This is a wonderfully warm and inviting depiction of the plains region. For those of us who are from the prairie, the book stirs appreciation and love for the land that has helped shape us. For those who are not from the prairie, the author offers a viewpoint that helps in understanding the beauty of the land and the people of the plains.

I loved this seminal work from some of Canada's finest poets, and for me, the opening stanza sums up just what is right about the work of Bouchard.

"Oh elephant, your nose is long,
Do you not think that it is wrong?"

Stunning.

this book is beautifully done. the words paint pictures and the pictures tell a story. i read it to my 3rd grade class and am planning to buy one for my 83 year old father for christmas!!

I love this book. The pictures are awesome, many of which were taken in the early 80's. Farms dominate the pictures. If you like pictures of barns, prairies, or trees you'll want to buy this book. It's just too bad these pictures aren't large and ion frames.

This is the book that I show to people when I try vainly to explain in words why a prairie view or a prairie skyscape is more inspiring to me than a mountain range. Although some of the photos are a little too posed and sentimental, the finest of them convey the power and austere beauty of this-often dismissed part of the country. Akin in their severe beauty to Zen or to Shaker design, the finest of these photographs will catch at your heart and your mind.

This collection of timeless photographs eloquently expresses the strength and sustenance we midwesterners draw from our environment. "Praireiscapes" reveals what many of us would never have taken notice of or been able to explain with words on our own--that the midwestern landscapes are glorious, and beautiful in a profound, enduring way. Kanfer has another book, "On Second Glance" which picks up where "Praireiscapes" ends, and there is an annual calendar of photographs widely available.I recommend them highly for anyone who appreciates fine art photography.

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

In 1831, on a suggestion from his doctor to travel west to improve his health, Josiah Gregg joined a wagon train of Sante Fe traders. The result is a highly acclaimed first hand narrative of the Sante Fe trade and life on the prairies during the 1830's. Gregg's vivid writing style illustrates the many hardships and adventures of life along the Sante Fe Trail and into Mexico. We read about traveling through barren deserts, inconsistencies of the weather, the always present danger of marauding Indians and Mexicans, the questionable Mexican governmental policies, etc. Being an amateur naturalist (he had several species of plants named after him), Gregg describes geographical landforms, geology, and plant and animal life extremely well. He also gives clear, precise and realistic descriptions of the cultures and customs of both the Indians and native Mexicans from how they dressed, to how they constructed their homes; religious, spiritual and matrimonial beliefs; how food was secured and prepared; theories on future agricultural practices and uses, etc. Gregg was a keen and acute observer of his immediate surroundings which is evident in both his writing style and presentation of the subject. Professor Moorhead's editing is second to none.

Shortly after Mexican Independence interest in establishing trade with Sante Fe, Mexico's most northerly province, became ever more popular. Josiah Gregg was preceded by Mountain Men who explored the area, but he was the first with sufficient education to describe the people, land features and Indians with whom traders would have to deal. His work constitues a PREFACE to other books dealing with the Santa Fe Trail and its growing interest to the United States. Independence, MO, and Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR. - were the northern and southern starting points for Santa Fe respectively. The book is as much a tale of encounters as it is a repository of valuable information. A 'FIRST READ' for persons interested in Santa Fe and the Westward Movement. Another of a variety of fascinating histories of the Southwest.

This exquisite volume is a MUST for anyone who loves 19th and 20th century American landscape art. From Keith Jacobshagen's breathtaking "Crow Call (Near the River)" to the works by Grant Wood and Alexandre Hogue, to the photos by Wolcott and Gerster, this catalog is a strong document, chronicalling the changing face of, and attitudes toward, the prairies. Buy it for the stunning artwork, cherish it for the depth of feeling

If you missed the exhibit during its tour,you must own a copy of this beautifully produced tribute to the art of the midwestern landscape

Although actually inspired by the Canadian prairie, the intricately-detailed drawings in this book reminded me unmistakably of the four years I lived in Kansas. It really captures the unique beauty (and architecture and weather) of the prairies, and of real farm and ranch life, and would be a great addition to any Midwestern school or public library collection as well as the family's. Children (and adults!) in other parts of the country will find it fascinating, too -- the drawings are very authentic, detailed, and full of fun surprises that kids will love. Also, instead of representing each letter of the alphabet with just one word, it uses the letter several times throughout a complete, entertaining sentence. I plan to send it to all the children I know in other regions of the country, and perhaps even abroad! A lovely, very educational and fun book.

The illustrations that accompany each letter are amazing. The pictures are beautiful and will keep a child's attention while demanding the appreciation of an adult reader. The sentences using the alphabet letter give an accurate descrition of prarie life and go well with each beautiful picture.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 29, 2001: "This book is a wonderful reference, beautifully illustrated."

These stories of the North American prairie lands provide a rich blend of generations of voices and stories of natural history and the land, blending poems, stories and essays with insights on both native peoples, geography and wildlife. The result is a multi-faceted collection which doesn't neatly fit into singular categories of natural history, geography or culture; but which embraces them all.

I really liked this book. For me it started slow, but by a few pages in I couldn't get enough. If you are interested in what farm life was like in Texas in the 1920's, this is for you. It goes into great detail about (obviously) planting and harvesting cotton, small town entertainment, churches, schools, food... the list is endless. Best of all, I talked to my grandparents, who grew up then verified it all. Want a good book about day to day farm life? Want to know what farmers used a hog's scrotum for? Buy it.

I consider Bogue's book to be an excellent research source for people interested in mid-19th century agriculture. It covers every aspect of agriculture during the formative years of Iowa and Illinois, and provides an ample beginning for someone looking to do research in this field.

Don Worster once again intertwines his artful use of words with the photographic mastery of Terry Evans to make The Inhabited Prairie a true masterpiece in landscape narrative. The writing, reminiscent of John McPhee, shows professor Worster's love of his native Kansas landscapes. Furthermore, the photography of Evans superbly depicts the Kansas landscape and prairie mixed with the marks of the modern world. From aerial shots of Stan Herd's monumental crop canvases to the ruins of days gone by, Evans & Worster collaborated to expose the natural beauty of a uniquely beautiful state. A pleasant read that should occupy sitting room tables across Kansas and the Great Plains.