KATHERINE APPLEGATE & GENNIFER CHOLDENKO!

On Thursday, September 24th, we are DELIGHTED to welcome back award-winning, bestselling authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, here to talk about their newest book, I Am a Good Dog: A Dogtown Book.

We thought we should celebrate this book asking folks to bring a can of dog food that we can donate to a local shelter, plus we'll have a Pup Jar (like a tip jar, but.. for pups) in case folks want to donate money.

So, what is the book about?

Dogtown is a shelter for all dogs -- real and robot. Metal Head, a robot dog who is a longtime resident of Dogtown, yearns for a forever home. When a girl named Esme begins visiting Dogtown, Metal Head goes on a mission to get her to adopt him.

But Esme doesn't like robot dogs. She has her heart set on taking home a gangly wolfhound mix named Ghost with one blue eye and one yellow eye. Sadly Ghost's former owner mistreated him, so he's terrified of everyone. Can Esme, Metal Head, Mouse, and Molly, a dog who fosters stray kittens, figure it out?

And what about Metal Head? When will he get his forever home?

The characters in the New York Times-bestselling Dogtown books have already found homes in readers' hearts. Award-winning authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko bring humor and empathy to the story of this special shelter; with charming illustrations by Wallace West, the Dogtown books are perfect for readers at all levels.

Also available:

Dogtown #1 Dogtown

Dogtown #2 Mouse and His Dog

Contributor Bio:
Katherine Applegate is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of beloved and award-winning books for young readers, including Pocket Bear, Odder, Home of the Brave, Crenshaw, Wishtree, Willodeen, and The One and Only Ivan, for which she won the Newbery Medal. She is also the author of the Animorphs series, a beginning reader series, Doggo and Pupper, illustrated by Charlie Alder, and the picture book, Odder: An Otter's Story, illustrated by Charles Santoso. Her middle-grade books, Dogtown and Mouse and His Dog, co-authored with Gennifer Choldenko, were also instant New York Times bestsellers. Katherine Applegate lives in Nevada with her family.
Contributor Bio:Choldenko, Gennifer
Gennifer Choldenko's best known Tales from Alcatraz series has been called "A cornerstone series in contemporary children's literature." Al Capone Does My Shirts--the first book in the series--was a Newbery Honor Book and the recipient of twenty other awards. All four books in the series were Junior Library Guild selections and garnered many starred reviews. Gennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her loyal husband and naughty dog.

Reviews for the Dogtown series:

★ "Welcome to Dogtown, a shelter for regular dogs--and robot dogs. The shelter's top dog is Chance, a congenial and introspective pooch, who like all the residents, longs to reunite with her family.... Super short chapters, perhaps suggesting a dog's alleged limited attention span, keep the novel's pace moving briskly toward a climax sure to please animal lovers despite a few sad moments along the way. Chance captivates with insights that are hilarious and wise beyond her age in dog years: "Your heart is a muscle...It grows stronger the more you use it." West's grayscale art perfectly captures canine emotion and unbridled energy. "-- School Library Journal, starred review
"Newbery Medalist Applegate and Newbery Honoree Choldenko team up for this uplifting escape novel ... Angular b&w line drawings by West highlight the humorously sketched canine cast, while brief chapters that explore species divides promise to captivate anyone who enjoys rooting for a couple of down-on-their-luck dogs getting a second chance."-- Publishers Weekly

"The story offers many moments of laughter and reflection, all greatly enhanced by West's utterly charming grayscale illustrations of irresistible pooches. Eminently readable and appealing; will tug at dog-loving readers' heartstrings."-- Kirkus Reviews

"The tension and humor are beautifully balanced in this sympathetic story, and the delightfully distinct voices and memorable characters are enormous fun. Brief chapters set a brisk pace, and charming black-and-white illustrations are incredibly appealing. A sweet spotlight on shelter animals that is as heartwarming as it is entertaining." -- Booklist magazine

"Short chapters and Chance's snappy narration keep the pace rolling, but Applegate and Choldenko adeptly make space for gently poignant moments along the way. An accessible, appealing romp that provides a dog's-eye view of the nature of hope, belonging, and found family."-- The Horn Book Magazine

"Chance is the perfect balance of snark and vulnerability. Her relationships with and affection for the other dogs--metal and flesh--give her particular depth, as she is the one who often explains and comforts Dogtown's new arrivals: "Just because a human doesn't want you, doesn't mean you aren't lovable." The plot unfolds gently but directly, making this an easy choice for a classroom or family read-aloud, though tellers and listeners should have tissues on hand."-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)