Riley Carson and the Quest for Justice Book Review

Riley Carson is back in an all new adventure in Riley Carson and the Quest for Justice by Megan Wargula.  Riley is so excited that her family has decided to adopt a new dog.  Not just any dog, but one of the dogs she rescued from an underground puppy mill.

Buster may be a small Yorkie, but he is mighty!  The petite pooch is afraid of men and has never even seen grass before.  Riley certainly has her work cut out for her as she takes charge in training her new furry friend.

Meanwhile, Finn is hot on the trail of a new mystery when he discovers a system of tunnels underneath the city that were used during the Civil War.  Hoping to discover artifacts for his class presentation, he soon finds more than he had bargained for. 

Strange things begin to happen each time he enters the tunnels.  Riley senses a sinister presence that could put the pair in grave danger.  Will the dynamic duo be able to outsmart the spirited specter?

As if Riley doesn’t have enough on her plate, her new neighbor, Hawk, may end up losing his dog.  Lennox, Hawk’s service dog, is a Pit bull trained to help the military veteran with his symptoms of PTSD.  When the city passes new Breed Specific Legislation, Hawk faces relinquishing the best friend he’s ever known.  Can Riley convince the city that they are making a huge mistake before Lennox’s time runs out?

I greatly enjoyed reading the second installment in the Riley Carson series!  Full of mystery and suspense, I was hooked from the first chapter.  I love to see how much Riley’s character has grown since the first book.  She is truly blossoming into a passionate animal advocate who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

This book packs a powerful punch dealing with such a timely and polarized topic as BSL.  There is such a stigma surrounding Pit bulls.  These beautiful creatures are no more harmful than any other breed of dog.  Due to misconceptions, many cities and states have passed BSL laws that have cost many “bully breeds” their lives.  Wargula faces the issue head on through the empowered character of Riley.

This story is a great read for animal lovers ages 8 and up.  I can’t wait to read about Riley’s next adventure!

Exclusive Book Cover Reveal!

Today, The Furever Home Friends is revealing the cover for their new book, Just Me, Wrigley! See the cover below!

Wrigley loves to dance. She can shake her tail all over the animal shelter. But for some people, Wrigley’s rhythm isn’t enough. Wrigley is a mutt; she doesn’t know what breed she is. While others come to the shelter looking for schnauzers, labs, and Dalmatians, Wrigley wonders when it will be her turn. Can Wrigley find the confidence to stay true to herself and dance her way into a forever home?

Like with all Furever Home Friends books, 10% of this book’s profits will benefit no-kill animal shelters!

Just Me, Wrigley is currently available for preorder on fureverhomefriends.com, and will officially release on Amazon on Saturday, August 11!

What do you think of the cover? Let me know in the comments below!

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog Book Review

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp tells the tale of one girl's journey to become a better reader.  Madeline hates to read.  Book, magazines, menus on ice cream trucks.  She wants no part of the reading scene.

Ms. Finn has a secret.  She has trouble reading.  Words become a jumbled mess on the page.  Her mouth traps sentences like flies in a frog's tongue.  She stutters and stumbles doing her very best.  Still, her classmates laugh at her.

All Madeline wants is the coveted gold star from her teacher.  But the Keep Trying hearts are piling up fast.  One Saturday, her mom takes her to the worst place ever:  the library.  Mrs. Dimple, the librarian, has a trick up her sleeve that might just change the way Madeline reads forever.

I love this book!  The story is full of compassion and heart.  While I never struggled with reading, one of the elementary students I mentored while in high school did.  He tried so hard to get the words right, but his lisp and speech impediment made it difficult.  I wish Bonnie could have visited him.

Being the owner of a certified therapy dog, this story definitely has a special place in my heart.  While we have not yet tried the reading program, I know how much children love dogs and open up to them with free hearts and minds.  My dog and I visited a kids' club that had an Autistic little boy.  The club workers were shocked when he ran over to my dog and not only touched her but spoke to me.  They then informed me that that was the first time they had ever heard the boy speak.

The story shows just how amazing dogs truly are.  They make no judgments and place no blame.  Dogs only love unconditionally and hope to have their affections returned.  They are the perfect companion and reading buddy.

Papp's illustrations are gorgeous.  They remind me of the original artwork from the A.A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books.  I especially love the colorful cast of canine characters.  I also like how the illustration styles are different on every page.  Some are single page spreads, others are doubles, some feature vignettes, and more.  This really captured my attention and made me pause to enjoy each one.

This is a fabulous story for (especially struggling) readers ages  4-8.  I could definitely see this book also being used in therapy dog programs throughout the country.

Alice's Magic Garden Book Review

Alice's Magic Garden by Henry Herz introduces readers to Alice long before she ever went to Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass.  Alice is miserable living in a stuffy, grey boarding house.  The food is terrible and none of the girls like her.

One day, Alice finds a secret garden hidden on the grounds of the boarding house.  She delights in tending to the garden every day.  Little does she know that her small acts of kindness are about to change her life in big and colorful ways.

This book is a magically fun read, especially for those who are already in love with Lewis Carroll's cast of creative characters.  I enjoyed getting to see Alice's character blossom, much like her enchanted garden.  Once mild and meek, she emerges as a bold and confident young lady.

I also liked seeing the White Rabbit and Caterpillar take on a more serious and mindful role.  Instead of being absent minded and silly, they are totally present in the moment and even show signs of being thoughtful and caring instead of cantankerous.  To me, this gives the characters more depth as well as a more prominent purpose for being in the story.

Natalie Hoopes' illustrations are stunning.  I love how the illustrations have a Wizard of Oz feel to them.  Before Alice finds the garden, her world is black, white, and grey.  After continuously tending the garden, only her world bursts into color.  This is a great visualization of how her world is to change even further once she finds the Rabbit's hole.

I love Hoopes' artistic style.  She puts so much detail into every page.  Her color palate is remarkable.  The cool blues coupled with the pink and purple pastels really pop against the lush greenery of the garden.

Readers of all ages will delight in this magical prequel.  Children will especially be captivated by the gorgeous illustrations and hilarious characters.  Parents will also enjoy hunting for literary Easter eggs from Carroll's original classic hidden throughout the book.

Sterling, Best Dog Ever Book Review

Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie follows the adventures of one very confused Dachshund.  Sterling hasn't had very good luck in finding a forever home.  His owners seem to always lose interest, sending him back to the streets.

One night, Sterling notices a sign at the Butlery Cutlery Company.  Their utensils are being shipped to "all the best homes."  He decides to hide in one of the boxes where he waits to be delivered to his perfect home. 

The Gilberts are surprised to see the pup inside their box of forks.  Yet, Sterling has a plan.  He won't just be any fork; he's going to be the best fork ever!  But when his plan starts to unravel, will he find the courage to be what the family really needs?

I absolutely adore this book!  This is definitely one of my favorite picture books of all time.  Sterling's character is beyond adorable.  He reminds me of my own dachshund, Hope.  Young and old alike will relate to his struggle of feeling like he needs to be something other than himself.

This story is full of emotion and heart.  I loved watching Sterling's silly antics, yet my heart broke when he kept trying to be what he thought everyone wanted.  I definitely shed tears at the end.

The character of the little girl reminds me of myself.  I noticed that her bedroom wall is covered in dog posters and drawings.  She also has numerous stuffed dogs tucked away under her night stand.  I can totally relate to her passion for pooches (especially dachshunds). 

I also love that this story sheds light on the importance of animal adoption.  As the proud pet parent to five rescue dogs, I know that many of them have a story similar to Sterling's.  They were loved for a time, yet dumped when the owners became "bored" with them.  This book would be a great addition to the humane education curriculum at animal shelters and rescue groups across the country.

Cassie's illustrations are truly stunning.  Sterling's expressions are priceless.  I was in love with his character the moment I saw the book cover.  I also love the spotlight illustrations at the beginning of the book that show Sterling trying to imitate numerous items.  My favorite was the curling iron (my husband favored the jackhammer).

This book is a fantastic read for animal lovers of all ages.  Readers will cheer Sterling on in his quest to find his true purpose.  I hope to see more books featuring the best dog ever. 

Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home For Christmas Book Review

Toot and Puddle are back in a brand new adventure in I'll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie.  Toot is in Edinburgh at a family reunion.  His Great-Great Aunt Peg has just turned 100 years old!  Christmas is just days away, but he has promised Puddle that he will be home in time to share the holiday.

Back in Woodcock Pocket, Puddle eagerly prepares for Christmas and Toot's arrival.  With the assistance of his feathery friend, Tulip, the pair have pulled out all the stops to celebrate in style.  The only thing that's missing is Toot.

Suddenly, a dangerous ice storm hits Edinburgh.  All flights are delayed.  Will Toot miss spending Christmas with his best friend?

I adore this book!  Hobbie's story is full of cheer and heart.  Her classic Toot and Puddle characters truly shine in this heartwarming tale.  I absolutely love the humor that is sprinkled throughout the story.  From calling Great-Great Aunt Peg an "ancient aunt" to the gift of a "lucky nut," I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading.

Another aspect of the story that I love is how the story toggles between Toot's journey homeward and Puddle's Christmas preparations.  Starting off the book with a postcard is such a fun and unique idea.  I also like how Hobbie leaves room for the imagination.  I don't want to give anything away, but pay close attention to the ending.   

Hobbie's illustrations are gorgeous.  Toot and Puddle could not be any cuter.  She really makes the scenes come alive with the use of warm colors for Puddle's story and cool colors for Toot's story.  Hobbie also keeps things fresh by alternating between sing page illustrations, multiple vignettes, and double page spreads.

This is a fantastic, festive book for readers of all ages.

Wolf in the Snow Book Review

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell, follows one little girl on her journey home from school.  A blizzard is suddenly upon her.  She does her best to move in the direction of her house, but is blinded by the snow.

At the same time, a young wolf pup is having difficulty keeping up with his pack.  They are much older than he is and are used to the harsh weather.  The pup struggles to keep his feet moving as the snow continues to pile up around him.

Suddenly, the girl and pup meet.  She can see that he is scared and lonely.  Picking him up, the girl attempts to send him on his way, but the snow has become too deep.  The pup simply sinks.

The girl is now faced with a difficult dilemma.  Should she help reunite the pup with his pack or continue her treacherous trek home?

This is one of my all-time favorite children's books!  Being a nearly wordless picture book, this story relies heavily on illustrations.  Cordell knocks it out of the park with stunning hand drawn images that will leave the reader speechless.

Each turn of the page conveys strong emotions.  Empathy, fear, and courage are on display in Cordell's story.  Children will delight at the detailed illustrations and will fall in love with the characters.

This is a wonderful book for readers of all ages.  I could definitely see this being used for humane education classes at local shelters and rescue groups.