Snowed in with Grandmother Silk (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards))

Snowed in with Grandmother Silk (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards)) Review

Ruddy's grandmother isn't much fun. She calls him Rudford, not Ruddy, and she doesn't like noise or games or television. When Ruddy's parents go on a cruise and leave him with Grandmother Silk, Ruddy knows it's going to be a loooong ten days.

Then one night a snowstorm comes howling through. Ruddy and his grandmother are left without light and heat and water-and they have no one to talk to but each other. Slowly, with the help of an old chessboard, the moon, and a gorilla suit, they reach out to each other in some surprising ways.

Partly a survival story, this is mostly a tale of two people who think they aren't alike at all-until they have no choice but to look for the things they have in common. Carol Fenner's portrayal of eight-year-old Ruddy is childlike and real, and Amanda Harvey's full-color illustrations capture the warmth and humor of a story that is sure to leave readers smiling.

Illustrated by Amanda Harvey.

Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert (Aspca Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards (Awards))

Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert (Aspca Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards (Awards)) Review

Freckles is the true story of a dog abandoned in the southern Arizona desert. Frightened and alone, she gives birth to six puppies and she somehow manages to protect them all from the heat and from coyotes, hawks, and other dangers. The dog and her pups are eventually rescued by a deputy sheriff and kept in a jail cell where they are cared for by the inmates.

When they’re old enough, the puppies are adopted, but no one wants the rather beat-up mom. Then a woman visits the jail and falls in love with the little white dog with brown spots and takes her home.

Day by day, the dog they’ve named Freckles provides the woman and her husband with clues about her mysterious past. Amazed by what they learn and by the intuitive way in which Freckles takes care of their granddaughter and their other dogs, they enroll her in a program that leads to her becoming a pet therapy dog. Once homeless and abused, Freckles now provides unconditional love to children, many of whom come from backgrounds similar to her own.

Freckles–The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert is a gentle, inspiring story that promotes not only a deeper appreciation for all animals, but also for each other. Written for children, Freckles is certain to be loved by everyone. It includes a glossary of desert terms used in the book, story discussion topics to aid teachers and parents, and additional information about adopting pets and about animal-assisted therapy.