The book A Picture of Freedom is about a twelve year old slave girl who lives on the Belmont Plantation in Virgingia. I like the way the book is written. It is not divided into chapters but in days. The twelve year old girl, Clottee, writes in her diary almost everyday and you read what she writes in her diary. This book gave me mixed feelings. It was sad at one time and exciting at another. At one point of the book one of the very nice slaves was brutally beaten by the master of the plantation. Soon after he was beaten he died. This was very hard for the other slaves to deal with. As you can tell that part of the book was very sad. There were so many interesting parts in the book. There were parts when I just could not put the book down! For instance when William, the masters child escaped. A few days later a still energetic, horse came trotting up the drive of the big house (the house where the masters live on the plantation) with William dragging along behind. You will defiantly have to read this book and find out if William lives. I would recommend this book to all teen/middle school aged girls. I think that it is a wonderful book. I think even older women might like this book also. I would also recommend this book to those girls who are not motivated readers. I think the way the book is set up it does not seem like you are reading that much.

This book was very entertaining! It is about a young slave girl named Clotee who makes a new friend. Clotee is seceretly learnig to read and write against her masters will by paying attention to his son's school lessons. She makes her self a diary to write in and share her thoughts and feelings with. She must hide it though, or it could leak to the master. One day she learns a new word Freedom. She didn't know what it meant. Will she ever understand the true meaning of the word? Will she ever pursue freedom for herself? Read the book and find out!
I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in books about slavery in America and to people who can really appreciate family bonds and good friends.

I thought that A PICTURE OF FREEDOM was the best book in the Dear America series. The way that Clotee tried her best to learn to read and write was really neat. Clotee had a really hard life as a slave and the diary was very enjoyable to read because it wasn't too predictable. If you haven't read this book already, I highly recommend it along with the other books in the series.

The book "Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends" was one of the things that really helped me get thru my own divorce process and create a whole new wonderful life. It truly showed me that my feelings and reactions were normal and that they could be worked thru. After all Bruce Fisher and Robert Alberti worked with people who were rebuilding their lives after divorce for over 25 years and they ought to know. The book has a style that is very very readable. You can begin at the beginning and read it straight thru or open it to just the chapter that is appropriate for you at that moment, like "Loneliness", "Anger". "Self-Worth", or "Sex". The book is built around the metaphor of climbing a mountain, and you are shown just how achievable it is to successfully rebuild your life one doable step at a time. Once you reach the top of the mountain you experience a wonderful sight of a new you and a new life. As Alberti says, "So prepare yourself for a journey. Pack up your optimism, your hopes for the future. Discard your excess baggage. ---- And the Rebuilding mountain lies ahead for you." If you are only going to buy one book to get yourself thru the divorce process this is the one. I can't recommend this book more highly. Other books I would recommend are "How to Survive the Loss of a Love" by Colgrove, Bloomfield, and McWilliams, "Spiritual Divorce" by Debbie Ford, "Life after Divorce" by Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, and "Finding Love (Again!)" by Connie Merritt.

This book is a self-help manual for those trying to recover from a divorce, or going through the process of divorce. "Rebuilding" is the feelings that surface during this trying and stressful period of your life are identified. It is comforting to read that we are not alone in our pain and confusion and that given the circumstances, the turmoil you are experiencing is quite normal. As each emotion is explored, the reasons for them are also examined. An example from another who has suffered the same misery is given, then the best part--what we can do with and about those upsetting, hurtful and sometimes hateful feelings that want to pull us under and drown us. The chapter continues to describe the emotional cycles the "dumpers" (the one ending the relationship) and the "Dumpee" (the one being rejected) go through. Fisher and Alberti acknowledge not everyone is going to react the same, but no one escapes the pain. No matter how we are affected, though, we must remember guilt and rejection are tied to feelings of self-worth and self-love. Build up these two areas, and we will be less devastated by life's inevitable rejections. The end of each chapter has a "How Are You Doing?" section. A list of questions will help us think our way through our dilemmas and offer ideas with which we can rebuild our lives. I like this book because it forces us to do something besides sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. There are ways to work through relationships that end, and we have the power and the tools to do it. We don't have to feel helpless. I like this book because it acknowledges we are not alone with our feelings. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We can go on to live a normal, happy life. It gives us hope.

A friend lent me this book when my husband left me and I was in the depths of dispair. I was reading anything I could to try and understand, but this is the one book that really helped. I latched onto it like a life-preserver to a drowning person. I have read each chapter serveral times now, and keep getting more out of it as I progress in my healing. I returned my friend's copy and bought my own (which I have now in turn lent to a friend in need.)

One of the revelations I found comforting was simply to know what the physical symptoms of grief are - that my sore throat my aching chest and my dry mouth were all manifestations of my emotional trauma.

This book felt like I was talking to a friend who had been there and back, and could take me by the hand through the healing process and help me find my way back to joy. Please read it if you are hurting from the loss of a relationship - it will comfort you a great deal and help you more forward constructively. Then lend it to someone you know who could be helped by it.

The Coalwood Way is a wonderfully written, engaging book. I am a bona fide Homer (Sonny) Hickam "groupie," I'll confess. I eagerly look forward to all his books but especially his memoirs about Coalwood. This book is simply wonderful entertainment written in such beautifully flowing prose that it's easy to forget you're reading a book. Instead, you find yourself lost in the magnificent little town of Coalwood and its colorful and engaging citizenry. If all you know of this story is the movie October Sky, forget it. The movie is a surface treatment of a magnificent and deep story of life and love in Coalwood in the 1950's and early 1960's. The movie was a Hollywood treatment that left out the better parts of Homer's books. Homer is called Sonny in these books and, of course, his dad is Homer (Senior). It's just one place the movie got it all wrong. There is a Christmas aspect to The Coalwood Way that is exciting and strangely satisfying (I'm Jewish). For one of the few times in my life, I was able to understand the Christmas spirit. Sonny Hickam taught me that in his delightful way. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. What else could possibly be wanted from a book than that? Highly, highly, highly recommended.

It is the fall of 1959 in the small coal mining town of Coalwood, WV. Sonny Hickam, the author, is a senior at Big Creek High School, and in the last year of his life as a full time Coalwoodian. He paints a picture of life in a community dependent on what has been called the most dangerous occupation. Through the fall, we meet some vividly portrayed residents including a pair of junior engineers, a poor girl from Gary, and Sonny's heart throb(s). We get to know Sonny's parents in more detail than offered in Rocket Boys and they do seem as the heart of Coalwood. And you will learn some WV lingo- I swan. It is a wonderful, warm and at times exciting story, quite different from Rocket Boys. Sonny has an insightful mind and a writing skill that is unique. It is an inspirational story that will make you feel good, and make you want to visit Coalwood. Take the book with you and find most of the memorable sites. Coalwood is alive and well, but still small and hidden 40 years after the events of Coalwood Way.

If you enjoyed Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys or the movie October Sky, this book is for you. Homer doesn't so much pick up where he left off at the end of Rocket Boys, but rather returns to the fullness of his senior high school year. He weaves a tapestry that provides detail in breadth and depth that keeps the pages turning. You'll suddenly discover it's well past bedtime and you are content to keep reading.

Homer discovers truths about himself and others, even as he's about to move away from home. There is always more to learn from one's parents. There are many emotional highs and lows in Coalwood, but lessons learned from both will leave you feeling hopeful for the human spirit. The people of Coalwood continue to display a dogged determination to get though the difficulties, even if they stumble along the way. Not one to cry easily, I found my eyes welling up with tears during the last chapter. It is possible to find great joy and beauty in hard times.

Homer doesn't miss on emotion. There's anger, joy, fear, excited anticipation, sorrow, laughter, and contentment. You may very well learn something about yourself while reading The Coalwood Way. I highly recommend it!

Tryin' to Sleep in The Bed You Made written by friends, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant is one of most beautiful and memorable novels I've read. This novel was originally published in 1997 but republished this year. This edition includes an all-new chapter that has not been published before. Now lets get to the story.

Gayle Saunders and Patricia Reid have been friends since childhood. They chose each other for their best friend. They are completely opposite. Gayle is beautiful and well loved by her parents. Her only ambition is to marry a man who has money and is someone with high standing in the community. Pat on the other hand comes from an unstable home. She is smart and determined to work her way to the top. Circumstances change for Pat and Gayle's parents adopt her. They grow up together like sisters. Pat is accepted into a prep school and their lives take different paths. Gayle marries Ramsey, a gambler who almost destroys her life. She does not have a clue about her husband's secret life. He is very controlling and Gayle lives to be the dutiful wife. Needless to say Pat graduated from college with honors. Her determination and hard work took her to top of her career in Advertising. After reaching the top Pat was not satisfied. She was still trying to find a place that she could call home. After years of separation and many trials and tribulations Pat and Gayle find the meaning of true friendship.

Marcus Carter who is a childhood friend of Pat and Gayle is troubled. He is being haunted by a tragic accident that occurred during his childhood. The details of the accident are a well-kept secret. Pat and Gayle share this secret with him.

The new chapter is an expansion of the original storyline and is well written. There is more about how you sleep in that bed you made. You are in for a surprise.

DeBerry and Grant have written a novel that is filled with so much honesty in their characterizations. The writing is clear and easy to follow. They have succeeded in making the characters feel like real people.

I was really touched by this book. It made me think about my friendships with other women. There is many twist and turns in this book but you are never confused about what really happens. This is a good book one that I could not put down until I finished.
I would recommend this book to all women.

Reviewed by Dorothy Cooperwood

I enjoyed reading Tryin to Sleep. I found it to be Excellent writing (An Outstanding Story). I enjoyed it so much I bought three copies, for my friends and mother. TTS was recommended to me by my good friend Rod. We both agree that it was an outstanding novel. I appreciated all three characters. I believe that the friendship Pat, Gayle and Marcus had was one in which if everyone had or experienced, this world would be a better place. In closing I would like to say, This is one of the best books I've read thus far. It was so had to put the book down. I'm sure you ladies are writing your next book as we speak. Do you think there could be a sequel? I look forward to and can't wait to read it. Tryin to Sleep is a novel that felt very real. If the second book is anything like TTS, I know it will also be a best seller. Congratulations on an Excellent book.

I finished reading this book yesterday, and I'm still in awe! DeBerry and Grant did a superb job of telling a beautiful story of frienship, betrayal, love, forgiveness, and letting go of the pain of the past. I wonder how the authors went about writing the book together, because it reads as though it was written by one person. One person with a profound voice, and a way with words that had me laughing out loud at some points, pissed off at some points, and crying like a baby at other points. And the way they wrote that Ramsey character! I fell in love with him right along with Gayle in the scene where she lost her virginity to him! And I was ready to take him back for Gayle in that scene in the cemetary! I think I identify more with Gayle than with any of the other characters in the book, but I loved them all!

This was definitely one of the best books I've read this summer, and I would even read it again. And I don't usually read books more than once, no matter how much I like them! I would also love to see this book made into a movie. For some reason, I see Vanessa L. Williams as the perfect Gayle. But enough of my raving about the book. If you haven't read it, you should! Believe me, you'll be glad you did!

I love this book. I play the piano and the violin, and whenever I start a new Mozart, I read this book. The first time I read it I was 12 years old, now I'm 15 and I'm still reading it. Allegra's teacher is amazing, I've learned so much from him. You can't help but get excited about music when you read it. The story is intriguing and beautiful. Allegra is incredible. You can almost hear her play. Her relationship with and feelings about her concerto are very thought provoking. From the very first page, you see the world through the eyes of an incredibly sensitive and gifted young musician. The people she meets and the friends she makes are unforgetable. I recomend this book to everyone, musician or not. I love it.

We picked The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff at my mother-daughter book discussion group kind of blindly. Someone had heard good things about it, and we decided to read it. From the moment I read the first sentence, I knew I was going to love this book.
The Mozart Season tells the incredible story of Allegra Shapiro, a twelve-year-old violinist. Her mother plays violin in the Symphony, and her father is an accomplished cellist. Naturally, Allegra picks up her parents' love for music. And she is quite good. She is picked to play Mozart's fourth concerto for violin at the Bloch Competition for young violinists in Oregon. The main plot of the story revolves around Allegra's struggles to master the piece before the Labor Day competition.
But this book is so much more. It also tells of Deirdre, a wonderful but troubled singer who happens to be a friend of Mrs. Shapiro. It talks about Mr. Trouble, a mentally retarded man who is searching for his lost song. It tells of Allegra's struggles to cope with the horror of her great-grandmother's death. But most of all, The Mozart Season tells about Allegra. Allegra's triumphs, Allegra's failures. Allegra's laughs and her tears. And Allegra is one of the most inspiring people I have ever read about.

When the book opens with a scene at the symphony where they watch Allegra's mother perform, I got a little lost. But I kept reading and have since fallen in love with The Mozart Season. I first read The Mozart Season when I was fourteen at US Swim meet. It strange--I thought I would go through the book so fast that I brought other books, too, but the Mozart wound up taking all day. Not that I minded. It was the attention to details that got me. There is this image I have of the magnificent rose gardens of Oregon, Allegra's mother's eccentric friend, and Allegra's Bro David. The touch of romance is what did it in for me. In the Mozart Season, I was encapsulated by Euwer Wolff's tone--sheer innocence. It is something I hope to find in my own writing. Ezra, the 14-year-old Allegra meets at the violin competition, was the sweetest thing. His radio dedication to Allegra was the sweetest thing imaginable. Allegra and Ezra made me become a great fan of those radio call-in shows.

Euwer Wolff's syntax made Allegra's personality appropriately precocious. She was only 12, but was going onto 30!!!

I read The Mozart Season at least once a summer. It helps me refocus on the past summer and serves as the structure where I ask myself, what have I learned this summer, as far as I'M concerned. What have I done for myself or others lately? I never clicked with the violin (but rather, a flute), but it is that bond that Allegra shares with her instrument that I once had with my flute and now have with my writing.

Someone wrote that Steve Landauers are non-existent. Well, I've met Steve Landauer-wannabees, which has to be about three times worse!

Unfortunately, the book is now out of print and I'm in the pursuit of a good used copy!!! I NEED one for my nightstand at college!

And a final shout-out to any and all interested males--they can DEFINITELY take a hint or two from Ezra. He's got his act down right.

This book is a must-read.

This is a book report on Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. I am doing it for my reading class. This is the second of three books about Shiloh a dog. It is about a kid who worked for a man named Jud to get Shiloh from him. When the kid gets Shiloh, he treats him well, unlike Jud who treated him bad. When Jud gives Shiloh to the kid he gets lonely and starts drinking a lot. He gets drunk and tries to run over Shiloh but instead runs off the road and crashes. People try to be nice to Jud because he crashed and got hurt bad. Finally, one night the boy visits Jud with Shiloh. When they get there for the first time Shiloh licked Jud's hand. I recommend this book to people of all ages.

In the sequel to Shiloh, Shiloh Season, the award-winning author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, once again beautifully portrays the rural life of West Virginia and the love a young boy, Marty, has for an abused dog named Shiloh.

In this sequel, Marty is faced with the conflict of losing Shiloh to the dog's original owner Judd Travers. Judd is known throughout the small community of Friendly, West Virgina for not only being a drunk but also for abusing his dogs.

I would recommend reading the first Shiloh before reading Shiloh Season. However, Naylor gives background information in chapter 1 to refresh the reader's memory from what happened in the first of the 3 novels. Therefore, if you choose not to read the first Shiloh then you will not be totally lost when picking up with Shiloh Season.

Marty worked for Judd in the first Shiloh in order to earn the right to own the abused beagle Shiloh as his very own. However, in Shiloh Season, Judd continuously taunts Marty in wanting Shiloh back as his dog again. What could possibly make this situation worse? Judd is drinking heavier now than ever before and backing up his threats of taking Shiloh with gunshots at Marty!

Marty learns many important lessons throughout the course of the story. He not only learns the different responsibilities that accompanies raising a dog but he also learns that truth and honesty are always the best policy even if it means losing something that you love. Marty also learns that forgiving someone is sometimes very hard but a very crucial lesson when growing up.

As a teacher, I would definitely recommend this book for 10 year old students and older to read independently or for teachers and parents to read aloud to their children of the same age level. I can't wait to read Naylor's Saving Shiloh which is the third book of the Shiloh trilogy. I also hope to see future books about Shiloh to continue the series.

It all first started when Shiloh was being abused by his owner Judd Travers. So Marty tried to take him away but after an attack from a German Shepherd, Shiloh was hidden no more. His parents found out ing and worse Judd Travers Shiloh Season was a book about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shioh,and a man that Marty despises named Judd Travers. In this book Marty feels like he did not get Shioloh fair and square. He thinks that the only reason that he got Shiloh was because he saw Judd do something that he was not allowed to do. Because of this Marty keeps on getting the feeling that Judd wants Shiloh back. But Marty loves Shiloh and doesn't want to give him up. There is a lot of conflict going around with Judd and Marty. Since Marty had taken away Shiloh from Judd he has been drinking and drinking ever since. Marty is worried that since he drinks and is violent he might come after Marty or even worse come after Shiloh and kill him. Marty fears for his life. He has to look over his shoulder every second of his life.

It's tempting to cast Homer Hickam as a rags-to-riches, self-made man. The son of a coal mine supervisor, he was raised in a rural West Virginia town with limited access to public education's most up-to-date resources. When, as a child, he experimented with designing and launching rockets (well before man had walked on the moon), he went up against the traditions of a community that had little use for original behavior. Inauspicious beginnings perhaps, but as an adult, Homer Hickam became an engineer for NASA and a best-selling writer.

So it would have been easy for him to paint himself as an undiscovered diamond in an unforgiving coal town. But that's not the tenor of Sky of Stone, in which Hickam re-creates the events of a long-ago summer spent in his hometown of Coalwood following his freshman year in college.

Sky of Stone is a follow-up to Hickam's two previous memoirs, Rocket Boys (which was made into the movie October Sky) and The Coalwood Way. In all three books, the author commemorates his hometown and its citizens with loving admiration. Homer's parents, though imperfect, are remembered for their humor, dedication and ingenuity. The author gives them full credit for insisting that he go to college and pursue his dreams.

More surprisingly, Hickam portrays Coalwood not as a soul- and lung-destroying wasteland, but as the embodiment of the American dream. Coalwood's fine schools, decent houses and well-nourished families are sustained by the production of coal. That's what the town's mining families believed, and Hickam honors their strong sense of self-determination.

The dark side to the coal industry -- black lung, union quarrels, unequal opportunity for women -- rears its head in Hickam's reminiscences, as they did in Coalwood in 1961. But they are not the subject of Sky of Stone. Hickam focuses on three young people -- Bobby Likens, Rita Walicki and himself -- for whom Coalwood's resistance to change acted as a bracing stimulant, calling forth all of the trio's shrewdness and creativity. They were made by Coalwood, not in spite of it.

The book's various plot strands -- the estrangement of Hickam's parents; the charges brought against his father involving the death of a mining foreman -- occasionally seem unconnected. But the author brings them all together in a final courtroom drama. Hickam's skill with plot, his wit and his capacity for summing up a character in a couple of good quotes all make Sky of Stone an admirable entry in the chronicles of his life.

Homer Hickam's memoir of his life is an open look at his life in the summer after his freshman year in college. After a not too brilliant start at college he ends up going home for the summer to Coalwood, West Virginia a small coal mining town. The way of life in a "company" town is difficult to properly present, yet Homer Hickam does it with ease. The lessons he learns about his father, his mother,and life itself are so openly expressed and wonderfully written, that sometimes it is hard to remember that this is not a fiction novel. The author learns a great many important "life lessons", usually not the easy way. The hard work in the coal mines is vividly detailed, you can feel the aching muscles and exhaustion. His love of an "older" woman is a heartfelt part of this book. It is like a good friend sitting down and remembering a summer, honest, open and introspective, thankful that in the end some tough lessons were learned. There is never a moment of arrogance about what he has achieved in his life,despite the odds. You don't have to read OCTOBER SKY or THE COALWOOD WAY in order to understand and enjoy this book, but why you wouldn't want to read them anyway would be hard to understand. SKY OF STONE is a wonderful memoir, and a heartfelt tribute to his family, to life in a hardworking small town and the people that help him weave the strong fabric of his life.

And that's it, plain and true. Homer Hickam writes wonderfully rich books filled with prose worthy of Harper Lee or Mark Twain. He's the new Mark Twain in my opinion. They'll be studying him the college a hundred years from now. I'm just glad we have him with us in these days. Sky of Stone kept me awake until I finished it. I love his characters. I love especially his honorable and amazing father. You can tell Mr. Hickam still loves him so much. And Johnny Basso, Jake Mosby, Rita Walicki... these are characters that people will talk about for a very long time. Proud to know you, Homer, if only through your books.

I first read this book around 3 years ago, and I still read it, over and over again. What I found I really liked about this book was the characters, Heaven, Tom, Logan and Fanny. They were all so different, although you may dislike Fanny quite a lot, before you know it, your hooked. The other thing I really liked from this book and the whole series, was the style of writing. It was so wonderfull the way you get a movie-like vision while reading it. The best series she has written by far. It has a great storyline and strong/loveable characters. Virginia Andrews is a brilliant storyteller.

This book haunted me for many days. Its about the hard times of a young southern girl in the mountains and her family. This book will touch your heart. It is funny at times,heartbreaking and it makes you wonder how far into the despair of life we can go.This girl keeps her dignity through it all and have to raise her siblings most of the time.I'm sure deep in poverty stricten areas, like now and in the past, this story may touch on what may have occured in real life to some unforunate few.
The first night, I read this book all the way through. It grips your attention and its hard to put down. You just must find out what happens to this girls life next.Its indepth and put you in the heart of the mountains, her home, her family and her heart. A MUST read. Very touching. I loved this book. V.C Anderews best work. Next, Flowers in the attic.

I've been reading 'Heaven' by V.C. Andrews since I was 12 and I must admit that I've learned a lot about love, how to fight for the one you love no matter how much that person has caused you grieve, misery and betrayed you....and I guess I realized that love conquers everything in this book, and I really feel sorry for Heaven who's been going through a hard time trying to gain attention and love from her Pa (Luke Casteel) who avoids her each time their eyes met... Poor Heaven, it seems that the world was blaming her for her Mum's death.. If this was for real, I'd like to be her friend, because I could really feel how it is like to be in her shoes.....How could the world be so cruel to an innocent girl who was to be blame for a 14 year old girl's death during childbirth? But really, this story has really touched my heart ...and I strongly believe that this novel will touch the hearts of readers from all over the globe too...

This book shows how beautiful sincere compassion can be.

As a vegan, I found this book to be most enlightening about aspects of veganism I had never understood—specifically zoos and circuses. I didn’t understand why they were wrong. How naïve I was! This book addressed this and many other questions I had in a thoughtful and lucid manner.

Joanne covers every aspect of vegan living, from clothing to household products to diet. If you have questions about being vegan, this is the book to read, and of course Being Vegan. Interspersed through the book are quotes from other vegans that serve as inspiration while reading through the tough parts of this book (i.e. those that explain how animals are treated.) I found these quotes to be very helpful.

Regardless of whether or not you are already vegan, compassion shines through every page of this book. I’d find it hard to believe anyone could still not be vegan after reading it. If you *are* vegan, this book will reinforce your faith (so to speak) and provide valuable information and delicious recipes (always a plus, right?)

And on another note, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Joanne on the Grassroots Veganism site at VegSource and she is truly as beautiful as her writing makes her seem. If you have some time, come visit us there. It’s a fantastic atmosphere for new and old vegans alike. It’s inspiring.

This book will remain on my shelf indefinitely. It has enriched my life in ways I can’t begin to express here, and only other vegans can understand how much I mean this. I know my life will be better for having read this. How many books can *you* say that about?

And one last thing, I like how Joanne clarifies to the reading public that veganism is not a diet. Veganism is a lifestyle of compassion. Read this book and you will know why.

Buy it. Buy it now.

Thanks Joanne,

John

this book has been on my shelf for about a year now and i *constantly* go back to re-read sections, and get recipes. the author appeals to both the rational and emotional aspects that come into play when one considers veganism, and she backs both up well.
drawing upon various reports and surveys, she presents staggering figures in support of a global vegan lifestyle. she covers economic, environmental, psychological, and personal reasons to make the change, and then lays the process out step by step. how to go vegan, tips on keeping the lifestyle, places to shop compassionately, delicious, easy recipes to try, and debunking popular myths are just a few of the things accomplished in the book.
there are many quotes from famous veggies, and animal right activists that are inspiring and touching. there are also stories from well known (and not-so well known) vegans that help to bring the point home.
for the health conscious there is a huge section on nutrition that breaks down the vegan food pyramid (yes, that's minus the dairy and meat sections!). it lists foods needed for vegans to achieve a nutritious daily intake of vitamins and other essential goodies. daily sample diets for everyone, from infants, children, teens, adults, and the elderly.
if i haven't made it perfectly clear, this book really is an essential for anyone who is interested in a vegan lifestyle, as well as those who care for animals, the world they live in, or their own health and well being. this is a clearly and lovingly written book, and can easily give anyone the mass majority of vegan info they would ever need. of all the other vegan books i own, this is definitely the most useful and my favorite.

The cover-page promises that Joanne Stepaniak will tell "Everything you need to know about Vegan Ethics and Lifestyle Choices, Social Environmental and Psychological Perspectives, Household and Personal Care Products, Nutritional Guidelines, Recipes, Menus, and Substitutions, Resources, Organizations, and Publications." And it keeps every promise. The breadth of topics and issues it covers, joined with its thoughtful and penetrating review of vegan values, goals and principles, make this a milestone in books about veganism. Many books on this subject focus narrowly on eating exclusively plant foods. This creates the impression that veganism is just a regimen for people whose urgent concerns about their health lead them to adopt a strict vegetarian diet. From this narrow viewpoint, it is the choice of foods that defines and motivates veganism. While Stepaniak confirms diet as an essential element of vegan living, she holds fast to a much broader, deeper and more meaningful perspective. She presents veganism as a wide-reaching *lifestyle,* and characterizes her book as being about "living with conscience, conviction and compassion." The book is not limited to "why" a vegan lifestyle is such a benevolent force in the world. It provides an abundance of practical information on "how to" succeed in dealing with the concrete, day-to-day issues of vegan living. It deals as well with the more subtle-- and profound-- challenges of social interactions in a culture that shows little commitment to full-scale compassion for animals *or* for humans. Indeed, according to Stepaniak, vegan concerns with the alleviation of suffering and the display of gentle respect for living creatures must apply to *all* forms of sensate life... *including* our fellow humans. To hear her elaborate the principles of universal compassion in a gentle, kind voice that is totally lacking in strident, punitive and judgmental overtones, is to observe --in action-- the principles she is advocating. Her concerns for healthy, happy, gratifying living are further manifested in the chapters on food, where Virginia Messina, M.P.H., R.D. contributes an important section on vegan nutrition. Stepaniak provides menus for feeding grown-ups, teen-agers and toddlers, and offers fifty-two pages of her typically imaginative and delicious recipes. This book is a treasure-- a comprehensive source of information, inspiration and support for long-time vegans as well as for newcomers.

Although this award-winning children's picture book was written many years ago, it is amazingly relevant for today. The story follows the life of a little house, built long ago in the countryside and then slowly swallowed up by the spreading tide of urbanization, only to find itself surrounded by tall buildings, noise and hubbub, and condemned to destruction. The house is restored to happiness by being moved back out into the countryside, where it can once again ejoy the night sky and the songs of birds and laughter of children playing. Young children, age 2 to 6, will enjoy the story and pictures, even if they don't care about urbanization or anything else.

This has got to be the best all-round Virginia Lee Burton book, which means it's one of the best children's books of all time. The simple prose reaches a level of lyricism not found in Mike Mulligan, and the illustrations have a folksy charm and energy that's just right. Reading it as an adult, one thinks of all the little houses that were NOT saved, and of the ongoing suburban sprawl that's even now despoiling the landscape, but the fact that the eponymous little house is moved and cared for once again by the end makes it a good story for little kids. Other books by Burton tend to wear me down with repetition, but this one remains fresh with almost every rereading that my kids demand.

Quite simply, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated childrens books of all time. There are no computer graphics, but the simple illustrations have a definite folksy, Americana feel about them. The pages where Burton depicts the changing seasons are gorgeous, and have lost none of their vivacity. I can't imagine not always having a copy of this book around to show my nephews and nieces, and to read to them. It's a keeper, and I will gladly go through tens of copies just to ensure it's always around.

Kids love the book because of the picture, and the great sequencing. I love the book because it's just well written, and I have memories of having it read to me when I was in kindergarten.

This has always been one of my mother's favorite books, and it's also been one of mine as well. I think this book ages rather well, and it's an interesting look at the growth and development of the country. Some may see this book as being "anti-development", but it's hard not to sympathize with the house as the landscape around her changes and becomes less familiar.

My last thought is that I hope when I do have nephews and nieces that there still will be countrysides like the ones depicted in this book.