This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the Culinary Arts. Beginning with a brief story of the origins of contemporary cooking with Escoffier, going through Hygiene and Sanitation, Kitchen Equipment and utensils, covering all the necessary techniques for the future Culinary Professional, clear, step-by-step illustrations and excellent pictures, this is the most complete cookbook I have found. It combines both the French techniques with the collaboration of Le Cordon Bleu Chefs and the American influence with the expertise of the author. As a Chef Instructor, I will use this Professional Cooking as reference for all my future classes.

I am a student at Scottsdale Culinary Institute, an LeCordon Bleu school in Scottsdale, AZ. This book is the first that we are issued and is used as a standard reference throughout our twelve month curriculum. It may be somewhat confusing for the home cook as there are many industry terms used, and all of the recipes are scaled for large production quantities. Nonetheless, it will give you a great idea of how things work in the food service industry and start you off to better home cooking techniques as well.

I am currently enrolled in the Chicago Cook and Hospitality Institute in Chicago and this is the book that is required for all the classes I have taken thus far. It is an excellent text. It teaches both cooking and baking techniques. It is very clear and concise. The explanations in this book are great. The recipes taste delicious! I would reccommend this book for everyone with an interest in cooking and baking!

I had heard about Best Friends several years ago and had joined as a member never realizing the enormity of this endeavor. I visited Best Friends in November, 2000 and could not believe what I saw. Best Friends is truly a magical and spiritual place. It is a safe haven for those abused and abandoned; a place where a second chance is given for safety and love. Samantha Glen has captured this magic and spirit of this sanctuary with her words. She has told the story as no other can. As you read each page you become one with each founder, understanding their excitement, their pain and feeling their losses. I cried tears of sadness for each individual as they realized what they had taken on was, at times, larger than they ever realized. And I cried tears of joy when others opened up their hearts to support their cause.

Having visited Best Friends I was able to remember some of the furry beings that were mentioned in the book, even having pictures of several. It made the story told all that more endearing to me.

Best Friends is truly magical, and Samantha Glen captured that magic in her writing. The only problem I found with the book is that it ended!!!! I would have read on forever!!! Please, anyone out there who reads this book, go one step further. Join Best Friends and help support one of the best sanctuaries in the world.

If you are a true animal lover, you will love this book. It's a story about how the Best Friends Animal Santuary got started as well as stories of beloved animals they have rescued. If you believe in rescuing our furry friends, this book is for you!

If you love animals and want to see how people can get together to take care of stray and unwanted animals of all kinds, you must read this.. I couldn't put it down.

I loved this book. It reminded me so much of my sisters. I want to share it with both my sisters who are in their 20's, but I really want to show it to my little niece. She will love the bright pictures and when its time for her to be a big sister she'll see how much fun it is.

This is a great book! I got one for my older daughter and my youngest was so enthralled I went back and got her her very own copy. They both love the real pictures of real girls. Does this author have other books? I'd like to see more.

The pictures clearly depict loving relationships between sisters. It warms my heart to look through the pages and be reminded of special times with my sisters. I would recommend this book to all sister siblings. I'm looking forward to a possible Big Brother, Little Brother!

I don't like cats. Never did. I'm a dog person, but reading this funny book (someone gave it to me), made me laugh out loud. I hope the authors come up with something as great for dog lovers! It was a perfect break from the ever so serious world of the net.

Once upon a time, "adult humor" meant the kind of humor that was best appreciated by those with a certain amount of sophistication. "Scratching the 'Net: Web Sites for Cats" represents such humor. The book, which parodies politics, entertainment,the media, and almost every aspect of pop culture, evokes laughs on the strength of its wit without ever going beyond the boundaries of good taste. The graphics are excellent and serve to complement the verbal humor instead of substituting for it. People are sure to find their favorite "sites:" I especially liked "The Catnipaholics Anonymous" site, with its 12 Pawsteps to Recovery. (My cat's favorite site is Catatonic, the Site for Lazy Cats.) Although those interested in cats and computers might get an extra "kick" out of "Scratching the 'Net..." one needn't have an affinity for either to enjoy the book. All that is required is a well honed sense of humor and a willingness to laugh at some of the eminently laughable aspects of our popular culture. It's a book that's sure to redefine the "cat & mouse" genre!

Congratulations to humorists Jon Mathis and Mary Shomon for putting out a first-rate book on a really funny topic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be extremely clever and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who is a cat lover and even to anyone who is not (I happen to fall into the latter category!) I bought many copies for Christmas gifts and know that my friends will enjoy it as much as I did. I anxiously await the authors' next book and will be first in line to purchase it assuming it is half as funny as " Scratching the Net"!

As a homeschooling mom of two boys, we had heard about the unschooling method but were a little unsure of its effectiveness until we read this book. Mary Griffith does a wonderful job of explaing the concept of unschooling, and the numerous families quoted throughout the book make the concept seem so natural.

There are chapters on math, science, reading and writing, and how to use the world around your children to foster these skills without "doing school". Using the unschooling concept has made the boys' curiosity and wonder of the world around them just explode and has made learning exciting for them. The unschooling philosophy has made learning a 24/7 event at our house, thanks to this wonderful book.

Any family considering homeschooling, or "doing school" at home, or using a curriculum needs to read this unique and fabulous book.

we highly recommend this book. Aside from the information you can get about unschooling at the www.unschooling.com website and message boards, this is the best information in print.

Our family has always unschooled, and it was John Holt that brought us there, along with listening to our hearts and respecting our children's point of view.

If you are interested in homeschooling, read John Holt's books ("Learning All the Time") and visit the message boards at www.unschooling.com. And add this wonderful book to your library, as you will use it over and over again...and you will lend it to friends over and over again!

I had heard of homeschooling before, but not of unschooling. Having read the book, and the comments in it from unschooling parents and children, the latter is definitely what I would choose for any children of mine. Tell you what, after reading it I wished I had been 'unschooled'! Unfortunately, I haven't, however, I reckon with my kids, whenever they come along, I can make up for a lot of what I've missed, by learning alongside them. I'm looking forward to that opportunity! The book is excellent in that it not only clearly explains the concept of unschooling, it also gives practical examples of how the children get an interest in learning to read, how mathematics and science are included in every day life, how history and the arts become wonderful day trips to museums, etc. On top of all that it has a chapter on 'coping with doubts and challenges', and each chapter has a long list of reference books where more info can be found. In short, a real gem. The whole world should return to unschooling I think. I highly recommend it.

I LOVE this book. It seriously helped me through a rough breakup. I guess I should be grateful that the breakup happened around Valentines Day because that is the only reason I found this book. It was on a table full of other mushy poetry books, but I was drawn to the 'little black book' with the candy hearts on the cover. It hooked me from the beginning.

The book is broken up into different sections (anger, moving on, false hope, and eventually real hope)... feelings you actually go through during a breakup. And they are perfect. The poems for the ANGER section were exactly what I needed when I was so mad at the world.... and my ex.

The sections at the end, the real healing chapters, truly helped me. To know that someone else (and great poets at that!) has felt what I was feeling and that there is hope even when it does not seem like it, comforted me.

I really believe this book helped me through one of the hardest times of my life. I have recommended it to many friends who have also enjoyed it. Buy this book if you or someone you know needs help through a breakup or divorce!

A charming collection whose only problem is the title. The title implies that the authors are angry and loveless when in fact they demonstrate a depth of understanding the full gamut of emotions surrounding the commitments people make to one another. My 20-year-old daughter (who knows less about poetry than I do) handed me me this book with the off-putting caveat "You probably won't get it, but I loved this!" I loved it too -- for the breath of the collection of poems, the witty and incisive commentary before each chapter, and mostly its affirmation of the beauty and bounty of finding love at any age and at any cost. I highly recommend that mothers give this to their daughters, fathers to their sons for Valentine's Day, but tell them first that this nifty book is, despite the cautionary title, a wise and witty book about how careful they should be to find and keep someone to love.

This book is hilarious, profound, accessible, and absolutely perfect. Esselman and Velez break down break-ups into all of the stages you've experienced but never had the guts (or the sanity, at any given moment) to name--stages like rage, self-hatred, relapse, and moving on. Their commentary for the poems in each section is as intelligent and down-to-earth as the poems they choose. Read this, if you've ever even THOUGHT about being in--or out of--love. You'll find yourself entranced by the good poetry and comforted by the fact that no matter how you are trying to deal with a love lost, you aren't alone, or crazy: William Shakespeare, John Donne, Lucilie Clifton, and Billy Collins have all been members of the same lonely hearts club at one time or another...and, it seems, they've all come out laughing on the other side.

I think this book is the best in the Magic Tree House series. My favorite part was when Jack and Annie saw a hammerhead shark. Matthew, age 7

"Dolphins At Daybreak" is a good Magic Tree House book about Jack and Annie exploring the ocean and meeting some dolphins. This book had a few parts that were frightening, like the hammerhead shark, but really, they weren't that frightening. My favorite part was when they were rescued by the dolphins, and it was fun when they went underwater. Also, the action is written well, and the plot is written wonderfully as well. If you want my opinion, I really, really, really, enjoyed this book, and I highly reccomend it to anyone. Happy reading!!!

My name is Stephanie and I think that you should read this book. Here is why. Jack and Annie fly off in the magic tree house to an ocean. There they find a boat to go inside. Jack starts studying the boat while Annie plays on the computer. She accidentally presses a button that makes the boat drop down into the ocean and sail. Holly cow! It is a mini submarine! They run into a shark, but their new dolphin friends save the day. Join Jack and Annie in their search for the mystery item that will allow them to return home. Will they ever find it and return home? You'll have to read this book to find out. I think you'll love this book. I know that I did. Happy reading!

Mary Stewart is a genius; every time I read her books, I am filled with pleasure mixed with acute jealousy. Her descriptive and suspense-stringing talents have yet to be topped. This book is one of the best. If not as magical as This Rough Magic, it is much stronger on the romance and keeps suspense longer than any of her other books. I never knew, by the way, how many different settings there were in France until Mary Stewart came along--this one is quite Gothic in a 1960s-glamour way.

Like most of Mary Stewart's novels, this one also centers around a beautiful and brave heroine. However, each and every one of these novels are different in content as well as in plot, so that even though you think you know what the outcome is going to be, in reality you don't! I read most of Mary Stewart's novels when I was a teenager (when I used to borrow them), but 15 years down the road, I find myself rummaging through bookstores for them - to be able to reread them, but more because I want to own my own copies (so that I can reread them yet again in a few year's time)! (Hint: London bookstores carry many of them, esp. Dillon's and Books Etc..) 'Nine Coaches Waiting' is great in the sense that it transports the reader into the rustic countryside of France, which Mary Stewart describes, as always, with so much pleasurable detail. The sense of mystery is heightened as the heroine searches for the truth behind the troubled family for whom she works; and the romance is made more even more romantic with the notions of 'unrequited love' and 'forbidden love'. I think that with most Mary Stewart's novels, there is never a huge emphasis on romantic love in terms of action or words, but better still, she concentrates on the inner feelings of longing and sacrifice (esp. before the official 'start' of a relationship) which serve to enhance the romantic atmosphere of her books.

I have read quite a few of Mary Stewart's books and for anyone who is interested "This Rough Magic" ties with "Nine Coaches". "The Moon-Spinners" is very good, so is "My Brother Michael" and "Airs Above the Ground". These are more along the romance line as opposed to fantasy as in "The Crystal Cave" which was very good but a different style of story.

I first found Mary Stewart when I was rather young The Wonderful World of Disney did "The Moon-Spinners" with Haley Mills. I was hooked and I still enjoy her books as true mystery romances with the covers falling off and all.

I come from Western Australia and books are hard to find on the subject of eating disorders. A friend from the States sent me this book because she knew we were having problems finding anything written by a parent for a parent. As I read through the pages it was as if she was talking about my life, my feelings, my fears, my terror for my daughter. It helped my feelings of isolation subside, I now knew we were not battling this alone a lot of other parent's were fighting this terrible disorder. I stopped feeling as though we could not win this fight for our daughters life, if Mary Callaghan could survive so could we, so could our daughter. I cannot thank the author enough for this book, it is essential reading for any parent who finds themself in this situation.

I am editor of a newsletter called Positive Voices dedicated to helping families cope when a loved one suffers from an eating disorder. Mary's book, Wrinkles on the Heart, was recommended to me by one of the previous reviewers. It is the ONLY book I have been able to locate written by and for families dealing with eating disorders. Mary's book has been an inspiration to my family with our daughter's illness. Mary, thank you for sharing your struggles with us, so we know we are not alone and to inspire us with your words to continue battling this illness together, as a family. Thank you for your Positive Voice! Megan Bryan

My daughter has an eating disorder and I have done extensive research on the net in an effort to help her. I've read extensively about these disorders and, one day, I just happened to find "Wrinkles on the Heart" by Mary Callaghan. I ordered it since it was a journal written by a mother, which is very unusual.

This book is a treasure! When I received it, I could not put it down because I felt like I was living with her family and actually experiencing their harrowing ordeal. In all the research I've done, there was no help for parents' coping with these diseases, so Wrinkles was like a bonanza. Mary knew my feelings and didn't criticize me because of them. She was one of us. She tried to help with guidelines and common sense advice. I loved this journal so much that I ordered it for two friends of mine. It helped me learn to cope with the mixed feelings about my daughter and the terrible insecurity in not knowing how to deal with it.

I owe this author so much, because her book has changed my life and my daughter's. "Wrinkles on the Heart" really was a secret but, fortunately, I found it.

I was given this book for Christmas. I didn't expect it to be any good, but I was wrong. From the very first page, questions rose from my mind. But the most prominant question was - WHY didn't I read it sooner?
This is the story about a group of friends torn apart by one tragic night of poor decisions and a life time of anyting but happy endings.
Aimee was the victim of sexual child abuse.
Zoe was the victim of a friendship that couldn't win.
While reading, you're bound to form questions in your mind. Write them down, as see just how quickly they're answered. I garuntee it'll be quickly.
MaryBeth Miller has a style of writing I've been yearning for in the mix of boring young adult dramas. Her unique voice touches, GRABS you and rips you in to the world of Zoe.
One thing is for sure.
You won't forget Zoe or Aimee after you read.

Though I read this book more than four months ago now, clips of the author's gentle yet unyeildingly powerful words still flash before my mind.

The book is about a group of friends torn apart by a sequence of terrible events. Aimee, the best friend of lead character Zoe, commit suicide about a year ago when the book takes place. Zoe was charged with murder because she was sleeping over at Aimee's house that night. We get conflicts of viewpoint throughout, which makes for an incredibly moving storyline, but we also feel Zoe's shame and inability to forgive herself. Though she was proven not guilty at trial, she still feels responsible.

You also get a wonderfully emotional look at Zoe's life. The author speaks so genuinely, it's impossible to believe that she hasn't lived Zoe's life. The words flow easily and make the story both darkly wonderful and easier to relate to. Zoe feel entirely unloved by her parents, and feels that her group of friends from "there" were the only people who ever understood her. All the bad memories are covered by the wonderful memories.

It's a book that keeps you guessing. Will Zoe and Chard be able to make it as more than friends? Can her parents, in spite of their possible divorce/separation, become closer to her and show her she's cared for? And, most importantly, can Zoe ever overcome her traumatized adolescence?

Buy the book and find out!

A Review by Tiffany

Best Friends with Aimee, Zoë did everything that they every wanted to do. They had the cutest boys in the world. The ones that are caring and won't go tell his best friend everything that they did the night before. But one night everyone's life comes to complete stop. Zoë ends up with charges against her and Aimee is dead by her own hand. After everything went wrong Zoë has been herself since. Her family life is torn apart and the one person she ever loved she can't even see him.

I like how this book keeps going back and forth to the past and present. It keeps me reading. It leads up to what she really has now. Her life is a mess. At least her love Chard is still by her side. And that nothing can put them in the way of seeing each other. I learned that every life is precious. That one fatal move can hurt some ones life forever. Mary Beth Miller is one of the best authors. Every page leaves you in a wondering mind. Like what is going to happen on the next page. For a while there I thought it was based on a true story. I think that it should be a movie.

I would recommend this to anyone. All ages should read this book in there life. It might make a big difference.