Alaska Books

Ever since I saw Spike on an episode of After the Catch, I knew I had to get this book. And I'm glad I did!

This book is painful. The writing is genuinely embarrassing. At first I though, "okay, one misspelled word, it happens." The problem was that it kept happening. He used the word abrupt twice in the same paragraph. I read the entire thing because I like books about crab fishing and I had nothing better to do. If you want a book about crab fishing, go for the "Time Bandit." This book is not worth purchasing; I can't believe this was published in such poor condition.

I'm surprised that I hadn't responed to this request, and have only just review this e-mail from you!!!

This "Working on the Edge", was very vibrant reading and captured my every moment, to be reading it. And in the light of my having purchased all of the "Deadliest Catch" on DVD, completed the full story!!!

I fully recommend this publication as well as, the full series of "Deadliest Catch", to EVERYONE!!!

Sincerely,

Louis Jones in Queensland, Australia

If you are a fan of the show, then this is well worth reading. Enough hairy stories and personal experieinces to make you appreciate the lives these people lead and what they go through for the love and money.

Great book! Told the stories in a factual manner with a bit of a sense of humor. Made me feel like I was there. Loved it and quickly have shared it with my sister to read.

I enjoyed the book. I'm an electrical engineer with a lot of software development experience, so I was not overwhelmed with the technical level of the book. Actually, I was hoping for more detail, especially the microcode decoder section, but the book was written for the non-technical audience, so I'm sure any more technical detail and their eyes would glaze over.

I could have been part of that group. I was part of the graduating class from college the year that Data General was hiring engineers to build the computer, but I know I never saw any job ads for Data General. I'm not sure I would have wanted to work so many hours in a row, anyway.

I've given it to my wife to read so she might understand a little better about engineers and our passion for the fields we are in. Then, it goes to my in-laws for the same reason.

Tracy Kidder's "Soul of a New Machine" is over 20 years old now, and for a book about the creation of a new microcomputer and the engineers that worked on it, that's a very long time. Not necessarily about technology - a computers are by and large still Von Nuemann machines, and the principles are the same - but the engineer and the computer geek have become part of the culture in a way they weren't in 1980. The book, as a result, lacks some freshness to a modern reader - the bleary-eyed devotion of the engineer is an old story by now.

It's rarely told as well as it is here, though; Kidder has a knack for prose and handles everything well. The passages on computer technology slow down a little, but are still fairly impressive considering the ground he has to cover. The engineers, their quirks and motivations and doubts are depicted well, and he captures the drive and obsession with the machine and the long drag of testing as well as anything I've read. So even if the driven engineer is old hat by now, Kidder's book is still a great tome of the curious creation of a new machine.

Page turning nonfiction about the development of one of the first computers, and the work environment that made it possible.

Extremely well-written. If you don't have an interest in computers, you'll probably be bored by some of the technical descriptions, but you can get a lot out of the book and learn a lot about management styles even if you skim or skip those parts.

It gave me a lot of insight into the way that start up companies are able to overwork their employees.

Bitter about working long hours? You'll probably find this interesting, insightful, and therapeutic.

Nicely written. A good, quick read. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the history of the computer industry.

Though the technology the story is about has become dated, the story itself hasn't; the book is about the building of a computer, yes, but then it is about Kidder's own mind coming to grips with the technology involved, and then more about the people who were doing the actual building

Kidder's book is engaging and terrifically written. It is a landmark work of modern non-fiction writing, and fully deserves its Pulitzer.

This is considered the Bible for travelers to the northwest. It contains an enormous amount of information. But it also is fairly confusing to read because of the overload of info. When the book takes you off the main routes, it needs to provide small locator maps to provide context and perspective regarding the new routes written about.
All in all, you need this book when you go north. But it needs to be supplemented with other material.

Mile post is a great book with up to date information, a real must for the Alaskan RV traveller. We haven't put ours down since receiving it and it has been a great help to us in planning our trip.

Three times as big with additional info than the one I used in '82. Great stuff, detailed and the best road info of any.

The page for the Milepost said that the 2008 version was not yet printed and that I could be put on a wait list for it. That sounded good so I agreed to buy it when it became available. The next thing I knew was that I was getting the older 2007 version which I did NOT ask for. I had to repackage it and send it back and when I got a refund it did not even include the shipping for sending me the wrong thing! Last time I try to get on a wait list again!

Great book if you're planning to visit Alaska. I had a previous edition several years ago, but wanted a updated version.

We bought "Milepost 2005" on the advice of friends who live in Alaska. We've used it to plan our entire trip this summer & have found my exciting things to see & do while on vacation this summer.

The "Milepost" is a uniquely invaluable resource for travel by road in Alaska and Northwest Canada. This guide will be highly useful for the average tourist, RVer, and camper.

Alaska and Northwest Canada constitute a huge area with vast terrain variation and far less travel infrastructure than most travelers are used to in Southern Canada or the lower 48 states. Travelers should not, for example, expect gas stations, restaurants, and franchise hotels at every exit of the highways, nor should they expect that all facilities will be open year-round. Further, some routes are closed in winter or are highly dangerous due to weather conditions. Finally, travelers should be alert to both the prospect of viewing wildlife along the roads and the hazards of a traffic jam behind, say, a small herd of bison at Muncho Lake in Canada.

The Milepost provides maps, diagrams, photographs, and most of all, an almost mile by mile summary of what to expect in driving the major highways in Alaska and Northwest Canada. The information provided will allow the traveler to locate the next gas station, campground, hotel, or scenic spot. The advertisements included allow some advance planning for areas where few hotel beds may be available. Travelors may also plan ahead for fishing charters on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska or the operating hours of visitor centers or the few but excellent museums that can be found along the road. If buying the most recent edition of the Milepost, travelers can expect some up-to-date information on where to expect major road construction. The Milepost includes information on major hiking trailheads on the main roads, but hikers should seek elsewhere for detailed information on off-road routes.

The Milepost is a must-have guide for road travel in Alaska and Northwest Canada and is most highly recommended to travelers and residents in a wild and scenic part of North America.

After just returning from driving around Alaska for one month, (2005) this book is invaluable. Advertisements are plainly marked and information is very useful. It is very nice to be able to know what some of the sights are along the way, where good viewpoints are and where there are picnic areas and rest areas. Only negative is we used the book so much, pages started falling out.
This should be the first purchase for anyone contemplating driving Alaska (and BC, and Yukon) highways.

If you read all the entries in this guide, you won't have time to look at any of the views! Extremely comprehensive (down to where there are pullouts to let faster drivers pass) and informative. A little bit of a learning curve is required for travel in directions other than those shown, but not too bad. Road map sections seem very complete. A very useful guide.

This is a great guide for visiting & driving in Alaska. All roads are detailed and each mile is described distinctly. There are lots of ads for travel guide activities such as flightseeing, fishing, etc. A great guide to have.

I'm a sucker for stuff like this. I guess the reason I did not become an English major is because I like happy, uplifting stories that inspire me to be a better person, as cheesy as that may sound. This short novel fit the bill. It's a simple story, based on an old legend, but is full of so many themes; they blew me away. How could anyone not be touched and amazed by this story? We get the basic survival element (and I love a good survival story) but there is also a story of friendship, love, confidence, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Wallis writes simply but beautifully, combining modern words for our understanding with an ancient story-telling style that is evocative of the Native American spirit. This is a haunting story that will stay with the reader.

This book was short and not profound, but was an interesting picture of the early Athabascan culture and contained a lesson for many of us.

Every woman needs to read this. It goes to prove that we ALWAYS have value no matter our age. It is our duty to keep strong and push ourselves to stay focused and sharp, not relying on others or blaming our circumstances. I loved the old women's adage, "we will die trying."
The book is well written and flows, making for an easy read. I read this to my children ages 6-15 and they loved it! It is a story that gives you hope for what is possible and newfound respect for the aged among us.

Two Old Women is a complex and powerful tale of friendship, survival, and courage. It teaches us that the human will can triumph over adversity, and that it is never too late to grow. Regardless of age, is is the will and the human spirit which direct the course of our lives. We read this selection in our book club and it evoked deep and rich discussion.

In this well-told tale of two tribewomen who are in their old age we see what determination can do. Having earned the respect of their tribe these two women have been content to let others do for them over the years. But their age hinders the tribespeople's movements and they are facing a brutal winter. The chief makes the decision to turn these two out into the harshness of the bleak Alaskan Yukon to live or die.

Together these two women forge a bond of friendship and recall the skills of their younger days, conquering the pain of unused muscles and fear of the unknown to survive even the harshest of conditions. The story comes full circle when they again meet up with their tribe and the chief who once turned them out now finds he and his people have need of their wisdom.

A wonderful book for just about everyone. Full of hope and determination.

I have been a fan of Deadliest Catch since roughly the second season. For the most part, I liked the Hillstrand Brothers (though Capt Phil and the Cornelia Marie crew are my favorites). I was very excited to find an autographed copy of the Hillstrand's book at my local B&N. Though it offered some entertaining stories, I must say I was disappointed in the book as a whole. The narrative is very choppy and hard to follow. It jumps back and forth from Jonathan being stranded at sea, to Andy on the farm waiting to hear from him, to both of them reflecting on their pasts. I don't blame the Hillstrands for this (I don't expect crab fisherman to be great writers) as much as I do their editor/ghostwriter. Surely he or she could have done a better job.
For me, the most disappointing aspect of reading this book was how much respect I lost for the Hillstrand brothers. By their own admissions and through their own words, Jonathan comes across as the perpetual child who refuses to grow up. He wastes his money on women and booze and doesn't spend a lot of time with his son (but expects him to take over the family business someday). Though he says he treats women well, he seems to have an almost annoyed, even hostile attitude towards those like Andy and (Jonathan's) son Scott, who have or seek to have a stable family life. For his part, Andy comes across as the perpetual enabler who is always bailing his brother out of trouble. I have to say the book as a whole left me feeling a bit cold towards the brothers. I will definately watch them differently when they're on the show in the future.

If you love Deadliest Catch and the Hillstrand brothers you will really enjoy this book. They are my favorite captains on the show becuase of thier sense of humor.

There is no question that Time Bandit finds an eager audience among fans of the American TV show "Deadliest Catch," but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book stands up well on its own as an entertaining and informative read. The brothers Hillstrand have a pirate's lode of great fishing stories, but the book doesn't stop there. These men are also admirably candid about their personal histories and the tough issues they deal with on land (families, obligations, personal demons, compliance with fishing regulations, outfitting for the next fishing run, hiring/firing crew, etc).

The first and dominant voice in the narrative is Johnathan Hillstrand whose delivery struck me as egotistical and arrogant to the point that I almost didn't stick around to give the book a chance--but I'm glad I did. After all, the book opens with the "bad boy of the Bering Sea" perilously adrift and alone, and even if he does seem a bit full of himself, I wanted to see how he would get out of his dire predicament. His life-threatening situation serves as the literary focus to reflect on his life--kind of a slow-motion version of seeing your lifetime pass before your eyes before you die. Thus unfolds Johnathan's entertaining story, reminiscences of his life, interspersed with the narrative of his brother Andy and the fellow fishermen who eventually rescue him.

At first, I thought the writing style was too unpolished and the tone overbearingly arrogant but as I got to "know" Johnathan better, and then his brother Andy, I decided to cut them some slack. After all, if fishermen were born to be writers, they wouldn't be fishermen, and vice versa (with the exception of Linda Greenlaw who is both a good writer and fisherman). Thankfully, the authors enlisted the help of seasoned writer Malcolm MacPherson who I presume is responsible for making a cohesive work from two lifetimes of harrowing stories. More effort in that direction would have further improved the book.

Time Bandit is great entertainment. Tales of near death, living on the edge, the roughness of life on sea and land, gave me a great escape into a world I could never approach in my real life. I take points off for the literary weakness of the book which is apparently aimed at the established TV audience as a "mixed media" marketing effort. When the TV show eventually ends and the DVD market is sated, the book will not have much literary quality to sustain it as a book alone.

Sharing similarities with Time Bandit in ocean-going subject matter, here are a few recommendations which are stronger literary works: _The Hungry Ocean_ and _The Lobster Chronicles_ by Linda Greenlaw, _The Perfect Storm_ by Sebastian Junger, _Hen Frigates_ by Joan Druett, and _Cod_ by Mark Kurlansky.

This book can hardly be laid down, which is surprising for its genre. It was received in the condition advertised.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and very informative. I watch Deadliest Catch every day, and can't wait for the new season to start. Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand are to be commended for getting this book published. They are my favorite fishermen and I really like the crew also. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is excellent. I loved each and every word and could not in all honesty put this book down. I think I read this most excellent book faster and in a shorter time then any book I have read, and I have read hundreds of different books in my adult life. If you like the show, you MUST get this book.

This book will change the way you look at your impact on the world. Whether you consider the environment to be an important issue or not, it is well worth your time to read this short yet powerful book. The world is changing, fast, and it is becoming impossible to reasonably deny that fact. News reports are consistent: the world is warming faster than expected, and the results are found everywhere we look. More powerful hurricanes, ancient glaciers melting, ice caps shriveling, animals extinct and behaviors changing, more powerful storms and floods, longer droughts, incredible fire seasons. These are the signs of a changing climate.

In her Field Notes, Elizabeth Kolbert carefully walks the uninitiated through the spin and bias commonly found when discussing climate change, and sticks with the facts. Though she begins with anecdotal evidence, the claims stack one upon another to create a neat picture, one which clearly shows the many different impacts the warming climate has already made. She quickly reviews other data, from studies which cover a broader scope, but it's the anecdotes--people watching ancient glaciers in their backyards melting away--that will leave an impact and understanding. We are already experiencing the effects of global warming, and those effects will only become more pronounced as we continue down this dangerous path.

My one complaint with this book is that it leaves you with little guidance on what the reader can do to help. What steps can we each take to lessen our impact on the planet?

While "Top 10" lists of steps to lower your CO2 emissions are common online and in print, it takes more than a switch to CFLs or a hybrid car to really make a difference. It takes a conscious effort to reduce, conserve, reuse. Energy efficiency is more than switching one inefficient device for a more efficient one. These steps help, but more is necessary to reduce, if not reverse, the damage that will be done over the coming decades. It's time to consider alternatives. Instead of air conditioning in the spring or fall, why not open a window and use a ceiling or desk fan? Instead of buying that hybrid car you've been eying, why not keep your current car and start bicycling for all trips within 3-4 miles? Turn off your computers at night! Keep your tires inflated to the proper PSI, and your engine properly tuned! Buy less meat (the average American eats far too much as it is) and buy more local produce. These are some real steps, among many more, that you can take to reduce your negative impact on the environment. We do not have to turn back the industrial clock 100 years to reduce our impact on the environment...we only need to be more efficient in how we use the new technologies of the last century. In time, new developments such as renewable energy will catch up with the problem of global warming, but it's up to us to ensure the impact of our current lifestyle does not leave an unnecessary burden for future generations.

This book came to us in very good condition and earlier than we expected. Thanks!!

My grandson mentioned this fascinating and informative book which was a must read for incoming freshman last year at Tulane. I was so impressed when I read it that I have been giving and recommending it for high school graduation gifts.

This is another famous book on global warming. It is not as lightweight as Al Gore's book, which is basically a rock video put down on paper. This book is a series of stories and vigenttes. It certainly reads easily. Kolbert is a talented writer, and has produced a very easy to read book.

But this is not really a subject where we need more easy to read books. Kolbert's underlying assumptions are the same as Al Gore's. First, global warming is an absolute fact, it is caused by human CO2 emissions and, if we do not stop it, life as we know it will come to an end. Second, the reason that we do not act to stop this danger is that people are idiots, who can not understand science. So, if we talk real slow, and have lots of pictures, maybe we can teach these idiots to save themselves.

Kolbert does not go to Gore's coffee-table extremes. While she does not have any honest to goodness footnotes, she does actually cite us to eight pages of sources at the end. If Gore's book is basically a comic book, her book is about the level one would expect in a middle-brow monthly magazine. It is serious, but not very.

Here is the problem, Al and Ms. Kolbert. Many of us are not persuaded that the world is coming to an end. Many of us would like to see hard, well-reasoned science on the subject. Many of us would like to see the thoughts of skeptics taken seriously instead of brushed aside or mocked. This book does none of those things. It basically tells a bunch of stories, and makes no effort to make a serious, sustained and logical argument. It is possible that Gore and Kolbert are right, but it is going to take a much more serious scientific argument to persuade me.

I am less persuaded then I might be, because, even with my scanty knowledge on the issue, I can see her consciously tilting the evidence her way. Example. At one point, she talks about Greenland. She gives us a very short history of Greenland, noting that there were Norse settlers there for 400 years, who "scraped" out a living and then just kind of disappeared for reasons that Kolbert does not attempt to explain. These Norse settlements were founded at the height of the Medieval Warming -- when conditions were fairly nice -- and they died out due to the Little Ice Age, when it got so cold they could not survive. Kolbert knows that, because she refers to both the Medieval Warming and the Little Ice Age at other parts of the book. BUT she also knows that these non-people caused climatic changes undercut her argument. Global warming skeptics say that the current warming is consistent with the prior pattern of natural change, and the Medieval Warming is Exhibit A. Thus, by carefully not mentioning the real reason why the Norse settlements died out Kolbert has on her thumb on the scale. This does not inspire much confidence.

Climate change is THE issue of our time. Any book that raises public consciousness about it is a good thing. To its credit, "Field Notes From a Catastrophe" does help the cause by educating lay readers about the basics of climate change. However, it never really makes the transition from a series of New Yorker articles to a full-blown book. It consists mostly of human interest stories about climate researchers and the impact of global warming in places like Alaska and Iceland. These vignettes would be easily digestible on a subway or in a doctor's waiting room, but we expect more from a book. The reading non-science-educated public (which includes me) can handle more than this.

One good chapter tells how scientists discovered that carbon dioxide levels can raise or lower the global temperature equilibrium. There's another good chapter on the incredible mendacity and short-sightedness of the Bush Administration (may it rest in peace forever). Every American should read these sections, since America is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and the greatest obstacle to international action. The rest of the book, however, is little more than disposable science journalism.

I enjoyed the book, I'm not real big on long drawn out reads, however I had a hard time putting it down. Rocky used true-life stories told with a good sense of humor and compassion as well as relating to larger life issues. The book gave me a bit of the feel of Alaska and how wild it can be.

I also spent a week up at Rocky's Lodge in July with my Dad, 3 Brothers, and all the sons and nephews 13 in all. We caught many fish (released most of them) along with some great fun with Rocky's family guides and staff. The accommodations of the lodge and the food were incredible.

Can't wait for the next book!

I picked up this book at the recommendation of a friend. I could not put it down. It tells one hair raising, exciting, interesting, and amusing Alaskan adventure story after another. I especially loved the story of President Bush tweaking the big Austrians and their star fishing guide with one amazing catch after another.
This book is much more than a collection of hunting and fishing stories though --it is the story of a passionate man, with the support of a long suffering, loving wife pursuing his calling with everything God has given him. This book captures the pure fun of living life to the fullest and bringing others along to share in the experience. It is obvious that the great delight of the author is to have others experience the joys of the Alaskan wilderness with him. This book is written in a way that allows many of us to vicariously share in the fun at a safe distance from grizzly bears and near fatal plane wrecks and boat crashes.

I must say, from the perspective of someone who has never experienced the Alaskan wilderness firsthand Wild Men Wild Alaska does an amazing job of painting the beauty and nostalgia for it's readers. This is definitely one of those books that you just can't put down, highly recommended!

I purchased this book with high hopes that I had come across something really good. However, upon reading it, I unfortunately became quite disappointed with the man and his book. My main complaint is that he seems to exercise poor judgment in many of his expeditions. He makes many careless mistakes in the wilderness which needlessly jeopardize himself and his clients. One example is where he does not take his rifle with him to the creek knowing there are bears in the area. That is a careless mistake. Any guide worth his weight always carries his gun with him, always. He cited stories of sleeping in blood-stained clothes. That is another careless mistake. He cites examples of harrowing rescues, but most of which occurred due to his poor planning and recklessness with regard to his environment. Most of his scary situations probably could have been avoided if he had shown better judgment and had planned better. I also found his analogies to the faith rather forced. I paraphrase: "Alaska is really tough, so is the Christian walk." Or another example, paraphrasing once again, "There are some nasty people in life who want to get you, just like some mean animals in Alaska." Another criticism is that the book seems to have been written by a 4th grade student. The vocabulary is too basic; sentences are very poorly written throughout the book, i.e., his syntax and morphology. He uses exclamation points and italics almost in every other sentence, which is a substitute for poor writing. I really wanted to like this book, but it was almost insulting that a Christian book is so poorly written. I am wondering how this book made it past the editors in it's published condition. Furthermore, he doesn't seem to have much respect for the beauty of the land and the creatures he is killing. It never seems to enter his mind that he is a steward of God's creation and Alaska is place of unsurpassed rugged beauty. I am not opposed to hunting, but he rarely speaks of conservation or stewardship. I don't want to just disparage the book without offering some solutions. If you want to read a book about real adventure in Alaska, not unnecessary adventure due to carelessness, please read "Alaska's Wolf Man" which is the story of Frank Glaser. You will gain a perspective on Alaskan adventure that you will not get from "Wild Men, Wild Alaska." I am sure Rocky is a great guy, but he is a careless guide. Most of his mistakes are careless mistakes that someone with a fair amount of rugged wilderness experience would never make. If you want real adventure, head off to Sweden for moose hunting or to Norway for reindeer hunting with a Laplander. Wild at Heart was a good, not great, book on the idea of men discovering their passion, but this one is exploitative of this new genre.

I found this book to be refreshing, honest, creative, vulnerable and challenging. Even if you're not an outdoorsman par excellance like the author, his style draws you into the great adventures of Alaska. I not only appreciated the raw realities of hunting expeditions, but also the tender realities that were revealed in the partnership Rocky has with his wife, Sharon. Here's a good read. Enjoy!!!

This is a good read and as I said in the title of the review...if you love dogs you will love this book. Our dog got a ton of pets and hugs when I was reading this true well researched story.

I am doing genealogical research on one of the participants mention in "The Cruelest Miles" and found the book most help in narrowing my research. I found the book well written and documented.

Do we really need another book about the great dog-sled rescue team racing serum to Nome to save the town from a diphtheria epidemic? Why, yes, actually, we do indeed. This thrilling book recounts not only the canine and human heroes of the rescue team but tells us about the heroes in Nome, e.g., the doctor who had to play god and how he did it. Also, the Balto myth is debunked.

This is an excellent historical review of Alaska dogsledding years ago and how a medical epidemic was averted in the early 1900's. Being true, it is remarkable how interesting and exciting fact can be compared to fiction.

-I'd like to add another five-star vote for this book, which recounts the desperate emergency dogsled run to deliver diphtheria toxin to the town of Nome, AK, when it experienced a sudden epidemic during an Arctic blizzard (this journey served as the inspiration for the famous Iditarod race). At the time, Nome was hundreds of miles from the nearest point of transport, and dogsleds were the only way to get the serum through. So ... who could not love a well-told documentary about one of the most exciting legends of the North, featuring people like Wild Bill Shannon and Gunnar Kaasen, dogs like Balto and Togo, and a race to keep dozens of helpless children from dying? This story kept America riveted for days as the news came in. This was not a sure thing -- the authors show that only the most careful attention to detail, superlative "trail sense," and an amazing endurance could have delivered the serum. The dogs and humans did succeed in a race against time, and gave dog-sledding, and its blend of animal and human cooperation, one of its finest and most charming hours. The book expands the story by giving us the foreground and aftermath, and what a fine story it is.

-The influence of the Serum Run extended far beyond those whose lives were directly saved. At the time, our national public health immunization and innoculation program was also fighting for acceptance and publicity. The major public attention given to this dramatically successful race-against-time helped win that acceptance. In just a few years, diphtheria went from a relentless killer of several hundred children a year, to a dormant medical curiosity (many US health professionals finish their careers without seeing a case). The success and management of the public health program then encouraged an attempt to eradicate one of humanity's great scourges -- smallpox. This terrible disease has probably killed more people than the Plague or all the armies in history. The worldwide smallpox vaccination program became one of the great triumphs in medical history, as it overcame civil wars, social anarchy, and social misunderstandings to deliver the gift of Life. The last person died from natural smallpox over a decade ago, and one of humanity's deadliest scourges is now naturally extinct. So ... unbeknownst to them, the small band of dogs and drivers who brought the serum to Nome and gave preventive public health such a boost were forging a small but charming part in the great chain of events which led to the eradication of one of humanity's greatest killers.

-I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story, especially one which shows what humans can do when the chips are way down. The authors have documented a victory of the human spirit that can bring joy to us all, and which has the elements found on the beloved statue of the Serum Dog in New York's Central Park: Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence.

ISBN 0811821315 - Having read mostly positive reviews of this book, with most of the dissenters not making much sense, I was really looking forward to finding out if it could live up to the hype. The cover is appealing, in the same uniquely ethnic way The Rhythm of My Day (Kindermusik) appeals. This edition is a board book and is probably shortened from the original.

A child asks her mother "do you love me?" and, being assured that Mama does, indeed, love her very much, she proceeds to question that love further and further. The daughter wonders if Mama would love her if she did small things - broke eggs by accident or played pranks. Her mother says she would be sorry, or angry, or sad, etc. but that she would still love her daughter.

Some reviews have mentioned that the mother's unconditional love is an indication that the mother finds her daughter's suggested behavior acceptable. "What if I turned into a polar bear, and I was the meanest bear you ever saw and I had sharp, shiny teeth and I chased you into your tent and you cried?" the daughter asks and the mother replies "Then I would be very surprised and very scared. But still, inside the bear, you would be you, and I would love you." Mama's replies always include the OTHER feelings as well, from sorry to very surprised and very scared, but she repeatedly insists that she will love her daughter: that's what unconditional love is. A child can do bad things and make a parent angry, but the parent will still love them and Barbara Joosse conveys that message well here. The illustrations by Barbara Lavallee are fantastic. This book opens the door, if you want to step through it, for conversations about other cultures. The only potential negative will be parents stumbling over "ptarmigan", a word no other children's book is likely to introduce them to.

- AnnaLovesBooks

I picked up this book in a book store in Alaska, well before I had children of my own. Then it was for the sheer pleasure of looking at the water color illustrations. Now I read it to my two kids, both love it. In fact my son (4 yrs) says "Read it again" right after I have just finished reading it to him :-)

It's a book about a child pushing/testing the limits of her mother's love - trying to see if she does naughty things will mamma stop loving her? And mamma's answers are always soothing and reassuring - telling her child that her love is a constant thing that the child can depend on. It is quite profound actually... we often get angry with out children for various naughty things they do. This book puts the thought into the child's head that "Even if mamma is angry with me, she still loves me".

Along the way, my kids enjoy looking at the pictures of a musk-ox, a ptarmigan (bird), polar bear, wolves, and puffins and a snow country far away from their own.

Wonderful to read to your kids - and cherish just for the beautiful illustrations.

My husband purchased this book for our 18-month-old son, and it has become one of his favorite books. I like that it shows a parent's unconditional love no matter what. It teaches that someone can be angry at and still love another person at the same time. It has also taught my son a lot about emotions, something he has had a difficult time understanding up until now. It also shows cause and effect (i.e. If you do that, I will be angry).

Finally, it has been fun to learn a little about another culture. I have had fun looking up the things in the book I didn't understand. I also like that, even though it is about the Inuit culture, that doesn't overpower the main lessons of the book.

I bought this book because I am part Native and I wanted to keep that heritage alive for my daughter. I also liked the illustrations, which are beautiful, and she does too.

I was very disappointed in the story, however.

Rather than telling a story, this book reports a conversation between a mother and daughter that goes as follows:

"Mama, do you love me?"
"I love you so much [insert metaphor here]."
"This much?"
"Yes."
"What if..."
"I would still love you."
"What if..."
"I would still..."
"What if..."
"I would still..."

Et cetera.

I found this extremely annoying. It is not a child testing her mother's love; it is a child posing hypothetical questions. Moreover the mother's answers don't prove anything (as it says on the back of the book), because nothing actually happens.

It is sort of along the lines of The Runaway Bunny (which I liked), only more annoying, because the telling is all hypothetical, there is no intent to actually carry out any of the threats (unlike in The Runaway Bunny), and the language isn't as rhythmic, in my opinion.

The vocabulary is very rich but I do wish there had been a glossary of unfamiliar terms at the beginning, since some of these words are not ones that someone who does not live among or near Inuit would know.

All in all, a better book about love is Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" and a better book celebrating Native American heritage is "Ten Little Rabbits".

I would only purchase this book if I owned all of the other books I wanted, and then mainly for the illustrations and vocabulary building.

The book was in excellent condition and was mailed to me promptly.