Books published by publisher Shaggy Dog Publications

At 15, Cathy Quinn is a complex teenager living--and feeling trapped--in 1980s Dublin, Ireland. As the book opens she discovers that her charming older brother Stevie, who's gay, is falling in love with the one boy in school whom she likes. Over her last two years of school, Cathy struggles with her dysfunctional family, school pressures, coming to terms with her powerful attraction to her best friend, Jeanette, and leaving Ireland. The Leaving is a realistic yet lyrical portrayal of adolescence and first love.Above all, the novel offers an unflinching look at two siblings growing up in Dublin in the 1980s, when being gay was still taboo, and being different was not tolerated.Gabriella West is also the author of the lesbian historical novel Time of Grace, set in Ireland in 1916.

Discovering Black Bears is a nature activity book that explores the natural history of the American black bear, its behavior and habitat. It also covers bear-human conflicts and how problems can be resolved. This engaging book, aimed at children of all ages, introduces the reader to real-life bear biologists, who have new insights into bear behavior. Discovering Black Bears has full color illustrations, a sheet of black bear stickers, and contains 20 activities designed to challenge children s minds.

These realist, fun wetland stickers consist of 44 reusable stickers, from frogs, waterfowl and insects to salamanders, turtles and plants. Children can go on a nature-discovery journey and learn about the biodiversity of a wetland, where frogs, ducks, bugs, and cattails all have their place. Children can use the self-adhesive stickers to: • Draw a wetlands scene and bring it to life with stickers. • Collect them! Trade them! • Use as party favors • Decorate letters, envelopes, posters, and art projects. • Use with the book "Leapfrogging Through Wetlands."

Ancient Forests untangles the complexity of old-growth forests. Termites, slime molds, owls and flying squirrels seem more like neighbors, thanks to the activities in this engaging, scientifically accurate book. It helps children see the interconnection between nature and people. This Patents Choice Awards Winner is evergreen. It includes a sheet of beautifully illustrated forest stickers!

Discovering Volcanoes helps young scientists learn about the volcanic peaks in the Cascade range from California to British Columbia. Children discover geologic and volcanic features and processes. It has been one of the best selling children's books at Mt. St. Helens. Revised with each printing, this book is VERY POPULAR - over 90,000 in print. <P>• Travel with a volcanaut<P>• Play the game Boom<P>• Solve a volcano riddle<P>• Build a volcano<P>• Explore the Ring of Fire This clever titles is updated with reprints.

Are sharks more dangerous to people, or are people more dangerous to sharks? Find out in this exciting book that explores the natural history, environmental relationships and current plight of sharks and rays in the world's threatened oceans using clever, engaging activities and stunning illustrations. Children, ages 9 to 13, explore shark neighborhoods, create an ocean mobile, travel a protected area maze, become a shark biologist, and survive a journey as a shark. Includes a page of delightful, scientifically accurate stickers. <P>In addition to winning the 2004 Ben Franklin Award for best Juvenile-Young Adult Nonfiction, the book was also a Finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award competition. It was named one of the "Hottest Products of 2004" by iParenting Media.