Love that Puppy! by Jeff Jarka

PreK-2. Peter was an ordinary boy until he decided to become a dog. Peter does all of the things that dogs do such as sleep in a doghouse, beg, play fetch, bark, chase cars, terrorize the mailman, and eat homework. Finally, his parents are so fed up with Peter's behavior they ask him to stop being a dog. Peter goes back to being a boy... that is until he decides to be another animal!

Big, bright cartoon-like pictures depict this laugh-out-loud funny story perfectly. This would make for a fun storytime read or an appealing independent read!

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson

Henry and Mudge visit Great-Grandpa Bill in his home which he shares with other senior citizens. They brought checkers and books and butterscotch candies. Henry and Mudge discover a pond and all the grandpas go swimming in their underwear! When everyone comes back from swimming they eat a spagetti dinner. Children just learning how to read will fall in love with Henry and his big dog Mudge.

Genre: Realisitic Fiction

Rylant, C. (2005). Henry and Mudge and the great grandpas. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Babymouse: Puppy Love by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Babymouse is exactly that: a baby girl mouse. She wants one thing: a pet. She tries her pet parenting skills out on a fish, hamster, salamander, turtle, hermit crab, sea monkeys, ferret, and venus fly trap, but ends up losing all of them. With not so much as one success in terms of pet parenting Babymouse's parents are hesistant to let her care for a stray dog, but she proves to be an excellent dog owner in that she walks, bathes, and trains Buddy only to have to hand the dog over to its rightful owner at novel's end. A humorous graphic story told in comic book panel format with black and white illustrations highlighted with pink young boys and girls alike will laugh out loud as Babymouse learns what it takes to be a pet owner.

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Fantasy

Holm, J.L. & Holm, M. (2007). Babymouse: Puppy love. New York: Random House.