Animal Planet All-Star Readers: I Am Major, First Dog, Level 2

Animal Planet All-Star Readers: I Am Major, First Dog, Level 2 is the heartwarming true story of how one lucky German Shepherd puppy went from living in an animal shelter to living in the White House.

Meet Major! He’s the very first dog whose “wags to riches” true story has him going from an animal shelter to living in the White House. Told from Major’s perspective, Animal Planet All-Star Readers: I Am Major, First Dog, Level 2 details how this young, energetic German Shepherd found his forever family, including older “brother” Champ—and tons of toys and treats. Children will discover what it’s like to be an adopted dog, as well as a “first dog,” and they’ll learn about other presidential pets. This Level 2 reader features sweet, humorous full-color illustrations and was developed using guidelines created by esteemed childhood literacy expert, Dr. Adria Klein. The included glossary will help children develop their literacy skills, and Major's story will encourage an interest in animals.

K-Gr 2-Major the German Shepherd lives with his "parents" Joe and Jill Biden in the White House. The dog tells his own story, from the care he received in an animal shelter, to the process the Bidens underwent to adopt him, to his life in the most famous residence in the land. He explains that both his parents do important work. But, from his point-of-view, his work is also important: The White House, with its 132 rooms and ample grounds, provides many opportunities for playing fetch and hide-and-seek, chasing squirrels, and digging holes. Major talks about different dog breeds and the characteristics of German Shepherds, though, "I can tell by my nose…there's a lot of history in my new home," may be confusing. He also shares that other presidents not only owned dogs, but horses and sheep as well. An engaging cartoon illustration of Major, his jaws open in a smile, ushers readers into his world. Large simple pictures fill each page. Words like "veterinarian," "toxic," "foster," and "breed" appear in bold among the simple sentences and are defined in a glossary at the end. VERDICT An additional purchase that will interest emerging readers.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.