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This is a coloring book that does a great job in explaining the hard working ant to a child and how that applies to them. The pictures are fun to color and well done. Great book to give to children as a Christmas Gift from church or Sunday school teacher.

This is a fine book -- enjoyable, fresh, poignant, and funny. Raymond DeCapite's dialog twists and turns, and his characters are just charming as hell. Check out Andy, the main character in "Go Very Highly...," being given advice by his musical landlord Spinner, who's just turned him down on a new mattress ("Why should you have a new mattress? I slept on this one for seven years...") and a paint job for his apartment:

"Why do you come up and bother me, Spinner?" "It's the way you're living that's bothering you. A coat of paint isn't going to help get you through the day. And you won't sleep any better on a new mattress. What you need is the touch of her hand. What happened to that girl who used to come around?" "The one with brown hair?" "Beautiful brown hair." "Brown eyes?" "There was a light of gold in those eyes, Andy. Don't you know gold when you see it?" "You mean Louise." "Every little breeze seems to whisper it." "She got married." "Nice work." "She was just a friend." "You could never play on my team. You fumble."

Andy lives above a pool hall and spends his days taking bets for a bookie, but he's far from some jaded lowlife stereotype. He's a decent guy getting by in the world, and everything he says surprises you with some bit of brilliance. Actually, all the dialog is pretty brilliant, but in small ways that sneak up on you again and again.

Somebody should make a movie of this book, but in the meantime, you'll just have to read it!

The book is old news now, however, such is the alure of good music, the band -and this biography- only happened to me much later than the event (note that an updated of the book is planned sometime soon as the bands two songwriters have since reformed as The Go-betweens). David Nichols, a Melbourne writer and some-times musician, tells us in the preface that he began the book with the question as to why people start bands, a seemingly strange premise but he succeeds in showing the apparent cultural vacuum that was Brisbane in the late 1970s through numerous and detailed chapters concerning the genisis of the band. These early chapters in the book are by far the best: several funny anecdotes and personal insights into the founding members of the band and punk music in an ultra-conservative Queensland make for a great read, especially for obsessives of the band such as myself (they are not really a band to have a casual acquaintance with). The latter chapters are much thinner by comparison, which is a shame for their music only (or arguably) got better as the eighties progressed. As relationships in the band begin to deterirate and band politics come to the fore, its as if Nichols loses interest in his subject, the original premise not loose enough to sustain an even and truly thorough examination. There is no question that the author has a great passion for the band and its music (it literally shines through in the first chapters which I have read repeatedly), it is just that the angle comes off as a little superficial as not a lot of insight is given to what makes the bands music and albums so special. Four stars for the first half alone though.

The personal essay is worth something only if the author has something to say. Harold Simonson has used the essay in a way that would speak to most of us if we found ourselves able to take the time to listen. How has the northwest become what it is? How does the life of the father affect that of the son? What does it matter what the old farts think or do? Why should we care? No book has ever moved me more than this one.

Perfect selection of up and coming and some already "out there" writers.....will keep you interested with each story. Especially if you have spent anytime on the west coast. Worth the money...worth the time!

A great, concise review of the St Louis Rams 1999 quest for the NFL championship. Meet and read about the key personalities that made this team one of the most explosive and opportunistic of the decade. Learn why and how this team set a new standard for professional football as we move into the new millenium. Beautifully illustrated and an excellent addition to any sports collection for the young or young-at-heart fan.

For many, it seems, the relationship between child and parent is one of the most difficult as the child matures into an adult. Parents often have a difficult time letting go of established patterns of behavior that may have been appropriate during their offspring's childhood, but no longer serve the best interests of either parent or child as they relate to each other as adults. As I completed reading this book I made a visit home and found that my own mother was reading this book too. It seems that age had little to do with the applicability of this information. Helpful for anyone working on continuing the process of self-growth and keeping their relationships alive and vital. . . Gary L. Flegal, Ph.D., Professional Stress Management Services.

Ann LeBlanc has written a jewel of a meditation about forgiveness, reconciliation, community, mutual support, prayer -- issues every Christian needs to have as an integral part of his or her relationship with God and other Christians. If you are Catholic you will especially appreciate this short introduction to the sacrament of confession or reconciliation. If you are not Catholic -- even if you are rabidly anti-Catholic -- you will be amazed and your heart will be blessed by the biblical insight, sensitivity, and compassion here. And don't forget the humor. I'm so glad this is funny but kind -- not preachy! I bought a copy of this for my pastor -- we're NOT Catholic -- because it is the best short introduction to compassionate pastoral care I know. I think I'll also get a copy for my friend who is hurting and wonders if God still cares for her. And one for my friend who teaches Bible study and feels ill-prepared to handle discussions that are feeling-based rather than fact-based. And one for . . . .

Who doesn't love Matt Groening? Long before I ever saw the first episode of "The Simpsons," I was reading the "Life is Hell" cartoon by Groening in a local weekly paper. Campy and dryly hilarious most of the time, and occaisionally drop-dead funny material.

I've got this book on my coffee table. The whimsical drawing style of Groening is adorable and humorous to look at w/o even reading the voice bubbles and captions. As much as I enjoy thumbing through this book once in a while, I didn't find any one cartoon that made me laugh outloud... it was more of an intellectual, "now -that's- funny!" that I would say to myself... but still insightful cartoons. I already had "Love is Hell" which made me laugh outloud consistently... this book is not in par with that one on the laugh meter, but it is in intelligence.

This book teaches children that there is help for their friends or themselves if they are abused. This, if read at schools could save many children's childhoods!