Book Description

Reviews (2)

Excellent overview of basic economics
This is a great book which explains the basics of economics in plain English. I wanted to find an economics book that will help me make sense of current events (everything ranging from taxation to labor markets to international economics), and this book helped me so much. (And you don't need any prior background in math or economics to understand this book.) But again, I want to emphasize the best thing about this book -- it explains everything in plain English without dumbing-down anything.

Biased Keynesian textbook for high schoolers
You would think that after three editions, Antell and Harris would give fair treatment with economists they don't agree with, but apparently not.Can you imagine a textbook that features John Maynard Keynes and Karl Marx,but says not a word about the greatest free-market economist of the 20thcentury--Milton Friedman?Yet Antell and Harris do just that.A travestyof the worst sort, and a sad commentary on the state of economic teachingin this country. ... Read more

Book Description

Figureheads--those magnificent carvings that once adorned the prows of early sailing vessels--are the focus of this intriguing coloring book. Twenty-seven illustrations of these splendid embellishments depict the figure of a sailor ("Jolly Jack Tar"), the warrior chief "Tecumseh," Eurydice, ascending from the underworld; a Scottish soldier of the Blackwatch regiment, and many others. A small sketch of the ship which proudly displayed this work of art accompanies each full-page illustration. Captions describe the ship and provide historical background for each figurehead. Dover Original. 27 black-and-white illustrations. Approximately 11 full-color illustrations on covers.
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Book Description

Amazon.com

Berlie Doherty, author of many books for young people, includingCarnegie Medal-winner DearNobody, says fairy tales "are enchanted dreams. We remember them as ifthey had been sung to us while we were under the spell of a long deep sleep."And according to acclaimed picture-book illustrator Jane Ray, "fairy tales arethe earth beneath our feet, giving us roots and helping us find our place in theworld, but they also offer a glimpse of the magical and the enchanted." With twosuch eloquently mystical creators at the helm, any collection of fairy tales isbound to be magical. Sure enough, this team's magnificent Fairy Talesglimmers and shines, giving new life to traditional favorites such as "Beautyand the Beast," "Cinderella," "Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp," and "Hansel andGretel." Doherty's retellings are respectful of the originals, whileincorporating her own strong, vibrant voice. Ray's watercolor, ink, and collageillustrations, surrounding the gold-framed text, are truly stunning, in exoticcolors and exquisite tapestry-style patterns. Characters seem to come from allparts of the world--appropriately enough, since the stories have "echoes in manydifferent cultures." The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and CharlesPerrault would be proud. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Twelve Classic FairyTales That Shine Like New
This is a physically beautiful volume, medium sized and easy to hold while you have your arm around another person. The illustrations are unique and creative and accented with gold which adds to the magical ambiance. The pages have colorful decorated borders and the interesting use of silhouettes is striking. The text is true to the original tales while being melodious, fresh and inviting. Don't miss the enchanting picture of Cinderella that goes with this text, "She heard a fluttering as if all the leaves were unfurling at once, and the birds of the tree flew down carrying a silver dress and slippers that glittered like stars." Now isn't that a little better than Bibbity Bobbity Boo?

A Unique Treasure
The artwork initially caught my eye with this book. Jane Ray's enchanting combination of watercolor, ink, and collage drew me in completely. The design is reminiscent of a beloved scrapbook, and it is truly beautiful. Text blocks and illustrations are bordered with gold accents, creating the illusion that they have been "mounted" on their exquisitely designed backgrounds. The colors are rich and the images range from simple silhouettes to intricately detailed landscapes and portraits.

Ray adds to the book's charm with her multicultural representations of characters. In addition to traditional (Caucasian) depictions, readers encounter a Black "Beauty," a Chinese "Aladdin," a Moroccan sorcerer, a henna-tattooed Indian princess, and a variety of other diverse characters. While the stories all hail from Western Europe, the illustrations and character portrayals add an element of multiculturalism and diversity.

Although many of the story titles are familiar, they are by no means ordinary or generic. Berlie Doherty has traced them back to their roots in order to maintain the original "essence" of the classic tales she has chosen. In a generation where many fairy tale classics have been altered and homogenized by the entertainment industry, Doherty's return to the original versions is both refreshing and pleasantly nostalgic. Fairy tale novices and veterans alike will be enchanted and intrigued.

This book has quickly become a valued treasure in my collection for its unique appeal and beauty. The text is candid and honest, incorporating elements of humor, sadness, joy, and more while still maintaining the original "magic" of the tales. A great book for yourself or as a gift - I highly recommend it!

Absolutely Gorgeous
As a longtime lover of Fairy tales, I've gotten rather picky about which picture book versions I pick up. And I wanted to buy this book the first time I flicked through it.

This one includes a variety of stories, all well known, from the obvious choices, like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, to Aladdin, and the Wild Swans. The stories are told well, though without any newness - these are familiar, comfortable stories.

Ah, but it wasn't the tellings of the stories which had me sold on this book. Jane Ray's illustrations are utterly beautiful. Normally, I am a fan of neo-renaissance illustrations - almost realistic, almost three dimensional, and full of elegant landscapes (See Kinuko Craft's work) The illustrations in this book are flat, far more stylized - but they're full of movement and feeling, and they look like they came from the best of medieval manuscripts. The touches of metallic gold only add to this impression. The full colour full page illustrations are also complemented by silhouette illustrations and border images along many other pages. This is inspired art, lovely to look on, and perfectly matches the feeling of fairy tale stories.

Wonderful illustrations
While Doherty's new versions of many popular tales are fine, the best reason to buy a new collection of fairy tales is for the illustrations. Jane Ray's illustrations are vibrant and give the book the flair of an illuminated manuscript. Ray's heros and heroines do not simper or look cute, they appear bold and involved. The text on every page is also framed with themed-backgrounds. Middle and older readers will appreciate these new illustrations and texts.

The tales in the book are some of the most popular without any obscure tales to add diversity. The tales are: Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty in the Forest, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Snow White, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, Little Red Riding Hood, The Fire-Bird, Hansel and Gretel, Frog Prince, and The Wild Swans. ... Read more