This was one of my favorite books as a child. I wish they would put it back in print in hardcover so I could get copies for my friends' children.

I loved this book as a child; what a loss that it's no longer in print. The illustrations transported me to another world where brave children are able to climb into the sky. (In my innocence, I hoped I would one day be able to do the same if only I practiced with my toy bow and arrows.) I remember being especially delighted (even at age five) by the depiction of a friendship between a boy and girl who played together as equals and were both good with their arrows!

An amazing picture book by William Sleator (known for HOUSE OF STAIRS and other dark pieces of science fiction) and illustrated by Blair Lent (Caledecott winner for A FUNNY LITTLE WOMAN). It follows a young indian boy through an incredible journey to the moon to rescue his beloved. The artwork is resonant and meaningful and the story compelling. Lots of transformations and magical switcheroos make it satisfying for children of all ages. It is a shame this book is out of print. It needs to be brought back!!

I've searched for years for just the right book that sums up my feelings for lost wilderness and finally found it with this book. I find Mr. Camuto's contrast with William Bartram's descriptions of the mountains both startling and sad. I've walked these mountains for over 30 years and in just the last 10 have I begun to realize the tragic consequences of overdevelopment and urban sprawl. Mountains and streams once largely clean and pristine now are considered off limits for fishing and drinking and I wonder why we have no love for the complexity of our natural environment. Like a Sand County Almanac, Chris Camuto has begun a modern discussion of the land ethic. An ethic our country, I fear, has so far refused to acknowledge or accept.

Another Country is a search for the soul of a land almost destroyed. Christopher Camuto writes a powerful narrative describing his exploration of the Cherokee homeland in the appalachians. He seeks communion, a connection he can sense in what is left of the natural landscape and wildness around him. It is as elusive as the dying Cherokee myths, as tangible as the arrowheads and village sites he finds. Camuto refers to the Appalacians as the Cherokee Mountains, their former nomenclature, because it is to the Cherokees they really belong. The rape and exploitation of their land parallels the rape and exploitation of their culture. Camuto's search for a wildness, that now remains only in remnants, is set in counterpoint to the reintroduction of the red wolf into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most important clan animal of the Cherokee, it is symbolic of the differences between the Cherokee and the early Europeans. One revered its wildness and sought to preserve it. The other despised and killed it. One honored the wolf's home, seeking harmony with the land and its spirits. The other saw something untamed that must be destroyed. The author's journey begins as the wolves are being set free. Like many of the members of this first Canus Rufus release who step beyond their shrinking boundaries, Camuto confronts the vestiges of civilization at almost every turn. Set against continual references to Native-American mythology, and the history of the area, Camuto's book allows the reader to share his insight into the Cherokee view of the world. Unlike many who write about early culture, he does not attempt to steal it as his own. His statement that he is not Cherokee and thus can never totally understand, adds credibility to the objectiveness of his observations. It also demonstrates humbleness of endeavor, a bow of respect to the Cherokee nation. The book is firmly rooted in place as it combines the ethereal with the tangible landscape. Those who cherish wildness and honor those first here, will also treasure this book. In many ways , it is a sad obituary, lamenting that which was, as it examines what is left. The reintroduction of the red wolf represents one small, but hopeful, step in the restoration of that which is lost.

I've hiked and fished the Southern Highlands for years, especially the area in and around the Smoky Mt. National Park. Reading Another Country has shown me this place in a completely new light. He compares these mountains at one point to a palimpsest--a scraped-over parchment on which old texts leave faint traces. This book records Camuto's efforts to track these traces, which of course are quickly vanishing if not already gone. By giving these mountains back their ancient names, by telling stories the Cherokee told their children about their homeland, by delving into the natural and human history of the places he walks, by honoring the memories of the ones who are gone, and by contextualizing the beleaguered efforts to bring the red wolf back to its former ground, Camuto opens up layer upon layer of meaning for us who seek out the last wild places without always knowing why. An unforgettable book.

Mangum, the Superintendent of the Little Big Horn (LBH) battlefield writes a portrayal of the Crook's campaign against the Sioux that culminates in the Battle of the Rosebud 8 days prior to Custer's attack. Since the LBH is roughly 30 miles southeast of the LBH, Mangum is extraordinarily familiar with the battlefield that still looks like it did 134 years ago. The book covers Crook's earlier March campaign where he was first in the field which peaked at a failed attempt to destroy a predominately Cheyenne village which also included some Sioux on the Powder. Crook again restarts in June with almost 200 Shoshone and Crow allies. As Mangum expertly retells the battle, Crook is surprised while encamped leisurely along Rosebud Creek on June 17. Mangum notes that Crook was similarly surprised also with great consequences in the battle of Cedar Creek in 1864 where he was surprised by Jubal Early. In the description of the battle, Mangum points out that if it wasn't for the Shoshone and Crow who spotted the Sioux and Cheyenne first relatively distant from camp while also absorbing the initial attack, Crook's command may have been destroyed. The allies gave Crook's troopers a chance to prepare for the attack. Crook's forces, which included mule mounted infantry and miners, stemmed the attack but as Mangum points out, the Sioux seemed to come at Crook from three sides from the high ground to the north. After Crook seems to control the battle, Colonel Royall with his calvary battalion rolls up the Indian right so successfully, his enthusiasm isolates himself from Crook allowing the Sioux and Cheyenne to consolidate against him requiring a furious battle of retrograde movements causing the most severe casualties of Crook's forces. Mangum states that Crook was in peril with Royall's potential collapse because Crook sent off another battalion to the Indian's left in search of their village that was not in the immediate area as perceived. Only the recall of Mills saves the day but the Sioux and Cheyenne have initiated enough casualties and psychological harm to cause Crook to retire and take over a month to retrofit his command. I was at the Rosebud site in 1999 and had I read Mangum's book with the terrain maps, my tour would have been far more beneficial. The battlefield today is a State park and the modest valley that Crook stopped in on June 17 looks is framed with high hills and interesting landmarks like Conical Hill. This is a great book about a key battle that indicated that the Sioux and Cheyenne were agressive in defending their village which was overlooked by all of Sheridan's generals. This battle besmirched Crook's otherwise great post Civil War career.

Between the confusion typical of any engagement and the scarcity of surviving testimony, it may be that no definitive account of any Euro-American vs. American Indian battle can ever be produced. However, Neil Mangum has produced a through, balanced, and convincing book that is as close as any such work may ever come to being authoritative.

This is by far the most intriguing and accurate book I have read concerning the Rosebud. Neil Mangum's writing is accurate and a complete joy to read.

A fantastic guidebook describing some of the off beat places in Alaska. If you want the true Alaskan experience, get this book. It contains over 200 restaurant and lodging reviews and stories of the 'best' places in Alaska. One of the three must travel books (Milepost, Discovering Denali, and Best Places Alaska) if you are going to the Last Frontier.

We used this book every day - and usually more than once. It is filled with great suggestions and recommendations. We found a few entries "outdated," but that can be expected. The suggestions for which shops to visit in small and large cities I found to be particularly helpful. Best book I have ever bought for travel.

Best Places Alaska is an outstanding travel guide that features only the 'best' restaurants, lodgings, and destinations in Alaska, including guides and outfitters in its lists of recommendations for particular Alaskan regions. An excellent, involving survey of Alaska's best places, Best Places Alaska is a recommended take-along tote.

I absolutely love this book! My 4 year old son picked it out of the library at random. I believe he was lead to read it. Each time we have children friends who loose a loved one, we give them this book. It helps my children understand death in a very enlightened way.

Paul Goble's "Beyond the Ridge" is a beautiful, comforting, simple book for children of all ages who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
This book is taken from a Native American story about the death of a woman and her journey beyond the ridge into the realm of spirit. Voices call her, and animals guide her, and the familiar scenery nourishes her as she travels home from the mundane world into the land of her ancestors.
The beautiful illustrations, simple and direct language, and comforting nature of this story encourage us to regard death as a process of adventure into greater territory than our bodies can permit.
I keep copies of this book in paperback to give to friends who have experienced a loss (because I so frequently loaned my own hardback copy that I feared it would break down from overuse.) I replenish my stock by ordering a few copies at a time, and I keep them on my bookshelf to share with others when words fail me. Everyone who has received (or borrowed) this book from me has reported feeling consoled and uplifted - even as they faced the death of their loved one - by the beauty of this simple childrens' book. Adults often become childlike when confounded by grief, and the nature of this book is to approach the issue through simplicity and grace, so it works for all of us.
I never want to be without a copy of this book on hand.

I used this book to ease my young sons through the deaths of their maternal grandfather and paternal grandmothers about 10 years ago. I found that I was the one gaining great comfort! Unfortunately we are now going through another round of deaths. I ordered 5 copies and have given them to friends and relatives to help ease their pain.

Our family has owned a patch of shore/forest land in Wisconsin for 20 years although none have been birders. With this disk we easily learned to identify species and discovered the diversity that we never noticed previously. The call/naming/call format of this disk is excellent for new birders and the numbers of species covered is ideal. I use the Stokes disk set as a reference but the name/call format and large number species covered does not facilitate learning the calls.

John Feith's Bird Song Ear Training Guide is a unique and impressive CD audiobook providing instructions on how to recognize songs of birds common to the states of the Midwest and Northeast (including Wisconsin where almost all the bird songs were recorded and the post-production work was done). Each distinctive bird song is followed by a mnemonic or a short description. The bird is identified and a review sound is played again that fixes the song's identity in the mind of the listener. The Bird Song Ear Training Guide is enhanced with a quiz format which will aid the listener to focus on learning how to identify the bird songs. A complete list of bird species and mnemonics is included in an insert. All profits from this enthusiastically recommended CD instructional for birdwatchers will go to the Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.

Actually you'll find it useful and accurate too. Fun to use, lots of songs, and my two feline birders went bananas. Who would know better? Good value for the money and the proceeds go to a good cause.

I loved this book so much, I went out and got the rest to the series to read. The story line and the characterizations of the characters are incredible. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I am a very picky reader. I love to read, but it has to be the perfect story line. If you know what I mean. Lots of people think of Christain books as being boring. that is what I thought when I saw this book. After a friend told me to read it I was wrapped up in the story line! I even went out of my way to find, and buy the rest in the series! This book, By Honor Bound, is a story of real life problems, plus heros and heroines that will stay in your heart. If you are looking for a book (or books) to read, find one of the Guardians of the North books and dig in!!!

I have read the first 2 of the Guardians of the North so far. I have enjoyed them immensley and can't wait to read the others! I would definately recommend these books to anyone who enjoys history, a romance, or a wonderful Christian novel! I have enjoyed many other novels by his father Gilbert Morris. I have read the entire House of Winslow series and can't wait for the latest book to come out! I would certainly recommend this book to anyone willing to read it!

I have had the pleasure of studying under Connie Voisine and have found her to be, both in her work and in her life, one of the most insightful people I have ever met. Her poetry grabs the reader with strong images, varied techniques, and a voice that sets her above most poets today. She hasn't received nearly enough credit for such an amazing piece of work. Her art is transcendant and powerful while maintaining a voice that the reader can grab hold of and understand. Whether you're an avid poetry reader or just beginning to start a collection of works, I would highly recommend this book.

Voisine's book of poems deserves much attention. It is, by my reckoning, among the top twenty collections of American poetry published in the last five years. Though her forms and contents are unlike the following poets, Voisine brings to mind the power and scope of Alan Shapiro, Louise Gluck, and perhaps Edward Hirsch from an earlier era. Everyone should read books like this; failing that, anyone interested in reading or writing poems should pick this one up.

Cathedral of the North is a stunning book. The imagery is haunting, and the language is precise. I turn to it often. Everyone who cares about poetry should read it.

When Charles Kuralt retired from CBS he decided to do something enjoyable.... spend a year vacationing at his favorite places in the country. He selected twelve places, and spent one month in each place in it's peak season: January in New Orleans, October in Vermont, August in Maine, etc. Each chapter gives a 20-30 page account of his experiences in each individual location.

Good: Kuralt is just an excellent writer. After reading each chapter you feel like you've visited each place yourself. In my opinion his most interesting visits were Twin Bridges, Montana; Ketchikan, Alaska; Key West, and New Orleans. He gives brilliant, flavorful descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and personalities he runs into in each part of the country.

Bad: Kansas wasn't included in his travels. Also, it would be interesting to see how someone from my generation would do a book like this. Kuralt's perspective seems more geared towards his own generation. But that certainly didn't keep a young buck like me from enjoying it.

Opinion: This book is a great retreat for those of us who would like to travel to the wonderful places this country has more often but have neither the time nor the resources to do so.

This is one of the best books ever! It was a gift given to me a while ago, and I have listened to it several times. I actually own it on audiocassette, and I think that this is one of those books that are better listened to and experienced that way than through reading. The sound of his voice adds so much expression and emotion to his recounts, and the stories are entertaining with an underlying "life lesson" in each. His appreciation and admiration of the world are simply, absolutely beautiful.

You simply cannot pass up such a wonderful book.

Poetic and inspiring, Charles Kuralt at his best