All Creatures Great and Small

It's nice to read a book that feels like someone is telling you a story. Just as if you were listening to a friend chat away by the warmth of the fireplace, or sitting on a front porch on a lovely afternoon. Tales are told that are happy and sad, joyful and a little romantic.

All Creatures Great and Small takes the long and winding road to tell the tale of country veterinarian and author James Herriot (the pen name for James Alfred Wight). Set in 1940's Yorkshire, the book begins with Herriot joining the practice of Siegfried Farnen and his younger brother Tristan. His work encompasses both farm and domestic animals and he describes much of the animal care in correct medical terms (aka "a little gross"). But it's all part of life in the country, including some of the oddball characters he introduces us to- I just love Mrs. Pomfrey and her pampered little dog Tricky-Woo! This is the kind of book that the word "heartwarming" was invented for. Look for other books in the series, as well as James Herriot's Dog Stoires and James Herriot's Cat Stories.

I would also recommend watching All Creatures Great and Small the BBC TV series, filmed in the 70's, but still highly enjoyable and entertaining to watch.