My qualifications: I used to live 4km from Hameln ("Hamelin", Anglicized), Germany! It's near Hanover, if you're looking on a map. Regardless, I was happy to find this treasure. This is the most vividly illustrated version I've seen.The illustrations are splendid, & the book is nice & large. After seeing ANATOLY IVANOV's illustrations, other versions just don't do the story justice. The text is printed in what i would decribe as "default" calligraphic italic, adding to its charm, if not its "authenticity". I give it a big 5 RATS!

This book would be a wonderful treasure for the pictures alone. Kate Greenaway, noted children's illustrator, has created a magical world of beautiful children, innocent faces, and romantic, nostalgic costumes. The colors on these pages are breathtaking, and the details (although Greenaway is always faulted for not drawing hands and feet well) are superb. This story is not for very young children, as it contains some troublesome themes. For the older child, perhaps 7+, the story might provoke some interesting post-read family discussions about honesty, trust, and the actual state of the children at the end of the tale. This is even a beautiful book to give to adults, as the messages about human nature can be appreciated on a deeper level.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a very different children's classic. Few other children's picture books tell a story in Victorian poetry. The book isn't just original; it is excellent. I have always enjoyed Robert Browning's poetry, and this is no exception. I was surprised at how easy it was to read this book compared to some of Browning's other verse, and it was pleasing to read, especially considering that this is focused toward children. I loved all of the poetic techniques used by Browning. His iambic tetrameter in couplets works very well for young readers, and I loved his use of anaphora and internal rhyme. The story is, of course, brilliant. It is the usual folk tale that every child has heard and needs to hear. It teaches its lesson, and Browning's version is even more entertaining than other versions. Also, the illustrations by Kate Greenway are fabulous. It is impossible to imagine this story in Browning's Victorian verse without Greenway's Victorian artistry. This is a true children's classic, it should definately last for years to come, and it makes and excellent buy for children or for libraries.

Terry & Doug Schaff have provided a virtual road map in The Fundraising Planner. The information is presented in a clear and well thought out manner presenting information that can be seamlessly inserted into your current programs. The planner illustrates how to develop, plan and implement the strategies necessary to conduct successful and accountable fundraising activities.

This book truly has something for everyone. From the neophyte to the seasoned professional, the Schaffs have provided a tool that will take your plans to the next level. The planner truly is a step-by-step guide that does not insult the reader with coddling phrases and usless data. Each chapter delves ever deeper into the raison d'etre for each mechanism used to move the fundraising process.

As a Development Director I found many applications within the planner that I can utilize to complement my planning activities. The real world applications provided after each step are valuable exercises as you facilitate your yearly planning process. The information presented is very timely, relevant and useful.

Well Done!

This is an excellent summary of the wide world of antiques -- from needlework to American Art Pottery, nails and screws to Carnival glass. This is not a price guide; rather, this volume summarizes the whats, whens, wheres, and hows of the material culture of our past. Especially noteworthy is that the information included deals both with American and Canadian objects.The book is organized by material: silver, pewter, needlework, toys, etc. Throughout, quick "expert tips" are printed in all capital letters, making them stand out. Extensive information on changes in style over time, as well as makers' marks, are included.Drawbacks: The book is somewhat dated, in that it covers primarily items popular to collectors in 1973 (the date of the volume reviewed). Missing is information on items such as razors, thimbles, needle cases, etc. Also missing is any information on ivory, bone, and tortoiseshell objects, to name a few. Regardless of these minor shortcomings, this volume will be a valuable addition to the library of antique collectors, historical archaeologists, and any others interested in material culture.

In a superb style for a medieval tale, Terry Small uses a brilliant blend of rhyme,vocabulary, and illustration to keep the novice reader mesmerized. This style of storytelling offers a breathe of fresh air to the child reader and captures the spirit of the middle ages

Living with Small and Toy Dogs, has the answer to almost any "small dog" problem. It makes people look at every thing in the dogs point of view. This book has every thing from what kind of equipment to use, to dog obedience, to formal training. It also has many solutions to the dogs aggression toward people, children, animals, and other dogs. All of the examples of things that people should do while training their small dog, helped me understand why I need to do different things while training. The examples also proved they were necessary. This is the best "small dog" book.

This book has the ability to impart to children the magic and joy there is in the complexity of growing up. It also makes the child's bed a place of comfort and security. The parents are silly yet committed and loving in their search for a solution to Imelda's smallness. Imelda's saddness reaches the children and they empathize with her frustration. The story uses a richness of language that is missing in much of the currently published children's fiction. Reading this story aloud is a pleasure.

I used this field guide during my recent trip to Kenya and Uganda. Although it is by all means an excellent fieldguide I do have some remarks. A number of the plates contained errors, suggesting the artists didn't see these birds in the field. I realise it is virtually impossible for artists to see all species featured in a book such as this in the field, so that a lot of plates are drawn from skins. It is important however to use skins from the region itself, this may make a lot of difference. We came to the conclusion that for a number of species skins from west Africa were used. Especially the greenbuls had some misleading plates. For a number of species the Kenyan Zimmerman-book is probably better, although those plates lack in other respects.
In addition a number of the maps were incorrect, especially for Uganda.
Still, if you go to the region for birding, make sure to get this book, because it is definitely the best field guide around.

This book really sets a very high standard and we can only hope other parts of the world's tropics will get similar guides in due time. The plates are just about as superb as one could possibly wish for. When you compare this book with the new field guides that have recently come out for South America, it seems like there are two worlds! Just compare the flamingos, the osprey, or the parrots with the pictures you find in "The Field Guide to the Birds of Peru" and you know what I mean! There is also an excellent lay-out, with helpful concise text and useful range maps all neatly placed together. And the book is still amazingly compact.

After years of having one of the world's worst bird books, East Africa now has two of the best. The Zimmerman/Turner book on Kenya and Northern Tanzania, the work of 30 years, set a new standard of scholarship and illustration. This book draws on that one, but is even better for the tourist and field birder. It covers all of Uganda and Tanzania, as well as Rwanda and Burundi. It is smaller and lighter to carry. And the illustrations and their placement in related groups on the same page are simply outstanding. This is one of the best bird books in the world and will dominate the market for years to come.

In this era of triumphant religious fundamentalism, Small Gods is a pretty dangerous item to be seen carrying. Terry Pratchett, carrying a reputation of being a major force in writing fantasy and humour has shed both in this penetrating book. It's an incisive satire of the mores and methods of the three major religions of Western Civilization. Pratchett's astute axiom that the Discworld is a "mirror of worlds" applies with more force here than any other Discworld book. Pratchett casts away whatever subtle restraint he's given other philosophical issues to directly confront us with a harsh truth about faiths.

The basic theme is a simple, but rarely recognized, truth. Gods are created by people. The fewer the believers, the smaller and weaker the god. When belief fades or believers eliminated, the gods cease to exist. Once mighty, the god Om has been relegated to the body of a tortoise. He retains but one true believer: Brutha, a novice in the Citadel of Om. Brutha makes frequent reference to segments of the "holy book" Om supposedly authored. Mystified by attribution to himself of these writings, Om wonders who really wrote them. And why they were written. What has been perpetrated in His Name?

Brutha, who has a photographic memory, is conscripted into a religious crusade against neighbouring Ephebe. The Omnian Church wants to erase Ephebe's false belief that the world is a disc riding on the backs of four elephants standing on a turtle swimming through space. According to Vorbis, head of the Quisition, such false doctrine must be erased, erasing the Ephebians in the process, if necessary. Besides, Ephebe's on the best trade route to the Turnwise coast. Tucked away in Brutha's pocket, Om is taken along. But how does Vorbis expect to conquer mighty Ephebe, home of philosopher kings, with a token force of fifty soldiers?

Pratchett is as direct as Vorbis is devious. There's an old saying that runs "I'm not a bigot, I hate everybody". Vorbis doesn't hate anybody, just those following false doctrines. Nor does Pratchett hate anyone, but his scathing wit in this book leaves few untouched . There are some light passages, but this book is deadly serious. It's not small gods, but small minds that Pratchett targets and he hits the mark unerringly [He's nearly prescient about Christian reaction to J.K. Rowlings' Harry Potter books]. Pratchett holds the mirror before us to consider our beliefs. What do we have faith in, and what sustains that faith?. If it proves false, how do we respond? What an experience it would be to visit Pratchett when one of the evangelicals arrives at the door! If he's as verbally devastating as he is with the printed word, there'd only be a smudge on the doormat.

I was picking through my mom's book collection, and found Small Gods to be a little different from the rest. I had no idea when I began to read it how different it was! From the first page onward I could not put it down. Terry Pratchett takes us into a private world, so similar to our own, and yet not. Religion is brought out into the open in a humorous, insightful way. We see a little bit of ourselves in the blind faith of Brutha, the novice with the amazing memory, who, out of thousands of hollow believers, truly has faith in the Great God Om, *holy horns* who through a failed attempt to become a massive white bull, compleate with fire and might, instead becomes a humble tortoise, whom most everyone will admit, "there's good eating on one of those." Pratchett adds a little intriuge, betrail and a hint of human cruelity to this wonderful book, perfect for long, otherwise boring, summer days.

Terry Pratchett is an awesome writer and "Small Gods" is a fantastic book. Pratchett has singlehandedly created his own genre and has garnered himself a huge following -- and it's easy to see why. "Small Gods" has to be one of the wittiest books ever written, with incredibly sharp one-liners, in-jokes and pratfalls. Great names and clever words hide subtle parodies and satire, which are a bonus as the plot is entertaining enough on its own.

I tried to read this book in contracts class when it first came out and kept on getting busted for laughing out loud, no matter how much I tried to hide it. The only other author able to do this for me is PJ O'Rourke. If you read it on public transport, people will look at you and think you're kinda strange, unless they too know who Pratchett is, in which case they will envy you reading and try to catch furtive glimpses of the text over your shoulder.

This is one of my favourite books of all time -- read it and love it too. If I could award it 6 stars, I would.

Wow. This guy left a wake of bankrupt investors, angry customers & employees (and all for good reason), everywhere he went!

He frequently spends money he hasn't earned and creatively parlays it until the house of cards collapses. And this happends over and over again.

Somehow, out of decades of disasters..., a business emerges that he sells for a lot of money.

What I took away from the book is that Terry has more business experiences than nearly anybody - but he still hasn't learned anything from it!

He got lucky 1 time out of 50 and wrote a book.

I finished the book still looking for the "invaluable lessons", but gave it 2 starts because it is an engaging read.

This is probably the best book ever written on raising money for small and medium size businesses. Here's why. Usually these books are all about the author's successes...just brag rags. Terry Allen's authentic style and approach reveal both the many victories and the many defeats along the way. He unabashidly shares his schemes and dreams in a humorous, approachable and really human way. And each chapter is filled with engaging stories which become a fabulous list of entrepreneurial dos and don'ts.

The question is how can a guy like this with a Harvard MBA and also and a also business PhD. be so practical and at the same time funny. Most PhD. business authors are stuck in their ivory towers and really never get their hands dirty with the real work of the entreprenuer. Professor Allen, on the other hand, lays seige to the ivory tower of business rules and stifling protocol, with a refreshing, innovative and practical outlook. This is a must read for anyone who wants to own their own business and have fun doing it!

Most business books are so deadly dull that when something like Terry Allen's NO CASH NO FEAR comes along, I want to shout my joy from the rooftop! A reviewer here criticized Allen for having failed in so many of his enterprises. So? Isn't it valuable to learn from others' mistakes, as well as from their successes? Another reviewer said that this is good autobiography but bad "how-to." How so? It is certainly good biography, which is what makes Allen a delight to read, but each chapter closes with "lessons learned," and each page is FILLED with "how-to" -- IF you're paying attention. The trick is developing the skill to apply others' experiences to your own business situations.

This is a terrific, entertaining, and educational book. And I'm sure I'll be reading it again and again.

Terry Silber deserves credit for making her move to Maine work. It should be noted that farming is not the reason for her success, retail would be more accurate. Throughout the book there is the feeling that she feels herself above her new neighborhood. I would be curious to see how her new homestate views her. A finacial success; she has achieved. Beyond that?

One of my favorite books, does a great job of expressing the joy, the hardship, the realities, and the beauty of farming. A must read for anyone who wants to have a small family farm.