Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson

 

I love dogs and I also love watching dog shows when I find the time. With that in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson, which is a nonfiction book about dogs and dog shows like the Westminster Dog Show here in the USA. Also worth noting, Jonathan Davis does a wonderful job narrating Dogland.

I learned a lot about dogs from reading Dogland. Everything from selective breeding to the fact that even dogs can get STIs like brucellosis (a bacterial infection)! If you love learning about dogs and their history in and out of the show ring, then you may enjoy reading this book as much as I did. I also liked that this book discusses whether dogs are happy or not. Plus, there's even a discussion on the difference between show dogs and pet dogs.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson found on the Goodreads website:

From Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Elephant in the Room comes the first inside account of the Westminster Dog Show—America’s oldest and most beloved dog show—following 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, too? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the bond between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years. Dogland shares his surprising, entertaining, and unforgettable adventures.

Tomlinson spends three years on the road and goes behind the scenes at dozens of dog shows across the country, where he is licked, sniffed, or rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed. Like a real-life version of Best in Show, Dogland follows one champion show dog—a Samoyed named Striker—and his devoted entourage of breeders, handlers, and owners as he competes in the Westminster Dog Show, the oldest and most famous dog show in America. Tomlinson brings the dog-show circuit to life as he witnesses teams scrambling from town to town in search of championship points and colorful ribbons. Along the way, he also speaks to scientists who have discovered new insights into how dogs and people formed their bond—and how that bond has changed over the centuries.

Engaging, charming, and informative, Dogland is an irresistibly appealing read for pop culture followers and animal lovers alike.

I am giving Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Secret Lives of Cows by Rosamund Young

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Secret Lives of Cows by Rosamund Young, which was narrated by the author.

The Secret Lives of Cows by Rosamund Young was my first read for August 2025 and was a book that had been on my reading wishlist for some time. The Secret Lives of Cows is a work of nonfiction and is a quick listen at 3 hours, 41 minutes.

I'm glad I finally read The Secret Lives of Cows as I love cows and wanted to learn more about them from the author. Rosamund Young is an English farmer and she provided a lot of interesting information about cows on her farm. The personality and behavior of individual cows is amazing, but not surprising.

Rosamund Young discusses hens, sheep, and pigs in her book as well as organic farming. Although, I found these topics to be interesting, I wish they'd been excluded from this book altogether. The Secret Lives of Cows is already a very short book as it is and I'd rather have had the sole topic of this book be about cows exclusively instead of a book that included other animals in it.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Secret Lives of Cows by Rosamund Young from the Goodreads website:

Cows can love, play games, bond and form strong, life-long friendships. They can sulk, hold grudges, and they have preferences and can be vain. All these characteristics and more have been observed, documented, interpreted and retold by Rosamund Young based on her experiences looking after the family farm's herd on Kite's Nest Farm in Worcestershire, England. Here the cows, sheep, hens and pigs all roam free. There is no forced weaning, no separation of young from siblings or mother. They seek and are given help when they request it and supplement their own diets by browsing and nibbling leaves, shoots, flowers and herbs. Rosamund Young provides a fascinating insight into a secret world - secret because many modern farming practices leave no room for displays of natural behavior yet, ironically, a happy herd produces better quality beef and milk.

I am giving The Secret Lives of Cows by Rosamund Young a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron. I've had this book in my possession in one format or another since it was first published in 2008.

I am thrilled I finally listened to Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron as it's really good. I love nonfiction books about animals, libraries, and small mid-western towns, especially small towns in Iowa! So, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World fits the bill in spades for all three categories.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World not only tells the story of Dewey's humble beginnings and his life after arriving at the Spencer Public Library, but the book also talks about the history of Spencer, Iowa as well. Plus, we learn about some of the patrons of the Spencer Public Library, some of the employees of the Spencer Public Library, and about Vicki Myron's life as well. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World is well written and organized. I loved this book!!

Below is the publisher's summary for Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron from Chirp's website:

Experience the uplifting, “unforgettable” New York Times bestseller about an abandoned kitten named Dewey, whose life in a library won over a farming town and the world – with over 2 million copies sold! (Booklist)

Dewey’s story starts in the worst possible way. On the coldest night of the year in Spencer, Iowa, at only a few weeks old–a critical age for kittens–he was stuffed into the return book slot of the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility (for a cat), and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.

As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming community slowly working its way back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

I am giving Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin

 

I read Animals In Translation by Temple Grandin years ago (well before starting my blogging journey) and loved it! In fact, Animals In Translation is one of my favorite all time books ever. 

I'd been meaning to read another book by Temple Grandin ever since then. I finally took the time to listen to the unabridged audio version of Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin, which is well narrated by Andrea Gallo last month in October 2024. I really enjoyed this work of nonfiction about animals... Although, I still like Animals In Translation a bit more.

What I enjoyed most about Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin is that almost every chapter in the book was devoted to a specific animal or group of animals in a particular setting. So you have chapters focused on specifically on cats, dogs, horses, pigs, cows, chickens and other fowl, and also chapters on animals in the wild and animals in captivity. Plus, I enjoyed hearing the last chapter, which was narrated by Temple Grandin, on why she still works in the industry.

I learned so much from listening to Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin. Some of the content was very difficult to hear when it comes to factory farming, but I greatly admire Temple Grandin's research and how she's helped to transform the farming industry here in the USA to make it better. We need more people like her in this world. Thank you Temple Grandin for making the world a better place for animals.

Below is the publisher's summary for Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin I found on Amazon's website:

The best-selling animal advocate Temple Grandin offers the most exciting exploration of how animals feel since The Hidden Life of Dogs.

In her groundbreaking and best-selling book Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think, act, and feel. Now she builds on those insights to show us how to give our animals the best and happiest life—on their terms, not ours.

It’s usually easy to pinpoint the cause of physical pain in animals, but to know what is causing them emotional distress is much harder. Drawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals. Then she explains how to fulfill them for dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, and zoo animals. Whether it’s how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures.

Animals Make Us Human is the culmination of almost thirty years of research, experimentation, and experience.

I am giving Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

My Top Ten Favorite Nonfiction Books About Animals - Take Two

In October 2019, I published a post listing my top ten favorite nonfiction books about animals. Since then, I've read more nonfiction books about various animals.

Below is my newest list of favorite nonfiction books about animals that I've enjoyed reading since my prior post in October 2019.

1. The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger

2. You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam

3. The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller

4. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

5. The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

6. The Book Of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson

7. Where the Lost Dogs Go: A Story of Love, Search, and the Power of Reunion by Susannah Charleson

8. The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts

9. Darwin Comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution by Menno Schilthuizen

10. Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François

Do you enjoy reading nonfiction books about animals? If so, have you read any of the above books? Also, share with me any nonfiction books about animals you've read and enjoyed reading in the comment section below. Maybe I'll find some new favorite nonfiction books about animals!

Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François

 

Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François was my 20th read for 2024! I listened to the unabridged audio version of this nonfiction book, which was nicely narrated by Graham Halstead. 

Listening time for Eloquence of the Sardine is 5 hours, 1 minute, which made for another quick read/listen for me.

Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill François is such a wonderful read as it combines science, natural history, and various oceanic animals among its topics. I really enjoyed learning about the different animals discussed by the author as well as the natural history and other science related topics the author brought up in his book. The Eloquence of the Sardine is well written and flowed nicely from chapter to chapter. The content for Eloquence of the Sardine is also engaging with just the right amount of science in it without making it dry or boring.

Below is the publisher's summary for Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François from Chirp's website:

If we listen to the ocean, what do we hear? What can it teach us? How can it change us?

Written by a marine scientist (and winner of French eloquence competitions), this work of narrative nonfiction blends Bill François’s personal story with that of sea creatures to create an original and exciting work. In poetic prose, he describes his unlikely journey from being a Parisian child, afraid of the water and crippled by self-consciousness, to an eloquent and self-assured young man with a passion for the ocean and all who inhabit it. In doing so, he tells the stories of sardines, anchovies, eels, suckerfish, and whales (to name a few), and demystifies their fascinating conversations.

A mix between science and storytelling from the past and present, Eloquence of the Sardine is an invitation to dive deep and learn from the secrets of the ocean.

I am giving Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Titles with Animals In Them and/or Covers with Animals On Them

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Below are ten books I've read in the past ten years that have an 'animal' in the title.

1. The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts

2. Where the Lost Dogs Go: A Story of Love, Search, and the Power of Reunion by Susannah Charleson

3. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson

4. The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

5. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

6. Magpie by Elizabeth Day

7. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

8. Ravens In The Rain: A Noir Love Story by Christie Santo and
Jeff Santo

9. Wolf Hunt Trilogy by Jeff Strand

10. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Have you read any of the books I have shared in this post? Leave me a comment below!

Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata

 

I received a FREE advanced reader's copy of Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata and illustrated by Marianna Raskin through the Goodreads Giveaway program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata.

Cynthia Kadohata is a new to me author this year and one of her previous novels, The Thing About Luck, became the 2013 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature.

I initially liked Saucy a lot more in the beginning than I did later in the novel. However, I enjoyed reading Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata overall. Saucy is a children's book with a girl named, Becca, as the leading character, which I enjoyed very much as I like seeing women/girls as leading characters in novels. Becca is a quadruplet and has three brothers for siblings. Becca's brothers all seem to be really good at something, but Becca feels she doesn't have any special talents like her brothers do.  

Becca, her brothers, parents and grandmother are a tight knit family and all live together in Ohio. As a family, they take nightly walks together. They soon discover an abandoned baby pig in the bushes that was very sick on one of their nightly walks. They rescue this baby pig, which survives and becomes their pet pig, Saucy. Saucy, the pig, becomes Becca's main purpose and gives her direction as she goes about caring for Saucy. In fact, the entire family falls for Saucy and her antics, but a growing pig becomes too much to care for when you do not live on a farm... So, Saucy is given to a pig sanctuary.

Eventually, we learn that Becca and her family live near a pig factory farm they didn't even know existed. Becca and her brothers sneak into the factory farm late one night without their parents knowledge. The kids are horrified by what they find at this farm and decide to rescue nine baby pigs from a horrifying life on the factory farm. One brother even snaps several photos with his smartphone, which they eventually use to make flyers and distribute within their community with help of their friends... The purpose to show the horrors of factory farming. It is eventually realized that Saucy must have come from this same factory farm and some how escaped or was disposed of because she was sick.

Becca feels good about rescuing the pigs. This seems to be her goal/talent in wanting to help animals. Who knows? Maybe Becca will eventually become a vet when she grows up?

Becca also makes up with a friend she feels guilty for abandoning and the two girls become fast friends once again. We even see a budding romance start to grow between Becca's friend and one of her brothers.

Below is the plot summary for Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata from Goodreads:

A story about a girl and her ever-growing pig, Saucy.

Being a quadruplet can make it hard to stand out from the crowd. Becca’s three brothers all have something that makes them...them. Jake has his music and dancing, Jammer plays hockey, and K.C. thinks they’re all living in a simulation and doesn’t see the point of doing much of anything. Becca is the only one with nothing to make her special.

But when she finds a tiny, sick piglet on the side of the road, Becca knows this is it. This is her thing. She names the piglet Saucy and between her own pleading and Saucy’s sweet, pink face, Becca convinces her family to take her in. Soon, Saucy is as big a part of the family as anyone else—and getting bigger. With each pound Saucy gains, the more capable she becomes of destroying the house and landing Becca in trouble.

Some tough decisions need to be made about Becca’s pet, and her search for solutions brings to light exactly where Saucy came from. Turns out, there are a lot more scared piglets out there, and saving them may take Becca and her brothers finally doing something together.

I am giving Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - My Top Ten Favorite Nonfiction Books About Animals

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about animals. Below are ten books I've really enjoyed reading about animals in recent years.

1. Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin
2. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg
3. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien
4. The Parrot Who Owned Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger
5. Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy
6. Grayson by Lynne Cox
7. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
8 The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
9. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings by Mark Bittner
10. Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat by Dr. David Dosa

Please share with me a few of your favorite nonfiction books about animals in the comment section below as I'm always on the look out for good books!!

My Top Ten Favorite Nonfiction Books About Animals

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about animals. Below are ten books I've really enjoyed reading about animals in recent years.

1. Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin
2. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg
3. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien
4. An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Jeff Guidry
5. Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy
6. Grayson by Lynne Cox
7. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
8 The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
9. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings by Mark Bittner
10. Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat by Dr. David Dosa

Please share with me a few of your favorite nonfiction books about animals in the comment section below as I'm always on the look out for good books!!

10 Animals Who Have Found Their Way Into Libraries

I came across another wonderful article on Electric Lit's website titled, 10 Animals Who Have Broken Into the Library by Erin Bartnett. In the article, Erin Bartnett writes the following:

The library is a refuge for everyone — and by everyone, I mean the whole of the animal kingdom. Sure, we all know (and try to forget) that plenty of microbial folks have wiggled their way into the stacks of the library, but what about the bigger critters and creatures? Last week, the Washington Post reported that a Georgetown library closed early after a knot — that’s the term used for a snake party — of four (four!) snakes was untangled and removed from the library premises. The library stayed closed for two more days just to make sure there were no more snakes on the premises.

We had a lot of questions. Would Samuel L. Jackson sign on for the dramatic adaptation, Snakes in the Library? Is the booksnake the sneakier and more intimidating relative of the bookworm? And most importantly: Are there other creatures who like to hang out in the library?

You’ll be pleased (or, in certain cases, concerned) to learn that there definitely are. Here are the ten species proven to be most bookish, based on their propensity for sneaking into the stacks.

Click on the above link to see which unusual animals have been discovered inside libraries... You won't be disappointed!