Book Reviews

Cattitude

By Christine Montaquila, photographed by Kim Levin

 It's sex and the kitty! This small, but handsome volume rounds up a beautiful collection of cats and kittens and captures them in striking black-andwhite photography. All images are accompanied by Carrie Bradshaw-style commentary like, "Don't be afraid to show a little leg," "Clean windows only to improve your reflection," and "Hang out exclusively with people who adore you." The combination of witty text and top-notch pictures make this a diva-licious gift.
(Stewart, Tabori & Chang)

Hound for the Holidays

By Kim Levin and John O'Neill

 Take a couple dozen adorable dogs, drop them into a handful of winter wonderland settings and you end up with this delightful picture book. Look for a Dalmation with a face full of fruit cake, a curious hound with his head buried in the snow, and a number of other Yuletide pups. All images are shot in beautiful black and white.

(Andrews McMeel Publishing)

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul

Created by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker, D.V.M., Carol Kline, and Amy D. Shojai

 Move over Campbell's, these best-selling books just seem to fly off the shelf. After the hugely successful Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, series creators decided to let both dog and cat lovers have their day with an entire volume devoted exclusively to canines and felines. Contributors to the series include authors, veterinarians, rescuers and more, sharing their most heartfelt "tails" about the love and wisdom these pets bring into our lives.

(Health Communications, Inc.)

Dog People Do It Better: 200 ways our dogs teach us to love, laugh, and loosen up

By Theresa Mancuso

 This compact book is a collection of short essays from dog lovers all over the world. The book is divided into twelve chapters each containing a dozen or so dog tales as recounted by their guardians with a short bit of wisdom attached. For example, one person shares a story about how putting t-shirts on his dogs kept them calm when they heard loud noises. The moral is that fashion makes a difference in how you feel. All in all, a great fireside read during the cold winter nights.

(Adams Media)