Book Notes

The author wrote this book based on an true story. There was a real dog who did in fact save the lives of a hundred people by swimming out to their sinking ship in a storm with a rope line.

The fictionalized dog in this story, Sirius, is perfectly amazing. He is sweet, and incredibly smart, and his life is in danger. A new law has been passed forbidding all dogs except for sheepherding dogs from the island. If Sirius is found, he will be killed. Maggie has been hiding him for some time, but when the ship flounders off the coast, and Sirius is the only one who can help, what will she do? Risk her dog’s life to save the people on board, or keep Sirius hidden and let everyone drown?

It’s a very sweet story filled with Newfoundland language and stories. And one amazing dog.

I just finished re-reading this book for our last 4th and 5th grade book club. The last title was “group choice” and the students all suggested titles and voted, and I, Freddy was the winner.

I have enjoyed this book each time I read it. Freddy is funny, clever and resourceful. Being a golden hampster of above average intelligence, he is adopted from the pet store by a sweet, caring little girl named Sophie. However, Sophie’s mom is not a hampster lover and Freddy soon finds himself living with Mr. John, a neighbor. He couldn’t have landed in a more perfect home. You see, Freddy loves to read, and wants to learn to write. Mr. John has a house full of books, a cat who is willing to pull them off the shelf for Freddy to read, and a typewriter. Freddy thinks the typewriter is the perfect means for him to communincate. If only he can figure out how to press down on the keys….

This is such a cute book, originally published in Germany and then translated. There are 5 Freddy books in all, so if you like this one, keep reading!

Here is another terrific animal book. I’ve been on a lucky streak lately with my reading. Angus and Sadie are two Border Collies who are adopted as puppies by mister and missus to live with them on their farm in Maine.

The dogs each have a very specific personality. The writing is third person omniscient, so you know what everyone is thinking, including the dogs. All of their thoughts are in italics. At first they are cute, loveable puppies who get in a lot of trouble. Then they grow up and learn how to be good sheep dogs and good pets. I laughed out loud several times.

I feel a little bad for Sadie. Several time mister and Angus think that she is a slow learner, or not a good sheep dog. She’s actually great at both, she just does things differently. It takes most of the book, but eventually everyone else catches on. The story is sweet and funny, the drawings are perfect. Even the chapter titles are cute. A must read for anyone who likes dogs, farms, Maine or any animal stories.

I just finished reading the sweetest book in the world. Toes is a very unusual cat. He has seven toes on each foot instead of five. His litter mates don’t want anything to do with him, afraid that they will “catch extra toes” so he heads off one night to find a place of his own.

Not only does Toes have double paws, he is extremely intelligent. He can turn on the t.v., he loves to listen to classical music, and he understands almost everything that people say. He winds up a stray cat in Sebastian Crabbe’s house. Sebastian is a very accomplished violin player, and loves having a cat around for an audience as much as Toes loves to listen to the beautiful music.

But Sebastian also has a problem. He would love to play with the Philharmonic, but he doesn’t have the confidence he needs. Toes has a plan though. And despite the fact that he is now up there in years, he will do what it takes to bring the Philharmonic to Sebastian’s house.

Of all the books I’ve read recently, this is one of my favorites. Toes is the sweetest, nicest cat. And his gentle nature makes him friends with mice, a dove, and of course, Sebastian.

This is the story about Poppy, a field mouse, who is trying to find a new place for her family to live where they have plenty of food and room to grow. The difficulty is Mr. Ocax, the owl who rules the forest. He refuses to grant the mice permission to move to the other side of the forest because Poppy angered him one night. Poppy is convinced that there is more going on with Mr. Ocax. She senses he’s afraid and sets out to discover the real reason why Mr. Ocax is so set against their leaving. And there-in is the adventure.

The drawings are amazing, and my favorite part of the book. I think the story itself would be fine, it’s the characters that bother me. I feel bad for Mr. Ocax. He wasn’t evil enough to deserve what he got. And I didn’t like Poppy, or her family, enough to root for them like I should.

But, if you like animal fantasy stories, especially with an adventure, try it. You’ll probably love it. Check out the sequel Poppy and Rye.