New dog, no tricks! Becket Branch has one birthday wish—a dog! Dogs are outgoing and friendly, and they live life loud, just like Becket. Becket’s twin, Nicholas, wants a pet more like him—a peaceful, quiet indoor cat. When their parents take them to the shelter to choose a dog and a cat, it should be Becket’s biggest BEAUTIFUL ALERT ever. But Becket’s dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be a super-shy scaredy-pooch. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention and greeting visitors to Blackberry Farm. Can Becket and Nicholas learn how to love Dibs and Given as they are—even if they aren’t exactly the pets the twins dreamed of? With black-and-white drawings throughout by award-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham (Real Friends), this second volume of the Blackberry Farm series offers a gentle message about embracing new friends who may not match preconceived expectations.

Everything is changing for Becket Branch. From subways to sidewalks to safety rules, Becket is a city kid born and raised. Now the Branch family is trading urban bustle for big green fields and moving to Gran’s farm, where Becket has to make sense of new routines from feeding animals to baling hay. And as much as Becket loves to yell “Beautiful Alert!” there’s a lot about the countryside that is just plain odd. But Becket is ready to put her own spin on the simple life. Whether selling her mouth-puckering lemonade, feeding hostile hens, or trying to make a best friend of her new neighbor Frieda Franca, Becket is determined to use her city smarts to get a grip on farm living. Laugh and learn with Becket as she mucks through the messy, exuberant human experience of change she didn’t ask for, in a story that sparkles with quirky characters and lasting connections.

Entertaining and informative, Pets in America is a portrait of Americans' relationships with the cats, dogs, birds, fishes, rodents, and other animals we call our own. More than 60 percent of U.S. households have pets, and America grows more pet-friendly every day. But as Katherine C. Grier demonstrates, the ways we talk about and treat our pets--as companions, as children, and as objects of beauty, status, or pleasure--have their origins long ago. Grier begins with a natural history of animals as pets, then discusses the changing role of pets in family life, new standards of animal welfare, the problems presented by borderline cases such as livestock pets, and the marketing of both animals and pet products. She focuses particularly on the period between 1840 and 1940, when the emotional, behavioral, and commercial characteristics of contemporary pet keeping were established. The story is filled with the warmth and humor of anecdotes from period diaries, letters, catalogs, and newspapers. Filled with illustrations reflecting the whimsy, the devotion, and the commerce that have shaped centuries of American pet keeping, Pets in America ultimately shows how the history of pets has evolved alongside changing ideas about human nature, child development, and community life. This book accompanies a museum exhibit, "Pets in America," which opens at the McKissick Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, in December 2005 and will travel to five other cities from May 2006 through May 2008.

As part of the "Free Stuff on the Internet" series, this book offers pet-loving Web surfers all the latest Internet sites, including guides for freshwater and saltwater aquarium owners; dozens of sites for different breeds of dogs, cats and birds; tips for caring for reptiles and exotic animals; and information on animal training, nutrition and safety. 150 illustrations.

"At the pet show, there are so many different types of pets. With dogs and cats, horses and chickens, hamsters and chinchillas--and many, many more--this book celebrates animal companions of all shapes and sizes"--

Few things add as much amusementand loveto our lives as our pets. Whether theyre cats, dogs, or other special animals, memories of our pets can quickly bring a smile to our face and warmth to our hearts. In Kadees Capers, Kadee, a black-and-white lab mix, shares stories of her life after being rescued from an animal shelter. With the help of her new owner, Andrea Bassham Taylor, Kadee describes her adjustment to a new home and a new life. Learn how Kadee finally earned her parents trust and was allowed out of the basement and into the house, including the bed. Youll share Kadees zest for life and passion for adventureand roast beef. For Kadee, life with her new family is like a giant playground. Kadees Capers is funny, thought-provoking, heartwarming, and sometimes sadjust like life. The deep love pets and their families share is brought to life as well as the important role they play as members of the family.

50 breaks around Britain where you and your dog are made to feel welcome, including dog-friendly beaches, rainy day activities, dog-friendly city breaks, accommodation and pubs, and Britain's best dog-friendly campsites. A mix of practical information and travel guide, from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands.