If you’re planning to add a pet to your family this summer, here’s a book to get for your bookshelf. Colorado author Lisa Blake and illustrator Nadine Rebrovic recently released How To Love Your Rescue Pup: 10 Simple Rules for Taking the Very Best Care of Your Furry Friend, their second book in the children’s series How To Love Your Pet. Blake started the endeavor with her six-year-old son, Braxton, who enjoys helping with research and writing the tips.

“To see kids naturally do this is a beautiful thing,” Blake says. “They have a connection with animals and display that unconditional love that we’re hoping to capture in our books.” Rebrovic even included her niece, Cecilia, and the girl’s adopted pup on one of the pages.

Inspired by family and friends who rescued dogs from animal shelters throughout the pandemic, the team felt these pets could use special love and careful attention.

Some important ways the book teaches families to love their adopted dogs include:

• Trust; don’t give up on them.
• Make a safe space for them.
• Be silly; rescue dogs love giggles and fun.
• Feed them yummy, nutritious food.

How To Love Your Rescue Pup is available at Tattered Cover and BookBar in Denver, or through Instagram: @how2loveyourpet, and Facebook: @howtoloveyourpetchildrensbooks.