Australia Books

Everyone should read this book - its a life changer. However, even better, but for some reason being overlooked by the world, is "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" by John Woods. I don't understand why 3 Cups is being promoted by booksellers and is being given such high profile, where John Wood's book is not. John Wood went on to create the organization Room to Read which has a much broader goal, to build schools and libraries in developing countries around the world, not just one country. His book is a better read from start to end. I found that 3 Cups got bogged down with the details of the local politics. My suggestion; read both, but if you only have time for one life changing book, than choose the John Wood book!

I think this book was amazing. "Dr. Greg" spoke at my university which was amazing in and of itself, then after reading this book I have to say he is one of my heroes. The book is well written and gives insight into the many dilemmas facing the US in Afghanistan today while also providing an inspiring story of one man's mission to change the world and do what most believe is utterly impossible. Fantastic Book!!!

I bought this book because I was looking for something inspirational, and while it is a nice story, it is so poorly written I find it hard to recommend. It would have been interesting to see what an established writer like Jon Krakauer (Into Thin Air) would have done with it.

THIS STORY OF GREG'S TENACIOUS VICTORY WILL REMAIN A LIFE BOOK i WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. IT HAS GIVEN ME INSIGHT INTO A DISTANT REGION. A TIME LINE, GLOSSARY AND EVEN A LIST OF CHARACTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER.THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE WESTERN WORLD.

In this egomaniac, me age, it is refreshing to read about someone who thinks about helping others. Recommend this book to those who are xenophobic and who are afraid to travel outside the well trodden luxury hotel path.

Few schooled in 1950-60s can fail to remember clumsy `duck-and-cover' squats choreographed in lockered hallways or under classroom desks. The nuclear age, born at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, bestowed omnipresent dread (and an appreciation of farcical drills) in children who (ironically) might never have been born had their fathers died invading Japan with `conventional' weapons. The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 saw the apogee of prefab `home' bomb shelter sales and nonperishable family food storage guidelines. Meanwhile airborne B-52s armed with weapons worthy of Armageddon raked the northern skies 24/7. Kubrick's `Dr. Strangelove' brought comic relief (and a warning) in 1964, but major adversaries remained preoccupied with enhancing weapons that could already easily destroy mankind several times over. How did it happen?

This is a lucid, masterful history of the physics, chemistry, and inevitability of atomic weapon development (including the contemporary efforts of Germany, England, the United States, USSR, and Japan). Basic principals are outlined so skillfully even I derived a general understanding (I only wish my physics and chemistry professors possessed Rhode's skill - maybe I'd have gotten better marks).

Portraits of major figures (scientific, technical, military, political) are skillfully set in their times. The events (theory, engineering, development, testing, industrialization, manufacturing, deployment, application, etc) are fully depicted. They end in victim descriptions of bomb-destroyed Hiroshima - a sobering primer on the ruinous effects of human-induced natural forces that continue to be available for exploitation.

Bohr's assertion that conventional state craft was obsolete given atomic technology/weapons was accurate - but postponed by Teller's Faustian desire for a Hydrogen `Superbomb.' The dilemma continues. Rhodes, in his epilogue, fully explores the dual-edged sword forged by the Manhattan Project.

This work explains much of what I, a child who obediently squatted in `duck-and-cover' pantomimes, waited fifty years to discover.

Turn off the TV, grab some hot coffee, and curl up in a comfortable chair because this is a heavy-duty book. In 928 pages including text, notes, bibliography and index, The Making of the Atomic Bomb, by Richard Rhodes, is the who, what, where, when, why and how of the world's first atomic bomb. This book covers it all: the design, the construction, the people, the science, the war, the politics and the economics. The author even gives a deep background on the most prominent scientists of the time including those who discovered radiation and worked up the essential formulas that made the A-bomb possible. Marie Curie, Oppenheimer, Szilard, Einstein, Rutheford, Bohr, Teller, along with many, many others who helped to harness the awesome power of the atom fill the pages of this totally absorbing book. As you read about their struggles before and during World War II you get an understanding of their motivation and dedication as they put their personal lives and careers on hold in order to build the bomb at any cost. The alternative, of course, was to allow the bad guys to build one first - not a good choice. What's the difference between a Little Boy and a Fat Man? It's all in this book.

Awesome book. This book provides a unique blend of science, politics, people, history, warfare and interpersonal relationships. I am a mathematician with a minor in physics and a former US Air Force officer. I recall most of the names of key players (scientists, military, political) in this book but I never had a concept of how they were all related. This is quite a tome but I just had to sit down and continue reading several times a day. I still cannot believe how Rhodes was able to do the research required for this book and then make it so readable. My high school chemistry teacher took a group of us to hear a lecture by Niels Bohr in the 1950s but I never realized what a genius he was not only in science but in predicting the political consequences of building and using the atomic bomb until I read Rhodes work. The epilogue chapter is a must read and contains many very fundamental and philosophical thoughts that must still be addressed today.

Richard Rhodes provides the definitive account of the making of the Atomic Bomb. This book covers the characters, the technological dilemmas and all of the politics involved in making the atomic bomb. Starting with the various scientists and their backgrounds Rhodes takes us through the major players and their contributions towards the bomb. The book at times does get a little heavy on the physics but it is worth the detail for putting into context how the scientists came together to develop the bomb. The beginnings of the military industrial academic complex are developed and its crystallization becomes clear through people like Bush and Compton. While daunting at times given the sheer volume of the book it is worth taking your time to understand one of the greatest stories in the 20th century. This is truly the best account and a must read for those who want to understand how the 20th century and beyond was shaped by the work of the Manhattan Project.

I'm only half way through the book. However, it is making all the physicist that I read about in my science courses come alive. It is a great read.

This is an AMAZING series!
i've recomended it to so many frends and family members i can't count and they have all come back begging for more!

If you haven't read this series yet... DO SO NOW!

John Marsden has done an excellent job creating a great and exciting story about friendship, war, and love. I have read all the books in this series and I was so mad when it ended. You feel so close to the charactors that when it's over, its heartbreaking. I wish I could meet every one of the charactors on the book. This series truly has changed my life. I've learned so much and it has changed the way I feel about a war. Now that I know first hand what people go through in a war, I'll never doubt the affects again.

I wouldn't have gone for this book if it was pitched to me: a group of teens laugh, fall in love, and grow up in the context of suddenly having to survive as guerrillas. Yeah, right.

But I think Marsden held this together surprisingly well - there are a few strengths to the book (I was about to continue this sentence along the lines of, `that explain the popularity of the series', but there are way too many examples of popularity not reflecting quality).

Ahoy - spoilers ahead.

I liked the very deliberate way Marsden gave us several chapters of these teenagers simply being recognisable Australian kids. Admittedly he did open with the teaser - the hint of something big and dark - rather than totally selling this as a teen romance/coming of age story before the shocking twist. I could have coped without the early promise of more, but tell me he wasn't consciously thinking he didn't want to lose some year nine boys before they got to the shooting (`Is this a kissing book?'). Actually, you don't have to tell me: he's totally open about consciously writing for this market in his preface. That being said, he does only hint, and then spends some time on getting his target audience of Oz juveniles to identify with the main characters. Hence the greater potency when their world is changed in a moment. It probably resonates far more with old folks like myself who already subscribe to this notion, but it would be great if even a few complacent Australians were woken up to the fact that wars don't happen to qualitatively different people - people that you somehow think, you know, them having their homes bombed and being refugees is the sort of thing they just take in their stride. Reminds me of Steely Dan's potent `Third World Man', where Fagan twists familiar suburban images into those of war, for example, "Johnny's playroom, is a bunker filled with sand," "I saw fireworks, I thought that I was dreaming, `til the neighbours came out screaming'" (OK, it works better with Larry Carlton's exquisite solo). So, sure, hats off to Marsden for putting more of a familiar human face in something usually seen as alien.

But once the invasion occurs our plucky kids don't suddenly morph into a crack military unit (well, they do a bit), nor does the book simply shrink into an ugly Tom Clancy/Chuck Norris jingoistic potboiler. Somehow he keeps the teen (dare I say, the `girly' teen) thing happening: introspection with occasional passable insights (eg. people don't really see things because they give them names - once something is named - such as the canyon `hell', they only perceive their projections in the misleading word; animals aren't so easily fooled), and classic - but realistic - boy/girl confusion over infatuation (save me from the appalling romance of just about any fantasy writer: McCaffrey, Kerr, Goodkind, Kay ... ugh. A legion of teenage readers swallowing supposedly profound relationships that haven't a hint of authenticity or beauty). Marsden doesn't play it for voyeurism, but you do get lines you might expect in Grey's Anatomy preceding a jet firing missiles. There's even time for a little historical detection with regard to the enigmatic hermit - who would have thought it? There's also a usable range of characters with far more depth and room for development than many purportedly adult novels. What? A Christian and a stoner that can't merely be summed up in those words. Blimey.

Realistic? Well, sure it's a bit of the old villain saying, "We could have succeeded in our evil plans if it wasn't for you pesky kids!", and that's attractive to some of his audience - it makes for a more enjoyable story than the naked realism of fly-ridden bloody corpses. But while he crosses the line here and there Marsden quite deliberately has the kids lower their expectations from movie ones, and will have a hero go into shock after a near miss rather than rip off their shirt and run unscathed through a hail of bullets slaying faceless hordes (this would also be problematic as some of the more central fighters are girls). This is refreshing. While he's also been careful not to demonise the enemy, I'd be interested to find out if the rest of the series goes as far as the leap to realising the `enemy' may actually have had as little choice as you about being in this dangerous situation.

The book is not a breathtaking achievement, but it is a solid one on a hazardous premise. A lot could have gone wrong that didn't, and there's a lot that goes right.

Ellie is so articulate, bright, and caring that she makes what would have been an average story into an amazing and believable account of eight young adults out to save their families and ultimately their homeland.

Once I got used to the Australian vernacular, I read this book at an amazing pace because I simply couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to hunt down the rest of this series.

I really enjoyed this book and plan to buy the rest of the series. It has a good mix of adventure and romance so it will appeal to most of my high school students. The characters have distinct personalities and all of them show strengths in the story which could be a great jumping off point for a discussion on how we are all different and how our differences make society function better. Aside from thoughts about teaching, I simply couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next.

This is an AMAZING series!
i've recomended it to so many frends and family members i can't count and they have all come back begging for more!

If you haven't read this series yet... DO SO NOW!

John Marsden has done an excellent job creating a great and exciting story about friendship, war, and love. I have read all the books in this series and I was so mad when it ended. You feel so close to the charactors that when it's over, its heartbreaking. I wish I could meet every one of the charactors on the book. This series truly has changed my life. I've learned so much and it has changed the way I feel about a war. Now that I know first hand what people go through in a war, I'll never doubt the affects again.

I wouldn't have gone for this book if it was pitched to me: a group of teens laugh, fall in love, and grow up in the context of suddenly having to survive as guerrillas. Yeah, right.

But I think Marsden held this together surprisingly well - there are a few strengths to the book (I was about to continue this sentence along the lines of, `that explain the popularity of the series', but there are way too many examples of popularity not reflecting quality).

Ahoy - spoilers ahead.

I liked the very deliberate way Marsden gave us several chapters of these teenagers simply being recognisable Australian kids. Admittedly he did open with the teaser - the hint of something big and dark - rather than totally selling this as a teen romance/coming of age story before the shocking twist. I could have coped without the early promise of more, but tell me he wasn't consciously thinking he didn't want to lose some year nine boys before they got to the shooting (`Is this a kissing book?'). Actually, you don't have to tell me: he's totally open about consciously writing for this market in his preface. That being said, he does only hint, and then spends some time on getting his target audience of Oz juveniles to identify with the main characters. Hence the greater potency when their world is changed in a moment. It probably resonates far more with old folks like myself who already subscribe to this notion, but it would be great if even a few complacent Australians were woken up to the fact that wars don't happen to qualitatively different people - people that you somehow think, you know, them having their homes bombed and being refugees is the sort of thing they just take in their stride. Reminds me of Steely Dan's potent `Third World Man', where Fagan twists familiar suburban images into those of war, for example, "Johnny's playroom, is a bunker filled with sand," "I saw fireworks, I thought that I was dreaming, `til the neighbours came out screaming'" (OK, it works better with Larry Carlton's exquisite solo). So, sure, hats off to Marsden for putting more of a familiar human face in something usually seen as alien.

But once the invasion occurs our plucky kids don't suddenly morph into a crack military unit (well, they do a bit), nor does the book simply shrink into an ugly Tom Clancy/Chuck Norris jingoistic potboiler. Somehow he keeps the teen (dare I say, the `girly' teen) thing happening: introspection with occasional passable insights (eg. people don't really see things because they give them names - once something is named - such as the canyon `hell', they only perceive their projections in the misleading word; animals aren't so easily fooled), and classic - but realistic - boy/girl confusion over infatuation (save me from the appalling romance of just about any fantasy writer: McCaffrey, Kerr, Goodkind, Kay ... ugh. A legion of teenage readers swallowing supposedly profound relationships that haven't a hint of authenticity or beauty). Marsden doesn't play it for voyeurism, but you do get lines you might expect in Grey's Anatomy preceding a jet firing missiles. There's even time for a little historical detection with regard to the enigmatic hermit - who would have thought it? There's also a usable range of characters with far more depth and room for development than many purportedly adult novels. What? A Christian and a stoner that can't merely be summed up in those words. Blimey.

Realistic? Well, sure it's a bit of the old villain saying, "We could have succeeded in our evil plans if it wasn't for you pesky kids!", and that's attractive to some of his audience - it makes for a more enjoyable story than the naked realism of fly-ridden bloody corpses. But while he crosses the line here and there Marsden quite deliberately has the kids lower their expectations from movie ones, and will have a hero go into shock after a near miss rather than rip off their shirt and run unscathed through a hail of bullets slaying faceless hordes (this would also be problematic as some of the more central fighters are girls). This is refreshing. While he's also been careful not to demonise the enemy, I'd be interested to find out if the rest of the series goes as far as the leap to realising the `enemy' may actually have had as little choice as you about being in this dangerous situation.

The book is not a breathtaking achievement, but it is a solid one on a hazardous premise. A lot could have gone wrong that didn't, and there's a lot that goes right.

Ellie is so articulate, bright, and caring that she makes what would have been an average story into an amazing and believable account of eight young adults out to save their families and ultimately their homeland.

Once I got used to the Australian vernacular, I read this book at an amazing pace because I simply couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to hunt down the rest of this series.

I really enjoyed this book and plan to buy the rest of the series. It has a good mix of adventure and romance so it will appeal to most of my high school students. The characters have distinct personalities and all of them show strengths in the story which could be a great jumping off point for a discussion on how we are all different and how our differences make society function better. Aside from thoughts about teaching, I simply couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next.

This is one of those books of photos that will cheer you out of your foulest, darkest moods. It is a collection of "cute" animal photos with simple captions that relate to foul circumstances that humans often find themselves in. While some of the animals are adorable, many of the photos are of animals like bulldogs, hippopotami, camels, rhinoceros, primates and wart hogs. In any case, it is a simple book that is an excellent gift for someone with a mild case of the downers.

I found this book at a thrift store. It is one of those books I will want to keep. The photos really tell it all even better than the words. It talks to you on every page. It already knows how you've been feeling and what your weaknesses, insecurities, work problems, and strengths are. It tells it all and makes you cheer up and take a fresh approach to life. The photos are worth a million words. It's no ordinary little book. It no ordinary little gift book. It just one of those gems of a book to keep on your coffee table and enjoy talking about and sharing with your company, or sending to a friend who is feeling a little lost in their life. It's a great book. Everyone should have a copy.

I bought this for someone at a time when they were seriously contemplating suicide. This person had basically shut down. It was like nothing was getting through anymore. The Blue Day Book made him genuinely smile. That meant everything in the world to me. I knew he was still in there somewhere. It is now several years later and he is doing well (in case you're wondering). And maybe the book didn't save his life, I mean I can only attribute that to God. But the book is the first thing that was able to shine a light into his endless darkness. I guess it goes without saying that I HIGHLY recommend this wonderful little book.

The Blue Day Book is the ultimate coffee table book. It always lightens my days when I'm feeling down. The pictures are well matched to the sayings.

If you've got photographer friends, this book will be an inspiration for them. But the black and white photos also provide a great pick-me-up for anyone you know who's down in the dumps.

The volume describes myriad ways in which we all may feel under the weather sometimes--all of them illustrated with fetching postures and facial expressions of a large group from the animal kingdom--polar bears, pigs, lambs, monkeys, mice, dogs, kittens, lions, hippos, camels, sea lions, penguins, pelicans, even an anteater--and so on.

But the bottom line is that life goes on--and that people are "only young once...and never old twice." In other words, pick yourself up and enjoy life to its fullest, despite your blues, while you can.

Fabulous.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

The author of Life is so Good has a follow up story on the main subject of this award winning book. The second book is the back story of writing this book. As well, it is the back story of how a white jewish man from Port Townsend WA flew to South Dallas Texas to meet a one hundred year old black man who had never spoken to a white man before. The title is More Than a Book, by Richard Glaubman, A Story of Friendship. The first meeting and the growth of friendship between these two unlikely companions is a great read and a lesson in overcoming stereotypes of each side of the race barrier. Don't miss it, it is available for now from Night Owl Press 819 Cass Street Port Townsend WA 98268. I did ask Amazon to consider carrying it, I liked it very much, and it is at least as good as Life is So Good , if not better

This book will change your outlook on life and help you to appreciate your life more. Also helps you to feel more kindness to mankind. It is the kind of book that should be in schools. It's a must read for everyone - a feel good book.

This book is amazing. This is one of a handful of books that have, and will continue to change my life.

What does American history feel like, look like to someone who lived through the twentieth century without a formal education? Mr Dawson wrote: "My turn had come. My first day of school was January 4, 1996. I was 98 years old..." What a heart-felt, inspirational, insightful story on the life of a remarkable man who never felt remarkable. This book has a special place on my shelves. A must read for every high school student taking an American History course. His common sense view of life, his humor, humility, appreciation for what we take for granted are even more valuable now than the day the book was published. It's timeless.

Life Is So Good
This is an excellent extraordinary autobiography of a wonderful person. Every student in the US should have the opportunity to read this book. It's breath taking.... dcw

The author of Life is so Good has a follow up story on the main subject of this award winning book. The second book is the back story of writing this book. As well, it is the back story of how a white jewish man from Port Townsend WA flew to South Dallas Texas to meet a one hundred year old black man who had never spoken to a white man before. The title is More Than a Book, by Richard Glaubman, A Story of Friendship. The first meeting and the growth of friendship between these two unlikely companions is a great read and a lesson in overcoming stereotypes of each side of the race barrier. Don't miss it, it is available for now from Night Owl Press 819 Cass Street Port Townsend WA 98268. I did ask Amazon to consider carrying it, I liked it very much, and it is at least as good as Life is So Good , if not better

This book will change your outlook on life and help you to appreciate your life more. Also helps you to feel more kindness to mankind. It is the kind of book that should be in schools. It's a must read for everyone - a feel good book.

This book is amazing. This is one of a handful of books that have, and will continue to change my life.

What does American history feel like, look like to someone who lived through the twentieth century without a formal education? Mr Dawson wrote: "My turn had come. My first day of school was January 4, 1996. I was 98 years old..." What a heart-felt, inspirational, insightful story on the life of a remarkable man who never felt remarkable. This book has a special place on my shelves. A must read for every high school student taking an American History course. His common sense view of life, his humor, humility, appreciation for what we take for granted are even more valuable now than the day the book was published. It's timeless.

Life Is So Good
This is an excellent extraordinary autobiography of a wonderful person. Every student in the US should have the opportunity to read this book. It's breath taking.... dcw

(Crossposted from LibraryThing)

As a Harpo fan, this is one of the best books I have read. Harpo had such a vibrant and amazing life; his off-screen persona was just as interesting and witty as his on-screen one. Well worth reading.

Harpo Speaks speaks of an amazing life with a voice filled with humor and humanity. This is a book to savor. I've now read it 3 times and am looking forward to #4! Just a joy!

i am too lazy, or too busy, or too impatient to sit down and rate books/movies, etc, etc. however, i had to take time out of my day to tell you all that this is one of the funniest books ever written. period. 'harpo speaks' is a page-turner that never gets boring, and will literally have you laughing outloud. page after page, i would say to myself, 'this is to funny/bizzare to be true', yet with each passing page you could see the pieces of harpo's life fitting together to make him the master comedien that he was. this book is an absolute joy. buy it. you won't be disappointed.

From his early days as a ragamuffin loner dropout on the streets of new york, to his years in the spotlight as one of history's greatest comedians, Harpo takes us on a whirlwind ride through his life, and every page is more engaging than the last. I love the Marx Bros, and reading the success story through the eyes of their silent (but not unheard) partner is a must of any fan, be they casual or hardcore. Thank you Harpo, for sharing your rich life experiences with us. I'm forever grateful.

"Harpo Speaks" is one of the few books I've ever read that left an lasting impression on me. I first read it in 1975 when I was a teenager. I had always loved the Marx Brothers movies, and Harpo was always my favorite. My mother loved celebrity biographies, and she knew I would love this book.

Now, some 35+ years later, I still am in love with this book. I have used many of the illustrations with my children over the years. I love the story after Harpo lost most of his money in the crash of 1929, and he came upon a couple who was being evicted from their flat. The landlord was selling their belongings, and Harpo bought a scrub brush for a nickel. If I remember correctly, he gave the scrub brush back to the couple.

Also, I remember how much he used humor when raising his children. Harpo shared throughout the book that if you keep your kids laughing, you will have them in the palm of your hand. That pearl of wisdom is so true, and I always remembered that with my children. They are grown now (well my youngest is 16), and they all have a great sense of humor.

I need to buy this book again. I lost it in a move around 20 years ago. I want each of my children to read this book, and get to know one of the most unique and down-to-earth men in our country's history. Harpo Marx was one of a kind, and we won't see anyone like him ever again. What a shame!

First a warning to potential buyers:
This book and the other book by Terri "My Steve" are exactly the same book, just with different titles!! They have the exact same forward, chapter titles, and epilogue. You can open to any page in one book and find the exact words within a page number or two in the other book. They have different ISBN#s, but they're still the same. I'd like to give Terri the benefit of the doubt, but it sure looks pretty low to print the same book under different titles without so much as a notice of this fact on the australiazoo.com online book store.
That said, I thought this a great book. As to criticisms about not enouph disclosure of private life, I also would've like to read more on that line. However, in the books defense, there were many parts/stories that I'd not previously seen in the many interviews and shows about the Irwins that I've seen. And there was a great amount of behind the camera stories.

OMG!!!!! OK I AM 13 YEARS OLD, AND WHEN I READ THIS BOOK, IT'S LIKE SHE IS DESCRIBING AN OLDER, AUSTRALIAN MALE VERSION OF MY SELFE! YOU GO MATE! I ONLY WISH THAT I COULD GIVE IT MORE STARS AND THAT SHE NEVER HAD EDITED IT FROM IT'S ORIGINAL 900 PAGE VERSION! I WISH THAT HE NEVER DIED... AND WHATS SPOOKY IS THE FACT THAT HE KNEW HE WOULD NOT LIVE PAST 40 AND HE DIED AT 42 OR 43 OR SOMETHING! I NEVER RELY BELIEVED HIS DETH 'TILL I READ THIS BOOK IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOO SAD HOW THEY FOUND OUT IT MADE ME CRY! I FEAL SOOOOOOOOOOO BAD FOR THE IRWINS! I AM AN CONSERVATIONIST AND HAVE HOSTED 4 FUNDRAISERS FOR ENDANGERED SPCIES!HE INSPIRED ME SOOOOOOOOOO MUTCH! I MEEN, I HELD A SCORPION! WOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!

What a guy Steve was, and nobody knew it better than Terri and the children.Terri tells us about the Steve, we all came to know from watching his exciting adventures in the animal world ,played out on our TV screens;better than anyone could;for the simple reason nobody knew and loved him more.
What a great shock it was to learn about Steve's so untimely death.It happened so quickly and unexpectedly;that those of us who knew him only from watching his unbelievable handling and love of wild animals,that when we heard of his death;we were tempted yo ask ourselves;"was he really for real?"
In this wonderful book ,Terry opens up to all of us, what a fantastic person Steve was.If we thought we knew him;she shows he was even a much greater person than we realized.
Steve's unrestrained and unlimited love for animals, and his concern for their threatened futures gave him the strength to carry on and do more for their well being than one could imagine possible for one man.
When one hears or thinks of Steve ,the scene of him gently holding a small, beautiful but venomous snake in his hand ,in some remote place in the wild,comes to mind. A snake he has never seen before,the locals are terrified of;and Steve lifts it to within a couple if inches of his face.Steve and his newfound "friend" seem to be as one ,without fear on either's part. One also thinks of Terri,a few feet away,watching it all going on,with love,admiration and what must have been a bit of trepidation. Steve, just as easily entertained and amazed us tackling a crocodile or mingling with a herd of wild rhinocerous or staring down a poisonous spider.
And did he ever enjoy it all; and just as important was his desire to share it with the rest of the world.
What a terrible loss Steve was to everyone who came to know him;but more importantly what a tremendous loss he was to the world of nature.It seems his life's work was just getting started and we cannot even imagine all the other great things he would have accomplished ,had he been able to continue.No doubt about it,he was a Giant in many ways;and still he was just beginning to accomplish what he dreamed of.
Steve still managed to accomplish much and his efforts will continue to benefit wildlife beyond anything that could be expected from one person.
Thanks,so much Terri, for sharing your life and love of Steve with us.

Readers looking for Steve Irwin's life story in depth may be disappointed. It is condensed and captured by Terri Irwin, but more as a loving tribute. Their relationship was an unpretentious union built around wildlife conservation. Terri simply explains who the Irwin family is, and what they do best--teaching their children and ours about wildlife. If nothing else, the reader will walk away better understanding what the word passion truly means.

This is one of those can't put down books. A book which makes you cry with sadness and happiness, one that makes you laugh and also makes you angry at the injustice to animals and the people trying to protect them.

Whilst we all know what a wonderful guy Steve was with his wildlife conservation and admire and love him for it, this also shows that Terri was equally dedicated.

A beautiful love story, and what a beautiful family! This book made me realize that it really took a special woman to match Steve's vigor for life.

What a unique couple, makes me even the sadder that their love story was cut short and that their two beautiful children do not get to grow up with such an amazing man!

This book contains some stunning illustrations and some great text. That said, each page contains clues to solving the mystery of the book. Each page also contains a mouse hidden in the illustration. By combining the clues on each page your child (or you) should be able to solve the mystery. However, the mystery is pretty hard to solve. Takes patience and an eagle eye! Children and adults who enjoy putting together puzzles will find the book fascinating. Children with little patience with most likely love looking at the illustrations and reading the prose. The back of the book contains the answer as well as the locations of the hidden mouse.

Yes, it's a book with easy words and big pictures of animals in costumes going to a birthday party. In that respect, it's a children's book. But the depth of the mystery and clues are beyond the reach of most 4-year-olds (and many adults, for that matter).

My own life is a good example. I got this book for Christmas forever ago and loved the pictures, but as I grew older I began to appreciate the intricacy of the clues, and as such still pick it up well into my twenties.

Yes, it's possible that your toddlers may get frustrated by the mystery being over their heads. But don't let them cheat and look up the answers (given in a special sealed section in the back, along with all the clues hidden in the illustrations); instead, let them figure it out - it serves as a great learning and perception tool.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. I say that I read it, but really this is more like a book you do. What do you do? You solve the mystery of the poetic story by searching the detailed illustrations for clues. Some clues are more obvious than others, but most clues take real sleuthing to discover. I had so much fun with it, and after about two days of study, I came up with the answer, but there was still so much that I had overlooked. Thankfully, the author reveals all to you in a sealed section at the back of the book. I encourage you to resist seeking the answers until you've tried your hardest to find as many clues as you can. Even if you can't figure out the who dunnit, you will be exited with every clue you find, and will likely hear yourself exclaim, "Ah-ha!". This book is marketed to children but it takes a sharp mind to solve the mystery and discover the clues, so it is really better suited for teens and adults, but even small children will enjoy the story and the amazing pictures. I would give this book as a gift to anyone who enjoys a good brain teaser. So get out your magnifying glass, a notepad and pencil, and have fun!

The story is about Horace the elephant who has decided to celebrate his eleventh birthday, with 10 of his friends in the eleventh month (November) on the eleventh day. After all have arrived the eleven characters participate in eleven games in anticipation of a birthday feast at the eleventh hour of the day. Thus the title of the book - The Eleventh Hour. The day is filled with musical activities, indoor/outdoor games, board games, cards, party games and more. The eleventh hour arrives disappointing the guests with the unexpected disappearance of their birthday feast. Apparently a theft perpetrated by one of the invited guests. Horace saves the day by serving healthy whole wheat sandwiches to all and the birthday cake remains because it had been stored away from the feast. With everyone enjoying the birthday cake, the story closes with a happy ending.

However, this is where one story ends and other mysteries begin. On each page of the book there are puzzles to be solved and clues to lead a more intrepid reader along the trail to the thief of the birthday feast.

I'm a freshman in college and I still love this book. My third grade class room had a set but we were NOT allowed to open the pages in the back! The entire class spent lots of time pouring over the sumptuous pictures and trying to spot each and every hidden...well, I won't give it away. I came across the book in a bookstore recently and bought it immediately because I had such fond memories. Do yourself or your kid a huge favor and buy it!