There is an acute public health crisis in this nation; a crisis precipitated by the burden of suffering experienced by children with mental health needs, and their families. Today's students are challenged by an array of concern that directly impact their well-being. Child abuse, family dysfunction, economic dislocation, and the prevalence of violence, sex, and the objectification of woment in our popular culture all influence childrens' lives each day. Children represent 100% of our future. Therefore fostering social and emotional health in children as a component of healthy child development must be a national priority.

Anyone who is a parent has asked him or herself at one time "is my child ok?" Dr. Paul has written a cogent, no-nonsese book that will equip parents to be better informed about the mental health issues of children.

As a parent of two children, and as a teacher of children with special needs, I have found this book to be extremely useful. Dr. Paul skillfully and gently guides the reader to help her discern when a child's behavior is "just a stage she is going through," and, therefore "developmentally appropriate," as well as what to look for when dealing with maladaptive behaviors, and mental health issues.

This book is a must read for parents, teachers, school couselors, and anyone else who has a stake in the mental health of children. Children represent 100% of our future. We need to care for them as best as we can. Dr. Paul's work can help do just that.

Because kids communicate more through behavior than words its so hard sometimes to judge if there is a serious problem or if your child is just struggling to communicate something to you. This book is a great aid in getting insight into your child and holding a parent back from pathologizing them. As the mother of two young boys, I really appreciate the compassionate attitude toward children-- And the reassuring words to the often freaked- out mom. This would definately be one of my "desert island" parenting books.

A Three-star general phones you after mis-dialing and blurts out, "The President's plane is missing!" A lady from Beaverton named Elvira is interviewed by an alien named Zarkon 77. Lisa and Kent, hosts of a show called "Good Morning Northwest" comment on a "doozy of an asteroid" that slammed into Earth, with all the vacuity of a game show or the home-shopping network.

Jeffrey Shaffer takes the reader on a wacky ride through the carnival sections of his imagination in this, his second book of humorous shorts, complete with barkers and cotton candy for the brain.

Although the book is categorized as "humor for adults," it has a schoolboy charm. The complete unpredictability of where any single idea in any given story is going to go reminds you of "Stymie," the Little Rascals character who would stop, blink his eyes incredulously, and stare with open mouth and arms. No matter whether Shaffer's prose comes off as surprising, funny, or sad, it definitely puts the stymie on your brain now and again.

In "Basic Instinct," for example, our narrator happens on a cigarette-smoking dog that gives him investment advice. "If manure were music," the dog quipped, "Dean Witter would be a brass band. But don't quote me on that."

He caught my eye with "Rejuvenation," a spoof on healers, when he puts the narrator into an Orgone Box, a device invented by Wilhelm Reich. I've never read a contemporary piece that discussed Orgone energy, let alone made jokes about it. Reich died in prison in 1956 after the government attempted to destroy all records of his research and healing. Shaffer resurrects his memory with childlike innocence, wanting the narrator (and us, the readers) to accept anything that has not been conclusively proven to be wrong or untrue.

Shaffer counts on our suspension of disbelief, and if we're willing to supply it, he comes through with laughs in the most surpri! sing places. The book's title comes from the first essay, "Night Caller." The narrator explains to his caller that he intends to retreat to his fallout shelter, which came with the house. "Look Mister," the general taunts. "I got news for you. That little crash pad in your basement is a joke. It'd be like living in a septic tank." The narrator taunts the general by telling him the conversation is being taped. "Damn! I bet you're lying," he says.

At the end, the general offers to send a lieutenant over to detail the narrator's car. The next morning our narrator wakes to see his neighbor standing next to a gleaming Land Cruiser. "An Army lieutenant showed up and detailed my car for free!" he exclaimed. "Who says the government never does anything right?"

Many of his essays defy description. Like his first title, I'm Right Here, Fish-Cake, also published by Catbird, this collection of funny shorts presents the oddest assortment of characters in the most imaginative array of situations conceivable. His approach is light hearted, but the tension he adds by placing his characters in serious situations holds your interest and inspires you to move quickly from one short to the next. Publisher's Weekly has called him "a satirist from the old school, an ardent fan of James Thurber, a humorist-without-portfolio..."

It's no coincidence that you can hear echoes of a Garrison Keillor voice in these tales - Shaffer has written for the PBS radio show Prairie Home Companion, in addition to numerous writing projects for Oregon Public Radio and Television. It Came With The House was a runner-up for Best Humor Book at the 1998 Small Press Book Awards, held in Chicago on May 29, 1998.

I read "It Came With The House" and immediately rushed to get "I'm Right Here, Fish-Cake." I haven't read such delicious nonsense in much too long. Shaffer takes fresh look at something that you see every day, and slides it sideways into total silliness. It's done with effortless sleight of hand, one little step at a time.

If you like the movies you will love these stories. Combines page turning reading with a poetic quality that only Jack London can develop.

Loved White Fang so much I have gone on and read everything this man ever wrote. If you love the outdoors, and can live without T.V. a few nights then get this one. You will not regret the money well spent.

While not the 1st artist to take on the conceptions of light and its practical uses in art, now Flagstff, AZ. artist James Turrell has brought the perception of light in art to creative and fantastic new levels through his conceptions such as his famous "skyspaces" to "darkspaces," "blue rooms," etc. Many of his pieces offer low light level environments, some almost no light at all, still others brilliant hues of red and blue.

Like most artists, Turrell shies away from giving detailed explinations of his works so that each individual can surmise the piece for themselves. This is not necessarly the case in this work. Turrell wanted, (and did) to build a specific "skyscape" in order to view an eclipse that occurred in England. Like his other "skyscapes," Turrell took the environment and all of its factors, as well as very specific geometry, into account, so that he could construct the perfect medium through which to not just observe the eclipse, but to better magnify the light, or lack thereof, of the eclipse.

The book is a wonderful look at this process, complete with analysis and pictures of the eclipse, the "skyscape," etc. An added bonus is the cd by German composer Paul Schulze, who's approach to his music (a minimalist ambient style, normally) is a perfect match to Turrell's art.

Fans of Turrell, or those who are interested in the interplay between light, our senses, and the reality they both help us create, will find this rather short treatsie to be of invaluable use to them. A wonderfully intriguing work.

James Turrell has long been a major player in the field of light art, and visitors to the Matress Factory museum in Pittsburgh are well aware of his outstanding way of playing with art and images. This amusing meditation on an eclipse is an excellent addition to his body of work

I began using this book knowing nothing of JavaScript. I had never programmed either. The examples are thorough and well presented. Now that I have a better understanding of programming, it has precisely the information I need. Extremely useful for intermediate programmers.

I found this to be a useful book for my web-site development. The material is comprehensive, the examples are good, and the information I was looking for was easy to find.

The coverage is thorough and professionally written.

Although it took 25 years after Gaultier first started designing under his own name for someone to dedicate a book to him, it was well worth the wait. McDowell, as with his book on Galliano, does a lavish job on Gaultier's life and designs. The book is packed with runway photos and details about some of the collections. My only complaints about the book (and they are very minor complaints): McDowell goes into over-detail about Gaultier's life, especially up to 1976 when he first started designing his own label, making for slow reading for half of the book; a few of the photos are mislabelled with the wrong collection (mostly the couture photos); and although there are some great runway photos in the book, a lot of Gaultier's show-stopping designs in the past are not represented, and there aren't enough photos from men's collections. A great book though!

Colin McDowell's peek into the wild world of Jean Paul Gaultier is both long overdue and well worth the wait! From his earliest childhood memories to his 2000 couture show and all points inbetween, McDowell reveals all in the same manner Gaultier designs his collections--with wit, irreverence, and style! This lavishly illustrated book has pictures and sketches (sadly, not Gaultier's own) from his most famous collections, including some rare and unusual ones. Photo coverage starts in heavily from around the 1989 collections, but earlier eighties collections are glimpsed here and there throughout the book. McDowell punctuates with notable quotes and images of Gaultier's influences, from pin-up queens to Physique Pictorial, from the great couturiers to street fashion. Smartly written and solidly designed (it even has Gaultier's nautical stripes in the end caps!) this book is a MUST for all Gaultier fans and admirers. It explains, in vivid detail, how he became the fashion icon that he is today!

This isn't just a book about an athlete. Sure, it's a book about a man who defeated poverty and overcame adversity to become one of the greatest Olympic gold medalists.

But Jesse Owens is honest about the turbulent times he endured after the Olympics were over. Just as importantly, he also tells the story about how he almost let his faith in God fall along the wayside. Faith, family, and school are all important given important places in this book.

Anne M. Marble Reviewer, All About Romance

This is the best book i have ever read about Jesse Owens. It tells you about the tradegy of his childhood and how he was almost killed in a freak farming ancident. Then it tells you about his glourious triomph in the olympics. Then tells of his quick glory and how he was robbed of all his money. Jesse Owens and Steve Prefontaine are the greatest runners ever.

Jesus in my Golf Cart is a humorous, yet down to earth chat with Jesus as the protagonist goes about her daily life. In this case it is playing golf. Bub (Satan) puts in his two cents worth from time to time, just as in life.
It is a book worthy of the author's faith and talent. It reminds one that whatever you go or whatever you are doing, all you have to do is ask Jesus what he thinks.
A fine inspirational piece of work.

Jesus in my Golf Cart is a fasinating book with Jesus and occassionaly "Bub" (Satan) butting into the conversation to get his point across. Ms. Brown has caught the essence of religious belief that stays with a true believer as they go about their daily tasks or play.
This book provides insight into walking with Jesus and a few laughs besides. Who ever said Jesus didn't laugh?

Paul Thigpen is a great writer and editor. In this work he has compiled a great source and aid to prayer before Our Lord. People who enjoy this book will also enjoy a series of books edited by Fr. Benedict Groeschel entitled: Praying in the Presence of the Lord.

Whether you spend time in Eucharistic adoration or not, you'll find something to like in this collection of prayers designed to be said before the Blessed Sacrament.

Paul Thigpen has compiled such gems as:

"Adoration will heal our Church and thus our nation and thus our world.... When we adore, we plug into infinite dynamism and power. Adoration is more powerful for construction than nuclear bombs are for destruction." - Peter Kreeft

or

"I know I would not be able to work one week if it were not for that continual force coming from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

There is much in this little book to enjoy - over and over again. It includes Scripture as well as poetry and litanies, as well as thoughts from a diverse group of people including Saints, Popes, and lay people.

I know I will use it during adoration often.