Although the books are targeted to 9- to 12-year-old girls, my 8-year-old daughter loves this series. We read them together, each taking turns reading them aloud. I've been impressed with the illustrations, the writing style, the maps, and the actual historical detail that is weaved into the story. It's a fun way to learn about American history (for adults and children). Each book has a glossary (for example, Italian or Yiddish words that were used in the story) at the end of the book as well as a background material.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone researching their families in Albemarle County, Va.

Alan Wood's book is an excellent resource for information about the world's military glider forces from the World War II era. The book contains a history of British, German, United States, Japanese and Russian glider forces. In addition to detailed narrative describing WW II operations, the book also has maps showing flight routes, DZs and LZ, and tables of organization for major glider operations. The charts are quite detailed giving data such as airborne unit, RAF/USAF unit, aircraft type, glider type, airfields, take off times, and combat load. Mr. Wood has even taken the effort to include the "chalk number" where available for individual glider "sticks."

Also included in the book are detailed specifications of all types of gliders, including many that did not make it into production. The glider data is quite well researched and includes the number produced of each type.

The historical narritive is personalized by the inclusion of the personal accounts of glidermen who participated in the missions. The personal accounts give insight into the reality of combat glider operations.

This is an outstanding book for the serious military historian with a special interest in airborne and glider forces. It provides great detail and background for an overlooked area of military history. I'd consider it to be a companion book to "Silent Wings" by Gerard. M. Devlin since it provides much more technical information.

For quality and excellence in research it rates an airborne "Hooo-ah!!"

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review for this book, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this story is for you: "After spending one year back in the World, U.S. Special Forces Captain Mack Gerber returns to Vietnam smack in the middle of a political boondoggle. Although the Americans have incontrovertible evidence of a major enemy buildup in the Hobo Woods region, they are advised to exercise extreme restraint against the NVA. This mandate is the result of a press-whipped U.S. administration bucking under severe antiwar sentiments. The ripple effect touches officers in the field in Vietnam, and they are cautioned to keep all missions low-profile. Mack Gerber is stunned at these new events, especially since the American military has now been allowed to shed its adviser role and openly take part in combat. Gerber can't believe his orders: Go look for the enemy, but don't find him!" Eric Helm is the pen name of two Vietnam veterans, men who were there and who now tell it like it was.

I teach high school freshmen in a state-history survey class, and I feel that this book is a great learning tool for that age group, as well as any age-group above. Howard Johnson give the reader a clear understanding of what the midwest was facing at the time of settlement by describing in wonderful details the geography and wildlife, as well as the hardships faced by early pioneers. My students, who usually don't enjoy anything I assign them to read (or at least tell me they don't) - were very perked-up about this novel, and were disappointed when they were through. I feel that they truly learned a lesson about early pioneers and their experience, much as what the "Little House" books did for me when I was 8 years old. It's just a shame that this book is so short. Those in Indiana, esp. the Indianapolis region, will really get a joy of reading this book as it takes place in Marion Co. However, any student of midwestern history, no matter how old will find it just as satisfying.

These essays were collected and published posthumously, by Winnicott's widow, Clare, and colleagues. British pediatrician, humanitarian, and ground-breaking psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott died in 1971, having made a nearly immeasurable contribution to the fields of psychoanalysis and child psychology. In this volume, as with his other writings, his ideas are deep, reverential and respectful, and often somewhat complex, and at the same time, his presentation is utterly simple and straightforward. The reader is fully engaged, as a result of Winnicott's incredible knack for connecting with his audience.

The lively and interesting papers comprising this utterly accessible collection were written over a wide span of time - three decades or more. The selections are varied, and have been separated for readerly convenience into several sections: "Health and Illness," "The Family," and, finally, "Reflections on Society." Some were written in order to be presented at meetings of the medical and/or psychoanalytic community; others, to various civic, political, and other groups (The Progressive League, The Liberal Magazine, The Borstal Assistant Governors' Conference, etc.)

The collection is various and interesting for its content but also for - not in spite of - its grab-bag feel. Winnicott was comfortable with his listeners, and never afraid to speak simply, clearly, and with his trademark empathy intact. In fact, that empathy was at the core of his work. There's a great variety in it, too. "The Price of Disregarding Psychoanalytic Research," a talk given in 1965, details the importance of his philosophy. ("The link between poetic truth and scientific truth is surely in the person, in you and me.") Essays such as the 1963 "The Value of Depression" ("Always, depression implies ego strength...") and the 1967 "Delinquency as a Sign of Hope" ("the antisocial tendency is linked inherently with deprivation" ) show Winnicott at his very best. And the playful and kind 1969 "The Pill and the Moon" - written for an address to the Progressive League in the 1960's - is wonderful.

Some of these hopeful and kindhearted essays show their age, but in a welcome and lovely way, and therefore each is well worth reading and thinking about.

I first read this story several years ago and over time, it has remained vividly in my memory. I can recall scenes and dialogues and picture the images painted by Ms. Williams' words in my mind. Katie's story draws you in before you realize it and you are swept into the mountain country of Arizona in the Old West, struggling along side an orphaned family. Ms. Williams brings the era and the people alive, touching fiction with history. Almost all the characters, especially Katie and Bill, offer something of interest to the reader - you get the sense that each has his or her own story. "Home Mountain" is a sweet story (a bit unrealistic), a historical romance without a doubt, but something about it lingers. It is a tale of the strength of spirit, of family and of love and if you enjoy historical stories, it is worth a read.

This is the only book that describes simple single switch, three way switch circuits but also 4 way circuits in detail of wiring and operation. I feel that it is the most comprehensive book on home wiring that I have found.

You will not be able to put this book down! The incredible richness of the information and the quality of both the pen and ink drawings and the narative are outstanding.

This book really brings together the why and how of early American architecture: It tells the story of how the richness of wood resources in early America affected the development of tool technology which in turn contributed to the evolution of building techniques that were uniquely American.

If you like Eric Sloan, or historical woodworking in general, you are going to love C. Keith Wilbur.

This is really one of the most unusual Kachina art books out there. Besides the exquisite photography of Gene Balzer, Theda Bassman delves into how the new carvers who adapted to all wood carving feel about their craft and what it means to them to be a carver. One gets a real sense that the artists themselves come alive and in this way, bring their art alive. They demonstrate a trust in talking with Ms. Bassman, who has a long history of working in the Southwest Indian contemporary art world. In this way, this book transcends the typical art book.