5 comments about 2007 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market (Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market).

1. If you want to be a children's creative, get this book. It is an invaluable resource. (It's the key to my getting my book published.)



2. A fabulous tool for those who want to be a childrens book author. Alot of info about the publishing companies, what they are looking for , if they accept unsolicited work etc... A wonderful and useful book, recommended for anyone trying to break into that genre of work.



3. What is our obsession in the industry for dead tree? Sure, it is great to hold a book in your hand, but why must I lug around many pounds of books for essential reference when I would happily pay the same amount for locked PDF?
   
   I am mobile right now, moving from Europe to Asia to America. Lugging this book around is not fun.
   
   Pleasseee, get over the obsession with killing trees and provide a PDF option.



4. This is a great resource. It lists lots of publishers and details about them.



5. 
   This book is instrumental in providing much needed information regarding the childen's writing and publishing industry. It is a must for all writer's of children's literature. There is a ton of information in it to guide you as the writer/author to submit your manuscript to the appropriate publisher. You can find exactly what you are looking for in this wonderful book.
   Cheryl A. Martin, M.A. Author of "Woman Reclining"Woman Reclining

4 comments about Print, Pattern & Colour.

1. Excellent overview of various print methods as well as visual stimulus
   to create your own designs.



2. Ruth's enthusiasism for color and textiles comes through on every page. Her specific advice and instructions make one get into the workroom right away and start experimenting.



3. Print, Pattern & Colour
   
   I have quite a few books on surface design, dyeing and so on, but found this book well worth buying, unlike the previous reviewer. After all, how many NEW techniques are there? The photos are sumptuous and eyecatching, techniques are well-summarised, and there were ideas in there that I haven't tried before. A good buy as far as I'm concerned.



4. Disappointing - no real eye candy or new approaches. Processes have been around for a while and their application, as demonstrated by the images in the book, are pretty ordinary. I liked previous books by this author but think this one is a waste of my funds.

3 comments about 361 Full-Color Allover Patterns for Artists and Craftspeople (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. The images are beautiful but purposely skewed. I have to do alot of creative work in photoshop to use them.



2. I'd suggest to buy this title for people who make handcraft objects in order to take many ideas about decoration.



3. This book is a great additon to the library of all paper crafters and rubber stampers. It makes creating collages and artwork so much more convenient--just sit back and browse through 361 full color background patterns, and best of all they are all copyright-free! The author offers a delightful variety of colors and styles, inspirations from the 15th through the 20th century. It looks like some were taken from fabric, and even have a textural quality. With simply the use of a color copier or better yet a scanner, you will have no limit to your imagination and creativity.

3 comments about Zen Brushwork: Focusing the Mind with Calligraphy and Painting.

1. After studying Calligraphy here in Switzerland for a couple of years, I was looking for information beond the "technical" side of the calligraphie. In the book of Tanchu Terayama, I found importand and excellent explantions about the ZEN line, detailled and step by step instructions for the warming up. All informations are written in a clear way, so I was able to enjoy every single page and got a lot of inspirations.



2. Excellent book about Shodo, japanese art of calligraphy. Antique and Terayama sensei's pictures are superb, great election.
   Excelente libro sobre Shodo, el arte de la caligrafía japonesa. Las pinturas, tanto las antiguas como las del propio maestro Terayama, son increibles, una gran elección.



3. Ably translated into English by Thomas F. Judge and John Stevens, Zen Brushwork: Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting by Tanchu Terayama (Nishogakusha University) uses black-and-white photography to illustrate simple exercises and practices that one can follow to expand one's mind and meditation skills through the arts of calligraphy and painting -- especially as they have been practiced in Asian nations for thousands of years. Showcasing works of art as well as advice and practical instructions, Zen Brushwork is a thoughtfully written and an easy-to-follow guide that especially recommended to students of meditation, Zen Buddhism, and the contemplative aspects of the martial arts.

5 comments about The Triumph of Individual Style : A Guide to Dressing Your Body, Your Beauty, Your Self.

1. I bought this book "The Triumph of Individual Style" because a friend was excited about it. Her talk struck my curiosity, so I ordered it. Once I received it, I looked through the whole book and I lost interest right away.
   It must be the most useless thing someone suggested. It might be good for someone who has absolutely no eye for beauty and balance. I would rate it 0 (zero) if there was a zero star to add, but since there is not one, I have rated 1.



2. This book is for the experienced Fashion and Image Consultant that want the theory behind creating image and beauty.



3. I am a fashion designer who was looking for some good resource books to help with figure-appropriate designs. I came across this book after a long search and thought I had found gold. Unfortunately, it was not what I expected. I was really disappointed with the line sketches used to explain clothing choices and found those designs to be VERY outdated- especially considering the second printing was in 2002. For example, I could not disagree more with the advice for rectangular-shaped women- that they should opt for sack dresses that ignore the waist, rather than trying to create one.
   The chapters on jewlery choices and color charts were equally useless.
   I would not recommend this book to any fashion designer looking for figure-flattering design elements. "Dress Your Best" by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly is by far a better choice- especially considering the price.



4. This bok with it`s beautiful drawings adds dimension to it`s material. This is a must for people who want to look their best and also a great book for clothing designers as weel as image consultants.



5. I found this book six years ago in the libarary. I took copious notes from it over the next few years I checked it out. I finally purchased it and with every reading get more tips for style. I wish I had purchased it sooner.
   I sew and it has proven valuable for things like selecting prints, woking with fabric texture, and determining hemline, waistline and neckline lengths and widths. Other books tell me what to do to achieve an effect, but this one tells me why.
   I am exploring style and trying to develop more creativity in my sewing. I think this is the best guide around for that purpose. It also would have been a good companion for my "Dress for Success" efforts a few decades ago.

2 comments about 1,000 Icons, Symbols, and Pictograms: Visual Communications for Every Language (1000 Series).

1. The 1000 series is good pictorial reference however if you're looking for
   written content this is not the book for you. There are two opening paragraphs and
   that is it. I expected more informed content.



2. Typically, I'm very hard to impress when it comes to books. However, this book really made me raise my eyebrows (in a good way) and gave me a lot of inspiration as it relates to visual queues and labeling. I think this book, and really, any book published by Rockport Publishers is decent to look into purchasing. In addition to this book, I highly recommend reviewing the RockPort book entitled "Universal Principles of Design" by William Tidwell.

5 comments about The Hanna-Barbera Treasury.

1. On of the trends among higher end collector's books over the past couple of years have been to pack them with all sorts of extra treasures and trinkets. I guess since if DVD's have extra features, why not books as well. The latest such book is Insight Editions' The Hanna-Barbera Treasury which spotlights the legendary animation company with a look at their history, its many famous cartoons and characters, and including all types of interesting memorabilia.
   
   The studio was formed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera in 1944 as they worked for the MGM studios producing the Tom & Jerry series of cartoons. The HB animation of that time period easily rivals the best animation being produced by Disney or Warner Brothers and the Tom & Jerry cartoons still hold up well sixty years later. But what really made HB great was their embrace of the new medium of television, and their realization that they had to sacrifice some quality to remain profitable. Many animation studios folded in the 1950's when it became so cost prohibitive to produce cartoons.
   
   Hanna-Barbera decided to start stressing characters over animation. It gave them a bit of an undeserved bad rap from animation snobs who frowned upon their repetitive animation techniques. But, simply put, they did what they had to do to remain profitable and as a result, created some of the most memorable characters in animation history. Even Disney cannot boast as many notable characters as the HB studio. The book takes a look at two dozen of their most famous characters in chronological order, beginning with Tom & Jerry in the 1940's. The history and creation of each show is covered with all sorts of interesting stories and anecdotes. Rare photos of period merchandise are also pictured as well as those "extras" I spoke of earlier.
   
   The studio's most prolific period was the 50's and 60's and leading things off was that irresistible, laid-back pooch, Huckleberry Hound. Huck was literally the first prime time cartoon star, often rating in the top 10 TV shows in many cities. Huck also produced the first animated spin-off series, Yogi Bear. The extras in this section are reproductions of puzzle cards, which reflect Huck's many different occupations.
   
   Yogi Bear appeared on the Huckleberry Hound show in 1957 and got his own TV show in 1961, and his own big screen theatrical film "Hey There, it's Yogi Bear" in 1964. You'll see early production sketches of the character which vary fairly radically from the finished product. The Yogi section comes packed with a mini, facsimile coloring book.
   
   The 1960's was simply incredible for the Hanna-Barbera studio. The 60's saw the birth of characters such as Snagglepuss, The Jetson's, The Flintstones, Top Cat, Jonny Quest, Atom Ant, Birdman, Space Ghost, and Wacky Races.
   
   The Flintstones remain one of the great pop culture Icons of the 60's, with a plethora of mass-merchandising products, everything from books to toys and comic books to vitamins. The Flintstones section includes a repro animation cell, sketch guides, and more puzzle cards.
   
   The 70's saw the rise of perhaps the studios most popular and enduring character, Scooby Doo! It's also here that the book unfortunately concludes. This is the one drawback to the book. The 70's featured a lot of memorable characters who are omitted: Hong Kong Phooey, Captain Caveman, Josie & the Pussycats, and Dynomutt are all left out of the book. The Hanna-Barbera Treasury is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to all their shows but rather a spotlight on their biggest stars. While I would have liked to have seen more coverage of the 1970's, hopefully this means there will eventually be a volume 2.



2. GREAT Vintage look at HANNA-BARBERA and the BEST H-B book out there. I am possibly doing the RANKIN/BASS TREASURY with the same publisher! EXCELLENT QUALITY!



3. The Hanna Barbera Treasury
   
   The team of Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera are legends in the animation industry. Their production of Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, the Flintstones, Johnny Quest, Magilla Gorilla, Top Cat, Huckelberry Hound, Space Ghost, Hong Kong Fooey, The Jetsons and Wacky Races over three decades has branded any H-B Production with a quality few can achieve.
   
   Animation industry expert, Jerry Beck, has compiled an impressive...no, a very impressive tome that celebrates the achievments of the H-B Studio. Insight Editions, as their previous books attest, have collaborated enthusiastically and the result is stunning! Every page is a testament to the creativity the team was able to capture on celluloid. Even the first page, with a collage of Jetsons, Huckleberry Hound, Jetsons, Yogi Bear, and Flintstones with postcard style art cards is indicative of the care taken.
   
   Mr Beck provides a short biography of the pair to start the book off, and from there, it's all entertainment and side trips down memory lane. I love the Noah's Ark mural on page 15 that includes all of their characters. The negative shots are pretty cool too. A short discussion of the process of animation is included as well as a fascinating discussio of the voice actors behind the faces.
   
   That is just the warm up act. The rest of the book winds up to 10,000 rpm and keeps on humming with feature sections on each character/show the studio created. Licensed goods, animation art, and rare images of the characters themselves decorate the pages and book. Intelligent design is the keyword for the sections as imaginative fold outs, paste ins and mini coloring books add the cool factor to the whole book. There are animation cels, stickers, postcards, coloring books, playing cards, how to build your dream home, story boards, a mini comic book, and a mask. I had to tell myself...I am an adult...I am an adult...
   
   I cannot praise the book enough, nor verbalize my appreciation of Mr Beck's research and presentation. Give this book and Insight Editions an award NOW!
   
   Look for it at your favorite bookstore or online at [...].
   
   Tim Lasiuta
   
   Yabba Dabba Doo



4. One of the reviews for this book said this and I quote: "Nice to Look At, But There Are MANY Factual Errors" What a line of Bull. I am also a Hanna Barbera fan. If a reviewer is going to make such a stupid comment, then, WHY DIDN'T HE BACK IT UP WITH FACTS IN HIS REVIEW!!!
   
   The second negative comment and I quote is..."Great Looking- Short on entertainment". After making the statement short on entertainment he or she went on to explain all the entertaining segments this book has.
   
   If the reviewers are going to down anything related to THE HANNA BARERA TREASURY, at least supply the readers with facts and not fantasy and incorrect information.
   
   Man, am I angry...This is one of the most entertaining books on cartoons and the life and times of two cartoon icons...Hanna and Barbera were the best. I'll end with this question. Who in today's world of cartoons without using CGI or Computer technology could ever accomplish what these two geniuses' did. Even Walt Disney didn't have that luxury in his time. As a footnote Disney's work was the best, however, as a human being during the time he lived he gave the impression of a racist. Just look at the old tapes of the "MICKEY MOUSE CLUB". You won't find ethnic diversity in any of Disney's early works. In fact many of his cartoons during his life are banned, as they should be. Some of Disney's most disturbing early works even had a step 'N' fetched theme. Thank goodness times have changed and the Disney enterprise realized Walt's shortcomings. Research Walt Disney for yourself and you'll see I am not making this up. Come on...Prove me wrong!!!
   
   Hanna-Barbera NEVER... AND I MEAN NEVER HAD A RACIAL SLUR, COMMENT, OR CARTOON PRODUCTION IN ANY OF THEIR WORK.



5. This is a book that is kind of cool if you like Hanna Barbara artwork. It's filled with great drawings, and images of various Hanna Barbara merchandise. One really cool aspect of this book is that many of the pages have some sort of pull-out "something-or-other" including mini reproductions of Hanna Barbara comics, coloring books, storyboards, model sheets, and even masks.
   
   The only problem with this book is that other than the artwork, the book is useless. It is filled with text, but mostly that text is used to give you a brief summary of the various Hanna Barbara cartoons. I'm sorry but I already know the premise of Yogi Bear, but the book treats you like you've never hear of these cartoons. Couldn't they have used that space to give us interesting facts about the production of these cartoons?
   
   If you are expecting anything more than just a pretty book to pull out now and then, don't buy this book.

2 comments about Haeckel's Art Forms from Nature CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art).

1. The book is all that it says it is. The images are beautiful but all in all they are pretty low quality.



2. The illustrations in this book are a wonder for the eyes. The biologist who did the illustrations was more than a scientist, but also an artist. These images can be found on the web in many places, but the benifit to buying the book is to have the quality printed pages and a disk for easy use.

2 comments about Chinese Calligraphy: An Introduction to Its Aesthetic and Technique, Third Revised and Enlarged Edition.

1. The book deals with the traditional art of Calligraphy from both a philosophical and an aesthetic point of view and uses numerous examples for the serious student of Chinese Calligraphy. It is written in a lively and informed manner that will stimulate the reader's imagination and appreciation of the art of Calligraphy and its masters throughout history. It is the #1 book in the field.



2. I feel that Mr. Chiang Yee's book provides an excellent introduction to the art of Chinese Calligraphy as well as to the idiosyncrasies of Chinese aesthetics. However, it is an old book, and it constantly dates itself. There is more than a touch of "orientalism" in this book, and Mr. Yee presents China the way it would be seem to a Westerner a half century ago, as a mysterious place, a dark "other" with incomprehensible mystic traditions that stand in sharp contrast to the bright and carefully delineated West. For example, he makes the assertion several times through the book that a person's appearance and personality can be gauged by their calligraphy style. Analyzing Emperor Hui Tsung's calligraphy Yee reveals to us that the emperor was "a well-built handsome figure." Of course, as this particular emperor died nearly 1800 years ago, there is absolutely no way to empirically refute or support his claims. Of course, we can't forget that modern China is not a land of dragons and mystics. It is a nuclear power, and a burgeoning economic superpower. However, with that one caveat in mind, I would still heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Chinese calligraphy or aesthetic traditions.

1 comments about The Art of Saint John's Bible: A Reader's Guide to Pentateuch, Psalms, Gospels and Acts.

1. Featuring rich color photography, The Art of Saint John's Bible: A Readers Guide to Pentateuch, Psalms, Gospels and Acts is a beautiful tour of illuminated Biblical text in the first three published volumes of "The Saint John's Bible": Pentateuch, Psalms, and Gospels and Acts. The text examines specific illuminations with all the fine attention to detail, history, and context worthy of museum pieces, while the copious color pictures reveal the wondrous detail of visual elements and textual treatments. Highly recommended for church libraries as an aide to more deeply experiencing and understanding illuminated biblical text.