About the Book
New dog, no tricks!
Becket Branch has one birthday wish—a dog! Dogs are outgoing and friendly, and they live life loud, just like Becket. Becket’s twin, Nicholas, wants a pet more like him—a peaceful, quiet indoor cat. When their parents take them to the shelter to choose a dog and a cat, it should be Becket’s biggest BEAUTIFUL ALERT ever. But Becket’s dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be a super-shy scaredy-pooch. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention and greeting visitors to Blackberry Farm.
Can Becket and Nicholas learn how to love Dibs and Given as they are—even if they aren’t exactly the pets the twins dreamed of?
With black-and-white drawings throughout by award-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham (Real Friends), this second volume of the Blackberry Farm series offers a gentle message about embracing new friends who may not match preconceived expectations.
My Review
This is such a super-cute series! My 8 year old daughter is a major animal lover, and we’ve really enjoyed these books. With adorable illustrations scattered throughout the pages, the book is a lovely way to explore personalities, family dynamics, and social interactions in a kid-friendly way that encourages thoughtful conversation and offers giggles and smiles at the antics of kids and animals alike.
The writing is easily accessible and the characters are delightful. The plot and pacing are age-appropriate but also engaging for an adult, if you want to partner-read or use it as a bed-time story chapter read. The simple line drawings were a great way for us to talk through what we imagined the characters and their world to look like and offered excellent opportunities for expanding on the emotions, concepts, and actions of the characters (a fun activity we often engage in when reading together – my daughter likes to imagine herself in the book).
Thanks to the author and publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
About the Author
Adele Griffin is the acclaimed author of Tell Me No Lies and Be True to Me, as well as Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both finalists for the National Book Award as well as the middle grade series The Oodlethunks and Blackberry Farm. She lives with her husband and children in Brooklyn, NY. You can find her online at adelegriffin.com or on Twitter: @adelegriffin.
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