A Dog Named Beautiful

An uplifting and unforgettable story of a US Marine, his extraordinary dog, and the road trip of a lifetime. "A beautiful, beautiful book." — Jenna Bush Hager When US Marine Rob Kugler returns from war he had given up not only a year of his life in service to his country, but he had also lost a brother in the fighting as well. Lost in grief, Rob finds solace and relief in the one thing that never fails to put a smile on his face: his chocolate lab Bella. Exceptionally friendly, and always with - you wouldn’t believe it - a smile on her face, Bella is the friend Rob needs, and they spend their days exploring nature and taking photos. But then Bella develops a limp in her front leg. It’s cancer, and the prognosis isn’t good. Rob has a choice, either to let Bella go now, or amputate her cancer riddled leg, and see what the next few months would bring. For Rob, the choice is a no-brainer, and instead of waiting at home for the cancer to spread, Rob and Bella pack their bags and hit the road. Life is short, but the road ahead is long and winding, and as they criss-cross the country Rob and Bella meet remarkable, life-changing men and women who are quick to make friends with this incredible three-legged dog. A Dog Named Beautiful is a book full of inspiration, hope, love, tears, and laughs. Enjoy the journey.

A Dog Named Dog is a story about an ordinary dog named Dog who plays, sleeps and eats dog food—like every other dog does. But Dog isn’t interested in being like every other dog. Dog is keen to find something that makes him different. So, with the help of his friends, Dog embarks on a search for that thing that will make him a standout from every other dog. It is a struggle, and Dog searches high and low for this thing. In the end, with his friends’ help, Dog is rewarded for his efforts, and is able to identify what it is that makes him unique from every other dog. But it’s not what he thought it would be.

Chained alone in a barn by the couple he thought might give him a good home, a very ugly stray dog is miserable until a new neighbor moves in and he falls in love.

Filled with inspiring stories and photographs, this heartfelt tribute to the pit bull celebrates one of America’s most popular yet misunderstood dogs. Perhaps more than any other breed, the pit bull has been dogged by negative stereotypes. In truth, pit bulls are innately wonderful family pets, as capable of love and good deeds as any other type of dog. Setting the record straight, Ken Foster sings the praises of pit bulls in I’m a Good Dog, a gorgeously illustrated, tenderly written tribute to this most misunderstood of canines. Founder of the Sula Foundation, which promotes responsible pit bull ownership in New Orleans, and the author of two acclaimed books about abandoned dogs, Foster has made it his mission to bring overlooked canines into the limelight. I’m a Good Dog traces the fascinating history of this particularly maligned breed. A century ago, the pit bull was considered a family dog, featured in family photos and trusted as loving companions for children. More recently, pit bulls have been portrayed by the media as stereotypes of everything they are not. Foster shatters that reputation through moving profiles of pit bulls that serve as therapy dogs, athletic heroes, search-and-rescue dogs, and educators, not to mention as loving pets. Foster also profiles many pit bull lovers, from Helen Keller and Dr. Seuss to actor Todd Cerveris, who took his pit bull on tour with him for the musical Spring Awakening. Proving that there’s much to love and nothing to fear, I’m a Good Dog restores the pit bull to its rightful place as friend, family member, athlete and entertainer.

Lisa Edwards wandered into a pet shop on Halloween, well aware that the last thing she needed was a dog. But when she laid eyes on Boo, the runt of an abandoned litter, something compelled her to make him her own. The dunce of obedience class with poor eyesight and a wobbly gait, Boo was the least likely of heroes. Yet with his unflappable spirit and boundless love, Boo has changed countless lives through his work as a therapy dog. He has helped a mute six-year-old to speak, coaxed movement from a paralyzed girl, and stirred life into a ninety-four-year-old nun with Alzheimer's. Ultimately, Boo gave Lisa the greatest gift of all faith in herself. A beautifully written, heartwarming story full of little miracles that speak to the transformative power of animal therapy, A Dog Named Boo tugs at the heartstrings.

On Rafael Mantesso's thirtieth birthday, his wife left him. She took their cookware, their furniture, their photos, their decorations. She left Rafael alone in an empty all-white apartment. The only thing she didn't take was their bull terrier, whom she'd named after her favourite shoe designer: Jimmy Choo. With only his best friend for company, Rafael started snapping photos of Jimmy Choo as he trotted and cavorted through the rooms in glee. Then, when Jimmy collapsed in happy exhaustion next to the white wall, on a whim Rafael grabbed a marker and drew a new world around his ginger-eared pup. Suddenly, Rafael felt his long-dormant inspiration--for drawing, for art, for life--returning.

"Irresistible . . . Slugger is the heart and soul of the book, and his dedication, devotion, and love make him an unforgettable character." --Booklist "Brill has written a fitting tribute to her special friend named Slugger." --Southern Lit Review "A wonderful read for teens and adults." --School Library Journal With him by her side, there were no limits. With hundreds of stellar reviews, including Booklist and School Library Journal, this heart-wrenching and heart-warming book (winner of the Epic nonfiction award) tells the inspiring story of cerebral palsy sufferer Leigh Brill and her service dog, Slugger. As a college student, Brill's battle with her affliction seemed lost. The pain and lack of mobility made an independent life seem impossible. But then she discovered the world of service dogs, and met Slugger. The big Labrador retriever transformed her life. Leigh Brill published her first story at the age of 15; since then her writing has reached national and international audiences through publications including Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body & Soul, the Guideposts book Soul Menders, and the magazines, Just Labs: A Celebration of the Labrador Retriever, and Ability. Leigh has shared more than a decade of her life in the company of service dogs and continues to do so. She serves on the Board of Directors for Saint Francis Service Dogs, and lives with her family in rural Virginia. Find her on Facebook.