When one picks up this book, a momentary confusion sets in. The reader shifts the book in her hand, wondering whether she is seeing a mistake, for the book appears to be made backwards! What is usually the front bears no title, picture or author's name. In their place are a scan code and the words "Like a Yiddish book, this book begins on the other side." Accompanying this sentence are two short book comments by authors Jane Yolen and Maurice Sendak. Well, this reviewer thought, if Yolen and Sendak like the book, it must be a winner!

And a winner it is, beautifully written and telling a warm story of the relationship of Aaron, a young Jewish boy, and his zayde (Yiddish for "grandfather"). Zayde and his many books come to live with Aaron's family after his wife dies. All the books are in Yiddish, which Aaron would love to learn in order to read them, but Zayde says Aaron is too young.

Many years later Zayde throws away his library of books because his eyesight fails him, and he thinks "in America the soup has lost its flavor. Everyone mixes too well; no one remembers anymore where they came from." Aaron rescues the books, and convinces Zayde to teach him Yiddish. Their already loving relationship strengthens as together they share Zayde's life story and the traditions of the Yiddish language and way of life.

Neil Waldman's pen and watercolor illustrations are beautifully touching and evoke a nostalgic feeling. The sepia tones of the warm palette tie scenes of the past to those of the present and future. Yiddish words in the background also serve to give the reader an idea of what the language looks like.

In the text, Yiddish words are used liberally and appear in italics. A glossary at the end (front) of the book further explains what the words mean. Another section gives more information about the Yiddish language, and an afterward adds even more. Information about the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA which houses Yiddish books numbering over a million was started by Aaron Lansky who noticed the number of Jewish people discarding their books written in Yiddish.

There was no distraction in reading a book back to front for this reviewer. In fact, it was difficult not to take notes in the same manner! This reviewer found the story touching and enlightening in a way altogether different than other books about aspects of Jewish life. This is an exceptionally unique look at the importance of the Yiddish language and its connection to the Jewish culture.

I read this book about 5 years ago in middle school. This book stands out in my mind more than any other. I just loved it. The characters were carefree, open, almost mystical. The exotic setting was fun, realistic, and has inspired me to want to move to Spain to live for a few years when I finnish college. The wonderful tales of communal living is fascinating and passionate! A must read for 11-14 year olds!

I have the hardback edition, published in the U.S. in 1999, but the content is the same as this paperback edition.

The book start with individual skills, with the first chapter on ball control covering receiving, turning, shielding, and dribbling moves. The book has many, many, excellent annotated pictures illustrating each skill. For most skills, the book diagrams a suggested skill-builder drill, which can either be done by players working on their own ("soccer homework"), or as part of a practice led by a coach.

After the Ball Control Chapter, the book also covers Passing and Shooting, Dead Ball Skills, Defending, Attacking, Tactics, Goalkeeping, and Training and Fitness.

The passing and shooting section has helpful diagrams of where on the ball to strike, and where on the foot, and has enough detail to answer most questions players or coaches would have about the details of how a particular skill should be done.

In the tactics area, and throughout the book, there are also many diagrams and color artwork pictures illustrating player positioning and movement in a way that makes the tactics clear.

I have many soccer coaching books, but this one is the one I go to when I want authoritative information and refresher on key points for teaching a particular skill. I've used many of the drills in my practices, and they have always gone well.

The book has excellent information, and realistic and helpful step-by-step action pictures that demonstrate skills.

The only real criticism I have is that sometimes I need more steps in the action pictures, particularly some of the dribbling moves, to see how the player got from A to C, and I feel like step B is missing.

Now my two daughters (12 and 14) play with an elite club team that wins 2-5 state championships a year (out of 8 girls age groups) and I recognize so many of the key components of that program being effectively taught in this book. This book is tremendously sound in terms of both the skills and terminology it teaches, and the highly effective way it presents and teaches them.

If you are a coach looking for an effective organization of skills and tactics to teach, or a player, especially one without access to expert, state-of-the art soccer skills training, I highly recommend this book. Because a picture is worth a thousand words, and this book is loaded with well-thought out pictures, artwork, and diagrams, players as young as 10, perhaps younger in special cases, could read the material and get very good use out of it. This book is simply excellent, and highly recommended for any soccer player and coach who wants to improve by learning and mastering the details of the skills and tactics needed to become a high-level soccer player.

Wow. This amazing author has got something of a best seller here. i couldnt put it down. it was so great. i finished the book in two days, now mind you this is with my hectic schedulual ( ahem basketball practice). this was wonderfully written and i belive this is not the last we will see of mr higgins

Richard Hill has provided the Christian community, no the entire spiritually concerned, with an honest ethic of doubt. Hill, takes a fresh look at how the church has destroyed the doubting faith of persons and not listened to the cry of one in a natural faith journey. To doubt is understandable, Hill contends, a process and journey itself that the church should welcome. This easy read, especially for the college student with no time, will return hope to the one who has now learned to doubt the church more than God. A must read!

Harris has captured in couplets the essence of effective money management. This book would make a great gift for anyone who is interested in being more effective with their personal finances

This book was great. I learned so much that I thought my head would explode. The Yellow kid is funny and I really enjoyed being able to see what the actual drawings looked like. I give it 5 stars.

Absolutely massive, full-colour book about many, many artists currently working in the U.K. Includes excerpts of British newspaper and tabloid commentary, eye-catching graphics, essays by art historians, hundreds of gorgeous photographic examples of artwork throughout the book, and much, much more. Ideal for anyone interested in the art of the yBAs, or indeed the very future of contemporary art.

With its genuine classic "old style" of writing, this book will take and place you into the center of a wonderful journey of youth and growth. A great book and an interestingly easy read for those moments when catapulting yourself into another life, time and location is just what you need. I highly reccomend it, and don't forget to share this one with the younger generation in your homes!

Note: I used the kids review form because I am too lazy to become a member I'm actually 14 my E-mail is solidfoxmg@hotmail.com

I'll tell the truth. I thought this book was going to suck when my friend recommended it. I mean by cover of the book you'd think that this story was going to be about these happy go lucky rabbits that have to find carrots. But not so it turns out that this book is about courage, leadership, and bravery as these rabbits journey into the beyonds in search of a place they can call their own.
The story is pretty simple and I won't spoil any of it for you but I will tell you this: this storyis so wonderfully crafted and so beautifully told that you'll be hooked to it. Richar makes a great job of describing the characters and settings and such a beaoutiful job of bringing out your emotions in this book that you will change the way you look at things you will take this story and you will treasure it you'll fall in love with all the characters: Bigwig, Hazel-Rah, Fiver, Buckthorn, and all them "dam" rabbits and you'll cry at the sad, but happy and cheerful ending of this wonderful book.
Overall: 5/5

Watership Down, by Richard Adams, is the best book I have ever read. It is a touching and suspenseful story that takes us into the minds and hearts of a warren of courageous rabbits fleeing their home.

Although many people would think that this book would read like a fantastical fairy tale, it does not. Richard Adams simple, vivid, flowing writing forms a beautifuly woven tale of suspense and drama, terror and tragedy, love and joy. And despite the fact that the characters are animals, this author finds away to make them human and realistic, from the basic needs to their fated enemies.

This story begins on a warm summer eve while the Sandleford warren is at silflay(grazing). It there goes to the bond and trust between two brothers, Hazel and Fiver, that lead them to round up as many rabbits as possible in order to flee their home in the face of danger. The story then takes you through the hills and forests and across the rivers on the course of their flight. The tale tells of their adventures and troubles that do not end even at the sight of their new home. From their new warren they must search and eventually battle a group of troubled and warlike rabbits in order to survive.

This story takes you beyond the bounds of traditional imagination, into a world filled with understanding and balance with nature. It creates friendships and troubles for creatures that have so often been ignored in society. This classic has paved the way for many more that follow in it's wake. By all right this book should belong to everyone, young and old, and treasured as a classic to love and hold and to read over and over again. I present to you Watership Down, the best book ever written.

This is the first book I ever read. At or about age four, my father (an english teacher) read it with me. I give a lot of credit to Richard Adams and his novel (and my dad, of course); he gave me a benchmark with which to compare fiction. This is a story with many levels, and I'd suggest it for MATURE readers of any age. It's a story of a group of rabbits that escape certain death when their warren is destroyed by a land developer. They set out across the english countryside in search of the promised land. Fiver, the runt of the litter, and his friend Hazel organize a midnight escape when the chief rabbit ignores Fiver's premonitions of doom. With Bigwig, a brave and powerful veteran of the warren's "police" team, Hazel's gift of leadership, Fiver's insight, even a sarcastic seagull named Keehar, and others, they pursue a dream. There are analogs here of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. Mr. Adams paints quite a picture here; common places and things assume different, often darker qualities when viewed from just 4 inches off the ground. Of course, Watership Down is a place that really exists. During a recent trip to England, my dad finally had a chance to visit Watership Down. He was taken by the site, and says it looks much like he'd imagined it, only better. Anybody that says they didn't like this book must either be very shallow, or extremely attention deficient.I've read this book well over 20 times, and I STILL can't put it down. If you HAVE read this book, then read THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THE RABBIT. It's the nonfiction/reference book Adams read to prepare for Watership Down. He refers to it by name in his novel, and it's a very interesting follow-up read if you enjoyed Watership Down. Also, don't miss out on his other novels, like The Plague Dogs, Traveller, and others. The former is a tale of two dogs that escape from an animal research center. The latter, the life and times of Traveller, the horse that General Robert E. Lee rode in the American Civil War, as told! to a housecat by Traveller himself. Civil War buffs will definitly get a kick out of Traveller's take on the war, and it's aftermath. Watership Down is still my all time favorite book, hands down. Give it a chance, and you will be mezmerized by a world you'll want to visit again and again, I promise. Heck, someday I want to go to the real Watership Down myself.