Saturday, July 28, 2007


Jul. 28, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
The lazy, hazy days of summer demand an icy drink and a good book. Not to disappoint you, publishers have been dutifully cranking them out.

Here are a few that have hit my desk recently. They appear in no particular order and are available at area book stores and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) online:

--You know the adage, behind every successful man is a woman. The unasked question is what's behind the successful woman? The dogs, natch.

Thus comes Shaggy Muses, The Dogs Who Inspired Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edith Wharton and Emily Bronte (Ballantine Books, $24.95).

'You'll call this sentimental -- perhaps -- but then a dog somehow represents the private side of life, the play side,' Woolf confessed to a friend. It is the richness, the power of the bond between five great women writers and their dogs that author Maureen Adams chronicles in her marvelous retrospective.

Men and women who know the sanctity of this deeply emotional tie will appreciate these true tales of love on a leash from the comfort of a hammock.

Among the black-and-white photos is the only known likeness of Emily Dickenson, a daguerreotype taken by an unknown photographer.

--Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs (Howell Book House, $16.99).

If you're having a hard time taming your manic beast, think exercise -- a daily routine that will turn your tornado into an almost innocent puppy again.

Authors Amy Ammen and Kitty Foth-Regner, established dog trainer and writer, respectively, offer tips and techniques for training hyper dogs and channeling their energy by beefing up your training skills and buffing up with obedience games and outdoor adventures.

Don't moan. Ammen explains exciting options like flyball, herding, lure coursing, rally, races, tracking, search and rescue, trailing, weight pulling and many other outdoor sports for four-paws. Not only are these fun, but they also will help your dog become a better citizen. With the right plan, separation anxiety and traumatizing vet visits could be distant memories.

-- Planet Cat, a Cat-alog (Houghton Mifflin Co., $14.95). If you love cats, you'll love Planet Cat by Sandra Choron, Harry Choron and Arden Moore. Black-and-white but sprinkled with engaging photos and illustrations, it teems with trivia and whimsy.

A delight for grown-ups, the book is also plum for young readers who could lovingly color its pages while plumbing its depths -- 389 pages -- over months, even years. You will pick up practical tips and enjoy a labyrinth of lore and true stories. Among the true: Two grown cats escaped the wreckage of the World Trade Towers and lived to tell the story.

--The Dog Lover's Companion to Chicago, The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Avalon Travel Publishing, $17.95). If you're headed in that direction, this book is a must. It is comprehensive, lively and vital, with all the usual info in an AAA travel guide, but for D-D-D dog lovers.

--Get out your hankie. Goodbye, My Friend, Celebrating the Memory of a Pet (Rutledge Hill Press, $14.99) will have you weeping even if your pet is just fine. With words and music to comfort and soothe, author Devon O'Day writes a poetic tribute to animals that have slipped away. A CD with four original songs by Kim McLean is tucked in the back cover.

--The Secret Life of Walter Kitty (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, $16.99). This lovely picture book, which portrays the family pet, Walter Kitty, as an indoor-outdoor animal, fails its young readers by ignoring issues of responsibility. It is no longer acceptable to let the family cat roam outdoors and it's not OK for authors to ignore these issues, especially when they're writing for kids.

Felines allowed to roam die horrible and early deaths at the hands of cruel people, fast cars, predators and disease. Moreover, they reproduce unchecked, adding to the overwhelming problem of pet overpopulation in virtually every community.

The people who can turn the tide may be the children now wearing diapers.

So is it the duty of author Barbara Jean Hicks -- and everybody else who writes a picture book -- to impart this bit of wisdom? Absolutely. This is 2007, not 1950. Get with the program.

The illustrations by Dan Santat are sumptuous and evocative. The text is cute, but the tiniest bit of research could have made it truly sweet -- and relevant. Compare this to the next selection.

--Redeeming the industry is May I Pet Your Dog? (Clarion Books, $9.95). Unexpected encounters with strange dogs invariably happen and children must know how to handle them. This book, written for ages 4 to 7, completes that mission, explaining, among other things, when to avert eyes, extend a hand for sniffing and what to do when encountering a barking dog in a car. Many thanks to author Stephanie Calmenson.

--Throw Me a Bone, 50 Healthy Canine-Tested Recipes for Snacks, Meals and Treats (Simon & Schuster, $14.95).

One of the many new books on the market in response to the pet-food crisis, this one has been shepherded by Cooper and his human entourage, Susan Orlean and Sally Sampson, writer and recipe developer, respectively.

The cuisine is time-saving, labor-saving, do-ahead and store-for-later for busy humans, with notes on spices and sundry ingredients that boost immunity.

Recipes employ fresh ingredients -- herbs, meats, fish, veggies. When mustard is mentioned, Dijon is called for, not your everyday French's. Does your dog know the difference? The book is peppered with trivia and arresting black-and-white photos of man's best friend.

--The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette (Adams Media, $12.95). There is no listing for any form of the words slobber or drool in the index of Charlotte Reed's etiquette book. One needs to know what to do when the pooch flings a long line of slobber at a very important person.

That said, the easy reading reference book does give mild-mannered advice on dealing with other potentially uncomfortable situations, such as warning the neighbors of the new arrival and heeding their concerns before trouble develops; checking out restaurants and hotels before you go; and being good citizens in dog parks and the like. Reed, by the way, gave up corporate law on Wall Street a decade ago to open a pet-care emporium in New York City.


Connie Bloom shares your passion for pets. Call her at 330-996-3568 or e-mail her at cbloom@ thebeaconjournal.com.

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