Product Description

Think back to those amazingly languid summers of your childhood, when in the heat of the day you followed the game on a distant radio, watched the pros on the living-room TV, or cheered your local heroes at the hometown ballpark.Ernest Thayer'sclassic tale of baseball hopes and dreams comes to life like never before with LeRoy Neiman's lush, meticulously detailed charcoal drawings and an original introduction by Yankees manager Joe Torre, considered by many to be the greatest baseball manager of all time. These illustrations -- a rare departure from the vibrantly colored paintings that made LeRoy Neiman famous -- evoke Mudville's beloved Casey in images that are muscular, immediate, and unmistakably American.

A volume of matchless artistry, this edition of Casey at the Bat is a treasure for all generations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

This modern rendition of the classic retains the charm
In my opinion, it is a healthy thing to modernize the classic baseball poem "Casey at the Bat." Written over a century ago, it is still an excellent description of a wonderful game. In this book, Neiman uses some superb sketches that depict the players of today. Names and numbers are on the backs of the uniforms, Casey wears a batting helmet, the fans are wearing modern clothing and Casey looks like a slugger. Depicted as a muscular behemoth, his arms look like he could crush the life out of a bear.
Reading "Casey at the Bat" is a delight in any form and I highly recommend this one.

Casey at the Bat
One of the book covers was torn and covered with a black substance.It was unsuitable to gift to the intended recipient.I had to obtain another book locally.I tried to contact Horizon Books via telephone, but never got an answer.I would appreciate a replacement copy!

Original poem not used, images were of modern players
There are several altered versions of Thayer's classic poem in existance.
This book uses one of them.

I love this poem, and I wish the author had stuck with the original.
Especially when Ernest Lawrence Thayer is listed as the author!

Also- the images of Casey and the spectators are of modern
day participants. Casey is wearing a helmet and his name and
number are on the back of his uniform. Not like a player
in 1888 at all.

Leroy Neiman is a great artist, and that is the only reason I give this
2 stars.

Casey at the Bat text change disturbing
Having a son named Casey, I have many copies of "Casey at the Bat". Each and every one of them has Cooney and Burrows die at first. The new Harper Collins edition reads.."And then when Cooney died at second, and Burrows did the same..." Not only does this interrupt the meter of the poem, it doesn't make any baseball sense. Mudville is losing by two runs in the bottom of the ninth. When Cooney gets up there are no outs. How does he die at second? How does Burrows do the same? Did they try to stretch a single into a double? I can just see the veins popping out on the managers forehead when they pulled that stunt. This line is really something to think about and I am wondering where the editors at Harper Collins came across it.
The illustrations by Leroy Neiman are wonderful. Here you see a very Mantlesque looking Casey straining every muscle to connect with that pitch and end the game with a towering blast. I also loved the fact that they are not in color. The only disturbing part is that before the final verse of the poem, you are clearly shown that Casey has missed the ball. Now we all know that Casey struck out, but you don't want to know that until the text tells you. To this day I always hope that air which is shatterd has been the result of his hitting the ball. The placement of Mr Neiman's illustrations takes that hope away. If I had been reading this to my son for the first time, he would surely have seen that the mighty Casey had failed. There would have been no need to read the last stanza. I certainly do not recommend this as a childs first introduction to this poem. The format and illustrations are wonderful, but save it for your second purchase!

Mighty Casey has Struck Out.....
What do you get when you combine Ernest Thayer's beloved, boys of summer poem and artist, Leroy Neiman's rich, charcoal illustrations?A unique and evocative rendering of Americana that adds an additional rare gem to the rich collection of Casey At The Bat books.Mr Neiman's unique, expressive, and dynamic artwork brings the poem to life in all its emotional splendor and glory.From the introduction by New York Yankee's manager, Joe Torre, to the very last page, as muscular Casey, bat in hand, hangs his head and takes that lonely walk from the plate into fictional history, young and old alike will be entranced by this powerful and engaging, larger than life story.Perfect for youngsters 8 and older, Leroy Neiman's, oversized, coffee table-like Casey At The Bat is a combination of verse and artwork at its finest, and a must for both baseball fans and art lovers everywhere. ... Read more

Product Description

Fifteen years ago Francesca Lia Block made a dazzling entrance into the literary scene with what would become one of the most talked-about books of the decade: Weetzie Bat. This poetic roller coaster swoop has a sleek new design to match its new sister and brother books, Goat Girls and Beautiful Boys. Rediscover the magic of Weetzie Bat, Ms. Blocks sophisticated, slinkster-cool love song to L.A.the book that shattered the standard, captivated readers of all generations, and made Francesca Lia Block one of the most heralded authors of the last decade.

Customer Reviews (125)

Trash.
The author tries (but fails) to make up for the absolute nonsense that occurs in this book with verbose descriptions and imagery. There's no fluidity between events; everything happens "just because the author says so". There's no reason behind anything that happens in this book. In an attempt to make it seem like it actually has a message, one of the homosexual characters gets AIDS but that's about it.

Weetzie's sole pursuit, concern, and end result? Love
The first time I read Weetzie Batwas at a very young age, and really too young for the subject matter at hand. The writing might lead you to think otherwise as it is really written at a 6th grade or lower level. Publisher's Weekly says its perfect for 12 and up, the School Library Journal says 10th grade and up. See the disparity?

Weetzie Bat was Francesca Lia Block's first novel and the first in her Dangerous Angels series. I wanted to re-read it to capture some of the adventure and sparkle and hope I had gotten the first time around when I read it at the young age of 12. I was an outcast, a loner, a reader and a ridiculously creative dreamer (in the crazy sunshine and rainbows way, though if you are here reading this at my blog you probably already knew that). I still got some of that magic, but now I'm older and not all of it managed to keep its hold. As an adult there were some problems, some hitches, some flaws. Mainly my naivete is gone and with it went a lot of my original enjoyment of the book.

In this book we have a cast of characters that kind of float through life in a series of moments, each chapter is almost like a short story, with little conflict and hardly any character development. We have characters with silly nick names who, when faced with life's problems, pretend they don't exist with alcohol, music, food, shopping and when that doesn't work they run away and hide - in bars, in exotic dens - where they smoke, drink and have promiscuous sex with strangers. For the most part though there are no consequences to their actions, no "bad" ones anyway. Seriously bad things are hinted at. Relatives OD and die, friends get AIDs and die, but the main characters live in a bubble where they cruise around and party and make movies and dress up and love each other and while they are affected it's not really given any weight with the reader.

As an adult reading the book I also was bothered at the complete lack of real growing up the characters do. They don't worry about money, about getting an education, about a career, their main concerns are finding love and holding on to it once they have it. An admirable aim to be sure, but not to be gotten at the sacrifice of other people's happiness (even if that is done through short sightedness, not malice). When Weetzie wants a baby she asks her lover and when he turns her down she turns to her gay friends and has a threesome with them behind his back in order to get pregnant. This results in the lover running away when he finds out, of course, because none of these people can handle having adult conversations or making adult decisions. As a child this all made perfect sense to me. I had the same naivete as Weetzie displays and figured that a child is born of love and as long as they all love each other (and they all do in the end, even the additional illegitimate child that the lover had with some random stranger when he ran away) then it is all okay.

I hate to put this book in such a negative light because when I was a young teenager this book, and the series after it, was like a life line to me. I wanted to be loved more than anything and having that be Weetzie's sole pursuit, concern, and end result made perfect sense to me then. I loved reading the flowery prose and the crazy nick names. I loved reading about the wonderful magical place that is Los Angeles, which is written to be even more magical then it is, or ever was. (I went there on a sort of pilgrimage when I was 17 - true story.) But this book doesn't hold up to the hard cold light of adulthood. I think it works for the young and the young at heart if you want to just dive into a world of magic and light and crazy food/clothes/streets/people/experiences. But not too young, I don't think. I'm not so sure it should be read when you're 12, and I was 12 when I first read it!

Weetzie lives in LaLaLand
I wanted to love this book, I can't say that I did, though I did like it.It was an odd mix of fantasy and reality, which is why I should have loved it, however I think in this case this story would have been better served picking - real life or a fairy tale fantasy and sticking with one or the other.The blending of the two worlds didn't really work for me.I felt as though things like witches and genies were in the story just to justify the quirkiness of the characters or to makesome the storylines just fall into place without having to work them out the way they'd really have to occur for real people.

That said, I did love the characters and the realness of them.Take away the fantasy aspect and I'd probably have loved it, and I do actually love fantasy, it just seemed out of place here.And oddly enough, that aspect only show up in the story here and there but what it adds to the story is so huge, I can't give it a higher rating.I do think at some point I will read the rest of the series though.I did like it at least that much.It deals with birth and death and everything in between in such an honest way that I can't help but wonder what else that author has to say about these characters.

On Amazon it's listed in children's book categories with a reading level of Young Adult.I'm an adult but I have no doubt that my own mom would not have objected to me reading this book when I was young, however this book includes a homosexual couple that are completely accepted by everyone in the book, a threesome (no details), cheating, drinking (it's not really clear if it's by minors or once they're of age), mentions drugs, etc. I can see why some parents would object to the content in this book even if I wouldn't, so if buying this for a child, keep that in mind.

Glittery
Very creative and charming. I love the alternative style and the imagination. Stimulating of the senses.

Underwhelming stream of conciousness.
Can't be bothered to force myself to continue reading this.Free was too much to pay. ... Read more

Product Description
Since its first publication in 1988, America's Neighborhood Bats has changed the way we look at bats by underscoring their harmless and beneficial nature. In this second revised edition, Merlin Tuttle offers bat aficionados the most up-to-date bat facts, including a wealth of new information on bat house design and current threats to bat survival. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

bats
want to learn about taking care on those pesky insects around the house.get the bat book and learn about them.after reading the book you'll want to build a couple of bat house so you can have them around

Purchased with Bathouse
Always wondered what Florida bats were doing when they flew over my head in early evening.Purchased a bathouse and this book to better understand their behavior and where to better locate the bathouse.Objective was to encourage bats to enjoy our ample supply of insects.Good placement allowed for bats to take residence within two weeks.Eat up fellows and invite your friends!!!

Informative book, goo read.
A good book for folks wanting to learn about our night-time visitors.Well worth buying.

Wonderful book!
I bought this book just because I was curious about bats. I had always thought they were "bad", until I visited a conservatory in Wyoming that had a bat house and explained how important they are. That was a surprise to me.
This book opened my eyes to how beneficial bats really are. It talks about the facts, myths and misconceptions about bats... what's true, what's not. It tells what to do if a bat comes into your house, and how to evict them if they have taken up residence in your attic or somewhere else you don't want them to be.
The book is well-written and an "easy" read.It has lots of good photos, and tells about some of the different species of bats and where they live.I recommend it for older children (maybe 10 and up) and adults.Well worth the money.

Merlin Tuttle: America's Neighborhood Bats
This is a very informative, well wriiten and beautifully photographed book on bats. The book includes beautiful color photographs of the most commonly seen bats in America. One of the most appreciated sections is the "Beginners' Key To American Bats", a well written, easy to comprehend section on identifying common bats of the region and placing them in their proper groups. Very important if you intend to build bat houses and hope to attract occupants and just general knowledge.
The book includes several other interesting chapters besides identification. It shows how bats navigate with radar. It addresses the many negative myths of bats,it explains how beneficial bats are in nature.If you want or need to know anything at all about these interesting creatures, THIS is the book and Merlin Tuttle is the expert to seek out. And even if you only need to know enough about bats to humanely evict them from your belfry, this book comes with even that information!
The author has dedicated his life to these interesting mammals. Even without knowing that fact, you can see from the entertaining way Mr Tuttle writes, how much he cares.All of his books are excellent. Check them all out! ... Read more

Product Description
A straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman, benched by mono, decides to take a swing at writing poetry in Ron Koertge’s clever, compelling novel written in free verse.

"Their pitcher walks our leadoff man.Greg moves him up to second with a perfectsacrifice. Fabian loops one into right.

I’m up. Two on, one out. I’m the cleanupman. My job is to bring these guys home."

MVP Kevin Boland gets the news that he has mono and won’t be seeing a baseball field for a while, and he suddenly finds himself scrawling a poem down the middle of a page in his journal. To get some help, he cops a poetry book from his dad’s den. Before Kevin knows it, he’s writing in verse about stuff like, Will his jock friends give up on him? What’s the deal with girlfriends? Surprisingly enough, after his health improves, he keeps on writing - about the smart-talking Latina girl who thinks poets are cool, even about his mother, whose death is a still-tender loss for which he finally finds the words.

Written in free verse with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix, including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum, this funny, poignant story by a master of dialogue is an English teacher’s dream - sure to hook poetry lovers, baseball fanatics, mono recoverers, and everyone in between. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Book Review: LibraryLoungeLizard.com
As a teacher and librarian it is always awesome when authors write books that can be used in the classroom. There are great examples of all different types of poetry here:

* Pantoum
* Blank Verse
* Haiku
* Couplets
* Sestina
* Elegy

and much more! Both books have wonderful, fluid story lines and it is awesome to watch Kevin (who strictly identified himself as an athlete) discover the magic of poetry.

I recommend this book for any parent, teacher or librarian who wants to have books about poetry that are great for reluctant readers because lets face it, telling a kid that you have a great book about poetry for them will probably result in a look of slight terror.

At a non-imposing 115 pages, Shakespeare Bats Cleanup is an easy sell because it has sports for the guys and a little romance for the girls. For those kids who enjoy a tear-jerker there is also plenty of poetry/story line about Kevin's mom who has passed away and how he and his father are dealing with it.

I've recently dedicated a whole section in my library to books written in prose. You would be surprised how many there are out there and these two books will be part of the star attraction. Get these books now, seriously....with video games, TV, iPhones and everything else, kids are being exposed to things like poetry less and less. Who knows, maybe the kid you give these books to will be our next great poet!

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup is a short novel written entirely in verse, with a likeable male narrator and a simple but effective premise. Koertge writes in all sorts of poetic verse, including haiku, sonnets, and pantoum. Before reading this book I had no idea what a pantoum was, but all was cleverly explained by main character Kevin Boland.

Koertge's writing is highly compelling, and tackles male adolescence from a different angle. Kevin is a down to earth guy, with all the usual worries of a teenage boy. Add to that a horrible bout of mono, and things really aren't going very well for him. His newfound interest in poetry is a great way to incorporate verse into the story, and his thoughts on young love and the death of his mother are poignant and touching.

At a first glance, Shakespeare Bats Cleanup looks like it's all about baseball. The sport is featured, but a knowledge of the game isn't necessary in order to enjoy the story. I only know what American TV shows have taught me, and I think I did okay!

I really enjoyed this book, and I'll definitely be reading more by Ron Koertge in the future. It's one of the better verse novels I've read recently, and while I would have liked to see more pages and more chance to get to know everyone, I can't fault the layout and style. If you're a fan of poetry or verse, definitely pick this one up.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Reviews-[...]
About the Books: 14-year-old Kevin is stuck at home with Mono, which means he's not allowed to play any baseball. To pass the time, he starts to write. First he writes so it looks like poetry, then he begins to take an interest in poetry and explores different types of poems. He writes about his mom's death, baseball, and life in middle school. He also meets Mira, a new girl in school that makes him not want to hide the fact that he's a writer.
In Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs, Kevin is back. He's grown more confident in his
writing, he's dating Mira, and he's playing baseball. But when Kevin meets Amy at a poetry reading, he can't stop thinking about her-but that's not right-he has Mira! Why should he care that Amy understands his poems and Mira doesn't? On top of his own dating confusion, Kevin's dad is starting to date again.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: These books are why I love my job. Just this week I had a patron come in looking for a book of poetry for her son. His assignment was to identify the different types of poems that were written. I immediately took her over to Shakespeare Bats Cleanup and handed it to her. I mentioned how Kevin writes different styles of poems and talks about the various styles, how they work, but the poems were all connected into one big story. She grabbed it and said "this will be perfect!"
I have to hand it to Ron Koertge. He's a tricky author-he gets his reader to learn about poetry without letting them know they're learning. And he pulls it off in a way that will grab your attention and make you care about what you're reading. I think these books should be required reading in English class poetry units.
Kevin's observations about middle school life, romance and friendships are spot on and will resonate with readers. It's been a long time since I was in middle school (thank goodness!) but I found myself nodding along and remembering exactly what those days were like. The books also touch on tougher issues like Kevin's mom's death and his dad's dating. But these never bog down the book and make it feel "issue heavy." There's lots of humor to keep readers laughing as well, which helps the books feel lighter and move quickly.


Hand these over to readers who enjoy sports, poetry or a mix of both. Because as Kevin proves, you can be an athlete and a writer!

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup: book review
14 year old Kevin Boland's life, recently devastated by the death of his mother, grinds to a complete halt with his contracting mono. Friends, school, and his starting spot on the centerpiece-of-his-life HS baseball team are all on hold. Confined to bed and home, his dad, concerned over his son's physical and mental health, suggests he keep a sort of therapeutic diary. The literary trick here is thatKevin's efforts not only be heartfelt and entertaining, but that they be written as a beginning writer-poet might create them. That author Koertge pulls off this feat with aplomb is remarkable. A love interest in the second half is a solid plus. You're really rooting for this kid. An overly strict father's cell call on a first date is hilarious. Lots of humor here and amongst all the teen and team anguish is an astute baseball novel. Mr. Koertge knows the game, lovingly so. SBC is wonderfully creative and astute. Don't miss it. Beware the white owl.

shakespeare bats cleanup
I liked this book because it is short sweet and funny and it was a quick read. I think it was for 7th and 8th graders because they talk about going to the bamboo field and they make out and stuff, and
that's the only reason that it would be not good for all ages.
When I started reading this I thought that it was going to be about something else, but I was not sure what it was going to be about. I would recommend this for people who like chick-flick book and they talk about the boy having girlfriends a lot and that's why I like this book, but it talks about baseball a little, too.
Like when the boy gets mono at the beginning he gets mono and has to stay home from school and likes to write poems when he is home.
That's why I recommend this book to people. ... Read more

Product Description
My name is Bumblebee Bat.I may be small,but I'm a great flyer.I live in a secret cave with my brothers and sisters.Want to know more? Then open this book and fly with Bumblebee Bat into the night.A series of questions and answers introduce children to the life and habitat of the exotic and endangered Bumblebee Bat. Scientifically accurate illustrations make these exotic animals accessible to young readers.Back matter includes additional child-friendly facts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

delightful book
I bought this book for my four year old grandson. We both enjoyed it. It is very educational and inviting. Illustrations are really nice, and writing is appropriate for 3-7. Very good book for those little animal lovers!

2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
This award, according to the American Library Association website, is "given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year...recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.""Hello, Bumblebee Bat" offers nine questions and answers about this inch-long bat's environment and habits.Lunde's repetitive question format, starting with the alliterative "bumblebee bat," is reminiscent of Bill Martin's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and is appropriate for early readers.Wynne's watercolor, ink, and colored pencil illustrations of this pig-nosed endangered Thai bat fill the right side of the double-paged spreads.Often a frightening creature to small children, the bats in these drawings often appear to be smiling. The book's patterns would make it a great read-aloud for younger children. ... Read more

Product Description
Marcy Lewis is thrilled when Ms. Finney asks her to be a juniorcounselor at a creative arts camp. Finally, she’s on her own forthe first time, away from family and school. It’s her big chanceto reinvent herself in a place where no one knows how insecureshe used to be. This could be the perfect summer, but will nosy,noisy campers ruin it all? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

A Great Read
I loved this book.It was really easy to relate to. This book has comedy,romance,but is still serious. Marcy has problems with her dad, wich I'm sure a lot of girls can relate to. She is just your average girl,in a good way. She falls in love. I really think everyone is able to read this book. It's got a little bit of writing in it for everyone.

Careful! Adult language and content!
Just a FYI for other parents:this book does have curse words in it, has references to drugs, and a discussion on whether the 14 yr old should have sex in the backseat of a car.

Enjoyable Simple Read
Paula Danziger lays out some simple truths about life and relationships in a camp setting.It's not the first time it's been done, but it's done with a simplicity and sweetness that made the book enjoyable for me long past the age of 14.

This book is nearly thirty years old, but I'd still recommend it to any preteen starting to make their own way through the world to let them know things are going to work out ok in the end.

There's a Bat in Bunk Five
By Nicki

This book is called There's a Bat in Bunk Five and the author is Paula Danziger. Marcy, a fourteen year old girl has a chance to go to a summer camp and be a junior counselor with her former teacher, Ms. Finney. She has never been away from her parents for a whole summer. The main conflict is that Marcy, just like most kids, is just trying to grow up as fast as she can. Marcy has a lot of fears, like meeting new people who are not in her comfortable space. When she meets Jimmy it makes her feel more secure. Then she meets Ted and she realizes that he is the one she really likes. They go to Woodstock for a day together. The girls in the bunk are always complaining, but Marcy always tries to make it better and stands up for Barbara (Ms. Finney). Marcy doesn't always think of Ted's feelings and when she sees him with someone else she is really upset. But they get back together. One of the meanest campers, Ginger, back for her second summer, is hated by everyone. She runs away. Marcy wants to understand her. They find Ginger at Woodstock and hear about how mean her parents are.

I liked how Marcy changed from a mousy, insecure girl to a more mature teenager who learned about her feelings. I wanted to keep reading to see if she would change because she seems like she has the potential if she tries hard enough. I didn't feel like I was in the book but I did want to keep reading.

I thought Marcy was very realistic because in a teenage life this is most likely to happen.

I loved the ending because now we know why Ginger was so mean and can accept her.

The author tells the story in first person, so we get to know everything from Marcy's point of view. The vocabulary didn't seem very challenging, and it wasn't very descriptive about the kids or the setting. It was mostly about feelings and how kids have mood swings when they are teenagers.

I rate this book a 9 out of 10 for this reason. Lots of kids like me have trouble with friendships and want to have good friends more than anything. It helps to read a book like this to see what everyone else goes through. I would recommend this book to everyone because it's an easy book to show how you are just like everyone else.

Finally I think if you read this book you'll find yourself in it. It's not deep but it touches all the things kids go through.

Eh...
I really liked The Cat Ate My Gym Suit, the prequel to There's a Bat in Bunk Five. I read it for the first time when I was in fourth grade and staying at my grandmother's house. It was actually the first printing of the book, from the 1970's. It used to be my aunt's when she was in fourth grade. I loved the picture on the cover. It was a very realistic depiction of what Marcy should look like. Anyway, a few years later, I got the book There's a Bat in Bunk Five. It was an OK book, but it was really lacking a lot of the intensity the first book had. Marcy wasn't fat anymore, her dad wasn't mean...nothing was really wrong in her life. She just seemed whiney. It was still a good, interesting book, but I don't think it had to be a sequel to The Cat Ate My Gym Suit. The author could have made up a totally different character, put her in a summer camp, and it wouldn't have made a difference. The Marcy in this book didn't seem like the Marcy I loved. And the Ms. Finney wasn't the same either. ... Read more

Product Description
There was once a little brown bat who couldn't sleep days-he kept waking up and looking at the world. Before long he began to see things differently from the other bats, who from dawn to sunset never opened their eyes. The Bat-Poet is the story of how he tried to make the other bats see the world his way.

Here in The Bat-Poet are the bat's own poems and the bat's own world: the owl who almost eats him; the mockingbird whose irritable genius almost overpowers him; the chipmunk who loves his poems, and the bats who can't make beads or tails of them; the cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, and sparrows who fly in and out of Randall Jarrell's funny, lovable, truthful fable.

Customer Reviews (12)

Fun story
This book has become quite collectible for the illustrations from Maurice Sendak.He made very detailed black and white drawings of the forest and the animals.The story is about a young bat who could not sleep in the daytime like he was suposed to, and he got to see how different the world was when the other bats were fast asleep. He then tries to explain to the other bats what it is like, and he even makes up some poems. It is not a poetry book, but a very funny adventure.

The Bat Poet
I was recently at the desert visitor's center in Borrego Springs, California and attended a talk at the center by a park ranger about bats.A lady present had a book she wanted to tell everyone about.It was the Bat Poet.I am an educator (retired) with a major in English and have a special interest in children's literature.I am especially interested in older published works for children, so of course, I was interested in the Bat Poet.I enjoyed reading the book and plan to share it with my grandchildren and great grandchildren at certain ages.

I felt like a kid again with a book I love
This is my favorite children's book read as an adult!I can't wait for my kids to be old enough to enjoy this book as much as I did.Of course Maurice Sendak's illustrations are wonderful and added to the overall experience...what a special book!

The Bat Poet
The book arrived in about 8 days.The cover was torn and not in great shape, and the book does show its age, but it's a 1964 edition.It's a neat little book written by Randall Jarrell and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.I really wanted the book for one of the poems in the book.I couldn't find the poem on the Internet since it's not titled in the book. It is a poem that the bat makes up about the owl. Jarrell's choice of words creates such a wonderful mind picture of the bat's reaction to the owl.I just love the poem.I read it in college and never forgot it.This book won't get sold or given away.

A WONDERFUL LITTLE BOOK.
Randall Jarrell has given us a beautiful little story here of a bat and Maurice Sendak has given us some wonderful illustrations in the form of black and white drawings.There is not much to not like about this work.The children love it, and the adult reading it to the children will find it just as interesting and hypnotic as the child, if not more so, but on a different level.The text is wonderfully simple and a pure joy to read.I recommened this one highly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Very good book
The true story of BAT 21, finally giving credit where it was due. The first book and the movie missed the mark very badly. Worth the read.

The Rescue of Bat 21
Book arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

A READ WORTHY OF YOUR TIME
The lone survivor (Bat 21 Bravo) of a six-man crewed American warplane shot down by a surface-to-air missile parachutes near the DMZ and seeks cover to await recovery.Heavy clouds obscure visibility, but other than that the search and rescue aircraft crews have no reason to believe that this won't be anything but a moderately easy pickup.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jay Crowe commanding an Air Force rescue helicopter drops through the clouds heading for the survivor when enemy fire comes up from all directions.The dashboard begins to disintegrate.Crowe and his copilot struggle to control the helicopter and clear the area.The crew is amazed at the scene below.North Vietnamese Army trucks, tanks, guns, and soldiers are everywhere.Bat 21 is trapped between two enemy divisions barreling across the borders in a full offensive to conquer South Vietnam.Still, the rescue attempt goes on.

As the author of "Coast Guard Action in Vietnam," I am pleased to read, not only a darn good true book about the Vietnam War, but, one that brings out the fact that Coast Guardsmen were active in that long engagement.Flying combat search and rescue was only one of their numerous missions.For example, LORAN, the electronic navigation system used to keep Bat 21 pinpointed and to place ordnance on enemy positions, was installed in the theater and manned by the Coast Guard.

Do yourself a favor, get both "Bat 21" by William C. Anderson and "The Rescue of Bat 21" by Darrel D. Whitcomb.Read them in tandem.Read "Bat 21" first.It puts you with the survivor on the ground evading capture for twelve days.Then read Whitcomb's book.It pulls back the camera to take into view the entire panorama of situation, equipment, and people, that went into this remarkable rescue exploit.

When you start the reading make sure you have a block of uninterrupted time because you may not want to stop until--the end.

It is nice to hear the complete story
For years my family has wondered what happened during this period of the conflict. I was eight years old when my brother, Bruce Walker - Covey 282 Alpha, was declared MIA. This book gave my family and I a real view of what happened to him. This is something the government was never willing to do. I'm thankful to Darrel Whitcomb for this well researched and well written book detailing the rescues and attempted rescues during the Easter Offensive.

From one who was there
This book is an extremely accurate history of this rescue and its heros. I was the on scene commander who arrived to find the Jolly in flames. There are other books written about this rescue but none are as accurate and wellpresented. The author did an excellent job in allowing a "non"military reader to understand this rescue situation without missing thepower of the enviornment. ... Read more

Product Description
A Dead Bat In Paraguay is a true adventure story about a 28-year-old man who decided that the best way he could deal with his existential crisis was to sell his possessions, quit his professional career as a scientist, and hop on a one-way flight to Quito, Ecuador in order to visit every country in South America. He sincerely believed the trip would put him on a track towards a more fulfilling life of excitement, intrigue, and exotic women, away from his soulless corporate job in a Washington D.C. suburb. Instead, he humorously falls from one country to the next, striking out repeatedly with the local women, getting robbed, having dreams that became reality, self-diagnosing himself with a host of diseases, and suffering repeated bouts of stomach illness that made marathon bus rides superhuman feats of bodily strength.Along the journey he chronicles the friendships, the women, and the struggles, including one fateful night in Paraguay that he thought would lead to his end.WARNING: If you're a woman you will hate this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Is this guy for real?
When I bought this book, I thought it would be a great travel read about one guys journey through South America.Well, it is...........but it is more about his stomach (and its medly of illnesses) and what hangs off it.How anyone can travel through areas of incredible natural values and world heritage archaeolgical values, but just spend their time going from hostel to hostel trying to pick up women is hard to understand. He could (and should have) stayed home to do that.It is embarrassing to think that people in other countries think that Americans are like this.That he had little luck with the Sth American women shows that they can pick a jerk a mile off.

The author is an egocentric, hyperchondriac, sexist very unpleasant fellow.I DO NOT recommend this book at all.

Very interesting book
This book is about a long journey across south america that did not happened as planned. Roosh, being successful with the ladies in the united states, thought it would be easier in South America because he would be exotic. In this book you join Roosh as he learns many difficult lessons about life, including his presumption about south american chicks. He does not give up and struggles on to reach his south american goal of seeing every country while sharing his thoughts and perceptions about his own life after seeing the some poor conditions in south america.You will read about an assortment of very embarassing things that happened to him through his journey. He is completely honest and unashamed throughout this book. It is very real.

Awesome book !! Roosh is the MAN !!
Roosh really told a true story. I was laughing out loud all through the book. I cheered when he got his first flag, and had tears when he decided to end his trip. And Mariana sounded beautiful. I would have stayed in Brazil an extra few months and stay with her a few nights a week at least. At least invite her back to DC! Definitely turned out to be way better than I expected.

An excellent travelogue for the young and restless.
Roosh writes in a clear conversational style free of the gimmicky writing that plagues many new travel writers. But more importantly he writes about the truth of travel, which is that it varies between utter boredom, discomfort, superficiality, occasional exhilaration or bliss, an entire range of emotions. As someone who has done long trips in Central American and Eastern Europe, I could distinctly remember so many of the vignettes in the book.

It is an excellent book to read if you are young and questioning the path your life and career are taking. So many talk about just jumping outside the corporate framework and doing something else, whether it's traveling or following another passion. So few do it. Roosh did, and he finds that the dream of long-term travel is saddled with a far different reality from his idealized view. It's the disillusionment, and the subsequent recognition of what he finds valuable in travel (seeking romance, attempting to live authentically within a place) that adds real value to the work. Along the way he intersperses the book with tips on how to woo foreign women and a dose of scatological humor.

An honest travelling story
I really liked the book because it gave advice on travel and getting girls in the sack, but that was not the main point. The writing was also very honest. The downside was that not all the time something interesting happened (I kinda got a bit bored at the Chile section) and the toilet humour was kinda low, but these were only minor flaws. I got very excited as reading about your Cordoba gaming and really felt for you in the Rio de Janeiro episode.

Also, the writer was honest with his initial intentions and plans and how they changed, how he changed and how he perceived the traveller culture around him when travelling. I could agree with the writer on many things here and liked the witty remarks about people looking for authenticity and a higher meaning.. The book also revealed a new side of the writer (who is a a well-known blogger), a more sensitive one. The side that we already knew about, the sarcastic and witty, was there as well, of course. Self criticism is a good trait..

"The lie was so
good even I believed it. I liked Sofia more all along. We were always at
war with Eastasia, not Eurasia."

Absolutely my favourite one.

Thanks for a great read! ... Read more

Product Description
"It seems to be pretty certain," he said, "that this thing is the wing of a Desmodus or Vampire Bat. Now, according to our authority"--he touched a work which lay open on the other arm of his chair--"these are natives of tropical America, therefore the presence of a living vampire bat in Surrey is not to be anticipated. I am personally satisfied, however, that this unpleasant fragment has been preserved in some way." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very good mystery
This is the first book I've read by Rohmer, and it's a good one. It's about a Spaniard living in Britain who thinks he's the victim of a voodoo curse. Most of it takes place on an English country estate, so there's nothing in the way of adventure, but Rohmer did a great job of setting up the mystery and having his protagonist solve it. I found the middle of the book to be rather drawn-out and uninteresting, but other than that this is a very nice story for mystery fans.

Early 20th century sensation novel
There's a lot more to Sax Rohmer than his Fu Manchu novels. Some years back, I bought a cache of Rohmer's books published by A.L. Burt in the teens and twenties, some from the Fu Manchu series, but others with delightfully lurid titles such as The Golden Scorpion, The Green Eyes of Bast, and The Dream Detective, the latter featuring the wondrous Moris Klaw, a blind detective with extra-sensory powers.

From time to time I dip into this reservoir for a completely escapist read. These novels, despite being dated and notoriously full of racial stereotypes, fairly pop off the page. Rohmer knew how to spin a yarn, and Bat Wing is no exception. The tale involves a haughty Spanish colonel and a secret too dark, too deep, to divulge. Rohmer's detective hero, Paul Harvey, is in the mold of Sherlock Holmes, and of course he has a trusted friend who doubles as the narrator much as Dr. Watson does. Together they unravel the sinister mystery, encountering voodoo rites, vampire bats, an Edgar Allen Poe-esque writer, and other fantastic developments en route to the sensational ending. ... Read more

Product Description
How do bats find their way in the dark? Where do they live and what do they eat? Beginner readers can find answers to these questions and more in this colourful information book. It is illustrated with stunning photographs and illustrations accompanied by short, informative text developed with reading experts. It includes carefully selected internet links to exciting websites about bats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bats!
I love Usborne Beginners. This book is full of information that my children found fascinating. It also had plenty of pictures. I cannot believe how high quality these books are for such a low price! Bats! is a great addition to any child's library. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn about the natural history and evolution of bats, important bat identifying features, their flying and echolocation abilities, habitats, and migration patterns.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good book, but missing some elements.
I've been interested in bats for a long time now.I actually raise them and have a decent sized population of them living in a reserve on my property.I'm by no means an "expert" on all bats, but I do know a thing or two about them that was NOT included in this book.And my biggest concern revolves around the fat gram count in the average bat-head.Back in the 70's and early 80's I was a roadie for Ozzy Osbourne whenever he would tour.I'd see Ozzy pop the head off several bats per show and the thought never occured to the rest of us, who quickly took up the bat-head eating habit, exactly how many fat grams where in these things.Oz really started to bloat up after a couple of years and I found my own leather pants starting to tighten up after a really big bat-head binge weekend.If we only knew the calories we were taking in on some of those bus trips, throwing back a hundred bat-heads a stop.Don't get me wrong, everyone knows they are delicious, but they can be addictive.Ozzy would have us stop all the time to find caves and score some bat for him.Eventually we all got smarter and realized we were becoming fat slobs and developing huge "bat bellies".To this day, I still eat bat heads a couple times a week, but with excercise and some restraint its fairly healthy.But I've yet to find out the fat grams in a bat-head and was hoping this book would provide that information.On the plus side it is fairly well illustrated with a nice thorough bibliography.

Nice Little Bat Primer
This is a great basic primer for kids or anyone looking for a simple overview of bats. It isn't really a field guide, just a survey. A much heavier scientific level of bat lore would be satisfied by Bats: Biology and Behaviour.

Excellent guide of the basics for anyone interested in bats!
There is a lot of good information packed in this little book!As well as covering different bat species, this book also explains how important bats are to the ecology of our earth.I highly recommend this book to everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
A family finds a baby bat in their mudroom and takes care of him until his mother comes back for him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pure batty pleasure!
"The Bat in the Boot" is a beautifully told and well-illustrated story about a young girl who finds a baby bat in her father's boot, and together with her family (mom, dad, and brother) try to sustain the baby bat's life. They feed it milk from a dropper, keep it safe and snug, and when mother bat comes looking for her baby at night, the family hide in the background, waiting to see what will happen. This is a great story as it not only focuses on the baby bat's rescue, but more importantly, it shows how a family works together to help the helpless baby bat. I also liked that bats are portrayed in a positive light here, with the cute baby bat tugging at reader's heartstrings. A great picture book and perfect for reading aloud.

one of a kind
I originally bought this book for a presentation in one of my college classes and ended up falling in love with it. ... Read more

Product Description
SeeMore Readers are designed for every young reader. Large, bright pictures instantly engage readers in the subject. Exciting yet simple text provides the information that kids, parents, and teachers want—from key facts to fascinating trivia. Each Reader is a fun invitation to read, observe, and see more! ... Read more

Product Description
Start with Science books introduce kids to core science concepts through engaging stories, fresh illustrations, and supplemental activities.

When Oscar hears a blackbird singing in the meadow, Bat swoops in to talk to him about sound. A sudden thunderstorm and a visiting cow give Oscar lots of opportunities to learn about sounds that are loud or soft, near or far, deep or high. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect for Preschoolers
We have four of the Oscar books. They introduce scientific concepts to YOUNG kids - please do not think you are purchasing a book that will explain echolocation in depth - you are not. I have to admit that the illustrations win me over to these books more than the content. I do recommend them for parents or teachers of preschoolers and/or early elementary students. My two boys thoroughly enjoy following Oscar through each of the books in our collection.

This is a marvelous, thoughtful way to introduce the young child to physical science!
Oscar was a wide-eyed gray and white kitten who was playing in a meadow.He was watching and listening to the sounds around him. "Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep."Bat swooped down next to the little kitty to tell him about the songs and sounds of the meadow.He told him that the sound he was hearing was that of some "baby blackbirds" and told him that "Our ears help us know what's around us, even when our eyes can't."Squeak, squeak, squeak!Bat was going to tell him all about the sounds around them, including some in far away places that made sounds with their bodies.

"Chirruh-chirp" goes the grasshopper. "Hiss, hiss.Hiss, hiss" go the cockroaches. "Whistle, whirrrr" warn the hummingbird wings."Click, whistle, squeak."The bottlenose dolphin in a faraway ocean is talking through her blowhole."Rattle, rattle."Do you know who "talks" like that?Grasses, tractors, ponds and streams all have their own sounds.The sky can rumble and tell us of an impending storm."Rumble, rumble.Rumble, CRASH!"It was time for Oscar to take cover and listen to more sounds in the meadow.What is one other sound he probably heard after the rumble?

This is a marvelous, thoughtful way to introduce the young child to physical science.The reader follows a wide-eyed Oscar through the book as Bat tells him about sounds, noises and who or what is making them.By the time you are though reading this book with your youngster, he or she will be able to tell you not only what a cow sounds like, but will be able to hiss like a cockroach and rumble like thunder.In the back of the book is an index and brief sections on listening, making sound and different sounds.What goes gurgle, gurgle? ... Read more

Product Description
The Weekly World News team uncovers the definitive and faux-tastic story of Bat Boy, from his hardscrabble origins in the caves of West Virginia to his global influence in the twenty-first century. Going Mutant reveals how Bat Boy has heeded a call to service that has embarrassed less forthcoming mutants: During the Gulf War, he deployed with the Special Forces. He later earned a special commendation from George W. Bush for his use of sonar, which led troops to the spider hole housing Saddam Hussein. And now Bat Boy joins forces with an unlikely crew of soldiers, scientists, and swamp mamas to battle a global pandemic that threatens to destroy our planet.

This is an intimate look at the half-bat/half-boy, who has until now been shrouded in mystery (despite countless sightings and a megahit musical). Here, Bat Boy’s life is illuminated through a series of public and private documents obtained by the equally mysterious Dr. Barry Leed of the University of Indianapolis and through Weekly World News clippings. All this information comes together in this new Bitingsroman that reveals an archetypal American trickster who has risen from his lowly origins to become America’s favorite freedom fighter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great Read!!!
Personally not the biggest fan of reading books, however with 'Going Mutant' it was a completely different circumstance. Probably one of the first times in my life where I have reduced my sleeping hours in order to stay up and read.
The minute I started reading it I found it impossible to put back down. It is compatible for all ages and I honestly think everybody will enjoy reading it - great story line, very clever and quite funny.. I highly suggest you go out and buy yourself a copy today!

Fun Read and a Great Gift
This is a really fun book based on one of the best characters in Weekly World News. I have to admit that I have been a WWN fan ever since the classic movie, "So I married an Axe Murderer", though I can imagine anyone with a sense of humor will find this book a great read.

Wow!
Great information,who would have known,highly recommend this excellent and informative publication

The Bat Boy exposed
This is fantastic,Having all friendsget it.It is a great gift

Amazingly Thorough
I am completely in awe of this book and its author.By simply following the step-by-step instructions, I was able to create delightful sweaters, scarves, mittens and socks.The diagrams were easy-to-follow and her snacking tips actually allowed me to lose weight.Kudos to you Ms. Lumpkins, and a tip o' the (knitted) cap! ... Read more

Product Description

Reginald loves to create beautiful music on his violin. But Papa, manager of the Dukes, the worst team in the Negro National League, needs a bat boy, not a "fiddler," and traveling with the Dukes doesn't leave Reginald much time for practicing.

Soon the Dukes' dugout is filled with Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach -- and the bleachers are filled with the sound of the Dukes' bats. Has Reginald's violin changed the Dukes' luck -- and can his music pull off a miracle victory against the powerful Monarchs?

Gavin Curtis's beautifully told story of family ties and team spirit and E. B. Lewis's lush watercolor paintings capture a very special period in history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

TAZ Tight boy and his violin
The reason I could call my review Tight boy and his violin because He was the bomb. I meen like he wasthe bat boy and he had it good because if you wer at my school C.L.A.S you couldent be no bat boy or a water boy . My school cause it self C.L.A.S because it stands for CULTURE AND LANGUGE ACADEMY OF SUCESES se THE C IS CULTURE AND THE L IS LANGUAGE AND THE A IS ACADEMY AND S IS FOR SUCCES. But yeah some of the other books chek me out like darnell rock reporting or this one oh yeah thats it.

A wonderful story on many levels
This book has so many themes superimposed on one another, but they are all presented within the context of a wonderful story about a boy who just wanted to play his violin.

Set among the context of the Negro League era, Reginald's father decides one summer to make him bat boy for his team. The team is down on its luck, and Reginald's heart isn't in this assignment, but everything comes together for him and the team one day.

The history of the era as gently portrayed in the travels of the players is presented for young readers.The story of being true to yourself, and of parents learning to accept that in their children, is here as well.Above all else, the story of Reginald and his journeys with the ball players is a story of hope and triumph among the community in a time that was not always seen as one of hope.Along with all of this, the illustrations of E. B. Lewis capture these themes beautifully.

Story about a time of prejudice and how people change.
Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league.Reginald would rather play his violin than anything else.His dad signs him up to be a bat boy.Reginald plays his violin for the team whichstarts them on a winning streak.Showsinsight into world of music impactand Negro ball players.

Story about a time of prejudice and how people change.
Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league.Reginald would rather play his violin than a else. His dad signs him up to be a bat boy.Reginals plays his violin for the team which starts them ona winning streak.Shows insight into world of music impact and Negro ballplayers.

Brought tears to my eyes and a warm feeling to my soul.
My son and I absolutely loved the story and illustrations.We can't wait for Gavin Curtis to write his next book, and for E.B. Lewis to illustrate his next book.Continue to keep up the high standards for children'sbooks.We love to read!Reading is one of my most favorite things toshare with my son who will be 5 in July. Thank you again to the both of youfor a book well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more