Earlier this summer a parent asked me a very important question about her young reader:
“Keegan has only read chapter books but wants to make the jump to middle grade. He’s an average reader and I don’t want him getting frustrated with the higher level. Any suggestions for books that might pave the way for a successful transition?”
I didn’t hesitate to suggest THE DOG DIARIES series and the newest addition—ROLF. This heartwarming story is 133 pages long interspersed with just enough illustrations to break up the text. You read the story in Rolf’s own words as several life changing events bring him new meaning to having a friend for life. It’s a story for dog lovers and non-dog lovers as Rolf keeps a positive attitude throughout each ordeal.
This is the tenth in the series with #11 (Tiny Tim) out this month and #12 (Susan) out later this year. See them all here.
Here’s the official Background from Random House on ROLF:
A dachshund loses a leg and finds his life’s calling—as a therapy dog!
Scrappy dachshund Rolf von Noodle may be missing a hind leg, but he’s got attitude and can-do spirit to spare! If anything, his tripod status gives him something special: real empathy for people overcoming physical challenges. And as his owner Mindy discovers, it makes him an ideal choice to become a therapy dog. With realistic black-and-white illustrations and an appendix that includes photographs and information about the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program, therapy dog training, tripod dogs, and more, this is the kind of fact-based fiction reluctant middle grade readers sit up and beg for!
So you get a gripping story that will have you flipping the pages and a nice non-fiction appendix. What more could you ask for?
Postscript: Since I wrote this Keegan has read six books in the series! Welcome to Middle Grade, Keegan!
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