I wonder if the good folk at the end of the 19th century when this poem was originally published were just too obtuse to understand the gist of Rossetti's work; if so, we have an innocent artifact that has evolved into something erotic because of our twentieth century sensibilities (we have dirtier minds than our compatriots from the past).

Don't let the word "erotica" scare you away. This is not a blatantly sexual work in its language; it is not a "dirty" book. Just understand that despite what anyone else says or writes, this is about as unambiguously EROTIC as you can get. With phrasing like "Eat me, drink me, love me; Laura, make much of me; For your sake I have braved the glen; And had to do with goblin merchant men."

Since the original work is now in the public domain, if you want to read the full text online just do a search using most standard search engines with the terms "Christina Rossetti Goblin Market" and you should turn up a number of links to the actual poems, go read it, and decide for yourself about it.

This makes a wonderful gift for people you are very close too. However, it is also a very personal poem, and if given inappropriately could actually scare someone away!

A children tale for adults. It's a light and thoughtful reading. The story of two sisters and lewd goblin men. Innocence, temptation and emotions all together. This inspiring story has wonderful work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

This tale is not about sexuality but about redemption and the need to help others. Read deep into the story to find the meaning that Rossetti intended.

An absolutly great book! The text is lyrical making it easy to read over and over again. The illustrations are colorful and fun. With each reading, your child (and you) will notice more fantastic details. The antics are zany, but Harriet's feelings are real and ones we can all relate to. This book will quickly become a family favorite!

A delightful story, complete with detail-rich, amazingly fun illustrations, makes this book a sure hit with children, and their parents. I can't wait for more releases from Ms. Stewart!

Every child with hair that won't behave or who has siblings that are too helpful, will delight in reading the trials put upon Harriet by her brother and sister all because of a wayward curl! The vocabulary is age appropriate and the illustrations are delightful.

I have to admit that Linda is my former sister in law, and that although she and my brother are no longer married, she is still a special person to us all. I am therefore not a totally unbiased reviewer. That said, I continue.

From the very first time we met, Linda has always wanted to be a writer. We share this in common, which is probably why I admire her so much. Although it has taken her a lot of hard work and through many an interesting detour, I think that much that she has learned in her own life has in fact made her a very good writer. This, her first book, illustrates that. I am generally not given to reading narrative prose. (You can tell this from my other reviews). I haven't the patience for it, probably because I work in a surgical ICU in a teaching hospital and that introduces me to more than my share of emotional ups and downs and heart tugging stories. So when I read Linda's book, I did so as a "critic" rather than a devotee of the genre.

Her Sister's Secret is well plotted and consistent throughout, with wonderfully descriptive passages that bring Arizona and the southwest vividly to mind. Linda has had a wide range of professional experiences, and I can see that she has enlisted a number of her interests to create real characters in real situations. Just as her main character Whitney, Linda worked on a degree in photography (at the University of Minnesota) and has done some first rate work: I possess several of her photos framed and on display in my own home. Just as the main romantic character Rhys Gannon, my brother was, off and on, a motorcycle enthusiast, though not as skilled or as knowledgeable as Rhys. Linda worked as a social worker for several years and has knowledge of some of the social tragedies that divide families and motivate the types of distrust that the central characters exhibit She also has children of her own to whom she is very devoted and for whom she has made personal sacrifices, so she understands the decisions one makes for the benefit of loved ones. This makes the narrative ring true. It's poignant not saccharin. Whitney, Rhys and Morgan (the sister) and the ancillary characters are real people caught up in real dramas who learn real lessons. A wonderful first book.

Linda Style weaves a compelling, can't-put-it-down romance with a colorful cast of characters, and super plot twists.

The setting is a picturesque Arizona mountain town, the story is full of family secrets, and the impetus driving the two main characters is a delightful little girl named SaraJane, who must be rescued from her uncertain fate, at any cost.

Whitney, the heroine, goes into devious mode to find the little girl. She comes up with an ingenious lie to get close to her. Throughout the entire story, she is creative, clever, and talented to boot. Did I mention she's gorgeous?

The hero? Linda Style puts a new spin on the word "bad boy." You can't help falling for Rhys Gannon, the man with the cobalt eyes and the loud motorcycle! He's bad, no wait -- he's good -- aw heck, even when he's bad, he's good!

If you like the combination of dangerous man, adventurous woman, get out the hankies and the chocolates, because this romance is one you will never forget.

I'd LOVE to see this book made into a movie. Hollywood, are you listening?

-- Eve Paludan, author of 3 editions of The Romance Writer's Pink Pages

Linda Style has penned a marvelous tale of love and family that will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart. Definitely a keeper!

This is an awesome book for any 2-3 year old, big sibling. The poor mother's haggard face is a sight to behold. My daughter loved it...especially the end where she came to realize that it is her duty to teach everything she knows to her baby brother. My daughter is now 4 and still likes to have this one read to her.

I love this book for my 3-year old daughter. I purchased this book when she was just beginning to walk and talk because the story and illustrations were amazingly true to life. I believe this book helped my daughter see her own potential as she was learning to walk, stomp her feet, and eat spaghetti. Great up-beat rhythm that is fun for both of us. For our next baby, I plan to keep reading this book so my daughter understands that she will be the "big sister" one day. "Hey, Little Baby!" is one book that is very much a part of our lives. Highly recommend this book and often share it as a great, sibbling book with friends.

Very rarely a book comes along that a parent doesn't mind reading over and over again! My 3 year old daughter and 1 year old son both love this book. The illustrations are so incredibly cute...my daughter loves pointing out all the details in the pictures...the cat being her favorite character. It's easy for me to relate to the expressions of the mother, and the story sums up the life and antics of an older sibling to a T. We got this for our daugher shortly before our son was born and she's yet to tire of it. I'd definitely recommend purchasing this book.

This book is awesome! I absolutely could not put it down. I have two children who fight all the time and It hasn't been easy trying to resolve conflicts without taking sides . Unlike other books I've read, this one gave me numerous tips and advice that I can use in real life situations.
I am very happy that I purchased this book and I just bought Nancy Samalin's other books as well. Love and Anger has made a huge difference in my life.

How lucky I was to learn of this book when my second child was a newborn. I've read many good books and articles about sibling relationships, but this is far and away the most practical and insightful guide I have found. Using examples from real families, Ms. Samalin illustrates typical conflicts that arise between siblings and parents. What really sets this book apart from others is that she goes on to suggest, in very specific language, alternate ways to approach these conflicts to defuse them peacefully. Reading this book was like talking to a friend who understands -- and who happens to be an expert in conflict resolution. I now give it to friends as a baby shower gift when they are adding siblings to their families.

I strongly recommend reading this book for the first time when you are pregnant with your second child. Then, keep it handy and refer to it often as your children grow. Nancy Samalin offers both insight in understanding and practical advise about handling sibling relationships.

Talented author Karen Stolz has successfully repeated a formula which catapulted her debut novel, "World of Pies" to national prominence. Stolz knows how to develop characters and confidently permits her readers to embrace her insights as their own. She is absolutely unpretentious. "Fanny and Sue," a gentle, sweet and generous examination of identical twins coming of age during the Great Depression in St. Louis, reminds us of our capacity for family connection and allows a sheer wonder at the ties which bind.

These ties, which Fanny and Sue intuitively cherish, do not suffocate. Indeed, one of the triumphs of this novel is its relaxed, but informed, technique of encouraging each character to emerge as a distinct person. With voices that capture not only the innocence of relatively sheltered adolescent girls but of the time in our national past when common people extracted uncommon strength to face economic and medical traumas, "Fanny and Sue" is at once a social history and a delightful character study.

Headstrong, assertive and unafraid of take risks, Fanny drives the narrative. Her impatience results in a scar on her arm which not only serves to distinguish her physically from her sister, but emotionally as well. Reseved, introspective and intellectual, Sue grasps the complexity of her relationship with her dynamic and often overwhelming sister. At once independent and symbiotic, the bond between the two is elastic enough to encouage individual epiphanies but profound enough to permit the two to live within the other's skin. For instance, always uncertain as to her own appearance and lacking the effortless self-confidence of Fanny, Sue realizes that she was the "prettier one, not because my looks were improved" by Fanny's accident, but that her sister had been "altered" by her mild disfigurement.

Grandually accepting the fact that they will perceive the world differently, both Fanny and Sue convert divergence into an asset. Fanny's love of performance and dreams of Hollywood may contrast from Sue's thirst for knowledge and her recognition of her passion for teaching, but both respect and encourage the development of ambition. Their unsure, tentative but delighted forays into sexual expression remind us of a time when modesty and curiosity were genuinely expereinced by teen-aged girls on the cusp of adulthood.

Ms. Stolz has so fully integrated the nuances of Depression living that readers may forget how hard she has labored to created authentic ambiance. Film titles, product tag-lines, meals designed for four stretched to feed eight, soda-jerking, husbands and wives selling wedding bands and marathon roller skating contests -- all these details give "Fanny and Sue" a true down-home feel.

This short, quiet and gentle novel serves to remind us that an author's love of her characters and respect for the beautifully complicated texture of everyday life are essential components of engaging modern literature.

Fanny and Sue is a bright, wholesome book that leaves you anxious for a sequel to find out what antics the twins might become involved in during their travels to California, not to mention just enough loose ends to keep you wondering what could happen with any of the characters.Who will continue to be a part of their lives? Will anyone return? Who might make a surprize re-entrance into the life of a twin?

You are reminded that during a time of hardship, family and friends count on each others time, effort and creativity. The closeness, loyalty and love shared within the pages are quite refreshing as Fanny and Sue familiarize others to the wonderful world thier hearts have created for themselves to be surrounded by.

I see my mother and her sister in Fanny and Sue and I almost felt like I was ready thier lives in black and white!

A must read for anyone who needs a look at a more simple time, even though the book begins during the depression.There was no money to speak of and they did without many items that we now take for granted on a daily basis. One thing the family was never low on is one thing I hope to always have stock piled in my home. You will know what I am talking about at the end of the book....Have a wonderful read!

As she did in World of Pies, Karen Stolz is back with another charming, wholesome and insightful story that takes you back to
another time and place, this time in the depression era in St. Louis.

Telling the story of twin girls, Fanny & Sue, Stolz paints a picture of two very different girls-the wilder, more adventurous Fanny, and the bookish, more sensitive Sue. Though opposites in many ways, the girls share a strong bond and cling to one another as we share in the monumental moments of their lives. Though the story is fiction, Stolz weaves in interesting facts about twins and their bonds and blends in fun momentos of the decades, like going to see Cary Grant at the "talkies."

Fanny & Sue has many laugh out loud moments as well as sadness and triumph. I can't wait to read more from this talented author~

The Flip Flop Girl is an excellent read. You are taken right into the life of Vinnie, a young girl who is facing a lot of tough challenges. The author makes this wonderful contemporary fiction book very realistic! The problems of death, moving and changing schools, little brothers and making new friends all plays an important role in making this book what it is. The setting is one that a young reader could very easily imagine and visualize. Paterson also does an excellent job of dealing with the feelings of loss and confusion that surround death in the eyes of a young child. I think every young reader shoud read this book. It has so many different aspects within, it's bound to touch the heart of every reader.

I really enjoyed the way that I was drawn into Vinnie's life in the story of the Flip- Flop Girl. Since the story was written in first person, it really helped me to understand how Vinnie was feeling about the obstacles she was facing in her life. I could feel her frustration as I turned the pages and all I wanted to do was give her a hug and tell her that she was important and that everything would be okay. It irritated me to think that the adults around her were ignoring her in a time when she needed them the most.
I have never had to personally face moving away from home or losing a parent, but I could tell how painful it must be to go through these things after reading the way the author described them in this story. Losing her father was hard enough, but then her mother moved them to live in a new town and start a new life with their grandmother. I honestly do not understand how this poor girl dealt with these kinds of changes for as long as she did. I personally could not have held up the way she did.
This book would be great to put into my own classroom. It isn't a "sugar coated" book and I like that about it. It shows students that things will not always be happy and cheery all of the time. It also shows them that kids their age do face obstacles and successfully overcome them. This book might also touch a child that has personally gone through a tough time in their own life experiences and they can relate to what Vinnie went through. This might help them to get through the issues in their life a little easier.
Katherine Patterson did a great job once again! I loved Bridge to Terabithia and I loved Flip-Flop Girl. The way she brings your emotions into her stories really makes them more meaningful and they stay in that special place in your heart. She would have had my vote for another Newbery Medal winner with Flip-Flop Girl.

Has life got you down? Annoying little brother? No friends? This is the book for you! See how Vinnie over comes every one of these problems and more!

If you want to hear about all her adventures with thrills and spills, you need to read this book!

A beautiful, seamless blend of yesterday's memories and today's realities I was drawn to follow Ella through her dysfunctional childhood to the one place in her life where she makes a conscious decision. She pulls herself together and takes charge in an effort to find Simon, her missing brother, following her instincts and trusting her strengths. Becoming responsible for her destiny instead of constantly being dragged through the dirt by life's past experiences. It reminds me how fragile and random life is and how brave we sometimes have to be to overcome our weaknesses. A deep and powerful read.

I am ashamed to say that I had never heard of Catherine Ryan Hyde until I saw a trailer for the movie Pay It Forward. I picked up a copy of Pay It Forward (because we all know the book is always better than the movie) and in fairly short succession I read Pay It Forward, Electric God and Walter's Purple Heart. Having liked all three of those titles very much, I tracked down a copy of Funerals for Horses and all I can say is... wow.

Ella's search for her brother and her stubborn cling to sanity will move most readers. But this story will definitely touch any reader whose childhood is something that he or she longs to flee and forget. If your childhood was a place of terror and pain, you will read this book as if you are coming home. You will say "Exactly. That is exactly right."

And if you like horses, well, that's just gravy.

This novel is one of those hidden gems of the literary world. Be glad you are on this page and found it. Read it. You won't regret it.

I've never read anything like it. The author created a unique plot balanced between reality and insanity. While searching for her brother, Ella reminices about her childhood. She uses her past to guide her to her brother. Because of her disease, she slips in and out of reality and into here own world of illusions. It's so in depth and exhilerating. I didn't want to put it down. A wonderful job by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Rosemary Wells is a gifted writer and illustrator. The story is engaging and the illustrations add to the personality of the characters. With that said, there are a couple of things that prevent me from giving this book a perfect review. The first thing is the stereotype of the younger sister. Must all younger sisters be shallow, mall dwelling half-wits? The second thing is the part of the story where Max gets lost in the store. This may frighten younger readers.

I have adored the "Max" series by Rosemary Wells for quite sometime, as my three children absolutely loved all the Max books when they were younger. Ms. Wells manages to capture really great nuances on the faces of both Max and his sister Ruby, as well as presenting the most humorous situations for Max and Ruby.

Max wants nothing but a dragon shirt and Ruby is insisting on buying him a much-needed pair of pants, per the instructions of their mother. Max does not give up on his beloved dragon shirt and reminds Ruby every chance he gets. Ruby gets sidetracked in the store trying on dresses and Max manages to wander in the store after dozing off and not finding Ruby in the dressing room. Max finds his coveted dragon shirt, puts it on and is "found" by two policemen in the store. Well, now the dragon shirt is covered with yummy ice cream and Ruby has no choice but to purchase the shirt for Max!

The illustrations and use of color will delight any youngster, as will the antics of Ruby and Max! I love their facial expressions and even after all of these years, I still love reading these books! This was one series of book that neither I, nor my children, ever tired of reading. I find the Max and Ruby books just really classic books! My children would read them over and over again and would find them first with every library visit!

Absolutely pure delight!!!

Another winner in Rosemary Wells' slyly hilarious "Max" series, this time Max and his older sister Ruby have just $5 to replace his "disgusting" pants. Max has his eyes set on a "dragon shirt," but Ruby has to get those pants.

Their ensuing misadventures in a department store take the bunny pair from "Large Appliances" to "Boy's Sportswear" (a caution: Max is momentarily lost in the store, this may or may not be frightening to your little one). With big colorful illustrations by Wells and a happy ending (well, for Max!), this is a fun story of siblings on the loose. 22 pages, with watercolor/pen and ink pictures on each page.

Melanie Martin is back from Italy. She is now done with 4th grade (which I just finished, too!). She, her ever-serious dad, her art-loving mom, her six-and-a-half yr. old brother, Matt the Brat, and her best friend Cecily. She is SOO excited to be traveling again, especially with a friend!

The reason Cecily is going with them is because her mom, who Melanie never really liked, had breast cancer. Later in the book, Melanie realizes that Cecily's mother really isn't so bad after all. But 'Mellie' just is not very sensitive towards her best friend.

Melanie is frustrated with her parents, her brother, and especially Cecily. She is sick of hearing everyone dish out compliments to Cecily. Cecily is a good artist, Cecily looks great in royal blue, Cecily is such a good sport, Cecily says the most interesting things. Mel is pretty upset, as I would be. Not admirable,but quite true. In the end, she has a great vacation and she makes up with her pal.

This book was not perfect, but pretty darn good nonetheless. Written in diary form, this very realistic young girl teaches us Dutch words, info about artists, and how to deal with tough stuff. If you are an 8-10 year old girl who is smart enough to ask questions about breast cancer after reading this book, then pick this up at your local bookstore.

The name of this book might make you think it's just for girls. It;s not. Matt is really funny and it's cool to read about the different countries they visit.

This book is really funny. It made me laugh a lot. I enjoyed learning all about Holland, especially the artists from there like Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. I liked seeing a new place through the eyes of a person my age. Melanie's trip reminded me of when I travel with my family (lots of excitement, lots of squabbles). I keep a journal at school, and I liked being able to read somebody else's journal. I hope Carol Weston writes more Melanie Martin books soon. I want to read them all.