Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas: With Keys, Taxonomic Synopses, Bibliography, and Distribution Maps (W.L. Moody, Jr., Natural History Series, No. 8.)

Customer Reviews:

The ultimate county specific guide to Texas reptiles and amphibians.......2005-09-22

Dixon's guide is far better than the Peterson, Texas Monthly and Audubon guides when it comes to narrowing down the species/subspecies of a specific county. With many reptiles and amphibians this information alone can decide a difficult identification. Also, the bibliography section has led me to many in-depth reports and studies. If you are only interested in looking at paintings or uncharacteristic photographs of these animals, I encourage you to consult the usual field guides. However, if you are a professional or an amateur willing to put this book to work, there is no other Texas resource like it.

My only complaint is that we could sure use a 2005 update. Also, Dixon's insightful comments under the species accounts (updated in the 2000 edition)would be even better if they were more extensive.

A Ten-Foot Bibliography In a Handy Desk Reference.......2004-01-19

Dixon's book is an important research tool for professional and amateur herpetologists working with the amphibians and reptiles of Texas who need to 1) refer to a rich bibliography of about 3,500 references that is current as of April 1999 - more than half of which are new since the 1987 first edition, 2) have distribution maps for all the native Texas amphibians and reptiles based on more than 13,000 county records covering more than 110,000 localities, 3) keep current with taxonomic changes, 4) refer to identification keys, and/or 5) understand the problems facing the continued survival of these animals in the face of commercial collecting and habitat destruction.

The book is composed of four major sections - A) keys (40 pages covering salamanders, frogs and toads, amphibian larvae, turtles, lizards, and snakes), B) species accounts (115 pages), C) distribution maps (94 pages with 162 maps), and C) a bibliography (143 pages). There are also shorter sections covering an 86-term glossary, indices of common (about 425) and scientific (about 550) names, and a few (25) black and white photos.

While the book is not suitable, in my estimation, as a field guide; it is nonetheless an excellent, annotated, and comprehensive bibliographic reference for serious students of the full range of Texas amphibians and reptiles. Under each genus and species account, in addition to the comments and distribution maps, a sometimes lengthy list of bibliographic references from among the 3,500 cited in this book is shown for further look-up as desired. This is a very effective way of cross referencing, by species, a shelf of additional material that I grossly estimate to be perhaps ten feet or so wide. I suggest that the most effective use of this thorough and well-researched book is in conjunction with nicely illustrated and somewhat more self-contained guides to Texas herps such as Werler and Dixon's Texas Snakes, Conant's Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series), or Vermersch's Lizards and Turtles of South Central Texas - for any of which this book is a particularly excellent and useful companion.

As time goes on, the late-1990's content of Dixon's book will need to be updated again (the first edition of this work was released 13 years before the current edition) or it will cease to be as current and useful as it still is even today - some five years after its 2000 publication. On the other hand, even if not timely updated, this book will remain an excellent and vital snapshot in time of the literature and known distribution of the Texas herpetofauna. Anyone wishing to enhance or complete their knowledge of specific Texas herps should certainly refer to this book or consider adding this excellent, moderately priced book to their herp library depending upon how often they wish to refer to it.

As an afterword, it is interesting to note that most books - certainly those able to pass the rigors of marketing scrutiny that commercial publishers require today before a book is accepted for publication - don't need operating instructions; one just needs merely to read the book. Unfortunately, however, this book is different. Because of its rather unusual style and content, the appearance of the book is not "friendly", and at first blush it seems to contain a lot of arcane tabular data and mysterious code without adequate plain English text to "decode" it. Of course this is not the case. This tabular information and code is the meat of Dixon's book, being the wealth of the distribution data and the excellent, cross-referenced bibliographic references. One should try to visualize that with the use of this book there is a ten-foot long shelf of accompanying reference material stretched across a library table, and that this book is the codex that translates between that wealth of outstanding reference material and shorter, more user-friendly herp reference books. With this understanding, the true value of Dixon's book can be appreciated.

Just note that although the book has been in print for nearly four years as of the time of this writing, there has been only one short review of this book on Amazon.com, titled "Book Not For Amateurs", which states that "Unless you are a serious student of herpetology, do not buy this book. It does not contain photos or descriptions intended for the use of the general public, but tables and numbers that mean nothing to me. If you don't know what you are looking for, you are certainly not going to find it here. This was an expensive lesson for me to learn. I hope this prevents someone else from doing the same."

How sad to read that poor Amazon.com review: I can only hope it didn't discourage anyone who could have benefited from reading/using Dixon's fine book. Proof positive of the absolute need for this book review!
END

Book Not For Amateurs.......2003-03-21

Unless you are a serious student of herpetology, do not buy this book. It does not contain photos or descriptions intended for the use of the general public, but tables and numbers that mean nothing to me. If you don't know what you are looking for, you are certainly not going to find it here.

This was an expensive lesson for me to learn. I hope this prevents someone else from doing the same.

Average customer rating:
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF TEXAS. WITH KEYS, TAXONOMIC SYNOPSES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND DISTRIBUTION MAPS. SECOND EDITION.
J. Dixon
Manufacturer: Texas A & M University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WQIKKO

Amazon.com

Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Despite her father's warning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother. Walk Two Moons won the 1995 Newbery Medal.

Book Description

"How about a story? Spin us a yarn."
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned.
"Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

Customer Reviews:

Very thoughtful twisted.......2007-09-05

Walk 2 moons was a very thoughtful book adding details everywhere. and the book misleads you in a good way which i not going to give away how and why. its also twisted but in a good way as well. for example you think one thing and you are so sure its true but then at the end it hits you "wait! thats not right." and then BAM the next sentence tells all. and it just surprises you. I would recommend this book to and boy or girl grades 3-7.
you are never 2 young or old to read this book.

A review.......2007-08-11

My name is Laura and I go to JMS. I am writing this review for my English pre ap course. I liked this book because it was well written and keep my attention from begining to end. It had a little of everything happy parts, and sad parts. Its a real tear jerker. It is a awesome book and I would recommend it for anyone no matter what age.

My opinions on Walk Two Moons.......2007-08-01

My name is Karina and this review is for my pre-ap summer project for Jarman Middle School.I thought this book was great.I really liked the characters. And the author did a great job on creating a mental picture.I would definitely recommend this book for people my own age.The characters are very likeable.And almost everyone is able to relate to losing someone dear to them.And those are some of my wonderful opinions on this great book.

Teen finds her way.......2007-06-10

After getting used to the style of writing, I truly enjoyed this book. The organization was scattered using flashbacks and present story telling, but kept the pace pretty quick. It was interesting to see where the Phoebe storyline was going and how it all tied together in the end. I don't want to give anything away, but I think Sam's way of dealing with situation will help the young reader to deal with theirs.

Jordyn's Reveiw.......2007-05-25

There once lived a girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle. Her nickname was Sal, a thirteen year old girl that once lived with her mother and father on a farm in Kentucky.
One morning Sal woke up to find that her mother had disappeared. She was very sad to what could have happened to her. Sal's dad didn't know where she had gone either. They were both very frightened at the thought of where she could have went. They thought for a little bit where she may have gone. They assumed that she went to Lewiston for some apparent reason. They still weren't positive though. Her dad drove her three hundred miles to Ohio.
Sal stayed in the car while her dad visited. She saw a face pressed up against the window next door. Sal could tell it looked like an afraid girl. She then noticed it was the face of Phoebe Winterbottom, a girl that would become Sal's friend.
Later that day Sal's grandparents came up with the idea to drive from Kentucky (where they lived) to Ohio so they could pick up Sal and drive two thousand miles to Lewiston for a nice get away. While on their way to Lewiston Sal told them some of Phoebe's stories and stories of her own. For instance, Phoebe's mom also disappeared, and she received letters saying different things. Phoebe and Sal had many things in common. One thing that they always wondered was will they ever find their moms? I personally think Walk Two Moons is a great book, but it is also very sad in parts. I would recommend this book to anyone, boy or girl.

Sharon Creech Box Set: Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird

Average customer rating:

Best Book Ever!!

Sharon Creech Box Set: Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064410080
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

Absolutely normal Mary Lou is all set for a boring summer, trying to find something, anything, to say in her school-assigned journal. Salamanca is a not-so-normal girl, on the road with her eccentric grandparents to find her erstwhile mother. And Zinnia is on the path (literally) to adulthood, seeking her identity in an old overgrown trail behind her family farmhouse. Three girls, three stories--Sharon Creech is the well-loved and award-winning author of these three novels, pulled together in a handy boxed set for her many fans who won't want to wait to get their hands on the next Creech title. Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons (a Newbery Medal winner), and Chasing Redbird are each sensitively drawn, witty, complex, and unexpected looks at young girls in that strange and bumpy land of adolescence. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Selected novels by Newbery Award winner Sharon Creech -- Walk Two Moons, Absolutely Normal Chaos, and Chasing Redbird -- now in a boxed set.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book Ever!!.......2003-01-25

You definitly should read this if you dont you are missing out .....!!

Average customer rating:

Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: Listening Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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A Guide for Using Walk Two Moons in the Classroom (Literature Units)

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A Guide for Using Walk Two Moons in the Classroom (Literature Units)
MELISSA HART
Manufacturer: Teacher Created Resources
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743931602
Release Date: 2004-11-03

Average customer rating:

It was so good I almost cried!

Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hoot

ASIN: 0590649434

Product Description

1995 John Newbery Medal Winner. A 13 year old girl proud of the "Indian-ness in her blood" travels from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents to search for her mother and bring her home. A novel of love and loss about real and metaphorical journeys.

Customer Reviews:

It was so good I almost cried!.......2006-05-17

Really,it was so good!In some parts Salamanca tells stories that are very sad.Like when she says her sister died just a bit of time after birth.Other things were scary.Like when Phoebe and her family got notes and they didn't who they were from.Also when Phoebe's mother leaves.But the really sad part seems to be when Salamanca's grandmother died because a snake bite her.A really adventurous part is when Salmanca rides the car alone.
My opinion of the book is positive.It has everything a book needs.Action,suspense,and love.This are just a few of the things Walk Two Moons contains.If there was a scale from 1 to 1,000 I would put 1,000.Don't doubt about it.It's simply so good I can't explain in words.I almost cried,that is true.I can't say all the things I feel about the book here so...It is one of the best books I've ever read!!!!

Average customer rating:

Exquisitely Crafted!
IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0590674099

Customer Reviews:

Exquisitely Crafted!.......2007-01-21

This is an exquisitely crafted story of loss and restoration. Sal's physical (and psychological) journey to find closure following her mother's death is one we can all relate to on some level and the telling of both stories (Phoebe's story and Sal's story) simultaneously adds a great deal to the richness of this novel. The characters (especially Sal's grandparents) are people we will never forget and this is really a novel for all ages. Highly Recommended!

IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-03-06

WALK TWO MOONS IS AN AMAZING BOOK OF LOVE, MYSTERY, LAUGHTER AND MUCH MORE. I CAN'T HELP BUT READ IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I HAVE THIS BOOK AND WHENEVER I JUST READ THE FIRST PAGE, NOTHING CAN STOP ME FROM READING THE NEXT 200 PAGES. SHARON CREECH MAKES THIS BOOK ONE THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. MY SIXTH GRADE TEACHER PASSED THIS BOOK DOWN TO ME, I PASS IT TO MY MOM, MY MOM PASSED IT TO MY DAD AND FROM MY DAD, IT WENT TO HIS WHOLE SIDE OF THE FAMILY. THIS BOOK IS THAT GREAT, AND TRUST ME, BUYING IT OR EVEN JUST READING IT, WILL NOT BE A WASTE. IT IS A SPECTACULAR STORY FOR CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS. IF YPU DONT READ IT, YOU WILL BE MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING THAT A GREAT BOOK SHOULD HAVE, AND EVEN MORE!!!!

IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-03-06

Average customer rating:

Bloomability
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

By the Newbery medal winner Sharon Creech. Wonderful wonderful book highly recommended for young adult readers! Adventure, school, parents, romance, who could want more!

Average customer rating:

Written by the best
Walk two moons

Entre DOS Lunas/Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech , and Ester Arno
Manufacturer: Lectorum Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 8427932219

Customer Reviews:

Written by the best.......2002-03-27

I love all of Sharon Creech's books and I have all of the ones written for people of my age (she has written some for young children that I have not read seeing I am not a young child). BTW, Sal's name is not Samantha it's Salamanca Tree Hiddle, Sal for short.

Walk two moons.......2000-06-22

This book about the mixed up life stories about Samantha's best freind Phebee, while she is also trying to get her life staight. Samantha tells her grandparents this story of her friend on her way to find her mother who died, long before that on a winding road...

Focus On Reading: Walk Two Moons:grades 4-6 (Focus on Reading)

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Focus On Reading: Walk Two Moons:grades 4-6 (Focus on Reading)
Walch
Manufacturer: Saddleback Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0825149878

Newbery Award Library III: Walk Two Moons, Catherine, Called Birdy, Indian Captive

Average customer rating:

The best book on earth!!!!
greatest book i have ever read
A wonderful book!
Reading this book can teach you a valuable moral.
Sad, happy, depressing all at the same time.

Newbery Award Library III: Walk Two Moons, Catherine, Called Birdy, Indian Captive
HarperCollins , Lois Lenski , and Karen Cushman
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

This boxed set contains Trophy paperback editions of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech; Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman; and Indian Captive by Lois Lenski.

Walk Two Moons

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold -- the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man -- any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call -- by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all.

Unfortunately, he is also the richest.

Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father?

Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!Indian Captive

In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenski reconstructs the real life story of Mary Jemison, who was captured in a raid as young girl and raised amongst the Seneca Indians.

Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this novel offers an exceptionally vivid and personal portrait of Native American life and customs.

Customer Reviews:

The best book on earth!!!!.......2001-12-01

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech is my all-time favorite book I've read through my 10 years of living. I think this book is very touching, especialy at the end. All the characters have different characteristics, especialy Phoebe.
It's alltogether Happy,touching, and amazingly sad. I recomend this book to people who love to read books with all these things included. I have to say, I couldn't put this book down!!!! ^-^'s and :('s, Jammer Lammy.

greatest book i have ever read.......2000-06-13

this is one of the greatest collection of words i have read in my 13 yrs. it is an enlightening book w/ stories that relate to eachother it will keep you reading and reading until you are done i love it i recomend it to all ages!

A wonderful book!.......1999-05-06

This is a wonderful book! I would recommend it to readers of all ages. Though it has a terribly sad ending, I'm sure it will touch the souls of readers everywhere. It contains wonderful philosophies and a great motto;no matter how many birds of sadness are nesting in your hair, you should always get on with life. This is a wonderful book and I would recommend it to readers everywhere-especially tear-jerker lovers.

Reading this book can teach you a valuable moral........1999-04-07

Walk Two Moons is a depressingly sad story. The author creates a sense of hope and faith through the main charecter. By the end of the book the reader has been given a simple moral that everyone should have, "to get on with our lifes no matter what happens".

Sad, happy, depressing all at the same time........1998-12-17

This is a very nice book and well written. Sharon Creech is a very imaginative writer. She comes up with wonderfull idea's. She knows exactly what she is going to write next. She doesn't stop to think on what to write. I think that's a very good habit. If you like this book then you should read "Chasing red bird" that is a very good book. But anyways when I was reading this book I couldn't put this book down!!!!!!! Great book... For ages 9-13.

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