Animal Books

This is my 18-month-old son's favorite book at the moment -- despite the fact that he's never visited Seattle, owned a dog, or met anybody named Pete (yet). But you don't have to be a kid to enjoy this tome; it's also the ideal book for anybody with a passing interest in where the Mariners play, what "The Fremont Troll" looks like, and the process by which aesthetically magnificent design & lettering can be married to a punchy and always-compelling travelogue. Highly recommended.

This book is adorable. The story chronicles a young boy and pup as they explore Seattle. When Larry gets lost the readers are taken on an amazing tour to all of the best sites. The book has fresh artwork and is written in a light. humorous way. The story reads along for small children explain the highlights of the city but for older kids sitting in on story time, or adults who still love this stuff, there are a couple places of extra information that make the book so much fun. Right up there with Click, Clack, Moo!

My wife and I visited Seattle this summer and wanted to pick up a local book about the city that we could share with our son (who traveled with us, but in my wife's uterus). The story of Larry and Pete was beautifully illustrated and we enjoyed the extra details about the city imbedded in the story. After spending 4 days in the city, we saw most of the sights detailed in the story-although, unlike Pete, we had a map. The story is endearing on another level because as we welcomed our son into the world this weekend we named him Pete! We are pretty sure that Larry Gets Lost in Seattle is already his favorite book.

I just saw this book - super cute especially for tykes living in the Seattle area. Great rhymes and my daughter - 20 months - enjoyed it.

Great children's book especially if you live in Seattle. My son recognizes some of the pictures! Great fun.

Everything runs smoothly in the Carraclough household when Lassie, their wonderful Collie, is around. But when desperate times takes desperate measures... it minuses Lassie out of the family. While everything is going hay-wire in the Carraclough home, the Collie is on a thousand-mile trek to get back with her family again. Lassie will come across many unbearable situations and obstacles, but the calling to get home overrides anything she may run into.

I loved everything about this book! The dedication of the homebound dog, to the quaint villages of England and Scotland, and all the characters within... I savored every word! It is one of my all time favorite books, and I'd recommend it to any dog or book lover!

Other than the language being like in ancient times, "Thy, thee" this book was excellent and a good savory book. It is not a fast read though.

Why has it taken me so long to read this excellent book! It is not just a "children's" book. One of the best books I have read in a long time!

Still an interesting, emotion-provoking and relevant read for the 21st century's jaded youth. It's about the most basic kind of friendship and loyalty, where an animal exhibits more of both than do the humans. Some of the Depression-era references and rigid class distinctions probably aren't as relevant today, but the core of the book, the love of and for an animal, remains. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful reproduction of the original World War II edition of the classic Eric Knight story. I find it appalling that many Americans do not know that the original Lassie of the story was British because I read the original "Lassie Come Home" short story (published in the December 1938 issue of the Saturday Evening Post) in school. This original story is a well-written, haunting tale of a poor Yorkshire family forced by economic times to sell their son's beloved collie (a tricolor dog, not a sable as portrayed in the movies and on TV) and of the dog's long torturous journey home during which she meets kind people--a couple who nurse her after she swims the river Tweed, a kindly peddler--and cruel--callous dogcatchers, bullying boys--as well as farmers protecting their livestock. A classic in every sense of the word.

By Dag Stomberg (St. Andrews, Scotland)

I write to sound the praises of this extraordinary book.

Truly, a help for all of us to see the POLAR DISTRESS and
what to do for saving endangered bears.

This book is a superb piece of work. The written commentaries and the photographs are excellent. It is a must have for every home. Steven Kazlowski's talents truly shine in this publication!

Wow! I have a few of his books, all good, but this tops them all. I love polar bears and even have a few of his nature prints on my walls. This book is enlightening and the facts are alarming. Great job, once again.

I have been to Kaktovik before with the pilot that flew Steve for some of the aerial shots in this book. My visit to kaktovik was wonderful, we even saw Polar Bear tracks, but this book really brings the bear to life. Steve has done a marvelous job of capturing the spirit of the bear as well as the other life in Alaska's Arctic region. There are treasures within it's pages, not just the bears, but the people in the region and the other wildlife. It exemplifies much of what the Arctic is all about. I feel like I am back up there while looking through this book! A must for collectors of Alaska wildlife books! Thanks for bringing me back there, Steve, through your eyes and your talents! I love the book!

I met Steve in Deadhorse (prudhoe bay) some years ago, and we have been friends ever since. It was my privledge to pass him on to other friends as he immersed himself into the Arctic. Steve is continuing a proud tradition of naturalist explorers and photographers that extend back to John Muir. I was in the area when National Geographic blew into Kaktovik, took a few photo ops and blew out. In contrast, Steve, like Micho Hoshino did, actually lives with the animals. He staked out a polar bear den for a month waiting for the opportunity of a few photos. Thousands of hours have been logged watching and waiting, most of them in rather challanging conditions.
Even more so, the very act of living a life of meditation in the wild will transform one's spirit and vision. He has honed his eye and awareness to a sharpness that few of us will either have the time, opportunity or dedication to achieve. I am in awe of the amazing clarity that he has brought to not only the great northern bears of the arctic, but to the ramifications of the whole world about us as we continue to lose that which every ecosystem should treasure. Bravo Steve.

Yes, it was cute...but I felt like I was reading a rather bland, repetitive diary. Yes, if you love dogs, there's a lot to relate to here. A bit of salvation in the epilogue...for a woman who loved animals so much, I was a bit surprised it took her so long to reach a vegetarian way of life, but at least she got there!

Dog lovers, animal lovers, Paris lovers, travelers, and everyone who apppreciates great literary talent, will love this book. Lauren's Story is a gift from Kay Pfaltz's heart to all her readers. In this book I found the best description I've ever read of that special bond between a dog and the person she or he loves. Those who have not experienced the unconditional love and deep connection that animals can offer us will find it so beautifully explored and explained, they may well find themselves on their way to the local animal shelter to rescue one. (Please don't buy from a pet store or breeder.)
Those who have experienced that dear and unforgettable connection will be forever grateful to Kay for putting it into words and indeed validating it. So often those who have lost pets experience a grief that is often not understood by those around them. Kay makes it clear. This mysterious and wonderful love that crosses the species barrier is absolutely real and, for some, the greatest gift on earth.
There are more ways to love this book as well. If you ever wanted to go to Paris, you will feel as if you did after reading Lauren's story. I felt as though I was right there with Kay and Lauren, so great is her talent in conveying the sights and sounds as well as her own so human and honest responses to this magical city. Funny, sad, intriguing, suspenseful, I couldn't put the book down.
The best part for me, that I hope everyone will read, is Kay's 4 page "Afterword" to the latest edition, in which she explains how her love for Lauren and Lauren's love for her inspired her to question why she would eat one animal but not another. She became vegetarian and states that she values "each individual life and, especially in the case of factory farming, foie gras and other undeniably cruel practices, I no longer believe a few minutes, or even hours, of my pleasure is worth an animal's life, or suffering."

This is a wonderful life between a beagle named Lauren and her owner who spent every part of every day together. This is a love story! The love between a beagle and it's owner. Some love stories are not even this close to real love.

I felt like I was there with them with every word that I read. I longed for more when I realized I was on the last page. BRAVO for LAUREN to be loved so dearly By Kay and For Kay to be loved so dearly by Lauren.

Kay's deep love for Lauren - and all animals - includes the necessary ingredients of joy and humor. There are moments throughout the book, especially toward the end when Lauren begins to fall ill, that you, the reader, will hold your breath for too long until the crisis is resolved. And, equally, there are moments of such hilarity, that you will stop breathing simply because you are laughing so hard. Lauren's Story literally has it all: heartbreak, despair, courage, joy and always, love. You definitely want to own this book, and buy it for everyone you know.

This is a lovely story about a woman's love for her dog and the love she felt in return. The reader will also enjoy the genuiness of a single woman living -- and dining -- in Paris, a city that seems more tolerant of dogs in its cafes than it is toddlers. It is a great book for anyone who is an animal lover, especially those who are self-proclaimed dog nuts. Others need not apply.

This is one of the best books I have read. I am a SD user, but have never used any hearing tasks, and I don't think I will ever need to. The book was incredibly detailed, especially in terms of determing the appropriate temprement of the dog, which is the most important thing for any Assistance Dog. Hence I felt this book is a must read for anyone in the Assistance dog community. The tasks may not be relevant to you but the rest of the book certainly is.

I had a servicedog I am training for hearing help so the first 2/3 of the book were of limited use for me though it was very interesting and would be applicable for choosing almost any service dog. The last 1/3 was very good and I look forward to using them to teach my dog while I still have enough hearing to train her.

Wonderful book. Everything there is to know about hearing dogs is in this book. It takes you from point A to point Z. And has some very informative pictures.

I read Lend Me An Ear specifically for its huge section that analyzes breed
types (as groups, not as individuals) when selecting a dog for service
(specifically hearing) work. I found the training tips to be very helpful,
as they address some of the more obnoxious personality traits found not only
in what the author termed "reactive" dogs but also occasionally in our own beloved
trained service dogs. The book is hilarious at times with many personal
examples of the trials and tribulations of training hearing dogs to alert
their partners to various sounds

This book needs to be appreciated as being far more than guidance for a specialized field. The author's insight regarding the balance of reactivity, intelligence and temperament make this a must read for any serious student of animal behavior. Liberal use of photos illustrate the often difficult job of interpreting canine behavior and further discussion of the system used by the author to evaluate suitability and the successful progression of training are so informative.

I bought this bought in anticipation of my husbands hearing loss and only started reading it after it sat on my shelf for months. It has great relevance to every animal I handle, horse and dog, and I only wish I had read it when I first bought it.

This represents a tremendous synthesis of all the best information in the field and more! Highly recommended.

If you have ever had that special once in a lifetime horse you will relate totally to this book. I sure know I did.

It is A good book to read whether you are into horse or not. It is more of a self help book than training. Worth reading for anyone. Good book on communication between your horse and you.

I am not good at reviewing books, but I will say that if you had a six star rating instead of just five, I would definitely give it a six.
Anyone who is fond of horses or has ridden and/or worked with horses would love this book written by a totally likeable man who looks at training, riding, working and just being buddies from the horse's point of view. This book shows great understanding of the subject. Mark's writing is easy, compassionate, humorous and you just hate it when the book ends. From now on I will buy any book written by Mark Rashid. (TOLD you I was not good at writing reviews)!

a book showing that there is a lot to be learned from our horse if we only care to listen to him/her.

I have read most of Mark Rashid's books, and I had greatly anticipated reading this one hoping for more insight into horse training. If you are looking for training advice in this book you will find very little of it. The book deals mostly with what Mark learned about his own personal behavior through observing his horse Buck. One could take advice from the book I suppose but you have to dig much deeper to come away with useful tidbits. Also, don't expect any of the colorful stories of the "Old Man" that appeared in other books by Mark, there are none of those here, and only a smattering of stories about working with horses other than Buck. It is a good read, but don't expect much in the way of tips on working with horses.

This simple, beautiful book highlights all of the aspects of attachment parenting. It is comforting to babies and reassuring to mommies. This would be a great gift for a new mother (with Papa Papa for the new dad).

This book (and Papa, Papa) are two of our favorites. I now give them for baby shower gifts!!!

I absolutely love this book. The illustrations are so serene, calming and beautiful. The rhymes sound great without risking good content. The message is really wholesome and sweet. My baby really enjoys this book.

This book (along with Papa, Papa) was given to me as a shower gift for my first daughter. It was always one of our favorites, and now my second daughter enjoys it as well. Both girls love the pictures and the rhymes....and I just love the last rhyme, it almost always makes me tear up. I am going to be giving these books to friends and feel confident they will love them as much as I do.
-L

I have never read seven sentences in a children's book, (besides my own) that have had such a powerful impact on me as this one has. It is very hard to find books that demonstrate attachment parenting but this one does it perfectly; a baby cheetah nurses on his Mama, a baby panda and her Mama are co-sleeping, and a koala Mama is "wearing" her baby! Each Mama and baby pictured is experiencing life together, in close contact. This book truly embraces the attachment parenting philosophy. My children love to read this book with me because they still call me Mama and are delighted that my name is in a book. They also like the repetitiveness of the verses and the sweet pictures of the animal babies and Mamas. This Mama and her babies are definitely "attached" to this book!

I really loved this book. It made you laugh and made you sad. I wish I could have the courage to rescue dogs in the same manner as Randy Grim does. Truly inspiring stories.

Mr. Grim is a living saint in the mold of Brother Francis. If you believe that a dog dumped by someone who doesn't want him anymore will end up wild and free like a wolf . . . if you think neutering your dog will somehow affect your own manhood . . . if you think your dog should have "just one litter" because "the kids should see the miracle of birth" . . . read this book and then try to sleep at night. Dogs are not wolves in Snoopy costumes, able to return to the wild at a moment's notice. Dumped dogs die slow and terrible deaths, and dogs born on the street live short and wretched lives. They need us. They can't survive without us. Our ancestors made them that way, and passed on to us the responsibility for their life and death. Randy Grim knows this in his guts.

Read this book, and when you stop shivering, call your local animal shelter and ask them what they need most. And if you see a dog wandering alone, look into its eyes. You'll know what I mean when you're done with The Man who Talks to Dogs.

Randy Grim hates being called a hero. He feels like a fake when people use that term to describe him because, in his eyes, he's a frail and fearful person, full of complexities and issues. It takes all his energy to face life's challenges but, for some reason, it all changes when he's on the trail of a dog that needs his help. Then he's a fully focused, driven machine that will wade through filth, skid along icy, dark streets and face down the roughest, toughest people to accomplish his task. He can't and he won't leave that canine alone on the street.
This book is fast paced and fascinating. I was hooked from word one. The author has managed to weave together the story of a fascinating, though reluctant hero with the graphic and gritty reality of the price being paid by the strays in our midst. The author dissects the various causes and brings the tragic results into sharp focus. It is hard to blink, to look away, to pretend it doesn't exist. Those weary, confused eyes stare back from the pages.
While we witness the dark side of humanity and it's wretched victims, we are also allowed to share the small and great triumphs that result from Randy's dedication. Many are the hurdles that have to be overcome but, step by step, the right people join the battle, sanctuary is provided, supplies appear and donations arrive.
This is how heros and saints come to be. It's the leap of faith that says, "I don't know whether I'm making a difference. I don't know how I'm going to manage but I will. Because I'm not taking my eye off this one, and the next one, and the next one until they're safe." One small miracle at a time creates a haven. For the strays, for the people who care and for the children who see that brutality or indifference are not the only choices.
Thanks Randy, for showing the way and thanks Melinda, for telling the story so well.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. There are few people I have encountered that are as dedicated to a cause as Randy seems to be. His devotion and tenacity are to be commended. He is doing such a great service to the city of St. Louis. There are a lot of us out there that would've never even realized there was such a stray problem in this country. I am so glad to have read this book and to be more informed on the conditions these dogs have to live in. It has been said over and over about this book, but the prevailing message is that one man can make a difference and seeing that proven in Randy's case is a great motivator for the rest of us. For anyone who loves dogs and/or loves inspiring stories, read this book.

A warts'n'all portrait of a man who devotes every spare moment and every spare dollar to rescuing abandoned and abused dogs from the streets of St. Louis. Though numerous stories about dogs tortured and neglected may be upsetting to sensitive readers, this is ultimately a deeply inspirational story about how one man CAN make a difference. As soon as I can, I'm hunting down his address and sending him a check. Makes a good companion piece with Kat Albrecht's THE LOST PET CHRONICLES.

PS: As I write this, the animal shelter in Buffalo may be a victim of budget cuts. One step forward, two steps back.

My children LOVE Max and Ruby, and this one is a favorite. Max really wants that Dragon shirt, and he ends up getting one, in his regular, mischevious way...this one will end up a favorite of your children as well...a great price too!

My husband, son, and I enjoy Max and Ruby stories. When we read the first page of this story, when Ruby comments that Max's pants are "disgusting", all of us laughed. We were hooked.

Rosemary Wells has done a great job with giving her characters such distinct voices without using a lot of text or explanation. This is a short, light-hearted read as are Wells' other Max and Ruby stories.

I love reading Max's dragon shirt to my son, Maxwell. We loved that all these books have his name in them! They are cute and fun, and I enjoy reading them too!

This is another cute story by Rosemary Wells. As expected my daughter who's a huge Max and Ruby fan likes it, but I was surprised when it became he favorite book and is read every night.

At the request of their Mother, Ruby decides to take young Max to the mall to buy him a new pair of pants. However, Ruby quickly stumbles upon a collection of beautiful dresses that she just has to try on. So she heads to the dressing room, young Max in tow. But while she's trying on dresses, unbeknownst to her, Max has wandered out of the dressing rooms and into the Boys Department, where he finds a fantastic green t-shirt with a picture of a fire-breathing dragon on the front. He wants it more than anything, yet Ruby insists that there is not enough money for both new pants for him, and a new shirt. But since Ruby is trying dresses on, Max sees no harm in trying the t-shirt on himself. Soon Max is picked up by two police officers, wearing the dragon shirt, which is now covered in ice cream, and big sis Ruby has no choice but to purchase the shirt for the little rascal.

I have seen the MAX AND RUBY television show on Nickelodeon on numerous occasions and had found it extremely cute, but had never read one of the books. So when I came across MAX'S DRAGON SHIRT, I decided to check it out, and I am happy to say that it was utterly adorable. Rosemary Wells captures the essence of how young children think when they are in department stores with her wonderful prose, while her illustrations show the numerous cute expressions that cross their face as they experience something new. This is an adorable new children's book that will be quickly loved by both parents and their young children. Especially if those children are fans of the MAX AND RUBY television show.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

When I was a working librarian, I read this books (and the others)to my storytimes. When I retired I started to volunteer in an inner city school. I was not certain how the children would react to the book. I am now in my sixth year reading to Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade. They hear the first four books each year and they always ask me to repeat the books. The line about "no one had ever asked him to come in" always gets a great response. I think everyone should read these McDuff books. So many classes can't be wrong!

Dear old Rosemary Wells. If you've ever read her books about that famous bunny Max or classic titles like, "Morris' Disappearing Bag" then you know that her stories, while disjointed, can often be truly charming works of preschool art. So when I discovered the McDuff books (written by her but illustrated by someone else entirely) I was ill at ease. I mean, Wells draws such cute little bunnies. How could anyone else adapt to her words? On reading the first book of the McDuff series, "McDuff Moves In", I was amazed to find myself suddenly on the oposte side of the fence. The pictures in this book are really quite charming. From the cute little Scottie named McDuff to the 1950s setting, visually this story's a charmer. But strange as it may seem, Wells's words are out-of-place here. Though a brief tale with little in the way of plot, somehow this book is not as direct or understandable as it might be. A pity.

On our first view of little white McDuff, he's sitting in the back of a city pound truck. After a providential bump in the road and a quick escape, the solitary doggy goes down a nice suburban street in search of food and shelter. Door number one at the first house growls at him. Door number two at the second house hisses at him. But door number three at the third house is just right. There, a friendly couple take him in, feed him, give him a bath, then decide they haven't room for a doggy. Fortunately an attempted car ride to the pound proves that maybe this couple has grown a bit attached to their shaggy new friend. Happy ending and shortbread biscuits for all.

The book bears a striking resemblance to Lyn Rossiter McFarland's subsequent similarly plotted picture book, "Widget". The difference, however, is that "Widget" is the stronger story. Though I was with "McDuff" through the beginning, about the time he stumbles on the kindly couple I found my eyebrows slowly beginning to lift. For example, when McDuff appears outside the third home, the book says the following: "Somebody opened the door and asked him to come in. It was Lucy. 'This is Fred', said Lucy". Looking at the picture of both Fred and Lucy staring at the pup on their porch, I naturally assumed that now the dog was named Fred. Not so much. The text and the pictures don't mesh particularly well either. When the book says that Fred checks McDuff's collar, the picture shows Fred sitting on a chair with McDuff hiding underneath. Plus the language is oddly stilted. It ends with the words, " 'How happy we are!', they said in their dreams", which is half an inch shy of hokey and a sneeze away from outright saccharine. I don't think I'm conveying the book's inability to tell its story convincingly to you. Nevertheless, I strongly urge you to flip through this story long before you decide to buy it. Long before.

Which is not to say that the pictures don't almost make up for its narrative flaws. Illustrator Susan Jeffers has a Caldecott Honor Award under her belt and it shows. From Lucy's painted toenails and felt hat spotted bathrobe to the image of the three new friends happily munching on McDuff's shortbread biscuits at the tale's end, this book seeks to enchant. Seeks and, were it not for the words, would succeed. I loved the fabulous 40s-50s decor. I liked the scared little McDuff turning into a confident happy pup in a loving home. I liked how realistic these images were and how original the setting became. Obviously if Rosemary Wells had illustrated this tale herself she would've done it in an entirely different way. It's just her own bloody good luck that she found herself paired with such a supremely talented artist.

So it's entirely up to you. "McDuff Moves In" has much in its favor and much against it as well. Personally, I suggest that if you are looking for a tale of a cute little white Scottie finding a home then you should seek out "Widget" by Lyn Rossiter McFarland forthwith. If, however, you're a fan of the period picture book genre and you like Susan Jeffers's work, "McDuff" may be a great choice for you and yours. It is not Rosemary Wells's best writing and the story is pretty touch n' go. Still, there are things to recommend it. Definitely give it a trial run.

I am a 2nd grader. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN. I like this book because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

I am a 2nd grader at Anna Merritt Elementary School. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

I own this book, as well as others in the series. They are just great! My mom owns a Westie, perfectly named Duffy(he got the name before we new about the books), and the illustrator captures the essence of the Westie. Every picture is perfectly drawn to show the character of a Westie. I love the author as well. I have been a teacher and have always read Ms. Wells' books to my students and the McDuff series is loved by all. McDuff moves in is just a fun book to read and I recommend it to all ages.