Clear perspective of MIS

The books contain new information, but are also a rehash of earlier works. For example, the Excel 97 Handbook is an update of "Developing Excel 95 Solutions". The accompanying CD also contains errors (Chapter 6, Developer's Handbook example). The authors do a good job, but the collection seems more a marketing ploy than a necessity for the titles to be together.

Mobile 1865 is probably the best book on the Mobile campaign but leaves something to be desired. A glaring omission is the maps. No Civil War history should be without helpful maps to visualize the text, but there is only three period drawings of the defences-not very helpful. The author also goes into a little too much detail on each unit's prior history and their commanders. This causes the book to not really become interesting until the real action starts after about 100 pages. It was also a little irritating that the author uses the common, politically correct view of black troops. In the chapter he devotes to black units his account of their actions are misleading and too generous. Still, there is little literature on the Mobile campaign and this book details the actions and the campaign as a whole fairly well. It's probbly the best book on the subject but the definitive history of the campaign is yet to be written.

"Mother Hubbard's Christmas", by John O'Brien, and illustrated by John O'Brien. Boyds Mills Press, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 1996.
This book is really written for the sophisticated child or for an adult. If you recall your Mother Goose rhymes, you will laugh at the various outcomes, the strange actions that the dog takes.
"She poured him a cup
Of holiday cheer
But when she looked up
He was riding a deer".

Not a reindeer, but a deer. This fractured version of the ordinary nursery rhyme caused my seven year old granddaughter to constantly giggle, but my young grandson (only three years' old), was constantly asking, "Why is the dog blue?" and "Why are the Christmas Trees blue?" Certainly, this book was not addressed to someone so young, but it is difficult to read a book and exclude any of the near by children.

I only assigned three stars, because this book is a little too cute and a little too sophisticated, and aimed, I think, more at the adults who listen when the book is read aloud. Perhaps I prefer my trees the traditional green...

This book was given to me by a friend who knows I enjoy my Irish heritage. This story about a couple who leave Chicago and move to Ireland to operate a bed and breakfast for one year will appeal to those who dream of spending time in the old country.

As I read to the conclusion of the book, I grew to admire the O'Briens for following their heart and their dreams. If only we all could do the same.

I think this book will be enjoyed by those of Irish Heritage and should be a must read for anyone planning a trip to Ireland.

...make sure you are aware that this is not the same book you might have seen in your public library for the past ten years. For some reason, the publisher (author?) decided to have the book republished with illustrations by a different artist. The new illustrations are pleasant enough, but they are nothing like the elegant mosaic-like paintings from the original edition. It's the same poem though, with its jaunty rhymes, catchy syncopation and meaningful theme (expresses the value of tolerance, sharing and friendship). I would have given this book a 4-star rating had it contained the original illustrations.

The basis for the plot of the Real Father is a great idea. However, there were really no surprises. The whole story is spelled out on the back cover of the book, so we as readers know what will happen but the main characters have to wait to find out until the very last pages. The whole book is dragged out. Jackson alludes to knowing many secrets that would explain why he disliked his now dead twin brother, Beau, and a secondary character, Coach, but he never spells out these secret; so the reader is left with an unsatisfied feeling upon the completion of this book.

This is the first book I've read by Kathleen O'Brien. The story was pretty much predictable and not all that exciting. I found humor in one particular area when the author wrote the following lines: Her small blue makeup case was slung over her shoulder, and it bumped her rear end with each step, letting loose a musical tinkling of expensive bottles and bracelets. I'm trying to picture the small blue makeup case slung over a shoulder and bumping someone's rear end if the makeup case is small. If the makeup case reached her rear end, the woman is either very shortwaisted or the makeup case is long and skinny. I had to laugh. Overall, the book was well edited with no spelling errors. The characters, although pretty much the usual in this type of story, were well developed. My main problem with this story was the constant description of the clothing Lacy's stepdaughter, Gwen, was wearing. I thought the author got a little carried away on this. After the first few times, I had the general idea of what the girl's personality was like. Since this is my first book to read by this author, I'd probably read another one if I had it. The book is new out, being published in 2001. That's a plus in its favor as far as I'm concerned.

Uncle Switch; Looney Limericks makes a nice introduction to the genre for younger children. There are lots of terrific illustrations to support the mixed-up antics of Uncle Switch. This book offers several possible writing connections for the elementry school teacher - writing original limericks, other writing using the mixed-up way Uncle Switch has of doing things. Makes a good connection to Amelia Bedelia books, too.

The narration shifts back and forth between father and sonduring two world wars in the Alsace region. The book opens with oneof the narrators enduring life as a prisoner of war, with the sense of time having ceased to exist. The descriptions of literary life before WWI set up a vivid contrast with the account of a gas attack on the Russian front. A reader well versed in philosophy and history, or reading the original French text, will no doubt understand more of the implications in the dialogues. Read the preface carefully to get acclimated, but don't miss the unexpected developments of this novel.