The Birthday Party: A Memoir of Survival

Book Description

On January 21, 1998, the night before his thirty-eighth birthday, federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert was kidnapped off the streets of Manhattan. This is the story of what happened next. . . .

Alpert was taken by a carful of gun-toting thugs looking to use his ATM card, but when they learned his bank balance the plan changed. They took him, blindfolded with his own scarf, to a Brooklyn apartment, with the idea of going to a bank the next day and withdrawing most of his money. But the later it got, the more the plan changed again . . . and again . . . as his captors alternately held guns to his head, threatened his family, engaged him in discussions of "gangsta" philosophy, sought his legal advice, and, once they learned it was his birthday, offered him sexual favors from their prostitute girlfriends as a "birthday present." All the while, Alpert, still blindfolded, talked with them, played on their attitudes and fears, tried to figure out where their mood swings would take them next, and memorized every detail he could in the event that he ever managed to get out of there alive.

In the meantime, his friends and law enforcement colleagues, worried that they hadn't heard from him, launched a major police and FBI investigation. It, too, would take many twists and turns before it was done-and some of them would be very strange indeed.

Filled with immediacy, drama, and extraordinary characters, told not only from Alpert's memory and notes but from police reports, interviews with NYPD detectives, FBI agents, and witnesses, videotaped confessions, and court records, The Birthday Party reads like a thriller-but every word is true.

Customer Reviews:

A compelling and inspiring true story about human pain, trauma, recovery and ultimate triumph!.......2007-09-20

My congratulations to Mr. Alpert on this masterful piece of writing about a most unfortunate experience. This was the most compelling book I have read in many years, I literally couldn't put it down. I applaud the author for his incredible courage, wit and intelligence in dealing with his captors, which no doubt contributed in a major way to his survival. His remarkable ability to be a rather brilliant detective instead of a hapless victim while in captivity not only led to his captors demise, but I believe also saved him from more serious psychological trauma. Mr. Alpert also somehow manages to take us through this amazing traumatic journey and still keep his sense of humor.

Mr. Alpert's honesty and willingness to share his innermost and intimate thoughts and feelings throughout the ordeal are admirable and make this book so appealing. My thanks to him for allowing us to share in his impressive ability to navigate such a horrible experience while he keeps sharp, negotiates skillfully with his captors and ultimately triumphs. A most inspiring account of the human spirit.

-Al Frankel, Psychotherapist

A true story about colliding New Yorks.......2007-09-05

There isn't one New York, there are thousands -- maybe millions. In 1998 Asst. US Attorney Stanley Alpert's New York collided with some young Brooklyn thugs', and the result was terrifying, bizarre, and even funny. Years after the event Alpert does a good job evoking the atmosphere, sounds, and emotions of his abduction. It's a fast read and a good read. I felt that the narrator came across as sympathetic and honorable.

A good page turner killed by author's writing.......2007-08-16

The story was a very good one and i sympathize for Mr. Alpert, but I believe his ability to tell a story like this was killed by his personal pride and boastfulness. He has every right to be proud of himself for remembering details and catching the guys, and also of his law career, but it does not need to leak into the story. The writing style is very irritating because of it. It really sounds like a ten year old bragging to his parents about how he fended off the bullies on the playground.

It IS a page-turner and very entertaining, but somehow I caught myself skimming the last few chapters of part two: Cat. I think it drags on through the lawyer stuff understandably.

I would recommend this read to anyone. It is an extraordinary story that everyone, but a little under par in the writing section. But hey I guess he didn't get an English degree in college.

Better suited to a magazine article than book.......2007-08-13

I respect Stanley enormously for his infinite courage and savvy in surviving his horrific ordeal by managing to bond with his kidnappers enough that they ultimately decide to release rather than kill him; however, given that we know the outcome in advance -- eliminating any suspense-- the 300-pages feel like 275 pages more than was needed to share his story of his 25 hours in capitivity and of the amazingly successful police investigation that captured the gang so soon after Stanley's release. A far more book-worthy story recounts a 9-day ordeal of surviving a kidnapping in Iraq in "American Hostage: A Memoir of a Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq and the Remarkable Battle to Win His Release" by Micah Garen . This one is told in less than 300 pages and intersperses the victim's account with chapters describing his girl friend's frenzied efforts to eventually get him freed.

A Prosecutor Turned Kidnap Victim Discusses His Inner Game And The Chilling Face of Teenage Crime .......2007-08-11

As one who has pushed privately and publicly for greater investigative resources for probes into the likely murders and disappearance of Baltimore federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna in 2003 and Centre County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Roy Gricar in 2005, I hoped this book might shed some light on their cases. The only conclusion available at first blush, however, is that survival under bizarre circumstances is to some degree a matter of luck.

The author of this book was apparently singled out for capture because he was alone on a dark street, dressed well enough to indicate the likely presence of money, and not strongly built enough to indicate the likelhood of resistance. Further, the author was not attentive to the black Lexus of the kidnappers creeping up on him, as he was carrying a book and some cookies and thinking about a woman living blocks from his house he had just met on the subway and walked home.

The author of this book did not take it for granted that he would be lucky at the hands of a cabal led by an 18 year old Criminal Justice student and cellular phone salesman who went by the name of Lucky. When confronted with guns pointed at him, he did not assume that they would not be fired. He treated his captors with full respect towards the power they had over them, sharing answers to questions about his life, his family, his job, and--most importantly--his bank account with over $100,000 in it.

At all times, the author attempted to maintain his identity, both internally and externally. Blindfolded in a manner that he could see the floor but not faces, he memorized tile patterns of the house to which he was taken. He silently counted the number of steps he had to climb, and noted the direction in which he was forced to move. When asked for legal advice, he gave it, after getting the facts he needed to ascertain the situation. When offered the opportunity to taste the fruits of the criminal subculture into which he was forced--marijuana reefers and oral sex supplied by teenage prostitutes--he firmly but respectfully declined.

He let his captors see the kind of person he was. They came to like and respect him to a degree. They did not believe he was someone who "deserved" to die. Nor did they believe that they deserved to die; the possiblity of getting the death penalty for killing him hung over them. They wanted to steal as much money from him as they could without being caught; an initial plan to make him withdraw $50,000 from his bank account in person while accompanied by a gunman finally rejected as much too risky; the author helped settle the discussion by weighing in with his past difficulties in withdrawing cash for his own use.

So they wound up taking just $1000 from his credit card, splitting it seven ways, and giving him the $20 change from the $1000 for cab fare home after he was removed from the kidnap safe house. But the mental damage to the author from the ordeal was lasting and perhaps permanent.

After the ordeal was over, a friend of the author sent him a clipping of advice from an FBI agent about how to handle a violent "takeover" or hostage situtation. The author was pleased to see that under pressure--the greatest test he ever faced in his life--he had pretty much followed the advice given:

*Don't be too assertive or too passive.
*Be human. Bank robbers "might be rotten people but they're still going to love their mother."
*Prepare for a long-term situation--don't lose patience.
*Don't be a nuisance.
*Don't be a hero.
*Personalize yourself.
*Stay calm.
*Remove any indication of authority. "Hostage takers are afraid of people with authority."
*Never turn your back. "It makes it easier to hurt you."
*Be natural.
*Don't be a wimp.
*Don't stare.
*Eat--whenever food is offered.
*Speak to negotiators.
*Consider using humor--but only after the first 45 minutes when the hostage taker's anger has subsided.
*Don't lie.
*Escape, only if success is assured and it doesn't put anyone else at risk.

The author notes that the Chief Judge of the 3rd Circuit invited him to address the judges as to what to do when kidnapped; my late friend Edward R. Becker recognized the value of the author's experience to others who theoretically could be in a similar position. The author noted to himself, however, that being respectful to criminals--his method of survival--might be more difficult for federal judges accustomed to great deference from attorneys.

The first half of the book--entitled Mouse--discusses his ordeal in depth. The second half of the book--entitled Cat--discusses the investigation, apprehension, and conviction of his tormentors.

The first half is a profoundly self-aware pyschological study of a man in the most hellish and difficult encounter of his life. The second half gives readers the opportunity to learn about the lives of his kidnappers from their statements to police and to the court in their new and unwelcome role as prisoners facing sentences of 17, 18, and 20 years to life for the young men and less than two years for the young women, whose role was minor, reluctant, and mitigating of the dangers he faced.

What stood out for this reviewer was the potential these young men were wasting. Lucky (Terrance Micelli)--half black and half Italian--got his nickname from his hero, the mobster Lucky Luciano. A cross between Luciano and gangsta rappers--who occasionally broke out into rap music, Lucky was working full time at legitimate job while attending college full time and providing protection and investment services for his teenage prostitutes, as well as occasionally kidnapping people to raid their credit cards. His excellent command of English, apparently legitimately upwardly mobile career path, and lack of any criminal record even misled police at first as to the vital role he played in this criminal enterpise.

Even his underlings-- 16 year old musclemen Ren (Kenyatta Bandule) and Sen (Wilbur Davis, who would plot unsuccessfully to have both his own defense counsel and the author killed while he was imprisoned)--were still attending high school and dedicated enough as students not to take off from school the day they held Alpert prisoner. Guarding Alpert was left to the hapless Luis Ramos, their 22 year old landlord and a former mechanic who was preparing to go into the security business.

What is amazing for lawyers is that all but Sen were willing to confess to police, although with the best possible spin. They knew what their Miranda rights were, but they eagerly waived them for Seargeant Tom Glynn's plea that they join his "team." Glynn laughs when Ramos, still hoping for a post-confession release, asks "Am I still on your team?"

The author quotes Milan Kundera in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting as saying people love to talk about themselves so much that they even like to be picked up and interrogated by the police because it gives them a chance to talk about themselves.

Also of interest are the discussions of the pacifying effects of marijuana consumption on his captors, police interrogation and investigation techniques, the deterring effects of bank security procedures, the transportation of illegal guns from Virginia to New York, teenage prostitution and the business of being an environmental prosecutor.

The author is the lead prosecutor of Mobil Oil for polluting the water on Staten Island, for which Mobil settles for a fine of $11.2 million, with $3 million going to preserve some land on Staten Island. Environmental prosecutions is a subject about which we should hear more from the author in the future.

The author takes care to praise the New York City police and the FBI for the thorough and quick investigation they gave his case, with some investigators forgoing sleep until the culprits were caught. He seems somewhat disappointed, however, to learn that he had initial credibility problems with some of the investigators, who at first felt that his tale was so bizarre that he was likely covering up a tryst, a drinking binge, drug use, or something else emabarrassing or illegal. Only when the details he supplied started checking out did they give this senior Assistant U.S. Attorney the benefit of the doubt. One has to empathize with other crime victims of lesser credentials faced with a similar wall of official cynicism.

This book should be widely read in Criminal Justice classes, and would be valuable supplemental reading for Criminal Law classes and lawyers who deal with criminal law. Some prior reviewers think that the author allows his ego to get out of control in this presentation, but I believe that it was the author's mental processes that saved his life and speeded the capture of the kidnappers; his thoughts and his actions based on his thoughts are really the heart of the story.

This book could be improved by adding an index and by identifying whose identity was changed and whose was not. Experienced readers know that not every fact in a non-fiction memoir can be 100% acurate, but the author should help us know where pseudonymns and composites are being used so readers can better assess the author's version of the truth.

All and all, the author has penned an excellent book which makes police, prosecutors, crime victims, family and friends come alive. There is much pessimism nowadays about the solvability of crime problems, and reading this book does not deter it. Hopefully however, its insights will be of value to those working for solutions. Few if any who read this book will think of crime and criminals in precisely the same way as they did before.

Mom's Big Book of Baking: 200 Simple, Foolproof Recipes for Delicious Family Treats to Get You Through Every Birthday Party, Class Picnic, Potluck, Bake Sale, Holiday, and No-School Day

Average customer rating:

I have been looking for a cookbook just like this one....
Easy Delicious baking
YUMMY!
Great Book!
I'm a mom and I like this book!

Mom's Big Book of Baking: 200 Simple, Foolproof Recipes for Delicious Family Treats to Get You Through Every Birthday Party, Class Picnic, Potluck, Bake Sale, Holiday, and No-School Day
Lauren Chattman
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bread | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1558321942

Amazon.com

Lauren Chattman is both a pastry chef and a mom, so she's in the perfect position to offer Mom's Big Book of Baking, a cookbook filled with recipes the whole family will love. This collection of 200 recipes for simple, home-style baked goods lets already busy moms bake for bake sales, slumber parties, the family cookie jar, and other special occasions, without spending what little spare time they might have tied up in the kitchen. Tips called "Kids Can Help" describe different ways to involve children in the kitchen, and there are also plenty of funny sidebars, entitled A Good Excuse to Make..., that will give you a chuckle whether or not they convince you to try the recipe. Chattman includes favorites like Caramel Swirl Brownies, Rolled Sugar Cookies, Lattice-Top Apple Pie, and Chocolate Milk Pancakes. You'll be well prepared for birthdays with recipes such as Strawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Whipped Cream and Strawberry Roses, a "magical" Marble Pound Cake, and Chocolate Birthday Cake Frosting. --Leora Y. Bloom

Book Description

If your mother made the world's best apple pie, you probably know that baked goods made for and with children are the stuff of family memories. But before creating warm and fuzzy memories, you need recipes that allow you to bake without fear and don't keep you chained to the kitchen for hours. Find those recipes in Mom's Big Book of Baking, which has more than 200 recipes tailor-made for today's extremely busy mom. The recipes are all tested in a real mom's kitchen (Lauren Chattman's) and tasted by real kids (her own). Chattman has created streamlined recipes that produce the highest quality baked goods with the least amount of fuss, striking a balance between familiar favorites and new twists. Try Caramel Swirl Brownies on a rainy afternoon, Strawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream at the next school bake sale, Thin and Crispy Pizza for a slumber party, and Chocolate Milk Pancakes at breakfast the next morning. Chattman provides you with advice on when and how to let kids participate. There are loads of tips on vital topics including how to mass produce cupcakes, how to make the most Christmas cookies in the least amount of time, and how to make a birthday cake your child will remember forever without losing your own mind.

Customer Reviews:

I have been looking for a cookbook just like this one...........2007-09-01

for years! I always have the ingredients in the house, and the recipes taste wonderful. With Cheap Fast Good and Mom's Big Book of Baking, I can get rid of the rest of my cookbooks!

Easy Delicious baking.......2007-08-31

I checked out this book from the library and was inspired to buy it, I had to have my own copy! My favorite recipe is the blueberry muffins with the crumb topping, so easy to whip up. My 14 yr. old daughter loves to use the book often and surprises us with delicious treats. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to bake, specially with such easy, delicious recipes.

YUMMY!.......2007-07-13

I have made about 10 of the recipes out of this book and we have loved all of them. I am looking forward to baking my way through it. The microwave brownies are so simple and our families quick chocolate fix.

Great Book!.......2007-05-21

As the mother of 2 little girls, I am finding a huge need for baked goods for all kinds of functions. So far everything I've made has been awesome - and simple. If you have children, this a great book to add to the collection!

I'm a mom and I like this book!.......2007-04-08

Like the author, I am a mother of 2 small kids and a professional chef. I work, I can cook fancy dishes with the best of them, but for birthday parties, playdates and bake sales. I have to put on a different hat and make simple, delicious things kids love - this is the book I use for that purpose. I've made a number of the recipes - the brownies and their variations are particular favorite. After I discovered the Microwave Brownie recipe, I think I gained 5 pounds, because I can now make brownies in 10 minutes from start to finish and I usually have all the ingredients in the house!

Average customer rating:

Fun for little ladybugs!
Ladybug's Birthday

Ladybug's Birthday (Sidebyside)
Steve Metzger
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0590025996

Customer Reviews:

Fun for little ladybugs!.......2007-01-05

My kindergartener had a ladybug birthday party, and we gave this book as the party favor. She loves anticipating what is coming next and reading along with me! Everyone will love this little ladybug party story!

Ladybug's Birthday.......2000-06-20

Since I am an elementary school teacher, I always buy my nephew theme presents for his birthday. I happened upon this book while looking for an offbeat fiction book about ladybugs. It was surprisingly entertaining. The plot is very positive as ladybug's friends take turns solving problems they have caused by bringing additional guests to her birthday party.The text is kid-pleasing with lots of alliteration (family of flighty fireflies, sprinkling of spindly spiders, etc)and predictable language. The illustrations are simple, yet bright and eye-catching. It is part of a Scholastic series called "Side by Side, Books for collaborative reading". According to Scholastic, "the structure of the text encourages taking turns because it combines a read-aloud book with an emergent reader, which results in true collaborative reading". Although the emergent text has been highlighted, is much larger than the read-aloud text, and is isolated on the left hand page, I'm not sure how well this book would work as a true emergent text. The reading levels rise sharply after the very simple introductory pages. This is a small quibble as the language is engaging and predictable and young children love to chime in to "read" a book whether that involves true reading (decoding the words) or merely repeating memorized words. The book has 29 pages so would be most appropriate for children aged 4-6.

Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity

Average customer rating:

fun team challenges
A wide variety of great ideas.
3 activities with 1001 variations
From the Creativity Editor at BellaOnline.com
Must have! Wish I'd had it years ago!

Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity
Kris Bordessa
Manufacturer: Zephyr Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Creativity & Genius | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Family Activities | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Parenting Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1569762015

Book Description

Team Challenges promotes effective communication skills and teamwork. Designed to offer teachers, facilitators, and parents a wide variety of activities to cultivate children's problem-solving skills while fostering cooperation between group members, the activities in the book utilize common household items and recycled materials, and require no more than 10 minutes, start to finish. Presented with a challenge from this book, kids work cooperatively to solve open ended problems which can incorporate structure building, improvisation skills and physical tasks. The challenges will teach children to experiment with building methods, discover new uses for everyday items, try on new personas, and express themselves as they work together toward a successful solution. Team members are required to think outside the box, communicate clearly, and cooperate with each other in order to complete each task.

Activities include building structures from materials such as index cards, drinking straws, paper clips and sticky dots; moving items from one location to another without directly touching them; or presenting a skit portraying their solution to a hypothetical dilemma. Children will learn not only from each other, but also from observing how other teams navigate each task.

Pass some creative problem solving skills on to the kids (and adults!) in your life with the fun activities you'll find in Team Challenges. Adults who work with children will find this to be a great addition to their repertoire.

Ever found yourself with five extra minutes to spare, but nothing to discuss in that short amount of time? Turn to Chapter Five, and you'll find questions such as these:

*Name things that you carry on your back (a backpack, a baby, a monkey)
*Name things that you take out (garbage, Chinese food, an opponent)
*List things that are printed (newspapers, the alphabet, T-shirts)

Need a simple activity to occupy the kids and encourage them to work cooperatively? Challenge them to one of the Tiny Tasks, found in Chapter Four:

*Build a structure as tall as possible using 5 marshmallows and 10 drinking straws
*Create a bridge that will span 18" using 3 sticky notes and 10 cotton balls
*Create a continuous line as long as possible using 1 envelope and 5 recycled bottle caps

More detailed challenges are found in subsequent chapters.

Customer Reviews:

fun team challenges.......2007-08-14

I am a Destination Imagination team manager who is looking forward to getting my kids working on these team challenges. There are a variety of challenges in this book that are easy to prepare and set up for but they look fun, interesting and challenging. They are sure to make my kids brains work! Book contains good tips too!

A wide variety of great ideas. .......2006-12-16

This book offers all kinds of great activities that will help foster cooperation, communication and creativity within whatever group of people you're using it for. The tasks range from mental activities to physical ones and are easy to understand, fun to execute and can be completed with objects that you usually have around the house. The book is a great tool for your own children, birthday parties, classrooms and it's also a perfect teacher gift!

3 activities with 1001 variations.......2006-11-23

Essentially, this is a book for people with little-to-no experience with group games or team building. All of the activities listed were ones I already knew, and the large number in the title comes from the number of variations for each of 3 activities: building things out of everyday items (see how high you can build a tower with the given items), common physical challenges (get the group from one side of the room to another using various props), and improv/word games. If you have a small imagination and very limited knowlegde of common team building activities, you might like this book, but if you're already in the field and looking for a book of new ideas, keep on looking. This isn't it.

From the Creativity Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2006-05-11

Team Challenges is a resource book packed with ideas and activities for encouraging and developing children?s creativity, lateral thinking, and communication skills.

It's easy to see how these challenges could help to develop a child's confidence as well as exposing children to career and skill development options. Solutions are not necessarily guaranteed and children can be encouraged to continue thinking a problem through when the time is up and to present further ideas later, or even try the task again.

The challenges in this book emphasise creative and imaginative thinking and I'm very impressed with the author's ideas.

Must have! Wish I'd had it years ago!.......2005-12-21

We're a homeschooling family, and have started using this book in our co-op. It's so amazing to watch the idea of "team" unfold as we go along. This book is fantastic, so well organized and well written, and full of so many different ideas, you're bound to find something unique that works for every personality. We've participated in Oddessey of the Mind in the past, and I think this book should be on every group leader's book shelf. If you like helping kids and adults learn to work together, this book will take you to new levels of cooperation, and will likely teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

Birthday Bugs: A Pop-up Party by David A. Carter

Average customer rating:

Cute Birthday Book
Cute! Love it...
A Hit with our Grandson
Old Bugs In a Box titles are better...
cute little gift

Birthday Bugs: A Pop-up Party by David A. Carter

Manufacturer: Little Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0689818580

Book Description

It's time to celebrate with the Birthday bugs -- and there's a different one popping out of each of the bright birthday presents that you'll find inside. Plus there's a removable, wearable party hat so you can be a Party bug too!

Customer Reviews:

Cute Birthday Book.......2007-05-15

A very cute book full of fun & surprises. Not for the very young because it has lots of little pieces but the pop-ups are very cool. My favorites were the wearable birthday hat & the pop-up birthday cake with candles to place in it. Lots of fun stuff.

Cute! Love it..........2006-11-10

my 4 1/2 yr old son and 16 month old daughter loves all the pop up books by David Carter. I love the different style and types of pop up items in this book. it's too bad my daughter has broken/ ripped a couple of the items in the book already.

A Hit with our Grandson.......2006-03-04

Our two year old Grandson loves this book having recently celebrated a birthday. He has many books and considers any of the "bug book" series among his favorites.As a young toddler, he is naturally curious about what makes bugs "tick" and anxiously explores the creatures of the great outdoors.

Old Bugs In a Box titles are better..........2006-01-30

The Bugs in a Box series is great--my kids have enjoyed them for years and now my two-year-old loves them. However, I have found his more recent ventures to lack the quality and spark of his original works: Bugs In Boxes, More Bugs In Boxes, How Many Bugs in a Box, etc. While I would still recommend this book, David A. Carter's original pop-ups were more complex, more clever and more sturdy. If you haven't purchased any, I would start with the aforementioned books first.

cute little gift.......2005-08-02

This book is a welcomed birthday gift that can be opened agaion and again. A+++ to David Carter.

Sweet Sixteen Princess (Princess Diaries, Vol. 7 1/2) (Princess Diaries)

Average customer rating:

Very Cute
Too good, too short
A must-read for all ages.....
Sweet, but too short
Sweet Sixteen Princess

Sweet Sixteen Princess (Princess Diaries, Vol. 7 1/2) (Princess Diaries)
Meg Cabot
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060847166
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Book Description

Sixteen is the magic number

Mia doesn't always have the best luck with parties, so even though it's her sweet sixteenth, she doesn't want a birthday bash. As usual, Grandmère has other ideas, and thinks a reality TV special is just the thing in order to celebrate royally. The whole scheme smacks of Lilly's doing -- Lilly, whose own TV show is still only limited to local cable viewers.

Will Mia be able to stop Grandmère's plan? Will her friends ever forgive her if she does stop it, since it involves all of them taking the royal jet to Genovia for an extravaganza the likes of which would turn even Paris Hilton green with envy? Why can't Mia get what she really wants: an evening alone with Michael?

With a little luck, this sweet sixteen princess might just get her wish -- a birthday that's royally romantic.

Customer Reviews:

Very Cute.......2007-01-22

This is a very short story about Mia's 16th birthday. It is very cute and filled with lots of moments between Michael and Mia that make you feel warm and fuzzy. Very Cute!!

Too good, too short.......2007-01-02

I'm not going to go over the plot with you,I'm just here to tell you what I like and dislike. What I like? That's easy. Meg Cabot has once again outdone herself with this novel. Like I said, I'm not going to go over the plot, so you will have to read it or wonder for the rest of your life(okay, exaggeration). Dislikes: Just one. IT IS NINETY-SIX PAGES! I know, I know. Book 4 1/2 was fifty pages. What is the problem here? I'll tell you: This isn't a in-between book. It is supposed to be equivalent to 150 page novels previously written by Meg Cabot. Not to mention the fact that 4 1/2 had pretty much NO plot, whereas this one has a real setting, story, and more than ten characters.
That is all I have to say. Oh, yeah, one more thing:
READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A must-read for all ages............2007-01-02

This book was great! Meg Cabot really outdid herself. However, I wish it were longer. There is certainly enough plot, but only 96 pages? Really.
All in all, I would say it is a great book. You would be best getting it at a public library, because for $9, you only get 96 pages[hardcover].

Sweet, but too short.......2006-11-10

I won't delve into the plot, since many other reviewers have already done so. Instead, I'll say that Mia is progressively coming into her own, as this installment proves. She may be nervous addressing parents and school officials, but finally she has learned to emphatically lay down the law with her friends, something she certainly had trouble with at the beginning of this series. However, I found it frustrating that the book was over so quickly, especially at full cover price. I highly suggest you purchase a used copy if you don't have lots of money to burn.

SPOILER!
.
.
.
I also wonder if this book is setting up a possible future romance between Mia and another guy...

Sweet Sixteen Princess.......2006-09-11

Happy Birthday Mia!
Sixteen years old now, but she doesn't want a huge party. She just wants a night alone with Michael, which doesn't happen often with her being a princess and all. But Grandmere tries to get her on a special episode of My Super Sweet Sixteen.
How will she get a night alone with Michael? HOW! This was a sweet, short book that makes me ache for the next one.

Big Birthdays: The Party Planner Celebrates Life's Milestones

Average customer rating:

Big Birthdays - What a Party!
Happy Birthday to Me
A focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred
a MUST read
Highly Recommended

Big Birthdays: The Party Planner Celebrates Life's Milestones
David Tutera , Charles Maring , and Jennifer Maring
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Party Planning | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Etiquette | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 082126172X

Book Description

Lifestyle expert David Tutera offers practical tips from his television show for throwing extraordinary yet easy and affordable birthday parties for all ages. David Tutera is a highly regarded event designer whose clients have included Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, Barbara Walters, and the Rolling Stones. He is also the host of the Discovery Channels hit one-hour show, the Party Planner with David Tutera, in which Tutera lends his expertise on how to throw unforgettable birthday parties on everyday budgets. Each chapter of BIG BIRTHDAYS covers a party by focusing on the look, the scent, the touch, the taste, and the sound of the celebration. There is a party for every milestone from age 1 through 100, including a father/son fishing party for a 5-year-old, a turning-over-a-new-leaf party for a 40th birthday, and a safari send-off for a 65th birthday. The parties are set in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations, such as a nightclub and an apple orchard. Featured are food menus, cocktail recipes, how-tos for simple projects, and 100 Tutera Tips for dcor, invitations, entertainment, place cards, table settings, floral arrangements, and party favors. Tutera brings a fresh, original twist to birthday parties while honoring individual tastes and personal touches.

Customer Reviews:

Big Birthdays - What a Party!.......2007-09-17

Love this book. David is so talented, so creative and so over the top. I love how he shares his details, the how-tos. The photos are amazing. I want a party like these!

Happy Birthday to Me.......2007-05-07

Really fun Birthday ideas. I especially liked the African safari party for the retired man going on an African safari. He had really creative ideas for making an African theme that didn't really have anything to do with Africa but still came together to form this perfect ambiance.

A focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred .......2006-07-29

BIG BIRTHDAYS: THE PARTY PLANNER CELEBRATES LIFE'S MILESTONES isn't just another birthday book for parents: it's a focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred and provides a party planner's experience gained from planning such for famous stars and personalities. You may recognize him from his TV appearances: a fair for elegance, humor, and design lend to a party planner that pairs delicious food recipes with decorating tips. Color photos throughout capture the finished products and excitement of his approach.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

a MUST read.......2006-06-22

Having a summer birthday has never been much fun, it somehow always goes uncelebrated. This year I was inspired to throw my own festivities. What was supposed to be a quick search for party ideas turned into a total body experience after delving into David Tutera's book Big Birthdays. In his book he executed and fabulously captured five birthday parties exploring the five senses (look, scent, texture, sound and taste) through each event. His tips ('Tutera Tips') were the most helpful; it was almost as if he could hear my questions and answer my thoughts concerning each party scenario. After my celebration they will have to reprint the book, Tutera's ideas were truly an inspiration. This book is a must-have for any status of event planner.

Highly Recommended.......2006-06-20

This year my grandmother ceebrated her 80th birthday, and with that, I wanted to surprise her with an elgant dinner party for some of her closest family and friends. Having never embarked on such a thing before, I set out to Amazon to find a book that would help me from beginning to end. David Tutera's latest book, Big Birthdays, gave me many great ideas. I immediately fell in love with the sophisticated White-On-White dinner party. The instructions and focus on details allowed me to easily recreate the atmosphere and ultimately throw a spectacular party!! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to host such an event and will definately look to David Tutera in the future for inspiration for another great get together!

Birthday Cakes: Recipes and Memories from Celebrated Bakers

Average customer rating:

Home-cooking Forever
Fantastic Book!!
incredible recipes
hit and miss
Excellent Book

Birthday Cakes: Recipes and Memories from Celebrated Bakers
Kathryn Kleinman , and Carolyn Miller
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cakes | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Party Planning | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0811840190

Book Description

Exquisitely illustrated with more than 55 color photographs, Birthday Cakes features memorable, celebratory cakes and birthday stories by renowned chefs, cookbook writers, and passionate bakers -- including the likes of Julia Child, Alice Waters, James Beard, Alice Medrich, and Jim Fobel. This elegant yet easy-to-use cake-making book invites us to celebrate everything birthday: the making and presentation of the cake, the warm glow of the candles, the whispering of a wish, and the heartwarming ritual of cutting and sharing the cake. Everyone will enjoy oohs and aahs when a Meyer Lemon Pound Cake is served, a beautiful, sophisticated cake that can be decorated with glazed flowers and long French birthday candles. A fabulous three-day cake-making extravaganza for the truly dedicated is Gayle Ortiz's Princess Cake, a Swedish sweet-sixteen tradition. For happy smiles all around, there's a simple, delicious chocolate cake dressed in luscious frosting, just like grandmother used to make. Sprinkled with fun ideas and tips for decorating, this collection of cake recipes and personal birthday memories will inspire cakes so special friends and family will wish they had more than one birthday.

Customer Reviews:

Home-cooking Forever.......2007-06-14

I LOVE this book and quite honestly I find the rather bland reviews perplexing. I tried the angel food cake recipe and it is by far the best I have ever made; tall, light and perfect. The Comfort's Coconut Cake is to die for and the Buttermilk Poppyseed bundt cake turned out great as well. I made a few others and not one got ho-hum from anyone. Seriously, I think the coconut cake alone justifies the purchase of this book and my girlfriend for whom I made this cake on her birthday agrees, two enthusiastic thumbs up!

The other thing I really liked about this book is the great photos and the stories behind the cakes. It is our family tradition for me to bake a homemade, from scratch cake for everyone's birthday and my children thoroughly enjoyed thumbing through this book and saying "This is the cake I want for MY birthday!" What delight it elicited from each one to see the creation they picked sitting before them on their special day.

I haven't tried the more complicated Princess cake but both my girls have tagged it as their choice for their sixteenth birthday. So what if it's complicated or time consuming, they only get one sixteenth birthday in their entire lives. Let's go out of our way to celebrate the life that is uniquely theirs.

If you really are unsure about buying it, order it from your library and try it out. Then you can buy it with the confidence of experience. But don't miss this great resource for making memorable birthday cakes.

Fantastic Book!!.......2007-02-26

I almost didn't buy this book because of some of the lukewarm reviews, but I'm glad I did! This is a wonderful book with numerous recipes that are easy to make and delightful. The "1-2-3 cake" is one my children love to make. All the recipes are clear and should be easy enough for anyone who knows anything about baking. The decoration ideas have really helped me take my creations up a notch. I promise you'll enjoy this book from the beautiful pictures right down to the delicious finished products!

incredible recipes.......2006-11-04

I love the cake recipes in this book.It has the best chef's cake recipes from restaurants.I can make the best cake at home and eat the whole cake, not just a slice!

hit and miss.......2006-05-30

first things first- asthetically, this book is beautiful. the pictures look like something out of a fairy tale, with cakes decorated with fluffy frosting and fresh flowers.

if this were just a coffee table book, it would be fine, but the recipes are a little off the mark. the gingerbread cake with chocolate frosting is a fantastic idea and the flavors work well, but my cake was runny and too soft. (given, my oven is like something out of prehistoric times, so it could be that too) the simple 1-2-3-4 vanilla cupcakes are actually quite good, one of the few vanilla cake recipes i've tried that doesn't end up tasting kind of like cornbread. however, all it takes is 2 minutes of refrigeration and they're hard as rocks. in general, this book is fun to own and the pictures are inspiring, but most of the recipes require a little messing with to make a product as beautiful as the images shown in the book.

Excellent Book.......2005-08-13

Looking at this book simply puts me in the mood for a party! The cakes are beautifully decorated, yet something a novice should be able to do themselves at home.The recipes are excellent; simple to advanced bakers should be equally pleased here.

Happy Birthday, SpongeBob! (Spongebob Squarepants Ready-to-Read)

Average customer rating:

Happy Birthday, SpongeBob! (Spongebob Squarepants Ready-to-Read)
J-P Chanda
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0689876742

Book Description

Today is SpongeBob's Birthday! But where are the balloons, the cake, and

his gifts?

Book Description

Caillou's birthday present isn't quite the dinosaur he was longing for. He's disappointed, but to his surprise, his birthday is the best ever!

Customer Reviews:

Caillou the Birthday Party.......2007-05-13

This is a great book for Caillou lovers. My 3yr old son loved reading this story and the stickers were the best part!

very good book.......2007-02-12

I like all the Caillou books. They are wordy but you can skip some of the sentences if your toddler is too young and wants to read more books before bedtime. This is a book you can use for a few years at least.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books