This book tells the toddlers about the characteristics of animals,not just dinosaur, like creast, horns, tails. The pictures of the books are very charming. Even my 30 months old son cannot read the words, he can tell the book just from the picture. It is amusing that a small child can read it himself. It is a great book for toddlers who are ready to read by themselves.

I had been trying to find a book my kindegartner could ready by himself, and this was one of few with large print and very simple text. There are a few words that are unusual, but they can be deciphered from the illustrations. He loves it. The story flows nicely from one page to the next, the illustrations match the text, and the book is even educational. It is not easy to find a book that is not only aimed at the very earliest readers but also captures the interest of an active youngster. This one did it. Now my son is interested in reading many new books. Highly recommended.

I bought this book when my son was three and read it to him. He has hundreds of books and recently rediscovered this one in a box. Now, five, he reads it to me. There are a few hard words but many are "sight" words right out of his Kindergarten lessons.

A debut novel by Mary Anna Evans, this is wonderful mystery set in the panhandle of North Florida. Faye Longchamp is, at heart, an archeologist. However, she is driven to illegal digging to save Joyeuse, her ancestral home. While engaging in this activity, Faye, with her companion Joe (yum, yum!), uncover a body on one of the nearby islands. When they go back to examine it, the body had disappeared. Why? Who else knew?

Meanwhile, at the respectable dig where Faye is assisting a former professor, two of the students left on the island overnight disappear.

What is happening in Faye's quiet corner of the world? How could she keep Joyeuse? How could she keep Joyeuse hidden???
Who else was digging illegally?

I loved this book, and cannot wait for the next installment. I was pleasantly surprised with Ms. Evans first novel, and I continue to look forward to Faye's next adventure.

Off the coast of the Florida Panhandle lay the Last Isles and on Joyeuse lies the antebellum mansion belonging to Faye Longchamp. It is badly in need of repairs but Faye barely can pay taxes and the last thing she wants is lose the home that has been in her family for generations. She earns the money to pay the taxes by illegally digging up artifacts on her land and the National Wild Refuge and selling them to collectors whom don't care about the source.

Faye also works on an archeological dig on nearby Seagreen Island when two students in the group disappear. On a hunch, Faye starts digging and finds the two bodies, both shot to death. The dig is closed and Faye looks for artifacts on Water Island when she comes under attack by a man she thought was a friend and his partner who are digging up priceless Clovis artifacts. When she digs up the body of a young debutante who disappeared many years ago she comes to the attention a killer who intends to make Faye his fourth victim.

Faye is biracial and doesn't feel as if there is a place for her in mainstream society, which is why she is determined to hold on too her land, the only place she believes she belongs. She doesn't realize she has two killers who want her dead before she discovers and reveals their secrets. ARTIFACTS is an exciting and colorful amateur sleuth novel that is rich in atmosphere giving the reader a picture of what it takes to live in an island culture.

Harriet Klausner

All White House Christmas books will be measured by this one in the future. It is incredible. A must for all collectors of White House Christmas memorabilia. Every home and office should have this book on display during Christmas time.

Anyone who has ever been interested in Christmas and what it means to the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue MUST get this book. A treasure that will be loved forever....a history that is important to America! Mary Evans Seeley has it all here! Thanks! Chis Allen

This is an exception coding book which is more detailed and informative than the current publications. This book should be rated a 15 in a rank of 1-10.

This is a monumental achievement. It is grounded in classic, historical, orthodox Christian theology, but with a perspective that uncovers layers of cultural bias to reveal the unvarnished Biblical truth underneath.

There is an impressive list of international contributors from a variety of denominational perspectives. In addition to the excellent commentary, there are 77 supplemental articles that enhance understanding of Biblical concepts, people, and culture. The supplemental articles alone would be worth the price, but the IVP Women's Bible Commentary is a complete, scholarly Bible commentary. It is incredible that a resource this valuable is available for such an affordable price.

The IVP Women's Bible Commentary is the by far the best women's Bible commentary that has been published. I spent a great deal of time comparing the IVP Women's Bible Commentary to other women's commentaries, and the IVP Women's Bible Commentary more fully illuminates the true liberating message of the gospel. The IVP Women's Bible Commentary contains an abundance of research, including analysis of the original languages, historical context, and references to all related Biblical passages. This is exactly the sort of in-depth study required by people who take the Bible seriously as the authoritative Word of God.

While this might not adequately serve as a primary Bible commentary, it should be THE required supplementary commentary for all Christians, men and women, who desire to know and understand Holy Scripture.

A book to have if you're interested in Renaissance dance and which is especially useful for beginning dance reconstruction as it's quite accessible. It contains a translation of the whole text by Thoinot Arbeau (published in 1589) translated into English, plus notes and a set of modern notation for the dances. The text is structured as a dialogue between an old dancing master and his young student and contains descriptions of steps, various dance trivia and some social context info, and usually the music, coreography and possible variations (though not all of these for every dance). Many of these dances will be known to dancers of early music yet you could be surprised to learn that many so-called Arbeau dances do not follow his text much. Additionally there's quite a scope for improvisation along the guidelines given. The dances include many branles, a couple of pavanes and basse dances, tourdion and galliard variations, etc.

Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time. In my case, I happened across this book in the local bookstore the day I returned from my first exploration of the White Mountains and the Highway 395 corridor. Thumbing through it I realized it was a wealth of information to help me decipher the many plants and animals I had seen on my trip. It is an excellent compilation of nearly everything one is likely to encounter exploring this unique region. Whether it be geology, native vegetation, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals, there is a chapter in here for each. And these are not simplified overviews of only the most common species, they are detailed discussions of numerous species and subspecies. Despite the detail, the writing style is easy to read. Each chapter is lavishly illustrated with black-and-white line drawings. A center insert also includes color photos of many arthropods and plant species.

Though the focus is on the eastern slopes of the Sierras, it is often applicable to nearby areas. For instance it describes bristlecone pines found only in the White Mountains. The book also covers certain associated areas, most notably the surrounding desert communities.

Genny Smith has done a wonderful job of coordinating the writing styles of many different authors. Having been involved in these types of collaborations myself, I know this is no easy task. The overall result makes this book a necessary addition to the libraries of both professionals and amateurs alike.

The concept rocks: write stories inspired by TV and movie heroes, but don't do it directly.

Much of the writing is equally good: obviously all these authors are excellent writers.

Some of the stories were compelling, some were mildly entertaining. None were awful.

However, this book is uneven. I have a hard time imagining that any one person would love all these stories. Some of the stories suffer from being so short, and others are just not that interesting.

I loved Moon Over Miranda and Mary Jo Putney's reworking of the King Arthur tale.

Five stars for concept and two of the stories. The other stories were all 3-star and 4-star in quality, so I'm averaging it all out to be four stars.

Get a copy of this anthology while you still can. You will NOT be a bit disappointed. Ten novellas from talented authors whose stories are inspired by TV and Movie heroes. What a kick! Regency, Western, Contemporary, Futuristic... They're all very well represented here. Stories and characters that will make you smile for days to come. Don't be put off by the mix of genres. This confirms that when written well, romance stories are timeless.

"In Our Dreams" is a unique collection of stories. While the authors use television/movie heroes as inspiration, they have managed to build on those images and make them uniquely their own. From Mary Jo Putney's twist on Arthurian legend to Courtney Henkes tongue-in-cheek take on mythic fantasy, I found myself eagerly turning the pages. This was a wonderful read with something to feed the romantic cravings of any reader. Whether your tastes run toward rugged Old West types or the cool elegance of the English Regency, there is something here for you.

If you have not read any books about Edgar Cayce before--or if you want a clear and easy-to-read book about what he channeled about reincarnation--do not pick this book. A better choice would be "Many Mansions" by Gina Cerminara, which has well-defined topical sections and good explanations, as well as a short biography of Edgar Cayce. "Edgar Cayce's Story of Karma" is for those who already know quite a bit about both the Sleeping Prophet himself and the concept of reincarnation.

CHAPTER ONE attempts to explain karma and reincarnation, through excerpts from the Cayce readings. This could be a confusing beginning for some people. Editor Mary Ann Woodward doesn't stop to help define the frequently-used terms from the Cayce readings, like "Creative Forces." Neither does she explain the significance of the astrological and biblical terms. She presents excerpts from readings in their original form, quoting directly as often as possible. Though this is good because it allows the reader to freely interpret what Cayce really said and to experience the "flavor" of the readings, it could mean difficulty to readers unfamiliar with Cayce.

CHAPTER TWO is about how we develop the traits within us that are either "stumbling blocks" or "stepping stones" in our development. What I liked about this chapter--that I liked about all chapters--were the well-chosen and illuminating life readings that show how traits are nurtured through experiences in different lives. It took some concentration to wade through the vague language of the readings, though; and I wished that Woodward had given synopses for each. Please note that this chapter is very general. Feelings and attitudes are discussed together, not in separate, specific sections.

CHAPTER THREE is about physical karma. (Though there are sections for selected diseases, someone who wants more precise information should read "The Edgar Cayce Encyclopedia of Healing".) I also found fault with the arrangement of the cases in this chapter. As there are no subheadings to set apart the many people who have had the same disease, readers can start reading about [2671], while believing they are still with [3063]. To be fair, though, Woodward gives proper emphasis to how the mental and the spiritual affect the physical.

CHAPTER FOUR is about good karma: "Talents, Careers, Vocational Aptitudes." The stories here are wonderful! One of them is even about a boy who was Franz Liszt in a past life. (By this chapter, hopefully, the reader will have learned to be comfortable with the language of the readings.) Another good thing about this chapter is that it focuses on the advice Cayce gave people about how to follow their vocations and make full use of their gifts.

CHAPTER FIVE is about family relationships. Again, there are great stories/examples in this chapter. The most dramatic one (very, VERY interesting!) is told through excerpts from the Cayce readings, a letter from Gladys Davis (Edgar Cayce's secretary), and even a follow-up letter from the man who requested the reading. I only wish that Woodward had summarized all of Cayce's advice in a concluding paragraph--because it is excellent advice, but is scattered throughout the chapter. Special sections attempt to shed light on "Attraction of Souls", "Parents", "Home and Marriage", and "Divorce".

CHAPTER SIX is about group karma--and it has a delightful bonus: some of the history of Egypt before and during the recall of the priest Ra-Ta! It also discusses thoroughly the group karma of both the Healing Group and the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE).

CHAPTER SEVEN and the APPENDIX are about the deeper aspects of karma and reincarnation, such as opportunities, ideals, purposes, etc. I liked the way it stressed why it is important to pay attention to these things. The appendix specifically puts forward a "philosophy of reincarnation."

It does require a little concentration to get through this book, but the lessons to be learned from reading are well worth the effort.

Many Edgar Cayce's readings with some additional text from Mary Ann Woodward.
I found this book to be very helpful in understanding urges and understanding why people are who they are and how people relate to each other and other things in the environment.

The Edgar Cayce material was my first introdcution to the world of karma and metaphysics. I just love all of his books. Reminds me of Karma And Your Sun Sign by Joan Kilgen. Both are gentle approaches to the subject of Karma.

Basically, "War of the Worlds" is a good story with an interesting plot. Each and every sentence is wonderfully descriptive- almost overdoing it. The narrator also seems to be retelling the happenings in this book, as if he wrote his experiences down so others can read about it. (Ironic, isn't it?) In the beginning, mostly everyone is happy and carefree- except the narrator (who is happy, not carefree). The narrator in the first chapter describes the ignorance of most people, a description of the dying planet Mars, and the doomed beings on it. The narrator also describes that the Martians would need somewhere to go, to survive. Of course, Earth is the best prospect. At the sight of a falling star, some people come to see to their surprise, that it is a cylinder with a Martian inside. Soon other falling stars land in England. The Martians than start destroying the cities and people with heat-rays and poisonous gas. Later, a man realizes when the Martians are only capturing humans, that they intend to use earthlings as a food source. Luckily for the human race, disease bacteria destroy the aliens. The reconstruction and healing of cities and people could now begin so prosperity could continue. I thought this book deserved 3 stars. The wording and vocabulary of War of the Worlds was superb, but the book didn't really keep my interest and was too...descriptive. Perhaps if I had read this book during the author's time, I would give the book 5 stars.

Martians land in England and later pretty much everywhere on Earth. They find it rather easy to defeat its armies and proceed to establish total domination. Wells developed this original idea of an apocalyptic alien invasion in the last year of the 19th century. It would be copied endlessly in the 20th century. Orson Welles scared millions of Americans out of their wits with his 1938 radio adaptation of the story, except that his aliens landed on the East coast of the U.S. The Hollywood movie version differs significantly from the book.

Wells deserves credit for originality, facility of expression, and subtle observations about human nature found in the book. The idea of the ultimate defeat of the Martians due to a virus to which they had no immunity was recently adapted for the computer age in the movie "Independence Day." And the Martians' feeding method was adapted in the recent box office hit "The Matrix." Read this book. It may feel a little dated in its description of technology, dress, and manners. But all the essentials of a truly good book are there.

Why is it that every movie/radio/TV adaptation of this story has been SO different from the original story? This story is so much more gripping, thrilling and horrifying than anything seen in any of those half-baked exploitations, I don't know why they bothered. There are scenes where the alien death machines systematically exterminate the populace of London that are truly horrifying, even sickening. There's another scene where a death machine fights a one-on-one duel with a naval destroyer that is as cool as anything you'll see in the CGI-painted fantasies on the screen. And the section that details the evacuation of London that rings so true, you can smell the dust and panic. For a 19th Century British author, Wells had a style that was more cinematic and moving than anything you'll see at the local multiplex nowadays. Forget what you think you know about "The War of the Worlds". Forget the adaptations, forget the Cliff's Notes, forget what your teachers tell you about it. Read the book as if you were watching a movie, a really great movie, and it will amaze you. Classics last for a reason.