I was astonished to find this wonderful little volume when I went browsing through Amazon.com a few years ago looking for children's art books. I was surprised because my son, then 11, was complaining about the amount of Japanese art in our house, and he didn't understand what it was all about. Then I found this wonderful book! You can only imagine my surprise.

What's been neat about this small little treasure has been how it's spoken to all 3 of my children as they've grown up, and made this art so much more personal for them. Public schools these days have such tiny art/music budgets, that as parents, we have to be able to "bring art home" because they will only see it from a distance behind crowds of people at a museum. I wish there were more books like this; parents need them today.

Every now and then I take out this book, and it's like a new treasure, once again, for my younger girls (7 and 10), who always look at art books in different ways as they grow; as picture books when they're young and then as real books as they can read themselves.

This is something we'll always treasure.

I've been a regualr swimmer for about 30 years - 4 to 5 times a week, an hour or so each time. About 2 years ago, a friend gave me a book about the Alexander Technique to read, saying it might be of interest to me and my swimming. I was quite interested and managed to attend a workshop where I got some hands-on experience with the work. One evening, a group of us went to the pool with one of the teachers and she showed us how to apply some of the ideas to swimming.

I couldn't believe how much of difference that little bit of information made! I realized that I had been using too much, and the wrong kind of effort, particularly with my back stroke. I'd always loved to swim, and the feel of the water, but now swimming became a whole new experience for me. Much more fluid and with less effort, and yet just as invigorating. Several friends have commented on the change.

The Art of Swimming is, as far as I know, the only book devoted specifically to swimming and the Alexander Technique. I found it very readable and I think it would make a good introduction to the ideas of the Technique for swimmers. I'd also recommend the book that got me started by Rickover, called "Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique". Also a book called "The Authorised Summaries of the Four Books of F.M. Alexander". END

"American Gothic" appears opposite the title page in "Artist in Overalls: The Life of Grant Wood," but John Duggleby makes it clear to his young readers that the artist's most famous painting is also perhaps his most atypical. First, there is a more realistic depiction of the faces than you find in the vast majority of Wood's paintings (e.g, "Woman with Plants" or "Appraisal"). However, what was always most striking for me of Wood's art was his stylized landscapes, ever since I first saw "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." This is especially true of many of his farm paintings, such as "Spring Turning" and "Fall Plowing." The first half of the book talks about how Woods grew up in Iowa farm country and then turns to his art career. Although Duggleby talks about how Wood struggled to find his style and has an epilogue on how to draw and paint like Grant Wood, this book is primarily a biography rather than an effort in art appreciation. For the latter I would suggest Mike Venezia's volume on Grant Woods for the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series. However, if you are just looking for a juvenile biography of one of the most American of American artists, then "Artist in Overalls" is what the book you want.

The copy I aquired was published 1951 for $1.50. A young couple from Mass., after reading Henry David Thoreau's adventures in the mid 1800's, decides to test Mr. Thoreau's theories and heads to the 'new' state of Alaska. The lack of grocery stores, electricity, or 'modern' convienences pose little hardship for the Angiers, but instead this book profoundly shows how simple life can be, if we let it. One must wonder, in this day of 'futureistic' computers, if the life they lead in "At Home in the Woods" could ever be found again, or survived, by those of us today. The peace, yearning, and tranquillity that one gets from reading it seems to draw the reader to the wild once more.

I just finished this book tonight and must say that I loved every page of it. It was the first book of the Angier's that I have read, and I can tell you it won't be the last. The way both Brad and Vera describe in flowing detail and friendly, backwoods banter, how their first few years were like living in the mountains and off the land, will spark a fire in anyone who longs for such adventure. Read it. It is a wonderful story.

My name is Andy Guy and i served in 16 Group Royal Observer Corp for 7 years. If you were in the Corps or are just interested in the ROC this is "The" book to get, it details the corps from its very inception as a warning system against Zeppelins right upto the "stand down" It brought back many very happy memories. I fould the book very informative and well written, I thoroughly reccommend it

A classic text on Australian wood. Out of print now, but prized by all in the trade. A must for serious joiners.

I can't believe I'm the first person to review this book! It's a classic! This book was one of my favorites as a kid...right up there with "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Great illustrations, lovely simple story. A must have!

A young man parks himself in the woods hoping to settle his
mind on the final acts of his planned career, the priesthood.
But, a young spirited young woman steps into his quiet retreat
and raises serious questions to his choice for lifelong celibracy. And, if that doesn't add enough dynamic tension, his
teenage niece shows up, nine months pregnant. Walden, this is not. Terrific, this is, a feel-great romantic woodland novel that is wonderful to read.

This has got to be one of the best Wexford tales RR has written yet.

It is brilliantly written, as always, and there is a wonderful cast of characters, all of whom we almost invariably either like or despise. Wexford is on fine form, and he is fascinating as ever. His wry observations of life, and his opinions (while we may not agree with them always) make him seem very human, and he is a very interesting characters for us to see the story through the eyes of. Once again, Burden tags along, and provides an edge of distinct grey in his character. However, this time he doesnt get quite as much of a role as he has in the past.

The plot is original and absolutely fascinating. The way it unfolds is unfalteringly engrossing, and even though this is no thriller, its still a huge pageturner and its intriguing, exciting, and Ruth Rendell builds layer upon layer of nice plot turns into the story.

In the beginning, we are presented with an almost inexplicable set of human behaviours, and, through the events of her plot, Rendell excellently explains why people sometimes act in such strange ways, which is part of the reason why this book is so fascinating. the mystery contains many more levels than just the "who?" or "how?", but she delves deep into the character's psyche's, giving reason to every single characters often strange actions. Finding out "why" people do such strange things is almost as compelling as the mystery itself.

Along the way, we are also presented with some more brilliant story from wexford's own family life. Topping the book off is the fact that Kingsmarkham is flooding, which gives the story an extra layer of originality and interest, and also allowing her plot to go down different, more unconventional avenues.

The final conclusion is unexpected and satisfying.

I can't wait for what she has to offer us next year. Ruth Rendell's crown is showing absolutely no signs of tarnishing, even after all the many, many years she's been wearing it.