.png)
Clover kicks off November with three brilliant “Tail Wagging Reads,” darling, daring books about doggies. Hearts melt when our special pup welcomes us home, bounding to the door, all wriggles and yap. After a romp in the yard, there are snuggles to be had, laps full of canine snuggles, pets emitting unconditional love. There’s no doubt about it—dogs complete us.
In this month of Thanksgiving, Clover shines a grateful light on our four-footed friends and celebrates the bond shared between these gentle beasts and their human friends.
Page On! Enjoy!
The Community Literacy Foundation, in partnership with Neighborhood Reads and with support from its sponsors, provides these books to 37 school and public libraries in Washington, Union, Pacific, St. Clair and surrounding communities.
Learn more at CommunityLiteracyFoundation.org.
Youngest Read
It’s hard to imagine not giving a hoot about animals—dogs, cats, horses, chickens, or goats, but that’s the type of character readers encounter in “The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals,” a neatnik, constantly dusting his sterile, boring abode. In this funny book by Deborah Underwood, we see how animals change a stodgy, scowling man into a much nicer version of himself.
The change begins when a cat shows up at the tidy home. No shooing, scat, or drat, drives the feline away. Much to the man’s dismay, the cat stays. It likes to sleep in the sun, like the man, watch the rain, like the man, and “…eat dinner precisely at 6 p.m. too.” The man soon admits, “Maybe this cat isn’t so bad.”
When another cat shows up, the man objects again—as he does when a dog appears on his step. But the dog has lots in common with the man too.
So the story goes—animal after animal paying the man a visit and staying put until his home becomes a full blown menagerie and his neighbors squawk that the animals have to go. The man, however, stands firm.
The solution to his situation gives root to a ditty about a farmer all will recognize, a childhood musical classic. Fun, dynamic Illustrations by LeUyen Pham add more comic pleasure to this memorable tale.
Middle Read
They come in all sizes, shapes, colors, each with its own distinct, endearing personality. “Best In Show,” by David Elliott, highlights a variety of dog breeds, bringing each to the limelight in a beautiful book illustrated by 18 dog lovers. Revel in this alluring, informational read as you learn more about dogs from Bloodhounds to Mutts.
Before the author launches into the breeds, end pages highlight interesting physical facts about man’s best friend. Dogs can digest bones; walk on their toes, like ballerinas; and are colorblind, can’t see red or green.
Readers are first introduced to Labrador Retrievers, “In so many hearts you’re number one! Agile! High-spirited! Obedient! Fun!” Labs in various shades are pictured with their adoring owners, then we learn facts about Labs and meet one special Lab named Endal.
Next up is the Bloodhound, “No nose knows what your dog knows.” One Bloodhound born in 1900 made a real name for himself. “Nick Carter might be the most famous Bloodhound…this doggie detective tracked down over 650 bad guys.”
Fascinating dog after dog is introduced in a “Best in Show,” which concludes with photos of each of the book’s illustrators pictured with their pets, past and present. It’s a fitting end to a truly amazing keepsake of a book.
Oldest Read
Evan Dunn is fast on his feet—the 8th grader at Fairview Junior High enjoys the freedom he gets from running along country roads near his home. It’s there that Evan notices a white dog with one blue eye and one black ear, a dog he shooed away when it first appeared outside his home. The pooch, known only as “Dog” becomes key to changes in Evan’s life in the endearing new book “Answers to Dog,” by Pete Hautman.
Compassionate and caring, Evan has solid buddies, each with a burden to bear—Calder, nicknamed “Balder,” because he has alopecia, and Kellan, a whip-smart, shrimp of a kid the school bully continually whacks in dodge ball. Evan soon adds another pal, Hanna, a well-read girl forced to use crutches, who doesn’t feel the least bit sorry for herself. She impacts Evan in a timely way, helping him understand more about Border Collies, and puppy mills, horrible places where dogs are strictly bred for money.
The mystery dog Evan continues to encounter is owned by Mr. Grey, a cruel alcoholic who owns “Happy Dogs,” a nearby puppy mill the speedy white dog continually escape from—Mr. Grey growing determined to fence the mutt in, and punish it for its wayward personality.
As much as Evan would love to adopt “The Dog,” that’s impossible. His mother hates dogs and Mr. Grey said it would take $5,000 for Evan to purchase the Border Collie. Though Evan has issues at home with his mother, and concern about the abused dog, he has a special friend in a Mr. Raley who rallies him to join the school running team.
In “Answers to Dog,” Evan’s spirit equals the courage the white dog shows in a book about how one loyal animal presents his boy with a unique escape plan.
Written by Chris Stuckenschneider.
Copyright 2024, Community Literacy Foundation.
Comments