
The Dog Encyclopedia for Kids ( ages 8+ )
By : Tammy Gagne
Publisher : Capstone ( February 2017 )
Written under the guidelines of the American Kennel Club (AKC), the The Dog Encyclopedia for Kids by Tammy Gagne, is a great source of information for young dog-lovers. It is also a good reference for 'dog fans' both young and old, in becoming more informed about different aspects such as appearance, personality and training methods for the bewildering array of breeds of 'man's best friend.'
Over one hundred and fifty breeds are described here. The book is divided into seven main categories according to the same classification method used by the AKC: Herding, Hounds, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terriers, Toy and Working dogs. Within each category, one finds the various breeds that fit into the given group. Around 1-2 pages are dedicated for each breed with beautiful photos. For any given breed, there is a concise, but very comprehensive description done under the subheadings of appearance (size, weight, color of coat, eyes), personality, breed background, country of origin, year of recognition by the AKC and the very important notes on training and caring.
The personality subheading in particular, carries valuable information as to how friendly in general that particular breed is with children, strangers and other animals in the house. The training and caring sections are also of great importance since the methods adopted seem to vary quite a lot, even among breeds fitting into one single category. Also included are 'fun facts' - interesting information about the breed - and 'famous dogs', members of that breed who had acheived fame and popularity as characters of movies or books, or through their heroics in real life.
The book stands out in terms of it`s captivating and very simple presentation and for it`s uncomplicated text. It will be a valued addition to the library of any young dog-lover, and probably will serve as a useful reference book for many years to come.
( With many thanks to Capstone Publishers and NetGally for the ARC )