Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale

Customer Reviews:

Lesson Learned.......2007-07-17

The story takes place in a jungle. It's about a mosquito that was annoying an iguana and how all of the animals were affected by it. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book. The book teaches a lesson, which is don't lie because when you lie you just get in more trouble.

Onomatopoeia.......2007-05-13

I randomly selected this book at the library and was surprised to find that I could use it in my classroom! We just happened to be studying onomatopoeia at the time. Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitates the sound it is describing (buzz, bam, pow, hiss, etc.). I had my seventh graders listen to the story as I read it aloud. They had to write each example of onomatopoeia that they heard. They loved the story, and it was a great reinforcement for what we were studying.

This is an awesome tale!.......2006-08-16

I read this book as a small child when it originally received the Caldecott medal and I have loved it ever since. It has even become a favorite of my children who love the pictures and laugh everytime the mosquito gets WHACKED at the end. This is a also a great story to use to discuss cause and effect and I have had some wonderful discussions with my students utilizing this book. I would consider this a must read for any little person and adults alike!

My favorite picture book.......2006-02-18

This was my favorite picture book as a child and now, as an adult, it still is. I think it is incredibly difficult to write a picture book, and I view it as a true craft. What makes a good picture book in my opinion? Unique artwork, an intriguing tale, and storytelling style. This book has it all. The artwork is simple, bold, and magical, the story engages you right away, and the repetitive style of the narrative is perfect for storytime. And, of course, the last page is priceless. As far as I'm concerned, this book is essential for any children's library.

Why mosquitoes buzz in peoples ears NH.......2006-02-02

I think that it is okay but it needs to be better than what it is right know because i think the people that did this book can still do better. thats all i had to say p.s. i think you did a good job.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful little book
Poor reproduction of photographs
Galen apparently has outdone himself.....
Buy it for the photography - keep it for a to do list of places to visit!
Awesome photography

California the Beautiful

Manufacturer: Welcome Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0941807673
Release Date: 2002-04-01

Book Description

As America stands to the rest of the world, so stands California to America - a bright shining promise of endless possibility. This exquisite celebration of "California The Beautiful" is both a portrait of the diverse natural beauty of the Golden State and through the incredible voices of its writers, a testament to the ever-renewing spirit that it has come to embody. Aldous Huxley, British author turned Hollywood resident, described the California dream as "This great crystal of light, whose base is as large as Europe and whose height for all practical purposes, is infinite." Among the other authors offering praise are Maya Angelou, Mary Austin, Ray Bradbury, Joan Didion, Gretel Ehrlich, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, M.F.K. Fisher, Robertson Jeffers, Jack Kerouac, Clarence King, Jack London, Henry Miller, John Muir, William Saroyan, April Smith, John Steinbeck, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Nathanael West, and Walt Whitman. Land of innovation and opportunity, California is both dream and reality. California The Beautiful is a gift for all who have felt the lure of this dual promise and who have marveled at the unrivaled beauty of this quintessentially American land.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful little book.......2007-09-13

I purchased a number of these books as "thank you" gifts for various friends we are going to visit in Europe. I was so excited about finding a picture book on California, I didn't read the description thoroughly -- note that the books are only about 7"x7". Even so, their small size makes them perfect to carry in a suitcase. The pictures are quite nice and, even though the coloring is enhanced a bit, they truly show how beautiful California can be. My ONLY complaint with these books is that the price is printed on the back of the dust jacket! This means that if you're giving them as a gift, there's no way to cover up how much you paid (or could have paid) for the book. (I guess I can come up with a cute stick-on label ... )

Poor reproduction of photographs.......2007-07-31

Unfortunately, the text in this photographic essay is more inspiring than the images. The problem is not with the photography, but with the quality of the printing. The inks are too dark, and the colors are ludicrous.

Galen apparently has outdone himself............2007-03-09

This book is well worth buying, but not for Galen Rowell's photographs (as they are "printed" here)...the text is actually more indicative of the power of California's beauty and meaning.

Rowell's use of super-saturated colors, whether accomplished with filters or digital editing, only serves to show just how MORE beautiful these scenes, at these times of day, are in reality!

Subtle was not in Galen's vocabulary, apparently, yet the beauty of nature is often extraordinary AND subtle. I guess my thought really is that Galen Rowell and his 35 mm cameras, found amazing sights (and sites), and took their picture(s), but the essence of many of those sights, he lost because he wanted them to be even more "perfect" than they "really are".

Trust us, Galen, they're even more perfect without all the color saturation effects....

Buy it for the photography - keep it for a to do list of places to visit!.......2007-01-17

The photography is beautiful.
The book catalogues the best of California through pictures. We take this book with us on our trips through out the state as part of our guide and potential itinerary. It makes every trip, a trip to a beautiful location.
A great coffee table book.

Awesome photography.......2005-08-03

This compact size coffee table book with outstanding photography by Galen Rowell makes a great souvenir for visitors to beautiful California. The diversity of this great state is depicted in all its spectacular beauty from the desert to the majestic mountain peaks; from minute wildflowers to the towering redwoods. Prose and verse from famous & not-so-famous Californians & visitors add pleasant reading which accompany the lovely images.

Average customer rating:

Very useful and a great value
A necessity in Yosemite!
Great Book
Great book not only for photographers
A mandatory photo-guide

The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite
Michael Frye
Manufacturer: Yosemite Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1930238002

Customer Reviews:

Very useful and a great value.......2007-09-27

I used this for my first visit to Yosemite. It was very accurate and a great guide even if you're not a photographer. You should use it in conjunction with the free trail guide for the off road hikes. The trail guide has difficulty ratings for the hikes. We went to the top of Vernal falls and it was more difficult than the impression I got from the book. That was my fault not the author's. Great photos in the book too.

A necessity in Yosemite!.......2007-08-02

This book is great, and we were so glad that we purchased this book before arriving in the park. We read it before our trip, and marked down the hikes we wanted to do, and found great spots to drive to as well! We went to almost ever spot in this book, and got wonderful pictures! Even the rainbow in the waterfall picture came out perfect. We were so glad we found this book, because it made finding everything much easier! Definitely purchase this book!

Great Book.......2007-07-03

This was a great book for our recent trip to Yosemite and I highly recommend it. It sent us to the perfect viewpoints at the perfect times so the light was just right. It saved us a lot of time because we didn't have to try to figure it all out on our own. Even if you're not interested in taking photos, it's a great resource to help you figure out the best times to see the sights in Yosemite, and it contains beautiful photographs. It made us want to return to the park in the winter. Every book store and gift shop had stacks of this book, so it's obviously very popular. We thought it was great and kept it handy the entire trip.

Great book not only for photographers.......2007-05-13

This is very useful book - not only if you a serious photographer.It will take you to many amazing places in Yosemite - no matter whether you wanna go there to take your best pictures or just admire the view. It is small enough to have it fit in your backpack when hiking, and very rich in Yosemite info. I love it and it's highly recommended.

A mandatory photo-guide.......2007-03-29

I go to Yosemite evey 2nd year or so to shoot landscapes for a week. I saw this guide on my first trip. The author lived in the park for years, and has shot it in all seasons and weather conditions. I think there is literally no aspect of photgraphy in Yosemite which is not clearly addressed. If you want to shoot good pictures in and around Yosemete, this book will cut down planning and running around to minimum and guide you to some of the best photos you've ever taken. I cannot say enough good things about it.

Average customer rating:

Binding Fell Apart
Worthy of permanent display on a coffee table
Clearing Up the Confusion and Getting the Photo Details
A Tale of Two Books
Colorado: 1870-2000 vs. Colorado: Yesterday & Today

Colorado, 1870-2000
William Henry Jackson , John Fielder , and Ed Marston
Manufacturer: Westcliffe Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1565793471

Book Description

The images of early west photographer William Henry Jackson capture a Colorado landscape both pristine and already dramatically affected by the onslaught on western civilization. Standing exactly where Jackson stood, and pointing his own camera in precisely the same direction, John Fielder has rephotographed Jackson's Colorado images to capture the often startling change that has occurred over the last century. The result is both breathtaking and stark, hopeful and disquieting. Jackson's and Fielder's photography is accompanied by thoughtful and provocative essays by respected experts in the environmental field: Roderick Nash, America's foremost wilderness historian and author of Wilderness and the American Mind; Ed Marston, journalist and publisher of High Country News; and Eric Paddock, Curator of Photography at the Colorado Historical Society. John Fielder describes the profound experience of traveling the state and seeing the landscape from Jackson's perspective, and reflects upon changes of the last 130 years.

The contrast between Jackson's and Fielder's photographs not only illuminates Colorado's past but will help us determine the course of land management as we move into the next century. Accompanied by an educational program that includes lectures, a traveling exhibit, newspaper serialization, and television series, this book is aimed at encouraging people to appreciate and reflect on nature, history, and photography as we move into the next century. Colorado: 1870-2000 stands not only as an important document of westward exploration, expansion, and urbanization, but helps define our past and future environmental values.

Customer Reviews:

Binding Fell Apart.......2003-05-11

I noticed the review that said this book was worthy of "permanent display on your coffee table." Well, I don't think that will be possible with my book, as the binding fell apart after 6 months. The book has gotten a fair amount of use, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've since seen a similar problem with a couple of the display copies at bookstores (which is why they've been demoted to display copies). So I don't think this is an isolated problem. It seems like the book is so big that they didn't make a strong enough binding for it. So just a warning for this thinking of buying this book. The good news is that, on the advice of one of the reviews, I bought Colorado: Yesterday & Today to replace my copy of Colorado: 1870-2000. I agree that it is the better book and now it will be on permanent display on my coffe-table.

Worthy of permanent display on a coffee table.......2003-02-28

This book is excellent in look, feel, and quality. It is intriguing to see how much landscape has changed in 130 years. Many times for the better and many times for the worse. In every case it is very interesting to see two pictures side by side and compare 1870 with 2000. The photographer was very meticulous to capture every shot as closely as possible to the original perspective and frame, which really enhances the "then and now" feel of the book.

Clearing Up the Confusion and Getting the Photo Details.......2002-11-18

There appears to be some confusion as all of the reviews of the original "Colorado 1870-2000" big book are credited to this, the paperback "Colorado 1870-2000 Revisited: The History Behind the Images". This book is a companion book to the original. It takes each photo set from the big book and goes into detail about the location, changes, and how Fielder acquired each photo. These are the things that, being left out of the original, made several people give the big book negative reviews. While it would have been nice (and certainly less expensive) to have everything in one volume, we now have the information for which those disappointed with the big book were looking. While the big book is a piece of coffee table art, the Revisited book fits neatly on your bookshelf, ready to be taken down to answer those questions posed by your friends perusing the big book. I take a bit of offense at having to have paid for two different books, but they belong together and I feel were money well spent; the big book for the beautiful photos and the revisited book for its entertaining and educational material.

A Tale of Two Books.......2002-09-05

John Fielder is one of America's greatest living photographers, and he brings his love of the Colorado wilderness to this book. His re-shoots of Jacksons 19th century photographs are both beautiful and thought-provoking.... the photographs make it worthwhile.

On the other hand, the text is a different story. Reading a text-only version of this book, one might conclude that the title is a misprint, and that the book should really be called "Colorado 1970 - 2000." Fielder roamed across Colorado capturing the changes in places like Kremmling, Denver, and Ouray, but the text never tells us anything about these places, or why they changed, or why we should care. Instead we get chapters about oil shale and the Forest Service.

Ahem. If I wanted to read about the relationship between Forest Service bureaucrats and small Western towns, I would have bought a book called "The Relationship Between the Forest Service and Small Western Towns." My book is called "Colorado 1870 - 2000." That is what I want to read about.

It's true that oil shale schemes, government agencies, and others have played a role in shaping Colorado in the past 30 years. But before that there were events like the Silver Crash of 1893, the City Beautiful movement, the Depression, World War II, and Urban Renewal. You won't read about those in this book.

The pictures are beautiful, and the text is well-written (if misplaced and unwanted). Just don't expect to learn much about the places you are looking at- except that they are very pretty.

Colorado: 1870-2000 vs. Colorado: Yesterday & Today.......2001-07-20

As people may or may not know, there are now two Colorado "then and now" books out: Colorado: 1870-2000 by John Fielder and Colorado: Yesterday & Today by Grant Collier. I am fascinated by these types of books and therefore bought both books. I have carefully compared the two based on several different aspects and decided that, for the reasons listed below, Colorado: Yesterday & Today is the best overall value.

1) Accuracy of Photo Retakes: While Fielder did a rather competent job of matching the historic photos, Collier did a remarkable job. Unless it was impossible to match them, due to trees blocking the view, etc., most of Collier's photos appear to be taken from nearly the exact location as the historic photos. EDGE: Colorado: Yesterday & Today.

2) Originality: Since both of the books were published within a short time span, it seems possible that one photographer copied the other's idea for the book. Initially, I assumed that Fielder started on his book first. But, after looking into it, I was surprised to find that Collier started working on his book before Fielder even decided to do his book. EDGE: Colorado: Yesterday & Today

3) Reputation: This is Collier's first book, while Fielder has published many other books. EDGE: Colorado: 1870-2000

4) Written Text: Colorado: 1870-2000 has some interesting essays written by leading environmentalists, historians, etc. My one complaint is that the essays do not really provide any information on the photos in the book. Colorado: Yesterday & Today was written entirely by the photographer, Grant Collier. He did a very competent job writing the histories of the towns in the book, and this text provides the reader with additional information on the photographs in the book. EDGE: EVEN

5) Appearance of the book: Colorado: 1870-2000 is a very large book and is perhaps a little bulky. But the large photos in it are quite nice. Colorado: Yesterday & Today is more of a standard size book, and it is easier to sit down and look through this book. But the photos are obviously not quite as large. Also, both books have VERY NICE leather covers. EDGE: EVEN

6) Intangibles: In Colorado: 1870-2000 Fielder reshot the images of pioneer photographer William Henry Jackson. In Colorado: Yesterday & Today Collier reshot the images of his great-great-grandfather, and pioneer photographer, Joseph Collier. This adds a fascinating human-interest aspect to Colorado: Yesterday & Today that is lacking in Colorado: 1870-2000. EDGE: Colorado: Yesterday & Today.

OVERALL VALUE: The SRP of Fielder's book is $95, while the SRP of Collier's book is $39.95. So, given the price and quality of Colorado: Yesterday & Today, I would say that it is certainly the best overall value.

Book Description

While investigating a vicious murder on his ranch, Hank finds himself the number one suspect. Resigning in a fit of despair, he heads for the hills to become an outlaw--but it's not as easy as he imagined.

USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series "...the best family entertainment in years."

Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky supersleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies. And as Head of Ranch Security on a West Texas ranch, he's usually up to his ears in all kinds of amusing trouble. Whether he's called upon to bark up the sun, investigate suspicious goings-on, or defend the ranch against marauders, Hank's hilarious, hair-raising adventures will delight readers young and old alike.

"Rip-roaring fun...[a] marvelous situation comedy." --School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

Hank made our son a reader.......2007-08-16

Two teachers introduced this series to our son five years ago and he went from "not interested in reading" to avid reader overnight. He read every book in the series and has been an avid reader ever since. Now his little brother is following suit. We love Hank the Cowdog!

I very funny, light-hearted read........2007-08-10

I had heard people talk on and on about the great "Hank the Cowdog" series of books. I grew curious and decided to break down and see what all the fuss was about. I picked up book #1. All I can say is, it lived up to the hype. The narration was top notch! The book had a good story line, and contained interesting characters. I found the book laugh out loud funny at times! This would be a wonderful set of books for your children and the whole family to enjoy together! Happy Reading!

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog.......2007-06-27

I purchased this CD to replace the audiotapes of Hank the Cowdog. My family was first introduced to "Hank" over ten years ago. The stories are hilarious and we haven't tired of hearing them. We especially like listening to them on car trips. John Erickson is fabulous reading his own works. We find ourselves quoting lines from Hank (and laughing again). We even named our new pup, Hank.

Laugh out-loud funny.......2007-01-09

An engaging and satisfying tale - great to read out loud with your child. It'll take longer than you think because of the many times you'll have to stop reading in order to laugh out loud together.

Brilliant! Cowdog is witty, charming and clever. I smell a Pulitzer!.......2006-12-13

It was good, I read it twice.

Average customer rating:

Saint Ansel, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Exceeded my Expextations
Excellent, uncompromised beauty

Yosemite and the High Sierra
Ansel Adams , John Szarkowski , and Andrea G. Stillman
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0821221345

Book Description

For sixty years, Ansel Adams photographed among the great peaks of Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra range:the "range of light." Inspired by their grandeur, their wildness, and their primeval mystery, he made photographs that were to become the icons of America's national park ethic. His reverence for these places#151;the same reverence that fueled his commitment to environmental activism#151;illuminates each image. Yosemite Falls, the brooding majesty of Half Dome#151;we can no longer experience these "holy places" without seeing them through Ansel Adams' eyes. During his lifetime Adams published seven books of images from this region; this new book bringstogether in a single volume the finest photographs from this vast body of work. Alive with anecdote and insight, his writings serve as backdrop for the images, and John Szarkowski's introduction provides testimony to the enduring impact of Adams' Yosemite vision.

Customer Reviews:

Saint Ansel, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name.......2007-09-25

Ansel Adams is SO, like, awesome!!!

These photographs are simply breathtaking! Ansel Adams had this uncanny knack for taking the beautiful mountains, trees, clouds and waterways of the High Sierras, and making them look beautiful. It's so amazing contemplating an Ansel Adams photograph: How he took something only visually stunning and transforming it into something so visually stunning is simply astounding!

How DID he do that?

Exceeded my Expextations.......2006-07-22

This is a beautiful book. I suspect the pints are as high in quality as Ansel would have wished them.
I'm glad I bought this book and will enjoy the pictures contained within it for many years.

Excellent, uncompromised beauty.......1999-07-22

Really great photos of mounatin scapes in and about Yosimite. Waterfalls, forests, mountains and sky. Typical Ansel, most flawless.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me

Average customer rating:

Read Marley & Me Instead
I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but...
Very Offensive
a whiny and self indulgent green acres with the ghosts of dogs
Bedlam Farm

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me
Jon Katz
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812972503
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do. But we can.”
–from The Dogs of Bedlam Farm

When Jon Katz adopted a border collie named Orson, his whole world changed. Gone were the two yellow Labs he wrote about in A Dog Year, as was the mountaintop cabin they loved. Katz moved into an old farmhouse on forty-two acres of pasture and woods with a menagerie: a ram named Nesbitt, fifteen ewes, a lonely donkey named Carol, a baby donkey named Fanny, and three border collies.

Training Orson was a demanding project. But a perceptive dog trainer and friend told Katz: “If you want to have a better dog, you will just have to be a better goddamned human.” It was a lesson Katz took to heart. He now sees his dogs as a reflection of his willingness to improve, as well as a critical reminder of his shortcomings. Katz shows us that dogs are often what we make them: They may have their own traits and personalities, but in the end, they are mirrors of our own lives–living, breathing testaments to our strengths and frustrations, our families and our pasts.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm recounts a harrowing winter Katz spent on a remote, windswept hillside in upstate New York with a few life-saving friends, ugly ghosts from the past, and more livestock than any novice should attempt to manage. Heartwarming, and full of drama, insight, and hard-won wisdom, it is the story of his several dogs forced Katz to confront his sense of humanity, and how he learned the places a dog could lead him and the ways a doge could change him.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Read Marley & Me Instead.......2007-08-23

This man buys animals and then punishes them because he doesn't understand their nature. Dogs are pack animals and there can only be one alpha dog, one beta dog, etc. He gives away his dog Homer because his other dog Orson takes over the role of alpha dog and Homer falls in line. He buys sheep and donkeys without first understanding their needs either in care or diet. He is looking for emotional bonding with these animals, but he is not willing to bond to them, nor any human member of his family. He blames his emotional problems on his father, but he is a 56 year old man. You are an adult now Mr. Katz, get over it. This "book" is more of a journal of his self-indungent complaints. I quit half way through the book with a very poor opinion of this man. Sell the farm, Mr. Katz and invest in some good psychotherapy, or read Marley & Me to see what real dog-human bonding looks like.

I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but..........2007-05-23

Some dogs, including Jon Katz's, deserve 5 stars.

As a future farm-owner, and possibly even a dog-owner, I'm following Katz' adventures in his memoirs with a large amount of glee. He's not afraid to take pratfalls on the public page, and he has a really large heart. Not to mention he's a great writer, and he had me following this memoir out to its conclusion in about two days!

You don't have to love dogs, sheep, or donkeys to appreciate Katz's writing and his perspectives.

Excellent material, and I'm looking forward to his new book coming out in about a month.

Very Offensive.......2007-03-31

I've lived in the area that Jon Katz writes about my entire life and it's quite obvious to me that he has absolutely no clue what he's talking about. Not only does he speak about people in the area like they're all ignorant idiots, making comments about "the locals," he manages to blatantly lie more than once. He seems to be under the impression that there aren't any purebred dogs in the area, which is one of the biggest loads of crap I've ever heard of in my life.

Not only is his attitude about the AREA offensive, but even his attitude about dogs is offensive. Entirely forgetting his previous book, A Dog Year, where he threw things at his dog Orson and terrified him into submission, he seems to think that a dog is incapable of love and has a quite obvious belief that a dog's life is of less worth than that of a human being. I don't know how anyone who has read these books can let him keep a dog, considering his attitude and behavior. Then he has the gall to say that no one loves their dogs like he loves his. Moreover, these books, which are supposed to be about dogs, are not. They are about him studying himself through his interactions with his dogs, a self-worship that is rather disgusting.

The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because despite his sheer idiocy, he is a good writer. The writing is fluid and almost has a dream-like quality. He's really one of the best writers I've ever read. If only he weren't such an jerk...

a whiny and self indulgent green acres with the ghosts of dogs.......2007-02-20

If you are reading this for the dogs, be prepared to be horrified. Katz's track record with dogs in past and future books, including this one, is not good. His care is little short of abysmal. Here, Katz buys a farm in the country, the better to cash in on dog writing, border collies and herding being trendy and hot, something people will be sure to spend money on, particularly if the book has a nice cover.

But this is a fundamentally dishonest work. He writes books about himself, disguised as dog books. Here he admits he doesn't much like dogs, except his own (and we see how he cares for those). He doesn't worry about their care (they run down the highway beside his farm, fodder for cars and trucks). His training: screaming and throwing things, etc, is pretty close to abuse. But he believes the dogs are there to make him a better human. This farm is the great experiment to rehab him. The dogs pay the price. If the dog is an easy one, like Rose, or his past labs (which were trained by someone else) he gets along with them, until they get sick. Then they get the quick needle. If they are troubled dogs, he gives them away or euthanizes them. Even Orson his "soulmate and forever dog" gets the needle, after being driven nearly insane by renovators at the farm. But that's the next book. He lives apart from his wife because his needs come above his families'. He complains his sister isn't interested in his life, but he admits he doesn't care to be interested in hers, which largely revolves around her dogs. He says how jealous he is that she will drive to pick up a needy dog, but won't drive to see him. This is a grown man, mind you. He buys a farm and fills it with animals, fodder, of course for his writing, but whines constantly about having to care for them, the cold, his barn chores, dogs being dogs (eating donkey poop) etc, and just about everything else. He believes in doublespeak, thinking that if he talks about how he loves his dogs,that's what people will believe, in spite of the litany of neglect, abuse, and disinterest in dealing with anything but easy dogs. When a dog becomes too much trouble, he justifies his neglect or abuse by saying he wants to keep dogs in the proper perspective in his life. Or they're gotten rid of. The dogs arre there to make a quick buck from, and when they develop a problem, they disappear one way or another and he gets a new one with lightning speed. He needs to keep those dogs coming for the next book on the assembly line.

After several hundred pages of whining, this book ends with seven of eight sentences beginning with "I ". With Katz, it is all me, me, me. If you want to read a book by a self-indulgent, self-centered and selfish man this is your book. He'll be happy to take your money. Don't fall too in love with the poor dogs, though, because they never last. You won't find any old dogs on Katz's farm. Don't expect to find a kinship with Katz, either, given he admits he doesn't like other dogs, dog people, dog activities or sports. But he gets testy if you don't like his books.

By the way, they're making a movie about Orson -- too bad that the dog didn't live to see it. Look for him not in the movie, but under a headstone, a victim of Katz' farm renovations. The "dog room" got renovated, courtesy of your royalty dollars. But when Katz left Orson loose to continually deal with a flood of renovators brushing past him, he didn't understand why the dog's aggression increased in a herding dog bred to protect his property and left to fend them off by himself. So farm got renovated; the dog got a new "dog room" six feet under. Hey at least the farm looked nice when they went to make the movie about the dog, and that's what was important to Katz.

Do yourself a favor, and also end the revolving dog door on Katz's farm by passing this tripe by.

Bedlam Farm.......2007-02-20

This was the first of Jon Katz's books that I was introduced to. I am hooked! I have read the all of his "dog" books now and love each of them. His ability to share his life, his journey, and the transitions that he has made are an inspiration to me. This book is a treasure and I highly recommend it.

David Muench's Arizona: Cherish the Land, Walk in Beauty

Average customer rating:

David Muench's Arizona
Beautiful photos, wide variey of landscapes
BEAUTIFUL Photographs of Arizona

David Muench's Arizona: Cherish the Land, Walk in Beauty
David Muench , and Lawrence W. Cheek
Manufacturer: Arizona Highways Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0916179664

Customer Reviews:

David Muench's Arizona.......2001-05-07

This a delightful book. David Muench's ability to use light and contrast to capture the varied landscapes of Arizona is unsurpassed. He truly has a gift.

Beautiful photos, wide variey of landscapes.......2000-07-17

This is a wonderful coffee table book packed with a wide variety of spectacular photos of Arizona. It is a stunning display of the tremendous variety found in Arizona's natural habitat. Muench focuses on different aspects of the landscape including light, form, life and ecology. Captions tell where the photograph was taken with some brief commentary. A short essay by the photographer leads off each section with some of his personal thoughts and insights.

You will find an awesome view looking up through the trees to the sky, and the beautiful azure color of the Colorado River contrasting against white and rust colored rocks. Views of waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, autumn leaves and desert sands will take your breath away. Natural rock formations and cactus plants are seen in a new light as they become elegant sculptures. Endless, brilliant blue skies are captured against fields, mountains and red rock formations. Close-up of photos vibrant pink cactus flowers and sunny yellow poppies will brighten your day. You also get an occasional glimpse of lush green trees and plants.

As with all of Muench's books this one is printed on quality glossy paper with the highest of production values doing justice to the photography. As a Muench fan this is a treasured addition to my library.

BEAUTIFUL Photographs of Arizona.......2000-02-23

David Muench's photographs show the incredible beauty and variety of Arizona's scenery. The book is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Arizona or color photography. We received it as a gift and have purchased two more copies since then to give to others.

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McDuff Saves the Day
A Dog's Life: Everything Goes McDuff's Way!
Wells' adorable Westie is a day saver.
Woa! This book will blow you away!
A fun and zany tale

McDuff Saves the Day (McDuff Stories)
Rosemary Wells
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786856750
Release Date: 2005-05-23

Amazon.com

Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers's series about the earnest pooch and his expanding community of friends and family harkens back to quainter days, when baby carriers were buckled into cars with leather straps and kind gentlemen didn't mind sharing their fried chicken and devil's food cake with strangers. Jeffers's inviting paintings of 1930s cars and fashions, and of course the little white dog himself, are warm and appealing. Readers who loved McDuff Goes to School and McDuff's New Friend will enjoy this summery entry in the series. (Ages 3 to 5) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

On a Fourth of July picnic with his human family, McDuff, a beloved buttrouble-mongering white terrier, inadvertently allows "silent invaders" (namely,ants) to make off with the entire contents of the lunch basket. Luckily, McDuffhas a way with strangers (and their picnic baskets), and in no time flat, he'sfinagled an invitation from a lonely older man to share his meal with thefamily.Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers's series about the earnest pooch and hisexpanding community of friends and family harkens back to quainter days, whenbaby carriers were buckled into cars with leather straps and kind gentlemendidn't mind sharing their fried chicken and devil's food cake with strangers.Jeffers's inviting paintings of 1930s cars and fashions, and of course thelittle white dog himself, are warm and appealing. Readers who loved McDuff Goes to School and McDuff's New Friend will enjoythis summery entry in the series. (Ages 3 to 5) --Emilie Coulter

Customer Reviews:

McDuff Saves the Day.......2007-07-05

As with all 'McDuff' stories, this book is very well drawn, and a child could tell it to an adult based on the pictures in the book, after the child had heard the story a few times. It is charmng, friendly telling of a fun family outing. All McDuff books would be good in daycares for story time!

A Dog's Life: Everything Goes McDuff's Way!.......2005-01-31

McDuff, the irrepressible White Highland Terrier, joins owners Fred, Lucy, and their little baby for a traditional Fourth of July picnic in this immensely satisfying book. Susan Jeffers' beautiful rich colors, blend of comic strip panels and large-format pictures, and attention to period accuracy convincingly portray the post-war patriotism, hope, and economic prosperity of the late 1940's and early 1950's. Her drawings evoke Norman Rockwell, Boy Scout magazines, and the woodblock pictures that graced early children's books, and they are a major factor in the book's huge appeal.

Rosemary Wells once again writes a McDuff series book with humor, warmth, and just a bit of mischief, qualities found in her famous "Max and Ruby" series (e.g., "Max's Dragon Shirt"). There's Lucy and Rick tomfoolery in the opening scenes as McDuff and Fred keep switching seats during the drive. Finally:

"Fred had to sit in the backseat with the baby and the chicken. 'He always gets the front seat in the end,' said Fred. McDuff stretched out in the front seat and fell into a sausage-squirrel dream."

Wells and Jeffers also pull off a clever perspective switch as we see McDuff's version of how the picnic disappeared. In McDuff's version, marauding ants "penetrated the picnic basket by the hundreds. In a few short minutes, the picnic was gone." We see five ants (only 5!) ferreting away a sandwich, and organized, orderly lines of ants absconding with cookies, candy, and cupcakes. Jeffers, as masterful with facial expressions as with large-scale compositions, shows McDuff conveniently looking away, trying hard to look innocent.

And just how does McDuff save the day? By eating the meatballs of neighboring picnicker Mr. DiMaggio. (The authors go a little heavy on an Italian stereotype here.) After DiMaggio yells for help, the family joins him in a generously shared, copious lunch. As now expected from the ever-fortunate dog, McDuff gets a turkey-and tomato sandwich out of it! A glorious fireworks display ends this idyllic Fourth, as Fred, once again, winds up in the front seat. This is an exceptional book, with outstanding pictures, imaginative humor, and a gentle but compelling narrative.

Wells' adorable Westie is a day saver........2003-07-02

I really enjoyed reading this book to 16 preschoolers at the Festus Public Library in Festus, Missouri. As a storytime book, McDuff Saves the Day makes for a fun and entertaining read. The artwork and story are beautiful and creative. The plot is charming, simple and realistic, giving McDuff (a fluffy white Westie) a perfect opportunity to be the cute dog that he is. This is my first McDuff story and I thouroughly enjoyed it. All dog lovers should have this in their children's book collection.
In this adventure, McDuff celebrates the Fourth of July with his family: Lucy, Fred and the baby. A perfect day for a picnic turns into a series of mishaps that leaves the family without a picnic and a cranky baby. By the end of the story, McDuff has found a way to have a picnic and make a new friend. Fred still complains though, because McDuff always gets to ride in the front.

Woa! This book will blow you away!.......2003-04-10

I love this book! I like when McDuff has to sit by the baby then on Lucy's lap and then Fred has to sit in the back seat and McDuff sits in front.My name is Fred and Fred's name is Fred!Mcduff steals everyone's picnic because his picnic was stolen by ants. He steals a man's food so Lucy and Fred come eat with the man and the man isn't lonely and Lucy and Fred get food and watch fire works!

A fun and zany tale.......2002-08-05

Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers' McDuff Saves The Day takes place on July 4th and tells of the bouncy dog's plans to celebrate. McDuff's ride in the family car is particularly hilarious and realistic as he bounces between seats, baby, and chicken versus marrowbone. A fun and zany tale.

The Dog Ate It: Cooking for Yourself and Your Four-Legged Friends

Average customer rating:

So Far So Good
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

The Dog Ate It: Cooking for Yourself and Your Four-Legged Friends
Linda West Eckhardt , Barbara Bradley , and Judy Kern
Manufacturer: Gotham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1592402291

Book Description

Just as humans need to eat the right balance of protein, vegetables, and whole grains, so do dogs. But where do we find the time to cook special meals just for our pets when many of us struggle to feed ourselves healthfully? With The Dog Ate It, there's no need to prepare separate meals. Developed by an award-winning cookbook writer and a rancher, The Dog Ate It is the first cookbook with recipes designed for dogs and their owners to savor together, such as:
* Chow Bella Burger Bites, Beef Teriyappi, Sausage Cheese Grits, Growly Good Granola, Beggar's Purses, Cheddar Chomps, Sushi Hand Rolls, Dog-Friendly Salads, Chicken Soup, Adobo Chicken, Good Gravy, Turkey Meatballs, Lamb Shish Kebabs, Canine Kasha, North Carolina Pork Sandwiches, Roasted Pork Chops, Pekingese Duck, Mom's Macaroni and Cheese, and more!
* Treats and Desserts from the Barkery include: Pumpkin Craisin Muffins, Tarte Tatin, Bowser's Brownies, Carob Ganache, Coco Loco Bites, Counter Surfer's Cookies, Banana Mutt Bread, Barking Biscotti, and Peanut Butter Buddy Bones

With good nutrition guidelines for dogs of all sizes, a list of Doggie Diet Dos and Don'ts, and what foods to have on hand so you can invent your own Fido-friendly recipes, The Dog Ate It is perfect for an occasional treat or for every night. You'll learn which commercial dog foods are healthy substitutes for home-cooked grub, and even how to throw the perfect pooch party for Howl-a-Ween, Canine Christmas (Fleas Navidad), or Bowser's birthday.

Few pet parents can resist sneaking table scraps to their pups. The Dog Ate It takes this principle to a marvelous new, guilt-free level, with recipes that please the palates of every member of your household. BACKCOVER: “When I realized that THE DOG ATE IT was about meals for bipeds and quadrupeds to share, I feared the worst, namely, that dogs were running the culinary show and that I would be expected not only to cook and eat homework, but to prepare and consume such canine favorites as desiccated pigs' ears and rawhide chew strips, not to mention rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and other delicacies so fresh that they were still alive. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. The recipes in this delectably eccentric cookbook are designed to delight dog lovers as well as the objects of their affection. Highly recommended!”
—Susan Conant, author of GAITS OF HEAVEN and other novels in the Holly Winter series of dog lover's mysteries

Customer Reviews:

So Far So Good.......2007-09-27

I recently purchased this book and just tried a few recipes from it. My 7-month old Wheaten Terrier puppy loves the biscotti and the cheesy-garlic biscuits. He will try the mac & cheese and the spaghetti tonight and I certainly think it smells great. I did not use the cayenne pepper, since I did not have it on-hand. As for the review below, the back of the book lists foods not to feed your dog in which grapes and raisins are listed, so perhaps the reviewer did not see this or did not see the for "humans only" which occurs throughout the book. I certainly don't think that you should choose just one cook book for your dog, instead read from each school of thought and remember you know your dog, so in the end you can provide the best nutrition for your pet.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!.......2007-04-09

If the authors do not know that raisins and cayenne pepper are not good for dogs, they should not be writing cookbooks for dogs.

I had to put in one star, but I would make it a minus 100 if I could.

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