Fun Stuff

Good Dog

"...free-verse poems that present the inner musings of 16 dogs are combined with painterly, full-page portraits. The verses capture distinct canine personalities...." - Starred review, School Library Journal "Sixteen unrhymed poems are perfectly paired with paintings of specific breeds (and one happy-go-lucky mutt), capturing each dog's attitude or special characteristics in a way that shows great empathy and understanding to the canine world.... Each poem offers a distinctive canine voice, from a feisty Chihuahua to a faithful Collie, and many have tongue-in-cheek humor that will appeal to both children and adults." Read the full piece here. - Kirkus "Every dog has his day... in this spunky collection of poems from a dog's eye-view. These pooches have personality plus.... Gottfried's brief verses brim with a warm humor that pet owners will readily appreciate...." Read the full piece here. - Publishers Weekly "If you’re looking for a way to introduce young children to poetry, check out Good Dog by Maya Gottfried and Robert Rahway Zakanitch." Read the full piece here. - Napa's Daily Growl "And frankly, this one is another winner." Read the full piece here. - Off the Library Shelf "... each poem contains hidden nuggests of wisdom about the breed itself." - Arlington Public Library "I think adults as well as children would get a laugh out of this book.... This is a great... book that I would definitely use in my classroom." Read the full piece here. - Little Miss Sunshine

Half / Life (essay "Untitled" by Maya Gottfried)

"I can't wait to see what [Maya Gottfried] writes next for adults. Because everything she had said was real, precise and full of meaning." Read the full piece here. - NY Observer online "Maya Gottfried's 'Untitled' serves as an exceptionally good example...." Read the full piece here. - PopMatters

Vegan Love

Martha Stewart Weddings' interview with Maya about throwing a vegan bridal shower. Read the full piece here. Feature on Vegan Love in The Independent (UK). Read the full piece here. Interview with Maya about Vegan Love in the Portland Press Herald. Read the full piece here. Watch Maya's interview on the nationally broadcast television show "Plant-based by Nafsika" (A&E FYI network) here. Interview with Maya about vegan weddings at Brit + Co. Read the full piece here. PETA's review of Vegan Love. Read the full piece here. Animals Asia's Jill Robinson names Vegan Love a book of the year in Resurgence. Read the full piece here. Feature on Vegan Love in La Vanguardia. Read the full piece here. Listen to the Sanctuary Tour podcast interview here. Excerpt from Vegan Love (with vegan makeup tips) at Veg Kitchen. Read the full piece here. Excerpt from Vegan Love on movies and books at The Vegan Atlas. Read the full piece here. Vegan Love named one of the best books for summer by Address Chic. Read the full piece here. Interview with Maya at Chic Vegan. Read the full piece here. Interview with Maya at The Vegan Street Blog. Read the full piece here. Maya's interview on the Our Hen House podcast. Read the full piece here. Maya interviewed by Victoria Moran about Vegan Love on the Main Street Vegan podcast. Read the full piece here. Maya interviewed about Vegan Love on Easy Vegan with JL Fields! Read the full piece here.

Our Farm

Maya's appearance on WJFF Radio Catskill: readings from her book Our Farm, and essay "Untitled," with an interview by Dan Rigney. Listen here. “…each fetching personality nudged along by the poetic lines of Maya Gottf[r]ied. There is a subtle message here, to be sure -- all the world's creatures deserve care and respect -- but it is handled with a very light touch. Robert Zakanitch's watercolors are quite wonderful….” – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Through Maya’s warm-hearted descriptions and Robert Rahway Zakanitch’s beautiful paintings, this sweet collection of poems and illustrations speaks to both the spirit of the animals and the nature of their home here at Farm Sanctuary where 'their only job is to enjoy life and be loved." Read the full piece here. - Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary national shelter director for Sanctuary Tails blog "Maya Gottfried cleverly captures the creative writing styles of various livestock ("Yummy pants leg, can I try some?" ask two baby goats), while charming watercolors from Robert Rahway Zakanitch capture the fretful face of a calf named Whitaker, or the defiance in the eye of a duck named Diego." Read the full piece here. - Minneapolis Star-Tribune "The third collaboration from this talented pair... presents an assortment of farm animals through short, humorous poems and whimsical paintings that give each animal a distinct personality." - Kirkus "This publication is a must have in every animal lover’s library. And like Ms. Gottfried’s other work, Good Dog, this one also makes a fine coffee table addition!" Read the full piece here.
- Veg Books “…Gottfried… based her poems on real-life animals that reside at Farm Sanctuary….”
- New York Daily News "Maya Gottfried's gorgeous poems are written in the distinctive voices of different animals and Robert Rahway Zakanitch's watercolors depict their vivid personalities." Read the full piece here. - Apartment Therapy "Introduce your little animal lover to a new passion: poetry. This book of playful poems told through the voices of farm animals is paired with beautiful drawings of their favorite creatures in their natural habitat." Read the full piece here.
- The Stir “Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary (Knopf) takes a loving look at the residents of Farm Sanctuary’s two shelters….” Read the full piece here.
- Edge “Together the poems and paintings add up to a picture of the friendliest farm around.” Read the full piece here.
- Richmond Public Library "Beautiful watercolor images accompany poetry in this elegant and perfect childrens book. Use it to teach children about farm animals, this book is a must for every little one in your life." Read the full piece here.
- Girlie Girl Army
“In “Our Farm” readers will meet Maya the cow, J.D. the piglet, Hilda the sheep and a dozen more animals in their own voices through Maya Gottfried’s poetry. Master watercolorist Robert Rahway Zakanitch provides a portrait and pen-and-ink sketches for each poem that capture each animal’s personality.”
- The Edmond Sun
“OUR FARM: BY THE ANIMALS OF FARM SANCTUARY pairs Maya Gottfried's fine [poems] with paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch to provide a lovely farm collection perfect for spring.” Read the full piece here.
– Midwest Book Review “Some of the animals that live or did live at the actual Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, tell us briefly of their lives and feelings in carefully crafted verse…. Double pages display naturalistic watercolor portraits and frequently pen and ink sketches and studies, sensitive impressions of ordinary farm animals.” Read the full piece here.
– Childrenslit "This is a perfect book for animal lovers and poetry lovers alike. With wonderful paintings throughout, and a special message from the author at the back of the book, this is a title that would make a great gift." Read the full piece here. - Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews "The poems in this sweet and earnest collection are presented as written by the animals of the real-life Farm Sanctuary... Younger readers (or listeners) will adore the entire idea of works like "Freedom!" by J.D., a piglet, and "The Hill" by Bonnie, a donkey." Read the full piece here.
- Parent Dish "The poems are upbeat and funny. There are many different kinds including haikus. The animals' personalities really come out in these poems." Read the full piece here.
- Kiss the Book "These are humorous, short poems—good for preschoolers and young elementary students. The farm animals from the sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, come to life with the soft, up-close artwork of artist Robert Rahway Zakanitch."
- Bookpage.com "Our Farm is a poetry collection that touches my heart. It speaks out to me through both its text and its exceptional illustrations." Read the full piece here.
- Wild Rose Reader "There are few books for young kids on this subject. From the cover image of one vulnerable lamb to the farm overviews on the endpapers, the physical images about the joy of home will move young animal lovers and those who read to them."
- Booklist "...charming art and poetic hearts...."
- GoErie "...very nice for children and adults...." Read the full piece here.
- Shawagunk Journal "The combination of verse and the wonderful illustrations make this a unique and accessible book about animals."
- Star News Online "The whole book feels carefree and springy...."
- Literago
"If I had a kid, I would definitely read him/her this thought-provoking book. It humanizes animals that children normally expect to be on their dinner plate, but in such a subtle and creative way."
- Vegansaurus Our Farm included in a list of recommended vegan reading for little ones. - Easy Vegan "Beautifully illustrated, the book is a collection of poems, each one capturing the personality of some of the animals at Farm Sanctuary."
- Vegan Dad ​ "Author & Publicist Maya Gottfried Uses Her Many Gifts to Promote Greater Awareness, Respect, & Compassion for Animals". Read the full piece here. - FARM Episode 187: "Being Vegan is a Principled Refusal to Add to the Violence of the World and an Intention to be a Witness for Something Better" - Our Hen House podcast "‘Our Farm’ will make you a better man. If you need to melt someone’s heart for Vday, we suggest doing it the old-fashioned way. What lover wouldn’t go crazy for a tender-hearted man that reads poetry to them?"
- The Discerning Brute "I couldn't tear myself away from the book."
- Compassionate Cooks "Soup to Nuts" newsletter ​ Our Farm featured in PETA Kids "The Best Books for Kids Who Love Animals". Read the full piece here. "There are lots of little poems about animals who live, or once lived there. The short stories are very sweet and the pictures are adorable. Young children will really enjoy this touching book." Read the full piece here. - The Vegan Mom "...there’s a new breed of books coming out that are explicitly vegan-friendly, like Maya Gottfried’s Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary. Maya’s fun (but not overly cutesy) poems are a perfect match for the paintings and sketches by Robert Rahway Zakanitch."
- The Veg Blog "I was immediately captivated.... Gottfried brings the animals of Farm Sanctuary... to life by writing poems in the animal’s voices. She truly captured their spirit in the poetry that appears in this text, which is complete with Zakanitch’s gorgeous illustrations, done in watercolor, pencil, and ink....". Read the full piece here.
- Two Writing Teachers “…Our Farm, with paintings of and poems "by" the residents of Farm Sanctuary (as translated by Maya Gottfried) so the whole dang family can enter 2011 considering, discussing, and literally putting a face to the food they share.”
- Livin’ La Vida Suburbia “For the first time, the library has also chosen a companion book for younger children. It is a book of poems about animals by Maya Gottfried, called ‘Our Farm.’” Read the full piece here.
- Minuteman News Center “…the Fairfield Public Library and Pequot Library One Book One Town selection committee today announced Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer as their official pick…. ‘Our Farm is the official children’s companion book....’” Read the full piece here.
- Fairfield Green Food Guide “…readings of two new books for children inspired by the animals of Farm Sanctuary… the national farm animal rescue and advocacy organization with shelters in Orland, CA. and Watkins Glen, NY. Maya Gottfried, author of Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary… will read and sign copies of her book, which celebrates the sanctuary’s animal residents in poems and paintings.” Read the full piece here.
- Animal Blawg “Our Farm by The Animals of Farm Sanctuary, poems by Maya Gottfried, paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch is a cheery and loving celebration of the inhabitants of The Farm Sanctuary farms in Orland, California and Watkins Glen, New York, both shelters for neglected and abused farm animals.” Read the full piece here.
- My Daily Find “…more than just a book about animals: it’s an invitation to share in their world.”
- Sacramento Book Review

“Maya's new book, "Our Farm: by the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is just as charming as her earlier works. Once again the poetry captures the voice of the animals. And this time, the animals are farm animals -- cows, ducks, chickens, and pigs. Lucky for us she teamed with artist Robert Rahway Zakanitch for this book, too. His illustrations bring the animals to life.” Read the full piece here.
- Examiner "…this year, the library also chose an official children’s selection so kids can get with the program. They picked 'Our Farm'...."
- The Daily Fairfield "'Eating Animals,' a non-fiction book, is aimed at adult readers, though 'Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary' by Maya Gottfried was announced Wednesday as a companion book for younger readers."
- Fairfield Patch "If the sweet, innocent eyes of the adorable lamb on the cover of this book refuse to tug at every corner of your heart, Ms. Gottfried's poetry surely will!" Read the full piece here.
- A Novel Idea "This collection of beautiful poems have bylines by livestock, and show the world as seen through their eyes. Hear the prayer of gratitude from a sheep, the haiku of a nervous rabbit, get a rather up close and personal introduction to two peckish goats…." Read the full piece here. - The Planetesme Plan