“Paw through these pages and find 125 of National Geographic Kids’ favorite true tales of animal heroes, silly tricks, spoiled-rotten critters, and even pets that have pets of their own.”

Opening with a full page spread of a surfing pig, this book delivers one fascinating surprise after another.  Touching stories of animal helpers and pets that have made heroic rescues are included, but many of the profiled animals seem to have, for better or for worse, quirky owners or keepers who train them to do ridiculous stunts.  Meet dogs that drive cars, a gorilla with a pet bunny and a goat that rides a cow every day.  My favorite: the poodle whose owner disguises it as other (wild) animals (like a lion and a panda) through exquisite grooming and dying of its hair.

The photography is what makes this book (and other National Geographic books) exceptional. This book is recommended as a bring-along browsing book for families with readers ages 6-12.  It is a good bet for reluctant readers due to the high interest subject manner and the number and variety of animals profiled.