Spring Reading 2024 To Dogs, With Love: A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us

 

Maria Gianferrari fans know that she can write a delightful dog story. Just think back to Hello Goodbye Dog or the Penny and Jelly adventures and you will see what I mean. And now there is this incredible look at all the ways dogs comfort, support, and bring us joy. Text explores the various features of dogs and how they help out in so many ways. For instance, "Thank you for your noses...They sniff out sadness, Show us gladness." Or, "Thank you for your tongues...Your kisses help us Accept what we've lost, Hold close what remains."

Illustrations capture the action as a diverse range of children snuggle up to dogs of all breeds in a variety of settings. Kids read aloud to a Dalmatian in a corner of the library. A courtroom support dog helps a child cope with the stress of being in the witness box. A large Saint Bernard keeps a child company in the hospital. Some dogs dwarf the child they accompany, others are small enough to carry. A busy spread shows a dog shelter fundraiser with pavilions for activities such as reading with a dog, pet adoption, or shopping for a dog sweater.

Back matter includes a note on therapy dogs in general, details about the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry (one of the organizations that inspired the book), and URLs to visit for more information about various types of therapy dogs. Thumbnail images from within the book accompany bullet points about the types of support these amazing animals can offer.