"The Silver Donkey" by Sonya Hartnett (Updated)

The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett with illustrations by Don Powers is juvenile historical fiction about two young girls who befriend a soldier they come across in the woods near their home.  He is blind and needs to get home to his sick brother.  This is a wonderful book for all ages, young and old.  I got into it right away and the stories that the soldier tells the young girls are really, really good!  This is the kind of book you could read again and again!  That being said, it is my book of the month so far for June.  LOVED IT!

 (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

I thought The Silver donkey by Sonya Hartnett was okay.  I enjoyed the stories about donkeys that the soldier told the kids.  The soldier becomes blind because he's seen so many terrible things in the war and decides to just go home so he winds up in some woods where two little girls find him. They help him and he tells them stories about a donkey and shows them his little silver donkey good luck charm.  The girls get their brother to help them think how to help the soldier get home.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Dog That Talked to God" by Jim Kraus (UPDATED)

The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus is about a bitter widow who blames God for taking away her husband and son who died in an auto accident when hit by a drunk driver more than about the dog.  Mary doubted her faith and stopped praying to God for a long time.  She got a puppy she named Rufus and used it as a sounding board.  Then one day the dog talked to her.  This Christian fiction book dragged along for me but at least had a good ending.  I preferred the author’s other book better— The Cat That God Sent.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus is about a woman named Mary who decides to get a dog for companionship after her husband passes away.  She names the dog Rufus and what a tale tale they tell!  This book starts out a bit slow, but stick with it.  I loved Rufus and I grew to like Mary too as the book went on.  It has some good stuff that I did not see coming and a great ending!  It's worth the read!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars because Rufus is so good!) 

 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Flora & Ulysses" by Kate DiCamillo is a Fun Read (Juvenile)

Every so often I like to read a fun book where I do not really have to figure out anything.  Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo is an enjoyable read that made me chuckle.  This book is about a young girl named Flora and a squirrel she calls Ulysses.  The story is pretty good and I especially liked the illustrations! (4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Our Favorite Reads In June

Non-fiction:

Karen's:  The Blood of Lambs

Gerard's and Abby's Favorite:

A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home

Fiction:

Karen's:  The Testing

Gerard's:  Don't Go

Manny and Spunky's:  The Cat That God Sent

Have you read these yet?  We highly recommend them all!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

What Is Your Favorite Magazine?

If you are a reader like me, you probably read magazines too.  I think BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE is one of the best ever!  I read it cover to cover because the articles on all the animals they have at their shelter are always interesting with cute pictures as well!  They do a very good job and I am so glad that I support them.  Give it a chance by making a donation.  You will feel good and it will put a smile on your face--it does mine!  You can donate and read all about them at www.bestfriends.org (I believe you get the magazine free when you donate.)
(Gerard's review)

What is your favorite magazine?  Are you a supporter of Best Friends?  Have you read the Best Friends magazine?  Happy Reading!

"Beyond the Bear" by Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney

Beyond the Bear by Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney tells the true story of how Dan was mauled by a bear and survived. To his credit, he worked hard and was able to make something of his life again, even though he had lost his sight. I enjoyed the stories he told of his re-habilitation and of his help that he received from friends. God bless you, Dan, and your family!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"How They Grow: Owl" and "The Miracle of Easter" (Reading online)

Did you know you can help organizations get more books in the hands of children for free just by reading children's books online at We Give Books?  These are the two I read this morning:

Ages 0-3 (science)

How They Grow:  Owl by DK Publishing is a cute picture book that shows how the owl looks and what it does from the time it is hatched until it's full grown in 12 weeks.  See, even reading these children's books, you can learn things quickly.  For example, I didn't know it takes 12 weeks for an owl to be full grown.

Ages 4-7 (history)

The Miracle of Easter by J. M. Malone is a nicely illustrated book that quickly tells the story about Jesus beginning with his wondrous works through his resurrection.  I was disappointed though with the ending because the book did not tell how after He rose from the dead, he was actually still on Earth for awhile before ascending to heaven and seen by many people.  I feel this book is a bit misleading and would not recommend it for that reason.

(Karen's reviews)

I do recommend that you check out this site to help kids get books.  It's all free!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man)" by Brian McGrory

Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man) by Brian McGrory is a really good true story of a man who comes into a family that includes his wife, two young girls, a dog, and a rooster! This is a family book. Kids would enjoy reading it as well as parents. Brian, who tells the story, learns about life from his dog and the rooster. I LOVED it!
(Gerard's review, 5+)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"All God’s Creatures—Spiritual Lessons From The Animals Of The Bible" by Gary Richmond

This is a "must read" for animal lovers!

All God’s Creatures—Spiritual Lessons From The Animals Of The Bible by Gary Richmond is a fun and interesting read. The author imparts a variety of characteristics and interesting facts about the animals mentioned in the Bible which makes for a greater understanding of the verses. He also shares some fantastic stories relating to the animals from his personal experiences as a zookeeper and veterinarian’s assistant. For example, he shared about the time he was cleaning the bear exhibit and the bear opened the gate and let the other bears in with him, or the time a deer jumped into the lion exhibit and the time he pet a lion. I love animals so enjoyed this book very much.

All God’s Creatures also makes for some good background material when studying certain Bible passages or verses that mention animals. It is a quick, easy read that is organized with separate chapters for each animal. I could easily skip around and read the animals I was most interested in first. I shared about the lion and the wolf in a ladies’ Bible study class and got very positive feedback afterward. I recommend it to all animal lovers and anyone who is interested in the Bible. It certainly shows God’s amazing work throughout the animal kingdom. Now I want to go back and take notes or mark it up! This is one I own.
(Karen's Review, rating 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Zoo" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is about the world trying to deal with all forms of animals who roam in packs and attack humans. I ordered this from the library and had to wait a long time for it. I feel this book could have been so much more. The parts of the book that deal with the animals are very good, the rest not so much. The ending left me with the sense that there is going to be a second book. If there is, I'll probably read it. It just did not "wow" me like I expected it would.
(Gerard's review, rating 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Trapped" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

We highly recommend this book!

In Trapped by Peg Kehrot, is about animal cruelty. Pete the cat discovers evidence of illegal trapping and finds himself abducted by the trapper with a gun! This is also about a pig who was on its way to be slaughtered but fell off the truck. Pete the cat can understand what the humans say but they can’t understand what he is saying. Every time he tries talking to them, they just think he’s hungry.

This is a good story with suspense that I think anyone who likes cats would enjoy, even though it is a children’s book. I liked it very much, a fun quick-read with a good ending.  Pete is a clever, courageous and capable cat!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

There are three books Peg Kehret co-authored with Pete her cat and I liked the other two as well:  The Stranger Next Door about arson and Spy Cat about burglaries.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Animals Welcome" by Peg Kehret

Love the Cover too--What a sweet, caring lady!

Animals Welcome--A Life of Reading, Writing, and Rescue by Peg Kehret is a delightful, heartwarming read that I recommend to any animal lover. This is a quick read about the different animals Peg rescued after building a cabin with her husband when they retired. I especially enjoyed reading about her cats, the wildlife and her interesting facts about some of the animals.

She has written lots of children’s books and is a warm and caring person that I would love to have for a friend. The author reminded me of my dad who also fed stray cats in the neighborhood and gave some a home to those willing to come inside. The difference is he didn’t give them the vet care she did. The quote that shows her love for the animals best is “’My hobby is rescuing cats, I said. ‘It’s no more expensive than playing golf or shopping.’”

Animals Welcome is definitely one of my favorite books I read this year! I look forward to reading her books that she co-authored with her cat, Pete in his memory: Trapped, The Stranger Next Door, and Spy Cat.

I discovered this book through The Conscious Cat 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Gregor The Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

I know I'm late to the dance reading Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins. It came out in 2003. That being said, I liked it! Gregor and his baby sister, Boots, fall into a strange land where they meet talking bats, spiders and where rats rule! If you can deal with that, then you probably would like this. Hunger Games it's not, not by a long shot, but the last 100 pages really pick up. It's a fun read written for kids.
(Gerard's review, rating 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"impeccable Petunia" by Jonathan Edward and Katie Christine

"Impeccable Petunia--Claws, Paws, Feathers and Jaws Part I" is fiction about a hen house and the lady and her cat, Macy.  Petunia gets on the wrong side of her hen house when the lady takes her inside her home.  The hens start gossiping and think Petunia is in cahoots with the cat. 

Petunia and the cat become friends, sort of.  My favorite parts were whenever the cat was in the story.  This is only Part I and it leaves off on a sad note for Macy the cat.  Although this is a silly animal story, I think the vocabulary is pretty advanced for a kid's book.  This is more for young adults or even adult general fiction.

I think anyone who likes chickens or lived on a farm would enjoy this book very much.

I read the Kindle version which I got from the author. 


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.

"A Dog's Journey" by W. Bruce Cameron (Updated)

A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron is about the dedication of a dog to its owner. This story follows Clarity June (CJ) from toddler through her 70s when she dies in Hospice and how her dog(s) watched over her. CJ is neglected by her mother after her father died in a plane crash, struggled with anorexia, bad boyfriends, pursued an acting career, was a dog walker, attempted suicide, but found love with her best friend. It’s a cute story actually and although the dog dies several times in the book, he comes back as a different dog but keeps all his old memories and is re-united with CJ over and over again. He’s an “angel dog.” There's even a cat in it named Sneakers!

This is an emotional read. I was angry at the mother right from the beginning of the book but other parts were funny and touching. I loved that the dog was the narrator of the book and enjoyed his perspective on things. I’m glad I read this one and plan to read his first book, A Dog’s Purpose too!  I recommend this to any dog lover.
(Karen's review)

Gerard's review:
A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron is a must read for animal lovers.  It is told very well by a dog.  It is funny, sad, and very touching.  What it isn't is boring, and that's a good thing!  I loved this book from page 1 and it only grew as I read it!  The ending left me with tears and a smile!  I loved both books I read by this author, the other being A Dog's Purpose.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.

"Never Trust a Squirrel!" by Patrick Cooper

Our dog likes chasing squirrels so liked this book.

Never Trust a Squirrel! by Patrick Cooper, illustrated by Catherine Walters is a preschool picture book about a squirrel, a guinea pig, and a fox. I liked the big pictures and the fact that this book actually has a plot to it. It's a cute little story.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during May to Joni and Friends for Camp Scholarships for families with special needs children.

"The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate (UPDATED)

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate tells the story of Ivan, a Silverback gorilla, and his friends: Stella, an old elephant and Bob, a stray dog. They perform three shows every day at Exit 8 Big Top Mall. When business slows, Ruby, a baby elephant, is brought on board and things change.

This is a lovely story, funny for sure, and it will get and keep your interest. I think this is a book for all ages. It will touch your heart and put a smile on your face! I enjoyed it very much and the ending is so, so good!
(Gerard's review)

Karen's review--my rating 5 stars
I really enjoyed The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate even though it is children’s fiction.  It is based on a true story about Ivan, a Silverback gorilla who was captured and put in a cage for 27 years without any contact with any other gorillas.  In this book, Ivan is the narrator and his owner sells Ivan’s drawings and paintings.  Ivan is quite an artist.  Ivan has a stray dog named Bob who comes into his “domain” and sleeps on Ivan’s stomach.  In the next cage is Stella, an elephant, who is a good storyteller but who had a hard life at a circus.  When a baby elephant, Ruby, joins her, she is very protective of her and when she knows she is dying, gets Ivan to promise to protect Ruby for her.  He comes up with a great plan to get Ruby moved to a zoo.  This is such a cute book that has a happy ending.  It is a quick read but very enjoyable!  If you like animals and are looking for a heartwarming story, I recommend this one!  I loved it! 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during April to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

"Laugh at Life" by Jane Seabrook

Laugh at Life by Jane Seabrook is a small collection of funny sayings with great animal illustrations to go with them, one saying or picture per page.  The author has a whole series of these cute little books.  In the back she lists the names of all the animals she illustrated in the book.  Some are very exotic.  Here is one of my favorite sayings from this book:  As you get older, your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either. This would make a perfect little gift for any animal lover.

I got this one for my personal library from paperbackswap.com for free.  If you are not aware of this site, you might like to check it out.  You post books that you are willing to give away and pay the postage for mailing, then when someone requests one of your books, once they receive it you get a credit which can be used to get a book of your choice for free (since the one sending the book pays the postage). 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Hope you will visit our other blog, "Right Where We Belong" to see our Happy Easter Everyone post!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during April to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

"Animals and the Kids Who Love Them"

Animals and The Kids Who Love Them by Allen and Linda Anderson shares many stories of special needs children and the animals who gave them hope and comfort, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and even a turtle! If this book doesn't put a smile on your face and touch your heart, I don't know what will! Read it and you'll feel better about life!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.

"Lone Wolf" by Jodi Picoult (Updated)

 Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult tells the story of Luke Warren who has two families.  A wolf one and a human one.  Both are very entertaining and you will learn a lot from both.  I loved this book very much!  The characters of Luke and his daughter, Cara, were my favorites.  There is not a lot of twists and turns in this one, but the main story is so gripping that you don't need all that.
(Gerard's review)

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult is an interesting read and also thought provoking about Luke, a family man who is also a naturalist who chooses to join a pack of wolves in the wild for two years.  He is divorced and shares custody of his 17-yr.-old daughter.  His gay son left at age 18 to live in Thailand after he and his dad had a falling out.  The dad and daughter were in a car accident which left the dad in a vegetable state hooked up to a ventilator to stay alive.  The brother came right home when he heard and insists that Luke would not want to be kept alive in that condition but the daughter holds out hope that he will get better and they need to give him more time. 

I liked this book pretty well but thought it dragged out more than necessary.  There was a lot about wolves that I found quite interesting, but thought Luke was nuts for living with them.  My favorite part was when Cara got her brother to bring in one of her dad's wolves into the hospital to try to get him to wake up when only the ventilator was keeping him alive.  I also like the brother-sister relationship.  Jodi Picoult tackled yet another controversial topic, euthanasia, in an interesting way.  
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.