Three children of a widowed mystery writer strives to solve the murder next door - to get their mother some publicity (and maybe a love interest). This is a great read! Read it years ago and adopted the children's secret language to use with my friends. Am still reading it at least once a year. If ONLY the movie made from this book (starring Dean Stockwell as the son, Lynn Bari as the mother and Peggy Ann Garner as one of the daughters) could be re-released on videotape!! It was a three-star rated movie and beats anything other old movie shown today!

I'm very happy to see this book back in print. If you're a Rice fan as I am, you've probably had to scour used book stores, desperately seeking any beaten up old copy of a novel by the once famous, now forgotten, Craig Rice (under one of her many pseudonyms).

Though it lacks the alchohol-inspired zaniness of her Malone books, this novel more than makes up for it in charm.

The three children of a rather neglectful mystery writer (yes, the novel has autobiographical elements to it) solve a murder and play matchmaker for their mother at the same time.

If, after reading the previous sentence you're still with me, I recommend you give this book a try. It may be Rice's most-loved novel, and no wonder. I didn't want it to end. The children are charming and sweet without being too charming and sweet, if you know what I mean. The mystery itself is rather slight, but you won't mind.

The lightness and humour of this book were exactly what I needed during a rather difficult time. For that reason I'm breaking my usual rule and giving it five stars.

This is how history should be taught to children -- colorful, informative, relevant. Within the framework of 16 two-page spreads about kids from different times and places, the authors present a good deal of historical information. This is the kind of book that will help young readers determine what is the same about being human and what changes over time and distance, and may well spark an interest in a particular period or history in general.

The book begins with a world map placing the sixteen children who will be featured, and then each child is shown (in chronological order) with a short paragraph of autobiographical text. Typical pages show the layout of a house, toys, school, and a miscellany of topics interesting to other children such as play, health, transportation, cooking or music. The emphasis is on colorful illustration and graphic depictions. Periods covered are Egypt 1200 BC, Athens 500 BC, China 150 BC, Rome AD 120, Norway AD 950, Mali, West Africa 1400, Spain 1450, Florence 1490, Mexico 1500, India 1600, Japan 1650, Australia 1700, France 1789, England 1840, Plains Indians 1850 and the United States 1920.

The book finishes with a short discussion of archaeology and history, a simplified timeline and a glossary.

This is another beautiful book from Dorling Kindersley, and a worthwhile introduction/supplement to your child's history lessons.

If you sometimes wonder about how children lived in the past, this book shows 16 children living in their time in history. The illustrations are detailed, fill the pages and are accompanied by a text explanation.

On page 24 we find Giovanna living in Renaissance Italy in 1490. The text tells of how she sits for a portrait and how her mother is a fine singer. Giovanna's favorite possessions, like a printed storybook, a pendant and jewelry box are shown. They are pictures of real items from the Renaissance.

The first colorful page shows all the children standing on a map of the world. The following pages show the lives of children growing up in Egypt, Greece, China, the Roman Empire, Viking Norway, Mali Empire, a Spanish Castle, Renaissance Italy, Aztec Mexico, Moghul India, Tokugawa Japan, an Australian Desert, France, Industrial Britain, the American Plains, and 1920s America.

A fun Timeline puts the book in perspective and a glossary explains words like Aboriginal, Castle, Legionaries, Samuri, Shogun, Tea ceremony and Fjord.

Children will see the pictures, learn about the life of a child and discover how their life is so different today. This book was produced after consulting history experts and offers a fresh approach to history for young readers. The authors have degrees in history and education. Together they have written over 25 books for children on a wide range of subjects.

Simply fascinating and educational. Children will just love this book because it shows history in such a creative way.

I have read this book and I have to say it was great. A truly must for Indigo Girls fans!

This song book is great! It includes the lyrics, piano music, guitar chords and tablature. There are also some great pictures of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers included!

The Bulwer-Lytton fiction contest is an annual contest run by Scott Rice of San Jose State University. in which he challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels; the inspiration for the contest (and the title of it) is Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, who wrote the much-spoofed "Paul Clifford" in 1830, the novel that begins with the phrase, "It was a dark and stormy night...". This book is the fourth of, so far as I know, five collections of the best (most stunningly bad?) entries to that contest.

As Mark Twain first proved with his reprinting of an abysmally inept Portuguese guidebook to the English language, bad writing can be funny. Read about the Bulwer-Lytton contest and see how intentionally bad writing can tickle your funny-bone, and be instructive to boot.

Anyone who feels entitled to vote or participate in any way in public policy should be required to read this book. It shows clearly how "feel-good" laws with kind intentions can lead to mass deaths of innocent people. Governments during the 20th Century killed 4 to 5 times as many of their own citizens as did criminals, yet governments always try to limit arms possession to only police and military (except perhaps registered "sporting" firearms) in order to protect us from criminals. Sadly, so many in the U.S. spend more time watching televised sports or shopping for new clothes than they do reading history, so we march down the same path as so many others. This book at least defines that path, and after reading it, leaves us at our own peril.

This book is a must read for all those opposed to "gun control", and all those who support "gun control" will be horrified to find the murderous downside to it; genocide. Lethal Laws proves that all murderous governments of the 20th Century, which included Communist Russia and Nazi Germany, had previous "gun control" laws, allowing them to disarm the population and murder them later on with such horrible acts in history like the Holocaust. Lethal Laws also destroys any argument for "gun control", stating firmly that an armed citizenry is the only way to end mass murder.

The unique and historically accurate Lone Star Heroines trilogy by Melinda Rice brings real events in Texas history to life as it shows young readers how girls living at different eras experienced and contributed to dramatic events. In Messenger On The Battlefield (1556227884, ...) is set in 1835 when 11-year-old Isabelina Montoya is happy to hear that her older sister has accepted the marriage proposal of a handsome Mexican solder. But when Texas goes to war against Mexico, dividing Isabelina's family, a decision must be made as to whether they should remain true to their Mexican heritage or fight for their new Texas homeland! Fire On The Hillside (1556227892, ...) is set in the spring of 1847 and finds 13-year-old Katherine Haufmann arriving from Fredericksburg, Texas with her family as immigrants from Germany. As she struggles to get used to her new home, Katherine becomes intrigued by the mysterious fires that start appearing in the nearby hills. While the rest of the townsfolk focus on peace talks with the Comanche, Katherine decides to discover the cause of those mysterious fires. Secrets In The Sky (1556227876, ...) is set in 1943 as World War Two is raging overseas. 12-year-old Bethany Parker lives in Sweetwater, Texas, when the Women Air Force Service Pilots come to town. When one of the women dies during a training flight, Bethany is convinced the mysterious crash was the work of a Nazi spy -- and sets out to prove it! The Lone Star Heroines is an outstanding and very highly recommended series of historical novels for young readers that are each enhanced with a "Sources" bibliography for the further study and more detailed study of Texas history.

The year is 1847, and thirteen-year-old Katherine Haufmann lives with her family in Fredricksburg, Texas. The Haufmanns and their neighbors are immigrants from Germany who founded the town the year before. Even though she has been in Texas a year, Katherine still thinks of Germany as her home, and longs to return. After her father joins a peacemaking expedition to the Comanche Indians, Katherine and the other residents of Fredricksburg notice strange fires on the hillside outside of town, that appear each evening at dark in the same exact two places and last until dawn. With fear rising of a possible attack, either by the Comanche or by bitter Americans who feel the Germans have stolen their land, Katherine takes it open herself to find the origin of the mysterious fires - and puts herself in far greater danger than she ever could have imagined. Based on real events in Fredricksburg, Texas, in the spring of 1847, this is the story of a spunky and courageous young girl who, in her quest for the truth, finds that her home is where she least imagined it being.

This book brings much confort when you are looking for reasons for the many hurts present in today's world. The answer is "Jesus" but too many times we look for other answers when the only true one is our Lord. This book shows this in every page.

I am sending this book to a family who lost a daughter and a granddaughter on the United Plane that hit the World Trade Center.

I have really tried to find words to express my heart-felt hurt for this family but this book says it all.

For anyone who likes poetry, especially the poetry of Helen Steiner Rice, this book is a gem. The selections she chose for this book cover many topics, such as friendship, grieving, love, over- coming trials, faith, endurance, etc. It especially brought comfort to me after the passing of my dear mother-in-law who was one of my best friends. I also liked the fact that scriptural verses (from the King James version of the Bible) were intermingled with the poetry. When I am feeling a little blue, this book always helps to cheer me up.

Outstanding read for fun and humor nonf of which is lost in a book over 86 years old. The only book he wrote which is better is the first Tarzan book.

If you ever felt Burroughs over-does it a bit, you will love this book. Sorry it's out of print... Set in a tiny European Kingdom moments before WW1, the hero is a little less wild and fantastic than, say, John Carter of Mars. He is still none-the-less, a man of principle, integrity and action - a true ERB hero. I loved it. The basic story follows: A man travels on holiday to his mother's homeland - she always had spoken of how beautiful it was, but otherwise would tell nothing of her past. He quickly finds himself embroiled in political intrigue, fights for survival, not to mention sword-play (it's still ERB, right?) as he is mistaken for... the Mad King. But is the King really mad? Or was the story a fabrication of the evil uncle, who wants to rule? The people of the land think he's a hero... Oh, and of course, there is the heart of a beautiful woman involved. If you like adventure stories, if you like ERB at all, if you can possibly get this book - read it.

Over this book and the actual story itself there are many skeletons in the closets of Martinsville families over the tragic end of seven young lives. Seems that the victim wasn't really so innocent after all, but the lives of those men cannot be replaced, even now when we know the truth. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, and yes, even those who falsely point fingers shall reap the rewards of doom.

I think Rise did a great job but me a Martinsville resident think that someone from Martinsville should have made a book about it and it seems like everyone wants to keep it a secret but I want to know.