This is a great guide-the color photos are sharp and clear, the writing is to-the-point and very descriptive and helpful. There is also a section that defines terminology, which is useful to those of us who don't already know everything there is to know about wildflowers but are simply interested in knowing what kind of flower we saw! This book makes identification of a flower easy and certain, instead of wondering which of two (or more) it might be, as I've often found with other guides.

All of the Smithsonian Guides to Natural America are excellent, and this one is no exception. It is one of the best guides available to the natural history of the Southwest, and is beautifully illustrated with color photographs. Not only visitors to this region but residents as well would find their understanding and appreciation of the natural environment enhanced by this attractive and informative book.

I couldn't find a sample from your data base but I did read a rough copy from the author. The book is compeling and sometimes chilling. Has tantalizing moments

Mr. Sleet was a very special person whose very life defined the term humanitarian. He always had time to listen, and no matter how busy, he was there to help and encourage. He wanted people to know what it meant to be black in America. Many thousands of untitled black folks walked undaunted, hand-and-hand with pain & triumph in the civil rights movement. Mr. Sleet was on the front lines to capture those special and poignant moments. He was "on the right side" to help us reach for higher ideals....the ideals of justice, perserverance, peace, humaneness, forgiveness and understanding. I am privleged to have known Mr. Sleet and to have been friends with his son, Gregory when we were at Hampton University. Indeed, Gregory who is a federal judge and who we now proudly call Judge Sleet continues to represent his father's ideals. Moneta Sleet's work reminds us every day to listen, to care and to share. I hope that everyone will buy this book and more importantly share its work and meaning with all children. Lynnette C. Velasco, Children's book Author Zinzi: A Child's Journey to Self-fulfillment, Giving, and Caring.

Great read!!! If you like Lawrence Block, then don't miss out on this elusive title.

I just saw this book last night. I was so moved by the pictures and the history in this book. My uncle is in one of the pictures and both of my grandparents worked in the mill.My mother and my uncles went to the school and were talking about all the memories they share. The grew up in pitiful times and most people wouldn't believe the history unless they lived through it themselves. We would like to know if there would be additional material written on the North Charlotte. My mother and my uncles can name some of the people in the pictures.They also have photos and more information they could share regarding this time period.

I bought Spirited Minds for a friend who was desperate to steer her twelve-year-old son from video games to reading. Not only did we find great books for him, but the book descriptions prompted us to revisit some classics for older readers. Now my friend, her daughter, and I are eagerly waiting for the young women's edition to come out this summer.

What a great book to get kids excited about summertime (or any time) reading.

The layout and format of this book is extremely useful for planning day trips in easily accessable areas of Southeast Utah. There are many good references in regards to camping and backpacking trips if your so inclined. I found this book in my library and found it full of so much information I took it with me on my trip last May to Southeast Utah. It didn't let me down. The format uses highway mile posts for directions and I found this really easy to follow. I found it so useful I made the decision to buy it as two weeks was not enough time to explore all the areas listed.

North Carolina (of which I am a native, so please forgive the bias) likes to advertise itself as the "Variety Vacationland" and after reading the "State Parks of North Carolina" it's not hard to see why. Eastern North Carolina features hundreds of miles of beaches, lighthouses, coastal villages, swamps, Civil War forts, and the two largest landlocked sounds in the United States. The central section of the state (the Piedmont) features rolling, forested hills ocassionally broken by isolated, jagged peaks (usually called "knobs" locally) with excellent rock climbing and superb views, and swift rivers and large, manmade lakes. And in western North Carolina there are the Appalachian mountains, featuring the highest peaks east of the Mississippi river. This outstanding book, written by two biology professors from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, covers all 41 of North Carolina's state parks. These two men traveled to each of the state parks and thoroughly explored them (they traveled over 9,000 miles in researching this book). Although naturally concerned with the plant and animal life in the parks, the book is still designed with the camper, hiker, or even casual visitor in mind. The authors divide the parks into three geographic sections - coastal plain, Piedmont, and mountains, and they also include seperate sections on the state's nature preserves and recreation areas (all located on the shores of its' largest manmade lakes). The chapters on each park feature a map with roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, etc., contact information for the park, the park's main attractions, a section on the history of the park, a section on the plant and animal life to be found in the park, a section on hiking and (if relevant) climbing trails, a section on campgrounds or other facilities (and park activities, if any), and a section on nearby historic and/or natural attractions. There aren't many photographs, but I suppose that's to encourage the reader to see the parks for themselves. If you're interested in visiting North Carolina, or you're a native Tar Heel who's looking to explore your state, then this book is a great place to start! I've used it on a number of trips, and it has proven its' value time and again.

This book is a must for any boater around the Great Lakes. Too often, national press focuses on the East and West coasts when searching for great places to feature. This book provides a introduction to the "3rd Coast".