Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People

by Sheila Keenan, Kate Waters (Editor)

Everything you've ever wanted to know and more about our favorite companions. ANIMALS IN THE HOUSE scampers through the history of pets and people and takes a closer look at today's most popular pets.

There are approximately 377,800,000 pets purring, slithering, or swimming in the United States! ANIMALS IN THE HOUSE combines hilarious illustrations and a fun, youthful text to tell the story of pets through the ages and the people who kept them, including famous pets and pet owners. Each chapter touches on the history of the animal in the wild, its domestication, and the high points of its popularity as a pet. Kids will also discover historical attitudes and superstitions about pets.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Pets, History, Childrens

112 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Sheila Keenan is an established author of fiction and nonfiction for young people. Her books include the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Dogs of War, the picture book As the Crow Flies, I Spy The Illuminati Eye, and O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks and Inspiring Words, among other selected titles. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Carlyle Jaden]

My little dude loves the pictures of animals and I love all the tidbits of information we've read in this book. It's a short read but packed full of information just enough for young minds to digest.

[Regina]

A fun and fascinating book! I learned a lot about how animals throughout history and how they became housepets. Very appealing photographs and colorful graphics and lettering. Humor without being cloying or juvenile. "Remember: animal = pet is an equation that took people a long time to solve. Animal = worker + companion + food-on-foot was more like it." The reading level is a bit challenging for the intended age group. A glossary might have been nice for words like avian or hierarchy. Good index and other nonfiction text features.

After discussing wild vs. domestic animals and the evolution of pets throughout history, Keenan devotes chapters to cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferrets, birds, fish, lizards, and snakes. A chapter on eternal rest for pets rounds up the book. I loved all the interesting trivia and the low-down on all the pets of royalty and U.S. Presidents. Queen Victoria had 88 pets during her lifetime!

[Abby Johnson]

Did you know that there are more pets than people in America? It's true! And more than half of those pets are fish.

This photo-filled book gives us a history of our furry, slobbery, scaly, and whiskery friends. It starts with an overview of people's views and uses for domestic animals. The animals that were first kept for work or food eventually became some of our closest friends. After that overview, we get a closer look at the different kinds of pets: cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, fish, etc... each animal has its own history with people. Hand this one to the animal-lovers in your life.

[Peacegal]

Humane educators won't want to miss this fun nonfiction selection that discusses the history of the animals we call our best friends. This would be an especially nice choice for a student writing a report. (I appreciated the comment about how the widespread hatred and extermination of cats in Europe helped the rodent-hosted bubonic plague to spread; a point that has been made by Animal People News for years.)

[Kristen]

This is a great overview of this history of animal domestication, the role of pets in culture & society (happily, with a number of items that are not from Western history!) and a close-up look at many common kinds of pets. Great for young animal lovers!

[Leah Koch]

This book is not only interesting, but relevant to most, if not all, of the students in my class. Some of the weird facts or superstitions that used to surround pets will be fascinating to students and will ask them to consider why our traditions are the way they are today.

[Natasha North]

Lots of enjoyable and interesting tidbits about our furry/feathered/fined friends and well-referenced. A rather strange and abrupt ending, though.

[Bridget]

Full of fun information. I would definitely read it again and slooowwly if I were a child planning to take an AR quiz.

[Gina]

Beautiful pictures and layout, but the language is a bit irksome. I would want to impart on a child that "owning a pet" and sharing one's home and life with an animal are two very different things.

[Cara Adams]

Students would enjoy this as a read aloud.

[Sara Taylor-hughes]

Pet theme. Chapter book so will have to break up read allude for primary students

[Erin]

Great informational book for students interested in people and animals. Bright, colorful book with pictures and photographs that grab the readers attention.

[Jessica]

Adorable read on the history of pets and animals. Great visuals with little facts along the margins.

[Deanna Mlynarczyk]

very interesting book about the transition of animals from working partners to pets