Lifestyle Books

This is a beautiful book with a nice story. I purchased one for my son, but after seeing what a nice book it was, ordered a 2nd to give as a gift.

Every year I buy each of my children a special book for their birthday. I look for a beautiful story. If the story happens to have beautiful pictures to go with it,that is the icing on the cake.
The Animal Hedge has both a beautiful story and beautiful illustrations. This is a book that will have more meaning to a child as he or she grows older.
There are a handful of books that we will save for our children, and this is one of them.

The Animal Hedge is a beautiful children's book with quietly amazing illustrations done in watercolor and gouache. The story tells of a farmer with three sons who endures the loss of his beloved animals and farm due to drought. He maintains himself as best he can, sharpening tools. He remembers the different dreams and abilities of his three sons when it comes time for them to choose their professions. When they each ask what trade they should choose, he tells them to watch the hedge that surrounds their tiny cottage, for its shape will give a powerful clue to the best vocation for each young man. Amazingly, wondrous shapes arise from the humble hedge to direct the sons in their vocations. The eldest sees a coach and becomes a coachman; the second sees a mystic ship and becomes a sailor, while the youngest sees a fiddler, always his dream, and he decides to become a fiddler. But most wonderful of all is the love and the vision of the farmer for his sons' futures. After they all leave and become successful in their chosen vocations, he is lonely and shapes his hedge in the forms of all the animals he had loved when he had his farm. Then all the sons come home and find that it was not nature alone , but their father's trimming of the hedge that had shown them the desires that lay in their hearts. Excited, they see the many animals he has shaped from the shrubs in his loneliness. They put their resources together and return to give their father the animals he has missed; chickens, pigs, and cows. Upon seeing this, "The farmer's heart glowed like a hot wood stove. And he made up his mind to let the hedge grow back just as it pleased."

This beautiful and healing tale of love between father and sons is further underscored by the muted colors and patchwork placements of the American folk art-influenced illustrations. Perhaps the most striking quality which might be encouraged by the telling of this story is faith in the dreams of youth, faith which endures and survives hardship and privation, faith which does not require youth to remold itself in the cast of the past, a faith which sets them free to follow their hearts, just as the father has done. This is a lovely children's book, very appropriate for preschool to kindergarten age levels. It is sure to be treasured by child and parent alike.

Readers will have a hard time believing Bagram Ibatoulline's folk art illustrations were recently done in watercolor and gouache and are not true 19th c. folk art paintings. With their aged look and timeless quality, these incredible illustrations alone would make The Animal Hedge worth its price.

Fortunately, you will get even more than you bargained for since Paul Fleischman has written a wonderful and touching story. While the tale begins on a bit of a sad note when a farmer and his sons are forced from their land because of a drought, the tone is certainly changed when the rains begin to fall again and a magical hedge begins to show the three sons how to live happy and productive lives. The sweet ending will warm your heart.

A wonderful father/son story with a fantastical touch.

This is a marvelously interesting book for children who thrive on visual learning. It is an oversize book that depicts the daily details of the lives of the inhabitants living in a several story apartment building, beginning at 7 am and ending late in the evening. Turn the pages to discover the timeline during the day and the progression of events. Visually stimulated children can take hours to note all the details and follow each storyline endlessly. My 5/6 year old grandchildren find this book fascinating as they discuss each storyline and note details ranging from rats in the sewer to odd hairdos of the inhabitants, details of the big party to the progression of the burglars, water leaks, broken clocks, expolosion by the mad scientist and art in the making. They use their imagination a lot to create other scenarios and conclusions for the inhabitants. We love it! Those who only wish ro 'read' a book, following the words, will most likely use this book only a time or two.

The Apartment Book is an oversize (11"x14") illustrated look into the daily life of an apartment building and its many residents. Each double page illustration shows a cutaway view of an old Victorian building that has five stories and a basement with six apartments. The residents vary, with three families on the first three floors, an actress and her maid on the fourth floor, and an artist and a crazy inventor in two small apartments on the fifth floor. The author has added the maintenance crew, a homeless person seeking temporary shelter, a couple of burglars, and even an alligator that prowls the sewers beneath the basement.

Each of the 14 illustrations shows the events in the house at different times of day, starting at 7 am and ending at one the following morning. The drawings are richly populated with interesting details and the dialog is neatly confined to the sidebars. This is a sumptuous treat for the visually inclined and the residents' stories will keep you interested to the very end. However, with all the activity depicted in this one day, it does not look like a place I would like to live in for long.

This is a really fun book. It shows the happenings of the inhabitants of an apartment building: 3 families, 1 movie star, an artist, and a scientist. Plus, you get to follow the days of the 2 workmen. Watch as the scientist's apartment blows up, reporters interview the movie star, one family has a party, another moves in, and many, many more events. This book is fun to look at again and again. You can follow the day of just one person, or check up on the doings of all the residents. It'd recommend it to anyone of any age.

This is a really fun book. It shows the happenings of the inhabitants of an apartment building: 3 families, 1 movie star, an artist, and a scientist. Plus, you get to follow the days of the 2 workmen. Watch as the scientist's apartment blows up, reporters interview the movie star, one family has a party, another moves in, and many, many more events. This book is fun to look at again and again. You can follow the day of just one person, or check up on the doings of all the residents. It'd recommend it to anyone of any age.

Absolutely wonderful illustrations for an apple/harvest theme storybook. Very realistic - makes you think you're right there participating in the life cycle of an apple.

My oldest son has always had a hard time getting to sleep. We struggled for his first 18-24 months until a friend who is a fourth grade teacher (Hi Amy!) gave us this book and we started reading this at the end of our bedtime routine. Now, 6 years and one little brother later, this is still the last book we read before going to bed.

I'm absolutely biased as I think I've read this book about 2000 times now. The story line is wonderful, the pictures are captivating, and the rhythm of the (now well-rehearsed) sentences is mesmerizing. Now, if I could just find a real orchard to visit nearby...

This is an excellent children's book with fabulous pictures. It is just the right book for teachers to use during the fall to compliment a unit about apples. Delightful book.

Upon reading the book to my 3rd grade class my students were mesmerized. They loved the pictures, the writing was easy to understand, and the story line came alive. Ray does an excellent job with the illustrations - they complement the author's beautiful words. Benoit Slawson's writing is absolutely wonderful - my students could not get enough of this book. In fact, we continued our storytime by following the book up with a trip to the local apple orchard (insisted upon by my 8 year olds!). I just wish Benoit Slawson would come out with her next book; although, it will be hard to follow the perfection of "Apple Picking Time". I will be the first one to buy her next book, and I am positive my students will love it as much as their beloved "Apple Picking Time". The book is both poetic and informative - such a wonderful combination for this brand-new, highly talented author!!

This book is short, which is great when you are running late for bedtime. More importantly, it's a lot of fun. The basic story is of the grandkids trying to scare Grandpa that all the animals have gone crazy on the farm. Grandpa, knowing that it's Aprill Fool's Day, makes the appropriate concerned noises, but his actions clearly show he is not fooled. That is, he is not fooled until a very smart Grandma tells him April Fool's Day is tomorrow. He runs out in a panic and she gets to enjoy the breakfast he made for himself before letting loose with a cheery, "April Fools." Needless to say, Grandpa looks very sheepish at the end while Grandma and the grandkids look quite pleased with themselves.

The text is simple and rhymes, which makes it enjoyable to read aloud. The illustrations are hysterical (sheep sunning themselves on beach chairs while listening to an iPod or goats wearing clothes from the laudry line are just a couple of examples) and I laugh right along with my 3 and 6 year old boys when I see them. I have read the book several times and it doesn't get tiresome. Definitely money well spent.

This is a fun and enjoyable book for young children. I teach k-3 art and was able to not only refer to the April 1 theme but to the marvelous art work as well. The pictures are very funny and the children were engaged the entire time I shared it with them.

The grandkids are visiting Grandma and Grandpa on their farm. Grandpa is fixing breakfast for everyone when suddenly his grandson bursts into the kitchen shouting "The cows have got loose! I think Big Brown Bessie just stepped on a goose!" But Grandpa doesn't respond to the news -- he just calmly pours himself a glass of milk. Grandpa is so relaxed because its April Fools' Day and the children are playing tricks! Then Grandma steps in with a trick of her own!! In creating her lyrical text for April Foolishness, author Teresa Bateman draws upon her own experiences growing up on a farm and creates a story to which Nadine Westcott's lively illustrations are a perfect complement.

Kids love to visit their grandparents, and grandparents love to have them (most of the time). A visit may hold many surprises when it begins on April Fool's Day, which is what happened when two rambunctious youngsters arrived at the farm.

Told in lilting rhyme and illustrated in bold full-page color "April Foolishness" is a merry look at that special day. Grandma begins the day as grandpa is cooking breakfast in the kitchen. She thinks, "Life on the farm keeps a gal on her toes. That's what grandma thought as she flung on her clothes."

Well grandpa needs to be on his toes, too because the first thing he hears from his young visitors is that the cows have gotten loose and one stepped on a goose. Next is the announcement that the chickens are out, and the pigs broke the gate.

Children will smile their way through this rollicking story until they learn who pulls off the best April Fool joke of all.

- Gail Cooke

I love everything about "At Home in Nantucket" - the pictures were beautiful, it was easy to read and the recipes were delicious! I have never been to Nantucket but would love to check it out now!

I love this book!! I purchased a copy for myself first, and then numerous for friends and colleagues of mine who regularly summer in Nantucket, and some who have only been once, and others who haven't been yet (great way to encourage them!) - the photos are gorgeous and anyone with a bit of home decor interest would be interested in this.

Loved this book - some gorgeous homes that really gave me a lot of inspiration as I love that seaside/cottage look. Not all of the homes are decorated in an expected Nantucket style, however, which kept the pages interesting. It has beautiful photographs and some nice recipes too! If you love Nantucket or that casual, cottage/beachy design style, this is a great book for you.

The book is written in a style that warms the reader to life on Nantucket. The photographs come to life with the descriptive prose that the author uses to provide detail. A true sense of life on the island is conveyed in the book which made me want to rush to Nantucket for some R&R!

This book was HIGHLY recommended to me by a speaker at a conference on "communication." She said the book was "life changing" for her. This is one of the BEST books I've read in a long time. In its pages I saw myself: the ineffective ways I think, react, respond, and relate to others. But more than that, the author gives great tools for changing those negative thoughts and behaviors. I've seen fairly dramatic changes in my way of thinking and behaving. I logged on to Amazon to buy this book as a gift for several friends!

Excellent! Relates to all areas in life. Knowing your strengths and areas-to-strengthen empowers you to make needed changes AND take pride in what you are doing well; this book helps you find it all! Positive & encouraging; thorough; gently guides you to see yourself objectively; provides effective methods for changing stubborn habits. Very effective material, for young adults to seniors!

I have read the book 3/4 of the way and had to return it to the owner. I now have purchased my own. This is a down to earth book Thanks for such a direct and important way to look at ourselves and our human trends.

This book was wonderful, I loved it. It is full of exercises that give insight into our behaviors and personalities. The author offered effective ways to deal with anger and other negative emotions. It is a great tool to learn more about yourself and to grow in a more positive direction. It also provides valuable teaching tools for a therapist to use with clients.

The most curious aspect of Ivo Dominguez Jr's excellent book "Beneath The Skins" is that so little has changed in over the decade since its first edition. Published shortly after the climactic Gay Pride March on Washington CD in 1993, it speaks of a need for the community to band together in both a political and spiritual sense and goes at its topic with gusto. 1993 was a heady moment in the GLBT movement; we had a President who seemed to be with us, AIDS was galvanizing us both politically and scientifically, and the mere fact that USA Today covered this day as a front page event was cause for hope and celebration. There was a strong leather contingent there that day, and I was a marcher. In the peculiarity of the tiny amount of separation the community shares, I unknowingly photographed Ivo and his companions on the streets of DC. Men and women of all stripes and inclinations, from vanilla to rocky road, stepped into the sunlight and felt galvanized that day, and "Beneath The Skins" mirrors that time.

Ivo has a deep respect for these spiritual bearings that leatherfolk often share; the frequent references to tribalism reflect that. To this extent, "Beneath The Skins" is a companion book to Mark Thompson's "Leatherfolk: Radical Sex, People, Politics, and Practice" and Geoff Maines' "Urban Aboriginals," in the way it depicts the citizens of the leather world. You can see the expansion Ivo predicts will be forthcoming, in that the Kink Community has become better at networking, maintaining contact and promoting a healthy visibilty. These are all the good things.

The agonizing things are that the things that have changed the least. The radical right still projects their inadequacies upon us, the greater citizenry at large has an irrational fear of kinky people and the community at large still tends to devour its own. Ivo also touches these topics, with multiple suggestions on how to grow past them as both individuals and members of a community. "Beneath The Skins" is at its best when it delves into some of the basic reasons that we resist our own true spirits (the chapters from "Introduction To The Shadow" on), and also offers suggestions to make your own group/club/tribe function better.

"Beneath The Skins" has aged well. If you are a bit put out by the whole "spirituality" standpoint, don't let that scare you off. Ivo Dominguez has sculpted a book that approaches not just the spirit of fetish, but the personalities that manifest in them. Be that mindset tracked by spirituality or the politics of community, they are often in parallel. There is plenty to gather from this book.

If you've found this book while searching for how-to manuals for BDSM or simple explanations of BDSM and kink then you've looked at the wrong book. The audience of this book are those already in the community, those who are interested in promoting education, better public images or finding common ground between individuals and kinky organizations. Dominguez speaks to activists in 16 essays that look at his own personal journey, touch on important issues affecting the kinky community, and challenging activists to be better whether they serve on the front lines for legal changeor via the pen to educate and entertain. There is a focus more toward gay men's experience of the world and activism but this reflects the author's own experience and should not lock out others who truly wish to help themselves and others become accepted in society and to better society.

If you are curious about the "why" of kinky sex, without having to read pornography, this is the book for you. Ivo Domiguez gives a sweeping insider's tour of the world of leather and S&M. He covers the subject not as an abberation but as another axis on the measures of human sexual orientation.

The author has taken extraordinary care not to let his personal orientation shade the message he offers in this book. I highly recommend it to all on the path towards a deep understanding of their sexuality and how it relates to western society and culture.

The book begins with many personal disclaimers and definitions that should serve as a guide for those of us less informed to the need for a healthy acceptance of human diversity. Examples and metaphors for characteristic situations are given in abundance and allow the reader to intimately relate their own being to the author's observation of the kink society.

The parts of the book dealing with group and organizational structure are useful beyond their application to kink communities, and provide a framework for understanding the difficulties the kink community has in gaining acceptance as a valid part of society. The comparisons to the queer movement are especially useful and valid.

The author also nicely balances metaphysical explanations with more "scientifically" derived prose that should satisfy a broad spectrum of readers.

An excellent, albeit silliy, addition to the library or coffee table of Brooklynites of any age. Granted, it isn't "all-inclusive," but what pop-up book (or any book on Brooklyn, for that matter) is?

A delightfully colorful whimsy. Beautifully designed by an array of talented artists, including Maurice Sendak, specialists in pop-up engineering and all the pieces lovingly put together in Ecuador. My favorite? Two pages topped with old postcard letters-- "CONEY ISLAND." The beach front is covered with mini-bathers frolicking in and out of the water while the rollercoaster rolls by and the ferris wheel spins. There's a great boardwalk and everything that you could want at Coney Island. The only thing missing from the scene is Nathan's. There's an amazing Brooklyn Bridge, and lots of information for all ages about the history of that special borough....

It is really nice to see a resurgence of such childhood favorites as the "pop-up" book. Truly the first multimedia toys, these books add a new dimension (pun most certainly intended) to the written word.

What a wonderful way to introduce children and adults alike to the cultural Mecca that is Brooklyn. I loved this book so much, not only did I buy it for my library's children's collection, but I also bought a copy for myself.

Highly, highly recommended!

Each foldout page in this book was designed by a different person. Sometimes they're disappointing as pop-ups, but there are some bright moments. The cover by Maurice Sendak allows you to see behind it into how the movements are made. The brownstones page is silly, with stupid bug cartoons everywhere. The library is really disappointing, with no real focus and no real view of what the building looks like. The art museum is just lovely, and is probably the best -- but then, it's by Sabuda (my favorite pop-up artist)! The botanic garden could have been the most colorful and beautiful page -- instead, it's childish and dull. The carousel is fun, with horses popping out at you. The Brooklyn Bridge is nice, but the flavors of Brooklyn are worthless. Coney Island is fun, with a rotating Ferris wheel. The book comes in a handy-dandy re-sealable plastic cover. So if you're fond of Brooklyn this will be a really nice memento. But I do NOT recommend it for reading out loud to children.

This book is perfect for homeschooling unit studies or just pleasure reading. My four year old daughter was zoned in from start to finish. Absolutely beautiful artwork and very interesting subject matter. Highly recommended!

Having been a teacher of gifted children, it is exciting to have a book such as "The Buffalo Nickel" to offer them. Morrison's telling of the non-fiction story develops their appreciation of American history; the beauty of the artwork teaches a sense of dignity; and the respect for the sculptor helps all children learn about the importance of excellent work. Gifted children need fiction and fantasy, but they also need the challenge of great minds working on great things. This book takes them behind the scenes and tells an interesting story of an important American.

This book would make a fine gift for someone wishing to introduce a child to a little history of the old west, while at the same time acquainting them with an outline of the coin minting process. Accompanied by many illustrations (nicely printed book), the text is suitable for younger children (I'd say up to 10 years old or so) and will offer a pleasant insight into the life of the man who designed one of our nation's most distinctive coins. Definitely recommended.
-- Greg Burns
-- Editor, The NASC Quarterly, ...
-- Editor, The GlenCoin News, ... (pending)

When my brother and I were little, 6 and 8, my father brought home one night a paper sack of coins and several dark blue coin collecting books. Right then began a love of coins. We spent hours and weeks combing through all those Lincoln pennies, buffalo nickels, dimes, quarters, looking for an R, S, D, and filling those books.

When I found "The Buffalo Nickel" in my school library, I knew I had a treasure in hand. It is the story of the creation of the buffalo nickel. Do you know that a new coin replaces the old every 25 years? That the artist is commissioned to create the coin? And, my goodness, have you ever thought about how coins are made? Taylor Morrison gives us a wonderful story in James Earle Fraser, creator of the buffalo nickel, sometimes referred to as the Indian head nickel.

James's story is so representative of the importance of time and place. He lived to see the end of one era into the next. The Fraser family lived in the Dakota Territory in the 1880's, where his father was an engineer for a railroad and gone much of the time. James had two kinds of companions: old trappers who stopped by and occasional Sioux Indians looking for animals to hunt. Even a whittler had impact on the young boy.

The family returned to Chicago when James was a teen and he began studying art and created a sculpture of a weary Indian on horseback, reminiscent of Remington and Russell. "The End of the Trail" earned him the opportunity to study in Paris. When he returned to the States, he began working for a coin maker and decided to apply to create the new nickel. He thought a plains Indian and buffalo should go together on a coin as distinctly American.

The complicated coin making process is shown over the next several pages. On February 17, 1913, the U.S. Mint began production. On Feb. 22, President Taft presented nickels to a number of chiefs in a special ceremony on Staten Island. The three chiefs who posed for a composite likeness were especially pleased.

Morrison's artwork is intensely colored and vibrant, much as you see on the cover. Rich is a good word to describe each page, even those featuring browns and grays.

Although written as an information book, this extraordinary book could be given as a special gift for the child who collects coins or Native American memorabilia or the like.

Highly recommended!

Other books to read:
End of the Trail: The Odyssey of a Statue
Coin Collecting 101 What You Need to Know
Coin Collecting For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
The New York Times Guide to Coin Collecting: Do's, Don'ts, Facts, Myths, and a Wealth of History
The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents

The Bugville books are perfect! Buster's antics are hillarious and the story is heart-warming and refreshing with its positive messages about friendship and family. Any parent will relate and love these. The illustrations are intriguing!

The story is based on the day Buster and his friend Sarah visit a nearby farm. I would highly recommend this and my kids love it. Every time I read the story to them they are delighted and listen happily. My youngest loved the bright colorful pictures, and the story length was perfect. My oldest loved reading about Buster's day at the farm. It was one book they could read and enjoy TOGETHER, without anyone getting frustrated or bored.

I just bought two more copies for friends of mine. We'll be adding more Bugville books to our collection soon.

The Bugville stories get better and better with each new release. My youngest loves Buster and his pals! In this story, Buster and his friend Sarah visit the nearly farms and learn about farming. It is a hoot to read aloud!

My kids like this book's story and pictures and often asks me to read it over and over again. I don't see how you can go wrong with this story or any of the others. We started reading the Buster books a while back and were impressed enough with the first one to get the next two. Then we saw there were others and we decided to get them too.

My kids just adore the bugville critters books. I've read Go To School and Have A Sleepover so many times to them and they keep asking for it! You must get these books for your kids. They are the best picture books, in my opinion. In this story, Buster and his friend Sarah go to Garden Box Farms. At the farms, they meet a new friend Tim and learn about fruits and vegetables. The story has a wonderful positive message with good pictures that illustrate the story too. I highly recommend.