Animation studios are desperate to find proven material for their feature films--especially in the wake of disappointments like "Treasure Planet."

That's why I'm surprised nobody has optioned the rights to one of the greatest children's books ever; it has emotion, thrills, an important lesson, and one of the cutest lead characters I've ever seen.

That book is, of course, "Scuffy the Tugboat."

Scuffy is a toy tugboat (hence the title) who dreams of something more than "sailing" in his little bathtub. When he is taken outside and accidentally swept away in a river, his harrowing adventure makes him realize that he should never have taken his old life for granted.

Just imagine Scuffy the Tugboat brought to life by CGI, charging down rivers, dodging logs and old tires...and facing the bustle of a busy shipyard before being miraculously recovered by his owner.

I can practically hear a popular actor like Ed Burns lending his distinctive voice to the little red tugboat, and Sting's nautical motif from "the Soul Cages" leads me to nominate him for the soundtrack.

As long as it's a faithful adaptation of this classic tugboat tale, nobody would ever be able to say: "the book was better!"

It's been years since I've read this, so I really don't remember it much. I just remember Scuffy. But I do remember that this was always one of my favorites. I read other reviews of people growing up in the 1950s and reading this. Well, this has been a favorite since 1982. Scuffy is still going strong.

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"Scuffy the Tugboat" is a classic in childrens literature. It has an almost iconic status with people who grew up in the early Baby Boomer years.

Way back in 1946, toy stores were quiet uncrowded places. In one toy shop there was a rocking horse, a GI Joe Doll and a few cuddly soft toys ........ and one grumpy red painted tugboat called Scuffy.

Scuffy was ambitious. He thought he was meant for bigger things, than just sailing in a bathtub.

The toy shop owner (with his memorable polka dot tie) and his little boy, took Scuffy off to a laughing brook. It was springtime and the brook was running fast. Scuffy was soon off on his adventure.

The pastoral world he passed through seemed placid, but at night the hooting owl gave him a fright.

The river got bigger and busier. Scuffy was proud because he knew it was HIS river. He was nearly squashed between two logs that were on their way to the sawmill. With the spring melt a great flood burst the rivers banks. A lady and her cow had to be rescued off her roof.

Pushed along by the floodwaters Scuffy arrived in the big city. It was a very noisy and busy place. When Scuffy tooted nobody noticed.

Scuffy was just about to be swept out to sea. He wished the man with the polka dot tie and his little boy could rescue him. Miracle of miracles, there they were just as Scuffy was about to pass the last bit off land. He was rescued.

Scuffy realises that sailing in the bathtub is not such a bad thing ...... in fact he said "this is the life for me".

The illustrations by Tibor Gergely are what make this book so appealing. The scenes are full of life and activity, be it the pastoral river scene with its friendly animals and the colourful towns and cities. Look for the details in the city scene. Try to find the horses.

Tibor Gergely was a great children's book illustrator from this period. In addition to his artwork in Scuffy you can enjoy his illustrations in those other "Little Golden Book" classics, "The Little Red Caboose" and "Tootle". These three books are perfect companions in any young person's library.

Anyone familiar with Pete Turner's work over the past years, knows that he is a master magician of color. His new book, Pete Turner African Journey, a collection of color photographs taken over his many years of return travel throughout Africa is magnificent to behold for both its color and content. Pete has a creative passion for color. His connection to color reminds me of a statement by the artist Paul Klee, "Colour possesses me...color and I are one." So it is with Pete who creates his colorful art using a camera and a searching eye. The way he photographs the people, places and culture of Africa is best said in one of the quotes I have by Gordon Parks. " Recording images of serenity and beauty was a matter of devout observance." I can think of no better way to describe the beauty, sensitivity and reverence of Pete Turner's photographs. His photographs are artfully displayed in a beautifully designed book by the prominent designer and friend, Massimo Vignelli. An introduction by another prominent friend, Gordon Parks, pays tribute to Turner for "...an unforgettable gift that urges me to breathe my own roots." African Journey, is a hero's journey, and an invitation to witness the rich and radiant colors and culture of Africa, the second largest continent on our mother earth.

Showcasing 148 full-color photographs, and with an informative introduction by photography, fillmmaker, composer and author Gordon Parks, Pete Turner African Journey captures the exotic glamor of a seven-month journey from Capetown, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt while Pete Turner was on assignment for National Geographic. This is a stunningly visual journal of people, landscapes, wildlife, and visual beauty where the images captured by Turner's camera could easily stand as individual works of high art and hang on any gallery wall. Pete Turner African Journey is a superbly produced and highly recommended addition to any personal, academic, professional, or community library photography collection.

This book is a wonderful trip that takes us though the landscapes of Africa, visiting the people and the incredible wildlife, seen through the lens of one of the world's greatest photographers. Turner is a master of color and light, and he fell in love early in his career with the richness of the African continent. To spend time with this book is to be his travelling-companion, visiting ancient temples, witnessing animals in their world, crossing the Sahara and spending time in villages, getting to know the proud people who live there. One beautiful image is of a dog sleeping in an Ndelele village, its white paw matching the painted architecture. In images like this, Turner shows us again and again scenes that only his eye and lens could capture.

I had bought Castaways of a Flying Dutchman to see if it would satisfy my cravings for more redwall, and boy did it ever. After reading the first book I was hooked to buy the second when I heard it was coming out. As I read through the book my heart saddened with each time they had to leave their newfound friends, but also gladdened with each thrilling adventure, this book left me only wanting more. Ben and Ned really get into some adventures with this book and there is only room for another as they leave off. I really enjoyed it and I cant wait for the next book to come out.

This book basically fills some of the gaps between what happened in South America to so on and it leaves off with more "filling" I guess u can call it that. They end to book sailing away on a boat and headed for more adventures, where those may start we can only wonder...

As a long time Redwall fan I remember, a few years ago, when I went to a Brain Jacques book signing when he announced that he was going to write Castaways of the Flying Dutchmen, the book to which An Angel's Command is a sequel to. The reaction from the crowd was not one he expected. It was one of horror. Millions of children thought that it meant he was going to stop writing Redwall, or at least postpone it for a little while, and it terrified us all. Luckily, we were wrong. With Castaways of the Flying Dutchmen and now, with The Angel's Command, Brain Jacques proves he can create not just one but TWO series.

The book, like Castaways, is divided into two stories that take place back to back in the early 17th century. The first story tells of Ben and Ned, the Castaways, first trip back to the sea. Almost by accident, Ben and Ned find themselves traveling from the Caribbean to France on the Buccaneer ship, Le Petit Marine. They are trailed by two ships, a vengeful Spanish pirate ship and a corrupted English privateer boat. Both of them are interested in one thing, Le Petit Marie's gold. Ben and Ned know they must help their new friend, the captain Thuron, in any way possible. But the crew of the ship is not as noble as the captain. They don't want to go back to France, and they'll do anything to stop the captain from getting them their. At the same time Ben and Ned are haunted by images of the Flying Dutchman. Has Captain Vanderdecken come back to haunt them?

The second story happens almost directly after the first one. Ben and Ned run into a gypsy girl named Lalay and a facemaker named Dominic that can see into the hearts of his models for his drawings. They travel to a city called Vernon as friends and find themselves caught up in a strange adventure. A boy named Adamo, was kidnapped by the Razan, strange witch-like people, years ago and has not been seen by his family since. Ben and Ned immediately volunteer to help find Adamo but this journey may prove to be the most treacherous one yet. As they travel through the Pyrenees they face many challenges, but no challenge is more daunting then what they find when they reach the Razan.

I loved these two stories. They are filled with high adventure, suspense, and a little bit of mystery here and there. I like how Brain Jacques gives us not one, but two stories. It makes the book twice as enjoyable. He somehow manages to do this without making the story seem choppy and divided, which I find admirable. Once again the characters of Ben and Ned are great. The clever and goodhearted Ben and his witty and intelligent dog Ned are extremely enjoyable to watch. I also really liked the new characters Mr. Jacques's created for the story. Whether it's the plucky Lalay, the brave Thuron or the brave Dominic, they always are interesting. Magdula Razan is one of the creepiest villain's I've seen in one of Mr. Jacques's books to date! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!

Better than the first Flying Dutchman book, Ben and Ned meet more charecter's you'll love (and some you'll hate) as they are forced to go back to the sea in the first part of the book. After their adventures on the wide ocean, they go inland so face their hardest challeneges yet.
Whether you are a younger Redall fan looking for more Brian Jacques or on older person (or Redwall fan) looking for a good story told by a master storyteller, "The Angel's Command" fits the bill. It is necessary, though, to read the first in the series ("Castaways of the Flying Dutchman") first.

The Robot Builder's Sourcebook in many ways a must buy for those who are going to start off building their first Battlebot(TM). The skills to be resourceful and save money are very important in robotic combat, not to mention the ability to get those special custom parts to get your bot running. With Robot Builder's Sourcebook, you are provided with an Internet yellow pages of sorts to save valuable time wandering through links. Although unfortunately I have found that, due to the fast growing nature of the sport, not to mention the Internet, some valuable sites have inevitably been overlooked or outdated. But this is a small price to pay for its convenience in finding parts and great prices it provides.
The sourcebook also inserts several "mini-articles" that provides some basic information and tips that will certainly be useful to many types of robot builders. However I found that the articles and tips pages crowd the book and are impeding to the true purpose of its pages as a quick reference. This can be especially extraneous if you have specified interests concerning robotics, such as robotic combat. The articles can serve valuable purpose though and definitely are a must have for those who still need aid in implementing/buying the right parts for their robot. A choppy read, as expected, but well worth the money for its usefulness.

This book is a fantastic source for just about any hobby you can think of. One source alone was worth the price of the book to me. McComb has researched tons of stuff and presented it all in a very usable and unbiased format. If you love to tinker with things, I cannot reccomend this book highly enough. Not only does it present you with lots of good sources, but it is also filled with great tips in many different areas.

Great Resouce!!!!

If you spend much time thinking about building robots, this book is a must have. It is a great read and a good reference book. I couldn't put it down for all the pictures, educational comments, tutorials, vendor references, and articles relevant to building my robots.

I've been in the Dallas Personal Robotics Group for four + years and served as an officer. These pages taught me a bunch of new, useful info. Info like the name and sources for those wheels that roll forward and sideways - Omniwheels, where to find Electro luminescent "glow wire", etc. Also, I now know where to find my chart on screw sizes, metric conversion and screw cross-referencing to metric. There are even pages referencing books, with one-liner summaries, to focus my search for further reading.

Sources and suppliers for common and unusual parts abound as well as their URLs. Even a website with additional or more current URLs is maintained to help me.

The book is alphabetical by robot topic with the most relevant info. There is an index for parts and components by categories as well as an reference index by company name.

I love the pictures and overview of new and current products, like
- the motion control, Isopod state machine from New Micros Inc.
- the Quadravox digital sound boards
- the OOPic Micro controller and 2 page explanation.tutorial
- the perspective and explanation or the Parallax BS2 Basic Stamp and its cousins
- the extensive info on servos and servo controllers
- as well as good practical info on many sensors, even how to make a simple foam pressure sensor.

If you are going to cruise the Internet to learn more about robots and robot building peruse this book first. It has the most relevant info cleanly organized and explained for you.

All in all, I have too many dog-eared pages marking topics that ignite my creativity and imagination. You can be sure I'll be building more neat robots, easier because of this book. My thanks to Gordon McComb and McGraw Hill!

This book was highly recommended by the instructor of a typography class I'm taking - and it's out of print. Please encourage its update and reprinting soon!

Excellent resource for professional typographers trying to identify a typeface. Definitely needed in any competent print shop.

As a design student, I need this book. I've been looking for it for 2 months. Being able to identify typefaces by their distinguishing characteristics is a valuable resource in the decision making process. My instructor had a copy, that's how I know about it. Is there any way we could get; a) Christopher Perfect to re-edit and update the book, or b) get the publishing house to re-issue it?

An amazing book. Insightful and full of vision. But at the same time it gets down to brass tacks and tells you how to close sales. It is a fun read and easy to follow. If you want to know how to win at selling today this book is for you.

Josh Gordon is a marketing genius. This book offers great insights into selling in the New Economy, but get this: a lot of the ideas he presents are not new. What is new is the unique perspective and packaging he offers. He takes the old and the new and makes them make sense together. I found it important for my own selling strategy but don't expect every page to be full of new ideas you haven't heard of before.

I liked it a lot. Simple and fun to read. Lots of good ideas.It makes you think.

A Taste of Blood belongs in the true horror fan's library sandwiched between David Friedman's A Youth in Babylon and The Amazing World of H.G. Lewis. Taste offers capsulated reviews of all of Mr. Lewis's films as well as interesting interviews with key players. This book is definetly a work written "by a fan, for the fans" and lacks the objective insights to make it a five star work. It is ,however, a compasionate and long overdue tribute to one facet of a multitalented gentleman who deserves the title "Wizard of Gore".

Christopher Curry has done a remarkable job of gathering information and interviews and has made A TASTE OF BLOOD a must-have book for horror movie fans, independent film fans, and of course, gore-hounds! The reviews are informative and entertaining, and never talk down to the reader (a fault found in many film books). The big draw here for me is Curry's personal interviews; not only with Lewis and his longtime partner David Freidman, but also with some of his players, including Fuad Ramses himself, Mal Arnold! This book is a valuable addition to my collection... one I will turn to many times for reference.

A Taste of Blood will surely become a treasured part in the collection of every fan of the Godfather of Gore. The book is a comprehensive guide to the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis and an insightful and candid look into the world of exploitation films. It is one exceptional fan's tribute to H.G. Lewis and a fond look back at some of the defining films of the drive-in era. The author provides a detailed look at each and every one of H.G. Lewis' bloody and bizarre (but always entertaining) films. The book contains exclusive interviews, behind the scenes information, detailed plot summaries, and plenty of great insights provided by H.G. Lewis, David Friedman, and many others. Also, the book is overflowing with tons of rare pictures that you will probably never find anywhere else. A Taste of Blood is an entertaining, educational, and engrossing book for the veteran or novice horror/exploitation fan. If you're an H.G. Lewis fan, this book should already be on your shelf. As a long time fan of the Godfather of Gore myself, I'm in awe of the wealth of information included in this book. Give Christopher Curry some well-deserved credit by ordering his book. You will not be disappointed.

I got interested in Marina from a Discovery special on the Spanish Conquisitors and sought more information. Voice of the Vanquished by Helen Gordon was one of the few books I found but I'm glad I did. She brings this amazing story to life in such a vivid manner despite so little historical information.
Many times I couldn't put this book down, as often it brought tears to my eyes pondering these people and events. Marina certainly was one of the most facinating and misunderstood women in all of history. If more people heard her story it would certainly be the subject of a grand Hollywood production it is that amazing. I honestly don't know how she has escaped attention for so long.
Read this book and you'll understand.

I first heard the story of Marina on a Discovery special about the Spanish conquests and was hooked and thirsty for more.
After searching I found this book and ordered it.
What a great read! Rarely do historical charactors come alive and inspire us as much as this one did for me.
I suspected Marina was a facinating woman but thanks to Helen Gordon I know.
How this story of an 18 year old Indian slave girl who was almost certainly singularly responsible for Cortes' success escaped attention I don't know.
Marina had to be one of the most intelligent and clever people who ever lived to pull off her feats.
Get this book and enjoy a story you'll never forget.

Author Helen Gordon skillfully inserts us into the pre-conquest days when the Aztecs ruled many subdued tribes in the Valley of Mexico. For me, VOICE OF THE VANQUISHED provided an eye-opening reinterpretation of the conquest of Mexico by Hernan Cortes and his small band. Customs, religion, social order of the indigenous peoples are vividly re-created in the lives of fictional villagers who must endure the arrogant demands of the Aztec priests for human sacrifice and tribute. Gordon's portrait of the historical character Malinalli/Marina, drawn from 16th Century Spanish sources and codices of Aztec artists, shows her to be a young woman of intelligence, beauty and ourage. Following her wise father's admonition: "Never yearn for something you cannot have," Marina grasps at what few options she does have. The astonishing result is that she becomes an interpreter and major advisor for Cortes, helping him to form alliances with enemies of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. The portrait of Hernan Cortes, drawn from historical documents including his own reports, reveals him to be much more complex than just a cruel and insensitive conqueror. He becomes an understandable and admirable -- though flawed -- man of his time. I felt a fresh breeze of truth and the warm sun of added knowledge in this history in fiction form.

I gave this little deck of cards to my uptight, control freak brother-in-law for Christmas hoping that, at the very least, he wouldn't scoff at them. To my surprise, the cards drew him in with their variety of silly, useful, practical & thought-provoking suggestions. I felt that I had done a big favor for my sister, who was becoming bored with the fellow she loved. I think he sensed her irritation anyway, because he's taking her to Disneyworld this winter instead of to some stuffy bed & breakfast place in New England. Hopefully, the cards will remind him that the journey is more important than the destination.

Bob Rixon

These cards make a wonderful gift or personal purchase. They are perfect for guiding someone in activities that may break them out of their daily life experiences.

The suggestions are varied each depicting on a colorfully illustrated card and include activities from the simple like flying a kite or spending the day in bed to the more extravagent like going skydiving of getting front row seats to something you love.

We only live once, so it is best that we use it to the fullest, the book help my life better than before and added meaning to my life. her decks are fantastic and I really suggest that everylife should try one too.

All in all, it's a complete precalculus textbook, covering topics from graphing, to trigonometry, to conic sections, to the surface of calculus. It contains many "real life" applications of advanced concepts, in a semi-successful attempt to quell agonizing exclamations of "When will I ever need to know this?!"

But I turn to page 428 (for example), within Chapter 8 ("Vectors and Parametric Equations"), and I see a green box: "DECISION MAKING -- Choosing a Used Car," and it goes off on a tangent, asking the student, "what you would look for in a used car," or, "will you need to borrow money from your family or a bank?" Remember now, this is a HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEXTBOOK. Although the book contains a full precalculus curriculum, each chapter is sprinkled with such irrelevancies.

The text refers often to graphing calculators and other electronic tools for solving problems -- an added bonus, if your school has these tools.

I used this book for high school trig, and it its excellent. It is clear and concise, easy to understand. It includes real life applications, and has interesting chapter projects. I would reccomend this book immensely to any one taking trig.

It is very important to have a good math book for the understanding of the concepts. This book has helped me greatly to comprehend the topics by presenting useful examples in each chapter, and it also did a good job pointing out main objectives/rules. If you need to do well in Pre-Calc start with this text!