Rain Reign

RAIN REIGN by Ann M. Martin. Fewer and Friends, 2014.

Rose loves Rain but she
Does not like school very much.
No one understands.

Dogs Are People, Too

DOGS ARE PEOPLE, TOO by Dave Coverly. Holt, 2015.

Do you love comics?
And dogs?Then, get ready for a laugh
Chuckle, giggle, snort.

The Honest Truth

THE HONEST TRUTH by San Gemeinhart. Scholastic, 2015.

What to take along:
food, water, gear, and a dog.
And lots of courage.

Charlie and the New Baby

CHARLIE AND THE NEW BABY by Ree Drummond with illustrations by Diane DeGroat. Harper, 2014.

Charlie's life is changed
When the new baby arrives
Takes over the house.

Doggie Duties

FETCH WITH RUFF RUFFMAN: DOGGIE DUTIES by Jeff Michalak. Candlewick, 2014.

Ruff, Chet, and Blossom
Have a big problem: broken
Toilet. Who can help?

Dog Vs. Cat

DOG VS. CAT by Chris Gall. Little Brown, 2014.

Pets disagree on
Everything except baby
So they join forces.

Spike!

SPIKE, UGLIEST DOG IN THE UNIVERSE by Debra Frasier. Beach Lane, 2013.

Poor Spike, his owner entered him in an ugly dog contest, and Spike won! Now he is a laughingstock. To make matters worse, his owner abandons Spike. Forlorn, Spike wanders to a neighbor to see if he can find a new home and the love he needs. Collages built from a wide array of fabrics add texture to the illustrations. A lovely surprise at the end will enchant readers.

cats and dogs

WHAT CAT IS THAT? ALL ABOUT CATS by Tish Rabe with illustrations by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu. Random House (Cat in the Hat Learning Library), 2013.

Simple text and illustrations worthy of the Dr. himself inform readers all about cats. Breeds, physical features, and behaviors are three aspects of the learning that can take place within the pages of this book.

DOG LOVES COUNTING by Louise Yates. Knopf, 2013.

A terrific story involves dog who cannot sleep. Counting sheep is not helping and so Dog turns to books for other things to count. He begins with one egg, a dodo, and then the counting continues in book after book.

No Dogs?

THE NO DOGS ALLOWED RULE by Kashmira Sheth with illustrations by Carl Pearce. Albert Whitman, 2012.

More than anything else in the world, Ishan wants a dog. But his parents are adamantly opposed. Mother is afraid of dogs. Ishan decides to go on a campaign of being the kind and obedient son, offering to help out, cooking and painting, too. Of course, there are some disasters along the way. How can Ishan show how good a dog owner he will be? Warm family fun is certainly at the heart of this story which also gives some insight into Indian culture. <671>

Dog Blaikus

AVA AND THE REAL LUCILLE by Cari Best with illustrations by Madeline Valentine. FSG 2012.

She is sure she'll win
A big brown dog of her own
Her friend forever. <598>

KATIE AND THE PUPPY NEXT DOOR by John Himmelman. Holt, March 2013.

Katie does not share.
She needs to learn more manners
Be a better dog. <599>

A VACATION FOR POOCH by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Holt, February 2013.

Vacation is here.
Time to head to Florida
The whole family. <600>

WHEN YOU WANDER, A SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG STORY by Margarita Engle with illustrations by Mary Morgan. Holt, April 2013.

If you are lost, stay
In one place and hug a tree
Know I will find you. <601>

poems galore

NASTY BUGS (Dial 2012) is the latest anthology of poems selected by the incredible Lee Bennett Hopkins. Will Terry's luminous illustrations bring to life odes to all manner of bugs: stinkbugs, termites,lice, cockroaches, and others. Marilyn Singer, Lee Bennett Hopkins, and Doug Florian are just some of the poets whose work captures perfectly the creepy crawlies readers will feel as they read the poems.
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Marilyn Singer brings us poems for dogs in EVERY DAY'S A DOG'S DAY: A YEAR IN POEMS illustrated by Miki Sakamoto (Dial 2012). Come and celebrate the holidays from winter's first snowfall to St. Patrick's Day to Christmas with the lovable pooches who are at the center of this book. <236>




BUG OFF CREEPY, CRAWLY POEMS by Jane Yolen with photographic illustrations by Jason Stemple (Wordsong 2012) contain tributes to butterflies, bees, flies, and more. Short poems, perfect for memorizing and reciting aloud play with language perfectly. <237>

going to the dogs

IT'S A DOG'S LIFE: HOW MAN'S BEST FRIEND SEES, HEARS, AND SMELLS THE WORLD by Susan E. Goodman with illustrations by David Slonim (Roaring Brook, July 2012) blends fiction and nonfiction effortlessly as our fearless narrator (a dog) tells us all about how dogs use their senses to interact with one another and with their humans. <109>




Carl the rottweiler is back with CARL AT THE DOG SHOW by Alexandra Day (FSG 2012). Carl was one of the favorite books of my now 26 year old granddaughter when she was much younger. She would "read" the books (they are textless) to her younger sisters. Now Carl goes to the Dog Show and explores it along with his young charge. <110>

GN with attitude (and dogs)

MUSH: SLED DOGS WITH ATTITUDES by Glenn Eichler and Joe Infurnari (First Second 2011) introduces readers to a team of sled dogs who spend the time they are not mushing discussing various issues of importance to them and their lives (breeding, leadership, the master, food, etc.). This graphic novel is funny, ribald in places actually. But it is also thoughtful and thought-provoking. Imagine what it would be like to see inside the minds of the dogs from DOGSONG or CALL OF THE WILD. Meet Fiddler, Dolly, Venus, Guy, Buddy, and Winston up close and personal as they work and play and occasionally fight. <21>