I liked this book very much because it reminded me of the times when my dad reads or tells me bedtime stories. This book has a very good message and it makes you feel happy, which is nice before you fall sleep. The illustrations are also very nice and colorful. I am happy to see a new Porcupine book. I still read the first book "How Little Porcupine Played Christmas" every Christmas, but in this book the Porcupine is older. This book will be a nice Christmas present,especially for children who like to listen to nice bedtime stories.

One of our family's favorite holiday stories is Joseph Slate's "The Little Porcupine Who Played Christmas", and so I was surprised and delighted to come across a new book featuring our old friend, "Story Time for Little Porcupine".

Like children everywhere, Little Porcupine is reluctant to go to bed every evening, and like parents everywhere, Papa can only get him to settle down by telling stories. The tales he tells are porcupine legends that explain the origin of the sun's rays, what a sunset really is, and where the stars come from.

A good children's book should not only entertain, but should also encourage youngsters to exercise their own imaginations. Mr. Slate's latest offering meets both criteria admirably. You'll find your audience hanging on your every word, and you may discover that Little Porcupine's curiosity will have your own little porcupines looking with greater interest at the world around them.

Jacqueline Rogers's illustrations are the perfect complement to Mr. Slate's narration. Her depiction of the sun as the Big Porcupine and the moon as a sly coyote are a must-see.

Looking for a gift that will be a continual source of pleasure for your kids? You won't go wrong with "Story Time for Little Porcupine."

The Feldmans have brought an epidemic into the light of public scrutiny, but this book is not a "heavy read." You cannot miss the honest affection that lies beneath the surface in their interactions with patients. By drawing from a wealth of anecdotes and clinical experience, they compellingly describe a wide range of mental disorders.

Psychiatrists such as these are hard to find. They are remarkably attuned to the needs of the human spirit. I was particularly intrigued by their assertion that in order to communicate with a psychotic patient, it is often necessary to go along with his delusion. When I read the story about Moses, a schizophrenic patient of "Mrs. Dr. Feldman", it all made perfect sense. Few psychiatrists would be willing to publicly endorse this practice, but the Feldmans are willing to do whatever it takes to heal their patients, and I admire their chutzpah.

This book made me laugh, cry, and think. Reading and re-reading it sure beats the cost of a therapy session. I loved it.

This reading of this book is not to miss. For any health professional interested in understanding more about the people behind their patients, please pick up this book and read it until the end. It really helps you understand the distortions people have usually in the more severe ways. However, as a physician you are able to understand how and why your patients may act and react. Personalities are very difficult to understand until you have read this book. It even allows the practioner to understand one's ownself in terms of personality. It delves into a majority of psychiatric conditions which seem to be more and more prevalent in our society. I feel they are more prevalent because people, practitioners and patients have a better understanding. Why does someone think in a certain way- read this book. It is easier to understand why people do certain things. It also proves to me that psychiatrists are being truly underutilized. I am so glad that I found and read this book. Bravo to Dr and Dr. Feldman for a truley great book.

These two authors write stunning books of delightful, easy-to-follow recipes, with lush, evocative photographs, and great attention to detail on the culinary fundamentals of each recipe. The only problem is that they keep recycling and republishing the same recipes/photos over and over again. I got burned three times. I bought the book "A Taste Of The Mediterranean", which I liked so much that, impetuously, I went online and bought three more titles by the same two authors, Jacqueline Clark and Joanna Farrow. I got "The Mediterranean Cookbook" (the one with the close-up photo of some ripe tomatoes on the cover). It turns out that this is the exact book as "A Taste Of The Mediterranean", but with illustrations in place of the photographs. The third book I received was "Mediterranean Country Kitchen", which while it is a lovely book, is nothing more than a condensed version of the same recipes/photos from "A Taste Of The Mediterranean". Lastly I bought the newer hardback book "Mediterranean : A Taste Of The Sun". This is an outstanding, lengthy book (500+ pages), but about half of it is "A Taste Of The Mediterranean" recycled in its entirety. I would certainly recommend the new one "Mediterranean : A Taste Of The Sun" as the finest and most complete of Clark and Farrow's sumptuous books on subject. But I'm feeling angry and a bit duped at buying the same book over and over again. Buy the new one, skip the earlier, cleverly-disguised retreads.

Often cookbooks with pretty pictures are low on substance. This book is not one of them. Yes, there are pretty pictures, more than that. Some of them are gorgeous, but it's the recipes that make one pause and then want to rush to the kitchen after a trip to the super market and stop eating junk when they could eat food like this. A stunning collection.

More than forty years of thought have gone into this lucid synthesis of Tibetan belief. The carefully chosen illustrations are beautifully reproduced, and worth the price of the book. There is no better introduction to the subject, and whether you have just one book in this field or are adding to a collection, this book is a must.

In The Tibetan Wheel of Existence, Jacqueline Dunnington has rendered a well-researched, scholarly, yet highly readable exposition of the Bhava Chakra (literally, the Wheel of Becoming).

The richly layered symbolism portrayed in this popular icon offers valuable information about our challenging life experiences, inner processes, and states of mind. The underlying psychological principles expressed in the elegantly concentrated symbols of the diagram have influenced and informed my work as a clinical counselor for many years. Ms. Dunnington takes a refreshingly straightforward approach, and does not reduce this great tradition to the spiritual slogans and simplistic formulas that are so popular today.

The series of full color plates included in the text are both instructive and visually delightful. When approached appropriately, the Bhava Chakra can serve as a mirror or lens through which we can observe our own inner conditions, and transform them into states of enlightened awareness. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent book, which helped me decide on which trees and shrubs would benefit my landscape. Many of the trees and shrubs in the book are now in my yard, and there are trees described in the book to accomodate anyone's lanscaping aspirations. The colored illustrations, easily understood culture requirements for the trees and shrubs mentioned, and the organization of each section makes this book an essential tool for every gardener, whether they are beginners, or are expereinced gardeners. Trees and shrubs for every locale and region are mentioned, so every gardener will find this book extremely helpful.

This is an excellent book for anyone with a yard or garden. The book starts out explaining basic design principles, helping you decide where to place plants. Size, shape, balance & lighting conditions are also discussed here.

Next are detailed illustrations, charts & step-by-step instructions on selecting, planting, transplanting, fertilizing, mulching, composting, pruning & training the plants. Site preparation & soil testing are also included.

Profiles of over 50 tree groups (such as the maples or birches) follow. In each group there are clear photos of several species. General information is given on habitat, size, shape, zones, soil, pH, moisture & light requirements.

Plants are indexed by both botanical & common name making them easy to find. A chart helps find the right tree for flowers, fruits, bark, fall color, or winter interest. This is a great book to help beautify any outdoor area.

I have had this book for a couple of years, and have made several vests with these ideas. This is an excellent source to get the creative juices flowing. I refer back to it regularly.

This book is full of creative ideas and will inspire you to try new techniques, as well as trigger your own creativity. Creating vests can be a fun and fairly quick way to try these new techniques. I love this book!

I work with hopeful adoptive couples, so I ordered this book for them. Unbeknown to many of them,I am also a birth grandmother. The book was a delightful read that brought tears of joy, and sorrow, to my eyes. I want to send a special copy to my daughter (the birth mother), the adoptive parents of her child, as well as to my mother, because I think it's a book we can all relate to as a way of understanding what we've gone through these past 7 months. We have an "open adoption" so can see/write/talk to each other whenever we want. It's amazing to even imagine what it would have been like 20 or 30 years ago; we have much to be thankful for. But that doesn't take away from the losses that everyone brings to the adoptive table. Everything about the book was enjoyable--even the cover of the book, a soft pastel/water color print of violets, was pleasing to look at. And I loved all the quotes from those great songs of the 60's and 70's (with a few earlier ones thrown in)!

This true life story about a young woman who faced a life-giving decision (all alone) has made a great impact upon many readers. I know, because I have given several copies of "Violets" to friends. Beautifully written, Jacqueline Ramthun allows the reader into her very soul. Her recall of simple, yet difficult memories are woven throughout her story. Readers will share along with the author, the feelings this young woman felt along her decision-making path. I would describe this book as inspirational and hope giving for a world filled with so much tradegy and despair. The author's choice at a time so filled with remorse and sorrow is rewarded with love and new lives, she could not imagine. I highly recommend this book for both young men and women, parents and grandparents. It will leave you feeling better about the gift of life.

VISITING DAY is a book about special day each month for the little girl who narrates this story. It is a day when she gets to dress up, look pretty, ride a bus with her grandmother, eat chicken and other goodies, but most of all she gets to visit her incarcerated father. Told and illustrated from a child's point of view, the story shows how children have unconditional love for their parents, even if a parent has made a mistake.

Jacqueline Woodson has taken a controversial topic and made an extraordinary book. The story does not criticize, but instead shows love, and James Ransome's true to life illustrations adds to the happy feeling and tone of the book. Although this is an excellent book for all children, I highly recommend this book to any child who is forced to deal with having a family member incarcerated.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Touching, loving, and real.

Told from the point of a little girl whose father is in prison, this is a book more about enduring love than anything else.

Too often, books about difficult times are preachy or too wordy. This one gets straight to the point: I love my dad. I see him when I can. He loves me and we are glad to have family.

Good for children in that situation, good for compassion for others, and also a very readable story.

We have 2 small children & this book is one of their favorites!! The pictures are bright & very eye catching & the story itself keeps you waiting for who will walk up next. My daughters 3rd grade class enjoyed all the characters. It reminds me of my family all the good food & times that we all share when we are together.

This book was just a joy to read to my two young children. The illustrations are so lively and colorful. The characters remind me of my own family. Everyone should read it!

The Spark Plug has done it again with his newest book, When Times are Tough Everybody Needs a Spark Plug. This book is entertaining, but most of all inspirational! And if you haven't heard The Spark Plug speak, you are missing out on an unforgettable and motivational happening. He is a leader and a encourager; this man speaks from the heart whether from the platform or in his books. This book is a celebration of life by two people who set the standard for all of us. Thank you Spark Plug and Jacqueline Benjamin Thomas. Good things happen to people like you!

I am a grandmother of 25 and a great grandmother of 3. I feel like I do not have to run my mouth all the time to get my grandchildren to understand how to live life, and get through the hard times. I can just have them read this book. Sometimes, the things you tell them go in one ear and out the other, because they think that you are just old fashioned. The Sparkplug and his wife, say what I want to say. When young kids hear someone else besides their parents and guardians say something, all of a sudden, everything becomes clear to them. They would listen to him without feeling like they are giving up their right to make their own decisions. This book gives you such great advice. Why it is important to serve others, that you are never too old to get an education, that you can make your life better starting right now. I love the part where he says why do you ask God to do something that you can do for yourself. That is so true. Just get up and do something. The Sparkplug says never give up, and he makes you want to better yourself and not just sit down and feel sorry for yourself. I love the book. I can not believe they have so much wisdom to be so young. I will have all my grandchildren read this book. Thank you Sparkplug and Jackie.

It's true! "When Times Are Tough: Everybody does indeed need a "Spark Plug". So, buckle up and fasten your seat belt as the Spark Plug takes you for an exhilerating ride.

The Spark Plug doesn't use euphymisms or tired phrases, but rather, life experiences and tried and true quotations from others of renown and true stories to rev up our hope factor so that we can accomplish those dreams we've been holding back on for too long.

The energy of this book comes straight from the authors' hearts. The collaborative efforts of the Spark Plug and Jacqueline prove to be the igniting spark that gives each of us courage and promise during really tough times.

Through wisdom, laughter, tears and the healing power of love, one feels the authors hearts as each page comes alive giving new resolve and the strength and courage to continue life's journey, especially during hard and trying times.

I especially appreciate "Spark Plug Points To Ponder" at the end of each chapter as a quick review that enforces the teaching of life changing principles designed to propel us to new heights. This book is not only inspirational but entertaining as well. Ready for a reality check and vital life experience? Go for it...you'll be very glad you did!