Winner Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
Elementary-school teacher Diane Trull’s life-defining moment happened when her fourth-grade reading class saw a photo of a cardboard box overflowing with homeless puppies. Her young students were determined to save these lost pups and others like them. In that moment, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary—known as DAWGS—was born.
How Trull and her fourth graders started their own animal shelter is a story of dedication, commitment, and perseverance. Trull shares inspiring stories about animals and animal lovers of all ages in this moving story of hope and compassion. DAWGS is a testament to how love and a strong measure of determination can offer second chances—one animal, one child, and one day at a time.
Winner Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
Bean, a special little cat, is in for the challenge of his life. Like most pets, Bean is stricken with fear during thunderstorms. However, Bean must learn to conquer his fear when a dangerous situation occurs during a thunderstorm.
When an unexpected visitor arrives at Denise's sliding door one summer morning, she had no idea her life was about to change forever. She found a Palomino in her backyard-not the kind she ever thought she'd see in suburbia or that she needed-with a fluffy white tail and a twitchy pink nose. For her own safety, this abandoned rabbit could no longer be free range. Denise and Chloe's journey takes them both through harrowing situations to a reunion with the promise of protection, devotion, and serenity. Rabbit at the Sliding Door is the touching story of how companionship and love come in all forms and lessons can be learned from every life. What would you do if a rabbit showed up at your door?
An old, disabled dog (15) and his master (60) are plucked from their home, and parachuted into the town the man knew as a ten-year-old boy. Feeling rejuvenated, they celebrate by chasing each other playfully. Also, the dog is proficient in English, so they reminisce about their origins, relationships, good deeds, and misdeeds. But their reminiscences are interrupted by two tragedies, one involving the man’s younger brother, and the other involving the dog, who is quickly reverting to his old and disabled self. The man is debating whether the time has come to let his dog go. The dog will make the decision.
For the Love of Buddy is a whimsical and heartfelt, true tale that highlights the journey of a girl and her cat, from the east coast to the west coast and from asthma to diabetes. For the Love of Buddy will serve as a touching, and frequently humorous reminder of how our pets experience the same medical ailments that we as humans face over the course of our lifetimes. It is a poignant story of love and remembrance, even when confronted with the inevitable pain of loss. For the Love of Buddy will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye, and will be embraced by children and readers of all ages, as you recount and celebrate memories from your lifelong journeys with members of your own furry families.
The times were dark. In a green land before time, all world animals laboured under the repressive rule of King Roar the Lion and the fierce Felines. Miaow, the timid and inconsequential chief of the cats, befriends a sixteen-year-old mysterious explorer, Jack. These two unlikely heroes engage in the impossible struggle for the liberty of the repressed animals. The conflict reaches its apogee with an epic but disastrous battle. Although the two protagonists were aware their survival was at stake, little did they know that their enduring friendship would radically alter the destiny of the Animal World forever.
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
Rescue dogs deserve second chances. Unfortunately, not all of them are so fortunate.
Sofie is a rescue dog with a quest: when she was lucky enough to be adopted and given a second chance, she knew that she had to help her friends also find their forever homes. Follow along as Sofie introduces you to her friends and describes the path that lucky rescue dogs follow: from their arrival in a shelter, to being nurtured by caring foster parents, and finally finding their perfect spot in a forever home. There is a lot to learn for the reader along the way.
By reading this book together with your children, you and Sofie educate future responsible dog owners and lead to the savings of more dogs.
The sales proceeds of this book are donated to the Boston dog rescue organization "Last Hope K9 Rescue".
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
"A raw and honest journey of addiction, love, trauma, and redemption—grounded in a deep love of place and all things mustang." —LAURA PRITCHETT, author of Stars Go Blue
Kathryn Wilder's powerful story of grief, motherhood, and return to the desert entwines with the story of America's mustangs as Wilder makes a home on the Colorado Plateau, her property bordering a mustang herd. Desert Chrome illuminates these controversial creatures—their complex history in the Americas, their powerful presence on the landscape, and ways to help both horses and habitats stay wild in the arid West—and celebrates the animal nature in us all.
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
Nearly one hundred Labrador retrievers, many sick or dying, are discovered one hot summer day in a rural Colorado field.They’ve been abandoned by Dodie Cariaso, a college-educated woman from an upper middle-class Midwestern family.
What drove this tragedy? Former journalist and prosecutor Cary Unkelbach unfolds a riveting account of how Dodie’s early success as a talented potter devolves into unimaginable neglect. Along the way, Cary gives animal lovers everywhere insight into the pitfalls and responsibilities of dog ownership through uplifting tales of Max, a Labrador from Dodie’s kennel, who finds his forever home with the author’s family.
Heartbreak Kennel will shock you but will also give you a wealth of information for the canines in your life.
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
A memoir of a neglected farm, an abandoned and injured horse, and the prevailing resilience of hope. Written by the principal writer and spoken word artist Margaret Dulaney of Listen Well. A spoken word website exploring open faith ideas through story and metaphor.
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
Zen and the Art of Caring for Pets is a heartfelt and inspiring story of overcoming the challenges of pet care. This book will help veterinarians, animal rescue volunteers, animal shelter workers, veterinary technicians, environmental advocates and anyone who has a special place in their heart for animals. Elaborating on a variety of holistic modalities, this book addresses some of the common obstacles to optimal pet care such as unhealthy food ingredients, over-vaccination and weakening genetics through overbreeding. This book follows Dr. Donna's lifelong experiences from her work in critical care hospitals to her private holistic practice in the Pacific Northwest
Finalist Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction 2021 Best Book Awards
Hallie, the dachshund, was dumped at a shelter during the night as a puppy. She found her forever home and lived a great life until the age of 10 when tragedy struck. It seemed life would never be good again. But what happened next was something neither she nor her human mom could have ever thought possible.
Hallie’s inspiring story, illustrated by photos of her life, portrays how much faith and courage one little dog can have, and the many lessons she taught along the way.
Finalist Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
When a young girl's mother is killed in the German blitz of WWII, she is evacuated to the English countryside estate of a shadowy, mysterious recluse whose household is overseen by a stern, authoritative housekeeper and members of her cold, unfriendly staff. She finds comfort in a gallant collie who helps her unlock a curious, life-threatening secret and together they come face to face with danger and the terror of war when a diabolical enemy arrives at their doorstep. THE CAPTAIN'S COLLIE is a touching and exciting story for all who have ever known the love of a dog.
Finalist Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
America's Top Dog Model Book of Fairy Tails showcases adorable canines cloaked as fairy tale characters living fantastic adventures worthy of kings and queens. Readers are taken on an adventurous romp through beautiful gardens, scary forests, and enchanted castles, with amazing dogs as trusted guides.
This compilation of creative and inspired stories illuminates the essence of twelve top dogs through photographic images in charming, vivid settings. The book follows the America's Top Dog Model 2020 national contest, which carried a theme of "Fairy Tails." Each magical and captivating "tail" is written by the loving moms of contest winner Shai, and finalists Griffin, AvaGrace, Delilah, Willow, Betsey, Mocha, Haven Camille, Jewels, Royal, Aria, and Charlie.
Finalist Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
Ruminations on a Parrot Named Cosmo originated in a Sunday column I wrote for The Athens Banner-Herald from 2011 to 2013 titled "Cosmo Talks." I had already published a book about Cosmo's learning to speak, Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot, and I wanted to share anecdotes about Cosmo's hilarious antics with my local community. However, "Cosmo Talks" quickly evolved from accounts of Cosmo's activities to reflections on parrots' anatomy; birds' evolution from dinosaurs; the concept of nature; the evidence of consciousness in birds and mammals; the interdependence of all Earth's living organisms; and the similarities in mental life between humans and non-human animals.
Finalist Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
Say hello to M.J.!
She is a fun, loving, and curious, loud dog who loves to bark! She enjoys seeing all types of new friends through her Big Kitchen Window. Follow along with M.J. as she discovers lots of new friends.
Finalist Animals/Pets: General 2021 Best Book Awards
Given the changes in our climate and growth in human population, animals are increasingly forced to adapt to human behavior in unexpected ways. Whether it’s crocodiles using pool noodles as flotation devices, coyotes becoming more nocturnal to avoid people, or a huddle of walruses sinking a research vessel that invaded their territory, animals are figuring our how to navigate the world we have created. The Field Guide to Animal Adaptations, which identifies and illustrates 16 examples of this phenomenon, providing both hope and despair for the coexistence of people and animals in the future.
