I had never read anything by M.M. Kaye. I have passed her books in the stores and they never seemed to jump out at me. However, this time I gave it a try and it was wonderful. First of all, it took place in the late 30's before World War II when the British were ruling India and it was chock full of characters, house, food, dances, etc., that fit right in to that period. Plus. several murders and two young girls trying to solve the murders without getting killed themselves. Just brimming with mystery and intrique.

When was the last time you curled up on a rainy day with a good whodunit? "Death in the Andamans" is the perfect book if you enjoy the "locked door" variety of murder mystery. The plot and characters can be found in many similar books - what separates this one is the good writing. It's all there: spunky young heroine, dark enigmatic stranger, a cast of suspects - all marrooned on an island during a hurricane. The outcome - a dead body and a murderer on the loose among them. Throw in some unearthly sightings and some clever detecting and you've got yourself a nice read. M.M. Kaye is one of my top five writers. In addition to her mysteries, she also wrote historical fiction. Try "Trade Wind", "Shadow of the Moon" or "The Far Pavillions" and you'll see how talented a writer she is.

Perhaps my favorite of M.M. Kaye's 'Death in' series. I wanted to visit the house in this book myself. All her mysteries take place in exotic locales under British rule. A favorite style of mine, the late 1930's to early 1950's. Tourists sightseeing, meeting for cocktails, planning murders, etc. All the fun British characters, without being heavy or too 'vedy vedy British'. I great read!

What a fabulous book!! Everyone in the family enjoys reading and hearing this book again and again. It is so full of fun and imagination. Read it and see...you won't be disappointed.

Our daughter has taken this book out of her pre-school library 5 weeks in a row. We all love the wonderful, lively illustrations. Most of all, we love the message -- different can be absolutely beautiful! With Mrs. Pennywort's encouragement, the especially talented Pauline can produce any egg she wants. A great story on all levels.

It has become a tradition in my home to read this book before painting our Easter eggs. The story and illustrations are so comical, colorful and exciting that we can't wait to turn the page and see what happens next. Then we pick our favorite egg. What fun! You won't be disappointed.

This is one of the few books that I can get my 14 month old to sit through, he loves the illustrations and the rhymning text holds his attention. It is a favorite for both of his parents, as well. We highly recommend this book.

My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves the Itsy-Bitsy Spider song, so when I first saw this book at our local library I thought it would be a good book to read to her. I never thought that she would want it read over and over and remember the "new" verse's of the song only after reading it 2 times!! When I tried to return the book she cried and cried until I told her that we would get one of her own. When I started to look around at stores I discovered that this was a very difficult book to find due to its popularity. I was so thankful that I could find it on Amazon that I purchased 4 copies of it! I have already given them as gifts and received the most wonderful thank you notes from the parents of the children. This book is wonderful for ages 1 and up and should be part of all kids libraries!!

My husband bought this book for our daughter when she was 2 months old. We have been reading it together from day one. While she is only 3 1/2 months old, she clearly enjoys when I read it to her, because she keeps her attention focused on the book until I am finished, she doesn't get fussy or bored like she does with other books. I think because the illustrations are so great and because you "sing" the words. We have bought this book and given it as gifts to our little friends. It's wonderful!

This book tells the toddlers about the characteristics of animals,not just dinosaur, like creast, horns, tails. The pictures of the books are very charming. Even my 30 months old son cannot read the words, he can tell the book just from the picture. It is amusing that a small child can read it himself. It is a great book for toddlers who are ready to read by themselves.

I had been trying to find a book my kindegartner could ready by himself, and this was one of few with large print and very simple text. There are a few words that are unusual, but they can be deciphered from the illustrations. He loves it. The story flows nicely from one page to the next, the illustrations match the text, and the book is even educational. It is not easy to find a book that is not only aimed at the very earliest readers but also captures the interest of an active youngster. This one did it. Now my son is interested in reading many new books. Highly recommended.

I bought this book when my son was three and read it to him. He has hundreds of books and recently rediscovered this one in a box. Now, five, he reads it to me. There are a few hard words but many are "sight" words right out of his Kindergarten lessons.

This book is a wonderful book about a golden retriever who know's it will not be a regular day! More and More boxes appear in the house,and less and less things appear in the house and are put in moving vans! Will Boomer like his new home? This is a great book to read to kids who are moving and don't wanna leave!

Although we were not moving very far, I wanted to prepare my 3 year old with a book to which she could relate. Because we are animal lovers with a dog like Boomer, this book helped my child understand what was going on in her life. The book is told through a narrator in the dog's point of view. The illustrations are also at "dog-eye level." I looked at other books, but this one met my needs the most, because it tells the tale in a vantage point similar to my child's. My daughter is too young to really resist moving, but she didnt' "get" the idea that everything she owned would be coming with us and that the new house would be just as good if not better than the old. Boomer tells the story from a confused beginning to a happy ending once he discovers his new house has wonderful things for him to do and new friends to make. I highly recommend this book to help your little one's moving day transition.

This is a wonderful book for those who love dogs and children. The illustrations are clear and detailed showing many household items. My 1 year old son has this book with him at EVERY meal, and spends several minutes on each page, identifying each item. It is a wonderful learning tool.

I keep the copy of Mary Ellen's book, "A Christmas Filled with Miracles", by my night stand and read a few stories each night. I find that I can only receive, at one time, a small amount of the overwhelming emotions these stories bring. I know that if one purchases the book and only reads one story they will have received more than they have payed for! The teacher comes when the student is ready..Love and light to ALL

This book is filled with magical stories that inspire and guide... Wonderful examples of what is possible when you put your love into action. Perfect for any age or religeous point of view. A gift thatwill go on giving for a lifetime. I have sent copies to 35 of my closest friends.

"A Christmas filled with Miracles" is a gift book ... with a heart and soul ... and it will wrap you in its magic.

When you open your heart and do acts of kindness for others you become the doorway for miracles to walk through.

When stories of children, angels, miracles, hopes, dream, and Christmas are combined the results create stories that have a special holiday magic all their own to lift your spirits.

The stories were collected from around the world and become teachers as each story unfolds off the page into your heart.

This is a gift book for yourself and loved ones of all beliefs.

Jackie Waldman, of "THE COURAGE to GIVE" series of books said, "I curl up in bed under my blankets with "A CHRISTMAS FILLED with MIRACLES" at night and savor each story like a great box of candy I don't want to end."

Enjoy the feelings of LOVE that permeate each page as you read of every day peoples' holiday miracles.

Love is often the greatest miracles of all. ....

Angel HUGS, Mary Ellen ^I^ Angelscribe

I loved this book. The stories were great and reminded me of my family. I keep it on my bedside table, and I pick it up and reread favorite stories. I always find them inspiring.

I was visiting the United States from overseas, and was given this book as a present. Until I read these stories, and stayed with a loving family who have since become my friends, my image of the United States was formed from images of violence on CNN, the TV show "Beverly Hills 90210" , and "The Jerry Springer Show." In short, I thought Americans were amoral, violent, and total exhibitionist. My parents were actually reluctant to have me visit the States because of these images. However, reading the diverse stories from so many American voices, and meeting my American friends, I know the United States has more wonderful, caring people who honor friendship and family, who are as shocked at the violence in their country as I am, who are striving to make life better not only for themselves and their families, but for others. My advice to anyone who wants to know Americans apart from Jerry Springer should read Family. This is more representative of the Americans I know and love than the wooden, amoral stick figures we see on TV, and the microcosm of violence we are fed in sound bites on CNN.

I enjoyed every story written in distinct voices, from diverse points of view. I especially loved "The End of the Rainbow", a young girl's loving tribute to her grandmother. The story flooded my memory with images of my own grandma, and I wish I had had the opportunity to pay her such a tribute. Other particularly moving tales were "Libby, the Christmas Angel", a doctor's remembrance of a brave, little patient he viewed as a member of his family, and "A Plateful of Mortal Sins", the ruminations of a "former Catholic Schoolgirl" which had me laughing out-loud.

People fantasize about the ancient world and as an ancient historian I'm often amused and annoyed by what these fantasies entail. This is especially true in books written for children and young adults where the nastiness (by our modern standards) of the ancient world are often overlooked and underplayed. Mary Ray's "The Ides of April" does a fairly good job of looking at the concerns of citizens, young people, and slaves in mid-first century Rome. While the murder mystery kicks off sharply I do wish she'd spent more time on the characters before the entire legal nightmare began so that we could be more emotionally invested in the characters. Likewise it ends a bit aburptly. I haven't read any of the other books of the series yet, but it seems like the same characters may not be encountered which is a pity. The characters are well done, they seem to grasp the mindset of the people of that time though I think holding onto a Greek identity when one is born a slave in Rome is a bit awkward. I'd recommend it to anyone between 14 and 20 who is interested in the ancient world or in power dynamics in history. For those of us who are older, it can be entertaining as well.

The thing about this book was that it felt _REAL_. It was hard to remember it was *just* a book.

You felt the danger; you felt the bruises on the ribs. You wanted the hero to make it. You just didn't find yourself doubting the realness of it.

Now, it's been a couple years since I read this, so perhaps I was just more gullible. But I don't think so. I still remember it, after all this time. Its magic was a special fete considering I had NEVER been interested in the Roman era or historical mysteries.

When the book was over, I wanted it to keep going.

An excellent historical mystery. I highly doubt you'll regret reading it.

This was a very good book. Sometimes a bit of a slow read, but such and intriguing murder story set in anciet Rome you won't even think to put the book down! Great for everyone!

From someone working in the school system for the past 15 years, this book, Learning Disibilities and Life Stories, touched me more than any other book on the subject. Reading the personal accounts of former students with LD, they pointed out many shortcomings of our school systems throughout the country. In reading the book, one can hope that we as educators, counselors, psychologists, and parents, will help educate all who are involved in the lives of children, especially those who are crying out for our help in the classroom. Hopefully we are changing the way we look at disabilities of any kind. This book is a constant reminder that if we do not work to help children with these disabilities, we will be losing a generation of potentially contributing adults to society. What a great tribute to these children, who are now educating us on the plight of being lost in our classrooms. I plan to share this book with fellow educators, and parents.

I had to purchase this book for a class on learning disabilities in the classroom. This book is a perfect example of what is right and quite wrong about our educational system, particulary in our special education programs. The autobiographical stories within gave me huanting reminders of my childhood in the public school system. If you have a child in school who feels that they are olone, hand them this book. I also feel that all proffessional educators should read this as well. It gives an insider view that is uncomparable to anything that I have ever read on the subject.

Learning Disabilities & Life Stories

Edited by Pano Rodis, Andrew Garrod & Mary Lynn Boscardin (Allyn & Bacon, 2001; ISBN # 0205320104)

Reviewed by Peg Dawson, NCSP

On a recent flight to France, I sat next to a French physicist, currently living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His specialty was optics and he told me he knew Ansel Adams personally. When he asked what I did for a living, I told him I was a psychologist specializing in children and adults with learning and attention disorders. His reaction, like so many adults outside the fields of education and psychology with whom I converse, was: "Don't you think that young people who claim to have these problems are, in fact, just lazy and unmotivated, and use the labels LD and ADD as an excuse?"

While in France, I began reading the book, Learning Disabilities & Life Stories, and I wished I could have given my friend the French physicist a copy of the book to read. How cavalierly he suggested that learning disorders are really excuses for character flaws. This book is a series of 13 autobiographical narratives written by adult students with learning and attention disorders. Each autobiography is different, yet each is laden with pain - many express anger and triumph as well. I have worked with students with disabilities all my professional life, and I thought I had a grasp on what it means to have a learning disability. After reading this book, I realized that my understanding of learning disabilities has been grounded in a logical-scientific-cognitive world. Students with disabilities view their learning problems through an emotional filter - and no student, it appears, grows up in America with a disability and emerges unscathed from the experience.

I have always viewed with some suspicion the argument that learning disabilities are the creation of a socio-cultural context. I have questioned this argument because I know the students I work with have genuine difficulty reading - or doing math, or paying attention, or remembering things. The point this book makes is that the impact of a disability on a student is powerfully affected by the environment in which that student finds himself or herself.

American students grow up in a world that rewards ambition, personal achievement and competition. The current emphasis on high stakes testing only accentuates this. And it's not just that teachers and parents have this bias - although this can be devastating enough, as several of the essayists in this book attest. Children, too, absorb this message from a very early age. Most of the students writing these essays endured teasing and ridiculing by their peers. And the ones who didn't still managed to learn that they were defective when compared to their classmates. Every contributor to this book had to dig themselves out of a fairly deep hole to get to the point where they could survive in college and write about the experience of growing up with a disability. In fact, a majority of students with disabilities fail to graduate from high school and only a scant 7 percent of them go on to higher education. Bruised as these writers are, they are clearly the survivors!

The book concludes with several essays written by scholars in the fields of education and psychology. While I found the autobiographies themselves the most useful part of this book, the essays by professionals were informative. It was helpful to find the socio-cultural argument amplified. One author described the stages that students with disabilities go through in dealing with their disability, a description that matched my own professional experience. But the enduring lesson I brought away from the book is how absolutely critical it is to view these students as more than a collection of disabilities. Too often, we pay lip service to the need to recognize a child's strengths as well as weaknesses. Think about it: humans develop strong self-concepts by locating and expanding their areas of competence. Robert Kegan, one of the contributing scholars, asks, "How wide a range of a child's endeavors are we willing to respect?" The task of childhood, in Eriksonian terms, is to develop "industry." This same writer states, "If we shrink the respectable 'industrial' arena down to the one domain in which children who have learning disabilities have the most difficulty, we create childhood worlds of pain."

Reading this book has led me to make new resolutions about the way I do my work: Never again (if I ever did before) will I write a psychological report that only lists a child's weaknesses. In every encounter I have with a child with a disability, I will work to identify that child's passions and talents - and to hold up a mirror so that the child - and the child's parents and teachers - can see them and celebrate them, too.

Peg Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP, works at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, NH. She is President-elect of the International School Psychology Association, a past President of NASP and a Contributing Editor to the Communiqué.

I had though the art of captivating storytelling in the realm of children's historical fiction was long gone. The last and one of the best was Ben and Me. Not to mention the fact that intelligent prose directed toward but not insulting children has disappeared with the likes of greats like E.B. White, Judy Blume & Madeline L'Engle... until now that is. Meticulous research has allowed Hope Killcoyne to create a captivating historical backdrop that most New Yorkers weren't even aware of including myself. Even as the story unfolded I couldn't help feel a sense of sorrow knowing the timely end to what was probably a fascinating culture within the tapestry of NY. Nevertheless, Killcoyne takes what might have just been an interesting footnote in NY lore and weaves a modern folk tale of ingenious promise and heart. Characters well developed for any novel not to mention one for young adults, add depth and almost tangible realism to a time and era long forgotten and sometimes better off forgotten. Hope Killcoyne places her characters in a small pocket of the American landscape dwarfed by slavery and the dawn of Civil War allowing us to glimpse what might have been and what should be in a world too often blurred with self-interest and prejudice. Although some readers might be wary of the melodrama of a culturally diverse Utopia Killcoyne has pictured, there is nothing contrived about the story and intent behind this book. A highly recommended book for any young or old reader... from any walk of life.

There are few opportunities offered our children to learn an important lesson about both our own past and our nature as individuals than that delivered by Hope Lourie Killcoyne in her gifted story, "The Lost Village of Central Park." Set in mid-nineteenth-century New York City, at the cusp of the construction of that seminal landmark of modern America, Central Park, Ms. Killcoyne's lyrical narrative traces the factual history of Seneca Village, a real establishment in which African-American and Irish immigrants somehow co-existed peacefully in pre-Civil War America. Creating compelling and believable characters, Ms. Killcoyne provides today's pre-teens with an invaluable and unique perspective on an important era in American social development, one which was cut curiously short by the idiosyncratic yet poetically inevitable advancement of New York City, through the creation of Central Park. The Park stands today, a monument to New York civic achievement; what is lost is Seneca Village, perhaps an even more meaningful yet necessarily ephemeral reflection of all that is possible, yet also lost, in the American dream.

Having lived in New York my entire life, I was surprised to find out about Seneca Village. I was never taught about the time, place, and events that surrounded the demise of that area of the city. The author successfully tells the story from the point of view of two young girls, one black and one white, and the strength of their friendship. It's a great way to teach children about their past. There's a lot going on here... plenty to use the characters again and turn it into a series. I'd certainly pick up the next one for my niece!