2 comments about My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat #10: A Halloween Tail (Hank Zipzer).

1. The entire series of Hank Zipzer books is GREAT!!! My son can't get enough of them. They are a wonderful read, especially for any child who suffers from a learning challenge. They are easy to relate to and help to build self-esteem for children who have learning challenges and help others to understand how the world works for them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!



2. I haven't read one Hank Zipzer book I didn't love! And my son and I have read all of the them. This one is fun and shows lots of compassion and also made me laugh!

5 comments about The Perfect Nest.

1. Reviewed by Three Silly Chicks - Readers, Writers, and Reviewers of funny books for kids.
   
   
   Oh how we love Spring here in the coop! Everywhere we look we see chicks and eggs! We feel the love. We get especially light-headed whenever we see a new chick-and-egg book, which is why we practically passed out when we saw The Perfect Nest.
   
   In this hilarious tale, Jack the Cat, who's hungry for an omelet, decides to build the perfect nest to attract the perfect chicken who would lay the perfect egg. A perfect plan! Things turn out even better than Jack imagined when his cozy nest attracts a chicken, a duck, and a goose, all of whom lay eggs. Jack drools in anticipation. Now he has breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all in one nest. But the frisky fowl don't want to leave. After lots of failed attempts, Jack is finally able to trick them into leaving by telling them there's an even better nest at the next farm. They fly the coop, leaving their eggs behind. Alone at last, Jack is just about to crack open his glorious eggs when suddenly out pops a baby chick, a baby duck, and a baby goose. All three think the wily feline is their mama and proceed to follow him around the farm, much to Jack's dismay. How can he eat something that calls him mama? He can't, of course, and after a snuggle fest with his new brood he realizes that he has made the perfect nest after all.
   
   Tight writing and lively illustrations make this book a chick magnet. We love the idea of pairing it with An Egg is Quiet by Dianne Aston for an absolutely eggcellent storytime. And that's no yolk! (Oh, geez, sorry 'bout that. It couldn't be helped.)



2. My family absolutely loves this adorable book. We read it over and over again. We highly recommend it!



3. This is a delightful book for children that teaches responsibility and consequences. The cat is so expressive and my granddaughter loves the different accents for the hen, duck and goose. I highly recommend this book for children.



4. This book is a must have for any child's library. Jack the cat sets out on a scheme to make the perfect omelet and in the end learns an important lesson about family. This book is funny, and meaningful. It is one of those stories that the kids will want to hear again and again, and also one the parents won't mind reading over and over.



5. This book was recommended in the Wall Street Journal as an excellent read-aloud. Because the WSJ reviews are generally on-point, I purchased it for a future grandchild, thinking it would be an enduring classic. I was sorely disappointed in the story-line and the quality of the writing. This book is merely okay, but nothing that I would recommend as a choice for someone special. There are much better children's books out there.

5 comments about Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told By a Cat.

1. Very cute idea as a way to introduce a child to Pope Benedict. Nicely illustrated and a presentation of the pope's life before he became Pope Benedict XVI. I gave the book to my grandaughter for her First Communion and she and her parents like it very much.



2. I bought this book for my daughter for her 1stCommunion. (2nd grader) I thought by the cover that it would be at her level, but it was a little advanced and I lost her at a few pages in.



3. It's hard to tell for whom this short biography of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) is intended. The narrator is a cat, whose storytelling style is very much in the vein of picture books intended for quite young children, much younger than the 9-12 age group suggested by the publisher. But the vocabulary and sentence structure are too advanced for young children and some 9-year-olds will be challenged by a sentence like "While Joseph and Georg set off toward would become their future life in the Church, a tragedy was developing in Germany that would throw the whole world into turmoil." There are some excellent bits of feline wisdom, such as the Latin words for "cat" and "mouse," and the observation that cats choose their people, rather than the reverse; and the text is illustrated by truly outstanding drawings that can be appreciated by children and adults of any age. It makes a very attractive coffee table book, and one that Catholic parents may enjoy reading with their children.



4. I thought this book had loads of potential. The illustrations are wonderful, the theme terrific, but its a bit wordy for the young audience I read it to.



5. I really wanted to love this book. After all, the narrator is a ginger tabby (my favorite color and type of cat) and the subject is Pope Benedict XVI (a learned and compassionate man), who, as titular head of the Roman Catholic Church, is one of the most highly revered men on the planet.
   
   This particular story is the authorized biography of Benedict's life for children. And it is a lovely, well-written story for children.
   
   So, what's my objection? It pains my heart to write this and is meant in no way a criticism of the pope or the church. This cat Chico was there in the town of Marktl-on-Inn, April 16, 1927, when Joseph Ratzinger was born, and he was still alive when Joseph was declared the new pope, on April 19, 2005. That makes that cat 78 years old (or older)--that's in people years. In cat years, he is 546 years old.
   
   At first, I thought I was mistaken until I double-checked the illustrations. No, Chico is there in Joseph's life right from the beginning. Was I supposed to go with artistic license to pretend I didn't notice how old the cat is? Reservations aside, the story is interesting, informative, and quite pleasant.
   
   My other objection is the copious amount of words used in a children's story. As it is written for ages 9-12, then the target audience is correct. However, this book is designed with illustrations--beautiful ones at that--to show various scenes from Joseph's life. The book, then, becomes an unusual combination of words for older children and illustrations for younger children. However, one thing is for certain: Children should never outgrow their love of picture stories. Truthfully, this book is as much for adults as children, for cat lovers as much as Catholics, for the aesthetics as much as the information.
   
   As for the information therein, here is a list of things one learns from reading this book:
   1. Joseph's father was a police officer.
   2. Joseph took piano lessons
   3. Joseph had to fight in the war. His job was to guard an airplane motor factory.
   4. In seminary he studied Latin, philosophy, and theology. He wanted to become a priest and teacher.
   5. He was part of Vatican II.
   6. He became good friends with Pope John Paul II.
   7. In 2005 he became Pope Benedict XVI.
   8. He had a ginger tabby named Chico.
   
   I highly recommend this book. The art is beautiful, the story is interesting. Readers do gain an excellent sense of who this man is and what he is about. Whether we are on an intimate terms with him, like Chico, and call him Joseph, or reverent terms to call him Pope Benedict, he is one of the central figures of history in the making.

4 comments about Pottenger's Cats: A Study in Nutrition.

1. Pottenger's Cats is a classic in the science of nutrition. Dr. Pottenger discovered quite by accident that cats degenerated unless they were fed raw food. In his 10-year study of 900 cats, he found the optimal diet for his cats was 2/3 raw meat and 1/3 raw milk plus a little cod liver oil. If either the meat or the milk was cooked, the cats degenerated. And if both were cooked, the degeneration was much worse, and the cats could no longer reproduce by the third generation.

   Some of the problems Pottenger found in the cats fed cooked food were: heart problems; nearsightedness and farsightedness; underactivity and inflammation of the thyroid; infections of the kidney, liver, testes, ovaries and bladder; arthritis and inflammation of the joints; inflammation of the nervous system with paralysis and meningitis. And in the third generation, some of the cats' bones became as soft as rubber. Lung problems, and bronchitis and pneumonia were also frequent. Moreover, the females became irritable and even dangerous, and the males became passive and lacked sex interest.

   Do many of these conditions sound familiar? Pottenger, of course, realized that his cat studies didn't apply entirely to humans. He believed nonetheless that his findings for cats did have relevance for humans, and in his sanitarium he fed his patients much raw food, with considerable success. Weston A. Price reported in his book, "Nourishing Traditions" that all of the people's he studied worldwide included much raw food in their traditional diets and were almost entirely free of the degenerative diseases that are rampant in our junk food society, such as tooth decay, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, digestive disturbances,etc.

   If you want to stay healthy, you owe it to yourself to read both Pottenger and Price. Their eye opening photographs alone will make clear to you that you need optimum nutrition if you want to be optimally healthy.




2. This book was an easy read for anyone interesdted in nutrition and a good overview of the famous pottenger studies. It provides basic guidelines and good foundation information. the further reading recommendations are helpful and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone starting out in nutrition or for those of us that are continuing to tweek our practices.



3. Pottenger's nutrition studies of cats clearly indicate the importance of quality nutrition. They also help understand why people in our society have such problems with poor health, given the poor quality food that they consume. The book is relatively easily understandable, as long as you don't put extensive effort into trying to understand the content of the tables of data.



4. This book is fascinating. This book is about cat nutrition and what is important for cats.
   
   Cats never ate cooked foods through the thousands of years of regeneration. Their natural selection process was based on their lifestyle and the foods available to them. Raw.
   
   Humans have always eaten a variety of foods - cooked, fermented, salted, dried, raw. This book should not be used as proof as to what is best for humans. Humans evolution process was based on varied foods and varied storage/fresh methods of preparation.
   
   THis book is about cats and what diet is best for their bodies to remain as they were created over the millions of generations. Should only be proof that a health organism is entirely effected by the dietary choices and food sources. Best dietary choices for each animal (human included) should be based on the history and evolution of THAT species.

No comments about Paw Prints in the Stars: A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet.

5 comments about The Draw 50 Way: How to Draw Cats, Puppies, Horses, Buildings, Birds, Aliens, Boats, Trains and Everything Else Under the Sun (Draw 50).

1. I had bought this for my 11 yr old son. He loved it. He was very excited with all the how to draw subjects the book had in it.



2. Christmas present that Santa picked out. About a 1/2 dozen intro to drawing instruction books for my Daughter. You can't get a much better recommendation than that. She liked it.



3. I am teaching myself how to draw something I have wanted to do FOREVER, and this book is very helpful



4. These books are good for kids who want to move on beyond simple drawings and add things like fur and more details. My daughter is 9 yrs old and has spent many hours drawing from this book. This particular 50 book has a nice variety of things to draw.



5. My almost 7 year old expressed an interest in drawing and I thought this book would be useful for her. I am afraid it is still a little too advanced for her and I did not find it very easy either. It looks like it would be very helpful for someone that already has an artistic base; it took me quite a bit of time to do one drawing. I still think it is a good book though.

5 comments about The Purrfect Murder (A Mrs. Murphy Mystery).

1. First, I have read every book in this series. But the more recent ones are just not as good as the first ones (though this one was 100% better than the last one--at least we're back in Crozet!). But this is a cute murder mystery series where all the animals (rats, snakes, owls, etc.) talk to one another. Not a platform for political views. If I wanted that, I turn on CNN. Sure, people can have an opinion, but some of the things said by the characters are straight out of a book. People I know just don't talk like these characters--and I live in a very big city!
   
   Second, the ending was incomplete. OK, now is Tazio off the hook? The ending never mentioned that. Will this continue in the next book? I assume we will have something about her marriage to Paul. Did we absolutely prove the Kylie was the killer? No. She took off. So you have a supposed double-murderer on the run. And really, were you supposed to believe, considering how Kylie's character was described, that she was a murderer of this kind. No, to me, she was written as a guy-crazy young woman who liked to shop. Maybe that was her disguise. And did Harry simply forget about seeing her buy the $19,000 watch? That tidbit was never mentioned again. As in the previous book, the ending was over in the last two pages. Boom, story over.
   
   Third, Harry. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Harry should have been arrested for illegal trespassing or breaking and entering. You simply can't break into someone's house because you think they are guilty of something unless you are the law and even they need probable cause. She should be dead, and that would be the end of the series.
   
   Now, I realize these books are fiction and cute, light-hearted mystery. Or at least the first ones were. Ms. Brown is turning out these books in an assembly-line fashion. It seems that not much thought is going into the characters (and way too many new ones--bring the old ones back like Miranda and Boom-Boom) and way too much thought goes into what is Ms. Brown's view of the world. I still love the banter between Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, plus all the other animals (even the rats). Their conversations are more enjoyable than the human conversations (and more understandable).
   
   Hopefully, the next one will improve. Yes, I will continue to read the books (I also get them from my public library and do not waste money buying them), but it's getting more and more disappointing to read. I hope Ms. Brown spends some time reading her loyal readers' reviews and takes the hint.
   
   Signed, A real Mrs. Murphy



2. I've read all the books from the beginning and at first liked them a lot, but this one'll be the last for me.
   
   It's not even the soapboxing that drives me crazy, but the product placement. It's always designer this and brand that from her tractor to her work boots. I suspect the author makes more money from advertising than from writing.
   
   And then people sitting on some million dollars worth of land going on, "Oh, no, I'm not rich at all, see me re-using my old socks for catnip toys!" LOLcats says, "Your white privilege it's showing!"
   
   And you know what RMB? I can follow my family line to the early elevenhundreds, so, a family history of twohundredsomething years is really nothing special. Please stop bothering me with harping on about it. Cheers!



3. Aside from the preaching, I found the errors in the book to be so glaringly obvious that they were distracting (not to mention repeated over and over). I very strongly suggest that Ms. Brown research more carefully in the future, starting with the difference between veins and arteries and carotid artery v. jugular vein.
   
   Sadly, I'm finding this more and more commonly among mystery authors or their editors.



4. (More like 3.75 stars compared to other books in the series.) Some of the reviews actually discouraged me from going to this latest Mrs. Murphy mystery as soon as it arrived. I thought, hmmm, so series fatigue must have got it. In fact, it is not bad; not the best, but it should not disappoint most regular readers. I like the world Rita Mae Brown has realized through this series, a rural western Virginia town (the very real Crozet) that over the years has grown urbanized rural. RMB uses the excuse of murder and detection fiction to explore how its Southern heart remains stolid as it absorbs newcomers and the challenges of living in the 21st century. In this outing, a popular OB/GYN who has performed some terminations is killed, but after a militant antiabortionist confesses and is jailed, past patients are blackmailed, seemingly by the same culprit. This gives RMB a chance to look at the impact of one of the most divisive issues of modern times in a place where opinions clash but people need to stick together. Her regular crew of characters falls on both sides. RMB treats both sides gently.
   
   As usual, the human characters' pets have their own conversations which the adults never get and if they did, the mysteries would be solved long before they are. In light of how the ubiquitous CSI television shows have educated the populace, the human characters, including the actual law enforcement officers, seem to ignore key evidence or lack thereof until it is almost too late. It doesn't really matter that much to me; I value this series for its social observations and wit, and it has both.



5. I enjoyed the early books in this series, but like many other reviewers, am getting tired of the politics involved. Also, while I appreciate the descriptions of life in rural Virginia, is it necessary for Ms. Brown to trash people from other areas?
   
   I'm also noticing inconsistencies, some of which have already been pointed out by others. One that I noticed that hasn't been brought up yet is that Big Mim states to Little Mim that she never had an abortion, but in an earlier book in which a doctor is poring through old medical records, it is revealed that Big Mim did, in fact, have an illegal abortion. Either Ms. Brown is getting sloppy or Big Mim lied to her daughter. Hmmm....
   
   Please, RMB, be more thorough and get back to the plain old mystery telling and animal banter that got you your fans in the first place.

5 comments about The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (Beginner Books(R)).

1. This book deserves 5 stars.It is the best Dr.Seuss book I have ever read!It has lots of odd and fun things and uses lots of ryhming.It takes you beyond imagination.I really recomend this book to you.



2. The feline in the big long red and white striped top hat is back again, with his subversive, mischievous ways.
   
   The two kids are bored and doing the crappy yardwork thiing, and with the parental units away, the cat wants to play. Crazy snow stunts, games and fights and dodgy bathroom antics are more fun than works.



3. Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby
   
   As a child, I liked The Cat in the Hat Comes Back better than the original. Now my 4-year-old son agrees. He can't get enough of this absurd tale of a bathtub ring that ends up all over the house and yard. The story's imagination is breathtaking, as the cat in the hat reveals 26 more cats in hats atop his head. There's educational value, too, because the 26 little cats are named each letter of the alphabet. The final solution at the end of the story is a bit vague and abrupt, but otherwise it's a fun-filled romp both kids and parents enjoy.



4. The Cat In The Hat Comes Back (beginner books) is a great book for children just learning to read. The child is introduced to words that rhyme and the letters of the alphabet. The focus is clearly on children since the entire short story takes place while two young children are left at home while their mother goes "to the town." Moreover, the illustrations are wonderful.
   
   The action begins when the two kids, one boy and one girl, are shoveling snow while their mother runs errands. Naturally, The Cat In The Hat returns to do more mischief and, quite conveniently, set up a story that teaches children the alphabet and rhyming words. After the cat makes a mess in the bathtub we are introduced to all his little helpers who are named from A to Z--great alphabet lesson! The story is made amusing for small children because the pink mess in the tub goes to their mother's dress, the wall and eventually all the snow outside! It's a silly premise; but it'll work for young children just learning to read. They'll like the humor of this.
   
   Of course, Seuss also inserts plenty of words to teach children more vocabulary. Children are introduced to words like cold and warm, fun and done, dig and pig, news and shoes, whose and news--and more! Excellent!
   
   I cannot help but notice that some people felt that the use of guns in the story (they help take away the pink snow mess) might lead children to conclude that guns are "OK." Unfortunately, these people have a good point. Dr. Seuss could have and should have used another method instead of guns to clean away the pink snow mess. I will take off one star for this: I would take off more but the rest of the book is so thoughtfully done that I can't go lower on my rating.
   
   Overall, I recommend The Cat In The Hat Comes Back for parents to use as a tool to help very young children learn to read. The kids will love it; and hopefully some fond memories will be made when you sit down and read this with your children. I also recommend that you mention that guns are bad and maybe add that the guns in this book were special in that they couldn't hurt anybody.
   
   All in all, great job, Dr. Seuss!



5. This book started out in similar fashion to the original Cat in the Hat book, but then it turned ugly and a little disturbing.
   
   Once again, the children are left alone, this time responsible for shoveling snow while the mother goes into town. The Cat in the Hat shows up and invites himself in the house, where he makes himself at home by eating cake in the bathtub. When he exits the tub, there is a pink ring that needs to be cleaned up. The cat uses various objects and surfaces in the house to clean the ring, but it eventually winds up outside in the snow.
   
   The Cat enlists the help of other cats that are under his hat to "kill the mess", using pop guns. The more the cats shoot, the more the spots spread. There's an illustration of pink-tinged snow covering the ground, the house, and even a snowman. This picture, coupled with the words "Kill those spots! Kill the mess!", just comes across as a little violent and gory to me.
   
   Just plain weird story. Not a favorite of mine, by any means.

2 comments about The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library: Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body (Cat in the Hat's Lrning Libry).

1. I really enjoyed this book a lot. Like many other books in this series, Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz recycle the "Cat In The Hat" characters to teach a specific non-fiction topic. In this case, the subject at hand is the human body. They do a very nice job of covering all the main systems of the body, at a level appropriate for the target audience.

   Ruiz' illustrations are spot-on replicas of what Seuss himself would have done. Rabe's narration is quite good, but just a tad below the master's work - granted, her hands are tied a bit by the subject matter.

   In summary, I took off one star, since it doesn't quite read like a Seuss book, but the book is still highly recommended.




2. I purchased three books from this series. My 7 year old Granddaughter loves them, and I am relearning things that I have forgotten. She entertains both her Dad and myself with all the facts she's learning. I am going to purchase all of the rest of the series. Really great books.

5 comments about Forest of Secrets (Warriors, Book 3).

1. If the clan was attacked what would you do? When the ThunderClan is invaded by rouge cats Fireheart is fighting with his life to protect the leader,Bluestar from...tigerclaw?Why would he try to kill his own leader. Can he do it or will he be stopped find out when you read Warriors Forest of Secrets.



2. This is a geat book. This bbook is so action packed. I love it!



3. Pre-teen and early teen girls love the series. It has my 10 year olds attention. She is reading like never before.



4. Imagine that you are a regular household pet cat, but one day you meet another cat and it changes your kittypet life. Wouldn't that be great? This book is set in the country side of some modern nation. The main character is Fireheart, a ginger colored tom.
   Fireheart is part of a society of cat tribes which are made up of four clans. Thunderclan, Windclan, Riverclan, and Shadowclan. There is also a Starclan, which is more of a religion than a clan. Fireheart is part of Thunderclan. Winter has finished blowing through the country side, and a thaw causes the river to overflow and drives Riverclan out of their camp. Graystripe, a good friend of Fireheart is traumatized by the death of his mate, Silverstream. With all of this to worry about, Fireheart has uncovered a sinister plot about Tigerclaw, the deputy of Thunderclan. He plans to kill Thunderclan's leader, Bluestar. The theme of this book is that sometimes you need to help others, even if others think its wrong. The meaning of the title is that the forest that the cats live in is full of secrets.
   I thought the authors craft in this book was good, but it gets repetitive over time. I recommend this book to people who like cats, and are mystified by their ways.



5. All of the Erin Hunter books are great! I just love them and have read them many times over. I am not a reader, I hate to read!!! But give me a Warrior series book and leave me alone for a few days. They are the best. Thanks Erin for opening up a new world for me.