The Amazing Sparkey

by Kenneth Ian Segel

Overview

Do you have a dog for a pet? Do you think your dog is smart and special? Does your dog do funny or unusual things? This story is about Sparkey who is an amazing, wonder dog. Sparkey, dearly loved by his family, is truly unique. He could do arithmetic - both addition and subtraction. He could sing with his ears flapping in rhythm. He could "talk" entering into family conversations with strange sounds and an occasional bark. He could read. He would bring the daily newspaper into the house, open the paper, place his nose on the print and move his head from line to line. At times, he would laugh out loud as he read. At other times, it sounded as if he was crying when he read something sad. Sparkey enjoyed shopping for groceries in a supermarket. He would paw at those items he wanted the family to take home. He liked sports, particularly swimming. He would jump into the family's backyard pool and speed from one end to the other. Very proud of himself, he would clap his paws in approval of his achievement. Mysterious and strange things were happening in the Kelly home. No one in the family could explain the unusual happenings. It was weird. Was it the work of ghosts? Was it leprechauns? What was really going on? Things disappeared and reappeared. There were no clues. Working together as detectives, and with Sparkey's help, the Kelly family finally solved the mystery. Sparkey proved that he really was a wonder dog.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481750073
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	05/06/2013
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.06(d)

Read an Excerpt

The Amazing Sparkey

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By Kenneth Ian Segel, Amory Abbott

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Kenneth Ian Segel
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-5007-3

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CHAPTER 1

Do you have a dog for a pet? Do you think your dog is smart and special? Can your dog do tricks and respond to commands? Is your dog loving and loyal? Does your dog do funny or silly things?

This story is about Sparkey who was amazing. He was truly a wonder dog. He was the gifted pet of Charlotte Kelly, known as Char, and her brother, Tommy Kelly. Sparkey had been a cherished member of the Kelly family for three years, since Char was in second grade and Tommy was in kindergarten.

What could Sparkey do that made him unique? He could do arithmetic—both addition and subtraction. Char would ask him, "How much is five and four?" Then Sparkey would scratch with his front left paw nine times. Tommy would ask, "Sparkey, what is eight minus five?" And Sparkey would scratch with his front right paw three times.

Sparkey could sing. He was constantly humming in a high pitch, and his ears would flap in rhythm as he sang.

Sparkey could talk. He was always entering into family conversations with strange sounds and an occasional bark, expressing his opinions with great emphasis and effort. His head moved rapidly from side to side, and his nose would wiggle as he tried to make his point. He would get very frustrated if you didn't pay attention or understand what he was trying to say.

Sparkey could read. After he would bring the newspaper into the house each morning, he would carefully open the newspaper, place his nose on the print, and move his head from line to line. At times, he would talk to the newspaper.

He would carry Char and Tommy's library books over to his large pillow and look curiously at the pictures in the book. At times, he would laugh out loud as he read. At other times, it sounded as if he was crying when he read something sad.

Sparkey enjoyed shopping for groceries in a supermarket. Although usually on a leash, Sparkey would carefully study can labels and products on the shelves. He would paw at those items he wanted the family to take home. He particularly liked ice cream, crackers, and cheeses.

Sparkey would occasionally sit in the shopping cart and point with his waving paw and sing out loud in a high pitch until the cart was rolled to the specific item he wanted.

Sparkey was smart and playful. He was always in a good mood. He had lots of energy and never seemed tired or bored.

Sparkey liked sports. He enjoyed fetching a Frisbee or rubber ball. He didn't kick a soccer ball too well, but he tried. His favorite sport was swimming.

Sparkey would jump into the family's backyard pool and speed from one end of the pool to the other. Then he'd look over and, very proud of himself, clap his paws in approval of his achievement.

On occasion, Sparkey would allow Noodles, the small neighbor cat, to get on his back so he could carefully ferry her from one side of the pool to the other. Noodles always enjoyed her journey and trusted Sparkey to transport her safely. In gratitude to Sparkey, Noodles would scratch his back after they got out of the pool.

Mysterious and strange things were happening in the Kelly home. Neither Char nor Tommy nor their parents could explain the unusual happenings. It was weird. Was it the work of ghosts? Was it leprechauns? Was someone sneaking in and out of the house without being noticed? What was really going on? Did Char and Tommy have reason to be anxious?
(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Amazing Sparkey by Kenneth Ian Segel, Amory Abbott. Copyright © 2013 Kenneth Ian Segel. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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