Beautiful Joe

First published in 1893 as a children's book to encourage the humane treatment of animals, Beautiful Joe has taken it's place along with Black Beauty, becoming a favorite of several generations of youngsters.

Beautiful Joe narrates the story of his mutilation at the hands of a cruel master and the love he finds in the home of a caring family full of kids and animals. Joe speaks not only for himself, but also for Jim the spaniel, Malta the cat, Davey the rat, Bella the parrot, and his other furry and feathered friends as they interact with humans, good and bad.

Today this book would probably be of more intetest to adults then children, but Beautiful Joe is a beautiful story.