Woody plants and cacti are vital staple foods for cattle, deer, and other wildlife in drought-prone South Texas. Ranchers, hunters, and land managers who need to identify these plants relied on A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs (published by Texas Parks & Wildlife Press and distributed by UT Press), which is no longer in print. Responding to ongoing demand for the book, Richard B. Taylor has completely updated and expanded it with seven new species, new photographs, and a quick plant identification key. Common Woody Plants and Cacti of South Texas is an easy-to-use plant identification field guide to fifty species that comprise an estimated 90 percent of the region's woody canopy cover north of the Rio Grande Valley. The species accounts include photographs, descriptions, values to livestock and wildlife, and nutritional information. The book also provides historical perspectives and information on brush management techniques and strategies, as well as habitat appraisal. All of these resources will enable readers to analyze stocking rates for deer and cattle, evaluate a prospective hunting lease, or buy property.

Volume 5. Indian Country, 51 pages, 47 pictures. The Chispita books are written on the premise that an adult reader can use the experiences of Pita to teach/enhance the life experiences of a growing child as well as the fun of games, puzzles and adventures that the world has to offer. Volume five Indian Country is an adventure to the ancient dwellings and mythical lands of the south west, using an "up front motor truck with a home on the back," (Pita's words ) Starting at Tucson Arizona the adventure takes our Pita Kid's north thru Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, to marvel at the histories and mythologies of the Anasazi, Mogollon, Hohokam, and Acoma peoples. Chispita has a lesson about snake's for her safety and learns that far away is good, but at Casa Grande when she hears about "Snake-Towns" with "Pit Houses and ball courts" only a Archaeologist can calm her mind. Pow-wow's, Grand Canyons and Dinosaur tracks are but a few of the wonders to entertain her Pita Kid's as the adventure proceeds north. At Monument Valley a side trip by horseback to the Betatakin ruins and Mystery Valley are the highlight of this area. Traveling on to Canyon De Chelly we are mystified by "Wind people," Spider Woman and Anasazi mythologies. Entering New Mexico we find the magnificent ruins of the Chaco Canyon culture, where the Pita Kid's will marvel at the "Ancient Ones" Observatories, Pictographs, Great Houses and Kivas. We all laugh when Pita finds a large? Green make-believe monster, but its here at the Pueblo Alto ruins where Chispita meets and makes friends with Earl the photographer, whom she will later team with to save the day, when a old bad snake intrudes. All punctuated by graphic photos, "enjoy"

Volume 3. Alaskan Cruise, 46 pages, 38 pictures. The Chispita books are written on the premise that an adult reader can use the experiences of Pita to teach and enhance the life experiences of a growing child as well as the fun of games, puzzles and adventures that the world has to offer. Volume three "Alaskan Cruise" finds Chispita taking her Pita Kid's on an adventure cruise from Vancouver Canada to Alaska, but the story does not begin here. No First we must learn again about Pita the working dog and understand the duties required by this amazing animal. A Pita game called "Circle, Triangle and Square where is your home" entertains the reader as the anticipation grows for the Bon Voyage party, of course little Chispita would not miss a opportunity to use this game for a language lesson, but the cruise awaits. Seven days aboard ship will give the Pita Kid's time to learn about Boats/Ships, Orcas, singing whales and also gravy boats, as they explore Ketchikan, with its Misty Fjords, Pita pillar and float plane adventure. Juneau gives us the Mendenhall glacier by dog sleigh, the brass dog story and Dutch night fun as well as an exciting helicopter ride. A ship race will push us further north to the town of Skagway, punctuated by a history lesson of the eighteen nineties gold rush days. A train ride to Chilkoot pass begins with a chug-chug-chug and a whooo-whooo-whoooo but makes little Pita think she has gone blind. Returning to Skagway Strange images will intrigue Chispita's Kid's and the formal night dinner party makes Pita sparkle in her Diamonds. The voyage on north thought Glacier Bay to Seward Alaska only adds to this adventure of a lifetime, all punctuated by graphic photos, "enjoy."

Volume 4. Alaskan Land Cruise, 62 pages, 57 pictures. The Chispita books are written on the premise that an adult reader can use the experiences of Pita to teach/enhance the life experiences of a growing child as well as the fun of games, puzzles and adventures that the world has to offer. In volume three "Alaskan Cruise" Chispita ventured to Alaska with her Pita Kid's by cruise ship, but as she said "The adventure does not end there." Volume four takes little Pita and her companions from Seward Alaska to Fairbanks by bus, train, airplane, jeep, raft, paddle wheeler and foot, with a stop at Denali park where they marvel at this land of the mid-night sun with it's many and varied story's. From Seward we travel by bus to Anchorage, along the way Pita visits the old folk's animal home to make new friends, at Anchorage we board our domed rail cars and venture north to Denali National Park and Preserve, where we stay for several days as we tour the preserve by bus, jeep, airplane and river raft to interact and photograph the wild life, and we do mean "WILD" as our bus is bumped by a mad Caribou and little Chispita learns from Chuck the Marmot and Lobo the Wolf how to play a good joke. At the preserve it's hard to say what is the most fun, but the flight by mule plane and sight seeing Mt. McKinley from our twin aircraft as well as the three day photo/camping tour with a professional photo guide, were but a few of the highlights. The adventure moves on to Fairbanks Alaska ending with paddle wheelers, 100# cabbages, gold panning and yuking up at the Alaskan pipe line. All punctuated by graphic photos, "enjoy."

Volume 2. The Pack Trip, 48 pages, 47 pictures. The Chispita books are written on the premise that an adult reader can use the adventures of Pita to teach a growing child. Volume two "The pack Trip" begins with Chispita giving a short reintroduction of herself and what her duties are, she moves on to enlightening her Pita Kids about the fun of flying in a small airplane and how to use math to find answers to everyday problems. As Chispita introduces her owner (buddy) she "specks" about the reasonability of having a pet buddy and the tasks required to keep him/her healthy and safe, a "BIG JOB." Seat belt safety and silly word games entertain the Pita Kid's before Chispita moves forward to their pack trip and fishing adventure, here we meet Yojimbo dog her guardian friend, Justy the horse, Mr. Crump the mule and Casper her own private pack amimal, a math problem let's her Pita Kid's discover how much food Casper must carry for their stay in the mountains. The introduction of Casper leads to a lesson in French, and the meeting Deoogee and Seeatee. So off they go into the Golden Trout wilderness where they will learn about Bears, Deer, Chipmunks' and Mountain Cats, don't drink the water And finding a new and funny way to discover north. Casper tumbles into the river, Pita and Jim get caught napping in a deer's bed and silly words keep the Pita Kid's intertained. Camp fires and marsh-mallows with song lead to sleepy nights, but fishing is what they came for and fishing is what they do, with a "BIG" surprise? But the adventure ends with an even "BIGGER" surprise about a mountain cat, but you'll need to read volume two to find out what it is, He- He.

Volume 1. Introduction, 40 pages, 33 pictures. The Chispita books are written on the premise that an adult reader can use the experiences of Pita to teach and enhance the life experiences of a growing child as well as the fun of games, puzzles and adventures that the world has to offer... Volume one seeks to introduce Chispita the Service dog extraordinaire and explains what a Service Dog does to help their owners, in her voice she explains how she was trained, the importance of eating the right foods and staying hydrated, brushing your teeth, exercise and don't snack, as she grows she is schooled on how she should behave in public places, the joy of helping others and having friends. As she explains the meaning of her name she use's this to offer a lesson in Spanish and how to calculate a Dog's age, moving forward she intoduces her Japenease "Shiba Inu" friend by giving a Japenease language lesson and explaining how by learning other languages you can help people and be a good naighbor. Astronomy is one of her "buddy's" (owner) hobbies and it's something she enjoys to, here she teaches the reader how to find north by using Polaris the North Star. She introduces the reader to Sir. Isaac Newton, telescopes, star parties, the speed of light, Planets, Galaxies, as well as the fun of discovery. Chispita gives the reader an insight into her Internet advertisement job with on online story about her accomplishments as a Service Dog. The volume ends with Chiapita reinforcing of the importance of having all types of friends, as they keep the World in balance. All punctuated by graphic photos, "enjoy."