Paul St. Pierre does for ranchers in British Columbia what James Herriott does for animals in Yorkshire. He has a knack for turning some of the most insignificant events of daily life into interesting stories. His characters start out as impulsive oddballs, but by the end of the story they become quite rational folks. This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. The first time I read it I thought it was entertaining, but nothing to visit again. But every once in a while one of the characters from the book pops into my mind and I dwell on the character and story for a few days. I usually re-read it every couple of years (I have a worn 1987 edition, now in retirement.)

The fifth and latest volume in the University of North Texas Press "Western Life Series", John Erickson's Some Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys is a collection of articles and essays previously published in a number of local Texas and Oklahoma based publications. Some of the pieces are anecdotal, based on Erickson own experiences and observations regarding life on a working ranch. Other required some research and are more historical accounts of cowboy life. Still other essays showcase Erickson's views on contemporary American life through the lens of cowboying. Erickson is a gifted story teller who writes with humor, thoughtfulness, an attention to detail, and the reader's informed entertainment.

This is my 3 year old son's all time favorite book. It perfectly captures the spirit of children yearning to become part of the adult world, in this instance, to be able to ride a horse. It's homey feeling and subtle humor make it a pleasure to read again and again and again...a must for little cowpokes.

My Niece loved it. She wants to go onto reading all of the "Sopie's" series. She chose Sopie over the more recognized books like Pokeman and Mary Kate and Ashley series which she had been reading. Sophie seems to be a real person to her, a friend.

Letellier recounts numerous experiences (funny, but sometimes poignant) about the life of a wife on a ranch in northern Wyoming. She's a really gifted writer, and the book's impossible to lay down till you're finished. (And then you start all over again!)

The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog has struck some of the people in my office as, well, just *strange*. The idea of a childhood toy taking on a life of it's own struck them as an odd topic for a children's book.

I disagree. Completely.

One of the problems is that adults forget what it's like to be kids where ANYTHING is possible, including an unusually blue toy dog having a mind and curiosities of it's own. While the story is told from the perspective of Blue Dog and not Big Billy (the human child who plays with B.D.), it's soon dawns on the reader that the story IS being told by Big Billy after a fashion.

Children play with toys to stimulate their imagination and, in the case of Billy, to live vicariously through experiences. Billy wants a real dog, so, in his mind, Blue Dog functions as one (including snoozin' with Billy at night). When I read the story, I was immediately transported back in time to my OWN childhood where all my toys took on a secret life of their own (when Toy Story came out, I was first in line to see it!! Childhood fantasy put on the big screen!!) I took care of my toys (like Billy does) because I didn't want them to get hurt or lonely. In my own mind, I sometimes imagined what they would think if they could, and hence they would take on a life of their own. I think that is what the author is trying to do here.

The illustrations add so much to the story that they alone could be the topic of a full-blown essay. Suffice to say that the realistic-yet-stylized illustrations add so much depth to the story line and will deeply draw children in. A HIGHLY recommended book.

If you've need had the chance to make maple sryup for yourself then this book will be the closest way to experience the joy of winter in New England. Once again Nora and Gramps have a farm adventure that makes you wish you lived with them! The beautful pictures show details in the horses that jump out at you. Our 5 year old loves all these books and even the one year old with sit and point out Bonnie on every page. A great family book.

Prepare yourself for heaps of excitement as you ride through forest fires and jump large obstacles with Jethro Junior. He is a star jumping horse, a Connemara-cross that Kirstie is testing out while Lucky, her own horse, is resting from a hock sprain. It is summer, and the everything is dry and the threat of forest fires looms large. When a few town campers carelessly discard a lighted match on Eagle's Peak, it's not long before a bush fire rages. Meanwhile, Zachary, grandson of Smiley Gilpin, a Forest Ranger, is missing from a overnight camping trip with Kirstie and Lisa. So Kirstie must ride for help, but can Jethro jump the biggest obstacle ever?

This book is very inspirational. It teaches children about hard work, patience, sharing, and God's unconditional love. The child in this story spends time with his father learning so much more than about planting sunflowers. It shows how very simple daily tasks can be used to encourage our children. This is a wonderful book.

"Intelligence, a sense of humor, rightness of heart, observant sympathy for nature, and gentle sensitiveness are manifest throughout this book," said J. Frank Dobie, who wrote an introduction for it. In 1894 Carl Benedict was still wet behind the ears but crazy to get away and work on the range. In the summer, he hooked up with the Figure 8 Ranch to round up cattle in the Texas Panhandle. Out of that experience came this book, published fifty years later, about what it was really like to be a cowboy in some ornery country checkered by canyons and gyp water springs. A Texas cowboy classic