McDonald's Happy Meal Toys in the U.S.A. (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Prices)

McDonald's Happy Meal Toys in the U.S.A. (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Prices)
Average customer rating:

This book is a MUST-HAVE!!!!!

Best guide for Happy Meal toy collectors!

McDonald's Happy Meal Toys in the U.S.A. (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Prices)
Terry Losonsky , and Joyce Losonsky
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Manufacturing | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

McDonalds Collectibles: Identification & Values (Mcdonalds Collectibles)

McDonald Happy Meal Toys from the Nineties: With Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

McDonald's Collectibles: Identification and Value Guide (McDonald's Collectibles: Identification & Values)

Tomarts Price Guide to McDonalds Happy Meal Collectibles

ASIN: 0887408532

Book Description

Welcome to the world of McDonald's Happy Meal*r collectibles. These two books(USA and Worldwide)present a thorough list and complete Price Guide for the thousands of toys and collectibles distributed with Happy Meal*r boxes and bags. Together, they are the most authoritative references. Thousands of all-color photographs show the toys, boxes, bags, advertising materials, buttons, pins, and variations given out both in the United States (one book) and in all the other countries around the world(another book). The authors have established a definitive numbering system to identify each and every item distributed with an alphabetical/numerical listing, and a cross-reference superseding numbering systems in other books. This set of books gives a time line of McDonald's Corporation history, check-off boxes to help you organize your collection, and the catalog of the items distributed with a Happy Meal*r in the USA and worldwide. Read along and enjoy the fun!

Customer Reviews:

This book is a MUST-HAVE!!!!!.......1997-10-27

Great book, very complete and convienen. It has a price guide and check-off boxes to help you to keep better track of you collection. I will not ever begin to estimate the number of photo's..There is easily 1000's

Best guide for Happy Meal toy collectors!.......1997-08-27

I consider this to be the McDonald's collector's premier guide. Full-color photos show you exactly what you're looking for. Variations are also listed, and usually shown, so you'll know to look for that horse with a green base and without! Translites, buttons, and all the other items associated with a promo are listed with values. Although this book only goes through early 1995, you can order supplements by writing to the author (address included in the book). If you're serious about collecting (or selling) McD's Happy Meal toys, you must have this book

Average customer rating:

Good suggestions
Great Lunch Box Ideas
Quick, easy and healthy lunches for kids
Parents receive new ways to keep their child's lunchbox healthy
www.valderbeebeshow.com

The Healthy Lunchbox
Marie McClendon , and Cristy Shauck
Manufacturer: American Diabetes Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Brown Bag Success: Making Healthy Lunches Your Kids Won't Trade
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The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids Favorite Meals

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 1580402402

Book Description

Dozens of easy menus and tips to help you give your children healthy lunch-on-the-go alternatives

This upbeat guide is full of healthy alternatives to junk food–laden lunches. Drawing on her years of experience as both an educator and a mother, Marie McLendon has created a book loaded with recipes, menus, tips, and suggestions. This resource rescues you from the mundane and stressful task of figuring out how to pack a healthy lunch that your kids will actually eat.

Customer Reviews:

Good suggestions.......2007-09-15

This book has a wide range of useful information. I was looking for creative ideas to make taking lunch more fun, and this book was full of them. I also liked that it didn't rely on foods some kids are allergic or intolerant to.

Great Lunch Box Ideas.......2007-08-25

This book was great in that it helped me to think outside the box for packing my son's lunches for school. It doesn't have to be a sandwich, carrots & fruit. My son is a very picky eater and now I feel like I have a good amount of options to make for some variety. I also found how to better involve him, which I'm hoping will increase the odds he will eat what is packed. Some of the recipes in the back were great, but I'm not too sure yet about others. I won't knock'em till I try them though. The book was a very easy and enjoyable read and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Quick, easy and healthy lunches for kids.......2006-06-09

The Healthy Lunchbox provides a solid basis for parents to provide their children with healthy lunches that pack up quickly and easily.

The book is divided into four parts: Part One, "Get Ready!", outlines the nutrional needs of kids; Part Two, "Get Set!", helps parents with the logistics of packing lunches (how to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, menu suggestions, ideas on how to get your children to eat what you pack, not trade it away, alternatives to junk food, etc.); Part Three, "Go!", where all the recipes are housed; and Part Four, "More Food for Thought," where the authors give parents further resources.

I read the first two parts (after looking at all the recipes!) and the information was solid and written in a conversational tone. My reason for buying the book, of course, was the recipes and I was not disappointed. There was a wide variety of foods (from your standard english muffin pizza to japanese style california rolls) presented under three headings: Sandwiches, Salads, Soups, Casseroles, and Other Main Dishes; Fruit and Veggie Side Dishes and Snacks; and Snacks and Desserts. As promised, the recipes are quick and easy, and each has its own nutrional index covering calories, total fat (further broken down into saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and monunsaturated fat), cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates (further broken down into dietary fiber and sugars), protein, and exchanges. Serving size, total servings, prep time and cook time are also included. Indeed, this book is very comprehensive.

Additionally, the recipes in this book can appeal to adults and children alike, so that weekend lunches and adult lunchboxes can benefit, too. My particular favorite is the Turkey Lurkey Jerky - it's easy (although time-intensive) and tasty and now I can make my husband's favorite snack without any preservatives or other nasties. In fact, the first batch I made was eaten the same day (much to my chagrin)! This recipe alone was worth the cost of the book to me!

Parents receive new ways to keep their child's lunchbox healthy .......2006-04-04

Fast foods are a part of today's modern busy world - but they are leading to obesity and diabetes in kids and adults alike. Still, they serve their purpose in being fast - can healthier foods compete? Parents receive new ways to keep their child's lunchbox healthy in The Healthy Lunchbox: How To Plan, Prepare & Pack Stress-Free Meals Kids Will Love. Work with new ideas and modify old favorites with chapters that also involve kids in the process, from a food interview to supermarket selections. The second section provides recipes for creating healthy lunches and snacks, including special diet accommodations. Exchange and nutrition info for all recipes completes this planner.

www.valderbeebeshow.com.......2006-03-05

The Healthy Lunchbox shares how to plan, prepare & pack stress-free meals kids will love. An innovative guide for jazzing up lunch from home with nutritious and healthy food. McClendon and Shauck, tackle an age old problem; [getting kids to eat lunch from home] with creative, healthy and good tasting solutions to the challenge.
The Healthy Lunchbox was written under the American Diabetes Association guidelines, and surpasses traditional inspiration for providing healthy lunch from home for our children's vitality, health and nutritional needs.
Delicious ideas for children and adult lunch boxes.

The Brown Bag Lunch Cookbook (Cookbooks)

Average customer rating:

too fancy!
Ok Book - Not for Busy People
totally loving it
Simple Recipes Practical Advice

The Brown Bag Lunch Cookbook (Cookbooks)
Miriam Jacobs
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Brunch & Tea | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Healthy Lunchbox
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The School Lunchbox Cookbook (Cookbooks)

ASIN: 0762727586

Book Description

This is the cookbook for working people looking for a lunchtime alternative to the snack machine or the fast food down the street. These are interesting and satisfying recipes for good lunches that promote afternoon energy and won't put on unwanted pounds. More than a hundred great choices for healthy lunches in today's fast-paced work environment.

Customer Reviews:

too fancy!.......2007-03-17

some good recipes, however, I was looking for more basic/quick lunch ideas for my kids. This book is aimed more towards adults than kids, and while the recipes seem good, they are a little more involved and time consuming than I was looking for.

Ok Book - Not for Busy People.......2006-10-18

Many of the recipes take too long for us busy working types. Muffin recipes? If I had time to make my own muffins, I would have time to pack more than a brown bag lunch. On the plus side, these would be nice dishes to try on the weekend.

totally loving it.......2006-04-11

These recipes are great for any meal, but are targeted for making great lunches, unlike lots of recipes. And they're healthy and low-cost, unlike lots of recipes. And the book contains lots of good reading material in addition to the recipes. I consider this book a real gem.

Simple Recipes Practical Advice.......2004-03-09

I just got this book and ended up reading it cover to cover which I typically don't do for a cookbook! It just has so many good sounding, healthy looking, easy prep recipes for my family. She uses whole wheat flour and trys to cut down on white sugar but does not use ingredients that are hard to find.
My three little boys loved the honey mustard chicken and it was so easy that my husband who doesn't venture beyond making pb&j or cereal made it. Today I am having the leftovers with sprouts and hummus in pita. I think this is a good book for busy people interested in eating healthier not just at lunch but all the time. There are good ideas on how to recycling the odd amounts of leftover veggies and rice or pasta from dinner into great lunches.

McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - Around the World (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Prices)

Average customer rating:

Disappointed with inaccuracies re NZ / AUS toys
Expand your collection with non-US toys!
A great book.

McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - Around the World (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Prices)
Terry Losonsky , and Joyce Losonsky
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0887408354

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed with inaccuracies re NZ / AUS toys.......1997-12-29

I am a NZ collector and have kept records for last 5 1/2 years which do not agree with descriptions, dates and other catalog info published in this book. Having written to Author with correction list, like a few others have also done, I was disappointed with the total nil-response. Many NZ collectors are still trying to find toys that were never released here, though the book says otherwise. Pictures etc still helpful for reference regarding some countries.

Expand your collection with non-US toys!.......1997-11-23

You may have never thought you'd find a "foreign" McD's toy at a garage sale in Kansas, but it happens! Sometimes European toys are used as fill-ins here in the US, or someone may have taken a vacation and eaten at McD's! The foreign toys are very exciting and even if they parallel a promo in the US (such as Disney's "Aladdin"), they aren't always the same toys. Full-color photos let you know exactly what you have and what you need to finish that set.

A great book........1997-07-07

This book includes lots and lots of pictures of Happy Meal Toys issued around the World. The ckeck-off boxes make it very easy to organize and keep track of your collection. It is also very useful in finding out which toys were issued and when

Average customer rating:

Fine if all you want is pictures.
Average Book
A Super Lunch Box and Thermos Collectibles Guide Book
Overwhelming Collection!
Mindblowing Collection! Best Guide Of It's Kind!

Lunch Boxes, Metal & Thermoses
Larry Aikins
Manufacturer: L W Publishing & Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Metal Lunch Boxes
Lunch Boxes, Vinyl & Plastic
Collector's Guide to Lunchboxes: Metal, Vinyl, Plastic: Identification & Values
Lunchbox: Inside and Out

ASIN: 0895380072

Customer Reviews:

Fine if all you want is pictures........2003-02-13

The amateurish publishing quality is distracting. The pictures are handy, as both sides of the box & thermos are usually shown. But if you want ANY sense of history, facts, or color...anything besides arbitrary price schemes...you should look elsewhere. ...

Average Book.......2001-04-26

This book was not helpful to me at all, theer are definitely better lunchbox books out there. Don't waste your money on this one.

A Super Lunch Box and Thermos Collectibles Guide Book.......2000-06-01

This 218 page, 5 x 8" softbound book is ideal for taking with you when you shop for these collectibles. It's packed with more than 500 full color, sharp pictures of every type of lunch box and thermos imagineable. Great photos ! There's not too much informative copy included, but there's great depth of coverage. At the back of the book there's an Index, Price Guide, and Inventory section that is very useful. A Must Have for lunch box collectors.

Overwhelming Collection!.......2000-03-11

Believe me, once you start looking at this book, you just can't put it down! I never knew they made so many metal lunchboxes throughout the years. Oh, I had a few when I was a kid in the late 50s and I'll always remember my mom not letting me have the matching optional thermos. She was so afraid I would be careless and drop it, breaking the fragile glass liner. I was a responsible 9 yr old after all. I always envied a kid who had a Roy Rogers dome chuckwagon lunchbox. That was so cool! Even when the lunchbox was empty, somehow it retained the odor of all the peanut butter and jam sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, that I carried in it every day. And the metallic sounds in the cafeteria of all the lunchboxes being opened and after, being latched up again. This book is bound to have the box you had as a kid so I recommend it not only for nostalgic reasons, but as an invaluable source and guide for the lunchbox collector.

Mindblowing Collection! Best Guide Of It's Kind!.......2000-03-10

Even if you don't collect old, vintage lunchboxes (I don't), once you pick up this book, well, you can't put it down. I never realized just how many lunchboxes were produced over the years. Just looking at the boxes reminds me of when I was a kid in the late 50s and my mother would never buy the optional matching Thermos. No, she was afraid I would eventually drop it and break the glass liner. Still, I did have a few metal lunchboxes throughout my early school years. Although I don't recall the litho, I can never forget the smell of peanut butter and jam sandwiches wrapped in wax paper when I opened up my box. I swear the smell permeated the metal giving it a permanent odor! And the sound at lunchtime of all the lunchboxes in the cafeteria being unlatched and flipped opened and later snapped shut. If only I had kept mine. If only!

The Vegetarian Lunchbasket: Over 225 Easy, Low-Fat, Nutritious Recipes for the Quality-Conscious Family on the Go

Average customer rating:

Good cookbook
There are better books out there
Not what I hoped for . . .
1001 Ways to Eat Tofu!
Convenient time saving recipes

The Vegetarian Lunchbasket: Over 225 Easy, Low-Fat, Nutritious Recipes for the Quality-Conscious Family on the Go
Linda Haynes
Manufacturer: New World Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Low Fat | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 157731087X

Book Description

It's hard to plan healthy meals when life is so hectic. The author, a mother of three vegetarian kids, offers a selection of breads, spreads, soups, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts that are healthy, delicious, easy to make, and perfect for eating on the run.

Customer Reviews:

Good cookbook.......2007-08-14

I love cookbooks. This is a good one for helping plan great vegetarian lunches.

Heather mama of 5

There are better books out there.......2005-12-29

I received this book as a Christmas gift this year because it was on my list and, based on the online reviews, it looked as if it would be just what I was looking for.

I am used to cooking with "exotic" ingredients such as umboshi plum paste, nutritional yeast, agar agar, and miso but there were ingredients in this book I would not go out of my way to buy given the meager amounts in the recipes.
I am speaking about hing, which according to the author is so smelly she keeps it in the garage. I haven't seen a recipe yet in this book that called for more than 1/4 teaspoon of the stuff. If she had offered a substitute, I wouldn't have been so turned off. There were also the pickled nasturtium buds (she did mention capers as a substitute) and dried tofu skins, which can be hard to find.

There is one recipe in the book for "Soy puree" except instead of soybeans, she has chickpeas listed. Chickpeas are NOT soy.

I'm a pretty seasoned cook (pun intended) and I really wanted to like this book but alot of the recipes just didn't sound very appetizing. For example, she gives you her recipe for one of her favorite soups: Kale and Bean Curd. Its nothing more than water, miso and kale. No depth of flavor, no aromatics, no complexity- just boring.

I think that this is a book for the unsophisticated vegetarian palate. I believe that if you enjoy more complex flavors and consider yourself a gourmet or a foodie you will be highly disappointed.

I think Joanne Stepaniak, Paulette Mitchell, Mollie Katzen and Deborah Madison do a much better job.

Not what I hoped for . . ........2005-05-08

Let me first make clear - I am not a vegetarian. Why did I think this book would be helpful? It looked like it would have some fun recipes in it and I rarely eat meat at home so I didn't think it would make that big of a difference. But a lot of the recipes call for ingredients that I would have to search for and that I suspect would be more expensive than I can currently afford. I am sure to other vegetarians these recipes - which do look very creative and (mostly) appetizing - would be well worth it. But I need to take lunch to work because I am trying to save money and was looking for nutritious ways to incorporate more veggies into my diet at the same time. Plus, I have to admit that I am a little scared to try tofu and haven't actually cooked cabbage myself and one or the other was in most dishes. I am sure this wouldn't be a problem for most people and hope that others do get the book but I was grateful that I checked it out of the library first as I was really excited about it before I got it. I just wanted to let anyone else who might be foolish like me and think this was a general-lunch-cookbook-that-just-didn't-include-meat-dishes know - not so much.

1001 Ways to Eat Tofu!.......2001-01-12

I've been a vegetarian for over nine years, but this book has given me LOTS of new ideas- including foods my 15-month old daughter likes. I really like how the recipes are unconventional- I had run out of ideas for eating tofu, but this book has encouraged me to eat it more regularly... Also- if you are into the Zone Diet, this book has many recipes that are fairly compatible (at least low in unfavorable carbohydrates)

Convenient time saving recipes.......2001-01-11

I really like "the Vegetarian Lunchbasket" because it is full of easy to make recipes that one can afford with even extremely limited funds. Boston Brown Bread was fun to make, and absolutely delicious. There are many bread recipes and ideas of how to make the bread appealing to children utilizing ingenuity. My favorite part of this book however is the Chapter 2: Fillings and Spreads. I find myself frequently eating cheese sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner and this book is helping me branch out. Peanut-Yeast Spread is pretty tasty, as is Tofu Salad. I look forward to trying the others like Tofu-nut spread, Sesame-Avocado Spread-and Vegnut Spread. There are many other spreads. I also like the fact that these recipes don't make a huge amount. It is perfect for creating meals for one person. Also, there are good recipes for meatless gravies in here, like Nut gravy, and Dal Gravy to name a few. It's a great resource.

Average customer rating:

Arthur's Back to School Day

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0064442454

Book Description

Brrr ... ing!
There's the school bell!
It's the first day back at school for Arthur and Violet and all of their friends. Time for riding the school bus, going to class, and best of all, eating snacks and playing games at recess.

But this year the first day is full of surprises. The bus ride to school is an unexpected adventure, and Arthur's friend, Norman, almost loses his lunch box. Just when things settle down, Arthur finds his snack has disappeared from his lunch box. What will happen next on this exciting first day of school?

Beginning readers heading back to school will enjoy the humor in Lillian Hoban's tenth I Can Read Book about these much loved characters.

Curse of the Holy Pail, The: An Odelia Grey Mystery (Odelia Grey Mysteries)
Average customer rating:

Great Series!!

A fast paced mystery mixed with humorous romance

Lots of characters, action, and plot twists. It's got Zing!

Best opening paragraph I've read in a long time!

Odelia Grey is a Big Beautiful Winner!

Curse of the Holy Pail, The: An Odelia Grey Mystery (Odelia Grey Mysteries)
Sue Ann Jaffarian
Manufacturer: MIDNIGHT INK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 073870864X

Book Description

Is the Holy Pail cursed? Every owner of the vintage Chappy Wheeler lunchboxa prototype based on the 1940s TV western has died. And now Sterling Price, business tycoon and a client of Odelia Greys law firm, has been fatally poisoned. Is it a coincidence that Prices one-of-a-kind lunch pailworth over thirty grandhas disappeared at the same time? Treading cautiously since a recent run-in with a bullet, Odelia takes small bites of this juicy, calorie-free mysteryand is soon ravenous for more! Her research reveals a sixty-year-old unsolved murder and Prices gold-digging ex-fiancée with two married men wrapped around her breasts . . . uh, finger. Mix in a surprise marriage proposal that sends an uncertain Odelia into chocolate sedation, and youve got an unruly recipe for delicious disaster.

Customer Reviews:

Great Series!!.......2007-09-14

I am so happy to find another mystery writer doing a series. I just love Odelia!!

A fast paced mystery mixed with humorous romance.......2007-06-28

Reviewed by Lynn O'Connell for Reader Views (6/07)

Who in the world would kill in order to steal a lunchbox? Savvy, good-natured plump paralegal and amateur detective Odelia Grey has a long list of suspects in this second book in the "Odelia Grey Mystery" series. After all, the lunch box is reported to be worth in the range of $30,000.

The story begins early one morning as Odelia heads to the office of one the firm's clients to pick up some paperwork. While there, client Sterling Price shows her his prized lunchbox collection. Then, before sunset that same day, Price is dead and the most valuable lunchbox in the collection is missing! According to the police, Price died from poisoning which the killer had placed in his office coffee. Who could have done it? -- Price's secretary, his recently dumped fiancée, his son or son-in-law (both of whom are sleeping with Price's ex-fiancée), his conniving daughter - or simply an avid lunchbox collector? Odelia must do something; after all, the police think she might have killed Price, while others believe she has the missing one-of-a-kind lunchbox.

Over the next 350 pages, Odelia has various adventures and mis-adventures as she endeavors to solve the mystery and recover the Holy Pail. At one point, she stows herself in a closet of the belated Price to watch his relatives in secret. At another, she heads off to Hollywood's Paramount Ranch to meet one of the FBI's most-wanted criminals.

Besides the mystery, Jaffarian focuses on Odelia's relationship with her sexy, wheel-chair bound boyfriend, Greg. Greg proposes to Odelia early on in the book, and readers follow Odelia's thought process throughout the book as she tries to make her decision on the marriage proposal.

Humor is also added by the presence of Odelia's friends and work colleagues. The fact that the book is written in first-person makes it even funnier as readers share in Odelia's perceptions on life. One highlight is Mike Steele, Odelia's despised boss, who ends up in the hospital when attacked at the law office by thugs searching Odelia's office for the missing lunchbox. Then, there's Zee, Odelia's best friend and co-founder with Odelia of their plus-size support group. And, of course, there is cat Seamus and dog Wainwright who love to share in snacks of ice cream and Girl Scout mint cookies with Odelia.

Odelia is both likable and believable as the protagonist of this off-the-wall mystery. Keep in mind that author Sue Ann Jaffarian is a plus-size paralegal herself. It's nice to see a down-to-earth leading role rather than the traditional Nancy Drew types that are so typical.

Lots of characters, action, and plot twists. It's got Zing!.......2007-04-10

In The Curse of the Holy Pail, Jaffarian has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of a real person and turning that spark into Odelia Grey. Odelia is a 47 year old paralegal at a Los Angeles law firm with an obnoxious boss, a great boyfriend, and six boxes of Thin Mints in the freezer. Her boss, Mike Steele, calls early one morning before work and asks her to go to a client's office on her way to work to notarize some papers.

When she arrives at the client's office, she discovers he is a collector of lunch boxes, which are proudly displayed in his office. The client shows her the prize of his collection - The Holy Pail - a one-of-a-kind lunch box that is much sought after by collectors. Odelia only hears later that The Holy Pail is cursed when she is informed of the death of her client and the theft of The Holy Pail. As one of the last people to see both the client and the missing lunchbox, Odelia is drawn into the mystery.

While the blurbs on this book say a lot about Odelia being a plus-size detective, her weight isn't the focus of the book but a facet of her character. More importantly, you will find the plot to be pleasingly complicated with lots of characters, action, and plot twists. I found this book very absorbing, both because of the complexity and because the voice of Odelia rang true. A plus-size paralegal herself, Jaffarian is writing what she knows and the truth of it is apparent.

Favorite character? Odelia is great, but her relationship with the heel Steele gives the book zing. Did I guess it? Sort of. Will I read more? Definitely!

Best opening paragraph I've read in a long time!.......2006-12-18

In this second adventure of Odelia Grey, the plus size sleuth is back and better ten ever. From the opening paragraph to the exciting climaz, this novel has it all.
Odelia is sent by her boss, Mike 'the pain' Steele, to notarize papers for millionaire client Sterling Price. While there, she gets the grand tour of Sterling collection of vintage lunchboxes. On display are Zorro, Roy Rogers, Hop-a-Long, and even the type Odelia's mother had made her carry- the hated 'Junior Miss'. Sterling proudly shows her the 'holy pail', the protoype from an old TV western star who was murdered in 1949.
After Odelia tells the other people in her office about the collection, Sterling is murdered and the pail is missing. Detective Frye rules out Odelia as a suspect but many shady characters believe that she has the missing pail. Putting herself in danger, she is determined to find whoever murdered Sterling and recover the lost pail.
Jaffarian has a way of making her characters come alive on the page. She draws each one so realistically that each has their own freshness. Jaffarian is a writer with the skills to create believable characters and plots. There are just enough twist and turns that keeps the story flowing effortlessly.
Just Odelia's visit to her father's family is worth the price of admission. In addition, I must not forget a cookie recipe that even I could follow.
Does Odelia solve the murder of Sterling Price? Why is there a curse on the lunch pail? Does she find the 'holy pail'? What lunch pail did Odelia want as a child? How is Odelia's love life going? All the answers and more lie within "The Curse of the Holy Pail". I enjoyed this soft-boiled mystery series by this extremely talented writer. Midnight Ink publisher has a winning series on their hands.

Odelia Grey is a Big Beautiful Winner!.......2004-05-13

Sue Ann Jaffarian has captured cleverness and wit in this larger-than-life mystery series. This book, The Curse of the Holy Pail, is the second in the fast-paced and funny series featuring plus-sized Odelia Grey. Move over, Stephanie Plum, Odelia can eat your lunch! Odelia Grey is a Big Beautiful Woman who works as a paralegal and solves twisty mysteries with a lotta style. Through the well-constructed plot involving family, boss, boyfriend, old TV shows and a rare and collectible lunch box with a now-dead owner, Odelia navigates the sparkling waters of murder and comic mayhem in full sail. She will keep you on the funny edge of mystery and wanting more when it's solved. I have it on very good authority that the third Odelia Grey is in progress, and I can't wait for it. Way to go, Sue Ann Jaffarian!

Average customer rating:

Essays on the root of Japanese Aesthetic Thought
Contrived text, poor lay-out & printing, 2nd-rate photos

The Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox
Kenji Ekuan
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Aesthetics | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0262050552

Amazon.com

Beginning with the Japanese lunchbox, Kenji Ekuan, Japan's foremost industrial designer, launches into a book-length meditation on "the source of the Japanese style of making things." For anyone interested in design as a culmination of all things cultural, or design as a moral force in the service of beauty and efficiency, this lovely book is indispensable. It will set every aesthetic synapse snapping and provide enough food for thought to nourish the reader for weeks, if not years.

The lunchbox, or makunouchi, is a closed, compartmented, lacquered or wooden box containing small, beautifully arranged foods. As the mouthwatering pictures in the book amply demonstrate, everything about the box and its contents is considered from the standpoint of visual pleasure. Ekuan gives the long history of the makunouchi as an everyday object, first introduced in the Edo period for a light meal eaten at the opera during intermission. He traces the evolution of the boxes' construction and analyzes the contents--tidbits "from mountain and sea." Variety is key, for ideally there is something--in the lunchbox and in this book--to satisfy every palate, aesthetic or otherwise.

Book Description

The Makunouchi Bento, or traditional Japanese lunchbox, is a highly lacquered wooden box divided into quadrants, each of which contains different delicacies. It is also one of the most familiar images of Japan's domestic environment. When presented to the diner, the Japanese lunchbox seems straightforward enough; each of four food portions resides in its own compartment, apparently obeying a strict lunchbox geometry. So far, just food. But Kenji Ekuan reveals that a much deeper reading is possible, one that sees the lunchbox as nothing less than a key to an understanding of Japanese civilization, the spirit of form, and the aesthetic ideal in which the many are reduced to one.

Ekuan reads the Japanese lunchbox as both object and metaphor. It is one of this book's many charms that he is able to see it as both simultaneously. He compares the visual pleasures of the Zen lunchbox to an aerial view of the Japanese archipelago; he invites us to savor its quadripartite structure as we savor the four seasons. In so doing, he unlocks the secrets of ancient Japanese rituals, celebrates the aesthetics of Japanese design, explores the contours of Japanese landscapes and technology, and delineates the forty-eight rules of the etiquette of Japanese form.

With an agility more characteristic of poetry than of design criticism, he connects everything from food, television, motorcycles, package tours, and department stores to landscape, ecology, computers, and radios, all the while keeping his eye on his subject. In this book of magical transformations, nothing is what it first appears, but everything is deepened by "lunchbox theory." Consider the influence of the lunchbox on TV viewing, for example: chopsticks are used to stroll through a meal, just as remote control devices are used to browse TV channels. This book reveals a world of secret connections between its covers, in the spirit of the lunchbox itself.

Customer Reviews:

Essays on the root of Japanese Aesthetic Thought.......2001-08-06

Kenji Ekuan's book suffers from a title which inadequately expresses its content. He uses a brief examination of the lunchbox--its contents, history, and organizing principles--to ask what the larger aesthetic principles are of a society which holds this item as an ideal. Among the topics he examines are art, urban planning, and (foremost) industrial design. Though many of his design examples are taken from the late 70s and early 80s, they reveal how little the guiding aesthetic principles have changed (indeed, when it comes to stereo design, today it's hard to imagine [or buy] a form not influenced by lunchbox stacking aesthetics.)

It is a difficult read, and I agree with a previous reviewer that a more light-hearted treatment of the lunchbox and food culture alone would be an excellent study. But that's not the intention of this book (though I have seen it shelved in the cooking section of some bookstores). What that reviewer considers a flaw--the 4x4 photographs in a 10x10 page--I view as an aesthetic judgement in line with the lunchbox principle of understatement. Witness the photos of single flower arrangment in the book (e.g., p. 174). A word of caution: I returned my paperback copy because the binding was flimsy and pages seemed ready to fall out within hours of buying it. I exchanged it for the hardcover and have had no problems, nor have I generally had a problem with MIT press books.

Contrived text, poor lay-out & printing, 2nd-rate photos.......1998-12-27

I bought this book expecting an insightful and perhaps somewhat light-hearted introduction into Japanese esthetics, imagnative photography and outstanding book design. What a disappointment! Here the venerable Japanese lunchbox becomes the universal principle, the general compass, the ultimate paradigm for EVERYTHING-not just food and its presentation and esthetics but also commerce and technology, society, life style, you name it. Needless to say much of this is pretty contrived; the book reads as if it had been authored for distribution by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. Most of the photography is either amateurish or archival. The lay-out looks stingy (single photographs as small as 4 x 4 " on 10 x 10" pages). The white on black printing is about as crisp and clear as if the pages had been faxed a couple of times.

Love Notes In Lunchboxes: And Other Ideas To Color Your Child's Day

Average customer rating:

What a Delightful Book!
Make your kids' lunches extra special!
Creative and Inspiring
A tasty treat of a book
A delightful book

Love Notes In Lunchboxes: And Other Ideas To Color Your Child's Day
Linda J. Gilden
Manufacturer: New Hope Publishers (AL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1563098210

Customer Reviews:

What a Delightful Book!.......2005-09-26

Love Notes in Lunch Boxes, sub-titled "...and other ideas to color your child's day" is bound to lighten your `chore' in making and packing a lunch for the kids. Not to mention the fun the kids will have when they find little notes tucked in between the apple and the peanut-butter and jelly sandwich.

The book has 169 pages of all kinds of tips, hints, tid-bits, stories and vignettes that will bring a smile as you read.

For example, Chapter Two deals with Special Days - birthdays, holidays, silly days, like After a Hard Homework Day. Gilden mentions that 5th grade at their elementary school is a dreaded year. It is a year of transition for the children, with so much to learn, and the homework piles up. So, this little section gives some nice suggestions for inclusion into the lunch box, and a little note example that reads:
"Wish I could have been more help with your math homework last night. We didn't learn it that way in the good old days. Be sure to ask your teacher for a little extra help if you still need it. Remember 1+1+1+1= (Dad+Mom+Sis+you) = our family and it's the perfect answer!"

That's just one small taste of all that is offered. There is another chapter in which the author mentions "Colorful Love Notes and Lunchboxes" For a "Red Lunch" pack the lunchbox with a pizza slice with tomato sauce; radishes; a red Delicious Apple and red licorice stick. An "Orange Lunch" would include a sandwich with American cheese, carrots, cheese curls and orange slices.

The last pages of the book contain templates in different shapes, sizes and designs you can trace or photocopy, cut out, and personalize for your own special notes.

All in all, this book has a lot of good stuff. And, when you get right down to it, you don't need to be confined to just kids. Many husbands take lunches to work, too. Imagine the smile on hubby's face when he finds that special little note just for him.

Love Notes in Lunchboxes. Get your copy today and see how much fun you can have with your kids - and hubby!

Make your kids' lunches extra special!.......2005-08-09

I wish I had thought of putting love notes in my kids' lunch boxes. I got this book for my daughter so my grandchildren can benefit from it. In fact, I think it's a great book to keep on hand for baby shower gifts. It is packed with ideas about how to make lunches special with notes and other ways to make lunchtime special.

Creative and Inspiring.......2005-02-11

What a neat book! In Love Notes, Gilden offers enough lunchbox ideas to keep moms sending notes throughout their child's school years. She includes creative lists, games, coupons, recipes--even reproducible templates for notes. In addition, she gives moms suggestions on other times to send notes (camp, college, etc) and includes fun lunchbox trivia in each chapter. Throughout the book, kids who received notes in their lunches weigh in on the benefits they received.

A tasty treat of a book.......2004-09-23

Treat yourself to a healthy portion of love with Linda Gilden's Love Notes in Lunchboxes. In this fun book, Gilden serves up creative ways to impact the lives of your children and others with lunchbox notes and other methods of encouragement.

Take a bite out of the daily mundane chore of lunchbox preparation by incorporating some of the interesting ideas Gilden suggests. I wanted to shrink my children, now college and high school freshmen, down to kindergarten age and start over implementing the Love Notes menu items. But this book is about much more than food prep. Love Notes in Lunchboxes dishes up ways to bring out the best in others by being an encourager.

So get in the lunch line at the nearest bookstore for your copy of Love Notes in Lunchboxes. Then, during your next lunch hour, savor nuggets of wisdom while digesting scripture truths. You'll be filled by the delicious combination of anecdotes, creative ideas, and practical advice. Partakers won't leave the table hungry. Love Notes is a satisfying read.

A delightful book.......2004-09-05

When I started reading Love Notes In Lunchboxes by Linda Gilden I felt guilty that I never added notes to my kid's lunchboxes when they were in school. I justified my lack of notes by remembering that I had sons. Sons don't respond to gimmicks like love notes, I thought. Then I read about Linda's son and how much he valued those notes. More guilt. Thank goodness I kept reading. By the end of the book I was excited about how I could use love notes with my adult children who are living far from home. I realized that the same concepts that Linda used so wonderfully with her kids are concepts I can use with my sons, husband, mother, and even with my siblings.

Love Notes In Lunchboxes is a delightful book filled with personal stories, notes from kids about how much lunchbox boxes meant to them growing up, tons of great holiday examples, and ideas for every situation imaginable. There are even blank love notes parents can copy and use for their own children.

For those who have kids or grand kids, will have kids, or have other family members you want to encourage, this is a must have book. If you are active in the PTA or any other group of parents please recommend they promote this book. It's usually the simple, free things that make a difference in the lives of our children and this book is an excellent example.

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