Rome". ENJOY!

After a magical vacation to the Egyptian pyramids, Aunt Vesta brings Sabrina a super souvenir. The ancient charm is suppose to help the teenage witch with her cat chores, but instead it transports Sabrina, Salem and Valerie back in time to ancient Egypt!

Salem is thrilled. After all, the Egyptians really knew how to treat their feline friends-they worshipped them as gods. But when the cat Goddess Bast falls hard for the fast-talking black cat, she puts him under a love spell & locks his traveling companions in the maze of the Great Pyramid. As Sabrina & Valerie wind their way through the life-sized puzzle, they enlist the help of some magical figures-and a handsome young pharoah on hiatus from his sarcophagus. But can they bring Salem to his senses before Bast morphs him into a mummy?

I think Scarabian Nights is a pretty good book. It's basically about Aunt Vesta's gift to Sabrina, an "Ushabti," a little doll kind of thing. Sabrina wishes she could go back in time with her friend Valerie since she's bored. But she really doesn't mean to wish that. But the Ushabti really takes her back in time with Valerie and Salem, her magical talking cat. Queen Bast, the ruler there, likes Salem, and says she wants to marry him. But then Sabrina finds out the chilling secret: She sees cats turned to stone on the walls of Queen Bast's kingdom. Queen Bast had turned all the cats she was about to marry into stone! What can she do to protect Salem and get out of Queen Bast's kingdom with Valerie and back home!? I'm not going to give away the ending, but I can tell you a series of adventures happen when Sabrina tries to save Salem and get them all back home!

This book sort of drags on in the middle of the book, but except for that, this book is so interesting I couldn't put it down!

After a magical vacation to the Egyptian pyramids, Aunt Vesta brings Sabrina a super souvenir. The ancient charm is suppose to help the teenage witch with her cat chores, but instead it transports Sabrina, Salem and Valerie back in time to ancient Egypt!

Salem is thrilled. After all, the Egyptians really knew how to treat their feline friends-they worshipped them as gods. But when the cat Goddess Bast falls hard for the fast-talking black cat, she puts him under a love spell & locks his traveling companions in the maze of the Great Pyramid. As Sabrina & Valerie wind their way through the life-sized puzzle, they enlist the help of some magical figures-and a handsome young pharoah on hiatus from his sarcophagus. But can they bring Salem to his senses before Bast morphs him into a mummy?

This book was the second book I got. I thought it was a very good book. I read in like 3 days. I liked the part when Ruthie was trying to act like a guy by doing those gross guy things!! I read over and over again until I got a new 7th Heaven Book. I love to watch the show. I watch it every night when I can or when I'm not doing anything else..... I really hope that you 7th Heaven fans will read this book if you already didn't. If you do I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!!

i thought this was a good book i mean it was very interesting (for me anyway) this is the only book i will read unless i have to like in school but that is the ONLY book i will read out of school, but i can't read them all as fast as you can make them can you make them. can you make some for the older age levels please because those would probebly be just as good.

I have read alot of 7th Heaven books, and Secrets was my 2ed favorit. I would recomend this book to kids 5-10 no younger because they will start to keep secrets.

Mary and her basketball team get there season cut shore because there grades drop. So Mayr and her team trash the schools gym and the get arressted will the camdens clear her name? read to find out! I would reccomend this book to anybody ages birth to death it has a great moral.

BOOK REVIEW

In this book Lucy one of the sisters. Is on her high school student court team.
Her sister Mary is in her signor year of high school and on the varsity basketball team. The girl's grades dropped so they can't play anymore. So they go out to eat and think about trashing the school gym. Then they sneak in and start to T.P everything and then they graffiti every thing and than they get caught by the police and the school principal and they get in a lot of trouble.

I do recommend this book if they like the T.V show 7th heaven an like to read. I would recommend this book because it is interesting and funny. It was a page turner because at the end of a page it did not tell enough information so it was a cliff hanger . So I kept on reading the book. I did enjoy this genre because I love this T.V show and this was about a show I had never seen. There were surprises in the story like when Mary and her friends got caught and when they decided to trash the school gym and when Simon got suspended for a whole week.

My son is a little of 3 and adores all things Thomas. I purchased several Thomas books for a recent plan trip and of the 3 this was his favorite by FAR! He loved the trains bumping into each other and the pictures of the "sea creatures." Would recommend this to your Thomas fan!

This is another wonderful Thomas & Friends storybook. My son adores it and gets very excited to see the Octopus and Shark. When actually playing with his trains he would replicate the wrecks. Highly recommend this book to all kids who love Thomas. My son is 2 1/2 and asks us to read it every night.

My 2.5 year old loves this big, colorful Thomas story. He studies the illustrations and talks about what all the trains and cranes are doing. Really fuels his imagination!

I love trains and I used to watch the show when it aired on PBS years back. So every now and then I come across one of these books, I snatch it up. Love the stories and art work. I even got a chance to see Thomas the Train when it came into town on one of its tours. Little ones loved it. I highly recommend this series to all those who like a good fun story and especially to railfans everywhere.

What fun! A big aquarium exhibit is coming to Tidmouth and the docks are hustling and bustling with activity. Cranky the Crane is unloading Bulstrode. Harvey is loading small crates of aquarium glass, while James and Salty are busy with their own tasks.

The only problem is, Thomas wants to help and he keeps getting told that he is too small to be of assistance. Sad because he can't find a job `his size', Thomas is about to head back to the Station when he comes across Salty with a huge, toothy shark in a see-thru tank. Surmising Thomas' sad state, Salty takes pity on Thomas and tells him that small engines **can** be useful, which is exactly what Thomas finds out.

When Percy is surprised by the shark in the tank, he loses control and runs right into Henry who then crashes into Harvey's freight car. This accident is so noisy and unexpected that Cranky gets spooked and drops a crate of seaweed on James, causing James to go off the track.

As we say at our home, everything was goomeywammered. And to make matters more complicated, the docks are such a scene of chaos that none of the large engines can move about. They are just too *big*.

On cue, in comes Thomas. He steps up and because of his smaller size, he is `Just The Right' engine to clear up the whole mess. The story ends with everything back to normal and everybody waiting in anticipation for the big exhibit to open.

Five Stars. Good Read-aloud. This book has good artwork (versus the photos that are taken from the TV show). Steamies abound. So many that almost any Thomas fan should be content.

Our small blue friend gets to be a hero. This confirms for small fry that you don't have to be big to be helpful. This book can even be used to help children to understand that no matter how big a mess is made, if everyone pitches in to help together, that mess can be cleaned up.