Book Reviews

By Sarah Dahnke

All God’s Creatures
The Blessing of Animal Companions
By Debra K. Farrington
(Paraclete Press)

Touched by the belief that there is a spiritual presence in all living beings, author Debra Farrington writes that caring for and nurturing animals is as good for them as it is for our own souls. The book takes the reader through a journey that begins with the basic care that pets need and ends with how to prepare a proper memorial to honor a pet’s life.




Angel Horses: Divine Messengers of Hope
Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love
Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort
By Allen and Linda Anderson
(New World Library)


This series by the husband-and-wife author team of Allen and Linda Anderson celebrates the human-animal bond and the different roles animals can play in our lives. Each book contains reader-submitted stories that tell about the life-saving events people have experienced with their pets.


Angel Dog Austin
A Love Story About a Heavenly Dog
By Teri Bennett
(Teri Bennett/Simply Different)

Angel Dog Austin, who lives in doggie heaven, tells the story of his life on earth in this colorfully illustrated children’s book. Even though the quality of his life declined as he got older, Austin says that where he is, everything is great again. At the end of the book, there is space to paste in photos of a lost pet and for a child to write about his or her favorite memories.



Animals and the Afterlife
By Kim Sheridan
(Hay House)

Embracing a topic that is sometimes criticized by skeptics, Animals and the Afterlife discusses the spiritual journey animals’ souls take after death. Sheridan offers testimonies from real-life accounts of those who had experiences that led them to believe their deceased animals experienced a faithful afterlife.








Blessing the Animals
By Lynn L. Caruso
(Skylight Paths)

Representing a wide range of faiths, Blessing the Animals aims to take readers on a spiritual journey to show how interconnected humans are with animals and the natural world. It compiles prayers, poems, stories, and quotes from people from all walks of life to celebrate animals’ contribution to the world.










Cliff and I
By JoAnne M. DeFluri
(Publishing Works)

When JoAnne DeFluri began a journal, which she used as therapy during her dog Cliff’s cancer treatments, she never intended for anyone else to read it. But as she became increasingly aware of the growing number of animals with cancer, she decided to make her story known. The book chronicles her dog’s battle with the disease and her emotions during the process. As a bonus, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book go to cancer research.







Coping with Pet Loss
By Robin Grey
(Sheldon Press)

Losing a pet is difficult at any age, whether the pet dies, is missing, or is stolen. Robin Grey’s book tackles a number of difficult topics relating to pet loss, teaching the reader that it is okay to grieve even though others may not understand the process. She also writes about helping children cope with pet loss, acknowledging that the loss of a pet may be a child’s first experience with death.









When a Family Pet Dies
A Guide to Dealing with Children’s Loss
By JoAnn Tuzeo-Jarolmen
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

Author and psychotherapist JoAnn Tuzeo-Jarolmen uses her 25 years of experience as a children’s grief counselor to explain the scientific side of bereavement. She poses a series of questions to the parents for whom this book is intended and follows them with advice on how to expect a child to deal with losing a pet and when professional help may be necessary.