Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam

Book Description

CRACKER IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S MOST VALUABLE WEAPONS:

a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too.

Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store.

When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive.

Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker! is an action-packed glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler. It's an utterly unique powerhouse of a book by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Kira-Kira.

Customer Reviews:

5th grade Teacher--I loved this book!!.......2007-07-28

One of the best youth/YA books I have read this summer. Could not put it down even though I was floating down the Trinity river. Told from both the dog perspective and that of his handler/soldier. Kids 5th and up will enjoy it especially if they enjoy war books. This is also a great book on the Vietnam war experience.

Best Dog, Period........2007-06-02

Cracker is an extremely intelligent German Shepherd. Reluctantly given to the army by a boy who could no longer keep her, Cracker ends up at Fort Benning, Georgia awaiting a handler. Feeling betrayed, Cracker is
in no mood to transfer her loyalties, which are mighty, to young Rick Hanski to whom she is assigned.Both are being trained to serve together in Viet Nam where Cracker is supposed to sniff out all the dangerous traps of the enemy. As Rick begins to win Cracker's respect, dog and man become a talented team. Rick, who is eager to serve in Viet Nam, is taken aback to learn that Cracker will never return from Viet Nam, no matter how bravely she serves. "The military considers the dogs equipment, and equipment is expendable."

Told in alternating voices, one of whom is Cracker's and one of whom is Rick's, the author has an uncanny ability to make the reader think and feel like a dog. As both characters struggle with a dangerous, chaotic
environment, this well-researched story , which pulls no punches about the horrors of war, is a smashing page-turner. There can be no happy ending for the valiant Cracker -- according to the rules of the U.S. Army.

I applaud the spirits of both dogs and the skill with which the authors have depicted them........2007-06-01

War dogs used in Vietnam were unsung heroes. Faced with intense training combined with dreadful working conditions and constant danger, they had few rewards and were often left behind to survive on their own. This incredible book, although fictional, is based on real accounts provided through interviews of Vietnam War dog handlers.

Cracker, an amazingly intelligent German Shepherd, knows more than 90 words and lives the life of royalty that she deserves. It is her birthright. She has lived with (and slept with) Willie since she was about six months old, but before she is two, her life changes traumatically. Willie's father has been laid off, and the family needs to move to an apartment --- one that doesn't allow dogs. There are few options, and, according to the shelter, Cracker probably will be put down. Unable to locate a new family or home, they come across an advertisement from the military: Uncle Sam is looking for a few good dogs. Cracker is to enlist and join the army.

Cracker mourns for Willie, certain that his young master will rescue her as she is shipped to unfriendly locations, kenneled with lots of other dogs and then given to some strange man. Cracker is paired up with Rick Hanski --- who volunteered for duty in Vietnam at the young age of 17 --- to train for locating bombs, traps and the enemy. The lives of Cracker and Rick, along with those of thousands of soldiers, will depend on the success of their training and how well they are able to work together.

Author Cynthia Kadohata carefully crafts her narrative with two alternating voices --- Rick's and Cracker's --- as she describes their bond, fears, concerns and conditions. Rick is warned that he is never to take his eyes off his dog in the field, and Cracker must learn to separate a variety of alien smells in order to determine real threats. They do not work in complete isolation; instead, they develop close relationships with several other handlers and their dogs. But it is the unique bond shared between Rick and Cracker that rises above all else. Their attachment forms from complete respect, admiration, love and trust in each other.

Cracker earns the respect of all who meet her, as she truly becomes a hero and "The Best Dog in Vietnam." Due to the subject matter, CRACKER! is an incredibly intense and emotionally challenging book. Those who share a close relationship with a dog or two will struggle at times, but will admire and applaud the spirit and intelligence of this amazing animal. I live with two gifted and affectionate Labradors (also used as war dogs) and found myself snuggling a little more closely with them while reading. My apologies to Kadohata, but shortly after beginning the book, I absolutely had to flip to the last page before resuming the story.

In December 2005 I read John Grogan's MARLEY & ME, never putting it down once started. And in February 2007 the same thing happened with CRACKER! I applaud the spirits of both dogs and the skill with which the authors have depicted them.

--- Reviewed by Patsy Side

A review from Deanne Apke, Most intriguing storyline.......2007-05-25

Magnificent Dawn of Venus, being the daughter of Felix Olympus von Braun, the great show dog, was expected to do great things. A badly broken leg that scars her for life ruins any chance of becoming a great show dog. Venus is then given to Willie. Now named Cracker, Venus's new family has to live in an apartment, but there is a strict "No pet policy". Willie's family then tries to find a new home for Cracker, but the only two places they can find are the army and the kennel. Willie would hate for his best friend to go to the kennel, so Cracker is then given to the army for the Vietnam War. Rick Hanski, 17, is just a normal guy in a normal town in a normal state who has decided to "whip the world" and he is going to do this by volunteering to be a dog handler in the Vietnam War. Rick and Cracker are then paired up for the war. They don't really trust each other and so are off to a bad start in training. After a game and a few wieners they start to trust each other and are soon at the top of the class. But when they get to Vietnam they realize that this is getting all too tough all too fast. This is war and there will be no playing around or misreading your dog's signal, for that could mean your life and thousands of others.

This book is one of my favorite books! I absolutely loved the book! I would put aside my bedtime just to read this book. It helped me understand what people and dogs would go through in the wars.

Great book!.......2007-05-16

I listened to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed it.

At the very beginning of the book when Cracker was still with Willie I almost stopped listening thinking it was too much of a kids book, but it didn't last long. About the time Cracker begins her military service I was deeply drawn into the book. I listened to the book on my commute to and from work and I found it difficult to leave the car when I arrived.

The book really gives you a feel of what it was like to be a dog handler in Vietnam. It really makes you empathize with the soldiers, the dog handlers and even Cracker.

I highly recommend this book for kids (I'm trying to think about which of my nieces and nephews won't be insulted that it's rated for younger kids) I also think it's a great book for adults who are interested in dogs as well as Vietnam.

Average customer rating:

NEPHEW LOVED THIS ONE TOO
Adorable and fun!

Henry And Mudge And The Sneaky Crackers
Cynthia Rylant
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689825250

Book Description

With his new spy kit and his faithful sidekick Mudge, Henry is ready to look for clues, steal secrets, and flirt with danger. One of the first things Henry and Mudge find is a coded message -- could there be another spy in the neighborhood?

Customer Reviews:

NEPHEW LOVED THIS ONE TOO.......2007-01-16

I bought a bunch of these for my 9 year old nephew who was 7 and he loved them. This one he really liked. He enjoyed reading about the adventures of Henry and Mudge. These books are fun, enjoyable, entertaining, and easy to read. I've read some myself and my son Ramon who is now in second grade loves them too. His cousin loves them as a second grader now he loves them. These are great starter books to help kids on their way to reading. They really motivate kids to read because of the funny, and entertaining stories.

Adorable and fun!.......2000-04-09

Henry buys a spy kit. He and his dog, Mudge, canvas the neighborhood to "flirt with danger" and "steal secrets". One day Henry finds a secret code and is determined to crack it. Funny, adorable, irresistable Mudge is a favorite at house! He can even get my reluctant reader eager to see what happens next. Easy reading level with short chapters gives the hesitant reader a real sense of accomplishment.

Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young

Average customer rating:

Great toddler choice!
Great book that your child can grow with
A Nice Gift
A Superb Collection of Nursery Rhymes
Wonderful Collection

Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, and Lullabies for the Very Young
Jane Dyer
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Short Story Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0316197661

Amazon.com

Ages 1 & up. A Mother Goose book for the nineties, Animal Crackers combines old-fashioned charm with modern sensibilities. Traditional poems and lullabies are seamlessly mixed with contemporary and multicultural works; the delightfully old-style illustrations are equally diverse. It's a lovely introduction to the world of nursery rhymes--and more.

Book Description

Ages 1 up. A Mother Goose book for the nineties, Animal Crackers combines old-fashioned charm with modern sensibilities. Traditional poems and lullabies are seamlessly mixed with contemporary and multicultural works; the delightfully old-style illustrations are equally diverse. It's a lovely introduction to the world of nursery rhymes--and more.

Customer Reviews:

Great toddler choice!.......2006-09-27

We received this book just three days ago and have already read it cover to cover countless times! My nearly 2 year old son loves trying to identify the objects in the wonderful illustrations. Great for little ones with no patience for the longer stories.

Great book that your child can grow with.......2004-10-11

My brother sent me this book after getting it for his own kids many years ago. All 3 of mine have enjoyed it from 1 - 6 years old. As others have indicated, there are some traditional rhymes and some more modern, but the mix is good and the illustrations are charming (to me and my kids). I have watched my oldest grow with the book and her interest in different poems change as she matures. Like all good nursery rhyme collections, it can be enjoyed for many years. Plus a nice change from Mother Goose, which can be challenging for a child in today's modern world to relate to (tired of trying to explain a tinker or the town crier?!).

A Nice Gift.......2002-06-19

I purchsed this as a baby gift. I wanted something the new parents could learn nursery rhymes from. This isn't really the book to do that as it doesn't contain very many "common" nursery rhymes. However it does have beautful pictures and made a nice gift anyway.

A Superb Collection of Nursery Rhymes.......2000-07-01

Intricate details and warm tones fill the illustrations throughout this superb collection of sixty-two nursery rhymes. Dyer has incorporated a wide variety of traditional nursery rhymes such as Little Jack Horner, Humpty Dumpty, and Peter Piper along with some not so traditional, such as Grandpa Bear's Lullaby, Animal Crackers, and All Asleep. She has divided this medley of rhymes into seven unique sections, including "Nursery Rhymes," "Animals, Animals," and "Lullaby and Good Night." These divisions make it easy to find rhymes for specific occasions or themes. Each rhyme is delightfully and intricately illustrated with warm watercolors which encompass the entire page. These illustrations invite the reader to become more involved in the story. This anthology of nursery rhymes is appropriate for the emergent reader because of the familiar text throughout the story. Dyer's intricate watercolors will help young children focus on the pictures to help create meaning. This well-designed collection of rhymes will be a valuable addition to any young child's personal library.

Wonderful Collection.......2000-03-14

I just received my copy of this book and can't wait to share it with my 2 year old daughter. Only problem - I purchased it for a gift and now need to buy one for her! The collection of nursery rhymes and poetry is beautifully illustrated, with oversized pages allowing maximum enjoyment for the non-reader. Definitely a must for every child's library.

Animal Crackers: A Tender Book About Death and Funerals and Love

Average customer rating:

great for young children

Animal Crackers: A Tender Book About Death and Funerals and Love
Bridget Marshall
Manufacturer: Centering Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1561231010

Book Description

A tender book about death, funerals and love. This book explores aging, memory loss and a special kind of love when a young child's Nanny must go to a nursing home and later dies. They all remember Nanny's Animal Crackers!

Customer Reviews:

great for young children.......2006-12-14

This book really help me explain death to my six year old son.

Average customer rating:

Vivacious, humanistic account
excellent, disturbing stories
a pitch-perfect debut
Entertainingly Macabre
An Impressive and Engaging Debut

Animal Crackers
Hannah Tinti
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385337442
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Book Description

With bravura storytelling, daring imagination, and fierce narrative control, this dazzling debut introduces that rare writer who finds humanity in our most unconventional behavior, and the humor beneath our darkest impulses.

In these ten strange, funny, and unnerving stories, animals become the litmus test of our deepest fears and longings. In the title story, an elephant keeper courts danger from his gentle charge; in “Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus,” a headstrong young woman in Africa is lured by the freedom of the monkeys in the trees; in “Talk Turkey,” a boy has secret conversations with the turkeys on his friend’s family’s farm; in “Slim’s Last Ride,” a child plays chilling games with his pet rabbit; in “Gallus Gallus,” a pompous husband projects his anger at his wife onto her prized rooster.

This fresh, inventive debut will introduce Hannah Tinti as one of the most gifted writers of her generation. Enter her world at your own risk, and you will come away bewitched.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Vivacious, humanistic account.......2006-02-15

Amazing! I don't like short stories but this collection spoke to me. Hannah Tinti is an amazing writer! She uses the animals in such a way that we see the human emotions below the surface and react to our own feelings that they evoke. Can't wait for her next book!!

excellent, disturbing stories.......2005-06-07

I'm not a big fan of short stories, but I really enjoyed Hannah Tinti's debut work. Each story involves animals, sometimes as main characters, sometimes just barely. Each story does delve into the darker side of human nature. I usually race through books eager to find out what happens next. This book invites you to savor each story and really think about what is going on. All the stories don't end with pat endings. They leave you a bit hanging with just hints of what happens next. I really enjoyed her writing style.

Some stories hit everything right, like Animal Crackers. The story and characters are both memorable. Some stories like Preservation have very interesting characters but the story wasn't so keen. Each story did have something going for it-unique quirky characters or the manner of Ms. Tinti telling the story.

The book back states the book to be "strange, funny, and unnerving." I originally took that to mean humorous. After reading the book, I know that they mean funny as weird or strange. I liked least the stories that left one wondering if the character was going crazy- the woman who kept seeing her cadaver or the woman who thought the stuffed bear was tracking her. I know it was symbolic, but I thought it could have been better expressed.

All in all, a highly enjoyable read. Maybe I'll give more short stories a try!!

a pitch-perfect debut.......2004-07-21

Reviewed by Felicia C. Sullivan, Small Spiral Notebook

Animals take center stage in the bewitching debut story collection, Animal Crackers. In these perfectly pitched eleven stories, Hannah Tinti navigates strange relationships, absurd and quirky human behavior, personal desires and obsession.

In ?Reasonable Terms?, a team of African giraffes in proper union fashion draft a list of demands to a zookeeper including improved quality of life and a more exotic d?cor. Rather displeased with the slew of demands, the zookeeper publicly refuses to negotiate for ?he couldn?t have every species writing lists and such. What, for example, would the hippos demand? Or the wombats?? The crafty giraffes retaliate and initiate a media circus by faking their own death. What unravels are our capacity for fleeting hysteria and forget ? the obsession with scandal evasion and damage control. And when the photographers leave and the headlines subside, what is left are animals carted away to another zoo. In such beautiful Orwellian fashion, Tinti gives soul and individuality to these desperate creatures.

In ?Home Sweet Home?, a dog is eyewitness to the undoing of a quiet neighborhood and its complex inhabitants. A bored and lusty housewife, Pat, grows frustrated after the death of her husband Clyde?s father leaves Clyde impotent. Left to her own devices, Pat takes up with her next door neighbor, Mr. Mitchell. A brief affair with a Venezuelan prostitute results with Mitchell?s son, Manuel. The death of the mother brings the strange boy who is most comfortable hiding sleeping in garbage bins, to the Mitchell home and soon a surprising connection occurs between the child and Mrs. Mitchell, leaving the father to the wayside. Adultery and public indiscretions lead to a satisfying climax.

Dark human behavior is paramount and constructed beautifully by Tinti in the powerful, ?Slim?s Last Ride? . A year later after a father abandons his wife and child, a small rabbit arrives on the child?s doorstep. Through the course of the story, the mother watches in horror as her son projects his rage onto his pet. In ?Gallus Gallus? , an arrogant husband takes out his anger at his wife on her prized rooster. Animals serve to painfully mitigate characters who feel they have no other outlet for their longing or frustrations. Although Tinti doesn?t shy away from the gruesome, the brutality in her stories is never gratuitous, and is an accurate mirror for one?s psychology and pathological obsessions.

Overall, the tales in Animal Crackers are fascinating and exceptionally wrought but simply narrated. In Tinti?s stories one will never fumble on convoluted language and heavy-handed magical realism with animals serving as ?tropes?, but the reader will be won over by the author?s compassion for her characters and the fantastic animals that inhabit their lives.

Entertainingly Macabre.......2004-07-17

Hannah Tinti has written an array of entertaining dark stories. She is very talented and obviously has the gift of a very imaginative mind. For the reader that is looking for something dark and well written, this is a perfect choice for summer reading. It might as well be good for xmas, reading Animal Crackers might just make the reader a gentler, smarter person.

An Impressive and Engaging Debut.......2004-05-02

"Everyone who works with animals has a mark somewhere," observes an elephant keeper in the title story of Hannah Tinti's debut short story collection, ANIMAL CRACKERS. For some these marks are physical --- Sandy, who is in charge of the monkey house, has a scar across her face where a gorilla bit her; another elephant keeper has lost an arm. But for others, the marks are deeply psychological: Mike, a failed poet, trains sea lions and tries to pawn his chapbooks to zoogoers, and Ann sells tickets while obsessively guarding her bald cat.

"Animal Crackers" is a fitting introduction to the ten stories that follow, all of which explore characters' relationships with various animals and how they locate meaning in giraffes at the zoo, a neighbor's cat, a stuffed bear in a museum, or an ex-boyfriend's snake. Tinti, who co-founded and edits the literary magazine One Story, mines these human/animal interactions for surprisingly effective metaphors that eloquently reveal her characters' views of themselves and the world around them.

In "Reasonable Terms," three giraffes go on strike for better habitat conditions. Lying prone on the ground, their eyes rolled back and their tongues lolling out, they play dead and refuse to entertain their audiences. The predicament causes the zookeeper to reflect on his own marriage: "The zookeeper looked at the animals prostrate in the dirt and was reminded of pre-Darwinian concepts of evolution --- that the length of giraffes' necks was determined by stretching to obtain what they desire. He wondered if this kind of despair was inside Matilda." Tinti does not focuses solely on the human element: playing equal roles are giraffes Doe, Francesco, and especially Lulu, who learns to astral project herself and visits the zookeeper's dreams.

Tinti has a taste for bittersweet whimsy, which often results in stories marked by a wide-eyed magical realism. In "Preservation," Mary, the daughter of a well-known artist, works late afternoons and evenings restoring murals in a museum diorama. But when the museum gallery empties of visitors, a stuffed bear in the middle of the room seems to come to life. Tinti wisely underplays the effect, letting it complement and ultimately represent Mary's gradual realization of her father's mortality.

An entire collection of such concept-heavy stories risks repetition or inconsequentiality, but fortunately ANIMAL CRACKERS isn't intended as a stunt and Tinti doesn't make animals the center of every piece. In several stories, they play merely a tangential or sometimes abstract role. In "Hit Man of the Year," for example, a bison on a buffalo nickel symbolizes love and extinction for an Italian mob hitman. Dark and affecting, "Bloodworks" barely mentions a neighbor's cat until the last few pages when the story, about the parents of an increasingly menacing child, has grown bleakly unresolvable and nightmarishly hopeless. That this story can exist so closely and naturally with lighter fare like "Gallus gallus" --- which features, among other oddball characters, a man who never learned to tie his shoes --- reveals Tinti's considerable range of tone and emotion.

Not everything in ANIMAL CRACKERS works quite so well, however. Tinti's style is streamlined and focused, and every element is perfectly calibrated to exact a particular emotion from the reader or to reinforce a specific theme in the material. Such control is impressive, but too often, as in "Hit Man of the Year" and "Gallus gallus," it chokes the stories of spontaneity and creates the sense that the characters do not extend beyond the boundaries of the first and last sentences.

Tinti's conceptual derring-do occasionally outstrips her practical abilities, but ANIMAL CRACKERS remains an impressive and engaging debut from an author who has no fear of sticking her neck out.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent collection of poems.......2001-08-28

This book is a wonderful collaboration of unusual poems for young children...Not only are the poems interesting, Jane Dyer, as usual, does wonders with the illustrations. They are very capitvating even for the very young.

Excellent book for young toddlers!!.......1998-09-05

I bought this book for my daughter because of the title--she's addicted to animal crackers. She loves it!! We read it almost every day. The illustrations are beautiful.

Mile 1: Animal Crackers (Road to Writing)

Average customer rating:

Not only for beginning writers!

Mile 1: Animal Crackers (Road to Writing)
Mel Friedman , and Ellen Weiss
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0307454029
Release Date: 2000-03-17

Book Description

If you were the zookeeper for a day, what would you do with the animals? If you could invent a pet, what would it look like? Kids can draw and write about all kinds of silly animals in this Mile 1 Road to Writing title. Road to Writing books are designed to inspire and entertain young writers. In Mile 1 books, the focus is mainly on drawing, an excellent first writing activity that jump-starts creative expression.

Customer Reviews:

Not only for beginning writers!.......2002-05-01

This is a great book for young artists! The great picture prompts are wonderful suggestions for a child to create funny or realistic masterpieces.A good example may be the double page where the child is invited to draw a real scary animal and an invented one.
I think that most kids who love drawing and crayoning wuold find this workbook perfect, even if they are not absolute beginners in the art of writing.

Average customer rating:

A little confusing
I love, love, LOVE this book!
I have a different idea of healthy babies and children...
Pretty Book with interesting recipes
Charming collection, but could be improved

From Animal Crackers to Wild West Beans
Carol Timperley
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler

ASIN: 0809230224

Book Description

In today's fast-paced, fast food world, providing a child with an interesting and healthy diet on a daily basis is one of a parent's more challenging tasks. From Animal Crackers to Wild West Beans meets that challenge by presenting parents with an exciting collection of more than 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare vegetarian recipes for healthy babies and children.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian parents alike will find that this one-of-a-kind cookbook features meals that even the most finicky child will enjoy. Each delectable dish featured in From Animal Crackers to Wild West Beans contains nutritious ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes--helping a child learn to like these foods from the beginning of his or her life.

Customer Reviews:

A little confusing.......2006-06-16

I like this book for the most part and have gotten some good ideas from it but I only gave it three stars because it's confusing.
For example, in the 9 to 12 month section there is a recipe for honey glazed corn. Both of which are potential allergens. I'm pretty sure the US recommendation is not to give kids raw honey until after a year. There's also a lot of cheese, butter and milk in recipes in the 6 to 9 month section. Also confusing to me. Other books I have say to avoid dairy, especially milk until after a year.
The author is British, so maybe things are different over there? Whcih I also find confusing. The whole allergy thing is confusing to me and the introduction of certain foods. No baby food I've read does an adequate job of explaining the introduction schedule. Is the delay of certain foods because of the likelyhood of survivial if the baby has a serious allergic reaction of is it more to do with the ability to disgest certain foods due to maturity of the digestive system? Does any one really know? I've heard that in India watery peanut butter is baby's first food!
But any way, there are some good ideas in here, although I have largely ignored the age sections.
I also agree with the other posters and would like some healthier ideas, including more vegan alternatives and baking with whole wheat, flax, less sugar! How about no sugar.
Cathe Olson's books: Simply Natural Baby Food has some great ideas and she also has a good family cookbook called Vegetarian Mother's... something. Good healthy ideas for the entire family.

I love, love, LOVE this book!.......2005-09-19

I read and re-read this book for the first year of my son's life. I got wonderful recipe ideas and advice on freezing, too. My son enjoyed my purees very much. I always get compliments on what a "good eater" he is.
As we're not vegetarians, I also used, "Healthy Baby Meal Planner". These two books were a perfect pair for me.
A very pleasurable, informative book. When I have number two, I'll go right back to page one..no new books necessary!

I have a different idea of healthy babies and children..........2001-03-16

When my family and I became vegan, I needed some help with recipes for children. I found very few specifically vegan resources, and hoped that this book might have some vegan recipes.

It doesn't, and since it doesn't claim to be vegan that isn't a problem.

The problem, for me, is that the ingredients butter, cream, whole milk, and cheese are all throughout the book, most recipes containing more than one of those ingredients. I really can't imagine a baby or toddler being healthy eating SO MUCH saturated fat and cholesterol. Yes, their dietary needs are somewhat different from adults, but not so very different.

I was not able to try the recipes, but I rather think it should be a recipe book celebrating dairy and eggs. If you want to feed your kids lots of full-fat dairy and egg products, this is the book for you whether you are vegetarian or not.

If you want low-fat, whole-grain, vegetable-containing foods children will eat, skip this book altogether.

Pretty Book with interesting recipes.......2000-06-14

I was given this book by my lovely sister in law for my 2 children. Unfortunately, whilst the recipes sound lovely and they do work out, my family disliked all of them! I liked them but I am the only vegetarian in the house. I guess it depends what type of food you like. If you like the ingredients you will probably like the recipes. So if you are a vegetarian you will probably think it is great! Otherwise you may have a lot of converting to do.

Charming collection, but could be improved.......2000-04-18

Cute little drawings all over, easy to read. No nutritional info for each recipe. The recipes are organized by age of the baby. For instance, one chapter is called "First Flavors: 4-6 months" and another is called "Texture and Taste: 6-9 months."

The basic baby purees are pretty much vegan. Once you get into the recipes at 6 mos and over, there is a lot of egg, milk or dairy and will require adapting for a vegan family. Some of the adaptions are simple -- just using rice or soy milk instead of cow milk, others will require more experience with vegan cookery to make it come out right like in the baked goods.

I wonder about some of the selections because they use strong tasting ingredients like cabbage, curries, etc. An adult might enjoy them but I wonder how agreeable it would be for a baby? There is an effort though to keep the tone of the recipes simple and appealing to the average person.

The little smiley and unhappy faces with the boxes under each recipe is useful to check off how baby reacted to the food for future reference. Not a whole lot of margin space to write adaption or more comments though. Because a babies tastes change over time, I would have liked more space to note when I tried it again how baby reacted. Maybe several lines of happy and unhappy faces with a space to add the date?

Overall, it's a cute collection, and looks fun, but while I appreciate the effort to put together something that babies could deal with and create meals for adults that "pull out baby portions" easily for a toddler, I would have found it more useful if it had these things:

Notations for nutritional info per recipe.

If the recipe was vegan, ovo-, lacto- or lacto- ovo- with some kind of symbol

If the recipe freezes well with some kind of symbol

Space in back to write down allergies, etc.

More margin space to write down comments

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