NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • From the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All Over but the Shoutin', the warmhearted and hilarious story of how his life was transformed by his love for a poorly behaved, half-blind stray dog. Speck is not a good boy. He is a terrible boy, a defiant, self-destructive, often malodorous boy, a grave robber and screen door moocher who spends his days playing chicken with the Fed Ex man, picking fights with thousand-pound livestock, and rolling in donkey manure, and his nights howling at the moon. He has been that way since the moment he appeared on the ridgeline behind Rick Bragg's house, a starved and half-dead creature, seventy-six pounds of wet hair and poor decisions. Speck arrived in Rick's life at a moment of looming uncertainty. A cancer diagnosis, chemo, kidney failure, and recurring pneumonia had left Rick lethargic and melancholy. Speck helped, and he is helping, still, when he is not peeing on the rose of Sharon. Written with Bragg's inimitable blend of tenderness and sorrow, humor and grit, The Speckled Beauty captures the extraordinary, sustaining devotion between two damaged creatures who need each other to heal.

"This is a Borzoi book published by Alfred A. Knopf"--Copyright page.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • With the same emotional generosity and effortlessly compelling storytelling that made All Over But the Shoutin’ a beloved bestseller, Rick Bragg continues his personal history of the Deep South. This time he’s writing about his grandfather Charlie Bundrum, a man who died before Bragg was born but left an indelible imprint on the people who loved him. Drawing on their memories, Bragg reconstructs the life of an unlettered roofer who kept food on his family’s table through the worst of the Great Depression; a moonshiner who drank exactly one pint for every gallon he sold; an unregenerate brawler, who could sit for hours with a baby in the crook of his arm. In telling Charlie’s story, Bragg conjures up the backwoods hamlets of Georgia and Alabama in the years when the roads were still dirt and real men never cussed in front of ladies. A masterly family chronicle and a human portrait so vivid you can smell the cornbread and whiskey, Ava’s Man is unforgettable.

Feather ruffling fun! In the wide savanna there are three birds named Ade, Emem, and Nuru, that live on the back of an elephant. They are best friends. But one day the wind blows a bright speckled feather into their midst, and in no time their peacefulness is over. A thought-provoking story about friendship by debut author-illustrator Johanna Ries.

L.B. Johnson knew how to get things done. She had been immersed in a world of complex puzzles, and tangled story lines of physical and governmental laws. She was quite sure she was up to the task of raising a black Labrador retriever puppy. His name was Barkley, and in being himself, he led his owner down a path of joyful discovery, loving frustration, and self-sacrifice. Their journey together will speak volumes to anyone who has ever had a beloved animal as a heart’s companion…from the gentle nuzzles that healed in moments of crisis, to the saintly patience needed to deal with a small pink ball with feet, named “Mr. Squeaky,” who interrupted many hours of sleep. It is the story of rambunctious trespasses such as “the bacon incident,” and the loving trust that bound a woman and her dog together in unspoken understanding. The Book of Barkley is a tribute and memoir that will resonate with everyone who has reached out unthinking to pet a beloved animal…only to remember that a beloved friend is no longer present. Honest, transcendent, and beautifully written, The Book of Barkley is a love story that will enrich every animal lover’s library.

Eye-catching and unforgettable, The Dogs' Book of Romance will spark a smile and touch the hearts of lovers and dog-lovers alike. This charming gift book offers relationship advice with artistic flair and the heartwarming appeal of wagging tails and cold, wet noses. The Dogs' Book of Romance makes a unique, creative stocking stuffer, Valentine's Day gift, bridal shower present, or thoughtful memento for any time of year. Dogs are known for their loyalty and affection, but do these consummate companions have anything to teach us about romantic love? From the pages of The Dogs' Book of Romance, it's clear they do. In this dazzling collection of lush, full-color photographs, extraordinary canine couples reveal with wit and wisdom just what it takes to make romance last a lifetime. Photographer Lisa Sachs presents an array of gorgeous dog duos--from bulldogs to beagles--as they nuzzle, snuggle, and lavish each other with tender loving care. The captions of advice that accompany each photograph offer heartfelt and humorous reminders about how to keep the sparks flying in an intimate relationship. * "Declare your affection," depicted by a Jack Russell terrier who's sweet on a Doberman pinscher. * "Keep telling the story of how you met,' depicted by a pair of doting corgis. * "Stay awake for pillow talk," depicted by two Westies about to hit the sack. * "Intimacy begins when you let down your guard," depicted by a yellow and a black Lab as they work through relationship issues.

Collects stories by famous figures and writers on their relationships with hunting dogs, describing each contributor's forays into the outdoors at the side of a faithful canine companion, in a nostalgic tribute that includes pieces by such figures as Tom Brokaw, Rick Bass, and Chris Camuto.