This is an utterly original and completely beguiling prose novel about a boy who has to write a poem, and then another, and then even more. Soon the little boy is writing about all sorts of things he has not really come to terms with, and astounding things start to happen.

Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz is a very special trainer. She knows dogs instinctively, and, drawing on lessons she learned from raising three children, she uses the power of positive reinforcement and bonding to train dogs to be joyful, obedient, and devoted members of a family. Dog lovers throughout the Washington, DC, area know her: She trained each of the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s dogs, and when the Obama family were deciding on a puppy— and could have chosen any trainer in the world to work with—it was Ms Sylvia-Stasiewicz who trained Bo. In The Love That Dog Training Program, a lively, accessible, authoritative book, she shares her invaluable and proven program. Her method is based on positive reinforcement. She believes in trust and treats, not choke collars; in bonding, not squeezing or hitting. Her dogs are happy and self-confident, spirited yet very well-behaved. The basic program is five weeks, it takes only 15 or 20 minutes a day, and it works for both puppies and dogs, including retraining a dog with bad habits. Illustrated with step-by-step photographs, The Love That Dog Training Program covers hand-feeding. Crate training and potty training. Simple commands—sit, stay, come here—as well as more complex goals, such as bite inhibition and water safety. It shows how to avoid or correct common behavioral problems including jumping, barking, noise phobias, hiding, and more. Then: how to make your dog comfortable in the world—a dog that travels well, knows how to behave in a dog park or vet’s office, is comfortable around strangers, and more. As the author points out, dog training never ends, it just gets easier—and even more rewarding.

"Riveting."--Booklist, starred review

"A touching story of love and loss"--Cover.

The Dog Lover's Companion to California has the inside scoop on the best dog runs, parks, beaches, hiking trails, camping areas, pet-friendly businesses, and much more. Local author Maria Goodavage and her trusty companion Jake have dug up many surprising resources available to dogs in the Golden State, such as baseball games, summer camps, and pet parades. For the less outdoorsy dog, there are doggy spas, art openings, and even winery visits! Packed with helpful maps, up-to-date leash laws, and a useful "paw" ranking system for all locations in the book, The Dog Lover's Companion to California is a dog's best friend.

Trouble starts when Teresa tells her brother that this guy did something to her with his dog in bed. Nobody seems to know exactly what, but they do know that somebody's got to pay. So what is 'The Dog Problem'? It's the wrong thing said to the wrong person. From then on it's a chain reaction of misplaced passions and galloping sentences leading to deadly conclusions in a darkly funny play about men, women, ghosts, sex, betrayal, psychic power and the realization that when you destroy the natural world in Act One, you better look out in Act Two.

This book is based on the belief that deep subject knowledge of language and literature provides a foundation for effective teaching and learning. It provides a comprehensive guide to the range of genres and characteristic features of English language fiction written for children. It will help readers to: o develop their understanding of literature within social, cultural and political reading practices o extend their knowledge of language features and conventions of different genres o develop skills in analytical and critical reading. The scope of the first edition has been expanded from solely fiction to cover a range of contemporary literature, including poetry, plays and picture books. The case study material, investigative activities and practical exercises promote an active approach to learning. The second edition focuses on a range of fiction relevant to the National Curriculum for England and the National Literacy Strategy. It provides examples from a range of world literature written in English. Examples from work in translation are also included. It also addresses the requirements of the primary curriculum for ITT English. This book is essential reading for student teachers on PGCE, and undergraduate teacher education courses, and for teachers undertaking CPD in English, literacy or children's literature. It provides useful support material for language coordinators, SCITT coordinators and literacy consultants.