Lifestyle Books

This is a good book for my 4th grade son. It is hard to find books on his reading level that hold his interest. The narator of the story is Hank the cowdog (also self proclaimed head of ranch security). The chapters are only 3 or 4 pages and give my son a sense of accomplishment for being able to read a couple of chapters each night.
Hank also has a few pronuciation problems, allowing the young reader to identify correct pronunciation and grammer. The stories are interesting and funny and have really improved my son's interest in reading as well as his grades in reading and language skills.

I love all the Hank books, and this is a great one for the Christmas season. These books are hilarious and more important to the young reader, fun to read. I'd also check the rest of the series.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" editor "Of A Predatory Heart"

Hank the cowdog is about a dog named Hank and he lives in a farm.Everything is going right fo Hank because he is the leader of the dogs and nobody ever dared to talk back to him until one day another dog named Rufus came to take over.Then Rufus starts making fun of Hank for having crossed eyes (he got crossed eyes because he tried to see the part where his nose had no skin on it).One time Rufus was acting like Hank (imitating Hank)and Hank ran away.Hank confronted (met) snakes and big birds which he had trouble with.Hank had to deal with Rufus.Do you think he (Hank) might get away with still being the leader?,well if you keep on reading the ending you will know.

My ten year old son is a rapidly developing avid reader who has fallen absolutely in love with this excellent series. Erickson creates rapid narratives filled with honest (and yes, corny) humor and pleasently comic action and an occasional moral or two.

This series provides young readers with a simple, yet appropriately challenging vocabulary. It also provides fine entertainment as it can hold a young man, who favors outdoor activities and sports, and his attention span for countless hours. A most highly reccomended series of books designed to encourage and develop young readers.

This is my all time favorite Hank the Cowdog book! I love Madam Moonshine and Wallace and Junior. It's witty and humorous throughout the book. I'm impatiently waiting for #34 to come out. I recomend any of these books to children and adult alike.

An interesting book to dip into and gives recommendations by difficulty and cost of recipies. Easy to read and containing many nuggets of great info, this is a good gift for a novice or a more experienced cook. The other great feature is that there are many recommenations for other references out there. Simple techniques are included and a nice assortment of terms used in all sorts of chef situations.

If you can forget the fact that this book is from the "for dummies" series, you are in for a real treat. During the first few chapters of this book, Trotter gives you detailed accounts of gourmet cooking methods, and soon you will understand what makes him one of the world's best chefs. I own books by Alice Walker, James Beard, Emeril, the Cul. Inst. of America, and none of them come close to exposing the breadth of knowledge Trotter presents. The exquisite recipes he gives in the later chapters give you detailed accounts of 'why' the recipes work, not only 'how.' I've been using the book as a guide now for about 8 months, (the pages are practically falling off), and people can't believe the meals I prepare. Most importantly, it actually teaches you how to cook by improvising if you want. Even if you are a good cook, you will feel humbled at how much you didn't actually know about the art. I assume, unfortunately, that the book's unattractive cover is the reason this has not become a staple in all kitchens.

If anyone is interested in becoming a truly Gormet Cook, this is the book. For the very experienced cook, there isn't a lot new as far as tips and information, however, the recipes are sublime. Each one is better than the next and they are fairly easy to read and follow for excellent results. I was very impressed and would recommend it not only for the information but epecially for the exotic yet simple recipes.

Not only my favorite cookbook, but my single favorite book of any kind, that I keep going back to again and again. I learn something new every time I pick up this little gem! Highly recommended for those of us not formally trained in the culinary arts!

This is perhaps one of the most accessible (and affordable) `celebrity' cookbooks on the market today. The depth of explanation is remarkable compared to Trotter's other books, many of which serve only to stoke the ego of a wealthy restaurateur. Gourmet Cooking for Dummies breaks down many of the barriers associated with fine cooking. By explaining techniques (many of which are very simple), Trotter's book allows readers to expose themselves to food and cooking to an extent previously limited to complicated picture books dedicated to food (as many of Trotter's other books are). A great learning tool for beginners, and (as the saying goes) "a reference for the rest of us." Highly recommended.

My son received this book as a birthday present when he was five years old. He was fascinated by the story and beautiful pictures. Since we live in the wine country, and watch the "grapes grow sweet" in real life, it was wonderful to have such a wonderful book to read. Now that he is eleven, he reads it to my grandson who is equally enchanted, and asks us to read it each time he visits.

As a resident of northern California I enjoy reading "The Grapes Grow Sweet" to my daughter, which describes a fall grape harvest from the perspective of a young boy growing up in a family vineyard. I am also a school teacher and use the book in my classroom. Many of my students have family members who are farm workers so they have background knowledge of life in a vineyard and can relate to the story being told. We spend a few days in my class each fall completing an integrated thematic unit that includes reading, descriptive writing and art. We finish the unit by bringing in different foods made with grapes that we can eat in class. Typically we have grape juice, grape jelly, raisins, grapes, etc. It is easily adaptable to the state standards and has amazing water color art that inspires the children to create their own works of art! The text offers descriptive writing samples to students by describing the pale green leaves, rattling, roaring tractor, shiny bunch of grapes, bouncing jackrabbit and sunbathing lizard. I look forward to fall each year and the opportunity to read "The Grapes Grow Sweet" with a new group of students.

"The Grapes Grow Sweet" is well-summarized in the other reviews, so I won't go into that. My four-year old and I really enjoyed this book he received as a present. The pictures are copy an Impressionist-era style (nice for adults) but have a lot going on in them, from the bees that constantly hover over the sweet grapes to the grape pickers rushing to fill the gondolas. I love the fact that the author doesn't talk down to her audience, she talks about gondolas instead of "big trucks" and grape cutting knives instead of "cutters." Every character has a different voice, and the aspects of family life, community pride, migrant farming, and the life of a four-year old are all highlighted without the author shoving it in your face.

I highly recommend this book to children 4-8 and their parents.

Lynne Tuft is a fabulous artist. I think she should win an Emmy award for the best artwork of the year!!The story hooks you from the start, and she gives you such description that you can practically taste the grapes in your mouth and feel the summer heat and the years that Julian has waited to work in the fields! I would recommend this book to everyone because of the wonderful story as well as the incredible art.

This narrative proves that us kids and our parents are safe around wine despite what others may think! Lynne teaches us about the way it is when the grapes, which are made into wine, jelly, or jam, remember this book and all the hard work, long years, and effort put into it. If you read this book, I can guarantee many readings of pure enjoyment!! Estelle Wagner, Age 10, grade 6

I bought this book not knowing anything about it for my nephew who lives in a large city so he could have a book about what I do out in the country. I was VERY pleasantly surprised by just how nice a book it is. The story is great and the pictures are wonderful. It now tops my list for baby/childrens presents.

The best cookbook I have ever owned, and it's worth buying one of the few copies left! These recipes rock because the represent a worldwide variety of fiery cuisines, and most of them can be prepared in under an hour. My favorites are the Thai Curry Scallops and the Mexican Chicken-Lentil-Sweet Potato Stew. Not a week goes by that I don't use this book, be it with an old reliable recipe or a new one I have yet to try.

This book has recipes that are easy to follow, ingrediants that are easy to find, and delicious. My husband uses it every day.

This book rocks! I've made over half the recipes in this book with only 1 or 2 disappointments. Everything else has been "very good" to "excellent". Recipes are relatively quick and easy to make (most take < 1 hour), flavorful, healthy, and function well as a one dish meal. Most recipes can also be toned down for those timid of fire without compromising the integrity of the dish. You really can't go wrong with this one, especially if you like a little spice.

This is an absolutely fabulous cookbook, even for those with a little milder palate! I would recommend the Cajun gumbo and the Black Bean and Kidney Bean soup for any meal!

I own several so called spicy cookbooks and this one lives up to it's name and is by far my favorite one. It's chok'ful of delicious one page recipes from around the globe. Great muligitawny and the "Evil Jungle Peanut Chicken" is awesome. For the most part the recipes are easy to prepare and have readily availble ingredients as well as a pretty accurate hotness scale. My wife & I have probably made 15-20 of the recipes already and thats not counting the ones we repeated. You will need a large pan because the recipes make copious amounts of food. I recommend a big wok and a big, big glass of beer to chase the fire down. Oh yeah, you'll also need a towel to wipe the spice induced sweat off your brow. ENJOY!

i have read the first 5 of the "making wave" series, and i enjoyed each of them. i must say these books are entertaining with out a doubt, and you learn things with out knowing you are,,just about life in general. they are awesome books! i cant wait till the next books are published!

I read the book's beginning and didn't like it all because I was so surprised. Then, i figured, If Katherine Applegate is a really good author, like I think she is, then she won't end the whole point of the series like this, plus she had 6 more books to come out. I figured I had to finish the book because I needed to know how everything turns out. Like I thought, Katherine Applegate is the great author I thought she was. I encourage you to read it. It is another great addition to the Making Waves series.

I loved thses books. They are an easy read and so entertaining. I can't tell you what happenes but i can say that some very un expected characters show up. I hope the next books get published in time for me to go to camp becuase i can't wait to find out what happens

This book is the best of the first 5. The way everything seems to wrap itself up you'd think this was it...but the end leaves you craving the next book. Grace finds herself in a new and unique position. Marta meets someone who was much more than she expected. This book has so much suspense and interesting moments you won't be able to put it down.

First of all i'd like to say i'm a 14 year old teen and when i first read Katherine Applegate's Making Out series I was totally hooked!! So then when I heard that there was another romance series from her I couldn't resist. I read the first 3 and gave them to my friend and she loved them too! But 4 and 5 were definetly the BEST so far! So after my friend and I read the first 5 we had to get the rest of the series, though I was soooo disapointed to hear that I hafta wait till February 2003!! But definetly get the first 5!! You seriously won't regret it, especially if ur a teen looking for a mature romance series, but are too young to get hooked on an adult series...

I love this book, and I love reading it to my 2 year old niece. For a step-into books it's cute, and humourous! My niece loves the book so much she is into her second copy. Hot Dog is about a dog that is so hot, and can't seem to find a cool place. He meets different people and animals and wants them to share their fan, or their ice cream, or their shady log- but all he hears is NO WAY DOG! Better than other step-into books - it's cute, rhymes, and has a good sharing moral at the end. It's creative, and is just plain fun to read out loud!!

I have begun to use these Road to Reading books in my resource classroom and the students love them. They especially loved Hot Dog. Many of the words are on the state mandated word lists for K-2. The pictures are terrific and the story is interesting and funny to the kids. I thought it was great too-in fact we all fell in love with the little "Hot Dog".

I am a first grade teacher, looking for books for my small reading groups. I decided not to order this one* but will keep the one copy in my library. Most my students should be able to read it independently & I think they'll find it funny. (I wasn't wild about a phrase written as a sentence in the book: In the pool.)


* I liked these better for groups:

Big Egg/ Step into Rdg.
Jack and Jill and Big Dog Bill/ Step into Rdg.
Big Brown Bear/ Green Light Readers

The illustrations in this book are hilarious, The text is perfect for children that are just starting to read.Simple one syllable words with two to three words per page. But the best part of this book is the illustrations, I just love them. The dog spends the entire book hot and trying to cool off. Every attempt he makes fails until the very end. You find your yourself rooting for the dog. This is one of my son't favorite books, he wants to read it every night.

I am a Pre-Kindergarten teacher and I introduced this story to my class on the first day of school after we get in from the playground. They love it and relate to the hot little dog in the story.

This book is ideal for a child and an adult to sit and read together. It has predictable and easy words and the kids have fun watching the dog do anything to cool off on a hot day.

When I read it to the class, they enjoy it so much they take it from storytime and read it themselves. This is the kind of book that inspires young people to have a love for reading. They realize that reading is fun and can be easy too. This book was favorite from the first day.

Something incredibly scarey happened early in my marriage to a wonderful man ,,,we lost our connection ? It was special and then it wasn't ? Actually it was me reacting to the "nothingness" and him wondering ,"what's not quite right here"? Actually it was a normal process of "getting the girl" and then him getting comfortable with that having been done. The difference is men feel this is ok and women do not. This as you can see will result in disharmony on many levels!!! As a knowledgeable women when presented with a problem I do not turn away , I look for a solution ! In my search I found this book on Amazon . Even better, I read the reviews...God bless the insightful male reviewers who already read through the pages of this book to gain knowlege and control on how to be "great men" in the eyes of the women they love !!! My husband , in reading this book and making small and suttle conscious efforts to show appreciation and little compliments (as everyone shares durring the courtship stage..)INSTANTLY was able to bring happiness , harmony and joy right back where it belongs. I wish he could write a review himself to tell you about this book in his words too..
One could rate a book less than five stars for reasons that would critique the writing and reading of "a book". But, the content and application of the information this book contains deserves TEN STARS!!! This book basically tells a man what his woman wants and needs to sustain happiness...how simple is that !? It actually gives a man total control in keeping the relationship harmonious , again how great is that !? So there it is. My husband has just loaned this book to a good buddy who has been married to his highschool sweetheart for over twenty years and thinks his wife is drifting away,,,I heard that in a couple days of reading the book on the sly , that his wife is once again "looking his way"....what a blessing to pass on huh ?

Married Men!

Has your romance gotten stale with your wife? Get the book! If you will read it and follow the recomendations it will bring back the spark to your marriage. It may not bring it back overnight, but if you will practice the principals it will cause your wife to blossom into a brand new woman. Be patient, it will work.

This book helped me to see my wife in a different light. It was a bit wordy in some areas but what they said was good. I actually got hooked on romance and began reading other books out there. A really outstanding one is The Romantic's Guide. I actually saw the author on Orprah.

I love this book. First and foremost, unlike most other books for romantically-underdeveloped men, this one is written by two very intelligent women, who support their recommendations with actual research and statistics. Right now, I am re-reading this book because I don't want any of its wisdom to elude me. I believe that now, having read this wonderful book, I am able to develop into a better boyfriend and future husband for my One and Only.

This book works! I have read it myself and so has my husband and it rings very true. It takes time though but, it is very much worth it! If you are looking to have your man understand you and relate to you then this is your book!

Miriam Sokol's book of real life stories was a joy to read. I didn't want to put it down. In a world where sometimes there is so much sadness in relationships, it was so refreshing to realize that meeting our soulmates is possible if we allow ourselves to realize that a higher power is guiding us.

The stories in How we met are wonderfully written, engaging and with a surprising amount of depth. I also liked the insights that begin each chapter, which served as a guide for the stories. It's a fun and interesting read for just about everyone. I even had my teenage daughter read it!

I was touched by Miriam Sokol's book and after several tissues I realized I was filled with hope. As an single woman, who is old enough to have alot of her own stories, I became more convinced of the power of spiritual forces in guiding a match. Just when you think you may never meet your soulmate, Ms. Sokol's book illuminates the possibilities that he may materialize any day now. Ms. Sokol understands that the greatest matchmaker of all times, is "The One whose hand is in every match." I highly recommend this lovely book.

Remember those old films where there is a tent in the desert, looks small from the outside, but its a magnificent palace on the inside? My state of mind changed as I read this book. I wasn't just reading. I was filling my heart and soul with possibility, with reality, with love. The feeling of hope, trust, excitement has lasted for days. True love is alive and well.

I not only read Miriam's book, I read it again. The introduction is critical as it prepares you for the elequent journey into truly enlightening stories of how people met and fell in love. What makes this book unique is the innocent and sometimes strange circumstances surrounding the clandestined lovers within its binding. Miriam covers everything from the first kiss to second chances for those who were either to inmature to notice or to stubborn to care. Each story is laced with destiny; and lends credence to the possibility of a soul mate for everyone. At first glance it is just a compilation of "How We Met" stories. On a second it touches you on a deeper more spiritual level, freeing the you (the reader) from the ideals and standards we set for "the perfect mate". For those of you in relationships you won't finish this book without seeing yourself in at least one of the characters. For those of you single and still searching, "How We Met" holds out hope, inspiration and faith in what is destined for you. Soul mates do exist!

So why only four stars?? You can tell by the introduction, these stories affected Miriam in a spiritual sense; so much so that she speaks to the issues of spirtuality, destiny and soul mates as they relate to love. It would have been great had she shared some of this insight at the end of each story. Then again, maybe it is better left to the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. You be the judge!

When Palisades and Sweet Valley have a rivalry between basketball games,Elizabeth and Enid meet Marla Daniels and Caitlin Alexander. They write for the Palisades Penegon[sp] While surfing,Jessica meets Christian Gorman,a gorgeous Palisades surfer,and she she's sufing with him and dating him and Ken Matthews at the same time. Palisades and Sweet Valley have a masquerade ball.

This book was da bomb!:) I really love it! You should read it too. It's so exciting that you don't want to put the book down. It's a romantic book I've ever read of Sweet Valley High. I hope you will read it too.

I loved it!!I could not put my eyes off of it. I can not wait for the end.

I just love the Sweet Valley High books. This one is called IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY, and it's book #1 in the 'Betrayel' saga. In this one, Jessica falls in love with the wrong guy (as usual). She's dating Sweet Valley High's quarterback star, Ken Matthews. But then she falls for hot and sexy Christain Gorman, when he teaches her how to surf. Little does Jessica know that Christain is the the leader of Palisades High's most violent gang - and they're biggest rivals is Sweet Valley High! It's very exciting and romantic. Definitely one to pick up and read if you're a Sweet Valley High fan or enjoy reading romantic/tragedies. Awesome read! Solidly written.

I really liked this book, but something was missing. Why does what happens have to happen? It's unfair. And about Ken and Jessica...if Jessica doesn't care for Ken anymore, why not tell him instead of cheating on him! And Christian. He really loves Jessica. Even when he finds out Jessica has a boyfriend and was going out with Ken while going out with him he still loves her. That not a high-school sweetheart. That's not a little-kids crush. That's love. Real love. And Christian is SO caring. So sweet. But Ken is to. This book is great, but it's weepy when you find out what happened to Christian, something that'll affect Jessica for the rest of her life.

What a great story! I read this as a girl, and was delighted to find it on Amazon for my ten yr old. She has been using it for a summer reading project, and can hardly put it down. Now for the sequel!

My third grade teacher read this story to us for a read aloud because her friend Mary Calhoun was the author.
Katie John is a tomboy,uprooted from California by her family to live in a small town in Missouri bordering the Mississippi River. The purpose of the move is for the family to renovate and sell a house bequeathed to Katie John's mother. However life takes Katie John and her family for a hilarious ride as they become the new occupants and eventually new owners of Aunt Emily's home.

My friend, Shannon Chalker, got this book and she couldn't put it down! She read half of it in an hour! Today I'm going to check out this book. I hope this review will excite you to read it to!!

I loved Katie John; she was such a tomboy, and -- being one myself -- I enjoyed watching her get in and out of trouble and excitement. A definite must-read.

Katie John is a character I grew up with, and the books about her are filled with fun, adventures, and funny things that happen, while teaching good vurtues. Which is more than I can say for some of the depressing childrens' books in the bookstores and libraries today. The author should keep writing!