Do you remember a stamp from 1998 from the USPS Black Heritage series featuring a woman? (It's easier when you see a picture!) That woman was Madam C.J. Walker, and what an interesting woman she was! Missing being born a slave by a scant few days, she went on to found a company that made hair and skin care products specifically designed for black women, and made it a huge success. The research that went in to On Her Own Ground: the Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker boggles the mind ... records of her early life were spotty at best. Great-great-granddaughter and author A'Lelia Bundles did an amazing job. This is a dense, detailed and interesting biography, but it might take a while to read!

In war time some animals carried supplies, sniffed out bombs, delivered messages ... and some were just good for morale. Meet one of the best of those in Yorkie Doodle Dandy: a Memoir, by William A. Wynne. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky became a star during and after WWII. The author was her trainer, owner and companion. They visited soldiers in hospitals, performed shows in war zones, and then, when they came home, would go on to do the same here in the states. Stops included children's hospitals, various celebrations, and even a TV show or two. There are some great photos, and a few training tips as well.

Reading Hermit With Dog