SPOTLIGHT: Amazing Animals Series

Our newest titles in our Juvenile Nonfiction collection includes a series titled "Amazing Animals" about different sorts of creatures by authors Kate Riggs and Valerie Bodden. Our latest titles include: Tigers, Tortoises, Beavers, Camels, Sea Lions, Geckos, Leopards, Vultures, and Flamingos.

All these titles have STEM appropriate texts and beautiful photographs. These books will hold the interest of your 6 to 9 year-olds and those who love animals. A great nonfiction resource for student reports, animal units, and life science lessons. Includes table of contents, index, same page definitions, and further resources.

New Large Print Nonfiction

"Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Melissa Shapiro fully illustrates this heartwarming story of one special little puppy with a purpose to teach the power of empathy, love, and kindness. When Connecticut veterinarian Melissa Shapiro gets a call about a tiny deaf blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation in need of fostering, she doesn’t hesitate to say, “yes.” Little does she know how that decision will transform her, her family, and legions of admirers destined to embrace the saga of the indomitable pink pup. One of the most anxious dogs Melissa had ever encountered, the traumatized Piglet weighed under two pounds upon his welcome into the Shapiro household—which included Melissa’s husband Warren and their three college-aged kids, plus six other rescued dogs. After weeks of reassurance, and lots of love, Piglet connected, gained confidence, and his extraordinary spirit emerged. Melissa soon forged a powerful bond with Piglet, allowing the two to communicate without sound or visual cues. Two months later, when the day arrived to say good-bye to the now dashing, six-pound pink boy dog with the larger than life spirit, Melissa faced a heart-wrenching decision. Could she hand him over to someone willing to give Piglet the full-time attention he required or could she adapt her schedule and her household to make a permanent place for him in her life and work? Of course, the answer was simple: love would find a way. Curious, engaged, and incredibly eager to learn, Piglet quickly became part of the family. What started out as a few simple Facebook posts of Piglet and his pack rapidly evolved into a global celebration of Piglet’s infectiously positive mindset." (from Amazon.com)

"Renowned historian Max Hastings recreates one of the most thrilling events of World War II: Operation Pedestal, the British action to save its troops from starvation on Malta—an action-packed tale of courage, fortitude, loss, and triumph against all odds. In 1940, Hitler had two choices when it came to the Mediterranean region: stay out, or commit sufficient forces to expel the British from the Middle East. Against his generals’ advice, the Fuhrer committed a major strategic blunder. He ordered the Wehrmacht to seize Crete, allowing the longtime British bastion of Malta to remain in Allied hands. Over the fall of 1941, the Royal Navy and RAF, aided by British intelligence, used the island to launch a punishing campaign against the Germans, sinking more than 75 percent of their supply ships destined for North Africa. But by spring 1942, the British lost their advantage. In April and May, the Luftwaffe dropped more bombs on Malta than London received in the blitz. A succession of British attempts to supply and reinforce the island by convoy during the spring and summer of 1942 failed. British submarines and surface warships were withdrawn, and the remaining forces were on the brink of starvation. Operation Pedestal chronicles the ensuing British mission to save those troops. Over twelve days in August, German and Italian forces faced off against British air and naval fleets in one of the fiercest battles of the war, while ships packed with supplies were painstakingly divided and dispersed. In the end only a handful of the Allied ships made it, most important among them the SS Ohio, carrying the much-needed fuel to the men on Malta. As Hastings makes clear, while the Germans claimed victory, it was the British who ultimately prevailed, for Malta remained a crucial asset that helped lead to the Nazis’ eventual defeat. While the Royal Navy never again attempted an operation on such scale, Hasting argues that without that August convoy the British on Malta would not have survived. In the cruel accountancy of war, the price was worth paying." (from Amazon.com)

"A powerful memoir from the Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong about grieving the death of her cousin—and embracing the life-affirming lessons he taught her—amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cecily Strong had a special bond with her cousin Owen. And so she was devastated when, in early 2020, he passed away at age thirty from the brain cancer glioblastoma. Before Strong could attempt to process her grief, another tragedy struck: the coronavirus pandemic. Following a few harrowing weeks in the virus epicenter of New York City, Strong relocated to an isolated house in the woods upstate. Here, trying to make sense of Owen’s death and the upended world, she spent much of the ensuing months writing. The result is This Will All Be Over Soon—a raw, unflinching memoir about loss, love, laughter, and hope. Befitting the time-warped year of 2020, the diary-like approach deftly weaves together the present and the past. Strong chronicles the challenges of beginning a relationship during the pandemic and the fear when her new boyfriend contracts COVID. She describes the pain of losing her friend and longtime Saturday Night Live staff member Hal Willner to the virus. She reflects on formative events from her life, including how her high school expulsion led to her pursuing a career in theater and, years later, landing at SNL. Yet the heart of the book is Owen. Strong offers a poignant account of her cousin’s life, both before and after his diagnosis. Inspired by his unshakable positivity and the valuable lessons he taught her, she has written a book that—as indicated by its title—serves as a moving reminder: whatever challenges life might throw one’s way, they will be over soon. And so will life. So make sure to appreciate every day and don’t take a second of it for granted." (from Amazon.com)

Have a Go At One of These Cozies!

"Terns of Endearment is the twenty-fifth book in New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews's hilarious Mag Langslow mystery series. Meg Langslow's grandfather has been booked by a cruise line to give lectures on birds and other environmental topics as part of their ship’s education/entertainment itinerary, and Grandfather has arranged for a passel of family members to join him.The passengers vacation quickly becomes a nightmare when they wake up to find themselves broken down and in need of repairs in the Bermuda Triangle. To keep the stranded passengers calm, Meg’s family and friends band together to keep things organized and provide entertainment. Some even take up the cause of nursing an injured tern back to health.But things get even worse when a crew member announces to all that a woman has jumped overboard, leaving behind her shoes, shawl, and a note. The note reveals she's the mortal enemy of group of writers who came on board for a retreat, and the group is split on whether suicide is in-character for her. Meanwhile, grandfather’s assistant Trevor seems to have gone missing too!
The captain decides not to investigate, saying he'll notify American authorities when they reach their destination. But Meg's father thinks they should find out whether there was foul play while the prime suspects are all stuck on board. Who wanted the writer dead? Why doesn’t the captain seem concerned? What happened to Trevor? It'll be a race against the clock to solve these mysteries before they make the necessary repairs and return to shore." (from Amazon.com)

"Reprinted for the first time in over twenty years, The Case of the Careless Kitten is one of the most highly praised cases in the iconic Perry Mason series, which need not be read in any particular order. Perry Mason seeks the link between a poisoned kitten, a murdered man, and a mysterious voice from the past. Helen Kendal's woes begin when she receives a phone call from her vanished uncle Franklin, long presumed dead, who urges her to make contact with criminal defense attorney Perry Mason; soon after, she finds herself the main suspect in the murder of an unfamiliar man. Her kitten has just survived a poisoning attempt, as has her aunt Matilda, the woman who always maintained that Franklin was alive in spite of his disappearance. Lucky that Helen took her uncle's advice and contacted Perry Mason—he immediately takes her as a client. But while it’s clear that all the occurrences are connected, and that their connection will prove her innocence, the links in the case are too obscure to be recognized even by the attorney’s brilliantly deductive mind. Risking disbarment for his unorthodox methods, he endeavors to outwit the police and solve the puzzle himself, enlisting the help of his secretary Della Street, his private eye Paul Drake, and the unlikely but invaluable aid of a careless but very clever kitten in the process." (from Amazon.com)

The latest Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery--Antiques Ravin'--by Barbara Allan is the thirteenth installment in the series. "The votes are in! Eccentric seventy-something Vivian Borne—elected county sheriff, to everyone’s amazement but her own—springs into action. In her new role, the community playhouse diva appoints daughter Brandy reluctant deputy and makes their spunky shih tzu Sushi a K-9 unit of one.  Soon the amateur-sleuths-turned-pro have a challenging case to solve as a series of creepy crimes plague an ill-fated Edgar Allan Poe festival, where a fiend is misguidedly dispensing Poe-etic justice. Small-town Antiqua, known for its quaint main street of antique shops, has set out to celebrate the gothic poet with food, fun, and rare memorabilia, only to have the Master of the Macabre’s twisted tales come to deadly life. A purloined tome, a black cat, a musty mausoleum, and mysterious disappearances—these tell the tale of a heartless murderer. But Vivian and Brandy Borne are determined to decipher the cryptic clues to make sure a ravin’-mad killer strikes “nevermore”!" (from Amazon.com)

In the latest Royal Spyness Mystery, Love and Death Among the Cheetahs, author Rhys Bowen has finally sent Georgie and Darcy on there honeymoon. "I was so excited when Darcy announced out of the blue that we were flying to Kenya for our extended honeymoon. Now that we are here, I suspect he has actually been sent to fulfill another secret mission. I am trying very hard not to pick a fight about it, because after all, we are in paradise! Darcy finally confides that there have been robberies in London and Paris. It seems the thief was a member of the aristocracy and may have fled to Kenya. Since we are staying in the Happy Valley—the center of upper-class English life—we are well positioned to hunt for clues and ferret out possible suspects.  Now that I am a sophisticated married woman, I am doing my best to sound like one. But crikey! These aristocrats are a thoroughly loathsome sort enjoying a completely decadent lifestyle filled with wild parties and rampant infidelity. And one of the leading lights in the community, Lord Cheriton, has the nerve to make a play for me. While I am on my honeymoon! Of course, I put an end to that right off.  When he is found bloodied and lifeless along a lonely stretch of road, it appears he fell victim to a lion. But it seems that the Happy Valley community wants to close the case a bit too quickly. Darcy and I soon discover that there is much more than a simple robbery and an animal attack to contend with here in Kenya. Nearly everyone has a motive to want Lord Cheriton dead and some will go to great lengths to silence anyone who asks too many questions. The hunt is on! I just hope I can survive my honeymoon long enough to catch a killer. . . ." (from Amazon.com)

For The Love of Animals...

Animals are of great importance to us, especially here in the South. We use them for food, to help us hunt, to assist those with disabilities, and, most importantly, to provide company and comfort when we need them. Animals are seen as part of the family. This is why I am highlighting some of our new non-fiction titles that center around animals of all kinds--cats and dogs, domestic and wild.

The Doggie in the Window by Rory Kress tells the story of how journalist Kress found a twelve-week-old wheaten terrier in a pet shop and didn't think twice about bringing her home and naming her Izzy. After all, the facility was USDA-licensed so Izzy couldn't possibly be a puppy mill dog, right? When Kress began her journey of becoming a mother, she began to wonder about Izzy's mom and so begins an eye-opening journey through the world of dog livestock auctions, puppy mills, and internet sales sites to uncover the truth about the so-called "pure bred" puppies. My only problem with this book is that there are no photos to illustrate the authors important discoveries and show the consumer what it is really like in the world of factory-farmed puppies.

If you decide you want a pure-bred puppy, choose a reputable breeder who raises the pups in their own home. In order to choose the dog right for you and your family, check-out The Good, the Bad, and the Furry by Sam Stall. Like the title suggests, the author gives it to you straight in this book of dog breeds. Under each breed, you will find the standard for height, weight, coat, and intelligence as well as where and with what kind of person this dog thrives. You will also find out about the origin of the breed, the trademark traits, any hassles in training or behavior, and any medical problems that plague the particular breed. You are also given a kind of cross reference for similar breeds you may want to check into. My favorite section under each breed, however, is entitled "If someone broke into my house, this dog would..." These are the most hilarious and sometimes painfully honest observations of these dogs. For instance, we learn that the dalmatian is a wonderful watchdog, he/she will "Wake the dead with its furious barking, then open up a can of four-alarm whoopass" on anyone who breaks into your house.

The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th & 19th Centuries is a small tome by Mimi Matthews. Divided into sections according to type of animal--dog, cat, horse, etc.--this book tells little snippets about various famous figures and the animals that played an important role in their lives. You can learn about the titular pug who gave the Emperor of France a nip, Alexander Pope's devoted Great Dane, and even about the Bloodhounds hired to hunt Jack the Ripper. If nothing else, this book is totally worth checking out just for the stunningly beautiful color portraits of the animals.

Dr. Carin Bondar shows us that the trials, tribulations, and victories of motherhood are not exclusive to homo sapiens in her book Wild Moms: Motherhood in the Animal Kingdom. Breaking motherhood into its various stages, Bondar discusses the diversity of development, cooperative and communal child rearing, brood parasitism, pregnancy, birth, weaning, and all the problems that come with these stages and how various species handle them. One of her chapters also highlights that other animal species suffer from depression and abuse just as humans do. This book is a good look at mothering across many species and it is informative and easy for the lay person to understand.

All About Animals

     This week's selection includes three very different non-fiction books. One is a memoir of a young woman who seeks to train the vicious goshawk as a way to cope with her father's death and to pay tribute to him at the same time. The second book is for those who would like to know how to quell your dogs behavior problems. The third book--while technically not about an animal--is a gardening book for those who would like to attract bees and other pollinators to their gardens.

     H is for Hawk is by Helen Macdonald. When her father died suddenly on a London street, Helen was inconsolable. In her grief, she decided to train one of the most aggressive members of the falcon family, the goshawk. As an experienced falconer, Helen knew their fierce and feral nature and was determined to adopt and train Mabel as a means to coping with her grief. She turned to author T.H. White's book The Goshawk for advice and inspiration. This achingly beautiful account of bereavement and the magnetic pull of such an extraordinary creature, H is for Hawk also offers a parallel examination of a legendary writer's eccentric falconry.

     The Dog Behavior Problem Solver by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, offer step-by-step positive training techniques to help dog owners correct more than twenty problem behaviors. Dog owners will get professional advice to help you understand your dog and why he behaves the way he does. You'll learn techniques for positive, reward-based methods, like clicker training, to teach foundation behaviors as you build the basic bond upon which all dog training is based. The author offers detailed step-by-step solutions for specific problems like aggression, barking, begging, separation anxiety, and shyness. You will also find case studies based on real dogs and how positive training helped them to overcome their behavioral obstacles.

     Finally, we have The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn. The authors provide everything you will need to create a breathtakingly hued, vibrant, healthy garden that helps both the threatened honeybee and native bees alike. The size of you available space is not an issue. Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or country, just a few simple changes to your garden can help fight the effects of colony collapse disorder and the worldwide decline of the bee population that threatens the global food chain. This is a book for every gardener who wants to change the world by creating a welcoming environment for nature's pollinators.

A view of the Delta and the dogs that live there.

An interesting book we've added to our collection recently is Delta Dogs - a series of photographs by Maude Schuyler Clay, which includes an introduction by Brad Watson and an essay by Beth Ann Fennelly.

But the stars are the combination of the dogs and their surroundings. All the photographs are in sepia tones, showing dogs of nearly every size and shape in fields, by the side of the road, playing in the water and various other doggie activities.  Each of the photographs has a small notation about where the image came from, some very general like 'Field Dogs, Mississippi Delta' and some very specific as 'Dog under the Burrus House, near Benoit'.

The photographer was born in Greenwood, Mississippi and her works are part of the collections of several museums including the Museum of Modern Art.

Follow Some Fox Tracks...

I followed a different path this past week with one of my favorite authors---instead of reading her newest novel, I listened to it instead!  Rita Mae Brown's Fox Tracks is the latest in her cozy series starring Sister Jane Arnold, Master of Foxhounds of the Jefferson Hunt in Albemarle County, Virginia. This book's action begins in New York City, where Hunt Clubs from all over the United States have gathered for their annual dinner and gala event.  Feeling celebratory, Sister Jane and her young friend (and Custus Hall graduate) Tootie run down the street a few blocks to visit a tobacco shop and purchase cigars.  After an entertaining conversation with the owner, Adolfo, Sister and Tootie are shocked when they return to the shop to retrieve Sister's cell phone and find Adolfo dead with a package of American Smokes cigarettes lying over his heart.  This murder leads to an investigation of contraband tobacco that stretches across Virginia and even through Albemarle County.  Interspersed with the tobacco plot are descriptions of hunts and events in the lives of the human, canine and horse characters.  I suggest you begin reading this series with the first book, Outfoxed. If you enjoy listening to audio books on CD, Fox Tracks is a special treasure because it is narrated by the author herself! 

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mrs. Murphy's Mysteries!

If you are a fan of Rita Mae Brown, I am sure you have eagerly anticipated the next installment in her "Mrs. Murphy" mystery series which are co-written by her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown! The Big Cat Nap is the Brown's latest collaboration and it is as charming and fun a read as the rest of the series.  Since this story is the twentieth one in the series, the action, plot, characters and story are well developed and fun!  These cozies star Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her pet dog TeeTucker (corgi), Mrs. Murphy (tiger cat) and Pewter (overweight gray cat), her husband, Fair, DVM, and a host of their friends in Crozet, Virginia.  Harry was the postmistress of Crozet until she quit to take up farming on her family's land and has had some success growing ginseng, hay, grapes and sunflowers.  All is well in Harry's world until several of her friends have vehicular mishaps and Harry discovers a murdered mechanic in a local repair shop. Despite numerous warnings from her animals and friends, Harry decides to conduct her own investigation when other mechanics start dying and ends up involved in her own deadly chase!  A self-professed "motorhead," Harry enjoys discovering things about cars, and her love of vehicles is reflected in this book. If you are "put off" by animal characters in books, don't be afraid of this series--the animals do talk to each other and interact with humans, but only in ways that are normal behavior for cats and dogs.  Rita Mae Brown lives in Afton, Virginia and is the author of this series as well as the Sister Jane, a new canine mystery series and several other novels.  She is also an emmy-nominated screenwriter and poet and can be reached at www.ritamaebrown.com.   

Hiss of Death

I always enjoy reading new installments in Rita Mae Brown's "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries and her latest, Hiss of Death is another great entry in the series! Hiss of Death solves a mystery as well as furthers the story of Mary Minor Harristeen (Harry) and her husband Fair, her pet cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, her corgi Tee Tucker and her horses Shortro and Tomahawk. Harry and her family live in Crozet, Virginia where she farms and enjoys life outdoors and with her friends. Animals are very important to Harry and her trusty sidekicks (Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker) are by her side every minute of the day. Harry has this uncanny knack of stumbling over dead bodies , and the murders she keeps finding in this book are all associated with Central Virginia Hospital. I admire Rita Mae Brown's tackling cancer in this book---Harry and her friends help host a 5K run to raise funds for breast cancer research and Harry has her own, deeply personal brush with breast cancer. This book is a wonderful cozy mystery with plenty of humor, exploration of the newest cancer treatments and lots of descriptions of beautiful Virginia landscapes. A great choice for fans of the series as well as any cozy mystery lover.

Cat of the Century

Rita Mae Brown, and her co-author Sneaky Pie Brown (her beloved tiger cat) have written another entertaining cozy! Cat of the Century is the eighteenth book in the "Mrs. Murphy" series starring Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, former postmistress of the town of Crozet, VA. I whole-heartedly believe you should read these books in series order, as the characters develop with each story and if you begin in the middle you might be confused as to who is who and why they act the way they do! Crozet is your typical small southern town---everyone knows everyone else and tries to meddle in your business, but in a charming way, of course. Harry is a farmer, and is descended from a long line of Virginians who instilled in their children a love of the land, animals and proper manners. In Cat of the Century, Harry is attending a reunion at William Woods College, because her Aunt Tally is the featured speaker and the reunion has been planned around her 100th birthday celebration. The mystery, in this book, occurs when several alumni association officers wind up dead. Even though Harry never attended William Woods, she is thrust thick in the middle of the mystery when she attempts to discover who murdered the officers and for what reason. Harry's trusted companions, her cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and her dog Tucker, along with Aunt Tally and he best friends' animals, use their animal intelligence to help Harry solve the case. I enjoy this series because the animals talk to each other, and the reader hears their thoughts, but humans cannot understand them and they must use their wits to communicate. These books are great for mystery lovers who love animals and prefer their mysteries not too violent. Check out Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie on their website at ww.ritamaebrown.com.

Get Seduced by Some Animal Magnetism

Many of you may be familiar with Rita Mae Brown's works. She writes several series and has written many stand-alone novels and non-fiction novels about the art of writing. The first is a popular cozy mystery series that she co-writes with her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown, starring Mary Minor Harristeen, Postmistress of Crozet, VA, and the second is a series starring octogenarian Sister Arnold, a Master of Foxhounds in her 70's. Several of the stand-alone novels hilariously describe the lives of two sisters who live in a town that straddles the Mason-Dixon line, and one is a historical fiction story about the life of Dolly Madison. Rita Mae Brown's most recent book is a biography discussing her relationship with the animals that have influenced or are currently in her life. The book, Animal Magnetism is a well-written treatise on why animals are special to Rita Mae Brown and allows the reader to get into the mind of the author. I appreciate the fact that Ms. Brown does not apologize for how she feels animals should be treated and enjoyed discovering that there is much more of Ms. Brown in her fiction books than I had previously thought. If you are an animal lover, or want to discover a little more about Rita Mae Brown, then this book is one that you will truly treasure! It made me proud to be "Southern" and hug my dogs after I finished reading it.