Stanza
Grade 1–3—By day, Stanza is a bullying, ill-mannered scoundrel of a dog, terrorizing the city with his two brothers. But at night, his sensitive side emerges—the tender, poetry-writing side. His fear of Fresco and Dirge finding out about his expressions in verse keeps him writing his poetry in a "shadowy space" of his home. But when his favorite dog-food company announces a jingle-writing contest with a big cash prize, Stanza secretly enters a rhyming masterpiece. Does he win? Will his secret be exposed? What will his brothers think of him now? Clever, pleasing illustrations augment this oft-told tale of staying true to one's self without fear of recrimination. The message, though well seasoned, is refreshed by lively characterizations of Stanza, his brothers, and the people around them. Children will delight in the details that are often hidden on the page. Rhyming verse makes this an especially fine read-aloud, but the real fun is in up-close scrutiny of the illustrations. A welcome addition to a collection or unit about self-esteem and self-realization.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.