Penny Helps Portia Face Her Fears

by Caryn Rivadeneira, Priscilla Alpaugh (Illustrator)

Overview

Portia has overcome a lot in life. Born with Down syndrome, Portia has been through many surgeries, lots of doctor's appointments, and strange looks from people who want to limit what she can do. Inside herself, Portia knows she can do anything—including getting over her fear of dogs. But when Penny shows up at Portia's house, she isn't so sure. After all, Penny is a pit bull—the scariest dogs of all, right? Good thing Penny has a few tricks of her own to win Portia's trust.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634407786
Publisher:	Red Chair Press
Publication date:	01/01/2020
Series:	Helper Hounds
Pages:	72
Sales rank:	528,534
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Caryn Rivadeneira dreamed of two things as a kid: being a writer and having lots of dogs. Both came true. Caryn and her rescued pit bull live in the Chicago suburbs.

Priscilla Alpaugh holds a BFA in painting and illustration, as well as an MFA in illustration. She has painted murals, mailboxes, and traffic light boxes. Now Priscilla works creating beautiful images for children's books.

Editorial Reviews

"Penny Helps Portia Face Her Fears is a charming chapter book with friendship at its center. Penny is an adorable pit bull who was abandoned by her original family. She's set free by a neighbor, but living on the streets, she's chased by the Grey Sisters, instilling in her a fear of other dogs. She begs for food before being picked up by Miguel. Seeing the good in Penny, Miguel trains her, helps her overcome her fears, and enrolls her in Helper Hounds University, where she's taught to interact with and assist people in need. That's how she meets Portia, a young girl who isn't held back by her Down Syndrome—though she, too, is scared of dogs. Penny is the perfect pup to help Portia handle her fears. She may think she's doing the helping, but Penny, too, gets unexpected help. Penny narrates, her voice strong, funny, and descriptive. She admits that her only award in school was for the best 'settle,' which means that she's quick to fall asleep. Miguel provides plenty of advice on dealing with dogs throughout the story and in the last section, which includes his 'Never-Fear Dog Tips.' His patience and understanding exemplify the book's themes. Portia enters the story later on, but she's a force to be reckoned with, having exceeded most people’s expectations by learning to read and to ride horses. Though she’s scared of dogs, her bravery stands out, and her story resonates. Penny Helps Portia Face Her Fears is a story whose characters display tenacity and love; it encourages acceptance of dogs and people alike."—Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher