Lifestyle Books

Darling, delightful, all those lovely words describe this true girly girly fun activity. The little stores and shops are filled with actual hands on items. It's just cute, cute. It's so English and European like. I'm holding on to mine. It's too lovely to part with.

My daughter just loves this "book". It has alot of pieces so there is more to play with and is very detailed. I haven't been able to find any other paper doll books that even come close to this.

a cute book about Briggs the Pig and his wife Bertha. It shows that you have to be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Bertha and Briggs are two pigs who live the pig's life: Simple, playful, and muddy. By all rights, they should be content, and they do look happy when we see them on a typical day. Still, underneath it all, these are two bored pigs: "Nothing happens to us--every day is the same." They're pigs with a dream, however, dreams of wealth and riches.

That presents a problem, for how do two ambitious but four-footed pigs get wealthy. Well-known author/illustrator Helen Oxenbury solves this one quickly--they find buried treasure--and soon the pigs are off to sample the more exclusive shops of the nearby town. First, it's off to the bank, where their piggy appearance gets them booted by the manager. The manager quickly changes his tune when he sees their gold. (I believe something similar happened to Janis Joplin at an auto dealership.)

Exchanging their gold for green, they go on a "shopping spree!" "Briggs turn was next, and he felt quite a swell--he tried on four suits and they fit him quite well." Oxenbury is so talented that Briggs really does look quite dapper in his pin-striped suit! They're rich enough to buy a stretch limo (!) and that farmhouse they'd seen, and Bertha and Briggs enjoy their new status, especially Briggs. (Perhaps Bertha fancies herself a Martha Stewart, but she handles all the domestic chores, whilte Briggs putters, reads, and makes a few phone calls.)

Without giving too much away, the two pigs very soon discover that possessions can be a headache: It's sort of a pig version of "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House." Another octet of pictures shows their newfound troubles: "At last the two pigs couldn't stand any more. Briggs grabbed Bertha's arm, and they dashed through the door." The grass is always greener, and after destroying some vestiges of their consPIGuous consumption, that's exactly where the two wiser pigs fall asleep that night, au naturale and happy again.

The rhymes are clever, move the story along briskly, and unforced--there are no inverted sentences just to make words rhyme. Her gouache, pencil, and ink illustrations are uncommonly fresh, crisp, and extremely well-matched to the narrative. For example, after an opening series of small pictures depicting typical porcine pleasures (including wallowing, eating, scratching, dozing, gossiping). her full-page illustration of the pigs overlooking the large, luxury farmhouse accompanies a larger, more thematic rhyme: "But Bertha and Briggs were never content. "On money and riches their two minds were bent./There were so many wonderful things they would do-- /only then would they really be happy, they knew."

Ms. Oxenbury's symmetric structure, original and humorous rhymes, and warm, whimsical illustrations give "Pig Tale" an enormous appeal. It should be very high on the book list of anyone with an appetite for piggy lit.

This is a great book for kids. The pirates, two adorable mice, find themselves taking cover with their ship in-land, where the small mouse village hasn't seen the likes of these two before. Throughout the book are references to "weather sayings" that kids may have heard but not really understood what was being said - red at night sailor's delight, etc. Krupinski's illustrations are absolutely wonderful. This is a fun book that gets read aloud over and over in our Northwest home.

Shiver me timbers! It's a different kind of pirate adventure when you substitute cute mice for humans in Loretta Krupinski's Pirate Treasure, telling of mice whose pirate ship has been driven upriver by a storm. Captain Oliver and first mate Rosie decide to settle down as farmers - but their troubles growing grain and making friends comes from bad reputations as pirates - until a storm comes up and Captain Oliver's expertise might save the day.

ISBN 2020694182 - There are a lot of Lift-the-Flap books out there and plenty of other novelty books, all created to get your child interested in reading, but In the Country is special. Not only are there flaps inside, there's education under those flaps!

A fairly large book (8 1/2 x 10 3/4), In the Country is a mere 14 pages long. The pages are a thin cardboard, not quite board book thickness. The book talks about the things "we" do in the country and each page is littered with flaps to lift and tabs to pull. Gathering eggs, looking for birds, learning how everything grows and more, educational information is presented in small tidbits that are easy to learn - and far easier to remember this way!

Some pages have so many things to see and some tabs and flaps blend so well into the background that they require an eagle eye and some attention to actually spot. Many of the flaps are glued onto the page, making them very flimsy and easily torn out. The illustrations of people are pretty basic (triangle for a body, circle for a head, sticks for arms and legs) and wouldn't deserve high praise, but the flaps are so much the center of attention that you tend not to notice those relatively primitive graphics. This, I assume, is intentional and isn't due to lack of ability on the illustrator's part because most of the other illustrations are fantastic, it's only the people who aren't. My only advice, for used book buyers, is to make sure that all the flaps are inside - I've gone through 2 copies already and there's always a flap or three missing! 100% worthwhile.

- AnnaLovesBooks

The bright and colorful illustrations are wonderful! Each flap contains not only a picture, but some simple facts about each of the items to lead you into conversation with your child. I also like that the flaps require different manipulations to open them and the book is put together well so the flaps don't easily rip off. A very enjoyable l-t-f book to share with your little ones.

I purchased this book as a gift for a friend. He absolutely loved it. He called me to say he had actually been to a couple of the "stops" listed in the book. I just briefly thumbed thru it, before wrapping it, and it had great pictures and was not to wordy. Just enough information to keep you interested without becoming bored and laying the book down. Would recommend this book to any one interested in the Pony Express!

The Moellers capture the real pony express in a way only they can!

The photos are stunning! I am proud to have this book on my coffee table!

You will want to take this trip yourself!

Glen Bland has brought together some of the most powerful concepts for the making of success for any person in any field and has put them into an easy to read, inspirational and motivating book that should be a required reading for anyone looking for solid principles for building a successful life. A must-read book for anyone wanting to do the best he or she can do.

In his book "The Power of Thought" Glenn Bland provides us with the ageless secrets of great achievement. Each of us has the ability to be successful yet too few of us develop the values and beliefs - especially in ourselves - to achieve true success. By examining modern figures of success - W. Edwards Deming, Andre Carnegie, Henry Ford, Lee Iacocoa, Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Thatcher and others Glenn Bland shows us the common threads which weave through the lives of successful people. The key is that the common shared threads were not qualities one is born with rather they can be gained through learning and by maintaining the proper attitude.

These essential traits of great achievers were based on the teachings of the past form Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus and Paul. These were the original "Positive Thinkers" and all after them have built on their foundation. Further more, Glenn shows how anyone can adopt this wisdom of the ages to achieve success in any endeavor, as well as find happiness, meaning, fulfillment and serenity in life.

The final chapter in the book is devoted to the Classic Quotations of great achievers, as it is a wise person who learns to capitalize on the positive thoughts of other successful people.

Another book, THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION identifies the seven most common barriers, which prevent organizations reaching their full success. Employees make the successful organization. Their knowledge and skill requirements can be learned, but their positive attitude, the primary driver for successful organizations, is based on individual values and beliefs.

In THE POWER OF THOUGHT, I particularly liked the "Power Thoughts" which accompanied each chapter. Let me share one with you - "Your vision is the signet of your destiny".

Although actually inspired by the Canadian prairie, the intricately-detailed drawings in this book reminded me unmistakably of the four years I lived in Kansas. It really captures the unique beauty (and architecture and weather) of the prairies, and of real farm and ranch life, and would be a great addition to any Midwestern school or public library collection as well as the family's. Children (and adults!) in other parts of the country will find it fascinating, too -- the drawings are very authentic, detailed, and full of fun surprises that kids will love. Also, instead of representing each letter of the alphabet with just one word, it uses the letter several times throughout a complete, entertaining sentence. I plan to send it to all the children I know in other regions of the country, and perhaps even abroad! A lovely, very educational and fun book.

The illustrations that accompany each letter are amazing. The pictures are beautiful and will keep a child's attention while demanding the appreciation of an adult reader. The sentences using the alphabet letter give an accurate descrition of prarie life and go well with each beautiful picture.

A Prairie Boy's Summer has garnered numerous awards since its publication in 1975: A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year, 1975; A Children's Book Council Showcase Book Award, 1976; Canadian Association of Children's Librarians, Best Illustrated Book, 1976; IODE Book of the Year, 1976; and, also in 1976, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award.

The original paintings of A Prairie Boy's Summer are on extended loan to the Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from the collections of Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., Walkersville, Ontario, Canada.

Support for the publication of this children's book was received from the Canada Council for the Arts. Financial support was received from the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program.

William Kurelek (1927-1977) was a Canadian realist artist (landscape painter and highly regarded illustrator of children's books) and writer--the eldest of seven children born to Ukrainian immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada.

He received an arts degree from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, in 1949; studied at the Ontario College of Art; and, at the Instituto Allende in Mexico. In the 1950s, he lived in England, and "had paintings in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions from 1956 to 1958."

His art and writings were "influenced by his childhood on the prairies, his Ukrainian-Canadian roots, and his Roman Catholic religion" (he converted from Ukrainian Orthodox in 1957). Since religion was a very real, important part of his life and a source of inspiration for his works, many of his paintings have titles with quotes from Biblical scriptures, and even his initial "W" on his artwork shows a cross.

In 1976, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. When he died a year later, he was Canada's best known painter. "The four books he had created for children...were honored by 22 major national and international awards." By the time of his death, Kurelek had produced over 2,000 paintings.

His books have been published in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Holland and Greenland.

"Since his death, two additional books have been published by Tundra: Fox Mykyta, the great Ukrainian folk tale, which he illustrated with 72 drawings; and, The Polish Canadians, his series of paintings of the early struggles and courage of that immigrant group. His ambition was to paint the history of all of Canada's varied peoples. He succeeded in leaving his vision of the Inuit, French-Canadians, Irish, Ukrainians, and Poles, as well as of Christians and Jews." The rock band Van Halen used parts of his painting The Maze (1953) on the cover of their 1981 album, Fair Warning. The Maze is available through libraries.

The National Film Board of Canada has put out a video, Kurelek, which is ten minutes in length and touches on the artist/writer's life.

Currently in the making is a feature-length documentary film, `William Kurelek: The People's Painter.' It has received initial funding from Bravo Television and the Canadian Television Fund for research and development. "The Kurelek film project has received the support of Jean Kurelek, the artist's widow, and her family and Av Isaacs, Kurelek's art dealer. Completion is slated for early 2010. Award-winning Ukrainian-Canadian director Halya Kuchmij has thirty years' experience at the CBC and the National Film Board, and has won over 50 awards nationally and internationally." For a more detailed description of the film and Halya Kuchmij, please read the July 13, 2008 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly.

Kurelek's stories and artwork are based on real-life experiences--he grew up on a grain farm in Alberta and on a dairy farm in Manitoba. The main character in A Prairie Boy's Summer is named William (as is he); the stories narrated are also a repertoire from his past, making the book autobiographical in a real sense.

Each of the twenty vignettes ("his writing was always tied to his art") relates a unique summer's story of life on a farm on the Canadian prairie as experienced by twelve-year old William, and is colorfully illustrated on the facing page.

The opening vignette introduces the end of the school year, which is the beginning of summer. As we greet summer's entrance, we're exposed to William's sundry chores, games, and daily encounters. Join him on his school's quest to win The Shield; learn whether William preferred to play baseball or softball; savor lunch menus and meal preferences; accompany William on the last day of school, known as Field Day; see William's cat, Kitka (the Ukrainian word for cat), get dive-bombed by swallows; let William explain killdeers; encounter a "devil's wedding" (a Ukrainian name); learn how to make hay; cultivate corn; milk a cow; and, accompany William on other adventures throughout the ensuing months. Soon, summer would end, and "a sure sign that autumn was taking over" was threshing time. William shares his twelfth summer in a personal, poignant way--as a father might, passing on his childhood recollections to his kids. Relive summer's 1930s history on Canada's prairie as seen through the thoughts and eyes of a special, sensitive young artist, William.

A five-star recommendation for a classic children's book sure to be reread and enjoyed often by both children and adults!--Mandrivnyk, Arlington Heights, IL

It only takes 30 minutes to read this charming book of 20 pictures, with text on the opposite page, but do yourself a favor and savor it longer. Don't expect any plot, theme or character development, yet this gem charms by its honest simplicity, as it celebrates a by-gone era of farming on the Canadian prairie.

The famous Canadian author/illustrator has captured the flavor of carefree, rural childhood in the 1930's and preserved it for future generations to discover and enjoy. Kurelek treats each topic with quiet dignity: chores, games, weather, special occasions, and adult life as viewed by irrepressible children. Both text and illustrations are rich in detail. This volume is a companion to his "A PRAIRIE BOY'S WINTER," one of the New York Times' Best Illustrated books of 1973. A relaxing read for those who want to escape the hurried 90's and nestle into a time of agrarian innocence.

The art work of Yvette Moore is very realistic and portrays the Prairie people, their families and lives exactly as it happens. The realism makes me feel as though I can relate to the people in the picture. I am from the Prairies of Saskatchewan, and am very proud to know that Ms. Moore has the talent to share with the rest of the world how wonderful it is to be from the Prairies.

Yvette Moore's paintings are absolutely beautiful and I am proud to say thay she is from my hometown in Saskatchewn. The detail and colour capture so much of what life was like for me on the prairie. As if the painting themselves were not enough, the text completes the experience of life on the prairies through its page-long descriptive passages. This is a great companion book to The Prairie Alphabet, done by the same two women, but more detailed in the text.

I checked this book out at the library and my daughter who's almost 4 loooves.... this book. It has not become of her all time favorites. I agree this book is easy to read and the pictures are engaging.

After reading another review about this book I decided to buy it. The illustrations are very nice and
simple, the story is short. My daughter asks for this book every night. What child doesn't
like to see pictures of puppies, piggies and other farm animals.