Brooks Books

Truly a great book. Tales of epic adventures and misadventures from around the globe. I recommend Quigley's book, "In the Company of Rivers". It's the ideal paperback to take with you on your next fishing trip.

An eloquent work...destined to be a classic. Those who cherish the outdoors will relish every word.Ed Quigley has given us a magnificant gift. Thank you Ed.

I shelled out good money for this book - and thoroughly enjoyed it. Quigley is a masterful storyteller. While I am not a fisherman, the word pictures painted by the author really made me feel as if I were there with him. I particularly liked "The Legend" and "Painted Ladies."

I enjoyed it. Don't care much for fishing stories, but I like good writing. Nice tales, well told.

This book contains a great collection of stories which will stimulate an outdoorsman's desire to escape to a better place. A must for any fly fisherman's library.

I've read dozens of WWII books and this is one of the best! There is nothing quite like reading about Great Americans' experiences in their own words. They answered the call, did their duty and risked their lives every day to protect their Country and our way of life. Now everyone can find out what it was like in graphic detail. This is the first book written by Brooks Mitchell that I have read and I look forward to reading his other works.

My father was the pilot in this book and he passed away prior to it's being published. I can only read a few pages at a time as the emotion of the events wells up very quickly. It is a wonderful look into one airplane crew from different individual perspectives as they faced each mission not knowing what they were to encounter. My father would be proud!! They were good Americans applies to the ones who gave their lives and the ones who made it to tell their stories. God Bless You

My Dad is 79. He was in the Army Air Corp and Air Force from 1944 to 1949. He now spends much of his day reading and, on occasion, still enjoys assemblng a WWII model airplane. He does not have the same eye for detail and the dexterity he once had, but the pleasure of his hobby remains. I gave my Dad Kipling's Error III as a gift. His emotional response and heartfelt appreciation was my gift. He enjoyed the sensitive writing style and personal diaries with a tear in his eye and a flood of memories. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Brooks Mitchell and Capt. Lloyd Mitchell for kindly and respectfully honoring and remembering our veterans. Thank you.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/06)

Brooks Mitchell, PhD, wrote this biography about his father, a B-17 navigator of Kipling's Error III, and his crew's 25 combat missions that took place over Europe during World War II. Mitchell gathered his information from diaries written by his father and four of his crewmen. He also used a taped interview with his father that his daughter created while she was doing a high school paper. There are also vintage photographs that bring the stories more vividly alive.

Through this story, Brooks achieves his goal of preserving the experiences of these crewmen during the time of war. The reader learns about the difficult times that these men experienced while they were stationed in Snetterton-Heath England. "Kipling's Error III" provides excellent insights into what these brave men had to sacrifice during their time of serving our country. Because the information was taken from some of the crewmen's personal diaries, the reader gets to see life as it really was during this time. Every aspect of the men's lives is covered.

This book provides so much more rich detail, than a traditional history book. When Captain Lloyd Mitchell wrote in his diary, "They were good Americans," he was referring to friends of his who were killed during a raid into the Third Reich. He had to help clean up their remains. By learning about the war from the experiences of these men, the reader is able to see the full range of emotions that they had to deal with while they were at war and then the personal issues they faced being so far away from their family and friends.

I highly recommend this book to World War II fans. Reading through the diary entries and seeing the photographs will really make you feel like you are present. Passing on this story also an important way to preserve this historical experience of American men who were truly, "good Americans."

Drawing from flight crew diaries and enhanced with vintage photographs, Kipling's Error III: They Were Good Americans is the story of the men who flew a B-17 Flying Fortress on twenty-five successful raids over enemy occupied Europe. Striking out from their base in Snetterton-heath, England, these were men who were put through every possible human emotion in a bloody and savage aerial war that included bravery, terror, duty, patriotism, love and hate. The author, Brooks Mitchell , is the eldest of three sons of Captain Lloyd Mitchell who served as the navigator of Kipling's Error II and has provided an invaluable contribution to the growing library of World War II aviation combat histories. Kipling's Error III is impressively informative, exceptionally well edited and written, very highly recommended reading for military buffs, and a core addition to academic and community library World War II Military Studies reference collections.

"Mountain Shadows" is a bittersweet story of true love and endurance.

Joe Devlin's unselfish love for his tuberculosis stricken wife, Alice, first sends him trekking through the snow covered Adirondacks on frost-bitten feet to reach Saranac, New York. She has been sent to this cold and refreshing clime to seek the "rest cure" prescribed for T.B. patients in one of the areas' curing cottages. Later, in order to pay her continuing medical expenses, Joe is forced into a life of illegally running bootlegged liquor from Canada during the prohibition era of the 1920s.

The descriptions of the old-fashioned cures for tubercular patients are fascinating and the characters are all exceedingly well-drawn. The beauty of the surrounding countryside comes alive in this well-written and heart wrenching novel. I loved the book and will certainly give it a second read.

Having just read Mountain Shadows and being the principal of Lake Placid Middle/High School, all I have to say is "Wow! What a Book!" I look forward to having Brooks speak at a dinner meeting of our Adirondack Book Club, a group of male community leaders. In the past, we have heard from Russell Banks and Brian Mann. Brooks will also speak to several classes of history students, where Mountain Shadows is assigned reading.

This historically-accurate novel is a wonderful exploration of both the natural and cultural environment of the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area of New York's Adirondacks during the 1920's. The enjoyable story of a couple that is introduced to the region by necessity also provides a glimpse into the area's rich heritage, and illustrates to those of us that live in the Adirondacks that some aspects of that time period remain the same today.

Brooks presents a well-researched description of Saranac Lake's tuberculosis cure cottages and the affluent nature of Lake Placid during prohibition, from the working-class perspective of a young man who finds himself immersed in the conflicting settings of both.

In its exploration of the cure cottages, the book provides an accurate account of this very important time period in Saranac Lake's history, and it showcases many aspects of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks in a different era. However, to those of us lucky enough to live there, it is clear that some characteristics of the mountains in the story haven't changed much.

As the main character makes his way to Lake Placid on foot after his Model T breaks down less than 100 miles away, the reader is taken to a time when the winter made what is now a short drive into an epic journey. In the book, the beautiful, yet remote wilderness is contrasted by the warmth and hospitality of the region's inhabitants.

Today's technology allows easy travel through the mountains; a great advancement from the impassable winter roadways of the prohibition era. But the residents of the region still abide by the same conventions with respect of hospitality as the welcoming rural folks in the book. Though eighty years have passed since the time in which this story is set, that remote wilderness is still there, forever wild, to be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. And, although the development of antibiotics eliminated the need for the tuberculosis cure cottages, visitors continue to travel to the region seeking a different kind of cure. Today, the High Peaks region blends a rich Olympic history, countless outdoor recreational opportunities, and the chance to get away from it all.

The historic significance of the tuberculosis cure, in the context of such a well-written, heartwarming story, would translate beautifully onscreen, allowing a much larger audience to learn about this important part of our region's past. And, the largely unchanged geographic surroundings here in the Adirondacks would make a spectacular backdrop for a project of that nature. As the President of the Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read and endorse this book as a wonderful resource that enhances our efforts to promote the heritage of our region.

We just got back from a wonderful "Mom's weekend" in Lake Placid. All 12 of us had read the book for bookgroup and just loved it. Coming up to Lake Placid and Saranac Lake brought out all of the questions and interests we had had from reading the book. After all, a five hour car ride with 6 Moms per car can bring about a lot of discussion. One of our highlights of our weekend was actually discussing the book with Patricia Brooks. What an honor it was to hear about how she so thoroughly researched all the aspects for the book. Our curiosity was so high that after our discussion we actually drove around Saranac Lake and found Helen Hill and while in Lake Placid drove past where Joe worked at the Lake Placid Club. Mountain Shadows was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. It brought about more discussion than any book we have read.

"Mountain Shadows" is a delightful read. I am impressed by the sensitive and often dramatic treatment of historic detail. Even those of us who thought we knew a lot about the unique story of Saranac Lake, during the half century that we were the premier place in the Western Hemisphere for the treatment and cure of tuberculosis, found new insight and understanding in the telling of a very personal story. The reader learns of the shifting emotions of patients as they see friends improve and return home, and others pass away and leave in coffins at nightfall. We see the strains on family life when one member is sent to Saranac Lake for the cure - some families writing, visiting, sending packages, others distancing themselves from the feared contagion. The supportive and encouraging attitude of residents and caregivers in Saranac Lake toward the thousands of tuberculosis patients who stayed here comes through as well, the positive attitude that surely helped many to survive the "White Plague." "Mountain Shadows" tells a story that is relevant and inspiring today as many struggle with serious illness or strive to provide for the emotional and physical support of loved ones who are ill.

If you have had the good fortune to read Ron Buckley's "Winning In A Highly Competative Manufacturing Enviornment" you will remember that one of the cornerstones to winning is quality. And quality or more specifically, Mistake Proofing, is what Buckley and daughter Candace-Lynn decipher in "No Eraser Needed: Mistake Proofing Your Business".

As with "Winning" the Buckleys use their "real world" experiences along with practical problem solving tools and techniques such as Cause and Effect Diagram, FMEA, and Brainstorming with simple explanations that the reader can easily understand and begin using immediately.

When most people think of quality, Six Sigma almost immediately comes to mind. Far too many of todays "gurus" proclaim that the only way to solve your company's problems is to launch a daunting GE or Honeywell style Six Sigma program. The Buckleys sound wisdom shines through as they admonish their readers to "start with a Mistake Proofing program and when you collect from the payoff of your efforts here move on to Six Sigma, but don't think for a minute that you cannot compete without it."

Mistake Proofing is a series of tools and techniques designed to simplify business processes and the simplest way for your company to win with quality is to apply the lessons put forth in "No Eraser Needed: Mistake Proofing Your Business."

Mr. Buckley states in his book "no work happens until the tool hits the material" so this is not going to be a book review in the traditional sense. This is going to be a report on results. My company relies heavily upon the automotive industry and that industry has not been flourishing for the last few quarters. By applying the techniques and concepts covered in this book and Mr. Buckley's previous book (Winning in a Highly Competitive Manufacturing Environment), I was able to generate savings equivalent to 1% of our top line sales without any workforce reductions.

I work for a privately held company so I can't be more specific, but, let me leave you with some advice - buy the books, read them and put the concepts into practice - you'll be glad you did.

"No Eraser Needed" is a simple but great guide for a mistake-proofing program. The Cross-functional, self-directed team concept is truly best process to maximize productivity in any business. The examples of mistake proofing is laid out very well,easy to understand and apply them.

This book is filled with practical ideas to reduce unnecessary and costly mistakes. It provides a framework for approaching the elimination of mistakes. It's an easy read, and everyone can identify with the examples provided. Maybe most importantly, it focuses on engaging everyone in the enterprise in the hunt to root out mistakes, which builds teamwork and pride in the business.

"No Eraser Needed" is a fantastic guide for anyone wishing to establish or enhance a mistake-proofing program in any business. The book not only provides real world examples in both an industrial and office setting, but details type of person you should consider appointing to lead the program. Training guidelines are provided including an actual pitch that was used to train employees within a company. The book is also written in a style that allows the book to be distributed throughout any level of the organization and easily understood by all readers. I also agree with the authors' approach of training everyone, as the more minds in the business that think from a mistake-proofing perspective, the fewer the problems that will ever occur. The book also has a bonus section on cross-functional self-directed work teams, which, when applied properly (and these authors detail the proper approach) can help shift the culture of a business that has stifled the ideas and ownership needed from within the business to stay agile in today's ever-changing business world. I strongly recommend this book for anyone at any level in the organization that wishes to implement or accentuate a mistake-proofing program.

This was a quick and easy read. Janet Shelfer and Karen Bell have brought stories of real and inspiring individuals to life. These were stories that needed to be told about the amazing people that carved a life out of the Alaskan wilderness. I can't wait to go to Taku Lodge to experience first hand the accomplishments of these adventurers. I had the pleasure of meeting Janet Shelfer and hearing about her adventure with Karen Bell that lead to this book. A fine read. Go ahead buy it and be inspired.

TAKU - Four Amazing Individuals was an informative and well-crafted history of four individuals who found their destiny and, in one case, salvation in the Alaskan frontier during the first part of the last century. The pre-Alaska story segments were also quite interesting.

I recently read this book and couldn't wait to call the author (Janet Shelfer) to tell her how marvelous it was!!! This book has everything: a love story, chills and thrills, a woman's strength to make it on her own, beautiful animals, gorgeous Alaskan vistas....I couldn's put it down. It's a story that will stay with me for years and I will certainly read the book again. I highly recommend it to anyone. What a treat!!!!!

Reading this book was like a first hand adventure! And, adding the fact that a couple of friends and I actually visited Taku Lodge this summer, made it very, very special!It's guaranteed that this book cannot be put down until finished!

Near Juneau, there sits a remarkable place: the Taku Wilderness Lodge (formerly called the Alaska Wilderness Lodge). Located on the banks of the Taku River, which flows down from British Columbia, near Juneau, the lodge is in the midst of seven glaciers, the largest being the Taku.
This juxtaposition of mighty nature and man-made order is the subject of "Taku: Four Amazing Individuals, Four Incredible Life Stories and the Alaska Wilderness Lodge that Brought Them Together" by Karen Bell & Janet Shelfer, two Southern women who visited the lodge and became enamored of its story, and the stories of the people associated with it.
"Taku," according to the authors, is a Tlingit word that describes a unique and ferocious wind, which has been adopted by the National Weather Service to classify winds which, under certain atmospheric circumstances, can begin as a 20-mile-an-hour breeze in British Columbia but build up as it journeys down the Taku River and "crashes" into Juneau at 60-miles an hour or more.
"Taku also means "the place where the geese sit down," which the authors say describes the geographic history of the area, once a giant lake during the last glacial age.
Alaska Wilderness Lodge was built by Harry Carlos DeVighne, one of Alaska's earliest and foremost doctors, in 1923. Although quite successful at his practice, DeVighne was a bit of an entrepreneur, and lover of the outdoors; the lodge was his way of allowing others to enjoy his adopted land.
But the book isn't about the place so much as the people who came to it, beginning with its builder.
DeVighne was the son of son of Henri, a former Confederate soldier turned Cuban insurgent and Maria Solano, daughter of one of Cuba's finest and aristocratic families, born in 1875. His parents died of smallpox when he was 8, and after knocking around the country a bit, he landed in Juneau, Alaska, in 1904, hoping to take advantage of a town with no doctor, as well as a contract with the United States Bureau of Education to survey the Alaskan Natives.
DeVighne was instrumental in getting the diphtheria serum for the Nome epidemic, the event that is commemorated each year with the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. He and his wife Mary were important members of Juneau society and business. The lodge was DeVighne's way of offering Outsiders a chance to experience his adopted land.
Erie Caughell Smith, adopted daughter of wealthy Charles and Julia Hackely of Muskegon, Mich., first set eyes on the lodge in 1925, after the diphtheria epidemic. With her son Leigh "Hack" Hackley Jr., a World War I hero, she cruised to Alaska and visited the lodge.
It became her hope for Hack's salvation.
"There was no doubt that L.H. "Hack" Smith was drawn to Alaska," the authors write. He reveled in its natural beauty, the excitement of the hunt, and the freedom that life in the wilderness afforded him."
As Harry aged, he and his wife wanted to sell the lodge and give themselves a break. This state of affairs came at a perfect time for Erie, as she needed something for her son, who had survived horrendous injuries during World War I that had left him bitter and addicted to alcohol, as well as two failed marriages and the loss of a tremendous fortune in the Depression.
With a dedicated nurse, Mary Joyce, Hack became the owner of the lodge, purchased for him by Erie.
Hack and Mary put up permanent buildings, filled the barn with cows and the kennels with dogs, and welcomed any and all guests who came by. In the winter, they kept busy with hunting, dog sledding, reading and conversing together, and surviving the worst Alaska could throw at them.
But Hack couldn't shake his addictions, often sneaking into Juneau for benders, necessitating a boat trip into town to fetch him back. Eventually, heredity (his father died of heart failure) got the best of Hack; he died in his sleep while on a hunting trip, at the age of 38.
Erie and Mary were devastated, as both loved the man who had brought them to Alaska. Erie took her son back to Michigan for burial, but Mary stayed in Taku. Erie ensured that the lodge would remain in the loyal nurse's hands, and Mary began the second chapter of her Alaska life.
The second half of the book follows Mary's adventures and journeys, including a sled dog trip from Taku to Fairbanks in the winter of 1935 (she was 27), a tremendous undertaking for anyone, let alone a woman.
With Native guides throughout, hunting along the way to sustain herself and her dogs, close calls and brushes with starvation, dehydration, freezing to death and all the other potential problems attendant on a wilderness jaunt, Mary undertook her tremendous journey with no expectations other than to survive.
And while she maintained an aura of celebrity for the rest of her life, she admitted readily that her trip, a journey of 1,000 miles that took several months, so she could attend the Fairbanks Winter Carnival in March 1936, was "selfishness."
"She was the only one to gain from the experience. Alaska was not helped nor was humanity benefited. There was no need for it other than the deep need she felt within."
Mary died in Juneau in 1976, and her headstone, in Evergreen Cemetery, reads simply: "Came to Alaska in 1929. Died in Alaska in 1976."
And in her own words: "I never really lived until I came up here."
Shelfer and Bell have captured the spirit of Alaska with their portraits of Harry DeVighne, Erie and Hack Smith and Mary Joyce. The book keeps the reader's attention throughout. And it is presented well, with superb photos, set and framed beautifully on the pages. They are excellent visual reminders of Alaskan life before statehood, before modern conveniences, before planes shrunk the distances between places.
Taku Lodge still exists, offering visitors a unique Alaska experience. And for those visitors, the spirits of Harry, Erie, Hack and Mary still hover, watching over the guests, offering them a glimpse of pioneer spirit.

I originally bought this book to read aloud to my class for the upcoming school year. (It was mentioned as a good read aloud in the San Jose Mercury News.) When I got it, my 5 year old asked me to read it....and we have now read it 12 times since ! He wants it read before he goes to bed, and when he wakes up ! After the 6th time, he asked if he could read the book with me out loud. The book gives great perspective on how "others" might see you.

I was a mystery reader for my son's 2nd grade class and I chose to read Who is Melvin Bubble? for his class. Most of the kids never heard of Nick Bruel's books so this was a nice introduction to his work. I did some different voices while reading the story that the kids got a kick out of. Alot wanted to know if they could check out this book at the library. So it made a great impression!

Melvin Bubble was a delightful book. I saw it previewed on the Martha Stewart show and decided to check it out for my self and my son. We both giggled and laughed our way through all the different Characters descriptions of Melvin, 2 of our favorites were the grouchy old man and the dog. We loved it and are going to look for more books by this author.

I bought this book for my 4 1/2 year old grandson. He and I read it as soon as he opened it. We talked about how everyone knew Melvin in a different way and he remembered most of them. This was fun to read to him and the illustrations were great, too.

My son and daughter, 6 and 4, really love the way this book wraps up at the end...there are lots of funny things that you don't fully understand until you get to the end, and it really is very sweet how it all ties together. We've given it to several 5 and 6 year old boys for birthday gifts and they've all gone out of their way to tell us how much they like it. Great fun to read for both grown ups and children!

I've just finished reading this wonderful book a few days ago. It was sweet and simple, yet Mary was obviously such an elegant lady. I took my time reading each page, savoring every moment she described of her life in CT. I truly didn't want this book to end. How I wish I had personally known Mary and had been able to sit down and have tea and cake with her. I can't stop thinking about Mary, her 1st and 2nd husbands, and her friends and family. Most of all, I keep thinking about Smoky, her precious German shepherd. I cried about Smoky, and then I cried about Mary when I found out she had passed, also. This was an extremely memorable book.

To the reviewer from Modesto - please email me, I know Mary would love to hear from you.

Mary's book read like a conversation between friends as she reminisced about the challenge of making a barn into a home and then adjusting to life as a single woman upon the death of her husband. Although for me it was reminiscent of similar experiences as I was her neighbor, living just over the hill, everyone will enjoy her style. In her telling of the love and support she found among neighbors, she reminds us all of a life and time many of us knew but now has been lost.

This is one of the best reads I have expereinced. Must admit that I am partial because I live in CT and much of what she describes I have seen. It is a touching love story. A book about the value of women learing to be independent well before her time. It is richly written. Our book club will be reading this book next month. I'm looking forward to the second reading. A must read in my humble opinion!

Mary was delighted to hear your raving reviews of her book. I am sad to tell you that she passed away August 18, 2001 at the age of 96. She was in the process of completing a sequal to "The Widow Down By The Brook". Had her body not given out, believe me, her mind would have finished it. I was fortunate to have spent the past year trying to keep up with her. The immediate personal connection you feel reading the words in her book are the same feelings you had meeting her. She found humor in every day. She was a delightful woman, a precious one that got away. She will be truely missed.

I have read this book and it is a great book for those who are hungry for God. I have personally met Steven and he is a man of integrity and honesty. Not to mention, he is a humble man as well. Buy this book, you won't regret it.

This is a wonderfully anointed book, and a must read for anyone who is truly hungry for the things of God, or for those who are curious about angels. Angels ARE among us folks! Whether you can see them or not. And we all need to learn how to work with them.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about God and the operation of the kingdom of heaven. There is much to learn and this book gives us a glimpse into the unknown.

great thought with horses and angels now more can and will work with them

One of the best books I've ever read...Steven Brooks has given us such insight and revelation and doesn't just leave you wondering how to get to this place of experience but shows us how to receive these wonderous experiences ourselves.His own experiences with angels is no less than thrilling to read about and puts a desire in our hearts to move closer to God and also come into revelation of how we are to work together with angels in these exciting times.A must read for serious Christians who want more of God.

This is a wonderful book for kids of all ages. My three year old just loves Polo. This book has no words/text but the pictures just captivate my son and he can just sit there flipping page after page. It is wonderfully drawn and allows a child's imagination to run.

We have sat down together and made up the dialogue at time and plan to do the same with Regis Faller's other Polo books.

Once again Polo has attracted all the attention of my son. He is enchanted by the story, as happened with the other books from Polo we had. For children whose age is between two and four years Polo's books seem to be a great discovery, first staring at the images and afterwards, as they develop new abilities, telling the story by themselves. I recommend them strongly.

Regis Faller's "Polo" picture books are absolutely brilliant and magical... These fab French imports feature Polo, a cheerful, indomitable cartoon dog with a flair for improvisation, bravery and boundless curiosity... The wordless, multi-panel graphic novels recall the fantastic, breathless wonder of the old "Tin-Tin" books, only without any real sense of danger, just pure adventure, fantasy, and fun. Polo climbs a ladder to the sky, is scooped up birds, falls inside an iceberg and climbs up to the moon, where little green men welcome him into their mushroom-strewn underground kingdom...

Polo is a marvelous reading experience, and it expects as much from its readers as it gives back. Adults can guide children through the story, commenting on each panel, or summarizing entire pages, creating the narrative as they go along. Children can also spend hours alone, pouring over the panels and making up stories of their own... and they will!

Highly recommended. One of our favorite books. (ReadThatAgain)

I fell in love with this charming, colorful series featuring Polo and his friends. I bought this book for my daughter (then 2) and she immediately loved the format and that we could "read" this book. There are no words, only vibrant, comic-book style pictures with the adventurous Polo sailing his boat, climbing up to the moon, diving into the ocean, escaping polar bears, and more. I love that this is an alternative to the usual princess fare that my daughter prefers, and that she uses her imagination to embellish the simple pictures - giving characters names and making up dialogue.

At last! A book our daughter can read to us. Or, rather, "read," because actually recognizing words and sentences is, at 5, still pretty much beyond her. But when she tells us a story, based on her understanding of pictures arranged in a narrative ---- she loves that. Makes her feel big. Smart. No wonder she says, "I'm five...but in my head, I'm seven."

Emboldened by a good first experience, we risked a second book told completely in pictures: "The Adventures of Polo", by the French illustrator Regis Faller. As with "Flotsam", this is a story that starts simply and gets increasingly --- and, from the child's point-of-view, delightfully --- complex. You might think complexity is beyond a child who can't read. If so, get this book, ask your kid to "tell me the story," and see what you get. ["Polo" is said to be appropriate for kids as old as eight. I can't imagine a kid beyond six who will respond, but you know your kid.]

Here's what "Polo" gives you: an upbeat little dog in dark pants, a red jacket and a brown backpack. When we meet him, he's just leaving his house --- a giant tree on a tiny island. There's a stake in the ground. And a rope tied to it and leading.... somewhere. Polo unfurls his umbrella, steps up on the rope, and, like a circus performer, balances on it and walks over the ocean.

The taut rope turns into stairs. Polo climbs to the top, descends a rope slide, lands on a cloud. Sailing aloft, he eats a bowl of white cloud. He comes upon another cloud, with another dog, fishing. Polo slides down the fishing line to a boat --- conveniently named "Polo" --- and sails off.

Night falls. Polo dons a diving mask, sinks to the ocean bottom, finds a glowing star in a treasure chest. Naturally, he happens upon the King of Fish, bearing a wand that looks distressingly incomplete. Polo sticks the star on top, returns to his boat and sails on.

Ooops. The boat is beached. Where is he? An island. Wait! It spouts! It has a giant eye! It's a whale! Happily, a friendly one, because after Polo hammers some "wings" on his boat, the whale uses his tail to send him flying. But as Polo zooms over an island, a volcano throws up a rock, and...

And so it goes, one zany adventure after another. And the illustrations! Vibrant primary colors make this a book of incessant good cheer. It's a pleasure just to see "Polo" on a coffee table --- the cover suggests the pleasure within.

There are five Polo books published in France. As yet, there are only two Polos available in this country. Why? It's not like they need to be translated. (In all the books, Faller has said, there are, in fact, three words.)

Not long ago, we knew nothing of Polo. Now the little guy is our daughter's new best friend. As she tells us of his adventures, we turn into goofballs and beam with pride.

This deep pleasure is, I suspect, also available in your home.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. It was a very fast read. I hope they write another!

Reviewed by Gina Holland for RebeccasReads (6/08)


"The Adventures of Slim and Howdy" is a novel full of humor, mystery and thrills. The novel's namesakes are two young men who meet fortuitously in a used car lot; both are trying to sell their cars so they can head towards bigger and better things. Howdy wants to sell his car for enough money to get himself to Texas and a career in music. Slim wants rid himself of his car, because it never gets him to where he needs to be. In the midst of things, the men end up coming to a surprise resolution: Howdy keeps his truck, seeing that it is in the best shape of both cars, and he and Slim decide to split the money for Slim's car and take off together, vowing to put both names on the pink slip of the truck. I wonder if anything like this ever happens in real life.

Slim and Howdy both love music, and plan on making it their career. Howdy is the outgoing one. He has something lined up pertaining to music at a honky-tonk in Texas. Slim is the quiet one. He doesn't talk much and Howdy gets pretty frustrated with Slim on the trip. His answers are very few and far between, and Howdy wonders how this will all work out.

Slim has to make one quick stop before they head out. He has to rescue his stolen guitar. This is when they meet Crystal and Tammy, two wild girls, thieves if you will, who almost get them into a lot of trouble, and nearly killed. So much for luck.

After Slim retrieves his guitar and shakes the troublesome duo of Crystal and Tammy, and then the cops, he and Howdy finally head towards Texas. There, they meet Skeet Duvall, the owner of the Piggin' String. He gives them the chance that they were looking for: Freedom to sing and play and be something very special.

After their time is finished at the Piggin' String, they move on to another place where things heat up and become more than the guys may be able to handle. A place where a lost love for Howdy becomes the target of someone's anger and greed. Howdy and Slim must save this lost love before its too late.

Brooks and Dunn have written a fantastic novel about two young men on the road looking for fame and fortune. Just like anyone looking for the same things, the men find themselves in several dilemmas. I had so much fun reading this novel. I really hope there will be a sequel, as I would love to find out where life takes Slim and Howdy. Brooks and Dunn have brought to us the lives of young people who are struggling to become something that they want to be; how hard it is to get there, and what can happen once they do. A job very well done. As a bonus, they include a CD in the back of the book called, "Gotta Get Me One Of Those," which is great.

If you like Brooks and Dunn and know a little about them then you need to read this book. You will have A LOT of good laughs! Very hard to put down once you start reading.

I bought this book because I am a fan of Brooks and Dunn music, but it is just so addictive. Once I started it was very hard to stop. It is written in a plain and simple language about two blokes and their exploites. Very funny and very very entertaining.

The book is a blast, a must read for any Brooks & Dunn fan, and if you're not, you will by the time you finish. This book shows how truly creative Brooks & Dunn are. For those of us who have anxiously awaited each new CD for another snippet of the Slim & Howdy saga, this book really is a wonderful ride. I only hope there is another one in the works since we never do find out if Slim's father is still alive, or whether Howdy finds the perfect margarita. Just a few things to ponder.