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How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books)
 
 
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How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Carol Cawthra Hopcraft (Illustrator) "When Dooms came, I wasn't born yet..." (more)
Key Phrases: Wami Ranch
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Price: $9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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  Hardcover, March 31, 1997 -- -- $0.75
  Paperback, July 31, 2000 $9.99 $5.94 $0.79

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Duma (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Alex Michaeletos

How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books) + Duma (Full Screen Edition)
  • This item: How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books) by Xan Hopcraft

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Duma (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Alex Michaeletos

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5. In this photo-essay, 12-year-old Xan Hopcraft recounts the life of Dooms, a cheetah who lived on the Hopcrafts' game ranch in Kenya until Xan was 7. Although readers will learn some facts about cheetahs, Dooms seems more like an overgrown pet than a wild animal. The inclusion of wildlife photographer Carol Hopcraft's pictures from the family album reinforces this perception. The family's close relationship with Dooms is apparent, and his death affected his human companions deeply. Yet Xan's comments often seem too reflective and philosophical for someone so young, and he sometimes ascribes human emotions and attitudes to the big cat. The prevailing sense of Dooms as an exotic pet is reinforced by the book's ending, when the veterinarian brings a baby cheetah for the family to raise after Dooms's death. A possible purchase for those interested in interactions between human and unusual animals but hardly an informative or representative study of life in the wild.?Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From Booklist

Gr. 2^-4. Following the death of their beloved pet, 12-year-old Xan and his mother, Carol, decided to put together a scrapbook of memories about Dooms, the family's cheetah. Abandoned as a baby, Dooms came to live with the Hopcrafts on their wildlife ranch near Nairobi, Kenya. Although treated as a pet, Dooms also spent part of his time hunting in the wild. The story, dictated by Xan and transcribed by his mother, comes across as simple and direct, though some of the conversational fragments may bother some readers. The illustrations, a combination of family photos (the elder Hopcraft is a wildlife photographer by profession) and Xan's drawings, show the amazing landscape and wildlife of Africa as well as the gentle interaction of Dooms with family members. Although there are no cautions offered about the dangers of keeping wild animals as pets, Dooms is sure to charm animal lovers everywhere. Kay Weisman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Paperback: 64 pages
  • Publisher: Aladdin (August 1, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0689835396
  • ISBN-13: 978-0689835391
  • Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,320 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #21 in  Books > Children's Books > Animals > Lions, Tigers & Leopards > Nonfiction
    #41 in  Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets > Nonfiction
    #43 in  Books > Children's Books > Animals > Lions, Tigers & Leopards > Fiction

More About the Author

Xan Hopcraft
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
When Dooms came, I wasn't born yet. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wami Ranch
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Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books)
58% buy the item featured on this page:
How it Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa (Aladdin Picture Books) 4.6 out of 5 stars (11)
$9.99
Cheetahs (WLL)
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for animal lovers of any age., November 18, 1998
By A Customer
I heard about this book on National Public Radio some time ago and bought it for my 7-year-old nephew. I had a hard time giving it up. The story is told from the boy's perspective, which can get a little self-conscious. But the text and photos tell an incredible story of a family's relationship and affection for a marvelous animal few of us will ever be able to get this close to. It's now one of my nephew's favorite books .... and mine, too.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible story incredible pictures, July 24, 2006
My son wanted this book when he heard about it at a book fair at school. It is an incredible book. We love the way it is written from a little boys perspective (Xan was 10 when the book was written.) We recently had the opportunity to meet Carol Hopcraft and her husband when they came to our city. Dooms was not really a pet - he was free to go as he liked - but he did not ever leave them. He hunted - he was not feed like a pet once he reached maturity. Shallah, his successor, did the same. I am sure their current cheetah does it as well. The book is heartwarming and is written with the love and respect they had for Dooms. This is even more evident when they talk about their life with Dooms. They, more than most of us, understand that cheetahs are wild animals. This book is not meant to tote the benefits of have a pet cheetah - it is book about the bond between humans and animals.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Kids or Adults, July 11, 2006
By Dr. Zauis (Victoria B.C.) - See all my reviews
Why is it that "kids" books are sometimes so much more interesting than Adult books? As if upon reaching adulthood we some how lose interest in animals. Well, perhaps I'm a kid at heart. I found this a great book. This is a very touching story about a family's relationship with an adopted Cheetah Cub. The story is simple yet full of truth and insight. For me, it highlights the need to see animals as dignified creatures in need of our compassion and protection. This is a book that will hopefully send an important message to young readers.Regardless of whether Cheetahs should be or should not be, or were or were not domesticated, this is a cool book with neat photos and I highly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing like the movie, "Duma"
First of all, it's a fine book, and we like it, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. So I'm not knocking the book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sonja

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for cheetah lovers
Being fascinated by big cats and cheetahs in particular, I loved this book. Seeing pictures of Dooms so relaxed with Xan as a baby was so amazing. Read more
Published on November 7, 2007 by Lena Boone

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful movie. Will buy the book
Having recently seen the movie Duma, I feel like I must buy this book. For all those considering purchasing it, please ignore the empiricist, who, in the first editorial review... Read more
Published on July 15, 2007 by K. Grinder

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful True Story
How It Was With Dooms is the wonderful true story of one family's adventure raising an orphaned cheetah in Africa. The movie Duma was based on this story. Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by M. Ledford

2.0 out of 5 stars Dooms
Actually, cheetahs are not and have never been domesticated, and they are and always have been very difficult to breed in captivity. Read more
Published on June 10, 2006 by Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing cheetah pictures, glimpse into a cool way of life
We love this book! The pictures are amazing. I just wish they were twice as big. I would love to see a reprint on large, glossy paper. Read more
Published on January 15, 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice non-preachy book on a wild animal as a pet
What many people don't realize, is that the cheetah was once a domesticated animal. Bred by the ancient egyptians as pets and hunting animals, they still retain a lot of their... Read more
Published on September 29, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars not just for the kids - parents will love it too.
one of the most delightful 'happy ending' stories the little ones (or their parents!) will ever read. This is a 'children's book' you'll be proud to leave on your coffee table.
Published on June 10, 1998

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