Get ready for a great year, Action Team!
Find a new read and update your contact info ahead of the 2026 advocacy season.
From pet-inclusive children's books to tips you can use when advocating for shelters, here's your winter reading list from the Best Friends advocacy team:
Keiko and Ember (above) recommend I Have Three Cats... by Michelle Sumovich, illustrated by Laura Park. "This is a favorite of my son River's and it shows how community cats/stray cats can worm their ways into our hearts!"
April recommends Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World by Jessica Lasky-Fink and Todd Rogers. "I’ve referenced this in Action Team trainings before. It’s a quick read with practical tips you can put to use right away."
Laura recommends What Will I Do With My Love Today? by Kristin Chenoweth. "This book reminds kids they have an abundance of love and kindness to share, whether adopting a pet or expanding their family."
Dave recommends Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us about the Art of Persuasion by Jay Heinrichs. "Effective communication is an essential tool for any advocate. In this book, Heinrichs explores how historical/fictional characters used different methods of persuasion to advance their ideas and beliefs."
Arin recommends The Friend by Sigrid Nunez. "A writer's great friend dies and she takes in his heartbroken, rather unruly dog. The two of them — the writer and the dog — help each other grieve, and learn to live in a world without this person they both loved so much. It isn't light reading but it's a beautifully written story.
Jessi recommends The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs by Elias Weiss Friedman. "It's a love letter to dogs in photo form — pure, uplifting, and perfect for anyone who just wants to smile."
Have your own recommendation to share? Tell us about it in the Action Team Facebook group.
One last thing! Have you moved or changed your phone number recently? Use this form to update your contact record before the new year. We'll use it to send advocacy news and invitations relevant to the state/community you live in.