Considering the addition of Sugar Gliders to you family? If so, please read this book. It will help you decide if you are ready, and have what it takes, to commit to becoming a loving Glider owner. Already have Gliders? Still, read this book. It provides pertinent information to create, and maintain, both an interesting and nutritional life for your pet(s).

This is simply the best book on sugar gliders currently available. As president of the ISGA, Inc., I always recommend it to all people who contact us for guidance on caring for their pets. It has excellent information on the animal's physical characteristics and natural origins, as well as clear and helpful information on the domesticated pet. There are other books on the market that were written before all the facts were in on sugar gliders, so I would recommend anyone to make this book their primary resource.

I am a sugar glider owner, and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in sugar gliders. It includes dietary information, care information, and even instructions for building a cage! The only problem I saw was that a picture caption mentioned letting gliders have a sock to sleep in, and that's a no-no, according to the breeders I talked to. Otherwise, this information is right on the money!

This personal account of an abusive marital relationship and the healing, transforming journeying out of it is beautifully written and deeply moving. It is all at once heart-wrenching, inspiring, and empowering, and it offers a message of courage, hope, faith, and love. Michele Weldon effectively puts to rest the many fallacies surrounding domestic violence in our culture, and her story illustrates the fact that willingness/ability to respond to domestic violence and abuse continues to be a major challenge for the church in 2000. I CLOSED MY EYES is an invaluable resource for a variety of contexts today, e.g., in seminary pastoral care & counseling courses, clinical social work degree programs. It should be on the bookshelves of our churches and synagogues, domestic abuse shelters, and public libraries. It would be an enormously good read for medical students and interns in our teaching hospitals across the country who, sadly, get little education and training regarding the complex family and societal issues surrounding domestic violence and abuse. All who minister to or care for people caught in the cycle of domestic violence and abuse will learn from this book.

Michele Weldon does an amazing job of grabbing the reader with her story. It takes an incredible amount of courage to tell the world that your picture perfect life and marriage was a charade -- that you were abused for years by a man who appeared to be "the loving husband." What really touched me most was the ability I felt to relate to the author, as the life she describes is not too far from my own real-life experience.

Warning for those of you are presently in an abusive relationship or recently leaving one -- this is so well-written and hits so close to home that it may trigger flashbacks. Nevertheless, it is a must-read for not just victims of domestic violence, but for all women.

Thank you Michele Weldon for writing your journey through living and leaving an abusive husband. ---

Her writing is encouraging and honest. The writing style kept me reading. The way she put into words the joy of leaving the cycle of abuse despite the hardship that it may bring is just great!

Parents Do Make a Difference is more than a book, it's a handbook. Dr. Borba uses extensive use of checklists, exercises, helpful suggestions and real life examples to help parents teach the skills of personal, emotional and motivational success to their children.

In this book, Dr. Borba has woven personal experiences, and sometimes complex behavioral theories, into messages that are clear and comprehensive for all parents.

Readers will appreciate the practicality of the author's approach. For example, Dr. Borba points out, early in the book, that family conditions help nurture the self-esteem of children. Meaning, all of the exercise and tips in this book may be meaningless if the parent doesn't have the ability to authentically mirror the behaviors they are attempting to teach their children.

To assist in further action for parents, she has also included several resources (books, videos, and web sites) at the end of each chapter. ...

This is one of the best parenting books I've ever read! It's chock-full of advice on how to develop in our children the 8 skills most critical to success (according to parents, educators, and other experts): positive self-esteem, cultivating strengths, communicating, problem-solving, getting along, goal-setting, perseverance, and caring. The sub-title, "How to raise kids with solid character, strong minds, and caring hearts" is irresistible. Although I already own dozens of parenting books, I'm glad I still bought this. The author is obviously an educator; she has organized the book in a way that makes the activities simple and effective. Each chapter begins with two examples: one child has the skill, the other doesn't. what follows next is a checklist to determine a child's current level with the skill. Then Ms. Borba breaks down the task of developing the skill into 3-5 simple steps. Each step is explained thoroughly and clearly, with examples from real life. Success Tips intersperse the chapters. These give quick tips related to the skill, that parents can easily carry out. Finally, each chapter ends with Points to Remember that summarize the main points of the chapter. The strategies in this book are all simple and doable, but it doesn't occur to most of us to do them. For example, what to say when your child experiences failure, how to hold family meetings, and even how to respond to bullies. Ms. Borba advises parents and other readers to devote one month to concentrate on each skill. Even without following this strictly, the book will enable parents to recognize everyday experiences as learning opportunities for these skills. If you follow even half of what this book teaches, you will be the parent you wish you had! Our children and families will be all the happier for this book, and countries will certainly have fewer social problems if only more children (and adults) had these 8 critical skills. A must-read for all parents, teachers, caregivers -- anybody who relates to kids!

This book is one of the gems -- a diamond in the rough -- on parenting. Written in simple language, it's the "basic course" on "HOW TO RAISE KIDS WITH SOLID CHARACTER, STRONG MINDS, AND CARING HEARTS". So read, use, and understand. Hmm. Understand? What do you do when the kids ask, "WHY?"! Hmm. You'll need a book that makes you understand -- in simple language -- the philosophy of WHY character counts, of right and wrong, of good and evil, of moral and immoral, and of ethical and unethical. The school that exists to teach the "advanced course" in "HOW TO RAISE KIDS WITH SOLID CHARACTER, STRONG, MINDS, AND CARING HEARTS" is West Point. The only book that explains the philosophy behind all the "WHYS" -- in simple language -- is the book titled "WEST POINT", by Norman Thomas Remick. It's THE companion book for all how-to books and "courses", basic or advanced, on parenting and character. It will become kind of an encyclopedia that you can refer to for explaining "WHY?" to your kids. And it will give Borba's diamond in the rough its required polish.

'Amazing Gracie' is the heartwarming story of how one neglected, deaf Great Dane named Gracie changed the lives of everyone who loved her. It is a book for everyone who loves dogs, as well as for anyone who has known 'a nutty dog person.' It is also the story of how Gracie inspired those who loved her to change and grow, and eventually to start Three Dog Bakery. I have recently adopted a deaf sheltie, and personally found many of the deaf dog anecdotes in the book funny and true to form. However, what I REALLY love about the book is that we learn that Gracie wasn't just a special deaf dog, but a wonderful dog, PERIOD. The book tells us very subtly that deaf dogs are just dogs that can't hear... otherwise they lead perfectly normal doggie lives. Hopefully, more people will see how wonderfully sweet our deaf dogs are, and won't think to put them to sleep just because they can't hear. They are great dogs, it's a shame more people don't/can't experience that love. Dan Dye's love for his pups, and his sharing that love with all of us, have made us all better humans, and dogs. Gracie's legacy lives on in all of us.

I just finished this wonderful book and plan on buying more copies for Christmas as gifts. This is the story of Gracie, an albino, deaf great dane puppy who inspires Dan, her owner, to start the chain of bakeries: Three Dog Bakery. It was a funny book, although the last pages will definately get to you if you've ever been through an older dogs final days.

I truly laughed out loud through much of the book... Gracie's love life reminded me of my own! Her life, although she was deaf, was full of love and devotion, but she definately had a mischeivous streak which all dog owners will relate to. This was simply a wonderful read that provided much more story than I was even hoping for. Amazing Gracie proves that dogs can inspire and teach us as well as make excellent companions!

I just finished an amazing story about A white,albano dog named Gracie. Even though Gracie is deaf she still is an amazing animal. After being saved by a lonely guy named dan, she inspires him to start a bakery named Three Dog Bakery.

I laughed a lot throughout this book! It was very ffunny but at the end of this book, it can be very sad especialy if you have been with a dying dog in his or her last days. I really enjoyedreading this book this book because I am a dog lover, and this book was realy touching. So if you really want a great book, I recommend Amazing Gracie.

What an enjoyable read! I once owned a resort in an area near to the author and I wish I would have a: read this book before I got into the business or b: had the sweet pleasure of commiseration by reading it while I was still running the place. (I think we shared some of the same guests and laughed out loud, especially during the chapter called "Frequently Asked Questions.") It's HARD WORK! I think the author makes this clear, but at the same time, points out all of the positive things that do make a Northwoods lifestyle like a dream life. Continued success, Mrs. Cozzens.

When asked to comment on Michelle VanOrt Cozzen's "I'm Living Your Dream Life," I thought, yeah right...like I'm going to enjoy a book about creating a bed and breakfast. But I said, okay, and I haven't regretted my decision for one second.
I loved "Dream Life" and couldn't put it down. This book is a must-read for anyone entertaining the idea of owning a bed and breakfast, and it's a book that should be in B and B gift shops throughout the nation.
Bravo, Michelle! "I'm Living Your Dream Life" is a welcome breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing your success. One cannot help but benefit from your experience.
Laurie Birnsteel

The book by Michele Cozzens, "I'm Living Your Dream Life", gives the reader a look at how one family combines their core values, personal strengths, and long term objectives, to provide a way of life that successfully blends 'making a living' with 'making a life'. Written with humor, warmth, and wisdom, the book is an informative, quick, and enjoyable read about what it takes to develop, operate, and maintain a northwoods resort. Cozzens presents her experiences and observations with warmth and giggle out loud humor. Both entertaining and enlightening, this book will offer behind the scenes insight to anyone who has enjoyed vacationing at a northwoods resort, as well as to those considering a career in Bed and Breakfast/Resort management.

I came to this strange and wonderful book without the slightest inkling of what it was about -- simply because it was in the recommended reading for many guidebooks about Italy. First and foremost, it is an autobiography of a great physician and animal lover who just happened to spend some years of his life on Capri.

Autobiographies can make for strange reading, especially when there are obvious omissions. Although Axel Munthe frequently accuses himself of being a ladies' man, there is no mention of any love interest by name or even generic description. (That reminds me of film director Josef von Sternberg's FUN IN A CHINESE LAUNDRY, where we learn in passing that the author was married because of a cryptic mention in a subordinate clause 300 pages into the book.) Also missing is any mention of Munthe's childhood, although I understand there is at least one other autobiography written by him (MEMORIES AND VAGARIES), which I have not read.

There is, however, one section that does not appear in any autobiography that I have ever seen: An anticipation of Munthe's Last Judgment in Heaven following his death, with St. Peter, Moses, Athanasius, and St. Francis joining in the discussion.

STORY OF SAN MICHELE ranges from Paris to Lapland, Rome, Naples, Calabria, and Capri. We see duels, medical cases of wealthy women with imaginary diseases, demonic housekeepers, quacks, midwives, prostitutes, victims of cholera and earthquakes, brigands, shamans, and even an alcoholic ape. Munthe is a magnificent raconteur, and his book is a joy to read and reread.

Eighty or ninety years ago, Axel Munthe was a famous doctor.

He left behind a few modest and charming reminiscences, of which "The story of the San Michele" is, in my opinion, the most interesting.

The writer deliberately leaves outsides large zones of his existence; he only highlights those pertaining to his work.

The unity of this book in which memories mingle according to his fancy, is achieved through the presence of two underlying motifs: his love for the nature of the south and the battle against death.

A cholera epedemic in Naples, an earthquake in Messina, anywhere a doctor is needed, Munthe is present.

Even in his passion for archeology, gathering ancient statues and coins, building in Capri a new home from the fragments of an illustrious past - with the architecture inspired by dreams rather than mathematics - his spirit finds a new way of celebrating the beauty of life.

The book is filled with vivid and unforgettable portraits (don Antonio the priest; Maria Porta-Lettere the messenger; Rozalia, the caretaker; Mamsell Agata, the housekeeper with the putrid smile of Lazarus; Norstrom, his friend; Madame Requin, the delinquent midwife; Arcangelo Fusco, the sweeper; the Countess and the Viscount Maurice; John, the child who never laughed - and a lot many others.

But the most interesting character is the doctor himself - because of the special quality of his humanity.

How gratifying to read the other reviews, and to learn that others have also experienced and loved this book at different times in their lives. The remarkable thing about it is how Dr. Munthe speaks to us in different ways at different ages. As a teenager, I was impressed by the passions, even though a lot of the details were above my head. In my late twenties, the way he tried to balance career and his love for San Michele was very meaningful. As a 44-year-old, I was impressed (and saddened) with the loneliness of Dr. Munthe's struggle, with really only his animals for company. While he speaks of friends, he shares little about them. And nothing about a lasting romantic involvement.

We all have our San Micheles. They may not be homes, but they are ideals toward which we strive. But for me, it exists only in my mind. Dr. Munthe was in some ways very lucky, yet also cursed, to be able to bring it to life.

The only frustrating aspect of "San Michele" is that it is, as its author notes, a fragment. I am interested to learn more of this fascinating man. Does anyone know if any biographies are in print, or in English? Thank you.

I've never seen my dog so happy, his face lights up and his tail starts wagging when he smells the Veggie Bite bones cooking in the oven. Will their be a follow up book, with new recipes? I hope that a book comes out for cats , my kitties need some homebaked treats too.

If dogs could read and cook this is the book they would buy, and then us humans would get to sit back and enjoy the smell of fresh DOGGY BONES with expectations of mouthwatering treats. This book is creative and packaged well and the bones are good too boot. Plus it makes a great gift to other conscientious dog owners. I've given several as gifts only to run into the person later who said they gave them to others, who gave them to others, who...well you get the point.

Michele Bledsoe's cookbook is such a prize! I've ordered several -- one for myself, and one for a close dog-lovin' friend, who was thrilled with it. I wondered how the biscuits would turn out, and if the dogs would like them.... Well, I was very surprised and pleased to see that the bones looked like the ones professionally made and sold in stores!I couldn't believe that they looked so good, and were so easy to cut. Also, I found that I could roll the batter thinner and make smaller ones for my dog that's on a diet. (The "smaller collar diet bone" has been perfect for him!) And, there's just something so special about seeing a cookie pan full of your pup's favorite bones come out of the oven, while he sits there and drools waiting for them to cool!!

I've made bones and given some in gift bags, and the recipients were always so appreciative to get "homemade" snacks for their puppies!

The book makes a perfect Christmas gift for those petlover friends on your list! Or, send it to your pet friends to give to their owners...!

Your Purebred Puppy is a must-have book for anyone looking to buy a new dog or any clinic that has a pre-purchase counseling service. It is 319 pages long and covers 200 different dog breeds. Welton divides the book into four steps: deciding whether or not to get a purebred dog, choosing the right breed, finding the right breeder, and choosing the right puppy.

There are several reasons that I highly recommend this book. First of all, it does not just explain the different breeds, but it gives advice for choosing the right breeder and puppy. Since the breeds are listed alphabetically, it is easy to quickly find the breed for which you are searching. Each breed's page describes its characteristics such as exercise and grooming needs, sociability with strangers, temperament, history, physical features, health issues, and some things to be aware of before you buy a dog of that breed. The histories of the breeds are interesting to read and help explain why certain dogs do the things they do. Each breed's AKC popularity and photograph are also included. A glossary of color and medical terms is included at the end of the book.

It is difficult to find anything wrong with this book. One improvement to this book could be to include color photographs instead of black and white ones. Also, Welton is biased toward holistic medicine and all-natural pet foods. This is only evident on two pages of the book, so it is a minor issue.

Your Purebred Puppy is a great starting point for a pre-purchase counseling program. Welton's unbiased breed profiles serve as a great reference for helping a client to choose a dog. This book is an excellent source for any veterinary clinic and can be recommended to clients as well.

I regularly recommend this book to anyone who says, "I'm thinking of getting a dog ..." For anyone thinking about finding a new canine companion, this book is the best breed guide you can find. It will help you consider the temperament, health, and family suitability of many different dog breeds, and make the best decision for you, your family, and your new pet. Includes black-and-white photos of each breed, with complete information about what a prospective family should expect when considering the dog as a new family member; excellent "puppy tests" to help you determine any puppy's temperament before you take the plunge; and lots of other information vital to choosing and raising a great dog

Ms. Welton has produced a most practical book for those wishing to find a pup as companion and family member ...

The author prepares the potential new dog owner with all the necessary - from how to pick a breed to how to pick a pup, from how to pick a breeder to a timely caution on the time/effort required to rear a puppy ... While most "how to pick puppy" books may deal with the same topics, Ms. Welton does it exceedingly well, and the chapters are conveniently laid out, easy and fun to read ...

What we find most appealing is her description of the 200 breeds set out in the book (more than some breed books) ... Ms. Welton provides plenty of information about each breed (again, more than some breed books), from their expected temperament (including interaction with children) to expected life span, grooming requirements, genetic & hereditary medical cautions, availability (in the US), estimated price etc.

After having served its primary purpose and guiding owner to pup - the book will continue to be a very useful addition to any dog book library - as a source of information and reference ...

The photographs could be better though - maybe in the new edition ...

Just like the last 2 reviewers ... I have only one little issue with this book ... some breeds are missing.

But otherwise the book is fabulous ... lots of pictures and generally good ones too ... and more important, it provides reasonably substantial information about the breeds that do appear in the book ... from a brief breed history, breed temperament to expected life span ... from grooming needs to general health care ...

Particularly like how information is presented in a clear organised manner. Carries more useful information other similar type books.

A very good book for people looking for their 1st dog or anyone interested in learning more about the different breeds.

A wonderful book! One of the best dog books I've ever seen!! There are beautiful photos of each breed, and there are over 150 AKC recongnized breeds in the book! The author could have added more breeds, but the book only includes AKC breeds, so doing so would have been giving false info. There are two pages for each breed, so plenty of information is givin. There is a chart for each breed which includes Playfulness, Affection level, Cold tolerance, etc. Sections of the text are History, Temperment, Upkeep, Health and Form & Function. You can learn a lot just by reading a few pages in this book! The pictures show the dogs in all different positions, not just in show position, and in a variety of the breed's colors. The backgrounds resemble the dog's function (ex. Belgian Tervuren has a background that includes sheep) This is a great book! 5 stars!

I have tried and tried to find a realistic text to help me bring in a new large breed dog to my canine family when my Kuvasz passes. I use the Irish Wolf Hound as my guideline to see if an author tells the often unpalatable whole scenario. And this book does. The lavish pictures are a joy to behold but I am NOT unwittingly beguiled into adding a family member that statistically will pass on in 5 to 7 years, such as I know to be the case with the splendid Wolfhound. Other authors, whether through ignorance, lack of research or just plain not caring about the impact of lifespan on an uninitiated I.W. first time purchaser, routinely claim 11 years an I.W. lifespan. This book allows ME to decide based on CORRECT information for the breeds.I also like the distinction between watchdog and protection factors, one often blurred by other authors. HUZZAH!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can empathize with the author, Ms. Collison, I too have been searching for the hairstyle book and the magazine that will lay it out for me. For more than 7 years, and four bi-racial children later (two boys and two girls), I had yet to find such a book. This book is truly the start of something good. It goes into detail, but not too much detail, how to care for a variety of hair textures "from bone straight to wavy, to tightly coiled and everything in between" (pg. 13). It covers parting to combing to cornrows, twists and braiding. It also covers some basic style for boys. I loved her personal stories, her own and contributors as well. I also appreciate how we are reminded to tell our daughters that they are beautiful and smart as we spend time together combing and styling their hair. As a librarian, I will be praising this book to all who walk through our doors and I look forward to the sequel. Way to go!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! The hairstyle instructions are easy to follow; the information is comprehensive, covering everything from afros to zig-zag parts; and the personal anecdotes from real-life parents set it apart from most how-to hair books. I like that the author deals with hairstyles for girls AND boys, and I appreciate her taking time to offer tips for dealing with all types of hair textures. Most of all, I like that Collison urges readers to affirm their children's hair, no matter the texture, color or style. It is a must-have for any loving parent or childcare provider who is looking to instill positive self-image and grooming habits in children.

I've learned a long time ago, when in search of a how-to book, try the kids section. Most of the time it is there and in simpler form. I admit I purchased this book for myself. If you've been looking for different ways to style you or your children's hair, then this is the book. It shows how to do coils, knots, twists, and more. It has a lot of pictures, (black and white). It gives a lot of instructions on maintaining your hair for boys and girls. If you have just decided to go natural and can't seem to take that hat off of your head, you might want to try this book. Or, if you're thinking about putting a perm in your child's hair, you might want to try this book.