Pets Books

Let Buster Lead is a wonderful read--and not just for dog lovers as one might expect. However, anyone who has ever loved a dog will absolutely adore this book. It's a real inspiration. Buy a copy for anyone who needs a lift.

Deborah Potter has written a book few people would be courageous enough to write. She writes with a clarity that is disarming in its fearlessness and in the end is instructive and endearing.

I was not expecting the emotional punch this book delivered. Nor did I expect how compelling it would be, but I found myself up at late, quiet hours in the night, reading and experiencing this story. I am very glad Ms. Potter wrote this book, and I learned alot, and yearned for alot more in my own life. I highly recommend this book. There are many hidden revelations here.

A compulsively readable true story about the transformative power of devotion -- in this case, between the author and her memorable dog, Buster. Brave and touching, Potter's personal tale rings true on every page. You will never forget Buster!

Let Buster Lead by Deborah Potter is a wonderful book about her faithful dog Buster who led Deborah back from worry and pain to her normal life with her family and friends. It is inspiring for everyone who is looking for love and quidance that can be found with "man's best friend". Buster only gave back love and care. I could not put the book down until I had finished reading. It can be an inspiration to all who read it.

Join Jeff Corwin as he shows us the dry, hot desert of Arizona, the life and death struggle in southeastern Africa, the rain forests of Costa Rica, and the grasslands of the Venezuela. Along the way we learn about life, death, love, and the web of nature. He also pops in facts and short stories, many of which are as funny as you can get without a Nun's outfit, a donkey and a jar of peanut butter.
The book itself is a lovely hardcover, with full color photos and something I would be proud to have on my coffee table if I had a coffee table. And it is so enjoyable to read you could easily finish it in a day if you wanted to.

Jeff Corwin is not only a great tv personality but is also a very good author. I have read his book like three times already and each time I read it I like it even more.The pictures, all of which he took himself, are great and I like how he goes into his life experiences with animals. Also, I like how he sprinkles humor throughout the book. I have learned so much from Jeff Corwin and he is the reason I am majoring in Environmental Science. He has made me realize how important it is to protect the environment and all of the animals in it.

Gives good complex look at the animals in different environments and shows the environmental issues challenging each place. Filled with stories from Jeff Corwin's life and his own encounters with both exotic and extraordinary animals.

This book is great! Altho I am a big fan of Jeff's and the Jeff Corwin Experience, I am still blown away by this book. Jeff describes everything vividly, yet in a beautifully poetic way (i've never heard of so many diff ways to describe the sunset). I was really surprised b/c he isn't like that on the show. I loved that many lesser-known animals are introduced, as well as the more common ones. Also, I loved that Jeff gave us the pecularities/specialties of each animal so I'm not just reading the same old boring stuff that I've read in too many nature books or seen on tv. I've learned a lot of things that I never knew about (ie: the symbiosis btwn strangler fig & wasp) and Jeff describes them all so vividly that it was even better than watching the show. The only complaint I have is that there's not enough pictures. But as I read along, I realized that Jeff already painted the whole scene for me that photos would just be icing on the cake. I totally and whole-heartedly recommend this book to any nature lover!

This is a very entertaining and educational book. I'm a fan of The Jeff Corwin Experience, and this book did not disappoint me. It is very well organized and well written, and I was amazed at the way it managed to drop me right down into the middle of the Costa Rican rainforest or the African savannah. What I particularly liked was the variety of bizarre and fascinating details that Jeff adds. I found myself sharing these bizarre facts (like giant anaconda orgies that can last for weeks and weeks...woohoo!)with all sorts of people who, no doubt, thought I was some sort of animal expert now. But best of all is Jeff's obvious enthusiasm for the subject matter, particularly the topic of conservation. It's hard not to enjoy his stories when he presents them with such passion and humor. I definitely recommend this book to Jeff Corwin fans and any readers who want to take a walk on the wild side.

Love of Goldens is wonderful book for anyone who shares their life with a golden or is thinking of adding one to the family. The photographs are beautiful and the essays and biographical stories are heartwarming.
You'll laugh alot and shed some tears before you put this book down. But be forewarned...people who have read this book have been known to suffer an irrepressible urge to run out and find the nearest breeder of Goldens.

We did. And our eight week old Maggie is sitting in my lap as I type this!

Just bought my third golden retriever, and was STILL amazed at how much I enjoyed the absolutely beautiful photography in this book. My brother got it for my Father for Christmas, and I liked it so much I bought one for myself the next day. Amusing stories to read about different goldens, too, but I had not seen a golden retriever book with such a wonderful collection of pictures on almost every page before. Definitely a keeper!!

This is a very light book with some very nice and "cute" photographs. Good for the coffeetable or bathroom.

Love of Goldens has cute stories and some of the best golden photos that I've ever seen! The photos are absolutely beautiful and there's a TON of them!! It's worth it to buy this book even if only to look at the pictures.

i think that if you like goldies and think they are so sweet, then buy this book!! it has stories about goldies, and it has the history of goldies, and such CUTE pictures. oh, by the way, i have a goldie myself, her name is "violet" she is the cutest, sweetest, smartest, most affectionate little doggy.

Buy this book, and get ready for hours of in-depth, caring, humourous and above all, experienced reading, because this is the book you are looking for. I bought this book because I am new to the breed and I assure you there is absolutely no risk in purchasing a book of this merit. The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound is a very well balanced link between all the primers on the internet and the more serious 'hands on' kind of engagement, which is up to you. If you've already done some internet 'homework' like I did, and are looking for something to lift your knowledge and appreciation to the next level, I recommend this book.

The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound (A Ringpress Dog Book of Distinction)

This book is the BEST...Everything is covered in easy to understand and quick language...I was able to find any answer to any question quick and easy...

I highly recommend it..

This book should automatically be sold WITH every Irish Wolfhound puppy! It answers almost every question about this breed. The pictures are marvelous and I will always keep this book by my bedside!

I highly recommend this book. It has wonderful information for all Wolfhound owners and those thinking of getting a Wolfhound.
Many beautiful pictures. It will be read over and over again.
Lots of history on the Wolfound. Throughly enjoyed this book and will continue to enjoy it. It's a keeper!!

This book is a wealth of information. I'm sure that everything you need to know about a Wolfhound is in this book. However, to read the book from cover to cover can be a bit boring as much of the information is beyond the grasp of the average person and not really "need to know". It is not a good reference book as there is no index. So, for example, if you wanted read about bloat, you would not know which of the 336 pages contained this information. Instead, you would have to scan the listing of chapters in the front of the book and figure out which one may contain that data. I would recommend reading this book before purchasing any dog as much applies to most dogs and not just wolfhounds.

I enjoy this book for the reason that it is simple and fun. Kid's have a natural connection with animals and Martha is a lovable family dog that has a special gift that helps her communicate with her family. I recently purchased it for a few friends who have toddlers. They all love it.
I understand this book is part of a series. I have not read the others, but do recommend this one highly for toddlers and young readers.

From the moment we took 'Martha Blah Blah" off the library shelf, my children were in love. A dog who relies on alphabet soup letters to communicate? Hysterical! The illustrations are homey and comical; they are delivered in comic-book fashion, and the characters' lines are continuations of the text, rather than repetitions. The plot is unusual. The lead character has a wry sense of humor. And since the dog is always the hero, it's a hit with kids of all ages.

This was the first Martha book we encountered, and we immediately sought out more. From there we moved on to Susan Meddaugh's other books, all of which have unusual premises and plots. She is a very enjoyable author, and we love to recommend her books.

We must have taken 'Martha Blah Blah' out of the library 16 times before I gave in and bought a copy. You might as well save yourself the wear and tear on the library card and buy it now!

Martha still speaks ater eating alphabet soup, and everything is fine until the new owner of the soup company decides to save money by eliminating half the letters. No one can understand what Martha is saying anymore. Footnotes let you know Martha's intents, and eventually she solves the problem in an amusing way. Kids enjoy these Martha stories.

Martha Blah Blah is about a dog who can speak when she eats alphabet soup. With her new-found language, Martha has adventures, helps people and animals and learns new things. She does have a dilemma, but she overcomes it to save the day. The illustrations in this book enhance the story. The illustrator uses large watercolor images that are humorous and does a good job of showing what is going on in the story. The author uses words that make the book easy to understand and employs a large font so that they are easy to read. The author also includes footnotes in some parts of the book, which can draw the attention away from the illustrations to the footnotes. Without the footnotes, however, one would not be able to decipher what Martha is saying when she loses her voice. Even though the footnotes draw attention away from the illustrations one can have fun trying and decipher what Martha is saying and then the answer is at the bottom of the page. In a small way, the footnotes make one think while reading the book. I believe that this book is entertaining and sparks the imagination. Like most children' books, it has a happy ending, which makes the story even more likable. Overall, I think that Martha Blah Blah is an excellent children's book that deserves to be read.

I was lucky enough to come across this book while searching for a birthday gift for a little friend of mine. I was intrigued by the title, picked it up, and then had to read the ENTIRE thing. What a fabulous book!

The words are clearly printed on a white background, the pictures are large and colorful, and the humor in what Martha says will keep readers of all ages entertained.

Not only does the story deal with standing up for what you need, but I found that I could use this in my practice as a speech-language pathologist. Martha, when she eats alphabet soup, gains the ability to speak because all the letters go into her brain instead of to her stomach. But when some letters are left out, she has trouble communicating. When she gets all her letters, she can communicate just fine. A lesson! Wow!

I've read a lot of children's books, and this is a gem. Don't miss it.

An awesome book. Light and humorous, yet profound and wise; it takes you on a journey and you return inspired by the courage and faith of both man and dog, and the magic in trusting the invisible. It's moving and inspiring on many levels, and very zen: it's about the journey and not about getting there. It's a gripping read- excellent rhythm of suspense and amusement.

Tom Shelby brings the reader so deeply into the heart and soul of Michelle, you have to wonder if he is part dog himself (or is Michelle part human?). The telling of the very special relationship between man and dog is as compelling as the telling of the searches themselves. Tom's humorous interjection of his dog training tips between search stories makes this book hard to put down. A must read for any dog lover!

What a great read. I was inspired especially when finding out that he not only volunteers his time to do search and rescue but that his K9 partner is a Doberman instead of the typical shepards. The stories were wonderful; I got a feel for what true search & rescue is like....not just all happy or gruesome endings. Hope he continues to write additional books.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are an animal lover. Readers will find that Tom Shelby seems to inhabit Michelle's brain and soul. Their relationship is amazing and touching. Mr. Shelby's training tips which follow each SAR story are practical and wonderfully simple. Thank you to Tom and Michelle (and all the other hardworking SAR teams) for your continuing work.

This is truly a touching, heroic,adventerous and even spiritual collection of events that illustrate a marvelous relationship of a Search and Rescue team: Tom Shelby and his dog, Michelle. The writer expresses rare and meaningful insites that trainer and dog can have for each other as they put themselves in harms way.
Tom and Michelle share a connection that goes so much deeper than just a person with a pet. They are truly in tuned to each other.
The searches are riviting with excitement, suspense and written with a sense of humor, honesty and an extreme passion for sharing his wealth of knowlege of training dogs. One can only better appreciate training, the Search and Rescue efforts and a deep mutual reletionship owners and their dogs must have. At least these two do! Thanks for a very meaningful and touching book!

Bruce Franklin has done saltwater ecology a monumental service by explaining the sea's utter reliance on a healthy menhaden population, and exposing a gross dereliction of duty on the part of "regulatory" agencies designed to protect the marine environment. The little fish that few have heard of, is crucial to the health of every species of shellfish and gamefish. The menhaden's unique ability to remove algae and phytoplankton from the water provides a cleansing effect that is of incalculable benefit to all sea creatures.

Largely unfettered by meaningful regulation, the menhaden reduction industry has systematically plundered and devastated the menhaden population, first along the north Atlantic coast, and then the mid Atlantic. Now the ecology of the Gulf coast is threatened by the wholesale plunder of their vital menhaden population.

Franklin provides numerous examples of how the industry, represented now primarily by Omega Protein, continues their rape of the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf coast even though a token and meaningless cap was put on the menhaden harvest in the Bay.

If you want to understand why we need to immediately shut down the destructive menhaden reduction fishery, get this book, read it, then get in touch with your legislators and regulators. Or join the Coastal Conservation Association and become active.

Very informative book. A little scientific for the general public, but great for surf and boat fishermen who target Striped bass and Bluefish.

Written by H. Bruce Franklin (Professor of English and American Studies, Rutgers University-Newark), The Most Important Fish in the Sea is the true story the menhaden - a small, unappetizing fish harvested for its omega protein used in everything from animal feed and oil to linoleum and lipstick. Yet the once abundant menhaden has become increasingly threatened; as its numbers dwindle, bigger fish and birds dependent upon them starve, and seas and bays they filter becoming increasingly choked with toxic algae. Today one small company, Omega Protein, insists on its right to kill as many menhaden as it wishes, while millions of environmentalists, recreational anglers, and commercial fishermen seek to contest this unnecessary and dangerous attack upon the aquatic environment. A riveting cautionary tale about the potential catastrophe that could be unleashed should a small fish hardly anyone in America knows about go extinct.

I found this book when doing a search on "bunker". I am a new recreational angler in NY and while fishing for Striped Bass I usually use bait that is called "bunker". Curiosity ensued and I did a search and found this book. I started to read the background information and reviews and picked up a copy. I was glad I did. What a great read for my commute into NYC. It is chock full of interesting facts and historical data. It opened my eyes to the importance of this fish to us here in the Northeast and to the Atlantic coast in general. Just for kicks I decided to visit Omega Protein's site and as advertised they argue that they are managing the Menhaden (the correct name for this species) resource to as they say "remain productive for the foreseeable future." It was like I was reading the book all over again.

In my opinion this book was well researched and brings the facts home on an issue that I think is important to the recreational fishing community as well as the Atlantic and Gulf coast communities as well. If you are a recreation fisherman, someone who loves seafood or you just have a general interest in marine life and ecology then I highly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a topic that I think needs our attention. Believe me this is coming from someone who isn't an environmentalist but the reality is spelled out and being objective I realize that the devastation of Menhaden will spell certain doom to many of our great sporting fish.

As I stated this book is a great read and should be on at least every East & Gulf coast anglers list.

Franklin weaves a compelling tale that includes the biology, natural history, fishery development, politics, and ecological significance of menhaden to marine communities along the Atlantic seaboard of North America.

Menhaden are unusual fish. They are filter-feeders that can strain phytoplankton, tiny free-floating photosynthtic organisms, out of the water. That diet causes menhaden to accumulate high concentrations of oil in their tissues, and that makes them a poor food fish for humans. On the other hand, their oily bodies make them a prime food for other fishes, such as bluefish and striped bass - highly prized food fishes for human consumption.

In this book you will read about how over 100 years ago enterprising commercial fishermen found that they could use purse-seine nets to capture huge numbers of these tightly schooling fishes, take that catch to nearby shore facilities, and press their bodies to collect high grade oil in a pre-petroleum economy. They could also use the remaining partsof menhaden bodies to produce either fertilizer or protein-rich animal feed. Then, through increased fishing pressure and improved fisheries technologies manhaden schools that once contained billions of fish were decimated.

You will be amazed when you read about how fisheries scientists uncovered the significance of this low profile fish to the ecology of the Atlantic seaboard, and to estuaries, especially the Chesapeake Bay. Fewer menhaden meant less filter-feeding, and that meant more algae, and that meant ecological shifts...

Maybe menhaden ARE the most important fish in the sea - at least along the North American Atlantic seaboard.

5 stars all the way!

This book should be of interest to sport and commercial fishermen (though the latter will probably not like or believe the main theme of the book), ecologists, conservation biologists, and just about anyone interested in the environment and how the world works.

Wow! Cynthia Rylant makes you love old Mr. Putter with words that are so easy a beginning reader can read the book, and yet incredibly profound with such simplicity.

"All day long as Mr. Putter clipped his roses and fed his tulips and watered his trees, Mr. Putter wished for some company."

Mr. Putter finds a very old, lonely cat at an animal shelter and now they both have companionship and their lives are no longer lonely.

This is the first book in a wonderful series about an older man who finds companionship with a pet. My daughter is now 7 and we began reading these when she was 4 or 5. Even though she reads at a level well beyond this, she still asks me to read these books to her. They are sweet and charming and I think help children to see older people in a very sympathetic way. They are all terrific books and we own the entire series. I look forward to enjoying them all over again when my three year old is ready.

This is a story about a fundamental human need, that of companionship. Mr. Putter is an old man who lives alone, has muffins in the morning and tea in the afternoon. He works in his yard during the day, but there is no one to do it with. Therefore, Mr. Putter decides to get a cat.
He goes to a store, but all they have is kittens, which have too much energy for him. The clerk suggests that he go to a shelter, which he does. While there, he finds an old yellow cat whose bones creak; hair is thinning and appears to be a little deaf. All characteristics shared by Mr. Putter.
Once he gets the cat home, he names him Tabby. They hit it off immediately, becoming the best of friends and Mr. Putter is once again enjoying life. It is a charming book with a powerful and correct social message about how the elderly live their lives.

I am currently raising my third daughter through the beginning reader phase. It is very hard to find books that are engaging enough for a bright child during this stage of developement. I find this series has more in the way of a plot than Rylant's more popular "Henry and Mudge" series. My 2 older daughters who are now 12 and 14 begged me to by as many Mr. Putter and Tabby books as I can for their 6 year old "baby sister". We are a household of avid readers, and this is our favorite beginning reader series.

My mom and I absoutly love this book! It's so cute how he's lonely and he wished for some company. So he goes out to the pound and finds the perfect cat. With similar qualties as him. From then on they do every thing together. They drink tea, eat muffins, sing opera, tell stories, garden, took long walks, take naps, and grow old together. Tabby knew just what Mr.Putter was going to do next. Mr.Putter knew exactly where Tabby was going to sleep next. It's just such a sweet story about the love Mr.Putter has for this cat and the love the cat has for him.

Every pet owner should read this to understand the realities of what happens. Then pass it along to their children. Shelters are overwhelmed with these stories. Some end well, but many more do not.

Great for any pet lover or aspiring owner. You'll be moved to run to the shelter on your lunch break and make a new home for some eager little animal. Thanks Patrick McDonnell! Love Mutts. Love this book!

Pet lovers and those who enjoy the Sunday funny pages have a treasure indeed in "Mutts Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed.", a compilation of over one hundred of McDonnell's Mutts comic strips; on the opposite page of each strip are full color photos of pets found in animal shelters and their heartwarming success stories. A perfect gift for the dog or cat lover, "Mutts Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed." is highly recommended for community library pet and humor collections.

I awaited the release of this book very eagerly, looking forward to seeing a lovely little all-black shorthair cat named Pauline featured as a starlet. And there she is, cute as can be!

Entertaining and poignantly written together with adorable photographs. Helps bring the plight of shelter animals to the forefront. It was a much appreciated gift to an animal lover friend.

Just finished the book in one sitting and I could not put it down! Shawn and Gwenn's story is so inspiring and the book is incredibly funny!

I had seen the two of them speak while I was a student at UVA and was inspired the first time too. Shawn has been an advocate, friend, Homecoming King, musician, husband, and author in 30 years on this planet. Much more than most people will ever do in 90. Do yourself a favor and buy this book right now! And then join me in anticipation of the next one!

Despite the hardships that he has faced throughout his life Shawn Decker has shown that it is possible to be positive, happy, and accepting- even when those around him did not understand or accept him themselves. Through this book Shawn uses his humor and intelligence to teach not only about HIV but about how to be a better human. As someone who has suffered through hardships of their own I know what a difficult task this can be yet Shawn pulls it off effortlessly and with grace. This book so captured my mind and my heart I read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, and I learned. Everyone should read this book.

This is a well-written book about living with a life-threatening disease. Decker writes with humor about the fear and adjustments he and his family go through as they come to terms with his disease. At times hilarious, often poignant, I loved it. I bought it for the people I love who are going through the same thing.

Simply a great book. The author is my age and I felt a connection in his stories. It didn't matter that I have not been directly connected to someone with HIV or Aids. The story has an amazing love story built in to a life full of love, support and true creativity. Excellent read!

I have been anticipating this book for quite sometime after stumbling onto Shawn's page on myspace- then meeting him one night at a local restaurant. I read the book in one day- I could not put it down. He writes about his life in such an easy and charming way that you really feel like you were there with him the whole time. Gwenn, his family and friends are amazing- and I am so happy to have gotten to know them better through the book. This book is wonderful and I am so happy that Shawn did something positive with his pet virus instead of letting it take over his life. I also am waiting for the sequel. :) Everyone should read this book. You are one of my heroes Shawn...well done!