My son and daughter - aged 5 and 7 love this beautiful little book. The concept of continuous doubling of the number of ants that keep returning to the nest intrigues them. Although the book stops at 512, my children insisted that we keep doubling the number "up to infinity". Well, we kept on doubling until we ran out of paper!! The illustrations are wonderful, complementing this terrific children's treasure.

my four- and five-year old children love this book. it's one they request over and over again when it's story-time at home after dinner or at bed time. they love the little ants who invade the neighborhood picnic and discover a treasure trove of treats that they eventually haul little bits back to their labarynthian home. each time they make the trip they bring more ants, each time doubling their number. my kids very painlessly learned their first multiplication lesson - doubling the number each time. a very cleverly conceived, thoroughly enjoyable book.

This charming, beautifully written and illustrated story helps young children understand the concept of "doubling" numbers. Each time the ants revisit the picnic, they bring more ant friends(in fact, exactly twice as many) to help haul the goodies back to their ant home. The simplicity of the story and each successive illustration with the ever increasing ant army subtly teaches the "doubling" concept. This is a must for any home library.

Woman alone is the journal of an aspiring writer, reflecting the pains and beauties of life in a secluded family farmhouse. Burdick's writing is genuine and her subjects are real. Every bird she mentions, emotion she feels, or scene she accounts is written with such sincerity, it feels as though the reader is sitting beside her. You do not need to be a woman to be touched by this book. As a man I found it inspiring and pleasurable, unable to put it down. Like all of Burdick's work, after reading it you know that you have just read something special and great. Woman Alone is undoubtedly a classic waiting to be discovered.

I just read another review of this book and am amazed that the reviewer found it too flowery and unemotional. I read and re read the book and am ready to re read it yet again. I have hated poetry but Ms Burdick has inspired me not only to read it but try to write it myself. "CB" talks about the importance of women journaling and if I wasn't convinced before, I am now. I managed to connect with Ms Burdick or CB by email and was happily surprised when she responded and so eagerly. I was afraid of intruding on her but we have had great conversations about literature, families and moving on with our lives. I have to give this book a 5 star rating. I have been reading some of the books that she suggested and find our tastes most compatible. Women who keep a journal and women who write will find this to be a MUST READ. I am also recommending it to my friends and relatives who have suffered losses. To me it is the most realistic book on the subject. Ms Burdick has written other books as well. "Stop Calling Mr. Darling" is next on my reading list. Oh I am a librarian and don't fiddle with junk literature.

This is a must read for women writers- especially women who journal or have considered journaling. It will get you going. Ms Burdick talks about journaling and of the necessity to have the support of other writers. I thought at first it was just a journal of the year that she went home to be with her family while her dad was dying. I feel as though I need to read it again to give this review justice. What makes a book good? For me, I want to be able to relate to the author; I want to understand what is being said. I want to be pushed further along my road. I want a book to inspire me to some greater good. It is not a self help book; neither is it about venting about what a rough life she had. She does look back but more than that she is taking each day and see what it brings and how she feels about it and what she needs to do to take care of herself. Please don't judge her writing by mine;I was a Library Science major, not an English major.I was able to connect with "CB" via email and it has been a wonderful experience. Ms Burdick has led me to books that I had never heard of. She has shown me that she is the person I decided she was from her book "Woman Alone: A Farmhouse Journal" As a last note, any book that has me reading it over and over again is quite a magnificent book.

Robert Burns was and still is the greatest Scottish poet to ever live. This book takes you deep inside the mind of the Scots and makes you feel like one yourself. A perfect selection of literature, it is sure to be among your favorite bedside books. Buy it!!!