MR

This is a fun rhyming story about a man named Magee and his dog Dee. One day they decide to have a picnic on their boat. Everything is going well until a whale decides to play with their boat and they end up stuck in a tree. Luckily, the rest of the whales notice their plight and manage to save them. The book has a bit of tension, but it's not that scary, and there is a happy ending. The book is printed on pages that are thicker than normal, for heavy use. It has about 600 words.

Chris Van Dusen has written a lively, colorful tale that appeals to readers young and old. His fresh illustrations and funny rhymes make for a delightful series of escapades for the hero and his canine pal. I loved the book from start to finish, as did my kids (ages 5 and 10.) We all hope Chris continues to chronicle Mr. Magee's (mis)adventures.

My wife and I had our 14 month old son, Matthew, up at LL Bean's flagship store in Freeport, Maine this past July. On our way out, we saw author Chris Van Dusen autographing two of his books - this one, and the one about camping with Mr. Magee. We chose this one because in Maine, we were staying by the sea. Mr. Van Dusen not only signed the book, but also drew a wonderful picture of a whale and gave an inscription wrote an inscreption to our "adventurous boy" Matthew. He posed for pictures and introduced us to his own family (with 2 boys).

We read constantly to our young son Matthew (probably having well over 200 books) and this is among his top favorites. He points to the vivid illustrations and loves the little dog Dee. We are sure this is among is favorites because of the great colors and cute pictures. It is among our favorites for the same reason, but also because of all the autographed children's books we have, we know this is a terrific author who takes the time to do more than quickly sign his name. Thanks Chris!

This book was given to me by William Stringfellow, unquestionably the outstanding 20th century American theologian. Karl Barth called him that. Stringfellow was a laymen, a lawyer, and a prophet. His admiration for Jay Blue was exceeded only by his fidelity to Jesus Christ. Mr. Blue blew my mind. One of three best books I have read. I have no idea how my copy every left me. It's an incredible story about a sinful saint.

I first read Mr. Blue in 1963. He changed my life. Myles Connolly's tale of one man who embraces life with a rare exuberance is so refreshing. Although written in 1928, this book refuses to die as successive generations pass on the story. Mr. J. Blue takes living what it means to be Christian seriously. Both funny and full of pathos, Mr.Blue is truly a Twentieth Century American classic.

Mr Blue was my dads favorite book. 25 years ago, while I was away in the service, he suggested I read it. I went into a book store and ordered a copy. I have read it probably 10 times since then. I have been inspired by it and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. I see the edition of it I have selling for $$$. I wouldn't sell it for $$$$.! Like Jay Blue, dads been gone now for many years but I can still see his heart in this book.

Rowan Atkinson and Robin Driscoll are brilliant! I love this book! It's hilarious, just like the TV show. I read this book straight through because it was so good! I only wish I could award this book more than five stars . . .

This book is a triumph of comedy. If you have ever seen "Mr. Bean" you will love this book. It contains doodles, inventions, photos, notes to Mr. Bean, letters to Mr. Bean, crazy ideas of Mr. Bean has and it chronicles the hilarious mishaps of Mr. Bean through his own notes and article cutouts

This book is better than your parents. Buy it.

"Mr. Lincoln's Army" is the first volume in Bruce Catton's celebrated trilogy chronicling the history of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, one of the most exciting war narratives in literature. Catton had grown up in Michigan around men who had served in that Army and these books were his attempt "to find out about the things which the veterans never discussed." Catton relies on a host of source material to weave his tales, from autobiographies of Generals McClellan and Howard, to the correspondence of Generals Sedgwick and Meade, to dozens of soldiers' reminiscences and regimental histories, to military histories relating to specific battles, campaign, military tactics and weapons. As you read these books you are always feel that you are dealing with living literature rather than dead history. This is because Catton privileges "The Diary of an Enlisted Man" by Lawrence Van Alstyne and the history of "The 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion" more than he does "McClellan's Own Story."

"Mr. Lincoln's Army" covers the Army of the Potomac from its creation to the Battle of Antietam. Despite the title the central figure in the book is General George B. McClellan, the war's most paradoxical figure who gave this Army the training it needed to become a first rate military unit and who then refused to use the great army he had created. There are 6 sections to the book: (1) "Picture-Book War" actually covers the events in 1862 that led to McClellan being placed back in charge of the Army of the Potomac, setting up a rather ironic perspective for what happens both before and after that decision; (2) "The Young General" provides the background on McClellan and details his formation of the Army; (3) "The Era of Suspicion" covers the ill-fated Peninsula Campaign; (4) "An Army on the March" centers on the Second Battle of Manassas/Bull Run when the Army was under John Pope; (5) "Opportunity Knocks Three Times" begins with the great intelligence coup of the Civil War, the discovery of Lee's Special Order No. 191 and establishes how the upcoming battle was handed to McClellan on a silver plate; (6) "Never Call Retreat" tells the story of how McClellan snatched defeat--or at least a bloody tie--from the jaws of victory.

Bruce Catton's books on the Civil War are eminently readable, and with his History of the Army of the Potomac he finds his perfect level, writing about the men who were the common soldiers as much if not more than he does about the generals and politicians. You certainly get the feeling his heart was in these volumes more than it was in his larger histories of the Civil War. For those who are well versed in the grand details of the war, these books provide a more intimate perspective on those great battles.

Around the time of the Civil War's Centennial celebration, Bruce Catton dominated Civil War writing in this country. His books still speak to the reader in a literary style that brings the feeling of the war and its participants very much alive.

"Mr. Lincoln's Army" is the first of his three-part trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Catton traces the tragic evolution of this army -- always a superb fighting force in the ranks -- from a misused and abused weapon to the anvil that finally broke the rebellion.

In this book, Catton focuses on one of America's few men of Destiny -- at least until he had the opportunity to confront destiny in the face -- General George B. McClellan. McClellan picked up the pieces of the Army of the Potomac twice. First, after its inauspicious start at the First Battle of Bull Run and again after the army's route following the second tussle with the Confederacy near that same small battlefield.

McClellan was good at everything in which a general had to excel except fighting. An outstanding organizer and moral builder, "Little Mac" trained the army to a professional level and instilled in it an esprit de corps that helped sustain it through disappointment and disaster.

The one thing McClellan could not do, as Catton illustrates through his focus on the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Antietam, was use this superbly honed weapon decisively in battle. Always thinking he was outnumbered when in fact he held the advantage in forces, and lacking the inner confidence to take even good battle risks, he wasted multiple opportunities to end the war (or at least the existence of the Army of Northern Virginia) and save years of conflict and hundreds of thousands of lives. McClellan ends up as the ultimate in tragic figures, outwardly seeming so perfect for the job and bearing the loftiest of expectations as a savior, but inwardly cowed by fears and suspicions that he wasn't up to it.

This book is a wonderful and evocative portrait of the spirit of the Army of the Potomac in the McClellan era. Catton's great strength is the use of anecdotes to draw the big picture and sniff out "what was in the air" at different points in time. Thus his books are not exhaustive campaign and battle portraits and are short on troop movements and deployments of particular units. He seeks to demonstrate what was actually happening when all the personalities and actors of a moment are factored together. It is a big picture look at his subject buttressed by observations, iconic stories and the unusual that allows the reader to understand the feeling that surrounded events.

Thus, Catton focuses mightily on the relationship between McClellan and Lincoln's administration, his relationship and the performance of senior officers and in deciphering the motives, mindsets and chess game that seemed to envelope significant figures in the Army of the Potomac to a much greater degree than any other Union or Confederate army engaged in the conflict.

As all of Catton's writings on the Civil War are, this one is a classic.

What a wonderful book. I was so lucky to be able to pick up a great condition trilogy of the AOP (Mr. Lincoln's Army, Glory Road, and Stillness at Appomatox).

Catton's style is so amazing. You get the broad strokes of tactical movement, political wranglings, down in the ditch tales, camp life, and of course the human equation.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.

I must say, I'm glad I had a little working knowledge of the ACW before reading. He does have a tendency to just start up. For instance, Lincoln's Army starts in the middle of 2nd Manassas, then kind of works back into a flash back and fills in some of the bios. This may be a little confusing for an un-informed reader. You may want to read a very general, one volume sort of history before moving on to Catton.

The good thing though is the book is suitable for a beginner and yet I think the more you know about the ACW, the more you will enjoy it. There are so many great little stories about politicians, soldiers, officers, etc.

Highly recommended.

Excellent book about golf for fanatics as well as ignoramuses like me. I liked how Konik reminds us that the high stress of competition and money and stardom don't excuse a rotten attitude on the golf course, or in life in general. The way he describes some golf courses made me want to log onto the Internet to instantly buy an airplane ticket. And the clever chapters -- describing equipment in the style of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and rewriting the Canterbury Tales to include golf -- were a charming surprise. This is a very touching book that made me laugh as well. A great combination for a sport I used to find sort of boring.

Michael Konik weaves humor, insight, golf trivia, travel adventure and philosophy into a wonderful set of short stories. You don't have to play or even like golf to enjoy this collection of clever and witty observations about the game of golf and the people who play it. The "hero" of each story might be a world class pro, or a caddie. Konik's ability to capture the moment makes this book a joy to read.

Thanks Mike. Waiting for more.

Very enjoyable to read one chapter at a time. Like one nice golf hole after another. Funny, touching, educational. Any golfer you know will love this book. Looking forward to more.

My brother and I have been searching for this book for 25 years. I began to think we had imagined the book until I heard Gary Larson talk about it in an interview. Like Mr. Larson, my brother loved to have it read over and over. (I did finally find an original one on the internet for $800!) The new book is as great as we remembered and was my favorite Christmas surprise. Thanks Amazon for making it available and easy to get.

This was my favorite book as a child. I looked for 15 years for this book and finally found a bookstore who knew what I was talking about. I asked that they find the book. One year passed and I got a call saying they were trying to find the book for me and were not sure they could find one in good condition. That was in October and I had been saving my quarters to pay for the book. I did not hear anything from them and on Christmas morning I opened my gifts and there was the book Mr.Bear Squash You All Flat. My husband got the call that the book had been found and bought it for me. I am a principal in an elementary school and read the story to the children and we talk about the language in the book, such as Neighborhood Nusiance, harms way and Modern. It really does lend to a lot of discussion. My version is the 1950 edition, but I am buying the new version for my grandchildren.

My grandma used to read this one to me over and over. I'm now 58 and can't wait to read it to my grandkids. I've been looking for it in flea markets and used book stores and was pleased to find it in print again. It will sure result in a lot of giggles and fun if you read it to your little one.

All out, my FAVORITE book! Mr. Dream Merchant was one of those novels that you could not put down and once you did, you wanted to read it again, and I DID! It touched on being human and being spiritual, one with God, and understanding life's parellels of being accepted. This book touched me in a way that I thought could never happen. I understand how one's dreams can come to life by the words written in this novel. I would highly suggest that you get this novel TODAY and READ IT. Thank you Mr. Bailey for putting together such a WONDERFUL and SPIRITUAL book. I have highlighted certain areas in the book to remind me of WHO IS IN CONTROL!!! May God Continue to BLESS you on your Journey's END......

A wonderful, inspirational and insightful book. This is a book to sit and read as a family, especially those with males. Truly awesome in my opinion.

Dr. Bailey has captivated an audience of adults and youth with "The Dream Merchant". Each page is just as exciting as the previous page. The pearls of wisdom that he has incorporated into his book have stuck with me. I even find myself using some of them when I am in discussions with youth.I have given so many away that I feel that I am the publicist! Whenever I take a nap, I just imagine myself meeting Junior and participating in the adventure! My hat is off to Erroll and the exciting future of "The Dream Merchant"! A movie would be fantastic!

I saw this movie years ago at a theatre that specialized in movie classics of the past. I assumed, then, that I was going to see a good movie but I wasn't aware just how good this movie was and is. It fits into the category of comedy but there's a lot of other things going on throughout the film. The basic plot can be summed up easily if you've seen "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty. Instead of the main character being a quarterback, Robert Montgomery is a boxer. If you didn't see Beatty's remake, then let me tell you that an up and coming boxer is flying his own plane when it suddenly veers out of control. An impatient angel assumes the fatal crash and calls the boxer home to Heaven. The irate boxer explains that he was just coming out of the spin when the angel interupts him. The discussion drags on but the head angel, Mr. Jordan, agrees that the boxer is owed another chance at life and so the next step is to find him a new body (his other one was prematurely cremated). Well, there are a lot of hijinks, intrigues and romance along the way; all of it very enjoyable to watch. You might get as confused as the boxer's manager who is always at least two steps behind the plot. However, each twist and turn leads to an eventual happy ending. The acting is very good but it is the script that is the star of this show. Some younger friends of mine (who saw the movie with me recently) thought the romantic end was too hard to take (true love in two minutes). On the other hand, once you've accepted the beginning of the movie, anything else is fair game. Everyone should see this movie at least once; even if they've seen the lesser remake "Heaven Can Wait". It's a reminder that the great movies of the past are still great today (assuming you are able to temporarily discard your cinicism).

Robert Montgomery made an effective transition from debonair 30's leading man to 40's tough guy, but it took me a little while to get used to and I laughed a little at first at what sounded like an East Side Kids bronx honk imitation! Great plot and acting in a story about likable and feisty prizefighter Joe Pendelton, who is destined to die in fifty years, but is accidentally "snatched up" by an inexperienced and tart-tongued angel, played by Edward Everett Horton, with the always wonderful Claude Rains as Mr. Jordan, head honcho of the otherworld. Unfortunately Joe's body has been cremated by the time they locate it to put his spirit back in, and the three look long and hard to find a new body that will satisfy Joe's picky requirements. He reluctantly agrees to be temporarily placed in the body of just-departed Bruce Farnsworth, a wealthy and ruthless playboy recently killed by his wife and her lover, to help Bette Logan (played by a luminous Evelyn Keyes) get her unjustly jailed father out of prison, a man Farnsworth used as a fall guy. But Joe falls deeply in love with the grateful Bette, a problem since the dastardly duo who offed Farnsworth the first time are still around and plotting again to kill the man they naturally believe is still him. There is a tender poignancy in Joe's making the most of the time left in his temporary body before the inevitable happens, by attempting to prepare an understandably confused and concerned Bette about his impending death and "return" as somebody else. He tells her this in vague "supposing if" terms and not the truth because she naturally wouldn't believe it--who could? Well, his inevitable demise does come at the hands of the terrible two and he is transferred to the body of a principled prizefighter named Ralph Murdoch, just-killed in the ring during a crooked match and a would-be opponent if Joe hadn't "died." Mr. Jordan, knowing Joe has found his rightful "place", erases all Joe's knowledge of who he once was so he can be his own person without any of the confusion, memory and baggage of his past life. In a stunningly touching ending, by chance (or is it really?) Joe/Ralph encounters Bette and there is an instant mystical recognition and chemistry which they both experience--then Bette recalls what she thought was Farnsworth's bewildering ramblings at the time, and realizes he has "returned" to her. An excellent movie with just about everything in it to please anyone--humor, the supernatural, romance, poignancy, murder, boxing, and fascinating and compelling matters of predestination and fate, "reincarnation," our spirits/souls transcending physical cloakings, and how love never truly dies.

It is a shame that this delightful comedy isn't better known today. Part of the reason might lie in the fact that the film's star Robert Montgomery (father of Elizabeth Montgomery of BEWITCHED), after a stint in the military in WW II, did very little acting following the war. Therefore, he doesn't have many later films to draw attention to his career as a whole. Also, after the war he because deeply involved in political matters, and was one of Hollywood's more avid Communist hunters. For whatever reason, the film does not today have the reputation it deserves.

There have been two remakes of this film, so some explanation is in order. HERE COMES MR. JORDAN was a film version of a play by Harry Segal titled HEAVEN CAN WAIT. There was a 1944 film by Ernst Lubitsch called HEAVEN CAN WAIT starring Don Ameche, but that movie had nothing in common with HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (apart from being an equally superb comedy). In 1978, Warren Beatty wanted to remake HERE COMES MR. JORDAN using the original play's title with Muhammad Ali in the lead role, but Ali's schedule made this impossible, so he cast himself in the lead and transformed the central character into a football quarterback. Not as good as the original film, this actually wasn't a bad movie at all. In 2001, the film was remade again as DOWN TO EARTH, starring Chris Rock. I often love Chris Rock, but this film is not merely one of the low points of his career: it is a miserable film on every level, with the dreadful decision to make our hero a comic rather than an athlete.

Because of the remakes, the plot is familiar: Joe Pendleton, a boxer with a penchant for playing the saxophone and a shot at the title, is accidentally taken to heaven fifty years too early by an overzealous angel who wrongly assumes that he is about to die. The angel, Messenger 7013 (played marvelously by the inimitable Edward Everett Horton), brings Joe to his supervisor, Mr. Jordan (played magnificently by the ultra-suave and civilized Claude Rains). It is decided to provide Joe with a new body, where upon he tries in his new millionaire's body to get back into shape ("in the pink") in order to get a new shot at the championship. The only trouble is that the millionaire's wife and lover want to kill him so they can get his money and each other. Rounding out a great cast is Evelyn Keyes as the girlfriend of Joe (and the love interest of his subsequent incarnations) and James Gleason, Joe's trainer, who nearly steals ever scene he is in. The scene where Joe, in his new body, hires Gleason and then tries to convince him of his real identity, is just hysterical.

More people need to see this film. It remains one of the finer comedies made immediately before the onset of WW II, and is vastly better than the two films based upon it. It deserves far more attention than it has, in recent years, received.

I wish they made an animation movie from this book. This is very nice introduction into Modern Physics expecially for those who is interested in Physics in young age but does not have rigorous knowledge of mathematics or physical concepts to understand it or for those who knows it but can not explain it to a teenager. Concepts covered is Relativity and Quantum Mechanics where speed of light is reduced to very low valus or Planck constant is increased to managable levels. You can see the strangness in everyday experiences.
Very fun to read or to give as a present to young future Physicist.

I'm a novice at this subject matter, and I've recently started reading introductory books on quantum physics for fun. I read, "The New Quantum Universe" prior to reading this. This easy to read book filled in some gaps that that I had. It helped me grasp some concepts that had otherwise passed over my head when reading the other book.

I understand that this is a classic text and I can see why. It's fun to read, and provides a foundation for further understanding. It explains uncertaintity, radioactive decay, and electron shells especially well.

I may not fully appreciate the concepts I was able to internalize from this book for quite some time. I can say that I strongly recommend it to the layman or anyone who's eager to understand some basics of this incredible field of study.

I read this book when I was only sixteen (in fact, it was one of my presents on that birthday), and it started me on a great path to understanding modern physics years ahead of my time. This book, wonderful for all ages (even very small children, I'd imagine), serves as the best tool for grasping the groundwork of many principles of modern physics, yielding an easier understand when more complexity arises. Read this book! Even Einstein would enjoy it, I'm sure, and he might even learn something.

I grew up in Taiwan, where there was not much "American" TV, so we read A LOT (we all did - unless you were a fan of Chinese opera)! I don't remember much of what I read, but I do remember Mr. Pine and his mixed up signs. It was my absolute favorite childhood book. I never got tired of reading it, and am sure I must have said "again, again" many times to my parents. Bring back Mr. Pine!!

I actually have the original edition of this book in all it's yellowed glory. My parents gave me heaps of my childhood books after my son was born and this has become one of his favorites. I am thrilled to find it in a new edition so that the old one can be left to rest before it completely falls apart.
The text of this book is so well done for beginning readers, with lots of word repetition. Also, I think the signage helps children to recognize words by their shape before they are able to actually read. My 3 year old can read the "stop", "go", "fast" and "slow" signs along with a few others just because he recognizes thier shapes and colors.
I'm excited to see what other beloved books of my childhood will make a comeback. This is a delight!

This was one of my favorite books from childood (late 60s/early 70s)! What a blast from the past! I'm so glad that it is now available for a new generation of kids.

I did not realize until recently that the humor is not lost on adults.

I highly recommend this book for all children! It's so innocent and would be a welcome change of pace from all the grown-up stuff that kids have to deal with at earlier and earlier ages.