Animal Books

These books are great fun. the move very fast with great action.
I have read all of them and do not know how many books the series will have and i do not like this! The web site does not have it and the books read very fast so now I am waiting for Mouse but starting to tire of this.
B

I'm a librarian and I started purchasing this series for my grandson about 3 years ago. Everytime I asked him, he hadn't read them yet. I was sure if he started them, he would like them. This fall he had to have a book to read in school that represented his interests so he took the first one, reluctantly (hates to read). He was about halfway through the book when he called me and said,"Grammy, would you mind getting me the rest of the Five Ancestors books? They're awesome!" He's now reading the second one and looking forward to the rest of the series. He's 11, turning 12 in May. I would reccomend this series any time for boys who think they don't like to read.

Book 2 of Jeff Stone's 'Five Ancestors' series, Monkey really deserves a reading of Book 1 for a smooth transition - and be aware, this is a projected seven-book series - but the action- packed martial-arts story set in 17th century China will win fans wherever they begin. Five young, orphaned monks specializes in a different style of kung-fu reflecting his personality: here Malao faces his temple's destruction and an encounter with a band of wood monkeys who save him and introduce him to a wilder side of his soul.

I think the book was better than hope for. You need to read the frist book first than you will get the story.

The Five Ancestors series by Jeff Stone is an exciting series about five young monks from an ancient Chinese temple called Canghzen, or, literally, Hidden Temple. The books are the same story, but from different views, because they split up. I think these books are a great adventure, and I also liked Tiger.

The author really gives the cat in this story a voice, not to mention the cat is just like mine. Great story and pictures. I read it to my fourth grade class and they enjoyed it.

This is a humorous look at an imaginary life of Merl the "special" cat. He has his cat people and when they bring a puppy into the home, Merl begins an adventure. Kids love to hear it over and over--the illustrations are also very lovely. I love to read this out loud.

Awesome book! Only thing that I didn't really like so much were the grey people (they seemed to be photographs) that were inserted with the animals) Merl certainly is a very special cat, and I can't think of a reason why any child wouldn't love this book. I'm especially fond of Merl's pink mouse toy.

That aside, the writing is great and the illustration (Aside from the grey people) fit the mood of the whole thing fanatsticly. The 'i'm so irritated' cat face is just perfectly captured.

"My dish. My sofa. My chair. My mouse. My Bed." These are the words uttered by Merl, a very special cat and above each two word sentence is an excellent illustration. Merl, who always seems to have his pink mouse toy in his teeth by the tail is a happy, content cat, until his owners bring home a puppy. The puppy dog licks and slurps Merl to no end, apparently not aware that cats and dogs aren't supposed to be friends. Merl does everything he can to discourage the puppy, but in the end finds that nothing he does will shake this dog's love, so he leaves and seeks out a new home.

However, everywhere he goes he has problems, first a lady dresses him up like a show cat, children fight over him and he winds up sleeping in a box on the street until this dog comes by and guess what, that dog is the puppy all grown up and he takes Merl home and Merl decides to be friends after all, but there are a few rules he lays down and they are, "My dish. My sofa. My chair. My mouse. My bed and My Big Dog."

This is wonderful book for children just learning to read. The illustrations are simply beautiful. Your child will just love this. I know my girls did when they were learning to read. Five stars from me for "My Big Dog."

Our class thought this book was funny! We laughed when the cat, Merl, got dressed up as a girl. Our favorite part was when the kids played tug-of-war with Merl. You have to buy this book! It is excellent!

If you have a toddler, you know how much they enjoy hearing the same story over and over again. This book is sure to be one of your little one's favorites. The simple pictures and truncated text make this a great book for toddlers. And because there's no real storyline to follow, you can skip a few pages here and there if you need to... at least, until your little one is old enough to catch onto you.

My 15-month old son LOVES this book ever since he was 9 months-old. We read it every night before he goes to bed. Taro Gomi has captured simple creatures in life and have made them animated and good teachers. The illustrations are purely magical. I highly recommend this book to kids, young and old.

Our son loves this book - and we love reading it to him. It's such a great sentiment, that we can learn so much from those around us. We're connected to our friends, and each one has a gift that we can appreciate. And the illustrations are fantastic.

I have been collecting bilingual books to read to my children and to help our whole family learn Spanish. This is one of our favorites and one the kids will listen to without complaining about me reading in Spanish (which is a problem with some other books with more words on each page). I highly recommend this book and have been buying copies to give to friends.

My Friends by Taro Gomi is a beautifully illustrated book about learning simple skills...with a little help from your friends. And in this story, all creatures (from the tiniest ant to the teachers at school) are your friends. My daughter loves this book, reciting page after page which friend teaches her what task. The overall message of this book is that a child can learn something from everyone and everything.

The artwork is delightful: colorful, simple, and crisp. The language sounds lyrical, even poetic, as you read it aloud. This book will capture the imagination of your child. Whenever we read it, my daughter gives me different examples of who has taught her what. It is a great conversation starter!

I recommend this engaging book for all toddlers, beginning readers, or anyone who enjoys a sweet story.

This delightful modern fantasy appeals to the reader on many levels. Being an articulate animal story, it draws the reader in with use of interesting vocabulary and quick dialogue. The story line of good (piglet), and evil (fox) is a familiar one that appeals to all age levels. The reader is not disappointed in the outcome of this predictable story. In fact, Kasza solidifies the reader's delight in the cleverness of the piglet by adding an unexpected denouement. The illustrations, done in the opaque watercolor style of gouache, are vibrant and add to the reader's enjoyment of this 2.3 reading level picture book.

A delightful tale filled with humor and beautiful illustrations. Fun for both young children and the adults who read to them

I read My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza. I liked it and would recommend this book because it was very funny and cute too. In the book I read that the fox gave a massage to the pig because he convinced him to. This helped convince me that it was a good book.

This is by far the most fun children's book I have ever read. Adults can enjoy it as much as the children. I liked the surprise ending.

i liked this book because the pig is smarter than the wolf and has him do things for him like cook and clean him, that way he wont eat him. then the wolf gets too tired and falls asleep. the pig gets away and then you find out in the end that he had planned it all along. its really funny.

As a dog trainer I especially liked this honest and frank book. As a Pit Bull and Doberman owner I enjoyed the historical look into the problems of owning a "public menance". The rabid fear encouraged by the media has cost thousands of dogs to be killed for no other reason but unresponcible owners and a great lead-in on the 6:00 news. ALL dogs can bite; all dogs can kill.

Before the Pit Bull it was the Rottweiler. Before the Rottweiler it was the Doberman. Before the Doberman it was the German Shepherd and so on.
The truth is ANY dog can bite, and all do. The truth is ANY dog can be trained for aggression. The truth is ANY dog can be fodder for the media's insatiable appetite for tabloid TV and sensationalism.
Karen Delise has written what should become a must have on any dog trainers book shelf or in the library of anyone who cares about and respects dogs.
Here is an open ledger of the real Pit Bull. Here is a book that honestly exposes what every dog trainer and behaviourist should know - What our dogs do and how they behave is entirely due to how we interact, train and socialise with dogs.
This educative volume should be mandatory reading for every student journalist.
Reviewed by the Australian Canine Psychology Centre

Great book for a long history of how the media has influenced the perception of dogs long before pit bulls. It doesn't really get into pit bulls until the last few chapters. But it's a good read if you are interested in the media's treatment of dogs over the past hundred years.

Interesting reading for anyone concerned about dogs, breed specific legislation and the images the media create. I am not a pit bull owner and I do not live in the USA but by the end of the book I had more sympathy for this and other breeds of dog labelled "dangerous". The facts behind specific attacks and the historical news clips are quite compelling. Well written level headed exploration of an issue that puts the responsibility for dog attacks firmly back on the owners supposedly entrusted to care for them and explores issues that if implemented would do more to reduce attack rates than breed specific legislation.

OH MY GOD, this was one of the best books I've read. This book should be mandatory reading in schools so young kids can understand the reason why some dogs bite,since obviously their parents dont explain it to them. And it also just goes to show you how ridiculous our politicians are when they have FACTS in front of them about dog bite cases but still rely on the media for their information.This book totally opened up my eyes to the reasons and causes for dog bites that I was unaware of.THANK YOU,THANK YOU Karen Delise for writting this AMAZIMG book.I hope millions of people will read it.

I bought the deck after attending a conference and a Steven Farmer workshop. I use the deck along with my angel oracle cards when reading for myself and others. It has been my experience that these cards are always right on. For example, I just pulled a card for this review and it is...drumroll...Giraffe. Foresight. "You are able to see what is in store for the future." How the world needs more insight and foresight. I highly recommend this deck to those who love animals and spirituality. Or when a workshop rolls around in your area, treat yourself and attend. Great job, Steven!

I've owned many oracle cards and these ones work the best for me. Being a person who is very connected to nature, I feel right at home with these cards and the messages that accompany the cards. I like the fact that the cards aren't vague and that the explanations are thorough. A previous commenter said that certain animals were missing from their book. I don't know if their book was a misprint, but my book is complete with all animals represented.

I think a great companion to this set of oracle cards would be the book "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews. Signs from nature and animals are around us all the time, you just have to be open to seeing them! :)

A great tool to learn and use. A must for all who are in tune with nature and those who want to learn

Excellent for use in discovering your totem and can be used with a strengths-base approach in counseling.

I really enjoy these cards. The pictures on them are awesome and the book included is pretty informative about each power animal. I only wish it included more on different spreads to use with them.

I was so taken by this book that I purchased at a book festival today in Cincinnati as a Christmas gift for my 6 year old. I showed it to my mother-in-law, who flipped through it for over 15 minutes and then promptly took it over to her neighbors to show them. The neighbors had such a good time looking at the book that it was a half an hour before I got the book back. Needless to say, Ribbit is a wonderful book and greatly entertaining for all ages. I can't wait to get it in the hands of a child!

Both my 4 year old and 9 year old boy enjoyed this book in the car on vacation. The words are entertaining for my older son and the pictures silly enough for my younger son. They enjoyed make the different froggy characters.

My two 3 year old grandchildren (boy & girl) love this book. They find the pictures (and the many possible combinations), SO FUNNY. As the reader to the child, I found this book to have many, many wonderful spin-offs for discussions that encourage a child's imagination and desire to learn more. Bottom line: this book is not just for chuckles but affords the reader good teaching opportunities.

This book is wonderful! We checked it out from the library - loved it so much that we ordered it right away. The kids get hours of enjoyment from changing "froggy." We take it in the van, to church, everywhere. It has a nice sturdy cover and the pages have held up to many hours of page turning. I hope they come out with other books!

This is a great book! It has a lot of character to it. We had the publishers at our school and they did a great job of telling about the book and how it came to be. I definitely would recommend!

I have bought this book at least three times, either as a gift or because I had lost it. I use it in teaching Creative Movement as a relaxing, imaginative ending. I love how the child continues to imagine and the mother allows his imagination to soar free.

Book arrived in near new condition. I was glad I chose to invest in a hard copy of this wonderful story. I am a PhD student, pursuring my degree in Children's Literature and am happy to add this to my personal collection. CMM

The Salamander Room has a great expression of the creativeness of a child's mind. This book is an amazing story for children. In this story a young boy, Brian finds a salamander while exploring the forest and takes it home. Like most mothers, his is worried how he will care for his new friend. Brian's mother asks him many questions concerning the care for this unusual house guest. For every question Brian has an answer. With every answer Brian finds that it's better to bring Nature in to make his friend comfortable and feel right at home. As a mother I appreciated the author's expression of how creative a child's mind can be. This book also demonstrates how amazing children really are. My children and I enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it in every child's library.

... because I've worn out the paperback reading it to my kids. It is a favorite with my son (now 7). Wonderfully illustrated. Wonderfully imaginative. Get lost in "The Salamander Room" today.

In this amazing book for children a young boy named Brian is exploring in a forest and finds a little salamander and takes it home. His mother is worried and keeps asking him how he is going to take care of this extraordinary creature. Well his mother comes up with more and more questions, while Brian keeps coming up with more and more answers.
As the story progresses Brian's bedroom begins to change, and the more questions he answers, the more his bedroom changes.
Near the end you begin to see what his bedroom is changing into.
At the end of the story his bedroom is filled with a multitude of animals and his room is now a forest but he and his salamander friend are happy and tired and they fall asleep.
This interesting book was written by: Anne Mazer and illustrated by Steve Johnson.

May Sarton is an insightful writer in all of her books. Although I am not a cat lover, I read the book first before deciding whether or not my cat-lover reader friends would enjoy this book. I know they will. The hardcover edition is especially nice for a gift. The illustrations in the book are a treasure as well.

May Sarton, poet and journal-writer extraorindaire, wrote a novella/poem to the Cat, the Gentleman Cat, called "The Fur Person". I have reread this masterpiece every year for the past 25 years. "The Fur Person" is for children and adults, for everyone!

This is a good book both children and adults. Couldn't wait to read the next chapter.

This book was given to me as a gift and after reading it I promptly bought 4 from Amazon to give as gifts for the holidays. The author has truly captured her cat's essence. It's beautifuly written and tells just how much love a cat needs and gives. I highly recommend this book.

Author May Sarton has given me some of my most reflective reading experiences with her journals but I've been much less organized about reading her poetry and novels. When I spotted her 1957 short novel The Fur Person it was an easy choice to grab it. Sarton spent her last twenty years in Maine, so I have a special interest in her work.

The story, told from the cat's point of view, is of a stray cat, a Cat-about-town. His life on the streets is guided by the Ten Commandments of the Gentleman Cat, such as "Never allow constraint of your person under any circumstances." One day the hunger and homelessness begin to pall, and our cat goes about "finding a permanent home and staff." His search brings him to the home of Sarton and her partner, who are known to the cat as Gentle Voice and Brusque Voice. Once installed in their home in Cambridge, MA, he dines on creamed haddock, keeps the neighborhood cats in line, and has the occasional catnip bender. They name him Tom Jones because he was a foundling, and perform their servant duties admirably. This little parable ends with our cat musing on what it means to be a Fur Person: a status that can only occur "if the human being has imagined part of himself into a cat."

The Fur Person is a short but essential read for cat lovers. The 1978 edition has a preface by May Sarton containing a rare treat: she tells the story of going away for a sabbatical year and leaving house and cat in the care of Vladimir and Vera Nabokov. The great writer used Sarton's study, where he installed a semi-reclining stuffed armchair for his writing -- with Tom Jones draped across his chest.

This is a charming little book that says as much about the people as the cat, and even more about the comfort of home and family. Every lover of cats or of the English language will enjoy it.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Dena's illustrations are so captivating. The personalities really come thru with the wonderful expressions of the Poodle Princess. If you are a fan of Dena's artwork this book will not disappoint you.

As a mom of a pink princess obsessed 4yr. old, this book is right up her alley! The story is fun and well written. I love this Sassie character! The illustrations are bright and eye catching, such a fun and whimsical book that my daughter hasn't let out of her sight! (let alone, let her younger sister even touch!) We've even decided we're going to buy another copy to donate to her preschool so they can fall in love with it as well!

I have been a fan of Dena's work for years. Sassafras's illustrations manage to capture the emotions of the spoiled pink poodle perfectly. The illustrations are colorful, whimsical, and utterly delightful. Some of the best children's book illustrations I have ever seen, and it is now my two children's absolutely favorite book.

I absolutely LOVED Sassafrass. It perfectly captures in a comedic way how success can change and warp a personality, and how when a person (or a dog) starts to believe her own publicity, she can lose track of who she really is. Staying true to yourself and keeping your head on straight in good times and in bad is a great message for children and adults. And this tale is told with such a light touch--that it's like eating a chocolate souffle! Brava Sassie! You are adorable!

This is a must-read for your kids! They will be enthralled by the story, with characters you too will enjoy!