Pet Books

Taking only back seat to the first original Fancy Nancy story- we love this book. My kids especially love that Nancy even "scoops poop"- provokes laughter each time we read it. I am particularly fond of Mom and Dad for picking out the perfect pup, Frenchy, from the SPCA. And Frenchy is the perfect pup for Nancy! Mommy's High Heel Shoes

Fancy Nancy is delightful & this book does not disappoint. One very clever note I wanted to point out to all of you parents reading this book to your daughters...Nancy's dad says the dog is a LaSalle Spaniel - if you turn back a couple of pages you'll see that the animal shelter is the "LaSalle Street Animal Shelter" - TOO cute (I missed it the first few reads ;-))

I was a little disappointed with Bonjour Butterfly so I was hesitant to buy this one however upon reading it, I was quickly relieved!! It is adorable and has a good message too.

It's not bed time without hearing my four year-old beg for Fancy Nancy. Delightfully written, these books introduce great vocabulary and the illustrations are beautiful. We have spent a lot of time getting "fancy" at our house, which has truly helped develop my daughter's creativity and imagination. Makes a great gift paired with an outfit for dress up!

Fancy Nancy is about to get a new dog! Of course, her dog must be the fanciest -- a really Posh Puppy. When Nancy dog-sits a really Posh Pup, she realizes that he's not the right dog for her. (I guess those visits to the salon can get pretty old!)

There's a great lesson here when Nancy and her family go to the animal shelter to find a dog to rescue. Oh, his name is Fancy because it's Frenchy, and all's well that ends well.

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy is a wonderful example of the beautiful writing and illustrations that make this series so popular with young readers. Very, very recommended!

Only bad part is that I can't start using it till next year!! And I'm going to have trouble parting with each day's cute pic, how will I bring myself to rip eeeeeet off? I guess just knowing the next days pic is just as cute...

buy eeeet now!

an adorable composite from my number 1 website!
bought 2 for christmas presents, and they are great!

Thanks Amazon, thanks CO!

I love this calendar. I purchased 5 to give as gifts, and everyone has loved them. They are a must have for the office.

This calendar is fabulous, what else is there to say? A smile sitting on my desk, one for every day of the year.

The page-a-day calendar is an absolute must-have for all Cute Overload fans. It's even safe for those who have never visited CuteOverload.com - guaranteed to make you smile!

As an avid reader of 40+ years, I can honestly say that this is the only book I ever began re-reading the day after I finished it. It manages to be entertaining, intelligently crafted, well researched, thought-provoking and emotionally engaging all at once. I purchased 6 additional copies for friends and favorite dog care professionals, as I couldn't wait to share this book. In this book you get a unique window into the evolution of Ted and Merle's relationship through what seems to be both Ted and Merle's eyes. Ted and Merle's relationship is mutually respectful, emotionally intelligent and loving in a way that would put most human relationships to shame. They seem to truly be able to communicate and share their love of the outdoors in a way that most dog owners could only dream of achieving. Ted's astute observations of Merle's language and behaviors, coupled with his well-researched examples of studies in dog behavior, help us to understand and validate the context of his observations. The amazing thing is Ted is able to weave this scientific detail into the real-life observations in a way that enhances rather than interrupting the flow of the story.

Warning: Have a very big box of tissues ready for the last two chapters. I cried just as hard on the second reading as I did on the first. A truly, truly amazing book that I cannot even begin to do justice in describing here.

The brilliance and vulnerability of the author's writing challenged me to be a better human to my canine friends. Thank you, Ted. Thank you, Merle. Every time I hear Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, I'll remember you fondly and lift my heart in joyful appreciation for noble characters like you. Truly,

From page one, I envied Ted not only for finding a dog like Merle, but for living a life that is so well suited to a dog. What an amazing life Merle had, and all the way to the end! If only all of our dogs could have the freedom that Merle did...neurotic dogs would be an endangered species.

I cannot count on two hands the number of times I laughed out loud at Merle's antics, and at Ted's interpretations of them, while reading this book. And then, toward the end, I cried. I cried until my eyes were puffy and red, until my husband begged me to put down the book. The lives of the dogs in this book, as well as their humans' lives, are touching. This is a must read.

Did I love this book? Yes. But it is two books in one and one of the sections I found too long and of minimal interest. In fact, I purchased this book for my dog loving wife to read on the plane and she found the book too boring? Solution? Don't read the boring section if you find it as such.

The story of Merle and Ted is brillant, loving, caring, and of great interest that will leave you in tears at the end of the book. In fact, poor timing put me 100 pages away from finished at 11:00 at night which meant it was a 2:00 bedtime that night. Ted's relationship with his dog Merle is simple but complex and he does an excellent job describing how they communicate. Merle's life is much more rewarding than most dogs in a small town in the wilderness able to live without leash laws. As good as this book is in describing the relationship between dog and owner, the bonus is Ted's one long-standing female relationship with a younger, much taller woman who buys a similar dog.

The part of the book that is less enjoyable is when Ted discusses the theory of dog behavior. It is interwoven throughout the book and while interesting and informative, it does detract from the owner/dog relationship and pushes the book much longer than it needs to be. But this shouldn't penalize the absolute great story than any dog lover will enjoy reading. So, read it all, or I told my wife, skip the theory until you get to a paragraph that has the word "Merle" in it and you will get a great payoff.

Good book but I was somewhat disapointed. I wanted to read about Merle really not interested in all other info that was included. Way to much of it. Felt like I was back in college when all I wanted to do was read about this beautiful animal. I by passed that stuff and read just about Merle.

I bought this book to help my wife and daughter cope with the recent death of our 8 year old dog. I laughed and cried myself as I read it, and could almost see our little mongrel speaking the words to me with that way dogs look at those they love. The simple steps (messages) of loving others, being grateful and happy may seem like something out of a 12-step program, but trying to put them into context of loss and grief helped me understand that we have choices to remember the good, or go on living with sadness. I'll see my Chiqui some day at Rainbow Bridge!

Buy this book. After you read it, you'll be able to throw away any self-help books you may have read in the past, because you won't need them any more.
Everything you need to know to make you happy - it's all in here. Happiness is simple when you have a dog explain it to you.

Trixie Koontz's new book, "Bliss to You", is a testament to what happens when an author has a unique insight into human nature that can only come from living among them with a loving, yet realistic and accepting heart. In her third book (and the first pawed from the other side), Trixie outlines her eight steps for humans to find bliss in their lives (calm, beauty, fun, meaning, others, humility, loss, gratitude). The simplicity, yet poignant accuracy of her wisdoms hits home delivering a wild ride of tears and laughs all rolled into one tremendous book. You need only to look into the eyes of our dog friends, as we do with our own Golden, to know that Trixie's wisdom is truth for us all.

Thank you Trixie!

I am totally and completely a "Trixie Fan." I swear that if she had a Fan Club - I would want to be President of it. Or at least in charge of the membership drive! LOL

I believe that our pets do wait for us. And I feel sorry for the cynics that choose not to believe this. That said, I have never anticipated a book more than BLISS TO YOU. Frankly...it was worth the wait.

BLISS TO YOU is funny, sweet, informative and PROFOUND. It is the perfect gift to give every dog lover in your life. Also perfect for everyone whom you care about in your life who maybe is feeling low or depressed or doesn't seem to know what his purpose is in life.

And remember! ALL of the proceeds from BLISS TO YOU go to support Trixie's favorite charity: Canine Companions for Independence! (CCI) This is SUCH a worthwhile organization and it helps so many individuals and soldiers who are incapacitated or in wheelchairs or deaf.

The book itself is beautiful and absolutely great for displaying on your coffee table. But what is INSIDE this book is even MORE beautiful. Lessons about life from our favorite TOTOS. (Trixie On The Other Side.)

Have just bought this book because Harry reminds me of my previous Lab "Jay" who was put down at 13 1/2. It was the most wrenching decision I have made, but the most right decision. If you own a dog, have loved a dog or have a friend who IS a dog, then this is a must have book for you.
Harry's story made me cry too. Have the Kleenex handy.

If the excerpt in today's Washington Post is any indication, this book is going to be beyond words. You'll see why Gene won a Pulitzer Prize this year for his writing -- evocative, picturesque, meaningful.

(And I'm a cat person, too.)

Hats off, gentlemen -- a Gene-ius!

I have nothing against the cuteness of puppies, but that territory has been well covered in the book world. Hence, I was thrilled to stumble upon this book, which perfectly spotlights the extraordinarily charm of old dogs. Marrying together wonderful photographs with witty biographies, the book captures what makes old dogs so great: their unapologetic quirks, their enduring mischievousness and their rock-solid love. Every type of dog imaginable is covered in this book, and every type of owner is allowed to give their unique testimonies about why old dogs truly are the best dogs.

My Stanley, who is on page 18, died this year on July 31. I wasn't certain the book was being published, nor if Stanley had "made it". If he hadn't, it would not have changed my love of this homage to our best old friends. I took the book with me to give to my 86 year old mother, living in Assisted Living, and I read aloud the introduction. My mother cannot see well, but knew my Stanley and rescued close to 20 dogs in her life.
Together we cried as I read "Remembering Harry".

Thank you Gene and Michael!!!

Love the idea of a tribute to older dogs! The soulful eyes of older dogs of all shapes and sizes are captured beautifully in black and white photography. I will be proud to display this book on my coffee table for all my dog lover friends to peruse. Especially enjoyed the "Winnie and Lucky" photo.

Our family loves all the pigeon stories. The Puppy version is very cute and kids can relate to the pigeon's plea. However this story has not been as much fun to read as the other pigeon stories because it is less interactive. In Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, kids get to enthusiastically tell the pigeon "no!" on almost every page which is most of the fun. This story does not give kids as much of an opportunity to play disciplinarian--a big and unusual role for a preschooler.

This was our first Mo Willems book and my great grandchildren loved it!
Funny, well drawn, and contains a great lesson, too. We'll be adding to our Mo Willems library.

my granddaughter enjoyed this book; also she read it to her 2 yr. old sister, which help with her reading skills.

I mean, they just set such a high standard, really....

The thing is, my nieces don't find the jokes in this one that funny to start. I mean, they get them, but only once I kinda wink at them and highlight that "hey, that was just a joke", and it's not... that worth it. They request the earlier pigeon books much more often.

The ones at the end are easier for them, but by then the book is almost over.

Still a good book, just not as great as the others.

Who doesn't love the pigeon? He has feelings we can all relate to at times. Mo Willems does not let us down in his latest book. But...we want MORE!!!

Okay, so this is probably as preachy as Dr. Suess gets, and it just might get on the nerves of some people, but the tree hugger in me salutes him for it, even as he paints a grimmer picture of environmental destruction than Al Gore ever thought of.

Even so, it's clearly Suess with his imaginative worlds and funny characters.

It's a solemn book of warning that it pretty darn good into scaring kids into being careful with the environment.

And that's not a bad thing.

I could not wait to present this lesson to the class this year. Teaching seventh grade and the 5 themes of geography this book lends itself to many of those themes but mostly human-environmental interaction (how human interact and change the environment to fit their needs). Not only does this book show that but it really visualizes how we negatively impact the Earth for our own selfish needs. Again my students are in love with the facts that I am reading them a storybook and after the discussion they see that it isn't a plain, old storybook but it really does have a significant meaning.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

While most Dr. Suess stories are pure fun without any heavy message, The Lorax delivers an extremely blunt lesson on ecology. What's amazing is that Dr. Suess does this with a narrative that is engaging, entertaining and ultimately inspiring. You might think a book with such a heavy message could be a turn-off to young children, but I have found the opposite. My preschoolers find this story absorbing. I think they understand there is something truly important at stake, so the book means more to them than other Dr. Suess titles.

Is it a coincidence that Thneed rhymes with Deadly Sin #3? Growth for the sake of growth is where we are today. This too shall pass, UNLESS....

Dr. Seuss, turned holier-than-thou by his elevated status in society, decides to preach to us about the evils of industrialization. Does he realize that the many millions of copies of "The Lorax" were all made in factories, using paper that came from trees?

I am puzzled by reviewers who gave this book diminished reviews because it has Heaven and God as central characters. Did they read the excerpts clearly shown here? Did you notice the title "Dog Heaven," yes as in heaven? Guess you didn't put two and two together before you purchased it? Seems petty to ding the book beacuse you couldnt figure this one out....
This sweet, sinple, comforting book is the perfect gift for any friend who loses their beloved canine companion. Like others, I always keep a few copies on hand as people seem to really appreciate it as a gift at the right time. Its a lovely dream of where we wish and hope our precious friends have gone. I dearly love this book.

When my dog passed away last November, a friend sent me this book. It still makes me cry when I read it to my 3-year-old. But I love it. It's very sweet. I'm NOT religious at all, but I still got a lot out of the book.
Recently, my mother-in-law's dog died, so I sent it to her. She loved it, too.

Beautifully illustrated with bright, bold colors, this touching text will make you smile at the same time it brings tears to your eyes. It is perfect for anyone, adult or child, who has had to say good-by to a much loved and faithful companion.

Dog Heaven
We have sent this book to several friends who have lost their much loved pets over the years. It seem to let them know someone else cares for thier loss and the book does this in a very up lifting way.

I was given this book as an adult during the loss of a pet when words were of small consolation. Written and illustrated in childrens' format, it is both uplifting and comforting to both children and adults. I have now given it several times over to pet owners who say the same.

He is my favorite author....involves his audience right away, makes the reader feel like extended family...has excellent balanced perspective., and captures the essence of his animals, and for those that share that love of animals, he gives us an extended animal family as well.

This is probably Jon Katz's most personal book yet, and one of his finest. There is some soul-searching here, but also enough focus on others -- with extremely well-drawn portraits of his dogs and, most touchingly, the hospice patients they help -- to keep it from becoming self-centered. It is a continuation of the story of Bedlam Farm, but you don't need to have read Katz's earlier books to find this one moving, entertaining, and, in its examination of the human-animal bond, often thought-provoking and enlightening. Katz has become deeply engaged with photography in recent years (as chronicled on his excellent blog) and the beautiful black and white photos here add yet another dimension to a really lovely book.

Jon's story is really about many journeys intertwined. At the center is an abandoned dog named Izzy and the discovery of his amazing gift for shepherding humans through the most difficult transitions they will ever face. Along the way, Jon experiences a journey deep into himself, to a place he's avoided for too long. Thanks to Lenore (the adorable face on the cover), Izzy, Rosie, Elvis and a few very special humans, Jon was able to cross the valley of shadows and share a story of hope, love, compassion, and understanding.

For anyone whose life has been touched by the unconditional love of a dog (or really any animal), this book will make perfect sense. I purchased it on a whim one particularly rotten morning on my way to work, and finished it the same day. Thanks to Jon, Izzy, Lenore and the others, I have new hope for my own journey...

Katz seems to have found a new voice for himself...a voice in which he can speak to the reader with more sincerity, more feeling, and to be honest an easier more flowing speech. This book reads like travel literature, moving easily from section to section, experience to experience. The dogs are once again front and center, but I felt as though their 'voices' were more distinct. I felt that this book was much easier to read and enjoy than his previous titles, although it should be noted that some of the subject matter may be a little too close to home for some. Katz approaches these moments with humor and at the same time sensitivity...dare I suggest the word grace. An excellent read for anyone interested in the power of dogs and the bond between spirits.

I've read all Jon's books and loved them all. But, this one is my all time favorite. It touched my heart so deeply. Jon portrayed beautifully the connection between dogs and humans. His honesty about not always finding the right words to describe this connection was refreshing. Sometimes things just don't have an explanation. They can only be felt with the heart. Jon does this so eloquently in Izzy and Lenore. My own dog, who is in a wheelchair, does therapy work with hospital patients and assisted senior facilities. What transpires when she interacts with them is absolute love on a level most times I cannot find words for. All I know is that I witness something bigger than myself. Bravo, Jon for sharing Izzy and Lenore with hospice and nursing home residents and now sharing those beautiful stories with the world... what a gift for everyone.