Celebrating #PB10fo10: Positively Pawsome Picture Books

AROO! Beagles and Books is celebrating its 1 year anniversary today!

 

Last year on August 10, 2017, Picture Book 10 for 10 was my first ever blog post. I took the leap in book blogging and while initially nervous,  I have been overwhelmed by the immense support from not only the incredible #kidlit blogger community but also the amazing authors who write fabulous books for kids (and teachers)! A heartfelt thanks to fellow #bookexcursion member Lisa Maucione of Literacy on the Mind for all her encouragement and support as I launched my blog.

I am grateful to Cathy Mere of Reflect and Refine Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning for creating this fabulous event for sharing the power of picture books.  Please visit the Google Community to read additional #pb10for10 lists by clicking here.

My 2017 #pb10for10 featured my first #bookaday mascot, Etta and some of my favorite dog picture books.  Since Beagles and Books is a celebration of children’s literature and my love for my beagle girls, in January 2018, I decided to include a weekly feature, Etta’s and Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week, highlighting 1 book with a canine main character.  Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to read many fabulous dog picture books; therefore, my 2018 #pb10for10  list continues my tradition of sharing 10 positively pawsome picture books that I plan to read and share with teachers and students in the upcoming school year.

Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie

Sterling is determined to find a home.  Sleeping outside the Butlery Cutlery Company, he sneaks into a box of forks that are delivered to the Gilbert family.  When the family opens the box and finds Sterling, the mom and dad are perplexed but the daughter‘s and her baby sister’s smiles say it all.  Sterling strives to be the best fork ever but soon discovers that perhaps, the family doesn’t need a fork.  Being adaptable, Sterling attempts to be a whisk, a rolling pin, and even a stick but none of these tools seems to make him or the daughter happy.  Will Sterling ever realizes his one and only job is to just be himself?  A very special thank you to Aidan Cassie and Macmillan for sending a copy of Sterling to my #bookexcursion group to read and review prior to its release. To read my full review, click here.

Great Dog by Davide Cali Illustrated by Miguel Tanco

A father dog and his son spend the day looking at family portraits in the long hallway of their house.  Stopping at each stately portrait, the father extols each relative’s accomplishment but appearances can be deceiving.  For example, Uncle Scooter was lauded as an amazing teacher of young sheep but when readers open the gatefold, the truth is revealed; Uncle Scooter’s classroom was a hot mess. After hearing all these stories which are actually contrary to the truth, the son asks his father “What about me?” The father responds “No matter what. You will be a GREAT dog!” exclaiming his faith that his son is destined for greatness.  The very last gatefold reveals a surprise to the reader leaving them with a tender and heartwarming message celebrating the unconditional love that parents have for their child.  The illustrations are simply exquisite using a limited palette of colors and deserve more time to enjoy on a second read.

Help Find Frank by Anne Bollman

Author illustrator Anne Bollman’s highly interactive picture book is quite original.  A french bulldog named Frank is lost! Can you help in the search to find him?  Labeled as exhibits, the narrator offers key information about Frank such as his love for playing fetch, his favorite animal is a squirrel, and beware of his stinky toots so under no circumstances, feed him cheese.  Pay close attention to these facts, for they will be crucial to locating Frank.  Interviews follow with notes that provides more clues and the reader is asked to make inferences based on some of the previously shared exhibits.  Embedded within the story are double page spreads of the park, the baseball field, and the pool where the reader is asked to find objects and of course, Frank!

Emma and Muse by Nancy Lemon

Emma is a young artist and her most favorite thing to draw, paint, sculpt is her dog named Muse until one day when Muse decides to join her in creating her next masterpiece. Emma shouts “BAD DOG MUSE!” and a heartbroken Muse leaves home.  Without Muse, Emma is no longer inspired and needs him to regain her creative juices. Will Emma come up with a plan to find Muse and get him back?  Will Muse forgive Emma? Emma and Muse is not only a story about friendship and forgiveness but also a wonderful picture book that exposes young readers to the world of art.

The Great Puppy Invasion by Alastair Heim Illustrated by Kim Smith

In Strictville, fun is forbidden, play is prohibited, and cuteness is downright criminal.   So when hundreds of puppies show up, the town is in turmoil.  How can they get rid of all these adorable animals?  When their solutions fail, all the townspeople run and lock themselves safely in the houses except for little Teddy.   Teddy wonders “How could these cute puppies be scary?”  With one simple gesture, Teddy teaches the townspeople that fun, play, and cuteness make Strictville a happier place to live.  I wholeheartedly agree!

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Arfy is a dog in search of a forever home.  Living in a cardboard box in an alley, he decides to write letters to residents on Butternut Street asking “Can I be your dog?” In each letter, Arfy states why he would be a good fit for them.  Unfortunately, Arfy receives letters back turning him down. A sad Arfy returns to his “home” in the alley and wakes up to find a letter addressed to him asking “Can I be your person?”  The letter shares reasons why they would be a good match for each other. Read this tender story to discover who wants to give Arfy his furever home. What especially warms my heart is the author’s tips for how to help a homeless animal in the end papers.

A Dog Wearing Shoes by Sangmi Ko

On the way home, Mini and her mom find a lost dog in the road.  Mini wants to keep the dog for her own, but her mom reminds her, “He has shoes.  He belongs to someone.”  They go to the park where the dog with shoes garners a lot of attention performing tricks.  When Mimi takes him off leash to fetch a bone, the dog runs away leaving one shoe behind, and Mini heartbroken. The next day, Mini’s mom takes her to the dog shelter in hopes of finding the dog.  Miraculously, the dog wearing only three shoes is there!  Knowing how awful it felt to lose him, Mini puts up fliers realizing that there is probably someone out there missing him too.  After the dog is reunited with his owner, Mini and her mom know just where to go-the dog adoption center.  At the end of the book, the author includes information on how to adopt a dog with links to websites like Petfinder.com, which makes my heart happy.

Shark Dog! by Ged Adamson

A young girl joins her famous explorer dad on one of his trips.  Sailing home, she hears a noise and then something slobbery wakes her up from her sleep. It’s a shark.  No. It’s a dog. No. It’s Shark Dog! With her father’s permission, the girl takes Shark Dog home. He is quite an unusual pet stalking a cat like a shark and fetching slippers like a dog when underwater.  On a trip to Shark Dog’s favorite place, the beach, he spies what he thinks is another shark dog but it is just a beach toy.  This makes Shark Dog very sad. Thinking he is homesick, the girl and her dad decide to take Shark Dog back to his home where he is greeted enthusiastically by his fellow shark dogs.   Will this make Shark Dog happy?  Read Shark Dog to find out!

Tiny and the Big Dig by Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrated by Matt Myers

Tiny smells a bone. A BIG bone. So he starts digging. When a larger dog, a cat, and a bird discount his ability,  Tiny maintains his confidence that he is strong enough to bring that bone home. Tiny isn’t the only one who is optimistic, for his young owner also believes in him.   Written in rhyme, Tiny and the Big Dig is a story that celebrates strength and determination.  Matt Myers’ bold illustrations capture Tiny’s sheer willpower in obtaining his goal-a BIG, BIG bone.

And a New Picture Book Releasing September 2018!

Operation Rescue Dog by Maria Gianferrari Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Missing her mami who is stationed in Iraq, Alma and her abuela decide to welcome a rescue dog into the family.  The story goes back and forth sharing Alma and her abuela’s preparations and trip to the Operation Rescue Dog truck as well as rescue pup Lulu’s journey to meet her new family.  While Alma is eagerly anticipating meeting Lulu, Lulu is apprehensive with her tail tucked between her back legs.  Both Alma and Lulu experience some bumps along the road, but once they meet, they both know they are home.

This story holds a very special place in my heart because in 2010, Etta was on a similar transport as Lulu.  A very special thank you to Maria Gianferrari for sharing an ARC of Operation Rescue Dog with my #bookexcursion group. It releases on September 18, 2018. To read my full review, click here.

Thank you for visiting Beagles and Books’ #pb10for10! Do you have a favorite dog picture book?  Please feel free to share in the comments below.