Wings of Change presents the children's story of a contented caterpillar who is afraid to become a butterfly. This simple metaphor reflects the insights that Dr. Franklin Hill has gained while facilitating progressive changes in education. Dr. Hill specializes in planning new educational facilities. He is well acquainted with the effects of change on the young and the young at heart. Dr. Hill created this beautiful story to illustrate how the process of change, though sometimes scary, can lead to positive transformation. The rich illustrations by renowned graphic artist, Aries Cheung, are exceptional and colorful. Confused by the changes he feels are coming, Anew the caterpillar looks to his friend, Faith, for guidance. Faith reassures Anew that one positive action can change the whole world. Anew chooses to trust Faith and his own dreams. Anew finds happiness as he transforms into a vibrant butterfly. He can finally view the meadows from the sky! Dr. Hill's excellent book Wings of Change will provide peace and optimism for young readers learning to navigate their own changing world.

The morning dew tickles his belly buttons! The afternoon sun feels warm on his tiny fuzzy feet. He has lots of yummy leaves to munch. Life is good! Why would this contented little caterpillar, whose name is Anew, ever want to change into a butterfly? He doesn't! He wants things to stay the same forever, and he doesn't understand what is so great about brilliantly colored wings and being able to fly. Isn't he happy right now? Maybe, just maybe, this idea of becoming a butterfly is a bit over-rated; besides, he is a little bit afraid of change.

***** In this book the positive aspects of change are delicately and tenderly introduced to young children through the story itself and through the beautiful illustrations. Indeed, just looking at Aries Cheung's creative artwork is an adventure in itself. Raindrops glisten on bright green leaves, and adorable little Ladybugs scurry from one leaf to the next as little Anew munches happily along. In this setting children are able to explore their personal feelings about changes in their own lives in an endearing and heartwarming way. After all, Anew has a very wise friend named Faith who guides him along--just as parents guide their children through new situations.

Wings of Change is an adorable book with a wonderful message that is presented in charming and humorous ways. I highly recommend it! *****

Wings of Change follows the adventures of a very happy little caterpillar named "Anew." Through a series of dreams and with the help of his friend and mentor, Faith the snail, Anew learns to accept his approaching metamorphosis, discovering that, "thinking like a caterpillar does not work for butterflies." Franklin Hill's inspired and entertaining analogy shows young readers that they need not fear the inevitable changes within their own lives. Aries Cheung's artwork is perfectly suited to this charming, insightful, and very original picturebook story.

Admiral Platt has managed a miracle. As a leader in transforming old practices to business practices in the Pentagon 20 years ago, his additional 8 years as a defense executive leaves him with a near-singular ability to light the way for how the Pentagon might yet succeed in transforming America's military hardware agenda. Not many college sophomores will reach for this compact, brief manifesto and memoir, but it would provide any one a sharply focused treatment of issues that are often avoided. I can say that no one in the Pentagon should be without it.

It's readable, doesn't bog down into the inevitable minutiae that characterizes most volumes about the defense business and it offers a serious warning -- that the U.S. defense business in general has become less competitive. That course can and should be changed. Bravo!

Admiral Platt speaks with the voice of experience and commands attention for his ideas. We do need to rethink our national procurement and defense strategy.
I highly recommend this book for any person seeking a better understanding of military thinking and procurement, as well as the problems we as taxpayers all face.
This book is a must read for Defense Department personnel and anyone seeking a balanced perspective and alternative to newspaper and media hype about defense procurement and strategy. This truly is applied wisdom by a serious thinker that will hopefully be taken to heart by our leaders in the DOD.

In these perilous times we are infused with patriotism and a firm
resolve to keep our country free and to send the word out that
we are strong in military might and determination. Unfortunately,
much of this is mere rhetoric. The present author, a retired
Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, brings to the forefront
his extensive experience and great concern for the future of our
country by detailing our past history in the area of military
procurement--its shortcomings as well as its positive aspects--
and a blueprint for the future. Although I feel well- informed about current events in the world, it was a startling revelation
for me to discover that I was totally unaware of the true nature
of military preparedness.We may have the determination to keep
our nation secure, but of necessity this must be backed by the means to do so. WE must have these means--military supplies and
weapons--precisely when needed. This implies that they must be
procured well in advance as speedily and efficiently as possible. Lengthy deliberations in the industrial sector and the
halls of government may seriously impair our effectiveness in our defense. Facts and figures are provided in this book to
strengthen the argument that we must act now so that we are not
caught defenseless. The author was in the center of the area of
procurement and had vital associations with some of the well-known personages involved, including the President of the United
States. The book is replete with anecdotes and personal comments
but never loses sight of its main theme and goal--to apprise
America of the absolute necessity to be always mightily prepared
and that speedy procurement is the sine qua non of this objective! I strongly recommend that this book be read by not
only our representatives in government but the general public
who should be informed.

What would you call Benjamin Franklin? Was he a scientist, an inventor, a printer, a postmaster, a diplomat, or a founding father? Well, to find out, read
" Benjamin Franklin," written by Peter and Connie Roop. Ben Franklin`s life began by being a poor soap maker`s son in Boston. By the time he was 17, he had already run off to Philadelphia to be a printer`s apprentice. During his life he had helped discover and create many different things like bifocals, the Franklin stove, lightning rods, electrical circuits, and the United States Constitution.
In this biograpy, Peter and Connie Roop have shown the readers not their opinions, but Franklin`s instead. This book uses mostly primary sources like Ben Franklin`s autobiography and letters. I liked this book because it was not just a story, but partly a mystery and because it was half story, half fact by fact.
I recommend this book to 8-9 year old readers who enjoy reading about U.S. history. So what is a scientist, an inventor, a printer, a postmaster, a diplomat and a founding father? Benjamin Franklin, of course!

The "In Their Own Words" series tells the story of famous Americans using various primary documents. For the life of Benjamin Franklin, authors Peter and Connie Roop use not only Franklin's autobiography, but his letters, pamphlets, scientific papers, essays, and, of course, his epigrammatic sayings from "Poor Richard's Almanac." However, Franklin's words are not used as much as you would think. So while this is a solid juvenile biography of Franklin, it really does not use his own words much more than an "ordinary" biography. This book has various illustrations, including paintings representing Franklin's life, photographs of a printing press and some of his inventions from his life, and reproductions of some of the things he printed. A photograph of his grave in Philadelphia is accompanied by a reproduction of his handwritten instructions for his epitaph. In the final analysis, despite the irony of the book not living up to its own title, "In Their Own Words: Benjamin Franklin" will give young readers a solid introduction to the life of the greatest American president never to be president.

This book is a very good book because we can follow the good characters Benjamin Franklin did in his life.

The national forest's trails and wonders are revealed by authors who've hiked the trails most of their lives. 100 of the most scenic, strenuous hikes are described in a guide which requires strong walking skills and access to North Carolina wilderness region.

This is an execellent book that provides helpful descriptions of each trail and how to find them. Especially helpful that it uses USGS maps instead of printing their own. I highly recommend this book.

This book details some wonderful hikes in the North Carolina mountains. Experienced hikers and casual strollers alike will find ample adventures mapped out in this excellent book. The authors, all natives of NC, have certainly put much time and energy into creating a book that would reflect their love of the outdoors and their special fondness for the western section of NC. I highly recommend this guide. Enjoy!

Terrific read! Divided up into sub headings, there are inspirational quotes that set you pondering and leave you with a lot to consider. Fun to read when you just have a couple of spare minutes, too. I would highly recommend it

Fantastic quotes, questions, stories, and illustrations. I have always been a fan of the 7 Habits, and this is a wonderful way to share its principles in a lighter format.

Of course, this is not as in-depth as the original The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but it is just as inspiring. It's fun too. A quick read and lots of ideas that you can ponder, share with others, and discuss.

I gave this book to my sister, and she loved it. Also recommended: Renewal: Nourishing Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul.

this is a wonderful bite size book that is a great and easy read for everyone. I gave lots as gifts and people really thought they were great.

Frank and Joe are in the winter Max Games.Some mysterious things are happening at the Games. And when Frank and Joe end up having to guard the presidents son it only gets better

The book was exciting and if you read it, you would get hooked to it. If you like action and snow, this is the book for you!

The book was exciting from the first page and when the Hardys become friends with the first kid it gets even better.

This is a wonderful example of the 18th century enlightenment. In this work, Rousseau states that inequalities of rank, wealth, and power are the inevitable result of the civilizing process, something most of us have found to be very true if unfair. This new translation also includes all of Rousseau's own notes.

I enjoyed this tremendously, and am always amazed that the thought pattern and process is oneof the few things that hasn't changed over the centuries.

Excellent discourse. This book discusses some of the rudiments of the history of inequality and how its self supporting and ever existing in human nature. I recommend this book for those readers who either want to increase their knowledge on Jean-Jacques Rousseau or historical development of inequality

For those who want to further their command over Rousseau's life- I suggest them to read 'Confessions' by Rousseau.

I find Rousseau especially creative in the way he describes how inequality progressed from the time the first humans made contact. He makes a good case for the solitary life. I think Rousseau believes it is destructive whenever humans come together in groups. Governments were formed to protect the weaker from the stronger or as Rousseau thinks to actually protect the rich from the poor. This is an outstanding book. It will haunt you.

I like taking this book out for a long night stroll. Maybe it's lightly raining, of course it's dark with only street lights to light up the words on the page. It moves me through and through Lord! Child! it shorely am good it good it good! it so damn good!

this book is unusually thruthful and gripped me from the beginning to the very end - maybe because of the fact that I have something in common with Franklin. So convincinglty written , I'd like to have met the protagonist !

The publication (or to be more accurate, re-publication) in English of Sten Nadolny's The Discovery of Slowness is a major literary event, not only for connoisseurs of fine historical fiction, but also for those of us who concern themselves with leadership, communication and systems-thinking issues.

First published in Germany in 1983, this powerful novel of the life of explorer John Franklin has never been out-of-print in that country since. This is certainly due in part to its stature as a cleanly-written, keenly-observed literary impression of a chaotic age not dissimilar to our own, and of a man whose slower rhythm seems out of joint with that age. What has contributed to the book's longevity in the meantime, however, is the cult-status it enjoys among managers and leaders as a portrayal of a type of leadership that all eras cry out for: the ability to perceive the world not merely at the level of isolated events, but at a level of deep structure where the dynamics of the whole system are revealed, and plans can be made based on better data and profounder understanding.

John Franklin is uniquely suited to play this role: "slow" from birth, he experiences the world as an endless cycle of data-gathering, reflection, and action based on the systemic patterns that reveal themselves to his silent contemplation. The fact that that action can not only be more appropriate than what other, "faster" contemporaries would have initiated, but also swifter in execution and more permanent in its effect, only insinuates itself slowly on a society caught up in the frenetic pace of the early 1800's. One simply does not have the time; doing takes precedence over reflection and doing.

It is, however, through his in-born inability to act in any other manner that John Franklin's career is made, first as a seaman, then as a hero at Trafalgar, as the captain of 3 expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage that instinct tells him must exist, and as the Governor of Tasmania. Author Nadolny is, one suspects, as much concerned with his protagonist's inner journey of adaptation to the world (and the world's to him) as with the external details that lead up to the final, fateful voyage to the Arctic regions and the disappearance of the Franklin expedition in 1845. The measure of Nadolny's artistic success is that he achieves our undivided attention and caring at both levels with his breathtakingly simple prose.

Penguin books has done us a great service by re-releasing the elegant Ralph Freedman translation, once fleetingly available from Viking. For people in search of an elegant humanitarian classic, or a portrayal of the much-touted "servant leadership" in action, The Discovery of Slowness may well be the discovery of the summer. And those who agree about its status as a contemporary classic will want to investigate the same author's delicious Hermes-novel, The God of Impertinence, also newly published by Viking

Depression in a close family member; the stigma attached with mental illness; worry that your aging mother might have a baby with Down Syndrome: these are topics not traditionally associated with a young adult novel, but which Franklin deals with head-on. Trina, the main character, is a typical sixth grade girl who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders as she watches her father fall deeper and deeper into clinical depression and worries about the state of her unborn sister (Trina's mother is 48 years old). These are tough topics for a twelve-year-old to handle, and Trina does have trouble adjusting and adapting to these problems--as well as dealing with the day-to-day problems of life by herself as she tries to give her parents time to sort through their problems by theirselves.

Franklin should be commended because she never resorts to "talking down" to her young adult reader. Neither does she sound preachy or sugar-coat the story with an "everything will turn out OK" theme. Indeed, the reader is never sure how the story will end. Trina is often afraid, uncertain, and feels alone. She feels compelled to give up certain "kid" things and takes an adult role in the house...yet seems to resent the fact that she has to make that choice. Although this may or may not be what young adults in similar situations think or do, it is very easy to empathize with Trina; the reader is taken on an emotional roller coaster along with the main character.

In a side note, I met Kristine Franklin at a teachers' conference in Springfield, Illinois, in spring of 2001. She was a very nice and personable lady and I'm happy to find that such a lady is such a talented writer. Highly recommended.

Trina's perfect summer falls apart when her Dad falls into a deep depression. The characters are very memorable and both Trina and Miranda will remind you of people you know.

Eclipse was one of the best books I ever read. You could really tell how Trina was feeling about her dad and his strange behaviors. It was sort of sad, but lots of people could be living with this problem. It was funny how opposite Miranda and Trina were, for example, Miranda talked nonstop before their puppet show, and Trina just sat there VERY nervously! Trina had so many problems, but she still tried to live her life as best she could. I would definitely read another one of Kristine Franklin's books.

Franklin and his friends go out to play and Franklin is told not to go into the woods. His friends play hide and seek and he knows the usual places each of his friends hide, but he believes that the fox is going to try to fool him and go into the woods. So, Franklin forgets what he was told about not going into the woods and he thinks fox is going to trick him and hide in the woods. Not thinking the others would go home without him, Franklin goes into the woods and gets lost. At six o'clock they were all to go home, so the others thought Franklin must have started home, because they knew he was not to go into the woods. They all went home as they were told to do and Franklin was left behind, lost in the woods and it started to get dark. Luckily his parents came and figured out what happened after speaking to all of his friends and found a very frightened Franklin, who went home, ate and went to bed, knowing to follow the rules, and his parents were very happy to have found their son safe but very frightened and alone in the woods.Mrs. Symmington

My preschool daughter loves this book on how Franklin inadvertently gets lost while playing hide and seek. All ends well when Franklin is found by his parents. One cautionary note - the TV show version is different than the book. In the TV show Fox is lost along with Franklin. In the book, Franklin gets lost looking for Fox. My daughter noticed this right away. Regardless, its a very rewarding story.

My daughter just happened to receive this book from a friend for her birthday. It has been her favorite book ever since. She has learned how important it is to listen to her parents even when we say something she may not like to hear. We always have her best interest at heart.