In this colorful book, kids will delight in the tale of the pure, if someone what unlikely, friendship that develops between an old, lonely man and the house-trained flea he purchases from a petshop ("teeny tiny litter tray" and everything). The classic theme of friendships that break the usual mold is revitalized in this story by Mary Elizabeth Hanson with quirky and emotion-filled illustrations by David Webber Merrell.

While the old man is enjoying taking his tiny little friend to the movies, the beach and even a whale-watching cruise, the ever-skepital townspeople begin to whisper among themselves. "He's knotted his noodle." It's true that they mean well, but it seems that the townspeople would feel a bit more comfortable if they could actually see the pal the old man is chatting with.

This is a fun, fun book with a strong message about friendship that your kids will want you to read over and over. You'll gladly oblige.

Amazon is making a serious mistake in classifying this marvelous book a children's book. I will be 70 on my next birthday, and I fell in love with this book and bought it (full price) while visiting Taos, NM. I plan to share it with my grown children. The charm of this book lies in the inseperability of its wacky tale and fabulous illustrations. I predict that this combination of Mary Elizabeth Hanson and David Webber Merrell will take its place alongside Lewis Carroll and Sir John Tenniel.

The title of this "little gem of a story" is what captured my interest, but the illustrations by David Webber Merrell stole my heart. Gentle lessons and laugh out loud illustrations are a wonderful combination to this feel good picture book. A lonely old man finds friendship and companionship in a most unlikley pet...and she is a lovely shade of purple with a saucy yellow bow on her head. This is one story you will want to read to yourself after you have read it to the children or grandchilden.

This endearing and exuberant book is perfect for the read-aloud crowd. As a parent of a toddler, I can empathize with mama bear's frustrations and enduring patience; my son revels in Snug's unquenchable curiosity, imagination, and passion for living. As a former preschool teacher, I can see how this book would lend itself well to dramatic and fun classroom readings. It also quietly reaffirms the bond between a mother and her child. The illustrations are charming, bold and leaping with enthusiasm; their textural quality fills them with kid-appeal.

My granddaughter loves Snug. A little actress, she acts out Snug's part and does his lines whenever they fit into the conversation. For instance, when her mom calls her for dinner, the little dear says, with a very sweet expression: "I'd rather eat beetles!" It's also the kind of story a tired mom can relate to on a busy, frustrating day.

Our three year old needs at least one reading of Snug each day. He identifies with the bear cub's mischief and usually ends up in a rumbly tickle fest with Mom or Dad at the end of the story. He even wants to talk about real bears and how they spend their days. It's a great story for little naturalists in training!

Christmas 1998 I recieved a copy of An American Treasury of Heirloom Fruitcakes and Puddings by Frances E. Strayer Hanson. I truly enjoy this cookbook, it has so many good reciepts. Now to find a another cookbook by Frances E Hanson, An American Treasury of Heirloom Sweets and Sonnets. It is more then just a cookbook, it has wonderful stories of the authors life and her family. What a delight to find these Heirloom reciepts and how good they taste! I hope Volume 3 will be coming soon.

An engaging cookbook filled with heirloom recipes from yesteryear sprinkled liberally with the histories of particular candies and sweet sonnets! A wonderful gift for any cook!

Rarely have I read sonnets with recipes. Even more rarely have I found a cookbook among my collection of nearly 100 that has food for the soul, as well as the body. Casperite Frances Hanson's latest work, "An American Treasury of Heirloom Sweets and Sonnets--The Language of Romance," follows her Christmas offering of heirloom fruitcakes and puddings recipes in An American Treasury of Heirloom Fruitcakes and Puddings, Vol. 1. Never have I found recipes for jelly beans and marshmallows. But they are in Hanson's collection. The preface alone is reason enough to buy the book. Hanson divides the book into three sections, her grandmothers recipes from 1864-1923, her mothers and from her own collection. Her grandmothers section really serves as a how-to-primer on candy making of all types. Hanson's premiseis that families who cook together are better off than those who scatter before their plates have been removed from the table. And if you serve it all up with a little good prose and poetry, all the better. In addition to how-to's and recipes, she shares poetry and words to think about throughout the book. If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf Our loves would grow together, In sad song or singing rain." --Algernon Charles Swinburne

I recieved An American Treasury of Heirloom Fruitcakes and Puddings from my mother-in-law on Christmas 1998. What a wonderful gift, it has so many reciepts that my grandmother would fix for us. When she passed the reciepts were never writen down. What a treasury for me to have recieved this cookbook, it has so many of the reciepts my grandmother would make and more. I would truly recommend this to anyone that loves good food. I asked my mother-in-law where she found this cookbook. She showed me a review that was written in our Illinois paper. Now I have found it here, how wonderful it will be to keep track of any new books Frances E. Hanson will write.

If you like fruitcakes or collect heritage recipes you will love this book. It has a great variety of fruitcake recipes plus some of the history of the origins of fruitcake. The book also contains pudding recipes and their history. A great gift idea!

In this day and age where what seems to make it in this worldis that and those people who conform to the do's and don'ts ofcorporate America, or perhaps I ought say america with a small"a", FM is a most refreshing change that renews my belief that there are still original thinkers out there making personal and important statements that are not only artistic, but personal, cultural, politically relevant, psychologically astute and desperately needed. It is hard to hold onto the hope that individuals can grow up in this world, develop and hold onto and feel good about an authentic sense of self - so kudo's to Lisa Adams for creating this book, and for those whos work appears. I am always impressed by the work of Lauren Hartman who seems to really have found a path to her authentic self - may she never lose that, and may this book inspire others to find theirs.