For anyone already in love with pooches, the titles in the Dog Heroes series will only increase the certainty that dogs are the greatest things on the planet. The series is a surprising 17 titles deep and touches on everything from sled dogs to the Dogs Scouts of America. Seizure-Alert Dogs details the otherworldly ability of dogs to sense when a human's seizure is imminent and take protective action (such as straddling the person's body). Many of the pages are given to training, which begins at two months and can cost $20,000 per dog. But the heartwarming story of a German shepherd named Lady and photos of these stalwart animals with their extravagant gear and cautionary patches ("Do Not Pet") will keep the smiles coming. This is satisfying coverage of a high-interest topic.

These volumes showcase the work done by dogs serving in active military units (Combat) or assisting people with disorders such as epilepsy (Seizure). Double-page spreads feature facts about the characteristics dogs need to function in these specialized roles, how they are trained, and examples of their work; photographs accompany the texts. The books, though slight, are effective in their accessibility. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.