North America Books

I loved this book. It has made an excellent addition to my library of Native American spirituality and practices. There is much in it that is relevant and useful. The Cherokee have a beautiful way of looking at the world.

I have read several books by the Garretts and find them all to be wonderful sources of information and brings my Cherokee heritage home to rest in my heart. Thank You.

The Garretts pull from their experieces from the "real world," as well as their healings and practical experience with the Cherokee to give us excellent starting points in helping ourselves and others. For such a thin book, there is a lot of advice hidden in the stories and accounts, if you know what to look for.

I really enjoyed reading this material and consider it the best for Individuals of Indian ancestry who still believe in the Traditional Ways.

This is a must read book for first time people into the world of the Native americans. It will open a whole new door that you will bring out of it is the respect for all living things and for Morther Earth. The book helps you understand that certain things are sacred to the Native Americans and how it ties into their beliefs. Once you read this book you will begin to see things through the eyes of a different race, but from the point of a Native American. You will learn differemt ways of praying and saying thanks to mother nature. You will take things from the book and apllied to your everyday life. Wah Doh.

Bought this for my 4 year old granddaughter. I'd made a dreamcatcher for her when she was a baby and when she was 2 I explained what it was for. She loved it; and she loves this book.
It briefly talks about moving, bad dreams and family relationships.

A delight and easy reading for young children which will encourage them to read more of indian culture and stories. A beautiful "tuck-me-in" story!

This is a beautiful story especially for bedtime reading! Recommended for all ages.

This story flows with ease and delight for childrens' bedtime reading. It brings in love of family and a lasting focus on indian heritage. Highly recommended for all ages.

This is a lovely story filled with security of home and family. It also offers a study of Indian Culture to children, as well as adults. A book for any country and is a book for all ages. It is also timeless and will go on as long as it is offered for the public to see.

As others have already reviewed, I am a fly fisherman who purchased this book to get a better understanding of freshwater invertebrates other than mayfly and caddis species. (For a highly detailed description of mayflies and caddis for the fly-fisherman, I would recommend the titles "Nymphs, volumes I and II".)

This guide is well-written and not too difficult to follow, even for the beginner. There is a focus on stream ecology and some tips on how to collect and identify various species. Be clear - the focus of this book is not specifically on fly-fishing, but more of a biological guide to aquatic invertebrates.

For a beginner, this book is a great place to start, but is also a nice reference for those with a little more experience. The color drawings are detailed enough to help determine the differences in various species. All in all - Excellent Book.

This books is easy to comprehend, and the plates are well defined. Extremely useful for ID'ing aquatic creatures.

My teaching partner and I will use this in our Freshwater Ecology class at the secondary level. It is a great basic guide that will be used as a reference tool and identification resource at an introductory level. Excellent for the money.

This book contains easy to understand pictographs for beginners, plus distinguishing characteristics for experienced entomologists. A major plus to any and every watershed association out there, and every limnology, water pollution biology, fisheries, etc. class offered at the collegiate level.

A definate must have for nymph fishermen as well!

Well done for a price that doesn't take a bite out of the pocketbook!

This book is great for beginners or someone who wants to brush up on invertebrates. The descriptions are wonderful, as are the pictures. Highly recommended!

[Backcover Review]: "PEOPLE OF LEGEND by acclaimed photojournalist and author John Annerino is a stunning and evocative portrait of Native America and the mystical landscapes they call home. "This largely photographic essay...offers a rare glimpse of coming of age ceremonies and feasts, and vivid re-enactments of ancient dances."-San Francisco Chronicle. "Contemporary Native American culture is revealed by a photojournalist who spent over 20 years exploring the Southwest...a stunning visual display of modern tribes and people: a blend of cultural history and art book."-Reviewers Bookwatch. "Annerino's work is outstanding." -Arizona Daily Star. "PEOPLE OF LEGEND tells a history, in words and pictures, that we all need to know." -American Photo Magazine. "Extraordinary."-Sandia Review." [Backcover Bio]: "Praised by Newsweek as one of the finest photographers of the West, John Annerino has worked in the frontier of Old Mexico and the American West for two decades. The Washington Post has lauded his "reverant and ravishing photographs," The Denver Post described his work as "fabulous," Publishers Weekly calls it "stunning." Represented by Gamma-Liaison, Annerino's credits include Time, Life, Newsweek, and Scientific American, among many prestigious publications worldwide. The author of nine books, Annerino's works include the critically acclaimed 1999 border saga DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS and his new photo/art book on American cowboys and cowgirls, ROUGHSTOCK: THE TOUGHEST EVENTS IN RODEO."

[Backcover Review]: "PEOPLE OF LEGEND by acclaimed photojournalist and author John Annerino is a stunning and evocative portrait of Native America and the mystical landscapes they call home. "This largely photographic essay...offers a rare glimpse of coming of age ceremonies and feasts, and vivid re-enactments of ancient dances."-San Francisco Chronicle. "Contemporary Native American culture is revealed by a photojournalist who spent over 20 years exploring the Southwest...a stunning visual display of modern tribes and people: a blend of cultural history and art book."-Reviewers Bookwatch. "Annerino's work is outstanding." -Arizona Daily Star. "PEOPLE OF LEGEND tells a history, in words and pictures, that we all need to know." -American Photo Magazine. "Extraordinary."-Sandia Review." [Backcover Bio]: "Praised by Newsweek as one of the finest photographers of the West, John Annerino has worked in the frontier of Old Mexico and the American West for two decades. The Washington Post has lauded his "reverant and ravishing photographs," The Denver Post described his work as "fabulous," Publishers Weekly calls it "stunning." Represented by Gamma-Liaison, Annerino's credits include Time, Life, Newsweek, and Scientific American, among many prestigious publications worldwide. The author of nine books, Annerino's works include the critically acclaimed 1999 border saga DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS and his new photo/art book on American cowboys and cowgirls, ROUGHSTOCK: THE TOUGHEST EVENTS IN RODEO."

Acclaimed author and photojournalist John Annerino is known for his high-risk journeys through the frontiers of Mexico and the American Southwest, seeking stories untold and photos unseen. For the past two decades, with his pen and his camera, he has told the stories of indigenous people -- their struggles and triumphs, their political strife and quiet dignity. His chronicles about the Tarahumara [WHERE SPIRITS STILL DANCE, in press] and Inde [APACHE: The Sacred Path to Womanhood, Marlowe & Co.], and his journeys across the desert with Mexican citizens looking for work in the United States [DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands, Four Walls Eight Windows], can be found in several books as well as in frequent articles. Annerino share[s] his journeys and experiences, reflecting on how indigenous cultures have retained their traditions while dealing with outside influences. -Heard Museum

PEOPLE OF LEGEND. Annerino's book examines Indians' ties to land...A dozen figures raise crooked sticks toward the twilight sky. In the shot, Annerino manages to bring an almost monumental quality to the circle of students at San Simon High School, on the western edge of the Tohono O'odham reservation, as they play the ancient stickball game. At first glance, it appears to be some ancient ceremony. In a way it is. "I wanted to show the spirituality of the game of toka for the Tohono O'odham," Annerino said. -Daily Star

I am a Norwegian journalist/photographer and I have just by chance discovered the impressive book PEOPLE OF LEGEND. Superb photographs -- all of them rich of dreams and poesi. I myself have always dreamed of visiting Arizona and especially the sacred mountains of my childhood heroes, the Western Apache -- and today centuries later -- I share a universal sadness for what happened to the indigenous people. For me their care and understanding of the nature/environment has been an important inspiration in my participation to preserve rivers and mountains in my homeland Norway. At this moment we are trying to save the last river system in south of Norway -- producing super 35 movie -- a documentary -- and hopefully a photoexebition next summer. There are a lot of people around who care for mother earth and this book is a valuable contribution.

I remember some of the media coverage about Camille but Bechtel takes the reader inside the storm for a thrilling, if harrowing, ride. I confess I was ignorant of the damage in Virginia and I certainly did not put Woodstock and Camille together before reading this book. For disaster junkies like me, this is a MUST for your top shelf. For anyone interested in those reacting to a disaster, this book introduces you to some unforgettable people. And, for anyone living on the Gulf Coast, it should be required reading. Every week.

review posted in the American Geographical Society newsletter, "Ubique":

The past as prologue: The story of Hurricane Camille, which until recently defined the apex of tropical energy and fearsomeness, as told by Stefan Bechtel in ROAR OF THE HEAVENS.
During the summer of 1969, nature opened her Pandora's box and released Camille. She perhaps took her first steps as a tropical wave of energy out of the Ethiopian Highlands, made a lazy parabolic arc through the southern Atlantic, then hit the cauldron of warm sea air in the Caribbean.
Bechtel follows nimbly on her heels and issues moment-by-moment reports. He provides a skilful, basic understanding of hurricane science -- readers walk away with a firm grasp of orographic effects, the nature of the tropopause and the fluid mechanics of storm surges -- as well as a "disaster culture" that spurs people to take the storm head on, a culture of cataclysmic ignorance.
What drives that point home is the vivid reconstruction of what it was like to be in the storm, fashioned out of interviews with a few principle actors and dozens of bit players. The storm made landfall to the east of New Orleans with winds that at times approached 200 mph and carrying a storm surge three stories in height. Survivors talk of darkness and howling, being raked by flying glass, having their clothes stripped off. Entire communities were obliterated, while farther to the north, the Woodstock Music Festival was being pelted by rain from all the atmospheric disturbance.
Bechtel relates how then the storm started to disintegrate as it moved up the Mississippi Valley, falling off the radar, only to gather itself once more, dropping biblical rains -- perhaps thirty inches in a nightlong deluge -- on a confined area in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Once again, Bechtel's storytelling power takes on a terrifying clarity. Scores would die as towns were scoured clean away, the rain so heavy it was nearly impossible to simply breathe. A mountainside sloughed off, writes Bechtel, leaving the eerie "smell of deep time."
Camille was a meterological event of the first order. So is Bechtel's recreation.

Being from Nelson County and having lived in Nelson County during the fate of Camille in 1969 - this is a GREAT BOOK!!! My, how it bought back the memories of that time in a 'story' fashion, I couldn't put it down and I was there during Camille. I wish there had been more pictures that others reading this book could truly understand how devastated our county was and why the good folks from Nelson would cringe at the site of a continuous rain fall for a couple of days and schools would close for years to come. However the author did an excellent job in describing just how bad it was without pictures. We still talk about that time and 'where we were', and remember the families and friends that were lost to 'A LADY CALLED CAMILLE' because there was no warning or opportunity to get to higher grounds.
Thank you Stefan Bechtel helping others to understand what a hurricane can do to a town, community and people for years to come.

I was on my way to a Poetry Festival on a Friday, and
I started reading Roar of the Heavens Thursday night.
Instead of getting rested for the Festival, I was up
until 1:30 am, When I arrived, and pitched my tent, and
got to the Festival grounds, I immediately sat down and
started reading the book. Instead of strolling the village,
breaking into a discussion on Craft with a Poet, I sat
down and kept reading. Friday night was freezing cold,
and I kept reading. In the cold, I kept thinking about
the fascinating dynamics of the structure of a Hurricane,
and Warren Raines freezing as he clung to tree branches.
On Saturday, during a readings break, I climbed into my
car, and finished the book. Finally, I could stop thinking
about what happened to Mary Anne, Buzz, etc, and etc, and
starting absorbing some POETRY. Saturday night it was
raining, and I was terrified driving to the campground,
and hearing the rain on the roof of my tent, and it was
pouring Sunday morning, and I wondered if having been
isolated from Weather forecasts, something was coming of
which I was unaware. And thought of the unidentified bodies
perhaps hiking the trails as Camille roared through.
What a riveting read, and the adrenaline is still pumping!
The scientific explanation of the mechanics of a Hurricane
were so clearly described, and fascinating. And the interweaving
of what was happening in the country and world, with
the life and death dramas of those trying to survive
Camille really put things in time and place that connects
the reader intimately to the events. And the families and people
were so real; their pain and suffering, and the incredible
devastation. I know I was thinking about going to college
that summer, at that's all I remember. I remember going
to Mardi Gras in 1972 and seeing the steps going to no where
on the Coast, Biloxi. And I used to drive Rt. 29 going to
Conn. from N.C. in the seventies. Congratulations on writing
such an intense and absorbing, and well researched book.

The afterward and epilogue of this book resonate very closely with observations made by author Jill Fredston in her book "Snowstruck." Humanity seems to have an enormous capacity to forget disaster and to overestimate it's ability to tame nature. News media covering natural disasters regularly describe them as "unprecedented," a patently inaccurate description which has more to do with our collective memory than with reality.

Stefan Bechtel has done good research and assembled a wealth of first hand narratives and scientific explanation. I appreciated the reflections in his aftermath, epilogue and afterword.

In fact, my only criticism of the book is that it becomes rather repetitive at times, grasping for new superlatives and heaping disaster upon disaster and sorrow upon sorrow. Interspersing more analysis between some of the narrative accounts would have suited my reading tastes better, but that takes nothing away from the fact that this is well done book about a truly horrific natural disaster that most Americans probably have no knowledge of.

This story is about a mouse who wants to go to a far off land. While he is traveling , he is named jumping mouse, he gets better legs to jump with, he stays with an old mouse,he gives a buffalo his sight,and he gives a fox his smell. Jumping Mouse gets to the far off land and is named Eagle by Magic Frog.Jumping Mouse then turns into an eagle.
I loved this book!

This lovely Caldecott honoree related the Native American legend of a mouse that morphed into an eagle by magic, determination, and force of character. A mouse listens to tales told by older mice that include visions of a far off land. He determines to visit the far off land even though he doesn't know much about traveling and is sure to encounter dangers. Shortly after setting out he meets the Magic Frog, who kindly transports him across the river. The Magic Frog also confers the gift of jumping legs on the mouse, which will serve him well the rest of the journey.

Along the way he meets an Old Mouse, whose pessimistic attitude of ever reaching the far off land is rewarded when the Snake comes along and eats him. "Poor old friend," thought Jumping Mouse. "He lost hope of finding his dream and now his life is over." Subtle this tale is not.

After giving up his sight for a blind bison and his sense of smell to a smell-disabled wolf, Jumping Mouse proves that he is unselfish and worthy of good things. Magic Frog turns up when Jumping Mouse's hope of seeing the far off land is fading. He magically turns Jumping Mouse into an eagle.

The illustrations are more compelling than the story, drawn with charcoal pencil (I am guessing). They are lifelike and vivid, adding charm to the simple tale. The standard animal figures of buffalo, wolf, and eagle seem to turn up in most Native American literature.

This is a great book. THe artwork is worth the Caldacott medal and the story is a good one for all ages. It is about a mouse trying to reach a far land which is supposed to be beautiful and about learning to keep hope and selfishness alive in you and you will be rewarded. It is a great story that people now a days need to consider more often the world would be a better place.

John Steptoe's 40-page illustrated version of The Story of Jumping Mouse is a Native American legend of a Magic Frog who gives his jumping legs to a discouraged young mouse that had recently set out on a quest -- a journey to a far-off land. The frog also tells Jumping Mouse to remember three words -- "never lose hope." Rejuvenated and able to travel much more quickly, Jumping Mouse continues on his journey. On the way he encounters a fat mouse who invites him to stay with him the rest of his life in a safe haven. But Jumping Mouse is determined to continue his quest and later discovers his acquaintance is eaten by a snake. When his journey brings him to a vast prairie Jumping Mouse is surprised to meet a lonely buffalo just standing there. Upon inquiry, he learns that the buffalo is blind, so Jumping Mouse imitates Magic Frog by giving his eyes sight to a blind buffalo and the buffalo leads him across the prairie on his back. At the end of the prairie the buffalo can go no further and Jumping Mouse recalls Magic Frog's words, "never lose hope" and thus journeys animal that identifies himself as a fox that can't smell. Jumping Mouse tries his magic once more and is able to give the fox his nose. The fox, delighted at his cure, accompanies Jumping Mouse through the forest. But as the forest ends at the foot of a mountain and the fox can not go any further, Jumping Mouse goes to sleep in despair in the face of this seemingly hopeless barrier to his goal. Suddenly Magic Frog appears again and tells Jumping Mouse to jump as high as he can and remember his words, "never lose hope." He gathers his courage, leaps as high as he can, and discovers himself soaring over the mountain as Magic Frog below shouts out Jumping Mouse's new name -- "Eagle." This is a wonderful story to teach children about Hope, Determination, Sacrifice, Hardship, and Compassion.

This book tells a Native American story about a small mouse who must endure great hardships in order to reach his dreams. I purchase it over and over to give to children experiencing grief and loss in my work as a school social worker. The ending has a "never give up" message for the reader and the animals (mouse, frog, buffalo, wolf, eagle) are especially meaningful to Indian children. The black and white illustrations are beautiful. Written for elementary aged children, but a book to be cherished by teens and adults, too.

My whole family loves this book. We catch ourselves saying the chant all the time!

My 5 year old son loves everything about this book, the pictures, the rhyme, the information about the fish at the end. It's very unique and educational, and fun at the same time.

We are a nature center that teaches fishing classes. This is a fantastic book. Even though the fish are fun and cartoonish; they have very good features!

I grew up on a lake and love fish- so the BEAUTIFUL illustrations, and cute chant is wonderful. It's creative and fun. I have spent a lot of time reading it to my nephew!I think even if you don't like fish it's still a cute, cute book. Even as an adult I still adore great kids books, and beautiful artwork!

The illustrations are humerous and entertaining! Any fish lover would appreciate this book. My 15-month old daughter even likes it (her dad reads it to her more like a cheer and she thinks that's GREAT!!!) Grandpa will be getting a copy for Father's Day. The variety of fish in here is unlike any other book I've seen (besides my fish identification book from college). If you do not know what all the fish are, there is a section in the back with an informative write-up on each of the fish in the book. I wish that Trip Park would come out with cards and stationary...or another book, maybe a child story book on fish life cycles or natural salmon runs? (I'm hoping he'll read this! Fish people are left hungry for more!!!) It's AWESOME.

Rita's book is the best guide book written to date. We found it very informative and the coupons in the back were wonderful! We used most of them. The maps were extremelty helpful! We copied them and handed them out to all our family members. We have been going to WDW twice a year for seven or eight years, and have purchased many books, this book is outstanding!

After being disappointed by other guidebooks, I finally bought Aero's book and was amazed by the wealth of planning insight. This book is nothing short of empowerment for family vacation planning. For the first time we enjoyed a vacation where we all equally loved the hotel, restaurants, and rides. This book is a vacation saver.

We thought this guide book the best of the bunch - it is well laid out and easy to read with great maps of every area in the 'World'. Best of all, buying it enables you to access Rita's great Website, which is chock full of up-to-the-minute, detailed tips and trip reports as well as updates on attractions and happenings at WDW. A great plus!!

Having been to WDW several times, and always purchasing a guidebook before leaving to get recent updates, I came upon Rita Aeros book, Walt Disney World for Adults by accident. I initially purchased the book for the coupon values and was disappointed when discovering they were no longer valid. I intended to return the book after discovering the expiration of the coupons but decided to check out the website before I did. This was the BEST decision I could have made. Not only did I keep the book and read it thoroughly, but I have discovered a wealth of information on her web site. It is truly the most informative, user friendly web site you could possibly find anywhere. I have already saved hundreds of dollars using the information I have gleaned. This book and its accompanying web site are unsurpassed for value. Rita Aero's book has done a marvelous job in breaking down all the different areas of WDW (hotels, transportation, restaurants, theme parks, etc.). with honest evaluations, in an easy to read and comprehensive style.

This is the book that has it all. Resorts, Restaurants, Parks, Attractions, Night Clubs, Sports, Kids, Family, Groups, Discounts, Charts, Ratings, Reviews, Tips, Tricks, Secrets, etc, etc.

The information in this edition is still fresher and more accurate than any 1999 guidebook, and I should know, I visit WDW at least four times per year. Other guidebooks are just repackaged every year with a new cover.

Note: I found the Animal Kingdom chapter in this edition to be a bit weak, but I found marvelous AK information on the book's website.

This is the only book to have ever included useful coupons, but they expired recently. The book's website has lots of good electronic coupons in the Readers' Clubhouse. The clubhouse has excellent information and wonderful community! I saved $768 last trip. NO other guidebook (and I have them all) can match the quality of Rita Aero's work, and no other major guidebook has a website or a supporting author. This one is a MUST HAVE!

Thanks for the magical vacations, Rita!

I rarely review books but this one is an exception. This book should be required reading for all students. The speeches given by the Native American chiefs are as moving and eloquent as any I've read. They rival Lincoln, Kennedy, and King Jr in thought and phrasing. These are the words of "savages" as we called them. Reading this book I can only wonder who were the savages when you look at our history with the native peoples of this country. This is a book I'll read again and again.

I really liked this book, due to the fact I too am a native american indian. I shed tears to know how they were treated. It is a great book to read to learn about your past and present. Thank-you so much. Dianne

the words of wisdom should be read by all. It is a book to keep and pick up and read at various times through one's path of life. I recommend this book to anyone interested in timeless words of wisdom from very famous Native Americans. It is a good book to read, quote, and give as a gift.

Wonderful speaches, too bad they were only speaches. Technology seems to be the culprit of our modern day problems, but it also seems to make life so much easier, go figure, what a paradox!!! I think anyone who's looking to say "I told you so" regarding our environment, will find the wisdom of the Native Americans very interesting. I see similairities with the Samurai philosophy.

This was one of the first books I purchased on Native Anerican, history, Philosophy, etc. I absolutely fell in love with it. A fast read and gives the totally green American what Native American philsophy and spirituality is all about in one small book. Though only delving into it briefly, as a non-native it gave me a better understanding of our first people. So much so I have since purchased many more books on the Native Americans, and their History and Lifestyle. The speeches in this book by Chiefs Joseph and Seattle are awesome and make you think. They definitely know where it is at, and are true survivors, especially the Navajo.

What a wonderful book. APACHE is beautiful.

What a beautiful book. It's really stunning. I'm envious. I hope the publisher does as well with it as I think they should.

APACHE is a beautiful, really beautiful book.

APACHE: The Sacred Path to Womanhood is magnificent. It, the photography and writing, deserves an award.

Apache is graphic & well-told as a photo story, which is rare indeed.