A Puppy for Annie
PreSchool-Grade 2—A sweet story about a girl and her Border collie. When Annie brings Bess home, she wants to know what the puppy is trying to say. With Mom's gentle help, the child learns when Bess wants to be close to her, to be petted, and to play. The dog learns to come when called. The two friends love roaming the English countryside, exploring special places for hours. When the day comes that Annie must go to school, Bess misses her terribly. She halfheartedly plays with her toys and finally lies quietly at Mom's feet until she hears the school bus approach. Bess tears across the yard leaping and jumping to greet Annie, and the pair once again roam outdoors. The realistic, soft pastel and colored-pencil art reflects the joys of owning and loving a puppy. The story would work well in a storytime paired with Bob Graham's"Let's Get a Pup!" Said Katie(Candlewick, 2001) or when introducing children to pet ownership. This heartwarming book will be right at home in most picture-book collections.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OHCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.