Wildlife Books

An excellent book with some marvellous photographs. After all those years in Savuti I would have thought that they perhaps would have had a greater understanding on the politics of lions and hunting? I spent twenty seven years there, I can remember an Africa with a lot more Cheethas, Leopards and other cats, in the days before "everyone wants to see a lion". Now the over population of Lions is having adverse effects on the other predatory cats. Well, Lions is their passion, so theyre understandably biased, but all in all - a great deal of effort and hard work has gone in to producing an otherwise very enjoyable book

Simply the most passionate book on wildlife, this one in a million work trully complements the Jouberts' films on the Savuti plains, and only makes you dream even more about that magical place. A must read for all wildlife lovers.

This book is a joy to browse through, to read and to admire the photographs. Every page shows the author's passion towards the lions of Savuti, a magical and wild place in Northern Botswana. Derek and Beverly Joubert spend years in that place filming and photographing lions and other denizens of this wilderness. The book is proliferated with exceptional photographs of lions interacting with other animals. We see lions hunting, resting, playing and communicating with each other. There is a series of unique photographs portraying lions killing an elephant calf. There is a great photograph of a running lioness during a hunt, an aerial photograph of a running buffalo herd. I can go on and on. You get the drift. The text is interesting and at times seems almost poetic. "Hunting with the Moon" is one of a few must-have books for a true lover of African wildlife. In other words, great book!

No nature video collection is complete without at least two or three of the Joubert's works on the wildlife of Botswana, and this book complements their video work wonderfully.

The major focus of their work has been the elephants and lions of Botswana, but the book is a good overall view of the wildlife of the Savuti area. Fans of the videos will enjoy the memories they share, such as their agonizing but ultimately correct decision to let Tau the cub fend for himself and the day they gave Ntchwaidumela his name.

It is not always an easy read. Their subjects have not always fared well - in particular they painfully inform us that all but one of the adult male lions in their study group, including the five who starred in their two lion movies, have since been killed by hunters. Their annotated field notes, "The African Diaries", also in print, is largely about how this situation has forced them to take time away from behind the camera to be active in politics.

But this work is largely about happier days and the making of some classic videos. The still photographs within make this book worthy of becoming a classic itself.

This book is one of the best I have ever read.Extremely detailed and imformative,with excellent photography,I read it from cover to cover,every single word,without putting it down once! But then again, lions are my passion,so I suppose I'm slightly bias. For anyone even remotely interested in wildlife,this book is a must. No bookshelf is complete without it. Hunting With The Moon has some clear messages.How much longer can we tolerate the shooting of prime adult male lions for sport?For every male lion shot,effectively between 5 and 14 lions actually die.I personally think this is terrible,and I am glad people such as Dereck and Beverly Joubert make it their business to do something about it.

Forget what I have to say, seeing as how I am far from being a kid. Let me tell you what my 8-yr-old hard-sell granddaughter had to say after I read her the first five sentences, "Really? It says that? Can I read it?"
Then, as she read, "This is great! I never read anything like this."
She carried that book with her, laughing, quoting from it, until she finished it the next day, then started over, more laughter, and then eagerly sharing it with her BFFs. Her review went something like this.
"This guy really knows that it is a kid reading the book..."
"How does he think this stuff up? I love the little girl, the one who can only say 'Who are you?' but everyone loves her so much they know exactly what she means, even if she means 'turn left after this corner'..."
And on and on. She will wear the print off the page with her eyes by the time she is finished with this book.
You can't ask much more from a book that a child love it and wants to share it and gets more from each reading (meaning they are reaching, it's not easy.)

The Meanwhile Adventures is hilarious. My 10 year old son was getting a cramp and tears were rolling down our eyes with the nonsense and wit of this book. The author, who is Irish, suggests you read the glossary so you understand some of the local terms - do it! The definitions are a riot!!!!
You can picture Roddy sitting in front of you, animatedly telling the story - it's a hoot.

My 10 year old daughter, who HATES to read, enjoyed reading the "Meanwhile Adventures", "Rover Saves Christmas", and "The Giggle Treatment". My son, age 8, burned through them quickly too. They quote from the books. The humor is "different", but it is good for kids to read all types of books. Thanks R. Doyle! Write more!

I gave this book to my nine year old daughter for Christmas. She read it in two days and was thrilled to have gotten this as a gift.

"Who are you?" "Batteries included." I hope you have time to read this book because you will never put it down.

The Meanwhile Adventures is a funny , but exciting story. This book takes you to a silly family that does some amusing things.

The message is that a funny family like this can be a little bit of trouble sometimes.

I think this book is one of the funniest stories Roddy Doyle has ever written.

I bought this book simply for research material on desert wildlife, but it turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone!

I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes animals AND to anybody who gets a kick from good old fashioned entertaining writing.

As a child I enjoyed the works of the late Gerald Durrel, because he was a skilled zoologist and bonafide nature lover PLUS he was a funny and entertaining writer. I long thought that no one could ever take Durrel's place, but Jim Harris may be the one to do it. In "Lone Star Menagerie" he shares his knowledge of the wildlife of the West but is not afraid to do it in a humorous manner, even if it happens to be at his own expense. This is one of the best books I've run across in a very long time.

There are authors who can write gripping adventure tales and there are authors who can make you laugh out loud; rarely are the two combined. If you enjoy the works of Tim Cahill, you will enjoy the works of Jim Harris. There are accounts of attempting to capture a vulture bare-handed, being chased down a canyon by a herd of peccaries, seeking out sheep-killing coyotes to protect the innocent individuals of the species from the wrath of stockmen.... And all dealt up with a large portion of entertaining wit. Highly recommended for all readers, and particularly animal lovers.

Lone Star Menagerie introduced me to the state of Texas and some amazing wildlife found within its boundries, but the true charm of the book was found in the way Mr. Harris could spin the tales of his adventures. I walked away from Lone Star Menagerie with a greater respect and knowledge of Texas and its wildlife, and the bonus being, each time I recall the buzzard tale (or some of his other adventures) they still make me laugh! BRAVO!

This book is simply a must for everyone interested in the animals of Madagascar. When people think to mammals of Madagascar immediately think to lemurs... but this wonderful book, with incredible pictures and very good texts, remind everyone that Madagascar ain't only lemurs (no problem, lemurs are also described in the book very well, species by species... amazing pictures and interesting descriptions and informations)!! the fosa, the other species of civets and mongooses, the bats, the giant jumpin rat and the other rodents, the tenrecs, the bush pig..
Wow! Big up to Nick Garbutt

This book is a super-mega reference book about all the mammals of Madagascar (the ones that people have discovered, that is). It has creatures in there I have NEVER heard of. The photos are pretty good and the written information is educational. Great for beginners learning about mammals of Madagascar.

This is a very comprehensive book covering not only the lemurs but also the bats and so forth. There are maps to identify what part of Madagascar to find the animal.

Malagasy mammals are truly an interesting read. They are unusual and interesting as an example of island radiation, but also because of recently extinct megafauna, and patterns of diversity. The lack of diversity--what is not found in madagascar--is perhaps equally curious as what is found there (fossa, lemurs, etc) due to hypotheses of how the fauna populated the island and when. The beautiful photos (as in the compelling blue-eyed lemur) make this a true guide to mammals as well as beautiful coffee-table display book.

This book will be a valued resource to those studying mammals, those working Madagascar, or even folks visiting Madagascar to enjoy the fauna. Prior to this volume, there was **no** comprehensive guide to mammals (in particular a paucity of information available on rodents). Garbutt has done a fantastic job of providing us with practical information and clear, useful photos/drawings. If we could all be so lucky to see the creatures featured in this book. Owning the book will have to suffice for many of us, epecially given the high risk of extinction for many of Madagascar's native mammals. Well worth the investment.

I highly recommend this inspirational book to all. I delight in reading about the life that is around us that we do not normally observe. In many cases, the best fiction writers could not compete with nature.

Have yet to see a purple cow? How about a slithy trove? Despair no more. In this lovely book, Cathie Katz transforms the FAMILIAR into passing strange phenomena. Her secret? Attention to detail. Waving her "charming rod" of magnification over the common creatures of everyday life, she presents each one as a wish fit for the gods without sacrificing its connection to Earth and to us. Thanks to Cathie, we can now put away the shadows of childish imagination and embrace the sometimes frightening, always magical, fellow travelers of our own existence.

I will no longer walk by an insect, bird or plant without some new found knowledge and a willingness to share our surroundings. Kind of like living among people, there are some good traits and some irritaing traits but nevertheless we can exist in harmony. The illustrations are talent ladden enhanced by the whimisical little stick figure Larry. If you can read just a day at a time without longing to cancel all on the agenda you are ahead of me but for times when all we can squeeze in is one page our world will become brighter and more alive to us. So enjoy and let that spider make his web without that tidiness gene taking over.

*Nature a Day at a Time* delivers just that, a brief glimpse into common plants and animals while revealing how often overlooked wildlife in our everyday lives actually have strong connections to who we are and how we live. Each page unfolds the days of the year with a short introduction and drawing that illuminates the earwig and the praying mantis, rove beetles and crab grass, bladderwort and giant swallowtail.

Though this book may seem deceptively simple in its approach, it is actually a great way to start off your day as it will open up your eyes and your senses to the natural world that surrounds you - even if you live in a concrete jungle - which will lead you to your own daily discoveries of wildlife in your life. After 365 days of reading this book, you will find that you live in a whole new world.

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A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

Cathie Katz starts out writing about no-see-ums, crab grass and cricket-frogs and somehow ends up with human nature, life, the universe and everything.

Katz is a Melbourne Beach writer, naturalist and sea-bean expert who fields queries from beachcombers around the world as editor of "The Drifting Seed," a newsletter about sea beans (or more properly, rain-forest drift seeds.)

Her new book, "Nature, a Day at a Time: An Uncommon Look at Common Wildlife," contains 365 mini-essays about 365 forms of life, ranging from viruses to possums. Each day's entry begins and ends with a literary quote and features one of her illustrations. Like her writing, her detailed pen-and-ink drawings are a good balance of factuality and whimsy.

A simple format, but deceptively so. These entries are linked by some profound, half-submerged themes -- our kinship with the natural world, the way our personal nature can be found in daily nature around us, the fascinating natural processes going on immediately around us. And it is this kind of accessible natural world -- worms and viruses and backyard birds -- rather than Discovery Channel-style big and exotic wildlife -- that makes up the days in her book.

"Nature a Day at a Time" is a good year.

As a teacher, this book is delightful. We never outgrow good picture books. These photographs are marvelous and the story tells us how funny black bears can be. The "bear facts" at the end make it an educational book for all ages to enjoy. One to be read again and again.

Petunia: The True Story of a Naughty Pigeon-Toed Boone Hollow Bear
What a terrific book for all adults and youngsters, whether they read it themselves or have it read to them.

PeTunia takes us along on her adventures and mishaps as she heads for Boone Hollow. She narrates or thinks aloud in a most endearing, humorous way. She is thoroughly entertaining and bound to put a big smile on the reader's face. And wait until you see the spectacular photographs of her on every page! I doubt you'll find a comparable book. There are educational "bear facts" at the end of the story, which is a very nice plus. I'd highly recommend this book, but beware, you will fall in love!

M. Bowen

Petunia: The True Story of a Naughty Pigeon-Toed Boone Hollow Bear
What a terrific book for all adults and youngsters, whether they read it themselves or have it read to them.

PeTunia takes us along on her adventures and mishaps as she heads for Boone Hollow. She narrates or thinks aloud in a most endearing, humorous way. She is thoroughly entertaining and bound to put a big smile on the reader's face. And wait until you see the spectacular photographs of her on every page! I doubt you'll find a comparable book. There are educational "bear facts at the end of the story, which is a very nice plus. I'd highly recommend this book, but beware, you will fall in love!

M. Bowen

This is truly delightful reading that will bring smiles to kids of all ages. The photographs in this book are exceptional, and they capture this "naughty" bear in such endearing poses. The author's love of and respect for animals clearly show through on each and every page of this fun, educational book. I love PeTunia!

PeTunia is an enchanting book. The photographer/author uses her skills well. It's almost like PeTunia knew this book would be made as her body language and facial expressions couldn't fit the text better. This book will have the reader, child or adult, smiling from start to finish while they share an afternoon in Boone Hollow with PeTunia, a young bear doing what comes naturally. Trish Kirk shares with us in such a delightful way just what a wild and free young bear does. I'd recommend this book for any age group. It's perfect for sharing with a youngster or for a teacher to share with a class. The bear facts at the end of the book are also accompanied perfectly by photos of bears in the wild.

I was in the room as my adult daughter read this book and there was audible giggling as she went from page to page and saw these real, yet often comical, poses and read the captions. A book for "kids" of all ages it seems!

The photos in this calendar are absolutely stunning. I bought three calendars this year (for work, home office, and kitchen) and this one is by far my favorite. The photography can't be beat, and there is plenty of room for writing multiple daily events.

I get this calendar every year beacuse the photos are beautiful and I enjoy having it hanging in my office. The day entries are large enough to write notes.

I love this calendar. The photos are amazing. I am going to frame them when the year is over and put them in my office. Gorgeous!

Breathtaking, beautiful, representative pictures, as usual. Highly recommend this product.

What better way to keep trak of the year than with this beautiful calendar. The photos range from stunning to aweinspiring!

fantastic calendar, got it for a gift for someone and was tempted to keep it myself.

Every year I purchase this calendar, hang it in my cube and hear the many compliments. The shots are gorgeous and afterwards, their generous size and excellent quality are easily frame-worthy. I recommend it for the person who likes to look over once in a while and visualize themselves to a calming, secluded area in North America that they may never get to visit (and may not be the same if I do). Support a good cause and appreciate the vast areas of nature at her finest.

We buy these every year not only to give as gifts to our family but because we want to support the Sierra Club in its efforts to save our world ecology. I didn't find the pictures as inspiring this year but they're still beautiful. And our friends and family always appreciate them.

Received very quickly and the product looks beautiful. This is for a gift and I am excited to give it. Thanks

I purchase this calendar for my office every year. This nature scene calendar always has high quality photography. I recommend this calendar to any nature lover or any one who likes to bring a bit of nature indoors.

I thought that book is really nice. The pictures are very detailed and i thought that getting it used that it would be in bad shape. Really it was in perfect condition. I have been looking at this book alot to learn about tornado's. I really recommed this book.

Jim Reed's new book STORM CHASER: A PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNEY is nothing short of amazing. WIth breath taking photos and insightful anecdotes, the book takes the reader into the forces of nature that shape our lives and create historic, defining moments in time. I met Jim on the ground in Greensburg, KS and he was exceedingly kind and allowed me to spend a very enjoyable afternoon with him chronicling the aftermath of the tornado that struck there. Jim's soul shines thru in every photo and his passion for weather, photography and in the end people is wonderfully displayed in this work. I have his two previous works and all are works of art! Heed Jim's advice to get a weather radio- he knows what he is talking about! I don't look at the sky the same way after meeting him and seeing his work!

My wife bought this for her father, who is impossible to buy gifts for. She read it first and loved it. Anyone who is interested in nature or science will like it very much.

The title "Storm Chaser" might lead one to believe this is a book about tornado chasing. It is but it's a whole lot more! Photographer Jim Reed takes his readers on a journey of land, sea, and sky covering the four seasons. Along the way we learn how Reed, once an eight year old boy, quickly became hooked on weather and began keeping a diary of events. As an adult he's traveled across North America photographing devastating tornadoes, hurricanes, raging flood waters, spectacular lightning displays, and blinding blizzards. Yet he also focuses on more benign (yet still beautiful) events such as rainbows, aurora, fall foliage, and migrating butterflies. Perhaps the book should have been titled "Open your eyes and take a look at all the interesting weather out there" because Reed shows us that there's natural beauty and wonder everywhere --if one just takes time to stop and smell the roses. Storm Chaser makes a great coffee table book but it's also a good study guide for those looking to improve their skills in photographing nature.

I received this book as a gift. The photos in the book are very good. Excellent in most cases. My only complaint, and it a very minor one, is that as an amateur photographer, I would love to have seen the EXIF data (i.e, shutter speed, ISO, F-Stop, etc.) from the camera published at the bottom of each photo. However I understand this is a book of photos, not a photography book. Given the photos, the author must have a lot of waterproof equipment.

What a beautiful memoir! The setting, a small town in central Canada, was almost exotic to me. The writing is poem-like, clean and meditative. With his gentle voice, Mr. O'Connor takes you to the world of the sensitive boy whose longing and wonder towards his mysterious father is so vividly felt. The beautiful images in the book will remain with me for a long time. I highly recommend this special work.

What a fascinating story! And so well written. It brilliantly brings the author's world to life in all its wonderful and awful detail. The people are portrayed so artfully, both as individuals and collectively, that you feel you are among them. And the central story is beautifully touching.

I work with the author. So much for full disclosure. And I had been told by another colleague before I read it that his book was wonderful. I wasn't prepared, though, to be overwhelmed, and I was: by the richness of its style, the honesty of its emotion, the entertainment of its anecdote, the relief of its humor amid pain and personal discovery. O'Connor travels two paths in search of answers about the emotional chill in his childhood home in Canada and the strange allure of cold climes. This yields on one side beautifully drawn pictures of smalltown life in which O'Connor's growing self-awareness and his tracking of family history coalesce. On the other, its offers perfectly rendered vignettes and lore about famous explorers, plain life and survival in the frigid north. Sometimes the juxtaposition seems impossibly apt, yet never forced. Along each trail run themes in varying proportions of love and hurt, sacrifice and estrangement, distance and intimacy, ambition and constraint. Through it all runs a classically balanced voice, blunt and eloquent and wry in confronting simple or hard truths. There is finally and happily about the book a physical irony in which I regretted its ending so soon but relished the knowledge that I could always find time to return time and again to a book as modest in size as it is grand in reward.

O'Connor's beautiful language is as smooth as ice, as clean as fresh snow. This is a haunting, mysterious story of family secrets, which the author tells partly through direct memoir narrative and partly through metaphorical history and legend of the far north. I found the scenes of O'Connor's boyhood to be particularly well drawn: the ways in which he conjures child logic and perception are magical. Touching, strange, cathartic.

I thought this was just beautifully done. The father, both of the parents, are so well-drawn in it. And the alternation of northern lore with the author's personal story works perfectly: O'Connor's voice is so specific and true, you stay with him as he swings between eskimo legends, a natural history of the northern parts of the continent, and a wildly funny drunken bar room contretemps, easily finding meaningful connections between it all. The main story is wrenching with a beautiful payoff. Read this book!