Both fiction and non-fiction celebrating animals and our relationships with them.

Fiction

Choldenko, Gennifer. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog. 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.

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

George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.

Hobbs, Will. Beardance. While accompanying an elderly rancher on a trip into the San Juan Mountains, Cloyd, a Ute Indian boy, tries to help two orphaned  grizzly cubs survive the winter and, at the same time,  completes his spirit mission.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Ring of Endless Light. During the summer her grandfather is dying of leukemia and death  seems all around, 15-year-old Vicky finds comfort with the pod of dolphins with whom she has been doing research.

Savage, Deborah. Summer Hawk. When her rescue of a baby hawk takes fifteen-year-old Taylor to a raptor rehabilitation center in rural Pennsylvania, their offer of a summer public relations job seems a step toward her dream of becoming a journalist.

Wilson, Diane Lee. I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade. Oyuna tells her granddaughter the story of how love for her horse enabled her to win a race and bring good luck to her family living in Mongolia in 1285.

Non-fiction

Alday, Gretchen P. Devoted Friends: True Stories About Animals Who Cared. Endearing stories about dogs, cats, horses, and birds.

Canfield, Jack and others. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul. "Stories about pets as teachers, healers, heroes, and friends."

Canfield, Jack and others. Chicken Soup for the Dog and Cat Lover's Soul. "Celebrating pets as family with stories about cats, dogs, and other critters."

Dye, Dan and Mark Beckloff. Amazing Gracie. Just when Dan felt his life was at his lowest, Gracie came into his life. This is the story of how a deaf, partially blind, albino Great Dane inspired Dan and his roommate to learn how to cook and eventually open the Three Dog Bakery. If you have a dog, you might also want to check out their Three Dog Bakery Cookbook for "over 50 recipes for all-natural, paw-lickin' treats for your dog."

Hess, Elizabeth. Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter. The book the author hopes will "turn the most common myths about animal shelters inside out." A journalist, the author begins volunteering at an animal shelter and tells about the animals she sees, the people who abandon them, and the people who take care of them. Includes some heartbreaking tales and joyful moments, too.

Laland, Stephanie. Peaceful Kingdom: Random Acts of Kindness by Animals. An elephant  saves a tightrope artist, a stray dog keeps a man alive in a snowstorm, a raccoon notifies a family that their house is on fire. These are just three of the many remarkable true stories about the kindness and wisdom of animals.

Lee, Mary Price and Richard S. Lee. Opportunities in Animal and Pet Care Career  In  addition to careers that you already know about, like veterinarian, you'll also find information  about jobs that are becoming more popular, like working with animals as therapy for humans who are sick or injured.

Masson, Jeffrey Moussaieff. Dogs Have the Strangest Friends: Other True Stories of Animal Feelings. Masson shows that animals can show emotion by offering "true real-life tales about  a mother cat who saves her kittens from a fire; a parrot who says "I'm sorry"; the special friendship between a dog and a lion; and many others."

North, Sterling. Rascal. The autobiographical account of the author's childhood adventures with his pet raccoon, Rascal. You could also listen to the book on tape or the book on CD!

Pasten, Laura. Tarantula Whisperer: A Celebrity Vet Shares Her Secrets to Communicating  with Animals. Uses lots of funny and endearing stories to explain how to communicate with your pet! The author was the veterinarian for Morris, the famous cat of the 9 Lives cat food commercials.

Paulsen, Gary. My Life in Dog Years. Paulsen is the author of many novels, including Hatchet.  In this autobiography, he tells about his life by telling about the different dogs that have had  special places in his life. If you like this, also try another of his books: Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs.

Smolker, Rachel. To Touch a Wild Dolphin. Smolker has studied the dolphins of MonkeyMia, Australia for the past 15 years. She shares not only her research and observations,but the personalities of the dolphins she has grown to love and respect.

Steiger, Brad & Sherry Hansen Steiger. Dog Miracles: Inspirational and Heroic TrueStories. Stories about the kindness, intelligence, and loyalty of canine companions. From dogs whosolved crimes to dogs that saved lives.
To find more books about animals you can try several different headings in the CantonPublic Library catalog. Some possible general subjects include animals, human animal communication, and human animal relationships. You can also search under individual animals such as grizzly bear, dolphins, or cats.