December 2023 – Beagles & Books

Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Beagle & Books News

Honored and excited to have been selected as a Cybil Awards (Children’s and Young Adult Book Lovers’ Literacy) Round 2 Judge in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. Finalists will be shared publicly on January 1st. I will have the privilege of collaborating with chair Maggi Rohde and fellow judges to choose the winners who will be announced on February 14th.

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Your One and Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca, MD Illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad

Teaching content to young kids is made much easier with a picture book like Your One and Only Heart. Author and practicing doctor LaRocca’s melodic text explains how the heart works. I love how she defines the heart in opposite terms: singular vs. cooperative, energetic vs. relaxed, and selfish vs. selfless to show its range.

Conrad’s expressive artwork provide visuals to support content knowledge. I especially love the page spread illustrating heartbeats comparing elephants, mice and children. The diagrams of the body and the heart also support understanding. On the last page spread, LaRocca summarizes how while the heart is contradictory, “it does everything it’s supposed to do. Just like you.” Back matter includes more detailed facts about the outer and inner heart. Thanks to the author for hosting a giveaway. Your One and Only Heart published in August 2023.

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A Story No One Has Ever Heard Before by Avi Steinberg

For teachers searching for a book to get kids excited about creative writing, look no further. Author/illustrator Steinberg breaks the fourth wall to encourage kids to tell an imaginative story. While kids may be reluctant in their abilities, Steinberg pledges his support offering advice in the brainstorming process. First, a story needs a character. Then the character needs a problem and that problem can’t be solved without a struggle. In fact, the more twists and turns, the better!

Amusing examples are shared which will not only get the creative juices flowing but also elicit smiles and giggles. Of course, a solution surfaces due to help from others or a inner revelation bringing the story to its epic ending. On the last page spread, I love that a story frame is provided to support kids in telling their stories both orally and in writing. Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing for sharing a copy. A Story No One Has Ever Heard Before recently released in November 2023.

Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine character.

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10 Dogs by Emily Gravett

10 dogs, 10 sausages. One for each right? Not when 1 dog jumps on the table claiming them all as its own. Victory is short lived for as the table topples, 2 different dogs play sausage tug of war leaving 8 dogs without. With its page turn, the number of dogs with sausages increases until 9 dogs have a tasty treat and a small dachshund is sulking under the table. Observant readers will notice a lone sausage on the table. Will the 9 dogs show compassion and help out the hungry hound?

10 Dogs is more than a counting book. With a concise, rhyming text and energetic illustrations, author/illustrator Gravett tells the story of 10 dogs with a mission yet in the end, the pups make sure everyone gets a piece of the prize. I love that the theme of sharing is embedded in the narrative. And pay close attention to the endpapers for they are a good synopsis of the plot. Thanks to Union Square Kids for sharing a copy. 10 Dogs published in September 2023. Check out its companion picture book 10 Cats!

Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!

“*People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”* –*Jim Butcher*
*#IMWAYR is dedicated to dear Etta, my original book beagle. Blessed that Etta is part of my story.*

Bella and I are howling with excitement to be part of the blog tour for To Dogs, with Love written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Ishaa Lobo. This picture book honoring all the ways dogs celebrates its book birthday on December 5, 2023. Thanks to author Maria Gianferrari for sharing an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Confession. I was late to the dog loving party. As a child, I didn’t have much interaction with dogs and when I did, I was scared. When I met my husband 23 years ago, his dog, Beaglie, changed my whole perspective which is now evident with my blog. As I read To Dogs, with Love, I kept thinking about Beaglie as well as Etta and Bella and how grateful I am for their unconditional love.

Beginning with the words, “Dear Dogs,” Gianferrari directly addresses our canine companions. On each page spread, she thanks dogs by identifying one of their features and how it brings us joy. Lobo’s warm, expressive artwork perfectly complements Gianferrari’s concise, melodic text. I especially love this illustration which brings together kids, dogs, and books, all things I love.

As other physical characteristics such as fur, paws, and tongues are thanked, Gianferrari weaves in different jobs that dogs perform to support humans but especially kids. Dogs provide comfort to kids testifying in court, experiencing grief, and battling illness. Pups also provide purpose to adults in prison who train them to be therapy dogs. As always, Gianferrari consciously chooses vivid verbs such as nuzzling exposing kids to rich vocabulary.

Gianferrari’s heartwarming tribute continues by recognizing dogs’ daily behaviors such as playing, sitting and staying. And the best of all, snuggling in bed. Readers can see the sheer love between the dog and boy in Lobo’s gorgeous artwork.

At the end of the book, back matter shares more information on therapy dogs including websites. As advocate of animal rescue, Gianferrari reminds readers to adopt, not shop which is also conveyed in Lobo’s final illustrations where many have gathered for a dog shelter fundraiser. In fact, the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is an organization that inspired this book.

Grateful to Gianferrari and Lobo for creating the love letter all our dogs deserve. And thanks to Beaglie, Etta, and Bella for your warmth and love.

About the Author:

For Maria Gianferrari, dog love is the most pawsitive medicine of all! To Dogs, with Love is Maria’s seventh book featuring beloved canine characters, following Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness, Operation Rescue Dog, Hello Goodbye Dog, Officer Katz and Houndini, and the Penny & Jelly series.

About the Illustrator:

Ishaa Lobo is a children’s Book Illustrator living in London. She is the illustrator of The Mystery of the Love List by Sarah Glenn Marsh; To Dogs, with Love by Maria Gianferrari; and There’s Always Room for One More by Robyn McGrath. Her next book, Bigfoot’s Big Heart, written by Sarah Glenn Marsh, will be released next year. In her spare time she likes to visit galleries, go to the cinema, and go on walks. See her work at ishaalobo.com.

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