Prototype and Scriptaculous in Action

Book Description

Prototype and Scriptaculous are libraries that extend standard Ajax. They make it easier to program Ajax and provide powerful features like drag and drop and animation. In this book, developers learn by playing and see how the libraries work in the real world.

As experience with Ajax increases, developers want the standard Ajax capabilities they repeatedly use to be preprogrammed for them--and that's exactly what Ajax libraries do for them. They reduce the pain of handling cross-browser inconsistencies, they add useful language features, and provide sophisticated functionality. Of these, Prototype is the most popular JavaScript and Ajax framework for low-level user interface features such as animation, drag and drop, and pre-built widgets. Together, they free the developer up to concentrate on building the application. They make a rich user experience easy to achieve.

This book guides the reader through the Prototype and Scriptaculous libraries feature-by-feature. In just 350 pages, readers will find over 100 small working examples to help them explore the libraries. As well, they will develop a web-based image gallery that teacher them how to use Prototype and Scriptaculous in the real-world.

Customer Reviews:

Exactly what I hoped for, and more.......2007-10-11

I'm not even halfway through this book yet and I'm already satisfied with my purchase. I look forward to reading about Scriptaculous, but to me the book is already worth it for (a) the treatment of JavaScript in general and the details on object-oriented JavaScript, JSON, and especially JavaScript prototypes and function closures, (b) Prototype, especially how prototype extends JavaScript itself by modifying various object prototypes, and (c) AJAX, including historical perspective, details and gotchas of AJAX request/response versus traditional GET or POST via browser, and the utilities Prototype offers to ease AJAX communication. Additionally, I know this book will make a great reference for it's coverage of the DOM basics and it's appendices on HTTP basics and traffic. There's even some useful contrasting of different server-side options (PHP versus servlets/JSP, etc.) I don't mean to sound like I'm fawning over this book but it's exactly what I hoped to find after working for the first time with all these technologies on a recent project; I wish I'd had this book during that project.

Top-notch tome.......2007-06-25

Javascript has exploded onto the web development scene in the last few years, and powers much of the web 2.0 and Ajax revolution. Every web developer now needs to know how to do common Ajax tasks. Thankfully, Prototype and Scriptaculous In Action makes it both easy and enjoyable.

This is a comprehensive book. The size (510 pages) was initially intimidating, but Prototype and Scriptaculous In Action is exceedingly well written and a genuine pleasure to read. The thorough and thoughtful organization of the book provides some real structure to the discussion, making complex subjects easily digestible. This is the defacto bible of Prototype and Scriptaculous, and these days I turn to this book more than anything else on my shelf.

The book is divided up into four multi-chapter parts, any of which could stand on it's own as a definitive guide. The chapters are full of useful examples, and there's strong emphasis given to migrating existing sites to Prototype and Scriptaculous, which is a major plus. You could turn to any section of the book and immediately see how to inject some new behavior into your existing application, but if you take the time to read from cover-to-cover you'll be rewarded with some deep understanding of both the libraries and Javascript itself.

I'll summarize the four parts of the book:

Part 1, Getting Started, introduces the Prototype and Scriptaculous libraries, focusing heavily on Prototype and Ajax. There's a lot of information on re-designing an existing site for Ajax. Two full chapters are devoted to Prototype's Ajax features. You can get up and running VERY quickly after glancing through these chapters. There's also a lot of depth, and consideration is given to the pervasive effects Ajax has on architectural issues and the new ways that an application will have to manage HTTP traffic.

Part 2, Scriptaculous Quickly, covers effects, controls and drag-n-drop. This is hands-down the best Scriptaculous documentation currently available, anywhere. The core effects are explored and tweaked, and there's lot of very practical examples demonstrating some of the niftiest stuff, like running effects in parallel versus sequentially. And the drag-and-drop coverage is incredibly clear, making it easy, almost trivial, to implement. The Scriptaculous coverage is indispensable, and you'll return to it again and again if you implement Scriptaculous-enabled pages.

Part 3, Prototype in Depth, explores Prototype's Javascript-oriented features. There's a fantastic chapter on functions contexts, and the discussion of closures is one of the best I've seen. There's a lot of information about Javascript fundamentals, and how Prototype can be used to implement inheritance, address arrays, and manipulate the DOM in the browser.

And finally, Part 4 Advanced Topics, has two unrelated chapters. The first chapter overhauls an example app, giving it a Prototype and Scriptaculous makeover. The last chapter is about integration with Ruby on Rails. Prototype was initially written as the Ajax interface to Rails, so there's some strong integration.

As a long-time enterprise web developer, dealing with Javascript has always been a chore. But now I actually (gasp) look forward to tasks that involve Javascript. I'm a convert, and I have Prototype and Scriptaculous in Action to thank.

Excellent.......2007-05-22

I wrote a longer review that Amazon has apparently lost. Oh well. This is an excellent book, very well written. The authors are the rarest kind of technical author: they can actually construct prose that is pleasant to read, not deadly boring, but which works well as a reference book later. The book's organized thoughtfully--it's certainly much more than just an API reference. There's also quite a lot of general advanced Javascript information here, too.

There's at least one other book on these libraries in production from Pragmatic Programmers. If you're considering that, I strongly suggest downloading the sample chapters of both books and comparing. The Crane book is much more appealing to me (not to mention it's available now, not in six months).

Basic libraries coverage with a good example application........2007-04-19

This book lacked detailed coverage of the programming techniques and advanced topics of prototype and scriptaculous. The authors covered the basics by discussing only the API's of the libraries (more attention was given to scriptaculous API's, even though its usage is obvious and prototype API's are more extensive). With 500 pages and the libraries as the title, I expected details about the inner workings of the API's and discussions about its usages/ applications. Instead, 150 pages were devoted to verbose repetitive coverage of scriptaculous' API, which could easily have fitted into 50 pages at most. ALL of the info on scriptaculous could easily have been read online at its wiki site - the book provided no further insight (ch. 5 is especially useless)! Prototype's coverage was decent, but lacked details on several parts of its API. Although prototype and scriptaculous are tightly integrated with Rails, there was only 1 chapter devoted to its discussion, which served more like an overview than a usage guide. Based on content on the libraries alone, I would give this book 3 stars. However, if you're in need of an example application, then it may deserve 4 stars. This book provides a good example of applying prototype's ajax and scriptaculous web 2.0 techniques to a photo gallery website. It shows the advantages these libraries have over plain javascript and dhtml. The extra 100 pages wasted on scriptaculous would better serve Rails' RJS templates or a more complete/ thorough discussion of prototype. Of course it can be argued that the book is not titled, "Prototype, Scriptaculous, and Rails in Action," but it should be.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful pictorial
"The World of the Polar Bear" is a highly recommended acquisition.
Great book, amazing price
Fab Bears
Beautiful Photos

The World of the Polar Bear

Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1554071550

Book Description

A powerful predator, revealed here by an acclaimed nature photographer.

The polar bear is the largest terrestrial carnivore, uniquely adapted to thrive in the harsh environment of the Far North. In The World of the Polar Bear, renowned nature photographer Norbert Rosing follows the polar bear through each season.

With its thorough and engaging text and spectacular photography, the book provides:

A season-by-season account of the life of the polar bear, including feeding, mating, rearing of cubs and journeying from the ice
An intimate look at the animals that share the polar bear's environment, including seals, arctic foxes, walruses and muskoxen
A section on such northern sky phenomena as sun dogs and the northern lights
Many anecdotes and insights about the polar bear -- at once a loving parent, a fierce predator and a natural jester.

In addition to the 175 truly remarkable color photographs, there are four spectacular gatefolds. The World of the Polar Bear will appeal to any reader interested in natural history, animals, and the Arctic.

Polar bears are seriously threatened by global warming, and this book will attract considerable press attention.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful pictorial.......2007-03-09

This book is beautiful. It is all about Polar Bears up-close and personal. It's a keeper for sure.

"The World of the Polar Bear" is a highly recommended acquisition........2007-02-08

Norbert Rosing's gorgeous full-page polar bear photos capture the world of the Far North like no other, appearing in an oversized presentation to properly display the full-page color photos and polar bear information. Here are seasonal shots accompanied by a lively text melding personal observation and experience with natural history fact. Sure to be a popular browsing choice for any public lending library with patrons interested in bears or wildlife, "The World of the Polar Bear" is a highly recommended acquisition.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Great book, amazing price.......2007-02-08

This is is a beautiful coffee tableThis is a beautiful coffee table book that is under-serviced by its photos online. The quality of the pictures, text and even the manufacturing are excellent. It makes for an amazing gift for anyone who appreciates Polar Bears, Nature or even art books in general.

Fab Bears.......2007-01-10

Anyone who appreciates photography and has a love for wildlife will want to buy this book. I ordered it right after my return from Churchill, Manitoba, where a lot of the pictures were taken. I had seen it while in Churchill at close to $50.00. It is absolutely fabulous, and I am extremely jealous of mine. It just makes me want to go back again and again to see those incredible creatures once more.

Beautiful Photos.......2006-12-28

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wildlife or nature. The photos are amazing and there is just enough information about each picture. I've never seen more breathe taking pictures of polar bears and their habitat.

Average customer rating:

Brian's Back!!
Brians Hunt- Michael Bissey
Brain's Hunt
Brians Hunt
Brian's review

Brian's Hunt
Gary Paulsen
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0553494155
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Amazon.com

The multitudes of Gary Paulsen fans (or more accurately, Brian fans) will be thrilled to find that the author has penned yet another story about Brian Robeson. Although Paulsen once claimed that he would "write no more about Brian," he seems to have been softened by the "staggering amounts of mail from readers" begging for more about the teen who is more at home alone in the wilderness than in the hustle and bustle of city life. In Brian's Hunt, the 16-year-old returns to the remote woods and lakes of Canada, where he encounters a mysteriously injured dog. His experiences two years earlier, after surviving a plane crash and months alone with only a hatchet to protect and provide for himself (Hatchet, Brian's Winter, etc.), have prepared him well to survive now. But can anything prime him for the horror that awaits him on an island campsite where he intends to meet his Cree friends?

This short episode is rife with the kind of gritty--even gruesome--details readers have come to expect from the Newbery Honor author. In an afterword, Paulsen reminds readers that he bases his stories on personal experiences and his extensive knowledge of the wild side of nature.

Confidential to avid fans: an intimation of romance amid all the rugged drama hints that this will not be the last Brian book, either. (Ages 10 to 13) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Millions of readers of Hatchet, The River, Brian’s Winter, and Brian’s Return know that Brian Robeson is at home in the Canadian wilderness. He has stood up to the challenge of surviving alone in the woods. He prefers being on his own in the natural world to civilization.

When Brian finds a dog one night, a dog that is wounded and whimpering, he senses danger. The dog is badly hurt, and as Brian cares for it, he worries about his Cree friends who live north of his camp. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly. With his new companion at his side, and with a terrible, growing sense of unease, he sets out to learn what happened. He sets out on the hunt.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Millions of readers of Hatchet, The River, Brian's Winter, and Brian's Return know that Brian Robeson is at home in the Canadian wilderness. He has stood up to the challenge of surviving alone in the woods. He prefers being on his own in the natural world to civilization.

When Brian finds a dog one night, a dog that is wounded and whimpering, he senses danger. The dog is badly hurt, and as Brian cares for it, he worries about his Cree friends who live north of his camp. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly. With his new companion at his side, and with a terrible, growing sense of unease, he sets out to learn what happened. He sets out on the hunt.

Customer Reviews:

Brian's Back!!.......2007-05-30

Brian's Hunt
By
Gary Paulsen

"He was in his world again. He was back." (pg. 1) Brian was back in the wild, and that is where he felt most at home. T.V., computers, radios - Brian hated technology. Brian was different from most people, and beloved that life should be lived simply. In this fictional novel, Brian travels from his hometown to Arrowhead lake (in Seattle, Washington). School is over, and Brian quickly packs his supplies for his wilderness adventure. Everything is perfect, he's alone and staring into the beautiful night sky as he falls asleep in his canoe. Brian is awakened by the whimpering of a badly injured dog. Brian's perfect trip turns out very bad, as he follows the dog back to where he came from. He finds a campsite with two people murdered. Because Brian is a tracker he quickly realizes that one person (their child) has escaped. Who could have done this? How could the everyday violence invade his world? Brian puts his expert tracking skills to use (and with the help of his new friend - the dog) soon realizes that a bear is responsible for the murders. As Brian confronts the bear, he gets knocked unconscious. When Brian wakes up - he is saved by the very dog that he helped out. Brian understands that you can't do it all alone, sometimes you need some help.
I loved this book, and couldn't wait to begin each chapter. I enjoyed the authors style of writing, it was very descriptive and simple: "He way close in on the lily pads and something moved suddenly in the brush just up the back, rusting through the thick, green foliage, and though it sounded big and made a lot of noise he know it was probable a squirrel or eve a mouse." ( pg. 3)

Brians Hunt- Michael Bissey.......2007-05-25

While reading Brians Hunt my favorite part was when Brian went into the house thing to look for some friends to see if they were there. All he saw was blood smeared all over the counter and bear scratches. Brian also found a friend. He was injured. The place where Brian is at is in the woods. I recommend this book to any one who likes hunting and wildlife. I also recommend this book to any one who likes survival or any other book related to Hatchet. If you want to find out any more read Brians Hunt.

The
End

Brain's Hunt.......2007-04-12

Brain paused. Something made him reach out and take a broadhead out of the quiver and lay it acrossthe bow, even though the moment without paddling cost him his forward motion. He thought, This is silly, I'm being a worrywart, but poistioned the bow close to him just the same. Then dug with the paddle again, pulling hard for the island, the dog whimpering, and growling

Brians Hunt.......2007-01-19

Brian is about 10 years old and because of his last incident with the plane crash he had to survive the dangerous Canadian wilderness for many months in Paulson's first book, Hatchet. Six years later in Brians Hunt, Brian can't stand living in the city anymore. He decides to moves into the wilderness alone with only a couple weapons, including a bow and arrows. Brian even has to kill for his food. Then he decides to go through a river in a canoe to find his friend Susan and her family. When he arrives at the Island, he finds something more devastating then he could imagine.
I recommend this book to people of all ages because it is a really easy book to read. Lots of kids read this book and said it was a good book so it will be a good book for you. It doesn't have a lot of pages, but it is a really great book to read and it is by Gary Paulson.

-Rob Mendez

Brian's review.......2007-01-18

This book was very good. I love the Brian's series. This book was very interesting and a little better than the other books.
In this book Brian is still trying to find his friends' camp. On the way he finds a dog that got attacked by a bear, the dog is now his pet. Brian finds the camp but notices nothing burning or anything moving. The dog started whimpering and growling as they got closer.
This book gets in better once you get into it more. Thats why I think a lot of people will like it. This was one of the best books he has ever written. I hope you will like it as much as I did.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Average customer rating:

Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Sorta Weird
There is hope!
Everyone should have this book
I should like this one, but...

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin Jr.
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0805017585

Amazon.com

Fans of Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? will be delighted to see another title in this lilting call and response series. Much like their earlier picture books, Panda Bear features a string of fine feathered (and furry and scaly) friends watching over each other. In this book, however, all the animals are endangered, from a swinging spider monkey to a strutting macaroni penguin (kids will get a kick out of that name!) to a splashing sea lion. Carle's trademark tissue paper collages will be as familiar--and welcome--as the text ("Whooping Crane, Whooping Crane, what do you see?" "I see a black panther strolling by me."); young readers will quickly get the hang of the rhythm and join right in. The book concludes on a hopeful note, with a dreaming child seeing the ten f! eatured animals "all wild and free--/ that's what I see!" Martin includes a note on endangered species that may spark concern and interest in older readers--our hope for these disappearing creatures. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Thirty-five years after their first groundbreaking collaboration, the creators of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? reunite to address the important topic of animal conservation. A Bald Eagle soars, a Spider Monkey swings, a Macaroni Penguin struts, and a Red Wolf sneaks through Bill Martin Jr's rhythmic text and Eric Carle's vibrant images, and all are watched over by our best hope for the future-a dreaming child.

Customer Reviews:

Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear.......2007-10-03

This book follows the same pattern as the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? but with an exciting new spin -- exotic, endangered animals. It also has a delightful surprise ending that makes it perfect for a bedtime story.

-Sherry North, author, Because You Are My Baby

Sorta Weird.......2007-09-11

My 2-year old twins like this book because they like to see the animals, but I think they'd get more out of it if more mainstream animals were used. I think they're a little thrown by animals like "macaroni penguin" - sounds like food to them. The dreaming child part is weird looking too.

I think it's great to use endangered animals, although my kids aren't exactly as concerned about animal endangerment as I am. It's not a bad book or anything, but honestly, if I had read it in a bookstore, I wouldn't have bought it.

There is hope!.......2007-08-19

My son loves Eric Carle books, and this is our most recent addition to his collection. I just caught on to the fact that all of the animals are endangered, but I think it's so cool that one of them isn't anymore! The bald eagle was recently taken off the endangered species list. I think that gives us (and especially kids) hope that more of those animals can come off that list, and maybe even in their lifetime.

Everyone should have this book.......2007-06-16

In a world of highways, malls, highrises, greed and land excavation, it's good to find a book that dares to dream of thick forests, lush jungles and untouched oceans where wonderful creatures can thrive. This is my favorite of all the "bear" books. It's statement is strong and I can't wait until my 16 month old daughter can recognize it.

I should like this one, but..........2007-03-07

I oughta like it, I want to like it, but it just left me flat. More to the point, it left my kids flat. The two stars I gave this were for the illustrations -- they are really cool, as you'd expect with Eric Carle. Normally, you can't go wrong with Bill Martin, but I guess everybody has their bad days. The language doesn't flow as well as the other bear books, and that makes it a little awkward for reading aloud. We have Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, and both are big favorites with the under-3 set around our house. Panda Bear just doesn't make the grade.

Average customer rating:

Bear necessities
A Fabulous Tale of Compassion

The Wild Girl
Christopher Wormell
Manufacturer: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

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ASIN: 0802853110

Book Description

In the great wide wilderness, a little girl and her dog live alone in a cave high up on the mountainside. They are happy surviving on their own, until one day in the bitter cold of winter, they see bear tracks in the snow that lead right up to their cave ...

Charming illustrations bring life to this sweet story of courage and compassion, written and illustrated by award-winning author and illustrator Chris Wormell.

Customer Reviews:

Bear necessities.......2006-12-12

Chris Wormell books aren't flashy and extravagant. They don't bop you over the head with shiny foil or cartoonish glee or wild dance sequences. As a children's librarian it was with great relief that I discovered that there are as many different kinds of picture books out there as there are works of adult fiction. There is undoubtedly a picture book out there for every kind of child. And let us say that you have a kid that likes the idea of seeing other kids surviving on their own. Maybe they want a Man v. Nature book, but intended for the preschooler set. Robinson Crusoe for toddlers. Pint-sized future "Hatchet" lovers. For such children, Wormell hands us a remarkably satisfying tale of a girl and her dog living in an age that may or may not have yet discovered iron.

Perhaps the book takes place in the past. Perhaps in the far future. Whatever the case, this is the tale of a girl who lives all by herself with her dog. The girl doesn't go to school or wear shoes or have anyone living nearby. And though she and her pup catch fish and pick berries, roots, and bugs for their meals, she's lonely. One day in the snowy winter, the girl and her dog are out collecting firewood when they see tracks that work their way towards their cave. The animal isn't there when they arrive but they arm themselves in case it returns. Return it does. The enormous bear fills the cave entrance but leaves the child and canine almost immediately. It's then that the two realize that they are still not alone. From their little nest at the back of the cave emerges a baby bear cub. Frantically the girl attempts to relocate the mama bear, but must turn for home when she cannot locate her. Fortunately, who should be standing in the cave's entrance than the mother bear. "That winter, the cave high up on the mountainside was the snuggest, warmest place in all the wide wilderness," says the book as all three sleep contentedly together. "But by the spring, they all had fleas."

There's no denying that kids daydream of living in a world without grownups. The girl in this book almost fulfils a kind of ultimate fantasy. She gets to run around all day with her dog doing cool stuff like hunting and making fires. Of course, at the same time she's lonely, and the final image of her tucked snugly within the mama bear's fur (her hair almost one with the animal's thick brown pelt) is a deeply reassuring one. It seems to suggest that the girl has found a mother substitute. Of course, mother bears aren't so acquiescent as to leave their young anywhere near small girls and dogs without a fight. This is hardly a book about real world situations, but the reason why the bear leaves the cave with "strange, sad eyes" in the first place is never adequately explained.

Fortunately, at no point in this book is the art ever static or dull. Though Wormell limits his palette to browns, blue-purples, and the softest cream-colored pages, the images are always moving or filling up their pages with aplomb. When showing the girl going through her normal routine, the action breaks up into small vignettes. And when the girl looks across the valley for any sign of human life, we see sweeping vistas of purple-tipped mountains. Wormell can evoke snug and scary within a series of several frames. The watercolors are delicate and reflect the odd sweet little story perfectly.

It's always fun to try and guess what book might pair the best with a given title. The book I kept coming back to as I read "The Wild Girl" would have to be "Weslandia" by Kevin Hawkes. In both books a child creates their own singular society without parental interference/existence. Of course, this particular book has an appeal entirely of its own. Best read to the child that dreams of freedom and comfort in a single package.

A Fabulous Tale of Compassion.......2006-10-27

This is a really sweet tale of a young girl in the wilds of the world. With her little dog in tow, she comes upon a creature of the unknown and mistakenly bases her actions on fear and prejudice. Compassion wins the day and our small warrior comes to a greater understanding of the world and herself. This tale also touches on the values of individuality and the need for interdependence.

Average customer rating:

makes your eyes think!
Perfect Baby Shower Gift!!
A book for all ages
The Perfect Home.....

Henry Builds a Cabin
D.B. Johnson
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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ASIN: 0618132015

Amazon.com

When Henry gets a bee in his bonnet to build a cabin in the woods, his friends all help out--mostly with advice. Henry, a bear character based on 19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau, hears from his pal Emerson as they raise the beams. "Henry," he says, "your cabin looks too small to eat in!" But, "it's bigger than it looks," says Henry. He shows Emerson a bean patch he has planted behind the cabin. "When it's finished, this will be my dining room," he explains. A sunny spot beside the cabin will be the library, he tells his friend Alcott, and a path curving down to the pond will be the ballroom with a grand stairway.

The many devout fans of author D.B. Johnson's award-winning Henry Hikes to Fitchburg will be tickled to see another title featuring the placid, self-contained Henry. Johnson's kaleidoscopic colored-pencil and paint illustrations are as fascinating as Henry's perspectives on what a home can be. As in his first title, Johnson makes quiet allusions to other luminaries of Thoreau's time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bronson Alcott. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

How big does a home really need to be? When Henry decides to build a cabin for himself in the woods, he gets some help and a lot of advice from his friends. But Henry, being Henry, has his own ideas, and he sets about building his house as a bird builds its nest. As he adds everything he thinks his cabin needs, Henry's new home ends up being a lot bigger than it looks! Inspired by the life of Henry David Thoreau, and illustrated with nature-filled paintings by author and artist D. B. Johnson, Henry Builds a Cabin is a thoughtful and beautiful meditation on what a home can be.

Customer Reviews:

makes your eyes think!.......2003-09-06

What a delightful book! Based on Henry David Thoreau's time at Walden pond, this simple, direct little tale first recounts how and with what he built his cabin. By emphasizing Thoreau's skill and his use of recycled old house parts, the book enlivens his self-sufficiency and his critique of materialism.

The best parts are the three guests who interrupt Henry's work, each one suggesting some shortcoming in Henry's construction. The cabin is too small to eat or dance in, they suggest, too dark to read in. Each time, Henry beautifully and effortlesy turns these criticisms upside down. He patiently (and with quiet enthusiasm) explains that by living in nature he has annexed all of the space and sun and beauty around him. His cabin is the entire woods and the whole pond. Thoreau's individualism emerges through these confounding, whimsical dialogues.

D. B. Johnson, the author, conveys all of this in graceful, clear, subtle little exchanges. The talk is all quite concrete and easily grasped, so kids have no problem with the story. Yet Johnson's language also carries Thoreau's deeper meaning, in clever and refreshing ways.

The zestful, kinetic pictures provide rich pleasure. Click on the sample pages and see for yourself! Reminiscent of early cubism and of the figurative work of Kazimir Malevich, the illustrations divide the picture plane into coutless little segments. Johnson blends them pleasingly yet also uses them to demonstrate the wonder that every little corner of nature holds for the alert eye. In his fragments of the field of view, Johnson might include a butterfly, a squirrel, a rabbit, a cardinal or bluejay, rain drops, falling leaves, on and on. Trees and pond, sky and clearings all appear active, filled with spirit. Kids will love finding and noticing and searching, for these illustrations continually surprise: they make your eyes think! Pieces of nature intersect through the cabin windows, and the wonderfully broken view swirls around Henry and his visitors in a vivid depiction of our connectiveness to nature--one of Thoreau's central beliefs.

In sum, an efficient and expressive meeting of story, thought, and imagery.

Perfect Baby Shower Gift!!.......2003-02-11

We borrowed this book from the library and I must buy a copy for my 3yr old. He loves it. The illustrations are unique and so pleasing to the eye. They are a little abstract but not too much so you can't see what is being conveyed.

Henry builds a cabin but his friends doesn't think it's big enough. Henry says it's big enough for all kinds of things. In the end, you find out what the cabin is perfect for.

Delightful read and a sure bet for a Baby Shower Gift!

A book for all ages.......2002-12-16

I'm 12 but I really like this picture book. I learned a lot about what Henry Thoreau was trying to do when he built a cabin by Walden Pond, and it was fun learning it through this book. The illustrations are funny and I like how Henry solves his problems. I also like Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which is even funnier because Henry makes his friend learn a lesson in a funny way. I also recommend another great book about Henrey Thoreau, that especially girls of all ages will like, Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute. It talks about how Henrey Thoreau helped Louisa May Alcott learn to like the outdoors and learn to like writing. Henry's funny in that book too so I think readers will like it too.

The Perfect Home............2002-03-03

Henry, a sturdy looking bear wearing a large hat and workclothes, is building a cabin in the woods. He borrows an ax and cuts down twelve trees for framing, buys an old shed, takes it apart and uses the wood for the walls and floor. He builds a front door, finds two used windows and some old shingles for the roof. As he's building, friends stop by to look at the cabin and check on his progress. Emerson comments that it seems too small to eat in. "It's bigger than it looks," replies Henry and shows him his garden out back. "When it's finished, this will be my dining room." Friend, Alcott thinks the cabin will be too dark to read in, but Henry shows him a sunny spot right outside. "This will be my library." And when Miss Lydia shows concern that there won't be room for dancing, Henry shows her the pathway down to the pond, his grand stairway to the ballroom. On July 4th, Henry's cabin is finished and he moves in. He eats in the "dining room", reads in the "library" and dances in his "ballroom". When it begins to rain, he hurries back to his cabin, where in a very wise and amusing way he shows us that his new home is just perfect..... D.B. Johnson is back with a marvelous sequel to his award winning first picture book, Henry Hikes To Fitchburg, based on the life of Henry David Thoreau. His simple and inspiring text is sure to be a springboard to interesting and thoughtful discussions. What does a home really need, and how big does it have to be? Mr Johnson's creative and expressive, light-filled illustrations enhance the story beautifully, and capture the imagination. With an author's note at the end "About Henry's Cabin", to help fill in the details of how and why Thoreau built his cabin, its cost, and his two years living at Waldens Pond, Henry Builds A Cabin is an engaging and unique little treasure youngsters 4-8 shouldn't miss. "Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think they must have such a one as their neighbors have."

Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World

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now i feel much smarter This book is great
Urban Vinyl

Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World
Woodrow Phoenix
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 4770030177

Book Description

Plastic Culture explores the world of toys: why we love them, what they represent, and why there is a growing market for "designer" and "art" toys aimed at adults. In this book, British author Woodrow Phoenix takes a look at our relationship to toys in the twenty-first century, with particular reference to Japan--an exporter of both merchandise and ideas. Plastic toys based on Japanese comics, movies, and TV shows, from Astro Boy, Godzilla, and Gatchaman, to Power Rangers, Sailor Moon, and Pokémon have had a powerful effect on the imaginations and markets of the West, and have kick-started trends in design and pop culture that have crossed from Japan to the West and back East again. Brimming with lavish, full-color illustrations of cult and limited-edition toys, and with an in-depth look at the work of Japanese artists Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara, Hong Kong trendsetters Eric So and Michael Lau, and many other leading players in the world of designer toys, this is a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers: from those interested in the latest trends in contemporary art, to toy collectors, and to anyone with an interest in Japan's influence on contemporary pop culture.

Customer Reviews:

now i feel much smarter This book is great .......2007-03-23

All the cool pictures of toys I can't have are nice. But it's really better than all the other toy books becuase it explains all about toys and how come they are so cool. I know it was for adult level reader but I learned a lot that my friends don't know! It wasn't hard to read and I wish it was twice the size. My only problem is There was not enough Blythe information even though she's on the cover.

Urban Vinyl.......2006-09-06

Ah, what a wonderful invention plastic is! Nearly limitless possibilities, able to be shaped into almost any form, take on any color, and endure across the centuries. As functional as it is fantastic. Of course, it was only a matter of time before artists took this malleable material into their capable hands, and created something that the inventors of the plastic would have never imagined. In this case, it is toys.

"Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World" supposes to tell the story of plastic, and its journey from function to fantastic, from commerce to art. Supposes to, because unfortunately the book seems to have fallen victim to a loss of focus, or possibly a conflict between writer and editor. Instead of this history of plastic, and their connection to Japanese culture, what the writer wanted to write about was an artistic movement called Urban Vinyl, originating in Hong Kong and then spreading to Japan and the US. That's his passion, and it shows.

The first half of "Plastic Culture" is rough. It begins with a very brief history of plastic's invention, and its use in toys across the years. There is some brief connection with Japan, introducing the Kaiyodo model makers who perfected the garage kit. There is a half-hearted section on using toys for marketing purposes as mascots, mainly mentioning McDonalds Happy Meal toys and the Olympics. Trying to swing the story back to Japan, Sanrio is covered with their successful line of Hello Kitty figures and other characters. These articles are all short on text, and heavy on pictures, jumping rapidly from section to section without much logic or interest. Its pretty boring, and not very well researched. Then, on page 43, author Woodrow Pheonix begins the section on Urban Vinyl. And it all changes.

The Urban Vinyl movement began in Hong Kong, with a couple of young talents started taking apart GI Joe figures and putting them back together street-style, dressed in the latest Hong Kong fashions and with an attitude that GI Joe never imagined. These two, Michael Lau and Eric So, exhibited their work at galleries, and inspired other artists to see toys as a medium of expression, rather than just playthings. The movement jumped across the water, to Japan with its ingrained toy culture, and then to the US underground comics scene, where artists like Dan Clowes ("Ghost World") and Archer Prewitt ("Sof' Boy") began teaming up with Asian designers to produce unique figures combining all of their talents and visions. Into this comes Takashi Murakami, famed for his Superflat exhibition and one of Japan's greatest modern artists, who sees the concept of creating original works of art in toys, rather than just reproducing existing works in plastic. Yoshitomo Nara, another prominent Japanese modern artist, follows suit. Its fascinating.

If this book had been called "Urban Vinyl," and started with Lau and So in Hong Kong, then been given enough depth to explore the artistic movement completely, it would have been incredible. Woodrow Pheonix has a real passion for this movement, and a deep insight into what makes it tick and how the pieces fit together. His interviews with Murakami and Nara really made me reconsider the way I see toys, and it was great to here these two giants of modern art put forward such opposing yet complementary viewpoints on Urban Vinyl.

But it wasn't, and so "Plastic Culture" is really only half a great book. That second half is really something, and worth picking up the book for. It makes me want to learn more about Urban Vinyl and hopefully someday Pheonix will get to write the book that he should have. I will be first in line to pick it up.

I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941 (Modern Library Paperbacks)

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A must read memoir
Fascinating Account of pre-WWII life in Germany
Excellent Source for insight on Nazi Germany
Harrowing reading
A powerful and uplifting account of life under the Nazis

I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941 (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Victor Klemperer
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375753788
Release Date: 1999-11-15

Amazon.com

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Victor Klemperer (1881-1960), honored as a frontline veteran of World War I, was a distinguished professor at the University of Dresden. A scant few months later he was merely a Jew, protected from deportation to a death camp only by his marriage to an Aryan. He suffered every other indignity to which German Jews were subjected, from losing his job to having his driver's license revoked to being denied permission to own a pet, and all are recorded with bitter clarity in his diary entries, which cover the years 1933 to 1941. (A second volume continuing through 1945 will be published in English in 1999.) The German edition of this book caused a sensation when it was published in 1995, and it's easy to see why: the relentless, quotidian nature of Nazi racism comes through forcefully in Klemperer's litany of daily humiliations and insults, a painful chronicle of situations in which readers can readily imagine themselves. Like Anne Frank, but with a more adult understanding of political fanaticism and human weakness, he makes the abstract horror of genocidal persecution very intimate, very personal, and very real. --Wendy Smith

Book Description

The publication of Victor Klemperer's secret diaries brings to light one of the most extraordinary documents of the Nazi period. "In its cool, lucid style and power of observation," said The New York Times, "it is the best  written, most evocative, most observant record of daily life in the Third Reich." I Will Bear Witness is a work of literature as well as a revelation of the day-by-day horror of the Nazi years.

A Dresden Jew, a veteran of World War I, a man of letters and historian of great sophistication, Klemperer recognized the danger of Hitler as early as 1933. His diaries, written in secrecy, provide a vivid account of everyday life in Hitler's Germany.

What makes this book so remarkable, aside from its literary distinction, is Klemperer's preoccupation with the thoughts and actions of ordinary Germans: Berger the greengrocer, who was given Klemperer's house ("anti-Hitlerist, but of course pleased at the good exchange"), the fishmonger, the baker, the much-visited dentist. All offer their thoughts and theories on the progress of the war: Will England hold out? Who listens to Goebbels? How much longer will it last?

This symphony of voices is ordered by the brilliant, grumbling Klemperer, struggling to complete his work on eighteenth-century France while documenting the ever- tightening Nazi grip. He loses first his professorship and then his car, his phone, his house, even his typewriter, and is forced to move into a Jews' House (the last step before the camps), put his cat to death (Jews may not own pets), and suffer countless other indignities.

Despite the danger his diaries would pose if discovered, Klemperer sees it as his duty to record events. "I continue to write," he notes in 1941 after a terrifying run-in with the police. "This is my heroics. I want to bear witness, precise witness, until the very end."   When a neighbor remarks that, in his isolation, Klemperer will not be able to cover the main events of the war, he writes: "It's not the big things that are important, but the everyday life of  tyranny, which may be forgotten. A thousand mosquito bites are worse than a blow on the head. I observe, I note, the mosquito bites."

This book covers the years from 1933 to 1941. Volume Two, from 1941  to 1945, will be published in 1999.

Customer Reviews:

A must read memoir.......2007-07-08

This is a great memoir that any history buff or historian or anyone should read. It ranks right up there with Anne Frank's diary. It offers a unique view since Mr. Klemperer was married to a German woman during the Holocaust. It is this unique view on the Holocaust that makes this memoir so good.

Fascinating Account of pre-WWII life in Germany.......2007-02-01

Victor Klemperer's diary of pre war Germany provides fascinating insight into what life was like for ordinary citizens in Germany. Interspersed with the mundane aspects of life, e.g., shopping, driving, going to the dentist, etc. are ever increasing examples of the insanity that was Nazi Germany. It was a little difficult to get into, but it soon became a page tuner. The later years are particularly interesting. I couldn't put it down.

Excellent Source for insight on Nazi Germany.......2007-01-10

This Diary was an excellent read for many reasons. It was a good primary source for information on Nazi Germany and at the same time was compelling and extremely interesting. The keeper of this diary was also a great author which makes this diary very easy to read as if it were a memoir. His story is great and it was extremely fun to see historical events through his eyes. Through his diary the reader has the ability to get a feel of what everyday people thought of the Nazis and what their true feelings were toward the National Socialist party. If you do not know a lot about German/Nazi history I would reccomend a refresher course somehow. I read this diary while taking a class on the topic of Nazi Germany and it was extremely interesting for me.

Harrowing reading.......2006-10-28

Anybody who wants to know what it was like to be a Jew under the Nazi regime should read this book and the second volume of Klemperer's diaries.
First the bestiality and the stupidity of the Nazis are shown with a simplicity and an absence of hatred that make them more disgusting. Then the courage, the resilience and the determination of this humble Professor are a lesson of courage, modesty and survival for all. One of the books that left upon me the most lasting impression, hesitating between the joy of the "happy end" and the depression about what I read. These two books should be made compulsory reading in any serious history studies...And no serious historian should avoid to read those two books.

A powerful and uplifting account of life under the Nazis.......2006-10-10

I have read many books on the history of Europe and World War 2, but for the most part they cover the big picture - the major events and key participants. Victor Klemperer's diaries ("I Will Bear Witness") describe how people like himself were tossed about by the arbitrary power of the Nazis. This record of his personal experiences from 1933 to 1945 makes the history come vividly alive in all its horror and sadness.

Through the diaries we see the inexorable erosion of his rights (and the rights of all Jews) and the tyrannies of arbitrary power. Klemperer was forced to give up his car, he was forbidden to use the library, he could not have a phone, his typewriter was confiscated, and Jews had to hand in keys to their trunks.

Each day seemed to bring another "small" persecution, another wearing down of the spirit - except that Klemperer did not succumb, although he often despairs of surviving. He read almost every day and made notes on literary works he planned to write some day - if he survived. He bore witness by recording his actual experiences of tyranny.

Klemperer describes the exercise of raw power, cloaked in the trappings of Nazi law. Any official could do pretty much as he pleased with any Jew. It is almost impossible for those of us living in countries that respect the rule of law, and in which we can assert our rights, to truly feel the powerlessness, fear and humiliation that Klemperer felt almost every day under the Nazis. The Gestapo seem to select victims almost at random, but every persecution is handled with legal punctiliousness.

Reading the diaries today and knowing the history of Germany and the Jews, we are struck by the fact that Klemperer did not flee the country in good time like so many other Jews - and other members of his own family. But at the time, the future was unknown and there were always reasons for him to stay: Lack of money. He was almost 60 and would have felt reluctant, if not unable, to start a new life and earn money in another country. His wife was often sick and clung desperately to her new house. Our lives bind us to place. "Blut and Boden" (blood and soil) as the Nazis put it.

He was a reflective academic, unused until the war started to the rough and tumble of survival. Although the final entries in his diary after the bombing of Dresden show a remarkable feat of endurance in his and Eva's homeless wanderings to seek sanctuary.

The early part of the diary tells of his struggle to get a loan and to build a house. "Don't do it!" I cry silently. Don't you know a terrible war is coming and that the Jews will be rounded up? Don't you know you will be herded into a ghetto? Don't you know that Dresden will be fire-bombed (his new house is made of wood)?

But how could he know? We see the future as a continuation of the past. We cannot know for certain what events of today will have catastrophic consequences in the future. For Klemperer, things got slowly worse over time, each change bearable (if only just) - like boiling a frog. There was no sudden cataclysm that would have prompted even the most timid to flee - until too late.

Today we see small erosions of liberty, justified by the War on Terrorism: secret monitoring of the phone calls of "suspects" is OK, the Geneva Convention does not apply to Guantanamo Bay and "coercion" of prisoners is not torture. The end justifies the means, we are told - although not in such truthful terms. We think that none of these arbitrary exercises of power apply to us. But where will they lead? We do not know. But the experiences of Klemperer under the Nazis show where they have led in the past.

The diary is essentially as Klemperer wrote it - there has been no post facto editing to make it more literary or historically apt. The result is powerful and horrifying to the reader who is like some Olympian God watching Klemperer struggle, knowing the trials to come and the futility of his struggles.

His hopes, fears and vulnerabilities are laid before us, without any editing to remove the embarrassing entries - or other entries that lesser writers would have preferred not to see the light of day, such as his furtive theft of a spoonful of jam in the Jews House in Dresden. This honesty makes the diaries such a powerful and compelling statement.

But despite the ever-present threat of arrest and "evacuation" to Poland, from which no one ever returns and about which only the sketchiest rumours are known, Klemperer finds courage to enjoy the new flowers of spring, the beauty of fresh snow on tree branches, and the pleasures of visiting his friends and fellow victims.

One of the most poignant entries in the diary is for August 1, 1943. He had received an order to come to Gestapo HQ for "questioning". By that stage of the war, virtually no Jew returned from such questioning. Their families were notified that the person was deported and "shot while trying to escape". Some "committed suicide" in the cells before then. With the words "Perhaps this is my last entry", Klemperer records his feelings and his love for his wife Eva.

Every thinking person who is worried about the state of the world today should read this book. In the struggle against terrorism we see governments in liberal democracies encroaching on our liberties, condoning torture, telling lies - all in the name of a greater good, the War on Terror. This is no different in principle to the way Nazis, and all other totalitarian regimes, justified their actions and sought to hide the truth. The propaganda is exactly the same.

Of course the liberal democracies are unlikely to round up people suspected as enemies, put them in concentration camps and torture them - or are they?

We must never take our liberties for granted, nor accept that the end (in the war on terror) justifies the means. Klemperer's diaries are a powerful reminder of where that can lead.

Black Dawn, Bright Day : Indian Prophecies for the Millennium That Reveal the Fate of the Earth

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Black Dawn, Bright Day
Black Dawn,Bright Day
Yatahey! An Old Friend...redux
Prophecies of the Bright Day
A valuable resource relevant to Y2K and Earth Changes.

Black Dawn, Bright Day : Indian Prophecies for the Millennium That Reveal the Fate of the Earth
Sun Bear , and Wabun Wind
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671759000

Customer Reviews:

Black Dawn, Bright Day.......2007-03-10

This book is truly one of the BEST. It will raise your consciousness of the way we're living. And at the same time treating that which is providing us with life. I have ordered extras to pass out to try and help others have the same light bulb moment. I believe that nature has had ENOUGH of our craziness as far as the way we have treated earth mother. This book breaks it down to exactly what we've been doing all over this planet. We are not going to survive if this madness continues. PLEASE read and pass it on. We must change our ways in order for our future generation to have a chance.

Black Dawn,Bright Day.......2006-11-06

Sun Bear has given an excellent account of how we have abused the earth and what the consequences of that abuse will be. He also provides instructions on how to survive those 'consequences'. Sun Bear has great understanding and insight regarding the earth and its resources. It's very sobering reading and not to be taken lightly.....since many of the prophecies are already happening.

Yatahey! An Old Friend...redux.......2005-09-05

Long before, while I lived "back east", I found some wonderful books that have changed my life path, among them, I found Sun Bear. The first book of his I read was "Black Dawn, Bright Day". It struck me, as very powerful and a tad scary, but, to my then naieve self, the "millenium" was sooooo far away it was hard to take as viable, despite my mistrust of [our's most especially] government officials. We had gas shortages, we made it through Viet Nam, we know about the Ozone layer, we have learned -- I believed that they would surely do the "right thing" and fix it before his worse prophecies could materialize. With the recent onset, and increasing intensity, of many natural, and unnatural crises [eliminating "Mother Earth's Parasites i.e. humans], and now "Katrina" coupled with the [not yet declared war in Iraq], I am curious to see just how accurate the predictions were [as a personal aside, around a few months ago, the resident eagles were missing for a long while, and whales have been grounding themselves again, and I couldn't help recall that this was one of the portents Sun Bear spoke of, re: huge changes afoot]. Recently the Eagles have returned, sporadically, and I can only hope that they are letting us know that if we "do the right things" we still may have a good chance of turning things around. What I want to say to potential readers is, at worse, this book is written beautifully, with the late great Sun Bear's voice and wit, and at best, it's a hopeful warning. I'm going to peruse my shelves and /moving boxes right now for a reread myself.

Prophecies of the Bright Day.......2001-10-28

For a long time I had heard and read other individual's positive views on this book: "Black Dawn,Bright Day" by Sun Bear. Finally 3 weeks ago I order the book. I think in my opinion that this book is the best of the Native American prophecies books I had read thus far. In this age when the popular religious fever view seems to be to look forward to escaping the earth and flying off on a cloud...a book such as this that focuses on a spiritual purification of out earth and then it's renewl="The Bright Day" hope instead of it's destruction...is very refreshing. Indeed, there are "some" Judeo-Christian groups who embrace the hope of the renewl of our earth..but they usually lacked the understanding of helping taking care of our earth NOW as part of the plan to one day see the renewl of the earth and they lack the Native American's understanding and view of viewing the animals and nature as being in a kinship with us humans..Unforuantly, instead of viewing the animals and nature in this positive way that the Native Americans do...they (our white culture)tends to view the earth, animals and nature as somehting to exploit selfishly to our own benifit. To me, if we disrespect the creation...then we disrespect the one who create it and all life there upon it..the Creator. This book helps us understand all this and the harm of the "Ladder Approuch" philosophy held in our culture that is ruining our earth. My complaint would likely be that the book towards the back gets a little too doom-ish, in much they way most of these restored earth believing Judeo-Christian groups get. But other than that...I liked it alot.

Renewed Earth Press
P.o. Box 142
Ojai,CA 93023

A valuable resource relevant to Y2K and Earth Changes........1998-12-15

As a former investigative reporter for Post Newsweek TV Group, I became interested in the late Sun Bear's "Black Dawn/Bright Day", which does a very comprehensive job of explaining the upcoming Earth Changes that Native Americans and other indigenious people from around the world have been predicting for many centuries. Sun Bear begins with an in-depth, informative look at how we have gotten ourselves into the mess we are experiencing: earthquakes increasing in number; destruction of 51 acres of tropical forests every minute; consumption of 35,000 barrels of oil every minute; 1692 acres of productive dry land become desert every hour; 1800 children are dying of starvation every hour; 25,000 die of water shortage or contamination every day; etc.He also presents a fascinating account of Indian prophecies, warnings that are now becoming a reality. One in particular is the Iroquois prophecy about the wrestling match between the serpents. The white and red serpents both have the same goals of domination, conquest, and control of Planet Earth. These two serpents were seen to be wrestling with each other until the rivers boiled and the fish died. Soon the black serpent would come into the battle and defeat the red and white serpents. As the black serpent looked toward the indigenious people of Planet Earth to further his wrath, he would see the coming of the great light of Deganawida and become frightened, flee, and never bother the people again.Through contact with the Great Spirit, Sun Bear learned the white and red serpents represented the United States and the Soviet Union. Through our atomic testing we have literally killed off fish and rivers have boiled. Also through the many years of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union supplied weapons to others in the names of democracy and communism. Now the black serpent represented as the Moslem countries has appeared on the scene and gotten the United States and the Soviet Union into conflicts that still plague our world through terrorism. Sun Bear saw the next stage as war among the Moslems and uses the occupation of Kuwait leading to the Gulf War. Yes, Sun Bear does paint a fact-filled, gloomy picture for Planet Earth; however, he also sees the tremendous benefits of "the cleansing" that will soon occur. He sees this leading to the transformation of a planet plagued by greed, lust, and hate to one eventually of peace, abundance, and love. He already sees the whiteman coming to the Native Americans to learn the ancient ways of Planet Earth and how to restore peace, abundance, and love. Sun Bear shares with us how we can prepare ourselves for survival during the Earth Changes and even shares "safe areas" as he saw them through visions and the experiences of traveling through out the world. I used his map of "safe areas" for the United States for my research on the small towns mentioned in my forthcoming book "Survival Manual for Y2K & Beyond."

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Grizzwold
i love grizzwold
grizzwold is my god, i would worship him if it were possible
Grizzwold can live with me!

Grizzwold (I Can Read Book 1)

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064440575

Book Description

Grizzwold the lovable bear is having a tough time finding somewhere to live. He's too big for most places, and too clumsy for others. He's not even any good as a live bearskin rug! Will Grizzwold ever find a home that's just right?

Customer Reviews:

Grizzwold.......2006-06-29

This story is adout a bear Grizzwold. He was bigger than other bears. Other bears could fit in their caves, but Grizzlywold couldn't fit in his cave. So he slept outside by himself. He didn't mind. He had a nice coat of fur to keep him warm. I hope that people like it. I thought it was a great book.

i love grizzwold.......2006-03-27

This was one of my favorite books as a kid, and was in fact the first book that i ever read by myself. I made my parents read it to me so often that i just looked at the words one day and realized i could read it. Now, thirty years later, i'm buying a copy for my little neice. I hope she loves it too.

grizzwold is my god, i would worship him if it were possible.......2003-12-16

Grizzwold was one of my favourite books as a child, and upon rereading it, it is easy to see why. It's not a difficult or a condescending book, and the adventures of this bear are literally amazing. I would be proud to be his friend, if such a thing were possible.
Also, another reason for my love is that he has almost the same name as me, and for years (until I knew better) I thought the book was written about me, albeit as an anthromorpothic bear.
I must dig this out again.

Grizzwold can live with me!.......2002-06-13

Grizzwold was a good book written by Syd Hoff. The story was about a huge bear named Grizzwold. He lived in the forest. The men came and cut down all the trees for paper. Grizzwold looked in the city zoo and circus. He found his home in the national park. I recommend this book because it is funny and sad. My favorite part was when Grizzwold went to the dance. The people thought he was wearing a costume. I was happy when he found a home.

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