Olivia's very unhappy about moving house and leaving all her friends behind, not to mention next door's two lovely cats. But her parents have a surprise that they hope will cheer her up: a beautiful Siamese kitten. The kitten is adorable, with huge blue eyes, but Olivia insists she doesn't want a cat and Sky is left all alone ... surely Olivia won't be able to resist for long?

Olivia is very protective over her

lovely new kitten, Smudge. But

when her big brother's naughty

friend Rob comes to tea, she

worries that he'll tease Smudge.

Olivia hides the little kitten away, but later that night she is

nowhere to be found. Could

Smudge's disappearance have

anything to do with Rob?

A leading reporter offers a tour of military working dogs’ extraordinary training, heroic accomplishments, and the lasting impacts they have on those who work with them.People all over the world have been riveted by the story of Cairo, the Belgian Malinois who was a part of the Navy SEAL team that led the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound. A dog’s natural intelligence, physical abilities, and pure loyalty contribute more to our military efforts than ever before. You don't have to be a dog lover to be fascinated by the idea that a dog—the cousin of that furry guy begging for scraps under your table—could be one of the heroes who helped execute the most vital and high-tech military mission of the new millennium.Now Maria Goodavage, editor and featured writer for one of the world's most widely read dog blogs, tells heartwarming stories of modern soldier dogs and the amazing bonds that develop between them and their handlers. Beyond tales of training, operations, retirement, and adoption into the families of fallen soldiers, Goodavage talks to leading dog-cognition experts about why dogs like nothing more than to be on a mission with a handler they trust, no matter how deadly the IEDs they are sniffing, nor how far they must parachute or rappel from aircraft into enemy territory.“Military working dogs live for love and praise from their handlers,” says Ron Aiello, president of the United States War Dogs Association and a former marine scout dog handler. “The work is all a big game, and then they get that pet, that praise. They would do anything for their handler.” This is an unprecedented window into the world of these adventurous, loving warriors.Review“A moving portrait of the loyal, courageous, furry warriors who truly are an enlisted Man's Best Friend.”— People Magazine“Soldier Dogs is a fascinating book about the valiant things that military dogs do as told through the words of the soldiers who fight beside them. It also shows you how military service dogs are created, told through the words of the trainers and scientists who know the process. It is written in an easy and entertaining style and will acquaint you with dozens of canine heroes ranging from Stubby, who fought in WWI, to Cairo, who was a member of the raiding party that took down Osama Bin Laden. It is a great read for anyone who appreciates dogs and heroes.”— Stanley Coren“If the idea of dogs at war conjures up thoughts of harsh methods and unrelenting discipline, think again. Maria Goodavage's revealing and engaging books exposes the unexpected trust and affection that flows both ways between dog and handler. You may already care about dogs: This book will heighten your respect for them.”-John Bradshaw, author of Dog Sense“Inspiring personal stories of the many canine allies (and their handlers) who have dramatically enhanced military command units and examines how this indelible human-canine bond often transcends the atrocities of wartime violence.”— Kirkus Reviews“Stories of spooked pups aboard battle-bound Hueys and dogs in the line of fire reveal surprisingly human-like response to war, and posit these military mutts as admirable—and capable—soldiers.”— Publishers Weekly

Für ihre großen und kleinen

Fans hat Elke Heidenreich ihre

neueste Erzählung Sonst noch

was auf CD gelesen. Als Zugabe

kommt nach dem Duetto buffo

di due gatti von Rossini (auf deutsch Katzenduett, was sonst

bei einer Katzenliebhaberin)

Liebe Klara. Brief an eine Katze. Wenn Elke Heidenreich von

ihrem Ferienaufenthalt bei

Onkel Hans erzählt und von ihrer

Mutter berichtet, deren

Lieblingssatz Sonst noch was ist,

kann man sich die ewig skeptische Gertrud, die ihre

Hände an der Schürze

abtrocknet, richtig gut

vorstellen. Komisch wird es,

wenn die Autorin wie ein

rheumatischer Hund bellt, das behagliche Schnurren der Katze

imitiert oder wie die ewig

unzufriedene Ziege Gertrud

meckert: Sonst noch was. Elke Heidenreich lebt seit Jahren

mit Tieren zusammen, doch der

überaus ehrliche Brief an ihre

Katze Klara, als sie ihren Urlaub

auf Martinique verbringt,

verlockt jeden Katzenliebhaber zum Schmunzeln. Wer kennt sie

nicht, die eingebildeten,

arroganten unumschränkten

Herrscherinnen ihrer Refugien,

die chronisch schlecht gelaunt

sind und mit ihren Grillen ganze Familien tyrannisieren. Klara

kam schon als ältere Katze in

den Haushalt und ihr strenger

Blick hat ihr ihren Namen

eingebracht. Mit genau diesem

Blick hat früher die Mutter Klara schon ihre Kinder gemustert,

wenn es wieder einmal viel zu

laut herging. Und auch wenn

Klara mit ihren Zicken und

unberechenbaren Launen

manchmal die Geduld ihrer menschlichen "Büchsenöffner"

bis an den Rand des

Nervenzusammenbruchs

strapaziert, ist sie ihnen halt

doch die liebste Katze der Welt.

-- Manuela Haselberger

Вторая книга о веселой симпатичной эрдельке по имени Люся является продолжением повести «Люся с проспекта Просвещения, или История одного побега», вышедшей в Петербурге осенью 2006 года. Благополучно вернувшись домой после новогодних скитаний, Люся неожиданно оказывается участницей новых волнующих событий. Удивительные приключения и открытия, встречи и находки предстоят читателям вместе с главной героиней этой книги и ее четвероногими друзьями.

Can work, family life, and sanity itself survive a three-legged cat’s one-track obsession?Clayton “the Tripod” is a special-needs rescue who quickly established himself as king of the house—a “loveable doofus” and natural clown with a heart big enough for ten cats. The day he teaches himself to play fetch, however, Clayton transforms from loving lap cat to ruthless slave driver, demanding round-the-clock games of toss/retrieve/repeat from his hapless human mom. He interrupts her work, her sleep, even her alone time with her husband. But how can any loving (if exhausted!) cat parent look into an adorable feline’s big hopeful eyes and say no?From the Curl Up with a Cat Tale series of true-life short stories from Gwen Cooper—bestselling author of the smash hit Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—“Stop Trying to Make Fetch Happen” is full of Gwen’s trademark humor and heart. It’s a tale sure to resonate with animal lovers everywhere.

This story is about a young girl

called Helena who helps out at

the local vet surgery where her

older cousin, Lucy works. On the

way to the surgery one day,

they find an injured kitten under a car. They feel sorry for

the kitten and take him straight

to the clinic. Helena loves this

cat and takes care of him as

longs as he's at the surgery.

There he is operated on and gets a cast. Caramel (as Helena

calls him) has no chip or collar.

He has nobody to claim him.

He's homeless. Caramel is fed up

of being stuck in the clinic! Will

anyone give this poor kitten a home? Who will claim him? Find

out in The Brave Kitten.

HARE TODAY, GONE TOMORROWBunnicula is missing! Chester is convinced all the world's vegetables are in danger of being drained of their life juices and turned into zombies. Soon he has Harold and Howie running around sticking toothpicks through hearts of lettuce and any other veggie in sight. Of course, Chester has been known to be wrong before...but you can never be too careful when there's a vampire bunny at large!

Doreen Tovey enchants us again

with stories of life with her

husband Charles in a West

Country village, where they are

driven to distraction by Siamese

cats, Annabel the donkey, nesting swallows, bucking

horses, and the villagers who

still regard them as inept

townsfolk, even after 18 years.

In an effort to get away from it

all, they take a trip to Canada to see the bears and wolves—

much to the alarm of Father

Adams and Miss Wellington. If

they can't handle Siamese cats,

how will they handle a grizzly?

However, after hearing what the villagers have been up to in

their absence, they wonder if

they might have been safer in

Canada. As for the cats, Seeley

and Shebalu start acting

strangely when they develop a taste for dog food. But it is time

for another solemn little Seal

Point to come into their lives—

who takes some settling in.

Maddy looks forward to a kitten now her Maddy is determined to provide the perfect home for her beautiful tortoiseshell kitten, Biscuit. She spends all her time with the new arrival, playing and giving her cuddles. Before long, Biscuit is old enough to go outside. But little does she know that the neighbour's two big tomcats see the garden as their territory.

At rare intervals we find ourselves in the odd position of publishing a book we cannot describe on the jacket flap. This is a baffling sample of the genre. On the most obvious level, it is a wry, unsentimental, perceptive account of how to co-exist with two cats of astonishing longevity. On another level, it is an illuminating portion of informal autobiography of one of the more successful writers of fiction of our times. Additionally, it is a careful, authentic observation of the domesticated feline, of Roger and Geoffrey, gentleman cats of humor, intelligence, protocol, and delicately savage heritage. Perhaps most interesting of all is this backstage glimpse of the writer at home, his perceptions and prejudices, his use of the materials of life, in homes in Texas, New York, Mexico, and Florida, while he was publishing six hundred pieces of magazine fiction and forty-seven novels. Wondering how to classify this intriguing work, we asked Mr. MacDonald’s advice, and he wrote to us saying, “Your guess will be better than mine. All I know is that some years back I decided to do a book about cats, and related matters. Roger is pushing twenty. I think it would be nice to award him a little neighborhood adulation while he is still one of the group.”All we know is that those who never make the acquaintance of one house guest, a goose named Knees, are impoverishing themselves. And we predict Ol’ Rog is due for more than “a little neighborhood adulation.”

Instinct told them that the way home lay to the west. And so the doughty young Labrador retriever, the roguish bull terrier and the indomitable Siamese set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they would soon have died. But, together, the three house pets faced starvation, exposure, and wild forest animals to make their way home to the family they love. The Incredible Journey is one of the great children's stories of all time—and has been popular ever since its debut in 1961.

Instinct told them that the way

home lay to the west. And so

the doughty young Labrador

retriever, the roguish bull terrier

and the indomitable Siamese

set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they

would soon have died. But,

together, the three house pets

faced starvation, exposure, and

wild forest animals to make

their way home to the family they love. The Incredible

Journey is one of the great

children's stories of all time--

and has been popular ever since

its debut in 1961.

Tia has always wanted a cat and is thrilled when her family get a Bengal kitten. Milly is the most beautiful cat she has ever seen – and the cleverest, too!When Tia hears rumours about local cat thieves she decides to keep Milly inside. But Milly is far too lively to stay shut in the house for long. One day, Tia comes home from school and Milly is nowhere to be seen. Tia has a very bad feeling. What if her adorable kitten has been stolen?

Tuffy doesn't feel wanted at home any more. His owners just don't appreciate him. So what if he broke the new TV? Got fur on all Dad's clean clothes? Ate Tinkerbell the kitten's special kitten-food? All accidents! But they're making such a fuss!

'Okay, okay. So stick my head in

a holly bush.'

Tuffy knows what he likes. And

he doesn't like the 'art' that

Ellie's mum brings home from

her new classes. So what's a cat to do?

A few scratches here just

happen to shred a painting. A

nudge there somehow slips a

vase off a shelf. Dad hope a

horribly lumpy clay pot will be next, but Tuffy's having none of

it. The killer cat will go his own

sweet way!

Okay, okay. So spank my furry little bum. I held a party. It was my birthday. How was I supposed to know it wouldn't be the only party around townon that dark and dreary Halloween night?

The Killer Cat is back for

Christmas! A much-loved classic

by Anne Fine. So go on, ask me.

'Dear, dear Tuffy. Why was your

Christmas so horrible?' Well. I

couldn't climb the tree. I couldn't touch the dangly

decorations. And Ellie made me

part of her sing-along Christmas

performance. Horrible, horrible,

horrible! But I showed them. I

was Tuffy the Acting Cat, superstar. How was I supposed

to know things would get so . . .

messy? Anne Fine has written

numerous highly acclaimed and

prize-winning books for

children and adults. The Tulip Touch won the Whitbread

Children's Book of the Year

Award; Goggle-Eyes won the

Guardian Children's Fiction

Award and the Carnegie Medal;

Flour Babies won the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread

Children's Book of the Year; and

Bill's New Frock won a Smarties

Prize. Anne Fine was named

Children's Laureate in 2001 and

was awarded an OBE in 2003.

Mia can't get over her pet cat Sandy's death, and can't ever imagine replacing him. Over the Christmas holidays, she gets to play with her friend's cat's kittens. Then Mia's parents surprise her by saying she can have the last kitten, Whiskers. But although Mia loves him, she feels guilty about Sandy. Can Mia bring herself to keep the new kitten? From the best-selling author Holly Webb comes another heart-warming animal story.