I read "The Adventures of Willie King" to see what it was my grandkids were going to read. My husband was amazed when I could not put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter of Willie King's adventures! I found myself being educated (what a sly intention!) and marvously entertained by the humor! Excellent choice for helping children make wise choices, a role model book we so seldom see anymore!

While this true-life story can't compete with the constant thrill-a-minute excitement level of a fictional Tom Clancy novel, the wonderful realities and historical remembrances portrayed here provide a down-to-earth documentation well worth a few hours of your time. The editor provides a unique and historically accurate documentary of the little-known life of her great-grand-mother, Rachel Kerr, mostly from her great-grand-mother's own hand. Rachel was a young farm-girl who married a minister and spent much of her life as a missionary's wife in India in the mid-1800's, far from the family she loved so much. The editor initially provides informative and interesting historical background material about Rachel's youth while growing up in and around Hookstown, Pennsylvania. Hookstown is a very small cross-roads town located in hilly farm-country about 30 miles west of Pittsburgh near the state border with West Virginia. The details of her life in this area can be easily verified through numerous government and individual archive records available today. Even many of the physical locations in and around Hookstown can still be easily traced and located today. Hookstown has now grown a little bit and is an interesting place to visit; but it still remains an out-of-the-way place which doesn't put much stock in trying to keep up with the hectic pace of the rest of the world. After the background has been properly set, the editor then smoothly brings in the real meat of the story through incorporation of an extensive verbatim series of letters written personally by Rachel, coupled with historical commentary where needed. These original letters provide an unusual personal and emotional insight into Rachel's exciting but challenging life as a mother and as a missionary's wife in the extremely dangerous and difficult environment of mid-eighteenth century India. The brief story of how the editor encountered her great-grand-mother's letters is itself a fascinating one. The stories these letters tell bring a real-life perspective to us that the movies have never touched. I became particularly attached to the book when I found out that the subject is my great-great aunt, that all the people she describes are my relatives, and that I grew up in her hometown locale. I also have a large, beautiful cross-stitch done by Rachel Kerr in 1848 at the age of 12. I always cherished that cross-stitch, even as a little boy, but, until I read this book, I only knew that Rachel Kerr was somehow related to me. I found the same beauty and sensitivity in this book that I always admired in that cross-stitch and it confirms to me what a wonderfully bright, talented, and unique person this lady truly was. Richard Hobbs

I have a very large collection of cookbooks, love to read them, love to cook and eat good food, and truly appreciate good cookbooks. This book is one of my favorites! If you appreciate Southwestern Cooking, get this book. There are no pictures here; so many bypass this in favor of one of the many beautifully portrayed cookbooks. However, this book should be the serious cook's primer for this delicious cuisine.

Unlike several of the trendy cookbooks, I have not had a problem following any of these recipes. I could wish that nutrition amounts (carbos, fat, sugar, etc.) were supplied, that was not such an issue in 1985.

I have read this book on many levels, as a Counselor, as a pastor, but most importantly as a parent of two SIDS infants. This is a academic volume that deals with counselor methods and with the latest information on therapy styles. It helped greatly in getting me through my personal and professional issues during a very dark time in my life. If you need answers, this book might be the solution

The front cover contains a quote from Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry: "The wrong people are putting their arms around your kids." This caught my eye and got me interested, but it barely scratches the surface. The exposing of a sinister under current perpetuated by the public schools at the urging of the NEA and the US Department of Education is horrifying. If they have their way, the roles of the teaching profession will continue to increase in spite of growing incompetence and at the cost of an educated society that can read or even think independently. My wife is a teacher exiting the profession having decided to abandon the public school system rather than attempting to rectify its problems from within. It delineates the confusing rhetoric that "educators" use to hide the true goals from parents while stealing the hearts of children and indoctrinating them into a social ethic that derides traditional values and places parents in unfavorable light. This book shows a compelling argument for private or home schooling and convicts me to do all I can with that which the Lord has endowed me.

Robert Taylor: Air Combat Paintings Volume II is a dazzling spectacle of an artbook, filled with black-and-white as well as full color images of aerial combat paintings, especially those related to World War II air battles. An extensive, in-depth commentaries and history adds a special depth to the origin and moment captured in these heart-stopping works of art. Robert Taylor: Air Combat Paintings, Volume II is a recommended treasure trove of great air combat illustrations for aviation and military history buffs. Also highly recommended is the companion compilation, The Air Combat Paintings of Robert Taylor: Volume 1 (0715314300, £20.00).

Albatrosses of Midway Island is a great book for children - filled with excellent pictures and easy - to - understand detailed information about this magnificent creature.

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. Alf -- A Day at the Fair is one of her picks. This story takes place on Brian's birthday. Brian is the boy in the Tanner family that Alf lives with. Alf is an alien from another planet, and the Tanners are always trying to keep him a secret.

Alf feels bad because he didn't know it was Brian's birthday or that he should get a present. Mr. Tanner apologizes for not thinking to help Alf, and invites Alf to join them at the fair to cheer him up. Alf will go in disguise.

Mr. Tanner gives Brian and Alf each a dollar. Alf is discouraged because he cannot imagine doing much with a dollar. But he does decide to go to the games to try to win Brian a prize as a present. Soon separated from the Tanners, he has no luck with the throwing games. He notices that he cannot throw as well with four fingers as humans do with five.

If you are like me, the appeal of this story is that it celebrates differences. Alf's differences are strengths in some ways and weaknesses in other ways. That doesn't really matter. But by being a caring alien, he can be closely connected to all of the family.

Children are very aware that they differ from others, and weaknesses make them think that they will not be loved. So they try to hide the weaknesses. Often, they will misbehave at the same time. This book has the nice lesson of making the best of what you have, and being praised for that. Your best may, in fact, be very good. You can then build on the story to reassure your child that she or he is loved, regardless of strengths or weaknesses, or any other differences. You can also discuss the rewards of being a caring person, as well.

Having seen that birthdays can go awry if not well planned out, you could use this opportunity to plan the next birthday party for someone in your family. By including your child, you will enhance his or her caring and self-esteem. That's a great thing to do as a parent. Plus, the lucky birthday person will certainly enjoy their day more, as a result.

Have many more happy days, including birthdays!

It is a magic little book, a fun way to teach kids the alfabet and let their imaginations flow!