Both my five year old and three year old love this book. There are some familiar sleepy animals like bears, horses and dogs, but there are also a few that we don't think about very often like moths, cranes and even crickets. The children find it so interesting to see how other animals sleep and then compare it to how little boys and girls sleep. My kids have a hard time "winding down" at night so this is a good transition for them. They also get to see that EVERYBODY sleeps. Also worth noting is that the images are truly beautiful. And I like the fact that while this book reads like a poem, it doesn't rhyme.

Every living being sleeps, from the bear in his dark cave, fish among the water ferns, and horses standing up switching their tails, to the snowy crane who sleeps standing on just one leg, turtles inside their shells, seals with their flippers against blocks of ice, and of course little boys and girls. Originally published in 1958, Charlotte Zolotow's Sleepy Book is as fresh and wonderful today as it was over 40 years ago. Her simple, gentle text is full of imagery and magic, and complemented by brand new, evocative illustrations. Artist, Stefano Vitale, has really captured the essence of Ms Zolotow's poetry with engaging pictures of sleeping animals in quiet, subdued tones. Together, word and art create a soothing and comforting bedtime story that will lull little ones off to dreamland. "...but little boys/ and girls,/ when the night/ comes/ and the wind/ whispers gently/ in the trees/ and the stars/ sparkle and shine,/ sleep/ warm under/ their blankets/ in their/ beds."

This is one of the best books I have ever read for children of all ages. I read it to my children and now I would like to read it to my grandchildren. My children adored this book and it always put them to sleep at night and made bedtime enjoyable!

Attitudinal Healing is a philosophy based on the idea that "nothing needs to change in your life situation or the world in order for you to have peace of mind." In Smile For No Good Reason, Lee L. Jampolsky, Ph.D., psychologist, author, and consultant, offers simple and practical advice for creating happiness without doing anything except changing how we look at life.

The book is divided into twelve sections, one for each of the principles of Attitudinal Healing. Within each section are several vignettes illustrating how the principles can be applied in everyday life. Most vignettes are only a page, making them easy to read and understand.

The principles are based on the ideas that love and fear are the only two emotions, that the only problem is a feeling of separation, and that the solution is discovering that the essence of your being is love. Each section of the book is filled with stories and sayings that illustrate how to trade in fear for love.

Overcoming separation and discovering love requires changing fear-based attitudes, such as anger and guilt. Dr. Jampolsky says that "your attitude in solving any problem is far more important than the particular action you might take." He reminds us that the key is recognizing that "you're not upset because of what occurred, you are upset because of how you perceive the situation." He offers a huge variety of suggestions for changing perceptions and creating happiness.

He says we can start with a simple action like smiling, even if we don't think we have anything to smile about. Just that one little act will make a huge difference in how we look at our problems and how we interact with others. And when others smile back, suddenly we do have something to be happy about.

Dr. Jampolsky also emphasizes that healing comes from letting go of old hurts and resentments.

Smile For No Good Reason "presents clear and concise ways-that you can begin right now-to begin living a happier and more meaningful life. You will learn how to feel more peaceful and be more productive by replacing the automatic ways you react from fear with new perceptions of yourself and the world." It's a book you can pick up often and find guidance, no matter which page you open it to.

This book is one that you keep even if you bought it as a gift for another. It is packed with one line thoughts that are full of ideas that have meaning. It is easy to read as you can just skim the headlines for a quick read. The text is well written, not wordy, funny and wonderful.

Everytime I pick it up I find another "treasure of gold" to remember to keep me on track and focused on my good.

Buy it for your self and you will want to give it to your friends it is a great book! Simple and easy to read....also a great book as a gift as it is small and square and special!

This book was written from the heart. It is humorous and well written. The chapters are short and informative. This book holds the key to happiness. I really enjoyed it.

"Social Marketing: Improving the Quality of Life" is a comprehensive, systematic and user-friendly social marketing resource.

The book includes case studies written by practitioners from education and health currently working in the field, an abundance of illustrations and examples, as well as templates and worksheets for developing and implementing social marketing campaigns.

If you want to create a pro-social marketing campaign or just want to deepen your knowledge of social marketing, media campaigns, target audiences, advertising, etc., this is the book to have.

First, in the interest of full disclosure, let me say that I contributed a case study to this work. I had nothing else to do with the book, however! Always eager for a new resource, I was very interested in looking over the whole work when it was published.

When I received my copy, I poured over the book, and I must say I was very impressed (irrespective of my conribution)! The authors did a very good job of presenting the richness of social marketing in a simple, understandable way.

The page formating makes it very inviting and easy to read. It is very visual, with many examples and figures. The text flows well and is very readable.

I think the book will have a lot of applicability. The key questions and concepts, and the summaries and issues for discussion, certainly will make it useful as a textbook. It also will be useful to anyone picking it up for themselves, or to augment some other training. I think the book fills a niche for an easy-to-understand, "user-friendly," yet comprehensive presentation of social marketing. I commend it to your reading.

I found this to be an extraordinary book.
How these authors covered so much material
in such a comprehensive, clear way is amazing.
The visuals, case studies, and research
is a must for all of us in the field. I will
recommend it not only to my staff, but also
to all students and professionals. This is the
Social Marketing book that will be the benchmark
for the future. I would like to see someone try
to top it.......

This book gives a great insight into the creative minds of some of the best songwriters around! It's better than meeting them yourself, because the author also thought of all the right questions to ask AND you can read through the answers over-and-over again! An insider's view of creativity, inspiration, and effort!

"The Soul Of A Writer" is not only thought-provoking, it delivers inspiration in the face of adversity. To begin the journey, is to start with the soul, and that is exactly what these authors accomplished. There are no right or wrong answers, just the true and human insights from those who write the songs. How powerful is the human voice and how ever-present is the writer who gives life to it! Truly a world of revelations , habits, and human ancedotes fill the pages of this book. It is a rare find for those looking to identify their thoughts and feelings with other songwriters. Whether you are a writer in full blown success or a writer still in search of that "first:" hit, I highly recommend settling down in your most comfortable spot and jumping right in. It may be remarkable what you discover in the "soul of a writer."

The format for this book is truly unique! Instead of focusing on one writer at a time, the issues of the creative process are the subject. Each contributor songwriter then provides their thoughts and experiences in that area. Great to read cover to cover or to pick up and thumb through for inspiration and ideas! Highly recommended!

I really love this book ~ it is perfectly illustrated for children.

Peter Spier is one of my favorite illustrators of children's books. Here, his illustrations for three verses of Francis Scott Key's poem and song, "The Star-Spangled Banner," provide an excellent introduction for children to the meaning behind his famous lyrics.

I usually read this aloud to primary classes around a patriotic holidays. This year, because of our late school year, I read it for Flag Day. Since the words and historical setting are unfamiliar to most younger students, I have begun introducing this book with "The Story of 'The Star Spangled Banner,'" which can be found in "The Children's Book of America," edited by William J. Bennett. These two volumes make fine companions.

Even with this introduction, Key's text needs explaining, however with Spier's finely detailed illustrations, this task is much easier. Children love to examine the intricacies and they usually come up with some excellent comments and questions. On the page featuring Arlington National Cemetery, they ask about who died in battle, why some of the grave markers are stars instead of crosses, and why the flag is flying at half-mast.

Our copy of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is nearly worn out from heavy use. That should say something about the popularity of this excellent patriotic book.

our four-year-old claims this is his FAVORITE book. Perhaps it is because his mother chokes up and tears drop to her cheeks as she reads this book. We have found that this is an excellent read-aloud and has stretched our four-year-old's language skills in many ways. As if The Star Spangled Banner weren't moving enough, the arrangement of pictures flows along with the words of the song to create an image of heroics and bravery. In addition, little incidentals like soldiers feeding their horses and wet clothes hanging to dry aboard ship cause us to remember that these were real people fighting. Peter Spier mixes history with the present as he causes us to remember what these men were fighting for. We see schools and businesses, Arlington Cemetery and the Statue of Liberty, cities and rural farms, synagogues and churches, Amish buggies and a Friends Meeting House all as evidence of our cultural diversity. We also see that the fight continues as we witness a renovation project and scientists working in a lab. The first, second and fourth verses are illustrated. The pictures help the capable parent define words such as "conceals" and "discloses." In addition, the artwork contains so much information and story that conversation just develops as the book is read. There is an oustanding collection of Flags of America and a thorough history of the War of 1812. The words to all four verses of the Star Spangled Banner and the music by J Stafford Smith follow. Peter Spier is becoming our hero as the author of our favorite children's books.

This book left me spellbound. Drotar has a true talent for telling tales that move on several levels. A river journey in Southeast Asia becomes a backward journey in time... Riding a horse through the Adirondacks leads to deeper insights about the precarious nature of our daily lives... A ski expedition reveals truths about the frightening transitions we all face. The eighteen essays, categorized by season, span the globe, yet they all affirm our connection with nature and with each other. And, somehow, Drotar manages to accomplish this with without ponderous prose or heavy-handing philosophizing. Tuck this book in your backpack for thoughtful reading during your own travels, or keep it on your bedside table to inspire your dreams.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Drotar whisks us around the world in these captivating essays, riding an icebreaker in Finland at one moment, a mountain bike in Wales the next. Every person, every place, every event reveals so much more to Drotar than it does to most of us. Ski runs become metaphors for life's challenges. A night sky helps Drotar discover the planet beneath his feet. The author dances thru time and space in a way that bewitches the reader and enriches his travel experience. Struggles for democracy in Myanmar--and America--are reflected in a prism where time, Zen and Buddhist like, flows backwards. Landowners in the pacific northwest embrace redwoods and a new ethic. His characters come to life on the page: Cowboys at a roundup in Wyoming, rangers with eagle eyes in the Catskills, children in Quito carrying bundles of dignity amidst urban squalor.

Few writers can weave their thoughts and meaning into a travel experience without destroying the tempo or becoming preachy, but Drotar accomplishes both.

Steep Passages took me on a wild ride through nature, exotic places, and fascinating people. There were times when I felt as though I was right along side Drotar, feeling the cool winter wind on my face or tasting the salty sea air. The descriptions in the book are so intensely rich and full of life that at times you can't believe that one person has experienced what so many only dream of. From chapter to chapter, Steep Passages keeps you craving for more and more and in the mean while Drotar's inner messages on life, often make you reflect on whom you are and what you're doing with yours. It's a book that I could read over and over again and each time immerse myself into a scene that many of us only dream about feeling, tasting and believing.

Guiness uses classical and modern literature to take the reader through the topics of the seven deadly sins and seven Beatitudes of Christ. A must read for the college freshman or sophmore getting ready for lit. classes. Provides and excellent framework for interpretation of some of the world's greatest literary minds.

This book is a must-read! I was skeptical at first because I didn't see the vital importance of learning about the seven deadly sins and seven virtues, but I could not put this book down after starting. I love the way the sins and virtues were compared- I recommend it to everyone, it really opened my eyes. The only word of caution is that it is slow in the beginning, but stick with it and you will be rewarded.

Well, this is one of the "lighter" books of Os Guiness. If you've read "The Call," you know Os can pack a lot of content; this book isn't quite as much work.

The book is more a study guide that helps you work through issues about the 7 cardinal virtues and the 7 deadly sins. He is not going for lightweight topics, however. There are a lot of passages where one says "Ouch!" because it hits home.

A good introduction into basic virtues for an age that has forgotten classical education.

From the years 1968-1976, I was working, playing acoustic bass, under the name of Richard Youngstein. In Paul's very hip, very open book, he refers to playing a cool gig in Boston at the (long defunct) Jazz Workshop for one week with his long time drummer, Barry Altschul (whom I went to high school with in the Bronx) and "some bass player." Obviously Paul didn't remember my name, even though I recorded half an album with him on Polydor, called "The Paul Bley Synthesizer Show," produced by Orin Keepnews, and another album with his ex-wife, Annette Peacock, for French Polydor, that I heard had two titles, "Blood," and "Revenge." If anyone has a copy of either LP PLEASE let me know -I never got one & never heard it! Anyway, I also recorded under that name with Carla Bley & JCOA on "Escalator Over The Hill." I was very active in those years, playing w/Ros Rudd, Bill Dixon, Robin Kenyetta, Karl Berger, etc. I moved to LA late in 1976 and switched careers kind of, and names. I got my doctorate and license in psychology(like my late mentor, the great bassist David Izenzon)and have been in the healing field ever since. I had a trio/quartet "Erotic Zone," for some years and played periodically. Anyway, I am the same person, whether the old Richard Youngstein or the more recent Dr. Noah Young. Just thought I'd give a name to "some bass player" on the Jazz Workshop gig with mssrs. Bley and Altschul. And....Paul's book is awesome. Truly one of the giants of jazz and a priviledge to have made music with.(Write me at: Noazarc22@aol.com)

Although Paul Bley isn't given anywhere near the recognition he deserves in America, his influence on contemporary players is deep and profound, going from Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett through to nearly any younger jazz piano player today who is worthwhile. His lasting contribution is his demostration of what can be done with total freedom now that all the rules have been broken. You don't have to stay inside or outside with tonality or rhythm, being free means being able to go to either direction or any place in between.

This highly entertaining book tells his complete story from gigging in Canada to the present day. Some of the most compelling stories come from the exciting days of the October Revolution of 1964 and the formation of the the Jazz Composers Guild. There's also some great stuff on his involvement in the birth of performance synthesizers. But there's lots of great little stories including how Lucille Ball saved his life!

bley is as brilliantly understated in words as he is in music, and anyone familiar with his music or the many musicians he has played with (or anyone at all into jazz) will find a lot of stories in this book -- candid, funny, and illuminating. he never stays in one place for long, but always seems to end up somewhere interesting, which is why it's impossible to stop reading. not to mention the incredible photographs. the book may be too short by half, but you get the picture...

It's difficult to easily categorize these dark works of fantasy: they are short stories written by such notables as Ray Bradbury, Michael Bishop, Nina Kiriki Hoffman and others, blending literature and art and all based on the strange kinetic sculpture Crowded After Hours by Lisa Snellings. Dark carnival stories probe the limits of humanity.

Strange Attraction is a fascinating anthology that combines quality writing, art and binding into a unique synthesis. This showcase volume presents memorable and highly recommended work by Michael Bishop, Ray Bradbury, Ed Bryant, Richard lee Byers, Nancy A. Collins, Jack Dann & Janeen Webb, Charles de Lint, James Dorr, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Alexandra Elizabeth Honigsberg, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Brad Linaweaver, Jason Miller, Fred Olin Ray, Robert J. Sawyer, Darrell Schweitzer, John Shirley, S.P. Somtow, Chet Williamson, David N. Wilson, and Gene Wolfe.

Strange Attraction is a fascinating anthology that combines quality writing, art and binding into a unique synthesis. This showcase volume presents memorable and highly recommended work by Michael Bishop, Ray Bradbury, Ed Bryant, Richard lee Byers, Nancy A. Collins, Jack Dann & Janeen Webb, Charles de Lint, James Dorr, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Alexandra Elizabeth Honigsberg, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Brad Linaweaver, Jason Miller, Fred Olin Ray, Robert J. Sawyer, Darrell Schweitzer, John Shirley, S.P. Somtow, Chet Williamson, David N. Wilson, and Gene Wolfe.

The best technical manual available for an easy to read understanding of those techniques and procedures used in "Method" acting. Extremely rich in detail, laced with dozens of examples and personal anecdotes, this book leaves nothing out as it takes the reader through practically every element of the "Method" and its vocabulary. Relaxation, Sense Memory, Concentration, Imagination, Substitution, Justification, Animal Exercise, Personal Object, Private Moment, Affective Memory, Song and Dance, Inner Monologue, Narrative Monologue, Speaking Out, Moment-to-Moment, and Subtext are just a few of the terms which Ms. Hull explains with crystal clarity. The book also includes advice to Directors, an exhaustive scene list, a glossary, suggested reading and tons of other valuable information. Indispensable. -- TheatrGROUP

This book lays out an entire course of training exercises in the most explicit, practical, down-to-earth manner I've ever encountered. It is of enormous value to actors, directors and especially to those who teach these disciplines. Susan Strasberg wrote in the foreword: "When I read Lorrie Hull's book, I thought, 'My God, she's done it! She's caught so much of the work.' She got the answers, wrote them down, used them in her own twelve years of teaching for my father and then translated it all into an understandable, explicit, practical book that offers valuable tools for any actor [beginner or professional], as well as for writers, directors, and teachers. I'm sure a lot of misconceptions about my father's work will be cleared up by this book. After reading "Strasberg's Method," I feel sure that my father, 'Pop,' wherever he is, would be enormously pleased."

An extremely helpful book for actors, directors, and acting teachers. Hull gives in-depth descriptions of exercises used by Strasberg and does a great job of telling why the exercises work with examples. The book is broken up into sections. One concentrates on the actor, another concentrates on the director, another on the teacher. Has a great section with suggestions for scenes. Highly reccommended. The appendices have been extremely useful.