We just finished reading this book as a read-aloud. I don't know a lot about Farley Mowat, but he was a Canadian naturalist and writer, and this is a book of reminiscences about his childhood companion, Mutt, who was rather . . . exceptional. This book is HILARIOUS! Ten combined thumbs-up from our family. Mowat's writing is exquisite--perhaps some of the most lyrical and powerful nature descriptions I've ever read, especially his haunting depictions of the western Canadian plains. Beautiful! It's worth reading just for that. Caution--for some inexplicable reason Mowat sprinkles his writing with "d***" words. It works best as a read-aloud, for then a judicious mama can black out or omit as necessary. :-) Terrific book!