Award winning author and illustrator, Emily Arnold McCully, has written another wonderful adventure, starring Mirette and Bellini. Our world famous high-wire walkers are sailing to America where they will perform at Niagara Falls. While on board ship, Mirette befriends a Polish orphan boy, Jakob, who's traveling to America to live with his uncle. When they arrive at Ellis Island, Jakob's uncle is not there to claim him. Bellini knows that Jakob will be sent back to Poland and so he decides to takes the little boy with them to Niagara Falls. When they arrive, they find their performance has turned into a big competition. A Mr Patch, who claims to be the greatest high-wire walker in America says that he will perform a trick that's never been done before on the wire, becoming the greatest tightrope walker in the world. He tells the press and anyone else who will listen that Mirette and Bellini will fall. The next day as Mirette and Bellini practice and supervise the wire installation across the falls, Jakob follows Patch and his men to find out what trick he has up his sleeve. And what he finds out saves his new friends lives..... Ms McCully's latest book is a delightful story of friendship, intrigue and courage. Her wonderful text and beautiful, expressive watercolor artwork will transport youngsters back in time to life at the turn of the century. And as little Jakob saves the day and Mirette and Bellini triumph, kids will enjoy the happily-ever-after ending. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagara Falls is a winner!

This book has the most complete compilation of neutron total cross sections presently available. It would be advisable that the world wide neutron users community have it in its libraries, because it contains information that is usually out of the scope of the large Neutron Centers, and frequently forgotten

It is quite unfortunate that only two books by Pierre Boulle are generally available in the U.S.: Bridge on the River Kwai and Planet of the Apes. However, The Whale of The Victoria Cross shows how wonderfully fertile a writer's imagination can be. Boulle gives us a most unusual premise involving a naval battle and the critical involvement and influence of marine mammals. I also recommend Ears of the Jungle by the same author -- a Vietnam War story told from the main character's perspective, who just happens to be a high level North Vietnamese strategist. Fabulous!

Medicine Women, Curanderas, and Women Doctors makes for an interesting, enlightening read. It relates the personal philosophies of a handful of women-Native American Medicine Women, Hispanic curanderas, and female MD's-and delves into their motivations while examining their impact on the world around them. At the same time, it traces the journey-some might call it a spiritual quest-which the authors follow to ultimate, fulfilling enlightenment regarding the place of women in all aspects of life. A monument to the strength of women the world over, the authors have compiled an argument in favor of traditional and holistic medical science and the woman's place within that science.

However, in examining various points of view, the authors repeatedly commit several faults. One of them is continuous criticism of Christianity and the Anglo-European way of life in contrast to the sometimes pantheistic and often superstitious viewpoints held by folk healers. I believe that undeserved judgment is leveled on the American culture as a whole, when such judgment might be better and more fairly reserved for its abuses.

Another fault is that in presenting a wide assortment of individuals who believe strongly in differing aspects of healing, the focus of the book becomes too diffused and generalized to maintain truly profound significance. In detailing the beliefs of the pantheistic Indians, the fervently monotheistic Hispanics, and the skeptically religious women doctors of today, and by mustering these viewpoints against the errors and abuses of anti-traditionalism without allowing them to dialogue among themselves, the authors leave the reader with a sense of ideological dissonance and irrelevance.

However, on the positive side, the reader does come away with an appreciation for the strength and determination of women the world over in providing comfort and healing. Too, the obvious link between an individual's mental/psychological state and his physical well being cannot and should not be ignored. These two insights, as well as a clear look at the context and history of all the influences that have been brought to bear on the healing process, are very valuable. This book is not only an interesting journey, it is a very insightful, educational one, as well.

- Benjamin Gene Gardner

This is not a very good book. It consists of three parts, apparently strung together to justify being published as a book. The first part is a confusing list of Victoria Cross winners. The second part is a poorly written short biography of a Zulu War VC winner. The third part is an anthology of first-person accounts previously published in a magazine. With so many good books on the market, one could better spend one's money elsewhere.

A compilation of three different subjects . Part 1- CHRONOLOGY OF THE VC - Roll of VC's in order of deed with list of recipients for each action. Part 2 - A RORKE'S DRIFT MAN - Life of Sgt Henry Gallagher, 24th Foot, a defender of Rorke's Drift. Part 3- VICTORIAN NAVAL BATTLES & DISASTERS. - a selection of rare personal accounts of Royal Naval actions taken from the Royal magazine 1905-ll, never before appearing in any bibliographies, from Acre in 1840 to the loss of HMS Victoria in 1893. 1994, 6 x 9, 149 pp, many illus.