This is a lovely book characterized by hope and innocence rarely seen in modern fiction. Kathryn Worth makes her characters come to life. This story could be read by a 10 year old, but could also be enjoyed by adults.

I first read this book nearly 40 years ago. It was one I checked out and reread many times as I grew up. I am so pleased it is out again. It is a story that fits any time. I will buy it for all my nieces. Thank you

I have been the only person to check out this book from our local library the past 15 years. Each year that I check it out to re-read it, the librarian must retrieve it from storage. I have looked for the book at flea markets, garage sales, and used book stores and have been told that it is not available. I was thrilled and grateful when I received my new copy from you less than 48 hours after I had ordered it. The book tells a lovely simple story of an orphaned city girl who is taken in by a family of God-fearing, family-loving, and humor-filled Quakers. The struggles, love, and triumphs of this family are a joy to experience.

I have a passion for children's books - my 3 year old daughter is so indulged. I found The Old Woman who Named Things whilst browsing this Sunday afternoon and had tears well up in my eyes whilst reading it in the shop! What a perfect and so real evocation of an elderly person's fears, lonliness and subsequent eccentricities. I rushed it home to my daughter and have read it 3 times this evening. She loves it - was amused by the naming of objects - wants to do the same around our house - fell in love with the dog and was so sad for the lady when the dog became lost. She felt the old woman couldn't truly be friends with him until she "named" him. It was so nice too to have a book with an elderly "heroine". My only quibble would be that the term "outlived" is probably beyond most young children - I would have used "died" somewhere to make it clearer. I know its subtlety is lovely but I have had to stop and explain outlived each time anyway.

This is a funny story of an old woman who has outlived all her friends. She has big hair, cowboy boots and crazy clothes like Ms. Frizzle. The only thing she gives a name are objects like her car Betsey because they won't get old and die. She looks like she would be a fun friend and doesn't act old at all. She finally finds a shy brown pup to be her friend and must name him or leave him at the pound. I wish the old woman had a name. Read this book if you love Grandma stories or dogs.
PS It's not sad!

I don't know why this book didn't get more attention. If I had to choose one children's book as my favorite, this may well be it. And it's never failed me when I've read it for children either - each time, a hush comes over the room.

What's interesting to me about this book, it's one of the few children's books that don't have any 'children' characters. Basically, it's the story about a lonely woman finding a dog, but, like all great books, there's all kinds of other things put in on top of that - old age, death, the memory of good friends and the lesson that you have to be willing to risk and lose in order to love and be happy.

Cynthia Rylant has written a very special book here and I urge you to get this book. You will not be disappointed.

As a teen I read the first 32 of the Trixie Belden series. I am now 28 years old and I have tried everything to find them again so I can pass them down to my little girl. Trixie shows girls that they can do anything and be anyone they want. They also have teen romance without sex, which girls need to know the difference. I think all girls need a role model like Trixie and her friends. Who knows, boys might like them too!

Trixie Belden, her brothers, the beautiful Honey Wheeler, and the rest of the Bobwhites were my heroes as a teenager. I read the set at least a dozen times each. Sadly, my mother loaned them to a friend who was ill, and I never got them back! Although I was a very social teenager, I sometimes felt more able to identify with the characters in these books then my own friends! What a shame that kids nowadays consider this type of reading corny and old-fashioned. I guess that's how I got my nickname-my friends thought I was funny for reading these books! The fact is, however, the stories are suspenseful and the characters have a down-to-earth quality that is much more appealing than the street-wise, sarcastic, and disrespectful teenage role models that are so popular at the turn of the century. If I could get my hands on a set of Trixie Belden books, I would feel like I had found a long-lost friend!

I am 27 years old and I read Trixie Belden when I was in my teens. Even at 27 I still go to the library and check them out. I absoutely love these books. They are so enjoyable. I live in a very small town and I can't find any of the books anywhere. The only place that has them is our public library, and they only have about 9 or 10 books. It is such a shame that you can't find them anymore. These books are such great fun and the characters are great role models for today teens. I feel that you never outgrow a good book. One day when I have children I hope to find some of the books and give them to him or her. Don't let anyone tell you that you are too old to be reading Trixie Belden or that they are for kids only. Take it from a 27 year old who still reads Trixie Belden all the time. They are for anyone of any age.

Kathryn, Here is another one for your list of testimonials. I purchased your book and used it to re-create my résumés for Federal Employment. I also used it to create my KSAs. I was offered and accepted a position from the first Federal Agency for which I applied. I could not have done it without your help. stewart

Kathryn Kraemer Troutman's "Federal Resume Guidebook" is a must have for anyone seeking a position within the Federal Government. Not only does Ms. Troutman review the steps and procedures necessary to obtain employment, but she assist users in the process. This book makes getting a Federal job a breeze. The books "user friendly" approach leaves little territory uncovered. Kudos to Kathy for making the job search much easier. Watch out Federal Government Kathryn's book may just make your forms much more palatable. A must have for those seeking employment within the Federal Government.

Deborah L. Mulligan, Instructional Designer/Curriculum Developer

Hi, Kathryn I have great news for you, feel free to post it on your website. I took your resume writing class in March, within a couple of weeks I had my resume ready. I applied for a couple of positions and guess what, I just got a promotion, outside of my area of expertise, just like that, and only within two months. I'm so happy! Thanks to your training, books, PC disks, tips, etc. I cannot thank you enough! The Resume Place, is the BEST! Maria

It has been years since I was fortunate enough to be a young reader who was completely enthralled with the adventures of Trixie and her friends. I am now a social worker working in an elementary school and am constantly looking for books that will capture the kids attention as these did mine so long ago. I am searching for any and all books I can get about this gang. I have a young girl with red-hair who is so horrified by it she can not believe that anyone with that hair could have many friends or have any fun. I would love for her to read these. Please contact me if you have the series or any to sell. These should be back in publication so they'd be readily available to our youth (and those of us adults who still yearn to read Trixie!)

This book is the direct sequel to Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion, which really must be read first. On the quest to find Jim -- on the lam from his evil stepfather Jonsey -- Trixie, Honey, and Miss Trask arrive in the Autoville trailer park, and the girls eventually find the dual mysteries of Jim's whereabouts and a stolen red trailer converging in one area of countryside. The Red Trailer Mystery does get confusing and could have used a map, but the author summarizes the action periodically, and it sounds natural and helps develop the reader's comprehension and critical thinking.

I think this series gave me an appreciation in my adult life for the benefits of family, community, and enduring friendships.

The vivid descriptions of the original 15 or so Trixie Belden books make you feel as though you're following right behind Trixie, Honey and the others as they seek out clues, make discoveries, and shiver in dangerous situations. Unlike sleuths in other mystery series, Trixie has just enough faults to be realistic, and is someone you would love to have as a friend. These books should be re-released for today's youth to enjoy. I'm 37 and still read them again and again, having been lucky enough to stumble across a full set of the original, cellophane-covered volumes for $2.00 per book in a used bookstore!!

This book is the best one I have ever read. I would recommend it anyday. The author, Kathryn Reiss is my favorite and if you read some of her books maybe you will think of them the same way. I would rate this book a 10+!

This was a GREAT book! I loved it! Reiss did a wonderful job unfolding her story about Abby, a young puritan girl unable to move on to the next world, trapped by her own reluctance. Her only hope is almost 300 years later when Miranda discovers her secret and tries to help, but not until the two learn to get along after Miranda's parents decide to take Abby in. A very inticing story and definitely worth reading! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

The reason I am writing you is I love the book, "Pale Phoenix". I thought it was a really interesting book.When my mom and dad bought it for me, I thought the book would be really boring. But when I started reading it,I couldn't put it down.My favorite part is when Miranda, Abby and Dan all go back in time and nobody can see them. The ending was really cool, you know how Abby becomes a real person and not a ghost. I thought it was a good book and everyone who likes to read should read it. I thought the characters were interesting well-drawn and believable. The book was thoughtful and enjoyable. I think you did a perfect job. Thank you for your time and I hope you write back.

It has been 30 years since I have seen this book--I never owned it, and it was a non-circulating book in the local children's library-- but the summer I turned seven, I spent hours reading this book day by day in the children's section of the library at Lincoln Center while my parents did their graduate work upstairs in the adult collection. I still vividly recall the characters: Amy with hair the color of moonlight whose mother gave her a lambchop for lunch each day, Clarissa with hair the color of sunlight whose mother gave her spaghetti for lunch each day, Malachi the Bumblebee, and, of course, the make-believe characters Hannah and her baby sister and the Old Witch and the mermaids who lived in the Big Glass Hill. Back in those days, we did not have any super-heros (no female ones, anyway), no Wonder Woman, no Warrior Princesses capering across the TV in their undies, not even Sailor Moon and co., and so if you wanted to make believe you could fly, Hannah the Little Witch Girl was all there was. My friends and I used to pretend to be Hannah and Amy and Clarissa in a gem-studded forest landscape taken from James Thurber's The White Deer. On imaginary broomsticks, we careened around stuffy apartments full of couches and dining chairs holding loquatious, boring adults. The book also holds appeal for the child with a systematic mind--the sort of child who types out alphabetical lists of dinosaur species will also enjoy writing out alphabetical compendia of all the runes spoken in the story!

When I was a little girl I loved all books having to do with magic, and especially witches. This book was my all-time favorite. I checked it out of the library so many times that eventually the card in the back was filled up with my signature on both sides!

This book is about magic, but it's also about the power of imagination. The Witch family, all though very real in their own right, have been created out of the mind of little girl who's mother first introduced her to them. Amy appoints herself caretaker to the witch family, and through the pictures she draws of them she can keep tabs on all that is going on in their world "up on the great glass moutain".

A benchmark of good childrens literature, this book holds up under the test of time. I have re-read it as an adult and still enjoyed it very much. I can't wait until my own children are old enough for me to share it with them.

This book captured my imagination as it has my children's. They love it as much as I did in the 60's, where I must have checked this book out from the library 20 times. I was delighted to find an old copy still in the library, and started searching to find my own so that we could read and reread the magical stories of Hannah, Weenie Witchie and Old Witch. Malachi was always my hero, and the two brave little 7 year olds, Clarissa and Amy reminded me often of my best friend and our adventures in fantasyland. Take time to cherish this book again and again. It is a book well worth the effort. Bless the publishers for putting it back in print.

Get this book together with WHERE'S DAD NOW THAT I NEED HIM and your kid moving away from home will be all set - also a great gift for a young couple!

A MUST HAVE in my opinion and the hints on substitutes when cooking as well as measurements are the best ever. I have used this book many many times. The recipes are easy to use and have clear instructions, the cleaning tips come in handy many times and there is so much more info in this book, it would be hard to tell you. I also like the ringbinder version much better than the paperback version. It lays flat and makes it much easier to use.

This book is now my gift of choice for high school graduations. It is comprehensive yet simple, practical yet interesting. I have been a homemaker for 25 years and still learned new things from this book. We now use several of the recipes regularly, especially the Orange Banana Sauce for pancakes and the Dump Cake. The hardback version with the vinyl cover and the pockets is well worth the extra cost in convenience, cleanliness, and longevity.

I got this as a graduation gift and used it through my college years for cleaning stains, first aid, cooking. A wonderful resource book for anyone who has wondered where your mom learned all those bits of wisdom!

I read Redirecting Children's Behavior when my daughter was 18 months old, and it transformed my behavior as a parent! I so loved the approach that I became an instructor of the fifteen-hour course, Redirecting Children's Behavior, that Kathryn Kvols also developed. The book and the course teach great skills that focus on building self-esteem, cooperation, inner-motivation and a loving relationship with your child.

This book teaches parents how to discipline their children by using many practical, effective and non-punitive techniques. The best part of all for me is that I now feel very good about myself as a parent. I've found that parenting from love instead of fear is far more effective, allows for better parent-child relationships and my children have healthier self-esteem. Absolutely the best parenting book I've ever read!

I read this book & took this course in 1993 when my foster son was 16 and my son was 5 and have used the techniques not only with them, but also with people of all ages. Quite simply, it works. Does it work all the time (or with the result that I think it should evoke)? No, but what does?. Does it work better and more consistently than anything else that I've come across? Definitely YES!
If you've ever gone to work or to bed upset after dealing with a misbehaving child, you need this book. If you're tired of being frustrated by your defiant teenager or your stubborn grade schooler or even a difficult co-worker, read this book. If you have the fortitude to apply the techniques consistently, you will see remarkable results.

You'll never guess the mystery!! It's a great book!!! I'm very picky with books, but I happened to like this one. The reason why I only gave it 4 stars was because the character was a little...I don't know...I didn't like her as much as I should have...but she was ok. Violet was one of triplets. She was the odd one though. She didn't look like her sisters. Her sisters looked identical, but she didn't. She also had open-heart surgery. Now she wants fit in with her sisters, so they go to San Francisco to fix up a building for their parents. As they work there, an earthquake hits. A few moments later, Violet finds a note addresssed to Baby V. Her parents and sisters call her that. In the beginning, she's positive that the notes are for her. With each earthquake, a note is found, meaning another clue has dropped in her lap. Slowly she and her sisters unravel a mystery. Violet's life is just about to change. Was she Baby V? Who was the person writing to her? And how could someone from nearly a century ago write to her? As she reads each note, coincedences pop up and she fears that their time for solving the mystery could be running out.

PaperQuake is a fascinating book about a teenage girl named Violet. Violet lives in California and is constanly nervous about earthquakes taking place. She is the daughter of florists, hence her name. She is also a triplet. Her sisters, Rose and Jasmine, are identical, and she is constantly feeling like the third wheel. In the past she hd heart problems, so she missed tons of school. She was forced to repeat a grade over again, so she is now stuck in a grade lower than her sisters. It bothers her that she is the outcast and that her family subconsiously treats her like a child, even though she is the same age as her sisters. One day Violet and her sisters take a bus to San Fransisco to clean their parent's new flower shop. While cleaning, Violet comes across an old letter written in the early 1900's. The odd thing is that it seems to be written to her. It even includes things that have taken place in Violet's life. Violet is dumbfounded, because there isn't any way that a letter from so long ago could be written to her-or could it? Violet sets out on a journey to find out more about who wrote these letters, and along the way she finally bonds with her sisters and finds herself. This story will have you puzzled from cover to cover. You will keep thinking you know what's going to happen, and then it's exactly the opposite. That's the great thing about this book. The book is a little slow at first, but once you get past the first few chapters you will find your eyes glued to the pages. This is one of the most amazing and imaginative books I have ever read, and I highly encourage you to check it out.

This great book is about a teenage girl, Violet. It relates to family problems with her two sisters but it is actually a mystery. Whenever there are earthquakes Violet sees visons, and old letters fall out of the walls. There is an uncanny resemblance between Violets own life and the letters. Through this book you will learn more and more about the mystery. It is extremely good and I will reccomend it to everyone!