This four-book series is a goldmine for educators looking for practical ways to engage their students in substantive character education. The book's materials, developed and tested at one of our country's truly outstanding schools, merge solid academic content with character education. Together the books reflect a complete plan for engaging a school-community in the misson of character development. Central to the authors' [John Heidel and Marion Lyman-Mersereau] work and to the organization of the books is a school-wide, monlthly focus on a particular virtue, such as respect or courage. In this, the authors are addressing one of the core problems with our schools' efforts to respond to the current call for character education. Instead of psychobabble and talk of "inappropriate behavior" and "adjustment," their approach is a return to an older, richer language system of words, like "responsibility" and "cooperation," the language of character and human excellence.

Character formation has been described as what we do to help our young know the good, love the good adn do the good. These books address all dimensions of that description. The great power and benefit of Character Education is its appeal to the student's head, heart and hands.

Probably the most well researched book about Charles M. Russell. Even if one is not normally drawn to sculpture, this book could possibly be the one to change your mind. The subjects are varied, inspiring, and beautiful.

As a young boy he heard the words of Horace Greely, and indeed went west to seek fame, fortune, and adventure. After two years with Jake Hoover in the Judith, his dreams of wranglin', and ropin' came true at the O H ranch. Over time the home of the "Big Sky Country" became his perminant domain, and his mother Miss Montana, she blessed her son with a gift that would speek for many of his kind that ventured before him. He illustrated with brush, and canvas. He wrote in scripture, and sculptured in bronze. With his gift, C M Russell was able to protray what it was like to live in a time when spurs, the six-gun, and the feel of leather was a cowhands only cherrished parcel. He became the "Cowboys Cowboy", and the voice of the "Red-Man". Montana's dearest son had done what she wanted him to do. Russell for those who knew him was Loving, Kind, and Loyal. He never forgot his roots, no matter where he traveled. In the end Montana was more than proud of him. For she had raised him as Montanan. Over the years he became a Montanan. And at the end of the trail, he was buried as a Montanan.

Brian Dippie, as always, spends years of research perfecting his product. His love of writing preparing his books is not compromised by deadlines. Being a professor of U.S. History at the University of Victoria demands authenticity and knowledge! Who would believe a Canadian? The answer lies definitely here. This author is one to be believed and enjoyed.

Years of travel and study liberally doused with a love of the language mirror Charlie Russells love of nature and art but Charlie struggled with language. Dippie translates, transcribes, and transforms for the reader. A DEFINITE BUY!

I actually read this book before one of Homma Sensei's others (Aikido for Life), but I felt it was helpful to me as an adult student of aikido as well as a parent of a [maybe-] future-aikido child.

In the first half of the book Homma Sensei gives a very detailed and convincing account of how he came to the martial arts (and aikido in particular), and how this has shaped his practice as a teacher. He gives many easily-recognizable examples of conversations he's had with parents who want to enroll their kids in his classes. These would be comical if not true, but they serve to illustrate many of the wrong reasons parents want kids to participate in martial arts.

In the second half, he gives examples of many of the exercises children in his aikido classes perform, accompanied by black-and-white line drawings. These would be very helpful for parents with a child in aikido (as a way to understand what the children are doing, and to help them practice at home), but certainly can *not* substitute for the expert guidance of a certified instructor.

Interestingly, even though I bought this book [ostensibly] for the day my son might show an interest in coming to the dojo with me, it was very useful for my own aikido training. Homma Sensei stresses personal responsibility, as well as the "right" reasons for studying aikido, and I found this refreshing as a beginner myself. [It was also useful, in reading another of his books (Aikido for Life), as he gives a rather detailed account of his own study of aikido in this one -- which helps one understand why he feels the way he does about certain aspects of training.]

Highly recommended.

A great book for kids who are curious about circles! Covers the basics about circles, circumference, diameter, and radius and also coveres pi and area in a hands-on and highly engaging way. Gives some historical aspects as well as interesting ideas and patterns that can be developed from studying circles.

Though nearly perfect, the book leaves you with this yawning blackness of not ever truly learning of what you hoped to know about Claire Clairmont. The author is wise (and she gave the greater portion of her life to this and you can tell)...in that she allows the reader to read and come to her own conclusions. In fact, next to having Claire Clairmont's letters published as they exist (and why not?)...this is the closest most of us will ever get. And, honestly, why haven't her letters been published AS WRITTEN...Worked great with Kurt Cobain's journal. Why isn't that kind of thing happening more often?

Excellent Map. Everything you need is on one side. Color coded attractions and Metro are well marked.

This book is an excellent book to carry when your scouring for carnival glass, It's paperback, yet has hundreds of color pictures for easy identification, especially European purchases. It also has brief histories of the major manufacturers of carnival and several detailed drawings as well as suggested prices. I highly recommend it!!

Excellant book. Probably the most current and up to date book on Software Configuration Managment that is available today. Marion stresses the program management focus and technical aspects of SCM while at the same time providing practical implementation advice. Including, how to safely "violate" the rules, which she calls "cheating fair"!

She covers the need to apply SCM to ALL development work products and files produced and used by the engineering team. A significant difference from the advice contained in classical SCM texts.

I only found myself dis-agreeing on implementation approach in one or two minor areas.

bob e v aka bob ventimiglia