Jill Krementz

The Jews have been called "The People of the Book" for their love of reading and writing. This new collection, spanning three decades, brings together in photographs and text the many and varied Jewish voices - novelists, playwrights, poets, essayists, and scholars - that have enriched twentieth-century literature.

In lavish duotone photographs, Jill Krementz's The Writer's Desk provides an insider's view of the working lives of some of the world's most prominent authors. Accompanying each photograph is the writer's own commentary on the creative process or musings on individual work habits and habitats. This is a book for anyone and everyone who loves to read.

Ten-year-old Josh Broder describes many of the activities in his life that are connected to his study of the trumpet.

A nine-year-old girl who starred in a workshop production of "Annie 2" describes her experiences on and off stage, from auditions through rehearsals to opening night.

Text and photographs feature highlights of the gardening year as six-year-old Ashley grows flowers and vegetables in her garden, looks at native plants in the woods, and visits a botanical garden.

Fourteen children tell how they battle pain, uncertainty, and the changes brought about in their lives by serious illness such as cancer, severe burns, asthma, and kidney failure.

Text and photographs feature Matt Wilson, age six, who introduces the sights of his beautiful and interesting hometown, Washington, D.C.

Text and photographs follow a child's airplane flight to visit Grandma and Grandpa, accompanied by his parents, and highlighted by a trip to the cockpit. On board pages.

Holly introduces the animals on her "hobby farm" where animals are raised for fun, not as a business.

Text and photographs follow a little girl on her trip to the playground where she crawls through tunnels, builds castles in the sand box, and plays on a variety of equipment.

Text and photographs follow the activities of a young boy on a trip with his parents to the beach.

A little girl describes her first visit to the dentist.

Text and photographs record a child's visit to the zoo, discussing the animals he meets there.

Text and photographs detail a child's day at nursery school, playing, painting, and hearing a story. On board pages.

A little boy describes his experiences eating in a restaurant with his mother and father.

A collection of recipes, illustrated with photographs, for a variety of dishes including pumpkin pie, cucumber sushi, homemade pasta, granola, and lemon chicken.

Boys and girls, ages seven to sixteen, share their feelings about their parents' divorce.

Interviews with adopted children and adoptive families about their experiences and feelings concerning adoption.