The focus of this book is, of course, on snakes and other cold-blooded reptiles, and it is very informative and interesting. Our girls used to enjoy these books about as much as they loked the fictional tales featuring Jack and Annie.
The black-and-white illustrations by Sal Murdocca and the photos really complement the narrative.
I don't remember reading this book with our girls, but we did read books about snakes and their favorite was always the Eastern Hognose Smake (featured on pp. 56-57) because it plays dead. We would always mimic it, saying, 'Hey! Can't you see I'm dead over here?!?' in a terrible New Jersey accent. It would crack us up and then we'd do it all over again. Fun times, fun times.
interesting quotes:
"Snakes are not the only animals with Jacobson's organs. Elephants, lions, and other reptiles have them, too." (p. 31)
"In its lifetime, a crocodilian goes through as many as three thousand teeth." (p. 85)
"Leatherback sea turtles have softer, lighter, and more flexible shells. They sometimes dive 3,000 feet underwater. If their shells were hard, the water pressure would crush them. " (p. 95)...more
This book brings various international relationships within Southeast Asia, the strengths and weaknesses of various members of the Association of SoutThis book brings various international relationships within Southeast Asia, the strengths and weaknesses of various members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a brief history of the region, and the ramifications for the United States.
Although the narrative is a bit dry in parts, there are enough anecdotal stories woven throughout to keep my attention piqued.
After being immersed in the many diplomatic, informational, military, and economic conflicts in this region during the nearly nine years I lived and served in the Air Force in both Japan and Hawaii, I can't say that I was very surprised about any of the information provided.
But I did learn more, especially about the history and politics of these countries. Even if i don't remember it all, I am sure many of the the overall salient points will stick with me for a long time.
interesting quotes (page numbers from edition with ISBN13):
[regarding the Philippines] "Perhaps no other country in Asia has seen such a political, economic investment for decades on end.
Perhaps no where else has it made so little difference.">/i> (p. )
This is a wordless graphic novel, gorgeously illustrated, depicting a day in the life of a tiger in the jungle - perhaps in India or Sri Lanka (guess This is a wordless graphic novel, gorgeously illustrated, depicting a day in the life of a tiger in the jungle - perhaps in India or Sri Lanka (guess based on the habitat of the Bengal tiger as well as the other animals in the book, but could also be Bangladesh, Myanmar, or Malaysia).
I was intrigued by the title and mesmerized by the pictures. Since I had already read the third book in the series, each featuring a different wild animal, I knew what to expect, although I must admit the ending surprised me.
Although the book is wordless, the plot wasn't very challenging to follow, much easier than the plot of Love: The Lion. I was amazed by the raw beauty of the images, even in the brutality of the fights.
I found this book in the children's section of the library, and I would caution parents to be aware of the nature of the story. Several animals are killed, and sensitive young children may find the images disturbing.
But compared to what is depicted in many video games, I guess it's tame. It's certainly milder than what is shown in the third book, Love: The Lion.
interesting quotes:
"In the animal kingdom, animals neither love nor hate each other. Love and hate are parts of a natural whole. A supreme balance many consider to be universal, or even divine. An elemental love. A love that mankind could never experience." (p. 2)
"'JUNGLE' -- the word is derived from ancient Sanskrit, evoking a space that is brutal, claustrophobic, and unforgiving. A place of challenges and nightmares. A foreboding hell filled with beasts of all kinds. But a hall disguised as a lush paradise..." (back cover)...more
This book offers numerous facts about dogs in history, from the origins of dogs from their wolf ancestors to domesticated dogs from various periods ofThis book offers numerous facts about dogs in history, from the origins of dogs from their wolf ancestors to domesticated dogs from various periods of human history. Each chapter is broken up into many sections, and the narrative for any given section is short.
Filled with many color photographs and drawings, the pages are attractively presented and easy to read. The information is informative without overwhelming the reader with details.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and I have to admit that I learned quite a lot from it. I’ll have to search for a book at our local library that provides similar information about cats throughout history.
The author added a note at the end of the book, along with a selected 'biblidography, rufffences, places to dig up more sources, a list to sniff out places to visit, and an index.
interesting quotes:
"Ghengis Khan claimed that he was descended from the union of a union of a gray wolf and a white doe." (p. 36)
"Just as they'd done back in England, many parishes employed 'dog whippers.' Their job was to control unruly dogs brought to church by worshippers, and to shoo away strays that wandered in. Puritan dog whippers also woke people who'd dozed off. (They were called 'sluggard wakers.') They even whacked at squirming children." (p. 51)
"The French writer A. Toussenel wrote: 'The more one gets to know of man, the more one values dogs." (p. 52)
"In 1866, an American philanthropist named Henry Bergh created the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Nine days later, the first anti-cruelty law was passed that allowed the ASPCA to investigate complaints and make arrests in cases of animal cruelty. Kinder treatment of animals probably caused the public to consider the kinder treatment of children. Eight years later, the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was established." (p. 67)
"In battles that took place around the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Marines trained a troop of Doberman pinschers to capture enemies and to alert soldiers of the existence of enemy ambushes. The American dog troop was called the 'Devil Dogs.' American Marines were also nicknamed Devil Dogs." (p. 89)
"In a tragic footnote to a tragic chapter in history, South Vietnam fell to the North Vietnamese in 1975, and many dogs were left behind in the frantic scramble to evacuate Americans. The dogs were looked on by the American military as 'surplus equipment.'" (p. 93)
"Whether or not our elaborate spending is good for our dogs, our dogs continue to prove that they're good for us. " (p. 95)
"As a result of this focus on looking good, as many as one in four purebred dogs is a medical mess." (p. 96)
"As it turns out, cancer cells also produce distinctive odors, and if you're a dog you can be trained to recognize the smell." (p. 98)
"There are a lot of studies that show that dogs are good for us both physically and emotionally. Petting a dog or cuddling a puppy can lower a person's blood pressure, or make someone feel less anxious. Kids who grow up with a dog learn how to be kind, and how to think about another living thing besides themselves." (p. 100)
"Stories are powerful, and facts can be slippery. The stories about extraordinary dogs that have stood the test of time may have become more and more exaggerated in the retelling. " (p. 102)
Large, colorful photographs of these majestic birds are the highlight of this nonfiction book about peacocks. The book is quite informative and I haveLarge, colorful photographs of these majestic birds are the highlight of this nonfiction book about peacocks. The book is quite informative and I have to admit that I learned a lot about the birds, such as the following:
1. The (respective native) peacock is the national bird of both India and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (p. 11) 2. The difference in size and color between males and females is called sexual dimorphism. (p. 15) 3. The iridescent color of their feathers is from biochromes, which are substances the body produces from chemical processes. (p. 15) 4. The long tail feathers are called covert feathers (p. 15) 5. At the height of mating season, a mature peacock's train can have as many as 200 individual feathers. (p. 15) 6. The distinctive eye-like image on the tail feathers is called an ocellus. (p. 16) 7. Peacocks can make noise as loud as a police siren - up to 100 decibels. (p. 16) 8. Their feet have three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backwards, called anisodactyl feet. (p. 16) 9. They have four special cells called photoreceptors in each eye, which allows them to see ultraviolet light. (p. 19) 10. A group of peacocks is sometimes called an 'ostentation'. (p. 22) 11. The first egg (or eggs) that the peahen lays is called a decoy egg and is laid out in the open, after which the peahen heads in the opposite direction to lay the rest of her eggs. (p. 23) 12. The early Catholics adopted the peacock as a symbol of resurrection and immortality. (p. 31) 13. The peacock was so grateful for its beauty that it laid itself down face-forward five times in reverence to God. This is how the Muslim ritual of praying five times a day came to be. (p. 33) 14. The peacock spider of Australia dances and raises a colorful tail fan to impress females during courtship. (p. 41)
With a glossary, bibliography, and index, this is a fairly comprehensive book about this beautiful 'Phasian' bird....more
This is a fairly long audiobook, so I have to admit that I listened to it at a somewhat accelerated speed and I needed to take breaks.
Don't get me wrThis is a fairly long audiobook, so I have to admit that I listened to it at a somewhat accelerated speed and I needed to take breaks.
Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the accomplishments of Secretary Clinton, and I'm glad I've had a chance to listen to this book. But I had to intersperse listening to her with other books and audiobooks.
interesting quotes (page numbers from edition with ISBN13):
[Attributed to President Barack Obama] "We are willing to extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. " (p.)
This book details the experiences of one of President Obama's advisors during the eight years of his tenure at the White House.
I was able to listen tThis book details the experiences of one of President Obama's advisors during the eight years of his tenure at the White House.
I was able to listen to most of the audiobook before my library loan expired, but still had about an hour or so left. I had to put the book back on hold and wait my turn to get to finish the book, and given the more recent news releases about investigations into the corruption and election meddling, this last section was timely.
Colorful photographs with a variety of images depicting the wrath of large and destructive weather systems are the highlight of this children's book aColorful photographs with a variety of images depicting the wrath of large and destructive weather systems are the highlight of this children's book about storms. Some of the images are a bit dark and grainy, but others are very dramatic and impressive.
The narrative is short and printed in a large font, making this book very appropriate for beginning readers, even if some of the vocabulary is somewhat challenging.
Overall, it's an interesting read and will likely spark the interest of younger children to learn more about weather....more
This book offers an interesting look into the evolutionary history of humans and the effects we've had on the Earth and the other species which have iThis book offers an interesting look into the evolutionary history of humans and the effects we've had on the Earth and the other species which have inhabited it.
interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 978-0062316097):
"Ever since the cognitive Revolution, sapiens have thus been living in a dual reality. On the one hand the objective reality of rivers, trees, and lions. And on the other hand, the imagined reality of gods, nations, and corporations. As time went by the imagined reality became ever more powerful so that today the very survival of rivers, trees, and lions depends on the grace of imagined entities such as the United States and Google." (p. 31)
"Don't believe Tree-huggers who claim that our ancestors lived in harmony with nature. Long before the Industrial Revolution homo sapiens held the record among all organisms for driving the most plant and animal species to their extinctions. We have the dubious distinction of being the deadliest species in the annals of biology. Perhaps if more people were aware of the first wave and second wave of extinctions they'd be less nonchalant about the third wave they are part of. If we knew how many species we've already eradicated we might be more motivated to protect those that still survive. This is especially relevant to the large animals of the oceans. Unlike their terrestrial counterparts, the large sea animals suffered relatively little from the Cognitive and Agricultural Revolutions. But many of them are on the brink of extinction now as a result of industrial pollution and human overuse of oceanic resources." (p. 74)
"One of history's few iron laws is that luxuries tend to become necessities and to spawn new obligations." (p. 87)
"History is something that very few people have been doing while everyone else was plowing and carrying water buckets." (p. 101)
"Unjust discrimination often gets worse, not better, with time. Money comes to money, and poverty to poverty. Education comes to education, and ignorance to ignorance." (p. 143)
"How can we distinguish what is biologically determined from what people merely tried to justify through biologocal myths? A good rule of thumb is 'Biology enables, Culture forbids." (p. 147)
"Consistency is the playground of dull minds." (p. 165)
"Money is the only trust system created by humans that can bridge almost any cultural gap and that does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, race, age, or sexual orientation." (p. 186)
"In the end, he came to the realization that suffering is caused by the behavior patterns of one's own mind. Gautama's insight was that no matter what the mind experiences, it usually reacts with craving, and craving always involves dissatisfaction." (p. 224)
"Revolutions are, by definition, unpredictable." (p. 240)
"Obesity is a double victory for consumerism. Instead of eating little, which will lead to economic contraction, people eat too much and then buy diet products, contributing to economic growth twice over." (p. 348)
"The capitalist and consumerist ethics are two sides of the same coin, a merger of two commandments. The supreme commandant of the rich is: invest; the supreme commandant of the rest of us is: buy." (p. 349)
"Most previous ethical systems presented people with a pretty tough deal. They were promised paradise but only if they cultivated compassion and tolerance, overcame craving and anger, and restrained their selfish interests. This was too tough for most. The history of Ethics is a sad tale of wonderful ideals that nobody can live up to. Most Christians did not imitate Christ, most Buddhists failed to follow Buddha, and most Confucians would have caused Confucius a temper tantrum." (p. 349)
"The only thing we can try to do, is to influence the direction scientists are taking. But since we might be soon able to engineer our desires, too, the real question facing us is not 'What do we want to become?', but 'What do we want to want?' Those who are not spooked by this question probably have not given it much thought." (p. 414)
We've read many of the books in the You Wouldn't Want To... series. I like that they tackle serious scientific topics in a somewhat humorous and tonguWe've read many of the books in the You Wouldn't Want To... series. I like that they tackle serious scientific topics in a somewhat humorous and tongue-in-cheek way.
The book discusses the science of extreme weather - different kinds of weather events and the way they affect the global environment, along with a few different ways they are measured and evaluated.
I thought the title of this book was a bit less obvious than other books in the series. Extreme weather sounds like a bad thing and many times it is.
But humans have been able to adapt to and even benefit from some extreme climatological changes, such as monsoon rains and flooding.
I really enjoyed reading this book and will look for more of the books in this series at our local library....more
This is a short essay on the interconnection between an author's writing and the cover of the book in which it is printed. I was surprised that JhumpaThis is a short essay on the interconnection between an author's writing and the cover of the book in which it is printed. I was surprised that Jhumpa Lahiri wrote the piece in Italian; her husband smoothly translated it into English such that I did not sense any loss of meaning in the translation.
I had never really thought about it, but when an author has five published books that are published in many different languages, she can end up with dozens of different book covers for the same material. Seems a bit odd, now that I think of it, but when she discusses how each cover is meant to maximize sales and appeal to the target audience, I understand the intent.
Only in the last year have I come to understand how little communication the author may have with the illustrator/cover illustrator for her book. I always thought it was more of a partnership, but often it's more of a strict business transaction. Even with children's picture books. Interesting...
Overall, it was an engaging essay and I enjoyed listening to Ms. Lahiri narrate it on audiobook....more
Note: I recommend this book for older elementary school-age children and middle grade students (grades 6 and up).
This is a wonderful collection of poeNote: I recommend this book for older elementary school-age children and middle grade students (grades 6 and up).
This is a wonderful collection of poems for (and about) civil rights leaders and pioneers. Some poems contain some disturbing and violent events that have occurred during the Civil Rights struggles around the world, so I would caution parents to read the book first and assess their child's ability to understand the messages without being too traumatized.
Civil rights icons are depicted from all around the world, from Nelson Mandela in South Africa to Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar to Mahatma Gandhi in India and Mitsuye Endo in America. Their poems convey part of each person's story, but even more so, they tell about the emotions and the motivations for taking action.
The oil, acrylic, and watercolor illustrations were created by five different illustrators, so the styles are slightly different, but merge together nicely.
I really appreciated the additional information provided about each of the individuals at the back of the book, especially for those who I really had not heard of before, such as Helen Zia and Muhammad Yunus.
Overall, it's a very informative and emotionally-charged book about some of the people who have stood up for civil rights. I really enjoyed reading it and it inspired me to be more vocal and mindful about civil rights. I hope that it inspires others to champion the cause, too....more
Wonderful early reader story about orphaned Moon bears in Russia. This book has just the right level of narrative and is filled with big, colorful phoWonderful early reader story about orphaned Moon bears in Russia. This book has just the right level of narrative and is filled with big, colorful photographs that really make the story come alive. Perfect for introducing children to nonfiction books!
There is a fairly comprehensive section at the back of the book which provides additional information about Moon bears. It includes a map depicting where Moon bears live around the world, more detail on the bears and a note which gives background information about the almost two years the authors spent with Yasha, Shum, and Shiksha.
Finally, myriad resources are listed, including books, websites, zoos that have Moon bears, and even a link to a National Geographic video featuring these lovable bears. Overall, it's an informative and engaging read that is accessible to readers of all ages....more
Gorgeous illustrations and a fun narrative that is filled with onomatopoeia are the highlights of this wonderful book about frogs. The information aboGorgeous illustrations and a fun narrative that is filled with onomatopoeia are the highlights of this wonderful book about frogs. The information about each frog is fairly short, so the book would be appropriate for children of all ages, and additional information about each frog is provided in the back of the book, along with different resources to find out more. It also has a strong environmental message about trying to preserve the areas in which these frogs live. We really enjoyed reading this book together. ...more
This is a short and entertaining book about 'mean' animals. With big, glossy photographs and short narratives about each animal, children are sure to This is a short and entertaining book about 'mean' animals. With big, glossy photographs and short narratives about each animal, children are sure to be informed and entertained. It's not necessarily a good reference material, but it was a fun book to read aloud. We enjoyed reading this book together. ...more
This is a terrific nonfiction book about frog that is just filled with fascinating facts, but is not overwhelming in its detail. We learned so much frThis is a terrific nonfiction book about frog that is just filled with fascinating facts, but is not overwhelming in its detail. We learned so much from reading this book - I had no concept about the diversity of the frog population around the world.
We discovered that there's a paradoxical frog in South America whose tadpole is more than three times larger than the adult frog. We learned that of the more than six thousand kinds of frogs in the world, only the Pacific tree frog of the western United States actually says, "ribbit," And we read about a now-extinct gastric-brooding frog in Australia who would keep her fertilized eggs in her stomach for six weeks (without eating that whole time) until little froglets were developed enough to hop right out of her mouth. Amazing.
The illustrations are terrific, showing the fine details of each creature. We've been reading a lot of science books, especially ones by Seymour Simon. Many of these books rely on big, glossy color photographs to truly capture the creature or scientific principle being explained. But the watercolor illustrations by Meryl Henderson are just fantastic. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
This book was selected as the 2012 All Fairfax Reads book, part of the Fairfax County Public Library system. I had to wait a long time to get the bookThis book was selected as the 2012 All Fairfax Reads book, part of the Fairfax County Public Library system. I had to wait a long time to get the book from my local library, but it was worth the wait. It is a compelling read and speaks to the complexity of what it means to be American, but also the terrible way in which humans can be toward one another. It almost felt like I was watching a car crash occurring as I sped my way through the book; like it was a disaster that I couldn't stop from happening, but couldn't tear my eyes from at the same time.
Update: On 27 September 2012, Amy Waldman came to speak in Fairfax, VA as part of the 2012 Fall For the Book program. I was considering going and finished the book just in time, but I didn't feel up to going out that night. You can watch a PBS NewsHour interview with the author here.
interesting quotes:
"...at the moment he planned to disavow his Muslim identity, his subconscious had unearthed its kernal." (p. 31)
"Amazing how chaotic and impossible things could seem when they were concentrated into a few pages of black-and-white print, instead of diluted into long days of red chilis drying in the sun, light dancing on the water, tales of marriages arranged and awry, the tunes of Runa Laila, her niece's sweet laugh, her mother's spicy fish, her father's comic stories of waking the sleeping guards at his rice mill, the swaddled piece of daydreams. The worst things then had their balance, could be put in their place." (pp. 109-110)
"Grief was not a country she had chosen to enter, but she could choose when to leave, even if joining the diaspora bore the taint of treason." (p. 157)
"Perhaps this was the secret to being at peace: want nothing but what is given to you." (p. 163)
"He had not realized the degree to which food - planning for it, obtaining it, perparing it, eating it, talking about it, wasting it, fetishizing it, creating it, selling it - made the twenty-first-century American." (p. 209)
"It wasn't news to him that anger and sex lived inside each other, but he'd never felt them pair with such force." (p. 264)
This is an interesting and educational alphabet book that discusses endangered animals throughout the world.
The black and white illustrations (createThis is an interesting and educational alphabet book that discusses endangered animals throughout the world.
The black and white illustrations (created using pencil, pen, brush, India ink, bristol board and computer) are striking, but their resemblance to the animal is often a bit of a stretch.
On the whole, the book is fun to look at and while we didn't read the additional information at the back of the book for all of the animals, we picked a few of our favorites to learn more about them.
April 2019 update: This second time around I was more able to pay attention to the conservation message about the plight of these endangered animals. ...more
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