For Love Of A Dog #10

There is no need for an alarm clock.  They're more precise than anything conjured up by humans.  With a touch of their cold wet noses and sloppy kisses, dogs wake us up each morning at the same time without fail.

After relocating to a new home when Xena was four we took early morning walks with a neighbor and her dog.  Depending on the season it was usually dark as we began to seek all the new smells left since the previous day.  With noses as their guides Shadow and his human and Xena and I would briskly make discoveries first along one side of the road, then down the other side.

Despite Shadow's passing away, for years, until Xena and I no longer walked the loop (the last few months we were there), she would always stop at Shadow's house waiting for him and his pal to join us.  She remembered those walks and the shared companionship.  It was a bond never to be broken.

Our animal residents on this planet have much to teach us if we learn to look.  The friendships they forge are lasting based upon the best each brings to the relationship.  The Story of Diva and Flea (Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group, October 13, 2015) as told and shown by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi opens our eyes to the new sensory adventures which await us.

This is Diva's story.
For as long as she could remember,
Diva lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris,
France.  ...
This is Flea's story.
For as long as he could remember, Flea
also lived in Paris, France.  But, at no fixed
address.

Diva, guardian of her small enclosed courtyard and the old apartment building along with her human, Eva, does so with vigor and extreme caution.  She has never been beyond the front gate.  Flea, a flaneur in the City of Light, a looker at everything and of anything, gathers experiences.  Each day adds to his repertoire.

On the first day the very large cat saw the very small dog, Diva yips and runs away.  This is entirely hilarious to Flea, so he does it day after day after day.  Finally Diva, disgusted with his behavior toward her, questions his motives.  As a token of an apology Diva finds a dead mouse on her doorstep the next morning.

After a short chat and both of them laughing about Diva's latest request, a charming routine is established.  In the comfort of the courtyard, Flea tells Diva stories about his city exploits.  One afternoon he invites her to come with him.  It is a huge idea.

The next morning after a fitful night of wondering and wanting, with Flea's encouragement Diva, pawstep by pawstep, follows him all the way around the corner seeing something more beautiful than she had ever thought possible.  On the following day, on his visit to 11 avenue Le Play, Flea is intrigued by a noise from within the building.  With Diva's encouragement Flea, with extreme caution, pawstep by pawstep, follows her into the grand hallway and through the door to her home.

Even though Flea gazes upon things more beautiful than he ever thought possible, a very scary object next to a pair of feet makes him yell and run.  When Diva does not follow, Flea has to make a decision.  Diva is pleased with his choice, showing him what can only be defined as enchanting.  A favor returned causes unexpected sheer joy.  That's what friends do for each other.


In writing his first chapter book, Mo Willems again demonstrates his mastery of the written word.  We read but also listen to the music created by his sentences.  Readers will enjoy the parts of the story divided by French headings and the short descriptive chapter titles.  There is magic in his telling of this tale of friendship not necessarily because of the setting, although it is a stunning example of what can be right in our world, but because it speaks to truths we should or do hold in our collective hearts. Here are some sample passages.

He liked the name "Flea." He thought it was a funny name because he was a large cat, and a flea is a small animal.
Also, he may or may not have had fleas.

She especially liked the one about the tower so tall and so pointy that it could cut a cloud in half, like a knife slicing through a soft piece of delicious cheese.
Diva loved cheese.

"There are always exceptions," replied Flea.  "They are what make you exceptional."


The rough and tumble cat of the world with a crook in his tail sitting next to the sheltered tiny dog wearing a red bow, the Eiffel Tower and the courtyard gate in the background, with them gazing at each other smiling, is a clear invitation there is a story to be told.  The limited color palette shown on the front of the dust jacket is used throughout the book.  On the back, to the left, an ornate oval frames their first adventure together.  The same design on the chapter titles surrounds the ISBN.

The opening and closing endpapers in the identical darker shade of green used in Flea on the dust jacket supplies the perfect background for the drawings in black of Flea on the left and Diva on the right. Their backs are to readers as they look at the Eiffel Tower and the courtyard gate respectively. Readers will want to take note of the initials carefully placed within a shell on each of them.  A gorgeous aerial view of the city of Paris with an altered gargoyle and Flea taking in the scene presents us with a second title page.  Each part of the book uses the same darker hue of green as a canvas for small drawings of Flea and Diva.

For his single page images Tony DiTerlizzi has drawn delicate scroll work around them.  His smaller illustrations are showcased by the creamy color element on the page.  Intricate details, exquisite shading and the perspective of looking at the world through a small dog's and large cat's viewpoint furnish readers with the proper atmosphere for this story.  The looks on the faces of Diva and Flea quickly secure our connection to these two adorable characters.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when Diva notices the dead mouse near the steps.  (I know exactly how she feels as one of the neighborhood cats left me a similar gift one morning.)  Her stance and expression leave no doubt as to her feelings at this discovery.  You can almost hear what she is saying before you read the text.

Having read The Story of Diva and Flea as told and shown by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi several times and parts of it repeatedly I know you are going to want to add it to your bookshelves at home and in your classrooms and libraries.  It's a tale of a dog and a cat who make big changes one step at a time.  It's a tale of bravery.  It's a tale of friendship between two furry friends and two remarkable names in the world of children's literature.

To discover more about Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  At Mo Willems' website there are links to his other sites and blogs.  Here is the link to a page at Tony DiTerlizzi's site dedicated to this title.  Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi are interviewed at Time for Kids.  Enjoy the wonderful video where the duo talks about this collaboration. (Can you find the Easter eggs mentioned?)

Something New

On October 30, 2014 the Hallmark Channel aired the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.  One dog is selected to represent each of these categories:  Law Enforcement Dogs, Arson Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, Military Dogs, Guide and Hearing Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, and Emerging Hero Dogs.  The Emerging Hero Dogs category is for those dogs who are heroes to their people; ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things.  From these eight winners one champion is chosen for the year.

Several of these dogs had survived incredible hardships reshaping their lives and the lives of the humans they chose.  Madame Martine (Albert Whitman & Company, September 1, 2014) written and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen is a story about a woman living alone in Paris caught in a comfortable routine.  One rainy day, a Saturday, when she least expects it, change is about to step into her life.

Madame Martine lived alone in a little apartment in Paris.  She took the same walk every day.  She shopped at the same stores.  She wore the same coat.  

She is perfectly content with this arrangement.  Even though she can see the Eiffel Tower from her window, she has never visited or seen the views from its heights.  For each day of the week she eats the same food.  On Saturdays and Sundays she does the same thing without exception.

Standing under her umbrella on that rainy Saturday, the life-changing Saturday, she sees a small, wet and dirty dog looking at her from bushes lining the sidewalk.  When no one appears to be looking for a lost companion, she decides the dog needs her.  He is only too happy to comply with the coziness she offers.

On Sunday she and Max, her name for him, take a short walk, chatting with tourists about the Eiffel Tower.  She gives them directions but does not understand why anyone would want to see it.  Max easily falls into the comfortable routine Madame Martine follows.  Or does he?

On a later Saturday as they are returning from feeding the birds, Max spots a squirrel, pulling his leash from Madame Martine's hands.  It happens they are walking beneath the Eiffel Tower.  The little furry scamp dashes up the stairs toward the second level, flight of stairs after flight of stairs.  Madame Martine has no choice.  She climbs up after Max.

This is not what Madame Martine planned for her Saturday.  Oh, no, not at all.  Max leads her to look with new eyes.  Their Saturdays are never the same again.

For more readers than we probably know Paris is a geographical place name only or perhaps completely unknown. For this reason I am thrilled Paris and the Eiffel Tower are the setting for this story.  It works splendidly with the flow of the narrative Sarah S. Brannen creates.  The technique of repeating the same phrases at the beginning and the end is one readers enjoy; bringing them into the characters' lives.

It's also important to recognize even though Madame Martine is pleased with the ritual of her days, she is open to adding a difference.  Initially Max brings her out of her sameness shell giving her company and altering her focus.  Little does she know how much richer her life will become.

Sarah S. Brannen expertly draws us into the action, keeping us on the edge of our seats as Madame Martine chases Max. Here is a sample portion of a passage from the book.

Madame Martine climbed after him.  One flight,
two flights, three flights.
"Max!" she called. Four flights, five flights, six
flights.  She stopped to catch her breath.
Max saw her resting and also stopped to catch
his breath.


Rendered in watercolor the illustrations throughout evoke an astute sense of time and place.  With the opening picture on the matching dust jacket and cover, we are sure Madame Martine is in for a surprise.  The look on Max's face mirrors the joy of freedom found or a dog on a mission.  On the back the image, a bird's eye view of a part of the Eiffel Tower and surrounding area, extends to the flap edge.  In a series of five different small images of Max, the opening and closing endpapers are styled in rows of diamonds in hues of white and the rusty red of the patches on his coat.

Small brush strokes form the delicate elements in every scene.  Sarah S. Brannen uses a full color palette but in the beginning, before Max, there is a paler overtone with more gray.  Madame Martine's clothing is of darker, duller shades of brown, gray and blue.  The longer Max is with her the more golden glow is added to her days.

Brannen shifts her illustration sizes and our view of the characters creating mood and emotion, framing some with white space.  One of my favorite scenes stretches across two pages.  It is the only one without text but it conveys much about the relationship of Madame Martine and Max.  The little lost dog has accomplished quite a bit as they both see something for the very first time.


If I needed to choose one word to express my impression of Madame Martine written and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen it would be charming.  This is one of those books which can be simply adored for the story it tells but also can be the beginning of discussion about doing something different.  It asks us to notice the amazing things around us every day which we may neglect.  I can understand completely how Max transformed Madame Martine's world, Xena does the same for me every single day.

If you would like to learn more about Sarah S. Brannen and her work please visit her website by following the link embedded in her name.  On her blog she speaks about her tour for this book.  One thing she mentions is a pack of cards her publisher designed.  It might be fun to try this; having your readers create cards about anything new to do.

Secrets And Survival

Again and again when reading a word, a book title or a sentence within the text, a favorite tune, pop song, musical or movie soundtrack will suddenly start playing in my mind.  When recently reading several books about superheroes, Holding Out For A Hero from the movie Footloose was on a continuous loop.  You never know how things will connect in your brain.

Two years ago Kate Messner started a highly charged mystery adventure series with the title Capture The Flag (Scholastic Press, July 2012).  It was followed by Hide and Seek (Scholastic Press, April 2013) which I recently reread.  The three likable, clever characters, Anna Revere-Hobbs, Jose McGilligan and Henry Thorn have become junior members of a secret group, The Silver Jaguar Society, whose mission is to protect artifacts, many centuries old.  Each of them has adult family members who can trace their origins back to famous artists as well as being members of the society.

In the second book they are whisked away within hours from a reception in Washington, D. C. to the jungles of Costa Rica to locate the stolen Jaguar Cup.  Due to an earthquake the children are separated from their parents.  From one incident to the next you are on the edge of your seat but never more so than when the children have to face Vincent Goosen, the diabolical leader of their enemies, the Serpentine Princes, a group of international art thieves.  In case you are wondering at this point, two pieces have consistently played in my mind when reading these books, the theme songs from Indiana Jones and National Treasure.

In the recently published (June 24, 2014) Manhunt (Scholastic Press), the third title, problems for The Silver Jaguar Society have seriously escalated.  The children's ability to work together will be tested to its limits.  Will Anna's natural inquisitiveness, Jose's reliance on quotations and all things Harry Potter and Henry's gamer savvy be enough?

Breaking glass and wailing alarm bells shattered the midnight quiet just before Harry Thorn's baby sister was born.

Throughout the world as midnight strikes in various countries, valuable artwork is being stolen.  It's one of the largest conceived thefts of priceless pieces in Silver Jaguar Society history; masterminded by Serpentine Princes' leader, Vincent Goosen.  He demands the release of his son from prison.  It is abundantly apparent by the items taken members of the society are also in danger.

From a meeting at the society headquarters in Boston, the children and their adult family members escape to a safe house in Paris, France.  After arriving at a society-member-owned book store, Shakespeare and Company, the adults leave on an assignment giving the children strict instructions.  When the Mona Lisa is taken, their parents don't return and a secret message is left on the store bulletin board, Anna, Jose and Henry know it's time to break rules and help in any manner possible.  With the son of the store owner, Hem, assisting they try to crack the riddle left to them before it's too late.

To add to the predicament in which they find themselves, someone within the society is leaking information to the Serpentine Princes making it difficult to be loyal to someone you might not trust.  When the poetic puzzle turns up missing, they realize others are trying to piece the clues together.  From a crypt at Notre-Dame Cathedral, to a dungeon within the Musee du Louvre, to the burial place, Pantheon, to cells within The Conciergerie and then among the Catacombs, the four relentlessly pursue every lead.

When the unthinkable happens Henry's physical endurance, mental skills and emotional pluck are pushed to their limits.  Trickery and traps abound above and below ground.  Much like the streets and alleys in Paris, this narrative twists, stops and turns.


In this volume author Kate Messner deftly writes a first-class thriller.  You simply do not know from chapter to chapter, page to page what will happen next.  It's as if she has given you a bundle of tiny clues to imagine the solution to this mystery but you're not sure if all the items belong.  Her technique of incorporating cliff-hanger statements or sentiments at the end of chapters keeps you turning pages.  The action scenes give new meaning to the words heart-pounding.

The individual personalities of Anna, Jose, Henry and even Hem, along with their specific family relationships through dialogue, whispered conversations and stress-filled discussions contribute to reader involvement; we are entwined with their movements and emotions.  As in the previous two titles, Messner includes realistic, relevant descriptions of place based upon her personal research as duly noted in her extensive author's note at the book's end.  Here are a few of many marked passages.

"Why are we going to Paris?" Henry must have said it louder than he meant to because the whole van went quiet, and Jose looked back with a worried face.  "I mean...I think we deserve to know what's going on," Henry said, trying to keep his voice even.
"You do," Aunt Lucinda said, peering out the window at the brick buildings rushing past.  "We'll fill you in once we get you to the airport and you're safe."
Her last word hung in the air, and Henry thought about what she meant.
They'd be safe at the airport.
Until they got there, they weren't.

"Yeah..."Anna said, finally breaking eye contact with the skull.  She stood up, brushed off her knees and blinked a few times, fast.  Henry could tell she was trying to get her brave back, but that wasn't easy down here.  "We need to watch for the crossbones.  Remember the photo on that lady's website?"  Anna held up her pointer fingers, crossed like an X.  
Jose nodded.  "The spot marked with imperfect X. ' "  And they started down the hallway of bones.


This latest title in the Silver Jaguar Society mystery series, Manhunt, written by Kate Messner is certain to have readers gasping for breath.  A strong sense of loyalty, family and love shines like a beacon amid all the action.  You couldn't ask for a better combination of plot, strong characters and suspenseful mystery than this book.  Thank you, Kate Messner.

Please follow the two different links embedded in Kate Messner's name to gain further insight into this title.  Kate Messner has created a Pinterest page linked here. 

If you wish to be in the drawing for a copy of the ARC please leave a comment below.  Include your Twitter handle so I can contact you.  If you are not on Twitter check back this weekend to see if you are a winner.  I will conduct the drawing Sunday evening at 5PM EDT.