L. Frank Baum's enduring story is wonderfully presented in this elegant edition and the Washington Post called Lisbeth's The Wizard of Oz "the loveliest edition imaginable."

However, the assessment of the local kids is the drawings are "weird." Perhaps intended for a more adult audience, the illustrations are beautiful--I enjoyed them--but their idiosyncratic style may not appeal to the younger set.

The characters pictured in the illustrations are dramatcially reinterpreted by the artist, however this may disappoint some viewers. The Scarecrow will look nothing like any scarecrow you've imagined. The Witch of the North is difficult to identify. This fresh point of view will be enjoyed by some but is sure to disappoint others.

I also felt the illustrations don't tell the story as well as the edition by Michael Hague or the original edition with W. W. Dinslow. (This is more important to the younger, read-to crowd, than the older, I can read it myself crowd.)

My daughter asked that we return the book and get a different edition for her. I would urge you to carefully consider the sample pages, except the sample pages don't cover a broad range of the illustrations included with this edition. The sample pages do include an image of the dramatic and striking cover. Unfortunately, in the judgement of several reviewers from 4 to 40, the other illustrations were noticably more "weird" than the cover and I don't think the sample pages represent the overall reading/viewing experience scrupulously.

The Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum is a wonderful book about a young girl who goes on an adventure full of excitement and fun. Dorothy the main character lives on a small country farm in Kansas with her Aunt, Uncle, and small dog, Toto. One day a twister comes over their country farm and whisks Dorothy along with her little dog away to a make believe land called Oz. There she is greeted by the people who live there. She asks them how she can get home to Kansas. They tell her that the Great Oz will help get her home. But before she heads on her way to Oz the Good Witch of the North kisses her on the forehead and says that with that kiss no one can harm her. So she and Toto head on their way to Oz. On her way she meets The Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Woodman made of tin who wants a heart and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. These four new friends eimbark on an adventure to the great city of Oz. Will they all get their wishes? Find out when you read the Wizard of Oz. I loved this book because not only did it have fantasy but it is a great book for all ages. I recomend it to anyone who loved being a child.

In this classic, Baum describes the tale of poor Dorothy, who is hurled by a cyclone away from her uncle and aunt in Kansas into a strange and magical world of wizards and witches. Fortunately Dorothy has the help of several companions that she meets in this new world - a stuffed scarecrow who wants brains, a tin woodsman who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who wants courage. Together with Dorothy - who wants a return trip to Kansas - they travel to the emerald city where Oz is wizard, to ask him to make their wishes come true. Their journey is fraught with adventures, and when they finally meet Oz they discover a terrible truth, that leads them into even more challenges and adventures. The magical fantasy of this tale has pleased readers of all ages for a century, and it's not hard to see why. Baum spins a wonderfully enchanting tale that includes wicked witches, flying monkeys, talking mice, and other fantastic creatures.

Is this book more than just a fantasy thrill? Some literary critics have proposed that Baum - a strong believer in individualism and self-confidence - is working with themes about self-esteem and self-reliance. This is quite plausible, especially considering that the brains, heart and courage sought by the scarecrow, woodsman and lion are abilities that they clearly already possess - they just need to recognize them and use them. And Dorothy herself discovers that when the wizard can't help her, she must and can rely on herself. Other literary critics have claimed that "The Wizard of Oz" needs to be read as an elaborate political allegory where the various characters represent various social classes and financial structures - a not impossible suggestion, but one that's somewhat difficult to defend. Ultimately, however, "The Wizard of Oz" is best enjoyed as a wonderful story. That doesn't mean it is any less of a contribution to English literature, because when appreciated as a brilliant story, you're sure to come back to it again and again, as are your children and grandchildren. It's precisely this universal appeal that makes "The Wizard of Oz" a true classic.

Country of Exiles is a fascinating book, though I'm not sure Leach's arguments add up. He identifies and analyzes certain aspects of our society, but I'm not sure these aspects are central to the rootlessness that is undeniably a central tenet of our modern-day living. Tourism and casinos as the cause of this shiftless life? I don't think so.....but his notes and observations on both of these is informative and fascinating. (I particularly liked his endnotes--half as long as the text, citing every single source; very reassuring.) I want to be critical of this book, but I recognize that there's something there in what he's written. I just finished reading it, and already I want to skim through it again and reread certain passages--which means that this is one book that provokes one into thinking, which can't be all bad.

According to Leach, corporations, academia and government have all worked to disengage Americans from their places of nurture so that Americans and indeed the whole world will travel, consume, and search continually for new things and experiences to buy. Of course, I ask what makes Americans vulnerable to this type of manipulation? I offer this suggestion. Within the places of nurturing, such as the Christian church, Christians are taught to view themselves as wandering in the wildnerness, becoming less evil/more righteous yet never attaining perfection in Christ. Since Christian virtue (Romans 6) is inextricably attached to the death and resurrection of Christ, the inability of Christians to be virtuous means that Christ has not fully risen from the dead. Christ is caught in a state of limbo, neither dead, nor alive, heading towards but always falling short. Therefore, if those who teach boundaries and morals yet wander in perpetual limbo; then how much more the general society will be in transit and vulnerable to the machinations of the determined capitalist to create a world conducive to profit.

Many people would like to say that Shakespeare did not write this play. But this is hardly fair. Even with the world's finest writers such as Marlowe and Dickens, not every single thing they write can be a masterpiece. But what makes "The Two Gentleman of Verona" worth reading? Well, Shakespeare presents us with a valid theme. (Conflicts often exist between romance and friendship.) There is also beautiful language. Launce and his dog offer some interesting comedy as well as a beautiful and memorable passage in 2.3. The scene where Valentine is accepted amonst the outlaws is memorable. This is Shakespeare's first play where a woman (Julia) disuises herself as man to do some investigating. It is also easy to see that several elements of this play were used in "Romeo and Juliet." To be sure, this is not a masterpiece like "The Comedy of Errors," "Richard III," or "King Lear." But it is still an good study that is worth some interest.

Although few would claim that Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, it is well worth reading in order to serve as a reference for the best of his romantic comedies. In essence, Two Gentlemen of Verona gives you a measuring stick to see the brilliance in the best works.

The play has the first of Shakespeare's many brave, resourceful and cross-dressing heroines, Julia.

Shakespeare always used his fools and clowns well to make serious statements about life and love, and to expose the folly of the nobles. Two Gentlemen of Verona has two very fine comic scenes featuring Launce. In one, he lists the qualities of a milk maid he has fallen in love with and helps us to see that love is blind and relative. In another, he describes the difficulties he has delivering a pet dog to Silvia on his master, Proteus', behalf in a way that will keep you merry on many a cold winter's evening.

The story also has one of the fastest plot resolutions you will ever find in a play. Blink, and the play is over. This nifty sleight of hand is Shakespeare's way of showing that when you get noble emotions and character flowing together, things go smoothly and naturally.

The overall theme of the play develops around the relative conflicts that lust, love, friendship, and forgiveness can create and overcome. Proteus is a man who seems literally crazed by his attraction to Silvia so that he loses all of his finer qualities. Yet even he can be redeemed, after almost doing a most foul act. The play is very optimistic in that way.

I particularly enjoy the plot device of having Proteus and Julia (pretending to be a page) playing in the roles of false suitors for others to serve their own interests. Fans of Othello will enjoy these foreshadowings of Iago.

The words themselves can be a bit bare at times, requiring good direction and acting to bring out the full conflict and story. For that reason, I strongly urge you to see the play performed first. If that is not possible, do listen to an audio recording as you read along. That will help round out the full atmosphere that Shakespeare was developing here.

After you finish Two Gentlemen of Verona, think about where you would honor friendship above love, where equal to love, and where below love. Is friendship less important than love? Or is friendship merely less intense? Can you experience both with the same person?

Enjoy close ties of mutual commitment . . . with all those you feel close to!

"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Maybe that's because it's one of the only one's I understand. My youth Theatre did a wonderful production of this play. I was not in it, but I saw it twice. It was set in the 60's, peasant-shirted and bell-bottomed. I think it's a wonderful story, although a bit unrealistic because of all the forgiveness that happens at the end of the play. But I think that it's a play everyone should read. This edition of the play is, I think, a very good one. If you are planning to buy a copy of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," I would advise you to buy the most current edidtion printed by the Folger Shakespeare Library. They have lots of information in the book, and many definitions of the more difficult Elizabethian words.

I thought about getting this book once so I browsed through it in the book store. The title alone tells you that it is an attempt to teach the "people's" catholicism over against the Magiserium's catholicism. No real discussion of the Church's condemnation of contraception, which is to be expected. The authors come from liberal and dissenting institutions. The liberal "church speak" is used, such as "we are church" rather than "we are the church." I would not get this. Get the real Catechism of the Catholic Church and perhaps a supplement like John Hardon's Catechism or The Teaching of Christ done by several Catholic Bishops.

This is an intense book! I personally felt a need to read it slowly over a long period of time as there was much to savor here. The subject matter also lends itself to discussion--I think it would make a very good source text for a discussion group or a retreat.

This book, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is divided into 4 sections: faith, sacraments, morals, and prayer. Each of the 4 sections is written by a different author (or team of authors).

The book's 40 chapters also share a common organization--each begins with a quote from scripture, follows with an essay on the relevance of the biblical teaching in the real world, then challenges the reader to put his or her faith into action, and concludes with a section on prayer.

The choices from scripture are relevant. The essays are clear, contemporary, and meaningful. There is a strong thread throughout the text on the importance of the Christian community and the need to apply the faith to every day living.

The calls to action issue blunt challenges. For example, the reader is asked: if someone wished to persecute Christians, would they have enough evidence to convict you?

When I saw that Dr. Sears had a part in this book, I figured it was worth a try. Luckily I checked it out at our local library first so I didn't waste any money! It is written in very general terms. I got nothing from it.

While I really like the concept for this book -- joyful and confident parenting -- this book simply doesn't deliver the goods. It's a shame because with such a stellar group of authors involved, you'd think this book would be a real winner.

Unfortunately, the book is very superficial and simplistic, and, to make matters worse, this book has very little actual information: the majority of the book consists of photos and blank spaces (either half-page "notes" or full-page "parent journal" entries) where you can note your own observations about your parenting experiences. The pages that do contain text have very little information because the text is in such a large font. I purchased six different titles in this series and I can tell you that they are all a major disappointment. Don't waste your money.

You would think that such a stellar group of authors would be capable of writing the definitive book on child discipline, but unfortunately this is not the book. This book has very little actual information: the majority of the book consists of photos and blank spaces (either half-page "notes" or full-page "parent journal" entries) where you can note your own thoughts and experiences with disciplining your child. The pages that do contain text have very little information because the text is in such a large font. I purchased six different titles in this series and I can tell you that they are all a major disappointment. Don't waste your money.

I pre-ordered this book based on the attractive cover and the names on the editorial board. I'm a big Dr. Sears fan and was very excited to see a book on positive discipline endorsed by him that focused on toddlers. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and plan to send it back. There wasn't anything I didn't agree with, but there just wasn't much substance. I typically enjoy workbook style books, but many pages were half-filled with room for notes that appeared to me to be simply filler." I just wanted more. I've since read "Redirecting Children's Behavior," by Kathryn Kvols and found it to be an excellent guide. I'm a Master's level therapist and think the book by Kathryn Kvols will be highly valuable both in my work with kids and families as well as providing me with a solid philosophy and effective techniques for parenting my son now as a young toddler through to the teenage years. Even though I found no fault with the content of this book, (and still love Dr. Sears) I would not recommend this book.

This book was a huge waste of money. It was more like a glorified magazine than a book. It is not of the quality you expect from a book that Dr. Sears was associated with.

You would think that such a stellar group of authors would be capable of writing the definitive book on infant and toddler social and emotional development, but unfortunately this is not the book. This book has very little actual information: the majority of the book consists of photos and blank spaces (either half-page "notes" or full-page "parent journal" entries) where you can note your own observations about your child's development. The pages that do contain text have very little information because the text is in such a large font. I purchased six different titles in this series and I can tell you that they are all a major disappointment. Don't waste your money.

You would think that such a distinguished group of authors would be capable of writing the definitive book on learning, but unfortunately this is not the book. While this book touches upon some important topics like how children learn, identifying learning disabilities, choosing a preschool, and so on, the book simply doesn't contain enough "meat" to be of much use to parents.

To make matters worse, this book has very little actual information: the majority of the book consists of photos and blank spaces (either half-page "notes" or full-page "parent journal" entries) where you can note your own observations about your child's development. The pages that do contain text have very little information because the text is in such a large font. I purchased six different titles in this series and I can tell you that they are all a major disappointment. Don't waste your money.

You would think that such a distinguished group of experts would be capable of writing the definitive book on growth and development, but unfortunately this is not the book. You would be far better off purchasing a copy of Bright Toddler by Dr. Richard C. Woolfson, Things to do With Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller, or Your Child at Play: One to Two Years by Marilyn Segal. These books contain a lot more "meat."

I was disappointed to discover that this book has very little actual information: the majority of the book consists of photos and blank spaces (either half-page "notes" or full-page "parent journal" entries) where you can note your own observations about your child's development. The pages that do contain text have very little information because the text is in such a large font. I purchased six different titles in this series and I can tell you that they are all a major disappointment. Don't waste your money.