No matter how many times I read "Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge" by Julie Vivas, this book never fails to touch something deep inside my heart. It's about a little boy who lives next to a retirement home and his friendship with the people who live there. We get to see these elderly people in a little boy's eyes. And the thoughtful illustrations by Mem Fox show us quite clearly. (I love the illustrations) The touching and simple relationship between Wilfred Gordon and Miss Nancy is poignant to the core. Wilfred Gordon's desire to revive Miss Nancy's lost memory is sweet and absolutely delightful. It's a great story to share with children about memories and Alzheimer's disease. The world seems a much friendlier place through a child's eyes. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a fantastic book for all ages!

Title: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Author: Mem Fox
Favorite Characters: Mrs. Jordan, Mr. Hosking, Mr. Tippett, Miss. Mitchell, and Mr. Drysdale

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge was a curious little boy who loved the old people that lived right next to him, especially Miss. Nancy. In the story, Gordon finds out that Miss. Nancy has lost her memory. There is a slight problem, though, he doesn't know what a memory is! He asks everyone what a memory is and everyone gives him a different answer.
After everyone's different answers, Gordon goes out to look for Miss. Nancy's memory. Gordon ends up bring a box with a football, a puppet, a medal, a shell, and a warm egg to Miss. Nancy. What does this all have to do with her memory? Find out by reading the book...

I really like this book. I read it today for the second time, but I remember it from when I was younger. This story has siplicity for young children and a wonderful story line for any age. I am going to get this book for my children when I grow up and hopefully my little sister will read it some day.

I love books where I really care about the characters, and I really cared about Della. She had lots of problems in this book, and though she isn't perfect, she's got guts and I was rooting for her all the way.

I liked the twists and turns in the plot, which I didn't guess until nearly the last page. I hope Julie Gettys will give us another book soon. Her writing reminds me of Judith Krantz.

Della Garland is the daughter of a prostitute and a father she's never met. She only knows that he'd wanted her mother to abort her. She almost follows the same path as her mother, but she manages to turn her life around.Still personal happiness eludes her. Two failed marriages convince her that she cannot trust her judgement where men are concerned. Wes Gates, takes her into his corporation and under his wing and with her hard work and talent, she climbs quickly to a vice-presidency of the corporation. This sets off a chain reaction that culminates in threats, blackmail, jealousy and a forbidden love. Julie Gettys weaves a strong, intriguing plot that keeps one reading. She paints a great picture of the sophisticated world of corporate life and has us cheering for Della to succeed in it. I was particularly pleased, touched by the developing relationship with Della and her estranged mother, Lillian. Lillian is poignant, but most of all a hoot! I loved her!

DELLA
Julie Gettys
Avid Press, LLC

Della is a diamond in the rough. She has the brains and the perseverance to turn her life around; all she needs is a little polish. Della starts out in life with a mother who is a prostitute, and a father who would have preferred that she be aborted because his wife did not know that he visited prostitutes. Della has the grit and the determination to put all of that behind her to make a better life for herself. She starts out on the bottom at Universal City Globe Travel Agency. Through twelve-hour workdays and her instinctive understanding of people, she gradually works her way up the ranks. She is next in line to become the manager of the next office. Her professional life is looking very promising.

Her personal life however, is in shambles. She does not know who her father is. She has divorced her first husband. Her newest interest, Rick is not looking all that promising either. Della realizes that she is allowing this relationship to go the same route as her relationship with her ex-husband. Although her life with her mother has made her skeptical of men, she also knows that she depends on men to build her self-esteem. She is entirely too vulnerable to men who really do not care about her.

Della with the help of people who love her matures and gains confidence in herself until she finds the love and trust she so desperately seeks. Where she finds it will amaze you. The path she has to take to find love will inspire you, and astound you. Love is never easy, but this character has the fortitude to do anything she sets her mind to.

Julie Gettys has written a story that is original, and unforgettable. Della and the people in her life are characters that are complex, and believable. The story will draw you in and won't let go until the very end. I look forward to reading the next book she writes.

Happy Reading,

Marilyn Peters

This truly magnificent book has been a family tradition for over 50 years. I have the most fondest memories of my siblings and I sitting in our living room as children listening to our parents read 1 or 2 chapters per night. They would time it perfectly to have the last chapter read on Christmas Eve year after year. More than 30 years later, I continue the tradition with my own children. Although they find the first chapter sad and difficult to understand, my children have learned that the obstacles we encounter in life help shape us into who we are, with Nicholas being the perfect example.

My mother gave me my very own copy of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus when I got married. She wrote on the inside cover, "Dear Patty, I hope you enjoy this book for as many years as I have. May it always remind you of all the Merry Christmas' that we all shared. The years pass so quickly and we are fortunate to have so many happy memories. Love, As Always, Mother" This book will always be one of the most cherished parts of my life. Begin the tradition...

This book is a treasured classic in my family. My mother received this book as a gift from her parents when she was 6 years old, in 1936. The original copyright says 1932, by Santa Claus Publishing Company. My mother read this to us every Christmas. It is a warm, loving story that tells how Nicholas, an orphan, became the beloved Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus. My mother always wanted to find another copy, as hers was becoming worn with age. We never had any luck. I have her original copy. My mother passed away in 1995. My sister discovered that the book had been re-published and immediately bought a copy. Now I am doing the same for my family. I hope it remains a family treasure for many years. Sincerely, Jane E. Town

My father read this story to my brothers, sister and me when we were younger. We waited every year to hear this wonderful story. I am twenty now and still read the story every year. I have recently been able to hear it on audio cassette and the narrator really brings the story to life. Although it will never relpace my father's personal reading it sure came close and reminded me of days gone by. I am so happy that this book is now availabe to everyone. I look forward to the time when I can share this wonderful story with my own family. This story does an excellent job of explaining the true nature of Santa Claus. It makes even grown ups want to believe in the spirit of Saint Nick. I have access to the tapes please e-mail me if you are interested in one.

A Quiet Strength was hard to put down and I enjoyed the story clear to the end. The End is the hardest part because you do not want it to end. One of the Hardest Parts is waiting for the next book in the Series. I hope Janette has many more books in this Prairie Legacy, and that they are coming out soon.

I just finished reading this book and could not put it down. As in all of Jeanette Oke's books she makes you feel as if you are a part of the story, and cry and laugh right along with the carracters. I could see a lot of myself in Virginia. It is much easier to give advice about how to let God lead your life then to follow it sometimes. Realizing the difference between romantic love and true sustaining love in a marriage is not always easy. The story was very true to life as always. It is great the way that Jeanette even referred all the way back to the loss Marty suffered in Love Comes Softly of her first husband, while consoling Virginia. She always ties the history of her books together, but they are still understanable if you have not read the previos books!

She did it again! Janette Oke's the bomb...for someone her age! More about Jenny Woods in the book. If you read the first books, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about...

It is very rare that I spluge on a hardback cookbook, but the return is well worth my money. This book has receipes for more than rice (e.g., beans, applesauce, oatmeal, soup, etc.). I did not realize my rice cooker was so versitile. The cooker is a perfect step down from a crockpot, which does not allow you to reduce the size of a recipe - so you are always cooking for a crowd. With this book, you can personalize the size of the recipes and most dishes are made completely in the rice cooker - EASY CLEAN UP :-D. No one thing that we have tried has been a miss. A must have for a new bride, gourmet, college student, bachelor, EVERY KITCHEN.

I have made several of the recipes in this book and continue to be extremely impressed. So many times, books that are centered around a specific appliance are too complicated and show-offy - they seem to forget that the appliance is supposed to make life easier and write recipes that use too many ingredients (several of them unrecognizable) and too many steps. My crock pot cookbook (and my crock pot, for that matter) remain unused as a result.

This cookbook doesn't do this. Many of the recipes are quite simple, and if esoteric ingredients are called for they are explained and described and are the focal point of the recipe. More than any other cookbook, this book gave me a food education as well. I learned an incredible amount about rice and about a variety of cultural adaptations of rice without feeling like a captive audience.

Finally, this book is extremely well organized and easy to understand and follow. The shopping section at the end with internet sources to purchase ususual rices, spices, and vegetables was an unexpected treat. I am recommending rice cookers highly, and in the same breath, I make sure to recommend this book. In fact, the next wedding I go to, the bride and groom get a rice cooker and this cookbook. It's that good.

This book was exceptional, original and well-written. If you don't have a rice-cooker, go out and buy one. The book has lots of great recipes. It'll have you cookin' outstanding food in no time.

I teach American Lit for tenth grade, and am always looking for fine novels that will interest my students. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that this book is about Jamie, a 17 year old girl, who suffers a mental breakdown and with the help of a compassionate doctor, begins to put together the puzzle pieces of her life. While she is in the hospital, she finally comes to terms with a shattering event in her past. This book is part mystery, part romance. I can't wait for my students to read this!

As I began reading "The Night I Disappeared" I realized the it was one of a kind. This is one of the few books that I have ever read that kept me wanting to keep on reading. This well written book makes you feel as though you are right there with 17-year-old Jamie Tessman as she experiences her mind slips that bring her back to Webb. This book is filled with unexpected twists that leave itching to turn the page to understand what's REALLY going on between what seems to be two different worlds trying to suck her in. Moving to Chicago rips her away from what she thought she once knew and throws her into the city that sends her into these mind slips of how life was like back in California. I suggest that ever one read this book due to its amazing details, plot and well defined characters.

"The Night I Disappeared" was the best book i have ever read. It sucked me into the story and always kept me guessing. Even when you finish the book, you will be wanting to read more. From the first page to the last, i couldnt stop reading. I finished the book in one day because I couldnt put it down.

This story is about 17 year old, Jamie Tessman who went to Chicago over the summer with her mother. Her mom is a famous lawyer who is solving a murder trial. In Chicago, Jamie starts having daydreams about her bestfriend, Webb except they are extremely vivid and almost real. She thinks shes going crazy when she ends up in the emergency room for riding her bike into a parked car. There she meets Morgan. They become fast friends and spend a lot of time together. Then one day when Jamie was out with Morgan and had one of her daydreams but this time it's harder to get out of. Morgan introduces Jamie to her Aunt who is a psychiatrist. Eventually Jamie finds a horrifying secret long forgotten and everything starts to make sense.

This story is great because it's full of surprises and deals with an average teenager. I think anyone would like this book. I loved this story because it has a surprising twist.

Incredibly well written. This book reflects the deep passion we all feel when we meet that "someone special". From "Eva" to "High School Sweetheart", the stories brought happiness, insight, sadness and laughter!! To all contributors to this book: WELL DONE!

This is the best lesbian erotica I have read. The stories are sensual, sweet, erotic, and very very hot! I read Nicole Foster's "Electric" erotic book first, and was very disappointed, but decided to give her one more chance with this book--and I am so glad I did! The S/M stuff made me a little nervous, but every story was well written and very sensual. This is one to read alone, all snuggled up under the covers. I was so disappointed when I reached the end--the stories were that good! The authors do a wonderful job of totally transporting the reader into the story. I would recommend this to anyone who likes well written, very sexy stories!

The stories in this book really transport you. It is very sweet but at the same time Very Hot!! I tried reading it little by little to enjoy it more but it was hard to put the book down. Deliciously written.

As this delightful picture book shows, first day jitters aren't just for kindergarteners. The first day in a new school has Sarah Jane Hartwell ducking for the covers. Mr. Hartwell tries to ease her nerves with calm reassurance and wise advice.

But Sarah Jane is convinced that staying home in bed is the answer to her general fears about a new school: she doesn't know anyone, no one will like her, it's just too hard and besides, she hates school.

Kids will identify with Sarah Jane's free-floating school anxiety, even if this isn't their first year in a new school. Love's richly-colored ink and watercolor illustrations help build anticipation for the surprise ending to Danneberg's story, a twist that will delight kids and give them a new perspective on the first day of school.

Perfect late August reading for everyone heading back to school.

Favorite characters: Sarah, Mr. Hartwell, and Mrs. Burton

Everyone has had it, the fear of that first day of school. This is what First Day Jitters is all about. But this book puts a humorous twist on those fears. The ending will warm your heart, no matter if you're eight or eighty years old.
Colorful pictures that follow that first day of school you remember, only this time with a surprise ending. This is a great book for kids that are nervous to go to school, or adults who want to read books about their childhood. You really can't go wrong with a book like this.

As a brand-new teacher (first grade), I thought this would be a great icebreaker and nerve-soother to read to my kids on the first day of school. None of them expected the surprise ending. The book helped both my criers and the rest of the class -- I talked to the criers about jitters, and how I had them, and how most everyone has them on the first day of school. I was able to use the book as an example to those better-adjusted kids, explaining that some people have worse first-day jitters than others. It was a great book to ease the kids into school again!

"Julie", written by Catherine Marshall, was a book that I enjoyed reading. It was a realistic account of a girl's life during a couple of her teenage years. Julie and her family moved to Alderton, in an effort to get away from some problems they had run into in their old town of Timmeton. Julie's father buys the town's newspaper business, to try to bring it back to life. The family suffers through many trials such as poverty, flood damage, and disagreements with other town folks. Because the story is realistic, it provoked different emotions within me as I read along. I felt a love for Julie and an appreciation for those who were involved in her life. I thought this was a good book that showed how important God is in a person's life, and how things seem to work out when people stick together during good times and bad, mountains and valleys.

Now after reading both Christy and Julie, Catherine Marshall has made herself and her books a home in my heart for all time. Julie especially is a special story that I know will never leave my memory nor heart. Julie, forced to move from her home town in Alabama to a flood-prone town in Pennsylvania, helps her dad take over a small and dying newspaper. She meets alot of interesting people, some welcoming her family to the community and others discriminating against her. Randolf Wilkinson, a man from the Hunting and Fishing Club, an elite place of gathering for Alderton's wealthy, instantly provides comfort and protection for Julie and her family. Rand and Julie's love is a very special part of this book, and in the end provides the strength and courage Julie needs to survive. Spencer Meloy, a local preacher, inspires Julie to keep reaching for her dreams and offers a friendship from the very start. Other characters, such as Margo, Julie's best friend, and Dean Fleming, an instant friend to Julie's father and the struggling newspaper, also help illistrate the love and meaning of this extremely well-written book. With all her family, friends, and most importantly, God, by her side, Julie finally starts on her quest to fullfill her hopes and dreams- her life.

After seeing the television series "Christy" I was very interested in reading more of Catherine Marshall's book. I went to my local library and found Julie. Julie is the daughter of a former preacher, now editor of a the local paper in Alderton, Pennsylvania. The story is set during the heart of the depression in the 1930's. Julie Wallace is an 18 year old senior and an up and coming reporter for her father's extremly small paper. Julie now becoming a fine woman is dealing with her emontions of both a family and romantic nature. The main conflict in the story is within Julie herself, but the physical climax is when the area dam breaks. After this the whole town must pull together and become one again. Julie is a wonderful book, so much so that I couldn't put it down. I'd recommend it to anyone with the soul for old fashion romance and time for a good book

The Christmas Tree was a really sweet and easy christmas read. It was a nice story about "tree" and how it eventually made it's way to Rockefeller Center. It's a really short book and I read it in one evening. Don't pass this one up... it'll get you in the spirit of finding your christmas tree.

I am buying several of these books as Christmas presents this year. In the wake of September 11, I think a wonderful, magical story about New York City is just what we need. To believe again in beauty, magic and the gift of connection and love. It is a story about connections, relationships -- between New York City folks and their tree, Sister Anthony and the gardener, her tree, and her past. It is a wonderful (sometimes teary) story that makes us appreciate the magic that still exists in the world and is personified at its best through the wonderful Rockefeller Center Christmas tree!

I really enjoyed this book which I found on our local library shelf, and intend to buy a copy for myself. It would make an excellent gift.

It is a gem. Charming, well-told story. Beautiful, pastel-colored illustrations that greatly add to the charm.

I once worked in the old Time-Life Building in Rockefeller Center, New York City, and looked down on the Christmas Tree eight years running, but I would have enjoyed this book if I had never seen the The Tree from on high and at ground level.