The wonderful , colorful illustrations inspire children in an easy step by step non-intimidating way. Even the 5th graders at the school I teach art at love this book and so do I.

Even young budding artists can learn to draw with this simple and colorful book. Easy, step-by-step instruction and vivid crayon and marker illustrations are enticing to young children. This was a great tool for my 6-year-old daughter who loves to draw, as she could easily complete the drawings in the book. I highly recommend this one for beginners!

Not a simple chronology of space exploration, this volume looks at why humans want to go and what they want to do when they get there. Life on Mars, extraterrestrial life, space warfare, and space colonization are among the ideas whose histories are explored. The stories of the people who developed the technology to go to space, their ideas, theories, and inventions are related, with many color illustrations. Launius is a historian and editor; McCurdy teaches public affairs at the American U. in Washington DC.

With a special foreword by famed science fiction author Ray Bradbury, Imagining Space: Achievements, Predications, Possibilities 1950-2050 is an amazing, informative, thought-provoking, and superbly illustrated armchair traveler's guide - one that takes the reader to other planets, past the solar system, and beyond the Milky Way galaxy. It looks back to the 1950 predictions of rocket scientists and science fiction authors, to the present day space program, and forward to the possibilities of 2050. Chief NASA historian Roger D. Launius and Dr. Howard E. McCurdy of American University explore the dreams and realities of our past and future as connected to space travel, including speculations of one day exploring Mars and creating space colonies. Imagining Space is written in lay terminology so that its dreams can easily be imparted to the casual reader, but by far its most vivid asset are its stunningly beautiful illustrations; over 150 artists' renderings and photographs display a breathtaking, unforgettable glimpse into the past, present, and future of space travel. Very highly recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the future beyond the boundaries of the Earth.

This book contains some wonderful patterns for quilts for kids (and you might end up making one for your inner child, too). There are fishes, snakes, geese and pigs; a princess and a dog nap quilt; samplers with farm animals, clowns and faces that can be individualized.

I have made a quilt with the brothers and sisters pattern and it was a lot of fun to play with the different fabrics for the dresses, stockings, shirts etc. It is not a quilt for a beginner, but not that difficult to sew either.

The wonderful color photos that are included always make me itch to try another pattern.

This book is a good addition to my library. As an elementary art teacher, I am always looking for ideas to add to my lesson plan resources. Even when the students are just making quilt squares out of paper, this book was useful. The color pictures, and easy to follow steps, can give even a very meticulous planner, some extra help!

This book is essentially important for every business person dealing in international arena and every student seeking careers in multinational businesses. The author covers almost all aspects of governing laws related to international trade. My personal statement would be that this book is not to just read but to use it in everyday's practices as a desk reference.

This is the best book I've ever read about international business law. It is a very good guide to all issues concerning international law since the choice of a applicable law for a contract passing through contract contents, labor and taxes international legislation, ethics and finishing with the very new cyber law. This is a book to be read for specialists in both international law and international business, but also for practitioners of international trade. We have adodpted this book in our course of International Business Law at Universidad del Istmo in Guatemala. The best book I have consulted in the field.

If you're a U.S. company that is not doing international business you might wonder why even bother with ISO 9000-3. While I can make compelling arguments for and against software and technical services companies pursuing registration, my stance would be dependent upon a set of conditions. With respect to applying the elements of ISO 9001 in accordance with guidelines for software development, supply and maintenance set forth in ISO 9000-3 I can only argue for.

The book: The first three chapters are brief and take only 24 pages to set the context. Chapter 1 introduces ISO 9000 as an international standard, discusses the relationship between 9001 and 9000-3, and gives good advice on the semantics of 9001's "shalls" and 9000-3's "shoulds". The next chapter provides an overview of software engineering and key elements in which 9000-3 will support. Chapter 3 discusses theory, concept, interpretation and critique of ISO 9000-3.

Chapter 4 comprehensively covers scope and overview, and provides a framework for the rest of the book. The key areas discussed in this chapter are the quality system framework, life cycle activities and supporting activities. Taken together these areas encompass ISO 9000-3. Chapters 5 through 23 are each devoted to a single area, giving you sufficient detail to understand the issues and factors. What I like most is the way the authors skillfully describe the contents of ISO 9000-3 guidelines in a readable manner without introducing ambiguity. Making specifications readable without introducing fuzziness or uncertainty is one of the most difficult aspects of technical writing and the authors manage this well.

An added bonus, and the reason I like this book so much, is the quality handbook that is provided in chapter 24. Including the eleven attachments, each of which in an invaluable artifact itself, this chapter is 50 pages in length (about 20% of the book), and serves as one of the best examples of a quality manual you'll find.

So, why even bother? First, you do not need to pursue ISO 9001 registration to benefit from this book (and if you are, you need to get a book on the ISO 9000:2000 version to get up-to-speed). If you are using the capability maturity model as a goal, the procedures given in this book map nicely to CMM process areas and practices. Moreover, in the "e" world where supply chain management is one of the current buzz words, the focus of 9000-3 might be a good fit into your operational posture (whether as a developer/integrator or service provider) because ISO 9000-3 is slanted towards the customer-supplier relationship, whereas the CMM is more concerned with suppliers. The real reason, however, for using 9000-3 guidelines is they will assure you of attaining repeatability in all of your key processes related to applications or service delivery, and will lay the foundation for any additional quality paradigm or framework you deploy in the future.

Very practical, easy to implement the ISO standards, practices and processes. If you are planning to register for this standards, the book will be good hand-book.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The imagaery is wonderful you will feel that you stepped back into the Civil War. Carlthela is a powerful slave with magical powers that can bring any man to his knees. She sets her sights on Jeffrey who is a captain in the War who is under her spell. This book has it all: love, romance, greed, magic, adventure, suspense, and murder. The book has over 400 pages, but you will be so enthralled that you won't want to put it down. This book is different from any book you have ever read before, you will love it!!

I have read historical books before, but this book gives more real historic facts than other books that I have read. This book has it all love, sex, mystery, greed, and adventure. Carletha is a very intriguing character. You will either love her or hate her. Carletha has a power that every woman would want to have to make her man behave. I cannot forget Jeffrey. He is a gorgeous captain who is madly in love with Carletha, but is also afraid of her power. I have never read a book quite like this before. Ray uses such wonderful imagaery that you feel you are in the South with the characters.

Ray Carney's writing is so different from most film criticism. It reads so clearly. You won't find any jargon, or fancy-schmancy film-book theories here. He doesn't attempt to explain the films or their characters by offering simplified psychological or sociological understandings. Instead, Carney shows how valuable it is to stay with the complex experiences offered in the films, to allow yourself to let the films teach you something new. Carney argues that all great art can give us new powers of understanding, more perceptive eyes and ears. (I highly recommend you check out his website, Ray Carney on Life and Art, which features his writing about other indie filmmakers, masterwork paintings and American culture.) Carney's deep belief in the importance of art comes through in his writing as the most radical, original and hopeful statements on art that I've ever read. The Films of John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity has changed the way I now look at all film.

Ray Carney's The Films of John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity has become my essential viewing guide to Cassavetes' films and it has changed the way I now look at all film.

Carney's writing is so different from most film criticism. It reads so clearly. You won't find any jargon, or fancy-schmancy film-book theories here. He doesn't attempt to explain the films or their characters by offering simplified psychological or sociological understandings. Instead, Carney shows how valuable it is to stay with the complex experiences offered in the films, to allow yourself to let the films teach you something new. Carney argues that all great art can give us new powers of understanding, more perceptive eyes and ears. Carney's deep belief in the importance of art comes through in his writing as the most radical, original and hopeful statements on art that I've ever read. I highly recommend you check out his website (Ray Carney on Life and Art) which features his writing about other indie filmmakers, and American culture.

All I have to say is "WOW" I am completely enchanted by this writer's book and ideas. These short stories are so suspenseful and addicting, I want to read and read, keep turning the page after page and the next thing you know, you've read more than half the night away and you have to get up bright and early to tend to the kids. LOL Really, this is one talented writer and this is one great book and it has something in it for everybody. I don't want to give anything about it away but it is one of my new favorites, you'll love it.

It was worth the wait. I had heard for some time that Ray was going to release his collections of short stories. It was worth the wait. These stories would make a great television series. Each story made me want to read the next. Labyrinth was a great read. Very professionally and suspensefully done.

I must preface this review by stating that I have not read this edition but the original paperback Bantam publication from 1976. Assuming that the contents are the same, I will proceed thusly. . .

This collection of 22 short pieces might prove something of a puzzle for anybody picking it up based on Bradbury's reputation as a science fiction writer. To be sure, there are stories here that fit neatly into that genre due to subject matter (robots, time travel) or setting (Mars) but Bradbury is really not a science fiction writer so much as a storyteller. This is a distinction that seems to be much more clear today than it was back in 1976 when Bradbury seemed to be stuck with the Sci-Fi type despite stories such as those found in "Long After Midnight", which are closer to literary than genre fiction even when employing science fiction devices.

Perhaps a good example of the latter would be "The Messiah". This story simply yet profoundly examines the nature of religious faith via the characters of a missionary priest on Mars and a telepathic, shape changing Martian.

Other pieces defy any easy classification and stand alone as simple revelations of the human condition and the mysteries of life. "Getting Through Sunday Somehow" is such a one. Bradbury's gift for poetic nostalgia is used to brilliant effect here as an American writer in Dublin, facing a gray wall of ennui, is transformed and made aware of his blessings through a bar room philosopher and a street side harp player.

Bradbury, with his seemingly boundless imagination and gift for transcribing the visions of that imagination, is a treasure and these stories are literary jewels shining dark and light.

Recovering from one or two monotonous bores, "Long After Midnight" is an excellent collection of the best of Bradbury. It offers a wide variety of appeals to all audiences and all of the stories are gripping to the point that you feel like it is taking over your life and making it a part of the story. Some of the stories have such parnormality that they could easily be the storyline for an X-Files episode. Yet some are so ordinary and monotonous that it almost seems that it was an ordinary work of literature. But none of the stories in "Long After Midnight" are ordinary. All of them are written with such painstaking detail which make them spectacular. Being as it is "Long After Midnight" is a must read for almost all readers today

This salad book by Ray Overton lived up to my every expectation. I have Ray's Main-Course Soups and am thrilled to know this is now a series. Can't wait to get Main-Course Sandwiches.

The recipes in the salad book are so creative and different. Some of our favorites are the Fiery Thai Beef Salad, Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese Salad, and the Southwestern (Layered) Black Bean Salad. The dressings are easy and can be made ahead (they're even better when allowed to sit in the fridge overnight). Can't wait to try more!

I met Ray at a demo/signing in NYC last month. He is a delight. Why haven't we seen him on the TV Food Network? He'd give Emeril some sleepless nights worrying about this creative guy taking over his Live show. With the books he's written and his vast culinary knowledge, humor, style, and personality, it's time for a change!

This is the best book available on quick, easy and wonderfully inventive salads. I have used several recipes and the results were awesome. I have ordered several copies to give as gifts. The recipes are easy the presentation sublime. Atlanta Chef's are the best!!!!