Picture Book Pick: Trouper

Trouper
by Meg Kearney
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Scholastic Press
2013
32 pages

For the inspiring book trailer


From Kirkus: "Sure to tug at the heartstrings, this is a lovely and satisfying book."

Christian Science Monitor names Trouper one of the season's best picture books.



Inspiring, uplifting, courageous, and heroic, Trouper is the ONE dog story for everyone. Trouper is based on a real life dog adopted by author Meg Kearney. Kearney, an adopted child herself, felt a familiar kinship when she saw photos of Trouper. She fell in love with his face and his inspiring spirit. He hadn't been adopted yet, and Kearney just knew that he hadn't "...because he was waiting for me."

Trouper travels with a pack of dogs and lives a free life, until the day they are captured by the dog catcher and taken to a shelter. He watches as all his friends are adopted and feels sad because no one is ever at the shelter to adopt him--until one day a friend comes along and takes Trouper home. The child saw Trouper's inner spirit and looked past his stump.

Be sure and watch the inspiring book trailer about the real Trouper. If you are thinking about getting a pet, please choose to visit a shelter and give a great dog a home. I have always rescued shelter dogs and each shelter dog has become a crucial member of our family.

Kids are sure to love this book and this dog with a big heart and even a bigger spirit.

Illustrations by Caldecott award winning artist E.B. Lewis evoke empathy for Trouper and his story. Lewis used Kearney's dog as a model for his artwork, and he truly captures Trouper's joyful spirit.

Highly, highly recommended ages 4-up and any dog lover.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Non-Fiction Pick: A Little Book of Sloth

A Little Book Of Sloth
by Lucy Cooke
Margaret K. McElderry Books
2013
64 pages with full color photos

Available March 5, 2013

Readers will be in love with Buttercup, Velcro, Mateo, Sunshine, Sammy, and all the other sloths that live in Slothville, a sanctuary in Costa Rica that cares for sloths in need. Sloths are native to the jungles of Central America, and are not intended as pets. Frequently, baby sloths are rescued from poachers who plan to sell them as pets. Slothville takes them in and gives them a new home.

Did you know there’s actually two types of sloths? The Bradypus has three toes and Choloepus has two toes. Both like to hang upside down and sleep. Sloths are slow and chill. Sloths like to warm up in the sun and cuddle with other sloths. In the wild, sloths are loners, but at the sanctuary, they find cuddle buddies.

While you can’t have a pet sloth, you can help the sanctuary raise an orphaned sloth until it’s ready to be released in the wild. To make a donation, go to sloth sanctuary and to love sloths go to the Sloth Appreciation Society.

Beautiful photos capture these whimsical characters in party hats, climbing trees, playing on a Jungle gym, eating beans, cuddling, riding in a pail, and sleeping with stuffed animals. This book taught me a great life lesson: Just Chill.

The book has it right, “Warning: Baby sloths can be highly addictive. Prepare yourself for cute overload!”

“Too Cute! Baby Sloths” is the Animal Planet Documentary by Lucy Cooke featuring the same sloths in this new book. It first aired December 17, 2011, in the United States.

Highly, highly recommended for animal lovers of all ages.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.