My 10 month old niece enjoys this book at least 3 times a day...and has ever since she was only 3 months old. Although, she has about 25 excellent age-appropriate books, this is her favorite! The pop-up paper is sturdy, and the illustrations are bright, clear and simple.

I bought this book for my son when he was 18 months old. He fell in love with the vibrant colors and pop-up creatures immediately! At 27 months he still asks for the "parrot" book regularly. We love this book so much we buy them for our friends' children and have completed our set of Snappy Pop-Up books with the other four.

My daughter loves this series, and she's only 15 months old! The pop ups are sturdier than you'd expect, but we have used some scotch tape. These books have taught her animals sounds (farmyard) and many other things. I'm sure this one will help with her colors.

This book is for anybody who's seen A Charlie Brown Christmas virtually every year it's been on TV or via VHS or DVD.

It includes storyboards of the Ford commercials which featured Linus and Lucy back in 1962 (3 years before this classic TV special debuted). Not only that, it features advertisements in TV guide, an interview with Bill Melendez, who animated all the Peanuts specials and films up to Charles Schulz's untimely death in 2000), and a few essays from Lee Mendelson, who worked side by side with Melendez on each of the specials. It also features a few words from Peter Robins (the 1st voice of Charlie Brown) and Chris Shea (who played Linus). You also get a tribute to Vince Guaraldi who composed the music (not to mention that it includes the sheet music for "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmastime Is Here"). This book mentions how they came up with the adult "voices" in the specials and Schulz's conditions on working on Charlie Brown Christmas (one was that real children would do the kids' voices, and another was that the Gospel of Luke was present in the script in order to remind the audience the true meaning of Christmas).

Most importantly, this book includes the entire script of Charlie Brown Christmas with stills from the special. In essence, there is enough information for you to cast your own stage production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. There is one slight error in the script, however- the Peanuts gang is not humming "O Little Town of Bethelehem" at the finale but "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (unless this was written in the original script and changed at the last minute). Finally, turn the pages and you'll see Snoopy cause Charlie Brown to crash into the tree in the one scene that begins the special!

Recommended to all Peanuts collectors and all who love the classic special that started it all for Peanuts animation. I got this from a good friend as a Christmas present!

My earliest memories of watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, was when I was in kindergarten. I taped the show that year, and prefer my 1985 viewing over any video for sale. Even so, this book by Lee Mendelson tells us the great back story about making the story. Charles Schulz was instrumental in plenty of great decisions: such as the inclusion of Linus's reciting the "true meaning of Christmas," the use of actual children for the voices of Charlie Brown and the rest of the cast, and the absence of an annoying laugh track. There is even commentary by Bill MElendez, a former Disney animator, who was tasked with prepping and getting the Christmas special ready in 6 months. Even in the beginning, the network executives did not love it, but it ranked #2 in the top 5 of shows after premiering December 9, 1965. We even get insight into Jazz musician Vince Guaraldi, who made the catchy tune "Linus and Lucy," which all of us associate with the Peanuts gang. The book even includes piano music to play, and an illustrated screenplay of the TV show. I'd recommend buying this book along with the Peanuts 50th anniversay book that was written by Schulz, as well as Peanuts 2000, which chronicles the last year of the comic strip.

Reading "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on a dark Sunday afternoon in November is a bit like owning a DVD crammed with special features. This gorgeously-designed hardcover, with glossy pages and a heavy silver dustjacket, is a terrific companion to the TV special, and an almost essential shelf companion to "Peanuts: A Golden Celebration".

Anything you'd want to know about the "Christmas" TV special is in this book -- lengthy interviews with producer Lee Mendelson (a veteran of Peanuts anniversary books) and animator Bill Melendez. Charles M Schulz passed away before the book was written, but there are plenty of rarely-seen photos of him taken in the 1960s. There's a chapter on Vince Guaraldi, whose jazz soundtrack defines the lives of many "Peanuts" fans; interviews with some of the children who voiced the characters; and, O happy day, sheet music! The second half of the book contains the complete script for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" itself, along with dozens of photos and animated sequences, taken from the original cels.

"Christmas" is not for small children (unless they're reading it with you), and there are a couple of misprints (including, in my first edition, a caption for a photo that's not in the book!). But it's lovely to look at, and when I put it down finally, reluctantly, I was whistling the soundtrack and hearing Linus's nativity speech (and I'm Jewish!). These days you can buy it for about as much as the DVD costs, and it's a wonderful Christmas gift. Unless, of course, the person you're buying it for already owns it.

I'll admit it; the only reason I bought this book in the first place was because of the gorgeous artwork that immediately drew me in. Sure, I had skimmed over the summary on the back, but that wasn't the priority for me at the moment. Yet right now, I'm glad my thinking then was that shallow, because I'm very glad of the choice I'd made at that fateful day at the bookstore.

Demon Diary is amazing in just about every aspect one would require a manga to be in order to be great. It's a story about the demon lord Raenef and his mentor, Eclipse. These two make a very interesting couple to say the least; Raenef acts like anything but a demon lord, completely clueless and sometimes downright dense. Eclipse, on the other hand, is Raenef's respectable and rather serious tutor. (Although at times he does have his rather humerous moments.) The combination of the two personalities is nothing short of laugh-out-loud funny. At this point of the story, Demon Diary is nothing more than informing the readers of Eclipse and Raenef's process of teaching/learning, yet at the end of it all, someone unexpected does manage to test Raenef's abilities as a demon lord. As a bonus, there are also two short stories at the end of the manga, titled "Crystal Heart" and "Terra".

The artwork is top-notch and beautiful down to the last page, and obviously very shoujo. The relationship between Eclipse and Raenef (and when I mean relationship, I mean RELATIONSHIP. Shonen-ai warning for those of you averse to it) will probably appeal to mostly female readers, yet the nifty magic scenes and exploding pieces of building may attract a male audience.

In any case, Demon Diary is a wonderful manga that anyone who is interested graphic novels in general should at least take a look at.

While I was at the store looking for something new, I saw this book all by itself on the shelf. It must have been fate!! The story is so cute and funny, and I just love Raenef! And grumpmaester Eclipse aint to bad either.
The story starts with ditzy little Raenef trying to become the best demon lord, and poor Eclipse just trying not to get humiliated. You see Raenef isn't what you'd call a 'normal' demon. He's so light hearted and funny. He's having a hard enough time trying to remember to never appologize or use any curtesy ever, when a knight attacks the castle.
His relationship with Eclipse is amusing, and kind of strange at first. I hope to discover more in the next books to come.

Also included in this book are the short stories, Crystal Heart and Terra.
The only bad thing about this book is that the main story was so short in this volume, only about half the book was actually Demon Diary. Oh, one more thing. If you have a prob. with same gender relationships, GET A LIFE AND DON'T READ THIS SERIES!!!!
Anyways... the books great and if you read Dragon knights, I think you'll enjoy it. And it just so happens that the books come out on the mounths that dragon knights don't, so you can always look forward to something each month!!
All in all great book, get one as soon as you can. It's a great new way to look at the world of demons!!! ...

The cover art dragged me in, I'll admit it! I'd seen a few side stories from DD, but decided to purchase it and see how TokyoPop did.

Demon Diary is basically about a young innocent bishounen (yes, he's male ^_~) named Raenef who's being trained to be a demon lord by a higher class sophisticated and sexy demon named Eclipse. Seeing poor Eclipse struggle with his clueless tutor in the challenge of becoming the 'world's greatest demon lord' proves to be one of the most hilarious manga relationships I've enjoyed in a while. The first volume is admitted slow, but it's a great start to explain the challenges in Raenef's training and a confrontation with a knight at the end. A few of my friends were confused, but the stories 'Crystal Heart' and 'Terra' are stand-alone bonus stories. They're very dark, and Crystal Heart really depressed me. Nevertheless, the artwork of the entire volume was gorgeous. I'll read it over and over again; I definitely can't wait for volume 2.

In conclusion, fans of fantasy, comedy, shounen-ai, demon, and magic should have a kick out of Demon Diary. :)

"You will reign in terror whether you like it or not!" ~Eclipse

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced painter PAINTING THE IMPRESSIONIST LANDSCAPE is a must read. Ms Griffel jumps right into color theory and makes it easy to comprehend and to follow along. This theory is applied to still life painting and then takes what you have just learned and applies it landscapes.

If you cannot take a course with Ms Griffel at the Cape Cod School of Art, then following her book in the step by step process is the next best thing.

This is a wonderful book. Ms.Griffel is not only a brilliant impressionist painter, she is a gifted teacher. Inspiring examples and clearly written explainations guide both novice and advanced painters in selecting and working with color in the landscape. I have referred to this book over and over again as I paint. I always find new and unusual color combinations, as well as tips for painting outdoors in varying light conditions. I can highly recommend this book to any painter who wants to take their love of color to a new level.

Artists are always striving to increase their understanding of light and the way it affects color.In her book, Lois Griffel presents straightforward and concise ways to do this. Following her directions for painting studies of colored blocks in different lighting conditions, I learned more about seeing color than I ever possibly could have on my own. Seeing the way she and others who studied with Henry Hensche at the Cape Cod School of Art bring their work to brilliant life helps me to see more and more of the light possibilities in my own work.As I go outdoors to paint the landscape now, I think back to my studies from this book, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to absorb these teachings. Thank you, Ms. Griffel!!!!!!

Kryon - or rather - 'The Kryon' are a collective energy directing the present consciousness towards the coming 'frequency shift'. The book is well structured and wonderfully informed. I found the style a little awkward and would have preferred it in a more accessible form. Personally, I would have liked to see it more in the form of the wonderful and inspiring "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton, where profound spiritual truths are presented within an everyday reference. Althouth the information contained in this book all 'rang' true, I did find it hard for the conscious mind to digest. It is well worth the investment in time to read and digest.

This book, and the entire Kryon book series, have the potential to speed up the consciousness of Earth in natural, incredible ways. The information given is among the most useful I've come across anywhere.

If you're one who strives to become more conscious and enlightened in your life - one who isn't satisfied with anything less than the HIGHEST TRUTH about Earth, your life and the *big picture* - I happily and lovingly admonish you to read this and all books in the Kryon series, for they will help facilitate tremendous knowledge and wonderous consciousness shifts within you...changes far beyond the level of you day-by-day existence.

The first time you read this book you will have the feeling that Kryon is speaking directly to you, through the voice of his channel, Lee Carroll.
Although this book was first published in 1992, the information presented here is more relevant now than ever. Kryon will give the reader knowledge about Karma, meditation, Jesus Christ and the times we are living. With the premise that we all came here on our own will, to learn and progress, Kryon leads the way on the transformation we crave in this new millenium. He will help you contact your guides and accelerate you spirituial growth, if that is what you relly want.
If you are a metaphysician or are into self growth, you will find that the easy, yet warm language and teaching of Kryon apply to your life.

Lee the last years is a great read on the life of ROBERT E LEE after the war between the states.
My only complaint is that I would have liked just a little more reaction to lee's death around the South,and north ...

This book shows a side of Robert E. Lee that seems to have been lost in the history books. After the end of the Civil War, we hear little or nothing about General Lee. In truth, he died five years after the war ended, but he made the most of that time in trying to repair the damage done by the war. This book is an excellent chronicle of those years.

Lee lost most of his property during the war. He was a career soldier, and didn't have many prospects for employment. He hoped to move onto a farm and to live quietly in the country.

However, other plans were being made for him. The trustees of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, voted unanimously to offer him a job as president of the college. Lee was not a professional educator (although he had served as superintendent of West Point), but the trustees believed that his leadership and integrity were just what the college needed to survive the harsh economy left by the war. For his part, Lee saw this as an opportunity to help young Southern men to become productive citizens.

The college's wager paid off. Enrollment grew each year that Lee spent at the helm. The college developed new programs, and Lee's stature and good reputation were such that Washington College received large donations from philanthropists, even in the Northern states. Lee took a personal interest in the students, learning to address them by name and taking responsibility for disciplinary measures.

Yet Lee's last five years were not years of unabated bliss. His health declined steadily, his wife was an invalid, his brother died, and his reputation suffered from some unjust attacks in Northern newspapers. Throughout it all, Lee held his head high and maintained his dignity, his character, and his principles.

Lee put much effort into healing the wounds left by the war. He appreciated the esteem in which he was held by his fellow Southerners, but he encouraged them to be loyal citizens of the United States of America. He never said a word against General U.S. Grant, and even rebuked an employee of Washington College who did. One of the most fascinating (and mysterious) episodes in the book is Lee's trip to Washington, D.C., to visit President Grant in the White House. No one else was present for the meeting, and so no one really knows what they discussed.

The book ends abruptly with an account of Lee's death, without going reporting on his funeral and his family's life without him. Even so, this book makes great reading and has fascinating insights into the private life of an American icon.

This was a passionate story of the last five years of the life of one of our greatest American heroes. Finally, we have a look at what Lee accomplished AFTER the war! From the first chapter to the end, I was enthralled with the story of Lee's dedication to God and country. The author used interesting stories to detail Lee's character which made the book easy to read and immensely enjoyable. I judge this to be one of the very best biographies I've ever read.

I have been searching for a good source of information for self-promotion. This book has it all. I loved that it was fun to read, not dry at all, with great examples and ancedotes to keep me interested. Us creative types have a tendency to have short attention spans. With this book, it was no problem!

Lee Silber knows what he's talking about and I can't wait to read more from him. I highly recommend this book to all creatives.

Self-Promotion for the Creative Person is an excellent source of information to get your creative juices flowing. A must read for any one that needs the starting point to launch their dreams. Silber gives great insight, examples, advice, and knowledge of what you need to get you started.

Get started now! Anything is possible!

I don't know what led me to purchase Self Promotion for the Creative Person. Ordinarily I find books about promotion to be elementary and not useful. Maybe I just liked the colorful cover :) But once I got it I was so so so glad! I am a speedy reader but this took me weeks to get through because the content was so rich I had to very often stop, put it down and start thinking and writing about how I could apply the suggestions and ideas in it to my own career. It has helped me to develop myself as a writer and filmmaker like you wouldn't believe. I directly credit this book for my getting press in some local papers and making a number of good sales...and Ive only been practicing the ideas in it for about a month. I still go back and review things in it about once a week and find new things to improve my marketing plan. I would have easily paid 3 times the amount I paid for this book....well worth it!! If you are an artist, writer, filmmaker, or creative person of any kind trying to make a living or a name for yourself from your work, this book MUST be in your library.

...Why can't the decisions, rules and controls be mine? Having read this book, I now understand that defaults and standards aren't necessarily the last word. Helpful hints and shortcuts will make life easier for everyone. whether you only ever use word to dash off a letter or you regularly produce complex documants and tables. With a writing style of amiable sarcasm, Woody Leonhard has obviously learned his lessons the hard way. Don't make the same mistake - buy this book!

This book gives a good explanation on Word 97 and how to use it. Ranging from general windows settings to visual basic for applications (VBA) users from almost any level can find useful advise in this book. Written in an enjoyable style it is an easy read for anyone with interest for word 97. Together with Bill Camarda's 'Using Microsoft Word 97' from QUE for reference/addition you should be able to create some fancy documents.

Woody and friends have done it again: a tour through the dark corners of the Microsoft creation called "Word." No parrots of the MS party line, this book tells you how to get Word out of the way when you want to get work done. I have just two minor quirks: 1. The book is too short. 2. Many of the procedures repeat basic information, such as backing up the Registry before making changes. Yeah, I know this is need-to-know information, but I read this book (like Woody's Hacker books) from front to back, so it got repetitive. But while this is a great book full of tips, tricks, and hacks to make you more productive with Word (and telling you just *why* that "feature" doens't work like you think it should), it's still not a "Hacker's Guide." Real Word users need a "Hacker's Guide" to this latest incarnation. Until that appears. "Word 97 Annoyances" is the best, most straight-up information you'll find anywhere on how Word works.

Third book in the Liaden Universe series (there are four so far) that continues the intriguing story of the two main characters from 'Agent of Change'. Places the two main characters as fish out of water in a backwater planet, adding some twists about common ethical human behaviour. Introduces the rest of the family/clan in a transparent manner, leading to a believable conclusion (although by that time, I am always too engrossed to care much)

This is a fun book, third in the Liaden Universxe series -- read the other reviews for details -- but the first three are now in one book called Partners In Necessity from Meisha Merlin-- and a bargain it is!

Carpe Diem is a lot fun -- and a good book in general. Somehow the authors manage to pack all kinds of good story and world-building stuff into a smooth, fun package without showing off.

The best description is that this is space opera for for grown-ups -- if you like CJ Cherryh's space books you'll like this and the rest of the Liaden series. This book is out of print but I found a copy at the World SF Convention in Baltimore, where I heard that it will be reprinted next year -- and that there's a fourth book in the series coming out soon.

I own all three of the Liaden books now and can't wait for the next one.

Finnea Winslet was born in Boston, but it's only a faint memories and the stuff of her father's stories, as she's spent most of her life with him in the Congo. When her father passes away, she realizes it's time to go back to Boston and find the mother's love that she's missed all these years. On the train she meets Matthew Hawthorne, who the Africans call The Wild White Man with the Scar. Their meeting eventful but brief. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, it's at a dinner party where Finnea is at a loss for how to act--she knows none of the rules of Boston society, like which cutlery to use, how to greet people, how to eat certain foods, how to sit, how to walk, how to dress...

Matthew feels something for Finnea, tho he doesn't know what or why. When she later badgers him to help her learn the how to be a lady he finally gives in--but he wonders if it can even be done and why she would want to change from who she is. DOVE'S WAY is the story of two wounded--both physically and emotionally--people drawn to each other but unwilling to suffer again the pain of loving. As Ms. Lee says in her the short interview at the back of the book (and how I love hearing tidbits like this from an author!) this novel is "part MY FAIR LADY, part OUT OF AFRICA."

I did have problems with this book, especially early on. I sometimes had difficulty believing people could be *so* cruel; both Boston society's reaction to Matthew and his scar (tho he was foul-tempered and scowled frequently) and Finnea's family in not trying to help her fit in and learn the manners and mores of Boston. I also would have liked to spend more time in Africa, but I know how publishers are afraid of romances not set in either America or Great Britain. However, DOVE'S WAY is a great choice when one is in the mood for a powerful, darkly compelling read.

Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews

Dove's Way is the story of two very wounded people who find healing in each others arms. If you're in the mood for a moving romance (and a good cry) this book is a great choice.

Finnea Winslet grew up wild and free in Africa under the loving guidance of her father. When her dad dies Finnea is left all alone and must travel to Boston to meet the mother who deserted her nineteen years earlier. She is told that a fellow American named Matthew Hawthorne will accompany her safely home while she rides the dangerous African railway.

When Finnea first meets Matthew he is rude, threatening and does his best to scare her senseless but fails. Matthew only wanted to be left alone and is amazed that Finnea doesn't flinch when she glances at his facial scar. Finnea sees it as "character" and isn't bothered at all by his blustery attitude. When the train derails Matthew spends a harried night watching over Finnea until help arrives. When Finnea wakes Matthew is gone before she can thank him and she believes she'll never see him again.

A few months later Finnea is in Boston trying hard to fit in and learn all of the ridiculously stifling rules that a proper lady must follow when she meets up with Matthew again. He saves her from embarrassment during a dinner party and she decides then and there that he will teach her how to become a proper Boston lady. She does not care that he craves solitude. She is relentless and he soon caves in.

What follows is a very satisfying romance between two tortured souls. And I do mean tortured. Both Finnea and Matthew have deep emotional wounds and many trials to overcome before they find their happy ever after. This is an angst filled read but it never became overwhelmingly depressing because of the gentle humor interwoven into the story.

This book would have received five stars but I did feel a bit cheated because a pivotal scene that occurred in Africa was not included in the book - only alluded to throughout the story. This was very disappointing in an otherwise perfect book. Or maybe I'm just being greedy!

From the extraordinary first page of DOVE'S WAY to the satisfying last, Linda Francis Lee pulls the reader into a lush world of scandal, Boston society and two unforgetable lovers. This book is richly written and highly sensual. With the use of exemplary descriptions, the opening scene with Finnea in Africa had me transported in time to 1890s Congo.

The inverview with Ms. Lee in the back of a book gave me insight into this author's life. A very clever idea on the publisher's part. I've never seen this done before.

DOVE'S WAY is going on my keeper shelf, and I can't wait to read SWAN'S GRACE.