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Book Reviews & Awards
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ASPCA Henry Bergh
Children's Book Award |
Freckles: The Mystery of the Little
White Dog in the
Desert has
won the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's
Book
Award! We are so
proud because the award was established "to honor books that
promote
the humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things."
And
that is what Freckles is all about -- helping to instill compassion
for
animals and for each other.
The category in which Freckles won is "humane heroes" -- and
that's just
the way we feel about her. In fact, the ASPCA created
a new and special
award this year and named Freckles the ASPCA Humane Hero of the
Year!
The Final Selection Panel consisted of professionals from animal welfare
organizations, libraries, and educational institutions selected for their
expertise in children's literature and animal issues.
The ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award was
presented
during a
reception at the 2004 Annual American Library
Association Conference
in
Orlando, Florida, in June.
KIDS' HOME LIBRARY |
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One of the Top Five
Children's Books of the Year! |
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By Lee Littlewood
©
Copley News Service
Hurray for animals!
Appreciating animals is vital to our Earth and good for our health.
Studies
show that pets can help lower rates of depression in humans. Pets
can help
children, and elderly adults, conquer turmoil in their lives and
foster healthy
relationships...
Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert
by Paul M. Howey; illustrated by Judy Mehn Zabriskie; AZTexts Publishing;
72
pages; $14.95.
An incredibly thoughtful, moving tale, this true story tells of a
courageous
dog abandoned in the Arizona desert who gives birth to six
puppies and
manages to protect them from heat and other animals.
Eventually, Freckles
and pups are rescued and kept in a jail cell where
they're cared for in an
innovative program, by inmates.
With clear, inspiring writing that hooks the reader, Howey then tells
of the
pups being adopted, though a home for the older Freckles takes
longer.
Howey's wife, after visiting the jail, falls in love with the
spotted canine
and takes her home, where the couple discover much about
Freckles' past
and are impressed by the way she takes care of their
granddaughter and
other dogs.
Freckles eventually becomes a pet therapy dog, giving hope to homeless
and abused children and giving readers a deeper appreciation of animals.
A
glossary at the back helps kids with desert terms, information about
adopting pets, and discussion topics for teachers and parents.
With longer text, Freckles' tale is perfect for reading aloud to
younger kids.
Children 5 to 11, even those into chapter books primarily,
will enjoy
Howey's feel-good story.
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Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in
the Desert
In this compassionate, true story about the special qualities of a
rescued dog,
valuable lessons about the joys and responsibilities of pets can be
gleaned.
Freckles' life is a testimony to the therapeutic benefits of
animal/human
relationships.
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Wee Ones Magazine |
This lovely hard cover book (Freckles: The Mystery of the Little
White Dog
in the Desert) is a treasure … the story interesting and exciting,
and it is
based on a real dog. Children will come away from this book with a love
for
animals and greater appreciation for God's creatures.
Not only is the story memorable, the illustrations are beautiful. Judy
Zabriskie
captures the essence of Freckles and her plight with a realistic portrayal
of the
desert and dog, Freckles … all very interesting as well as thought
provoking.
It is amazing that Freckles survived, but she obviously had a purpose in
life
beyond being a good companion to her owners.
This is an uplifting story that would be great to share with a child.
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Midwest Book Review
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Paul M. Howey's Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in
the
Desert is a heartwarming true story about the love and
comradeship offered by a dog and her puppies. The black-and-white illustrations of Judy Mehn Zabriskie add an especially endearing touch of charm to the text story, which is sophisticated enough to appeal to young readers who are almost ready to move on from picture books to more complicated reading
material. Freckles is highly recommended -- especially for young animal
lovers.
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Light
of Consciousness
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It's a mystery how a little white dog with brown spots ended
up in the desert caring
for her newborn puppies. Even after her rescue and
adoption into a loving family,
Freckles continued to care for and defend those around her.
Quite wonderfully, she
became part of a pet therapy team, helping children and
teenagers. Judy Mehn
Zabriskie's drawings beautifully illustrate this story.
Freckles has won numerous
endorsements including a Children's Book Award from the ASPCA. |