Books for the pet lover's soul...

The department I work for receives a plethora of books to write about. Topics range from health to lifestyle to cooking. And those of you that work in the Woodland Hills office know all too well just how many cooking books we had for sale recently (proceeds are going to charity). Pet books don't seem to have much of a place in the print edition (at least for the moment) but they certainly do here. It seems like everyone around me has begun to put just about everything that's pet related on my desk and I'm loving every minute of it.

So from time to time you'll see some spotlights on books that pet lovers would be interested in. I can't guarantee that you'll like the books but it'll give you an idea of what's currently out there as far as reading material for the animal lovers in your life.

Here's the perfect book for families who are thinking about getting a dog. It is designed to teach kids about the rewards of adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue organization. Written by 15-year-old Emma Jackson, the book is a true account of an abandoned puppy named Dixie who finds a loving home with Emma and her family. The book includes loads of pictures and chronicles Dixie's life from the beginning as a very sick, orphaned puppy to the very happy, healthy dog dog she is now. It also tells the story of Emma, who has searched like crazy to find just the right dog. Should her parents buy from a breeder or adopt? Her answer came when visiting Aunt Mary's Doghouse, a non-profit organization that rescues dogs from overcrowded shelters through fostering and placement of adoptable canines that might otherwise be euthanised. Created just for children ages 4 to 8, the book is filled with colorful photographs and written in big lettering that makes it easy for kids to read. Proceeds from the sale of the book ($16.99) benefit Petfinder.com and Aunt Mary's Doghouse. Now I'm not so sure my cats heed all of the sayings in this book but I guess if you take every single feline in this world and bunch all of their personalities together then yeah, the messages can hold true. hmmm...I think I need to make Hershey read that particular one about 100 times. She gives plenty of love but not a day goes by without her marching to the kitchen with me first thing in the morning to beg DEMAND that I give her Feline Greenies treats. Someone gave those to the kitties as a Christmas gift and Hershey and Marcie have been hooked ever since. And the sucker in me keeps giving into their whiny demands...LOL! But whether your cat follows the sayings or not, this book is chock full of whimsical proverbs that your cat can (hopefully) teach you including: The book is written by Cat Humorist Allia Zobel Nolan, best known for her book 101 Reasons Why a Cat Is Better Than a Man. Each saying is accompanied by a whimsical watercolor depiction painted by Artist Erika Oller, whose artwork can be seen on calendars, greeting cards and children's books, including The Cabbage Soup Solution and The Dog Who Sang at the Opera. The book sells for $16.95. For more information on this book click here.

And of course you can visit online bookstores or visit your local bookstore.