Ron Tyler's seminal work on the Big Bend of Texas is required reading for anyone who plans a trip to the "Texas Outback". This enchanting out-of-the-way part of Texas has invited explorers and adventurers for years and Tyler's historical treatment brings all the mystery and drama of the region to the surface for the modern traveler. The maps and historical photographs blend with the text to give the reader a "sense of place" that separates the Big Bend area from other southwestern landscapes. A must read for anyone interested in the remote lands of North America.

This book is an all-around treasure, for the beginning birder or the experienced ornitholigist, living in or near the Blue Ridge, planning to visit the Appalachian region, or even simply interested in this world-class region. The first fifty pages constitute an introduction to the Appalachian province and birding in general. The rest of the book profiles the birds of over 300 locations, where to go to see them, and how to get there. The book contains over two dozen maps, and even information about birding spots with handicapped access; an annotated checklist of birds; and a guide to contacts and resources for particular areas. It also features the drawings of H. Douglas Pratt. Part travel guide, part natural history, part handbook, this book is above all a joy.

This book clearly deserves more than five stars.

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. Birthday in the Fun Palace was one of her picks.

In this heart-warming story, Moonbird flies back from earth to the moon, where he is from. He misses his family and friends, especially his nephew, Little Wingy. It's Wingy's birthday, and Wingy wants to go for an adventure. Moonbird takes Wingy to the Great Intergalactic Fun Palace, a sort of amusement park in a space station. Along the way and at the amusement park, they do many good deeds and have great adventures.

Some of the lessons in this book include the rewards of helping others, taking time to be with your family, and being tolerant of differences. Any parent should be proud to share those lessons.

But what I liked most about the book is that it introduces your child to science fiction. Most children receive little reading introduction to that genre until they are much older, and many of the first stories they read can be a little frightening. This one will open their minds, without scaring them.

Another benefit is that this book can be the basis for "make believe" play with your child. Some of the fun parts of the book involve dancing in zero gravity, and being able to do difficult things easily because gravity is gone (like pull a space ship by hand). You can take an ordinary situation, and ask your child how it would differ if it occurred on the moon or in space. You can begin to teach basic science facts in this way.

As we enter an era of advanced biotechnology where the shape of animals may change, the ideas in here of living basketball hoops that run away from the players will not be so farfetched. You can have fun with these whimsical concepts as well, by talking about what inanimate objects would be more fun if they were animate.

After you finish enjoying and speculating about this book, I suggest that you and your child take these concepts one step further and consider what life would be like in a city under the sea. In that way, you can help your child understand inner space as well as outer space.

Go as far as imagination can take the two of you!

This is a treasure of a book, done with great love of design and history - a joy to wander through! It is a delightful chronicle of the development of the beautiful parks and city areas of Portland - a great blend of pictures and text. If you love the New England area, you will love this book.

The story starts off with Annie and Michael being infants born on the same day. Their mothers has been best friends since they were kids. The babies seems to sense the other and constantly need touch one another. The friends then makes a pact for them to bethroth to one another. One of the mothers is married to an man in the service so she is going to be moving. Then the story begins 25 years later. For Annie her mother has been drumming into her head that Michael is her future husband so when the two mothers work it out for Michael to come back to the small hometown. Annie has set out to make sure he is not the one. When she lets Michael know in no uncertain terms that he is not her type he sets out to prove her wrong. He has no idea about the pact and does not believe Annie whenever she mentions it. It is humorous the way "words can come back to haunt you". You have to read the book to find out the outcome. Enjoy.

Quite simply a fundamental reading on the subject. If you're in the field of bridge engineering, you will want to own this manual.

This is the ultimate guide to the repair of bridges, a worthy companion to any civil engineer inspecting, designing, construction or repairing spans, in the field or in the office. A must have for bridge engineers.

they both scored well above grade level in everything except thinking skills. I heard about 'BTS' from a friend and thought it might help. After working with it just one year, they maxed out the thinking section of the test at the 99th percentile!

This is an excellent book. It details not only Mr. Gray's life, it also speaks about the struggle of an entire nation of people. I recommend this book to any and everyone who would like to have more information about the struggle of black people for their basic rights,ie to seat any where they please on a public bus, to vote, to an adequate education in your own state. I enjoyed the book immensely. I will continue to use it as a reference.

This book have complete guide for ocean side and srounding area in California. Excellent with chart of many sections such as fire pits, camp sites, etc. all covers along with coastal line on North to South of whole California. Also many terminology and explanations related with ocean and coastal environments, too. This is a must have guide book to looking for camping or barbequeing for family.