Form-4 Books

It's all here -- FF#4, and the re-introduction of the Submariner ... FF#48-50, the legendary Galactus Trilogy ... and FF#86, the conclusion of a later Doctor Doom saga, where Jack Kirby's art -- and story-telling treatment of his (and Stan Lee's) characters -- is at its full maturity. There are plenty of other collections, but this one's a collector's item in and of itself!

I am extremely fussy about the quality of literature I read to my children. We have a huge bookshelf full of children's books. This one takes the prize on so many levels;

1. Quality and beauty of the writing, its use of poetic words and sentence structure.
2. Not dumbed down for children, therefore challenges their thinking and imagination, while also retaining its original messages about virtues and goodness.
3. Exquisite pictures.
4. Keeps my son's attention more than anything. He has learnt far more from this book than any other.
5. Not boring for adults who have to read the stories unteen times!

I have not found a better version of the Grimms fairy tales.

Some of the stories do contain some gory details, but if the parent feels they need to, they can easily miss a paragraph without losing content.

After reading Archipova's fairy-tale versions, it's difficult to return to other books, since everything else thereafter sounds inferior to the ear!

By the time of the original Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing, Field Day had come to stand for a vitally brave, visionary and complex reframing of Irishness which, under Seamus Deane's direction, had produced the deepest collection of Irish writing ever published. Magnificent but deeply wanting in its coverage of Irish women's writing.

Understandably this caused great anger and disappointment. Fortunately for us all heat turned into light and Field Day's response was to commission this brilliant extension. Its impossible to underestimate its breadth and impact on the way we understand Irish writing. But setting aside the cultural analysis, these volumes contain masses of - previously inaccessible - great writing.

Suffice to say, everyone who has the first three volumes needs to have these two.

If you're interested in the what and how of Ottoman embroidery, this is a good place to start. In addition to cultural and historical background, the book gives information on how the pieces were made, to what uses they were put, and influences on design and style. It's well illustrated throughout with not only photos of extant needlework, but on Ottoman style and culture. Many of the embroidery photos are detailed enough to see individual stitches.

The main chapters/sections are
A Brief History of the Ottoman Empire
Makers and Methods
Designs and Functions
Glossary
Catalog
Catalog has color photos and detailed information for 56 pieces from the 17th-19th centuries with a few pieces from the 20th. Includes info on stitches, technique, and thread count and spin of the ground fabric.

There is also a very good bibliography for those wishing to dig deeper. Another good book you might like is Ottoman Embroidery by Ellis and Wearden (NOT the one with the same title by Taylor).

This book is about Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace. He uses his favorite little French cafe (Marcie's house) as his hideout from the red baron. Marcie plays along, but then Snoopy has one too many root beers. You'll have fun finding out how Marcie tries to get rid of him and send him back to Charlie Brown!

I was first introduced to Roz Chast's work in The New Yorker but was never quite sure what to make of her cartoons. Her understated, offbeat humor escaped me when I would happen upon one of her drawings in the magazine. Then, I bought this book, purely out curiosity. I was hooked! It's hard to describe Chast's style. It's satirical but not mean-spirited. She pokes fun at the very average, situation and very average people -- people named Mabel and Vern -- but with a twist. Her cartoons on childhood and its traumas are absolutely priceless. Her sense of humor, writing, and drawings are distinctly her own. No, this might not be the type of humor that will send you rolling to the floor, but the more you read, the more funny everything in Chast's quirky world becomes. She's actually added phrases to my vocabulary. I only wish I could find more of her books in print! (I also highly recommend "Proof of Life on Earth.")

As co-editor of this book, I know everything one could possibly know about it. As the final nail in my high school coffin, this book drove me to death, and then redemption. There are a lot of gems in this anthology, and all of the poems and short stories within are worthwhile. Plus, all of the works within are by students-only students. Why wouldn't you buy this book? Do you hate students? I didn't think so.

All joking aside, I was extremely pleased to hold this book in my hands during the booksigning event we held in the courtyard of our school, honoring its release. All of the students' efforts just squashed themselves into the little delight, and I hope that the joy that I had in reading this book will be passed on to you.

I highly recommend this book. I wouldn't (or can't) say otherwise.

I own this wonderful book. Within the first paragraph, your hooked and can instantly see the characters that Fuhrman has portrayed.

You know that old saying, "From the mouth of babes," no not good looking women, I mean from the mouth of children. You never know what will come out of a child's mouth at any given point in time. Usually it is in a public place where the children will say something that will make you turn ten shades of red.

In From America's Future Leaders, Geri Ahearn has collected many different things children from age 3 to 13 have said to adults that are extremely amusing. These snarky little comments are from the children that are going to grow up and change the world, or may even become president one day.

I have to share at least one of the entries with you so that you may understand the type of book this is; and with it being the Christmas season this one is perfect.
"A few days before Christmas, a Sunday school teacher asked her class to draw the Nativity scene. One little boy drew Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, but also drew a round figure. The teacher was concerned that somehow the he included St. Nick. She asked the boy who that figure was. "Oh him!" The boy replied. "That's Round John Virgin."

Geri Ahearn's book had me laughing out loud on almost every page. Children are so innocent, naive and funny at the age before they become teenagers. There were also cute illustrations that were pleasing to the eye. Don't think this is a children's book, because by all means it is not; young adult maybe. There is selective language in some of the entries but nothing too bad, if you're reading aloud you can just skip right over it. So if you're looking for something to tickle your funny bone then, From America's Future Leaders is the book for you. 5 Hearts

This book is for adults, not children. It is an anthology of children's reading materials from before 1850 that was compiled for children's literature classes at the college level. It is an excellent overview of the genre, but definately not actually meant for today's children.