Buddy Unchained (Sit! Stay! Read!)
Kindergarten-Grade 2—A yellow, mixed-breed dog narrates his life story. Buddy's former owner did not feed him enough or provide clean water, and frequently left him chained outside. But things changed for the better when the animal was rescued and taken to a shelter, where he was subsequently adopted by a caring family. Attractive, realistic paintings invite readers to look into Buddy's eyes and experience his emotions, both of neglect and of contentment in his new home. The author appends additional information about how to help an abused dog. Unfortunately, the list of suggested Web sites is uneven. Pets911 is the most appropriate for this age group, while the others should be used with caution with young children (e.g., Dogs Deserve Better includes disturbing photographs of abused dogs). The address given for ASPCA's "Fight Cruelty" is incorrect. Use this story to supplement other heartwarming pet tales and skip the Web sites.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.