UNCONDITIONAL

Creature comfort.

BriAnne and her husband were living in Ukraine in 2013 when, one night, they spotted a kitten that needed help getting down from a tree. A month later, BriAnne came across another cat. “He was on the sidewalk, dirty and tired, crying for help.” Those two cats, Liza and Tuck, now live with BriAnne in New York; her husband has remained in Ukraine as a war correspondent. “Tuck and Liza are the reason our long-distance marriage works,” BriAnne says. “There is no reason for me to feel sad when I get to wake up to them cuddling me every morning.” Liza and Tuck are among the roughly two dozen animals that are profiled, along with their human companions, in this sweet and playful debut collection, lovingly and colorfully illustrated by Willett. “Studies suggest that most pet owners are women, and that women often take on more household responsibilities when it comes to caring for family animals,” Willett writes. “In return, their animals provide protection, support, and camaraderie, the connection a harmonious tie stretching between species.” That connection goes beyond cats and dogs. Pooja, one of the animals in the book, is a 41-year-old parrot that lives with Terra. Willett met them at a park one day in Brooklyn. “I was twenty years old when my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer,” Terra says. “Birds are highly emotionally intelligent, and Pooja felt my pain.” Willett’s illustrations show the two spending time together, Pooja resting on Terra’s shoulder and hanging out with her at the beach. Clare, a self-identified witch, took care of Boo, a bat that suffered tears in her wings: “I love bats because they are clever and resilient, yet also so misunderstood.” After nine months, she released Boo. The creature quickly took flight, hunting for insects. Says Clare, “I was so proud of her!”

A tender celebration of special bonds of affection.