"You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you they will be there long before any of us." -- Robert Louis Stevenson -- 

 "Animals don't hate, and we're supposed to be better than them." -- Elvis Presley --

"Answer me, you who believe that animals are only machines. Has nature arranged for this animal to have all the machinery of feelings only in order for it not to have any at all?" -- Voltaire --

 "The bee is domesticated but not tamed." -- William Longgood --

 "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -- Anatole France --

 "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." -- Mahatma Gandhi --

 "I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you beleive in, and going after your dreams." -- Madonna --

 "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." -- Viktor E. Frankl --

 "The only way to deal with fear is to face it. We are free only in the moment we decide to confront our fear." -- George Orwell --

 "Freedom lies in being bold." -- Robert Frost --

 "Music is to the soul what words are to the mind." -- Modest Mouse --

 "Music is . . . A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy." -- Ludwig van Beethoven --

 "A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that wordly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe --

 "Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." -- Confucius --

 "If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week." -- Charles Darwin --

Trafalgar True

 

Title: Trafalgar True

Author: Stephen Cosgrove

Illustrator: Robin James

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 6 - 12

    Trafalgar loves to spend his days watching Kith and Kin, furry little creatures, playing in the meadow. But when a sunstone falls from the sky, the Kith and Kin fight over it. Trafalgar is saddened - he hates seeing them fight like that. Trafalgar must solve the situation, even if it means flying to the sun to return the stone - in order to bring the meadow peace once again. 

Small Pig

 

Title: Small Pig

Author: Arnold Lobel

Rating: ★★★★☆

Ages: 3 - 10

    When the farmer's wife goes on a cleaning frenzy, Small Pig's pig pen gets cleaned - including his mudpuddle! Small Pig becomes mad. He loves his good, soft mud, and now it's all gone! Follow Small Pig on his hunt for a new mud puddle - but wil he ever find one?

Saint Teresa of Avila

 

Title: Saint Teresa of Avila

Author: Yoon Song-i

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 8 - 18+

    When Teresa was young, she wanted to become a martyr at the hands of the moors. However, as she grew, she started to care more about parties and fancy dresses than the faith. Her father sent her to a convent to study, and Teresa decided she wanted to become a nun, against her father's wishes. Follow Teresa through her journey through nunhood, and discover how she deals with challenges and encourages fellow sisters.

The Paper Dolls

Title: The Paper Dolls

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Rebecca Cobb

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 2 - 10

    Follow a chain of paper dolls through their adventures with their little girl. A truly lovable read, this book is suitable for all ages.

 "The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries." -- Descartes --

 "Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know. -- Alberto Manguel --

 "What I love most about reading: It gives you the ability to reach higher ground. And keep climbing." -- Oprah --

Crenshaw

 

Title: Crenshaw

Author: Katherine Applegate

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 8 - 18+

    Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again. 

    Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enouch to save this family from losing everything?

"You will learn most things by looking, but reading gives understanding. Reading will make you free." -- Paul Rand --

A Place to Hang the Moon

 

Title: A Place to Hang the Moon

Author: Kate Albus

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 8 - 18+

    Orphans William, Edmund and Anna Pearce are evacuated from London during World War II. Sad and afraid, they quest to find a home, but most of all, a family. 

The Stowaways

 

Title: The Stowaways

Author: Meghan Marentette

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 8 - 18+

    Rory and Morgan Stowaway come from a long line of adventurers who explored far-off places. But ever since Grampa disappeared on one of their journeys, Papa has refused to take them farther than a little trip to town.

    Gran Stowaway has a secret. She knows what really happened to Grampa, and she plans to rescue him. And once Rory learns the truth, he is resolved to join her, even if he has to leave Morgan behind. It could be a disaster, but maybe it will be the greatest Stowaway adventure of all!

Every Living Thing

 

Title: Every Living Thing

Author: James Herriot

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 8 - 18+

    As a country vet, Harriot sees more than his fair share of animals and their mishaps - heartwarming, humorous, hilarious. This book is a must-read - not only for animal lovers but for anyone who wants a good book. 

Gentle Ben

 

Title: Gentle Ben

Author: Walt Morey

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 10 - 18+

    

    When Mark makes friends with a large grizzly, his parents buy the bear for Mark. He can't believe his good luck. However, when tragedy strikes, Mark is told he has to get rid of Ben - or else.

Detectives in Togas

 Title: Detectives in Togas

Author: Henry Winterfeld

Rating: ★★★★★

Ages: 10 - 18+

When a Roman boy named Rufus writes 'Caius is a dumbbell' on his tablet at school, he doesn't know that it will put him behind bars. The next morning he returns to find his teacher tied up, items stolen from the classroom, including his tablet, and 'Caius is a dumbbell' written on the temple of Minerva, in Rufus's own handwriting. Rufus's six classmates must find out who really wrote the message, or Rufus will be behind bars forever. A hilarious mystery, this novel will undoubtedly be a favorite.

 "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." -- Sam Keen --

 "Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly." -- Van Morrison --