Vacations Books

This one of the best illustrated I have seen. Written for children but adults love it.It brings back family vacations at the beach

We stumbled upon The Pink House book at a museum on Edisto Island where the pink house is. We were staying (renting for the week) in the Pink House at the time and had no idea there was a book about it! It was built in 1934 and is charming. The book was great because we got to bring it back to the pink house and share it with all our friends and family also on vacation. She really hit the nail on the head about making sure we all wore something on our feet while walking to the beach. Beware of stickers!

Great book for reading out lound MANY MANY times as I have to my 4 year old daughter.

It is a pleasant book about a family that goes to the beach and spends a week together every year. It makes the adult reading it long for a family vacation with the idealic family featured in the book - instead of the one most of us probably have.

The pictures are great - We always point to the Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, or Grandma that is featured in the print. I highly recommend it and intend to purchase more of the books by this talented authour/artist.

This book was read to me - and I can't wait to read it to others. The wonderful graphics make it a delight! An excellent book for kids from 3 to 30.

Our copy is now worn from the nightly reading. The Pink House is our son's favorite request at bedtime. The author spins a warm and loving tale of an extended family on a beach vacation. It teaches relationships of family members and the simple wonders of the beach. The hand sketches of the aunts and uncles in their bathing suites are delightful. Because it is so true to ideal beach vacations, I recommend this book to all families with young children. We even tracked down the real house so our kids could have their picture made in front of THE PINK HOUSE.

I love every one of Robin Hardy's books that I have read. It amazes me how relevant this book was to me. I mean I'm from New Orleans and I've lost everything material I've owned, including my city. Sammy gets first hand experience on the things you love most and what is more valuable. It was a reat book for me to read and a great one for anyone to read.
I highly recommend it and any other Robin Hardy book to anyone who's a Christian but sure Christian Fiction is not for them. I also recommend it to any non-christian person who thinks Christian Fiction is strictly aimed at converting you.

Robin Hardy's smooth, relaxed style provides a pleasant and charming read. She weaves amiable characters into predicaments that face many Christians. Our hero, policeman Sammy Kidman has a flare for flirtation, mischief, and misfortune. He's a novice Christian trying to stave off the temptations of a sinful life. Even in the predicted calm of vacation, there's plenty temptation to go around.
Ms. Hardy relies heavily on scriptural truths to portray an allegory of New Testament hope. Fortunately for the reader, she accomplishes this without being unduly preachy. An example lies in pages 135 - 137, wherein a character plainly discusses supernatural encounters. He begins by acknowledging, "There's a lot we don't understand, and strange things happen on the threshold between life and death."
Like the Lystra series before it, the Sammy books provide high-quality, moral alternatives to mainstream romantic novels.

Within a month I had read the book twice. I'm hoping as my girls get older they will enjoy the Sammy books. Sammy keeps growning up. Sammy: on vacation is a delightful read and the people he meets on his vacation are just luke the every day people you see in your own life. Imperfect Sammy puts his all into life again in this book. We need more guys like Sammy.

Wow! Another great adventure with Sammy & Crew. Even the short synopsis of past books gave me technicolor flashbacks of the movies I played in my head while reading the previous Sammy adventures. When author Robin Hardy summed up God's moving in a particular segment, I got blessed all over again. I was glad to see her address contemporary issues when Sammy was tempted with other women, cash and his behavior toward his wife. I found myself wishing more men read books for recreation instead of watching sports. What impact could this book have if men saw themselves in Sammy's situation and gained the courage/will/determination to make the right choice when they are in the hotspot?? And Robin even addressed the Church of Ichabod!! She well presented the truth that God is still working and available to the true seeker. I absolutely loved the comment Joe made to Sammy on pg. 74 "It appears to me, Sammy, that you're covered with grace. Flushed with it. Rolling in it." Dear God, it should be that way for all of us. The Lord confirmed it should be in Revelations 22:21 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Sammy is a definite charmer and, if you got to know him in "Dallas Detective," you'll want to follow his latest exploits in "On Vacation." He's at his fast-talking, charming best pretending to be a Hollywood producer for the benefit of a small town sheriff on the take, but he has to deal with some serious issues, too. I can't wait for the next book. If you haven't met Sammy yet, you're missing out!

I read this book it was like one of the first book I ever read of the series. That it is why I started reading all these books. But really read this book and find out what happens about Noah and Megs relationship. Will they stay friends or fall in love? You won't know until you read this book. Don't just read this book out of the series read all of them.

This book is my favorite of the series. It keeps you readinguntil the end and i guarantee you'll enjoy it. Noah and Meg have sucha beleivable relationship and I think the author did a great job of relating to teens. A must read!

i found that Summer of Love was a great book!! i related to it very easily, and found it helpful. the story itself is really good!!! i really liked noah and meg's characters. i can't wait to read more like it!

What a SWEET Story! I loved it! Amazingly unlike all the other "Love Stories" I didn't know wat was gonna happen next. The ending didn't keep me hanging. (a definet plus) This book stood out above all the other romance books. Definetly a book to read over and over again!

Describe friendship in a very wonderful way ! I love the way the writter describes the beach. The way they fell in love was really out of this world escpecially the part where noah notices that love was right under his nose. I love the friendship thing . Well all in all It's A GREAT book! GET IT! Noah & Meg would make it worth it !

Don't leave home without it! Make a difference in your world, but do it right the first time. Eaton and Hurst use their experience to guide the reader through every aspect of a vacation with a purpose to a developing world.

That's the only word to describe this book - for both leaders and team members. VWAP is always one step ahead, because they have 'been there' and 'done that'. From first-timers to experienced missions teams, this book is a MUST. It is THE way to maximize your group's mission trip experience.

That's the only word to describe this book - for both leaders and team members. VWAP is always one step ahead, because they have 'been there' and 'done that'. From first-timers to experienced missions teams, this book is a MUST. It is THE way to maximize your group's mission trip experience.

Very "real world", comprehensive guide to experiencing and leading a short-term mission team. My experience with it came from two trips to Bolivia. The first as a team member, and the second as a team leader. Both times I found it to be an invaluable resource for preparing myself and others as we ventured into a totally foreign culture.

Easy, we thought. Our church wanted to do a short-term mission trip. We had eager participants, all ready and willing to "go". We just didn't know what to do... or even where to go ... we'd never done this before!! Yikes!! To the rescue ... Vacations with a Purpose!!! The VWAP leaders manual provided insight from people who had lead teams before, practical training ideas and a checklist to get us started.

I recommend this book for those just getting started with short-term missions, as well as to those who want to learn how to do better teams.

All three of my girls (9,7,4) love the rhyming rhythm and colorful illustrations. Tons of fun!

I really enjoyed this care-free story for kids. The monsters are a delight to behold! They know how to have a good time and can't help but get involved in a little mischief. Their free-spirited nature is very true to kids on a summer vacation. It is a great book to get kids involved in the fun of reading. These characters will fascinate and delight kids like those other classic monsters of Mercer Mayer's "There's a Nightmare in my Closet" and Kay Chorao's "Clyde Monster."

This whimsical, joyful book is perfect for anyone who is (or once was) a kid who loves nothing better than playing outside all day long. "All Summer's Fun" beautifully captures the feeling of those long summer days when all you have to worry about is how to squeeze in a few more minutes of fun before the sun sets!

Few other books have captured the pure sense of joy and freedom felt by kids on that first day of summer vacation and the weeks following. Skalak's main character--an adorable little green creature--romps and rides his way through the book with the same intensity and energy that kids of this age are famous for. The illustrations are bold and graphic, brightly colored and highly humorous. The text, written in a witty rhyme, tickles your tongue like a ball of cotton candy from a summer fair.

The story is great for children of all ages that are in school. The illustrations are absolutely beauiful and so full of life. The characters are so fun that I want to see them grow up in more books every year. A book that everyone with children that are starting school should own. I loved it!!

I did not know that PA had so many trails that can be day hiked or for weeks on end. This is a good place to start if you want to see if you can handle it before trying to hike th AT all the way.

Mitchell points you in the right direction to many well kept secrets in the Allegheney's!

Backpacking Pennsylvania does exactly the job the title leads you to believe it will do. 37 major trails are described and made accessible to the the Pennsylvania Backpacker.

Each trail narrative is preceded by a chart summarizing 13 "want-to-know" items for the trail: its length, approximate time needed for the trip, a difficulty rating, typical terrain and trail conditions, blazes, water supply, area vegetation, trail highlights, maintaining organizations, sources of maps/guides/contact information, and trailhead directions.

The trails are divided into seven geographical regions, with a map for each region showing the counties and general layouts and locations of the trails there. For each of the 37 trails, another map shows the local roads, towns, creeks, parks, and potential campsites and vistas. The narratives are sufficiently detailed that backpacker armed with this book would be able to save the purchase of many individual trail guides and maps, though these would offer more in-depth information on the history, geology, or other particulars.

This book is a great guide for planning backpacking ventures of appropirate duration, difficulty, and location in the Keystone state. I most recently backpacked the Bucktail Path and found Jeff's summary to be quite on-target. It should be in every Pennsylvania backpacker's library.

Jeff Mitchell's dusty boots had already covered new ground when he wrote "Hiking the Endless Mountains" - the first hiking book to explore the beautiful forests and creeks of Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains. Written by the Pennsylvania native, "Backpacking Pennsylvania, 37 Great Hikes" has now established Mitchell's books as the most current and definitive guide series for hiking and backpacking throughout Pennsylvania. In "Backpacking Pennsylvania", Jeff travels beyond the Allegheny Plateaus to provide concise and well-written trail descriptions. Just enough information is provided for each trail system and Mitchell leaves it to the reader to put his book down and to just start hiking!

Jeff Mitchell's Preface in "Backpacking Pennsylvania" is a righteous testamony to those special places which are rapidly disappearing in the 21st Century. "By respectfully visiting and experiencing these places, we can appreciate and protect them" and "Backpacking reintroduces people not only to nature, but also to each other".

Yes it's possible, in "industrialized" Pennsylvania of all places, to hike for days without seeing a single other person, and outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the Northeast should be more familiar with the Pennsylvania backpacking experience. I'm a native of the state who has been seriously hiking and backpacking for years, and I'm still continually amazed by the variety and extensiveness of Pennsylvania's long-distance hiking trails. Amid the state's surprisingly remote and wild areas are dozens of trails that exceed 20 miles in length, and several that surpass 100 miles. There is far more to Pennsylvania backpacking than the famous Appalachian Trail, which Jeff Mitchell accurately describes as one of the least interesting trails in the state. This book is not meant to be a true guide for any of the trails described, but summarizes the long-distance hiking opportunities available. Therefore, unless you really know what you're doing, following trails with this book will be difficult given its abbreviated travelogues and very non-detailed maps, so don't try to do an extensive trip *only* with this book. Detailed trail guides and/or maps are usually available elsewhere.

What makes this book a real winner is an outstanding introduction concerning various backpacking issues and challenges, and excellent geographical info for each trail described, especially in terms of trail conditions, locations of trailheads, and contact information. I have completed several of Pennsylvania's long-distance trails, especially in the central and north-central regions of the state, and given Mitchell's knowledgeable and accurate writing I can attest that he has either hiked these trails himself or has talked extensively with people who have. For this reason I am confident about his descriptions of the trails I haven't yet tackled, and you should be too. So if you're in Pennsylvania but are unaware of the adventures in store, this book is an outstanding introduction to our vast backpacking opportunities. [~doomsdayer520~]

As the author of this book I would like to point out that I am not the same person as my namesake who writes homoerotic novels such as "To Serve Two Masters". "Buying a House in Italy" belongs to a different genre altogether.
Perhaps Amazon could follow the example of their UK branch and put a C in front of my name on their listing to differentiate between the two Gordon Neales.

We bought a house in Cortona Italy 12 years ago only after a long hard search. IF ONLY we had Gordon Neale's book with us on that first trip hunting for the perfect house. His detailed knowledge of the intracacies of house buying law in Italy is infinite and we would have had fewer grey hairs if this book was available then
. Apart from that it is a wonderful guide from a very sympathetic student of the history, language and humanity of the Italian nation. In concise chapters he will give you the benefit of his long study and experience of the regions, their differences and special charms. The stuff this man has learned would take the casual visitor more than a life time to obtain. Here is his knowledge for you to savour at the cost of a paperback. This is not just a book for aspiring house buyers, it is an invaluable asset to anyone travelling in Italy. IF ONLY, we had had this book all those years ago, but we have it now and it brings even greater pleasure to our life Bella Italia

This book was well worth the money There are some serious mistakes when dealing with history. other then that a very usefull book.

I was sent this book for Christmas since I had stayed in Tuscany and am interested in buying there. Wow! This book is like a Whole Earth Catalog for Italy. Beyond the details on how to buy a house, it's got material on living there in a way that puts you right in the middle. I loved how the author interspersed Italian words and phrases throughout the book and had various glossaries for buying a house and even gardening and dealing with builders doing renovations. I find that I can recall the words easily because of the way he put them in the context of how I would actually use them in conversation to get something I want. The wit and wisdom sidebar on Berlusconi is a real gem. His listing of things like Italian TV and radio, I mean, I can see myself living there, important in the actual determination to buy. Also, he's got Web Site addresses throughout for additional information like real estate agents by region. This is a terrific book that's fun to read and dip into. I recommend it, highly.

An excellent guide. I loved the sections on the history of Italy and the one on gardening.
The book is packed with information which is clearly written. It is a joy to read and a must for anyone contemplating buying a house in Italy.

A nice little book on the subject. Gives the reader a basic covering on a variety of dwellings of the period but unfortunately rarely gives more than one or two floors of a design that uas three or four without providing a full set. Also doesn't provide scale for some designs.

is a wonderful book that shows how homes were designed and built in the late 19th century. It covers a variety of victorian styles and has floorplans along with perspective views and elevations from a small 3 room cottage to a 36+ room mansion. This is a great way to learn about victorian architecture.

Though these houses purport to be "country houses and seaside cottages," there's little reason they couldn't have been built in any Victorian small town. They range from a tiny three-room structure to a rambling 10-bedroom Dutch Gambrel mansion (called in those days a "villa") to a "club house" (easily altered to private use), a lakeside pavilion, a Baptist chapel, a "stone rectory in Iowa," and a couple of apartment blocks, one of which eerily reminds me of a building not far from my former home. These buildings are primarily of the Eastlake or Queen Anne style, the original book having appeared in 1883, an era when the front stair-hall was often as big as any other room and used as such. You'll need a magnifier to make out some of the details, but if you have any interest at all in late-Victorian domestic architecture, you need to have this volume on your shelves.

This book has great illistrations and floor plans with elevations. It's a great way to learn about the way homes were built in the late 19th century. It also includes specifications for the builder. It contains many plans of many differt styles of victorian architecture from a simple 3 room home, to a 36+ room mansion.

Is a great visually informative book. It gives the reader a better idea of the way homes were built in the late 19th century. The book covers a wide variety of victorian styles and includes plans, perspective views and elevations from a small 4 room cottage, to a huge 36+ room mansion in the Caribbean. I recomend this book to anybody interested in late 19th century victorian architecture.

Wow! What a lovely story about a 9 year-old boy, a "hoper" (full of hope, optimism and imagination) who wants to know why his name is Dillon Dillon! I got the book at the library (title caught my eye; my oldest son is named "Dylan", and the cover photo looked like him!) and loved it so much I bought a copy to keep! My 12 and 9 year-old sons loved it. The author nails the voice of Dillon Dillon and his thoughts perfectly. Her prose is lyrical. Wonderful dialogue. Despite the sad news Dillon hears on his 10th birthday (reason for his name), the story becomes inspirational and sweet as Dillon bonds with a family of loons, and copes with the revelation of his name. A perfectly delightful read that will leave you smiling! What an unforgettable character! A great read-aloud book too!

Did you ever think that you were an animal? The book I read was called Dillon Dillon by Kate Banks. In this book Dillon, the main character, thought that he was a loon because two loons became his friend and he thought that he could talk to them when they talked to him.
In the beginning of the story, Dillon was being made fun of because of his name, Dillon Dillon. He didn't like it when they made fun of him. So when he got really mad he would do mean stuff, like put pencil shavings in the kids' milk.
Every summer Dillon and his family go to their cabin on Lake Waban. This summer it was Dillon's 10th birthday. So he asked his parents why they gave him that name. That's when he found out that he was adopted. His real parents died in a plane crash and the family that had been taking care of him were really his aunt and uncle and his two cousins, Daisy and Didier.
While they were driving to the cabin, they stopped at a gas station and Dillon met a really nice girl named Eunice. While he was talking to her he noticed that he liked the same things that she did. So then Dillon asked her where she was going and she said Camp Tanglewood on Lake Waban. He was really surprised that she was going to be close to him all summer. But you will have to read the book to see if they meet at Lake Waban.
Now about the loons: While Dillon was at Lake Waban he met two loons that soon became his friends. He could talk to them when they were talking to him. One day, the loons took his shoe and made it into a nest. A couple of days later there was an egg in his shoe. A few months later the egg hatched and that baby soon liked Dillon. But one day something horrible happened to the mother and the father loon.
I think you should read this book if you like books full of adventure. I really liked this book and I hope you will like it too.

This book is a book to read over and over. The many metaphors make it a meaningful book for adults as well as a great book for children. I read it after the death of my mother and found it helped with the grief process.

This book blew me gently away and a sense of piece descended on me. This is a beautiful written sensitive story of a warm and loving family and a very special boy. This writer has feelings and the courage to question life. The loon material added beauty and wonder and left me filled with a renewed appreciation of the world and our place in it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who shares this earth!

This book blew me gently away and a sense of piece descended on me. This is a beautiful written sensitive story of a warm and loving family and a very special boy. This writer has feelings and the courage to question life. The loon material added beauty and wonder and left me filled with a renewed appreciation of the world and our place in it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who shares this earth!

French Toast, A White Cane and Memories is a fictionalized story about brothers Chase and Bo while on vacation with their mother. However, although labeled as fiction, this work is obviously heavily influenced by the author's own experiences with her own two boys.

Written from the point of view of Bo, the oldest of the two boys, the reader gains a picture of the family. Bo tries very hard to be a good big brother to Chase. Chase has some special issues. As a young toddler, Chase was diagnosed Retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative condition that gradually takes away the boy's vision.

Making sense and adjusting to this diagnosis has been very hard on the family. Although she tries to be upbeat in front of the boys, Bo hears his mother cry at night sometimes. Intuitively, the young boy understands his mother's fears and steels himself to take care of her as well. An amazing kid and a loving family creating memories.

This book held my attention from beginning to end. It has all the elements that make it a good story. I especially liked it being written from the older brother's perspective. I liked the balance between Chase's boyish annoyance with his little brother Bo, and his role as protector. Without it ever being overtly stated, one feels the love Chase has for his mother and brother. His concern is felt by the reader as his family faces a very difficult, life changing situation.

Bo and Chase can't wait to get back to their favorite place on earth; and readers can laugh along as they travel with the brothers on a family vacation.

Written from a sibling's perspective, French Toast, a White Cane, and Memories is a fictional story based on the experiences of a real little boy who is losing his eyesight to a rare disease.

Through funny and touching stories, the author takes kids on a step by step journey with this little family, not only to the ocean shore, but through emotional struggles and on to better understanding, renewed hope, and closer unity.

The book's fourteen short chapters with large text and real "kid language" is perfect for ages 8 and up.

Through adventures that test their spirit, Chase and his family learn about loyalty and unconditional, self-sacrificing love. This charming book promotes compassion and tolerance of those with physical differences. It will touch the hearts of kids and parents alike.

Author Laura Fay Robbie writes from her own experience as a hard working single mom, devoted to her boys, on whose lives the book is based. Robbie's stories communicate the ups and downs of a family with a handicapped child. Topics include fear and courage, optimism and hope, family unity, and the value of friendships.

Parents, librarians, and teachers will find much to use for discussions about questions and problems children face.

French Toast, a White Cane, and Memories would make a great gift for any child, but especially for siblings of kids who are battling serious illness, injuries, or handicaps.
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Review by Marsha Jordan
Author of "Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter"
www.hugsandhope.org/pb.htm

Although it is fiction you could just feel what this family is dealing with in real life. I really liked the way the author told the story through the older son's eyes. You had a real feeling for what it was like to have a younger brother with a medical condition.
The book was written with so much detail that I thought I was taking the trip with them! It made me miss my times at the ocean.
I highly recommend this book for many reasons. There is a good story, it's very well written, but more importantly it gives you real insight about what living with RP is all about.

This is a terrific story about the ups and downs of a real family. It's a touching story of a little boy losing his eyesight and the wonderful adventures he lives.