1 comments about Janice VanCleave's Teaching the Fun of Science (Vancleave, Janice Pratt. Janice Vancleave Science for Every Kid Series.).

1. I highly recommend this book to teachers. The experiments are easy and fun. The directions are easy and the materials are general items from around the house. I bought this book because I was doing a rock study for my grade three classroom. The first day, I did a demonstration experiment on the compression of rock over time. I used three pieces of bread (white, brown and rye)and stepped on them as the experiment said. My kids loved it and they understood the lesson! The next day, several of the kids had decided among themselves to bring one extra slice of bread and so, they had an impromptu lab during lunch time!
   
   I used that lunchtime to write the lab up on chart paper and the kids were thrilled. I ended up doing a lab every morning and writing the lab up too. After a month, I had the kids write their own labs. It is invaluable to teach them a love of science and to impress on them the ease of technical lab-writing terms. Now, they pick the lab the day before or even try a variation of it to demonstrate in class. In order to demonstrate it though, they must write the lab before hand.
   
   This is the best science book around. If you are a teacher in grades 2-6, it is invaluable.

3 comments about Barbie Doll Around the World 1964-2007: Identification & Values.

1. Once again, Michael Augustyniak gives us another wonderfully informative book, but this time on those very hard to find Barbie dolls from the foreign markets. Michael breaks the book down by country, and those include, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Venezuela.
   
   As in his other books, Michael gives a picture of the doll and a close up on the face. Barbie, Ken, Skipper and Kelly, among others, are featured. The years range from 1964 to 2007 with over 350 pages and a break down of Barbie's foreign family tree and celebrity friends. With this overwhelming task of finding these obscure dolls, some lines are not complete, but this book is well worth the price for any Barbie collector.
   
   This is a useful and fun book about Barbie dolls around the world.



2. Good job indeed! I always like Augustyniak's works as he's very accurate in his descriptions and shares also lovely pictures of dolls which are important to guide collectors within the huge world of Barbie dolls. I especially appreciated this book about international versions of dolls as I'm Italian and recognized many of them as sold in my country alone. It was also useful to know about special editions from other countries such as Japan or Philippines. Thanks Michael, as I said: a good job indeed! :-)



3. Barbie Doll Around the World: Identification & Values 1964-2007 is a top pick for any specialty Barbie collection or for lending libraries seeking to go beyond the general antiques and collectibles guides to get specific about the most collectible items. Barbie dolls are among the most highly collected types of dolls, so if you're a public lending library seeking a popular collectible guide, make it BARBIE DOLL AROUND THE WORLD: it covers all kinds of Barbie collectibles, not just USA issues.

3 comments about Medieval Arms and Armor: A Pictorial Archive (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. Reproducedfrom a book originally published in Germany in 1903, this book contains more than a hundred pages of drawings of weapons, and particularily of armor from about 780 to the mid 1600's. The descriptions that go along with the illustrations are very well done and describe points that should be noted about the illustrations. These have been taken from the original German and specially translated for this edition.
   
   Covering such a long period of time, the development of styles of armor and the details of construction. I found the discussion on points like gauntlets, elbow protectors and the like to be more complete than anywhere else I've seen. They are based on drawings of the earliest equipment, burial monuments, and from the fifteenth century through the Thirty Years War on extant examples of plate armor.
   
   Very well done.



2. I bought this for my 10 year old grandson for Christmas. He is really interested in medieval history. He was so excited that he kept going back to this book between opening other presents.



3. It is full of detailed drawings of armor and weapons so in case you wish to know what something looks like without having to search all over the place for it, this book is worth it. It does not have a large amount of text explaining the weapons and armor though.

5 comments about Seabiscuit: An American Legend.

1. I loved this book !! It made me feel as though I was there watching the drama unfold as the unknown underestimated horse rose to champion status. The characters are real and the story is built piece by piece. If you like rooting for the underdog and enjoy the thrill of competition, this book is for you. The large print of this edition was easy on the eyes as well.



2. This narrative leaps out of the first paragraph in the same way Seabiscuit learns to bolt from the starting gate. From the start, Laura Hillenbrand draws the reader into the story with colorful, taut writing. There are no meaningless side stories in this book - each detail weaves itself back into the tale of a horse who beat the odds to become one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
   This story is gripping even if you have no interest in horseracing.



3. This book is a true American legend at its best. "Seabiscuit" was written by Laura Hillenbrand based on a true story of one horse and jockey's incredible life. This biography is set in the 1930's and 1940's and takes you on a journey with someone and something that no one believed in until they were given a chance to prove themselves. The perseverance of these two characters is admirable; they never give up, no matter what. The jockey, John Pollard, was struggling in life until given the shot to show he was more than just an average jockey. Seabiscuit, on the other hand, is my favorite character; he never accepts the possibility of losing. Pollard and Seabiscuit's relationship started when trainer Tom Smith paired them together out on the racetrack. I love that they were given a chance to prove everyone wrong by winning race after race with odds stacked against them; both had been injured numerous times. Read about how they smashed people's disbelief and made history, performing one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports. The theme of "never giving up no matter what" would most likely interest people who enjoy sports novels. "Seabiscuit" is truly the greatest sports story of all time.



4. Seabiscuit is a great story, book, and movie. If you have not read it, buy it today and start reading. You will not be disappointed.



5. I have recently read Seabiscuit and watched the film and found both to be very compelling. We dont think much anymore about the dark days of the Depression but Laura Hillenbrand puts us right back in the middle of it. The important lesson was to look to the future as Charles Howard implored, the sun will come up tomorrow.
   
   Three incredible characters intersect with this horse of unknown promise. Howard is the wealthy owner, despondent over the death of his son and unsure how to live the life of leisure; Red Pollard is a jockey not able to break into the big-time, due to his attitude, blindness, and injuries; Tom Smith is a taciturn man who belongs in the 19th century of his youth, not the modern world. Together they develop and promote Seabiscuit, a horse of incredible bloodlines, yet given up on by better trainers due to his work habits, attitude, injuries, and size.
   
   Eventually the Biscuit wins all the stakes in the state of California and gets a shot at a match race with the great Eastern horse and Triple Crown winner, War Admiral. Both horses are descendants of the great Man'o'war, but the eastern elites dont want to give the western upstart his chance. After a few cancellations due to injuries and prickly owners, the match race goes off in Baltimore and the smaller horse brings it home.
   
   The book is more enlighting with respect to the fuller stories of the characters, especially the relationship between the jockeys and Pollard's romance and marriage to a Boston nurse. The movie brings the times to life. Howard and Pollard were the raconteurs who made Seabiscuit the hero of the little guys during those lean years. Dont forget, tough times dont last but tough guys do.
   
   Ms. Hillenbrand is an equally interesting story. She suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and is only able to work at a fraction of the typical writer. Here she focused her energy on this story and these times. Seabiscuit has been the story many times in film and books but Ms. Hillenbrand brings it to life for us.

5 comments about 2008 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001 to Date (Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date).

1. I got two books and shipment was very good. Books arrived in good condition. Thanks.
   Cem Barlok



2. If there is a coin started from 1980 until 2006 (this book will not mention that this coin has minted from 1980, it will show this coin's mint from 2001) so from my point view this is confusing - at least should give a note for this.
   so if I don't have books for previous years, 100% I will not know that a particular coin have previous mints.
   
   regards



3. So here we go again... The second edition of a largely unnecessary book (if Krause could drop the "patterns, pieforts etc." sections in the 20th century volume, the two volumes would fit perfectly in one) which seems quite dated the very moment it is published - only in case of some countries you get issues up to 2005. The policy of dating the catalogue "for the coming year" makes the gap even more painfully visible.
   At the same time the second edition does not fill blank spaces left in the first one. Let me give you just one example - Belarus, a country which issues only commemorative coins in moderate mintages but an impressive number. Let's look up the most popular denomination - copper-nickel 1 rouble. 2001 - 2 out of 4 are missing, 2002 - 4 out of 5, 2003 - listing complete, 2004 - 5 out of 10 missing, 2005 - 1 out of 10, and that is the end. Nothing from 2006 and 2007. You don't believe me? Don't take my word for it, check the website of the National Bank of Belarus. It is in English. The editors apparently did not.
   That's the catch - most of the information this catalog is missing is readily available on the Internet. Updating the catalogue would take a week at most and that would include looking up current coin prices on eBay. Because the prices are just as dated as the rest, they don't take into consideration the rise of silver and gold and the fall of the dollar in relation to other currencies.
   However, so far no one has done it better and that is the saddest part. So if you don't have the week to browse the Internet, and want information on recently issued coins in a reasonably handy volume, go ahead and buy it. Just remember that the editors did not have the week as well, and you, at some point, will have to do their research anyway.



4. Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (Standard Catalog of World Coins)This is a generic catalog. The price was competitive and the shipping reasonable.



5. This animal is good for pointing out many coins that may be missed in the smaller magazines and at trade shows. However it is a catalog, about the size of a phone book and with so few advertisers that they are negligible.
   
   There are no fancy color pictures just coins and lots of them divided into countries; so many coins that it can make your head spin if you are not searching for a particular theme. The shallow part of the book is the depth of time.
   
   This version came out before the Euro however I am collecting Notgeld and trade dollars.
   
   When I write reviews I look for a stumper or two. Well this book passed. I looked up the "Wailbligen 100". Sure as shoot'n there it was with an explanation and references to Porcelain coins.

1 comments about Random Lot of comic books.

1. I consider myself very lucky to have found this vender, I'm always amazed at the quality and service I receive. Thank you, James

5 comments about Meet Samantha: An American Girl (American Girls Collection, Book 1).

1. The charming American Girls series introduces young readers
   to five different protagonists of various ethnic backgrounds, from five eras in American history. Each heroine has 4-6 short books in her individual setting. Each book includes historical data and photographs which provide authentic details of that particular time frame.

   Here we meet nine-year-old Samantha, a well-to-do Victorian miss in Turn-of-the-Century America. Pampered but restricted (in her speech, curiosity, clothing and activities) Samantha interacts with various servants in her Grandmother's home. Then she meets a new, but poor working girl next door--her first real
   friend. This is an age when children were supposed to be Seen but not Heard; she witnesses the dawn of women's struggle for emancipation. This series presents likeable girls caught up in both the historical events and social movements of their day. This is Fiction Plus--a valuable literary concept which offers insight into the contributions of immigrants. Some themes are universal, regardless of era or nationality, like the dreams and frustrations of growing up, which today's American girls can easily understand. Fast and light reading which teaches as it
   entertains, (...)




2. Meet Samantha is an excellent book. It is about a young girl whose parents died when she was 5 years old. Now she lives in the country with her grandmother. Samantha's grandmother does not like to make changes. Samantha meets a young girl named Nellie who is working for another family next door. Nellie's parents and two sisters live in the city and work at a factory. The suggested reading level is ages 7 and up but I think that the Samantha series is wonderful for anyone.



3. Meet Samantha is an excellent way to introduce young girls to the genre of historical fiction. The vocabulary used in the book helps set the tone to be transported to the early 1900's. The actions of the characters also inform readers of the differences between the early 1900's and the time period we are living in now. A very informative addition to the book is located after the story. It is called looking back-changes for America in 1904. This section of the book gives facts about the time period in which the book is set accompanied by photos of the time period. Both the story and this added feature would enable the reader to learn a lot about the early 1900's. This book certainly opens the door for discussion about the changes that have come about in our country and how those changes affect everyone who lives in America. This book will be enjoyed by many young girls because they will be able to relate to the main characters and their newly formed friendship. Readers will sympathize with Nellie's situation and cheer on Samantha who does everything she can to help her have fun!



4. I read the book Meet Samantha. This book is interesting. This book is more of an adventure book of her life.
   In this story Samantha becomes friends with a girl from the orphanage. I learned some interesting facts. I learned that when you become something you can't pretend to be that anymore. Also I learned that if you are a good person you are going to become a good person. I would recommend this book for three reasons. First reason it tells you how Samantha worked just to become someone's friend. The second reason is when you start reading you just can't stop. Third, when you are reading this book I think you are going to like it. Meet Samantha is an exciting.



5. I first came across this book about fifteen-years ago when I was in the fourth grade. It was library day, and this was the book that I picked to read. I read the first chapter in the library, and spent the remainder of the day hiding the book underneath my desk, so my teacher wouldn't notice that I was reading. I got caught anyway.
   
   Anyway, this is a great collection about a weathly nine-year-old girl named Samantha who is growing up in the year 1904. In the first chapter we learn that her grandmother is raising her because her parents were killed in a motorboat accident. We learn more about that tragedy later on in the Samantha book series.
   
   One day Samantha sees a girl about her age doing the laundry at the house next door. Samantha's neighbors are also well to do, and they have a spoiled son named Eddy, who likes to tease Samantha.
   After Samantha talks to this girl she finds out that her name is Nellie, and that her family sent her to work as a servant girl because in New York City Nellie was working long hours in a dusty, factory. This was before child labor laws.
   
   Another thing that Samantha witnesses is that her grandmother's seamstress, Jessie has left her job. Jessie, nor her grandmother will tell her why. One night, Nellie and Samantha hatch a plan to go to Jessie's house to find out why. In the next chapter you get to deal with racism in the early 20th century.
   
   I think this is a wonderful book for a parent to buy, and read to their kids. The book tells a story about a young girl growing up in the early 20th century. It gives a lesson about child labor, and paints a picture of racism. The child will learn that these two subjects are very wrong.
   
   I just hope that one day the books in this series are not edited like so many of the classics have been.

1 comments about Cap Guns: With Values.

1. A great book with quality photographs for beginners to identify and price collectible cap guns. A must for the novice.

3 comments about Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising, 3rd Edition: Antique, Period, and Modern.

1. Anna Miller, in her recently updated version (9-99) of "The Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising", gives a novice or a professional some expert information in this edition. The concepts and principles section alone is worth the price of the book, but her book also covers everthing from making the "correct identification" to tips on the appraisal document itself. Also included is supplemental info. on antique jewelry, estimating values and appraisal narrative, plus weight estimation formulas for unusual diamond cuts. I would suggest her book to anyone with an interest in appraising or anyone who has the need to understand the process of jewelry evaluation.



2. As advertised, no problems whatsoever!



3. Maybe you think the fine art of jewelry appraising is one of determining value alone - but there's so much more to the skill, as Registered Master Valuer and jewelry historian Anna Miller reveals in Illustrated Guide To Jewelry Appraising 3rd Edition: Antique, Period & Modern. Her updated, expanded new third edition combines case studies and typical valuation challenges with key documents to aid in the pricing process, instructions on how to do a narrative jewelry description, a methodology for research, and much more. Loaded with practical, technical data, Illustrated Guide To Jewelry Appraising should not be missed by any serious jewelry collector.

5 comments about 100 Greatest U.S. Coins.

1. Pardon the pun but I couldn't help it. Why Amazon shows this as a just-released book is odd; I saw it in a bookstore some time ago. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully realized works to appear in some time. Its 200 pages are divided into description and a stunning photograph. The book appeals to all levels.
   
   At a dinner party its placement on the coffee table is sure to engender conversation..."May I top off your drink while we review the Earring Dollar?" As a historical tome it presents the social, political and economic forces at work when these were minted. And for the coin lover it is pure "gold", a work that is simultaneously interesting, informative and pleasing to the eye.
   
   The list, from a survey of the Professional Numismatists Guild, includes some well-known and some not so popular coins. One may argue with the list but it was composed by the best experts in the field and based on a criterion the uninitiated cannot understand. Of course there is the 1804 Silver Dollar (which we now know was not even minted in that year). There is also (in my opinion) an abundance of gold vs silver and copper. Yes, they are stunning coins and yes they are exorbitantly priced but they are not as well known. How many folks, for example, are aware that a four dollar gold piece was once issued?
   
   Needless to say, the coins presented here are beyond the reach of the ordinary layman - or even the extraordinary one in some cases. But you can look and dream to your heart's content with this edition.



2. My husband dabbles in coin collecting and while Christmas shopping for something coin-related for him at Amazon.com I found a review of this book that sold me. When my husband opened the gift he was thrilled, saying "this is exactly the kind of book I love!" As a long-time admirer of the beauty in coins, not just the collectability, he is in seventh heaven when perusing the pages of this well-written and beautifully photographed book.I would highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in coins.



3. Just an incredible book. Beautiful color pictures and very interesting information on each coin. A complete history on each coin, market value and a very detailed description of each coin. This book isn't just for coin collectors. This book is for anyone who has an interest in the history of U.S. coins. A truly excellent addition to anyone's library.



4. 100 Greatest Comic Books100 Greatest American Currency Notes: The Stories Behind The Most Colonial, Confederate, Federal, Obsolete, and Private American Notes
   
   I found this book to be a very interesting read. This book should be in every numismatist book collection. The updated version is a plus, what with the constant fluctuation of prices and weekly auction sales. Even top coin conventions are referencing this book when rare coins are on display and showcased. It was neat to see the "number 52 listed coin" at the recent Long Beach Coin Show. It put things into more perspective for me.. just a little bit more tangible that these coins "really" exist and can be viewed from time to time. Whitman also has top 100 lists for comic books and paper money that are very informative and fun to read.
   It would have been nice to see the published coins in their encapsulated form (if slabbed)in my opinion. Overall an awesome coffee table book.



5. Lovely book with ample and generously sized pictures (even tho I would love full-page sized!). This is indeed a beautiful coffee table book that will interest even the novice coin collector.