Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship and ultimately my own voice reading about, and spending time with, animalsā€”especially dogs. Dogs didnā€™t judge, didnā€™t expect anything from me, and I never had to worry about what to say to them. They gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communicationā€”gifts that ultimately led me to obtain a masterā€™s degree in counseling and work as a childrenā€™s grief counselor. Thankfully I overcame my extreme shyness. And there is no denying the role that dogsā€”and books about dogsā€”have played in my life. I hope this list helps you find that same comfort and inspiration.


I wrote

Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World

By Larry Randolph, Jennifer Marshall Bleakley,

Book cover of Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World

What is my book about?

After a devastating series of personal losses, Larry Randolph finally had things under control. Then one morning while praying, heā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did I love this book?

This book proves rough beginnings can produce beautiful endings.

I read Marley and Me a few years before losing our first golden retriever, Sunny. I had waited twenty-three years to have a dog of my own. My husband and I had looked at more than a dozen puppies before deciding on our perfect little princess.

The first day, our puppy slept like the sweet princess we knew she was! But on day two, she woke up a tyrant. She was the golden retriever version of Marleyā€”and like Marley, Sunny won our hearts and became a beloved member of our family.

She lay in my lap while I read Marley and Meā€”a good thing because I had to stop reading and hug her a lot while reading the book!

By John Grogan,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Marley & Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THAT MOVED DOG LOVERS ALL OVER THE WORLD

**NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, STARRING OWEN WILSON AND JENNIFER ANISTON**

'A book with intense appeal . . . tenderly follows its subject from sunrise to sunset'
New York Times

'Not just a funny dog story . . . It's a universal story of family life and a publishing sensation' The Times

'Made me laugh so much I pulled a muscle in my solar plexus' Daily Mail

'A wonderful, moving book that even non-dog-lovers cannot fail to enjoy' Mail on Sunday

* * * * *ā€¦


Book cover of Because of Winn-Dixie

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did I love this book?

Since there was a Winn-Dixie grocery store less than two miles from my house growing up, I was first drawn to this book because of the title.

But the moment I opened it I was swept into the heartwarming story of a lonely little girl who finds, and rescues, a stray dog at Winn-Dixie. This is a beautiful story of how a relationship with a dog can transform your life. Itā€™s a book about friendship, compassion, and courageā€”and a story that stayed with me long after I closed the book.

By Kate DiCamillo,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked Because of Winn-Dixie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Funny and poignant, this 2001 Newbery Honor novel captures life in a quirky Southern town as Opal and her mangy dog, Winn-Dixie, strike up friendships among the locals.

One summer's day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries - and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it's because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens thatā€¦


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Book cover of Follow Me to Africa

Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw,

Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.

It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on theā€¦

Book cover of The Art of Racing in the Rain

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did I love this book?

I wonā€™t watch a movie if I know ahead of time that a dog dies in the film, so the fact that I picked up this bookā€”knowing the dog diesā€”was surprising. But more surprising was how much I loved it!

I really loved that it is written in Enzoā€™s (the dogā€™s) voice. As someone who narrates my dogā€™s looks and wishes more than anything she could talk to me, I really appreciated getting to read from Enzoā€™s perspective. This book caused me to appreciate my dog in a deeper wayā€”and it highlights just how intuitive and altruistic our four-legged friends really are.

By Garth Stein,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked The Art of Racing in the Rain as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Soon to be a major motion picture, this heart-warming and inspirational tale follows Enzo, a loyal family dog, tells the story of his human family, how they nearly fell apart, and what he did to bring them back together.

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: he thinks and feels in nearly human ways. He has educated himself by watching extensive television, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo realizes that racing is a metaphor: that by applying the techniques a driver would apply onā€¦


Book cover of Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did I love this book?

Maybe I should give a warning with this recommendationā€”donā€™t start this book with plans to give it just 15 minutes and then get your beauty sleep.

I stayed up well into the wee hours of the morning reading this powerful true story of survival, loyalty, and courage. It made me feel like I was with Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as she led him down the stairwell of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11 after the first plane struck.

This gripping story highlights the bond between a guide dog and his humanā€”and also gives us a glimpse into a day that forever changed America.

By Michael Hingson, Susy Flory,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Thunder Dog as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An instant New York Times bestseller, Thunder Dog tells the true story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the life-changing power of faith and trust in the face of terror.

When one of four hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson, a district sales manager for a data protection and network security systems company, was sitting down for a meeting. His guide dog, Roselle, was at his feet.

Blind from birth, Michael could hear the sounds of shattering glass, falling debris, and terrified people flooding all around him. Butā€¦


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Book cover of You're Doing Great!: And Other Lies Alcohol Told Me

You're Doing Great! by Dustin Dunbar,

An inspiring, hilarious, and much-needed approach to addiction and self-acceptance,

Youā€™re Doing Great! debunks the myth that alcohol washes away the pain; explains the toll alcohol takes on our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being; illustrates the steps to deal with our problems head-on; exposes the practices usedā€¦

Book cover of Lassie Come-Home

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did I love this book?

Although itā€™s technically considered a childrenā€™s book, Lassie Come-Home is one of those special stories that crosses generations, cultures, and time periods.

As a child desperate for a dog, I loved imagining I had a dog as devoted as Lassieā€”and one as willing to traverse all manner of obstacles to come and find me should we ever become separated!

As an adult, I was struck by how much Lassie endured to find her way back to Joe, and how, even when presented with a comfortable life somewhere else, she chose to keep moving forwardā€”back to the boy who held her heart.

By Eric Knight, Marguerite Kirmse (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Lassie Come-Home as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Sold in financial desperation to a wealthy duke living in the far north of Scotland, a collie undertakes a 1000-mile journey in order to be reunited with her former master in Yorkshire.


Explore my book šŸ˜€

Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World

By Larry Randolph, Jennifer Marshall Bleakley,

Book cover of Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World

What is my book about?

After a devastating series of personal losses, Larry Randolph finally had things under control. Then one morning while praying, he felt God speak two simple words to his heart: "Therapy dogs." There was only one problem. Larry didn't have a dog, and hadnā€™t since the loss of his beloved basset hound, Gus. Why would God say that? Could Larry even open himself up to loving a dog again? He had far more questions than answers. But then came Grace.

Together, Larry and his beloved yellow lab Gracie brought hope and healing to hundreds of sick and lonely people. But when Larry's own life takes a shocking and terrifying turn, itā€™s up to Gracie to rescue Larry and his family too.

Book cover of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Book cover of Because of Winn-Dixie
Book cover of The Art of Racing in the Rain

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The Ballad of Falling Rock by Jordan Dotson,

Truth told, folks still ask if Saul Crabtree sold his soul for the perfect voice. If he sold it to angels or devils. A Bristol newspaper once asked: ā€œAre his love songs closer to heaven than dying?ā€ Others wonder how he wrote a song so sad, everyone who heard itā€¦

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Quick Bright Things by Michael Golding,

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Drawn from the personalā€¦

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Interested in dogs, September 11th, and Anthrozoology?

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Anthrozoology 121 books