Great Price Spring Arbor/Ingram for $3.49

I, Juan de Pareja Review

I just dipped back into this wonderful book, which I first read when I was around 10 or 11 years old, and have re-read four or five times over the years. As a piece of literature, the writing is exquisite, evocative and intelligent while remaining accessible to younger readers. Historically, the author's careful research enabled her to build a beautiful tale that is imaginative while remaining faithful to the time period and to what little is known about Valazquez and Pareja. She also weaves in references which I didn't always catch the first time around but which made for rewarding re-reading, such as the side trip to Cremona, Italy to search out "a family of renowned makers of violins." Thematically, the book addresses such weighty topics as art, truth, slavery, longing, friendship with thoughtfulness and gentleness. And it all comes together in the voice of narrator Juan de Pareja, who along with the other main characters emerges so vividly from the pages as he recounts the story of his life.

This book also inspired me to learn more about Velazquez and his art, and while my appreciation of paintings remains sadly stunted, thanks to this read I have always sought out V.'s paintings when they are exhibited in museums, and when in Barcelona I made sure to feast my eyes upon Picasso's Las Meninas (which honor V.'s work of the same name). That, to me, is one of the greatest accomplishments of a work of historical fiction: enabling an otherwise ignorant reader like me to develop some understanding of a time and place and encouraging him/her to delve deeper.

I highly recommend this delightful read!

I, Juan de Pareja Feature

• ISBN13: 9780312380052
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

I, Juan de Pareja Overview

When the great Velázquez was painting his masterpieces at the Spanish court in the seventeenth century, his colors were expertly mixed and his canvases carefully prepared by his slave, Juan de Pareja. In a vibrant novel which depicts both the beauty and the cruelty of the time and place, Elizabeth Borton de Treviño tells the story of Juan, who was born a slave and died an accomplished and respected artist.
     Upon the death of his indulgent mistress in Seville, Juan de Pareja was uprooted from the only home he had known and placed in the charge of a vicious gypsy muleteer to be sent north to his mistress’s nephew and heir, Diego Velázquez, who recognized at once the intelligence and gentle breeding which were to make Juan his indispensable assistant and companion—and his lifelong friend.
     Through Juan’s eyes the reader sees Velázquez’s delightful family, his working habits and the character of the man, his relations with the shy yet devoted King Philip IV and with his fellow painters, Rubens and Murillo, the climate and customs of Spanish court life. When Velázquez discovers that he and Juan share a love for the art which is his very life, the painter proves his friendship in the most incredible fashion, for in those days it was forbidden by law for slaves to learn or practice the arts. Through the hardships of voyages to Italy, through the illnesses of Velázquez, Juan de Pareja loyally serves until the death of the painter in 1660.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics)
• The Second Mrs. Gioconda
• Shadow of a Bull
• The Shakespeare Stealer
• The Samurai's Tale

Customer Reviews

Slow - Suzyqhomemaker -
I found the book to be a bit boring. I like to purchase historical books for my teens that will supplement their history lessons, in hopes to expand their joy of reading. I think this book will dampen it. I am looking for an alternative.






I absolutely LOVE this book! - Brown-Eyed Girl - Sacramento, CA
I was forced to read it for school when I was in junior high, and I am still so glad about that. The writing was so descriptive that after I finished it I felt as though I had just seen a movie of it.

This is one of the 3 best books I have ever read. Read this book.



Surprisingly Good, A Charming Story - brownie - ca
I, Juan de Pareja,is a historical fiction novel by Elizabeth Borten de Trevino. Juan's story is brilliantly told and wind's it's way from Juan growing up to Juan as an adult. Born into slavery(yes, that means the book does get pretty depressing sometimes) Juan has to find his way to his new Master's house, after his old Mistress dies of the plague. Along the way he is beat up by a gyspy, find friends with monks, and get's a jop as an assistent baker, and thats not even to the fourth chapter. The book describes most of Juan's life with his Master, who is a painter. Juan desperatly wants to paint, but alas, he can't, since he is a slave. Trevino does a great job making it a truly great book, although it does often get boring in places, which is why I only give it 4 out of 5 stars. But it does get a Grade: B+.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 30, 2010 23:40:05

Great Price for $14.99

Coin Collecting for Kids Review

I purchased this book as a birthday gift for each of my grandsons ages 8 and 11. They loved it and have been saving their money like crazy just so they can put the coins in the book. I thought that after a couple of months the novelty would wear off, but it hasn't.

I originally ordered this book along with a book for the statehood quarters. But when I got the package, I was delightfully surprised to see that this book was so big, and it had spaces for all the state quarters too, in addition to spaces for the new presidential dollars, pennies, coins for the child's birth year, oldest coins, rare coins, and so much more. I returned the other book because everything was already included in Coin Collecting for Kids. It is easily worth double of what I paid for it. It is very educational and instructive, and it makes coin collecting a lot of fun.

After seeing how much the boys love this book, my two granddaughters (ages 5 and 7) want to start coin collecting too, so I'm ordering one for each of them.

Coin Collecting for Kids Overview

A colorful, kid-friendly book to introduce children to a lifelong hobby, Coin Collecting for Kids encourages children to search for, save, and learn all about many different U.S. coins. Take a tour through the mint and save pennies from four different decades while learning about how coins are made. Slots on every page let kids collect birth-year coins, millennium coins, and twentieth-century coins. Lastly, a gatefold spread will accommodate all 50 wildly popular statehood quarters. Organized by release year, each slot lists the state's nickname, motto, flower, and bird.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Lincoln Cents Folder Starting 1975 (Official Whitman Coin Folder)
• Coin County: A Bank in a Book
• State Series Quarters Collector Map
• Lincoln Cents Folder #2, 1941-1974
• Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set

Customer Reviews

Great Book for Kids - Sylvia Neely - Michigan
Gave this book for my 8 yr old daughter for Christmas. She loves it! My other daughter who wasn't as interested when I originally go it is also very into and now I have to get another book.



Awesome! - Petra Aakesson - San Diego, CA USA
This book is way better than it looks in the pictures. Both my 5-year old and 10-year old love it. And they learn the states and presidents while collecting all the different coins. I would absolutely recommend this book.



Informational, but a few product flaws - CA/NJ - Wayne, NJ
I bought this book for my 11 year old, who was just starting to collect coins. It covers the basic areas of collecting, but some of the coin slots were too small and wouldn't hold the coins, so they constantly fall out. In the dollar coin section the slots were nowhere near big enough. In the State quarter section it is missing the territorial quarters, such as Guam, Puerto Rico and others. Consequently, any coins that don't fit or stay in the book my son is keeping in a jar and looking for another place to display them.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 30, 2010 12:40:05

Great Price for $3.23

How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms and Homophones? (Words Are Categorical) Review

My 6-year-old son loves this book. I would have given this book five stars, but for the typography; the font is a little too wacky for beginning readers.

"How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?" is written in fun and engaging rhyme, with quirky and creative illustrations by Brian Gable. Homonyms and homophones are combined in silly yet perfectly understandable sentences --

A SIOUX might not SUE if he KNEW that the GNU that he bought wasn't NEW like you said.

-- which make this book not only a great teaching tool, but also a very fun read. I'm looking forward to checking out the other titles in this series.

How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms and Homophones? (Words Are Categorical) Feature

• ISBN13: 9780822567103
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms and Homophones? (Words Are Categorical) Overview

This accessible, lighthearted look at language introduces homonyms and homophones. Playful rhymes and comical cartoons make both concepts memorable. Each corresponding pair of homonyms and homophones is printed in color for easy identification. At the end, readers are challenged to apply what they've learned - and they'll have fun doing so.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What Is a Synonym? (Words Are Categorical)
• Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym? (Words Are Categorical)
• I And You And Don't Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun? (Words Are Categorical)
• Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk: What Are Similes and Metaphors? (Words Are Categorical)
• Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is An Adverb? (Words Are Categorical)

Customer Reviews

Great gift for Teachers - Darlene Seeman -
This is a really creatively written book that kids will enjoy. It will help those having confusion with the English language on the different meanings of same words in a fun manner. Great gift idea for teachers who are just starting out or have been teaching for a long time.



Girl's Like Spagetti - Venna Sanderson - Utah
Everyone in the family enjoyed this book. Great art work to help the little ones visualize the content. Very funny.



Homonyms! - TeacherMommy - pearland, texas United States
Excellent book for all language arts teachers in primary and middle schools (use for review). This is another book in Cleary's series and it gets the job done! Excellent springboard book to focus the students!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 30, 2010 07:51:03

Great Price for $5.08

Let's Be Friends: A Workbook to Help Kids Learn Social Skills & Make Great Friends Review

I am a psychologist and used this workbook in therapy so far with a boy who has Asperger's Syndrome. He enjoyed the activities and it was helpful for him. It would be good for other children with social skill problems that often occur with ADHD and depression.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

Customer Reviews

It's okay - M. Quinn -
This book has some helpful activities for kids, but it's a bit simplistic at times.



Great series - Kelly Tarr -
I really like this series of workbooks for kids. It is a concrete way to help kids learn social skills, friendship qualities and every day life lessons in a fun way!






helpful - Mrs. Sarah Calder - australia
my girl is only eight but having a few issues with girls at a new school in a new country. hopefully it will give her some tools to use to help find a friend.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 29, 2010 21:50:04

Check Out English Grammar in Familiar Lectures for $15.65

English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Review

English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Overview

The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: English language; Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language; Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / General; Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / Grammar; Language Arts

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

Customer Reviews

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 29, 2010 08:00:06

Check Out Bloody Valentine (A Blue Bloods Novella (Int'l Paperback Edition)) for $7.99

Bloody Valentine (A Blue Bloods Novella (Int'l Paperback Edition)) Review

Bloody Valentine (A Blue Bloods Novella (Int'l Paperback Edition)) Overview

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods, Book 5)
• Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, Book 6)
• Keys to the Repository
• The Fledgling Handbook 101 (House of Night Novels)
• Ghost Town (Morganville Vampires, Book 9)

Customer Reviews

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 27, 2010 16:00:07

Great Price for $19.99

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There Review

My first exposure to this classic children's story was when I watched the 1951 Disney version, "Alice in Wonderland." I remember as a kid, loving it, but actually feeling a bit scared by it. As a kid, I was actually pretty terrified of the idea of falling through a rabbit hole, and getting lost all by myself, in a strange land. Add in the scary character of the Queen of Hearts, and I swore to myself, never to wander off around alone, as a strange rabbit might appear and force me to follow him! I had a pretty wild imagination when I was a child. It's bad, because this often is the cause of my nightmares.
I decided to lay off the whole "Alice in Wonderland" scene, and promised never to read the book. I didn't break this promise for years! Until now. In fact, I have only read Lewis Carroll's until just about a month ago. I know, it's a bit disappointing in my part that I have never read this, but what can I say.. a promise is a promise, right?
Review: First of all, I have to say, this is still one of those stories that have the most unforgettable characters ever made. Lewis Carroll created such whimsical characters such as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, the talking flowers, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and so many more. It's kind of amazing to say the least that all these unique characters all come from one story!
The best part though, in my opinion, coming from an adult reader, is the symbolism of this story. Almost all the characters play a part of something in real life -- a metaphor, in a way. The wordplay as well, are witty and clever. Both are done in an extremely subtle way, that most would overlook them. That is probably one of the reasons why this is a classic, and has been around for so long. I feel as though children, as this book was intended for, would see this as a fun book with fun characters. Adults, on the other hand, while they will still appreciate it for the same reasons, would also love this as it will challenge them, and teach them subtle messages, while bringing them back to their childhood all at once.
I highly recommend this novel to any reader, no matter how old or young they are. Do not miss it, as this is a timeless piece of literature that everyone should definitely read at least once.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There Overview

A chance encounter with a tardy rabbit sends young Alice into a dream-world of lunatic proportions in Alice in Wonderland, a witty and frequently bizarre satire of English social life. Equally entertaining for children and thought-provoking for adults, Alice was an immediate success upon its publication in 1865. Keep an eye out for Carroll's superb nursery-rhyme parodies, not to mention the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Whereas much of the first Alice novel centered around a card game, T

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There Specifications

"And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"

Taking to heart his charming, insatiably curious heroine's words, Lewis Carroll worked many long hours (days, months...) with illustrator Sir John Tenniel to create the most perfect pictures imaginable for what were to become instant classics: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. When thinking about Alice and her dreamy surrealistic adventures down the rabbit hole and behind the looking-glass, who can help picturing the golden-haired girl in her lilac dress and striped stockings, gazing up at the Cheshire Cat or arguing with Tweedledum and Tweedledee? Tenniel's drawings remained black and white for over 40 years until 1911, when eight prints in each book were hand colored. Now, for the first time, every remaining illustration has been colored, making these the first editions to feature all of the original art in full color. Traditionalists need not worry: colorist Diz Wallis colored proofs taken from Tenniel's carefully preserved woodblocks, remaining faithful to his original drawings. The beautiful tones of these new hardcover editions look as natural as can be; they could just as easily be from the 19th century. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Emma (Penguin Classics)
• Lady Chatterley's Lover (Penguin Classics)
• The Odyssey (Penguin Classics)
• Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics)
• Treasure Island

Customer Reviews

Alice's perfect worderland - Maria -
The book is fabulous. And has a great analisys before the story. about the story itself, I'm sthill reading :P it has Alice in Wonderland and a few more Alice's from Lewis Carrol.
Regarding its conditions, it arrived really quickly atending the distance and in great conditions.
A++++++++ seller.
Thank you.



Timeless Classic - Elizabeth - California, USA
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has always been one of my favorite novels. When I first read this novel, I wanted to go through the same thing Alice went through in the story. Following a rabbit, going down a rabbit hole, drinking a potion that makes you either larger or smaller, meeting such wonderful and strange creatures just seems as such an amazing and unforgettable experience.

This book is a must read novel for everyone, and it shall continue to be a timeless classic.






Cheaply-made volume - Samuel Thomsen -
I bought this volume because several of the reviews mentioned that there were illustrations by John Tenniel. Unfortunately I failed to read the small print: keep in mind that most of the reviews posted to this edition refer to other editions. The edition I bought was the CreateSpace paperback with the pink and white cover.

This particular edition has NO illustrations. It is also cheaply made -- the cover is flimsy and the binding is poor. Finally, the quotation-marks printed in this book are all straight, not curved -- as if it were typed up and printed from Wordpad.

I was not satisfied with this volume. There are other volumes that cost less and are of much higher quality, for example: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics)

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 26, 2010 04:05:30