This is a classic camp tale told each summer throughout the USA. At Clearwater Camp... it continues to be an annual event that campers and counselors looked forward to. Flying teacups and that wicked Tajar offer opportunities for the imagination to run wild and campers still initiate their own stories upon hearing the wonderful tale of this mythical animal. A story that can be enjoyed by one and all - this edition has wonderful illustrations that should not be missed.

When I was a camper, my counselor would read Tajar tales to me at night. I loved to hear about the misadventures of Tajar and when I was very young and had a very huge imagination, I swear I really did see Tajar right before I left camp! Now that I am a Girl Scout counselor (at the same camp I went to as a child) I continue the tradition and read Tajar Tales to my campers every night!

I received a copy of Tajar Tales in 1967 when I was 9 years old. It was, and continues to be my favorite kids' book. I've read it to my own childrens' classes over the years. I am tickled to find that it is back in print!! Now MY copy (a first edition) can have a rest!!

Jane Kern presented a realistic, detailed picture of the challenges she faced when creating a quality school. The detailed events, hurdles, outcomes, and fellowship bonds allow the reader to actualize her experiences. A must read for educators creating a charter, magnet or private school. As the founding principal of MAST Academy, a USDOE Blue Ribbon School of Excellence,I related to the passion, energy, conviction, anddetermination Jane demonstrated in the school'sevolving years. The leadership, competency, fellowship, and pride among the faculty, parents, students and administration helped create a fabulous school. Well done!

An open, heartfelt look at a school, from beginning to present. Jane held nothing back - she wrote her feelings, her inspirations and most importantly, about the issues and accomplishments that make Seacrest Country Day School what it is today. My kids are going to read this so they, too, can truly appreciate the efforts and caring that have made their school so unique and special. A truly wonderful book written with love and dedication by a special lady about her incredible journey.

Dr. Kern, her students and their parents have developed a solution to the impasse currently plaguing education. How does one strike a balance between the cookie cutter method of teaching and methods allowing children more freedom of choice in devloping their interests? Hers is a fresh approach and the results speak for themselves. Anyone interested in bettering our schools should read this book.

I read this book 3 years ago when 2 brethren entered my home and offered their religion as a viable choice to my current religion. The book helped me to ask pertinent questions, especially concerning LDS' version of Biblical history.

Good 'n' Healthy is a quality book that provides a wonderful opportunity to have a fun time with your children. All kids enjoy being part of the cooking process, and this book has many tasty recipes, accompanied by full-color photographs. In addition, it has good ideas for conversation starters to open up a dialogue between parents and their children. Topics include kindness, respect, patience, self-control and care for the environment.

Had heard about this from freinds who had used it. The suggestions for different types of parties and activities are grewat. My kids have loved the things they have learned and the way the book handles respect for others and themselves has had a notable impact. Highly recommended.

It's hard not to envision the Oscar-winning movie while reading Snake Pit, but the book provides less Hollywood romance and a greater sense of the protagonist's disorientation. Her struggle to swim toward sanity's shore is palpable. The prose is terse but not always gripping; yet it convinces. An insightful, personal documentation of psychiatric institutions in its day and of mental illness in any era.

These pithy poetic vignettes peopled with such characters as butterflies, teen studmenn, Jesus and Lilith ("wonderwoman, wanderwoman, everywoman/wild, wondrous, wonder-filled/luscious, lusty/tasty, untamed..) fairly explode off the page in their demand to be read aloud. Ward is often irreverent, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, always dead-on direct,unabashedly honest: a spirited urbane voice from the coast of Maine.

A superb novel that mixes the quest for 'the perfect meal' with the quest for 'the perfect life.' You can try for both but the journey not the end is it's own reward. Thought provoking and entertaining. Must read.

I am an avid readier and I was enthralled with this book. I was unable to put it down once I started reading it. "Hunger" completely captured my attention from the start. Anna Rossi, the title character was so interesting, so human. She came alive through the pages of this book. I felt that she was a friend that I wanted to talk to and offer support. I could relate to her conflict and her struggles. I envied the fact that she could pour herself into her cooking and that it was theraputic for her and such a gift to others.

I became emotionally involved in the story. I became Anna's cheerleader and wanted to see her succeed. I was angry with Michael and I could not grasp his way of dealing with everything.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys a great story that wraps itself around you from the start to the finish. Bottom-line this novel feeds your body and your soul.

Besides being simply entertaining, Hunger will make you experience every emotion. You can FEEL the characters' sadness, their anger, their desire and passion. You will at times feel sympathy for Anna and then at other times want to wring her neck!! leaving you starving for the ending and her final decision about Michael and James.....

This is a darling, quick read--timeless in its appeal to cat lovers! The Western literary world was "discovering" the Orient in the 1930's, so this story is set in Japan, where Buddhism flourishes. A poor painter with an artistic soul invites a calico cat, whose coloring is considered lucky, to join his threadbare household. Can a cat really pray to a statue? And get results? However it happens, the artist receives a commission from the high priest to paint a horizontal silk mural for the temple, which would result in instant recognition and the end of his poverty.

After each short chapter the housekeeper gives a little poem summarizing the action. I just wish they were in Haiku format, to reenforce the Japanese flavor.
During the artist's exhaustive mental preparation, we learn many
details about the life of Buddha (but gently, not in a preachy style), as the artist ponders which animals he will include in his mural. Good Fortune is his silent partner in the creation process, but she seems sad that he refuses to include a cat. Does the artist dare risk professional failure by acknowledging his debt to this dainty feline? Will she reallly go to Heaven? I wish I had discovered this gem decades earlier! A delightful story for readers of all ages.

I must have read this book when I was less than 10 and I remembered it immediatly as I browsed the children's cat books.
My heart leapt with joy. This book was great. I remember I was so happy at the end. The message is, "Don't trust your preconcieved notions", which is a concept children can't start to understand early enough. The story is sweet and the cat is good and brave. Get this book. I guaruntee satisfaction.

A story for an older child - and a Newbury to boot. One of the most touching and unselfish books I have ever had the pleasure to read. It is a tear-jerker, though - in a totally non-manipulative way. A true classic that all children should read - not to mention all adults who love great literature. This book is a miracle of love.

All in all a pretty good fantasy novel to read. For everyone who is new to the Realms I would rather have you stumble across a book of the Pool trilogy than any wild faerun pantheon novel, which would phreak anyone out who is not informed about the deities of FR and their history. I do find the characters a trifle superficial though and sometimes it seems more like three kids are on a field trip rather than a real quest. The story is simple to read and some readers may find their intelligence insulted. If you want to read more sophisitcated books I'd suggest starting out with a harper book like Elaine Cunnigham's "Elfshadow".

Well, first of all I am neither a child, nor do I consider myself uneducated so all those comments about the former are uncalled for. I read this book when it first came out without ever seeing the computer game and loved it. Yes, I do agree that it is a 'light' read but that is what makes it so enjoyable. I have just finished it for the third time and enjoyed it more now than the first time! I found and read through the entire series and found myself wanting more! Unfortunatley there are no more novels in this series (get the hint Mr. Ward?). I would recommend this to old and new readers of fantasy, especially those familiar with AD&D and the Forgotten Realms setting. I must say that this and the two other books in the Pools series will remain on my bookshelves until I read them again... and again...and again.

This truly was one of the greats. Being a hard core D&D fan, I've read a lot of Forgotten Realms books, but this one really stands out in my mind. The setting was great, and the characters were wonderful. Ren O' the Blade was a very intresting character, a man of great heroism and strong passions. I liked his episode with his thoughts of Tempest. Shal was great. I liked how she wasn't portrayed as the common image for female mages. Tarl was cool. He was a true champion of his church. I mean, so much crap happened to him early on, but he stayed strong. The villan aspect of the book was wonderful, having one villan clearly defined, and one sliding around in the shadows, manipulating others to meet his own ends. The book had a great balance of action, drama, and character development. All and all, it's a must-read for and D&D fan.