If you've ever thought being a park ranger is an easy job, filled with lots of hikes, canoeing, camping, that sort of thing ... think again! It can be frustrating (people are, well, stupid), and dangerous (and not so much from the animals), and tragic. Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks, by Andrea Lankford pulls no punches, either with what has happened, or in the language she uses to describe it. It's a compelling read, but maybe not for the faint of heart!

There is a wonderful mystery series set in our National Parks. It's by Nevada Barr, who worked in several of them and used her experiences in her books. My favorite is Superior Death, which opened with a tourist dive to a shipwreck (with the warning there were bodies), only to discover more than what was expected. The race in front of a fire in Firestorm left me breathless and just reading about being underground in Blind Descent sparked my claustrophobia! Start with Track of the Cat.

Two books now that combine hiking and history! Both are trail guides to Washington State, both offer the requisite directions for getting to trail heads, etc. but I would rate them just a bit differently. For more of the history of the area you'll hike in read Hiking Washington's History, by Judy Bentley. This was a great armchair read! There are descriptions of the trails and 'what happened when' that gave a wonderful sense of times past. For less history, but more on the actual trails ... when is the best time to hike them, a difficulty rating, who can use the trails (hikers, bikers, horsemen), and a nice breakdown of 'waterfall' or 'scenic view' trails, those best for families, etc. then go with Hiking Through History, Washington: Exploring the Evergreen State's Past By Trail, by Nathan and Jeremy Barnes. Both are worthwhile reads.

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Before I 'officially' requested childhood favorites from Seattle Reader, she'd read my blog and reminded me of this book ... a favorite for both of us, although I was a recent college grad when it first came out and she was younger. Stephen Cosgrove has many children's books out, but I like this one for both the story and the location! ;-) The Wheedle liked to sleep but when the white man arrived and started building things and whistling while they did so, that became difficult. The Wheedle on the Needle tells how it all worked out for everyone. And if you think the light on the top of the Space Needle is just an ordinary light, think again! It was wonderful to read this delightful tale again after so many years. Seattle Reader then followed up with a wonderful list of family favorites!

There were so many, actually, that she divided them up, starting with ones that weren't so popular in the larger world, but "became iconic" to Seattle Reader and her parents and siblings,so much so that they still quote favorite bits to each other! The Brave Little Toaster, by Thomas Disch, How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen, by Russel Hoban, The Stupid Family (and sequels), by Harry Allard, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, by Leo Lionni, and The Monster at the End of This Book, by Jon Stone.

Next came those books popular with Seattle Reader, hubby and kids: Bunnicula, by Deborah and James Howe, The Dumb Bunnies (and sequels), by Dave Pilkey, Oscar's Book, by Jeffrey Moss, and Hippos Go Berserk, by Sandra Boynton. One sounded especially interesting ... The Ferry Story, by Terry Lawhead. It is out of print, but Seattle Reader has a copy and has promised to bring it when next she visits.

And finally (drum roll) the all time favorites are the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems (who also wrote Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus). The kidlets are heading into teenagehood and still want to check for more in this series! (Now that is a recommendation)!

Every so often an unexpected email pops up and it's usually Seattle Reader, who, having read my blog, tells me "I read (title) and loved it!" Or, once, was considering a book for her brother, saw it on my post for that day, and went and got it for him! She sends recommendations, too. Connections! :-)

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December 7, 1941. November 22, 1963. September 11, 2001. Days we remember, or our parents remember ... where we were, who we were with ....

What was it like to live in Hawai'i after December 7, 1941? Hawai'i Homefront: Life in the Islands During World War II, by MacKinnon Simpson explains it beautifully with photos (some confiscated from Japanese pilots), memoirs, and archival records. Martial law was established, blackouts were frequent, all mail was censored, but life went on, soldiers and sailors had to be fed ... and entertained ... ;-) The section near the end "wartime faces of the islands" I found to be especially moving.

Did you watch the news about Kennedy's assassination on TV (they were still fairly new at the time). Do you remember seeing a secret service agent crawl up on the back of the car after the shots were fired? That was Clint Hill and he, along with Lisa McCubbin wrote Five Days in November. This is an insider's look at what started as a joyful, happy trip with the energetic first couple and ended in a tragedy that changed, well, everything. Assigned to protect Jackie, this is Hill's account of how she dealt with the events of the next few days from the ride to the hospital where she refused to leave John's side, to planning the funeral, to the final salute of the not yet three-year-old John, Jr.

A Place of Remembrance: Official Book of the National September 11 Memorial, by Allison Blais and Lynn Rasic. I can only imagine (and perhaps not even that) how hard it must be to come up with a memorial to something like September 11, 2001 and yet, Michael Arad did just that. There were thousands of entries, reduced finally to 10 and then one. The name is perfect ... Reflecting Absence ... it says so much in just two words ... This book, from National Geographic, is a great way to learn about this moving and inspiring site.

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Admit it, you have a few guilty pleasures, right? Here is an entire book about just that subject: The Encyclopedia of Guilty Pleasures: 1001 Things You Hate to Love, by Sam Stall, Lou Harry, and Julia Spalding. One of those fun reads I enjoy because the short entries fit well during commericals, or when dinner is in the oven. From TV shows, to food, furniture, and people no one admits to enjoying, but somebody must because, well, they made it into this book! I'll admit to one just to get things started: sugar coated packing peanuts, AKA Peeps! ;-)

Here's something that appeared in the book listed above. Star Trek! I got hooked during summer reruns of the very first season and remembered it was NOT something you mentioned watching. (Boy, how that has changed)! A few years later, in college, it was the reason I met someone who is a friend to this day! The Star Trek Book: Strange New Worlds Boldly Explained, by Paul Ruditis, Sandford Galden-Stone, and Simon Hugo is one of those rather encyclopedic books from DK. There are entries on the characters (earth and alien), the various ships, and a time line of what happened when. Fun!

Do you remember, or, as a parent, have you used the phrase "Because I said so!" ? I know my mom did! Was what was said actually true? You know things like 'don't cross your eyes, they'll get stuck like that', or 'don't run with scissors.' Ken Jennings gathered together many such sayings in Because I Said So: the Truth Behind the Myths, Tales & Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids and explains which are true and which are false.

I sort of stumbled onto this book while looking for something else: Vincent van Gogh The Starry Night, from the Museum of Modern Art. It's something you'd find in the Museum if you were to visit ... I'm sure there are lots them available about many famous paintings! This is a short biography of the artist as well as where he may have found inspiration for this painting, and how he got the results he did.

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Wandering Reader loves pop up books. She has an amazing collection (which is always expanding). When I asked about favorites from her childhood, it seems this interest was sparked by a special Hallmark book: A Visit to a Haunted House, by Dean Walley. (Wandering Reader also loves Halloween ... perhaps that started here, too?). From a google search I learned that the pictures were by Arlene Noel with the pops up engineered by Dick Dudley. This same review also said there was a good story line (seems this is not always the case) and that it was bold enough for 5 - 11 year olds, but not too scary to read to younger kids.

Another favorite was Abdul-Abul-bul Amir and Ivan Skavinsky Skavar by Deborah Ray, especially when read by her dad, who, I'm told, did wonderful accents. Fishes and Birds, both by Brian Wildsmith, were ones her mom read to her. As she moved on to chapter books she enjoyed the Encyclopedia Brown books and the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators Series. She listed the Hardy Boys, too, but not Nancy Drew ... I may have to ask her about this!

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Alphabet books are such fun! Easy to read, wonderful illustrations, just the thing to read as you're about to nod off for an afternoon nap ... ;-)

Mazeways A to Z, by Roxie Munro is a wonderful combination of mazes and a 'find the object(s)' book. It's an alphabet book, so each letter is a maze with a theme and then there are things to find relating to the theme. Wonderful detail, lots of fun.

It seems John Skewes and Robert Schwartz (will illustrations by Skewes) have created several 'Larry Gets Lost' books. This time it's in Seattle so each letter features something that is found there. Look for Larry (he's the dog) and Pete on every page or so. The title of this fun book is Seattle ABC.

Here's a fun way to learn a bit about American History ... or rather, a specific time in our past: Yankee Doodle America: the Spirit of 1776 from A to Z, by Wendell Minor. I thought the short entries (A - Z, of course) were just enough to create interest in learning more.

Did you ever cut out snowflakes as a craft project in school, Camp Fire, and so on? I did, and my results were really pathetic. Take a look at the ones in Zoo Flakes ABC, by Will C. Howell, they are amazing! There's a detailed snowflake animal for each letter that will give you pause. Absolutely wonderful.

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Summertime! (And if you believe Gershwin, the 'livin' is easy'. ) :-)

Here it is! Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast Pillow Book, by Bill Richardson is the second of a trilogy. Sadly, the third is out of print and pretty much unavailable. Full of the charm and fun of the first book, this one also includes some interesting twists and new information on the characters that have become so familiar. A good read, in the shade, with an iced beverage. :-)

Is your vacation still far in the future? Or did you recently return but are feeling the stress again? This book, 20-Minute Vacations: Quick, Affordable, and Fun "Getaways" from the Stress of Everyday Life, by Judith Sachs offers all sorts of solutions (or at least ways to cope). From something simple, such as a nap, to creating your own beach (a shallow tub and store bought sand) for toe wiggling (I think I'd add a cd of ocean sounds), or coloring, whether it's abstract or a book, there are some wonderful ideas here! Walk in the rain, find a park with a swing, greet the dawn or go stargazing. There are ideas for the office and home, or even on the drive to and from work. There are suggestions for couples,too. Just a nice book!

I've enjoyed every Sarah Addison Allen book I've read, and thought I'd read all of them so it was a happy discovery to find Lost Lake and realize I had not read it! There's always a touch of magic in Allen's books, along with a bit of mystery. I love her characters, too, there's always something unique about them. This time, a trip to a vacation location from long ago 'stirs the pot' and changes lives.

Remember Carl, from Good Dog, Carl? (See post of December 30, 2014). Well! He's back! Carl's Summer Vacation, by Alexandra Day is another fun entry in this series. See what Carl and the little girl do when they are supposed to be napping!

Even the President needs a vacation. Or maybe that should be the President especially needs a vacation. Lawrence L. Knutson has put together a rather large (as in heavy, coffee table) book about just what activities and locations the Presidents enjoyed in Away From the White House: Presidential Escapes, Retreats, and Vacations. To begin with, being President was not a full time job ... they would go home in summer. Usually that meant to do chores, work their farms, and so forth. That didn't last, however, and soon the office became a full time job, and soon after that some sort of R&R was needed. Every President (or the family) had their favorite destinations and activities. Mary Todd Lincoln loved the Jersey Shore. Hayes was the first to visit the Pacific Coast. Many liked golf. Sailing was popular, and so was fishing! LBJ and Reagan liked to ride. Several liked to ski.

There are those crazy events that 'seemed like a good idea at the time' and those where most (sane) folks might think 'that is totally crazy!' and I think this falls under the latter catagory! Mud, Sweat, and Gears: a Rowdy Family Bike Adventure Across Canada On Seven Wheels, by Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie, with footnotes by Beth Biagini Kurmaskie follows this family of five as they bicycle across Canada. Two of the children are under 10 and the third is still nursing. Dad and the two boys rode a tandem sort of bike and towed the baby and some of the gear in a trailer behind them. Mom's bike had panniers for the rest of the gear. They camped out at night (most of the time) and had no support vehicle with them. Don't skip the footnotes!

What do you like to do on your vacation?

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I'm having a lot of fun asking folks what books they enjoyed as children!

I'll put Babette, by Clare Turley first here because not only was it a favorite book, but also the reason SpaceCat named her first kitten this very name. A search for this book showed it had sweet, gentle illustrations.

We both read Stuart Little, by E.B. White, but it looks like SpaceCat enjoyed it more than I did ... I am going to guess this is probably because there was no horse involved! Also, while we both read many of the Little Golden Books, they are all a blur to me while one, Beauty and the Beast, stayed with SpaceCat all these years. That was because there was a wonderful peacock dress and a hanging bed (which seemed so very exotic at the time)!

We share a mutual favorite author, Zilpha Snyder, for books that have been reread and enjoyed down through the years: The Egypt Game for SpaceCat and Season of Ponies for me. There's more about these books on the March 24, 2015 and March 25, 2014 posts, respectively). (Hmm, curious that they were both March books)!

Then there was a story of a boy in ancient Egypt who discovers his evil uncle is raiding the tombs of the parents of Queen Tiye. Using this information, I tracked down the title and then (drum roll, please) I got a call from SpaceCat saying she'd remembered the title and it was The Golden Goblet. Two minds working alike. :-) (More on this important call later).

She enjoyed The Borrowers series, by Mary Norton, and The Silent Miaow: a Manual for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats by Paul Gallico. I loved the description for this book ... it's a manual which teaches kittens, strays,and homeless cats how to obtain, captivate and dominate the humans of their choosing!

Now, back to that phone call: The most important part of the call was that books that SpaceCat had been most fond of were the Little Bear Series by Else Holmelund Minarik. I too loved these books, and remember Tall Reader reading them to her sons .... This is a delightful series of stories about a mother bear and her son (the father is a sea captain and away on voyages much of the time).

In Junior High SpaceCat discovered Andre Norton which launched her into science fiction and fantasy, which is what she was reading (and was one of the reasons) when we became friends. :-)

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A friend of a friend of mine collects ABC books. I'd love to take a look at her collection some day!

My crayon pictures never looked like this! Check out the illustrations in ABC's of Washington State, by Laurie Banks Somes! Clever, educational, this is a wonderful tour of the Evergreen State. :-)

This book would be well partnered with any of the Chiverini quilter books: Eight Hands Round: a Patchwork Alphabet, by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. There's a patchwork design for each letter, along with a description of what it means. (I don't always 'see' what's supposed to be there ...) ;-)

I like the comment made for this book that sometimes kids can be taught with what something is NOT, hence A Isn't for Fox: an Isn't Alphabet, written by Wendy Ulmer and illustrated by Laura Knorr. Clever rhymes and pictures, there are things that do NOT start with a certain letter, and then something that is.

So many mixed feelings here! I picked this book because it was an ABC for grownups and sounded most interesting. And that it was! I didn't always agree (didn't like E at all), but it sure made me think! It is V is for Vulnerable: Life Outside the Comfort Zone, by Seth Godin and illustrated by Hugh MacLeod. Loved U!

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Good afternoon ... once again I am posting a bit early this time. I have made the move to Win10 (don't ask). I ordered a new (faster) modem. It was supposed to arrive today. It did not. AND my old modem would no longer connect (aarrgh!). "My" amazing IT guy came in and got everything working again, at least for now, but given the age of this quirky modem I decided I'd rather post to my blog early than late. (I know, I know, comes as no surprise, does it). ;-) So, here is the Saturday, July 9th post:

Just what do the folks in Alaska think about those of us here in the rest of the U.S.?Find out in Modestly Alaska: a Lighthearted Look at Alaska and the Lower 49 States, by J. Stephen Lay and Sue Mattson. Lots of fun trivia here! There are chapters on other countries, too. Most enjoyable!

Here's one of those curious books I seem to pick up every so often: Keep the Change: a Collector's Tales of Lucky Pennies, Counterfeit C-Notes, and Other Curious Currency, by Harley J. Spiller. Many coin collectors prefer shiny, even uncirculated coins but this author likes old, dirty, damaged coins with a story.

This book would fit well with my 'nostalgia' post from May: A Pony in the Picture: Vintage Portraits of Children and Ponies, by Victoria Randall. While I don't remember photographers who traveled with ponies and took pictures, I do remember the little fairs that would arrive here every so often and there'd be pony ride. :-) This is a delightful collection of kids and (very patient) ponies. There are a few errors (Gene Autry rode a horse named Champion, it was Tom Mix who rode Tony), but over all, it's a book that will make you smile.

And, to end with today, a cozy mystery. :-) Seems Laura DiSilverio has several mystery series out (she uses various pen names) and The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle is from The Bookclub Mystery Series. This month the local book club is reading Murder on the Orient Express and discussing how Poirot solved the murder, could his methods really work? And do they find out when the brother of one of their members is accused of murdering his business partner? Some fun twists and turns here, an enjoyable read.

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Tall Reader and I have often wished to have been kids together ... we shared taking music lessons (and having to practice), a love of horses, and reading! We both read every horse book we could find. It didn't matter if they were fiction, non-fiction, poetry, 'how to draw' ... as long as there was a horse, we were happy. One we both read

until our copies fell apart was Heads Up, Heels Down, by C.W. Anderson. Tall Reader also enjoyed all the OZ books by L. Frank Baum, and the books about the Bobbsey Twins, by Laura Lee Hope, (which were a favorite of her mother, too). She read fairy tales of all kinds, stories of 'derring do' including books by Walter Scott and anything to do with Camelot and King Arthur. (In our adult years we both enjoyed the books by Mary Stewart, starting with The Crystal Cave). Tall Reader's hubby (Bearded Reader) liked the Landmark Series, which, according to the blurb, is "the best collection of children's histories ever written." He liked to read 'real stories about real people' as a boy and he still does today!

A post-script here .... Tall Reader reported that considering her favorites for this post brought back memories of one more favorite author: Kate Seredy. Of the many books she wrote, The Singing Tree and The Chesty Oak were Tall Reader's favorites. I learned from a google search that Ms. Seredy considered herself an illustrator first, and that her books "were an excuse for making pictures." :-)

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More food from books, or, food in books, or ....

From the subtitle I thought this was going to be a book about foods found in kid's books, but it's more like they were inspired by the book ... which was fine, and fun. :-) Once Upon a Time in the Kitchen: Recipes and Tales from Classic Children's Stories, by Carol Odell and illustrated by Anna Pignataro has simple meals for kids and parents to make as well as short entry from each of the books used.

An Edible Alphabet: 26 Reasons to Love the Farm, by Carl Watterson, and illustrated by Michela Sorrentino starts with one of the few veggies I like, and ends with one I don't like at all! More than just food entries make up this alphabet, helpful insects are included as well.

When things go all topsy turvey Mary Poppins and the Banks children take over the kitchen. And, since Mary Poppins is involved, the experience will be anything but ordinary! Complete with an alphabet of recipes, Mary Poppins in the Kitchen: a Cookery Book with a Story, by P.L. Travers and drawings by Mary Shepard, is a delightful book.

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I'd been thinking of doing a post about Lego Bricks for a while so when Canadian Reader brought along The Lego Movie (which is a hoot!) on a recent visit, it served as a sign to me that it was time!

A Million Little Bricks: the Unofficial Illustrated History of the Lego Phenomena, by Sarah Herman is a thorough and detailed history of the infamous plastic brick. From it's rather humble beginnings (just a few colors in a box) to Legolands in several countries, and conventions that draw huge crowds, Lego is still wildly popular decades after it's invention. There are descriptions (most with pictures) of the various project boxes (which came with 'how to' instructions) to themed Lego's (think Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc.) to artists who make their own creations, it was a good read.

Then, Extreme Bricks: Spectacular, Record-Breaking, and Astounding Lego Projects from Around the World, by Sarah Herman. It really is a world tour of amazing creations! You'll learn where the project is located, a bit about who built it, how long that took, and how many bricks were used. One artist creates things from real life ... as in an umbrella, a dress model, and flip-flops! If nothing else, do check out the cloud on the front cover. :-)

And lastly, Beautiful Lego, by Mike Doyle. It starts with the question "Can Lego be art?" Full of pictures of incredible ... masterpieces (?) ... see what you think! I loved 'All Dolled Up' (very simple, in white and gray), and the World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial.

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