READ THIS: THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK by Fran Reisner
Our Pooch Panelist raves to Peachy:
"I absolutely love this book! I could look through these pictures over and over again. I love how there are several sections of the book. Each section is named for the section of Central Park where the pictures were taken. I loved how stories of several dogs were dispersed throughout the book. Since I am a teacher, I even brought this book to school and put it in my Special Book Basket. These books are to be handled with extra care. My students were so enthralled by these photos, that they wanted to create their own stories to go along with several of them. Fran Reisner did a wonderful job at capturing the personality of each dog she photographed. Having two dogs myself, I know how special these creatures are. They bring a smile to my face everyday, and this book does the same. I plan to purchase this book as a gift for several dog loving friends of mine."
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Fran Reisner has loved Central Park since the very first time she walked under its canopy of trees while visiting New York on assignment. Walking through the park on a spring morning nearly three years ago with camera in hand, the first thing that caught her eye was not the lush foliage or the many landmarks, but a small black dog racing past her with a red ball in his mouth. He was chased by several other dogs and they never got out of order, resembling a train zooming up and down the hills. They were everywhere—dogs of every color and size, pure bred, and rescue mutts. She was smitten with the amazing dogs that populate Central Park, and was so taken with the canine subculture that she came back to New York seven times to photograph the four-legged population at play. The fruit of her labor is titled THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK, a photographic love letter to dogs, their humans, and to Central Park. In his foreword, parks commissioner Adrian Benepe observes: “In the heart of Manhattan, it takes a dog to understand the beauty of autumn leaves, the thrill of new fallen snow, and the promise of flowers on a rainy spring day.” Reisner celebrates dogs throughout the seasons as they delight in the natural wonders of New York’s biggest green space. There’s snow-loving Lenny, a golden retriever who was born in Austria and has traveled the world with his owners. Charley is a standard poodle and a certified "Delta Dog," doing volunteer therapy at Mt. Sinai Hospital. And there’s Daisy—a mixed breed with piercing blue eyes who hails from the Bronx and to whom Roberta Flack once sang "Daisy Daisy.” Mugging for the camera as they pose in front of Bethesda Fountain or Belvedere Castle, these urban animal sophisticates make it clear that New York City is their turf!
During the process of producing THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK, Reisner interviewed the humans accompanying the dogs she met, and discovered that most of them were united through the exceptional rescue organizations of the area. She dedicates the book to the volunteers “…who give so selflessly of their time and efforts on behalf of the millions of helpless animals around the globe.” A percentage of the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to animal rescue organizations.
Whimsical, humorous, and genuinely endearing, THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK will delight dog lovers all over the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Fran Reisner has earned her Photographic Master and Craftsman degrees. She’s won numerous national and international awards for her work, including a three-time winner of the Dallas Photographer of the Year Award. She is highly regarded and requested international speaker whose work has been published in more than 30 books and magazines, and who has been featured on Good Day Dallas and Good Morning Texas. Adrian Benepe has worked for nearly 30 years protecting and enhancing New York City's natural and historic beauty. He has continued this effort as Commissioner of the Department of Parks & Recreation, appointed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on January 25, 2002. In this role he has focused on improving park facilities and programs for children, developing new waterfront parks and greenways, and making New York City bloom with millions of new flowers and hundred of gardens.
Serial rights are available for THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK. To arrange, please contact Tooraj Kavoussi at (845) 784-4721 or tkavoussi@rizzoliusa.com. Credit for the book must read: ©The Dogs of Central Park by Fran Reisner, Universe 2011. Images are available to accompany coverage and must be credited as follows: ©Fran Reisner, from The Dogs of Central Park, Universe 2011. No images may be reproduced in any way, published, or transmitted digitally, without written permission from the publisher.
THE DOGS OF CENTRAL PARK
By Fran Reisner
Foreword by Adrian Benepe
Hardcover w/jacket / 144 pages / 7” x 9” / 140 color photographs
PRICE: $19.95 US / $22.95.00 CAN / £13.95 UK
ISBN: 978-0-7893-2212-8
PUBLICATION DATE: May 2011
Universe, an imprint of Rizzoli New York
