Another Adorable Animal Book

Well, perhaps adorablity is subjective. And it could also be noted that Gappers are not found in any reputable wildlife guides. But The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip written by George Saunders and illustrated by Lane Smith is extremely charming, and does involve some animals (even if a few are very made-up).

This is the story of goats, children, child labor, blessings, tradition, ingenuity, and gappers: burr-like creatures that so love goats, that whenever they get near a goat, "it gives off a continual high-pitched happy shriek of pleasure that makes it impossible for the goat to sleep." This is not usually good for goats or those who depend upon goats for their livelyhood. So the children of the three households of Frip spend their nights picking the Gappers off the goats and dumping them back into the sea.

But the Gappers get smarter and gang up on the house of Capable and her widowed father. See how Capable deals with the Gappers, her goats, her neighbors, her father and her incredible ammount of lost sleep!

The story is very endearing and the illustrations are stunning.

Animal Tales to Warm Your Heart

I admit it…I’m a sucker for anything to do with animals be they wild or domesticated. I recently read two books that stick in my mind as great reads about pets with whom we share our lives.

Run (quietly), don’t walk to your nearest animal shelter and adopt a homeless cat. Then sit down together and ready Vicki Myron’s book titled Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. This non-fiction story tells of Dewey Readmore Books who was abandoned in the Spencer, Iowa’s library book return depository on the coldest night of the winter. He was rescued by the librarians and went on to live in the library for nineteen years where he was an ambassador for the city and a friend to all. If you know the spirit of cats, you will not be surprised by Dewey’s skills and activities but you will be touched nonetheless. If you are not a cat fan, you may well become one by the end of the read. Oh that every place of business could house an abandoned pet!
To be published in late September by Grand Central Publishing.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is a novel by Garth Stein which is told (almost) completely from a dog’s point of view. Anyone who has a dog harbors no doubt that a canine understands 90% of what is being said. Stein assures us that this is indeed true. The story takes a predictable turn or two but it is a sweet story about loyalty and friendship. Stein shows us that although humans consider it their duty to take care of their dogs, dogs actually are taking care of us. Available now. Published by Harper Collins.