Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson
What would you do if you adopted a dog who “spoke” a different language than you? That’s the question one family faces when they adopt a dog named Norman – except at first they don’t know Norman only understands Chinese, not English! Norman, Speak! is a funny, heartwarming story with a very important message.  

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
What is life like for wild animals in captivity? Read the story of Ivan and his friends, residents at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall & Arcade. Ivan, a silverback gorilla, spends his days watching TV and drawing pictures to be sold in the gift shop… until he meets a baby elephant named Ruby who changes the way he sees his world.

The Great Bear Sea: Exploring the Marine Life of a Pacific Paradise by Ian McAllister & Nicholas Read
Discover why the most important part of the Great Bear Rainforest is actually the sea that feeds it! From the amazing life cycle of Pacific salmon to the mysterious return of dolphins to the area after many years away, The Great Bear Sea is full of incredible stories and pictures of a wondrous underwater world. You can even get a glimpse of life in the Great Bear Sea in motion at greatbearsea.com.

There are many more awesome animal books, so visit your school or public library and get reading! The first five BC SPCA Kids Club members to tell us about their favourite animal book during Be Kind to Animals Month will receive a BC SPCA poster! Simply email us, including your name and address, and we’ll mail our new “Dare to Care” poster, featuring five ways you can make a difference for animals, to the first five kids. (Not a Kids Club member yet? Sign up before entering the contest!)

Baths aren't just for birds... make a special one for bees!

One of the easiest (and most fun) ways to be kind to animals this month is to make something for them! Here are just a few ideas to try:

• In case your pet gets lost, make a Shrinky Dink Pet ID Tag.
• Keep your cat entertained with a Puzzle Feeder or Feather Wand Toy.
• Help bees keep on buzzing with a Bee Bath or Bee Nest.
• Satisfy your small animal’s sweet tooth with these Carrot and Banana Cookies.

Explore the outdoors and make new friends at camp!

Where can you spend a whole week playing games, doing crafts and hanging out with animals? BC SPCA summer camp!

BC SPCA summer camp activities can’t be found anywhere else. Play Bee Relay and the Guide Dog Game! Make Slug Slime and Guinea Pig Hotels! And, for approximately one hour each day, interact with adorable cats and small animals at the shelter, as well as some lovable dogs belonging to BC SPCA staff members. 

Summer camps will be held in 19 B.C. communities this July and August. Registration is open now for select locations. Find out more and register today!

Kitty loves attention!

May's Furry Friend of the Month is Kitty, a two-year-old Manx cat awaiting her forever home at the Vancouver SPCA.

Kitty is quite the character! She loves to play, and as you will see from her video, she loves scratches under her chin, too! Kitty isn't so fond of other cats, so will need to be adopted into a home where she is the only one.

Please note: Kitty was available for adoption at the time this article was written, and may have found her forever home since then. Visit the BC SPCA website to discover more furry friends currently looking for homes.