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H.F. Ellis' Papers of .J. Wentworth, BA is a wry comic classic which presents the 'letters' of an unmarried teacher who comments on education, teaching methods, and obstinate pupils. A fun gift for any who appreciates humor, literature and the perils of teaching.

H. F. Ellis' book is a true classic of written English humor. His work compares favorabily with the work of Jerome K. Jerome and P.G. Wodehouse. Ellis' dry sense of humor and excellent use of language makes this one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. At first, seeing the snooty pretensioness of schoolmaster A.J. Wentworth constantly pricked and deflated is hysterical, but before long you'll be on his side and saying aloud between the laughs "Poor, poor chap!"

Humor has moved to tv/movies. There are very few really funny writers around. Robertson Davies is a gem, all the rarer for being in such sparse company. This book has at least two or three laughs per page. It is a compendium of miscelleanous writing by one Samuel Marchbanks (Davies' alter ego) who keeps diaries and writes columns. I find myself giggling on my way to work on the subway as I race through these short aphoristic pieces. Highly recommend for any scrooges who refer to babies in terms appropriate for judging a ham and can stand dogs only in newspaper reports about their valorous deeds.

Samuel Marchbanks is a grouchy old newspaperman who struggles with his coal furnace, garden, and neighbours in an attempt to live life as he feels is proper. He is witty, open-minded, well-read, and likes to shock his acquaintances.

The Diary is a record of his day-to-day life over a year, with several amusing plot-lines running through it. The Table Talk is just that--a collection of Marchbanks' favourite prandial conversations (or monologues as the case may be). The Miscellanea are letters and various papers, as well as an interview of Marchbanks by Davies.

This is an extremely funny collection of fiction. Although knowledge of early twentieth-century Canadian life helps, it's not necessary.

If you like avaition and it's history, this is the book for you. Very easy to read and well put together. The two volumes come in a nice dust case.

Conventional wisdom brands these two geniuses as simple "bicycle mechanics." This incredible book takes you inside their genius, in their own words, written day-by-day. What they accomplished is no less than a miracle, and this book will humble even the most self-assured intellects. Their research "invented" wing theory and shapes, aircraft control systems, and propeller theory. Then they had to design and constuct their own engine, as available ones were too heavy. And wonderfully for us, they left an astounding amount of documentation, including photographic (including the famous photo of the first controlled flight ever), and massive documents and correspondence, which is reproduced in this 800+ page book. There's nothing "dry" about this first-hand story of man's most significant invention.

Conventional wisdom brands these two geniuses as simple "bicycle mechanics." This incredible 2-volume set takes you inside their genius, in their own words, written day-by-day. What they accomplished is no less than a miracle, and this book will humble even the most self-assured intellects. Their research "invented" wing theory and shapes, aircraft control systems, and propeller theory. Then they had to design and constuct their own engine, as available ones were too heavy. And wonderfully for us, they left an astounding amount of documentation, including photographic (including the famous photo of the first controlled flight ever), and massive documents and correspondence, which is reproduced in this 1000+ page set. There's nothing "dry" about this story of man's most significant invention.

This book is exactly what the title says it is - a compilation of the Wright Brothers' Papers and Octave Chanute's correspondence and papers. Works like this often make for dry reading. However, Marvin W. McFarland, the Editor, does an excellent job of filling in the gaps so that the reader does not feel as though he/she is on the outside looking in. The whole process of the Wrights innovative research, limited resources, and struggle against Curtis, who was financed by Alexander G. Bell, to be the first in the air, is absolutely fascinating. Also, to have insult added to injury, the Wrights luke-warm reception of their invention by the U.S. government is something that will astound the reader. Anyone who is interested in the birth of flight should have this work on their bookshelf.

This book started me on the road to collecting these types of documents and now I can't stop. Before you go and buy your first soldbuch, or whatever, get this book so you know what you're looking at. Absolutely great descriptions, pictures, charts, etc...

This study of the arcane field of identification documents in the Third Reich is a remarkably solid and detailed contribution to its subject. The book is produced on photographic plate paper and the illustrations of the various examples-the German Army Soldbuecher, the Wehrmacht Drivers' Licenses, the Arbeitsbuecher (Employment Idenfication Documents), the Hunting Permits, the members-artists, actors, composers, puppeteers! of the Reichskulturkammer, the German Red Cross IDs-are lavishly illustrated and expertly glossed and elucidated. One example concerns the Soldbuch of which the joint authors, Ray and Josephine Cowdery, write as follows: "While American and English speakers would probably assume a 'Soldbuch' to be a 'pay book' in which a solder's monthly pay was recorded, the name Soldbuch in German is applied to the authority itself; in other words, the holder of a Soldbuch had the authority to draw pay. Little or no 'pay' was ever recorded in it in most cases." The authors travelled in the old German Democratic Republic, observed that every time they "crossed the border we entered a perceptible time warp in identity documentation. The East German police were operating their border crossing stations according to policies and procedures that had been established during the Third Reich." Highly recommended for the buff, the collector, and all those with a taste for what C.P. Snow once termed "old brandy"-the rare, the off-beat and the esoteric.

the starting point for analyzing the war that now consists of 50,000 names on a wall.

the starting point for analyzing the war that now consists of 50,000 names on a wall.

The book "The Pet Shop Mystery" by Gertrude Chandler Warner deserves 5 stars. It is about 4 kids and their cousin. They get jobs at the Pretty Bird Pet Shop while the owner is gone on vacation. You should read the rest of the book to find out what happens next in the story.

Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny are working in a pet shop. But strange things are happening. The orders are getting messed up. And the assistant is up to something. Can they get to the bottom of this?

Before I retired to Mexico from teaching in Texas I used this book as a guide to classroom activities for a self-contained classroom of boys with severe behavioral problems. The response was far beyond my expectations.

In both Spanish and English Sr. Ancona tells the interesting story of Don Ricardo, an elderly pinata maker in a small Mexican village. He also includes complete instructions which allow the reader to construct his or her own pinata.

Using the construction process as a reward I was able to involve my elementary level students in a number of academic activities they had earlier resisted, as well as expanding the learning process into a number of new areas. In addition, behavior related problems decreased dramatically because participation in the reading, discussion, and pinata design and construction were based upon the completion of other academic work as well as classroom behavior and all wanted to engage in the interesting activities and discussions suggested by the book.

The ways in which this book can be used by creative teachers are many. I strongly suggest that teachers consider using this book as inspiration for a number of enjoyable and effective learning activities.

The charming little book follows Don Ricardo as he designs, makes and delivers his pinatas in a small Mexican town. Don is 77 years old and started making Pinatas 15 years ago. You are not only taken through every step of making a creative yet traditionally made pinata, but you also get the feel for the ruralness of the town and it's people through the photographs. I recommend this as great book to read to your kids, or to use to get help with making Pinatas. The bi-lingual text, helps it work for both spanish and english speaking children.

I used this book for a program this summer at two libraries for boys and girls ages 6 and up. They really enjoyed seeing the pop-ups along with the examples of how to make them. I thought it was very easy to follow and I made several examples to show the children. The program was very successful.

This book is bright in color and explicit in instructions. My first few minutes with the book I made a hand-out for school the next day.!! This book is fun to look at and enjoyable to use to make your own pop ups

I would recommend this book to anyone who like to create something unexpectedly lovely. I give these as gifts. At first this looks impossibly difficult, but with a little patience and persistance they will look just like the models in the book.

While living in Japan I "accidentally" picked up Mr. Chatani's book. I was instantly amazed at the cleverness of the projects. There were famous castles, buildings, bridges and monuments. With less than $50 worth of paper, knives, and glues I began my first efforts at imitating Mr. Chatani's wonderful work. My first few projects (Nagoya Castle and the Duomo in Milano)were not very impressive, but after a week of serious effort, I began making cards that were really impressing friends and family. Then, after gaining more confidence, I began to improvise a bit, using oddly textured and colored papers, and even delicately painting the cards.

Now, as a high school teacher, I will be teaching a summer school class next month using the basic techniques learned from Mr. Chatani's book. He has had a great influence on me through his books.

He is a wonderful author, and the projects in his books are truly brilliant!

I hope he, or some one he knows, is able to pass on my sincere thanks, and the hope that he might be able to contact me or my school in the near future--perhaps with just a few words of encouragement or advice for my young pupils, who are about to study and learn from his books.

Thank you for your wonderful work Mr. Chatani!

Emerson Honors High School, Mr. Steve Bonfiglio, 4100 East Walnut St., Orange, Calif. 92869, USA

Fax: 714-680-9685 Tel: 714-633-4774 Email: sardinia@earthlink.net

P.S. Please feel free to write in Japanese (but in Romaji) if you wish.