This 200 page softbound book contains over 1,000 full color, large, sharp photos of every type of ceramic coin bank. Each entry includes the description, size, dates and value (1997). Although essentially an I.D. and value guide, there is a considerable amount of information of value and interest to the collector. Included are: Ceramic Manufacturing Processes, Dating, Condition, Rarity Ratings, Geographical Ceramic Manufacturing Centers, and Photo Notes. Chapters range from Human heads, Humans, Cats, Dogs and Elephants, to Squirrel, Fish, Monkeys, Lions, Vegetables, Pots, Books, Vehicles and Ships and Purses. A complete glossary and bibliography are provided. Very useful for collectors of this popular topic.

This is a great book for the established or beginning coin bank collector! It really has a great variety for any type of specialized ceramic bank afficianado. As a long time collector & seller I recommend this book to any one!

This book fills a real gap in "first bibles." At one extreme are toddler bibles that have simplistic pictures and text. They bore my toddler stiff. In my opinion they are horribly inept at conveying the excitement, mystery, and poetry of the bible. At the other extreme are bibles for 4-8 year olds. These often have beautiful illustrations, but the stories are too complex and difficult to paraphrase. **This** first bible has captivating illustrations and simple straightforward stories. One page of text per story is about all my almost-3-year-old can handle, and when her attention wanders, I can quickly trim the story, and move on to another. The illustrations can also stand-alone, so I can compose a simple story from my own memory while my child looks at the picture. Or I can add details I think are interesting. So for us, it is a good way to start becoming familiar with the bible stories. My only criticism is that Jesus and his apostles look like white Jews of European heritage, and the Egyptions look like people of color. So at the least it could help perpetuate the myth that Jesus was white. The DK illustrated bible, in contrast, is more realistic and hence more inclusive. There are two books I've earmarked for later use -- the DK illustrated bible because it has so much information about biblical times, and the Kingfisher book of bible stories because the stories seem so fluid and readable. But both of those are too complicated for my daughter now. As I started off by saying, this book bridges the gap.

This is a valuable first-hand account of early New Orleans jazz by the man generally regarded as the father of jazz bassists. In transcribed interviews, Foster describes the milieu in which early jazz developed. He attempts to clear up what he feels are misconceptions about early jazz promulgated by ciritics and historians. There are plenty of enetertaining and revealing anecdotes about Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and other early jazzmen. Some introudctory technical remarks about Foster's playing should be of interest to bassists.

'Turnaround' is a very detailed account of the foundation Coach Bryant used to rebuild the Alabama football program. Tom Stoddard is wise to let this book be mostly oral history, as the players can tell this story far better than anybody else.

There are some tedious moments. My patience was severely tested by paragraphs of depth charts, including where the player was from. This kind of text became even more unbearable when I turned the page to find an actual depth chart. My first attempt to read 'Turnaround' was thwarted by this poor editing decision.

The players' stories about the coaching staff, Coach Bryant in particular, are the real attraction of this book. These stories make up the majority of the book, and make this book an overall enjoyable read.

Just skip over the long lists of names.

The book provides some remarkable insight into Coach Bryant's methods and thoughts. I heard stories that I have never heard and I consider myself a big fan. The problem was the boring play by play of the games and the constant roster updates. If you are a Bama fan buy it. If not it would be of little interest.

This book is worthwhile for any hard-core fan of the Crimson Tide. But if you are not there would be little here to interest you.

Another reviewer highly recommended "The Junction Boys", a story of the nightmarish ten days that Bear Bryant ran his first Texas A&M team through. I agree that book was more interesting and more focused. "Turnaround", regrettably, does not have the same appeal and sense of being there that "The Junction Boys" did. True, Bear Bryant was not the sweetest coach in the world in 1958, but after what he put his first Aggie team through I could not be awed with what his first Crimson Tide team went through. Bear's first Aggie team appeared to have had it tougher -- which is why he considered that to be his favorite team in spite of the fact that was his only losing team (1-9) in his entire career.

There were a couple of interesting items about the book though. First, J. B. "Ears" Whitworth preceded the Bear to Tuscaloosa and won only four games in three years. I do not remember anything about "Ears" as I was too young and growing up in Alabama I never heard many references to those dark days in Crimson Tide history. About the only reference to those days was that a quarterback who was hurt much of the time while at Alabama later went on to a somewhat more successful career in the NFL -- some guy named Bart Starr. The book did devote the first chapter to the problems swirling around the Alabama football program during "Ears" less than successful three years.

The second item of interest is the description of the practice sessions. Bear later mellowed considerably -- especially in the 1970s and when he was 15 - 20 years older and more experienced. But he ran the program in a very controlled manner, attention to detail, well organized, mission oriented, stressing a strong conditioning program, never a wasted moment on the practice field, well motivated, and stressing academics. I have read several descriptions of the current coach, Dennis Franchione, and although Coach Franchione was not a deciple of the Bear, he runs things in a very similar manner. There are differences of course in that there are different rules and water breaks are no longer considered a sign of weakness. But the basic ideas remain the same. I hope Coach Franchione has similar success.

I have most likely read almost every book that has been written about the legendery college football coach. With the possible exception of "Bear", (which was an autobiography written by John Underwood) this is the best book ever written on Paul "Bear" Bryant. It was meticulously researched and led the reader on a journey throughout the year of 1958 (Bryant's first year at Alabama) which laid the foundation for a football dynasty during the 1960s and 1970s. While books like "The Junction Boys" might be more entertaining (but not always factual), "Turnaround" does not suffer the numerous embellishment problems that "Junction" did. Tom Stoddard deserves a great deal of recognition for this work. It is a must for the serious student of Bryant.