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EPS
The Familiars (age 8-11)
by Adam Jay Epstein
animals ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic
Publisher comments: When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn't expect his life to change. But that's exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar. Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he's got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he's the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by a terrible evil, it will take all of Aldwyn's street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!
title: The Familiars
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STO
Cat Walk (age 8-11)
by Mary Stolz
adventure ... animals
Catalog: Yearning to be more than just a barnyard rat catcher, a young cat in search of a name embarks on a journey that finally leads him to a special place he can call a home.
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VAN
Smart Dog (age 8-11)
by Vivian Vande Velde
brilliant protagonist ... friendship ... school ... animals
Fifth grader Amy Prochenko is wildly unpopular. Then one day Amy meets Sherlock, a dog on the run from a university lab. Sherlock is not like other dogs: He can talk, he's smarter than most of Amy's classmates--and he needs Amy's help. Suddenly Amy's life is full of danger and excitement, and she finds she is becoming, of all things, popular. Best of all, she discovers in Sherlock the sort of friend she's always longed for--and one she must protect no matter what the cost.
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AIK
Arabel's Raven (age 8-11)
by Joan Aiken
animals ... humor
Young Arabel's life is changed forever when her father, a taxi driver, brings home an injured bird he finds in the street. This wacky raven eats everything in sight, answers the telephone by squawking ``Nevermore!'' and causes chaos wherever he goes--but Arabel loves her new feathered friend, whom she names Mortimer.
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KIN
Lady Lollipop (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
princesses ... animals
Publisher comments: Lollipop is no ordinary pig. According to her young trainer, Johnny Skinner, she's the smartest pig in the entire kingdom. When people stare into Lollipop's bright, intelligent eyes, it somehow changes them for the better. But can Lollipop win over the spoiled Princess Penelope - and her not-so-pig-friendly parents, the King and Queen?
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NEW
Hachiko Waits (age 8-11)
by Leslea Newman
illness/loss ... animals
Publisher comments: Professor Ueno's loyal Akita, Hachiko, waits for him at the train station every afternoon, and even after the professor has a fatal heart attack while at work, Hachiko faithfully continues to await his return until the day the dog dies. Based on a true story.
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HEN
White Stallion of Lipizza (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
animals
A baker's son, who dreams of becoming a riding master at Vienna's Spanish Court Riding School, is admitted as an apprentice and achieves his desire under the tutelage of both two-legged and four-legged masters.
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BYA
The Midnight Fox (age 8-11)
by Betsy Cromer Byars
family ... animals
Tom is horrified when his parents tell him he is to stay on Aunt Millie's farm while they are away on a trip. When he arrives, he finds the farm every bit as strange and uncomfortable as he feared - that is, until the appearance of the black fox.
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BYA
The House of Wings (age 8-11)
by Betsy Cromer Byars
nature ... animals ... family
Left with his grandfather until his parents are settled in Detroit, Sammy learns to respect and love the old man as they care for an injured crane together.
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KIP
How the Camel Got His Hump (age 8-11)
by Rudyard Kipling
animals ... folklore
Once upon a time, when the world was new-and-all, Man turned to the animals for help--to the horse for carrying, the dog for fetching, the ox for plowing. But the camel refused to do a lick of work, haughtily replying Humpf! to all requests. The other animals complained of the inequity to the Djinn of all the Deserts, who used his powerful magic to punish the lazy camel.
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GEO
There's an Owl in the Shower (age 8-11)
by Jean Craighead George
family ... animals ... nature
Borden's father, Leon, was a logger in the old-growth forests of California. That is, until the spotted-owl lovers interfered. One day, frustrated by his father's unemployment, Borden sets out on a mission of revenge against the spotted owl but returns home with a half-starved owlet instead. The family soon discovers that the owlet, whom Borden names Bardy, loves to take showers and watch late-night TV. Only after the whole family has fallen in love with Bardy do they realize that the conflict between nature and human industry is not so easily resolved.
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WAL
Beauty (age 8-11)
by Bill Wallace
animals ... family
Unhappy about his parents splitting up and moving with his mother to Grandpa's farm, eleven-year-old Luke finds comfort in riding and caring for a horse named Beauty.
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KNI
Lassie Come-Home (age 8-11)
by Eric Knight
adventure ... animals
A collie undertakes a 1000-mile journey in order to once again meet her former master at the school gate.
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EDW
Little Bo: the Story of Bonnie Boadicea (age 8-11)
by Julie Edwards
voyages/journeys ... adventure ... animals
After being separated from her brothers and sisters, a very small cat named Bo falls in with a sailor and becomes a ship's cat, having various adventures at sea.
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HOB
Sheep (age 8-11)
by Valerie Hobbs
adventure ... animals
After a fire destroys the farm where he was born, a young border collie acquires a series of owners and learns about life as he seeks a home and longs to fulfill his life's purpose of shepherding sheep.
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KIN
Harry's Mad (age 8-11)
by Dick King-Smith
adventure ... animals
Harry's legacy from his great-uncle, a talking parrot, proves to be a much more exciting gift than he ever imagined.
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COA
The Cat Who Went to Heaven (age 8-11)
by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
animals ... folklore ... the arts
Catalog: A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, by humility and devotion, helps to bring about a miracle.
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CLI
Harvey's Marvelous Monkey Mystery (age 8-11)
by Eth Clifford
humor ... animals ... mystery
Catalog: Harvey finds himself embroiled in a mystery when a monkey appears at his bedroom window in the middle of the night.
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CLI
Harvey's Horrible Snake Disaster (age 8-11)
by Eth Clifford
animals ... family
Catalog: When ten-year-old Harvey is visited by his cousin Nora, trouble is bound to ensue, and this year's episode with snakes is no exception.
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COU
Frankenbug (age 8-11)
by Steven Cousins
science fiction ... humor ... animals ... school
Inspired by the movie Frankenstein, bug-lover Adam Cricklestein decides to create a monster bug that will protect him from the school bully, Jeb McAllister.
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BAG
Animal Ark Pets Series (age 8-11)
by Ben M. Baglio
adventure ... animals
Mandy and James don't just work with animals at the Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital, they love their pets, too.
title: Chick Challenge
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BAG
Animal Ark Series (age 8-11)
by Ben Baglio
animals ... adventure
Meet Mandy, the daughter of two veterinarians who own the Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital. Whenever an animal is in trouble, Mandy and the vets at the clinic are there to help.
title: Kittens in the Kitchen
title: Pony on the Porch
title: Puppies in the Pantry
title: Goat in the Garden
title: Badger in the Basement
title: Sheepdog in the Snow
title: Cub in the Cupboard
title: Piglet in a Playpen
title: Ponies at the Point
title: Owl in the Office
title: Lamb in the Laundry
title: Kitten in the Cold
title: Goose on the Loose
title: Bunnies in the Bathroom
title: Hamster in a Handbasket
title: Squirrels in the School
title: Guinea Pig in the Garage
title: Shetland in the Shed
title: Dolphin in the Deep
title: Foals in the Field
title: Horse in the House
title: Pony in a Package
title: Puppy in a Puddle
title: Tabby in the Tub
title: Pup at the Palace
title: Mare in the Meadow
title: Cats at the Campground
title: Hound at the Hospital
title: Raccoons on the Roof
title: Hedgehogs in the Hall
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WIS
Christopher Mouse: the Tale of a Small Traveler (age 8-11)
by William Wise
adventure ... friendship ... animals
After being sold to an unscrupulous pet store owner, a young mouse lives with several owners and has many adventures, before ending up with an appreciative family.
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WHI
Charlotte's Web (age 8-11)
by E. B. White
friendship ... animals ... enterprise
Wilbur the pig is desolate when he discovers he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner, until his spider friend Charlotte comes up with a plan to save him.
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STA
The Green Dog: a Mostly True Story (age 8-11)
by Suzanne Fisher Staples
friendship ... animals
The summer after fourth grade, a lonely girl wants just one thing: a dog. It's all she can think of. She tries everything to convince her parents to let her have one, but nothing works. She is sure that she will spend another whole summer alone, dogless and friendless, with no one to share her adventures in the woods and waterways of northeastern Pennsylvania. Just when things look bleakest, a dog appears on the side of the road and needs rescuing. He looks exactly like the dog she's been dreaming of. Together they spend long, golden days fishing, swimming, and exploring the woods. Jeff works his magic on everyone in the house, but it's soon evident that he has a nose for trouble, like digging up the neighbor's rhubarb patch and overturning a pail of green paint. Suzanne's father rapidly loses patience. "One more incident," he warns, "and that dog is going to the farm."
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HEN
Born to Trot (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... animals
As he learns about the famous Hambletonian, sire of the American trotter, young Gib White dreams of some day having his own filly become a champion trotter.
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CLE
Socks (age 8-11)
by Beverly Cleary
humor ... realistic ... friendship ... family ... animals
Socks is one happy cat. He lives with a nice young couple called Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for his territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new friend and a new way to be a part of the family.
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NAY
The Grand Escape (age 8-11)
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
humor ... adventure ... animals
It's a scary world out there. If only Marco hadn't read a newspaper article about a ranch and become determined to see one. If only Polo hadn't found himself longing for the mother he barely remembered as a soft-warm-wiggle-purr-milk-tongue. Then the two tabbies might have been content to remain pampered house cats forever. But when their owners leave a door open, Marco and Polo can't resist the temptation to escape to the outside world.
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MOR
Kavik the Wolf Dog (age 8-11)
by Walt Morey
friendship ... nature ... survival ... adventure ... animals
Following instinct alone, a wolf-dog embarks on a fantastic journey over 2000 miles from Washington to Alaska to return to the boy who once saved his life.
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HAR
Star in the Storm (age 8-11)
by Joan Hiatt Harlow
adventure ... animals
All non-sheepherding dogs have been outlawed from the rocky coastal village where Maggie lives. Unwilling to give up her beloved Newfoundland, Sirius, Maggie defies the law and hides Sirius away. But when a steamer crashes into the rocks during a violent storm and starts to sink with a hundred passengers on board, Maggie faces a difficult choice. She knows Sirius can help rescue the people trapped on the ship, but bringing him out of hiding would put his own life in jeopardy. Is Maggie's brave dog a big enough hero to save the desperate passengers, and himself?
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FLE
Jim Ugly (age 8-11)
by Sid Fleischman
adventure ... mystery ... animals ... humor
Twelve-year-old Jake is thrown into an uneasy alliance with proud, one-man dog, Jim Ugly, when the dog's owner, Jake's father, suddenly disappears. Confident that Jim Ugly can pick up Jake's father's trail, boy and dog set out on the adventure of their lives.
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CRE
Love That Dog (age 8-11)
by Sharon Creech
illness/loss ... animals ... authorship ... school ... poetry
Jack hate poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments, and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say.
sequel: Hate That Cat
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HEN
Stormy: Misty's Foal (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... adventure ... animals
A raging storm slashes across Assateague and Chincoteague islands. Water is everywhere! The wild ponies and the people must battle for their lives. In the midst of the storm, Misty-the famous mare of Chincoteague-is about to give birth. Paul and Maureen are frantic with worry as the storm rages on... will Misty and her colt survive? This is the thrilling story of the hurricane that destroyed the wild herds of Assateague, and how strength and love helped rebuild them.
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HEN
Misty of Chincoteague (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
enterprise ... adventure ... animals
Nobody could capture the Phantom, the wildest mare on the island. Paul and Maureen had their hearts set on owning her. They worked hard to earn the money she would cost. On Pony Penning Day, Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both?
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HEN
King of the Wind (age 8-11)
by Marguerite Henry
adventure ... animals
This is the classic story of Sham and his friend, the stable boy Agba. Their adventures take them from the sands of the Sahara to the royal courts of France and, finally, to the green pastures and stately homes of England. For Sham was the renowned Godolphin Arabian, whose blood flows through the veins of almost every superior Thoroughbred. Sham's speed, like his story, has become legendary.
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DIC
Because of Winn-Dixie (age 8-11)
by Kate Dicamillo
growing up ... family ... friendship ... animals
Publisher comments: Opal spends all one sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of her dog, Winn-Dixie, or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship and forgiveness can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.
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CLE
Henry Huggins (age 8-11)
by Beverly Cleary
adventure ... animals ... realistic
Publisher comments: Henry Huggins feels that nothing very interesting ever happens to him. But from the moment a stray dog in the drugstore begs for a taste of his ice-cream cone and downs it in one gulp, everything is different. Henry names the dog Ribsy and decides to keep him. Before Henry even reaches home with Ribsy he spends all of his money, gets kicked off three buses, and enjoys a hair-raising ride in a police car. And that's only the beginning of Henry's exciting new life! See also the rest of the Henry Huggins series.
sequel: Henry and Beezus
sequel: Henry and Ribsy
sequel: Ribsy
sequel: Henry and the Paper Route
sequel: Henry and the Clubhouse

Palo Verde Elementary School, Sat Aug 25 11:55:34 2012
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