Even if you are not a dog lover you will love this book.  And if you are, you will love it 100%.  Freddy is a  member of the Fangen of Farfang Castle and he is embarking on his very first transwolftation; it's a full moon and his one-hundred-and-twenty-first month.  But something doesn't go quite as expected.  You would be upset too if you transformed into a POODLE instead of a wolf!  Thus begins a hilarious, but fast-paced adventure as Freddy figures out how to navigate his world as a poodle with the mind of a wolf.  Never one to accept defeat, Freddy vows to retaliate against his cousins Harriot and Chariot who dye him pink, and figure out a way to be welcomed back into the pack.  He befriends Batty, a mongrel who lives on the 'Wildside', and they become a dynamic duo, inseparable as they discover the truth about a sinsister place called Coldfax Fort and uncover the existence of the evil Dr. Cripp, a man out to extinguish all of Wolfenkind.

Freddy ultimately discovers the truth about his father's mysterious death and in this heartwarming story good surpasses evil in the end.   Freddy brings on plenty of smiles and laughs and certainly keeps the pages turning fast.   He never doubts his abilities as a 100% wolf...even when he is a poodle.

Tully used to be important. He used to be needed. He used to be a search and rescue dog. Now though, Tully is in retirement and, as many retirees can attest, retirement can be a bit boring. So he does what any former police dog would do: he starts up his own detective agency. Which is where the trouble with chickens really starts, because what is a dog to do when a distraught mother asks him find two of her children, who have gone missing? The mother being Mrs. Hen, and the two children, her little chicks. Leaving her with only one lonely chick to care for. Who would do such a dastardly deed? It is up to J.J. Tully to find out.

Reviewed by Antonia S.

What happens to a deerhound puppy when he gets lost in the woods? Alfie loves life with his new family, especially the boy, Charlie. He is just getting the hang of things, like not chasing the cat, and not chewing mom's purse, and not stealing Charlie's sandwiches. There are ever so many "not's" when you are a puppy. So many, that when Charlie and Mom have to go to a wedding and have a nice lady come take care of Alfie, our poor puppy friend is terrified. Terrified that he is being taken away for being bad, when all he wants is to stay home and be a good dog. So Alfie runs away. And gets lost. While Charlie desperately searches for Alfie, the puppy meets a pair of foxes who do everything they can to reunite Alfie with his boy. But will they succeed? And how will they feed the huge deerhound pup?

Reviewed by Antonia

If you've ever moved or ever had to start at a new school, you understand how hard it is to be the new kid in the class. Stuart has just moved and is about to start third grade at his new school. And Stuart is a worrier. And it's raining outside, so he can't go out to play. And he's run out of things to distract himself from worrying. But then Stuart comes up with an idea - and from Stuart's idea flows adventure after adventure. Something new and exciting - although not always something good - happens every day, and Stuart finds ways to overcome his nervousness with the help of his cape made out of 100 ties..

Reviewed by Elizabeth

Sophie's the middle child. She's not the fastest or the slowest, the tallest or the shortest, the smartest or the dumbest. Sopie is - average. While reading about Nate the Great, Ramona the Brave and Harriet the Spy, Sophie realizes that what is holding her back is that she is missing her "the" name. Once Sophie decides to rename herself Sophie the Awesome, she spends the entire day trying (without success) to be the most awesome at just one thing. But is Awesome the word that describes Sophie best? This charming story shows young readers that true Awesome-ness comes from deep within. It also reminded me exactly how distinct we all are, and what an "awesome" thing that is.

Reviewed by Elizabeth

If you've ever wanted something so badly that you can taste it, you know what 4th grader Calvin is going through. When Calvin's teacher asks the class to write one page persuading him that they should have the one thing they want most, Calvin knows his paper will be about a dog. Calvin's mom has said NO to a dog. A single Mom, she worries that she will wind up with another responsibility if Calvin wimps out on fully caring for a pet. Moreover, Stella, their live-in teen babysitter might be allergic because she is allergic to cats. Calvin is convinced that Stella lives to make his life miserable. He's already had to give up his room to her, and now she stands in between him and his heart's desire. He's also certain he can step up to be fully responsible, especially after Ledward, Mom's boyfriend, takes him to a dog shelter where Calvin meets Streak, the perfect dog for him. They are just meant to be together! Calvin must convince Mom! So he determines to write, and re-write, the most persuasive paper imaginable! Could it be that mom might actually listen? Set in Hawaii, this witty series both entertains with Calvin's funny exploits as well as gently represents the real difficulties a boy and his family face to make things work for everyone at home.

Reviewed by Elizabeth

One night, nine-year-old Lucy Pennykettle cries out in fright when sees a monster in her room. Her Mom tries to convince her that it is nothing but shadows from the trees dancing in light of the streetlamps. Lucy knows better. Realizing that Lucy will never sleep with the "monster" outside, Mom who is a potter, promises to make a special dragon to protect her at night. But Mom is not just any potter. Some of her dragons are just clay, but others, the "special" dragons are alive. Lucy's Mom lovingly shapes and moulds the little dragon, but when he becomes alive Lucy is far from impressed. Her eagerly anticipated guard dragon is still very young, very eager and has a lotto learn about life in the dragon's den before Lucy can finally feel safe!

Reviewed by Antonia

Lucy and Arthur Mildew live at Rose Cottage with their Dad, a distractible widower and absent-minded inventor, who is doing his best to raise the children on his own. He is not very good at it, and the children are at times "a bit neglected." To the rescue come Mr. and Mrs. Nutmouse who live in a very grand house hidden inside a cupboard at Rose Cottage. The sweet, childless mouse couple decides that they shall look after Lucy and Arthur properly. While the children sleep, the mice repair the heater, fix cracks in the walls, mend clothes, glasses and toys, and best of all, they leave lovely, delicate presents. The children believe they have been adopted by a generous "fairy of sorts". But this extraordinary domestic bliss is disturbed by a visit from a mice-detesting murderous relative, and by the escapades of an overzealous mouse general involving a reflective mouse army, pirates, ballerinas, and pogo sticks! These are old-fashioned stories for those who enjoy description, adventure, and a sustained tale. Young readers can tackle this book one chapter at a time, but honestly I loved it as a compelling read aloud -- suspenseful but not scary. I must also confess that as we finished chapters, Tess colored in the whimsical engravings on this hefty tome with her colored pencils. I know I leave some of you aghast, but now it is double fun for her to read the now familiar story again on her own and enjoy the places where she helped the illustrator.

Reviewed by Vivian

Woosh! A strong gust of wind blows down the Oahu coast and sends Calvin tearing down the beach after the runaway kiteboard he was supposed to be guarding. Riotous TROUBLE chases this boy like wind chases waves. Fun and cool, Calvin means well; but he does fast. Situations have a way of getting away from this new fourth grader--whether it’s losing his pet centipede in the middle of class, accidentally spilling juice on the school bully’s new shirt, or unintentionally starting a food fight at lunch—Calvin’s just always in the rumble! Calvin really does wish to be the man about the house for his Mom and little sister. (Dad left years ago, leaving the family only his goofy, but now permanently legal, stage surname: “Coconut.”) However, Calvin tends to forget to be responsible for some rather important jobs. He forgets to take out the increasingly stinky trash; he forgets to fix the lock in his room so occupants are not trapped inside; he forgets to bring his little sister home from school—Oops! Now the three Coconuts are about to acquire a fourth member to their loving household in the sunshine. Young Stella from Texas is coming to stay to give her mother a break and to help Calvin’s with his little sister. Calvin is certain he does not need looking after, and even more positive that he does not wish to give up his room for some faux babysitter! Is that the smell of trouble on the salty breeze?

Reviewed by Vivian

Janey ADORES Lily May Appleton, writer of the wonderful Bob the Dog Detective series. Her schoolmates have other more generally popular favorites, but Janey holds true to her conviction that Lili May is THE best author ever. So imagine her excitement when she discovers that Lily May will appear at the author festival her class is attending. She can barely function until that day finally dawns! When it does, she puts on her Bob the Dog t-shirt, procures the funds to purchase the latest Bob book, and heads to school. But Lily May Appleton is at the end of the program. Janey is beside herself. She will have to sit through all these other lesser authors' presentations and wait all day! (Some of them actually manage to pique her interest.) Book lover that she is, Janey starts reading her brand new Bob adventure just to make it through the day. She becomes so engrossed in her book that by the time she looks up she is sitting in an empty auditoriums and the festival is over. She has missed Lila May Appleton's presentation! Janey is grief-stricken in the parking lot as she tries to find her school's bus. A nice older woman sees her and tries to console her. But Janey grows suspicious when this woman says that Janey has not indeed missed her favorite author because SHE is Lila May Appleton. Janey knows very well from the author picture in her book what her favorite author looks like and this woman does not look like her picture. Why is she trying to impersonate Lila May? Or is she? If ever you or your child have loved an author or a series, this is the book for you. If you have yet to experience this kind of fanatical worship this adorable little book might be the first.

Reviewed by Vivian

This is one of my very favorite fairy tales (I don't have many; I like most fairy tales, but I only really love a few). It's about a princess who is deprived of all her gravity, both literally and figuratively. As a baby, she floats up beneath the ceiling and out the palace windows; and as a young woman, she must carry stones to weigh herself down or else drift away into the sky. She never cries and she never sees the seriousness in anything. She can't be sad and there's something odd about her laugh because, as the story tells us, "the hatching of a real hearty laugh requires the incubation of gravity." George MacDonald tells the story of what happens to the weightless, heartless princess with elegance and wit. He takes pleasure in unusual words and puns, and mixes humor with seriousness so neither gets boring. This edition has illustrations by the incredible Maurice Sendak. They are delicate and finely drawn in black and white, and they emphasize both the beauty and the oddness of the story. It's a fantastic little book, and I always buy several copies because I somehow manage to give them all away.

Reviewed by Megan