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Sharing The Earth-A Book Review

© Renie Burghardt

This week, I've decided to try my hand at a book review-something new for me. So I hope I can do justice to a very special book, a book about the animals, both tame and wild, that share our beautiful planet earth with us, enriching our lives.

Sharing The Earth, one of the books in Guideposts' exclusive series, Listening To The Animals, was published in 2000, and is edited by Phyllis Hobe. This is a book of true, inspirational stories about the animals that have blessed the lives of the writers in the book, with their faithful presence and love. And among the 30 or so contributing writers in this book, are some familiar names at Suite 101. Let me tell you about some of their special and touching stories.

In, "Message From a Friend," one of the stories from Jerri Brooker, former Contributing Editor of, Washington State we meet a little chipmunk that peeks into Jerri's bedroom, looking as if he wants to tell her something. Her husband, Bill, thinks the chipmunk might be thirsty, since it's so dry outside, so Jerri takes a plastic container of water out for him. She also puts out some bread, then wonders if it's a wise decision. But, Jerri is a warm-hearted, emotional human, who reacts to the little, wild creatures around their country place by providing a helping hand, because nature's little critters make her happy. I love Jerri's story, and you would too!

"Nature's Garden," is just one of several stories in the book by Mary Alward, former Contributing Editor of, Canadian Tourism, Travel, and Culture. Mary writes about growing up on a farm in southern Ontario, where she learned to love the various creatures that visited the farm. She tells us about her Mom's beautiful rock flower garden, where a profusion of flowers bloomed from spring to late fall, and where a little garter snake took up residence, too, much to her Mom's chagrin. There were some masked bandits, too, that tried to steal the Cherokee corn they grew every year, often succeeding, and foxes after chickens, and even a gray wolf that sauntered by for a while, before he was shot by a neighbor. Mary's story is a lovely nostalgic remembrance of an idyllic childhood on the farm, as well as an account of some of nature's beautiful creatures that inhabit her garden in town, these days. Of course, this is just a brief synopsis of Mary's story. You'll just have to read the book to enjoy the rest of it!