As a SSR Master Teacher, I've been using this manual for my own Sekhem/Seichim/Reiki practice. The atunements in the back of the book are especially powerful and filled with love. For anyone interested in energy work, I would consider this required reading. Even if you have never been exposed to Reiki before and are interested in learning more about it from one of the best teachers out there (she attuned the woman who attuned me), this is a great book for novices as well as seasoned professionals.

When I opened the book and began to read about Seicheim, an Energy System I have been looking for more information on, I was delighted with the material. I felt it was well written, straight forward and very helpful for practitioners and anyone who is interested in Seichiem. It was as if I were in a class with Diane. I feel that anyone who is interested in working with energy will find the book very helpful. I do not know Diane and I have never taken a class with her or Patrick Zigler, but I am looking forward to taking a class from her very soon. Enjoy, the book is a Jewel.

I loved Diane's book. Patrick recommended this book to me and I'm glad he did. Diane has put a lot of time, love and effort into producing this book. I have found it very informative, well written and displayed. Two of my pupils have already purchased this book after seeing my copy! Another great book Diane!

I have 3 boys who dislike writing. It's frustrating to get them to think of ideas to write about even in their daily school journals. This book makes thinking of ideas fun and helps to know how to write them. I borrowed Writers Express from a friend after being told it was great. I then purchased Write Source 2000, as I was unsure of the age appropriateness. Write Source 2000 is great for 6th grade and above because it is less cartoon-like and has higher level information. Writers Express is perfect for 2nd grade and above. Much of the information is overlapping, but written age-appropriately.

This book has had a strong impact on the way I write.My dream of being a professianel writer seems so close when I read about the process of writing in this book. I really think this is a wonderful book to have, all through your life!

I am a fourth grade teacher in California. I first saw this book about 5 years ago and bought a few copies for my class to use. I was amazed at how it fascinated the students even though it was a writer's handbook. It was in constant demand during our daily sustained silent reading time. The book is colorful and inviting and contains a wealth of information besides just general writing how to's. It has maps, presidential timelines, helpful math tables, and much more. It is colorfully organized and coded for easy reference and written to appeal to kids and motivate them to write. I showed this book to my principal and other teachers and they were all so impressed that the decision was made to order the books for all of our upper grade classes 4 through 6. The Write Source books have become one of the key components of our language program. I would highly recommend this book to all parents and students. It is a resource that is as valuable as the dictionary or encyclopedia that you offer your child at home to support his/her education.

This is one of the best all around resource books for younger elementary children that I have ever come across. It covers many areas in many subjects in the simplest way possible. My granddaughter uses it for all of her classes and she is home schooled.

I met this book volunteering in my daughter's 3rd grade class. I was so impressed with how this lays out clear examples of various writing topics that I bought a book for at home. This book will last her into high school and beyond. I highly recommend it.

This is a superb book if you have an aspiring writer or just a child who likes to use words. It is laid out in a cute, fun and easy to read style. The pictures are delightful! Even if your child is a bit resistant to reading this book, the pictures will engage him or her.

You and your child will find such helpful information. He'll learn how to pick a subject and how to proofread a final draft. This book isn't just for the aspiriting author but is also wonderful to use in elementary school to get those papers done!

Your child will learn how to start a journal (a terrific way of expressing oneself), write a poem, (riddle or play) or write a fantasy story. He will also learn how to get ready to take a test with some test taking skills.

There is a section on how to use capital letters and punctuation and finally full color maps, an historical time-line and the metric system.

Other helpful sections in the book include helping your child manage his time, writing a speech. The one negative is that there is a section on using the card catelogue in the library. This book was written in 1995 and although many schools still use them, children are learning to look up books through the computer.

I definitely recommend this book to have in your home to help your child with his writing skills or to inspire the budding author. If you are a teacher this is a great book to have in the classroom.

My only experience with Robert Crais was reading DEMOLITION ANGEL. I discovered that aside from DEMOLITION ANGEL and HOSTAGE, he has a series of books starring Elvis Cole, a California Private Investigator and his partner, Joe Pike. Unfortunately, I started to learn about the characters in VOODOO RIVER instead of THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT.

Cole is sent to Louisiana to investigate the adoption of a well-known television actress. He later discovers that the actress (as well as her birth mother) was being blackmailed. There is a second story involving the trafficking of illegal aliens which I ended a little to conveniently. One does not get to know much about the characters in this book. I had no idea what was Elvis' past, age or even a physical description. I heard a lot about Joe Pike but people keep telling me to read LA REQUIEM, to know more about Pike.

VOODOO RIVER is formulaic in which the action tells the story and just ignores the characters and their motivations. I acquired Elvis Cole's first appearance (THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT) and I hope with this I might change my mind about Cole and get to know him a bit better. Crais has a lot of fans in Texas.

To know Elvis Cole is to enjoy him. Once again, Craig brings his excellent dialogue, intriguing plot lines and sense of humor to life. Crais writes as well as anyone in this genre. Additionally, each time he takes on different topics in which to set his mysteries. In Voodoo River Elvis takes his "world's greatest detective" agency to Louisiana and enters the worlds of adopted children growing to middle age and immigration. Despite the change in locale away from LA, Mr. Crais does not a miss a beat. If you are an Elvis fan this is everything you have come to expect. If you have not yet met him, you will enjoy him and look forward to finding another Elvis book. Crais' writing style enhances the telling of terrific story lines.

Too bad the Booklist review gave everything away! There should be a law against the tell-everything review, whether book or film. Part of the enjoyment in reading Robert Crais's mysteries is how he builds his story. It's called suspense. Since the plot has been served up, the only other things to discuss are setting and characterization. As always, the characters are unique and colorful (and the bad guys couldn't be worse villains!) -- and Voodoo River stars an ancient and deadly snapping turtle who figures importantly in the climax (but I won't tell you any more!) This is the installment in which Elvis Cole mets the woman who may become the love of his life, Lucy Chenier. A fast-paced and exciting read.