"Pawprints," a collection of quirky, uplifting vignettes about close encounters with animals and other furry moments in life, by Ina Hillebrandt, has reached the Top Seller list on Amazon.com.

In addition to kids reading stories to their parents, many teachers are using "Pawprints" as an inspiration for reading and creative writing. They also say it brings in science – observation of living creatures, environmental education – as it makes literacy fun. Teachers and parents note kids are "writing from the heart," "thinking differently," "reading more," and "increasing their vocabularies." They like the book’s focus on respect for animals and the environment, and the way its stories – and the exercises author Hillebrandt created and published in the companion workbook, "The Student Prints" – causes kids to want to be kinder to fellow humans as well as animals.

Maxwell Yerger, reading specialist/trainer and science teacher at New York City’s Wagner Middle School, said, "‘Pawprints’ is a new form of ‘Great Literature.’ I’d call it ‘Catalytic Literature,’ because it has the power to act as a catalyst to change the way people think, about animals and the environment." He based his views on reaction papers from 125+ students such as, "‘Pawprints’ has changed the way I feel about animals. I used to dislike animals. Now I like them all, except pigeons."

Other teachers' comments: "I’m really delighted to see ‘Pawprints’ on the best seller list. I hope it will help encourage people to write, and to love and care for animals, and each other. I feel wonderful when kids light up as they receive their certificates of achievement, and when they write they’re going to: ‘Stop kicking my friends,’ ‘Volunteer to help at an animal shelter,’ ‘Tell my cousins to stop running up to pigeons and scaring them.’"