5 comments about The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations.

1. I heartily concur with all the other reviews as far as the necessity of exposing children to Rackham's illustrations as soon as possible. Hopefully this would happen in part through his books, like his Aesop's Fables, Favorite Tales From Grimm, Alice and Wonderland, etc. So my purpose is more practical: to say that the two Dover collections of his pictures, this and Rackham's Fairy Tale Illustrations are very true to Rackham's original color illustrations. I have seen reproductions of some of his illustrations that make his colors seem muddy. He uses a lot of dark colors in his work, but he also used many subtle light colors which have been captured well here. A great value for the money, along with the Fairy Tale book. All the pictures are suitable for framing.



2. As advertised. This is a Dover book, so it includes no scholarly apparatus to speak of. Still, the printing is good, and it includes a nice collection of prints that I hadn't seen. Shipping was timely.



3. As a child I was thrilled with Arthur Rackham's illustrations and I haven't lost my love for his work. They're timeless. He combines the real world with magical kingdoms, the almost-grotesque creatures with the unusually beautiful, the fairy creatures with the mortals, humor with terror. Rackham paints beautiful landscapes and beautiful people, yet we know to beware of the creatures who may lurk under the gnarly tree roots. His colors are subdued, but rich; and his detail is gracefully executed.
   
   His illustrations have been and still are an inspiration to artists who wish to delve into an imaginative realm. And for those who wish to delve in themselves, I highly recommend this excellent book. Thanks to Arthur Rackham, the fairy world is alive and well, and shall remain so.
   
   Denise Hillman Moynahan
   The Great Cavern of the Winds: Tales from Backbone Mountain



4. I was introduced to Arthur Rackham's magical illustrations as a child via the old St. Nicholas children's magazines, and his pictures have lost none of their magic in the ensuing years. Rackham's pen-and-ink drawings are complemented by a muted palette of colors that transform the glossy pages into insubstantial doors that open into an enchanted world populated by slender butterfly-winged fairies, multitudes of elves and gnomes, and twisted anthropomorphic trees that capture a child's imagination, without being threatening. At the same time, the sharp angular faces of the children in his drawings suggest a subtle mischievous humor that prevents Rackham's illustrations from ever sinking into sentimentality.
   
   Rackham's pen covered a wide range of subjects, from Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Tempest" by way of Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows", Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," and classical fairy tales, to Wagner's "Ring of the Niebelungen."
   
   We are so lucky to have these beautifully reproduced Dover illustrations in a single book. They should be introduced to one's grandchildren so that their own imaginations may also take flight with the enchanting creatures of Arthur Rackham's world.



5. I love this book! I found that the introduction was helpful in placing each piece of art in context. The works themselves are gorgeous and enchanting. The book really shows the breadth of talent and subject matter Rackham mastered, as well as his superb use of composition and imagination. An excellent book for any collection, for children and adults alike.

2 comments about Uncredited: Graphic Design & Opening Titles in Movies.

1. Excellent, long time awaited book on Opening Titles in Movies. It goes further than the usual Saul Bass topics and shows a fine selection of works and authors.
   Fine edition, enlightening texts and profusely illustrated. And it comes with a companion dvd bringing a good selection of samples in quicktime video .
   It's certainly strange that this matter had not been covered before in that way. And have been done by two european -spaniard- authors!
   Just miss a better coverage on animated head titles.
   A must for titles and cinema lovers.



2. At last a book I've waited some years for. With more than three hundred credit sequences (so hundreds and hundreds of images) this is a feast of visual goodies. The ten chapters reveal a history of the movie in the movies. It is sort of chronological though many newer credits are mixed in with historical ones to indicate a style, like chapter four that looks at titles as logos: Gone With the Wind or Pulp Fiction where the type is overlaid on an image background.
   
   The text runs in small sections throughout the pages but I kept on getting sidetracked by the images and their captions. The original words have been translated from Spanish which could explain the rather flowery style but its clear the authors have done a lot of research and obviously expressed their opinions, too, especially in the long captions.
   
   An amazing two hundred designers have their work included. The great Saul Bass has nineteen credits, Kyle Cooper, Maurice Binder, Ferro Pablo, Dan Perri and Richard Greenberg are the other designers who get a good showing. Those that only have one or two credits (in the book) can still deliver a punch though, the credits for Thank You For Not Smoking by Shadowplay Studio are quite stunning or Marlene McCarty's lovely period work on Far From Heaven.
   
   The book really is a treat but I found it had some annoying inconsistencies (so four stars) like the contents spread that had no page numbers, no, really! There is a designer index but no movie index. In a book like this I would have thought both were essential. The book's design shows a tendency to designer whimsy: the page numbers at the bottom right of the page are in sets of three with the last number (for the next page) running off the page to give the impression of motion...as in a movie? The bibliography is a huge list of websites and a few books. So many of the sites will be redundant long before the book is.
   
   Included with the book is a DVD with 119 credits, an obvious plus factor for me but they are in QuickTime so no watching it on the big screen in the lounge and from those I've looked at they seem second or third generation quality. Incidentally the DVD is rather loosely inserted into an inside page at the back of the book and if you are buying the book pre-used it will be worth checking with the seller that the disc is included.
   
   Despite the disappointments above I'm pleased to have this book and I think it will be a well thumbed edition over time.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover
   
   
   

5 comments about The Art of Howl's Moving Castle.

1. Is the second time I order a book from amazon and I'm satisficed with the service, I live in other country and i never had a problem.



2. The Art of Howl's Moving Castle is a large, hardback book, and is chock full of information and pictures from the amazing movie by Hayao Miyazaki.
   
   This book begins with hundreds of concept sketches by Miyazaki, containing location scenes and characters with notes. The concept sketches go in order of appearance from the movie, so the concept sketches for Sophie come at the beginning, for example, while the concept sketches for Human Turnip show up near the end. There are thousands of gorgeous location scenes as well plus short bios on some of the creators of the movie and a few articles that discuss the creaters' experiences working on the film. Also, at the very end is the complete final screenplay to read through. The screenplay has a few minor changes in it from where the English actors improvised a little (especially Billy Crystal), but otherwise, is exactly from the movie.
   
   Being a student of film and the arts, I found this book extremely helpful and interesting, because it showed the creative process of a huge movie. I would definitely recommend it to any film or arts students to browse through if they wan to get an idea of what kind of work it takes to create such a monumental film!
   
   The only qualm I have with this book is that there were hundreds of screenshots. Not that that's bad, especially if you want to buy this book to revisit the movie, but I would like to have seen a few more sketches and whatnot, or at least a few more articles on how the particular scenes with the screenshots were made.
   
   That aside, I fell in love with this book and was enchanted from front cover to back cover.



3. This book opens a world of anime art like none other. Primary characters & secondary characters are carefully drawn out and walk through a world & story created for them. As a professional artist, I found great interest in the prelimiary drawings straight through the setting concepts. This is also a great book for fans of the movie. If you loved the movie, you will love this book.



4. I totally enjoyed the layout and discussion in this book. I have been a Miyazaki fan ever since, "My Neighbor Totoro" which I saw when I lived in Japan. If you relish animation and all the details of this art form, you'll like the format and attention this book gives.
   
   Janine Bolon, Financial Coach, Radio Talk Show Host, author of "Money...It's Not Just for Rich People!" available on amazon. Money...It's Not Just for Rich People!



5. If you loved the movie, you will love this book, The Art of Howl's Moving Castle it's hard cover, with original sketches, storyboards and the final screenplay!
   
   The book explains every step of the complex story, from the original book adaptation to the final movie. Also have quotes and articles from creators of each process (designers, art directors, supervising animators, etc.) It's like seeing the movie scene by scene with artist commentaries.

3 comments about Play Pen: New Children's Book Illustration.

1. A gorgeous and effortless read showcasing interesting and varied children's book illustrators from around the world. The layout is simple and clean, with biographical info about each illustrator and then three pages of their work (or in some cases, five pages). Despite a pithy (but short) introduction, this is far from an academic text. It will, however, get you thinking about the nature of illustration for children's books and may spur you onto further reading or research. Plus the visual stimulation is inspiring!



2. Beautifully illustrated, with several examples of each artist studied, this book is packed with original works. Biographical information of the artists is included. Very interesting, diverse and often whimsical, the book is well designed to introduce contemporary children's book illustration.



3. In the Introduction, Martin Salisbury has an important quote from Walter Herdeg that pinpoints why it's so important to expose children to good art: 'The smallest owner of books has his special, private art gallery and a unique relationship to it, for he pores over his favourites endlessly, staring at them with a fascination that guarantees indelible memories of scenes and subjects - French, Swedish, Swiss, English, and many others.'
   
   The book offers a varied selection of the best of contemporary children's illustrators from around the world, including Mexico, China and Iran, as well as the more accessible Western artists. There is some biographical information about each artist, and a selection of beautifully reprinted illustrations. In addition, we get a few quotes from the artists themselves where they talk about their inspiration and their style.
   
   I was surprised to learn how many work entirely in the digital medium, even though you couldn't tell the difference from looking at their output.
   
   Less surprising was the note about the more cautious and politically correct approach to illustration that American publishers have, versus, for example, their Italian counterparts, who are much more open to experimental work that is not necessarily obviously aimed at an audience of children.

1 comments about Visual Merchandising & Display.

1. I like this book very much. It is full of information and useful for my business.

5 comments about Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It.

1. I wasn't a very big fan of Kimora until I saw a couple of episodes of her reality, I didn't actually know exactly who she was. Then I got caught up, read the reviews and bought the book (love her clothing lines, by the way). I haven't finished reading it, but so far, I'm loving it. Not to say that it makes you see the world the way she does, but it does shine some light on things in a different way: the way you look at yourself and the whole "go do something!" attitude to life, that no matter who you are will help you get where you wanna be, as will the drive, self love and self repect I think she hopes to imprint on all of us girls. I like the way she sees herself as part of her brand and compells one to market oneself to the world (it may sound superficial, but when you read the fundaments to her theories, they kind of actually make sense). In all, I think with a little open-mindness, the book gives women some great pointers on how to get where they want to be.



2. I am a twenty-seven year old aspiring entrepreneur. I read "self-help" and autobiographical books related to the subject for inspiration. I knew about Babyphat and Kimora Lee Simmons but never really considered myself a fan. I watched a few episodes of her reality show and became more interested in Kimora. Consequently, I researched her book. The reviews were on each end of the spectrum and not many readers were in between. It was love it or hate it. That intrigued me even more and I decided that I must read the book and draw my own conclusion. I went to Barnes and Noble and grabbed the paperback off the shelf, flipped to the introduction and read the first page. It told of a time, prior to her success in business, where she took out her checkbook, wrote herself a check for a million dollars and tucked it in a box with her most prized possessions. Her intro was about the fact that you have to dream big before anything grand can happen in your life. I was hooked. So hooked that I put the paperback back on the shelf and ordered a hardback copy from Amazon.com and I am so glad that I did. I was reminded of a lot of good principles to apply to business and life in general. I also developed a more accurate perception of Kimora and have come to respect her moreso as a business woman. Read as many reviews of this book as you choose but the most rewarding thing you can do for yourself is read the book...gather your own opinion.



3. Bought it as a present, and decided to read it first to get an idea of what Baby Phat brand is like. After reading the first chapter, it made me want to throw it out the window! This lady is very full of herself, and it's a bad read! DON'T BUY IT!!!



4. Really impressed with the thoroughness of this book. A little redundant in parts but well written and informative. I don't know how some of the reviewers didn't get something from this book! I felt inspired to just be me, whatever that may be and tough cookies to those who don't like it. I have plans to use what I've learned to start my own company (small and from home) and found great information on how to do that. More power to Kimora!



5. Well, first off, I had always been captivated by Kimora, and figured if anyone knows about being fabulous and could teach us a thing or two, it would be her. But right off after a couple chapters through the book, I felt vibes that it was more about her trying to clearly promote a certain image of herself, one apart from Russell, that she wants us all to have...carefully monitoring her words and repeatedly pounding an image of having "already made it big" in her teenage years way before her marriage to him. She spent so much time ranting and referring back to this great and extensive "50k-a year European modeling career" she supposedly had through high school, where she learned how to keep financial records conduct business, handle grown up problems,etc...Not too believable really, epecially when the age she repeatedly refers to is 13. Then looking at the provided photos in the book, I found it very curious that there was only 1 of her(pre-Russell Simmons) modeling years, a United Colors of Benneton ad, where she looks like an average pug-nosed teenager. So I Googled about 50 pages of Images for her and still found NOTHING of any modeling photos of her in that supposed successful modeling decade before-Russell that she continually touts. It became clearer and clearer that her REAL OBJECTIVE for writing the book was to convince everyone that she had "made it" way before her husband came into her life. (which I dont think anyone really cares about). I'm sure she was beautiful and fabby when they met, and Russell married her and elevated her into his monied life...so what? Now, I am interested and intrigued in the opulence of the rich & famous like anyone else, and I love to hear the anecdotes of the successsful, but Kimora just doesnt appear to really have any real depth from life's lessons, in that she went from being basically a teenager to marrying Russell, and at the writing of this book, where she is in her mid 30's, she still seems rather immature and self absorbed. Its easier to be beautiful and fabby with lots of money, and obviously any of her hardships were always easily overcome with their money. She doesnt portray that there was any real blood sweat and tears involved in anything she presented about her life, thus there was really nothing to teach or inspire us. Russell would probably have given us something with much more redeeming value if HE wrote the book!
   With the Baby Phat business, I'm sure she certainly must have gone through the guts of up-starting a business, but once again, the obstacles hurdled and the resolutions she implemented took MONEY to get through, (which she had, and which she did successfully), and so I dont think inspires in that regard either. I would have been more satisfied with the time I spent reading the book hearing about how money can solve alot of problems and how fun it is for a girl. There ARE some profound, inspiring quotes that she includes from OTHER celebrities, like: "The thing women have yet to learn is no one gives you power, you just take it"(Roseanne Barr). These made me want to read books by THOSE people.
   I think this book is best suited for early 20-somethings, who need to get a glimpse of how to present a certain image, and possibly maximize their potential opportunities in the business world, or if you just want to become more intrigued by Kimora's self-promotion. Not really for a more matured (not talking 'old' here)audience that is already comfortable in their own skin, but are just looking for inspiration for an "image makeover" out of the soccer-mom lifestyle.
   Overall, I came away feeling that Kimora was highly calculative and probably thinks most of her readers were easy to manipulate and that she either didnt care about giving us much, or that she is rather shallow, having lacked experience and maturity to offer us much.

3 comments about The Beading Answer Book.

1. I have been beading for ten years and have LOTS of books, but this is the best one ever. It has everything a beader needs to master techniques and understand beading "lingo". And in addition to all the great stuff inside is the size and quality of the book. It is small, portable, and extremely well made to stand up to years and years of use.



2. Who knew Friskars kids scissors are THE best way to cut fireline? I got this from the library to preview, read 1/2 of it the 1st night, decided to buy it and then showed it to the owner of my fave beading store who decided to carry it. The owner and I both gleaned some new knowledge and got interested in new things. That says a lot with us. This was written by a woman who owns a beading store herself and teaches classes, so she knows all those questions ALL levels seem to ask, and has seen the shortcomings common to so many beading books. She decided to distill her knowledge into a very accessible and well-organized book that is a breezy read but information dense. It seems I usually find books that tell me things I need to know but had to learn the hard way before I find the book. Read this before you read anything else on beading and BEFORE you buy any more beads, supplies or tools.



3. Loved it!! A great little book with terrific answers to all of my beading quandries...and I really like the illustrations too. Sophisticated enough for an experienced beader, but still accessible to beginners like me.

No comments about Maria Sibylla Merian and Daughters: Women of Art and Science.

No comments about Detail In Typography.

5 comments about A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition is a treasure for those -- like me -- who love this Christmas classic. It is a great "behind the scenes look" that includes photos of the cast of characters whose voices are so familiar. Give it as a gift to the "Peanuts Fan" in your life.
   Philip D. Halfacre
   Author, Genuine Friendship



2. While we've been treated to many Charles Schulz documentaries and remembrances over the years, "A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition" is the first book to focus on the first Peanuts' television special. The book includes in-depth interviews with producer Lee Mendelson, animator Bill Melendez, and Vince Guaraldi's children. This book is the ultimate backstage pass to the recording studio, with interviews with the original child actors who voiced the characters and sang on Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here." As a bonus treat, the script and original animation art round out the book.



3. I loved this book! It has material for every fan of the famous TV special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I may not be musical, but if you are, this book includes the music. I am fond of the discussions of the people involved in creating the production of the TV show and the script. I will be using the script in my classroom for Reader's Theatre. The book has a lot of material that has meaning for me personally. I was young when this special was shown on television and it was always one of my favorites. The book was not a disappointment to read and own. I am very glad I bought it.



4. "Charlie Brown Christmas" is the crown jewel of Christmas specials. Heavy on holiday introspection, but with the dry wit and humor you'd come to expect from Charles Schulz's creations.
   
   "A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition" just expands that experience, by outlining how the famed special came to be -- the music, the animation, the voice acting, even the advertisement to get people to watch it. It's a charming, nostalgic little book, and a good accompaniment.
   
   "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was spun up quickly, when Coca Cola wanted a Christmas special in less than a week -- and Charles Schulz's lovable loser Charlie Brown seemed to be the ticket. But the special was made very differently from other cartoons -- 2-D animation, no laugh track, uncutesy kids, and (horrors!) a jazz soundtrack. It was doomed to fail, they said.
   
   Well, instead it became a booming hit, and has been running every December ever since. Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez reminisce in here about the much-loved Charles Schulz, and about Vince Guaraldi, who made the distinctive piano soundtrack, and why it's so beloved -- it dares to approach holiday ennui and commercialization, then dashes it away with Linus' description of Christmas' meaning.
   
   As for the "making of" portion, there are storyboards, musical scores, test photos, clips of television reviews, and rare photos like Melendez and Schulz doing the football gag. Finally, there is the entire script of the special, framed by colourful stills from the cartoon.
   
   You couldn't wring this much information from most half-hour animated specials, no matter how much fun they were. But it's a bit different with "Charlie Brown Christmas." It was so completely unusual -- and has proved to be so timeless -- that a book on the making of it, and its effect, seems completely right.
   
   It's a very conversational, reminiscent book. It feels like sitting in a room with Melendez and Mendelson, listening to them reminisce about "Sparky." And we also get input from other people involved in the project, such as Christopher Shea (Linus), who talks about his famous "Second Chapter of Luke" speech, as well as odd bits of trivia (the little girl playing Sally had to be fed her lines).
   
   The Christmas special is more than able to stand on its own, but "Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition" is a wonderful accompaniment. Full of interesting tidbits and history.



5. This is the ultimate companion to the tv show. The art work is from the original show and the dialogue is a great bonus! The book is also packed with great trivia and information about the decisions "behind stage" that led to the creation of the ultimate Christmas Special.