Not My Dog

By Colby Rodowsky
Animal: Dog
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Karen

Ellie Martin has been asking for a puppy all her life and her parents have promised her one when she turns nine. However, when Ellie is eight, her great-aunt Margaret needs to move to a small apartment where pets are not allowed and she must give up her dog, Preston. Ellie's parents agree to adopt Preston but this means Ellie can't have a puppy. Preston is a dog, not a puppy and not at all what Ellie had in mind. "He's not exactly my dog, he just lives here, is all," she tells her friend Amy. One day she overhears her parents discuss giving Preston away so Ellie can get a puppy. Not My Dog is a sweet story about bonds that develop between children and their pets. Read it and find out if Ellie changes her mind about Preston.

The Black Stallion

By Walter Farley
Animal: Horse
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

The book that spawned a series of books, a couple of major motion pictures, and a television series! Alec Ramsey is on his way back from a summer vacation with his uncle in India aboard the ship the Drake. One night in a terrible storm, the ship sinks. Before Alec goes overboard, he sets free the wild black stallion that was taken aboard a few ports earlier. Once in the ocean, he ties his life jacket to the rope on the stallion's halter, and is pulled safely to a small uninhabited island. Shipwrecked on the island with little food, Alec manages to slowly tame the The Black, as he calls him, and the two come to love and trust each other. Then, when all hope has failed, they get rescued. Alec stables his horse in the barn down the street from his house, which happens to be owned by an ex-racehorse trainer, Henry Dailey. Henry sees the amazing speed in the wild stallion and inspires Alec with the idea of racing him, but without papers for the horse, they are stuck. Or are they? With a lot of secrecy and the help of a daring sports reporter, they organize the match race of the century! This exciting tale will inspire horse lovers and adventure fans alike. The centerpiece is really the relationship between Alec, the Black and Henry, and it is a team that will make you want to read the next book, The Black Stallion Returns, as well as many many more!

Varjak Paw

By SF Said
Animal: Cat
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue--a purebred cat who has never even been outside. His whole family has been living for generations in this one house owned by a contessa, back from when his ancestor Jalal Paw came from Mesopotamia. Then the Contessa is gone, and a strange Gentleman arrives. The family denies that there is anything to worry about, but the Elder Paw tells Varjak that he must go Outside and fetch a dog (whatever that is) to come and save the family. He entrusts him with the remaining principles of the Way that Jalal taught cats: Slow-Time, Moving Circles and Shadow-Walking--and sends Varjak on his way. Varjak is thrown into a world full of adventure and hardship. He finds unfriendly gangs of cats, terrifying cars, and whispers of "Vanishings" among the cats. But he also finds a couple of friends in Tam and Holly, and when he sleeps, his ancestor Jalal teaches him the Way--a sort of martial arts for cats--in his dreams. Can Varjak solve the puzzle of the Vanishings and save his family? Whether you like animal stories or not, it is hard to not be drawn into this fast-paced adventure story. A big thumbs up! Check out the Varjak Paw website for more on this book and the sequel, The Outlaw Varjak Paw.

Sheep

By Valerie Hobbs
Animal: Dog
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Jack is a Border Collie, born and raised to herd sheep. But while he is still a pup, his family falls on hard times and sells all of the puppies. Suddenly stuck with a family and no sheep, Jack skips out. But he doesn't know how to get back to his real family and the sheep and he wanders the town, hungry and lonely until he runs across the Goat Man. The Goat Man names him Shep and takes him along on his caravan from Mexico to Canada with his goats. But all good things come to an end, and Jack finds himself moving on again, sometimes finding love and sometimes hate, and always finding a new name. But Jack is always looking for those sheep he misses until he finally comes up against a challenge--someone who needs him more than Jack needs the sheep. Can he make a happy ending happen? This feel good story is a search for what you really want in life; and it might turn out to be something different than you thought it would be.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

By Robert O'Brien
Animals: Mice, Rats, Crow
1972 Newbery Award Winner
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Mrs. Frisby the field mouse is in trouble. She is a widow with 4 children and her youngest, Timothy, is seriously ill with pneumonia. She goes to see Mr. Ages, the white mouse, for medicine. He gives her a cure but tells her that Timothy must be kept warm and not moved for a month. But in just 5 days Mr. Fitzgibbons will begin plowing the field and their home will be plowed up, too. Mrs. Frisby's new friend, Jeremy the crow, recommends going to see a wise old owl for help and the owl advises her to go the rats in the rosebush--if they can't help, no one can. But how can rats help her? Confused, Mrs. Frisby obeys and finds the rats aren't ordinary rats. They are escapees from a laboratory called NIMH where they were experimented upon in ways that made them bigger and smarter than even people, and Mrs. Frisby finds that her husband was also from this place called NIMH. Now Mrs. Frisby must be braver than she ever thought she could be to save not only her family, but the rats of NIMH. This is an exciting, wonderfully written story of extraordinary rats, crows, owls, and one very special mouse family that every reader will enjoy.

My Friend Flicka

By Mary O'Hara
Animal: Horse
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This book is a well-written classic story of ranch life and horses out in Wyoming. Ken is the younger son of an ex-Army officer who now runs a horse and cattle ranch. Ken is a daydreamer and he can't seem to do anything right, and what he longs for most in the world is a horse of his own. His older brother Howard had long gotten and trained his own horse and Ken wants the same passionately. At the urging of his mother, Ken's father finally relents and gives the boy his choice of any yearling on the ranch. But Ken chooses Flicka, the daughter of the wildest untrained mare on the place. Flicka also seems wild and Ken agonizes over his new filly and how she will turn out, especially when she falls seriously ill. This is a story about learning to face the hard facts of life, especially on a ranch, and doing some growing up, but it is also about love both in a family and for a horse. The characters of Ken and his family are deeply drawn and unforgettable. This is no simple tale of a child and a horse. Much of the book is an unflinching picture of harsh life on a western ranch amid the wild beauty of Wyoming but you never want to look away. Fans of this story will be happy to know it has two sequels: Thunderhead and Green Grass of Wyoming.

I, Jack

By Patricia Finney
Animal: Dog
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

"Hi! HI THERE! Hello! HI, FRIEND!! I am Jack! Look at me! Here I am. I like you. Do you like me? I am JACK. BIG DOG JACK!! Hi!" So begins Jack the Labrador's story, told from his very doggy point of view with footnotes by the cats. This very funny and clever story doesn't make you think that dogs act or would talk like people; they are, after all, dogs. Jack tells us all about his Pack (the people in his family), the cats (who he calls "normal-walking-with-fur-and-tail-type dogs but small and hidden-claws"), and what he loves (namely, food). Then Petra the beautiful Samoyed comes to live next door and Jack really falls in love, and his love will eventually lead him to become a hero (although perhaps not quite on purpose). If you like dogs or animal stories, you can't help liking this one, and you might learn quite a bit about dog behavior along the way. Lots of fun!

The Cricket in Times Square

By George Selden
Animals: Cricket, Cat, Mouse

Newbery Honor
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Karen

Chester is a cricket who is transported from his Connecticut meadow to a subway station in New York City in a picnic basket. He is discovered and adopted by Mario Bellini, who gives Chester a home in his parent's Times Square newsstand. There he is befriended by Harry and Tucker, a cat and mouse, who live in a nearby drainpipe. The Bellini's newsstand is struggling and Mama Bellini thinks Chester is a jinx until his incredible musical ability is discovered. Chester performs concerts in the subway station twice a day to huge crowds. This brings fame amd fortune to the newsstand. The Cricket in Times Square has become a classic story about friendship, acceptance, and adapting to a new and different environment. It is a gentle and easy read with no scary characters which also makes it a good chapter book to read aloud to younger children.

Come On Seabiscuit

By Ralph Moody
Animal: Horses
Rating: 4 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Before the much lauded book Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (and its subsequent movie), there was a book written back in 1963 for children on the famous racehorse. It was recently republished with a spiffy new cover once Seabiscuit-fever resurfaced. This heartwarming tale chronicles the life of Seabiscuit from his birth through his hardluck years to his eventual reign as a champion. The book capitalizes on an already dramatic tale by underlining the down and out team of trainer, jockey and horse and concentrating on their victories and setbacks. In some senses, the story has been simplified to good guys and bad guys, but in the end it doesn't really matter. What still comes across is the remarkable tale of a horse that won't quit and the people who loved him. Readers will be hard put not to be yelling "Come on, Seabiscuit!" themselves by the book's end. Robert Riger's great illustrations help highlight the book. If you love horses, horse racing, or just a thrilling real life story, you will be hooked by Seabiscuit.