2002 KIND Children's Book Award Recipient

"Let’s Get a Pup!" Said Kate
Written and illustrated by Bob Graham,
(Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2001). Ages 3-6

When Kate and her parents go to their animal shelter to adopt a puppy, it’s love at first site...twice! In this sweet, humorous tale, a young family decides that two dogs are better than one—especially when one is wee and bouncy, and the other "old and gray and broad as a table."

Australian native Bob Graham is author of such well-loved books as Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten; Benny: An Adventure Story; Queenie, One of the Family; and Max. "Let me say how delighted I am that my book has won this award," says Graham. "It means a very great deal to me that humane issues should be recognised in such a way."

Other titles worth adding to your shelf:

 Bears Barge In (Enumclaw, WA: Dream Factory, 2000), by Joni Sensel, illustrated by Chris Bivins; Ages 4-8. What would happen if you woke up to chipmunks in your cupboards and coyotes in your closet? This zany rhyming book traces the story of a habitat taken over by humans and, later, of a neighborhood gone wild! At a time when housing developments and strip malls crowd out wildlife as never before, Bears Barge In stresses an important point—that animals need space to live—in a way that entertains as much as educates. At the end are tips for peacefully coexisting with our wild "neighbors."

 A Day, A Dog (Asheville, NC: Front Street, 1999), by Gabrielle Vincent; Ages 9-12. A wordless picturebook of black-and-white line drawings, A Day, A Dog is a poignant vignette in the life of an abandoned dog. Suitable for advanced students and nonreaders alike, this unique "documentary" offers plenty of opportunities for creative writing and class discussion.

 Goodbye, Mousie (New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2001), by Robie H. Harris, with illustrations by Jan Ormerod; Ages 4-8. This tender story, appropriate for young readers, deals skillfully with a sensitive subject: the death of a pet. Told from a child’s point of view, the experience moves through a range of emotions, from anger and grief to acceptance and hope, expressed with a child’s honesty and innocence.

 The Monster Who Ate My Peas (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2001), by Danny Schnitzlein, illustrated by Matt Faulkner; Ages 3-6. The boy hates peas. Hates them so much that he’d give his soccer ball, his bike, anything to avoid eating one. But what happens when he’s asked to give up Ralph? Will his scruffy dog end up in the monster’s jaws? Or will peas prevail?

 Morgan the Dog: The Day the Magic Began (Tucson: Morgan House Press, 2002), by Heather Irbinskas, with illustrations by Andra King; Ages 4-8. When Brittany visits the animal shelter, she finds Morgan, a corgi mix whom no one wants. While she and the dog are out in the shelter’s play yard, a sudden storm puts both of them in danger. After a daring rescue, both the girl and her dog get the second chance they deserve.

 One Child (Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, 2000), by Christopher Cheng, with illustrations by Steven Woolman; Ages 3-6. This quietly sobering but ultimately inspiring book about problems facing wild animals and the environment shows what good things can come from the efforts of just one child. The simple, large-print text pairs nicely with bold, geometric illustrations reminiscent of stained glass art.

 Pi-shu the Little Panda (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2001), by John Butler; Ages 3-6. Come to the lush, green slopes of China’s Misty Mountain and travel with Pi-shu the baby panda and his loving mother, Fei-Fei. You will root for this family as they try to make their way in a world that is always shrinking. Graceful prose and lifelike paintings pay great attention to the details of a panda’s life, and a fact sheet at the end invites readers to learn more about this endangered species.