Ideal for anyone seeking interior design inspirations for evoking a country atmosphere, The House & Garden Book Of Country Rooms is a simply gorgeous showcase filled with full-color photographs compiled by Leonie Highton (Editor-in-Chief of the British "House & Garden" magazine) of aesthetically pleasing and eminently practical country-style room designs. Descriptive captions highlighting balance and arrangement compliment the stunning and inspirational illustrations in this very highly recommended interior design reference.

This book is chock full of wonderful photos of absolutely gorgeous rooms located in England (mostly), France, Majorca, St.Lucia, and Greece. Graceful, nonpretentious elegance at its finest! If you love aged patinas, threadbare Oriental rugs, mellowed heirloom antiques, vintage linens, and a dash of eclecticism, this is THE book for you!

Like the other books in this House and Garden series, this is a wonderful reference for anyone interested in traditional, classic, elegant design. In my opinion, it should be in every interior designer's library! The interiors pictured are varied in their themes and beautifully composed. These are not cutsey, overdone rooms. They are timeless in their decor - informal and comfortable, but with style. I get new ideas each time I go to this book! The chapters are arranged by room type so that if I want to see kitchen design I can go right to that chapter rather than search through the entire book. Although, once opened, I rarely shut this book after looking at only one or two pages!

Lynne Cherry's How Groundhogs Garden Grew may require parental assistance but kids with some prior picturebook skills will relish this story of a little groundhog who loves to eat the vegetables in his neighbor's garden. The cycle of a gardening year is told within the structure of a warm picturebook tale of animal friends, and the drawings are especially engaging.

My three year old and I are planning a garden and this book has been an excellent companion to the process. Cherry does a great job of explaining how to create a garden through this story. In it Squirrel teaches Groundhog how to grow his own vegetables so he has things to eat. Cherry also includes a note to parents at the end that gives website information for more on gardening with children.

This is a wonderful book, bound to be a classic. Would appeal to any children, but especially those involved in starting a vegetable garden.

I never built a building before, I did help build a deck.
I bought this book to build a small music studio (16'x24')
and it was easy to read. It had everything I needed in it to build the building and the project came out great. After reading this book you will think it is easy to build small buildings.

This is a great general building reference book. I pull it out whenever I'm starting something new or if I want a refresher. This book has helpful detailed information on all phases of building design and construction. This includes: 1. Foundation design layout and pouring for slabs, piers, & footings of all sorts; 2. Framing design & construction-- whether pole or platform framing, roof trusses or rafters; 3. Siding & roofing options, design & construction details for each; 4. Wiring details from power to the service panel to switches, lighting and outlets; 5.Plumbing from the well to the septic leach field.

It also has over 20 plans for various buildings ranging from pole barns and equipment sheds to guest houses, garages and studios. I have built several sheds from plans in this book and plan to build more.

I was interested in learning how to build a outdoor storage/workshop building. This book gave me a great foundation. With it's acurate how to list, materials and dimensions, it give confidence to all do it yourselfers. I felt that the step by step from supplies to completion really proved invaluable. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in building their own buildings. I look forward to trying out the next design, a green house/garden shed. I feel this book should be apart of all libraries.

This book is an absolute must for the food enthusiast or the information junkie. More than just a food book, /In the Devil's Garden/ deals with how food /is/ culture- it argues that much of who we are and how we interact with one another has to do with what we do, and do not, eat. Allen is an excellent information gatherer, having delved into several hundred sources for his material; but more importantly, he is adept at the witty repackaging of that information, deftly filing everything under the aegises of the seven deadly sins. Allen's style is just conversational enough, neither dry nor condescending and very humorous-- perfect for the small-article format that comprises most of the sections of the book.
The content is almost overwhelmingly eclectic, drawing on scores (perhaps hundreds) of cultures. Allen reconciles many seemingly disparate facts and draws parallels between such subjects as the crunch volume of potato chips and the animal need to kill (!), all with consummate skill and grace. Be forewarned, the book is not necessarily a good lunchtime read; many of the sections deal with food-related illness or delicacies the Western palate finds unacceptable, and one or two of the little tidbits are downright nasty (vide the eating habits of St. Veronica). Buy this as a gift and you won't be able to part with it; get two.

This is a unique look at the history of food: both funny and shocking, it shows the unbleievable ways what we eat has influenced history. It also gives a number of recipes that are quite unique. Its the kind of book you can stop and start on, a group of pieces, maybe 50, divided into "chapters" based on the seven Deadly Sins of Lust, Greed, Envy, Sloth. Mr. Allen is a very, very good writer and has found some amazing stories here and has a knack for boiling down extremely complicated historical events into enjoyable stories. He also appears to have done ann enormous amount of research into the subject.

Not your usual food book, I'd highly recommend it. For me, it really made me think twice about the meaning of what I eat. If you know a foodie friend that needs a gift, this is it.

What I have found so interesting about this book is the way people's feeling about eating have been used in political and religous ways. I had no idea of the role eating has played in so many conflicts - even the division of Europe between East and West was caused by an argument over how to bake the communion wafer. AIDS came from violating a food taboo, and even Jesus Last supper was all about the rules of eating. It's an amazing book and very, very well written - you would think with all this information it would be dry but Alan is a very funny man. While I thought the idea of organizing it around the Seven Sins was a good one, its not always completely clear why a particualr food is in a particular sin.
Not that it matters that much - by the way, my favorite was the sin of sloth "a victimless crime if ever there was one" as Allen says -a man after my own heart!
I thought the "menus" were cute and the recipes (there are about 12) looked interesting but I haven't tried any.
THis is the best book on food in history I have ever read

This is a book I glanced through to buy as a going away gift and so far I've bought 3 and intend to buy at least 4 more to give to friends and family. It is Truly,Truly Beautiful! To God be the Glory!

This Book is so good and peace full that i cann't even explain it in words. It has a prayer for every thing u would ever dream of in the garden plus a bible verus to go with it. i would tell anyone to buy this book it is the best prayer book i have ever read

An evocative collection of prayers corresponding to the plants, objects and animals common to gardens and their relation to spiritual life. These range from "Sheers, A Prayer to Shape My Life" to "Spiders, A Prayer for Patience," to "Puddles, A Prayer to Appreciate Life's Messes" to "Vines, A Prayer in Caring for Children." Each prayer conjures up the imagery of its subject as it relates to spirituality. The dew is sent to "cleanse us of resentment and self-absorption." The garden gate, like the church door, reveals the glories of God. The garden swing implores us to be "amiable and polite in the back and forth of businessess enterprise..." Accompanying photographs beautifully compliment each prayer. A lovely volume to be savored throughout the year.

I found the ideas in this book to be very exciting and the author to have a great sense of humor. I have a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, but I hadn't given enough thought to the role of insects in my garden. After reading this book, I am looking at my garden with new eyes. The author has provided some very good reasons for gardening the way I tend to do anyway - pack it with as many different plants as possible, leave it a little messy, and don't use pesticides. It's very nice to have this approach validated and especially to know why it seems to work! Now I just have to get an insect identification book ...

Insects and Gardens is a double award winning book. It received two of the "Top 10" 2002 Garden Globe Awards presented by the Garden Writers Association of America -- one for Best Book and one for Best Writer, and comes highly recommend by the people who write about gardening. Author Eric Grissell, who is a research entomologist with the USDA, received Best Writing for his clear and concise look at the life of insects and how they "work" to our benefit in our gardens. Publisher Timber Press received the Best Book for an outstanding gardening book overall. Only five individuals and five companies were selected out of a field of more than 300 entries to receive a 2002 Garden Globe Award. The book was selected by a panel of garden communication experts - some Pulitzer Prize winners themselves -- who look for the best books, magazines, writers and photographers in the country. The book was evaluated on accuracy of information, ability to communicate, content, organization, style and originality. If you are interested in the relationships of insects to gardens, to each other and to humans, and how they benefit your garden, this is a must have in your library...

Eric Grissell's Insects And Gardens isn't another visual guide to insects in the garden, but an introduction to insect biology and the role of insects in garden ecology. From the various orders of insects and how they reproduce to their interactions in the garden environment, Insects And Gardens provides science readers with an excellent survey. Highly recommended!

This book is a wonderful manual for a person who wants to start gardening the Natural Way. I have read the book cover to cover and continue to refer to it each time I encounter something new in my yard. There is a great calendar which gives you items which you should do each month of the year. I listen the his radio talk show every Sunday.

This book is excellent for beginners and experts alike. It explains techniques, procedures and products in a manner the novice can understand. An added bonus is the conversion measurement tables and monthly "To Do List" listed in the back section of the book.

Discusses chemicals vs. organics, how to reverse the damage chemicals have done to your soil, how to generate healthy soil, plant varieties and their role in a healthy garden, planting techniques, mulching, organic fertilizers, pest control, and an excellent glossary of terms. Recipes for homemade pest control and fertilizer. Good "product rate chart" to help in applications. How did I garden without it?

This book is a wonderful tale for children, young and old. It is a great way to learn how to talk about your feelings and emotions. All children should have this book, especially when they are trying to deal with any stressful situation and when they are upset. It's great!

This is a lovely book that teaches empathy for others and lets children realize that they have control over their own thoughts and actions.As a mother of three I would love to see this book read in all elementary school classrooms.

Jonathan's Garden is a tenderly written and beautifully illustrated analogy of life. Readers discover along with Jonathan an age-old secret -- that our thoughts, actions and beliefs shape our "gardens," our view of the world and the reality that we live. Readers discover young Jonathan bogged down in a world clouded by darkness, anger and spiritual emptiness. Through the guidance of the Keeper of the Garden of Thoughts, they, along with Jonathan, discover a magnificent garden of hope, beauty and fulfillment -- the creation of their thoughts and deeds. Jonathan's Garden is a story for all ages, offering a refreshing take on one of life's most important lessons. It teaches that what we sow is what we reap, and most importantly, that each of us has the power to live a positive and happy life.

My son and I love to read the about the adventures of Lagare and all his lowcountry friends. The illusrations are colorful and simple. The easy rhyming makes for a quick, fun read. Great footnotes, too! Can't wait for #3! Lisa

My son loves these books..the illustrations are simply wonderful!
These are very easy to understand for Little One's and our son just stares at the pictures. A definite book to add to your child's reading. Kim

This was given as a gift to my 2 year old twins. They absolutely love the characters and enjoy reading about Charleston. I highly recommend this.

First let me admit I am biased, since this gem is written by someone I know and admire, here in Northern California. But it nonetheless a gem of a book with superb photographs as well as excellent advise on Do's and Don't of raising a variety of herbs. I also like the book because it shows that one can successfully raise year round fresh herbs, and do so on an acre or on a small patio. And the author also covers edible flowers another favorite of my families.

LITTLE HERB GARDENS is a great book for the novice. The authors have assembled a lovely collection of photographs and interspersed them with succinct text that explains how to identify and select easy to grow herbs; when and where to buy them (spring, fall, summer, nurseries or catalogs, plants or seeds); how to pot them (containers, soil, etc.); and where to place them (balconies, patios, or in small gardens).

This little book will inspire you to create a green space in a kitchen window, an assemblage before a patio or balcony door, or a collection of pots on the balcony. Herbs grow best in full sunlight, so if your balcony faces south, you are in luck. If you live in a town house or have a small patch of ground you can think more expansively, but this book does not really deal with garden design, or the issues associated with herb gardening. Herbs are frequently garden thugs that run amuck in the open. I suggest you find a more in-depth book such as RODALE'S ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS if you intend to go beyond pots and are thinking of growing mints, yarrows, violets, or some of the other "easy" to grow herbs suggested by this book. RODALE'S book also covers the poisonous aspects of herbs. (Some of them can kill you.)

The last section of LITTLE HERB GARDENS briefly covers kitchen uses of herbs including making herb-infused vinegars and herb-flavored sorbets. If you want to know more, once again you will have to turn to something more comprehensive such as THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HERBS by Lesley Bremness. Even if you can't grow herbs, you can buy them at the farmer's market and some food stores. LITTLE HERB GARDENS is not the only book available for learning how to grow herbs or use them, but it will get you started.

This book has it all--eye-pleasing photography and concise, useful information. The heart of the book is an herb-by-herb description of how to grow the plants. It's organized in a unique way according to where you could keep them--windowsill or fire escape, inside porch, outdoor pots, pantry, etc. There are suggestions for special ornamental techniques (such as topiary) and recipes for culinary herbs. Finally, the book lists seed and plant sources in the U.S. All in all, a real pleasure to read.