D-A Books

A total ten!! A truly thought-provoking, intense & emotional book. I am having my dtr (11) read this book and the discussions will be endless. It opens up dialogue between parents & kids about common misconceptions and snap judgements that we ALL make on a daily basis, sometimes unintentionally, sometimes on purpose. I would say this is more geared to a 6th grader or older unless you judge your child otherwise. Fine for younger, but read it as a parent first. I came across this book years ago and was thrilled to find it on Amazon! I don't want to give away any of the story, I will just leave it as a must read for everyone!

"The Only Alien on The Planet" is a wonderful novel that will captivate the reader on page one and leave them breathless on the final page. If the mystery of Smitty's antisocial behavior does not keep one turning the pages the love of his friends, who barely know him, will. Smitty's perspective on life having lived only in his mind for fifteen years gives the reader an interesting view of life and makes one re-think their own perspectives, fears and values. Inspiration will come to the reader as he watches Smitty in his weakest moments; overcome the battles in his life. If one thinks growing up was hard, try growing up with Smitty in his silent, unfeeling world, in "The Only Alien on the Planet."

The high-school romantic in me loved this book, everything about it, but most especially Smitty. I was in love with him just as Ginny was, and when he put his arm around her in the hospital, I just melted... But looking at this story through a critical eye, one has to admit just how amazingly un-lifelike it really is. Someone who lives completely inside his own head and resists all interaction with the outside world is not going to be as handsome and charming as Michael "Smitty" Gibbs. I've known people with those tendencies, perhaps not as extreme, and they are not at all people at whom I would lunge with a passionate kiss waiting on my lips, as Ginny does to Michael. Admittedly, the passionate kiss was my favorite scene... but as I said, it was the romantic high-schooler inside of me. And as this book was written for romantic high-schoolers, I guess that's just right. But don't read it and then walk away with any romantic ideas of abuse. It's just not really like that at all.

I found this read on a booklist for a YA lit class. Upon reading the title, I knew it would either be sci-fi adventure or one of teen loneliness and angst. After reading it, I think I got a strange mixture of the two, with no actual aliens involved. The book is about the struggle of discovering a beautiful yet strange boy through the eyes of Ginny, a young girl dealing with a recent family move. Smitty, the boy in question, never speaks, and is a mystery to Ginny. I found myself totally absorbed in the book; it was brooding and romantic. But a lot of the plot devices were forced: getting the parents out of the way, films presented in the novel, and the way family ties are addressed in the end. Despite these, Ginny is a well-written teenager and believable (even if Smitty's behavior in the end is not). He's a fascinating character, though; and this was a fun read. Highly recommended.

"The Only Alien on the Planet" was a wonderful book! Do not hesitate to pick this one up. It is about a girl who moves to a new town and becomes friends with someone very unlikely - a boy who does not speak. She and her friend Caulder begin a mission to find out if this 'alien' has emotion and is in fact human. This book was brillantly written and it kept me guessing what Ginny would do, who she would end up with, and if Smitty, the 'alien', would end up speaking at all! I don't want to give away anything but I was kind of surprised by the ending. I picked up this book and didn't put it down! Cute story with very real characters. I could really relate to each one of them. You'll want to read this one - so try it out!

Every child that has this bible is addicted! My grandaughter can't put it down!

I bought one of these for each of my children. Basically it is biblical stories and highlights in comic book format(ALL pictures with text bubbles). THis is great and is what I like about this picture bible as opposed to other that I have seen and owned that simply try to dumb down the biblical language for kids and add a colorful picture every few pages -- they're ok, but in my opinion the comic book format is much better at holding the attention of kids...at least it was for me. I remember reading it during church when I was a kid and I have to tell you that this book as well as the "superbook" and "flying house" videos are what I grew up on and where I gained MOST of my initial knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Stories that I remember reading about from this book still stay with me to this day...people who have been reading the "grown up" bible look at me with blank expressions some times when I talk about stories that they don't even remember and have never really grasped just because they have never been able to see it in such vivid PICTURE format.

I recommend this book for ALL children...if you want them to grow up with a good foundation of knowlege of the bible then this is the book you want.

This picture Bible is written in the comic strip method. It is true to the Bible and does not include any denomination's creed. I have bought several and given them mostly to children about 10 or older. It will be fine for younger children but I feel those above 10 will benefit very much.

Excellent for children to learn about the Bible. I'm using it to learn Spanish better. I will bury the Word of God in my heart in two languages!

I am working with teenagers that have little understanding or comprehension of the Bible. This book was recommended to me as an easy read that would give a superficial view of Bible history without boring the kids senseless.

It is a very easy read, and quite interesting, but has some serious flaws which I'm having a hard time overlooking. Regularly it assigns attitudes and motives to God and various characters that are contrary to scripture, and ultimately changes the meaning and/or significance of many events. The importance of blood sacrifice is completely avoided, and blood does an amazing disappearing act in this book.

As a superficial overview of Bible stories, it's an entertaining read. But it is wrong for Bible study. With great trepidation I offered it to one of the teens with the expressed disclaimer that although based on Bible text, this is NOT the Bible, and NOT to be taken as scripture.

IT'S AWESOME! I SO TOTALLY RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO YOU! This is the best book in the series by far. the other ones are good to though.

What can I say? I've read all the Pendragon books and I love them all. But this book is my favorite. I love Saangi's cocky attitude and Loor's jokes. To me there is no competition, this is my favorite book.

By far this is the best book yet! Packed with
mystery, action, romance, and revealed secrets about what a travelor is really capable of. This book will keep you entertained.

The Rivers of Zadaa is the sixth installment to the Pendragon series. I loved this book it had adventure and it has mystery in it. This book was the best of the Pendragon it gave me everything that I wanted in a book. This book starts with a tragic death then ends very surprisingly. Saint Dane has gone to the territory of Zadda were he is influencing two warring tribes now Bobby must stop him with the help of the traveler Loor.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes an adventure book that is also a fantasy. This book now had to be the best because you had no idea what was going to happen next. I absolutely loved this book I just never wanted to put it down. I definitely would put this book in my top 5 of favorite books.

DJ, you keep me waiting too long. I want you pumping these books out faster.I can't get enough!!!

Excellent! We have several gardening books and this is the best one so far!

This is a very knowledgeable book. Having gardened for many years, I learned a lot from this book. So much that I even bought one for my neighbor and he loves it too.

I will begin my first garden next spring and I wanted to know everything right away. I'm thrilled with this book because it includes sections on soil, companion planting, garden design and more. Very good for me since it's the only gardening book I own.

I ordered this book on November 6, 2008 and it has still not been delivered. It would be nice to give a review, however, it is difficult to do when it has not been received.

What's the formula for a productive vegetable garden?
* Plant the crops you want to eat or can give away. No more.
* Start with easy-to-grow crops and let experience take you to more difficult varieties.
* Use compost to build the soil from Day 1: compost is the key to a healthy, productive garden.
* Plant the right crops in the right season: warm season vegetables in warm weather and cool-season vegetables in cool weather.
* Plant in wide beds--but no wider than your arm can reach to the center.
* Mulch to keep weeds down and save soil water.
* Visit the garden every day or two; that way no pest or disease or warm weather will ever get the best of your garden.
* Harvest your crops just as they ripen. Taste to make sure!
* When in doubt: always add more compost.

These vegetable garden maxims have been around for generations and generations. They're the same rules your great-great-grandmother followed in her kitchen garden. And they are the same maxims found in THE VEGETABLE GARDENER'S BIBLE by Edward C. Smith. Is there room on the shelf for another good book about vegetable gardening? You bet! No doubt, Ed Smith learned at the feet of his grandmamma because this book is brimming with sage time-tested wisdom for the beginning vegetable gardener. Not too wordy, right to the point, this book will get you to the promised garden in easy steps and with how-to pictures close at hand. And for the advanced-beginner, intermediate, and expert vegetable garden get detailed growing information for more than 80 vegetables and herbs in The Kitchen Garden Grower's Guide: A practical vegetable and herb garden encyclopedia.

this book has obviously meant a lot, and many things, to many people.

possibly Ouspensky's work overall has some of the beauty of the late 19th and early 20th centuries about it.

usually I wonder how this book would have turned out had he published it himself. the author might have changed some things, written a preface, and so forth; that is, provided an orientation for the reader.

written after the fact, it may even show the author's reservations from the first chapter, not the last, and the fact that he recorded his teacher's statements doesn't necessarily mean that he endorsed them all -- duh!

Have you been searching for spiritual truth and have had to traverse the myriad of paths? This is the book to read as it contains what one truly needs to know in one book. The teachings contained in this book plants the seeds for the expansion of mind for higher consciousness.

This is an extraordinary mind-altering book, if you allow it to be.

You cannot truly understand G.'s teachings from your own perspective. You have to see it from the perspective that G. wants you to see it from. You have to relinquish your current thinking and surrender to his view, then you can see the truth that lies behind the illusions... This is his way of teaching, not by ways of deception, but through submission. By showing you the possibilities that lie within another dimension of perception. Only then can you truly see your 'self'.

P.D. Ospensky as a teenager decided to forgo an academic education and instead to search for or hidden knowledge. His search lead him to study Theosophy, to travels in the East, to India, and such. Yet, he remained dissatisfied with what he found. Little did he know that he would find what he was looking for (The Miraculous) in a teacher who showed up from the East in his very own Moscow!

This book is about Ouspensky's experiences learning from this teacher, a mystic and very strange one at that, G.I. Gurjieff.

Gurjieff teaches Ospenskys things he never knew, gives him experiences he never thought possible. This book is Ouspesnky's gift to us from of what he learned and experienced.

Certainly, this book works mostly on the intellectual mind, and yet, Ouspensky frequently tells us that we must find an 'emotional state' and that, my friends, is 'The Work'.

This is easily the most important book I have ever read, and afterwards, I could lo longer see the world the same, or live my life in the same way.

If I was forced to have only one book, this would be it. Not for the Herd or Lazy. No fluff around the edges, tells it like it really is.

This is a book and CD that my late mother bought for me as a gift. It has very special meaning to me now that she has passed away, because I rememeber her love and hopes for me through these song lyrics. The book is simply a page-by-page of pictures and lyrics to the song "I Hope You Dance", by Lee Ann Womack.

This book is a great gift, especially to those enterring new exciting chapters in their lives. It could as a result of death, illness, or just starting a new chapter. Life is hard but enjoy gain strengh from that around you.

This book is very inspirational and can be used a a motivator for young people embarking on their life journey. The accompanying cd is excellent as well.

I felt so connected to this and cried , I gave it to my daughter , who had just found out she had cancer . goldenyrs43

Being a lover of this song and of gift books, I naturally couldn't resist ordering this book the minute I saw it in a store. The lyrics of Leann Womack's classic song is featured throughout the book, along with inspirational messages and beautiful photography from those who put the book together.

I did dock a star because the messages in the book that accompanied the song occasionally came off as a little too..mushy. I'm really not that harsh a critic, not of books like these, but the beautiful words of inspiration were, a couple of times, replaced by words that were definetly too syrupy for my taste. I prefer truly moving messages and stories to speak for themselves, but it occassionally seemed like the authors wanted to hammer the point home, overdo the sentimentality, and even make their message serious and cheerfully bouncy at the exact same time (trust me, that doesn't work.) For ex: throughout the book, the lyrics of the song are printed in large bold letters in order to differentiate them from the authors' separate words of inspiration. Usually, the pages featuring the lyrics had no other words on them, but at one point, right above the words of Womack's moving song, the authors' placed a bulletin that said, "Attention! This is BIG stuff!" Considering the fact that Leann's song more than speaks for itself and doesn't need any extra emotional boosting, I found those additional words annoying and almost jarring to the flow of the song and its message.

Elsewhere in the book, as I mentioned before, the sentimentality goes into overdrive. One page is dedicated entirely to love and begins with the words, "Love, love, love. You have to love." Again, I got that idea the first time. It's nice to compliment the song with additional words of motivation, but we don't need an interpretive page with every selection of the song. In another part of the book, while speaking of youth, the narrator says, "Ah, youth..new skin, wide smiles, clear eyes..the future so bright. If only we could bottle it up, sip it now and again.." This sounded more to me like a bad commercial for a fountain of youth than a motivational speech. I don't mean to sound cynical, I usually love gift books, but the tone in this one was sometimes just too sweet for my taste.

I also didn't particularly care for the version of the song in the bonus CD. There's a mainstream version with soft rock music and female voices in the background (which I prefer) and there's a country version with male voices in the background and the occassional awful twangy instruments; this one's the latter. If you like country music, good for you, but I don't like the country version of this song.

There are plenty of good points of this book to make up for the disappointments, of course. The song is wonderful, whether you hear it or read it, and some of the separate words in the book were lovely to read. My favorite part of the book's text, other than the song, was a beautiful little haiku that the authors wrote called "You", celebrating every individual. The photographs are also gorgeous, from grinning children to nature scenery. A beautiful package, altogether.

Now, if they'd only make a gift book celebrating the beautiful song "Private Malone"..

I was taking a class at University named "Creative Thinking"; and I started to like the subject, so I decided to find a related book at Amazon.com

This book was one of best rated, so I ordered one. I have been reading it for a couple of days and until now all ideas are easy to understand and they encourage you to be creative and not think in the box.

This book is great for people who would like to open their minds.

i just got this a few days ago and my first impressions, without actually trying any of the techniques, were that it wasn't looking very practical. but the author cautions not to just go through each technique (among dozens) in the order presented but to try a couple that look like they might interest you most and play around with them and then go on from there.

so after scanning awhile i saw what is supposedly salvadore dali's image generation method. yeah right, i thought. well, that worked the first time i tried it. and i sketched it out and it didn't look like a dali, but it was the most imaginative sketch i've ever come up with. it was a man riding through the air on a hobby horse above a pavilion tent. and he was thinking about how glad he was that he didn't crash into the tent. i added more adults in the air playing with childrens' toys (jump rope, pogo stick, tricycle etc.) and the children down outside the pavillion wanting their toys back. beats going out to the park and 'copying' as van gogh called it.

so next i took those words associated with the image and i plugged them into a technique that looked to me like one of the most impractical in the book. and i got an idea that i've been looking for. that idea rendered a cool poem. most of the examples in the book look to be "business/career challenge" oriented but at least some of these techniques will also inspire raw creativity. be creative about using the toys.

take it from a skeptic. this stuff rocks. but you have to actually use it, not just read about it. i'm so thrilled that i have this book. YAY!

This book, together with my treasured Roger von Oech books, sit prominently on my bookshelf when working on a variety of problems - software development, film production, creative writing for scripts or novels, and developing opportunities in this mediacentric age. These books break open your mind from the restrictive fences imposed on our thinking by the conventional world that we are surrounded by. These fences need to be torn down. If you are an older person (probably older than 30!), then your thinking will become ossified. Just like using your muscles, you need to rework your brain and your thinking with effort to create opportunities and connections to emerging technologies and new developments.

As a consultant, I am regularly engaged in combined sessions with clients. This book gives an excellent overview of the tools and techniques to use, but is more broad than deep. For me, it works fine. For someone who wants to do very specific creative activities, it doesn't give enough examples and practical application.

I have about 400 books in my library and Thinkertoys (with Thinkpak) is the best book I've read so far. The book is full with creative tools and puzzles to play with. The book comes to me at the right time since I am about to start my own business and the book provides a lot of insight, ideas and techniques. Thank you Mr. Michalko for creating the "toys".

This was one of my favorite books as a child, and i just gave it as a gift to another child. It is an excellent book - a true story about a famous horse who had to overcome tremendous struggles and his faithful groom who managed to accompany him and assist him no matter the personal cost, as well as a look at prejudice and genuine kindness.

I first read this book when I was in elementary school. That was many, many years ago. The thought of this book somehow crossed my mind a few days ago. So I procured one and read it through in a couple of hours. The re-read reminded me of how great of a book this is.

This book speaks of hope, trust, perseverance, and especially of undying love. Yes, it's a children's book but adults will benefit greatly from reading it as well. It's one of those books which will forever remain a classic in the hearts and minds of those who have read it.

This is one of my favorite horse stories of all time. It is about a young boy who makes a bond with an increadible horse. A must read for any horse lover!!!!

This is my favorite horse story ever! This book stands above all others for me and I will always remember it. My mom read this to me when I was 9 years old and still to this day, I have never read it's equal. Henry's writing is so beautiful, the story so touching and the characters so real. A plot unfolds about a young stable boy in Morocco and his golden-bay stallion who would one day be known as the Godolphin Arabian, who's bloodline still runs in race horses of today. It's quite possible a lot of this book is based on fact. A simply amazing story in all respects! I must warn sensitive readers however, there are some very intense parts of this book, some sad parts which are sure to make most people cry and a few parts where there is fairly harsh abuse and neglect of animals. Maybe not the best choice to read to very young kids, especially if they are the type to get scared easily. Overall, I would say the book has an excellent balance of tragedy and triumph. The ending is a beautiful one, both happy and a little sad but satisfying and well worth reading the story.

King of the Wind is a great book by Marguerite Henry. It is about a mute boy named Agba and his horse Sham. Agba goes with Sham on many adventures together. Agba goes with Sham from the royal stables in Morocco to Gog Magog. Sham also sires many winning foals and when he is gone, Agba goes back to Morocco.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked it because it is about horses. I also liked it because it was full of adventure. It was sad and exciting and there were many parts where Sham and Agba were seperated. Agba was very brave for a young, mute boy and Sham kept him company with his firy spirit that only Agba could control.
My favorite part was when the cook tried to drive Sham. He wanted to show that he did not need Agba to drive Sham. He left Agba at the royal kitchens then set out. Sham bidded his time till the cart was groaning with goods and a young pig. Then "BAM!" He went wild and ran like the wind, sending the goods, the pig, and the cook into the air. The cook runs after first the pig, then Sham, then the pig, until he is so confused that he catched nither. In the end the apple woman cathes Sham and the cook is so fustrated that he sells Sham to a cruel man. I like this part best because it is so funny and shows Shams firy nature.

A lighthearted fantasy about an inventive young man whose creations get too big for his house, so he builds a small village with the other children in his community. Any young boy who loves to build things and take things apart will love this story. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed.

This was one of my favorite children's books ever, and we had a lot of them. My sons now feel the same, apparently, because the one we bought on an auction site has been completely worn out by their repeated reading of it. So now I need to get a new one so we can wear IT out, too!

Often, boys fantasize about cool things they could build, and Andrew Henry does that in spades. The beautiful ink drawings show the kinds of a details a child or adult would want to see in order to trigger the imagination but not replace it. Wonderful book.

I happened uponthis book while on vacation near the author's home. I found it delightful with an engaging story and pictures that can be examined over and over again. My son shared this book with his first grade class and the teacher called me to ask if she could keep it for a while to read to the other first grade sections. She raved about the book saying, "It is perfect for first graders". My only quibble about the book might be some mild sterotyping about what boys do vrs what girls do (boys build and fish, girls watch birds and play music)

My mother saved this book from my childhood. It was a favorite of mine. I liked to imagine a town where kids each got to be themselves. A place where they could really enjoy who they were without interference from adults or disapproving children. I would recommend this book for ages 8-11 years.

I have been looking for this book off and on for the last 15 years or so. This book was so much a part of my childhood. I remember it being in my church library and I would read it during Sunday School when I should have been paying attention to all of the God stuff. I spent hours imagining what my own hideway would look like.
When I was older, all I could remember was that it had Meadow in the title and it was about a bunch of kids who ran away to build creative forts.
I can't wait to get my copy and share it with my family and students.

As a NICU nurse, I purchased this book to give to a parent of premature baby. I strongly believe that information helps the parent understand the medical fragility of premature babies. And to see the gentle person hidden underneath the vast array of lines and machines. A wonderful resource! The information is well written. My parents love the book! I often recommend specific topics for the parents to read at home.

We received this book from a friend when our son was born at 23 week, and it literally became our bible the whole 132+ days he was in the NICU. Everything the Dr's would tell us we came home and looked up, jsut to get a better understanding, and mark, to look back at even now (and he is 2) to find helpful information for us now, as we are dealing with developmental delays. I would reccomend this book to anyone dealing with premature birth, and I even gave a copy to my friend when her son was born prematurely. I hope that this book can be as helpful to other families as it was ot us.

Great Book! Helped us a lot to survive our 25 weeker's roller coaster NICU ride.
A Must have for the preemies parents!

Our youngest son was born 14wks premature and not knowing anything about extreme premature babies we saught out a good book to help be a resource. Our son was lucky to only have a cpap and appeared to be doing well, but soon we were on quite a ride. From NEC, intestinal surgery, Pulminary Hypertension, chronic lung disease and surgery to repair a hole in his heart, we weren't sure what he was going to be up against next. This book helped guide us in a factual way.
Today he is 13 months old and has overcome EVERYTHING! He is a healthy and happy little boy working on keeping up with his big brother. We feel incredibly blessed.

This product was extemely helpful in getting me ready for my twins. They were born 11 weeks eary and I was much more prepared for the NICU and what the care would involve for the hospital stay for my boys. I would suggest others with multiples or complications read it.