This book is a must-have for all parents of young children. I know it will become a family favorite in your family as it has in mine. It is one of the few picture books I have kept on my shelf (I'm 14 now)because of how special it is; I could never give it up. I don't think anyone would be able to say anything bad about this book. It has amazing illustrations. They are super cute, colorful, and life-like. The story is about a teddy bear who awakens to find that his trousers have been misplaced. He goes around all day asking his friends if they have seen them. They all say the same thing- they were using them (for some very unique purposes) but when they were finished with them they let someone else use them. Finaly Little Bear catches up with his pants and it's worth the wait. If you decide to purchase this book pick up a couple more of Jane Hissey's Old Bear stories, you won't be dissapionted in any of them.

Our (hard copy) of, Little Bear's Trousers, has been read dozens of times! The illustrations are extraordinary, and the creative uses Little Bear's friends make of his trousers are inventive and practical! The story has a joyful ending wherein all the friends can celebrate not only the return of Little Bear's trousers but some time together enjoying a bit of cake. The ONLY complaint I would make about this book (and which was actually pointed out to me by my six 1/2 year old daughter) is that of the nine characters, only two are female. We, however, have rectified this situation by granting them a new sexual status virtually everytime we read this book. Both of my kids (one boy, one girl) adore this book and have for years. Highly recommeded!

Our young students at the Early Childhood Education Center are thoroughly enjoying Logan and the Duck Patrol. This delightful story about a little boy who does a BIG job is a story time favorite. Children choose this book because of the adorable illustrations and interesting story line. Teachers and parents often select Logan when they want to teach a lesson on compassion, or problem solving, or the power of working together. As the principal of an early childhood center where 800+ three, four, and five year olds go to school, I can tell you we have done a rigorous "field test" on Logan and the Duck Patrol. I can highly recommend it as an outstanding book for children. Susan Townsend, Principal Early Childhood Education Center 1801 West Lea Carlsbad, NM 88220

Logan and the Duck Patrol is a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told tale about a boy who learns about helping others in need. Logan and Gramma discover that Mr. Johnson's illness has kept him from feeding the ducks, so they round up their friends and come to the rescue. With outstanding watercolor technique, Anton Uhl brings uncommon beauty to this inspiring story. Micki Nellis has somehow captured that special relationship between grandmother and young boy and has woven it into the thread tied onto the happy ending.

For most people if you tell them you are going to watch a movie or read a book about a child murderer they will look at you strangely. Don't kid yourself this IS a disturbing movie, from the opening sequence with the children singing a song about the "man in black" coming to get you to the end with the sobbing mothers warning this film is intense. The book places the movie in the context of Weimar Germany and is essential for understanding the use of imagery and the many subtexts that are present. The book is well written, hard to put down, and it really compliments the movie experience without either watering it down or making it too cerebral. For further reading I would encourage people to do a websearch on Fritz Haarman or Peter Kurten the actual serial killers the plot was loosely based on. If you thought serial killers were a modern invention, these guys make Ted Bundy look like an amateur.

After almost 7 decades since its making, Fritz Lang's M remains a poignant, modern film; a striking portrait of the human world as we live in. It is natural for the BFI to have chosen it as one of the 360 key films of all time. No other film deserves this status more than M.

Fritz Lang, who always regarded M as his best film and the one by which he would be remembered, called it "a documentary". It is one of the first film about serial killers, and already Lang goes beyond depicting the pathology of such criminal; what M examines is the pathology of 20th century modern society.

In this compact but meticulous study, Anton Kaes reveals the connection between the film and the Weimer German society in which it was made, and shows us how Lang fused his film with shrewd criticism and annualization of the world in which he lived in; a 20th century metropolis of mass society and mass-media culture. Yet he is not satisfied to put M back to its social context of the time. Lang's analysis of social pathology, and Kaes' explanations of it, inevitably reveals the parallel between that society of the 30's and ours of 70 years after. True, that the development of technologies has changed the face of the earth in all those years, but nevertheless the evolution took place in the same direction that Lang predicted 69 years ago.

Kaes shares one brief chapter to analyze the 1951 Joseph Rosey's remake to point out that details may have changed (which restrained Lang from directing the remake himself), but the basic sociological pathology still applied in Los Angeles then. And it still remains so for that matters. The appendix shows the non-existent 6 minutes scene which was cut after the film passed the censor board. People from all over the town and the country call the plolice and proclaim to be the murderer. Lang recreated the same sequence later in THE BLUE GARDENIA. Paul Schrader said recently that in the culture of media and celebrity, there are no moralities. The deleted scene from M reveals that, and the same mentality is true more than ever at this beginning of the new century.

This is a fantastic book. There is nothing else like it currently available. The best, most informative, guide to post-Cretaceous European mammals out there for the general reader. Beautiful pictures and detail-filled text will provide any lover of paleontology or indeed zoology with all the information they could possibly want. If you are student the book will also provide a valauble entree to 150 years of scholarship. Buy this while it is still available!

Mammoths, Sabertooths, And Hominids: 65 Million Years Of Mammalian Evolution In Europe by Jordi Agusti (Director of the Institut de Paleontologia M. Crusafont, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain) and Madrid based, scientific illustrator and artist Maurico Anton, is an astounding, informative, superbly presented tour through the 65 million years of mammalian evolution time-lined from the wake of the dinosaurs' extinction to the rise of modern Homo Sapiens. Mammoths, Sabertooths, And Hominids is an intimate, authoritative, scholarly study of the evolution of mammals, deftly illustrated in black and white with a color insert section that showcases breathtaking art of prehistoric wildlife, Mammoths, Sabertooths, And Hominids is a fascinating, enjoyable, accessible, and strongly recommended as a core title for Paleontology Studies reading lists and academic reference collections.

A wonderfully-supportive, optimistic book--the best book I've read on how to deal with the emotional aspects of childlessness. I'm 40, a woman and don't have children mainly because of chronic illness; this book has helped me a lot. Written by a social-worker-therapist who is childless due to infertility, it is easy to read and gentle with readers. Anton writes that she was determined not to let childlessness ruin the rest of her life and later wrote the self-help book she had needed. She understands the emotional pain that can occur when a woman wants children but doesn't end up with a child for whatever reason.

My favorite things about this book are:
(1) Anton shares the stories of dozens of childless women who she interviewed or who completed her written questionnaire. Reading their stories, presented as composites, was fascinating and very supportive. Many of them had successfully resolved their grief and moved on to other things in life.
(2) She broadens the picture from women who have experienced infertility to include single women, those with medical or genetic problems, disabilities, problem pregnancies such as miscarriage or stillbirth, relationship issues such as husbands who don't want children, women who inadvertently waited too long to have children and lesbians. I appreciate this approach because many people are left out of infertility resources and it shows us that we aren't alone.
(3) She presents ten practical steps to work through the grief. Examples of the steps are Acknowledging and Experiencing the Loss, Understanding the Loss, Surviving the Loss, Letting Go of Blame, and Talking to Significant Others. I found some of her suggested exercises helpful and skipped others.

It was well worth my trouble to buy and read this excellent, helpful resource. In fact, I wish I had read it several years ago. Reading this book before exhausting all options or making final decisions about whether to adopt or to stop infertility treatments could be helpful. I would also recommend this book for family and close friends who want to understand what a loved one is going through. Index and bibliography included.

Another excellent self-help book that can be applied to childlessness from any cause is "Sweet Grapes: How to Stop Being Infertile and Start Living Again" by Jean W. Carter and Michael Carter (revised 1998 edition); that book is written for both men and women.

What does Anton mean by "childless" and "childfree"? She uses childless as a neutral word to describe all women who once wanted children but are permanently non-mothers. Hence, "childless women" excludes those who did not want children and those who eventually adopt but includes those who now happily appreciate the advantages of childfree living. Childfree describes all non-parents; it does not imply that children are disliked or not wanted. (This differs from how Jean W. Carter and Michael Carter use childless and childfree in "Sweet Grapes.")

I found this book at a library after purchasing several "infertility" books and books dealing with childlessness. This one has helped me so much more than any others in coming to terms with the finality of it all. I'm having Amazon.com hunt down a copy of my own.

The world you think you know doesn't exist. Everything you thought was there isn't. Everything you thought you had done, you haven't. Your past is different, but your future is the same. Welcome to "The Universe Next Door," created by Robert Anton Wilson. This universe is filled with what could have been, and even what should have been. Here, the missing plutonium that a terrorist group turns into nuclear devices, the Mad Fishmonger, the future America known as Unistat, and the hero Benny "Eggs" Benedict are all a part of reality.
While Eggs Benedict writes for the New York Times, the diminutive Markhov Chaney spreads his radical views under the guise of "The Mgt." Juan Tootreego bobbles through life while Cagliostro the Great pleases everyone in their own individual way. We follow each of these people as they meet up with several peculiar characters such as Mary Margaret Wildeblood who is enjoying his newfound life as a woman and Hassan i Sabbah X, leader of the marijuana savvy group, the Illuminatus, and the President of Unistat. As they make their way through life in a confused state, they can't help but wonder what could have been, in the universe next door.
In short, I would honestly recommend The Universe Next Door by Robert Anton Wilson for those who want to learn something without trying, those who want to get a good laugh, and those who are looking for the answer to the question, "what could have been?"

This is the kind of material that bounces off your brain cells long after the last page is turned. You don't have to be a genius to read this book, but I kept thinking, "Robert Anton Wilson had to be a *genius* to write this." Multiple plot lines across many dimensions, a version of history from the age of Atlantis that is supported by a wealth of 2 and 2's that were never previously put together (why was John Dillinger supposedly seen in multiple places at once? Because he was quadruplets), and enough physics and sex to entertain on many levels. If you want an intelligent and captivating read, this is it

Any teacher of science, K-12, or science teacher educators at the university level should have this in their professional library. It takes instructional theory and transforms it into practical language that a teacher can use NOW in his or her classroom. It advocates the teaching of science as science is practiced. Of particular enjoyment are the chapters on the Learning Cycle. This book was indispenable in my Ph.D. research.

Paul M. Rutherford, Ph.D. Public School Teacher of Physics

Lawson is a well-known researcher of science teaching. The sciences are characterised by both process and body of knowledge, and Lawson's practical guidelines bring science teaching and the process of science together. The thesis is that science exemplifies a thinking process which can and must be taught. Lawson provides methods and practical examples, backed with research to achieve this. We have prescribed the book for both introductory and final year student teachers,and there is enough material to continue to inspire students at both these levels. If one is looking for a research-backed, "grown-up" guideline for teachers of biology, physical sciences and any experimental science - this is it.

I still can never figure out why "The Cherry Orchard" is hailed as his masterpiece and put in all the Drama anthologies to represent his work. To me "Ivanov", "The Sea Gull" and "Uncle Vanya" are his great works. "The Sea Gull" however ranks on the top of my list as his best work. A tragic tale of the meaning of love and being an artist with comic tones and timeless characters. All of the emotions and situations are realistic to real life. The play is more personal and has more meaning than average Realism. The first time I saw "The Sea Gull" I fell in love with it so much I saw it the next day again. It's one of the rare four act plays that I can enjoy the whole performance and not be bored. Anyone who wants to see Chekhov's brilliance should read this play and the others I mentioned.

Inspired by a real-life incident of the death of a sea gull, this is hailed as the best written play by Chekov, The Sea Gull tells a poignant love story centered on literaray nonentity Konstantin's tragic quest for a burgeoning actress Nina. Swirling around the country estate are characters who reflect Konstantin's pain and suffering in their own harshly realistic ways. In this famed play, Chekov introduces a brand new form of literature as to emphasize characters other than plot. Instead of placing characters beneath a steady frame, Chekov lets his characters guide the subtle movement of the sad tale of devastated dreams and hopes. The dying sea gull symbolizes the emptiness of defeat and further stressing the beauty of life. The fullness of being simply alive comes beaming with power and touches life.

I wish to stress with some urgency that in my view this recently issued monograph on Germany's greatest poet, Stefan George, who was likewise one of modern Europe's most enigmatic and disturbing political presences, constitutes an achievement of incomparable significance in the historiography of cultural modernism. Experto crede: I have been occupied in studying these individuals for thirty years or more, and I can assure students that Robert Edward Norton has shed more light than admirers of Stefan George would have thought possible upon a dazzlingly talented, albeit indubitably eccentric,literary cenacle at whose center stood the masterful and charismatic visionary who was its spiritus rector.

Although George began his literary career as something of a minor Teutonic satellite on the far fringes of the French Symbolist movement (we learn, for instance, that the poet became quite close, both personally and artistically, to several of the Symbolist School's leading lights, viz., Paul Verlaine and Stephane Mallarme to mention just two of the more prominent figures) the predominant emphasis in Robert E. Norton's monograph rests upon the author's entertaining presentation of a wide range of hitherto obscure details involving the poet's later career, when his personal pretensions began to outweigh his literary career--over which George assiduously endeavored to cast a shroud of mystery and ambiguity--as well as unlocking for us a treasure trove of hitherto obscure biographical facts and anecdotes about the disciples and associates who drifted into the orbit of George-Kreis at one time or another. These anecdotes cover the waterfront, from uproarious and barely believable brawls that erupt out of the blue between alpha-intellects who are not what one would describe as pugilists, to grotesque tales of oddballs and geniuses who prefer to gussy themselves up in amazing couture in order to be wearing chic and appropriate threads when sallying out to attend the legendary and elaborate masqued balls that were almost a matter of routine in Schwabing-Muenchen. That custom, we learn, dictates that these people are more often than not attired in Roman-styled togas or, when feeling somewhat more daring, decked out in some gaudy purple-dyed gown that has been designed to garb a middle-aged intellectual who is impersonating the Magna Mater!

We learn also that these bright young things also hold somewhat outre "language orgies" in the course of which one of the oddest of the odd, viz., Alfred Schuler, launches himself into a catatonic state and then proceeds to time-travel back to ancient Rome (to visit his idol, of course, the Roman Emperor Nero!).

On the darker side of these affairs, the narrative presents more ominous anticipations and adumbrations of ominous types of cultic behaviors and ritual observances many of which would one day come to exert a profound and troubling influence on a less purely literary gathering of activists, viz., Hitler's National Socialists, whose adherents were to inherit so many elements of George's uniquely--even oppresively--authoritarian leadership style, along with the [Schuler-inspired]adoption during the fin de siecle period of the swastika as a sort of occult sigil of mystical might, one that came to adorn the title page of the Circle's official literary journal, the Blaetter fuer die Kunst.

We're also given numerous details about the poet's itinerary as he wandered from one associate's flat to another's (he was definitely what one might call a "professional house-guest"), along with fresh discoveries about the incredible group of renowned thinkers and creative writers (among whom the most talented were surely philosopher Ludwig Klages, archaeologist Alfred Schuler, poet Hugo von Hoffmansthal, and Shakespearean scholar Friedrich Gundolf), all of whom became adherents to the famous "Circles" that were so idiosyncratic a feature of cultural life in Schwabing-Munich at the dawn of the 20th century.

In closing, I repeat that I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in German culture, in the nascent proto-National Socialist scene in early 20th century Bavaria, or simply in the spectacle of some of the weirdest intellectuals ever to have come down the pike.

Robert Norton's landmark biography on Stefan George and his circle truly is an exceptional book in every respect. Expansive in its inclusion of meticulous detail, this work stands as the definitive biography on George in any language to date.