Just how do dogs view our holidays? Do they have special days of their own? Find out in Every Day's a Dog's Day: a Year in Poems, by Marilyn Singer and pictures by Miki Sakamoto. I loved the poem for July 4th, where, from the dog's perspective, the humans are making noise, and yet, if the dogs bark, they are told to be quiet!

It's probably about time I did something about cats, yes? So, I read Cat People: a Hilariously Entertaining Look at the World of Cat Lovers and Their Obsessive Devotion to Their Pets, by Michael Korda and Margaret Korda. (Michael also did the nice illustrations). It was laugh out loud funny in spots, sad, too, of course, and one event that I felt just did not to be included at all. I loved the 'discussion' on how cats and dogs differ.

The first two books in today's post were fun, this one, An Echo Through the Snow, by Andrea Thalasinos while well written, was a much harder read. Cruelty, abuse, neglect, but also survival, rescue, and return (for lack of a better word on my part). In 1929 the Chukchi people of Siberia gave up their dogs (known as the Guardians) in order to save them. More than 60 years later one Elder hopes for their return. Two interwoven stories fill in the years in between. Thanks to County Reader for the nudge on this book ... looking at the cover I was sure I'd read it, but I hadn't! Look for mention of the Beargrease Sled Dog Race! Books about that, and the man it is named for (John Beargrease, mail carrier) have been in earlier posts. :-)

Looking for favorite picture books (see the post for September 8, 2016) I came across one I'd not seen in decades! Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gag is not (to me anyway) a picture book .. too many words! However, I thought it would be perfect here. And, the story was still fun, and I still loved the repetition of "Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats." :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog