In the beginning...

...there were The Flyaways, a family who traveled in their miraculous flying machine having daring adventures with Goldilocks and Cinderella. The first in the 3-book series by Alice Dale Hardy was published by Grosset and Dunlap in 1925 and copies are almost extinct. Few people remember Ma and Pa, Tommy and Susie Flyaway now.

I became acquainted with them on my grandfather's lap, my dear Grandpa Baker who read and read and read to me every evening for as many years as I can remember. I would hold my breath as each chapter ending neared, hoping he would not stop. I would keep begging for "just one more" chapter until his voice got so hoarse I would have to run to his room to get his throat lozenges.

Over the years we covered all of Uncle Wiggly and Honey Bunch, the Bobbsey Twins, the Five Little Peppers, the Wind in the Willow series, some of them more than once. He read to me until long after I could read everything for myself, until I was into Beverly Gray, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. I was safe and happy snuggled up on the couch with him and that feeling has never left me. I still read and read and read, and it still makes me feel safe and happy.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

This one deserves its own post

RESCUE INK is the fascinating story of a dozen or so burly tattooed Harley riders linked by their love of animals and their committment to animal rescue. Obviously, my cup of tea on several fronts. The cover of the book is an eyecatcher as these massive men are shown in various poses with baby kittens and dogs. Background info is provided on the guys themselves and touching stories about the animals - which include horses, ducks, pigs, birds, as well as cats and dogs - and the rescues. There is a lot of testosterone flowing here and crude humor underwritten with an amazing love of animals. What they do and how they do it is unorthodox and often made up on the spot and includes a fair degree of intimidation if necessary to save an animal from abuse. Based in Long Island, the guys travel by bike, van and plane wherever they are called, and are particularly good at and willing to track down stolen dogs. The organization is growing fast in only two years of existence and has been profiled on national TV. Google them. I loved it.

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