Cats and dogs

Just about everyone loves a good dog story. Old Yeller, I, Jack, and Ribsy are among my favorite canine novels. (I have way too many favorite picture books to list.)

Finney, Patricia, and Peter Bailey. I, Jack. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN: 0060522070.

Gipson, Fred. Old Yeller. New York: Harper, 1956. ISBN: 0060115459.

Cleary, Beverly, and Louis Darling. Ribsy. New York: Morrow, 1964. ISBN: 0688216625.

For some reason, there aren't quite as many cat tales. It's Like This, Cat is a great one; it won the 1964 Newbery Medal. I love the opening line: "My father is always talking about how a dog can be very educational for a boy. This is one reason I got a cat."

Here is the original book jacket:

Neville, Emily Cheney. It's Like This, Cat. New York: Harper & Row, 1963. ISBN: 9780060243906.

Here is the reissued version:

ISBN: 9780064400732.

ps. If you are wondering why I didn't list Marley & Me as a favorite dog book . . .

Grogan, John. Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog.
New York: Morrow, 2005. ISBN: 0060817089.

. . . it's because I have a bone to pick with the author. When he lived in town, he used to make fun of Boca women in his newspaper column.