I received this book as a gift, and I just can't bring myself to read to my baby from a book with such sickening, cloying illustrations. Looking at Thomas Kincaid's work makes my skin crawl. Ewwww! I cannot understand how Thomas Kincaid makes a living. Is America's taste in art really that bad??

I am looking for an edition of *A Child's Garden of Verses* that does not feature the "artwork" of Thomas Kincaid.

I had this book (without the illustrations) as a child, and loved it.

I have given this book to five different mothers at baby showers and they all adore it. I get invited to lots of baby showers and I have decided to always purchase books in the hopes that parents will read to their children. This book has been a favorite hit with everyone. Not everyone likes Thomas Kincade, however, I find his books peaceful in conjunction with these children's verses.

I love reading the verses to my grandchildren (ages 3-7). They listen attentively, enchanted by every selection. They have quickly learned to recognize most of the authors. My grandchildren in kingergarten and first grade are able to read many of the verses themselves, although they still like Grandma to read to them. Hearing the various rhythms of poetry has been a motivation and inspiration for them to emulate in their oral reading.

It is a fantastic gift for any age child. Great for older children to read to their younger siblings. The vast majority of the book is of interest and most enjoyable for all ages, from the very young to the very old (but young at heart). My children have asked for copies to be given to their children's other grandparents......fantastic book for grandparents to read to their grandchildren.

We have all enjoyed the artwork along with the verses. The assortment of poems, prayers and scripture is excellent. A refreshing, inspiring, memorable, and enjoyable book. It is a true "family" book for reading enjoyment as well as a "coffee table" book!

Isaac Lau
3/22/02
Period 4
Treasure Island

Jim Hawkins, a 17 year-old boy, worked with his father and mother at the Admiral Benbow Inn. One day, a fierce man trotted into their inn with a chest and ordered rum. He told them that he would be staying here for a while and addressed himself as captain. He started feeling ill at the large amounts of rum he had been drinking everyday. Doctor Livesey, a good friend of Jim's father, had already warned him many times. But on one unfortunate day, Jim's father became extremely ill and died. A few days later, a blind man entered the inn and handed the captain a small piece of paper. As soon as he left, the captain caught a glimse of the paper and fell to the ground dead. It was nothing else but the black dot. Jim and his mother looked into the captain's chest and found guns, money, and a map of and island. They took the money that the captain owed and the map.The blind man later returned with a few other men and entered the inn. They were looking for something, but they didn't find it. Just then, Dr. Livesey came with some other officers that were about to arrest the captain because of the large amounts of rum he had been drinking. The robbers ran and scattered everywhere, leaving the blind man alone in the road. Apparently, the stagecoach the doctor was on with his officers ran over the blind man, leaving him rolling on the road lifeless.
Dr. Livesey took Jim and his mother to safety and observed the strange map. This map turned out to be the legendary Treasure Island. So in a flash, a crew was gathered and Jim was allowed to go on the expedition. This is how his adventure began. When the sea journey was almost over, Jim hid in a barrel and overheard the plans of the new crew members. They were going mutiny the people on the ship and get the treasure themselves. After the secret conservation was over, Jim quickly told the doctor and they discussed this with the men in the cabin. This wasn't going to end up to be a mutiny, but a battle. When they arrived at the island, the battle began. Dr. Livesey's group took some arms and found a straw shed for shelter. They met a man on the island named Ben that had been abandoned on the island for three years. He had already found the treasure, but Dr. Livesey's group had a low chance to get it because the mutineers kept blowing cannon balls from the ship. The last fight killed most of the mutineers and Jim was a part of every one. Somehow, the captain of the mutineers named Silver found out that Dr. Livesey knew where the treasure was. He secretly left his camp and went to the opponent's camp with the flag of truce. Silver promised them that if they let him go on their side and share the treasure, he would provide them safety from the mutineers. So they made a deal.
The next day, Silver led his remaining men which was three deep into the island. They thought Silver was leading them to the treasure so they carried shovels instead of guns. Silver had led them far away from the abandoned Ben's cave where he stored the treasure. They sent Jim onto the boat first, for safety. But there were two men fighting. After the blood soaking event, Jim saw that the winner had been very injured and went toward him. He sent Jim to fetch him some wine. When Jim came back up, he took a knife and pinned Jim's shoulder. Jim took out his pitol and sent the mutineer plunging into the water. He returned to the camp and the doctor fixed him up. They were done getting the treasure onto the boat in one day. They took Ben and Silver onto the boat and headed back home. One night, silver took two barrels of gold and was never to be seen again. Jim's adventure would end here and he would go back to his mother. As for the remaining mutineers, they were left some guns and water for their next years on the island.

...

Jim Hawkins, a 17 year-old boy, worked with his father and mother at the Admiral Benbow Inn. One day, a fierce man trotted into their inn with a chest and ordered rum. He told them that he would be staying here for a while and addressed himself as captain. He started feeling ill at the large amounts of rum he had been drinking everyday. Doctor Livesey, a good friend of Jim's father, had already warned him many times. But on one unfortunate day, Jim's father became extremely ill and died. A few days later, a blind man entered the inn and handed the captain a small piece of paper. As soon as he left, the captain caught a glimse of the paper and fell to the ground dead. It was nothing else but the black dot. Jim and his mother looked into the captain's chest and found guns, money, and a map of and island. They took the money that the captain owed and the map.The blind man later returned with a few other men and entered the inn. They were looking for something, but they didn't find it. Just then, Dr. Livesey came with some other officers that were about to arrest the captain because of the large amounts of rum he had been drinking. The robbers ran and scattered everywhere, leaving the blind man alone in the road. Apparently, the stagecoach the doctor was on with his officers ran over the blind man, leaving him rolling on the road lifeless.
Dr. Livesey took Jim and his mother to safety and observed the strange map. This map turned out to be the legendary Treasure Island. So in a flash, a crew was gathered and Jim was allowed to go on the expedition. This is how his adventure began. When the sea journey was almost over, Jim hid in a barrel and overheard the plans of the new crew members. They were going mutiny the people on the ship and get the treasure themselves. After the secret conservation was over, Jim quickly told the doctor and they discussed this with the men in the cabin. This wasn't going to end up to be a mutiny, but a battle. When they arrived at the island, the battle began. Dr. Livesey's group took some arms and found a straw shed for shelter. They met a man on the island named Ben that had been abandoned on the island for three years. He had already found the treasure, but Dr. Livesey's group had a low chance to get it because the mutineers kept blowing cannon balls from the ship. The last fight killed most of the mutineers and Jim was a part of every one. Somehow, the captain of the mutineers named Silver found out that Dr. Livesey knew where the treasure was. He secretly left his camp and went to the opponent's camp with the flag of truce. Silver promised them that if they let him go on their side and share the treasure, he would provide them safety from the mutineers. So they made a deal.
The next day, Silver led his remaining men which was three deep into the island. They thought Silver was leading them to the treasure so they carried shovels instead of guns. Silver had led them far away from the abandoned Ben's cave where he stored the treasure. They sent Jim onto the boat first, for safety. But there were two men fighting. After the blood soaking event, Jim saw that the winner had been very injured and went toward him. He sent Jim to fetch him some wine. When Jim came back up, he took a knife and pinned Jim's shoulder. Jim took out his pitol and sent the mutineer plunging into the water. He returned to the camp and the doctor fixed him up. They were done getting the treasure onto the boat in one day. They took Ben and Silver onto the boat and headed back home. One night, silver took two barrels of gold and was never to be seen again. Jim's adventure would end here and he would go back to his mother. As for the remaining mutineers, they were left some guns and water for their next years on the island.

This book is a great ocean book for anyone who loves ocean. Anyone who wants to learn about the tectonic plates, or different ways that an island nation grows, this book is good for it. Its and excellent research book. This book is awesome. It tells tyou the highest mountain, and the biggest mountain. This is an ocean type person's book.

I found this book at Santa Barbara's Book Den - 1950 (RLS Centenary edition) Chapman & Hall, London publication - and read it between Santa Barbara and San Francisco and back again.
What fun to read McLaren - a Scot writing of his home and of Stevenson and his environs! In concise, descriptive, fast paced, melodious prose, McLaren conjures Stevenson of his 1870's school days before the reader's eyes placing him on Carlton Hill, at Leith Walk, at Lothian Road, at Howard Place and discusses the ways in which Edinburgh forever colored Stevenson's sensibility, and thus, his writing, continuing to live on in Stevenson's memory no matter how far he roamed from
his home. I left these pages wanting to go in search of Stevenson on the streets of Edinburgh and in further search of Edinburgh in Stevenson's writing - that "precipitous city . . . of beaten bells and keen sea wind."

This book is a lovely tribute to Stevenson and a lovely tribute to Edinburgh itself. As McLaren writes, Edinburgh is immutable -as changeless in 1950 as it was in 1850 - and one suspects in 2003, just as changeless - "this dream in masonry and living rock."

I go now in search of Stevenson's Edinburgh; Picturesque Notes.

It wasn't until I had nearly reached the last page of The Wrecker that I realized R.L. Stevenson meant for the book to read as slowly as it did. Though there were sections of high drama, I had struggled with the pace to that point, viewing it as a bit staid or wordy, much more so than other works of his I had read.

In the end, though, I could clearly see his clever intentions. Stevenson's "Tell-Tale" clues indicated that The Wrecker was a response to the jerking, backwards plots of the modern mystery story. Stevenson intentionally slowed the narrative speed, blunted the sharp edges (in contrast to Poe's hard-hitting, most famous stories), and added descriptive eloquence, sometimes blatantly disconnecting it from the plot (in a mixed tribute to Dickens, perhaps). He took the reversed chronology of a murder mystery, and flipped it backwards one more time.

The Wrecker will not be a bestseller in 2000. Nor should it be. It is a masterpiece, however, and will present a remarkable view of the evolution of the modern novel from inside the mind of one of its architects to any student of literature who takes time out to read it.

I think the complete title of this book sums up the purpose of this book "...Science Experiments that show God's power in Creation!" I admit I had difficulty making some of the relationships between the days of the creation and the experiments. But this book is for younger children, not for our children that we are trying to teach the actual principles of science. This book introduces our children to science, the process of doing an experiment and gives you some commentary that isn't evolutionary based. It is fun, not complicated science.

This book is full of short & hands on experiments! I wouldeven suggest it for younger kids 5-8 as well. Almost all materials canbe found in the home already, and if not, they are inexpensive to buy. This is great for any family on a tight budget! People who believe in Creation vs. Evolution have every right hold to our beliefs. Contrary to what you may believe, most of us teach evolution (AS A THEORY) in addition to our own belief in Creation. We do not ignore the fact that everyone has a right to their own beliefs. We do not brainwash our children, but rather present ALL worldviews. Please refer to the age group suggested... This book is not designed to teach Einstein's theories!

My family really enjoyed reading through this entertaining book and trying the experiments which reinforced the lesson being taught.

I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers who want to show their children that God is the Supreme Creator and how wonderfully He made everything around us. I know that "evolutionists" and "big bang theory" types will probably not care for this book - but maybe they should still read it. I find that it takes a lot more faith to believe some of science's theories of creation than it does to believe in a Supreme Creator! :-)

This book takes 2 real-life historical figures: Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Cleghorn of Hawai'i and author Robert Louis Stevenson and turns their very brief and innocent friendship (she was 13 years old)into a mumbo-jumbo of New Age romance and Science Fiction time-travel. There is no historical accuracy in this completely fictionalized account of a "romance" between these 2 real-life people. You are MUCH better off reading any of the well known biographies of them than this book. This book shows complete disrespect towards both Princess Ka'iulani and Mr. Stevenson's memory.

I am a part-Hawaiian woman who grew up in Hawai'i. The history of the Hawaiian people has been a cruel and sad testament to humanity. Princess Ka'iulani's life was one such tragedy. Hollywood and the media have distorted and exploited the Hawaiian people and the lands of Hawai'i for years. This book adds insult to injury, and is written with the utmost irreverence to the true beauty of our beloved Ka'iu. If you truly love and respect Princess Ka'iulani and Hawai'i, you will seek out the truth, not the Hawaiian-hype you have been force-fed. Respect the native people and their native lands.

It is sad to see this fanciful novel about half-Kanaka Maoli/half-Scottish Princess Ka'iulani perceived as "history" by the general public. As a member of the Hawaiian Historical Society, The Friends of 'Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum and other Hawaiian organizations,I can say there is utterly no basis for the notion that Robert Louis Stevenson and Crown Princess Ka'iulani had anything other than the briefest and most innocent of friendships. The Princess was a CHILD when Stevenson knew her, and they NEVER had contact - not even letters - again. Because this book - which people should remember is a NOVEL - makes use of Hawai'i State Archives photos as illustrations, some people make the mistake of thinking there is a basis for this notion of an "erotic" relationship between RLS and Ke Ali'i Ka'iulani; it is frightening to think this idea may be people's introduction to Ka'iulani's life...an impression that will damage understanding of Kanaka Maoli history. As for Stevenson - most scholars paint a uniform picture of him as constitutionally attracted to older women.

While cleverly written, the upshot of this fanciful "romance" is that it reinforces old unfounded gossip about a "pregnancy", and ignores many known facts about Ka'iulani's life, including the central fact that her health was broken by the trauma her country's take-over by the U.S. caused her. It manipulates the reader into serious misunderstanding, and submerges the life of a real heroine beneath fantasy. That the author constantly refers to her as "Victoria" (which her friends and family did not)seems like a denial of her Kanaka Maoli self in favor of her "white" self...a very troubling detail.

Robert Louis Stevenson and Ka'iulani were NOT "lovers"! The Princess was not the sexually precocious "south seas" stereotype the author presents, but a schoolgirl barely in her teens, and an Ali'i of great mana and dignity besides.

The recent Mutual Publishing paperback reprint of the classic Ka'iulani biography "Kaiulani, Crown Princess of Hawaii" by Nancy and Jean Francis Webb is a must-read for those interested in the REAL Princess, and the new young adult bio by Sharon Linnea is also a good intro to her life and times. Also not to be missed is Kristin Zambucka's excellent update of Hawai'i" (Green Glass Pub.). These tell the real story and don't confuse the unfamiliar with fantasies manufactured out of whole cloth.

If Amazon. com cares about "equal time" and free speech, and multicultural issues in general it will print this. Four glowing "reviews" ought to have some counter balance

Those who have read only Kidnapped might agree with me in saying the ending is rather abrupt. This is because Stevenson intended to write a sequel, and did 6 years after writing Kidnapped.
David Balfour has two parts-
The plot of the first part of this book centers on David's efforts to free the innocent James Stewart from being hanged, the second on David's romance with a highland girl named Catriona.
The first part is pretty good, although stale in some parts. The second is different from anything in Kidnapped or in the first part. Stevenson targeted the kidnapped books to boys, but in this part it's so romantically inclined that as a girl I cannot imagine a boy enjoying most of it.
I'd say the romanic part of this book is pretty bad and cliche, but the book is worth reading for the parts with Black Andy and Alan Breck(my favorite character). I only wish Stevenson had included more of these characters and less of such 2D ones such a Prestongrange(the king's advocate), Catriona and yes, David whom in some parts I tired of. I'd recommend reading this book if you liked Kidnapped and are a good enough reader to understand some of the somewhat difficult Scotch dialect.

Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson, was (and still is) one of my favorite reads. The tale of the young David Balfour who, at the hands of his scheming uncle Ebenezer, is kidnapped and shipwrecked in the wild Scottish Highlands of the mid-seventeenth century. Along with that, he is caught at the wrong place at the wrong time-speaking with Colin Campbell when he is shot at the notorious murder of Glencoe. His only hope of survival is to escape south across the highlands with Alan Breck Stewart, the lovably roguish cousin of James of the Glens. From ducking through the heather to hiking across wooded mountains to hiding from soldiers and far beyond, the pair's adventures make for one of the best books I've had the fortune to read (and between you and me, that's saying something).
Sadly, the tale's sequel, David Balfour, does not quite live up to the standards set by its predecessor. Although a very enjoyable read, David Balfour's focuses are mainly the legal struggle to exonerate James of the Glens and David's romance with Catriona Drummond. The almost complete absence of everybody's favorite Scotsman, Alan Breck, is the book's greatest blow. Without him, the better part of the book is much less fun to read than the original. He does make some appearances though, mainly at the very beginning and very end of the story, and those are (in my opinion) the very best sections of the book.
That is not to say the tale is bad. Quite the contrary, in fact. It is very enjoyable to read, particularly David's narration of his stay on the Bass with Black Andie and the highlanders. Even though it is not as engrossing as Kidnapped, David Balfour should please anybody who enjoyed the original, even though the book's lack of adventure and heavy use of the Scots tongue may turn some wanting another Kidnapped away from reading it all the way through.

It's true that this sequel to "Kidnapped" takes a very different direction from the original story. In fact, Alan Breck Stewart (everyone's favorite character) makes only a few (albeit quite entertaining) appearances, and most of the story focuses on David Balfour's lone adventures and, in the second half of the book, his rather botched wooing of Catriona, a lovely Scottish lass (to say more would give away the story).

I must admit that "Kidnapped" is my favorite book of all time, so I am somewhat prejudiced toward liking "David Balfour" no matter what its faults. However, the truth of the matter is that this is really quite a good book in its own right. It would not have been disappointing to anyone except for the fact that it happens to be a sequel to "Kidnapped," and people (fairly enough, I suppose) expect another rousing adventure story, which "David Balfour" is not.

Some aspects of the two books are very similar. Stevenson used quite a bit of dialect in the "Kidnapped," so it should come as a surprise to no one that he does the same in "David Balfour" (although there may be a little more broad Scotch). Also, David's and Alan's characters are quite true to the original characterizations, I think.

The part of the story that people seem to object to most is the love story between David and Catriona. I admit it, the main problem is that Catriona is a rather flat character, and as such does not keep the reader's interest (or sympathy) very well. That being said, most of the book (and especially the last 20 pages, which I liked very much) is quite entertaining. I have read better love stories and better adventure stories, but "David Balfour" isn't bad for a love story sequel to an adventure story.

Finally, a word about the illustrations in this edition. They are by N.C. Wyeth, who was one of the best illustrators of the early to mid 20th century. This edition is a copy of the original 1913 Wyeth edition, and has all the wonderful illustrations and the neat old-fashioned size and typeface.

In late 1999 Ms. Jensen-Stevenson settled the libel lawsuit filed against her and her publishers by Dr. Harold Kushner for the scurrilous allegations she had made against him in "Spite House". Dr. Kushner was a P.O.W. in several of the jungle camps where Robert Garwood acted as guard and interrogator for the Communists. Ms. Jensen-Stevenson agreed to a monetary settlement (which Dr. Kushner promptly donated to charity) and also agreed to publish an apology to him in both the New York Times and Dr. Kushner's local paper; she admitted that the only source for her charges was Robert Garwood and that none of the other surviving P.O.W.'s would buttress her assertions.

The facts of Robert Garwood's case, as opposed to the fiction of "Spite House", are well known and easily summarized: Garwood was captured in or near Da Nang in 1965 and for approximately the next eighteen months he was a P.O.W., a status that changed when he was offered release but refused it, electing to stay with the Viet Cong as a lieutenant. Now calling himself Nguyen Chien Dau ("Nguyen the Freedom Fighter"), Garwood became fully integrated into the Viet Cong infrastructure. He carried a standard-issue AK-47 and used it to guard fellow Americans. He also interrogated them and encouraged them to write and record anti-American propaganda. He assaulted at least one P.O.W. (he was later convicted of this), lived in the guards quarters and made pro-Communist loudspeaker broadcasts near Marine positions. He may even have participated in combat assaults on Marine patrols and bases, although it seems ludicrous to imagine that the Viet Cong, fierce warriors with an intimate knowledge of the land, would have actually allowed a motor pool private to lead them into battle. The Marine Corps learned of Garwood's perfidy fairly early on when P.O.W.'s from Garwood's camp were released and he was marked for court martial should he resurface.

Garwood was not seen by Americans from 1969 until 1979, when he passed a note to a Finnish businessman in a hotel restaurant in Hanoi. Garwood's name had not been on any list of P.O.W.'s provided by the North Vietnamese prior to the repatriation of all-yes, all-American P.O.W.'s in 1973. Garwood returned to the United States in 1979, was convicted after a lengthy court martial, and dishonorably discharged. Garwood was convicted for the things he did while he was with the enemy, not for acts committed while he was a prisoner; he was no longer a prisoner once he was offered release but voluntarily stayed with the Viet Cong.

The entire shabby Garwood affair should have been relegated to nothing more than a footnote of the Vietnam War but wasn't because politics do indeed make strange bedfellows. Garwood was embraced by the activist faction of the P.O.W./M.I.A. movement upon his return when he claimed that Americans were still being held captive in Vietnam years after the end of the war. It was both strange and sad to see the wives and children of missing servicemen making common cause with a turncoat. Certain politician, eager to make whatever hay they could from the M.I.A. issue, also championed Garwood. One senator went so far as to fly with Garwood to North Vietnam-years after Garwood's return-so Garwood could show him where Americans were still being held. Nothing came of it, naturally, and to this date no P.O.W. or M.I.A. has returned since "Operation Homecoming" in 1973.

"Spite House", and the author's equally duplicitous "Kiss the Boys Goodbye", accords Garwood full P.O.W. status for the entire time he was in Vietnam by stacking one paper-thin explanation for his behavior atop another. Yes, he carried an AK-47 but it was unloaded. Yes, he lived with the guards and wore their uniform but he wanted to live with the Americans. But even Ms. Jensen-Stevenson's prodigious imagination fails when it comes to explaining why the Vietnamese would cling so tenaciously to a lowly Marine private. The only explanation is the truth-Garwood remained in Vietnam because he wanted to; when he wanted to leave, he left.

"Spite House" is infuriating and dishonest, rendered all the more so by Ms. Jensen-Stevenson's breathless prose style.

OK, footnotes might seem boring, and they might frighten some potential book buyers, but any book concerning the controversy over Robert Garwood needs rigorous footnotes identifying the source or sources of various assertions. In Spite House, the few footnotes are really odd; some minor matters are footnoted, major matters are not. The footnotes appear to have been tacked on, not by the author, and clearly not scrutinized by any editor. The primary source appears to be Colonel Tom McKenney. Now, he is probably a fine and honest man, but I suspect his assertions need double checking because of his apparent need to believe in one system or another 100%, first the Marine Corps and then, once disillusioned with the USMC, with his church. The leaps of illogic attributed to him and others are frightening. One final note: it strikes me as absolutely absurd that the Vietnamese communists, fierce and proud soldiers and adamant nationalists (and contemptuous of south Vietnamese "puppets") would allow American deserters to "lead" their tactical units (as the book several times says American intelligence officers believed). If American officials did actually believe that, we have, I would guess, yet another example of our fatal, egotistical ignorance of Vietnamese history and thought.

The problem with governments in general and governments during war in specific is that it is in their best interest to maintain the veneer of awe-inspiring magnificence and righteousness. There is no room for error, especially not an error like admitting that not all of "our boys" have come home. After the Nixon/Kissinger duo announced that there were no more POWs in Vietnam, Robert Garwood's return to the US after 14 years of imprisonment proved that there had been at least one POW left behind. The solution to this quandry? Label Garwood a traitor and take his life away, leaving him unable to get a job but without a pension or paycheck.

Jensen-Stevenson has taken the one-dimensional cardboard cutout of a villian that has served as the general public's view of Robert Garwood and fleshed it out into a real three-dimensional human being. This book reads like a first-rate thriller, paralleling the experiences of Garwood through his capture, imprisonment, and escape, with those of the Colonel sent to kill Garwood. History is usually written by the victors, and Garwood went up against the US and lost. From time to time, I would read something so horrible - the CIA importing cocaine, missions to assassinate American POWs - that I was sure it was being invented or embellished by the author. But the research is sound; the evidence refuting Garwood's story is that set forward by the government and the military - the same entities that stand to lose face if Garwood's claims are even minutely true.

Garwood seems to be the most American of heroes - surviving and getting out of an impossible situation by his wits and tenacity - and yet, he's been reviled as a traitor. What a reward! Give this book a try. If you've decided Garwood is a traitor, this book will be grist for your mill. If you're willing to reconsider Garwood's place in history, this book will horrify you.