July 31 is Mutt's Day. Regardless if you have a mutt or not, be sure to get out and enjoy your canine companion. :-)

While there is no new information here, after all, a mutt is a dog and they all require the same things, the pictures are what make this book unique. No purebreds here (you'll figure that out by the title)! Just some nice, basic information and great pictures in Mutts (from the series Dogs) by Stuart A. Kallen.

If you enjoyed Art Afterpieces (April 23, 2015 post) then you should enjoy Mutts of the Masters by Michael Patrick as well. Seems dogs (some purebreds) originally showed up in many well-known paintings, but were removed for a variety of reasons. Clever and silly. :-)

The Case of the Mixed-Up Mutts, by Dori Hillestad Butler, with pictures by Jeremy Tugeau is an easy to read chapter book. Told from the view point of the dogs (I thought the author did a nice job with this), the challenge is how to get two Pugs back to their proper owners. (Technically I guess they aren't really mutts ....) Part of a series called 'The Buddy Files' if you have a dog loving, younger reader in your family he or she might enjoy them.

There's one more book I hoped to include here, but it didn't arrive in time so I'll use it at a later time. (If it arrives in the next two days I'll add it here so check back)! ;-)

Hah! In one of those moments of perfect timing, Mutts, with photos by Sharon Montrose arrived on Mutt Day! This is a wonderful collection of, well, mutts! The mix of each dog is given with his or her photo. Be sure to check out Pebbles and Bam-bam! Worth several viewings.

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This short post is in celebration of my friend ... visiting from Victoria .... that's south of here! ;-)

They are everywhere ... actors, singers, TV hosts, inventors, business folks .... is it an invasion? We may think Canadians are our quiet neighbors to the north, but even that is not true for more than 75% of the population. The U.S. of Eh? How Canada Secretly Controls the United States and Why That's Okay, by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen is a wickedly humorous (humourous) book about the Canadian influence in our daily lives.

I was delighted to find M is for Mountie: an RCMP Alphabet, by Polly Horvath and illstrated by Lorna Bennett was much like B is for Bagpipes from the July 27, 2015 post. This is a great series! Each letter has something to do with the subject of the book, in short verse, in rhyme, and then there is a column of more information on the side. This book did not disappoint, there is much here on the Mounties, what they do, their history, and, of course, that wonderful Musical Ride.

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Much like A Ride on Mother's Back from the May 9th, 2014 post, this book is a world tour ... this time of weather. On the Same Day in March: a Tour of the World's Weather, by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by France Lessac, visits 17 locations world wide on the same day and describes the weather. Wonderful illustrations, and my kind of travel ... no shots, no jet lag, and sitting in my recliner!

There are bad days and then there are bad days. Read about them in Bad Days in History: a Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem, and Misery for Every Day of the Year, by Michael Farquhar. Surprisingly enough, the opening day of Disneyland was a disaster. And the flood of molasses that killed both humans and horses. The Donner Party made a wrong turn (and we know how that turned out). There was a battle against emus, and the emus won. Not exactly a cheerful read, but very interesting.

The best book for finding events big and small, well-known and obscure is, I think, Chase's Calendar of Events. Long before computers and photoshop type programs I was making calendars as gifts. I loved to fill each day with strange, quirky happenings. This is a wonderful book for just browsing, but, fair warning here, it's easy to get 'pulled in' and surface again an hour or two later! First published in 1957, there is a new edition each year.

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I recently discovered that July 27 is Bagpipe Appreciation Day. And, that it is NOT to be confused with International Bagpipe Day (March 10)! So, in honor of this auspicious event a few bagpipe recommendations!

B is for Bagpipes: a Scotland Alphabet, by Eve Begley Kiehm, illustrated by Alexa Rutherford is a book that may be enjoyed on several levels. The pictures have enough detail to be interesting all by themselves. Then, there are the expected entries for each letter, this time in rhyme. (sorry!) And finally, there are longer explanations with information as to the history and/or tradition for each of the rhymes.

Bagpipes, Brides and Homicides, by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the sixth in the Liss MacCrimmon mystery series. It should be a fun weekend in Moosetookalook. Liss is going to be married, and the town is hosting the Maine Highland Games. Instead, there's a murder and all plans are changed. Full of interesting bits of Scottish history and lore.

and, of course, the moving Bagpipe Brothers from the August 9, 2014 post.

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Today is National Merry-Go-Round day!

There's the musical, Carousel, by Rodgers and Hammerstein ..... and books on how to carve and paint the horses, lions (tigers and bears) .... and let's not forget the carousel from Ray Bradbury in Something Wicked This Way Comes .... the one that can make you age to the point of death (or get younger) ... but here are a few that were just plain fun to read (no work required)!

The merry-go-round in Brian Wildsmith's Carousel is much nicer that the one in the Bradbury book. Here, it helps a sick little girl feel better.

Two young girls are walking home through the park, in the rain, when they here strange noises. What they find will take them on a wonderful adventure and prove what their mother said was correct ... that there's magic in the park in the rain. The Carousel, by Liz Rosenberg and illustrations by Jim LaMarche is indeed a magical read.

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As I've mentioned before, I am new to Doctor Who. and, naturally, once I was hooked I needed to learn more. I did that by watching the various shows produced for the 50 year celebration, and by reading, reading, reading! Doctor Who: Celebrating Fifty Years: a History, by Alan Kistler is full of many interesting things. The Tardis set, designed to be easy to take down and move about, regeneration to allow an easy change of actors, travels in time and space so a story could be about anything, any time, anywhere ...

I was able to find lots of books (what a fun trail this has been!) so I'll break it into several posts.

Who played Who? (sorry) What did the actors do before and after their tenure as Doctor Who? What was being the Doctor like? Find out all that and more in The Doctors Who's Who: Celebrating Its 50th Year: the Story Behind Every Face of the Iconic Time Lord, by Craig Cabell.

Naturally, the BBC has published many books about Doctor Who. They are filled with wonderful pictures, trivia, entries from cast and crew members, the writers, and so forth. Great fun! In no particular order they are:

Doctor Who: The Doctor's Lives and Times, by James Goss and Steve Tribe. Looking a bit like a scrapbook, there are internal notes and memos, pictures of guest stars and comments from each of the actors who played the Doctor (including John Hurt, but just before Peter Capaldi).

For a glimpse at the regeneration process, there are pictures in Doctor Who: 50: the Essential Guide. No author mentioned until the fine print on page two where I found "written by Justin Richards." Lots of great pictures and short bios on various companions and characters.

There will be more Who books in later posts, but this is a good start. ;-)

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Not too long ago I had to have a new toilet installed ... it seemed to get me started on this book trail. (There have been other similar entries such as The Great Stink (March 29, 2014 and the one on outhouses, etc. from April 5, 2014).

What a surprise Flush! The Scoop on Poop Throughout the Ages, by Charise Mericle Harper was! It really is the history of toilets, but it's told in verse! Witty and fun. ;-)

For a more serious, detailed look at the, um, heart of the matter, and covering a broad spectrum of species, there's Poop: a Natural History of the Unmentionable, by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Neal Layton. Not a bad little history book actually, with just enough information (it is a kid's book after all) but not too much.

Think only bones become fossils? Find out just what else can become a fossil, where (or perhaps who) it comes from, and just what can be learned from it in Jurassic Poop: What Dinosaurs (and Others) Left Behind, by Jacob Berkowitz, and illustrated by Steve Mack. Learn what it looks like and where to find it. And, if that's not enough fun, there's a recipe for making coprolite. (That's the official word for fossilized poop) ;-)

Turns out, alligators in sewers is really just an urban myth (too cold, too germy), but there are lots of rats. Find out more in Sewers and the Rats That Love Them: the Disgusting Story Behind Where It All Goes, by Kelly Regan Barnhill.

And, just because I enjoy word play I am including Sew Me! Sewing Basics: Simple Techniques and Projects for First-Time Sewers, by Choly Knight. (Italics are mine). This is a book for all ages and looks like a good way to get started in sewing. The directions looked clear and easy to follow, but to be honest, I did not actually try. ;-)

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That intense book from an earlier post, Brandwashed (July 14, 2015), reminded me of a book I read several years ago .... something about using brand name products in unexpected ways. That book was Polish Your Furniture with Panty Hose, which took me to Paint Your House With Powdered Milk and Hundreds More Offbeat Uses for Brand-Name Products, also by Joey Green which is another collection of many uses for things that might be on your shelf. Make a 'poor man's lava lamp' using Club Soda! Use chalk to keep your fine silverware from tarnishing. Check out the creative uses for wax paper. With each entry is a brief history of the product and some fun facts. Joey Green has published lots of books, many of them on this subject.

Helpful hints, of course, reminded me of Heloise, remember her? She had a column and several books out about how to make cleaning your house easier, how to stop a floor from squeaking, how to keep your house plants healthy. I couldn't find any of her books (well, without buying them) so she will have to remain just a memory, but I did discover some other books.

For a nice collection of helpful hints for today, but with wonderful pictures from the past take a look at Classic Household Hints: Over 500 Old and New Tips for a Happier Home, by Susan Waggoner. I really enjoyed to juxtaposition of the vintage ads with useful information, it just made for a fun read (and I learned a few things, too). :-)

Yet again Joey Green has put together a handy guide for things using brand name products, in this case for your pet. Joey Green's Amazing Pet Cures: 1,138 Quick and Simple Pet Remedies Using Everyday Brand-Name Products is a lengthy collection of hints and remedies for dogs, cats, birds, gerbils and hamsters, and even horses. A bit repetitive to just read (similar things will work for barking, chewing, etc). but nice if you are just looking up, say, hot spots, etc.

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I'm always reading books that would fit with past trails (no surprise, is it). :-)

Here's one that would go nicely with the pun books from the June 13th, 2015 post: Art's Supplies, written and illustrated by Chris Tougas. The art supplies are out of control, joining together in wild and crazy ways to create a masterpiece. And some puns, of course. ;-)

And one that would be a good read along with Cascadia (July 28, 2014 post): The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology, by Simon Winchester. Looking back, this really was a turning point in time! With his findings William Smith was proving (or at least starting that process) that the earth was older than the 4000 plus years that was common thinking at that time. And it all might not have happened without the building of canals.

I checked, and I have more books on travel than I thought! They may be found in the blog posts of April 8, May 17, July 29 and August 30th of 2014, and March 31 of 2015. And these aren't even the ones dealing with time travel. ;-) Here's one more: Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe, by Bill Bryson. Twenty years after a backpack trip across Europe, Bryson sets out to do it again. He obviously enjoys travel, and is good about describing the bad along with the good things that happen. As much I as enjoyed his journey, I was even happier that I was here and not there! (Sorry Mom).

And, lastly today, the most recent in a favorite series: Six and a Half Deadly Sins, by Colin Cotterill from his Dr. Siri Paiboun mysteries. A piece of woven fabric, with a finger sewn into the hem is delivered to Dr. Siri. The design of the weave indicates it was made by a certain weaver and so begins a treasure hunt which will lead to a shocking conclusion. As always, great detail, wonderful characters and lots of information about living in Laos in the seventies.

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I'm thinking this book is just too good to hold until I have others that might go well with it. If you've not yet read, or even just looked at the pictures, in The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest, by Audrey DeLella Benedict and Joseph K. Gaydos, then do so soon. Encompassing the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Salish Sea is what many of us PNW residents see when we look out over the water. There are stunning pictures of the huge diversity of life here ... in the air, in the water, on land ... flora, fauna, and even microscopic. Well worth a look!

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July 15th is Cow Appreciation day. Have you thanked a cow recently?

I read Cowkind: a Novel, by Ray Petersen a good many years ago, but remember it as a great read. Told, in part, from the perspective of the cows as they observe their humans (they are worried about them, as I recall). The cows have their own worries as well. They have noticed that when a cow leaves in a truck that turns one direction she comes back, if it turns the other way, she does not. Then there are the unexplained crop circles, and an odd ship in the sky.

The Illustrated Guide to Cows: How to Choose Them. How to Keep Them by Celia Lewis is just a lovely book about selecting the perfect cow. In addition to descriptions of the breeds and their history, chapters cover things like feeding, breeding, and medical care. There are instructions on how to milk your cow, and ideas of what to do with the milk and cream. You can learn how to make a cow horn, too! This is a nice read even if you do not plan on getting a cow. :-)

For a fun and silly look at cows, read Amazing Cows: a Book of Bovinely Inspired Misinformation by Sandra Boynton. There are 'moo-moos in muumuus', terrible knock knock jokes, and some rather dreadful poetry all combined with Boynton's signature bovine drawings. Worth many chuckles!

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There are many ways to fool the mind and the eye. An article about logos in a waiting room magazine was the spark for this trail. Take a look at the logo for FedEx. Do you see the arrow? There's a 31 (for that many flavors) in the Baskin-Robbins logo, and a bear in Toblerone. What fun!

I started Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy, by Martin Lindstrom knowing that ads are designed to target certain age groups, lifestyles and so forth, but I had no idea just how much! It was mind boggling to learn that advertisers are targeting future consumers in the womb (I'm not kidding) and then at specific age groups after that. For those of us 'of a certain age', nostalgic ads are the most effective. A simple thing as the number of bubbles in an ad or label can make a huge difference in sales. (I wish the author had included was something about those of us who are 'contrary' .... as soon as I hear the words 'everyone is/does/reads' I want nothing to do with it)! The last chapters were scary as Lindstrom explains how easily we are tracked: smart phones, internet searches, loyalty cards, not to mention things like Facebook and so on. Even something as simple as using a friends recharging station for your smart phone can put your information 'out there'. (For more on internet security see the January 27, 2015 post).

Reeling from that overload of information I moved on to Masters of Perception: Escher, Dali & the Artists of Optical Illusion, by Al Seckel and was mind-boggled once again, only in a much better and safer way. Is that a couple in a lusty embrace, or a group of dolphins? A piano player or a string player? I loved the words (usually opposites) found in either white or black space. Be sure to check out Marlene by Octavio Ocampo.

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Age seems to be the trail today, whether your own, or that of a parent.

Dealing with aging parents can be hard. There are lots of books available, and an ever increasing number of services for care, activities and housing. One of the best books I read is out of print, but would be worth finding. Your Best is Good Enough: Aging Parents and Your Emotions, by Vivian E. Greenberg. It was good to read that whatever you are able to do is good, whether that's daily visits, financial help, running errands, or living with the parent. There are ideas for coping with their anger, your anger, feelings of guilt, etc.

In some cultures it was an acceptable practice to leave the elderly behind in a tough winter. This is what happened in Two Old Women: an Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival, by Velma Walls. Times were tough, food was short, so the decision was made to leave two old (and cantankerous) women behind when the tribe moved on in search of food. They were left with a moose hide and a hatchet. After the initial shock of being abandoned they decided they'd try to survive. I won't say anything more, other than the ending was most satisfactory. ;-)

When Tall Reader came for a visit the other day she handed me a book. No comment, just the book. I know from decades of friendship that this meant it was a Good Book!! It's a collection of true stories about women who took charge of their own lives, who felt they needed a change, whether because the kids were all out of the house, the death of a spouse, or a divorce. What made it so very interesting was the time frame. These were all women who came of age in the Depression and WWII (and before) when the proper role of women was to marry, have kids, and be the good little housewife. Some went back to college to become lawyers or doctors, there are store owners, and artists, but every one of them had to overcome the attitude of society and restart their lives. If you can find a copy of Late Bloom: New Lives for Women, by Luree Miller, read it!

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Originally each of these books was intended for other blog posts: women at war, dogs, and Veteran's Day. That is, until they all arrived on my shelf at the same time and I noticed they were all about World War I. It's always interesting when one of my 'trails' gets rerouted like this. :-)

They were soldiers, nurses, ambulance drivers, spies, and more but for many years no one knew. Finally we are learning just how much women did that was unexpected (well, to some)(!). Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics by Kathryn J. Atwood is a collection of short biographies about just such women. I liked that it was broad in it's scope, included are women from all over Europe as well as Canada and the U.S.

I've said before that dogs can do amazing things, and Stubby was no exception. Named for his docked tail, he was a mascot (among other things) for a regiment of soldiers in World War I. With his keen senses he could alert to incoming gas and shell attacks, he would lead medical aid to wounded soldiers, and he kept the rats in the bunkers under control. Stubby, the War Dog: the True Story of World War I's Bravest Dog, by Ann Bausum is his story.

In Flanders Field just might be the best known poem from WWI. The casualty count was high, and an army doctor was tired, but he noticed that even with all the mud and debris on a battlefield, the poppies were blooming. Dr. John McCrae had just lost a close friend when he wrote his poem. A Poppy Is To Remember, by Heather Patterson and Ron Lightburn tells when and how wearing the poppy came to honor the men and women who have died in service to their country (especially in Canada, in this book).

Where Poppies Grow: a World War I Companion, by Linda Granfield. A moving collection of photos, snippets of letters, and descriptions of what it was like to live in the trenches and on the home front. A good, informative, overall look at WWI.

Winnie: the True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss came as a nice surprise. I'm not sure I was aware that there was a real Winnie! It started when Harry Colbourn bought an orphaned bear cub in Winnipeg. Harry was a veterinarian taking care of horses for the military. When the war heated up and his regiment was sent to England, Winnie went along. (Harry was seasick the entire voyage, Winnie was not). When orders came for France, Harry donated Winnie to the London Zoo. That's it, for the rest of the story you'll want to read the book. :-)

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I've listed books about how 'spin' is put to language in the May 7th and January 13th 2014 posts. Here is a dictionary of that language, what it means, and who used it and where. Roll your eyes, do the 'snort-chuckle' and perhaps be a bit worried as you browse spin-glish: the Definitive Dictionary of Deliberately Deceptive Language, by Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf.

I seem to often be at odds with lists of 'the greatest' or 'the best' and so forth. Turns out, I'm not alone! I found myself nodding in agreement at most of the entries in Overrated: the 50 Most Overhyped Things in History, by Mark Juddery. Even something I liked, such as Star Trek (the original), well, I never felt it was the greatest show on TV! I believe this would go nicely with books on spinning the truth.

Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of World History, by Richard Shenkman, is an easy to read and interesting collection of events or people we thought to be real. It's not all that hard for a good story to become fact down through the ages, and Shenkman exposes those and sets the story straight. For the most part anyway. It too, would go nicely with the spin books. :-)

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One of the fun things about walks around our neighborhood is seeing all the sidewalk art that appears this time of year. From the abstract, to hopscotch grids (some of enormous length), to pictures it is always changing and always interesting. Sidewalk Chalk: Outdoor Fun and Games, by Jamie Kyle McGillian and illustrated by Blanche Sims is full of suggestions of just how much can be done! Word puzzles, theme pictures (a cityscape, etc.), obstacle courses, treasure maps, poetry ... enough to inspire imaginations for many, many days. :-) There's even a chapter on how to make your own chalk. While a part of me is sorry to have missed using chalk art, I did grow up in a neighborhood without sidewalks, so it's probably just as well. ;-)

Do the characters in the artwork and those in real life look alike? Keep an eye on both when reading A Piece of Chalk, by Jennifer A. Ericsson and illustrated by Michelle Shapiro to find out!

For chalk art taken to the extreme, check out Pavement Chalk Artist: the Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever. It's not easy, there's a lot of perspective involved. (In fact, the drawings will look good from just one angle). Some are interactive, which creates more problems. I like that Julian Beever included some of his beginning works, and some that didn't turn out too well along with the best work.

Chalk, by Bill Thomson, is a wordless picture book about just what can happen with a little bit of chalk and a great imagination.

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July 5 is Build a Scarecrow Day. My favorite story about a scarecrow when I was young was 'The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh', but it was the Disney show, and not a book. There were books, by Russell Thorndike, but if I read any of his books, I'm not remembering it now. It did however, spark an interest in scarecrows and I have read other books on the subject from time to time.

Scarecrows: Making Harvest Figures and Other Yard Folks, by Felder Rushing is a wonderful collection of all sorts of scarecrows. From the traditional to a more modern take (think ballet dancers), to those made from unusual items (gourds, flower pots), this was a fun book to read. There are ideas on creating detailed faces (or not), fancy clothing (or not) and then staging your creations. My favorite was the scarecrow "walking" his dog!

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Fireworks and the 4th of July go hand in hand, so an easy choice for this post was Fireworks: the Science, the Art, and the Magic, by Susan Kuklin. Yes, it's a kid's book, but there's just enough information on how the fireworks are made (it's a family business here) to satisfy my curiosity. There are pictures on setting up a show, safety measures for the crew and audience, what factors they have to take into account (wind direction, cloud cover). There are many designs, too, each with a different display and there are some great pictures and descriptions of those. And, at the end, we learn a bit about the Grucci Family, who have been in this business since 1850.

Tinker's Cove has a problem ... the annual fireworks show has been canceled because of a lichen ... one that is on the Endangered list. Then nudists, make that naturists, show up at a local lake. Lucy's dog keeps escaping his kennel and chasing the neighbor's chickens. When the naturists express an interest in participating in the annual parade that is canceled. Local lobstermen find their traps have been poached. At the center of all this is Pru Pratt, who later is found dead. All in the week leading up to July 4th. Star Spangled Murder, by Leslie Meier is another of the Lucy Stone Mysteries. (One odd error, however, the last word of the last line of the Star Spangled Banner is 'brave' not 'free' .... on every verse).

Remember, this can be a scary holiday for animals, keep them safe.

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As indicated in the title, The Secret Keeper, by Kate Morton, is all about secrets. Family secrets from long ago childhood in Australia, to World War II in London, and the present (2011). The discovery and unraveling of these intertwining secrets makes for compelling reading. As with her other books, there are wonderful descriptions of time and place.

Born in Iowa, Bill Bryson spent more than two decades in England before returning to the States. He traveled all over the island country, much of it on foot, writing of his journey. These observations (and explanations) of British life became Notes From a Small Island. A nice look at our friends across the pond.

If you like math and science then you just might enjoy The Oxford Murders, by Guillermo Martinez. Clues arrive in the form of symbols and cryptic messages. It's up to the mathematicians to catch the killer.

If you are interested in the old manor homes, and what it was like to live 'upstairs' or 'downstairs', read A Brief History to Private Life in Britain's Stately Homes: Masters and Servants in the Golden Age, by Michael Paterson. The title might sound a bit stuffy, but it's a good read with just enough detail (but not too much) of a way of life that exists no more.

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