Dog Lovers Book Club - May 2017

These are the memoirs of Australia’s rescue dog and foster bro extraordinaire, Pikelet Butterwiggle Stoll.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF PIKELET

by Calley Gibson

All it took for a tiny, no-name pup from the pound was someone to believe in him – and save him from death row – and an internet sensation was born. 

With his extremely good looks and pawfect cheekbones, Pikelet now lives the charmed life in inner-city Sydney, a foster brother to an extraordinary number of other pooches as well as an unexpected pair of ducklings and one larger-than-life pig. 

With his signature style and humour, Pikelet shares the highs and lows of pet rescue and foster care. He will show you that a dog’s life is the only life! 

Illustrated throughout with iconic social media photos plus never-before-seen snapshots from Life of Pikelet HQ, Pikelet’s memoirs are as unique as the dog himself.

Paperback, 240 pages
Publisher: Random House Australia, 1st May 2017

RRP: $29.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

FUR-EVER LOVED
by Ken Drake

This beautifully presented book contains ‘love letters’ from owners to their beloved dogs. Each letter is accompanied by a portrait of the dog taken by pet photographer Ken Drake. 

The ‘love letters’ to the dogs in this book are a snapshot of the bond we have with our furry, four-legged friends, as they express journeys of love, heartbreak, family and companionship.

Ken, and his wife Bec are passionate about helping animals in need and work with many charities – they even launched the Zoo Studio Foundation so they could provide a greater focus on raising funds, using their photographic and business skills for charities that can’t necessarily do it all themselves.

This book will pull on the heart strings of every dog lover and would make a perfect Mother’s Day present!

Paperback, 176 pages
Publisher: New Holland Publishers, 1st April 2017

RRP: $30.40 from www.booktopia.com.au

FROM FEARFUL TO FEAR-FREE
A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias
by Marty Becker

Written by four powerhouses in the world of veterinary medicine and behaviour, this informative manual takes an in-depth look at fear: an issue that dog owners frequently encounter yet don't often understand. 

It covers Dr. Becker's Fear-Free program, developed on the premise that anxiety and fear can impede veterinary care as well as other significant aspects of a companion animal's life. 

Filled with anecdotes from the authors' own experiences, detailed techniques, and helpful resources, this book can be a lifesaver for owners dealing with fearful dogs.

Paperback, 224 pages
Publisher: I-5 Publishing, 14th March 2017

RRP: $41.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

THE ANIMALS' AGENDA
Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age
by Marc Bekoff, Jessica Pierce

Wide-ranging studies of animal intelligence and emotions have enabled us to learn ever more about what animals think, feel, and want. However, this knowledge is not necessarily translating into more compassionate and respectful treatment of animals... 

The Animals Agenda critically addresses our relationships with animals in factory farms, research labs and entertainment venues, as well as our interactions with pets and wildlife, exploring what we know of their capacity not only for pain and frustration but also joy and empathy. 

Using the latest science, renowned animal expert Marc Bekoff and leading bioethicist Jessica Pierce argue for a paradigm shift. 

They demonstrate that the current approach of animal-welfare science, while offsetting some of the worst aspects of animal suffering, falls far short of promoting true animal well-being and freedom. 

This book will educate and inspire you to rethink how we affect other animals - both unintentionally and intentionally - and how we can evolve towards more peaceful and less violent ways of interacting with our animal kin in an increasingly human-dominated world.

Hardcover, 240 pages
Publisher: Beacon Press, 18th April 2017

RRP: $51.95 at www.booktopia.com.au

BOOK CLUB - KIDS’ CORNER

YELLOW DOG
by Miriam Korner

Jeremy is a thirteen-year-old boy living with his single-parent mother in a northern community where winters are long and stray dogs roam the streets. 

In the opening scene of this story, Jeremy's been persuaded by his friend Justin to yank the tail of one of the strays, a yellow dog who seems to have no home. He does so against his better judgment, and in that moment his life changes. 

He instantly knows what he's done is cruel and thus he is determined to befriend the dog - which leads to a new relationship with an old man who turns out to be the dog's owner. In turn the old man introduces Jeremy to the lore of the sled dog tradition, and with his encouragement the boy manages to bring home three other strays who need a friend - and before long Jeremy has formed them into a sled dog team, under the old man's tutelage. And with that, it's not long before Jeremy discovers that he and the old man are connected in a far more powerful way.

Paperback, 264 pages
Publisher: Red Deer Press, 15th March 2017
For Ages: 11 - 15 years old

RRP: $25.95 from www.booktopia.com.au

GOOD DOG MCTAVISH
by Meg Rosoff

The Peachey family is in crisis. No one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty washing and the kids are always late for school! All because Mum has resigned from being Mum and taken up yoga instead. She's in the tree pose and everyone else is in the doghouse! 

Except McTavish, a rescue dog with a difference, on a mission to sort his new family out...Filled to the brim with Meg's wry humour and beautiful prose, this is a story for the young and the young at heart.

Paperback, 104 pages
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd, 4th April 2017
For Ages: 8 - 10 years old

RRP: $13.25 from www.booktopia.com.au


LEO, DOG OF THE SEA

Dog Chronicles (Book 4)
by Alison Hart, illustrated by Michael G Montgomery

This is the action-packed and heartwarming story of a hardened old sea dog on Magellan's journey to Spice Island. 

Leo is a hardened old sea dog and after four ocean voyages, he knows not to trust anyone but himself. But when he sets sail with Magellan on a journey to find a westward route to the Spice Islands, he develops new friendships with Magellan's scribe, Pigafetta, and Marco, his page. Together, the three of them experience hunger and thirst, storms and doldrums, and mutinies and hostile, violent encounters. 
Will they ever find safe passage? 

This fourth book in the "Dog Chronicles" series brings readers an exciting tale of friendship and loyalty. 

Hardcover, 176 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, 1st April 2017
For Ages: 7 - 10 years old

RRP: $25.95 from www.booktopia.com.au

THE BROWN DOG
by Gina Inverarity

The brown dog often visits Henry on rainy, grey afternoons. Usually he doesn't hang around for long. But this time the brown dog decides to stay and Henry needs to find a way to make him leave. 

Gina Inverarity’s evocative text and Greg Holfeld’s beautiful illustrations provide the perfect platform for young readers to think and talk about their feelings.

Hardcover, 32 Pages
Publisher: Working Title Press, 3rd April 2017

RRP: $24.99 from www.booktopia.com.au