Posts tagged "animal books"

When you love animals as much as we do, you find yourself drawn to animal-related items in every walk of life, and that includes reading material. These are a few of the animal books that I've been recommending to friends.

"100 Heartbeats: the Race to Save the Earth's Most Endangered Species," by Jeff Corwin
We won't lie -- this isn't the easiest read you'll find, but then again, it's never easy to read about animals suffering the effects of climate change. However, Corwin is careful to not only write about the animals facing possible extinction, but also write about what's being done to help them. He includes success stories from years past to show that there is hope and includes enough personal anecdotes to make each of these species, even the ones that aren't cute or cuddly, tug at your heartstrings.

Whether you're looking for gifts for the holidays or seeking inspiration for an everyday read, here are several great books for kids who love animals.

"Nothing But a Dog," (ages 4–8)
This book by Bobbie Katz was originally published in the early 1970s by the Feminist Press. It was considered forward-thinking because the female main character's hobbies included tree climbing and working with tools. Almost 40 years later, the storyline feels delightfully current and the new illustrations from Jane Manning are charming. Of course, the story's main question remains: When you want a dog, will anything else do?


"One More Acorn," (ages 3+)
Though Don Freeman, the author of the classic children's book, "Corduroy" died in 1978, his son Roy, came across the beginnings of another book, "One More Acorn," and decided to complete his father's work. Don Freeman had begun the story after a trip to Washington, D.C. in 1963 but abandoned the manuscript after the assassination of President Kennedy. Roy Freeman finished the story, which is told from Earl the squirrel's point of view and remains set in the nation's capital. This new treasure from this old master and his son, is perfect for reading while snuggled up with the little ones.

That old cliché, love is blind, couldn't be closer to the truth when it comes to a cat named Homer.

Twelve years ago, Homer was a sick and abandoned kitten rescued by a Miami couple. A vet determined the infection plaguing the two-week-old kitten's eyes was so severe, his best chance of survival depended on removing his eyes entirely. The couple wanted to put him to sleep rather than subject him to such a trying surgery, but the vet convinced them to let her do the procedure and find the cat a new owner.

Enter Gwen Cooper, who now recounts 12 years worth of adventures with Homer in the sure-to-be-bestseller Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat.

Before embarking on her latest odyssey -- a book tour -- Cooper talked with Paw Nation about Homer's amazing life story.