3 comments about A Pilgrim's Guide to Rome: 2000: Holy Year of Jubilee.

1. A fine pocket volume, this book is a must for the spiritual pilgrim. McGurn writes a scholarly and historic tome which covers every aspect of Rome for the Millennium traveller. It has beautiful line illustrations by Curtis Tappenden, which complement the text.



2. A very informative and portable book to help maximize your travels to Rome in the year 2000. Highlights on the significance of the Jubilee 2000 and significant sights in the city. Includes religious, geographical and cultural information that a traveler will find helpful.



3. As a specialist in Vatican/Holy See International and Diplomatic Affairs,former cultural attache for the Consul for Vatican-American Cultural, Educational and Intellectual Affairs and a staff volunteer with the U.S. Bishop's Secretariat for the Jubilee I found McGurn's Pilgrim's Guide to be an excellent near perfect pocket guide for pilgrims, both Catholic and non-Catholic traveling to Rome. I used the book in June of 1999 for a pre-Jubilee factfinding trip. It provides details on those topics of great interest to those on pilgrimage to Rome, e.g. history of the Holy See's celebration of the Jubilee, information on the shrines integral to the Jubilee experience and important Holy Year 2000 dates and correlating Holy See events. I used the book continuously and carried it with me throughout my trip. On the other hand, as a pocket guide I would have preferred a more reality based and accurate map. The book's map is not precise and the traveler is required to buy an additional map to carry along with the book--on pilgrimage one wants to carry as little as possible and only the essentials. Another reality of the book one must accept is the general nature of the book's "pilgrim to Rome" related information. Its early publication required the book to have an early information cut-off date. This precluded the book from including more current information. In addition, I did not find any reference in the book to any of the offices in Rome dealing with Jubilee/pilgrim events, services or information or a reference citing where to go if one had non-Holy See Jubilee Rome specific questions--especially English speaking pilgrims. There are at least three different offices in downtown Rome working with the Holy See to coordinate Jubilee events in Rome proper. None of these were mentioned. Being a resourceful person I found these on my own. Nor was there any mention of the various Jubilee websites which are available and can be accessed while one is on pilgrim in Rome. These can be a helpful complement to the book. Apostolic nunciatures and various Bishops' Conferences all have established Jubilee networks and contacts-- noting the Jubilee-Rome contacts of the international Bishops' Conferences, if applicable, would have also been helpful. All in all, however, I was extremely glad I had this guidebook on hand. The empty pages in the back of the book proved to be a perfect place to enter important and current Jubilee information. This space proved invaluable--keeping one from having to pull-out an additional pad of paper. Despite a few shortfalls, this is a very, resourceful and perfectly sized guide--not too thick or cumbersome to handle while in transit on foot in busy Rome. There is no doubt this book is an excellent handy guide which for many will be one of their preferred guides for their pilgrimage to Rome during the Holy Year 2000.

No comments about Max celebra el Año Nuevo chino (Max Celebrates Chinese New Year) (Read-It! Readers En Espanol).

No comments about Miffy's Happy New Year!.

4 comments about This Next New Year.

1. I read this beautifully illustrated book to my class of 25 preschoolers on Chinese New Year's day. They loved it! They could so identify with the young boy and his quest for good luck. One student exclaimed at the end of the book..."that's it, I'm going right home to clean my closet!" I overheard several children saying that their palms were itching. I have a very diverse group of children this year, from many countries, so this book really spoke to them.I highly reccommend it!



2. A great and interesting book for children age 3-7. Kids love it. Teaches children about different traditions, good habbits. Especially good for introducing your little ones to Asian culture.



3. I sent this to my grandson who is now living in Hong Kong and he loves it so much he sleeps with it. He is almost 3 and insists on having this read to him every night. I think it makes him feel more at home in this new place by incorporating the Chinese traditions that he experienced for the first time this year. Although I haven't read it, I can only comment on it from a child's point of view, and that should be a good barometer for other children.



4. My 4-yr-old son has three shelves of children's books in his closet, and out of all them this is my favorite. The beautiful flow of the text makes it a joy to read every time!

5 comments about D Is For Dragon Dance.

1. 
   It's a given that we can learn a great deal from other cultures, other customs, and there's not a better time to start than when we're young. "D Is For Dragon Dance" is both entertaining and educational as it tells about the Chinese New Year with all its color and unique traditions (my favorite is how youngsters greet the New Year by honoring their parents!)
   
   An alphabet book, it begins with "A is for Acrobats," takes us through to K and L for Kites and Lanterns, then concludes with "Z is for Zodiac," explaining that the Chinese calendar is a 12 year cycle with each year represented by a different animal.
   
   Yongsheng Xuan has created boldly colored full page illustrations in watercolor, acrylic and latex. They're all eye-poppers.
   
   Also included is an author's note with tips to ensure good fortune in the New Year (clean the house before the New Year starts and light firecrackers to scare off evil spirits, etc.) Plus, there's a recipe for dumplings called "New Year's Dumpling Delight."
   
   "D is for Dragon Dance" is a sure kid pleaser bound to elicit lots of interesting dinner table conversations.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. D is for Dragon Dance is an absolutley beautiful book that has information on the Chinese New Year done so in an A to Z fashion.
   
   Each page is a work of art because if you look at it you will notice that underneath each drawing is Chinese Characters, some represent a single word and others a saying. The characters where done in 4 different calligraphy styles 3 from the dynasty they where from and 1 in the cursive or grass style. On the last page of the book in the author's note, under the artist note you will see the word Dragon and how it looks in each of the 4 styles. With the characters underneath each painting, it give each page a textured look that makes fools your eyes and makes your hands go to feel each page, only to be disappointed that it feels paper smooth and not textured as you see. I love the way the artist draws, his children are beautiful!
   
   Here is the break down of what each letter stands for.
   A - Acrobats
   B - Balls (shows a acrobat in a 2 person Fu dog / lion dancers balanced on a ball)
   C - Calligraphy
   D - Dragon Dance
   E _ Evil Spirits
   F - Firecrackers
   G - Grandma & Grandpa
   H - Haircut ( the author probablty didn't have the space to mention it, but one should only get their hair cut before the New Year and not during the New Year Celebrations because you'll be cutting off all of your good luck)
   I - Incense
   J - Jade
   K - Kites
   L - Lanterns
   M - Moon
   N - Noodles
   O - Oranges
   P - Peking Duck
   Q - Quiz
   R - Red Envelopes
   S - Steamed Dumplings ( Yum!!)
   T - Tradition
   U - Unity
   V - Veneration
   W - Wish
   X - Xylograph
   Y - Yo - Yos
   Z - Zodiac ( 12 year cycle) This one starts in the year 1981 the year od the rooster and ends in 2016 in the year of the monkey.
   
   On the last page is both the author's and artists notes on the book as well as a receipe for New Year's Dumplings Delight and Soy-Garlic Dipping Sauce, which I can't wait to try.



3. D Is For Dragon Dance is an alphabet picturebook about the theme of Chinese New Year's festivities, from the importance of connecting with family ("G is for Grandma and Grandpa") to New Year's customs ("O is for Oranges" - they are given as a sign of good fortune) to protections against evil spirits ("X is for Xylograph", a wood carving on the door meant to keep evil spirits out). Full-color illustrations by Yongsheng Xuan blend a feel for traditional Chinese art with vibrancy and energy bursting off of the page. A fun way for young readers to learn about Chinese culture and their ABC's at the same time.



4. From Acrobats to Zodiac, this is a book that uses the alphabet to introduce many different aspects of Chinese New Year to preK-K-aged kids (though my 8-year-old liked this one, too). Instructional for adults is the last page which contains notes from the author, such as "tips to ensure good fortune in the New Year," information about the Chinese characters that appear in the book, and a recipe for dumplings. A fun read!



5. My daughter just received this book as a gift for her 3rd birthday. She loves the book. My husband and I also enjoy the book.
   
   A good book to add to your 'international' book collection.

1 comments about New Proclamation: Year C, 2007: Easter through Christ the King.

1. Haven't had the opportunity to peruse this one yet. But advent through easter is awesome. I'll take my chances.

No comments about Holidays & Parties.

1 comments about Dragon Parade: A Chinese New Year Story (Stories of America).

1. I added this book to my project for multi-cultural children's book in the class for children's literature. The text shows how chinese people get ready for New Year and it, inviting poeple home with a lot of food, putting read papaer in the house, or putting on a new clothe. It is so fun to see what they do looking at the colorful pictures. It does not contain historical background in detail;however, it is a good children's book to introduce children to other culture and evoke their interest.

No comments about Chinese New Year (Holidays and Festivals (Compass Point Books).).

1 comments about Gung Hay Fat Choy (Special Holiday Books).

1. This book is good for introducing the traditions of Chinese New Year. I have used it with Special Needs children,Bilingual students, and now my son's preschool class. It has photographs of parades,families celebrating the holiday, and the traditional Lion Dance(dragon dance). It is a great way to teach the holiday and multicultural issues for all ageas.