The weather is getting warmer and children are eager to play outside.  Their curiosity often leads them to investigate all the little critters crawling about, and sometimes a bug or two might even make its way home with them.  Then what do you do?  The Animal Planet Pet Care series has a book Bugs as Pets which tells you how to house and properly care for your new "pet". 

If you are considering a new addition to your family, the library is a great place to start. We have many books available to help you select a pet for your family. The Animal Planet Pet Care series has books on dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, fish and even bugs as pets!

Now that Bo, the Obama family's new puppy has settled in at the White House, the time is right to look back at some of the former residents of the presidential home. White House Pets takes a look at the more than 400 pets that have lived there over the course of 200 years. Produced by Animal Planet,  the DVD is  a fascinating look at the bears, parrots, dogs, and cats that have roamed the halls of one of the most famous homes in history.

The fish have finally moved into their new aquarium! We will be adding more fish soon, so keep your eye out for more information on how you can help. In the meantime, you can learn more about our fish by checking out some of our great fish books.

Are you a puppy lover? Then you will love Biscuit!  Biscuit is a little yellow pup who just loves to have fun.  Meet him in the first of many books in the Biscuit series for beginning readers.  He's also the star of several picture books and board books! Want to learn more about the world of Biscuit? Visit the website of the author behind the series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli. 

Bolt, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Hotel for Dogs.  There have been a lot of family films released with dogs in them lately.  But they've always been a surefire Hollywood hit all the way back to the days of Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

Jane Goodall is acclaimed for her work with chimpanzees, but her new video, When Animals Talk, looks at cross-species communication with a range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, elephants and even rats.  The program explores some fascinating research on telepathy, and the mutual benefits that accrue when humans bond and partner 

Are you a dog person who loves to spoil your furry friend? The Three Dog Bakery is a fantastic gourmet treat shop for dogs! They use all-natural ingredients to make their adorable cookies and cakes, not to mention being very reasonably priced. With their added selection of toys, clothing, and just about every dog-related item you can imagine, they have something for everyone. I was just there over the weekend buying a personalized birthday cake for my dog.

Marley, the lovable Labrador who inspired a best-selling book and a hit movie, now comes to us in a format for beginning readers.  Marley & Me: Meet Marley and Marley & Me: Marley to the Rescue follow the escapades of Marley, who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. If you love dogs, you'll definitely love reading about Marley's crazy adventures.

Books

• Calico Cat's Year by Donald Charles
• Over in the Meadow by Jane Cabrera
• Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera
• Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
• I Have a Pet by Shari Halpern
• Where's Spot? by Eric Hill
• I Heard a Little Baa by Elizabeth MacLeod
• Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
• Bath Day by Julia Noonan
• Breakfast Time by Julia Noon

Fiction

Notes from a liar and her dog by Gennifer Choldenko — Ant, stuck in a family that she does not like, copes by pretending that her "real" parents are coming to rescue her, by loving her dog Pistachio, by volunteering at the zoo, and by bending the truth and telling lies.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo — Though this book is shelved in the youth department, the story of Opal and the dog that she finds should not be missed.

Recommended by Lucy, as told to Deb, an adult reference librarian.

Check our other Fave Five lists, too!

Recommended by Kim, a reference librarian in our Children's Library.

Check our other Fave Five lists, too!

Recommended by Michelle, one of our children's librarians.

Check our other Fave Five lists, too!

A professional psychic explains the subtle cues that form the foundation of animal communication, and provides guided exercises that allow readers to explore these cues for themselves. With gentle encouragement, she shows how to look for communications typically drowned out in the noise and chaos of modern life. Full of amazing stories, this will inspire one to pay more attention to the signals our pets are sending us and provide a richer relationship between owners and their animal companions.