"Based on Myers's year-long study of two dozen children, child-animal interactions are captured in the children's own words and actions, revealing the importance of a diversity of animals to the child's social development. Providing the first comprehensive framework for understanding a wide range of everyday experiences with animals, the book shows in detail how nonverbal interactions, emotions, pretend play, language, and the social environment contribute to the child's sense of self in relation to animals."--BOOK JACKET