Ivar's Mackinac Weekend, by Meg Welch Dendler

 

Publication April 30, 2026

Delightful, informative, and thoroughly engaging. While I won't go into the details, so much better to let you experience Ivar's adventures yourself, I will say that it nicely combines my love of all things dog and a bit of sightseeing of a place I've always found fascinating. I've never visited Mackinac Island, so it was fun to see it through the eyes of a faithful working dog for the first time. We're reminded that service dogs are always on duty, even when they're out of vest, so to speak, simply because that is how they're wired and trained. Ivar instinctively monitors his Mama Mindy's heart rate and breathing to know if a panic attack is near and goes into action. Their trip to Mackinac Island to visit family is full of potential problems, from the noise, lights, and crowds at the airport to passing through the x-ray machine and sensing hoards of stressed humans about him, all while picking up not just the sudden rise and fall of the plane/pressure but even the many scents left behind, not all human. Ivar handles it all with some nervousness but skill.

The adventure, as noted, is told through Ivar's eyes. Unknown places are tough for Mindy to navigate without stress, so he's definitely on watch. Unfortunately, not all his/their experiences are friendly and fun, so we get to see him go into action and Mindy's reactions to conflict and being overly stressed. And, oh, there's a cat involved but, well, more than enough fun details. I've only touched on the early stages, so there is much more to discover with Ivar. Thanks #SerenityMountainPublishing - #IBPA for letting me tag along virtually for an early peek at this fun, informative book. As one of those who has to restrain her own tendencies to want to pet every dog I meet, even service animals, this made me admire them even more. Disabilities may not always be visible to the human eye but Ivar and his fellow service animals sense things humans aren't aware of. Treats for Ivar and his associates! (Just ask first!)

Ice Storms, by Trudy Becker

 

Publication Jan. 1, 2026

Living in Alaska, I probably know more about ice storms than I'd like to know. In fact, I did a double take looking at one of the photos showing a multi-lane highway bridge during an ice storm. Could have been taken here.  While the info is short and sweet, meant to build reading confidence in young readers (K-1), the photos used as illustrations do an excellent job showing more of the story, that's for sure. To add my own P.S. to the bridge photo, we're often reminded here that bridges are usually the first to freeze over and become treacherous, so I have to wonder if the photo placement was sheer serendipity or deliberate. 

In any case, while hardly likely to share new info with adults helping their child read through the text, the book does an admirable job of capturing the basic facts. Glossary words are shown in bold print and there are also photos on the glossary page to help understanding. The photo showing the impact ice can have on electric or other wires was a plus as that's a rarely addressed issue. Let's face it, it says the author lives in Minnesota, so they know what they're talking about. Thanks #Flux - #FocusReaders for the early look at this quite well done yet succinct title. I just hope that semi in the ditch in one photo wasn't the author's.  Grin. 

When Dogs Work, by Opal Sinclair

 Publication Nov. 12, 2024

Dog person that I am, I was drawn to this book. I liked it even more as I began to peruse the pages. The pictures are real people and real working dogs. By that I mean that they appear to be genuine photos taken in action, not something posed. There are a variety of dogs and human characters, not to mention a herd of sheep. Love those guardian dogs. The author dedicates the book to her own dogs, too, a nice touch and loved the paw/hand photo used with the dedication.

Each working type gets a two page spread. One page is devoted to a short, rhythmical description of the dog's job. It's accompanied by a color photo of that type of dog doing its job. There's a bit of humor in the text, too, a plus for children who enjoy a giggle. As noted, the descriptions are brief. The author isn't trying to tell us everything there is to know about each canine job, simply to share the very basics of the job and, so to speak, offer kudos to those dogs. As an Alaskan who has attended many sled dog events, of course, I feel compelled to mention the inclusion of sled dogs as a canine job. Yeah, huskies. My favorite canine job, though, was the last one mentioned, the job of being a pet dog. In other words, they have a job, too. It's to love us and be there for us every day. My corgi mix, whose heritage would call her a working (herding) dog, falls into that category and I, for one, appreciated the inclusion. 

Finally, the book closes with a list of suggested activities to expand upon the contents and focus on the idea of helping these dogs symbolize. The suggestions are simple one that anyone can do. They don't involved collecting a bunch of supplies and finding a specific time or place. In fact, one is simply to note dogs to the child when out and about on daily routines, asking questions such as what kind of dog do you think that is or what sort of job might that dog be suited for. All easy and low pressure type activities. Thanks #PajamaPress - #PublisherSpotlight for giving me a sneak peek at this book. I'll definitely be mentioning it to my friends.

Selena Gomez, by Beth Gottlieb

Short and sweet and I mean that as a compliment. Written for young readers, it presents quite a bit of basic information on Selena Gomez in an easy to read manner. While positive in nature, it doesn't avoid mentioning her various health issues, either, which I count as a plus. Gomez seems to be upfront with her fans about such issues, so it was nice to see the book take a similar approach. Nicely illustrated, it covers her early life, including her parents' divorce, and her emergence first on Barney & Friends, going up to her current position on Only Murders In the Building with Steve Martin and Martin Short. As I type, that show is in the entertainment news with the well-received premiere of Season 4 and quick renewal for another season, so I was happy to see the relative up-to-date nature of the book. 

You're not going to learn everything there is to know about Selena Gomez from this book, of course, but for young readers eager to get to know a favorite star, it's a great start. Chapters are quite short, with words possibly unfamiliar being in bold print later being defined in a glossary. There's also a timeline and suggestions of where to find more information. The publishers and authors note that while the sources were checked for appropriateness, parents of young readers might want to do an updated check, a nice suggestion. Bottom line, a nicely done book for young readers and even older readers might pick up a few things while enjoying the photos, too. Thanks #RosenPublishingGroup for sharing this look at a young woman I've come to admire.

Musings of a Horse Farm Corgi, by Leslie McDonald

 

I stumbled across this one nearly a year ago while searching "corgi" on Amazon and couldn't resist that cute corgi face on the cover. My Daisy isn't a fluffy but has cute in spades, so was curious to see how this little one fared on a horse farm. I'm not sure if Daisy's ever seen a horse or not, but she has seen moose, bigger and potentially far more dangerous than a horse, and remains convinced she can take care of them. Uh, right, Daisy.

In any case, this is a cute, fun story told from the perspective of Beamer, the puppy star of the book. He gets his name due to his sunny, get it, sun beam, attitude. The author did a great job capturing the inherent corgi attitude and takes us from the puppy's birth to its time on the horse farm. Knowing how Daisy's mind always seems to be working, it was fun to see Beamer's thoughts as he tries to figure out and then manipulate first his new humans, two laid back labs, and, oh, my an electric barrier fence. He lost that round. He even makes friends of sorts with a special horse and frets when it gets colic. Don't worry, the horse was okay. You'll see him work his wiles on everyone from the riding students to the other canines and eventually emerge as "Corgi in Charge". Like all corgis, he's a charmer. There are b/w photos throughout to take you through his adventures. One thing I learned was that fluffy corgis aren't in demand no matter how cute they are, at least if the potential owner wants to show or breed. I've always found them adorable but given that Daisy is simply a corgi mix and I had no intentions of adding another puppy to the world, I'd never delved that deeply into such breed standards. 

Bottom line, a fun read that will give wannabe corgi owners some insight into how the corgi mind seems to work. Kudos to the author for capturing Beamer's thoughts so well. This was published in 2012, so should be an easy find on Amazon for those like me that navigate to all things corgi. The best part was, of course, reading it with my Daisy curled up next to me.

Animal Friends: Hello, Dogs!, by Editors at Storey Publishing

 

Publication August 20, 2024

Like human beings, dogs are not all alike. Beyond the obvious differences, size, color, breed, etc, they have varying traits that make them more suitable for some situations than another. This book does a wonderful job of not just pointing out the similarities and differences between humans and dogs but dog breeds/types. Designed for children, the book surely has about as much to offer adults wanting to learn more about their furry friend or about to make the big step of bringing a dog into their home. This book will help, not to mention delight and entertain. I mean, I defy you not to smile at those puppy photos! (Grin)

While relatively brief in comparison to some dog books, "Hello, Dogs" does an excellent job covering the basics, teaching, and charming readers. Whether dog-crazy kid or adult, you're sure to find something that you'll find of interest. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on relating to dogs, with highlights on ways we can genuinely be kind to them. There's even a section, with photos, pointing out how we are like and unlike our dogs. It even shows how size impacts the comparison of dog to human ages. I've seen several of these charts elsewhere and they do seem to vary slightly but this one is right in the general area. In addition, expected features like breeds, traits, dog safety, and more. 

Bottom line, lots of information and fun with adorable illustrations and photos that both illustrate and bring smiles. I had an advance digital copy but the print version promises stickers, too, to go along with the activities suggested. Wouldn't it be fun to carry along one of those Breed Bingo cards to a dog show? In any case, my thanks to #NetGalley and #StoreyPublishing for allowing me to indulge in an early peek at this fun, entertaining, and wonderfully informative books. My rescue corgi mix was at my side as I read and she can attest to it earning her lots of additional pets and scratches as I read.

Simone Biles: Gymnastics Goat, by Kristen Rajczak Nelson

 

Publication August 1, 2024

While I find it hard to believe there's anyone out there who doesn't know who Simone Biles is and about her amazing accomplishments, this book is a nice, relatively brief summation of her career with some great photos. While I've followed her career for years and thus found little new, there were some new-to-me photos, a plus.  I appreciated that the author, while not going into great detail, did cover her struggles during the last Olympics, reminding us that sports hero or not, an athlete's mental health needs to take priorities, pointing out she did eventually compete in a final event, winning a bronze. It's hard to argue with the fact that, especially looking at her recent road to the Paris Olympics, she is definitely the gymnastics GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

The progressive, short bits of info, including her early life and entrance into the sport, are easy to read, all accompanied by an appropriate photo. Her various awards and highlights of her career are given. All are presented in an respectful, admiring manner. Bottom line, long time fans will enjoy the, so to speak, quick retrospective of her career while new admirers will learn how she began, progressed, and came to dominate the sport she so excels in. Thanks #NetGalley and #RosenPublishingGroup - #GarethStevens for sharing this colorful, nicely put together look at Simone Biles. I admire her greatly as both an athlete and for the person she has become, showing her struggles as well as her triumphs. I look forward to watching her compete in the Paris Olympics.