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Taking *The Journey* is like stepping out of a Time Machine as a northern Indiana Amish child is transported into the 21st century in Chicago. The team of Sarah Stewart and David Small produced this winner in 2001 and it's my opinion that only *The Friend* (see mcHAIKU's review dated October 3, 2004) has it 'bested'.

As Hannah becomes a time-traveler between two very different cultures, her level of excitement rises to test her well-schooled mannerliness. She is awe-struck and makes her discoveries seem new to us as we read over her shoulder the words written in her diary: "going down the street is like making a journey across the whole world. I feel like happiness has rushed up and grabbed me ..... "

There are only two small disappointments for me: I wish there were a situation in which Hannah was juxtaposed with a young city girl - - perhaps in that not-to-be-missed Chicago River boat ride - - somehow sharing an adventure which might suggest kinship despite their obvious differences. And, having recently written a review of *Berghoff's* ("The Berghoff Restaurant" of Chicago) I wish Hannah & her mother & friend had walked to that 100+ year old establishment to have a German meal - - where another comparison could be drawn. For me, the small black & white sketches of Hannah have a special appeal. Her facial expressions declare that she is a story-teller herself, and David Small makes obvious why he was selected by Caldecott judges.

This book is a delight to share, and can be a conversation-starter among children raised so differently from those of the Amish faith - - they may question how Hannah could be so eager to return home to the chores she has escaped for a week, and to a culture with gender-segregated religious services, and outhouses, and riding in an oh-so-slow buggy. When picture-book-age children aren't close by I reach out to adults or eleven-year olds & share the sweetness and strength of these words quietly enhanced by the dark blues of early morning and the jubilant sunrise. I will look for my favorite Monet-like haystacks the next time we travel north, too!

REVIEWER mcHAIKU is content that "the simple life" makes room for a love of books and hopes that Sarah Stewart & David Small continue their story-telling for many years.

Hannah has traveled with her mother and her mother's friend Maggie to the city. For an Amish girl from a small community, the city is big and full of strange and wonderful things. They go to the top of hig buildings, to marvelous stores, to big parks, the aquarium, the atr museum,on a boat ride and into a grand church. While Hannah is enchanted and enthralled by all the new sites, each new site reminds her of things at home she loves. Written as diary entries by Hannah during her adventures, this book manages to capture the wonder of a young girl in a new enviroment, and her thankfulness for the simple ways at home. Once again Sarah Stewart has crafted a wonderful storyline and David Small has turned what is in the mind's eye into enchanting illustrations. A wonderful book to read aloud, and to be enjoyed by all ages.

"Dear Diary, The luckiest girl on this good earth is writing to you tonight..." So begins The Journey, Sarah Stewart's lovely story of Hannah, an Amish girl on her first trip to Chicago. Each night, before she falls asleep, Hannah writes about her day and marvels at all the wonders of the big city, the fancy department store with it's frilly dresses, the aquarium and public library, the enormous cathedral with its loud choir, the cars and hundreds of people rushing here and there... And each makes her remember and appreciate something from her simple life at home, trying on a homespun dress, fishing in the pond, praying silently in the small wooden church, quilting with the ladies from other farms... David Small's expressive and detailed artwork take readers from the busy, brightly colored streets of Chicago, to the quiet, softer and subdued life of Hannah's Amish farm. Together, this award winning duo of Stewart and Small have authored a gentle, understated picture book, perfect for youngsters 6-10, that is sure to become a treasured classic in the years ahead.

Highly intereseting!! Easy to read, and has so much fascinating information!! The Excellent Illustrations are also very very informative!!

Read it and Enjoy it!!!

Looking for the perfect gift for a youngster that you will enjoy as much as the recipient does? Try one of Buckley & Leacock's fabulous renderings of events in American history. The four books they have written (Kids Make History, Journeys for Freedom, Places in Time and Journeys in Time) weave a richly embroidered and at the same time historically accurate tapestry of the story of our nation's founding and continuing development. The authors have fastidiously researched and presented narratives that explain why we are proud to be Americans, with detailed maps and illustrations that are informative and entertaining accompaniments. These are books to be read again and again, cherished and kept forever.

What a wonderful book! You can help your middle schooler envision treks of historic interest with these twenty two-page spreads. Pictures use up most of the space and depict people, including children, on the move; some cross-sections are employed. Text describes the journey, and sometimes stories are personalized through the experience of a child. Numbered entries within the text point out events or places, and a sidebar lists interesting facts. Very nicely done and a terrific aid for visual learners.

Presented in chronological order, the journeys are: a Native American creation story; Columbus's voyage, 1492 AD; the founding of New Mexico, 1598; Mayflower voyage, 1620; Ben Franklin's travel from Boston to Philadelphia, 1723; a slave ship, 1735; Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road; bringing Ticonderoga's guns to Boston, 1775; the Lewis and Clark Trail, 1804; California 49-ers' trip around Cape Horn, 1849; the Sante Fe Trail, 1852; the underground railroad, 1856; a Civil War regiment's movements, 1862; John Muir's travels in 1867; a cattle drive, 1879; westward immigration, 1884; a cross-country airplane trip, 1911; Louis Armstrong's train ride from New Orleans to Chicago, 1922; a migrant worker's journey, 1959; a Vietnamese refugee, 1976. Notes and an index are included.

Very nicely done. Highly recommended.

This is a super, duper, great, awesome, cool, nice, friendly, non- complicated, correct, magnificent, truly good, TRUTHFUL BOOK. Notice the caplocks. Why is it cap locked? Because it's true! Why is it true? Why should you trust me? Well, for one thing, it's all kids like you! (Maybe not like you, but like you are at heart) I should know, as a ten year old. I love the book! I would be totally net- clueless without it!

I was one of the 45 kids who reviewed a sight in this book. Why should you trust this guide? You can really trust this book, honest. The reviews in this guide were written by kids, for kids. They might not always share your interests, and you may not always agree with them, but you know their telling you the truth. Their not teachers trying to talk you into a subject, or parents , trying to get you to eat your cyber spinach. Your getting the straight story from real kids. It answers FAQs for parents and adults, nifty search engines, hundreds of far- out sights, great advice, kid's favorite's, trivias, jokes, poems, magic tricks, safety nets (like net nanny, cyber sitter & tattle tale just to name a few), kid's credits, a very, very complicated index (NOT! Simple as can be!!!), etc. ALL FOR KIDS!!! You will never be cyber bored again with KIDS RULE THE NET: Net Guide for Kids!!!
-Jillian, page 53

I am one of the 45 NetKids featured in this book and I had a lot of fun writing for it. This book shows the basics of browsers, plugins, search engines, and other features on the Internet and the World Wide Web, all from a kid's point of view. It has reviews for all sorts of fun sites on topics ranging from The X-Files to sharks to intense rollerblading. It's perfect for the novices, or even those more experienced surfers looking for extra cool sites they haven't seen yet. --Katie Tandler

This was purchased for my 3 grandsons - ages 9, 6 & 4. They are completely into Knights Kingdom "anything".

My boys love this series of books. They'll start with legos next year but they already get excited about them due to these books. The stories are classic good vs evil, easy for them to understand and the artwork is attractive and exciting.

Most of these books come with stickers or trading cards and that's an added kick. They never dull of hearing these.

My son likes the part when Karzon sets the traps to catch the King, Sir Adric and Sir Kentis. I highly recommend this book for boys that like knight stories. My son is in first grade and can read it himself.

This book helped me from beginning to end in my search for a nanny for my daughter. If you need to know how to begin a search, how to effectively interview a candidate and conduct a background search this book is for you! It has been an invaluable resource.

As a working woman that has raised 3 children, I can relate to the dilema that we as parents have in leaving our most precious possesions with someone whom we barely know, at least at first. We try our hardest to make smart, thorough and well researched choices so that we can go about our responsibilities guilt free and with comfort. Making Childcare Choices, guides us through all of the questions and organizing involved in hiring the appropriate care taker.

This book is an essential tool for parents who are looking for quality childcare. It is designed to teach parents everything they need to know to find, hire, train and keep the optimal type of childcare. Whether parents are looking for nannies, au pairs, babysitters, or the perfect child care center, this exciting new book covers the pros and cons of every available option. This book provides parents with the necessary steps to take so they can feel confident about the process of finding someone to nurture and care for their child. There is careful advice on avoiding conflicts, handling sticky situations, and terminating relationships. The need for someone else to help raise our children is growing constantly. This complete resource is invaluable to parents making one of the most important parenting decisions.

Michelle meets a movie star and didn't know that she was a movie star and all sorts of trouble happens. It was an excellent book.

I really like the book, because I think it's really cool that Michelle met a Movie Star on the beach and didn't even recognize her until she got home. It shows that movie stars are real people just like the rest of us. I would love to be a movie star.

I enjoy the Full House Michelle books very much and own many and check many out from the local libary. Keep writing them Ms. Dubowski. I look forward to my summer vacation so I will have more time to read them. I am sorry they took new shows of Full House of the air on TV. Megan

Michelle could kick herself! While she was away on vacation, she met Natalie Campbell!-- a big time movie star-- and she didn't even know it! But Michelle gets another chance. Natalie's coming to Michelle's for the weekend, and Michelle decides to throw a huge fancy party for her! She makes sure everything is perfect-- from the incredible food to her cool new outfit. What could go wrong? Plenty!

I loved this book! It was nice to see a character who was from Puerto Rico and Ezra Jack Keats really included a lot of diversity in this book. A must have!

This is a very cute story that children will love. I also highly recommend two other books by latino authors: Drum, Chavi, Drum! (by Mayra L. Dole) and Trinos Choice (by Diane Gonzales Bertrand).

I vividly remember this book from my childhood -- and I vividly remember the Spanish words and phrases I learned from it. Very practical and engaging.

"Halleluya!  On this 26th day of May, 2004, the New York Times confessed to having helped promote the lies that got us into war with Iraq."

"We should fire Rumsfeld, and Cheney, and Bush, and the whole pack of warmakers today -- not tomorrow or next month -- today. "

"Politicians hire brains.  Telling them what to say and how to say it is a big business and getting bigger all the time."

"People who are under the illusion that the Times is a liberal paper should read its editorial today. It says moving good jobs abroad is 'freeing up American capital, labor and other resources for more efficient, high-value uses.' "

----John Hess, from wbai.org

I consider John Hess one of the most important voices in contemporary America. His words and what we are able to learn from them, should motivate us to open our eyes to the corruption and hypocrisy in our nation. The realization that more people recognize the name of a hate monger like Rush Limbaugh than the name of John Hess, illustrates the manufactured ignorance that those in power would prefer. Only through education will we effectively address what is wrong in the U.S. I find John Hess to be an educator who is informed, passionate and motivating!

I bought Mr. Hess' book out of curiosity. I knew Mr. Hess from the days when he was a commentator on a local TV station before Rupert Murdoch bought the station and destroyed it. I expected to try the book and give up after 50 or so pages. Well, I couldn't put it down! Mr. Hess is a very good writer who never bores you.

I lived through the years that he writes about. He explains for me many of the things that I felt were not right about those years as well as the lack of reporting by The New York Times. I have to ask myself where my head was during that period.

I highly recommend this book. It gave me an eye-opening view of The New York Times, politicians, and the sad level of reporting in the United States. It should be required reading by reporters and would-be reporters.

With a diamond-hard honesty rare, if not unique, among today's journalists, John L. Hess has written a memoir that deflates the gas-filled balloon that is the New York Times. A reporter and editor for the Times for 24 years, Hess shows how from the moment Adolph Ochs purchased the newspaper in 1896 it has cozied up to corrupt politicans and wealthy businessmen. In a blurb on the jacket, Kurt Vonnegut terms the newspaper a "mighty crowd-control engine," and indeed Hess provides many examples of the Times leading the way in suppressing news and information that might educate the public as to how they are being bilked. No one could read this book and still think that the Times is a liberal, much less an honest, newspaper.

I really like this CD set. The case is perfect, CD quality outstanding! The voice is nice once you get used to it. At first I found it an odd tone, but after a while of listening I enjoyed how smooth the narrator keeps his voice and he thankfully isn't monotoned so I can stay awake while I listen :). I really appreciate this set. Very, Very well done. I highly recommend!

I am very pleased with my recent purchase of the NASV Bible on CD. It was delivered before the target date. It is of highest quality and I'm very impressed. The gentleman that does the reading is easy to listen to and does an outstanding job.

The case is convenient for long trips and keeping the cd's organized. The narrator's voice is in line with James Earl Jones. I am looking forward to listening to it as I read along.

This book will make those who adhere to covenant theology or classical dispensationism re-examine their own theological systems. Wells and Zaspel do an excellent job challenging us to read the Scriptures in the light of proper exegesis without being so influenced by our creeds, historic attachments, and denominational affiliations. All the major issues pertinent to New Covenant Theology are examined. The book outlines New Covenant Theology very well and gives sound arguments for its plausibility. The book includes discussions on NCT in general, the Mosaic Law, the Sermon on the Mount, the relationship between the covenants, and hermeneutics. Some very strong essays include Zaspel's chapters on the varied interpretations of the Sermon on the Mount (Chapter 5) and the Sabbath (Chapter 13), and Wells' essays on creeds and how they effect our interpretation (Chapter 15) and the relationship between the covenants (Appendix 2). While still being within the circle of traditional Protestantism, these two authors stepped up one level by writing this book. Excellent book for the laity and seminarian on understanding this "new" system that is gaining popularity within evangelical Protestantism.

This is a book every Christian should read. It makes you think about what the New Testament tells us about Jesus, and what he says about himself. It shows clearly how Jesus is above all who came before him. Over and over, he says and does the things that only God does. Thus it would be an excellent book for a person who is unsure of Christ's divinity.

The book also makes you think about the relationship of the Old Testament to the New, and the Christian's relation to Old Testament [and New Testament] teaching. Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law, or only "the law of Christ?" What does the NT mean by "the law of Christ?" These are issues all Christians must consider.

The book provides a penetrating overview of the Gospel of Matthew, showing how Matthew's aim is to present Jesus as the One who fulfills all the promises of the Old Testament. This helpful introduction to Matthew is followed up by informative exegesis of Matthew 5:17-20, which is a key passage in our understanding of the Christian's relationship to the law, the Old Testament and Christ.

New Covenant Theology aims to be a middle ground between the Covenant Theology of Christians of Reformed persuasion and the Dispensational Theology which is subscribed to by Christians of both Reformed and Arminian points of view.

You will definitely be inspired by reading this book, whether or not you agree with the authors' conclusions.

This book should be read by all who have an interest in the importance of the two major covenants. Though the authors have intended to answer the critics of what is developing into a theology of the new covenant they have also kindly provided to this reader a better understanding of the basic differences between covenant theology and new covenant theology. After reading this book I will never approach the comunion table and drink of the blessed cup thinking that in some way that the blood of Christ is the blood of the covenant engraved upon stones. How could a good many commentators within the ranks of covenant theology lead us to believe that our Messiah is merely a new administrator (as was Moses) to the same over arching covenant with two administrations? The book is not without its faults. Much more attention needs to be given to texts such as Isaiah 42:6 and 49:8. Messiah is much more than just a mediator. He is the Word made flesh. Perhaps in the next book by Tom Wells and Fred Zaspel?