Book reviews: Short reads for animal lovers
Don’t judge a book by its cover — or, in the case of these three books, by its length. This trio of short books offers a big helping of animal wisdom.
Dear My Favorite Human by Amy C. Rhodes. Illustrated by Susan Elizabeth Ogburn. Dear My Books, 2025. Hardcover, 24 pages.
Children and dogs often seem to just go together, right? Sometimes, though, that partnership needs a little help — especially when the child is a toddler who doesn’t quite know how to interact with the family dog.
In her picture book aimed at an audience of 2- to 5-year-olds, Amy C. Rhodes sheds light on the situation when the family dog writes a letter to the toddler explaining what and what not to do. Amy’s book is an interesting and informative story with much-needed education from a unique perspective.
The Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2025. Hardcover, 80 pages.
Steven Rowley, an author known for writing tales of compassion and healing such as Lily and the Octopus, is back with a novella about a man in crisis and an unexpected guide who shows him that there is light after dark times.
When protagonist Paul’s husband informs him that their marriage is over right before they were supposed to leave for a Christmas trip to Venice, Paul decides to travel alone to the city in the hope of discovering what lies ahead for him now that his life and self-confidence feel shattered. While spending the holiday season alone in a city filled with magic, food, and the possibility of romance, Paul notices a scruffy stray dog who soon epitomizes self-confidence and wisdom to the lonely man trying to put his life back together.
The Dogs of Venice can be read as either a piece of short fiction or an allegory. In both cases, lessons are imparted and learned in beautiful prose.
Cat by Rebecca van Laer. Bloomsbury, 2025. Paperback, 135 pages.
Cat by Rebecca van Laer is a little book chock-full of all things feline. Part of Bloomsbury Publishing’s series Object Lessons, this small volume draws together cat history, mythology, philosophy, and relationships in popular culture. The author manages to impart a wealth of information within the series’ parameters.
Part memoir, part culture and history, Cat is a book one could easily read in a single sitting and come away with a host of cat knowledge.
Are you the author or publisher of a book about animals that you would like considered for review? Please send the details to editor@bestfriends.org.
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