Service Animals Books

As the director of an history museum I am often asked to review books and such was the case of War Horse. I was amazed at the scholarship that went into this wonderful book. Its told as a story of the U S Army Remount service which supplied a standard mount for the Cavalry but much more it tells the story of the development of a "using" kind of horse. One of the best parts of the book are the wonderful side bar stories and photos about everyone from George Patton to Francis the talking mule! The complete data on almost every aspect of breading the war horse will make this book a valuable reference. If you like horses or if you just want to know how one of our country's first mass produced war machines was developed this needs to be in your hands. Ted Peters, Director, Heritage Farmstead Museum.

I had found a copy of this wounderful book on my In Law's bookshelf. That you started during your visit to the Caymen's with them. And they suggested that I read it.

As someone who unfortunetly has been stuck in this world of suicidal depression since I was a pre- teen ( I am now in my mid-40's). I cannot thank you enough. Although I am still in the misdt of it, how you explain it all is much better put then I ever could.

From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

Jim dale Vickery profiles eight men who championed wildlife conservation, preservation, and environmentalism: Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), John Muir (1838-1914), Robert W. Service (1874-1958), Bob Marshall (1902-1939), Aldo Leopold (1887-1948), Olaus Johan Murie (1889-1963), Calvin Rutstrum (1895-1982), and Sigurd F. Olson (1899-1982). If you're an avid nature fan yourself, you've probably read about some of these men in other books. And yet, here each chapter is more than mere biography. Vickery highlights personal details that bring these men to life again, and we see not just the individuals, but also the natural places that mattered the most to them. We hear what they had to say about those places in their own words. Coincidentally -- or, not -- each of the eight spent at least a little time in Vickery's native Minnesota, and so it is from an additional love of his own land that the author relates the stories. Writers are always advised to write what they know, and that knowledge comes through in this book. An engaging addition to the environmentalist's bookshelf. Finding a used copy is well worth the search.

You Have A Visitor: Observations On Pet Visitation And Therapy is a photographic excursion of the use of animals in brining compassion, unconditional love, and emotional comfort to patients of medical facilities and residents of sheltered care environments. The chapters feature animal-assisted therapy (AAT) organizations across the country with articles and interviews describing their procedures and mission followed by photographs of volunteer teams that visit people who could use a little company. A resources section is provided which lists the featured organizations and also national organizations offering information and education on AAT programs and procedures. You Have A Visitor is a unique documentary and useful reference for anyone interested in helping others by volunteering with their family or personal pet. Highly recommended.

Charlotte's Web is one of those stories that stays with you always. I'm really happy it's received a new wave of interest, thanks to the recent movie. But it's my hope that everyone will also go back and read the book again - or for the first time. It really is a classic.

It's also the perfect way to introduce children to chapter books. The easy language (and spattering of pictures in many editions) makes for unintimidating reading for kids just branching out into larger volumes.

Charlotte's Web must be one of the best children's story every written. It is delightful even for adults to read.
You'll never be able to eat pork again. Wilbur does that to you!! I don't like spiders but Charlotte is very sweet and I could tolerate her in my house.
Enjoy the book. It's great to be a child again.

**SPOILERS**

Well. I liked all but the ending. It's written in a way that it's interesting, although the details are really annoying, but the dialogue is all very child-friendly and realistic [even though it's animals talking XD]
Charlotte should not have died. That was a horrible ending, and way too obvious, couldn't be any more predictable. If she absolutely had to die, there shouldn't have been all those prior hints, it was just too much. I mean, is there anyone who didn't cry upon her death when they read this book as a child? You can't not cry. It's heartbreaking to the little kid reading the book that their favorite character is dead. Charlotte symbolizes that adult in everyone's life that they unconditionally love, and NO, this is not a good way to introduce death to children, it's traumatic.
But um...other than that random rant, great book. Love all the random characters, and I'm kind of disheartened by the lack of love I see towards Templeton!
I dunno. I guess analysis in class has kind of ruined the childish magic of the book for me...

granted I started reading it when I was 5. This story charms the page and is told so well. EB White creates a barnyard full of different animals who look past their differences and sees the positive aspects and they all work together for good. It is and always will be a timeless classic!

This is the story about the famous pig Wilbur, who was born tiny, but was saved by a little girl, Fern, and later saved by a spider named Charlotte.

Fern convinces her dad to let her take care of the tiny baby pig until he is big enough to go back into the barn. After he goes back into the barn, he still needs to be saved from being made into ham and bacon and sausage.

I loved the cozy barn life and the animals, and the relationship of Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern, Templeton, the sheep, and the geese.

I also loved the fair. I love fairs, so naturally, I loved this part of the book.

The first time I read this book was when I was thirteen. Back then, I really loved the book so much, and felt it was perfect and flawless. Since then, I saw bits and pieces of the movie when it came on tv (I'm not a tv or movie watcher).

I always knew I would eventually read the book again. I finally did. However, this time, I did not find it perfect and flawless. Although the storyline was still perfect and sweet, there were gross things in this book that did not bother me when I was thirteen. The older I get, the more sensitive I get. It's hard to believe I grew up in a farm/ranch situation and around "gross" things, but they didn't bother me back then; now I know I could never live on a farm again. That's why one star is missing; while I was reading this book, I couldn't eat or even think about eating - I'm that sensitive to "gross" things.

Summary of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Mrs. Frisby, the main character, is a field mouse with four children. One of her sons, Timothy, is sick. She starts him on the road to recovery; then the farmer starts his plow. Will he plow today? Timothy can't leave bed or he could die! Mrs. Frisby decides to gather imformation. She finds out that the farmer will plow in five days. What?! Five days?! But Timothy can't leave bed for a month and Mrs. Frisby's husband died last summer! How will she ever get her family to their summer home on time?

She soon goes through a lot of scary trouble and works out a plan with the rats of Nimh. But now will it work? They keep running into problems! Mrs. Frisby solves many by deciding to risk her life for her two sons, two daughters, but mostly for Timothy.

Now Mrs. Frisby learns of an instant danger the rats are in! Can they leave on time? Two rats are killed, but the rest escape. Is Justin one of the rats killed? Robert C. O'Brien leaves you to decide. To find out what adventures and misadventures Mrs. Frisby and the rats of Nimh have, read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.

NIMH is a great book for young readers (11-13). The book is a great story about survival, sacrifice, and challenged me to root for a mob of rats.

Mrs. Frisby is a very sympathetic character that shows that regardless of species in literature, moms are moms, and they'll do whatever it takes to take care of their family.

I think that young readers will enjoy this book, but older teenage readers could balk at the subject rather wanting to read something more intuned to their interests.

I've read this book over and over again since I was a kid and it continues to be one of my favorites.

O'Brien, who frequents the sci-fi-esque world, has totally translated it into a surprisingly belieavable world dominated by rats, crows, and other critters of the woodland. Fused with this is the concept of... lab rats, held in captivity by the very real National Institute of Mental Health.

Simply put, this is a story about a widowed mother mouse who needs to help her family. It's charming and exciting enough, but it all becomes deeper as she involves herself with the one group that can help her--The Rats of NIHM.

Here the story becomes a stunning fantasy and a close look at how people (vermin or human) act and think. In some ways it's a social commentry, but first and foremost it is just an incredible story.

I bought this book for my grandaughter, who's 13, at the suggestion of my daughter, who's 36 and still reads her copy of this book occassionally to enjoy the story again. I'm 61 and wanted to know what is it about this book that is so entertaining, so I read it too. My only comment, at any age, this story is delightful and a "must read" for all ages.

The cover art shipping now (July '08) is the beige one in the alternate images -- a useless and dull cover compared with the exciting view of Mrs. Frisby and the crow Jeremy against blue on display at this page. I wish I'd bought this in a bookstore instead, and might have had another choice of cover art. At least the interior art is the excellent classic version.

Shiloh is a very good realistic fiction story. Shiloh's owner Judd Travers mistreats his dogs. Whenever Judd's hunting, Shiloh runs away to Marty Preston's house. Marty tries to keep Shiloh a secret up on their big hill. One night something terrible happens, so the secret slips. Marty needs to make some decisions and some lies.
I love this book so much that I would read it a million times. If you want to know more about this book, get it and read it!

This tender, loving, dignified story about Marty and his dog is a jewel. In this book, Marty rescues Shiloh from his savage owner, Judd Travers. Marty, having fallen in love with the sweet and comical beagle, lets nothing stop him from becoming Shiloh's owner. This young boy shows true love and devotion to his cause, inspiring the reader to imitate Marty by letting nothing stop us from pursuing our hearts' desire.

Title: Shiloh
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Date: Paperback edition 2000

This is a fantastic book for all ages. Shiloh deals with important ethical issues that anyone can relate to. I especially recommend this book for middle school students, as I think they will find its message especially compelling.

In 1990, Shiloh won the coveted Newbery Award. It is a quick fiction read, with only 156 pages. According to Scholastic, the book is at a Grade Level equivalent of 4-6, a Lexile Framework of 890, or a 5.6 Reading Level.

Shiloh tells the story of Marty, an eleven-year old boy living in rural West Virginia. His family has close relationship and strong values. Living in the country, there is an established set of social norms that all families live by. When Marty stumbles across a young beagle hiding behind a bush, he is forced to grapple with these strict social norms in his quest to define right from wrong.

After spotting the Beagle, Marty notices that the dog won't stop following him. The dog is skinny and desperately in need of a meal and some love. After coxing the dog into his arms, Marty quickly falls in love with his new found friend. He names him Shiloh, and because of his owners apparent neglect and abuse, Marty vows to take care of him.

Marty quickly discovers that the dog belongs to ornery man by the name of Judd Travers. After taking care of Shiloh for some time, his parents discover the dog and demand that Marty return him to his owner. In spite of his better instincts, Marty returns Shiloh to Judd Travers.

Adding to the plot, Shiloh manages to escape again and find his way back to Marty. This time Marty is faced with a difficult ethical dilemma: should he return the dog to his abusive owner, or should he defy his parents to keep and protect Shiloh?

After an accident in the woods, Marty's parents once again discover his secret. Despite their growing affection for the dog, his parents demand that he return the dog again to its rightful owner. At this point , Marty is so desperate to keep the dog, he offers to do almost any thing for Judd, so long as he can have Shiloh back.

The book is riveting and keeps the reader engaged all the way to the last page. The characters are well developed; the reader truly feels Marty's pain as he grapples with his difficult situation. This book is a must read for all animal lovers or anyone learning to make difficult decisions.

As a caveat, children without a rural background may have trouble understanding or relating to Shiloh. The book uses beautiful imagery to describe the scenery of rural West Virginia; however, this may not appeal to someone who grew up in an urban setting.

This book is a poorly written adventure. From the start you know that he is going to get the dog in the end. It is not an enjoyable reader its just a book torchering you to stop all the way through it. Its insigneficant charecters have no meaning they all seem to go against marty, and are all cruel. This is a book of pain, dont read it. It will waste your money and your time.

Every single book I've had to read in school has stunk and this one is no exception. It was boring and so dumb I could barely finish it. I just wish we could read good books like Harry Potter or any book by Nancy Farmer

I believe that a narrator can really make an audio book and Flo Gibson does such a fabulous job of the voices of the characters in "The Wind in the Willows". This is one of my son's all time favorite books and audio books. I highly recommend it.

The Wind in the Willows is a children's novel by Kenneth Grahame, and was originally published in 1908. It concerns the doings of four anthropomorphized creatures: Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad. Most of the book involves their day-to-day activities, and there is very little plot to speak of.

The book is quite often tediously slow. No character other than Toad does anything remotely interesting or anything approximating an "adventure". Most of the book involves Mole and Rat puttering around their happy but excruciatingly mundane lives. Those chapters which involve Toad are slightly more interesting. The last chapter of the book has the makings of a full-blown action scene, but Grahame breezes through it in astonishingly short order. The characters are moderately interesting, but three out of the four protagonists are irritatingly melodramatic in their behavior.

Something Grahame has done well is vividly depict the charms of nature and the English countryside. But sometimes he does this too vividly, particularly at the beginnings of chapters, where the reader is often faced with page after page of nothing but description.

The Wind in the Willows is not without its charms, but it isn't particularly interesting.

We actually chose this book for our summer book club. It is really different reading it as an adult and for yourself. It was great fun!
It is amazing how you can see yourself in most of the characters. Do you know people who you see in the different animals?
We had a wonderful discussion.

Before you order, note that the Signet Classics paperback version is quite small (about 4" x 6.5") with small font and small drawings. Nice for traveling light, I suppose, but I wish that, instead, I'd purchased a more attractive and easier to read-aloud version to share with my kids.

While Grahame's The Wind in the Willows may have been written for children, it mimics and speaks to adults, as well. The characters in his "low fantasy" story, though animal in name, physical description, and dwelling habitats, portray many of the same foibles and flaws as those represented by human beings.
Mr. Toad, for example, is not only wealthy and pretentious, but spoiled, haughty, self-serving, and thoughtless. He takes his truest friends for granted, and things nothing of thievery or dealing underhandedly to accomplish his selfish wants. For toad, Mr. Toad, like some people we encounter, has no real material needs, but has wants that seldom satisfy him for more than a moment.
Mr. Toad's friends, Old Badger, Water Rat, and Mole also have personalities that mirror that of adult humans. Perhaps Grahame intended to reach children at an age when they are teachable and impress upon them manners and sensibilities that will guide their interpersonal relationships as they grow.
Though the poetically beautiful settings of the story are present in the "real world," the magical occurrences of motorcar-driving frogs, gondola-sailing rats, and suit-wearing badgers, make this fantastical story entertaining, particular for children, who possess a vivid imagination that is oftentimes stifled by everyday pressures in the world of grown-ups.
Both children and adults can identify with the personalities of Grahame's imaginary characters, and there are age-old lessons taught in this story that are often present in mythology and even Biblical teachings. There is even a God-like character in the book, called The Piper, who brings the seasons and protects the animals.
The morals taught in the story are satisfying, in that, in the end, Mr. Toad is a changed man, er, frog, in that he has learned to appreciate the value of true friendship accept his good fortune with humility. Through his animal characters, Grahame represents the bad in human nature made good, while entertaining us with comedic situations that--if they didn't involve such fantastical creatures--could be considered realistic.

I is a good book because a trumpet swan needs to get money to pay for a trumpet.

This story is told by the author, E. B. White. His reading is simple, but very enjoyable. With little embellishment, he captures your attention and holds it. This book was the favorite audiobook my three children (9yr, 7yr and 4yr) listened to this summer. They keep listening to it!

But for my money, I prefer Louis the swan. I think this book has been under-rated over the years and is a much better story than Charlotte's Web which has been anthologized over and over again. Far less didactic, Louis is a sympathetic character that chidren readily identify with.

I love this little gem of a book! Sam, 11-year-old boy, discovers the nest of a trumpeter swan family, one of which baby swans is born without a voice. This is the story of Louis the swan's persistance and determination to gain the heart of his true-love, even though he has no voice with which to woo her. I love the old cobb, who fancies himself a wise and poetic bird, and who waxes eloquent and long-winded on many an occasion. White has a dry and wonderful sense of humor! If you never read this when you were 10, it's time to go back and read it.

I say a person who likes adventure books would like to read The Trumpet of the Swam. They should read this book because it is pretty much a total adventure. There are other types of readers who would enjoy this book but, adventure is the main type. The protagonist(Louis)seems very sad that he can't talk but, he is capable of doing other things without his voice. The antagonist(Louis' father)feels bad for Louis and his condition. Although,when the father steals a brass trumpet he gets Louis in a mess of trouble. My thoughts about The Trumpet of the Swan are that the adventures Louis had repeated sometimes. He always tried to get money to pay back the stolen trumpet. The book got boring at times.

Awesome documentary!! A must read for anyone who has any interest in nutrition, especially regarding animal products.

This book was written over ten years ago, population then, and meat consumption was not as high as it is today. Imagine how the profiteers behind the meat market have to rush these animals through the massacre to provide for the needs of a ever hungrier and misinformed population we have now.

This book was the last drop into a series of books that made me give up eating meat entirely. No wonder they never allowed it on that 60 minutes show, but after all these years the truth is coming out, slowly but surely.

All that is told by Gail is something that will mark you. Read it, learn it, change your ways.

I've watch the PETA videos,"Meet your Meat" etc. So I'm already familiar to the horrors of the slaughterhouse industry. I haven't read the Jungle book yet, but was surprised that even this day in age the dangers of those working in the slaughterhouses. My initial intent was to read it as more inspiration for me on my Vegan journey. (I'm additicted to cheese) And daily doses of reading this book helped me awake to my new lifestyle. The information was so helpful for me when people would attack my belief system on choosing to not consume meat OR dairy. When I would mention the reality of the number of cattle that are missed, the lack of addiquite testing control, the horrid details of what e coli REALLY does to children, and the blatant niave thinking on the part of the USDA with its consumers, I was immediatly understood by my peers. I wasn't seen as a nut bag whose thinks that "pets have feelings" but someone with a sound mind who is just worried about the saftey of a meat industry that is obviously NOT being regulated appropriatly when the country thinks it is! A GROSS misconception. I'm am so very thankful for this book.

This book just confirms the other reading I have done on the subject. Read it if you are ready to get the facts and stop ignoring what I like to refer to as the "gross-ness" of the meat and dairy industry (both in terms of the animals' treatment, and the impact for everyone and everything else). Yuck!!!

I read this book and did not know what to expect. It has definitely changed the choices I make when it comes to food and where I buy it. It has also inspired me to eat more meatless dishes and learn more about other types of foods I probably would have never tried.