By the author's own admission, these stories weren't necessarily the best-told she encountered while researching folk tales in Haiti. The flat page lacks the beauty of the oral tale, and some of these stories may have been a little weak in the telling; but on the page they reveal a great deal about Haiti, and are a fascinating read besides.

Folk tales reveal a great deal about a culture-what it values, how members of the society relate, what their beliefs are. These tales do exactly that. While they aren't as clear-cut, with a defined beginning, middle, and end, as American readers have become accustomed to, they do give away a great detail about Haiti. Life is unfinished; hardship is to be embraced and studied; the spirit world is right here at hand, not a million miles away above the clouds.

Even on their own, they stand as a monument to the creative act and the power of the human intellect. These stories will infect your head like a virus, spreading and replicating, until you have to pass them on. Read them casually, and you will be enlightened. Study them seriously, and you may be transformed.

If you're looking for stories with pat, solid endings, this is not the book for you. But, if you're looking for something that reflects the eccentricity and style of Haiti, then this is it. The stories are magical and you can almost see the people telling them for themselves! Kric?

I lived in a remote village in Haiti for five years and found this book while home in the USA for a visit. I found its stories unusual and charming -- and authentic! When I returned to Haiti I had a wonderful time with my Haitian friends as I related the stories I had read in this book and they would finish telling them with me and share how their mothers and fathers had shared these same stories with them.

As my first son went through this book, I was amazed at how even in the 1st grade, this series was preparing him for higher mathematics in highschool. Six years later, my son breezed through variables and equations. Now my middle son is breezing through algebra as well and my youngest is finishing the Miquon Orange Book. I can't help but think that if these books had been used by my former algebra and geometry students then they would have not had to struggle with abstract concepts such as balancing equations and using variables. The Miquon books are all WONDERFUL! The Cuisenaire rods ARE a must. They are what ties the abstract ideas to the concrete math. Since I use Cuisenaire rods through 8th grade, they are well worth buying.

Miquon + Cuisenaire Rods = a wonderful way to learn -- and REALLY comprehend -- mathematics! I'm a homeschool mom, and my son used the Miquon Math Student Workbooks (consumable) along with the necessary Cuisenaire Rods to discover math in an enjoyable, stress-free, hand-on "Mathematics Lab"-style way. [Another veteran homeschooling mom recommended Miquon to ME:)]

I can't imagine a better way to discover the patterns, concepts, and simplicity of mathematics. I highly recommend the Cuisenaire Rods, Miquon Student Workbooks, and the Miquon Teachers Manual: Lab Sheet Annotations. Your student will be introduced to such concepts as multiplication, division, fractions, and factors in the FIRST grade -- all while "experimenting" (playing) with their Cuisenaire rods!

NOTES: Cuisenaire Rods are a MUST to use along with the Student Workbook. I also highly recommend the Miquon Teachers Manual: Lab Sheet Annotations -- also sold here at Amazon. The Annotations book is filled with lots of suggestions, games, ideas, and more -- which really EXPAND on the Student Workbook and make the Miquon system the "Lab Experience" that it is meant to be.

Miquon Student Workbooks:

Orange Book - 1st Grade -- Offered here...; Red Book - 1st Grade; Blue Book - 2nd Grade; Green Book - 2nd Grade; Yellow Book - 3rd Grade; Purple Book - 3rd Grade

Using a hands on manipulative method of teaching math using cuisanare rods instead of dry, rote memorization makes this math the most fun for kids, even for those who "hate" math. It is colorful, and lets kids find for themselves the basic relationships and principles of math. Using the 6 books in the system, ( two books a year for three years) by the end of the third grade(sixth book), your child will be doing simple algebra without even knowing it. I love this system, and all of the other math materials from Key Curriculum. Just be sure to buy the cuisenare rods to go with the system. I homeschooled my kids on this system, then moved right into saxon math series. It is the only math system I would ever use in the primary grades.

I picked this book up at random, and it was one of the best books I've ever read. I really enjoyed the confusion of who was narrating which book and when. One was never quite sure if it was Nevada or Clair who controlled the text in the reader's hand. And what an imagination on Linde! If one could get past the implausible nature of Nevada's sculpture, a living ecosystem encompassed in an artwork that was a refuge from reality was an ingenious idea (especially in Nevada's state of mind).

Not to mention the deeper meaning of the book which hits home with many women- codependency. It is evil and it is real, and this was a wonderful depiction of women working through their emotional battles on their own ground.

I read this book in two sittings,compared to my usual three sittings (of course only for great reads).Highly recommended reading,don't hesitate to E-Mail me.

They don't write books like this anymore. The Author has obviously put her heart and soul into this project without concern for the latest hot trends.A great read plus it is great literature.What a great Holiday present.

I just made Kitty Morse's Mint tea from her book Scent of Orange Blossoms. For years I have been digging and chopping away at a large patch of spearmint that takes over a section of my yard trying to get rid of it. Now after making Kitty's mint tea I am looking for another empty space to plant more. A simple infusion of fresh spearmint leaves, a little green tea and some sugar provided am amazing treat.

A celebration of Jewish cuisine that came from the interaction between Jews and Moslems in North Africa and Spain. When the author Kitty Morse led eating tours of Morocco, the highlight was a meal at the villa of retailer Danielle Mamane in Fez el Jdid. Both women have collaborated on this well designed and interesting book of recipes. I recommend it for its recipes, design, stories, and photographs. In addition to recipes, letters between mothers and their newly married daughters, and introductory stories, the authors list menu plans (with recipe page numbers) for the Jewish holidays, as well as the more Moroccan Jewish celebrations of La Mimouna (Pesach period), Hillula (visiting sages), and Kappara (pre-Yom Kippur). For Jewish weddings, there is the customary flan (t'faya). For Mimouna, the recommended recipes are Chicken with Orange Juice; Sephardic Mafleta pancakes; and couscous with raisin and onions confit. My favorite recipes include Walnuts with Pomegranate Seeds (which uses a heavy dose of orange blossom water); a cucumber with lemon salad; fish filets made in Fez style (with tomatoes, potatoes, and garlic); Fresh Fava Bean Soup with Cilantro for Passover; Chicken Couscous with Orange Blossom Water for Yom Kippur; Harira or Lentil and Chickpeas Soup (for Moslem Ramadan and Jewish Yom Kippur break-the-fasts); Meatballs in Onion Cinnamon Sauce, Chicken with Saffron and Ginger and Onions; and Honey Doughnuts for Hannukah. There are Fish Fillets a la Fassi (Fez style); Dafina Shabbat Stew (skhina); Chicken with Garbanzo Beans in Tetouan style; and Tangier style Potato Stew that uses preserved beef (kleehe). The Tagine of Beef uses carrot and turnips as well as cilantro, garlic, ginger, and tumeric. The Cornish Hens with Fresh Figs uses 12 figs and 12 threads of saffron; the Chicken with Onion and Tomatoes uses toasted almonds, ginger and eight threads of saffron. Preserved fruits, lemons, and kumquats play an important role in the cuisine. There is a recipe for Sephardic Shabbat Challa, and the Top of The Shelf spice that is often used; it includes a blending of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, allspice, mace, salt and ginger. La Maguina, a vegetable and meat frittata, is sliced like meatloaf. Some unique soups and salads are a white and chard soup a la Tangiers; a fennel salad; a tomato and bell pepper salad with garlic, paprika and sugar; fava bean salad with cumin; and tomato with preserved lemons.

The Scent of Orange Blossoms is a lovingly assembled cook's tour of a regional cuisine that obviously has special meaning for the author. All eight of Kitty's cookbooks have been beautifully written and illustrated, but this one, with its mouthwatering recipes and pages of luscious photos by her husband Owen, is truly a feast for the senses.

I spent three wonderful years living in Morocco and although I learned many recipes from Moroccan neighbors and some from Kitty herself, I have found in her latest book new combinations of spices, fresh vegetables and meats that I can't wait to try. Most of the Sephardic families had left Morocco when I lived there in the seventies and most of their recipes had gone with them. Kitty's meticulous research with Danielle and the wonderful stories and letters that illustrate this tome make it as much a history book as a cook book.

More than anything else, at this time of great conflict and crisis in the world, The Scent of Orange Blossoms is a wonderful reminder of how Jews and Arabs can live (and cook) together in peace and harmony as they did for centuries in Morocco.

I must go now and begin preparing my preserved lemons (p. 20).

Salaam and shalom.

Definately the best job market book out there. I was new to the area, having relocated from D.C., and within 2 weeks following the guidelines in this book had several interviews lined up and quickly got a great job!

Highly recommended.

If you are in the midst of a career change or even just thinking about one that may involve relocating, this guide is the best place to start. In particular, it provides a comprehensive background on regional highlights that I was not able to find in any other job oriented material. The information is informal and local which indicates to me that it was written by local residents who understand the benefits about their community that keeps them there. Since this is an extremely important aspect of any relocation change one may be making, I highly recommend Job Source as the best place to start.

The bonus is that this additional information does not diminish the detail and up-to-date resource information available in the Job Source series books. Again, this is the only guide you will need to make a career change.

If you are looking for a job in Southern California, this book is for you. It has several sample resume's and cover letters, as well as a comprehensive article to help guide you on how to find a job on the internet. But the most valuable part of this book is the thousands of contacts it provides. Complete with addresses, phone numbers, web sites and the key contact people. It's a great tool to not only help you find the right job, but the right company.

Edward Miller's "War Plan Orange" is a well researched and effectively written book on the United states Navy's plan of action against a naval threat from the Empire of Japan. He covers the plan from it's initial design, through it's many changes, and through the point where it was "taken off the self" and executed.
While the sneak attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor might have destroyed a large portion of the physical fleet. One thing they could not touch was this plan and through it's use as the foundation for the US response, the defeat of Japan was assured. Let's hope that we still make plans that prove this effective.

Author Edward Stanley Miller has expertly distilled the political and military conditions of each era of war planning for the Pacific Theater. Using a plethora of original references to illustrate contemporary reasons for each era of stratagy, Mr. Miller has done a yeoman's job. The text is logical (a difficult task to identify all of the ebbs and flows of the various planning bodies of the time)and informative. The supporting tables, charts and maps are helpful but could have been expanded. Additional maps of Midway, Corregidor and various other key locations would have enhanced the text. Considering the main thrust of this scholarly work however , any lack of illustrative aids is not a major handicap. This book serves as a benchmark for U.S. military and geopolitical stratagy in the greater Pacific area for the first half of the twentieth century.

Too often these days both fictional and "factual" scholarly and media representations of military personnel falls into two categories: buffoons or renegades. Edward S. Miller explodes the myth that the interwar military planners were a bunch of buffoons and the actual combatants who won the war against Japan a bunch of brilliant innovators. War Plan Orange reveals the careful, thoughtful debate and study that went into Pacific War Planning for 48 years. In the final analysis, about the only mistake the interwar planners actually made was to underestimate time and resources required (something that happens with every campaign). As to basic strategy, their work was sound. The campaigners of WW2--some of whom helped with interwar planning--did nothing innovative, they simply executed a good plan proven through much wargaming and study.

Champ of Champs is a wonderful, wholesome book for young readers. As a parent, I thought the message in the book is important. It teaches honesty and to value diversity. My kids loved the story. My 6 year old really identified with the characters and my 3 year old loved the illustrations. He frequently will set and look at the book on his own while I homeschool our oldest child. Camp of Champs is so popular in our family, it is on our all-time favorite book list for bedtime stories.

As a grandparent invested in seeing my granddaughter learn in a relaxed environment, it was a joy to see how much my granddaughter loved this book. The illustrations are exceptional, with vibrant colors and fanciful fruits gently teaching, in a simple but powerful way, the values of honesty and integrity. Faith loves this book and it is already one of her most treasured possessions. This is a wonderfully well written book, reflecting positive values through an enjoyable and fun experience. Looking forward to more!

Engagingly written by Jeana Thomas and brightly illustrated by Lisa Allen Triefenbach, Champ Of Champs: Why Was Blueberry Orange? launches a new series designed to entertain and teach young readers ages 4 to 8 some of life's lessons. This time it's about the virtue of honesty as Buddy Blueberry gets himself into a compromising position his first day at the "Camp of Champs". In the conclusion of this lively and engaging story, children are presented with questions which will ensure that the lesson about the value of telling the truth and the possible consequences of dishonesty reflected in the story has been understood. Champ Of Champs: Why Was Blueberry Orange? is strongly recommended for private school, parochial school, public elementary school, and home school library collections and reading lists for preschool through first grade students.

I have taken many of the trails listed in this book and was impressed with the accurate trail maps which include mileage markers, geologic features, and elevations of mountain peaks. Trail descriptions include the distance, estimated time required, start and end elevations, and technical ratings. The book is useful for both mountain bikers and hikers. About fifty pages are devoted solely to trails in the Santa Ana Mountains. Unfortunately, recent development has eliminated some of the trailheads, especially in Aliso & Wood Canyons Park.

I love the book, and refer to it every weekend

I have reviewed the 5th Edition of "Bicycle Rides in Orange County," published January 2001, by Don and Sharron Brundidge. I can't think of a better guide for all types of riders. There is a complete description of each ride along with maps and contour plots. Rides are rated by many criteria: difficulty, scenery, distance workout, elevation workout, bike route quality (exclusive bike trail, separated striped bike lane, signed non-separated bike lane, and none of the above), sight-seeing attractions, and nature trails. This guide added 16 rides to the 1988 edition, making a total of 58. The guides also indicate parks, restrooms, water, special points of interest, and occasional eateries. I did all but the Orange County Century in the 1988 edition and so far have done 10 of the 16 new rides in the 2001 edition. Also I noticed that some of the original 42 rides have had revisions that I want to try also.

I have checked the distances and elevation gains with my own GPS and Avocet vertical gain watch and found the guides to be quite accurate. Options are described for shortening certain rides. Another feature I liked was the description of the connectivity between near-by rides for those riders who want to do multiple rides in a day's outing. I can't think of a more complete guide. When I finish the 16 added rides in Orange County, I want to start on the additional rides in the latest revision to "Bicycle Rides in Los Angeles County."

The book provides 51 on-road trip descriptions (58 total rides) in Orange County. Rides vary from those for short-length family trips on separated bike paths, many longer exploratory and workout trips for more experienced riders on various quality bike routes, and a few "gut-buster" tours for the most physically fit and motivated bikers. There are over 800 one-way miles of biking described. Included are the Orange County "Grandaddy" and a county century ride. Trip domains include cities, beaches, parks, canyons, valleys, mountains, rivers, harbors and lakes.
Included is a master map to show ride locations within the county and a master matrix that identifies ride location, level of difficulty, route composition (percentage of route on bike trail, signed bike lanes or open roadway) and a general trip characterization (i.e., Is the trip scenic? Is it in a natural setting? Are there landmarks and/or sightseeing attractions along the way? Is this a mileage and/or elevation workout?).
Each trip description contains a detailed trip map and elevation-distance profile and scenic or character-interest photographs are scattered throughout the book. The route maps note the location of water sources, landmarks, sightseeing attractions and campsites among other points of interest.
Condensed Table of Contents:
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Trip Organization
Trip Description/Terminology
General Biking Considerations
Orange County Trips
-- The Coast (16 trips)

-- River Trails (Rivers/Creeks) (4 trips)
-- Inland (12 trips)
-- The "Big Guys" (Long-distance Rides) (3 trips)
-- New Trips (16 Trips)
Index

I have tried identifying birds with other books before, and I usually gave up in frustration because there'd be, like, 20 birds that mine could possibly be related to, but no exact match. These were mainly books that covered all of North America, or all of the Pacific states.

With "Birds of Los Angeles," I have actually identified several birds! The pictures are big and colorful, the information (habits, habitat, etc.) enough to tell you what you casually want to know. Its dimensions are compact but it is a little heavy, because of the weight of the glossy paper, but not impossible to take along backpacking.

20 years ago Los Angeles had over one hundred bad quality days (smoggy days). During 1997 only three bad quality days were called.

I suppose the birds never left the place, but now they are more beautiful then ever, and it is a pleasure to go outside to see them.

This book is a wonderful illustrated identification tool, it will augment your enjoyment of birding through this magnificent region.