4 comments about There's a Map on My Lap!: All About Maps (Cat in the Hat's Lrning Libry).

1. The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library books are all great tools to get beginning readers to read and explore different topics at the same time.
   
   There's a Map on my Lap is my favorite in this series. It explains in typical Cat in the Hat rhyme and stance all the different uses for maps.
   It explains the difference between a globe and a map, what latitudes and longitudes and other features of maps are. You learn to read a map by using the windrose or a grid.
   The book goes well beyond town or country maps. It features weather maps, topographical maps and even marine charts.
   
   What truly separates this book from the crowd: it is shockfull of hands-on things to do. It begins with peeling an orange while leaving the skin in one piece to demonstrate what a world map should really look like - brilliant idea! Then it goes on to make a map of your room, town, imaginary countries. Or how to measure the length of a curved road on a map using a straight ruler and string.
   
   At the end of the book you find a glossary that explains the "big" words like topographical map and others again. Also a list of more books about maps and globes for children.
   If you like doing hands on things with your preschool through 2nd graders this book is for you! Hours of fun and education all rolled into one big happy Cat in the Hat poem.



2. This book is classic Dr. Seuss...fun, silly, and children don't realize they're learning something. Great book for teaching about maps. I bought this for my 6 year old prior to going on vacation. We had been looking at maps and talking about what states we'd be driving through on our trip. He enjoyed listening to the book and because of the way the information is presented (fun and silly rhymes), he has retained what he learned. He has even referred back to specific bits of information we read from the book (i.e. Never Eat Shredded Wheat to remember North, East, South and West.)
   
   The back of the book contains a glossary of terms mentioned in the book. Highly recommended as an additional tool for teaching about maps.



3. Children enjoyed this book. Used in map unit for PS and elem. settings.



4. This is a fun book for introducing young children to maps. I will use it in my early childhood classroom but I wish I'd had it when my own chldren were young. They would have loved it!

5 comments about Frommer's New York City 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. I'm satisfied with the book, but I haven't had the oportunity to try something out - we are going to visit New York at the end of the year.



2. I spent about a month before our vacation reviewing this book. I highlighted, tabbed,and turned the corner down on pages that I thought I would use frequently. The section on suggested itineraries was an excellent "check list" for visiting the hot spots of New York. I was a little disappointed in the restaurant reviews- apparently my family's palate didn't correspond to Frommer's. However, the price rankings were very helpful. The fold out map was indispensable; and be sure to spend some time acquainting yourself with the sections of the city. Once you get the hang of uptown, downtown, west side and east side - and the transporation system - you'll do great! And New Yorkers are EXTREMELY helpful if you get lost or can't find that terrific landmark you are actually standing in front of. This guide is definitely worth purchasing.



3. I bought this guide as a second book when I was planning a short trip to NYC. It has good suggestions for things to do, also has many suggestions for hotels and restaurants. I used it primarily for things to do and see, as I used other guides for food suggestions. If this is your first time visiting NYC or if you are traveling with your family, this is a good resource. It also includes a folding map. One drawback is that it lacks depth, as it includes so much information. I do recommend it as the first book you look at when you start to plan your trip, then you can branch out to more detailed guides. It is a little bulky in shape, and doesn't fit so well in a pocket.



4. Very helpful with maps and planning! And what not to do!! I used this book before and during our trip!



5. My husband and I went to New York for Labor Day Weekend and took this book with us everywhere we went. It had helpful information about restaurants and handy subway maps.
   
   Its only problem is its size. It's a little big. You couldn't put it in your pocket, but it fits all right into a large-ish purse.

5 comments about Top Secret Restaurant Recipes: Creating Kitchen Clones from America's Favorite Restaurant Chains.

1. This was a gift for my husband for Valentine's Day. He loves to cook. He hasn't made any of the recipes yet, but he has sticky notes in numerous pages to make things! Great book for anyone that likes to cook and easy as well!



2. I bought this book and the second one for my husband who loves to cook. He really enjoyed them! Lots of great recipes that are very close to the restaurant ones!



3. This book was recommended to me, so I got it as a bridal shower gift for a friend. I glanced through it and it looks like it has some good recipes. Hopefully they will enjoy them.



4. Seller advertised the product and its condition exactly as the product arrived to me. I feel based only on this purchase you can trust this seller.



5. Lots of great recipes. I've already made "Tony Roma's Ribs" twice. The recipe includes how to make the BBQ sauce, as well as the preparation methods. They were just as tender and tasted just as good the ribs that we have eaten at Tony Roma's restaurants.
   
   Can't wait to try a few other recipes!

3 comments about Fodor's Italy 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. The Fodor's guide is the best guide to Italy out of all the other major travel guide brands. I looked at all of the books and eventually chose this one.
   
   Just as a background, I will be going to Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) on an educational trip in 2009.
   
   This guide will give an overview of each area (eateries, places to see, things to do, hotels) but then gives a detailed list of everything. Maps are provided for easy locating.
   
   There is also a giant tear-out map which is also a plus.
   
   This book was considered alongside Lonely Planet, Frommers, and Rick Steve.
   
   I will definitely get the 2009!



2. This book is an excellent tool if you are going to Italy...visited 10 cities and several side excursions..used the book for EVERYTHING I needed to know where ever I was!! Certainly worth the price...don't leave home without it!!



3. I just got this last night and let me say, I cant put it down. It has so much info. If you like wine tasting , try these areas,,or hiking,try this region. It has lots of tips and is well written and going to be a great help when I make it to Italy. If you are looking for a good book to help narrow down areas you want to see like I was,this is the book for you.
   Enjoy and Ciao!

5 comments about Zagat 2008 New York City Restaurants (Zagatsurvey).

1. i have been to new york city several times and always consult my zagat guide. it has never let me down! i would not dream of not going without it!



2. If you are planning to take a trip to New York City, be certain that you have the latest copy of Zagat's with you. It will totally enhance your dining experience. don't leave home without it.



3. Everyone who wants to eat well in NYC needs a Zagat guide. It lists almost every kind of cuisine, price level and restaurant location in the city. The reviewers are people just like you and me, they like to eat and they are willing to share their experiences. If you are visiting NYC for the first time, or for the 20th time, you need this book.



4. We live outside of NYC in Stamford, CT and we head into the city about every other weekend. We love go out to eat and so we're ALWAYS carrying around this book (its small enough to fit in a medium sized purse) and reffering to the book to get an idea of price, atmosphere, location, etc. I refer to the book at least once a week to find out more information about a place....its the only place I look for reviews and it has basically become the only place I look for ideas on places to go! If its not in Zagat, usually I'm not interested in going!! Most of the times its for dinners, but I've looked it up a few times for lunch/bars too. Great sections - separated by location if you're looking for a particualr area of the city, or type of cusine, or atmopshere (even stuff like, does it have a fireplace?). Great gift....I've given it out several times to newcomers to the city, and they dont go anywhere w/o it either. Would buy again when my book gets old!!! And, I will buy it again for someone as a gift..!



5. I love the Zagat guides for the dining recommendations, helpful information and the varied opinions of "the people". Helpful in making an educated decision as to where to dine.

5 comments about Jupiters Travels: Four Years Around the World on a Triumph.

1. This book is extremely well written. The author eludes to his journalism profession and it is eveident. A little too much "who am I" searching to suit me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book.



2. This book is about Ted Simon's experince of riding around the world. Not only does he write about his actual experinces, but he also writes about how he feels. Some parts of the trip are glossed over in just a paragraph while others take pages and pages. It was very interesting to see hwo he felt the trip changed his life. I would have given the book five stars, but it bogs down in places. This book is more about an adventure around the world than it is about motorcycling. Overall, it is a great story and worth reading.



3. I purchased this book after reading about it in a motorcycle article. I found it to be a pretty good read, although I find it hard to believe someone in the 1970's would choose a triumph motorcycle to do this trip on, knowing their history and reputation during the 70's! I thoroughly enjoyed Ted Simons' writing about his experiences and would recommend this book.



4. This is an excellent read, well written and immensely interesting. Ted Simon dips into his experiences of a four year journey around the world on his Triumph motorcycle. This is not just of interest to motorcycle fanatics or travel adventure junkies but can be accessed by anyone as you share in Teds experiences. The only draw back is that it is just a sample of his many adventures as space would not provide enough room for him to divulge more of his adventures. I need to check out the sequel "Riding high" with further stories to pass on to those of us who would enjoy sharing his adventures. Well worth a read, what an experience to have achieved, an inspiration to many.Riding High



5. I did not read this book. It was a gift for my son who enjoys motorcycles.

5 comments about Streetwise San Francisco Map - Laminated City Street Map of San Francisco, California - with integrated BART map including lines and stations - MUNI lines, bus routes.

1. These "streetwise" laminated maps are the best there is to get you around any city. Walking OR driving. We wore this one out on our recent trip to San Francisco.



2. I stayed at The Red Vic in Haight-Ashbury, a little off the beaten path. This map and my weeklong muni pass paid for themselves a gabillion times. The map worked great; I was never lost. The way they depict the touristy section of Lombard Street makes me giggle.



3. Handy map, with excellent info on bus routes and all manners of public transit!!!! Can't do without this map if you're on your own and want to use public transit!



4. The streets go every witchway and having this map that we could pull easily out of our pack was a lifesaver. If you don't have a car, the BART and MUNI maps were also handy. People on the street saw us using it and always chimed in with extra advice.



5. Although not as compact, we like this better than the Pocket Pilot. This map has more detail, it just doesn't fit very well in a pocket. Because of its size, it is more readable.
   Golden Gate Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Walk, Bike in San Francisco & MarinZagat San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants 2009 (Zagatsurvey: San Francisco/ Bay Area Restaurants)Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to And Living in the San Francisco Bay Area: Including San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, And Palo Alto (Newcomer's Handboks)

5 comments about Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2009 (Rick Steves).

1. This book makes you want to go to Europe.Now.Just get on the plane and GO!
   I wish I had read this eleven years ago on our first trip to Italy.Since that time I have travelled to Europe on business many times and I have to agree with Rick Steves that no one ever says " every time I go to Europe I pack more".
   His travel philosopy addresses peoples fears and insecurities when they are travel..."I won't have a certain piece of clothing,object when I might want it...better take it just in case" or "a less expensive hotel may be dirty ,unsafe...I know this luxury hotel will bust the bank, but its worth it for piece of mind." That kind of thing.Rick Steeves describes clean,charming hotels and pensiones which are centrally located and much less expensive than "luxury" properties. his restaurants are not dives, but great trattorias,atmospheric ristorantes popular with the locals.He is wonderfully opinionated about what to see,when to go...like having a best friend who lives there. No guidebook( and I have read them all) combines such practical advice with a travel philosophy which is positively liberating.This is especially true for older travellers who do not want to backpack,hostel, and who thought they had to stay in the "best" places, and wear a different outfit everyday. Our next trip to Italy will be with one carry-on bag each, staying in Rick Steves suggested family run pensiones and hopping on and off trains between destinations. We feel 20 years younger(and we will be 20 pounds lighter,too)



2. Rick does an okay job of giving a quick overview of Europe, but sometimes forgets to "just inform" and tries to get all poetic and fancy. His description of Rothenburg does not inform me about the place, just about the wind and the leaves and his acid trip. This book will annoy you with its sporadic bursts of cheap thesaurus prose.. Rick is just not a good writer. Otherwise he does a good job of letting you know of not-so-touristy things to do in EU. The types of things he suggests are walking around and smelling things, sitting down and drinking a beer, buying a chunk of cheese and eating it on a park bench while people-watching. I don't see 18-30 year olds getting much from this book. Younger travellers might want to do more than just smell a place and get tipsy.
   His writing tone seems biased; he's opinionated and sometimes makes me feel as if he gets paid to advertise shops and attractions.
   Buy this book for a general overview of an Euro Trip, not as a travel guide. For more detailed info, grab a Lonely Planet guidebook.
   In an effort to cater to ALL audiences, Rick, as well as oher mass market writers, tries to create ONE book for ALL types of people. Any given traveller will be interested in only 15% of this book, and toss the rest aside. The backpacker will use 15%. The high class big baller will use 15%. The middle class two week vacationer might use 10%. I would prefer to pay more for a book JUST FOR ME. (Mr. Backpacker)



3. Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door presents a philosophy that many tourists seem to lack: When in Europe, ACT like you're in Europe! This book is aimed towards those travelers that just can't quite seem to ever escape the U.S. no matter where they travel.

   Rick presents a whole host of tips for seeing a Europe beyond the standard guided bus tours and airline deals. His years of experience go into his writing, giving often insightful and funny tips from sleeping overnight in the train station (he recommends sleeping in the first-class lounge to be among a higher class of hobo) to the best way to wash your clothes in the hotel sink.

   This book is not all about travelers caught in a pinch, however. There's also great advice for finding accomodations in during busy season, picking the right hotel/room, and finally finding those gems--great spots in Europe that no other traveler seems to know about.

   This book is not so much a guide to specifics as it is a guide to travel philosophy. Steves encourages the reader to immerse themselves in the local culture, and offers advice for the reader not sure how to do so.

   Those looking for a country-specific guidebook should look somewhere else, but they should also keep this book handy to really get a feel for what Europe truly is and was.




4. "Tourists are learning that the image of the terrible Turk is false, created to a great degree by it unfriendly neighbors. Turks are quick to remind visitors that, surrounded by Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece, they're not living in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood."
   
   This is a direct quote.
   
   It sounds like they're trying to say that the surrounding countries are painting an incorrect negative image of Turkey. Which is amusing, since he listed both Greece and Armenia there, which were both targeted by Turkey. Either this writing staff has no idea what they're writing and is just happy to sell books, thinking no one will double check the info, or they're Racist and opinionated. Either way, I wouldn't trust the info in here even as a rough guide on where to go.



5. Rick Steves is the master of travel guides and this book is no exception. Europe Through the Back Door provides you with the insight needed to experience Europe as the Europeans do instead of the typical tourist-y way. In it, Rick discusses traveling with a tour vs with a partner vs alone, how and what to pack, when and where to go, driving vs Eurail train passes vs budget airlines, food and hotel accomodations, money issues, and many more including "Special Concerns" like senior, single women, or gay travelers. Additionally, there's also Part Two, which is the actually "Back Doors" he has been talking about the entire first part. These are places all over Europe where you can get off the beaten path. Rick has been to all these places and they are his favorites which is why he is recommending them to you.
   If you buy no other guidebook before you go to Europe, get this one. It will keep you from accidentally being the obnoxious American tourist who hates the French. (If you're interested in specific places, get Rick's guide for that place too: he has many books about certain cities, regions in countries, countries, or areas of Europe and most of them are updated yearly!)

5 comments about Streetwise Washington, DC Map - Laminated City Street Map of Washington, DC.

1. This was the best source for helping us maneuver through the maze of buildings, monuments, and memorials in Washington, DC. The map is very functional. Flip it one way and you see the Metro, flip it another way you see the mall, still another and you have a DC area map. Since it's laminated, I kept it in my pocket while walking around and didn't worry about it getting sweaty or damaged. I really like the detailed names of the buildings and monuments near and around the national mall. Metro stops and streets are well marked. The next best thing to GPS.



2. We used this guide everyday of our trip to Washington, DC. The subway guide was especially useful. I never felt lost, and didn't waste any time trying to figure out where to go. It was such an important thing to have each day, we double checked each time we left the hotel to make sure we had it. I highly recommend it.



3. This is a nice map because it is plastic coated. It is normal map size which makes it a bit big to carry but has all the landmarks noted pretty well.



4. This map is very easy to read, and a great tool for getting around DC. The laminated cover keeps it durable, and the size makes it easy to pull out and look at anywhere. I recommend it highly.



5. Perfect for carrying around for quick reference to the DC area. It is sturdy, and won't rip apart. Having the metro map is a huge plus.

5 comments about The Snow Leopard.

1. The SNOW LEOPARD - Interesting descriptions of Tibet back country and customs but author constantly contradicts himself, he seems disoriented like he might have done too many drugs in his life, imagine that, he is a self admitted psychedelic user and he writes like it. Matthiessen demeans his Sherpas while intimating some sense of loss at leaving his 8-year-old son at home one year after his wife died while he treks around Tibet for two months, inexcusable!



2. Matthiessen is a talented writer who consistently manages to capture the essence of what he sees. He insists that he is a fiction writer, first and foremost, but the honesty and vibrance of his words in nonfiction are phenomenal. As an "travel log"-type book, this is one of the best. His interactions with the sherpas and his colleague, GS, are human and believable. There are extremely personal moments throughout the book, concerning his first wife and kids and missed opportunities with them, since he spent so much time traveling. A section about a bowl makes me sad even now. The discussion of the animals of the region ( not just the leopard) are very detailed and accurate. Particularly, sections that are devoted to Schaller's attempt to distinguish between goats and sheep. While the leopard, itself, adds a magical quality, a more intriguing creature is the yeti. I became a full-time fan when he spoke of it.
   Beyond the actual journey is the constant discussion of Zen. The history and facts he gives are deep, at times. There are many footnotes. It is an excellent resource for Zen students and it's interesting to see how it fits into his life. Zazen in his tent, for instance. Zen isn't something to be learned, but this book and Cave of Tigers are two that every aspiring student of zen should read.
   He talks about his wilder days and where he finds himself going at the time (metaphysically speaking, of course.) I picked up this book because I had seen the film At Play in the Fields of the Lord. It is like nothing I have ever read. I still randomly reread passages to experience it again. This is a book that changes how people feel.



3. I'm sorry. I tried to enjoy this book because it was recommended to me by my favorite author. I found it great to get me to sleep at night and not so great at inspiring me to seek adventure, spiritual or otherwise. I had no idea what this dope-head was talking about.



4. The Snow Leopard is slow paced and there is little plot. The book is about a long hike and the author's coming or not coming to terms with his divorce from and the death of his ex-wife. That is really it, but the Snow Leopard took me to a new and better place, one that I can not easily explain. This is one of the best books I have ever read.



5. Thoreaux: Where in all the world is the literature that gives expression to Nature?
   Here it is, in Peter Matthiessens's National Book Award Winning "The Snow Leopard". Peter Matthiessen is now a living legend, a prophet of ecological thought and a long time American Buddhist, but in 1973, when the book was conceived he still wasn't so famous. At the age of 46 he decided to trek through the Inner Dolpo region of Nepal with his friend and co-explorer G. Schaller (well known for his studies on the Mountain Gorillas) to study the bharal (Himalayan blue sheep) and to try to get a glimpse of the mysterious and rare snow leopard. From September to December the two men traveled with sherpas and porters from Pokhara, around the Annapurna, the Dhaulagiri, through the Jang-La Pass, to Phoksumdo Lake to the Crystal Mountain and the Shey Gompa Monastery and back, studying the wild life and rutting habits of bharal. While G. Schaller was basically interested in animals, Matthiessen in that period a Zen scholar, utilized the travel expedition to expose his thoughts, exercise his meditation abilities, recall his memories of past experiences (drugs, deaths, remorse and expectations) but most of all to paint with lyrical pen and great descriptive talent his surroundings and the people he met.
   
   This book is a little dated, and while reading it I was reminded of that great chapter of American writing that ties together Pirsing, Castaneda and many others, but none the less it is fascinating and gratifying because it resonates with a transcendent religious feeling of nature. In "The Snow Leopard" the ecological thought that weaves its way in all Matthiessen's works is still not full blown, but this makes the book even more incisive because the perception of his convictions lends a magic atmosphere to the travelogue. The reader has an intuition of the importance of respect of wildlife independently from modern day recriminations on its destruction.
   
   The philosophical/religious aspect is also very interesting, because we can see the fascination of an intellectual American with Buddhist thought. Peter Matthiessen is very generous of his knowledge an puts all his rich Buddhist experience in the text, explaining history, traditions and customs of the Tibetan culture.
   
   Matthiessen is also a very good interpreter of characters, as is evident from his novels. All the people he empathically describes jump out of the page and come to life. The canny and mysterious Tukten (maybe a guiding figure like Dante's Virgilio or a true Bodhisattva) and the naïve and faithful Dawa become our friends as well, but also the many minor encounters like the Lama of Shey pass forever into literary history to be remembered.
   
   Two points of highlight are how the Author manages to convey the pleasure and the fatigue of the physical trip. I could actually feel his boots and the joy of having broken them in, the discomfort of the sun glaring on the snow and the beauty of the birds, flowers and landscapes he describes. The second is the excellence of the prose. Selected paragraphs are poems of beauty and the perfect use of the English language is in itself a reason to rejoice.
   
   
   This book is also a very personal and introspective diary. It talks about the man and his problems and probably this is the single most touching point of this great nature classic. At a distance of 30 years, people are taking guided trekking tours to Shey Gompa and its protected Natural Park, and much of the mystery has dissolved, however still few have seen the snow leopard, and discussion is still raging on the existence of the Yeti or Bigfoot.
   
   Read and reread this nature classic to capture all its merits. It is landmark of the American perception of Buddhism, ecological thought and one of the best travelogues around.