This story by John R. Erickson is about a dog named Hank. Hank lives on a old ranch.Hank eats a dead chicken, and gets blamed for killing it. Then Hank runs away, and meets sneaky coyotes. More trouble is about to happen!
I really think you should read this book because the dogs are funny. They remind me of my dog, who is a total space case.I liked this book,you will,too!

The Adventures of Hank the Cowdog is a great book by John R. Ericson. The story takes place on an old ranch. It is about a dog named Hank, who is head of ranch security. Loper is his master. Loper also has another dog named Pete, who is Hank's best friend. It is funny how the author makes Hank have no idea what's going on a lot of the time, he is clueless and that's only one of the funny parts of the book. Hank gets into lots of trouble and has exciting adventures. Hank runs away and joins a wolf pack, but he comes back at the end. This is a great book. It made me laugh out loud. It's the greatest book on earth. I want to buy more Hank the Cowdog books.

When I first got this book, before I read it, I was a bit apprehensive; A book written from a dog's perspective? Give me a break!. After I started it though I couldn't stop laughing, Hank is a bone-headed dog with an over-inflated ego, but the story isn't a bit tacky. Hank blunders around his ranch, barking at the mailman (you never know what those guys are up to), "investigating" murders (burp), and getting yelled at by Sally May. You'll love not only this book but the whole series. Let me warn you, you will become addicted to Hank the Cowdog; and the audio-tapes are even better. When is the last time you listen to a book on tape? Well, forget that, those were READ, Hank on tape is PERFORMED by the author.

Michael Holmes heightens the awareness of ordinary citizens to the corruption that goes on within our local police departments. This book was a page turner for me! I would recommend this book for everyone to read! It's primary focus is on corruption, but it also focuses on civic duty, honor, integrity and values. Holmes was brought up with great values--which in the end--definitely saved his life! This book is a must read!

I am the president of the Women of Color Book Club. This book is by far one of the greatest non-fiction books I have ever read. We had the opportunity to host and meet Michael Holmes for our October book club meeting. This book was a page-turner for me. I guarantee you once you begin reading the book it captivate your attention so quickly. Michael did a great job telling his story. He has a courageous story to tell. I truly applaud Michael for doing the right thing and to prove that there are still good cops out there. When reading this book you can feel the betrayal and loneliness that he felt. I recommend this book to all police officers. By making the right choice you will sometimes have to stand alone. I have a 17 year son and he is now reading this book. Thanks Michael for sharing your story with me and my book club sisters. You have the Women of Club Book Club support. We are await your next nove.

I am the president of Atlanta's largest (hottest) book club (Circle of Friends II) and I am proud to say that our chapter read "Twelfth Man Standing" as our June 2002 reading selection. This is one of the very few non-fiction books our group has ever read collectively and one of the first "true story" type novels on our reading list in 5 years. What a powerful tale of Michael's life as a law enforcement officer. I must honestly say that the most meaningful part of the entire story for me is that Michael had the opportunity to be a "BAD COP"...he stuck (against all odds) with what he knew was right and those decisions has earned him the name..."Twelfth Man Standing". I highly and strongly recommend this book to all those who are raising young men. I am the mother of a 15 year old African-American son and I have passed this book on to him because I want him to see how things work out when you "tell the truth" and simply do what you know is right, against all odds. In the story of this book, the author takes you through one of the darkest, most scariest time of his life. The book is to the point and leaves no stones un-turned. I assure you that this book will have anyone burning midnight oil. I want to commend Michael for being brave enough to tell his story. Circle of Friends II are fans indeed and we will support your works going forth.

Holmes is always readable and SEEMS always sympathetic to Coleridge, but readers should be aware that Holmes as portraitist manipulates the lighting to suit his purposes. That is, he brings out the side of STC that he believes will win him to a modern reader -- such as Coleridge's anguished sexuality -- while putting in the shadow the man's religious writings. In a 900-page book, Holmes gives about two pages to one of STC's major life-works, AIDS TO REFLECTION, a metaphysical-religious tome, and a mere paragraph to his last book, ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH AND STATE. Holmes is much more interested, it appears, in the possibility that Coleridge saw the woman he loved in bed with Wordsworth -- something STC himself said he knew was just a "phantasm" of his mind. Thus, Holmes's two-volume biography is more readable than it is judicious.

As a spectacularly brilliant but moody young man in his twenties, Coleridge already was a first-rate writer, an erudite thinker, a dedicated diarist, an impressive scholar, a spellbinding conversationalist, a charismatic public speaker, an inspiring religious preacher, a promising dramatist, an accomplished journalist, and the author of at least two masterpieces which have stood the test of time (THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER and KUBLA KHAN). But unfortunately for Coleridge (and for posterity), he also was in the process of becoming an opium-addicted, alcohol dependent, manic depressive with a "fatal attraction" to William Wordsworth. Richard Holmes accurately describes that fatal attraction and peculiar attachment to Wordworth with narrative skill in his well-written, two volume biography. But he bends over backwards not to analyze the conscious and unconscious basis of Coleridge's self-destructiveness. While such conjectural restraint may be admirable as a general principle of biography, it comes at too high a price if the subject is someone like Coleridge (or other "confessional poets" like Sylvia Plath or Ann Sexton)--who actually happens to be actively suffering from one or more major mental illnesses. Although modern psychiatric diagnostic terminology did not exist in Coleridge's day, the conditions existed. From Holmes' own account, there is no doubt that many of the physicians who treated Coleridge in his later years recognized the plain fact that he was suffering from substance abuse and a mood disorder. As a result of his decision to avoid pathologizing his subject by playing amateur psychiatrist, Holmes also avoids engaging in any in-depth psychological discussion of the mercurial moods and mysterious motives which could help shed light on Coleridge's otherwise baffling attachment to Wordsworth. Not only does Holmes completely ignore Coleridge's manic depression and its downwardly spiralling reciprocal interaction with drugs and alcohol, he also avoids examing Coleridge's latent homosexuality: the compulsive brother hunger and neurotic guilt that drove him into his downwardly spiralling and progressively tormented friendship with Wordsworth. Richard Holmes' two volume biography is an excellent study of Coleridge's mind as reflected through the prisms of his poetry, letters and diaries. But it fails to explore Coleridge's unconscious mind and leaves us still searching for answers. Stephen M. Weissman,M.D. Author of HIS BROTHER'S KEEPER: A PSYCHOBIOGRAPHY OF SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Richard Holmes' marvellous book is the sequel to his Coleridge: Early Visions. For fifteen years, he has been constantly engaged with Coleridge's ideas, poems, plays and philosophical writings. He traces Coleridge's lifelong dialogues with the greatest of English poets, Shakespeare, Milton and Wordsworth, and also with the finest German writers, Goethe and Schiller.

Coleridge was that rare creature, a superb poet who could also grapple with the deepest of philosophers. He could brilliantly summarise the two basic possible lines in philosophy: "The difference between Aristotle and Plato is that which will remain as long as we are men and there is any difference between man and man in point of opinion. Plato, with Pythagoras before him, had conceived that the phenomenon or outside appearance, all that we call thing or matter, is but as it were a language by which the invisible (that which is not the object of our senses) communicates its existence to our finite beings ... Aristotle, on the contrary, affirmed that all our knowledge had begun in experience, had begun through the senses, and that from the senses only we could take our notions of reality ... It was the first way in which, plainly and distinctly, two opposite systems were placed before the mind of the world."

Although Coleridge adhered to Platonism, he honestly admitted, "All these poetico-philosophical Arguments strike and shatter themselves into froth against that stubborn rock, the fact of Consciousness, or rather its dependence on the body."

Like other notable literary biographies - one thinks of Holmes' earlier one of Shelley, Richard Ellman's of Oscar Wilde, Peter Ackroyd's of Charles Dickens, Tim Hilton's of John Ruskin, E. P. Thompson's of William Morris, and Leon Edel's of Henry James - this wonderful book arouses our enthusiasm for literature. It shows us again how a great writer's work can help us both to enjoy and to make sense of the world.

I can't recommend this book ENOUGH if you're going to take the Windows 2000 Professional exam (70-210). Authors did a SUPERB job of filtering out all the unnecessary garbage and getting straight to the point. My time is precious, and I needed to pass this exam to move to a new salary level. This book was the best investment I made! I mistakenly bought someo ther books to help me with this exam also. I returned the others. I will keep this book forever - as a reference it's fantatsic, too!! You really need this book if your goal is passing 70-210 the first time around. Good luck, and thank you to the authors!!!

Never having used Windows 2000 except a very limited time with a Professional Client, I thought the process of obtaining my Win 2000 track MCSE would be an up hill battle. But, with the help of this cram and the 70-210 Study Guide from Syngress / Osborne / McGraw Hill I passed the exam flawlessly.

The only problems I had with the book were minor technical errors that conflicted with my other Study Guide and had to be resolved on the Microsoft site...but I stress the errors were MINOR. I also wish they stressed the unattended/Remote install options more in depth...due to the fact the a large percentage of my exam concentrated on RIS.

But all and all this guide, as well as a decent study guide are enough for a power user to pass this exam with very little problem.

I read this book in the two weeks prior to taking the 70-210 exam, I am currently taking classes at a local college for the MCSE certification, I have all the Microsoft Official Curriculum books and I can tell you that this book is a lot better than the MOCs.

Not only brings all the MOC material together in a very concise way, but makes it easy to understand and digest.

I have a couple years experience as a Help Desk Support technician and I used Windows 2000 extensively, but I still learned a lot of last minute details on this book.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking to obtain their certification.

Good luck!

I have always viewed fans of military history with suspicion, having known too many who are weapon-fetishists, power-worshippers or simply ghouls. Fortunately for me, a sane, gentle friend read and recommended this book (thanks Mike Malcolm, where ever you are), introducing me to a now favorite author. MASK analyzes and contrasts the military leadership of four men: Alexander, Wellington, Grant and Hitler. Each profile is fascinating in itself, but what impressed me profoundly was the final chapter, in which Keegan brings everything together, enumerating the "imperatives" of military authority throughout history, and finally asking how those imperatives can be met in the nuclear world, where the civilian population is on the front lines and generals must necessarily "lead" from behind. I recommend this book (and all Keegan's work) wholeheartedly to anyone who would never dream of reading "military history".

Keegan's Face of Battle is one of my favorite books, indeed one of the finest works on the human dimension of war in print. Mask of Command, however, did not live up to that standard. While the depictions of Alexander, Wellington, Grant, and Hitler are insightful, Keegan's simplistic notion of the "heroic" paradigm of leadership (be it heroic, anti-heroic, post-heroic, etc.) is overdrawn and unsatisfying. For instance, Alexander is Keegan's embodiment of "heroic" leadership. If "heroic" was truly the standard for leadership in ancient times, why did Alexander's soldiers revolt against him (several times), even though Alexander never stopped being heroic? Alexander's leadership, warts and all, is better explained by the strength of trust that existed between him and his soldiers. Heroism was necessary but not sufficient to earn and sustain that trust.

Leadership is primarily about trust: trust in the leader's vision and plans, judgment and decision-making abilities, character and competence. Keegan's discussion of leadership never penetrates to the heart of the matter; he surprisingly fails to uncover the criticality of sustaining trust between leader and led and the problems that arise when trust erodes.

If you want to learn more about Alexander, Wellington, Grant, and Hitler, read this book. Keegan is a superb historian. If you are looking for insight on the challenges of leadership, however, you will not be satisfied with Mask of Command. -- Christopher D. Kolenda, Editor and Co-Author of Leadership: The Warrior's Art

Dr. Keegan has another masterpiece. This book details leadership styles and techniques by answering a very simple question: "In front? Always, sometimes, never?" The historical perspective on the question is provided in 4 fascinating biographies of Alexander the Great, Wellington, Grant, and Hitler. Amazingly little changed in terms of how war was fought between Alexander and Wellington and yet the cultural impact of their societies had profound impact on their power of authority and the means in which they wielded it. I personally found the biography of Grant to be the most interesting and how the influence of rifled muskets and the large presence of cannon drove commanders farther from the front line and how democratic society supported that removal of "shared risk". Hitler's biography clarified a great deal of history and myth that I had not read previously: Hitler actually had a much more distinguished career as a soldier than I had previously understood and that had a profound effect on his understanding and misunderstanding of the circumstances of the Second World War. Hitler appeared to understand a large portion of the mechanisms of leadership and warfare but misunderstood the key lessoned to be learned from the First World War: that the leader on the scene is often capable of the best decisions.
The text effortless weaves these historical perspectives into a short, concise study of leadership styles and requirements and then presents a clear thesis on leadership in the nuclear age. This thesis is truly terrifying in light of the implications of history; our origins appear to contradict the requirements for future survival. This text is as much a study in leadership and management styles as it is a military science text. It is well written and highly enjoyable. If only we could get Dr. Keegan to add an addendum to leadership in the age of stateless terror.

If you have any passion for animals at all, you will devour this book. It's so sweet and wonderful -- a masterpiece of 20th century literature.

Mr. Herriot was truly a gifted writer. His heart could be felt in every word -- he deeply cared for the animals he doctored over the years. Aside from the endearing tails (pardon the pun), he masterfully described the European countryside, the people who belonged to the pets, the pubs he frequented and his everyday astonishing feats of medical marvelry. Yet he was so humble and down-to-earth. His stories are either tear-jerkers or pant-wetters. More than once I found myself nearly crying during study period at college because I was laughing so hard.

Some of my favorite shorts were "The Card Over the Bed", "Tricki Woo", "Granville Bennett", "Have a Cigar" and "Mrs. Donovan" -- the latter being my favorite. (Mrs. Donovan was a crone who patrolled the streets of Darrowby trying to cure people's animals quite often causing strife for Mr. Herriot.)

The very best thing about this book, aside from it being a quick and easy read, is that the stories are broken up so that you can put it down at any time and come back to it without fear of having lost your place.

James Herriot was the master of animal literature. Never have I encountered a more tasteful writer who so accurately depicted the behavior of dogs. I am a huge animal lover having two cats and a dog of my own. I found amazing similarities between the antics of the dogs showcased in this book and my own golden lab, and reading it made me want to cuddle him closer.

If you love dogs, you'll love this book. It is so interesting to get to read about his life with so many dogs that entered his life. He can be very comical through the book and he can make you cry too. His writing makes you feel that you were there with him when the stories happened. It is unfortunate that James is no longer with us here on Earth. God rest his soul.

I was looking to buy a book for a friend who was getting a new puppy. I thought that "Favorite Dog Stories" would be a good start for both puppy and his owner. But then, I saw the beutiful illustrations inside the book and I could not resist. I read it in a day. And it brought all sort of emotions, because stories were so beautiful. This is an excellent book for both children and adults. I would recommend it to anyone. And you know what - I am a two cats owner. Not even a "real" dog person. Enjoy this wonderful book. Thank you Mr. Herriot for sharing these wonderful stories...

Being both a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes AND The Phantom of the Opera, I really enjoyed this book. Sam Siciliano did a great job in writing it. When I first bought it, I read it all the way through in just two days! However, I rank it at four stars rather than five since Watson wasn't included in the story. Rather it was Holmes' cousin, Henry Vernet, who chronicled the events and joined Holmes on this adventure. I didn't really care for him as a character. Other than that, I say, read this book!!!

There's a hokey premise lurking in Sam Siciliano's "Angel of the Opera: Sherlock Holmes Meets the Phantom of the Opera."

On the heels of a disturbing case (the conclusion of which sets the tone and pace for the rest of the book), Sherlock Holmes and his cousin Dr. Henry Vernier- the book's narrator and an amiable replacement for Watson, with whom Holmes has had a falling-out - are summoned to Paris, where managers of the Paris Opera House have had problems with a mysterious Opera Ghost.

Sounds corny, no?

The truth is, it's anything but. Siciliano ably takes Arthur Conan Doyle's and Gaston Leroux's creations, and weaves them into a story that is possibly better than those of his predecessors.

Vernier and Holmes share a delightful familial connection that takes way from Watson's absence as the two traipse through the underdwellings of the Opera House. It's not hard to imagine the two lurking in the background of Leroux's novel.

With considerable amusement, Siciliano transforms the flat, supporting characters of

"Phantom" into viable human beings.

The object of the Phantom's affections, Christine Daae, is a young woman torn by conflicting desires. Her lover Raoul de Chagny is a repulsive moonstruck suitor. Perhaps not Leroux's original concept of the characters, but infinitely more appealing to the reader.

Holmes and the Phantom's personalities are not altered, but the author presents them in a more accessible manner than Doyle and Leroux's versions- most likely because of the era they were written in- allow.

They are the Holmes and Phantom we are all familiar with; at the same time, they are no longer a stuggle to read.

The clash of titans is not so much a battle between enemies as it is a meeting of equals. Both are masters of their environments, incredibly gifted and neither is completely at ease with humanity.

From the moment Sherlock receives a warning telegram from the Phantom, neither man has the upper hand. When they finally come face to face, Siciliano wisely focuses on the mutual respect that only two of the most popular literary creations ever could have for each other.

Apart, the characters of Sherlock Holmes and the Phantom of the Opera are adorable. But when thrust together, as they are in "Angel of the Opera," the results are mesmerizing.

This book is extremely satisfying for fans of Phantom of the Opera and Sherlock Holmes alike. Mr Siciliano's portrayal of both was somewhat surprising in that they are so closely based on the originals as well as some liberties being taken. I really came to know Erik better and wished that there was a sequel. However, there would be no reason to continue with the portion with Sherlock as I wanted to know more of what happened to Erik. You must read this book! I highly recommend this to one and all!

I didn't like to read any books before, but after I have read this book , I become more and more interested in reading. I started to have motivation to read as many books as in my life.
" A Study in Scarlet " ( written by Conan Doyle ) is the first full-length novel appearance of Sherlock Holmes. And I know Sherlock Holmes is very famous detective in fiction. Therefore, I choose this book.I like Holmes's deduction the most. He has great power in observation and understanding in all types of crime. He is full of knowledge that can help him to solve the problem and he likes violin and opera. If his brain contains anything apart from these , he must try to forget them all as quick as possible.

I am quite interested in mystery. If you don't know which book is good to read , try to read the story about Sherlock Holmes . You must like it .

A Study in Scarlet is a good detective story, but certainly not Doyle's greatest. But it bears the distinction of being the novel which introduced the world to the legendary Sherlock Holmes. First appearing in 1887, it was not to be the greatest story about Sherlock Holmes, but it was the first. Doyle first introduces us to John H. Watson, a medical doctor recovering from duty in Afghanistan. Watson needs a room-mate, and a mutual acquaintance introduces both him and us to Holmes. So we come to know both Holmes, Watson, and the memorable 221B Baker Street.

Watson's first impressions of Holmes are merely that he is a man enshrouded in mystery and eccentricity, and Watson politely restrains his curiosity by avoiding asking too many intrusive questions, despite the parade of strange individuals that come to their apartment to consult Holmes, and despite his bemusement at Holmes' passion for playing the violin and his egotism. Watson's perplexation at Holmes' character and profession is slowly unravelled in the second chapter which Doyle appropriately titles 'The Science of Deduction'. Watson observes that 'his zeal for certain studies was remarkable, and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his observations have fairly astounded me 'His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing ' That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to me to be such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.'(p11). Holmes apparently is brilliant at identifying a stain on your trousers, but completely ignorant about the most elementary contemporary political events.

Ironically, Watson's inability to deduce Holmes' profession proves that he lacks the very ability that he is seeking to uncover in Holmes: deduction. For Holmes doesn't just excel in specialized knowledge, but especially in the science of deduction and logic. By utilizing the skills of observation and analysis Holmes asserts that logic could solve all virtually all problems. In his words: 'From a drop of water, a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. So all life is a great chain, the nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches on where to look and what to look for. By a mans' finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by his trouser-knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirtcuffs ' by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent inquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.' (p14-15). Watson calls this science of deduction 'ineffable twaddle', but as we know, this is the vintage Holmes we love and the very core of his being. Not only does he prove it to Watson by remarkably deducing that Watson had served duty in Afghanistan, but by collaring the criminal in a murder case.

The story itself consists in two parts: the first part introduces us to Holmes and Watson, and describes the murder of Enoch Drebber and his secretary Joseph Stangerson, and several failed attempts of Scotland Yard detectives to solve it, concluding with Holmes unmasking the real perpetrator, to the complete astonishment of all present. The second part is a flashback, explaining the background and motives for the murder, as finally Holmes relates the observations and deductions that led him to solving it. In short, 'the crime was the result of an old-standing and romantic feud, in which love and Mormonism bore a part.' (p103)

But what is fascinating about 'A Study in Scarlet' is not so much the mystery, but the man: Holmes himself. Doyle would later learn to eliminate some of the excess baggage present in this story (such as the extended flashback) and focus on Holmes and his deductions. The characterization of Holmes as an eccentric man driven by logic is wonderfully created for the first time in this novel. Already here is the foundation of the Sherlock Holmes that would become so successful in all of Doyle's later stories. A few quotes illustrate how the tone of the deductive Holmes is set: 'In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backward. That is a very useful accomplishment, and a very easy one, but people do not practise it much.' (p99-100) 'There is no branch of detective science which is so important and so much neglected as the art of tracing footsteps.' (p100) 'You see, the whole thing is a chain of logical sequences without a break or flaw.' (p102)

Here the successful formula is already established: Scotland Yard is baffled, so is his foil the bumbling doctor Watson, and so are we the readers. Holmes has long solved the mystery before we have even begun identifying red herrings, and it is when he sits by the fire and explains to Watson the process of deduction that we curl up in delight. The partnership between the super-sleuth Holmes and his beloved side-kick Watson all starts here, and if you love Sherlock Holmes, you won't want to miss it!

This is where it all began, the very first Sherlock Holmes story. If you want to read all 60 Holmes adventures in chronological order (as you should) then by all means make this the first Holmes book that you ever read. They are all literary masterpieces, and this was the first one! Out of the 4 Holmes novels, I would rank this third, behind the Valley of Fear and the Hound of the Baskervilles. I will spare you the plot details, you can do that elsewhere. Just get and read this book and it will start you on a fascinating and extremely entertaining journey through Conan Doyle's world of Sherlock Holmes, one of the most widely recognized, and best, figures in all of literature.

If you are on a Spiritual Journey then this book is a must. I have been a student of Science of Mind for seven years and the teachings of Ernest Holmes have changed my life by helping me change my way of thinking. This is not a "self help" book, nor is science of mind a religion; it is a way of life. It makes no difference what your beliefs are, you will find that this book touches your soul. This book is not a one time read; you use it daily, over and over. Take your time reading it in order to conceptualize the material and enjoy your journey!

This seminal work has created a whole spiritual movement - Religious Science which numbers more than 100,000 people worldwide. More than any other book on metaphysics, it clearly explicates the universal laws that govern this universe and that can be understood by the human mind.

Science of Mind is based upon the great spiritual ideas from both east and west. There is no dogma here. Rather it is a work about the power of the human mind to heal, to create, and make a better life for oneself. This is metaphysics at its absolute best.

Please remember that SCIENCE OF MIND is a textbook, not just a easy reading prose. It requires discussion and review for it to illuminate the mind and heart. Enjoy one of the finest books ever to be written about metaphysics and new thought. A gem.

Only read this if you are willing to take full responsibility for all that you create in life! Ernest Holmes demonstrates an in-depth integration and synthesis of many philosophical and metaphysical traditions and systems of thought throughout the book. Blending these thoughts with his own understanding, he extracts a truth that is whole, intelligent, wise and uplifting. The insights, ideas and inspiration contained in this book can completely change your world view to one of power, passion, connection, strength and purpose. You'll definitely create more love in your life! Your spiritual life will be renewed. CAUTION: New, thought-provoking words seem to creep into this book each time you set it down, so, keep your highlighter handy!

My Mom gave me Encyclopedia Brown as a reading assignment.

Leroy Brown lives in the town of Idaville. He helps his dad solve police mysteries. No one in Idaville ever gets away with a crime when Encyclopedia is around!

I admire how Leroy stands up to the bully, Bugs Meany.
I really enjoyed trying to solve the mysteries. I think Leroy (Encyclopedia) Brown is the smartest person in the state!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys solving a challenge. I have read a few others in the series and enjoyed those as well.

"Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective" is a wonderful book for kids from about six years to about 12 or so. Published in 1963, it has a sweet tone reminiscent of 1950's TV shows. The fun, though, lies in tracing and anticipating young Brown's using logic, a little science, and keen observation to solve minor crimes and mysteries. Sometimes, he's helping his police chief father; other times kids bring the mysteries directly to him.

Your child may successfully solve the mystery on his or her own (each of the 10 cases ends with a question, e.g., "HOW DID ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN KNOW THIS?," or, after trying to find the culprit, they can turn to the back for the brief answers. There's no tricks, though at least one story assumes a little more knowledge than might be expected from the average grade schooler. For example, one hint is that "Bull Run" was the Northern name for the Civil War battle, not the Southern name (although this solution has an easier clue as well).

A wonderful, captivating series of vignettes (ten cases covering 78 pages, not including solutions), I recommend this very highly. It's also a great book for readers from about grades two through about six.

Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade boy who solves puzzles, crimes and mysteries as easily and as unconsciously as breathing.

Each book is a series of short mysteries (5-10 pages each) ending with a question - usually "how did Encyclopedia know that X was responsible for the crime". The answer to each mystery is at the back of the book. Solving the mystery takes no special knowledge, but it does require paying attention to detail. Don't turn to the answer too fast.

This book is the first in the series, but the books do not have to be read in order. I loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was growing up. I am reading them again before I give them to my nephew who I hope will enjoy them as I did.

Adults who like this series may also enjoy the Lateral Thinking Puzzles books.