Sammy in the Sky by Barbara Walsh, illustrations by Jamie Wyeth
This is a wonderful children’s picture book that I would recommend for ny family with pets, regardless of the age of the kids. Even grownups will like this story, as it goes though the life of a family dog, and with simple, sweet illustrations that are not too cute or too childish, deal with the loss of a dog to old age.
The illustrations are by Jamie Wyeth – and yes, he’s one of THOSE Wyeths, grandson and son of NC and Andrew Wyeth. And as it turns out, he’s a dog lover, too, so when the author contacted him, he happily agreed to do the book.
The story is simple, sweet and deals with the death of a beloved hound, and how “his” girls and family deal with it. It is not at all depressing, or somber, and does not take any religious slant in particular. It’s just a gentle story that ends on a positive note, one that I think any child will like.
As so many families are spread apart geographically these days, children often don’t grow up near grandparents and older generations, so the death of a pet is their first experience with death. This book is the only one like it I have encountered, and is not at all pedantic, just straightforward and loving. Read it to child you love, even if it’s your own inner child!
And by the way, I got to interview the author on the radio, and you’ll be happy to know another hound dog, a rescue named Jack, was sitting in the car with her, as we did the interview while she was pulled over in the car!
Posted in Childrens, Pet
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Lessons in Stalking by Dena Harris
I receieved this as an eBook, and have to say it was awfully fun! The author, Dena Harris, then was a guest on Animal Rave. “Lessons in Stalking,” is a hilarious book for anyone who has ever either owned a cat, or known someone who does.
Ms. Harris write of life with her two cats, Lucy and Olivia. Lucy came first, and as neither she nor her husband had ever owned a cat, this is a collection of the stories and experiences of what she taught them! Like thinking something is wrong when the cat is suddenly drowning her toy mice in her water dish … Homicidal tendancies? Punishing the mice? And as first-time cat people, of course they try to figure out what it all means … not knowing that cats, after all, pride themselves in being inscrutable!
Other chapters involve trying to feed a cat Benadryl (warning-Grape can make cats foam at the mouth), figuring out what certain stalking etchniques mean, and in one really funny chapter, what to do with a toy that completely freaks the cat out, and how to engage in a battle of wills against a cat!
It is obvious, by the end of the book, and through the adoption tribuations of a new second cat, Olivia, that Harris and her husband are now completely in the thrall of these two felines, and frankly wouldn’t have it any other way!
A good, funny read for any cat people, or even folks who know cat people, although I would try to read it while at work, as you might laugh out loud and give yourself away!
Dena Harris was also good enough to be my very first guest on Animal Rave, and shared more funny details, and I look forward to more from her!
For the past year or so, I have been a guest on All Paws Pet Talk radio,
and then I hosted their Sixth Sense for Pets. But now, with great excitement, I get to tell you all I am going to be doing a book show for them, all books about or for pets, and we’re calling it Animal Rave!
I will also review the books here, for the blog, and promise I will note on all future reviews if I’ve talked to the author or not. And I promise I will still be honest with the reviews, and will never just promote a book for someone or feed you their press release.
