365 Penguins
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amusing book, but wouldn't buy again.
  • Three Silly Chicks Review
  • A zany counting story of too many penguins evolves.
  • Great fun for young kids.
  • Fun for All
365 Penguins
Jean-Luc Fromental
Manufacturer: Abrams Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

CountingCounting | Basic Concepts | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
FictionFiction | Birds | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
HumorousHumorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 081094460X

Book Description

On the first day of the new year, the mailman brings a surprise—a penguin! One by one, day by day, penguins fill the house. At first they are cute, but with every passing day, the penguins pile up—along with the familyÂ's problems. Feeding, cleaning, and housing the penguins becomes a monumental task! But who is sending these penguins, and why?

In a large format, and with lots of opportunity for counting, 365 Penguins is sure to become a wintertime staple.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Amusing book, but wouldn't buy again........2007-10-14

I love children's books, and this one is amusing, with eye-catching illustrations. However, I didn't expect the lecture on global warming at the end. The way it was written was abrupt and out of sync with the flow of the story. The way the math concepts are integrated is somewhat clunky, as well. It is not a book I would tend to recommend.

5 out of 5 stars Three Silly Chicks Review.......2007-10-02

Reviewed by Three Silly Chicks - Readers, Writers, and Reviewers of funny books for kids.


It's hard not to love penguins. They are such spiffy dressers and great tap dancers. (This was actually documented in a recent motion picture!) Imagine how exciting it would be to receive a penguin in a box on New Year's Day with only a simple note to explain, "I'm number 1. Feed me when I'm hungry." Now imagine the surprise and joy of receiving another penguin the next morning. And the next and the next and the next . . .

For a full year, the family in this funny picture book receives a penguin a day and problems multiply as their flock grows. Dad becomes obsessed with organizing the penguins. Mom gets more than a little crazed and the kids just go with the flow. Or is that floe?

Simple graphic-arts style illustrations in a limited palette and a large trim size for this book make it great for young kids who will get a kick out of counting the very silly penguins and finding the one with blue feet who shows up on day 144. (Visualize a penguin-Waldo who eats fish.) Older kids and parents will enjoy the family's reaction to the penguins as the year progresses and they are so horribly outnumbered. A bit of math and ecology play into the tale, but never overload the story in this delightful book. Makes you want to put on a tux and dance like a penguin!

5 out of 5 stars A zany counting story of too many penguins evolves........2007-09-07

Jean-Luc Fromenthal and Joelle Jolivet's 365 PENGUINS is an oversized presentation which could make for a shelving challenge for some holdings, but which provides a fun account of a mailman's surprise delivery of a penguin a day. Who is sending all these penguins - and why? A zany counting story of too many penguins evolves.

5 out of 5 stars Great fun for young kids........2007-09-03

My boys ages 6 and 7 love this book. The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is fun! I like that it covers math concepts of addition, multiplication, etc. For example, 100 penguins plus one more makes 101. Stacking penguins 6 by 6 by 6 in a cube makes ... filing them in 12 boxes of 12 makes ... Some if the math is way too advanced for my children, but I doubt kids much older would be terribly interested in the writing or illustrations. Although some of the math is advanced, my children nevertheless enjoy the book, and I think that exposing them to these math concepts is great!!! We also love looking for the penguin named Chilly in each scene. There is a global warning lecture on one of the last pages, which sounds very preachy and doesn't fit into the rhythm or tone of the story, but I don't mind the message, so it doesn't bother me. This is a good book for kids ages 5 - 9.

4 out of 5 stars Fun for All.......2007-08-28

This book is entertaining for penguin lovers of all ages. The penguins' eyes are a "hoot".
Gift of the Red Bird: The Story of a Divine Encounter
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Disappointed
  • spiritual insight
  • Gift of the Red Bird
  • Short but beautiful book . . .
  • Gift of th Red Bird
Gift of the Red Bird: The Story of a Divine Encounter
Paula D'Arcy
Manufacturer: Crossroad Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Grief & BereavementGrief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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  3. When People Grieve, Expanded, Revised and Updated: The Power of Love in the Midst of Pain When People Grieve, Expanded, Revised and Updated: The Power of Love in the Midst of Pain
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  5. Red Fire : A Quest for Awakening Red Fire : A Quest for Awakening

ASIN: 0824519566

Book Description

When Paula D'Arcy lost her husband and baby in a car crash, she began an inner search for a faith that was stronger than fear. In Gift of the Red Bird she shares her remarkable spiritual adventure.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Disappointed.......2007-07-15

I ordered the Gift of the Red Bird by Paula D'Arcy. The book was mailed on June 13, 2007 via US Postal Service. Unfortunately the item has yet to arrive. I have a tracking number but no way of contacting Amazon.

5 out of 5 stars spiritual insight.......2007-03-08

This book was exactly what I had hoped for in that it was an individual description of a personal spirtual quest and the finding of the divine on this earth. A very uplifting, down-to-earth story that reads amazingly quickly

5 out of 5 stars Gift of the Red Bird.......2006-08-13

Very inspirational. I was totally filled with the Holy Spirit. I think I would like to go on a retreat like that. We have so much to learn. Please try it.

5 out of 5 stars Short but beautiful book . . ........2006-04-21

Gift of the Red Bird, a Spiritual Encounter, reads like a journal from Paula D'Arcy's life. On August 18, 1975, on a return trip home to Connecticut, Paula's car was struck by a drunk motorist. Her daughter, Sarah, died of head injuries on August 20, and her husband died three days later from a ruptured spleen. Paula was alive and three months pregnant with her second baby daughter, Beth. For this reason, she went on living.

Gift of the Red Bird tells of a story of extreme loss and ache, of searching for answers, of making sense out of the pain, and of looking for some light in the darkness.

This is Paula's journey, and when she goes on a wilderness retreat -- where it's just her, God, and nature -- she begins to get some comfort for her wounds.

A deeply moving narrative, this book may be short, but the message is deep and lasting. It's a journey well worth taking for anyone who has ever had a tragedy hit their lives where they've had the same questions.

4 out of 5 stars Gift of th Red Bird.......2006-03-19

A very good book. It was an excellent testamonial. It is well written. I plan to use it to finish our year end Bible Study/
Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand (Fairie-ality)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fairy Tee
  • Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand: The Deluxe Edition (Fairie-ality)
  • Excellent
  • Some of the Prettiest Faery Clothes Inside!
  • Of magic and Muse
Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand (Fairie-ality)
David Downton , and Eugenie Bird
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

IllustrationIllustration | Commercial | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0763614130
Release Date: 2002-11-01

Book Description

Do you believe in fairies? How about high fashion? Enter the exquisite world of fairie fashion - where feathered hats are designed for maximum lift, oak leaf jackets boast ample wing vents, and flower-petal flats are easily removable for flight.

In the fairie world, there is only one top designer of couture and accessories . . .

Prepare to be enchanted! While humans go about their workaday lives, there is a secret world of well-dressed fairies flitting about in fragile fashions that would take your breath away - if only you could see them. Well, now you can. For the first time ever, elusive fairie couturier Ellwand allows mortals a peek at his ethereal designs in FAIRIE-ALITY, a catalogue so spectacularly crafted it befits a fairie queen herself. Showcased are nearly 150 creations - including dresses, jackets, trousers, shoes, hats, and delicate unmentionables - fashioned wholly from feathers, flower petals, shells, seeds, and other materials from nature. Consider these special features:

Extraordinary production elements, including three specially selected paper stocks; metallic inks; fold-out booklets; vellum envelope with removable fashion card; and numerous half-, third-, and quarter-pages, notably to showcase garments for a playful mix & match, offering dozens of outfits to create.

Drawings by celebrated fashion illustrator David Downton, capturing the graceful, but rarely glimpsed, fairie attired in Ellwand’s designs.

Witty and delightfully romantic captions by Eugenie Bird.

A breathless narrative by a young fairie guiding us from The Season’s start through May Day revelry and a Fairie Tale Wedding.

Filled with authentic fairie lore that will lure fairie lovers by the legion, this superbly designed volume also offers many clever nods to human fashion history. Its fun, fanciful costume descriptions will amuse the fashion-savvy everywhere, while the stunning array of fashions themselves - a veritable dress-up dream - will leave readers of all ages spellbound.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fairy Tee.......2007-06-01

"Fairie-ality"..........it's so easy to be at a loss for words on this book, page after page of a beautiful collection! It is so beautifully done and illustrated that if you don't think "Fairies" have a wardrobe of their very own.... this will change your mind :). This book is a must have for all fairy collectors, little girls that dream of magic and also for those that just need a jump start for their own imaginations to take over. LOVE THE BOOK!!

5 out of 5 stars Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand: The Deluxe Edition (Fairie-ality).......2007-04-10

I would list this book a 10 if I could, It is truly an inspiration to the creative juices. Excellant in every department.
I would purchage this again and again if needed!

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-01-19

Very pleased with the book. It was a gift. In as new condition, as described. Fast shipping. Best price I found anywhere. Thanks so much!

5 out of 5 stars Some of the Prettiest Faery Clothes Inside!.......2006-12-22

This is such a whimsically Faery work of art! Ellwand has fashioned the most petite, realilistic, fantasyful clothes out of the prettiest petals and leaves (perfectly designed for the wee folk). I just love adoring each enchanting Faery outfit. Makes me wish I was tiny enough to wear each piece or even host a Faery fashion show and make the clothes for real! It's truly a wonderfully, beautiful and most unique art book! Here's to Ellwand. Also check out his Cinderlily!

5 out of 5 stars Of magic and Muse.......2006-07-12

Escape in the pretty pages of this extraordinary magic of the imagination.Clever, crafty, and truly unique.You will only wish that you could fit into these fantasy outfits.Out of a dream. Beyond the beyond beautiful.
John James Audubon (Gift Edition): Writings and Drawings (Library of America, 113)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Talent, Passion, Perseverance: A Portrait of the Artist
  • audubon's best single collection
  • A Masterpiece of Nature Writing
John James Audubon (Gift Edition): Writings and Drawings (Library of America, 113)
John James Audubon
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

United StatesUnited States | Regional | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Audubon, John JamesAudubon, John James | ( A-C ) | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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  5. John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays (Library of America) John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays (Library of America)

ASIN: 1883011817

Amazon.com

John James Audubon's indelible portraits of American birds have long since cemented his reputation as one of our truly magical realists. Yet the artist, who was born in Haiti in 1785 and died 66 years later on his 30-acre estate in upper Manhattan, was not only a sublime featherhead but a trailblazing nature writer and diarist. Doubters should take a gander at the Library of America's splendid Writings and Drawings. This new compendium features 64 full-color plates, most of them from the Ornithological Biography, which demonstrate the compositional and dramatic brilliance that Audubon brought to his work: seldom has the black vulture, or Coragyps atratus, looked so elegant or sleekly satisfied, and his colloquium of ruby-throated hummingbirds (a.k.a. Archilochus colubris) is an almost comical study in group dynamics. Yet it's the texts--journals, letters, diaries, a brief memoir, and a pair of essays on artistic technique--that are the true revelation here.

Audubon was not, for the record, a kind of starry-eyed precursor to the Sierra Club, leaving nature untouched by human hands. It's telling that in his self-portrait, the artist is gripping neither palette nor paintbrush but a flintlock rifle. Gunning down his ornithological subjects was a necessary prelude to portraying them. Still, Audubon had quite a few of what we moderns would call conflicted moments, during which his admiration for, say, the Mississippi kite would temporarily halt the killing spree. Here the sight of a mother attempting to rescue its chick manages to stay his itchy trigger finger--for a millisecond, anyway:

My feelings at that moment I cannot express. I wished I had not discovered the poor bird; for who could have witnessed, without emotion, so striking an example of that affection which none but a mother can feel; so daring an act, performed in the midst of smoke, in the presence of a dreaded and dangerous enemy. I followed, however, and brought both to the ground at one shot, so keen is the desire of possession!
The aesthetic and taxidermal impulses have torn apart many a naturalist since then (although, to be sure, the stricken diarist was later annoyed to discover that another animal had cut in on his action: "What was my mortification, when I found that some quadruped had devoured both!") Elsewhere, Audubon records the topography of the Mississippi Valley in vivid detail, or grumbles about the tight job market: "Visited several Public Institutions where I cannot say that I Was very politely received; in one or Two Notable ones (Not Willing to Mention Names) I was invitd to Walk in and then out in very quick order." Audubon's early-19-century orthography, which the editors have meticulously retained, may take some Getting Used To. And the sheer piling up of avian corpses can seem almost comical to a modern reader. Still, Audubon worshipped pretty thoroughly, and very productively, at the shrine of the natural world. And let's recall his verdict on Liverpool's industrial landscape, which he observed during a 1826 visit: "Naked streets look dull." If only there'd been a long-billed curlew on hand! --James Marcus

Book Description

A landmark volume collects the writings and drawings of America's greatest artist-naturalist

The breathtaking art of John James Audubon's Birds of America has been celebrated throughout the world since it first appeared over 150 years ago. Less well known is Audubon's literary legacy -- the magnificent volumes of natural history he published during his lifetime, as well as the remarkable journals, memoirs, and letters left behind at his death. Now, with The Library of America's unprecedented John James Audubon: Writings and Drawings, Audubon the great nature writer takes his rightful place alongside Audubon the artist.

Here is the most comprehensive selection of Audubon's writings ever published, along with a spectacular portfolio of his drawings. The "Mississippi River Journal," the foremost record of an American artist's progress, details Audubon's first wilderness bird hunts. Selections from his "1826 Journal" follow him to Europe, where his abilities were finally recognized. Audubon's masterwork, the five-volume Ornithological Biography, is here generously represented by 45 entries. Charming, haunting, and violent by turns, these vivid intimate portraits of the habits and habitats of America's birds, from the curious mating rituals of the Wild Turkey to the sublime spectacle of the migration of the now vanished Passenger Pigeon, changed American nature writing forever. The "Missouri River Journals" evoke the vanishing American Indian and the hardships of frontier life. An extensive selection of letters charting almost 20 years of Audubon's artistic development, along with two essays on artistic technique and a brief memoir, round out the volume. For the first time, all texts have been painstakingly prepared from original sources. General and ornithological indices will aid the reader in the field as well as in the study. Sixty-four full-color plates, and fascinating manuscript sketches, some never before published, offer a unique perspective on Audubon's art.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Talent, Passion, Perseverance: A Portrait of the Artist.......2007-08-17

Considering the high regard in which Audubon is held today, the reader may be surprised to learn how hard he had to struggle to get there.
Having failed repeatedly in his business ventures, he decided to concentrate his efforts on his true talent: observing, drawing and describing the birds of America. The fact that Alexander Wilson, a self-taught naturalist like Audubon, had pursued the same goal before him and enjoyed the support of the influential Philadelphia establishment seems to have encouraged rather than deterred young Audubon. He was sure he could do better, and in his jottings he never misses an opportunity to point out mistakes and shortcomings in Wilson's work.

The Mississippi River Journal of 1820-21 is, to my mind, the most interesting part of this collection. Raw diary entries, unedited and uncorrected, give a vivid account of this expedition which started in Cincinnati on a "flat boat" and ended in New Orleans. It may come as a shock to the reader that Audubon and his companions shot and killed practically all the birds he drew and described, and often ate them afterwards. They also bought birds from other hunters or, when in a town, at local markets. All manner of birds were briskly traded as food or pets, or for ornamental purposes.
During this trip, Audubon was destitute most of the time and always eager to get a free meal from a generous host. Letters of recommendation introduced him to a number of worthies, and he often replenished his funds by drawing portraits or giving drawing lessons to the children of wealthy citizens. There was some interest in his ornithological work, but not enough to secure financial backing. Through all these disappointments and humiliations, he remained a keen observer - not only of birds and other wildlife, but also of the country and the people in it.

His fortune changed with his visit to England and Scotland. Excerpts from his 1826 Journal show his surprise and delight in being graciously received, and even lionized, by important people who arranged for him to show his work in public and enlist subscribers.
The 64 color plates included in this book are selected from watercolors, aquatint engravings and lithographs, and show the full range of Audubon's art; they include birds that were abundant at the time but are now extinct (or nearly so), such as the Passenger Pigeon, the Carolina Parakeet, and the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Forty-five entries from his "Ornithological Biography" give a fascinating account of the life and habits of American birds. To our modern sensibilities, his writing style seems a little effusive at times, and we might prefer to see our birds depicted in less dramatic poses; but there is no doubt about his enthusiasm, and he obviously captured the Zeitgeist.

The Missouri River expedition (1843) was designed to find new species of quadrupeds. This journal is more polished than the Mississippi Journal, but I find it less appealing. Somehow, A.'s true passion seems to have been birds, not quadrupeds.

Some personal letters, essays, autobiographical notes and descriptions of his technique round out the portrait of an artist who rose from obscure origins to the highest honors (member of illustrious societies, dinner with President Andrew Jackson at the White House), and whose name is still a household word in America today.

5 out of 5 stars audubon's best single collection.......2007-01-04

to be read wholly as occasional readings and very enjoyable; allows one to imagine the bird life and other wildlife in America in the days of exploration and settlement, and how much of nature we have lost.

5 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece of Nature Writing.......2000-10-14

Anyone looking for a chronicle of the American wilderness in its infancy would do well to start here. There is great charm in the journals of 1820, where the spellings are still Audubon's own, and the flavor of the times -- especially regarding life on the frontier, and concerning everyday life in old New Orleans -- is everywhere. With his "Bird Biographies" of everyday varieties, as well as descriptions of now-extinct species, such as the Carolina Parakeet, and Ivory Billed Woodpeckers, this book is a treasure not just for nature lovers and bird aficianados, but for lovers of history as well.
The Bird's Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • a reader from New Jersey
  • Beautifully illustrated delightful Easter folk tale.
The Bird's Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story
Eric A. Kimmel
Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

FictionFiction | Birds | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
EuropeanEuropean | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Kimmel, EricKimmel, Eric | ( K ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823413845

Book Description

The birds' gift to their rescuers is a reminder of God's love for all creatures.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a reader from New Jersey.......2002-04-12

I have always been interested in the Ukrainian art of pysanky and found this book touching. Anyone interested in seeing fine examples of Ukrainian Pysanky should visit the pysanky showcase website at www.pysankyshowcase.com.

5 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated delightful Easter folk tale........1999-03-30

The Birds' Gift is a wonderful folk tale of the Easter Season. The Ukrainian villagers help the birds trapped over the winter. The birds repay the kindness by leaving behind beautiful Easter Eggs when they go on their own in the spring. The author tells the story in a lovely gentle manner. The illustrations are delightful, especially the last two pages with intricately designed Ukrainian Easter eggs. Highly recommended.
The Conference of the Birds: The Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid Ud-Din Attar
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • In the context of today's headlines. . . .
  • Wisdom of the Sufis - for any faith.
  • Transcendent translation
  • A wonderful guide to self-realization
  • A miraculous translation of a mystical masterpiece
The Conference of the Birds: The Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid Ud-Din Attar
Farid Al-Din Attar , and Raficq Abdulla
Manufacturer: Interlink Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Middle EasternMiddle Eastern | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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PersianPersian | Middle Eastern | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1566564808

Amazon.com

Like Rumi and Hafiz, the name Attar conjures up images of passionate attraction to the divine. Attar was a Persian Sufi of the 12th century and his masterpiece is The Conference of the Birds, an epic allegory of the seeker's journey to God. When all the birds of the world convene and determine that they lack a king, one bird steps forward and offers to lead them to a great and mighty monarch. Initially excited, each bird falters in turn, whereupon the leader admonishes them with well-targeted parables. These pithy tales are the delight of this 4,500-line poem, translated deftly into rhymed couplets. What is your excuse for not seeking God? Your life is fine already? You prefer material pleasure? You are holy enough? You have pride, lack courage, or are burdened with responsibility? Attar has an answer to encourage you on the path to the promised land. And when you get there, the king may not be what you'd expect, but you must make the journey to see. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

An Abridged Version of Farid Ud Atta's "Mantiq Ut Tayar" (reprint 1924, 19 x 12.3 x 1 cm)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars In the context of today's headlines. . . ........2006-12-24

. . . . it is instructive and corrective to have a glimpse of
what was: a lyrical, medeivalist tradition that saw the denial
of the self as a path to union with the infinite.

Just as it's important to be aware of the gently lascivious
Omar Khayyam as an antidote to today's puritanism, it's also
worthwhile to remember Farid ud-Din Attar a cosmopolitan skeptic
whose tolerance of human frailty is in service of lofty
spiritual aims.
The Conference of the Birds is an allegory of the search for
the divine. The hoopoe who was the messenger of King Solomon
serves as the Cicero on the quest. The allegory is told in
short snippets, stories of doubt, fear and faith. One can imagine
each of them forming miniature tales and sermons.

Long, spiritual allegories can make pretty tough reading,
but the episodic nature of Conference makes it a book to
be enjoyed in snippets. Keep it at the bedside or wherever
you enjoy a literary nibble.

It's interesting to note that worldly, human Attar came to a
bad end. He was accused of heresy, his goods were plundered
and he was forced into exile. Can we hope for a better outcome
this time?

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN 9781601640005

5 out of 5 stars Wisdom of the Sufis - for any faith........2006-12-06

The writings of the Sufis are, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful and challenging spiritual works in existence. Rumi's works are currently undergoing something of a renaissance in the Western world but the name of Farid Ud-Din Attar is not as well known. This is unfortunate, since The Conference of the Birds provides, in my opinion, a much better insight into Sufi philosophy than the bits and pieces of Rumi floating about the New Age universe.

Attar's beautiful descpriptions, exqisite metaphors and delightful parables describe the stages on the soul's journey to union with God. An extended metaphor for the soul, the birds gather and travel through various valleys to reach the Simorgh - a state of ectstatic oneness with deity. The Hoopoe acts as the guide and provides answers to the bird's questions and doubts about the journey - usually with short illustrative tales. These tales are each tiny drops of gold, the longest being only a few hundred lines. The overarching theme is the denial of the self to gain ultimate bliss. This is no intellectual exercise and much of the advice given is shocking and revolutionary. In the extended tale of Sheik Sam'an, the Sheik leaves his faith and becomes a Christian for the love of a woman who ultimately spurns him. His apostasy and depravity astound his followers who swiftly abandon him. A Sufi teacher chastises them for their lack of faith and eventually they return to his side. Sam'an then reconverts and his love is converted too. The message would seem to be that to find God it may be necessary to abandon conventional notions of behaviour and faith and plunge forward with wild abandon, losing the self. Some of the stories may shock our sensibilities, and no doubt had the same effect on Attar's medieval audiences. A kind of counter-culture attitude is displayed in the book, with tales of romantic love between men and other "un-Islamic" behaviours challenging accepted norms.

As to the book itself, the translation is done in "heroic couplets" which according to the introduction, best suits the style of the arabic original. It at first seems a little stilted but soon lends a beauty of its own to the work. A fairly substantial introduction helps put the book in context and describes what is known of Attar's life and times. A biographical index is included which provides details on the many characters - often historical - who people the pages of the poem. This book is a beautiful little gem, filled with a lot of wisdom. It is definitely worth the read for members of any faith, even those who aren't practicing Sufis.

4 out of 5 stars Transcendent translation.......2006-11-05

I can't compare this poem to the original Farsi as I don't read that language, but this translation is amazingly readable. The reader gets enough notes and extra information to understand a bit of the context, but it never interferes with immersing oneself in this allegory of the journey toward union with the divine beloved. The individual birds on this journey come to life for the reader and the 13th century narrative literally takes off!

5 out of 5 stars A wonderful guide to self-realization.......2006-06-14

This book is a masterpiece on spirituality, self-search, self-identity and self-realization. It provides an unparallel and wonderful guide for reaching to oneself and God. The wonderful philosophy of Attar has the potential to change the world from greed, violence and chaos to self-discipline, love and peace. The book has the capacity to transform the mindsets of fidels and infidels alike to become the master of one's own persona. The book is a must read for anyone interested to know oneself and the world.

5 out of 5 stars A miraculous translation of a mystical masterpiece.......2005-11-23

Dick Davis's translation is more than extraordinary -- it is truly a miracle to see the beauty, eloquence and flow of this masterpiece richly rendered into the English language with rhyme and meter. A must in the collection of any sincere seeker of the Creator.
Pink Flamingos Gift Set (Running Press Mini Kits)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Pink Flamingos Gift Set
Pink Flamingos Gift Set (Running Press Mini Kits)
Kerry Colburn
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0762420278
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

Following the success of our previous retro, nostalgic Mini Kits™, this lighthearted kit sends up the classic tacky lawn ornament, scaled down to desktop size. A pair of mini flamingos with their own patch of lawn comes with a book celebrating America's beloved bauble of bad taste as a symbol of kitschy fun in the sun.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pink Flamingos Gift Set.......2007-01-09

Everyone was laughing when this gift was opened. It now sits proudly on the owners kitchen window. A neat little gift that brings a hint of nice weather all year round!
Peter's ABC Book: Peter Learns About Animals, Birds, Fishes, and Insects
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Peter's Alphabet
  • More than an ABC Book
Peter's ABC Book: Peter Learns About Animals, Birds, Fishes, and Insects
Robert Amft
Manufacturer: WhiteWalls
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0945323085

Book Description

The natural world is a magical maze in the eyes of a child—everything appears bigger and more colorful, and nothing is ordinary. With this in mind, Chicago artist and photographer Robert Amft designed an alphabet book for his son Peter. The result, beautifully published here, is a wholly unique children’s book chronicling Peter’s encounters with the everyday environment.

Originally conceived in the 1940s as a piece of art that could be published and sold by Amft’s wife if he was killed fighting in World War II, Amft invested the book as much with artistic skill and imagination as with love for his son. Amft’s arresting collages uniquely convey the complex and unpredictable ways that Peter, like so many young children, interacts with his surroundings. Alternately charming, unexpected, and mysterious, the images juxtapose and meld the natural and unnatural.

A richly illustrated book holding as many treasures for the attentive adult as for the inquisitive child, Peter’s ABC Book is a rare gift from a pivotal figure in American art.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Peter's Alphabet.......2007-03-31

This book is a little treasure. It has the art work of a rather reknowned artist while integrating the art into the alphabet. The ideas are so clever -- not the usual A is for Apple. This book is something that should be in every child's library.

5 out of 5 stars More than an ABC Book.......2007-01-15

What a unique alphabet book! The diversity of the creatures that Peter meets in what appears to be one day is amazing, and so well illustrated. A precursor to Photoshop.
American Indian Portrait Cards: 24 Lithographs from McKenney and Hall's "Indian Tribes" (Card Books)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    American Indian Portrait Cards: 24 Lithographs from McKenney and Hall's "Indian Tribes" (Card Books)
    Charles Bird King
    Manufacturer: Dover Publications
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0486271072

    Book Description

    Superb, finely detailed full-color reproductions of rare portraits, the first of their kind by an American painter. These 24 cards comprise an extraordinary gallery of realistically depicted American Indians of various tribes, shown in authentic costumes and regalia. Identifying captions and descriptive notes.
    The Gift of Birds: True Encounters with Avian Spirits (Travelers' Tales Guides)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Smuggling Pigeons by the Pimpernel.
    • Beyond Birds
    The Gift of Birds: True Encounters with Avian Spirits (Travelers' Tales Guides)

    Manufacturer: Travelers' Tales
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 1885211414

    Amazon.com

    When a bird stops to glance sideways at us, it is inviting us into its world, if only for a moment. A bird's song can transport us into distant realms of the imagination; the sight of birds in flight can reconnect us to childhood, and to what matters in life.

    Bird enthusiasts Larry Habegger and Amy Carlson have assembled an extended celebration of the restorative and mysterious powers of our winged fellow travelers, enlisting well-known and emerging writers alike. Among the standouts of their anthology is Sigurd Olson's homage to the loons of the wilderness lake country of northern Minnesota; Diane Ackerman's lyrical memoir of a sojourn among the endangered short-tailed albatrosses of East Asia, whose flight "is the wind's way of thinking about itself"; David James Duncan's provocative essay "Bird-Watching as a Blood Sport," which addresses the unfortunate power humans have over the animal world; Jake Page's excursion into the byways of the minds of humans and redbirds; and, best of all, Peter Matthiessen's journey to Siberia in search of the sandhill crane, "the oldest and largest of the earth's flying creatures."

    Birdwatching enthusiasts and students of nature writing alike will find much of value in this lively, well-chosen collection. --Gregory McNamee

    Book Description

    "Birds seem to understand something we have never understood about the freedom of movement...birds know no borders," declares one of the authors in this rich and varied collection of bird-inspired tales. They soar, they fly, they glide -- even our language for birds evokes travel of the most impassioned and graceful kind. For one with even a touch of wanderlust, birds in the wild embody the dream of pure, unadulterated freedom. And, sometimes subtlety, sometimes with a flourish, birds impart the nature of place -- its variety, its colors, its wildness, even its destruction.

    Whether it roots us in our own backyard or moves us across continents, birding also calls us to stillness, demands our keen attention to the details that flicker around us, so that we not miss a thing. For bird watchers, bird hunters, and just plain haters of bird poop, a story of avian wonder awaits.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Smuggling Pigeons by the Pimpernel........2005-09-09

    A retired old man was bored but poor, so he got into a smugggling avocation of sorts. His favorite booke he told an interested person was THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL about a renegade who saved prisoners from the guillotine during the French Revolution.

    When he had lots of spare time, he'd go to the railway station to dream of the places he wished he could visit if he had the money. There, he saw starving pigeons doomed to a lingering death. So he started off small on his smuggling a few very ill pigeons in a cardboard box to release them in the country. "Plenty of people object to pigeons flying in their faces and skimming over their heads." People like Whitt think their excrement is poison to humans.

    One day he almost missed the train and was helped on by a young woman who became his confidante. "First, you pick out your pigeon -- the most starved and persecuted." Handle it gently and pop it in the box. Get a few and start pretending you are the Pimpernel. "There's an advantage to being small," he explained, "who would take me for the Scarlet Pimpernel." Indeed, most people look the other way when they see an old poor person, man or woman.

    He spent the spring months enjoying his adventures smuggling the birds on the rails to freedom in the beechwoods of the villages. "I sprinkle some grain and lift out my bird. I open my hands and up he soars into the clear air, a country bird instead of a city bird." The air is healthier and there is natural food for the birds.

    A cheerful comradeship developed between the two unlike conspirators for the intrevening weeks; but, one day, he was no longer there. "Now, when I stroll around our village and a silvery-gray cloud of pigeons rises up feasting on beechnuts, I think: "The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Central rescued them. I was not likely to forget him." Reminds me of Robert Wrisley, wh'd do something similar and tell his big tales about imaginary travels around the world. Now, he is off to the big happy land in the sky where he can dream to his fullest extent and watch the pigeons flying around free and healthy, thanks to him.

    5 out of 5 stars Beyond Birds.......2002-01-20

    I confess to being a bit ignorant when it comes to birds. It's not that I don't like them, you understand. It's just that I have never felt compelled to follow them into marshes, rainfrests or tidal plains, record their songs, carry bincoulars, notebooks and field guides to identify them or attend the meetings of our local birdwatchers' club. On the other hand, I am great friends with the cardinal couple that visits the tree outside my window each morning and the java sparrows that nest in the eaves of the house next door. I have also made the acquaintance of several parrots in the neighborhood, and we get along just fine. So when I was given this collection of true stories to read, I thought, what the heck. Why not?

    Not only was I pleasantly surprised by the depth and range of the writing contained in this book, but I was touched by the effect birds have had on people's lives. The book is divided into 5 sections, each with its own unique set of stories. Some of my favorites include the following:

    In Part I - Vivid Encounters, Diane Ackerman tells of how she broke her ribs climbing down vertical volcanic cliffs on a Japanese island to see the last of the short-tailed Albatrosses.

    In Part II - Kindred Spirits, David Duncan confesses to having robbed a great horned owl's nest as a child.

    In Part III - Odd Ducks, Marie Winn tells of a magical day spent gettting lost and discovering birds in Central Park.

    In Part IV - Brushes with Divinity can be found the offerings of authors such as Peter Matthiessen's compelling description of his visit to the breeding grounds of the great cranes in Siberia.

    Part V - Ascending Song consists of a single offering by Kenn Kauffman (author of Kingbird Highway) who tells of finding and listening to the song of a skylark out in the San Juan Islands.

    There are many more of course, from writers as diverse as Alice Walker, Louise Erdrich and Bernd Heinrich. All in all this is a wonderful read that shouldn't be missed.

    Books:

    1. A Dog Is Listening: The Way Some of Our Closest Friends View Us
    2. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia
    3. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
    4. Acid Atmospheric Deposition and its Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems in The Netherlands (Studies in Environmental Science)
    5. Advanced Ecological Theory: Principles and Applications
    6. Advances in Ecological Research, Vol. 34: Classic Papers (Advances in Ecological Research)
    7. Advances in Historical Ecology
    8. African summer
    9. All You Need To Know About Dna, Genes And Genetic Engineering: A Concise, Comprehensive Outline
    10. "Almost a Man of Genius": Clemence Royer, Feminism, and Nineteenth-Century Science (Lives of Women in Science)

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