Maggie's Second Chance

by Nancy Furstinger, Joe Hyatt (Illustrator)

Overview

In a compelling story, movingly illustrated, the issue of animal abandonment is brought to life. Maggie, a pregnant lab mix, is left behind in her people's deserted house. Discovered by the realtor, Maggie is brought to the pound where her puppies are born. When Jeff, a fourth-grader, reads a newspaper story about Maggie's puppies being adopted while Maggie is not, he learns from his teacher that Maggie will be euthanized if no one adopts her. This knowledge galvanizes Jeff and his classmates to successfully plan and petition their town council to build an animal shelter. Maggie is given her second chance—taken to the new town shelter, where she is eventually adopted. Maggie's Second Chance is based on the true story of Texas fourth-graders who founded an animal shelter in their town. The final page offers factual comprehensive information on how to help abandoned dogs.

Nancy Furstinger, the author of nearly one hundred books, many about animals, is also an editor at two children's book publishing houses. She shares her home with three rescued dogs (including Jolly—the real Maggie) and six rescued house rabbits.

Joe Hyatt is the illustrator of Buddy Unchained, an award-winning picture book used in schools and libraries around the country. He has a career painting portraits of dogs that was inspired by the portrait he made of his yellow Labrador retriever, Nola. Hyatt lives in California with his three rescue dogs, Nola, Turtle, and Holiday.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780940719118
Publisher:	The Gryphon Press
Publication date:	04/26/2011
Series:	Sit! Stay! Read!
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Nancy Furstinger: Nancy Furstinger is the author of nearly 100 books, including many on her favorite topic: animals! She started her writing career in third grade, when a play she wrote was performed by her class. Since then, Nancy has been a feature writer for a daily newspaper, a managing editor of trade and consumer magazines, and an editor at two children’s book publishing houses. She shares her home with 3 rescued dogs (including Jolly—the real Maggie) and 6 rescued house rabbits, and volunteers and fosters pets for several animal organizations.

Joe Hyatt's portraits of dogs are in collections around the country. He and his wife have rescued dogs for the past serveral years.

Editorial Reviews

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

School Library Journal

Based on a true story, this selection tells the story of an abandoned dog and how a group of children fought to build a shelter in order to save her.

Realistic, detailed illustrations show Maggie with longing, sorrowful eyes that follow readers through the pages. Initially, Maggie is left behind in her house, without any food and close to giving birth, when her family moves away. She is discovered just in time and brought to a pound, where she has her puppies. Maggie's story is featured in the local papers and her pups are all adopted, but Maggie still does not have a home when a boy named Mike asks his teacher what will happen if she doesn't find one. When the class finds out she will be euthanized, they decide to have a local shelter built. By the time they are able to get the permits, the money and the building done, Maggie has reached the end of the line. Will Mike be able to get to the pound in time to save her and the other dogs like her? Of course! Includes notes on Maggie's and the children's stories and Web resources to help young activists turn thought into deed.

A nice example of how empowered children can really make a difference, this earnest, heartfelt selection will inspire children to start their own efforts. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews