Pongo and Perdita were convincing in 101 Dalmatians when they relied on the barking chain to spread the word that their puppies were missing. So it's not so hard to believe that other dogs in literature might lend a paw now and then.
Enzo has a spot on the staff pick display at Book Passage, in San Francisco, and while he's taught us all about The Art of Racing in the Rain, he's helped some pals gain traction in sales, too. His "staff recommends" card for A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron states: "I want you to read this book about my pals Buddy, Molly, Max and more. It's the best book on dog devotion since The Art of Racing in the Rain. Enzo." Sales of both books are steady. (No doubt Enzo is looking forward to Cameron's next book, The Dogs of Christmas, due October 15.)
A certified assistance dog, Pransky the labradoodle, star of A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home, inspired one yellow lab in California to embark on a similar career. When Byron's human read Sue Halpern's memoir about their training and therapy dog work, he immediately signed up for a Canine Good Citizen course. At just 17 months old, Byron passed on his first try, and plans to pursue graduate work to become a therapy dog. And while Pransky and Halpern did not tour to California, Halpern's husband, Bill McKibben, author of the newly released Oil and Honey, graciously signed the book, "from Pransky's dad." --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller, Book Passage, San Francisco