This simple, yet intricate tale of a cat named Charlie and Anderson can help children of divorced parents relate to life. In it a cat has two homes, two set of owners and one big family that loves him a lot. He doesn't mind having to visit between them and he gets different kinds of love shown him at each house. So it makes him extra special. The two little girls who discover their cat actually has another home he visits during the day, slowly realize that although their parents live in separate houses still love them the same as if they did live together. It's straight forward approach and fuzzy, cuddly cat makes this book a unique approach to talking to your children about divorce. I recommend it highly being a divorced parent of a cat lover.

Two families that live on opposite sides of the woods think they "own" a cat. One calls him Charlie, one calls him Anderson. Just like the two sisters that live on one side of the woods, Charlie has two homes where he is loved very much. This is a great way to explain that just because two households are very different the love can be just as strong in both.

I work ( volunteer)at a library and O stumbled upon this book and my boyfriends name is Charlie Anderson so I read it! I thought it was soo cute!!! I recommend this book to every one named Charlie Anderson and other people too!

This book was a regular in our house when my brother, sister and I were young. Everything about it tickled us. We went on our own adventures in the great outdoors, exploring everywhere. Luckily I have been able to borrow it through inter library loan so I can share it with my children. It should be re released, and in the original form, no updated illustrations for this one!It is fine as is.

It's a shame this is out of print, as it's one of my most fondly remembered books from childhood. It inspired my brother and me to set out on our own neighborhood exploration when we moved to a new city--back in the day when a parent could let a six-year-old and a four-year-old roam suburban streets without worry.

Unfortunately, it must never have been widely read. I've never met anyone else who remembers it. That's a sad fate for such a good book.

"Henry the Explorer" is a gorgeous picture book about an imaginative boy who, having read about polar explorers, takes his dog ("Laird Angus McAngus") and several flags with an "H" on them and sets out to explore the snowy town he lives in. Eventually he goes off into the woods, where he discovers a cave. Seeing some rocks shaped like a bear, Henry is frightened and runs outside. (There is much comic irony to this moment, as Henry is only frightened by rocks, while the viewer can see what he can't, that there are real though harmless-looking bears asleep behind the rocks!) Now it is dark, and a party of neighbors has been sent to look for Henry. In another comic twist, Henry goes around in circles while the search party follows in circles, and never the twain meet. Henry arrives nonchalantly home, and the search party shows up eventually to be welcomed in for coffee while Henry goes up to bed. There he reads about exploring the jungle, and we are left to wonder what ideas that will put in his head! My summary does scant justice to the beauty of the painted illustrations, the memorable images, the gentle humor, or the genuine excitement of this story. Kids will not forget it.

I found this book at the library and I just fell in love with it. It is so cute and sweet and the pictures are just gorgeous! It perfectly demonstrates the wonderful relationship that people can have with cats if they will just treat them right. As the boy learned, if you are gentle and kind to cats, you will be rewarded with the affection of very loving creatures. My cat is just like that. Mark Graham's beautiful paintings illustrate the wonderful qualities of cats: they are mysterious, beautiful, serene, cozy, and very affectionate. This book is out of print, but I have been fortunate enough to find two old copies. I treasure them.

Michael comes to visit his aunt and uncle. In his zeal to love the cat is too rough, initially alienating them. But over time he watches the cats and learns what the cats want

beautiful, compelling...a great study of one of the most interesting rebel artists of our time. everyone should know who howard finster is!

Fans of the odd and eccentric will find Howard Finster's Paradise Garden fascinating and entertaining. The quality and selection of photographs of the garden is fantastic, and Finster's statments regarding the vision behind his creation are intriguing. This book is definitely worth examining for its unusual scope and content.

While some readers of Edgar Award-winning author Mark Graham (THE KILLING BREED, THE RESURRECTIONIST, and THE BLACK MARIA) may find his fourth and latest work, THE THIRD DAY, to be a departure from his Wilton McCleary works, rest assured that departure is only evident by the absence of McCleary as the protagonist. Otherwise, Mr. Graham's capacity for novel suspense and historical detail, combined with his deft ability to present a well-paced plot with a timeless theme, are presented with precision in THE THIRD DAY.

I had the pleasure of reading THE THIRD DAY in manuscript form in 1999, and am pleased to see it has finally been given the due by a publisher it deserves. There is not much I can say (or want to say, for that matter) about the story and plot itself, short of spoiling the many twists and turns - both in plot and theme - through which this work travels toward its conclusion, that's not already addressed in the "Editorial Comment" for its Amazon listing; but about the theme... well, that's a different matter.

"Faith" is the theme, and though it is presented in the literal format of a "contemporary gospel," it shouldn't be surprising to the readers of Mr. Graham's McCleary cannon; for it is the issue that drives McCleary, a man who's faith is often put to the test as he explores the seedier, evil side of mankind in the setting of 19th Century Philadelphia. Transpose that test of faith, that wavering between Gnostic devotion and the trappings of tradition, to the time of Jesus, and split McCleary's inner debate on faith into a Christian and an agnostic out of another time - our time - and you have the setting for the thematic dilemma of THE THIRD DAY. What is faith? Who has it, who does not? How is it acquired? Is it acquired, learned or gleaned? Is it truth, belief, or both?

These are only a few of the challenges to the concept of faith Mr. Graham presents in THE THIRD DAY. As you read it, not only may you be surprised to find your own idea of faith put to the test - you'll be delighted to find that such an important issue can be relayed by way of a story with the drama and suspense of Mr. Graham's McCleary mysteries. After all, isn't faith one of the greatest mysteries?

- S.D. PETERS

Imagine yourself being transported back to the Holy Land to bear witness to the last few months of the life of Yeshua ha Notzri (Jesus of Nazareth). In this wonderfully written novel, Mariam Roberts, a woman who has lost her faith, and Thomas Roberts, a devout believer in this man he believes is our Lord and Savior, are transported back in time. I found myself questioning my own faith as I saw a Jesus I had never seen before, wondering if the miracles He preformed could be explained with the knowledge of modern medicine. As the story races along I found myself not only entertained by the writer's words, but also disturbed by my inner feelings, my beliefs being challenged by the actions and dialogue of the characters, past, present and future. By the conclusion of this thought provoking book I was mentally worn out and totally satisfied. It was one of the best books I have ever read.

Wallace and Gromit rock! They are the stars of some of the cleverest animation around. Great story to go with the film.

diabolically entertaining and cleverly humorous--this is my favorite "Wallace and Gromit". the penguin adds the much needed tension that seperates the mind set of the crafty dog Gromit from his simpleton owner, Wallace. it is an enjoyable narrative for all ages.

Zarate has written an first-rate review of this excellent book but may unintentionally suggest that the value of the book will be greatest for "mature" organizations when, in fact, small-to-midsize organizations also have an urgent need to "design and implement scorecards" by which to obtain accurate measurements of various kinds. My own opinion is that their need is indeed greater because they have fewer resources available and narrower margins for error. Therefore, organizational waste and incompetence can have much greater impact. Aphorisms which endure express an essential truth. For example, "You can't manage what you can't measure." There may be some exceptions but not many. What Brown accomplishes in this book is to provide and then explain a cohesive, comprehensive, and cost-effective system which accommodates most organizations' needs for operational metrics and plans, for strategic metrics and plans, and then for implementation of the "scoreboard" after it has been devised. He identifies ten "Mistakes" which create barriers to addressing these separate but related needs:

1. Tracking output/outcome metrics that cannot be influenced or controlled

2. Gathering data that tells you what you already know

3. Gathering data for its own sake

NOTE: Brown and I apparently disagree about "data" which I consider a plural.

4. Relying heavily [too heavily] on customer satisfaction surveys

5. Executives focusing on detailed metrics

6. Measures that are not linked to the strategic plan

NOTE: Kaplan and Norton have much of great value to said about this in their most recent book, The Strategy-Focused Organization: How Balanced Scorecard Companies Thrive in the New Business Environment

7. Failing to define Practical Correlations between [and among] key metrics

8. Reporting data that is difficult to read and analyze

9. "Superstitious" process metrics

10. Measures that drive the wrong performance

Brown explains how and why such "Mistakes" are made, how to correct them, and also how to avoid repeating them. For purposes of illustration, let's say your organization needs to improve performance in these three areas: Cycle Time, First Pass Yield, and On-Time Delivery. Although separate, they are also interdependent. Obviously there are problems which need to be solved. More often than not, a corrective action responds to symptoms rather than to root causes. We all know that many (most?) of those involved in any organizational process (regardless of nature and extent) fear change, resent what they perceive to be criticism of their performance, and will therefore resist (perhaps sabotage) efforts to transform the status quo. Hence the importance of formulating the correct metrics, applying them where they will generate the data needed, and -- meanwhile -- ensuring that the "score" kept is appropriate to whatever "game" is being played.

This book goes a long way towards helping organizations actually implement balanced scorecards instead of giving them lip service. It also shows what to measure and why, and gives a list of measurement mistakes that render many company's balanced scorecard efforts meaningless.

Unlike Kaplan's and Norton's seminal (and decade old) book, "The Balanced Scorecard", this book is short on theory and heavy on practical applications. This is not a criticism of "The Balanced Scorecard" - just recognition of the fact that in the ensuing decade since that book was first published there have been lesson's learned about what does and does not work. The author distills these lesson's learned into this slim, content-filled book.

What I like most is the author clearly links metrics to vision, mission and strategy. This is what a balanced scorecard is supposed to be about, but this is not always so in practice. He also sorts out the difference between basic business indicators and critical success factors, which is augmented by an outstanding discussion (throughout the book) on top measurement mistakes, and a liberal sprinkling of tips throughout the book.

Probably the most valuable parts of the book are Part 3, where step-by-step procedures are given to implement an *effective* scorecard, and the appendices which contain case studies drawn from real organizations and actual scorecards. The examples given are worth their weight in gold and elevate this book from the theoretical to realistic and practical. My highest recommendation and 5 solid stars.

This book,the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series,tells the story of Anne Shirley coming to Redmond College. During the four years,Anne learns a lot of things about life,and her adventures are both funny and heartwarming. People who have read Anne's previous adventures in Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea will enjoy another wonderful Anne of Green Gables story,set in the beautiful,lush green Prince Edward Island,Cananda. This book is also better understood if you have read Anne's other adventures in the previous books. After they have read this book,they might want to go on and read Anne's life after college in Anne of Windy Poplars. You might want to read all the way up to the eighth book which tells about Anne's daughter,all grown up!

This is a very good family related book, in full color, that tells how a big brother relates and adjusts to a new baby brother's addition in the family. It tells about building an excellent relationship with the newest member, and is a joy to read. It would be of interest to students in the seventh grade.

The Franconia, New Hampshire, farm of the American poet Robert Frost was turned into a museum and center for poetry and the arts in 1976. From that time, "The Frost Place" has been annual event wherein an emerging poet has been invited to spend the summer living in the house where Frost once lived and wrote some of his greatest poetry. The Breath Of Parted Lips: Voices From The Robert Frost Place, Volume One is a remarkable anthology of twenty-four poets, each of whom won that honor of a summer's residency and document the success of the original concept as a means of generating outstanding poetry while nurturing the poet's muse in the rooms and views that were once the inspiration of the great Robert Frost. Poem At 40: Windwashed--as if standing next to the highway,/a truck long as the century sweeping by,/all things at last bent in the same direction./An opening, as if all/the clothes my ancestors ever wore/dry on lines in my body:/wind-whipped, parallel with the ground,/some sleeves sharing a single clothespin/so that they seem to clasp hands,/seem to hold on.//And now that I can see/up the old women's dresses,/there's nothing but a filtered light./And now that their men's smoky breath/has traversed the earth,/it has nothing to do with them./And now that awkward, fat tears of rain/slap the window screen,/now that I'm naked too,/cupping my genitals, tracing with a pencil/the blue vein between my collar bone and breast,/I'll go to sleep when I'm told.