What an absolutely delightful book in every way! My 5-year old friend giggled as I read it to her, as did a group of my 50-year old friends. To read it aloud is such fun. The line, "I'm Penelope, and I am a PRINCESS!" alone presents endless theatrical possibilities. I believe it will find a place on the shelf among classics such as "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

How many times we have used the "pincess" expression with our little girls thinking we were the only ones with a Penelope! It is interesting that this books views the role through the eyes and ears of a "princess" which Mack has successfully described. Julia Gran's illustrations of a modern princess make the book extremely appealing for bedtime reading by the king and queen. I look forward to more works by Todd Mack and hopefullly teamed up with Julia Gran.
After I read the book I suddenly knew of many friends I just had to share the story with and this is a mark of a winner.

A fabulous book, wonderful and clever. A must have for every family with young children

Even if your pup's behavior isn't as "bad" as these dogs' behaviors are, every dog owner should read this book! It explains the positive way of training dogs to behave themselves. It tells you exactly how the thought process works for each trouble behavior the doctor encountered and the end result of the training of both dog and owner(s)! Excellent!

This is one impressive book! The stories make the book fun and easy to read, and the information is very helpful in understanding your own dog. Not a book to get if you're looking for help in training your dog, but definitely a book for those interested in understanding their pets.

This book is a very entertaining way to learn dog behavior. There is plenty of valuable information about reading any dog's body language. It reads like a series of stories, rather than a clinical type book. I lose interest rapidly if the information reads like a text book. I saw my alpha male all through this book. I recommend it to anyone wanting a good book of dog stories packed with educational material about dealing with a dog who thinks he owns you!

I usually do small works; handbuilt and wheelthrown pieces and tiles. It was quite eye-opening to read this book on large scale projects. It is written in a very clear manner, with wonderful pictures.

I only fault him on his tile making techniques, which could be better, but hey, who cares? His expertise lies elsewhere. He has obviously worked out the best techniques for large ceramic projects.

I like the way the book is organized. The chapters are very sequentially logical (to me).
Chapter 1: Tools and Equipment
Chapter 2: Building and Decorating Techniques
Chapter 3: Sectioning, Drying, Glazing and Firing
Chapter 4: Installation
Chapter 5: The Projects
Chapter 6: Gallery

The Projects chapter reiterates some of the information in previous chapters, but this time applied to a particular project. This is fine with me, since reiteration is a good teaching technique. The Gallery chapter is quite inspirational! There are lots of pictures of installations done not only by Peter, but also other artists.

Makes me want to try some architectural ceramics!

I had the wonderful experience of apprenticing for Peter and finished soon after we did the photoshoot for the book. I have to say, Peter and his brother John both went through great lengths to make sure the book would have as much practical information in it as possible. The only thing better than the book is one of Peter's workshops. But with the book, all of the information that Peter gives is easy to look over time and time again. The pictures are great! As soon as you start making and install a floor, sink, fireplace and so on I'm sure that you'll be hooked. You'll realize that it is possible to do on your own or with a friend. You'll also see and understand how much farther you can push clay than you had ever expected. Plus, above all, it's alot of fun!

The pictures are fantastic! For those of you who are tired of tiny pots, this is the book.

I'm a student and as such I'm very new to the game. This book gave me not only inspiration but enough detailed information to allow me to plan my bathroom sink. The plans include the sink, tile, and following the example in the book, the plans for the forms I need to make so that the pieces will be shaped correctly. I hope to create and fire the pieces early next year.

Short and sweet! Marjorie King's 1997 historical novel about the life of one of God's own secretaries, JOHN BOIS, is a delightful companion pice to Adam Nicolson's new book about the KJB. Mrs. King's 184-page novel depicts daily life--sometimes warm and cozy, sometimes tragic and tumultuous--in Reformation England. We see not only John Bois's Bible work--as one of the 54 scholars who translated the KJB--but his daily activities as husband of a spirited, much younger woman, as father of their five children, and as pastor of the Boxworth village church where he preached for 47 years. To most contemporary scholars, John Bois is little more than a name. A HOUSE ETERNAL, based on Mrs. King's extensive and intensive research, which included travel in England, brings John Bois to life. We see him struggling through family crises, domestic spats and financial difficulties at home, as well as in his professional relationships with colleagues and religious leaders in the rarefied academic atmosphere of Cambridge and the bustling city of London. A HOUSE ETERNAL presents a realistic picture of the personal and professional life of one of the men who helped produce the world's all-time bestseller, the KJB. A HOUSE ETERNAL may well become a collector's item.

While the cover of Marjorie King's novel "A House Eternal" simply and modestly states that it is a "Historical Novel About A Bible Translator", it is truly much more than that. It is the compelling story of a man and scholar, John Bois.From marital discord to professional strife and jealousy, the author brings the character of John Bois and his time alive to the reader.Historically, the reader is offered a rare glimpse into the life of a 17th century biblical scholar. John Bois' role as one of the men chosen to translate for the King James version of the bible is very aptly described. I not only learned a lot reading this book, but also enjoyed it immensely!

In his last will and testament, Henry Holt left his library and Rectorship of Boxworth to John Bois if he would marry his daughter, Barbara, whom Bois has never met.

Marjorie King has taken this intriging starting point and added major research on Bois life to provide understanding of God's impact on the life of a translator. Robert Overall- April 10, 2000

John Bois was a man fully worth knowing, who played an important part in the final revision of the entire Bible. John Bois was in someways the most vivid of the translators. At any rate we have more about his private life and his ways of doing than we have of others. Gustavus S. Paine - 1977

Mr. Ape is an eccentric man.His wife has left him and dismissed all his servants.Although most people would be sad that their wife would leave them after 30 years of marriage,Mr. Ape was delighted at the idea that his wife was leaving him as she was very bossy.Apparently,Mr. Ape is very fond of animals and bought 12 hens.Gypsies named Jake and his father Joe are living quite near his place.Jake's donkey was roaming near Mr. Ape's compound so Jake arrived at Mr. Ape's house.That's how they got acquainted.Later,Mr. Ape bought some rabbits and guinea pigs.Wow! That's a lot.I bet he's crazy.Then he gets even more crazy-rearing canaries,a puppy,a foal and lastly a talking parrot who is good at immitating voices.I like the parts that the parrot immitated Mr. Ape's voice as it will trick Jake and Joe.So humourus!! Mr. Ape's pets soon increases as they will breed.So,he decides to have a pet sale.A lot of letters keep pouring into his house.Soon,he has a few pets.But when Mr. Ape's house is accidentally burned,everyone accuses Jake and Joe.Luckily,the animals were saved.Now it's up to Mr. Ape-is he going to follow the gypsies,Jake and Joe or will he stay? Read this book and you'll find out.This is a truly amazing book.It really touched my heart.

Mr Ape is a fab book. If you can get your hands on it, I'd read it. I haven't read many of Dick King-Smith's stories, but this is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I love animals. I have a rat of my own, and my sister has a cat. Anyone who loves animals, like me, READ IT!

This book is realistic fiction. It is about two people who help each other. On a scale from 1 to 10 I would give 10. If you like humoous stories you will like this book.

If you like Lord of the Rings thwn you will enjoy this book as well as the others written by William Burt. he is also a friend of mine. These books will keep you reading, full of adventure at each turn of the page!

As a three time teacher of the year I can fully recommend The King of the Trees for fun, adventure reading. The old theme of good vs evil is replayed in a refreshing setting. The plot and characters are believable and enjoyable. While the end is predictable to older readers, children will love this story. Parallels can be drawn between other good vs evil plots including: Lord of the Rings, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, and many Bible stories.

This is wonderful book that you and your children will absolutely love. We read this every night together before going to bed and every night I was begged if we could read just one more chapter. This imaginative book will draw you and your children in and you will love the characters you come to know and the places you will go. I highly recommend this book and we are anxiously awaiting another to follow.

"May your sythan-ar ever flourish!"

..... and may you never run into a "yeg" upon your travels in the forest.

I previously owned Zondervan's Student Bible which is an excellent version for people who don't know things like "Why did the Apostles wash Jesus' feet?" and so on. Hence, I sort of outgrew this Bible.

But this version, after much research, was exactly what I needed. About 5" x 8", it is light enough for me to shove into my bag, as I do a lot of travelling. The cross references in the middle column are extremely useful and thorough. Plus it has a flap to close over the book so the pages don't get torn. The perfect match for me.

What I really like about this Bible is the feel of it in my hand. You feel like you can have the Bible with you at all times. It's so light and convenient. It makes reading the Bible easy and you can carry it anywhere. You don't feel like you're lugging something around. I just stick it in my jacket pocket and it's not a burden to carry in your hand. I've had other larger Bibles, but I never read them. I always go for this compact reference Bible even at home. The small print is still easy to read and my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be.

This Bible is probably the most thorough compact Bible you're going to find. I found that the maps, concordance, and the historical/literary introduction with a summary at the beginning of each book to be the most helpful. (I don't know why they don't stress the latter on the front of the cover box.) It's also the smallest (width- and lengthwise) I encountered with both the NT and OT (I went to several bookstores). Yes, the print is small, but it's the biggest print you'll find among compact Bibles-- I haven't had trouble reading it, and I think it manages to keep a reasonably-sized print by having more pages (it's a little thicker than most-- about an inch thick.) It's also durable. One word of advice: more than likely you're getting a compact Bible because you want to cram it (for lack of a better term) in your purse, backpack, pocket, or whatever and carry it around. I have the leatherbound kind with no flap, and although it's still in one piece after 2 years, all the pages keep getting crinkled and squashed. I love this little thing, but if I were to buy another, I'd get the one with the flap. (IBN 0-310-90810-8.) As for the edition itself, it's great!

*Idylls of the Queen* is so much more than a good murder mystery. It is a good murder mystery, but unlike an ordinary mystery, you can reread it, even knowing whodunit, without any of the fun being spoiled. The mystery is sort of a backdrop to the real show--which is yet another new take on the personalities of Arthurian legend, and a different look at chivalric ideals.

The narrator is the oft-maligned Sir Kay, the grouchy but well-meaning seneschal of Arthur's court. He's not a bad guy. He *is* a sarcastic curmudgeon, but that's because he's seen so many self-serving buffoons win glory and adulation while his own hard work goes unnoticed. He is also secretly in love with the Queen. Kay shares an uneasy friendship with a wonderfully written, morbid, fatalistic, and somehow sympathetic Sir Mordred. Together they set out to clear Guenevere's name of the murder charges, meeting fascinating characters right and left. Morgan and Iblis are especially engaging, and Karr puts some deep words into their mouths. Morgan's defense of her mixed Christian and pagan ways cuts right to the heart of things, and Iblis's observation that justice is different for women than for men, is shocking just because it is so true of the times.

If you're an Arthurian buff, read this book. It's a quick read, and a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or two.

"Idylls of the Queen" satisfies on many levels. One: it's a unique look at the world of Arthur's Camelot through the eyes of the much miligned Sir Kay. Two: It's a terrific murder mystery with red herrings and surprises. Three: It's a great fantasy, containing magic and otherworldly spells blended in a unique way.

If you're looking for something different, be it fantasy or mystery, I recommend "Idylls of the Queen" you won't be disappointed!

Phyllis Ann Karr has done all Arthurian fans a big favor by writing this book. "The Idylls of the Queen" is basically a murder mystery set in Camelot, with all the familiar knights and ladies as suspects when Sir Patrise is inexplicably murdered at a small dinner hosted by Queen Guenevere. Sir Mador accuses the Queen of the murder, and a race against time ensues to discover the truth. The usual knightly quest becomes a hunt for the killer--whoever that may be. Along the way Karr treats us to some very unique interpretations of the Arthurian cast, including Sir Gareth, Sir Bors, Sir Gawaine (more like the title character of "Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight") Morgan le Fay, and Sir Lancelot himself. Told in the first person by Sir Kay, King Arthur's foster brother and seneschal, usually noted by other writers solely for his comedic boorishness or ignored entirely, the novel clearly demonstrates that there is a lot more to Kay than he's usually given credit for--as was the case in the earliest Arthurain legends, where the sarcastic boor of later years is replaced by a loyal, courtly knight. Karr's version of Kay is still a fountainhead of caustic wit, but even so he's likeable and clearly indispensible to the well-being of Camelot.

A fast, suspenseful novel that should stand up to multiple readings, "The Idylls of the Queen" is an ingenious work that should please all fans of Arthurian literature.

"King Ottokar's Sceptre" is an Adventure of Tintin in which our intrepid hero gets to do a lot of deductive reasoning. Certainly there are more actual clues than Hergé usually includes in his mysteries. Tintin encounters Professor Alembik, who studies seals (no, not the friendly little animals but the things you stamp into wax on official papers). This seems a harmless career choice but Tintin finds that both he and the good professor are embroiled with secret agents and a plot against the King of Syldavia. It seems there is a major loophole in the laws of the monarchy, for if the King were to lose possession of King Ottokar's Sceptre, he would lose the right to rule and have to abdicate. This would work to the advantage of the bad guys across the border in Borduria, so it is up to Tintin and Snowy to save the day. They are aided in this endeavor by the Thompsons; to be precise, they endeavor to aid.

"King Ottokar's Sceptre" was produced by Herge in 1939 and the more you know about Europe on the eve of the Second World War, the more you are likely to see lurking behind the characters and actions of this Tintin adventure. However, it is hard to tell if Hergé is trying to make any sort of a point; certainly during the war it was clear Tintin lived in a different world, so I am loathe to see anything beyond a compelling narrative. This is an actual mystery, where clues need to be solved and mysterious developments need to be explained. On top of all that throw in the ongoing perilous situations that our hero and his faithful terrier find themselves in time and time again in these early adventures. Oh, and there is also Tintin's first meeting with Bianca Castafiore, which is not exactly something I am inclined to celebrate, but that is just me. A very solid offering from Hergé.

First published in French in 1939, and written at the time that Europe was under the thumb of totalitarianism: Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin.

Tintin is taken through a sequence of strange vents to the mythical Kingdom of Syldavia, which we learn much about in this book. The drawings and information which bring this country to life : a combination between Zenda and Albania , are amazing .

A plot by Fascists based in neighboring Borduria is hatched to unseat King Muskar, involving the seizure of the symbol of the Syldavian monarchy, the mediaeval King Ottokar's Scepter.
Tintin is called to the rescue. Once more these charming comics are an interesting commentary on events at the time, through the eyes of Herge.

In which an escapist Ruritanian fancy turns into an ominous allegory for Nazi aggression. On one of those strolls with which Tintin often commences a new book, the reporter notices a mislaid book on a park bench. He returns it to its owner, the chain-smoking, Freud-lookalike Professor Alembick, an expert on seals (of the heraldic variety), who is about to visit the Balkan principality of Syldavia to look at some rare treasures. When Tintin notices some sinister types hanging around the Professor's apartment, and what seems to be a conspiracy plotting in a Syldavian restaurant, he decides to accompany the Professor. On the eve of their departure, a phone call to Alembick is interrupted by screams, but all seems normal as they leave for Klow, the Syldavian capital. Except that now the short-sighted academic can see sheep from thousands of feet in the air, and no longer smokes.

This extraordinary and unique entry in the Tintin canon is priceless for a number of reasons, the foremost of which is the utterly convincing creation of a non-existent realm so consistent in its internal details you can't believe it's not real. Central to this is the travel brochure Tintin reads on the plane to Klow, reproducing in three dazzling full-length pages the history, geography and culture of this great country, including the most amazing pastiche miniature illustrating a medieval battle and an account of the incident that accounts for the importance of the titular sceptre, Byzantine in their colour and beauty. Syldavia is a Ruritanian realm of benevolent monarchs, toy-soldier uniforms, quaint rituals, emblems and customs, all under threat from modernity in the shape of totalitarian imperialism. Its exotic magic is subtly prepared by the lengthy contrasting prelude in Brussels, all drab brown interrupted by the heavy black of the bungling Thom(p)sons. Herge is no sentimentalist, he is alive to the conformity and social rigidity of Syldavian society, but he is also in love with its precarious culture, its nobility and generosity, and makes us love and fear for it too.

The topography of Syldavia, with its castles, river-valleys and fir-lined mountains, and its culture, including the part-Byzantine, part-Modiligiani mural surrounding the throne room, offers unending pleasure to the eye. The action sequences, perhaps because the stakes are so high, reach an agonising pitch. Once again a story of such potential gravity is primarily driven by Snowy's appetite, his search for bones providing a feast of visual jokes. The Thom(p)sons are their usual luckless joy, this time a winking Tintin joining in with us in the laughter. Making 'Sceptre' even more perfect is the introduction of another recurring Herge character, the prima donna Signora Bianca Castafiore, that overweight interpreter of operatic waifs whose piercing voice tests even Tintin's goodwill, and prompts the exodus of animal life from forests whenever she drives by.

Marty Appel bring us a signficant book about 19th century baseball, of which not enough is written. This book is also one of 27 that The Easton Press has chosen in its deluxe library of the 27 top baseball books. This books belongs. Many of baseball's present day problems can be traced back to the late 1880's when both players and owners rangled over such concerns as high salaries and the reserve clause. This is also the story of Cap Anson of the Chicago White Stockings getting fed up and ridding himself of the alcohol abusers on the team, Kelly included. Consumption of alcohol by ballplayers was considered to be a sign of manliness (how sad) and many of the players of this time died young and poor. We don't have many books available on 19th century baseball worth your time, but Slide, Kelly, Slide and a few others such as Where They Ain't (Willie Keeler and the Baltimore Orioles) and A Clever Base-Ballist (John Montgomery Ward), are exceptions. Appel's book will not disappoint you.

See a review in www.Sportsbookfile.com, Issue

Winner of the 1996 Casey Award, from Spitball Literary Magazine, as the best baseball book of the year.