Every parent should get their child this book. In such a fun story, they learn lessons that most adults don't even know: 1) savings money is excellent, 2) reading can be fun and interactive, and 3) a rabbit in overalls is darn cute!

I bought the book for my granddaughter who loves to read. Thought it would be good for her to learn how to save. After reading the book, she has been saving part of her allowance instead spending it all. The book was easy for her to understand and she enjoyed it very much.

Thank you for your wonderful book! My 2 daughters who are 5 and 7 kept asking me to read it to them over and over. They and I love the great illustrations and colors.

With finances being a major concern in our life, I am all for teaching my kids about how to manage their finances at an early age. Thank you again, great job! Waiting for the next book!

Sincerely,

J. Tyra Rikimaru

IT'S BRIGHT AND SAVED OUR BUSINESS !
I STRONGLY RECCOMEND IT!

Y EL MAS ATINADO Y BREVE LIBRO PARA UNA BUENA ADMINISTRACION DE EMPRESAS !
No se anda por las ramas y le dice al pan, pan...

vi con desdén... hasta que comencé a leerlo y me di cuenta de que NO ERA UN LARGO SERMON, sino un conjunto de conceptos SABIOS PARA DESINTOXICAR EL NEGOCIO !
Y LO LOGRÉ EN MENOS DE TRES MESES !
Un libro GENIAL !

My father was born in Indiana and his parents relocated to Cuba when he was 4 years old. He was raised in Cuba as his father was an executive for Sears. My father left Cuba at the age of 19 and I was born in the states about five years later. I was raised in a 'cuban' american household so I can relate to so many of these stories. I laughed with Mayflower Mary and I cried (sobbed is more like it) with The Southern Way. I only wish my father were here to read William's story because in so many ways it is his story and that of my family. Thank you for remembering all Cubans, even those like me who are not 'pure' breds.

Shame on you for making me, my wife, my daughter and my mother cry. You should be ashamed of yourself for writing such a truthful, stunning portrayal of the Cuban people. How dare you expose our flaws and virtues by way of universal voices whose words ring so true? How dare you tell the world that we are proud people although many of us have never set foot on the island (my daughter and wife included)? And most of all, shame on you for not writing this sooner so we could all celebrate the magic and wonder we all feel in our indescribable lives as 'cubanoholics'. Phenomenal prose, absolutely breathtaking and emotional.

Paro todo aquel nacido Cubano y criado en este gran pais, estas historias son para ti. Como todos los lectores, rei, llore y me envolvi en los recuerdos de mi niñez. Gracias al autor por darme un recorrido tan lindo por mi pasado. Se lo recomiendo a todos que lean Español o ingles. Great book. If you are second, third generation Cuban you need to read this.

y si lo es o no, la verdad no me interesa, siempre pense que mi forma de creer en dios era diferente, y hasta algunas ideas que tengo que no sabia expresarlas y dude de si era malo lo que creia, pero ahora puedo expresarme y no creo estar equivocado tampoco, solo me falto algo de luz en mis pensamientos, fueron excelentes los 5, busque estos libros por casi 6 años, hasta que los encontre, y sera desesperante, la espera hasta que salgan los proximos 6,7,8,9,10,..., señor benitez si llega a ver esto, sea conciente de tantos lectores, y no haga tan larga la espera, su obra no fue un libro mas, y mire que tengo el habito de la lectura desde siempre.

La finalidad de escribir una lineas para caballo de troya es para comentar que me ha parecido una exelente serie, se dice que es una novela pero realmente lo dudo.

Es muy magico e impresionante y no tiene nada de casualidad.

si no lo has leido te lo recomiendo y si ya lo leistes me gustaria que comentaras tus conclusiones. (EL,sabe) Gracias J.J. Benitez

Es la mejor coleccion de libros que he leido y me ha hecho ver el mundo con otros ojos.Puede que sea muy pequeña para decirlo(tengo 16 años)pero siempre me preguntaba acerca de Dios y me dio mucha alegria saber que al morir no termina la vida sino que apenas empieza.Si alguien sabe el e-mail del sr.JJ Benitez porfavor hacermela llegar

Broken Wings is a simple story which serves as a canvas for Kahlil Gibran's flights of beautiful prose and philosophical insight. Gibran's prose is simply redolent with images. His evocative narration paints pictures with words which both took me away and taught me. Gibran's point is so much more clear and simply arresting for the crispness of his imagery, such as when he writes: "Those ample treasure chests that the energy of the father and the thrift of the mother fill up are transformed into dark, narrow prison cells for their heirs. That mighty deity whom the people worship in the form of money metamorphoses into a horrifying demon who tortures the people and kills the heart." (p.51)

There were several thoughts of Gibran's that I found similarly significant. In talking about the blossoming of love, Gibran writes that love is not "born of long association and unbroken companionship." Instead, he writes, it is "the daughter of a spiritual understanding, and if that understanding is not achieved in a single moement, it will never be attained -- not in a year, not in a whole century" (p. 41). My limited experience leads me to believe precisely this. Likewise, I agreed with Gibran when he writes that "Limited love demands possession of the beloved, but infinite love desires only its own essence" (p. 97).

If Gibran has a fundamental message in Broken Wings, though, I think that it is surrounding the tension or balance between putting everything that we can into our love and our endeavors, and the need to contextualize that love or endeavor in such a way that it does not consume that which we are. Gibran's narrator struggles with this tension. He wants to spirit Salma away to a life of true love. He wants her to break her word to her father and follow her heart. Mostly, he doesn't want her to give up on their love. His defense of this course of action is passionate: "For the soul to experience torment because of its perseverance in the face of trials and difficulties is more noble than for it to retreat to a place of safety and calm. The moth that contines to flutter about the lamp until it burns up is more exalted than the mole that lives in comfort and security in its dark tunnel" (p.73).

The imagery is again evocative, and certainly, I think, speaks to me: if you are to pursue life, pursue it like the moth -- soaring to unimagined heights and experiences. Don't be a mole who attempts to prolong his life by simply hiding himself away -- but never really experiencing life. Live, don't simply preserve an unlived life. Such a good reminder for us.

Love (and any endeavor, I imagine) isn't always so black-and-white, though. Salma's understanding is deeper and more complicated: before even her emotions and her love, she places her commitment to her father and to her (unloving) husband. There is incredible power in her choosing integrity over running away to a love which Gibran paints as being the fulfillment of all of our hopes for love. There is some unspoken insight here about integrity and commitment, I think. It is, perhaps, part of the foundation of love itself, a necessary ingredient for its presence.

Unlike other love stories ever written, i think Gibran's Broken Wings embraced the whole idea of unconditional love. The story is awfully rich in spiritual matters and vivid description of the authority of church's official early this century in Lebanon. Thus, i hope some good director or producer will take Gibran's work and make a film. I will be the first person to watch it and i prefer director Franco Zefferli to direct it. So this is one of the best love story i've ever read.

The power to love is God's greatest gift to man, for it never will be taken from the blessed one who loves.(Gibran) I am a fan of Kahlil Gibran and more than that I get steered spiritually when I read his books. As for Broken Wings well that book is surely one that has the greatest love story ever told. This first love of his was inspirational and has brought him along way into many many books. All of them written with emotion and with what we would say as of today with truth. How many of us would agree to social norms? Well as teenagers surely we hated society as they curbed our very life style, but this man with his first experience has really written so many books. He was truly an inspired person as no one could write so much on spirituality. Whatever his lifestyle, we are no judges for that. The books are what matter most. Most authors till date are not as young as he was and probably envy his being young and gifted into the world of TRUTH. We are still seeking what he already had.

My 2-year-old daughter just loves this book, and so do I. It is full of the most breath-taking illustrations of a farm at dusk, with each page's scene working off the others. The gentle rhythm of the words are perfect for bedtime. I almost accidentally picked this book up at a bargain bookstore, and now I am truly sorry to see it going out of print. It is an undiscovered jewel and has been a real treat for our family.

This book is so gently written -- perfect for bedtime reading. The illustrations are so detailed you find something new everytime you read it. My toddler son has to have this book read to him every night before he goes to sleep. I beg the publisher to reprint this book so others may enjoy it as well. Perfect for fathers and sons!

This is one of our family's favorite books. We have a son and have found it difficult to find father/son stories. This one does. A father and son playing together at the end of the day talk together about the animalson the farm. Not only is it an ideal book for teaching children about animals, but it also has unusually beautiful illustrations.

This is a keeper book! I keep going back to it month after month. It has home styles as they came thru history grouped by style. It has pictures of house features that help identify what style a home is. It has lots of pictures. The only weakness I can think of is it does not have a lot of information on Home-styles being built right now. AntBiscuit@cs.com

If I could only keep one volume from my small library of books on home architecture, I would probably stick with "A Field Guide to American Houses," by Virginia and Lee McAlester. This is a true encyclopedia of the American home.

The McAlesters combine an informative introduction with a chapter-by-chapter guide to each of the major styles of home architecture in the United States. Each chapter includes both crisp, detailed line drawings and a wealth of photographs of actual houses themselves. The photographs alone--there are literally hundreds of them--make this book an invaluable reference work.

The McAlesters also provide newcomers with a useful primer to the language of home architecture. After reading this book you might find yourself using terms like "hipped dormer," "decorated verge board," "roof-line balustrade," and "ogee arch" when you visit a new neighborhood.

From Native American tipis to geodesic domes, from Chateauesque mansions to mobile homes--all this and more is in here. This book is a monumental achievement.

I worked for a few years as an architectural historian doing historic building surveys and wore out at least 2 or 3 copies of this wonderful book. There are lots of "pocket guides" to architectural styles which will tell you that yup, that thing with a turret is a Victorian. But this book is a priceless resource for anyone with more than a casual interest in American domestic architecture. The McAlesters focus on ordinary houses (rather than rare architectural landmarks) and cover everything from dog-run log cabins to Greek Revival cottages to 1950s ranch houes. The writing is clear, the level of detail is just right, and the book has hundreds of black and white photos and illustrations.

I learned about domestic architecture to make a living, but even 20 years later still enjoy it as a hobby. If you're a professional in the field, this book is essential. But I would strongly recommend it to amateur enthusiasts as well. Once you learn to recognize housing types, every drive becomes a history lesson.

I like this book of Esther because it is all what God knew what was going to happen. My first favorite part is when the king crowned Esther Queen of Persia. That was God's plan. Later, a man named Haman wanted all the Jews killed. God wanted Esther to save her people. My second favorite part is when Esther shows up to the king uninvited. Esther had the courage to do that. But, will Esther save her people in time? Read this book to find out.

Esther's Uncle Mordecai is the gate keeper.He raised Esther from a baby. My favorite part of the story is when Esther becomes queen of Persia. My favorite part of the story is when he laughed. When he was done laughing, he said "Esther, you are now queen of ersia". I like the book Esther because it is taken from the Bible. The comments are the same as in the Bible. If you really like the Bible story, I insist that you read this book!

Esther was an ok book. It is easy to read. It was about
this girl named Esther and how she became a queen and
saved her people. I recommend this book to anyone.

EVITA: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF EVA PERON is the best photographic record available of Eva Peron, First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. ("Evita," meaning "Little Eva," was her nickname.)

Evita lived in a time before television was widely used, and since she was a politician she did not have many spreads in glossy magazines (once she became First Lady, her "cheesecake" portraits - taken while she was an actress - were supressed). Therefore, most of her pictures were used in newspapers, giving them a grainy feel. Often, the quality of pictures you find of Evita seem to be much poorer quality than what you would expect from something taken merely 50 years ago. EVITA: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF EVA PERON is an exception, perhaps the best exception I have ever found. Most of these pictures are clear and crisp, though they are all black-and-white.

One thing this collection of pictures reveals is that Evita truly was not what would be considered a conventionally beautiful woman. She was certainly beautiful in her publicity photos and propaganda portraits (some of which are reproduced here). But in a day-to-day setting - such as the enclosed pictures that depict her having lunch, leaning against her dresser, yelling at a policeman for obstructing a youth's access to her - she was a somewhat awkward, even at times homely, woman. But she was a master of image. As Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro point out in EVITA: THE REAL LIFE OF EVA PERON, she had an astonishing instinct, almost a sixth sense, for knowing how image affected people. This talent of hers is demonstrated when one constrasts the behind-the-scenes pictures of her as an awkward woman, with those gorgeous photos of Peronist propaganda. She wasn't a conventionally beautiful woman, but she knew how to make it seem as though she were.

The portions of EVITA: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF EVA PERON that I found most interesting, and most haunting, were of Eva as a young girl in her hometown of Junin, and the pictures taken of her shortly before her death. There is one particularly chilling scene of Evita, reduced to a mere 77 pounds by the cancer that had invaded her body, standing on the balcony of the government house to greet the tens of thousands gathered below. She spoke, yelled, actually, about taking justice into her own hands, warning her political enemies of the day that she would "go forth with the poor of the country and leave no brick standing that is not standing for Peron!" The rise from poverty, the contrasts, the extremes ... it's all palpable in these pictures.

This woman was a genius.

Extraordinary and hauntingly beautiful! These words which can easily describe Eva Peron herself can also be used to describe this book. The full page photographs are stunning and show every aspect of Eva Peron's life. Her physical transformation and her larger than life story are cleary displayed within it's pages. The book offers a brief biography but who wants to read when you can look at excellent, never before seen photographs of the former Argentine First Lady in all the slendour of her beauty. It is a shame that books like this are hard to come by and I was unable to find a copy here in Canada. The handsome black and white photographs more than make up for the high cost of the book. Fascinating and visually stimulating!

Eva Peron was at a time, one of the most photographed woman in the world (to date, she remains the only Latin American First Lady to appear on the cover of TIME magazine). Looking at this book, it's not hard to see why. A strikingly attractive and elegant woman- she possessed a rare, fragile beauty that is clearly evident in these glossy black and white photographs. Those looking for an in depth biography of this influential woman may be disapointed in the lack of information (the book does include a brief biography and each photograph contain notes and factual information pertaining to that particular photo) but considering the numerous in depth biographies out there, a book like this is a refreshing change. Respectful, accurate and a visual delight, this book is sure to please her legion of admirers- old and new. Highly recommended.

Juan has done a fantastic job of translating the Gita into such concise writing. Every verse interpreted (though it biased towards Juan's opinion or philosophies) was succinct and did not require the reader to crack his/her head over the meaning. For me it was certainly an excellent introduction to the marvellous poem. Another version by Ramanand Prasad is more in depth and profound in it's translation. The free version by him could be found at www.gita-society.com Here's an example of the two contrasting profundity and distinctive styles of translations:

For verse 2:27 Juan's translation was :

Set thy heart upon thy work, but never on its reward. Work not or a reward; but never cease to do thy work.

as for the one by Ramanand Prasad, it came out as :

You have Adhikaara over your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The fruits of work should not be your motive. You should never be inactive. (2.47) (The word Adhikaara means ability and privilege, prerogative, jurisdiction, discretion, right, preference, choice, rightful claim, authority, control.)

A reader wishing to venture into the depths of the Gita should consider reading this version by Juan as an overview of it.

no words!!just read it!!my words are nothing comparing to Bahagavad Gita!!read it whoever you are!Thanx

Juan Mascaro's edition of the Gita is undoubtedly one of the more attractive versions for the general reader who is approaching the Gita for the first time. Mascaro, besides being a Sanskrit scholar, is a sensitive translator who clearly resonates to the Gita. He tells us that the aim of his translation is "to give, without notes or commentary, the spiritual message of the Bhagavad Gita in pure English." To suggest just how well he has succeeded, here is his rendering of Verse II.66:

"There is no wisdom for a man without harmony, and without harmony there is no contemplation. Without contemplation there cannot be peace, and without peace can there be joy?"

Many readers will probably be content to remain with Mascaro, and it certainly seems to me that his translation reads beautifully and that a fair number of his verses have never been bettered by others. But the Gita is not quite so simple as it may sometimes appear. If we want to arrive at a fuller idea of just what the Gita means by "wisdom," "harmony," "contemplation," "peace," and so on, we will need to consult other and fuller editions.

There are many editions which, besides giving a translation of the Gita, also give a full commentary such as the excellent one by Sri Aurobindo in his 'Bhagavad Gita and Its Message' (1995). Others, besides giving a commentary and notes, also give the Sanskrit text along with a word-by-word translation. Some of these even include the commentary of the great Indian philosopher, Shankara (c. + 788 to 820), such as the very fine edition by Swami Gambhirananda (Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1995, which may be available through the Vedanta Press, CA). Here is the latter's English rendering of Verse II.66:

"For the unsteady there is no wisdom, and there is no meditation for the unsteady man. And for an unmeditative man there is no peace. How can there be happiness for one without peace?"

This may not seem to have carried us much beyond Mascaro until we start looking at Shankara's commentary, of which the following provides a taste:

"Ayuktasya, for the unsteady, for one who does not have a concentrated mind; na asti, there is no, i.e. there does not arise; buddhih, wisdom, with regard to the nature of the Self; ca, and; there is no bhavana, meditation, earnest longing for the knowledge of the Self; ayuktasya, for an unsteady man. And similarly, abhavayatah, for an unmeditative man, who does not ardently desire the knowledge of the Self; there is no shantih, peace, restraint of the senses. Kutah, how can there be; sukham, happiness; ashantasya, for one without peace? That indeed is happiness which consists in the freedom of the senses from the thirst for enjoyment of objects; not the thirst for objects - that is misery to be sure. The implication is that, so long as thirst persists, there is no possibility of even an iota of happiness!" (page 112-3).

For anyone who would like to see a full treatment of the language of the Sanskrit text, there is Winthrop Sargeant's stupendous labor of love, 'The Bhagavad Gita' (SUNY, 1984) which offers a complete grammatical description of every single Sanskrit word in the text, along with much else.

Finally, for anyone who would like to look at a first-rate study of the Gita, there is Trevor Leggett's 'Realization of the Supreme Self - The Yoga-s of the Bhagavad Gita' (Kegan Paul International, 1995). This is a superb work with an intensely practical bent which sees the Gita, not so much as a metaphysical treatise but as a book of practical instruction. I used to think I knew the Gita before I discovered Leggett!

But despite the great wealth of available editions, of which I've mentioned only a few here, I still find myself returning to Mascaro from time to time. A perfect translation of the Gita into English is probably unattainable, but Mascaro seems to have come as close as anyone is ever likely to do. His version has a tendency to send down roots and grow in the mind.