Books

by Karen Dowell

Winner of the Dog Writer’s Association of America’s Maxwell Award for best short book of 1998, Cooking with Dogs is not a cookbook, but a quirky, fun, and loving glimpse of life with dogs — from begging in the kitchen to puppy love.

Through a series of whimsical, yet thought-provoking poems and vignettes, Karen Dowell explores the intimate relationship between dogs and their owners. She marks her territory well, covering everything from eating and sleeping with dogs to dogs who love their toys too much. And her words are accompanied by delightful color illustrations from eight artists, each with their own special way with dogs.

Cooking with Dogs is included in PRINT Magazine’s 1999 Design Annual. One of the country’s leading graphic design magazines, PRINT received more than 35,000 entries for this annual; those pieces selected represent some of the best illustration, photography, and design in the United States.

Rebecca Goodale 

Book artist Rebecca Goodale invites you on a scenic tour of the simple joys of life on an island as she follows an adventurous dog on a lovely summer day.

Unlike most illustrated books, which are typically driven by text, Island Dog is a mixed breed: a panoramic work of art in the shape of a book. Goodale paints her pages with vivid colors, shapes, and textures, and extends her canvas with gatefolds and diecuts that become an integral part of the story-telling and personality of the piece. Her friendly dog and lush scenery pull you forward into Goodale’s idyllic island world, where you can invent your own stories about this special dog’s life.

Anyone who’s ever taken dogs to the beach will appreciate the memorable moments captured in pages dripping with color-from being sprayed by a water-logged dog trying to shake itself dry to watching a four-legged friend chase seagulls in the sand. The book also evokes the picturesque charm and mystique of island living in a way that may leave you wishing you were an island dog.

These sets of 12 cards and envelopes are sure to make the people on your holiday card list smile.

“Snow Bones” has two dogs making a unique form of holiday lawn art and has no greeting on the inside. “Season’s Greetings” shows two dogs sniffing and wagging hello; the inside reads “Hope your holiday smells wonderful.” “Bone for the Holidays” features two dogs standing face-to-face, each smiling sweetly with a large bone wrapped with a red bow behind his back. The inside greeting reads: “Bone for the Holidays.”

These 5×7 cards are available in boxed sets of 12 cards and white envelopes.

Artist Greg Dearth’s love of dogs and background as a wood-engraver shines in the exquisite detail of his illustrations. These delightful prints, originally created to accompany selections in our award-winning book, Cooking with Dogs, offer amusing and heartwarming images of dogs squeezing into puppy-sized spaces, begging for attention, or being led by their nose.

Prints are available mounted and matted with a bevel-cut black mat that fits any 11 x 14-inch frame. Greg Dearth’s Dogs make a special gift for anyone who loves dog art.