FALL STYLE

Book Reviews By Jason A. Heidemann


 
The Dog Ate It
Cooking for Yourself & Your Four-Legged Friends
By Linda Eckhardt and Barbara Bradley
(Gotham Books)

Americans barely have time to cook for themselves let alone their dogs, but this book argues that if canines are truly our best friends, we shouldn’t serve them anything less than the best. The book dishes up recipes for an entire meal, starting with a carrot-Craisin salad (human-friendly as well) for example, continuing with mom’s macaroni and cheese as the entree, and finishing off with banana mutt bread for dessert. There are even recipes for party hounds, including retro rumaki for Rover’s cocktail party and cheddar chomps. Bone appetit!


 
Dog Friendly Gardens
Garden Friendly Dogs
By Cheryl S. Smith
(Dogwise Publishing)

Gardens are the most treasured of human spaces and dogs hanging around in them can be a thorny issue, literally. But after reading this handy little book, you’ll emerge with a green thumb (or paw) that will empower you with the tools you need to create harmony between garden and dog. Smith covers all the basics, including flowers and shrubbery that are benevolent for pooches, proper petiquette, how to have a healthy lawn, and more. Happy gardening!


 
The Ultimate Cat Treat Cookbook
Homemade Goodies for Finicky Felines
By Liz Palika
(Wiley)

Meow-sers! It sure can be difficult to please cats. Unlike their canine friends, felines have acute tastes and sensibilities and have no trouble giving an inferior meal two paws down. But this little cookbook, chock-full of whimsical recipes and groovy illustrations, aims to please cats with an astounding array of goodies such as Happy Birthday Catnip Tea, Frozen Tuna Cow, and the always festive Christmas Kitty Canes.


 
Barkitecture
By Fred Albert
(Abbeville Press Publishers)

All we can say is that you will be stunned when you see how far people, both past and present, have gone to accommodate their canine friends. Check out historical homes like Eddie’s House, an arts-and-crafts-inspired design by Frank Lloyd Wright, or a 19th-century gothic-revival hut that still stands in Bangor, Maine. Of course today’s creations are no less inspired. An art-deco home in Siesta Key, Florida, offers relaxation for pooches Hobie and Ryely, while “On the Road to Zanzibar” is a faux Persian Palace that looks like it’s straight out of Arabian Nights.


 
Grooming Manual for the Cat and Dog
By Sue Dallas, Diana North, and Joanne Angus
(Blackwell Publishing)

Some grooming manuals sit up and beg for your attention with their fancy pictures of pampered animals, but this book has practical information everyone can use. Best of all, it accommodates both cats and dogs. This how-to manual lays out the nuts and bolts of proper grooming, and, more importantly, offers relevant tips and facts about hygiene and wellness.


The Cats’ House and Cats Into Everything
By Bob Walker
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)

Ever heard the expression “going to the cats?” It’s usually a sentiment reserved for canines, but just wait until you step into Bob Walker’s feline-centric world. The Cats’ House is all about how Walker and his wife have adjusted their home’s interiors to accommodate their nine cats (if you do the math, that’s more than 80 lives). The second book explores feline grooming, litter boxes, cat collages, feline photography, and much more.


 
Dog Parties
By Kimberly Schlegel Whitman
(Gibbs Smith)

No matter what the occasion, there’s no reason your canine pal shouldn’t celebrate in style. That’s where Dog Parties steps in. From happening Howl-oween bashes to extravagant birthday galas, this book has it all for the pooch that likes to entertain. Pet party expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman and her Chihuahua Lola show you how to pull out all the stops for the perfect puppy party.