I recently discoverd this book by David Kracov and had to purchase it to see how close I could come to duplicating his sculpting technique. So far I am very happy with the results, and considering the fact that he uses a clay that I have not used in the past, I consider this a good selling point for his book. I would not recommend this book for someone just getting into clay sculpting as he leaves out some vital information (or so I believe) and some of his instructions are very vague. But if you've learned the basics of sculpting characters from another source or are a natural artist, I think you should be able to glean some very useful design concepts from this book. Mr. Kracov is very talented and I hope he publishes another book soon. I will be watching and waiting for one.

I first got this book out of the library and now that I've read it, I'm going to buy it. The book demonstrates a cartoonish but not cutesy style of sculpting. I've always wondered how to make that style of eyes and brows and it showed me exactly. Might not be the best book for someone who has never touched clay before but definitely worth reading for anyone with even a little experience.

Overall this book is a good overview of the american political system. The structures of the beurocracy, executive, congressional, and judicial branches are covered very thoroughly. However, I found that the author inserted a bit too much of his own Republican biases in it. There is a whole section devoted to "government waste" - a common election tactic by Republicans. While it is true that the government is wasteful- all beurocracies are to some extent- a recent survey showed the US gov't to be the 3rd most efficient in the world. Also, sprinkled throughout the book are convinient three paragraph long and very shallow "Counterpoints" which try to convince readers of republican principles from the flat tax to the abolition of affirmative action. The most egragrious offenses come in various profiles "people in polics" of various leaders in politics. Invariably, the Republicans profiled have their personal strengths asserted with a folksy charm, while the Democrats are given a far away overview as well as mention of some trivial personal faults (Barbara Boxer's overdrafts from the House banks- a trivial issue in the big picture of things- is in her bio). And of course there are also the "Liberal ratings" in it- with the late Paul Wellstone topping the list. In addition to all of this, the general wording of the book and word choice used betrays the clearly Republican biases of the author. Overall the book is not a bad book, it does a good and thorough job at outlining the structure of the federal government, however, reader beware of the biases of the author.

I just finished taking a class called "Introduction to American Politics" and this was our only textbook. I found the textbook to be easy to read, clearly written, and factually accurate. I fear that many students, like myself, who have already studied some in this area may find the book to be too simplified, and will get bored reading about the basics of material which is already familiar to them. The book is great for the novice, but is definitely not upperclassmen material.

I share the name of this book's protagonist; and that's primarily why I bought the book (out of curiosity). People are always telling me I have a "cowboy name", and I guess Mr. Friend's use of it (my name) underscores that feeling. I have also been told I look like I am, or should be, a cowboy on more occasions than I can recount. THEREFORE, if this book is ever made into a movie, wouldn't it be only fitting that I play the lead role (Clay Shannon as Clay Shannon)?

No mistakening it, this is another excellent story by Charles E. Friend as he sets out to show that justice prevails when he is wearing the badge. I love the stories that Mr. Friend presents on paper for us to read. He is an excellent storyteller whose writing is strong and keeps one turning the pages. This is a five star book.

A well written book interspersing genuine letters from her family with observations and historical details provided by the author. It is interesting from a "slice of life" perspective but also for the historical record of the Civil War as recorded by those actually experiencing it. It should especially captivate those living in Kentucky and familiar with the towns and families discussed.

This absorbing book, which consists mostly of the actual letters of the Clay family, draws the reader in as well as any fictional account ever could. Few of the letter writers actually see combat, so the book is largely an account of ordinary life against the backdrop of the war. Though some letters offer insight into the political realities and trade-offs of the period, it is the intimate details of everyday life and human relations that fascinate. Mary Clay is never intrusive in her comments that bridge and sometimes explain the letters.

Wade is NOT excited about going to a fancy school out of the neighborhood for a gifted program. But his family insists that he go, so each morning he and a girl from his school are taken across town to attend the gifted program. They are not given a royal welcome, but they are also both a bit reluctant to reach out. The realities of such a situation are clearly described. Thankfully, there is little attempt to preach a solution. Wade's uncle does mention prejudice against blacks and people from their neighborhood, but he doesn't leave out other factors. Wade does manage to reconcile himself to the circumstances and even to begin to feel more comfortable. Although he does get some support from his family, he and Dink do most of the work themselves.

Good enough and real enough to hold kids' attention, but there is also enough food for thought, too.

This book accurately traces the development and origin of the American Bungalow. Lancaster's essay is informative and thorough. This is a good source book for those wishing to discover and know the evolution of this building type. This is not a 'style book' or a good book for decorating ideas, as the photos are not very clear and there are limited interior shots

I love to cook and I love to try new recipes. The recipes are easy to understand and once the meal is in the oven you can forget it until time to dish-up. Sesame Chicken is sensational! A great book for anyone who doesn't mind spending a little time getting the ingredients together.

Kathleen came to Blissful to escape a domineering family. . When she realized that her newly adopted town was dying too, she presented a daring plan--make Blissful the most wicked town in the West. Bounty hunter Charlie Macon has arrived in town chasing an outlaw . . . a real outlaw. By the time Blissful is turned into the kind of town it should be, Charlie and Kathleen have fallen in love. Leave it to Ms. Estrada to come up with a unique premise for a Western romance.

In its roughly 50 parts, all written by experienced cooks and cook book writers, HP Books' "The Book of ... Cooking" series takes you to the cuisines of various regions of the U.S. and around the world; all in easy to follow, well-explained recipes.

This installment, the Book of Claypot Cooking, presents recipe suggestions for all major courses, from soups to desserts and breads. Special chapters are dedicated to fish and seafood, poultry, (red) meat, vegetables, rice, grains, pulses and microwave recipes. Classics such as beggar's chicken, boeuf Bourguignonne, clam chowder, ratatouille, coq au vin, duck, German Sauerbraten, glazed ham, Irish stew, jambalaya, roast turkey, lamb, paella, oysters Rockefeller, pot roast, mulligatawny, shepherd's pie and stuffed peppers appear next to unique dishes such as marinated tuna with lime, potatoes with pine nuts, pumpkin with chorizo, sweet 'n spicy game hens and tarragon scallops.

From apple pie puff to zucchini loaf, this collection of recipes, while not all-encompassing, is a great introduction to the endless ways of preparing a meal with the claypot method (which is much healthier and less calory-laden than traditional stovetop and roasting methods) - and at a relative bargain price, to boot.

This book is full of pictures and scenarios which make it a great resource to review for the Lactation Consultant certification exam. Will also be great to show to new mothers when explaining proper positioning, and identifying problems