High-Speed Digital Design: A Handbook of Black Magic

Customer Reviews:

high speed circuit layout techniques.......2006-05-21

I bought this book based on a friend's recommendation seven years ago. I have used this book along with Henry Ott's book as a desk top reference for the past seven years.

Not the final word by any means, but a good introduction.......2006-05-02

Add Johnson and Graham to the list of people who can write large, highly technical books full of useful, pertinent information, and package it all in a way that's mostly very readable and which mixes just the right blend of rigorous academic structure with good old-fashioned "when all else fails, you might get away with this" hacks. This book is by no means a thorough, academic grounding in the subject matter, but it works well as an introduction for people who have some background in conventional electronics, yet little or no background in the specifics of high-speed digital design.

Considering how specialized and complex the book's subject matter is, it's surprising how well the authors manage to avoid hard math; they obviously made a conscious effort to use the most intuitive formulas possible whenever they could. There are maybe a handful of differential equations in the book, but most of the math requires no calculus, just basic algebra. The moderately math-phobic should be able to handle this book if you can understand what derivatives and integrals are.

A bit of a rant: Everybody gets so hung up on the title! Did any of the people who complain that HSDD isn't really "black magic" actually bother to even open the book? Right in the preface, the authors explain that HSDD is regarded as something of a "black magic" by engineers because it isn't taught in most college programs, but "The authors would like to dispel the popular myth that anything unusual or unexplained happens at high speeds. It's simply a matter of knowing which principles apply, and how." The title is meant to be humorous, people; lighten up! A lack of a sense of humor is a sign of an ineffective engineer.

This book really is just an introduction. You're not going to go out and design a gigahertz-level PC motherboard when you've read it through, but it'll prepare you for more advanced material like the "Advanced Black Magic" sequel, and tons of similar advanced books on the market. The book's strength is in its easy writing style and broad, concise scope. Recommended for anyone who knows basic electronics but wants to become a professional signal electronics engineer.

Mostly a very solid book.......2004-12-23

Great book. BTW, the author lists a LOT of errata on his website, enough to take over an hour to mark up my copy (5th printing). Although it's nice he documents this so well, it's a pain in the rear, so you may want to verify the edition you're buying to avoid this extra effort. On page vi, above ISBN, look for reverse sequence; example: "10 9 8 7" indicates 7th printing (cryptic, I know). Most recent printing is 15th edition (least amount of errata). The book is loaded with equations and diagrams. It would be nice to see more derivations, but at least the equations are there in the text, and in the appendix. I thought a few other reviewers were a bit harsh. The book is not perfect, but nevertheless a great resource. His second book is impressive, but more advanced; this original title is my "workhorse" book. also, check out his website (sigcon.com) for lots of articles and resources.

one of the best books around.......2004-09-02

I dont know what the other reviewers are blabbing about...being an ASIC designer myself..I felt this book was the best introduction I could get to cross-talk, signal integrity, EMC and Metastability. Been through and done that a lot of times, but still this is one of the best things around

Useful book if you need a cook book, however ...............2004-05-04

This book is useful if you want to have a long series of equations available in one place to jog your memory. But if you want to learn something useful and practical- and real-world - then perhaps you would be better off doing a web search for application notes, tutorial papers, and articles, particularly from semiconductor manufacturers, and vendors of high-performance test equipment such as Agilent, Tektronix, and others.

To take one example (page 134,) Johnson purports to describe problems associated with a wire-wrapped prototype processor board containing TTL devices operating at high edge rates ( 2 ns.) According to Johnson, the design engineers failed to realize that the circuits would ring excessively, making the board unusable. To "prove" this he posits a model consisting of a 30 ohm TTL driver, with a 2 ns rise time, a 4" length of wire with 89 nH of self inductance, and a 15pf load - a series LRC circuit. Yes, this circuit will ring wildly, but the model is totally incorrect. The TTL input is not considered, which has a relatively low input impedance in the low state since it is current operated. This circuit -effectively a parallel LRC - does not ring nearly as much, as any experienced engineer knows. As a reality check, remember that wire wrap was successfully used for years by thousand of engineers. To listen to Johnson, though, this technology is almost unusable. Wire wrap circuits do ring, but under his example, the real amount of overshoot/undershoot is well within the limits of TTL. Further, no real circuit produces textbook looking traces, so the role of experience is to learn what worst-case design means, and what is acceptable for good manufacturing yield. Lesson: real experience teaches you how to produce correct, functional models. An incorrect model will cause you grief.

Much could have been done here, to be useful, by way of analysis and of recommendation. The wire should have been modeled as part of a transmission line, not as a lumped element, which any high speed digital design engineer would know, and the idea of terminating a transmission line should have been introduced. This is standard fare. Even with the series LRC, instead of deriving the formula for critical damping, he instead says: "This approximation (reduce Q to .5) is derived from the solution to a second order linear differential equation describing an RLC low pass filter. First find the point at which the derivative of the solution passes through zero (a maximum point) and then evaluate the solution at that point."

Got that? Take the derivative of a solution you want to find? Any book on circuits will reduce this to the solution of a quadratic equation. Obfuscating something that's really elementary does not help produce genuine insight. But this is what Johnson does throughout the book.

Customer Reviews:

the "signal integrity" bible.......2007-05-13

Dr. Johnson gives signal integrity an identity, and tells you how to conquer a truly "black art" in electronics engineering.

As the data rates of electrical signals go up, the problems this causes are detailed, and solutions are presented that resolve the problems.

If youare doing high-speed digital design, high precision analog design, and want to make it work, this violume sheds light on the "dark" places.

Great subject material, unevenly covered.......2003-07-22

I had mixed feelings reading this book. Some sections were so good I was saying, "Bravo, well done" while other sections were so bad, I felt sorry for anyone trying to learn by reading them. (E.g. Ch4 on frequency domain modeling.) The book covers extremely useful material, but in an uneven way. It will especially appeal to readers who want simplified discussions of the ideas rather than deeper more theoretical discussions. For example, crosstalk --one of the most important topics, is covered in a very light manner, recommending use of simulators to obtain accurate results. Compare this with the coverage of the same subject in the remarkable book "Electromagnetic Compatibility" by Clayton Paul. Now, that book is "advanced" and "magical". This book doesn't get into any deep discussions of the fundamentals. It says that current flows in a loop, and inductance is related to loop area. Simple enough. Yet, how do we explain the inductance of the pin of an IC package, which is definitely not a loop? How is the energy-based definition of inductance used by simulators related to this simple definition? Even more fundamental, given that voltage can't be defined in a region where the magnetic field is changing, how come we can use the concept of voltage? (Read Paul Clayton for discussing all these concepts in great detail.)

Many previous articles are included in the book. Although some of them are entertaining (e.g. the pot hole story) most are just disturbances, and even worse, outdated and contradictory to authors later approach. For example, Dr. Johnson spends 3 pages! discussing how close a termination has to be, and drives an equation for the amount of reflection when the ideal termination is slightly away from the source. Later in a witty article the author declares that there is no more any excuse for not using simulation tools. He says "If you have to ask, simulate it." Definitely anybody who is wondering if their termination is close enough can download a free demo copy of PSpice and simulate this quickly and accurately.Nobody is going to use the equation the author drived and there is no new insight or theory developed either.

The author being the editor of the IEEE Ethernet specs, it is quite surprising how many sloppy mistakes there are. (KHz, kHz, Ghz, HZ,Hertz, hertz, pS, ps, ohm, Ohm, V, v, ; with and without spaces after the value are used with no consistency, "it's" is confused for "its" in more than one place, wrong equation numbers, irregular figures, mixed fonts and fonts sizes within the same equation, etc. are common occurrence.)

Despite its problems, this book will be a very useful reference book to people working in the field. Many sections have excellent detailed discussions. For example, performance regions of the transmission line breaking it into lumped, RC, LC, skin effect, dielectric loss, and waveguide dispersion regions is the most comprehensive I have seen. A useful book to add to one's library, but not a book lover's delight.

A must have reference for ALL digital design engineers.......2003-07-05

After ploughing through this book, I found it to be a treasure trove of useful information. It's well layed out, and well explained. As with their first "black magic text", it's full of helpful hints, guides, and rule'o'thumbs that will get you up to speed quickly so you can apply them and get expected results from your design. Well done Mr Johnson and Mr Graham, another excellent reference!

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects

Average customer rating:

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects - Wonderful
Refreshing designs, solid technique
Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects
A good buy for the beginner felter
Inspirational and informative

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects
Jorie Johnson
Manufacturer: Quarry Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592532756

Book Description

After studying textile design in both the USA and Finland, author Jorie Johnson was introduced to the felt making process in 1977 when she was first taught Scandinavian felt boot-making. She was immediately struck by felt's amazing properties and possibilities. Through this book, Feltmaking and Wool Magic, you will see that Jorie's approach to felt making is clearly creative as well as effective. The book covers in detail, basic step by step felt making techniques, then goes on to present a series of projects from simple jewelry to beautiful vests.

Customer Reviews:

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects - Wonderful.......2007-10-06

I have read many books on felt making - one of my friends lent me this book and I could not wait to purchase my own copy. Its clear, and well written with good illustrations and quite frankly has eradicated the need for me to attend a workshop. This book is a must for ardent felt makers and I feel that anyone no matter their experience or lack of it would benefit from reading this book.

Refreshing designs, solid technique.......2007-01-10

Being a very enthusiastic but relative newcomer to felting, latelyI have looked at many, many books on this subject. I like this book very much-- I think the Japanese influence in the design and presentation of projects is apparent and refreshing. The projects are, for me, clearly a step above the kinds of corny and cute projects that appear again and again in so many books. ( I just don't need any more snake toy instructions) The instructions are quite detailed and I've learned some new tips. It has a nice project that explores making 3-D sculpture, which is also unusual for what's on the market today. There are a lot of felting project books that look fabulously attractive but end up short on substance. I find this to be a worthwhile edition to my own library.

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects.......2007-01-10

Interesting projects, but what I found most interesting was the history & other information about sheep, wool & felting. Very good, detailed instruction for felting.

A good buy for the beginner felter.......2006-10-12

The author gives a concise and informative review of the history of felting and provides a reasonable discussion about different sheep breeds for the beginner. She provides a good number of interesting projects with pretty good instructions that correlate very well with her abundant photos of the works in progress. She also includes instructions about particular details that may need attention in each project, thereby adding to your knowledge base. This is a worthwhile buy for the beginner or newly intermediate felter.

Inspirational and informative.......2006-08-21

Jorie Johnson presents a vast amount of information in a concise, lively manner, spiced up with beautiful photographs of each finished project as well as its felting process. Her sections on "Living with Felt," tells the story of the importance of felt throughout history: "Materials and Tools for Feltmakiing," gives a comprehensive list of feltmaking tools and their uses; "Breed Samples," gives hands-on instructions for learning the felting nuances of various breeds of wool. The projects progress from simple to more complex, and I found them all exciting and inspirational. If I had to limit my felting library to just one book, this would be it.

Average customer rating:

Avatar is cool!
The Lost Scrolls: Air
Obtainable paraphenilia for Avatar fans

The Lost Scrolls: Air (Avatar: the Last Airbender)
Tom Mason , and Dan Danko
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416918795

Book Description

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, you have uncovered one of the four hidden scrolls I have compiled about the world of Avatar. This scroll contains all of the knowledge that I have gathered so far about the Air Nomads -- their history and culture and the great tales of their past.

Aang revisits his former monastery, Katara learns the truth about Aang's mysterious past, and Sokka reveals how he saved the Northern Air Temple from the Fire Nation. The scroll also contains information about Airbending moves, Air temples and monks, the Avatar Cycle, and much more.

Keep this scroll safe, and share it only with those you trust. Beware, for there are many who wish to expose it's secrets....

Customer Reviews:

Avatar is cool!.......2007-06-16

For fans that are always seeking to always learn more about the world of Avatar, I definitely recommend these Lost Scrolls; not only do they contain resumed chapters, but also information that is not mentioned nor in the series. One really learns a lot.

The Lost Scrolls: Air.......2007-04-13

My son is an avid "Avitar" fan! He has learned a lot that is not covered on the tv show. He actually keeps the books in a "safe place" and has shared them with friends. I highly recommend them.

Obtainable paraphenilia for Avatar fans.......2007-04-04

Hey, this is a fun little purchase if you're big into Avatar. There's a few juicy details regarding the life and styles of the different nations. There's some fun art and illustrations included, but it's largely fluff, and written descriptions of episodes we've already seen. They are well written, but there is only a little fresh information present. Still, that said, it's alot of fun, and nice to own.

Average customer rating:

Simply great
My son loves this book.
more fun with Avatar

The Lost Scrolls: Earth (Avatar: the Last Airbender)
Michael Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416918779

Book Description

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, you have uncovered one of the four hidden scrolls I have compiled about the world of Avatar. This scroll contains sacred information about the Earth Nation -- stories, legends, and facts that I have found so far about this nation -- its history, culture, and tales of its past and present.

Katara tells how she inspired a group of Earthbenders imprisoned on a Fire Nation ship to take a stand; Aang explains how he managed to outsmart the great Earthbender, King Bumi; and Sokka recounts the tale of the Great Divide. Included are sections on Earthbending moves, the great Earth Kingdom Kyoshi Warriors, and more.

Keep this scroll safe, and share it only with those you trust. Beware, for there are many who wish to expose its secrets....

Customer Reviews:

Simply great.......2007-06-16

My son loves this book........2007-05-13

We have the entire series. My son loves them all.

more fun with Avatar.......2007-01-25

I have seen the movies and I like this book because I learned the legend of Omashu, that wasn't included in the movies. Each of the "Scroll" books have 3 different legends. This book is not a cartoon book, it is more of a chapter book. There are lots of pictures, some not from the movie. If you really want to know more about Avatar I recommend this book.

Stars by Magic: New Super-Easy Technique! Diamond-Free(R) Stars from Squares and Rectangles! Perfect Points and No Y-Seams!

Average customer rating:

Squares and Rectangles Galore!
Magical Stars
Nancy does it again!!
Stars by magic: New super easy Technique
wonderfully easy star blocks

Stars by Magic: New Super-Easy Technique! Diamond-Free(R) Stars from Squares and Rectangles! Perfect Points and No Y-Seams!
Nancy Johnson-Srebro
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1571202412

Book Description

Leading quilt designer Nancy Johnson-Srebro returns with fresh new star quilt blocks made from the easiest shapes in the world-a square and a rectangle. Using her simple rotary cutting and piecing techniques, she provides an array of brand-new block patterns that coordinate with her original Block Magic designs or work like magic on their own. The 30 star blocks and 10 clever quilt maps help quiltmakers design a complete and one-of-a-kind quilt with no tricky cutting or sewing.

Nancy Johnson-Srebro is a quilt designer, teacher, quilt show judge, author, and a spokeswoman for Prym-Dritz/Omnigrid, and has been a spokesperson for Benartex, Inc., and Warm Products. She lives in Tunkhannock, PA.

Customer Reviews:

Squares and Rectangles Galore!.......2006-09-23

As I was reading "Stars by Magic", I wondered just how many more star ideas could be presented in this book than was given in "Block Magic". As I continued through the book, I found out that there are literally dozens of ways to put these squares and rectangles together to make wonderful new patterns.

But I am ahead of myself. In the very beginning of the book, Nancy provides two "No-Fail" tips sections; one on sewing on the diagonal and one on pressing. Learn what she says and it will give your blocks a more professional look. Then, there is the "how-to" on reading the charts which tells you how to figure out the sizes of the squares and rectangles you need to make the blocks.

30 block ideas later - no make that 90 blocks later as each block shows three different color-ways - I was eager to get out my fabric and try a few. The blocks range in size from 4" to 18". Putting a few 18" blocks together and you have a quilt in a hurry. By now, you realize there are cut-offs from making the blocks. WAIT! Don't throw them out (and what quilter would anyway!?), put them together and you get "bonus blocks and borders". The final pages of this book provide ten quilt maps. Oh my, which one do I start with first? If I have such a difficult choice to make, think what my students will have!

Since my students now realize that making star patterns are not that difficult, they are eager to try other ideas such as taking one-fourth of a block to make borders and by just turning that same quarter block, they get whole new look. But don't just use them for borders, use the quarters together to make a whole quilt! With this book, I will be teaching "Stars by Magic" for several more classes!

Magical Stars.......2006-03-11

This is one of the easiest ways to make quilt stars that I have ever encountered. It is a must have in any quilters library.

Nancy does it again!!.......2005-10-04

This book will forever put to rest the notion that eight pointed stars are difficult! Anyone will be able to make those pesky stars with complete confidence and perfection. Nancy has done ALL the work by giving us 30 stars in many different sizes. She also gives us some beautiful quilt projects to make. She also shows us how to use the "leftovers" to make absolutely beautiful and imaginative quilts. Nothing is wasted. There are some techniques out there that are so wasteful, that I hesitate to use them. With fabric prices steadily climbing, I am very happy to use this wonderful book. Thanks, Nancy. I love the book. It's one of my favorites.

Stars by magic: New super easy Technique.......2005-09-19

Such a great book. I like the look of stars on quilts but have never tried doing any myself. They always sound so difficult. Not any More. This great book has given me an easy way to make great stars!! Thanks to the author for sharing her ideas.

wonderfully easy star blocks.......2005-08-24

I FOUND THIS BOOK AN EASY WAY TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL STAR BLOCKS.EASY TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS AND SEVERAL SIZES OF EACH BLOCK WERE GIVEN.A MUST FOR ANY QUILTER WHO LOVES MAKING STAR BLOCKS.

Average customer rating:

This quickly became my 3 year olds FAVORITE book!
the power of imagination
PURPLE POWER
such a classic! great book.
Son loves this book

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0060229365

Amazon.com

"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.

Crockett Johnson's understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold's quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a path...

And thus begins one of the most imaginative and enchanting adventures in all of children's books. The creative concept behind this beloved story has intrigued children and kept them absorbed for generations, as page by page unfolds the dramatic and clever adventures of Harold and his purple crayon.

Customer Reviews:

This quickly became my 3 year olds FAVORITE book!.......2007-08-04

We love books and I try to provide my daughter with many good quality and age appropriate stories. She LOVES this book! It's an easy read and is completely adorable! I would highly suggest adding this book to your collection!

the power of imagination.......2007-07-16

This was one of my favorites as a child. I can't count the number of times I read this book, then got out my crayons and drew my own worlds.

I've been reading this book to my son since he was two weeks old. The simple illustrations captivated his attention, and he would lean against my chest, stare at the pictures, and listen to my voice. Such a precious moment. He briefly lost interest when he was concentrating on getting where he wanted to go, then came back around to it. Sometimes he'd carry it to me saying "weed, mommy." He's four now, and we still enjoy reading it together.

It's been wonderful to see his reactions change as he gets older. This is one of those stories with many layers, so children of all ages will find something new. Such a fabulous book.

PURPLE POWER.......2007-06-27

I wasn't too sure if my Kindergarten students would enjoy this story, but they were very excited about it. They were totally engaged in every page. It's a great book for teaching sequencing. I followed up the story by having each child draw in purple crayon only, their adventure. Instead of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" they put their name in the title. It gave them an opportunity to use their imagination, just as Harold had done. This 50th Anniversary story has stood the test of time.

such a classic! great book........2007-06-27

I loved this book as a child and love reading it to my son now. It's such a delight. Great book!

Son loves this book.......2007-06-14

We recently purchased this book for our 2 1/2 yr old son. This is the first book that after reading to him, he has said, "Read it again!" We read this at least three times in a row the first night.

Harold uses his crayon to bring his imagination to life and take him on an adventure. He wants to take a walk in the moonlight, so he draws a moon and a path...later he needs something to eat, so he draws his favorite pies...he can't eat all the pie, so he draws animals to finish the pie...

It really is an adorable book and does a great job of capturing the child's imagination.

Jaguar Wisdom: Mayan Calendar Magic (Contemporary Practices of Mayan Shamans)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Read!
Astrology from the jungle
Layers of information

Jaguar Wisdom: Mayan Calendar Magic (Contemporary Practices of Mayan Shamans)
Ken Johnson
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1567183727

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Read!.......2006-10-16

This book is just great! It's way better than good. I have read it over and over again. The author takes a lot of effort to make the research thorough. The old Mayan books were written like fans and they contained a great deal of wisdom. Unfortunately, most of those old codices were burned by the Spanish. Here is a little bit of they old wisdom, obtained word of mouth. You should buy this book today.

Astrology from the jungle.......2002-11-05

An excellent astrological system! After having a Mayan horoscope cast for me a few years ago, I looked for this book in vain until finding it on Amazon. All information is included for casting Mayan horoscopes, with a treasure trove of information included on the signs and the stellar cycles. Note that the author puts the myth of an end time ( 2012 ) into perspective. There is also much detail on the spiritual practices of Mesoamerican adepts. Any one interested in central American culture and occultism should pick this one up.

Layers of information.......2000-06-09

This book is laid out in a great referance format and can be used immediately. In-depth study will lead to to many levels of understanding the Mayan Sacred Calander. There are layers of information that are discovered with subsequent readings, always something new and interesting that adds depth to a book that appears somewhat superficial on the surface. It's a wonderful, information book that will lead you to greater study of the Sacred Calander using the traditional long count.

Average customer rating:

Easy techniques and great step-by-step illustrations
Beautiful Book and Practical Instruction
It's nice, informative but...
A Must for Anyone Working in the Medium!

Watercolor Pencil Magic
Cathy Johnson
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 158180119X

Book Description

Water-soluble colored pencils are portable, versatile and much more forgiving than traditional watercolors, yet many artists have only just begun to tap into this medium's creative potential. This book explores the amazing possibilities of watercolor pencils, providing artists with basic instruction for taking full advantage of them in their artwork. Beginning with an overview of necessary materials and basic techniques, artists will learn from simple mini demos how to mix colors, create washes, layer colors and more. Artists will then see how these painting techniques are employed to capture a variety of popular subjects, including landscapes, flowers, animals, water, people, skies, trees, bridges and buildings. The last chapter of the book demonstrates how to mix watercolor pencils with other mediums to create all kinds of new and interesting effects.

Customer Reviews:

Easy techniques and great step-by-step illustrations.......2007-01-18

I am one of those people who are able to benefit from How To kinds of books. This particular book gives easy broken down steps to watercolor pencil techniques with plenty of room to explore and play with the medium in question. There is also a great balance of text and illustrations.

In my opinion the best part is the listing of different products and how they interact with each other and on different kinds of watercolor papers (it also discusses basic color theory and how to use it). It lists brand names so that you can purchase those products and experiment with them yourself. Most importantly is that it's presented in a fun and casual manner, so it takes away a lot of the fear if you're new at working with watercolor pencils.

Beautiful Book and Practical Instruction.......2006-11-05

What a motivating guide! This has easy-to-understand directives and doesn't seem overwhelming. At the same time, the examples are so wonderful and varied the "student" cannot help but want to practice more and more, allowing it to become an urge to take a pretty scene and turn it into something that can be shared.

I purchased this for my teen daughter (and to enjoy learning along with her) as a rich addition our homeschool curriculum. We enjoy sitting out on the deck and finding inspiration in our many trees, garden, the birds and squirrels, our beagles, etc.

The author is very gifted and conveys her love of nature and capturing a fleeting moment very well. She is also instrumental in showing how to cultivate a reader's individual artistic tendencies, even if they may feel they don't have any. This is preseted in a non-intimidating manner.

Highly recommended!

It's nice, informative but..........2004-06-01

I liked the book, but I wish it had more information or more examples, either by the author or by other artists in the medium. In order for me to really learn about the medium, I have had to buy not only this book but others about the same subject as well... It is not a problem with this book in particular, but a problem with ALL colored pencil books. All of them show a "part" of the what the medium has to offer. I wish there was a "compendium" of several authors about the subject, so we, aspiring artists, would have some sort of "big book" or "bible" about this.

A Must for Anyone Working in the Medium!.......2002-11-22

When I first recieved a box of watercolor pencils as a gift, I had no idea what to make of them... I do passing fair work with colored pencils, but watercolors have always been beyond me. I muddled along, experimenting and tossing the miserable results, until I found this book. Oh, the joy! Finally, information on how to get the most out of my creations! How to balance the use of dry and wet, how to work the pencils to their best use, how to work in multimedia (which I do). This is most certainly a bible of sorts for the watercolor pencil artist!

Average customer rating:

A Fantastic Fantasy Book

Thora: A Half-Mermaid Tale

Manufacturer: Katherine Tegen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Mermaids | Obsessions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060743786
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Book Description

Thora's no ordinary girl. She's got scales on her legs, purple feet, and a blowhole that squirts water from the top of her head. Thora's a half-mermaid. And as mermaid law commands, Thora must spend ten years at sea and ten years on land. In a houseboat called the Loki, Thora sails the seas with her mermaid mother, Halla, and guard ian, Mr. Walters. But following her tenth birthday, Thora heads to the seaside town of Grimli, where her father grew up.

In Grimli, fat-cat tycoon Frooty de Mare will stop at nothing to expand his Tooty Frooty Enterprises. With the help of new friends and her pet peacock, Thora has her work cut out thwarting Frooty's evil plans -- not to mention doing a bit of exploring into her own Grimli roots.

Gillian Johnson's fanciful tale captures the unflappable spirit of an exceptional young heroine who, despite being half-mermaid, somehow always manages to land on her feet.

Customer Reviews:

A Fantastic Fantasy Book.......2006-04-26

My daugher is [...] and we came upon this book at a yard sale. She read it right away- we couldn't tear her away from it. This is definately the best book about a mermaid for her age group (8-10?). (She is a pretty good reader, so some people may want to wait a bit since it is recommended for 9 year olds).

My daughter believes in mermaids and the magic of knowing or becoming one, so this was the perfect book for her. She loved the plot and giggled at the whimsical humor that runs throughout the story. She insisted on showing us all the cute and funny pictures. It is now her FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME (and she has read a lot of books). She shared her book with other girls in their bookclub- and they all loved it too. Our only problem was that we couldn't find it for a while. Now that we know it is here at Amazon, we will tell all our friends. I am looking forward to giving her the sequel for her birthday.

Thank you Gillian Johnson for writing such a wonderful book!

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