Welcome to
Riverflow Books. I'm Jim
Bennett, artist, author,
and publisher.
I believe
you'll find something of
interest
here
-- a
variety of publications -- from
novels, to books about NY local
history, art and calligraphy
books, creative math project
lesson plans, and
reprints of some unique
antiquarian books.
For those who
would like information
about writing and
self-publishing, I offer
a special
review
of "The Best New Tools
for Writing and
Self-Publishing." It's FREE to
download. Simply
click the link below.
TO
DOWNLOAD MY FREE "BEST NEW
TOOLS" REVIEW
PLEASE
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Recommend to a
Friend
Here I am leading a workshop
in "The Best New Tools for
Writing and Self-Publishing."
I'm showing how to use sticky
notes to gather and organize
ideas.
My Newest
Book
Mysteries
of the Tanakh
This beautiful,
full-color picture
book presents 77
monotypes by James
Bennett interpreting
stories from the
Tanakh (also called
the Hebrew Bible or
the Old Testament).
Bennett's artwork
explores the symbolism
and mysteries hidden
within the ancient,
sacred writings --
imparting new insights
from the past that
might provide us with
meanings for today.
The reproductions are
each full-page and in
full-color.
Stylistically, the
work of Marc Chagall
and Paul Klee were
influences. The 77
monotypes (prints
where only a single
copy of an image is
made) are combined
with collage, gold
leaf, pastel, and
computer generated
text. The computer
generated text which
accompanies each
monotype uses a font
created by Bennett
specifically for this
artwork and is based
on the ancient
Phoenician alphabet
which is foundational
for all western
alphabets. This book
is sure to entertain,
intrigue, and
challenge the reader
for many years to
come.
Secrets of
the Wizard is a fantasy
adventure for anyone (age 12
and up) who loves solving math
puzzles. This is the
suspenseful, action-packed
story of the good wizard,
Galimedes, and his two
faithful helpers as they try
to recover the lost scrolls of
time and seasons which were
stolen by the evil magician,
Zarvildar.
The pages of the story are
scrambled and renumbered (so
only the worthy will gain
access to the secrets).
Indeed, only by solving the
math puzzle on each page will
you know the number of the
page to read next. There are
99 math puzzles altogether!
There is also a hidden secret
message which will reveal the
wizard’s greatest secret.
Locked
Out!
-- A civil rights story
about Massive Resistance and
school closures in the
South. Based on actual
events which are the
historical backdrop for this
coming-of-age novel about 2
young boys (one white -- one
black) growing up in a small
southern town during the
1950s when school
integration collided with
Massive Resistance and life
in the peaceful little town
was thrown into chaos. The
story combines strong
characters, heartwarming
scenes, psychological
tension, humor, 1950s
nostalgia, and even a murder
mystery.
The
Poughkeepsie Mystery -- An
exciting mystery thriller
set in Poughkeepsie, NY,
this is a story about
buried treasure—a
map—hidden coded
messages—a secret
society—kidnapping—murder—danger!
Presented before a
backdrop of the city's
rich history. A young
teacher discovers an old
album of pen and ink
drawings that appears to
contain secret clues to
where a treasure is
buried.She must decipher
coded messages, follow
clues which lead her to
numerous locations in and
around the city, and
thwart the efforts of a
secret society that is
pledged to stop her as she
risks her life unraveling
the clues and searching
for the legendary
treasure.
The
WimpVersus
the Bullies
-- Roger’s
heard that “middle school
isn’t for wimps,” and that
scares him! Since he’s just
eleven, mixed-race, short
for his age, as well as new
to the school, he's worried
that the other kids might
think he’s just a wimp.
Maybe they’d be right —
maybe he is a wimp! It
doesn’t help one bit that
two of the meanest bullies
in the school single him out
as their number one target.
He also has the strictest
teacher at school, and at
home, he has to put up with
his bratty kid sister. He
hopes his new friends,
Reeves Boggs (nicknamed
Booger) and Theresa
Montaigne, the new girl at
school who has a secret, can
help him survive the
challenges of being in 6th
grade – dealing with
bullies, racial and
transgender prejudices, and
discovering who the
“Halloween witch” who lives
in his neighborhood really
is. Together the three of
them discover what it's like
growing up and surviving
middle school.
To order, please visit Lulu.com
The
Hudson
Valley Horror
House -- Boz
Bright, a highly skilled
top-secret agent in the
most advanced
intelligence force in
the U.S. gov't, appears
to have met his match
when he comes up against
Russian operatives,
American religious
fanatics, white
supremacists, Nazis, and
the horror of the
supernatural! Set in
Dutchess County New
York, this suspenseful
thriller combines
mystery and suspense
with actual historical
settings. The novel is
based on legends of
horrifying events and
reported sightings of
ghosts connected with
real houses in the
Hudson Valley. This
story begins when Boz is
sent on assignment to
investigate a strange
anomaly detected by
satellite surveillance
emanating from a mansion
which is believed to be
haunted. Working with
his fiancée, Kari
Ingram, the two of them
discover a secret
underground laboratory
beneath the mansion
where an anti-gravity
device, first designed
by the Nazis and capable
of traveling through
time, is being built.
Calligraphy
For Dummies is all about
discovering the
art and fun of lettering.
With this hands-on guide,
you’ll be able to develop
your craft and test it out
in no time. Starting with
the italic alphabet,
you’ll discover different
types of strokes, how to
angle your pen, and how to
join letters. This
easy-to-follow,
step-by-step guide shows
you:
All
the tools you
need to
practice the
craft
Where
to get the
proper ink and
paper
How
to master
several
alphabets
Different
variations to
change the
look of
letters
Calligraphy
For Creative
Kids (and
adults too!)
is a simple,
how-to,
instruction book,
written mainly
with children in
mind but will
teach anyone of
any age how to
become an
accomplished
calligrapher! The
book, penned
entirely in a
calligraphic hand,
begins with an
explanation of how
to select the
right pens, inks,
and paper. It then
introduces the
Italic alphabet, a
beautiful and
highly versatile
alphabet. Next,
are examples of
Italic flourishes
and sections on
Blackletter
(particularly
useful for
certificates) and
drawn letters. The
book ends with an
impressive list of
creative projects.
This is a simple,
straight-forward
and profusely
illustrated
calligraphy
practice book.
Bible
Calligraphy,
100 Scriptures
--100 Bible verses
rendered in an
elegant
calligraphic hand
by James Bennett,
master
calligrapher and
author of several
books on
calligraphy
including
Calligraphy For
Dummies and
Calligraphy for
Creative Kids.
These Bible
Calligraphy
scriptures were
originally created
as the covers for
weekly church
bulletins and can
be a resource for
prayer,
meditation, and
spiritual
encouragement.
Regardless of a
person's beliefs,
these calligraphic
designs can be
appreciated for
their artistic
qualities. Each
scripture is
printed on a page
which is blank on
the reverse side
so it may be
removed and
displayed
separately. The
images may be
photocopied and
used in churches,
Christian schools,
and Sunday
schools.
LeonardoScript,
How to Write
Like Leonardo
da Vinci
--Write in the
actual style of
Leonardo da Vinci!
Easy, trace and
copy lessons will
show you how to
write exactly like
da Vinci.Although
written for young
people (age 10 and
up),
LeonardoScript
will certainly
enable an adult to
acquire a
distinctively
elegant
handwriting style.
There are numerous
practice pages
covering upper and
lower case
letters, numbers,
and
punctuation.
The entire book is
penned in the
style of Leonardo.
You Can Do
Calligraphy
-- This how-to,
beginner's
instruction book
is written for
all ages and
will guide you
to master your
skill in this
ancient and
beautiful art!
The book, penned
entirely in a
calligraphic
hand, begins
with an
explanation of
how to select
the right pens,
inks, and paper.
Learn
5 useful
alphabets:
Italic,
Blackletter,
Roman,
Bookhand, and
Uncial.
Math
Creative Projects --
Lesson Plans for
Teachers
25+
Big Book of Creative
Math Projects
-- Math can be taught
creatively, and this
collection of 25+ creative
math projects will provide
the teacher with several
years' of creative ideas
and plans. Build a rubber
band race car, write a
journal, go on a treasure
hunt, learn from Bible
math. These are just a few
of the fun, hands-on
project lesson plans that
were developed and refined
in the classroom over 40+
years by an award-winning
teacher. These projects
will engage students and
promote their
understanding of the math
concepts as well as
providing exciting
memorable experiences.
Students never forget
doing these creative math
projects! This is a
publication of Integer
Jim's Math Squad --
mathsquad.com.
"Bible Math
Collection 1" is a
cost-saving
collection of 5 of
my most popular
Bible Math lesson
plans. Appropriate
for middle grades
and higher. It
includes math
lessons about
Creation, Noah’s
Ark, Ark of the
Covenant, King
Solomon’s Pool, and
Gideon’s Army. These
lessons are
described in detail
below and may be
purchased
individually. This
collection contains
every page in the
lesson booklets. My
students loved these
projects. They are
excellent for
schools and home
schools.
Create a
Math Adventure
Journal -- This is a teacher's guide which explains how
to implement a
journal project in
a math classroom.
This guide
explains how the
journal can
include 4 kinds of
pages: lecture
notes,
illustrations
(charts, diagrams,
graphs, etc),
research topics,
and pages where
students pick the
math-related
subject. There is
a page-by-page
listing of the
contents of my
algebra journal as
an example plus
copies of 70
actual pages of
illustrations and
supplemental
material that I
use. Please note:
many of these
supplemental pages
are about a
Biblical subjects
such as
information about
Noah's ark, King
Solomon's Pool,
the Ark of the
Covenant, the
tower of Babel,
and the Six Days
of Creation. There
are also pages
about Fibonacci,
Kepler, and
Descartes and
other interesting
math topics.
The
Quest for the
Golden
Calculator
is an interactive
game that’s designed
to make math class
fun. The fictional
story and cast of
characters provide
the teacher with a
host of
opportunities to
help students become
successful in math,
develop good work
habits, set goals,
maintain a positive
attitude, persevere
through
difficulties, and
avoid typical
problem areas such
as: being
disorganized and
wasting time. It
teaches students the
value in avoiding
bad influences,
distractions,
boredom, taking
shortcuts, and
making excuses.
The
Algebra Journal
is a facsimile of a
completely handmade
210-page math
journal. It can be
used by teachers as
an example to
inspire students to
create their own fun
journals while
learning math. The
journal has 4 types
of content: 1.
Instructional
content which is
similar to lecture
notes. 2. Pages
where students
research various
subjects on the
Internet. These
pages include
history,
biographies, and
topics of interest.
3. Diagrams, charts,
and illustrations.
4. Pages of the
students' choice
where they select
the math-related
topic. Although this
is an algebra
journal, it can be
used as an example
for any subject
where the teacher
wants to inspire
students to make a
similar type
journal.
Create
Your Own Pirate
Treasure Map
--This little book
(suitable for ages 10
and up) shows
step-by-step how to
create an
authentic-looking,
pirate treasure map.
It will help a young
person understand the
elements of map
making, such a scale.
The instructions are
simple,
easy-to-follow, and
expertly illustrated.
It also has
instructions on how to
play a pirate treasure
hunt game. The last
section contains
examples of old maps
and some fantasy maps
of fictional
locations.
Poughkeepsie's
Amazing
Extraordinary
History --
Compiled by Jim Bennett,
this little pamphlet is
a year-by-year outline
of the history of
Poughkeepsie, NY from
colonial times through
the present day. This
outline presents the
high points of an
illustrious history of
the "Queen City of the
Hudson."
The
Poughkeepsie
Notebook--A
spiral-bound personal
journal with over 200
ruled pages and lots of
page headings and
inserts with information
about the amazing
history of Pougkeepsie,
NY -- perfect for
jotting notes,
journaling, making to do
lists, keeping a
planner.
ETIDORHPA is a 19th
century adventure which
interweaves fantasy,
science, secret
societies, and
hallucinogenic
mushrooms! Lavishly
illustrated with
beautiful J. Augustus
Knapp drawings and
paintings. Newly edited
(not abridged). To
preview this incredible
book CLICK
HERE. Download
FREE and read the first
85 pages of the story! CLICK HERE
HARMONIC LAWS
OF THE UNIVERSE
is a richly
illustrated treatise
selected from a
famous 19th century
book on color and
design. The author
explores the
harmonies that exist
in nature and art
and their
relationship to
spiritual truths. To
read more about this
wonderful little
book CLICK
HERE.
VITALITY
SUPREME,
first published in
1915 and written by
Bernarr Macfadden,
an early "health
guru" who was well
ahead of his time in
his understanding of
whole foods and
exercise, shows how
to gain health and
vitality through a
series of unique
exercises as well as
diet, etc. This book
is full of old
photographs, mostly
of Macfadden
himself,
demonstrating how to
do the exercises. To
read more about this
classic book on
health CLICK
HERE.
THREE GREAT
REMEDIES OF
NATURE -
another very early
Macfadden book. This
book covers fasting,
exercise, and
hydropathy (water
therapy). "Three
Great Remedies" is
also richly
illustrated with
many old
photographs. (Note:
original copies of
this book are highly
collectible.) To
read more about the
Riverflow reprint CLICK
HERE.
How
to Succeed by Orison
Swett Marden --
first
published in 1896, is a
self-help classic. It
has inspired thousands
to do exactly what the
title says - SUCCEED.
The book is full of
golden nuggets of
positive thinking and
time-tested positive
values. Marden was one
of the pioneers of
positive thinking. He
was one of the first
popular self-help
authors. Marden led the
way for others such as
Napoleon Hill, Norman
Vincent Peale, Zig
Ziglar, and Tony Robbins
to follow. This book is
certainly a "must-have"
for any success library.
Tom
Swift and His
Motorcycle
--This 1910 adventure
story, the first of the
popular series about a
teenage boy, showcases Tom
Swift's ingenuity and
mechanical aptitude. The
action takes off when a
group of scoundrels set
their sights on stealing
Tom's father's newest
invention, a turbine
engine. This book is a
wonderful window on life
in America at the
beginning of the twentieth
century. The main
character embodies the
positive traits of
courage, ingenuity, hard
work, determination,
honesty, virtue, and
service to others. Tom
Swift was a popular
American fictional hero
who had a profound
influence on the young
people of the time. The
story has been completely
revised to eliminate
racial and gender bias
which was unfortunately
evident in the original
story. None of the
excitement or the twists
and turns of the adventure
have been diminished.
Muscles,
Sex, Money, and Fame
-- The
biography of Bernarr
Macfadden (1868 –
1955) who was the
self-proclaimed
"Father of Physical
Culture," flamboyant
personality, true
visionary, millionaire
publisher, and
life-long advocate of
physical fitness,
natural food, outdoor
exercise, and the
natural treatment of
disease. He was
branded a "kook" and a
charlatan by many, was
arrested on obscenity
charges, denounced by
the medical
establishment, and
campaigned tirelessly
against
"pill-pushers,"
processed foods, and
prudery. This
pictorial history of
Macfadden’s
extraordinary life –
from his earliest
years as a sickly
child through the
years of his fame and
success, contains
hundreds of rare
photos from the pages
of his books and
magazines, as well as
pictures of his health
sanitariums, a failed Utopian
health community,
and his “physical
culture” family.