IZZY & LENORE

A rescued border collie and a black lab puppy help the author recover from a debilitating depression, and work with him to spread love and hope in the lives of suffering souls. Tom Stechschulte sounds thoroughly believable as the 60-year-old author, slowing his pace when Katz feels sad, then lightening and quickening his tone as the author plays with the new puppy. Stechschulte lends a note of compassion to Katz's misgivings about adopting a dog who has been living abandoned in the wild for several years, blending a longing to help the creature with concern about its temperament and ability to learn. The entire book, in text and audio, benefits from respect and gratitude for the dogs, an attitude that will resonate with any who have opened their hearts to these furry angels. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2009]