We have seen innumerable animal memoirs from veterinarians, horse trainers, dog lovers, and cat fanciers, but the stories of animals and their owners by James Herriot—based on his decades of experience as a vet in rural Yorkshire—are unsurpassed for their wit and warmth. If you have ever loved an animal, or a human for that matter, these books will touch your heart.

Offering a wonderful portrait of a time and a way of life long gone, James Herriot takes us into the homes and barns of his beloved patients, including Herbert the orphaned lamb, Mrs. Pumphrey's posh Pekingese Tricki Woo, and Dorothy the goat, who bestows a most unusual Christmas present. Lesley Holmes provides watercolor vignettes depicting the fabled countryside and villages of North Yorkshire, while Herriot's son Jim Wight, himself a vet, provides the introduction.