Book Description

Dancing marks the rites of passage in a daughter's life and that of the father who loves her. From her first carefree twirling in the flower-dotted yard, to her first solo performance in The Nutcracker, to the waltz of her wedding night, her father is there watching, silent and unobserved. And he smiles.

This tender story of the bond between a father and a daughter, told straight from the heart by the best-selling author of The Christmas Candle and illustrated with exquisite, lush paintings, evokes that bond with powerful poignancy. The Dance will forever resonate with parents and children everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Touching
I found this book the year before I got married. I gave it to my dad for Christmas when I could not be there, he read it to my brothers and started to cry.

This is a beautiful story for any father and daughter to share. I don't want to ruin the story, but when you get to the last few pages you will understand the signifigance of the timing for my father and I.

A lovely book for fathers and their daughters
Here's an easy recipe to make any father or daughter you know get all puddled up: get them Richard Paul Evans'"The Dance." This short, epigrammatic tale follows an unnamed father as he watches his daughter grow up, progressing from hopping around in the yard to formal dance lessons to being a ballerina. I can't say too much more or I'll give away the tear-inducing ending.

It's short--you can read it with or without a child on your lap in perhaps ten minutes. But the emotions it provokes are powerful, and powerfully enhanced by Jonathan Linton's astonishing paintings. Evans has a note at the beginning of the book saying that although a different illustrator had been selected for "The Dance," he happened to see the cover painting (by Linton) somewhere and felt strongly that Linton should illustrate the book. Thank goodness Evans went to bat for Linton, as the text and pictures mesh beautifully. I can't think of a girl, young or old, who wouldn't enjoy "The Dance"--and I can think of lots of dads who would get a little emotional reading through it themselves. Highly, highly recommended.

Beautifully executed story of love
A father's love for his daughter is endless and no better way is this exhibited than in this effective story. Evans, a gifted storyteller, knows how to tug on the heartstrings as well as relate to his audience, be they young or old. This is a story that is timeless and destined to become a classic.

Amazing
I was browsing through the bookstore a few years ago, looking for something to do between classes, when I came across this book. It was one of the most touching stories that I've read.

The story is about a girl who aspires to dance and the father who watchs over her. Without giving the story away, I'll just say that if really effected me -- a college boy who knows little of dancing, let alone fatherhood. It is very well written, and when it's coupled with the beautiful oil painting illustrations, the book is deeply moving.

I'd recommend this to anyone, be it dancer, father, or otherwise. This is a story of love that transcends such things.

Book To Be Shared
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any father/daughter with a "special" relationship.

I passed it to a friend who's daughter is graduating soon and who herself is a dancer.....both of them enjoyed the book and cried with me over its beauty.

Highly recommend this for sharing with a loved one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Silver Slippers
If you're looking for a book full of motivatoin and encouragement, "The Silver Slippers" is the perfect choice. This book tells the story of a little girl who loved to dance, but never put her whole heart into it, until one day when the right motivation came along. In her class, they were to have a recital. This made the little girl glow with excitement. When she learned that the best ballerina in the class would be rewarded with being able to be the "Prima Ballerina." For the following weeks up until the recital, the little girl practiced and practiced, trying to perfect her ballet. While her friends did lived thier normal every day lives, the little girl stayed inside and worked extrememly hard. Sometimes the little girl would get down because of how long it was taking to get it right, so her mother got her a pair of silver slippers to hang around her neck. Every time the little girl danced, she wore the slippers as a reminder of the hard work she had done. When the time came to find out who the "Prima ballerina" was, the little girl became very nervous. But not for long, as she found out she got to be the star of the recital. The night came and as the girl got nervous, she looked at the slippers around her neck and took a step out on stage. Her performance was flawless. A true reward for her hard work. This book shows the determination of one little girl, and the reward she got from hard work. It is the perfect book for a bit of encouragement and motivation. Every child should have a copy of "The Silver Slippers."

Prima for the prima ballerina
This book gives confidence to any little one about to make her debut on stage! It addresses the same fears that most little ones anticipate and the necklace adds the perfect touch. I would highly reccommend for any child conquering any fear. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Cool book
I love the tv show The OC and this book gave me lots of info that I wanted on the show's hot young cast! You'll learn everything you want to know about Adam, Ben, Rachel, Mischa and the rest of the gang. I always love to hear how my fave actors got started in their careers. It also has some funny tidbits about OC life and about the show.

Buy this book!
This book is SUPER funny! I love Adam Brody and was happy to find lots of great information on him in OC Undercover. Plus, this is cool because it is the only book on The O.C.

Excellent!
This book has tons of info on the show and the actors. I couldn't put it down! It's full of fun quotes and factoids. The quiz was fun, too. I think that all O.C. fans should pick up this book.

Fun and Straight to the point
I loved this book. Ms. Kent is hilarious in many of her comments and observations. I, unlike some other people, didn't buy this book with hopes of getting a "travel guide" of Orange County. That's not the point of this book. It is a funny and witty account of the fabulous TV show that I love so much. I love the sections on the stars (Adam BRody is my fave!)and the pics! Great summer read!

Most of this stuff isnt even true!
This book is lame! If you are going to write a book about Orange County (excuse me, the OC) then you should at least get the facts straight...I have lived in the OC all my life, and this book gave me a great laugh because it was wrong on SO many levels! People who actually live here are making fun of this book like crazy because it is SO lame. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A TREASURE FOR YOUNG READERS
The author, an associate professor at Michigan State University, has already educated and entertained young readers with the lives of two composers in "The Farewell Symphony" and "Pictures At An Exhibition." When paired with rousing watercolor and ink illustrations by JoAnn Kitchel, both of those books are small treasures, as is "The Heroic Symphony," which relates the life of Beethoven.

As the story opens Beethoven has it all - fame, fortune, and the ability to play the piano better than anyone in all of Europe. However, the music lovers who flocked to hear him have no idea that he is slowly losing his hearing. Desperate, hoping for a cure in the spring of 1802 Beethoven fled to a remote clinic.. But there was no help for him.

As Beethoven despaired a melody began to fill his mind, and he realized that if he could no longer play the piano he could compose. He knew that he wanted to write music that would not only entertain but would also inspire, so he searched for inspiration. One name came to him - a war hero, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Later, upon learning that his hero, Bonaparte, had crowned himself Emperor of France Beethoven attempted to destroy his months of work, but was stopped by a close friend. At length Beethoven scratched the name Bonaparte from his manuscript and wrote a new title, "The Heroic Symphony."

A CD recording of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica" is included. It is performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Georg Solti.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

This funny and irreverent how to takes young would be filmmakers fromt he moment of inspiration to a finished short film amd beyond. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Filmmaking Success Secrets Revealed
I teach video productions. My students asked if they could make a film in
our photography club. This is the book to use as a guide!It's what you
need to know about making a film and becoming a filmmaker!It's all there! Writen in a hip and humorous style. I could hardly put it down once I started reading!A must have for all video production teachers
as well!

R. Steve Parr
Bethel High School
Spanaway, WA

Not Just For Teens!
For anyone who wants a really detailed book on how to make films using today's technology, this book is perfect.Don't worry if you're not quite a teenager yet or if you've already graduated from high school -- you'll find this book incredibly helpful in getting you started as a filmmaker. Highly recommended!

Kim Adelman
Author, The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films

High School Student Recommended!
"This book was an awesome help when it came time to make a film for my high school's film festival. I will definitely be using it again!"

All Slanged-Up and Ready to Shoot
Filmmaking for Teens:Pulling Off Your Shorts
by Troy Lanier and Clay Nichols
Review by Pi Ware

Filmmaking for Teens:Pulling Off Your Shorts is a great gift for a young filmmaker.The book is concrete, fairly well organized, and written in a hip-and-now vernacular that will connect with the suburban teens of today (and sound utterly bizarre in about 7 years).The authors, Troy Lanier and Clay Nichols, have an in-depth knowledge of filmmaking and great ability to distill this knowledge down to its bare essentials, which is all a teen filmmaker wants or needs.

Not only is this a good book for teenagers, but it's a great book for any first time filmmaker.It may not be as exhaustive as Kim Adelman's instant classic, "The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films:Making it Big in Shorts", but for that high school kid in your life who wants to "get into the business"--or for anyone who wants to learn the gritty, Do-It-Yourself ethic of no-budget indie filmmaking--this manual is a great place to start.

Assuming (correctly) that many teen readers will only read the first ten pages of the book, Lanier and Nichols start with a quick summary of how to make your first short and how to keep the project do-able for a teenager.From there they take you through scripting, pre-production, production, and post, and then onto teen-themed festivals listed by deadline date.Lanier and Nichols teach the basics of filmmaking in an easy-to-follow manner, including how to compose a shot, how to write in screenplay format and how to edit the movie once it's shot.And the basics they teach are not lopsided opinions but, rather, they're the white hot core of filmmaking essentials.Though the book's style may be too slanged-up and peppered with "attitude" for the smarter teenage crew, Filmmaking for Teens:Pulling Off Your Shorts is a great how-to book for any ambitious movie geek.

Hats (and shorts) off to these guys!
Hats off to these guys!Shorts off to these guys!Film Making For Teens Pulling Off Your Shorts drew me in with its ingenious title, and kept both the information and the comedy flowing.Lanier and Nichols compiled a comprehensive how-to on movie making for people of all ages.They give a step-by-step process for brainstorming, scripting, directing, producing, editing, and exhibiting a short film.Complete with photos from their own school's film class, the book's lingo `casts' out and `reels' in a young audience of budding film students.I've recommend this book to all of my friends interested in film making, and now I've recommended it to you... ... Read more

Book Description

The circus is in town! Come join in the fun as Caldecott Medalist Peter Spier creates a circus like no other, in this exuberant celebration of the wonders of the big top.

"A treat!" -- Kirkus Reviews

"This premier illustrator offers a glorious new treat....children will undoubtedly want to pore over it." -- School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Enchants and Entertains Just Like a Circus Should!
My kids love this book.

It is beautifully illustrated, with very detailed drawings that draw children into the scenes. The story is enchanting for little ones and introduces them not only to the circus but also to how people work, different countries in the world and different people.

Lots of animals, clowns, acrobats and a human cannonball will keep your little ones's attention glued to the book. One of the best loved children's books in our house.

Peter Speir's Circus
This is my brothers absolute favorite book. The detail in the pictures is unbelivable. This is a must for every childs book shelf ... Read more

Amazon.com

Martha Graham (1894-1991) referred to her dancers as "acrobats of God," but in truth it was she who seemed divinely inspired. Graham was a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for more than 70 years, and during that time she changed the landscape of dance forever. An unlikely candidate for a dance diva, she was shorter and more muscular than the principal ballet dancers of her time and she didn't start dancing until age 22--a flower long past her bloom in the eyes of most choreographers. Nonetheless, Graham managed to turn the dance world on its tutu with her innovative approach to movement and teaching and her clear understanding that feelings are not always graceful, but always intense.

Russell Freedman, who won the Newbery Medal in 1988 for Lincoln: A Photobiography and Newbery Honors for The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane (1992) and Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (1994), has once again crafted a beautiful, intriguing biography. He traces Graham's remarkable life from a childhood filled with imaginative play, to her decision to attend dance school instead of college, through her departure from the Broadway Follies to pursue her own dance style, and onward through her late life, when she continued teaching and creating distinctive performance pieces. The fascinating biography is complemented by exquisite black-and-white photographs that reveal Graham's sense of beauty and her remarkable ability to translate pure, raw emotions into expressive movement. Freedman's lovely tribute makes us fully believe Graham when she says, "I did not choose to be a dancer, I was chosen." (Young Adult/Adult) --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Elegant Trio of Words, Pictures and Feelings
This book is a beautiful, concise study of her life. Studying Martha Graham's life is an awakening experience. Reading Graham's memoir "Blood Memory" simultaneously provides a beautiful counterpoint, knowing the subject will not observe herself in the same way as her biographer.

I dance away from this book with a definite appreciation for Graham's brilliance in creativity and willingness to navigate the many rough patches she encountered AND give such a gift to humanity at the same time.

The numbers of influential people she touched is amazing and enlightening.

I suggest this book for any creative thinker: there are applications for all of us.

The Life of a Dancer
Martha Graham: A Dancers Life by Russell Freedman, the full-length biography of Martha Graham, takes a deep look into Martha and the peole around her. She was a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who changed the world. Her life began in Pittsburg where she was born in 1894. The book also tells about the lives of her dancers, students, close friends, and lovers. The biography goes into great detail up until the day she died in 1991.
I liked this book because of all the details it gives about her life and the way it tells about all the heroic things she did. I would recommend this book to dancers and people who enjoy the things Martha did in her 97 years of life.

Gorgeous pictures; no depth
I bought this book after reading an interesting article about Martha Graham in the New Yorker about a year ago. I was attracted to the book by the beautiful photography, in evidence on the cover (and throughout the book, as I soon learned). However, I was interested in reading about Martha's "demons" and character flaws, as well as her relationships and focus on archetypal figures in dance. Unfortunately, this book is a pretty happy-go-lucky, bland account of her life. In fact, it's so bland that I would have given it three stars if the pictures in it were not so beautiful and well-suited to the descriptions given in the text.

EXCELLENT!
This is a wonderful book and story. Being a dancer myself, I am very inspired. You'll enjoy Martha's "positive" attitude and wit throughout this story of the growth of a piece of history. Please, read this book, I recommend it!

Simple, and clear...
I am a former Graham Dancer, and when I saw this book, I had some very intense emotions, it shows Martha in her best years, the pictures are beautiful, some of them are very rare to see, and if you want to see the beauty, or the drama, of that Incredible American Woman, this is the book you need to own. As a Graham Based Dance Teacher, I use this book to show some intentions in the movement, or I simply quote her, I wish you a wonderful Journey in the world of Martha Graham... ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Max Casella
3 hrs. 25 mins.
2 cassettes

Tyler Stewart knows he's going to be a television star. He's funny, and his uncle Pete is a writer for the most popular show on TV.Best of all, Tyler's parents have just sent him to visit Pete in Hollywood.Talk about luck--no more of his mom's worrying and his dad's instructions for the rest of his summer vacation.Everyone in show business needs a break, and Tyler is sure this is going to be his.

Now, Tyler has two weeks to land an audition and impress the sitcom's moody star.First he'll have to learn everything there is to know about life on the set, from navigating the food cart to breaking a story.And that will mean spending as much time as possible at the studio--despite his parents' objections.With the help of his new friend Samantha, Tyler's dream just might become a reality.But the road to fame is paved with surprises, and the part of a lifetime is sometimes the one we least expect…

Max Casella has a great list of credits including the films Analyze This, Ed Wood and Disney's Dinosaur,as well as appearances on The Sopranos and the recurring role of Vinnie Delpino on the ever-classic Doogie Howser, M.D. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Humorous and entertaining book
I'm an elevan year old girl who read it, and couldn't put it down. I definitly reccomend it.

Middle School Son Loved this Book
My middle school aged son picked this book to read for a book report.He's somewhat of a reluctant reader so it can be a challenge to find a book that really draws him in.This book did it!It's the story of a 6th grade boy, named Tyler, who is visiting an uncle who writes for a popular sitcom.Tyler feels that this is his chance to break into showbiz.The author of the book has been a television writer so I'm sure it's an accurate description of life behind the scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Kids LOVE this book and ask for it over and over.
Sylized soldiers assemble a cannon for an explosive and predictable conclusion. Rhythm, rhyme and color dominate the book, enticing children, ages 2 to 6, to ask for it to be read over and over. My son, now 20, still remembers Drummer Hoff and has claimed the privilege of giving it to his 2 year-old cousin this Christmas.

Vietnam War Redux
I used to read Drummer Hoff to my little girls in the late 1960's and early 1970's, at the height of the antiwar movement. I am saddened by the reviews that fail to find the message in this fine little book. It was published in 1967, and is such an obvious antiwar book that I can only feel the reviewers have little sense of history. The idyllic pastoral environment with little birds and flowers is blown to pieces at the end as the giant cannon, "Sultan," explodes. It is a tale of the self-destructive savagery of war. My little girls are now grown, about to have their own children, and I am giving Drummer Hoff to them, so their own antiwar instincts can be made vivid to their children in a language that all will find accessible and delightful.

First the wadding, then the powder, then the shot...
Okay, I'm gonna put this book in context for you. It's 1968. America is unofficially (according to all "reputable" sources) at war in Vietnam. It's the sixties. People are experimenting with drugs and the whole psychedelic scene. Enter the Caldecott Award winning, "Drummer Hoff". To the person who was writing the book jacket flap, this story, "will inspire a smart salute and a march about the room". To anyone who reads this book today, however, this is quintessential anti-war propaganda. And it's a marvelous read.

Throughout this tale, Drummer Hoff (who fired it off) and his fellow bespangled soldiers, officers, corporals, etc. construct, before our eyes, a canon. As the verses continue we see each member of the company adding his own touch to the proceedings. For example, Corporal Farrell brings the barrel. Major Scott brings the shot. You get the idea. This all culminates with General Border who, in the end, gives the order and Drummer Hoff (finally abandoning his baton) fires it off. Suddenly the world is engulfed in blood red smoke, Hoff knocked slightly to one side, the extravagantly illustrated word, "KAHBAHBLOOOM" appearing. In our final scene the canon sits there, abandoned by the men. Baby birds grow in its mouth. The name of the canon (Sultan) has been buried and we now only see a smiling sun on its side. Grasshoppers frolic, a spider spins its web, and flowers are everywhere. Make of it what you will

So let's look at it again. The words are very much like an old English series of verses. They could be 40 years old or 400. Now look at the illustrations. I think I'm truthful in saying that I have never read a children's book that looked like this. From the odd thick black lines that permeate every tiny detail of each page to the delicate trussing up of each member of the army, this book is fabulous. I just stare at the double page spread of the canon firing and I'm agog. It may not be drug induced, but this book certainly had something to say about its copyright date. Honestly, you've never seen a story like this before.

Today we are living in a time when violence and war seem as normal as bacon and ham. With the world around us as dangerous as it is, the time has never been better to pull out our older copies of "Drummer Hoff" so as to take another gander. Read it through carefully. Appreciate the beauty of its lines and pictures. Then turn to that last page and just ponder it for a while. The book deserves that much, at least.

Shared reader
Don't pick apart the text too much, it won't make much sense to adults. Just be assured that within the first minute, any child will be completely engaged by the brilliant, somewhat old fashioned woodcut pictures and by the second or third reading will be crowing the refrain "fired it off!" with abandoned glee.
We finally discovered a paperback edition while at the Presidio bookstore in San Francisco, thereby giving the library copy a much needed rest. Yes, it ends abruptly and leaves me perplexed as to what exactly happened, but my children simple accept it as is and really enjoy testing their memories with cumulative rhymes.

Woodcut Drummer
There is a rhyme that adds a line each segment as the primary text in this book. A cute story, though it is lacking a true beginning-middle-end, it could help children with rhyming words and the concepts of rime and onset. The illustrations are clever, interesting and appealing. They were created with carved woodblocks that were then dipped into ink and used like stamps. The curious feature however is the element of line and the way it is utilized.

Why 3 stars?:
There is no real story to this. The rhyme is pointless and uninteresting. It possibly could have better if it went somewhere, but it is quite short. I considered using it for practice with rhyming, but the rhymes are fairly difficult. I would pass this one up unless you are a true collector of Caldecott winners. ... Read more

Book Description

Have fun and learn the names of the animals on Old MacDonald's farm with this musical waterproof book.Just press the red circle on the cover and sing along. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Finally, a musical toy that won¿t go on and on and on¿.
Old MacDonald has been one of my 3-year-old's favorite songs for as long as I can remember, and this waterproof book has turned into one of my best tricks for calming and entertaining her with a musical toy, while still preserving my sanity. The short book has one button in the front cover that, when pressed, will play Old McDonald through only one time, not a a five minute rendition that makes me want to stick cotton in my ears (unlike some of her other musical products...). I love the versatility of this book. More than a great tub toy, the lightweight book makes it one of my favorite toys to throw in my purse for trips to the bank or post office, when my daughter often gets itchy having to wait in line.

More than I expected'
I was so excited to see that Amazon is carrying this line of tub books. Four years ago I bought one of these books for my nephew, just as an inexpensive gift that I bought on a whim on the way over to his house. I never expected that it would last him through so many years of bathtime (it's also gotten its fair share of abuse from his baby sister for the last two years!). Who would have thought that such a reasonably priced toy would last this long? Four years and going strong!

Very high pitch and not durable
What a great idea, right? Learn about animals singing Old MacDonald while reading a nice, easily washable plastic book. It's a great idea for a kids' book. Sadly the finished product isn't good.

First, the book is very nice in small hands. The illustrations are very nice, simple animals. The assortment of animals: horse, pigs, duck, cat, turkey and goat, are unique enough that they won't likely duplicate other books.

However, like many of those trendy greeting cards of the 80's and 90's, the pitch of Old MacDonald is much too high to comfortably sing along. It doesn't even well suit children's high voices. The sound is predictably tweeky and cheap -- not that that bothers my two boys. Each press of the button plays Old MacDonald through one time only. To sing through the whole book, the button needs to be pressed six times.

Pressing the button to play the song was too hard for either of my boys until they were over two years old. This meant that any time they wanted to hear the song, they needed to find a willing adult to press it for them. If they wanted to sing through the whole book, the adult needed to stay there to press it all six times.

After only two to three cleanings, the book started to fall apart. The book never went into the bath. First the musical button imbedded in the front cover broke loose, making it frustrating for both adult and child to find. Next, the plastic pages started to separate; the foam inserts easily tore apart and littered the floor. All this took place in less than three years. None of our other plastic, bathtub books that were played with as frequently, show any signs of wear.

It's a cute idea, but it's not well done. ... Read more

Book Description

This revised edition of the official biography of Mary-Kate and Ashley contains new, never-before-seen photos from the Olsen family album, info on behind-the-scenes action from their movie sets, updated fun facts, personal anecdotes and much, much more. There's a whole new chapter devoted to fashion describing what it's like for Mary-Kate and Ashley to design and own their own fashion line. They have also added insights on being executive producers and what it's like to have fashion dolls made in their image, as well as personal information about what kind of clothes they like to wear, what kind of guys they like, where they'd like to go to college, and what their plans are after college. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

MKA, teen millionaires maybe, but won't get 1 million starz
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen grew up on TV and still are on TV to this day. This is the biography written about their lives.

First time I read this, I just thought B-O-R-I-N-G cos it wasn't exactly interesting enough to hold my near-to-zero attention span. I paid about the equivalent of $6 for this book in hard back, but personally I thought that I'd put this book in the trash and read the Harry Potter books I bought in that same day.

However, then maybe I thought that I'd just give it 1 last chance. I read it again, trying to pick it up and make it as interesting as possible. No result - my brain found it boring. I DID put it back of the pile, and I DID read the Order of the Phoenix. When I finished that book and started re-reading the Goblet of Fire, but I had an overdose of Potter Magic, and I needed to get down-to-earth. I was rummanging through my book case for a factual book to help me, and my only choice was "Our Story."

I read it, reading slowly, I only planned to read it for 10 minutes, but i got hooked and read it for 1 hour. It just made me think, but it was short, so I got back to The Goblet of Fire.

Then, I read it through the day AGAIN and I found it fascinating and sooo good, I was shocked how down-to-earth they were. However then I read it again a few weeks later, and I hated the book again. So I gave it to MY twin sister Ryoko "Dark Willow" Kravaya and she h8ed it and reviewed it too. I had to do the same.

Though I enjoyed the book, I got bored of it, and probably won't read it for a while. I liked the photos, but it was not only short, but hard to make interesting...really. So I had to be patient. My sister gave it 2 stars, I gave it 3. But personally, I liked the book (after ages) but now it got boring.

Just Olsen, Just that
Mary-Kate and Ashley olsen are twins. They are actresses. So what? Tons of girls are!
This book reflects the lives of these girls. How they made it big. How they live their lives. And it explains all their endorsements. Big whoop.
This book (on the whole) is quite boring. Unless you have young girls (age 5-11) then buy it. I personally am 11, but I don't act like bubblegum pop, I listen to Good Charlotte and admire Emily Strange. That's what a real pre-teen should be doing, not some pink twins.
The Olsens are 17 years of age. I thought they would have grown up from the "Miss Popular" routine. Though they said in OUR LIPS ARE SEALED: "Life's not about being popular, it's about being yourself," does anyone actually believe them? They're actresses, they're supposed to say that! But I think that beneath all that, they're just saying to girls to be stuck-up and popular, like the Olsen twins.
These girls are Barbie Dolls, and it shows in their movies with yucky smooches and poor acting.
This book explains a lot about their lives, but I really don't think there's much truth in it.
okay, 3 or 4 years ago, I was a die-hard MKA fan. But now I've said "Bye-bye" to the movies, books and clothes, and made way for Emily Strange books and accesories.
I BEG YOUNG GIRLS TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE BUBBLEGUM SUGARY TWINS. IF YOU DON'T, YOU'LL BE ON THE RIDE TO NOWHERE! THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY ...! GET A HOLD ON YOURSELF, THE OLSEN TWINS WERE HISTORY EVER SINCE WINNING LONDON. AND THEY WILL BE 4EVA.

DARK WILLOW/RYOKO816
Emily Strange and Tenchi Universe/Tenchi In Tokyo fan. (Not Ayeka, just Ryoko/Tenchi)

Mary-Kate and Ashley: Our Story
Before I first ordered this book, I was skeptical as to if it would actualy be interesting. It sure is interesting! Evreybody loves The Olsen Twins, right? In this biography, many facts are revealed, some ones that you would never even know! For instance, Mary-Kate and Ashley lead somewhat normal lives. They have squables between their siblings, as well as homework trouble, just like any other teen. The book tells secret crushes, favorites, and their big break into showbiz. It is also packed with quotes straight from the girls. I recommend this book to any Olsen Twins fan!!!

Very Interesting
When you look at famous celebrities like Mary-Kate and Ashley, you'd expect them to go to the coolest parties ever and have very different lives because they always seem to be in the industry.But you'd be surprised what you'll REALLY find out when you read this novel.
Even said by themselves, MK & A lead very normal lives. Though it may be very hard to believe, it is true and when you read this interesting book you'll realise that being famous IS alot of fun, but it isn't all its cracked up to be!
Everyone leads normal live, including MK & A and other famous people, when they are off screen.
There are many interesting facts and funny and memorable moments that you can read over and over again. Celebrities are just like us, remember that!

The Olsen sisters sure have grown up!
Mary-kate and ashley are sixteen now and have grown up from their " Full House" days to being teen stars. This book has photos of them from cute, little michelle to where they are now. It tells how they grew up on TV, video, and movies. Today, they are teen millionares. ... Read more

Book Description

From Captain Hook to Cruela De Vil, Disney Villains: The Essential Guide offers an insider's look at the most wicked villains in Disney history. Reflecting on the themes of adventure and suspense in both classic and new Disney films, this unique reference is packed with colorful illustrations, annotated drawings, and lively text about the villains everyone loves to hate. ... Read more

Book Description

At six years old, Hilary Duff was following in her big sister's footsteps and traveling as a dancer. But she knew that acting was her true passion, and before long the precocious preteen had charted a course for Hollywood. Little Hil wowed fans with her performances in Soul Collector and Casper Meets Wendy, but it wasn't until a television show called Lizzie McGuire that Hilary became a household name.

Now this talented teen is destined for success! With a smash hit television show, a new career as a recording artist, and a line of merchandise in the works, Hilary just keeps getting hotter! Packed with trivia, quizzes, and fun facts, Hilary Duff: A Not-So-Typical Teen will give you the inside scoop on all the Duff stuff! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awesome book!
Thinking I had already known everything about Hilary Duff that there was to know, I picked up this book just so I could have something to read.
And you know what? This book has the things I know, PLUS the things I didn't know!
This is one of the best biographies of Hilary Duff I have ever read.
It includes fifty fast facts about Hilary, from her favorite lip gloss to what kind of shampoo she uses, a list of all of her TV and movie roles, a list of all of the songs she's ever recorded (as of early 2003), websites where you can find things about Hilary, and my favorite, the "Are You A Duff Buff?" quiz!
This book includes 16 chapters-
1. "I Think I'm A Regular Kid"
2. A Star Is Born!
3. The Soul of an Actress
4. Stepping into Lizzie's Shoes
5. Out of Platforms and into a Uniform
6. Saving the World, and Other Secret Agent Tricks
7. Lizzie Goes Rome-in'
8. Dozen This Seem Fun?
9. A Week in the Life
10. Peer into the Crystal Ball
11. A Lovable Libra
12. Here's Hil's Number (it's not what you're thinking...)
13. Words to Live By
14. Fifty Fast Facts
15. Are You a Duff Buff?
16. Hilary Site-ings

This book is 105 pages long and includes 12 glossy photos of Hilary in all different sizes!
I highly recommend this all Hilary fans of all ages and genders!
Hope that helped.
~Ashley

A Must for Hilary Fans
HILARY DUFF: A NOT-SO-TYPICAL Teen is a must have for all Hilary Duff fans. It features information about Hilary from her birth until now. With info on how she got started in acting, what her first roles were, her work for different charities, her love of animals, how she put together her album METAMORPHOSIS, and all of the stress that goes into making a movie/TV show. Also included, a day in the life of Hilary journal, quotes from the star herself, an interview with Hilary, fifty fast facts about Hilary, a quiz to see how much you know about Hilary, her life, her career, her family, and her friends, links to different Hilary Duff fan websites, and a special numerology chart that you can perform on yourself or your friends to see if you are destined to be Hilary's lifelong bud.

As someone who has read many books about Hilary Duff, I found this one by Nancy Krulik to be one of the best. She includes a lot of fun stuff for Hilary's fans to do, which will keep the interest of even the most reluctant reader, and features special bibliographies about Hilary's career, so her fans will know what other movies/TV shows they can check out to satisfy their Hilary craving. A must-have book for all fans of Duff.

Erika Sorocco

Not-So-Typical Book!!!
This book/biography is amazing. From the young Hilary to the teen sensation! The author's way of writing this book is incredible and I got all the info on Hilary! I loved the facts and quiz at the end of the book and the pictures are remarkable!
In other words, I totally loved this book!

A nice, thourough read
Dying to know everything possible there is to know about Hilary Duff, one of America's most famous teenagers? Well, this book may not tell you EVERYTHING, but it's a great start! "Hilary Duff: A Not So Typical Teen", targeted to ages 9-12, is about 150 pages, and includes an eight-page full-color photo insert. Like another reviewer has mentioned, it was written by Nancy Krulik, who is a GREAT celebrity biographer. Although I'm past the 9-12 age range this book recommends, I bought it one day at Barnes & Noble because I was feeling curious. So I read the book in about 30 minutes, and I was very pleased. You'll find out all about Hilary Duff- from her todler days; to getting started as an actress; to her days on "Lizzie McGuire", and now, her singing career. Plus, the book lists her upcoming movies and plans. At the end, there's a quiz with questions to determine how much you really know about Hilary Duff. You'll also find lots of cool facts and trivia. If you know everything that there is to know about Hilary Duff, you probably wouldn't find this book to be very interesting, but other Hilary Duff fans would agree that it's great! I enjoyed reading this book very much, and I think other Hilary Duff fans would like it too. Also check out "Hilary Duff: Total Metamorphosis," and "Hanging With Hilary Duff", two other great books about this talented teen.

this book rocks the hilary duff world!
oh I ordered this and another h.d. book from amazon on the 22 of december it said it wouldnt arrive 'till after the 24th but it came ON the 24th
its so cool
well it said hil was born in houston but she wuz born in la moved to tx and then back 2 la when she became famous.

on the r u a duff buff quiz i got all 40 of them right!wahoo! ... Read more

Book Description

Folktales on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted by award-winning children's author Aaron Shepard from his own folktale retellings. A wide variety of countries and cultures is represented, including Native America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and China. The scripts may be freely copied, shared, and performed for educational, noncommercial purposes. While aiming mostly at ages 8 to 15, the collection features a full range of reading levels.

The scripts in this collection are "The Adventures of Mouse Deer" (Indonesia, Malaysia), "The Calabash Kids" (Tanzania), "The Hidden One" (Native America), "The Boy Who Wanted the Willies" (Europe), "The Princess Mouse" (Finland), "The Legend of Slappy Hooper" (U.S.), "The Gifts of Wali Dad" (India, Pakistan), "The Baker's Dozen" (U.S.), "Master Maid" (Norway), "The Magic Brocade" (China), "Forty Fortunes" (Iran), "Master Man" (Nigeria), "Savitri" (India), "The Enchanted Storks" (Iraq), "The Crystal Heart" (Vietnam), and "The Sea King's Daughter" (Russia). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superb resource for schools
Compiled and written by author and actor Aaron Shepard, Folktales On Stage: Scripts For Reader's Theater collects theater scripts designed for young readers and adapted from the folktale retellings. Each of Shepard's script is quite brief (only a few pages in length), and intended for aspiring young actors ages 8 to 15 and appropriate for a range of reading levels. All of the scripts comprising Folktales On Stage may be freely copied, shared, and performed for educational and/or non-commercial purposes. A superb resource for schools, libraries, and youth-friendly community theater organizations, Folktales On Stage is a welcome and highly recommended addition to school and community theater collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Designed to help teachers and group leaders create dynamic and supportive play environments, this book features completely different games than the first one. These improvisational, noncompetitive games encourage involvement and cooperation — the participants gain as much as they contribute. By expressing themselves physically and emotionally and by exploring a range of possibilities, players gain self-confidence and a greater awareness of the feelings and experiences of others. 39 black-and-white illustrations are included. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

great theatre resource, plays fun just to read too
Coleman A. Jennings was a professor of mine at the University of Texas at Austin, and this collection was a required textbook for his class. Instead of selling back the book when the semester was over, I kept it, because the plays are such good ones. As the Booklist review says, the anthology includes original plays as well as adaptations of well-known folk and fairy tales.

Quite the multicultural collection, many countries and cultures are represented: Cajun, Native American, African, Jewish, Eskimo, Southern Plantation, Russian, Central American, Japanese, and Scottish.

The plays and authors included are: 1. Charlotte's Web - Joseph Robinette 2. The Arkansaw [sic] Bear - Aurand Harris 3. Really Rosie - Maurice Sendak 4. The Secret Garden - Pam Sterling 5. Wiley and the Hairy Man - Suzan Zeder 6. According to Coyote - John Kauffman 7. The Mischief Makers - Lowell Swortzell 8. The Wise Men of Chelm - Sandra F. Asher 9. Crow & Weasel - Jim Leonard 10. The Ice Wolf - Joanna H. Kraus 11. Home on the Mornin' Train - Kim Hines 12. The Falcon - Greg Palmer 13. The Man-Child - Arnold Rabin 14. Hush: An Interview with America - James Still 15. Bocón - Lisa Loomer 16. The Crane Wife - Barbara Carlisle 17. Jungalbook [sic] - Edward Mast 18. A Thousand Cranes - Kathryn S. Miller 19. The Yellow Boat - David Saar 20. Selkie - Laurie Brooks Gollobin

Great resource for theatre, also entertaining to read!
Coleman A. Jennings was a professor of mine at the University of Texas at Austin, and this collection was a required textbook for his class. Instead of selling back the book when the semester was over, I kept it, because the plays are such good ones. As the Booklist review says, the anthology includes original plays as well as adaptations of well-known folk and fairy tales.

Quite the multicultural collection, many countries and cultures are represented: Cajun, Native American, African, Jewish, Eskimo, African American, Russian, Central American, Japanese, Scottish, and more!

The plays and authors included are:

1. Charlotte's Web - Joseph Robinette 2. The Arkansaw [sic] Bear - Aurand Harris 3. Really Rosie - Maurice Sendak 4. The Secret Garden - Pam Sterling 5. Wiley and the Hairy Man - Suzan Zeder 6. According to Coyote - John Kauffman 7. The Mischief Makers - Lowell Swortzell 8. The Wise Men of Chelm - Sandra F. Asher 9. Crow & Weasel - Jim Leonard

10. The Ice Wolf - Joanna H. Kraus 11. Home on the Mornin' Train - Kim Hines 12. The Falcon - Greg Palmer 13. The Man-Child - Arnold Rabin 14. Hush: An Interview with America - James Still 15. Bocón - Lisa Loomer 16. The Crane Wife - Barbara Carlisle 17. Jungalbook [sic] - Edward Mast 18. A Thousand Cranes - Kathryn S. Miller 19. The Yellow Boat - David Saar 20. Selkie - Laurie Brooks Gollobin

Pretty Good
This book has many different and interesting plays for kids of all ages. Though, for most of them you need a lot of people, they are still pretty good. Thats why I give it 4 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

"It is almost Friday night. Outside, the dark is getting darker," and here and there around the city ninety-two men and thirteen women are getting dressed to go to work. First they bathe and put on their underwear. Then they don special black-and-white apparel. Then when the one hundred and five people are completely ready, each takes a musical instrument and travels to midtown. There, at 8:30 tonight, they will work together: playing.

In these pages Karla Kuskin and Marc Simont combine their talents to give us a delightful and unusual inside view of one way an orchestra prepares.

Nominee, 1983 American Book Award
Notable Children's Books of 1983 (ALA)
1983 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1982 (NYT)
A Reading Rainbow Selection
1983 Teachers' Choices (NCTE)
Children's Books of 1982 (Library of Congress)

Reviews (11)

The Philharmonic Gets Dressed
I am a music teacher and I was purchasing books for my classroom. I was very disappointed with my purchase. The illustrations would not be appropriate to show in any classroom without causing quite a few laughs.
I think I could share the book with my own children , but would not recommend this for any teachers out there.

Inspired description of the hidden world behind work
My son began to show an early interest in music as a baby, and we've been delighted at the wonderful storybooks about music. This one focuses on how the musicians prepare for their evening at work. The illustrations are charming and full of the personality of each individual musician depicted. This book does a wonderful job of showing that the "show" is not the only thing, and that many hours of preparation go into getting ready for work! I highly recommend this book for children who already love music, for teachers of music who want to show that there is an opportunity for people to "play" for work, or for professional musicians who have heard, "What do you do for a living?" one too many times.

Friday night fun.
This is a terrific book for adults and children that follows the ritual of a number of people who are getting ready in different ways to do one thing together. To make music.

I love the quiet humour and the little details in the illustrations.
I had a copy of the book as a child and loved to look over it and observe something so different from my own experiences of being a second grader in a small town.
The book just radiated glamour to me and still does.

This book is equally sophisticated and sweet.

The Title Says It All
This is a great book for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning to put on their clothes. It is not a book on music, but on dressing, just as the title states. My son enjoys looking at the different ways people shower and put on their clothes and comparing how he bathes and puts on his clothes.

surprisingly good
I am a music lover not a musician, so some years ago, when I thought of buying "The Philharmonic Gets Dressed" for my kid who was starting music lessons, I passed it over, thinking it was not about music.

Guess what? I was so wrong. My offspring, now a teen who has been in an advanced orchestra for years, went out bought it for self. Absolutely loves it. "This book rocks, mom, why didn't you buy it for me? The picture at the end says all there is to say about makig beautiful music." ... Read more