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I was given this book as a child. It was one of the best gifts I ever got. Every child should have this book, and every parent should read it, too.

I just pulled out my copies of this book and The I Hate Mathematics Book! to show to someone. I read them both prolifically from years 8-12 or so, and to this day pick them up occasionally. I was curious to see if it was still in print, and pleasantly suprised. My copy of this book is so well worn, the cover is falling off of it.

The Book of Think, simply put, is a book that teaches critical thinking skills. The puzzles are fun, and sometimes a bit surreal. The skills learned are invaluable. I believe this series was recommended to us by a gifted education teacher. They strongly shaped my formative years. I remember staying home and reading these two books, and others in the series. They are loaded with practical problems and hands on tools to use. I am sure that a teacher could find lots of great activities for students with these books.

Quick, click on the link and purchase this book, Hate Mathematics, I am not a short adult, Blood and Guts, The Reason for Seasons, This book is about Time... get them all before they are out of print. You won't be disappointed. It may be the best purchase you have ever made for your children and/or students. Maybe even yourself! I think I'll reread them all.

Lisa

This book is one of my favorites for group activities, ice breakers, and getting a staff team to start thinking creatively. It is perfect for anyone who likes a challenge and the answers not just handed to them. I have given these books as gifts to adults and see them use the exercises over and over. Highly recommended. (Maybe even your kids would like it.)

I wish this book would go back into print. It is a very high-quality puzzle-type exercise. Took a couple of weeks and was never boring. Complete with a King Kong... Used to keep my completed version in my office until the cleaning lady smashed it by accident...

At over for feet high, the finished building is one of my prized possessions. I found mine at a flea market and, as the book was old, the center crease in the pages needs particular attention to avoid a pronounced ridge at about the fortieth floor. Reinforce the crease from behind and press it flat and it should come out ok. The addition of some foil trim at the top make for a really sharp model of the landmark.

this book has everything you need to have a hard days work using your hands....alot of fun, and well worth the effort in the end! great book and author!

I highly reccomend the Hank the Cowdog books if you're a dog lover, or if you just enjoy good, clean humor and fun! The books
are written in Hank's perspective, which, I think, makes them funnier than if they weren't written in his persppective. He tries to talk "intelligent," but really he is actually quite, um,
well, to be to-the-point... DUMB. And Hank's conversations with Drover are priceless. If you don't have this book, you really should get it. This is one of my personal favorites.

My other faves are:
The Curse of the Incredible Priceless Corn Cob
The Case of the Missing Bird Dog
It's a Dog's Life
Every Dog Has His Day
The Case of the Fiddle Playing Fox
The Phantom in the Mirror
The Case of the Burrowing Robot
The Case of the Deadly Ha-Ha Game

...And too many more to list!...

One of my favorite books I have read in the past year was Hank the Cowdog by John R.Erickson. It is A marvelous book about Hank tries to fall in love with another dog he met. One of the major reasons I in joyed this book is because Hank and Drover stays ahead of the ranch security so nothing wouldn't happen to the farm or the chickens, but they decide that its time for A break from the ranch security. Another reason I found in the book to be so wonderful Hank and Drover goes out into the woods and they see four yellow eyes in the dark it was Rip and Snort. They were brothers but Rip and Snort didn't remember Hank and Drover, but Hank told them about the pit where they had parties and got drunk. Then Snort and Rip mumbled about it. Then they thought they would go we eat Hunk later and Drover for snacks then Hank said member what I told you about that don't eat friends that is bad manners. Then snort said, "Oh," but Drover ran off. when Rip seen the silage pit he ran but not snort; he stayed behind Hank. Then Hank said, "That was my chance to escape." To conclude Hank the Cowdog by John R.Erickson was truly my favorite book

Hank 36 is a very good book.I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE!

Partly there is a problem dealing with Celtic spirituality, or indeed, Celtic anything. It is comparatively recently in history that the coalescence of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Briton, Manx, and other 'Celtic fringe' cultural groups have been classified as a unified Celtic society. Certainly the early people in these regions (not to mention those on the continent) would have seen differences as outweighing the similarities, and would have found unity only in being non-Roman and non-Germanic.

Certainly there is a sharing of story, world view, and spiritual sense, however, that helps us make sense of describing Celtic Spirituality as a category. This relates both to the earlier non-Christian Celtic religions (yes, there was more than one) and the ways in which Christianity spread to the Celtic regions.

'While recognising the importance of Celtic primal religion at the earliest and most formative stage of evangelisation of the Celtic-speaking cultures, it must be recognised that the surviving evidence for Celtic religion in sparse, and often comes from widely differing places and times. But something of its general character does emerge.'

Included in this character are a sense of place (which often includes woodlands, water, glades, springs, mountains, etc.). Ideas of treasure, particularly hidden treasure, and that being a treasure that is not always what the world would value, abound. Heroism and bravery, often at dramatic cost with a deep sense of loss even in the victories, goes through many tales. Other worldly and pantheistic imagery coexist in many ways. Animals and birds are often seen as messengers, harbingers, or symbolic -- many of the illuminated manuscript from Irish monasteries show the continuation of this sort of influence. Celtic religions are also predominantly oral, hence the popularity of story, song, and poem as opposed to argued technical essays or homiletic forms.

The texts in this volume are divided according to the following categories:

Hagiography
These are lives of the saints, often told as heroic (and sometimes tragic) tales. Of course the greatest cycle known to us is the Patrick Tradition -- those stories and legends that have gathered around St. Patrick, who lived in the fifth century. These include letters, declarations, a life story, sayings, and St. Patrick's Breastplate, known to many as a very long hymn, but which actually exists in many different forms. Apart from the Patrick stories are stories of St. Brigit, St. Brendan, St. David, St. Beuno, and St. Melangell, all unique Celtic saints.

Monastic Texts
In a recently issued popular history, entitled How the Irish Saved Civilisation, Thomas Cahill argues that the preservation of culture and learning in the Irish monastic movement gives us much of our knowledge and continuation from civilisation in the past. There is much to be said for this argument, for the early Irish love of books, knowledge, and historical sense of preservation of the valuable gives us much of Celtic wisdom, as well as much of the Greco-Roman tradition as well.

Poetry
Early Irish and Welsh poetry are presented, most of it anonymous, and much of it seems very similar to Celtic devotional material of today. It still speaks to us with a very strong voice.

Blessing and brightness,
Wisdom, thanksgiving,
Great power and might
To the King who rules over all.

To the chosen Trinity has been joined
Before all, after all, universal
Blessing and everlasting blessing,
Blessing everlasting and blessing.

This could be a text from a modern hymnal. The Celtic peoples, with their love of number symbols in addition to natural symbols, fastened on the idea of the Trinity with very little difficulty. The trifold nature of the above poem, going several layers deep, shows this affinity.

Devotional Texts and Liturgies
These texts are meant to be used for lectio divina, a kind of spiritual reading, as well as prayers enacted in the community for blessing. Some litanies and excerpts from the great Stowe Missal give a sense of patterns of worship for Celtic peoples.

Apocrypha, Exegesis, Homilies, and Theology
These four categories include expansions of the biblical text (such as the story of The Creation of Adam), and interpretation of particular pieces (a Gloss on Psalm 103) which gives insight into how Celtic peoples interpreted the biblical texts, which come from a culture so foreign and yet so similar to their own. Also, the Homilies give a sense on what preachers found important; that these survive may give us a sense also of what the hearers considered important (most of my homilies will not survive the week they are delivered!). The theology texts here give a good flavour of the academic and spiritual side of Celtic learning and reflection. The theological treatises are introduced and interspersed with verse that drives home the spiritual dimension far better than any learned discourse could do.

Seventy pages of notes on technical and academic aspects of the texts (translation, interpretation, history, cultural notation, etc.) and a generous fifteen-page bibliography help round out this text, and make it useful both for spiritual direction and insight as well as for academic research and historical and literary investigation.

Edited and introduced by Oliver Davies with collaboration from Thomas O'Loughlin, Celtic Spirituality draws primarily from Latin, Irish and Welsh manuscripts to show the texts that have been 'rediscovered' frequently in Christian history as providing an 'alternative' to mainstream' Christian thought and practice. Perhaps it is the legacy and the gift of the Celtic peoples to always provide a fringe, from Roman times to the present, and from that fringe a freshness of ideas, approach, and insight comes forward to renew culture and civilisation in many facets.

This is part of a series of spiritual and mystical writings from many religious viewpoints, produced by the Paulist Press. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim texts are presented with clarity, careful translation that works for accuracy both of word and spirit, and interesting historical insight.

In my eighteen or so years as a Celtic Catholic, and especially in the past five years, I have seen the term "Celtic Christianity" applied to everything from the sublime (love of nature and the saints) to the ridiculous (giving communion to your dog) to the utterly intolerable (worshipping pagan gods). Some modern writers on the theme do an excellent job of interpreting this strand of the Christian Faith for the modern reader; others are better left unread. So where is a serious inquirer to go for "the real goods"? Where to find out what our ancient Fathers and Mothers in the Faith really believed, thought, and did? Davies's book is an excellent resource.

Limiting his own comments and interpretations to the introduction (and with an excellent preface by James Mackey), Davies contents himself with providing clear and easily readable translations of original source material. Some of the most important documents for understanding the mind of the early Celtic Christian are here. You can read all of St. Patrick's own writings and the ancient biography by Muirchú. Discover the most ancient accounts of St. Brigit, St. Brendan, St. David, and even the dear but little-known St. Melangell and her hare. But that's not all. There is the monastic Rule of St. Columbanus, ten Irish poems, twenty Welsh poems, and several devotional prayer-poems. You can find some of the oldest Celtic liturgical material, interpretations of Scriptural passages, ten ancient sermons, and some theology courtesy of Pelagius and John Scottus Eriugena.

This is all original material, carefully translated and presented in an easy-to-use format. But it's not dry dusty stuff: it breathes a freshness from the early days of the Faith that is sometimes missing from more modern writers. We've perhaps been around too long, thought about it too much. Our Celtic saints got the good news "hot off the press," and embraced it with a shocking enthusiasm which is good for us jaded post-moderns. I hope you read this book and enjoy it as much as I have.

This is an excellent book, edited by the founder of the MA program in Celtic Christianity, at the University of Wales, Lampeter. The book brings the topic to life, and allows the reader to gain an insight into the spiritual world of the Celts. Dr. Davies presents the reader with a wide variety of works, that give an excellent representation of Celtic writing and thought. It is a book that must be read and reread, in order to gain the full effect of the excellent pieces of work offered. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Celts and/or spirituality.

This is another in the American Girls series about Kaya'aton'my', a nine-year-old Native-American girl growing up among the Nez Perce people in 1764. After her many adventures, Kaya's life is settling back down, and she is even ending her period of morning for her mentor, Swan Circling. The only thing truly missing from her life is her horse, Steps High. When scouts return with the information that there is a herd of apparently escaped Nez Perce horses in the hill, her hope begins to burn bright. However, when Kaya finds is not what she expects, and great courage is needed.

This is the final, full-length Kaya book, and it is every bit as excellent as the others! My eleven-year-old daughter is now the proud owner of a Kaya doll, which she loves, like she loves this book! We both highly recommend this book to you!

"Changes for Kaya" is the sixth and last book about Kaya. In it, we see how she has changed. When the scouts deliver news that there is a rogue herd of Nimipuu horses in the mountains, Kaya and her father and Raven go investigate one day when they aren't involved in the hunt for elk. Kaya gets her beloved horse, but there's a forest fire in the mountains. Can she save herself--and her horse--in time before they get hurt by the fire? This is the only book I felt deserved 5 stars in the Kaya series. The rest have been lacking a little. This one is the best of the lot.

In "Changes for Kaya"(Book 6 in the series), readers see how Kaya has changed since the first book, "Meet Kaya". She is a courageous girl who has also learned to trust the wisdom of her elders and not rush impulsively into doing things for herself. She is learning to be patient and understand when it is time to get adult or tribal help. Her developing wisdom is rewarded when she has the opportunity to be reunited with her beloved lost horse and a new surprise-her foal! Earlier losses become gifts that bring her to a stronger sense of herself and her place in the tribe. She comes to the awareness that she is growing up and will soon be ready for her vision quest. With the lessons she has learned, she knows that she can face it with the patience and confidence of a leader.

In Changes for Kit, Kit outgrows her old red coat she got for a Christmas present and her friends and family make her a new one with old materials that came from their own clothe. Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie decide to donate Kit's old coat to the hobo jungle where there were a lot of children who were cold and hungry. However when they get to the jungle they learn from the few remaining hoboes that most of the families had gone to the soup kitchen for the winter months. So Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie continue their journey to the soup kitchen. The children are all alarmed when they see the poor condition the children at the soup kitchen are in. Kit sees many children who need coats and many who need shoes. She feels very helpless when all she can donate is ONE winter coat.

Meanwhile, back at home her parents get the news that Uncle Hendrick broke his wrist and ankle and is coming to live with them accompanied by his dog Inky. Kit couldn't be more annoyed that mean and crabby Uncle is coming again, and guess whose job it is to look after him? Kit's. She hates how her uncle make her write letters to the newpaper editors and complain about the president and his programs which Kit knows has helped her family get through the hard times. Such as her brother Charlie who worked in the CCC and earned money for the family. However Kit learns from Uncle Hendrick too! She could write a letter about all those kids who need clothing and shelter in the soup kitchen! So she, Ruthie, and Stirling go to the soup kitchen and took pictures of the poor condition the children were in. However Kit knows that since she isn't rich and doesn't have a reputation like Uncle Hendrick she probably won't get her article printed. Well, is her family and Uncle Hendrick in for a surprise when they recieve the paper one morning. Not only are they surprised but Kit's letter affects the whole city of Cinncinati!

The conclusion to Kit's story was another great one in the American Girl's Collection. I can't wait for the next girl's story to come out! They are really beautiful books with their pictures and the Peek into the Past. Lastly I have to say Hooray for Kit!!!

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kit Kittredge, a ten-year-old girl living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 1934, and Kit and her family are struggling to make ends meet as the Great Depression deepens. Kit's life seems to suddenly get much worse, when her dour Uncle Hendrick is injured during a fall and moves in with the family. However, it's not her own plight that hurts Kit, it's that of the children she sees in the local soup kitchen. She wants to do something, but what? Perhaps she can steal an idea from her Uncle!

As with the other Kit books, this is a great story. It succeeds brilliantly in teaching history while also teaching a life lesson. The book is wonderfully put together, with great illustrations. The final chapter is a short history of the Great Depression, which makes the book even more informative. This is a great book, one my daughter and I highly recommend.

Since there is no description about this book, I'll explain everything I can. In Changes for Kit, Kit finally gets a "new" coat to replace the one she'd outgrown in Kit's Surprise. She, along with her friends Ruthie Smithens and Stirling Howard, decide to give her coat to a hobo at the hobo jungle they had discovered in Kit Saves the Day. But when they get there, they discover that the jungle is deserted, and the few hoboes in the cave tell them that during the winter, many of the hoboes go to the Soup kitchens to eat. So Kit and her friends go to the soup kitchen they visited in Kit Learns A Lesson, and give Kit's coat to a poor girl who is in nothing but rags. Kit and Ruthie also notice the fact that many of the kids at the soup kitchen are wearing poor coats and shoes, and Kit plans to find a way to help them, but can't figure out how.
Back at home, Mr. Smithens delivers the news that Kit's cranky Uncle Hendrick broke his arm and ankle when he fell down the stairs, and now insists on moving in with the Kittredges. Since Kit's parents are busy and Uncle Hendrick can't write, when he has a complaint about the local newspaper, he demands that Kit dictate it for him. Kit doesn't agree with what Uncle Hendrick says at all, and comes up with her own letter to congratulate the newspaper editor.
Then Ruthie decides to donate some of her clothes to the Soup Kitchen, and that's when Kit gets her idea to photograph the kids in the kitchen. She does so, and on her way to the newspaper office, she drops her letter and the roll of film off with Uncle Hendrick's dictated letter. Kit fears that because she's not as wealthy or important as her Uncle that her letter will never get published. But everyone in Cincinnati, as well as in Kit's home is in for a surprise. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the Kit books, as it does a good job of finishing off her series.

I have a number of books on paper mache, and have worked with the medium for several years. This book is far and away the best of the bunch in terms of ideas, techniques, and instructions.

Paper Mache is not just for children anymore! I love this book. The book has easy to follow instructions. The projects are great. This is a must for all paper macher's and want-to-be paper macher's.

This book is for the sculptor in you. The authors describe all of the materials used in the craft and present the pros and cons of each. Bravo! There is a good deal of information in its chapters, but the writing is so clear, it is quite easy to undersand. The photos of finished objects d'art present the projects literally in their best light. The photos are also accompanied by illustrations in 3-D. It's a beautiful book presenting the indigenous, the contemporary, and the commonplace in forms that the papier mache crafter can do. I found the the "how to" sections to be outstanding.

A South American Catholic, I ordered this book containing the works of Israeli Jewish women in order to look at this beautiful, contradictory and war-ridden country from a different angle. Well, I was not disappointed. "Dreaming the Actual" is like a colorful patchwork, filled with voices, images and realities that draw you into a rich and changing picture. Though the presence of the Holocaust is, understandably, strong, there are no hackneyed stories here. The tragedy is evoked mostly through the experience of survivors' children, and is thus removed from the European stage to the one their lives are unfolding in. Also, I was pleased by the deep awareness of the Palestinian plight I found in some of the works. There are some really gifted women here. Both the stories' and the poems' quality is very high. I know I will return to this book again and again.

Dreaming the Actual is a superb collection of short stories and poetry -- I appreciated the fact that most of the material is new, and the result is that the book captures the sensibility of the scene in Israel today. I also valued the editor's decision to include work originally written in Arabic, Russian, and English, as well, of course, as Hebrew -- The stories are riveting; because of the way Glazer has organized the book,you truly get a sense of what it was like to live in Israel even before the founding of the State, all the way up to the present. The introduction is masterfully and beautifully written, and the introductions to each story and each author wonderful guides. I recommend this book highly.

Although I was familiar with Israeli writers like Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua, I had never read the stories (or poetry) by women writers. And I wasn't really aware of what a multicultural, multilingual, culture Israel is. Reading this book has been an extraordinary experience. It has made the culture live for me, in all its vivid complexity. Miriyam Glazer has done a brilliant job in her introduction to the book and to all the individual stories -- making the stories accessible and the tenor of the culture nearly palpable. I love this book and recommend it highly to anyone who wants to understand what it means to grow up in Israel and face issues of poverty, war, immigration, coming-of-age, spirituality. Fabulous collection!

When my son was born, I immediately began to look for Early Bird, but it seemed to be out of print. Luckily, my mother found my copy and it has become a favorite for a new generation! The simple humor captures the imagination of my son as much as it did mine. Typical of Scarry, there are so many different images to spark discussion. The illustration (pictured in the Amazon entry) of the family eating dinner alone provides endless opportunity to discuss foods, health, nutrition, etc. I HIGHLY recommend this book and I am so happy that it is back in print!

This was one of my favourite books as a young child and I am really pleased to be able to find a copy to give to my own daughter for her 2nd birthday. I think the pictures are great and the book has a good message about making friends. I still get a warm feeling when I think of this book.

"Early Bird" by Richard Scarey was my 25 year old son's favorite book as an infant. He delighted in learning the names of the different animals and in the story itself. Now that he's going to be a father I can think of no other book that he would like to treasure and share with his new baby. I am glad that it's back in print so I can send it to him as soon as possible so another generation can enjoy the delights that Early Bird brought him.

I have a 1975 well worn, but still readable, edition of this book - my mother used it for my brother and I. When I had my first child she passed the book to me - it's been a source of inspiration for me and various friends! It's incredibly easy to use, understand and do. If you can cut paper, paint circles and ovals, and glue - you can make these costumes!

Had this book 20+ years ago(ordered thru local school - Scholastic Book Co.) and made several costumes for my children at Halloween time. They always won first place. Positively the best book for easily made inexpensive costume that look like a professional made them.

I have done plays and Halloween costumes using this book. Lots of ideas using stuff you have at home.