This is the best book I have read in a long time, actually ever! It is so inspirational and uplifting. I recommend it to anyone and everyone! My daughter who is going to college in the fall also loved it-would make a great gift for any teenager! Great confidence booster!

This book touches your spirit and is simply beautiful. The photographs are beautiful and hearing the twins in each of their own voices discussing their lives as twins; family life; their struggles and their triumphs is a work to behold.

They make you know that anything is possible and share the steps they've taken to attain their successes. Could not put it down.

I read this book in one sitting. It felt like a deep conversation that I'd have with two old friends at two in the morning. Calvin and Alvin's voices intertwine throughout the book to give this incredible view of their life which in many ways feels like one life. They say, "This is who we are and this is what we have experienced and this is what we have learned." What I heard is, "Be who you are and experience what you experience and learn from it." Their story is told simply, with love and reverence. Their story is one that hands you, the reader, courage as if it is their gift to you. Their story encourages you to look within yourself and say, "Oh yeah, this is who I am supposed to be. How did I get so lost? How do I return to where I need to be?" Go to YOUR destiny. I will meet you there.

Because the body is the house of the soul, it should not be necessary to focus on abuse, either emotional or sexual - actually, one and the same, really, as limited only to females; many men are composites of enormous stress, unresolved conflict resolution, and highly leveraged disciplinary measures from childhood and indeed up until manhood. As I watched a parent today require his 2 year old son to remain sitting in the chair he was in (despite his son's drive to "move" consistent with nature's instinct and drive), I wondered how such patterns of restraint might affect him, and their relationship later. What messages were being sent by the father? What messages were received by the son? Beyond the fact of this dominance display, the reasons were frail if not inadequate to produce the mandate in this instance, although they are not always. The pattern was used throughout the day by both parents, and I wondered if they were trying to teach "patience, and self restraint" in so young a child who is little more than a bundle of energy, new to the possibility of moving, and hence, inspired by his new found ability. What happens to the desire to move when it is so abrubtly curtailed in so young a soul? When nature conflicts with man's desire to control nature, doesn't nature always find a different avenue of expression, some not so natural? Requiring a child to "stay," as if he were a pet may not be the ideal method to teach values or mechanics, but instead displays power that children are apt to emulate as they become adults. While safety is always an issue for children, convenience often supercedes the issues of safety and become the dominating factor in relationships instead, to the detriment of nature's logical progress, destroying the ability to reach the compromises characteristic of natural selection. Nature rarely destroys, but instead adapts.

This is easily the best of a dozen or so books I have worked through. It is defininately Christian in its approach, even if you do not hold this world view there is comfort and information for the spouse of a sexual abuse survivor.

This book ties for first place in my list of resources with Laura Davis's "Allies in Healing" (NOT a Christian work but excellent nonetheless). Spouses, you are not alone, unique or crazy! These volumes will help you grasp what your survivor is working through and give you help in dealing with the damage of sexual abuse (for yourself and the survivor).

An Insightful look at the effects Child Abuse can have on a survivor, as well as a guide for those who love them in how best to contend with the ghosts of their past. Written with Compassion and Empathy while encouraging an emphatic approach to attaining a life well worth living. I know... I have indeed survived with this book at my side.

The Iceworker Sings is an amazing book that reached every sensation that is in my body. Recommended to me by my friend Eva in Fresno I was captivated by the pain, desperation, and corazon in Montoya's words; they spoke to me as if each one had been in the fire itself. Montoya speaks of the Chicano situation in ways that others may not understand. His words are words that describe everything we have been through. As Montoya writes - "i don't have time to be a gypsy or an aztec, i'm just chicano, an indian who sees life swallowed up in a dream and wants to explode."

This book strikes at the core of the authors life as a young man growing up in the central valley of Fresno. He speaks of heartaches, struggles as well as love and hope. I had the great pleasure of knowing this young man who was taken from us far to soon. His insights on life and the meanings of the everyday struggles that we all go through were prophetic. I would encourage all to read and study these rich poems. Andres, your voice is louder and more profound now then when you walked this earth.

andres montoya offers us this gift of a book postumously. andres was my cousin, but first and formost he was a poet nearly without peer. these poems ring with truth and insights beyond the years of this young man taken from us way too soon. this book is an instant collectors item and a must for any serious lover of poetry.

viva andres montoya

richard montoya de culture clash

If only everyone in the fashion world were like A.L.T.! This book is interesting, well-written, and a great summer read. Mr. Talley is truly a gentleman who has class, dignity, and style. For anyone who reads Vogue and knows about StyleFax, this is a must!

The Devil Wears Prada will get more attention than A.L.T. which is too bad becuase this is the real thing. ALT's memories of NYC, and the world of fashion are just too good to pass up. In this book you have a facinating person talking about his life and his love for two equally amazing women, Diana Vreeland and his grandmother. Buy this one. It's a keeper.

i loved this book because a.l.t. made you feel everything he was going through and cared about so deeply. i could actually feel as though i was right there with him on his family's porch or dancing at a disco with him. i'm the same age as a.l.t. and went to alot of the same places as he did growing up in the city, so it was really exciting to have that nostalgia surface again. mostly, i just loved what a beautiful and caring person he is; so unaffected. it's true, because i attended a class at nyu and a.l.t. was the guest speaker. he was so charming and easy to listen to and not a snobby moment; just pure joy.

This book is short, and what is there deserves five stars. However, the story feels unfinished. Hynkkel, rejected to the role of servitude by his family and despairing over the murder of his pet cat, is forced into a manhood ritual by his father. He emerges from this test of survival with a new grace and self confidence and new friends, including a feline, but still finds himself on the outskirts of society. He is dismayed when he is seemingly forced into a new and surprising path. Just when the Essence smiles upon him and he appears to be a winner, the book ends with more questions than answers in the reader's mind. Once again Andre Norton's writing is superb. Hopefully, there will be a sequel, otherwise the book is as unsatisfying as decaf.

this story was about a young boy, who defying all odds and with a little magic came out as emperor, however the evil was not totally overcome. So Andre Norton, one of my favorite authors. I ask where is the sequel?

One of the first fantasies that I read and I have to say one of the best. I felt that the story could have continued but I think it was still a good book.

This rhyming tale of a mishcievous little monkey on the loose from an urban zoo depicts the adventure and fun all children live for. Because of the simple plot, the story is captivating, fun and amusing. The illustrations make for a colorful bonus to accent the story. Though the story is short and simple, every read promises to be entertaining!
Allan Ahlberg really did a great job writing this one. He anchored his story around the phrase Monkey See, Monkey Do. The mischief this monkey gets in is hilarious. Though one reviewer claims this monkey doesn't come close to comparing with Curious George, it is the loveable monkey's character and playfulness that makes this story really rock. Monkeys are fun characters in children's books and this one is no different. Ahlberg even plays with the rhyme to pen a few new catchy phrases for the monkey's antics. Keeping the wording simple captivates readers and makes this an excellent selection for group sharing.
Andre Amstutz also contributes brilliantly to this treasure. His ink and watercolor illustrations are bold and exciting. Every page is busy with vibrant color and exciting action, befitting the characteristic of the monkey. With every turn comes a bundles of sights for children to see. The sights in this book encourage children to talk, identify, and engage in a lively and fun story.
I have not yet read this story to children at storytime, but plan to do so next week. I'm confident they will love it. I also look forward to purchasing two copies myself. One will go into my own children's book collection because it is an excellent work. The other is a gift for my nieces. Their love for fun and animals will be inspired by the adorable antics of another loveable monkey.

A smart little monkey finds keys to the cage and, once he frees himself, embarks on a rhyming adventure, eating Baby's banana, saving a stranded kitty, romping all over town, only to find himself back in the arms of his monkey mom. Reminds me of "Goodnight, Gorilla", plot-wise, but has an original tone. I love it!

Monkey Do! is a fantastic childrens book. I have bought this for all my grandchildren. They are ages 5,4 and 6 months. It is entertaining and easy for them to read with me. The illustrations and the large type make it move fast and the children do not get bored. They story keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. We also look at the illustrations and talk about what is going on. Monkey Do!is more than a story it is an interactive book that looks at a normal family's life in one day when a monkey gets involved.

I own a pretty good collection of Napoleonic uniform books including Eltings, Lachouque, Bucquoy, and Funckens just to name a few. Some of these volumes are hundreds of dollars. Andre Jouneau and Jean-Marie Mongin have come up with tremendous uniform books at an extremely low cost. ...It has hundreds of images of the Old Guard, Young Guard, Grenadiers, Chasseurs, and all the major units of The Imperial Guard. It has good color detail and is a great book for people interested in this period. Although I am not a miniature painter I do not think that you could find a better book to illustrate detail in order to paint miniatures. The images in this book are computer generated which can have its pluses and minuses. On the minus side this means that the faces on the images are all pretty much the same and the poses are nearly identical. On the plus side you get numerous images with detail. Overall I enjoy these books more than any other series including Osprey simply becasue of the huge variety of uniforms included. I hope they continue with this series as anticipated. Future works are supposed to be 2 volumes on Napoleonic Hussars. I would pick them up as well. If you have any interest in Napoleonic uniforms do not hesitate to buy these books.

Here's a book that shows practically all aspects of the uniforms of the Guard (foot). Examples of service stripes, NCO rank, shako/bearskin cords, flags, and other accouterments/regalia are clearly illustrated. This is a pure reference book for the "uniformologist." That's why I am very well pleased with it. Easily worth it's price several times over. Can't wait to get the Guard Cavalry one. Also, this is one of the few books I've seen with easy to follow organization charts that help explain the Guard units' composition, history, etc.

This is an excellent introduction to the troupes a pied of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. It is not meant as a definitive study, but it does cover the foot troops (infantry, artillery, supporting services, pupilles) of the Guard quite thoroughly. Using computer generated graphics that appear in the books of FG Hourtoulle and produced by Histoire et Collections, it is an astonishing achievement in the presentation of the myriad regiments that made up the Guard at its height.

It has a few minor errors on the first go round, such as not giving the Fusiliers-Grenadiers queue's like the Old Guard infantry, which the regiment earned for valiant service. however, the overall impact of the volume more than makes up for it.

The references used include Rousselot, Rigo, and Michel Petard, all quite reliable and the booklet is logically laid out. I thoroughly enjoyed this volume and will use it often as a quick reference. I bought it sight unseen, taking a gamble and this time came out on the winning end. This volume is highly recommended and it is also recommended that it be used with John Elting's superb Napoleonic Uniforms, Volume II, as well as any and all Rousselot plates you can get your hands on. This booklet will be especially useful for wargamers and figure painters and it is highly recommended.

There will be a second volume on mounted troops.

I read a friend's copy of this book when I was in early grade school and I have been searching for a copy ever since. It's been more that twenty years but I still remember the images from the book: the destroyed city, the frightened children, the hope for the future. At least now I know the author's name and my search will be a little easier! Thanks Amazon!

This ain't "Witch World!" "Outside", by Andre Norton, tells how a return to nature and the mysticism of Nature Religion could turn around the dead-end journey of our increasing reliance on technology too complex for all but a few to understand. Many of the images are derived from traditional Wicca -- the Black Man who is also the Fool and also the Wise One and who leads his followers to freedom is only the foremost among them. In many ways this book is like a zen koan -- the puzzle or joke that has no straight answer, meditation on which leads to illumination. That there are so few copies available is a great pity -- it should be widely read by mystics, ecologists, and urban planners.

I first read this young adult book when I was 7. It was my first taste of Science Fiction and 23 years later I still remember it! It is set on a world where everyone lives in a huge domed city which is full of broken machines that no one remembers how to fix. People live in gangs where anyone in their twenties is considered an "old". They suvive by scavenging out of ancient stores. Whole areas of the city are abandoned. Food is running out, and the oxygen makers are breaking down. And children are following a mysterious rhyming man and vanishing. The heroine of the story is a young girl, a "little", who longs to see what is outside the dome, even though "olds" say everything is dead. So she follows the rhyming man...

This story of a future Earth is a bit scary for young readers, but is very haunting and thought provoking for more mature kids. This story is one that many adults would do well to read as well. It may very well be our own future!!

It is an interesting book and is easy to read. It is broken up into chapters, and in each chapter is a one to two page sections on a particular subject like telepathy. It hits a wide area of subjects.

Andre Bormanis, science advisor for the Star Trek franchise, explains the science in broad layman's terms, but enough to explain the basics and the logic behind what the team did.

I enjoyed reading it even with a sever lack of previous knowledge in some of the areas. It gave a neat look into the why they handle the science on the show. If you don't have too much time to sit down and read or you just want to have something to read during the commercials, this is an good book to have.

great b/w picks and lot of links from star trek to the really worl

I liked this book. I haven't read much other Star Trek books, so I don't have much to compare to. I really liked the authors easy, concise explanations for things like warp drive, wormholes, alien biology, time... all the favorite sciences, and what's real and what's not! The segments are based on accounts from specific episodes with "science logs" from favorite Star Fleet personelle. The photo's and such add a nice touch as well. In short, if you like Star Trek, and ever wondered if what you saw was possible, I highly recommend this book. The science-minded will love it!

Steel Magic is a fantasy novel for older children, based loosely on the legends of King Arthur and Roland. It involves a magic gate to Avalon and quests to find three lost tokens of power.

The Lowery children -- Greg, Eric, and Sara -- are staying at Tern Manor with their Uncle Mac while their father and mother are in Japan. Sara wins a picnic basket at the Firemen's Strawberry Festival and the children decide to put it to use. The next day they pack a picnic lunch and search for a lost lake. After winding and crawling through the underbrush, they find the lake and, on as island in the middle of it, they also discover a miniature castle.

Although the doorway has been blocked with masonry, they are able to gain entrance by chipping away the mortar. Once within the castle, they are surrounded by a gray mist and, eventually, they find themselves somewhere else. After a brief exploration, they determine that they could not be on the island and are far from any place familiar. Opening the picnic backet, they start to eat while discussing the strange events, whereupon an unexpected guest shows up for lunch.

The young man introduces himself as Huon of the Horn, the Warden of the West. He also tells them of the Warden of the East, Arthur. He informs them that they are in Avalon and tells them of the three lost objects: Excalibur, his Horn, and the ring of Merlin Ambrosius. Since they have been admitted through the Gate of the Fox, he explains, they must be in Avalon for a purpose. When questioned about his knife, he states that it is dwarf silver because the natives of Avalon cannot handle iron without harm.

Huon takes them to Caer Siddi, where they meet Merlin. There they discover that evil has moved deep within Avalon and that the situation is very bad. Moreover, they are told that events in Avalon are mirrored in their own world. Merlin asks them to use their power of iron to retrieve the lost tokens and, when they agree, conducts them to a magic mirror, where they each take a stainless steel implement from the picnic basket and pass through to separate locales.

This novel is a story of courage and perseverence, with each child facing and overcoming their special fears. It has brave people and magical animals, both good and evil, including a very wise fox.

Recommended for all Norton fans and any child who loves animals, magic, and brave heros and heroines.

Eric, Greg and Sara's dramatic entrance into the Avalon is somehow more romantic and believable than C.S. Lewis's wardrobe, yet it is of the same genre of literature. Huon of the Horn and his winged horses draw Eric, Greg and Sara in further, and the reader with them! Steel Magic would be classified as an "intermediate" novel, which is between easy reader and young adult. The three children rely on books that Eric and Greg have read for some of their insight into the strange world of Avalon, which incites in Sara the desire to read the tales of King Arthur and Merlin. Avalon has a cherished place in literature; your 3rd through 6th grader will find Steel Magic an enchanting introduction to this world!

I first read this book in 1974 as a young child. It is about three young children who come to this Arthurian world and meet Merlin. They are sent on (yep you guessed it!) separate quests to battle monsters, etc... This is a book I highly reccomend because it excites the mind as to the many ways of solving problems, no matter what age you are! If you can find this book you will agree that it is a must-read! I just wish I had kept the copy I had as a child!