Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

In Madeline Finn's first story, she learns to love reading with Bonnie, a Great Pyrenees and reading therapy dog. Bonnie had puppies and now, Madeline gets to have one to keep! She chooses the littlest pup and names him Star. She wonders where Mrs. Dimple chose Bonnie and learns that she came from an animal shelter.

While Madeline works hard at taking care of Star, cleaning up after his mistakes, training him, and telling him she loves him all the time, she learns that not all animals have a home where they are loved. Madeline comes up with a great idea - to collect enough blankets and towels for all the dogs and read to them, just like she reads to Bonnie and Star. But when she gets to the shelter... she's the only one there. But just when things are too much for Madeline on her own, all the library folks show up with books, blankets and towels - and one sad little dog gets a forever home!

Papp's soft, pastel illustrations show a sweet little girl in leggings and skirt, and a series of adorable, if a little sad, dogs and other animals, just waiting for someone to love them. A warm, loving community is shown where everyone works together to make things a little better for some lonely animals.

Verdict: Kids love books about animals and this story is sure to appeal. It's a perfect fit for my library; before she retired we had a therapy dog that looked just like Bonnie and now the local shelter visits with a different animal each week looking for a home.

ISBN: 9781682630754; Published March 2019 by Peachtree; Galley provided by publisher; Purchased for the library