Product Description
Those creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Fireworks CS5 choose Adobe Fireworks CS5
Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 13 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Fireworks CS5. Readers will learn what they need to know to collaborate with other Adobe Creative Suite applications to design and mock up basic Web pages or interfaces for rich Internet applications. In addition readers will learn how to demo a design live for a client, export the design as an interactive PDF, and export complete Web page designs as Web standards-compliant CSS-based layouts, or as PDF. This revised CS5 edition covers enhanced pixel precision; new workflows between Fireworks and Flash Catalyst; working with the new Document template feature; importing, sharing, and creating Adobe Swatch Exchange files; and more. The companion DVD includes lesson files so readers can work along with the book.

“The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training

Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.
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Customer Reviews (3)

Good primer to Fireworks CS5
This is a well written, generously illustrated primer to Fireworks CS5, but bear in mind that it only scratches the surface of what this powerful program can do; you'll need to do a fair amount of experimenting on your own (which author Jim Babbage encourages) to get the most value from this book. My one complaint concerns the two "bonus" chapters available for download from the publisher's site that should have been part of the print edition given its price.

About Books
These books help me to reach easily and quickly become the new-
professional Web Designer

Excellent Introduction to Fireworks
This book is a textbook for my Fireworks class at the Art Institute of Austin. I am a multimedia instructor teaching courses on Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, DreamWeaver, Fireworks and After Effects and have long been a Fireworks addict and consider it one of the best applications in the Creative Suite, at times superior to Photoshop or Illustrator.

After several "heart breaking" years of nothing being published on Fireworks (except for Jim's other book on Fireworks How To's), this book is indeed very welcome. Adobe has shifted the emphasis of Fireworks to Prototyping and the book stays true to this focus. Along the way Jim introduces Bitmap and Vector Image editing as well as Masking, Image Optimization, Auto Shapes, Commands, Textures, the incredible Property Inspector and much more.

This book currently has no serious competition. Nevertheless, Jim maintains a very high standard and I enthusiastically recommend this book. Jim has a passion for Fireworks that is deeply appreciated by those of us who use it. It is a good companion to his Fireworks classes on [...]. As to improving this book, I trust this book will develop through the years and become more "fleshed out" with details similar to the older seasoned Illustrator Classroom in a Book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (43)

Fast read
I finished this book a month ago and still don't know exactly how I feel about it.I anticipated that it would be Nicholas Sparks-esque. In a way it was.An elementary version of this type of story.The writing wasn't wonderful. The story line was okay. The ending disappointed.

What this author did excel at was the soft-porn love making scene.Normally I skim over these as they aren't really my thing.This scene went on...and on...and on. It was the Viagra of the usual intimate description.

The book did make me crave risotto and Coca-Cola, which I did cave to. That is about the end of the satisfaction I received from the story.

Not a fan. It's not a book that I'd pass on to others.

pleasant read
This read has a nice flow/pace, interesting story line. I would think that many readers would enjoy it. Out of 5, I'd rate 3.8...my opinion, of which each of us have. A book is pretty individual, like music, but I feel this read has appeal to a fairly large audience.

Bright Spot of Reading
Fireworks over Toccoa may not have the eloquence of Nicholas Sparks and the like, but Jeffrey Stepakoff did the research of this story for a movie script, but in turn has taken that research and interwove it into a delightful, enjoyable and entertaining read.

Fireworks over Toccoa
I loved this book! I loved the characters and the descriptions and the way it was written! A very romantic story that leaves the reader missing the characters after the book is finished. Indulge in this romantic story!!!!

Fireworks Over Toccoa
Just finished reading Jeffrey Stepakoff's, Fireworks Over Toccoa and I'm so sad to leave his Toccoa. I fell in love with the place, the characters, and the period and wanted the story to continue.Beautifully written, almost poetic, Stepakoff creates a world you want to be a part of. Can't wait for his next book!
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Product Description
Jack Garrett enjoys biddable women— sharing the vineyard he's inherited with his fiery ex-wife does not appeal. His agenda is clear—visit Brenna, make her a deal… and leave. Immediately.

Her steamy surrender!

But one glimpse of Brenna's sun-kissed skin has Jack's rugged body recalling their fevered nights together.… As their red-hot passion erupts, ten years of ice-cold separation melt away. Now they're back where it started all those years ago—in bed! Suddenly negotiations are looking much more pleasurable.… ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"The Billionaire's business arrangement...Her steamy surrender!"
Kimberly Lang has written such a powerful and beautiful romance in Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks!

Talk about conflict and a shared past which involved a short term marriage. Now ten years later Brenna Walsh is faced with not only loosing her beloved stepfather Max. She was also forced to see his son, her billionaire ex-husband Jack Garrett. However, they have a huge problem as Brenna and Jack now share the joint ownership of Amante Verano Cellars they recently inherited It's been Brenna's whole focus and life while Jack just wants to sell his share that his father Max left to them both. On top of that, the chemistry is still there for both of them, the fire, the passion and the sad memories of their failed marriage.

Talk about fireworks with an exclamation mark! Fireworks doesn't even describe their arguments nor their desire for each other. It completely complications the situation every step of the way because Brenna wants the winery to be a huge success and she's sure they can put Amante Verano on the map if she's just given the chance. However, the winery means nothing to Jack, he doesn't share her passion. His passion is for building luxury hotels and he didn't want to waste his time in wine country, remembering how it was like with Brenna all of those years ago.

They constantly argued, remembered how much they had once loved each other, fought over the winery and what a money pit it was, fought over Jack selling or being a silent partner. It was weeks of up and down emotions and finally facing them in a most intimate way. They were both so different, Brenna was granola to Jack's posh life style. Jack was extremely popular with the socialites where as Brenna was content to dig in the dirt and prune her vines. They were as different as night and day yet they still wanted each other. Their marriage had been based on "fight-truce-sex-fight" and neither of them wanted that again, and yet, they couldn't seem to get past the past.

For them to come to terms with the past, so much happened during the ensuing weeks while trying not only to come to terms with their loss of Max, the winery and how Jack in the end, decided how to deal with Brenna. It became more when they fought about their break-up and why their marriage failed.

And then when I thought Brenna's heart couldn't break anymore, the worst thing happened, a fire. Now she couldn't hide behind the winery, she was forced to think about why she and Jack failed and could she move forward? And then a wonderful thing happened when Brenna realized she didn't want to be alone, she wanted to be with Jack. As for Jack where Brenna was concerned I just knew he would do something extraordinary, and he did because he knew how much she loved the winery. Did they get their second chance? Of course thanks to their love for each other and compromise!

Misunderstandings, passion and bedroom fireworks made Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks an amazing romance giving this beautiful couple their happy ending thanks to USA Today Bestselling author Kimberly Lang.

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Product Description
This self-paced guide to Adobe Fireworks CS4 is ideal for beginning users who want to learn key Fireworks concepts and techniques, while readers who already have some experience with Fireworks can use this book to learn Fireworks CS4's more advanced features and newest tools. Using step-by-step, project-based lessons, each chapter walks readers through the creation of a specific project, with successive chapters building on the reader's growing knowledge of the program.
With Fireworks CS4, users can collaborate with other Adobe Creative Suite applications to design and mockup basic Web pages or interfaces for rich Internet applications. Demo a design live for a client, or export the design as an interactive PDF and email it to them. Fireworks sports a new user interface, shared in common with other applications in Creative Suite 4. Export complete Web page designs as web standards-compliant CSS-based layouts, or as PDF ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not Well Edited
I got this book out of the library to see if I might need it.I've used fireworks a few versions ago and wanted to see what has changed.While the book was okay at going over fireworks I found two context and spelling errors just flipping through it.It incorrectly labeled CMYK colors twice swapping it to read CYMK.That isa basic color format that anyone in graphic design would know.It jumped out at me, and that was only a few pages into the book. I flipped through the rest and found some more errors.I decided the book wasn't for me based on these errors, as they made me doubt the rest of the info.

Coverage Incomplete
The Adobe Fireworks CS4 Classroom in a book did NOT cover all the options in the software.
I specifically got the book for help in creating slideshows, but there is nothing in the book about it.
I generall like the Classroon in a book series, but was disappointed that this one was incomplete.
I will be very cautious in purchasing any additional version.

Adobe Fireworks
All the Adobe books are well written and easy to understand and this book is no exception!

Haven't read it
Haven't read it but some of the pictures look real nice. In general this series has been a good experience for me.

Useful
There are not a lot of books on Fireworks to pick from, so this is a good start. If you are proficient in Photoshop and/or Illustrator you will find this book a little light for your needs. ... Read more

Product Description
Adobe Fireworks CS4 is back and better than ever. Completely revamped for inclusion in the Adobe Creative Suite, Fireworks is now positioned to be an integral part of Adobe's Web workflow. Designed for manipulating images destined for the Web and developing rapid Web prototypes, Fireworks lets Web designers go from scribbled concept to online framework. Fireworks CS4 has been given new life, so new in fact that a whole new generation of Web designers needs to become acquainted with it. Adobe Fireworks CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques gives users quick access to the key features and fundamental techniques to help them come up to speed in Adobe Fireworks CS4. Each technique is presented in a self-contained unit of one or two pages so users can dive in and start working right away, unencumbered by lengthy descriptions or technical detail. Adobe Fireworks CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques will be one of the first books available on this software. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Satified Customer
The received the book in a timely manner. The item was advertised under "used" category but was practically new.

Adobe fireworks CS4 How-tos
This book covers the basics in a clear and easy to follow way. Good resource book

Nice General Overview
Adobe Fireworks is a pretty underrated app, and I just recently discovered it myself. Looking around online I found very little resources to tell me just what the heck this thing does. Even Adobe's website if missing the usual gloat about features.

I picked up this book to get a nice overview of what this program is capable of, and in that respect it delivers quite nicely. This is not a comprehensive guide, but, you should know that just by the title. The book is well written, and delivers just enough content where it counts.

I do wish that the chapter on 'Designing Interfaces' was a bit more in depth, but all in all I think the material is pretty well rounded, and definitely worth the $20 I spent.

Good book but could be better supported
The Fireworks CS4 How-Tos book has a lot of useful tips but it is very frustrating to find any support, errata, etc. for the book on the publisher's website (unlike the Friends Of Ed book series which has much better support). The URL given for animated gif in-depth tutorials at the Tweening Animation page doesn't work. After searching the site referred to at Community MX, I was unable to find any such articles. ... Read more

Product Description
More than anything else in the world, Lila wants to be a Firework-Maker. But every Firework-Maker must make a perilous journey to face the terrifying Fire-Fiend! Can Lila possibly survive? Especially when she doesn't know she needs special protection to survive his flames...The exciting and heart-warming story of Lila's journey to face the fearful fire demon fizzes with fun and drama.Amazon.com Review

"A thousand miles ago, in a country east of the jungle and south of the mountains, there lived a firework-maker called Lalchand and his daughter, Lila."

Lila, the heroine of Philip Pullman's charming fable, was, as a baby, "a cross little thing, always crying and refusing her food, but Lalchand built a cradle for her in the corner of the workshop, where she could see the sparks play and listen to the fizz and crackle of the gunpowder." Once out of her cradle, she showed a marked talent for pyrotechnics, even inventing her own fireworks with names like Tumbling Demons and Shimmering Coins. Nevertheless, when Lila tells her father she'd like to become a master firework-maker, he's shocked.Firework-making is no job for a girl, he tells her; besides, with her burned fingers and singed eyebrows, he's afraid he'll never be able to find a husband for her.

If Lalchand is horrified by Lila's ambitions, his daughter is equallyappalled by the prospect of a husband. Instead, she decides to run away to Mount Merapi, where every firework-maker must go to claim some of the royal sulphur from Razvani the Fire-Fiend. Lila's adventures on the road to Merapi alternate with those of her best friend, Chulak, and his talking white elephant, Hamlet, who set out after her when they learn something that could mean life or death for Lila. Along the way, they meet pirates, wild animals, and supernatural beings of everystripe until, at last, Lila must face the scariest obstacle of all: her own fear. Pullman invests The Firework-Maker's Daughter with wit, wonder, and more than a few goose bumps. The charm of the prose is reflected in the black and white illustrations by S. Saelig Gallagher that punctuate this slim novel. Though not as sophisticated as Pullman's remarkable fantasy novels The GoldenCompass and The Subtle Knife, this engaging story does share a courageous heroine, an exciting adventure, and a singular philosophy that ties everything together in a deeply satisfying denouement. (Ages 9 to 12) --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

I read for children
I read and review books for a friend who is a teacher.We are trying to find book that are fast paced and short to encourage children with reading difficulties find joy in reading books.Getting the books as cheaply as possible is also a prerequisite.

too bad i'm not a child anymore
i think i would have liked this short, simple book a lot more if i were younger. having read other phillip pullman books, i suppose i was expecting something a little more substantial, but nevertheless, i did enjoy the simplicity and quick read. and since the book was only a buck fifty, i'd certainly say i got more than my money's worth. but if you're an adult like me (i am, despite the fact that i never use caps) you may just want to borrow it from the library

My daughter liked it
My daughter read this for a book club and really enjoyed this.

I like Philip Pullman, but...
A bit shallow for Pullman. Not as interesting as I'd hoped.

Perfectly crafted
A perfectly crafted children's story, a lovely balance and the characters were delightful. Some of the wit reminded me of Terry Pratchet but alot more subtle. ... Read more

Product Description
As one of the leading experts on investing in China’s economy, author Robert Hsu advises people every day on how a China strategy will truly take them to a new level of investing. With his new book, Hsu shows you how to build your fortune by participating in what he calls the “China Miracle.” Page by page, Hsu helps you navigate this dynamic market and reveals the best ways to invest in the world’s fastest-growing economy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good Book on China Investment Strategies
This is a good book on China Investment Strategies. Hsu takes you around China and introduces you to the different provinces, and discusses the market and what the people want where they live. The diversity of China is explained.Even though it dates from 2008 it is helpful because he included from the beginning how violtule China's market is. He discuss's the advantages of Hong Kong and his stories always follow the basic keystone of investment strategies.
Good Humanitarian aspect. Find detailed financials from your financial sources, but read this .

Incredibly Dynamic Economic Environment!
Hsu's intent is to provide investment advice for those interested in China. This he does well, explaining both his style of investing (momentum-driven), and the types of investments to look for and look out for. In the process, he also tells the story of a very dynamic economy.

First, some of the superlatives. China produces more steel, aluminum, cement, coal, clothing, and toys than any other nation. It has the most cell-phone users (average fees = $6/month). China already has the world's largest dam and airport, high-speed train network, and highest railroad. Now it is finishing a six-lane bridge connecting Shanghai with the island of Yang-shan (20 miles offshore) that will be the largest sea-span bridge and connect with the world's largest port. Shanghai alone has 40% of the world's construction cranes; the nation builds the equivalent of a new Philadelphia every six weeks, and a new nuclear power plant every year. China was also the world's largest manufacturing exporter in 2006, up from half the size of the U.S. in 2000. Renewable power sources are mandated to increase from 7% in 2008 to 15% in 2010.

Hsu sees Confucian values (social harmony via respect for authority, emphasis on education, strong interpersonal relationships, and personal integrity) as supportive of China's economic growth.

The author points out that China's major cities and provinces have different cultures, and sometimes different languages, and suggests those looking for real estate opportunities focus outside of Shanghai and Beijing - less competition, and larger overall population. Avoid investing in State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) - they generally are not well managed, and the government recently mandated they become self-sufficient or dissolve - about 2,000 of the remaining 100,000 went bankrupt in 2008. Hsu also points out that Chinese firm valuations are often severely distorted by the fact that the government may hold (without trading) a majority of shares in them. Hsu also suggests staying away from firms traded only on Chinese exchanges - their financial reporting requirements are not that stringent.

Chinese casinos can be very profitable (Macao's Sands Casino was built in 2004 and recouped that amount in less than one year), but differ from the U.S. - Chinese gamblers don't drink, consider fine shopping and dining a waste of time and money, and ignore slots. The focus is on table games.

Hsu sees education as a big business in China. It is estimated that a typical Chinese household with a child spends more on education than housing and health care. There are about 70,000 private school, serving 14 million students (200/). There is also a large market teaching English (especially to pass the TOEFL and GRE). English is now mandatory for high-school graduation. Recently the government mandated that rural schools accept pupils unable to pay tuition and books.

On average, less than 20% of the price a brand-name product commands in the U.S. goes to Chinese manufacturing. Per UBS AG, China earns only 0.35/Barbie doll retailing for $20 in the U.S. Because of these low margins, and the fact that other areas of China and Asia stand ready to take over, Hsu recommends staying away from investing in Chinese manufacturing. (China, however, is working to learn R&D in manufacturing and drug development - so watch out!)

Personal health care spending now averages $55/person/year, and Hsu sees this area as another good opportunity for investment.

Bottom Line: Very interesting and credible.

If you've read "A Bull in China," this won't tell you too much that's new.
A few years back, I read Jim Rogers' A Bull in China: Investing Profitably in the World's Greatest Market, carefully underscoring those securities that I could actually buy.(If you don't know already, Rogers' talks about some Chinese companies that only trade on the Shanghai or Shenzen exchanges, which is difficult for the typical investor to do, especially if that typical investor isn't a confirmed resident of China.He did, however, also discuss companies traded on Hong Kong and American exchanges, among a few others.Hong Kong-exchange stocks can be bought via an E*TRADE global trading account. 'nuff said there.Now on to "China Fireworks."

Hsu raises some good points about buying stocks sold on the Hong Kong exchange, namely that you have to buy minimum lot sizes, which means you can't buy three or 12 shares of something, but instead must make a minimum buy of 200 to 10,000 shares, depending on the security.(The good news is that 1 USD is equivalent to about 7.75 HKD, so it might not be as expensive as you think.)Fine so far.But then Hsu steers away from trading on the Hong Kong exchange and goes on to discuss only those stocks traded on American exchanges.Well, that's great, but everyone on earth and their grandmother has heard of most of these Chinese stocks, many of which are probably riding on CSNBC, SmartMoney, Forbes and Fortune hype.

Here's a few:

China Mobile
PetroChina
CNOOC
The9
Focus Media
CTRIP
eLong
Home Inns & Hotels Management
Suntech Power Holdings
Trina Solar
Huaneng Power
China Aluminum
China Southern

He then goes on to recommend a bunch of other stocks as good investments in the "China Miracle" (a phrase he tends to use overmuch, IMHO), but we've all heard of these, too:

Citigroup
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (of which I am a pround owner)
Travelocity
Expedia
Mosaic
Tyson Foods
Motorola (of which I was the proud owner, later the disgusted seller)
Nokia
Intel

While Hsu raises good points on why these are good investments with regard to China and its people, the book is overlong at 257 pages.I realize that a seven-page list of all the stocks Hsu mentions might not be sell as a book, but it might be all that YOU, the investor, need.Armed with that and a Morningstar or ValueLine membership, you can check them all out and see if they're overpriced or not.Save yourself some time.

Hsu does point out that investment in Chinese companies that manufacture goods is not the best idea, which rings true when you think about it.Many manufacturing companies in the world operate with razor-thin margins and a lot of competition.Also discusses "momentum investing" which, I would say, is not a bad way to go with some companies.

Bottom line: an informative yet overlong book that doesn't list enough strictly Hong Kong-traded stocks (Li Ning, anyone? [the Nike of China]) while discussing too many stocks every savvy investor already knows about.

If you haven't read A Bull in China: Investing Profitably in the World's Greatest Market (also reviewed by me), then "China Fireworks" might be a good introduction for you regarding certain aspects of China investment.

Note: On the book jacket of "China Fireworks," Hsu looks thin and young, but if you go to his website and look at pictures of him in China, he appears to be older and to have been packing on the pounds!What does the real Robert Hsu look like?

I Finally Understand China Investing
Despite the fact that the Chinese stock market is down huge this year, everyone I know still believes that huge fortunes will be made investing in China over the next several years.Hsu does a great job of explaining in plain-English where the best Chinese investing opportunities are and what to avoid.I would highly recommend it to anyone serious about profiting from China's growth!

Cracker wee book
As the reviewer above, alludes, Mr Hsu operates an online subscription newsletter. One small niggle I have with the book is that it occasionally lapses into "advertorial" mode. Another grizzle is that the author takes a negative slant on the USA stockmarket. Examples given, of extended periods of low capital growth, do not include the dividend quotient. At those times dividend pay-outs were greater than today, and it is a tadge naughty to overlook them as a part of the total returns. But, aside from these points, this book is a mine of useful information for investors seeking an "emerging markets" exposure. Mr Hsu draws upon his personal life as a native of Taiwan, and presents, in an easily readable style, a brief history of China, and a progression to where the merger of capitalism and communism has brought China today. He gives excellent examples of stocks, mostly listed as ADRs on the NYSE, and their respective positive and/or negative attributes. At a cost of only $ 25, less than the brokerage fee on one share trade, this book represents stunning value. Bravo Mr Hsu. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Fireworks.
Okay, I'm going to go story-by-story so it'll all make sense.

Miss Independent: Lauren Myracle

This one was just okay. It definetly draws you in at the beginning. However, it was really, really predictable. I liked the idea behind it, but I just... wish I wouldn't have figured out what the ending was going to be like.

A Nice Fling is Hard to Find: Sarah Mlynowski

I think this is my favorite story out of all four. It wasn't too predictable, and it was written really nicely. I haven't read anything by Sarah Mlynowski before, but this really makes me want to read her other books.

Cabin Fever: Erin Haft

I really loved the setting in this one. The camp was described nicely, as were the characters. I have Erin Haft's book, Pool Boys, here and if I didn't have a bunch of other books in my TBR pile before it, I'd be reading it right now.

Night Swimming: Niki Burnham

I've read Niki Burnham's books before (she's one of my favorite Simon Romantic Comedies author) and this short story was really good. This was my second favorite out of the book. It was a bit predictable, but not much. I didn't guess how it was going to end like I did some of the others.

Mmk, there's my short speel on each story. Overall, Fireworks was pretty good. It would have been better if the stories hadn't been so predictable.

Fireworks
Title: Fireworks

Author: Niki Burnham, Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mlynowski, and Erin Haft

Rating: Rating varies from story to story, I'll explain in the review.

Review:

I'm writing this review a bit differently than the rest... which I think is perfectly fine, since it's a book of short stories. I'm going to share a couple thoughts about each story and then say a little something about the book as a whole.

1st Story: Miss Independent by Lauren Myracle
I think this story was alright. Not exactly memorable, but really cute for what the whole book is about... summer. I think I really liked how I could relate to the main character and I really liked how there was a cute, happy ending, even if it was a bit predictable. My third favorite story.

2nd Story: A Nice Fling is Hard to Find by Sarah Mlynowski
I think this was my second-favorite story out of all of them. It was really corny, but it was still extremely cute and funny, which is what kept me interested. I also used a quote from this story in a real-life situation, which always scores a book some brownie points. Still, like I said, it was corny, but it was cute. Which worked in this case, where it wouldn't work if this were a full-length novel.

3rd Story: Cabin Fever by Erin Haft
My least favorite story out of the four, but it was by no means bad. I liked the formatting, and the way it was written made an entirely unbelievable story into an only semi-unbelievable story. However, it was corny and predictable, which may have worked with the Sarah Mlynowski story, but it did nothing for this one. Still, it wasn't bad.

4th Story: Night Swimming by Niki Burnham
This story completely blew the rest out of the water... it was by far my favorite, and I'll tell you why. In one fourth of the book I found myself actually caring about the characters and what was going to happen. I also loved the way Niki Burnham put some sort of conflict in there that was a bit deeper than a summer fling, but still found a way to incorporate the fling into it. I could also relate extremely well to the main character, and overall I was just really amazed with the story.

So, as an overview, the fourth was my favorite, and I fully intend on reading something else by Niki Burnham as soon as I am able to check a book out from the library and not let it sit on my shelf for three months. Either that, or I'll buy something when I go to Barnes and Noble tomorrow...

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
After the heartwarming compilation of four heartwarming stories in Mistletoe, Point Books once more brings together four authors to create another four sizzling stories that go perfectly with the summer heat. Pull up a towel and a big glass of lemonade, because the only place you will be going is inside the minds of four girls ready to accomplish what they have been wanting the most during summer.

Lauren Myracle brings us Megan, who is finally turning 18, in MISS INDEPENDENT!The only thing that seems to be on her mind is Pete, the boy she met at the preschool where she worked. Well, that and trying to keep up with her cousin, Porter Ann. The first moment Megan and Pete laid eyes on each other, there was a definite spark -- at least that's what Megan thought. Unfortunately, summer began, which means that her chance to finally talk or even go out with Pete is gone. But what Megan doesn't know is that her birthday will be full of surprises and a very special present from her cousin.

In Sarah Mlynowski's A NICE FLING IS HARD TO FIND, Lindsay is finally going to France with her best friend, Becca, and Becca's twin brother, Tommy. And the one thing Lindsay wants the most is to find a European hottie and finally have a fling. Could the lucky person be her tour guide, Pierre? Or maybe Vlad, the really cute Russian guy with the to-die-for accent? Or could it be the one person that is closer to her than any other -- the one she would never have thought of going out with?

Molly Walker just can't wait to leave her crazy family at home and go back to that one place where she can have a little peace, Camp Menominee. Molly can finally become a counselor and take care of her own cabin. And, most importantly, she will get to see River Ween, the camp owner's son, the boy who Molly has liked forever but can never seem to catch his eye. But this summer will be totally different, what with her younger sister, Dakota, tagging along with her after getting dumped by her boyfriend. What worries Molly the most is when Dakota finally meets River, and there seems to be a little flirting going on. Could disaster be spelled D-A-K-O-T-A for Molly this summer? Find out in Erin Haft's CABIN FEVER.

And last but certainly not least is Wynn Michaela O'Malley, in . Wynn hates being so pale and hates that summer brings fun in the sun at the beach, so she escapes the chance of looking antisocial once again and signs up for summer classes in Delaware, taking Creative Writing. Everything is all planned out, that is until Wynn finally gets into her dorm and sees that she has an ocean view room. Who knew that this college was on a beach!?But besides the beach, the dorm isn't all too bad, especially since it's co-ed and the first guy she meets, Caleb, is someone Wynn would definitely like to get to know.

Another great anthology filled with stories that will definitely make you smile -- and making you wish that one of these stories would happen to you!

Reviewed by:Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen ... Read more

Product Description

Are you a web designer who is looking for a new and quicker way to prototype and create for the web? Perhaps you are a programmer who finds most design tools to be overkill for what you need to get done. Or, maybe you're an old Fireworks pro, who wants to keep up to date on the latest changes in Creative Suite 4. Either way, this book has something for you.

• Coverage of all that's new and powerful for the Web designer and developer in Fireworks CS4
• Targets developers who want design tools that don't get in their way and designers who want development tools that don't constrain their creativity
• Do all your website and page prototypes and comps in one tool and learn how to take them straight to Dreamweaver to implement your designs

What you'll learn

• Why Fireworks vs. any other graphics Web design tool
• How to use Fireworks as a compliment to web development
• How to integrate Fireworks into an enterprise environment
• How to master a tool that boasts extreme versatility

Who is this book for?

Code savvy designers, or web developers who want to refine their design sensibilities. Either way, the individual(s) will be those who want to enhance their work-flow with a graphics tool that allows them to quickly get things done, rather than getting in their way.

Customer Reviews (9)

If you know Photoshop/Illustrator, this book can help you switch to web design tool
There are not so many books about Fireworks and this is really a shame because Fireworks is a really good tool - take some Photoshop , add some Paintshop Pro and Illustrator and you get an excellent tool for web design.
This book is meant for anyone who already entered in the world of web design and had experience with Photoshop or Illustrator. This book can be reallyuseful to all interaction designers and Flex/AIR developer because it can help them improve visual experience of their' web applications.
When you start reading this book you'll realize this book is not for dummies. First chapters give an overview what can you do with Fireworks and which tools/palettes/effects can be used for improvingyour working skills. Don't expect many details about these tools, you will get guidelines where to find asolution for your problem".

As I said, this book is dedicated to web designer and how to improve your work with bitmaps and vectors, how to create a page header, how to use pickers and selectors for both types of graphics. There is a quiet interesting chapter about creating standard please wait"- Ajax animation. I'm sure this chapter can help you build your own image for this purpose.

It the next few chapters you will learn more about creating visual prototypes of Flex/AIR application, Flex skinning and exporting and preparing your design for web developers. Since latest Fireworks CS4 version and CS5 version supportFXG export, you can try experimenting with new information and how to use it in this new environment.

Overall, it's not bad idea to learn more about setting your graphics for final web layout. Flex skinning topics are little bit out-dated because new Flex 4 component framework(Spark) has a different architecture but you can use these fresh information for creating layout protypes, exporting them to FXG and creating new Spark skins in just a few minutes.

Since there's Fireworks CS5 on the market, I expect we will have a new edition of this book available in our bookshops.
I have to say, this book has three really good case studies - how to create a web layout for your blog, how to create aweb design and how to refactor it for typical CSS template. Third case study is about creating a decent web shop layout - pretty useful tutorial.
Summary - really useful book for all web designers who want to use a tool for web designers.

fireworks rules for web production
Historically, web designers who create "eye catching" graphics referred to Adobe Photoshop as the tool of choice. This may be true for many designers, but Fireworks CS4 appears to be THE production tool for WEB 2.0 build and deploy. This is my opinion after working through this excellent book profiling ALL the TOOLS and STOCK ITEMS that you get in Fireworks CS4. If you want to BUILD an interface for a website, this tool is the place to start and this book will walk you through ALL the techniques and tips you need to create eye catching, functional web layouts.
The book is very thoughtfully arranged. The content of this book covers the tools, sample work projects, visual effects, integrating with Flash and Flex, two case studies and much more. This is THE book to purchase and complete before proceeding with any studies you may be contemplating to learn the Flash application. All your assets will be easily created by Fireworks CS4 and ready to pack into Flash to add the animation and interactivity.

A good book for any Firework user
Like all the books in the Foundation series, this book is an good resource for those who want to start using Fireworks and even for those who have already used who will find valuable information within its pages.

This book is divided into three parts:

Learning Fireworks: This part shows the most basic concepts of this application as the implementation and integration with other applications CS4, the work with bitmaps and vectors and the optimization process and export for web.

Using Fireworks: This part explains the creation of common tasks such as using filters and creating animations. A big surprise of this chapter are the most advanced topics as creating and editing skins for Flex, the development of prototypes using AIR, the use of extensions and the use of JavaScript and Flash to automate tasks and extend Fireworks.

Fireworks in Action: This part shows step by step 3 of interesting case studies: a blog, a navigation system that uses CSS and a website prototype for e-commerce.

In general I like about this book:

- The explanation of all the concepts are very clear.
- Use large images which is very important for the screenshots since it facilitates the reading of menus and commands.

I do not like failure to include sample files which is of great importance since it facilitates and encourages them to practice the concepts read.

Marlon Ceballos
Colombia Adobe User Group Manager

Unhelpful to those who know Photoshop and Illustrator but not code.
This is the first time I have posted a negative review, but because there are so few reviews on this book and so few books on Fireworks CS 4, I felt it was important for people to understand what they were getting withthis pricey and thin book.This book will not help you unless you already know how to write code (maybe not even then, since I can't get past the code speak and other assumptions this book makes).The author should not have named this book Foundation Fireworks CS4.

What you do get: a basic overview of the graphic tools within Fireworks - not such big news for people already familiar with Photoshop and Illustrator.

What you don't get: helpful basic information about how to use Fireworks as a Web Tool - not even how to create a button.Sure, they give you an overview, but this is so vaguely described that one would not be able to do it, unless they already knew how to do it...They do go into great detail about how to apply effects, filter, gradients etc to a button, but what about how to actually create one?

Love it!
I've been really pleased with Foundation Fireworks CS4 and constantly use the book as a reference for inspiration and motivation! ... Read more

Product Description
Beautiful, dynamic photographs and brief, lively text introduce readers to the joyous holiday of Diwali, evoking the celebrations of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world.

In Deborah Heiligman's inviting global odyssey of the Hindu holiday we learn that Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and of light over darkness. Although celebrated differently in different places, Diwali is universally viewed as a time of great joy, celebrated with fireworks, sweets, and gifts.

Celebrate Diwali brings to life the holiday's traditions, food, and celebration rituals. The informative back matter includes Diwali recipes, a glossary, a Diwali card game, a map, and a resource list of books and Web sites. Also included is a note to parents and teachers from the book's consultant, Dr. Vasudha Narayanan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Nice book
We purchased this book - Celebrate Diwali With Sweets, Lights and Fireworks, by Deborah Heligman - along with two others in preparation for a Diwali party with friends, as well as an introduction to Diwali at my daughter's school for her classmates.

This one is the most complete we have found in terms of pictures and content, about 30 pages in all.The kids at my daughter's school (4 and 5 year olds) liked looking at the pictures very much, but the text is aimed more at the 6-8 year old range.

All in all, a worthwhile purchase that my kids will grow into.

celebrate easter
another excellent information book in this series of Holidays around the world. I love this series!

Wonderful Photographs, Great to Share
There are large vivid photographs, and large text and detailed text. The international coverage of Diwali in this book is unlike the others out there.That really makes this a global book.Check my blog on www.desimamma.ning.com to see how I used this book in the classroom.

nice photos, fact-check please
The book indicates that the Taj Mahal is a "muslim mosque" which is quite a stretch.The Taj Mahal complex does include a mosque but the iconic Taj Mahal is not a mosque.I may white it out, I hate errors.

The photographs are lovely; but I am concerned the other facts may be erroneous too.

Celebrate Diwali:
Author Deborah Heiligman has embarked on an ambitious "Holidays Around the World Series" with National Geographic

Aimed at 6-9 year old children the series is rich in photographs from around the world and lower on textual explanations, letting the pictures speak for themselves.

The pictures are amazing and well laid out. For someone who celebrates Diwali, the pictures will seem incomplete because there are so many more aspects than can be represented in a 32 page book. But for someone who has no idea about Diwali, this is a very good introduction. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive introductory book provides step-by-step instruction and in-depth explanation on three of today?s most widely used Web design and development programs:Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, Adobe Flash CS4, and Adobe Fireworks CS4. Readers gain practical experience with the software as they work through end-of-chapter learning projects and step-by-step tutorials. An integration chapter demonstrates how to move from one application to the other while creating a Dreamweaver Web site that incorporates both Flash and Fireworks files.Full-color illustrations and a user-friendly design combine to create a solid learning experience that reveals how to master the latest features of these popular applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Online Text Book Order
I ordered this book online and I got this book way earlier than what was commited.Book was in good condition.If I have to buy again, I will do it again without any hesitation.

Great book for beginners
I love this book. I had it for my web design class. It is very easy to understand and the excercises are great, not too hard, but you learn a lot. I highly recommend this book for people who have never had experience with web design programs before.

Save your money
This book is just okay for people who have never used any of the Adobe programs before.The Dreamweaver chapters are a great introduction for people who have never used it before. There are only 6 chapter, so it's definitely an intro, but good for the basics.This is the only decent section of the book, as the Flash chapters are horrible.If you want to learn Flash CS4, then buy a book specifically for Flash.This book teaches the outdated ActionScript 2.0 instead of ActionScript 3.0, which is crazy as it's a book specifically for CS4.Then when there are features they want you to do that are only allowable in AS3, you have to switch back and hope your file still works and doesn't have compatibility issues.I've previously had experience in AS3, and the way the book teaches AS2 is unnecessarily difficult.Don't expect to learn much or any Flash with this book.The Fireworks chapters are a very basic introduction, as there isn't much content or many chapters on the program.It's nothing complicated, and could use more detail in the lessons.

My biggest problem with this book was how horrible the graphics for the Project Builder were (end of the chapter exercises.)Being a designer, the graphics were so elementary that doing the projects were off-putting and seemed ridiculous.I've definitely had books better than this with more challenging projects, better graphics, and better explanations of concepts and design. If you're interested in learning Dreamweaver, Flash, and/or Fireworks, look elsewhere.

Excellent book for learning Dreamweaver and Flash
This book is very good for learning Adobe Dreamweaver and Flash software. I'm taking an advanced webdesign class and this was the required book, it's a worthy investment for anyone who wants to learn web design.

Great book for beginers
This book does a great job teaching the fundamentals of DreamWeaver, Flash, and FireWorks. It has all the updated information specific to CS4 and is a must if you have upgraded to CS4, because of all the procedural changes from CS3. The only thing that is confusing is that the writer gives instructions for (WIN) and (MAC) in the same sentence instead of a separate paragraph or section. ... Read more

Product Description
L to R (Western Style). Two short novels, including the title story and Black Fairy Tale, plus a bonus short story. Summer is a simple story of a nine-year-old girl who dies while on summer vacation. While her youthful killers try to hide the her body, she tells us the story—from the POV of her dead body—of the boys' attempt to get away murder. Black Fairy Tale is classic J-horror: a young girl loses an eye in an accident, but receives a transplant. Now she can see again, but what she sees out of her new left eye is the experiences and memories of its previous owner. Its previous deceased owner. ... Read more

Product Description
KC and her friend Marshall are watching the fourth of July fireworks with the president of the United States when they see smoke and sparks in the distance. It’s more fireworks, but they are not part of the holiday plan. They’re coming from the FBI Building! Is it just a prank? Or are these fireworks masking a bigger mystery . . . and a capital crime? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

kindergarten reader
Bought the whole series for my kindergarten reader. He likes the characters, the mysteries and the fact that it all happens in our DC area.He reads 1 a day
then reads them again and again.He also likes the Andrew Lost series (more scientific). ... Read more

Product Description
Strike up the band, pack a picnic, and enjoy the fireworks. Celebrate Independence Day takes a nationwide perspective on the joy of America's biggest party. All the history and culture of Independence Day is here, along with fun facts, an all-American recipe, a locator map for every photo and a complete resource guide. Deborah Heiligman's rich narrative evokes the patriotic flavor of the Fourth—and explains its associations with liberty and democracy. The text also looks at how people from other nations celebrate their independence days, and includes an expert consultant's note. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

So close to a great book!
A good book that is close to a great book for children regarding Independence Day in the United States.Wonderful pictures and includes history as well as popular ways to celebrate our country. Includes the Declaration of Independence as part of the story rather than just talking about fireworks as so many children's books do.
My only disappointment in this book is in the back, under the heading of "Just the Facts".For "What:" Independence day is defined as "a cheerful holiday that emphasizes freedom, equality, patriotism, and togetherness", all true and good descriptives of the day and what it feels like and looks like.However, not a great definition of what it actually is: a day to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, what that meant, who were the heros who signed, why they signed and why Independence was declared.Must teach our children the full meaning.Since Constitution Day is not usually observed by many Independence Day is also becoming a day to review that foundational document as well.
Would still recommend the book as mostly good, just somewhat incomplete in glossary definitions. ... Read more

Product Description

For centuries fireworks have been a source of delight and amazement in cultures around the world. But what produces their dazzling array of effects? This book takes you behind the scenes to explore the chemistry and physics behind the art of pyrotechnics. Topics covered include:

(1) history and characteristics of gunpowder; (2) principles behind each of the most popular firework types: rockets, shells, fountains, sparklers, bangers, roman candles and wheels; (3) special effects, including sound effects, coloured smokes and electrical firing; (4) firework safety for private use and displays; (5) firework legislation.

Customer Reviews (2)

Poorly done
This book has a glossary of terms at the beginning, most of which are ambiguous, some of which are just plain wrong.It seems as if the author tried to "dumb down" the terminology so anyone could understand it.However, in so doing, he's really alienated his target audience, i.e., people with at least some chemistry background.He has major problems with the definitions of explosions and detonation/deflagration.These are definitions that need to be clearly defined, and he screws a lot of it up.He consistently refers to black powder as "gunpowder", which may be a british thing, but it's still annoying and misleading.Some of the equations are helpful, but because of the incorrect information supplied in other parts of the book, I question their validity.This book gives a general overview, and it is decent with pictures and the explainations, but I'd never recommend it to someone who wanted to know the terminology used in the pyro industry, because it's mostly incorrect in this book.This book looks like it was put out in a rush.For example, on p.40, the book describes a "linear" equation, then gives an exponential one; it's just poor editing and writing to get things like that screwed up.An experienced pyrotechnician would know the difference between the screwed up definitions and things, but then, an experienced pyro wouldn't be reading this book.I found Weingart's 'Pyrotechnics' more useful than this.For some more of the physics-related items, this book would be better, but if you want to know some Chemistry, get Shimizu's 'Fireworks'.

the chemistry of fireworks
About formulations and efects ... Read more

Product Description
American art pottery is one of the most dynamic collecting fields, with prices soaring up to $200,000 for one piece. Paul A. Royka examines New England art pottery made from 1872 to 1928. Sold through auctions and galleries and found in attics and homes throughout the United States, the pieces illustrated here have a combined value of over one million dollars. The most comprehensive work of its kind, Fireworks examines the origins of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the influences manufacturing companies had on it. It provides help in identifying marks, evaluating, and pricing the works of Chelsea Keramic Art Works, Dedham, Low, Grueby, Hampshire, Crook, Merrimac, Walley, Marblehead, Saturday Evening Girls, and Dorchester Pottery. A beautiful book with more than 450 color photographs, it is a must for the pottery collector and a wonderful gift for any art lover. ... Read more

Product Description
While Chelsea debates whether or not to marry Conner, Kate worries about Justin's imminent departure and Grace lets her drinking get out of hand. ... Read more

Product Description
Firecrackers, sparklers, and rockets offer maximum flash for minimum cash, and over the years, manufacturers have created dazzling labels to hype their pyrotechnic products. FIRECRACKERS! pays tribute to this eye-popping art form, featuring some of the most vibrant and eccentric labels from the 1950s and 1960s. Conjuring memories of outdoor celebrations and childhood mischief, this scintillating collection of pop culture artifacts will kindle the imaginations of advertising art aficionados, paper ephemera collectors, and fireworks enthusiasts alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book
This book is a nice supplement to Firecrackers: The Art and History, which takes a comprehensive look at the history of firecracker label artwork. It is just a selection of high quality pictures of the labels themselves. A fun coffee table book! Would recommend for the collector of labels or just someone like myself who appreciates the artwork in general.

Firecrackers: An Eye-popping Collecion of Chinese Firework Art
It's a great little book for all firecracker labels collector young and old.A must-have guide for the Chinese-made fireworks in the 20th century.It is nicely divided into various catagory of labels such as jungle animals, children, sea life, outer space, wild, wild west, bombs, architecture, flying feathers, etc.This books consists of mainly pictures only.There isn't any description.There is another book by these same authors, Dotz, Mingo, and Moyer.It's called Firecrackers, The Art and History.That book goes into more details with a little description of the label.Both books are good to have.It makes a great gift for the fireworks fan that appreciates old Chinese art. ... Read more

Product Description
This Fourth Edition of the classic "bible of fireworks" has been thoroughly revised and updated. It includes new chapters and it is illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs.This invaluable reference belongs in the library of every professional in the pyrotechnics and fireworks industry ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Easyto see why it's a "classic".
It's easy to see why this book is the classic thatit has become.Although I was surprised that this book was british this had no neg effect; it's also filled with photos from what I believe to be the famous
Brocks Fireworks Company of years gone by.If you like fireworks making you will love this book; even if you dont make them but are interested in how they work you will still enjoy this book. The only hole I found in it was when it came to exploding fireworks (noisemakers).Oddly enough Amazon offered this book along with another which nicely filled that hole.
(Exploding fireworks by John Donner.)

The definitive reference
This book continues to be an invaluable reference for those interested in fireworks and pyrotechnics at all levels. Anyone planning to construct their own pyrotechnic devices should before embarking on the simplest project include this book in their essential reading list. The book is crammed with diagrams, methods and sufficient theory to guide the reader to a perfect safe result every time.

Now more than ever the "Bible" of pyrotechnics...
An updated version of a classic work.Builds from the foundation up, enlightening the reader with a well-rounded, solid presentation of the principles behind pyrotechnic compounds and devices, as well as deliveringpractical methodology for the professional.A must-have for the seriousfire-artist.

The home pyrotechnician's bible !
An all-encompassing review of a multitude of pyrotechnic topics.This is an excellent reference manual and an exceptional formula bank, with hundreds of applications, both to the experimenter and the experienced pyrotechnist.Slightly overpriced, but not overvalued, this is a must-have text for anyone even considering beginning a collection of pyrotechnic literature.

Broad but shallow.Overpriced.
A very complete coverage of the principles and construction offireworks, but there is very little detail on any particulartype of device.Has good references to other works, and is a good compliment to works that delve deeper into fewer subjects. ... Read more