I liked this book because it is a good story of a girl who visits her neighbor who is old and lonely. This lady (Miss Maggie) tells a story to the little girl who visits her (Ellie) about a doll that she had when she was a girl. For her Eighth Birthday she got a doll with big blue eyes. She laid her doll on the hallway table. Then when they heard a crash. It was the doll. Her Birthday was coming up and they bought a present for her. What happened to the doll? To find out what happens next read this book.

Call me sentimental, but there's something to this story that tugs at your heart strings every time you read it. And I've read this at least a dozen times.

The story tells of the relationship between Ellie and her sitter Miss Maggie and of the very special birthday gift that Ellie gets for Maggie out of "pure love."

The illustrations are quite beautiful and complement the story very well. A tender story creates a tender heart. This is the best book in the Chicken Soup for Little Souls' series.

I recently purchased this book for my daughter, also a mother, for her 30th birthday. The book, like all the other "Chicken Soup" books, is filled with writings that will make you smile, bring a tear to your eye, and cause you to reflect upon your own childhood memories of what you either had or perhaps, for whatever reason, did not have in a mother. If you are a mother, yourself, you will relate to the overwhelming love you feel for your children. You will realize how precious and wonderful they are and always will be throughout all the years to come. The book will make you want to hug them... just one more time while they are still yours to hold.

There is something contained in this book for everyone, and written in the typical fashion of pervious books of this nature, each page is a joy to read and incredibly inspiring and heart-warming. For those who have daughters who are also mothers, this book will rekindle that special bond that, every now and then, one takes for granted once they "take wings and leave the nest" to conquer the world on their own. The book speaks of silent thoughts we often neglect to put into words to the children we love so very much. It is a beautiful book!

Another wonderful chicken soup book!!! Full of beautiful heart warming stories and quotes. I enjoyed this book as much as any other of the Chicken Soup books (which is quite a bit). I love the sad, happy, joyful and beautiful stories. Is this book only for mothers though? The answer is definitely no! Dads, grandmas, grandpas, sisters, brothers, anyone whose ever raised and cared for a life younger than them should read this book.

Easy to read, hard to put down. Thats the best way to explain this book. I recommend it for people of all faiths. The stories are both touching and funny. Well written and includes short stories from well known authors like Fulghum and Buscaglia.

More than enough great stories to warm my heart for the holidays ahead. Loved the story about the Cat named Christmas. That one little story is worth buying the whole book!!

Although Percy's output was prodigious compared to some literary greats, his six novels and two major non-fiction works leave his still-growing network of fans looking for more. "Conversations with Walker Percy" meets that need. While the biographies of Percy are helpful, there's nothing quite like hearing it straight from the author in this series of interviews. I finished the volume feeling ready to tackle his novels again prepared to look for gems I'd missed the last time around.

This volume (and its companion, More Conversations With Walker Percy) offers a fascinating and compelling glimpse into the mind of Walker Percy and a valuable study of the development of his literary and philosophical convictions as his career progressed. Though Percy's funny satirical piece "Questions They Never Asked Me" would seem to indicate that he found interviews dull and repetitive, the best pieces here clearly demonstrate the pleasure he took in discussing his ideas with an interested, engaged interviewer.

This book is a extraordinary sephardic narrative, which touch all the sephardic family, notably those from portuguese origins. It's about the permanent jewish war against assimilation and remarks the existence of deep feelings which move, generations after generations, jews to meet your own traditions. My wife, a Pereira, was deeply touched by this book. There are a enigmatic dimension in a jewish indentity, and "The cross and the pear tree"" is a emotive reflection about it.

I read this book just after it was published. Victor Perera's life and background are of interest to all who have an interest in family, history and the journeys of generations. Whether the reader is of Jewsh, Spanish or Portoguese background, he will find things in this book which will astound him. Read this book!

I was first inroduced to this compilation in a graduate survey course on composition theory. The articles started my love affair with the discipline; a tumultuous relationship that has caused me to completely redefine my graduate interests.

Composition theory has evolved through a number of distinct stages over the past few decades; and Villanueva has effectively zeroed in on the key figures and key articles from each period. If you are new to composition theory, these essays will provide you with a solid roadmap through the landscape of rhetorical theory.

If you've been down that road a few times; Villanueva's resource is an excellent refresher course. The editorial choices do not seem to reflect any particular bias. The essays themselves represent many different sides of each school of thought; and are the authors' own words. It is left to the reader then to sift through the particular biases and assumtions of each school of thought.

This book has my highest recommendation for anyone with any interest in the field. For all but the most sagacious, I would consider it a must-have.

Victor Villanueva's text Cross-Talk provides readers with an important edited text incorporating the essential works of the field's major theorists. In doing so he appears to validate all of the theorists he represents in his text, however, if one examines the text it becomes clear that Villanueva privileges a rhetorical perspective, one which embeds learning to write in the social/cultural world, with the objective of preparing students to participate in democracy, and the desire for a more equitable world, as well as seeking justice and voices for the marginalized.

Regardless of any problems the text might have if it is read from other than an ideological perspective, the collection includes most of the truly important theorists of the past from Mina Shaughnessy's first book Errors and Expectations in 1977 to the present. A large book of 760 pages, it is unable to completely survey the many articles written about composition and does not pretend to do so. Villanueva suggests that this book is a beginning, a take off point from which readers can jump off and follow threads of thinking back to their originators and forward to their disciples.

I highly recommend Villanueva's book Cross-Talk to anyone interested in composition and composition theory. Even those people who are not already experts should find the text and its readings readily accessible, since it is both reasonably jargon-free and what terms are used are, for the most part, well defined.

This Atlas is perfect for a first year medical student who has not taken histology before. It is truly better than all the rest since it presents both illustrations and as well as photos. The illustrations in particular are what allow a new student to grasp the major ideas behind a particular slide.

I am a senior physiology/neurobiology major taking a course in histology who is fortunate enough to have a copy of Di Fiore's atlas. In fact, I have all but substituted the atlas for the course textbook. Here's why... According to Aristotle, art captures the universal essence of things. In few places have I seen the truth of this claim as clearly as in Di Fiore's Atlas. The illustrations in this remarkable atlas truly present the structural features of tissues and organs in an idealized, universal way that has helped me identify actual, imperfect samples time after time. Not only are the images of the atlas of superb quality; the text ("functional correlations") are also top-class. In fact, Eroschenko's text is what every student dreams of: a streamlined presentation of only the most relevant information, without the choppy feel of an outline. So if you are looking for a histology atlas with excellent illustrations that show the universal features of tissues and organs and a very economical, no-nonsense text, then Di Fiore's Atlas is for you!

Author James Endredy literally walks his talk in this self-help back-to-nature primer. There's plenty of variety to choose from in the over three dozen "walks" he describes for all levels of ability and intent. Follow his instructions and discover the possibilities of re-connecting with an inner and outer presence that promotes awareness, compassion, mental acumen, health and healing.
Endredy is a great storyteller. He skillfully weaves stories of his deeply spiritual experiences with "...Earth honoring energy and intuition...". His journey has brought him into relationship with the world's core indigenous communities but not before he began to discover his own authentic Self. Some of these personal experiences are unique to him but many of them will seem familiar to readers. In addition, the book has strong mentoring qualities for men relating to any of the rites of passage stages: graduation, mid-life, retirement, those "0" birthdays, etc.
I'm delighted to have this resource for my continuing education creativity sessions and university level movement classes. On a personal level, I am just beginning to uncover its value to my own personal growth and relationship to Mother Earth and its inhabitants.

If you are interested in discovering or expanding your relationship with Mother Earth and the world around you, you would be wise to read this book. Mr. Endredy has clearly assimilated the Toltec teachings he received regarding Earth Walks and has presented the information in a clear, concise and well presented manner.

The book is participatory in nature. While you will certainly gain some important abstract knowledge by reading alone, the key to the book is practicing the Earth Walks described within. While the knowledge built within the walks is presented sequentially, you do not need to practice in a similar manner, but, rather, can adapt the practice of the Walks to fit your individual circumstances. As our circumstances change over time, likely will your preference for different Walks. You will be able to get what you need from this book.

Mr. Endredy and Mr. Sanchez are commended for sharing wisdom that can make a difference in each of our lives, if we choose to do so. Whether you perform the Walks individually or as part of a group, whether in wild, rural, suburban, or even urban areas, you will ultimately be better for doing so.

This book is a practical, hands on manual that can only benefit your relationship with yourself, other people, and all of the world around you.

Bulmer-Thomas develops a clear and compelling case for Latin America's failure to achieve high levels of economic growth and equality, illustrating how productivity gains and exports in natural resource sectors were never translated into gains in non-primary product sectors. Along with studies by Coatsworth and Engerman & Sokoloff, this is one of the best sources of economic history for the budding Latin American scholar. A warning, though: this is no light read. A background in economics and several cups of coffee will present an advantage.

Not a single Latin American republic has achieved the status of developed nation after nearly two hundred years from colonial rule. The vast abundance of land, labor and natural resources has not delivered the long-awaited fruits of economic growth and economic development. Victor Bulmer-Thomas provides in this book an excepcionally detailled and balanced account of the factors that affect economic progress until the initial period of implementation of market-oriented reforms. It is in summary, an incomparable source of economic history information for those in love with the Latin American region. For a complete understanding of all the materials contained in the book, certain economic background is advisable.