I did not care for the book at all. I rated it a 1 because it wouuld not accept the number 0. I was offended by the book because it gave reference to an African American child as a monkey, by another African American child. I failed to find the humor when one child played a trip on the other by giving the mean valentine to the teacher. Overall, the book did not deliver a positive message or resolution to the problems.

I remember Valentine's Day well in second grade. I wanted everyone to give me a great valentine, and I didn't want to have to give anyone else one. If I had to give everyone else one, I didn't see the point.

Each year my ideas changed about this day, and I came to cherish the hand-made valentines that classmates made because they could not afford the store-bought kind. I also grew to appreciate a sincere wish more than a valentine, and still do. This book reminded me of all those lessons I have learned since second grade.

A lot of children (especially boys) become grumpy about Valentine's Day. The teacher and parents feel strongly about the occasion, and set up the rules. I remember how hard it was for me to make hand-made valentines when that was the art assignment in fifth grade. What frustration!

Albert in this story feels the same frustration. He cannot follow the instructions to make the valentines. He cannot remember to take a note home to his parents.

Amy Lou wants to help him. He doesn't want help. He wants to be left alone (unless it is his idea to ask for help). When Amy Lou tries to help him, that distracts him and makes it harder to succeed. He also doesn't like people to notice he's having trouble.

Albert insults Amy Lou hoping to get some psychological space, and tells her he won't give her a valentine. He is annoyed about everything. Because the teacher makes him put a valentine in for Amy Lou, he makes a valentine saying "Don't be my valentine" with an insulting picture of a moose.

When the valentines are distributed though, Amy Lou gets a nice one from him and the teacher gets the unpleasant one. What happened?

The story resolves the mystery and develops the basis for a more cooperative relationship among the children.

There are many lessons in here about male-female stereotypes, different attitudes towards helping and receiving help, and good ideas for how to work with others. As such, the wise parent will build on this book like a moral fable. The mystery itself will intrigue your youngster to make the other messages more interesting.

Although aimed for grades 1-3, I think most children will find that this is about a second grade book.

I graded the book down because of some potential for the book to subtly encourage racial stereotypes. The two key figures are both black, and they seem to be the most disruptive children in the classroom. It would have been better for avoiding unspoken messages about black people if both had not been black in a mostly white-faced classroom. Also, there is a reference to Albert by a white classmate that could be viewed as racially derogative in nature. I don't like to see books exhibiting that kind of behavior. Maybe I'm too sensitive to these issues, but I think the story didn't need these complications in order to work in exploring effective cooperation.

I suggest that you use this book as an opportunity to ask your child to think about when she or he likes to have help, and when it is appropriate to offer help to another. With a little background at home, these conflicts can be avoided at school and later on in life.

Take the time and thought to help people in ways that they would like to have your assistance . . . and help your children learn to do that, as well!

A realistic school story centered around Vaneltine's Day. Sam doesn't want Amy Lou's constant help and decides to send a mean Valentine card. There is a mix-up and the teacher ends up with it. Shows some true emotions. Doesn't resolve it at the end in a sitcom ending. This is a humorous book with good color illustrations. Recommended for K through the 4th grade, as well as the teachers and parents. p.s. don't ask us why we spelled it "vaneltine's".....

I ordered this book May 12th. When I followed up on June 6th, I was informed the order was automatically cancelled due to a shortage of books. It would have been nice to know this or at least be informed the order is on backlog. No communication.

Ironically, the web site still claims there are "only" 5 copies left (better hurry and order!) Seems I saw that message when I ordered the book 3 week ago

Bad online experience. I was really looking forward to this book.

Dave H.

I ordered the Seloc Manual for the 1.5 to 40 HP Johnsons thinking it would probably be a nice companion to the "other" manual I already had. I was wrong - - the other one is nothing compared with this one. It gave me the know-how and confidence to go ahead and do major repairs as well as tune-ups etc. that I couldn't have done without it. It's just like having a master outboard repairman looking over my shoulder and giving me little hints and suggestions along the way. Lots of excellent photos, too which are extremely helpful. Totally recommended! I would actually give it 15 stars!

This book is one the repair shop will hate and one the outboard owner will like. A very thourough repair manual. Good know-how

I was very disappointed by this book. The heroine, Kid Calhoun, sets out to avenge the death of her murdered uncle. But, because she is a woman and, therefore, infinitely weaker than any man, she is too overtaken by her emotions to follow through on her vow of vengence. I was very insulted by this book. Why create a heroine who dresses up as a young man and rides with a band of outlaws if you are just going to make her a weakling? I could understand if the author was against killing, but the heroes in this book have no qualms about killing the villians. I would rather have a strong heroine who is not defined by stereotypes.

I loved it. Lots of fun, sexy and exciting. It kept me turning pages like "Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons. Couldn't put it down.

This story is wonderful! Once you turn the first page you are confronted with new and exciting ideas! Kid Calhoun isn't what you think! I've read this book at least 5 times! Each time I fall in love with the personalities created and love that the couples struggle to uncover! You'll enjoy the drama and the ending when its finally solved

While a few of the painting included are quite nice, none are breath taking or even exceptional. As long as the artist sticks to landscapes or panoramas the works are okay, but as soon as characters are added the pieces take on a very unrealistic cartoony feel which I doubt is consistent with how most fans visualize Middle Earth. Tolkien's Word: paintings of Middle-earth is a much nicer work, still for a collector of all things JRRT, you may want to pick it up if you can find it cheap.

Wonderfull paintings of the LothR. The artist followed Tolkiens descritptions faitfully. The paintings are mainly sweeping landscapes, giving us Rivendel, Minas Tirith, the Balrog, Helm's Deep and Issengard, to name a few. The paintings are beautifully done and compliments the books nicely. Some of the best Middle Earth artwork I have ever seen.

These paintings are absolutely gorgeous! Someone should put them on the Internet.

I rarely write negative reviews but I make the exception here. This is not one of her better books. The characters are one-dimensional, the plot (which looked promising) became implausible quickly and got worse as the book went on. (I'm angry at myself for finishing it when I knew it was poorly written within the first 100 pages.) Patch is an interesting woman but Ethan's character has no real focus. The recovery of the victim in the crime Ethan is wrongly accused of is so sudden and happens so easily you wonder what took 17 years!?

The cover promises "an amusing and imaginative romp" from Affaire de Coeur but if you want this kind of read try Julia Quinn, Sabrina Jeffries, Julia London (all 5 of her books are wonderful), Kinley MacGregor, Maggie Osborne (anything written AFTER 1993), Gaelen Foley. Now these woman can write!

I liked this book. It didn't have everything I usually look for in sizzling romance novels, but it kept be turning the pages. And I cared about the charaters. If your looking for a real sizzling page turner try "Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons.

This was an excellent book! I stayed up till 2:30 in the morning finishing it. Ethan and Patch were so perfect for each other, and I thought the plot was wonderful!

Anyone with any brains could tell that this book is merely a ploy to get children on the lists of direct mail marketers at an early age. PLEASE do not buy this book and perprtuate this scam further. Yes, your children will like getting little trinkets in the mail, but in one week they will be forgotten about (maybe sooner) and just junk up everything. Is a minute of cheerfulness worth a lifetime of mailboxes worth of junk mail? I think not.

small book (which is nice for the kids), and you can't beat it's pric

Bought this book four months ago, and my daughter LOVES it! They enjoy sending out, and receiving, something in the mail. Good, and cheap, way for them to have fun. And I don't know about the other reader, but my daughter has not received any junk mail because of these freebies yet.

This book is an apology for and "justification" for the worst kind of exploitation and wage slavery. I could have toned this view down and sugar-coated it- but I won't. This is the kind of book that the paracites who profit from temp slavey use to justify their "industry".
Personally, I have known alot of people who have been trapped in the temp labor market. I do not know of one who voluntarily works this way. Who in his right mind voluntarily works for low wages, no benefits, and no job security? I know, temp firm propaganda emphasises that many people "voluntarily" work as temps because of the "variety" and "flexibility." I have yet to meet one.
Actually, I would classify this book as dangerous. Working as a temp can do irreparable damage to your career and your resume. There are interviewers that will see multiple temp assignments on your resume and automatically assume that that you are "unstable" and fit for nothing else. You find yourself in the trap of "once a temp, always a temp."
We are not just talking unskilled or clerical labor here either. I myself have seen this temporary labor disease sweep the engineering profession.
I recently saw a statistic where it was stated that Manpower Incorporated is the largest employer in the nation now. We are in deep, deep, trouble....

This book is an easy-to-read guidebook on making money as a freelancer. There are lots of great tips and the author has done the research so that you don't have to spend hours searching the Web or going to the library to find information like hourly rates and things to know (like health insurance and other small business issues).

Excellent book for those thinking about permanently freelancing or working as an independent. Helps you decide if it's right for you and gives much info. on how to get started. Title may lead you to believe that it's about temping in the traditional sense, but it actually addresses a whole new workforce that the information technology age has enabled...those who want to work from their home or their own business office on their terms.

What a waste of time! I love historicals, but this was just appalling. It had every terrible cliche that makes this "gentle reader" want to scream! The heroine with her desire for her beloved to actually treat her like a barbarian and her inability to allow him to be kind to her was maddening. The simpering humor of the women in this book, the flat characterization of the tenants and servants, the annoying avalanche of pregnancies at the end and various other cliches also took away from my enjoyment of this novel. I love a good, well-written romance and read often in search of same, but this thing was way too trite for me. If you want an American in England, keep on looking!

This book will keep you reading. It's sexy and full of fun. I enjoyed it. That's what I look for a book that I can't put down, like my newest favorite "Anything, My Love" By Cynthia Simmons. A sizzling page turner you won't forget. Romance lovers would adore them both.

If you can buy the premise, which I did, you'll love this book!

While ordering Mommie Dearest I thought I'd order this too, to have a few laughs with my friends. Well, the drawing is horrible. Like a faded old Woolworth's ad from the 1950's. Also, you have to cut them out. You can't just punch them out. And, there is barely a likeness between the dolls and Joan. I wish someone had written this review before I wasted my money.

Like almost all of Tierney's work, this is beautifully drawn and authentic. The book features three dolls, depicting Crawford during different stages of her life and career, from giddy flapper to toughened career broad, and an array of costumes covering everything from her silent films to her '60s horror movies. The likenesses are good in general (although the middle doll is less like Crawford) and the range of costumes--from 18th-century court gown to futuristic and Austrian dance costumes--is enjoyable. Fans of Crawford's career should enjoy this--as I do.

I nearly did not purchase this due to it's two and a half star rating.Then I read the reveiw and realized that the reveiwer was not a fan.I am glad that I did buy it.All three dolls well represent each stage of the actresses career.The middle doll is the best likeness, but all are good.GOD BLESS

I had to force myself to finish this book. It was not the great quality and story line her other books have been. I was surprised that the charactors were dull and the plot was also dull. I wish I had saved my money! If you want to read Joan Johnston read another of her books and skip this one!!!!

After reading previous reviews on this book I was very sorry I had bought it. But since I had it, I thought I would give it a shot. I am so glad I did! I throughly enjoyed this story. Not only was the story about the two main characters, but their son and his fiancee. She made me laugh throughout the book. This was money well spent!

All her books are good and this was full of humor and romance. It kept me turning pages as did, "Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons--a book I HAD TO READ ALL IN ONE NIGHT.