I Books

The Cabinet of Wonders is an amazing debut novel!
It's been a while since I was so captivated by a fantasy book that wasn't all "myths and monsters", (if you will).

Petra is a spunky 12-year-old girl who lives with her father, Aunt Dita annoying cousin David, and various magical, mechanical tin pets. Her favorite is a bookish tin spider known as Astrophil, who likes to hide under her tangled brown hair. Her father is off in faraway Prague because he has been commissioned to build the world's finest and most beautiful clock. (One that actually has powers that can be very dangerous in the wrong hands!)
As of this point in the story, her beloved father has been gone for six months, and is due to return anytime.

When he does return, we learn that the prince has removed his eyes(which is described very discreetly), magicked them and WEARS them. But why?
Petra is determined to find out, and at the same time, to get them back for her father. She decides to go to Prague, sneak into the castle, and steal back her father's eyes. However, no one is the castle is what they seem, and fewer can be trusted!

The story reads a little like an old-fashioned folk tale and a little like a strange fairy tale.

The characters and plot are what drive it forward. From Petra's best friend who can trap lightning in small, glass marbles, to Neel, the thieving gypsy boy she befriends to Astrophil, (probably the most wonderful and fun to read spider since Charlotte from Charlotte's Web), to Iris, of the Dye Works.

I'm glad this is the beginning of a series. Even though the story wraps up nicely in the end, I wanted to know more about Petra and Astrophil and her father.

I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

When Petra's father, Mikal, returns from six months in Prague working for the prince, it's not quite the homecomming she had imagined. He'd just finished building a remarkable clock for Prince Rodolfo, when the prince had his eyes removed, which he kept for himself. Petra may be only 12 years old, but she determines to go and steal the eyes back, leaving without much of a plan but taking her pet tin spider, Astrophil, who was made by her father. Once in Prague she quickly befriends a young Roma (Gypsy) boy, Neel, who helps her get a job in the castle. She also learns that her father didn't finish one part of the amazing clock, a part which would allow the Prince to control the weather, a part which must be destroyed. By a stroke of luck she lands a job in the Dye Works working for Iris, the feared woman who drips acid from her skin, but it gives her access to some parts of the castle. But she'll need more than just luck to get past the guards and other obstacles between her and her father's eyes.

I was quite surprised by this charming little book. Initially, I thought the story started rather slow, and the magic was confusing - not your ordinary wizards and spells we've all come to expect since Harry Potter. My 9 year old daughter had the same complaints, and almost quit reading. But before long Ms. Rutkoski casts her own spell that hooks the reader with something better than magic: Petra herself. She's a stubborn and independent little girl, but fiercely faithful and devoted to her father and friends, and you can't help falling for her and her impossible quest. Add in some other totally charming characters: her friend Tomik who helps her sneak away, Neel the Gypsy boy, and especially Astrophil the brainy little metal spider, and the story quickly sucks you in.

I really enjoyed reading this little book. It's not too long and stays on a level that the younger kids will enjoy. I also liked the way she worked a lot of real history into the story, and the way she portrayed the Gypsies. I look forward to the continuation of the series.

I have begun reading this aloud with my nine year old daughter, who finds the storyline about the father's eyes being torn out a little too scary to read on her own. But we love the adventurous heroine.

This wonderful story is set in Prague during the European Renaissance. It is a fantasy set in this era, and it includes magic and other wonders that don't exist in the real world. The writing style is simple enough to interest younger readers but complex enough to appeal to adults. (Both my children (9 and 4) and I enjoyed the book.) The heroine, Petra, effects a daring plan to help her maimed father. Her plan forces her to leave the haven of her small village, taking her far from her family and introducing her to a world she previously only imagined and romanticized. She meets reality and rolls with it, learning and growing along the way. The characters she meets along the way are very engaging, as is her pet spider, Astrophil, who not only was a great character, but was Petra's sense of better judgement at times as well. The action that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I am looking forward to the next book in this series with great interest.

This wonderful little tale blends fairy tale and history in a clever mix that kids with a penchant for fantasy will likely enjoy. Based (very loosely) on the court of Rudolf II in the late 16th and early 17th century Prague, but populated with fantastic mechanical creatures and a certain type of magic, 'The Cabinet of Wonders' reads like a story by the Brothers Grimm. This makes a great bedtime story--add to your (and a child's) enjoyment by pulling down an atlas and finding Prague and Bohemia on a map as you read along, and see how closely you can mesh fantasy and reality. Looking forward to the next two books in this series.

I love starting the day with this, eveyone wants my old ones when I finish. I think Dilbert seems to relate to every office.

This daily comic helps to relieve the stress and tension in my office. Scott seems to have his finger firmly planted on the pulse of corporate America with Dilbert, Asok, the "pointy-haired guy", Dogbert the evil HR guy, Catbert and more. If you need a therapeutic laugh to make it through your sometimes insane days at work, this is the calendar for you.

You'd think Scott Adams would run out of material. Sadly, today's workplace seems to provide plenty of fodder. Good calendar.

i look forward to getting to the office a little early, tearing off yesterday's sheet, reading today's calendar sheet, and laughing out loud. i use the old sheets to write notes for colleagues (instead of stick-it notes), which usually are apropros to the office goings on that day. i love adams' creativity - the ironies and utter stupidity are something that we all can really relate to at work! for the amount of laughter that this calendar has given me and my colleagues, it was well worth the price and i'm destined to purchase it again next year!

I've had this on my desk the last 3 or so years. This time around I ordered the desk diary by mistake.
I tried to persuade myself that I could use that one, and do without the daily, but I caved in, and ordered this again. Makes the working day get off to a routinely funny start, always a chuckle. A great gift too.

I can't fault it.

Frog and Toad where helpachful to eatchather.There storys where creatav.I like Frog best.He teaches Toad alot of things.Frog and Toad spend all year together.

Frog and Toad All Year continues in the delightful and thoughtful tradition of Arnold Lobel's books. It has stories for each season and as always they are deceptively simple but actually full of love, truth, good values, and humour. My daughter's, 3 and 5, love them.

Frog And Toad All Year


Hi, if you are a fan of Arnold Lobel's books, and you have not read Frog And Toad All Year, then you might want to read it.

If you like ice cream, then you should read page's 30-42. It is about Frog and Toad sitting by a pond Frog wishing for something sweet like ice cream. Toad thinks that is a great idea, so he gets some but before he can make it back it melts. They both go and get more ice cream. But instead of going back, they sit under a tree by the store. I like this chapter is because of the ice cream melting.

I liked this book because of the lessons like the lesson in chapter Ice Cream and the lesson is never travel with ice cream on a hot summer day.

If you are scared of being alone, well, you might pick Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel. Find out if Toad will ever learn how to be alone.

In the beginning, Toad was so nervous to be alone in the sled. So Frog was behind him. There was a big bump and Frog fell out. Toad was still on the sled. And he went by himself all the way to the bottom. Toad learned that being alone is not that bad, and you don't have to be scared.

If you like this book you might pick others in the series. There is Frog and Toad are Friends and Days with Frog and Toad.

I was at a wedding where the minister was a very good friend of both the bride and the groom. When it came to the part of the service where the minister imparts words of wisdom, he started to read the Frog and Toad story of "The Surprise." It is all about how one October when the leaves had fallen from the trees Frog decides to go to Toad's house to surprise his friend by raking up all the leaves on his lawn and Toad decides to go to Frog's house and do the same thing. The minister read the story, showing the surprised groom the pictures, and when he finished the story he explained how it was all about thinking of somebody else before you think of yourself. All I was thinking is that I have to get my hands on this story.

"The Surprise" is the fourth of the five stories that make up "Frog and Toad All Year," a Level 2 (Reading with help) "I Can Read Book." The stories begin and end with winter, starting off with "Down the Hill" as the two friends go sledding and end with "Christmas Eve." In between Toad finds that Spring is waiting around "The Corner" and buys some "Ice Cream" cones for he and his friend to enjoy, before it is time to rake the leaves. Lobel's stories have an exquisite simplicity that should really resonant with young readers. I know that frogs and toads are both amphibians, but I had to look up the biological differences: toads have brown skin that is dry and leathery because of convergent adaptation to drier climates and environments than frogs. So there is a reason why frogs are green and toads are brown. What that means to kids is not evidence of convergent adaptation, but rather than Frog and Toad are alike and yet different. In the end what is most important is that they are friends. Whether you think of yourself as a frog or a toad, you still need a friend and friendship is what these stories are all about.

"Frog and Toad All Year" was originally published in 1976, the fourth of Lobel's collections of stories about these characters. It follows "[[Frog and Toad Are Friends" (1970), "Frog and Toad Together" (1971), and comes before "Days with Frog and Toad." Each has five stories and if I think this one is the best it may just be because it was the first one I happened to read. If you have the soundtrack to "A Year with Frog and Toad," the musical adapted from Lobel's charming stories, you will find that three of these stories end up in Act II. "The Surprise" becomes "He'll Never Know," "Down the Hill" retains its title, and "Christmas Eve" becomes "Merry Almost Christmas." I mention all this because once your young reader reads one of these books they are going to want to read the rest, and when they find out that there are only four books you might need something else to keep them happy and the musical is out there to be enjoyed as well.

I am from the Midwest and this book is awesome!!!! I love the way Mrs. Hampton change up her writing styles. I start reading her books and find it hard to move on to a new author!

A street novel written tastefully. Excellent read! It goes without saying who my favorite character was. Thank you Miss Hampton for showing that not all thugs are ruthless. Good job.

Whew! Amazing! "How Can I Be Down?" is one that needs to be in your library. Ms. Hampton has put her thang down with this one! Kiley Abrams is 'the man' that has no shame in his game. Be it in the bed, in the kitchen, on the wall, down the hall, he is definitely 'bout it' 'bout it.' He is the ultimate player in that you will love him for his courage, his love and concern for all around him, his business mind, and unequivocably HIS Unique Finesse! He has no problem wearing all types of hats from being 'thy brother's keeper', continuing 'thy father's legacy', stepping up to being 'thy super dad' and lastly 'thy luscious, lustful lover man!' Ain't no half stepping, no side stepping, nothing but doing that damn thang to the utmost! If you're smart, don't sleep, get your copy today!

Brenda Hampton is truly talented as she is able to go from a lover boy type novel (Two's Enough, Three is a Crowd), to this street filled novel. I really enjoyed both novels. Kiley is left an empire to uphold after his father was killed. While running from a secret of his past life, the reader goes into a life of streets, women, drugs, relationship drama, shiesty friends, true friends, and more. This was a well written novel. It makes the book so much better when you don't have any idea how the novel will unfold (to many readers give stuff away). As I said about Ms. Hampton's other review, people are not reviewing this book this well for nothing! Good job Ms. Hampton. I am starting her next book My Way or No Way tommorrow. Keep them coming!

How can I be down is a great book. I read this in one day and didnt want it to end. Brenda Hampton is a Great Author. I put her right up there with Zane. Keep up the great work!

This is an ageless book on what every person who wants to be successful needs to model. My wife's Uncle, who was highly successful in his time as an executive, gave this book as a graduation gift to every loved one he knew. You just can't lose with such ageless advice.

I can't believe I am 50 and never heard of this book until a co-worker loaned it to me. What a great gift! Who wants to do unimportant and uninteresting things? On a dare, anyone can practice his Four-Fold Development/Four Square Living. Make your checker, sign your name inside and draw the words around it:
Stand Tall
Think Tall
Smile Tall
Live Tall
Or: Play, work, love and worship. Body, brain, heart, soul.
I'll never walk in the shade again. He says the warmth and power of the sun enters your system. Its rays give your face a glow and you reflect sunshine to others.

This I DARE YOU (MP3 CD) version will NOT PLAY ON A CD PLAYER. IT ONLY PLAYS on a computer.
I was a little disappointed since I purchased it to play in the car and on a portable cd player. It only plays on the computer disk player. I'll have to download it myself to an audio MP3 format. It must have been recorded as a DATA file. The narrator is a little momo-toned and I was very surprised that I zoned out on a self-help type CD. There are 14 chapters that run anywhere from 2 minutes 16 seconds to 26 minutes 14 seconds. Some are short, most are average 5-10 minutes.

The "I Dare You plan," first published in 1938 for the young and young at heart, is brightly authored by William H. Danforth, founder of the Purina Company. Written in scoutmaster style, this little gem will have you saluting to adventure. It is precise, simple, and uplifting.

"That is the first principle that I want thoroughly to fix in your mind--that life is a four-sided affair--that your daring program is going to lead you into physical adventures, mental adventures, social adventures, spiritual adventures. You have not one, but four lives to live--a four-fold opportunity to grow. A body, a brain, a heart, and a soul--these are our living tools. To use them is not a task. It is a golden opportunity. To find new capacities within you is not robbing you of any pleasure. It is bringing new treasures into every waking hour. It is helping you touch life at all angles, absorb strength from all contacts, pour out power on all fronts." Danforth adds "How dare you have within yourself these four-fold capacities and not use them?"

Like to be riveted into action? This book will do it. You will also feel rather selfish after the first reading (for witholding your dynamite). Go over it again several times. Mine is highlighted at every point (and there are many). I suggest you study I Dare You! along with the vintage movie "Fighting Father Dunne" (1948).

As one of the other reviewers noted, I too read this original book from my father's library when I was [...], in the 50s. Although almost forgotten, when I was writing articles on leadership, I realized this may have been the single most important book I had read...and used throughout life, becoming a leader in every...yes every...organization I belonged to, from high school Senior class President, college fraternity President, Band president(s), VP-Pres. elect of a national association, President of a state-wide organization, to Editor of a writers Quarterly and business owner. Now at 71, and looking back, "I Dare You" is quite possibly the only book necessary for directions in life. It's not about "success" or "money," it's about being your best and being the best FOR everyone around you.

I ordered three of these books. They are wonderful and I highly recommend them, especially for families with little ones.

I was lucky enough to meet Laura and experience the joy and enthusiasm that flows so freely when she talks of creating and sharing this wonderful book.

It's a story that tells both sides of a caring relationship, presenting perfect-pitch dialogue that shows there are no limits to the stretch of the human heart when it comes to love.

This may be perfect for children, but reading it to them enriches each of us by resonating the simple and powerful value of love.

the transaction was flawless, efficient and timely. this was a special item for our children...i love you more is a personal way we sign all correspondence and voice messages, and the book was more than appropriate.

Fast delivery! This book is awesome! I bought it for my granddaughter for her 8th Birthday because we play the "I love you more" game on the phone and she always wins! I can't wait to sit down with her and flip it back and forth and back and forth and back and forth! Even though the book is about a little boy and his Mommy, I'm going to do a little "artistic editing" to personalize it to "Nana and Granddaughter". I'd love to see this book written with different relationships but it's still wonderful and I recommend it to everyone who loves smeone who loves them more!

I read this to my 6 year old. Bought it when he was 5 and he still loves to read it with me. Love the way it's written and love to message!

I bought three books to teach myself how to produce DVDs. The Erica Sadun book is for advanced users and was not helpful to me. The Bob LeVitus "Little iDVD Book" is probably one of the most poorly organized and edited books I've ever come across on any subject.

Pogue's "Missing Manual", on the other hand, is comprehensive, clear and well-organized. I've produced about half a dozen DVDs since reading (and re-reading) Pogue's book and it clearly made a huge difference in what I was able to construct using iDVD.

In my opinion, this is the only book you need to read to learn how to produce movies using iDVD.

Beyond teaching readers to work with iDVD, Pogue also offers loads of helpful suggestions about editing in general. This book is outstanding.

I love this book! I was ready to give up trying to use iMovie because of a small glitch that was incurring. After browsing thru the book the very first time I opened it, I came across the trouble I was having with iMovie. Mr. Pogue directed me to the correct settings and I am now having a great time editing my DV movies.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone attempting to use iMovie. There is so much more to this program than Apple addresses in the help file. Mr. Pogue's writing is concise but not out of reach for the average Mac user.

I have many books by Mr. Pogue and I would recommend any of them if you are stumped and need a well explained how-to-manuel.

Can it get any simpler !! ha ha ha ha ha
I found this book to be extremely informative and easy to understand (especially since i am yet to purchace a mac and digital video cammera ).. I will have no hesitation now to go out and purchase a Mac and a Digital cammera .. and feel confident making my first feature film or "Home Movie " LOL

It's OK. It has about the same amount of material as the "iMovie 2 for Macintosh Visual Quickstart Guide" - The missing manual is fatter because it contains additional stories and things that a reader might find amusing, but that are not particular relevant to the topic. The section on movie making basics is very good. For an expanded view see "The Five C's of Cinematography". I thought I would find more information in this book since it is fatter than in the VQG, but it ended up that they are about even in content.

First I have to give props to David Pogue and his Missing Manual series. As a bookseller and computer geek I've long favored the Dummies books as the best entry-level source for third-party information on software. However, O'Reilly made a smart move when they turned their attention on that market and grabbed Dummies standby Pogue to headline the new series. The Missing Manuals (and their mutant-dogcow mascot) are a credit to O'Reilly and a must-have... assuming, that is, that they cover the program you need. The series is still too small, but I'm sure it won't stay that way.

Now, to the book itself. If you need to do something with iMovie, it's in there. That pretty much covers what I need to say in this review, but it doesn't cover everything the book has to offer. Remember back in the 80s when the Mac made desktop publishing a reality, only to unleash a torrent of wretchedly amateurish graphic design? Well, Pogue spends much of the first couple of chapters attempting to prevent that from happening. This book starts off with a very basic primer on video production and how to use your equipment -- assumed to be a typical consumer-grade MiniDV camcorder, but it covers other options as well, particularly video bridges and the like.

The meat of the book discusses iMovie 2's capabilities, including discussions of its weaknesses and how to work around them. Effects, titles, and transitions are discussed in detail, including some useful information on crossfades (never fade straight to black -- instead, you want a black stillframe). Conversion to other formats is also an issue, and a significant part of the book discusses postproduction using QuickTime Pro. Directions are given for converting your work for DVD or VCD as well.

The issue I have with the book is largely its focus on iMovie in MacOS Classic, and the bugs that are present in that version that might not be in the OS X version. Screenshots all come from 9.x, with the only Aqua material being the interface of iMovie itself. I don't mark down for this since the program operates more or less the same, but an inexperienced user may have trouble. (I might note as well that the book works just as well for iMovie 3, which has a superficially different interface but handles more or less identically.)

So, yeah. If you're doing video production on iMovie, this is the book to get, hands down.

Enjoyed reading about the life of Clayton Moore, The Lone Ranger. Since receiving it I am now in my 3rd reading of it. It seems everytime I find someting new and interesting.

I wish he was alive so I could personally talk with him about his adventure doing The Lone Ranger. May his spirit always remain in the hearts of all Americans...

You can find out more information about Clayton Moore and The Lone Ranger fan club at www.lonerangerfanclub.com/jr

This man, Clayton Moore WAS the Lone Ranger. I can say no more.

Taylor Trade Publishing presents "I WAS THAT MASKED MAN" (Paperback) - by Clayton Moore and Frank Thompson --- Clayton Moore was an American actor best known for playing the fictional western character The Lone Ranger --- Moore was a circus acrobat as a boy, then later enjoyed a successful career as a John Robert Powers model. Moving to Hollywood in the late 1930s, he began working as a stunt man and bit player between modeling jobs --- He was an occasional player in B-Westerns and Republic Studio cliffhangers, ultimately starring in more such films than serial hero Buster Crabbe --- His big break came in 1949, when George Trendle spotted him in "Ghost of Zorro" --- As producer of the radio show and creator of "The Lone Ranger" character along with writer Fran Striker, Trendle was about to launch the masked man in the new medium of television --- Moore was cast on sight.

In keeping with the nature of the Ranger character, Moore chose to protect the Ranger's identity at all times and is perhaps the only actor whose full face is largely unknown to the public. It was never shown in the TV series, although occasionally he would don a disguise and affect an accent, revealing the upper half of his face in the process. However, there is no shortage of photos of Moore unmasked, including many in his autobiography. His many fans, however, could easily recognize him by his distinctive voice --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Title and Page Numbers)
Foreword by Leonard Maltin - ix
Preface by Frank Thompson - xi
Introduction by Frank Thompson - 1
1. Birth of a Ranger - 13
2. A Cowboy Actor in the Big Apple- 35
3. Hollywood - 43
4. Republic Pictures - 61
5. In the Army Now - 71
6. King of the B's - 79
7. Hi Yo Silver, Awayy! - 111
8. Back to the Big Screen - 131
9. Jay Silverheels - 143
10.The Lone Ranger Rides Again! - 151
11.England and a New Daughter - 185
12.Adventures on Television - 195
13.You Don't Pull the Mask Off the Ol' Lone Ranger - 203
14.The Adventures of Clayton Moore - 221
15.Who is That Masked Man? - 231
appendix - 243
Index - 257

BIOS:
1. Clayton Moore
Date of Birth: 14 September 1914 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of Death: 28 December 1999 - Los Angeles, California

Moore often was quoted as saying he had "fallen in love with the Lone Ranger character" and strove in his personal life to take The Lone Ranger Creed to heart. This, coupled with his public fight to retain the right to wear the mask, ultimately elevated him in the public's eyes to an American folk icon --- In this regard, he was much like another cowboy star, William Boyd, who nurtured the Hopalong Cassidy character --- Moore was so identified with the masked man that he is the only person on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as of 2006, to have his character's name along with his on the star, which reads, "Clayton Moore -- The Lone Ranger" --- He was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame in 1982 and in 1990 was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

THE LONE RANGER CREED - I Believe that to have a friend, a man must be one --- That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world -- That God put the firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself in being prepared physically, mentally and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right --- That a man should make the most of what equipment he has --- That `This government of the people, by the people and for the people' shall live always --- That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number --- That sooner or later .. somewhere .. somehow .. we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken --- That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever --- In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- More than just a tribute to the role Clayton Moore made famous, this book is Moore's personal memoir, told with condor and sincerity -- the engaging story of the life he strove to live according to the ideals he represented to millions of Americans, please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Pages: 280 ~ Taylor Trade Publishing ~ (4/25/1998)

I was a bigger fan of the Lone Ranger on radio than TV, but only because I was away in school most of the years it was on the tube and missed a great deal. That is something I am trying to make up as I collect DVDs and is why I bought this book. I have also known personally two who worked with Clayton Moore in the past, serial queen Kay Aldridge and former rodeo star Beverly McDermott. Everything they said about this man is echoed in the book. A very honest upright straight shooter. I am also impressed by his arguments as to why a star should set an example. So different in Hollyweird today. We need actors and actresses today who have the high moral standards this man has shown. May God bless him always, here and in Heaven.

An in depth history of Clayton Moore. A very informative perpective of a bye-gone age in Hollywood. I really enjoyed this book. A must read for Lone Ranger and TV western fans.

I came upon this book after a friend told me she loved it. I didn't think it would be relevant to my life as I have no bipolar children. Was I wrong. I started reading it on Friday morning and finished it Saturday afternoon. I was captured by this family's struggles and could even see bits of my own family challenges as we raise our teens. The writing was so down to earth and brutally honest. She really didn't try to paint any of them as saints, just people trying to cope with the curves that sometimes get thrown at us even after we've done everything right. I could see how any parent who is facing challenges of any kind with their kids would be able to relate to this family. Kate's strength and perseverance through such adversity was admirable.

I am a parent of a son who is almost 12, diagnosed a few years back with bipolar and ADHD. I am continually looking for books to help me along this journey. This is a must read book for any parent of a bipolar child. It is written by a mother - and it is very candid. It makes you realize as a parent that you are not alone in this struggle. It has given me renewed hope as we have to face the future. I highly recommend this book. After I finished reading it, my husband is now reading it and I have been telling everyone about it.

I had the pleasure of discovering Kate McLaughlin's, Mommy I'm Still In Here, a memoir of a mother's efforts to hold her family together during the crisis of having two of her three children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Then I had the good fortune to interview her.

The book was moving and frightening, but ultimately hopeful and eminently practical. There is no adult demographic that I can think of that wouldn't benefit from this easy and fascinating read. If you never need the information on bipolar disorder for the management of your own circumstances, you can only come away enlightened, more compassionate, weighed with important questions and, most importantly, buoyed with hope.

Ms. McLaughlin's eldest daughter, Chloe, suffers from the most difficult to treat cascade of symptoms, and her brother, Michael, wrestles with substance abuse issues in his low times, and yet, with their strength of family and perseverance, they've achieved satisfaction and competence in their lives. Ms. McLaughlin is a shining example of someone able to map the big picture and offers a way to develop perspective. She soars high.

All I can do is recommend Mommy I'm Still In Here.

To hear the audio of the interview, go to PsychJourney dot com.

Mommy I'm Still in Here is an incredibly thought provoking and educational account of one families authentic journey of living with Bipolar Disorder. Kate McLaughlin shares straight from the heart of here experiences of raising children with a challenging mental illness and truly illuminates the beauty that the challenges provoked. Kate's story offers true inspiration about continuing perseverance in the toughest of times and how hanging in there for the ride despite the readiness to give up is worth it.

In "Mommy I'm Still in Here," Kate McCloughlin tells the unforgettable story of her family's experiences with bipolar disorder. As two of her children suffer from this condition, Kate shares a lifetime of observances and experiences, including the effect of the disease on her entire family and between siblings. The book is a wealth of knowledge for those suffering from or dealing with the effects bipolar disorder. But more than that, Kate's great strength and love for her children leave one feeling optimistic and hopeful. Kate is an inspiration to all--a symbol of hope and strength, a role model of motherly love and perseverance, and a concerned parent wishing to help others by sharing her experiences.

I love this book for a few reasons. One, it is whimsical and very tongue-in-cheek. The dog's 'life' is a great example of personification and a great lead-in for explaining 'voice' to my students when teaching them the process of writing. It helps them 'see' (due to the unigue style of font use) and 'hear' the dog and its feelings in a very clever way. This book has opened many avenues of creativity for my students and really helps them be better creative writers. I read some of the previous reviews and was a bit surprised at the negative comments. As a teacher, I feel kids should be encouraged to read and read often. The language is not immature and actually introduces some good vocabulary, which gets students looking to find out what they mean and how to use them. I think this book is a must for all elementary school classrooms. I have one in mine and highly recommend it. All my students have loved it and I do, too.

ANOTHER BOOK W/ RAVE REVIEWS THAT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE GREAT, THE STORY A CLEAVER IDEA, BUT OVERALL IT'S JUST SO-SO. NOT A BOOK TO RE-READ. INSTEAD, TRY TAXI DOG & HARRY THE DIRTY DOG.

The catchy cover and title of this book attracted me to it. I read the rave reviews and decided I had to buy it. I'm disappointed but I'm not sure why. I'm sure my kids will like it which of course is the point, however, if your child is a pre-reader, you may groan at having to read this book too often. It's not that it's technically that bad, has a bad moral or anything like that....it's just so, so. The illustrations are nice enough but the story is lacking something, but I'm not sure what...it's just not that interesting..... The text is not written in a standard font, but is interspersed with graphics reminiscent of rebus style puzzles (they are not exactly rebuses but I can't think of the correct word!). At first I thought "that's cute but by the end of the quite long text it had started to become a bit irritating. This is a book that you'd be happy enough to borrow from the library, read and return but I really wish I'd spent my money on another title from my wish list.

This book is wonderful! I am a substitute teacher and I carry this book with me just in case. My classes, 1st - 5th, love to listen to this story. It lifts their spirits and gets them giggling. It has saved me many times!

When a boy discovers his canine returning home one early morning, "stepping out of a limousine and wearing a tuxedo", he is determined to discover what is going on. For the dog in question, life is anything but predictable. Late that night, after his pet retires to his dog house in the back yard, the boy quietly follows, hoping for a clue about his pet's late-night activities. The first thing he notices is that this is no ordinary dog house. Unchanged from the outside, inside there is an elegant living room, a well-appointed bathroom, even a closet filled with fancy clothes. As the boy watches, the dog in question dresses up in his finery, is picked up by a limo and arrives at a secluded club called "The Doghouse". The boy peddles furiously on his bicycle to keep up with the progress of the limo.

The boy is shocked when he discovers his pet's after-hours occupation: the dog runs a club where other dogs come to be entertained, relax and talk about their problems, before returning to the daily tedium of guarding the family home, patrolling the yard, chasing cats and sleeping in the shade. The boy is treated to a tour of the club and even receives a picture with his pet in a luxurious booth. What an eye opening experience! Stunned by all he has learned about the secret life of his dog, the boy peddles home with new appreciation of his best friend's entrepreneurial spirit. This delightful combination of graphic text and energetic illustrations create a lively adventure, as a young boy's world opens up with a sly sense of humor and imagination. The canines are charming, from the handsome star of the story to the slinky poodle and the camera-toting afghan in her hot pink evening gown. After the sun goes down, it's a dog's life. Luan Gaines/2005.