Miniature Books

I've been involved in wargaming and collecting miniatures for about 25 years. But even though this book is seemingly aimed at kids, I was still interested in acquiring it as a source of simple wargaming rules and as a way to ease some newbie friends into the hobby. This book provides a very solid all-around introduction to wargaming for both kids and adults alike. The concepts are explained in a friendly, conversational manner.

What makes this book valuable is that it's not just all fluff text and pretty pictures. Rather, it provides valuable substance in the form of its Milk & Cookies rules (for big battles) and Blood & Swash rules (for skirmishes). The rules are pretty straightforward and on the simple-side, which is perfect for newcomers to the world of wargaming. In fact, I've seen both sets of rules used to run convention games at the HMGS East cons which are held 3 times per year in South/Central Pennsylvania. So "Big Battles" isn't just a 1-time read; it's a reference book you can stick on your shelf and refer to over and over again.

The only real downside of the book is that all of the pictures in it (and there aren't all that many) are in black & white. That's a shame since the visual spectacle of wargaming is a major part of the hobby.

Overall, Buck and Rob did a good job here and I'd recommend this book for anyone (of any age) who has an interest in the miniature wargaming hobby.

This is an excellent book designed primarily for parents interested in getting their childen involved in historical miniatures gaming. This book is also useful for anyone starting in gaming...Period.

The rules are strictly for land based combat primarily from the horse and musket period but the rules accomodate all periods from ancient to the WWII modern era. Two sets of rules are included within the book: The "Milk and Cookies" rules and the "Blood and Swash" rules.

The "Milk and Cookies" rules are for fighting battles with based figure units serving as individual pieces. Casualty rates in these games is higher than in adult oriented games as a design feature by the authors to cater towards younger or beginning players desire to see actual results from their attacks.

The "Blood and Swash" rules use individual figures to represent individual combatants in skirmish style games. The rules are based on swashbuckling pirate action in close quarters fighting based on bar-room brawls and boarding actions. The rules lend themselves well to commando raids and ambushes as well as wild west gunfights.

In addition to the above mentioned rules you get lessons in tactical principles and maneuvering which are well written and can assist an adult in explaining basic tactics to younger players.

The book contains a short history of miniatures gaming, advice on painting figurines, instructions on how to cast miniatures at home and several other topics. The Authors give plenty of insight about their experiences in gaming often agreeing to disagree on some preferences as too painting styles and methods.

I have bought my second copy to replace a missing previous copy (It really is that good). The publisher/authors have additional materials on a supporting web site. I have exchanged e-mails with both authors and have found them open to discuss their work, provide advice and generally share any knowledge they have on gaming.

Although intended as a resource for adults to use in introducing younger players to the wargaming hobby, BIG BATTLES FOR LITTLE HANDS is an excellent general introduction for anyone interested in collecting and painting miniature soldiers and then deploying them on the field of battle.

The two rules sets included in the books ("Milk and Cookies Rules for Battles" and "Blood and Swash Rules for Skirmishes" are both quite easy to learn and play.

I had a miniatures battle for the Indian Mutiny set up on my game table, intended for use with another rules set but not yet begun, when BIG BATTLES arrived. A quick check of the "Milk and Cookies Rules" suggested I could use them with the unit and basing organization from the other rules set without change, so I was able to try out the "Milk and Cookies Rules" the same day I read them. The result was a very entertaining battle, played to completion in two hours; and I now intend to use the rules for battles in the English Civil War and the Seven Years War as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the miniatures wargaming hobby. Very well done!

While the book is pitched for use with kids, I think a better approach would be to aim it at anyone new to wargaming that wonders what it is all about. I found the 5 page History of Warfare and 5 page Primer on Tactics superb - both concise and interesting - making me want to go review my history lessons and explaining to me what I was always doing wrong at the gaming table!

Two sets of rules are included: the "Milk and Cookies" rules for bigger battles (where a player controls blocks of troops) I have used for games at several wargaming conventions in games for kids and parents-new-to-wargaming with great success. The "Blood and Swash" rules are a reprint of an older rule set for skirmishes (where each player controls a small number of figures) that allows great flexibility in scenario and setting - I have played in games using those rules for 18th century pirate tavern brawls on up to Buck Rogers era conflicts, and enjoyed them all. The differences between the rule sets make having both here far from redundant, and the apparent simplicity of both the rule sets does not mean that the resulting games are either uninteresting or inaccurate.

The back of the book with directions and tips on painting and terrain construction are okay, though I liked the front portions - described above - better. For example, I don't see myself ever homecasting figures, and the painting tips I had already heard as I was first drawn into this hobby. But they complete the picture and make this a good all round reference that you could even send to someone unfamiliar with the hobby and expect them to be able to cope without the support of a local wargaming group or club.

As a wargamer of 25 years with two young sons, I have struggled with determining the best way to introduce my boys to the world of miniature wargames. Now I have the answer. Rob and Buck do an excellent job of explaining how to create a pleasureable wargaming experience for kids. If you are looking for a simple set of rules covering many historical periods that are explained in a clear way, then this book is for you.

I bought these as a gag gift fo a friend and she loved them! The best part is the price is so low, that even if people don't like them you are only out a little bit. Honestly, the look on peoples faces is worth far more than these cost. Highly recommended for anyone with a sense of humor!

I just received this as a gift today from my older brother. I laughed so hard when I opened the package at work that everyone had to come and see what was so funny. What a fantastically funny gift for the cat-lover in your life.

I will have to get a few more of these to send out myself!

This product is hillarious to anyone who loves cats! A touch on the more vulgar side, but very funny nonetheless. Cheap way to get a laugh when you give a gift!

This is a great "anytime" gift to just let someone know you are thinking about them, and in this case a sibling living in another state who loves cats. It might also be a good prank for someone who did not like cats and frequently makes comments to that effect, but I haven't tested that approach. They definitely work if you want to "make" someone's day.

My whole family loves cats and I got each of them one of these Cat Butts items and they loved it! The field guide tells you exactly how cats..and their butts...are. I chuckle every time I see those magnets on my refrigerator too!

Colored Atlas of Miniature Catfish is a good book for the lovers of Corydoras, Brochis and Aspidoras. The book aims to give the reader help in identifying and keeping different species of the three subfamilies of the family Callichthyidae (Corydoras, Brochis and Aspidoras).

The books subtitle is sadly misleading in promising to present "Every species of Corydoras, Brochis & Aspidoras", because it doesn't. The most common and usual to find for sale is there, none the less, so most readers will find "their" species mentioned.

Some of the species' sections have only color drawings of the fish. The rest have photographs of varying quality, from right out terrible to fantastic.

The marrows of the book, for some peculiar reason placed on the outside of the text, have a repulsive color gradient turning from red to yellow down each page. The esthetics of the book suffers under this insult to the eye. The text is in a big and easy readable font.

In regards to the content, Burgess' Colored Atlas of Miniature Catfish scores better with me. Each section is built in rather similar fashion, making it easy for the reader to find what one is after in regards to each species, location; physiology/appearance; similar species; care and breeding.

If you have a Callichthyidae of an unknown species, this book will probably help you determine it; I recon the book as a good by for any miniature catfish lover.

Greetings....this is probably the best book that you will ever read, about these wonderful cute little fish! BUT...Please note: if you have these fish in your home aquarium, make sure the cover of your aquarium is fitted so your fish cannot jump out! Cory-cats are prone to jumping and they can escape out of the smallest gap in your tank lid! Buy this book so that you may learn all about the many different kinds of miniature catfish, because they make lovely pets....Happy fishkeeping! ;>)

What a fantastic book! I raise corys and was looking for a book that would give me more information on specific species. This book gives a very in depth description of the spawning process for Corys in general then gives more specifics under the individual species if they differ from the "general". It includes advice about water temperature, PH, and water hardness. It is just what I was looking for and is a valuable resource for anyone who is raising corys for breeding or has them in their tanks "just for fun."

As a former manager for a large aquarium shop I purchased a lot of freshwater fish. This was one of my best and favorite reference guides for identification and information about not only the ones I ordered, but the "stow-a-ways" which sometimes sneak in!

Great for the beginner and the experienced keeper as well and well worth the money!

Working as a manager in one of the largest aquarium shops in my state several years ago, I had a perfect opportunity to know and use many books. Some were excellent and others a waste of money. This book is an excellent guide to one of my favorite fish...the cat! Different types of cats are pictured in photos or detailed drawings to make identification much easier. Well worth every penny, it is a must for anyone truly interested in their care!

this was my first dollshousebook ever, and still is my most favorite one, very claer instructions-foto's.

Ms. Ridley provides instructions for many settings, but many of the techniques and projects could be used anywhere, such as the flooring or stove used in the Scandinavian room or the instructions for making blinds in the modern room. The pictures are great and really help explain what's going on. NOTE: includes ideas for creating a modern room -- rare in miniatures!

The only book that shows you how to create luxurious Colefax & Fowler interiors in miniature. 'The Yellow Drawing Room' is a superb variant of Nancy Lancaster's famous, full-scale classic. If you like stately English houses, this book is a Must. Not a book for beginners.

This book provides ideas and directions to create the wonderful room scenes Ms. Ridley has designed. It also provides detailed instructions and tips about a variety of other subjects of interest to the minaturist such as working with polymer clay and converting common household items into exquisite 1:12 scale pieces. The detail included is extraordinary and inspirational. I highly recommend this book!

Jessica Ridley has miniatures in her genes. After all, her grandfather was the designer and builder of Queen Mary's Dollhouse. :-) She is a miniaturist and faux painting artist who incorporates her specialty in her projects, giving the reader alternatives to the usual approach to dollhouse decorating -- namely siding for the exterior and wallpaper for the interior.

She teaches techniques for faux finishes, customizing and building furniture and accessories, as well as using interesting and unusual materials. The instructions are illustrated with plenty of color photographs, so you can see how the project looks at the different stages.

I highly recommend this book because I think that it stirs up your creative juices and inspires the miniaturist to try something new and personalized in their projects, while at the same time saving money. Who could ask for more!

This book is utterly charming! From its delighted by-fold doors that grace its cover to the close up view of dollhouses throughout the ages, it holds the reader captivated. Women will return to their childhood days, becoming little girls again as they roam the pages rejoicing in the doll's lavish surroundings. Admirers of the world of minitures will be enthralled with the exquisite pieces displayed. All will learn much about the homes themselves, their makers, their furnishings, and their owners. The quality of the volume is without question, with glossy pages, sturdy binding, durable covers and clear text. I thoroughly recommend it to all.

The intriguing shape of the book worried me a bit, so often the content doesn't measure up to a cover -- but I was in love from page one...

I have many books on dollhouses and miniatures, but this is the one I have on display, and it has inspired me to finally get on with putting all those miniatures I have been collecting into order and getting those dollhouse plans finished.

BRAVO! A must have for the dollhouse collector!

This was a very cool book! The first thing you notice when you pick up this book is that the cover is shaped just like a house, and the book's opening is right down the middle. It feels like you are opening up the doors to a real dollhouse. Inside, there are full color illustrations of dolls, dollhouses, and furniture on nearly every page. The details are phenomenal! If you are a collector or builder of dollhouses,this is your book! I really enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading about the privately owned dollhouses and collections that are featured in this book. Some of the more unique houses shown in the book are the Kupjack rooms, the Palace of Versailles, and the Shoe House. Those of you who attend miniature shows or are a member of NAME will recognize the names Brooke Tucker, Ned Kellogg, and Marcia Backstrom as miniaturists featured between these pages. This book is a wonderful addition to the collection of minature hobbyists everywhere.

I spent hours with this book! The histories the author gave on the dollhouses in this book were fascinating, and the photos! WOW! Once you open it, it's hard to put down.

The book's shape is the first eye-catcher - cleverly done! Many photos, drawings, bios and histories make this a great gift which, I can assure you, will be appreciated!

Carol makes it so easy to make detailed miniature quilts that will stun even your quilting friends. Instructions are clear, the patterns fit together perfectly. You can enlarge the blocks for a larger quilt. I recommend Carol's foundation piecing paper to go with this.

P.S. - Won the blue ribbon for small wall hangings at the 1999 WV State Fair with her "Mariner's Compass." (Thanks, Carol!)

Easy to follow directions. Great set up instruction as far as cutting, yardage etc. Really had a ball making these little gems!

Of the 7 or so books on this topic I've bought on this topic, this is the best. The technique taught here - of trimming the edges before matching pieces - works better than what I'd tried to do from previous books. Furthermore, the designs are just down-right PRETTIER than those in most of the others. Patterns are a bit too small for my skill level, so I cheated by using a copy machine to "enlarge" slightly (125%). I'm absolutely delighted with the finished product.

I am new to quilting. For my second project I made the Log Cabin Garden, which is an absolutely stunning design. Then I made two more Log Cabin Garden mini's for the quilting practice. Now I am hooked on Mini's. As a beginner, I found Carol Doak's instructions thorough and easy to understand. Carol Doak takes the reader step-by-step from the beginning of the quilting process to the end. Her paper pieced foundation technique makes the impossible looking mini quilt a cinch to make. Guaranteed to be an idiot-proof project.

I found this book very informitive and well laid out.

My son requested tis book as he worked with miniatures before and wanted more. It looks wonderful and I'm glad I found it for him. It is to be a Christmas present and I'm sure he will love it.

This book is great for those who are fascinated with the art of making miniature food. Sue Heaser explains things clearly and tells you what products to use to get that "professional look". Good sized pictures make it easier to understand the steps involved in creating miniature food using different types of mediums. Check out Sue's other great books. She's definately tallented when it comes to sculpting with polymer clay and teaching others how to do the same.

A great book! This book's main strength is that it clearly shows the author's techniques for creating different colors and textures with polymer clay that are seen in real food. Appealing to beginners, the book covers the basics of working with polymer clay, including mixing colors and which tools you'll need. The book also shows techniques for making dishes and even cutting boards from which to display your work. Truly a must-have for the budget-conscious beginner or enthusiast!

This is an excellent resource book for miniaturists. Contains some different and fresh ideas other books of a similar nature do not have. My only criticism is that the step-by-step photos could be larger. Otherwise, a very good, thought-provoking publication.

These beautiful little books are as charming as the little mice that inhabit the pages. The entire series is a neccesity. The stories are sweet, but it is the intricate,detailed, watercolor paintings that will captivate you and your child.

My daughter and her children and I all love the Brambly Hedge series. The stories and illustrations are fabulous. Anyone interested in porcelain will also love collecting the Brambly Hedge teaset and wall plates by Royal Doulton. Fabric is also available for quilts, tablecloths, etc. Brambly Hedge is a wonderful place to visit.

When I was a kid, I loved these books, I was delighted to find these here, as I still have my original copies from childhood. For those who love the artwork, target has the whole line!!

As in all the Brambly Hedge stories, a sweet story combined with exquisite watercolor illustrations makes this a perfect read-aloud story for the very young -- although older children and adults are certainly not immune from its charm! Those who have an interest in the fiber arts will especially appreciate the plot, as spinning, weaving -and especially dyeing- play an intregal part in this adventure. The adventure itself is gently humorous and nicely evocative of the beauty and hardship of mountain terrains. My 3-yr-old daughter finds it a great inspiration, slinging on her backpack to pretend she is like the young mouse Wilfred Toadflax, intrepid explorer...

All of the Brambly Hedge books are wonderful. The stories are gentle and imaginative, and the illustrations are detailed and creative. I'd give all of them 5 stars except for one thing: the size of the books. On one hand their smaller size gives them a certain charm, but the first Brambly Hedge book I saw was one I took from the library in a "standard" picture book size, and you could just get lost in the illustrations. The smaller size of these books detracts from the loveliness of the pictures -- it's much more difficult to pick out the wonderful details, and the color is also a little less vibrant than the version I had seen, again making it hard to pick things out. What a disappointment, because the illustrations are half the charm of the books. If they had only made these books larger, they'd be perfect in every way.

A fantastic, helpful and well done book! Each item is carefully described and the directions are easy to follow. You won't believe how easy and inexpensive it is to make these gorgeous little creations. Inspiring! I have made several of the items portrayed in the book and I am amazed at how well they came out the very first time! I'm sure you will treasure this jewel as much as I do!

Can be used by the new miniaturist as well as the experienced. Good color photos and easy instructions using items found easily. Full sized patterns for some plans. Patterns and plans for the whole garden from walls to tools to vegetables to a patio chair. A truly enjoyable read. Can't wait to try the specific flowers listed in the book.

I recently ordered this book and was delighted when I opened it. I was a lot better than I thought it would be. It is color throughout, with specific detailed directions on how to create many specific types of flowers (begonia, several rose types, camellia, hollyhocks, poppy, geranium, delphinium, larkspur, nasturtium, petunia, iris, pansy, chrysanthemum, dahlia, carnation, & aster). All look quite realistic, except the pansy (too bad, its my favorite flower). It also describes how to put together many specific garden types, including a water effect. The water technique is quite a bit easier to do than some I've seen with model railroad techniques, but reasonably realistic. The book also details how to make several different garden furniture pieces, an added suprise I hadn't expected. Overall a great book with detailed color photos. Excellent!

"Choose from a variety of realistic miniature plants that range from quick and simple models to meticulously detailed reproductions. Full plans and instructions are provided for eight projects: Trellis Arch, Walled Garden, Patio Garden Pond and Rockery, Cottage Garden, Greenhouse Garden, Kitchen Garden, and Window Boxes." (description from Alibris)
I've always been intrigued by dollhouses and miniature furniture, but had never thought to provide a tiny garden to go with it. This is great for miniature enthusiasts.

Excellent book;great pictures and diagrams. I would highly reccommend to anyone

Agatha Christie's stories are fun, personable, & easy to read. I love all of her characters & have not read a "bad" one yet.

Excellent book. Thought I'd read all the Agatha Christies, but this book contained many stories that I had not seen.....especially ones about Harley Quin.

You can't go wrong with Christie, and this book is a major find for any fan of hers. The stories in this huge volume are what enticed me to buy it. I already own six dozen Christie books, so believe me, the chapter list would have had to be REALLY exceptional for me to buy this book -- and to buy it NEW at that. Here we're given what looks like every single Parker Pyne and Harley Quinn story she ever wrote, as well as a few from Poirot and Marple. There are a total of 25 from the former two, which is the main reason I bought this; finding their stories are a lot harder than finding Marple and Poirot stories. The clincher, however, was seeing that they somehow managed to include *Poirot and Marple stories I'd never heard of.* That's quite a feat, considering that I've been rabidly devouring Christie's books since the 7th grade and have at least *heard of* 95% of her output, including several non-mystery books of hers I own that she wrote under assumed names. It takes a lot to raise the brows of this die-hard Christie fan, but this book did it.

In case you've never heard of Pyne or Quinn, you should know that their stories aren't mysteries in the strictest sense of the word -- at least, not all the time. Parker Pyne runs an agency promising to make people happy. This ranges from setting up elaborate adventures for bored people, making love matches, and *sometimes* solving a mystery. Harley Quinn, meanwhile, is more of a spirit than an actual man and he comes around to right wrongs. I haven't finished all of his stories yet, so it's unclear to me what precise role he plays in the stories other than sort of guiding different characters to the truth.

The one complaint I have about it so far is the cover illustration -- or lack thereof. Amazon has no picture yet, but it's quite dull. All they do is take the title information and put it in a spiral with a little man in the middle, as if he's falling. It's a cheap effect, and fairly stupid. Would it have killed them to go old-school and give us a nice collage of bloody knives, smoking guns and sparkling jewels? I mean, you can google that stuff.

Anywho, here's a list of the stories given. They're grouped by detective in the book, so skipping to your favorites is simple. There are also introductions to Pyne and Quinn, written by Christie herself! They are compiled from different sources, which are given -- they certainly weren't written directly for this book!

Enjoy this! It's a great buy for die-hard fans like myself who can't rest until they own the complete Christie oeuvre, and makes a great gift for someone just starting out with Christie. Treat your friends or treat yourself, but find a copy today!

Parker Pyne:
1) The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife
2) The Case of the Discontented Soldier
3) The Case of the Distressed Lady
4) The Case of the Discontented Husband
5) The Case of the City Clerk
6) The Case of the Rich Woman
7) Have You Got Everything You Want?
8) The Gate of Baghdad
9) The House at Shiraz
10) The Pearl of Price
11) Death on the Nile <-- (No relation to the book of the same name!)
12) The Oracle at Delphi

Harley Quinn:
1) The Coming of Mr. Quinn
2) The Shadow on the Glass
3) At the Bells and Motley
4) The Sign in the Sky
5) The Soul of the Croupier
6) The World's End
7) The Voice in the Dark
8) The Face of Helen
9) The Dead Harlequin
10) The Bird with the the Broken Wing
11) The Man from the Sea
12) Harlequin's Lane
13) The Love Detectives

Hercule Poirot:
1) The Third-Floor Flat
2) The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
3) Four and Twenty Blackbirds
4) The Double Clue
5) Double Sin
6) Wasps' Nest
7) The Theft of the Royal Ruby
8) The Second Gong

Mrs. Marple:
1) Strange Jest
2) Tape-Measure Murder
3) The Case of the Perfect Maid
4) The Case of the Caretaker
5) Greenshaw's Folly
6) Sanctuary

I keep looking all the time for stories by Christie that I havent
read; a very hard thing to do. Sometimes I go back to some of
the older tales having forgotten the ending. You won't be able
to put this book down. There,s Miss Marple,the ever lovable little
Belgian(not French!) detective who uses his little gray cells to
solve most mysteries. Also Parker Pyne who puts ads in the newspaper
how he can help you solve your problems-are you lonely?, do you have
so much money you dont know what to do with it? Is your life dull and
you seek excitement? Parker Pyne can do it and at very reasonable
costs. Then there's Mr. Satterthwaite who travels the world helping
he meets on the way to solve their problems but not without the help
of Mr. Harley Quin, a man very hard to describe. He just seems to pop
up out of thin air when Mr. Satterthwaite needs him. In the tale on
World's End, at the end they are standing viewing the ocean and
Mr. Quin literally disappeared perhpas into another world.
My favorite tale in this book, one I had never read before was
Greenshaw's Folly, a horible looking very old house Mr. Greenshaw
had built leaving to his daughter. This is one story you actually
dont know if you,re coming or going. Absolutely one of Christie,s
best.

Though three decades have passed since the great Agatha Christie past away, she remains one of the most beloved mystery writers of all time, second to none just about in popularity. Her novels and even her plays have been made into movies and TV shows that are usually well received. However, apparently Ms. Christie also wrote a ton of short stories all containing her fine twists, but not seen in one package before this superb anthology. The Detectives focuses on some of writer's better known sleuths ((Poirot (8 inquiries), Marple (6 tales), Pyne (12 cases) and Quin (13 investigations)) as each works in their unique style. Also included are Ms.Christie's introductions to Pyne and Quin. The tales show that besides novels and plays, Ms. Christie crafted miniature masterpieces. Fans of the author and anyone who enjoys cleverly written shorts will want to read this fine compilation. Perhaps a second collection can follow with some of her lesser known sleuths.

Harriet Klausner