THE NEXT-DOOR DOGS

Nine-year-old Sara Barker isn’t afraid of anything...well, anything but dogs. Even a picture of a dog can leave her sweaty and panicked. Ever since Aunt Lillibet’s dog Fred knocked over Sara when she was four years old, she has not been able to feel comfortable around canines. Whether it was their pointy teeth or hot dog breath, there was just something terrifying about dogs. Her parents have tried everything, from bringing her cute little puppies to visiting slow, gentle dogs, but nothing helps Sara. She can’t spend the night with her friends who have dogs and, now, to make everything worse, her new next-door neighbor has one too. But when the new neighbor’s dogs bark a frantic warning, Sara is the only one who can save the day. Rodowsky spins another captivating real-life tale for the youngest reader. Frequent, lively illustrations punctuate this heartwarming tale of overcoming fears, becoming independent and facing personal challenges. Good for Sara and good for her fans. (Fiction. 7-10)