Love Conquers All: Travels with Tarra by Carol Buckley

Hello, everyone!  Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  I've felt like I totally copped out and took advantage of one of my blogs features over the past two days....The Roving Reader piece normally does not appear back to back, but I did not get a chance to post a review yesterday and wanted to give you guys something to chew on (not literally, my dog does that enough!) in the mean time.  So, to all of you dedicated readers...forgive me? (insert sad puppy dog eyes image here) 

I would like to take one more moment (I'm almost done....)and mention a few new things going on around here.  First off, the MARK YOUR CALENDAR shown in my sidebar....here I intend to list upcoming events and book releases to watch for.  Grant it not EVERY new great noteworthy release will make it in, but I will give the old college try (where did that saying come from anyway?) and try to keep you posted.  Release dates will show in PINK and blog events will show in ORANGE.  You feedback is of course appreciated so whether you like them or less-than-like them, let me know!  ALSO, I am thinking about adding a WISH LIST to the site....but that's still up in the air.  Whew!  I'm done rambling...I promise! 

The book for today's anticipated post came to me as the result of winning a fantastic drawing held by @brimeetsbooks on her blog.  (Thanks, Bri!) The book was features during the recent blog tour for the title as published through Tilbury House...today's choice is......

Travels with Tarra
by
Carol Buckley

This is the heart warming true story of a young elephant brought to the human world for all the wrong reasons, and how she still finds the inner strength to thrive in the life she is given.  Originally named Fluffie (okay, I have to pause and comment on that...Fluffie?  That's like naming a Doberman, Princess!), she traveled to America to become the main attraction....at a car lot.  Although her owner took good care of her, there is more than food and shelter needed for these amazing creatures to thrive.  The main ingredient missing?  A family.

Elephants are social creatures seen in the fact that they usually travel in groups, or herds.  These packaderm packs consist of their relatives from various branches of their family tree as well as their close friends.  The love and care they receive from the group is essential to their development.  Luckily for Fluffie, Carol came into her life.  Renaming her Tarra was only the first step on their life-long journey.  They became best friends and even formed a family which included her precocious little puppy!  Tarra went on to be a multi-talented star able to play various instruments (even the harmonica!) and actively participate in amazing feats of agility (Try roller-skating....yeah, BIG jumbo elephant on 16 wheels...amazing!  I know people who can't do that!).

When it first arrived, I thought...wow, this will be a quick read, let's go!  (Hold on there!  Not you...I'm still reviewing here....)  Little did I know that I would be drawn into this amazing tale and have it touch me the way it did.  The story is from the heart and the photos along the way add to it's appeal.  The knowledge it imparts along the way is one for the ages.  Enjoying nature and it's living creatures in their appropriate habitats is way better, for them and for you, than keeping them as a pet no matter how well-intentioned you may be.  You'll laugh (again, an elephant on roller-skates!), you'll cry (lacking the physical bond she needs, she lets out a cry....you can almost hear it in the description), and jump for joy (**MINI-SPOILER**:  Happy Ending!)!  I'd definitely recommend this book for readers of all ages.  For more information, check out the site that goes along with Tarra and Carol's new home at The Elephant Sanctuary.  There are also other books about Tarra and her adventures (more on her bond with the puppy!) available through their site.

COMMENT CREATOR

Reflecting on the fact that this book is about "exotic pets"....let's see what types of pets you keep!  What kinds do you currently have?  If you could have any animal as a pet (and it would have NO effect on their development), which one would you choose and why? 

I personally have dogs....lots of dogs.  My own personal "kids" are 1 mixed pup, 1 Yorkie, 1 dachshund, and 1 mini-dachshund.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!