Synopses & Reviews
< div=""> < div=""> The sheep closed in around him like a big, woolly blanket. The< br=""> puppy had never been so scared or so excited in his life. Soon< br=""> he was racing, feinting, dodging & #8211; learning what it means to be< br=""> one of the proud breed of Border collies, the finest sheepherders< br=""> in the world. Then, almost overnight, his life is turned upside< br=""> down. He finds himself in a series of strange places, with no< br=""> sheep, his family gone. With nothing but the courage he was< br=""> born with and a dream, he searches for the life he once knew, < br=""> gathering names and adventures as he goes. For a short time, < br=""> he& #8217; s called Blackie. To the Goat Man, he& #8217; s Shep. To Hollerin, < br=""> he& #8217; s Spot. There& #8217; s one name that threatens to forever haunt< br=""> him & #8211; Sparky, the name Billy the circus man calls him when he< br=""> reaches for the whip. But there& #8217; s another name that he is given, < br=""> one that finally makes him feel at home . . .< iv=""> < div=""> < br=""> Known for her rich character development, the author brings< br=""> all her skills to delving into the mind of a clever, philosophical, < br=""> and hopeful dog searching for a home.< br=""> < br=""> < iv=""> < iv="">
Review
“The classic foundling story is beautifully told in the dogs simple, first-person voice.”—
Booklist“Believable and satisfying. Its a winner.”—School Library Journal
“The attitude that carries Jack through adventure after adventure . . . will win readers over and keep them rooting for him all the way.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Children who love animal stories will delight in this first person—or should I say first-dog?—tale.”—Entertainment Weekly “Hobbs portrays the ups and downs of life both humorously and sensitively as seen and felt by a very special border collie; a story that young readers will remember as a journey of the heart.”—Signal
Review
"The classic foundling story is beautifully told in the dog's simple, first-person voice." --Booklist "Believable and satisfying. It's a winner." --School Library Journal "The attitude that carries Jack through adventure after adventure. . . will win readers over and keep them rooting for him all the way." --Kirkus Reviews "Hobbs portrays the ups and downs of life both humorously and sensitively as seen and felt by a very special border collie; a story that young readers will remember as a journey of the heart." --Signal
Review
“The classic foundling story is beautifully told in the dogs simple, first-person voice.”—
Booklist“Believable and satisfying. Its a winner.”—School Library Journal
“The attitude that carries Jack through adventure after adventure . . . will win readers over and keep them rooting for him all the way.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Children who love animal stories will delight in this first person—or should I say first-dog?—tale.”—Entertainment Weekly “Hobbs portrays the ups and downs of life both humorously and sensitively as seen and felt by a very special border collie; a story that young readers will remember as a journey of the heart.”—Signal
Review
A Winter 2013-14 Kidsand#39; Indie Next List pick
andquot;Fast paced and funny, with plenty of alliteration and word definitions provided by Noodles, it carries hints of both Lemony Snicketand#39;s wordplay and the absurdity of M. T. Andersonand#39;s Pals in Peril series. . . . Young, precocious readers and older readers looking for a shorter read will enjoy this first title in the Gadgets and Gears series.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;[An] auspicious first book. . . . Hamilton makes the comedic most of her premise. . . . Noodlesand#39;s antics and droll, mannered narration make him the indisputable star of this show.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;Steampunk with training wheels for the chapter book set. . . . Sly humor . . . nifty, gear-laden illustrations . . . [an] imaginative, engaging premise.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
The sheep closed in around him like a big, woolly blanket. The puppy had never been so scared or so excited in his life. Soon he was racing, feinting, dodging—learning what it means to be one of the proud breed of Border collies, the finest sheepherders in the world. Then, almost overnight, his life is turned upside down. He finds himself in a series of strange places, with no sheep, his family gone. With nothing but the courage he was born with and a dream, he searches for the life he once knew, gathering names and adventures as he goes. For a short time, hes called Blackie. To the Goat Man, hes Shep. To Hollerin, hes Spot. Theres one name that threatens to haunt him forever—Sparky, the name Billy the circus man calls him. But theres another name that he is given, one that finally makes him feel at home. . . .
Synopsis
Every dog needs a boy.
Synopsis
The sheep closed in around him like a big, woolly blanket. The
puppy had never been so scared or so excited in his life. Soon
he was racing, feinting, dodging - learning what it means to be
one of the proud breed of Border collies, the finest sheepherders
in the world. Then, almost overnight, his life is turned upside
down. He finds himself in a series of strange places, with no
sheep, his family gone. With nothing but the courage he was
born with and a dream, he searches for the life he once knew,
gathering names and adventures as he goes. For a short time,
he's called Blackie. To the Goat Man, he's Shep. To Hollerin,
he's Spot. There's one name that threatens to forever haunt
him - Sparky, the name Billy the circus man calls him when he
reaches for the whip. But there's another name that he is given,
one that finally makes him feel at home . . .
Known for her rich character development, the author brings
all her skills to delving into the mind of a clever, philosophical,
and hopeful dog searching for a home.
Synopsis
The sheep closed in around him like a big, woolly blanket. The puppy had never been so scared or so excited in his life. Soon he was racing, feinting, dodging—learning what it means to be one of the proud breed of Border collies, the finest sheepherders in the world. Then, almost overnight, his life is turned upside down. He finds himself in a series of strange places, with no sheep, his family gone. With nothing but the courage he was born with and a dream, he searches for the life he once knew, gathering names and adventures as he goes. For a short time, hes called Blackie. To the Goat Man, hes Shep. To Hollerin, hes Spot. Theres one name that threatens to haunt him forever—Sparky, the name Billy the circus man calls him. But theres another name that he is given, one that finally makes him feel at home. . . .
Synopsis
The first book in aand#160;fast-paced historical fantasyand#160;series narrated by a daring dachshund and brimming with mad science.
Synopsis
Welcome to the Amazing Automated Inn, home of twelve-year-old inventor Wally Kennewickett, his genius scientist parents, and hisand#160;dashing dog, Noodles. From the lightning harvester on the roof to the labs full of experiments in the dungeon, the inn is a wonderful place for a curious boy and his loyal dog to live. That is, until President Theodore Roosevelt himself calls the elder Kennewicketts away, leaving Wally and Noodles to face the evil Mesmers, horrible hypnotists bent on controlling the minds of powerful people. It seems the inn is their first stop on the way to world domination . . . and only an ingenious boy, a staff of automatons,and#160;and a brave dachshund stand in their way!
About the Author
Valerie Hobbs is the recipient of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein Award, a biennial prize that recognizes "an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of children's fiction." She is the author of young adult and middle-grade novels including Defiance, Anything but Ordinary, and The Last Best Days of Summer. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she has taught academic writing. Valerie lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband.