Happy April to all of my animal loving friends! Summer is coming and it is time to put some books on your reading list. It should come as no surprise that some of my favorite books are centered around animals and animal behavior. Here are a few that you just have to read - children's recommendation included (the best book is at the end)!
The Functional Handbook: The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats by Amy D. Shojai
When I think of a book to recommend to pet owners, this is the one that comes to mind first. This book is a compilation of advice from more than 80 of America's Top Veterinarians written by animal behaviorist Amy Shojai who you may have seen on Dogs 101. I particularly like the detailed images showing common pet first-aid techniques. The symptom checker table is another very helpful tool for figuring out what may be wrong with your pet. Each section of the covers a different problem ranging from abscesses to snake bites and how you can respond to provide your pet first-aid care.
Perspectives: Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson
If you've never heard of Temple Grandin, please watch this TED Talk here entitled The World Needs All Kinds of Minds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn_9f5x0f1Q. She is one of the brilliant animal behaviorists of our time. I am personally inspired by Temple's connection to the minds of animals and how she uses that connection to create better care systems. She discusses how she thinks in images and gets caught up on the details which has given her the ability to make valuable observations from the perspective of the animal.
From the synopsis: "In this book, Temple Grandin draws on her own experiences with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver an extraordinary message about how animals think, act, and feel."
Every Heartbeat Matters: 100 Heartbeats: The race to save Earth's most endangered species by Jeff Corwin
During my time at Allegheny College, my favorite course I ever took was Conservation Biology. From that course, this book made the life long list of required readings that I loved to read and have read again since. Jeff Corwin came to the college to speak about his adventures and conservation challenges and I even got my copy signed (which was super exciting since I grew up watching him on TV).
From the synopsis: "From the forests slipping away beneath the stealthy paws of the Florida panther, to the brutal poaching tactics that have devastated Africa's rhinoceros and elephant populations, Corwin takes readers on a global tour to witness firsthand the critical state of our natural world. Along the way, he shares inspiring stories of battles being waged and won in defense of the earth's most threatened creatures by the conservationists on the front lines."
Kid's Pick (but you should read too): The Little Red Hen, a Little Golden Book Classic
I may be partial to this book because I have my own little blonde hens and sassy ducks that won't help (if you know the story you know what I mean). It is such a cute story and has a great lesson: You can do big things with less support than you think you need!
Links to all of these on Amazon or check your local used bookstore!
The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats
Animals in Translation
100 Heartbeats
The Little Red Hen
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