Entertaining and informative, Pets in America is a portrait of Americans' relationships with the cats, dogs, birds, fishes, rodents, and other animals we call our own. More than 60 percent of U.S. households have pets, and America grows more pet-friendly every day. But as Katherine C. Grier demonstrates, the ways we talk about and treat our pets--as companions, as children, and as objects of beauty, status, or pleasure--have their origins long ago. Grier begins with a natural history of animals as pets, then discusses the changing role of pets in family life, new standards of animal welfare, the problems presented by borderline cases such as livestock pets, and the marketing of both animals and pet products. She focuses particularly on the period between 1840 and 1940, when the emotional, behavioral, and commercial characteristics of contemporary pet keeping were established. The story is filled with the warmth and humor of anecdotes from period diaries, letters, catalogs, and newspapers. Filled with illustrations reflecting the whimsy, the devotion, and the commerce that have shaped centuries of American pet keeping, Pets in America ultimately shows how the history of pets has evolved alongside changing ideas about human nature, child development, and community life. This book accompanies a museum exhibit, "Pets in America," which opens at the McKissick Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, in December 2005 and will travel to five other cities from May 2006 through May 2008.

(back cover) This book focuses on developing a system using natural rock and sand as the foundation for a sustainable reef aquarium. Detailed step-by-step guidance throughout. Features more than 400 photos and illustrations.

For those drawn in by the hypnotic spirals of Uzumaki, this is your moment. Start coloring every single one of the spirals yourself! SPIRALS… THIS TOWN IS CONTAMINATED WITH SPIRALS… Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is haunted not by a person or being but a pattern: Uzumaki, the spiral—the hypnotic secret shape of the world. The bizarre masterpiece of horror manga, Uzumaki by Junji Ito, has been transformed into coloring book format. Color in each detail of the spirals and you may fall into a whirlpool of terror, never to escape!

Where Do I Put The Aquarium? The aquarium has always been regarded as having a close, almost symbolic association with the art of Feng Shui. Through this handy how-to book, readers can waddle through the subject of Water Feng Shui and understand the role and influence Water played in classical Feng Shui. Also included is a super-easy, Feng-Shui-It-Yourself section on familiarising yourself with the best way to answer the ultimate question above.

Give your underwater pets the best aquatic life ever! Aquarium fish are one of the most popular pets in America, with close to 150 million fish owned in nearly 13 million households. They seem like easy pets to care for, but there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to keeping your freshwater friends healthy and happy! Inside, you’ll find basic information to start your own freshwater aquarium, purchase and maintain healthy fish and plants, and find tips and tricks on how to introduce new fish and systems into your aquatic family. Understand the best aquarium set-up practices Build the luxury tanks of your dreams Maintain a thriving aquatic environment Discover many different ways to expand your hobby Perfect for beginner hobbyists and longtime aquarium enthusiasts alike, Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies makes it easier than ever to set up and take care of a freshwater aquarium—and the fish within it.

Little children will love bringing a coral reef, a lagoon or a penguin pool to life with hundreds of reusable stickers. Informative labels and easy-to-read introductions on each spread mean children also learn interesting facts about the creatures they encounter on each page. Sticker books are brilliant for developing essential fine motor skills and creativity as children carefully choose stickers for each scene. The compact format makes this a handy choice to pack for a holiday or on a car journey. The reusable stickers and fold-out page on which to store them make this the perfect activity book to complete again and again. Each scene is meticulously researched and checked by experts, so this is an enraging educational tool for children who enjoy learning about nature, animals, ocean life and more.