Enid Blyton books are always a pleasure to read. When I was a child, I could never get enough of them to read. As an adult now, I confess, I have still not got over the magic. I come from India where there are very few books available in the market for kids(as compared to the US)and Enid Blyton is undoubtedly the most popular children's books author there. Come to think of it, there is something truly magical about her stories. They are filled with all sorts of characters. She has written schools stores(St.Clares series, Malory towers series), adventure stories(famous five, mystery,secret seven etc), stories with elves, goblins,fairies etc. Practically every topic that could fascinate a kid(as well as an adult)is covered. The famous five series is an adventure series that relates the adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne and their cousin Georgiana(read George since she hates to be called by her actual name) and their dog Timmy. If you are an avid fan of mysteries and are not in the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys groove yet, this is the best bet. One of the best features of this book is that it is thoroughly clean and ideal for kids. As a child I loved it and my parents never had a problem letting me read this stuff because it was clean! The adventures are exciting and will thrill any 8 or 9 year old. The five children always fall into one adventure or the other. They camp out, do exciting things, eat healthy food(something that kids today have a problem doing)and show good manners(another problem with most kids today). One of the reasons why these books were so popular with my parents was because of the way they depicted good manners, healthy habits and good values without the sermons on the same. The storyline is also well developed and the five children often end up catching smugglers, thieves and other bad elements with the usual share of treasure hunting. I remember spending many an afternoon with a famous five book and enjoying the pleasures of reading. Hope you get to do the same. A must read on all accounts.

I could only remember the word "caravan" from one of my favorite childhood book titles and after doing a search for this word was delighted to re-discover the titles of this and other "Famous Five" books. My grandmother must have picked these up for me when she was visiting the U.K. and I have such fond memories of reading these books that I plan on purchasing and re-reading them as an adult. Highly recommended!

This is another fabulous book in the Famous Five series. The famous five are Julian, Dick, Anne, George(actually Georgiana but she hates being a girl) and their dog Timmy. Like other famous five adventures, this one starts with the children enjoying their vacation where they subsequently fall into an adventure and finally end up rescuing a couple of kidnapped pilots. The plot is simple enough but then provides ample excitement. Just like all the other Enid Blyton adventure books, this one is a real treat to read. There is no doubt that Enid Blyton is(was; unfortunately, she died) one of the best authors for children's books. What makes her books ideal for children? The kids are happy because of the plots and the variety(Enid Blyton created numerous characters ranging from goblins and elves to children). It is wonderful world of make believe where one book is not sufficient but several are needed to quench the thirst. The parents are happy because the books contain no bad content. Even though the stories sound a little make believe, they are based on sound values and principles. They establish a code for behavior. I remember reading Enid Blyton books as a child and understanding all about good behavior(polite answers to adults, being good and helpful to other people, being kind to animals, being responsible etc). The content of most Enid Blyton stories is also pure unlike of the fairytales by Hans Christian Anderson and Brothers Grimm that can be depressing and even violent sometimes. The famous five do fall into adventures. However, they do come out of them without scaring the young readers to glory. The famous five behave well, especially Julian, the eldest who is known for his polite behavior and charming manners. Truly, Enid Blyton has managed to capture images of childhood that are slowing becoming memories. In these days of Nintendo and other computer games, her books come as a refreshing change. A piece of old world charm in a modern society. A must read for all generations who wish to go beyond the mere computer game and disney story.

Enid Blyton's "Five on a Treasure Island" is the first of the "Famous Five" series. In this opening story of the series, the "five" (four children and a dog) happen upon an old wreck that was raised to the surface by a fierce storm and discover a map that tells the location of gold ingots that disappeared hundreds of years ago. However, the map falls into the hands of criminals who also have designs on the lost gold and it then becomes a race between the children and the criminals to find the lost gold. Old wrecks. mysterious islands, secret tunnels, thrilling escapes and rescues are all part of this outstanding story. Although the famous five books are regarded as a childrens series, they are so well done that an adult would find it virtually impossible not to find it compelling and thoroughly enjoyable!

Enid Blyton books are classics and it is unfortunate that young children are deprived of her wonderful adventure books. Growing up, I learnt to enjoy reading through her books from Noddy onwards through the Secret Seven ,Famous Five , Malory Towers etc. And now I would like my son to enjoy these books that would transport him into a wonderful world of childhood fantasy that is wholesome and brings strong values into his character. It's too bad that publishers see fit to discontinue her books.

The Healing Spirit is like a great conversation with a friend with amazing insights into human nature. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it gave me a great perspective with which to evaluate my life, my beliefs, and all of the different points of views about human nature. From this perspective the author sheds light on how we can grow and begin to heal ourselves and others with a greater understanding and truth. I highly recommend this book!

At a time when there is a proliferation of New Age books on Latinos on the shelves, it is refreshing to find such a serious and indepth collection of articles that explore the important issue of health in the Latino community. This is a comprehensive reader written by leading scholars and practitioners of Latino health issues. It represents an important follow-up to the editors' earlier pathbreaking reader on the subject. This is a serious academic textbook and is certainly not a light read, but it should be on the bookshelves of all persons and institutions concerned about the health status of the Latino community.

Very enjoyable story about a hard-hearted, mean-spirited stepmother married to an out-of-work-weak but well-meaning husband, and her unfortunate stepchildren who suffered the lashings of her tongue whilst under her tutelage. The quintessetial Enid Blyton story reminiscent of an era long passed by where kids played outdoors in the woods. Read an original First Edition in hardcover if at all possible.

This book is a wonderful addition to anyone's desk! It is very through. It has a style guide, information on the staff every good newspaper should have, a grammer guide and much more. It is great for school, clubs, groups, newspapers and newsletters in general. I liked the style guide, but the staff guide was not accurate to everyone's tastes. Still, it is a wonderful book, and a dictionary or grammer guide will be great to use side by side. I think you should buy this great book.