Animals have always been some of my very best friends. I believe in guardian angels, and I believe animals come to us when we need them most. As children, animals help us to believe in ourselves, they soothe the hurts that come from being misunderstood. When we forget, animals carry a knowing beyond words, with every purr, and chirp, and bark, and nuzzle, they remind us that we are loved. I hope you enjoy these books that celebrate the love of animals and the many ways they help us heal.
I wrote...
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog
By
Lisa Papp
What is my book about?
Madeline Finn is a struggling reader who just can’t find her voice. But everything changes when she meets Bonnie, the Library Dog. Reading to Bonnie is different. “Bonnie doesn’t laugh when I mess up on a word. Instead, she puts her big paws in my lap and lets me pet her until I figure it out.” But soon, Madeline Finn has to read in school – without Bonnie. Inspired by the therapy dogs at Lisa’s local library, this tale of struggle, persistence, and the power of unconditional love will resonate with readers young and old.
The first in the Madeline Finn series, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog was awarded the Children’s Choice ‘Book of the Year’ and has been translated into 23 languages.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Books I Picked & Why
Who Wants Broccoli?
By
Val Jones
Why this book?
I adore this book about a rambunctious, but lovable, dog named Broccolli who lives at an animal shelter, awaiting his perfect home. Beautifully illustrated, and written with a good dose of humor, readers will love following Broccolli’s antics as he shows off his many clever (but loud) skills. How will he ever find a home? Broccolli shows us there is a perfect match for every one of us. And that we don’t need to be perfect to be perfectly loved.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Because of Winn-Dixie
By
Kate DiCamillo
Why this book?
I love this beautifully written story of friendship and loss. No life is without struggle. But when it comes, animals have an uncanny ability to reach into our hearts and to soothe the ache. Readers will fall in love with ten-year-old Opal who finds hope and friendship where she least expects it – in a grocery store! The spirited stray dog, which she names Winn Dixie, turns out to be more than a furry face in need of a home. He reminds Opal that hurts can heal, and that forgiveness has a power all its own.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The House at Pooh Corner
By
A.A. Milne,
E.H. Shepard
Why this book?
Every so often there is a perfect pairing of word and image. This is one of them. And even though this book is not about real animals, the characters A. A. Milne has dreamt up, and E.H. Shepard has given a face to, have the very real attributes of our beloved animal companions. Readers young and old will appreciate the charming, and often wise words of Winnie the Pooh and his companion, Piglet, as they bestow the value of true friendship. And for Christopher Robin, their guardian, the very real bond of unconditional love.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Raft
By
Jim LaMarche
Why this book?
A perfect book to celebrate summer and the magic of nature. Nicky is not eager to vacation at his grandmother’s country home. But nature and the animals have a different plan. And when the two find each other among the banks of a peaceful river, a delightful friendship unfolds. I love this book for its beauty, sense of peace, and quiet adventure. Surrounded by the splendor of nature is a call to come home, to quiet our minds and to see the world as animals do. With the animals to inspire him, Nicky not only discovers a talent for art but a reverence for the world around him.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Wind in the Willows
By
Kenneth Grahame
Why this book?
Please here me when I say you haven’t read The Wind in the Willows until you’ve read the version illustrated by Inga Moore. Her depictions of animals are charming, witty, and imagined with great skill. In this beloved tale, a humble mole – eager for adventure - sets out across the English countryside. With newfound friends, the plucky River Rat, wise Badger, and the spirited Toad, Moley discovers beauty he had never seen, danger he could not imagine, and most of all, a profound understanding. Like our own animal companions, our dear Mole reminds us that the simple things – honest friendship, a meal to share, and a place to call home are the recipe for ‘happily ever after.’
