I admit that I find it somewhat of a relief to read a children's book about Hanukkah that isn't yet another retelling of the original Hanukkah story of the ancient Jewish military and spiritual victory over Greek and Syrian opressors. Eric Kimmell's 'Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins' is unusual in that regard, but absolutely true to the spirit of the holiday. Hanukkah is about many things, but perhaps most importantly, about keeping the light of goodness and truth burning despite the darknesses and terrors of life. Few books, especially those written for children, reflect that view as well as this book does.

Tired and hungry, the wandering beggar Hershel of Ostropol arrives in a small village on the first night of Hanukkah and is eager to join the celebrations. But the villagers are terrified of Hanukkah - their synagogue is haunted by goblins who will not let the villagers celebrate the holiday and who make their lives miserable. Hershel, of course, is certain he can help, and volunteers to spend all eight nights of Hanukkah in the haunted synagogue. The task that Hershel must take on is truly daunting. He not only has to light the Hanukkah candles every night despite the goblins' efforts to stop him, but on the last night the King of the Goblins himself must light the candles! ...

There is also a brief postscript that talks about the origins of Hanukkah, and the PROPER way to play dreidel!

Trina Schart Hyman has been one of my favorite illustrators since I was a child.... Her cartoon-like style is instantly recognizable, and her illustrations perfectly capture both Hershel's personality and the whimsy and the terror of the situations he gets into. The goblins, although ugly, are more comic than scary, but the King of the Goblins is truly horrifying (probably because we never actually see him up close). Still, I wouldn't worry about the book giving children any nightmares, especially if their parents talk to them about it.

If you are Jewish, this is an essential addition to your child's library -or even your own! Frankly, the messages of conquering evil through brains, humor, courage and faith (as opposed to brute strength) are valuable for children and adults of any faith or ethnic background. ...[I agree when it is said] that this is just as good a story for Halloween as it is for Hanukkah, as well as a good way to introduce Hanukkah to non-Jewish children. Not to mention, as several teachers and librarians have pointed out here, it must be a delight to read this to a young child, with all the different funny voices one can put on for the goblins. This would have been perfect material for an animated TV special - what a pity one wasn't made.

By the way, Hershel of Ostropol (1747-1811) was actually a real person - he was sort of a 'court jester' to the Hasidic rebbe Borukh of Mezhbizh. While 'Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins' is fiction (I assume!), there are many true stories about Herschel which have been told over and over again, and can be found in Jewish folktale collections. Actually, Kimmel himself wrote a marvelous book called 'The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol', also illustrated by Hyman. It's an excellent further step to take if you want to know more about one of the greatest Jewish tricksters of all time, or even just to read some really delightful stories. Wait till you see how the wily Hershel gets the better of a really stupid robber...

Every year I read this story to as many children as I can. AS a music teacher I have my captive audience:) I have sometimes 9 classes a day(3 too many, but that's another review of another kind)and I use the reading of the story as an acting exercise for me and total delight for the children.It usually falls into two sections of reading. I use different voices for each of the exquisite creatures and the children delight in the imagery and ultimately the universal lesson. In fact, after reading, the group and I recognize that when Hershel was faced with a problem..."He didn't get a gun, he didn't get a knife...(we point to our heads)...he used his ooold brain". Indeed this intelligent, brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated book is a gem.

I also use the opportunity at the time of Halloween to explore and explain about Hanukkah so that by the time that holiday rolls around they know all about it.

When I was I think 7, I read Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins for the first time. I checked it out from my school library. I must of checked that book out from there at least a thousand times. Hershel gave his town hope and at the time they needed it most. He took the only things that the villagers had left to give him (an egg, a dreidal, and a pickle jar) and he climbed the mountain where the goblins were yet nobody had faith in him to come back. Read Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins and learn how Hershel out smarts the goblins. It's a great book for all ages and I hope that you enjoy the book as much as I do.

This book of clever insect poems is so much fun! These poems for two voices are filled with insects, wit, and humor! Reading poems for two voices is a great bonding experience. I would recommend reading them with your children - if you do not have children, read the poems with your significant other! :) My husband and I love reading these poems together. You are guaranteed to get a giggle out of it! Enjoy!

Joyful noise is a great book to read with another person. It is filled with poems for two voices about insects. It has from Book Lice to Water Striders, House Crickets to Grasshoppers, Water Boatmen to Fireflies. I really enjoy reading it with one of my friends!!

Here are fourteen poems about, of all things, bugs. Some may wonder at the subject matter; some may be disgusted. By the time you're done reading them, however, I'm sure you'll no longer feel that way.

Speaking of fireflies, book lice, and honeybees, Fleischman shows the unique perspective of each. At times his poems are hilarious, with the worker ant complaining in time to the languid satisfaction of the queen; some are poignant enough to touch your heart and make you think twice about that caterpillar you shuddered at the other day.

What makes these poems truly wonderful, however, is the fact that they are "for two voices". For full effect, they *must* be read aloud by two people, sometimes in chorus, sometimes speaking alone, and other times echoing each other. In such a manner, the already-delightful poetry becomes alive.

Eric Rohmann's imagination is a place I'd like to live in. His imagery is stunning in The Cinder-Eyed Cats. He has created a book that you will pick up again and again, if only to flip through the beautiful images. It will become a well-loved part of your library.

This book is a small boy's dreamlike journey to an island inhabited by the cats. He flies there in a boat and falls asleep. That's when the wonderous events begin.

You'll see flying fish, slinky cats, all revolving around and around in giddy circles. When the morning comes, the boy must return home and the cats get their rest.

Parents will have a good time reading this book to their younger children, while slightly older (5 - 8) will enjoy reading it to themselves.

Rohmann is also the creator of Time Flies, a Caldecott Honor Book, that is just as beautiful as this one.

Kimberly Pauley
YA Books Goddess @ Young Adult Books Central

Strong, mysterious story line, with exceptionally beautiful illustrations. The ryming verse has a rythm that matches the illustrations well. My son is 2 years old and he LOVES it! I'm specifically on-line to see if the author has written similar childrens books.

This book is incredible! I bought it for several reasons, but mostly because it is so beautiful. It's written so well, and the illustrations make the words seem almost tangible. I'm a teacher, and I can tell you that it's a definite favorite of my students. My nephew adores it. This is definitely a classic that will endure the ages!

This book is absolutely brilliant! Gombrowicz has a gift for concealing philosophical discourse beneath a layer of satirical wit and absurdity. His larger than life characters drag you along on a mad ride through the subtle twists of Polish class consciousness, all the while spouting witicisms on the insanity of the human condition. I started learning Polish because of this book. I consider it a must read.

You may well ask the above question, but you will never discover the answer, for there is no character, or thing, in this darkly comic masterpiece named Ferdydurke. It just appears to be some play on words, or a nonsense title to intrigue the potential reader. This book, written in Polish between the two world wars, is extremely capably translated, with a good use of slang and diminuitive terms which must have caused endless hours of trouble and frustration for the translator. It appears to be an indictment of the state of society as it existed in Poland in the 1930's, and may appear a bit dated since must of what is excoriated by the author no longer exists. There is particular emphasis upon the type of relationship which existed between the nobility (of a sort) and the peanant and serving classes. There is a lot about the threat of modernity in the country, and a great emphasis upon infantilism and immaturity. The work takes some getting used to by the reader, but read in the context of its time it is very well done, and should be read to be appreciated for what it has to say about the human condition.

Ferdydurke is out of print! It has been a battle to get this book openly published in Poland, but look at how English-speaking consumers conduct their own censorship scheme. Yet there is a touch of Anglo-Saxon to the novel's madness: the upper class school boys, the title borrowed from the netherlands of H.G.Wells' corpus and much, much more. The novel questions whether there is such a thing as maturity, sending its main character back to school as an adult, where he is among boys who treat him as another boy (as does everyone else!). It also asks one of the great questions of our time: our characters are made by others; is it possible to escape this or are we merely prisoners of other people's influences? Something for us living under states who idolize individual choice to think about. But Gombrowicz's book is also full of comedy: slapstick, sharp irony, plot twists and philosophical fables. Jokes are used as an ideal way to pose serious questions. Furthermore, in its giant bums and staring contests it shows how much more you can talk about reality, including prudent insights into totalitarian life, through wild fantasy. The experiments of the novel - the unique fantasy, the invasion of the author and the symmetrical interjections - put it at the heart of European modernism. It is a landmark, albeit buttock-shaped.

This is a well written and well researched book. Your Hands Can Heal You covers most types of healing modalities and looks into what works and how, to give an insightful look at healing. Through this book you can learn how to heal yourself, loved ones and stay healthy. The book explores breathing and physical exercises to keep you healthy and young. What is unique to this book's approach is that it is thoroughly researched and explained as to how alternative healing works and how anyone can do it themselves.I am not a born healer, but through this book I have been able to "heal" insect bites to migraines, and understand how this has worked. There are many healers out there who can heal but do not understand how they heal. Through this book I have been able to heal and understand how by understanding the principles of the body's energetic health and functioning. I strongly recommend this to everyone, from all walks of life as an at home manual to good health and long life.

We have studied with Master Stephen Co for over a year, and have integrated the methods outlined in this book into our lives. We first sought alternative healing methods for our daughter who had a medical condition that conventional medicine was unable to solve. Learning pranic healing empowered us to heal her, and it has also opened up a spiritual framework, a way of looking at the universe, that has changed our lives forever. The simple meditations, breathing techniques and salt baths offered in the book have become part of our daily routine. We are calm, centered, and in excellent health. We gave this book to all our friends and family over the holidays, wanting to share the good fortune this book has brought us. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn how to heal themselves and their loved ones, advance their healing techniques, or simply to raise their awareness of the vast power we all posess that leads us to true happiness and fulfillment. Your Hands Can Heal You is the family health handbook of the new millenium.

One of the most fabulous reads ever! Turning pages you realize what you have always known but couldn't quite put your finger on - what makes people sick, how to prevent it and how to fix it! I highly recommend this book for those who have illnesses that doctors couldn't quite diagnose or cure. And best yet, using the techniques taught in this book will allow you to show your friends and family love in a way they have probably never known before - through the gift of healing that is within us all.

If you are currently collecting or playing Magic cards, I suggest buying this book if you dont have it NOW! It is filled w/ information, fully illustrated cards, interesting facts, playing tips, etc. Also, buy the Magic Encyclopedia Volume 1.

Richard Garfield is the creator of Magic The Gathering card game. This book gives the reader an in-depth look into the game and shows the beautiful illustration that each card contains. This is a must have for all players and collectors of the card game.

Great book of pictures of Mirage, Visions, 5th Edition, Weatherlight & Portal. Helps alot with viewing the cards for collecting.

Don't know about the Publishers Weekly "inane" comment; this book is anything but inane. Really smart &
doesn't talk down to children. This book appreciates children as the whimsical smart things they are. The
illustrations fit very well, and the book is funny and really wonderful to read. Haven't read anything like this
before for kids. I've already let a couple of children borrow it, and I guess it's a testament to the book, but the
kids don't want to give it back. I've decided to make it the holiday gift I'm going to give to every child on my list.

I think this book is really funny. The Auther puts the book in
fun to read storie, and the people in the cases are funny too.
You buy the book, you read it, then you thank your lucky stars that you read it!

I thought this book was unique among the many young adult novels I've read. It's funny and very fresh. It has fun with language and with the flow of ideas, and it's great for young adults and those even younger. It's an exciting new voice. I hope there are more of these books to come.

DANCE IN THE DARK offers reflections that explores the concept of love and culture in the African American community from past to present day. Along with poetry, Croomes incorporates history and mythology as he addresses the complexity of the issues at hand and how it has impacted us as a people. Croomes offers several interesting pieces throughout the book including "Letters to Eve," "The Edge of Love," and "Diary of an Ex-Queen".

When I first picked up W. Eric Croomes' DANCE IN THE DARK, I was looking forward to seeing a different but unique perspective from the poetic standpoint. While DANCE does offer a beautiful variety of poetry, the heavy commentary that is presented throughout takes away from the book's overall essence.

While Croomes offers poetry that is both passionate and intriguing, my main criticism is that the various essays take away from the book overall. There were times where I felt that I wasn't reading a poetry book due to the content at hand. While I found DANCE IN THE DARK to be interesting, from a poetic standpoint it didn't captivate me as other poets have. Despite this, I do commend Mr. Croomes on a worthy effort.

Reviewed by Kanika (Nika) Wade
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Through poetry, essays, spiritual references, music and mythology, W. Eric Croomes has created a cornucopia of wisdom on the topic of L-O-V-E! This is not just another book of love poems. "Dance In The Dark" wield an alluring power that is sure to entice readers to embark upon life's journey in search of love.

Darlene Ramzy
The Literary Café

Powerful. Dance in the Dark is a romantic masterpiece. Each page illuminate heart felt words that move in a rhythm that captivate the spirit. The author of Dance in the Dark pours himself into this beautiful work. Only one that has truly taken a look inside of himself can write like this. It's not difficult at all to hear his voice throughout the book. Mr. Croomes has learned to "Dance in the Dark" and challenges us to dance as he leads us on a journey of spiritual truths of love that dares us to find purpose.

I wish this book were required reading in high school. If this book were written today, you'd assume the author (a broadcast journalist) was referring to its not being so wild a dream to become a celebrity. The title comes from "On a Note of Triumph," the CBS broadcast marking V-E Day: "Post proves that brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who would benefit from its postponement would have us believe." This book follows Eric Sevareid's childhood, to his activism in college and the belief that "war is outdated" or barbarism to his unflinching belief in why fascism had to be defeated. This is every bit a philosophy book as it is a memoir and so eloquently explains how the changes brought about by the defeat of fascism could bring together mankind, reaching from Paris, France, to Sevareid's hometown of Velva. Shows Sevareid's mindset and how important World War Two was in terms of defining a generation. When you read this book, you understand why Tom Brokaw called his book "The Greatest Generation." Stop whatever you're doing and read this book! You'll understand Sevareid, his generation, what America is supposed to be about, why we fought the war and why brotherhood is not so wild a dream! Buy this book!

The quote in the first review should be "Post proof ... " and not "Post proves." Makes sense that way.

Those who choose to read Sevareid's Not So Wild A Dream will quickly find themselves in an encounter with a great mind and a writer who had command of the English language. Sevareid vividly describes his upbringing on the Northern Plains that naturally conditioned him to be an isolationist of the post World War I variety.
Sevareid remained true to his early isolationist convictions when he became involved in the peace movement of the 1930s at the University of Minnesota. He eagerly took the Oxford Oath, promising there was no just reason that could motivate him to take up arms for his country. As a student leader he played a key role in a successful challenge of the ROTC requirement for all male students.
Sevareid's early journalism career took him to Paris and he witnessed first hand the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Fascism in Germany. His description of a 1938 visit to Germany at the height of Hitler's power is a masterful account of the totalitarian nature of Nazi rule. Readers will also be impressed with his insightful description of the fall of France to the Nazis in 1940.
At this point in his life Sevareid did something that few people ever do. He admited that his earlier isolationist and pacifist views were in error and embraced the notion that war was required to defeat Facism and its frontal assault on the most basic ideals of western civilization.
Sevareid's book was published in 1946--a time when most Americans were content to enjoy the fruits of victory after the enormous sacrifice that was made to win the war. But Sevareid was one of the first to write about the nagging issue of how peace would be maintained. His insights concerning the wartime conditions in China and the problems that would likely emerge after the war were clearly visionary.
Sevareid's skill as a writer makes this book an excellent tool for teaching about this era. As a professor I often use parts of his book in class to help students understand the attraction of isolationism in the period between the World Wars, or to enable them to understand the essence of Fascist political ideals.

Hume is rightfully an important philosopher. Philosophy had been mainly a metaphysical/rationalistic field until Hume (in addition to Locke and Berkeley) came along. His basic philosophy is this: induction is the only principle by which we can have knowledge, but induction is fundamentally flawed. Thus, there is no belief of which we can be totally certain of. Hume even questions whether we can be as sure as Descartes was when he asserted "Cogito Ergo Sum". To Hume, one could consistently maintain that the "self" was just a bunch of thoughts in succession. Hume believed that there were no strict identities in nature, but only resemblences which the mind tends to treat as identities. He also treated ideas as imperfect images of our experiences.

The problem I have with Hume is on resemblence and his treatment of ideas. I agree with him that there are resemblences in nature which humans tend to treat as the same--but then what is this resemblence based on? The nominalists have to account for why resemblence is there in the first place. Perceived identity must have its basis in reality somehow. And his treatment of ideas is just plain wrong--our ideas are not just images, although they can include images.

I obviously can't give a complete criticism of Hume's philosophy in a review, so if anyone wants to discuss this with me just email me. But I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy--any complete philosophical theory must challenge or incorporate Hume if it is to succeed.

This is a good edition of the first but fundamental book published by Hume in 3 volumes (1 and 2 in 1739; 3 in 1740) dedicated to the methodical study of knowledge, passions and moral, through experience and practical observation. It is with Hume that empiricism (following Locke and Berkeley) reaches its complete expression as a "modern" classical system, against previous dogmatic visions of philosophy. According to Kant, Hume awoke him from the dogmatic dream......
With Hume, english illustration comes to a definitive expression. Through his opus, empiricism is systematized and acquires a new dimension that expands its influence on all fields of philosophy. Previous conceptions about the theory of knowledge, ethics, politics, esthetics, and the philosophy of religion, all are transformed or renovated by Hume. In spite of his critics, Hume's system dwelled with different topics of modern interest: positivism, psychology, nominalism, critical skepticism, determinism, agnosticism, moral philosophy, political economy, etc.
No serious philosopher after Hume, has been able to avoid a careful look at his system. So if you are a student or scholar of the subject matter, I highly recommend this edition of Hume's seminal work.

This is a superb edition of one of the basic works in Western philosophy. Designed to be used by both casual and serious students of philosophy, this edition contains the text of Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (EHU) and a series of other sections that provide background and further directions for studying Hume. Included are an excellent precis of the EHU, a first rate annotated bibliography concerning works by and about Hume, considerable background material on Hume, and excellent notes to the text of the EHU.

The EHU is a concise and charmingly written presentation of Hume's views of the nature and particularly the limitations of human knowledge. The EHU presents Humes basic concepts of human thought, human pattern recognition, and then proceeds to Hume's revolutionary analysis of the problem of induction. Hume exposes our limitations in establishing certain cause and effect relations. Hume's analysis of this problem and its corollaries leads to ultimate skepticism about our ability to know the external world with certainty and undermines much of the basis for religion. Hume presents his ideas in an attractive style that owes much to famous 18th century essayists like Addison.

A fundamental work and very readable work.