This is one of Starscape Books' better reprints, and one that relatively few readers will know about. Joan Aiken, best known for her "Wolves of Willoughby Chase" books, serves up a delightful fantasy/horror/comedy story that is sure to win over any fan of things that go bump in the night.

Cockatrices have invaded England. What are cockatrices? It's a general term for various malevolent, nasty, omnivorous beasties that arrived via luggage at an airport (hee!) and soon begin snorking up the unwary inhabitants. In a matter of years, people are hiding from them as they roam through England and lay waste to it. General Grugg-Pennington is given an order: Create an armored train and have a special corps of soldiers to deal with the cockatrices.

One of the people who volunteers is the boy Dakin -- Dakin is brought along because he plays the drums, and repetitive loud noises kill some of the cockatrices. Things become substantially more complex when Dakin's cousin Sauna ends up on the train as well. But something evil is massing in the north -- something connected to Sauna and the cockatrices, and something that will do anything to achieve its ends.

There are plot holes in this that you could throw a Flying Hammerhead through (why don't the people just leave England? Why can't they use an electronic recording instead of drums?) but somehow it never really matters. It's fun. Just fun. Aiken expertly mixes goofy Brit humor with a grimmer tone (sort of post-apocalypse-lite) in a newer kind of England where green leafy vegetables are a precious rarity and German dogs are imported to fight the Snarks. The flying sharks, the slightly dotty old lady, the pleasant old Brit soldiers, the apartment full of porcelain knickknacks, and so on. The plotting is tight; it gets darker as the book progresses, bringing in such old details as Michael Scott and covens of plotting witches.

Dakin is a suitably plucky everyboy, polite and dutiful and thoroughly sympathetic. Sauna is a bit more of a dark horse, as her ancestry and abilities are slowly revealed. The characters around them are less 3-D, but are great fun. There is some violence and creepiness, but nothing too major; this book may, however, scare some younger kids. The scenes with the eerie, almost ghoulish "Aunt Flossie" and her malicious rat were absolutely horrific.

Paper and binding are about average. My only beef? The cover! It's awful! Gris Grimly's drawings are quite good on the inside -- creepy and suitable, kind of a sharp-edged Edward Gorey -- ... In addition, the ending is a bit vague.

This is a really fun romp that kids will enjoy, and adults can chuckle over as well.

If anybody trusted me with their kids, I would probably read this to them. A fun little jaunt, the kind of story I could relate to/imagine as a child, it can be entertaining for adults, but may be even more enjoyable shared with a little monster who has the beginnings of a sense of humor. Sure, there's a little death and gore, but it's written in such a pleasantly British and accepting way, it works. The population of Britain is virtually decimated by monsters from an unknown source (but they arrive at the airport), so a souped-up battle train of soldiers, dotty British gentleman and a couple of kids go to find and cut off the source of evil. So what if the end doesn't quite make sense? The journey's fun and you just gotta love that British tone that accepts the death of friends and loved ones, but bemoans the loss of good tea. Get it for a little critter and read it yourself.

I had the unique privilege of studying with Ms. Larkin last year, as a senior in college, but I had never read any of her work until I purchsed this collection, and was immediately blown away by her mastery of lyric form and cruel truth-telling. This is not a book for the faint of heart, since Larkin explores such timely issues as a loved one who is dying of AIDS, and the loss of lovers and stability in an ever-complicated world. She knows initmately how to break a scene down to its component parts and let you see, touch, smell, hear and feel what she examines with such precision. If you're an old poetry fan, or are dipping your toes into the genre for the first time, this is an excellent example of what is true and good in modern urban poetry.

I can add little to what others have said here. Joan Larkin brings to bear the entire weight of her experiences of loss, as well as those of joy in self-definition and the quest for a community.

I had the great fortune to work in a year-long conference course with Joan at Sarah Lawrence College. As a teacher she possesses the same qualities in evidence in COLD RIVER: honesty, courage, and a deep respect for life's lessons. Buy this book!!!

An incredibly comprehensive and scientifically sound book. A must read for anyone in the probation or parole field.

Hunt County Community Supervision (Adult Probation Department) Greenville, Texas, is in the process of implementing "Total Quality Management" and "Performance Based Measures". This book validates our efforts and emphasizes the need for all correction agencies to identify what they do and how that justifies expenditure of public money. We do it or someone else not connected with community corrections will. Statistics are excellent. This book is a must for all our staff and judges and anyone interested in the "crisis" in community corrections.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cooking with Kids Reviewer: Kristen Freiermuth from Portland, OR USA A book to make memories with your special children. If you love to cook & eat, & you want to share these loves, this is a "must have" book. Though I have been cooking with my grandchildren for several years, I found fabulous time saving tips & ways to cultivate ownership in recipes & meal preparation. Ms. Cirillo has created a fun, educational arena for an event we all participate in every day. Her "Savvy Food Shopper" and "Magic of Food" was a real surprise. Great ideas for practical management of shopping & learning activities involving math, chemistry & nutrition. What a fun-easy way to learn fractions

What a great way to spend time with kids! This cookbook is full of great ideas for teaching your child about cooking and food. I especially like the sidebars; "Kitchen Clues", "Kid Quiz" and "Learn the Lingo" make browsing this book a lot of fun. The recipes are laid out in a clear manner and are designed to tempt the most finicky child.

This is a book written in their own words by two young men who have Down's Syndrome. They share the ups and down's of their lives . Although my son is only nine, I found this book very helpful because it gave me some preview of things to come. Because the book was written in the boys' own words, it gives a unique picture into the minds and lives of older children with Down syndrome. It also gave some insight into familiar problems, as well as some events that were unique to these boys who authored the book. I found myself wishing that my own son had a close friend to help guide him through the ups and downs that await him in his teenage years. Then I realised that I could actively seek out peers for him to become friendly with at my local Down syndrome chapter, and maybe I could find some friends that he could become close with in a similar fashion to the authors of this book. I highly recommend this book to all parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals who work with children who have disabliities similar to Down Syndrome, because the experiences of these boys could cover a broad spectrum of disabilities, not only Down Syndrome. So many books are written from an outsider's prespective. This book comes straight from the sourcel.

I first read this book when my son with Down Syndrome was very young. It was extremely encouraging to me to read the very complex and interesting thoughts of two adult men who have Down Syndrome. I wish all teachers would read this book. I think any parent with a child who has Down Syndrome, especially a very young one, would benefit from reading this book. I really fell in love with Jason and Mitchell.

When I became old enough to grasp religion, my one question was, "What makes my religion the "right" religion?" These tapes have explained, in plain language, how many religions are based on the same spiritual principles. They provide common sense methods to incorporate spirituality in today's lifestyle.

I really enjoyed A Course in Life, and got a lot out of it, even though I know a few things about spirituality myself. The concepts and principles in this book (12 steps in all) are written in such a fashion, that they are easy to understand and apply, even if this is a reader's first exposure to the subject. It was reinforcing for me to see that Joan Gattuso had endured and overcome some of the scariest trials that present themselves to ordinary mortals as myself,i.e, IRS audits, betrayal by friends, life-threatening illness (cancer in her case). She gives many examples of human frailties and how to move beyond them, even healing some of the most deep-rooted pain. The book also contains many easy, useful affirmations to help the readers to re-program their thinking, in order to attain the harmony and prosperity that we all desire in our lives. It is beautifully written, and you can't help but admire the author for her contribution to "A Course In Life."

I am sorry that this book is out of print, because the story of Maximilian and Carlota is one of history's great tragedies. Haslip obviously sympathizes with the imperial couple, especially Maximilian, who was too idealistic to be a good ruler and too trustful for his own good. Anyone with any sense would have realized that Napoleon III was not to be trusted; that most Mexicans supported Juarez and those that didn't just wanted to get their lands back; and that the United States would not have allowed a monarchy in Mexico. Haslip also shows that Carlota's madness did not happen all of a sudden but it was the result of years of disappointment and Carlota's own suspicious nature. Haslip ends her narrative with Maximilian's funeral in 1867, thus leaving out almost six decades of Carlota's half-life in Belgium.

When we think of the history Mexico, we generally think of the Aztec Empire and its demise and then we jump to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Very few people know that Mexico was once a Monarchy. This book offers a detailed insight of Maximillian's and Charlotte's plight, and all the intrigues behind the Mexican Crown: the secret intentions of the Catholic Church; the political plans of the Mexican aristocracy; Napoleon III's greedy ambitions and many more. The unanimous support of the European Monarchs towards this staggering undertake, to make an European Monarchy out of Mexico and their sudden change of heart marks the beginning of a tragic conclusion. Written with exceptional detail and an engaging style, I think this book is an excellent account of the events that happened in Mexico during the 1860's. A must-read!

A touching story of friendship, love and family.
' Vicky asked to sit next to May Tully at school with the exuse of getting help with her Irish. They walked home together ahead of me, sniggering t the boys. I hate them and wish the wars was over so Vicky would go home. No such luck.'

Daisy Chain war is set in the time of World War two in Ireland. Lizzie is a normal, ten year old girl. She gets very excited when her cousin Vicky, from London, is coming to escape the war. But, Vicky turns out different to what Lizzie expected. She's a small, weedy english girl. But soon enough Lizzie and Vicky become great friends, like sisters. Soon enough, Vicky gets caught with Lizzie's crush and is best friends with May Tully, the most popular girl in school. Lizzie becomes jealous. But all that changes when Vicky tries to run away...

This book has brought me back from the cusp of darkness to a state of enlightened euphoria in which I shall remain forever. If you do not own this book, you will be condemned to a firey hell.

This book has brought me back from the cusp of darkness to a state of enlightened euphoria in which I shall remain forever. If you do not own this book, you will be condemned to a firey hell.

Young David is sent by his friend, Mickey, to join the Orphan Train and thus escapes the New York streets where they are homeless. David is reluctantly adopted by a childless couple who want free workers for their farm. He is worked hard and they are miserly. He befriends Amos, a former slave, who works on the farm. The KKK moves in and threatens the family for employing and paying a negro. Amos moves on westward and David stays, winning the grudging respect of his adoptive parents. Historical detail seems accurate and story is good, with black and white illustrations. Recomended for 5th graders, and teachers.

David Howard is an eleven year old orphan in 1866. He's lived on the streets of New York City so long, he can barely remember the time when his parents were still living. A friend tells David about the Children's Aid Society, an organization that sends young orphans west on trains to find new homes. That summer, David heads west and finds a new home with the Bauer family on their Missouri farm. But the simple chores they assign to David are hard for a boy who's never been out of the city before. Luckily for David, the Bauers' hired hand, Amos, a former slave, is happy to help David learn about life on a farm. But the Ku Klux Klan has reached the little town of Harwood, where David and his foster family live, and they will stop at nothing to drive Amos away. Now, it's up to David to save his friend. Read this exciting new book in the Orphan Train Children series to find out what happens!