An old reviewer, with a sour look

Went out looking for his favorite book.

It was full of fairies, brownies, too.

But it couldn't be found, So what to do?

I spent years looking for the original, which commands $200-300. (It's worth it, too. I just don't have it.)

What do the readers do, when a book is out of print?

As they go through the years, and never see,

The Cannery Bear, or the house tomte,

Or the Littlest Mermaid again. Oh, gee!

I wouldn't be one - would you?

Well, now you don't have to be - it's back. That's all I need to tell the people who read it before, when it was called The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies.

For the rest of you, please understand that it's hard to describe this book objectively. Seeing it again is an incredibly joyous reunion. Garth Williams paints elves so that the sense of wonder is palpably displayed. The stories and poems are exciting, moving, pensive, and fun. The children in your life will love it. The grown-ups won't mind reading it to them. I do not know anybody who had this book as a child who isn't in love with it.

So the Elves and Fairies now live on my shelf.

And I read it all day, and I like myself.

I received this wonderful Elf and Fairy book from my parents when I was 5 and visiting relatives in Phadelphia for Christmas. My Dad read me the stories each night and I was enchanted with the illustrations and the sly humor (and messages) of the wee folk. (Jane Werner's selection of stories and poems was perfectly balanced.) My 1951 edition is also well worn and both covers missing but it is still a treasured childhood friend. I was showing it to a coworker (mentioning sadly that it was out of print) and he said - Are you sure? Try Amazon.com. and then came my Magical Moment - the title appeared and I was thrilled beyond words! My advice: Buy 1 to read, several to give to friends, and one to keep under glass (just in case). I only wish Garth Williams was still with us to see his luminous, enchanting artwork alive and dancing in the imaginations of new generations of children, and the young in heart. Thank you so much, Little Golden Book publishers for the reprinting and cudos to Amazon.com for the price discount. Happy Holidays!

I've held my childhood memories of the illustrations from this beautiful book for years, and I've periodically searched for another copy. I was thrilled to see it re-issued, and prayed that the illustrations hadn't been "modernized". What a thrill when it arrived! My five year old daughter is as entranced with it as I was at her age, and will ask to replace her night-time tv program with the "magic fairy book". The stories are somewhat long for small children, but they hold the attention of my daughter very well. When we've finished reading, we keep the book open to look at the beautiful illustrations. Every picture in my mind of "Elves or Fairies" is drawn from this book, and there isn't a better place to find them.

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."

So begins this version of the Tao Te Ching. This book provides an experience of the Tao like few others. First, there is the blank page. Lots of white space. The absence, the void.

"The Tao is an empty vessel; it is used, but never filled."

"Profit comes from what is there, / Usefulness from what is not there."

Emptiness is the vessel which contains the words and images of this experience. Each chapter is written in both English and Chinese. I don't even pretend read Chinese, but the characters evoke a sense of something beyond ...

"The form of the formless / the image of the imageless / it is called indefinable and beyond imagination."

The English translation reads smoothly. This is not the awkward prose frequently stumbled over when a scholar attempts to reproduce the ambiguities of the original in a foreign tongue. These words play smoothly together. The text does

"not tinkle like jade / or clatter like stone chimes."

The final element in this alchemy is the photographs:

"Less and less is done / until non-action is achieved. / When nothing is done, nothing is left undone."

Absent in this volume are the reams of footnotes which clutter most Taos I've read. Absent, too, are chapters on historical background and the relationship to Confucianism. If you seek these things, seek elsewhere.

For me, this book has opened a way to the Tao.

It is hardly difficult to understand the enduring quality of the Tao Te Ching. Written by Lao Tsu in the sixth century BC is a simple, quiet book that reflects upon our true nature and our behavior. Broken up into 81 'chapters' or short poems, it comprises a mere 5,000 words. Every other sentence is a memorable quote, and one can read it in an hour and study it for a lifetime.

What I do find remarkable is the durability of this particular edition. My copy is ancient, dating back to my college days. At frequent intervals it seems to come to hand and I will peruse it again and enjoy the clarity of this translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. They have carefully chosen a simple, accessible style which I feel completely captures the nature of the Tao. "What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man.

What is a bad man? A good man's charge."

Accompanying the text are many fine examples of Gia-Fu Feng's calligraphy and Jane English's photographs. While I like Chinese calligraphy, I lack the understanding to make any judgement. I can only report that it shows flow and grace, and works perfectly with English's photographs. These latter capture, most often with natural images, a play of contrast which often is as calligraphic as the accompanying handwriting. Thus, the book itself is a careful balance between content and form.

At the end of the day, or in an otherwise tense moment, this volume has often been the source of the tiny bit of sanity that makes the next day possible. There is much to meditate on here and this edition is a precious resource for the seeking mind.

For me, the Tao Te Ching is the most profound book ever written. This version is my personal favorite. I find the the gorgeous pictures go a long way to helping my limited understanding of the text.

Ann Likes Red was my sister's favorite book as a child. I read it to her so many times, I had it memorized. (Ann likes red; red, red, red). I look for it at old book sales and libraries. She just had her first daughter and I would love to find a copy as a gift.

This book was the first childhood memory when I was three and I would love to own it. I used to have my mom check it out of the library every time we went. I never owned a copy but would love to show my nieces who are little and any future children. It is a definite must be read to all little girls. Would be a dream for me to have it reprinted so that others who remember it and want to share it as I do can buy it.

Amazing. I don't know what possessed me to do a search for this title today--and I'm stunned (and thrilled) that anyone other than me even remembers it! This was the first book I remember reading, too, in kindergarten or first grade, and I can still recite it 35 years later. I well remember the excitement of the very first time I read it--what a sense of accomplishment! (I'm sure it's no coincidence that I went on to work in publishing . . .)

As a new homeowner and a woman, this book arrived just in the nick of time! It is incredibly well-written, and completely captivating in its style. Most importantly, it provides the key to the previously forbidden, male dominated world of home repair. I hope the team of Warren and Craig provide many sequels. I can't wait for the next one!

As a first-time homeowner, I received The Official Rent-a-Husband Guide as a gift. Little did I know, what a treasure I had received! It was the most fun I've ever had reading a book. Pure pleasure...like eating an ice cream cone on a hot day! Of course, I received a complete educaction on the workings of my home without even trying!! The authors,a rising entrepreneur and an exceptional writer, are a true power couple.

At last, a "husband" who understands how to communicate with a lady! Not only does Kaile Warren write in an easy to understand manner that makes home repair tasks seem less daunting, his sense of humor comes through in every chapter! From clever chapter titles to the witty stories of Rent-A-Husbands on the job this book is a pleasure to read. Kaile's Insider Tips are an extra bonus as he dispenses advice that will help readers save time, space and best of all, lots of money! If you never attempt a repair of your own, I still recommend reading this book as you can gain valuable knowledge about how a project should be done. Not a bad way to check up on your own handyman!

In another review I read that this is William Jefferson Clinton's favorite golf book. You know since he has left the presidency he has a pretty good swing. Though I feel sorry for the guy because no one believes his scores, as a result he will probably never be accepted as a credible golfer.

Now to this book. No I do not believe golf is a woman's game. It is no ones game. The game is equally brutal to us all. However, I do applaud the author for writing an excellent instructional manual that is also a very pleasant read.
The author believes golf is a woman's game because women (compared to men) lack physical strength so their bodies naturally accomodate for difference through the use of technique. She has a sub-chapter called the effiency ratio where she discusses the amount of physical strength vs distance and she explains that the swings efficacy not the distance the ball travels represents a good golf swing.
A very good book that reveals a lot of myths and one that is definitely worth reading.

And as for William Jefferson, I believe you and keep swinging... it's looking good.

One of the better golf books on the market. Actually it is very similiar to Rick Smith's book "How to find your perfect golf swing" (which is another great book). However "Golf is a Woman's Game" was published before Smith's which leads me to believe the author Horn is well ahead of her time.

I did not agree with all of Horn's theories and found the illustrations to be ok. But despite these setbacks it really was a very excellent book.

I gave it a five star rating and believe a lot of men (who are not intimidated by the title) would benefit by reading this book. It shows how a man's forearm strength can actually hurt his golf game. Any way, I strongly recommend this book, it has some great information, one of my favorites was the chapter "Observations on Women and Golf"....a lot of cute stories.

...I have not been able to find any. Not only that, no derogatory references to men etc. not even the slightest hint. The heart of the book are its myths. The author says that many of these myths have been taught to men, however women seem to be targeted more frequently. The myths are "keep your eye on the ball" "Throw your hips into the shot" "keep your left arm straight" etc there are about 40. I honestly felt that the myths should have been better highlighted (I had to go through the book Highlighting with my magic marker). The author does an excellent job of explaining how these myths will harm your golf swing.

The psychology of the game was great, I particularly liked the chapters on Golf Viruses (I think we have a few contagious one's at our club)and The Subconscious mind, where the author talks about her personal experiences. And my Favorite section was observations on Women and Golf, I guess this is the chapter where the supposed male-bashing takes place, however I did not percieve it as such...I thought they were entertaining stories.

In all this is really a well written, good golf book and one a lot of men and women would benefit reading. I give it an A++++++

The Diamond in the Window is the start of Jane Langton's Concord series (for children, unlike much of her writing). It is, without question, one of the true classics of children's literature, fit to stand next to E. Nesbit, Edward Eager, and J.K. Rowling.

In The Diamond in the Window, Eleanor and Edward discover a boarded up room in their attic - and with it, a family mystery. Their Uncle Ned and Aunt Nora disappeared, years ago, from that attic room, and a few days later, so did a houseguest. While investigating the disappearances, they find a poem written on the stained glass window of the attic, which leads them to adventure and treasure.

One of Langton's great strengths is the amount of adult references she can pack into a book without alienating her child audience. Diamond is full of Transcendentalism and the history of Concord, but the information is presented in a way that makes it accessible to readers of all ages. This is an ideal book for reading aloud to an older kid (6 - 10) - sure to promote discussion, and able to hold interest for both adults and children.

This book is abosolutely great! I read it about a year ago, and I've read at least five times since then. It's about two kids named Eleanor and Eddy, and a riddle they stumble upon in their own house. They got all sorts of clues, such as real dreams, to find the treasure described in it. They end up learning that it was right there in front of them.

I read this book for the first time when I was five or six years old, and 25 years later it stands as one of my favorite books of all time. It's a beautiful fantasy story about two children who experience wonderful and frightening adventures seeking treasure in a dreamworld created by magic, but corrupted by evil. It has adventure, mystery, fantasy, and a little romance, too.

One of the most insightful and thought provoking books I have ever read. Jane Jacobs' classic work on the functioning of cities, though published in 1961, offers a fresh look at our cities and how we choose to live.

Ms. Jacobs' insights grow out of two factors which combine make this an outstanding book. First, she approaches cities as living beings. True, cities are made of bricks and mortar but over time buildings, streets and neighborhoods change in response to the people who live and work in them. Secondly, she bases her conclusions on empirical experience. The author doesn't sit in some ivory tower, theorize how people should live and then expect people's actions to fit those theories. Rather, she observes daily life and from there draws her conclusions.

One item that hit closest to home for me was the book's examination of the effects of public housing. Growing up and living in the Chicago area I knew firsthand that the "projects" were not a desirable place to live. Built at the same time that The Death and Life of Great American Cities was published, Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes were promoted as an improvement to the community. Complete with large parcels of land allocated for parks and bulldozing what were considered "slums" the view at the time was that these projects would improve the vitality of the neighborhood. But, as Ms. Jacobs rightly observed back in 1961, instead of promoting community, projects such as these only set the scene for isolation and fear.

Time has proven this work to be a classic. Many of her observations went against the prevailing wisdom of the era when the book was published. But now, at the dawn of the 21st century, the Robert Taylor Homes face the wrecking ball and cities everywhere are heeding the wisdom in this book as they rethink their approaches toward urban development.

In our urban civilisation reaching thousands of years into history, not one definitive work has chronicled the workings of cities, one of mankind's greatest achievements, as well as Jane Jacobs' landmark 1961 saga of the travails and tribulations of the American city.

The epic spans eras- from the foundations of the Garden City movement in the late 19th century to Jacobs' contemporary 1961. Through this time period she describes how the loathing of urbanism by planners and their subsequent divorce from the realm of public opinion gave rise to the forces of suburbanisation and destruction battering American cities of the mid-20th century. This lays the fundamental groundwork for Jacobs' criticism of contemporary planning methods, especially in her home of New York. Jacobs emanates thoughtful analysis on what works and what does not in regards to the massive projects envisaged and in many cases wrought upon the cityscape.

But perhaps the heart of the book are the chapters in which Jacobs describes how a city works at its most ideal. She chooses only the most exemplary neighbourhoods, those which persevere and spite statistical analysis despite the conventional wisdom of planners. Her own Greenwich Village serves as the book's centrepiece, but Boston's North End and Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square are also featured prominently. Jacobs' arguments for the necessity of density, history, and, above all, diversity in all forms (architectural, street, human, retail, age) are as poignant as they are eloquent. Those pragmatists not immediately taken to heart by Jacobs' paen to urbanity take solace in her intimate and empirical knowledge of economics. Indeed, what makes Jacobs' book so revolutionary is that it does not follow from knowledge handed down by established theory or intellectualism, but from experience, observation, and wisdom, the foundation for her usurpment and subversion of the fallacious atrocities being waged against America's cities.

Liberal at some points, libertarian at others, Jacobs' work must be comprehended not as a work of political ideology but of scientific method. Her opinions are based on but one bias- an innate love for the city. And all who wish to truly understand it in all its objectivity- its trials, mistakes, and triumphs, and her premonitions for our future, are urged to read this. For "Death and Life" is not merely historical perspective on a fleeting problem, but truly a prophecy as well.

Jane Jacob's work has had many reverberations across the United States. The book, written nearly four decades ago, can be credited with helping start the protest and shift of policy makers from using Corbusian designs of urban redevelopment to more traditional rehabilitation, reuse, and revitalization methods to help reinvigorate cities. This book demonstrates the understated complexities and economies of city life, and how those complexities are very fragile and depend on the communication and interaction of people. Most importantly, it helps define community and how community, whether rich or poor, can overcome nearly all social ills and beat the statistics. An essential book for those who study sociology, economics, political science, psychology, architecture, urban planning, and general business

Louisa May Alcott is a trustworthy author - you know what you're getting. Although I hadn't read An Old-Fashioned Girl, I gave my sister a copy, thinking it would be a nice way to get her to continue reading. Not only did it get her reading, she got me so into it, I was waiting to read it for myself. Alcott is a good writer with some great books that have beautifully stood the test of time - this is one of them.

Polly Milton is a country girl visiting friends in the big city. Her quaintness charms the Shaws, especially the adults. As much as the Shaw children also love Polly, they think she is unfashionable and even embarrassing. They are shamed by her unaffected wholesomeness and act as children do, by being unkind and unjust. Polly's innocence and pride are bruised by the careless Fanny, spoiled Maud, and gruff Tom. Her modest ways are tested by the temptations of living with the wealthy Shaws, but her sensitivity to this only supports her personal credo to be as good as possible.

Polly is old-fashioned even by Victorian standards, but her honesty and cheerfulness are contagious. Even as a pragmatic adult, every time I read her story I feel a surge of inspiration and affirmation that it's still worth being good. Her charismatic personality will both beguile and challenge you. A moral, but not moralistic character, Polly leads by example by having fun, (eventually) blooming in the face of adversity, and always being true to herself. Polly's gentleness is layered around a steely core. She doesn't aim to convert you, but won't let others convince her to do what she feels is wrong, as Fanny and her trendy group find out. This is the sort of girl every parent wishes for, every girl needs for a friend, and every guy is looking for.

"Good" heroines usually ring false and are burdensome to the reader. Alcott creates a real girl, who happens to be extremely loving. Polly embraces the world with wise, but accepting arms. She's magnetically sincere, drawing out the best in others. It's hard not to be affected. The Shaws and their friends become interesting and layered characters due to her quiet influence. I didn't like the children intially, but as they became increasingly complex and conflicted, I found them nearly as dear as Polly. There isn't much of a plot per se, but small episodes tied together over the course of a few years, often very funny in the end. The last part in particular will be a surprise - even this experienced reader didn't see it coming!

Read this and feel Polly's (er, Alcott's) magic for yourself! A real treasure you'll want to pass on. It will only get better with age. A few books are part of a journey of a lifetime and I've found that An Old-Fashioned Girl is one of them.

I am 18 and have read this book at least 30 times. Its simplicity and reality seem to reach into my soul and I seem to have found a "kindred spirit" in the heroine. No other fictitious character has ever moved me as has Polly, an old-fashioned girl. A country girl named Polly is visiting city friends and comes to realize that this world is quite different than which she has left. Here people are judged according to their dress and manner of speech rather than for their honesty and hardwork. Yet all who meet Polly cannot help but be enamored of her; her sweet simplicity is unlike any that they have ever seen, and soon everyone comes to realize that Polly is not someone to be laughed at and ridiculed, but someone to put upon a pedistal for failing to become willing prey to the cynicism of the times. Polly is the most understanding and genuine character I have ever read about. Her love for others and her unwillingness to lower her standards and morals for popularity are an inspiration to people of all ages and prove that nothing is wrong with being "an old fashioned girl."

I was introduced to An Old-Fashioned Girl when I was in fourth grade, and I must have read it hundreds of times since. Now that I am in college, I've read Plato, Aristotle, Dante, and other famous authors. But none of these authors have impacted me as much as this classic by Louisa May Alcott. This book gave me the confidence I needed to hold true to my values, and whenever I am tempted to give in to peer pressure, I just think about Polly and her bronze boots. I love this book, and I'm sure I will continue rereading it until the time I die. A definite classic that leaves you feeling warm inside!

I like this book and so do my children. Although it will have more appeal to fathers and sons, any parent and child can enjoy this story of the magical bond that takes place when a parent introduces their child to one of life's moments of wonder.

Who among us doesn't remember wonderful moments when you and you alone were the focus of your father's (or mother's) attention in a special setting that created a life-long memory pleasently returned to again and again. That's the magic of Owl Moon where a little boy takes a long walk in the woods over new fallen snow with his father. They are journeying to, as his older brothers had done before him, find a great owl, if he can be coaxed from his high above throne where he rules the night.

The story is simply told but carries all of the magic foretold by the setting. The water color illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity and convey the wonder of nature and the togetherness of father and son.

Owl Moon is a wonderful story of a young girl's first hunt for the Great Horned Owl with her father. As they trek through the snowy forest, Jane Yolen's text and John Schoenherr's illustrations work together to create a realistic adventure and to express good parenting. The picture book comes to life through a peaceful countryside and a still forest. The child's continual silence and concentration add to the hunt. Within the text the child says, "I put my mittens over my mouth and listened hard." This displays her constant effort to remain quiet and to take the adventure seriously. Each illustration depicts a calm forest dominated by snow and nature. I feel that this book contains ideas that are "simple but not necessarily simplistic" much like Perry Nodelman's analysis of children's literature (221). For instance, in many scenes animals can be found hiding without the knowledge of the characters. The animals all sit calmly. This shows that the intent of the father and child is not to disturb nature but to quietly observe and to be apart of it just while they pass. This idea can not be found written within the text yet, it is understood when they see an owl and do not shoot it. This peaceful respect for nature that the father is instilling in his child is shown when they came to the clearing in the dark woods. She speaks of how the fit it exactly "and the snow below it was whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl." This emphasizes her grasp of the beauty and enjoyment natural world in a child-like way. It brings to mind games equal to finding shapes in clouds. The illustrator has also gone through the trouble of presenting the field in the shape of a large bowl. I feel that the most important aspect of the work is the example of good parenting it delivers. He spends quality time with his children, while he instills important morals. Pa has also taken all of her brothers owling and they have told her "sometimes there's an owl and sometimes there isn't." This reveals a sense of close family unity in which can be seen as the positive message of the story. However, the tone is not didactic. Pa even uses onomatopoeia to make the adventure more intense. He calls the owl with a long "Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo." All of this helps emphasis the joy of the communion with nature. Her father has been instilling a respect for the owl and natural world, while strengthening the father child relationship.

"Owl Moon" tells the story of when a little girl is finally able to stay up way past her bedtime and go owling with her father one cold winter night. Author Jane Yolen knows about owling from her husband, David Stemple, who would take their three children owling on winter nights. Artist John Schoenherr used his own farm and the surrounded woodland as the models for his pen and watercolor illustrations. The story is a prose poem and it captures both the spirit of the experience and its importance to the young girl who knows she is sharing something special with her father. There is a love and respect for nature that is infused to both the words and pictures of "Owl Moon." The only problem is how to read this book to a child at bedtime and have them not drag you out the front door to go owling.

This book tells the story, in sweet prose and art, of a mother and child brought together from opposite corners of the world. It is a worthwhile purchase for any parent of a young child, not just adoptive parents with children from China. Adults interested in this topic would do well to read Karin Evans' book, The Lost Daughters of China, which is linked to this book below.

***

My daughter is from Russia, but she knows this story by heart. She can tell me exactly what that baby was missing: a Mama! Sara knows that this is her story too, just a slightly different place. This book has meant a lot to everybody who has read it, both adoptive and non-adoptive families. It is perfect for children of single-parent families, especially if they have a child from a foreign country. I especially love the part where the mother speaks of her baby's birth-mother with such love. That is exactly how I feel.

The first few times I read this book, I could not finish it without crying. As a single mother of an adopted daughter from China, this is our story too. Lewis tells the story of a single woman in search of a baby to love in a simple, picturesque way. Charming enough for young readers (like my 2 year old daughter) and eloquent enough for all ages. A great gift to give to anyone who adopted a daughter from China or to share with your kids who are curious about your friend's Chinese daughter.