God's Tender Creatures: Everyday Wisdom from the Innocents by K. J. Allison

"God's Tender Creatures: Everyday Wisdom from the Innocents" is a heartrending, provocative, inspiring, and endlessly amusing journey. It is a kaleidoscope of great story-telling, philosophical perspective, warm and revealing personal journaling, animal advocacy, academic curiosity, and both grounded and transcendent theologizing. Author K. J. Allison, with her wide-ranging experience and travel, weaves together a classic book on animals and the everyday wisdom gained by living with them, loving them, observing their passions, fears, loyalty, disobedience and abiding love. This amazingly rich read features an appendix with "Eight Essential Questions & Answers About God & Animals" (providing some sound responses to those who ask, "Do animals have souls?" and "Do animals go to heaven?" among other disquieting animal uncertainties). Its bibliography is a treasury for animal lovers and scholars alike, and sufficient in itself to recommend reading and keeping this book for enjoyment, enrichment, and as a trusted guide for what book to read next.