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Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas (Hardcover) PreSchool-Grade 2–Lulu, a black-and-white mutt, is adored by her freckle-faced owner, a girl whose parents gently guide her through the various stages of caring for an aging and then very sick dog. When the inevitable happens, memories of the past and hope for the future bring a bittersweet conclusion to this straightforward and affecting story. The emotions of the nameless narrator are clearly and simply shown. She describes how, when Lulu became blind and deaf, she "…fed her from my hand and held her water bowl so she could drink." The pictures, too, excel in tenderness without sentimentality. The realistic-looking cartoons, done with watercolor, colored pencil, and pen and ink, strongly convey the personalities of both girl and dog as they share good times and difficult moments. While this book does not break any new ground, it is accessible and appealing, and the death of a pet is a perennial childhood issue. Two similar titles, DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan's A Dog Like Jack (Holiday, 1999) and Marjorie Blain Parker's Jasper's Day (Kids Can, 2002), feature boys as main characters, so a book about a girl facing the same situation is welcome.  Order Here |
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Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog by Pamela S. Turner (Hardcover) Grade 1-4 — In 1932, a dog won the hearts of the people of Japan after a newspaper article described his loyalty to his owner. Every afternoon, Hachiko would wait at the train station for Dr. Ueno. After the man died suddenly in 1925, the animal returned to the station every day to wait for him, until his own death in 1935. A bronze statue was placed at Shibuya Station to honor this extraordinary canine, and a festival is held there every April. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy named Kentaro, and his imagined interactions with the dog make the events come alive as he worries about and befriends this special creature. Years later, he is saddened by the news of the animal's death. The softly hued watercolor illustrations have a simplicity that brings to mind the style of Japanese woodcuts. Each small image of Hachiko expresses the personality of this furry, gentle creature. An author's note clarifies "The Story behind the Story." This touching tale will capture the hearts of young dog lovers. Order Here |
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Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman, Machiyo Kodaira (Illustrator) (Hardcover) Grade 3-5 — Newman adds characters and incidents to flesh out this true story of an Akita who became a national symbol for loyalty and hope by waiting — for 10 years — at a Japanese commuter train station for his dead master to return. Order Here |
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Blue Hat, Green Hat (Boynton, Sandra. Boynton Board Books.) by Sandra Boynton (Hardcover - January 1995) Read our own review of this excellent book in our Spring 2002 "Unleashed" newsletter. Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages. Order Here |
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Open Me...I'm a Dog
by Art Spiegelman (Illustrator)
Read our own review of this excellent book in our Spring 2002 "Unleashed" newsletter. Not so much a book as it is three-dimensional art, Art Spiegelman's Open Me ... I'm a Dog! is a fun romp through the usual expectations of children's stories, in this case a dog who is transformed into a book by a wizard. As the "book" tries to make its way back into being a dog, it gets turned into a variety of other things. Every page is filled with that sense of innocent wonder that appeals to children and adults alike. And after you finish the story (or before you even get to it), you can't help but be amazed by the completeness of the book/dog, from the furry end papers to the attached leash. Just don't let your cat see it. Order Here |
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Triangle Square Circle by William Wegman Board edition (May 1995) Read our own review of this excellent book in our Spring 2002 "Unleashed" newsletter. Ages 3^-5. Straying into board books, photographer Wegman and his famous weimaraners will probably add the very youngest to their growing pack of fans. Each of seven two-page spreads presents a shape: square, circle, triangle, rectangle, semicircle, arch, and star. On one left-hand page, Fay (an incomprehensibly well-trained weimaraner) balances a painted wooden shape on her head; on the right-hand page, she demonstrates the shape on a grander scale. For example, in one photo she creates an arch by stretching her lanky body across two rocks, and in another, she captains a boat with a crisp, white triangle-shaped sail. Wry but conceptually unmuddled in presentation, the book teaches shapes clearly and, thanks to Fay, will have great appeal for even the wiggliest toddler. Order Here |
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Good Dog, Carl : A Classic Board Book by Alexandra Day (Hardcover - February 1996) Read our own review of this excellent book in our Spring 2002 "Unleashed" newsletter. Alexandra Day's modern classic Good Dog Carl has sold more than 200,000 copies, captivating countless readers with the lovable rottweiler Carl, endearing illustrations, and the tale's surprising silliness. The book begins with the mother saying, "Look after the baby, Carl. I'll be back shortly." Let the adventure begin! Carl looks out the window to make sure Mom is gone. Once the coast is clear, the baby crawls out of the crib and onto Carl's back. First stop? Mom's bed. Second stop? The top of the dresser where powder puffs are sported as hats. The infant--now in Carl's capable paws--slides down the laundry chute, swims in the fish tank, dances, raids the refrigerator, and makes a huge mess. Carl dutifully bathes the baby, cleans up the chaos, puts his charge back in the crib, and plays it cool when Mom comes home. "Good dog, Carl!" she says upon her return. A sweet, subtly absurd picture book that jubilantly illustrates the old adage, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Order Here |
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The Private Life of Plants
by David Attenborough In The Private Life Of Plants, David Attenborough treks through rainforests, mountain ranges, deserts, beaches, and home gardens to show us things we might never have suspected about the vegetation that surrounds us. With their extraordinary sensibility, plants compete endlessly for survival and interact with animals and insects: the can see, count, communicate, adjust position, strike, and capture. Attenborough makes the plant world a vivid place for readers with lively descriptions and nearly 300 full-color photos showing plants in close detail. The Private Life Of Plants shows that plants fight, avoid or exploit predators or neighbors, struggle to find food, increase their territories, reproduce themselves, and establish their place in the sun. Covering a remarkable range of information with enthusiasm and clarity, helping the reader to look anew at the vegetation on which all life depends and which has an intriguing life of its own. The Private Life Of Plants will interest and inform any reader interested in exploring the natural world. Read our own review of this excellent book in our Fall 2001 "Unleashed" newsletter. Order Here |
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Food Pets Die for : Shocking Facts About Pet Food by Ann N. Martin, Michael W. Fox First book to investigate the commercial pet food industry. As the publisher of Ann N. Martin's book, "Food Pets Die For," I am most impressed with the thorough and meticulous investigation the author undertook for seven years. Her findings and facts are verified and footnoted throughout the book, revealing a shocking but truthful inside look at what is legally allowed in pet food. Martin has taken tremendous risks to uncover information that has never been published before. Her book is the first to look at this issue in depth. Hopefully, more voices will follow, and speak out on this issue. We at NewSage Press applaud her commitment as a consumer and as an author to challenge and expose the underpinnings of a multi-billion dollar industry---the pet food industry. Veterinarian Dr. Michael W. Fox says, "Ann Martin is to the pet food industry what Rachel Carson was to the petro-chemical-pesticide industry."Gar Smith of "Earth Island Journal," wrote, "Ann Martin's book rips the curtain off one of the most suppressed news stories of the decade...It took courage and amazing persistence to write this astounding book." I agree! Maureen R. Michelson Publisher, NewSage Press Order Here
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Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home : And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals
by Rupert Sheldrake
It's rare for a book's title to say so clearly what the book is about. In the case of Rupert Sheldrake's latest work, the controversial content is right on the front cover. Pet owners will see it and smile in recognition; skeptical scientists will shake their heads and mutter about "maverick scholars." We all know of cases of dogs (and cats) who know when their owners are coming home, who go to wait at the door or window 10 minutes or more before their human arrives. Conditioned by the tight rigor of contemporary scientific thinking, we either look for rational explanations or we file the phenomenon away in our minds as "unexplained" and are careful not to talk about it with our scientist friends. Sheldrake has shown in the past that he is not afraid to be labeled a rebel, thanks to his theory of morphic resonance, which suggests the following: Natural systems, or morphic units, at all levels of complexity are animated, organized, and coordinated by morphic fields, which contain an inherent memory. Natural systems inherit this collective memory from all previous things of their kind by a process called morphic resonance, with the result that patterns of development and behavior become increasingly habitual through repetition. Sheldrake believes that the "telepathy" between pets and humans, or between flocks of birds or schools of fish that move as a single organism, can be explained this theory. Sheldrake is less persuaded by anecdotes that suggest animal clairvoyance--warning of something in the near future--but refuses to disallow the possibility. He accepts that the case histories he details so thoroughly in this book are anecdotal, but that makes them no less real; and as a scientist himself he sets up experimental conditions for studying this previously ignored phenomenon that show beyond any doubt that the phenomenon exists. He castigates traditional scientists for their refusal to countenance anything that doesn't fit in with their existing paradigms (or prejudices) and challenges them to come up with some more "acceptable" explanation--but none is forthcoming. This fascinating book is a first attempt at a scientific investigation into a puzzling but quite common occurrence. One hopes that other scientists will follow Sheldrake's brave lead. Order Here
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Faithful Friends : Dogs in Life and Literatureby Frank Jackson (Editor)
Gathering material from the fifth century B.C. to the 1990s, this one-of-a-kind collection presents a rich diversity of human observations about all things canine. Featuring writers as varied as Ovid, Shakespeare, Ogden Nash and James Joyce, this superb collection has been organized to appeal to all dog-lovers. Order Here
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On the Road Again With Man's Best Friend, United States : A Detailed Guide to over 18,000 Accommodations That Welcome Pets by Dawn Habgood, Robert Habgood Paperback - 888 pages 2nd edition (April 2000) Book Description Reviewing hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and resorts that welcome pets, this guide to traveling with dogs (and cats) provides over 18,000 listings of pet-friendly accommodations. Each entry offers hotel contact information, number of rooms, corresponding rates, and pet policies, including pet fees, size and weight limitations, and pet amenities. Pet rules and regulations for state and national parks are also included. Order Here
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Good Owners Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson Paperback - 304 pages Manual edition (September 1999) Book Description A student of the renowned British trainer, Barbara Woodhouse, reveals the secrets of lifetime behavioral dog training techniques and provides information on everything from canine dietary needs to termperament testing. 50,000 first printing. One of the world's foremost experts on dog training and animal behavior offers a comprehensive, practical, and innovative guide to dog ownership, care, and training. Kilcommons teaches dog owners how to master the effective training skills that will result in obedient, well-behaved pets who can accompany their owners anywhere. Order Here
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Paws to Consider : Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family by Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson Hardcover - 256 pages (September 1999) Book Description Are you thinking of adopting a dog? Do you know which good-natured breeds adore kids-and cats? Which ones grow into loyal "one-man" dogs? Which courageous canines challenge intruders-and friends dropping by? Which "cute" breeds can turn into demanding pests? At long last here is the only guide to selecting a dog that looks at your lifestyle, takes your needs into consideration, and helps you choose accordingly. With forty-five years of experience between them, America's number-one dog trainers, Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, have seen both the headaches that happen when people pick the wrong dog, and the wondrous love and companionship that result with the right match. Now these experts speak out on the things most "dog books" don't tell you: the best qualities a breed offers and the real drawbacks a potential owner should know. With refreshing candor, Kilcommons and Wilson inform you about: Genetic health problems for all breeds: which popular breeds go bald, which big dogs get orthopedic problems, and why others get cancer. Daily exercise requirements: a once-a-day jog satisfies a Borzoi (yes, it makes a great city dog), while a Labrador needs hours of fetching and playing. Classic temperaments for nearly one hundred breeds: a Golden Retriever will desperately want to please you, but a Beagle will be deaf to your call if he finds a rabbit trail. Order Here
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Good Owners, Great Cats by Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson Hardcover - 224 pages (November 1995) Book Description Thinking of getting a cat? Read this book! Brian Kilcommons, an animal trainer for more than 20 years, and Sarah Wilson have written a book addressing all aspects of owning and caring for a cat. They explain the mechanics of cat ownership in a way that encompasses the emotional care necessary for a happy cat/owner relationship. In this lively, easy-to-read book (with a marvelous collection of feline photographs), subjects include taking care of a new kitten, raising a healthy cat, and understanding cat behavior. Scattered throughout are short stories about notable cats and their owners; one such story relates the account of Nermal, whose idea of fun was sliding down the laundry chute. Asides throughout the book relate such information as finding your lost cat, dealing with fleas, and choosing a veterinarian. Also helpful are the "Frequently Asked Questions" at the end of each chapter, which address those questions that one might not feel comfortable asking in a large group ("My kitten likes to chase flies. Is this okay?") Touted as "a guidebook for humans and their feline companions," this book is a must-read for any cat owner. Order Here
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Pack of Two : The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp Paperback - 249 pages (June 8, 1999) Book Description Caroline Knapp is head over heels in love--not with a human being, but with her mixed-breed dog, Lucille. From the moment Lucille first locked eyes with Knapp through the bars of an animal shelter cage, the intelligent, pointy-eared mutt began to transform Knapp's life. Reeling from the deaths of both her parents, a breakup with a long-term boyfriend, and her newly won sobriety after a 20-year battle with the bottle (which was skillfully chronicled in a previous memoir, Drinking: A Love Story), Knapp found in Lucille not only companionship, but "consistency, continuity, connection. In a word, love." Although she doesn't regard Lucille as a replacement for alcohol and lost loved ones, Knapp does believe "that in loving her I have had that sense of being filled anew and essentially redirected, an old identity shattered and a new one emerging in its stead." In Pack of Two Knapp, with the help of dog psychiatrists, trainers, breeders, and owners, explores the partnership between human and dog and the mysteries of the canine mind--how dogs love, how they think, and how they see human beings. And despite her findings that the dog will remain essentially "mysterious ... unknowable," Knapp is ultimately at peace with this, still devouring the moments when dog and human can "transcend the language barrier" to "understand what the other wants and feels." This book pays homage to the wonderful and complex relationship between one woman and her dog. Order Here
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The Man Who Listens to Horses by Caroline Knapp Hardcover - 258 pages (August 1997) (Also available in Paperback, Audio Cassette and Large Print) Book Description Monty Roberts is, as they say, the real horse whisperer--even if he does revile the last third of Nicholas Evans's romance. Yet Roberts also makes clear from the start that listening and close attention have more to do with gentling an animal than soi-disant whispering. As far as he's concerned, silent communication can "effectively cross over the boundary between human (the ultimate fight animal) and horse (the flight animal). Using their language, their system of communication, I could create a strong bond of trust. I would achieve cross-species communication." And achieve it he does. After one short session, he has even the wildest stallion nickering with ungulate abandon. Order Here
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