My Life in Dog Years Paperback - 1999

From the jacket flap

Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs. In each chapter he tells the story of one special dog, among them Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Dirk, the grim protector; and Josh, one of the remarkable border collies working on Paulsen's ranch today. Pen-and-ink illustrations by Ruth Wright Paulsen.

Excerpt

I am--I say this with some pride and not a little wonder--a "dog person." I make no excuses for unabashedly loving them--all of them, even some that have bitten me. I have always had dogs and will have dogs until I die. I have rescued dozens of dogs from pounds, always have five or six of them around me, and cannot imagine living without dogs. They are wonderful and, I think, mandatory for decent human life.

All that said, there are some dogs that are different, special in amazing ways....

Media reviews

* "Guaranteed to charm animal lovers and Paulsen's fans. . . . Something to please at every turn of the page. . . . This honest, unpretentious celebration of dogs further entrenches his reputation as an author who is as successful at writing nonfiction as he is at writing novels."
--Booklist, starred review

"Paulsen is a master storyteller with a dry wit. . . . Gives readers a real sense of how the man looks at these animals."
--School Library Journal

* "Here's a treat to make Paulsen fans sit up and beg for more.... His writing percolates with energetic love."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

Citations

• Ingram Paperback Advance, 07/01/1999, Page 16
• Publishers Weekly, 07/26/1999, Page 93