Maggie's Second Chance

K-Gr 3—This is a heartwarming story of a sweet black lab mix named Maggie who is left behind when her owners move away. Found inside the house and about to give birth, she is taken to the pound. Her nine puppies are adopted, but she is not. A boy learns that she is slated to be euthanized and rallies his teacher and classmates to do something about it. They petition the town council and present a plan for building a no-kill animal shelter, which is passed. With an outpouring of volunteer help, supplies, land, and donations, the students succeed in creating a shelter where dogs can be cared for until they are adopted. Based on a true story of a group of fourth graders, this is an inspiring story of social justice, action, and agency. The text is accessible, and the illustrations of the animals are done in photorealistic detail. Occasionally the style of the artwork changes dramatically. For example, at the town council meeting, the people are stiff looking and have unappealing dots on their bodies to show texture. This doesn't detract from the story itself; it's just a curious and puzzling shift. Resources for adopting a dog are appended.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID