Amazon.com

"Is it a fact--or have I dreamt it--that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?" If you, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, are kept up at night wondering about how things work--from electricity to can openers--then you and your favorite kids shouldn't be a moment longer without David Macaulay's The New Way Things Work. The award-winning author-illustrator--a former architect and junior high school teacher--is perfectly poised to be the Great Explainer of the whirrings and whizzings of the world of machines, a talent that landed the 1988 version of The Way Things Work on the New York Times bestsellers list for 50 weeks. Grouping machines together by the principles that govern their actions rather than by their uses, Macaulay helps us understand in a heavily visual, humorous, unerringly precise way what gadgets such as a toilet, a carburetor, and a fire extinguisher have in common.

The New Way Things Work boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumblingwooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, bits, and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound ofmusic in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," andexamine e-mail in "The Digital Domain." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index. What possible link could there be between zippers and plows, dentist drills and windmills? Parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay demystifies them all. (Click to see asample spread of this book, illustrations and text copyright 1998 David Macaulay, Neil Ardley, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The New Way Things Work
This is the best book for childern and adults I have ever read. I recieved "The Way Things Work" When I was in 4th grade. Now I have this newer version. My classmates and I both used it during my College Mechanical Engineering Classes. Everyone can learn from this book it is not just for kids but really belongs on every childs bookshelf.

This book really tells you how things work!
Do you think you know how a lot of things work? Yes? Well, you are probably wrong. I am a Physics Major in college and I thought I knew how a lot of things work. However, when I found this book in my physics professor's office, I fell in love with this book. I ordered for my copy on the same day. This book is good for the kids, but some of the stuff is hard to understand because there are some words like forces or angles. These are hard to understand for kids, but the pictures in this book are good for the curious kids. They may understand some of the stuff. But, I would rate this book for grownups. You will learn how locks work, how airplanes fly, how helicopters can go forward or backward. You will understand the mechanics just by looking at the pictures, but the reading the explanations also helps you understand. This is a nice book to keep at the corner of your bookshelf.

An Absolute Need for Every Household
Few books can compare to "The Way Things Work" in the amount which they can teach the curious. Be they old or young, college educated engineers or preschoolers, everyone can pick something out of this book. Trust me; I've seen it from all ends.

When I was six, I loved the mammoths...and learned about simple machines and airplane wings. When I was in high school, I appreciated the mammoths' wit...and learned about automatic transmissions and transistors. Now that I'm in college, I've read the whole thing, and it's still a great reference book, just as entertaining and informative as it was so many years ago. And the mammoths are still funny.

For kids with insatiable curiosity, "The Way Things Work" can be a great and entertaining resource; for everyone who's ever wondered how their car drives, or why their computer works, or how satellite communications happen, it can be an immensely satisfying read.

Good book, but not for the very young
I bought this book for a boy of the age of 8. He didn't seem very interested in the text explanations of how things work. Perhaps he's a little young, but like other reviewers said, this is a book that can most definately be put on the shelf for several years and still have relevance when a few years of knowledge is gained.

BUY THIS BOOK!
My god, this has to be one of my favorite books. When I was a kid, I was FASCINATED (well, I still am) by mechanical things. I must have checked this book out of the library twenty times, and it never got old. It is PACKED with info, the drawings are great, and it is very educational. Well, I was at the library today checking out books for a mechanical engineering class, and there it was on the shelf. I checked it out again for old times sake, and here I am at Amazon.com (to buy my very own copy of course), writing a reveiew. Nuff said. Anyway, if you have a child, boy or girl, old or young, smart or not, it doesn't matter- this book ROCKS! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Having a million-plus copies of the bestselling Who Moved My Cheese? in printhasn't stopped Spencer Johnson, (The One Minute Manager) fromrepackaging his homily about adapting to life changes for a teenage audience.

The core of this teen book--a cheesy (literally) allegory about four charactersnavigating a maze in pursuit of happiness (cheese) with varying success--isidentical to the cheese-quest story told in Johnson's grownup book. The onlydifference is that the opening and closing backstory that pads out Who MovedMy Cheese? for Teens involves a group of teenagers kibbutzing in thecafeteria, not a group of adults attending their high school reunion.

Of course, it's hard to argue with the essence of Johnson's commonsense message:one of the few constants in life is change, and the sooner we learn toanticipate and adjust to change, the happier we'll be. But most criticisms ofthe book (and there have been many) boil down to the fact that Cheese isjust too reductive and simplistic, and sometimes change in our lives can andshould be resisted. (It hasn't helped that the book's popularity among corporatemanagers has come to be associated with layoffs... er, cheese removals.) Butwhatever your take on Johnson's philosophy, you'd do well to keep it toyourself. Otherwise, you can count on your teenager to form the exact oppositeopinion. (Ages 12 and older) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Who Moved My Cheese? is a really great book!
Who Moved My Cheese? is a really great book for teens to read. It teaches them how accept a change and move on with their lives and not to stay the same.

Who Moved My Cheese?
Who Moved My Cheese?
By: Anthony Calabrese

I read the book Who Moved My Cheese? The book is by Spencer Johnson. The story takes place a long time ago in a cheese maze. The story is about 2 little tiny people and 2 mice. The two people get their cheese stolen. One thinks if he yells its not fair that it will just come back on its own. The other one is right because he thinks if goes and explores, he will find new cheese. It turns out the cheese wasn't stolen but it ran out because they took advantage of their amount. Their plot is that they want to find their cheese so they wont starve. The theme in this story is no matter how much you moan, that the thing that went missing wont just turn up. You have to go and find more. Life Goes On!

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book helps people to get throught their changes in life and it is a good story too.

A very stupid Book
I read who moved my cheese one day and really didn't get anything out of it. I thought that it wasn't a helpful book at all. I also thought that even a kindergardener could read and understand it. I am a very avid reader and was very dissapointed with this book.

Same book as the original with different last chapter.
The only difference between this book and the original is the last chapter, which deals with problems teens face, e.g., parental divorce, not making it onto a sports team, applying for college, etc. I reviewed the first book as follows:

"Who Moved My Cheese?" is a simple parable that illustrates the natural tendency to resist change. The uncertainty that generally accompanies change provides a level of discomfort that some try to escape. Rather than take the necessary steps for change, some people cling to old notions and actions that produce little or no results.

Of course, it has been known for decades that people tend to avoid tasks that cause physical, mental, or emotional discomfort. Why it takes a simple little story about mice and cheese for some people to understand this is beyond me. Perhaps it provides a non-threatening, feel-good reminder of what we already know about ourselves?

The problem I see with "Who Moved My Cheese?" is not the message, but the difficulty in reducing such a simple little concept into practice. Knowing that we need to "search around the maze for new cheese" is equivalent to the stock market wizards telling us to buy low and sell high, or business experts telling us that we need to possess organizational savvy to be successful. These are things we all nod our heads in agreement with . . . but then what? We are left without any guidelines for determining when we are "moving around the maze" or simply "sitting at the cheese station."

Reading "Who Moved My Cheese?" is like signing up for the membership at the health club. It sure feels good, and it can be the start to something better, but the real work is yet to come. Read the book. Ponder its contents. But expect some discomfort if you really want to make progress. ... Read more

Book Description

There's this boy. Let's say he's somewhere between nine and thirteen years old or so. You'd like to see this kid get creative. You'd like to see him get some exercise. You'd like to see him get out from in front of the television. And you'd love for him to be motivated enough to find some stuff to do on his own. This boy NEEDS The Big Book of Boy Stuff!

The Big Book of Boy Stuff has all the important information that boys just have to know. Collected here for the first time in one place, it holds the answers to these timeless questions:What do I do if I get a bean stuck up my nose?How can I make lightning without killing myself?Where can I find new practical jokes to play on my friends and family?What is the best way to poop outside?How do I tell a girl I like her?WHY would I tell a girl I like her?How many mosquitoes does it take to suck all the blood out of a person? . . . and many, many more! This big, thick, durable book includes fascinating chapters on gross stuff, magic, emergencies, fireworks, games, experiments, jokes, activities, insults, pets, flying things, and, of course, duct tape. This is perhaps the greatest book ever published! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Funny and fun
It has great practical jokes and gross stuff. Besides saying this book will make my summer a lot more fun, IT ROCKS

Boys Dream
To every boy, and every 50 or 60 year old, boy at heart, you need this. Written by a genious, this book has everything you need to keep yourself busy. I, myself as a student in his amazing class, can certainly vouch for the fact that, in truth: This book is so well written and so funny, you will wish that YOU could write a book right now! So get on it, and take yourself on an adventure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nancy Holyoke's user-friendly guide to manners, brought to you by the beloved American Girl Library, is for girls who are "getting older, going new places, and doing new things." The introduction explains that "Manners can help. Manners are a common-sense guide to getting along with other people. They prevent you from being selfish or annoying. They remind you to be kind. They make you better company--and a better person." This cleverly designed, comically illustrated 116-page manual covers topics such as first impressions, introductions, invitations, thank-yous, table manners, good sports, embarrassing moments, family gatherings, and more. Holyoke's tips and suggestions, enlivened by numerous, humorous cartoons, are funny, easy to digest, and informative without being heavy-handed. Girls will be happy to know what to do and how to act in different situations. No doubt this tool will help them radiate confidence even when eating gristle, meeting new people, or having tea with the Queen of England. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

If you want to improve your manners....
...then get this book! It's filled with tons of practical advice for ages 8 and up. If your manners need some polishing up, then I would suggest reading this book. Like all of the American Girl Library books, it's in a fun-to-read, easy-to-understand format and includes valuable information that girls really can use.

"Oops!: The Manners Guide For Girls" includes ettiquette advice for basic manners, greetings and introductions, manners with friends, gifts and presents, table manners, special occasions, embarrasing moments and horrors, and so much more. Sprinkled throughout the book are quizzes to test your ettiquette, answers to questions sent by real girls, and advice for sticky situations. This is one of the best books I've read for improving your manners. If you're a girl (or parent of one) with manners you think could use improvement, read this book.

Prim and Proper
I got this book when I was twelve. I knew I had to improve my manners yet I didn't want to go to to a school for etiquette. This book teaches girls the fundmentals of having good manners (i.e. first impressions, body language, house guests, nosy questions, etc. ) without being fussy and too prudish. They have quizzes that you can take to test your etiquette when it comes to hosting parties, the outdoors and how to deal with horrible house guests. The book is divided into chapters that put you in compromising positions where your manners can make or break you. They cover absolutely everything you could possibly think of; traveling in a foreign country, how to write the perfect party invitation, how to act in public, everything. They even have solutions on how not to interrupt people when they are talking and how not to bore people when you're initiating a conversation and how to address unmarried women, married women and young girls (i.e. Mrs. Ms. or Miss?) Since reading the book, I am no longer intimidated by how to act at a wedding, funeral, at a friends house, a fancy dinner or even meeting presidents and royalty. I even know how to make the perfect curtsy since reading "Oops!: The Manners Guide for Girls".

GREAT BOOK
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! I'M 10 AND I READ THE BOOK, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK! IT IS ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. THE BOOK HAS FUN QUIZES. IT TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANNERS IN A FUN WAY. IT HAS CARTOONY PICTURES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU. IT IS A LONG BOOK, BUT DOSEN'T GET BORING. YOU SHOULD BUY IT.

Soooooooo Totaly Coooooool
I love this book.I have read it a lot of times very thoroughly.I usually look at it when I am going to go to a nice restraunt.I like it because it has lots of tips,letters from girls,cute illustrations,and quizzes.Even though it's supposed to be for girls,I think boys could probably learn some things from it.Also if you get it for your child, you might want to look at it.Once my family was hosting a fancy dinner, so my mom had to look at it to remember which silverware and drink glasses go where.I love this book!!

Every child (not just girls) needs this book!
We purchased this for our 8-year-old daughter, and I wish we would have had it years ago. It teaches all children to correct way to act in many different situations. This book has been great for our daughter, but also for me to teach our four sons the same manners lessons! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'M SMARTER NOW!
This story is about kids that have difficulties with their friends and try to get them back. The story that I'm reading doesn't have 1 character, it has
millions of them. But most of all, my favorite character is JENNA. The setting is in a house, in a car, and in a school. My story also has lots and lots of photos and
d it also has tests in it. I chose this book because it is helping me to realize about my
friendship and the problems that I have with my friends. This is a book that teaches kids
about friendship troubles and how to get your friends back. I enjoyed the part I read with
JENNA and this new girl coming to the school that JENNA went to. But I know that this
story doesn't have tragedy or anything. The author of this book I'm reading is PATTI
KELLE and the illustrator is ANGELA MARTINI. This book makes me feel better now!

A SMART GIRLS GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES
The art rocks!The story was great. But it was the illustration that I loved the most. ... Read more

Book Description

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars is the complete guide to the locations from the Star Wars Classic Trilogy. The book is illustrated with 20 full-color, fantastically intricate cross-sections, and features an array of spot artworks, 3-D plans, more than 60 crystal-clear photographs, and detailed orthographic keys to create an extraordinary visual experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who invented numbers? What are prime numbers? How do you do longdivision? How do you calculate percentages? If your child is asking for help with these questions, and you're feeling a little rusty, this is the perfect book to have on hand--for yourself and your inquisitive fourth- tosixth-grader. Colorful and accessible, this clear guide defines math terms and concepts with both visual and written description. For example, authors Anne Zeman and Kate Kelly describe a fraction as "one or more parts of a whole or a set," and they also offer the image of a necklace of beads to show how each bead is part of a set. The book is divided into the followingsections: "Numbers and Number Systems" (ancient number systems, the decimal system);"Basic Math Functions" (math symbols, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, rounding and estimation, averages and medians, properties and orders, story problems); "Measurement" (measuring length, distance, weight, perimeter and area, volume, temperature, time); "Geometry" (geometric shapes, symmetry, congruence, similarity); "Money and Monetary Systems" (U.S. currency, other currency systems); "Graphs" (plotting information, four kinds of graphs); "Statistics and Probability"; "Computers and Calculators" (the abacus, simple calculators, the computer); and a complete index. Information for the Scholastic Homework Reference Series wasgathered from current textbooks, national curricula, and the assistance of the UFT Dial-A-Teacher staff. (Ages 9 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Parent's dream come true
This was an excellent book for me, the parent, AND for my child. We referred to this book many times throughout the 4th, 5th and 6th grades. I only wish they had one for high school!

Needs to Be Re-Edited for Errors
I am now reading this book and have completed the first 41 pages. I have found at least three content errors so far, which would certainly confuse someone who did not already understand the topic in question. (1) On page 35, at the top of the page, in an example of multiplication, the text lists "190". This should be 180. (2) On page 38, while discussing integers, it states "The product of a positive integer multiplied by another positive integer will always be a positive integer." So far, so good. But then it gives a series of examples, including 1/2 x 3 = 3/2. Integers are whole numbers, negative or positive (1,2,3,4,-1, -2, -3, etc., and zero), and do not include fractions. So the illustration is not apt and is confusing. (3) On page 41, in a sideabar discussing equivalent fractions, it says "To reduce a fraction to its lowest terms, divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common denominator." This should read "by their greatest common factor." As I am less than a third of the way through the book, I suspect other errors exist. I still think this book could still be useful because some of the material is good, but be aware that if something does not make sense, it may be the book, not you, that is the problem.

Perfect reference for 4th to 6th grade math
This is exactly what the title says it is... Everything you need to know about math homework.

My daughter and I used it all last year when she was in 5th grade. At first, I was the user; later she would start looking up her own answers. For homework, she was given math worksheets that would reference something just covered in math class, such as, the associative, or the commutative property, or the formula for finding the area of a triangle. If she didn't remember the rule or formula from math class, she had a ready reference. It covers the same material as her math textbook, but this was always on her desk. The math textbook was sometimes sitting in her locker.

This book is well written, and edited. It includes clearly laid out examples, with colorful graphics. The index and table of contents are complete, and make this reference quick and easy to use. Well worth the money... I highly recommend this book.

A Great Reference Guide!
This little gem continues to amaze me! Everytime I get stumped with my son's math terminology or the mechanics of a math problem I turn to this reference book and the answer is always there. If there is one book you should own to help your children with their math, this is it!

A Life Saving Book For Students
This book takes the mystery out of math. It's a must for any student reference library. As the home schooling mom of three, it's important to have quality references close at hand and this book makes explaining and mastering math a breeze. Each section is color coded for quick, easy reference. All basic math functions are explained in clear language and completed with easy to follow diagrams. There are numberous table including a table which shows Greenwich Mean and U.S. Standard Time Equivalents. This book is a must have book for all math students. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is based on the simple idea that every writer has a "tool box." Instead of awls and hammers, a writer's toolbox contains words, imagination, a love of books, a sense of story, and ideas for how to make the writing live and breathe. I wrote this book to give you some practical strategies to throw into your toolbox. I hope you'll try them, because these are ideas that can make you a better writer.

This book is titled Live Writing, and you may be wondering what I mean by that. Most of us have read (and written!) the opposite kind of writing-dull, drab language that sounds about as interesting as a city phone book. By "live writing" I mean the kind of writing that has a current running through it-energy, electricity, juice. When we read "live writing", the words seem to lift off the page and burrow deep inside us. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Third in a Fantastic Trio by Fletcher
Ralph Fletcher has written a trio of fantastic books for young writers. "A Writer's Notebook" is about gathering material; "How Writers Work" is about the process of writing; and "Live Writing" is about craft, or how to write well. Most importantly, these three books are written directly to kids, in a warm and personal rather than "textbook" manner. I don't know of any other author who writes books on writing for kids, and this genre is so needed! Plus all of Fletcher's books are very engaging and well-written.

Fletcher selects what he feels are the most important aspects of craft for this book. My notes on some of them follow:
Characters
· Characters are the most important part of a story.
· The plot should grow out of the characters, and not the other way around.
· Characters must first be born in your mind.
· Build characters from people you know.
· Give physical descriptions of your characters.
· Characters should be complex, containing both good and bad.
· Write letters to and from your characters, asking them questions!
Voice
· Best way to develop it is through your writer's notebook.
· Think of writing as chatting on paper.
· Always have a particular audience in mind.
· Be honest!
· Writing is trying to get readers to see something as you do.
Conflict
· Types of.
· Don't wait long to develop it.
· Don't solve it too quickly.
· Don't end a story too abruptly or predictably.
Time
· Writing time isn't the same as real time.
· Slow down "hot spots."
· Skip over unimportant time quickly.
· Narrow the time frame to key points.
· Flashbacks are usually needed; they represent memories, what makes a character tick.

Great for Teaching Writing
This easy to understand book is good for writers of all ages. I have used lessons from this book to help my middle school and high school students improve their writing. Fletcher concentrates on specific aspects of writing, like leads or characters, and uses simple but powerful examples that implicitly show students how to improve their writing. If you are using a workshop class, many of his ideas lend themselves to effective mini-lessons.

Live Writing
I think everyone should go and buy this book. It is worthy of 5 stars.This book trys to help you become a better writer by sharing some of Ralph Fletcher's experiances. If you like this book I reccomend you read Spider Boy or A writer's notebook. ( The book before Live Writing) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ages 8-12. Fans of Harriet the Spy who want to try keeping their own writer's notebook will appreciate this inspiring handbook. Written in a direct, non-condescending style, writer-to-writer, it offers realistic, experienced advice on how to keep notes and use them to create stories and poems. Fletcher, author of the ALA Notable children's book Fig Pudding, fleshes the book out with numerous examples from his own notebooks and from those of other writers, child and adult. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Book That Should Be In All Classrooms
This was a wonderful book. After attending a great seminar where Ralph Fletcher spoke, I was curious about his book. I can't even begin to tell you how refeshing and honest his ideas are. He helps to break down some of the stereotypes and fears that students have about writing. While doing this, he opens up the door for all different student writers so that they can feel comfortable with their own ideas. He gives their never ending thoughts a place to live while providing colorful examples that are easy to follow. Fletcher takes the often mundane task of journal writing one step further and provides an innovative tool that will help students begin to flourish as writers and poets in the classroom. This book is a must read for teachers and students. It will leave you wanting to create your own notebook as soon as you are finished reading.

Great Inspiration for All Ages
While this book is written for a Young Adult audience, I just love reading about writing (of course hoping to jump in someday and do it) and this is a very good book to get you going.

Fletcher takes you step by step into the hows and whys of creating and keeping a Writers Notebook, and discusses the birth of great ideas from little notes on life. He also touches on great tips like writing with honesty, including about things that hurt the most.

While I believe this to be an inspiring book for all (I now have 2 notebooks for my writing observations) I see it as an impressive gift, along with a small nice notebook, of course, for that little someone in your life who may have the gift to see, and write, life as it is to them. If you enjoy the idea of writing your self, this is a great place to start.

our "other writing teacher"
I teach second and third grade, and I use this and Ralph Fletcher's other books in this series, regularly in my classroom. I read parts of them out loud to my students, then we discuss how we can use Fletcher's ideas in our own writing. Fletcher writes to his young audience with a great deal of respect. He addresses them as authors in a way that both makes them believe that they really ARE authors, and also gives them the tools to really BE authors.

This book influenced how I helped my students set up their writing notebooks, and has also influenced how I have set up my own.

While these books are written for upper elementary-middle school students, I find that as read alouds they are accessible to younger kids; they are also helpful to anyone beyond middle school age who wants writing to become more a part of their own life.

Writing teachers - Excellent for classroom use!
I am studying how to better teach writing as part of my Rank 1 program (the highest level teachers in our state can achieve), and this is one of the books I highly recommend to other writing teachers. The best way to use it is to buy a classroom set (if possible), and read 4 chapters a week the first month of school. Each chapter Fletcher has something for the kids to try in their Writers Notebooks, so by all means, have them try whatever it is. Let kids decorate their Writers Notebooks too before you begin, so it's personalized and it feels more important to them. One of the chapter is about making lists...any kind of lists. He gives lots of examples from kids, which is one of the strong points about this book. It is aimed at kids, not adults. Another chapter is about snatches of talk that you overhear in a store or the mall. Write down these snatches and later they might form the basis of a story idea or poem. Again, he gives excellent examples that kids can relate to. After using the ideas in this book, all my kids want to do now is WRITE! What a great thing that is.

Bully Frog
Once upon a little girl was running ana suddenly she saw a mean frog and the frog was saying mean words to to little girl that her name Eliza and eliza got grumy and mean ,too. So the little girl said "Hey what are doing?"

The End ... Read more

Reviews (4)

WOW!
I just bought this recently, and it is much better than I even expected. I have a bunch of camping books in my library, and this one is better than many more expensive adult books. It has great advice even for adults, but is indespensible for camping with kids. It teaches you how to build a fire safely, cooking on the fire, (great kid favorites recipes), dealing with bugs, how to pick a camp site, what kind of Lots of safety tips too. The fun drawings make this a pleasure as well.

The authors show you how to make a reflector oven. The main feature if this book is the fun activities for around the fire such as stories songs, games, etc. Teaches kids how to identify the stars easily and even identify features on the face of the moon. I plan to use this with our Cub Scouts.

Great for Novice and Experienced Campers Alike
This book flows like the campfire. From gathering the supplies, to lighting the fire, to the blaze, to the dieing fire, to the embers it's an enjoyable experience.

It has lots of activities: stories, songs, skits, etc. to make your campfire an enjoyable experience.

I wish I had owned this book when I taught a Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation for teaching Cub Scout Adults about making a successful overnight campout.

This book has been added to my library and will be suggested at all future BALOO trainings.

Excellent source for camping with children
I am a girl scout leader and was looking for a book to help me on my first trip with young children (grades 2-4). It provided me with useful recipes for cooking on coals, cooking in a pit, or even a reflector oven. This book has many good suggestions for campfire games and even activities that can be used for achieving try-its or even junior level badges. Summer stargazing and moonwatching are covered in detail. This is a great book for beginners or experienced campers. You must have this book if you enjoy the outdoor overnight experience.

A fun book
"The Kids Campfire Book" is a wonderful collection of all sorts of things kids want to know and do with campfires: building a fire, songs, star gazing, stories, recipes and lots more. The illustrations are clear and charming! I've used it with Cub Scouts and at a lake cabin, and it adapts to any similar situation. A good resource for anyone camping or enjoying a campfire with kids. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Why good manners makes your life easier, not more difficult.
Question: What teenager would be interested in reading a 465 page book on manners? Answer: Just about any one who is holding a copy of "How Rude!"

I'm so delighted by this book. I'm a father of four, and as I read "How Rude" I asked myself, "What is it that makes this book so effective?" Perhaps it's the simple practicality of its message. The main point is that it's in your own best interests to use good manners. One of the places it says this is on page 109: "Adjust your requests and behavior to the emotions and needs of others. This is not only a cornerstone of politeness, but also a way to increase the chances that your requests will be granted."

Perhaps it works so well because it concerns the things teenagers obsess about, such as how to be popular, how to get your parents let you do what you want, what to do about braces, how to handle friendship problems, and how to get a date. It even talks about when it is OK not to use good manners. The section headings reflect the fascination youth of all ages have: "Things you do to your body" and "Things your body does to you" and "The blended, shaken, stirred or mixed family, " and "Sex-ediquette."

Maybe what makes this book work so well for kids is Packer's dead-on humor, with just the right amount of grossness so that you can't quite turn away. It's a fast-paced kaleidoscope of quips, anecdotes, lists, jokes, and chummy advice. There's no way to lose interest, because it's so juicy and fun. I challenge anyone to open the book to any page and not find some undeniably useful tidbits.

It's a great book for teens, of course, but it's also a great book for parents who are looking for ways of talking about manners with their kids.

Mind Your Manners!
" This book is about manners. If it makes you feel like throwing up, at least say excuse me on your way to the bathroom." School manners, family manners, talking manners, walking manners, eating manners, greeting manners: this book teaches all the manners in the world and then some. It's a well written book, and the quizzes are especially good. An average question in a quiz:

You're at the symphony and you feel like throwing up. Do you:

a) Exit quickly and quietly as you can

b) Ask the lady next to you if you can borrow her purse, or

c) Heave to the beat.

You can learn the greeting practices of the middle east or the eating manners of a fancy restaurant. This book is best read for a laugh because most teenagers will give you the wrong answer and think it's right. It has value in it too, so do't think I'm saying it doesn't teach manners. If you want a book to get a teenager like me back on track, How Rude is the book to get.

Edit the Sex Section
I did not read the whole book but I skimmed through it before buying it for my daughter. It looks very thourough and some parts are quite funny. The author treats the subject with good common sense. HOWEVER, the sexual part seems to me something it could have been edited. I don't think that discussion was necessary. So upon my wife's suggestion I WILL EDIT THE BOOK BY CUTTING THAT PART OUT after I buy it. I hate to do it but I must unless I find some other book.

Grandma, may I have this book?
After discussing manners with my grandson and having him ask for reasons why he should follow good manners, I ordered this book. Yesterday when he and his little sister were visiting, I was reading to her and when I finished her book, I picked up "How Rude" and began reading aloud. Before too long he came over and asked if he could have the book I was reading. I told him that is why I had purchased it, because I knew some day he was going to be a very important person because he is so intelligent and such a wonderful young man. I want him to know the correct way to behave and how to handle situations. He took the book over to the couch and began reading, every once in awhile sharing what he was reading. This book is written with great humor and kids can't miss learning while they are being entertained. After awhile I asked him if I should buy the book for his cousin, Todd, and he said, "Yes!" Then I asked if Jenny should also have a copy, and he thought she should, too. So I am here to order two more for my other young teen grandchildren. I hope their older teen siblings learn a little, too, from them. I definitely recommend this book as a must buy for your grandchildren in today's world of lack of respect and manners.

A great guide for learning your manners
Picture this scene: It's your birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever. Your parents tell you that they think you should be working on your manners, and that this present will probably help you. "Oh great", you think. "It's probably some boring, dumb, etiquette video or book." Well, that's wrong if the present you recieve is "How Rude!"

Unlike other dull, preachy, and boring ettiquette books, "How Rude!" is the most effective one when you're dealing with teenagers. What makes this book so much more fun, so much more exciting, and so much more willing to learn your manners is that it has humor in it. Not corny humor, but the style that the author wrote this book in is interesting and fun, making it a simple, fun, effective, and life-changing read.

This book discusses basic manners for nearly every situation in life, from saying hello and good-bye to attending a wedding. You'll find helpful hints on good conversations, writing invites and thank-you notes, being a guest at someone's event, asking people out politely, eating properly, and much, much more.

In addition, this book covers topics that you typically wouldn't find in etiquette books, such as clothes, school, romance, Internet safety and manners, and sex. (So it would be best to give this book to someone whose at least 12-13 years old- maybe 11, if they're mature enough)

Another cool feature of this book is that it features answers to questions sent in by kids to the author about proper manners, all of them answered with humor and good wit. You'll find yourself laughing the entire way through.

All in all, "How Rude!" is the best, most effective etiquette guide to buy for any teenager, boy or girl. It's a book that will be read and re-read constantly. But best of all, you'll learn good manners that will help you throughout the rest of your life. ... Read more

Book Description

Today's children stand on the threshold of a new millennium that promises incredible scientific and technological advances. The need to understand basic scientific principles has never been greater and these principles are brought within the grasp of every child by The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. All the essential subject areas, from Space and Time, Materials and Technology, to Human Biology, are covered in this one-volume encyclopedia. Accurate, approachable, and an indispensable source of information for school projects, The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia is the perfect gift for the up-and-coming Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, or Marie Curie in the family.Special Features:More than 3,500 indexed references.Thematic arrangement.Important events highlighted.Illustrated biographies of key figures.Cross-references.Comprehensive index.Glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An incredible book for kids interested in science
I think this is an incredible book. Our grade school children like to discuss science facts at bedtime. Reading from this book opens up lots of topics for us and keeps the kids fascinated. I'm thinking of ordering more to use as gifts since the Amazon price is so reasonable and the shipping is free.

Nice Book
Our family really enjoys the format of this book. The 10 thematic chapters seem more coherent than the old books alphabetic style. Concepts are tied together rather than merely a list of factoids. There are plenty of ways to look up information alphabetically. I have to say we much prefer this verion. Great illustrations throughout. I wish the 10 volume set was available here.

Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia, 2000 edition
....This new one is not really an encyclopedia. Instead ofcompletely alphabetical it is alphabetical by subject, i.e.,chemistry, botony, etc., and made topics very hard to find. The 2000version also left out definitions/explanations.... I don'trecommend the 2000 version at all. Sorry. As usual the second remakeof something never seems to be as good as the first. END ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sensitivity in text and illustrations = charming book
Dear Ms. Barnes,

Thank you so very much for A LITTLE BOOK OF MANNERS: COURTESY AND KINDNESS FOR YOUNG LADIES. It has made all the difference in our lives.

One evening my husband and I experienced one of the most embarrassing moments of our entire lives when we took our granddaughters out to dinner. I suddenly realized that they simply had not been taught some pretty basic manners. Modern parents are so busy with two careers and hectic schedules, I suppose.

Imagine how thrilled I was to find this book and how even more delighted to discover that when they read it, both girls took the lessons to heart and began to practice them. It saved me the further embarrassment of telling their parents about the painful incident. You back me up on that one: "Don't point out other people's bad manners," -- remember? Of course, grandmothers have special advantages in that area, but tact and sometimes even reticence is often the better part of valor.

"Five good reasons to write thank you notes!" and
"The heart of all good manners is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What brave and wonderful things to write to youngsters in a society that sneers at manners and religion as "sentimental" and "old-fashioned."

Because of the lessons here -- from thank you notes to how to entertain friends to telephone manners to introductions and party manners and more -- we are now proud to take the girls anywhere. Their introductions (which we had fun practicing) are truly graceful.

Another very important point you make is to treat brothers and sisters like friends. That is, with respect. Practicing that one little idea can change the entire atmosphere in a home.

Thank you, Emilie Barnes, for a very important book. This one was so successful for us that I bought the companion volume, A LITTLE BOOK OF MANNERS FOR BOYS and look forward to seeing equally triumphant results among our grandsons.

Michel Sparks's illustrations are colorful and delightfully whimsical. The visual appeal and emphasis they add to the text makes this a very special book indeed.

Thank you again for the lovely and sensitive addition to our children's library and to our lives.

I wish she would write a book for boys too.
Excuse me, could I please tell you about a book I just read? Well, this is what Emilie Marie would say if she could walk off the pages and into your life. She also believes that the heart of all good manners is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a little girl you would happily invite over for a tea party!

This is just an enchanting book for helping young ladies learn courtesy and kindness. Emilie Marie introduces herself in a most polite way, then explains how her Aunt Evelyn has been helping her practice her manners.

This book helps girls to learn how to meet people, shake hands, answer the phone, be a good friend and so much more. I loved the section on the heart of Good Manners. I must say we adults could learn a few things from this book. Emilie Marie learns how to write thank you notes and how to answer invitations to a party.

To give this book to a little girl is also a way to give the gift of happiness to all those who know her. Michal Sparks has illustrated the pink and yellow pages in the most charming way possible. The blue bow on the cover is just adorable.

Thank you for reading my review and I really hope you will buy this book for someone you know. I bought it for my nieces and they love it. I must say they are turning out to be polite little ladies themselves.

It was so nice to meet you.

Lovely and effective!
My child went from exhibiting the most atrocious of table manners to conducting herself at table with perfect grace! After reading this book, she was eager for opportunities to practice her new manners on the telephone and at the table. Knowing "the rules" made her feel confident. Framing the need to be respectful of grown-ups as an issue of manners rather than power has made her rethink her behavior at school as well. Granted, this book takes an old-fashioned approach to proper behaviors (it is, for example, gender-specific, as the title clearly shows), but it has affected the way my behavior-challenged 6-year-old (though it's geared toward a slightly older audience) thinks about her actions. The illustrations are beautiful, and the prose -- from the perspective of a fictive childhood Emilie Barnes -- engages the socially-conscious child's mind. I only wish there were more, and that boys could be privy to this way of thinking about social interactions as well.

The girls loved it!
Manners are such a lost art! I used this well-written (and very cute) book to teach a class on manners to a group of girls. Needless to say, they had a blast while learning valuable information. I would highly recommend it for the little girls in your life.

This book helps the child be comfortable in many situations
What a great way to teach basic good manners! The way the chapters are written, it is possible to do role playing to practice different scenarios. The chapters are short enough to hold the attention of even a five year old, but with volumes of assistance for many situations. The nearly lost art of writing thank-you notes may actually revive with the training this book offers! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (12)

So you're life feels out of control?
This joint effort between organization guru Julie Morgenstern and her daughter, Jessi, is really a valuable read for teens. So many teenage boys and girls feel like their life is out of control and for many of them this manifests itself in the feeling that they can't find things, they don't have enough time in the day, that "stuff" is taking over. "Organizing from the Inside Out for Teenagers" accomplishes what the adult version does - it takes you through steps in order to evaluate what's important in your life and then helps you develop a system that works for you (giving you some non-binding advice about what has often worked for other people).

I think my only criticism of this book is that it really assumes that readers come from comfortable economic backgrounds where parents with ready cash can go out and buy containers or certain items to help teens organize themselves. While I'm sure any parent with the money will cheerfully buy anything their teen feels will help organize them, many young men and women do not have the financial means to accomplish these goals and will have to stick to the less expensive suggestions. Overall though, an excellent book that will have positive impact in multiple areas of your life should you implement the suggestions and get control over your stuff rather than it having control over you.

Feel you're never in control over your life? Buy this!
"Organizing from the Inside Out For Teens" is a wonderful book that teaches teenagers how to organize their life. It features sections on how to organize your personal space (locker,room,study area), and how to organize your time and life. Its very detailed, complete with illustrations, print out scheduales and item lists that would be good for organizing.
When I first was givin this book, I had no intention of reading it...but soon my curiosity got the better of me and I began to read it. My life has since greatly improved, I am able to keep my belongings organized and I have control over my life! From this book, Teens can learn great skills that will prove them succesfull in their adult years! I would reccomend this book to anyone is having trouble with organization. 4 Stars!

Best Reading Ever
I like this book because it helps teenagers like me, to be organized. It teaches you how to organized your life better. It tells you how we can balance our time with friends, school work and fix your own space. If you are organized, you could find things faster and you could spend more time with your friends and family. I really recommend this book to all those teenagers and adults that are disorganized; they should really read this book. I am sure that by reading this book, the possibility of been an organized person is one hundred percent.

Abracadabra!
I'm 13 years old, and a former mess addict. People would tell me that it looked like a tornado had just passed through, and they were right- you couldn't see the floor and the mess was literally a foot high. It was so disgusting, and I could never invite my friends over because there was actually a stench to my room and no place to hang out in.

I'd been trying to clean my room for the longest time but nothing seemed to work- I wasn't motivated enough and I just couldn't figure it out. Things never seemed to be in the right place and even if something worked initially, after a while the system grew old and I couldn't keep it up anymore. I tried all kinds of books and systems and was even considering hypnotherapy (!!!), but none of them seemed to last or even appeal to me, until I found this book.

I read the organizational part straight through and I got so inspired to organize that I just started cleaning the minute I finished reading the first part to the book (the second is time management). I finished in three days and have been able to keep it spick and span clean ever since (over three months). If there was ever a magical cure, this is it.

I think the magic to this book is that the systems aren't limiting- it's written as a guideline so you know where to get started and how to do it. This enables you to incorporate your personality and lifestyle so that you can actually keep up with the system that you yourself design. The time management part is excellent too- it really helps you cut down on wasted time. It is written in the same manner as the organizational part, as a guideline so you can tailor it to suit yourself.

This may be more directed to teens than adults because teens, like me, live mostly outside, in school, and in their bedrooms, and worry about different aspects of life than adults. While adults may deal with bills and their kid's important papers and that kind of complicated mish-mash, we're dealing with homework and social lives and our own kind of complicated mish-mash. Since we're living in separate worlds with separate concerns, I think it's only right that we have separate systems. I'm not saying that adults wouldn't appreciate this book- it gives lots of great ideas, but I think that the organizational and time management problems being dealt with in this book are directed more to a teen's world than an adults.

Something is Missing...
Okay, so this book isn't THAT bad, but there are better organization books that take a little longer to implelement but work much better in the long run. I recommend that teenagers should instead read the FlyLady cleaning book and use the control journal idea in conjunction with this book to keep their room clean. They must devise their own system and that takes a lot of time and trial and error, but this book won't solve all of the organization problems, it needs more. Trust me, I am 15, I spend about 10 minutes a day keeping my room neat, and it is always perfect. I also have tons of time for everything I want to do. ... Read more

Book Description

A new addition to the critically acclaimed mini-sized reference series DK Pockets, Animals of the World is packed with facts and pictures arranged in a clear, logical way. Thousands of animals are shown in glowing full-color photographs, and brief text gives key information on the animals' habits, feeding, and migration patterns. ... Read more

Book Description

With over 200,000 copies sold, our beautifully color illustrated Children's Treasury is full of fairy tales, nursery rhymes and children's verse that will entertain the entire family. Many favorites are presented, including Cinderella, The Owl and the Pussycat, Rumpelstiltzkin, Aesop's Fables, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Thumbelina. These stories are both enchanting and educational, combining simple morals with delightful fantasy. A classic volume, The Random House Children's Treasury is a bounty of imagination, whimsy and magic to cherish for generations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best fairy tale collection on the market
Although it's a large and heavy book, this is the best of its kind. Many of the selections were transcribed from more academic anthologies such as Andrew Lang's colored Fairy Books, but it's BEAUTIFULLY illustrated and has all the most famous fairy tales, including Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Pied Piper, Cinderella, The Princess and the Pea, The Fisherman and his Wife, The Three Little Pigs, Beauty and the Beast, The Gingerbread Man, The Brave Little Tailor, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, The Emperor's New Clothes, Hansel and Gretel, The Golden Goose, Rumpelstiltzkin, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, some of the Arabian Nights tales, and much more. Plus it has a few of the most well known of Aesop's Fables, such as The Hare and the Tortoise, and the most well known nursery rhymes, such as The Three Little Kittens, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Jack and Jill, etc. The only major fairy tale they left out, I felt, was The Little Match Girl (Hans Christian Andersen's crowning achievement, with The Little Mermaid). But if you're hunting for a book with the greatest assortment of WELL KNOWN fairy tales and nursery rhymes, look no further.

It's got it all!
After an exhausting hunt though Amazon, the library and the bookstore I found this 'treasure'. I thought I would end up with three or four separate books to get what I wanted - fairy tales, mother goose rhymes and Aesop fables. Whew! They are in here. The style is kept in fairy traditional and only updated when needed. There are graphics on every page making enjoyable for young readers or listeners.

The best
This book is beautiful to be read to children and the illustrations are fascinating. This is a must-have for all parents! ... Read more

Book Description

Transformers: The Ultimate Guide is a detailed look at the fantastic world of these mechanical marvels. Follow each character's history and witness the amazing evolution of the Transformers, from physical structure and weaponry to personalities, alliances, and important battles. Detailed illustrations show exactly how each character "transforms" from warrior robot to high-powered vehicle. Special feature spreads cover all aspects of the Transformers' world and include specially commissioned maps and detailed city plans of their home planet of Cybertron, descriptions of the giant space ark in which the Transformers traveled to Earth, major wars in Transformers history, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

How Ultimate Is It?
This is a book that has guts - with its back cover proclaiming it to be "the first fully authoritative history" of the Transformers, and the interior introduction claiming that it is the "one true history" of G1, hardcore Transfans would not be frowned on for finding such statements insulting, sounding for all the world like the book will be dismissing the original comics and cartoon in favour of what IT says is right and wrong.

Thankfully, the reader will discover that this is NOT the case. The "one true history" that the entire G1 section revolves around proves to be that of the latest incarnation of G1 - the Dreamwave comic book series. While perhaps a little disrespectful to the cartoons and comics that CREATED the universe that these comics have to thank for their existence, it's understandable that this is the route taken - and the cartoons and comics themselves are hardly set by the wayside, getting multiple pages to cover their own stories. With everything from the geography of Cybertron, the history of the civil war, massive cutaways of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Unicron, profiles on selected individual soldiers and sub-groups like the Dinobots, Constructicons, Headmasters and Pretenders, the book provides a wide, general look at the G1 universe. However, it is in the cartoons and toy sections that its weakness shows, as scribe Simon Furman's lack of knowledge outside of the DW and Marvel comics results in several niggly factual errors - he's done his research, but he hasn't gone far enough to eliminate all his errors. The look of the pages is worsened by the fact that many of the toys photographed are mis-transformed, or look somewhat worn. It would have been child's play to find fans with toys that looked better than this, but they didn't bother.

Of course, the book doesn't stop at G1. There are sections for all the ensuing series - Generation 2, Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, Armada and Energon. The Beast sections are some of the nicest-looking ones in the book, with beautiful CGI art from animation company Mainframe, but each section could have done with just one or two more pages to add a little more details on the events of their latter seasons, with information on the BW events relating to G1, Transmetal 2's, or BM's Noble, Botanica and Megatron's numerous bodies limited only to the vague episode guide page (like every section of the book dealing with cartoons, the episode guide only has enough to room to include selected key episodes, so the whole story evades the reader even in these entries).

The G2 and Robots in Disguise sections, however, leave a bad taste in the mouth. There is very little to say about G2, and the section required nothing more than a comic summary and toy pictures, but in addition to this, it's been padded with an entry on G.I. Joe crossovers and fanfiction - two things which, while presented and written perfectly fine, are simply needless, and whose pages would have been bettered served elsewhere - namely in the RiD section, which is stuck only showing pictures of toys, lacking any real information on the cartoon series or characters (speculation was that this was because Disney, who own the show, wouldn't allow competitors DK access to it in time for print, but other comments by Furman imply it was bumped for the Energon section). Worsening the matter is that most of the pictures for the section are taken from adverts and package art for the toys, and feature some pretty bad mistransformations and missing parts.

The book ends with a look at Armada and it's current, sequel series, Energon, then a brief look at the Dreamwave comics, two of the best-handled sections of the book.

Looking back at what I have written here, it seems overly critical - but please, make no mistake, I heartily recommend this book. It's a brilliant overview of the history of Transformers and as concise a written guide as you could want - but it's just infuriating to me that DK's other guides for characters like Superman and Spider-Man, with their 60 and 40 years of history, could be so comprehensive, and yet the 20 years of Transformers has to be so abbreviated, with so many characters and episodes flat-out left out, to make the book an acceptable length. I am not pointing the finger of blame at anyone, however - Transformers simply has a *massive* history of characters, concepts and scenarios, making it all the more impressive and enduring. Furman's name power may make him come off as the most qualified person to write a book such as this, but some fan assistance would not have gone amiss. This would have stopped the mis-spellings (Elita One becomes "Eleta-1", for example, or the Armada episode "Cramp" becomes "Clamp") which are just the result of carelessness and not enough research, and would have provided superior toy pictures, and more accurate information about them. The toy pages are truly the weakest sections of the book - not one of them goes by that a factual error is not made. A fact-checker who truly knows his stuff - or perhaps several of them, one to each category, toy, comic, cartoon - would have caught these errors, and the book would have felt as though more care had gone into it.

Bottom line - this book is by no means an "Ultimate" guide. Entirely too much is left out, generalised or glossed over for that. But it's still a brilliant overview of Transformer history that both hardcore and casual fans should not hesitate to add to their collections.

More Than Meets The Eye
Every Transformer fan, new and old, needs to have this book. People who are only familiar with the newest incarnations can learn how it all started and long time fans will appreciate having a complete chronological account of the phenomonon. The book starts right where it should - before the original toy line or TV show and eplains the history of the Transformers homeworld Cybertron and the beginning of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. What follows is a detailed examination/explanation of EVERY incarnation of the Transformers up to and including Energon. Character bios, selected show synopsis, toy descriiptions and inner workings of key players are all covered and supported by detailed artwork and photographs. Multiple pages are givin to the Japanese toy line and continunity as well as the US and UK comics, including the latest from Dreamweave. What more could you ask for?

Before reading this book I was skeptical about it's ablity to cover the entire Transformers universe with the detail it demands. Now that I've read all 141 pages, it has become a jewel in my Transformer collection. For once the title "Ultimate Guide" has been used appropriately!

These Transformers ARE more than meets the eye!
When I first picked up my copy(today) I thought "I'll just pick it up for Nostalgic Value and to put on my coffee table along with every other DK book" This book rocks!!!! It has like every thing Transformers ever! It has Transformers things that came out like 2 months ago! Thats really suprising to me. This book has toy guides, episode lists, detailed character bios, and comic book runs! My nitpicks about it are...
1.No prices on the toys(I have about 100 of them!)
2.Episode Listings only have about 10 eps for every season. If youre going to do it at all,do it right!
3.Major characters get 1/4 of a page bio. Bumblebee NOOOOOOO!!!!
Anyway, buy this book if you like any form of Transformers. If it be G1,Beast Wars, or even Armada...

This IS The Ultimate Guide!!!
As a longtime Transfan who hasn't even gotten halfway through this book yet, what can I say but...WOW!!!
I'm well aware of just how comprehensive and attentive to detail DK's series of guide books are - from the Marvel and DC Comics character guides to the Star Wars books, from that super-cool James Bond guide detailing every movie up to 'The World Is Not Enough' to the Lego Book which contained almost every bit of info on the Lego company you could cram into print. But the Transformers guide goes above and beyond to appeal to both the rabid fanbase and those uninitiated in the multiverse of the Robots In Disguise. If you're not a diehard Transfan but are fascinated by that little toy line that became something of a pop-culture phenomenon, then this is the perfect place to acquaint yourself with the Transformers saga.
For starters, the first part of the book deals primarily with the story that started it all - the Generation One saga. And it's pretty ex