cover image Puppyhood: Life- Size Portraits of Puppies At 6 Weeks Old

Puppyhood: Life- Size Portraits of Puppies At 6 Weeks Old

J. Nichole Smith. Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $29.95 (128p) ISBN 978-1-584799849

So sweet it'll cause cavities, this delightful marshmallow of a coffee table book compiles 100 shots of pure and mixed-breed puppies at actual life size of six weeks of age sleeping, curiously studying the camera, playing and resting. Sleeping Labradors Detta and Jake, Tater Tot, the colossal Great Dane that's barely contained by the book's generous dimensions and the kissable Chad, the English Bulldog who graces the cover, all beg to be picked up, petted and loved. Which is part of creator and photographer J. Nichole Smith's plan. Information on adopting all of the 25 puppies pictured here is provided as an epilogue, giving readers contact information for a number of national shelter networks as well as the breeders of the purebreeds featured in the book. There is absolutely no information on the characteristics of the dogs or even breeds featured here %E2%80%93 there's barely any text at all and potential parents are left to find that on their own %E2%80%93 but those with a soft spot for puppies will have an awful time putting this one down, as each dog seems cuter, softer and sweeter than the one before. Photos (Oct.)