It is the dogs’ turn to take over the Brainstorm this week and next week. To try and even things out, this week I’ll be sharing some of my favorite fiction chapter books and nonfiction books about dogs. Next week it’ll be the fiction picture books, graphic novels, comics, and manga. Click on the titles to see my full review for each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.
Almost Home by Joan Bauer
Sugar Mae is a strong, plucky 6th grader with a knack for words. That's a good thing. Because she needs her strength when her no good, gambling father comes around and swindles her mom out of more money with his sweet talking and empty promises. Her mom is trying to do the best she can, but eventually they lose their house and end up on the street. Life on the street isn't fun. They go from a cousin's house to a shelter to another shelter in Chicago, but still there's no breakthrough coming. Sugar knows she has to be strong for Reba. A little bundle of fur named Shush entrusted to Sugar in a grocery store parking lot proves some extra encouragement. But even the cutest puppy in the world and the pluckiest 12 year old have limits to what they can do, especially when Reba has a breakdown and ends up in a psych hospital. Will they ever be home again, like when her grandpa King Cole was alive?
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, Fans of Stories Requiring a Whole Box of Tissues, Readers Wanting to Better Understand Homelessness & Foster Care, Suckers (in the best possible way) for Cute Book Covers, Middle Grade Readers
Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Maddie has hatched a scheme with her two best friends for a secret slumber party at her grandparents empty condo for the weekend, but she ends up the only one who makes it. She's told her mom she's at her dad's for the weekend and her dad that she's at her mom's. And in the middle of the first night the entire area is evacuated by the government in response to some vague threat. Maddie hears something going on, but doesn't want to be caught somewhere she isn't supposed to be so she goes back to bed and wakes to an entirely empty town. At first she is sure her mom and dad will soon figure out that she's been left behind, but as the days go by and no one shows up, Maddie has to figure out how to survive on her own and not go crazy as the only human in town with only her neighbor's Rottweiler, George, for company. (And George is pretty awesome for her, which is why this book made the list.) The book is written mostly in free verse poems, making it a very quick read.
Target Readers:
Light Dystopia Fans, Survival Story Fans, Novels in Verse Fans, Psychological/Emotional Health Story Fans, Quick Read Fans, Middle Grade/Young Adult Readers
Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern
Chester is training to be a service dog. He wants nothing more in life than to have an important job and help someone. But he doesn't do well with loud noises and doesn't get matched on the day the other dogs do. A little while later Gus' family takes him in with hopes that Chester will be able to help bring Gus out of his shell. Chester is a very observant dog and learns all about Gus and the ways his autism manifests. He isn't sure how much he'll be able to help Gus, but he's willing to try. However, the teacher in the classroom next door thinks he's only a distraction, his trainer thinks Chester's talents are being wasted, and Chester is frustrated with his inability to communicate his observations about Gus to Gus' parents and teacher. Can Chester stay with Gus and find ways to really help him?
Target Readers:
Therapy/Service Dog Fans, Those Wanting to Better Understand Kids on the Autism Spectrum, Dog Point of View Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Cowboy Pug (The Adventures of Pug, #2) by Laura James, ill. by Églantine Ceulemans
Cowboy Pug and Lady Miranda are out horse shopping when Pony goes lame and must recover. They inadvertently find themselves at the county fair involved in a horse dispute, participating in the horse jumping competition, and catching a runaway bull.
Target Readers:
Humor Fans, Zany Adventure Fans, Pug Lovers, Lower Grade Readers
A Dog-Friendly Town by Josephine Cameron
Carmelito, California has been named America's most dog-friendly town and there's going to be a huge doggy celebration in town all week. That's great news for Epic's family's dog-friendly bed and breakfast. The McDades are booked with one of the hottest doggy celebrities and its entourage, their long-standing customers the Boones, and a doggy psychiatric vet. Epic's little sister Elvis is in awe that her favorite canine sleuth is staying at their house, and his little brother Rondo gets excited when the dog's half a million dollar collar is stolen and he can finally test out his sleuthing skills. Epic is doing his best to keep his siblings out of his parents' and the guests' hair (or fur), trying to help his parents handle all the crazy things required for a celebrity dog's media events, and he's dealing with his worries about starting at middle school next year. There's a lot on his plate, and he isn't sure he's up to some sleuthing on top of that. But what if his family needs him?
Target Readers:
Mystery Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Sibling Story Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Read Aloud Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Dog Squad by Chris Grabenstein
Fred was surrendered to a shelter by his first owner when she married a guy who didn't want a mutt. He was then adopted by Big Tony who tried to turn him into a vicious guard dog, but Fred just isn't mean and Big Tony left him on the street. Jenny is the latest lady to take him out of the shelter. She's a dog trainer for shows on Broadway and TV. At first Fred is taken to try out for a Broadway show. That doesn't work out so well, but Fred evidently looks quite a bit like Duke, the star of the TV show Dog Squad (Fred's favorite!), and since the real Duke literally broke a leg, Jenny needs to train a stand in. Jenny and her little niece Abby are very nice, but Fred is afraid he won't be good enough and will just end up back on the street again. Does he have what it takes to be a hero, in real life or on TV?
Target Readers:
Feel Good Story Fans, Dog Actor Story Fans, Dog Point of View Fans, Likable Hero Fans, Read Aloud Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The Dog Who Could Fly: the Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew at His Side by Damien Lewis
Robert Bozdech, a Czech airman flying with the allies, and his French pilot, had just escaped a crash into no-man's land between France and German lines when he stumbled across a starving little puppy in an abandoned farm house. Afraid the whines of the puppy would give away their position, Robert smuggled the puppy to safety with them and found himself a best friend for the war. Ant (later renamed Antis) was loyal to a fault. He and Robert had all sorts of escapades and adventures during WWII, and they both managed to survive to see the end. This is the story of their incredible friendship.
Target Readers:
Biography Fans, WWII History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Adult Readers
Duke (Dogs of World War II) by Kirby Larson
Hobie, a 5th grade boy in Seattle in 1944, is really plagued by the question of whether he is doing all he can to help the war effort. So far he's had to take over being the man of the house so Dad could go fly fighter planes in Europe, and he's just had to say goodbye to his best friend Scooter who is moving so his Dad can help build ships in Portland. Hobie makes sure to buy war stamps and help out with his little sister at home, but when someone suggests that maybe he should donate his beloved dog, Duke, to Dogs for Defense, Hobie thinks that may be too much. But the idea keeps plaguing him everywhere he turns. Mom says he's made enough sacrifices for the war, but Hobie starts to feel that maybe Duke could help make the war end faster. So he donates Duke, and immediately starts having second thoughts. In between plotting ways to get Duke back, Hobie gets to deal with normal 5th grade stuff...making friends, dealing with the class bully, and trying not to be annoyed too much by his little sister. Life isn't always easy, especially when you get telegrams saying your dad is now a Prisoner of War or letters saying that your best four-legged friend might be going into danger. Hobie finds he has some things to learn over that year about attitude and motives, sacrifice, and just a tiny bit of what it really means to be a man.
(We also have Kirby Larson’s Dash, about a Japanese American girl and her dog. It is on my to-read list as I’ve heard it is good too.)
Target Readers:
Historical Fiction Fans, WWII Era US Setting Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Frogkisser! by Garth Nix
Anya is the younger princess in the kingdom. She aspires to be a sorcerer when she grows up and delights in days burying her nose in books in the library. But when her evil step-stepfather turns her older sister Morven's beloved Prince Denholm into a frog, Anya promises to get him changed back. That becomes a bit more complicated when Morven switches her affections in the time it takes Anya to fetch the right frog from the castle moat. Soon the matriarch royal dog is sending Anya on a Quest to both find the ingredients necessary to change Prince Denholm back into a human and to seek aid in getting rid of her evil step-stepfather who obviously has designs on the throne and has just informed Anya he's shipping her off to boarding school...on the other side of the world and which requires an almost certainly fatal journey. With Ardent, one of the faithful royal dogs, Anya sets off with nothing but a recipe and some hastily packed items chosen by the royal dogs (who are loyal and loving, but not the best packers). As Anya heads out, word of her quests soon spread and she gathers a posse of creatures hopeful that the "Frogkisser" can change them back into their own shapes too as well as others eager to see the Kingdom of Yarrow's rights restored. But is a second princess whose education has been neglected up to such big jobs?
I’m including this one for the royal dogs who totally steal the show and help save the day. They are lots of fun. And just FYI, this is one of those books I wish I could change the cover and title for. This is not a mushy fairy tale! It is totally a quest adventure in the vein of Wizard of Oz with dabs of fractured fairy tale elements along the way for humor, so tell readers to ignore the cover and title and go in expecting a humorous fantasy adventure.
Target Readers:
Quest Story Fans, Fractured Fairytale Story Fans, Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Gidget the Surfing Dog: Catching Waves with a Small But Mighty Pug by Elizabeth Rusch
Meet Gidget, a champion surfer dog. Learn how her human Alicia, got Gidget into surfing, a health scare that almost ended her career before it began, how Gidget bounced back from that, and how she and her human use their platform to help others. Along the way readers also get to learn about the science of waves, buoyancy, the physics of surfing, surfing terms, safety tips for surfing and swimming at the beach, and how to know if your dog might like surfing.
Target Readers:
Inspirational Story Fans, Sports Story Fans, Surfing Fans, Nonfiction Readers, Curious Readers, Readers Learning about Wave Science & Buoyancy, Pug Lovers, Middle Grade Readers (though approachable to Lower Grade Readers)
Gobi: a Little Dog with a Big Heart by Dion Leonard, ill. by Lisa Manuzak
Gobi, a little stray dog is excited by all the people passing who want to play chase. She adopts one of them men running in a race through the Gobi Desert, and keeps up with him through the multi-day race. The two form such a great team she goes home with him to Scotland after the race.
(Leonard has also written adaptations of this true story of how he met and adopted Gobi for adults, YA, middle grade readers, and preschoolers.)
Target Readers:
Racing Story Fans, Mongolia Setting Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Memoir Fans, Animal Adoption Story Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Hero Dog! (Hilda Cracks the Case, #1) by Hilde Lysiak with Matthew Lysiak, ill. by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Hilde has heard that there was a theft on Orange Street. She starts interviewing neighbors to find out what they know about the crime. Soon she uncovers a whole list of thefts, but who is the culprit and why?
Target Readers:
Mystery Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Journalist Story Fans, Lower Grade Readers (or reluctant Middle Grade Readers)
Hero Dogs: How a Pack of Rescues, Rejects, and Strays Became America’s Greatest Disaster-Search Partners by Wilma Melville with Paul Lobo
The story of how the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) was founded after Wilma Melville and her search-and-rescue dog, Murphy, returned from the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 struck by the lack of search dogs available to help. Wilma set a goal of training 168 dogs and handlers in memory of the people who died in the Oklahoma City bombing. But starting a new foundation is hard. And she had no money to buy dogs, so she set out to train rescue dogs. The dogs too wild and out of control for homes or other jobs, but had a great prey instinct were perfect for rescue work. Starting with 3 dogs and 3 firefighters willing to be trained as their handlers, the book outlines all that it took to get the dogs and people ready for action, certified, and ready to help out when things like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Haiti earthquake happened.
Target Readers:
Gripping True Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, First Responder Story Fans, Animal Antics Story Fans, Animal Training Story Fans, Rejects to Heroes Story Fans, Adult Readers (approachable to some Young Adults, see content notes)
Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson
Victoria Secord is a musher, a sled dog racer. She grew up doing this with her dad and she's determined to win a race in his honor this year since he isn't around to win his own. When Victoria hears that Mr. Cook is possibly going to sell his sled dogs, she decides she can't miss the opportunity to snatch up some of his champions. Her mom won't drive her over, so she quickly decides to take a small team of dogs on some back trails. She throws in basic stuff she might need for an afternoon run and is off. Her plans for a quick trip are thrown for a loop when she comes across a guy who just wrapped his snowmobile around a tree and obviously needs help. She hauls him into the sled and listens to his directions to his place, only to be stopped by a blizzard bearing down on them quickly. Victoria gets them squared away to weather out the snow storm, figuring they'll be able to find Chris's place in the morning. But come morning, she finds out that Chris just moved to Alaska from Ontario yesterday, he couldn't find his way without blazing lights, oh, and he managed to get her only map caught on fire last night. Obviously Chris isn't going to be any help, so it's all up to Victoria to get them back to warmth and shelter. Without the map and in an area with no cell phone reception, though, that is going to be tricky. It'll be a battle against all the Alaskan winter wilderness can throw their way to see if they can survive.
I had a hard time choosing which Terry Lynn Johnson dog sled story to share. She’s also written Dog Driven which I also highly recommend, and Dog Sled School which is cute.
Target Readers:
Dog Sledding Fans, Alaska Setting Fans, Survival Story Fans, Light Romance Story Fans, Readers in Need of a Virtual Dose of Winter, Young Adult Readers (very approachable for Middle Grade Readers)
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know for Young Readers by Alexandra Horowitz
Horowitz has spent hours observing dogs and studying dog interactions. She relates what she has observed to help humans stop viewing dogs as furry humans on four legs, and understand where their canine friends are coming from and why they do certain things.
Target Readers:
Dog Owners, Science Fans, Curious Readers, Nonfiction Fans, Young Adult Readers (or seriously dog-obsessed Middle Grade Readers)
Jasper & Scruff (Jasper & Scruff, #1) by Nicola Colton
Jasper is careful to have nice things, to shop at the best places, and now all that's missing are the best friends. He's cooking up a supper to try and impress The Sophisticats and hopefully gain membership into their circle. But on his way back from shopping for the food items he'll prepare, Jasper catches the eye of Scruff, a mangy little dog who just wants someone to play with. Will Scruff ruin everything or be the answer to Jasper's search?
I could have included this in the cat list, but Scruff steals the show so much this had to be in the dog story list.
Target Readers:
Unlikely Friends Story Fans, Opposites as a Duo Character Fans, Humor Fans, Lower Grade Readers
King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats (King & Kayla, #1) by Dori Hillestad Butler, ill. by Nancy Meyers
Kayla has made King's FAVORITE treats. He's being good and not eating them...even though it is really tempting. But while he and Kayla and Jillian and Thor are out back, some of the treats disappear. Who took them?
This is just the first book in King & Kayla’s sleuthing series. They are all fabulous, and King is always hilarious!
Target Readers:
Mystery Fans, Dog Point of View Fans, Humor Fans, Quick Read Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien's classic tale of a dog turned into a toy who must go on a quest to get turned back into his canine self.
Target Readers:
Quest Fans, Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade to Adult Readers
Sirius: the Story of a Little Dog Who Almost Changed History by Jonathan Crown
Levi is the family dog of the Liliencrons of Berlin. The family consists of a distinguished professor who specializes in plankton, his fashionable wife, and their teenage son and daughter. Levi has a comfortable life with the family on Klamstrasse. But it is 1938 and the Liliencrons are Jewish. At first they think the professor's position at the university will keep them safe but they still rename Levi Sirius to give him a less Jewish name. Then Professor Liliencron loses his position and the family witnesses Kristallnact. With the help of the daughter's boyfriend and a former friend who is now a Hollywood actor, the family sneaks out of Hollywood and finds themselves employed in Hollywood, California. Sirius will soon accidentally find himself a star and stardom will take him to places he never expected, and through a chain of crazy events will lead Sirius back to Berlin and eventually right underneath the Fuhrer's table working for the resistance.
Target Readers:
Historical Fiction Fans, Dog Actor Story Fans, Lighter WWII Story Fans, Reimagined History/Slightly Tall Tale Story Fans, Adult Readers
Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever by Barbara Lowell, ill. by Dan Andreasen
A picture book biography of Charles Schulz focusing primarily on his childhood.
Target Readers:
Biography Fans, Budding Artists, Cute Art Fans, Peanuts Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming, ill. by Eric Rohmann
A fully illustrated historical fiction based on the real Strongheart, first major dog star of Hollywood, how he was trained to act, what his most famous movies were, an accusation that almost ended his career, and how that was cleared.
Target Readers:
Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Art Lovers, Middle Grade Fiction
Truman the Dog (My Furry Foster Family, #1) by Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Melanie Demmer
Kaita and her family are going to start fostering animals. The first foster animal they take care of is Truman. Truman is cute and Kaita soon learns to love him. But he can also cause trouble. Will they be able to find a forever family just right for Truman?
Target Readers:
Animal Fostering Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Animal Adoption Story Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School (Two Dogs in a Trench Coat, #1) by Julie Falatko, ill. by Colin Jack
Waldo and Sassy are dogs. They are very good at protecting their house from the squirrel invasion, napping, and eating treats. They also love their humans. And when they notice that Stewart, their boy, keeps coming home from this place called school smelling bored and anxious, they decide it must be an awful place. With a trench coat, some balancing skills, and Waldo's ability to speak human, the dogs cook up a plan to go to this school place and rescue Stewart.
Target Readers:
Humor Fans, Dog Point of View Fans, School Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Voyage of the Dogs by Greg Van Eekhout
Lopside, Champion, Daisy, and Bug are the four dogs that were selected to be companions to humans settling a new planet. They also have jobs to do on the ship, and the humans on their voyage have been equipped with the special ability to communicate with the dogs. They are on their way to their new home when the dogs wake from hibernation to find that the humans have abandoned ship in the lifepod, there's severe damage to the ship, and they are still a ways from their new home. Can four space dogs make it to the new planet on their own?
Target Readers:
Science Fiction Fans, Survival Story Fans, Adventure Fans, Mystery Fans, Middle Grade Readers
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