There seems to be a lot of debate going on in the previous reviews over whether or not Stone Soup is feminist. My opinion: of course it is! And it's quite refreshing to see a comic strip that isn't afraid to be. Better yet, the strip is never preachy and, unlike Foxtrot (to which it gets compared frequently), it's almost always funny. I've also seen a lot of comparisons to For Better or for Worse (helped along perhaps by the fact that Lynn Johnston wrote the introduction to this collection) which I find closer to the truth. The big difference there is that unlike FBoFW, Stone Soup is almost never sentimental. Eliot always finds a way to squeeze a laugh out of good times and bad, without dwelling on her storylines or overdeveloping them. While her focus may be on single mothers, her humor is accessible to one and all. And of course, it helps that Val and the gang always manage to keep their sanity intact at the end of each story!

How completely, utterly *refreshing* to read a comic strip where the female characters don't value themselves based on their waist measurements, their spendthrift shopping habits, or by how men see them. How wonderful and hilarious to see a comic-strip Mom who's got better things to do than become the family doormat -- Val's no-nonsense dealings with the kids is a refreshing change from the usual Mommy-clean-my-mess (from husband as well as kids) in most family comic strips. Of course STONE SOUP is feminist (Oh! I just said the "f" word!) -- it dares to presume that female characters can carry a comic strip all by themselves, and be funny and interesting in and of themselves, and that families come in all shapes and sizes. Naturally it's taken years for Eliot to come out with a *second* collection of these wonderful strips while the bulimia manual CATHY and the formulaic mommy-doormat FOXTROT are on their umpteenth releases -- some people are just so *threatened* by real women, aren't they?

Someone below called this a feminist comic strip but I think that's misleading, especially given the current difficulties in just defining that word. Yes, it happens to have several female characters, and yes it's not a stereotypical mom-dad-dog-2.4-kids-wagon-picket-fence family, BUT: This strip is about all of us, everyone of every sex and age and family style, and it's enjoyable to (and enjoyed by) a wide range of people -- even ordinary traditional people and even (gasp) men! My husband loves it, my 60-something dad loves it, and so on. I think the publisher's blurb on the back of the second Stone Soup collection ("You Can't Say Boobs On Sunday") got it right: "Anyone who's ever had a family, been in a family, or known a family seems to love Stone Soup. ... Readers see themselves and their families in Stone Soup, and they love it." That goes for people who don't consider themselves family-oriented, and for people who do.

Everyone I've known who's read any Stone Soup has enjoyed it and wound up quoting or passing around some of the strips.

Recommended reading for everyone except total grumps, I say.

Hysterical! Truely an enjoyable voice regarding an unenjoyable time in a woman's life. I could relate to Jan and laugh with other women in the world. She brings us together with humor and love. A real gift!

With such a large population of baby boomers now in their menopausal years, Jan King's book is very timely. As I read this book I was able to laugh with her about what I have, and am going through. I also learned more about the whys of what is happening to me. The author's courage to reveal things that she has gone through with her illness was very educational, as well as a reminder to get to know and be aware of changes in your own body. Every man and woman, regardless of their age should read this book so as to better understand what their friends and relatives are living through...
It is a real eye opener to remind us of how precious life is.
Don't miss reading this book....it is the best book yet that this author has written!!!!!

This is hilarious. Women laughing at ourselves --- creates a sense of comraderie that makes this stage almost enjoyable. The author is warm, witty and honest! Boy could I relate to those anecdotes.

Bridge Over Troubled Bidding offers a basis to make aacceptable and competent bids, a rule of thumb (a comfort zone) assuring the player he/she can enter the game, enjoy and look forward to the next one. A plus is that we can focus on the cards dealt, what we can do with them and feel secure to enter the auction.

Jan Pittelli offers the reader a wealth of information in an understandable and creative format. Her objectives for each chapter are very clear. She is able to meet the needs of the various learning styles of her readers by providing different approaches to deliver the information. Her visual presentations with the blocked off "Bridge Language", review sections, hands-on workbook practice, audiotape, and helpful advice from her experiences, provide the student with a fun and unintimidating way to learn bridge. Pittelli's encouragement along with a writing style which conveys her enthusiasm and respect for the game are very motivational to the beginning student.

I have played bridge since I was a junior in high school at which time my mother insisted that I take bridge lessons. Although I rather enjoyed the game, the act of bidding was stressful to me. Substituting in a bridge group was always a tense experience. Invariably someone would ask, "Do you bid a (some term I never had even heard of)?" or after the bidding someone would ask, "WHY did you bid THAT". In short, before I read this book, bidding was no fun. I, like others I know, would sometimes pass early to avoid getting the bid. Now, after Bridge Over Troubled Bidding, I enjoy the entire game. I may not always win, and I may not always make my bid, but at least I'm approaching the game with knowledge and understanding which previously had escaped me. I'm personally glad that Pittelli was able to find a new and effective way to explain the act of bidding. I hope many readers will now be better able to enjoy the game and to even teach their own kids in such a delightful manner.

In this book, Jan challenged me to include God in the "dailyness" of life. To recognize that He is with me as I drive to work and someone with questionable driving skills cuts me off. How do I respond with God sitting next to me? Does it really make a difference? It's beginning to, but I'm a slow learner. This book teaches without too much preaching. It's a book which will encourage you by example, not just by exhortation. Jan shares her personal struggles, defeats and victories that serves as a model that can help us understand the need to "practice the presence of God" every day.

In this book, Jan challenged me to include God in the "dailyness" of life. To recognize that He is with me as I drive to work and someone with questionable driving skills cuts me off. How do I respond with God sitting next to me? Does it really make a difference? It's beginning to, but I'm a slow learner. This book teaches without too much preaching. It's a book which will encourage you by example, not just by exhortation. Jan shares her personal struggles, defeats and victories that serves as a model that can help us understand the need to "practice the presence of God" every day.

This is a life-changing book. Jan Johnson has a unique ability to communicate how to live moment by moment in the presence of God. I highly recommend this book to those who have a heart for the Lord and a desire to touch lives through prayer.

Roald Dahl, the famous story teller. Who hasn't read his all time classic: "Charlie and the Choclate Factory" and its follow up "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" and drool over the many different types of candy featured in these books? From Hot Ice Cream You Can Eat On Cold Days, Candy Pencils You Can Eat In Class and Marshmallow Pillows, this book features all the wonderful treats that were described in Roald Dahl's books.

Over fifteen different recipes, this books teaches you how to make these wonderful dishes. Step by step, making these treats couldn't be easier !

Illustrated by Quentin Blake with his lively pictures, once you have made the foodstuff, sit back, relax and enjoy the treats with your favourite Roald Dahl book.

A total blast. My friends loved the candy coated pencils best. Great for sucking during class. A fun book. With easy to follow instructions. Even my 9 year old sister loves it. YUMMY!

This is a great cookbook with foods that are so good, and allare from stories by Roald Dahl. It has peach juice, from James and theGiant Peach, a whole bunch of great candys from Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Lots of others, definately a must buy for children. The best cookbook ever!

This book really related to me because I used to have a really big lieing problem until my dad and I sat down and had a talk about not to lie. In this story Brother and Sister Bear break Momma Bear's lamp they keep telling more and more lies. But when Papa Bear comes in to help them out he helps them get everything straightened out. I would recommend this book to all parents to help their kids stop lieing.

When brother and sister are playing soccer in the house they end up breaking mama's favorite lamp! They try making up a lie to get of of the blame. But can they keep their story straight>?

This book teaches kids how it is better to tell the truth and not to lie no matter what they have done. It is a great lesson to me learned and I suggest it for any child!

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth is a wonderful story for children of any ages. It teaches children a very important lesson,always to tell the truth no matter what and if a lie is told, it would always come back to haunt you. I greatly recommend this book for children.

In this edition of the Berenstain Bears series, summer is coming to an end and the Bear children are preparing to go to school. Sister Bear is going to be in kindergarten and is a bit anxious about leaving home and spending most of the day in a new and strange place. Mama Bear takes Sister to the school to meet her teacher and look at her classroom. Sister begins to think that school might not be so bad. However, when the bus arrives to pick her up on the first day, Sister is still anxious. Eventually, she comes to enjoy school and in the process teaches Brother Bear a lesson.

This book is a great book to read to toddlers and young children who are about ready to start school. It shows them that it's okay to be nervous about going to school for the first time, yet at the same time calms their fears about school, thereby preparing them for when they begin classes.

I myself enjoyed the berenstien bears Go To school becuse i can relate to their school problems its like they have already walked in my shoes.This book goes into great detail about the first day of school and how it can seem hard to make new friends and sometime the teacher might seem a little scary

I am an elementary school librarian who reads "The Berenstain Bears Go To School" each September to our new kindergartners. It helps set their minds at ease about what school is like.

In this Berenstain Bears story, Mama Bear notices that Sister Bear looks worried when Brother Bear mentions that he wants to get back to school after summer vacation. Mama Bear takes Sister to the Bear Country School to meet Miss Honeybear, the kindergarten teacher. A few days later, Brother Bear rushes to the bus, dragging Sister along with him. Sister discovers that she loves school, so a few days later when Brother Bear wishes it was still vacation, Sister is the one who drags *him* to the bus.

My students always laugh at this change of perspective. I find most of the Berenstain Bear books to be an ideal, and entertaining, way to teach children positive behaviors or attitudes, or to help them relate about the real world. This book is no exception.

This book is written with a lot of first hand knowledge of all areas of living full time in an RV. It is also written for and by average people who do not have an unlimited income and therefore must keep an eye on the most efficient means to an end. They not only "talk the talk" but have "walked the walk" I have given away two other recent books on this subject, but I won't part with this one.

I really liked this book. It doesn't get so full of jargon it's unreadable- a problem with some similar books I've read. It explains RVing clearly to beginners like me but it also goes into technical detail for the more advanced. Just an all around useful book to have.

We own and have read a half-dozen of the newer full-time RVing books we have found. This new third edition of Bill and Jan's book is the most detailed and useful that I have yet to find. I can look an books after I am done and can tell how useful they are by how many folded page corners there are and how much yellow highlighting I had done. This one is tops. The latest in communications are covered, some of the best discussion on floorplans I have seen, and more.

This one is a must read.

Dave Baleria Good Sam Life Member, SKP #53897, AARP, N7DAB

If you have a difficult relationship, and don't know how to say "no", this book can help. I struggled with a bad relationship with my father, who was demeaning and abusive when I was a child. This book really helped me to deal with those issues and set boundaries, so that we can have a better relationship today.

In a world bent on politcal correctness,we are becoming bent on "enabling" bad behavior. This books brings a freeing balance to the difficult person that a person may love & hold dear,and not sure how to help without sinking into the quicksand yourself. An absolute must read if you are in ministry.........very practical,and honest....with hope for the person who has to deal with their difficult person,No matter what the outcome of the choices that difficult person makes for themselves. We have a choice however not to be dragged into their misery. Awesome!

I absolutely adored this book. It came at a time in my life where I was letting my "fool" control me and really change my personality. This book showed me that I was not going crazy, like I thought that I was, and that there is a way to deal with the "foolish" people in my life in a biblical manner. I felt so much better after reading this...I reccommend it to ANYONE who has a troublesome person in their life...

I knew Jan in New York City in the 60's and he was a great story teller, indeed. This is a great book to take turns reading out loud on a car trip with children say 10 and over.

The account of Jan Yoors' travels with the romani captures the spirit of gypsy life better than the more academic anthropological reviews I have read. I would recomment this book for anyone wanting to learn more about their heritage or about the beautiful and oft misunderstood culture of the Rom.

I came across this book without much intention, and it proved to be a revealing, first-hand account of the traveling Rom peoples of Europe in the early 20th century. Yoors lived with the Rom on and off through their genocidal persecution under Hitler's regime. A lyrical writer, Yoors captures a detailed essence of these people whose seemingly mysterious ways, he points out, were often perpetuated by the Rom themselves as defense mechanisms against civilized culture (or Gadje, the outsiders). His account demonstrates personal and cultural revelations about how the Rom have been persecuted through time in the form of outright racism, genocide, and overt hostility which continues through today. The US only recently -- 1998 -- decided to stop officially discriminating against US-based Rom, and the word 'gyp' is still commonly used as a slur even among seemingly enlightened people. More importantly, Yoors' account reveals how, despite the racist, mysterious, mainstream view of the Rom, they instead lived a relatively harmless, carefree, dependable and sustainable lifestyle in which each tribal member was (is) cared for. Dysfunction among the nomadic Rom pales in comparison to that of so-called civilized people. Perhaps tracts such as this one will be impetus for a certain new tribal evolution in the face of a clearly threatened collapse of civilization.