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Dogs

Frankie

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Submitted by Ms. Jill!

Frankie by Mary Sullivan. Frankie is a small white pup with black spots, who has just been adopted and is SO EXCITED to have a new home and a new person. Nico is a small black dog with a white belly, who already lives in that home with that person. Frankie wants to explore, taste, and play with everything! But Nico doesn’t want to share anything. The toys, the bones, the blankie, the bed… Nico firmly claims all the good stuff, leaving Frankie to scrounge and make do, until a gift from their human tips the balance. Now Frankie has all the best stuff! Will Nico and Frankie learn to live together and share their treasures? This sweet story is told from the perspective of the two dogs, through the wonderful expressive pictures, and very simple words. Read Frankie with your little dog-lover, or anyone who needs a gentle story about sharing and feelings. See this book listed in our catalog

Ideas Are All Around

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Submitted by Ms. Josie!

Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead. Philip C. Stead is an author. That means it’s his job to write stories. The only problem is…he doesn’t have any ideas! So instead of writing, he decides to take his dog, Wednesday, out for a walk. This is when the magic happens. Because as Mr. Stead goes on about his daily business, he discovers that ideas are actually all around. Each event in the story propels the imagination of both the author and the reader. A seemingly normal walk around town develops into an imagination-packed and thought provoking adventure. Colorful illustrations paired with Polaroid photos from the author’s actual walk interestingly juxtapose the reality of the world with fantastical imaginings. The text in this book meanders along slowly, reflective of an actual walk. The author also subtly mentions more complex ideas such as those about personal reflection, war, poverty, and environmental change. These mentions could become great discussion points for older children. Overall, this story is charming and heartwarming as it reminds us of the beauty in ordinary things. See this book listed in our catalog

I Will Love You Anyway

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Submitted by Ms. Sue!

I Will Love You Anyway by Mick Inkpen, illustrated by Chloe Inkpen, is the story of little pug dog who is many times badly behaved and won’t stop running away. Dog thinks: “I lick your face, I bite your leg, I scratch the carpet, I steal your gloves, and they smell of you.” They tell me “Stop,” “Quit,” “Sit,” and “Leave.” “I run away.” Dog runs and runs and runs. He is out all night. He whimpers and cries. He hears a car! Help! Woof! Yelp! Then the car stops and Dog sees it’s his human who picks him up and takes him home. Dog knows if he could speak he would say: I will never run away again! But he wags his tail instead. Dog thinks: I don’t do “Sit!” and I don’t do “Stay!” But I will love you anyway. See this book listed in our catalog

My Friend Fred

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Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Andrea!

My Friend Fred written by Hiawyn Oram is a precious book about friendship and sharing. Grace believes their family dog, Fred, is hers and hers alone. She believes this because they do everything together. Unfortunately, Grace learns a lesson in sharing and happiness when she locks Fred up to keep him from having fun with her sister and her sister’s friends. She watches Fred becomes very sad. Realizing she is keeping Fred from being happy, she lets him out in the yard with all of the family and family’s friends. At the end of the story Grace admits she made a big decision allowing Fred to play with all his friends, but secretly she still believes he is just her dog.  This book is fun to read aloud with different voices. Adults will find the end entertaining and children will love the illustrations. See this book listed in our catalog

Lenny and Lucy

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Submitted by Ms. Karen!

Lenny and Lucy by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead, is a sweet imaginative tale about a boy and his dog in need of friends. After a long drive through the woods Peter, his trusty canine sidekick Harold, and his dad arrive at their new house. Peter thinks it is a terrible idea to move here and wants to go back, but no one hears. Convinced that terrible things lurk in the dark woods beyond the little bridge by his new house, Peter and Harold build Lenny, a pillow-stuffed, blanket-wrapped Guardian of the Bridge Into the Woods. The faithful Lenny keeps the woods at bay through the night, but as Peter and Harold watch out the window they worry that he might be too lonely out there by himself. Next morning Peter builds leaf-stuffed Lucy to watch with him. The four friends eat soup, play marbles, and watch together, until a new friend comes to play. When you have good friends, maybe moving to new house at the edge of the woods isn’t so bad after all! See this book listed in our catalog

Loula and the Sister Recipe

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This summer we’ll feature some blogs written by the library’s summer interns. Here’s one from last summer’s intern, Ms. Elisa!

Loula is tired of being the only girl among her brothers, she wants a sister! Loula and the Sister Recipe by Anne Villeneuve tells the story of Loula’s journey to make herself one! Her parents inform her that there are certain “ingredients” necessary to make a sister: a papa, a mama, butterflies, a full moon, a candlelit supper, kisses, hugs, and chocolate! Loula sets off to gather her ingredients with Gilbert, the family chauffeur. They buy chocolate at best chocolatier in town, catch butterflies, and make cheese tartines for dinner! She gives kisses and hugs to her cat, because she’ll never hug her brothers! The moon is full and they’re missing just two ingredients, a mama and a papa! By the time she gets them, however, a hungry dog comes and eats all the cheese tartines! Loula is ecstatic, her sister is here! Her sister it seems, is actually a Mister but Loula is not deterred. She takes care of her new pet and loves him as her sister. A cute story for children, and a laugh for adults, Loula supplies a healthy dose of determination and sass in this adorable tale of finding friendship. See this book listed in our catalog