This kind of thing is delicious fun to read about, though not as well written as its obvious antecedent, The Nanny Diaries. And therein lies the essential problem of the book. Andrea's goal in life is to work for The New Yorker--she's only sticking it out with Miranda for a job recommendation. But author Weisberger is such an inept, ungrammatical writer, you're positively rooting for her fictional alter ego not to get anywhere near The New Yorker. Still, Weisberger has certainly one-upped Me Times Three author Alex Witchel, whose magazine-world novel never gave us the inside dope that was the book's whole raison d' etre. For the most part, The Devil Wears Prada focuses on the outrageous Miranda Priestly, and she's an irresistible spectacle. --Claire Dederer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Most recent college grads know they have to start at the bottom and work their way up. But not many picture themselves having to pick up their boss's dry cleaning, deliver them hot lattes, land them copies of the newest Harry Potter book before it hits stores and screen potential nannies for their children. Charmingly unfashionable Andrea Sachs, upon graduating from Brown, finds herself in this precarious position: she's an assistant to the most revered-and hated-woman in fashion, Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. The self-described "biggest fashion loser to ever hit the scene," Andy takes the job hoping to land at the New Yorker after a year. As the "lowest-paid-but-most-highly-perked assistant in the free world," she soon learns her Nine West loafers won't cut it-everyone wears Jimmy Choos or Manolos-and that the four years she spent memorizing poems and examining prose will not help her in her new role of "finding, fetching, or faxing" whatever the diabolical Miranda wants, immediately. Life is pretty grim for Andy, but Weisberger, whose stint as Anna Wintour's assistant at Vogue couldn't possibly have anything to do with the novel's inspiration, infuses the narrative with plenty of dead-on assessments of fashion's frivolity and realistic, funny portrayals of life as a peon. Andy's mishaps will undoubtedly elicit laughter from readers, and the story's even got a virtuous little moral at its heart. Weisberger has penned a comic novel that manages to rise to the upper echelons of the chick-lit genre.
Copyright 2003 Reed business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler

From Library Journal
This is a brief tale of two mice and two humans who live in a maze and one day are faced with change: someone moves their cheese. Reactions vary from quick adjustment to waiting for the situation to change by itself to suit their needs. This story is about adjusting attitudes toward change in life, especially at work. Change occurs whether a person is ready or not, but the author affirms that it can be positive. His principles are to anticipate change, let go of the old, and do what you would do if you were not afraid. Listeners are still left with questions about making his or her own specific personal changes. Capably narrated by Tony Roberts, this audiotape is recommended for larger public library collections.AMark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Packed full of recipes, cooking tips, puzzles, and trivia, The Everything® Kids’ Cookbook serves as an entertaining-and safe-introduction to the sumptuous world of cooking. Dietitian Sandra K. Nissenburg provides tasty recipes that will help you learn the art of cooking-and keep you healthy!

The Everything® Kids’ Cookbook includes information on safety tips, basic cooking tools and terms, and healthy eating to help young chefs of all ages. From fresh blueberry muffins to parmesan chicken fingers, The Everything® Kids’ Cookbook inspires you to be creative and experiment in the kitchen-making meals you can share with the entire family.

The Everything® Kids’ Cookbook is filled with recipes for all occasions including:

-Bananaberry smoothies

-Chocolate peanut butter pudding

-Cinnamon breakfast cake

-Creamy corn chowder

-Mexican quesadillas

-Nutty caramel corn

-Tuna noodle casserole

-Waldorf salad

Also featuring practical cooking tips and nutritional information, The Everything® Kids’ Cookbook will have you-and your parents-licking the bottoms of the bowl in no time.

Card Catalog Description
Information on cooking terms, measuring, kitchen safety, and nutrition precedes recipes for all sorts of dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks.

Critics of Johnson's best-selling Who Moved my Cheese? for grownups complained about its oversimplification and lack of substance (and the fact that glad-handed managers sometimes gave the book to employees fearing for their jobs didn't help). But in a kids' book, that simplicity doesn't grate as much, and Johnson's cartoonish characters--sneaker-wearing mice Sniff and Scurry, and the tentative Hem and Haw, ever in search of "cheese" in the "maze"--look right at home alongside the rest of Steve Pileggi's crude illustrations.

Of course, Johnson's homily might seem even less applicable to kids than it is to adults, and some of Haw's "Handwriting on the Wall" (again, lifted directly from the grownup version) will likely prove too abstract (like "Smell the cheese often so you know when it's getting old"). But then again, kids face more changes than most adults, and they often have fewer tools to deal with them. If nothing else, Johnson's message on "How to deal with change--and win!" is at least a slight improvement on the more time-honored "Shut up and deal." (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-While this picture-book allegory is not a panacea to every change occurring in a child's life, some may find it a useful discussion tool. Johnson shows the different ways that four little friends search out the Magical Cheese that will make them happy. The author explains that some children may look for change early like Sniff, some may hurry to action like Scurry, some may resist change like Hem, and still others may learn to adapt like Haw. Rhetorical questions are asked, for example, "What do you think your New Cheese could be?" Haw frequently pauses to write inspirational comments on the wall such as "Imagining Your New Cheese Helps You Find It!" This book could aid children in understanding that "the best change happens inside of you-like when you believe a change can lead to something better." The cartoon characters are distinguished by their colors and the names on their caps and jumpsuits. Endpapers portray a maze, which is also shown within the pages of the book. The author concludes with discussion questions to consider.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed business Information, Inc.