‘Cat on a Hot Tin Woof’ by Spencer Quinn is the latest in the fabulous ‘Chet and Bernie Mystery’ series

How can you not love a book narrated by a dog who understands a lot of what’s going on, but also — in true, believable doggy style — misses so much? Spencer Quinn has an almost supernatural ability to write like a dog. Or at least what we think our dogs really might be thinking as they go through life with us. And in his (and Chet and Bernie’s) latest story, “Cat on a Hot Tin Woof,” there’s finally a cat! Actually, as Chet might put it, “There might be two cats, but I can’t count past two.”

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‘Pocket Bear’ by Katherine Applegate is like hot cocoa on a cold winter night — it warms you from inside

You can’t go wrong with any book by Katherine Applegate. And “Pocket Bear” is just like her other ones in an important way — it is filled with quirky characters who learn important life lessons and make lasting friendships. It’s brilliant, and it’s sure to be another classic in the middle grade collection of memorable books.

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‘Pets and the City’ by Dr. Amy Attas is a wonderful book filled with “True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian” that reads like a novel

It’s difficult to write nonfiction that is so engrossing and relatable that it reads like fiction, yet that is just what veterinarian Dr. Amy Attas manages to do in her book “Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian.” This collection of anecdotes and personal history ranges from the why—the reason Attas wanted to become a veterinarian and how she accomplished that—to the many famous people who were/are her clients. From Joan Rivers to Billy Joel, we read about the connections that the uber rich and famous have with their pets. But we also read about those not in that stratosphere of economic wealth, and how money doesn’t dictate how much we love our four-legged (and sometimes three-legged) pets.

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Picture books with dogs, dogs, dogs

Kids love picture books and especially picture books featuring dogs. All of these books have adorable dogs in them, one also has a cat, and one has a host of wild animals! All have wonderful messages about patience, acceptance, and learning from a dog; and one special book is about why a dog is a better pet than a wild animal! Perfect for children like my grandson, who wants to have a home filled with wild animals he will care for.

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Lake County Animal Control ignores Illinois law regarding humane treatment of feral cats and fails to reunite lost dogs and cats with owners (UPDATED)

Those of us who live in Lake County, Illinois, assume that our county government is doing its best for us. That would include how our county treats our animals, our beloved cats and dogs. I’ve recently discovered that Lake County Animal Control is seriously lacking in not only how it follows Illinois law regarding feral cats, but also fails miserably at posting stray dogs and cats so that owners can find their lost pets.

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Must-have dog and cat picture books: funny, clever and touching

As I’ve mentioned (repeatedly) in writing about dog and cat picture books—kids love them. Adults love them. Whether they are funny, touching, clever, or as is often the case, a combination of all those qualities, reading books about our favorite companions is almost always extremely rewarding. Here are some wonderful choices to share with your picture book readers.

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‘Starter Villain’ by John Scalzi is a clever tale of spies and bad guys and one unprepared substitute teacher

The cat on the cover did it—I knew “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi was a book I wanted to read. Even if the cats weren’t the center of the plot. But to my delight, the cats were magnificent! And the dolphins were hysterical, in a tough-guy kind of way. But the substitute teacher, first person narrator Charlie Fitzer, is just a wonderful main character. The kind of guy we really root for and we want to attain his dream.

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Dog books and Cat books and more for younger readers

Books with high interest are really important for kids to read during the summer months when they aren’t reading in school. Teachers will tell you that the summer setback in reading ability is real for kids who may not read much because they are outside playing or at camp. And while want kids to be outside when the weather is nice, reading daily is important, too. And high interest books are the way to go. Here are many books about dogs, cats, and other animals that will not only intrigue kids, but that have important messages to share. Perfect for rainy days, bedtime stories, or just reading at breakfast to get a good start to the day.

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‘The Book of Pet Love & Loss: Words of Comfort & Wisdom from Remarkable People’ by Sara Bader

Those of us who are lucky enough to have animal companions know one tragic truth: With the exception of a few parrots, we will outlive all our companion animals. And as we experience the passing of each one, our hearts break. In “The Book of Pet Love & Loss,” Sara Bader manages to reassure us that we are not alone in our grief, that our sadness, our heartbreak, our sense of loss, is normal and equivalent to what is experienced by many others, include the noted writers of the quotes in this small treasure.

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