Like most fans, I first saw Michael on 2Gether. I loved the concept and went to work on finding out more info on Mike and the show. Of course, Mike was my favorite, not just be cause he was cute, but I loved his personality. Once I learned that he, in fact, did have cancer, I was shocked. I ordered his book and read it. I am only 14, but I could only imagine the pain that he must have gone through. I had signed up for many fan newsletters and egroups that involved him and I was even thinking about starting a website dedicated to Mike. One day, I signed on to AOL and read that Michael had died. Even though I had never met Michael, I felt grief for him. He was very strong and his light will live on forever. I have a sort of tribute in my locker at school which is dedicated to Michael. I also gave magnets that I made to all my friends to put in their lockers so everyone can see what an impact he had on others. He prooved that you CAN fight something that's going against you. I reccomend you all to buy this book and learn the story.

I've been a big fan of Michael Cuccione since he appeared in the TV movie 2Gether. When I found out he had cancer, I decided to buy this book since some of the profits go to his charity. Having read it, I'm amazed at how he managed to stay focused on helping other people when he was going through the suffering of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and the other painful treatments for cancer. I think it's wonderful that he started the Michael Cuccione Foundation to find a cure for cancer. I'm definietly going to have to donate to his foundation now. He's a great person, and he's working for a great cause, a cure for cancer.

This book Is the best book you will ever read! Michael Cuccione touched my heart with this book. WHen I first saw him on 2gether I thought, "man he's pretty cute." Then I found out more about him. My heart didn't break when I heard he had Hodgkin's Disease because he survived. My heart broke when I heard at 4 am when I was sick laying on the couch and heard on MTV news that Michael Cuccione died 8 days after his 16th birthday. Well anyway We love you Michael and we miss and Any one who is reading this go buy this book and read it!

This wonderful picture book, including ten tired dinosaurs from prize-winning writer Jane Yolen and best-selling illustrator Mark Teague celebrates the funny, endearing book that most children will love for many years. I thought this book was great! My 3 year old cousin comes over every so often to spend the night, but has trouble sleeping someplace else other than his home. When I saw this book there was no contemplating buying it, since Justin (my cousin) adores dinosaurs. The pictures are fantastic and the story line is excellent. This book works great when were trying to put him to sleep. The dinosaurs are a good influence in showing children that dinosaurs also give their loved ones hugs and kisses before going to bed, and may even cry a little or throw themselves on the bed. I think a lot of children can relate to this book, and find it enjoyable, and like my cousin, can not wait until we get to read the book. This humorous bedtime story I'm sure will be a hit for anyone who has younger children.

This is one of those books that I love to give as gifts. It is great for preschoolers. My 4 children have lots of laughs and can all participate with the story. It's rhyming text makes it easy for the kids to join in. I would highly recommend this book as well as their book "HOW DOES A DINASOUR GET WELL SOON?"

This is a wonderful book. Every page has the name of the dinosaur somewhere within the bedroom. And they are also all pictured with the name below on the first and last pages of the book. It starts off with "How do dinosaurs say goodnight when (and it is papa the first half of the book and then mama) comes in to turn off the light?" The dinosaurs are in bed and are basically large children and how they either will or won't want to go to bed, i.e "fall on his covers and cry?" or "stomp hisfeet on the floor and shout I want to hear one book more." All actions that any person who has read a child a bedtime story can relate too. Every child that I know has this book and loves it. You can enjoy reading it for it is basically simple reading that a child learning to read can memorize and tell you the story. Or sometimes they will just make up new actions to go along with the beautifully illustrated pictures. And the whole time they can learn all the dinosaurs. I think that this is a must for every in house library. Any kid will love it!

Book two began exactly where the first left off! Cassie was part of the Circle. Faye was blackmailing Cassie to help her become the Coven's leader when the votes were next cast. Cassie, torn between what she felt for Adam and her loyalty toward Diana, would do almost anything to keep Faye from twisting truths into believable lies!

Meanwhile, more dark energy escapes from the crystal skull and more kids are found dead from the high school. Cassie will lose a loved one, find her working stone, learn some shocking family secrets, and her grandmother will reveal who Black John is and where he is now!

Lastly, all secrets of all the Coven members are about to be revealed!

***** This one is not as gripping as the first was, but still exciting! (Cassie is finally getting a back bone!) I am left eager to dive into the third book! Thank goodness I purchased all three books of this trilogy at once! Terrific series! *****

Book two began exactly where the first left off! Cassie was part of the Circle. Faye was blackmailing Cassie to help her become the Coven's leader when the votes were next cast. Cassie, torn between what she felt for Adam and her loyalty toward Diana, would do almost anything to keep Faye from twisting truths into believable lies!

Meanwhile, more dark energy escapes from the crystal skull and more kids are found dead from the high school. Cassie will lose a loved one, find her working stone, learn some shocking family secrets, and her grandmother will reveal who Black John is and where he is now!

Lastly, all secrets of all the Coven members are about to be revealed!

***** This one is not as gripping as the first was, but still exciting! (Cassie is finally getting a back bone!) I am left eager to dive into the third book! Thank goodness I purchased all three books of this trilogy at once! Terrific series! *****

Book two began exactly where the first left off! Cassie was part of the Circle. Faye was blackmailing Cassie to help her become the Coven's leader when the votes were next cast. Cassie, torn between what she felt for Adam and her loyalty toward Diana, would do almost anything to keep Faye from twisting truths into believable lies!

Meanwhile, more dark energy escapes from the crystal skull and more kids are found dead from the high school. Cassie will lose a loved one, find her working stone, learn some shocking family secrets, and her grandmother will reveal who Black John is and where he is now!

Lastly, all secrets of all the Coven members are about to be revealed!

***** This one is not as gripping as the first was, but still exciting! (Cassie is finally getting a back bone!) I am left eager to dive into the third book! Thank goodness I purchased all three books of this trilogy at once! Terrific series!

Roger Fouts presents his heart-warming story of his involvement in the study of chimpanzees and their ability to communicate with humans through the use of sign language. Roger has been involved in this study for over 30 years since he was a graduate student working for the Gardeners, a husband/wife research team who had the idea to raise chimps like human children and to use signs with them.

We soon learn that the chimps quickly acquire many signs and that they can use the signs in inventive ways. According to Fouts, chimps can actually create spontaneous sentences using signs. This means that humans are not the only animals who think and use language.

After reading this book, you will change your mind about animals and you will see that animal experimentation is horrid and uncalled for. To think that there are sentient beings living for years in small cages in order to participate in experiments that ultimately lead to their deaths is unnerving. If this book inspires a few people to actively become involved in helping to free primates and other animals from cruel captivity, it will be wonderful. The book also makes us realize that we are not too far removed from chimps genetically.

Roger Fouts should be rewarded for his pioneering work with chimps. The chimps should be rewarded by humans treating them humanely.

Words will never express the impact this book will have on its readers. Anyone who cares, even remotely, about animals and about our stewardship regarding them will find in it all the arguments needed to be a convincing and impassioned advocate for the wellbeing of our fellow species.

Not all animals can communicate to the level that our nearest of kin can, but all of them suffer similarly when treated with anything less than compassion and concern.

I think Fouts should receive a Nobel Peace Prize. He has truly "captured" the chimpanzee as no one else has (with the exception of Jane Goodall). Instead of a Nobel, he has received the condemnation of those scientists with a vested interest in maintaining the "status quo" in research facilities, so that "their" chimpanzees are "safe" from Fouts' liberating ideas and will never receive the quality of life that is available to them in captivity when people care enough to respond with kindness and civility.

This is a landmark book. I can't recommend it highly enough. I applaud all those involved in its creation, and hope it will create the ripple in the water that will turn to a tidal wave of reaction and CAUSE the reforms so desperately needed where captive animals -- and their counterparts in the wild -- are concerned.

If you read it, you will never be the same.

After reading Fout's Next Of Kin I was speechless. I can express how wonderful it is to learn from an indivdual whose humility, concern for life and compassion is his life work. I simply could not put the book down! It was one of the most thoughtful, eye-opening, and educated books that I have ever read. Having the opportunity to listen to Roger Fouts speak on booktour, my heart opened to his message of compassion; his willingness to express his feelings and experiences to a group of strangers further enhanced my view of this incredible individual. A book that will change your life and the way you see our next of kin and the fellow animals of this world.

You might have read a lot of vampire-romance novels but this one certainly rates a 10. The story itself has a good plot and amazing characters to suit their purposes. The three sisters, Rowan, Kestrel and Jade, uncannily beatiful, are actually fugitives from Night World and their brother Ash is sent to take them home. Both male and female lead role are superb. Their roles fit them perfectly. Ash, a vampire whose whole life changed after finding his soulmate is a human and Mary-Lynette a girl with a strong character who wasn't really willing to accept the fact that Ash is her soulmate. And of course...the way the authour tells her story and the words she uses..it's absolutely incredible.

This book is my favorite one. I've read it eight times. All of L.J. Smith's books are fantastic; she's my absolute favorite writer. Her writing style is very natural and realistic and her characters are so real, you start looking for them in real life. I fell in love with Ash, especially in how, even though he's a fierce vampire, he's completely helpless when it comes to Mary Lynette. Smith writes the most wonderful characters. I never liked fantasy or romance novels, but her books are a notable exception. My friends think I'm crazy because I'm in college and I'm still reading YA books, but, I'm telling you, her books are ageless!!! If you haven't read this, you're definitely missing out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Personally, I feel this book is the best in the Night World series, because I love the character Ash. He is such a hottie, though he has many personality flaws and actions to be ashamed of. That just makes him a more realistic character. Mary-Lynette and the rest of the characters are well thought-out also, and I hope to read about them in the future. This is my favorite series of L.J. Smith's, because in incorporates all creatures of the night. I look forward to reading Huntress and Black Dawn, since I've read all the other Night World books numerous times already, to indulge my fantasy craving mind. My only disappointment is that there are no shapeshifter soulmates. They must be just as intriguing as witches and vampires. And why can't I find Volume one of the Vampire Diaries anywhere? That series must be out of print, though it isn't old

This is my second favourite book because it has a strong heroine. I prefer girls who kick butt. Wild and dangerous, Jez Redfern is a fiery, beautiful vampire who is leader of a gang of vampires. On the last hunt of her life, Jez discovers a secret about herself and is forced to leave behind her former life. That means leaving her gang - Morgead, Pierce, Raven, Thistle and Val. She finds a friend in the human boy Hugh and joins Circle Daybreak.

A year later, she's back and Morgead wants to know where she's been. If she tells him, she's risking her own life so she lies. She tells him she's back to take over the gang again but she's really there to steal a little girl from under his nose. Four Wild Powers have been born. Four kids who will be the ones to save the world. The Night World council is desperate to get their hands on just one so they can destroy the Wild Power and hopefully regain control of the world.

Jez finds herself in a very strange situation. On the one hand, she is sickened by the horrible things her gang does and on the other hand, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Morgead. Both are fighters and both are fighting these strange feelings but Morgead doesn't know Jez's secret and everything is heading towards a showdown between Jez and her friends and the mysterious and powerful Hunter Redfern who will stop at nothing to achieve his plans.

This is a great book! This is the start of the books concerning Wild Powers and in my opinion, is the best Wild Power book. The main characters are strong, the supporting characters are well written and the plot is good. Definitely one of my favourites.

I love this book. I think this is my favorite book out of most of the Night World books i've read. I couldn't put it down the first time I read it until i got to the end and I'm still reading it again and again. I love all the characters, especially Jez, strong-willed, beautiful and righteous. And Morgead is just...wow. He always has an aura of danger about him and is absolutely gorgeous. I cried so much at the end when everything was revealed and Jez was staked. All in all this book is terrific, splendid, marvelous, intriguing, superb, exceptional, Wow, fascinating, amazing, extraordinary, spellbinding, and did I mention Wow? If anyone who is reading this hasn't read Huntress, get it and read it. Then read the rest in the series.

Jez Redfern had thought she was 100% vampire. She was leader of one of the most influential gangs in the night world. But one fateful night she learned the truth! Her father had been vampire, but her mother had been human! The Council had killed her parents while she was still a tiny child, and would have killed her (as a freak of nature) except for her Uncle Bracken. Devastated, she was sent to live (hide) with her mother's relatives. They did not know her true heritage. As long as she did not drink blood, she could pass as human. She became part of Circle Daybreak, a vampire hunter!

But Circle Daybreak sent her to rejoin her old gang in order to locate one of the legendary Wild Powers that their current leader, Morgead, claimed to have found. Morgead had been her second in command and was highly dangerous. Worse, some sort of twisted fate made them to be soul mates! Should he find out she was half human, he would kill her instantly!

***** An awesome tale! WOW! This book is fabulous! You will not regret purchasing this one, readers! I am currently searching for the next! Oh, this one is a book in itself, but there will obviously be others! A winner!

OK, I realize that most of Nick's (and BsB's) fans are about 15 or so, but there is the occasional adult (at 19, I'm close enough) who thinks he's pretty hot, and has a great voice. This book had a lot of really good information that only Jane Carter could know, (and also some great pictures), but I got kind of annoyed with the excerpts in cheesy boxes surrounded by stars on each page. And then of course there are the pages of photos that say "Nick...so hot...so cool". If my mom was showing pictures of me in acid-washed denim, (or any pictures of me for that matter) and saying "so hot...so cool" I would have her checked out at the nearest mental institution. I think Jane Carter definitely had a good idea when she wrote this book, although if I had been her publisher I would have made it a little less like Teen Beat.

When I read this book I was big BSB Fan, and I loved it! But I will tell you this if you are not a huge BSB fan, I don't recommand it. It is not a book for just any one, for it is really the Heart and Soul of Nick Carter. His mother I guess you could say brags about her wonderful son and all his accomplishments and shares cute pictures. But with me not being as big of a fan as I used to I don't appreciate it as much. And I will say this very honestly, if you love BSB and want to be the #1 Fan, buy it and read it, you will enjoy learning new things, but if not and you are a fan just looking for a good book I don't recomand it you wil probably see it differently as a mother bragging in a bad way (he has this you don't kind of way)and not appreciate this. Jane Carter just wanted to entertian the true fans with the truth the whole truth about her son, not tring to brag in the process, but its hard not to with a son like nick!

I bought this book not only because I like the BSB's, but because I wanted to see Nick Carter grow up through someone's eyes who knew him well. I've finished the book and I feel as if I've known Nick ever since he was a little boy. I was there when he sang 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' I was there when he was busting a move on the Yankee Rebel dance floor. Jane, you've made this book so unbelieveably wonderful it feel's like I actually grew up with Nick, you and the rest of the family. Through the highs and the lows of your family's life to Nick and Aaron's rise to fame, you've told us things only a mother would know, and I am honored to be apart of it. I'm a 15 year old girl who lives in Australia and have never seen the BSB's perform live or really get to know what they are like (even though I know they're nice people!), but with this book, you've showed me exactly how nice and talented one fifth of the Backstreet Boys really are. I feel like I now know Nick: the person and not just Nick: the Backstreet Boy. I can't thank you enough for writing this book, but thank you, thank you, thank you!! Peace, love and give Nick & Aaron a huge hug from me!! Natalie Nikolovski

This book is so great. I was just scanning through L.J. Smith books, seeing what people wrote about them, and I ws amazed to see that I had never written a review for Chosen. I was in shock. How could I have overlooked my almost-favorite Night World book? (Second only to Daughters of Darkness!) So here's my belated review: Rashel is a vampire-hunter. Her family was killed by vampires when she was very small. Ever since then, she has taken her revenge against the Night World, eliminating them one-by-one. Then she meets Quinn. Sparks fly. She wants to hate him, hate everything he stands for, but she can't because they're soulmates. The melodrama works perfectly when it's edged in with suspense. This book is a definite 10 on my scale.

As the fifth book in the Night World series, especially after the insipid 4th novel "Dark Angel", it was a surprise how brilliant this one was. "The Chosen" breaks free of Night World formula, Rashel Jordan, a fierce vampire hunter out for vengeance for her mother's death does not fall in love with John Quinn an especially ruthless made vampire immediately, she instead tries to stake him.

I loved the characters in this book Rashel isn't a powerless, insipid small town girl looking for love like other heroines in the series. She is a master of martial arts and has already been exposed to the Night World by her mother's murder when she was 5. This book heralded a change in the series moving from light weight YA romance to deeper themes. It answers many questions about the Night World like "are there any humans who know about the Night World and do they hunt down its members?" Yes and Rashel "The Cat" Jordan is one of the most efficient hunters of night world prey, "Do Night Worlders ever tire of immortal life?" Yes John Quinn is close to cracking under the weight of living since Puritan times, until he meets Rashel and so an unlikely cat and mouse romance begins. Should she stake him? Should he make her a vampire like him? How can a slayer and a vampire fall in love?

This is very reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the plot deals with how bad Night Worlders (who before this we have never really seen)think and deal with vermin/humans. A smuggling operation with human runaways as food supplies brings Quinn and Rashel together, with her determined to stop it and Quinn an equal partner in the enterprise. True to form Quinn and Rashel are soulmates who must now find a way to co-exist. For those who were heartbroken when Angel left Buffy this acts as great consolation. I urge evryone to buy this book, even if previous Night World offerings left you cold, this is where the story changes!!

I love this book so much! HUNTRESS and DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is tied for the #2 spot. Rashel is a vampire hunter, who had seen a vampire "eat" her friend Timmy, kill her mother, and set her great-aunt's house on fire (she herself had escaped) when she was five. Rashel is known as the Cat, a vampire hunter who always leaves a mark similiar to a cat's claws. She meets a vampire Quinn, when she's with a group of vampire hunters on a mission. Rashel knocks him out and they tie him. While the other vampire hunters go check to make sure there are no more vampires in the area, she and Quinn *rendevous*. Rashel learns a lot about his history, and she feels pity for him. Rashel decides to free him, although the vampire hunters no longer trust her...I really admire Rashel's courage and strength, and Quinn was really kind and loving at the end. THE CHOSEN is absolutely! ! positively one of LJS's best books. I'm still waiting for! STRANGE FATE to come out, and I still love the soulmate principle, however nonrealistic it may be. Q.L.

This book is the perfect read for small children at bedtime.Even the beautiful and sweet (but not sappy or saccharine)illustrations convey the sense of the world going to sleep that is very soothing. Careful you don't fall asleep yourself!
kids age 2-4 loved it. The rhymes are deceptively simple, but the perfect cadence to help kids relax for bed:
"It's time for bed, Little goose, little goose,
The stars are out and on the loose."
If the kids still aren't asleep at the end of the book, we made up our own rhymes for more animals going to sleep, reread the book, and it was guaranteed sleepy time.
A wonderful bedtime story-definite winner.

I am a mother of two boys ages 3 and 1. They love the rhyming and artwork found throughout the book. My three year old memorized it at age two and can read it two his brother. The illustrations are very real, and the kids practice their anaimal sounds on every page. You will want to buy a copy for everyone you know with small children. It's a great shower gift for families-to-be.

My daughter received this as a Christmas gift and it has quickly become her favorite book, even at 9 months old. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is rhythmic and lulling. Every night, we snuggle together, just like the animals do in the book, and read this at least three times before bed, since she likes it so much. I cannot think of another book that I have that will allow my 9 month old to sit still for ONE reading, much less three in a row. This was a perfect gift and will be cherished for many years to come. Definitely a must-have for children!

I've read this book about four times, and I'll probably still continue to read it. I have this goal to actually get myself to read the Night World Series in order, but unfortunately, sense my boyfriend has some of my books, when I did decide "Ok, I'm going to do it" I had to skip over some books. LJ Smith writes great characters. This story seems to be one of those things that is just fancinating about vampires. A girl is about to die, and her only way to live is to become a vampire. Its romantic, it has an edge of evil to it, and its a great intro to the series. The series just glides right into things. I began to notice, recently, that they seem to be flowing in a yearly manor. Poppy finds out she's got cancer just after school let's out, Ash finds his soulmate just before school's back in session, the book after that happens toward the beginning of the school year, and so on. It really is just one long series and you get to meet so many different lives. Secret Vampire is still my fav. And actually, everyone seems to be always mentioning Ash. I really didn't find anything about his character that special in this book. He has a good part and I love him in the book after this, or rather I just love how Mary Lennette treats him. These books are funny, suspensful and romantic, just a good mix. Don't let these books pass you by.

LJ Smith has been one of my favorite authors since I was in junior high school. Her books are all about the supernatural, but you don't have to be a science-fiction, horror story lover to enjoy them. The Night World is a series about vampires, witches, shapeshifters, and the humans who know about them. However, don't be turned off if this isn't typically your thing. They are more love stories between teenagers who hapen to be supernatural beings than they are books about supernatural beings who happen to fall in love. The characters are easy to relate to because they have the same types of problems that normal teenagers have, fangs and all.
Secret Vampire is one of the best Night World books in the series. James is a vampire whose human best friend, Poppy, is dying of cancer. He has to choose between breaking the laws of his people or letting Poppy die. He also has to face the obstacles of Phil, Poppy's possessive twin brother, Poppy's stubborness, and Ash, James' ruthless vampire cousin.
I would recommend Secret Vampire for any teen girl, because in encompasses a wide variety of genres into one book without going too heavily into any of them.

this book was the first book that i have ever read of the night world series. this book is about a girl, poppy, who gets cancer. then her best friend and secret love, james, offers her a chance to live. but to live, she must become a vampire. the rest, you'll have to read. myself, i don't like it when people who write online reviews spill the beans about the ending. after this book, i was hooked onto l.j. smith's books. im sure you will too. :)