Table of Contents
While it’s still hotter than the sun right now–at least here in central Indiana–all my attention has turned toward fall.
Once the kids go back to school, everything starts to feel like a change. This year is wildly different for me because now I have two kids in school the whole entire day. What am I going to do with that extra time?!
Read, of course!
And I’ve had the opportunity, thanks to the publishers, to review some recently released and forthcoming books that I wanted to ensure were on your fall TBR!
So, without further ado, let’s dig into your must-read dog books this fall.
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You Can Never Die
by Harry Bliss
This graphic memoir by New Yorker cover artist, Bliss, weaves his signature comics with anecdotes from his life. Penny, his beloved dog of almost two decades passes away in the first quarter of the book, and the remaining memoir gives us Bliss grappling with grief and and trying to make sense of the world. He writes in the epilogue that the book was intended to be “a sort of curated journey that included writings, drawings, and cartoons–all threaded together with the hope of connecting me to you.” If you’re a fan of his art, you’ll be pleased to see many never-before-published artwork and glimpses into his sketchbook. Much of the art features dogs, often inspired by his Penny.
To be honest, this book wasn’t what I thought it was going to be having read the title, the blurb, and seen the cover art. But, I think, it was better for it. Deeper, richer, funnier than I expected and full of heart. One of the final chapters, called “Dogs,” is lovely–the accompanying water color brought me to tears. This would make an excellent gift for someone who wants a thoughtful examination of the “beautiful and painful world” that we’re all struggling through.
Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.
Dog Parenting
by Amy Pike, Elizabeth Mullen, and Tara Murtagh, with illustrations by Fin Kendall
You need this book.
Honestly? That could be the whole review! Go get this book when it comes out in October! But a few more details to explain why:
First, it’s pocket sized. Sometimes training books can be dense and overwhelming, too easy to skim. This is filled with bite-sized chunks of excellent information, easy to understand and process. Plus, when the information is presented so succinctly, it’s easier to dive right into implementation!
Second, the illustrations bring the concepts to life. The drawings are equal parts adorable and useful.
Finally, the training advice is research-based and positive. It’s the compassionate approach to training that we all want to see spread! My only note is that the how-to portions rely heavily on auditory cues, particularly using “YES!” to mark desired behaviors. Mentally swap the marker to whatever is most appropriate to your dogs and your situation–like Penny and Stola, my two deaf dogs, get a thumbs-up since they couldn’t hear a “YES!” anyway.
This is a must-have for the bookshelf of any dog lover!
Available for pre-order on Amazon and Bookshop.org.
A Frenchie Life, A Golden Life, and a Labrador Life
by Sara Weiss
Have you seen a prettier collection of books? Seriously, these are so wonderfully done. If more are coming out, I want to collect them all and set aside dedicated shelf space to show them off!
If you are a breed aficionado–either you love a specific breed or you’re a general dog nerd like me and love them all–these are must-haves for your collection. Each title includes helpful information about the breed, a little bit about the breed’s history, and stories about dogs representative of the breed.
Plus, each book comes with incredibly back matter, like a collection of adorable illustrations, great names for that breed, and useful resources on adopting, buying, or caring for each breed. This would be the perfect thing to get for someone who recently added one of these breeds to their family or for the loves-them-all dog obsessed.
Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.
For the Love of Dog
by me!
Okay, okay. It might be cheesy to include my own book, but #SorryNotSorry. I’m just so excited!
It comes out September 16, so it’s available for pre-order now. This is the story of me, my dogs, and the 20,000 years of evolution that led to me finding each one of their adorable faces waiting behind the bars of an animal shelter.
It’s science-meets-story. Anecdotes about my dogs and my life illustrate the research coming out of the world’s best canine cognition centers.
I wanted to use the data to prove what we dog people already knew intuitively: Our partnership is so much more than two species connected by a leash.
Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.
*Did you know pre-orders are one of the most important factors in a book’s success? (Cue stress eating of Nerds Gummy Clusters…) I am so, so grateful for your support.*
Honorable mentions
I received a few more for consideration that I’d like to share, though I haven’t had the chance to read them yet:
My Cat’s Plans for World Domination by Sam Hart (Even though I haven’t gotten to read it yet, Violet has numerous times since it arrived, and she ADORES it! She’s the biggest cat lady around.)
The Love Language of Dogs by Sam Hart
