Some days one can't help hating humanity. On those days I strongly recommend this book full of well-verified stories about various non-humans who demonstrate empathy and creativity and save the lives of humans, whether the humans deserve it or not. That many of these fabulous critters are either wild or rescued just makes the whole thing that much better. Also, I like the illustrations. And I really like that Campbell never overstates the case for what the critters in question may have been thinking or feeling. He just reports the facts. Facts which make it abundantly clear that all social animals share an inclination to help, even at great personal risk, regardless of the species in trouble.

The most positive and affirming book I've read this year. These animals make me want to be a better human.

Library copy.

At the moment, I was looking at the dog. His eyes were warmly brown. . . , the little Chestnut marks above them giving him a questioning expression, as I asked, "Is he a setter?"

"Aye, A Gordon setter. Hunting dogs, they're meant to be, and Hector would have been as well, if his fool of a first owner hadn't ruined him. She took him on a full day's hunt afore he'd ever heard a gunshot. After that, if anything went bang, he'd tuck his tail and run. His owner didn't want him, then. She sent him to the pound."

"And so you rescued him?"

"Aye. It was never his fault, and you don't cast life aside like that." Alastair Scott had been walking towards me while he had been talking, and now he bent briefly to rumple the dogs ears himself, with a leather-gloved hand. "He's got lots of good years in him yet. . . . "

Second chances, I thought, as my gaze shifted slightly to Hector, the dog who'd been branded as useless but rescued because one man firmly believed that a life shouldn't be cast aside.

Page 14 of 495

i expect I will be loving this book.  It matches my ideology.

This was my first book by this author. I was pleasantly surprised to like her work. I found her characters interesting, their issues realistic without being drama rama ridiculous. I liked them I found it easy to connect with them and wanted them to succeed.

Two children from broken families, fall in love and crash in disaster. His mother died and his father was sent to prison. He is sent to live with his uncle and his wife who makes sure he feels unwelcome. She has a father who cheated and left her and her twin alone with their broken hearted mother to raise another family. There are some serious issues that need to be resolved.

Two high school sweethearts break up after a dramatic event is kept from her. She is understandably upset things are said that put their futures on different paths. He heads off the college where he she stays in her town waiting till loneliness drives her to try living. An unexpected surprise take them farther from each other, all hope finally gone. Then an illness brings him back to town where they are forced to reunite and finally hash out what should have been discussed 10 years earlier. The side characters are fantastic with all their quirky problems. Rufus, steals  the spot light every scene he's in. It gets, ugly, funny, sad, angry, sigh worthy and intense. 

I already reserved more books from her

First of all, these are both currently Free on Amazon.  Both of them remind me of books you make yourself using your own photos and writing in your captions; not to say that that's a bad thing because I've seen some very cleverly done.  Each of these books had a problem, though, Sir Romeo Beau's photos were really too small to get a full picture.  And poor Diesel's photos didn't transfer at all.  (Purchased in Kindle format.)

Both of them tell good stories, and they are stories that need to be told.  

Sir Romeo is a rescue dog.  When he was brought into a couple's home for companionship purposes, Sir Romeo saw that there was a need for more than companionship.  (I am making the assumption here that the author of the book, J R Pullen, is also Sir Romeo's "mommy" and the person with the medical condition, so I am taking the liberty of calling her J -- otherwise I have no name to call her but Sir Romeo's mommy or mommy -- so J it is.)

J walks with a cane and has difficulties getting around.  Sir Romeo made himself useful by nudging items closer to her (her phone and her cane) and was even precocious enough to remind J that it was time to take her medicine.  They realized they had a very special dog on their hands and made the decision to have Romeo trained by a Service Work Dog Trainer.  Upon graduation, he received his Service Work Dog Vest, and now he accompanies J everywhere to assist her when she needs it.

The book describes all the ways that Sir Romeo provides her assistance, and the behaviors that are required of a Service Work Dog.  I appreciate the book because it calls attention to a growing population of service work dogs and therapy assistance dogs, and that a service dog doesn't need to have a pedigree in order to be trained as one.

The language is very simplistic, and at least part of the time they tried for a rhyming pattern which I wish they would have foregone.  But the message is the important thing and they made shout outs to various organizations including the American military and canine soldier dogs.

Diesel's book is written by his human grandmother, L. K. Brown, and she says it just fine, so I am quoting her:  "I wrote this book about Diesel, hoping to increase the awareness of dogs and cats in animal shelters all around the world.  It breaks my heart to read about all the dogs and cats that need forever homes.  Please spread the word and Opt To Adopt!  There are so many wonderful animals out there that need a home."

Then she tells the story of Diesel, who was born in the shelter along with seven brothers and sisters who were all adopted, (YaY) and eventually, the mother also found a forever home.  

She provides appalling statistics about the number of animals that are euthanized each year in American cities because we do such a terrible job of spaying and neutering our pets.  She reminds us that shelters need our support and encourages us all to help them with our resources when we are able and if we are so inclined.  

Both books are cute and fun and include links and contact information for further information.