Refreshingly written, delightfully illustrated book remarks expansively on the resourcefulness of early Americans in their use of this valuable commodity - from the crafting of furniture, tools, and buildings to the use of such by-products as charcoal and medicine. "One of Sloane's best books." -Library Journal.

What triggers a tornado? What can you see in the eye of a hurricane? What is the difference between a thunderbolt and a thunderclap? With his warm, conversational style and more than 70 original illustrations, Eric Sloane answers these questions and more.

Delightful blend of serious meteorology and beautiful illustrations takes readers on a voyage of discovery as the versatile author traces a single air mass from the Canadian Rockies to northern New England and its effect on Americans from varied backgrounds -- including a bush pilot in Canada, and a New England sailor. 43 black-and-white illustrations.

Accompanied by more than 75 of the author's own meticulous sketches, this lovingly written book presents reliable records of such vanishing forms of architecture as the American barn and covered bridge. Delightful anecdotes describe structures as well as the men who built them. Accurate line drawings depict barns attached to houses, an "open" log barn in Virginia, a "top hat" barn in North Carolina, a bridge with a pedestrian walkway in rural New York state, a 2,088-foot covered bridge at Clark's Ferry, Pennsylvania, and more. Written with "warmth and astonishing comprehension," said the New York Herald Tribune Book Review, this priceless and highly readable tribute to a bygone era will delight Americana enthusiasts and lovers of these traditional symbols of early American life. Over 75 black-and-white illustrations.

This nostalgic text brims with gentle philosophies and descriptions of how we used to live -- self-sufficiently -- on land, in homes, and among things built by hand. The author's charming illustrations celebrate our heritage and the spirit that nurtured it, but also recall the vanished joys of America's pioneer past. 44 line illustrations.

Refreshingly written, delightfully illustrated book remarks expansively on the resourcefulness of early Americans in their use of this valuable commodity - from the crafting of furniture, tools, and buildings to the use of such by-products as charcoal and medicine. "One of Sloane's best books." -Library Journal.

The books of Eric Sloane celebrate the time-honored traditions of early America--from the crafting of furniture to the building of barns to the folk wisdom that sustains us--and they're reminders of the heartfelt ties that will forever bind us to these rural arts. Two books, one co-written with Eric Hatch, are combined here in one splendid volume, enhanced by Sloane's delightful illustrations and filled with a treasure trove of lore on a unique subject. Spirited reminders of yesteryear, clamoring bells in all their forms--from sleigh bells to church bells--ring out for America and freedom. In this charmingly illustrated book that begins in ancient times, Sloane and Hatch share their boundless enthusiasm for the subject, covering types, sounds, and famous bells, including the revered Liberty Bell which once heralded the American Revolution, and the world's largest bell--one that never tolled.

This reprint of an actual early-nineteenth-century diary provides today's readers with a delightful rarity. Eric Sloane has taken a fifteen-year-old farm boy's brief, concise notebook and expanded the daily entries with explanatory narrative and his own remarkable drawings. As a result, he has preserved the simplicity and charm of a bygone era. A fascinating guide to past life and customs in rural New England, the book includes verbal and graphic sketches detailing the construction of an entire backwoods farm. "An extraordinary glimpse into everyday Early American rural life . . . will delight readers of all ages." --" History in Review."