Book Description
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Will Smith, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is the inspiring, rags–to–riches story of the charismatic Chris Gardner –– a once homeless father who rasied and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street
At the age of twenty, Milwaukee native Chris Gardner, just out of the Navy, arrived in San Francisco to pursue a promising career in medicine. Considered a prodigy in scientific research, he surprised everyone and himself by setting his sights on the competitive world of high finance. Yet no sooner had he landed an entry level position at a prestigious firm, Gardner found himself caught in a web of incredibly challenging circumstances that left him homeless with his toddler son. Instead of giving in to despair, the two spent almost a year moving from shelters, "HO–tels", and soup–lines, even sleeping in the public restroom of a subway station – ultimately making an astonishing transformation from the bathroom to the boardroom.
Part "Finding Fish," part "The Pact," THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is a mythic, triumphant, and unstintingly honest memoir whose hero will appeal to every American.
Customer Reviews:
Meaningful Inspiration.......2007-09-11
Mr. Gardner's story is more than another story about having to pull oneself up by their own bootstraps, it is a mantra for Urban Americans who are dealing with cyclical social issues. Poor Education, Poverty and Single Parent household stories are no longer acceptable reasons for not achieving, unfortunately they are too common place. The Pursuit of Happyness is a great example of the saying "In order to be it, one must see it"!
Heartwarming.......2007-09-08
I've read one of the most touching and heartwarming book of one's life. It is a story that spreads open past hurts, the need for bottom-line respect that should come from the people who should give it (family) and speaks of success despite of...
The Pursuit of the Imagined.......2007-08-28
Chris Gardner says in the Acknowledgments, "Quincy Troupe [co-author] once paid me a backhand compliment by telling me that I was as crazy as his previous subject, Miles Davis. I'll definitely take that as a compliment!" Gardner's imaginings, that he could possibly become anything other than a replica of the hardworking poor men who enveloped his childhood, define him as crazy. His success is crazy. How he managed it defies sanity.
Gardner imagined a future bright enough to deflect the piercing influences of his childhood--violence, an alcoholic stepfather, a jailed mother, rape--and was able to grow up to be a man possessing little, if any, humility (refreshingly different than most memoirs). Good for him. That Gardner was once homeless and is now wealthy is interesting; that he had no reason to expect to succeed but succeeded anyway, is inspiring.
I should be so crazy.
Note: The movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" deals only with Gardner after he has lived in San Francisco for a while. My only complaint with the movie is its depiction of Gardner's wife. She is shown as an uneducated woman only capable of working in restaurants; she's actually quite educated, a dental school graduate who is waiting to sit for her dental boards. Tsk, tsk.
Engaging and Entertaining.......2007-08-23
I haven't seen the film, so I have nothing to compare it with. I found this book to be inspiring. It was a quick and easy read. It was entertaining and realistic. The language is colorful and his life is graphic. It's not a story for the faint of heart, but his experience is a wonderful read. Some of the other reviews have taken exception with the way he lives his life, but his account is genuine. His life is real in all its glory and its shortcomings. It's a wonderful read.
Satisfying story, though not much like the movie.......2007-08-15
Successful and wealthy businessman Chris Gardner truly knows what it means to achieve -- it was only through hard work and good luck that he managed to escape a lifetime of poverty and hopelessness.
As a child, Gardner grew up fatherless and poor, experiencing physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a stepfather who almost killed his mother on numerous occasions. Gardner and his sisters spent several years in foster care, and life was often bleak. But, thanks to the Navy, he was able to escape his inner-city existence and begin a promising medical career.
Just as things were beginning to look promising, a series of small misfortunes all piled up together, and Gardner -- along with his toddler son -- became homeless.
Despite the enormity of the task at hand, he managed to make the best of his circumstances, even with a large amount of humility and humor.
If you're like me, however, and decided to read the book after seeing the movie, you may be a bit startled. While the 2006 movie focuses mainly upon Gardner's homelessness and struggle within the world of stocks, that portion of his life -- however poignant and powerful -- is but a small section of the book.
Overall, this memoir is engaging and memorable, a true journey from rock bottom to success.
Book Description
The Adventure begins! Welcome to a small town called Odyssey--where big things happen! These 12 classic shows laid the foundation for the lively characters and heartwarming stories that are the hallmark of Adventures in Odyssey. It's a great place for new listeners to start, and longtime fans can relive the whimsical history!
The Gold series includes bonus tracks, fun facts, and behind-the-scenes details!
Volume 1 contains the following stories (and themes):
- Whit's Flop (The very first episode!)
- A Member of the Family 1 & 2 (We meet Whit's family)
- The Life of the Party (Acceptance)
- Connie Comes to Town (We meet Connie Kendall)
- Recollections (Whit's End)
- Gifts for Madge and Guy (A Christmas fable)
- The Day after Christmas (Loving one another year round)
- Promises, Promises (New Year's resolutions)
- Nothing to Fear (Courage in God)
- The Tangled Web (Dishonesty)
- A Change of Hart (Salvation)
Customer Reviews:
An Adult's Review.......2007-07-28
I'm an adult and I think that "Adventures in Odyssey should be listened to by kids of all ages. It is a wonder program to listen to as a family or with friends. It shares the Bible in a way for everyone to understand.
a good series.......2005-11-03
I am seven years old and I think that this should be listened to by children who are seven to nine. I like the CDs because every story teaches a lesson. Some are scary, some are funny and some are just in the middle.
Book Description
Who hasn’t struggled at times with foot–in–mouth disease? Certified behavioral consultant Deborah Pegues knows how easily a slip of the tongue can cause problems in personal and in business relationships. That is why she has put together a 30–day devotional to help readers tame that unruly member and turn it into an asset.
Readers will learn to
- stop saying the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way
- learn to use words that build others up
- avoid the pitfalls and consequences of lies, flattery, and exaggerations
Short stories, anecdotes, soul–searching questions, and scripturally based personal affirmations combine to make each chapter tongue–and–life–changing.
Customer Reviews:
A Not So Tame Book Of Reminders.......2007-08-19
When Deborah contacted me, asking for permission to include one of my poems, "Hasty Words", in her workbook (a supplement to this book, due out in September 2007), I was shocked, yet thrilled at the request, and I eagerly complied. She even sent me an autographed copy of "30 Days To Taming Your Tongue". (Thank you so much, Deborah) I finally found the time to sit and read the book, and I must say, I was impressed. Her writing style is "user friendly" to all us sinners, and as I was reading, I realized she even had an adorable sense of humor. The way she includes her own personal experiences, and her struggles to tame her own tongue, made the book less of a "preaching at you" style, and more of just plain good advice on how to deal with "afflictions of the mouth". A truly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to everyone...because we all have tongues that need to be tamed in one way or another.
Joyce Marie Taylor-Author and Poet
Changing your attitude.......2007-07-12
This book is truly blessing me. I am finding a little bit of myself in some of the chapters I read. This book is great for those who choose to exam themselves as an individual. Those who really want to grow and be of use to the Lord. As stated in God's word there is life and death in the power of your tongue. What you say can truly hurt others and do some serious damage. If you are not willing to grow then you will be in a state of retardation. I am showing this book to my Bible Study teacher so that we may go through this in class and possibly clear the air about ourselves and people that we may be attached to with some of these issues.
taming your tongue.......2007-03-30
The book was very helpful to me. In my life I have recieved criticism for excessive talking. I was interested in self improvement. I learned several valuable tips and had never heard the one that a silent tongue is just as bad as talking too much. I agree that it is not as common of a problem but a person should speak when it prevents harm. This book is an excellent reference for using the gift of speech in a christian manner.
AWESOME!.......2007-02-08
I have struggled with taming my tongue, for years. This book was a great find! I read a chapter every night before bed, and focus on that chapter the next day. Each chapter builds off the previous ones in a very helpful way.
Great read again and again.........2007-01-05
This book serves as a daily devotional. It has a key verse(mostly KJV but it does use other versions) and life application in as little as two paragraphs. Making it full of wisdom and quick to read. After reading the book I took the challenge and found personal growth as a result of it. It speaks to the Christian soul. I love the way it opens your eyes to faults you didn't even know you had in a loving way. It's so worth the price and reading again and again!
Product Description
Truth Will Prevail the eagerly awaited third volume in the popular series The Work and the Glory continues the gripping story of the fictional Steed family, a family acquainted with Joseph Smith and caught up in the grand events associated with the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. Covering the years 1836 to 1838, this volume finds the Steed involved in both remarkable and turbulent events in Church history. Nathan accompanies Parley P. Pratt on a challenging mission to Upper Canada. Jessica, Joshua's ex-wife, feels compelled to return to Missouri, where the Church seeks a new haven in an area known as Far West. Meanwhile, Joshua ever restless and ambitious, yet haunted by the misdeeds of his past travels to Savannah, Georgia, on business and there has experiences that will dramatically alter his life. Tensions between Melissa and her nonmember husband, Carl, force her to make a critical decision. A growing spirit of apostasy in Kirtland threatens the fledging Church, a spirit from which even the Steed family is not immune. In the middle of these intense days of rebellion and disaffection in Kirtland, the divine call comes to open the work in the first mission overseas England. These and other important happenings (as well as the introduction of several new and fascinating characters) make this volume rich in drama and historical detail. As with the previous volumes in the series, readers will be intrigued by descriptions of actual, and sometimes little-known, events in Church history. And they will be moved as the author portrays the true-to-life struggles, heartaches, and joys of the Steed family, whose lives exemplify the faith expressed by many of the early Saints that God's purposes in these latter days his truth and his restored church will ultimately prevail. 16 disc box-set
Customer Reviews:
Didn't Love It, Didn't Hate It.......2007-05-01
I love the Work and the Glory series, but this volume wasn't one of it's best. The plot of Volume Three moves a little too slowly for my taste. And the author has a tendency to repeat certain parts of the plot over and over again, which can be especially annoying for those of us who have read the first two volumes. But if you plan on reading the rest of the series, it's not going to make a whole lot of sense to you unless you get through this book. The characters of Benjamin and Joshua undergo several drastic changes during this chapter of the saga. And, I must admit, for all of the plot's plodding, this volume had a very satisfying ending. It's an interesting enough story; it just has less action than most of the other books in the series.
One of the best series in the world!.......2005-08-18
These books were amazing! It's as if the author almost convinces you that you were there. I'm a little picky when it comes to books, but I can definately tell you that this is one that I feel in love with. There were nights when I'd stay up until 4 in the morning reading-- and that's as a teenager in high school! I completely recommend everyone to read this, for it's hard to find books that are written better.
Superficial read about fictional religious experiences.......2005-05-30
The author does a good job of engaging the reader in a story that is interesting atleast superficially. Taking the LDS Church's official version of it's history and putting characters into the mix, this book will be widely read by the faithful. However anyone who has done even a modicum of reading on Mormon religious history will recognize the flaws in this faith-promoting story. There are serious scholarly works on Mormon history such as "Mormon Hierarchy Extenstions of Power", "Mormon Hierarchy Origins of Power", "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins", and "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View" that deal with the early history of the church in an honest and fortright manner that is not "anti-Mormon". After reading these and other books, "The Work and the Glory" series will be seen as institutionalized sugar-coating of history and little more. These books are for little lambs who are content to be spoonfed the "milk" of the gospel who have no desire to really look into the "meat" of the religion.
New Understanding.......2003-10-23
I really enjoyed Truth Will Prevail, third volume in the Work and the Glory series. It not only provides historical information about the of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It gives an inside look at the struggles and difficulties of the church in a fun and interesting way. Lund, describes the character's joys and sorrows in a way that you feel that they're your own joys and sorrows too. It would also give a someone not a member more information about the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints that is often misunderstand. They may also find answers to their questions, if they have any.
In volume three, Truth Will Prevail, it contiues the story of a fictional family. A family who is acquainted with Joseph Smith the leader of the church and the restoration of the gospel. This refers to the establishment of the church. It gives detail on the events that occurred in the world in this period of time, that affected the Church. In this volume, most of the characters are confronted with new struggles and joys that will leave you wanting to read more.
I think that it's a great book for all ages.
A Younger Reader.......2001-03-30
While I am a younger member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or "Mormons" as we are better known I have a strong belief in the church and though my family was not always with the church to hear of the struggles that the early members went through to bring us the church we have today makes me so grateful to them, and builds my faith all the more. This is a book for people of all ages wether it's a bedtime story for kids or an interesting look at their history for adults or teens like me. This is also a great book for non-members, because there are so many misconceptions about the church ,and this books shows the trials and the truths of the begining of the church. I would like to thank Brother Lund for making such a moving and interesting book, by taking the reader into a fictional family, namely, the Steeds to experience true church historical events alongside them. Thank you.
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- Love it
- A Collection of Classics
- A Collection of Classics
- Daring deads, Sinister schemes
- The Best of all the Early Odyssey Albums
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Adventures in Odyssey: Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes (Gold Audio Series #5)
Focus on the Family ,
Hal Smith ,
Kate Leigh ,
Walker Edmiston , and
Will Ryan
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Fun-damentals: Puns, Parables and Perilous Predicaments (Adventures in Odyssey, 4)
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Adventures in Odyssey: Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions (#6)
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Stormy Weather: And Other Grins, Grabbers & Great Getaways (Adventures in Odyssey Gold)
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On Thin Ice (Adventures in Odyssey, No. 7)
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Adventures in Odyssey: Beyond Expectations (Gold Audio Series #8)
ASIN: 1589970748
Release Date: 2004-06-22 |
Book Description
Evil has a name . . . and it goes by Dr. Regis Blackgaard. Though it looks like the bad guys are winning, right overcomes might in the end. Listeners of all ages will learn about making smart choices and having integrity, even in the face of danger.
The Gold series includes bonus tracks, fun facts, and behind-the-scenes details!
Volume 5 contains the following stories (and themes):
- The Imagination Station, 1 & 2 (Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection)
- An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper (Compassion for the elderly)
- A Bite of Applesauce (Disobedience)
- Connie Goes to Camp, 1 & 2 (Disobedience)
- Eugene's Dilemma (Doing what's right; responsibility)
- The Nemesis,1 & 2 (Trusting God in times of trouble)
- Our Best Vacation Ever (Family togetherness)
- The Battle, 1 & 2 (God's protection)
Customer Reviews:
Love it.......2006-04-15
This is a must have for anyone who likes adventures in odyssey because it has the first epissode with the imagination station in it.
A Collection of Classics.......2001-04-20
This set of six tapes (12 episodes) contains the original Dr. Blackgaard story line. Not all are related to that story arch, however.
It starts with the first IMAGINATION STATION adventure, in which Digger Digger Digwillow goes back in time to experience the death and resurrection of Christ. I'm now 26, have heard the program multiple times, and this simple two parter still moves me to tears.
Other non-Blackgaard episodes include the classic Barclay family vacation in Odyssey (OUR BEST VACATION EVER) and the introduction of Wonderworld in the hilarious HEATWAVE.
The other episodes all revolve around the initial Blackgaard arch. They include A BITE OF APPLESAUCE, EUGENE'S DILEMMA, CONNIE GOES TO CAMP, THE NEMESIS, and THE BATTLE. These last three are two parters. As a whole, these make a great story, but are even more interesting when listened to in relation to later Blackgaard episodes. The summer they first aired, they kept my brother and I glued to the radio wondering what would happen next.
I highly recommend this great collection. It's radio drama at its best: good story telling and great characters.
A Collection of Classics.......2001-03-17
This set of six tapes (12 episodes) contains the original Dr. Blackgaard story line. Not all are related to that story arch, however.
It starts with the first IMAGINATION STATION adventure, in which Digger Digger Digwillow goes back in time to experience the death and resurrection of Christ. I'm now 26, have heard the program multiple times, and this simple two parter still moves me to tears.
Other non-Blackgaard episodes include the classic Barclay family vacation in Odyssey (OUR BEST VACATION EVER) and the introduction of Wonderworld in the hilarious HEATWAVE.
The other episodes all revolve around the initial Blackgaard arch. They include A BITE OF APPLESAUCE, EUGENE'S DILEMMA, CONNIE GOES TO CAMP, THE NEMESIS, and THE BATTLE. These last three are two parters. As a whole, these make a great story, but are even more interesting when listened to in relation to later Blackgaard episodes. The summer they first aired, they kept my brother and I glued to the radio wondering what would happen next.
I highly recommend this great collection. It's radio drama at its best: good story telling and great characters.
Daring deads, Sinister schemes.......2001-01-21
Where do they get the names for these albums? It's a great name and it contains many, many good episodes. We also get to meet Dr. Blackgaard in this album, which may be the highlight of it.
The Best of all the Early Odyssey Albums.......2000-04-02
"Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes" contains a mini-series in itself, which build a foundation for the ultimeate album, "Darkness Before Dawn" (#25) There are also several other stories that lead up to the awesome episode, "Waylaid in the Windy City" This album is definitly worth buying!
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- Squids will be squids
- Silly Morals
- Can't say something nice about someone? Make them a squid
- Silly, wacky fun!
- It Is What It Is
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Squids Will Be Squids (Picture Puffins)
Jon Scieszka
Manufacturer: Puffin
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Binding: Paperback
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The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
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The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
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Science Verse (Golden Duck Awards. Picture Book (Awards))
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The Frog Prince, Continued (Picture Puffin)
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Math Curse
ASIN: 0142500402 |
Amazon.com
Every once in a while a book crosses our desks that makes us sit quietly delighted--except for a few squeaks of unmitigated joy--and this oversized, energized, stylized, highly prized book of fables is one of them. Jon Scieszka has a simple philosophy of the fable: "If you can't say something nice about someone, change the guy's name to Donkey or Squid." After all, the alleged Aesop did it. Squids Will Be Squids offers lessons such as "Everyone knows frogs can't skateboard, but it's kind of sad that they believe everything they see on TV." Sure, it's goofy, but it's also saying to kids, "Don't believe everything you see on TV." In "Duckbilled Platypus vs. Beefsnakstick," the bragging platypus and his beefy buddy teach us "Just because you have a lot of stuff, don't think you're so special." Of course, there is nothing heavy-handed here--morals such as "He who smelt it, dealt it" and "Elephants never forget, except sometimes" satirically prance amid the more heartfelt snippets of sagacity.
Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith are unparalleled in their eccentricity and unrelenting in their boyish, twisted-yet-innocent zeal. In co-creations from The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales to The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs to Math Curse, Scieszka's wacko sense of humor and Smith's quirky, always gorgeous artwork thrillingly congeal in Molly Leach's creative, exuberant design. We see many picture books that are better suited for adults than kids, but this fine specimen is truly meant for goofballs of all ages. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustration © 1998 Lane Smith, reproduced with permission of Viking, a division of Penguin Putnam.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
Sure we'd all love to be able to go around telling stories about all the weird, scary, and just-plain-annoying people that we know. But the truth is, no one likes a gossip. Here, the irrepressible Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith have found a way around that problem-they just make like Aesop and change all the people to animals or food, add a moral to each story, and call the stories fables!
With tales like "Little Walrus," in which too much of the truth is a dangerous thing, the cautionary "Slug's Big Moment," wherein Slug is so caught up in herself that she doesn't see the steamroller behind her, and "Straw and Matches," which illustrates quite clearly why you should never play with matches (because they cheat), the eighteen fables in this uproarious collection are sure to delight readers both young and old.
Illustrated by Lane Smith.
Customer Reviews:
Squids will be squids.......2006-10-13
I read a good book called Squids will be Squids. It's a picture book by Jon Sckiezca and Lane smith.If you like funny, goofy books Squids will be squids is for you.
This wonderful book is a book of many different short stories, each one page long. One of the short stories is squids will be squies. Each of the stories have the moral written in parentheses. The morals are also funny. For example the squids will be squids one is about four animals that all agree on what to do, well three of them agree. The squid is being difficult. In the the parentheses the moral is,. ''squids will be squids!'' I highly recommend this book if you like funny stories.Its very good andI think you'll like it.
Silly Morals.......2006-02-20
This book has beautiful pictures. The situations are ones that kids can relate to - and offer an opportunity for kids to learn some appropriate behaviors in difficult situations. Then they follow it up with a moral that is pointless. I am disappointed in the book.
Can't say something nice about someone? Make them a squid.......2004-06-01
Those of us who remember Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith as the author and illustrator of "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!" will know exactly what they are getting into when they pick up "Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables." The thesis here is that even before Aesop a legion of storytellers have told stories about annoying, weird, pain-in-the-neck people, turned them into animals, added a moral, and thereby changed rude gossip and bad jokes into fables. The idea here is present a collection of fables that Aesop might be telling if he was alive today. The moral, according to Sciezka and Smith, is that "If you can't say something nice about someone, change the guy's name to Donkey or Squid."
What young readers will find in these inventive fables are not lessons about necessity being the mother of invention or look before you leap, but more practical concerns for the modern world such as do not believe everything you see on TV, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and just because you have a lot of stuff do not think you are so special. Some of the fables you need to think about to get to the real point, such as the moral "Don't play with matches," which is really about something even worse than matches (i.e., people you are warned to stay away from). Throughout the book you will find a constant onslaught of wicked humor (the grasshopper's history assignment is priceless) and even if it over the heads of many young readers, they will understand the jokes down the road when they return to this book. After all, the morals of fables are supposed to be timeless, even if they were just made up for this 1998 book.
Most of the stories are told about animals, from frogs and squids to elephants and slugs, but there are also stories involving things like a tongue and a BeefSnakStik (complete with registered trademark). Smith's illustrations are creative and his wife, Molly Leach, provides the exotic design for the book, which will provide appropriate visual stimuli to go with all the morals. The end result is that "Squids Will Be Squids" tells contemporary fables in a contemporary way, and if you have a complaint about the use "squids" as the plural for "squid," then remember to read the fine print of this tongue-in-cheek volume (okay, in the fable about the hand, foot and tongue the tongue is obvious out of the cheek, but that is a different point entirely). Young readers will no doubt be inspired to come up with their own fables, and this book even includes solid advice on how to do that as well.
Silly, wacky fun!.......2004-04-11
Jon Scieszka has shifted from parodying Mother Goose to poking fun at Aesop and his fables. After an introduction to Aesop, Scieszka explains that this book contains fables that Aesop might have written "if he were alive today and sitting in the back of class daydreaming and goofing around instead of paying attention and correcting his homework like he was supposed to."
Lane Smith's illustrations add to the absurdity of the fables with wonderfully distorted facial expressions that turn animals and inanimate objects into oddly shaped humans. The characters in these fables are not the familiar hare, fox, lion, and mouse. Instead we meet new characters like elephant, ant, skunk, grasshopper, frog and of course, squid. The morals range from the obvious (Don't ever listen to a talking bug; Don't play with matches) to the familiar (He who smelt it dealt it; It takes one to know one) to the hilarious (You should always tell the truth, but if your mom is out having the hair taken off her lip, you might want to forget a few of the details). Not all of the fables work as well as they could, but there is enough humor in the rest of the fables to delight both children and adults.
I found this book hilariously funny. It's one of my personal favorites.
It Is What It Is.......2003-07-25
In children's literature, the main character usually is the cover subject and title such as "Charlotte's Web," "Froggy Plays Soccer," and even "Harry Potter," because the targeted audience is assumed not to be sophisticated enough to interpret indirect meanings.
Then there is the trio of Jon, Lane and Molly, who, like Maurice Sendak, love to thumb their noses at convention. "Squids Will Be Squids," (a play on "it is what it is," perhaps?) is not about the ocean life of squids - it is a collection of wacky stories with morals. Apparently young readers were sophisticated enough to figure that out using the cover art and cheeky tone as their guide.
The five and nine-year old I read this book with laughed with abandon even if they didn't always get the inside jokes behind the stories or the morals. Bathroom humor like "He who smelt it dealt it," was a big hit as was "It takes one to know one." I wasn't crazy about this work but I did love the title, and its exhuberant, devil-may-care attitude and the numerous double entendres. The layout and design are extraordinary. There's plenty in here to entertain little and big readers.
This is not a read alone book, though, even though it's geared for the read-alone age group of 4-8. The power in this work comes in sharing the experience. Otherwise I think it will fall flat. The moral to this review of "Squids will be Squids: Fresh Morals Beastly Fables" is "Never judge a book by its cover."
Average customer rating:
- Nice to see a "new" crew in action
- And we were doing so well!
- The concept that they shoulda used for the new tv series!
- Great idea, bad implementation
- The Tech People Finally Stand Out
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Have Tech Will Travel (Star Trek) (Starfleet Corps of Engineers 1-4)
Keith R.A. DeCandido ,
Christie Golden ,
Dean Wesley Smith ,
Dayton Ward , and
Kevin Dilmore
Manufacturer: Star Trek \ Simon Says
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Golden, Christie
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ASIN: 0743439961 |
Book Description
HAVE TECH, WILL TRAVEL
STARFLEET CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Need a gigantic, marauding starship explored? Is your global computer system starting to break down? Call in the crack team from the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. Overseen by Captain Montgomery Scott from his office at Starfleet Headquarters, the S.C.E. can build, rebuild, program, reprogram, assemble, reassemble, or just figure out everything from alien replicators to doomsday machines. Just don't expect them to perform miracles -- unless they absolutely have to.
Captain David Gold, his first officer Commander Sonya Gomez, and the crew of the U.S.S. da Vinci put their lives on the line to save a colony world threatened by a deadly alien and rescue a ship trappedin the ravages of interphase.
Join Starfleet's miracle workers for a wrenching journey through the new frontier!
Download Description
Need a gigantic, marauding starship explored? Is your global computer system starting to break down? Call in the crack team from the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. Overseen by Captain Montgomery Scott from his office at Starfleet Headquarters, the S.C.E. can build, rebuild, program, reprogram, assemble, reassemble, or just figure out everything from alien replicators to doomsday machines. Just don't expect them to perform miracles -- unless they absolutely have to. Captain David Gold, his first officer Commander Sonya Gomez, and the crew of the U.S.S. da Vinci put their lives on the line to save a colony world threatened by a deadly alien and rescue a ship trappedin the ravages of interphase. Join Starfleet's miracle workers for a wrenching journey through the new frontier!
Customer Reviews:
Nice to see a "new" crew in action.......2006-02-28
The first in a series of books collecting stories about The Starfleet Corp of Engineers, "Have Tech, Will Travel" is an excellent way to get things going.
Writer/Editor Keith R.A. DeCandido keeps continuity between the stories and amongst the various writers tight, with varying degrees of success in terms of some writer's giving voice to certain characters.
The book collects four stories: The Belly of the Beast, by Dean Wesley Smith, Keith R.A. DeCandido's Fatal Error, Christie Golden's Hard Crash and Interphase: Book One by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore.
Story #1, The Belly of the Beast, is the weakest in terms of character voice for me. Picard didn't sound like Picard to me and I had a hard time accepting Sonya Gomez, one of the weakest Next Generation characters ever created (and mercifully removed from the series quickly), as a leader. Smith's story did little to alleviate that concern for me. Also, with so much of the story geared toward introductions and character thought patterns, it was difficult to get a strong feel for it. However, I must give credit where credit is due. Smith's grasp of atmosphere and dread are palpable and the scene in the belly of the beast is unnerving and terrifying. The final scenes definitely make this story worth the time. It also sets up the issues with one of the main characters for the rest of the series. A good starting off point.
Story #2 is DeCandido's FATAL ERROR. This story was gripping from beginning to end, with the sentient computer being a very interesting character in its own right. Keith has written a timely story that touches on our own society's issues with religious orthodoxy and the result of a people struggling between pious fervor and the stagnation of the culture of an entire world. This is a very good story.
However, it doesn't beat the emotional power of story #3, Hard Crash, by Christie Golden. A heart-wrenching story of friendship and loss (hate the title of this piece though...one of only two faults of this story, in my opinion), Golden has crafted an intriguing mystery with another sentient machine (the other fault aside from the titel) and how it deals with death. This is an obvious vehicle for one of the main characters of the series who is also struggling with this loss. The end doesn't feel cheap or tacked on, but is a logical and emotional continuation of the overall series. VERY well done and the highlight of this collection.
Story #4 is a very well written story called Interphase: Book One. My only issue with this story is that it is outdated due to an episode of Enterprise that places the object of the story in a completely different time and space. However, taken as a story in and of itself (ignoring the canon of the television series), Ward and Dilmore give us an intriguing look at another long-known, but rarely seen, alien species, the Tholians.
All in all, the stories are very well written but suffer from the "introduction phenomenon" of constantly reminding us who these characters are (as if the stories were all written simultaneously and each writer or writing team wasn't sure if the others would provide the information). It sometimes made for redundant reading, but the stories told were good enough and well written enough for this to be a negligible detraction.
Have Tech, Will Travel is a solid four story book, with new characters and some old (or very old in one instance) characters returning as well. I definitely look forward to reading the next collection and thank the authors for a great job!
And we were doing so well!.......2003-06-18
This is the first book of a new series of Star Trek books, focusing on the "Starfleet Corps of Engineers", basically a group of troubleshooters who go in whenever there's a mechanical or alien technology problem that either can't be handled by a regular starship, or (more rarely) that COULD possibly have been handled by the regular starship, but there's actually enough time to call for specialists (usually, these things are sufficient crises that if the regular ship CAN handle them, they have to.)
This book was composed of four mid-length stories (longer than "short stories", but not novel-length) each written by a different author, which together follow a continuous time-line and thus more or less make up one book's worth of story. The writing is surprisingly even, given the different authors; the handoffs from each author to the next are seamless, and the writing itself is quite good. The characters are well-developed, a good mix of minor characters from various episodes on TV and new characters (although the first book begins with the Enterprise-E and crew for an introduction, and Geordi LaForge continues through the first three stories.) The plots, while not the MOST original I've ever seen, are good, workmanlike concepts, and the basic SCE concept is in many ways a marvellous return to early science fiction concepts, where there may be action and combat, but the ADVENTURE is in the discovery and the science.
So why is the rating only four stars, given how much good I have to say about the book? (And in fact, I thought harder about whether to knock it down to three than I did about granting it five.) Because the "ending" ISN'T one; they cut the last story off in mid-action in order to make a "tune in next week" cliffhanger to attempt to manipulate the reader into continuing to buy the following books of the series. I will do so, because I enjoyed the book as a whole, NOT because they left me hanging. I consider that a sufficiently cheesy scam to be worth the loss of AT LEAST one star, and demonstrates that they had no confidence in the quality of the series themselves (or they wouldn't have needed to use such a cheap scam.)
The concept that they shoulda used for the new tv series!.......2003-03-18
I picked up _Have Tech, Will Travel_ and couldn't put it down. I found myself thinking "this is what Enterprise should be!"
What put me off originally besides the techy sounding title was the fact that it was compiled into novellettes, billed as short stories by different writers. I really don't like short stories because, you know, they just get interesting and then they end. But the way it's put together it's really rather seemless and continues the character's stories into each new novelette even if the situtations change.
Each story was wonderfully surprising, high quality adventure Trek, with things to think about. I was surprised by each new twist in each story, kept on the edge of my seat and fell in-like with each new/old character. The decisions that each character maked is logical and the captain is admirable. I like that Scotty shows up in each story, even if it's just on the viewer, though I'd absolutely love to see him get more involved with a few storylines. These authors can write Scotty and LaForge so well you can hear their voices in your head.
Speaking of that, I loved the way the creators of the series and the writers used familiar characters to introduce new ones. I was very happy with the way Picard's adventure was turned over to Captain Gold. I liked that the new characters actually live up to the admiration of the original characters like Picard. When the old characters commented on how much they admired so and so, it wasn't just to lend credibility to a shallow character, but because the characters were so good any way the comments only added to the depth of the new characters.
Geordi gets "stuck" helping the da Vinci crew for three of the stories. It was nice to have "ensign" Commander Gomez be a little warry of her old commanding officer. This added a little depth to her character.... and well we all know everyone loves Georgi, so it was nice to see this little twist where he has to earn her trust back. Cool.
Hats off to the creators and writers of this, what should have been the newest tv series Trek. But I"m glad that its not seeing what they've done with Enterprise so far!
I am headed to the library tonight after work to get the second book. ...
Thanks,
Rosewelsh
Great idea, bad implementation.......2002-07-22
I loved the idea of a book about the Starfleet Corps of Engineers from the start. But I didn't find the stories engaging. Written as an anthology with a continuing cast and a common history there is a nice try at developing characters as the stories go along, but I didn't find the characters paricularly striking or original.
What really irritated me was that when I finally started to get into a story, the last one, 'Interphase', about attempting to recover the Defiant from the TOS episode the Tholian Web it suddenly stopped (with a cliff hanger) and says it will be continued in the NEXT volume. I'd like to see how it turns out but I wasn't impressed enough by the other stories in this volume to buy another.
The Tech People Finally Stand Out.......2002-04-05
What would Kirk, Piccard, or any of the others do if they woke up and couldn't get their morning tea? Call SCE. This book is great. Stories that show how important the engineer is to Star Fleet. With out them you go no where and get nothing done. I like this series a lot and it is not just because I am a techie or a trekie, they are good stories.
Book Description
These digitally remastered collections--available for the first time on CD--include bonus tracks, fun facts, and behind-the-scenes details! A fun-filled, full-color insert includes the following: original notes of the writers, never-before-heard stories from the recording studio, and a coupon for other Adventures in Odyssey products. This album's episodes will take you from the discovery of a hidden treasure chest to a hair-raising voyage in the Imagination Station.
Volume 6 contains the following episodes (and themes):
- The Ill-Gotten Deed (sibling rivalry)
- The Treasure of Le Monde! (consequences of greed)
- The Price of Freedom (history: the Vietnam war)
- That's Not Fair! (true meaning of fairness)
- Good Business (being conscientious)
- An Encounter with Mrs. Hooper (reconciliation)
- A Prisoner for Christ (forgiveness, the book of Philemon)
- A Mission for Jimmy (importance of missions)
- Rescue from Manatugo Point (relying on God in difficult times)
- Operation: DIGOUT (witnessing)
- Elijah 1 & 2 (the power of faith, reliance on God)
Customer Reviews:
Perfect........2005-12-08
Received merchandise in perfect condition, very fast shipping. Thank you so very much, you have been mentioned to friends & relatives. Thank you again, Merry Christmas!
Terrific tales, Mysterious Missions.......2000-05-29
Great fun for christian family listening. Good christian morals included in each adventure. One of the better Adventure in Oddessy series. I recomend Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions to young or old. Very upbeat stories that keep your intrest. I listen to them over and over, year after year. Friends are always barrowing this series.
Amazon.com
"Just the two of us, we can make it if we try.... Just the two of us, you and I."
If you were a radio-owner on planet Earth circa 1998, you might have a hard time not bobbing your head--and, yes, maybe even rapping--along with this book from Will "Big Willie Style" Smith and illustrator Kadir Nelson.
That's because the words for Just the Two of Us are lifted from the lyrics to Smith's smash-hit single of the same name, a remake of the Bill Withers classic. True to the song, this radiantly drawn picture book follows a father as he watches his son grow into a man. Tender imagery (especially for hip-hop) details the dad's early, unfamiliar struggles with everything from child car seats to CD-ROMs, his aspirations ("Sometimes I wonder what you're gonna be, a general, a doctor, maybe an MC"), his worries ("Ooh there ain't no pain like from the opposite sex"), and his attempts to impart wisdom ("Always tell the truth, say your prayers, hold doors, pull out chairs, easy on the swears").
Nelson, whose work has appeared in everything from Sports Illustrated to The New Yorker, seems an ideal foil for Smith's colloquial stylings, contributing rich, vibrantly colored spreads that evocatively capture the subject matter without being overly sentimental. A must for fans of Will Smith, especially "all the fathers out there holdin' it down" (to whom Smith gives "special props"). (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Will Smith lends the lyrics of his hit single to a remarkable new picture book. Gorgeous pencil and oil illustrations by Kadir Nelson follow a father and son relationship through three stages of life: from newborn, to young child, to young man. Will Smith¹s song is a call to all fathers to teach their children the values of dignity, integrity, and honor. But above all, it is a song of love.
Customer Reviews:
A good kid's book!.......2006-01-12
I think this book is realy good. I recomend to any parent to read this to thier child. will Smith is an excellent storyteller in this touching book.
Between Divorced Dads And Sons .......2005-12-21
Don't skip the dedication or title page, especially if you are familiar with Will Smith' rap career. This is a charming illustrion of Smith's version of the 1980 love song, reinterpreted and revamped to celebrate the special bond between a father and son. The pictures are engaging and keep the text from turning sappy. Great book for dads to read to their sons.
A word of caution to teachers - know your audience. Don't use this book as a read aloud if you have fatherless boys in your class.
A Tribute to Fathers and Sons.......2003-06-28
Will Smith bases Just the Two of Us on his rap song of the same title. The book shows a father giving advice on growing up and sharing his experiences with his son. The book instills good morals and values while showing love, support, and encouragement. The pictures by Kadir Nelson are simply breathtaking and show the life stages of a baby growing into a young man. This highly recommended book gives testimony to the unique relationship between father and son.
The five if us love Just the Two!!!.......2003-06-11
I just purchased this book, and I was blown away with the illulstrations and how well they matched the words. I remembered hearing the song when Jada was pregnant with their first and Tre' was a little guy, but I couldn't remember the flow---Regardless, the book's lyrical flow didn't need music-- it was clearly a love song. When I was done reading it to me kids--- my son smiled and said " My Daddy Loves me.." That was worth a million reads ThanX Will & Jada.
This book is so touching!.......2002-10-11
My husband and I are expecting our first child and recently learned we were having a little boy. I have heard the song many times and while I always enjoyed it, seeing the lyrics in print is so powerful. The words, along with the illistrations brought tears to my eyes. We are busy collecting books for our new little one and I simply could not do without this book. I bought it as a gift for my husband. I highly reccomend this book to anyone and everyone!
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