book reviews Archives

9 Dog Books You Need to Read This Fall (Pssst… you can win them all here!)

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As you all know, I live for my reading time.

I read a ton. It’s my happy place, wherever I’m reading. I tend to cuddle up with Coop, too, which makes it even better. I’m thrilled that Violet seems to share a love for books; she’ll sit by herself and flip through a few board books almost every day. She also has started to say “book.” So cute!

But, this past summer flew by and was so crammed full of stuff that I didn’t get as much reading time as usual. Now that it’s back-to-school time, I feel like the days will get shorter and cooler, and we’ll start to have quieter weekends, which means more reading time! I’ve been stockpiling review books that were sent my way all summer long. I decided to do one big roundup of 9 dog books to read this fall that I picked from the dozen or so that came in over the summer!

Let’s get into the books, shall we? (And don’t forget to scroll allllll the way to the bottom to enter to win each of the titles I’m recommending here!)

9 Dog Books You Need to Read This Fall (Pssst... you can win them all here!) — OhMyDogBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Back-to-School Dog Books for Adults

What do you do when your teenagers fly the nest? Well, if you’re Cara Sue Achterberg, you start a journey as a serial foster mama! Filled with miracles, laughs, and tears, if you’re looking for a feel-good story about one family’s heroic efforts to help dogs find their forever homes, you must read Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Anyone who’s ever thought about fostering a pup, especially if you thought it might feel too hard, MUST read this. Hint: There’s a retrofit puppy room! Also, this is a small thing but something I always appreciate in memoirs, the middle section of the book includes tons of pictures of some of the noteworthy pups, so you can put snoots to the names! Get yours here!

You guys, I’m obsessed. Legit fixated on this darling hardcover. In fact, I contemplated buying a second copy off of Amazon so that I could have a “clean” copy and one to do the drawing exercises. Doodled Dogs: Dozens of Clever Doodling Exercises & Ideas for Dog People is just that, and it’s darling. It includes a supplies list, step-by-step instructions to draw most of your favorite breeds, cute illustrations to accompany the sections, and some super fun pages of anthropomorphic dogs (think: funny hats and costumes) that you can copy. If you’re someone who likes a little creative doodling, or if–like me–you tend to doodle while you’re on the phone, this is the perfect little book to keep on hand. It would also make a great gift for a dog lover! Highly recommend! Get yours here!

OK, this one… it’s simply gorgeous. The photography is incredible, and the inspiration to hit the road with your pup is SO motivating. This one is actually the only one on this list that I bought before it came out because my friend Amy wrote it, and I’m so flipping proud of her I could burst! In fact, she doesn’t know I’m writing this! 🙂 (So, one thing to note: The free copy will come from me, not the publisher unlike the others.) If you travel with your pup, you NEED this book. She highlights pet-friendly destinations and includes what to do and see, along with the pet rules. Get yours here!

Back-to-School Dog Books for Kiddos

From my first-job alma mater, National Geographic, comes Dog Days of History. This isn’t a picture book, nor is it a chapter book–at least, not in the traditional sense of either. Instead, it’s a well-illustrated, captivating history of dogs from wolves to today. This book belongs on the shelf of every kid who loves dogs because there’s just so much to devour. Plus, there are tons of anecdotes about famous dogs throughout history that could spark a research paper for an inspired kiddo. I’m SO grateful we have this one for Violet. (Even though she’s many years away from enjoying it, I’m loving it now!) Get yours here!

This was a nostalgic book for me. It reminded me of the first half of Violet’s life with her evolving relationship with Cooper, including his joy at becoming Violet’s “vacuum” as she learned to eat real food. It’s narrated by the dog, Dolly, who tells of her relationship with newborn-to-toddling Jett and how they are constantly together. It has a thread “… Always by my side” that lends to the emotional resonance. At the end of the book, it mentions that this is the first in the Dolly and Jett series, so I plan to keep my eye out for the next installment. Bonus: The author page states that Jill E. Robbins donates a portion of her proceeds from the sale of this series to Best Friends Animal Society and the Midwest Mastiff Rescue! Get yours here!

John read this one to Violet before bed one night. Afterwards he said that this is the type of story line that a parent can unpack with their kiddo. Webster is a little hunting beagle who gets separated from his pack. A hunter finds him and returns him to his kennel–where the owner says that he’ll trade Webster to the guy for two bags of dog food. I feel like this is a good discussion starter for a small kiddo about animal welfare and how dogs sometimes find themselves in need of their forever family. From there, Webster is so sweet and cute and friendly that his family trains him to be a therapy dog. The illustrations are flat-out adorable, almost Disney-esque. It goes full circle to Webster loving life with his forever family, and I think this could be an awesome way to open a ton of conversations with an elementary-aged kid. Get yours here!

Paris lovers, this one’s for you. The premise: Lucy the puggle flies to Paris and spends her time doing all things Parisian. For anyone who’s looking to learn some of Paris’ notable sights–the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and so on–this is an adorable way to introduce them to kiddos. My only complaint? And this is probably just me, but I always resist stories where the dog does a bunch of people stuff (like hop on a plane to fly across the world, take a selfie, etc.) without people. I love stories where kids can learn about the world through the eyes of a dog, and this one is perfectly told in that regard. I just wish there were people with Lucy to make it feel a tad more grounded. And that’s probably, totally, 100% just me. The illustrations are super stylized and lovely, and I guarantee this book will spark some little girl’s dream to jet off to Paris! Get yours here!

Of all the books in this roundup, this one has the best illustrations. They’re gorgeous. Honestly, and at such an affordable price point, get this one just for the images. They’re spectacular: whimsical, and also somehow realistic. You will fall in LOVE with Isosceles just from the expressions on his face in the illustrations. The story is actually a brief poem, with two lines per spread, which makes it the perfect bedtime book, but you–the reader–will totally be distracted by the artwork! At least, I was! Get yours here!

Another National Geographic gem! Do you guys remember the endearing photo book, Underwater Dogs? This is from Seth Casteel, the author of that fun collection. This is a short tale of what puppies need to thrive, accompanied by adorable, awwwww-inducing puppy pics. Honestly, the puppies are so irresistibly cute, made even more so by Casteel’s photographic eye, that you’ll literally squeal. (This is the one Violet was looking at in the pic above! She couldn’t stop pointing, giggling, and shrieking!) This is the perfect gift for any kiddo (or puppy lover!) in your life! Get yours here!

WHEW! That’s a lot of great books, huh? And, now for the best part, you can enter win them for your own library or as a gift (teachers LOVE books, you know!).

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Sometimes the widget takes a minute to load. If you’re reading this via email or through a feed reader, you might have to click the link:

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Thank you so much for supporting OMD! And a big, huge thank you to all the publishers and authors who have so graciously agreed to send these giveaway copies to our lucky winners! I’m so incredibly grateful for their generosity and for the ability to share these stories with you guys!

What’s on YOUR fall reading list??

Reading List: The best books of summer (+ giveaways!)

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Ah, summer!

A warm breeze, a cool drink, and a giant pile of books to work through poolside!

That’s my ideal summer, anyway. Of course, it’s not always quite so idyllic, but it’s the dream!

If you’re anything like me, though, the summer TBR (to-be-read) pile can feel overwhelming. There are just so many great books out there in a ton of categories. So, one of my favorite things each year, is to round up what I’m reading and make some recommendations to you guys. This is the first of a few “summer reading list” posts–and YIPPEEE they all come with giveaways so you can add to your TBR pile, too!

Summer reading list_ The best books to pick up now (+ giveaways)

OhMyDogBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Best Beach Read

A YA dystopian novel, Your Robot Dog Will Die stars Nano, a compassionate young gal who starts to question her reality. What is her reality? Well, in this near-future, humankind drove dogs toward extinction by messing with their DNA, turning them vicious, and rounding them up for euthanasia to protect the citizenry. So, people can’t have pet dogs, but they can have robot dogs. Nano lives in the community charged with, first, taking care of the last remaining real-live dogs, and, second, testing robot dogs.

It’s a perfect beach read. A page turner with a little young romance thrown in. It poses a humongous question: What is suffering? But, author Arin Greenwood delivers her response in a funny, thought-provoking, and quick-moving novel. My only complaint–and this is something that crops up in YA novels often–is there are places where she’s making a point about something horrific, like puppy mills or animal abuse, and instead of relying on the audience to draw conclusions from the scene, she sums it up in a whack-you-on-the-head kind of way. It happens five or six times in this novel, and having read a ton of YA, I feel like sometimes YA authors spell things out because they think teens might miss the message. They won’t. Overall, a super nitpicky, tiny complaint from an otherwise fun, thoughtful read.

Best line? Nano observes the last living dogs in their enclosure, “At once, you can have a sort of religious feeling toward them… but then you just have to see these beasties playing with a new toy, or wrestling with each other, to see how delightful they are as well…. These animals embody the best of everything.”

BTW, this is also available free with an Audible trial if you’re an audiobook fan!

Best Children’s Book

We read a LOT of children’s books. We love books; Violet loves books. We read to her before her nap and before bed, and throughout the day, she’ll pick up a book and hand it to me to read to her. All this to say: We have a lot of books under our belt.

The Case of the Pinched Stradivarius features turtles Fargo and Miles who witness through the window of their NYC apartment a crime: a young girl’s violin is stolen. From their aquarium, what can they do, though? Luckily, their owner also has two little dogs who might–or might not–take orders from the turtles.

It’s a cute story written in a way unlike any of the other books we’ve read with Violet. Instead of structured in a typical prose format, it’s organized like dialogue in a script. It took some getting-used-to to read it out loud in that way, but John pointed out that a group of school-aged kids could have a total blast acting out the entire caper! One thing to note: It states on the back of the cover that it’s the first in a series, so I think we’ll be seeing Fargo and Miles again soon!

Best Nonfiction

OK, you guys, this book. Here’s the thing: I wouldn’t call this a beach read, but it absolutely has to be on your summer reading list.

The Doggie in the Window: How One Dog Led Me from the Pet Store to the Factory Farm to Uncover the Truth of Where Puppies Really Come From covers in-depth the puppy mill problem in the United States. The author’s own dog was purchased from a pet store–what she calls in the introduction “My Favorite Mistake.” Beginning from her purchase of Izzie, then back tracking to the creation of the Animal Welfare Act, through the current roles of the USDA and FDA, this book dives deep into examining all the complicated, complex facets of a really big, really horrible problem.

It’s thoughtful and unflinching. Parts are hard to read. But this is an incredibly important book that I hope you all feel inspired to pick up a copy, read it, then pass it along (or write about it if you blog!) because she points out that the laws in place to regulate this industry are inadequate and, not only that, they’re inadequately enforced. As citizens, though, we elect the lawmakers who write these laws, and we can make sure that our elected officials hear our thoughts on puppy mills. This book arms you with everything you need to affect real change. It’s a must-read. This one is also available free with an Audible trial.

Best Biz Book

As you guys know, I’m committed to learning and doing as much as I can to live an environmentally-responsible lifestyle. I’m constantly striving to learn and to do better. As a small business owner and as a consumer and customer, I’ve always wondered: How can we do more? Can Business Save the Earth? Innovating Our Way to Sustainability provides direction.

Why am I including this text within an animal-friendly roundup? Everything is interrelated, you guys. This book opens with a clear-eyed, harsh accounting of the environmental issues we are all facing right now, from the clean water shortages ravaging parts of the globe to the energy crises rocking every industry. In fact, the authors sum it right up in the first chapter: “Our environmental challenge is the wickedest kind of problem imaginable: complex, interconnected, and requiring massive collective action.”

Massive collective action.

We’re all in this together. The book lays out the role the shifting markets play, along with the need for innovations that disrupt the status quo of how we do business. Even if you don’t own a company, you might work for one that could use some fresh ideas on making changes. This book is definitely for you. If you don’t own a company or work for one, you still buy stuff. We all do. There’s an entire chapter dedicated to the impact consumers can have on the decisions companies make by voting with our dollars. As pet lovers, there are dozens of companies out there–from food to toys to bedding to collars–that make a difference in the world, and this book serves as a call to action: Shop your principles.

BTW, I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book. It comes out May 22, but it looks like if you sign up for Amazon Prime’s 30-day free trial and pre-order, you actually get it delivered on the day it comes out. I strongly recommend you do! This book hits on some critical, timely topics that can help inspire us all to do better.

Finally, thanks to the incredible generosity of the publishers and publicists of these books, I have a copy of each one to give away to you guys! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Sometimes the widget takes a minute to load, but if you’re reading this via email or through a feed reader, you might have to click the link to get it to open.

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We are so grateful that we had this opportunity to share these recommendations with you–and free copies to four lucky winners! Keep an eye out for more summer reading to come!

In the meantime, I’d love to know: What’s on your summer reading list?

The best dog books of summer

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What is summer for if not for reading? That’s my opinion, anyway! I love spending summer nights on the patio, book in one hand, glass of wine in the other, with the herd lounging around. That, to me, is peace. Luckily, I happened to get a handful of books to review toward the beginning of the summer, and now that it’s coming to a close (seriously, HOW is tomorrow August?) I wanted to share four new books I’ve enjoyed.

Without further ado: Four books to round out your summer reading list! And if you’ve read anything great lately (dog-related or not!), I’d LOVE to know in the comments. My “to read” list is never long enough!

For the kids

Lola is a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier and a certified therapy dog. Her little brother–though he’s bigger, he’s younger–tattles on her for making mistakes throughout this charming book. Zeke tells on his sister Lola throughout but learns his lesson toward the end. I love how the illustrations are photographs of the two siblings; it’s a cute and clever way to teach about tattling. Author Marcia Goldman has a master’s degree in special education, and she uses her expertise to add a ton of value to this story. The back pages include a curriculum guide with questions and activities to accompany the book. Even if you’re not using in a classroom but reading it at home with your kiddo, those questions and activities would be a really fun way to spark a discussion about tattling. Loved this sweet book! To buy Lola and Tattletale Zeke.

For the science lover

I’m pretty obsessed with reading animal behavior books. It’s fascinating to learn how other animals learn. This book did not disappoint in that regard. It’s full of insights, data, case studies, and history on how dog training has evolved. I will say, though, that you have to be dedicated to excavating those gems as you read. The author is hugely fond of lengthy asides and footnotes that are often unrelated to the topic at hand. It actually took me ages to finish this, even though I’m a fast reader and it’s a passion subject for me. That said, I gained a ton of insights into human behavior from this. Toward the end of the book, she draws parallels between what we’ve learned in animal behavior and the flaws in how we “treat” human behavior (using schools and prisons as examples). I definitely recommend this one because there are tons of great insights, lots of valuable historical data, gobs of fascinating passages… but don’t take this one to the beach. I’d suggest dipping in and out to see what you glean. To buy The Secret History of Kindness: Learning from How Dogs Learn.

For the sense of humor

Author Angie Salisbury’s two German Shorthaired Pointers narrate this cute little self-help-style book (Two Dog’s Training Guide for Humans is the subtitle!). It’s a super fast read–count on one or two sittings–filled with silly and sweet advice from her pups that she then translates at the bottom of each page. Some of my favorites include “There’s enough love to go around,” “Be silly for no reason,” and “Warm your belly in the sun.” Plus, pictures of the pups Bimmer and Bertram are sprinkled throughout, and they are seriously adorable dogs. This is definitely a book that will put a smile on dog-obsessed faces. To buy Dogs Know Best.

For everyone–absolutely everyone

I am obsessed with narrative nonfiction. When it’s done well, when a true story reads like a novel, I’m riveted. It’s not an easy genre to write–I spent two years working on it in my master’s degree program–but when it’s done well, it’s captivating. This is one of those books. Dr. V, who you might know from Pawcurious, crafts her veterinary memoir to read like the perfect beach book. It’s equal parts tear-jerker and laugh-out-loud. Honestly, anyone whose life has ever been touched by a dog will be touched by this book. If you only have time to read one book for the rest of the summer, make it this one. To buy All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn’t Learn in Veterinary School).

And… guess what!!!

I have one of each of these four books to give away! Taa-daaa!

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

NEW! Dog books I’m loving (and your chance to win copies)

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Oh, how I love books. I really feel like books are the things that would keep me from ever achieving a fully-uncluttered, minimal home – but they’re so, so worth it. And even better? Beautiful books that feature dogs. I was lucky enough to receive two such books simultaneously, so for today, I’m sharing two dog books I’m loving, and – thanks to the generosity of each of their publishers – you have a chance to win a copy! So, without delay, let’s get to the book!

Dogs Rule Nonchalantly

By Mark Ulriksen

Several years ago, I clipped off the cover of an issue of The New Yorker that I just adored. It’s been in my office ever since, and every time I look at it, I smile. So, imagine how thrilled I was to receive a review copy of this book – only to find the exact illustration tucked into the work. And, of course, the darling illustration is accompanied by darling text that only enhances it!

I adore that picture! In fact, I had admired his work in my subscription to The New Yorker without ever realizing or acknowledging that all the work I loved was from this one artist!

Each page features a whimsical illustration faced by sweet scrawled sayings. My favorite line in the entire book: “There’s nothing happier than a happy dog.” I enjoy the artist’s style. It’s neither serious nor silly, though he captures the essence of dogs so perfectly.

And, more than that, the relationship between dogs and us. One of my other favorites:

My snapshots don’t do it justice. I truly loved this book, and it’s one I imagine sitting out in our living room so that I can pick it up, flip through, and smile! It comes out in a few days, but you can pre-order on Amazon. Check out the artist’s website. This book is a gem!

(See how you can win a copy of your very own below!)

Lessons in Balance: A Dog’s Reflections on Life

by Scout, star of Stuff on Scout’s Head

Now, this little book is just darn cute. Scout was adopted as a fearful, unsocial fellow. I had heard of the blog Stuff on Scout’s Head and encountered it in anti-BSL circles. Scout, a pit, has an innate ability to balance things on his darling head. The blog chronicled the various objects he balanced, and it’s been turned into the book, Lessons in Balance. (Check out the website to see Scout balancing – what else? – copies of his recently released book!)

This spread really spoke to Emmett. He felt Scout was attempting the impossible here! 🙂

Scout’s person Jen strives to educate her readers about BSL and the importance of rescue. Scout was mistreated but flourished after he got his second chance. I think all of us can relate to and appreciate that story. Jen’s creativity, though, is what makes Scout’s story so memorable. This dog can seriously balance ANYTHING on his head. Flipping through the text is such a joy, and I guarantee that you will be laughing on nearly every single page. See?

If you want even more peaks into what Scout balances, click on the link to her website above (also, you can order yourself a copy of the book from there). The stack of pancakes?! Chatter teeth!? I mean, COME ON! It’s way too stinking cute.

Combine the “awe” factor with the anti-BSL and pro-rescue messages, and this book hits on all of my favorite things!

I think both of these books will sit perfectly side-by-side in the living room so that we can flip through them regularly to laugh, smile, and be inspired.

I’m seriously feeling so lucky that I got to review both of these at the same time. True gems! Now, YOU have the opportunity to win one of these two phenomenal books. They’re both fantastic additions to any dog-lover’s shelf.

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below in a couple seconds, but if you’re reading via email or a feed reader, you may have to click the link below. Normally, with these Rafflecopter giveaways, I just do a free one-click to enter. But since there are two books, there are two changes: the freebie click and a comment!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much to both lovely publishers and authors for allowing me the opportunity to review these wonderful books! And I’m especially grateful to be able to giveaway a copy of each!