3 comments about Warman's McCoy Pottery: Identification and Price Guide (Warmans).

1. this book is a great book to have it tells you every little thing you need to know



2. ...is a great source of many of McCoy pieces. Good photos with year made, brief description and appraised value as of I believe 2004 (which still seems to be the going prices in 2007.) Book is divided into specific chapters: Cookie Jars, Crocks, Dinnerware, Experiments, Flower Pots, Jardinieres and Pedestals, Jars, Kitchenware, Lamps, Loy-Nel-Art, Misc. Pet Feeders, Planters, Signs, Vases and Flower Holders, Wall Pockets and Catalog covers.



3. Everything was fine. I was very pleased with the price and how soon the books were sent to me. Thank you!

5 comments about The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies.

1. Lots o' great info on both the Ride @ the Disney Theme Parks + the Movie [which I loath - sorry but the Haunted Mansion wasn't meant to be made into a 2 hour episode of the Fresh Prince of Bellaire, mmmkay ?] + the Haunted Mansion Holiday ....
   
   Future editions should drop all reference to the Movie, then spend more time on the Haunted Mansion Holiday [Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday makeover] + recent "changes" that occured in 2006 [I'd make it a 5 star if they did that] ....
   
   If you don't want to read the book, please buy it for the artwork
   [best priced Disney Merchandise vs. what you will pay @ the Theme Parks] ....
   
   ~(^)~



2. You buy this book thinking it's a great "behind-the-scenes" resource, but it's not. Yes, there is some background information, but the book skips confusingly from park to park, and offers very little technical information on the special effects. The photos are all standard Disney promotional stuff...this book tells you what Disney wants you to know, and nothing else.
   
   Go to doombuggies.com for a much better treatment of this classic ride.



3. This book is a must read for ALL ages and ANYONE interested in Disney theme park attractions around the globe. Any Disney fan knows that the Imagineers are very particular about what is revealed to the general public in terms of how they make their Disney 'magic' and I was pleasantly surprised (being an avid Disney fan myself) by the research that went into the making of this book and the amount of knowledge shared with the reader - it DOES in fact reveal some secrets of the mansion and never before seen history of the making of the attraction. (It confirms and dispels some rumors about the attraction once and for all too!) A pattern of discussion is followed throughout the book as you are verbally walked through the mansion's corridors and rooms. Surrell consistently covers the Haunted Mansion in a logical order (Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris) in every chapter. He takes the subject matter full circle by including information about how the attraction was translated to the big screen, and gives the reader insight to how decisions were made pertaining to set design, costume design, and casting for the movie of the same name. If you want an intelligent, thorough and enjoyable read about a classic Disney attraction, and especially an insight to the magic that is Imagineering, this is a MUST READ!



4. THis book was great! A ton of information on the ride! I couldnt put it down! It was great.



5. Excellent pictures, interesting information. This is a must have for Disney fans of the Haunted Mansion! It even covers Disney's other haunted mansions around the world, and the Haunted Mansion movie. Everything you ever wanted to know!

5 comments about Norman the Doorman (Picture Puffin).

1. A story of art appreciation and how it's possible for even a little mouse to be an artist. Norman has an important job as the doorman to the Majestic Art Museum where he lets mice in and tours them around the basement of the Art museum where there are many treasures. He acts as security guard, curator and tour guide for his portion of the museum and he takes great care and pride in each artifact. The only thing that causes a stir in the basement is when the sharp-eyed guard from the main museum comes down to set traps for the mice. Norman is clever and he has figured a way to take the cheese from the traps and set them off without hurting a whisker. His home is in the knight's helmet where he has a very comfortable setup and he spends his free time creating artwork. One day he decides to make a sculpture from the old traps and picture hanging wire. When he has finished his creation he is delighted and proud. Early the next morning he see a sign announcing a sculpture contest. Norman is very excited. He runs back in and titles his sculpture "Trapeese". Then he painstakingly carries it up the steps, through the main floor of the museum and puts his sculpture with the others. Norman was proud of his efforts. Once he got back home he sewed some buttons on his jacket and went about the business of being a doorman. Upstairs in the main hall everyone is talking about his sculpture and who had entered it. The judges questioned the guards about who had brought in the sculpture but none of them knew. When the sharp-eyed guard looked closer he figured that one of his mousetraps had been used for the sculpture. Downstairs he went into the basement, where he found Norman's home. Norman was waiting at the door cold and hungry for a party of country mice who were due to arrive at any time. The guard spots Norman who dashes off but is enticed out by a piece of cheese. The guard catches and questions Norman about using his mousetraps for artistic purposes, Norman's response is that "It's just a hobby, just my hobby!". Norman was sure he was being taken to jail. He was very surprised to hear the crowds shouting "Hooray for Trapeese!" The guard too was amazed and rushed to the judges' platform so that Norman could receive his award. When asked what he wanted, Norman indicated seeing the upstairs part of the museum without getting caught would be a good reward. So he was taken on a grand tour of the entire art museum. When Norman returned to the basement, he found the country mice waiting for him and he shared the large piece of cheddar cheese that the kind-hearted guard had given to him. The story ends with Norman warm and snug in his helmet. I just loved this book!



2. This book is a visual and literary play on the ever-inspiring animal name of dormouse. These are a kind of rodent that in some ways resemble a squirrel. Every humor writer who has ever seen that name has wanted to have fun with it. The wonderful Don Freeman (of Corduroy fame) takes that artistic license one step further by building a Horatio Alger story around his door mouse and doing his own renditions of paintings and sculptures in this beautiful volume. Puns and fun abound, so keep an eye out for them!

   Norman is clearly a door mouse, he even has a door mouse's uniform (just like those you see on Park Avenue in New York). His door is around the back of the Majestic Museum of Art. It is well hidden, and he brings in small creatures that way for tours of the art works in the museum's basement. In addition to his docent duties, he has established a studio in the helmet of some old armor, using the visor as a skylight. From there, he paints and sculpts. Life does present challenges though, because the sharp-eyed upstairs guard is always setting traps with cheese. Norman is able to disable them, and brings the spare parts to his home.

   The story develops when one day Norman notices that there is a sculpture competition going on. Using mouse trap parts, he makes his own sculpture and names it punnily trapeese (trap and cheese being the sources) because it appears to be a mouse doing acrobatics holding onto a high wire.

   Norman drags his sculpture into the room where the competition is being held, without being seen. Then the fun begins!

   The story ends with one final pun. "Good Knight."

   The plot is a very rewarding one, creating the sort of inspiration that books about "little engines that could" do. I have always been impressed with friends who could make a lot out of a little. It's a gift I do not have. This book is a worthy example of that principle. You can extend the lesson by discussing with your child how she or he might create something wonderful out of something else, including "junk."

   Art lovers will find the illustrations to be a great treat. Mr. Freeman has created wonderful reproductions of works by many major artists, which he sneaks into scenes of Norman in the museum. I was particularly impressed by one Miro, where even the signature is faithfully reproduced in pastels.

   You can also use this story to suggest going to an art museum. You can even go around the base of the building to see if you can find any door mice, or holes where they might be hiding. This can help you find arts wherever you go!

   However you decide to use this book, I encourage you to renew your artistic license so you can explore the world of created beauty with your children and grandchildren in museums!




3. Norman the door-mouse welcomes discriminating rodents to view the paintings and sculptures stored in the basement of the Majestic museum. In his spare time, Norman has his own studio in a knight's helmet, which is also a good hiding place from the security guard! He cleverly uses an old mousetrap to create his own wire sculpture of a mouse swinging on a mousetrap, and enters it into a museum competition. There's a lot of visual humor, and Freeman makes the whole tuxedo-ed affair look fun and interesting, and there's a suspenseful subplot involving the guard trying to find Norman. (No animals were injured in the writing of the book.) There's a nice warm simplicity to Freeman's soft but colorful pastel illustrations; they're drawn with such ease that both they and the story may stimulate your own creative energy. Another excellent book from Freeman!



4. As a children's librarian, I highly recommend this classic tale of kindness by Don Freeman. I purchased this book to send to a very kind and polite student at Brown University! Our world needs to be reminded that random acts of kindness and politeness, like holding a door make life more enjoyable for all. Hooray for all of the door holders throughout the world!



5. This book is a really good one to use for teaching sculpture. The mouse in the story creates a tiny sculpture and is rewarded for it. I usually read this book to my students and discuss sculptures and its characteristics. Then we create a sculpture out of wires and various items. (can also use pipe cleaners) Cute story!

5 comments about Medieval Costume in England and France: The 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries.

1. I bought this book because I needed a read and was busted at the time. This book reminds me of my 10th grade reasearch paper. Short clips, pictures second hand. It contained very little actual information on the period,reasons or construction. I give it one point for effort and another because it has pictures. It might be good for an elementary school or junior high library to do a short paper with. Otherwise save your pennies.



2. Absolutely love this book. Though it is simple, I feel it's one of the essential clothing books if you're doing recreations. The layouts are great, the explanations well-done, and there are easy-to-follow diagrams for patterns. Documentation in the form of illuminated manuscripts and rubbings from funerary monuments, etc, also are VERY helpful. Personally, I don't make a single thing without consulting this book at least once!



3. I use this book as a refrence for all of my hopelades and Surcotes, and several of my men's things. I love this book!!



4. Very informative. Excellent historical reference. Describes the hows and whys of fashion evolution the 13th through the 15th centuries, very well. An informative and interesting resource.



5. Medieval Costume in England and France provides a great overview of the different styles of garb during the specified periods. It is divided by century, and further grouped by Royal/Religeous/Common styles. The line drawings are helpful in giving a general idea of how the different styles look. There are some general layout illustrations that would be helpful to an experienced sewer, but a beginner would need additional information to create the look, not provided by this book. ("The Medieval Tailor's Assistant" is perfect for this additional sewing information) I'm not a historian, so I can't comment on the reliability of the sources, but as a newcomer to the SCA I found this book very helpful in finding garb that would fit chosen personna. There are excellent historical descriptions, and frequent reference to sources. For what it intends to offer, this is an excellent book.

2 comments about Clifford The Firehouse Dog (Clifford).

1. Clifford and his adventures are always very popular in my classroom. Some may argue that many of Clifford's adventures are a stretch, they are nonetheless captavating to a young audience. In this edition, Clifford after being introdcued to the role of firefighters and the importance of fire safety gets a chance to be a fire rescue dog is his own right. The book is a great seque into fire safety and prevention.



2. We started our Clifford journey with "Clifford the Big Red Dog". It is a really good story. The others are not as enjoyable from a parent perspective. This sone is nice that it has fire safety eduction in it. It's not so nice that Clifford destroys a man's fruit stand and just laughs it off.

5 comments about Buried Treasures You Can Find: Over 7500 Locations in All 50 States (Treasure Hunting Text).

1. This book contains a few interesting and potentially helpful tidbits of information for the treasure hunter. However, most of the information about the "7500 locations" is often little more than can be had from reading the "Welcome to..." signs found as you drive into town. If you expect to have a handy collection of ideas to keep you and your metal detector busy, then this book will be a disappointment.



2. But this writer simply tried to cut too wide a swath. I'd have preferred fewer lost treasures and more information on those.



3. This book is great. It has many great places to look for treasure in every state. The author has done years of research to find many old ghost towns, buried treasure stories, and many other places. It gives tips on metal detecting, but seems to have been paid by Garrett Metal Detectors to advertise and show their detectors in this book. It also informs you how to find good places to look. This book is a masterpiece and very interesting even if you are not going out to look for lost treasures of yesterday.



4. it listing a lot of tips 7500---however since it list so many tips--- needless to say it can only give a brief bit on each one----its a good starting point of "local treasure stories /tales" in your state & area that you then must go and do the "leg work" to flesh out the rest of the story. if you are a research based type hunter its a good starting point--- "tips" to get you started ---if you expect ---"well go the the corner of elm and jones street in zippytown,florida and walk seven feet east --dig five feet down and you'll be set for life ---well get real --if it was that easy the bookwriter would do it. good hunting to all.



5. Very happy with this book. Came in a timely manner was very easy to read and thoroughly enjoyed it.

5 comments about Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide.

1. this book is awesome is very informative, and if you know anything about the hip hop era then this book should be added to a persons collections.



2. This book is great to look at even if you're not into sneakers. Beautifully presented design and layout, and great history details. A good oversight of all the significant brands and their best creations.



3. A great look at most of the shoes in each of the major companies respective ranges. While the descriptions and info on the shoes are pretty scant, the pictures more than make up for that. The best part of running through this book is getting hit with the nostalgia that comes with seeing so many products from the not-so-distant past. A nice modern coffee table (or ottoman, I suppose) book. Air Max 1s are the best shoes ever.



4. This is a great compilation of the shoes that make up the ever expanding sneaker culture. But it is by no means the COMPLETE guide. Lots of great shoes that didn't make it into the book and some that should have been left out. All in all, it should definitley be in your collection.



5. Bought this for my boyfriend (who is a sneakerhead) and he loves it. High quality print, bright pages, covers many of the classic brands and at an excellent price - best price I've seen for this book and I've looked for it elsewhere. Definetly recommended.

2 comments about Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis.

1. Here you can witness Freud not as the straw man stereotype that so many despise but as a warm, humorous man with a great deal of vision. The man you encounter in this book is so different from what you would expect that I warmly recommend this to anyone with an inquiring mind.

   He was a genius.




2. This is the best introduction to Freud's ground-breaking psychological theories, now so much maligned and obscured by the apologists for the pharmaceutical stupefaction and mollification that now passes for psychiatry and keeps our bankrupt culture lurching forward.
   
   It takes courage to read this book with an open mind, but if you do you can't but gain new insight into yourself and the people around you. The prose is delightful-- erudite, lucid, penetrating (ha!), and illustrated with beautifully observed examples from literature, history, and Freud's own life and practice.

5 comments about Sistah for Sale: A Novel.

1. Sienna grew up in Miami's sex-trade industry after her father was killed and her mother was deported. Sienna entered into the world of prostitution while being in the care of her father's business partner Chatman. Sienna quickly learns that if she wants the best of what life has to offer then she needs to become one of Chatman's best call girls. Sienna's life takes a dramatic turn when she learns the truth about her mother's whereabouts and Chatman's role in it. Now Sienna tries to gain her independence by learning the different languages and cultures of her wealthy clients. Sienna is trying to escape the sex-trade life by any means necessary but Chatman won't let her go without a fight.
   
   Sistah For Sale is an engrossing novel by Miasha. Miasha dives readers in head first into to Miami sex-trade. From the very first page, you know that this will not be your ordinary urban tale. Miasha flexed her creative muscle in creating Sienna. You will see how Sienna goes from being a scared orphan little girl to a street smart and calculating young woman. Sienna was trying to get out of her current situation by educating herself about different worldly affairs. There are a few twists to the plot in this story that will definitely keep you on your toes. Sistah For Sale is full of the superb trademark drama and memorable characters that Miasha is known for.
   
   Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
   for Urban Reviews



2. I WAS TO BE TOTALLY HONEST PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT I WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK. I READ MOMMY'S ANGEL I WASN'T FEELING THAT BOOK AT ALL!!! THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED THAT AS I BEGAN READING THIS BOOK I FOUND IT INTRIGUING, EROTIC,AND EXCITING I BARELY WANTED TO PUT IT DOWN UNTIL I WAS DONE!!! THE AUTHOR BLEW ME AWAY WITH THIS ONE,SO MUCH SO THAT I GOING TO CHECK OUT HER OTHER 2 BOOKS!!!! KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK, I'M PROUD THAT U ARE A NATIVE PHILADELPHIAN!!!U REP'D US WELL, GO A'HEAD AND POP YOUR COLLAR GIRL !!!!



3. This definitely gives you a one clear view of the sex trade. It doesn't go into detail of the mechanics behind the actual "business" but it is written in a way to put you there visually. Just like "Diary of a Mistress" by Miasha, this book has its own twists to send you on a ride; you don't see the twists coming. Doesn't take long to read this one either. It is definitely a must-read and will make a good book for book clubs to discuss.



4. Miasha has done it again. This book was hot!!! So many twists and turns throughout the whole book I never knew what to expect next. It's a book that I would definitely recommend to all those out there looking for a good read



5. I thought this book would be real hot--don't get me wrong its a good read but I expected more.

5 comments about Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records (Goldmine Price Guide to 45 Rpm Records).

1. I have found this to be the most informitive book on 45's that I have ever read. Not only does it give you a guideline on the value of the records in your collection, but it also gives you information on the artists such as other groups the artist has been with and the groups that have changed their names over their careers



2. Has just about every record ever made with its corresponding value. Only thing not listed are instrumentals.



3. Not relevant for todays market !
   I whis I could buy some of the soul, garage and freakbeat records listed there for the prices they estimate !! And the mainstream records are listed too high ! Buy the Jerry Osbourne price guide instead !!
   (and the colour section section pages fell out after one read)
   Avoid this !



4. over and over,neelys guides come out faithfully showing all the wonderfull records you would love to own,stating decent prices anyone would wanna pay for them ..and then hits you in ther gutt by telling you they arent worth a third of that amount to dealers.
   when it comes to books like these everyone suddenly becomes a dealer.
   or else the near mint pricing is all anyone looks at.
   its a good book but its repetitive of all the other books hes done.and in fairness,all the other writers books too who do yearly record guides.
   and when it comes to showing scans of rare records..welp..it looks good but it doesnt make me wanna run out and buy them.
   in other words a collector can own one of these..preferably this book..and never buy another one because the info will not change much.
   just the packing and covers.
   still..a good xamas gift ands hard work involved.



5. This book is a fantastic resource for any collector, especially an amateur like me. After I learned how to "read" the entries, it was very easy to get the information I needed, and I learned quite a lot about the valueof the records I grew up with, as well as the picture sleeves which are often worth far more than the vinyl!