This Jazz Man

Book Description

In this toe-tapping jazz tribute, the traditional "This Old Man" gets a swinging makeover, and some of the era's best musicians take center stage. The tuneful text and vibrant illustrations bop, slide, and shimmy across the page as Satchmo plays one, Bojangles plays two . . . right on down the line to Charles Mingus, who plays nine, plucking strings that sound "divine."

Easy on the ear and the eye, this playful introduction to nine jazz giants will teach children to count--and will give them every reason to get up and dance!

Includes a brief biography of each musician.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Just Needs A Musical CD !!!!.......2007-04-23

I love this book! My son is 20 months and loves this book the rhythm of the words, the numbers, the clapping the sounds of the instruments. What would be excellent if there was an auditory accompaniment to the book. A taping of someone reading the book who can demonstrate the sounds or even better a taping that included musical instruments playing.
I know a lot of people would LOVE to hear it as well and it would be an excellent teaching tool. Please forward this to the appropriate individuals and if possible keep me updated on the release date of the cd. Thank YOU for writing such an awesome, entertaining and needed book!

Encore! We want more!.......2007-03-22

Oooh, this book made me what to rap and tap and beedle-di-bop! Which is quite somethin', since I don't have a musical bone in my body!
This is a great book-the text jives off the page and the illustrations thimp dumple thump right along. What a great way to teach kids about jazz legends!
Hats off to Ehrdhardt and Roth for a beautiful book!
Encore!

A great read aloud for kids!.......2007-03-07

I am an elementary school media specialist for grades 1 - 5. I read this book to my first and second graders. By the third jazz man they were chanting along with me. By the fifth man we were all singing along with the familiar song tune. They loved the scat phrases and repeated them over and over. What a bonus that these men are actual jazz legends. I highly recommend this book for a great musical read.

Jude's Review of Jazz Man.......2007-01-21

I'm 3 and my Grandmother Helene reads this book to me. She said that my Doctor Beth gave it to me and my sister Scarlett and the author signed it. That made me smile.

I really like this book. My grandmother sings me it and i like music and instruments and can name the saxophone and trumpet and drums.I like the pictures of the conga drums.

I usually say, " read it again" when she's done and I can almost pick out all the numbers now too. Jude Stulb, Pueblo Colorado

This Great Book! (More and More Honors!) .......2006-10-05

Note: Since writing the review below, I've discovered that "This Jazz Man" has received three (and counting) prestigious honors in the last month or so: A Nick Jr. Book of the Year for Children, one of the N.Y. Public Libraries Top 100 books to Read to Kids, and one of a very few named by National Public Radio as a best children's book of the year!

February 2007 Update: This Jazz Man is on the cover of the February "Crickets" magazine! In addition, it was shortlisted as a top book by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, and is being used as a teaching tool for a Smithsonian Museum (yes, that Smithsonian!) exhibit.

If you've bought this book, you and I share a certain nose for kids' books; if you haven't, you'll discover a book that's snappy and swinging, fun and informative. My original review follows.

"Doodly-doodly-Doot-doot! Toot-Toot!"

That's Karen Ehrhardt's delightful take on a Dizzy Gillespie trumpet line, and like the rest of this sparkling first book, every note rings joyous and true. In a somewhat daring move, Ms. Ehrhardt airs out the musty English poem, "This Old Man," with jazz-infused lyrics, and distills the essence of nine jazz giants: Louis Armstrong, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Chano Pozo, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charles Mingus.

The improvisations in "This Jazz Man" are authentic and fun--the text is made for reading out loud! Listen to this evocation of Charlie Parker, for example:

This jazz man, he plays five,
He plays bebop, he plays jive,
With a Deedle-di-bop! Bebop!
Give the man a hand,
This jazz man blows with the band.

Within the 5-line format of the original song, the author conveys the sound and spirit of these artists, while keeping the tone light and understandable for her young, perhaps jazz-naive audience (about 3 to 7 years-old). Along with each Jazz Man's stanza are the sounds and rhythms of his performance -- depicted in text incorporated with each illustration. When drummer Art Blakey "plays solos with his sticks" and "beats with the band," the percussive sounds "Chikka-chee! Chikka-chee! Bubbuda-bubbuda-bubbuda-BOMP!" pulse over his vibrating cymbals. Following the `performance,' older readers (and adults) can learn more about Blakey -- his innovation of the "press roll" and his role in nurturing new talent -- in the book's afterward. Riffing on the customary introductions of band members at jazz gigs ("Playing 4, form Washington, D.C... Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington"), the book briefly spotlights the life of each Jazz Man.

Illustrator R. G. Roth complements Ehrhardt's narrative pictures with multi-media illustrations that are playfully retro yet fresh and child-friendly. Airy compositions help children see the relaxed, expansive pose of the smiling Louis Armstrong, the verve and rhythmic creativity of "Chano" Pozo (how many times have you seen him in a jazz book for kids?), the playful attack of Fats Waller, and the stature and majesty of Charles Mingus. Roth displays a repertoire of textures and soft, engaging colors, and makes subtle references to Birdland, the Newport Jazz Festival, and other venues along the edges of book's `stage. For the small fry, a cute and playfully elusive mouse plays hide and seek throughout the book. "This Jazz Man" has an exhilarating finale -- after each man plays (1 through 9), all of the jazz icons appear on stage together:

This jazz band, they play ten,
We beg them to play again,
With an "Encore, we want more!"
Give them all a hand"
These jazz men make one great band!

"This Jazz Man" gets it right, rhymes it tight, and entertains without misrepresenting. (To put this achievement in context, too many kids' "jazz" books really focus on the blues--usually the rural blues, seen through an awkward sentimentalism--or solely on dance. Sometimes they confuse eras, portraying any jazz singer as a combination of Bessie Smith, post-WWII hep cats, and 1950's beats, with a dash of oddly misplaced 1970's styles.)

"This Jazz Man" is a natural for school or library audiences, rambunctious group singing, the first efforts of beginning readers, or as a bedtime treat for toddlers. One doesn't need to know one lick about jazz to enjoy the musicality of the rhymes and the understated but compelling jazz portraits: They stand on their own. In addition, teachers can easily adapt "This Jazz Man" to language units, numbers and counting, music appreciation, art, solo and group singing. Older students may delve further into the lives and times of the musicians through Ehrhardt's rich yet compact biographical sketches in the afterward. (Offhand, I can't think of any book--for kids or adults--that so succinctly and eloquently describes each musician's significance.) For readers who'd like to sample the actual music, Ehrhardt recommends recorded works for each Jazz Man: a couple tracks for each musician, and even two feature films (available on video) that display Bojangles' tapping talents. (Perhaps in future editions of this book, the publishers could include a companion CD/DVD.)

With apologies to the author--though inspired by her:

This jazz fan, I count one,
"This Jazz Man" is lots of fun!
With a smile and a nod and an "ain't that grand!"
Let's give Ehrhardt a great big hand!

The City Of Light: The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo

Average customer rating:

many indications that this is largely a 20th Century work
Ian Myles Slater on: A Remarkable Book, as Memoir or Fiction
Excellent.
Boring!
Brilliant. ...One way or another.

The City Of Light: The Hidden Journal of the Man Who Entered China Four Years Before Marco Polo
Jacob D'Ancona
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela: Travels in the Middle Ages
The Travels of Marco Polo
The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure)

ASIN: 1559725230

Book Description

In 1270 a scholarly Jewish merchant called Jacob d'Ancona set out on a voyage from Italy. A year later, he arrived in China at the coastal metropolis of Zaitun, the "City of Light" (now known as Quanzhou), four years before Marco Polo arrived at Xanadu in 1275. Nothing was known of this epochal journey until 1990, when David Selbourne was shown d'Ancona's account of his travels, a remarkable manuscript that had been hidden from public view for more than seven centuries. Eventually translated and edited by Selbourne and published in Great Britain in October 1997 as The City of Light, the account was praised as providing an unparalleled insight into life in the medieval world.

Controversy followed. Selbourne had pledged to the manuscript's owner that he would not reveal its whereabouts, and that raised doubts about its authenticity. As a result of U.S. sinologists' criticism of plans for American publication, the first edition was canceled.

Now, a year later, Birch Lane Press happily publishes the controversial work. Criticisms of the textual evidence of d'Ancona's account have been answered by Selbourne. Most notably, other academics--particularly and significantly, in China--have come to the support of d'Ancona's account. The work is to be published in a Chinese translation.

Vivid and insightful, this account has great historical significance. It not only describes the adventures of a medieval trader, but also comments on Chinese society and manners through the eyes of a European man of learning. The City of Light brings spectacularly to life d'Ancona's encounter with one of the world's great civilizations.

Customer Reviews:

many indications that this is largely a 20th Century work.......2004-05-27

This volume starts out as a plausable enough chronicle of a Jewish merchant from Italy who travels to China and so on, but very quickly it becomes apparent that this is just the setting for a series of philosophical debates that the merchant partakes in with other groups in the "City of Light".

It is written like no other narrative from the past I have seen and is quite long as well. Although I am no expert on that time and place, and there are none who truly are, what really makes it suspect is the fact that most of the work fails to give details of how people lived and what things were like at that time and place and instead concentrates on the dialogues that he is invited to and partakes in. And all of the matters that they discuss are those that would preoccupy the mind of a person in the late 20th Century. Which either means that people in the 13th Century had identical problems to those we have today, or that this was written by someone in the late 20th Century. He even forsees the Holocaust at one point.

There is nothing that would secure it as authentic and many indications that this is largely a 20th Century work, enough to make it well accepted as a forgery until proven otherwise (which I never expect to happen). As for what it contains and the value of its philosophical debates, it offers nothing in the way of secure arguments, unless you already accept the Jewish religious teachings as a source of unchallenged wisdom. It also was rather long without adding much. It might have been better to publish this as a modern philosophical novel, which would have permitted it to be a better novel, without attempting to mislead scholars, that can cause trouble for years. Although I realize that from a publishing standpoint, it gets more attention to claim authenticity.

Also, he (Selbourne) clips off the return journey, which might have been one of the only authentic parts in the book. I paid full price for this book when it was first published and I consider it was not worth it.

Ian Myles Slater on: A Remarkable Book, as Memoir or Fiction.......2003-10-17

I am glad to see that the (delayed) American edition of this book is now in paperback. It differs from the UK edition (which I have also reviewed) mainly by including "Remarks on The City of Light " by Wang Lianmao, in which modern Chinese scholarship is used to reply to some of the criticism directed against it by Westerners. Specialists in the history of the region find some puzzles, and probable errors made by a foreigner, but nothing to suggest a modern fraud. They seem willing to accept it as an authentic account of southern China by a foreigner, describing events shortly before the arrival of Marco Polo in the following of the Mongol (Yuan) conqueror. (Probably wisely, they do not seem to have offered an opinion on how authentic the foreigner -- an Italian Jew -- looks to them.)

Curiously, Frances Wood, whose "Did Marco Polo Go to China?" argues that the Venetian merchant stayed in western Asia, and got all his information from others, who left no record of their adventures, seems to have joined in denouncing Jacob of Ancona as a fabrication, even though this must have seemed like manna from heaven for her theory. (By the way, it seems clear to me that, despite various major and minor interpolations and deletions in the manuscript tradition, Marco Polo did travel in East Asia -- so maybe I'm gullible.)

I would add, from my own cursory research, that I have some problems with the supposedly convincing argument that the use of the term "mellah" for "Jewish Quarter" in Muslim lands is anachronistic. This argument depends on accepting one version of the etymology and history of the word. It is, however, less than completely certain; Roger Le Tourneau, in "Fez in the Age of the Marinides" (English translation 1961), reviewed the complicated evidence, and suggested that the consensus, including how long the word was in use and when and where it was adopted, might be wrong.

From a Jewish perspective, I can accept Jacob of Ancona as a plausible figure (and perhaps more typical than Selbourne, to judge from his notes, realizes). The combination of length and literary quality in a memoir seems unusual for the period, but the translator reports omitting some sections at the end, and felicitous translation can add charm without being unfaithful. Some medieval writings *are* inordinately long -- and long-winded.

Jaob's report of debates with Chinese officials leaves me wondering if both his contacts and his discussions were really on such a high level (especially with both sides using some sort of "trade speech" and translators), but self-congratulatory memoirs are not a modern invention.

On the basis of Chinese reactions, I am prepared to accept the work as authentic, although not completely reliable as a record of fact (is anything?). If it is a fraud -- and only an examination of the manuscript seems likely to prove it -- its creator would surely have been better rewarded by emulating Eco's "Name of the Rose," and publishing it as historical fiction of a high order.

Excellent........2002-04-11

OK, nobody else has seen the original, so there's no way of verifying if this is a true translation or a hoax. If it is a hoax, it's a danmed good one, written so well, with lots of research to back it up, that I for one don't care.
This is just brilliant, true or hoax, it gives a deep insight into the Jewish support network and all the opposition & prejudice that Jews had to deal with.
It knocks Marco Polo's account into a cocked hat; incisive philosophy, intimate desriptions of mediaeval life and trade are enough to grant this a place on anyone's bookshelf, true or not.

Boring!.......2001-08-03

In a word: BORING! This book would have been twice as good were it half as long. Selbourne has cut the end and would have done well to cut the middle as well. Jacob's incessant protestations of piety are tedious. He hypocritically condemns everyone around him for greed and self-interest but his own actions, though ostensibly high-minded, are also dictated almost solely by financial motives. For this reason his criticism of others rings hollow. His world view is remarkably narrow and parochial for someone so widely traveled. While he makes extensive observations of the conduct of others, there is no effort to appreciate their viewpoints. I am also skeptical of the provenance of this book. The social debates described have a very contemporary tenor and are relevant to our own times. If this were in fact an authenticated manuscript, this resonance would be remarkable. However, the provenance of the book is in dispute and much space is devoted to supporting its authenticity. The resolution of this issue must await examination of the original manuscript but in the meantime I am skeptical because the discussions seem too modern.

Brilliant. ...One way or another........2001-07-14

This is simply one of the best books I have ever read. And it is definitely, hands down, with a doubt, the single funniest book I have ever read... though it isn't actually intended to be. Until the actual Ancona manuscript itself is made available for scrutiny, we will never know for sure if this text is authentic or a stunningly brilliant, almost cruelly sharp-witted satirical hoax. If it is the latter, it is still extremely impressive, informative and entertaining. Nearly every sentence is punctuated by the author Jacob's constant use of "May God be praised" or "May God spare me", or, for those individuals and groups he really despises: "May God strike them down" or "May God shorten their lives". I just could not stop laughing! - nor could I put the book down. Mr. Selbourne, wherever you are, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir. One way or another you have given us an amazing piece of work. May God magnify and bless you, and may He extend your life! Amen, Amen, Amen!

The New Traveler's Atlas: A global guide to the places you must see in your lifetime

Average customer rating:

Credible or not?

The New Traveler's Atlas: A global guide to the places you must see in your lifetime
John Man , Chris Schuler , Mary-Ann Gallagher , Geoffrey Roy , and Nigel Rodgers
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Pictorial | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 5th Ed. (National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States)

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ASIN: 0764160184

Book Description

Stunning color photos, vivid descriptions, and enlightening maps tell readers what they want to know before they travel to romantic destinations around the world. In this brand-new edition of a perennial Barron's best-seller, approximately 50 dream locations—from the towering cliffs of Yosemite National Park to elegant and exotic cities like Kyoto and Prague—are pictured and described with sidebar information on climate, currencies, best seasons for visiting, and local dining delights. This lavishly produced guide in its revised and updated edition blends solid information with brand-new color photos and scenic atmosphere in a way that will please both active and armchair travelers. The New Traveler's Atlas offers inspiration for travel planning, pointing out the special qualities that make each of its chosen destinations unique—whether for their sheer physical beauty, their evocation of past civilizations, or their current culture and lively traditions. Sites of special interest to travelers that have been added to this brand-new edition include:

British Columbia

Patagonia

Iceland

Hanoi, Vietnam

Dubrovnik, Croatia . . and others

Open this beautiful book and find the travel destination that suits your schedule, your mood, your stage in life, and your dreams. Includes a directory of tourist information services with phone numbers and web sites, an extensive index, and more than 200 color photos and maps.

Customer Reviews:

Credible or not?.......2007-08-31

The image of one of the grandest views in Yosemite, a double page (pp.12&13) spread of Tenaya Canyon seen from Olmstead Point, is printed BACKWARDS!!

Where were the editors and proofreaders when this travesty rolled off the press?? Why did the author not recognize this??

(I'm closing the cover now, and looking no further .....)

Amos Fortune, Free Man (Newbery Library, Puffin)

Average customer rating:

Excellent vocabulary resource!
Understanding Freedom
What A Great Book To Read
More Boring Than I Thought
Not so boring.

Amos Fortune, Free Man (Newbery Library, Puffin)
Elizabeth Yates
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140341587

Book Description

“It does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live.”

These were the words of Amos Fortune, born the son of a king of the At-mun-shi tribe in Africa. When Amos was only fifteen years old, he was captured by slave traders and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold at auction. Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. He dreamed of being free and of buying the freedom of his closest friends. By the time he was sixty years old, Amos Fortune began to see those dreams come true. Amos Fortune, Free Man is a Newbery Award winner that is based on a true story.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent vocabulary resource!.......2007-07-27

I've used Amos Fortune Free Man as a powerful tool in building vocabulary and dictionary usage skills for my fifth graders. It is not an easy read, but does open young eyes to the way of life in colonial America. The book develops the character as they read, and I point that out to my students. Advanced readers told me that they thought it was boring at first but got better as they read. The concept that fiction and historical fiction books often develop in that way came through clearer by having them read the book than by my merely telling them. They learned not to give up on a book after reading just a few pages. I highly recommend it for gifted readers.

Understanding Freedom.......2007-03-19

Do you forget how vital freedom is in everyday life? Elizabeth Yates, the author of Amos Fortune: Free Man, informs her readers of how important freedom is. Atamun, the protagonist, was a representation for all of those Africans who struggled up the steep road, full of obstacles, to freedom. He stood for a large mistreated group of Africans who were deprived of their freedom and forced to work against their will.
The central theme of freedom began with the concept of slavery. Atamun, who represents all the Africans who were once free in their own continent, was a prince in Africa until he was captured. All along the perilous and excruciating voyage, Atamun wished for freedom. He wanted to be back in Africa. Africa was a place where he did not need to earn freedom. However, the pain of the voyage was a constant reminder that snickered, "You cannot escape without receiving more pain and suffering."
At last, the voyage ended and Atamun's trials had just begun. He refused to listen to the embarrassing words that echoed from the mouths of those who wished to force him deeper still into the pit of slavery. The Europeans tried to do so by selling Atamun to other Europeans so he would have to work for them. In addition, the Europeans who wanted to buy him insulted Atamun by laughing at his looks and inability to speak English. Atamun was finally bought by a Quaker. He was re-named Amos, but I have chosen to call him Atamun because Atamun was his original African name. The pain of being owned weakened Atamun physically and mentally. Like most slaves, Atamun was re-sold to someone else. Fortunately, he was freed quickly. The burden of being a slave was removed but was quickly replaced with new hardships.
Bigotry and injustice seeped into Atamun's life at different times like poison because his lack of liberty was due to his color. Once, Atamun needed land. He had earned enough money to free his own family. Now, he wanted to expand their lives by giving them land. There was plenty of land, which Atamun discovered in a spacious settlement. The constable of that settlement, however, stood against him. Thankfully, the constable finally agreed. Atamun was lent a large plot of land.
Having journeyed far in his life and gotten past two obstacles, Atamun was proud of himself. However, Atamun did not have the power to do certain things. Atamun reached other obstacles, such as want for land of his own and lack of business. Atamun received business once his reputation as a tanner grew, but Atamun's color caused limitations. At that time, Atamun was unable to sit anywhere other than the back pew at church or to be paid the proper amount of money. He, however, did raise enough money to buy his own plot of land. Atamun reached a final obstacle. What was he going to do about others who were kept down by slavery? Atamun decided to help others by funding the school for Africans in his settlement. Atamun had fulfilled the dream of the slave. Atamun was truly free in his heart, mind, and spirit!
Freedom is a blessing that makes everyone's life better, but most people do not consider its magnitude every day because they have liberty in abundance. Elizabeth Yates did an excellent job of informing you that freedom is essential for a peaceful life and how horrible life can be without it.

What A Great Book To Read .......2006-11-30

Amos Fortune Free Man is one of the best books I have ever read. Amos Fortune is a biography,So he really lived. I personally love to read biographies whether it's sports or history. Amos was from an African tribe, but slave traders came over to Africa. Amos even though he lives in a different country is trying to save his people. This book can make you wonder why something happened or did not happen. This book was so good that I had to read it for an second time. All the biography lovers out there need to read this book. Also this book can get a little boring sometimes, but it's still a good book!If I get another chance to read this book I definitely will.

More Boring Than I Thought.......2006-11-01

As with most other kids I thought this book was not worth writing. While reading the description it sounded fantasticly exciting. In the beginning it actually sounded like an interesting piece of history. By the end it was one of the most boring books I've ever read. Now I have come to realize that just because a book wins the Newbery Medal does not mean that it is a good book. With 1,000 good books one book can be published because it is pollitically correct or is spewed out by a good author. I have no doubts about Elizabeth Yates but I think that Amos Fortune is a book about a man that had a good life, but one that was not nessicarily worth writing about.

Not so boring........2006-04-14

Quite contrary to other peoples opinions on this book I found it engaging rather than boring. The main character (Amos) is an example good of patience. It is well written and an excellent book.

Average customer rating:

Watch Out!
Skeleton Man
PCE student
Skeleton Man
Skeleton Man

Skeleton Man
Joseph Bruchac
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064408884
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Book Description

Ever since the morning Molly woke up to find that her parents hadvanished, her life has become filled with terrible questions. Where have her parents gone? Who is this spooky old man who's taken her to live with him, claiming to be her great-uncle? Why does he never eat, and why does he lock her in her room at night? What are her dreams of the Skeleton Man trying to tell her? There's one thing Molly does know. She needs to find some answers before it's too late.

Customer Reviews:

Watch Out!.......2007-10-08

Bruchac weaves a suspenseful tale of a courageous, determined, heroine who allows her dreams and American Indian heritage to guide her decisions. At first, Molly is unsure of what is coming to her in her dreams; is it memory, or premonition? As the story unfolds, Molly embraces her dreams, and even beckons them to "help" her. She recalls stories told to her from the Mohawk traditions which comfort her, and also warn her of possible danger. She learns to have faith in herself, even when some of the adults in her life dismiss her claims as an "overactive imagination." She is shrewd enough to realize that if she tells the adults everything about her dreams and suspicions, she may be putting herself (and her parents) in more danger. Molly can trust just one adult - her teacher, and this alliance makes her stronger. Knowing that she can rely on at least one other person makes her feel more secure and sane throughout this whole ordeal. This quick, intense mystery is sure to appeal to reluctant readers.

Skeleton Man.......2007-06-07

I was reading the book "Skeleton Man" by Joseph Bruchac. This book has amazing events. The events are filled with suspense and mystery. With the details, it will make you want to read as much as I did. The main characters and their actions make you want to read and keep going.

In this book, you can probably relate yourself to the characters and the events. There were many surprises in this book. If you love suspense books, this is a great book for you.

PCE student.......2007-04-17

i love skelton man so much because its a a very sacay book theres a girl living with her uncle and what happens will she always live with him and is he a good guy or bad guy any one who is 9-15 would like this book but keep in mind it is one of the scaryest book i have ever read in my life.....you will have to see how the story ends but the beging is the best part of the book!!!

Skeleton Man.......2007-03-15

Skeleton Man is about a young girl named Molly. The book starts off when her parents when out to dinner and never returned. Molly had fallen asleep and did not relize it untill she woke up the next morning. She sat there and waited for them to come back for about a day, finally she called the social services. She had no family around so she couldn't call them. A lady picked up and molly told her everything that she knew about what happened. That afternoon the news reporters and people who ran foster homes came. Molly was forced to go a foster home unless someone come to get her, like a relitive. As soon as she got to the foster home, a tall, skinney man walked in and claimed he was her uncle. Molly hated to be at the foster home so she said that he was her uncle and went home with him. The man was very weird, he always wore long clothes and he never showed his skin. He would also lock her in her room when she went to bed and when into his shed which was on the side of the house. She was never allowed to go near the shed or anywhere in the yard. Molly did not like the guy and she looked fowarded to go to school so she could get away from him. One night Molly thought of a plan to get into that shed and see what was in there. The next night she opened her window and tied all of her blankets and curtens together and climed down to the side yard and went to the shed. At first their was nothing and it looked like a normal shed, but then she found a secert door behind some boxes. There was a narrow hallway their was two door, one on each side, and then what looked like a exit at the end of the hallway. First she looked in the door to the left and it was full of weapons and such. Then she looked to the door to the right and saw a empty room with a drin on the gorund. Then she heard voice, it was coming from the drin. So she walked over and looked down, her parents where down there! She was about to tell them what hed happened when she heard the door shut and someone started walking, toward her. She got up and ran like never before, she ran to the exit and went stright to the park. He was right behind her, and he was gaining. She ran through bushes and around trees. Finally she got to the river, she ran down the side of the river to the one place where anyone could get over. she ran and jumped and maid it. She was climbing up when he jumped over, he jumped over and missed but he grabed her foot. Molly kicked a couple of times then hit him in the face. He lost grip and fell into the river, he was never seen again. Molly clinbed up the side of the bank and ran back to the shed to get her parents. They made it home and they lived happly ever after.

Skeleton Man.......2007-03-03

In the book, Skeleton man, Molly has a confusing life. First, Molly was forced to stay at her uncle's house with her creepy uncle. Molly's parents had gone missing and she doesn't have any more family members so she had to stay with him. She was always suspicious of him and never trusted him. Second, Molly started having weird scary dreams. Molly would wake up during them and figure out that it wasn't a dream. Second, her uncle was always in his mysterious shed. She broke into his shed and found her parents in there trapped. Third, Molly doesn't feel safe at his house only at school. Molly trusts her teacher and is very scared to go home after the days at school are over especially on Fridays because that would mean she would have to stay there for the whole weekend. Finally, Molly has to deal with having not that many friends. Molly only has a few friends including the teacher. Skeleton man is a very interesting and weird book.

Average customer rating:

The brutal reality of life in the English colonial world
Our Values, Their Times
not nearly as good as Pillars, Eye or Dangerous Fortune
An informative historical adventure
Satisfyingly fast read.

A Place Called Freedom
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0449225151
Release Date: 1996-06-30

Amazon.com

With action that spans two countries on opposite sides of the Atlantic, making a credible audio version of this epic tale is no small feat. Victor Garber, the talented actor of stage and screen (Sleepless in Seattle, I'll Fly Away, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), does an admirable job. Garber presents the narrative passages in a clear, confident tone and uses his extensive acting experience to create believable voices for the many diverse characters. Follett has thrown in a confusing array of regional accents and disguised characters, but the range of Garber's voice helps keep things straight while heightening the considerable action and communicating the powerful emotions expressed by the very large cast that gives this drama its grand sweep.

This intriguing novel hinges on the courageous struggles of the hero, an indentured coal miner who declares, "I'll go anywhere that is not Scotland--anywhere a man can be free." Getting anywhere else is easier said than done, especially when he's caught up in an entanglement of familial responsibility, forbidden love, official deceit, trickery, and violence. Even though there are plenty of breathless moments when proper ladies are tempted by bare-chested hunks, this is much more than just another adventure-filled love story. It's also an intriguing journey into the social and political realities of the late 18th century, when the rising influence of the American colonies was first taking hold and the shining glory of the British Empire had begun its long, slow fade. (Running time: four hours, four cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

Sentenced to a life of misery in the Scottish coal mines, twenty-one-year-old Mack McAsh hungers for escape. His only ally: beautiful high-born Lizzie Hallim, who is trapped in her own kind of hell.

In 1766, from the teeming streets of London to the infernal hold of a slave ship headed for the American colonies to a sprawling Virginia plantation, two restless young people, separated by politics and position, are bound by their search for a place called freedom....

Customer Reviews:

The brutal reality of life in the English colonial world.......2006-10-02

The lives of Mack McAsh and Lizzie Hallim become ever more intertwined over the course of this novel, as the story progresses from the coal mining towns in the mountains of Scotland to London and finally across the ocean to the American colonies. This book provides an unflinching description of the brutal conditions of life for the working poor in both the United Kingdom and its colonies in the years leading up to the American war for independence. McAsh's passionate search for his own personal freedom parallel the colonial struggle to determine their own fate. The love story between McAsh and Lizzie seems a bit contrived, but it does provide a powerful tool for the author to contrast the way of life for the rich and poor during this period.

The author has clearly done a great deal of research, and at least in his descriptions of colonial Virginia, has gotten his details correct. In particular, his descriptions of Williamsburg were spot on. This book is both an entertaining diversion and a powerful glimpse into history.

Our Values, Their Times.......2006-07-18

A Place Called Freedom is a little like the primetime soap opera "Dallas" set in the 18th century. "Passion, betrayal, infidelity, revenge, titillation, greed, business deals gone awry..." I think the author imposed many 20th century manners and attitudes on 18th century society, which might be entertaining but historically inaccurate nonetheless. I was expecting something a little more historically enlightening, but there were times when I thought I was reading one of those "bodice ripping" romance novels. Overall it's an OK book, especially if you turn a blind eye to the repeated "chance meetings" among the book's star-crossed lovers.

not nearly as good as Pillars, Eye or Dangerous Fortune.......2006-05-14

Thin plot, thinly developed characters, not the author's best. The Pillars of the Earth, Eye of the Needle, and Dangerous Fortune stand out as by far his best. A Place Called Freedom is interesting, but not nearly the suspense, drama or richly developed characters of Follett's best... not worth a read in my opinion.

An informative historical adventure.......2005-07-17

Follett's 'A Place Called Freedom' was one of the most requested books when I worked at a now-defunct used book store more than 10 years ago. I finally got around to reading it and I can see why it was in such demand.

Follett introduces the reader to the turbulent politics on 1760s England, Scotland and America. He throws in a liberal dose of romance and the reader will be reminded of the Tom Cruise / Nicole Kiddman epic movie 'Far and Away'. There are plenty of similarities - both feature poor, rural heroes who fall in love with the landlord's spunky daughter. Nevertheless, it's a great read and unique enough to stand up in its own right.

I recommend it to anyone who is interested in a view of England's politics and turmoil on the eve of the American Revolution - it puts America's arguments for revolution in a clearer context - it even strengthens them.

Satisfyingly fast read........2005-07-12

Ken Follett channels John Jakes. That was my thought while reading the book. It's Follett's take on the historical fictional epic that Jakes has done so well with the last 30 years or so. Follett is a superior writer, but many of the elements, including a broad sweep of locations, the appearance of the main characters at various pivotal events and the overwrought passions of the lovers.

The book follows a poor Scottish miner in the 1770's (Mack) and a gentrified lady (Lizzie) who lives near the mine. He's young, headstrong and determined to chisel out a better life of freedom for himself and those close to him. Lizzie is young, headstrong and determined to live a life with more choices than usually offered to a lady in her position. Lizzie and Mack's paths cross continously throughout the book. It starts in the mines of Scotland, and Follett paints a vivid portrait of the horrific lives these virtual slaves led in that time. We can feel the danger and the huge exhaustion they must all have felt.

Mack escapes to London, where he tries to make a place for himself, but becomes a leader in the stevedores labor movement, almost by default. Naturally, this lands him in trouble, and eventually he ends up in Virginia, under not very nice circumstances.

I don't want to say a lot more, because this is a story driven by plot. Although the characters are vivid, and there are lots of heroes for us to root for and villians to hiss at, its what happens that makes the book enjoyable. We learn a bit about the culture and society of the times...particularly the just emerging yearning of workers (be they in Scotland, London or America) to have a bit more say in how they're treated.

Follett once wrote the three best spy novels ever: EYE OF THE NEEDLE, KEY TO REBECCA and TRIPLE. They were unbelievably exciting, rich in detail, featured sympathetic villians and some very hot sex scenes. His LIE DOWN WITH LIONS and MAN FROM ST. PETERSBURG were nearly as good, but with NIGHT OVER WATER, his work began to suffer a bit. I suspect he was just beginning to go through the motions some. He also wrote the fantastic historical novel PILLARS OF THE EARTH and showed he had the chops for such work as well. But his recent efforts have simply felt a bit pedestrian. I miss the Follet of old.

But A PLACE CALLED FREEDOM is good clean fun. It's a fast read, builds some suspence when its called for, and manages to inform your view of the world. It won't stay in my memory the way EYE OF THE NEEDLE has, but I do give it a modest recommendation.

Average customer rating:

Skip the Hal Colebatch stories
Satisfying return to Niven's universe, but uneven writing
Moving, exciting, and a bit sexy
Disappointing
''Create an Alien that is as intelligent as a Human but thinks DIFFERENTLY!

Man-Kzin Wars XI (Man-Kzin Wars)
Larry Niven , Hal Colebatch , and Matthew Harrington
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Houses of the Kzinti

ASIN: 1416509062

Book Description

The Kzin were the mightiest warriors in the galaxy, which they were wasting no time in conquering, one star system at a time. Then those feline lords of creation ran into those ridiculous weed-eating pacifistic apes who called themselves humans. And the catlike Kzin found they had their collective tail caught in a meat grinder. When the mighty Kzin moved in to take over the monkey-infested worlds, they got clobbered. The humans, with their underhanded monkey cunning, turned communications equipment and space drives into weapons that cut the dauntless Kzin heroes into ribbons. And then those underhanded humans gained a faster-than-light drive, and no amount of screaming and leaping could keep the Kzin from losing their first war in centuries of successful conquest. But you can't keep a good warcat down, and the Kzin have by no means given up. New weapons, new strategies, and new leaders. Here they come again and those monkey-boys from Earth had better watch their backs. Once again, it's howling time in Known Space!

Customer Reviews:

Skip the Hal Colebatch stories.......2007-09-17

Niven, of course, is great. How did Hal Colebatch get included. He knows nothing of soldiers or professional warriors, and his depictions of such are just stupid. The first story almost made me chuck out the whole book. I'm glad I didn't but honestly, Colebatch must be Niven's nephew or something. He can garner zero credibility for action/adventure-type sci-fi. His characters and their relationships (huh?) are really shallow. But if you like to read about people doing one stupid thing after another to cause their own demise and then pulling through due to even more stupidity on their part, you'll love Colebatch's stories. Better yet, skip Colebatch's stuff and read the good ones.

Satisfying return to Niven's universe, but uneven writing.......2007-03-13

I have read pretty much everything Niven himself has written, and I think I have pretty much hoovered up all the Man-Kzin Wars series too. It's a way of franchising that part of Niven's universe to other writers, which seems on the whole to be good for everyone - writers, publishers, and readers. Obviously, it's in Niven's interest (and his publishers) to avoid any dilution of the brand.

This latest fix includes three stories by Hal Colebatch, two by Matthew Joseph Harrington, and a short contribution ("The Hunting Park") by Niven himself. I think Harrington's are clearly the best: well plotted, scientifically convincing, and pacily written, they accomplish the challenging feat of extending Niven's vision rather than just wallowing in it. Colebatch is good, but his style is sometimes a bit sentimental for me; to take one example purely at random, "He stroked her, whispered 'Mother', and died. Leonie moved to close his eyes". As other reviewers have said how much they like his writing, this is clearly a matter of taste. To be honest, I didn't feel that "The Hunting Park" stands out above the other stories; indeed I would go so far as to say that Harrington's stories are crisper, more interesting, and generally more like early Niven.

One thing has been puzzling me: the striking cover illustration appears to depict Vaemar and Dimity in action. He is armed with a wtsai, she with a huge gun of some sort. But how come Vaemar is shown as resembling a huge lion, instead of a tiger? Niven has stated over and over that kzinti are basically orange and look like big fat tigers. Also, the powerful impact of the picture merely serves to underline how extremely unlikely any emotional bond between these two creatures would be.

Bottom line: strongly recommended for Niven fans, and SF lovers in general. The standard of writing is really very good, and Harrington's two stories "Teacher's Pet" and "War and Peace" are fit to stand beside Niven's own books such as "World of Ptavvs" and "Protector". As far as I know, there can be no higher praise.

Moving, exciting, and a bit sexy.......2006-07-25

I enjoyed all these stories enormously. Hal Colebatch, who wrote the first three stories which take up most of the book, is a fine writer. His plots are becomoing more complex and surprising. He handles the sexual tension between Dimity and Vaemar in "Catspaw" beautifully (I think I am falling in love with Dimity, especially since he appearances in "One War for Wunderland@" and "Music box" in Man-Kzin X. She is a great character, but so are Colebatch's other characters, human and Kzin. One really warms to the old Kzin Raargh, and feels for the young "Strtaight Arrow" Vaemar, with a fight between his conflicting heritages going on inside him. Plenty of action, jokes, and some splendid descriptive writing to convey xonvincingly the feel of another world - some of "Grossgeister Swamp" is like as dream. Matthew Harrington's stories are also extremely well done, mind-stretching and full of surprises. The science in them seems good, too. Larry Niven's own story is punchy and effective and leaves uyou feeling proud of the human race. Six great stories!

Disappointing.......2006-01-20

OK, I know things have to change, but the title of this book shows how far off the path this series has gone. The "War" is a distant no-show in this book. Instead, sigh...we get relationships. I will say this: let Oprah explore relationships and give us good sci-fi. I couldn't believe all that you-me stuff going on between Vaemar and Dimity while they were supposed to be fighting the supposedly near-invincible Pak. And the fact that Vaemar almost said that he loved Dimity! That was just too syrupy for me. If the Kzin weren't so interesting, I would have put this one down after the first two stories. Well, I would've checked out Mr. Niven's offering, because it is easily the best in the lot. IMHO...wait for the paperback on this one.

''Create an Alien that is as intelligent as a Human but thinks DIFFERENTLY!.......2006-01-14

Well this is the XI of the saga that began with Larry Niven's 'The Warriors'. The age old challenge given to Sci-Fi writers to create an interesting Alien is well served with this series in general and this Volume in particular.

Stories ranging from post occupied Wunderland with Man and Kzin struggling to learn and live together to the motives and methodologies of a Human-PAK, they range from the emotional to laser true analytics.

Larry Niven has created a vast Tapestry and several 'loose ends' are submitted in this book for the Readers' approval while of course, creating other doors to be explored in 'Known Space'. This book will please all comers ranging from the New to the Faithful.

Like a PAK protector with breeders in danger you will be 'Hungry for More' long after you finish the final page.

So run or Double click to get this one Fast!

Average customer rating:

Puts You in the Picture
Wonderful Japanese Tale
Enchanting story and splendid artwork
PRESERVING THE ROOTS OF JAPANESE CULTURE

Kamishibai Man
Allen Say
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618479546

Book Description

The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more storyhis own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar facesthe children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales. Using two very different yet remarkable styles of art, Allen Say tells a tale within a tale, transporting readers seamlessly to the Japan of his memories.

Customer Reviews:

Puts You in the Picture.......2006-09-05

My wife and I perform kamishibai stories at local schools, libraries, and cultural festivals, and we always take Kamishibai Man along to show audiences. The illustrations are warm yet detailed; you get a good sense of what it must have been like to watch the original kamishibai men, back in the days before TV. And the story's mix of nostalgia and hope is touching. Highly recommended.

Wonderful Japanese Tale.......2006-03-16

This story, set in old Japan, is that of a story teller (Kamishibai). Jichan,or grandfather in Japanese, and his wife had no children. So, he enjoyed telling his stories to the young children and selling his candies. But all that changed when television came around. The children stopped coming to listen to his stories and he was even shushed by a child when calling for them to come. Though it saddened him, Jichan stopped coming around and being the Kamishibai Man. That is until one day many years later when he decided to give it one last shot. Find out what happens when Jichan returns to the city. See the surprises that are in-store for him.

Enchanting story and splendid artwork.......2006-01-25

Like all Allen Say's work, this book is splendidly illustrated. I love the story. It brings me back to my childhood in Hong Kong, where we kids sat outdoor and enjoyed bowls of sweetened soybean gelatin dessert bought from the door-to-door vendor while lapping up our mothers' gossip and real-life tales. The affordability of refrigerator in each home pretty much replaced the vendor. I remember as a little girl, I too had gone by my window one day and shushed the old man for clacking his clappers and yelling to sell his goods. Children and adults will both enjoy the stunning drawings, reading the words aloud, and appreciate the "once upon a time" story.

PRESERVING THE ROOTS OF JAPANESE CULTURE.......2005-11-12

This book is absolutely amazing. It's like walking through a museum in many ways -- and don't we parents feel great when we take our kids to a museum? We feel like it's worth the admission price to ensure our children know how to appreciate history, art, and beauty.

In the introduction, Allen Say writes, "When I think of my childhood in Japan, I think of kamishibai. It means 'paper theater.' Every afternoon, the kamishibai man came on a bicycle that had a big wooden box mounted on the back seat. The box had drawers full of candies and a stage at the top. We bought candies and listened to the man's stories."

Say was born in Yokohama in 1937, into a very different Japan than what exists now. Back in the days where people didn't have televisions in their homes, children would eagerly anticipate listening to the kamishibai man's stories. "Clack! Clack!" He would beat his wooden blocks together until he'd drawn a crowd of listeners. His stories were cliffhangers, ending with "to be continued." So the children would return the next day to hear what happened next.

In this book, an old man who has retired to the countryside remembers his days of being a kamishibai man. "I've been thinking how much I miss going on my rounds," he says to his elderly wife. So, she makes him some candies, and he rides his bike back into the city, humming along the way (until he reaches the urban metropolis). Much has changed. The trees and quiet parks have been replaced with concrete and buildings. "Who needs to buy so many things and eat so many different foods?" he wonders to himself.

The cover of the book shows you what his theater looks like. (Oh, don't you love that picture?) He takes out his wooden blocks and clacks them together, just like in the old times. In his mind, he's seeing the happy faces of children running to him. Thus begins a story within a story, and Say changes his style of artwork to preserve the style of the kamishibai man's illustrated cards.

He tells the story of what it was like for him when TVs came along and began to replace his job as entertainer. In a poignant scene, a little girl comes to her window and shushes him! You can see her siblings inside, sitting mesmerized in front of a television set. The sadness on the storyteller's face expresses the end of an era.

But as the elderly man finishes his story, he looks up to see that he's surrounded by clapping middle-aged people, who remember him. "We grew up with your stories!" one of them shouts. They applaud him, and he's even filmed by a news station (which is ironic, isn't it?).

The facial expressions in the artwork are stunning; you have to look at each picture carefully to notice all the exquisite details. I've watched my five-year-old stare and stare at these pictures. This would be a great addition to school libraries and classrooms -- teachers will love to read it out loud because it's captivating and full of dialogue.

In the afterword, a Japanese folklore scholar explains more of the significance of Japan's post-war transition to an electric, affluent society. She writes, "The artists who had made their living in kamishibai turned to more lucrative pursuits, notably the creation of manga (comic books) and later anime [cartoons], but they never forgot their roots in kamishibai."

-- Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester for Mom 2 Mom Connection

How To Pick Up Beautiful Women In Nightclubs or Any Other Place: Secrets Every Man Should Know

Average customer rating:

Okay advice... for getting into relationships
BELONGS IN A 70'S TIME CAPSULE...
very impressed
THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND
Well Organized and has Great Topics

How To Pick Up Beautiful Women In Nightclubs or Any Other Place: Secrets Every Man Should Know
John Eagan
Manufacturer: Secrets Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0964160307

Customer Reviews:

Okay advice... for getting into relationships.......2007-01-10

Yes, the author did his job by interviewing lots of women, and 50 of them are presented in the book. From that alone you can learn some things, but be cautious, because the way he makes the questions is suggesting the answers he wants.

For example, instead of asking the women in the first question, "How do you like to be approached?", he writes: "What can a man say to you to make you feel good?" Get it? When he asks he's already telling her "something to make you feel good", so of course the woman will reply something like "I want a compliment", "tell me I'm beautiful", etc.

Of course, I don't mean this is bad advice. As a matter of fact, how to beat the fear of rejection and how to read women bodylanguage sections are worth the price of the book alone. However, it lacks organization, and only helps with the "how to approach" dynamic, not what to do next. Also, the author doesn't want you to express sexuality, and doesn't encourage you to look for women who want to get laid. He suggests that you find out about their ex boyfriends and mirror the qualities they had. I don't agree with this advice, although it can work.

As a conclusion, the book has good advice about encouraging guys to go out there and meet many women, to have no fear of approaching hot girls, and get into relationships with them, not sex. But misses the "how to" get physical aspect with them. If you want to learn about body language and how to compliment effectively, then tis is a "ok" buy, nothing more.

If you are not looking for relationships, I suggest the book "The System: How To Get Laid Today" by Roy Valentine, with a step by step procedure without page-filler fluff, and "Undercover Sex Signals" by Leil Lowndes, a gem for understanding the dialect of body language. You can't miss with those.

BELONGS IN A 70'S TIME CAPSULE..........2006-11-04

... along with Partridge Family records, Farrah Fawcett posters and 8-track players - because that's how relevant this book is to today's pick-up scene... reads as though it were written by a feather-haired time traveller straight off the dream weaver train.

very impressed.......2006-02-13

I like this book. It speaks in a common sense format. If your looking for a book on how to understand women and approach them, this is the book. I also recommend Men from Venus and Woman from Mars to understand women. I have to say for the amount of pages and information this book, it is a great deal.

THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND.......2005-11-26

This book is packed with information that none of the other books even touched on. I'll try to give you a few examples of what I mean. The book is over 260 pages and there are about 20 italicized pages that just cover university studies on dating. The book covers every aspect from how to approach a woman to how to look, act, and behave. There are super techniques in the book that will get you a date every single time you use them. I don't want to ruin it for the author but let me give you some idea of what's in the book. He interviewed two thousand women and in the book are a number of the actual interviews. One of the questions was "What is the best thing a man can say to you when he first approaches you that would make you feel good and want to respond to him?" He gives you the top answer from the two thousand women he interviewed. If you don't know what that answer is, you'd better buy the book. Here's another example; the book covers how to have a conversation with a woman. The author shows you how to establish connections and understand similarities. "There is more familiarity and more informal warmth during a conversation between men and women." While you're having a conversation, it is important to have a sense of humor. The author describes exactly what kind of humor women like. The author also informs the reader that "while you are having a conversation with a woman you have to seed in certain "cues" under the radar that she is listening for. The author states you have to convey that you are an individual who is _______, _______, and _______." If you don't know what these three important cues are, you'd better purchase the book.
There is a chapter in the book called "Questions and Answers." It covers almost every question you ever had about getting a date with a woman. One of the questions is "How do you impress a woman on the first date?" The answer involves what is called a two factor theory. If you use this theory properly, she'll be so impressed on the first date, she won't stop thinking about you until you call her again. I can't really explain what the two factor theory is here, but the book goes into it in detail very nicely. The book also covers what the "bad boy appeal" is to women, "body language," the art of persuasion, secrets of beautiful women...I could go on and on. It's cutting edge compared to anything else on the subject, and believe me, I've read them all. If you're looking to improve yourself and be one up on the next guy, this is the book for you.

Well Organized and has Great Topics.......2005-08-12

The topics of this book are very interesting. He describes in detail a step by step process for average, unsuccessful guys like myself to get dates with women. If you apply his techniques correctly you can obtain dates with almost every woman you approach.

This is a must read book for every shy guy out there. The book is worth every penny of your money. I can't begin to describe in detail all the things I have learned from this book. Just take my word for it, it's like I said - worth every penny.

Time For Kids: Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents (Time For Kids)

Average customer rating:

Great!
Ben

Time For Kids: Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents (Time For Kids)
Editors Of Time For Kids
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006057609X
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Book Description

Take a close-up look at Benjamin Franklin, a jack-of-all-trades who served his country well. Interviews with experts and lively writing deliver the accurate reporting you expect from TIME For Kids®. Historical reproductions and contemporary photographs capture the life of this ingenious man and show how he made life better and safer for Americans today.

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Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2007-04-07

Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents is well written and easy to read. The book quickly covers many of the important events from Franklin's life. The artwork is relevant and colorful. This book will make a great addition to any family's or school's history library!

Ben.......2006-06-05

Ben Franklin was a very talented man. His inventions were great! I think everyone should read this book. It has great information and illustrations too. All kids can learn a great deal from this most accurate information of Benjamin Franklin's greatest accomplishments.

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