MVP: Most Valuable Puppy

by Mike Greenberg, Stacy Steponate Greenberg, Bonnie Pang (Illustrator)

Overview

From New York Times bestselling author and ESPN Television personality Mike Greenberg, host of the new morning talk show Get Up, and his wife Stacy comes a heartwarming, silly tale about a dog and her human pal. And all the authors’ proceeds from this book are going to combat pediatric cancer!

Phoebe is a dog with a pink tail. She lives with her family—the Man in the Box, the Lady who Feeds Her, the Baby, and her sister the Girl with Curly Hair. Phoebe’s favorite time of day is when she and her sister go to the park and play. But today things are a different. Can Phoebe convince her best friend to try something new? And can she show her that sometimes it’s okay not to be perfect?

Phoebe and her sister learn that no matter what happens and no matter how many mistakes you make, your family will always be there for you.

In 2013, Mike and Stacy created the Heidi’s Angels Foundation to fund cancer research. The authors will donate their proceeds from this book to Heidi’s Angels, to help fight pediatric cancer through its support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481489317
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	05/08/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

ESPN personality Mike Greenberg has been with the network since 1996. He lives in New York City and Connecticut, with his wife, Stacy Steponate Greenberg, their two children, and their Australian Labradoodle, Phoebe. In 2013, Mike and Stacy created the Heidi’s Angels Foundation to fund cancer research.

Stacy Steponate Greenberg has spent more than twenty years in the field of luxury travel, as an executive and as a columnist. She lives in New York City and Connecticut, with her husband, Mike Greenberg, their two children, and their Australian Labradoodle, Phoebe. In 2013, Mike and Stacy created the Heidi’s Angels Foundation to fund cancer research.

Bonnie Pang is an illustrator and comics artist from Hong Kong. She studied geography at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and obtained a master’s degree in fine arts from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is the creator of the webcomics Roar Street Journal and IT Guy & Art Girl. When not drawing, Bonnie enjoys reading, gaming, and spending time with her cat.

Editorial Reviews

2018-03-27
A perky Australian labradoodle narrates this sports-themed tale describing the dog's interest in playing soccer and football with a group of neighborhood children.The story is written by a long-term ESPN host and his wife, using their own dog and family as models for the main characters. The dog, Phoebe, has fluffy, white fur and an unusual, bright pink tail. She considers herself an integral part of the human family, referring to family members as Mom, Dad, sister, and brother. (The family has light skin, and the young daughter wears red glasses.) At the neighborhood playground Phoebe wants to join in the day's informal pickup games of soccer and football with a group of children, including her "sister." The dog knows the basic rules of the games from watching her owner on his sports show on TV, so she jumps right in and plays, scoring goals and touchdowns (of sorts). Phoebe helps the little girl feel better when she falls down, and a happy conclusion ensues with kids and dog tired after their afternoon playing outside. While the story is a little forced, positive attributes include a female dog and a female main character (a rare and welcome pairing), a group of kids of different ethnicities playing unorganized ball games outdoors without adults directing the action, and a plot with a dog enjoying a taste of two popular sports. Bold digitally produced illustrations use a variety of perspectives and lots of motion, with speech balloons and sound effects providing additional interest.Phoebe and her best friend score a touchdown with this groundbreaking pairing of a sports-minded girl and her dog. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews