Otters Books

California Ghosting is a fitting continuation in Mr. Hills supernatural genre. So far the trio I've read keep me on the lookout for the next William Hill release. Dawn of the Vampire, Vampires Kiss, California Ghosting. Vampire Hunters is next on my list, Mr. Hill will have to write fast to have the next book available before I have finish it.

Have already read the book twice and recommend it for readers of all ages. Mr. Hill has a command of the English language and has an exciting writing style.

A visit to Ghostal Shores is worth the price of admission. My favorite aspect was the characters. They were realistic and full of life, even the ghosts. California Ghosting is a nice twist on the haunted house theme, blending action, suspense, mystery and romance at a fluid pace that keeps moving faster and faster. I could clearly see the characters and the resort. This would make a great movie!

As the characters evolve, and the plot thickens, California Ghosting creates an entirely enchanting environment for a who-dunnit. Point Reyes has been thoroughly researched and times gone by have been totally recreated in the now. The ghostal characters can be vividly imagined, due to the extensive descriptions of each individual personna and their lively intereactions not only the living, but with each other as well. Mix these ingredients with a dash of romance amongst the living, a sense of humor, and supsense, and there exists a novel that will keep you reading.

William Hill's "California Ghosting" is a well-rounded mix of mystery, suspense and fantasy, filled with interesting individuals. Even if I wasn't pulled along nicely by the plot (and I certainly was), I would have kept turning pages just to see what the people (and ghosts) in the story would do next. I particularly liked some of the subtler elements, like the interactions between some of the "fully-fleshed" ghost characters and various two-dimensional, "real" minor characters . . .

This story "The Magic Bicycle", by William hill is lively and helps boost the imagination of anyone who reads it. William Hill has made it sound like a similar version of E.T., as the story consist the main characters of a boy, his bike and an alien it.
This story is about a boy named Danny Chase, who had been born under the black-cloud, and his calico cat, named Murgitroid. Danny's mother and sister have both died in a car accident 2 years before, and his dad doesn't spend much time with him as he is a busy man and he thinks that his son should stand up for himself. He is currently attending a school in Carswell Air Force Base outside Ft. Worth, Texas, where he is left out because of his personality.
It starts off on a negative point in Danny's life after two of his family members died; he is being chased by bullies; Spike, Spike's older brother Rocky, their friends, which are all of built for sports; most of them play football in the junior high team. As Danny arrives at a dead end, he realizes he has no choice but to enter the haunted house. As he explores the house, he finds an alien hidden in the basement. As he saves the alien's life from being sent to the scientists for experiment, the alien gives him a magic bicycle in return as a gift for saving his life.
This is the part of the story where it is truly exciting. As Danny experiments with the bicycle, he realizes that not only can he change the form, status and appearance with his mind, he can also listen to his cat talking English to him wisely and heal the riders of the bike by traveling on it, but he can travel back to the past or into the future, whichever he likes.
I recommend this story to all because it boosts the imagination of its reader; as well as teaching them an important lesson: sometimes doing a good deed can have its benefits maybe not a magic bicycle, but a relieving feeling in your hearts. That is truly a gift for all of us; it is important for everyday life.

I read TMB in a very short time. Not because I am a fast reader, but because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next! This book is always entertaining and thought provoking, you deffinately get a different perspective on cats. The book is unpredicable enough to keep you off guard, but writen cleverly enough to always keep you involved. I am 37 years old, and all I can say is that if this is a childrens book, pass me the Ovaltine!

I previewed this book before sending it to several younger relatives for Christmas. The author may have been targeting the "young adult" but I found plenty in it for us "older adults", too! The book was every bit as enjoyable as William Hill's earlier books and I look forward to more fun reading from this outstanding young author!

Incredibly imaginative. I was struck how so many ages could appreciate this piece of creative genius. I am 40 and I liked it. A 14 year old would love it. I think my grandfather would have appreciated it in that it seems to evoke nostalgic memories from youth about overcoming problems and turning your dreams and desires into reality.. 2 big thumbs up!!!!!!!

TMB is one of the greatest books I've ever read, along with Chasing Time. It holds marvelous truths about our own lives, and inspires one's imagination. Anyone can - and should - read it. It's a wonderful book that allows you to get out of your world for a couple of hours, and return to it wiser. Both children and grown-ups are invited to ride with Danny and Murg on the Magical Bicycle to amazing new places, across time. An unforgettable experience.

This is a beautiful tribute to rural Minnesota! I grew up and still live in Otter Tail County. I have many beautiful pictures myself of the same schoolhouse and the small shed from the cover, and treasure the fact that these familiar scenes are preserved in such a beautiful book. Another barn in the book sits on my friend's farm, so it is particularly sentimental. I just feel it is a shame that this beautiful and charming schoolhouse, which survived not only the elements and the test of time, but also the development of modern civilization all around its walls...which sat for so many generations on its desolate perch on the prairie has been moved a different location to make a summer cabin for the author. What a tragedy. Exactly why capturing these pictures is so important, before they are gone forever!

I grew up in Otter Tail County, and a good number of the pictures are places that I have probably seen over the years. The photographs capture the beauty of the place, the words the beauty, heartbreak, and tragedy. Wonderful book.

i found this book by ordering country barns notecards from amazon.com. Which where from this book i just look at the pictures and go ahh. Wonderful color really touched me

Photographic quality and angle of pictures is superb. They lent a poignant yearning of this time period - how nice it would be to see the people and hear their voices at these sites. The accompanying text made the pictures more vivid. Wonderful book - when it is back in print, I'm going to buy it.

This is an absolutely amazing book..... MacKenzie flies around his birthplace regions, and then finds these places, that once he photographs, become temples of the ravages of time. These are photos that make one sense's shudder at the visual touch of the moment when something went awry with a schoolhouse, or a barn or a house. He has frozen, via huge, elegant landscapes, a moment in time, an uncomfortable, but spectacular moment. I was stunned by these photographs and by the senseless beauty and brooding quality of them.

From the moment I first leafed through Limitless Living, I knew that it would be thought-provoking and enlightening. This is a book about "encounters with the Mystery;" a travelogue through spiritual mysticism and the many ways in which humans can experience the sacred and the divine. The author, Reverend Prentice Kinser III, writes from the heart. He fills this book with stories, mostly from his own life, recording instances in which he has felt the presence of God, received "unconventional guidance," and glimpsed past lives.

Limitless Living is a beginner's guide to knowing oneself as a spiritual being having a human experience. Kinser, provides exercises in which readers can identify their own encounters with "intuitive knowing" and trust that this guidance is not just wishful thinking. The author teaches strategies for accessing spiritual guidance and communication. He gives methods to "test the spirits" so that readers can determine whether the communication and revelations they receive are "of God" and true.

Kinser suggests several practices for finding one's own spiritual pathway: journaling, meditation, prayer, and Tai-Chi---methods that can lead us to Love and Light, to an expanded knowledge of the true self, to an experience of God, and to a deepening and reaffirming of life purpose and direction. He speaks of guardian angels and departed souls, mantras, chakras, mindfulness, mind-body healing, energy cleansing and near-death experiences. He tells of conversations with ascended masters and of past life recall. With respect to Native American traditions of shamanism, he relates his own vision quest, and the discovery of his power animal.

Kinser teaches from his own explorations as well as his extensive readings and studies in various spiritual disciplines. He impresses me as a sincere and learned individual. While he speaks of his own devotion to the teachings of Christ, he tells his readers that the material in the book is for people of all faiths, and even for seekers and skeptics. Each person can use the material in his or her own way.

I've read numerous books on channeling, psychic phenomena, past life regression, and angel communication. Sometimes these books have left me with the impression that such gifts belong only to the chosen few, or that these methods are a haphazard assemblage of self-help tools, with no core component, no relation to spirituality. It's refreshing to read a book that gets it right, and Limitless Living does. This is one of the few books that approach non-worldly subjects from a mainstream, Christian perspective blended with intellectual curiosity. This is one that a) offers readers simple tools to "test" the safety of efficacy of such experiences and b) cautions readers to approach such activities with spiritual shielding, and if one has a foundation of religious understanding, from that standpoint.

On a personal note, the beautifully-written book helped to validate a few unusual experiences in my own life--what I believe were spiritual events and encounters. This book directs attention to the holy dimensions of events we often dismiss as mere coincidence, hallucination, or fluke. Limitless Living reminds us that there are many pathways to knowing the essence of life, the soul, and the infinite.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to enhance his or her personal and spiritual development.

Dr. Kinser gives many examples from his own life and from those of others he has known, of how this can be achieved. He teaches a wide variety of methods (all of which he is personally familiar with) to assist the reader in their personal/spiritual quest, including T'ai Chi, relaxation techniques, journal writing, dream analysis, and Native American spirituality.

Quite frankly, it's the best book on the subject that I have read in the more than 30 years that I have practiced internal medicine and acupuncture. Anyone with an open mind and honest heart will benefit from reading this book.

Ronald Berman, M.D., L.Ac.

In Limitless Living, Dr. Kinser shares details of his fascinating spiritual exploration that began as a young boy writing in his journal and continues today in conversations with his guardian angel. Coming from an Episcopal priest, this nondenominational and multi-faithed book is a delightful surprise. Dr. Kinser is not your ordinary garden-variety priest, teacher, writer; but rather, he is extraordinary. He courageously shares his personal spiritual path as well as his thoughts on reincarnation, near-death expearience, guardian angels, and other unexplainable and controversial issues. If you have an open mind, you will love this book.

I think this book does a beautiful job of highlighting ways that we can tap into our spiritual lives to enable "limitless living". The stories from the author's own life are amazing, inspirational, and sometimes mind-blowing. You will enjoy the exercises that he provides, from meditations to instructions on tai chi. I highly recommend this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed Limitless Living - reading about other peoples spiritual experiences is very uplifting. Most importantly, Dr. Kinsers
ability to follow spirit instead of being bound by cultural and religious
influence. The exercises are written simply which is a great help for anyone who wants help on their own spiritual journey. I earmarked alot of pages which, for me, is indicative of how I feel about a book. I would highly recommend Limitless Living for the spiritually minded.

Most classics enjoy a broad audience, and maintain their popularity through the years because they are so fantastic. Other classics are no less fantastic, but for some reason never attained the iconic status that they deserve. This is that kind of classic, a quiet classic which is little-known, but still has that special ability to impact those who read it.

This book tells the life story of Tarka the Otter, who is born in the Devon countryside and faces the struggles that all otters must endure as they grow up, mate, and grow old. Tarka is the main character of the book, but the author refuses to anthropomorphize him, instead bringing us into an utterly realistic world of life, death, joy and loss, without pretending that otters can actually speak in anything approximating a human language.

I've read other books that purport to show us the life of an animal in this way, but none of them bear the richness of detail and the feeling of authenticity that come with this novel. The author has such an intimate understanding of the particulars of Tarka's life that we are drawn into his world with a stunning immediacy. Every feature of the land is known from the ground up; every bend in the creek is lovingly described. The way that the land and the various organisms that populate it interact creates a breathtaking tapestry of life that puts most other nature writers to shame.

The language, particularly the language used to describe the natural settings, is rich and exotic, making us appreciate the wonders of an unremarkable countryside setting in a new way. No matter how well read you are, this book will throw new words at you, and enrich your vocabulary. Turning to a random page, I see references to "a sandy rabbit-bury," the "slot of deer," an "old dismated ketch," and "the frore air." What a wealth of words, and yet the unfamiliarity doesn't prevent us from enjoying every poetic sentence.

If you like to read about animals or appreciate nature, this is a book that will speak to you more profoundly and more eloquently than Thoreau, and which will allow you to appreciate the wonders of nature even moreso than the books of Bernd Heinrich.

If you devote a little time to reading this book, you'll be rewarded out of all proportion to your investment.

I really loved this book. It really did a wonderful job of showing how joyful Tarka's life was, and how, even when he was hunted, his life was still joyful. I highly recommend this book!

This book is quite possibly the best novel about nature ever written. It's gorgeous and epic, not a kid's book by any means. This was T.E. Lawrence's favorite book, by the way, and there is more wonder, beauty, and realism in any one paragraph than in most books you'll ever see

Tarka the Otter is written very descriptively, from an otter's point of view. It's similar to Watership Down, but Tarka's thought is much less anthropomorphized than that of the characters in Watership Down. You'll find this book quite sad in places, perhaps even upsettingly so, because of the realistic (and unfair) interactions Tarka and others have with English hunters and their dogs a few times (such is life). If you cried at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows, beware. If you are unfamiliar with the endearing antics of members of the weasel family, you are in for an educational and fun treat. Perhaps you'll run out and get a ferret after this.

My mom bought me this book when I was ten I immediately thought it was going to be a good book as it had a charming front cover showing an innocent looking otter. Tarka is a sweet young otter and the book is like his life story in a way his life is like a human's . He is born ,he grows up,he loves he loses and he dies. The discription of him and his surroundings create a vivid picture in the readers mind. It really is a charming story and I would recommend this to anyone who loves animals and/or reading.

When I was a young reader, this book and its sequels were one of the first I picked up. I loved the animated series and jumped right into the novels. If you've seen the series you will notice several differences, most notably the gender changes of some of the characters; in the book the main cast is almost exclusively male, and the series balanced things out a bit. The sequels were treated very differently on television, but the original series treats the novel with the care and grace it deserves.

The writing is difficult to review not because of flaws or unusual style, but because of its simplicity. Dann works hard to maintain a perfect clarity throughout, in terms of the well-constructed characters and the simple yet thoroughly engaging plot. It's an easy read and one the kids will truly adore, and is a wonderfully nostalgic read for myself and many others. If you are an adult and unfamiliar with the series though, you may not find the substance you were looking for in this first book, but you will most likely enjoy the next few instalments in the series.

Concisely planned and well thought out.

The animals of Farthing Wood is a short but very amusing novel told from the view of a small group of woodland creatures intent on finding a new home. There arn't many books on in this type of category and I must say I fully enjoyed it. The tale goes of how Farthing wood, home of around two dozen creatures is in danger of being destroyed by man. Distraught, the animal's only way of surviving is by reaching a nature reserve - White Deer Park. Led by Fox (a main character)the group takes an oath to not eat each other and travel through danger after danger on their long journey. There are many sequels stemming from this book and the entire story has been adapted by a cartoon under the same name - one of the best I've seen at that. All in all this book is worth reading. An adventure of a different kind.

When I was little I used to watch the T.v series, The Animals Of Farthing Wood, and I loved it!!!!!!! It contributed to my love of animals and when I read this first book I found it even better!
This story of how the Animals OF Farthing Wood find their home being destroyed and have to leave is a remarkable tale of love as they have to learn to trust each other, including sneeky Adder. I love all the charcters, especially Fox, Vixen and extremly funny Weasel. This book made me laugh and cry (especially when the hedgehogs got run over!) and I stayed in my room reading for hours. It is definatly a must-read for anyone who loves animals. If you have kids, then read them this book! I benifited hugely from it! I still have the T.v series on tape, even though I hardly ever watch it I won't let anyone tspe over it!
The next books are just as good as the first, and I thouroughly enjoyed the prequel (The Animals Of Farthing Wood, The Adventure Begins.) The next books are great as we learn about Fox and Vixen's cubs (Bold, Friendly, Charmer and Dreamer). Bold runs away from the animal's new home White Deer Park seeking adventure and Charmer typicly falls in love with Scar Face's son Ranger. (Scar Face is her dad Foxe's arch enemy) It's an ace tale and I hope that Colin Dann writes some more books as I've read most of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxx

This is a great book and is the best book I have ever read. The book is about a group of wildlife from Farthing Wood who,s homes are being destroyed. The animals do nothing about it untill the humans filled in the pond. Then they all meet in Badger,s set to discuss the problem together but nobody has any ideas untill Toad (who has been missing for over a year) returns and tells the animals that on his travels he came across a Nature Reserve called White Deer Park. The animals agree and the next night they leave led by Fox. But the creatures face many dangers and some die. I realy recommened this book. It is a wonderful tale.

Farthing Wood is being destroyed by human development, and the animals decide that they need to move to a safer place, a wildlife sanctuary called White Deer Park.

This is a truly delightful tale about how the creatures band together (friend and foe alike) and their adventures as they travel from their threatened home to a safe place that only one of them (Toad) has ever seen.

Recommended for children and adults both. I wish I'd discovered this story earlier!

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Highway Surfing is a delightful book, and although especially good for young people in that it will develop empathy and awareness of the interesting behaviour taking place in the world of birds, it is enjoyable for any age.

After reading Tim Potter's book, I have become more tuned in to the carry-on of birds on the roads, and they really do seem to be engaged in some interesting play-like activities.

I wish I could have read this book when I was a child, but it's never too late for such a charming story. When are we going to hear more about Blackie, Maggie, and all the gang?

this is a great and fun book to read
it is for the young and old.

Although I found this book appropriate for children of all ages (yes, even adults) It is an especially good read for those in grade school to jr. High. Mr. Potter brings to life characters that are fun and demonstrate positive values through action.

It is a great book to sit and read with your older children. It is an opportunity to re-engage in the wonderful moments you shared reading together when they were young.

Loved the book and had fun reading it! Great characters that any kid would love to read about. I recommend it to both young and old.

Book was quite clever. Could identify with the Authors description of his characters. Found a Message that could be understood by both young and OLD! Loved It!

we loved this book!! a sweet and simple story with a compelling social justice message. Was perfect for our elementary schooler.

Oliver and the Oil Spill is indeed a timeless tale of environmental awareness and protection. It is definitely a book that I recommend purchasing for your children and young students. The astounding fact is that such a literary work can be produced by Ms. Chandrasekhar at the age of 9! I guarantee that readers young and old will find it a worthwhile read.

Really recommend this book for teaching kids about the environment, social responsibility, life and death issues, etc.

What a touching and sensitive book! Teaches young children the importance of conserving our environment in a readable and emotionally-sensitive format.

This book is the sensitive, thoughtfully-told tale of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, narrated from the point of view of a baby otter who loses his mother in the tragedy. It is an excellent introduction to environmental issues for youngsters as well as a primer on grieving and loss for youth. A must-read for every child

Dear Grandpa,
Ollie the Otter is about an otter who lived in the ocean before he got captured by a fisherman named Red Beard. Red Beard gave the otter to Kris,she works at an aquarium with otters,a sea turtle, and one bird named Bingo. The otters names are Sadie, Ollie, Fuzzy, and Browner and they also have one walrus named Fnadago. One day the animals set off to the deep dark sea along the way they met a swordfish, two jellyfish, and one great white shark named Tooth. Will the animals survive against the shark, the jellyfish and the swordfish? I don't know you'll have to find out for yourself.I certainly think that Ollie the Otter is the best book I've ever read.

Love,
Brianna
Brianna is my Granddaughter age 9

I read this book on advice from a friend. Then I read it to my 7 year old son. He loved the book and Ollie. We talked about Ollie and his love of life and what that meant for my son and I personally. It was a great couple of hours. Thank you Mr. Williamson.

Gordon Wolf PhD

My 6 year-old son really enjoyed this book and now says it is his favorite! I enjoyed reading it to him. Ollie is a teenage otter with attitude. He doesn't always listen and this gets him into an adventure with his other animal friends. The book may be for ages 8 and up, the it reaches a broader age range.

Ollie is a wonderfully uplifting and positive character that I found to be great for kids. His adventures are truly original and the friends he makes along the way are very memorable. This book is exciting, funny, informative and fast moving. Dive in and hang on for a good long swim.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! My primary goal in reading Ollie the Otter was to review and approve its content for my young son. I soon found myself in tears of laughter in several very colorful scenes. The animals in the story have rambunctious and vivid personalities which stand in stark contrast to the animal stories that I read as a child 30 years ago. I had a series of pink books (don't recall the author) that contained individual adventures (volumes) of a bear, squirrel, muskrat, and field mouse, but none compare to Ollie! I have taken the liberty of sending copies to my friends for their children to enjoy.

I loved this book as a child and when a friend of mine's daughter started to read, I remembered this as one of my favorite books. Imagine my surprise and delight to hear that she did just what I did as a child: listen wide-eyed and then spend hours playing imagination with stuffed animals making blanket slides on and down the side of the bed. Looking back, I should have paired it with some beany babies, too!

This was one of my daughter's favorite books when she was little, so I was delighted to find it still in print to buy for her children. Oscar Otter is a playful young fellow who is annoyed when a beaver gets in the way of his slide, so he decides to build the world's longest otter slide. In the process he sees new places and has an unexpected and thrilling adventure which teaches him a lesson. Young readers will enjoy the thrills and laughs generated by the text and the charming and amusing illustrations.

This was a favorite book of mine as a child - the images have stayed with me all these years, especially Oscar trying to get home at night through the dark woods. I remember finding it a little scary, but maybe that's what made it so memorable.

Oscar being naughty, not listening, he built a slide up the hill, and he rode his slide down the hill, a fox, a bobcat,a moose and a wolf slide down the hill and got bumped into the log, then when he was done riding his slide he spoke to his father. then Oscar listened. it was a good book.

My son loves me to read this to him. It is one of the few books where he is enthralled and has a great smile - sortof like when he is watching other children play.

The story line is an child Otter that loves to slide down into the pond decides to venture into the mountains to make a really big, great slide and gets chased by a wolf - but keeps his wits about him. There are morals to the story, when the parent warns you of danger there is a reason; and be resourceful when faced with a challenge.

The State of California, Dept of Education, has this book on their reccomended "level 1" readers list. It deserves it.