1 comments about Chester's Back!.

1. I'm a children's author and I loved "Chester". He reminds me so much of my cat. It's obvious Melanie is a cat person. I loved Chester so much that I put "Chester's Back" on order so I could read it as soon as it came out. The books made me chuckle, and I'm sure it will be a big hit with the kids and the kittens in all of us. The Chester series has fun drawings that Chester adds to with his red marker, as well as additional comments. I give Chester an A.
   
   Author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

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 What the Cat Dragged In (Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives, No. 1).

1. 
   
   Gilbert Morris has a great set-up for his new cozy mystery series--featuring "cat detectives" Jacques and Cleo. The person belonging to the two cats is a struggling single mother named Kate. She's astounded to discover she's inherited a beach house in White Sands, Alabama and the money that comes along with it. Unfortunately, there are two conditions. First, she has to live in the house and take care of the former owner's animals, which include a raccoon, a ferret, a rabbit with a death wish (she constantly chews electric cords), a cussing parrot, a pit bull, and a snake. Second, she has to share the house with Jake, another heir who is also required to live in the house.
   
   Jake and Kate are truly the odd couple. Jake is a former cop who believes in cooking everything from scratch and keeping things neat as a pin. Kate believes in microwave thawing and throws her clothes on the floor. Kate has a natural affinity for animals. Jake hates them, even though he grudgingly agrees to help take care of the menagerie because of the terms of the will. Kate is a Christian and Jake is a skeptic. So naturally, sparks fly. Does anyone see a romance coming?
   
   Most of What the Cat Dragged In sets up Jake and Kate's inheriting the money, meeting, and attempting to set up housekeeping together. (Although for propriety's sake, Jake occupies an upstairs apartment of his own.) And of course, we get to know the two cats, Jacques and Cleo. Cleo's a sweet, fluffy ragdoll. Jacques is a rare cat known as a Savannah, which is half Serval wild cat. His nickname is "Jacques the Ripper." Both Jake, the former cop, and Trouble the pit bull are afraid of him.
   
   The mystery starts pretty late in the book, which is all right because it frankly isn't as interesting as Jake and Kate, the animals, and the quirky characters in White Sands.
   (Spoiler) This is a mystery, however, so eventually the friend of Kate's son, Jeremy, is killed, and Jeremy is a suspect. Jacques the Ripper comes to the rescue by uncovering an important clue that clears Jeremy.
   
   Reviewed by Robin Johns Grant
   http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com



2. I like animal-related detective series and this book filled that bill. The story, the characters, and the role of the animals were all enjoyable. It was good enough that I will buy the rest of the series.



3. It's so nice to read a book without graphic nonsense. The story was very entertaining too.



4. Fairly good story and characters, but, too much religion. Half way through I needed to be "saved".



5. I really struggled to enjoy this book and will not continue with the series. The premise was good and the writing well-done, but the lack of animal character development and participation in a series named after them, seemed like a ploy to bring over "Cat Who" or "Sneaky Pie" fans. There was also quite a lot of religion, which would have been ok with a gentler hand, but got quite heavy at times. I hated how the author used it to paralyze the lead female. I have always thought faith helped someone make choices, but this character seemed to spend most of her time reading the bible and waiting for signs from God. Maybe that was needed to make the male lead seem more decisive, but it made her look so inept, that I began to lost interest in the story quickly.
   
   I admit to a preference for strong female characters though, so if this doesn't bother you, you may enjoy the book more than I did.

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 Hug Time.

1. I just love Mutts. It clicks with me on many levels and I am sure it resonates with many people. I bought two copies of this book to give away for Christmas and actually will only part with one.... to a really good friend. I want to thank Patrick McDonnell for his artwork and inspiration. He is wonderful.
   Everyone should own at least ONE Mutts volume, and this is a good place to start.



2. This book is adorable. I love the poetic meter and the illustrations, while spare, are great, too. I love the cool blue sky he paints when Jules finds himeself at the North Pole and the picture of the lion hiding in the tall grasses. I think it would make a great Valentine's Day gift for a child or an adult. The themes of loving nature and those close to us can be appreciated by folks of all ages.



3. My 3-year-old niece is learning to read and her mom reads to her a lot. I saw this cute book with a little kitten and decided to get it for her. She enjoys both the story and pictures. I'd recommend it for toddlers.



4. Wish there were more books like this one! A hug for the whole world, even the parts that look scary or weird, what a concept!



5. I don't like cats, and I don't write reviews. But I love this book so much, I've come out of my shell. I had searched far and wide for a special "very first" book to give to my baby - one that I could inscribe "with love from Mommy" inside. It's hard to find a childrens' book with a warmhearted message that is not written with corniness and excessive cheese. I didn't hold much hope that this one would be any different, but OH MAN! By the time I got to the end, my eyes were a little misty! Not corny, not cheesy, the message is simple yet very touching. My older daughter was standing next to me in the bookstore with her finger in her nose, nagging me to take her to the Outer Space books, and I crouched down next to her and gave her a big hug!

5 comments about Bad Kitty.

1. My daughter is in Kindergarten and this book is a fun way to associate letters and words starting with each letter of the alphabet. It also has a great storyline and my daughter likes me to read the story and for her to "read" the letter pages.



2. I have previously reviewd this book. I gave it along with handmade scarves and mittens to little ones for Christmas.



3. I am a 21 year old college student currently studying to be an elementary school teacher. I found this book and started reading through it and was actually laughing out loud! This book is absolutely hilarious and definitely entertaining. In the classroom this book would surely be a hit! I recommend it whole-heartedly! :)



4. I loved "Bad Kitty". One reason is it teaches children who are about to go to kindergarten their alphabet in a most creative and humorous way. Not only can they learn their letters but they can learn to read in a funny way. The pictures depict the words perfectly. Adults such as old granny women can enjoy the humor in these books. And, you know we are the ones who frequently read these books to children.



5. I love a good alphabet book as much as the next 1st grade teacher, but I still don't always see them as nutty and adorable as this one (is it possible to have an alphabet book that is partially aimed toward adults?) Here, the alphabet is repeated multiple times as it explains that actions of a kitty who is at odds with its owners over issues of dinner. So Kitty does good things and kitty does bad things and I had my class in a fit of giggles the entire time.

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 Whole Health for Happy Cats: A Guide to Keeping Your Cat Naturally Healthy, Happy, and Well-Fed (Quarry Book).

1. This book has become a most valuable resource in my house, I have learned so much about proper cat care from Sandy Arora and treasure this book very much. I keep it handy with my cookbooks in the kitchen even :) This book helped me learn to take better care of my cats, they have made the smooth transition to an all raw diet, supplemented by other natural methods of keeping. My copy was always out on loan that I finally got a second copy!



2. I first found the web-site and bought the book; first for myself and then many friends. It's so very wonderfully written. Nothing 'in your face' that you have to do certain things. So easy to read and the photos are great. I've recently had a problem with a couple kitties and with the help of Sandy's book, things are SO much better.... Please get it and read it....and get some for your friends....



3. Whole Health for Happy Cats has become my cat bible. It lives in the kitchen with my `human' recipe books. Like them, it's covered in...ahem... `stuff', as I refer to it so often, particularly with regard to making nutritionally-balanced, cat-appropriate food.
   
   My three cats are benefiting greatly from the info on nutrition and gentle holistic means for treating illness and disease. I'm also benefiting by saving a fortune on vet visits and expensive drugs that often just treat the symptom, not the cause. I feel so much more empowered knowing that I can treat common ailments myself, using items readily available from most health food stores. The book also explains when I should go to the vet without delay. The book is thoroughly researched using the latest information available. For this reason, it's far more useful than older books on the subject.
   
   Without this book, I wouldn't have the confidence to make my animals' food myself. This book has all the information I need to know that the food I'm giving them is not only enjoyable for them to eat, but is nutritionally balanced, based on the latest research in cat nutrition. Given the tragic pet food contamination that killed thousands of cats and dogs, I can sleep at night knowing that my guys won't be the victims of less-than-optimum quality control and cat-inappropriate `filler' ingredients that are in so many commercial pet foods.
   
   I particularly love the `mix and match' table which shows you how to nutritionally balance various types of meat with the other things cats' need.
   
   For those who don't want to make their cats' meals, the book includes details on what to look for in commercial cat food, and what to avoid.
   
   The book covers a whole raft of issues including diet, first aid, treating minor ailments, behavioural issues, reducing stress during vet visits, cat-toxic plants, how to introduce cats to each other to minimise hissing, spitting and flying fur, solving toilet troubles and how to resolve conflict in multi-cat households. There's even a recipe for safe, cat-appropriate tooth paste to maintain good teeth and gum health (I'm psyching myself up to try that out) and a gentle tummy soother.
   
   The book is very easy to read, with lots of gorgeous photos, side bars, graphs and tables and interesting facts and figures. An absolute winner. I've given copies of this book to others and it's also in my public library.
   
   My cats are healthy, lean, purring machines and they have this book and the author's extensive knowledge to thank for that. Every purrson should have a copy.



4. This book is wonderful. It is just packed with information for keeping your cat healthy. Wonderfully written and illustrated with side notes filled with bursts of info that you will reflect back to over & over again. Most treatments, for common cat aliments, are all natural cures but it also lets you know when to call the vet & how to be a partner with your vet when your cat needs medical aid. Beautifully illustrated with rich photos of normal cats. Good book for anyone regardless of experience with cats. You will learn why you cat does what they do and what to do when it is a problem. Info ranges from kittenhood to litter box to calorie control to illness remedies - this book will never get dusty on a shelf, it has gained a permanent spot on the table by my chair.



5. Very helpful! The author, Sandy, knows a lot about the health of cats. I recommend it to anyone who loves their kitty cats.

5 comments about Howliday Inn (Bunnicula).

1. I don't read fiction very often, but I do pull this old book off the shelf and read it from time to time. I've owned this book ever since I was in the fourth grade, and I've read it too many times to count. It is a great little fiction book to read. Fun story, and so simple. A perfect "murder mystery" for young children.
   
   Warning: Spoiler ahead.
   
   The first time I read it I was sad to see Chester had apparently died, but then his crashing entrance into the closing chapters of the story is just fantastic... and funny!



2. Have you ever thought about life as a dog? If you have I have the perfect book for you. The book is Howliday Inn. This is a story about Chester and Harold the family dog and cat. When the Monroes leave on a family vacation they leave Harold and Chester at Château BowWow. When mysterious murder strikes Harold and Chester must save the day. Will they be stuck at Château Bow Wow for ever? Read the book and find out! By
   Stephanie



3. 
   
   Yes I did like the book, because it was pretty exciting and sometimes funny. For example, when Louise gets kidnapped, you couldn't know what would happen next. It was funny when Harold was having a dream about seeing Chester and Chester woke him up and said the same thing.
   
   Well it's about a dog named Harold and a cat named Chester. Their owners are going on a trip and they can't come so they go to an animal hotel called "Chateau Bow-Wow". Harold liked it but Chester doesn't. There is a bunch of animals there and they make friends with them. Then someone kidnapped Louise and they staged it like she ran away, but she didn't. Chester got kidnapped and Harold and all the other dogs and cats were looking for both Chester and Louise. They found out that Harrison (one of the people who works at Chateau Bow-Wow) kidnapped them because he heard that one of the dogs was having babies and they would be worth a lot,
   
   I would recommend this book to people who like animals and exciting thing, I would because this book has a lot of that and the animals talk. It's really exciting.



4. I recommend this book because it's ... kind of like a mystery book and it's somewhat funny and somewhat suspenseful. The characters are the Monroes: Toby, Pete, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, Harold the dog and Chester the cat. The family is going on vacation, but since Harold gets car sick they decided to leave Harold and Chester at a four star pet hotel called Chateau Bow-wow. Neither Harold or Chester like Chateau Bow-wow. On their first night animals start to ... disappear. Chester jumps to conclusions and thinks that there's a murder. If you want to find out more check out Howliday Inn written by James Howe the author of Bunnicula.



5. I am a sixth grader.
   
   The story tells of Harold the dog and Chester the cat whose family, the Monroes, go on vacation without them. The family rabbit, Bunnicula, will stay with a neighbor. They are to be boarded with strangers at a place called the Chateau Bow Wow. Chester suddenly has a problem with the Chateau Bow Wow because its name says "run" in dog language. The Chateau Bow Wow is run by a veterinary student named Jill.
   
   As soon as Harold and Chester are settled in to their bungalows (what people at the Chateau Bow Wow like to call cages) a french poodle named Louise has disappeared. Louise has been in love with a huge Bulldog named Max who wears a white sweater and Georgette another french poodle. Besides these at the Chateau Bow Wow is Lyle a cat who thinks he is a spy and is trying to get out of the Chateau Bow Wow. He comes to Harold with plans to go over the wall. Also there is Taxi, a mutt who idolizes Max and a pair of Dachshunds named Heather and Howard who speak as though they share one mind. Between their two bodies these two Wiener dogs howl at the moon. Their unearthly howling heard by Chester and Harold is thought to be the result of their being part werewolf.
   
   When Louise dissapears Chester and Harold must become spies to try to find her. Chester ends up poisoned because he knows too much. Harold keeps reminding us that adventure is good for the soul. I hope you didn't like my report on the Howliday Inn by James Howe. If I were to give this book a rating I would give it half a howl. I hope my report does not make you want to read the Howliday Inn. -ET

5 comments about The Fire Cat (I Can Read Book 1).

1. My daughter (she's six) just finished reading this book herself, out loud to me at bedtime. It took her four or five nights to read the three short chapters.
   
   In the middle of the book, when Pickles the cat has a small triumph, she said "it makes me cry!" and at the end she said "I wish it just kept going". I felt so glad for her to have the experience of what it's like to read a good book - these are the feelings that make one a real book lover for life!
   
   Like another recent reviewer I thought the pictures a little crude but the cats were remarkably cat-like; there was no effort to make them cute or cuddley. Yet, perhaps because of that simplicity, Pickles invokes a strong sense of feeling/identification as the he "grows" into a better cat through the three short chapters.
   
   I think this was the perfect book for my daughter to read at this time. Just challenging enough, a great story and illustrations that work very well with the story. I'm also am glad to find a good children's book that's NOT about a boy (though Pickles IS a "he"); I'm sure all parents with daughters know that the vast majority of kid's books are about boy hero (yes I know there are some excellent exceptions) so a wonderful book that's not about a boy is a great find.



2. Even though it isn't a "funny" book, I find myself utterly amused
   with the pictures. The story is simple and charming.
   The book is a classic in my eyes, and very special to me. I hope it will be for you too.



3. my daughter enjoyed this book when she was small. so much so that it looked very well used now my granddaughter is enjoying the book and it fast becoming her favorite book to read



4. This book was handed down to us from other family members who read it to their kids years ago. We loved it as much as they did and ended up buying a copy to give to our school. Highly recommended.



5. Recently I was reminded of this awesome book, which I loved to have read to me when I was a young child. I'm so excited to share it with my new niece and nephew! Wonderful story line of determination, and emphasis that one can be whatever one chooses to be.