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I enjoyed this enormously, the illustrations are fabulous.

Outside of leaving out my favorite story of a beagle (the very best dogs), the end left me a little unsatisfied. I wanted to know if the Herriots still lived in Skeldale House, along with Sigfried's family, perhaps?

I love the illustrations, and they were very interesting, but I found that trying to read the notes in the margin as I went along detracted from the story,by breaking my attention. About halfway through, I stopped looking at them, and enjoyed the stories more. I then went back and went through the notes and the photographic plates.

A wonderful book. ( )

Although I have read all of James Herriot's books and most of these stories were familiar to me, this book was still a joy to read. The illustrations were a wonderful addition to the old tales. The informational side notes and illustrations were helpful, as many of the old farm tools, implements and veterinary devices he mentions are not familiar to most of us readers.

The photography included provides the necessary visual to go along with Herriot's descriptions of the natural beauty of Yorkshire, the farms where he practices and the little villages he passes through. Many readers probably appreciate the information and graphic examples of the different breeds of animals he mentions.

This book is a great way to introduce young readers to Herriot; each chapter is a nice length and the photography and illustrations keep a child interested in the story. Buy this book for the whole family to enjoy. ( )

I haven't read James Herriot since I was a child, but I have fond memories of his compassion for animals. As I have an impending visit to Yorkshire and the Dales, I was delighted to find this old collection of his at a thrift store. I really wanted to get an intimate view of the people and the place, and wow, this did that. Herriot's stories are a joy. Cozy, touching, and full of humanity. Sometimes that humanity is frustrating and selfish, other times sad (this book did make me cry a couple times), and also laugh out loud funny.

This particular edition was especially wonderful because it included far more than his stories. This dictionary-sized hardcover has illustrations throughout, and marginalia that provides insights on life in the Dales during the Victorian era up though the '50s. This includes factoids on animals, peat harvesting, and farm and veterinary equipment, and even some traditional recipes. There are also color photo sections sporadically throughout the book that discuss things like Yorkshire castles, pubs, and the native flora and fauna. As a research geek, this thrilled me. I was left with a comprehensive overview of the region and life the way it used to be.

If you're of this same mindset, it's well worth seeking out this particular edition. I intend to keep it on my shelf as a reference book for my writing. ( )