Second in the girls devotional series developed by Linda Washington and Julie Chen, "It's Me, Leslie," brings us the journal of a young girl trying to come into her own as a believer in Christ.

Genuine and engaging, Washington pulls the reader into the life of Leslie, a lively 11 year old, by peaking into her journal.

Likely in the first in the series, "Just Plain Mel," Chen has amusing sketches and doodling of everything from the "old church mother" (I've got one just like her in my church too!) to dialogue bubbles, ice cream and scratched out portions of entries Leslie must've reconsidered.

There is nothing stuffy about "It's Me, Leslie," and you can be confident that this is not just kid-friendly, but hip to what your preteens are going through. It's fresh, challenging, sometimes goofy, while retaining the innocence and purity of youth. The book always points the reader toward Jesus.

Issues such as materialism, unfriendly churches, self-confidence, gossip, spurring others on to "love and good deeds" are all discussed in this highly creative approach. Bible-centered, verses are printed before each entry area for the reader to think about when responding to the things going on in Leslie's life.

It is well-written, with a focused, stream-of-consciousness tone not found elsewhere.

I fully recommend "It's Me, Leslie," by Linda Washington. Inquisitive and curious preteen girls will love this, and beg for more. Try it in small groups, with a Bible in hand.

Anthony Trendl

I bought this devotional for my nine-year-old. She really loves the format. It is handwriting font with lots of doodles (looks like the Amelia books).The subjects are right where she's at too: Gossip, Do clothes make the Christian?, mean girls, sharing your faith with others.

There is spce for her to journal her thoughts on each subject. I would highly recommend this book as both a devotional for a girl and a beginner's journal.

That's Denzel Washington (not Eric Clapton) teaming his prodigious talents with those of blues legend B.B. King in this powerful retelling of the classic American legend. This is another treasure from Rabbit Ear productions: a beautifully illustrated book that can be read on its own, or with the included cassette. Go for the cassette first: You'll be treated to Denzel Washington's warm, rich, folksy, awe-struck, conversational narration.

"So y'all listen up, 'cause I'm gonna tell you the guaranteed, gold plated, ninety-nine-point-nice percent truth about John Henry."

Then, enjoy the inimitable riffs of B.B. King, as he and his guitar (presumably "Lucille") sing out with the pure, clear, authenticity of the blues: "My name is John Henry. I'm a born natural man. I was born one morning with a hammer in my hand . . . " This is collector material.

John Henry's triumph defends the dignity and perseverance of human labor against the encroaching machine. In its own small way, with a low-tech assist from the aural majesty of Washington and King, this volume preserves and extends the pleasures of the written page.

John Henry is one of the best Rabbit Ears titles - which is saying a lot. BB King is wonderful; Denzel Washington is wonderful. I'm not writing this for me - but if my 8 year old goes to sleep to it every (I mean, make sure you rewind that tape) night, then it is a wonderful book

Anybody interested in politics and the Supreme Court is bound to be enthralled by this book. It is I suppose mainly a reference book but I read it cover to cover in less than two days. It includes a number of ratings of Presidents, and also ratings of Supreme Court Justices. Each person nominated for the Supreme Court is described, together with a sketch of his (or her) work on the Court after confirmation. Some may disagree with some of the judgments, but in general they resonate well. This is a great book. I noted a few errors and will list them, tho they are minor. On page 189 it is stated that "the key slogan of Eisenhower's campaign in 1952" was "Had enough?" That was the Republican slogan in 1946. The slogan in 1952 was a much milder one: "I Like Ike." On page 345 footnote 14 lists the Senators who voted against Senator Hugo Black's confirmation as Justice of the Supreme Court, and names one of the six Democrats who voted against him as Burke (N.H.) This is an error; Burke was a Senator from Nebraska, not from New Hampshire. On page 364 footnoe 63 gives the citation for United States v. Eichman as 496 U.S. 310 at 4776. This is an obvious error, since no opinion goes on from page 310 to page 4776. I have not checked the page number of the language quoted, but it is not on page 4776 since no volume of the U.S. Reports has that many pages. But these minor errors do not mean the book is poorly edited. In general the editing is quite good. This is a book that any person interested in the Court should own.

Professor Henry J. Abraham has long been recognized as an expert on the Supreme Court's history and federal judicial appointments process. His book, "Justices, Presidents, and Senators," is newly revised to include information on President Clinton's nominations to the Court (Ginsburg and Breyer). Professor Abraham provides insight on some of the top contenders for the High Court, the politics and process of evaluating potential Supreme Court Justices, and enlightens the reader on the contentious battles before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Professor Abraham examines the Supreme Court appointments process and why certain individuals were selected over others. For example, Justice John Paul Stevens, who was nominated by President Ford (Republican), was chosen in part because he was "confirmable" by a heavily-Democratic Senate, especially in the Watergate aftermath. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was originally considered by President Ford for the seat currently held by Justice Stevens, but President Reagan nominated her instead several years later. Another example of political strategy and perfect timing is the elevation of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and the nomination of Justice Antonin Scalia. Both of their contributions to the decisions of the Court has impacted, to some degree, the workings of the lower courts and the federal judiciary's original understanding of the Constitution and how that should play when decisions are made.

This book's latter sections are divided by the tenure of several Chief Justices, starting with Earl Warren. I find these sections thoroughly fascinating. The last fifty years for the Surpeme Court has arguably been the most interesting period of time since the founding of the Constitution. Beginning with Brown v. Board of Education, the Court has exerted more power and significantly more influence that is more widely recognized in today's society. Professor Abraham details the individual Justices and their famous (and infamous) contributions to jurisprudence and understanding of the Constitution. This book also contains some statistical information on the ratings of Supreme Court Justices and ratings of Presidents in its appendix.

I highly recommend this book not only for academic reasons but for personal reasons, as well. Many Americans have misunderstood the role of the courts and their jurisdiction. I think this book is a fair attempt to dispel some of those misunderstandings. The book is not written from a perspective of a bitter partisan or a politician attempting to deceive Americans (unlike Alan Dershowitz).

Overall, this book provides a fair and balanced approach to the Supreme Court, its appointments process, and significance it plays in American society. This is one of the best books on the Supreme Court I have ever read.

READ THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! FASINATING! INFORMATION THAT IS NO OTHER PLACE.

THIS IS A MUST READ IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON ON THE "INSIDE". A very interesting book. Many insights. You won't be able to put it down!

Thoroughly researched, well-organized, easy to use. This book saved me money, time, and lots of stress for my two weeks in D.C. Great nightlife coverage -- they covered all the really great clubs, bars, and the arts sections was the best of any othe guidebook I looked at. I traveled around Virginia afterwards, and the daytrips section at the back of the book proved very thorough and helpful. Thanks, Let's Go.

In the hustle and bustle of the Washington D.C. streets one needs a companion to find one's way. This exceptionally edited book provides the necessary assistance for all the hot spots and historical points of interest in our nation's capitol. If achieving maximum efficiency with vacation time is a priority then this book is vital. This book is simply a god-send for anyone interested in the rich heritage and unceasing fun that Washington D.C. has to offer.

Great and educational book. My son loved it and he does not care to read. This is a must for all out there.

Like the adult book of the same title, The Light and the Glory for Children examines evidence for America's Christian roots. The authors reveal a past that is not at all smooth. The challenges of settling this land and building a new nation are shown in their harsh reality. Equally, the faith that strengthened the people for these challenges is presented as inspiration for tomorrow's citizens and leaders. Review questions in the back of the book helped my children explore their own values and beliefs about their country. There could be no better way to raise responsible citizens than to have them investigate our Christian heritage through this book.

Born in Washington, D.C., to one of the First Families of Virginia, Littleton Q. Washington attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, before securing a clerkship at the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1855, he joined the U.S. Customs House in San Francisco and became embroiled in that city's Vigilante Uprising. Dismissed from office during James Buchanan's administration, Washington made a wild and dangerous journey home across Mexico, which was then entering a bloody reform war.
An ardent secessionist, Washington secured a lieutenant's commission in the Confederate Army and served at First Bull Run. He briefly edited the Richmond Examiner before joining the Confederate State Department where he worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. He knew most of the C.S. government's top people and was a close friend of Mary Chesnut.
This journal is a fascinating character study of one man caught up in the most turbulent period of American history.

Littleton Washington's Journal is the assembled character study of Littleton Q. Washington, an ardent secessionist who served as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army at First Bull Run, and later worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. Though aptly edited by Douglas Gibboney for reader accessibility, and with informative historical notes, Littleton Washington's Journal is almost entirely Littleton's story in his own words. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs interested in seeing the Civil War from the perspective of one of its many soldiers.

Most management texts seem to be aimed at the private sector. Oliver makes a great contribution with a text focusing on the different management and leadership environment within the government, including relations with civil servants, Congress and personnel in other agencies/Departments. In addition to useful tips on organizing a personal staff and managing a schedule, he provides insight on loyalty -- an essential currency inside the beltway -- and information management. Case studies unsurprisingly draw on Oliver's experience at the Defense Department, and some parts of the book seem overwhelmingly focused on the military, but nearly all of the lessons Oliver offers appear applicable to any part of the federal government. The book, which is a quick read due to the clear writing and logical organization, should be required reading, not just for political appointees, but for civil servants who will be working for political appointees, as well as lobbyists, lawyers and industry representatives who need to understand political appointees in seeking to persuade them to adopt a particular viewpoint. One minor quibble: a good copy editor should have caught more of the typos scattered throughout the text. Hopefully, this will be corrected in future editions.

This is an excellent book no matter where you are trying to succeed. The leadership skills apply to any profession. It's also a good education about the way our country is run. The author is entertaining as well as informative. If this book had been required reading in any of my high school or college classes I would have actually read and retained the information beyond the test. Dave Oliver manages to capture the attention of a broad audience with his entertaining and intelligent writing.
Where is this man and how do I get a chance to work for him?

I certainly qualify as a layperson when it comes to this subject, but Yates has created a book which is wonderfully informative and easy to use. The descriptions and drawings of each of the species included in this book help in identification, but what I found most interesting was all the wonderful information about the animals themselves. I liked it so well I bought one for my mom, too!

After taking a community college course on Life in the Intertidal Zone, and acquiring in the process a copy of Kozloff's book on the subject, I felt marginally equipped to take my elementary students to local beaches to identify invertebrates. A partner acquainted me with this book by Yates, and I've found it to be an excellent source of line drawings for students to use as they classify or sort invertebrates either on site, or in the classroom. It is especially valuable for its notes on each animal, since they are succinct, clear, and comprehensive for their brevity. I heartily recommnend this book for anyone who loves to prowl the tidelands of the sound to observe the variety of wildlife found here. Teachers, take note, this one is worth purchasing and sharing with your students!

The text in Michelangelo is marvelous. It is charmingly and knowledgeably written, so much so that I hope one of the reprints will be made into a coffee-table extravaganza. It is a superb guide which we will take with us on our next visit to Italy. The appendixes are a triumph in themselvers, and a worthwhile trip into the great master's progression through life. It is a wonderful job.

In Michelangelo: In The Footsteps Of The Master, Charles Washington offers an engaging account of Michelangelo's life and art in the form of an Italian travel guide specifically suited to those who would like to visit the cities and towns where this master artists worked including Caprese, Florence, Bologna, Ferrar, Venice, Siena, and Rome. The modern traveler to Italy can see Michelangelo's artworks preserved in museums, churches, public buildings, plazas, and streets. Michelangelo is very highly recommended and informative reading for both armchair travelers and on-site visitors seeking to enhanced their awareness of, and appreciation for, the life and accomplishments of the great man. The informative text is supplemented with black and white photography, maps, chronologies, bibliography, and an index.