2001 CALENDAR REVIEWS

    Andrews & McMeel has almost cornered the market on this type of calendar. They call it "Day-to-Day". This style of "day-keeper" is available in a variety of styles. They run about 5-1/2 inches square and feature subjects like "CELEBRITIES," which is filled with jokes and quotes from the biggest stars of today. You might enjoy the "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?" and make everyday a challenge with Regis. "THE OFFICIAL eBay CALENDAR" is full of tips for bidders and information regarding the ins and outs of this huge auction site. All of these are $10.99. It costs a dollar more to get "THE FAR SIDE GALLERY" which features a Gary Larson giggle for every day of the coming new year.

  The Pomegrante folks have produced a wonderful calendar titled "GOREY YEAR" that is filled with 365 days of the mysterious art and words from the late Edward Gorey. At the sweet and cute end of pleasure is the "A.A. MILNE DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR" from Dutton Publishing for $10.99.

    Amcal is publishing their Thomas Kinkade calendar "PAINTER OF LIGHT" in several forms. The full-color daily calendar is for your desk ($11.99). They also publish four different monthly planners. Each features a different Kinkade painting for a small price. One other item that features this painter's works is the "ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR" for 2001.

   Desk and Engagement Diaries are a pleasant way to keep your year together. The "WINNIE-THE-POOH ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR" is filled with Pooisms and Poetry from A. A. Milne . It's about $14.00 from Dutton. "FLOWER FARIES", also from Dutton, is a charming collection young fairies for an enchanted year ($11.95).

    TideMark can always be counted on for enjoyable calendars. They have a "SARA STEELE DESK DIARY" for $14.95. This one is spiral bound and features 53 of artist Steel's favorite images ranging from flowers to landscapes. A portion of the sales of this diary go to The National Domestic Violence Hotline.  Another TideMark desk diary is called "TIGER". The color photos in this engaging publication are of the world's great cats. They are unique and a pleasure to spend a year with writing your notes.

   Arizona Highways is a well-known magazine that pictures the beauties of the roads and sights of Arizona. This year their "ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 2001 ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR" has sixty full-color photographs to enjoy all year for $10.95.

    Then there is the deluxe engagement book for 2001 that features "GOREY CATS". Most of these drawings are from the T. S. Elliot 's "Old Possum's Books of Cats" which Gorey illustrated and upon which, as I'm sure you know too well, the Andrew Lloyd Weber play "Cats" is based. The price is $16.95 for this hardcover collection. There is also a mini-calendar that features "THE GASHLYCRUMB TIMES" a collection of dark alphabet forms. These are both from the Pomegrante Publishers who appreciate this great artist who died this year. Also available is a full sized wall calendar with the title of "NEGLECTED MURDERESSES" ($13.95). Gorey fans will want all three of these titles. I do.

    Abrams Publishers are well known for their lovely art books. For the year 2001 they have released a couple of William Wegman's calendars that feature those Wiemaraner dogs that are dressed up for the year. "MAN'S BEST FRIEND" ($13.95) is a wall calendar full of these dogs that have become well known for their fashion sense and some great commercials on television. Abrams also has wall calendar of the "WILLIAM WEGMAN PUPPIES". Not dressed up with much more than their floppy ears. They are adorable.

   Dead Heads alert! Your Acid Test Productions of the newest calendar can be on your wall once more. This is "THE OFFICIAL 2001 GRATEFUL DEAD 13 MONTH CALENDAR" ($14.00). As usual it is filled with pictures of concerts and musicians. Each calendar page also has a pale black and white design that shows inside the month of days.

   Going from the whatever to the children's favorite "WINNIE-THE-POOH" from Dutton Children's Books ($9.00). A year with Pooh, his pictures and the words of A. A. Milne is a pleasure for the adults in the house also. After all we all love Pooh Bear.

Very small children are most fond of Peter Rabbit should still be reading this classic to their offspring because it is delightful. The Frederick Warne folks have published their yearly "PETER RABBIT WALL CALENDAR" ($9.99). The Beatrix Potter fans will always enjoy this calendar even when they get older and older. Peter and his friends adorn the months and there are 40 stickers to use that will help you remember special days.

   For the truly whimsical people we thank the Pomegrante publishers for another year of "CAT CALENDAR" ($13.98). The images of the Kliban cats never grows old. Kliban's marvelous images of our furry friends are sorely missed, so we are grateful that we can enjoy each month with one of his truly great cat-giggles.

   Speaking of cats, Fulcrum Publishing has selection of good photography showing "CATS IN THE GARDEN" ($11.95). These are adult cats in all their stylish beauty lounging in a garden that might be yours.

   For cat lovers there are a lot of choices. Willow Creek Press has a handsome addition that is called "WHAT CATS TEACH US" ($11.95). Lessons to learn are illustrated by cats and kittens while they teach us things like being quiet and showing affection. There is one for dog lovers also called "WHAT DOGS TEACH US" ($11.95). Also from Willow Creek Press is a "JUST CATS" wall calendar ($11.95) that is just that. Photo after close-up photos of cat close-ups that will make you say, "Awwww!" all year.

   Several publishers have calendars of wildlife that picture tigers. Tide-Mark has one that has 12 months of outstanding photographs of tigers in the wild and doing their thing. It's title is "TIGER" and sells for $11.95.

   Dogs come in many sizes and some are not dressed up. Just being themselves is a calendar called "JUST HUSKIES". I especially like Huskies. They are gorgeous with thick fur and interesting eyes. This one is from Willow Creek Press for $11.95.

   Let's not forget the sea and the wonderful "DOLPHINS" (11.95). Tide-Mark has a collection of dolphins in their element. They are playing and just being spectacular to watch.

   Maybe it's flowers you need for the year. "THE ILLUMINATED FLOWER" from Ronnie Sellers Productions will cost you $12.95 for all year prints of these stylized photos. They are from Jennifer O'Meara's collection of fine art prints. One more to check out is from Fulcrum titled "FLOWERS" ($11.95). For this price you get a year of massive flower gardens that show water-conservation principles - in other words these beautiful flower beds don't need much water to bloom into colorful sites.

   Willow Creek Press brings you a full year of wildly-colored "PURPLE FLOWERS". From lilacs to violets the colors of purple will brighten your wall for 2001.

   For a change of sights there is the "NATIVE AMERICAN MOONS" from Tide-Mark ($11.95). Each month presents a stylized painting showing the art of the modern Native American, with its colors and designs. The works are from Jonna Russell whose paintings are very attractive.
   You might enjoy "THE 2001 LUNAR CALENDAR" from Luna Press ($23.00). This is the 25th edition of this calendar and is for all moon lovers. It is filled with Astrological and astronomical moon-data among other things. As always this calendar is dedicated to the goddess in her many guises. In fact this calendar is crammed with artwork and information about our moon in all her phases.

   "ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 2001" wall calendar is a popular pictorial view of a state that has some of the most spectacular scenery in the U.S. Most people know the quality of the magazine and are aware that the photography they present of their state is awesome. You can get the calendar as a spiral bound wall calendar, which is not as sturdy as the $12.99 full size, color version. Spiral bound styles are handy but the artwork on the full-sized 2001 wall calendar is pretty awesome.