Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Colorful, but no classic
This is a very colorful book.There are some design flaws, some text is difficult to read and the text is more suitable for a 1-2 year old, the illustrations are well done and my 2yr. old son is entertained.

Great book
My son loved this book.The colorful pages are just eye-grabbing.We read it all the time.It's a great book for young children who are just starting to count.I would recommend it for anyone with young ones.

excellent
My daughter absolutely loves this book.We read it all the time over and over.She picked it out at the bookstore.I think she loves all the different vibrant colors and shapes.I highly recommend it.

Pat
Wonderful book!It is one of my 20 month old granddaughter's favorites and we have to read it many times a day.It goes with us in the car and she tries reading it by herself.

Ateacher's favorite gift
I love to give this book, as it always draws compliments from the receiver.Its bright and colorful pages keep the child's interest. Its one of the best counting books for young children 6 months to 3 years. You won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (59)

Amazing Story
I have never read a memoir quite so compelling, engaging, heartfelt or engrossing.This story is about a world I did not even know existed.Mr. Parsell captured his dysfunctional youth and coming of age with such intensity you could not help but get lost with him.I was so touched by this book I will certainly share it with all of my friends, family and just about anyone who needs to know there can be light at the end of a very dark tunnel.I thank Mr. Parsell for sharing his story and I sincerely hope this is not the last book we see from him.

Honest, Insightful and Powerfully Riveting.
The book serves not only as a detailed account of a boy's traumatic experience through prison, but also raises many questions about human rights, the justice system, male sexuality, and whether we as free citizens take our freedom for granted.

TJ Parsell was 17 when he was sentenced to an adult male prison for robbing a photomat with a toy gun. Initially intended as a joke - in a spur of the moment decision he decided to take the money handed to him from the counter girl and run. The ramifications from that point in time onwards are unspeakable.

In the memoir Parsell speaks honestly of the horror and irony that exists in prisons. A place where child molesters and rapists are frowned upon, yet inmate rape itself is seen as a glorification of one's own masculinity. The situation itself is propounded by the wardens/assessors that turn a blind eye, manipulate the situation and also become part of the process themselves.

Parsell's memoir offers a powerful account of the abuse that young male inmates are subjected to in prison. Although criminal offenders, there's the essence to remind the reader that at times, the punishment does not fit the crime and that no one deserves to be repeatedly gang rape and abused in the manner that Parsell was subjected to.

Informative, interesting, and perhaps mostly truthful
I should start by saying that I don't take this book to be 100% factual.There were many parts of the story that I had trouble believing, starting with the premise that the robbery (with a toy gun, granted) of the photo-mat which got the author in prison was nothing more than a "joke, a stupid opening line to the pretty girl inside."I also have trouble believing that his acknowledged waif-like physique was so captivating that not a single member of the male gender could resist the pederastic urges it engendered.According to the story, this included his presentencing investigative officer, who was apparently so entranced by the author's beauty that he would risk his career for a felonious quickie in the prison itself.
The refusal to give into these advances (after having spent a considerable time in the state prison) apparently led to a falsely negative report, which the author chose an inopportune time to be silent about when he faced the judge:"I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing would come out."Due to this silence, or for some other reason, the author was sentenced for a minimum of 4 ½ years--a seemingly ludicrous sentence for a first-time offender.
While I do not necessarily believe all of the author's story, I do believe he was repeatedly subjected to sexual assault and humiliation, and that this novel tells and important story.He weaves into the book memories of his growing up with his markedly sociopathic parents and brother.Although there are some definite editing problems, I found the book easy and captivating (no pun intended) to read.Many will also find prurient interest in the book--which I believe was one of the author's intentions.I found the author's touching first love with one of the other inmates particularly poignant and moving.
My questions about possible plot embellishment aside, my main criticism of the book relates to the author never appearing to truly acknowledge the harm he caused as a juvenile delinquent, labeling his hurtful actions "pranks" and "jokes."He attributes his newly law-abiding behavior to finding God rather than to realizing for himself that people need to treat each other with decency and respect in a civilized society.
While not perfectly written, this book is informative, moving, and (I hesitate to use this word) entertaining.It should interest those seeking knowledge about life behind bars, and prison rape in particular, as well as those who enjoy a good personal drama or prison love story.

Excellent Book
At first, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book, or even be able to read past the painful parts. Thankfully, I was able to endure reading about the rapes and the torture. If I hadn't, I would have lost out on the impression this book has left on me. I recommend this book to anyone who can keep an open mind. Bravo to the author!

A fantastic read
This is really two stories in one, both of them intertwined throughout the book.The first story is the one covering his childhood and the influences in his life.His mother, who disappoints him at every turn but he never really accepts this fact.His brother, who he idolizes as a child but slowly grows to learn is a loser.His step-mother, a strong woman who he at once despises and secretly admires.And finally, his father who I think he's very ambivalent about.

The second story is obviously his jail time and how he adapted and grew from it.While this part of the book is certainly very riveting, it's the stories he tells about his family that really help you see his view of prison.The prison stories are both touching and shocking and I suspect the author is lucky that he was good looking during his prison years or the tale could have been considerably worse.

I found myself staying up way too late to devour this book and it will really make you think when you're done.The best part of the book is clearly the author's ability to build up the characters.He paints a vivid picture of each of them and it's really very well done.The worst part of this book is the editing.Just plain sloppy and it really takes away from the book because it interrupts the flow.

Bottom line, buy it.You'll love it. ... Read more

Book Description
Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue.

While volunteering at the New England Aquarium, Fred learns that there are weird levels of toxins in the local seawater. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her merperson ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

I love her books
If you ever read any of her book be prepared to never put it down till the end.A page turning novel that you'll never forget

Amazing book!
This novel was amazing! Great plot, amazing characters, mystery, romance, sci-fi, this book has it all! And it definately leaves you wanting more! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys romance or sci-fi books with some humor!

Quirky Characters and Murder in Boston Harbor
Fredrika the Merwoman is not exactly a likable character. She has the attitude of one scorned. But she cares about the fish in the ocean. She is offended by any sexual contact anyone else has and she herself needs to have some, although she would never admit it.
This is my first read by this author. I enjoyed the quit wit, but felt like the story lacked some depth. I would read her again thou.

Moody Fred
This was a fun read!The whole time I was reading it I was thinking this might be a cute TV series.I would love to see what hot guy they can find to play Arthur!!!!! The mermaid prince from the black sea is everything macho and Thomas the marine biologist/romance writer is everything romantic.Fred is a mermaid marine biologist that hates being a mermaid with a crazy wild hippy mom who got knocked up on the beach by a mermaid.Now that is a wild night.Anyway what a quick and wild ride left you wanting more of MJD.

New Undersea Fantasy will turn the genre on its tail!
New and filled with a sarcastic wit that makes one wonder if the author herself is hiding green hair and a tail, SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES is book you absolutely won't want to miss.

Dr. Fredrika "Fred" Bim is a surly hybrid (half mermaid, half biped) marine biologist in charge of the main tank at the New England Aquarium. Fred has her share of problems, including the fact that her parents have decided to clue her in that she's not her father's biological child (duh, the man would drown in a tide pool) and the fact that the fish in Main One are on a hunger strike because she refuses to play "Pet Shop Boys" for them over the P. A. system. Her life has just been made more complicated by:

Jonas her metrosexual best friend who is crushing on her boss (Barb is fifteen years his senior and thinks he's gay). Jonas has a knack for showing up at the worst possible moment and really can't help sticking his nose into her business.

Dr. Barbara Robinson, her boss who thinks that wearing a lab coat and her hair in a braid (so everyone can see her name) gives her an air of authority over her employees who all have more education than she does. Barb however is intuitive and had the great insight to see through Fred's "punk" hair to the brilliant scientist she is. She has just introduced Fred to the new water fellow, Dr. Thomas Pearson.

Thomas, marine biologist and "mermaid geek" who has made a fortune writing romance novels and who is the only person ever to notice that her hair is green not blue. (Her mother had often told her that "Mr. Right" would see her true self, and the fact that he's totally hot doesn't hurt either.) Thomas has come to find the source of toxins in Boston Harbor.

High Prince Artur of the Black Sea who is "Undersea Folk" royalty with Ruby hair and eyes to match has come to claim his "subject's" fealty and to gain her aid in solving the problem of poisons in the harbor. He's not at all pleased to note Thomas' interest in Fred as he's got his eye on her as well. Poor Fred hasn't had a date in quite some time (the last one having unfortunately turned out to be Barb's ex-husband). Now suddenly she has two men after her tail (pardon the pun).

Madison (yeah like the mermaid in "Splash") Fehr the gorgeous, too bubbly, man-eating new intern who predictably "loved dolphins as a girl", has rich parents who just happen to be the museum's benefactors and who just might be connected to the goings on in the bay.

Okay so I loved dolphins as a kid myself, which is why I picked this book up in the first place! I'll be the first to admit that I love any literature that features mermaids or selkies, but this book may just set the genre on its tail (so to speak). SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES is a refreshingly funny modern romantic fantasy, I can't wait for another.

Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch for PNR Reviews ... Read more

Book Description

A New York Times bestseller, Finding Fish is the remarkable story of an African American boy abandoned in an abusive foster home in Cleveland who rises to liberation, manhood, and extraordinary success (in Hollywood).

Born in prison to a single mother after his father was shot and killed, Antwone Fisher soon became a ward of Cleveland's foster care system. By the time he was five years old, he had been transferred to several different families. Eventually he came to live with the Picketts, an older couple with grown children of their own.

During his stay with the Picketts, which lasted until he was 17 years old, Antwone suffered near–constant verbal and physical abuse at the hands of ̩zz Pickett, and sexual abuse from a neighbour. The damage to his self–esteem was tremendous, yet Antwone managed to resist the gang–like behaviour and drug use that so many of his friends were engaged in. Finally he fled and before long he was living on the streets, homeless. Again rescuing himself, he enlisted in the Navy, where he created a ॡmily' for himself and with the help of a Navy psychologist worked through his past. After he left the Navy, while working as a security guard at Sony Pictures in Hollywood, he told his story to one of the executives there, who encouraged him to write his life as a screenplay.

Book Description
A red starfish, a blue whale, an orange sea horse...Rainbow Fish's undersea world is filled with colorful creatures, and the most colorful of all is Rainbow Fish himself, sharing his glittering silver scales with his friends. bold, simple images, reinforced by facing pages in the appropriate color, make this appealing board book the perfect way to teach colors to very young children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rainbow Fish Colors - board book
Rainbow Fish is as colorful as usual on the front and back cover.The inside pages are all about color but are not brightly colored.
Brighter colors would be more stimulating and attractive to the age
group for which this book is intended. ... Read more

Book Description
Tell Faith-Filled Fish Tales

We’ve all heard them. “It was this big.” “You should have seen the one that got away.” People love to tell stories of their fishing adventures. When it comes to faith, however, most people clam up. Why is it we can’t talk about what God has done in our life as naturally as we can spin fishing tales? This six-part DVD explores the motivation behind sharing our faith and how it can become a natural part of our lives. Its companion study guide is complete with a leader’s guide and six lessons, including conversation-starting exercises, discussion questions, and application steps.

Fishing stories. We’ve all heard them. “It was this big.” “You should have seen the one that got away.” People love to tell stories of their fishing adventures. When it comes to faith, however, most people clam up. Why is it we can’t talk about what God has done in our lives as naturally as we can spin fishing tales?

In this six-session companion study guide to the Go Fish DVD, Andy Stanley explores the motivation behind sharing our faith. Discover God’s heart for those who don’t know Him and the role that we can play in introducing others to Him. Along the way you will be equipped with tools that will help you make sharing your faith a natural part of your life.

This study guide is complete with a leader’s guide and six lessons, including conversation-starting exercises, discussion questions, and application steps.

Story Behind the Book

Andy Stanley, senior pastor of three North Point Ministries campuses, with a cumulative congregation of more than twenty thousand, has had countless conversations with everyday Christians who struggle to share their faith with confidence and ease. Though not everyone has “the gift,” evangelism is something we’re each called to. This curriculum was designed to take the fear out of sharing the good news of Christ, and to help you talk about it as naturally as you would that exciting fishing trip last weekend! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This series is great!
Our Sunday School Class has finished one DVD by Andy Stanley and has just started this one.We really enjoy the material and our class builds every week as members spread the word about the program.I hope we can find more after we finish this one.Many of our members ask to take the DVD home to listen to it again after we have completed the lessons.We recommend the DVD to anyone and everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

An ambitious work
This is a very ambitious work - the number of Indo-Pacific fish species illustrated is simply staggering, often showing regional variations and juvenile forms. On the other side, image quality and reproduction are often disappointing, and the minimal texts limit its scope somewhat. It will make an unbeatable identification and learning combo when paired with the equally interesting but infinitely better illustrated A Diver's Guide to Reef Life and A Diver's Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari - both featuring excellent written texts, exquisite color photographs and - in the case of the latter - hundreds of entries for cephalopods, crustaceans, nudibranchs and various other invertebrates. With these three field guides in your library almost no Indo-Pacific fish or critter will be able to escape identification!

Excellent reference for identification of my species in Pacific area
Easy to use and identify your photographs, particularly for an experienced diver used to identifying many types of fishes

Excellent fish guide for the Pacific
I used this guide while diving in Western Pacific Islands and it was extremely helpful - species easy to pinpoint in the groupings provided and the excellent ID photos made correct species identification very easy. I will strive to buy all the rest of their publications.

Essential reef guide for the Asian Pacific region.
This is an outstanding fish ID manual for the Pacific and Indian ocean region. It beats out others books of a similar nature with the number of photos (6 on every page for a total of over 2,500 pics) and the helpful identification notes below each pic along with the average size of the fish, localised habitat(if any)and pictures of the juvenile fish alongside the adult as well distinguishing feature between male and female forms and arrows pointing to distinguishing marks between similar fish of the same species.Fish are easily found from a photo you took or memory, as it places them into 20 identification groups according to body shape.The pictures are not quite the same quality as The Asia Pacific Reef Guide by Helmut Debelius but they are good enough. Unlike most books of this type it is fish specific so does not include any pics of molluscs, crustaceans, cephalopods, nudibranches, corals or other denizens of the ocean. You have to go to his Reef Creatures ID book for that in the excellent 3 volume Reef Set. Great book, highly recommended.

One of the best out there!
This book revolutionised fish ID in the tropical South Pacific when it first came out. We live and work in Fiji in the marine environment and have 4 of these on our shelf (for use of staff in the field as well as office)

The only drawback we find is the bizarre choice of common names. There are already a plethora of other books out there with common names fairly well established in Fiji by Lieske&Meyers. Seems to follow more of an Australian theme for these than the prevous Paul Humman books which use the American common names.

But overal a MUST for any diver who visits the Tropical Pacific. If you use it in conjunction with Lieske&Meyers then if you don;t find the fish you're looking at, prepare to be published! ... Read more

Product Description
This full color 256-page book from long-time fishing legend and Florida Sportsman Magazine Sr.Editor Vic Dunaway features his 50-plus years of fishing knowledge. Each of the 231 species is illustrated with original full-color artwork from renowned marine artist Kevin R. Brant. The book answers many common questions, providing specific information about the type of fish, its range and habitat, identifying features, whether or not it is good to eat, the average and record size of each fish and the best fishing methods to catch them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Overall Great Book
I think the book is pretty good.The pictures are detailed and colorful, then it gives the basic lowdown on all the fish, and I really like that it gives you at least an idea of edibility.I also liked that they included a section for freshwater fish.I kind of wish it could have talked more about typical methods to catch the different fish, but I guess the book can't have everything..Overall a great book.

gr8
nice pictures,
great descriptions

Awesome Guide!
This book is an awesome guide for those who fish these waters.I just got back from a week of fishing in the Bahamas and the book was invaluable.My partner and I were able to make quick assessments on the food quality of the variety of fish we caught.We threw back the ones that were dangerous or bad for a meal.The upshot is we fed a lot of happy folks while avoiding the perils of ciguatera.Can not recommend this book enough....wish there was one just like it for California.

Outstanding
Don't know what the problem is others are having with their editions, mine's held up just fine.Of course, I leave mine on board when I dive in to spearfish, and I tend to avoid submerging it when I stay on to drop a line in the water, but even when some water has hit it, it's stayed fine.No problem.That's going on quite some time too.

That said, this is an outstanding resource.You simply cannot do wrong by getting ANY book Vic has done.I have grown up with his books, and still have his Pacific, Gulf, Fresh Water and Bait, Rigs and Tackle books in my library.They are absolutely invaluable and provide the best source of downright no-nonsense information I've ever found, this side of my father and grandfather.

Do yourselves a favor and get this without hesitation.It gets no better than these.

Great resource
This book is truly the only one of its kind for identifying sports fish in Florida waters, and provides great information. The one problem I had with the book was the same as everyone else, which is the poor quality of the binding and construction of the book. Otherwise, I recommend it to every Florida fisherman. ... Read more

Book Description

Every few decades a chef or a teacher writes a cookbook that is so comprehensive and offers such depth of subject matter and cooking inspiration that it becomes a virtual bible for amateur and professional alike. Author James Peterson, who wrote the book Sauces, a James Beard Cookbook of the Year winner, and the incomparable Splendid Soups, once again demonstrates his connoisseurship with Fish & Shellfish, a monumental cookbook that will take its rightful place as the first and last word on seafood preparation and cooking.

Fish & Shellfish demonstrates every conceivable method for preparing sumptuous meals of fish and shellfish, from baking, braising, deep-frying, grilling and broiling to poaching, panfrying, marinating, curing and smoking, steaming, and microwaving. Whether your taste runs strictly to shellfish or to everything seafood, Fish & Shellfish offers the equivalent of a complete cookbook on each subject. Within the chapters on finfish you'll learn how to prepare enticing recipes remarkable for their ease of preparation, their versatility, and their originality Here Peterson offers such splendid flavors and textures as succulent Stuffed Striped Bass with Spinach, Shrimp, and Mushrooms; crunchy Halibut Fillets with Curry, Herbs, and Almond Crust; delicate Salmon Fillets A la Nage with Julienned Vegetables; savory Braised Tuna with Vegetables; and fiery Thai-Style Swordfish Satay.

If it's shellfish you prefer, there are pages and pages of recipes for baking, frying, steaming, or serving raw everything in a shell, including mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, lobster, shrimp, crab, and crayfish. Peterson explains how to judge freshness and how to prepare shellfish delights, including lemony-flavored Steamed Mussels with Thai Green Curry; aromatic Littleneck Clams in Black BeanScented Broth; a simple and comforting Linguine with Clam Sauce; elegant Hot Oysters with Leeks and White Wine Sauce; rich and savory Braised Scallops with Tomatoes and Fresh Basil; Steamed Lobster with Coconut Milk and Thai Spices; Shrimp with Tomato Sauce, Saffron Aioli, and Pesto; hit-the-spot Sautéed Crab Cakes; and Japanese Style Grilled Squid, to name but a few of the brilliant and vast array of wonderful seafood selections.Fish & Shellfishalso offers techniques for preparing raw, marinated, cured, and smoked fish.

As you exploreFish & Shellfish, you'll learn not only the essentials of seafood preparation but everything in between, including how to make a curry sauce, which red wines to cook with, how to fry parsley, and how to make Vietnamese dipping sauces. You'll learn the secrets of a variety of coatings, how to blacken fish, add stuffings, and deglaze the pan for sauces, as well as discover the delights of salsas, chutneys, relishes, mayonnaises, and butters.

Here is seafood in every incarnation, from soups, stews, and pastas to mousses, soufflés, and salads. Try everything from pureed Marseilles-Style Fish Soup and Moroccan Swordfish Tagine with Olives and Saffron to Homemade Cuttlefish-Ink Linguine, and Crayfish Stew with Tomatoes, Sorrel, and Vegetables.

Jim Peterson has traveled the world and brought back the best international seafood flavors, textures, and techniques. Now you can improvise on your own with Thai marinades, Indian spices and condiments, and Japanese grilling methods, all of which play off more familiar ingredients to produce memorable dishes.

At the end of Fish & Shellfish you'll find a complete Finfish Dictionary, where you'll learn all you need to know about more than sixty species of saltwater and freshwater fish. There's also a 32-page section of color photographs that pictures many of the mouthwatering recipes in the book. And the step-by-step pictorials in the color section will show you how to prepare fish and shellfish for cooking.

James Peterson's books have been hailed as the most companionable and dependable of cooking guides. Replete with tables, timing charts, advice about equipment, safety preparations, a glossary of foreign ingredients, and an exhaustive index, Fish & Shellfish will give you the power of flexibility and spontaneity as it transforms you into an accomplished seafood cook. Here is a fundamental cookbook that you will come to depend on every time you think seafood-and now you'll be thinking seafood all the time.

Customer Reviews (12)

Like a Cooking Encyclopedia!
Anything you could possibly want to know about fish, how to buy them, when to buy them, where to buy them, and the best possible way to cook them is ALL in this book. The recipes are all fairly simple - any home cook with a moderate amount of experience should be able to execute them easily. There are also a number of helpful resources like sauces, how to filet (and when not to), and different cooking techniques to achieve different flavors and results.

If you're serious about eating more fish or getting more adventurous with the way you cook it - this is a must have.

the best
If you have ever had a question about any type of sauce this is the book to own!The basic for every sauce begins with good stock and that is not overlooked in this book!!It is a must have!!

More fish than a market!
I got this for a gift for a friend from NJ.He was always complaining about there never being recipes for obtuse fish, shellfish and bi-valves.When he opened this book, he didn't put it down for 2 days.He is STILL raving about it!Kudos!

One Great Reference
No more searching through a string of specialty cookbooks for that fresh idea for tonight's dinner.Look no farther.

A MUST FOR THE LOVERS OF THE CRUS(TACEAN) AND HIS FINNY FRIENDS
Again, Mr. Peterson sets the standards. This is not just a cookbook. It's an appliance in the kitchen as essential as the refrigerator and the electric or gas stove. Never ruin fish again under this authority's watch. ... Read more

Book Description
Back on Earth with nothing more to show for his long, strange trip through time and space than a ratty towel and a plastic shopping bag, Arthur Dent is ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription, the mysterious disappearance of Earth's dolphins, and the discovery of his battered copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy all conspire to give Arthur the sneaking suspicion that something otherworldly is indeed going on. . . .

God only knows what it all means. And fortunately, He left behind a Final Message of explanation. But since it's light-years away from Earth, on a star surrounded by souvenir booths, finding out what it is will mean hitching a ride to the far reaches of space aboard a UFO with a giant robot. But what else is new? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Fish Food for Thought
I just spent a long weekend catching up on this series by reading books 2-4.I have to say I enjoyed "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish" far more than I enjoyed the previous two books in the "increasingly inaccurate trilogy."The difference for me is that with this fourth novel Adams seems to take a far more focused approach to the story instead of running around like a kid in the toy aisle as he did in the second and third books.(And really I thought the end of the third novel was a huge cop-out that I could see coming from 93 million miles away.)

In the first book of the series, Earth was destroyed by the bureaucratic Vogons to make room for a hyperspace bypass, subsequently displacing Arthur Dent.Eight years later (for Arthur, not for anyone else) Arthur hitchhikes back to find Earth is back and the whole Vogon demolition chalked up to a mass hallucination caused by the CIA.The only difference is that the dolphins that disappeared before Earth's demise in the first book are still missing.When he comes back, Arthur gets a ride from a man who has a beautiful (albeit crazy) sister in the backseat whom Arthur is instantly smitten with, if only he can find her.

So what we have in this book is actually a sort of romance as Arthur tracks down the woman named Fenchurch for where she was conceived--that's one of those things that's probably funnier if you're British and have been to Fenchurch Station--and they fall in love.Then in the very rushed last couple chapters of the book they go off to visit Wonko the Sane, an expert on dolphins, and in search of God's Last Message to the Universe with the help of Ford Prefect and a giant robot who invades Earth to talk to our "lizards."

Overall, as I said in the beginning, I liked that with this book Adams focused almost exclusively on Arthur and thus we actually have a little bit of character development, which was sorely lacking in parts two and three.I only wish Adams would have taken a little more time with the ending as they get from Earth to this other place far too quickly.Maybe he could have broken it up into two books.But still it's the best in the series since the first one in my mind--others will disagree I'm sure.

On a final note, it doesn't sound like I want to read the fifth one as it sounds like Fenny is written off with little fanfare, thus rendering most of this book moot.What a shame that is.

That is all.

One of these books is not like the others...
Be forewarned: while this book is unmistakably a Hitchhiker's Guide book, it's also quite unique among the series.If you're in it only for the zany off-the-wall humor, well, you might not be disappointed because there is certainly plenty of that here, but Adams proves he can do so much more.Notably, the love story between Arthur and Fenchurch is quite moving, and as a result Arthur's character takes on whole new dimensions.

While I love Zaphod as much as the next guy, his absence here is actually a welcome reprieve, since he wouldn't fit in too well with this particular story.Unfortunately, however, it seems he's disappeared for good.

The ending is sort of, well, hmmm?, even though Marvin does make a last memorable appearance, but the rest of the book is good enough that one can't be too disappointed.

Solid entry in the series
It's been a long time since I read this, so I don't remember many specifics. What I do remember is that, while this book isn't nearly as funny as its predecessors, it is still a very good piece of work. Adams' prose is still wonderful and, at times, beautifully inspired. His storytelling prowess is intact, as he draws from, and builds on, many of the invisible clues offered in the first three books (when the series could still properly be called a trilogy). The connection between Arthur and Fenchurch is touching without being sentimental; it's actually more fun than any of us imagined, watching Arthur Dent actually get what he wants, and Adams captures perfectly that lighthearted feeling of the early stage of love.

But the negative--and of course there must be a negative for this novel to miss out on a gold star--mainly has to do with the humor. There is still a genius at work here, as many brilliant comedic flashes will attest (God's final message to humanity, Ford's encounter with a special kind of prostitute). Unfortunately, there's also a fair amount of lesser such instances scattered throughout. Arthur's relation to Fenchurch of a story about a pack of muffins, while funny in theory, comes out as flat and uninspired and a bit hard to slog through. Less specifically, there are also many instances of Adams trying to rework descriptions of commonplace items to highlight the inherent absurdity locked within (a method used to great success in previous novels), but these often come off as forced and labored. It's almost as if Adams injected them five minutes before the final draft was snatched out of his hands to try and convince readers that, although space-traveling was kept to a minimum and Arthur Dent was allowed to act rather than react, this is still a new volume in the much-loved series, see all the irrelevant anecdotes and clever truisms?

That is, fortunately, a small enough complaint that I still recommend this book wholeheartedly, though offering it with a grain of salt.

The fourth book in Adams's trilogy
That, by itself, gets you off to a cockeyed start that will help you through Adams's brilliant series. The set was a landmark of popular culture when it came out in the 1980s, and is still a riotous trip through a universe that's just a little too believable.

This book, however, just doesn't sustain the wild energy of the earlier books.

//wiredweird

A Second Time Around
The fourth book in the Hitchhiker Trilogy, "So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish" is much like the first book in the series.It is a chronicle of strange travels and happenings, written with wry humor and Douglas Adams' penchant to mock everything, even the writing process.The fourth novel is much more cohesive in plot than the previous two, but the story is just as strange as ever.

In "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", Arthur Dent found out that his long-time friend Ford Prefect, was an alien, and that within minutes, the Earth was going to be destroyed.He saw the Earth destroyed and spent the next eight years wandering the universe, pondering what really happened."So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish" is a fresh start to the series, with the implication that the Earth wasn't actually destroyed: those yellow Vogon spaceships people saw were hallucinations created by the CIA.Therefore, Arthur Dent has returned home as if nothing had happened, and meets a girl who seems to know something about why Earth still exists, but cannot remember what it is.The fourth novel is their quest to find what she has forgotten and to discover the Creator's final message to his creation.

"So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish" is a fast-paced, humorous trek through what makes the world tick.Douglas Adams is a master at oddity and dry wit, making his novels both laugh-out-loud funny, if not a little perplexing.This fourth entry makes up for the unbalanced two previous books that rambled way off course, even if that was the point.Who knows if there even is a point to these stories after all?Certainly not the chronicler.
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Book Description
The fourth FAST book from the gifted team of Hugh Carpenter and Teri Sandison focuses on that speediest of ingredients: fish. Quick preparation time is one of the many reasons to cook fish more often, and Hugh has an irresistible collection of ways for us to spice up our workday meals. If you're tired of that old standby of pan-fried fish with a squeeze of lemon, explore Hugh's many flavorful combinations, drawing on cuisines from around the world. Teri's colorful photographs will have your mouth watering for dishes such as Sauteed Halibut with Nectarines and Ginger, Roast Salmon with Curry Mayonnaise Rub, and Steamed Snapper with Spicy Pesto. As with all the FAST books, FAST FISH includes short ingredient lists, easy instructions, and simple menu suggestions. Endlessly versatile fish provide an amazing array of quick-to-prepare and easy-to-shop-for flavor-packed recipes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fast Fish
Good book with lots of easy to prepare recipes. Had a blast preparing some of the recipes.

Great & Easy Recipes
I love this book because it has easy to follow recipes with photographs.Something about pictures ~ I don't know it's more appetizing and appealing to make.There are recommendations for every type of common fish in alphabetical order. Excellent! We eat fish 2-3 times per week now.

Hugh Has Another Winner
In this well organized book, Hugh Carpenter has distilled the essence of cooking great fish.The recipes are simple and quick with lots of flavor and the photography makes these recipes a feast for your eyes.I especially enjoyed the Stir Fried Swordfish with Asian Spices.And when he says fast he means fast. Cooking the swordfish for about a minute is all it takes.Have everything else ready on the hot plates. ... Read more

Book Description
Revel in all things fishy in this undersea riot of color and rhyme — an oversize read-aloud from picture book artist Lucy Cousins.

Paddle along with Little Fish on a mesmerizing underwater tour of friends spotty and stripy, happy and gripy, hairy and scary, even curly whirly and twisty twirly. From the creator of Maisy comes an eyepopping picture book that is sure to have little ones joining the chorus: Hooray for fish! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

The first book my son would sit through.
I went to a workshop at the local library on early literacy. This was one of the books the librarian recommended I try. This is the first book my son would sit through at 5 months. I tried other books every day, but could only get through a couple pages. We'd alway end up right back at Hooray for Fish.

Positives of this book:
- Bold colors and stark contrasts
- Simple pictures
- Great rhythmic text. "Upside down and round and round" "so many friends, so many fish. Splash, splosh, splish"
- There are a couple pages that could be search and find pages. "Can you find a fish that looks like a pineapple?"

Very bright and bold!
The colors are so vivid; just what babies enjoy looking at. The rhyming of the story is really cute. A very clever book for children of all ages. I am looking forward to reading this book to our son, once he's born. My husband enjoys this book too.

fabulous - engaging - vibrant -
we love this book. it was read during story hour one week and we had to buy it! a wonderfully illustrated book.

My son's favorite book
My 14-month-old has prefered this book over any other since he got it at 5 months.We're on our second copy now since he turns the pages a little more enthusiastically than the paper can withstand.He loves the pictures and the rhymes and he always kisses the Mom Fish at the end!

Enjoying it
My son is 2 1/2 and he loves this book!We read it together a couple of times a day.He looks at the pictures and flips through this book several times a day and the wording is so simple that he even recites the correct wording for each page from memory.The pictures are bright and interesting and the pages are of thick, good quality paper. ... Read more

Book Description
There's a new FISH! in the pond! Here's a brilliant parable for everyone who wants to lead a fuller, happier life illions of business people have already used the bestselling FISH! books to improve the way they work. Now, the authors turn their attention to life's daily personal challenges, helping readers deal with them simply and effectively. By applying the FISH! principles of Play, Make Their Day, Choose Your Attitude, and Be Present, FISH! for Life shows readers how to confront life's issues and to reach their full potential. With advice on such life issues as weight loss, personal finance, and relationships, the book is a road map for achieving personal happiness and well-being in all areas of life. After all, life shouldn't be work.Download Description
With over one million copies sold, FISH! has been a fixture on every major business bestseller list, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Business Week, Publisher Weekly, and Amazon.com.The follow-up books, FISH! TALES and FISH! STICKS have also been hugely successful.There is a new FISH! in the pond! Here's a brilliant parable for everyone who wants to lead a fuller, happier life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Another winner in the FISH! series
Enjoyed the CD version of FISH! FOR LIFE by Stephen C. Lundin,
John Christensen and Harry Paul, an interesting take on how
the FISH! workplace principles of Play, Make Their Day, Choose Your
Attitude, and Be Present can also be applied to both your home life
and personal relationships.

The authors tell the tale of a fish monger at Seattle's Pike Place Fish
Market who upon his impending retirement, discovers that his
life--while going well on the surface--could be made even better
by just applying the lessons he had learned at work . . . furthermore,
he was able to share these with his wife, children and even
mother-in-law.

I could relate to the main character, in that he was going through
some of the things I've faced in my life . . . others will feel the
same way, too, and will be moved by the ending.

Perhaps most importantly, you'll remember that "you can choose
your attitude" . . . that is what you have control over!

The accompanying Discussion Guide is excellent; it helped
reinforce many of the lessons from FISH! FOR LIFE.

Life
It made me have a new outlook.Not only while doing my internship this summer, but in everyday life situations as well!

FISH! for life
If you live a busy, hectic life and are not happy with it, then I recommend this CD. I listened to it in my car on the way to work. I had heard of FISH! in the workplace, but this CD focuses on your home life and relationships. The idea comes from the FISH! philosophy started at the famous Seattle Fish Market. The book describes the changes that one couple made after they applied the principles that they already knew so well. They realized that they could have more control over their personal lives. They wanted to live life to the fullest. The best take-home point from the CD is that "you can choose your attitude"--it is something you have control over!

This is splendid
Fish ! was an exciting book that no doubt brought in a fresh perspective to light up our lives at work. Pike Place Fish Market ranks # 1among the places that I would like to visit during my lifetime. Mary Jane , Lonnie and the kids now seem to have become a part of our own family. In this book, there is a happy homecoming for Grandma too.

Frankly, this book is the next logical extension of the author's first book Fish!. It brings the powerful philosophy from workplaces to our homes. Written in very simple words, the frankness and the depth of conversations between Lonnie and Mary Jane have the power to change the way we live at home. The Fish! philosophy can work wonders at home as much as it can at the workplace.

Read this book aloud with the family, ten pages a day and experience the joy of living . Thanks Stephen, my family joins me in thanking you for this wonderful book. We are grateful to Fish! and are committed to adopt it at home.

the most inspiring book I have read lately
If this book does not inspire you to come alive and get going with your life, nothing will. And it is not some philosoper's old boring stuff; it is real life from ordinary fish mongers. It is down-to-earth information that is easily read, easily undetstood, and easy to apply to your own life. I plan to reread this little book several times a year to remind me what any person can easily do to become "great."

The whole idea of the Pike Place Fish Market is inspirational. If you have ever been to the market in Seattle, you will be quite inspired and maybe even a happier person right away because if it. The people who work there are inspirational. They are succeeding personally and as part of a team. They are very happy to be working where they are. They have a formula for success that is really working, and working for ordinary people. This is why they sell tons of fish on the Internet. This is why they perform training programs all over the country. This is why they sell so many books and videos and T-shirts.

If you do not check into this source of inspiriation you are losing out. I'm so glad I know about Fish! ... Read more

Book Description
Once considered an impossible dream, the breeding of marinefish species by home aquarium hobbyists is becoming an enticing reality. Aspressures mount to develop sustainable sources of aquacultured livestockfor the aquarium hobby, reproduction mysteries of captive reef fishes arefast unraveling.

The All-New & Complete Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes isthe first detailed guide to amateur marine fish breeding, and reveals thetechniques and for successfully spawning and rearing more than 90 speciesmarine fishes. This hands-on resource provides comprehensive coverage ofthe following species:
* jawfish
* grammas
* marine bettas
* assessors
* gobies
* blennies
* cardinals
* dottybacks
* damsels
* chromis
* clownfishes
* angelfishes

It also includes all the essential breeding steps for each family:
* securing breeding stock
* pair formation
* breeder conditioning
* spawning
* larval feeding
* juvenile husbandry and growth

Beautiful color photographs and diagrams help illustrate the species,equipment, and techniques described in the text.

An essential for both the amateur and aspiring small-scale commercialbreeder, The All-New & Complete Breeder's Guide to Marine AquariumFishes is expected to open the door to many thousands of new homebreeders--a major step in the evolution of the marine aquarium hobby. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Marine Fish Breeder's BIBLE
Let me put it short and sweet - if you are considering the cutting edge of the aquarium hobby, you're talking Marine Fish Breeding, and this book will literally bring you up to speed on the last 40 years of marine ornamental fish breeding right up to 2007.Matthew Wittenrich continues to be on the cutting edge, having raised more than one new species since the publication of this all-encompassing review of hobbyist-level marine fish propagation.This book, covering over 50 successfully reared marine fish species, is enough to give the average hobbyist decades of "projects" to reattempt, as well as providing current insight into how future breakthroughs and acheivements might be reached.Easily worth 4-5 times the price you'll pay.Simply a book that will floor you.

Matt's book advances both the art and the SCIENCE of ornamental fish culture
Matt Witterich's book `The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes' is aptly titled. The book discusses comprehensively the details of marine ornamental captive culture, from broodstock rearing, breeding to larval rearing of up to 90+ species. This work distilled the author's decade-long experience in ornamental fish culture, making the hobby more accessible to beginners and adding new insights to the repertoire of professional hobbyist. The breadth, meticulous detail, scientific precision and excellent photography show the expertise and dedication of the author in the field of marine ornamental culture- not just as a hobbyist but as a scientific researcher in the field. While this book will undoubtedly become an indispensable `guidebook' for the hobbyist, I believe that the book will become very useful as a reference for colleges and universities teaching in ornamental fish culture and to researchers in the field. This book advances both the art and the science of ornamental fish culture!

Book fills void in current published information on subject.
As a breeder of clownfish in the past, I'm always interested in what progress is being made in breeding marine ornimentals. Those of like mind may wonder, as I do, why more captive bred exotics arent offered in the trade. I've heard pygmy angels are being bred, why aren't I seeing many in the shops and internet dealers? When I do see them, why are they so expensive, do they not disperse thousands of eggs when they spawn? Can I succeed in bringing a new tank raised species through metamorphosis? Are successful breeders of newly reared species sharing their secrets? Is it worth trying to breed something new without a huge bankroll?

Some of these questions are answered, some not. There is little doubt, however, that anyone interested in the subject would be glad that they picked up this book. The concepts described in the text are clarified with very good photography, and it offers a new perspective on a lot of things that anyone who has ever tinkered with this sort of thing would be interested in.

A must for your Aquarium Library
Whether you're a hobbyist, enthusiast, or entrepreneur of saltwater fish this book is necessary collection for your library.This book covers everything from setting up tanks properly, to choosing and spawning your broodstock and most importantly larval care. The secret steps of larval care and diet are described for 90+ species and accompanied with easy to follow fabulous photos. After reading through the steps in the book I was able to successfully, spawn and rear Neon Dottybacks to metamorphisis. A definite must!

In-depth, solid information on breeding marine fish species.
Author Matt Wittenrich is gifted with the patience and rational powers of observation that enable him to capture the important details the need to be reproduced in order for the various species of marine fishes to reproduce themselves. Breeding marine fishes is obviously the author's life's work, and it is truly to his credit that he shares step-by-step instructions from his immense store of knowledge about these fishes that for so long had been considered impossible to breed in the home. Fantastic photography of larvae, breeding sequences, sexual dimorphism, equipment, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Sex ed for preschool?
I bought this at a Scholastic sale for my preschool class.Thank goodness I read it first before reading it to the kids. Yes, the repetitious phrases, the counting, the rhymes, the illustrations are all quite good. Then it ends with a one little fish waiting for another they love each other now one is a father and another is a mother. I can just hear my curious kids ask - how did that happen? And why are there 10 more little fish?Great book - but just be prepared to answer some rather tough questions, or be prepared to just skim over that part.

great book
I have 16 month old twin boys.They adore this book!We must read it at least a dozen times a day.They like to point out the fish as we count down the numbers.

cute kids book
My son and I love to read this book.The words rhyme so well you can almost sing to it.Plus the colorful pages keep my son's attention

Ten Little Fish
This is a very good book for younger children.The illustrations are wonderful with bright colors and cute fish.The ending of the story will surprise you.It is a counting and rhyming book that I find myself reciting at night while I rock my son to sleep.

The Ten Little Fish
I think this book is an excellent book because it helps little children to learn how to read by thier own.That helps them alot in their education.
Learning with this kind of books is very helpful and more if they the words ryme.That makes the child understand more.
The author of htis book is Audrey Wood. She and her husband do the books shewrites them and her husband illustrate them. the illustrations of her husband help the children picture the story. ... Read more

Book Description
How can fish live in water? Why don't they drown? The answer to this fishy question and more can be found in this latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. The book clearly explains how a fish's body is perfectly suited to life underwater, just as our bodies are suited for life on land.

1996 `Pick of the Lists' (ABA)
Best Children's Science Books 1995 (Science Books and Film) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

serves its purpose
Cute book. I liked all the info except it talks about what temp. to keep your fish tank at.......and I used it for a preschool students. Way over their heads.

Overall, good info, realistic, and cute!

A must-have for elementary science teachers
This is an excellent book to introducing the levels of classification for living things. This book explored the physiology of fish in language that young children can understand. The facts are presented in a way that is not overwhelming to children. The illustrations are great and they really show what its like to be a fish. I have used this book with my preschoolers and they love it.

Unexamined metaphysics
My boy brought this home the school library and the title of the book intrigued me. What is it like to swim by swishing your tail, round and round, in a small little bowl; or, eating fish flakes sprinkled from above when the person decides it's time to be fed; or to live in an environment that deteriorates day after day into murkiness until you are suddenly scooped up by a net and put into an even smaller container while your bowl is being cleaned? What IS it like to be a fish? Alas, there are no answers to that question found in this book -- pity.

But ontological musings aside, this book is a good little read for kids who, for the first time, are interested in having a fish as a pet. The book uses the common goldfish as its example. It shows the different environments in which a little child might encounter a fish: a bowl, an aquarium, a plastic bag being brought home from the pet store and swimming around in a backyard pond. It also tells what the different fins are called, how do fish sleep, are they warm or cold-blooded, how do they breath water when I can't, and similar questions a young child might ask when they have their first fish. It tells you how to set up a goldfish bowl and why you put the bag in the water for awhile without setting the fishies free. Basic stuff for the adult, good for the child who shows interest in having a fish pet.Now if only that title-question was answered...

Great science book for young kids!
Wendy Pfeffer has a talent for making difficult science concepts understandable to young children.This is a lively and very kid-friendly book with cheerful illustrations that kids will enjoy and learn from. ... Read more

Book Description
Tiddler is a very fidgety fish. So much so, that when his mother has had enough, she sends him out exploring, reminding him to be careful of the Big Fish. He comes across several sea creatures before his curiosity gets the better of him and he enters a big, dark cave When Tiddler hears a loud snap, and everything suddenly goes dark, he realizes he (like Jonah) is in the belly of the Big Fish! Now more fidgety than ever, Tiddler jumps and bumps, tumbles and turns inside the belly of the fish, causing more than a bit of a disturbance untilBURP! The big fish has had enough of Tiddler. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Fun Book!
I actually found this book at a thrift store and it's currently my son's favorite book.While I would agree that it's not the most wonderfully written book that we've ever read - it's definitely entertaining.My son and I love to snuggle together and pretend to be fidgety just like Tiddler.

lively illustrations, very appropriate for toddlers and pre-schoolers
I recommend this action-packed story. I enjoy reading it aloud to my 14-month-old, and we both find the bright and lively illustrations engaging.

Tiddler the fish goes about his adventure alone in the same way a very young child does--spontaneously, with enthusiasm and an abundance of energy, observing everything and getting into anything that looks interesting.

I like the pacing of the book. It really moves. The occasional rhyme throughout adds interest and humour. Tiddler ends