No comments about Reference Handbook on the Deserts of North America.

No comments about Bon Appetit!: Shawnee Hunter Georges Drouillard's List of Fine Dining Establishments Along the Lewis and Clark Trail, As of A.D. 1806 and The Life and Times of Georges P. Drouillard.

No comments about Hippocrene U.S.A. Guide to Exploring the Litchfield Hills: In Six Tours (Hippocrene USA Guide).

1 comments about Fodor's Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe 2000.

1. I purchased this book for information on Reno. What a disappointment. More than half the book is dedicated to Las Vegas, the remainder of the book is dedicated to the REST of Nevada. I would MAYBE purchase this book if I were going to Las Vegas, otherwise, forget it.

No comments about Whitewater River Map: Ocoee River.

No comments about National Geographic Destination Map Yosemite National Park (Yosemite National Park Destination Series).

No comments about National Geographic Heart of the Grand Canyon (NG USA Thematic Maps).

No comments about New England '95: A Four-Season Guide with the Best Driving Tours, Shopping, B&Bs and Country Dini ng (Gold Guides).

2 comments about The Connecticut Guide (State Guide Travel Series).

1. This is one of the most painstakingly well-done travel guides you'll find on any region anywhere, let alone CT. The book intelligently divides the state into seven regions: Far Northwest (Litchfield Hills), Central Valley, Far Northeast, Seafaring Southeast, Lower CT River Valley, Southwest Coast, and the Housatonic and Naugatuck River Valleys. Each section starts with a clear map showing the towns and major roads in detail, along with an inset showing how that section fits into the state. The text is filled with wonderfully researched stories of local history, interspersed with logically laid out descriptions of local events, attractions, seasonal activities, and places to stay and eat. If you're serious about touring Connecticut and you want to carry along just one book, this is the one!



2. For full coverage of any travel destination, it often takes two different kinds of travel book. First, there are the books on the history, social and cultural highlights of an area. Many of these books have glossy pictures. Second, there are books with maps, directions, up-to-date information on prices and hours and a quality rating system.

   This book has both. Ziffer gives full and interesting details on each of the different regions of Connecticut. Her history starts with geologic origins of the region, extends through Native American and Colonial times and continues up to the present. This alone is fascinating reading. She also gives good information on cultural, artistic and historic places of interest. Like a Mobil Travel Guide, she includes listings for various restaurants with indications of how expensive your meal will be. You can probably find the right hotel for you using this book.

   However, this book is not a substitute for a Mobil Travel Guide-type book in a strictly practical sense. The maps are not detailed or particularly helpful for navigation. Restaurants, hotels and B&B's are reviewed, but there is no overall rating system. Unlike a Mobil Travel Guide, this book has many black and white pictures. And, the detail provided about each town provides a good sense of just what kind of place you will find. Ziffer gives many suggestions for interesting things to do, including various festivals and events throughout the year.

   I highly recommend this book for anyone planning travel to or through Connecticut. It is a particular aid to anyone who likes to scratch below the surface of a place. I would also recommend a Mobil Travel Guide or Fodor's to bring along in the car for the nitty gritty details of the trip. But, I would start my trip planning here.

5 comments about The New York Pop-Up Book.

1. The first thing that happened when I opened this book is that the Statue of Liberty fell out into my lap. Then I discovered that the Empire State Building doesn't actually pop up; you have to pry it up, and hope that you're not wrecking something in the process. This is true of most of the "pop-ups" in the book. Also, lift-up tabs get in the way of some of the pop-ups (or vice-versa). I'd say it's a lot of clever ideas badly executed. Probably the makers were trying to do too much. But in spite of all this, I still like it, and if you collect pop-up books, you probably will too. Just be ready to re-construct and re-glue a lot of the stuff.



2. I purchased this Pop Up Book for a 14 year old friend who enjoys Pop Up Books. At the last minute, I decided to purchase one for myself. Both of us are going to New York in the future and thought it might be a good guide. This book is absolutely wonderful. I have enjoyed each page. The detail is tremendous. The writing is entertaining and informative. The Pop Ups give you a feeling of "being there".



3. I have to use my fingers to make them pop-up. Not interesting pop-ups at all-- just plain and simple.



4. The Top of the Empire State Building are not in the book. The edges of the the book are really in a bad condition.I think, it's a seller problem!



5. A wonderful carnival of a book, and like many carnivals it has problems if you look closely. The pop-ups aren't always easy to work, and one piece tends to get fouled up on another. In addition, there are a LOT of little booklets and enclosures- many of them great in themselves but they tend to fall out of the book into your lap. Then you've got an evening of "Where the #@&&%^! did THIS go?" ahead of you.
   Still, it's a love poem to NYC, with all the best intentions.