There is no better companion, teacher, or medicine for a child than the family pet. –Anonymous Kids and pets are as timeless a combination as peanut butter and jelly. Pets provide security for kids–a warm buddy to snuggle with on cold winter nights, a sympathetic ear to listen to their woes and secrets (and not tell anybody), a clown of sorts who makes them laugh even when things seem gloomy. And pets find companionship in children, too. Kids give them all the attention they crave and even a few tasty morsels under the dinner table when Mom isn’t looking! Mark J. Asher’s collection *Barking Up the Family Tree* celebrates that precious, everlasting bond with charming, heartwarming photographs of children and their animals–from dogs and cats to horses and hamsters. Each awwww-inspiring photo accompanies a brief interview with a child and his or her pet and reveals: * common interests * what the child learned from the pet * what the pet learned from the child * what animal the child would be * what type of person the animal would be