Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Do you have any emerging readers ready to start chapter books but needing to take it slow? Today we get to share an early chapter book series that shares real life problems and solutions that young kids may have. The series is called Dog Days and is by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Genevieve Kote. There are two books in the series, and we are sharing both of them. The first is Hazel Helps Out. The series is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
Publisher's Summary:
Can Hazel find a new home, a place for herself, and a way to contribute to the family doggy daycare business?Nine-year-old Hazel and her mother are facing some big changes. Grandma has been running Dog Days, a dog day care, all by herself for a long time, but now she needs some help—help that she doesn’t really want to accept. Fortunately, Mom’s best friend Mallory and her kids, KC and Jonah, live nearby. Mallory and Mom dreamed of running the business when they grew up. That time could be coming.
Hazel and Mom arrive for a visit that might turn into a long-term stay. First, they have to figure out what’s going on. It’s hard to get prickly Grandma to tell them anything, about the business or her health. There are a lot of dogs to keep track of, including Houdini, who keeps them on their toes by repeatedly escaping. Hazel knows KC and Jonah, but they aren’t friends—at least not yet. And Hazel’s elderly dog Spot is having a hard time keeping up with the younger, more active dogs.
Mom and Mallory don’t want to tell Grandma about Houdini. Grandma doesn’t want to tell Mom and Mallory the truth about her health. All Hazel knows is that she doesn’t like keeping secrets. If only there was a way to get everyone, young and old, to work together.
From Me:
In this first book Hazel and her mother travel to visit her grandmother who has had a heart attack. Her grandmother is not known as the nicest person, and both Hazel and her mother don't really enjoy visiting her but are trying to stay positive. This book deals with some difficult relationships and finding the good in them. It shares dealing with the difficulties of a loved one growing older and how it can be difficult for the older loved one as well. The grandmother owns and runs a doggy daycare and Hazel and her mother as well as her mother's best friend and her daughters take over running it or at least helping run it as the grandmother recovers. Hazel has to get used to seeing the kids of the best friend getting along with her grandmother.
This book is about helping family and friends and building relationships with people who can be crabby and a bit mean. During the visit Hazel begins to see a different side of her grandmother and starts to enjoy being there even though she misses her friends at home and living in the city. It is the perfect book for kids just getting ready for chapter books. The illustrations help share the story and make it a bit easier to read. It deals with real-life situations and emotions that many kids have to deal with as well as adding in the fun of the dogs.
The second book in the series picks up where the first one leaves off. It is The Old Dogs' Club. This one deals with some big feelings as well as figuring out relationships.
Publisher's Summary:
Hazel’s exciting new plan for the Old Dogs’ Club might be in trouble before it even starts. Can she find a way to get everyone to agree?
Hazel had a great idea: the Old Dogs’ Club, a program for seniors (like Hazel’s own dog, Spot) who are still up for some social interaction, mental stimulation, and exercise but can’t handle the intensity of the full day care environment. She, KC, and Jonah have convinced their mothers and Hazel’s grandma to let them try it out for the summer at Dog Days, the family doggy day care.
Everyone is very excited, but as they start to plan, Hazel realizes they all have very different opinions about how to run the club. It was her idea, but Grandma vetoes a number of her suggestions, and it is starting to feel like KC and Jonah are taking over. Plus, Spot isn’t getting along with Muffin, another club member.
Mom and Hazel are heading back to Chicago at the end of the summer, so maybe it doesn’t matter that the Old Dogs’ Club isn’t turning out to be what Hazel expected. But it’s hard to give up on a great idea, even when things get tough.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
From Me:
Hazel has to deal with anger, sadness, and jealousy in this book. She has a hard time finding her place in Dog Days and how she can help out since she is just there for the summer plus it seems like her grandmother likes the other kids better and wants them to be involved more. Add in that KC is bossy and it is really hard. Plus, nothing seems to be going right. The writing course she signed up for has a newspaper writer instead of a novelist. She is not sure she wants to keep going but she does want to be friends with the girl she met at it. However, her grandmother doesn't make this easy. There are those miscommunications and misconceptions that happen every day in life, and they are in this book and Hazel id dealing with them. It is a great book for kids who are trying to find their place and how to deal with some of the big emotions and relationships.
