Recommendations based on "Sophie and Shine"

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In a profound, funny, and beautifully rendered portrait of a beloved companion, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz remembers the golden retriever who changed his life.A retired service dog, Trixie was three when Dean and his wife, Gerda, welcomed her into their home. She was superbly trained, but her greatest gifts couldn’t be taught: her keen intelligence, her innate joy, and an uncanny knack for living in the moment. Whether chasing a tennis ball or protecting those she loved, Trixie gave all she had to everything she did, inspiring Dean and Gerda to trust their instincts and recapture a sense of wonder that will remain with them always. Trixie lived fewer than twelve years; in this wide world, she was a little thing. But in every way that mattered, she lived a big life.

Whether he's teaching his pet pig to dance, being chased by a mad cow or wrestling a robber, Emil's adventures never stop. Hens, dogs, little sisters - and adults - all flee his path. But Emil doesn't mean to be bad, it's just that trouble - and fun - follow him wherever he goes. A collection of utterly engaging tales from one of the world's best-loved children's authors.

“A spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure.” —Booklist (starred review) “A dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure.” —New York Times Book Review In the stand-alone companion to the New York Times–bestselling A Wolf Called Wander, a young orca whale must lead her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. This gorgeously illustrated animal adventure novel explores family bonds, survival, global warming, and a changing seascape. Includes information about orcas and their habitats. For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be? A Whale of the Wild weaves a heart-stopping tale of survival with impeccable research on a delicate ecosystem and threats to marine life. New York Times-bestselling author Rosanne Parry’s fluid writing and Lindsay Moore’s stunning artwork bring the Salish Sea and its inhabitants to vivid life. An excellent read-aloud and read-alone, this companion to A Wolf Called Wander will captivate fans of The One and Only Ivan and Pax. Each Voice of the Wilderness novel contains: Spectacular black-and-white illustrations throughout A map of the protagonist's journey Information about the real-life animals who inspired each story Detailed descriptions of the habitats, flora, and fauna mentioned in the book Resources for young readers who want to learn more  Rosanne Parry’s stand-alone Voice of the Wilderness novels include A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, A Horse Named Sky, and A Wolf Called Fire.

Mandy, the first children’s novel ever written by the beloved star of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews, is a modern classic.Mandy, a ten-year-old orphan, dreams of a place to call her own. Escaping over the orphanage wall to explore the outside world, Mandy discovers a tiny deserted cottage in the woods. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Mandy works to make it truly hers. Sometimes she "borrows" things she needs from the orphanage. Sometimes, to guard her secret, she even lies. Then, one stormy night at the cottage, Mandy gets sick, and no one knows how to find her—except a special friend she didn't know she had.This is the perfect book for ten-year-old girls who love tiny houses and stories filled with hope.

Newbery Honoree Ann Martin once again proves her versatility with an incredible stylistic departure in this "autobiography" of a stray dog.Squirrel and her brother Bone begin their lives in a toolshed behind someone's summer house. Their mother nurtures them and teaches them the many skills they will need to survive as stray dogs. But when their mother is taken from them suddenly and too soon, the puppies are forced to make their own way in the world, facing humans both gentle and brutal, busy highways, other animals, and the changing seasons. When Bone and Squirrel become separated, Squirrel must fend for herself, and in the process, makes two friends who in very different ways define her fate.

Journey to the world of magical horses . . . The majestic mare Bella must enlist the help of Fiona, Thunder, Jewel, and Nike to save an imprisoned girl and her animal friends from an evil presence in North of North.

Meet Pepper, a feisty but beautiful speckled roan. When Pepper teams up with the young girl Jillian Frouda to help her find her long-lost parents, the two must trust each other in to survive. Will they succeed in their quest?--P. 4] of cover.

"Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De Soto, he copes with the toothaches of animals large and small. His expertise is so great that his fortunate patients never feel any pain.Since he's a mouse, Doctor De Soto refuses to treat "dangerous" animals--that is, animals who have a taste for mice. But one day a fox shows up and begs for relief from the tooth that's killing him. How can the kindhearted De Sotos turn him away? But how can they make sure that the fox doesn't give in to his baser instincts once his tooth is fixed? Those clever De Sotos will find a way.

Franklin and Luna are back—and on an adventure to find Franklin’s long- lost dragon family.Luna’s best friend, Franklin, is a dragon. Together, they love to read stories about everything from trampolining to deep- sea diving. One day, while they are reading about fascinating creatures and their origins, Franklin begins to wonder where he is from. He is 605 years old and has no idea where to find other dragons. Luna suggests that they go on an adventure to find his family. They Google his family tree, they e-mail a princess for his parents’ address, and along the way they find twenty yetis eating spaghetti, five vampires reading Shakespeare, and discodancing unicorns . . . but no dragons. One night it dawns on Luna that they should travel to the moon to see if there are any dragons there, so Franklin rockets them into space. When they land, they are met by Franklin’s long- lost dragon family for a heart- warming reunion. Following the success of Franklin’s Flying Bookshop, Franklin and Luna Go to the Moon— a book about the joys of reading, exploring, and coming home— continues to bring the magic of classic fairy tales into the twenty- first century.

Everyone's favourite cat is now available in a delightful board book format, introducing even the youngest babies and toddlers to Judith Kerr's forgetful cat. Meet Mog and her family, cat family that is. There is her Mummy and Daddy who live on a farm, her Grandpa who is always hungry, her brother James who has frogs in his garden, her aunt Emma who takes care of a shop and many more. It'll be a big party when they all get together for Mog's birthday. Children will delight in looking at all the different cats, one tabby, one black and white, one long haired and scruffy and some very very young.