A jealous cat really, really, REALLY wants to drive away his young owner's new dog in this playful illustrated chapter book from a two-time Geisel Honor winner. Simon has taken care of his owner, Andy, for many years. He's a good cat. Clean, responsible, and loyal. What more could a boy want? Even when Andy's dad moves out, Simon is certain that Andy doesn't need another pet. So why would Andy's dad adopt a DOG?! To make matters worse, the animal is a rude, rowdy troublemaker. Simon's job is clear: the beast has got to go. He decides to write him a letter. Strongly worded, of course. But when the dog's response sets off an unexpected correspondence, Simon realizes the beast may be here to stay. Can he make room for another pet in Andy's life? This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award-winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet - and the joy found in new friendship. With nine chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is perfect for kids transitioning from picture books to chapter books. A Junior Library Guild Selection

A snobby cat and a good-natured dog fight over the chance to dress up with their owner in this playful illustrated chapter book series told in letters. It's time for the annual city pet parade! Only one pet can win first place . . . Simon the cat has always hated wearing costumes, so he decides it's okay for Andy's new dog, Baxter, to march with Andy instead. This way, Simon gets to avoid a costume and keep his dignity. But when Baxter keeps the costume plans a secret, Simon changes his mind. His boy Andy needs him! Who knows what trouble Baxter is up to? That beast can't be trusted--and it's Simon's job to save the day. This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award-winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet. With eight chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is purr-fect for parents to share with their beginning readers. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Jeremy longs for a pet, but he doesn't know what kind of pet to get. When his parents agree that he can start a pet-sitting business in order to try out a variety of species, Jeremy has no idea what adventures are in store for him. Pet after pet is eliminated from his "To Get" list. In the end, not a single animal seems suited -- until a favorite relative comes up with a surprising solution.

A stuck-up cat and a good-natured dog are pen pals from a distance, until a disastrous sleepover brings them together in this playful illustrated chapter book told in letters. Andy has two pets and two houses: a cat, Simon, at his mom’s house and adog, Baxter, at his dad’s house. But when Andy’s mom goes on a business trip,Simon must spend a few nights at Andy’s dad’s house. A sleepover with thebeast? Simon says, “No, thank you.” Baxter, on the other hand, is sooooo excited to play together. He and Simon can go on walks! Stay up late! Eat liver treats! He can’t wait to finally meet hispen pal in person. What could go wrong? The big introduction does NOT go well for these wildly different pets. Simon is so desperate to get back home to his quiet, clean oasis that he escapes througha basement window. Can Baxter convince him to return before Andy notices his beloved cat is gone? This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award–winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet—and the joy found in newfriendship. With nine chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on everyspread, the series is a perfect read for parents to share with kids.

The delightful adventures of a visually impaired barn cat and his annoying flea, as they set off to experience the world and find themselves participants in some of the most remarkable events of the early twentieth century. Pudding Tat is born on the Willoughby Farm in 1901 — just another one of Mother Tat’s kittens. But it turns out that Pudding is anything but ordinary. He is pure white with pink eyes that, though beautiful, do not see well, and hearing that is unusually acute. He finds himself drawn to the sweet sounds of the world around him — the pattering heartbeat of a nearby mouse, the musical tinkling of a distant stream. Soon the sounds of adventure call to Pudding, too. But before he can strike out into the wide world on his own, he hears a voice — coming from right inside his own ear. A flea has claimed Pudding as his host. The bossy parasite demands that Pudding take him away from the lowly barn and the drunken singing of his fellow fleas. He doesn’t want adventure but a finer life — one where he can enjoy a warm bed and blood flavored not with mice, but with beef tenderloin and cream. Fortunately for this mismatched pair, the world is an extremely interesting place in 1901. Over the next decade and a half, Pudding and his flea find themselves helping to make history — a journey over Niagara Falls in a barrel, a visit to the Pan-American Exposition on the day President McKinley is shot, a luxurious stay in Manhattan with songwriter Vincent Bryan, a terrifying trip on the airship America, and a voyage on the ill-fated Titanic. Through each narrow escape, the call to adventure for the cat, and luxury for his disgruntled flea, beckons them on, right to the devastation of a World War I battlefield. Then Pudding is filled with a new longing, one that brings him, with his flea’s help now, full circle and back home. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

When so much of the world is new, you want to go slowly... to stop and enjoy everything; hills to roll down, perfect-sized rocks, trees that seem to whisper their thoughts. It’s the same when you're much, much older, and every time 'round the seasons seems precious. Yet the folks in the middle (we know who we are) are always rushing, rushing, rushing. Appointments to make, trains to catch, places to be, FAST. That's what makes the bond between old dog and the little girl so special. From the time she takes her first steps, old dog finds someone – at last! – who wants to go at the same pace he does. To walk with everywhere, through this wide, wonderful world. A love song to the bond between young and old, this book will make you want to sit right down and read to someone you care about.

Unlike his perfect older sister, Jenna, Conner hates his piano lessons and gets bad grades in math. Conner's really good at bike tricks and he loves animals, but his parents have a no-pets rule and they don't take his bike-riding seriously. When the local animal shelter gets overcrowded, everybody in Conner's pet club agrees to take in a foster pet. Conner has to hide his rat, Oscar, from his family, who would never believe that Oscar is smart and cute and pretty lovable. Or would they?

When eight-year-old Josh and his family adopt an energetic puppy with a big personality and a talent for escaping, everyone is sure that obedience school will teach him good manners. But Bagels turns out to be a bigger handful than anyone predicted. He gets into the laundry, the groceries and the neighbor’s koi pond. He even gets expelled from obedience school. Josh and his little sister, Becky, are worried that if Bagels doesn’t shape up, their parents will send him back to the shelter. Can Bagels redeem himself before it’s too late? The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

An untamed horse has run away—can Lily and Beware find him and bring him home? After a storm scatters all the livestock on her grandparents’ farm, Lily discovers that Gramp’s wild black Morgan is missing. Stogie’s a horse with a mind of his own, and when he runs, no one can ever catch him. Stogie may be boss of the other animals on the farm, but he’s afraid of people. And a frightened horse is a dangerous one. Lily’s determined to find the black Morgan and bring him home before he ends up getting hurt—or shot. Since no one can catch Stogie, no one can lead him. But Lily brings a rope anyway. As she and Beware set off on their search, she tries to put herself in Stogie’s shoes to figure out where he would go. Then she gets an idea . . . Can she and Beware find and catch Stogie before it’s too late?

A girl, her mother, and their dog must find a way to survive in gold rush-era Alaska. After escaping from his brutal and merciless owner, Murphy is taken in by a young girl named Sally. She and her mother have just arrived in Nome, Alaska, intent on joining the other gold seekers and making a new life. Yet even with Murphy at their side, Sally and Mama find living in the mining town harsh and forbidding. When it seems they may have to return to San Francisco, Sally and Murphy decide to strike out on their own, hoping to find gold and make a permanent home. But dangers await them—not only blizzards and grizzly bears, but also Murphy's original owner, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The Dog Chronicles series features fast-paced, fascinating historical fiction about working dogs, perfect for readers who love books.