Book Reviews
By Sarah Dahnke
The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment
By Andrea Hurst and Beth Wilson
(New World Library)
Dogs, in their almost constant contentment, may ultimately embody the concept of enlightenment. With this in mind, this book provides musings about how to become as spiritually insightful as a peaceful pooch, alongside beautiful black and white photography by Zachary Folk. This canine adaptation of The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment celebrates the simple wisdom that makes dogs the loyal, lovable animals they are.
Cat Getting Out of a Bag
By Jeffrey Brown
(Chronicle Books)
Comic-book artist Jeffrey Brown has always seemed fixated on felines, as they make appearances in most of his work. Cat Getting Out of a Bag—a book that Brown says he wrote because everyone finds humor in funny home videos involving cats—follows his cat Misty as she sticks her head inside of half-full glasses, sharpens her claws on the sofa, stalks outdoor birds from inside the house, and other daily activities. The simple illustrations portray the traits that make cats quirky yet charismatically captivating.
The Best Dog Stories
Edited by Paul D. Staudohar
(Chicago Review Press)
This collection of 23 short stories spans the 20th and 21st centuries, bringing together timeless tales of man and dog written by notable novelists, such as Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. In his introduction, Staudohar notes that this “rich body of short fiction” has been inspired by the loyalty and affections of the canine species. Each of the stories reveals a special aspect of the human/animal bond between canines and authors from all over the world.
Doggie Homes
Barkitecture for Your Best Friend
Edited by Dawn Cusick
(Lark Books)
What better summer project than developing some new digs for your favorite furry friend? This print version of the DIY Network’s Barkitecture series starts with the basics of doghouse construction, then provides several building plans for shelters that suit all types of canines. It also offers plans for a canine supply cabinet as well as a list of basic building tools for novice craftsmen.
Picasso & Lump
A Dachshund’s Odyssey
By David Douglas Duncan
(Bulfinch Press)
Throughout his career, photographer David Douglas Duncan says one of his favorite subjects was his friend Pablo Picasso. Once Duncan’s Dachshund Lump decided he would rather take up residence with the world-famous artist than with him, Duncan embarked on a mission to portray the love affair between this man-and-canine duo. This book portrays Picasso’s uncommonly sensitive relationship with his furry friend, who became the subject of more than 40 of his paintings.
Henry’s World
By Cathy Conheim
(Breakthrough Press)
Henry, a rescued three-legged cat, won the heart of unsuspecting, self-proclaimed dog lover Cathy Conheim. She began exchanging e-mails with friends and other cat lovers to tell the story of her little survivor, who ended up being a symbol of inspiration to Conheim and other guardians of “tripods.” This book is a collection of these electronic exchanges, which chronicle Henry’s adventures and portray his resilience. Henry, via Conheim, has exchanged thousands of e-mails with people from all over the world, and he continues to inspire those who persevere after major setbacks.
Hachi-Ko
The Samurai Dog
By Shizuko O. Koster
(Publish America)
Hachi-Ko, known as “the samurai dog of Japan,” continued his almost-daily journey to the Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo for about seven years, even after his master died. His routine became a symbol of loyalty to the people of Japan, who erected a statue of Hachi-Ko that now guards the station. This book tells the story of the world’s most famous Akita dog, as he battles stray dogs, dogcatchers, and more, who aim to interfere with his regular excursion.
Alfie’s Bark Mitzvah
By Shari Cohen
(Little Five Star)
Just as Jewish boys and girls have a bar or bat mitzvah, Alfie the dog gets to celebrate his passage from puppyhood to adulthood with his own Bark Mitzvah. This lighthearted, beautifully illustrated book acts as a fun educational tool, allowing children to learn about the traditions of Jewish culture from the point of view of an adorable dog. As a bonus, the book comes with a CD of sing-along children’s songs based on the book.
The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment
By Andrea Hurst and Beth Wilson
(New World Library)
Dogs, in their almost constant contentment, may ultimately embody the concept of enlightenment. With this in mind, this book provides musings about how to become as spiritually insightful as a peaceful pooch, alongside beautiful black and white photography by Zachary Folk. This canine adaptation of The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment celebrates the simple wisdom that makes dogs the loyal, lovable animals they are. Cat Getting Out of a Bag
By Jeffrey Brown
(Chronicle Books)
Comic-book artist Jeffrey Brown has always seemed fixated on felines, as they make appearances in most of his work. Cat Getting Out of a Bag—a book that Brown says he wrote because everyone finds humor in funny home videos involving cats—follows his cat Misty as she sticks her head inside of half-full glasses, sharpens her claws on the sofa, stalks outdoor birds from inside the house, and other daily activities. The simple illustrations portray the traits that make cats quirky yet charismatically captivating.The Best Dog Stories
Edited by Paul D. Staudohar
(Chicago Review Press)
This collection of 23 short stories spans the 20th and 21st centuries, bringing together timeless tales of man and dog written by notable novelists, such as Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. In his introduction, Staudohar notes that this “rich body of short fiction” has been inspired by the loyalty and affections of the canine species. Each of the stories reveals a special aspect of the human/animal bond between canines and authors from all over the world.Doggie Homes
Barkitecture for Your Best Friend
Edited by Dawn Cusick
(Lark Books)
What better summer project than developing some new digs for your favorite furry friend? This print version of the DIY Network’s Barkitecture series starts with the basics of doghouse construction, then provides several building plans for shelters that suit all types of canines. It also offers plans for a canine supply cabinet as well as a list of basic building tools for novice craftsmen.Picasso & Lump
A Dachshund’s Odyssey
By David Douglas Duncan
(Bulfinch Press)
Throughout his career, photographer David Douglas Duncan says one of his favorite subjects was his friend Pablo Picasso. Once Duncan’s Dachshund Lump decided he would rather take up residence with the world-famous artist than with him, Duncan embarked on a mission to portray the love affair between this man-and-canine duo. This book portrays Picasso’s uncommonly sensitive relationship with his furry friend, who became the subject of more than 40 of his paintings. Henry’s World
By Cathy Conheim
(Breakthrough Press)
Henry, a rescued three-legged cat, won the heart of unsuspecting, self-proclaimed dog lover Cathy Conheim. She began exchanging e-mails with friends and other cat lovers to tell the story of her little survivor, who ended up being a symbol of inspiration to Conheim and other guardians of “tripods.” This book is a collection of these electronic exchanges, which chronicle Henry’s adventures and portray his resilience. Henry, via Conheim, has exchanged thousands of e-mails with people from all over the world, and he continues to inspire those who persevere after major setbacks.Hachi-Ko
The Samurai Dog
By Shizuko O. Koster
(Publish America)
Hachi-Ko, known as “the samurai dog of Japan,” continued his almost-daily journey to the Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo for about seven years, even after his master died. His routine became a symbol of loyalty to the people of Japan, who erected a statue of Hachi-Ko that now guards the station. This book tells the story of the world’s most famous Akita dog, as he battles stray dogs, dogcatchers, and more, who aim to interfere with his regular excursion.Alfie’s Bark Mitzvah
By Shari Cohen
(Little Five Star)
Just as Jewish boys and girls have a bar or bat mitzvah, Alfie the dog gets to celebrate his passage from puppyhood to adulthood with his own Bark Mitzvah. This lighthearted, beautifully illustrated book acts as a fun educational tool, allowing children to learn about the traditions of Jewish culture from the point of view of an adorable dog. As a bonus, the book comes with a CD of sing-along children’s songs based on the book.
