The Last Sam-I-Amurai: A Tale of New Friends

Hi!

     Allison and I haven't written in awhile because we were having adventures. Allison's friend from her old school came to visit; her name is Allyson, which sounds like my human's name but is spelled different, and she's terrific! She sure knows how to give a good belly rub. At her house in a far-away place called "New Jersey," her family includes an Old English Sheepdog named Doug - and Doug did a great job training his human! I have to say that I enjoyed the extra attention from my new friend.

     Allyson had to go home today, which made me a little sad. My family keeps telling me that she'll come back to visit again sometime though! Then we can have more adventures. Allison and I showed her the emus, took her on a picnic, and even went to a special outdoor movie in Providence with her. The movie (it was called "The Last Samurai," which made me happy because part of it was like my name) was very loud and there were lots of humans fighting in it. Too scary for human-pups. Why can't everyone just be friends, I wondered. I had no problem making new friends all around us, from this big tattooed guy with a funny mustache to a group of girls and a little grumpy dog named Butch. I had a lot of fun with Allyson and my Allison, which just goes to show that making a new friend always means a new adventure!

Snuggling with my new friend Allyson! 

     To cheer ourselves up after Allyson left to go back home, Allison and I pulled out another book we found at the Book Barn. This one is about a little polar bear who desperately wants a friend - and makes a new friend through a courageous adventure:

In Hans de Beer's Little Polar Bear Finds a Friend, Lars the polar bear starts out very sad. There's no one around for him to play with! One day, however, he goes for a walk and ends up getting trapped by humans hunting animals for a zoo. When Lars finds himself on a big boat with other caged animals, he sets them free - including a brown bear named Bea. Then begins a journey past cities, through forests, and over rough oceans to get home! Lars and Bea become fast friends, and this story's wonderful ending shows that no matter how different the two bears are, a strong friendship holds them together! Arooooo! Two paws up and a tail wag for this book! Beautiful illustrations and a heart-warming story make for a book human-pups will love! Best for human-pups K-3.  

Also recommended by this author: The Little Polar Bear, Little Polar Bear and the Husky Pup, Little Polar Bear and the Brave Little Hare, and Little Polar Bear, Take Me Home! (and more, including variations - like board books - for littler readers!)

Off to cuddle my giraffe now! And then I will happily dream about meeting even more new friends soon! Rufff!

Yours in Friendship and Other Wonderful Things,

Sam I Am

Dog Houses and Magnetic Mayhem

Hi!

     Do you know that when a human says someone is "in the doghouse," it means the person is in trouble? Imagine that! Allison says it comes from when humans made their dogs sleep alone (outside in a little house) whenever the pups did something wrong. Some families still have their dogs sleep outside like that - though not always because they were bad.

Well, yesterday I was "in the doghouse."

     You see, I did a silly thing and started to eat the couch in the family room. I didn't really mean to; it's just that when I was curled up under there, I got the urge to CHEW. A littttle bit of cloth was hanging down, so I gave it a chomp. Then a tug. And then another tug and another and another. Aroooo! Before long the underside of the couch was kind of...um...shredded. Oops. I guess you could say Suz and Daddy (and even Rachel and Allison) weren't too happy about this. I was in trouble alright. Later my humans reminded me that everyone makes mistakes and that they love me no matter what. 

      "Just no more munching on the couch, mister!" Allison added. Then we set to work reading some of our finds from the Book Barn. Here's one of my favorites:

    Australian author Bruce Whatley's Magnetic Dog is a funny picture book about a pup named Skitty. Narrated by Skitty's little girl, the book tells all about the dog's special talent: she's magnetic when it comes to food!

I twitched my ears at Allison and voiced my question with a whine.

Arruu? What is "magnetic"?

"When something is magnetic, it attracts something else. Mostly it has to do with different metals," Allison answered.

She led me into the kitchen and over to the fridge - that big cold box where my humans keep food - and pointed to the little toys stuck to it.

"See? These things are "magnets"; they stick to the metal-stuff in the fridge because they're magnetic."

I pawed at one of the small magnets toward the bottom. It moved, but stayed stuck to the fridge. Wow. Okayyy. So Skitty attracts food. Sounds like a good deal, right? 

So all Skitty has to do to get food to come to her is give her humans that special magnetic look. And happy chaos results! This overall silly story, with its pictures of flying food and wonderfully expressive faces (the illustrations showing Skitty's eyes and those of unsuspecting humans made Allison and me laugh), gets one furry paw up. Great for a quick, giggly family read, and best for babies-prek.      

Me? I want to learn Skitty's trick. Maybe if I squint my eyes and bite my tongue a bit to concentrate...

But no. I bet Skitty's trick would land me "in the doghouse" again. My humans get upset when I try to nab food. Like that time I nipped up a piece of Suz's bread one lunchtime. What can I say? Sometimes a pup's got mischief on his mind.

Yours in magnetic tricks and trouble,

Sam I Am  

My Journey to the Book Barn, a Wonderful Place

Hi!

      I wanted to write about my adventures yesterday, but my family and I got back home really late. I was so sleepy that Allison had to carry me to my bed and tuck me in next to Mr. Squeaky Duck. You see, we traveled all the way to a place called "The Book Barn" in Niantic, Connecticut (you have to spell it "connect-i-cut" - Allison helped me with that). The second I padded toward the first building, I just knew that I had found a special place. Imagine, a bookstore surrounded by lots of gardens and nooks and crannies to sniff! Lots of different buildings (some like houses, others like sheds and outside closets) filled with gigantic bookshelves! Games like checkers on wooden tables, and little cars and balls for human-pups to play with!

Best of all, I was allowed EVERYWHERE!!!

Clockwise: A pup among the stacks, posing with Allison in front of a little display of the Book Barn (it looks like a dollhouse),& the main Barn building.

     My humans and I spent quite a few happy hours roaming around the books. (In between, Daddy taught me a new game with something called a "basketball," which I'll be writing about soon!) One small building was painted with animals and had a whole section of dog books inside! Right away I found a book for some future ahem adventures baking cookies:

It's called Tasty Treats for Demanding Dogs. Arooo! Sounds yummy!

      Of course, I also found the energy to try to befriend the locals. Unfortunately, one in particular was kind of mean when I tried to start a game of chase:

Away she stalked; silly kitty!



          Because writing about even a couple of our fantastic bookstore finds will take me awhile, I'll leave that for tomorrow. But I definitely recommend this Book Barn place! It's possibly the only human-pup AND pet-friendly bookstore on the east coast (At least, it's the first I've been allowed to browse in! Woof!). For a fun book-filled adventure, check it out! I know my humans and I are going back again and again.

                                                                     Yours in unique destinations,

                                                                      Sam I Am



Smarty Pups and True Friends

Hi!

     As today was another hot day, my humans and I were stuck inside again. But this time Jacob was here, just like every Friday! I had some fun giving kisses and romping around Jacob's trucks and other toys. Later I curled up under the table to listen and watch as Allison and Rachel helped Jacob make pictures with a funny bunch of soft, colored sticks. I tried to eat one once; Allison took it away from me right away.

     "That's a crayon," she scolded. "Not for puppies to eat, silly!"
     
      Wuh-oof? A crayon? It smelled kind of strange, but I saw no reason I shouldn't have a small chomp. I ran my tongue over my front teeth - a bit of crayon flakes was stuck there - and suddenly sneezed.

     Allison tried hard not to smile as she looked up from the crayon. She touched her earring in that worried way she has whenever I've eaten something I'm not supposed to. Then she sighed, let a little laugh out, and explained:

     "Crayons are colored wax sticks - not eat-able - that humans use to draw pictures. So don't eat them! Okay?"

     I woofed my agreement.
     
     Allison smiled, a real smile this time. "You've got a lot to learn puppy, a lot to learn to grow up to be a big smart dog."

I guess I'd better keep reading and learning and adventuring then!

      In hopes that I will learn not to do silly things like eat art supplies and try to destroy the underside of the couch (There was a loose bit of cloth - I couldn't help but tug at it! Ruff!), Allison read me a couple of longer books about a two dogs. Each dog is smart in a special way, although both know the power of friendship and love.

       Cynthia Rylant's Gooseberry Park tells the story of a group of unlikely friends - and the lengths one pup will go to make sure his friends are safe. Life with his human (a kind, mild-mannered professor) is wonderful for Kona the chocolate lab. He has his friend Gwendolyn the hermit crab at home and gets to see his friend Stumpy the squirrel during frequent trips to the park. What a life! Aroo! 

However, Kona is faced with a giant problem when an ice storm puts Stumpy and her squirrel-pups in danger! With the help of Gwendolyn, a comical bat Murray, and his own smarts and bravery, Kona must find a way out of the house and over the ice to save his friends without the professor finding out. This story of stubborn friendship gets two paws up and a tail wag from this pup! Clever, caring Kona and the goofy Murray steal the show and will make human-pups cheer. The group of friends must use all their talents and love to make sure a mama and her pups are safe and together! Recommended for human-pups grades 3-5 - or anyone who loves a good tale of friends. 

In Vivian Vande Velde's Smart Dog, a dog with human-smarts (he can speak human and work a computer!) and a good heart escapes from a science laboratory to avoid having his brain "dissected." I howled in a kind of sympathy for Sherlock when Allison read this part. Why would anyone want to take apart a pup's head?! *Shudder* It's a good thing Sherlock finds a loyal, clever friend in a girl named Amy. What follows is a comical, claw-biting story of mix-ups and plots - which ends happily for both smarty Sherlock (who still has a lot to learn) and Amy (who finally realizes that true friendship is much better than being "popular"). Best for grades 3-6, I give this book two paws up. 

I'm off. I hope Suz and Daddy will forgive me for the couch. Allison is right; I still have a lot to learn! This pup will keep reading...

Your working-on-his-smarts friend,

Sam I Am   

I Like Ike: Of Dog-Day Daydreams and Some Wonderful Reads

Hi!

      I'm dog-tired after a spirited game of chase with Allison. She's becoming quite good at it; her barking is getting better, and her pounces are almost wolf-like. True, she'll never have a tail like mine (which helps a pup like me balance and bounce), but my loveable human is learning! Allison says that she's afraid the heat might drive us "stir-crazy" and so makes sure we are doing different things - even while we're stuck inside.

     Lately I guess I have been a little crazy. A howl here and there, long sessions of barking (I swear I smelled a skunk last night, even if my humans didn't believe me!), and lots of dives under the couch. To keep me busy, Allison decided to show me some of her postcards and guidebooks from when she went exploring around England and other fun places. We couldn't adventure far in the heat, but we could adventure with our imaginations!

An afternoon nap: Italy at my snout and England at my hind-paws.

     Continuing on an imagination adventure (once I'd finished my nap), Allison and I read a book about a dog named Ike who has his own journey. He too collects a bunch of postcards from the places he visits. Anyone up for a roadtrip? Ruff!

In Mark Teague's LaRue Across America, Ike LaRue is faced with a problem. When Ike's human does a very silly thing and agrees to take the neighbor's cats on vacation, our canine hero decides to send a number of postcards home throughout the cross-country trip. Mainly to tell his neighbor that her pesky felines are putting a cramp in his carefree style! The cats, for example, refuse to play at the water slides and even cause chaos in the giftshop of a dinosaur park. Arooo! Silly kitties!   

   Not all is as it seems, though. What the imaginative Ike writes in his postcards is maybe a little bit...dramatic. Readers will laugh when they realize the contrast between Ike's adventure's and his increasingly desperate-to-escape-cats-as-car-companions messages. Mark Teague has made Ike's imaginings black and white, while the narration features colored illustrations, as Allison points out (see the above example taken from Teague's Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters From Obedience School). Even human grown-ups will appreciate the finer details of the story and the skillful illustrations. Happily, Ike's vacation ends with a wonderful twist that human-pups will love, the postcard-penning pooch finally getting his dream vacation. Two paws up and a tail wag for this book and also for Letters From Obedience School. Best for human-pups from K-4, the Ike LaRue books are a must-read! 

*Note: My human Allison has had the fun of meeting Mark Teague in person at a book signing. She says he's very nice, and she highly recommends checking out the rest of his books!

I wonder if I could get Allison to plan a road trip for us? Hmmm. A dog can dream. Woof!

Yours in postcards and imagination vacations,

Sam I Am

Mushroom Hunting for Puppies

Hi!

     I've been here, I've been there - lately I feel like a pup always on the move! Sneak-up surprise visits to see Jacob and fantastic times trotting around the library's grounds have kept me busy. But do you know the best adventure I've had lately? I went on a Mushroom Hunt with Rachel in the Wilds of Slater Park!

     Imagine this: A forest setting with dusty leaves underpaw. There are gritty bits of branches painted with dew. Our canine explorer's nose snuffles across the morning-lit grass. See how wolfish his smile is? His tail waves, and his ears perk up to listen to the woods. With his faithful human by his side, he pads forward to seek...MUSHROOMS.

Unfortunately, Rachel never told me what a "mushroom" was (Allison calls something called oatmeal "mush," so I thought a mushroom might be a room filled with oatmeal), so I was looking in the wrong places...

     After a few false sniffs up trees, Rachel finally thought to tell me what a mushroom is. I wiggled my bum and sat back to listen to her explanation.

     "A mushroom is something called a fungus," she said. "It looks kind of like a little puffy umbrella, and it grows in dark, damp spots and eats dead things."

     Woof-roo? Why would anyone want something like that?

     Rachel continued, "There are lots of different colors and sizes of mushrooms; some are poisonous and some you can eat. I just want a few for an art project."

     Ah. Now that I understood. Thinking back to my humans' strange habits of crushing veggies and fruits and leaves for other painting projects, this didn't surprise me. After a quick stretch, we were off again. At last we found clumps of mushrooms (which - upon sniffing- I decided NOT to eat), and our quest was done! 

Rachel and I look at the mushrooms we found in the woods.

She's using the tops to make pretty designs on paper. Humans are strange.

      When I had settled back onto one of my favorite napping spots in Allison's room, Allison pulled out a book. Smiling, she told me that she was happy that I had been such a brave, smart adventurer. The following book tells the story of three adventurous pigs (one of whom travels especially far) and their own mushroom hunt. 

     In Holly Hobbie's Toot and Puddle: Wish You Were Here, Toot sets off for "Wildest Borneo," leaving his best friend Puddle and her cousin Opal at home in Woodcock Pocket. Much of the story allows readers to see both Toot's adventures in Borneo (through his postcards home) and Opal and Puddle's happy spring in Woodcock Pocket (through the narration). Toot discovers new plants; Puddle and Opal plant marigolds. Three very close friends with very different interests! Aroo!

Human-pups will gasp at what happens next! Toot comes home sick and the only remedy is a smelly mushroom tea. And these mushrooms may just be hidden somewhere in Woodcock Pocket...

I give this book two paws up and a tail wag. The book's wonderful message is that adventures are available even in your own backyard - and that friends may be very close even if they are like very different things. Be yourself! And always be open to adventure! Aroooooo! The illustrations too are funny and imaginative (especially the postcards from Toot), the characters' faces showing just what they are feeling. Recommended for human-pups Pre-K-3.

Allison and I would also like to recommend the other Toot and Puddle books! 

Oh dear. My family has just discovered that I had a nibble on Suz's rocking chair. I think I'm in trouble...have to go try the puppy eyes and woof a quick "sorry." 

Yours in feisty adventures and silly mushrooms,

Sam I Am    

   

      

Homeward Bounds: Adventures and the Glories of HOME

Hi!

     After a few days without Allison - she left me to go on an adventure to someplace called New Hampshire - we're back together again. I was a little confused when I would go to sleep and she wasn't there, but now she has lots of stories to tell me! Allison visited her friend Amy, went to a Mexican restaurant in a big city, and saw a movie called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. New places, new food, friends! Exciting! Woof!

     Of course, I reminded Allison that we still have a lot of territory to explore nearer home. There are those strange cooing pigeons to chase, friends like Holly and Chance to visit, and endless trees and shrubs to sniff. Laughing, Allison ruffled the fur around my ears and assured me that she wouldn't be adventuring without me again for awhile. At this, I let my tongue loll happily and started a game of chase-me-look-you-can't-catch-me-if-I-dive-under-the-couch. Minutes later, satisfied and panting hard, I settled in Allison's room for a bit of reading. This next book is about a dog - a little like me with his big paws and big curiosity - who loves to explore.  

  

Click me for more on the author.

Marjorie Flack's Angus and the Ducks details the adventures of a Scottish terrier named Angus. One day Angus decides to explore more of the world beyond his home and his couch - to eventually find that while adventures are grand, it's always great to have a house and family to come home to. Human-pups will love Angus' fiesty determination and all that he encounters on his day out (including ducks!). The old-fashioned illustrations are what Allison calls "elegant," and Angus' curiosity highlights the kinds of questions human-pups might have about their world. One paw up for this Prek-K read. Ruff! You may also want to check out Angus Lost and Angus and the Cat by this author!  

 Lots of questions and reflections; a curious pup wants answers!

Whew! I'm dog-tired from that game and that reading. I think I'll go curl up under Allison's night table. She's promised me a new adventure for tomorrow, so I'd better rest up! In any case, I'm glad she's home. Arooooooo!

Ever curious, but loving Home,

Sam I Am

Of Couches and Magical Thumps that Make Things GO

Hi!

     After a very pleasant day of bone-chewing, napping, and playing chase, I was happy to snuggle up with Allison for a good book. I gnawed gently on Allison's toes while she picked one out. What book next? What new reading adventures for me and my human? As it turns out, she had adventure, exploring, and travel on her mind. (Allison's been thinking a lot lately about her adventure of Library School starting in the fall - so we're going to read more books about new places and new experiences.) Frowning a little, Allison looked down at the stack in her paws. So many to pick from! Then she spoke:

     "Where's the best place to start an adventure, Sam?"

      Ruff? I stopped trying to wiggle under a kitchen chair and thought. Then I got distracted by a piece of my bone hiding beneath the table. What can I say? I try to help, but I'm just a pup. It didn't matter though, because Allison answered her own question:

      "At home, silly! We can start with one of my favorites..."

     With that, my human pulled a worn paperback book from the shelves:

Amos: The Story of an Old Dog and His Couch by Susan Seligson and Howie Schneider tells the tale of a dog's adventures on a magic couch. His silly humans no longer take him anywhere (I trotted out of the room, quite upset, when Allison read that part - how sad for Amos to always be left all alone!), so he spends a lot of time on his couch. One day he discovers that a well-aimed thump makes the couch go VAROOM and zoom off like a car. So start his adventures as he and his couch-mobile follow his family out of the house! Finally his humans discover his secret hobby, and human-pups will smile at the book's ending.

I give this book a definite two paws up and a tail wag for its plucky red-furred hero, its imaginative plot, and its comical illustrations. Tail-wagging and heart-warming, this book shows that whether you are young, old, human, pup, etc., YOU can have adventures and happily "embrace the unexpected" as Allison says! Woof!! With a little imagination, you can have adventures anywhere - even on your own couch. This story is best for human-pups grades PreK-2. (Or anyone with a passion for couches, transportation, creative exploration, or all of the above.)

*There are also other Amos books by this author, including Amos Camps Out for fans of the outdoors.

Usually I prefer underneath my couch, but I decided to try to make it go VAROOM...

Sigh. No luck getting this couch to move.

Still a great place for pre-adventure snuggles though!

Now I'm off to bed; my dreams are adventures themselves! Ruff! Besides, a pup needs to rest up before seeing more of the world...

Yours in comfy furniture and exploring,

Sam I Am

Salty Dog: Sam I Am Sees the Shining Sea

Hi!

     Today was a slow, lazy day. I did get to see Jacob for a bit this morning - and Jesse! You see, my humans and I missed him yesterday. He couldn't come over to play because he had to go get his human-pup shots. Arrooo! Not very fun! I was kind of worried about him (and I missed the little man), so I was glad to go say hi. We bounded around his yard for awhile, Jacob showed us his new swing set, and then Allison and Suz finally got to give him his birthday present. Jacob-baby's birthday was July 2, and now he's three years old. I hope that means he'll want to play three times as much! Ruff!

     Yesterday was my own almost-half birthday. I am now officially five months old! Allison says that I'm still a baby, her baby puppy, but I felt very excited anyways. To celebrate, my humans took me to a place called Jamestown...and I saw The Ocean. All of a sudden we pull up to this tall tower with a light on top. The light shone through the fog and onto a HUGE bunch of water. And the smells, oh the smells! Salty, misty, scratched-rock smells! Allison let me tug her all over these giagantic rocks, chasing after white, shrill birds Allison calls "gulls" or "sea chickens" and peering into dark and foamy water. I LOVED it!

Allison and I at Beavertail in Jamestown, RI.

A Wauzer enchanted by ocean waters! I love exploring!

Adventures on the rocks can get ruff. I had to stop to pant.

     Anyway, with my adventures through the fog and over ocean-wet rocks fresh in my puppy memory, Allison and I decided to read a book about another person's seaside adventure. This one also involves very little human-pup in honor of Jacob's birthday...

One of Suz's favorite books, Baby Boat by Betty Waterton, illustrated by Joanne Fitzgerald, tells the story of one woman's discovery by the sea. Sitting on the steps of the lighthouse where she lives, Mrs. Figg moans that she misses her babies (her human-pups are all grown up). So when she goes down to the shore and finds a boat full of human-pups, she happily spends the day taking care of them - with often comical results! You never know what you might find near the ocean, and Mrs. Figg finds both adventure and chaos! Finally the grown-up humans come to retrieve their pups and all ends well. Even Mrs. Figg smiles as they depart, sure of a friendship that will last. Best for little human pups up to kindergarten or second grade age, I give this book two paws up. The story is very special, and the gentle-colored illustrations (the human-pups going wild in the lighthouse's control room is my favorite) cleverly highlight the babies' mischief! It just goes to show that life is full of surprises, and that sometimes our wishes come true in funny ways! Woof!

  I'm off to dream of the sea (Allison promised me we would have more ocean adventures soon!) and of meeting more friends of the little human-pup sort. Good-night! Arooo!

With Oceans of Excitement,

Sam I Am

 

The Dog of Bath: In Which a Mildly Smelly Pup Washes Up

Hi!

      After spending a pretty confusing day with Mama Suz (Allison had to go "get advised" for her library school, and Rachel had to work), I was excited to have some time with all of my humans. I leapt, I sprang, I jumped, I hurdled. I panted until Allison and Daddy were sticky from my breath. Finally, Allison took me for a walk after supper. Surprise! Aroooooo! I made two new friends; a brother-sister pair of human-pups were taking a walk with their grandmama and Finnegan the shi-tzu. They laughed when I showed them my jumping tricks and said, "Wow, he's a wild little dog."

     To which I answered, "Arruffrooo." Which means (roughly): "Thank you - I have wolves way back in my family tree." Allison and Rachel say all the time that I act like a "little wolf." I am a wauzer after all. Wauzers are fun and fierce!

     Back home after the usual dives into bushes, mud sniffs, and bug hunts, my humans got a very silly idea. They decided that I needed a BATH! I didn't like this one bit, so I ran around trying to distract them with a game of chase instead. My plan didn't work. Allison cornered me and carried me to the tub with gentle but firm words. No bones about it, I was going to get clean. Arooooo!

See? I look ridiculous when I have a bath. Woof.

     Once out of the tub, I fluffed myself out again with a good hard shake. There. Better. I still felt a bit silly though, as the hair on my bum was sticking up oddly. I whined at Allison. Just like always, she pulled out a book to make me feel better:

Click me to see video of Betty White reading the book.

Gene Zion's Harry the Dirty Dog, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, tells the story of a dog who HATES baths. One day Harry realizes he is due for a rub-a-dub-dub in his family's tub, so he runs away. Soon he is having a ball getting as dirty and smelly as he wants - until he tries to go home and his family doesn't recognize him!

Harry becomes a black dog with white spots when he gets dirty!

With a hero human-pups and dogs will relate to (Allison says that many human-pups don't like baths), this book is a funny, wonderful read. The illustrations add to the reader's understanding of Harry's emotions (from his hatred of baths to his joy at getting muddy to his loneliness when he realizes he misses his family). Feisty Harry is the highlight of this book, with no other character being so well-drawn and defined, personality-wise, as he. I give this book two [clean] paws up. Harry has helped me understand the importance of taking a bath once in awhile - imagine your family not recognizing YOU! Sometimes we must do things we don't like to be healthy and happy, and sometimes our family knows best. Rrruff! Best for human-pups ages 4-8.

Oh boy. Clean and smelling of that oatmeal soap stuff my family put on me, I'm going to bed. I'll leave you with this...next time you have to have a bath and want to try to escape, you gotta ask yourself: Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, pup?

Yours in baths and an admiration for Dirty Harry,

Sam I Am





Freedom, Fears, and Other Scary Things

Hi!

     My humans told me that today is what American humans call "Independence Day." That explained all the yummy, charcoal-tinged smells coming from the other yards. Parties!!Aroooooo! It also explained why quite a few humans have put up those funny striped flag-things - and why they're setting off those loud booming fireworks (well, sort of). But. It didn't explain one thing...

     What is independence?
  
      Padding over to Allison, I sat up on my hind legs and put a paw on her knee. I needed an answer. Independence. It's a big word for a little pup like me. I tried to ignore the harsh popping BOOMS coming from outside and twitched my ears at Allison. She finally put her ice cream down (out of my reach, drat!) and spoke.

     "A lot of fuss, huh Sam? It's an important day, you know. Before the first 'Fourth of July,' Americans weren't really free," Allison said. "Who you would call the 'alpha dog' of a place called England wasn't being nice to humans here. After a group of humans decided they wanted to be in a different pack (or form a different country), they signed a paper saying we would be free. FREE!"

     Free?

     "Free, puppy! Free! Think of the feeling you get when you stick your head out of the car window, the wind on your ears. Think of how fierce you feel, how wild, how brave! That's what Americans are celebrating," Allison smiled and scratched me behind the ears.

    I panted a bit. Freedom sounds pretty good, but on the other paw it also seems kind of scary. The American humans' break from the pack of England humans and their alpha seems like a ruff choice. America was on its own all of a sudden; England wasn't going to watch out for them anymore. They would have to find their own kibble and squeaky toys and take care of the little pups by themselves! On top of everything else, Americans had to fight to stay free, according to Allison. Something called a "war" happened. Lots of humans worked hard to make everybody else safe!

Some dogs and humans are still fighting for our freedom. Howls and honors to you, friends.

    I guess freedom is wonderful and scary - and it takes a lot of bravery to get it and hold on to it. In any case, I'm glad that I'm free to hang out with my pack: my family and my friends!    

Here I am being Independent with my friend Lizzie. We'll be Independent together!

      Anyhow, I'm really excited about this whole Independence idea, so I decided that I'm going to start being more brave. My main problem today was where to start...
Then Allison reminded me that I could begin with my fear of those crazy fireworks. I whimpered at this. I don't like those huge booms and light flashes! They make me jump! However, my humans say that being brave doesn't mean you stop being scared - it just means you don't run away!

       To help me understand what facing your fears means, Allison read me a book about some very silly monsters:
  

Click me to view an interview with the author.

Adam Rex's Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich is a book of wacky poems about monsters. Frankenstein's monster makes a sandwich out of the food people throw at him. Dracula has spinach stuck in his canines. The Phantom of the Opera is getting crazy because he has "It's a Small World" in his head, and it won't go away. All of these usually-scary creatures are made comical with terrific illustrations and laugh-out-loud rhymes.

"That's one way to face your fears," Allison murmured. "Use your imagination to turn your fear into something funny."

Woof, I answered. How can I do this?

"Rachel had a good idea," she continued. "You can pretend those booming pops are the pops of a gigantic popcorn machine in the sky. That will make the fireworks less scary!"

Arooooo! Yum. Not a bad idea!

This unique book will satisfy both children (who love monsters and food) and grown-up humans (who Allison says will adore the half-hidden adult jokes and overall humor). The use of different styles of pictures in the book add to my decision: two paws up! I disliked the last poem about Godzilla (it seemed out of place, falling back on "poop" humor), which subtracted a tail wag, but a great read otherwise! Best for grown-up humans and human-pups grades 2-4ish. (Frankenstein Takes the Cake is the sequel, but I did not like it at all - no paws up!)

Off to try the popcorn trip with the fireworks...Happy Independence Day!

Yours in Attempts at Bravery,

Sam I Am

Camera-raderie and Grimm Tales: Detectives are Special and You are Too!

Hi!

     We haven't blogged for a few days because Allison did a very silly thing and stepped on a bumblebee. I hadn't known that those cheeky, buzzing things were called bumblebees; I only knew that every time I got close to snapping one up, my humans would start howling, "NO SAM! NO NO NO! DON'T EAT IT OR IT WILL STING YOUR MOUTH!" Sting? How was I to know what a sting is? Mostly I kept growling and pouncing at the buzzing things anyway, and Allison kept scolding me in that panicky voice. Until two days ago, when my beloved human forgot to hop over a bee herself while watching me. I guess these bee-things have pointy spikes on their bums...and they really hurt if you step on one.

     I don't think I've ever heard Allison make such a strange noise. Yowling in pain, she limped - with me in tow - back into the yard to find Rachel. My poor Allison has been hopping around with an expression of OUCH ever since. She even took a kind of medicine called Benadryl to help her stop scratching. But all it did was make her verrrry sleeeepy. 

    Of course, in between naps Allison has made sure that we keep reading! The following two mystery stories (which are both part of their own series) kept us busy while Allison's foot got less itchy-scratchy-ouchy. The first features a little human girl-pup who finds a lost puppy, and in the second a pair of scrappy sisters solve a fairy tale mystery: 

Click me for more about the series and its author.

       In Cam Jansen and the Barking Treasure Mystery by David Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti, human-pup Cam, her mama, and some friends take a boat tour and end up in the middle of a mystery! A woman sneaks her puppy onboard in her purse even though dogs aren't allowed on the boat - and soon Little Treasure (the pup's name, which I think is SO silly!) is GONE. Aroooooooooo! Dognapped! 

The minute Allison read the part about Little Treasure being dognapped, I started to get nervous. Where did Little Treasure go? Who would take a pup? What if I ever get dognapped?! 

Calmly, Allison rubbed my tummy and reassured me that even if I were ever dognapped, my humans would find a way to get me back. 

"Besides," she said, "That woman brought her dog where she wasn't supposed to, and then she didn't pay attention - or put her pup on a leash! We wouldn't do that!" She smiled. "And you just watch. Cam Jansen is very special; she'll find the pup, don't worry." 

I settled down, comforted. Panting a little, I sat back on my haunches to listen to the rest of the story.  

Once Little Treasure vanishes, Cam leaps into action as fast as a bloodhound. This human-pup has a very special talent: she has a photographic memory. Allison says this means she can remember things in pictures - just like a camera! So Cam and her friend use what Cam remembers to find Little Treasure (and a certain shiny diamond collar). 

The dog's out of the bag then...   

     I liked this story, mostly. Cam's mom's friend is very funny (comic relief), and Cam Jansen herself is a loveable, smart character who truly enjoys helping people. The black-and-white line illustrations in the book add to a suspense-filled story. The ending (during which the mystery is solved partly through the thief's own slip-ups) proves satisfying if a bit predictable. The good guys win and get treats. The bad guy gets scolded and punished. But even better, the heroine solves the mystery by being herself and using her special talent. Everyone has a special gift or talent! It's a good idea to use your special talent to help someone else - by solving a mystery or otherwise!

I give this book two paws up. Especially the part at the end that asks human-pups to test their own memory/detective skills! Allison also highly recommends the Cam Jansen series; it was one of her favorite series when she was a young human-pup.

Best for human-pups grades 2-4.   

Click me for more about the Sisters Grimm and the author.

Click me to see the author and Al Roker discuss the books.

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley is the first book in a series about two sisters. When Sabrina and Daphne's parents disappear, they find themselves adopted by a strange human grown-up who calls herself their "Grandma Relda." Only, their parents never mentioned they had a living grandmama! Suspicious but desperately wanting to have a family again, the girls have trouble getting used to living in Ferryport. It seems that the Grimm family have a tradition: all members becomes fairy tale detectives. This means they make sure fairy tale characters and humans get along. In this story, fairy tale characters are real - and all living in Sabrina and Daphne's new hometown!

In a ruff whirl of kidnapped grandmas, mean giants, and fantastic magic, the girls must depend on each other as well as new friends like Puck the pixie prince, the Big Bad Wolf, and a sassy Magic Mirror. Only the sisters Grimm can solve the mystery and save their grandma! Lots of laughs in this one. Even grown-up humans will appreciate the fairy tale character references transferred to real life, Allison says. Also a lot of real feelings from little human-pups; family means a lot to all creatures! The illustrations are a bit strange, but fun just the same. I give this first in the series two paws up and a tail wag, and I've been told by Mama Suz that the next few books in the series are pretty good as well (the rest, she claims, get TOO weird). This one is for human-pups grades 4-6. And any grown-ups who love a good fairy tale of course! Woooof! 

*Note from my human Allison: The edition we read had comprehension and critical thinking questions at the back - great for family discussions or teachers' lesson plans.

And now? Now I'm off to finish watching a movie called Clue with my humans. Lots of shrieking and talk of "murder." Mysteries all around! But at least the movie's yells will help me ignore the silly BOOMS outside. Allison says people are setting off something called "fireworks." I say my poor little pup ears are near to busting with all the horrible noise! Awoooooo! Going to sleep in Allison's room tonight, I think. Even detectives get scared sometimes...

We'll be reading more mysteries at some point, but I think I need a break from hunting down the bad guys. I've still got a lot to learn! Woof!

Once again mysteriously yours (but with my human safe by my side),

Sam I Am