Deserts and Jungles Book

These books are just precious! They are amongst the cutest books I've ever read!

I didn't realize until I was well into the first book that these are actually reprints. Arleta Richardson passed away in 2004. When I found this out, it made the stories even more dear to me.

The books consists of several short stories about Arleta's Grandmother's childhood and many of the lessons she had to learn the hard way. I found them all quite humorous!

My favorite was probably the one called, "High Society". Mabel(Arleta's grandmother) and her friend Sarah Jane get to see just how different life in the country and life in the city really is.

""We have a pretty hard life don't we, Ma?"

She straightened up and looked at me with amazement.

"Now why would you say a thing like that?"

"Well, Sarah Jane's cousin Laura is visiting from the city, and she says we do. Not just us O'Dells," I hastened to add, "but everyone who lives out here in the country. She says she doesn't know how we live without servants to do the work."

Ma went back to her kneading. "I can tell her if she's really interested."

"That's what Sarah Jane's ma told her too. But Laura says she thinks we must be terribly unhappy. Do you suppose we should be feeling bad and we just don't know it?""


This was an especially sweet story to me and it get better as it goes along.

There's also 4 full page black and white drawings in each book that really adds charm!

As content as I am with my precious little boys, it's books like these that make me hope for a little girl one day! ;)