Katie, the Heavenly Hound

In this book by Emma M. Glover, Katie, the Heavenly Hound doesn’t start out being heavenly. Instead, she causes so much trouble her human tosses her out on the street and she becomes homeless.

Then her guardian angel teaches her how to help people. And the people she cheers up and helps go on to do the same for others, as a result.

Katie becomes a therapy dog, and eventually helps the same human who kicked her out in the beginning of the story.

Since this book is for young kids it doesn’t mention the time it takes to train a therapy dog or the shelters available for unwanted pets.

But I like the theme of love and good deeds spreading to help others.

And KC Snyder’s colorful illustrations portray that beautifully.

Benjamin Jay was a Bully

At last! Someone has written a book for little kids about bullying that doesn't just tell them to tattle.

Benjamin Jay was a Bully by Emma M. Glover is a great picture book about a bully who moves into a neighborhood and what the other birds do about him. Instead of fleeing in fear they take the advice of Miss Gray Dove to follow the Golden Rule and treat him as they would like to be treated. Benjamin does lots of mean things, but the other birds keep turning the other cheek until he gives up and becomes their friend.

KC Snider's illustrations are beautiful and accurate depictions of the various kinds of birds in the story so the book will help children learn to recognize the species while they enjoy the tale.

Besides offering a way to deal with a problem many kids face, Benjamin Jay was a Bully is a story children will appreciate.

For more information about how the techniques used by the characters in this book can actually work I suggest going to  Bullies2Buddies and downloading resources.