My mother recently saw this book at a yard sale and remembered it was one of my favorites. Now at 29 I read it to my stepson , who is 2 1/2, everytime he visits, and he loves it as well. Each time I get to "And they had a feast for a hundred weeks" it fills me with a sense of well being. The illustrations are wonderful - each page is like a story of its own, with new things for children to discover each time the book is opened.

This book was one of my absolute favorites as a child. The rhyming verse makes it very fun to read aloud. The story is just fascinating to young children. I'll have to buy a new copy to replace the tattered one from my childhood! I was very relieved to find that it was still in print, it really is a wonderful children's book.

THE GIANT JAM SANDWICH was one of my favorite illustrated stories when I was a kid. I remember in first and second grade listening to this story at story time in the library. This book was one of those rare books that every kid in the class sat still for because we loved it so much and didn't want to miss one word or not be able to see one of the pictures. The story is rather simple; basically a town is over run by wasps and in order to get rid of the pesky insects, they build a giant jam sandwich. However, the original rhyming pattern adds a touch of flare to the story. Also, the illustrations are a pure joy to look at. This is a great book that most children will enjoy. But be forewarned, it's a book kids might want you to read over and over and over again.

This book is too good to be true! It is impossible to put down once you've began reading it. It's totally sick, twisted, morbid, and just plain gross. Yet, at the same time, it's mesmerizing. You'll be drawn in and will never be the same again. This book will haunt you. If you only want the best in gory horror, read this book!

Every page of this book give such gruesome and graphic details of pure evil, that the images that are created in the mind have haunted me even now, 7 years after I read this book. I still see myself reading this book, my mouth hanging open and saying, "Oh My God!" over and over again. I have tried to find another book that holds my attention like this one did, but no book can compare to this one. It is so beyond anything imaginable, that I would just love to meet the author, bow to him and shake his hand. BRAVO!

This one of the only books I have read that actually scared me. The only other book was Golden Eyes, also by John Gideon. I love how he incorporates real places in the northwest into his books. Being from the northwest, it is good to read books about it, especially horror ones. I am currently reading his latest and greatest books, Kindred. So far it is just as good as the others. I think one of the greatest things about his vampire stories is that they are so original. He doesn't have Bela Lagosi type vampires, he creates his own breed of Vampire. This is the best way to write about vamires I believe.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. The character of Jubal Sackett was very well developed and set in a historically correct period. I found myself walking in his footsteps as he went further and further west. The story arouses the explorer instinct in all of us. I intend to read more of the Sackett sagas.

I have yet to read many of his books, but I must say that all of Lamour's books are great. Jubal Sackett is a special character. I appreciate that Lamour spent more time on this book (or at least made it longer than usual) in order to give us a full scope of Jubal's transcending years in his migration to the west. The Sacketts are successful because they are well learned in many a trade and they don't take things for granted. They nurture their friendships when they can and comfront their enemies just as readily. You feel this story, you root for the characters and you feel as though you are among them. I guess this is more of a mountain man book than a western, but it still sets the setting for the Sackett's pushing west. A great book.

This by far is the best audio book Ive listened to.

The guy reading the story has an accent that fits the story perfectly. While this is a lengthy book it is never boring
The pacing is perfect and the story itself is riviting.
Do yourself a favor and get this on audio. You will not be dissappionted

If you want to learn all of Esperanto, all you need is this book and a dictionary. It shows you all the grammar, conversation skills, writing skills, affixes (an important part of the language), plus a fairly complete vocabulary load. It starts out as if you were a complete beginner, and ends as if you were advanced.

When I learned Esperanto in 1968 from the 2nd edition of this book, I had to buy it in the backstore and under the counter because, like in URSS, the learning was forbidden in Salazar's Portugal. When I received the first issue of the magazine Esperanto I studied the 16 lessons in the afternoon and could read the magazine in the evening from cover to cover by looking only six words in the provided vocabulary, and using extensively the appendix. I already knew plural languages at the time... The appendix of the book is very useful with its table of correlatives (all the familly of words like WHo, THat, SOMEWHere, NObody), the list of 37 affixes that automatically extend your word power tenfold and Zamenhof's summary of the grammar in 16 rules. I have bought the new 1992 edition that now comes with two cassettes and can tell you that the best became even better with the revisions of J.H.Sullivan. Learn it for the pleasure and join the enormous amount of websurfers in Esperanto.

For those of you who like languages, Esperanto is for you, and this is the book to make you fluent. This book took me from zero to advanced conversation in the course of just two months! The lessons are well composed and full of examples, and the ease of learning Esperanto has encouraged me to tackle harder languages, backed with the grammatical understanding I have gained from studying Esperanto via this book.

Great book to read to your kids. I did a little editing as I was reading it aloud (my kids are 7 and 8 years old). We picked up maps from our automobile association and traced their journey from start to finish. My kids learned about human behavior, predjudice, generosity to strangers and geography! Well, we're off on a bike ride!

The story of two married teachers shepherding five 12-13 year old kids across country on bikes, I thought this was a really fun book to read. I couldn't help wishing I could have been one of those kids. What an education - what a way to see the country. Any story that features a bunch of kids probably has to be a bit schmaltzy, but the author keeps it to a minimum and the book moves along well, and I was sorry to see the last page. There's enough biking to keep this from being a travelogue, and enough humility on the part of the author to keep it from being just his story. I wonder what those kids think of their adventure now.

I have read several bicyle touring books but this is one of my favorites. Even though John's writing style is a little simplistic (sorry John) I still loved this book. Actually his simplistic style just adds to the mood of riding with five kids. If you are a fan of bicycle touring books this is a must read.

warming you and teaching you the true meaning of love. Tye Hatcher knew he could never fill Joe Telford's shoes, but accepted Joe's widow Meg's offer of a partnership. He might be Meg's husband on paper, but he feared he'd never be a husband of her heart. St. John takes us on Tye and Meg's journey of personal growth, and of love. Her ability to reach within her characters and truly bring the to life is a gift St. John displays with every story she writes - it's a gift that continues to grow and refine. It's a gift she freely shares with her readers. Joe's Wife is a beautiful portrayal of St. John's talent. Tye and Meg's story has me once again argueing with myself over which of Cheryl St. John's books is my favorite.

He knows he can never live up to the memory of her dead husband. Is there a chance their marriage could grow into something more than two people brought together out of necessity? Cheryl St. John stories come from the heart, and they never cease to move me. Joe's Wife is no exception. Tye and Meg's story of growth and love showcased the kind of work St. John does best - stories of people, of hope, of love.

"Intense, passionate and romantic, JOE'S WIFE brings to the genre all that is noble and good. Cheryl St.John rises to superstardom with this book. Her masterful writing places her in the lofty atmosphere of stellar constellations. JOE'S WIFE introduces Tye Hatcher, a hero to die for, a man of distinction, a lover of renown, and a dream to last a lifetime. Ms. St.John looks into his soul, affording us a glimpse of anguish, and into his heart to see the depth of a love so deep and pure, it humbles. When his lips touch Meg's for the first time, it curls the toes as a tears slides down our cheeks."

This is a good read about a fascinating individual. John Marshall is clearly one of the most underrated shapers of our country and this book goes a long way in providing the texture and context of his life. The author does a good job of balancing history with legal scholarship and I believe that this is worthwhile for both the "lay-man" and the "law-man". I did believe that the author abridged the content a bit too much at times(for example, he did not cover Marshall's point of view on the Declaration of Independence or Articles of Confederation, and he covered the last 12 years of Marshall's life as Chief Justice in less than 50 pages), but overall, it was a solid investment of my time.

This is an outstanding biography of a great American who not only gave the United States a solid foundation for its judicial system, but also shaped the judiciary as one of the major branches of the Government. The biography is a marvellous and beautiful piece of work by Jean Edward Smith. The focus is on John Marshall and the law. This exquisite literary work reveals a great mind and a great man! The author, by often quoting John Marshall's letters and legal opinions, portraits a creative mind with a capacity for splendid expression. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in American history and Government. I will also recommend this for all students and practioners of law.

John Marshall defined American law, politics and power. This book paints a vivid picture of who Marshall was, and why he is still important today. The author does an excellent job stating the facts and letting the reader decide for her/himself whether or not Marshall did the right or wrong in the very important decisions he made. This book is enlightening and well written. Marshall's life is wonderfully told through the authors use of clear and concise writing. This book is excellent. It clarifies many misconceptions of this great man who came out of a generation that claims many great men. Marshall may be the least understood of them all, but he certainly is no less important than any of his contemporaries in forming and defining the United States of America.

As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. It probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and i have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. It also provides fascinating insight into the feudal Japanese society under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occured in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with the loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. Loss of face was more than they could endure. The men sought their revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and they paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of commiting seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution is considered disgraceful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

bodhiman@hotmail.com from California, USA , 03/04/98, rating=10: Please accept my revised review which I have edited for errors. As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. In Japanese, it is entitled "Chushingura" which translates as "Vengeance" The Forty-Seven Ronin Story probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and I have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. The warriors were driven by allegiance to their code of chivalry known as "Bushido" which emphasizes a fanatical loyalty to their lord, tempered by the serenity and wisdom of Confucianism and Buddhism. The book provides fascinating insight into the feudal system known as "bakufu" under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occurred in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with a loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. The loss of face caused by the death of their lord was more than they could endure and the men sought revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and the men dutifully paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of committing seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution was considered disgraceful. The loyal retainers were buried with their lord at a temple called Sengaku-ji which is located just outside of the city of Tokyo. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

This is a perfect example of bravery, honor, and patience. A must read!!

A visually stunning book, which portrays the movie 'Gladiator' in detail. Lots of photo's from the movie that were not part of the media blitz that promoted the movie in magazines and other publications. The book is well written using interviews from the filmmakers as well as actors. The best aspect of this book are the full page color photographs, production drawings as well as costume sketches and architectural drawings of the sets used. Overall a great book for the 'Gladiator' fan.

I remember ordering this book,about a year ago,through the mail and just couldn't wait until it arrived. I've proudly made "Gladiator" a part of my DVD collection and have seen it many times since. Once I got this book I was not in the least disappointed with it. In it was absolutely everything and more I ever wanted to know about this spectacular movie. This book has it all! MANY photos, some history, costume design, about the cast, some drawings by Sylvain Despretz(storyboard artist), the making of "Gladiator", and more. I just couldn't get enough of this book. If you're crazy about the movie as I am then buying this book is highly recommended! "Gladiator" has a great book, great soundtrack, and SPECTACULAR film! ~Did You Know all the armor was made out of foam covered with leather?

Okay, I admit it, I really like the film Gladiator. However, that does not mean I just buy anything related to the film. This book made the list, though.

First of all, the photos are great and plentiful, and the overall production quality is very good. The real treat, though, is in the concept drawings, storyboards, and reference material (the overleaf, 2-page spread, of Pollice Verso, or "Thumbs Down", by Jean-Leon Gerome has always been one of my favorites). I really enjoyed seeing these film-making treasures.

Secondly, the amount of supporting text is awesome. Insightful, informative, and entertaining, the content really lives up to its title: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic. I was interested in not only learning how some of the visual tricks were done, but also appreciated the information on each of the primary actors, and loved the inclusion of excerpts from the screenplay (although it would have been a huge bonus to have the whole thing included).

Finally, I appreciated the overall value of the book. True, the DVD provides similar insight into many of the "making of" aspects, but there is a lot of information in this book, and the decision to release it in paperback format makes it a pretty good value. Besides, it "travels" better than the DVD, and provides things the DVD doesn't.

Overall, I'm happy with my decision to buy this book! You get a real inside view of the planning and execution of this great film.

The Great Brain at the Academy is a book told from John Fitzgerald the author of the book about his brother Tom, the great brain, and his time at the Catholic Academy. Tom is a smart boy so he countines his education in the 7th grade a year earlier than the other boys his age. At the Academy Tom has to deal with the horible Father Rodriguez the superetient at the school. Tom learns from him that the school is almost no fun and he must use his great brain to give the other boys some reason of coming to the school besides by the force other their parents. Tom runs a candy store, finds a card shark, and swindles many kids as he does in all the books of the Gret Brain Series. This is a very good book loaded with pranks and Great Brain fun.

It's funny, heartwarming and really involving. All these feelings I felt when I read it when I was 9 yrs. old. It's so amazing how one can be so enterprising and witty at such a young age! Tom definitely had an impact on me then and always will! I grew up wishing to be like him...and I think I got my wish. EVERYONE: Grab this book, in fact, the whole GREAT BRAIN series as soon as you can. The little ones will love you for this great gift! On a personal note: I lost all my GREAT BRAIN books to kids who borrowed from me and never returned. Now that I'm 22 I'm very happy to get a second chance to collect THE GREAT BRAIN SERIES! Victoria Miranda

John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.