For Biddle's Sake is a charming yarn with multiple layers of subversive yet entertaining elements.

The story is based on a little known fairytale, Puddocky, with the classic Levine fairy tale elements: silly quests like finding a dog that will fit inside a walnut shell; humorous names like Princess Alyssatissaprincissa (sister of Countess Marianabanessacontessa); silliness such as distinguishing the twins by the size of their nostrils; and, the gratuitous normal-girl-meets-normal-prince through non-normal means.

"For Biddle's Sake" shares several of the same locales (e.g., Snettering-on-Snoakes) and character lineage (e.g, King Humphrey IV) as the Princess Test, which is somewhat comforting as these names can be tongue-twisters. As in the other books in the Princess series, Levine does a great job of portraying unsavory characters as capable of some redemption. For example, in Biddle, Randolph and Rudolph, while the bane of Tansy's daily life, eventually become comfortable with their place in the universe and co-exist with their brother.

Okay, I'll admit it. I am a Gail Carson Levine addict. I'll read anything she's written. But that's because she proves herself over and over and over. For Biddle's Sake, one of two new stories in the Princess Tales, lives up to the other tales in this series. Parsley loves, well, parsley. She won't eat anything else. The only place parsley growns near her parents' home is the garden of a fairy, Bombina, who is in fairy prison for turning too many people into toads (she's only allowed 5 a year). Alas and alack, the fairy is released and catches Parsley's father in mid-steal and ends up taking the parsley-loving mite home with her. As Parsley grows up, she becomes fascinated with the local royalty. The king has three sons, Randolph, Rudolph, and Tansy. Randolph and Rudolph are holy terrors who blame everything they do on their younger brother, Tansy, and get away with it. During the course of all of this, Parsley is accidentally turned into a toad by Bombina, the fairy, and wisked away to live by a stream. When the time comes to select the next heir, the king can't decide between the twins (R&R), and ends up sending all three sons on three quests.

Who will win the quests and become king? What is poor Parsley's fate? Buy the book and read for yourself.

Also recommended: All books in the Princess Tales Series, Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, R.K. Rowling

The fairy Bombina has found happiness in the form of a small girl. All is well - until the girl is the inadvertant target of a curse.

[I've] had a chance to use this book, and I must say that this new dictionary is one of the finest on the market. The format of this dictionary is unique. The first section contains several lengthy articles on subjects that affect biblical theology. The second section contains articles on each genre of literature in the Bible and articles on the individual books of the Bible. The final section of the book is the actual dictionary, which has numerous entries on various biblical themes. This one book serves as an introduction to biblical interpretation, an Old Testament and New Testament introduction, and a Bible Dictionary. And at 863 not-so-large print pages, one could hardly say that this book just gives a cursory view of Biblical Theology. This Dictionary is an excellent tool for both students and professors. ....

This book is one of the very best aids for understanding the Bible. Contributors include some of the pioneers in evangelical biblical theology, as well as many of the most respected biblical scholars of recent years.

Here are a few of the many helpful contributors:
Graeme Goldsworthy
Donald Hagner
Tremper Longman
Douglas Moo
Alec Motyer
Ray Ortlund
Jim Packer
Max Turner
and
David Peterson

The book includes helpful articles about the discipline of biblical theology and comparisons with systematic theology in Part 1 and articles about some of the main biblical themes in Part 3. Part 2 breaks the Bible up into large chunks and then discusses about three main themes of:
Genesis to Kings
Wisdom Books
Prophetic Books
Synoptic Gospels
Luke-Acts
Johannine Writings
and
Paul

Part 2 then continues by going into detail on each biblical book.

Highly recommended.

If you would like this book at a bargain price, with 17 other helpful books, including the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Sinclair Ferguson's New Dictionary of Theology, the New Bible Dictionary and the New Bible Commentary, Amazon also sells the Essential IVP Reference Collection CD ROM.

This excellent work seeks to illuminate the key themes of biblical theology. Biblical theology seeks to understand the parts of the Bible in relation to the whole canon of Scripture. (As opposed to systematic theology, which seeks to develop large categories in which to fit the biblical data; while both are helpful, biblical theology is essential to systematic theology.) This dictionary seeks to illustrate this connectedness in three ways (sections). The first section offers various articles ranging in topic from the history of biblical theology to the actual 'doing' of biblical theology. The second section provides a look at a biblical theology of the biblical corpora and books (i.e. Genesis to Kings, Wisdom books, Prophetic books, Synoptic Gospels, Luke-Acts, the Johannine writings, Paul, and articles on individual books). The third section, which I found particularly helpful, is a collection of essays on the certain biblical themes.

A good example of the kind of work taking place in this third section comes in the article on the nation of Israel (pp. 581 ' 586). Here the author shows, among other things, how the New Testament presents Jesus as the True Israel. The following are some of the arguments from the article: Jesus replaces Israel as God's Son (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:14-15). Jesus replaces Israel as the 'true vine' (John 15:1 ' see Ps 80:9-16; Isa 5:1-7; 27:2ff; Jer 2:21; 12:l0ff; Ezek 15:1-8; 17:1-21; 19:10-14; Hos 10:1-2). Jesus succeeded as the true Servant of God where Israel failed. Jesus reenacts Israel's history: the exodus from Egypt (Matt 2:19-20), the crossing of the Red Sea (Matt 3:13-17), the temptations in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11), and the arrival at Mt. Sinai to receive the law (Matt 5:1-2), and He receives the expected out-pouring of God's Spirit (Matt 3:16; cf. Isa 44:2-3; Ezek 36:25-27), showing that Jesus is truly the Son with whom God is pleased (Matt 3:16). John also uses the great images for Israel in the Old Testament for Jesus and His disciples (the good shepherd and the flock in 10:11-16 and vine and the branches in 15:1-5). Through Christ the covenant is fulfilled and those who become a part of the people of God do so through Him, thus they too are part of the fulfilled covenant. The true people of God (Israel) is seen in the Church (both Jews and Gentiles ' Gal 3:6-9, 6:16; Rom 2:28-29), though God has yet to finish His work with ethnic Israel as well (Romans 9-11). Jesus replaces Israel as Abraham's seed (Gal 3:16). To be a part of the people of God, you must be a child of Abraham (Gal 3:29).

This work is a dictionary, and as with most works of this type, it has many contributors. However, I believe this is one of the key strengths of a work like this. The editors (all 'heavy-hitting' scholars in their own right) have selected scholars to write in the areas in which they have already done extensive work. This gives the reader access to what some of the greatest evangelical theologians are saying on a wide range of topics.

For serious Bible students, this work is an essential buy. One would be hard pressed to find any other single volume work which deals with such a wide range of biblical themes in such an excellent way.

Rachel Carson, a scientist by trade, writes beautifully about the ocean in this book; it was worthy of the National Book Award, which it won in 1951. Carson takes the time to describe generally what was known about the sea at the time of her writing, and is prophetic in her comments about human impact to the world's oceans. While providing the reader with a general scientific discussion of the sea, she also gives us some magical moments: questions about the lost continent of Atlantis, mysteries about the nature of the deepest ocean bottoms, descriptions of lumninescent creatures surfacing in the remotest areas of open ocean. This book is simultaneously great science and great literature, and is essential reading for anyone interested in marine biology or geology, even decades since its original publication.

Wow!!! It is amazing that this book is over 50 years old. As a high school student, I had to read this book for Ecology. Rachel Carson's book is an eye-opener. It was some 50 years ago. And, it still is. "The Sea Around Us" is truly a classic. Carson gives us all an insight on what would happen if we mistreat the natural environment -- especially the oceans around us. Sadly, today, some of these prophecies are becoming a reality. I agree with a fellow reviewer. This book should be mandatory reading for all students. Maybe if more people read this book, we would all respect nature just a little better.

It is difficult to believe that this book is over 50 years old. The recommendations are still valid and elusive today. Only when the general public accepts the need to protect the environment will things change. That is why this book should be required reading for all students.

"On her eighth birthday, Betsy took the Shepherds' Oath. She was going to be the best shepherd in Bray Valley history. And any wolf who tried to eat her sheep had better watch out!" Well Zimmo, the last wolf on the mountain, had other ideas. He was very hungry and he had a plan to outwit this new shepherd. The next day, just as Betsy was getting started, Zimmo appeared. Quickly, she blew her whistle and cried wolf, and the townspeople came running. But when they arrived, all they saw was Betsy and the sheep. Zimmo had cleverly disappeared. Betsy got a lecture. Later in the day, the whole episode repeated itself, and this time, Betsy was sent back to Shepherd School for a little refresher course. The next morning, the town decided to give her one last chance. She took the sheep up to the pasture and there was the wolf again. But this time, Betsy takes matters into her own hands..... Gail Carson Levine's comical twist on the old, Boy Who Cried Wolf folktale, stars a feisty and endearing heroine, but the story is a bit too pat and predictable, lacks the drama of the original, and concludes with a silly ending that just doesn't ring true. The real star of this book is illustrator, Scott Nash. His bold, bright, and hilarious, cartoon-like illustrations, complete with witty, sheep asides and thought balloons are engaging, expressive, and filled with eye-catching detail. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Betsy Who Cried Wolf is not the best of the fractured folktale/fairy tale genre, but it's worth a read, if only for a peek at Nash's wonderful artwork.

Hands down, this is my daughter's FAVORITE bedtime book. She loves it and demands it every single night. The pace is great, and it's a really fun book to read aloud. Despite having read this book about 36 gazillion times, I still enjoy reading it. The illustrations are wonderful and really make the book.

This is a great book to get get a background on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's. I read it when I began trying to learn about the CRM and some of the key players.

I think that this book is a valued companion to Taylor Branch's epic work "Parting the Waters". Together, they make an unbeatable pair of study aids for one of America's most turbulent periods.

While P.T.W. is a more dispassionate third person chronicle, E.O.T.P. is more personally driven. It brings to life individuals like Bayard Rustin, Stokley Carmichael, John Lewis and other giants (known and obscure) of the movement. Events from the Till lynching to the Attica riots as seen through the eyes of those on the scene (sometimes, those making the scene).

Fascinating reading.

D.A. Carson and John Woodbridge have given to the young convert, minister, or seminarian a great gift indeed. It is a compiliation of fictitious letters between a professor and a young Christian who journeys from convert to pastor, and along the way there is distilled a great amount of helpful information about the Christian walk, seminary study, pastoring, evangelicalism, all done in bite sizes.
The metaphor of a journey as the Christian life is appropriate, and well chosen, though it is not, of course, original. The ideas within are not original, nor is the style, approach, or much of anything, but what makes this so valuable is the approachable manner in which introduces the subjects dealt with and who the authors are. The authors are respected, well-known contributors to their specific fields of academia, and they are well known outside of their fields as devout Christian scholars and speakers. One can be sure the advice given within is not the surmising of arm-chair theologians, but the tested wisdom of two men well-acquainted with the academic and practical sides of Christian ministry. Really well done are the chapters on choosing a seminary, and building a library. There is also a great discussion on the difference between academic responsibility and respectability. There is a vast difference between the two!
For the young Christian interested in the pastoral ministry and seminary I highly recommend this volume.

Carson and Woodbridge have done an excellent job telling the story of a man's life from a conversion to Christianity in college until he is mature and serving as a Presbyterian minister later in life. The struggles he deals with, both spiritually and intellectually, become focal points for the authors to share their own insights as professors in one of the foremost evangelical seminaries of our time (and at least Carson was once a pastor also). The story is told in the form of letters from a seminary professor who had been a friend of the main character's father, and the relationship continues and deepens over the years. While the story itself is interesting, the bits of reflection "along with way" are the real gems. The main character and the professor reflect on many topics from relating to our culture, American or otherwise, recent trends in theology and biblical studies, signficant issues of practice in the church today, and just how best to serve God in different contexts. This book is well worth reading no matter your place "along the way".

The topics of youth, life, passion, friendship, character, faith, nature, heartache, aging and musings are covered in this wonderful collection of poems. William Blake; Alfred, Lord Tennyson; Robert Frost; Thomas Moore; Robert Louis Stevenson; Edger Guest; Andrew Marvell; Shakespeare; Browning; Kipling; Martin Luther and Robert Browning are all here and more. I loved it!

This is a wonderful book of Poems! It contains many wonderful poems by Robert Frost,Shakespeare,Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and many more. You will surely cherish this book!

Okay, here I am buying Carson Graves book on printing because earlier I bought his book on Zone system. Using previous book as prerequisite for this one, was way wrong. If you ever decide to buy some literature based on previous successes, think again. The one thing that I dislike very much about this book is a fact that author teach you to use numerous testing techniques without actually showing you enough picture examples of how given toning or bleaching changed the image. Of course, there are several photographs for illustration-but it's way too little for photography book. Photography book must have more than less pictures in order to show what author mean when he uses one or another alternation. It's like learning astronomy with books without ever looking at night sky. If author would use more illustrations I would give him more stars.

Lays out a printing proceedure that makes a lot of sense, gives great results, is easy to use and makes printing fun because you know for sure how to get where you are going. Well worth the money. I change my printing proceedure to match this and have been very happy with it.

Although this is a basic book, it covers several topics that advanced darkroom printers will find useful. For example it discusses making test strips by exposing for the HIGHLIGHTS. I've used the method and have adopted it. I'm also experimenting with split-filter exposures which it discusses very completely and it has been very helpful. Worth the money -- I've learned several new techniques.

This book was pretty good, but I think the stories should have extended longer. The three stories, The Fairy's Mistake, The Princess Test, and Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, tell about girls back in time when fairies were real. Since I like these sort of things, I loved this book pretty much. The Fairy's Mistake kind of reminded me of Ella Enchanted, which is an excellent book. The Princess Test is a different tale of the Princess and the Pea, with a twist to it. Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep also is like another story, Sleeping Beauty, but also has a twist to it. These three stories are some I would recommend to anyone who likes pretty much all of Gail Carson Levine's books!!

Gail Carson Levine is best known for "Ella Enchanted," a smart retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale. But she's also penned a series of short novellas, the Princess Tales. Now three of these cute stories are available in a three-for-one paperback, that fans of retold fairy tales will enjoy.

"The Princess Test" is tried on Lorelei when she stumbles onto a castle. There, all the girls who try out are tested as to whether they are "real" princesses, and the girl who is deemed most worthy will marry Prince Nicholas. But Nicholas wants a girl he loves!

"The Fairy's Mistake" is a definite problem. Two girls encounter the fairy Ethelinda, and she gives them what they deserve: Sweet Rosella has jewels and flowers fall from her mouth, while nasty Myrtle has snakes and toads. The mistake? Now Rosella is held captive by a greedy prince, and Myrtle is using her "gift" as blackmail.

"Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep" is a twist on a familiar tale -- spinning wheel, enchanted sleep, fairy gifts and curses. But there are a few elements that weren't there before -- balding sheep, a prince who doesn't work out, and fairies who are getting a little competitive.

These stories don't have the length to develop the depth of "Princesses of Bamarre" or "Ella Enchanted," but they're nice twists on the old fairy-tales. Her heroines are endearingly smart and independant, the love interests are likeable, and the twists on the stories are cute. (Such as the "Fairy's Mistake," where the blessing turns out to be more trouble than the curse)

If you like retold fables or smart heroines, then the three-pack "Princess Tales" are a good light read, especially for those who like a humorous ending.

Gail Carson Levine has taken some of the classic tales of princesses and endowed them with her own magical imagination.
These stories of many generations of princesses of Biddle are
enchanting and delightful. Even though you may recognize the
basic stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Frog Prince and other tales, you will still enjoy the new twists. The narrator of this audiobook does an aadmirable job with voices and sound effects which add to the listener's enjoyment. These

stories are funny and endearing and are recommended for princesses and fairy tale lovers of all ages.

A great read! McLaughlin captures his reader immediately and holds on throughout each story. I especially enjoy the way he writes about the strength of the women in the old west. He has an obvious respect for their trials and accomplishments. Refreshing! I lent my copy to a coworker who took it on her family vacation to read aloud during long rides in the car. She said the entire family enjoyed it (husband and 2 kids - aged 10 and 15) and they're looking forward to reading Volume II on their next trip.

A collection of true tales of the people who made the Sierra Mountains of California so interesting in the last 200 years. McLaughlin has chosen his tales well and shows great skill in crafting them so they are fun to read and informative to boot.

We bought both books after hearing Mark McLaughlin lecture at an Elderhostel in Lake Tahoe. They are short, factual stories brimming with historical information presented in extremely interesting manner. They are as fascinating to read as he is in his lectures and we highly recommend them.