Product Description
Welcome to Zachary's Zoo ... Where a tiger, a bear, and a crocodile are among the ferocious beasts masquerading as lovable house pets! Only a smart, responsible zookeeper like Zachary can tame their savage nature by seeing that their needs are met. This MOPS Kid book is designed to meet the developmental needs of children ages 4 to 6. Children will learn that letting he cat out, feeding the shark (oops, fish!)... it's all part of taking care of the animals God made. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A fun, faith-based lesson in responsibility and the joy of working hard
In Zachary's Zoo, a Level 1 book in the Zonderkidz "I Can Read!" series, an imaginative young boy named Zachary wakes to his job as a zookeeper. He feeds Tiger (the cat), Bear (the dog), and Shark (the fish). He cleans Eagle's cage (Eagle is actually a parakeet.) and saves his mom from Croc, an escaped lizard. As Zachary tends to each of his pets, he thanks God for making him a zookeeper and mentally checks off his list to make sure everyone is cared for. At the end of the book, he remembers who he forgot: himself!

What I Like: My son's name is Zachary, so our kids instantly loved this book. It's cute and funny. The text is big, clear and easy to read -- perfect for beginning readers. I also appreciate the book's emphasis on responsibility and the joy of being a hard worker.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. The illustrations aren't great, but that's actually good because it keeps the focus on the words and learning to read, which is the purpose of this series.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

Cute Story
This is part of a series for begging readers.I liked that I have found a line of books that are for teaching beginning reading and are Christian oriented.Thanks, Zonderkidz, for filling a need.The story is cute and pictures are fun.

My son likes this story
This is a cute story.The pictures are colorful and it appeals to young children.I don't mind the religious part.As long as that isn't an issue for you, I would recommend it.

Why wasn't it mentioned that this is a religious book?
God is mentioned several times in this book. This is not what we teach in our house and so this book is inappropriate for us. I think that it really should have been mentioned in the description. I would not have purchased it, I feel I wasted my money.

My Boys Love This Book!
This is a very cute book that encourages responsibility, imagination, creativity, and taking care of the gifts God entrusts you with.The illustrations are colorful, detailed and fun.My kids thoroughly enjoy having this book read to them and reading it themselves. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Danielle Devon, graduating senior, would be a nobody at Oak Ridge High if it weren't for red-gold hair down to her waist. Her hair is of an amazing thickness and sheen. Otherwise Danielle thinks that she is pretty plain. She's certainly no match for her arch rival, Marjorie Fox, who has curves in all the right places.

Lately Danielle's hair has been interfering with her sleep. She has started having horrible nightmares. Danielle dreams of stealthily creeping up on Marjorie while she is kissing Danielle's boyfriend, Daren, in the front seat of a car. Her dream self tries to strangle Marjorie with her long hair. She tosses Marjorie's body into her trunk and zooms off. She stops in her front yard and dumps it into the black hole at the bottom of the oldest live oak tree. The wind's blowing. The branches catch hold of Danielle's long hair. She dangles in the air. Then she falls into the black hole and keeps falling until she wakes up in her own bed.

Her long hair is wrapped around her own neck strangling her for real! ... Read more

Product Description
The story of the Kruger National Park from 1902 when James Stevenson-Hamilton was placed in charge of it until his retirement in 1946. This book is illustrated with photographs taken from the archives of the National Game Parks head office in Pretoria. ... Read more

Product Description
Pauline Kidner shares her Somerset farm with half a dozen young badgers, fox cubs, deer, tortoises and terrapins, bats, squirrels, dormice, owls, and myriad other creatures she has rescued and nursed back to health. Combining the patience of Job, the crisis managment skills of a Red Adair and a sense of fun, Pauline Kidner writes of her adventures with badgers and other animals, and of her struggles to establish Secret World, her Somerset farm as a wildlife rescue centre celebrated far and wide. The author won ITV's 1995 "Animal Country" award and is the author of "Life with Bluebell". ... Read more

Product Description
“Hope When There Is None” marks the beginning chapter of a five volume anthology of survival, triumph, and hope. Volume 1 chapter 1 (1.1), which is entitled “Survival”, launches the story into a busy mall where something horrific takes place.Panic and confusion from bleeding victims swarm the mall pleading for help. Absolute terror spreads fiercely through the mall’s inhabitants as the dead and mortally wounded begin to rise and feed on the living!Nevertheless, several individuals in this particular mall hold some surprises of their own as they all work together to wage war against the dead and find a way to safety.Even when the horrors of this life seem ready to devour you there will always be those who fight for hope when there is none! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Zombie Read
I'm not one to usually pursue zombie books but this one came highly recommended. I'm glad I picked it up as the end result is pretty interesting. Instead of a bunch of humans fighting other humans and zombies in the typical profanity-laden gore fest, the writers opted to mix in super hero elements and tackle teamwork from a different perspective.I like the abilities given to some of the survivors (not everyone gets a "power") and so far the ways they're using them are interesting.There is experimentation and a lot of learning experiences but it's not nearly the "doom and gloom" mix I've seen way too often in the current media. Mind you, thereare a few gory scenes but none that seem added just for shock value. In fact most of the violence seems to convey the fragility of humans and the new relationships these strangers are creating while trying to simply stay alive.

This is a great start from a relatively new author. Plenty of room to grow, but as the characters find themselves I bet it'll expand quite nicely.I think this series has a lot of potential and I'm hopeful to read the 1.2 soon.

The exciting beginning to a long journey!

"Hope When There Is None" marks the beginning chapter of a five volume anthology of survival, triumph, and hope. Volume 1 chapter 1 (1.1), which is entitled "Survival", launches the story into a busy mall where something horrific takes place.Panic and confusion from bleeding victims swarm the mall pleading for help. Absolute terror spreads fiercely through the mall's inhabitants as the dead and mortally wounded begin to rise and feed on the living!Nevertheless, several individuals in this particular mall hold some surprises of their own as they all work together to wage war against the dead and find a way to safety.Even when the horrors of this life seem ready to devour you there will always be those who fight for hope when there is none!Though sometimes this work does sacrifice logic for creativity, it does give fans of the zombie genre a big gulp of what they want with a few new concepts. The action is fierce and the tension is high as the book moves at a breakneck pace. 1.2 is coming soon! ... Read more

Product Description
It is the day after the end of the world. Angie Land and her two children are homeless, desperate and on the run from the hordes of corpses that have risen to consume the living. Parker Welch, a local hunter who also survived the end, is on a mission to find his estranged daughters. All are headed to the city of Ashton, which has also fallen to the undead. And conditions at Ashton Memorial Zoo are going downhill from there... ... Read more

Product Description
Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide provides readily accessible, user-friendly information for veterinarians who do not have detailed knowledge of the majority of exotic pet species. The book gives the key points on differential diagnoses and diagnostics, along with background information on a wide variety of exotic pets. It is formatted so that, whether experienced with exotics or not, the clinician can at a glance view the likely conditions to be encountered within that species or animal group; develop a potential differential diagnosis list quickly; initiate an investigational plan; and view treatment regimes.Species covered include ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, pet rats, hamsters and other small rodents; parrots, budgerigars and related species, canaries, finches, toucans; lizards, snakes, tortoises and turtles, frogs, salamanders; pond fish, tropical freshwater fish and tropical marine fish. ... Read more

Product Description

A true story—as powerful as Schindler’s List—in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands.

When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw—and the city’s zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen “guests” hid inside the Zabinskis’ villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants—otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes.

With her exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages us viscerally in the lives of the zoo animals, their keepers, and their hidden visitors. She shows us how Antonina refused to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.

Customer Reviews (184)

The Zookeeper's Wife
I have read several books about the Holocaust.99% of them were riveting and heart-rending as well as informative. I could not finish this book. I felt like I was wading through the quick-sand of overdone prose.Perhaps Ms. Ackerman should have written a book of poetry. This was a potentially great story that ended up going all over the place.There was no sense of a beginning, a middle and an end.It was like listening to someone rambling in all kinds of directions.Anyway, there are many books to which I would be happy to give 5 stars -- unfortunately this is not one of them.

I Write with Guilt Because I Didn't Love It
This, as every other book reminding us of awesome people who risk everything for others, is an important book, and I am glad I read it.Jan's matter-of-fact entrance into saving people shows a humanity that is unquestioning and pure.He is awe-inspiring. His wife follows without questioning, and it is through her experience that we see fears that we can relate to, and her story is somehow easier for most of us, unfortunately, to understand.

But I did not enjoy the book because of the exquisite details of unrelated or tangential people or events.I came away knowing more about Badger's personality than Rys'.I did not need to know, for several pages, about the butterfly collection, or the details of animal poop.

I'm glad I read it, however, and sometimes an important book is not necessarily a "good read."

Did we need to know that?
I really wanted to like this book. I really am quite fascinated with WW11 stories of heroism and bravery in the face of death and war. I was mislead by the many rave reviews of this book and while the story of this family must be told, do we need to know... that the word vitamins was coined by a polish biochemist or how a hippo flings its tail like a propeller when it defecates? The author goes of on tirades about people that do not need to be mentioned and story lines about things that could take a mere two sentences to explain, rather than 17 pages to explain who is at the door, ie pgs 114-131. The book in agonizing to read.
This book is filled with useless story lines that do not explain the true story that people are looking for in this book. The behind the scenes of what it was like every day back then to be a polish zookeeper's wife defying the odds.

Not a boring, nor a gruesome true tale
What an excellent story. For me, a very different perspective on the war and the abuse of the Jewish people.

A great story, horrible writing!!!
I really wanted to love this book. It was a cross between a novel and a nonfiction book. The author should have picked one of those and stuck with it. This story is so incredible, so wonderful, but written by this author, it's all wrong! A good book to take out of the library! I wish I had! ... Read more

Product Description
Wyatt Dorren, U.L.F. team leader, is the rarest of breeds: an ex-convict who has become a productive member of society, trapping U.L.F.’s- Unidentified Life Forms- from newly discovered planets and returning with them for exhibition at the Interplanetary Zoo. Wyatt inspires loyalty and courage in his team members, but nothing from his dark past, or his years of trapping dangerous aliens, can prepare Wyatt for what’s in store now. The victim of a conspiracy, believing that he is on a regular hunt, Wyatt is sent on a one-way trip to a planet more fundamentally hostile than any he’s seen before. Wyatt must uncover the plot and help his new rag-tag team of trappers learn to fight for survival while sniffing out the traitor in their midst.  Could it be Chris or Alex, the seemingly inept rookies?  Kit, the unrepentant criminal?  Par, the charming Swede?  Byron or Bobby, whom Wyatt has trusted for years?  Or could it be Kate, the young biologist who seems to have no place at all on this expedition?  Regardless of their motivations and differences, the team is forced to work together to elude the hostile flora and fauna of a nightmarish world.   Without a working ship, Wyatt must somehow find them a way back to Earth—each team member will need to draw on courage and a resourcefulness they didn’t know they had, as the hunters become the hunted on this alien world. Some of the team may not survive, and Wyatt soon realizes that if he wants to have a future, he must confront his secretive past.In his captivating first novel, Stuart Clark has crafted an innovative and riveting masterpiece. Project U.L.F. is a non-stop thrill ride from beginning to end, with surprises around every corner that will leave you desperately turning the pages to find out what will happen next. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

excellent book that you can't put down
first of all let me state that i am not a science fiction "freak" per se... while one of my all time favorite movies is mel brooks space balls and i do enjoy star wars, star trek, quantam leap, and a dr who episode now and then i am not a big reader of novels in general let alone sci-fi. that said this book was a gripping page turner that had many ethical and moral issues at the core of it without being preachy or pushy in any way shape or form. clark's imagination is vivid whether it is in describing the other life forces or the futuristic scenarios, technologies and society. i also like how he leaves a bit out so that as a reader it makes for an interactive experience. once i got into this i could barely put it down short of falling asleep from exhaustion (from sleep debt). i am ready to dive into the 2nd in the series and hope someday this will be a movie to enjoy!

Great book!
Stuart Clark produced a great adventure which captures you in the first chapter.It has a new take on aliens.The main character goes to different worlds and collects different alien "species" for the zoo on earth.A hidden plot takes them to a planet which they have to go thru alot of action and adventure and survival to make their way back. I would recommend this book. Can't wait till the sequal is out.

An old-school thrill-ride!
Stuart Clark is a rising star in science fiction, judging by the reaction to his splendid first novel, "Project U.L.F."A swift-moving adventure, it cleverly transfers "The Lost World" to, literally, a lost world; an unnamed planet 2.7 light years beyond Centauri Red 603.The easy prose and unwavering pace invite you to sit down, strap in, and enjoy the ride.

The shameful past that Wyatt Dorren hides only fuels his drive as head of Project U.L.F., a division of the Interplanetary Zoo tasked with collecting unseen creatures from across the galaxy.He's become good at his job.Too good.And that means someone wants him out of the way.Wyatt and his team of misfits find themselves stranded on an uncharted and very dangerous planet, fending off Clark's imaginative repertoire of critters and beasties as they look for a way home.

It comes as no complaint that "Project U.L.F."'s plot is relatively straightforward; that is the novel's strength.There are a number of twists, turns and betrayals, to be sure, but the joy is in riding along with Wyatt as he works overtime getting out of jams while travelling from Point A to Point Beta Epsilon.A movie thrillride if ever there was one, "Project U.L.F." packs in the set pieces while never feeling manufactured for show.

The ensemble crew have their own trials along the way, and all (well, most all) come across as endearing despite their flaws.I particularly liked Chris, the naive medic who is much more than he seems, and Gon-Thok, the... what the heck is Gon-Thok, anyway?If anything, I thought Furball was underutilized -- while more was hinted at with his empathy, it didn't seem to come to fruition.

If you're yearning for a good, solid adventure of the kind 'they don't seem to make anymore', you're in for a treat with "Project U.L.F.".Me?I'm just waiting for the next installment -- same Clark time, same Clark channel.

Fantastic SciFi Debut
Books like this simply validate my love of science fiction. Not only are Clark's characters realistic and interesting, but the storyline is extremely engaging. From the time I first sat down to read, straight through to the end, I was captivated.

Wyatt Dorren heads Project U.L.F. (Unidentified Life Form) for the Interplanetary Zoological Park. In the past, he has been a trapper, visiting various planets and collecting different species of extraterrestrial life to bring back to the zoo. So, when he is offered to lead another mission of the same, which he thinks will be good for promoting the zoo, he agrees. But, unbeknownst to Wyatt, the Douglas Mannheim has other plans for this "routine" mission. The disreputable Mannheim is the manager of the zoo, and feels threatened by Wyatt. So, he assembles a special team for Wyatt and sends them on a one-way trip to a planet from which no one has returned.

Mannheim isn't the only one with an ulterior motive. And the planet is much more dangerous than anyone imagines. With deadly creatures around every corner, not everyone will survive this nightmare.

Comparable to tense, science fiction movies such as Alien and Pitch Black, Project U.L.F. is a guaranteed non-stop, heart-pounding thriller. At the end of each chapter, I felt like I could finally exhale in relief. Cleverly written from different points of view (and sometimes of the aliens themselves), only added to the suspense. Clark's vivid depiction of the deadly planet and imaginative creatures brought the book to life. I'll be looking forward to more works from this new author.

Anyone care for adventure, suspense, and intrigue?
What a surprisingly good book!!! I kept expecting aliens to come charging out at the main characters like in Alien or Aliens (I loved those movies by way). But the author refreshingly throws many different kinds of aliens and obstacles at the characters--everything from alien vegetation to corrupt corporate executives and a whole lot of creatures in between. Even the environment has it in for the heroes. Speaking of the heroes, they are a group of trappers working for the Interplanetary Zoological Park based in Chicago. They travel to new worlds in other star systems collecting new and unusual specimens for the zoo to let the masses to ooh and ah over. Sounds like fun, right.

The story is set several hundred years into humanity's future, and it is a plausible one at that. Clark's writing style is smooth and easy to follow. The characters are believable and likeable--a must for a good novel like this one. The only thing I can possibly find slightly off with Project U.L.F. (Unidentified Life Forms) is that there are times when the narrative goes on with explanation or background. Do not get me wrong, I loved this book and there is plenty of dialogue--I am just not a big fan of narrative information. This was only minor issue, hence the five-star rating. I look forward to seeing more novels from Clark. He is definitely a science fiction fan.
... Read more

Product Description
Introduces exotic animal medicine for the veterinary technician. Provides descriptions of common procedures on exotics including venipuncture, bandaging and wound care, administration of drugs, tube feeding, catheter placement, and urine collection. Also covers basic anatomy and physiology. Softcover. DNLM: Animal Diseases. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great textbook!
This is a great book and I recommend it. My husband and I teach a college course to veterinary assistants (and technicians, if interested) on exotic pet care. We are using this book as a textbook even though it is geared towards technicians. For the purposes of our course, we are toning down the anatomy and physiology, and the diseases sections to make the information less technical.

I do have one suggestion: if there is another edition, sections on degus and aquarium fish would be helpful.

I also have a concern: we do not consider skunks or prairie dogs to be exotic pets; they are wild animals or wildlife. We believe this because skunks are rabies vector animals and, even if vaccinated against rabies, will not be considered protected from rabies by DPH; thus whether a person is bitten by a vaccinated "pet" skunk or an unvaccinated skunk, the skunk will be euthanized. As for prairie dogs, their history is a bit complicated. They were illegal to own for a period of time (due to linkage to a monkeypox outbreak)and now a person has to get a permit to own one. We have distinguished between exotic pets and wildlife in our course, that is, between animals that are legal to own and mostly captive-bred and animals that are wild and mostly illegal to own.

Nutrition, husbandry, and step-by-step descriptions of common procedures range from very basic to advanced details
Bonnie Ballard and Ryan Cheek's EXOTIC ANIMAL MEDICINE FOR THE VETERINARY TECHNICIAN appears in its second updated edition to provide a fine introduction to exotic animal practices for technicians in classroom and clinic settings. The emphasis on exotic species makes for a fine survey that includes the latest practices in exotic animal medicine, with new information bird behaviors, aviary management, and more details on reptiles, skunks, prairie dogs and more. Nutrition, husbandry, and step-by-step descriptions of common procedures range from very basic to advanced details and makes this an important acquisition.

Helpful Vet Tech material
This book is handy for information on animals I am studying currently.Has a lot more which I will be learning as well.Recommend for other students like myself.

Good Basic Book
The book provides good information on the basics of wildlife care.If you've worked with wildlife before, however, a lot of it is review.That being said, its a good reference and great easy to read book for those who are new to the field

Thorough and accurate
Dr. Ballard has done an exceptional job of putting together a text for veterinary technicians interested in exotic animals.I am the program director of a veterinary technology program in Michigan and after reviewing this book, I immediately incorporated this text into our Exotic Animal Course.A great text for students, technicians and anyone interested in the health and management of exotic species. ... Read more

Product Description
The interrelationship between wild animal, domestic animals and human health is appreciated now more than ever before. This is because of the recognition of the involvement of wild animals in diseases of humans and domestic animals, the impact of disease on wildlife management and conservation biology, recognition of new forms of environmental contamination, and academic interest in disease as an ecological factor.

This is the first introductory level book about disease in wild animals that deals with basic subjects such as the nature of disease, what causes disease, how disease is described and measured, how diseases spread and persist and the effects of disease on individual animals and populations. In contrast to authors of many other veterinary books, Gary A. Wobeser takes a more general approach to health in wild animals, recognizing that disease is one ecological factor among many and that disease can never be considered satisfactorily in isolation. Rather than focus on individual causative agents and their effect on the individual animal, the emphasis is on why disease occurred, and on the complex interactions that occur among disease agents, the environment and host populations.

Written by a leading researcher in wildlife diseases, this book will fill a knowledge gap for those called to work with disease in wild animals who lack experience or training in the general features of disease as they relate to wild animals. Veterinarians, ecologists, wildlife biologists, population biologists and public health workers will find this book ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of observations and stories about San Franciscan life - the people, the buildings, the parks, the food, the street-cars, the bay, Alcatraz, the sounds and the smells and the characteristics and idiosyncrasies of this fascinating city ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Visitor's Experiences of the City
Worth 3 1/2 stars. Shortish book with a few pages for each topic. Told as if by a 1 year visitor to the area - seems as if told by a woman. Little impressionistic comments about what it is like to experience the city @1921. Was a fun read particularly for current or previous residents or visitors. Calls North Beach the Latin Quarter and the cable car is nicknamed Hilly-cum-go.
The Quality Classics edition was formatted enjoyably with active TOC.

Chapter Contents:
- As Pilgrims Go to Rome
- At the Ferry
- The Union-Street Car
- The Latin Meets the Oriental
- The Pepper and Salt Man
- The Bay on Sunday Morning
- Safe on the Sidewalk
- Port O' Missing Men
- Market-street Scintillations
- Cafeterias
- The Open Board of Trade
- The San Francisco Police
- A Marine View
- Hilly-cum-go
- I'll Get It Changed, Lady
- Fillmore Street
- In the Lobby of the St. Francis
- The Garbage-man's Little Girl
- The Palace
- Zoe's Garden
- Children on the Sidewalk
- Feet that Pass on Market Street
- Where the Centuries Meet
- Bags or Sacks
- Portsmouth Square
- Miracles
- Impulses and Prohibitions
- Stopping at the Fairmont
- San Francisco Sings
- Van Ness Avenue
- The Blind Men and the Elephant
- You're Getting Queer
- The Ferry and Real Boats
- A Whiff of Acacia
- It Takes All Sorts
- The Fog in San Francisco
- A Block on Ashbury Heights
- The Greek Grocer
- Billboards or Art
- Golden Gate Park
- Extra Fresh
- On the California-street Car
- Western Yarns
- Mr. Mazzini and Dante
- On the Nob of Nob Hill
... Read more

Product Description
At the end of this book there are a couple of letters from a volume of the "Travels in England" which were not by Defoe, although resembling Defoe's work so much in form and title, and so near to it in date of publication, that a volume of one book is often found taking the place of a volume of the other. ... Read more

Product Description
Zoology is the story of Henry Elinsky, a college flunk-out who takes a job at the Central Park Zoo and discovers that becoming an adult takes a lot more than just a weekly paycheck.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Unbelieveable...
Destiny, do we have control or is it just by accident?High school graduation is supposed to open the road to new beginnings.That's what Henry Elinsky thought, but his first year at college was a disaster.Now, back at his old high school and helping dad with music class, it's definitely the pits.Life just doesn't appear fair and understanding from others seems impossible!Family dynamics and hidden problems leave Henry wondering which way is up.Breaking into the adult world seems to present some real challenges, but this is just the beginning.

New York, New York, Glimmer and glitz, a place where starting over can take unexpected turns.Henry is invited to spend the summer with his brother David in the Big Apple and can't wait for the adventure to begin.Dad thinks it is great, mom is afraid he's avoiding college.Uncle Walter is just his emotional self.Once Henry's settled in, next stop Central Park Zoo, and a job interview.

Nervous but determined, Henry nabs a job at the children's zoo. There is nothing cool about shoveling animal dung and washing out cages but his responsibilities become enjoyable in a mindless sort of way.Sometimes Henry finds more comfort in talking to a hairy "friend", than with unpredictable, closed minded, emotionally stressed humans!The Zoo becomes a refuge from the disappointments and trials that plague Henry's struggle to reach his dreams.

Is love in the air?When Henry meets Margaret, matters of the heart take unpredictable turns and alter his thoughts for the future. Close encounters or just accidental meetings? It's a summer romance, or is it?

Each day, Henry faces situations testing his ability to adjust, grow and learn from his choices.Accidents, family emergencies, and poor decisions may leave Henry up the creek with out a paddle.

Zoology is a small glimpse into the day to day events, thoughts, and dreams of a young man struggling to find meaning and purpose, in his upside down life.

Okay book
I like Dolnick's writing style and he provides a realistic account of an aimless 19 year old's experience in NYC, dealing with the disappointment of unrequited love, working at a job that is not a career, and dealing with changing family dynamics. However, being inside the main character's head gets depressing and boring after a while. I wanted to know more about his parents' marital problems, which are never fully explained. His love for a woman who is obviously not interested becomes tedious. Also, something must have happened with Newman. It's hard to believe that he would not have been found one way or another and that he never would have found out.

Zoology
by Jacob Soiffer
Ben Dolnick's Zoology portrays the coming-of-age of college flunkout Henry Elinsky. Written in 2007, Zoology allows the reader to sentimentally connect with how many of today's young adults face the world. Henry, from his time in Maryland to his job at the Central Park Zoo, struggled to set his own goals for his life and give it direction. He struggles through a broken love affair, a scandal at the Zoo, the blackout of 2003, a feud with his successful Brother's girlfriend, and many other obstacles along his way, until, finally, he finds what he really wants to do. Zoology is an accurate and moving depiction of a confused teenager taking his first step into manhood.
After dropping out of College and spending several months dying of boredom in his Maryland hometown, Henry Elinsky receives a letter from his affluent and successful Brother, David, inviting Henry to come live with him, in an apartment building on New York's West Side. Henry immediately takes the offer, and David sets him up for a job at the Central Park Zoo. Dolnick writes with a comic, childish tone, giving the reader alternating bouts of frenzied, childlike happiness and love-torn depression. Henry's crush on Margaret, a girl from Oregon visiting her relatives in New York for the summer, dominates his mind throughout the summer. His grudge against his brother's prim girlfriend cause a growing rift in the apartment, and David must take a side. Through what is probably both the best and the worst summer of his life, Henry Elinsky begins to discover who he really is.
Zoology, Ben Dolnick's first novel, is both moving and funny. Although Dolnick overuses many clichés, his writing remains lively, funny, and intriguing, though at many points very silly. Zoology is a quick read, and a fun one at that, and I would recommend it to readers of all ages, especially those who have witnessed or gone through the troubling age of eighteen.

Kept Me Entertained
I read most of this novel in one day.It seemed more like someone's journal entries than a novel, and I feel like the entirety of the book could have been condensed into three blog posts; that is to say, nothing much really happens.I did, however, give it two stars instead of one, because part of its strength is just that - nothing much really happens, and yet I was entertained.

Dolnick's language is fluid for the most part, with occasional oddities thrown in that made me think, "What does that have to do with anything?"But again, that's the point - the book is written in the first person, so we're going to get peeks into his thoughts, which will lend itself to being a bit odd.

SPOILER ALERT:One thing I found interesting towards the end was Margaret's letter/story about Newman.What seems like a confusing and meaningless little story could mean something far deeper, couldn't it?Does the very name New-man have something to do with it?I see a parallel between Henry and Newman.

Newman spends life in New York city zoo, behind bars, trapped.One day escapes, hops aboard ship, feels intense freedom, gets lonely, jumps into ocean, adapts to new environment, starts new life in water without thinking of his time on land again.

Henry spends summer in New York city zoo, trapped in a life of confusion.One day escapes out of the city into an "ocean" of a world, adapts to new environment, lives new life without thinking of his time with Margaret again (remember this is Margaret's version of "Newman's" story)

In other words, Marageret's letter is not just a meaningless story, it's her way of telling Henry that he's going to be OK without her; he'll find a life of freedom and forget all about his life "on land" i.e., his summer in New York city.

What's more telling is Henry's dislike of the story and his fixed ending: "Surely Newman doesn't float off and nibble seaweed and live happily ever after.I felt utterly certain about this." (pg.287)He doesn't like Margaret's version of his life; it's too happy, too perfect.

Are the last few pages where Henry crosses the water to save an animal a weak, meaningless ending, or is he telling us something more about the water metaphor?"What a strange place for a life to start," Henry says in the last paragraph (pg.291), as he stands immersed in water, much like New-man as he began his new life.

Whether Dolnick intentionally placed these metaphors, whether they seeped in subconsciously, or whether this reader is looking much too deeply into a simple story, it's something to think about.

Wonderful
Mr. Dolnick is a great writer.Every paragraph he describes something in such a way that you think, "Of course, why didn't I think of that?That's exactly right."Thoroughly enjoyable to read someone with such talent. ... Read more

Product Description
St. Petersburg, Russia, is an amazing city.Learn about the different monuments, bridges and gardens of St. Petersburg.Also, discover the Leningrad Zoo, the Peterhof Palace complex, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Palace Square, the Hermitage, the Winter Palace, the Battleship Aurora, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Monastery and Nevsky Prospekt, the main street in St. Petersburg.Also learn about the wonderful shopping and food available.Maybe even consider a cruise. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a collection of the many memorable experiences in Dr. Lorrie Boldrick's life as a veterinarian, beginning in veterinary school and ending with her first retirement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Barefoot Veterinarian
This book is a real gem!It's like reading a letter from a good friend.Dr. Boldrick's style of writing is informal and inviting, taking the reader along on a wonderful adventure behind-the-scenes of her busy and caring veterinary practice.It's a great book for all animal lovers, especially those going into veterinary medicine - both veterinarians and technicians. Along with anatomy and pathology text books, this title should be on the required reading list for all students.It would also be a most useful book for front office staff to read, too.If animals could read, it's a sure bet they'd enjoy the stories, too!

The Barefoot Veterinarian
The characters are fun to read about...great pictures. And the stories are amusing. Anyone of any age will enjoy the stories of the animals. It's easy to read, easy to follow, and very fun!

A fun read
Want a good laugh?Want a fun read?Are you interested in hearing some touching stories?This is the book for you.Dr. Bolderick tells the stories in such a way that you feel you are right there.I have taken my own dogs to her for some 15 years and she is such an incredible vet.She is expert at what she does.You'll always find her barefoot and she always gets on the ground with your animal and even lets them lick her face.It was truly a delight to read these stories. I hope there will be more books, because I am sure there are many more stories.This book makes a great gift!

Great book.Buy it!
What a terrific book.Easy to read.Thoroughly delightful.It's just like having a conversation with Dr Bolderick.You can read as much or as little as you would like, put the book down, and pick it up again without any disruption.There is only one problem, you won't want to put the book down.

Great book
This book makes a wonderful gift. My friends that I've given it to have all really enjoyed it. Good for all animal lovers. Great short stories! ... Read more

Product Description
In the Hawaiian system of belief, guardian spirits called Aumakua watch over the living members of their ohana, or family.In times of great peril these guardian spirits may be called upon to assist their family.

In this book, the fourth book of the Kohala Coast Mystery series, the women of the Pono family must seek the help of their Aumakua in order to escape great danger.Teri and Lori blunder into a confrontation with a gang of drug dealers and find their lives hang in the balance.A chef with a sharp cleaver is looking for his missing money and intends to get it back -- one way or another.

One other thing, don't hang around the zoo at night. ... Read more