​Who doesn’t love dog stories? I had a hard time choosing which dog story to review today because there are so many. Without further ado, here is my review of: 

Right away you feel for Sterling. The poor guy lives in a “mostly waterproof box on a slightly damp pillow,” and up until now, no one had wanted him. I mean, really? Who wouldn’t want to give a home to Sterling? He’s adorably rendered in a silvery-gray color with sweet puppy-dog eyes and long, skinny body. But (also adorably) Sterling is sure that thistime will be different because hewill be different. Sterling stows away in a box of forks, hoping he’ll blend in, and that the family who ordered the silverware will think he’s the best fork ever! He tries SO hard to be a perfect fork, but then he’s not sure the family needs a fork, so he tries to be the best something else. It takes a while, but don’t worry, Sterling finally figures out what to be, and he’s just perfect at it. This clever, heart-warming story is filled with dogs, misunderstandings, humor, love, and kitchen utensils. Trust me when I say this one is a winner!
 
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Happy Sisters Day everyone! I hope you give the sisters in your life a hug, if you’re near enough to each other, or at least send a special message. I have another suggestion for a way to celebrate this special day: Read one of my favorite sisters books, of course! Maybe you could even read two or three or four. I fell in love with Maple when I read all about her in the first book of the series. And then I fell in love with Maple’s sister, Willow, as well as her companion books, MAPLE & WILLOW TOGETHER and MAPLE & WILLOW APART. So, naturally, last Christmas I couldn’t resist checking out MAPLE & WILLOW’S CHIRSTMAS TREE. I encourage you to read all of the MAPLE books. Here is a review to let you know a little about the first in the series: 

​This book takes you on a journey with little Maple from infancy to childhood. As the seasons pass, she grows right alongside the special tree planted in her honor. Sometimes Maple wishes she had someone to play with, but she still has her tree. But one day, “something surprising” happens, and Maple becomes a big sister! This character-driven story that touches on themes of friendship and family. Lori Nichols’ lyrical text tells a lovely story, but do to her illustrations. Can I gush about the illustrations? Lori Nichols’ art is just dreamy! The color palette and soft strokes are perfectly suited for this sweet story. I loved how she illustrated the tree and Maple in different seasons, watching Maple grow from baby to big sister, and seeing all the little animals that tell their own story in the background. If you haven’t read MAPLE or the other books in this series, I encourage you to run to your book store or library now!
 
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