No comments about British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.

5 comments about Big-Enough Anna: The Little Sled Dog Who Braved Th.

1. This exquisitely illustrated book is based on the true story of a litle sled dog who rose to the occasion and became a hero in her own right. Anna, a small Alaskan Husky female, was judged too small to be of any use when Pam Flowers made her historic journey across the Arctic with a team of sled dogs(chronicled in ALONE ACROSS THE ARCTIC). But when Pam's wise old leader dog disappeared, Pam put little Anna in the front because in spite of her size she was such a hard worker. Douggie, the wise old leader dog, was eventually found, but was so exhausted that little Anna had to take over and take charge of the trip. This lovely book not only teaches an important lesson--- that what matters is how much heart and spirit you have, not how big you are--- it is so beautifully done that I'm giving it to all my adult dog loving friends for Christmas.



2. I really like this book! It's a kid-friendly story with great pictures and message. Pam Flowers tells the true story of how the smallest dog in her dog-sled team saved the life of her biggest, strongest one...and also made possible the successful finish of her expedition across the American and Canadian Arctic. And she subtly sends the message that each of us can mazimize our strengths and lead useful, productive lives, even if others think we have too many weaknesses. We may even become heroes!

   Anna's small; and small dogs aren't usually what mushers want in their teams. But Pam sees Anna has a big spirit and is curious, intelligent, willing to learn and a hard worker. So even though Anna's young, Pam puts her where her exceptionally-good leader, Douggie, can teach Anna the ropes of that critical position. Then things happen; and physically-small Anna is "big enough" to do what needs to be done. She saves not only Douggie but also the expedition.

   I'd read "Alone Across the Arctic" (also by Pam Flowers with Ann Dixon,) and admired Pam's own fortitude, intelligence and perseverance. I wanted to know more about the adventure. Here's a gold nugget of a book that does that. And it's well written; both youngsters, and the adults who may share it with them, will read it all the way through...several times.

   The great illustrations (paintings) by Bill Farnsworth perfectly capture the story and the attention of young children. I love looking at them each time, too.

   This is a great Christmas present. If you've finished your shopping, surprise everyone for Valentine's Day.




3. Big Enough Anna is a winner all around. The message is encouraging without being patronizing or syrupy; the illustrations will draw in even children who might think dogs are a little bit scary; and the story itself is full of a sense of daring and adventure and, most of all, the love between the musher/storyteller and her team of sled dogs. A great classroom unit could be built around this book, using the adult/teen version of the same story (Alone Across the Arctic) for additional background info or activity inspiration. (Both books could be read by a teacher in a weekend.) You will fall in love with Anna and all the dogs, and be cheering for them throughout all 3,000 miles of their expedition!



4. One of my jobs at our local library is to read stories to young children, sometimes also at elementary schools. I recently read this story to the 1st,2nd, 3rd and 4th graders and it received rave reviews. One teacher had each of her students draw a picture of his or her favorite story, and 25 of the 30 drawings were of Anna , the amazingly brave little sled dog. The illustrations were beautiful and large enough for groups of children to see them , while the text had a good amount of drama that held their interest.



5. This is a book that will delight readers of all ages. Not only are the illustrations masterpieces, the story is as well.
   
   Anna is a beautiful husky who is the runt of her litter. She and her littermates train for a 2,500 - 3,000 mile run that will take them an estimated six months.
   
   The curly tailed dog and her littermates are followed as they are being trained for the run. Mushers and dogs alike work well together; the bond of cooperation between them is not only strong; it is paramount.
   
   The beautiful husky, once dismissed because of her small size proves herself to be up to every challenge during the training and the run. The Little Husky Who Could can take her place with Akiak, another husky who proved her stamina and determination even when her mushers wanted to retire her. An excellent family, classroom and general discussion book, the message can never be shared enough. This wonderful book makes me think of McFadden & Whitehead's 1979 classic, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and Matthew Wilder's 1983 hit, "Ain't Nothing Gonna Break My Stride."

1 comments about Luxury Hotels The Americas (Luxury Hotels).

1. The Luxury book is a beautiful addition to any library, travel lover, or those who love luxury. It was wonderful looking through this book finding some of my favorite hotels in America outlined in spectacular photographs. It makes one want one want to pick up the telephone and call the airlines to make a visit to some of the properties. Being a merchant of the finest luxury home products, these properties go hand in hand. Go splurge and experience them.

1 comments about Frommer's Ottawa.

1. This is a good guide for three or four days in Ottawa. There could be more, but it is certainly good enough.

No comments about Magic on the Rocks : Canoe Country Pictographs.

4 comments about Moon Alberta: Including Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies (Moon Handbooks).

1. Recently, as I was searching the Internet for travel guidebooks that uniquely deal with Alberta, Canada, I was surprised to discover that my choices were very limited.
   However, I did notice a travel-guide book now in its fifth edition, published by Avalon Travel, authored by Andrew Hempstead, entitled Moon Handbooks Alberta: Including Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies.

   Hempstead is very well versed in the subject matter, having traveled, photographed and written about Alberta for many years. In fact, the first book he ever authored was on Alberta.

   Turning to the opening pages of the guide, I knew I was in for a wealth of invaluable information, and without doubt I realized that the author really did his homework in providing his readers with countless tips.

   The potential for exploring Alberta is unlimited, and unless information is carefully organized, it would be very easy to fall into the trap that many guidebooks slide into- confusion. However, such is not the case with this book.

   What immediately caught my eye was that preceding the table of contents is a map page that clearly pin points the various geographical areas of Alberta with boxes telling the reader exactly where in the guidebook he or she can find out more about a particular destination. No doubt, this will save the reader a great deal of time and effort, if, for example, you are only interested in a particular areas of the province.
   
   These areas are divided into nine sections: Northern Alberta, Jasper National Park, Edmonton, Central Alberta, Banff National Park, West of Calgary, Calgary, Dinosaur Valley, and Southern Alberta.
   Following the map section is the usual table of contents, which mirrors these same locations and includes a very brief description of each.

   Within the first fifty pages, the author incorporates an overview of early settlers, flora and fauna, history, economy and government, the people, outdoor recreation, and getting to Alberta and what to expect once you arrive.

   The remainder of the guide- book effectively evokes the beauty of Alberta with its striking Rocky Mountain ranges, pristine glaciers, rushing rivers, magnificent lakes, and National Parks as Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes. As the author states in his introduction: "for most visitors to Alberta, the great out-doors, not the big cities or the fast bucks, is the main draw."

   Each chapter contains detailed information about the history of the area, sights, attractions, parks, scenic drives, recreation, accommodations and camping, food, information and services, and transportation.
   Interspersed are a selection of black and white maps and photos providing a good sense of the places described.

   Throughout are also interesting tidbits replete with invaluable information contained in side- bars or boxes. For example, Jasper has 100 residential homes offering accommodations, or there are dinosaur digs that you can participate in at the Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology.
   Moreover, wherever practical, phone numbers, hours of operation, price ranges, and addresses are mentioned.

   The concluding chapters of this hefty book provide the reader with suggested readings and Internet resources.

   For the serious traveler to Alberta, this well researched and well-organized guide will prove to be an invaluable aid, particularly for those individuals who want to learn more about the history, geography and culture of this beautiful province. It certainly goes beyond the usual boring guides that devote a great deal of ink to tourism, hotels, restaurants and shopping, and entertainment, although the guidebook does nevertheless provide ample information pertaining to these topics.

   Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com




2. Moon Handbooks Alberta Including Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies is the ultimate overview for traveling within Alberta, Canada. This book contains 467 pages of travel information but is still small enough to tuck in a backpack for easy reference. Furthermore, this book has plenty of fairly detailed maps, complete with accurate distance scales, for easy travel planning or reference while you travel.
   
   There are twelve chapters in Moon Handbooks Alberta: Introduction, On the Road, Calgary, Dinosaur Valley, Southern Alberta, West of Calgary, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Central Alberta, Edmonton, Northern Alberta, Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on Alberta and its various regions. This detailed information includes geology, climate, flora, fauna, history, economy, and the government of the province. The next chapter, On the Road, contains general information and contacts for outdoor recreation; arts and entertainment; accommodations and food; transportation; and information services within the province of Alberta. The Resources chapter contains further information on suggested readings and internet resources.
   
   The rest of the chapters in Moon Handbooks Alberta focus on particular geographical regions within Alberta. The first paragraph or page of each regional section describes a little about the region. After this overview, individual sights, recreation areas, special events, accommodations, food services, information services, and transportation services are depicted in detail. Depending on the size and general amount of facilities in a given region, there may be only one or two entries per category or over a dozen. Each entry contains the location, contacts, costs, and a short paragraph description of the facility or event featured. Several black and white maps accompany each section, clearly marked with the various facilities described in that particular section.
   
   Some facility or event categories are described in extreme detail. For instance, there are six pages about the Calgary Stampede held in Calgary every July. This mini-section reflects the history of the Calgary Stampede and then sets out the events, entertainment, food services, accommodations, and transportation services available during the ten-day event. Specifics such as costs and contacts are also printed under each entry.
   
   Though some medium sized towns are described in Moon Handbooks Alberta, most of this book focuses on cities and larger towns. Thus, not every town in Alberta is discussed in this work. No doubt such a complete book would no linger fit so easily in a backpack for easy reference. Therefore, if you are looking for something to do or some place to stay in a small Alberta town this book will not detail these specifics. Nonetheless, the regional coverage of this work is such that there is probably a pertinent entry or two a short distance from most any small town in Alberta. In this way, entertainment, accommodation, and food are but a short commute away from anywhere in Alberta.



3. I have several Moon Handbooks, and they are meant for backpackers and hikers. For that group, these Guides are very good. For others, like me, older and now reasonably handicapped, other guides are better.



4. This is an amazing, thorough guide book to Alberta.
   Alberta is the heart of western Canada, a place filled with natural wonders and enough adventures to last a lifetime. The unforgetable scene as the first flush of light hits Lake Louise. The thrill of uncovering dinosaur bones. The excitement of a small-town rodeo. Soaking up big-city culture. Marveling at the infrastructure around the world's largest known deposit of oil. Watching the northern lights sparkle across the winter sky. These and hundreds of other reasons make a vacation or permenant move to the prosperous province of Alberta an easy decision.
   
   Sandwiched between the mountains of BC to the west and the prairies of Saskatchewan to the east, the landscape of Alberta encompasses a little of everything. The best known features are the mountains of the Canadian Rockies, which are filled with photogenic lakes and natural wonders made accessible by a well maintained highway network.
   While the beauty of Alberta's defined landscapes is undeniable, so is the value of what lies beneath them-a supply of oil and gas that shapes the economy and has created a boomtown mentality not dissimilar to gold rushes of days gone by. The most important reserve is the Athabasca Oil Sands of northern Alberta, the world's single biggest oil reserve. At the reserve itself is the city of Fort McMurray, where the population has increased 2,000 percent in the last 30 years, but the wealth filters down to the the rest of the province, most notable to the two largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary.
   Throughout the province, outdoor adventures, wide-open spaces, and accessible wilderness beckon, and big-city culture awaits when you come down from the hills. So whether your interests lean toward high peaks or high tea, you are sure to find plenty to suit you in Alberta.
   *Edmonton
   *Jasper
   *Banff
   *Calgary
   *Drumheller
   *Medicine Hat
   *Cardston
   *Waterton lakes NP
   *Crowsnest Park
   *Canmore
   *Red Deer
   *Fort Mcmurray
   *The land
   *fauna
   *Flora
   *Economy and government
   *The wonderful, friendly people!!!!!

No comments about Fodor's Canada, 29th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

5 comments about USA by Rail, 6th (Bradt Rail Guides).

1. The guide is very informative. It covers the Canadian rail systems, also.



2. Everything you need to plan (or dream about) a vacation across the USA by train!



3. I strongly recommend this guide for those who expect to take any substantial Aamtrak trip. We have taken a number of them and I throughly believe this is one of the best guides that is out. Not only does it provide information you can use as the trip progresses, but helps with distances so you can pick the right stop or what train to take while planning your trip. Some of the trains have small, specific brochures that provide similar information, but by the time you have boarded its a little late for the planning advantages. Even then, this book provides more detail than the pamphlets. The route maps alone are worth the price.



4. 
   In planning a trip for 2008 I have found USA by Rail to be very helpful in deciding routes to criss cross the USA and Canada. Covers a multitude of important subjects in easy armchair reading or to use as a guide in route.



5. Having looked at several other books on train travel, I believe that this is the one you need to have when embarking on a journey with Amtrak. With the price of gas having gone up as much as it has, there is still a whole land to see, so I highly recommend this book. We used it extensively on a 28-state, almost 9,000-mile trip. The book gives plenty of things to look for and helped us to better understand the geography (and landmarks) we were seeing. Each route is specifically detailed, including the stops. There are also sections with important information that should be read before embarking. I notice that the 7th edition is due this fall, so there were a few errors (scheduling, stopping, etc) that I'm sure will be corrected. So if you are not leaving until next year, you may want to wait for the newest edition. But again, don't leave home for Amtrak without this important guide.

No comments about Moleskine City Notebook Montreal (Moleskine City Notebook).

1 comments about Woodall's Western America Campground Directory, 2008 (Woodall's Western Campground Directory).

1. Woodall's camping directories save time and money. Whether you are setting up a long trip and reserve a spot for each night's or are "winging it" you can find a variety of places to stay along with good reviews of each park. And, with today's high gas prices it's even more valuable for finding local "staycation" spots.