Book picks similar to
Finding Chance by Linda Benson


dogs
juvenile
middle-grade-ninja-reviews

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School


Julie Falatko - 2018
    They keep out squirrels and imminent intruders. They make sure there are no stray meatballs or muffin crumbs in the kitchen. And most of all, they protect their boy, Stewart. But something is wrong. Every day Stewart trudges off to an awful place called school. The dogs know it's awful because Stewart's parents ask him what he does at school, and he says, "Nothing." And he smells like a weird mixture of boredom and anxiety. They have to save him! Plus maybe there's an evil overlord! Or a squirrel!Waldo and Sassy hatch a plan to save Stewart by disguising themselves as a human. They can be a new student! Have they figured out any other aspect of their plan? Nope. They'll just figure it out as they go along. That's sure to work. But they find out that being a human student isn't quite what they imagined. There's gym (frisbee!), music (singing!), an alleged bully, and a teacher who is deeply suspicious of this new student. And best of all, they get lunch.This book kicks off the "Two Dogs in a Trench Coat" series. Be sure to read to learn if Waldo and Sassy can save Stewart from the evil overlord, if they can use their sad puppy eyes to get more than one lunch, and if they can get all the humans to think they're good dogs without actually revealing the fact that they are, you know, dogs.

On Christmas Eve


Ann M. Martin - 2006
    Tess' faith in the season results in a Christmas Eve so wondrous, so sparkling, readers won't be able to help but feel transformed. Like trimming the tree and "It's a Wonderful Life"; baking cookies and "White Christmas," ON CHRISTMAS EVE is sure to bring new holiday magic to readers' lives.

Runaway Twin


Peg Kehret - 2009
    Sunny Skyland longs to be reunited with her twin sister, Starr. With only an old photograph, taken a few days before the girls were separated at age three, to guide her, Sunny begins the cross-country journey that she has dreamed of during her ten years in various foster homes. Sunny manages to locate her twin, only to be faced with a whole new challenge.Award-winning author Peg Kehret combines suspense and action with reflections on the true meaning of family as Sunny learns that sometimes we must let go of our dreams in order to embrace a different, better future.

My Dog, Bob


Richard Torrey - 2015
    But unlike other dogs, Bob cooks breakfast for himself and his family, drives the family car and digs for dinosaur bones with a paleontologist. When the girl next door challenges Bob's owner to a contest to see whose dog is best, Bob doesn't sit, fetch or speak on command. Bob loses. "I'm sorry," Bob says as the girl and her dog march off in triumph. But to make up for his deficiencies, Bob makes pizza for the family.Readers will enjoy the wry humor that is underscored by an ironic text and understated illustrations.

Be Right Back!: How To Overcome Your Dog's Separation Anxiety And Regain Your Freedom


Julie Naismith - 2019
    Is your canine companion endlessly whining for your return? Does your dog trash your house while you’re gone? Is caring for your frightened pet making you feel trapped in your own home? Experienced, certified dog trainer Julie Naismith has helped hundreds of stressed owners get their furry friends past separation anxiety. Having cured her own dog, Percy, of the same phobia, Naismith is here with a game plan to guide you and your four-legged pal toward independence and peace of mind.Be Right Back!: How to Overcome Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety and Regain Your Freedom is a proven, evidence-based approach to retraining a pooch who feels deserted. Naismith’s step-by-step program lets you gently move your dog from a place of fear to a brave new world of tail-wagging tranquility. By implementing this treasure trove of coping strategies and tried-and-true methods, you’ll soon feel sure that your doggy is happy and healthy at home. In Be Right Back!, you’ll discover: A comprehensive system to transition from frazzled pup to contented canine Common training myths that may worsen your pet’s condition Success stories from other pet owners who have reclaimed their freedom Tips for dealing with judgmental friends and family so you can side-step Case studies, downloadable resources, a full workbook, and much, much more! Be Right Back! is a complete reference for you to rehabilitate any anxious dog. If you like expert advice, simple-to-use techniques, and getting positive results quickly, then you’ll love Julie Naismith’s practical guide. Buy Be Right Back! to get you both on the trail to sanity today!

Kizzy Ann Stamps


Jeri Watts - 2012
    She writes letters to her new teacher in a clear, insistent voice, stating her troubles and asking questions with startling honesty. The new teacher is supportive, but not everyone feels the same, so there is a lot to write about. Her brother, James, is having a far less positive school experience than she is, and the annoying white neighbor boy won’t leave her alone. But Shag, her border collie, is her refuge. Even so, opportunity clashes with obstacle. Kizzy Ann knows she and Shag could compete well in the dog trials, but will she be able to enter? From Jeri Watts comes an inspiring middle-grade novel about opening your mind to the troubles and scars we all must bear — and facing life with hope and trust.

The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One


Jack Volhard - 1994
    The Motivational Method is grounded on a thorough knowledge of how people learn and dog behavior. SInce 1983 they have authored or co-authored four major books on dog training and teaching dog Obedience classes, and have produced four video tapes.

Everything's Better with a Beard


Si Robertson - 2014
    In this photographic picture book with whimsical, rhyming text, objects both animate and inanimate are given the Duck Commander family treatment—with beards! Whether it’s a dog, a truck, or a duck, one thing’s for sure: Everything’s better with a beard!

Raising Lumie


Joan Bauer - 2020
    But that doesn't seem to be a possibility right now. Newly orphaned, she's moving in with the half sister she hardly knows and their life is too chaotic to include a dog. But then something wonderful happens: Olive gets a chance to raise Lumie, a guide dog puppy. Discipline. Rules. Lots of hugs. Only the best of the best puppies continue on to become guide dogs, and of course Olive wants Lumie to be chosen. But if she is, that means that Olive will lose her. Once again, the incomparable Joan Bauer tells a touching story that is full of heart and warmth and unabashed idealism.

Saving Zasha


Randi Barrow - 2011
    It's dangerous -- some say traitorous -- to own a German dog after Germany attacked Russia, so Mikhail must keep Zasha a secret to keep her alive.But Mikhail's rival, Katia, is determined to find the dog she is sure he's hiding. At the same time, a soldier named Dimitri is breeding a new Russian dog at a nearby farm. So many dogs were lost in combat, to starvation, and in the slaughter of German dogs that the country is in dire need of every kind of dog.

My Pup


Margaret O'Hair - 2008
    Tammie Lyon’s illustrations rendered in gouache and colored pencil add lively appeal to this endearing story of a little girl and her new dog.

Bell's Big Move (Bell, #1)


Tom Shay-Zapien - 2011
    Will their new friends, Jingle and Andrew, help make Pineville feel like home?Little ones will love hearing this story as a narrator reads to them, page by page. And if she's nearby, the Bell Story Buddy stuffed animal will respond when you read key phrases from the story.

Truelove


Babette Cole - 2001
    He loses his spot on the bed, gets in trouble for trying to share his mouse with the baby, and even gets sent outside to sleep in the doghouse. With nowhere left to turn, Truelove runs away. When Truelove's family discovers he is missing, they suddenly understand what real love is all about.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl


Stacy McAnulty - 2018
    She doesn't remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test — middle school!Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation?A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty's smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.

A Home for Goddesses and Dogs


Leslie Connor - 2020
    Her mother was already sick when her father left them six years ago. Then when her mother died, it was Lydia who sat by her side.Fully orphaned now, Lydia follows the plan her mother made with her. She uproots to rural Connecticut to live with her “last of kin.” Aunt Brat; her jovial wife, Eileen; and their ancient live-in landlord, Elloroy, welcome Lydia. Only days after her arrival the women adopt a big yellow dog.Lydia is not a dog person—and this one is trouble! He pees in the house, escapes into the woods, and barks at things unseen. His new owners begin to guess about his unknown past.Lydia doesn’t want to cause trouble for her new family—and she does not mean to keep secrets—but there are things she’s not telling . . .Like why the box of “paper stuff” she keeps under her bed is so important . . .And why that hole in the wall behind the poster in her room is getting bigger . . .And why something she took from the big yellow dog just might be the key to unraveling his mysterious past—but at what cost?Award-winning author Leslie Connor crafts a story that sings about loss and love and finding joy in new friendships and a loving family, along with the world’s best bad dog. This uplifting story about recovery features strong female characters, an adorable dog, and the girl who comes to love him.