I'm a beginning beader, and was looking for a book full of exciting projects and easy to understand instructions. This book was exactly what I needed. Ms. Wells gives instructions for everything from basic peyote and brick stitch, to much more advanced stitches and how to combine them, which makes this book valuable for any level beader. She also included a much needed simple list of the basic tools and supplies needed to start - something that a lot of books have done more to confuse me than to help me.

The illustrations are stunning. There are examples of everything from original antique pieces, to functional purses, necklaces and baskets, to the strange and bizarre (see the naked angel for a good laugh!). The only disappointing thing that I didn't latch onto at first (granted I was a little slow on the uptake) was that there were not instructions to all these illustrations. They were just examples of the way expert bead weavers had plied their craft. Oh well, they are inspirational and give me something to aspire to someday.

There are, however, several (7, I believe) projects w/ detailed instructions - some of them are quite beautiful also.

Overall, I am very pleased to own this book, and find it enjoyable to look through periodically just for the pleasure of admiring beautiful things.

I thought I was a beader until I read Carol Wilcox Wells' book and looked at the inspiring photos. Through her clear instructions, helpful tips and varied projects, I learned that there is more to beading than stringing them on thread. Needlework fans, take note: you may discover a new medium in beads, one as addictive as your current favorite! I've woven several beaded gifts for friends and family since picking up Ms. Wells' book this spring, and I'd never woven a beaded work before

This book has some of the clearest directions for various techniques of beadweaving that I have ever seen. The charts and diagrams are marvelous, and the projects that are included with each stitch technique range from easy for a beginner to challenging for more seasoned beaders. This is one book I would not want to do without. When somebody asks me which beading book they should buy to learn how to bead, I always recommend this one.

The Bunny Planet series by Rosemary Wells should appeal to everyone. Each story begins with a description of the little bunny's bad day: a hard day at school, getting sick, or visiting unpleasant relatives. A visit to the Bunny Planet brings simple pleasures - eating summer's first tomato, lying on a pillow of moss, getting tucked into bed with a story. Wells is adept at showing a variety of families: a mother-daughter, a primary-caregiving father, and a mom and dad with two kids. The best thing about these stories is that they have inspired so much creativity in my daughters and in myself. You can write or tell your own Bunny Planet story for yourself or others, and discover the simple pleasures that "were there all along." A great antidote to feeling sorry for yourself!

When our daughter was small, we read her all the Rosemary Wells books we could find. This is the one that has stuck. She says, "The Bunny Planet is the land of dreams." We have given several sets away as presents, to children and adults, to those in need and to those who are just fine, thank you. It's lovely any time as a way of reminding us that "it was there all along," with all the other memories, dreams, and fantasies that sustain us. Thank you, Rosemary Wells.

These three books continue to top our list of favorites. Our girls continue to enjoy the cadence of the writing and spirit of the stories. We make up our own bunny planet visits when they have bad days. The storyline resonates with adults, too. A great gift.

"My Very First Mother Goose" is the perfect gift for new parents. Children love rhymes, but, unfortunately, most babies in America today hear very little poetry and rhyme. This book is a gerat way to introduce children to rhyme. The big pages, brightly colored, warm illustrations, and fun, happy rhymes will captivate any baby or toddler. It is very important that babies are read to from birth. From birth to 6 mos, a baby will become accomsomed to the sound of the parent's voice and to the sounds of the English language. From 6 mos to 18 mos, baby will begin responding to favorite stories and rhymes. By three years of age, a baby who has been read to every day will be ready for chapter books such as "Charlotte's Web." A child who has been read to, for just a few minutes each day, will learn to love to read. Children who love to read become excellent readers, thus excelling in history, science, math, literature.... The illustrator of "My Very First Mother Goose", Rosemary Wells, is an strong advocate of literacy. She encourages all parents to turn off the t.v's and read, for fifteen minutes a day, to their children. "My Very First Mother Goose" is the perfect place to start!

My son is 18 months old and absolutely loves this wonderful book. He enjoys having any book read to him, but Mother Goose's frequent references to the sun, moon, stars (all favorites topics to my son)and Rosemary Wells' charming illustrations of bunnies, kitties, etc. add up to pure reading fun at our house. These nursery rhymes aren't too intense (some Mother Goose can be downright scary), and are just the right length for a 1- to 2-year old's attention span. And I enjoyed getting to know some nursery rhymes I missed out on as a child (Wibbleton to Wobbleton is a hoot). A few of the book's pages have been ripped in my son's enthusiasm for the subject matter, but this book is a nice change from our dozens of board books at home. I highly recommend this book for toddlers who enjoy being read to and for parents who love to do the reading.

Mother Goose can sometimes be a bit outdated, but Opie's choices and Wells's illustrations brings it to life. The well designed book, with short sections to choose and read, engages my 3 year old as well today as it did when she was one. She recites the phrases and rhymes while reading. She often repeats the verse when we don't even have access to the book, much the same way we did as young children. Many of the Mother Goose rhymes involve animals. Wells's animals are lively, adorable and have a little michief in their eyes. The poems and rhymes are grouped well. Long verses are combined with short to keep a young person's attention. This is a great book to give to a Grandparent. They will enjoy sharing verse that they grew up with. Our favorite verse is one I had never heard or read prior to reading this book. It smacks of England with the rich, yet simple vocabulary. "Boys and girls, come out to play, the moon doth shine as bright as day... ...come with a whoop and come with a call, and come with good will or not at all...

I married into a Belgian family, and I have to say, I was intimidated by my mother-in-law's wonderful cooking. How would I ever measure up? In fifteen years, I've learned quite a few of her recipes, but after reading this book, I finally understand where she's coming from. Ruth Van Waerbeek not only introduces Belgian food and cooking, but an entire way of life. The recipes are great, and the stories and anecdotes are even better. This is one of those cookbooks you can sit and read cover-to-cover, even when you're not looking for a recipe. I'm ordering one for my mother-in-law --she'll love it!

You don't have to be Belgian to love this cookbook! It's truly awesome! All the recipes I've tried so far are great - and very easy to follow. If they ever come out with a 2nd edition, I hope they include some photographs of the recipes... this is easily the cookbook I use the most!

I am trying these recipes one by one and they are excellent so far and I am no great cook. The sidebars are full of interesting tidbits and I am planning my garden around ingredients needed in these recipes. Anyone who has been to Belgium knows they have the best beer in the world. The people are lovely, their country is gorgeous, their food superb and their beer un-beatable. This is my very favorite cookbook. I only hope I can learn to grow Belgian endive and white asparagus. If you don't love this cookbook, you don't love food. It is a treasure!

I have a tendency to collect cookbooks. I love to read 'em, look at 'em, touch 'em ... but I don't always USE them. But I've discovered that this new book, Healthy Foods, has actually become a well-used addition to my kitchen and not just another pretty face cluttering up my bookshelves. The book contains excellent (and often funny!) text on adjusting to healthier eating habits. And the recipes are fun as well as tasty! You'll find everything from Manic Meatloaf, Mama's PMS Cake, Not Your Mother's Tuna Casserole, and much more. The general contents of the book includes: Realistic healthy eating ideas, tips for introducing kids to healthier eating, making mealtime manageable, breakfast recipes, soups and salads, homemade fast foods, main dishes, dips and snacks, desserts, substitutions, hints and even a short chapter about the author's penchant for chocolate. ;-) This is healthy food for REAL people! You don't have to switch over to nothing but sawdust textured bread and bean sprouts. Another title for this book could've been "Healthy Foods Your Kids Will Love!" cuz I'll tell you, my kids have loved every recipe I've tried from this book so far! Highly recommended. Q

I have tried many of the recipes in this book and have yet to find a dud. The pistou soup is warm and filling; the rubber chicken is easy to prepare, delicious, and frugal; and I have never made an easier or tastier pizza crust than the Kneadless Pizza Dough. Even my picky family has raved over everything I've prepared from this book. Leanne's style is unpretentious and her advice is practical. I had to get over the need to have exact measurements (she occasionally refers to using a 'blob' or a 'little bit', basically relying on you to adjust for your own tastes). It is well worth the time to read the first chapters about general nutrition, written in an easily understandable form and chock full of important advice. Her chapters on food allergies and eating disorders could be lifesavers. This cookbook has quickly become the most favored one on my shelf, and I'm sure I'll have to get another one eventually because this one will be tattered and covered with food stains. It's that good.

My son was having chronic stomach aches that his doctor said were caused by his diet. I bought this book for the nutritional information, as well as the recipes, and it changed our family's lifestyle! The nutritional information was easy-to-understand, and really gave compelling reasons to change how the whole family was eating. The recipes made that change easy, with quick, tasty and inexpensive meals. Not only have my son's stomach aches stopped, my husband and I have lost a total of 65 pounds in 9 months! I have recommended this book to everyone I know!

This is a great cookbook in so many ways. The recipes are easy to prepare and don't call for strange ingredients. All the recipes are very flavorful, even my husband who runs screaming from anything associated with the word "diet" swears by this book. The recipes are varied enough to be compatable with many diets (e.g. low fat, no meat, high protien, or zone type combinations). Also, the layout of the book makes it very easy to use. You won't be dissapointed!

My picky husband and I love this cookbook! We've made about 35 recipes already, and every single one's a hit. Our favorite is the chicken chimichangas. The recipes range from easy to medium difficultly. This book would make a great graduation gift for a college student (which it was to me!) They should change the name to Healthy Eating Cookbook though, because you don't feel like you're eating on a diet.

My husband and I lost a total of 100 pounds in 5 months by using the delicious recipes in this book. The food is tasty, easy to prepare, and satisfying. The variety of foods from the traditional to the more exotic or ethnic gives the range of choice often missing in "diet" books. I have purchased this book as a gift for several friends who have also found it enjoyable.

This is the most comprehensive, well researched, and best written book on this subject. The author is not a doctor but is so thoroughly informed on this subject through her own exhaustive research as well as through her collaboration and consultaton with recognized experts in many health disciplines including the medical field. She is someone who has suffered with hypothyroidism and has made it her mission to help others. I am an RN and I have read many other books on this subject and she is more thorough and professional in her approach than I've seen in most other books on the topic.

The author is refreshingly unbiased for the most part and readily admits where she may be biased due to her own personal experience. Even then, she writes with an open mind for the reader's sake to provide sound information so they can make intelligent choices. Her intention is clearly to help people understand the many ways this disease presents itself as well as to help people find appropriate treatment. She provides about 30 pages of resource material at the end of the book including web sites etc. literally leaving no stone unturned. If you have symptoms including fatigue, depression, digestive problems, weight gain, high cholesterol, fertility problems, low blood pressure, low body temperature, and brain fog to name a few, this may be important information to look at. Or if you have been tested for low thyroid and have been dismissed by medical professionals who say your thyroid is "in the normal range" but you know there is something wrong, buy this book! You may discover real help for the first time.

Mary Shomon's book is the first I have read (out of a LOT of books) that tells the whole truth about hypothyroidism, as experienced by a patient who has been there. I wish that every doctor that treats thyroid patients could be made to read this! So many doctors seem to think that hypo is a simple, easily treated disease, and it isn't. They also tend to focus on individual symptoms without looking for the overall CAUSE. If I had had this book years ago it would have saved me several years of suffering and being told there was nothing wrong with me. Mary's list of symptoms is very thorough, her book is easy to read and understand, and it tells the real truth. I especially like the way she pays attention to the emotional impact of this disease and the depression that often accompanies it. Her weblinks are very helpful in finding out more information. This book is EXCELLENT, and a great resource. It can literally change people's lives. I could barely put it down once I started reading. I can't recommend it enough, especially for newly diagnosed patients or those who SUSPECT they are hypo but haven't been able to find a doctor to test them. Mary's list of symptoms is great to take to your doctor to help them see the overall picture, and her compassion and understanding are very comforting and empowering for patients. She makes sense out of what to most of us is a very confusing disease. If you only buy one book on this subject, make it this one!

I first heard of Mary Shomon through her excellent web site on hypothyroidism. Once I discovered that she had written this book, I promptly ordered it and read it from cover to cover. This book literally saved my life. Throughout my life, I have been ultrasensitive to hormonal changes and have suffered from a pituitary tumor. After my daughter was born, I was not the same person. My post-partum depression lasted a year and was coupled with other physical symptoms I could not explain. My primary care doctor was sympathetic and ran bunches of tests but they yielded nothing. Meanwhile, I got sicker and sicker with no hope in sight. Then I found and read this book. All of my symptoms were listed as hypothyroid symptoms. I had numerous risk factors for thyroid disease. I even found my specialist through this book and Mary's web site.

This book is a total eye-opener. Mary is a passionate advocate for patients everywhere who have lost hope. Her writing is clear and concise and explains complex information in a simple way. Not many writers can do that. In fact, this book is so good that I have recommended it to numerous friends of mine who also have thyroid problems. Even hyperthyroid patients should read it because they could end up hypothyroid.

Read it and then read it again. All medical books should have Mary Shomon at the helm. The world would be a much better place for it.

As a first time expecting parent of a boy I have many concerns. My biggest one being that I am single and will be raisig my new son without a father. This book stresses the importance of male role models but also helped give me many alternatives to a father. Now I feel better knowing ways I can do things to help make up for him not having a father and that things can work out just as well. Plus the book also covers areas such as gender differences, sexuality, and how to help him in everyday life and what he needs in a parent(s)as well as from other people in his life. This book has given me confidence that I can raise him well. I recommend this book highly to single mothers who are concerned about male role models for their son and also to first time parents of boys.

This is the BEST book I have read on raising boys. Biddulph writes in a clear, crisp voice making it easy for anyone to understand the fine art of being a male. He has made me realize how and why my husband and son are the same in some ways and very different in others. Girls are not ignored here, either. He compares and contrasts the two, so subtle differences are made just as obvious as the not-so-subtle ones. He takes time show why the two can act and/or react differently in the same situations. Everyone, especially teachers, should read this great book!

I LOVED this book so much that I found myself quoting from it to my friends and family. Raising Boys is packed with information that is easy and fun to read. Through the entire book, I could identify traits that not only opened my eyes to behavior from my own two sons and other males in my life (their friends, my brothers, etc.), but has shown me ways to handle or respond to both their positive and negative behavior! Steven Biddulph also explains the biological differences between boys and girls without being sexist!

I recommend this information packed and yet humorous book to anyone who has a boy or knows a boy of any age. This should be required reading for all teachers!

This is a book that I find myself picking up over and over again to reinforce the information I have learned. It's really made a difference in my understanding of the male species, and how I interact with them.

With his down-to-earth writing style, Mr. Hough (rhymes with rough) covers a wide range of driving conditions the motorcyclist may encounter and the practical steps to take to survive them. Topics include everything from lane splitting to driving on ice to the seldom thought of high wind gust.

The graphic story at the beginning (a sort of wake up call) reminds the rider that he is very vulnerable when participating in this "sport." The scenarios, with accompanying photos and drawings alert the novice to the dangers of cycling.

For those who have been riding for years, the book serves as a reminder of dangers long forgotten. After reading this book, the long-time rider will look at his or her next ride through different eyes. There will be a sense of empowerment to tackle whatever is encountered.

David discusses bike and rider center of gravity, and how these two are interrelated and change with varying bike loads, turns, and rider positions.

The section on proper braking (always use both brakes) conveys information on the amount of traction available at the wheels under varying conditions.

Traction? Learn about the "contact patch" and how it changes with lean and braking.

Learn how to gain maximum forward visibility maneuvering inside and outside turns by using David's windowing technique.

Mr. Hough's final word of advice? Practice. Practice. Practice what is in the book.

I would have given the book a five star rating, but I found some of the material in this collection of articles redundant. This may be a good thing for the novice, but I was distracted by it. I suggest the publisher eliminate this redundancy in future editions.

This is the best general introduction to safe street riding techniques on the market -- even better than the MSF's "Motorcycling Excellence," though new riders should read that too. Based on the long running "Proficient Motorcycling" column that appeared first in "Road Rider" and then in its spinoff "Motorcycle Consumer News," the book covers everything from the physics to the gear to the protocols of group riding. The author is a much better writer than the typical bike scribe. The information is sound throughout. It should be on every biker's bookshelf, and I strongly recommend reviewing it at the beginning of each riding season. This man's advice has undoubtedly saved lives. Make one of them yours.

I read this book before taking a motorcycle safely course. It allowed me the benefit of understanding an otherwise poor oral presentation given by the instructor. I put to use the information I had read during the riding portion of the safety course.

Mr.Hough did a great job of keeping me interested when what I really wanted to do is ride like the wind. I could not imagine riding without first reading his book, cover to cover. I have also gone back on more than one occasion to better understand things like the contact patch.

Read this book and stay safe.

Huck Finn with a Cajun patois. Fifteen year old Emile "Meely" Labauve is part ruffian, part home spun philosopher, and completely charming. He is a wise, uneducated man-child, fighting the basic battle--how to survive in a hostile world. This good short read (250 pages) takes you into Meely's world, where a man (even a fifteen year old man) is judged by his ability to survive by his wits, his honor, and his courage. Like any good novel it takes you to a place you may have never been, in this case, the swamps of Louisiana in the early 1960s. Ken Wells' debut novel is extremely entertaining. Mr. Wells' characters are vivid, memorable and authentic. His tale is both simple and complex. In this coming-of-age tale, Meely comes face-to-face with prejudice, loneliness, and sex (for the first time); not to mention alligators, snakes and bad cops. Althought it is a tale of children, it delivers an adult lesson. Meely's saga contains lots of action (swamp car chases, wild animals, shootouts) but its real power comes from Meely's conflict with prejudice: white vs. black; rich vs. poor; young vs. old. In Meely's world, his friend Joey, the educated son of a rich landowner, saves the day by defying his class prejudiced father by doing what is right instead of what is safe. Make no mistake, this is an entertaining tale, not a philosophy book. But like Mark Twain's Huck, Meely Labauve, if you are not watching, can sneak up on you and teach you something about life.

Ken Wells has written an enormously pleasing and emotionally-compelling coming-of-age novel in Meely LaBauve. The son of a reprobate father (who is suffused with his own private suffering at the loss of his wife some seven years earlier), the fifteen-year old Meely LaBauve absolutely enchants the reader with his comic, tragic and courageous antics. Told through the eyes of the protagoinst, the novel's use of cajun bayou dialect and direct dialogue enchances its credibility. I found myself utterly captivated by Meely's character and deeply moved by the predicaments encountered, faced and surmounted. As well, the novel is drop-dead funny, and you will find yourself laughing out loud through most of the book.

Wells seems to have been able to combine elements of To Kill of Mockingbird (sensitivity to racial injustice and the need to combat racism), the novels of Farrol Sams (it ain't the size of the dog that counts) and the enduring tragi-comic view of Mark Twain's Huck Finn. Readers will encounter life as lived on the periphery in the cajun bayous of Louisiana; Meely's forced independence (he too suffers real pangs of loneliness in the wake of his mother's death) is countered beautifully by his social environment -- one which contains a truly mendacious schoolyard bully, an African-American teen-aged woman who introduces him to the delights of "heaven," and teachers, whose commitment to education in 1961 include liberal dosages of corporal punishment.

Great novels must resonate with humanity and inspire us to envision communities based on tolerance and respect. My late father once called me his "podnah," and when the Meely's dad uses that phrase...well, more than just memories come to mind. Mr. Wells has made a small part of Louisiana his universe, and that universe has become my own. So, "podnah," spend a few hours with Melly LaBauve and discover how Ken Wells has crafted a truly great novel.

I spent some time in South Louisiana where this book is set but I'm not sure that matters. Meely's one of the best books I've read in a long, long time set anywhere. Meely himself is a great character--a kid full of heart and honor, but a bit of a rascal too. His daddy is an alligator hunter, part Native American, who never quite got over the death of his wife years before. Meely's being left to pretty much raise himself on the "lonesome end of Catahoula Bayou." He shoots his food, including a mocking bird when he's hungry enough. He runs afoul of the bayou bully, a hulking, mean-spirited farm boy who doesn't like Meely because he's a fearless runt and doesn't like Meely's pa because Junior is a bigot who holds the LaBauves' "Wild Injun" blood against them. When Junior and his pot-bellied, racist uncle, a local cop, get after Meely, it forces Meely's dad to re-enter his son's life in a major way. I know a lot of people will compare Meely to Huck Finn but Wells writes nothing like Mark Twain. His, in fact, is a clear, simple, accessible prose and Meely's voice, though he speaks in dialect, is singular and pure. And there's a lot packed in this little book--insight into race and class, not to mention an amazing chase scene and one of the best, and most hilarious, sex scenes I've ever read. This is not a child's book, but I think teenagers would really enjoy it as much as I have.