Chris Van Allsburg - The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

Pros: wonderful artwork, great story starters

Cons: there never was a Harris Burdick...

The Bottom Line: A collection of outstanding artwork to inspire creativity.

Review: I vividly remember the first time I was introduced to an unreliable narrator. I had bought The Princess Bride, the novel, figuring that as much as I loved the movie, I might like the book even better. I read with interest William Goldman's ...

Pros: Detailed, haunting illustrations will remain in your head for days.

Cons: None.

The Bottom Line: This beautiful and mysterious picture book will inspire even the most unimaginative to create stories and worlds in their minds.

Review: You walk into a bedroom. At first nothing seems amiss; a cool summer breeze wafts through the window, lifting and fluttering the filmy curtains. Everything is orderly and the top of the dresser is polished to an efficient shine. Then you notice the...

Pros: amazing, attention-keeping and inspiring illustration, perfect for use as a creative writing tool

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: More for the older elementary grades and up, this picture book will leave you wondering, as well as wishing there was more!

Review: The following statement is the most important of this entire review:

No words have the power to effect the scope of imagination that went into the making of this book nor can they offer enough in the way of insight into the boundless...

Pros: beautiful, gorgeous, awe-inspiring, wondrous

Cons: there is no sequel

The Bottom Line: A truly novel picture book to add to your collection. As beautiful as it can be inspiring for young writers.

Review: The past 11 months have found me back in college in pursuit of a college degree. As my goal is to be a teacher I have spent time in the Fall '07 semester spending time observing a 4th grade classroom. When I have the gift of downtime I peruse the ...

Pros: Where can your imagination take you? This book will help you get there.

Cons: What might have been is lost to history.

The Bottom Line: Will you soar to heaven? Will you burn in hell? Here is how you can find your own way.

Review: Some mysteries will never be solved. That's fitting. The human race must have something to humble its arrogance with. Some questions have no answers. Some things just are. If you are not afraid of things that are not neatly tied up in a package...