Paws & Pages Book Club: Meet the Author featuring Grace Chon

Get ready to unleash your love of books and pups and discover the fascinating stories behind our beloved mixed-breed companions! Paws & Pages Book Club is excited to invite talented animal photographer and author Grace Chon to Wallis Annenberg PetSpace for our next meet-the-author event. Join us for a discussion led by professor and author Lauren Smart about Chon's latest book, What Kind of Dog Is That? (Countryman Press, 2025), a fascinating and heartwarming collection that celebrates the unique beauty of mixed-breed dogs through stunning photography and genetic insights. Hear about how she came up with the concept, her journey into pet photography, and more about mixed-breed dogs and their DNA breakdowns. There will be an audience Q&A followed by a book signing.

Copies of What Kind of Dog Is That? will be available for purchase in our Wagshop, along with light refreshments to enjoy during the event.

What Kind of Dog Is That? is Grace Chon's latest exploration into the wonderful world of mixed-breed dogs. Following her previous work Puppy Styled, Chon turns her lens toward the most common question every mixed-breed owner hears: "What kind of dog is that?"

Thanks to advances in canine DNA testing, we finally have answers to this age-old mystery. In this delightful collection, Chon pairs stunning portraits of adorable mutts with their genetic breakdowns, revealing the fascinating mix of breeds that create each dog's unique personality and appearance. From the stubby legs inherited from one breed to the floppy ear that won't stand up from another, each photograph tells the story of a dog's diverse heritage.

The book combines Chon's signature expressive photography with scientific insights, creating portraits that are sometimes funny, sometimes surprising, and always filled with love. What Kind of Dog Is That? celebrates the beautiful randomness of mixed-breed genetics and the special bond we share with these one-of-a-kind companions.

Grace Chon is a commercial and editorial animal photographer known for her highly expressive portraits of animals. Before discovering what she calls "the greatest job in the world," Grace was an art director in advertising, a background she now merges with her photography to create modern lifestyle portraits for ad agencies, magazines, publishing companies, celebrities, and TV shows.

When she's not photographing animals, Grace enjoys hiking with her dogs, meditation, and growing organic heirloom tomatoes. She makes a mean guacamole and really hates Comic Sans. Grace is also the author of Waggish: Dogs Smiling For Dog Reasons and Puppy Styled: Japanese Dog Grooming, Before and After.

Lauren Smart is a professor of journalism at Loyola Marymount University. She is a writer and critic whose work about art and theater has been published throughout the U.S. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, she spent a decade in Dallas, TX where she ran the arts section for the alt-weekly newspaper, managed a feminist literary arts festival, and started a high school journalism program at the Dallas Public Library. She moved to the West Coast in 2022 with her two dogs, Lilo and Lucy.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs are always welcome at Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. When visiting with your dog, please adhere to the following rules:

• Keep them on a regular (non-retractable) leash
• Stay with your dog at all times
• Be up-to-date on vaccinations
• Be sure your dog is friendly with other dogs and people
• Visiting dogs are welcome on the first floor

Our adoptable pets are located on the second floor and, for the comfort and safety of the animals in our care, we ask that visiting dogs remain on the first floor.

Host or Publisher Wallis Annenberg PetSpace