It’s the perfect time of year to relax with a good book, (hopefully with your pooch nearby) so we’ve found a selection of reads to keep dog lovers of all ages happy.
Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World by Niall Harbison
Niall Harbison is the founder and mastermind behind Happy Doggo, a charity which rescues, feeds, sterilizes, and re-homes street dogs, primarily in Southeast Asia.
When he came across a dog shackled to a short chain and in a poor state of health something reminded him of his personal battle with addiction. He knew he had to rescue her immediately – golden retrievers are rare in Thailand – but there was just something about this dog in particular that told him she was destined for more.
He named her Tina, and what she did next is an incredible tale of survival, hope and love. Despite her terrible treatment at the hands of humans, she refused to distrust them or feel sorry for herself, and only opened her heart wider – always with a grin (yes dogs can smile) and a reassuring wag of her shaggy yellow tail.
From the minute Tina was free of her chains, she got on with what needed to be done, inspiring a dog hospital to be built and named after her and helping dogs from all over the world – whether they’re street dogs from Thailand or rescue pups in Montana. The movement behind Tina has not stopped. This is her story
Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World [Children’s Edition]
Meet Buster with his missing ear, Jumbo with his love of sausages, and Solo the tiny jungle puppy. Enjoy Shaq’s first ice cream on the beach, Buttons’ delight with his famous rock star family, and tiny Alba’s precious few sunsets.
Most important of all, meet Tina: the golden retriever whose loving nature, delight in tennis balls and rides in Niall’s motorcycle sidecar inspired Niall’s most impassioned project to date: Tina’s Hospital, where Thailand’s sick dogs will receive the best possible care.
My Dog Ate The Bathroom by Justin Christopher and Raymond McGrath
When Ella’s dog, Mr Nut, starts eating everything in sight—Dad’s slippers, the TV remote, even the bathroom—things quickly spiral out of control.
As Mr Nut grows bigger with each bite, the family faces a hilarious disaster, losing their garage, house, and even their car!
But when the mischievous pup finally eats too much, an unexpected (and messy) surprise awaits.
Justin Christopher has written a silly and unpredictable story that takes destruction to a whole new level.
Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show
Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Tomlinson explores the bond between dogs and their people in this irresistibly appealing, inside account of the Westminster Dog Show that follows one dog on his quest to become a champion.
Tommy Tomlinson was watching a dog show on television a few years ago when he had a sudden thought: Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs—are they happy?
Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the longtime relationship between dogs and humans, and here, in Dogland he shares his surprising, entertaining, and moving adventures.
Spending three years on the road, Tomlinson goes behind the scenes at more than one hundred competitions across the country, from Midwestern fairgrounds to Madison Square Garden.
Along the way he is licked, sniffed, and rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed.
Beau and the Stone Giant by Hydie Balle-Hands
Beau, a cheeky Cavachon and his friends Bobby, a brave Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Frankie, a shy Lagotto Romagnolo, are the heroes of this quest story.
They agree to help the stone giant find the cure for his stone malady, which is the flax seed from the lily harakeke.
The quest is dangerous, with a crumbling road to cross and a merciless sea to sail. Just in case if things weren’t hard enough, there is even a bad dragon to defeat.A beautiful twist of fate occurs at the climax where a tui steals the flaxseed and Beau sheds a tear.
This tear turns out to be a more potent antidote, and we seethe stone giant begin to transform into this true identity.Whispering Mountain, the crumbling road and the merciless sea are all based on landmarks of East Auckland, in New Zealand where author Hydie Balle-Hands calls home.
The characters and the story are beautifully illustrated by Audee Halim, reminiscent of 50’s Disney animation styling.
More Than Just A Dog: Understanding, loving and living with dogs by Simon Wooler
This book explores what every dog owner knows – that a dog is never just a dog. They are our companions, best friends, members of the family and for some the most important part of our lives.
Simon Wooler, trainer to social media’s most famous fearful dog, Sophie from Romania, unlocks the heart of the special relationship we have with dogs.
Demystifying the science of dog behaviour and debunking the sticky myths that all too often can get in the way of understanding, More Than Just A Dog is a celebration of the joy of life with dogs in all its messy, loveable reality.
Bookshop Dogs by Ruth Shaw
Dogs of all shapes and sizes visit Ruth Shaw’s three wee bookshops in Manap?uri in the far south of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Local dogs, holiday house dogs, travelling dogs: many have great stories, be they funny, sad, strange, bemusing, quirky or sweet.
Woven throughout are tales of the very special Hunza, the dog who worked with troubled teens alongside Ruth when she was a youth worker.
This is a window into the wonderful world of Ruth and her generous love of people, books and dogs. It’s a must-read for dog fans, book fans and anyone who loved her first book, The Bookseller at the End of the World.
