Bailey City is full of some pretty weird grownups.It is the perfect place for the spooky Hauntly Manor Inn.Could Kilmer's grandmother be a vampire planning to hang around?The kids think so.Check out who's visiting the Hauntly Manor Inn.

There have been several historically based novels, as well as Biographies of noted artists in the last year. A common complaint has often been the lack of illustrations in general, and the very few color plates in particular. Full color plates are extremely expensive, and are often scarce in a work for that reason alone. Major books on an artists works can be extremely expensive, and almost prohibitively so, when what is desired is a companion reference to another book.

The volume I comment on here pertains to Vermeer as it makes books like "Girl With A Pearl Earring", "The Music Lesson", and "Girl In Hyacinth Blue" more enjoyable. This comment is not meant to detract from any of the works mentioned. These great reference works allow the reader to quickly find full color illustrations of the paintings mentioned in the books, together with additional information on the pieces themselves. These books add to the reading experience, they supplement, they do not replace.

There are dozens of these available on a variety of Artists. Caravaggio is another painter who has been written about extensively, and the books, even when they did have color plates, only a fraction of what was referred to in the book was shown. Often illustrations are offered in black and white, and while better than nothing, they are barely that, for these artists chose color, and to appreciate/understand their work, color is a prerequisite.

The alternative is either very expensive coffee table books, or handfuls of airline tickets to globe trot to the location of the works. The latter is certainly the best, but for just under $10.00, these are much more efficient.

Van Gogh's letters from this, his most creative period, are not possibly a one read collection. Nor, do they necessarily demand an appreciation for his work. Historians of psychiatry and students of creativity and manic depression should not allow this primary source information to be overlooked.
Van Gogh's incestuous relationship with his brother, Theo, was covered dramatically in the film 'Vincent and Theo.' These letters are less pathological but certainly prove the interdependency, which no doubt increased unbearably upon Vincent's death. (Theo was dead a year later and had been chained to the wall in an assylum.)
But this is equally a series of untoward rapture for the natural world and the ordinary people he encountered there. We are introduced, in story and paintings, to some of the most memorable subjects of Van Gogh's accumulated works, Gaughan, Dr. Gauchet, The Chief Orderly in his assylum, The Postal Worker. There are also self-portraits and their impossibly anguished stories.
This is a 5-star work. There is no comparable work for insight into the man and the paintings. It also explains that inescapable discomfort and exaltation felt by studying his work.
Short and concise, it covers more than a biography and includes all the Provence masterpieces.

The best way to learn history is from the mouths of those who lived it, and enjoying the experiences of the King Ranch Kinenos and the vaqueros of the Kenedy Ranch through their unadorned, first-person accounts puts the reader right back at the last fringes of the Old West period. Indian attacks, raids by Pancho Villa and forays by the Union and the Confederacy forces disrupt but do not change the tradition rich life of the Hispanic cowboy. Loyal until death, theirs was a life of service, duty, and honor. This is a can't-miss read for fans of Texana, Hispanic history, and ranching life.

This is the ultimate arm chair traveling book. It is a great introduction to Wales: the landscape, culture and history. I have yet to visit Wales, but I dream of taking the exact route as A. Bailey. I highly recommend this book.

I had the opportunity to listen to Kathi Appelt read this story aloud, and it was wonderful. By hearing the author read it the way she meant for it to be heard, it made this story magical and special. I immediately felt compelled to buy my own copy to share with others. It is a wonderful way of capturing a child's impatience, and captures the wonder of a summer day.

"What's Going On in Our Schools?" is an excellent source of information for law enforcement officials or anyone interested in finding out what our schools are faced with today. For any aspiring School Resource Officers like myself, this is a stepping stone for your career in collaboration with Mr. Bailey's course. Lastly, I would recommend this book for parents who would like to prepare their child for some of the issues that face children of today in our education system anywhere!

This book is a must have for your child's collection. The art work is beautiful and vibrant. My children love this book and have purchased it for several friends.

Addie was afraid a lot... That's the beginning of this marvelous book. It goes on to explain all the things she is afraid of. Then, at a key moment in time, Addie "looks inside herself.." and finds that she is brave when she needs to be. I found this book in the library and brought it home to my very own "Addie" (not that's not her name, but boy did she fit the profile....). Now she tells me when she's scared that she is going to find the brave place inside herself, just like Addie. Now I'm buying her her own copy. The great thing about the book is that it doesn't have a magical ending. Addie doesn't suddenly stop being afraid of everything, she just learns that there is more inside her that she thought. A great book for everyone, and a must read for ALL the Addies of the world!

The Young Fishing Enthusiast is an excellent teaching aid to novice fishermen of any age. Using lots and lots of excellent photographs to grab the reader's interest, this book covers all aspects of fishing--from history of fish, gear to use, knot tying, fly fishing vs. lure fishing, and bait lore. It has a decided earth-friendly slant to it with sections on catch-and-release fishing and "considerate fishing" (sharing the lakes and rivers with other enthusiasts and wildlife.) A wonderful overview for anyone just getting their feet wet, so to speak.