Average customer rating:
- Ghastly
- do not buy this book
- Frustrating, Hard to Understand
- horrifying
- No pleasure read
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A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life
Jon Katz
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
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General
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Essays
| Animal Care & Pets
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Animal Behavior & Communication
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Similar Items:
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A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me
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The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me
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Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm
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From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava
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A Three Dog Life
ASIN: 140006189X
Release Date: 2006-09-26 |
Book Description
“People who love dogs often talk about a ‘lifetime’ dog. I’d heard the phrase a dozen times before I came to recognize its significance. Lifetime dogs are dogs we love in especially powerful, sometimes inexplicable ways.”–Jon Katz
In this gripping and deeply touching book, bestselling author Jon Katz tells the story of his lifetime dog, Orson: a beautiful border collie–intense, smart, crazy, and unforgettable.
From the moment Katz and Orson meet, when the dog springs from his traveling crate at Newark airport and panics the baggage claim area, their relationship is deep, stormy, and loving. At two years old, Katz’s new companion is a great herder of school buses, a scholar of refrigerators, but a dud at herding sheep. Everything Katz attempts– obedience training, herding instruction, a new name, acupuncture, herb and alternative therapies–helps a little but not enough, and not for long. “Like all border collies and many dogs,” Katz writes, “he needed work. I didn’t realize for some time I was the work Orson would find.”
While Katz is trying to help his dog, Orson is helping him, shepherding him toward a new life on a two-hundred-year-old hillside farm in upstate New York. There, aided by good neighbors and a tolerant wife, hip-deep in sheep, chickens, donkeys, and more dogs, the man and his canine companion explore meadows, woods, and even stars, wade through snow, bask by a roaring wood stove, and struggle to keep faith with each other. There, with deep love, each embraces his unfolding destiny.
A Good Dog is a book to savor. Just as Orson was the author’s lifetime dog, his story is a lifetime treasure–poignant, timeless, and powerful.
Customer Reviews:
Ghastly.......2007-10-14
This author is the literary equivalent of a puppy miller - making money over the bodies of his dogs.
do not buy this book.......2007-10-14
As the owner of two herding dogs, I know first hand how hard it is to train them well and keep them out of trouble. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book, and for that I will give it two stars. But what a waste of a vacation day I felt I spent reading this when I got to the end of the story. Poor Orson. How I wished he would have been retired to a home that knew the value of a leash, a dog run, and a crate. I will not be buying any other books from this author.
Frustrating, Hard to Understand.......2007-10-10
The first few pages were great - a story about an intelligent dog with a mind of its own, out chasing school buses, corralling skate-boarders and others, and protected by an owner who had bonded with him. Orson also learned to open the refrigerator, eat whatever he wanted, and then hide the packaging.
But Orson didn't fit in with urban N.J., leading its owner to buy a small farm in N.Y. and get over his own "mid-life" crisis. Unfortunately, Orson became less and less predictable, and more and more likely to nip at people. So Katz (owner and author) took Orson to the vet ($1,000 worth of tests with no result, then to an animal talker, and finally a shaman. Some improvement came from acupuncture (Orson had been hit by a car during his early days in N.J.), but the biggest improvement came when Katz bought an ATV to help his own mobility limitations due to injured legs.
Sadly, though, Orson again starts nipping, and even draws blood in instances when there was no known reason for him to. Katz, worried about his liability, decides to have Orson put to sleep.
So was Katz really bonded to Orson, or just decide he was a nuisance? Why didn't he put the dog away when people were around, and/or put up "Beware of the Dog" signs?
Definitely not the happy man-dog story I was looking forward to!
horrifying.......2007-10-08
When I was given this book, I had no idea what it was about. Once I learned, I was almost sick to my stomach. Incredible to me that someone could write a "dog love story" that ends in the cruelest, most heartless betrayal imaginable. There is no justifying his action. Simply appalling. Be warned this book is no sweet story, but a frightening tale of justification.
No pleasure read.......2007-10-07
First I must say that many reviewers were too harsh on Katz. The problem was that Katz made a name for himself writing about dogs on his Bedlam Farm and one of the protagonists pays with his life in this book. Readers were expecting another easy read about happy dogs in New York.
Katz is not a dog expert nor a dog trainer. He simply is a good writer who writes about his dogs and his farm. His temperament is better suited for more docile breeds like retrievers and Labradors. A border collie and Katz are just a volatile mix. Collies need constant work and attention and are by nature restless. They need a steady job, they need constant life around them to be happy dogs.
Katz is a good writer and this book reads well. What bothered me were the last 30 pages; after the dog is euthenized it seemed the book lingered when it should have ended with Orson's last heartbeat. He spent the remaining pages defending his position to put his dog down. After hollistic treatments, visits to a shaman and accupuncture, he never once took the dog to a certified dog behaviorist? That seemed odd, and that is why I had little compassion for Katz. Orson deserved more.
Katz is of the belief that dogs must be trained, must not be dangerous and should not be treated as humans. If a dog bites or attacks, its fate is doomed. Many urbanites will agree with that. Orson was one such doomed canine, although I don't understand why he couldn't find a home for him (despite his feelings that he can't "recycle" pets with behaviorial problems) when there surely could have been people willing to take the dog in? With all his fame and website there were no takers? He put the dog down without telling anyone but his own veterinarian, and now he has to pay with his decision and spend more time explaining his decision. Had he been a true lover of Orson, he could have easily found a home for Orson that didn't have the stimuli that triggered his biting attacks. He needed a female to tend to his spirit. Instead Orson was paired with an impatient, demanding, overweight middle-aged man.
This was my first book by Katz and it will be my last. He can write all he wants to about dogs but the image I have is of his "good dog" Orson dying in his arms. Orson was a good dog. It was the owner who was bad and failed him. I don't understand how Amazon could recommend this book along with the more upbeat "Marley and Me" by John Grogan.
Average customer rating:
- LOVE IT!
- My kids teacher suggested this one!
- Fun to read
- The Great Fuzz Frenzy
- a wonderful gift for any age "kid"
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The Great Fuzz Frenzy
Janet Stevens , and
Susan Stevens Crummel
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction
| Mammals
| Animals
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Fiction
| Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels
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Stevens, Janet
| ( S )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
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All Titles
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Similar Items:
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My Big Dog (A Golden Classic)
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Tops & Bottoms (Caldecott Honor Book)
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Traction Man Is Here! (Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Awards))
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Leaf Man (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
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Cook-a-Doodle-Doo!
ASIN: 0152046267 |
Book Description
Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony--until a mysterious, fluorescent, very fuzzy thing (otherwise known as a tennis ball) rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed.
The frenzy that erupts threatens to tear apart the prairie-dog town forever. But when mean ol' Big Bark is kidnapped after taking all the fuzz for himself, the prairie dogs come to the rescue and remember the true meaning of community.
Customer Reviews:
LOVE IT!.......2007-09-16
I first read this book at a teacher workshop and fell in love with the story and the varied page formats. (Some pages unfold vertically to show the underground tunnels!) This is not only a fun book to look at, the kids giggled all the way through it as the plot unfolded. This could be used in reader's workshop to teach point of view, predicting, inferring, sound effects, or it could also be used to spur a discussion on friendship and cooperation. We did an author study on this sister authir/illustrator pair and the students love how they have a sense of humor and are a bit silly in their stories. I LOVE IT TOO! :O)
My kids teacher suggested this one!.......2007-05-02
This was a fun book! A dog drops a tennis ball down a hole which turns out to be the entrance to a prairie dog community. It surprises and scares them. They gather around chattering about to do; that is until Big Bark appears. He is a rather large prairie dog who has a bottle cap for a hat. Before he can do anything little pip squeak jumps forward and picks off some fuzz and starts playing with it. Pretty soon the whole colony starts playing with the fuzz and things get crazy. Soon more and more prairie dogs show up wanting fuzz and it runs out. Then they start fighting over it!
We liked this book and it's been a bedtime book every night since we bought it. The artwork is good and I think the author gave a funny presentation to the personalities of Prairie dogs. I particularly liked Big Bart's run in with an Eagle. "No more Big Bark! The crowd cheered "Yaaaaay!" "Don't yaaaaaay! He's one of us!" yelled Pip.
Again a great story and I can see the book will be well loved by my girl.
Fun to read.......2007-03-14
This is such a cute and clever story. It's great to see how all of the prairie dogs come together at the end. We have had this for awhile and both of my girls (4 and 7) still consider it a favorite.
The Great Fuzz Frenzy.......2006-11-06
This book was a joy to read. The illustrations were priceless. I never knew that prairie dogs were so much like humans!
a wonderful gift for any age "kid".......2006-10-12
This is a perfectly wonderful concept with super illustrations just waiting for a touch from the reader. It is impossible to read this book without laughing. Underlying lessons are as easy to take as a spoonful of sugar making the medicine go down!
Book Description
“Christopher Hogwood came home on my lap in a shoebox. He was a creature who would prove in many ways to be more human than I am.”
–from The Good Good Pig
A naturalist who spent months at a time living on her own among wild creatures in remote jungles, Sy Montgomery had always felt more comfortable with animals than with people. So she gladly opened her heart to a sick piglet who had been crowded away from nourishing meals by his stronger siblings. Yet Sy had no inkling that this piglet, later named Christopher Hogwood, would not only survive but flourish–and she soon found herself engaged with her small-town community in ways she had never dreamed possible. Unexpectedly, Christopher provided this peripatetic traveler with something she had sought all her life: an anchor (eventually weighing 750 pounds) to family and home.
The Good Good Pig celebrates Christopher Hogwood in all his glory, from his inauspicious infancy to hog heaven in rural New Hampshire, where his boundless zest for life and his large, loving heart made him absolute monarch over a (mostly) peaceable kingdom. At first, his domain included only Sy’s cosseted hens and her beautiful border collie, Tess. Then the neighbors began fetching Christopher home from his unauthorized jaunts, the little girls next door started giving him warm, soapy baths, and the villagers brought him delicious leftovers. His intelligence and fame increased along with his girth. He was featured in USA Today and on several National Public Radio environmental programs. On election day, some voters even wrote in Christopher’s name on their ballots.
But as this enchanting book describes, Christopher Hogwood’s influence extended far beyond celebrity; for he was, as a friend said, a great big Buddha master. Sy reveals what she and others learned from this generous soul who just so happened to be a pig–lessons about self-acceptance, the meaning of family, the value of community, and the pleasures of the sweet green Earth. The Good Good Pig provides proof that with love, almost anything is possible.
Customer Reviews:
Unusual Pig Story--Hilarious!.......2007-10-07
This book about a pig was hilarious! I enjoyed it because I am an animal lover and the story was so charmingly funny. It made me laugh and I also liked the pictures that were included. It was a fast read too!
A wonderful surprise.......2007-10-01
I bought this book because I'm an animal lover, and pigs have always enchanted me. But I admit I was not expecting a masterpiece. The first 15 pages made me laugh and cry so much that the book instantly became the greatest literary surprise of my year. Extremely well written, sensitive, intelligent. My fun reading Sy Montgomery's story of the wonderful Christopher was such that I bought four copies to give as a present to special friends.
Read this book!.......2007-08-13
A friend recommended this book to me, and I was hesitant since I'm usually not an animal book person. I shouldn't have worried for a minute. This book is not just about an incredible pig, but so much more. It's about community and love and travel and death (people and animals) and how to appreciate things while you have them. It's about coming to grips with imperfection in the people and animals we love.
Sy Montgomery lives a very interesting life and shares herself and those around her in a well-written book.
Read it!
Political agenda.......2007-07-23
The author has a political agenda and an extremist point of view that she repeatedly rams down your throat. I thought this was on par with such fantastic books as Marley and Me, but this was not the case at all. The writing is fair, the subject matter gets hijacked for her political views. Why does she assume that we want to hear her political viewpoint when purchasing a story about a pet pig? Very disappointing.
A Good Good Read.......2007-07-19
Sy Montgomery's book teaches us a lot about pigs and people and how both can follow the right path in life. I'll never have a pet pig, but now I can understand how people can cherish them like any other pet. Montgomery's writing is well paced and full of enough calamities in her family and in her friends' families to keep the action going and going. I could have had less of her feelings about how she and her ilk are superior inhabitants of the planet. Also, we don't need explanations of the obvious: "The word compassion means 'with suffering.' To have compassion is to wiilingly join in the suffering - to show those you love that you will not let them suffer alone."
But all in all, this is a very enjoyable book. Christopher certainly grows on you.
Customer Reviews:
A fun read to boost confidence.......2004-06-30
These simple stories are loved by my children, age three and five. My five year old, just learning to read, loves the fact that he can pick out certain words which are often repeated, as well as look at the pictures, and 'read' the story without help. The gentle humor is just right for this age group, and the illustrations are sweet. We read our Winnie series almost every night and the kids don't get tired of them. I highly recommend them for all beginner readers!
Perfect book for beginning readers.......2002-12-02
Great books for this age group are difficult to come by, and Leda Schubert has created two of them with Winnie Plays Ball and Winnie All Day Long. A hugh, lovable dog, Winnie proves to be a totally appealing character for young children, and her activities engage their imaginations. These books have the same classic charm as Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge stories, and they are enormously popular with very young children.
Book Description
Good News for All Creation notes that plant-based diets reflect the love, compassion, and peace of Christ, and they constitute good, responsible stewardship of God's Creation. Using traditional Christian teachings, the authors make a compelling case that, if Jesus were among us today, he would choose to be vegetarian.
Customer Reviews:
Richly detailed with information- a great read........2006-07-13
I would absolutely recommend this book. It is a beautifully crafted, well-versed book that reads like a novel, but is full of information and facts to fuel your soul's mission on earth. The author combines the words of Christ, as written in the Bible, with facts and figures to communicate a strong message- do as Jesus did, and love thy neighbor- animals included!
Average customer rating:
- The story of a year among animals
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The Good Year
Era Zistel
Manufacturer: J.N. Townsend Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Nature Writing
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1880158116 |
Customer Reviews:
The story of a year among animals.......2005-02-23
The author details her life in the woods of upstate New York for a year, living with racoons, chipmunks, a dog, several cats, and some goats. In particular, the raising of two baby racoons is detailed, along with many descriptions of the personality of each animal. Zistel is an observant author, and clearly loves animals - which comes through in her warm, affectionate rememberances of the ones she shared her life with. This book was not quite as good as Good Companions by Zistel (which features some of the same animals), but certainly it's worthwhile if you're an animal lover looking for an interesting read. However, this is a true story, not a feel good one, so beware that some of the animals meet tragic ends - that said, however, there is no graphic violence to be concerned about. The story of Gretel, an orphaned raccoon who spent her entire life with the author, is particularly enjoyable.
Average customer rating:
|
Good News (Bank Street Ready-T0-Read)
Barbara Brenner
Manufacturer: Gareth Stevens Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Short Story Collections
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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Picture Books
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
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General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0836817753 |
Book Description
Chip O'Hare wants to be just like the martial-arts hero Striper Mee. But when he goes to karate class,it isn't action packed at all! Chip thinks he's the best in the class at striking and kicking, so he can't understand why Mr. Leo won't give him his yellow belt. Then a run-in at the park helps Chip realize that being a true martial artist takes more than just a ferocious karate chop!
Young martial-arts fans will identify with Chip's desire for action and applaud his spirit in this story about what it really means to be a good sport.
Customer Reviews:
A good read for the kids.......2006-06-09
All my kids have read this several times. I think it wraps a good message of self-control, patience, discipline into a very kid-friendly story.
Average customer rating:
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Rabbit's Good News
Ruth Lercher Bornstein
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Pets
| Animals
| Children's Books
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| Fiction
| Nonfiction
Fiction
| Rabbits
| Animals
| Children's Books
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Fiction
| Environment & Ecology
| Science, Nature & How It Works
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Fiction
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All 4-for-3 Deals
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Similar Items:
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Hopper Hunts for Spring (A North-South Paperback)
ASIN: 0618212531 |
Book Description
Rabbit leaves her warm dark burrow to discover that spring has come."Smiling rabbits on uncluttered double-page spreads enhance the appeal of this natural for spring-themed story hours." -Booklist
Customer Reviews:
Rabbit's Good News.......2001-04-09
This is an excellent book to show children the excitement of the start of spring. The rabbit goes on a journey because he thinks someone is calling him, and then realizes what all the activity means...Spring. Children from 3-6 will love this book, and there are many extention activities teachers could do with this happy srpring book.
Average customer rating:
|
Morgan Plays Soccer (Good Sports)
Anne Rockwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction
| Bears
| Animals
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
New Experiences
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
New Experiences
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Self-Esteem & Self-Respect
| Social Situations
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Soccer
| Sports
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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General
| Baby-3
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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Rockwell, Anne
| ( R )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0060284404
Release Date: 2001-08-07 |
Book Description
Morgan Brownbear's new friend Nina Jane Monkey loves soccer so much that soon Morgan is sure he wants to play too. But soccer has a lot of rules, and Morgan keeps breaking the most important one of all: He can't seem to stop catching the ball with his hands! Morgan is so embarrassed, he doesn't want to play soccer anymore. But Nina Jane helps Morgan stay in the game by showing him exactly what he needs-practice!
Budding athletes will understand Morgan's early frustrations and will cheer when he triumphs in this uplifting story about what it means to be a good sport.
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- Animal Physiology
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