MR

These are the easiest way to teach children to read. The books are ordered in sets and groups, so each concept is mastered before another is presented. Our son learned to read at a private school using these books, so we are now using them to teach our daughter. The illustrations do look dated, as they were published over a decade ago, but nonetheless, they are wonderful books!

This little book is about Shakespeare's sonnets, but more than that it is a book about nineteenth-century young men and their obsession with Shakespeare. Two in particular become completely engaged by a particular literary interpretation--that Shakespeare wrote his beautiful sonnets not for a wealthy patron, but to his Rosalind, or rather to the actor who played all his lovely strong women--that is, to an adolescent boy. The book is a cautionary tale about heightened involvement in literary ideas. A literary idea can possess one as completely as opium, and can be just as dangerous

Police detective Brett Callahan needs help getting the woman he wants to marry to the alter. He turns to his neighbor and good friend, Josie Matthews, for help. Josie is glad to be of assistance. After the loss of her beloved Danny, she knows she won't be tempted by Brett's goodlooks, gentleness, sexyness--umm, maybe she should rethink this teaching thing! This was a wonderfully warm, funny and romantic story that didn't require explicite sex to get the love story across. The struggle Brett has with himself when he find himself drawn to Josie is very well done.

I cannot think of wanting to do anything more than watching a University of Illinois f-ball game at Memorial Stadium. Ever since I was young I have never missed a game if it were possible for me to go. My Junior year in high school I picked up this book on Ray Eliot. The book instantly caught my attention because I love the illini and the forward was written by Ray Nitchzke (former u of i and packer great). In Nitchzke's message he said how Ray Eliot was very compassionate, caring and inspirational. He talked about how he believed Ray was the most inspirational coach he had experienced (this coming from the man who was coached by the great Vince Lombardi). I now play college football and I can truthfully say I wish I too could be inspired by Coach Eliot. This book does that and I constantly look to it for guidance. I believe this is the best book I have ever read (despite the Bible). It teaches its readers about more important aspects in football: sportsmanship, desire, courage, love, etc. These values that Ray Eliot instilled in his players were more important than championships. In his 18 years, Eliot's Illini teams won three big ten titles and two Rose Bowls. They also upset the #1 team in america 3 years in a row at one time in the early 1940s. I'll leave this review with a quote from the first page of his book. --"The boy is more important than the game."-- --Ray Eliot--

as one madcapped mishap follows another in this love-on-the-road story. From the first moment Kim Grant bumps into Rick Taylor at the airport, nothing is ever quite the same. They both need to get across the country, and never has the journey seemed so long...at least not until the minute that forever wouldn't be long enough for Kim. She's in love. But Rick doesn't believe in forevers. As a matter of fact, his urgent trip is prompted by the need to save his brother from another marriage. But Kim is a forever kind of girl. How can they possibly find a happily-ever-after?

Jennifer Drew will have laughing and sighing in this hilarious story!

Very entertaining and simple book for young readers. The unfortunate Mr. Frumble loses his hat (once again) and follows it high and low. The book includes a set of mini learning cards that can be used for matching, riddles, and games. While the book only contains 47 words, Mr. Frumble's adventures will keep young children interested and entertained.

There is always a young couple playing a prominent role in every Mr. Moto story. It usually is an American in the Orient who falls in love with a girl already involved in espionage. Mr. Moto's role seems to be to help the couple and intervene when necessary. What makes this tale different in this instance is that the young people are both professional spies. They are in Tokyo to infiltrate a suspicious organization fronting for the Soviets whose operatives strive to create a major international incident damaging to the American position in Japan. Moto is as deadly as ever taking out the bad guys but he is now more apt to delegate the task to subordinates. This is clearly the best Mr. Moto book in the series.

In 1920 Charles Ponzi perfected the rob Peter to pay Paul white collar scam and stole millions from unsuspecting investors. As a result of his illegal activities Ponzi spent most of his adult years in an American prison. After being released from jail Ponzi was deported to Italy where he became associated with the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and worked for the Italian government. Eventually Ponzi lost his government job and wound up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he died on a charity ward in 1949. It has been said that the only thing Ponzi left behind on his nightstand was his autobiography. The book was privately published in the past but never in large quantities. In fact, copies of that earlier edition are quite rare. This release of Mr. Ponzi by Inkwell Publishers, (Mark Mathosian), Naples, Florida, in November, 2001, is the first time Ponzi's book has been professionally published for a large reading audience. It is an amazing journey into the mind of the world's most famous swindler.

Wilkie Collins was known for romance, gothic, and ghost stories, not for comedy. I have no idea why not. Some of the descriptions in his books are funny enough to make you cry. This book is pure humor from start to finish. You love the Rogue. He has such irrepressible good humor in the face of every tragedy, you're bound to take his side in adventures. Even if those adventures include forgery, burglary, and conterfeiting.

Our toddler LOVES the Preston Pig series! She never fails to crack up laughing when she lifts the flaps and finds Preston hiding. She loves all the Preston books, and this one especially!