The Last Dogs by Christopher Holt

This is the first book of a series, but it makes a good story on its own.  It opens with a dog shut in a kennel for days.  For some reason, all people have disappeared.  If he doesn't escape, he will die.  Luckily, he meets up with a charming, if somewhat lazy, dachshund.  Convinced that an old black lab has the answers they need, the dogs set out on their own. Together, the two strive to find their missing people.  During their journey, they must battle a pack of hungry wolves, escape a group of militant dogs, and survive countless hazards.  The ending is wildly exciting, but of course, they haven't found their people.  It is a series, after all! A good read, this book might be challenging for young readers.

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan

This is a charming story that would make an excellent read aloud...and it won't take long to finish.  On one side of a fence is an old farmhouse filled with a family that rescues big, white dogs.  On the other side of the fence are the new neighbors: a seemingly uptight aunt and a nephew who no longer speaks.  How the two sides become connected is the meat of the story.  A talking parrot and a bad storm lead to a satisfying ending.

The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco

Here is another touching story from Patricia Polacco's family history.  This one centers around a beautiful tea set given to one of her ancestors while the family lived in Russia.  The book traces how the tea set sustains the family through the Russian pograms, follows the family into America, and continues their traditions to the present day.  This is an excellent read aloud to celebrate family history, to show that rich does not always mean money, and even to introduce the concepts of the holocaust and discrimination.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

August is, in most ways, a pretty typical fifth grade boy.  He loves Star Wars and his dog, Daisy.  Even though he is smart, August has never been to school.  You see, August's face is, well, deformed, so his parents have homeschooled him all these years.  This year, though, that all changes.  August is going to school for the first time.  What happens to him and to those around him during this year is the story told in Wonder.  How he handles all the challenges and opportunities makes an amazing and touching story.  This is, hands down, one of the best books I read this year.

Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett

This picture book was laugh-out-loud funny!  There is a story within a story here, as the author takes a time out to discuss the pictures with the illustrator.  When they disagree, the author fires him and hires someone new...which leads to even more arguing, a badly drawn book, and a main character who has to save the day.  What a great way to teach story concepts as well as point of view.  I would highly recommend this as a read-aloud and language arts companion text.


Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

I have to admit, there were times I laughed out loud while I was reading Dead End in Norvelt.  Jack, the main character, is one of the wimpiest boys I have run across in a book.  His nose bleeds whenever he gets frightened or excited -- and his nose bleeds a lot during the course of the story!  He is caught in a feud between his mother and his father and winds up grounded for most of the summer, except for when he helps his arthritic neighbor write obituaries.  Mysterious deaths, fires, and history all combine in this engaging book.  I really liked it!

Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Okay, so the boys convinced me that I needed to read something from the Ranger's Apprentice series, and I decided that the best place to start would be at the beginning.  After reading The Ruins of Gorlan, I have to admit that I am hooked.  Flanagan has crafted a very believable world with characters that I could easily come to see as friends.  The action is balanced well with character and plot development, a hard thing to accomplish when beginning a long series.  The book had a satisfying end -- even though we know there is more to come.  I would highly recommend this series for your fantasy lovers.