My husband is in the military and I found this book when we found out he was going to Kuwait for six months. The message is beautiful and my husband and I cried together while reading it. Since my daughter is only 9 mos. old we wanted a way for her to think of her Dad every day. Each night we look at his photo and read this book. It's a special way for me to let her know that her daddy loves her and that he's coming home soon. This book is perfect for any family in a similar situation.

My son and I read this book almost every night when his daddy was traveling for weeks at a time. It was a very difficult time. I think that my son could relate to the little boy in the story on how much he missed his daddy. When a young boy is away from his father for a long period of time, he begins to wonder if his daddy still loves him and misses him. This book helps to ease those fears and that it is all going to be "ok". We are giving this book to two little boys that are my son's friends who are losing their daddy for 8 months while he fights this "War on Terrorism" with the Army in Egypt. We think that maybe this book will help them to come up with their own rituals while their daddy is gone and maybe help to ease their fears.

This is the kind of thing that's going to be read on Father's Day for a long time. A sweet story of a boy and his father and how difficult their separation is when dad has to go on a trip. I loved it.

I came across this book at the Dearborn Arab-American Festival, the largest Arab festival in North America. And I'm so glad I did. Vivid illustrations, and an engrossing storyline. Heide reveals a very realistic Cairo street life, unknown to most Western adults, and here very easy for kids to relate to through the eyes of the young child, Ahmed. I smiled as I read and saw different scenes, like the rose-water man, remembering walking through Cairo and seeing those very people. The scenes are gritty- not white-washed; yet also very relationally connected, with people caring for each other and showing true hospitality- kareem- the hallmarks of Cairo life. This child isn't a terrorist; it's a young child; it's real life. When he finally reveals his secret, it's the joy of a child first learning to read, just like any Western or American child. But he's also truly Egyptian- he presents his name in Arabic.

After we read this, I and the children in the library learned to write our names in Arabic, and then we *had* to get some rosewater ice cream, in order to fully immerse ourselves in the book. If you can get ahold of it, I would highly recommend!

An especially beautiful and thought-provoking book. The story transports us to Cairo, Egypt, where we are invited to observe a day in the life of a young Egyptian boy who sells gas canisters to help his family. A must read if you are interested in learning about other cultures, and about the lives of millions of children around the world. The authors capture the culture, a sense of the language (poetic), the spirit of the people, as well as their philosophy of life. We even get some idea of the geography and history of Egypt; and all of this in a children's book. This is truly an wholistic piece of work. The illustrator does a marvelous job of capturing the sights and colors of Cairo. I have been so impressed by this book as to have recommended it to countless students and teachers in the school system where I teach. I have even been moved to write and thank the authors, who graciously responded.

I love this book because it conveys better than any book I've seen the magic of the breakthrough to literacy. The excitement of this working class boy who will now embark upon a whole new world because he has the first tool captures a precious moment in every child's life - and all this is accomplished with a text and illustrations that are bright and alive.

Discourse on Colonialism was a serious eye opener. Cesaire made me think about all of the horrible out comes colonialization produced. It was one of the best non-novel books I've read in years.

This book was written before Fanon's "Black Skins, White Masks". Much of what Fanon did in his great debut is elaborate on Cesaire's work, add psychiatric aspects to it, and further explore the ideas of Cesaire.
Cesaire's denounciation of the West (both Europe and the US) is based on two pillars - one is the Western deeply racist and violent attitude towards the then colonized world, and the second is Cesaire's Marxist leanings.He mentions the Soviet Union in one short sentence as an example of a positive society - how were people misled by Stalinist Russia was a mystery. But in the forward by Robin Kelly we learn that Cesaire quit the communist party and denounced Stalinism as early as 1956.
Cesaire's strongest point is that French attitudes towards Africa (half a century ago !) bear a close resemblence to German Nazi attitudes towards Jews and other "inferior" people.
The forward by Robin Kelly and the interview with Cesaire at the end add a lot of subtance to this powerful but short essay.
This book is highly recommended to people who appreciate Fanon, and all those who wish to learn the roots of anti colonial philosophy.

As the previous reviewer (American) has stated this book is a powerful indictment of European colonialism. However, the author wrote this book in 1950s, the heyday of the independence movement against the 19th century European empires, i.e. Britain, France, Portugal, etc. and therefore that is its focus.

What is condemned here has also the epitome of U.S. policy and economic activity in the Third World for the last half century, so Americans should not think that this condemnation is about something other than many of the taken-for-granted policies of the American empire. The rhetorical tone of the book may ring as a bit dated to ears used to ignoring what goes on in minds and hearts not located in the First World, but the events of 9/11 may give them new relevance. One would hope so.

Historically this book was of great importance, and it deserves rereading today - especially in the U.S.

I will not add too much to what the other reviewers have opined on this magnificent book. It is gorgeously illustrated with superior photographs and interesting drawings and geographical overviews.

It is the perfect book to get anyone interested in the never-ending treasures to be found in Egypt. The large-format size and the several fold-outs only add to the many and varied pleasures to be found in this book.

Also, it is somewhat scholarly and has some very useful timelines and genealogies.

Highly recommended to all Egyptophiles and lovers of antiquity alike.

Tim Wingate, CANADA

i don't have this book yet. i have already told hubby that he's getting it for me for valentines. everytime i go into the bookstore, i take it off the shelf and spend about a half hour just leafing through it and looking at the pictures. if you are not sure whether you want to put out the money to buy this book, do yourself a favor and see if they have a copy at the bookstore and look through it. i know you'll be convinced that it's worth the price. i plan on ordering my book rather than buying it off the shelf. there are several fold out sections in the book and i want to make sure they are in good shape. the pictures of the temples and tombs in the book are great. also lots of maps. i admit, i'm an egyptology geek, but i think anyone who is interested in egypt will enjoy this book. if egypt is a hobby/passion, this book is a must have. i know it's a bit pricey, but you're payig for a book full of fantastic color photographs and you defintiely get what you are playing for. you get your money's worth with this book. my only regret is that i have to wait 6 weeks til i can have my copy in my hot lil' hands. :)

I first saw this book after a four-week trip to Egypt, where our travels included as much as we could see between the relocated monument Ramses II built in honor of himself at Abu Simbel to the vicinity of El-Qahira (Cairo) and its monuments and museums. This book is the one I have chosen to "keep my memories fresh" and share them with others- it is that good, and more. The illustrations are brilliant; the informative text is thorough and illuminating without being pedantic or burying the photos and drawings. I only wish the Cairo Museum had books as good as this one! If you love Egypt, this book will live an active life on your coffee table.

The sudden death of Tutankhamen stuns the nation of Egypt and the question is whether the boy king died of natural causes or whether there was indeed foul play. "Boy King Murdered?" is the banner headline for "The Egyptian News," a creative way of tricking students age 9 and up into learning about Ancient Egypt from 3000 to 1100 B.C. Other exciting stories included "A Soaring Success!" as Zoser's pyramid sets a new tomb trend, "Wrapping It Up!" an in-depth interview with the royal mummy maker, and "Let's Party!" a beginner's guide to fashionable feasting with the chariot set. You will find all the traditional forms of journalism, from news stories and interviews to editorials and advice columns, all of which provide young readers with information about the history of ancient Egypt. Chief Scribe Scott Steedman also includes dozens of ads for Egyptians who need to have a boat built, buy a new wig or new Senet set, or want a job as a district governor or lady's maid. Other volumes in the History News series include editions on the Romans, Greeks, Vikings and Aztecs, as well as news of the Stone Age, Medicine and Explorers. Of course, once students see how creatively "The Egyptian News" has been put together, they will probably want to undertake a project like this for some other period of history. The combination of information and creativity is certainly irresistible.

This book presented some events from Egypt's history in the form of newspaper articles. It was a very creative way to give children an introduction to Egyptian history. It presented lots of interesting informationa, and also some neat pictures. This book is good at sparking a greater interest in history in children while entertaining them at the same time.

As a homeschooling mom, I highly value books that inform my child about historical facts, while captivating them with exciting stories. I highly recommend this book as a supplement to any Egyptian studies. Written in "newspaper format", it is a joy to read aloud to my children. Using imaginative headlines and wonderful illustrations and photos, this book has definitely captured my child's attention. The plethora of historical facts presented are accurate and entertaining. I would recommend this book for children between the ages of 5-12.

Must add my praise for this book. Gorgeous colors in clear graphic designs plus various colorways so you can see what would happen if you use different colors. I get a feeling of generosity from the authors who obviusly love their craft and want to share it.

In addition to bold and unusual patterns, Mary Norden has an extremely good eye for colors. I use patterns and parts of patterns from this book all the time.

This book brings the beauty of the various international fabrics to your needlepoint canvas. It's not your grandmother's needlepoint - no cats or flowers, just bold and exciting designs with great color graphs and ideas. I highly recommend this book - I even ordered a copy for my sister although it was out-of-print.

Through a year as a journalist on the front lines of various African wars, Ian Stewart allows us into the person behind the byline -- the struggle to remain a detached observer while still remaining human, and then through the struggle for life and recovery itself after he is shot in the head while on assignment in Sierra Leone. While Stewart is the continuity from chapter to chapter, the stories that brought him to Africa in the first place are always front and centre. The background to each war zone is woven in, to ensure that while we are reading about his observations and struggles, we also are reading the stories that were (often) ignored by our daily papers in the first place. Stewart's writing style manages to turn what are sometimes very heavy, heart-wrenching and tragic events, into a fascinating read, one that is hard to put down. I definitely recommend this book.

This book gave me new insight into what makes journalists tick and a new understanding of African politics. I must admit to paying little attention before.
A thoroughly good read filled with moments of horror, excitement and humor.
The author offers us a glimpse of what it is like to suffer a brain injury and the road to recovery.
If you like adventure and human interest written in a crisp style this book is for you.
Looking forward to the next one.

Freetown Ambush offers a rare mixture of the excitement and adventure of "on the edge" journalism (and a sprinkle of travel writing), with cultural and personal sensitivity. The story Stewart tells of his year as a war correspondent and bureau chief for the Associated Press in West Africa takes us through horrors of war that most of us (thankfully) will never experience, but with an awareness that we (the public) need to know more than the events - we need to know the local people, and hear their voices. Stewart adds to this compelling mixture his own personal journey from surviving a rebel ambush that lodged a bullet in his brain, through recovery from brain injury and ultimately to reclaiming his life. Although the book educates us about "small African countries and distant wars" that most of the public doesn't know exist, in the end, the book inspires us to reclaim life, as Stewart, and the citizens of those far off countries do.

Cleopatra, a historical fiction book written by Polly Schoyer Brooks tells the story of how the beautiful, Egyptian queen Cleopatra used her elegance to pursue two powerful Roman leaders into helping her regain lost land and conquer more land for her Egyptian kingdom.

When I started reading this book I thought it would be more factual than was my liking. As the book went on it grew more and more exciting until at times I could not put it down. I enjoyed reading about Julius Caesar's relationship with Cleopatra. It was depressing though when Caesar was stabbed by some of his own subjects. After Caesar's death Cleopatra was greatly depressed until Mark Antony, one of Caesar's friends, came to her. She fell in love with him and they ruled Rome and Egypt together.

One of the most interesting parts was went Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Cleopatra's other powerful husband, were in battle against Octavius and his fleet. While some of their ships were on fire they secretly escaped on Cleopatra's royal barge and fled back to Alexandria.

The book got boring when Antony was off at battle and there was nothing for Cleopatra to do. It picked up pace though when Antony stabbed himself because Octavius had taken all his army. When Cleopatra heard that her beloved had killed himself she planned her own death. But did she follow out with this plan or did she meet another powerful Roman lover. You will have to read the book to find out.

This book is great for young or old to read. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about history but thinks those text books lack action and are way to boring.

I thought this book was absoutely fantastic! I loved this book because it tells the story of the queen's life in her own perspective. I also like this book because it tells a lot about Cleopatra.You see, I love ancient Egypt,and Cleopatra is my favorite Egyptian ruler. I love learning more and more about Cleopatra and ancient Egypt. This was possibly the best way I could do that. This is also preparing me for a career I want to do when I grow up. I want to be an Egyptologist. This was a great book.

I am in middle school, and I was doing a report on Cleopatra and this was the most helpful book that I found, and not only was it imformative, but it was fun to read. So, not only was this one of the most imformative books I have read, but it is also a good book. I loved this book and would reccommand it to any one at all.

A brilliant overview of Africa's abundant wealth, and a vital critique of the failed socialist policies which ruined Africa's economies.

Godfrey Mwakikagile should be commended for showing us that Africa is not an entirely hopeless continent. The main problem is its leaders, busy stealin'. And spending huge amounts of money on weapons to kill their own people, whom they also regularly starve into submission.

"Economic Development in Africa" is also an inspiring book. It should encourage us to unite and integrate our economies. As the author says, the continent has huge potential. But without economic integration, Africa will indeed be a hopeless continent.

There are, however, hopeful signs. In East Africa, we have the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (Tanzania), with problems of course, but enough proof that African countries can indeed unite. We also have revived the East African Comunity made up of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and there is serious talk of these countries forming a political union. In southern Africa is the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and in West Africa, ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which already has plans to introduce a common currency, the Eco, by 2004.

So, there is hope. And we need more books like "Economic Development in Africa," especially by our own African writers like Godfrey Mwakikagile, to encourage us and point in the right direction. We are already headed that way. But we need the right kind of leaders to go all the way.

As an African myself, I am both proud and ashamed of our continent, supposedly the richest yet poorest. Why are we in such a mess?

Godfrey Mwakikagile from neighboring Tanzania - I come from Zambia - provides some of the answers in his excellent study, "Economic Development in Africa." We have had bad leadership for decades since independence; we have pursued wrong policies; we have not fully used our potential; and we are hopelessly disunited, despite claims to the contrary, as we continue to pay lip service to regional integration and African unity on a continental scale.

There is no other continent so richly endowed in natural resources; and probably no other continent so fertile in different parts of this huge land mass, the second largest after Asia. It is estimated that there are four acres of arable land for every African; yet, on average, less than one acre is under cultivation. And tens of millions of Africans are starving or undernourished. Eating one meal a day is a luxury; one every other day, the norm for millions.

It is potentially the richest continent. But it is also the poorest, the most battle-scarred, disease-ridden, and least developed. This is also a continent where the people would not only be able to feed themselves; they would be able to feed fellow Africans in less endowed areas instead of seeking international relief. It is also a continent which used to export food in the thirties, forties and fifties. Now it imports even beans and maize which we can easily grow ourselves in abundance.

Even debt forgiveness won't do us much good unless our leaders are held accountable for their actions. Instead, they are busy stealing from us, depositing in foreign banks what should be used to develop our countries. They even steal foreign aid coming from donor nations. The masses hardly get anything. Forgiving poor countries is a good idea. But also remember who's being forgiven: the leaders for what they stole.

Make them return what they stole. Donor nations can make them do that because that's where our leaders hide the money, the gold and diamonds, they stole from us. That's also where they go to buy expensive merchandise. Don't let them in, and freeze their accounts. And tell them to stay where they are, in their countries, and work with their people to develop their countries.

Africa is not going to be developed by outsiders. We are the only people who can develop our continent. But we must have the right kind of leadership, and we must work together. The author makes a very strong case, and an impassioned plea, for regional integration without which Africa is doomed. That, alone, is good reason why African government officials should read "Economic Development in Africa" by Godfrey Mwakikagile, one of our most clear-headed writers and articulate Pan-African spokesmen on a continent being led astray by our leaders, many of them muddle-headed.

What struck me most about Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile's book, "Economic Development in Africa," is the vast amount of wealth the continent has: the minerals, agricultural products, the superbly fertile land in many parts of the continent, and much more...The unscrupulous nature of most African leaders is one of the highly volatile subjects the author addresses in his book. The book is also an excellent guide for those who don't know much about but want to invest in Africa. The focus is on sub-Saharan Africa where the author has examined the economic potential of every country, from crops to minerals. And as a textbook for development and comparative studies, it has rightfully earned its place in university libraries and on the shelves of economics and international relations professors.

But the book is equally important to members of the general public who want to know about the economic potential of the world's poorest continent. They'll find out that Africa is not really that poor. It is the leaders who have made it poor. And it is the leadership that must change in order for the continent to exploit its full potential for the benefit of all its people. They have suffered enough. And Godfrey Mwakikagile makes that clear. African leaders should, at least, have the decency to concede that much.

I used this field guide during my recent trip to Kenya and Uganda. Although it is by all means an excellent fieldguide I do have some remarks. A number of the plates contained errors, suggesting the artists didn't see these birds in the field. I realise it is virtually impossible for artists to see all species featured in a book such as this in the field, so that a lot of plates are drawn from skins. It is important however to use skins from the region itself, this may make a lot of difference. We came to the conclusion that for a number of species skins from west Africa were used. Especially the greenbuls had some misleading plates. For a number of species the Kenyan Zimmerman-book is probably better, although those plates lack in other respects.
In addition a number of the maps were incorrect, especially for Uganda.
Still, if you go to the region for birding, make sure to get this book, because it is definitely the best field guide around.

This book really sets a very high standard and we can only hope other parts of the world's tropics will get similar guides in due time. The plates are just about as superb as one could possibly wish for. When you compare this book with the new field guides that have recently come out for South America, it seems like there are two worlds! Just compare the flamingos, the osprey, or the parrots with the pictures you find in "The Field Guide to the Birds of Peru" and you know what I mean! There is also an excellent lay-out, with helpful concise text and useful range maps all neatly placed together. And the book is still amazingly compact.

After years of having one of the world's worst bird books, East Africa now has two of the best. The Zimmerman/Turner book on Kenya and Northern Tanzania, the work of 30 years, set a new standard of scholarship and illustration. This book draws on that one, but is even better for the tourist and field birder. It covers all of Uganda and Tanzania, as well as Rwanda and Burundi. It is smaller and lighter to carry. And the illustrations and their placement in related groups on the same page are simply outstanding. This is one of the best bird books in the world and will dominate the market for years to come.