Puma Books

This is a delightful living book. An opportunity to learn a lot about Monet, his work and his life while enjoying a beautifully told story.

Fabulous book about places I have visited and loved -- I actually
know Michelle who owns the Hotel Esmerelda (she will autograph my
copy of book), and have spent many happy hours in the bookstore
around the corner (never go to Paris without visiting it), and
of course, Monet's art and home are the pinnacle. A wonderful
and inspirational book for all!

I absolutely LOVED this book when I was younger. So, if you're having doubts about your child liking it, I wouldn't...I had the doll of Linnea and I carried it around with me everywhere...and I also brought the book everywhere I could as well.

Linnea, a young Swedish girl has developed quite a friendship with the elderly Mr. Bloom, her upstairs neighbor. Mr. Bloom is a retired gardener who is the proud owner of a lovely book about the great French artist, Claude Monet. After hours and hours of studying Monet and his life, the pair begin the ultimate adventure: a trip to Paris, and where it all began! Linnea and Mr. Bloom visit the Marmottan museum to observe the many paintings of Monet. They study his artwork and how the genius painted. They learn about other Impressionist artists--many who were great friends of Monet. Eventually the young child and elderly gentleman make the ultimate trek to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted.
This book could almost be a 'fun' textbook. The artwork, both of the author's and of Monet's is absolutely exquisite. Becoming familiar with Monet's life and his paintings become a marvelous art history lesson. As an adult, I not enjoyed reading this lovely book but I learned a lot. In fact, a few days after reading LINNEA in Monet's Garden I was watching a Sex in the City episode where Charlotte was showing a group of people one of Monet's 'lily' murals. Being familiar with that painting because of this book was an exciting moment for me!

In 1988 I begged my Principal(I was a teacher in the Salinas valley) to purchase a set of this book.I taught in the "middle of nowhere " that now holds a good chunk of my heart. This was the time of teaching through literature sets, wholly in love with language, and inspiring children by creating together environments to make meaning and to find "context" for learning.It was a time to motivate lives. Toni Ungs, my then Principal, turned to me and replied, no, that I would be the "only teacher" on site who would use the set. And so it goes in teaching, yet another opportunity denied by those thinking within their prodigious logic systems.
So... I bought the set out of pocket as I do most everything, a teacher tale for another time I spend thousands each year to do what matters. This book is just a delight for students. A young, girl, Linnea and her elder neighbor embark on a trip together to see Monet's Gardens.They live in Europe and this book offers a glimpse into another world for the children. Both share a love of the actual plants/flowers/gardens Monet painted, the artist, the paintings and after planning their trip together we in turn share their gentle journey as they go see the L'Orangrie/Paris and head to the gardens. Since I've had the pleasure of those places and share the love of Monet...it's a book that I share every spring with my classes. I choose to teach Monet in the spring when "what so soon will wake and grow , utterly unlike the snow" thoughts crowd my imagination. I am fortunate in that we have a TV and I bought a DVD player to share the DVD of this book.(among other things) The DVD's as good if not better than the book. I have a pop out book of his garden and a book from a Monet Retrospective I went to in New York in my teens to supplement the images and students seem as captivated as the rest of us in these experiments in light. The notion of a "series", of the way light, time, weather affect the same image are very fascinating things for my students.Then we paint. Of course I embed this in my talking of Paris, reading Madeline, trying to teach a bit of the French, and our sharing baguettes, cheese, Napoleons and a petit four or two. My first grade enjoys my attempts at cultural contexts and bringing into their lives a notion of great artists. I can confess here on this site, I suppose, that it's heady stuff to bring Monet, Picasso and the world of art to students.First grade allows you the kind of "you heard it here first" honor. I'm all the more brilliant in their eyes for it. Of course it connects them to much larger contexts and from time to time these are revealed in the year when my class screams out "Monet" at an assembly or "Beethoven, "Ode to Joy" "or somehow lets the school collective know we are up to something in room 10. And that something includes learning about a little girl that ventures to a hotel with her neighbor and picnics on the grounds of Monet's gardens and sees for herself the beauty of his creation from the world of nature. Now that's a sweet confession to share with Amazon readers. Choose this book for a child, you'll be glad you did.

I read this book when I was in elementary school (going on 43 here!) and until a year ago, I had this book in my collection to pass on to my kids, but sadly it has disappeared. I used to love this book and I love reading books about animals and believe it or not this book made me cry as did the book Snow Dog and Old Yeller. I even did a report on Yellow Eyes when I read it for school.

Picked this up at a Scholastic bookmobile at school, when I was a but a wee tot -- relatively speaking. STill one of my favorite books, and it held up when I re-read it decades later!

I read this book when I was a kid and remember it as one of my favorites. Recently I found it in a box of old books at my mother's house and brought it out to read to my kids. They where just as spell bound as I was. It is one of the most successful books at seeing life through the eyes of a wild animal without huminizing the animal. It does harken back to a time when the govermant paid people to kill animals rather then preserve them. That is a little confussing to kids but is a valuable history lesson.

"Yellow Eyes" is the first book that I can remember picking out from my school library, back when I was in 2nd grade at Des Moines Christian School. I remember this distinctly--I had to give them my last name in the library and I did not know how to spell it! Like other reviewers here, I can remember feeling for this cougar as it made its way. It imparted in me a deep respect for nature. To this day, the cougar is my "favorite animal", no doubt largely due to the influence of this tale. I bought a copy for my own son to read.

This is a book that I heard about when I was young and never read until just recently. Yellow Eyes is a cougar, and has adventures growing up. I used it as summer reading for my children. We sat together and I read the book to them, chapter by chapter. We then discussed all that we read. Reading this book is truly a moving experience as Yellow Eyes faced many dangers and some unexpected twists and turns. The writing is superb and the story development is excellent. If you are a fan of Avi and Poppy and Rye or Ereth books, this is for you!

This book had a lot of really fun art ideas that my boys loved. It is very hands on, and you can mix in science with your art. My history buff loved the art history, and this book inspired much online investigation and a planned trip to our local art museum. It is a great way to introduce your child to real art- but is also fun and "crafty." My high-energy boys loved this book, and I can not recommend it enough.

I buy these books because my grandkids love them too. They always have age appropriate topica and seem to keep pace with their interests as they grow. They are challenged and they learn as they work through the books. Mom & Dad love them too.

This was a huge hit with my two daughters, ages 6 and 8. They passed many hours going through every project/exercise in the book. Later they devised ways to create their own projects based on ideas form the book. We also discovered which crafts the kids wanted to follow up on, we have ordered materials for metal foil embossing, etc. based on our experiences with this introductory book. I recommend this book highly, your kids WILL enjoy it!

I bought this book for my nephew, who is 10 years old. He opened his present and started looking through it right away, ignoring his other presents waiting to be opened. There is a nice selection of different activities in this book. I would recommend it for older children as it includes activities that require lots of cutting and pasting, and the tempura painting could be messy with younger children.

Crafty people will like this book, and all of klutz other books. This one has lots of fun things to do, and will keep you busy for a long time. You get to play with stickers, do sunburn art, paint with eggs (this sounds strange, but it works!!), and tons of other stuff. It's a cool book.

I bought this based on other reviews for my soon to be 8 year old neice. I read it and she is going to love it. Very excited to promote the old the idea of "girl power" because there is still gender bias in the classrooms and peer pressure.

I first read the book with my daughter and then shared it with my Girl Scout troop. It was very inspirational and a joy to see some many innovations coming from women.

This book goes a long way towards encouraging girls (and women!) to put their creative powers to practical use. It is so gratifying to learn that many everyday items (ice cream cones; Toll House cookies) were invented by women. And the items that are not so 'everyday' (Kevlar; space shields) have such a positive impact on the world around us. The illustrations are wonderfully creative, blending the fascinating details of the text into whimsical collages. Don't forget the sidebars - lots of fun facts there as well.

This book allowed me to share stories of inventions by women with my students. Girls often feel left out of the "science of invention", this book allows them to relate to accomplishments in a field where girls often don't relate to the material presented.

This book was the best book I have read so far on my summer reading book list. It was very interesting to me. It is the best subject to write a book on. I had the best time reading it. I think that people could have more confidence to invent something after reading this book, even men.

Harvey Butchart is held high on a pedestal with the majority of Canyon hikers and deservedly holds the respect of all for what he accomplished through shear grit and determination. Knowing that he had a wife and family in Flagstaff, I was always curious how he was able to balance family, his work as a Northern Arizona University mathematics professor and his passion -- no, his obsession -- with the Grand Canyon. Elias Butler and Tom Myers did an EXCELLENT job in researching and writing about Harvey's life from early childhood in China to missionary parents until his death in 2002.

Be warned; you will learn that Harvey was human. A person cannot be a super human explorer of the Grand Canyon and still maintain healthy relationships at home. His family life did indeed suffer; how could that be avoided? Several of my friends were disappointed to learn of this, but it only makes sense. You cannot be obsessed with something and not have other aspects of your life get neglected. I feel the authors dealt very fairly with this. They did not paint Harvey as malevolent or saintly; they just stated the facts and very tactfully. The book is well written and the story of Harvey's life is extremely interesting. I highly recommend this book!

Harvey Butchart was the first person to thoroughly explore the Grand Canyon on foot since Native American times. Obsessive by nature, he took detailed trip notes, and incorporated his notes in a trail guide that is still unrivaled. Butchart was the first person to walk the length of the park below the rim, and his tips were what enabled Colin Fletcher to become the first person to walk through the canyon in one season. Colin Fletcher's The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon made Fletcher, and later Butchart, famous.

Elias Butler and Tom Myers have produced an engrossing book on many levels. Most of the book is about events from the 1950s into the 80s. The hiker climber authors followed several of Harvey Butchart's routes while researching the book. Their personal stories lend a feeling of suspense to what would otherwise be a historical account. The book is a biography of a man, an exploration of a hiker's obsession and its effect on his family. Other books cover Colorado River exploration, but this is the first one I have seen that documents Grand Canyon exploration by foot. Researching the book was a fifteen year effort, and it is well documented with footnotes, photos and supplemental notes.

As a long distance hiker myself, I was caught up with the multiple aspects of the book. The authors managed to impart the addictive nature of endurance sports, and the ramifications of a sport that consumes many hours. While Harvey hiked, his family grew up and moved on, seeing little of him.

Hikers and Grand Canyon enthusiasts are certainly going to enjoy this book, but I strongly recommend it to anyone getting into a sport that consumes immense time away from family.

...or you'll never get to sleep!

Grand Obsession is a riveting biography of one of the most interesting characters ever to set foot in the Grand Canyon. An author himself, many hikers are familiar with Harvey Butchart's series of "guide books", Grand Canyon Treks. Even though Harvey somewhat vaguely reveals the secrets of the Grand Canyon in his books, he himself has remained a mystery until now.

It is evident that the authors put an amazing amount of work into writing this biography. Every detail of Harvey's life, from his childhood in China, to "settling down" in Sun City, has been clearly and interestingly explained. The biography takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions, from the elation of summiting a virgin butte to the heartache his frequent forays in the Canyon caused his wife.

The authors break up the biography with the tale of their own adventure; following the footsteps of Harvey Butchart to the summit of Wotan's Throne. Their quest, a series of triumphs and failures, mirrors the life Harvey Butchart and helps the reader understand what Harvey must have felt in an even more profound way.

I didn't want to put this book down. Every page was a new adventure, leaving me hungry for more, and making me want to go to the Canyon and follow the footsteps of Harvey Butchart myself!

Harvey Butchart was a mathematics professor. His doctoral thesis was "Helices in Euclidean N-Space", and at one point he had to get twenty feet of wrapping paper to do his massive calculations for it. He looked the part, for he was scrawny at five foot seven inches and 135 pounds, and he had thick bifocals. He was socially awkward and shy. He was a good mathematician, with further papers and competence within the Northern Arizona University Mathematics Department. He had a perfectly respectable professional life. So far so dull. You would not have known it if you had seen him in his professor role, but he was a tenacious adventurer who made the Grand Canyon his realm of expertise. He logged 12,000 hiking miles in over forty years of canyoneering, he found new routes of access from the canyon rim to river, and he climbed 83 of the buttes in the canyon, often climbing by himself, and 28 of those climbs were the first recorded conquests. Everyone who knew him knew of his obsession with the canyon, and he is a hero to the many who have followed the trails he described. No one appreciates Butchart's life's work more than hikers Elias Butler and Tom Myers, who have written an admiring biography of the man who knew the Grand Canyon better than anyone, _Grand Obsession: Harvey Butchart and the Exploration of Grand Canyon_ (Puma Press). Not only is this big, well-illustrated book an account of Butchart's life and work, it chronicles much of the history of the canyon, especially after the boom in camping and nature appreciation that has occurred in the past decades. It is also an account of an obsession that was dangerous at times, and even tragic. The obsession was also hazardous to Butchart's family life, but he did put it to practical use for the benefit of others.

Butchart only started hiking the canyon when he was 38 years old and moved to its region. It presented one challenge after another; he might have to bushwhack through a disused trial, float down a river, ascend sheer cliffs, or raise himself up scorching buttes. The almost photographic memory he used when he did mathematics was also put to work on the trial, so that he could remember routes long after he had trekked them. However, he took to documenting each hike he made, obsessively typing up a description once he returned home. He remained extremely fit, and as supervisor of the college hiking club, he found he had to take care so that he would not leave his students, less than half his age, in the dust. He was hard on himself. "You aren't really living if you don't risk your life once every six months," he wrote, and he was only half joking. Butler and Myers examine at length the effects of his hiking on his wife. Roma had no interest in hiking and had disdain for the fellow hikers who would visit her husband. She was able to have a truce when Butchart kept to schedule and made it home for bridge games and other activities Roma needed. Butchart had to slow down as he aged, although the slowing was very long in coming. After he had done his last hikes, there was a reconnection and delight in his relationship with Roma, and after she died in 2002, he was heartbroken and followed her just a couple of months later.

Butchart's fame is assured, not because he had so many firsts in climbing and hiking the canyon (although these are considerable), but because of the three volumes of _Grand Canyon Treks_ he produced, going from the logbook notes he made after a hike and turning them into trail guides for others to follow. Butler and Myers are devoted to the books and use them often (even on a hike to Wotan's Throne, a butte that was a particular favorite of Butchart, to put his and Roma's ashes there). "Although a casual hiker could use _Treks_ to negotiate the beaten paths, Harvey presents the trails as mere frames upon which to drape the more exciting information, his routes that lead into the wild. _Treks_ thus introduced the sport of canyoneering to a generation of eager practitioners." Butchart was not unappreciative of the beauty of the canyon, but his guidebooks reflect his priorities, getting out there, getting to a goal, and getting there in time, rather than pointing out the sights. What he thought was important about his life is in those books. _Grand Obsession_ contains wonderful pictures of the canyon and Butchart at work in it, and is engagingly written even for people that don't have anything like a devotion to hiking. It is a full and admiring portrait of a remarkable, flawed man who blazed a trail, thousands of trails.

This is a tremendously interesting and enjoyable biography. The writing is superb, the photographs enriching, and the flow and structure of the book are excellent. Most importantly, the authors have beautifully and humanely illuminated the life of an extraordinary -- and until now for me and many others -- a somewhat mysterious man.

I met Dr. Butchart 35 years ago when I took his Algebra course at Northern Arizona University. He was a challenging professor (the best kind!), and as a young hiker and beginning Canyoneer, I was in awe of his Canyon reputation. I didn't get to know him beyond class. In subsequent years and after many off-trail and below-the-rim miles attempting to follow his terse guides, I was mystified as to who he really was. Thanks to Butler and Meyers, I have finally come to know him. And what a great arm-chair adventure getting to "know him" has been!

"Grand Obsession" is not only a fine addition to the ever enlarging literature of the Grand Canyon, it is a fittingly great biography of a little known but great western explorer.

It's important to know before reading this book that Kate Chopin belonged to a no longer used genre called "Creole Writer". The Awakening is very much set in New Orleans and there is frequent use of French or it's Creole equivalents. Fortunately, this Norton Critical Edition provided translations and other explanatory information as footnotes to the text. These aids were much appreciated.

Chopin is not a great American writer. However, she is very good. The plot makes for a compelling read and the ending is a delightful surprise. But what really struck me about this book was how modern, how relevant the story is. Edna's identity crisis, if you'll allow me to call it that, reminded me of very much of Saul Bellow's novella, The Dangling Man.

Bottomline: This book isn't for everyone, but the discerning reader will enjoy it immensely.

I read this book when I accepted a challenge to be more aware of the authors I chose to read -- i.e., deliberately read more books by women, by minority authors, and by third-world authors.

A friend recommended five books by women, all of which I loved. "The Awakening" is a fascinating look at women's place in society at a point in time when things are beginning to change. The female characters in this novel are not two-dimensional, moving about in silent submission to oppressive patriarchal authority; rather, they are presented as individuals with thoughts, desires, feelings, etc. of their own. While by today's standards this is not a revolutionary idea, at the time Chopin was writing, it was rather novel.

This book, then, served as a fascinating glimpse into a world that is past -- a world that was on the brink of change. Even if this were not a gripping story in its own right (which, by all means, it is), "The Awakening" would be worth reading simply for this social-historical vision.

This edition of The Awakening is a beautifully compiled work. I found it incredibly insightful as I used it for research papers in high school and college. The essays and criticism from Chopin's era are priceless. It was so helpful to have those along with the text, they really gave insight one could not find elsewhere. The Awakening continues to be my favorite book, this my favorite edition. If you are going to write a paper on this book or Chopin there is no other book that will help you more.

Saralee says
The Awakening is a part of many required reading lists and is also a fashionable choice for book club discussions. Why is this novel that was written more than 100 years ago relevant today?

During the 1890s, if you were a part of the well to do Creoles of New Orleans you spent your summers at Grand Isle - a resort for those who could afford it. Edna Pontellier is there with her husband, their children and their servants. As the story opens, Pontellier is on the beach with Robert Lebrun and her husband is deciding whether to dine with his family or if it would be more socially beneficial for him to spend the evening at his club. We soon learn that appearances and social position are what matters most to Pontellier's husband and as long as she abides by those rules, she will get along just fine. When she decides not to abide by the rules, the story becomes interesting and the book significant.

Kate Chopin was one of the first to write about women outside of their mandated roles as satisfied domestic companions. She boldly wrote about what a woman feels like who discovers sexuality and independence and it was courageous for her to write this book. Pontellier was raised as a Presbyterian in Kentucky and it was on a whim that she married her husband who was part of the Creole Catholic establishment. Her character enjoyed taking risks but was heartbroken with the consequences.

What did you think about Pontellier's relationship with her children? Was she selfish or bold by putting her needs first? What do you think she did that offended society most? At what age should someone read this book? How did you feel about Pontellier's last act of defiance? Did her character win or lose? Why did this book end Chopin's promising career as a writer? I recommend reading a text of The Awakening that includes both the context and criticism. The context will help you understand what all of the French phrases mean and also explain Creole society and the background in which the story takes place.

Larry's language
The Awakening is all about Edna Pontellier and her moral, sensual and personal growth and development. This 1899 novel by Kate Chopin is very modern in its tone and in its honest treatment of human feelings and emotions. While proper society in the 1890s was still very Victorian in its outlook and pronouncements, its citizens were human to the core, as Pontellier demonstrates.

She is trapped in a dull marriage in New Orleans in a social climbing, status seeking family where - instead of summering in the Hamptons or a mountain retreat - she and her husband and their servants vacation at Grand Isle. Like a good husband in that society, he leaves Pontellier each week to return to the city to make money. While he is gone, she enjoys the company of the other families in a social setting where rigid rules govern the proper behavior and emotions that may be expressed regardless of true feelings.

Pontellier's social rules instead are far more like a modern country club environment where certain manners are demanded, at least in public, until the lights are low, drinks are flowing or the spouses are absent. For Pontellier, these rules rapidly give way to her expression of her inner desires and thoughts.

What are the boundaries for an individual and for a society in the expression of personal desires? Was Pontellier only lusting in her heart or did she actually sin? Morally, is there a difference? Do you think modern authors like Erica Jong or John Updike treat sensuality and marital rules differently than Chopin?

This was a shocking novel in 1899 but today Pontellier's turmoil and dilemma would be neither unusual nor frightening and perhaps that is why modern man and woman usually succeed in handling these situations in a far better way than Pontellier.

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" is the classic novel about women that "Madame Bovary" purports to be but isn't. It's not just a "woman's" novel, though, it perfectly (and poetically) captures the inner life of a solitary person who is forced to live for the sake of others. And while this has been a distinctly female position for a large part of Western history, it is a position that can be identified with by just about anyone in our current age of employee internet-use monitoring. This is a twentieth-century tale of discomfort with and reaction to antagonistic surroundings. For those of us who don't feel the need to procreate in an overpopulated world, Edna's (and presumably Chopin's) discomfort with children will make sense. For those of us who may not always know exactly what we want out of life, this story will strike a chord.

Kate Chopin's writing is deliberate but not labored. She is particularly successful at depicting ambiguity in a way which is highly descriptive and communicative. This is a skill which I can't praise highly enough, and it culminates in an ending which is absolutely perfect. While criticism could be raised against "The Awakening" as another apology for the suicidal artist, Edna's literal and symbolic escape is less pretentious than Harry's in "Steppenwolfe," nor as indecipherable as that of any of Joyce's creations. Kate Chopin's novel is truly a classic in the sense that it should be a part of any survey of American literature. The Norton Critical edition is the best way to go, too, with helpful biographical information and literary criticism. If you want a more enriching experience with this novel, I'd highly recommend this version.

i can`t say anything about this wonderful. if you read this book you will now how good it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lion Hound by Jim Kjelgaard when I was a child going to school in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. I treasure my memories of this story and I wish I could locate a decent copy. I'm surprised Disney didn't make this one into a movie.

I read this wonderful book when I was a school boy. I still consider it my favorite book today--35 years later! I just received an out-of-print copy from my beloved girl friend as a gift. She couldn't have choosen a more appropriate surprise gift for me. Her gift touched me deeply. What a great family read aloud book.

I first read this book when I was in 5th Grade. I have always been interested in the Outdoors. This book guides us through an extraordinary adventure with a boy, his older friend, their dogs and a mean old Mountain Lion which they all hunt. It's filled with suspense, and will keep anyone glued to the book. Excellent Read! You'll most likely have to check it out at the library. It's tough to find!

Jim Kjelgaard's books are filled with excitement and a healthy appreciation for a rugged way of life in the great outdoors, and while Lion Hound may not be his best effort, it has all of the trademarks that make this a book well worth reading. The clean prose brings us into the story with an immediacy that many more literary authors fail to achieve.

The main characters are the old, wise mountaineer Jake Kane, the young and good-hearted Johnny Torrington, and Buck, the titular Lion Hound who is raised to be of use to his human companions.

As in many Kjelgaard books, we get a vicarious thrill from watching Buck progress from puppyhood to his prime, against a backdrop of beautiful wilderness and sometimes-harsh conditions.

The three friends are plagued by a mountain lion, a formidable predator made all the more dangerous by a stint in captivity.

The plot is filled with action-packed conflicts, and interesting details about life in the outdoors. There are some life lessons in here that should be appreciated by any parent, but the book never preaches. It's simply a good, solid act of storytelling that is reminiscent of Louis Lamour for its simplicity and ability to captivate.

I recommend all of the Kjelgaard books, and that certainly includes this one. I would start with another selection (Snow Dog, Wild Trek, and Big Red are some of my favorites), but there are no losers in this series. Enjoy!

My 5 year old twin boys have just begun to enjoy this series of books after reading two of the Billy and Blaze books saved from my own childhood. I decided to complete the collection for them and have bought all the other books. These classic boy-and-faithful-horse-adventure stories have a timeless appeal that have been a joy to revisit for me and to discover for the first time for them.

We purchased all of C.W. Anderson's Billy and Blaze series books for our homeschool. The story and the illustrations make this book a real "page turner". Each left-hand page has large text for easy reading, while each right-hand page has a full-page illustration to complement the story.

The sentence structure and vocabulary is fairly good. This particular story is about a horse riding pre-teen boy who is on the lookout for a mountain lion who is attacking livestock. The setting is in rural America (probably midwest), and in the 1930's or early 1940's.

I love this book on Blaze and the Mountain Lion part of the Billy & Blaze series.

This is when Billy and Blaze are on the ranch and his parents had come west and taken a ranch house for the summer and the had Blaze along too.

Billy & Blaze to the Rescue! So they are able to chase the wild cat into its den and save a frightened calf from near death. So Billy has an old rope he used as a lasso and he roped the calfs belly and he pulled him up.

Jim their new cowboy friend kills the mountain lion and Billy got a new lasso.

I love the Billy & Blaze books by author C. W. Anderson.

This time Billy and Blaze set out west (for a family holiday) and encounter great boy adventures and make a new cowboy friend.

Billy and Blaze books teach courage and responsibility and consideration for others. These things do seem to be lacking in a lot of children's literature these days.

If you want a classic story with good values and a great storyline, this is for you and your boys.

I love cats and was looking for some books on large cats, especially on the cougar which is my favorite animal. I already knew a lot about wild cats from first hand experience but this book taught me more than experience ever could. I found the information very interesting and the pictures are just beautiful. I was even able to use some of the facts for a research paper I wrote for my taxonomy and systematics class. Great book and I recommend it to anyone who like cats or needs to learn about them for a project.

This book really is wonderful. My interests lie mainly in bobcats, and it is rather difficult to find good sources on these felines. This book is one of the few good bobcat books I have found, giving equal attention to bobcats, lynxes, and cougars. It combines beautiful, vibrant photos with informative, clear text. Color range maps and "basics" boxes appear for each species, and the book even contains several American Indian legends, trivia (such as "How not to become a cougar victim,") and quotes concerning these cats. I am very pleased with this book, and highly recommend it to any lover of American wildcats.

This is a good book to learn about behaviors of the 3 Northern cats. Expecially good for those of us who own, and are interested in learning about the behavior, traits and differences between the species. Of course in tame bobcats, the authors comments about being like a big domestic? housecat are very true. Who can explain "domestic" in any cat species anyway? There are in my opinion only 2 types of cats: feral (wild NO human contact) and Tame: (raised by humans from birth)

We have all enjoyed the fact based information along with the wonderful picutres of Bobcats and Lynx Cats. We were pleased to find the depth of the information provided. This is a wonderful reference for anyone with an interest in these incredible cats.

Cats are very dear to me, having lived with house cats all my life and being fascinated by the great cats. So when I saw the subtitle of this book "Mountain Lions, Zen Masters, and Wild Nature" I just knew I had to read it. And I wasn't disappointed, not once. The whole book just sparkles with simple, direct writing that could be used as an exemplar of superb prose in any class. But I was especially struck by how many interesting twists and turns Mr. Thorp throws at us, even at the very end, the last 4 paragraphs, which I won't give away. I am sure I will reread this book several times!

This is a fabulous exploration of what it means to search for something, and how searching for one thing can change your perspective on everything else you do. The book explores metaphysical, natural and personal phenomena in journal entries that are mesmerizingly trim and poetic without being presumptuous. Lots of "Zen journals" and "books of exploration" aim for this mark and don't come close. Read one that gets it all right, and leaves you feeling grateful to Gary Thorp for taking us with him.

Reviews of Caught in Fading Light

"...The pursuit of one thing invariably leads him to discover many others: The tracks of a solitary mountain lion, for example, evoke a marvelous world of photographic imagery, literary events, dancing foxes, ocean voyages, and blind poets, all gathered together just beyond the limits of human vision. Thorp explores what it means to seek something you might not find and ponders the difference between seeing only darkness and being blind, offering as well bright glimpses into the Zen tradition. Combining an elusive and challenging pursuit with a centuries-old way of uncovering life's ultimate answers, Caught in Fading Light will give readers a new way of seeing, and will captivate nature lovers and Zen practitioners alike." Walker and Company (publisher)

"Thorp's character-and the character of the mountain lions-are expertly interwoven through this wonderfully skillful journal, which manages to be both meditative and suspenseful at the same time. As much as we relish Thorp's search, the question of whether or not he will find his lion soon becomes immaterial. For the central lesson of his book, we are led to realize, is the one expressed by our own St. Francis: 'What you are looking for is who is looking."-The San Francisco Chronicle

"In this small but rich book, Thorp takes us with him on a journey through the Marin hills, on solitary hikes day and night, stationary vigils, and extended drives, all the while sharing with us his growing knowledge of mountain lions and his Zen-influenced reflections on the meaning of journal." -Bay Nature

"Thorp studies himself as much as he does the elusive cat, embracing the world as he narrows his focus, all the while weaving his reflections on the nature of life through this satisfying journal of yearning, learning and observing."-Publishers Weekly

"An artful quest-curious, full of misgivings, humble"-Kirkus Reviews