Compiled and edited by Daniel A. Klin II (Director of Drama Education with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth) , and enhanced with black-and-white illustrations by Nashton T. Nahson, Marshall Islands Legends And Stories is an entertaining and richly presented collection of oral folklore featuring 50 stories recorded from 18 storytellers on 8 Marshall islands and atolls. Magic, mischief, quarrels, heroism, traditional Marshallese customs and culture, and much more fill this most engaging read, which enhanced with profiles of storytellers, a glossary, and a pronunciation guide. Also available in a hardcover edition (1573061417, [$$$]), Marshall Islands Legends And Stories is a valued contribution to Pacific Island Folklore & Mythology reference collections and reading lists.

Once, all barrier islands were natural places where sand dunes and sea grasses, water birds and beach creatures flourished, undisturbed by human development. Matagorda Island still is. Part of a chain of five major barrier islands that shelter the Texas coastline from the Gulf of Mexico, Matagorda Island is the only one completely under public ownership. This guide to the island seeks to acquaint first-time visitors and seasoned naturalists alike with the natural wealth and ecological fragility of Matagorda. The book also tells the human history of Matagorda - the Karankawa Indians, European explorers, Civil War-era settlers, lighthouse keepers, and the U.S. Air Force, which used Matagorda for a bombing range during the 1940s and 1950s. There are appendices on plants, wildflowers, and birds as well as maps and line drawings

This book is one of my all-time favorites. It's extremely funny; the characters are interesting and well-written, and the plot moves very fast! You can never tell where it's going to go next.

This is the story of a teenage girl and her family (parents and two brothers), who buy a small island in the St. Lawrence seaway when they suddenly come into an unexpected inheritance. The catch is, that when US and Canadian boundaries were established, each country thought this island belonged to the other! So now they don't just have an island; they have an independent country!

Setting up international relations and dealing with things like immigrants are things that the family never planned on, and their creative solutions are hilarious.

Though this book is usually classified as "young adult," I still enjoy it, though I'm long past that age. One warning, though -- the book was set in the turbulent 60's, and it's rather dated. It's been out of print a long time, but I would love to get a copy of it someday.

Allie isn't looking forward to her summer: her isolated Maine community offers few friends and her father has injured his back, so the family has to pitch in and start a new business to help out. When she meets a summer girl whose family is staying at an elegant home they inherited, she forms an uncertain friendship with a girl who has everything monetarily, but lacks family support. Their friendship will change both their worlds in this moving story of conflict and discovery.

I purchased a copy of this book for a friend whose great grandparents immigrated from Russia and entered the United States through Ellis Island and then purchased one for myself to read aloud to my third grade students. The paintings are beautiful and haunting; some in color, some in sepia tones. The story itself is heartwarming and sentimental.

Oh my gosh! I just can't believe how great this book is! What a shame it's out of print. Please use the out of print service! It's about Barbie and her friends as they go to an island to visit some friends. The friend's mother has died and Winnie the daughter is in a wheelchair. Alex (the father) has just gotten a new job which isn't going very well. Barbie feels sorry for them. She has a dream which gives her a great idea. In the dream Barbie and her friends were mermaids. Barbie excitedly tells her friends,Kira, Christie, Midge, Jazzie, Teresa, Steve, Alan, and Ken (WHEW) her idea. She figures that since Alex works on a ship with a glass bottem and shows people that are visiting the ship it,they can pretend to be mermaids. I really shouldn't tell you any more info or the book wouldn't be as good. All I can say is that this book is worth your money and won't disapoint you. Do yourself a favor and buy this amazing book.

After reading Turrill's book A Bridge To Eden (which is a great read)I was not sure if this book could live up to Bridge. It was written about ten years earlier and is historical fiction. I was impressed with the amount of time he must have spent on this novel. The research and basic story is enough for me to recommend this book. The kicker is that it is so well written. Most historical fiction I have read can be very 'dry' but Turrill keeps it all fresh and moving. After reading both Turrill's books I must say that I look forward to anything he publishes in the future. His literary fiction is great and his historical fiction is very fine. Highly recommended!!

Love shipwreck stories? Like to dive for treasure? Like reading about Eastern states history? GET THIS BOOK! I read this book non-stop, I couldn't put it down. Anyone familliar with east coast shore towns will love reading about the fantastic treasures lying hidden somewhere "down there" off the coast! I guess the average person would not be interested in this book, but I often stand at the waves at the New Jersey shore and think about ships laden with gold and silver, from 200 years ago and wonder how many are still buried beneath the waves. Arm-chair historians, treasure divers and ship wreck romantics: find this book!

This is a wonderful, exciting children's book in the tradition of "Lassie" and "Black Beauty" except that every word is true! My kids loved it. We can't wait for another story from Stephen Gage.

Missing on Castaway Island tells about a sixteen year old girl named Megan Parnell. She is on a camping trip with her mom, Darren (her new step-father), and Peter (her step-brother and long-time friend). While walking in the woods, Megan and Peter find a Vietnamese girl named Thuy. The family works together to search for Thuy's missing brother. The result is one that you won't want to miss! This book reveals the importance of trusting God. The Megan Parnell series, by Joan Rawlins Biggar, is one of my favorite series.